MASTER NEGA TIVE NO. 92-81136 MICROFILMED 1 993 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/NEW YORK as part of the "Foundations of Western Civilization Preservation Project" Funded by the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Library COPYRIGHT STATEMENT The copyright law of the United States - Title 1 7, United States Code - concerns the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions Is that the photocopy or other reproduction Is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright Infringement. This Institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copy order if, in Its judgement, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of the copyright law. A UTHOR : ELLIS, HENRY TITLE: ORIGINAL LETTERS PLACE: LONDON DA TE : 1827 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT BIBLIOGRAPHIC MirROFORM TARHFT Original Material as Filmed - Existing Bibliographic Record 942 EL51 Restrictions on Use: 1 Ellis, Sir Henry, 1777-1869, ed. ().i«inal letters, illustrative of English history; includin.' .....neious royal letteix: from autORraplLS in the'llritish n.u seiun, and one^or two other collections. AVlth notes and illus- rafions by Henry Ellis ... 2d_^. London, Printed for Harding and Upard, 1827. >««" lor 4 V. fronts. (2 fold.) 20 cm. To n^;^"""-"' *• "«'-152«._r. 2. To l.-,71.-v. 3. To 1637.-V. 4. 2^<{r. liiit.— iii.sf. - ScHff^j, Library of Coiigresa Kj 2—22322 Master Negative # TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: Jj^___ IMAGE PLACEMENT: lA rfiS IB IIB DATE FILMED: J-T^'f'i tmitiatc /^ REDUCTION RATIO: Ji)[_ c Association for Information and Image Management 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1100 Silver Spring. Maryland 20910 301/587-8202 Centimeter 12 3 4 IIU lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Ml lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Inches Mil I 1.0 LI 1.25 8 9 liiiiliiiili iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Mill 10 uului 11 12 13 14 15 mm liiii||i|i| "i^Iii 12.5 2.2 u 2.0 ■UUik 1.8 1.4 1.6 lllllllllllllllllllll iiliiiihiiilijiiiiiij m 1 MfiNUFnCTURED TO fillM STRNDflRDS BY PPPLIED IMPGE, INC. m -f^' ,«■ ■'• v*-i- -If, jM*, 9. •^m- *> .-' t^ J: *-.;v > Columbia ^Hnibersiitp \ intfjeCitpof^ttogorb LIBRARY »: .« v \ ORIGINAL LETTERS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH HISTORY. LONDON: PHIKTED BY THOMAS OAVI80M, WHITEFRIABS. ORIGINAL LETTERS, ILLUSTRATIVE OP ENGLISH HISTORY; s iKCLrDINO NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS: FROM AUTOGRAPHS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, Airo ONE OR TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS. WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, BV HENRY ELLIS, F. R. S. Sec.S.A. KEEPER OP THE MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. SECOND SERIES. IN FOail VOLUMES. VOL. L LONDON : PRINTED FOR HARDING AND LEPARD, PALL-MALL EAST. MDCCCXXVII. 4 --, V :i 4. , III r^r o I LIBRiVRY. HIS MOST SACRED MAHESTV*' • * ORK. KING GEORGE THE FOURTH, THIS SECOND SERIES OF LETTERS ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH HISTORY IS DEDICATED WITH ALL HUMILITY BY HIS majesty's most LOYAL, AND DEVOTED SUBJECT AND SERVANT, HENRY ELLIS. Brituh Museum. April 23''. 1827. 24488 ^*. f f^:'•■«f PRE N.YORK. I The Object of the Letters here presented to the Reader has been explamed in the Preface to the former Series. It may be sufficient to add generally here, that the Combination of the Whole, exclusive of historical in- terest, affords a more complete Succession of Specimens of the English Language, during the Reigns to which the Letters relate, than will be found in any other Work. In this Series, the Portions of History which are illustrated, except in one or two particular cases, differ entirely from those which received explanation in the former Volumes. New events are introduced; and new secrets of State unravelled. In point of time, the Correspondence is brought lower : and in some of the Reigns, at periods in which • • » Vlll PREFACE. PREFACE. IX the Editor found a Scarcity of Letters, he has intro- duced in the smaller type Contemporary Memoirs. Relics of this description are always valued by the Historian ; nor is the Editor inclined to think that the more general Reader will repent his pains, should he peruse Giovanni Michele''s Report to the Doge and Senate of Venice upon his Returjf,Jrom England in 1557, The Official Account of the last Moments of the, Queen of Scots, Sir Gilbert Talbofs Narrative of the Venetian Offer of Assistance to King Charles the First, or Father Huddleston's Account (hitherto concealed though printed) of the Catholic Death-bed o/*King Charles the Second. cussed in them, are not likely to give pain to any one alive. To the departed Statesman we have a right to use the words which Innocent the Fourth dreamt he had heard from bishop Grosteste, " SurgCy miser, et veni ad judicium,^ The Editor has some little fear that he may be censured for spreading his Comments more diffusely in this, than upon the Letters of the former Series ; but he trusts that in many instances he has developed Truth ; and, it may be, no where with greater success than in his Observations upon the Life and Character of Thomas Cromwell, the Minister of Henry the Eighth, who in reality was neither an honest man, uo^ the grateful friend of Wolsey. The Bringing of the Second Series of these Let- ters within the reach of Memory, is perhaps another step of boldness ; but the Events and Characters dis- }'■■ CONTENTS. VOL. I. LITT£R I. II. III. IV. V. VI. ▼II. VIII. IS. X. XI. TAQE Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin to the Prince of Wales, upon the breaking out of Owen Glyndowr's Rebellion i Griffith ap David ap Griffith to Lord Grey of Ruthyn, in defiance of his power 5 The Prince, afterwards King Henry the Fifth, to the Keepers of the Marches of Wales, upon his burning the two Residences of Owen Glyndowr 10 The Constable of Dynevor Castle, entreating for assistance against Owen Glyndowr .... 13 Second Letter from the Constable of Dynevor Castle IS Richard Kyngeston, archdeacon of Hereford, to King Henry the Fourth 17 John Skydmore, to John Fairforde Receiver of Brecknock 19 The Mayor and Burgesses of Cairleon to those of Monmouth, upon the defeat of a part of Owen Glyndowr's Army by the Lord of Carew 21 Sir £dmund Mortimer to his Tenantry, an- nouncing his coalition with Glyndowr 24 Henry of Scharisbrec, Lieutenant of Conway Castle, to William Venables of Kinderton, Constable of Chester, and Roger Brescy. . . 30 William Venables of Kinderton and Roger Brescy, to the King, upon the capture of the Consuble of Harlech Castle 31 Xll CONTENTS. CONTENTS. XUl LCTTER XII. XIII. XIT. XT. XVI. XVII. XVIII. if XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. PAGE William Venables and Roger Brescy to the King, upon the second Assault of Caernar- von Castle by Owen Glyndowr and the French 33 Reynald of Bayldon one of the Keepers of Conway to William Venables, Constable of Chester, and Roger Brescy 35 Henry of Scharisbrec to William Venables and Roger Brescy, that Owen Glyndowr was likely to get possession of Harlech Castle . . 37 Henry Prince of Wales to his Father King Henry the Fourth upon further successes against the Partizans of Glyndowr 38 Richard Earl of Cambridge to King Henry the Fifth, a Letter of Confession 44 Richard Earl of Cambridge to King Henry the Fifth; sueing for mercy after his con- demnation 48 Thomas Langley Bishop of Durham, to King Henry the Fifth, upon the King's money, jewels, &c. deposited in the Church of Durham 50 Letter to King Henry Vth in behalf of the Lord Fumyval Lord Lieutenant of Ireland S3 The Comptroller of the Castle, and the Regent of the ConsUblery of Bourdeaux, to King Henry the Fifth. A. D. 1419 64 John Alcetre to King Henry the Fifth, upon the progress made in building a Ship for the King at Bayonne, A. D. 1419 67 John de Assheton to King Henry Vth. a Letter of Intelligence, written apparently about A. D. 1419 73 Sir William Bardolph to King Henry the Fifth, relating to the Government of Calais 74 T. F. to his Fellows and Friends in England, from Evreux, A. D. 1420 76 Heretong Clux to King Henry the Fifth, upon LETTER XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. XXIX. XXX. XXXf. XXXll. XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII. PAGE the Emperor Sigismund's setting out to re- press the Hussites in Bohemia 79 Richard Knygtle and Robert Whitgrave to King Henry Vth. from Harfleur, respecting his Treasure 93 Sir Hugh Luttrell to King Henry the Fifth. . 84 Letter of the Tenants of Lord Powys respect- ing the capture of Sir John Oldcastle 86 Richard Clifford bishop of London, to King Henry the Vth. concerning an intended Em- bassy to the Pope 89 Thomas Hostel to King Henry the Sixth, for alms 95 Sir Thomas Rokeby to Humphry Duke of Gloucester, A.D. 1423, respecting his Cove- nant of mihtary Service with King Henry the Fifth 96 King Henry the Sixth to his uncle John Duke of Bedford 99 Henry Beaufort Bishop of Winchester to King Henry the Sixth, requesting leave to go on Pilgrimage loi William Warbelton to the Duke of Gloucester and the Council, claiming the reward for taking Jack Sharpe 103 Letter of Warrant from King Henry the Vlth. to the Bish(^ of Bath, his Chancellor, in 1441, concerning the exile of Eleanor Duchess of Gloucester 105 John Earl of Oxford to King Henry the Sixth, requesting a Licence for a Ship, of which he was owner, to carry Pilgrims no Thomas Canynges and William Hulyn, sheriffs of London, to King Henry the Sixth, pray- ing remuneration for their expences in dis- posing of the bodies of Mortimer and other traitors, after the rebellion of 1450 H2 XIV CONTENTS. CONTENTS. XV LETTER XXXVIII. XXXIX. XL. XLI. XLII. XLIII. XLIV. XLV. XLVI. XLVII. XLVIII. XLIX. PAGE Richard Eail of Salisbury to one of his Re- ceivers, to pay money to hii Poulterer in London H^ The chief Persons in the County of Kildare to Richard Duke of York, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, A. D. 1454, giving an Account of the condition of the Country 117 Richard Duke of York to the Earl of War- wick his nephew, agreeing that a Servant of his may attend the Earl one year as Marshal of Calais 124 King Edward the Fourth's Letter of Privy Seal to Thomas Cooke one of the Aldermen of London, A. D. 1462 126 The Duke of Clarence and the Earl of War- wick, from France, to the Commons of England 132 Letter of Protection from the Duke of Cla- rence for the lands and tenants of the Lord Mountjoy, in Derbyshire, A. D. 1470. •••• 139 King Edward the Fourth to the Keeper of his Privy Seal, after his return to the Throne, for Letters patents in reward of William Gould, a butcher 140 King Edward the Fourth, concerning the re- payment of Money to the Bishop of Aber- deen and James Shaw 142 Richard Duke of Gloucester, afterwards Rich- ard the Third, to .... to borrow Money 143 King Edward the Fifth, under the direction of his Uncle, to Otes Gilbert, Esq. com- manding him to receive Knighthood at the expected Coronation 147 King Richard the Third to Sir Ralph Hast- ings knt Lieutenant of the Castle of Guisnes 150 King Richard the Third to the Lords of his LETTER LI. LII. LIII. LIV. LV. LVI. LVII. LVIII. LIX. LX. LXI. PAGE Council, A. D. 1483, upon the arrival of an ambassador from Isabella Queen of Spain . 152 The Queen of Spain to King Richard the Third 154 The Lord Dynham to the Bishop of Lincohi, Lord Chancellor, announcing the death of Louis Xlth. of France; the yielding of Utrecht, &c j^g King Richard the Third to John Russel Bishop of Lincoln, previous to his advancing against the Duke of Buckingham, A. D. 1483 159 King Richard the Third to his mother, the Duchess of York. A. D. 1484 161 King Richard the Third to his ChanceUor, to prepare a Proclamation against Henry Tudor and other rebels his followers 162 King Henry the Seventh to the Lord Dynham and Sir Reginald Bray, concerning money to be provided for two of his Ambassadors . 167 King Henry the Seventh to the Under-Trea- surer of England, concerning the charges of the Scottish ambassadors 159 King Henry the Seventh to the Treasurer and Chamberlains of his Exchequer, for the payment of money to Persons attendant on his son Prince Arthur 170 King Henry the Seventh to the Treasurer and Chamberlains of his Exchequer, for pay- ment of money to the Attendants on the Lady Margaret j^j King Henry the Vllth to the Treasurer and Chamberlains of the Exchequer, for various payments. A. D. 1491 173 Answer to the Challenge of the Four Knights, at the Juste held in honor of the birth of a Prince, in 1511 17^ Dr. William Knight to Thomas Wolsey the If I xvi CONTENTS. CONTENTS. XVll LITTER LXIl. LXIII. I.XIV. IXT. LXTI. LXVII. LXVIII. LXIX. LXX. LXXI. I.XXIT. LXXIII. PAGE King's Almoner, A. D. 1519, concerning the affairs of Navarre 188 Dr. William Knight to Thomas Wolsey the King's Almoner. A.D.I 5 12. Farther ad- vices from Navarre 194 Doctor Knight to King Henry the Vlllth. upon the King of Arragon's truce with France; and proposing the restoration of the King of Navarre. A. D. 1513 203 Sir Robert Wingfield to King H enry the V I II th. reporting the Victory of Novara 210 Sir Edward Howard, Lord Admiral, to King Henry the Eighth, upon the State of the King's Fleet. A. D. 1513 213 Sir William Fitzwilliam to Cardinal Wolsey : a naval despatch 222 O'Donnel, the Irish rebel, to King Henry Vlllth. exculpating himself 224 Cardinal Bainbridge to K. Henry the Vlllth. a Letter of Intelligence ; the [Hractices of the French at Rome 226 Charles Earl of Worcester to Cardinal Wolsey : detailing the particulars of an audience from Louis the Xllth. previous to the marriage with Mary of England 233 The Earl of Worcester and Dr. West to King Henry the Eighth. A fragment only. A. D. 1514 239 The Earl of Worcester to Wolsey, giving the King of France's reasons for the return of Lady Guildford 243 The Duke of Suffolk and the other Ambassa- dors in France to the King, giving an ac- count of their Negociations, the Coronation of the Queen, &c 247 Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk to Wolsey. The Queen of France crowned. Albany's LETTE LXXIV Lxxy. LXXVI. LXXVII. LXXVIII LXXIX. LXXX. LXXXII. LXXXIII. LXXXIV. VOL. I. * PAGE intention to go to Scotland. The Juste finished 256 Louis the XI Ith. of France to King Henry the Eighth, expressing his contentment 260 Isabella of Arragon, Widow of Frederic King of Naples, to the Queen of France, imploring assistance for herself and her sons, Ferdinand and Alphonso 263 Thomas Lord Dacre and Dr. Magnus to King Henry Vlllth. upon Queen Margaret's de- livery of a daughter. A. D. 1515 265 Letters Patent of King Henry the Eighth for a charitable collection towards the relief of Prisoners in Barbary. A. D. 1515 268 William the IVth. Duke of Bavaria to King Henry the Eighth, reconmiending Wolfgang Richart, who had perfected an " Opus Mu- sicale" 271 Margaret Queen of Scotland to Lord Dacre in answer to the charge that she had written to the French King for the return of the Duke of Albany; acknowledging it and pleading her necessities. A. D. 1520 276 Lord Thomas Dacre to Queen Margaret; a Letter of reproof; sent to her by the Laird of Barrow. A. D. 1521 279 Richard Pace to Cardinal Wolsey, concerning a new Book of Martin Luther^ and the King's zeal against Luther 286 Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey upon the Afiairs of Scotland 289 t.^ Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey, chiefly detailing the transaction of business with the King • • • 292 U Margaret Archduchess of Savoy to Dr. Knight^ the English Ambassador at her Court, an- nouncing the news of the Victory of Pa via 296 S£R. 2. b XVlll CONTENTS. LETTER LXXXV. LXXXVI. LXXXVII. LXXXVIII. LXXXIX. XC. XCI. XCII. XCIII. XCIV. xcv. PAGE Sir John Russell to King Henry the Eighth, on the Duke of Bourbon's disposition ; with further particulars of the Emperor's Victory 297 Richard Pace to Cardinal Wolsey, with the News of the French King's imprisonment at Pizzigitone ; The Duke of Albany's mo- tions ; &c 303 John Clerk, bishop of Bath, to Cardinal Wol- sey, upon the state of Italy as affected by the Battle of Pavia 305 The Bishop of Bath to Cardinal Wolsey, upon his negociations with the Emperor's Ambas- sadors at Rome; Money paid to them, &c. 317 Sir John Russell to Cardinal Wolsey, concern- ing the French King, and the Emperor's other prisoners 324 Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. Peace con- cluded between the Emperor and Francis the First 329 Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. The arrival of Francis the First at Bayonne. 1526 .... 331 Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. Reports an Audience from Francis the First 333 Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. The Affairs of Italy. Francis the First has a fall from his horse 337 Louis lid. of Hungary to King Henry the Eighth, entreating assistance against the forces of Solyman the Magnificent 341 Ferdinand of Austria to Herman Archbishop of Cologne. The news of the Battle of Mohatz 344 LETTERS or THE REIGNS OF KING HENRY THE FOURTH AKO KING HENRY THE FIFTH. iii ORIGINAL LETTERS, The Letters of the Reign of HENRY the FOURTH, with which this Volume opens, relate entiicly to Owen Glyndowr's RebeUion. They are in number fourteen, and are, with one exception, new to History. That they should have remained so long in the Cottonian Library unnoticed, must excite surprise. Several of these are from Constables of Castles, and show not only the mode of keeping the fortresses of that time, but the nature of the Warfare which was waged against them. «• u «i The Welsh hated Henry the Fourth for his ill usage of Kmg Richara the Second. They had furnished Richard with troops in his contest with the Nobles ; and remained unshaken in their fidelity to him as long as they believed him to be alive. Of the Letters of the Reign of HENRY the FIFTH, there are Two more curious than the rest: one concerns the State of Ireland m 1417; the other from John Alcetre at Bayonne, in 1419, detaUs the progress made in building a Ship of very extended dimensions for the Kmg. Henry the Fifth was the first of our Monarchs who saw the advantage of maintaining Ships for the purposes of War, distinct from the mer- chants' Vessels. ETC. LETTER I. Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin to tJie Prince of Wales, upon the breaking out of Owen Glyndowr's Rebellion. [mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOP. F. III. fol. 70. Orig.\ • • •»• Leland, in his Itinerary, has given in few words the pedigree of Owen Glyndowr, with his relationship to King Henry the Seventh : " Lluelin ap Jorwarth Droyndon, Prince of all Wales, had Grifith. Grifith had Lluelin. Lluelin had Catarine his heir. Catarine had Elea- nor. Eleanor had Helenc and Catarine. This Helene was mother to OWEN GLINDOURE. Catarine had Meredik. Meredik had Owen. Owen had Edmunde earl of Richmond and Gasper earl of Pembroke. Edmunde had Henry the Seventh.'** The time of the birth of Glyndowr is uncertain ; some placing it in 1349, others in 1354. Holinshed says, " strange wonders happened (as men reported) at the nativity of this man ; for the same night he was borne, all his father's horses in the stable were found to stand in blood up to their beUies."** Walsingham tells us that Owen Glyndowr was bred m an English Inn of Court, that he was an esquire of the body to King Richard the Second, • Lei. Itin. vol. v. fol. 46. •» Holinshed, p. 521. The original of this passaf^e is in Walsingham. VOL. I. SER. 2. B 2 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3 ll and one of the few who remained in the suite of that Monarch when he was taken prisoner in HintCasUe. After Richard's death, Owen became for a short time esquire to the earl of Arundel. At this time he had re- tired to his estate in Wales, where his property lay contiguous to that of the Lord Grey of Ruthyn, who claimed and unjusUy seized a portion of it. Glyndowr petitioned the Parliament for redress ; but Henry espousing the cause of Lord Grey, Owen was unsuccessful. Leland says, that upon this occasion the bishop of St. Asaph cautioned the Parliament not to despise Owen, lest the Welsh should rise; but the advice was treated with a sort of national contempt. ■ Another act of treachery upon the part of the Lord Grey threw Oweu into open revolt. He withheld the Letter of summons for Owen to at- tend the King in his Scottish expediUon, till it was too late to join the rendezvous. Owen excused himself from the shortness of the notice ; but the Lord Grey represented him as disobedient. The King went to Scot- land, and Owen, who found he had incurred the king's displeasure, cither arranged his plans, or joined in those which the Welsh had formed, for a rebellion. Upon Henry's return, the Welsh were rising in arms ; and Lord Grey, whose ancestors had received Ruthyn with a view to the protection of the frontier, was ordered to go against them. It seems to have been at this point of time that the Letter which immediately foUows was penned. It was apparently written in the month of June, A.D. 1400. Lord Grey expresses himself strongly in it upon the difficulties of the task imposed upon him : but it is remarkable that h- makes no personal menUon of Owen Glyndowr : neither is Glyndowr named in Henry the Fourth's first Proclamation against the rebellion of the Welsh, dated Sept. 19, 1400. 1 Hen. IV. »» A Chronicle compUed by one of the Chaplains of King Henry the Fifth, of which two copies are preserved in the British Museum, <^ speaks of the Welsh as rising in arms, and afterwards choosing Glyndowr for their chief. This, it is probable, was the fact. The earl of Arundel, to whom Glyndowr had become an esquire, personally remained firm to the King. Glyndowr seems to have been chosen on account of his descent. » " Anno D. 1400 factum est Parliamentum London. Ad hoc venit Audoenus de Glindor Wallicus, qui fuerat armiger comitis Arundel, conqucrcns quod dommus Gray de Ruthine quaadam terras tuas in Wallia usurpavit: sed contra dommum Gray nil profecit. Episcopus de S. Asaph consulult in Parlamento quod non omnuio prsfatum Audoenum contemnerent, ne forte Wallici insurgerent: at illi in Parla- mento dixerunt w de sci'RRIs NUDiPKDiBrs non curare." Lei. Collect, torn. i. p. 810. Henry the Fourth himself, in one of hii Letters, speak* of the WeUh a« " de petit reputacion." » See Rymer, torn. vUi. p. 1S». • MS. Reg. i». C. I. and MS. Donat 1TT6. Right heigh and myghty Prynce, my goode and gracious Lorde, I recomaund me to you as lowly as I kan or may with all my pouer hert, desiryng to hier goode and gracious tydynges of your worshipful 1 astate and welfare, which I prey to allmyghty God as goode mot thei be as ye in your gracious hert kan best deuyse un to the plesaunce of God and of you. And gracious Lorde pleseth hit un to your heigh astate to witte that I have resceyued our liege Lord es pry ve seal with your oun worshipful! lettres to me sent, commaundyng me un to see, and to apees ^ the misgouemance and the riote wich ye heiren that is begunnen heer in the marches of North Wales. Pleseth unto your gracious lordshipe to witiethat I have do my power, and woll doo fro day today by our liege lord es comaundement and by youres, but my gracious Lorde, plese hit you to witte that ye with avise of our liege lord es counsaile most giffe me a moore pleyner commyssioun then I have yit, to taken hem in the Kynges grounde, other in the Erles ground of the March, other in the Erles of Arundele, b or in any lordes grounde of North Wales ; and by the feith that I owe un to my ligeaunce I shall trewely do my power to do our liege lorde the Kynges commaundement and youres : but worshipfuU and gracious Lorde ye most comaunden the kynges officers in every cuntree to do the same. Also, my gracious Lorde, ther been many • appease. * Castel Dinas Bran, in the neiflihbourhood of Glyndowrdy. was the fortress pos- ••••ed by the Earl of Arundel in Denbighshire. il 4 OEICINAL LETTERS. Officers, sume of our liege lord the kyng es lond, sume of the Erles of the Marche es lond, sume off the Erie es londe of Arundele, sume of Powise lond, sume of my lond, sume of other lord es londes heer aboute, that ben kynne un to this meignee that be rissen. And tyll ye putte thoo officers in better governance, this cuntre of North Wales shall nevere haue peese. And if ye hadde tho officers under your governance, thei koude ordcyn remedy, wherthrogh thei sholde be taken. And, gracious Lorde, plese hit you to witte that the day that the Kynges messager cam with the Kynges lettres and with youres to me, the strengest thiefe of Wales sent me a Lettre, which lettre I send to you, that ye mowe knowen his goode wyll and gouvernance, with a copie of an other lettre that I have send to hym agayn of an Answare. And also, gracious Lorde, I besech you lowely that ye wolde vouchsaufe to giff'e feith and cre- dence to a pour squyer of myn, Richard Donn, of that he shall enfourme you of by mowthe touchy ng tydynges of this cuntree ; and that ye wolde take to you our Hege lordes counsaile and ordeyn other remedie for hem then we been of powere for to do, other elles trewely hitt woU be an unruely Cuntree within short tyme. My gracious Lorde I kan no more write at this tyme, but God that is our elder sovereigne gife you long lyve and well enduryng. Written at Ruthyn the xxiij day of June. REGINALD DE GREY S' de Rtithyn, ORIGINAL LETTERS. d If the Letter which is pasted at the back of Lord Grey's be that which he alludes to as written by " the strongest thief in Wales,'*^ that personage must have been Griffith ap David ap Griffith, one of Glyndowr's most strenuous partisans. His epistle, indeed, is of a barbarous character, and breathes more of savage warfare than of chivalry : but such was the general feature of Glyndowr's campaigns. The conclusion of this Letter will serve as a sufficient specimen. " And there as thou bearest upon us that we sholde ben in purpose to brenne and sleyen men and horses for thy sake, or for any of those enclinant to thee, or any of them that ben the King's trew liege men, We was never so mys avised to work again the King ne his laws, which if we did were high treason : but thou hast had false messages and false reporters of us touching this matter, and that shall be well known unto the King and all his CounciL Furthermore, there as thou knowledgest by thine own lettre that thy men hath stolle our horses out of our Park, and thou recettour of them, we hope that thou and thy men shall have that ye have deserved. For us thinketh though John WeUe hath done as thou aboven has certified, thinketh that that shold not be wroken toward us. But we hope we shall do the a privy thing ; a rope, a ladder, and a ryng ; high on gallows for to henge. And thus shall be your endyng : and he that made the be ther to helpyng : and we on our behalf shall be well willyng : for thy Lettre is knowledging. Written," &c In consonance with the same feeling, we have another Letter from Griffith ap David ap Griffith ; the whole of which is here laid before the reader. LETTER II. Griffith ap David ap Griffith to Lord Grey of Ruthyn, in defiance of his power. [m8. cotton, cleopat. f. III. foL 72. Orig.^ WoRSCHiPFULL Lord I recomande me to zou and to zour lordschip, and I wold pray zou hertli that ze wold her how the fals John Wele serued me, as al ,1 6 ORIGINAL LETTERS. men knoyn wel. I was under the protexion of M ered ap Owein, he sende to me be trety of my cosynes maester Edward and Edward ap Dauid, and askyt zyf I wold cum in and he wold gete me the Kings charter, and I schuld be maester forster and keyshat in Chirke is lond ; and other thinges he behizt me the qwich he fulfullyt not. Afterward he askyt me q wether I wold go ouer see with hym, and he wold gete me my charter of the Kynge, and bringe me to hym sounde and safF, and I schuld haue wages as muche as any gentilman schuld haue that went with hym ; and ouer this he seide befor the byschop of Seint Assaph, and befor my forsaed^ cosynes, that rather then I schuld fael he wold spene of his own godde xx. marke. Her apon I trust, and gete me ij. men, and bozt arraery at all pees, and horses, and other araement, and come to Oswestre a nyzt befor or thei went ; and on the morw ther after I send Piers Cambr the reseuor of Chirke is lond, thryes to him, for to tel him that I was redy. He saed that I schuld speke no word with him ; and at the last he saed that he hade no wages for me ; and that he hade al his retenev ; but bade me go to S"*. Ric. Kakin ^ to loke qwether he hade nede of me. With the qwych I had neuer ado nor no covenande made, for I wold a gon for no wages with hym ouer see, but for to haue my charter of the Kyng and sum leuying that I myzt dwel in pees and in rest. And this, as a wythcs of S^ Ric Lakyn and of Strange, I was » /. Lakin ; a.* hr'nti . ORIGINAL LETTERS. 7 redy and wylly for to a gon with hym hedde he be truw. He come and saed priuely to S*. Ric. and to Straunge (q ^ he) her is GrufFuth ap David ap Gruffuth in this town, and has no sauecondyt but in Chirke is lond ; and ze mown take hym and ze wolle ; and a gode frende come and told me this ; and I hert this and trust me thens in al the haste that I myzt ; and so I was begyllyd and deseyued of that fals wele as al men knoyn welle. And so I hade no leuyng worth, qnowth no werche, but take my leuyng as gode wolle ordeyn for. And as I herd ther ben taken ij horses of zour men that wern pyte in zour parke, thoo horsy s I wod qwer thei ben ; but for no hatered that I hade to zou or zour lordschip thei wern taken, but my men toke ham, and bozt ham of hem. And hit was told me that ze ben in purpos for to make zour men bran and sle in qwade soeuer cuntre that I be, and am sesened^ in. With owten doute as mony men that ze sleu and as mony howsin that ze bran for my sake, as mony wol I bran and sle for zour sake; and doute not I wolle haue both bredde and ale of the best that is in zour lordschip. I can no more, but Gode kepe zour worschipfull astate in prosperite. Iwrettin in grete haste at the parke of BrinkifFe^ the xj day of June. From GRUFFUTH AP DAVID AP GRUFFUTH* * sciscined. '' Perhaps Dryn\ir near Pcnmorfa, in the parish of Dulbcnman in Caernarvon- Miiro, amon); the mountains. w 8 ORI(;iNAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. The Chamberlain of Caernarvon appears, at this time, to have furnished the King's Council with a better outline of what was going on in Wales, than Lord Grey ; though it is remarkable that, in the first instance, he likewise makes no qnention by name of Owen Glyndowr. The original of the Paper of Intelligence which the chamberlain of Caernarvon com- municated, is preserved in the same volume with the Letters : it shows too that the Welsh held some communication at this time with the Scotch. " This is the Credence by mouth, that is to say howe John Salghall conestable of Harglagh certeficd and warned by lettre to the Chamberleyn of Camarvane howe that a gentell man of Walys that most knowe and piyneise was with Med ap Owyn in grete special te, warned hjrm of an accorde made betwene the same Med and men of the Owt Yles and of Scotland, throgh lettres in and owt, as he enformed hym, that they sholden come a lond and aryve at Abermowth and Eve betwix this and midsommer neghst with her power; and that the same Med shold prively do wame his frenies to make hem redy with hors and barneys agajm the same tyme; for which wamyng the same gentell man dar noght passe the toun of Harglagh &c And likest hit semeth to be soth be cause of the governance of the Walsh peple, for they selleth her catell, and byeth hem hors and hameys, and sume of hem steUeth hors, and sume robbeth hors, and purveyen hem of sadles, bowes, and arowes, and other hameys, &c. And rechelcs men of many divers cuntries voiden her groundes and her thrifty governance and assembled hem in dissolate places and wilde, and maken many divers congregaciones and meeynges pryvely, thogh her counsaile be holden yet secrete fro us, wherthrogh yong peple are the more wilde in governance." » A Proclamation, dated May 28th, 1401, in the second of Henry the Fourth, names Glyndowr and other rebels as assembling in the Marches of Caemiarthen. Adventurers now flocked to join the standard of Glyndowr: "Welsh labourers from every quarter of the kingdom, and M'elsh scholars from the Universities. There is an original Paper on this latter citcumstance, which fully corroborates the notice in the Rolls of Parliament. '» This also is preserved in the same \'^olume. A copy of it will be acceptable, at least to the Welsh Antiquary : '^ Howel Kethin bachiler of the lav, duelljrng in Myghell Hall at Ox. enford : " Maister Morres Stove of the Collage of Excestre at Oxenford : *' Jev* Cli^hith scoler, duellyng en Teusvikes In at Oxenford : " Blaister David Lcgct Brith, duelljmg in Teusvikes In at Oxenford. *^ John Lloid duelling in Cattestrete in Seint Marie entra . . ^* Johan Pole sais tliat Howel Kethin forsaide schuld have counseilled * MS. Cotton. Cleop. F. III. fol. 119 b. k Rot Pari. 3 Heiir IV. 140O— uoi. torn. iii. p. 4ST. Griff, ap. Jen* sckaier, that duelled undir Breythin, to go till Owein and duell with him, and for to become his mon. Also he sais that Maister Morees Stove was with Owein this somer last ypast. Also he sais that Owein send after Maister David Leget be him, that he schuld com till hym and be his man. Also he sais that Griff, ap Jevan forsaid told him that John Lloid assured him be his trowth that he schuld com to hym in to Wales for to be com Oweins man. '* I mong all othir things he confessed that he was y send be Owein for these clerks forsaide in to Englond, for to bryng hem to him iu to Wales. " Also he sais that Jank3m Tyby of the North country bringthe lettres owte of the Northe contre to Owein as thei demed from Henr. son Percy.** • The subsequent history of Lord Grey of Ruthyn may be here glanced at His capture by Glyndowr, his imprisonment, and his ransom, are matters of general History known to most readers; though the circum- stances of his capture are differently told. Some, both Welsh and English writers, affirm that a marriage with one of the daughters of Glyndowr was a principal condition of his liberty. ^ This statement is perhaps untrue. « It would be remarkable indeed if both Glyndowr's prisoners had married his daughters: for the same is related of Sir Edmund Mortimer. <* Nor did Lord Grey of Ruthyn die, as has been also stated, in confinement with Gl)mdowr : <^ for he served King Henry the Fifth both in his wars in France and with his fleet, and lived to the 19th of Henry the Sixth. ' The largeness of his ransom, however, crippled his means as a baron of the realm : this is expressly stated by Hard)mg in the unpublished IVIanuscript of his Chronicle which he pre- sented to King Henry the Sixth : " Soone after was the same Lord Gray in feelde Fyghtyng taken and holden prisoner By Owayne, so that hym in prison helde Tyll his raunson was made and f ynaunce cler Ten thousonde marke, and fully payed wer. For whiche he was go pote than all his lyfe. That tio powtr lie Juui to wfirt ne ttrvfe" •Cleop. F. iiLfoI. 54. b. *• So Fabyaii, eiUt. isii. p. 5T0. Lei. Collect, torn. i. p. 485> from an old Chro- nicle. Rapin, Hist. Engl, edit 1732. vol. i. p. 491. •• Dugdale in his Baronage, vol. i. p. TIT. gives him two wives, without naming the daughter of Glyndowr. " This Reginald," he says, " had two wives ; vir. Margaret the daughter of William Lord Ros, and Joane daughter and heir to William Lord Astley." Had Ix>rd Grey married a daughter of Glyndowr, he would hardly have been called upon for a ransom. Such an alliance could only have had identity of interest for its motive. •* Vita Ric. 11. |>er Mon. Evcsh. A. D. 140«. " Eodem anno dominus Edmundus Mortimer, circa festum S. Andres A|H)8toli, filiam praedicli Uwyni Glyndore de- spon&avit maxima cum solennitate." ' See Fabyan, p. 6T0. Hall, last edit p. 3S. Thomas'ft Memoirs of Owen Glen- dower, 8vo. Haverfordw. 1822. p. 86. ' Dugd. Bar. torn. i. p. tit. •i 10 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 11 I » LETTER III. The Prince, afterwards King Henry the Fifths to the Keepers of the Marches of Wales, upon his burning the txvo Residences of Owen Glyndowr. [ms. cotton, cleop. f. III. fol. 117 b. Or%g.\ •,• That Henry the Fifth, when Prince, was deejay engaged in the war with Wales, is a fact well known to History: * but that he went in person, at the very opening of it, to Glyndowrdy is new. We have here his own account of the expedition. Internal evidence fixes the date of this Letter to the year 1 401 or 1 402. Henry the Fourth, in the month of July in the latter year, made the first of his three expeditions against the Welsh ; ^ and the advanced attack appears to have heen made by his son. The Prince informs the Keepers of the IMarches of Wales, of Glyn- dowr^s intended inroads into England ; that hearing of his vaunts, that " he -wished to come to battle with the English^"^ he had sought him in his home; and had burnt both his Residences, his ^* principal mansion** at Saghebn, and his other at Glyndowkdy. Saghem was, no doubt, the same place which the Welsh bards caUed Sycharth, the description of which by Jolo Goch, one of Glyndowr's bards. Pennant has quoted as a description of Glyndowrdy. * Leland says, that " Owen Glindour had a place in Yale, upon the North side of De, caullid Raoartu, five mile above Dinas Brane :'* this was probably the place which is called Saghcrn in the Prince*t Letter. The traces of Glyndowrdy, in 1778, disappointed Pennant, who found the vestiges of the House smalL The moat was very apparent ; but the measurement of the area inclosed, was no more than forty-six paces by twenty-six. A note in the last edition of Pennant's Tour says, many of the vestiges have been since ploughed up, or otherwise destroyed. The Vale called Glyn-Dwrdwy, or the Valley of the Dee, extends about seven miles. • Th. Elmham Vita Henrici V. &\. Heame, p. 8. •> A. D. M.c(((.ii. " Rex Angliae ante festuni Assumptlonis Sancta? Marie, col- tectis exercitibud, profectus est in Walliaro ad persequendum Owcnuin de Glendor, »eil nihil profuit tantus annorum strepitus, cum Wallicui in noU Utibula se reccpit. quin potiiis (ut putatur) arte magica, regcm pend perdidit cum cxercitu ({uani du- ccbat, per pluvias, nivcs, ct grandincs (ut creiUtur) arte aiabolica concitatcs." T.Wal- Singh. Ili^t. edit. 1574. p. 4U7. « Tour in Wales. Depar le Prince Treschiers et tresentierment bien amez, Nous vous salvons tressouvent de notre entiercuer,en vous merciant treschierement de la bone consideracion quele vous avez a la bosoignes que nous touchent en notre absence ; et vous prions treseffectuousement de votre bone et amy- able continuance, come notre fiance est en vous. Et endroit des nouvelx par decea, si vous vuillez savoir, entre autres, nous estions nadegaires enfourmez que Oweyn de Glyndourdy fist assembler son pouair d'^au- tres rebelx de ses adherentz a grand nombre, purposant pur chivachier, et aussi corabatre si gens Englois lui voudroient resister de son purpos, et ainsi il se avantoit a ses gens ; per quoy nous prismes nos gens et alasmes a une place du dit Oweyn, bien edifie, que feu son prin- cipale mansion appelle Saghern, la ou nous supposasmes de lui avoir trove sil voussit avoir combatu en manere come il disoit ; et a notre venue illoeques, nous ne trovasmes nul home, einz nous fismes ardre toute la Translation. Very dear and entirely well beloved, we greet you much firom our whole heart, thanking you very dearly for the attention you have paid to every thing needful that concerned us during our absence ; and we pray of you very earnestly the continuance of your good and kind disposition, as our trust is in you. By way of news that have here occurred, if you wish to hear of them, we have among other matters been lately informed that Oweyn de Glyndourdyhas assembled hisforces, and those of other rebels adhering to him, in great number, purposing to conmiit inroads, and in case of any resistance being made to him by the English, to come to battle with them, for so he vaunted to his people: wherefore we took our forces and marched to a place of the said Owcyn,wcll-buiU, which was his princiiwl mansion, called Saghcrn, where we thought we should have found him, if he lud an inclination to fight in the manner be had said ; but on our arrival there, we found nolxxly ; and therefore caused the whole place to l>e burnt, and several other houses near it belonging Id his tenants. We thence marched 12 ORIGINAL LKTT£RS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 13 I'll place, et plusieurs autres maisons la entour de ses tenantz. Et puis nous enalasmes droit a son autre place deGlyndourdy,pur lui querer illoeques,et la nousfismes ardre un beau logge en son pare, et toute la paiis la entour. Et nous nous loggeasmes la delies toute ce noet, et certainz de noz gens isserent illoeques en la paiis, et pristerent un grand gentil de la paiis qi feu un des chiefteyns du dit Oweyn, li quel offrist cynk centz livres pur son ranson pur avoir eu sa vie, et d'^avoir paie la dit somme dedeinz deux semaignes ; nepurquant ce ne feu accepte, mes il avoit la niort ; et diverses autres de ses compaignons que furent prisez en la dit journee avoient le mesme. Et puis ce nous enalasmes en le Commote Dedimyon en . . . de Merionnyth et illoeques nous fismes ardre une beau paiis et bien enhabite; et dilloeques nous enalasmes en Powys, et setee de vitail por chivaux en Gales, nous fismes noz gens carier aveignes ove eulx, et nous hostasmes per . . . urs. Et pour vous enfourmer plus au plein de ceste journee, et de touz autres nouvelx Translation. straight to his other place of Glyndowrdy, to seek for him there, and we caused a fine lodge in his Park to be dcstroyotl by tire, and laid waste all the country around. We there halted all the night, and certain of our people sallied forth into the country, and took a gentleman of the neighbourhood who was one of the said Owcyn's chief- tains. This i)erson offered five hundred pounds for his ransom, to preserve his life, and to be allowed two weeks for the purpose of raising thai sum of money ; but the offer was not accepted, and he received death, as did several of his companions who were taken the same day. We then proceeded to the Commote of Edeynu* n in Merionethshire, and there laid waste a fine and populous country ; thence we went to Powys, and there being a want of provender in Wales for hones, we made our people carry oats with them, and pursued our march. And in order to give you full intelligence of this inarch of ours, and of every thing that has occurred here, we par decea de present, nous envoions pardevers notre tres- chier escuier John de Waterton, a qi vuillez adjouster ferme foye et credence en ce qil vous reportera de notre part touchant les nouvelx desuisdites. Et notre Seigneur vous ait toudys en sa sante garde. Donne soubz notre signet, a Shrouesbury le xv. jour de May. Trnnslatiofi. send to you our well beloved esquire John de Waterton, to whom you will be pleased to give entire faith and credence in what he shall report to you touching the events above mentioned. And may Our Lord have you always in his holy keeping. Given under our Seal at Shrewsbury the isth day of May. LETTER IV. Tlie Constable of Dynevor Castle, entreating for assistance against Owen Glyndowr. [mS. cotton. MU8. BRIT. CLEOP. T. III. fol. 111. Orig.'\ •^* This and the succeeding Letter seem to have been addressed to the Receiver of Brecknock ; and by him communicated to the King*8 CoimciL The First gives us no exalted notion of the Constable's courage. " A siege is ordained at the Castle that I keep, and that is great peril for me.'* *■'' V writ in haste and in dread.** From the Second we gain more important information. It acquaints us of the extent of force with which Gljmdowr moved in his inroads. When assailing D3mevor Castle, according to the calculation of his own adherents, he mustered eight thousand and twelve score spears, "*' such as they were.** The Welsh Castles, it must be observed, at this period, were not ex- tensively garrisoned. There is a Paper in old French, in the Volume from which these Letters are taken, of the very time of Glyndowr's re- bellion, which furnishes in few words the actual state of many of them. 14 ORIGINAL LETTEES. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 15 1 E At Conway, John de Mascy was constable of the Castle : he had fifteen men at arms and sixty archers with him : 39*. 2d, were allowed to main- tain this fortress per day, amounting in the year to £^^^. 15*. \0d. Caernarvon had John Bolde for its constable, with twenty men at armi and eighty archers : the annual maintenance amounted to £900. 6*. 8d. Crukkith Castle had Roger de Accon for constable, with six men at arms and fifty archers: annual maintenance £410. 14*. 2d. Hardelagh had Dycon le Mascy for constable, with ten men at arms and thirty archers : yearly maintenance £389. 6*. 8d. These were the Castles in North Wales belonging to the Prince; the total of their charges amounting to £2421. 3*. 4d, Denbigh Castle belonged to the Earl of March, and had been granted to Henry Percy : Beaumaris also belonged to Henry Percy, with the Isle of Anglesea. Of these Castles, IVIons'. de Rutland, with thirty men at arms and a hundred and twenty archers, kept Denbigh, at an annual expense of £1672. 18*. 4d. : John de Pulle, with fifteen men at arms and a hundred and forty archers, kept Beaumaris, at the yearly ex- pense of £988. 10*. \0d. The Casdes which belonged to the Prince as Chamberlain of Chester were Rudhlan and Flint. Of Rudhlan Henry de Conewey was constable, who kept it with nine men at arms and forty archers, at an expense of £422. 15*. lOd. Of Flint, Nicholas Hauberk was constable, with four men at arms and twelve archers : expense £146 per annum. • In none of these Castles was there such a force as could at any time venture upon a sally. Dure frende i do zow to wetyn that Oweyn Glyn- dour, Henri Don, Res Duy,*> Res ap Gr. ap Llewellyn, Res Gethin, han ywon the town of Kermerdyn, and Wygmor constable of the Castell hadd yzeld op the Castell of Kermerdyn to Oweyn ; and han ybrend the Town, and yslay of men of town mor than 1. men ; and thei budd yn ^ purpos to Kedweli ; and a Seche ^ ys y ordeynyd at the Castell that i kepe, and that ys » MS. Cotton. Cleop. F. III. fol. 124. *> The execution of "Rice ap Die," probably the wme penon , inthelith Hen. IV. will be hereafter mentioned. See the note in p. 44. • be in. '' Siege. gret peril for me, and al that buth wydde ine ; for thai han y mad har » avow that thei well al gat haue owss'> dede th'yn. Wher for I prei zow that ze nul not bugil** ous, ^ that ze send to ous-^ warning wyth yn schort time whether schull we have eny help or no ; and bot ther bn '' help comig '' that we have an answer, that we may come bi nizt and stell away to Brechnoc ; cause that we faylyth vitels and men, and namlich men. Also Jenkyn ap LI. hath y zeld op the Castell of Em- lyn wyth fru wyll ; and al so William Gwyn, Thomas ap David ap Gruff and moni gentils bun ^ yn person wyth Oweyn. Warning erof I prei that ze send me bi. the berer of thus K letter. Farydd well yn the nam of the Trinite. Y wryt at Dynevour, yn hast and yn dred, yn the fest of Seint Thomas the Martir. JANKYN HANARD Constable de Dynevmir. LETTER V. Second Letter from the Camtahle ofDynevor Castle. [mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOP. F. III. foL 123 b. Orig.'\ Dure frynd, y do zou to wytyng that Oweyn was in porpos toKedewelly, and the Baron of Carewe was that » their. • coming. 'l)een. ' boggle ? ■ this. ^ been. 16 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 17 day comyng wyth a gret reteiiu to ward Seint Cler, and so Oweyn changed is purpos and nxle to zens^ the Baron ; and that nyzt a logged hym at Seint Cler and destruid al the Contre about. And a tysday they weryn at Tretys al day ; and that nyzt he logged hym at the town of Locharn, sex myles out of the town of Kermer- dyn ; thys purpos ys zef so that the Baron and he a cordyth in tretys, than a tomyth a zein to Kermerdin for hys part of the godes, and Res Duy is'» part ; and mony of thes gret maistres stont' zet in the Castell of Kermerdyn, for they havenot y made her^^ ordinance whether the Castell and the Town scliall be brend or no, and ther for, zef ther is eny help comyng, hast hem with al haste toward ous for they mowe have godes and fytelles plente,for everych hous is full aboute ous of her pultre, and zet^' wyn and hony ynow in the Contre, and whet and ben, and al maner vitelles. And we of the Castell of Dunevor had tretys of ham Mon- day, Tywsday, and Wendysday, and now a woll or- deyn for ous to have that Castell for ther a castyth to ben y serkled thince, for that was the chef plas in old tyme. And Oweyn ys moster a Moliday was, as they seyyn hem'selvyn, viij. Mill, and xij"". spers, such as * they wer. Other tidyng y not now, bot God of Hevene sene^ zow and ous from al enemyes. Y wrytyn at Dynevor this Wednesday in hast. LETTER VI. Richard Kyngestm^ arcMeaccm of Hereford^ to King- Henri/ the Fourth. [ms. cotton, cleop. f. III. fol. 121 b. Ong.\ •»• The reader has now a Letter before him, partly in French and partly in English, from Richard Kyngeston, archdeacon of Hereford. From another I^etter in the Collection, which is also partly in French and partly in English, it appears that he was likewise Dean of St. George's Chapel at Windsor ; though he is not usually recorded as such in the Lists of Deans. His eagerness for the arrival of the King in Wales by forced marches, is expressed in his postscript, with an earnestness which is almost ludicrous. According to Le Neve's Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae, he ceased to be archdeacon of Hereford, by resignation, in 1404. From the words " en votre comencement" in this Letter, it is clear that it must have been written at an early period of the Welsh war. • against »his. stop. ' their. yet. '•end. NoTEE tresredoute et soverein Seigneur le Roy, je me recomande humblement a votre hautesse come votre petite creature et continuel oratour. Et notre tresre- doute et soverein Seigneur le Roy, vous plese a savoir qe de jour en autre y vienent Lettres de Gales conte- nantz Lettre illeoques par queles vous pVez entendre qe toute la pais est perdu sy vous ne venez le plus TrandatUm. Our most redoubted and sovereign Lord the King, I recommend myself hiunbly to your Highness as your lowly creature and continvuil orator. And our most redoubted and Mivoreign Lord, please you to know that from day to day Letters are arriving from Wales, conuining intelligence by which you may learn that the whole country VOL. I. SER. 2. . C 18 OBIOINAL LBTTERS. hastifment. Sur quoy vous plese vous taillor devers noz parties ave toute le poer qe vous poez enchivachant si bien de noet come de jour pour salvacion des parties. Et vous plese a savoir qe il est graunt vergoigne, si bien come per de qe vousperderez ou suffrez estre per- duz le pais, en votre comencement, qe voz nobles aun- cestres ount gaignez, et pour sy longe temps peisible- ment tenuz ; car les gentz parlont tresmalvaisement. Et j'envoie a votre noblesse la copie d'une Lettre qu'est venuz de John Skydmore ycest matin. Notre tresre- doute et soverein Seigneur le Roy, je pry a luy tout- puissant qil vous ottroie tresbonne vie et sainte, oue grant haste victoire de voz enemys. Escr. en^haste a Herford le viij**. jour de Juyll.^ Votre petite creature RICHARD KYNGESTON Ercedeakne de Herford. Translation. ia loat, if you do not go there as quick as powible. For which reason may " P>"*e you to prepare to set out with all the power you can muster, and march day and night for the salvation of those parts. And may it please you to reflect that it will be a great disgrace as well as loss, to lose or suflfer to be lost. In the beginning of your reign, a comitry which your noble ancestors have won, and for so long a time peaceably pos- HMBrt For people talk very unfavourably. And I send to your Highness the copy of a Letter which came from John Scudamore this morning. Our most redoubted and sovereign lord the King, I pray to the Almighty that he may grant you a happy md holy Ufe, with victory over your enemies. Written in haste, great haste, at Her©, ford, the 8th day of July. Your lowly creature, RICHARD KYNOB8TON, Arthdtaeon of Herejbrd. • The other Letter, mentioned in the Introduction to this, finishes in a similar nuuiuer: " Escript a Hereford en g. tresgrant haste a trois de la clocke aprcs noone Ic tierce jour de Septembre"— '• Treste «e nought to no Lieutenaunt." ORIGINAL LETTERS. 19 And for Godes love, my lyge Lord, thinkith on zour self and zoure astat, or bemy » trowthe all is lost elles ; but and ze come zoure self with haste all other woUe folwin aftir. And ot^ on Fry day last Kermerdyn town is taken and brent, and the Castell zoldenc be Ro. Wygmor, and the Castell Emelyn is y zoldin ; c and slayn of the toune of Kermerdyn mo thanne 1. per- sones. Writen in ryght gret haste on Sunday ; and y crye zow mercy and putte me in zoure hye grace that y write so schortly ; for, be my trowthe that y owe to zow, it is needful]. LETTER VII. John Skydmore^ to John Fairforde Receiver of Brecknock. [mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOP. F. III. fol. 120. Orig.'[ WoRscHiPFUL Sir, y recomand me to yow; and for as meche as y may nouzt spare no man from this place awey fro me, to certefie neyther the King ne my lord the ^rynce of the myschefs of this ^ Countrees abouute, c ne no man may pas by no wey hennes, y pray yow and requere yow that ye certefie hem f how al » by my. ** thew. '• qu. note, •about. ' yielded, 'them. c2 ^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 21 Hill Kermerdyn schire, Kedewely, Camwaltham, and Ys- kenyn ben sworyn to Oweyn yesterday, and he lay to nyzt was yn the Castel of Drosselan, with Rees ap Gruffuth ; and ther y was and spake with hym upon truys, and prayed of a saufconduyt '^ under his seal to send home my wif and hir moder and thair mayne,^ but he wolde none graunte me; and on this day he is aboute the towne of Kermerdyn, and ther thenkith to abide til he may have the Towne and the Castel ; and his purpos ys from thennes into Penbroke schire, for he halt c hym siker ^^ of al the Castell and Townes in Kedewelly, Gowerslonde, and Glamorgan, for the same cuntrees have undertake the seges of hem til thei ben wonnen. Wherfore wryteth to Sir Hugh Waterton, and to all thilke that ye suppose wol take this mater to hert, that thei exite the Kyng hederwardes in al hast to vengen hym on summe of his false tray tors the wheche he hath ovenneche chereyschid, and do rescowe the Townes and Casteles in these countres for y drede fulsore^ ther be to fewe trewe men in hem. Y can no more as nowe ; but pray God help yow and us that thenkeo to be trewe. Written at the Castel of Car- reckenen <^ the v. day of Juil. Yowres JOHN SKYDMORE. To John Fairferde, Rescevor of Brekenok. • f afe conduct. * f ure. b company, train. • full tore. • hokln. ' Carreg Cennen. LETTER VIII. The Mayor and Burgesses of Cairleon to those oj Maiiinouth^ upon tlie defeat of a part of Owen Glyndorvr's Army by the Lord of Carew. [MS. COTTOX. MU8. BRIT. CLEOP. F. III. foL 116. OHg.] •»• This Letter is curious on two accounts. It acquaints us with the defeat of a porUon of Glyndowr's forces by the baion of Carewe ; a fact unknown to our Historians ; • and it details a conference between Owen Glyndowr and one Hopkin ap Thomas, whom he held to be " master of Brut," as to what should be his fate hereafter, blaster of Brut means skiDed in the prophecies of Merlin, whose vaticinations form a part of the Brut of Oeoffi%y of Monmouth. Henry the Fourth and Glyndowr were both worked upon by ancient predictions; and each, it is probable, sought the type of the other in those numerous prophecies which our ancestors, in tlie thirteenth, four- teenth, and fifteenth centuries, were so fond of considering as in a state of progressive accomplishment. By the parties who met at the house of the archdeacon of Bangor, Henry the Fourth was quoted as die moldewarpe accursed of God • ^ while Glyndowr, Sir Henry Percy, and Sir Edmund Mortimer, were represented as the dragon, the lion, and the wolf, which should divide the realm between them. Such, says Hall, was " the deviation, and not divmation, of that mawmet Merlin." The sequel of Glyndowr's history •hows that Hopkin ap Thomas of Gower was not infallible as a seer. The baron of Carewe mentioned in this Letter must have been Ni- cholas Carewe of Carewe Castle in Pembrokeshire. Fenton, in his History of that County, p. 249, says that Carew was one of the royal demesnes belonging to the Princes of South Wales, and with seven others was given as a dowry with Nesta, daughter of Rhys ap • A defeat of Glyndowr by the lord of Powys is mentioned in a Letter of «;ir H«,«. Percy to wme bishop, dated from Denbigh, June 4th. without v^rM^rr^ Cleop. F. ,„. fol. :». Sir Henry had made an cxpcditioi to '^°lSyl?* HeTii then not ainiounced his deft-ction. ameriarys. He had k " Talpa, ore liei nutledicta, superba, miscra, et lurbida." ftSt ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIOINAL LETTERS. 2B Tewdar, to Gerald de Windsor, who was appointed lieutenant of thoM parts by Henry the First, on the outlawry of Amulph de Montgomery. His eldest son William succeeded him in the possession of this Castle as lord thereof, whose son Odo gave Redbard, near Carew, to the Knights of St John at Slebeck. His son William was the first who took the name of Carew, whose descendants for many generations enjoyed it, till Sir Edmond Carew mortgaged it to Sir Rhys ap Thomas, to enable him to go on the expedition to Therouenne, where he was killed by a cannon balL The estate was again granted in fee by King Charles the First to Sir John Carew, a descendant. Gretyng to yow our gode frendes and worschipful burgeis of Monemouthe, we do yow to understonde of tydynges the weche we have yherd of Owein Glyn- dor, that is to wete of Lettres under seel the wheche were y sende to us by the Capteyne of the towne of Kadewelly ; and in the Lettres wer y wrete words that ther was a day of batell ytake by twyxt the worthy Baron of Carewe and Owein Glyndor ; and we do yow to understonde that thys day of bataill schuld have be do the xii. day of Jule ; and the nyzt be fore that thys bataill schulde be do, Oweyne wes y purpos to have y voidede y m to the H ull azeinward ; and for he wold y wete whar his wey wer clere y nowe to passe, zyf he hede nede, to the Hull, he sende vii. C. of his meine» to serche the weyes, and thes vii. C. menne went to serche thys weyes, and ther thys vij. C. menne were y mette with the barons menne of Carew, and I slay up everychone that ther was nozt on that sc . . . alyve; and thes words buth ^ y do us to understonde that it is sothe with owte lesyng. And fforthermor we do yow to understonde that Oweine the ...... es in the ton ^ of Kairm'then he sende after Hopkyn ap Thomas of Gower to come and speke with hym upon trewes ; *> and when Hopkyn come to Owein, he pTede ^ hym, in as meche as he huld hym maister of Brut, that he schuld do hym to understonde how and what maner hit schold be falle of hym ; and he told hym wittliche that he schold be take with inne a bref tyme ; and the takyng schold be twene Kayrmerthen and Gower ; and the takyng schold be under a blak baner: knowelichyd that thys blake baner scholde dessese hym, and nozt that he schold be take undir // hym. No more con^ we say to yow at thys tyme, bote buth^ glad and mery, and drede yow nozt for we hopethe to God that ze have no nede. And we do yow to understonde that al thys tydyngs buth<^ sothe with oute doute. Per LE Maire Sf les Burgeis de Kairlyon. • town. <* i-an. •• truce, •be. ' prayed. many. "be. 24 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 25 II il LETTER IX. Sir Edmund Mortimer to his Tenantry^ announcing his coalition zvith Glyndowr, [hs. cottok. cleop. f. III. fol. 122 b. Orig.^ •^* This Letter lends its aid to the correction of an error into which the greater part of our Historians have fallen from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century. Walsinghara, Hall, Stowe, Dugdale in his Baronage, Rapin, Hume, and others, have uniformly represented Edmund Earl of 31 arch to have been taken prisoner by Owen Glyndowr, while, in fact, he wa:i at that time of tender age and a prisoner to King Henry the Fourth. Pennant in his Tour in Wales, Coxe in his Monmouthshire, Malone in his Notes on Shakspeare, and Dr. Sayers in his Disquisitions, have all noticed the error. The person opposed to, and captured by Glyndowr, was, in reality SiH Edmund Mortimer^ the uncle of the Earl of 3Iarch. The battle in which he was taken prisoner, was fought near Melienydd in Radnor- shire,* June 12th, 1402. Henry the Fourth subsequently refused him permission to pay a ransom ; the consequence of which was that he joined Glyndowr. The present Letter announces to his tenants his entrance into the league. Treschiers et bien amez vouz salue mielx souvent, et vous face a entendre que Oweyn Glyndor ad moeue une querelle la quelle est tieUe, qe si le Roy Richard Translation* Very dear and well beloved, I greet you much, and make known to you that Owen Glyndowr has raiseii a quarrel, of which the object is, if King Richard be alive, to I / soit en vie de luy restorer a sa coronne, et sinoun qe mon honore Neuewe q'est droit heir al dit coronne ser- roit Roy d'Engleterre, et qe le dit Oweyn avoreit son droit en Gales. Et je veiant et considerant qe la dite querelle est bone et reisonable ay assentee del j outrement estaier en la dite querele, et Taidere ei mayntener, et par la grace de Dieu a bon fyn, Amen : Vous enipant chierement de cuer qe vous voillez moy aider qe mon dit querele soit bonement achivee, et d'altre part voillez favoir qe les Seignories de Melle- nyth, Werthrenon, Raydre, Comot de Vdor, Arwystly, Keveilloc, et Kereynon sont ore tarde venuz en nos mayns. Pourquoy vous unqore emp'e qe vous ne facez ascun journay a mes dites terres, ne nullez damages a mes ditz tenantz, et vous eux deliverez vitailles sur certeyn resonable p'ce come vous voillez qieo ferray a vous le mesme, et de cestes moy voillez mander re- sponse. Treschiers et biens ames Dieux vous doyve Translation. restore him to his Crown, and if not, that my honoured nephew, who is the right heir to the said Crown, shall be King of England, and that the said Owen will assert his riglit in Wales. And I. seeing and considering that the said quarrel is good and reasonable, have consented to join in It, and to aid and maintain it, and, by the grace of God. to a good end. Amen ! I ardently hope, and from my heart, that you will supjwrt and enable me to bring this struggle of mine to a successful issue. I have morTOver to inform you that the Lordships of Mellenyth, Werthrenon, » Uaydre.i' the CommotofUdor.c Arwystly, <« Keveilloc, and Kereynon. are lately come into our pos- Mssion ; wherefore I moreover entreat you that you will forbear making inroad into my said lands, or to do any damage to my said tenantry, and that you furnish them with provisions at a certain reasonable price as you would wish that I should treat you : and upon this point be pleased to send me an answer. Very dear and well be- * Dugdale says, " upon tl>c mountain called Bryngla:>o, near Knighton in Mele- nyth." Bar. torn. i. p. 150. Withereinton. '• Raidrcy. C'omolhoydcr. "• Ewias Lacy ? ■«! : I m rr- £6 ORIGINAL LETTERS. grace de bien fair al comencement et vous amesne a bon fin. Escr. a Mellenyth le xiij. jour de Decembre. ESMON MOETEMEE. A mes trescli. et biens ames Mons^. Johan Greyndor, Howell Voug*in, et touts les gentielx et comunes ile Raydenor et Pres- hemde. Translation, loved, God give you grzce to prosper in your beginnings, and to arrive at a happy issue. Written at Mellenyth, the lath day of December. ■ DMUND MORTBMBK. To my very dear and well beloved M. John Greyndor, Howell Vaughan. and all the gentles and commons of Radnor and Preshemde. There are two circumstances connected with this Letter particularly deserving of remark. One, that Sir Edmund J\Iortimer appears doubtful in it whether King Richard the Second was alive or dead. The other, that when speaking of the division of the Kingdom, he makes no mention of the share which was to fall to the Percies. Opinion certainly wavered, at this time, as to Richard*s positive fate; though conjectured, it was not known. There can be no doubt that the Proclamation of Henry the Fourth against the Inventors of false Reports, dated at Westminster, June 5th, in this very year, was intended to satisfy those who continued uncertain. It states that rumours had been hinted to the ears of the foolish that King Richard, his last predecessor, was still alive in Scotland, and that he was coming with the Scots to invade the realm; whereas, in truth, the said Richard was dead and buried: " quod dominus Ricardus nuper Rex Angliae, ultimus prjedecessor noster, adhuc vivit in Scotia^ quodque in manu forti, ac vexillo protenso, veniet una cum Scotis in dictum regnum nostrum, ipsum, et nos, ac ligeos nostros protinus invasurus, cum in ret veritate prirfatus RICARDUS sit MORTUU8 et SEPULTUS."* Upon the omission of the Percies, we have only to observe that Sir Ed- mund Mortimer's Letter is dated December the 14th, and that the tri- • Rym. FaMl.tom. rlii. p. 261. t laus. 3 Hen. IV. p. i, m. 13 d. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 27 partite Indenture of Partition was not finally agreed upon till toward the middle of the next year. The negotiation for the partition of the King- dom seems to have originated with Mortimer and Glyndowr only. The battle of Shrewsbury was fought on July 21 st, 1403. The Manuscript Chronicle already named, compiled by one of the chaplains to King Henry the Fifth," gives the particulars of the final Treaty signed at the House of the archdeacon of Bangor more amply than they can be found elsewhere. The Severn, the Trent, and the Mersey, were to shut in Owen's territory ; while the Percies were to have not only all that was North of Trent, but LeiceitertMre, Northamptonshire^ War- itickshire, and even Norfolk. Sir Edmund Mortimer (not the ne- phew whom he speaks of in his Letter,) was to content himself with the remainder. The expectation declared in this Treaty that the con- tracting Parties would turn out to be the persons spoken of by Merlin, who were to divide the Greater Britain, as it is called, amongst them, corroborates the story told by Hall. The whole passage Ls here sub- mitted to the reader's perusal : the words are evidently those of the Treaty. " Hoc anno Comes Northumbriae fecit legiam, et confederationem, et amicitiam cum Owino Olcndor et Edmundo de Mortuo mari, filio quon- dam Edmundi Comitis Marchi», in certis articulis continentibus formam quae sequitur et tenorem. Primo quod iidem domini, Owinus, Comes, et Edmundus, erunt amodo ad invicem conjuncti, coiifcederati, uniti, et ligati vinculo veri foederis et verae amicitiae, certaeque et bona unionis. Iterum quod quilibet ipsorum dominorum honorem et commodum alio volet et prosequetur, ac etiam procurabit dampnaque et gravamina quae ad unius ipsorum notitiam devenerit, per quoscumque alicui ipsorum in- ferenda, impedient bona fide. Quilibet quoque ipsorum apud alium aget et faciet ea omnia et singula quae per bonos, veros, et fidos amicos, bonis, veris, et fidis amicis agi et fieri debent et pertinent, fraude et dolo cessan- tibus quibuscumque. Item si et quotiens aliquis ipsorum dominorum sciverit vel cognoverit aliquid gravaminis sive dampni procurari sive ymaginari per quoscumque contra alium, ipse aliis, quam citius commode fieri poterit, ea significabit, et ipsos de et super hoc adjuvabit, ut adversus malicias hujusmodi, prout ei visum fuerit, sibi valeat providere. Solliciti quoque erunt quUibet ipsorum dominorum impedire dampna et gravamina praedicta bona fide. Item quilibet ipsorum dominorum in tempore necessitatis, prout decet, juxta posse, alium adjuvabit Item si dispo- NEKTE Deo apparent prafatis Dominis ex processu temporis, quod ipsi sunt ccedcm persona: dc quibus PropJieta loquitur^ inter quos reoimex • MS. Sloan. Brit. Mus. 1776. fol. 42 b. Another Copy of this Chronicle occur» MS. RcfT. IS C. I. ) / r h \ It Ml fW' '4\ t1 28 OKIGINAL LETTERS. BRiTANKiiH Majobis d'widi (kbeat et partlri, tunc ipsi laborabunt et quilibet ipsorum laborabit, juxta posse, quod id ad effectum efticaciter perducatur. Quilibet quoque ipsorum contentus erit portione r^ni prae- dicti sibi ut infra scribitur limitata, absque ulteriori exactione seu supe- rioritate quacunque, ymmo quilibet ipsorum in portione hujusmodi sibi limitata aequali libcrtate gaudebit. Item, inter eosdem Dominos unani- miter conventum et concordatum existit, quod pra;fatus Owinus et h»re- des sui habeant totam Cambriam sive Walliam, sub finibus, limitibus, et bundis infrascriptis, a Leogrea qua vulgariter Angliam nuncupatur, di- visam ; viz. a mari Sabrino sicut flumen Sabrinum ducit de mari, de- scendendo usque ad borialem portam civitatis Wigomise, et a porta ilia directe usque ad arbores fraxineas in lingua Cambriensi sive Wallensi Ouuene Margion vulgariter nuncupatas, quae in alta via de Brigenorth ad Kynvar ducente crescunt ; deinde directe per altam viam, qua vetus sive antiqua via vulgariter nuncupatur, usque ad caput sive ortum flu- minis de Trent, deinde directe usque ad caput sive ad ortum fluminin Meuse vulgariter nuncupati, deinde, sicut illud flumen ad mare ducit, descendendo infra fines, limites, et bundas suprascriptas. Et prjefatus Comes Northumbriae habeat sibi et haeredibus suis comitatus infra- scriptas, viz. Northumbr. M'estmorland. Lancast. Ebor. Lincolniam, Notyngam, Derb. Stafford. Leycestr. Northampton, M'arwic. et Nor- ffolch. Et dominus Edmundus habeat totuni residuum tocius Anglis integre sibi et successoribus suis. Item quod pugna, riota, seu discordia inter duos dominorum ipsorum, quod absit, oriatur, tunc tertius ipsorum dominorum, convocato ad se bono et fideli consilio, discordiam, riotam, seu pugnam hujusmodi debite reformabit; cujus laudo sive sentcntia? discordante hujusmodi obedire tenebuntur. Fideles quoque erunt ad de- fendendum regnum contra omnes homines, salvo juramcnto ex parte prae- fati domini Owini illustrissimo Principi domino Karolo Dei gratia Fran- corum Regi, in ligea et confederatione inter ipsos initis et factis prastito. Et ut pradicta omtoia et singula bene et fideliter observentur, ipsi domini Owinus, Comes, et Edmundus, ad sacrum corpus dommicum quod per- severant jam contemplans et ad sancta Dei Evangelia per eosdem cor- poraliter tacta jurarunt pramissa, omnia et smgula, sicut poese eorum, inviolabiliter observare, et sigiUa sua altematim praesentibus in testimo- nium apponi fecerunt." The variance between the Percies and King Henry the Fourth, is re- presented by Hardyng to have originated in three causes : in their own refusal to give up certain prisoners of rank who had been Uken at the batde of Homildon ; in the King's refusal to let Sir Edmund Mortimer pay a ransom; and in an interview between Sir Henry Percy and ORIGINAL LETTERS. J29 Olyndowr, which had excited the King»s particular jealousy. * Speaking of Sir Henry Percy, Hardyng says, " The Kyng hym blamed for hi toke not Owen, When he came to him on his assuraunce ; And he aunswered then to the Kyng again. He might not so kepe his affiaunce. To shame hym self withe suche a variaunce. The Kyng blamed hym for his prisoner Th' Erie Douglas, for cause he was not there. And saied he should hym fette but he hym sende. Sir Henry sawe no grace for Mortimer His wife's brother ; he went away unkende To Berwyk so, and after came no nere. Afore> Leland, in his Collectanea, quotes a passage from another Chronice, which describes some more minute particulars of the opening of the quar- rel between Sir Henry Percy and the King : " Comes Northumbria petiit ab Henrico rege pecuniam sibi debitam pro custodia Marchia Scotia. Cui rex respondit, ' Aurum non habeo ; aurum non habebis/ Venit simUiter fiUus comitis, Henricus Percy, qui sororem Edmundi de Mortuo mari, capUvi in Wallia, habebat in uxo'rem, rogans regem ut permitteret Edmundum redimi de proprio: cui Rex respondit * quod cum pecunia regni non fortificaret inimicos suos contra se.* Henricus Percy dixit, 'Debet homo sic se exponere periculo pro vobis et regno vestro, et non succurretis ei in periculo suo ?* Et Rex iratus dixit, * Tu es proditor. Vis ut succurram inimicis meb et regni ?* Cui Henricus, ' Proditor non sum, sed fidelis; et ut fidelis loquor.' Rex traxit contra eum pugionem. ' Non hie,* dixit Henricus, « sed in CAMPO,* et recessit*' •= • An early notice to the King's Council, of presumed intercourse between Hotspur and Glyndowr, has been already mentioned in p. 9. »> Hardyng's Chrotiicle, ijio. Lond. 1812, p. 360, 861. '■ Lei. Collect, torn. i. p. si9. Ex Paralipom. sive Derelicti* ab autore Eulogii. 30 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 31 it 11 m I LETTER X. Henri/ of Scharisbrec^ Lieutenant qfConwat/ Castle^ to William Venables of Kindert&ti Constable of Chester^ and Roger Brescy. [mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CLEOP. F. III. foL 40 b. Orig,'\ •^* Henry Sharesbrok, Esq. occurs in the muster roll of the 3d of Henry the Fifth, as furnishing two horsemen beside himself in the expe- dition to France. This and the four succeeding Letters were probably written about 1404. Stowe, under that year, says, "All the summer Owen Olendouerdew and his Welshmen rob, bume, and destroy the countries adjoyning unto them. He tooke many captives ; and slew many Englishmen. He laid flat certain castles, and some he kept for his own defence." * Ryght worschipful Sirs I comand me to zow lawly, dissyryng euirmore to here of zoure worschipe, the whyche I pray to God euyrmore encrese. Worschepful Sirs if hit lyke zow to wete the abot^ of Conway has send wort to some of the godmen ^ of the ton & to me, how that ther ame comyn vi Schippis owte of Fraunce in to Llene w* wyn & specery ful ladyn. Wherfore, worschepful Sirs, wold ze voche saue^ to send word to my lord or to his consayl therof, if thai wil oght ordayn for hom; for worschepful Sirs, vs th3mke that and thay wer takyn hastyly hit wer grete profyt, in a gret abayschynge to oure enmyes. Worschepful Sirs, the • Annales, p. 330. edit. 1681. c good men. baUwt. <• vouchsafe. Holy Gost kepe zow in hon's. Wrytyn at Conwey the xxvj day of Feuyrzer. Be HENR. OF SCHARISBREC Leute7iant to Sir John ofBolde at Conway. LETTER XI. William Venables ofKinderton and Roger Brescy, to the King, upon the capture of the Constable of Harlech Cattle. [mS. cotton. CLEOP. F. III. foL 39 b. Orig.^ Tresexcellent et tresredoute Seigneur liege, nous recomandons a votre Excellencie oue toutz maneres services et subjections. Et pleise a votre roial Ma- gestee entendre que ycy lundy darrein passee a haut nuyt Roger de Bolton receivor de Denbiegh nous envoia parole par un vallet que le Conestable de Har- delagh en Northgales et deux valletz ovesque lui sont pris par les Gales et amesuez a Oweyn de Glyndour, et que le Chastell est en grand peril que Dieu pour sa Translation. Mo*t excellent and dread sovereign Lord, We recommend ourselves to your Excellency in all manner of 8er^'ices and subjections. And may it please your Royal Majesty to be informed that on Monday last, in the dead of night, Roger de Bolton, receiver of Denbigh, sent us word, by a servant, that the Constable of Hardelagh in North Wales, and two servants with him, have been taken by the Welsh and car- ried to Owen de Glyndowr, and that the Castle is in great jeopardy, which God in ?? \h\ m 32 ORIGINAL LETTEES. mercie la sauve. qar a ce qil nous ad certifie y ne sont paas deinz mesme le Chastell forsq^ cynk hommes Engleys et bien entour xvj. hommes Gales. Paront pleise a votre treshaute Excellencie, par avis de votre tressage Conseil, eut ordeigner remedie tiel que pleiser soit a votre trespuissant Seigniorie. Et la hautisme Trinitee, notre tressouveraigne et tresredoute Seigneur liege, vous ottrois prosperitee et la victorie de touz voz enemy s oue bone vie a long durer. Escr. a Cestr. le XV. jour de Janver. Voz poueres lieges et subgitz, WILLIAM VENABLES dc KiTiderton & ROG. BRESCY.* Translation, his mercy avert ; for according to what he states, there are in the Castle no more than five Englishmen and about sixteen Welshmen. Wherefore may it please your high Excellency, by the advice of your wise Council, to orilain such remedy as shall be most pleasing to your most puissant Lordship ; and the high Trinity, our most sovereign and most redoubted liege Lord, grant you prosperity and victory over all your enemies, with a happy life long to continue. Written at Chester the 16th day of January. Your humble lieges and subjects, WILLIAM VKNARLES of Kinderton, and RoosK bmcscy. * William Vknables was the second son of Hugh baron of Kinderton. He wai constable of Chester castle, and deputy- warden of the Marches of Wales. His elder brother Sir Richard Venables, baion of Kinderton, being wounded and taken pri- MHner was, with Sir Thomas Percy and several others, beheaded by King Henry th« Fourth after the battle of Shrewsbury. See Walsingh. edit. 1572. p. 411. Of the Brsscy family, an account will be found in Ormerod's Hist of Chethire, vol. iii. p. 178. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 33 LETTER XII. William Venables and Roger Brescy to the King, upon the seccmd Assault of Caernarvon Castle by Owen Glijndowr and the French, [MS. COTTON. CLEOr. F. III. foL 39 b. Ori^.J Trespuissant et tresredoute Seigneur liege, nous nous recommandons a votre tressouvereigne Seigneur oue toutz maneres honeres et reverences. Et pleise a votre roial Magestee entendre que Robert Parys le puisne Conestable du Chastell de Caemarvan nous ad certifiee per un femme, a cause qil navoit homme ascun qi osa venir, ne homme ne femme null ose ascun lettre porter pour les rebelles Gales qe Oweyn de Glyndour ouesque les Fraunceys et tout son autre poair se tail- lent d^assailler les ViUe et Chastell de Caemarvan, et a commencer le jour de la fesance dicestes ovec esgynes sowes, et laddres de tresgi^and longure, et ne sont mie Translation. .Und that n„ben P.n-,u,. d,Xco„.ibl. t^' '""" "'"•«' "''«•? "> ""to- Ihrough . woman. bJiu« U,^ wL „„ "^"j ^ho rTT ''"'" '"' """'"»<' "' nor woman dare carry letUr. on ac«>,,^.Tf ,k ^ *" """'• '°' ■>«*« """> -U. o.C«m.r.on. and u, '^^^>^^^^lZZZ-:^:lTJ:ZrJi «;i"XXtfTr7jr.''!r.r:"?THr '* •-• -^ ^ «•» - Sow, the ancient. Vinea : becaui the T;.^ T f " °" "'"''' "« «>" Ok proceed to undermine the foundation. 0,0:^:^:^/'^^.^,"^^^ « -• VOL. I. SER. 2. m \w a4 ORIGINAL LETTERS. deinz mesmes les Ville et Chastell en tout outre xxviij. hommes defensibles, q'est trop petit force, qar y sont xj. de les meillors hommes qestoient la dedeinz al darrein assege illeoques fait ore mortz, ascuns des plaies qils avoient a temps d assaut a eux fait, et ascuns de pesti- lence, sic^ les ditz Chastell et Ville sont en grand peril sicome le portor dicestes vous savera enformer par bouche, a qi pleise a votre hautesse doner ferme foi et credence, qar il sciet vous enformer de tout la veritee. Et luy toutpuissant Dieux vous ottrois, notre tres- redoute Seigneur liege, prosperitee et bon exploit en- tres touz voz affairs. Et pleise a votre hautesse re- garder un lettre enclos dedeinz cestes quele Reignald de Baildon un des Gardeins de la Ville de Conewey nous envoia huy ce jour, touchant lestat de votre Seignorie de Northgales. Escr. a Cestre la xvj. jour de Januer. Voz poueres lieges WILLIAM vENABLEs de Kyndertou & ROG. BRESCY. Translatiofu of great length ; and in the town and castle there are not in all more than twenty- eight fighting men , which is too small a force ; for eleven of the more able men who were there at the last siege of the place are dead ; some of the wounds they received at the time of the assault, and others of the plague ; so that the said castle and town are in imminent danger, as the bearer of this will inform you by word of mouth, to whom your Highness will be pleased to give full faith and credence, as he can inform you most accurately of the truth. And may Almighty God grant to you, mo«t re- doubted Lord, prosperity and success in all your undertakings. And please it to your Highness to look at a Letter, here enclosed, which Reginald de Baildon, one of the Keepers of the town of Conway, has sent us this day, concerning the sUte of your Seignory of Northwales. Written at Chester the leth day of January. Your poor lieges WILLIAM VBNABLB8 (*f KindtrtOH, and ROOKR BRKKY. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 35 LETTER XIII. Reynold of Bayldon me of the Keepers of Conway to William Venables, Constable of Chester^ and Roger Brescy. [MS. COTTON. MU8. BRIT. CLEOP. P. HI. foL 39. Orig.] Worshipful Sirs I recomaunde me to zow with al my herte; doyng zow to wndirstonde that al Caer- naruan shire purposin hem in al the haste that thae mae for to go into the y le of Anglesey for to haue owte al the men & al the catel there, & for to bryng hit with hem into the mowntens, leste Englishemen shulde be refreshitte therwith. Also the Frenshemen makyn al the ordenaunce that thae mae or can for to assaele the towne of Caemaruan in al the haste that thae mae, knowyng wel that the towne is more febil nowe then hit was the laste tyme that thae were before hit ; for- asmuche as a hepe of the beste that were in Caemar- uan that tyme bene god betaghte sethin, and as hit semeth to me hit were nedeful that thae hade helpe in haste tyme. Ferthirmore hit was done me to witte this same dae be a mon of Kryketh for certen, that William Hunte Constabil of Hardelagh, opon teisdae that laste was, cam owte of the Castel for to trete with the rebell withowte any ostage laede in for hym. And that the same tyme Robin of Holond, and othir with d2 1*' 36 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I hym, the wheche toke Jankyn Euor, laetle honde o}X)u the same William & lad hym awae, & two zemen with hym ; one, Jak Mercer, & that othir Harry Baker. And what thae did with hem I connot sae at this tyme. Also Fevian Colier is full seke, gif he be on life ; And mony of the sowdiors bene dede there of the pestelence, and sum drevyn owte amonge the rebell, and sum gone into Englond, and sum slaene in the wae toward Eng- lond. But Sir Lewes & the remenant of the sowdiors kepyn the Castel welynogh yet. Also wil ze witte that the sowdiors there tokyn the keis of the Castell from the same constabil for sum thinfjes that thae fonde with hym ; and tokyn him to Fivean & to sir Lewes for to have hem in kepyng al this qwarter of a zere gone. Wherfore I beceche zow hertly that ze wil sende warnyng to my lord in al the haste that ze mae wel, towching the maters before saede, so that my lorde mae be aviset whatte is best to do thereof. Also dure sirs I dar sae to zow in councel that I durste lae my hede that and there were two hundret men in Conowey, and two hundret in Caernaruan, abiding there from condilmesse in til the feste of saynt Ph. and Jacob, that the conmiuyns of Caen'*shire woldyn cum to pees, and pae hor duitis to my lord as wel as evir thae diddyn ; and zif hit be tariet til sumyr hit wil not be solightly, for then the rebell mae lie withowte, & so thae mae not nowe. Also I have herde my selfe mony of the gentilmen & of the commyns of M'yonnyth ORIGINAL LETTERS. 37 shire & of Caern'shire swere that al men of the for- saede shirs cxepte fowre or five gentilmen & afewe vacaboundis, woldin faene cum to pees so that EngUshe- men were lafte in the cuntre for to helpe to kepe hom from mysdoers, and namely for to cum into the cuntre whil the weddir were colde. And hit semeth to mony men hit were bettyr that suche a cumpany were in the cuntre for to make leve^» of my lord is dette, & for to take hor wagys of the same dette, then for to lette the rebell haue al. More con J not write at this tyme, but God that is heuen king have zow in his holy kepyng. Writtyn in hast at the ton of Conowey the settirdae nexte aftyr the feste of the Epiphanie. Zor poure servant REYNALD OF BAYLDON one of' the Keperz of Conowey, LETTER XIV. Henry of Sclmrhhrec to William Venables and Roger Brescy, that Owen Ghjndowr was likely to get pos- session of Harlech Castle, [»IS. COTTON. MU8. BEIT. CLEOP. F. 111. foL 40b. Orig.\ WoHscHEPFUL Siris if hit like zow to wete ther is a lytil mon w^ Hawel Vaghan that was takyn when the • levy. 38 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 39 I 1 m w constabuU of Hardlagh wos takyn, & is sworne to Awyn^ agaynis his will, & he has sendys vs word priuy ly how his may sty r has word for soche that Awyn' has byen at Hardlagh & is accordit with all the men that ame theinne save vij, for to have dilyverance of the Castell at a certayn day for a certayn some of gold, & the day is in ryght hasty tyme hot he wot not when, & bot if hit be ryght sone ordaynt fore hit is lost &, so is all the countre ther aboute. Worschipful Sir, wil ze vouchesafe when ze hau oversen this, to send hit to my maystir Sir John of Bolde, and makis ordinance as zo thenke be to do. Worschipful Sirs the holy Trinite kepe zow. Wrytyn in grete hast at Conway the xxvi day of feuyrzer. From HENR. OF SCHARISBREC. LETTER XV. Henry Prince of Wales to his Father King Henry the Fourth upon further successes against the Parti' zans of Glyndowr. [m9. cotton, cleop. f. III. foL 69. OrigJ] *J* The original of this Letter was printed by Rymer, *» and imper. fectly translated by Mr. Luders in his Tract on the early life of Henry the Fifth ; who from misunderstanding two words in it, conceived that there was an omission of a sentence. Carte, in his History of England, vol. ii. p. 6f>5, speaking of Henry the Fourth's expedition into Wales in 1405, after his return from Northumberland, thus notices the Victory mentioned in the Letter. ** Prince Henry, his eldest son, had paved the way for his success, by a considerable victory, which he had gained in the beginning of this year, on March 11th, over Griffith, the eldest son of Owen Gljmdourdwy; who had sent him with an army of eight thousand men into Glamorgan, shire. They had come to an engagement at Mjmydh Pwlwellin, near Grosmont in Monmouthshire : and Griffith, after a sharp action, had been defeated, with the loss of eight hundred of his men slain on the spot, and about as many more, himself one of the number, taken prisoners. Among the dead bodies was found one, which much resembled Owen, and this gave occasion to a current report that he was slain : but it appeared after- wards to be the corpse of his brother Tudor, who was so very like him, that they had been often taken for one another, and were hardly to be distinguished, but by a wart which Owen had over one of his eyebrows. The report, however, disheartened the Welsh exceedingly : and the people of Glamorgan made their submission ; except a few who repaired to Owen, when they had intelligence of his being alive." * MouN tresredoubte et tressovereign Seigneur et Piere, le plus humblement que en mon cuer je scey penser me recomande a votre roiale Majestee, humble- ment requerant votre graciouse benison. Mon tres- redoute et tressoverein Seigneur et Piere, je supplie vraiement que Dieu monstre graciousement pour vous son miracle en toutes parties, loez soit il en toutes ses oeures ; car mescredy, le xj. jour de cest present moys « Trantlation, My most redoubted and most sovereign Lord and Father in the most humble manner that in my heart I can devise I recommend mc to your royal Majesty, hum- bly requesting your gracious blessing. My most redoubted and most sovereign Lord and Father, I sincerely pray that God will graciously show his miraculous aid toward you in all places; praised be he in all his works ; for on Wednesday the eleventh of 'I • Owen. i> Feed. torn. viii. p. soo. * Carte hai not named his authority fur these particulars : he probably quotes WyniM. 40 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 41 I* ' de Mars vos rebelx des parties de Glomorgan, Mor- gannok, Uske, Netherwent, et Overwent, feurent as- semblez a la nombre de oyt Mil gentz par leure aconte demesne. Et s'en alerent le dit mescredy, par matyn, et arderent part de votre Ville de Grosniont dedeinz votre Seigneurie de Monmouth et Jennoia. Tantost hors moun trescher cousin le Sire de Talbot, et mon petit meigne de mon hostel, et a eux assemble- rent vos foialx et vaillans chivalers William Neuport et Johan Greindre, lesqueux ne feurent q'un tres petit povoir en tous : mes il est bien voirs que la Vic- toire n'est pas en la multitude de poeple, et ce feut bien monstre illeoques, mes en la puissance de Dieu. Et illoeques, par Taide de la benoite Trinitee, voz Gens avoient le champe, et vainquerent tous les ditz rebelx, et occirent de eux par loiali aconte en la champ a leure revenue de la chace aucuns dient viij C. et aucuns dient Mil, sur peine de lour vie ; nientmeins, soit il Fun ou Tautre, en tiel aconte, je ne vuille pas contendre. Translation. this present month cf March your rebels of the ,>arts of GUmorgan. MorRannok. Usk. Netherwent. and Overwent, assembled to the number of eight thousand men accordmg to their own account. And they went on the same Wednesday, in the morning, and burnt a part of your town of Grosmont within your Lordship of Mon- mouth and Jenno^. Presently were out my welbeloved cousin the Lord Talbot an 42 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 43 Such are the Letters, hitherto, with one exception, unknown, which illustrate the History of Owen Glyndowr. The genius of this extraordinary chieftain has been already mentioned as adapted more to rapine than to regular warfare. One instance only occurs in these letters in which he used military engines when besieging a fortress. The mischief which he did to Wales in the short period of fifteen years was incalculable. Leland, in his Itinerary, has recorded a few instances of his deprcda- tions. *' Montgomericke, deflorischid by Owen Glindour."* " Radenor partely destroied by Owen Glindour, and the voice is there that, an he wonne the Castel, he tooke a thre score men that had the garde, and causid them to be heddid on the brinke of the Castel yarde."'* At Comehere abbey, ^^ all the Howse was spoiled and defaced be Owen Glindour.** <^ ^^ The people about Dinas did bume the Cartel there that Oene Glindour shuld not kepe it for his fouteres.'*'* " The toun of the Hay within the waulles is wonderfully decaied. The mine is adscribed to Oene Glindour." « Beside these, the towns of Cardif, Abergavenny, Grosmont, Usk, and Pool, the bishop*s castle and the archdeacon*s house at IJandaf, with the cathedrals of Bangor and St. Asaph, were all, either in part or wholly, victims of his rage. The List might be much aug- mented by turning to our Historians. ' Previous to the revolt of the Percies, Henry the Fourth's own warfare against Glyndowr was remarkably unsuccessful : so much so, that his failure was universally ascribed to the arts of witchcraft : " The King had never but tempetit foule and raine, . As long as he was ay in Wales grounde ; Rockes and Mystes, Winds and Stormes, certaine All men trowed Witches it made that stounde." i » Leland. Itin. vol. v. fol. 3. •> Ibid, and vol. vii. p. i. fol. 2T. c Ibid. fol. 15. <* Ibid. foL 09. « Ibid. fol. 7S. f At Cardif, as we are informed by Lelaiid from an ancient chronicle, Glyndowr burnt the whole town, except the Street in which the Franciscans dwelt: " iiuem, amore fratrum cum Conventu stark pbrmisit. Cepit in.su|>eT Castrum, et de- struxit, multasque divitias ibi repositas abstulit. Et cum Fratrcs Minores petcrcnt ab eo litMros suos et calices, yuo* in Castro deposuerant, respondit, * Quare posuistis vestra bona in Castro ? Si ea retinuissetis apud vo*, balva vobis fuiuenW " Lei. Collectan. tom. ii. p. 813. From a previous passage it should seem that the Francis- cans were at least suspected of contributing money to support Glinduwr's cause. A. D. 1403. •* Fama publica erat Fratres Minores misisse magnam summam pe- cunis Audoeno Glindour, ut in Angliam veniret." The Franciscans had been long favourable to the cause of Richard the Second. That monarch, in his last distress, had assumed their habit as a disguise. B Hardyng's Chron. edit 1813, p. 36a So Walsingham, ed. 1574, p. 40T. A. D. 1403. " Rex AnglisE? ante festum assumptionis S. Marisr. collectis excrcitibus, pro- fectus est in Walliam ad persetiuendum Owenum de CUendor, sed nihil profuit tantas armorum strepitus, cum Wallicus in nota latibula se recepit, quin |>otlus (ut putatur) art emuf^ica rkgbm pene perdidit, cum exercitu quein ducebbt, per pluvias, nives, et grandines (ut creditur) arte diabolica concitata*," The Monk of Evesham, speaking of Henry's second expedition, says, that he could never find Gljmdowr : " Ipsum vero Glyndor nee vidit, nee ubi esset aliquid audivit." • The tacticks, however, which suited the savage fastnesses of Wales were no longer either profitable or expedient when Henry was really to be met by a powerful combination in the field. Glyndowr missed the cri- tical moment. Had he joined his forces to those of Sir Henry Percy at the battle of Shrewsbury, there seems ground to believe that Henry the Fourth must have been defeated. >> Owen tried to repair the oversight by introducing French auxiliaries, who arrived sometime in 1405, and for a while upheld his cause; but, though successful, they found little to be gained by remaining in a ra- vaged country. They left him to drag his war out upon his own re- sources."^ The remainder of Glyndowr's life was distinguished by few exploits. He maintained his resistance without being really formidable. At one time he certainly struck a panic into England. From the MS. of the Historia A urea of John of Tinmouth, in the Library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, we learn that the following miserable hexameter was inscribed upon the waU at the end of the Monk's Choir of St. Alban's Abbey : ** Chnste Dei splendor, supplico tibi destrue Gleendor." «• Glyndowr's death is usuaUy placed in 1415. • Viu Ric. II. ed. Heame. *> There is a very curious Letter in old French, in the volume which has been so often quoted, from Sir John de Stanley to King Henry the Fourth, dated July 30th, probably in 1406. It seems to have been written after the King had had some suooeu against the Welsh, an account of which he had communicated to Sir John at Lathom House, in Lancashire. From it we leam that Glyndowr had summoned his Parliament, not at Melenyth but at Harlech, and, at that time, formed the hope of coming to a Treaty. He says, upon the day on which the King's Letters arrived, David Whitmore and Jevan ap Meredith, two of the most considerable persons of the County of Flint, came to him to talk upon the news of Wales : " Et auxi ils mont dit coment Owen de Glendoredes ad somone un Parlement de present a Haroklaoh Ion terront quatre* dea plus suffisants persones de checun Comote ■ parmy tout Gales soubz *fl obbeisanee estcantz, et auxi tres redoute Seigneur les ditz David et Yevan mont dit qen taunt qils puissent savoir a celle temps que le dit Owen roeisqil poet estre scure a son dit Parlement d'avoir trop fort poueir et graunde eide hors de Fraunce, i7 soy -purpose dCenvoier a vous trespuissant Seigneur apres relle son Parlement avauntdit, pour vs trbitk; et mesmes lez David et Yevan sont alez au dit Parlement pour eut savoir tout le purpos et exploit d'icelle et de moy reen- contrer al Countee a tenir le marsdy proschien en Cestre pour moy eut certifier tout la vetite et pourpos de dit Parlement" He signs himself" Votre simple bacheler, si vous pleise, John de Stanley." No treaty was, however, entered into. « In 1406 the French made a slighter attempt to assist Glyndowr, with six and thirty vessels, the greater part of which were shipwrecked in a storm. Glyndowr's treaty with Charles the Sixth of France is printed in Rymer, from the Cottonian MS. Titus A.I IL ^ In the 8th Hen. IV. the peoj)lc of South Wales were ordered by proclamation to \ 44 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 45 At Corwen, the next stage beyond Llangollen on the road to Bangor Ferry, the head of Glyndowr is still the sign of the principal inn ; and its environs abound in traditions of the most marvellous kind relating to him. At Rug also, a mile from Corwen, the seat of Col. Salusbury, his knife and dagger are shewn, preserved in one sheath. Numerous, how- ever, as are the traditions relating to Glyndowr in this district, they are confined to it. In other parts of M'aletj, particularly in the south, nothing is either known or remembered of him beyond the facts estoblished by history. LETTER XVI. Richard Earl of Cambridge to King- Heni-y the Fifths a Letter of Confessicm. [ms. cotton. VE8P. c. XIV. fol. 39. Orig,^ *0* Richard of Conyngsburgh, second son of Edmund of Langley Duke of York, was high in the favour of King Henry the Fifth, who, in the second year of his reign, created him Earl of Cambridge. The next return to their desolated possessions. Pat. 8 Hen. IV. p. i, m. 6. T. R. apud Westm. S Maii. Rymer's unpubl. Collections, MS. Donat. Mus. Brit. 4&98. F'rom a Roll of the second year of Henry the Fifth it appears that in the 10th Hen. I Vth. John Lord Fumival, who went at that time with two hundrctl men toward Carnarvon, was stopped at Shrewsbury, John Weole, Esquire, the constable of the castle and town of Shrewsbury, shutting the gates against them in favour of Glyn- dowr. Rym. Collect, ut supr. 4599, art. 30. In the iith Hen. I Vth. 1409, an action of some extent must have taken place, since in October that year the following Welsh prisoners were received at Windsor Castle. Ho. ap Jevan ap Howell, Walther ap Jevan Vethan, Rys ap Jevan ap Rys. Jevan Goz ap Morgan, David ap Tudor, Rys ap Meredyd, Madok Berg, Jciikyn Backer, David ap Cad, and Thomas Dayler. Rym. Feed. torn. viii. p. 5»9- Clau?. li Hen. IV. m. 37. 18 Oct. In the same year, says Leland, " Rise ap Die, an esquier of Wales, and a supporter of Owen Glendowr, was taken and ^nged at London." In this year also the Officers of the Marches of Wales entered into a truce with Owen, which the King refused to confirm. Rym. Feed. tom. viii. p. «ii. Pat. 11 Hen. IV. 33 Nov. In the 12th Hen. I Vth. we have the King's Letters to Richard Gray of Codnorc, constable of Nottingham Castle, to deliver to the constable of the Tower of London Gryff. ap Owein Glendourdy and Owan ap Gryff. ap Ricard, his prisoners, dated 31st March ; with another Letter to the constable of the Towei to receive them. Rym. unpubl. Collect. MS. Donat. Brit. Mus. 4599, art. lOO. from Glaus. 12 Hen. IV. ro. 18. In the 13th of Hen. I Vth. wc have the King's licence to John Tiptoft •«eneschal of Brecon, and William Botillcr receiver t»f Brecon, to treat wjth Owen for the ransom of David Gamme. T. R. Westm. 4 Jun. 1413. Rym. Fcwl. torn. viii. p. 7ft». year, A.D. 1415, while the King was mustering his forces at South- ampton preparatory to an expedition against France, he was accused of a treasonable conspiracy, indicted, convicted, and beheaded. The following Letter was his confession ; that which succeeds it, his later supplication for life: but neither had any effect upon Henry. The conspiracy to which they relate was the first spark of that flame which, in the course of time, consumed the two Houses of Lancaster and York. Richard Earl of Cambridge was the father of Richard Duke of York, and the grand- father of King Edward the Fourth. This, and the succeeding Letter of the Earl of Cambridge, have been given by Rymer : but the Editor still thought the insertion of them de- sirable here, on account of their connection with other Letters, which will be given in the reign of Edward the Fourth. My most dredfulle and sovereyne lege Lord, lyke to yowre hynesse to wete touchyng the purpose cast ageyns zowre hye estat. Havyng ye Erie of Marche by his aune assent, and by the assent of myself, Wher of y most me repent of al worde '' thyng, and by the acord of the lord Scrop and Sir Thomas Grey, to have hadde ye forseyd erle into the lond of Walys wyth outyn yowre lycence, takyng upon hym the sovereynte of zys lond; zyf yondyr manis persone wych they callyn kynge Richard hadde nauth bene alyve, as y wot wel yat he nys not alyve, for the wyche poynt i putte me holy in zowre grace. And as for ye forme of a proclamacyon wych schulde hadde bene cryde in ye Erie name, as he^> heyre to the Corowne of Ynglond ageyns zow, my lege lord, calde by auntreu^ name Harry of Lancastre usurpur of Yngland, to the entent to hadde made the more people to hadde draune to w 01 Idly. •» the. untrue. 1 1 ii / 46 ORIGINAL LETTERS. hym and fro zow, of the wych crye Scrop knew not of by me, but Grey dyd, havyng wyth the erie a baner of ye Armes of Ynglond, havyng also ye coroune of Speyne on a palet, wych, my lege Lord, is ope of zowre weddys, for ye wych offence y put me holy in zowre grace. And as for ye p*^pose takyn by Unfrevyle and Wederyngtoun for ye bryngyng in of that persone wych they namyd kyng Richard, and Herry Percy e oute of Scotland wyth a power of Scottys, and theyre power togedyrs semyng to theyme able to geve zow a batay lie, of ye wych entent Sir Thomas Grey wyst of, and i also, but nauth Scrop as by me; of ye wych knawyng i submytte me holy into zowre grace. And as for the takyng of zowre castelles in Walys, Davy Howell made me be host, so there were asteryng in ye north ; of ye wych poynt i putte me haly in zowre grace. And as touchyng the Erie of Marche, and Lusy hys man, they seydyn me both yat the Erie was nauth schreven of a great whyle, but at all hys confessours putte hym in penaunce to clayme yat yey callyddyn hys ryth that wod be that tyme that every iknew, heny thyng yat ever to hym longyd Of ye wych poynttes and artycles here befor wretyn, and of al odyr wych now ame nauth in mynde, but treuly as oft as heny to myn m3mde fallyn i schal deuly and treuly certefye zow ther of, besekyng to zow, my lege Lord, for hys love yat suffyrd passyoun ORIGINAL LETTERS. 47 on ye good fryday so have zee conpassyoun on me zowre lege man, and yf heny of thes persones whos names ame contenyd in zys bylle, woldyn contrary ye substaunce of yat i have wretyn at zys tyme, i schalle be redy wyth the myth of God to make hyt good, as zee my lege Lord wille awarde me. The particulars of the Earl of Cambridge's Indictment are in the Rolls of Parliamen^ vol. iv. p. 64. in Latin. The Lansdowne MS. Num. I. art 27, contains the substance in English, apparently abstracted from the Record in the time of Queen Elizabeth : with the following observations at the end. " It dothe not appere in all this Indytemente anye Treason by any acte otherwise then by conspyracye in wordes, and as touchinge the deathe of the kinge and his bretheren the same semeth to be gathered uppon the circumstances of the mattiers and thinges conspyred and devised to have bene done, whiche yf they had bene so attempted and executed yt wolde but tende to the destruction and deathe of the kinge and his bretheren. And why the compassinge of the deathes of the kinges bretheren shoulde be adjudged Treason may be thoughte straunge, for although Thomas duke of Clarence, the eldest brother of the three, and, for that the kinge had then no chUd nor was ever maryed, was his heu^ apparante, yet that ys not conteyned within the Statute of 25 Edw. III. where the ymagyn- inge of the death of the kinges eldest sonne and heire ys declared to be TwMon, not makinge mencion of anye other yonger sonne of the kmge nor of anye the kinges bretheren. But yt semeth that Statute ys largely expounded and that th'eldest brother of the kinge, by equitye of the same Statute, may be taken in place of the eldest sonne of a kynge where there ys no sonne, and so the Judges in those dayes dyd take the same Statute and dyd so cxpounde yt." il ' l» I :.!iir 48 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 49 LETTER XVII. Richard Earl of Cambridge to Kivig Henry the Fifth; sueingjbr niercy after his condemnation, [ms. cotton, vespas. f. hi. foL 7« Orig.^ Myn most dredfiill and soverej/ne lege Lord, i Ri- chard York zowre humble subgyt and very lege man, beseke zow of Grace of al maner offenses wych y have done or assentyd to in heny kynde, by steryng of odyr foike eggyng me yer to, where in y wote wel i have hyll offendyd to zowre Hynesse ; besechyng zow at the reverence of God yat zow lyke to take me in to the handys of zowre mercyfulle and pytouse grace, thenk- yng zee wel of zowre gret goodnesse. My lege Lord, my fuUe trust is yat zee wylle have consyderacyoun, thauth^^ yat myn persone be of none valwe, zowre hye goodnesse wher God hath sette zow in so hye estat to every lege man yat to zow longyth plenteousely to • g®^'^ grace, yat zow lyke to accept zys myn symple reqwest for ye love of oure Lady and of ye blysfulle Holy GosJ, to whom I pray yat yey^ mot zowre hert enduce to al pyte and grace for yeyre^ hye goodnesse. Processes, in early times, where the necessity of getting rid of a courtier was thought to exist, were short Some were even more sum- mary than that against the Earl of Cambridge. The Cottonian Manu- script Julius F. VI. fol. 80. contains some Proceedings in a Parliament held at Leicester in die 2d of Hen. Vth. concerning the reversing of the attamder of the Earl of Salisbury, who, by an oversight of the Commons, was not tried till after his execution. For the details of this remarkable fact the reader may consult the Rolls of Parliament, vol iv. pp. 17, 18. In the Harleian Manuscript 6805, foL 323. is a representation of Ri- chard of Coningsburgh Earl of Cambridge from a window, now gone, in Canterbury Cathedral; put up about 1414. Probably this is the only Portrait of him known. On his surcoat over his armour, are the Arms of France and England : 1 and 4. France ; 2. 3. England ; a bordure of Leon; and a label of the Dukedom of York. A chaplet of roses and crosses on his head. There is a muster roU of the Army of Henry the Fifth in this his first Voyage to France, preserved among Rymer's unprinted Collections in the\ British Museum, which must have been taken at Southampton, as the Earl of Cambridge occurs in i^ with a personal retinue of two knights hfty-seven esquires, and a hundred and sixty horse archers. The Duke of Clarence brought in his retinue one earl, two bannerets, fourteen knights, two hundred and twenty-two esquires, and seven hundred and twenty horse archers. The Sum of the RoU includes 2536 men at arms • 4128 horse archers; 3771 foot archers; thirty-eight arblesters; 120 miners; twenty-five master gunners; fifty servitor-gunners ; a stuffer of bacmets; twelve armourers; three kings of arms; Mr. Nicholas Colnet, physician, who brought three archers; twenty surgeons; an im- mense retinue of labourers, artizans, fletchers, bowyers, wheelwrights chaplains, and minstrels. The total of the fighting pereons amounting to 10731 . These were the men who gained the field of Azincourt. i i I > thouf^h. th«y. ' their. VOL. I. SFR. 2. K 50 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Ill LETTER XVIII. Thomas Langley Bishop of Durham^ to King Henry the Fifths upon the King's money ^ jewels^ ^c. deposited in the Church of Durham, [mS. cotton. VE8P. F. XIII. fol. 29. Orig.\ •»• Thomas Langley, afterwards Cardinal, was consecrated Bishop of Durham August 8th, 1406. He died July 8th, 1457. His designa- tion of himself as Priett of Durham, was one frequently used by Bishops in early times. A Letter to King Henry the Eighth wUl be hereafter given, in which the Bishop of London stiles himself " your symple Priest and Bedeman." In Latin the Bishops often stilcd themselves, in the same manner, " ministri." • The mention in this Letter of the death of the Prior of Durham ascer- tains its date. John de Hemingburgh Prior of Durham died in 1410. He was succeeded in that office by John de Wessington, who is likewise alluded to. »* The main subject of this Letter deserves a short comment. No chest or other instrument, containing gold, silver, or jewel, charter, muniment, or other evidences, which " had been left to keep," were to be re- moved till the new Prior had been spoken to. In a Note of Cardinal Beaufort, printed in the former Series of these Jjetters, it was shewn that his wealth was in his coffers locked and sealed. The Monasteries however, as in this instance, even in times considerably earlier, were the safest places of deposit Toward the close of the twelfth century the Jews of St. Edmondsbury placed their treasure in the Abbey there, under the care of the Sacrist. «^ Stowe tells us that when Henry the Third seized the wealth of Hubert de Burgh earl of Kent, in • In a charter printed in the new edition of Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. ii. p. 898 Robert bishop of Bath calls himself " Robertus Bathon. eccl. minister. " Cardinal Langton, also, in an Instrument in which he recites and publishes Pope Honnrius's Bull in favor of the Cistercian Order in 1336, stiles himself in a similar manner •• S. permissione divina Cantuar. Ecclesis minister humilis, totius Anglic Primal, et Sacrae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalis." Cart, antiq. Harl. T5 A. 14. *> Compare Wharton, Angl. Sracra. «• See Jocelyne de Brakelond's Chron. MS. Harl. lOOS. fol. its. 'S/h ORIGINAL LETTERS. 51 1232, he found it placed in deposit with Uie ^faster of the Temple in Fleet Street.* When Sir Sampson Foliot died, in 1284, it appeared that he had deposited his riches in the Abbey of Oseney near Oxford, b Sir John Fastolf also, in the reign of Henry the Sixth, as we learn from the Inventory of his wealth, out of 2643/. of ready money, kept more than 2000/. in the Abbey of St. Benet Hulme. Nor were Monasteries places of deposit for money only. From an entry in the Chartulary of Garendon Abbey in Leicestershire we leam that that Monastery was a depositary for the tide deeds of at least one of the neighbouring lords. " Memorandum quod die Sabbati proxima ante festum Potentianae Virginis, anno Domini Millesimo CCC.xxvii™«. Ed- mundus de Essheby senescaUus domini Henrici de Bellomonte, et Ricaidus Deryng clericus ejusdem domini, ceperunt de bursaria de Gerendonia omnes cartas quae fuerunt domini Hugonis de Spencer de manerio de Lutzborowe, videlicet duas cist as plenas ; et eas secum, de Domo pradicta, portavcrunt ad opus domini Henrici." = II SovEEEYN Lord, with als '' meke and entier hert as I kan or may I recomande me to youre roial Majeste, to the whiche plaise it to wite that on Monday at nyght last passet I have receyvet youre fulworschipfull Let- tres, by the tenure of the whiche it hath liket yow to let me wite how ye be enformed that with inne youre Churche of Duresme, under the warde of two monkes of the Churche, and the last Priour that ded is, and of a man that is clepet Mydeltone, ther shulde be certein thyng that to yowe apperteneth, as it is more specialy writen in yowre said Lettres. The whiche youre Lettres by me receyvet and un- Klcrstanden the said Monday atte nyght, I have on • .*5urvey of Lond. ctlit 160«. p. 40«. *• RcR. Pccheham, archiep. Cantuar. fol. 207 b. ' Chartnl. Abb. G»ren«l<)n, MS. Lansd. Brit. Mus. fol. 28. • a*. e2 52 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Tysday in the momyng ordeynet a sufficient persone, that with your message and tho enfornier that come with hym, is goen in al godely hast to youre said Kirk of Duresme, ther to charge on your behalve the Priour that now is, that out of the said Churche ne Priory be not rem wet a ne delyveret no kist ne othir instrument that may coterie ^ gold, sylver, or juell, chartre, muni- ment, or othir evydences that ther has bene left to kepe, til the forsaid Prior and I may speke to gedir ; and more to that matire have I noght mow do** as yet, but als sone as I may more do ye shall have wityng therof. As of ty thyngs ^ I kan no nothir write but suche as by myn othir Letteres I send yow by the berer of thes. Soverein Lord, the Holygost have yow in his kepying. Writen atte Pontfrect, this Thorcsday in the momyng. Yoiire humble Freest of' Duresme. To Our Soverainge Lorde the Kynge. • removed. k contain. ' more clone. tidingf. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 53 ff|- LETTER XIX. Letter to Khi^e Henry Vth in behalf of the Lord Fur- nyval Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, A.D. 1417. [ms. lansd. 418. foL 05. out of the white book of the ex- chequer BURNT IN SIR FRAUNCES ANOIERS CLOSET AT JACOB NEWMANS, ANNO 1610.] *,• The Annals of Ireland in the earliest period of its history are ob- scure ; nor are we acquainted with the details of its first connection with England. Oiraldus Cambrensis is wrong when he states that, tiU the time of Henry the Second, Ireknd had remained free from foreign incursion.* AVe have Bede's authority for its invasion by Egfrid king of Northumber- land, in 684 : and though the Charter which represents our Edgar as monarch of Ireland is usuaUy considered spurious, yet other charters of unquestioned authenticity, of a date but Uttle later, recognize its formule; and we have coins both of Ethelred the Second and Canute, minted at Dublin. That the Conquest of Ireland was long an object of ambition with the Kings of England cannot be doubted ; and it is remarkable that it should have been planned by Henry the Second at the moment of his mounting the English throne. His compact with Pope Adrian the Fourth for the reducUon of Irelaiid, is still preserved in Rymer, in a Latin Letter from the Pontiff. Like the formation of the Domesday Survey, the receipt of this Letter was considered as an epoch by the English. An original charter of John Earl of Ewe is extant, which concludes with these remarkable words : " Hffic autem concessio facta est Wincestriam eo anno quo verhum fac. turn ctt de Hibcmia conquirenda. Hanc vero cartulam magister Mo- bcrtus fecit anno liiii. ab incamato Domino." •» But Henry could take no advantage of his grant tUl II72, when having procured two additional Bulls from Pope Alexander the Third, one addressed to himself the other to the Kings and Princes of Ireland he entered upon the Invasion, and then followed the submission of the Irish. Henry landed at \raterford Oct. 18th, II72, whence he pro- ceeded to Dublin and received the homage of the chieftains. John, son of Henry the Second, when Lord of Ireland, established • •• Abomni alicnanim Rcntium incursu libkra permansit ct inconcusia." «» tart, autiq. Harl. Bril. Miw. S3 C. 25. ■^ 54 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Courts of Law, the jurisdiction of which was to extend to the limits of the English pale: the territory so designated forming the counties of Dublin, Meath, Kildare, Lowth, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork, Kerry, Lhnerick and Tipperary. In what remained, which composed about two thirds of the Kingdom, the English influence was only nominal. On the intermediate History of Ireland, between the time of John and Henry the Fifth, we have no occasion to comment here. The wars of Edward the Third slackened the activity of the English rule, and opened the way to those revolts which by detaining Richard the Second in Ire- land at a critical moment, proved his ruin. It may suffice to say that Ireland in the reign of Henry the Fifth was as wild in its country and as rude in its inhabitants as in the reign of Henry the Second. The English pale, as will be seen in the present Letter, was little more than a garrison of territory. It may be curious to mention here that a band of sixteen hundred native Irish armed with their own weapons of war, " in mail, with darts and skaynes," under the lord of Kylmaine, were with Henry the Fifth at the Siege of Rouen. They kept the way which came from the forest of Lyons. Hall says, they " did so their dcvoyre, that none were more praised nor did more damage to their enemies."" The Lord Fumivall mentioned in this Letter, was Sir John Talbot of Hallamshire, afterwards earl of Shrewsbury, so conspicuous as a warrior in the reign of Henry the Sixth. He was made Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ist of Henry the Fifth, and received the title of Lord Fumivall by courtesy through his wife. She was the eldest of the two daughters of Sir Thomas Nevil, who had married Joan the sole daughter and heiress of William the last liOrd Fumivall. His exploits in Ireland seem wor- thy of record. He maintamed an able govcmment on scanty means. His income for that purpose amounting to little more than two thousand six hundred pounds a year.** RiGHTE excellente, righte gracious, and our righte redoubt and righte soveraiyne leige Lord, Wee doc recomend us unto your high royall Ma^'^'. soe humbly and obediently as any leige men may doe, in any man- ner, unto there soveraigne and redoubted leige Lord ; ii • See Hall, new edit. p. 83. •> " HiBN. Johanni (UHiiino tie Fumy vail UK'umtcncntl Ililxjrniar pro salva custodia cjusdcm a xxx". die Jaiiuar. aiiiio sccundo us<|iie priinum diem Auguhti prox. itCfiucn. yet dimidium anuum 1333/. ««. St/." MS. Cotton. Cleop. F. m. fol. Ml. \\ ORIGINAL LETTEUii. 55 especial lie, and above all other earthly thinges desiringe to heare and to knowe of the gracious prosperitie and noble health of your renowned person; the same beinge soe gracious and joyous newes as any can imagine or thinke to the principall comforte and especiall consola- tion of us and all your faythfull subjectes ; and namely of us which are continuinge in a lande of warr, en- vironed by your Irishe Emmies and English Rebels in pointe to be destroied, if it weere not that the soveren ayde and comforte of God and of you our gracious Lord, did altogeather releve us. And righte excellent, righte gracious, and righte redoubted and righte so- veraigne leige Lord, forsoe much as the ho.^ lord the Lord of Furnyvale your faythfull subjecte and Liueten^ute of this yo'". lande of Ireland was purposed to departe from your land and to repayre to your high presence, to sue for his payment which to him is be- hinde, for the safe keepinge of this your lande ; and wee, consyderinge the great destruction and disease which hath come unto this lande by his laste absence from us, and eschuinge greater that may come and are likely to falle uppon the same if he shoulde be absente at this presente tyme, wee have requested him in the behalfe of you our soveraigne Lord, and have suppli- cated unto him on our owne behalfes to attend heare, and not to departe, for the safetie of this yo*", lande and of yo'. faythfull leiges in the same ; and wee to n i ii I) honoured. I. iil ll 11 11 56 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. write for him to your gracious person for his recom- mendacions for the greate chardges, laboures, and tra- velles, by him had and sustained in theise partes, and that he mighte have his said payment to the safety of the same your landes, and of your faythfuU subjectes therin; wheruppon, our righte soveraigne Lorde, if it please you, wee doe signifie unto your Royal 1 Ma*"'. and to others to whom it shall appertaine, the great laboures, travels, and endevoures made by your said Lifetenaunte heere after his firste arrivall in this land untill his laste rapaire to yo"". highe presence, and of other, after that, by him done. Firste your said Life- tenaunte, takeingunto him the adviseof your Counsell on this side, and of other lords temjxirall, knightes, esquires, and other good commoners, made many greate jernies and hostinges uppon one of the strongest Irishe enimies of Leynstre, called O'More of Layse, a great cheefetaine of this Nation, by beinge in his con- try for six dayes and nightes twice, which was not done before in our tyme, and takeinge his cheefe place and goodes, buminge, forrageing, & destroyinge all his contry, his come, and his other goodes, and buminge and breakinge certaine of his castles called the Castle of Colyndragh and the Castle of Shenneigh, and res- cuinge diveres English prisoneres there, beinge wthout payinge raunsome, and woundinge and killinge a greate multitude of his people, and made such ware uppon him that he was forced againste his will to ORIGINAL LETTERS. 57 make peticion to have yo»*. Peace by indenture, and to put his Sonne in pleadge into the handes of your said Livetenauntc, to keepe the peace safely, and to amende that wherin he had offended againste your faythfull subjectes ; and more over to serve & travell with your said Livetenauntc uppon his warninge againste all Irishe enimies & Englishe rebelles at his commaundement; soe that by mcanes thereof the said O^More come with two battayles, one foote & on horse, to serve uppon a stronge enimie & a cheefetaine of his nation called Mac Ma- hon, the distance of forty leagues from the partes of Layse, and he beinge with the same yo*". Livetenauntc, & under his safe conduit, and in ayde of him in the foresaid contry of Layse two other great cheefetaines of theire nations of Leynstre wth. theire people. That is to say O Bryun and O Rale shame and over- throwe of the warr against him may be continued which God graunte : and the said O Ferall and O Rale doe still contynue peticiones to enjoy your peace. And alsoe he roode againste Mac Mahone a greate Irishe enimie and a powrefuU cheifetaine of his nation in the partes of Uluestre adjoyninge unto the County of Louth, and him did strongely invade longe tyme by diveres laborious hostinges and jomeyes, some on foote, by sixteene leagues, and bumte & destroyed one of his cheife places, with all his townes & corne aboute, & wounded & killed a greate multitude of his people, untill hec must of force yealde himselfe to your Peace iH 58 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 59 & deliver divers English prisoners wthout ransome, which he and his people have taken, and that he un- dertooke by indenture to travell with the same your Leiuetennant agaynst whatsoever enimie or rebell, upon his warning, in such sort that hee sent Manus his brother with a great multitude of their people to serve up|X)n that sayd Oc Conor which is forty myles & more from their country; & also he rode agaynst O Hallon a greate cheiftayne of his nation and Irish enimie in the same partes of Ulster, & warred soe strongly upon him that hee was compelled by force to yeeld himselfe to your peace, and undertooke to ride agaynst all Irish enimies & English rebells at his pleasure, in such sort that he did serve with three hundreth men & more uppon the forsayd Mac Mahonne ; & after that disloy- ally rose up agayne in warres & distroyed your fayth- full leiges; and presently your sayd Leiuetennant theruppon ordeired divers great jorneys upon him in his country, where he burnt, forraged, & destroyed many therof & wounded & killed many of his people, & cutt a greate place thorrow a longe wood, in breadth of two leages or more, thorow terror of which thinge hee dayly made suplication to have peace, & putt in his hostages for the safe keeping therof, & theruppon the greate O'Nele pretendinge himselfe to bee Kinge of the Irish in Ulster. And O Neleboy sonne to M**. Qwenous, M^ Gwere, O Dowenell, greate & powerful! chcifctaynes of their nation, & divers other Irish eni- mies, hearing of the cutting of the same place & of the damage & distruction done also to the sayd O Hanlan, & doubting the like to be done to them by your Leife- tcnaunt, sent to him to have peace & to doe him ser- vice, & also to serve wth. him upon all other Irish eni- mies & English rebelles; & also he caused in many places every Irish enimie to serve upon the other, which thinge hath not beene seene by longe tyme in theise partes untill the coming of your Leiuetenant aforsayd ; and he hath accomplished divers other jorneis & la- bours for the sayd releife and comfort of your faythfuU leiges on this side the sea, and in especially at the making herof,in repay ring & mending of a bridge called the bridge of Athy, sett in the fronture of the borders of the Irish enimies of Laies, for the safe keeping whcrof he hath erected a new tower upon the same for a warde to putt therwith a greate fortificacon aboute the same for resistance of the sayd enimies, to the great comfort & releife of the English & greate over-throw of the Irish enimies ; by which bridge your faythfull leiges were oftentimes prayed '^ & killed, but now your sayd leiges, both their & els where, may suffer their goods and cattels to remayne in the feilds day & night wthout being stolen, or sustayning any other losse, which hath not beene seene here by the space of these thirty yeares past, God bee thanked & your gratious provision. And now after this upon Munday in the Whitson • preyed. > f 60 OltlOINAL LETTERS. f I' li weeke, att Lasenhale in the county of Dublin, Morice O Keating cheiftayne of his nation, traitor & rebel! to you our gratious Lord, for the great feare which he had of your sayd Leiftenaunt, for hiniselfe & his nation, yeilded himselfe to the same your Leiuetenant without any condicion, with his brest agaynst his swords poynt & a cord about his necke, then delivering to your sayd Leiftenant without ransome the English prisoners which he had taken before, to whom grace was graunted by indenture, & his eldest sonne given in pleadge to bee loyall leiges from thence forwarde to you our so- veraigne Lord. Wee humbly beseeche your gratious lordhhipp that yt would please you of your especiall grace to thinke upon your said land, & in the workes of charitye to have mercie & pitty upon us your poore leiges therof, who are environed on all sydes in warre with English rebells & Irish enimies to our continuall destruction & sorrow, & alsoe to have your sayd Leiuc- tenaunt as especially recomended to your sovcraigne Lordship for the causes aforsayd, & more over to provide soe gratiously such a sufficient payment for him that he may make himselfe stronge inough to resiste the malice of your enimies on this side the sea, & his soul- diers able to pay for their vittals & other thinges which they toke of your faythfull leiges for the saftye of your land aforsayd, & of your poore leiges therin, consider- inge our redoubt leige Lord that yf your forces be not here alwayes soe strongly mayntayned & continued ORIGINAL LETTERS. 61 wthout being deminished, your Irish enimies & En- glish rebells yf they may espie the contrary, although they have putt in hostages & are otherwise strongly bound to the peace, yet they will rise agayne unto wars, which is a privie Conquest of your land aforsayd. And furthermore the mony which your sayd Leiftennant doth receive of your gratious Lordshipp for the safe keeping of this your land is soe little that yt doth not suffice to paye so much unto the soldiors as is likly to mayntayne your warrs heere by a greate quantitye, by reason wherof they can pay but litle for any thinges taken from your sayd leidges for the sustenance of them & their horses, which is to the importable chardges of your leidges & perpetuall destruction of them yf they be not gratiously succored & releved by your gratious lordshipp in that behalfe ; & moreover wee beseeche your gratious Lordshipp to have yo**. sayd Leiuetenant especially recomended unto you for his greate conti- nuall labours & costes which he hath borne & sustayned about the deliverance of the Earle of Dessemond, who was falsly & deceatfully taken & detayned in prison by his unkle, to the greate distruction of all the contry of Mounstre, untill now that he is gratiously delivered by the good & gratious government of the same your Leiftenant. In witness whereof wee your faythfull & humble leiges the bishopp of Kildare, the gardeins of the spirit ualli tics of Ardmaghe, the abbot of the House of our ladie of Fryme, the ablwt of the House of our &t ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. GS l! h i ladie of Kenleys, the abbot of the House of our lady of Balkinglase, the abott of the House of our ladye of Beckty, the abbot of the House of our ladie nere Deve- lin,''» the abbott of the House of our ladie of Novan, the prior of the House of St. Petter of Trime, the prior of the House of our lady of Louth, the prior of the House of St. Leonards of Dondalkc, the prior of the House of St. John of Reulys, the prior of the House of our lady of Coip. the prior of the House of our lady Urse of Droghda, the prior of the House of our lady of Dyveleck, the prior of the House of St. Johns of Droghda, the prior of the House of St. Lawrence of Droghda, the prior of the House of our lady of Conall, the prior of the House of St. Johns of Naas, the prior of the House of St. Johns without Newgate of Deuelin, the prior of the House of the Trinitye in Deuelin, the prior of the House of Fowre, the prior of the House of God of Molingare, the prior of the House of our lady of Trysternagh, the archdecon of Kildare, the arch- decon of Priell, Thomas Lenfant barron of Atherde, Richerd Nugent barron of Delbin, Matt. Huse barron of Galtrym, Thomas Mareward barron of Skryn, Edward Ferrers knight, John London knight, the maior & balifes of the Citie of Dublin, the Comons of your towne of Droghda, the Commons of Dondalkc, the Commons of Atherdee, the Commons of Kenlys, the Commons of Try me, the Commons of Athboy , the Com- • Dublin. mons of Naas, the Commons of Clanc, the Commons of Tresteldermot, the balifes of Louthe, the sherife of Dublin, the sherife of Kyldare, the sheryfe of Priell, & the sherife of the Crosse of Meth, Christopher Plum, James Uriell, John Fitz Adame, Robert Burnell, Wil- liam of Tynbegh, Robert White of Killester, Thomas Talbott of Malahede, John Clinton of Kepp, Chris- topher White, Henry Drake, Walter Plunke, John Taff, Robert Heiron, William Rath, John Clynton of Drumchasshell, Walter Congagham, Thomas White of Priell, Mathew Tanner, John Heyron, Thomas Rath of Croffkill, Walter Ley, William Deveros, Andrew Tuitt, Robert Bet, John Fitz Richard, John Dillon, Richard Lyneham, George Fay, John Beery, Symon London, Richard Talbott of Mith, John Dardits of Gryll, W'". Fitz Wittm, John White of Conall, Wil- liam Heron, Mories Welsh, Nicholas Gaberd, Patrick Ley, Walter Harrold, AVilliam Welsh, Gylbaugh, Nicholas Brown, Patrick Flatesbury, John Eustace of Newland, Edward Ewstace, Thomas Penckeston, Ri- chard Fitz Ewstace, William White of the county of Dublin, Nicolas Gawarry, John Drake, Robert Gallan of Dublin, Thomas Cusack of Dublin & Lucas Dow- dalle of Dublin Esquires, have put our Scales. Dated the syx and twentieth day of June in the fith yeare of yo'. gratious Reigne. There is one fact in the History of Ireland which has not often been adverted to by the English Historians, and to which it may not be quite ^! 64 ORIGINAL LETTKUS, irrelative to call the attention of the reader, when speaking of the former condition of that Country. It is that at a period even earlier than the Norman Conquest Ireland was the greatest, as probably the nearest mart for English slaves, Malmesbury in his Life of Wulfstan bishop of Worcester has given a minute account of this extraordinary traffic. For in those times, and long before, when any person had more children than he could maintain, or more domestic slaves than he chose to keep, he sold them to a merchant, who disposed of them in Ireland, Denmark, Italy, or elsewhere, as he foun4 most profitable. The people of Bristol were the chief carriers in this trade as far as it related to Ireland. 3Ialme8. bury says that young women were frequently taken to market in their pregnancy that they might bring a better price.* The Ecclesiastical Council of Armagh, held in II7I, passed a resolution to liberate English slaves. LETTER XX. The Comptroller of the Castie, and the Regent of the Constablery ofBoiirdeaux, to King Henry the Fifth. ^.D. 1419. [ms. donat. mus. BRIT. 4602, art, 35. from ms. cotton, calio. d. v.] •»♦ Among the more curious Volumes which formerly existed in the Cottonian Collection, were the Manuscripts, Caligula D. v. and Caligula » The whole of Malmesbury's Account deserves the reader's perusal : " Vicus est maritimus Brichitou dictus, a quo recto cursu in Hibemiam transmit- titur, ideoque illius tenrK barbariei accommodus. Hujus indigens cum ceteris ex Anglia causA mercimonii «rpe in Hibemiam annavigant. Ab his WUtanus morem vetustissimum sustulit, qui sic animis eorum occalluerat, ut nee Dei amor nee Rt-gis WiUielmi hactenus eum abolere potuissent. Homines enim ex omnl Anglia e«x'm|)t<)» majoris spe quaestCis in Hibemiam distrahebant ; ancillasque priiis ludibrio lecti ha- bitas jamque prsegnantes venum proponebant. Videres ct gemeres concatenatos fuuibus miserorum ordines et utriusque sexQs adolescentes ; qui libcrali formi, ajtate integra barbaris miserationi essent ; cotidie prostitui. coUdie venditarl. Faci- nus execrandum, de«lecus miserabile. nee belluini aflfectus memores homines, neces- situdmes suas, ipsum postremd sanguinem suum ser\ituti addiccre. Hunc tam invetcratum morem et a proavis in nepotes transfusum Wlstanua, ut dixi, iwulatim delevit. Sciens enim cervieositatem eorum non facile flecti, sepe circa eo« duobus mcnsibiis saeiH? tribus mansitalvit ; omni Dominica eo veniens, et divina- pra^ica- tionis semina spargens. Que aded per intervalla temporum apud eos convaJucre • ut non solum renuntiarent vitio. sed ad idem faciendum ceteris per Angliam essent exempk)." Malmesb. de Vita S. WIstani Episc. Wigom. cap. xx. Aiigl. Sacr. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 65 D. VI. ; the former abnost entirely, the latter in part only, destroyed in the Fire at Westminster in 1731. The first of these was intitled, in Smith's Catalogue, " Transacta inter Angliam et Franciam a primo annoR. Henrici V. ad annum decimum quartum R. Henrici VI. :" the second, " Transacta inter Angliam et Franciam ab anno 1485 ad A.D. 1618." Fortunately, many of the more important Letters included in their contents were transcribed among the Papers prepared for, but not inserted in Rymer's Foedera. From these Transcripts, this, and some other Letters have been copied in the present Collection. MosTE hy and moste myzty Prynce and oure sove- raine lige Lord, We zoure humble liges and servitours, with all subjection and humilitee We recomend us to zoure roial Majestee. To the wyche like for to wyt that we have resseyved zoure roial Lettres the xij. day of this present Month ; in the wyche ze charged me Robert Holme zour humble servant and govemour of zoure Office of the Conestablerie at Bourdeaux, that y schold ordeyne certeyn sommes of the revenuz of zoure Castel for eche of thilke persones that schold come to zoure roiall presence raisonablely aftyr thair estates. And to the complement ^ of zoure said charge zoure Conseill and we have doon owre entier pe3me and diligence. Bot treuly the revenuz of zoure said Castel at Bourdeux ben so pore and of so litel valour ^ that the too^ parties of the charges ordinaries may nouzt be paied; and that is bycause of the gret franchise and other donacions roialx of zoure patry- monye zeven by zoure roialx progenitours, the whilk • completion, fulfillment. VOL. I. SER. 2. k valure, value. * two. F ^ m ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 67 God assoill, as zoure roiall Majestic schal be more playnly enformed at alle tymes that hit be plesyng to zoure Hynesse to comande us. And more oure moste hy and most myzty Prince, like unto zoure roial Majestee to wyt, that we hav zeven certein credence to Bernard Augeryn clerc of zoure Consell at Bourdeux, berer of this Lettre ; to whom like unto zoure Hynesse to zeve audience ; and that ze comand hym to enfonne zou treuly of the estat of this Contre, and alleso of the governance of zoure Officers in this ^ parties whilk am*' proffitable for zou. Other tythands^" we can nouzt write at this tyme to zoure roial Majestee, but we byseche Crod Almyzty that he have evremore zoure roial persone in hys kepyng with encrece [of] all manere of Honours, after that zoure noble and roial hert desires. Wryten in haste at zoure Citee of Bourdeaux the xx*h day of Marche. Zoure humble liges and servitours J. BOWET Con^'*^ ofzour Castel ofBord, and ROBERT HOLME Regcfit of the ConstMerye of Bourdeux A • these. are ' tidinjps. 4 A note la an old hAnd, Wf% " The King received thii ' Letter' at Vernon, 9 April, 1419" LETTER XXI. John Alcetrc to King Henry the Fifths upon the pro- gress made in huildijig a Ship for the King at BayonnCy A, D, 1419. [ms. donat. MU8. BRIT. 4902, art. i5.from MS. cotton, calio. d. v.] *,* The Kings of England, in the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth Centuries had occasionally lai^e Fleets under their command, but they consisted of merchant ships only, gathered from the different ports of England, or hired from foreign countries; those of England on such emergencies being pressed with their crews into the King^s service. In 1304 the lai^t ship of war in England, according to Dr. Henry, had a crew of only forty men ; and in the fleet of Edward the Third at the Siege of Calais, in 1346, the complement of each ship upon an average must have been under twenty men.* Henry the Fifth, as will presently be seen, was the first of our Kings who established a permanent navy. The following Letter from John Alcetre detuls minutely the prepress of certain workmen at Bayonne in constructing a vessel of considerable size, which the King had ordered to be built. Bayonne was then the last town in the Duchy of Aquitaine.'' The Mayor and Corporation had contracted with the King for the completion of this Vessel within a cer- tain time ; but the writer of the Letter thinks it could not be ready, and that it would take even four or five years to finish. The Ship, as the timbers had been laid down, was a hundred and eighty-six feet in lengtJi, From a passage in a rhyming Pamphlet written in 1433, printed by Hakluyt, intitled " The Libel of English Policie,** it appears that Henry the Fifth built other large ships : " And if I should conclude all by the King Henrie the fift, what was his purposing, When at Hampton he made the great dromons Which passed other great Ships of aU the Commons; The Trinitie, the Grace de Dieu, the Holy Ghost, And other moe, which as now be lost." • The following was the equipment of the ship, which in 1406, 7 Hen. IVth. car- ried Philippe, his sister. Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, to her home. Two guns, forty pounds of powder, forty stones for guns, forty tampons, four touches, one mallet, two fiie pans, forty pavys, twenty-four bows, and forty sheaf of arrows. Rym. Feed. tom. viii. p. A4!t. <> It continued in the hands of the English from the year 1156 to 146t. F 2 68 ORIGINAL LETTERS. The Ship* of the King and those of the Commons are here distin. guished ; the uoyal navy, from the vessels which were supplied by the sea-ports, or hired abroad. The entire List of Henry's own Ships, hi the fourth year of his reign, is preserved among the Proceedings of his Council. They consisted of three Vessels of the greater size, three Cairacks, eight Barges, and ten Balingers or smaller Barges.* * In a document of the antecedent year, among the same Proceedings of Council, we have the pay of the Officers and Sailors of the King's great Ships, employed in keeping the narrow seas. The Admiral received for a quarter of a year and thirty-nine days* service, wages for fifty men at arms at xij**. per day each ; and for a hundred and fifty bowmen, at vj**. a day each ; making a total of 812/. 10*. For the wages during the same time of four masters of respective ships, and two hundred and fifty mariners, the former at vj''. a day, and the mariners at iij**. he received 819/. 5s.^ The name of dromons given in the " Libel of English Policie" to the great ships of Henry the fifth, requires explanation. The term was * " LIS NOMIS DBS NIXF8 KT VBS8KAVX DV ROT. " CuHodia Mmrit." La Trinitee, Le Seint Espirit, iij. Carrakes. Le Nicholas, Le Katerine, Le Gabriel, Le Thomai, La Marie, Le Roode Coft, La petite Trinitee, ij. autret, Le George, La Ave, Le Gabriel de Hareflieu, Le Cracchere, Le James, Le eigne, Le petit Johan, Le Nicholas, ij.au ties. >■ Grand* Nie/i. I BatfM* >■ BalingtrB, MS. Cotton. Ckop. F. iii. fol. 15S b. " AdiniraUo domini Regis super salva custodia maris pro vadiis I. hominum ad arma, quolibet ad xij<<. et cl. sagittar. quolibet ad vj**. per diem, a festo Nativitatis Sancti Joh. Bapt. accidente xxliij*°. die Junii annotertio usque ad festum omnium Sanctorum pros, tequen. per unum quarterium eC xxxix. dies, 812/. io«. " Et pro vadiis iiijo'. magistrontm et ccl. marinariorum pro qua- tuor navibus super custodia Marls per tem pus prcdictum, quolibet magistro ad vj'. per diem et quohbet marinario ad i^< per diem ^ per t^npus pradicturo, SIM. As." Ibid. foL 141. ii! ORIGINAL LETTERS. 69 of a date much earlier than the fifteenth Century, and seems to have been borrowed from the Saracens. It meant Ships of the lai^est size and strongest construction. The famous Ship which was taken by King Richard the First near the Port of Aeon, and which contained no fewer than fifteen hundred men, is so named by Matthew Paris. " Navis quffidam permaxima, quam dromundam appellant, missa a Saladino fr^tre Salaadini Soldano Babyloniae, de civitate Baruch, immensis re- ferta divitiis. Erat in ilia ignis Graecus, serpentumque ignotorum pluri- ma visa plena ; et bellatores mille quingenti.** * Most excellent, most hiest, myghtiest Prynce and most Soverayne Lord, all maner of low supjection afore sayde. Lykyth yt to youre ryall Majeste to wete the governance and the makyng of youre Shippe at Bay on. At the makyng of this Letter yt was in this estate, that ys to wetyng xxxvj. strakys^ in hyth y bordyd, on the weche strakys byth y layde xj. bemys ; the mast heme ys yn leynthe xlvj. comyn fete, and the heme of the hameron afore ys in leynthe xxxix. fete, and the heme of the hameron by hynde is in leynthe xxxiij. fete; fro the onemost ende of the Stemne in to the Poste by hynd ys in leynthe a hon- dryd iiij^^'. and vj. fete; and the Stemne ys in hithe iiij^\ and xvj. fete; and the Post xlviij. fete; and the Kele ys in leynthe a hondryd and xij. fete: but he is y rotyt,<* and must be chaungyd. Also lykyth yt to youre ryall Mageste to wete that yowre Shippe wolle nat be redy at the terme that they have by hote^^ yow ; and, by that y can se, nat this m • Mat. Par. Hist. edit. 1684, p. 116. r rotted. b stretchers or stretching pieces. * promised. ft' ill II i 70 ORIGINAL LETTERS. iiij. or V. yeres hereaftyr. For the Mayre and his consortes havyth y rendyd yowre size*^ iiij''. of the lb at yowre grete dampnage, and hare'^ profyte : for yt is worth iij.t* so muche as they payth. Therfore like as y have wrete to yowre ryall Mageste here afore, for and all the money that corny th of yowre syze^ schold go to the Shippes workys, yowre Shippe wold be sone a redy, and zit of that litill somme that youre syze * ys, y rendyd, fore they takyth therof to thare owne use. And in this degre yowre workys of yowre Shippe mow nat gon forthe, and by eny thyng that y can se they wolle lefe of the makyng of yowre Shippe in short tyme, but yf ye make othyr ordynaunce therto. Allso lyketh yt to yowre ryall Mageste to wete that they mow nat excuse ham'^ by Bord ne Tymbyr, for they mow have y now in the Contrey, as gode as eny may be; and as touchyng to Carpenters they mow have y now yf they wolde, but they leten ham^ go where they wollyth. Allso lykyth yt to yowre ryal Mageste to wete that y mote nat knowe of no costages ne dispensys, ne 3rn what maner yowre money ys by sette,^' but y lyke as ham self en ^ lust. And y levyng all myne occupacyons besy me, and travayle me abowte the makyng of yowre Shippe. Most excellent, most hiest, mightiest Prince and ••their. ' t. «. thrice. ^ them. •beset. ' themselves. 'I t ORIGINAL LETTERS. 71 most Soverayne Lord, Almyghty Jhesus have you in his kepyng. Wrete at Bayon the xxv. day of Averell, By youre pore supjecte and trew lege man JOHN ALCETRE. The following very curious Letter, preserved in the Cottonian 3Ianu- icript Vesp. C. XII. fol. 127, from an English agent in Spain to one of the Chancellors of Henry the Fifth, forms, in part, a comment upon that of John Alcetre ; and seems to have been written somewhere near the •ame time. It shows that the desire of Henry the Fifth to have vessels of a large size was not unnoticed by the Spaniards, who appear to have offered to him several, particularly two Carracks, one of which is de- MTibed as of a tonnage equal to fourteen hundred, and the other to ten hundred boats. The Carrack is supposed to have obtained its name from its capacity for carriage. Du Cange says, " Carbica, CaricOy navigii species, navis oneraria, Gallis Vaisteau de charge, unde forte nomen." " Worchepfful and reverent Sir, y commanded me to yow in that y can or may. Lyke you to wete tythynges^ off thys Contre. At the makyng off thys Lettre the Kyng of Arragon holdeth hys Parlament in the regne off Valenc*, lyche a3 ys the maner off the Contre. And as late tyme passyd ther cam here a knyt Sir Emond Torrelles, with iiij. galeys armed, out of Prowenc' ;*^ and y wente to the Consell, seyyng to hem, off the ben Vaylenc' that the Kyng off Engelond, and off the pes that ys be twene the remes, askyng off hem that they scholde areste hem and tarye hem ; for y seyde that yff they com up the cost off Engelond noyse scholde be gret that the Catalans werred a yen the Kyng, hyt myht tume to gret hevynesse and chong* of hertes ; seyying with thys wordes hou gret tresure hyt ys to the Hous off Arragon to haff lyge*' and frenchep with the Kyng off Engelond. They tok thys wordes to gode entent, and sente to the Kyng Mons'. Beleg Berdesyn, rehersyng thys wordes be for seyd. The Kyng and hys Consell a sented well that the « scholde be arest ; but he ne londed not, and as they ansewerd me hyt was a yenes the wille off the Kynge and off al the Reme, for the wych y asked off hem tliat they i 1 • commend. b tiding*. • Provence. 'league. they. ill 7« ORIGINAL LETTERS. Hi »il wold wryte to the Kyngcs Consell, esqusyng hem that hyt wa« not her well, in saflFyng of the saff condytes be twe the tweye Kinges. Thys Lettres y myht haffe yffe y wolde aske hem. " Alsso lyke you to wete, that y haff sent you Lettres off thys mater beforetyme, that yff hyt lyke the Kyng he may haffe here x or xij Oaleys armed, or mo ; for as hyt hys told me that ther ys wrete lettres to Barssy. Ion for to haffe on off ther capytaynes mto Engelond, ffor to make confirmation of thys matier. Alsso, yff be plessyng to the Kyng, ther be twey new Cam^ of makyng at Bartholem, the on of xiiij.C. botti that other off x.C. botts. He may haffe hem yff hyt lyke hym. Alsso Mons'" Petro de Lima ys in Penysoula as a man that fewe speke off. Other tythynges be non at thys tyme; but I preye you beth gode mayster and firend to my wyff and chyldren : and yff ther be eny servysc that y may do to yowre lykyng, y am redy with all that y can ; and y prey to the Holy Trinyte kepe you body and soule, and saff oure Kyng and all hys. Wrete at Valenc* the xxiij. day off JulL Par tout vostre TOMA ,•» ,il I' •r \ I, •! •1* . I I" * LETTER XXII. JoJm de Assheton to King Henry Vth. a Letter of Intelligence^ written apparently about A, D. 1419. [m8. donat. BBiT. Mus. 4603, art. ^\.frvm calio. d. v.] To oure Souverain Lord the King. MosTE hegh and myghty Prince, moste dowtewyse and soverayne Lorde, I zoure humble man and ser- vaunt me recomaunde loghlye unto zoure hegh and worshipfull Astate. Moste hegh and myghty Prince, hke zow to witte that I am enfourmet that after that the Erie of Aumarlle and the Frenssh men that weren with him were departed out of the Mounte, and hadde taken ORIGINAL LETTERS. 73 with thaim the Tresour that ther was ; in departynge of this good emonge thaim ther fel gret debate, and was gret fighte, and that thay kepe this good emonge thaim selven and bien avysed to sende the Dolfyn no parte therof. And . . . er y . . . Cappi"\ of the Mounte, on hegh the Bastarde of Osbute, and be nethe in the Toun ys the Baron of Byars, John Paynell, Guillaume de la Lisseme, and John de le Hay ; and abofe and benethe, as I am lered, ther passes not an C. men of defence, and thair Cisteme in y ' qwich yair water is wonte to be kepped ys brosten, so that for lakke of water and of wode thai myght abide noon, gret dis- tresse and sege were layde aboute thaim. Also the Abbot of the Mounte has sent for safe condute for to come to zour obeysshans ; and the wyf of Mayster Raoul Le Sage has a safe condute for to come with Mayster Raoul when that he comes on his Ambassatc,'^ and I wayte after thaim evere day. Also the Bretonnes that bien at the Sege of Saint Urstheaux were fallene upon with the Erl brother of Pentever, and ther was taken and slayn an C. of his men with the Bretonnes; and as zet we here no styrrynge of the Frenssh Men to Constantin Ward ; and brigauntez were never so fewe in thoo partyez. And I am lered that Pyket and his wyf bien floghen out of Aungers unto the Rochell, for feer of the Dol- * Ralph de Sa^c was employed as aii ambassador to Oritany in U20. Kym. Focd. torn. %,. pp. 3( 4, S. if'' 1 p. i i!i m 74 ORIGINAL LETTERS. fyn ; for he hade scnde to Aungers for to have arested Pyket. And in Aungers ys no stuffe of Men of Amiez as I am lered, save a lonely of the burgeysez ; and the Cuntreys so stroyet in y ' Dolfyns Men and the Scottes, K that evere man that comes of thoo coostez says he t yrkes right sore with thair lyf and desyren to be at zoure obeysshans. Moste Hegh and Myghty Prince most doiitewyse and soverayne Lorde, the blessed Trinite have zow in his kepinge and send zow the Victorye of zoure Enemys. Writen At Costaunce y ' xv. Day of Junii. Zoure humble man & servaunt JOHN OF ASSHETON. LETTER XXIII. Si?' William Bardolph to Kiiig Henry the Fifths re~ lating to the Government of Calais. [mS. COTTOK. VESP. XIII. fol. 31. Orig.'] •»• Sir William Bardolph was in the train of Flenry the Fifth when he was captain of Calais in the reign of his father.* In the 4th of Henry Vth. Sir William Bardolph had the keeping of the Castle of Sand- gate in Picardy. «> In the next year we find him Lieutenant of Calais. « The Cottonian Manuscript, Calig. D. v. formerly contained a Letter of his, m French, to the Council of Henry tlie Fifth, giving a wretched » IloUcs Fran9. i. 20T. t Rot. Gascon. 4 Hen. V. m. i*. Oct. 9. « MS. Cotton, Galba B. i. art. !»♦, ia«, us, las. \i ORIGINAL LETTERS. 75 account of the wants and arrears of the Garrison of Calais, dated Nov. 12th, 5 Hen. Vth. he speaks of " la grande meschevouse necessite, hideus, piteus noisse, et dolereuse murmure, quell continuelment, de jour en jour, se aient par descha entre nous humbles lieges et poures souldeiers du Roy notre tres redoute soverain Seigneur, pour la grand importable disaise et grevousse pouverte que nous sustiennons, en defaulte de paie- ment de nos gages ore de ces deux ant ici patsees,*^* Among the Norman Rolls of the Cth of Hen. Vth. there is one which indicates that he had a character for severity. " De potestate commissa Williehno Bardolf militi, ad sutpendendum omnespcr collum qui falso se extraxerunt ab excrcitu Regis."'' The Letter here prefaced, is a fair specimen of a Gentleman's style in the reign of Henry the Vth. My most i dowtyd gracious sovereygne liege Lord, al so lowly an mekly as in ony wise I can or may I recomaunde me un to zowt hy nobil and gratious Lordschip, un to the qwiche please y t to understonde, that in as myche as the governaun(je of the Frynche party her has ben and ys, duryng the abstinence of werr of viij. dayys weynyng in to thys tyme, mer- veylous & wndirfully unstabil in diverse wise, to gret hyndryng and harm of zowr liege puple, qwiche wer to longe and to combrous to declar zow be writyng with owtyn I cowde better endyte. I beseche un to zowr seyd Lordschip that in tho maths ^ and other towching governaunce of this zowr Town and Marchis, that yt plese zow to her, sey, and speke in that party zowr servaunt Jon Hunden brynger of this Letter. Aftir the articlys qwiche I have delivery d hym, wretin with myn owne hand, and them graciowsly consyderyd • MS. DonaU Mus. Brit. 4601. art. Ul. *• Rot. Norm. 6 Hen. V. p. a, m. a. « these matters. m. ! OKIGINAL LETTERS. be zowr hy noblesse, I may therupon have word, be the sanie Hunden, of zowr goode plesaunce, qwow^ I chal be govemyd; and my most i dowtyd gracious sovereygne liege Lord, no more write I at this tyme un to zowr hy Wyamesse,^ but that I beseche Al myghty God ever to have zow in hys holy kepynge, and zeve zow ryght goode lyf and longe parfet helthe of body, and victory of zowr enemys, for his goode Grace. Wretyn at zowr town of Caleys upon Corpus Christi day. Zowr owne powr soget W. BARDOLPH. 4-=^ iammeg ll LETTER XXIV. T. F, to his Fellows and Friends in England, Jroni Evreux, A. D. 1420. [ms. donat. mus. BRIT. 4601, art 156. from the cottokiak ms. CALIG. D. v.] *^* There is an Instrument in R)rmer*s Foedera, torn- ix. p. 701, from the Norman Rolls, 6 Hen. V. p. 2, m. 23. dated 28 Feb. 1419. " de confirmatione Tractatus cum Dauphino super colloquio per- sonal!. Teste Rege apud Castrum Rothomagi,'* to which in all pro- bability one part of this Letter alludes. The ** Rule Regent," saith the writer, " hath broke the suiety abovesaid, and made the King a beau NIENT." None of our Historians appear to notice this occurrence. welle beloved Felous & Freendys I grete yow welle, dowyng yow • how. ^ Highness. ORIGIIJAL LETTERS. 77 to understond that al be hit that the Dolphin, Regent of France, made grete instance by hys ambassiatours, sondry tymes, for to have hadde personele speche w^ the Kyng for the good of pees betwene bothe Reaumes ; and at the last the Kyng grantyd hys desir for to do so yn sum covenable place betwene Evereux and Drewys, as the ambassiatours of bothe parties myghten have accordet apon; and that that aforsaide personele metyng shulde have be do the iij Sunday of Lent, at hys owne desir and insUnce made therfore ; makyng seuretee by hys othe and hys lettres y seeled therapon to kepe that day. The forsaide Rewle Regent hathe broke the seuretee abovesaide, and made the Kyng a beau nient:^ so that ther may none hope be hadde as yette of pees. God putte honde therto when hys wil ys. Cirtes alle the ambassadors, that we dele wyth, ben yncongrue, that is to say, yn olde maner of speche in Englond, " they ben double and fals:"" whyth whiche maner of men I prey God lete never no trewe mon be coupled with. And so nowe men suppose that the Kyng wil fro ' henys forthe make werre yn France ; for Normandie is alle hys, except Gysors, Euere, the Castelle Gay- lard,^ and the Roche. The whiche shulle ben sette a werke yn hast for to leme to do as other have done, beter than they be by mony foold. . This is. in fact, an Italian phrase: he made the King a bello niento. He made him a cypher : he stultified him. ^ „ , * r. — ^ The CasUe of Galiard was subsequently surrendered to the Duke of Exeter. j™| 78 ORIGINAL LkTTEBS. till III More write y not at thys tyme ; bote y prey yow ye prey for us that we may come sone, oute of thys un- lusty soundyours lyf, yn to the lyf of Englond. And Crist have yow yn hys holy kepyng. Wrete at Euereux the Monday next byfore Passion Sunday. Y have wrete to yow oft tyme yn the Seege tyme of Rouen,^ and sethe^ the yeeldyng therof ; bote y note whether my Lettres alle come to yow or no. By T. F. One of the last sentences, " More write I not at this time, but I pray ye pray for us that we may come soon out of this unlusty souldiere life into the life of England," forms an energetic comment upon the hardships endured by the soldiers in Henry the Fifth's campaigns. The common people in England, too, showed some discontent at the glory which the King and his army were in search of. The Donation Manu- script in the Museum, 4601, art. 232. contains the following copy of " an Information against one Glomyng for words spoken by him in September 1419, relating to the Siege of Rouen : " Raulin Kyrkeby of Sandewych shipman, and William Buryman of Ertyngdon, witnessyt and recordyt that Harry Glomyng haberdasher axyd of the same Raulyn where the King of Ingclond lay ; and the for- sayd Raulyn ansuerde and seyde that he lay atte Sege before Roon. * What doth he there,' seyde the forseyde Harry ? ' for and y were there with iij. M. men of armys,' seyde the same Harry, ' y wolde brcke his Sege, and make hem of Roon dokke hys tayle.' And fordermore he sayde that he vere not able to abyde there, were hit that the Duk of » This notice of the Siege of Rouen, affords an opportunity of commenting upon a short passage of Monstrelet. That writer says that when Henry the Fifth made his entry into Rouen Jan. i»:h, l4i»-30. " he was followed by a page mounted on a beautiful horse, bearing a lance, at the end of which, near the point, was ihitened a Fox's brush by way of streamer, which afforded great matter of remark among th« wise heads." Elmham, and Stowe after him, give the explanation of this. In 14U, Henry the Fifth •• kept his Lent in the castle of Kenilworth. and caused an arbour to be planted in the marsh there for his pleasure, amongst the thonis and bushes, where a Fox before had harboured : which Fax hb killkd, being a thing then thought to prognocticate that he should expel the eraftu deceit of the Prbiich Kino." •• since. ' know not. H 1 .1 OBIGIKAL LETTERS. 79 m Borgoyne kepte his eneinyes fro hym. And he seyde thys wordys atte Ertyngdon, in the house of the forseyde William Burgman, a morwe after Seynt Mathew the Apostel, the sexte yere of owre Lorde the Kyng that now ys, that God save.'* Upon the back of the original of this Information, a memorandum is made, that upon the 24th of October following, the said Glomyng, for uttering these words, was committed by the King's council to the prison of the Fleet. B^R I LETTER XXV. il Heretang Clujc to King Henry the Fifth, upon the Emperor Sigismund's setting out to repress the Hussites in Bohemia. m [bOT. ANTIO. cotton. BRIT. MU8. XIII. 30. Orig.] •,• Heretong, Hortang, or Hortank van Clux, from his name was a Fleming. An Inspeximus of the 1st of Henry the Fifth announces him as a knight, and states that he had served with King Heiuy the Fourth in Wales.* The Cottonian Manuscript Vespas. F. i. foL 2. contains King Henry the Fourth's Instrictions to him and John Stokes, dated at Windsor, March 2d, 1411, when they went ambassadors to Sigismund as King of Hungary. In 1414 he was sent again to the Court of Sigis- mund, and was in the same year with King Henry the Fifth in France ;*> he was afterwards sent as minister from England at different times to the King of Arragon, the Princes of Almaigne, the Hanse Towns, and the Genoese.*^ The mention of Sigismund*s succeeding to the Crown of Bohemia upon the death of his brother Wenceslaus, fixes the time of writing the present letter either to the end of 1419, or the beginning of 1420, when Heretong Clux was again the resident at his court Sigismund had had the crown of Hungary from 1386; and became Emperor in 1 410. The worid has been long acquainted with his treachery to Huss. After Huss's execution, while the Council of Constance at which i Rym. Foed.lom. ix. p. 44. •• Ibid. pp. 155, 85«. c Ibid. pp. 410, 413, 41S, 605. i^fj ii I 80 ORIGINAL LETTERS. he presided was still sitting, he repaired to England ; and was received there with every honor due to the first Sovereign of Europe. His recep- tion, indeed, was of so flattering a kind that, as we gather from the pre- sent Jjetter, he entertained the wish to visit it again : but the Hussites kept him employed. The words of the Letter as they regard the feeling of Bohemia are remarkable. The power of the barons against him was great, " but the greatest power was oft?t€ commoners.** Putter says that Sigismund undertook no less than six campaigns against the Hussites without effect They were headed by the memorable Zisca. Sigismund did not obtain the quiet possession of Bohemia till 1436 ; and he died at Znaym Dec. 9th, 1437.* The last mention, which occurs in Rymer's Focdera, of Heretong Clux is in the 18th of Hen. Vlth. when he was sent upon an embassy from England to the Emperor and the Archbishop of Cologne.** The same Roll which contains this Letter preserves the Form for Sigismund*s Reception in England in 1416, and an original Order of the Council of Henry the Fifth, signed by its different members, for giving rewards to his ambassadors. Il MosTE worshippful and reverende Lorde I recom- maunde me unto zour graciouse Lordschip, and os^ touching Lebard's message wilk^^ he brohte to the Emperor, I have sped hym in all the haste that I myht, so that the Emperor hase fulfilde all zo"" desire os c of that Message. And if it like zo*^ graciouse Lordschip for to knaw of my governaunce sen tyme that I sent zow laste worde be mayster John Stokes be muthe*^ and noht be letter : and also a fore be the Provinciale Diprant, and Hans of Serwse be letter also : and after mayster Johan Stokes ^ wasse gone, the Emperor sayde • See Putter's Developement of the Constitution of the Gennanic Empire, tranil. by Domford, toI. L p. mi. Art de verifier let Dates, Fol. Par. torn. IL ITST. p. 4tt. k Rym. F<«d. torn. x. p. T«9. < as. <« which. • mouth. ' John Stoke, Stokes, or Stokys, LLD. is mentioned in numerous embassies from King Henry Vth. See Rym. Foed. torn. ix. pp. 419, ui, 5ftO, 929, 9'ri, 828, 883, 846, 884.718,786. iH h\ ORIGINAL LETTERS. 81 me planley that I sulde noht gone frome hym un to tyme that I sulde wyte wedir he myhte come to zow this somer or nolit ; and ther opon he hase halden me 9 all way un to this tyme. And now I knawe well he may noht come, for this cause, that many of the grett lordis of Beheme that ware swome of his Counsell sen that his Brother dyde, and hade his livere, ban required hym for to late hem halde the sayme beleve that thei ben in, the qwilk Articls [and] Letter I have closed in this Letter qwilk thei have sente to the Empror : and ther opon he sent hem worde that rader » he wolde be dede or he wolde susten hem in thare Malesse: and thei hane ansferd hym agayne, that thei will rether^ dye than gon^^ frome thare beleve. And like zour graciouse Lordschip for to knawe that ther is a grete , power of hem, bothe of Lordys, Knyths, and Squiers, I bot the grettiste power is of Communers : and therfore the Empror gederse all the power that he may, for to gone in to Beheme opon hem : and knawse no nother, ne noman thet is a boute hym, bot that he is lyke to liave a grete batell with hem : and therfore the Empror hase charged me habyde and see a nende, lyke os^ he dyde qwen he wente oute of Hungare a ganes the Turkys. And therfore I be seke zow of zour graciouse Lordschip, alslauley and als mekely os^ any poure ser- vaunt may don un to his Lorde, that ze be noht dis- plesed of my long habydyng frome zow ; for I think » ratiicr. VOL. I. SEK. 2. go. ' as. (; 91 :i f t m mm lii 82 ORIGINAL LETTERS. for to come unto zow in a shorte tyme be the grace of Gode, and bringe zow redy worde of all maner tiling qwilk I kane noht wryte unto zour graciouse Lordschip atte this tyme ; for I wold noht byde so longe frome zow, savyng that I here suche tydans that all zour frendis be glade therof, of zow and zoure werres, wham God save and kepe alle way from evell. Writen atte Swines atte departyng of the Empror goynge in to Beheme in the feste of Sayn Vitale martir. Be zour poure Servaunt HERETONG CLUX. Serenissimo Principi Henrico, Franciae Angliaque Regi, et Do- mino Hibemi®, Domino meo me- tuendissimo. Dr. Chandler informed the Society of Antiquaries, February 5th, 1761, that in the Public Library at Edinburgh was preserved the original Protest of the Bohemian and Hungarian Lortls against the breach of faith by the Council of Constance, in imprisoning and burning John Huss and Jerome of Prague, contrary to the safeguard given to them by the Em- peror for their appearance at the CounciL By the kindness of Dr. Jamieson, the Editor is enabled to state that this document is still preserved in the Library of the University of Edin- burgh. The names of the protesting Lords and Gentlemen are all written round the margin, and the Seal of each person unpressed on a cake of wax annexed by a label to the respective name. Of the mode in which this deed found its way to the archives of the University no account can be given. M ORIGINAL LETTERS. 83 LETTER XXVI. Rkluird Knygtle and Robert Whitgrave to King Henry Vth.from Harfieur^ respecting Im Treasure. [ MS. DONAT. MUS. BRIT. 4600. flrM14./rO»» MS. COTTON. CALIG.D. v.] *^ Monstrelet describing the surrender of Harfleur to Henry the Fifth, Sept. 26th. 1415, says, " In regard to the wealth found there, it was immense, and appertained to the King, who distributed it among such as he pleased.** The Letter, however, here presented, could not have been written before 1420. The wealth it mentions was upon the point of being removed to Rouen. Stowe, under the year 1419, says, that after the Si^e of Rouen was over. King Henry " to relieve this oppressed City, ordained it to be the chief Chamber of all Normandy, and orduined his Exchequer^ his trea- sury, and his Coinage to be kept in the same." Most soverayne and gracious Lord ; and hit lyke zow to wete, we ben in Harfleu whith zoure goode ; that is in Gold coyned xxx.m.^'; in Sylver coyned mm.^'; and in wegges of silver drawyng by estymation to halfe a tonne tyght : and other serteyne godes of zoure Chapell, of zoure Warderobe, and of zoure Housold : the wheche we dar not remewe^ unto the tyme we have comaundement from zow how we shall goveme hit, wheder by water or by londe, and how we shal be condyt'' to Rone.c And Criste for his mercy save zow, kepe zow, and spede zow. Wryten at Harfleu, xix^^. day of May. Zoure servauntes, eichard knygtle and ROBARD WHITGttEVE,<* Countours of zoure Receyte, • remove. •• conductc?d. « Rouen. * Robert Whilgrcve occurs a& one of the Tellers of the Exchequer in England %»K Hen. V. wn. Rym. Ford. lorn. x. p. 215. g2 *i 84 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^i ii!l^ LETTER XXVII. Sir Hugh LuUreU to King Henry the Fifth. [ms. donat. Mrs. BBiT. 4602. art 118. from the cottonian ms. CALIO. D. v.] ♦,♦ Sir Hugh Luttrell, the writer of this Letter, was the Lieutenant of Harfleur, in which office he occurs in 1419 ; • though the contents of this Letter fix its date to the 8th Hen. V. A. D. 1421. Sir Hugh was of Minehed in Somersetshire. In 1399 Ist Hen. TV**, he was in the suite of Peter Courtney captain of Calais : and, in 1402, was twice employed by Henry the Fourth in negociations with France. In 1404 he held the Office of Mayor of Bourdeaux. ** II 1^ Wel, excellent, and myghtyfuU Prince, my re- doubtabel and souverain Lord, I zowr meke and trewe ligec recommande me unto zowr heye and soveraine noblesce as mekely as I can or may. Unto the whyche lyke, to wyte, that wyth all lowlynesse, I have y re- ceyved zowr worshipfiiU Lettres the whiche of zowr benigne Grace ze have enclyned zow to sende unto me; not having reward unto my simplenesse of my persone, but to the exaltation of zowr heye discretion ; in as much as I am unworthy therto : be the which I have undurstonde that the Creatour of all thyng, of hise heygh pourveance, hath used zow in herte to bryng zow unto the conclusion of perpetual pes betux ^ the • Rym. Fcpd. toni. ix. p. 8T4. ( liege. k Sw the Norman and French Rolls. * betwixt. m ORIGINAL LETTERS. 85 « two Remes that ever owt of mende of ony Cronicles han ben in discention, schewyng zow fortune to con- clude and bring at an ende that noo man kynde myght hyr bifore^ have i wroght : thankyng God wyth meke herte that he hath i send unto me that grace to abyde that tyme for to seye hyt, as for the gretist gladnesse and consolation that ever come unto my herte: not dredyng in my self that he that hath send zow that grace in so schort a tyme, schal send zow moch more in tyme comyng. And as towchyng my simple per- sone, zif zow lyke to wyte, at the makyng of this Let- tre I was desesed of my persone be the bond of owr Creatour, in so moch that I may not excerce myne Office as my will were, as zowr trewe knyght S^ John Colville and Master Pierres your phisician^ schuU enfourme zow more playnely than I may write unto zow at this tyme ; for in this sith c in the bailliage of Caux, ne in the march of Picard, blessed be God, ther ys no steryng of none evyl doers, saf ^ byonde the rivere of Sayne, toward the basse of Normandy of cer- tains brigaunts.e And when God of hys grace fowch saf to bryng me owt of hise prison, I schal gouveme me in the exercise of myn office at zowr worship, and as I am i hold for to doo. And as towchyng my worshipfuU lord the Duke of i • here before. , . ,, * Picrh or Peter dc AlcobaMC, whose services as Physician were rewarded i^' Hen. VI. with a prebendal sUll at Windsor. Sec Rym. Feed. vol. x. p. 2«3. c time. * Mvc. • brigands. I ,' 86 OHIGIXAL LETTERS. Itilt III 11 Bedford zowr brother, atte hys arrivayl I rood agayn hym to the Kyef de Caux, and told hym the poverte of this Countre. Wher uppon he gouvemed hym and all zour men in hise company in swych maner, that all thyse countre blesseth hym and hyse meyny in swych wyse, that I have ihad noo complainte of ham eftir hyse partyng. Wherfore, be my simple discretion, he ys thankworthy, the which I remete unto zowr hygh discretion. More can not I say at this tyme ; but I pray unto God of hys grace encresce zow in worship, prosperite, and perfit joye, and send zow good lif, and long lastyng. I write at zour town of Harefleu the vj^^'. of June. Zowr meke lyge HUGH LUTTRELL. A ^treshault et tresexcellent Prince noire tresredoubte et tres- souverain S' . le Roy de France et d'Engleterre. Itll ii<*nl LETTER XXVIII. Letter of the Tenants of Lord Pawys respecting the capture of Sit John Oldcastle, [cLAUS. 88. HEN. 5. m. 24. dors. MS. donat.mus.brit. 4602. or/. 179.] •^* The circumstances attending the execution of Sir John Oldcasdc, in 1418, as a follower of A\'icliffe's doctrines, arc, no doubt, known to I H ORIGIKAL LETTEES. 87 most of the readers of diis Work. They would not have been even alluded to here, had not a Letter occurred which at least setdes a discre- pancy, if it does not correct an error in some of our Historians. Even the judicious Lingard says, " In die Rolls, the capture of Oldcasde seems to be attributed to Lord Powis ; but Heame has published a Wn^ dated Dec 1st in which it is expressly asserted diat he was taken by Sir Edward Charlton."' . The fact was, as we learn from die following I^etter, wntten by the very persons who took Sir John Oldcasdc, that Sir Edward C/uirltoti and Lord Powu were die same person. It is evident too diat die Lord Powis had the reward conceded to him personally, which die King had offered for die apprehension of Sir John, and agreed privately to satisfy the claim of his tenants. Sir John Oldcasde as appears from Pat. 5 Hen. V. m. 10. dors, was first secured in Pole, diat is Powis Casde, whence he was brought to London before the CounciL We Jevan and Gruffuth, sones of Gruffuth ap Je- van ap Madoc ap Gwennoys, of Powys Londe, gen- tilmen, Hoel ap Gruffith ap David ap Madoc, and Dero ap Jevan ap Jorum ap Ada of the same Lond, zemen, ^> tenauntz to sire Edward Charletoun knyght Lord of Towys, and takeres of Sir John Oldcastell, that was myscreant and unboxome to the lawe of God, and traitour cx)nvicte to oure gracious Soveraigne Lord and his Henry kyng of Englond aftyr the conquest the V^'. thonkcn ^* our said Soveraigne Lord in as lowely wyse, and with as hole hert as we in oure simple manere con dcuyse, that hit hath liked him of his gracious goode- nesse for to remembre his notarie proclamation made thorgh his Roialme by his hie commaundement of the i| • Tit. Liv. Hcamc, |>. 219. t> ycoircu. c thanking. 88 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 1 i 1 1 i Ifii^r i ' liiliH ItMi guerdon and reward by his hie discression appoyirted to hyin that mizt have that fortune and grace to ben takers of the said John Oldcastell, for the which guer- doun and reward oure said Lord of Powys, by the gra- ciouse governance and assent of oure said Soveraigne Lord, base compownyd with us and fynaly accorded, so that we and every ch of us ben fully satisfied and agreond, after oure owne desire and plaisir, in pleyn accom- plisement and excusation of the Proclamation aforsaide; of the wych guerdoun.and rewarde we hold us fynaly agrent ^ and content for evermore. In witnessyng wherof to this oure present Letters we have ysette oure Scales in the hie and noble presence of oure said Soveraigne Lord, and also of the hie and myghty Prince the Due of Gloucestre brothir unto oure Soveraigne Lord byforsaid, and also of Umfray Erie of Stafford, John Lord Fornyvall, and of othir mony mo worthy and gret, of diverses degrees, at that tyme they beyng present. Y made at Shrosbery the iiij^^ day of March the yere of oure said Soveraigne Lord the viij*'». ^ Sir John Oldcastle^s execution was attended with circumstances of unusual barbarity. He was burnt, suspended by chains from a gallows. • af^reant, agreed. t> Then follows the endorsement, " Et Memorandum quod prsedicti Jevan et Grufhith fil. GruffUth ap Jevan ap Gwenuoys de Powys land, gentilmen, Hoel ap Gr*. ap David ap Mad. et Dero ap Jevan ap Jorum ap Ada, de I'owys land, vcnerunt coram Johannc dc Talbot Domino de Foumyvall apud Watle^burgh, vicesimo die Aprili:> anno pra>scnti. virtute Brcvia Domini Regis, dedimus potcstatcm eidem Juhanni ac Abbati beati I'etri Salop, directi, et in filaclis Canccllar. cjusdcm Domini Rc^is de hoc anno rcxidciitis, et re* cognovcrunt «criptuni proxiictum et omnia contcuta iu coUein in fuima pracdicta." f ; U' 4 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 89 i Till burning became a more frequent punishment for heretics, the mode appears to have varied. In one instance, in the reign of Henry the Fourth, the sufferer was inclosed in a cask. Prince Henry, afterwards King Henry the Fifth, was present at the execution, and hearing the wretched lowmg of the victhn in the barrel, ordered the fire to be drawn away and the cask to be opened, offering the half dead sufferer his life and a daily allowance of threepence from the Exchequer, if he would recant. The heretic refused. He was again inclosed in his cask, and consumed. The details of this singular execution are given in the note below from Wal- singham.* Henry the Eighth and Queen Mary chained their sufferers openly to a stake. LETTER XXIX. Richard Clifford bishop of London, to King Henry the Vth. concerning an intended Embassy to the Pope. [mS. cotton. BRIT. MUS. CLEOP. E. II. fol. 369. Or\g.'\ • • Richard Clifford was translated from the See of Worcester to Ix)ndon, Oct 13th, 1407- He died Aug. 20th, 1421. In 1417, he was, with several other English bishops, at the Council of Constance. The date of this U-tter is fixed to the last year of the bishop's life, dame Joan North, mentioned in it, being in that year consecrated Abbess of Syon.«> Syon, it will be remembered, was of the foundation of King Henry the Fifth, in 1414. . It was in the year Uio. He says, •* Facto Parliamento Londiniis, sub diebua Ouadra«8imae, quidam laicus. arte faber. dum pertinaciter defendit hanc haBresim. qudd videlicet non est corpus Christi quod sacramentaliter tractatur in Ecclesia, sed res quHKiam inanimaU, pejor bufone vel aranea, qua; sunt animalia animata. nee veUet opinionem istam deserere, traditus est judicio seculari. Cumque damnalus esset et in Smith/eld includkndus dolio, dominus prineeps Henncus (Regis pnmo- Kenitus) qui tunc aflFuit, ad eum accesslt. consuluit, mouuit ut resipisceret : sed ncRlexit (iwditus nebulo) tanti Principis monita, et elegit potiiis se comburendum, quam Sacramento viviBco deferre reverentiam. Quapropter dolio includitub. oMifritur a devorante /lamma, mugitquk muferabiliter inter incendiam : clamore cuius horribili dominus Princeps motus, jussit ignis materiam ab eo 8ubtrahi,ardorem longius amoverL Consolatur pend mortuum, promittans nunc etiam victurum se, et ronsecuturum veniam, ac singuUs diebusvitse sue (si recipisceret) defisco regio ties denarios percepturum. sed miser (refocillato spiritu) respuit tanta; dignatioms oblationem, (non dubium quin maligno spiritu iuduraturus). Quamobrcm jussit dominus Princeps eum itkbum rkcludi dolio, gratiam nuUam consecuturum de rcllquo, unde coiiligit qucSd illic ad favUlas ursit ardaUo, miserabiUter mortuus in Iteccato suo." Edit. I57i. p. «i. i- MS. Cole, Brit. Mus. vol. xxvii. fol. 214 b. '1 90 OillGINAL LETTERS. i iililS- Ryght excellent and most Cristene Prince and gra- ciouse lige Lord, I youre symple preest and bedeman recomaunde me to youre roial Majeste as lowly as I kan or may, desiryng alwey with al myn herte to here glad and graciouse tydyngges of the hele and good speed of your graciouse persone, and of alle my lordys, and of alle othere that ben in youre honorable servise ; the whiche God of his grete grace kepe in hele, joy, and prosperite, with victory of alle youre enemy s as youre Hyghnesse kan best devise. Thankyng yow lowly with al myn herte of the grete grace that it liked youre seyd Hyghnesse to do to me, now late foryevyng me graciously the eschapes of the clerkes convictes out of my prison of Storteford. And for I suffise not to thanke yow fully ther of, I beseche God Almyghty that he thanke yow ther that it may be most profitable to yow bothe of soule and body. Ryght excellent Lord, it liked to youre seyd Hyghnesse not longe agon to wryte to me youre symple preest, that it was youre will that I scholde made me redy for to wende with othere certeyn persones in youre honorable Ambassiate to oure holy fadir the Pope, of the whiche matire I have alwey sitthe abyde, and redy with Goddys grace schal be at alle tymes to obbeye youre noble comaundementys, as youre worschipful knyght sire John Colvyle, berere of this lettre, kan schewe to youre seyd Hyghnesse. And also ryght graciouse Lord, like it yow to weten that, on Sunday the fyft day of May, I was at youre Hows of ii OlllGlNAL LETTERS. 91 Syon, and there confermed the eleccions of dame Jhone North abbesse, and of sire Thomas Fyschburne, my welbelovyd cousyn, confessour of youre seyd Hows ; and that same day I blessyd and stallyd the forseyd abbesse; the whiche persones I truste, by Goddys grace, schal moche profite in that place in that holy company bothe of men and of women, the whiche God of his mercy graunte. And graciouse lige Lord like it to youre seyd Highnesse to lete me wete youre graciouse will, by sum that cometh hyder, touchyng my goyng, to the whiche will I schal alwey with Goddys grace lowly obbeye. Right excellent and most Cristene Prince and graciouse lige Lord, the holy Trinite have yow ever in his kepyng, and sende yow alwey gloriouse victory of alle youre enemys. Wryten in hast at London the \\-^\ day of May. Youre symple preest and bedeman, RICHARD Byssliop of Loncloti. I'i II ( I LETTERS 'U OP THE REIGNS OF HENRY THE SIXTH AKO EDWARD THE FOURTH. ■ii' 11 ■; i' ii The Letters which have occurred to the Editor of these Volumes of the reigns of HENRY the SIXTH and EDWARD the FOURTH, are comparatively few ; though several will be found amongst them which lend no ordinary light to History. This eventful period, though removed from us scarcely more than three Centuries, is still among the darkest on our Annals. Its records are confused, mutilated, and disjointed. They who wrote History in it, had no talents for the task ; and there was a ferocity abroad among the partisans of both the rival Houses, which prevented many from even assembling the materials of History. Of Maroahet of Anjou, the Queen of Henry the Sixth, no Letters have occurred : though it is probable that some must exist, either in English or French. The only memorials of this remarkable woman to be found in the British Museum, are, a Book which was presented to her by Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, and the original Minutes of the Agree- ment for her ransom, signed by Louis the Xlth, in 1475. The Book is ornamented with a limning of the presentation of it to her and the King, and has her device the marguerite^ or daisy, frequently repeated on its margins, with the following Sonnet addressed to her by the Earl of Shrewsbury, at the bottom of thi first leaf: *• Men seul desir Au Roy et Vous, Et bien servir Jusqu'au mourir. Ce sachent tous. Mon seul desir Au Roy et Vous.** The Agreement for the ransom of Margaret of Anjou, dated Oct. 2, 1475, stiles her simply " Dame Marguerite, fille de Roy de Secille, a present detenue par le Roy d'Angleterre, et par son ordonnance em- peschee." Baudier states that this unfortunate heroine died of grief in 1482, in the parish of Dampierre near Saumur, at the house of Francis de la Vignolle seigneur de Moraens, who had been one of the chief officers in the household of her father Kmg Ren6. She was buried in the magnificent tomb of her father, but without any epitaph or inscrip- tion peculiar to her : but what was wanting to her honour in this respect, he adds, was in some measure supplied in a different way ; for every year, upon the feast of All Saints, the chapter of St. Maurice, after vespers of the dead, made a semicircular procession about the tomb, and sang a Subvenite for the Queen.* This custom, the Editor is assured, was continued till the breaking out of the French Revolution. » Baudier's Hist of the Calamities of Margaret of Anjou Queen of England. SB Lond. 17ST, pp. 191 . 193. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 95 II LETTER XXX. Thomas Hostel to King Henry the Sixths for alms. [MS. DONAT. BRIT. MU8. 4603. art, lOO- A.D. 1422.] •^* A Letter from a wounded Soldier, who had fought at Azmcourt, to the Council of his Sovereign, for the King was then an infant, has a claim upon the feelings of the generous. At that period hospitals for decayed soldiers were unknown ; standing armies not having been established, the soldier's character was not distinct from that of the citizen ; when disabled in war, his only resource was the receipt of alms. Of Thomas Hostel it is probable no other memorial now exists. The taking of the Carracks, mentioned in this Letter, occurred at the relief of Harfleur in 1416. Hardyng the chronicler, who was likewise there, has a chapter " Of the battle of the Seine, and of the Carracks there taken in the Sea afore the mouth of Seine," Hall speaking of this Engagement, says, " After long fight the Victory feD to the Englishmen, and they toke and sunk ahnost the whole Navy of France, m the which were many ships, hulks, and carracks, to the number of five hundred, of the which three great Carracks were sent into England." To the Kyng oure Soverain Lord Besechith mekely youre poure liegeman and hum- ble horatour Thomas Hostell, that in consideration of his service doon to your noble progenitours of ful blessid memory Kyng Henrj the iiij^h. and Kyng Henri the fift, whoos soules God assoille ; being at the Siege of Harflewe, there smy ten with a springolt » through the hede, lesing his oon ye, ^ and his cheke boon broken ; » The springoU was a dart, thrown from the Espringal, and had brass plates, in- stead of feathers, to make it* flight steady. b eye. %-i\ |8H !■ 96 ORIGINAL LETTERS. also at the Bataille of Agingcourt, and after at the takyngof the Carrakes on the See, there with a gadde of yren his plates smyten in sondre, and sore hurt, maymed, and wounded ; by meane whereof he being sore febeled and debrused, now falle to greet age and poverty ; gretly endetted ; and may not helpe himself; hav3mg not wherewith to be susteyned ne releved but of menes^ gracious almesse; and being for his said service never yit recompensed ne rewarded, it plese your high and excellent Grace, the premises tenderly considered, of your benigne pitee and grace, to releve and refresh your said pouere Oratour, as it shal plese you, with your most gratious Almesse at the reverence of God and in werk of charitee ; and he shal devoutly pray for the soules of your said noble Progenitours, and for your moost noble and high estate. 1 ml } I ii I! LETTER XXXI. Sir TJiomas Rokebjt/ to Humphry DvJce of Gloucester, A. D, 1423. respecting his Covenant of military Service with King Henry the Fifth, [ms. donat. BRIT. Mus. 4603. art, 121.] ♦^* Written Indentures of military Service arc of frequent occuircnce in the reign of Henry the Fifth ; and show the manner in which an Army was raised and kept together for a foreign expedition. » menu. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 97 Contracts were made by the Keeper of the Privy Seal with different liords and Gentlemen, who bound themselves to serve with so many men at arms and so many archers for a year, reckoning from the day on whicTi they first mustered in the field. The pay, or security for its amount, was directed to be delivered to the contracting parties a quarter of a year in advance : and if all was not actually paid at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the engagement was to cease. From the Letter here copied, it should seem that upon the part of the Crown, in Henry the Fifth's reign, the latter portion of the covenant was not always rigidly frilfiUed. To the hyghe and myghty Prince the Duk of Glouc. Protectour of Ynglond, and the right wyse and discrete Counscyl of our Lord the Kyng. Besecheth your humble servaunt Thomas Rokeby knyght, that ther he has ben withholde and of retenue for a yere wyt the full worthy and noble Kyng Henry, fader to our soveraigne liege Loid that nowe ys, in his viage into hys Realme of France & Normandie, the yer of his regnc the iiij'^^ als it, be^ hys endenture made, betwix the forsayd noble Kyng and the forsayd Thomas Rokeby, pleinli appiers; and hi3 forsayd retcnu for the yer forsayd pleinly execute and ftilfellid, and so forth be coman dement of the forsayd ful noble Kyng his service and devure continued fro yere to yer, unto four yer was nere spendid and passid, als it be •» certeins endenturcs made also betwix the forsayd Kyng and the forsayd Thomas Rokeby pleinly ap- liy. VOL. I. SER.2. H > ► I I !! ^5 i ill t II! 98 ORIGINAL LKTTERS. 0RU;TNAT. LKTTERS. 99 piers ; for the whilk time a gret part of the wagez of the forsayd Thomas is behynde and nowth^ payd hym to gret hynderyng and annentifyng^> : bot if your graciouse Lordshippis and help in this mater to him be shewyd, lyke it to zour wyser discretions and gra- ciouses Lordshippis, to comande the Tresorer and Ba- rons of the Cheker^' of our Lord Kyng to here his Acompt in this matere and certifie yow of the end of the forsayd Acompt : and aftre that to ordeigne that the forsayd Thomas myght be agreed of the areragez of his forsayd wagez als reson and conscience askys in discharging of the forsayd ful noble Kyng, and for the dede of Charite. The request of this Letter was complied with. On the 16th of May 1423, the Council directed their warrant to the Treasurer of the ExchequCT to ascertain the amount due to the Petitioner, whose claim was satisfied "indentures of foreign military service were of a date much ewrlier than the fifteenth Century. Among the Cottonian Charters «» there is a short deed of Agreement, m old French, of Adam de Gesemue with Pnnce Edward, afterwards King Edward the First, in 1270, to go with him to the Holy Land and remain with him one year, the Prince givmg him for the service of himself and suite six hundred marks. In domestic war, upon invasion or rebellion, the proceM wm shorter. The King addressed his letters of summons to his military tenants, and to the sheriffs of counties. An array was made, and all met upon a fixed day at a rendezvous. The absentees, as in the instance of Owen Glyn- dowr, were considered disobedient subjects. * nought. • exchequer. •• thwarting, or going against. * (art. antiq. Cotton, xxix. Si. LETTER XXXII. King Henry tJie Sixth to his uncle John Duke of Bedford, [ms. donat. BRIT. Mus, 4603. art. 112.] Right trusti and most beloved Uncle we grete yow wel with al our herte, and signifie unto yow as for your consolation that at the tyme of the writing of these, thanked be God, we were in perfite hele of per- sone, tristing to our Lord that as we desire in sembla- ble wise ye so be. And for as moche as we and our Counsall hier been acertained, as wel be the effecte and evidence of your werkes as be the credible reportes and writinges maad unto us and to our said Counsail, fro tyme to tyme, of the singulier diligence and the ful notable service thatye do on unto us in gouvemance of oure Reaume of Fraunce, as wel as of our Duchie of Nor- mandie, we thanke our Lord therof and yow as hertily as we kan, willing and also praying yow alwey to con- tinue evyr fro wel to better, as we ne doute in no wise with the Grace of oure Lord, but that ye so wol : and considering that in acomplishing of your desire we send now unto yow the B. of L,« also oure diere and weU • BUhop of London. H S r. 100 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I'.i !).( N beloved cosin the Eril^ Marshal, and the Lord Wilby, with notable puissaunce of yis oure Reaume of Eng- lond. We desire and pray yow, at thaire comyng unto yow, ye receyve and demene hem, and also ordcinc hem to be tretid and demenyd benyngly and favorably, so that they ne have no resonable cause of grutching, greve, nor complaint, but that thay and thaire fela- ship have cause to rejoise hem and contente hem of thaire comyng unto yow in our servise, and that as wel thay as other of oure sugites hiere take therbe^» corage and wille to goon thither at al tymes when oure behoof shal asshid. And as towardes oure bel Uncle of Excestre, whom oure Lord now late visitid with seknesse, blessid mote God be, he is rekiveryd and with his Grace shal be with yow in al goodly haste ; whoom and other that we send now unto yow to assiste yow, as for the tyme, in Counsail, we pray yow goodly and effectuelly to hiere in swiche thinges as thay shal avise yow of, fro tyme to tyme, for the worship of God, the goode of us and of yow, and of oure Reaumes and Duchie abovesmd ; willing also that ye geve faith and credence to that that the said Bishop of London &c. shal say on to yow on oure behalve: and Almyghty God &c. Yeven at Westmynstre the xv. day of May. • Garl. >» thereby. Jl! ORIGINAL LETTERS. 101 LETTER XXXIII. Henry Beaufort BisJiop of Winchester to King Henry the Sixths requesting leave to go on Pilgrimage, [M8. cotton. MU8. BRIT. CLEOP. E. IIL foL 30 b. OrigJ\ •,• This Letter was evidently written after the tennination of Uie quarrel between the Bishop and Humphry Duke of Gloucester, in 142G. Philip Moi^^ bishop of Ely, whose signature appears to it as one of the Lonls of the Council granting its request, received the temporalities of his See on April the 22d in that year ; and Beaufort, at the beghming of the next, was created cardinal. It seems probable that upon the reconciliation at the Parliament of Leicester, when each party took the other by the hand, the Bishop, seeing how little chance there was at that time of supplanting the Protector's power, turned his thoughts to the fulfilment of his early Vows of Pilgrimage. The arrival of the Cardinal's hat, however, induced him to defer tliem again. He re-assumed his haughty tone ; * and finding himself placed under the more immediate protection of the Papal Sec, called and signed himself the Cardinal of England ;•» though his real title was that of Cardinal of St. EutcUut. The Council, as the signatures at the bottom of the Letter show, gave him leave to take his journey ; and were probably disappointed that he did not pursue it. » The intemperate Letter which brought the Duke of Bedford from France, to ad- jast the quarrel between the Bishop and the Protector, is printed both by Fabyan and Hall : " Right high and mighty Prince, and right noble and, after one, levest earthly Lonle, I recommende me unto your Grace with all my harte. And as ye desire the welfare of the Kyng our sovereigne Lorde, and of his realmcs of England and of Fraunce, and your owne weal with all yours, hast you hither: for, by my truth, and ye tarry long. We shall put thislande inajupaidy with a fkldk, suche a brothkr YOU HAVK HERB ; God make hym a t^ood man. For your wisedom knoweth that the protite of Frauncc standeth in the welfare of England."—" Written in great hast at London the last day of October, by your true scrvauut to my lifes ende, •' HENRY WlNCHKSTEn." *> Thift was \\k signature abo, in public In&lrutncnts. 1 I' .^ 102 OBIGINAL LETTERS. 'Ml To the King my Souverain Lord. Besecheth youre humble chappellain Henry Bisshop of Winchestre, that forasmuche as he standeth, and longe hath stande bounde, under a vowe of cer- tmn pilgrimages beyond See, havyng of the said pil- grimages right greet charge and conscience, forasmiche as he hath long difFerred to parfourme them : con- sidered, yif hit like youre Highnesse, youre said hum- ble Chapellains long continuance in youre service, which his intencion hath ben att alle tymes too doo with al trouthe and diligence to his littel poair. Like it youre noble Grace, by the advis of youre Counsail, to graunte youre licence unto youre said humble Cha- pellain, he, att his owen fredam and libertee, by suf- fisaunt warrant to be maad hym therupon unto youre Chauncellor by your Lettres of privie Seal, for to mowe passe the See in parfourmyng of the said avowe, and that att such tyme and place, and with such resounable felauship as hym shal good thinke and necessarie. (Signed helou) JOHAN. H. GLOUCESTER. H. CANTUAB. J. EBOR. Cane, T. EXET. T. DUNELM. P. ELIEN. J. BATHON. HUXGERFORD. TYPTOT. CROMWEL. I ORIGINAL LETTERS. 103 LETTER XXXIV. William Warbelton to the Duke of Gloucester and tlie Council, claiming the reward for talcing Jack Sharpe, [cart. ANTltt. COTTON. BRIT. MU8. IV. 24.] • • The PereecuUon of the foUowers of Wicliff continued in the reign of Henry the Sixth. Fabyan, in his Chronicles, under the year 1431, says, " Soon upon Easter, the Lord Protector was warned of an assembly of Hereticks at Abyndon ; wherefore he sent thither certain persons, or rode thither him- self as some writers affirm, and there arrested the bailif of that Town named William Maundevyk, a weaver, the which was appointed for a captain of the said hereticks: and for to draw the people unto hrni, he changed his name, and caUcd himself Jak Sharpe of Wygmoris lande in Wuks. But after he was examined, he confessed to have wrought much sorrow against Priests, so that he would have made their heads as chepe as sheeps heads, so that he would have sold iii. for a penny, or x. after some writers. And the same season were taken many of his com- plices which were sent unto divers prisons. And the said Jak Sharpe was, for his offence, drawen, hanged, and headed at the forenamed town of Abyndon, upon the Tuesday in Whitsun week ; and his head was sent to Ix)lidon, and there pight upon the bridge : and the other of his fautors were put in execution in divers places and countries to the terror of other.''* ^ , Stowe, who has followed Fabyan's account nearly m the same words, in his Annals, adds the positive assertion that the Duke of Gloucester went against these hereticks in person. »> • Fabyan, ('hron.cdlU 1811. p. 60a. ^ , . j. fc Annals, edit. I6W, V- «>»• This Iniurrcctlou is alw mentioned in Lclaiids ( ulleclanca. torn. i. p. 491. I i % m III !! • Hi I 104 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 105 To the high and mighty Prince my lord of Gloucestr, and to all the lordes of the Counseil. Besechith William Warbelton esquier, that hit like yo-^ Lordshippes to be remembred of a Proclama- cion made on the Kyngs behalf, be the advis of his wise Counseill, for the taking of Jak Shcrp, and of the bille casters and kepers, and more over to have in knowelech^ that the Thorsday at even next before Whitsonday, the said suppliaunt be his frendes was enfoormed howe that oon William Perkyns, which called hym self Jak Sherp, was withdrawe into a cer- ten place in Oxenford, and of whom the saide sup- pliaunt lete you have knowelech before the saide pro- clamacion ; wherefore the paid suppliant incontenent, the same nyght, sent his servaunts to the Chauncellor of Oxenford and his commissarie, and also to the baillifs of the same Towne, chargyng hem on the kings behalfe to putte the said WiUiam Perkyns under arest, and kepe him saufly, without baile or maunprise, unto the Kyng, be thadvis of you my Lordes, had other wise purveied for his deliveraunce : be the which sendyng, the saide William Perkyns that same nyght was arest, and kept til execucion was doon of hym after his desert : for which cause, as well as for other labours and costes that he hadde to help cese the riot that was like to a growe in that behalfe, in as much as lay to his symple power, humblely besechith yo'' gra- ciouse lordshippes to ordeyne hym a rewarde after yo»" wise discrecions like as you semeth he hath deserved. Here follow, in their respective hands- writing, the names of the Lords who were sitting in Council when the letter was received : " H. GLOUCESTRE. H. CANTUAR. S. DUNELM. J. ROFFEN, W. LINCOLN. J. EBOR. CANC. J. NORFF. J. BATHON. and at the back is an Order for a reward of twenty pounds to be given to Warbelton : " xxix". die Novembr. A". x«. apud Westm. concess. fuit infrascnpt. wippl. warant. Thes. Camerar. de solvendo sibi xx»'. virtute pr . . al fact, ex causa infrascript. presentibus dominis infra scriptis." Here we have no mention of William Mandcville the bailif of Abingdon. On the contrary. Jack Sharpens true name is stated to have been William Perkins: and he was taken, not at Abmgdon, but at Oxford. The truth of Warbelton's narrative of this Insurrection must be considered more authentic than Fabyan's, since even the Protector himself (of whose going against the Insurgents nothing is said) signs at tlie heail of the CouncQ for the reward. William Warbelton, the writer of this Letter, was made constable ot the Castle of Odiham in Hampshire in 1457.'' LETTER XXXV. Letter of Warrant from King Henry the Vlth. to the Bishop of Bath, his Chancellor, in 1441, concerning the exile of Eleanor Duchess of Gloucester. [ms. LAK8D. BRIT. MUS. NUM. 1. art. 33. Orig.\ •/ Fabyan and Stow supply the best preface to this Letter. '* This xix^* ycrc," says Fabyan, " began munuur and grudge to break at • Pat. 35 Hen. VI. p. 2. V, 106 OKIGINAL LETTEUS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 107 large, that before had been kept in mewe, atwene persons near about the King and his uncle the famous Humphry duke of Gloucester and Pro- tector of the land ; again whom divers conjectures were attempted atar, which after were set near to him, so that they left not till they had brought him unto his confusion. And first, this year, dame Eleanor Cobham, whom he was too familiar with or she were to him married, was arrested of certain points of treason, and thereupon by examinaUon con- vict, and lastly demed to dweU as an outlaw in the Isle of Man, under the ward of Sir Thomas Stanley knight : and soon after were arrested as aiders and counsellors of the foresaid duchess, master Thomas SouthweU a canon of St. Stephen's chapel at Westminster, master John Hum a chaplain of the said duchess, and master Roger Bolyngbroke a man ex- pert in necromancy, and a woman called JMargery Jourdcmayne sumamed the witch of Eye beside Winchester : to whose charge it was laid that these four persons should, at the request of the said duchess, devise an image of wax like unto the King, the which image they dealt so with, that by their devilish incantations and sorcery they intended to bring out of life, litde and litUe, the King's person, as they little and litUe con- sumed that image : for (he which treason and other, finally they were convict and adjudged to die : but master Thomas Southwell died in the Tower of London the night before he should have been judged on that mom ; as in the next year following shaU be declared.*** Stowe says, " The 9''' of November dame Elianor appeared before the Archbyshop and other, in the chapel of St Stephen M'estminster, and received her penance which she performed. »* On Monday the \3^K of November, she came from Westminster by water, and landed at the Temple bridge, from whence with a taper of waxe of two pound in her hand, she went through Fleete streete, hood- less, save a kerchief, to Pauls, where she offered her taper at the high alt^. On the Wednesday next, she landed at the Swan in Thames street, and then went through Bridge street, Grace church street, straight to 'Leaden-haU, and so to Christ Church by Aldgate. On Fri- day she landed at Queen-hithc, and so went through Cheape to Saynt Michaels in Comhill, in form aforesaid. At all which times, the Mayor, Sheriffs, and aafts of London received her and accompanied her. This being done, she was committed to the ward of Sir Thomas Stanley, wherein she remained during her life;*' first " in the castle of Chester, having yearly a hundred marks assigned for her finding. In the 22d of Henry the Sixth she was removed to Kenilworth." •» By the King. Reverend Fader in God, right trusty and right welbeloved we grete you wel. And for asmoch as we have ordeined oure trusty and welbeloved knight Sir Thomas Stanley, countroUour of oure householde, to have the keping of Alianore Cobham late called Du- chesse of Gloucestr, and, accompanied with certain per- sonnes of our householde, to lede hir into the parties of Chesshire, where as she shal abide. We wol and charge you that under oure Seel, being in youre warde, ye do make oure Writtes and Commissions in deue fourme, as many and such as the cas shal require, for the Shi- refs of the shires that she shal passe thourgh, and for other personnes of the same shire, as many as shal be thought necessary, to be awayting and assisting unto the conducting of hir ; and that ye charge them that shal lede hir forth, that thei lette not, for sekenesse or ony dissimulacion of hir, to carie hir thedir as we have appointed. And that ye faille not herof as we truste you. Yeven under our Signet at our manoir of Shene the xix. day of Januer. * Fabyaua Chron. eMt. isil. i».6i4. k Slow, Ann. edit. leas. )». 3t3. ** Mem. quod ista litera liberata fuit Cancellar. AngL apud WesUii. xx°. die Januar. anno infrascripto exequent." The treatment of '' Dame Eleanor Cobham" as she was called, con- vinced tlic Duke of Gloucester that his influence had declined. Grafton says, he " took all things pacyendy and said little." The death of the Duke of Gloucester at St. Edmundsbury, in 1447, w one ot the numerous problems of our History. m 108 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I 11 I A Manuscript RoU in the Cottonian Collection • gives the names of those of his retinue who were seized and imprisoned. The reader will probably wonder to see so many Welshmen amongst them, but, by the Inquisition taken after his death it appears that the Duke died seised of the castle and lordship of Pembroke, of the castles and lordships of Tenby and Kilgaran, of the commots of Estrelawe, Treyne, and Seyn- clere, and of the casde and lordship of Llanstephan, all in the marches of Wales. •> " These ben the Names of the Duke of Glowcett'rs mapyc<^ that wer taken at Bery and sent into dy verse places to preson : " Sir Henr. Owgan, to London. J ] to Barkamstefk. Thomas Harbert, Thomas Wyryot, Griffith ap David ap Thomas, Yevan ap Jankyn, LL. Jankyn Thawe, Jankyn Loyde Wogan John Wogan, William Wogan, Evan ap Jankyn ap Rise, WilL ap John ap David ap Th. Lloyd Will. Wogan, Will, ap Thomas son of Robert ap Henry Wogan, Alon appe Meredith ap Philip IMadock, Ries app DD. app Thomas, Thomas Jankyne appe Ries, } Ry8e,V I to Rcdyng. to Ledys. to Northwich. , I to Hh,) Wallyngford. Oven Don, Hugo Gunere Hugo Bennooth John Eyvon, Walter BurthuU, Hugo ap Thomas. John app Ries, \ Ric. ap Robert, V to Southehampton. WilL ap John, ) , Ito Gi ts, I GQford. • Rot. anUq. Cotton. II. a3. . •• E^^"- 25 lien. VI. n. J6. < The suite, or train, whidi attended him. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 109 David ap Thomas, Hug. ap Thomas, Griffith ap Nicollasson Sir Robert Wer, Sir R<^er Chamberley Sir John Cheyne, Richard Middclton, >. Henr. Chechilley, f Arte3rs, Richard Nodam, n,lto in to the Kings Benchc Brystowe. s to Wynchestr. Moi^an, '^ Bokeland, > to Notynghara. Melbom, ) Bassyngbom, Wyele, Shaffeld, I toN brthampton." Fabyan, having mentioned the interment of the Duke of Gloucester at St. Albans, says, " And when this noble Prince was thus interred, five persons of his housholde, that is to say, Sir Roger Chamberlayne knight, Myddelton, Herbarde, and Arthure, esquires, and one Richard Nedam yeoman, were sent unto London, and there arraigned and judged to be drawn, hanged, and quartered ; of the which sentence, drawing and hang- ing were put m execution : but when they were cut down to be quartered, the marquis of Suffolk there being presen^ shewed the Kings charter for them, and so were delivered, to the great rcjoicmg of the multitude of the people there being present." » „ u • Of tiie particular charge against Herbarde, called Thomas Harbert m the List of Names above, see the Calendarium Rotulorum Patentium, p. 290 b. » Fabyan, Chron. e*lit. 1811. p. 619. t v % \\ m i fi 11 II ;v r f 1 \ 110 ORIGINAL I.ETTKRS. LETTER XXXVI. John Earl of Oxford to King Henry the Sixth, re- questing a Licence for a Ship, of which lie was mvner, to carry Pilgrims. [m8. DONAT. BRIT. MU9. 4609. art. 7ai •/ We have here an instance, in the fifteenth Century, of a nobleman cng4ing in *e speculations of trade : for, strange as it may sound. Pil- grims, at this time, were really an article of exportation. Ships were every year loaded from different ports with cargoes of these deluded wan- derers, who carried out with them large sums of money to defray the ex- pences of their journey. One historian assures us that licences were granted by King Henry the Sixth, in 1434, for the exportation of no less a number than two thousand four hundred and thirty three pilgrims to the same place of destination as the Earl of Oxford's ship, the Shrine of St. James of Compostella. The gain to the owners who carried •uch numbers could not have been small. To the King our Soverain Lord. Plese hit unto your Royall Mageste of your grace, especiallie to graunt unto John Erie of Oxford, owner under God of a Shipp called the Jesus of Orwelle, that the said Shipp, without any fyn or fee to be paid unto you, may have licence, in the worship of God and of Saint James, to make the furst viage unto St. James, with als many persones as therinne wolle thiderward take their passage. Consideryng that by cause of the losse of another Shipp, which never made Keys in lak of power and strength, the said Erie hath don upon ORIGINAL LETTERS. Ill the said Shipp gret cost to make it the more able to doo you service; and to withstand your enemyes in tyme of nede. The foUowing indorsement shows that the Licence was obtained: " Donne a nr'e Palais de Westm. le xxviij. jour de Feverer, Tan, &c. xxiij." The real or supposed body of St. James was discovered at Compostella, in Gallicia, in 797 ; and became almost immediately an object of pil- grimage. In the twelfth century we find several instances of visitors from England. Brompton gives a particular account of Henry the son of Henry the Second's proposal to go there, to escape his father's super- intendance : and in another page he mentions Henry the Second's own preparations for a simUar visit. Dugdale, in his Baronage, notices Ber- tram de Verdon's pilgrimage there in the same reign. John of Gaunt is said to have been numerously attended to Compostella in 1386, when he claimed the crown of Spain : and we find the fashion of visiting St. James's Shrine continued till far in the reign of Henry the Eighth. The Harleian Manuscript 433, folL 171, 171 b, 172 b, 174, contains numerous Commissions of Ships to go to St. James in the 1st of Richard the Third. One owner, Thomas Rogers, had a licence for four ships at once. But at this time, we find no Noblemen named as owners. From the name of the Saint the pilgrims to Compostella were called Jacobites. The journey was enjoined to some as a punishment, and then the pilgrim carried iron shackles with him ; but in most cases it was voluntary ; and the devotees in many instances united trade with their devotion. The Cottonian Manuscript Vesp. F. iii. fol. 25 b. contains an original Letter from John VL Duke of Britany, to King Henry tiie Fifth, re- questing the release of some Pilgrims who had been taken with a Vessel which was going to St James, dated Nantes, December 31st, 1416. I I ! jl 'W " 112 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER XXXVII. Thomas Canynges and William Hxdijn, sheriffs of Lcmdan, to King Henry the Sixth, ^rc^yii^ re^ muneratim for their expences in disposing of the bodies of Mortimer and other traitors, after the re- belli(mofl4i50. [MS. DOVAT. BRIT. MUS. 4C10. art. MG.] • • -.- The Rebellion of the Commons of Kent, in 1450, is enlarged upon by most of out Historians, though none of ihem «xm to be quite certam of the real name of the Captain. Hall and Grafton, in speaking of the traitor Cade, say, he wm entisecl to take upon him the name of John Mortymee, although his name was John Cade : • Fabyan, that the Common, named him Moi^mer and cosen to the Duke of York, though of most he was ^^fj,^ ^ade: Leland, that he was an Irishman who named himself Mortmier : ^d Stowe, that his name was Cade, though by some called John Amende- ^ - whfle a roll of the time of Henry the Sixth, in the Cottoman Library, at the end of a Ust of the persons indicted for this Rebelhon at Rochester, says he was otherwise caUed " Mr. John Ay mere, pby- sician,'* and that he had wedded the daughter of an esquire.* . Halle. Chron. edit 1648. fd. 159. Grafton, p. 610. b Fabvan. edit- ISll. p. «M. , ^ r^ . , * Ld. Cdlectan. torn. i. p. 485. from a manuscript Chronlcto. : .^^t^nrN^Vu^t were indicted at ^^owchcster afore the CanlynMl^^ York BySiop of Canfbury. and the Duke of Bokyngham. Ac. in the f«te of the I fLo of mir I adv St feito Laurcncii Anno r. r. Henr. xxix". *?Torsu^ da oLd^in com. SUffori. alia. di<*. John Su.U>n n,lle.de London. «• John Trevelioun nupcr de London Armlg. :: irjdl u"?^.'™;,' u,»tSi^.ml POO.. Due. de sum nupe, do EwCn. in comitat. Oxn. •• Juhannet Potoford nuper dc London armig. " ThOTSTKot dc London gcntyllman, alia, diet T. K. rlcr.cus Consllll dommi Regis. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 113 It is not unworthy of observation that the rebels of this period expected popularity from connecting then- Insurrections with any name belonging to the House of York. Jack Sharp was of fVigmore't land in Wales : and Jack Cade was a Mortimer, the cousin to the Duke of York. Fabyan, noticing the death of Cade, and the bringing of his body to Southwark, sajrs, " Upon the morrow the dead corps was drawn through the high streets of the city unto Newgate, and there headed and quartered ; whose head was then sent to Ivondon Bridge, and his four quarters were sent to four sundry Towns o/Kent." According to the present Letter, and we must take it as authentic, one quarter was delivered to the con- stable of the Hundred of Black-heath, and the others to the Cities of Norwich, Salisbury, and Gloucester, where, it may be presumed, rebellion had either risen, or was expected. * I To the Kyng oure Souveraygn Lord. Besechen mekely youre pouer Lieges, Thomas •' John Pcnycok nuper de London armi^. " Thomas Hoc de Ilastyng in com. Su&scx miles of. *• Rcf^inaldus abbas Sancti Petri Gloucestrie of . . " Jacobus Pynys domiuus de Say. •• T. Stanley miles. •• Edmund Hongurford of. . . • " Wiliiam Minors armig. " Edmund Hampdene miles. •♦ John Hall armig. •• Thomas Daniell armig. " Thomas Thorpp gentilman. " John Blakency gentilman. " Dn's Johannes Porskow of . . miles. " Johannes Gargraoii. •• Walt, Hari> EpQs Norwic. " Rich. Ncvile Uominus dc Ryvcrs. " Robert Manfeld armig. " Maistcr John Somers. " Edwarti Grymston armig. " WillQs Booth Episcopus Ccstriac. «• Johannes Stanley armig. " Palsmer. •• Tretsam. •• Fraumpagc *• Gryswold Hampton esquier Rest. Gargrave in the Towr. " This was the name of the Capteyne of Kente John Cade alias diet. Mr. John AvLBMBmx jJtmrwyon : and he was gayly be scyn In skarlet, and wedded a aquier dotpghter of Taundede." • One Robert Ponynges. late of Southwark, is named in Pat. »6* Hen. VI. p. 2, m. 12. as having officiated in the cap.acilles of sword-bearer and carver to the traitor and tyrant John Catle. VOL. I. SEB. 2. I M 114 ORIGINAL LETTERS, ORIGINAL LETTERS. 115 I ' Canynges and William Hulyn late Shireffes of yoi.re Citee of London, to concidre that wher as by your commandement diverse and severell writtes have be directed unto them undre youre Grete Seall com- mandyng hem such tyme as they occupied the seyd office by oon of your seyd writtes, to send and delyver a quarter of oon Nicolas Jakes atteynt of high Treson to the Maire and Bailliefs of youre Citee of Chichestre in the Countee of Sussex ; and by another of the said writtes to send and dehver another quarter of the seyd Nicolas Jakes to the Bailliefs of Roochestre in the Shire of Kent; and another to Portesmouth; and other quarter to Colchestre. And by another of youre sayd writtes to send and delyver the heed of oon Thomas Cheyny, feyning him self an heremitc, cleped Blew l>erd,a atteynt of high treson, to the Maire and Bailliefes of youre Citee of Canterbury. And by an- other of youre sayd writtes to sett up a quarter of the sayd traytour cleped Blewberd upon a gate of Lon- don, and to send and delyver another quarter of the same traytour to the Sheriefes of youre Citee of Nor- wich, and to send and delyver two other quarters of the same traytour to the Wardens of youre V. portes, or to their Lefi\enauntes. And by another of your said writtes to drawe the body of another traytour callyng him self John Rammesey wyne drawer, and to send . Stowe.inhU Anna!.. calls him Thany. He «y.. " The 9-. of Febi^»nr TJjo^ Thany. otherwi« called Blewbeard, a fuller, wa. taken bcule. Canterbury for raising of a rebellion, who was hanged and quarterwl." and delyver a quarter of hym to Stamford, and an- other quarter of him to Covyutre, and another quarter of hym to Newbury, and another quarter of hym to Wynchestre. And also by other severell youre writtes commandyng them to sett up iij. severell heedes of the persones abovesayd upon London Brugge. And by another of youre seyd writtes to do drawe the body of a grete traytour namyng him self Mortymer uppon an hurdull by the stretes of your Citee of London, and his head to set on London Brugge. And by another of your seyd writtes to send and delyver a quarter of the seyd traytour called Mortymer to the Constables of the hundred of Blakheth. And by another of youre seyd writtes to send and delyver another quarter of the seyd traytour called Mortymer to the Maire and Shireffes of the Citee of Norwich. And by another to send and delyver another quarter of the same tray- tour to the Maire of the Citee of Salesbury. And an- other quarter of the same Traytour to the Bailliefs of the Towne of Gloucestre. The which youre high com- mandements by youre sayd late Shireffs were duly execute to there grete charges and costes, and especially for there cariages of the quarters aforsayd, and the hed of the same Thomas Cheyny ; for and by cause that vnneth any persones durst nor wolde take upon hem the caridge of the seyd hed and quarters for doute of her lyves. Plese hit therfore un to youre Highnesse to commande your gracious letters of Pryvy Seall to be i2 =J. t'T i . I 116 OBIGIKAL LETTERS. directed to the Tresorer and Barons of yourEschekker, Gommandyng them that in tVaccountes that the seid Thomas and William ben to yeld unto you by cause of ther office, they allowe unto them of the feerme of the same youre Citee,and of the Countee of Middelsex, and of the issues, profitts, and comodites comyng and growyng of the seyd your Citee of London and of the Countee of Midd\ all such sommes of money as that they and eyther of them, or any for them or in ther name accountyng for them, wol make feith, that hath be by them and eyther of them spend and paid for and aboute the extention of your commandements above- seyd, and of everich of them, and your seyd besechers shall pray to God for you. Endorsed, " De mandato Regis per avisamentxim sui Conailii apud Westm. xxviij. Junii Anno xxix/* LANOPORT. LETTER XXXVIIL Richard Earl of Salisbury to one of his Receivers, to 'pay mmey to his Poulterer in Lonchri, [us, COTTOK. VE8PA8IAK F. XIII. foL 37- Orig.] Richard Erl of Salisbury to John Musgrave one of our Receivors of diverses of our Lordeshippes, ORIGINAL LETTERS. 117 landes, & tenementes, in the South parties gretinge. We wol & charge you that of the issues & revenues of the same commyng, ye pay to John Kellet of London, pulter, fourty Shillinges for diverses vitail of hym takyn, for the expensez of our houshold halden at London in the moneth of Januar. last past, and this present moneth of Feviare, by warrant of thies our Lettres. Writen under our Signet at London the xvij'*» day of Fevyere, the yere of the reign of king Henry Sext sith the conquest, xxx. R. SALISBURY. LETTER XXXIX. The chief Persons in the County of Kildure to Richard Duke of York, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, A, D. 1454. giving an Account of tfte condition of the Country. [from the orig. among the cottoniau charters.) •/ Stowe says, that in 1449 there " began a new rebellion in Ireland, but Richard Duke of York being sent thither to appease the same, so assuaged the fury of the wQd and savage people there, that he wan such favor among them as could never be separated from hun and his lineage.**^ In 1451, he left Ireland to prefer his tide to the Crown of England, still retaining his Lieutenancy. In justice to the Duke of York it must be stated, that the Acts which were passed in the Parliament of Ireland under his administration, re- flect the greatest credit on his memory. #' ( 1 H 118 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Right hye and myghty Prince and oure right gracious lorde, Richard Duke of Yorke, vie re- comaunde us unto you as louly as we can or may ; and please youre gracious Hynes tobe advertised that this lande of Irland was nevir at the poynt fynaly tobe destrued sethen the Conquest of this lande, as it is now, for the trew liege people in this parties dar ne may not appier to the Kyngs oure said soverayn lordes Courtes in the said lande, ne noon other of the trew liege people ther, to go ne ride to market Tounes, ne other places, for dred to be slayne, take, other spouled of thar godes ; also the mysrule and mysgovemaunce had, done, and dayly contynued by dyvers gentlemen of the Counte and youre liberte of Mith, the Countes of Kildare and Vriell, and namly of a variance had betwix therle of Wiltesshire lieutenant of this said lande and Thomas fitz Morice of the Geraldynes for the title of the maners of Maynoth and Rathmore in the Counte of Kildare, hath caused more destruccionne in the said Counte of Kildare and liberte of Mith within shorte tyme now late passed, and dayly doth, then was done by Irish ennemys and English rebelles of long tyme befor ; and is likly tobe fynall destruc cionne of the said Counte of Kildare and liberty of Mith. For Henry Bonyn knyght, constituted Tresurer of the saide lande under the grete Seall of the said lande, assemblyng with hym Edmund Botiller cosyn germayn to the said Eric of Wiltesshire and William il ORIGINAL LETTERS. 119 Botiller cosyn to the said Erie, with thar sequele, of the which the moost partie was Irish ennemyes and English rebelles came into the said Counte of Kildare and ther brant and destrued dyvers and many Tounes and paroche Chirches of the trewe liege people, and toke dyvers of them prisoners and spouled them of ther godes. And after the departyre of the said Henry and Edmund, the said Wylliam, abydyng in the said Counte of Kildare, by the avice and consaill of the said Henry and Edmond, did so grete oppressionne in the said Counte of Kildare and in the Counte and Li- berte of Mith, that vij^^. Tounes and more which was well enhabite in the feste of Seynt Michell lass passed been now wasted and destrued. And for asmuch as ihes parties so destrued, with alytell partie more that remayneth not destrued, in the said Counte of Kildare, is the dayly sustenaunce of the Cite of Dyuelyn, and the destruccionne of hit is like tobe the fynall destruc cionne of the said Cite, and the destruccionne of the said Cite wilbe cause of the destruccionne of the said lande, which God defend. The Maire and Comens of the said Cite wrote dyvers tymes unto the right reve- rend ffader in God John archiebisshop of Ardmagh depute lieutenant to the seid Erie of Wiltesshire to have this remedyed : and at har ^ instance the Kyng oure said Sovcrayne lordes Consaill here, wrote to the said depute lieutenant for dyvers of ihes oppressionns Ihvir. !i I i l>i hi 120 ORIGINAL LETTERS. and mysgovernaunces that they shuld be remedyed, and he remedyed them not. Also the said William Botiller after this destruccionne so done assessed upon smale Villages and Tounes in the said Counte and Liberte of Mith, and in the said County of Kildare, certeyn summes of money to be reryd accordyng to hys wyll, be cause of which he and his men rered in dy vers of the said villages grete and notable summes of money and in dyvers villages toke all the plow-bestes and other bestes of the said villages, and the moost suf- ficiaunts husbandes, and held tham his prisoners, and ©stages ther, to that ende that they shuld make fyne and raunson with hym ; upon the which matere the said Maire and Comens compleyned also by mouth to the said Depute, and ther upon he ordeyned no re- medy. And for asmuch as all this mysrule done by the seid Henry, Edmond, and William, by statutes and lawes made in the said land as well in the tyme of oure said soverayn lorde as in the tyme of hys noble progenitoures, is treyson, and also who soever of the trewe liege people here, knowyng such mysrule, wold not aryse to arrest such mysdoers, shuld be demed fe- lones, the lordes and gentles of the Counte of Kildare consyderyng the emynent myscheve and ffynall de- struccionne of the said Counte, and also the desola- cionne of the said Cite, desired the seid Maire and Comens to come into the said Counte of Kildare to put away the said William with his sequcle and to ORIGINAL LETTERS. 121 abride all this mysrule; upon the which they went with the said lordes and gentles, and, by the grace of God, avoided all the said mysrule out of the said Counte. Also please your Hynes tobe advertysed that the said Wyllyam Botiller, Nicholas Wogan, David Wogan, and Richard Wogan, came with dy- vers Irish ennemys and English rebelles to the Castell of Rathcoffy ther, as Anne Wogan sumtyme wyffe to Oliver Eustace, then beyng the Kynges widue,a was dwellyng, and brant the yates of the said place, and toke hir with them and Edward Eustace, son and hire to the said Olyver, and sonne and heire apparant to the said Anne, and of the age of viij. yeres, and yit holdeth them as prysoners, and toke godes and catals of the said Anneis to the value of v.C. marks. Also the said Henry with a grete multitude of people, armed in manere of were,l> came to Osbornestone in the said Counte, an ther toke and enprisoned Cristofre Flatesby , and destrued and wasted the said Toune, and toke all godes and catals of the said Cristofre to the value of C '. Besechyng youre gracious remedy and help upon all thees materes; and for asmuch as thees materes been trewe and that it wold please youre Hynes to yeve fmth and credence to thes premisses. We Nicho- las Priour oftheHous of Conall, Edward fitz Eustace knyght, Portreves and Comens of the * di:>ix>&ablc in marriage by the King. ed. b war. I r 122 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Naas^ PoRTRKVEs ancZ CoMENs qfClaue^ William FiTz Eustace, Cristofre Flatesby, Nicholas Sutton, Walban fitz Eustace, Cristofhe fitz EusTAC*:, Patrik fitz Morice, James Lang, Phelip Brytt, Robert fitz Eustace, John Sauuere, and John White, have put to this oure Scales. Wi-itten at the Naas the xxiij. day of Januery the yere of the rcanc of the King oure Sovcraync lord that now is xxxij^'». The Harleian Manuscript num. 433. foL 266 b. contains the " In- struccions given by Richard the Third to his CounseUor the Bisshop of Enachden, to be shewed on hU behalf to his cousyn the Earl of Dessemond and other nobles and genUles of his land of Ireland; m the first year of his reign. He adverts in them to the government of lus father the Duke of York. " Furst, where the said Bishop hath cnfourmcd his said Grace of the 800d toward diposicion and herty desire that the said Erie hath for to doo Sim pleasur & service to his power, as feithfuUy and humbly as any other of the Kinges subgiettes, the said Bisshop shall on the kinges be- halve thanke him ; shewing that aswele for Uic noblesse of bloode as remembring the many fold noUblc service and kindnesse by the Earlc s fadre unto the famous Prince the Due of York the kinges fader, at diverse seasons of grete necessite in thoos parties, to his gret jeopardies and charges doon, causeth the Kinges Grace to accepte and receive hun m the tendre favor of the same, trusting of his contynuauncc " Also he shaU shewe that albeit the fadre of the said Erie, the Kmg than being of yong age, was extorciously slayne and murdred, by colour of the lawes within Irland, by certain persones than havyng the go- vcmaunce and rule there, ayenst all manhodc, reason, and good con- science; yet notwithstanding that the semblable chaunce was & hapned sitlien, within this Reyme of EngUnd, aswele of his brother Uie due of Clarence, as other his nigh kynnesmen and grete frendcs, the Kinges grace idwcys contynuath and haUi inward compassion of the dclli ot lus said fatlrc, and is content that hi. .aid cousyn now Eric by aU ordiimtc ORIGINAL LETTERS. 123 meanes and due course of the lawes, when it shall lust him at any tyme hereafter to sue or attempt for the punysshement thereof. " Also the Kinges Grace woll that the said Bisshop have auctorite for to take in the kinges name, of the said Erie, his othe of ligeaunce as other lordes have doon here within this his Reyme, after the fourme here en- guyng. ' I, A. Erie of Dessemond become true and feithfull liegeman unto my soverayn Lord Richard the iij-i^. by the grace of God king of England and of Fraunce and lord of Irland and to his heires kinges of England, and to him and theim my feith and treuth shall here during my lyf naturall, and with him and in his cause and quarell at all tymes shall take his partie, and be redy to leve and dye ayenst all erthly creatures, and utterly endevour me to the resistence and suppressing of hl< enemyes, rebelles, and traitors, if shall any knowe, to the uttermost of my power, and no thing concele that in any wise may be hurting to his noble and roiall persone ; So helpe me God and thise holy evangelyes.' " Also, the said Bisshop shall shewe unto the said Erie the Kinges gret plesur touching his dealing or entring into any mariage with any blood without th'advise and knowlage of his Grace ; considred that tlie same with all celerite entendeth for to ordeiyne and provide in that be- halve for his said cousyn in suche wise and of suche noble blode as shall redounde to his weele and honnor, and of all his frendes and kynnesmen, trusting that the said Erie woll remembre the same and utterly applie him therunto. " Also the said Bisshop, upon perfite understanding that the said Erie shalbc of hoole entencion and promise to his powair to perfourme the premisses, and over that, utterly to dispose for many considcracions con- cemyng the Kinges high pleasur and entent, for to renounce tJie wcring and usage oftfie Irissue arRaye; and from thensforth to geve and applie him self to use the maner of th'apparel for his persone after tite Englxshc guysc, and after the fasshon that the Kinges Grace sendeth unto him by the said Bisshop asxtfck ofgownes, doublcites, fwsen, and bonettest and soo folowingly in tyme comyng, as the caas or chaunge of the said fasshion shall require ; that than the said Bisshop shall deliver unto his said cousyn, m most convenient place and honnorable presence, tftc Kinges lyvree, that is to wite a COLER o/gold of his devise* and other apparell forsaid for his persone. " Also, above all other thinges, he shall shewe unto the said Erie that tlie Kinges Grace in no wise woll oure hooly modre the Churche to be wronged, deroged, or prejudiced, neither m liberties, fraunchies, grauntcs, custumes, or any other spirituell emolumentes belonging to the same, but » Richard the Third's CoRnlBUicc, or Device, was a WHrru BoAii appendcil to a Collar of Uoscb aiid Suns. Such a collar aiid device is still seen upon a mouumcnUl figure, supiHJscil to be a NcvU, in Brance|>eth Church in the county of Durliam. I 1 124 ORIGINAL LETTERS. that his said cousyti shaU mamtene, assiste, and support it in every be- halve, as justice and right requiereth. And, over that, to see that no maner robberys, spoUacions, oppressions, or extorcions be suffred to be committed amongst any of the kinges subgiettes of thoos parUes, of what aatate, degree, or condicion soever they be ; and in caas any happen to be, to see them so offending utterly to be punyssed according with the Kinges lawes. And that the said Erie shall, by all weys and meanes of poUycie, see and provide that by the passage of the commune high wayes there the kinges subgiettes may be assured to goo and passe without robbing and unlawful letting : so that the said Erie according to the Kinges grete trust, and also to his graciouse demeanyng here m thw Reyme of England, may appere and be named a veray Justicer, aswele for his propre honnor and wele, as for the Common wele of thooa parties, &c." • 1 LETTER XL. Richard Duke of York to the Earl of mrwkk his nephew, agreeing that a Servant of his may attend the Earl me year as Marshal of Calais. [MS. COTTON. VESPASIAN. F. XIII. foL 35. Orig.] • • The date of this Letter must be fixed to 1465. Stowe, speaking of the ParUament which began at Westminster July 9th that year, says, "In this Parliament was the Duke of York made P^tector of ihe realme : the Earle of SaUsbury was made Lord Chancellor, and had the Great Seal to him delivered; and the Eael o/Waewick ^sv^ Captain of Calais and the territories of the same. And thus the rule of UiTLahne rested in the Duke and Chancellor, and aU the warhke affa^ remained principally in the Earl of Warwick. And so amongst theni i was agreed, that King Henry should still reign in name and digmty, but neithT^ deed nor m authority ; not mmding to destroy him, lea.t they mought suddenly provoke the fury of the common people agains^^^^er^ because that of the common people he was for his holiness of hfc and abundant clemency much favoured and highly esteemed. The Officers of Calais were, 1. The Deputy or Captam ; 2. The Uiou ORIGINAL LETTERS. 125 Marshall ; 3. The Comptroller ; 4. The Lieutenant of the Castle ; 5. The High Treasurer; 6. The Vice Treasurer; each having his suite of soldiers and attendants.* Right worshipful! and my right entierly welbe- loved nepveu, I recommaunde me unto you cer- tiffyeng you that I have receyved by the bringer herof youre gentil Lettres writen at your manour of Colyweston the vij^^ day of this present monneth ; wherby I understonde that ye stande destitut and unpourveyed of a Marshall within the town of Calyis and that for the good lordship affec- cion that for my sake ye owe and bere unto my servaunt Walter Blount squier, ye desire me to geve him leve to be witholden with you as your Marchall in the said towne. Wherunto please it you to wite that for di- verse my matiers, wherin I thought to have occupied this yere my said servaunt, I might nat goodly forbere him ; neverthelesse right worshipfull nepveu, the greet necessite whiche I conceyve by youre said lettres that ye have unto a Marshall at this tyme, and that I am and ever wol be glad to do any thing that in me myght lye to do unto your desire honour and pleasir, I have graunted unto my said servaunt for the accomplishe- ment of youre desire leve and licence to do you service in the said office of Marshal as for a yere. During whiche tyme hit may please you to purvey you of an * See the Cottonian MS. Append, xxviii. fol. 13. li 126 OUIGIXAI. LKTTERS. Other, and that yere expired to geve my said servaunt for the consideracion abovesaid your licence to retoume agen into this lande, as my trust is that ye soo well doo. Right worshipfull and my right entierly welbeloved nepveu I beseche oure Lord evermore to have you ni his blessed keping. Written at my Castel of Mon- gomery the xv day of Octobre. Your trew kynsman, R. YORK. To the right worshipfull ami my right entierly welbeloved Nepveu th'erle of Warwykc. LETTER XLL King Edward the Fmrth's Letter of Privy Seal to Thomas Cooke an^ of tlie Aldervien of LondwH A, D. 1462. [HAEL. MS. 543. fol. 145. FROM A COPY IN THE HANDWRITING OF JOHN STOWE.] . . Stowe in his printed AnnaU, makes the following Elusion to this Lcti,. " The 27th of M«ch, 1462, King Edward went northward so ^.s Stamford, where he wa. informed that King Henry h^ P"^"^ L Frenchmen and Scots to enter this Und, in ...isUng whe«of K.ng Edw Jsent his Privy SeJ through England, to move them to give . certiun sum of money, which they granted UberaUy.' ,„ , , ^Zi the Fouri, upon his firs, acces^on to the Throne of EngUnd, took great pains to bring the Pope on his «de. He even sent a sutemm rf hUgenTalogy to Rome. The Pope's Letter in «»wer wUl be found in tlie note below.* apostolicun bencdictloucm. * * W * significavit le guberna- > «• Edwardo R^i AngUr Recepim ORir.INAL LETTERS. 127 Edward by the grace of God kynge of England and of Fraunce, and lorde of Ireland : to owr trust! and welbeloved Thomas Cooke aldarman of owr Citie of London gretinge. Forasmoche as we by divers meanes bene credebly enformed and undarstand for cert yne, that owr grcate advarsary Henry naminge hym selfe Kynge of England by the malicious counseyle and exitacion of Margaret his wife namynge hir selfe Quccne of England, have conspired, accorded, con- cluded, and determined with owr owtward enemyes aswcll of Fraunce and of Scotland, as of othar dy vars contryes, that owr sayde outward enemyes in greate nombar shall in all haste to them possible enter into this owr Realme of England, to make in the same such cruell horible and mortall warre, depopulacion, rob- berye and manslawghtar, as here before, hath not bene used amonge Cristen people : and with all wayes and meanes to them possible to destroye uttarly the people, tionem Re^i Anglis adcptam esse ad cujus pet lineam rectam te scribis devenisse, ut in notula tute OBNKAUM1I.V quam tut ttoa mituti cootinctur. Congratulamus tuae Serenitati quK Dei benignitatc ad tanti Regni fastifnum sit evecta : confidimusque prudentia tua, equitaU>, et coiisilii magititudine regnum ipsum bene et pacifice, ae ad honorem Dei el Christian! populi salutem gubematum iri quod nobis qui regnum prsdictum pnecipua caritate prosequitnur. et in ipso paeem et quietem vigere percupimus gra- tissimum erit. Ceterum perplaoet nobis filialis et prompta oblatio tua per quam scribis te noKtruni et Sedis aiKwtolicae devotissimum filium forenobisque obedientiam daturum* noii dubitamus haec ex felo et laudibili mente procedere. Proinde Sere- nitati tuae benedlcimus, eaque nos in omnibus quaeeun Deo poterimus semper ad placita paratos offerimus. Dat. Romae apud Sanctum Petrum anno Incamationis Dominioe Millesimo cccc"«>. scxagcsimo prime* undecimo kk. A prills Pontificatus nostri anno quarto. O. DK FUINCAS. Carissimo In Christo filio Edwardo Rcgi .Ynglic illustri." MS. Cotton. Domit A. ix. fol. 84. ■ ) 128 ORIGIKAI. LF.TTKttS. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 129 the name, the tonge, and all the bloud englyshe of this owr sayd Realme : Insomyche that in the seyde con- spiracye, amongs othar things it is agreed and accorded by owr sayde adversary Henry, moved thereto by the malicious and subtill suggestion and enticynge of the sayde malicious woman Margaret his wyfe, that m case they shall and may performe this theyr malicious and cruall purpose, which god defend, that then hir Oncle called Charles de Angew with the Frenchmen, shall have the domination rule and governaunce of this owr Realme abovesayde. And ovar this, amonge othar wicked and detestable things attempted in this party by the sayde Henry and Margaret his wyfe, to the entent that owr sayde outward enemyes of Fraunce and Scotland shuld rathar condesend and applye them to theyr malicious entent, and to the distruction of this land, the same Henry owr advarsary hath graunt and sent unto owr advarsary Lewes de Valois, namynge hymselfe kynge of Fraunce, a renountiacion and relese of the ryght and title that the Corowne of England hathe unto the Realme and Crowne of Fraunce, and also to the duches and counties of Guisnes, with theyr marches and appurtenaunces : and ovar that hath graunted to the same entent to the Scotts, not onely the towne and Castle of Berwike, but also a greate parte of this owr Realme of England, which things above rehersed, well and diligently consydered, it openly appcarethe that the sayde Henry and Margaret his wyfe bene not onely to us but also to all this owr Realme, and all owre trewe liege people of the same, mortal] and moaste cruell enemies. We entendinge with all owr might and powere to resiste the greate crweltie and malicious purpose of owr sayde adver- sarye and enemies, and therein in nowise to spare owr person, body, or goods, neythar to refuse any advan- ture, jepardy, or perell, for the tuicion and defence of this owr Reakne and owr trwe subjects of the same, desyre and pray yow in the moaste speciall wyse that ye imediatly upon the recepte of these our lettars, make to be called and assembled before yow all the howsholdars and inhabitaunts within yowre Warde, as well citizens as forranors, and declare unto them the abovesayde malicious, furious, and cruell entent of owr sayde advarsarye and ennemyes. And ovar that, on owre behalfe, exhorte, indwce, and hertly praye them with suche gentle langwage and words of benyvolence as shalbe thowght to yow behovefuU, that they for the defence and surtie of them selfe and of all this land, and in the shewinge of the greate and orible mischeves and inconveniences above rehersed, woll at this tyme, in this greate and moaste urgent necessitie, shewe effec- tually and in dede theyre good wills, zeale, and affec- cions that they beare unto us, to the comone weale of this land, and prosperytie of themselfe. And that into the relevinge and supportacion of the greate charges, expenses, and costes, that us must of necessitie VOL. 1. SER.2. «- Ml f IJM) ORIGINAL LETTERS. dailie beare in this partie, theye and evariche of them woll graunt unto us, of theire goodnes and frewill, some certayne some of money, suche as they shall mow beare withoute theyre hurte and grevaunce, lattynge them wete for certayne that we have wele in owre fresshe and tender remembraunce the grete and manyfolde charges that they before have borne ; and that yf we might by eny meane otharwise doo, we wolde not at this tyme eny thinge desyre to theyr charge. Trustinge nevarthelesse so moche in theyr good disposicions and discrecions, that they well not suffar wilfully all this Realme and themselfe to perishe, and uttarly be de- stroyed : consyderinge namely that we desyre nothinge of them by way of ymposition, compulcion, or of pre- cedent or example there upon hereafter to be taken, but all onely of theyr humanitie and good wills. Trustinge in the infinite goodnes, grace, and rightwis- nes of allmyghtye God, which here befoi-e in just bat- tayl by victory, and conf usyon of our enemyes, hathe juged and declared openly and in dede for owr right and title, that yf owre trewe and faythefuU subjects woll at this tyme doo theyr parte and apply them beny volently to owr desyre in this behalfe, we shall for owr parte semblably so behave us, and so from all suche perils and mischevs preserve and defend them and all this land, that within fewe dayes they shall have cause to thinke that they nevar herebefore bettar bestowed, besett, or spended any money. And ovar this for ORIGINAL LETTERS, 131 yowre direction and more speedy execution of this mattar, we send unto yow certayn Instructions here within closed, desyringe and right specially prayeng yow that ye, accordynge to the same, woll diligently and effectually labour and entend to th'accomplysh- ment of owre desyre in this behalfe ; and that ye faile not so to doo as ye desyre the wellfare, prosperitie, and sewrtie of us, yourselfe, and all this Land. Yeven undar ow r prevy Scale at owr towne of Stampford, the xiii. day of marche, the second yere of owr reigne. The following detached paper preserved among the Cottonian Char- teni,» from the mention of the Siege of Donstanburgh in it, must have been written in the 2d Edw. IVth. when the Duke of Somerset had fled to Hen. VI. hnmediately before the battle of Hexham, by a Yorkist. " My Lord of Warwick lieth in the Castel of Warkworth and with hym the Lord Crumwell, the Lord Gjey Cotnore, and my Lord Wenloh ; «» at the Siege of Awnwyk lieth my Lord of Kent, my Lord Kerry, my Lord Scalys, and many other knizts and squiers ; and at the Siege of Donstanburgh lieth the Lord Fitzhew, and the Lord Scrop, and the Lord Greystok, and the Lord Poves; at the Siege of Hamburgh, the Erie of Worcestr, the Lord Mountagu, the Lord Strange, and the Lord Say, the Lord Grey of Wylton, the liOrd Lumley, the liord OgilL In Awnwyk CasteU is the Lord Hungerford, Sir Thomas Fyndem, and Sir Robert WUitingham, and with them the number of v. or vj.C. Frenshmen ; ^ and in the Castell of Dunstanburgh is Sir Richard Dunstall, doctor Moreton, Sir Philip Wentworth, and with them a vj. or vij.C. In the CasteU of Bamburgh is the Duke of Somerset, the Lord Roos, and Sir Rauf Percy, and with them to the noumbr of ij. or iij. hundred. Our men be in all by estimacion bytwen xxx". and xI't. thousand, without the King and his host/* It is curious, as showing the positions of the rival parties in 1463. • Cart, antiq. Cotton, xvii. lo. w Wenlock. ' So LeUnd from a manuscript Chronicle : *• Syr Peer* le Brasile. the great warrior of Normandy, cam to help Queen Margaret with French men, and xx.M. Scottes, and to remeve King Edwanies men from Alnewilt gjge." CoUectan. torn. i. p. 409. k2 132 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 133 LETTER XLII. The Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick, from France, to the Commons of England. A.D. 1470. [ms. harl. 543. fol. 169b. in johk stowe's haxdwritino.] *»• Stowe, in his manuscript Collections, has given from contempo- mry authority, " The Maner and Gwidynge of the Erie of Warwick at Aungiers from the xv*"*. day of July to the iiij*''. of August, 1470, which day he departed from Aungiers." " First, by the meane of the Kynge of Fraunce, the sayd Erie of Warwick purchased a pardon of the Quene 3Iargarete and of her sonne. Secondly, by the sayd meane was treated the marriage of the seyd Quenes Sonne called Prince of Whales, and th'Erle of M'arwicks second daughter. Thirdly, there, was appoynted upon his passage over the sea into England with a puissauncc. " Touchinge the first poynt, the sayd Quene was right dificyle, and showed to the Kynge of Fraunce, being present the Due of Owion and many other, that with the honor of her and her sonne, he ne she might not, nor could not pardon the seyde Earle, whiche hathe bene the greatist cawses of the fall of King Henry, of her, and of ther sonne, and that never of owr owne corage she ne mighte be contented with hym, ne par- don hjxsi. " Item the seyde Quene schewed tc the Kynge and other aforeseyde, that it shuld be thinge greatly hurting and prejudiciall to the Kynge Henry, her, and her son, to pardone the seide Earle of Warwick, ne to take party with hym. And over this, that the Kynge Henry, shee, and here sonne had certayne parties and frinds which they myght lyghtlyc leese by this meane, and that shuld be a thinge that greatly might greve them and do them more harme and hynderaunce than the seyd Eric and his alies might bringe or beare unto them profite or advauntage. MTierefore she besought the Kynge that it would please hym to leave off, or further to speke or laboure for the sayde pardon, amytie, or aliauncc aforeseyde." " Th'Excuse and Aunswere of th*Erle of Warwicke unto Quene Margarete, &c. in these two ArUcles folowinge. " Th»Erle of Warwick, aU these thyngs herd, sayde unto the Quene that he confessed weU that by his conductc and mene the Kynge Henry and she were put out of the Realme of England ; but, for an excuse and justification thereoff, he shewed that the Kynge Henry and she by theyr false counseyU had enterprised the distruction of hym and his frinds in body and in goods, which he never had deserved agaynst them. And hym semed that for suche causes, and the great evill will that they have showed hym he had a rightwyse cawse to laboure theyr undoynge and destruction, and that therein he had not done but that a nobleman • outrayed and disperred owghte to have doone. Also he sayde ovar that, and well confessed that he was cawser of the upsetynge of the Kynge of England that now is, but now, seyinge the evill termes that the Kynge hathe kept hym, and cast hym out of the realme, and, asmoche as he hathe bene with hym in tymes passed, now he wilbe as fare contrarye and enemy unto hym here aftar : besechinge there the Queifb and the sayd Prince that so they wolde take and repute hym, and forgyve hym that in tyme passed he had done and attempted agaynst them : offeringe hymself to be bounden, by all maner wyse, to be their trewe and fayth- full subjecte in tyme to come, and upon that he would set for suretye the Kynge of Fraunce. Where unto the sayde Kynge then being present agreyd hymself to be surtye for all the premises with good will, praying the sayde Quene, that, at his requeste she woulde pardon the sayde Earle of Warwick, showinge the greate love that he had unto hym, and that he was bounded and beholden to the seyde Erie more than to any other man, and therefore he wolde do as moche and more for hym thenne for any man lyvinge." " The Earles of Warwick and Oxenford pardoned of Quene Margarete, and of her sonne Prince Edward. " And so the Quene, thus required by the Kyng, as it is seyde, counseled also by the servants of the Kynge of Secile hir fader, aftar many treates and metynges, pardoned th'Erle of Warwick, and so did here sonne also. And after that they pardoned th'Erle of Oxenforde being with th'Erle of Warwick ; to whome the Quene seide that his pardone was ease to purchase, for she knewe well that he and his frendis hed suffered muche thinge for Kinge Henry's quarrells." " Towchynge the manar of the Trete of Marriage bitwene *the Prince and th'Erle of Warwicks second dowghter, withe th'answere of Quene Margarete. " Towchinge the second poynt, that is of manage, trew it is that the Quene wolde not in any wise consente thereunto for offer shewinge, or any maner request that the Kynge of Fraunce myght make her. Some tyme she seyd that she sawe never honor ne profit for her, ne for her sonne the Prince. In other she ledged that and she woulde, she shuld findc a more profitable party, and of a more avauntage with the Kynge of II 134 ORIGINAL LETTERS. England, And in dede, she shewed unto the Kyngc of Frauncc a Lettar which she seyd was sent hir out of England the last weeke, by the -which was qffisred to her tonne my lady the princes ; ■ and so the Quene persevered fifteen dayes or she wold eny thynge intend to the seyd Treatie of Marriage, the whiche finally, by the nieane and conducte of the Kynge of Fraunce and the counsilors of the Kynge of Sicile being© at Aungiers, the sayd maryage was agred and promised ; presentc the Kynge of Fraunce and the Duke of Owine, by meane of certayne articles here aflar foUowinge.*' " The Othe of th'Erle of Warwick at Aungiers swome to Kynge Henry. " FhrsW the Earle of Warwick sware upon the verrey Crosse in Seint Mary Churche of Aungiers, that, without chaunge he shall alwey holdc the partye and quarrell of Kynge Henry, and shall serve hyui, the Quene, and the Prince as a trewe and feythefull subjecte owith to serve his sovereigne Lord. " The Othe of the Kynge of Fraunce, and of his brother, and of the Quene Margaret. " Item the Kynge of Fraunce, and his brother, clothed in chanons robes in the sayd churche of Seynt Alary, sware that they shulde helpe, bearc, and susteyne to theyr powere the sayd Earle of Warwick holdinge the seyde qwarrell of Henry. And aftar this, the seyde Quene sware and promysed fro henseforthe to entret the sayd Earle as trewe and feyth. full to Kynge Henry here, and the Prynce : and for the dedes passed, never here aftar to make h3rm reproche. '* Item, in treatinge the forsayde marrege, it was promitted and ac- corded that aftar the recoverye of the Realme of England for and in the name of the seyde Kynge Henry, he holden and avouched for Kyng, and the Prince for Regent and Govamor of the sayd Realme, my Lord of Clarence shall have all the lands that he had when he departed out of England, and the duchie of Yorke, and many other, and th*Erle of War- wick his, and othar named in th*appoyntment.'* " Towchinge the tyme whenc the Manage shalbe put in ure. " Item that from thens forth the seyde dowghter of th'Erle of War. wick shalbe put and remayne in the hands and kepinge of Quene Mar- garet, and also that the seyde marriage shal not be perfyted to th'Erle of • Elliabeth, eldest, and at that time the only daughter of Edw. IVth. was bom at Westminster, Fel). nth, 1466. She was first intended to be the wife of George Nevil Duke of Bedford ; then promised to the Dauphin of France; here she is stated to have been offered to Piince Edward son of Henry the Sixth ; she was next courted by King Richard 11 Id.; and, at last, nuuried to King Henry the Seventh. See Sandf. p. 41T. \ ORIGINAL LKTT£RS. 13S Warwick had bene with an army over the Sea into England, and that he had recovered the realme of England in the moste partie therof, for the Kynge Henrye. Many other pojnits were spoken of in the seyde Tretie of Manage which were ovar longe to put in writinge. '* The Ayde of the Frenche Kynge, for the passage of th*Erle of Warwick into England. '* Towchinge the pojmt conceminge th*Erle of Warwicks passage, trewthe it is that th^Erle every day gave to understand, and yet dothe to the Kynge of Fraunce, that he hath Lettars often from Lords of Eng- land conteynyng that assone as he shalbe londed there, he shall have moe then l. M'- fighters at his commaundement ; wherfore the seyde Earle promysed the Kynge that yf he wold helpe hym with a fewe folk, shipps, and money, he shall passe over the sea without any delay, and upon this his words and promyses to the Kjoige, he hath spended and dayly spendythe great sommes of money for enterteyninge the state of hym and his, and besyd that hathe helpen in victuale for his shipps of Ixvj M'. scuts, content of ij. M*. franke archers, &c." The original of Charles Duke of Ouienne^s engagement to assist Henry the VI"*. Queen Margaret and Edward Prince of Wales, approving also of the marriage of the Prince with the Earl of M^arwick's daughter, signed by himself, at Angers, July 30th, 1470, is still preserved in the Cottonian MS. Vesp. F. iii. The daughter of the Earl of Warwick here mentioned, was the Lady Anne. She imitated her father's changes. The widow of Prince Ed- ward became the Queen of Richard the Third. George duke of Clarence and lord of Richemond^ and Richard earle of Warwyke and Salisbury, Greate Chambarleyne of England and Gapitayne of Calais, to the worshipfull, discrete, and trwe Commons of Eng- land gretynge. It is we dowte not notarily and openly knowne unto you all, how uncurtasly that in late dayes we have bene entreated, takyn, and accepted for the trwe hertes, tendai* zeales, loves and affections that God knowith we have evar borne and entend, before all / things erthly, to the weale of the Crowne and the ad- / / 136 OKIGINAL LETTERS. vauncynge of the Comon Weale of England ; and for reprovinge of falsehodd and oppressyon of the pore people ; God and owr dedes our Judge. Estraunged also therefore from our frinds and lyvelede not litle, and from the land and naturall place of our birthes, by the falsse meanes and subtill dissimulations of suche certeyne covetows and seditious persons as have gi^ided and bene about the estate Royall of the Realme, whiche have evar had a more particuler respecte to theyr owne syngular and insatiable covetise, and to the magnifienge of theyr frinds and adherants, then they have had to the majestie Royall, or to the things publique of the trwe comonaltie of the sayde Realme ; as dayly and howrlye is now by theyr dedes proved amongs you by experience, to the greate hurt, empoverishinge, and the uttar destruction of yow and the Realme, like to be aliened and governed by streyngcrs and outward na- tions yf the seyde covetows persons may rule as they have done; and never lyke to be recovered without gods helpe ; the moast lamentable and pitious thinge, to be abhored with every trewe christen man dredinge god or lovynge the weles of his Realme and his neygh- hours, that evar was. We, therefore, establysshid and stedfastly perseveringe in owr olde customes, beringe and havynge faythefully toward the seyde Crowne and comon weale of England as fervent zeale, love, and affection as evar we had, aggrudgynge of the greate enormyties and inordinate ympositions, ORIGINAL LETTERS. 137 contrary to lawe and all good customes, newly layd upon yow, and also greatly sorowinge and abored of the cruall and detestable tirany, the vengeable mour- dar and manslawghtar reignynge amonge yow. Where- fore we entend, by the grace of God, and the helpe of every well disposed man, in right shorte tyme, to put us in deboure ^ to the uttermoste of owr poweres, to subdwe and put undar falshod and oppressyon ; chastice and punishe the seyde covetows persons in perpetuall example to all othar ; and to set right and justice to theyr places, to se them equally ministred and indiffer- ently, withoute mede or drede, as they owght to be, and to reduce and redeme for evar the sayde Realme from thraldome of all outward natyons, and make it as fre within it selfe as evar it was heretofore. And for the furtheringe and more perfecte performinge hereof, we call first to owr ayde, helpe and assistaunce of Al- mighty God, his blessed Mothar and glorious Virgyne seynt Marye, with all the hoole company of Heaven ; secondly the blessed and holy martire Seynt George owr patrone, and every trwe englyshe man dredinge God, lovynge his realme and the wele of his neygh- bours ; and thirdly we shall for owar discharges in that behalfe, bothe agaynst God and Man, put us in owre uttarmoste devoure » that we can or may : and there- upon jeopard bothe owr ly ves, bodyes, and goods. In witnes whereof, to this owr writinge we have putte owr signetts, and subscribed it with owr owne hands. • devoir ; dulv. 138 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 8towe adds the foUowing memorandum at the end of his transcript : Ihe whidie letar above wreten, dyvers copies were made and set upon Ae Standard in Chepe, upon the stulpes on London brigge, and upon dyvars churche dores in London, and in othar places of England, before the cominge in and landinge of the seyd Duke and Earle owt of *raunce to the enlarginge of Kynge Henry out of the Toure of London, and to the upsettynge of hym agayne unto his estate and digniUe royaU in the tyme of Richard Lee grocer, then beinge Maior, the which toke downe the seyde lettars, and would not suffar them to be openly knownc nor sene to the comons.'* In another page of the same Volume, Stowe has preserved a copy of the Kmg s Letter to Clarence and Warwick upon the receipt of this /among the matters of great poise" in i^ he, no doub^ included the marriage of Edward son of Henry the Sixth with the daughter of the Earllf Vvarwick. " Brothar we bene enformed how ye have labored, contrary to naturaU ^ndnesse and duty of liegeaunce, dyvars mattars of greate poyes, and also how Proclamations have bene made in yowr name and owr ^syne of Warwike, to assemble owr liege people, no mention made of Us. t urtharmore, lettars myssyves sent in lyke manar for lyke cawse. How be It, we will not forgete that to us apperteynithe, and that is to caU yow to yowT declaration in the same, and to rescey ve yow therunto yf ye wiU come, as it fittith a Uege man to come to his sovereigne lord in humble wyse : and yf ye so do, indyfference and equitie shalbe by us well remem- bred, and so as no resonable man, godly disposed, shall mowe thinke, but that we sM entreate yow accordmge to your nyghnes of bloud and owr lawes. Wherefore, owre disposition thus playnly to yow declared. We woll and charge yow, upon the feithe and trewthe that ye naturaUy owe to beare unto us, and upon payne of yowre leigaunce, that ye, departynjre yowr felowshipe in aU haste, aftar the sight of this, adresse yow to owr presaice humbly and measurablye accompanyed, and so a. is convenyent for the cawse aboveseyde ; lettynge yow wite that* yf ye ne do soo but contynewe the unlefull assemblye of owr people in perturbaUon and 'con- tempte of owr pcax and comandemen^ we must procede that we were lothe to doc to the punishment of yow, to the grevous example of aU othar our subjects. Upon the which yf ther followe eny emisyon of Cnstian bloud of owr subjects of this owr Reahne, we take God and owr blessed Lady, seint George, and aD the Seints in Heven to owr witneaic that ye be oncly charged with the same, and not We. ' " Yeven, &c. " To owr brothar Clarence ; and the lyke Letar (mutatis mutandis) to the earle of Warwykc." \f ORIGINAL LETTERS. 139 This Letter is i^ain followed by the Proclamation which was issued by the Duke and Earl upon their landing; the form of the safe- conducts which they granted; and the Articles of advertisement sent by the Prince to the Earl of Warwick his father-in-law to be shewn to King Henry, for establishing a new Council and Houshold ; the latter upon a reduced scale. The following is the last of these articles : ^^ Item, for asmoche as the Kynge is now in great povertie, and may not yet sustayne th*expences of so greate an howshold as he kept somet3rme, nor he is yet purveyed of vessell and othar hostilments of howshold ho- norable and convenyent for h3rm, and also his costis now upon establyshe- ment will be gretar than any man can certaynly esteme, it is thowght good that it will please his Hyghnesse to forbeare all this first yere the kepinge of his worshipfull and greate Houshold ; and be in all that tyme in suche a sure place or places as his moaste noble Grace can thinke best for his helthe and plesaimce, with little people, and without re8um3mge and takyng age3me in all that yere of the servaunts of his olde howsold, but suche as necessitie shall cawse hym. For yff he take within that tjrme any of them, the remenaunte will grudge for theyr absence ; and also tho that be thus taken will not leve importune sute to have unto them all theyr old fellowshipe, which shalbe noyfuU, and great noye to liymsclfe and to all tho that shall>e about hym for that yere." LETTER XLIII. Letter of Protection from the Duke of Clarence for the lands and tenants of the Lord Mountjoy^ in Derbyshire, A, D. 1470. [ms. lansd. BRIT. MUS. 1236. foL 1. Orig.] G, CLARENCE. George Due of Clarence and Lorde of Richemond, to alle parsones thees presents hering or seeing greting. We wolle and upon pain of deth charge you in our Souverain Lordes name King Henri the Sexte that ye 140 ORIGINAL LETTERS. If r : ne noon of you of what degre or condicion soo ever ye bee presume, atempte, or bee so hardy to spoile or robbe the Maners of Barton and Elveston in the Countie of Derb. aperteynyng to the Lorde Mounte- joie ne noon of his servaunts, fermors, ne tenaunts ther or ellsswhere or any of thaim, ne vexe, troble, or hurt thaim, or any of thaim in bodees or goodes meovable or unmeovable contrary to our saide Souverain Jordes lawes and his peax, as ye woDe eschewe the punicion of the said lawes. Yeven under our Signet at London the xxvj. day of October. LETTER XLIV. King Edward the Fmirth to the Keeper of his Privy Seal, after his return to the Throtic^for Letters pa^ tents in rercard of William Gonld, a butcher. [MS. DONAT. BHIT. MUS. 4614. art. lOft BAG. EDW. IV. BUND I No. 29.] By the King. Right reverend fadre in God, right trusty and welbeloved, We grete you well ; lating you wit that for the grete kyndnesse and true hert that oure wel- beloved William Gould, citezen of London, bocher, shewed unto us and unto oure derrest wife the Quene, in our last absence out of this oure Roialme, every ORIGINAL LETTERS. 141 weke, than yeving unto hir for the sustentacion of hir houshold half a beef and ij. motons; and also aftir oure Feld of Tewkysbury, at her being in the Towre, brought C. oxen into a medow beside our said Towre for the . . lling -^ of the same, wherof the Kentishmen, and other at tymes, oure rebells, shipmen, toke of the saide bests 1. and ledde away ... an to his great hurt and damage. We have yeven and graunted unto the saide William, in recompense of his said hurts, and for other causes us moeving, our Letters of licence, that he by himself, his factours, or attorneys, maye charge a Ship called the Trynyte of London, of the portage of xxx. ton or within, in any porte or place of this oure Roialme, with oxe bids, ledde, talowe, and alle other merchandises except staple ware, and the saide Ship, so charged and defensibly araied for the defense of the same, with suche a maistre and nowmbre of mariners as the saide William, his factours or attornes, shall name unto you in oure Chancerye, to goo out of this oure saide Roialme into what parties by yonde the Sea it shall like him or theim ; and there to discharge and recharge the same Ship with all maner goods and merchandises leefull ; and retoume into this oure saide Roialme, and all other places under oure obeissance : and so to discharge and recharge the saide Ship, with the saide goods, wares, and mer- chandises, and goo and com as often as it shall please him or theim, during oon hoole yere, without any lett • kining. 142 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 143 or impediment of us or eny of oure officers and minis- tres ; pamg unto us therfore all maner costumes, sub- sides, and duetees unto us for the same due and ap- perteynyng, any act, statute, ordinance, provision, or restraint hadde or made into the contrarye not- withstanding. Wherfore we wol and charge you that undir oure Prive Seale, being in youre ward, ye do make herupon our Letters to be directed unto oure Chancellor of England, commaunding him by the same to make herupon our Letters Patentes undir oure Great Scale in due forme, and thies our Letters shal be your warrant. Yeven undir oure Signet at our Palois of Westminster the xxiiij. day of Feverier of our reign. FBEMAN. To the reverend fadre in God our right trusty and welbeloved the Bishop of Rochester, keper of our Prive Seale. LETTER XLV. King Edward the Fmrth, cmceming the rcpayinmt of Money to the Bishop of Aberdeen aiid James Shaw. . [MS. COTTON. VESP. F. III. foL 9 b. Orig.\ aI^^^^I f ""^r' ""^ ^' ^''' ^' ^^»^'^- Thomas bishop of Edw. IV.-* The Lord Lovel was, at this time, the King', Treasurer. • Rot. 13 Eclw. IV. m. 10. R. E. As touching the repaiement of C. marc, to the bisshopp of Abyrdene and to James Shaw for the composicion made with the lord Luf, the King hath ordeigned that a Lumbard, or some other sufficient persone or persones resiant within England, shalbe bounde to the said Bisshopp and James in the said somme, to be paied by the first daye of Novembre next to come, at the ferrest, to such as the saide Bisshopp and James wol assigne to receyve the same, be it for the responsion of the Commandeur of Torfischyn in Scotland to the Rodes by the Lord of S^unct Johns in England, or othrewise, as the said Bisshop and James Shaw wol ordeigne. R. E. LETTER XLVI. Richard Duke of Gloucester^ afterwards Richard the Thirds to , . . , to borrow Money. [mS* cotton. VESP. F. III. fol. IC Orig."] The Due of Gloucestre. ^ Right trusty and welbeloved We grete you wele. And forasmuch as the Kings good Grace hathe ap- • Thcf^e wordy are in the Duke's hand. kd. 144 ORIGIiNAL LETTERS. poynted me to attende uppon His Highnesse into the North parties of his lande, whiche wolbe to me gret cost and charge, whereunto I am soo sodenly called that I am not so wel purveide of money therfore as behoves me to be, and therfore pray you as my specyal trust is in you, to lend me an hundreth pounde of money unto Ester next commyng, at whiche tyme I promise you ye shalbe truly therof content and paide agayn, as the berer herof shal enforme you : to whom I pray you to yeve credence therin, and showe me such frendlynesse in the same as I may doo for you herafter, wherinne ye shal find me redie. Writen at Risyng the xxiiij^'^ day of Juyn. E. GLOUCESTR. (A Postscript enUrely in the Duke's hand adds) Sir I say I pray you that ye fayle me not at this tyme in my grete nede, as ye wule that I schewe yow my goode lordshype in that matter that ye labure to me for. LETTERS OF THE REIGNS OF RICHARD THE THIRD AND HENRY THE SEVENTH. VOL. I. SER. 2. ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 147 m Of the Letters of the reign of RICHARD the THIRD here laid before the reader, the chief are the King's own : but even in these there is a darkness and a mystery inconsistent with upright deeds. The im- pression which they make is bad: and leads us to suspect that future discoveries, whatever else they may develope, will do little to retrieve the character of Richard the Third from the odium so concurrently passed upon it by those who lived m his time. The disquiet of Richard's mind, his doubts, his apprehensions, his distrusts, are aU visible in the documents of his last year, though some- times attempted to be concealed under smooth and cringing expressions. The Instructions which he gave to " the Commissioners in every Shire" for raising forces against the Eari of Richmond, begin " Fur8^ that they, on the Kings behalf, tiianke the People for their TRUE and lovykg disposiciok sJiexeed to his Highnesse the last yere, for the suertie and defense of his moost royal persone and of this his Realme, against his rebels and traitors ; exhorting them so to continue." Nex^ to review the persons raised, '^ and see that they be able men, and wele horsed and hemeysed, and no rascal, and to endeavour them to encrease the numbre by theire wisedorns and policies, if they CAN." Lastly, " to shewe all Ix)rds, Noblemen, Captains, and other, that the King's noble pleasure and commaundement is, that they truely and honorably all manner qnarells, grudges, rancors, and nnkyndnesse layed aparte, attend and execute the King's commaundement, and everyche he LOVING and assisting to OTURE in THE KlNOE'8 QUARELLE8 «wrf CAUSE.''* This is the language of a King who feels weak in the affections of his subjects. ^J^^JZ, ''"""" *" "*"'' ^'*'^""'' ""^ *^" "^^g" «^ HENRY the SEVENTH, are Privy Seals. Other Inters of this Reign are not numerous in English, • See the Harl. MS. 423. fol. »74. LETTER XLVII. King Edward the Fifth, under the direction of his Uncle, to Otes Gilbert, Esq, commanding him to receive Knighthood at the expected Coronation. [mS. harl. BRIT. MU8. 433. fol. 227-] •»♦ Similar Letters to this appear to have been sent to forty-nine other persons, amongst whom were the Lord Ormond, the Lord Stourton, the son and heir of the brd Bergavenny, the Lord Grey of Ruthen, the son and heir of the lord Cobham, and Henry Colet alderman of London. Trusty and welbeloved we grete you wele ; and by th'advise of our derrest Uncle the Due of Gloucestre, Protector of this our Royaume, during our young Age, and of the Lords of our Counsell, we write unto you at this tyme, willing and nathelesse charging you to prepare and fFumishe yourselff to receive the noble Order of Knighthode at our Coronacion ; whiche by Godd's grace we entende shalbe solempnised the xxijd day of this present monetli at oure Palays of West- minster, comaunding you to be here at oure Toure of London iiij..dayes afore oure said Coronacion, to have comynycacion with oure Commissioners concernyng that mater ; not failling herof in any wise, as ye entende to please us, and as ye woll answer. Yoven, &c. the v^h. day of Juyn. To Otes Gilbert squier. L 2 148 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 119 I The Volume from which this Letter has been copied, contains various Papers and Documents issued at the beginning of the reign of Richanl the Third as King : and amongst them the following Instnactions to the Lord Montjoie, master John Cooke archdeacon of Lincoln, and Sir Thomas Thwayts knt. in answer to a Letter of the Lord Dynham " iate direct to t/ie Kings Grace as Protector o/* England." " The first Article remembred the Othe which they of Calais, per- teynyng to any of the thre Jurisdiccions ther, incontynent, upon knawlage of the deth of King Edward the iiij«h, whome God assoiU, commen unto them, made holy togedyr upon a booke, to be true unto King Edward the V'h. his son, as to their liege Lord ; and to kepe the towne, castell, and marchies of Calais truly to him, and to suffre no man with power to entre into the same, except the King's persone, or the Lord Hastings then being the King's Lieutenant " As to that Article, it shall move besids that how be it suche Othe of ligeance was made sone upon the deth of the said King Edward the iiij'^ to his sone, not only at Calais but also in diverse places in England, by many gret Astats and Personages being than ignorant of the verraye sure and true title whiche oure soverayn Lord that now is. King Richard the iij-J*^, hath and had the same tyme to the Coroune of England. That Othe not withstandyng, now, every good true Englissheman is bounde, upon knowlage had of the said verray true title, to depart from the first Othe so Ignorautbj gyven to fiim to whom it appcrteyned not, and ther- upon to make his Outhe of newe, and owe his service and fidelitie to him that good lawe, reason, and the concortle assent of the Lords and Com- mons of the Royame have ordeigned to rtigne upon the people, which is cure said Soverayn Lord King Richard the iij''-. brother to the said King Edward the iiij'h. late decessed, whome God pardone : whose sure and true tide is evidently shewed and declared in a biU of Peticion which the Lords spirituelx and temperclx and the Commons of this Land solemplye porrected unto the Kings Highnes at London the xxvj»' day of Juyn. Whereupon the Kings said Higlmes, notably assisted by well nere all the Lords spiritudl and temperell of this Royaume, went the same day unto his Palais of Westminster, and ther in suche roiall honorable appareilled within the grct HaU ther toke possession, and declared his mynde that the same day he wold begyn to reigne upon his people, and from thens rode solempely to the Cathedrall Cherche of London, and was ressey ved ther with procession, with great congratulacion, and acclamacion of all the people in every place, and by the wey that the King was in, that day. The copie of the which BUI the King wiU to be sent unto Calais, and ther to be redd and understanded togeder with thise presents, desiring right effectuously aU maner pcrsones of the said thre Jurisdictions, what a8ta^ degre, or conuicion that they be of, and also them of Guysncs and Hammcs, to make their feithes and othes to him as to thair soverayn Lorde, like as the Lords spirituelx and temperclx, and many other noble men in gret nombre, being in England, frcly and of goode hert have done tor their parts. And that the said Towne of Calais, all Castells, and Fortress being within the said Marches they will saufly kepe unto the behoove of oure said Soverayn lord King Richard the iij'^ and them not to deliver to any persone but by his commaundemcntc only." » The reader will observe that the Lord Dynham, in answer to whom these Instructions were sent, was one of the Lords who in the ParUament chamber, in the 11 'h Edw. IV'»». had subscribed and sworn to be true to Prince Edward, the King's eldest son. b Who can wonder that Lord Dynham afterwards joined the Earl of Richmond? In the 1«« of Henry the Seventh he was constituted one of the Privy Council, and Treasurer of the King's Exchequer. He died in the 17'*' Hen. VII'^'. There is a Memorandum too, in the Harleian Volume already quoted, a part of which only has been printed by Mr. Sharon Turner. ^ " M''. that I Richard by the Grace of God King of England and of Fraunce, and Ijord of Irland, in the presens of you my Lords spirituel! and temporeU, and you Mair and Aldermen of my Cite of London, pro- mitte and swere verba rcglo upon these holy Evangelies of God by me personelly touched, that if the doughters of dame Elizabeth Gray late calling her selfl^Quene of England, that is to wit Elizabeth, CecUl, Anne, Kateryn, and Briggitte, woU come unto me out of the Sanctwarie of Westminster and be guydcd, ruled, and demeaned after me, Uian I shall see that they shalbe in suertie of their lyffs, and also not suffre any man- ner hurt by any maner persone or persones to them or any of theini or their bodies and persones, to be done by way of ravissement or defouling contrarie their willes, nor them or any of theim emprisone within the Toure of London or other prisonne ; but that I shall put theim in honest places of good name and fame, and theim honestly and curtesly shaU see to be founden and entreated, and to have aU things requisite and neces- sary for their exibicion and findings as my kynneswomen ; and that I shall do marie suche of them as now ben mariable to Gentilmen bom, and everiche of them geve in mariage lands and tenements to the yerely valewe of cc. marcs for term of their lyves ; and m likewise to the other doughters when they come to lawfull age of mariage if they lyflT. And suche gentilmen as shall happ to marie with them I shall straitly charge, from tyme to tyme, lovyngly to love and entreate them as their wiffs and my kynneswomen, as they woU advoid and eschue my displeasur. " And over this that I shall yerely fromhensfurth content and pay, or cAuse to be contented and paicd, for th'cxhibicion and finding of the said • MS. liarl. 433. fol. 238. k Claub. 11 Edw. IV. in dorso, m. I. s': ii -j; 150 ORIGINAL LETTIIUS. dame Elizabeth Gray during her naturall liff at iiij. termes of the yerc, Uiat 18 to wit at pasche, midsomer, michilmatse, and christenme8«^ to John Nesfelde, one of the squiers for my body, for hU finding, to attende upon her, the summe of dcc. marcs of Uwfull money of England, by even porcions ; and moreover I promitte to them, that if any surmyse or evyU report be made to me of them, or any of them, by any persone or persones, that than I shaU not geve therunto faith ne credence, nor ther- lore put them to any maner ponysshement, before that they or any of them so accused may be at their lawfull defence and answer. In witncMe whereof to this writing of my Othe and Promise aforsaid, in your said presences made, I have set my sign manuell the first day of Marche the first yere of my Reigne.** • These, it must be owned, are singular documents. 1 LETTER XLVIII. King Richard the Third to Sir Ralph Hasti^igs lent. Lieutenant of the Castle o/Guisnes! [ms. marl. bhit. MU8. 433. foL 239.] By the King. Tkusty, &c. We woU and desire you that ye yeve full feith and credence to our trusty Servante Robert Bradboury, Robert Allerton, Hugh Bage, and Thrustayn Hatefelde, in suche things and newes as we have commaunded thaym to shewe unto you on our behalve : which by you herd, we pray you to disclose to suche of oure subgetts as be under your rule in our • MS. Harl. ut supr. fol. 308 b. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 151 Castell there, as by your wisdome shalbe thought most according, and of their disposicions, which we trust verraily wolbe with oure pleasure. We desire you furthwith, in all hast possible, to accertayn our right trusty and welbeloved the Lord Mountjoye, Sir Tho- mas Thwayts, and maister John Cooke our Commis- sioners at Dover, whome we have carged^ ther to abide your Answere ; and that had, to addresse them over unto you fully instructed of our ferther mynde and pleasur in every thing concernyng the same. Faill ye not the premisses, as ye woU do us speciall pleasur. Yoven under our signet at our Cite of London the xxviijtJ. day of Juyn. To Sr. RaufF Hastings knight Lieutenant of our Castell of Guysnes. i i\ I An entry in the Manuscript, very soon after this Letter, acquaints us that Sir Ralph Hastings was dismissed from his charge. He was brother of the Lord Hastings who was beheaded by Richard the Third ; and had been much favoured by King Edward the Fourth in grants of lands. ■ charged. tv 152 ORIGINAL LETTEBS. III LETTER XLIX. J^inff Richard the Third to the Lords of his Council, ■d. D. 1483, upon the arrival of an ambassador from Isabella Queen of Spain. ■ (ms. HAHt. BBiT. Mus. 433. foL 235 b.] .1^- '"'^8 *" ^t". in the Harkian Mar.uscript, ue the in- »^t.o™, u, L.u„, of Granfidiu, de S«ioIa, the Queen ofsUin'. enrl dated August the 8th, 1483; after which it iaxud, ^' to theKl^^*lr ^''T'^l ^''" " """8 ''y '^ 0"«<"' he rfiewed L^intr.! ^ ""^ '"."'"' I^'' '■"' ** ""'^'''"«» *« "hich .he took agamst the &ng last dece.«d. whom God pardon, for hi, refining of ^, and talong to hi, wife a widow of England , for the which cf«« abo wa, mortal war betwixt him and the Earl of Warwick, the whiA took ever her part to the time of hi, death. And therefore die, moved to th„e cau^ .g«n,t her nature, the which wa, ever to love «,d favour England a, he Mid, she toke the French King, pan, uid made le.,m« and confederation, with hun. »!««>, ano maae leagues " Now the King i, dead that shewed her this unkindness, «id, a. he said, Ae French King hath broken four prindpall artic^a^ilZ wherfbre she now returning to hir natural kind and disposition, de.h^ EntlJ^r'. « Reappointed and concluded betwixt th^ ,wo^ ^1^1" '""' " '" ""' """''"'• "^ "^ InstructionsTte .h« 1"°^ 1 """" """'f ""'^"' ^" "o ^^-^ <*»" *e King Louis, waa. Aat die had a grant of the Queen of Navarre to have hurSaugh^ JS Aereu, have been had : and for so much a, he by no mant me^e^d be thereunto agreable die taketh a gm displeasure with him, S^J^ with the King, good Grace, a. be shewed in thise Instructions." H^^. ""* "' "^ "'""'°' " ^f corroborated by the Englid, OUIGINAL LETTERS. 153 Lingard has taken no notice of this negociation for the hand of Isabella ; and he treats the subsequent negociation for a marriage with Bona of Savoy as a fiction." But even this is mentioned by foreign writers, as well as our own.** '!4 BY THE KING. MY LORDS, We grete you hertely wele, latting you wit that yesterday come to us hider an Oratour of our cousine the Queue of Hispana, with lettres and open credence also, the which he shewed before us wherupon the Lords of our Counsell here, by oure commaundement, have had communication with the said Oratour upon auctorite or commission yeven unto him in that be- halve, the which as we suppose he hath noon other- wise than by instruction and commandement of his maisteres ; wherein he saith he might have had gret and large, bot she saith her worde shuld be as sure and stable as any other auctorite by Commission. Natheles suche credence as was uttered to us by the said Oratour, he hath delivered in writing signed with his hande, the Copie whereof we sende unto you, to the'ntent we may have your good advertisments what is ferther to be doen in this mater. Also the said Oratour hath ben demaunded as in the Amite and Lieuge c late taken betwixt the King our brother late • Hist. Engl, h: edit. vol. v. p. asT. *> St-c Guichcron, Hist. Genealogiquc de la Royaie Maison de Savoye, torn. L 1>p. 532, &S3. who dat4» it iji 14«4. ' League. 154 ORIGINAL LETTERS. f decessed, and Henry the King of His,«,y„e, the which the said Oratour promiseth shalbe renewed and con- finned betwixt us and the King and new Quene of His- payne, in like forme as was betwixt them. And if it sliaJl seme you this mater be for our wele and honor, than we pray you, our Chaunceler, the said Amite made in our name and sealed with our Seale be sent to us in goodly hast ; for the which, upon a bill therof sent to us, ye shall have good and suffisaunt warrant • and that Barnard de la Forssa if [he] be not passed the See. be sent for to come unto us in goodly hast, to th'entent he may practise thise maters in Spayne. Youen under our signet at the Castell of Warrewik, the ixth day of August. To the Lords of our Counsel! »t our Cite of London. LETTER L. The Queen ^ Spain to King Richard the Third. [MS. HAHl. BHIT. MPS. 433. fol. 236.] Of A™!^^'". v'^r.*?r"/^^'""'' "" '"*^«' "^ I'« of the deth of the Frenshe King within ij houres after the thidings come to me as I herd. How be it I was not then in certain as I am nowe. He died the xxv i day of August at aftemone ; on whose soule I pray God have mercy. And what direction shall be take therupon his decease with the Dolphyn, and that Realme, it is not yet knowen. This I here say, the Lord Disquerdes is in the handes of the gret Lords of Fraunce, the Due of Orliaunce, and other. I trust within few daies to know more ; and as I here fro tyme to tyme I shall sendc worde unto the Kings Grace, • »'MU time, a herald, or |iur>uiviuil k> named. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 157 and to yow iny Lord, which I am sure ye will shewe unto my Lordes of the Counsell ther. Also the Due of Austriche &c. hath wonne Utright,^ by appoyntementes such as yo^ Lordship may under- stand by a copie that I send yow herewith. Gaunt ^ is offered, as I liere for certeine, and such as were the gret doyers in Burgis,^ and the chieff labourers of the Peax with Fraunce be goen with all their goodes to Gaunt, •' for fere of the Due ; and all the comones of the Contre greitly rejoysshe therof. There is a gret brute an the Duk of that they will set upon Picardie to get it againe to enlarge theire frountiers ; which I pray God sone may take effect, for in myn openion it shuld be gretly for the wele of that toune and marches &c. Also my Lord upon this departing of the Frensshe King, how it shall stande with the Kings pleasure and you my Lordes of his Counsell that we shall deale for making of sauf Conductes this fisshing season if any be asked, I wold fayne understand, because the werre is open between bothe Roialmes. I have much ado to kepe men still in peax here, for they wold fayne be in hand with the Frenshmen. How be it, I trust that mater shall not be attempted till the Kings pleasure be knowen therein, or unto the tyme occasion be geven by them by lande as it is daily seen by water. My Lord it is thought here that the King shuld • Utrecht. »> Ghent. Bniges. ! I ^1 1 158 ORICilNAL LETTERS. have a Navie upon the See, to shewe himself as a King, to rule and kepe his stremes betwixt this and Dover ; and that suche folkes as shall be sent unto the see may have a strait charge upon their lyves that they nether robbe ne spoill any „f the Kings frendes • and namely of the Due of Austriche contrees. and Bretayne; for if they fall enemys unto us, and no gretter suertie had betwixt the King our Soverayn Lord and them, it shall not be good for this Towne and Merches, considered of likelihode what pour the Due shall be of nowc upon this victorie of Utright which is thought a gret thing here. Also I here say that he is chosen King of Rome, and Emperour coraen downe to Collougne to crowne him, to thentent he shuld be Emperour after him. Thise be all the tidings that I here spcke of, or that I knowe of for certaine, which I pray yow to shewe unto the Kings Grace, to whome I have not written at this passage. Also that it may like your Lordship to gif knowlege unto my good frende maister Picres Puissaunt of the same tydings. DYNHAM. To my most special! goo. xlvi. M 2 164 ORIGINAL LETTERS, Somerset, sone unto John Erie of Somerset, son unUi dame Kateryne Swynford, and of her in double ad- voutrow goten ; wherby it evidently appercth that noo title can or may be in hym, whiche fulley entendeth to entre this Royaume purposing a conquest : and if he should atcheve this false entent and purpose, every mannys lif, livclood, and goods shuld be in his hands, libertie, and disposition : wherby shuld ensue the dis- heriting and distruction of all the noble and worship- full blode of this Royalme for ever. And to the re- sistence and withstanding wherof, every true and na- turall Englisheman born must lay to his handes for his own suertie, and well, and to the entent that the said Henry Tidder might the rather eschewe his said fals entent and pourpous by the aide, supportc, and assistence of the Kings said auncient ennemye of Fraunce, hath covenaunted and bargayned with hym and with all the Counseill of Fraunce to geve . . and relesse in perpetuyte alle the right, title, and clayme that the Kings of England have had and mighte to have to the Corone and Royaume of Fraunce, to- gidder with the Duchies of Normandye, Angeoye and Maygne, Gascoygne and Guyenne, the Castelles and Townes of Caleys, Guisnes, Hammcs, with the merches apperteignyng to the same, and to dessever and exclude the armes of Fraunce out of the armes of England for ever. And in more prove and shewcing of his said pourpose of conquest, the said Henry Tidder ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 165 hath geven aswele to divers of the Kings said enemyes as to his said rebelles and traitoures, the Arch- bisshoprekes, Bisshoprichcs, and other dignities spi- rituel, and also the Duchies, Earledomes, Baronies, and othre possessions and inheritaunces of Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, and othre the Kings true subgets within this Roialme ; and entendeth also to chaunge and subvwt the lawes of the same, and to enduce and establisshe newe lawes and ordinaunces amongs the Kings said subjiettes. And over this and besids the alienations of all the premisses into the possession of the Kings said ancient enemyes, to the gretest au- geutisement, shame, and rebuke that ever might falle to this lande, the said Henry Tider and othre the Kings rebells and traietours aforesaid, have entended at thair cummyng, if theye can be of powair, to doo the moost cruell murdres, slaghters, robberies, and dis- herisons that ever wer seen in any Cristen Royaume. For the whiche and othre inestimable daungieres to be eschewed, and to the entent that the Kings said rebells, traitours, and enemyes may be utterly putt from their said malicious and fals pourpose, and soon disconfitcd of their enforce to lande, the King oure soverayn Lorde desireth, willeth, and commaundeth all and everych of the naturel and true subgiets of this his Royaume, to call the premisses into their myndes, and like good and true Englisshemen to thaym self with all their powairs for the defense of 166 ORIGINAL LETTERS. theim, thair wifs, children, goodes, and hereditaments, agenst the said malicious purposes and conspirations whiche the said auncient ennemyes have made with the Kings said rebelles and traitours for the fynal de- struction of this lande as is aforesaid. And oure sayde soverayn Lord, as awelewilled, diligent, and couragious Prince wol put his royal persone to all and payne necessarie in this behalve for the resistence and subdueing of his said ennemyes, rebelles and traitours to the moost comfort, wele, and suertie of all his true and feithfull liegemen and subgiettes; and over this oure said soverayn Lorde willeth and comaundeth all his said subgietts to be redy in their moost defensible arraye, to doo his Highnesse service of Werre, whan they by open proclamation or other- wise shall be commanded so to do for the resistence of the Kings said rebells, traitours, and cnemyes.*" And thise oure Lettres shall be your sufficient warrant in that behalve. Yeven under oure Signet, at oure Castell of Not- yngham, the xxi day of Juyn the secund yere of our reigne. To the right reverend fader in God our right trusty and right welbeloved the Bisshop of Lincoln our Chaun- cellour of England. Anotiieu Letter to the Bishop, directing a similar Proclamation to be prepared, dated December 3d in the lanic year, occurs in the Harlcian Manuscript 433. fol. 273 b. II ORIGINAL LETTERS. 167 LETTER LV. Ki9ig Henri/ the Seventh to the Lord Dynham and Sir Reginald Bray^ concerning money to he pro- vided for two of his ^Embassadors. [ms. don at. BRIT. MU8. 4Gi7> art. 42.] *,* This, and the four Letters which follow, are Privy Seals of Ring Henry the Seventh. This concerns the Embassy of Sir Edward Po3mings and Dr. Warham to the Court of Burgundy, and gives us a sample, in one passage, of the King's economy. The next orders the payment of the chaises and expenses of certain Scottish ambassadors during their abode in England. The third and fourth, in the sixth year of his reign, concern the wages of the persons to whose care his infant children were intrusted. The fifth, among other rewards, directs ten pounds to be given to two Spaniards, who brought over from Ferdinand and Isabella certain female Moors, " M''omen Saracens," as they are called, apparently for the King's inspection. Stowe tells us, in his Annals, of another exhibition to King Henry the Seventh, of the same kind, in 1502, of three men who had been brought from the new discovered islands in America by Se- bMtian Cabot.* By the Kingr H. R. Right trusty and welbeloved, and trusty and right welbeloved, We grete you wel. And in asmoche as we have appointed our ful trusty servants Sir Ed- ward Ponyngs and Doctor William Warham oure Councillors, to goo on oure Ambassad to oure cousin • Stowc< Annales, edit. 1631. p. 483. 168 ORIGINAL LETTERS. th'Archeduc of Burgoine, it behoveth theym to have for their costs : and therfor We have appointed, for the said Sir Edward, thre pound by the day whiles he shall be absent, the rekenyng of the day to begyne at his departing out of oure Citie of London to the see- ward ; and to have in hand and redy money for thirty dayes, which amounteth to the some of foure score and ten poundes sterlings. And the said Doctor William, twenty shillings by the day after the same rekenyng, and to have for thritty dayes thritty poundes in hand. And soo in caas they be languer in our Ambassad, then XXX. dayes, that then they have their allowances and payments after the rate of the dayes and sommes abovesaid. Understanding of the same Doctor War- ham where the money is, that was appointed for hym when he shulde last have goon unto our said Cousin, and did not : and theruppan to deale with hym as the caas shall require. But howe soever ye doo, see ye that they be despeched accordingly as it is abovesaid, and that without tarying or delay ; as oure very trust is in you. Yeven undre oure Signet at oure Castel of Kenelworth the vth day of July. To our right trusty and wel- beloved the Lord Dynham oure Tresourer of England, and our trusty and right welbeloved knight for our body Sir Raynold Bray chancellor of our Duchie of Lan- castre, our Counseillours. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 169 LETTER LVI. King Henry the Seventh to the Under-Treasurer of Etigland, concerning the charges of the Scottish ambassadors. [»is. DONAT. BRIT. Mus. 4C17. art. ^G.from brev. hen. vii. an.. . n. 5.] Xl. li. By the King. Trusty and right welbeloved we grete you wele, and wol and charge you that incontinent, aftre the sight herof and by vertue of the same, ye delivre to the hands of oure trusty and welbeloved squier William Fyssher, Cofferer of oure Houshold, the summe of twenty thre pounds four shillings and ten pens sterlings, to thentent that he with the same may content and sa- tisfie the charges and expenses of the Ambassadours of Scotland during their abode here, according to oure appoinctement in that behalve. And wee shal see that amongs other things ye shal have due and juste allow- aunce of the said summe as right and reason require. And therfore faille ye not herof as we specially trust you. Yeven undre oure Signet at oure manoir of Shene the xxiij day of Marche. To oure trusty and right wel- beloved Counsaillour, Robert Lit- ton our Undre-treasourer of Eng- land. ft- I Jc 170 OBIGIXAL LETTERS. LETTER LVII. King' Henry the Seventh to the Treasurer and Cham- berlains of his Exchequer^ for the payment of money to Persons attendant on his son Prince Arthur. [ms.donat.brit. MU8 4617.art. 108./romBREv. HEN.VH.an. 6.n.2f».] Henry by the grace of God King of Englond and of Fraunce, and Lord of Irland, to the Tresourer and Chambrelains of our Eschequier greting. For as- moche as the summe of twenty markes sterlings resteth due unto oure dere and welbeloved dame Elizabeth Darcy lady maistres unto oure derest Son the Prince, and fyve markes sterlinges unto oure welbeloved Agnes Butler and Emlyn Hobbes rokkers of oure said Son, that is to say to every of theim xxxiij. s. iiij. d. for their wages of the half yere ended at Estre last passed ; We, willing their spedy contentacion in that bchalve, wol and charge you that of oure Tresour being in your warde ye content and paye unto theim, or to their deputie in their names, the summes aforsaid, with- oute any prest or charge setting upon theim or any of theim for the same, and thies oure letters shal be your Warraunt. Yeven undre oure Prive Seel at oure nia- OftlGIKAL LETTERS. 171 noir of Grenewiche, the xxvij**^. day of May the sexte Yere of oure Reigne. BELL. The same Volume which contains this Letter, preserves another, art. 41. from Brev. 1 Hen. VIL n. 10. directing an annuity of twenty pounds a year to be granted to Philip ap Howel, and Jane his wife '* •umtjfme our Norice." % LETTER LVIII. Kiiig Henry tlhc Seventh to the Treasurer and Cham- berlains of his Exchequer, for payment qfffioney to ilw Attendants on the Lady Margaret. I MS. DONAT. BRIT. Mus 461 7- art 90. from brev. hen. VII. an. 6. n. 30.] i Henry by the grace of God King of England and of Fraunce, and Lord of Irland, to the Tresourer and Chamberlains of our Eschequier, greting. Wlier ther is due unto our welbelovede Alice Davi, norce to our derrist beloved doughter the lady Mar- garete, the summe of fyve pounds ; to Anne Maylande thirty thre shillings and four pens, to Margarete Trough- ton thirty thre shillings and four pens, rockers to the same our daughter ; and to Alice By wymble, hir day wife, thirty thre shillings and four pens ; amounting in all to the sumo of ten pounds by reason of their wages I '\ 172 ORIGINAL LETTERS. for an half yere ended the xxij ' day of the monetli of May last past, whiche we have appointed to be paied by your handes. We, desiring them to have hasty con- tentation of their wages aforesaid, woll and charge yow that forthwith upon the sight herof, ye, of suche our tresour as rcmaigneth in your keping, deliver to the bearer of thies presents to their behouf, the said sunime of ten pounds and every parcel! therof, without any prest or othre charge to be sette upon theim or any of theim in that partie. And thies our Letters shalbe your suffisaunt warrant and discharge in that behalve. Yevcn undre our prive Seel at our manoir of Grenc- wiche, the xxix*' day of Juyn the sixt yere of our reigne. N. PITRDE. LETTER LIX. Khiff Hennf the VIM to the Treasurer ami Cham- berlains of the Exchequer, for various payments. y^.Z). 1491. 1ms. donat. 4617. art. Oa/rom brev. hen. vii. an. 6. n. 36.) Henry by the grace of God king of Englond and of Fraunce, and Lorde of Irlandc, to the Tresourer and Chainbrelains of our Eschecjuier grcting. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 175 We wol and charge you that of oure tresour, resting in your warde, ye deliver unto the personnes herein- named thies summes of money herafter folowing. Furst, unto Loveles of Calays the summe of ten markes: item, to two Spaignards, servantes to oure cousin the king of Romayncs, the summe of xl, markes : item, to a Spaignard, that brought the women Sarrasynes unto us from oure cousines the King and Quene of Spaignc, the sume of ten pounds : item, to the servants of Piers Eggecombe that brought unto us two prisoners, fyve markes : withoute prest or other charge to be sette uppon theim, or any of theim, for the same. And thies. our Letters shalbe your warrant and suffisaunt discharge ancmpts us at all tymes in this partie. Yeven undre our prive Seel at oure manoir of Grenewiche the xi'*^ day of Juyll the sext yere of oure reigne. N. PURDE. It would have gratified the editor of these Volumes, could he have discovered any Letters of Henry the Eighth written during his youngei years while Prince : but the search for these has been fruitless. There is one, however, preserved among the Latin Letters written to Erasmus, upon a subject which did his feelings honor, and which the reader wiU probably not dislike to sec transplanted here. Philip King of Castile, in the banning of 1506, going with his Queen ftova the Netherlands to take possession of their Throne, was driven by a storm to England ; where, during a residence of three months Henry the Seventh endeavoured to obtain favourable concessions from him, whilst the Prince established a friendship which was thought likely to be lasting ; • but Philip died, soon after his arrival in Spain, of a fever, Sept. • A Narrative of King Philip's entertainment by King Henry the Seventh, at Windsor, when he was invested with the Order of the Garter, is preserved in the Cottoiiian MS. Vespasian C. xii. with copies of the Treaties which the two Sovereigns entered into. !l H. 174 Oair.TNAL LETTERS. IS*** 150«. A short time after, the following Letter wm addressed to Erasmus by Prince Henry ; in the latter part of which he has deplored the death of Philip, to use Erasmus's own words, " tton mUiu* amanier quam ekganterJ'^ " PrINCEPS HeNRICUS DeS. EraSMO VIRO UNDECUNQUE DOCTI8- SIMO, S. " Jetus est Spes mea. " Tuis plurimum sum litteris aiFectus, disertissime Erasme, quippe quae et venustiores sunt quam ut raptim videantur exarats, et Iucid« simplicesque magis quam quae ab ingenio tam solerti praemeditatae judi- centur. Fit enim, nescio quo pacto, ut quae ab ingeniosis elaborata, de- ditiore dcpromuntur opera, plus pariter affectatae secum afTerant difficult*. tis: nam dum tersiori studemus doquio, subterfugit nos clanculum apertus ille darusque dicendi modus. Sed tua isthaec Epistola quantum venustate pollet, tantum etiam sua perspicuitate liquet, ut prorsus onme punctum tulisse videaris. Sed quid ego tuam laudare paro facundiam, cujus per totum terrarum orbem est nobilitata scientia? Nihil queo equidem in tuam laudem effingere, quod tam consummata isthaec erudi- tione satis dignum sit. Quare tuas laudes omitto, de quibus silere satius puto quam nimis parce dicere. *' Rumorem ilium de morte Castellani Regis, mei fratris pcnitus pe- nitusque desideratissimi, longe antequam ex tuis litteris oppido invitus acceperam : sed eum utinam aut serius multo aut minus verum ad nos fama tulisset ! Nunquam enim, post charissimac genitricis mortem, nun- tius hue venit invisior : et parcius, ut verum fatear, huic litterarum parti favebam, quam earum singularis postulabat elegantia, quod cicatriceni, cui callum tempus obduxeiat, refricare visa est. Verum quae superis sunt visa, mortalibus rata haberi fas est. Tu vero perge, eaque nobis litteris significa si qua sunt istic nova, sed jucundiora. Deus fortunet quaecunque memoratu digna acciderint. Vale. £x Ricbemundia, 17 Januarii." • * ErasTni Epist. fol. Lugd. Bat. ITOI. Pan ii. epist. ccccli. col. 1S40. This it usually considered the best edition of the Letters of Erasmus : but it Li right tu caution the English reader that the dates of such Letters as refer to English Literature and History are not always to be relied upon. A Letter, for instance, which describe! the accefision of Henry the V 1 11th. has the date of 1497 ; while another in which the name of bishop Latimer occurs has th« date of HIT. LETTERS OF THE REIGN OF HENRY THE EIGHTH, /— r M Lord Hebbert, quoting the History of the Council of Trent re- specting Henry the Eighth, says " his education was accurate, being destined to the archbishoprick of Canterbury, during the life of his elder brother Prince Arthur ; that prudent King his father choosing this M the most cheap and glorious way for bestowing of a younger son. For 88 he at once disburthened his revenues and the public from the charge incident to so great a person, so he left a passage open to ambition; especially ever since Eugenius the IVth. had declared the place of a Cardinal above all other in the Church." The theological part of Henry's education, was, no doubt, serviceable to him in the changes of a later period ; but the reader will be astonished to learn that it had its effect at an earlier time than is usually supposed. The Cottonian manuscript Tiberius E. viii. contains the Ceremonial for his Coronation, prefixed to which is the Oath of the Sovereign altered and interlined by his own hakd ; one part especially indicating that Henry looked to something like supremacy in the Church of England, at the very outset of his reign. The following is the Oath in its original form : (( The Othe of the Kings Highnes. ** This is the Othe that the King shall swere at his Coronation, that he shall kepe and mayntene the right and the liberties of Holie Churche of old tyme graunted by the rightuous Cristen Kings of England : and that he shall kepe all the londs, honours, and dignytees rightuous and fre of the Crowne of England in all maner hole, without any nianer of mynysshement ; and the rights of the Crowne, hurte, decayed, or lost, to his power shall call aga3m into the auncyent astate ; and that he shall kepe the peax of the Holie Churche, and of the Clergie, and of the People, with good accorde; and that he shall do in his judgements equytee and right justice, with discretion and mercye ; and that he shall graunte to holde the I^wes and Customes of the Realme, and to his power kepe them and affirme them which the folk and people have made and chosen ; and the evill Lawes and Customes hoUie to put out ; and stedfastc and stable peax to the people of his Kcalme kepe, and cause to be kept to his power." The Oath, as altered, stands thus : " The Othe of the Kings Highnes at every Coronation, " The Kmg shall then swere that he shall kepe and mayntene the lawfull right and the libertees of old tyme graunted by the ryghtuous Cristen Kings of Englond to the holy Chibcue oJjT Inoland nott prejudyciaU to hys Jurysdyction and Dignxte ryall, and that ?w shall kepe all the londs, honours, and dignytees rightuous, and fredonunes of the Crowne of Englond in all maner hole, without any maner of mynysshement, and the rights of the Crowne hurte, decayed, or lost, td his power shall call agayn into the auncyent astate ; and that he shall indevore hymselfe to kepE Unite in his Clergye and temporell svh^ jects; and that he shall accordyng to his consigns in all his judgements mynystere equytie, right, and justice, slicwyng wfier is to be shexeyd mercy ; and that he shall graunte to hold the lawes and approvyd cus- tomes of the Realme, and la-ufnll and nott prejudiciall to hys Crowne or Imperiall dtity^ to his power kepe them and affirme them which the noblys and people have made and chosen with his consent ; and the evill Lawes and Customes hollie to put out ; and stedfaste and stable peax to the people of his realme kepe and cause to be kept to his power, in that tchych honour and equite do require.^* A Fac Simile of this Oath, with the King's interlineations as they stand in the manuscript, forms the Frontispiece to the present Volume. It is probably not unknown to most of the readers of this Work, that whenever the Council of the Senate of Venice sent an ambassador to a foreign Country, in former times, they ordered him to study and report to them upon the circumstances of the State to which he was sent, its geographical condition, population, wealth, and various relations ; with all that he could learn of the personal characters, not only of the Sovereign but of the principal members of his Court.* The following was the description which Sebastiano Giustiniani, the Venetian resident in England in 1519, gave to the Council of the Pre- gati, of the person and manners of King Henry the Eighth. " His Alajesty is about twenty-nine years of age, as handsome as nature could form him, above any other Christian Prince ; handsomer by far than the King of France. He is exceeding fair ; and as well pro- portioned in every part as is possible. MTien he learned that the King of France wore a beard, he allowed his also to grow ; which being some- what red, has at present the appearance of being of gold. He is an ex- cellent musician and composer; an admirable horseman and wrestler. He poMeues a good knowledge of the French, Latin, and Spanish lan- guages ; and is very devout. On the days in which he goes to the chace, he hears mass three times ; but on other days he goes as often as five times. He has every day service in the Queen's chamber at vespers and com- pline. He is uncommonly fond of the chace, and never indulges in this diversion without tiring eight or ten horses. These he has stationed at the different places where he purposes to stop. When one is fatigued, he mounts another ; and, by the time he returns home, they have all been used. He takes great delight in bowling, and it is the pleasantest sight • See Fojcarini delU Letteraiura Venctiana, p. 460. n. S98. VOL. I. S£R. 2. K 1/ in the world to see him engaged in this exccrcise, with his fair skin covered with a beautifully fine shirt He plays with the hostages of France, and it is said that they sport from six to eight thousand ducats in a day.* Affable and benign, he offends no one. He has often said to the Ambassador, he wished that every one was content with his condi- tion. * We are content with our Islands.' He is very desirous of pre- serving peace ; and possesses great wealth." ^ This seems the Character to which Henry the Fighth was really inti- tled in his earlier years ; and it is corroborated no where more frequently than in the Letters of Erasmus and his friends. The business of the Divorce seems to have first roused the more angry passions of his nature. Wolsey perceived, and felt them, as we learn from the description of his Master which he gave, in his last moments, to Sir William Kyngeston. " He is sure a Prince of a royal courage, and hath a princely heart ; and rather than he will either miss or want any part of his will or appetite, he will put the loss of one half of his realm in danger. For I assure you I have often kneeled before him in his privy chamber on my knees, the space of an hour or two, to persuade him from his will and appetite : but I could never bring to pass to dissuade him therefrom. Therefore, Mas- ter Kingston, if it chance hereafter you to be one of his privy counsell, as for your wisdom and other qualities ye are meet to be, I warn you to be weU advised and assured what matter ye put in his head, for ye shall never put it out again." <= Erasmus has comprised the sUte of England under Henry's dommion, six years later, in a single sentence. " In Anglia omnes aut MORS svs. iulit, aut METUS cantrajciU"^ . It is not impossible but that Lord Herbert may allude to this very circumstance. Speaking of Henry's various Exercises he says, " Together with these he used some- timw Tennis and Dice ; at whUh certain Strangers used to play with him ; till finding their cheatings, at length he chase the comynalte dyd withstond, thei were like to goo into Bieme. Soo that immediatli the People arose, and said that what soevyr he were that wolde contynew in oure opynyon, suyrli thei wold slee hym, and so was I thre- • treaties. tynd in dyvers placys. The Answer of the Cownsell at that tyme and the behavyr of the peple, my Lord Howard and S"*. Mores Barkley which were both of oon mynde can best shew at thair cummyng ; Thowz meny things be as fer owte of order, and the Kings Grace as unlovingli oon^ sum partise served, as evyr was so noble a Prince ; yet S . in my symple opynyon this tyme requyreth grete dissymylacion, which was nevyr inoore necegsarie; for I promesse yow in my mynde here be meny light meen. Yt shall not nede that 1 write any more largeli, for here dyvers have begon to impute unto other the cause of this ungoodli de- partur, and this Contre spekith grete shame thereof. Syr, aftyr the Cownsell at Renterie, William King- stoon and I returned unto the seeys and likewise, as we were before, bi tonnent of the seeys we were com- pelled to recovre a Havyn ; soo that now I have shewid my Lorde Marquise that I am not able to enduyr the seeys, and that I entend to tarye in the Kyng of Ar- ragons Courte tyll sommyr. The trouthe \^1 am lothe to bring this message unto the Kings Grace : I beseke God itt mai be my fortune to bring that mai be more pleasaunt. And where oure departure and the absti- nence for this Wynter of Warre shall gyve grete com- modite to the Frensh King, to breke the lege betweene sum of the Kings confederation and hym, which un- dowztid shal be attemptid ; considred allso that these Warres thus begoon can not thus ende withowtc lossc • on. \i 198 OKIGINAL I.ETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 199 I. in of honour and otlier proficte ; furthermore remembring that all Kings and noble men that shuld accomplishe thair grete entreprises, moost dayly be ascertaigned how other grete powers doyth determe, bi which meanys the Kings Grace of Arragon, oon of the wisyst and moost expert Princys this day lyving, hath ob- teigned dyvers grete Kyngdoms, Therefor I beseke your Mastership in whom lyyth all my confidence, yf it be thowht that I be mete to doo my Master any servyce, that I may have sum commaundement wher to occupie my self this Wynter to his honour and pleasur, whethre it be here or any parte of Italye, or other place of Cristindome, to whom I shall doo as faithfull and trew servyce as evyr dyd poure man to his Prince, and the best besides that I can. And in case that I have any like commaundement yt moost please you to be soo good master unto me that I may have sum convenient thing of his Grace for myne ex- penses, for, as your Mastyrship knoweth, I have litle to ly ve on, and that litle that I have, bi such occasions as I have, I spend and wast daily, as now of late vic- tailes upon the seeys have coost me beyond xx nobles, and^all lost bi reason of the salt watyr ; besides, in all besynes, as ryding in poost or otherwaiys, I am allwaiys oon, and nevyr have had recompenoe, nether yet desired any, nor hereaftyr wold if I were able to doo the Kings grace good servyce with that litle that I have. Syr at the reverence of God lay nothing to any mannys charge bi reason of my letters, or otherwaiys bi my meanys. for if ye shulde, I shulde be had suspecte ; for it is imagyned that I make your Mastership prevy to meny moo things than I doo. Ye shall know the trowthe of all that I write, and mych more, bothe of my Lord Howard, of Mr. Hatticlif and Richemount haraulde, which can shew yow of all the besynes of Navarre and of the towardnes of the Spagniards in owre entreprise, and with what besynes thei have passyd thaire Arti- liarie the grete mountaynys ; with other things dyvers, which when thei be herd, I fere owre excuses will not be graciousli herd. Ovyr this the King of Arragon seyng the obstinate mynde of our communyss requyred the Noble men to tarie, sai3mg that the name of th'en- glishemen shuld be sufficient for our entreprise, for his Grace had men inowghe, and withoute he can as ac- cessorie, he might not medyll, for thentreprise was owrys. Butt we regardyd that as we dyd other things ; and sythins yt was my fortune to be oon of this Cown- sell, which I have repentid a thousand tymys because of mennys willfull mynds, yet your Mastership per- ceyvid at all tymys bi my Letters that oure conclusion had no liklihood of goodnes. But how evyr yt be, the Kings Grace moost be comfortid, for his Grace hath obteignyd the cheife parte of his purpose, which was the delyveraunce of the Chirch from the cruel perse- cution of the Frenshmen. Allso bi oure beyng here the Kingdom of Navarre is assured for us, withoute which we cowde nevyr have preva'ded in th'entreprise i 200 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. of Guyen ; nother thowz we had prevailid we cowde have contynued if the Navarres had bene cure enny- mise. Ovyr this his Grace hath obteigned the title of * The mooste Cristyn Kyng;' and I assure your Mas- tership in my mynde this jomey hath gy vyn so grete light to cownsell the good Ordre of an Armye, that yt had not beene expedient, for twise the money that is spent, but that thei had beene here and returned with- oute meting of the puissaunce of thair enny mise. My reason is this, owre ennymise beth men of long conty- nuance yn Warres, full of policie, and were prive to all owre dedys ; and we clene contrarie. Besides this, we nevyr exercised oure self to kepe oure arrays, nor to other feete,^ in so myche that when oure Englishmen went into Fraunce thei wolde evyr be dyvydyd, that if a small power of the Frenshmen had cum on them thei had bene marrid. I say not this on myne owen opynion, thowh it be necessarie, butt I know bi expe- rience sith I cam hethre, that Englishmen hath suffred rebuke bi like folye. Besides this, in the Kyngs pro- visions of Victails, His Grace was untrewli servyd. Item, in th'Ordonances I herd S«-. Henr. Willugby say, that, among eight thousand bowys thei fynde not two hundred sufficient ; likewise in othre things; which all may be amendyd, or we be put in daunger of oure ennymise bi the misorder of the same. Syr how evyr this mater passyth, at the reverence of God, help that *(ft. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 201 all may be forgotyn for this tyme, for if any reproche shuld be laide to any oon man, he shall putt hit of to sum othre, and so to meny which might engendre be- synes that at this tyme is not expedient. Here I have sent your Mastership a lettyr that Edward Hat- ticlif sent me, wherebi ye mai percey ve sumwhat, and more ye shall know of hym at his cummyng. And S"*. for the syngler good faithe and love that I ow, asmoche to your Mastership as to any man lyving, foresee and remembre all maters ; for suyrli there hath been of the grete men of Inglond that have saide that the begyn- nyng of this Warre cam of your Mastreship, unknow- ing to them ; and that yf the saide warre had not good and acceptable ende, that yt wolde be laide unto your charge. Syr pardon me in that that I am playne, my trew hert and mynde byndeth me thus to doo; for rather I shall forsake the Realme during my life, than I wolde see your Mastyrship sufire displeasur for like cause. Syr, I beseke your Mastirship that I may have knowlege of your pleasur touching myne abode here, or other where to remove, for I will not determe but upon an answer of the Kings pleasur ; and withowte I have hitt at the retume of this Ship, which ys payde for her retoure, I can not say when I shuld here from your Mastership. The bringer hereof, which is son in law to Jhon Style, returneth againe yf any com- maundement cum. Howbeyt I think th'Armie will h \ 202 ORIGINAL LETTEttS. departe long or his cummyng, for thei beth provyded of Shippes, and the bisquett is almoost bake, so that within viij. or x. daiys I thinke thei wilbe redy to ship yf the wynde serve. I mervaile that this tyme of the yere thei will aventure the Kings tresore upon the seeys for dyvers inconvences; and I have herd them say, that, if thei see any commodite thei will land in Britaigne. Sumtyme thei say thei will kepe the course that they made hetherwarde, and so I dowzt whereupon thei will remayne. Methynketh it were well doone that Syr Edward Howard met with them, for the more salvegard of the Kings tresore. The Flete of Fraunce is grete ; there went in August, owte of the Havyn of Breste, xlvij. Shippis to the borders of the west Contre of Inglond ; and xv. in to Irelond. Item xv. into Galice and x. remaynyd to kepe the coost of Britaigne. The xlvij. be retumyd to Brest, the rest be abrode ; and sythins there beth cum vj. galeys from Itahe, which laye abought Galice wele vj. weks, and were nevyr countred withall; thei have brought, as yt is saide, as gay artilliarie owte of Italic as there was none in all Fraunce. A Knyzt of th^ordre of Saincte John is thaire Capitayne the Spaynysh Flete shewid themself att Fountrabye owre lady day thassumpcion, and aftyrward departyd, so that nevyr sythyns we herd of them. The comyn opynyon is that thei be adjoyned with th'english Fleete. Syr I fere me that I am tedious with this long ORIGINAL LETTEKS. 203 writing, but I trust my good mynde shall cause to be acceptable that othrewaiys myght be tediouse. And 800 I beseeke your Mastership to contynew my good Master, thus Jhs preserve yow. From the towne of Saincte Sebastians the iiij. of Octobre. By the hand of your assured bedeman, WILLIAM KNYGHT. LETTER LXIII. Doctor Knight to King' Henry the Vlllth. wpon the King of Arragon's truce with France; and pro^ posing the restoration of the King of Navarre. A. D, 1513. [m8. cotton, vesp. c. I. fol. 86. OrigJ] Pleasyth yt your Highness to understond, that the King of Arragon cont3mueth in his purpose to observe the treuys, that beth late taken betwene the Frensh King and hym, as straightli as yf thei had bene made upon good grownde and reasyn. And where yt was soo that newys were broughte unto this Courte, upon Sayncte Marks day, that your Gracis royall Armye by the seeys had discomfetied the Frensh flete ; yt apperid bothe by thair countenances 204 OBIGINAL LETTERS. i here that the saide victorye contentyd not thayr fiiynde; and by thair other demenure, for thei dyd asmoche as lay in them to contrarie and destroye the fame of the sayde newys and victorie, as Don Petro Belis de Guyvarra I dowht not will »hew right shortli unto your Grace. Ovyr thys, aftyr the fame of the saide newys where we laboured instauntly unto his Grace for Domyngo de Losa, whose movables beth excheted for selling of a Carrack unto your Highnes, contrarie unto the Statutes of this Contre, We fownde his Grace so sore moved with the selling of the said Carrack, that yt apperid that he was grevid that his shippes shuld be parte of th'occasion of the saide vic- torie, for before the forsaide tydings were broughte, his Grace gave unto us allwaiys comfortable aunswere in the saide cause, and promised to put a remedie in hytt, soo that yowr Highnes and your moost honorable Cownsayle may forsee and put remedy yf the King of Arragon wolde entende aftyr his cautelous manier the revoking of suche his Shippes as beth in your Gracis wagis. The forsaid newis were so joyfull unto us your Gracis subgetts here, that we desired of the King of Arragon to know what certaynte he had thereof, which aunswerd that he did know nothing thereof; but, aftyr thre daiys, when the same dyd more largeli encrease, he shewid unto us that he was enformed owte of Fraunce that the Frensh King gave in expresse commaundement to the Capitains of his Navye, that, ORIGINAL LETTERS. 203 in case thei were not able to have the ovyrhandof thVnglishmen, that thei shulde rather fyer thaire owea shippes then sufFre them to be taken; wherein his meanyng was, bi all that I cowde perceyve, that if there were any shippes distroied of the Frensh Flete, that yt was doone by themself, because of the com- maundement of thair King, and not by your Graces royall Armye, And for because we w^olde understand yf by any new occurrents the King wolde varye from the treuys, we therefore, meny tymys and oftyn, have beseched his Highnes to remembre the grcate love* that your Grace hath borne unto hym, and what charges, right nere importable for your royall Reame^ hath ensued,- withowte profite or honour, by folowing of his cownsell; but all this notwithstanding, his Grace is fynally determyd straightli to observe the saide treuys ; nevertheles he aunswerid us, at oon tyme, that he wolde doo all that he was bownde to doo ; but he spake hit in suche maniere and countenance, that yt semyd that he thowht hym not yn any maner meane bownde unto your Grace. At oon othre season, he aunswerid that he might send his Armye in Italye into Burgoigne; and, saving the treuys, help your Grace by that parties: but this woordis beth aftyr th''olde manier, for yf he were so entendyd, yet the yere wolde be ovyrgone or an Armye myht passe so ferre Contres. He hath saide also that he might make warre in Bierne, but suyrli and yt like your Highnes, 206 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 207 under your Graces correction, that shuld not be profit- able for your Hyghnes; for Bieme extendith under the mountaynys of Navarre allmoost from Bayone to Arragon ; and by suche he wolde put your Grace be- twene hym and his ennemise. And thus besides that he hath evydently brought your Grace into mervelous greate besynes, and hath doone extremely hetherto, contrarieng all bondes that myht be made betwene Cristen Princes, yet he desysteth not from his ac- coustomyd cautelis, but suyrle conceyvyth in his mynde greattyr myschiefe, yf yt be, as some saiyth, that dare speke prively th'opynyon of divers that fa- voreth thair naturell Prince, ys, that it shuld be the greattist joye unto the King of Arragon that evyr fortunyd unto hym, if the Prince of Castell were dis- ceased, for soo he might be suyr to con ty new Gover- nour of Castell in manier during his life. At the cummyng of King Philip into this contre, the King of Arragon was as yt was thought uncourtesly entreatid, because he was commaundyd to avoyde this Reame within the space of xx. daiys ; and yt is thought that yt was not doone withowte thadvise of your Graces dere fadre of most noble memorye. And whether he feryth that the Prince waxith to ripe in age, or that he remembreth those olde injuries, or that he wolde discuyra the mariage betwene the Prince and my Lady Marye, I know not; but your Grace may suyriie • dissever. ymagine that he is not wele disposed. The Yonger Soon of King Philip is but xi. yeris olde ; borne in this Contre ; and in mouche greate manier resembleth the King of Arragon. And where your Grace hath lateli receyvyd greate injurie under the dissymyld cownsell of the King of Arragon, which exhorted your Grace to these greate and dowtfuU Warris, which dyd hit for none othre consideration but as your Grace now doyth evydently see ; therefor I shall beseke your Highnes moost hum- bly to pardone me of that that I wi'ite of trew mynde and servyce that I am bownde to ow unto your Grace, syth the King of Arragon is determyd allwaiys in that that shal be agaynst good conscience. Yf th'Em- perour and your Highnes determe and conclude that yt were expedient that the late King of Navarre be restored unto his Kingdom at suche tyme as yt shal be thought expedient by your Graces, as he that hath not offendyd othre ^ of your Graces, and as he. that is wrongfully depryved of his Kingdoome, I am of thopynyon that th'Emperour wolde be in this begyn- nyng right easeli enducyd to graunte thereunto ; and, so moche the rathre, because the King of Arragon ad* joyneth Navarre with his Arragon ; and not among the multitude of titles that belongeth to Castell. Thus your Grace shulde deserve of God to restore to his right hym, that were wrongfulli deprived, Ovyr this I thynk the saide late King wolde be glad to com- • either. *.- 'I 208 ORIGINAL LETTERS. pounde with your Grace to pay as he mighte a greate parte of the charges that your Grace made in these parties. Allso yt were a greate meane to the geting of Guyeen, in which the saide late King myht doo mouche by oon meane or othre ; as, for to be restored there shulde be no thing requyred bi hym possible to be doone, that he wolde not gladli enforce hymself to doo. And yf the King of Arragon shuld be requyred to returne to his Kingdoome of Arragon he shuld not be the best neyghbour that your Grace myht have in Navarre, for he myght ovyrloke Guyeen at his plea- sure. Furthermore yt shuld be a notable monition for evyr to all Cristyn Princes to kepe and observe thair lawfuU promesses, or to thynk that thei mygt shortli lose, that bi suche unlawfuU meanys they dyd gete ; as by this example, yf yt cum to passe. Suyrly, in my poure mynde, yt shulde be great avauntage unto your Grace for the preservation of Guyeen that suche a King were in Navarre, that yf he wolde not be good for your Grace upon pure love, yet that he might fere to rebell for sum other consideration, as the late King of Navarre by reason of suche Lands as he shall holde of your Grace in Guyeen shulde not dare but to be loyal, which as I have herd say usyth these termyse oftyntymys : * The Kings Grace of Inglond hath caused me to lose my Reame, and I trust his Grace shall help to restore me agayne."* The vijt'\ of May, and it please your Highnes, tydings cam from Italye that the Venetians had entred ORIGINAL LETTERS. 209 lege a with the Frensh King so that thei entende to dyvyde Lumbardie betwene them in this maner^ that the Venetians shall have all the land that they wer wont to hold in that parties excepte Cremona, by reason whereof the King of Arragon hath shewed unto us that he will send ovyr immediatli moo men of warre; and sum saiyth, that he will send ovyr the greate Capitaine. The King of Arragon seyth that bi reason of this lege^ th'Emperour, of all Hklihood, will fully entre with your Grace, and that waieth greatli in his stomak; he beseketh God that th'Emperour may employe suche tresour as he hath receyvyd of your Grace in suche manier as yt may be profittable for your Highnes. I can not perceyve but that he thynketh contrarie ; and undowted he hath doone his best, as your Grace doyth evidentli see, to have lefte your Highnes soole and alone in all these Warris ; as by takyng of the treuys, by covering of the sariie, and lettyng of our lettres that your Grace were not ad- vertised in tyme, allso by that that he saieth that the saide treuys was made by thadvice of th'Emperour, which of all Hklihood will now appere othrewaiys. But undowtid, as your Grace entendyth not but the re- coverye of your evydent ryghte, so Allmighti Jhu shall send yt unto your Highnes, with the moost ho- nour that ev3rr cam to Cristen King, for the which as my dewty ys I daili pray, and shall doo during my league. VOL. I. SER. 2. B k Ill ! i 4 210 ORIGINAL LETTERS. life. Thus the Holy Goost send your moost noble Grace comforte. At Valledolide in Castell, this xij^^. of M aye* Your moost humble subgeet and chapelain, WILLIAM KNYGHTE. LETTER LXIV. Sir Robert Wtngjield to King Henry the Vlllth. re- porting the Victory of' Novara. [ms. cottok. oalba. b. III. fol. 83. Orig,'\ ♦^* Ouicciardini, speaking of the Victory of Novara, uses these me- morable words. " Ritomarono i vincitori quasi trionfanti, il di mede- simo a Novara, et con tanta fama per tutto*l mondo, che molti havevano ardire, considerato la magnanimita del proposito, il dispregio evidentis. simo deUa morte, la fierezza del combattere, et la felicita del successo, preporre questo fatto quasi a tutte le cose memorabili, che si leggono de Romani et de Greci." Hist d'ltal edit 1569. p. 556. See also Paulua Jovius, and Planta's Hist, of the Helvetic Confederacy, voL iL p. 98. Pleasyth youre Grace to undyrstonde that the xii^h of this present moneth I wroot unto you my last lettyrs from the town of Estlynge, conte3mynge such matter as I was ware of at that tyme ; and I trust it is weell in youre Graces consideration, that, whilst I have no postis at my comaund, thoow I do my dwte in wrytynge & spende monney to send my lettyrs to th' Emperours postmastir, yet there maye be oother delaye m the aprochinge of my sayde lettyrs to youre gratious handys thaime I woolde. And also that now in jour- ORIGINAL letters. 211 neyinge I am seldom in the place where newes ary ve, my knowlege is in manner a daye afftyr the feeyre, to advertyse youre Grace with the fyrste, which incon^ tennente must be suffyrde paciently duryng the while thatth'Emperour isjoumeyinge. Nevyrthelesse because I knowe weell that the \]^^ or iij'Je knowlege of good tydyngges be nott so welcom as the fyrste, yet me semyth the confyrmatiori of good tydyngis ought to be right welcome, and therefore thoow these shall com late, yit I had lever youre Highnes blamyd the premysis thanne ony lachessness in me ; and also I am seure that M. Loys Marreton, which hath comodite to knowe newes, faylyth nott to my Lady of Savoye, & from thence to youre Grace I doubt nott but youre dylygent servaunt Thomas Spynelly maakyth . . . postis to rynne. Syr this momynge there be newes comyn to this town that the dwke of Meleyn with the Swyssers have surprysyd the Frenche arme,«'» & clerly slayn all the Almeyns, & takyn the lordys of Tremoyle and Jhon Jamys of . . . . with many oothir Prysoners. Sagramour the viscounte, which was ent3rrde in to the City of Meleyn, was there slayne with many othir of his bende aftyr the forsayde ovyrthroowe of the Frensche arme was knowin. I trust that or it be long, there shalbe some good tydynges of some acte done by th' lEmperours arme » and the Vice Roy agaynst the Vene* I army. p2 212 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ottiGiXAL lp:tteus. 213 11 tiens; & soone afftyr that th'Emperours viij.M , Swjssir* which hath ben now sum what flesschid at this entyr- pryse, shall passe the mountyns in to Dolphynye, where th'JIinperour hath apoyntyd a thowsand horsys to mete w* theym, and soo it is to be trustyd veryly (the premyssis weell concidyrd) that youre Grace shall now have all the avauntagis and moo thanne aperyd the last yere ; thoow it was thought by many experte folkes that the sayde avauntagis had ben harde to have be recovyrid. But such is God, and bettyr; which only is the heed of youre entyrprise, and hath gevyn the nobyll courage and hardy nes to electe of youre sylf the coste, travell, & joupperde to atteyne the honnor and glory that must nedys folow of same, and in my conseyte withoughte fayle the parfecte recovere and ateynynge the Crowne of Fraunce w^ the grettest hon- nor & treumphe that evyr was harde or sene. God and saynt George to borows whom I beseche to preserve youre Grace in prosperous helthe, w* longe lyfFe, to his pleasyr. Wretyn at the town of Bruxsellis in Swabe^ the xiij^h daye of June 1513, hy the hande of youre humbyll and most boundyn serv'nte. t WYNOFELD, K. Syre w^ these I sende unto youre grace the Copie of a letter the Swyssers wroott unto me. • Bnicksal, in Swabia. LETTER LXV. Sir Edward Howard^ Lord Admiral, to King' Henri/ the Eighth, upon the State of the King's Fleet. A. D. 1513. [ms. cotton, calio. d. VI. foL lOL Ori^.J •^* It is unfortunate that this curious document is so much mutilated at> to be, in some parts, quite unintelligible. Sir Edward Howard, the writer of it, fell a victim to his temerity in the harbour of Brest, in the very year in which he penned this Letter. The Regent, the largest vessel in the English Navy, conmianded by Sir Thomas Knyvet, had been burnt in 1512, in a contest with the French fleet under Primauget, when Sir Thomas Knyvet lost his life. Sir Edward Howard made a vow to revenge the death of his friend, and fell himself in trying to accomplish it. Plesith your Grace to understand that the Sater- day in the mornyng after your Grace departyd from your Fleet, we went downe to have goon in to the deps, but or we cam at the danger off the entryngg in to the depps callyd Gyrdelar hed, the wynd feeryd, •» owt of the west north west in to the est north est, wherfor we were fayn to goo to an ancre for that day. And the same mornyng that I cam toward the depps I com- manded a . . b off the smal shippes as wold goo the next way to the Downes, to get them over the landes end, and went that wayboth the newBarkes,theLesard, the Swalow, and an viij moor off the smal Shippes. • vccre«l. hU? 214 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 215 The resydew kept with us thorow the depps : and, Sir, al Palm Sondey we steryd^ not, for the wynd was heer with us at est by sowth, whiche was the rygth curse ^ that we shuld draw to d . . . On mondey the wynd cam west sowth west, which was very good for us, and . . we slept it not, for at the begynyng off the flood we wer al under sayle. And first settyng off slakyng wher the Kateryn Fortaleza saylyd very weel Al suche shippes as maad sayl even to gydder with her onys a quarter off a "j nayl saylyng your good shipp the Flowr I trow off al shipps that ever saylyd rekenyng . . . • . every §hipp, and cam within iij speer length off the Kateryn, & spak to John Fie . . . Peter Seman, & to Freman master, to beer record that the Mary Roose dyd feche her at the to . . . best way and the Marys wurst way, and so, Sir, within a myle saylyng left her an fly t . . at the sterne ; and she al the other saving a V or syx smal shipps whiche cut o . . the forland the next wey. And Sir then our curs'> chanched^ and went hard uppon a bowlyn . . the forland wher the Mary Roose, your noble shipp, fet the Mary George, the Kateryn prove a back th . . . lord Ferys hyryd, the Leonard off Dertmowth, and sora off them weer iiij long myle afor m .... or ever I cam to the forland. The next shipp that was to me, but the Sovereyn, was iij myl behynd; but the Sovereyn past not half a myle behynd me. Sir she is the noblest shipp off sayle . . . gret shipp at this howr that I trow be in cristendom. A shipp of C tone wyl not be soner at her . . abowt then she . When I came to an ancre I called for pen & ynk to mark what shippes ... to me for thei cam al by me to an ancre. The first next the Mary Roose was the Sove- reyn, then the Nycholas, then the Leonard of Dert- mowth, then the Mary Georg, then the Herry of Hampton, then the Anne, then the Nycholas Montrygo called the Sanche . . . . de Garra, then the Kateryn, then the Mary . . . Sir one after another. Ther was a fowle tayle bet wen the Mary Roose, and the aftermest was the Marya de Loretta. And the Crist was one off the wurst this day ; she may beer . . , sayl, no mor may the Kateryn ; I trust we shal r,emedy her wel inowgh that she shal felaw with the best. Sir she is over laden with ordenauns, besyd her hevy toppes, which ar big inowgh for a shipp of viii or ixC. » Sir we had not ben at an ancre at the forland but the wynd . . . upp at the norther burd so stryvably that we cowd ryd no lenger ther withowt gret danger, .... we weyd to get us in to the Downes thorowgh the GowUs. And when we wer in the myddes, betwen the brakks & the God- wyn, the wynd ferd ^ owt agayn to the west sowth west, • stirred. couritc. = changed. • eight or nine hundred ton. > veered. 216 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 4 wher we wer feyn to mak with your gret Shippes iij or iiij tomys, and God knoweth row chanel at low water. As we took it, the Sovereyn and the Mary stayd a quarter off a myle off the Goodwyn sandes and the Marya de Loretta offerd her off it and was fayne to goo abowt with a for wynd bak • where that she lyth I . . . , . . . fechen the Downes with many tomys, and thankyd be God Downes at an ancre in safte. And I pray God that he send our vital sh for in cristendom owt of one realme was never seen such a fleet a with our Barkettes com to us that the first fair wynd that cometh we mygth be doying . . . .... saw never poor men so in corraag to be doyng as your men bee. I besech your Grace myscon- tent that I mak so long a matter in writyng to yow, and off no mater off substance, but that ye commanded me to send your Grace word how every Shipp dyd sail; and this same was the best tryall that cowd be, for we went both slakyng & by a bowlyn, and a cool a cors & a bouet in such wyse that few shippes lakkyd no water in, over the lee wales ; Sir the shippes off Bristow be her with me. I assur yowr Grace gorgcas shippes for ther burdon, one that Antony Poynges is in uppon a ix^x. and another of viij^^. and another of vij^x.a I had not spoke when I wrot this letter. I understand thei lak vital ; I have writton to Master Ameneri>for itt and • Nine, eight, aud seven kcorc. * Master Almoner, that is Wobey. «i ORIGINAL LETTERS. 217 for the maryneres. Your Grace must command Mas- ter Amner to mak a warrant to Ble ... to deliver to Hopton CC. hemes » for them, which shall send it down in the V3rtall .... no mor news to writ to your Grace as att this tyme, but that the next fair wedd .... lye heer in the Downes, I wyl send furth your ij new- barkes the Lysard barges the Baptyst off Herwyche, to play up and down betwen Dover & Ca- leys purchas wyl fal in ther handes that we mygth have some news therby owt off . . . Sir for Godes sak hast your Consell to send us down our vital!, for iff we shall lye long the comon voys wyl roon that we lye & kep in the Downes, & doo no good but spend mony & vitall. And so the noys wyl ron to our shames, thow your Grace know well that we can no otherwys doo withowt we shuld leve our vitall k felaws behynd us. I remit al thys to the order off your moost noble Grace, whom I pray God preserve from al adversite, and send yow as much victory off your enemy s as ever had eny off your noble Ancetry. Writton in the Mary Roose by your moost bownden subject & your poor Admerall. EDWARD HOWARD. I '1 To the Kynges noble Grace from the AdmeraU. * qu. Iianiess ns ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 219 The Reader will not be displeased to have three Papers introduced here as appendages to the present Letter, which afford a complete View of the Stote and Condition of Henry the Eighth's Navy in the 17«»«. and 18*'«. years of his reign. They are preserved among the Rolls and Charters wtiich formerly be- longed to his own Library, marked 14 B. xxii. xxiiL xxiv. 1. " Here aftur ensuethe the Names of all the Kings Schipps, aswell that rydethe within the Portte and Haven of Portsmeth as thoo that rydethe within the Ryvere of Themmys, the xxij"'. daye of Octobre in the xvij»»». yeer of owre moste drade Soveren Lorde Kinge Henry the viij*"*. The Gabryell Royall, of the tonnege of DCC. tonnes ; and of the age of xvj. yeres. The Marye Rosse, of tlie t every monel 3 xiiii'. iiii". every moneth x*. iiij-*. That is in a like yeie vj». xiiij«. iiij. 1514. [mS. cotton. BRIT. MU8. CALIG. D. VI. fol. 199.] He gaf us right herty thanks, sayeng that we did hym the moost singulier plaisor that we coude do; and soo we departed for that nighty fen: it was som* what late. Item, the said Monday in the momyng,* all thyng was performed according to the said appointement, and the Matrimony was solemnised by the Cardinali of i" ' I • Oct. 9th. 240 ORIGINAL LETTERS. OUIGIKAL LETTERS. 241 ^ which songe the highe Masse. The Queno that day kept her state apart in a Chaumber with certen Princesses at her table ende, and all th'am- bassadours dyned in a Chaumber with the Due of Bretaign. The residue of lordes, ladyes, and gen til- women dyned in the greate Chaumber. And that same day the Kyng gaf her a marvellous great pointed diamond, with a rubye almost two unches longe, without foil, which was estemed by som men to ten thousand marcs. Item, on Tuysday, the Kyng gaf her a ruble two unches and an half longe, and as bigge as a mannes fynger, hangyng by two chaynes of gold at every end, without any foil; the value wherof few men coude esteme ; and the same day we dyned with the afore- said Due of Bretayn at his logyng, wher we wer right honorably feasted and entretayned ; and after dyner, he withdrew us in to a Chaumber apart, and ther he shewed us toguedre his good mynde towarde your Grace and the Quene your suster, according as we have in our former letters writen to your Highnesse, with soo good wordes and soo herty affection, that it moved all the herers as we doute not but the Lordes at their comyng hom wole shewe your Grace : for he desii:ed them that sithens the Erie of Angolesme might not com to your presence to beyre therle of Angolesmes hert to you, which he said shuld be yours duryng his • a blank in the original, ko. lyf, and ye shuld never make werre with any Prynce christened, but if his Maister wold gyf hym licence he wold be at your Grace is comaundement with all his power, with many other good and herty wordes which we doute not but the Lordes wole at large de- clare to your Highnes ; and at aftir none we rode to the Court, and there went to communicacion with the Counsell upon suche matiers as we had in charge, as well for the deliverance of the Juelles, Plate, Stuff, and other thynges which is performed according to th'^in- structions ; as also to knowe the state of the Quene and the noumber of the persones that shuld remaign with her in service, and with what wages or pension they shuld be entertayned ; wherein they aunswerd us that they wold speke with the Kyng in those matiers, and shew us his plaisour the next day, Wednesday. Item, Wednesday, the Kyng gaf the Quene a great Diamont a tablet, with a great rounde Pearle hangyng by it ; and every day he gaf her also Rynges with stones of greate estimation : and the same day we dined with the Due of Alanson, and at aftemone we rode to the Court and comoned with the Counsell of the afore- said matiers ; wherin such determinacion was taken as we doute not but the said Lordes wole shew your Grace at lenght. They shewed us also, the same tyme, that the Kyng wold departe the morrowe, Thurs- day ; and soo he shewed us hymself, wherfor the Lordes seyng that all thynges wer perfited according to their '.I I 1 I' t VOL. I. SER. 2. R 242 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 243 instructions, thought good to take their leyf that night, and soo they did. Item, forsomuch as ther was a generall clause put in the last Instructions, that all th'ambassadours shuld retume agayn from Abbevill and goo no farder, we therfor, willing to fulfill your Graces commaundement, and doutyng wheder we that had special 1 comaunde- ment of your Highnesse, aswell by mouth as by our Instructions, to sollicite the brief Coronacion of the Queue, and also to be present at the same, shuld re- turn home, which we wold gladly have doon if it might have stonden with your plaisure, or elles shuld remayn according to your Graces former comaundement, com- moned with my Lord of Norfolk and other of your Graces Counsell here, desiryng theym to shew us if they coude your plaisure in that behalf. And the said Lord of Norfolk said that we shuld doo according to your said former comaundement ; and that the generall clause extended not to us, but to theym that came at that tyme with the Queue ; and therfor, according to your Graces comaundement and their advise, we shall endevor us for the acomplisshement of the same to the best of our powers, and from tyme to tyme ascertaign your Grace of such newes as shal be occurraunt here. Item, this Friday, my Lord of Norfolk and other lordes and gentilmen, depart from this Town toward your Highnesse. The Frenshe Kyng maketh sem- blaunceashe wold depart every daye, but yet he lyeth, still ever excusing hym by his goute. The Queue is continually with hym, of whom he maketh asmuch, as she reporteth to us herself, as it is possible for any man to make of a Lady. And thus Jhesus have your moost noble Grace in his blessed tuition. Writen at Abbe- vile the xiijth. (Jay of October By your moost humble servantes and subgiettes C. WORCESTR. • NX. WEST. LETTER LXXI. TJie Earl of Worcester to Wohey^ gwmg the King of France's reasons for the return of Lady Guilford. [mS. COTTOX. BRIT. MU8. CALIG. D. VI. foL 20L Or'tg.^ •»• The dismissal of " Mother Guldeford" as she was stiled, with nearly the whole of the female retinue of the Queen of France the morn- ing after her marriage, has already been detailed in the former Series • of these Letters by the Queen herself. From this Letter it appears that the person meant was the Lady Guildford: and we have here the King*s leasons for insisting upon her departure. Myne especiall goode Lorde, I hertely recommaund me unto you. The ij^^* daye of this present monethe I receyved your letter dated at Eltham the xxijti» daye • Vol. I. pp. 115. 117. R 2 244 ORIGINAL LETTERS. of October, by the wiche I perceyve and knowe the King my Soverain Lordes mynde and plessour what I shuld do touching the retorne of my Lady Gilford. Also what your mynde is that I shuld do for your mater of Tournay. My good Lord, as touching the retorne of my Lady Gilford, I have doon to my power and in the best waye that I cowde to the Frenche King ; and he hathe aunswerd me that his wife and he be in good and perfaite love es ever any two crea- tures can be, and bothe of age to rewle them selfe, and not to have servantes that shuld loke to rewle him or hur. If his wife nede of counsaill or to be rewlid, he is able to do hit ; but he was sure it was never the Quenes mynde nor desire to have hur ageyn, for assone as she came a lond, and also whan he was maried, she began to take uppon hur not oonly to rewle the Queue, but also that she shuld not come to hym but she shuld be with hur ; nor that noo Lady nor Lord shuld speke with hur but she shuld here hit ; and began to sett a murmure and banding amonges Ladies of the Court : and than he sware that ther was never man that better loved his wife than he did, but or he wold have suche a woman abought hur, he hadde lever be without hur ; and he said that he knewe well whan the King his good and loveng brother knewe this his aunswer, he wold be contentid ; for in nowise he wold not have hur abought his wife. Also he said that he is a sekely body, and not at altymes that he wold be mery with H ORIGINAL LETTERS. 245 his wife to have any strange woman with hur, but oon that he is well acquentid withall, afore whom he durste be mery ; and that he is sure the Queue his wife is content withall, for he hathe sett abought hur nowder^ lady nor gentilwoman to be with hur for hur Mas- tres, but hur servantes, and to obbeye hur comaunde- mentes. Uppon which aunswere, seing he in no wise wold have hur, I aunswerd him agein soo that he was content, and soo I make noo doute but the Kinges Grace wold be, for the aunswer was well debated or I gave hit, es his Grace and you shall knowe at my comyng, wiche I trust shal be shortly ; for I purpose to departe horn ward the xij*^^ day of this moneth : for all the charge that my felous and I, and also that I was chargid with my good Lord of Suffolk and my Lord Marquis, wol be doon and concluded asmocheas can be at this tyme, within this iij daies. Es touching your mater of Tournay, I did sende you from Abe- ville the Letter directed to my Lady of Savoye ac- cordinge to your desire, also the Electe was comaunded not further to medle nor noon of his Officers ; and in lyke wise ther was a Letter sent to the Frenche Kings ambassadour at Rome noo further to medle ageinst you, and uppon your said last letter I have spoken to the said King according to your desire, and he is well content to recompence the saide Electe and hathe comaundid the said tresourer Robertett and the Ge- • neilbcr. 246 ORIGINAL LETTERS. nerall of Normandye to speke with the President of Parlement, fader of the said Electe, to aggree for the said recompence ; wiche they wold doo without fawte this day or to morovve at the furthest : and also ther shall goo another Letter to his Ambassadour to Rome ; and the said King badde me to sende him word that without faille the said Electe shall make al suche releas or writing as ye can desire for your suertye therof. Or ever I deperte I woU knowe a perfaite ende theryn, and after the advyse and counsaill of master Dean of Wyndesore I woU cause to be made writing, if he thinke that any may be made, for your suertie, before ye sende to Rome ; or else I woll order the mater soo that at altymes whan ye wol sende for them that ye shall have theym. My good Lord, the King here hathe desired me to write to you that he hertely desirs you that in his name ye desire his good brother and cousin, if God sende hym a sonne, that he may be godfader as he was last ; for in soo doing he shall do hym a right great plessour. And he wol sende a good and honorable personage to be ther ageinst the Quenesr delyverance, to represent his personne, and to do the acte in his name ; also the said personne shal have auc- torite to speke, comune, and conclude for ther metyng, and of other secrett maters. And of this he desires you that he may be ascertayned of his good brothars mynde and plesier be your writing ; for assone as he hathe aunswer he woll dispache his said ambassadour. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 247 My Lord the Frenche Queue tould me that she loved my Lady Gilford well, but she is content that she come not, for she is in that case that she may well be without hur, for she may do what she wolle. I pray God that soo it may ever contynue to his plessour, whom I pray to have vou, myne especiall good Lord, in his blessid keping. Wrettyn at Saint Denyse the \y^ daie of November. Assurly yours to my power C. WORCESTER. Myne especiall good Lord my Lord Archebusshop of Yorke. , LETTER LXXII. The Duke of Suffolk and the other Ambassadors in France to the Xing', giving an account of their Negociations, the Coronation of the Queen, 4*c. [mS. cotton. BRIT. MUS. CALIO. D. VI. foL 203. Orig.] Please it your Grace, Sir, the last day of October the Kyng and Queue came to Sainct Denys, and send to Parys to us the Tresourer Robertett, prayeng us to remayn there the furst and seconde day of November for the great Solemnitie of the Feastes of Alhalowes and All Soules, and on Friday the third day of No- I II 248 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 249 vember he prayed us to com to Sainct Denys aforesaid, and then my Lord of SufFolke and my Lord Marques might deliver there your moost honourable letters and shewe their credence, which the Frenshe Kyng wold be glad to here, and then we shuld also know his de- terminate mynde aswell for the Coronation of the Quene as for her Entre into Parys. The said Friday aboute x. of clok we came to Sainct Denys according to the said appointement, and imediately we wer sent for into th** Abbey, and conveyed into a chaumber wher we dyned ; and after dyner we wer brought into the Kynges presence, wher after your moost hcrty recommendations and deliverence of your moost ho- norable letters by my said Lord of SufFolke in due forme made, the Lordes, according to their instructions, gaf thankes, aswell for the honorable recevyng and metyng of the Queues Grace at her furst arry vaill at Bolayn, and specially in his own person at Abbeville, as also for the lovyng and honorable entertayneng of her ever sithe, and for the good recuoil^ doon to your Ambassadours late beyng with the Quene at Abbevile aforesaid. Item, they shewed hym that by your ambassadours letters, that wer here befor, your Grace understode how well mynded and desirous he was for th'Enterview to be had, betwixt your Highnes and hym ; and therfor to th'entent that he might understand that ye wer » regale, welcome. of no lesse mynde towards the same then he, your Grace had geven speciall comaundement to theym and to my Lord Chaumberlayn, and us that wer here bifor, to commune, treate, and conclude of the tyme and place most convenient for the same ; and also of the maner and form therof, and with what noumbre either partie shuld com. And as touching this point, he . hertely thanked your Grace, sayeng that his Counsel} shuld forthwith goo with us to comune therupon : and after som comunication had with his Grace for the Queues Coronacion, which he said shuld be upon Son- day folowing, and th'Entree into Parys upon Monday, we wer brought into the Due of Longuevilles chaum- ber, wher was the Cardinall of Pree, the said Due of Longuevile, Mons^. Bussaige, the Tresourer Rober- tett, and the Generall of Normandie ; and after som comunication had there, we made overture of the said metyng to be at your Town of Calys, persuading, by all reasons that we coude devise, that place to be most convenient therfor. Howbeit they wold in no- wise agree therto, sayeng that it was not convenient for divers consideracions, and specially the weyknes of their Maister considred. They said they trusted that your Grace wold not desire hym to labour so fare ; and after som replication to the same, we lefte that matre undertermyned, and fell to Comunication of the tyme, and astouching that poynt, forsomuch as Esterday fallethe the viij th day of April, the nigh- i If i *i 250 OKIGINAL LETTERS. nesse of the said Feast and your passaye over seye considred, we thought it might not be before the xx^*» of the said Monyth, wherunto they wer somwhat agre- able for that tyme ; and therwith they fell into comu- nication agayn of the place, desiryng us to make over- ture of some other place ; and seyng that they wold in nowise agree upon Calys, we made overture of Sainct Peters, sayeing that that was the furdest place that we had in Commission to treate upon, to th'entent we might the rather induce theym to condescend upon the same ; and albeit they wer not contented with that place, yet they said they wold comune with the Kyng bothe of the place and tynie by us mensioned, and know his pleasur, and therupon commune with us agayn, and at this poynt we departed for that tyme. Item, Sonday the v.th. day of November, the Quene was crowned, and bifore she came to the Churche, the space of an hour, Mons**. de Mombrancy ^ came to my Lord of Suffolkes logyng, wher we were all toguedre, and desired us to come to the Church, to take up our places ordened for us or the presse came, and soo we did. The said place was ordened at the on ende of the Quere, on the right side of the highe aulter, right afore the place wher the Quene shuld be anoynted ; and within an hour after she came in, accompanyed with a great companye of noblemen and ladyes ; the Due of Bretaign led her, and bifore her came the Due • Montmorency. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 251 of Alanson, the Due of Bourbon, the Due of Lon- guevile, the Due of Albany, the Due of Bourbon is broder, the Countie of Vaundon, and the Countie of Sainct Poll, with many other noblemen and ladyes, in soo great noumber that it were to longe to write it, and also we cannot obtayn the knowlege of theym all. And furst the Quenes Grace knelld bifore the aulter in 2\ place prepared therfor, and there the said Cardi- nall of Pree anoynted her, and after delivered her the Scepter in her right hande, and the vierge of the hand of Justice » in her lyfte hand ; and after that he put a ryng upon her fynger, and fourtly he sette the Crown on her hed, which doon, the said Due of Bre- taign led her up a stage made on the lyfte side of the aulter, directly before us, where she was sette in a chayr undre a throne, and the said Due stode behynde her holding the Crown from her hed to ease her of the weight therof ; and then began the highe masse songen by the said Cardinall, wherat the Quene ofFred, and after agnus she was houseld, ^ and, masse doon, she departed to the Palays, and we to our logyngs to our dyners. Howbeit, bifore our departeng, the tre- sourer Robertett desired us to com agayn after dyner, and then we shuld know the Kynges plais''. upon our said matiers. Item, immediately after dyner we came to the Due of Longueviles Chaumber, wher we founde the said fr • The Tirga, or rod of justice. * i. e. received the sacrament 252 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 253 Cardinall, the Due of Longueville, Mons»*. de Tre- moille, the Busshop of Parys, Mons . de Piennez, the treasourer Robertet, and the Generall, and after som comunication we fell agayn to reasonnyng of the said tyme and place, and at last they said that the Kyng had appointed Mons^ de Piennez that knew the cuntrey to be ther presente, and to name some place, indifferent wher the said place might be, and he named Arde or some place betwixt that place and Guysnes, wherunto we wold not agree, but oonly stake upon Sainct Pieters ; and with that they withdrewe theym apart and counselled togueder a good season, and then they came to this poynt that your Grace shuld come to your Town of Dover ther too remayn, and the Frenshe Kyng to Bolayn, and to send Comissioners afore on bothe parties to view a ground upon the lymyts of your Marches, betwixt Arde and Guysnes, or elles betwixt Bolayn and Calys, moost mete for your said Metyng and Entervieu ; and to agree aswell upon the same, as also upon the noumber that shall come with bothe parties, for it is to be supposed that they that shuld vieu and see the grounde shuld better appointe the said place and noumber according to the daunger of the same, then they that wer there and knew not the said ground ; and of this their overture they prayed us to ascertayn your Grace, sayeng that it was the Kyng their maisters mynde, and more over to desire your Grace that the said Interview might be as nighe the begynnyng of the monyth of April as your Grace might conveniently, forsomuch as he en- tendeth to send his armyee over the Mounts in Merche, for the recovery of his right of Ast and Millayn, and folowe theym hymself assone as he might, as fare as Grannoble,''^ because he wolde be nighe theym, which they said he wolde in nowise doo till he had seen your Grace ; wherof they desired us t''ascertayn your High- nes, trusting that ye wolde therfore the rather hast the matier, lest by reason of his longe taryeng his enter- prise this yere might be of small effect ; for the heats of the yere comyng upon his men of armes, might doo nothyng, and after som reasonnyng with theym, we drewe our self apart and debated the matier amongest oureself ; and forsomuch as they said it was the Kynges resolute mynde, and therby your Grace shuld have more avantage as we thought then the Frenshe Kyng, we agreed to ascertayn your Grace of this his mynde at their instaunt desire, and soo we departed and went to the Queues chaumber. Item, Monday the vjth. day of November, the Kyng departed aboute vij. of the clok in the mornyng to Parys, and the Queue departed aboute ix. of the clok, and dyned at a Village two myles oute of Parys ; and at after none she made her entree into Parys aforsaid with greate solemnitie ; but the company of noble men and other was soo greate, and she was soo often mette. in I • Grenoble. 254 ORIGINAL LETTERS. furst by the Provost of the Merchauntes with the garde of the Town bifore hym, second with the Provost of the Justice and the Counsell of the Town, third with the Chaumber of Accompts, fourth with the President of the Parliament, fifth with th'Universitie, and divers other which wer to longe to write, that it was vj. of clok at night or she came to the Palays, wher she did lye all night ; and ther was a right greate bankette. Tuyseday, the next day, she dyned at the said Pa- lays, and at after none came with greate triumphe to Tumelles where the Kyng is loged ; also on Sonday next, by the grace of God, the Justes shall begynne. And thus Jhesus preserve your moost noble Grace. Writen at Parys, Tuyseday the vij^h. day of No- vember, By your most humble subgiettes and servantes, CHARLYS SUFFOLK, T. DORSETT, C. WORCESTER, T. nOCWRA. XI. WEST. To the Kynges Grace. } ORIGINAL LETTERS. 255 LETTER LXXIII. Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk to Wolsey. The Queen of France crowned. Albany's intention to go to Scotland. The Justs Jinished. [mS. cotton. MUS. BRIT. CALIO D. VI. foL 16G. OHg.] Myne owne good Lorde, I recommend me unto you; and so it is that I have receyved your Letter writen at Grenewiche on AUe Soulen daye, the ij^^^*. day of Novembre, wherby I perceyve that the Kinges Grace was well contented with my writing. My Lord this Letter shall be to advertise you of alle suche thinges as I can know syns my last writing, the whiche was the iij^^\ daye of Novembre. My Lorde so it is, that on the Sonday after the writing of my last letter, the Queue was crowned right honorably ; and at after noon we and the Frensh Kinges Counsaill went to- geder, and determyned according as we wrote unto the Kinges Grace yn a lettre. My Lord syns the writing of that letter, the Duke of Albany came to my lodging, and saide that he was come to speke with me, and that it was the King his maisters mynde that he shulde breke with me of a mater ; and I said that I wold be content to here what the King his maisters «: 256 ORIGINAL LETTERS, pleasure was by hym, or by any other body ; and so, apon that, he began, and saide that the Kinges mynde was that he shulde goo into Scotland, and that he trusted that his going shuld doo good, for he entended to reduse theym of Scotland to be contented to take such a Peas as shuld be for the King my maisters ho- nour, and for the suertie of the children ; and because that there shuld be no suspecion, he had maryed, and he wold leve his wife in Fraunce, and also he wold come by the King my maister, and wold retorne assone as he myght possible, for he must goo over the Moun- tayns ; with many othre wordes. And so whanne I had herd hym alle that he wolde saye, I shewed unto hym that I had no commyssion to medill of suche maters ; and thenne he said that the Frensh King wold speke with me in the mater ; and I said that and his Grace did, I wold make his Grace suche an answere that his Grace shuld be content : and so, syns, I herd no more of the mater. How be it, my Lord Chamberlayne and Doctour West shewed me, that the Frenshe Kinges Counsaill had bien in hand with thaym upon the going of the said Duke ; and, apon that, we and they toke a conclusion to advertise the King iherof in all haste ; and if so were that the Frenssh King wold be in hand with me, I shuld doo alle that is in me possible to let his going ; and I ensure you I woU doo soo, for I pro- myse you he entendith not well as fer as I can per- ceyve. My Lorde as touching the otlire busynes se- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 257 Crete, I woUe goo in hand therewith in all the haste I can ; because I wolde come awaye, praying you that I have no more busynes to let me ; for I ensure you I have many thinges to shew the King that I will not write. My Lord it was soo, that three daies before my Lord Chamberlayn went, the Quene shewed to me and to my Lorde Marques divers thinges, the whiche we woll shew you at our comyng; wherby we per- ceyve that she had nede of some good friendes about the King ; and so we called my Lord Chamberlayne, my Lord of Saint John's, and Doctor West, and shewed them parte of the mater ; and we shewed unto them that we thought it best that we shuld sende for my Lord Longuevyle, the Busshop of Saint Paules, Robert Tete, J* and the Generall of Normandy, and shewed unto theym that the Quene had sent for us and desired us that we wold send for theym, and desire theym on hir behalfF and in the name of the King oure maister, that they wold be good and loving to hir ; and that they wolde gyve hir counsaill frome tyme to tyme how she myght best order hir selff to content the King, wherof she was moost desirous; and in hir shuld lak no good wille; and bicause she knew well they were the men that the King loved and trusted, and knew best his mynde, therfore she was utterly determyned to love theym and trust theym, and • Robcrtet. VOL. I. SER. 2. 8 258 ORIGINAL LETTERS. to be ordred by thair Counsaill in all causes, for she knew well that thoes that the King loved must love hir best, and she theym : and so we did. And whenne we had shewed theym all this on the Queues bihalff, they were very well contented, and said that they wold make reporte unto the King what honorable and lovyng request she had made, the whiche they said wold content hym very well. And they thankid hir Grace for hir good mynde toward thaym, and said that they wold doo in every thing hir request, and to accept and take hir as theire Soverain Queue, and to counsaill hir on every behalff to the best of thair powers to doo the thing that shuld pleas the King thaire maister. Of which maters they have promysed us to assure unto hir Grace whansoever it shal be hir pleasure; and within thies ij daies our entencion is to bryng theym unto the Queues Grace according to our comunicacion and appoyntment. My Lord at the writing of this letter the Justes were doon, and blissed be God alle our Englissh men sped well, as I am sure ye shall here by othre. And thus I comyt you to the Holy Ghoost whoo ever preserve you. Frome Parise the xviij day of Novembre by your assured CHARLYS SUFFOLKE. To my Lorde of Yorke. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 259 Thi Justs so emphaticaUy alluded to at the close of this Letter, re- quire a short comment Polydore Va^il insinuates that at the time when Henry the Eighth created Brandon Duke of Suffolk, he had the intention of making him his brother-in-law. The French, when the Duke accompanied the Princess Mary to be Queen of France, shewed an extreme jealousy of him ; and if some of our writers may be credited, they would have been very glad to have de- molished both him and others ; him particularly, as will be seen in the following passage from Hall ; though ^^ blessed be God*' says the Duke, " all our English men sped welL'* Having described the Entry into Paris, Hall tells us, " On the morrow began the Justs, and the Dauphin with his aydes entered the field ; the apparel and bardes were cloth of gold, cloth of silver, and crimson velvet, kanteled together all in one suit. They shewed themselves before the King and Queen who were on a goodly stage, and the Queen stood so that all men might see her, and wondered at her beauty, and the King was feeble, and lay upon a couch for weakness. Then entered the counter-part by a rail, for cumbering the place. These Justs continued three days, in the which were answered three hundred and five men of arms, and every man ran five courses, and with sharp spears ; divers were slaifu, and not spoken of. The English lords and knights did as well as the best of any the other. . At the Randon and Toumay, the Duke of Suffolk hurt a gentleman that he was like to die. The Marquis struck Mounsire Grew, an Albanoys, with his spear, and pierced his head-piece, and put him in jeopardy. The Duke of Suffolk, in the tourney, over- threw a man of arms, horse and man ; and so dyd the lord Marquis an- other; and yet the Frenchmen would in no wise praise them. At this Tourney the Dauphin was hurt in the hand, so that he could not perform his chalenge at the barriers, and put one of his ayde in his room. The next day after began the Fight at the Barriers, and because the Dauphin was not present, the Duke of Suffolk and the Lord Marquis Dorset that day b^un the field, and took the barriers with spears in hand, abiding all comers. The Dauphin brought a man secretly, which in all the Court of France was the tallest and the strongest man, and he was an Almayne, and put him in the place of an other person, to have had the Duke of Suffolk rebuked. The same great Almayne came to the barrs fiercely, with his face hid, because he would not be known, and bare his spear to the Duke of Suffolk with all his strength, and the Duke him re- ceived, and for all his strength put him by strong strokes from the bar- riers, and with the but-end of the spear st^ke the Almajme that he staggered ; but for all that the Almayne strake strongly and hardly at the Duke, and the judges suffered many mo strokes to be foughten than S2 II i 11 260 ORIGINAL LETTERS. were appointed ; but when they saw the Ahnayne reel and stagger, then they let fall the raO between them. The Lord Marquis Donet, at the iame time, even at the same barre, fought with a gentleman of France that he lost his spear, and in manner withdrew.^ When the rail was let fall, these two noblemen put up their vizors and took air. And then they took swords with point and edges abated, and came to the barriers, and the Almayne fought sore with the Duke, which imagened that he was a person set on for the nonce, but the Duke by pure strength took him about the neck, and pomeled so about the head, that the blood issued out of his nose, and then they were departed ; and the Almayne was conveyed by the Dauphin lest he should be known. Then two noblemen of England, that day, fought valiantly divers feats, and the Frenchmen likewise nobly them defended; but it happened the Lord Marquis one time to put, for his ayde, his youngest brother called the Lord Edward Grey of the age of nineteen years, and to him was put a gentle- man of France of great stature and strength, to th* entent to pluck him over the barrs, but yet the young Lord was of such strength, power, and policy, that he so stroke his adversary that he disarmed him, all the face bare. " Thus was these enterprises finished to the laud of all parties, and th' Englishmen received much honor, and no spot of rebuke, yet they were privily set at, and in many jeopardies/' • LETTER LXXIV. Louis the Xllth of France to King Henry the Eighth, expressing his contentment, [m8. cotton, calig. d. VI. foL 146. Orig.] MoN bon Frere, Cousin, et Compere, a vous tres- affectueusement, et de si bon cueur que faire puis, • HaU, Chron. edit. Ii48. Hen. VHI, fol. xlix. « • ORIGINAL LETTERS. 261 me recommande. Tay par ce porteur votre Officier d'^Armes re<^eu les Lettres que m'avez escriptes du ix™« de ce moys, et par icelles entendu le plaisir que vous avez eu d''entendre par mon Cousin le Due de Suffort de mes nouvelles, et le contentement que j*ay de la Royne ma femme votre bon seur, laquelle s^est jusques icy conduycte et conduyt encores joumelle- ment en vers moy de sorte que Je ne sauvoyr que grandement me louer et contenter d*elle; et de plus en plus Faymer, honnorer, et tenir chiere, parquoy vous pouez estre seur que ma voulonte est et sera a jamaiz de continuer, et la traicter en toutes choses par fa9on quelle sen contentera et vous pareillement. Et auregart du recueil et bonne chiere que mon dit Cousin de SufFort vous a dit, que je luy ay faicte et dont vous me merciez, il n'*est nul besoing, mon bon Frere, Cousin, et Compere, de ce me faire merciz ; Car je vous prie croyre que oultre ce que je sc^ay le lieu quil tient a lentour de vous, et lamour que luy portez, ses vertuz, meurs, ho nestete, et bonnes condi- cions meritoient quil feust honnore et recueilly trop mieulx quil na estre toutesfoiz pour honneur de vous, je luy ay fait la meilleur chiere que possible ma estre. Au surplus en tant que touche les matieres secrectes desquelles icelluy mon Cousin de SufFort m'*avoit parler, et sur lesquelles je luy avoye fait response telle quil vous a declaree par mes Ambassadeurs que j''ay depeschez et envoyez devers vous, vous en auez i' 262 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 263 peu entendre plus auant, vous priant tresaffectueuse- ment apres les avoir ouyz y prendre resolucion et d'icelle m'advertir le plus tost que faire se pourra, pour selon cela me gouverner et condujre, et cependent en en- suyvant ce que par vos dites lettres vous me uiandez. Je tiendray les clioses en suspens sans y prendre au- cune conclusion, vous advisant que a bonne et mauvaise fortune je vueil vivre avecques vous, et non seulle- ment entretenir la bonne araytie et allience qui est entre vous et moy faicte et juree comme sauez maiz icelle inviolablement garder et observer le plus tost Faugmenter et accroistre que la diminuer, esperant que vous ferez le semblable de votre part. Priant Dieu sur ce point mon bon Frere, Cousin, et Compere quil vous ayt en sa saincte gard. Escript a Paris le xxviij jour de Decembre. Votre loyal Frere, Cousin, et bon Compere LOYS. A mon bon Frere et Compere, le Roy d'Angleterre. LETTER LXXV. Isabella of Arragon^ Widow of Frederic King of Napks^ to the Qiteen of France^ imploring assist- ance for herself and her sons, Ferdinand and AU phonso. [M8. COTTOK. VESP. F. III. foL 60. Orig.'\ •^* Although no superscription appears to this elegant Letter, there can be no doubt 16 whom it was addressed. The allusion in it to the affliction of her whose husband was styled Chrittianissimus, and who is earnestly solicited to recommend to her brother, either by Letter or when they met, the case of Isabella and her children, undoubtedly points at Mary Queen of France. The resignation of the Crown of Naples by King Frederic In 1501, when Louis the Twelfth and Ferdinand of Arragon had united to divide his dominions between them, is an Event well known to History : as well as that Louis and Ferdinand, though they had concurred in making the conquest, differed about the partition of it. Frederic retired to France, wheife he was allowed to reside in the duke- dom of Anjou, upon a pension of thirty thousand ducats. He died at Tours, Nov. 9^^ 1504. After his death, Isabella, who was his second wife, was ordered to quit France with her children. With the whole of her wanderings we are unacquainted : " Ego et filii mei — ^patria et Imperio dejecti—mendi- cantibus quamsimili, totam ferme Europam, tot annos, nullis certis se- dibus peragramus'infelices." She retired first to Sabioneta In Lombardy, to her sister Antonia, who was married to Francisco Gonzaga ; and after, wards to Ferrara, whence the present Letter is dated, and where both she and her younger son Ceesar, who is not mentioned by name in this Letter, died. Isabella died in 1533. His proxime decursis temporibus, notum factum est mihi quagta humanitate et dementia Alfonsum filium 264 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 265 meum Infantem de Aragonia fueris prosecuta ; quod etsi regio more fieri consuevit, tamen pietati tuje maxime qua felicissima domus tua semper claruit, merito illud ascripsi. Sperabamque cum conjugis tui Christianissimi favore ac natu, tum vero te nostra in- commoda miserante, maximam calamitatum mearum partem, ac natorum meorum, quamprimum minui posse, ac molliri. Sed rerum humanarum volubilitate plane deceptus, miserandus homo continue afflictatur. Cujus rei Ego et filii veri testes esse possumus, qui patria et Imperio dejecti, miserabiliter, mendicantibus quam simillimi, totam ferme Europam, tot annos, nuUis certis sedibus peragramus infelices. Jure igitur ipsius Regis obitum moeremus, tecumque deflcre libet. Superest tamen ut memores simus conditionis hu- manae, qua infirmius ac inconstantius nihil esse vi- detur ; quamobrem ego, et ipsi filii mei, omni con- solatione indigentes, rogamus te, etiam ac etiam, ut prudentiam tuam, regiamque fortitudinem, non oblita acerbitatem tanti casus quae te decet sapientia mitiges, fortique animo feras. Et quoniam clare patuit ut praedictum est, erga filium meum dementia tua pre- camur te ut cum scribas ad serenissimum Regem fratrem tuum, aut si quando ilium te convenire et alloqui contigerit, ei nos diligentissime velis commen- dare, praecipue ac seorsum Ferdinandum Aragonium primogenitum meum, qui ut scire te credimus inno- center in vinculis habetur, ipsumque Alfonsum solita dementia foveas rogo. Vale Domina mea, nostri memor, quibus interdum etiam ad vitam necessaria utinam habere liceret. xi. calen. Aprilis. Ferraria. M^ D. XV. E. M*^. V. obsequentissima Infelicisstma Ysabella D£ Aragonia. LETTER LXXVI. Tliomas Lord Dacre and Dr, Magnus to King Henry Vlllth. upon Queen Margarefs delivery of a daughter. A. D. 1515. / / [ms. cotton, calio. b. VI. foL no. Orig.] ♦^* This Letter relates to the birth of Margaret afterwards Countess of Lenox, the mother of Henry Lord Damley, and the grandmother both of James the First and Arabella Stuart. There is something am^ant if not contemptuous in it. The writers thought it quite unnecessary to send a special messenger to the King to announce his sister^s safety after her delivery : and though they mention the christening as taking place the next day after, they omit all notice of the name which had been given to the child. Mai^aret was out of favour at this time. They merely asked his Grace's Pleasure, that they might ** motion and move her accordingly.** Pleas it your mooste noble Grace to wete, that the thride daye nexte and ymmediatly after the date of our Letters laste sent unto your Highnes by pooste. ■II 'I ^66 ORIGINAL LETTERS. beyng the viij^h daye after that the Quene of Scottes your suster came and entred into this your Realme, her Grace was delivered and brought in bedde of a fare younge Lady, and, with suche convenient pro- visions as couthe or mought be had in this baron and wyld countrey, was cristenned the next daye after; and every thing done accordingly as apperteigned to the honor of the same, the soden tyme, by Goddes provision so chaunsed, well considred. Gladde wold we have bene to have advertised your said Highnes of the Quenes said delyveraunce, but our causes here were so intriked with miche combre and busynes, as herafter ensewing it doth appere, that we couth not ascertane your Highnes of the same till this tyme, oonles we shuld have sent up a poste purposely for the Quene's said deliverance, whiche we thought was not gretely requisite but if there had bene furthre matier touching your causes to have bene sent up unto your Highnes. Forsomuche as the Quene is lyeng here is uneasfull and costelye, by occasion of farre cariage of every thing, we be mynded to move her Grace to remove to Mor- peth, assone as convenyently she maye after her Grace have sought the Churche and be purified. It may like your Highnes to signifie your mynde and pleasur unto her said Grace how ye think ye woll have her ORIGINAL LETTERS. 267 further to be ordored that we may mocion and move her accordingly. Sir Christofer Garveis came to Morpeth imme- diatly upon the Quene is delyveraunce and by our advice hath contynued there with suche stuff as your Grace hath sent to the said Quene your suster, till Sondaye laste paste, whiche daye he delyvered your Letter, and disclosed your credence, gretely to the Quene's comforte. And for somiche as the Quene lieth as yet in childe bedde, and shall kepe her cham- bre these thre wookes at the leiste, we have advised the said Sir Christofer Garveis to remaigne at Mor- peth till the Quene is comyng tliidder. And then her Grace may orden and prepare every parte of the said stuf after her pleasure, and as her Grace semeth moste convenient. And Almighty God have youe our mooste dradde Soveraigne Lorde in his mooste blessed preservacion. At Harebottell the xviij^*^ day of October. Your humble subjectes and servantes THOMAS DACRE. T. MAGNUS. Unto the Kinggs mooste Noble Grace. i'" 3 5t ! > t Si 268 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER LXXVII. Letters Patent of King Henry the Eighth for a cha- ritable collection toward the relief of Prisoners in Barbary. A, D. 1515. [MS. DONAT. BRIT. MU8. 4619. ART. 93. PAT. ^. HEN. & P. 2. M. 23. PRO JOUANME HOPTON.] •»* The Brief, as it is usually called, or Letters patent for a charita- ble collecdon, is of ancient standing in England : and, in earlier times, was a more efficient remedy for misfortunes than at present. A remarkable Letter of this sort occurs in the Donation Manuscript in the Museum, 4614. foL 106. as early as the reign of Edward the Fourth. It is a Licence to Sir Manuel Jagubin citizen of Constantinople, " of the housholde of the Emperour of Grekes, and of his CounsaiU, that he for his redempcion and of his wife and children, which at the subver- sion of the said Citie were taken prisoners by the cruel Turke, may gadre within this our Realme the charities and ahnes of suche of our subjected as to the same intent will departe with him of their goodes." Other protections for gathering of abns, to persons who had suffered by fire, in the first of Richard the Third, occur in the Harleian Ma- nuscript 433. foil. 148 b. 151. The piratical States of Barbary arose only at the beginning of the sixteenth Century, so that it is probable that this Letter, as far as the redemption of slaves is concerned, is one of the earliest of its kind. Henry by the Grace of God Kyng of Englond and of Fraunce, and Lorde of Irelond, to all Arche- bisshoppes, Bisshoppes, Dukes, Marquesses, Erles, Barons, Knyghts, Squiers, and all other oure true and lovyng subjectes of this our Reame of Englond, ORIGINAL LETTERS. 269 or others resiaunte within the same, good Cristen people, thies oure letters herying or seyng gietyng. Where our Ship lately called the Crista beyng freighted into Levant with wolles and other mar- chaundises, by oure trusty and welbeloved subjectes John Aleyn, Hugh Clopton, and Richard Fermour, of oure Citie of London marchauntes, was, in her saillyng beyonde the straites upon the costes of Bar- bary, encountred and sett upon by certeyn Foystes and Galeys of the Mores and Infideles, ennemies to Cristes feith, where, after long conflict bitwene them, and diverse slayne of bothe parties, by the great mul- titude of the same Infideles all the Christen men beyng in oure seid Ship, except the nombre of xxx^i. persounes, were slayne and murdred; and the same our Ship, and Cristen Men in her, was taken and conveyed to a Citie called Touneges^ in Barbaric, and there she and all the goodes in her confiscate* and the seid Cristen men put into great captevitie and thraldome remayning prysoners in irons, and hav3nig, as we be credibly infourmed for there sustentation but brede and water, and yet scante therof to sus- teygne there pore living, to the great hevynes and discomforte as well of them and their frendes as all other good true Cristen people. In consideration whereof, and for asmoche as we doo verailly thynk it were thyng moost meritorious to redeme the seid • Tangier, anciently called Tinjis. il 'I I 270 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Cristen prysonners oute of th'ondes of the seid In- fideles, we late you wete we have auctorised and gy ven licence, and by thies presentes we auctorise and geve licence to oure trusty and welbeloved servaunte John Hopton, gentilman hiussher of oure Chambre, that he by hymself or his deputie or deputies, havyng thies oure lettres, or the verey copie of them made by a Notary under his signe, and subscribed by the said John Hopton, maye aske, geder, levie, and receyve of all maner personnes within this oure seid Reamc, of what degree or condition soever they or any of theym be, all suche summes of money as they of their charities, good disposicions, and frewylls, woll geve towards the relief and redemyng of the seid Cristen men oute of the thraldome and captivitie of the seid miscreantes and infideles, at all tymes frome the daie of the makyng hereof duryng the space of thre Yeres then next and immediatly ensuying. Wherfor we woll and desire you, and natheless commaunde all you and every of you not onely permytte, and suffer the seid John Hopton, and his seid deputie or de- puties, to use and enyoie the hole effecte of this oure auctorite and licence, but also that in execution of the same ye be to hym and them favoryng, aydyng, and assistyng, and puttyng therunto youre good and cha- ritable helpyng handes, whereby we doute not ye shall not onely do thyng moche to the pleasure of God, and thencreace of youre merittes, but by the ORIGINAL LETTERS. 271 same ye shall ministre unto us right acceptable and thankfull pleasure. In witnesse whereof, &c. Yeven under oure Great Scale at Otford the xiiij. die Augusti. •» Per ipsum Regem et de dat. &c. LETTER LXXVIII. WiUlam the IVth, Duke ofBavarm, to King Henri/ the Eighth, recommending Wolfgang Richart, who had perfected an " Opus Musicale."" [m8. cotton, vesp. f. III. foL 99. Orig.\ • • Sir John Hawkins in his History of Musick, vol. ii. p. 633, says it is somewhat remarkable that Mosley in his Introduction to Harmony has Ukcn no notice of our Henry VIIP^ as a composer of Music. Erasmus relates that he composed offices for the Church ; Bishop Burnet has vouched his authority for asserting the same ; and there is an anthem of his for four Voices, ' O Lord the maker of all things,' in the Books of the royal Chapel, and in the Collection of Services and Anthems pub- lished by Dr. Boyce, which every judge of Music must aUow to be ex- cellent. » It is true that in a Collection of Church Musick, intitled * The first Book of selected Church Musick, collected by John Barnard, one of the minor canons of the Cathedral Church T)f St. Paul,* and pub- lished in the year 1641, thw Anthem is given to William Mundy, but the Ute Dr. Aldrich, after taking great pains to ascertain the author of it, pronounced it to be a genuine composition of King Henry VIII*''. The fact is, and there is additional evidence of it existing, not only that Henry understood Musick, but that he was deeply skilled in the art of practical composition ; for in a collection of Anthems, Motets, and other • It i» aUo in Dr. Tudway's Manuscript Collection, marked H. R. I:- tS*mf 272 ORIGINAL LETTERS. church offices, in the hand writing of one John Baldwin of the choir of Windsor, a very good composer himself, which appears to have been completed in the year 1591, is a Composition for three voices, with these words, *Henricus Octavus,' at the beginning ; and then ' Quod • Henricus Octavus,* at the end of the Cantus or upper part : * Quam pulchra es et quam decora'.** The HarleianMS. 1419, A. foL 200, contains the List of Henry the Eighth's Musical Instruments remaining at Westminster, " in the chardge of Philipp van Wilder,** in an Inventory of Goods taken at tiie different Palaces immediately after the Kings death. They consisted of Five Fair of " Double Regalles,** •» two of them bear- ing tile King's Arms and Queen Jane's : tiiirteen pan- of " Single Re- galles ;** numerous pairs of " VirginaUes" both single and double ; «• two pair of "Claricordes ;** ^ nineteen « Vialles" great and smaU ; " " Item, four Gitterons' witii four Cases to tiiem, they are cauUed Spanishe Vialles;" two Gitteron pipes of ivory tipped witii sUver; " Item, xiiij. Gitteronne pipes of woodde, in a bagge of leatiier, they are caUed Cor- nettes ; « a Gitteron and a Lute in a case togetiier ; Flutes innumerable, some of Ivory tipped witii gold and enameled black ; a Case witii ten flutes in it called Pilgrim staves ; Crumhomes ; >» Recorders, great and *i.e. Quoth. «> RKGALLKB-Refral, a small portable organ, with one row of pi|>e«. A douWe RcRal was also poruble. but had two rows of pipes. Mersennus (llanmmie Unircr- 9eUe) says in one place, that the stop vox humana took the name of Regal : in another Tk ?!r^ * Harmonica, and calls it a Regal. There can be no doubt, however, that the above is the correct definiUon. There is even yet a •• Tuner of the Itegals- Ro al ^^"^ Household, whose business it is to tune the organs in all the Cha,>eU « ViRoiNALLES. The Virginal was that which afterwards took the name of Spinnet, and differed from it only in shape. The Spinnet was triangular ; the Virginal oblong, hke our small piano-fortes. «» CLARICORDK8, The Clmichord is described by Kircher, in his Muturgia Uni- «w«i/i*.as a Vjrgmal. Luscinius throws something like strips of cloth over the strings, to damp their sounds, and render the instrument more fit for the xxke of a tranquil Convent. That the Virginal and Clarichoni were similar to Spinnets-or, in fact, to small harpsichords-appears from the description given of them by LuKcinius. [Musurgta. teu Ptaxu,, Mu»icrdkr8. The Reeordei was a small English Flute, or Flute a bee, and an- swers precisely to our Flageolet. The Base Recorder was, according to Kircher, analogous to our bassoon. k Shalmes. The Shawn was the base Comet. ' Virginal, harp-pashion. This was an uptight instrument. Mersennus gives the figure of one, which Sir John Hawkins calls an upright Harpsichord. But the former copied nearly the Clavieimbalum of Luscinius, which is only a Spinnet, or Virginal, having the strings placed vertically. <* Phiphks. Fifes. • DuLCRNSRS. Dulcimers. Luscinius gives a cut of one, which he names the Hack- bret. It is an instrument still to be seen in toy-shops, colisisting of a few stringg stretched over an oblong box, and struck by two sticks. It must have been of con- siderable dimensions in the time of Luscinius ; for he says •• ignobile est," on account of the loudness of its sound. ' The Venice Flute is an Instrument which se«ms to be unknown to all the writers on Music For the explanations here given of the different kinds of Musical Instruments formerly in use. the Editor has been indebted to the kindness of William Ayrton, Esq'. s •• Pacrm enim vir bonsc fnigi, in senatu regio recte consulebat, item optime moratus. literatus. mutirua et facetus, incredibiliter regis animum delectabat, k quo in rebui etiam gravioribus lubenter audiebatur. Atqui quanto Principi charior fiebat, tanto ei inimidor erat Volsarus, qui apud rcgem primus omnino ferre volebat, atque iddreo hominem spcde ejusmodi obeundarum legationum, longissime ab Henrico, a domo, a patria abfuturura enlxa curabat." Polyd. Verg. Angl. lib. xxvii. p. 65. edit. Lug. BaL 1661. VOL. I. SER. 2. 274 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORICIXAL LETTERS. 275 n I I Illustrissime Rex, domine et affinis plurimuni observande, salutem et felicitatem maximam, sese quoque deditissimum &c. Volfgangus Richart qui olim illustri Principi et domino Domino Alberto Pa- latino Reni superioris et inferioris, Bavariae Duci, ge- nitori nostro charissimus fuit, et a nobis non minus diligitur, cujus opera cum in aliis turn potissimum in rebus bellicis usi fidem singularem ac praecipuam disciplinae militaris peritiam facile perspeximus, Is cum Opus Musicale quoddam artis suae regiis oculis visendum exhibuisset, quam humaniter exceptus, quam liberaliter ac magnifice tractatus fuerit, nobis exposuit. Praeterea significavit se perquam benigno sermone ac honestis conditionibus invitatum fuisse, ut vestrae illus- trissimae domination! suam locaret operam, necque ei turn per voluntatem sed facultatem defuisse, quod quae- dam opera imperfecta et inelaborata habuisset, quae sibi, antequam in Angliam proficisceretur, illustris Princeps Christoferus Marchio Badensis, excolenda lo- cavisset, et ad ea perficienda a vestra regia dominationc discessisse; nunc autem perfectis operibus omnino decrevisse suum ad vestrarum Illustr. dominationum maturare reditum. Sed cum is, ut supra diximus, nobis plurimum dilectus, tum propter singularem ejus modestiam atque observantiam, tum quod fortis ac manu promptus existit in re militari, qui etiam delec- tum militum facere, exercitum ducere, et aciem more nostro instruere optime teneat, dignum existimavimus. egregiis et singularibus virtutibus praeditum, vestrae Celsitudini commendare; eum igitur vestrae illustr. domination! plurimum commendamus ea commenda^ tione quae potest esse diligentissima. Quicquid enim vestra Regia dominatio beneficii in eum contulerit, id erit nobis gratissimum : nee diffidimus pro omni ob- sequendi genere totis viribus se diligentissimum obse- quiosissimumque praestiturura. Etsi nobis nulla un- quam commentatio cum illust. dominatione vestra fuerit, attamen hunianitatem, mansuetudinemque ves- trarum, tum ex Oratore vestro tum etiam ab omnibus audivimus praedicari quare, eidem V. illust. Dn. nos plurimum commendamus. Quae nostra Opera, pro ar- bitrio uti potest, sicuti forte ex Oratore cui mentem et animum nostrum declaravimus, explorata habuistis. Valeat vestra Regia Excellentia. Dat. in oppido nos- tro Monacen. pridie Id us Januarii, Anno Christianis- simi partus 1 516. Dei gratia Wilhelmus Palatinus Reni superioris et inferioris, Bavariae Dux, &c VILHELMUS DUX BAVARIA &C. per manum propriam, lllustrisBimo Principi Domino Henrico Franciae, Angliaeque Regi, inclito Domino et affini nostro plurimum observando. T 2 276 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER LXXIX. Margaret Queen of Scotland to Lord Dacre in an- swer to the charge that she had written to the French King for the return of the Duke of Al- bany ; acknowledging it and pleading her necessi- ties. A. D. 1520. [MS. COTTON. CALIGULA B. II. fol. 195- Or\g. EKTIRELY IN QUEElf MABGAB£T*S HAND.] My lorde Dakare, I commend me hartly to you, and vit ze that I hafe resayved your vrytenn fre Jon Sympson your sarwand and onderstandy te it at length ; and vhare ze remember me in your vrytenn of my labor and dessyre made on to the Kynges Grace my brothar, and to my lorde Cardynall, and thyr Cownsal, apon sundery consideraciones to them declared, and spe- cyaly for the well and surtie of the Kyng my Son, and for the recoveryng of my autorite of thys Realme and Tutrixship of the Kyng my Soon, according to the test- ment of the Kyng my housband ; and that the Due of Albany than being in to Scotland shuld be removed in to Fraunce ag^n, and not retoume in to Scotland ; My lorde all that I dyd thayr I thout for the beste, as the Kynges Grace my brothar and hys Cownsei knawes ; for I trastyd that the Lordys of thys rawlme ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. ni and I shuld hafe agryed veil, and I to hafe broukyt pessably my nawn as thay are bownd to doo be thayr vry tenes and sellyes ; a and than thay myght not have no cause to excusse them to the dwke. Howbeit I am not the betterar, for I vasse never se ewel awnsuard nor obayd of my landyes as I am sen my last comyng in to Scotland, as I hafe ofton tymes vryten both to the Kyng my brothar, and to my lorde Cardynall, and You. Howbeit I gat ne remedy, and I dyd schaw you, my Lorde, in my vrytengs, that I dyd vryt to you vylke ze haffe, ^ that and I gat not shortly helpe that I most doo what the Dwke and the Lordys of thys rawlme vhol hafe me to doo ; for I have nen here that vyl helpe me of my complaynt, nor doo me justys ; so that I may not lyf to my honowr ; and my lyfeng is here, I man cast me to plesse thys raulme; allsvay, my Lorde, whare ze vryt to me to knaw gyfe I have send ony vryteng to the Kyng of France for the fur- dryng of the Dwke of Albany's comyng in to Scotland, my Lorde thayr whas a letar vryten in to Frence to the Kyng of France from me be the specyal dessyr of the Dwke and the Lordys, vysche I myght not deny ; for thay sayd it vas for the veel of the Kyng my Soon and his Rawlme; my Lorde I pray you remembyr^ that and ze var in a nothar Rawlme vhare ze schuld lyf your lyfe, ze vould doo that ze myght to pies them soo that thay schuld not have eny mystrust of • writings and seals. *> which you have. 278 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LSTTER1S. 279 you ; and soo most I, for and I schuld refws to have vryten vhan I vas desyrd, the Dwke and the Lordys vhold haf thowt that I had stopyd hys comyng, and thayr throw I myght get ewel ; and thus I trust my lord that the Kyngs Grace my brothar, and my lorde Cardynal, vyl remember as I stand in thys rawlme. And in laste vryteng that I hat from the Kyng my brother he commandyd that I schuld doo no thyng that the Lordys myght have ony ocassyon to complayne of me, vysche I trust I hafe don. My Lord I pray you to remembyr that I dyd vryt to you, I vas at syche a pownt that I most a layd my j welly s for fawt of mony, for I am not awnsuerd of no part of my lifeng ; and had not bene the Cowntrowlar Robart Barton I had bene schamyd or now, for I haf not to fynd the ex- penssys of my hous, and I am as sobar as can be. And sopos it be ewel to me, it is dyshonor to the Kyngs Grace my brothar as veel as me. Bot the on- kyndnes that I fynde doth me more ewel nor ony thyng in the varld, for I see veil what pownt that ever it stand me on, I vyl get no helpe bot fayre vourdys. My lord ze most pardon me that I vryt so scharpe, for it towchys me nere : and God kype you. At Edyn- browh the fowentyn day of Jwly your frend MARGARET R. To my lord Dakre. LETTER LXXX. Lord Th&inas Dacre to Queen Margaret ; a Letter of reproof; sent to her hy the Laird of Barrow, A. D. 1521. [m8. cotton, calio. b. VI. foL t29. b.] •^* The boldness of Lord Thomas Dacre in the Affairs of Scotland has been mentioned in the former Series of these Letters. The reader is now to see him in the character of a man charging his Sovereign's sister with misconduct toward her husband ; and reminding her ^^ what dishonorable bruits were spoken of Her Grace in Scotland.** Madame, in most lauly wise I recommende me unto your Grace. And where as by my writing sent unto youe by my servant William Hathrington, I advertised your Grace of the King my Soverain, your broders, high pleasure, th''efFecte wherof was that his Highnes is righte sory that your Grace is not aunswered of your dueties according as it is paste in contracte betwixt his Highnes and the King your Son and his Counseill, not doubting (if ye lose not your owne matier youre self) but ye shalbe by meanes of his Grace recompensed of your hool dueties with th'^arreragies. Wherunto your Grace made none aunswere but only by worde of mouthe, which was right displeasaunt to his said Highnes. Wherefore at this tyme I sende unto your ^80 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 281 Grace my servaiint the lard of Barrow this berer, whome I know ye truste, and is an old servaunt of yours, whom I have ordeigned to declare unto your Grace certein credence, beseching your Grace to geve unto hym favorable audience, and as ferm credence as ye wold do unto my self. For, upon my con- science, I wold be as glad to do unto your Grace pleasure and service as any subject that my said Soverain your broder hath within this his ream6, as knoweth the holy Trinite &c. At Harbottell the vj^'* daye of Marche. Instmcttans yeven by Thomas lord of Dacre to his trusty and welbtloved servaunt the lard of' Berrow for his remembraunce, to be sJiewed and declared unto the Qtienes Grace of Scotland, At Harbotell the vjth day of Marche* Furste ye shall shew unto her Grace, that inasmoche as it is appointed and agreed that certein grete per- sonnages shall cum up in ambassade from the Kinges Grace her son, autorizate by consente of the thre estates of his Realme, to comune, treate, and conclude of good peax, or of further prorogation of the treux, it is thought good by the Kinges Highnes my Sove- rain, her broder, that her Grace shew and declare in what things as she is greved, as well of her disobey- saunce as of the arreragies of conjunctefee to that purpose, or any conclusion be had of the peax, that her Grace may be provided fore and aunswered according to suche promisse and contracte as were made unto her Grace (at her laste entre into Scot- land) betwixt the king my said Soverain and the King her son under his great Seal, by consent of the Due of Albany and of the thre estates of his realme of Scotland. Item ye shall shewe unto her Grace that the said Due of Albany holdes her with fare wordes under color ; and by dissimulation causeth her Grace to be aunswered of a parte of her dueties, to that purpose that she shuld not lay it unto his charge that her Grace is not answered of her said dueties, forbicause that his hand (as tutor) is set to the Book of Con- tracte of her laste entre into Scotlande, made under the grete Seal, that her Grace shuld be obeyd and aunswered of her conjunctefee, and restored to all her bagges, jewelles, and moveable goodes to her Grace' apperteignynge. Item ye shall shew unto her Grace, that it is thought that the said Due of Albany, under color, holdethe her with fare wordes and promisses, wherby that her Grace shuld not be provided fore in this new Peax if it fortune to be taken, and what perill and jeo- pardie it is to her if her Grace shuld not be provided fore in this said Peax, I refer that to her discretion. And also the said Due chalengethe the iiij^ parte of \i\ 282 0EI6IVAL LETTERS. her conjunctefee to be his enheritaunce, that is to say th'Erldome of Marche, and is reabled » to the same by acte of parliament, wherof his fader was atteynted ; which may be well knowne unto her Grace if she woll not be blynded. Item ye shall shew unto her Grace that it is thought marvellous that she shuld here so grete favor unto the Due of Albany seing her Grace is requeste made unto the king my Soveraigne lord, and labour made to my lord Cardinalles Grace to move hl» Highnes, that the said Due shuld not cum into Scot- land, asweU for the suretie of the king her sonne as of herself; seing the subdein departure of the prince her son, and that incontinently after the said Dae proclaymed hymselfe Prince of Scotland; and that also the said Dukes fader tooke upon hym and usurped to be king ageinst his elder broder, being King, and in the tyme of his usurping made diverse knightes. Item ye shall shew unto her Grace, that I doubt not but it is in her remembraunce that the King her husband (whose soule god pardon) in his tyme wold never take the said Due as Due of Albany, forbicause of the pretense that his fader made to the Crowne of Scotland. Item ye shall shew unto her Grace that it is cumyn to the knowlege of the King my said Soverain, that her Grace is departed from my Lord of Angus her • rc-ablcd. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 288 husband, contrary to all good order and th'aggreament made betwixt her and my said lord by the good and vertuous fader ffrer Henry Chadworth ; and also the comune brute rynnethe that her Grace departed from Edinbrugh by night, and there was met without the Towne by Sir James Hamylton being dedely enmy to my said lord of Angus and by hym conveyd to Lithgow. Item ye shall shew unto her Grace, that it standeth not with her honor to leve her husband by counseill of any man, and as it is thought by counseill of the said Due of Albany, geveing her Grace faire wordes and promisses, under color wherof her Grace woll be deceived at liength, which peraventure woll shortely appeare, and then it woll be hard to be amended. Item ye shall say unto her Grace to call unto her remembraunce how the King my late Soverain Lord her fader of noble memory (whose soule god pardon), maried her Grace into Scotland for that purpose to have a perpetuall Peas, and that the issue of her bodie shuld be King of that realme, wherby and bireason of the nerenes and proximitie of blood betwixt my said Soverain that now is, and her said issue, a perpetuall peax shuld grow : and now to leane to that counseill that by all liklihode is not good and prouffitable for the continewance of the same, what hurte and reproche shall cum of therof I refer to the wisdome and discre- tion of her Grace. 884 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Item ye shall shew unto her Grace, the keping that the King her son is in is right susspectious, seing that her Grace cannot cum at hym "but with a few persons with her : and that his person alonly is in the keping of the said Due, except that every quarter ones there Cometh a Lord to have the name therof : and aswell his Scholemaister, as all other persons that ar officers about hym, ar of the said dukes appointeing, and not of the Lord is that is above » hym which attendeth his quarter. Item ye shall say unto her Grace, to call unto her remembraunce of wherof she is cumyn, and of what Howse, and that there is few Scotts men that woll yeve unto her fruitefuU counseill, but onely for their singulare weal and pruffit ; wherfore, good it were to take summe regarde to suche as be naturally borne to geve her Grace good counseill, and to lye all dissimu- lation aparte, and to remembre what dishonorable brutes ar spoken of her Grace in Scotland, in the leving of her said husband and folowing the advise of suche as finally may, and of liklihode shalbe her de- struction, botJie in fame and otherwise, which cannot stonde with the pleasure of God nor with the King my said Soverain'*s honor. Item, finally ye shall shew unto her Grace that in thus ordering herself in the premisses, neither regard- ing her owne honor, the suretie of the King her son. • I. e. over. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 285 ne yet of her said husband or of her self, her Grace may not loke for any favor at the King my said Sove- raines hand ; for it is thought she is sore abused under color of fare promises whiche be but illusions; ,and finally shall bring her Grace in the displeasure of God to her dishonor and undoing at liength. There are other Papers in the Scottish Correspondeuce, which speak in terms still plainer of Margaret's infidelity. In the Instructions and Commission for my lord of Diinkeld to be shown to the King's Grace of England on behalf of the Earl of Angus his kin and friends, (MS. Cotton. Calig. B. vi. foL 204 b.) we find ** Alsua we think and knowis by Experience that the Quene by evill and senistre counseill is mekill indinet to the pleasure of the Duke in al maner of thingis ; and ar never sundrie, but erery day to gidre owther forrowe nowe *■ or aftre, and, as it is supposed, he is indendit a divorse be- twix the Erie of Angus and the Quene." In the opinion upon these instructions, " under the correction of (he King's Highness " given by Lord Dacre and signed by him, he says, ^* As unto the fourth article, it is of trough as I am credeably enformed by myn Espials which I have ther. And moreover the said Quene has caused laubor be made by diverse persons to th'Erle of Angus to be con- tent with a divorce ; and he shall have for his good will therunto the fo- rest of Etrik, parcel of the Comuntt fee, which is to the value of xij C. marcs Scotts by yere. And I, heryng herof, has shewed to the said Erie such persuasions that I have him bodely sworn upon the holy Evangelists that he shall never consent thereunto without my advise. *^ As unto the fifth article, it is trough as it is allegied by the said Ix)rds, as I know by myn Espiall : and over that ther is merveillous grete InteUigence betwene her and the Duke aswele all the day as miche of the night. And in maner they sett not by who knowe it. And if I durst say it for fere of displeasure of my Sovcrain, they ar over TEKDRE ; wherof if your Grace examyn the busshop of Dunkeld of his consciens, I trust it will shew the troughe.' »» • before noon. 286 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 287 LETTER LXXXI. Richard Pace to Cardinal WoUey, concerning a new Book of Martin Luther, and the King's zeal against Luther, [mS. COTTOy. VITELL. B. IV. fol. 96. Orig.\ Pleas itt your Grace at myne arivall to the Kynge this mornynge, I founde hym lokynge uppon a l)oke of Luthers, and hys Grace schewde unto me that it was a newe werke off the sayde Luthers. I lokydde uppon the title theroff and perceived bi the same that itt is the same Boke put into prynte, whyche your Grace sende unto hym by me wretyn. And upon suche disprayse as Hys Grace dydde yeve unto the sayde boke I delivrydde the Popis Bulle and hys Bryffe broght in my charge opportune, and with the whyche the Kynge was well contentidde : here at lenght schewynge unto me that it was verraye joyose to have thys tydyngis from the Popis Holynesse at suche tyme as he had takyn uppon hym the defynce off Christis Churche wyth his penne, affore the re- cepte of the sayde tydyngis ; and that he wull make an ende off hys lx)ke wythin thiese and dcsyrynge your Grace to provide that wythinne the \ . \ same space all suche as be appoyntide to examine Luthers boks maye be congregated to gedre ffor hys Hynesse percevynge : and bi suche thyngis and I declarydde unto hym be the Popis bryffe that thys matier requirithe hasty expedicion, wull take the more , payne for to make an ende therin the soner, and is condescendydde and agreable to every thynge de- syrydde by your Grace ; that is to saye to wryte hys lettres to th'Emperor and the Princes Electors, and to sende also suche a person with the same as schalbe seen most meate for that purpose ; and to sende hys Boke not oonly to Rome, but also into Fraunce and othre nacions as schall appere convenient. So that all the Churche is more bounde to thys goodde and ver- tuxe Prince for the vehement zele he berith unto the same, than I can expresse./ As touchinge the sayde Bryffe hys Grace is sin- gularely well contentidde therwy th, and, rede itt every worde at hys secunde masse tyme, and aftre dyner schewede the same unto my Lordes off Canturburye and Duresme wyth greate prayse and laude theroff. As to the sayde Bulle hys Grace schewede hym selfe verraye well contentidde wyth the cummynge off the same ; howebeitt as touchynge the publication theroff he sayde he wolde have itt well examinydde and di- ligently lokyd to a ffore itt were publyschydde. Hereunto I answered sayynge that your Grace, my lorde off Canturburie, my lorde off Duresme,. wyth 288 ' OKIGINAL LETTERS. othres by your Grace appoyntidde, schulde accom. Ssche hys .ynde therin, and that your Grace woU no« pubiyshe the saB,e unto suche tyn,e rt»at y hadde'made hys Highnesse priveye therun^ My lorde of Duresme wolde have cummyn unto your ^efbut the Kynge wolde not suffer hyn, so ^ doo, but commaundydde hym to tarry here for tlTe^an^inacion off certayne things off Bukkynghams !^;ante. My sayde Lorde sendith unto your Grac a Lettre wretyn bi the Kynges — und-„t to , n ■. »U/. a of the sayde JJuKs suche as schall see to the .... oi v j house durynge hys a And thus Jesu preserve your Gra^ m longe and continuall prosperitie. Wretyn «* Gren'r.che thy ,vj off Aprile by your Graces most humble faythfull ""Tr* Richarde Weston signifieth unto your Grace that the Kynge doith well approve suche th»ngs as you communydde wyth hym thys momynge. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 289 > charge? fc/ absence. LETTER LXXXII. Sir Tliomas More to Cardinal Wolsei/, upon the Affairs of Scotland, [ms. cotton, calio. b. VII. foL 67. Orig.] Hit may lyke your good Grace to be advertised that I have presented and redde un to the King's Grace your honorable Lettres directed un to myselfe and written the xvij^h day of September, wherby his Highness very greatly rejoyced the valiaunt acquytaill and prosperouse successe of th'erlis of Anguish and Arren against theire enemyes and the disturbours of the peace and quiet of Scotland, dayly devising such entreprises es shold if they mought have obtayned theire entent and purpose have extended in conclusion to the great parell and jubardy a of the young Prince his Nephieu, not without sum busignes and inquiete- nes also to this Realme. Wherfore his Highnes mych approveth your Grace's moost prudent device con- cemyng the said erlis, to be entreteyned with sum good advise and counsaile to be geven un to theym for such good, vertuouse, and politique order to be taken and used by theym for the good bringing uppe jeopardy. VOL. I. SER. 2. U 290 OKICINAL LETTERS. of the yonge King to the weale and suertie of his noble persone and commodite of his Realme, that he and his reahne may herafter be glad and dayly more •and more delite and rejoice in theire late good chaunce and victorie agaynst theym that late were assembled agaynst their King present in the feld. And the King's Highnes thinketh that sith the said ErHs have now sufficient open profe that the archbishop of Saint Andrewis putteth all his possible power to procure their destruction, and to rere broilerie, warre, and re- volution in the Realme to the no little perell of the yong King theire maister, it were good that they were advised in this their victorie so substantially to pro- vide for the saufgard of their King and themselfs, by th"'effectuall repressing of theire adversaries, that the said Archebisshoppe and his adherents in eny tyme to cum shold not be able either by craftie practises to deceive theym, or open rebellion to distresse theym ; but without eny trust or credence to be geven to the blandishing of the said Archbishoppe which this ad- verse chaunce shall peradventure dreve hym to use for the while, with purpose and entent of revenging whan he may fynde occasion, they provide and se so substantial] ordre taken for the surtie of the King, the Realme, and theymself, that none evil wede have power to spring uppe to high. And thus mych the King's Highnes hath oommaunded me to wright un to your good Grace concemyng this mater, geving to your OBTGINAL LXTTEBS. S9I Grace his moost affectuouse thanks for your diligent advertisement of those good tidings, with your labor taken in the Lettre by your Grace devised in his name to the Chauncellor of Poile. His Highnes also thinketh that it were neither honorable to his Grace nor to the French King that th'Emperors embassiators shold be detaigned in Fraunce : and it semeth to me that the Kings Grace somwhat dowteth whither he be there deteigned agaynst his will or not : but his Grace greatly alloweth, and thanketh Yours in the solliciting of his enlarging. I remitt unto your Grace the Let- tres of M^ Magnus and Sir Christofer Dacre; and shall in lyke wise send un to your Grace the Lettre to the Chauncellor of Poile as sone as the Kings Grace shall have signed it. As knoweth our Lord, whose goodnes long preserve your good Grace in prosperouse helth and honor. At Stony Stratford the xxj. day of SeptemJbre. Your Grace's humble Orator and moost bounden bedeman THOMAS M0&]$, u2 292 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER LXXXIII. Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolseyy chiefly detail- ing the transaction of business with the King. [ms. cotton, galba. b. VI. foL 210. OrigJ\ Hit may lyke your good Grace to be advertised that yesterday in the momyng I received from your Grace your honorable Lettres wrytten un to myselfe dated the xix^*» day of this present moneth, and with the same as the lettres of congratulation, with the minute of a Lettre to be wrytten with the Kings owne hand to th'Emperor, and th'instructions to the Kings Ambassador there, as also those Lettres which your Grace received from Maister Secretary, with the Let- tres by your Grace also devised for the expedition of the Gentlemen of Spruce :» which things with dili- gence I presented furthwith unto the Kings Grace the same momyng, and to th'entent that his Grace shold the more perfaitely perceive what weighty things they were that your Grace had at that tyme sent un to hym, and what diligence was requisite in th'expe- dicion of the same, I redde unto his Grace the Lettres which it lyked your Grace to wryte to me. In which • PruMia, ORIGiKAL LETTERS. 293 it mych lyked his Grace that your Grace so well alowed, and approved his opinion concernyng th'over- tures made by the French King un to th'Emperor. After your Grace's said Lettre redde, when he saw of your Grace's own hand that I shold diligently sol- licite thVxpedicion of those other things, for as mych as your Grace entended and gladly wold dispatch the premisses this present Soneday, his Grace lawghed, and saied " Nay by my fayth that will not be, for this is my removing day sone at New Hall. I will rede the remanaunt at Night.*" Wheruppon after that his Grace was cummen home hither and had dyned, beyng vj. of the clokke in the nyght, I ofFred myselfe agayn to his Grace in his owne chambre, at which tyme he was content to signe the Lettres to th'Em- peror, and th'other Lettres for th'expedicion of the gentilmen of Spreuce, putting over all the remanaunt .... day in the mornyng. Wheruppon at my part- ing from his Grace yistemyght I received from your Grace a Lettre addressed unto him, with which I furthwith retorned unto his Grace in the Queny's chambre, where his Grace redde openly my lord Ad- miralls Lettre to the Queny's Grace, which marvel- ously rejoiced in the good newis, and specially in that that the French Kyng shold be now toward a tutor, and his realme to have a governor : in the communi- cation wherof, which lasted abowt one howre, the Kings Grace saied that he trusted in God to be theyre 894 OSIGINAL LETTEBS. OmiGTKAL LETTE&S. 295 governor hym selfe, and that they shold by thys meanys make a way for hym as King Richard did for his father. I pray God if hit be good for his Grace, and for this realme, that than it may preve so, and ellis, in the stede therof I pray God send his Grace one honorable and profitable peace. This day in the momyng I redde unto his Grace as well th'instructions moost politiquely and moste prudently devised by your Grace and therto moost eloquently expressed, as all the lettres of M^ Se- cretary sent imto your Grace ; to whom as well for your spedy advertisement in the tone, as for your great labor and payn taken in the tother his Grace geveth his moost hartie thanks. In the reding of th' instruction among th"* incommoditees that your Grace there most prudently remembreth, if th^Em- peror shold leve the stat of Myllayn up to the French King, the King's Grace saied that th'Emperor shold bysidis all those incommoditees sustayn a nother great dammage, that is to witt the losse of all his frendis and favorers in Italy without recovery for ever, which shold be fayn to fall hooly to the French Kyng ; uttrely dispayring that ever th'Emperor leving the Duchie when he had it, wold after labor therefore whan he had lefte hit. Which consideration his Grace wold have planted in to th'instructions with his awne hand, saving that he saied your Grace could, and so he rcquyreth you to do, bettrc fumi^ hit, and sett hit forth. As towching M**. Secretary''s lettres his Grace thinketh as your Grace moost prudently wryteth, that they do but seke delayes till they may se how the world is: wherein he mych alloweth your most pru- dent opinion that they shold be with good rownd wordis to theire embassador, and other quykke wayes, prykked forth. And for as mych as your Grace toch- eth an ordre that no Venicians shold be sufTred to shipp eny of theyr goods owt of the realme, and that it is now schewed un to his Grace that one Deodo a Venician is abowt to shipp gods, pretendyng hym selfe to be denison ; which his pretence, whither it be trew or not his Grace knoweth not ; and also thinketh that he shall under the colour of his owne send owt of the realme the goods of others his cuntremen ; for which causis his Grace requyreth yours to have a respect therto and cause hit to be ordered as to your Graces wisedom shall seme expedient. For as mych as the Kings Grace hath not yit written of his awne hand the minute to th'Emperor which I delivered his Grace in thys momyng, therfore I suppose that this lettre wrytten this present Soneday the xxj. day of Septem- bre in the nyght can not be delivered to the Post till to morow abowt As knoweth our Lord who long preserve your Grace in honor and helth. Your humble orator and moste bounden beedman T^O>IAS MQ&£« To my Lord Legate good Grace. 296 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER LXXXIV. Margaret Archduchess of Savoy to Dr, Knight^ the English Ambassador at her Courts announcing the news of the Victory of Pavia, [ms. cotton, oalba. b. VIII. foL 107. Orig.\ •»* The Victory of Pavia was the subject of two Letters in the fonner Series of this Work. But the Editor feels that he did not entirely dispose of his subject ; an event so very memorable has something of a claim upon the reader*s recurrence. D'. Augustin who had been Wolsey's, and was afterwards the King*8 physician, visited Pavia in 1532, in company with Mons'. de Velly the French King's ambassador, purposely to *' see and view the places where the French King was taken ; which places" he says, " bee so defect and devastate, that they do represent rather war and battaill at this time pre- sent, then at any time passed.** The following was the Note by which the News of the Victory was annoimced by Margaret archduchess of Savoy, the aunt of Charles the FifUi, to the English Ambassador at her Court. Mons^. L'Ambassadeur Nous avons ce matin, ung peu avant notre disner, receu les meillieurs nouvelles du monde d'Ytalie, as- savoir comment il a pleu a Dieu donner a TArmee de FEmpereur victorie de ses ennemys, et que le Roy de France est prisonnier, xiiij M. de ses gens tuez a la bataille, et tout le surplus defFaict et prins sans quil en soit nulz eschappez. Et vous cuydant icelles com- muniquer a vous envoie en vostre logis duquel escits ORIGINAL LETTERS. 297 naguieres party pour malvies comme Ton nous a dit ou nous cuydions aussi aller, mais ces nouvelles nous en ont retarde pour ce jour. Et combien que presup- posons desia en soies averty neantnien si bons en avons nous bien vouUu escripre ces deux motz, Et demain que nous trouverons aud' Malines vous dirons le sur- plus vous avertissant que nonobstant que deux gentil- hommes Tung de Mons*". TArchiduc mon neveur, et Tautre du Due de Milan soient passez en diligence en Angleterre pour en avertir le Roy. Si en avons nous aussi escript a noz ambassadeurs pour en avertir le dit S**. Roy et Mons**. le Legat. Etant » Monsr. PAm- bassadeur notre S'. soit garde de vous. De Bruxelles ce vj". de Mars M. V. xxiiij. MARGUERITE. Nous ne partirons jusques apres demein d'icy affin de deraein rendre graces et louanges a Dieu de ces bonnes nouvellis. LETTER LXXXV. Sir John Russell to King Henry tJie Eighth, on the Duke of BourhorCs disposition; with further parti- culars of the Emperor'' s Victory. [ms.' COTTON. VITELL. B. VII. foL 77. Or\g.\ Pleasith your Highnes to understande that I . . . . from my lorde Cardinall wherin was • «c. en attendant. f^ OAIOIKAL LETTERS, mentioned that your Highnes pleasure was that I shuld repaire unto the Duck of Bourbon, to th'entent that I shuld advertise your Hignes and his Grace how al the affaires here doth succede. I had ben here with the said Ducke longe since, but that the Ducke of Albany who pretended to go to Naples lay in my way, and his company sparckled thereaboutes, so that I could not passe. Nevertheless whan I herde that the battail was geven, I in dil . • , by post did re- paire hither, thinking yt necessaire oone ... be nere the saied Ducke at this tyme. I finde hym fermely prefixed to follow his interprise against the Frenche King, and never better willing ; saying that if your Highnes woll, he woU sett the crowne of Fraunce on your hed, and that shortly; and that there may more be doon now with a hundreth thow- sande crownes, for th' optaining of that, than before might have ben doon with ^\e hundreth thowsande ; by cause the King with the most part of all the nobles and captaynes of Fraunce be taken and slayne. Wherefore his desier is that yt wol plaise your High- nes to fomish payment for twelve thowsande fotemen and SiVe hundreth men of Armes for too monnethes, which amounteth unto too hundreth thowsand crownes : and he hym self wol fomish the saied Army of pay- ment . • one moneth at his being in Fraunce. With which company he woll repaire and passe to and thorough Dolfine . , , that by Scavoye and OEICIVAL LETTEIS. 299 Bourgoigne he can nor may carry none Artillery out of Italyc. If your Highnes please that he marche in to Fraunce, he sayeth he wol trust to your Highnes and to no man elles, for if contributions be made to be paied by the Viceroy or others in those parties, he sayeth thei woll handle hym as thei did at his being in Provence. And rather than he wold take and suffre suche dishonor as he did there, he had lever be dede. Notwithstanding, he sayeth, he woll observe and kepe all suche promessis as he hath made to your Highnes and to the Emperor, to the uttermost of his powear. In case he wold pass by Bourgoigne, he wotteth not how to have artillery to follow and mayn- taine his saied interprise, oneles your Highnes might so deale with th' Arscheduke that he wold be contented to let hym have artillery with monytion in a towne called Brisack, within the countie Ferrat, where he hath good store, if he graunte thereunto. Men must be levyed there for the conveyance of the same in to Bourgoigne. Wherefore Mons*^. de Bourbon sayeth that good yt were your Highnes shuld demaunde of th'Emperor to have certaine pieces of the artillery here won of the Frenchemen, which is in good redines alredy ; and so to passe with the same thorough Dol- fine. Yf yt please your Highnes this be doon, he pretendith to have those men with hym which alredy hath betyn the Frenchemen, and rekening the same a greate advauntaige for they be greatly drede in 300 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Fraunce, he desiereth to know where and to what parties your Highnes wol repaire with your Army, to th"* entent that if case requere he may joyne with you; and thinkith that youre owne person shall doo muche in this affaire. Further Mons^ de Bourbon sayeth that in this case diligence wold be used ; considering the late overthrow that the Frenchemen hath had here in Ytalye, and that also they in Fraunce cannot so shortly be provided to resiste again ther ennemys ; for whan the too Armes be there, they shall have no laisor to make no provision, and also they be very evill pro- vided of good capitaines. The Emperor thought to have come and assailed the Frenche King his camp in the momyng betymes, every of them having a white shert upon his harnoiz : whereof or yt wer midnight, the said Frenche king was advertised, and so camp ^ owt of his camp in to the playne filde and ordayned his battle the same night. So that wheere the Emperors thought to have set upon them being encamped, they founde them in array and goode ordre, marching towardes them, having wel for . . pieces of Artillery which did muche hurt. The French king layeth, now, fault in his Suyses, for that he hath . . ^ the battail ; saying that they did not ther part as they shuld have don. His Launce- knightes fought very well against ther owne nation on th' Emperors side. Richarde de la Poole was ther • came. ►not? ORIGINAL LETTERS. 301 capitaine, who was slayne there . . . also fewe of them scaped. Besides this of xiiij*. men of Armes whiche he had there, ther escaped not past iiij . a but wer taken and slayne. Yt is sayed here that ther was slayne in the felde twelve thowsande men, besides divers that werr drowned in the Tyzyn fleing, which be founde dayly, and of greate nomber. There was taken prisoners ten thowsande men, and the most part of them wer men of werr; and the other rascall,^ to whome Mons"". de Bourbon hath gevyn passportes. And hath bounde the gentilmen, and the capitaines, by ther othes, that they shall make no werr nor here harnoiz in Fraunce against no man this twelve monnethes; and the other men of werr for five monnethes; and the residue for thre monnethes. And as for the greate personages that be taken, yt is agreed betwene Mons'. de Bourbon, the Viceroy, and the Marques of Piscara, that none of them shalbe as yet put to no raunsome, nor until they know further of th' Emperors pleasure and your Highnes in that behalf. Of th"* Emperors part there was not lost past xvC. men, or nere there aboutes. They geve Mons'. de Bourbon a greate praise, and sayeth that he did very mannely the same day. And that he was one of the causers that the saied battail was wonne ; for if he had not ben, there had ben no battail gevyn, but a treuse taken which shuld not have iiij II > >> common people. 302 ORIGINAL LUTTSRS. ORIGINAL LETTXRS. SOS i ben nether honorable nor proffitable to th' Emperor, to your Highnes, nor to hym. The saied Duke sayeth that now is the tyme, and that shortly your Highnes may if you accomplish the saied dukes demaunde before rehersed, optayne all your right and inheritaunce which the Frenche king hath ; and never so wel as now. He sayeth that he declareth not this for the recouvery of his owne there, but considerith well that your Highnes may now have by peace some part of your right, and dowteth not but by the same peace he shalbe restored unto his. This notwithstanding, he thinketh yt best, seing that yt so may be, to take and ynjoye aswell all as some. And this offre that he maketh he sayeth it is onely to do your Highnes service and to helpe you to recouver your right in accomplisshing al suche promesses as he hath made unto your Highnes beforetyme. This hath ben as greate a Victory as hath ben sene this manny yeres ; for of all the riobles of Fraunce be scaped no more but mons^ D'Alazon, and but a fewe Frenche men scaped besides them that werr within Myllan. The Spaniardes after the battail wonne pur- suyd and chased the Frenchemen almost a hundreth myles, killing and slaying them without mersi, I wold have writtin unto your Highnes or this tyme, but I tarry S^. Gregorys » goyng, who doth optayne a sauf conduct to passe . . thorough • Sir Gregory Ca»alfa. Fraunce on post with the Popes imbassadour, where- fore he shall the shortlyer be there. Notwithstanding for the more . . . » I do send a post unto your Highnes with the duplicate of these my said Lettres who goyth by Alemaignie, for fere lest S'. Gregoris sauf conduit shall not serve hym. I doo send your Highnes herein closed the names of the greate per- sonages with other capitmnes that be . . and slayne as fer as is knowen yet. And thus God preserve yo*^. Highnes, and send your Highenes good life and long. Writtin at Millan the xi »^ day of merche your humble seibgiet and servant J. RUSSELL. LETTER LXXXVI. Richard Pace to Cardinal fVolsej/, with the News of the French Kind's imprisonment at Pizzigitone ; The Duke of Albany s motions ; S^c, [ma. cottox. vitell. b. VII. foL 83. Orig.^ Plkase it your Grace, these ten dayes and ten nightes I have lyen in a contynuall fevir at the mercy of God. The same is nowe decreassyd, and the phe- sitions do put me in firme hope of my lif ; but I ame so over throwen and in feblyd, that thoughe I shall by the helpe of God recovre my helthe, yet I shall never • surety? ■4 i 304 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGIKAt LETTERS. 305 be able to ryde up and downe as I have done in tyme past. In consideracion wherof, in moost humble & lowly maner I desire your Grace to obtayne licence of the Kinges Highnesse for me to reatourne home after soo long travayles & paynes by me sustaynyd in out- ward parties; which I wolde not refuse also now to do, if it were to me possible. The Frenche king is conductyd into the Castel of Pizigatone, comyttyd to the custodie of the Capitayne Alarcon a Spanyard, a verraye sadde man. He hathe with hym for the savegard of the said king two hun- drethe men of armys and oon thowsand and . . iijC. fotenien Spaniardes. The duke of Albany goethe up & done, no man can tell whither. He drawithe towardes the Port of Civita Vech wherby it apperithe that he wull stele awaye by see into Province y . . . naye. Richard de la Pole as I understond was slayne at the battayle. Other occurrantes at this tyme I have none wurthy of lettres. But, Jhesu preserve your Grace in long helthe & con- tynuall prosperitie. Wrytyn at Venice the xijtl» daye of Marche. By your Graces humble and faythefuU servaunt RI. PACE. LETTER LXXXVII. John Cleric^ bishop qfBat\ to Cardinal Wolsey^ upon the state of Italy as affected by the Battle qfPavia. [mS. COTTOK. VITELLIU8 B. VII. foL 84 Ofig.^ *«* The reader need hardly be informed that the Pope at this time was Clement the Seventh ; who, previous to his taking the Papal Chair, had been known as the Cardinal de Medici. His Pontificate was through, out conducted by a feeble and vacillating policy. It was marked by two events not easily forgotten ; the sacking of Rome, and the abolition of the papal authority in England. The Venetians and Florent3ms seyng them selves nowe in the discretion of the Imperialles, whome they have nott best intreatyd, be in a grett fear, and ther- for they nott only arme them selfe, butt also hathe bein vehemently in hande withe the Pope that he shold doo in lyke maner, and have m . . . a description off grett and highe matters with his Holynes, as his Ho- lynes shewid unto me . ... to take no mannys ryght frome hyme, butt to mayntayn and defend ther own ; and that iff the Imperialls wold demand any thyng off theym it myght boldlye be answeryd them, that they shold noth3mg have. The effect is that the Pope, the Venetians, the Florentyns, the Duke off Ferrare, the Signoryes off Senys, Luke,^ and Mantua, withe other mean powaris off Italye, shold make a Lygge^ for the • Lucca. ^ League. VOL. I. SER. 2. X 306 ORIGINAL LETTERS. defence and libertys off Italye ; wherin they rekyn that the Duke off Mylan wold att lenghe, when tyme shold be, gladly enter, who as they rekon is nowe, and so is lyke for yeres to contynewe, in no lesse captyvyte than the Frenche Kyng. Yt is rekonyd that amongst them, they shold make well ij thowsand spers, and XV thousand Swecis,a and as many moo footmen off Italions as shold be thowght necessary e ; wherin ther cane as they say lake no nombyr, for to this purpose viz. for the liberation off Italye, wher as in any other occasion they may make on, in this oc- casion they shall make iij. In this discription it is dyvisyd, fyrst, as I sayd, to have the Duke off Mylan, who bathe in his handes the castell off Mylan and the castell of Cremona ; whiche be the thynges off most importance in that Duchie. The Pope shold be con- tentyd to surrender unto hyme the Cites off Parma and Pleasance, ^ and have as moche pention or cense c for the same as he now bathe. The Duke of Ferrare shall have his investiture in Modina and Regio, and paye therfor in redye monye ducattes ; and it is ment that the Pope shold have the realme of Na- plis, whiche dowghtles will easly no . . be obteynyd. Theys thynges be heir divisyd by the Frenche fac- tion and the Venetians, and they have ben in hand withe the Pope very vehemently in this mater, shew- yng hyme that this is the verye way whiche he shold ■SwMtCt. > Placentia. ' public rate. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 307 take, bothe for his honor, surtye, and the libertye off Italye, whiche elles shall be totallye in subjection off Spanyardes, being barbarose and ounresonabyll, and as odybyll peopyll unto this nation as any cane be. At soche tyme as the Popis Holynes declaryd unto me this Dyvyse, I shewid His Holynes that I dyd nott dowght butt that off his great and highe wisdome, he dyd consyder ryght well that His Holynes was nott in any soche case that he shold nead to take onye soche waye for his surety, for seing that His Holynes had don nothyng but that myght be well justifyed, His Holynes should butt, quantum ad se attinet, op- time sperare de Cesare: specially, that I knewe the Kynges Highnes wold nott suffre that his Holynes shold be in any maner off wise oncoragyd, as towchyng the Venetians. I sayd his Holynes knew well e nowghe they had offendyd ; and ther offence was butt a monye mater, wherin his Holynes myght be a mean for theyme ; and, percase they wold nott be ordyryd, I sayd good reason wold his Holynes shold forsake them. And as towchyng this Discription and Dyvyse a fore sayd, albe it it semyd nowe to have a fayr face, and a semblance off good successe, as the maters now stood ; the Imperialles being so fare behynd hand withe ther armye, and havyng so lytyll att this present tyme for the mayntenance theroff; yet (I sayd) I dowghtyd nott butt that His Holynes did ryght well consydyr the manye fold inconveniences that might ensewe x2 308 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 309 therebye: for albe it by this ways peraventur the army in Lombardye shold be att a staye, and in some agonye and perplexite for a season, yett ther shold be no dowght butt that the Emperor and other Princes wold never geve upe the mater soo, butt wold shortlye nott onlye restore this army, butt so renew and enforce the same, with the presence off ther own parsons yfF neid should be, that iij. soche powares as Italye is shold nott be abuU to resist them : and per- case they shold resist, yet wher as His Holynes bathe, to his grett lawde, hetherto sowght peace, rest, and qwietnes betwen Cristen princes, specially heir in Italye, this shold be the ways to make for a long season, mor cruell and universall warre than was ever seyn : so that the warres past shold nott be comparyd to the warres to come, for theys warres to come shold be universall off all Italye agaynst all the . . . besydes forthe, and fynally what shold chance it in Goddes hand, who being indifferent, (I sayd) th . . was no dowht what lykliod shold be for the . . . partye agaynst the lesse. I showid His Holynes allso that percase, agaynst all lykliod, the powares of Italye, withe the helpe off his Holynes, shold be able to kepe the Emperor owt off Italye ; yett that shold be most for His Holynes is purpose, for His Holynes being excludyd frome the helpe and poge of other Princes, shold nott, a mongst theys selfe same powares off Ita- lye, be in the best case ; and therapon putt his Holynes in remembrance howe the Venetians hathe in tymys past encrochyd upon the londis of the Churche, with- oldynge from the same by force the Cites of Imola and Ravenna and other in Romania, the duchies off Fer- rare, Modina, and Regio, the Bentivollis, Bononia, and heir bye the balions in Peruse, and in dyverse other Cites and Signoryes belongy ng unto the Churche ; ne the Churche was never habyll to subdewe them, butt was ever in contynewall busynes, inqwietnes, and warre, unto soche tyme as other Princes layd to ther handes, by Pope Alexander is days, Julii is, and synst : and shewyd His Holynes that the Pope off Rome was never lyke a Pope tyll he had the concurrence off other Princes, wheroff whan so mevyr His Holynes shold be totally pryvyd, I sayd, ther was no dowght butt that shortly after ther sliold be fownd manye ryght. mean powars in Italy that wold plume his fethers, and nott sett a grott ^* by hyme ; specially the Venetians ; off whom His Holynes owght off all men to be ware, fot ther powar shold gretly incresse by this ways ; and by that that is passyd in other Popis days, men may easlye see what they will attempe agayn whan they shall see ther tyme. His Holynes sayd that he sawe the inconvenience that myght folowe by this ther Dyvise many maner off ways ; and thankyd God who had putt hyme in mynd nott to folowe the same. And so styll His Holynes perseverthe in mynd to enter whatt L^ gge b • Kro«t- b League. 310 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 311 ; lij 8o mever shalbe thowght best to the Kynges Highncs and the Eniperore. Notwithstondyng my thowght, His Holynes dyd declar unto me the Discription and Dyvyse a forsayd, to the intent I shold wryght unto your Grace what was proponyd, and wherunto His Holynes myght have consentyd to the impechement off your afPayres ; to the intent youe shold conne h3rme the mor cause he so dyd nott. I thowght allso to advertysse your Grace heroif, to the intent that percase the Emperor nott nowe in this grett fortun and prosperyte know frome whens, after God, the sayd prosperyte and fortun commythe, and deall withe the Kynges Highnes in ful- fyllyng his promesses acordynglye, your Grace shold knowe what is myndyd and intendyd heir in Italy and wherunto the Popis Holynes myght easlye be browght. Your Grace apon the Emperors unkynd demeanor myndyng the same, assuryng your Grace that in myn opinion ther is nothyng that staythe the Popis Holynes in the nott enteryng off this Ly gge » off . . . butt onlye the hope and trust whiche he hathe in the Kynges Highnes to be mean that this Victory in every behalfe, concem3mg the maters off Italye, shalbe mo- deratly usyd. As for the maters off France, it shold seim that his Holynes rekonythe not gretly howe youe determyn them, it is trowghe that by way off dyvyse. His Holy- nes sayd unto me latlye, owt off purpose, theys wordcs • League. exempli gra . . they . . . pro bono pacts make the Frenche Kynges sone Kyng of France, and deputt hyme a portion as small as they wold : taking the rest as they cowd agree : so that by Hys Holynes meanyng, he wold have a Kyng in France styll, butt so plumyd that his cooportionars and other his neighburs myght lyve in rest by hyme withowt charge; and by this dyvisse Kyng Franceys shold end his myserabyll lyffe in capty vyte ; the whiche thyng His Holynes spake butt by the waye off dyvysse, showyng hyme selfe off nothyng more desyros than that theys cruell warrs myght shortly e, by on means or other, take some good end. I do comfort His Holynes styll, all that I cane, that the Emperor wilbe nowe more att his devotion than ever he was : and that the Kynges Highnes and your Grace wilbe mean that it so shalbe. I ame allso mean betwen the Imperialles and His Holynes that they shall make demonstration unto His Holynes acordynglye, shewyng them the jeopardy s and incon- venientes that maye ensewe at this present t3rme by ther contrary demeanor. And I doo nott dowght butt your Grace will make demonstration in this case unto the Popis Holynes, acordyng to his good mynd ever borne towardes youe, and to the faythe and trust he hathe ever had in youe, the whiche demonstration showid in soche tymys as theys be, cannott be forgot- tyn herafter. The Archibishopc off Capua is retornyd hether 312 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 313 I 1! I agayn syns the conflict, and showid me that your Grace reputithe hyme a Frenche mane, and that that wold ye nott doo yfF ye knewe how the Frenche men hathe evyll intreatyd hyme : and . . • hyme in France, nott in prisone, butt a huntyng . . . gaynst his will ij. monythis : whiche he say the , • a pasty me wherunto he was never accustomyd in the cloyster. YfF your Grace wold witsaffe to wryght iij. wordes to the sayd Archibishope shewyng hyme, whatt so mever hathe ben wrytyn, yowe doo take hyme for the Kynges faythfuU servant and your lovare, your Grace shold gretlye comfort hyme. The Datarye and he maye doo all : and therfor it shalbe well don to entertayn hyme, for the Fopis nuntio ther wrytythe styll manye mad maters : and of every word your Grace spekythe, makythe tanquam ex musca elephantem. Iff* orators wold they myght apon lyke occasion fy 11 no we and then papyr lefis : I for my part thynke it nott neces- sarye : and to saye the trowgh I have no grett occasion so to doo. The Popis Holynes was ons determynyd to have sent tfte Datary to the Emperore, and the Bishope off Worcettor to the Kynges Hyghnes, butt syns his mynd is changyd, and determynyd to send to neyther, unto soche tyme as his Holynes shalbe reso- lutlye determynyd what he wyll do apon every par- ticulare poynt. Which thyng he saythe he cannott well doo, tyll he shall have word a gayn frome the Emperor; that don, he wyll send unto bothe reso- lutlye and perfectlye instructyd parsons. My lord off Worcettor was on his jomey as fare as Bononye befor he was contremandyd. I have obtaynyd hyme lycens, att his desyre, to goo see the Kynges Highnes, your Grace, and his bishopriche, a in hope that he will doo as myche for me att his commyng unto your Grace : and so he goythe forthe in his jomaye fayr and soft- lye, and nott makyng speid, for he hathe no com- mission as yett. The Duke of Albanye hathe ben evyll handelyd heir a mongst the CoUonysys, who hathe had manye skyr- moshys withe hyme, and causyd hyme to flye frome place to place, and moche a doo he hathe had to scape ; part off his men war drevyn hard to Rome gattes, and slayn ij.C. off them within a myll off the town, and many folowd and persewyd in to Rome hard to the Popis palace, and off them takyn prisonars within a stony s cast off the same palayce ; wherat the Pope was very evyll discontentyd. And I assure your Grace, had it nott been, that the Pope hathe respect, by cause he is within the londis off the Churche by the Popis sufferance, and in a maner withe saffe conducte and promesse off saffe goynge and commyng as the Em- perors men hathe, I thynke he had bein the Kynges Highnes prisoner this daye. Wherin I have sparyd no labors ne . . . . tion, ne other settyng for- wardes as well to the Popis Holynes ; showyng unto his Holynes that he sh ... so gretlye pondyr the • Jerome de Ghinucci had the teinporalities of the See of Worcester granted to him Feb. 20th, U3S. He was deprived in i»34. Le Neve, Fasti Eccl. Angl. p. a98. 314 O&IGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 315 duke of Albanye, who nowe, . . . the maters off France being in dekaye, was nott be takyn but as an abject parson : as allso . . . the Colonysis offer- yng them larg sommys off monye yff they delyverd hyme me. And I assure your Grace they have som- whatt vexid hyme and his men, butt the Pope thynk- ythe he cane doo no lesse than helpe to save the Duke for the cause a bo we sayd, by cause he maryd his kynswoman;^ and so the sayd duke by the Popis meanys, hathe lycencyd his footmen and manye off his men off armys. ... rest shall take shippyng att Civita Vetula her, and so in to France, yff the Em- perors armye at Jean, beynge warnyd theroff, do nott stope hyme by the waye. The sayd Duke is bare off monye ; he sent hether latly to borowe ^n C. ducattes off a freind off his, and sped nott. Thus owr lord be thankyd, the Kynges ennymys on every syde be puny shed : a domino Ja^tum est istudy et est mirabile in octdis nostris. At this present tyme I come frome the Pope, wher I lernyd nothyng butt that his Holynes shold have advise (howbeit off no certentye) that Madame the Frenche K3mges mother, is determynyd to goo her selfe to the Emperore ; partlye to move, as mother, the more pyte in her sonnys calamyte ; partlye by cause she thynkythe her selfe most best skyllyd to handyll and treatt this mater with the Emperor. His Holynes • John Duke of Albany married Anne do la Tour, eldest daughter of John de U Tour Comte d'Auvergne. Her liiter Madeleine de U Tour married Lorcnio de Medici, duke of Urbiuo. sayd, that he thowght the mater had neid off other helpe, than off womens tearis. This the almyghty god preserve your Grace. Att Rome the a daye off Marche. Post scripta. At this present howir I have rece3rvyd your Grace is Lettres off the xxiiij off Februarii, concemyng particu- lar maters off certayn prelattes of Scotlond, wherin I shall speke withe the Popis Holynes; and procure withe diligence, that they maye have ther full intent acordyng to your Grace is desyre. As towchyng the Bishope off Dunkell is mater, I have wrytyn unto your Grace theroff in my last Letters, and I ame a bowght to gett the fryar heir somwhatt off the Pope for your sake, that he may resigne the pention he hathe assignyd hyme apon the bishopriche off Dunkell. Off the Archibishope of Saynct Andrews I have spokyn so moche evyll all redye, that I ... go studye howe I maye nowe convenientlye speke w . . . notwithstondyng I ame glade your Grace hathe recom • . . • hyme, for the Duke of Albanye latly e was de- mandyd . . on, whome he toke for his freind, what he wold do nowe as the World was thus tumyd ; he answeryd that he wold in to France, wher he cowd nott lake an honorabyll interteynment in this grett scarcyte of nobyll men and grett capitans ; and after that w . . demandyd a gayn what he wold doo iff that • The date of the month is left blank in the orig. Edit. 516 OEieiKAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 317 fi^ interteynnient shold fayll hyme, as peraventure it myght ; then the sayd duke sayd he wold in to Scot- lond, wher he sayd he had freindes, and rekonyd the Archibishope off Saynct Andrews to be on off the cheiff. But it shold seim now that he makythe his rekonyng a mysse, and so I will showe the Pope ; and 1 am sure his Holynes wilbe ryght well contentyd withall, and make soche demonstration in the sayd Archibishopis cause that he shall ryght well knowe that he farythe nothyng the wars^ for the Kynges Highnes and your Grace is recommendation : so, that the sayd Archibishope shall have gretlye to esteim the same. The Bishope off Dunkdl his servant is come ; and I doo the best I cane to helpe and assist hyme in his masters causes, acordyng your Grace is command- ment. I have allso receyvyd the K3mges Letters in recommendation off the Bishopriche of Murray e and the abbay off Paslaye. The Kynges letters for the Archibishope off Saynct Andrews I have not yett re- ceyvyd, and, a mongst a grett nomber off Scotyshmen heir in the town, heir is non that hathe any commission frome the sayd Archibishope, but favorithe rather the Archibishope off Glasco his adversary. This the Almyghty God preserve your Grace, At Rome the xix day of Marche Your Grace is humbyll chapleyn and bedman, JO. CLEKK. • wonc. LETTER LXXXVIII. Tlie Bishop of Bath to Cardinal Wolsey^ upon his negociatmis xvith the Emperor's Ambassadors at Rome ; Money paid to them ; &^c, [ms. cotton, vitell. b. VII. foL 102. Orig,] Pleasythe your Grace to understond that the xxviij'*» day of Marche I receyved your Grace is let- ters off the vj'h off the same; and folowyng the tenor off your Grace is sayd letters, I have spokyn withe the Emperors Orator heir, and have showyd them off this new commission now made by the Kynges High- nes and your Grace for ther necessites, in the best and most ampill maner that I cowde ; extendyng the Kynges benivolence and good mynd towardes them and the Emperors affayres heir in Italye, and what provision was made for them to have holpyn them in ther extremite. Wherin I assure your Grace they gretly rejoysyd, and rekonythe that whan ye shall have had knowlege off the successis in Lombardye (as att the tyme off the wrytyng off your sayd letters it semithe that yow had nott) yow will then make dowtlesse forth demonstration as the case shall reqwyr. Now that batayll is strykyn withe soche a glorioss and memora- 318 ORIGINAL LETTERS. , fl ' ' il!i 'I! byll Victorye, specially apon theys your Grace is last letters, my thynkythe I cane doo no lesse than delyver them, as moche as in me shalbe, the kynges monye ; and therfor I have apoyntyd them to take upe xxiii Mil. crowns heir ofip the marchantes in Rome that re- ceyvyd the kynges monye ; and that at soche pryce as the sayd orators shall agre them selfs withe the mar- chantes and they be stond to the losse, as, withe myche adoo, they be content so to doo. They shall have myche adoo to have it off the sayd marchantes, for the marchantes demand all ther letters off exchange whiche your Grace hathe reteynyd ther, and nott sent hether. I have ofFyrd to bynd my selfe that the sayde letters shalbe sent hether agayn by a daye, or elles qwitances sufficient for the same ; and I thynke my band shalbe acceptyd. Therfor it maye lyke your Grace to send hether agayn, withe the fyrst, all the sayd lettres off exchange for myn indempnite, or elles that qwitances may be mad by master Wyat acordyngly. The Kynges hole monye being heir in the handelyng of the Torke- pliara and Syr Jhon Rossell is xlvj Mil. crowns off the Sonne and odde. Off this ther remaynythe sty 11 ij Mil. and odde in syr Jhon Rosselles handes, who is nott heir, and I knowe well he hathe spent a grett part theroff; for he shewid me he hathe had no nother monye to spend. Ther is in Fermars handes, viij Mil. crowns ; and in my Lord off Seynct Jhonis x. Mil. ■ TurcupUr. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 319 crowns ; and in my handes ther is yett iij Mil. crowns ; and on Mil. I desyryd your Grace myght be accomptyd unto me apon my dietts : for the other ij Mil. I sent you bylles, wherby they myght be recoverd off my father in Inglond. The whiche sommys to gether, with the xxiij Mil. crowns a for sayd, make upe the hoU some off xlvj. Mil. and odde. Wherfor ther shalbe delyverd unto the Emperors agents heir, who have speciall commission frome the Viceroy e to receyve it, fyrst the xxiij Mil. crowns that is heir in Rome in the marchantes handes, and the ij Mil. crowns part of the iij. Mil. that is in my handes, that makythe xxv. Mil. crowns of the sonne. I have writen to Master Secre- tarye to delyver them ther in Venyce xx Mil. crowns of the Sonne more. So that they shall receyve in the holl xlv Mil crowns off the sonne. As I doo thynke your Grace reconythe that xlvj Mil. crowns off the sonne makythe 1. Mil. other crowns, and so I have shewyd the Imperialls, that they shall receyve 1. Mil. crowns after this maner, savyng on Mil. whiche I sayd unto them is, withe more, spent in sendyng the sayd monye upe ; and I assure your Grace they be ryght well contentyd to take this in this maner ; and gevithe the Kynges Highnes ryght harty thankes therfor. Your Grace wrytythe that we shold make them 1. Mil, crowns, and as I ^o take the crown, so we shall; or att the lest wisse nyghe therunto. I thowght it best to kepe me within the bandes off my commission ; for iff » 320 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 321 ; I :;ll! ther shalbe ony fawt that ways, it maye sonc be amendyd and so cowd it nott iff we shold exceid ; be- sydes that the Emperors agentes be nott nowe in soche grett extremite thankyd be God, for this Lyge now latlye made betwen the Pope, the Kynges HigUnes, the Emperor, and other. The Imperialles shall shortly receyve large sommys off monye, and albe it I have no perfect knowlege theroff, for theys maters war treatyd ad partem^ and nott comprisyd in the articles expressly, for the mor honesty e : yett by secreatt meanys, and many provabyll conjectors I do understand that the Pope and the Florentyns shal pay on C. Mil. ducattes, the Venetians on C. and 1. Mil. ducattes, the duke off Ferrar on C. and 1. Mil. ducattes, the Citeis and ter- ritoryes off Mantua, Luke,^ Senys, Genua, Saluce, Monteferratt, att the lest on C. Mil. ducattes amongst them ; and besydes this they have in sondry Citees in the duchie off Mylan, syns the Victorye, large sommys off monye, att the lest a iij or iiij score Mil. ducattes ; and dayly ther comythe in more to them ; whiche is CCCCC. Mil. ducattes and above, besyd the Emperors own monye, that syns the Victory hathe, and shalbe shortlye receyvyd. And for this, by cause ther neces- site is nott nowe so grett, I stode in grett dowt whether it war best to delyver theym ony part off the Kynges monye or nott ; but nowe after the receyt off your Grace sayd letters, I have resolvyd my selfe to lett • Lucca. them have it, partlye by cause my thynkythe it is gretlye aperteynyng to the Kynges honor that his Highnes shold kepe his promess ; partly allso that theys nobyll and valiant capitans may have the better corage to do the Kyng servyce, percase his Highnes shall intend any farther interpryse, whiche saye opynlye that they will not take enterprise mor apon them, apon the Emperors promese onlye, but iff they have the Kynges Highnes promesse to the same. The Em- perors armye for the most partye lyethe in the terri- toryes off Parma and Plesance ; » and ther have etyn and distroyid syns the Victorye, as the Pope saythe, to the valew of CC. Mil. ducattes all redy, and iff they shold so long contynew, the sayd territoris shold be destroid for ever, as his Holynes saythe : and therfor his Holynes, supposyng that some reformation shold be herin, the Lygge '^ wons^* made, hathe therfor callyd a pon the Imperialles for the accomplyshment theroff; and so the sayd Lygge ^ was concludyd betwen his Ho- lynes, the Emperors, and the Kynges agentes, the fyrst daye off this monythe, accordyng unto soche articles as I doo nowe send unto your Grace ; whiche doo nott in all wordes agree withe the articles concludyd, butt ther is no grett difference, specially in maters concem- yng the Kyng, who is namyd as principall contrahent, mor for a mutuall reputation on every syde, then that other confederates, or elles his Highnes can take ony • PUcentia. h league. * once. VOL. 1. SEE. 2. y 322 ORIGINAL LETTERS. l!i I f . Ml other grett particulare benefytt therby. The Kynges Highnes bathe an bonerabyll part and memory e in the same Ligge ^ withowt charge, and therfor I dyd accept it, thowghe I have no commission ; therfor your Grace maye fornyshe me theroff att your pleasure, for all the commissions hetherto sent be but ad iractandum de pace et treaga cum Rege Franciae. There be allso many particular poyntes betwen the confederattes for the payment off monye, and for the maters of Italye, whiche ther expreslye war nott spokyn off, for the on off them wil nott have it knowyn what the other doithe, and therfor be treatyd with the particulars a parte ; for the Emperors agentes shry vythe and shavithe theys Potentatis off Italye. Heir was many great t crakes a whyll, butt nowe be low e nowghe. The Emperor shall recover dowtles nowe large sommys off monye, nott reconyng that that nowe he shall yerlye have off the Duchie of Mylan, the whiche thyngs in treatyng withe the Emperor in many matters may be browght in consideration, as I dowht nott butt your Grace dothe consider. I was yesterdaye withe the Popis Holynes, and ther I had withe me the Scottyshe sollicitors in the maters wherin your Grace hathe wrytyn unto me in tymys past, and his Holynes gave them verye gratiose au- dience and very good resolution in all ther maters, de- ■ league^ ORIGTTJAL LETTERS. 323 claryng unto them howe ferventlye the Kynges High- nes had wrytyn in thos maters, and how that for his sake they shold have the favors possibyll as towchyng the Bishope of Donkelme is matter. I am sure his solicitor dothe nowe wryght unto hyme, as towchyng the Archibushope off Seynt Andrews mater : the Popis Holynes is very harde in revokyng off the Bishope off Glasco is exemption, for whome the Kyng of Scottes, agaynst the Archlbishope off Seynt Andrews hathe wrytyn very ferventlye to the Pope, as your Grace shall see, by the copy of the letter whiche I doo nowe send your Grace ; besydes that the Scottyshmen heir saythe that the sayd Archibishope had misordyrd hyme selfe in a newe conspyracye agaynst the Kyng and the Qwen, and that makythe me staye my sewit to the Popis Holynes for hyme, tyll I heer more from your Grace. The Popis Holynes att this tyme willyd me to make his speciall recommendations unto your Grace, saying that all his trust is in yowe. Wherfor it may lyke your Grace to use styll some demonstra- tion withe good wordes to his agent ther withe yowe, that it maye appeir that I have don my message. I assur your Grace that soche demonstrations withe good wordes spokyn by your Grace, ben to ther great com- fort heir, and be ryght thankfully takyn. The Duke off Albanye toke shyppyng thi . . . a weike in to > this last r Y 2 \, 324 ORTGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 325 France wardes. This the Allmyghty preserve your Grace from Rome the vj-*» day off April. Your Graces most humbyll servant and chapleyn JO. CLERK. To my lord Legattis good Grace. LETTER LXXXIX. Sir John Russell to Cardinal Wolset/, concerning the French King^ and the Emperors other prisoners, [ms. cotton, vitell. b. VII. foL 119. Orig,'\ Pleasithe your Bourbon and the viceroy hath ben at Pischiketon where the Franche King is, for the sending forth of the ... . and also to inlarge the Prince of OrrengeM"^ S' . , . . de Pry and the bisshop of Altheume for the space of .... monnethes, so that they in the meane season might make appoyntement for ther rannsomes: and that he the sa . . . . wold give liberte in like manner to the Countie S^ Pol, M*^ de Rochepott, and M"- D'Al- beny, with others ; whereunto the Frenche king an- swered that he in that matter wold write unto his mother, and that if she therewithall wer contented he thereunto wold agre. But he said he wold not assure them of that. Upon this M' . D'Albenny and M^. de Ro . . . ,a is goon in to Fraunce to porchase ther deliverance. As toching the sending of the Frenche king in to Naples, whereof I in my former lettres have certified your Grace, although they wer there for that matter partly well . . dayes, yet therein is nothing doon, for sometymes the Viceroys advise was to kepe hym stil in Pischiketon, sometyme to bringe hym to Myllan, and sometyme to Na . . .b Wherewith the ducke of Bour- bon was evel contented .... that he the said Duke cam his way and left the said Viceroy there. I ensure your Grace that the Frenche king hath to muche his libertie, for that so manny messingers are suffred to come and goo betwene hym and his Mother; by reason whereof he is acertaigned of all there doyinges in Fraunce, and gevith his advise aswel as though he were there present. Further, the prisoners here be souffred to goo home paying ther raunsome. I have spoken with the Viceroy in that matter, who sayeth that he cannot doo other but that they that hath taken them must nedes deliver them for to have mon- ney. Mons^ de Bourbon hath likewise spoken unto the said Viceroy diverse tymes concemyng that ; and is not very wel contented with hym, aswel for suche sufferaunce as also for that he intreateth hym not wel. • R'.chciKHt. Naplc 326 ORIGINAL LETTERS. saying that he doth not use suche pacience Sir, they mervaile muche here that they have no worde from your Grace synse the Battaile was given : and it is fered here that the King wol not follow his interprise of Fraunce l)ecause the tyme is so ferr spent. The Emperor hath sent to the duke of Bourbon iij or iiij tynies synse the battail was gevin. The said Ducke of Bourbon wold have or this tyme goon in to Spayne, & there to have fomisshed his marriage, saving onely that he is desierous to performe all suche promesses as he hath made to the Kjng and th' Em- peror in t3anes past. Here he lyeth at greate cost and charge, for his Howse costith hym a hundreth crownes a day. And thus Jesus preserve your Grace in long lif and continuall prosperite. Writtin at Myllan the xj^h day of May. your humble servant J. RUSSELL. The first news of the Victory of Pavia led Henry the Eighth to in- dulge a hope that an opportunity would now be afforded hini of recorer- ing some part of those territories in France which his ancestors had been possessed of. As late as May 14*'', 1525, we find John Clerk bishop of Bath, the English minister at Rome, writing in the following terms to Wolsey : *^ At the first audience now upon these your Grace^s last Letters, after the Kings Highnesses and also your Grace's most lowly and humble re- commendations, the sum and effect of such declaration as in your Grace*s name I m^de unto his Holjmess is, first, how the Kings Highness now in no wise wold pretermit this great occasion, and that both the Emperor ORIGINAL L£TT£US. 32' and also His Highness were determined to invade France, for the recovery of their rights, and to remove the Kyng that nowe is, with all his succes- sion, from the Inheritance of France, wherewith it seemed that Almighty God had showed such great signs and occasions/or the said French Kings demeriisy ttiat they might not neglect them without Almighty God's HIGH DisPLEASURB, as that thing whereby should ensue the long desired Peace, ever likely to endure betwen Cristian Prynces, to the ex- termination and total destructi Letter to Wolsey, July 12th, Ibid. fol. 176 h. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3^ his dreams of conquest, and at once assumed an ahr of friendship for the man whom he had before represented as marked by tlie finger of the Almighty for hit demeriU, The following despatch from the Bishop of Bath to Wolsey, dated Rome, July the 12th, declares the CHAif OE in another Interview with the Pope. *' After my most humble recommendations, it may please your Grace to understand that I have received your Letters of the 14th of June, and, taking master Gr^ory with me, went unto the Popes Holiness, and de- clared unto him the continue of your said Letters, as weU of the King^s displeasure taken with the Emperor for his unkind demeanor, as also of the towardness was in the King's Highness to conclude with France such reasonable conditions as should be by them offered^ and that to as large MAKNER AS XEEDED ; which I thought I might now boldly do, not need- ing to fear or doubt any thing in the Pope's Holiness, who hath now too far disclosed his own counsel to us to doubt ours ; and I assure your Grace his Holiness was glad that the Kings Highness opinion and yours did agree with his and the wiser mens here ; and said that your Grace had wisely and profoundly considered and pondered the state of the Affaires as they now stand." • Henry the Eighth now became anxious to restore Francis; whose liberation will fcrnn the subject of the two succeeding Letters, LETTER XC. Dr, Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. Peace concluded between the Emperor and Francis the First. [ms. cotton, calig. d. IX. foL 145. Orig.] Pleasyth yt your Graxje to understande that sythe the departure of Master Thesaurer from hens the whiche was the xx^^'. daye of Januarii, hathe be no • MS. Cotton. Vitell. B. vii. fol. ITS. ddO OEIGINAL LETT£ES« OEIGINAL LETTSES, S31 newys of certeynte. On Sonday last past wer com- manded general processyons to be made through all the Cyte to praye God to send good tydyngs ; for of long tyme my Lady Regent had no worde oute of Spayne from the Kyng : and, as yt was the comon re- porte, all wayes and passages wer stopped that no mes- senger shulld come into Fraunce. This daye I harde saye that ther was a messenger come out of Spayne ; wherfore I went uppe to the Courte to have spoken with Madame, the which I coulld not doo by cause she had take a medycjme, and kepyth her chamber ; and so hathe don syth Madame d'Alangon came home. Wherfore I went to the Chancellor, the whiche shewed me that in trothe ther was come oute of Spayne a ser- vante of the Prynce of Orenge, the whiche y s come for the del3rveraunce of the sayd Prynce. And he sayth that the Peace ys concluded betwyxt th'^Emperour and the French Kynge, and that the Kyng shall mary the lady Elyen . . And allso sayth that Mons*". Memo- rancy^ ys in the way commynge oute of Spayne; the which bryngeth with hym the trewth of all this matters, and in what maner they be concluded. Allso the sayd messenger brought a Letter to th'Emperours ambassa- dour here, Mons*". de Prat, the whiche hathe shewed his Letter to Madame. Thes things not withstandyng, the Chauncellor toUde me they gyve no credence to thes newys, for they have be often tymes dysceyved • Montmorency. by g^yyi^g lyght credence to newys that cam by estraungers. Yf they be trewe, the trust shortly to have confyrmacyon of them by theyr awne messengers. Howbeyt the Chauncellor bad me, yf I wolld wryte to your Grace, that I shold wryte this newes of his mouthe. After this I went to Mons^". Robertet the whiche confyrmed all things that Mons*". Chaunceller had tollde me: and ferthermore promysed me as sone as any certeynte of trouth ys come, I shall be the fyrst that shall have knowlege therof, for to shewe your Grace with dylygence the state of things. In the meane tyme I have in gret hast wryte this to your Grace tyll that we have tydyngs of more certe3mte. Thus Jhesus preserve your Grace. From Lyons in hast the xxiij. of Januarii with the hande of your most bownden servaunte and poore bedeman. (Signature gone.) LETTER XCI. Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wdsey. The arrival of Francis the first at Bayonne. 15^6. [cALio. D. IX. foL 171. Orig,"] Pleas hyt your Grace to undyrstond that the xv day of March very late in the evyning by torch lyght Ni. 332 ORIGINAL LETTERS. t my Lady Regent com into Baiona and was receyvid with grete triumphe of gunshott. On the morow aftyr dyner I spake with hyr, and sche desyryd me to have paciens for ij or iij days, sche was in suche grete anxite for the sendyng forth of the Dolfyn and hys brodyr, and for grete desyre to see the Kyng hyr Son, that sche cowd attend to no odyr thyng. But sche assured me that as son ^ as the Kyng was comm, Mons'' Joachyn schuld be dispeched yn to Englond, The xvijth day the Dolfyn and his brodyr war delyvered in to the hands of the Spaniards apon" a brygge on the ryver callyd Handay, bytwix Fontraby and Seynt John de Luce, and by twyxt ij. and iij. of the clock the same day, the Kyng was receyved in to Baiona with muche schotte of ordinance. Withowt the towne, a quarter of a myle, I was accompanyd with the Chansler and many odyr spiritual men by the com- maundment of my Lady, and ther a bode the commyng of the Kyng ; and aftyr that the Chaunsler hadde sa- luted the Kynge, he schoyd to hym that I was the Orator of England ; the Kyng toke me in his armys, whom I saluted in this maner : ' Christianvisime Rex^ * ex parte serenissimi Regis Anglian Defensoris Fidei^ * Domini mei poteiitissimiy Ego congratulor tuoe Ma- ^Jestati in suum regnum salvo reditui : plura dicturus * loco et tempore magis oportunis,^ His Grace with very favorable countenans seyd, how he wold more at • soon. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 333 large speke with me, and he wold never forgete the goodnesse that he had founde in the Kyngs Hyghnes. At my next commyng to hys presens I schal make humble commendacions of your Grace behalf, for Mons^ Joachyn told me that whan he spake with hym by the way, he seyd he was so much bound unto your Grace that he wold honor yow as hys fadyr dur3mg hys l3rff. And so seyd that the seyd Mons"*. Joachyn schuld be in al hast dispeched in to England, the which schalbryng with hym all thyngs concemyng the Trety of Peace with ratificacion of the Kyng'^s oone hande ; and also al the secrete of the Peace concluded with th'^Emperor. At whos commyng I schol wryte more at large yf any thyng worth the wrytyng comm to my knowlege. Thus Jhesu preserve your Grace. From Baiona in haste the xviij. day of March 1526. W*'* th'*ande of your most bound servant and beydman. LETTER XCII. Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey, Reports an Atidience from Francis the First. |m8. cotton, calio. d. IX. fol. 172. Orig,\ Pleasyth yt your Grace that after I had closed 334 OBIGINAL LETTERS. my Letters to send to your Grace and the currer was redy to sett forthwarde, the King charged Mons^ Vaulx that he shulld send forthe no man tyll that His Grace had spoke with me, and commaundyd Mons*". Joachin to bring me to His Grace at iij. of the clocke at aftre none on Passion Sonday ; at which hower I gave attendaunce. His Grace was so long occupyed in the Cownsell that yt was passed v. of the clocke or that I coullde speke with hym. His mule was broght forthe to ryde on solace. Notwithstanding he sent Mons^. Vaulx for me ; and at my commyng in to the chamber to hym His Grace embrased me in his armes, and excused hym sellf that he had made me to tarry so longe, and toke me by the hand and led me to a wyndowe. And brefly I shewed His Grace that I had commaund from my sovereyne Lorde the Kinge of England, with cordyall commendatyons, to salute him at his arryvall, and to rejoyse and congratulate his retome into his Reallme with lyberte : of the whiche the Kinge my Lorde was as glad of as any Prynce christned, with all kynd oblations of amytie, amore, and benevolence, wherin he myght do to him pleasure. I added also that I had in commaundment to put his Grace in mynd, and to exhorte him not only to confirme, approve, and ratyfye all suche acts and dedys as wer done in his absence with Madame Lady Regent his mother, butt allso that he in his owne persone, according to the contracte made, shulld with in ORIGINAL LETTERS. 335 certeyn tyme reiterate and renewe them accordingly. His Grace wolld suffer me to speke no more, but sayd, Mons^ Ambassadour, I knowe well the good mynd of my kinde brother of England, whom, after God, I thanke of my liberte. He hathe done at this tyme in my captivite suche an acte by the whiche he hathe gatte eternel memory of glorye, and bownden me ever, and all myne, to do him servyce. And I ad- sure youe that after I had seyne hym and spoke with him, yf he ben no gentylman nor I nother, he was so affectionate that I wollde have doone him servyce. And howebeyt that ther was war moved betwixt us, I know right well yt was but cerymonyusly doon ; for yf he wolld have warred in dede, I shulld have fellt yt grevouslyer and much sorer. And yt wolld never sinke in . . my hart but that he loved me.' Then said Mons^ Joachin, * Sir I doo knowe right well that often tymes when in his counsell yt was communed and disputed to make war, liis Grace ever defended your parte. And I assure your Grace that yf his Highnes had ben borne of the same modre that ye wer, he coulld not more studiously nor more affectionatly study forth youre lyberte and honorable deliverance then he hath done. I am a necessary wytnes, for I have harde his Grace often tymes speke more then I coulld other thinke or desier.' The King answered and said. He knewe all thes things well, trusting that yf God gave them towe lyf they \^ S36 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ! i shuld have a great saying with all Princes Christiane ; and he trusted well that the Kings Grace shulld be a gretter eyde and conforte to the redemption of his sonnes, the whiche wer gone in to Spayne, then ever his sonnes shulld have to have redymed him, whom his kinde brother of England had redemed to liberte. And as touching all suche things as wer concluded in his absence with Madame his moder, he wyll not only approve, ratyfye, and confyrme, but with the blode of his body mayntene. * And yf my brother of England * can study any other way to make them strong, I wyll * surely performe yt.' After this I made humble commendations and congratulations in your Grace's name. The Kinge answered that he knewe well all this goodnes cam of your Grace, and of the good disposition of his kind broder, and, that while he lyved he woUd honor your Grace, and take youe for his father; and that he wolld doo no thing with oute the advyce and counsell of the Kings Highnes and your Grace, as ye shulld fullyer knowe by Mons^ Joachin, whiche shulld be depeched within thes ij. dayes to your Grace, with all things, bothe secrets, and allso concerning this Amyte betwixt th'^Emperour and him. He tolldc to us certeyne secrets the whiche th''Emperour spake to hym at his departing, and desiered me and Mons"", Joachin we shullde never speke them, wherfore I do not put them in wryting, for Mons^ Jochin wyll shewe ORIGINAL LETTERS. 337 them by mothe to your Grace when he commyth to your presence. I beseche your Grace I may here from your Grace what I shall doo here. Yt ys said the Kinge will kepe his Ester at Burdeux. Thus Jhesu preserve your Grace. From Bayona the xix^**. daye of Marche. This momyng Mons^ Joachin hathe shewed to me ij. Lettres of the Kings one » hand, one to the King's Highnes, one other to your Grace ; ^ the which he sendyth by this Post, for he shall make hastyer spede then Mons". Joachin maye, and yt wyll be ij. dayes or that he maye be depeched here. By your most bownden servaunt and dayly bede- man, the xix^*\ day of March 1526. JO. TAYLOR, Archid, Buck'. To my Lord Cardinalls Grace. LETTER XCIII. Dr. Taylor to Cardinal Wolsey. The Affairs of Italy, Francis the First has a Jail from his horse. [M8. COTTOy. CAHO. D. IX. fol. 219. Orig,\ Pleasyth yt your Grace that syth the departing own. •» The burnt remains of that to the Cardinal are preserved in the same Volume with the present letter, fol. 174. It finishes • • vous pryant avoyr de votre coste ceste ferme credence en moy, et que vous me trouverez tou&jours votre byen bon amy ** Fbancovs." VOL. I. SEB. 2. S i 338 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 339 ; . 1 of Mr. Chcyny from hens, the whiche was the xxvij»^\ of Mail, lyttell occasion hathe be to wryte to your Grace. The y^K daye of Junii Mons^ President of Roan cam to the Kinge at AnguUsme, the whiche was very welcom to the Kinge, and allso to my Lady. And towe dayes contynually he was other wyth the Kinge or wyth my Lady, and made suche good rela- cyon of the Kings Highnes and of your Grace that they coulld not be sacyate to talke with hym. The viij^h. daye I went to the Court, the Kinge caused me to stande at his chaire bolle while he dyned ; and at after dynner toke me to the wyndowe, and with af- fectionate hart and a joyouse countenaunce tollde me that the President had broght hym suche tydings from his brother the Kinge our Master and your Grace that hym semed perfytely to known bothe your kynde harts, and pleyn assurement of all suche things as had ben spoke of and reported of the King's Highnes and your Grace ; and said he wolld doo his trewe devour and intent to maynteyn and encrease and strenght this be- gone Amyte. For he sayd havyng trewe and feyth- fuU amyte with the Kings Grace he caryd not for all the worlld. And he trusted that by Moretts commyng thider your Grace schulld be well assured of his mynde and intent. Every man that commyth from those partyes make so hyghe and good report of the Kyngs Highnes and your Grace that yt ys gret confort and joye to me to here yt. Ther ys one called Villars, the whiche was prisoner in the Tower. He hathe bothe to the Kinge, to Madame, and to the great Chauncellor in every place schewyth of the gracyouse goodnes and lyberalyte of the Kinge and highe wysedome of your Grace, and in lykewyse the Hostages, the whiche be com her, that all the worlld ys afFectionat nowe and laudynge of his felycyte, that yt hathe suche a Kynge and such counsell. I assure your Grace ther hathe ben with me Ce- cilians, Neapolytanes, Allmaynes, and Italyanes, all praying to God that the Kinge of Yngland myght [be] theyr Lorde and Kynge. And doughtless yf ther wer as cofers as hathe ben, a the Kings Highnes myght facy . . . beLordeofallthe Worllde. And nowe here ys published by the Popes Nuntius that the King our master hath given towerds the succors of Hungary ayenst the Turke a C. scuts, so that every, man merito gy vyth to his Grace . . . name Defensor Fidei, to the gret reproche of th'Emperor, the whiche sufferyth'his owne syster to be in so gret daunger of captyvyte of the Turks. Here yt ys sayde that the Viceroye shall shortly de- part ayen in to Spayne, ncn bene contentus. The last tyme I spake wythe the Kinge he had spoken with the Viceroy, the whiche presented a successor for Mons^ de Pratto. And allso one other gentylman • An allusion probably to the time of Henry the Seventh. Edit. Z O lit ■3 340 ORIGINAL LETTERS. L., Ij brought lettres from th'Emperor in the favor of one the whiche was the Duke Burbon's servand : for the fame was in th'Emperours Court that . . was taken in Fraunce goyng into Italy. The Kinge tolld he gave this answer, the Viceroye being present, that he had knowelege of such ones passage into Italy, wherfore he made streyght commandement that in no wyse he shuUd be sufFred to passe ; yet one, for luker of money lett him passe. The Kinge hathe caused him to be hanged: and said to the messenger that cam from th'Emperour, ' Ye maye well perceyve what I wolld < have don with hym yf he had ben take, that have * caused hym to be hanged that lett hym escape.'' And sayd ferther to the messenger, ' Segnior, I thinke ye * have some other gretter errand, than that suche a < man shulld for the cause of so vyle a person take < suche labors.' Hac ex ore Regis, The Popy's Nuntius toUde me that the Kinge said to hym that he was sory that he had suffred Don Hugo de Monchado to pass into Italy. Ferthermore the ix*^. daye of this Moneth, the Kinge goinge a hunting, his hors fell, and, couytyng* in the fall to hellpe and save him selff, fell on his lefte arme, the whiche, betwixt th'*elbowe and the wriste, the small bone was put out of joynt, and the wryst of the hand allso, the whiche was great parell of brekyng of his arme. But thanked be God, no daunger of lym • desiring. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 341 nor lyfFe. The Fisicians kepe well the ague from His Grace, that ther ys no daunger. The xjt'^ daye I visited His Grace and spake with him, and he shewed me his hand gretly swollne and inflate. A lyttell he myght move his fingers, and trusty th within x. or xii. dayes to be well to labor : he slepyth and etyth well withoute any ache or trouble ; blessed be Jhesu ; who preserve your Grace in good hellth and prosperyte. From Angoulesme the xij^*'. of Junij. By your chappleyn and most bounden bedeman JO. TAYLOR, Arclu ofBucTff* To my Lorde Cardinal's Grace. LETTER XCIV. LouiB IP, of Hungary to King Henry the Eighth^ entreating assistance against the forces qfSolyman tlie Magnificent* [m8. cotton, vesp. f. III. foL 86. Orig.'\ The fate of Hungary was long foreseen by L?>uis the Second. There are no less than three Letters in the Cottonian Collection from him to Henry the Eighth, all in Latin, in different years, announcing the threatened condition in which he stood. In one, dated from Buda, June 30th, 1521, he says, " Hostes quotidie appropinquant, et procul- S42 ORIGINAL LETTERS. m dubio antequam h« Liter® ad Majestatem vestram pcnrcnerint nos et regna nostra invadent Iterum atque iterum Majestatem vestram rogamus laboranti ReipublicaB Christianae, et consilio et auxilio, dum licet suc- currat." • In the second, dated from Posen, Feb. 6th, 1624, he states that the Turk finding his empire safe toward the east, had now determined to en. large it on the side of Europe, and meditated the reduction of Hungary. " Regnum nostrum Hungariae primo statim Vere eo animo ac proposito invadere et aggredi statuit, ut tot annorum pradis, vastitate, cadibus, vexatum, attritum, exhaustum, jugo suo teterrimo (quod Deus omen avertat) possit subigere. Saepe tumus apud Seoem Apostolicam et PrINCIPES ChRISTIANOS tettati^ QUANTULiE 8INT NOSTRiE VIRES cum TuRCARUM collatcE POTENTIA."— " Hortamur itaque Majestatem vestram, et rogamus per omnipotentis Dei nomen, per Christi Redemptoris nostri charitatem, per vinculum Religionis ac Fidei communis, per pri- vatas quoque necessitudines, per omnia jura quae Reges Regibus, Amicos Amicis jungunt et conciliant, ne patiatur (quod in se est) Regnum Hun- gari«, non postremum nee otioaum Christianitatis membrum, ab hoc corpore diveUi." ^ The third Letter is that which is here laid entire before the reader ; written two months and eight days before the battle of Mohatz. LuDOvicus Dei gratia Rex Hungariae et Bohemiae, &c. serenissimo et potentissimo Principi Domino Hen- rico Angliae et Franciae Regi, &c. Principi Hibemiae, &c. Amico nostro charissimo salutem et prosperorum successuum amorisque assiduum incrementum. Serenissime Princeps, amice noster charissime, cum Majestas vestra ex creberrimis litteris nostris jam satis clare intellexerit, Turcae contra nos et hoc regnum nostrum adventum, pericula Christianitati universae, si quid nobis (quod Deus avertat) contigerit, immi- nentia. Supervacaneum esse arbitramur ea rursus re- censere, quae creberrime Majestati vestrae significavi- • MS. Cotton. Veftp. F. i. fol. so. t> Ibid. fol. 74. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 343 mus, Caesar ipse Turcarum^ abest jam a Nandor Alba itinere trium aut quattuor dierum; nihil moratur; veniet contra nos et hoc regnum nostrum cum omni sua potentia ; cui quam simus impares, propter vires nostras plurimum imminutas, Majestas vestra et ex Uteris et ex Oratoribus nostris jampridem intellexit. Omnis spes nostra sita est in auxilio Majestatis vestrae et aliorum Principum Christianorum, sed potissimum in vestra Maj estate ; quod nisi affuerit, citissime actum de nobis et hoc regno nostro esse putamus. Quare rogamus et obtestamur Majestatem vestram per im- mortalem Deum, per salutem reipublicae Christianae, velit sine mora nobis, hoc praesenti periculo laboranti- bus, subsidio et auxilio quo potest subvenire, et quidem citra omnem moram, nam frustra nobis postea auxi- lium feretur, dum hostis potentia in viscera hujus regni nostri penetraverit Vestram Majestatem felicissimam valere optamus. Datum Budae, xxj. mensis Junii, Anno domini m.d.xxvj. regnorum nostrorum praedicto- rum anno decimo. LUDOVICUS RE*, 7/ianw propria. The event of the battle is told in the succeeding Letter, in German ; for the Translation of which the Editor is indebted to his friend Charles Konig, Esq. • In the US. it it Tucarum. .A m 344 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER XCV. Ferdinand of Austria to Herman Archbishop qf Cologne. The news of the Battle ofMohatz, [ms. cotton, vespas. f. I. foL 17. Orig.\ Dem hochwirdigen Fursten Hem Herman Ertz bischofen zu Colen des Heiligen Romischen Reichs durch Italien Ertz cantzler vnd Churfur- sten Hertzogen zu Westvalen vnd Engern Vnserm besundem lieben freundt. HocHwiRDiGER Churfurst vnnser lieb vnd sonndere freuntchafft zuvor, besonnder lieber Freundt. Wir fuegen Eur lieb. mit beswertem vnnd betruebten ge- mliet zuvernemen das Vnns gestem zu vnnser ankunfft hieher von vnnser Niderostereichischen Regierung aine post zuekhumben ist in der wir vernlimen haben, das vnnsers heiligen Christenlichen glaubens Erb veindt der Tiiranisch Turckh vnnsem lieben Hem vnd Swa^ Tramlation* Unto the right reverend Prince my Lord Herman, Archbishop of Cologne, Lord High Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire through Italy, Elector and Duke of Westphalia and Engern, Our singular good friend. Right reverend Elector, in the most friendly wise we greet you well, signifying unto you, with sad and heavy heart, that yesterday at our arrival here, a post has reached us from our Lower Austrian dominions, by which we have rcceivwl com- mumcation that the hereditary enemyof our holy Christian faith, the Tyrant Turk, is ORIGINAL LETTERS. 345 gem den Kunig zu Hungem mit seiner Khliniglichen wirde Kriegsvolckh geslagen vnd abgesygt haben solle. Wie aber solche Slacht ergangen, wo sein KhiinigeUch^ wirde in derselben belieben^ vnnd hinkommen ist, das moegen wir noch nit wissen, seyen aber allstiindt ainer. andern post, Got woUe das Sypesser^ dan wie obgemelt seye, gewertig. Solichs zaigen wir E. 1.^ auss sonnderen hohem vertrawen an, der zuversicht e. 1. vnd ander Christenliche hertzen, werde des mit gedachter Ku- niglichen wirde, vnnd vnns ain sounder freuntlichs mitleiden haben, vnnd sich solche des Thurckhen that vnd absiegung der gestalt behertzigen lassen wo der- selb Turckh solchen seinen erlangten Sig, noch disen herbst vnnd winter, oder auf den Frueling weiter nach zugeen, vnnd auf Hungem vnd vnnsere Nideroster- reichische Lande, mit der that zu handeln vndersteen wlirde, das E. 1. neben andern Churfursten fursten vnd Stenden des Reichs fur sich selbs, gedachte Khlinigk- liche wirde vnd vnns mit statlicher hilff nit verlassen Translation, bruited to have beaten and conquered our dear Lord and brother-in-law the King of Hungary with his royal army. But of the place where such battle was fought, and likewise touching the fate of the King's Grace we have not yet received advertisement. Howbeit we look hourly forward to other tidings : God grant they shall be gladder than the first. This we signify to your good Grace from singular high confidence, trusting you and other Christian hearts will have especial friendly compassion with his said Grace and us, and will mind the Turk's exploit and victory so far, that, if the said Turk should further pursue his victorious career this autumn or winter, or in the spring, and boldly invade our Lower Austrian dominions, your good Grace, together with other Electors, Princes, and States of the Elmpire, will not forsake the gcbliebcn. * sie besser. « Euer Liebden, 346 OBICIICAL LETTERS* werde, wie wir, so es die nott die wir dodi e. 1. nit vergunen, erfordeni soke, nit weniger mit gutem Hertzen vnd gemuet, nach vnserm venniigen thun woken. Dan E. 1. Erre und wolfart zusehen vnd die in bestendigen wesen zuerhalten, ist Vnns ain sonndere freud. Geben zu Innsprugg am Sibennden tag Sep- tembris Anno D. 1526*". Post scripta haben Wir ain andere Post entphangen, die laider Innenhalt, das die Slacht auf den neun vnd xwentzigsten tag Augustj negstvergangen gewisslichen beschehen, vnd die Kunigkliche wirde von Hungern darinnen verloren, also, das man noch nit wissen mag, ob dieselbig in leben oder umbkomen ist. Darumb das Kunigreich Hungern sambt Vnseren Niderosterrichi- schen Landen, in hoechster geferlicheit steet, was tref- fenlichen grossen schreckhen nun solches der Christen- heit pringen soil, das hat E. 1. als des verstendig zuermessen. Bitten daruf dieselbig zum hechsten, sy wollen obgemelter massen bedacht sein Vnns mit hilfF TranslatUm. King's Grace and ounelvw, but grant their princely iuccour. The Uke are ourseWea In a readincM, with good heart and mind to do according to the best of our power. If neccMity as we no wise wl»h, should require It. For to behold your pood Grace's honour and weal, and to preserre the same in constant integrity, is a right paiticular pleasure to Us. Given at Inspruck, on the Tth day Septembris, A. D. l»te». Postsaipta. We have received another despatch, the which we griar* to say con- talneth, that the BatUe chanced on the nine and twentieth of Augurt lut pMMd, and was lost by his Grace of Hungary ; neither Is it yet known if the King's Grace is still alive or killed. Wherefore the realm of Hungary, together with our Austrian domi- nions are brought into great jeopardy ; and what terrour and ruin will fall to Christen- dom thereby, your good Grace's wisdom doth right weU understand. We therefore ORIGINAL LETTERS. S47 vnd sonderlich etlichen Puchsen maistem, vns diesel- bigen auf vnnser ferer erfordem zuzuschicken, nit zuerlassen. E. lieb. besonder frundt, FERDINAND Perenberg. Trantlation, beseech you most seriously to call this to mind, and in likewise not omit to send Us the succour aforesaid, and' specially divers arquebuss-masters, such as may from time to lime be required. By your good Grace's loving fticnd, pkroinamd' Ferenberg, The contest on the part of the King of Hungary was a rash one. A contemporary Account of the Battle preserved among the Cottonian l^Ianuscripts, • states that twenty-five thousuid men were opposed to two hundred and eighty thousand. " Copiie Regis tarn equitum quam pedi- tum, computatis auxiliis et stipendiariis, ad summum xxv. milia erant. Ex adverso Princeps Turcorum tam equitum quam peditum, computatis navalibus militibus, habebat ducenta et octoginto milia." The 27th and 28th of August were passed in skirmishing. The battle itself was on the 29th. The flower of the Hungarian nobility and nearly the whole army were slain. The following was the List of some of the more eminent persons killed in it which was sent to the Emperor Charles the Fifth ; it follows Ferdinand's Letter in the Cottonian Manuscript. Item the Bishop of Warden. The Bishop of FunfFkirchen. The Bishop of Rabb. The Affi Tancosth. Sarthani Dunbrosth. Corlatzki. Setzi Thanwisth. Onsorg Ferentzs. Tairzon Nidaus. • Nero B. XI. fol. 3TT. 348 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Item Sigethe. — — Mychwell. ■ Cedmemsky. The Bishop of Greyn (saved •). Lord Herbert says that Louis fled from the field, " tiU, by the faU of his horse, having his leg engaged, he was drowned in less than a span deep of water and mud." »> He was the last male of the family of JageroL Fumee's History of the Troubles of Hungarie, translated from the French by R. C. fol. Lond. 1600, contains a very minute account of Uie battle of Mohatz, the death of Louis, and the infatuation of friar Paul Tomoree, who incited the Hungarians to seek their ruin. The Hungarian force was divided into two battalions, in the second of which was the King. Upon the right hand of the King was the arch- bishop of Strigonium, and the bishop of Zagrabia. Next to the bishop of Zagrabia, were the bishops of Varadinc, the five Churches, and of Sinnia. Those of Javarin and Vacchia were upon the left hand. Be- hind the Chancellor were placed the bishops of Nitria and Bosnia, and the provost of Albe ; after whom were the secretaries and the grooms of the chamber. On the left side of the King, and near unto his person, there was a place void for the Count Palatine, who, although he had the gout, sate upon his horse and did his duty valiantly. The place wherein the Hungarian army was seated and ranged in battle was distant from Mohatz one mile, and from the Danube half a mile, having near to it a long and large pkin which was not any thing annoyed with wood, bushes, hills, or water ; but only upon the left hand toward the Danube there was a muddy marsh overgrown with rushes, within which, afterward, many men lost their lives. Before the army, afar off, was a litde hill which was of great length and in form of a theatre, behind which Solyman was encamped. At the foot of this hill there was a little village with a church, named Feulduuar, and in that village was planted the artillery of the enemy, with many souldiers, especially janizaries, who, on this side the houses of the village, took up a large space of ground by reason of their long and thick troops : among these, as after was known, was Solyman. The first encounter was not greatly annoying to the enemy, although more of their numbers were slain than of the Hungarians, insomuch that bemg hard pressed by the Christians the Turks retired ; but whether from the force and courage of the Hungarians, or as a manoeuvre, is un- certain. It was now declared to the King that the Turks had turned their backs, and that the victory was his, " whereupon," says the • " 1st darvon kommcn." Orig. fc Hist. Hen. VIII. p. 201. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 349 Historian, " the King advanced forward in hap-hazard : but when they came to the place where the first charge was given, there might you have seen many bodies of the Hungars dispersed over all the field :" " and then the King was seen no more in the rank where he was ; whether it was that he passed beyond the first ranks which were before him, or whether he was forced from the danger by those who were behind him, for both the one and the other might well be. Some said, that having gone beyond the ranks which were near him, he thrust himself into the front of the battle, where he valiantly fought with the enemy : but neither dare I affirm it, nor altogether deny it. For my part I know this for truth, that he was not found in that place, neither in the rank wherein he was at the beginning after the cannon of the enemy began to play, and when those of the left wing of the vanguard were seen to fly. At the same instant was missing the archbbhop of Strigonium, who was side by side by the King, and also certain others who were by his Majesty." This last sentence, the Historian assures us, is from " the words of Broderic chancellor of Hungary, who was present at the battle." " The violence of the fight endured at the most but an hour and a half, and many were swallowed up and smothered within the marsh which has been mentioned ; the body of the King (who was said to have ended his days in that place) was afterward found in a great whirle or rift of earth, above Mohatz, half a mile on this side a little village called Czelie ; the which meadow was then overflowed more than it was wont to be with the Danube ; in that place he was stifled with his horse under the water, being armed as he was at the battle." The day after the battle, fifteen hundred persons who had been taken prisoners, among whom were the flower of the Hungarian nobility, were ordered by Solyman to be formed into a circle, and beheaded. With the Dispute between Ferdinand of Austria and John Zapol Sepuze, for the succession to the Crown of Hungary, upon the death of Ijouis, the Reader has been made acquainted in the former Series. Much relating to this struggle will be found among the Letters in the Cottonian Collection, but it is not possible to refer more particularly to them here. END OF VOL. I. LONDON: PBINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WUITEFRIARS. 11& a> % \^ vNJ ;^ # '> v> #« ti IT" .. . ^ ■ ,•:;. : in?''' ; . . • ;!:••••■ hi:;. i!i:;n:r i;-tt . i; ► Si' > I' '"^ y. i- 1 3 J- t t J ••.^^ ^ COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 0032250703 ' T J- , ■ - ' v A*— - '^<'>» ) f^>» 4 i''^' ;i .^r. e^. / ) feA:':..;^ m I*-*' mi-i: "if:* *l-i#-*' A ; • if^V- >j>:''$f>*i*ii ,^1^ • .r' =*rftlftt<««.*i- * . • : *,«4HM'-*Uv<>-«t^M*^.4^ t£ & ^ fc,jS yt , _^ -fi^i^^SL' • .*f*=:- ^ f>>^ last ••^ / J- Columbia ® niberfiitp in tt)t Citp of ^etD gorb LIBRARY ' ■'^iJ*^ 1 1 ^fijv -r* ,v.»V '1* \'f •H> ORIGINAL LETTERS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH HISTORY. I! liONDON : PRIKTKD BY THOMAS DAVISON, WIIITF.FHIARS. i i ORIGINAL LETTERSj ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH HISTORY; IWCLUDINO NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS; FROM AUTOGRAPHS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, ONE OR TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS. WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY HENRY ELLIS, F. R. S. Sec. S. A. KEEPER OF THE MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. SECOND SERIES. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON; PRINTED FOR HARDING AND LEPARD, PALL-MALL EAST. MDCCCXXVII. CONTENTS. VOL. II. LETTER XCVI. XCVII. XCVIII. 'U XCIX. ^^ '^ \ 1 c. CI €11. cm. PAGE Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester to Cardinal Wolsey, in answer to some Inquiries concern- ing Calais and its fortifications 1 Anne Boleyn to her father Sir Thomas Boleyn, upon her coming to Court lo The Vice President and Fellows of Magdalen College to Cardinal Wolsey, upon his re- quest to dig stone from their quarries in the neighhourhood of Oxford for his New College 13 Cardinal Wolsey to King Henry the Eighth, chiefly upon the discontent expressed at the manner of suppressing the small Monasteries with which his College at Oxford was to be endowed ., 17 Henry Stafford to King Henry the Eighth, praying to be restored as son and heir of Edward Duke of Buckingham. A. D. 1529. 22 Cardinal Wolsey to Thomas Cromwell, en- treating him to come to him, and to enquire if the Lady Anne's displeasure is assuaged . . 26 Cardinal Wolsey to Thomas Cromwell, con- cerning his House, belonging to the See of York, at Battersea, in Surrey 29 Cardinal Wolsey to King Henry the Vlllth. recommending to the King his College at Oxford , , , 32 ?4489 VI CONTENTS. CONTENTS. Vll CVI. evil. CVIII. CIX. LETTER TAQZ CIV. Wolsey to Cromwell. Thanks for assistance ; and recommending his Colleges 35 cv. John Briertonne to Mr. Tho. VVriothesley Clerk of the King's Council, reporting the Journey of his Master an English Ambassa- dor, through France, with remarks upon the rigidness of search which was exercised in the time of Charles Vth. the Emperor, in Spain 38 Eleanor Countess of Rutland to the Lady Lisle ; a Letter of thanks and kindness 41 John Coke to Master Thomas Cromwell, re- porting a satyrical exhibition at Barrow re- y fleeting on King Henry and Queen Anne .. 42 i- Mathew Kyng to Thomas Cromwell, upon the raising of the Siege of Coron by Andrew Doria 45 Lord James Butler to Mr. Rob. Cowley in Lon- don, censuring the conduct of the Earl of Kildare, then Lord Deputy, and others, in Ireland 48 ex. John Mason at Valladolid, to Thomas Starkey at Padua, A D. 1535. Observations made in Spain. News from England More and Fisher committed to the Tower. Execution of the Holy Maid of Kent, &c 54 ^ '- Richard Lay ton to Lord Cromwell, from him- self and his associates, upon his Visitation of the University of Oxford. A. D. 1535 60 William Pepwell to King Henry the Eighth. Intelligence concerning the Emperor, Bar- barossa^ &c 63 Archbishop Cranmer to King Henry the VIII th. chiefly concerning Reginald Pole, who after- wards succeeded him in the Archbishoprick of Canterbury 65 ^^^ cxiv. Henry Montague to Secretary Cromwell dp- siring his protection, upon the Death of his father-in-law Lord Bergavenny Erridge .... 69 CXI. cxii. CXIIT. LETTER cxv. CXVI. CXVII. CXVIII. CXIX. cxx. cxxi. CXXII. CXXIII. CXXIV. cxxv. cxxvi. PAGE Edmund Harvel from Venice, to Dr. Starkey. News respecting the Emperor and affairs in lUly TO Edmund Harvel to Mr. Thomas Starkey. The opinion expressed at Venice upon Henry the Vlllth's cruelty to the Monks. Barbarossa settled in Tunis 73 Edmund Harvel to Mr. Thomas Starkey, from Venice 5 Feb 1535-6. A Portion of a Letter 76 Edmund Harvel from Venice, to Dr. Starkey: after the arrival of the News of Queen Aune Boleyn's execution 77 Lady Brian, Governess of the Lady Elizabeth, to Lord Cromwell, from Hunsdon, for In- structions concerning her^ after the death of Q. Anne her mother 78 Mary, widow of Henry Duke of Richmond, to the Duke of Norfolk her father, respecting her suit to the King for her maintenance .... 83 King Henry Vlllth. to . . . . to examine into certain matters relating to Gardiner bishop of Winchester, and Morris his receiver. A. D. 1536 85 William Earl of Southampton to Lord Crom- well concerning Blockhouses to be made at Calshot Point and Cowes 86 King Henry the Eighth to the Lady Anne Savon, widow 88 King Henry the Eighth to the Mayor and Aldermen of London, respecting the Office of Metership of Linen Cloth and Canvas in London 90 Thomas Cumptun to Lord Cromwell, upon the dismissal of the Franciscan Monks of Guern- sey, who had refused to take the oaths re- quired by the King. A. D. 1537 91 Robert Cowley, one of the Council in Ireland, to the Duke of Norfolk, a Discussion on the Finances of Ireland 93 vm CONTENTS. CONTENTS. IX CXXX. CXXXI. CXXXII. ±1 * LETTER PAOE cxxvii. Arthur Viscount Lisle to Lord Cromwell, con- cerning a report of one of bishop Latimer's sermons, and upon the state of the borders at Calais. A.D. 1538 104 cxxviii. Margaret Countess of Salisbury to a Lady, con- cerning the marriage of the lady's daughter. . 106 c XXI X . Sir Thomas Wriothesly at Brussels, to Sir 1 homas Wyat in Spain, upon the commitment of the Marquis of Exeter and Lord Montacute to the Tower. A. D. 1538 108 Lord Southampton and the Bishop of Ely to Lord Cromwell, upon the Seizure of the Coun- tess of Salisbury 110 The Earl of Southampton and the Bishop of Ely to Lord Cromwell. A Second Letter ... 114 Lord Cromwell to the King ; a portion of a Letter dated London, the 14th of March. The discovery of a nest of Traitors on board a French Ship at South Shields 116 cxxxiii. Lord Cromwell to the King, datetl London 17th March in the Evening. A portion of a Letter : concerning an Irish Monk, one of the Traitors before mentioned 129 E. Hord Prior of Henton in Somersetshire, to his brother Alen Hord, announcing his intention of submitting to the King 130 Thomas Lord La Warr to Lord Cromwell desiring that Boxgrave Abbey may be spared 132 The Lord Cromwell to the Earl of Shrewsbury, respecting the punishment of a Hermit for uttering traiterous words 135 Lord Cromwell to King Henry the Eighth. News from Antwerp 187 Lord Cromwell to King Henry the Eighth, dated London 19th April. The examina- tion of the Marchioness of Salisbury. The arrival of Hicronymo 138 cxxxix. Thomas Pery to Mr. llalph Vane, one of the cxxxir. cxxxv. cxxxvi. CXXXVII. CXXXVIII. LETTER CXL. CXLI. CXLTI. CXLIII. CXLIV. CXLV. CXLVI. * cxLni. CXLVIII. CXLIX. CL. CLI. CLII. PAOE Lord Cromwell's gentlemen, upon his suffer- ings in the Inquisition at Tryana 139 John Earl of Bath to Lord Cromwell, complain- ing of his father's unjust will and his mother- in-law's malice. A. D. 1540 156 The Commissioners in the Cause of Anne of Cleves to King Henry the Eighth, acquaint- ing him that she acquiesced in his determina- tion 158 Lord Cromwell to King Henry the Eighth. A Letter from his Prison in the Tower 160 Otwell Johnson, a merchant of London, to his brother John Johnson of the SUple at Ca- lais ; on merchandize and news 172 William Thomas clerk of the Council, to King Edward the Sixth ; presenting a List of Ques- tions in History and Policy for his improve- ment , jg* Thomas Bamabe to Sir William Cecil, pro- posing methods of distressing the French. A. D. 1552 195 Bishop Gardiner to the University of Cam- bridge, upon the eating of Flesh in Lent, and on the pronunciation of Greek 206 The Princess Elizabeth to the Lords of the Council concerning some landed property, and dealings with one Smyth . . , gio The Lords of the Council to Queen Mary, announcing their Proclamation of her Title 243 Queen Mary to the Bp. of Winchester, Chan- cellor of the University of Cambridge, for the restoration of Popery 34^ Mary daughter of Emanuel King of Portugal to Queen Mary 1st 247 Henry Lord Damley, afterwards husband to the Queen of Scots, to Queen Mary of England 249 Queen Mary U) the Marquis of Winchester, Lord Treasurer 2&I Hit CONTENTS. CONTENTS. XI LETTER CI.III. CUV. CIV. CLVI. CLVII. CLVIII. CLIX. CLX. CLXI. CLXTI. CLXIII. CLXIV. CLXV. CLXVI. 261 PAOE Queen Mary to the Lord Privy Seal, upon the Arrival of Philip 1 1 259 Letter of Privy Seal to the Clerk of the Queen's Stables 253 The Princess Elizabeth to Queen Mary, upon her being ordered to go to the Tower at the time of Wyatt's Rebellion 254 Sir William Fitzwilliam to Mr. More, high Sheriff of Surrey, concerning the proposed election of the Lord Chamberlain's and Sir William's sons to be Knights of the Shire for Surrey. Queen Elizabeth's refusal to hear mass on Christmas day, 1558 Sir William Cecil to Dr. Perne Vice Chancellor of Cambridge, inclosing a Letter from Queen Elizabeth 263 The Queen to Sir William Cecil; the Inclosure in the former Letter 265 Sir William Cecil to A portion of a Letter 266 Archbishop Parker to Sir William Cecil, con- cerning the foundation of a Grammar School at Sandwich in Kent A. D. 1563 268 Lord John Gray of Pyrgo to Sir William Cecil, in behalf of his niece, the Lady Catherine Gray 27« Lord John Gray to Sir William Cecil, thanking him for the delivery of his niece to his cus- tody at his seal of Pyrgo Lady Catherine Gray, Countess of Hertford, to Sir William Cecil, upon her removal to Pyrgo Lord John Gray to Sir Wm. Cecil, that his niece the Lady Catherine still pines away at the Queen's displeasure Lord John Gray to Sir William Cecil, inclosing the Lady Catherine's Petition to the Queen 280 Lord John Gray to Sir William Cecil, still upon the grief of Lady Catherine 289 975 277 979 LETTER CLXVII. CLXrill, CLXIX. CLZX. CLXXI. CLXXII. CLXXIII. CLXXIV. CLXXV. CLXXVI. CLXXVII. CLXXVIII. PAOE Lady Catherine Countess of Hertford to Sir William Cecil 284 Anne Duchess of Somerset to Sir William Cecil, soliciting the release of her son Lord Hertford and the Lady Catherine 286 Anne Duchess of Somerset to Sir William Cecil ; upon the same 287 Secretary Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith in France. The Queen seized with illness 291 Sir William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith. A portion of a Letter. The Earls of Leicester and Sussex made knights of the French King's Order. Lord Darnley and Lord Lei- cester separately proposed as husbands for the Scottish Queen. Sir William wishes a marriage for Queen Elizabeth 292 Sir William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith on the Queen of Scots' marriage with Lord Darnley. Propositions of the Emperor and France for Queen Elizabeth's marriage 295 Sir William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith : still upon the Queen of ScoU' marriage. The Scottish Lords disgusted. The marriage of Lady Mary Gray 298 Mary and Henry, King and Queen of Scots^ a circular Letter declaring a Progress against the Rebels, and ordering men to join them at Edinburgh in arms 300 Sir William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith : upon the Archduke's offer to the Queen 30 1 Sir William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith. The Queen of Scote' subjects dissatisfied. The in- solence of Darnley 302 The Queen to Mr. Thomas Randolph concern- ing the Appointment of Commissioners to meet on the frontiers of Scotland 303 Richard Onslow, Esq. Recorder of London, to II Xll CONTENTS. LETTER CLXXIX. CLXXX. CLXXXI. CLXXXII. CLXXXIII. CLXXXIV. CLXXXV. CLXXXVI. CLXXXTII. CLXXXVIII. PAGE Sir William Cecil; concerning the Procla- raation against Hosiers 306 Lady Mary Gray to Sir William Cecil, upon her loss of the Queen's favor 308 Lady Mary Gray, assuring Sir William Cecil of her repentance 309 Christopher Jonson, Master of Winchester School, to Sir William Cecil, upon the per- Terseness of Rich. Lylliugton, one of his Scholars 311 Sir Thomas Gresham to Sir William Cecil, upon the prolongation of the Queen's debt, at Twelve per Cent 313 Sir Thomas Gresham to Sir William Cecil, again upon money lent to the Queen 315 The Lady Stanhope to Sir William Cecil, for his counsel to Mr. Hotham who had married her daughter, and through jealousy wished to divorce her 320 John Hotham to Sir William Cecil, requesting to be excused from appearing before him . . 324 Lady Stanhope to Sir William Cecil, to bring the business between Hotham and her daugh« ter to a good end 326 Sir Ralph Sadler to Lord Burghley concerning the manner in which the Queen of Scots re- ceived the news of the Duke of Norfolk's con- demnation 329 Margaret Countess of Lenox and Angus, to Sir William Cecil, justifying herself and her Lord from false rumors 332 i - — 7- ! ■ ^tad ty Mi^^mf > Calais, like every other continental Town, retains its original features after a lapse of time, which in England would have obliterated almost every vestige of antiquity. The principal change which it has sustained since the sixteenth century, has been occasioned by the demolition of the Church of St Nicholas, upon the site of which the Citadel has been erected. The Pier remains precisely as it is represented in a Plan in the Cottonian Library. The Southern bulwarks are yet defended by the identical bastions erected according to the orders given by Henry VIII*. and which continue unaltered within the rampart which forms the mo- dem fortification : and the key on the north side, not far from Hc^rth'i Chite, retains the name, certainly not very appropriate, of Paradise^ which was applied to it as early as the reign of Richard II*'. ^ Within the walls, the Guild Hall of the Staple, afterwards the " Hotel de Guise," exhibits a curious mixture of the well known Tudor style blended with the forms of Flemish architecture. The Cottonian Manuscript Aug. I. vol. ii. art. 57* contains a '' Plate of the Lowe Countrye att Calleyt, drawne in October, the 37»*>. Hen. VIIL by Thomas Petty t," followed, art, 70. by an enlarged Plat, fix)m which the View of Calais given as • Frontispiece to this Volume has been copied. • The following U the List of English Noblemen who had landa in Calais which had fallen to decay, about or before 1521 : •• The Duke of Buckingham, the Lord Marques, the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Kent, the Earl of Arundel, the Ix>rd Darcy, Sir Edward Abrough." MS. Cotton. Faust. E. vn. fol. 24. <> Chronicles, p. 701. < Rot. ParL li Ric. II. sto. ", 1 # l-i 4 ' ORIGINAL LETTERS. My verye singular gcod Lord, after my humblest recommendacion, I have receyved your Lettre sent to me by M. Sands, in the whych it hathe pleased your good Lordship to shewe me, that after dy vers coniuni- cacions had by the kinges Grace wyth hys Counsell uppon thestate & condicion of the Toune & Marches of Calls & other Fortryses within the same, & of theyr ruynes, decayes, mutacyons, and alteracions, fro the auncyent estatuz and ordinances, His Grace for remedy e in that behalve, by th'advyse of hys said Counsell, hathe determyned to send thidder, with convenyent diligence, certay ne hys Comissioners » not only to view the saide ruynes & decayes, and theruppon to adver- tyse hys Grace what reformacions, reparacions, & forti- ficacions be necessary to be made in that partye ; but also substancyally to examyn th'abuses of the sayde auncient ordinancies, & the insufficienties of the soul- diours, wyth all other thyngs that may sounde to the daungier of the sayd Toune, Marches, & Fortryses. And therof to make relacion & reaport to Hys Grace & hys Counsell for spedye remedye to be provyded for the same. And over thys your good Lordship sheweth to me by your sayde Lettre, that forasmuch as I have at sundry tymes taken travayle in the saide maters, & have knowlege of theme, & that the Kynges Grace is also enformed that I have certayne bokes concemyng » They were. Sir William Fytxwilliam, Thoma* Walsh, Jolin Daker, George Poulet, and Antony Sentleger. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 5 the sayde maters, Hys Grace therfor willeth, that, all other thyngs set apartt, I doo repaire incontynent to Hys Grace, bryngeng wyth me all such Bokes as I have concerneng the premisses. My very singular good Lord, in my humblest wyse I beseche you that withowt your displeasor I may frely shewe you the trowble that your saide lettres hathe put my mynde in. Truely my singular good Lord, 83015 the Kynges Grace lycenced me to remayne in my chyrche & ther- abowts uppon my cure, Wherin I have be almost by the space of xxx yeres so negligent, that of iiij severall Chathedrall Chyrches that I have succes- sively had, ther be two, scilicet y Excestre & Welly s, that I never see; and innumerable sawles wherof I never see the bodyes ; and specially sens by hys licence I left the kepyng of hys Privy Scale, & most specially sens my last departyng fro your good Lordship & the Counsell, I have determyned, &, bytwixt God & me, utterly renouncyed the medlyng with wordly^ maters; specially concemyng the werre or any thyng to it ap- perteigneng (wherof for the manyintollerable enormytes that I have seen ensue by the said werre in tyme past, I have noo littell remorse in my conscience,) thynkeng that if I dyd contynuall penance for it all the dayes of my lyfe, though I shuld lyfe xx yeres longar then I may doo, I cowde not yit make sufficient recompense therfor. And iiowe my good lord to be called to forti-* » worldly. 6 OKIGINAL LETTKBS. I ficacions of Townes, & places of Werre, or to any mater concerneng the werre, beyng of the age of Ixx yeres & above, & lokyng daily to dye, the whych if I dyd beyng in any such medlyng of the werre, I thynk I shuld dye in dispeyr. No marvayll my Lord, the premisses considered, if thys my present vocacion to such maters, trowble not a littell my spiritts. I fere that I shall not by raison therof be in such quyetnes that I shall dar say masse thies next v. or vi. dayes. And yet my nowne good Lord, I am not unremem- bred of my deutye towardes the Kyng my most drad kynde soveraigne Lord, the soon & successor of the Kyng that was my maker & promotor to the dignytie that I unworthely doo occupye ; & to all that I have in erthe ; and therfor if Hys Grace call or comaunde me to doo that thyng that may become soo old a preest to doo, verely my Lord to spend my lyve & all my pour substance I shall never refuse it ; but by licence of your good Lordship the maters for the whych Hys Grace woUeth me to come to the same, be all of a nother sort, qualitie, & nature, it becommeth me noo thyng nowe to medle, neyther by way of counsell nor faict, wyth municions, or fortificacions of Townes & places of Werr. Also my Lord I had never comission, charge, nor commaundement, by wryteng or worde, to medle wyth the saide fortificacions, neyther of Calys, Hams, nor Guynes ; nor never dyd I medle wyth theme in deed. Trowthe it is, that byfore the Siege of Boleigne, I ORIGINAL LETTERS. and other, to ryght a good noumbre, as ambassadors, met & hade many treaties & communicacions wyth th'*ambassadors of France, some tyme at Boleyng, some tyme at Calys, & somtyme at Sandyngfeld ; & after all my compaygnye, except Sir John Doon & Sir John Troblevyld,» were retomed into England, they two and I mette at Boleigne dyverse tymes wyth the lord Quardis : all whych season indured frome abowts my- chaelmas to it was abowts Candelmas then next en- sueng ; and in the moyne tyme, besyds the tymes of the said metyngs, J contynued allwayes at Calais ; & dureng that tyme, by the kynges ordynance that ded is, whos saule God pardon, I medled wyth the haven of Calice, & in my mynd brought it to that condicion, that if the scluse that I caused to be made hade not be destroyed by Sir John Turbrevyle then thresorier of Calice, it had be nowe a good hav3m. And also in the meayne tyme I rode to Hams & Guysnes, to make good chere wyth the capytayns; but farther dyd I never medle in noon of the saide places. And as for the Bokes that it is supposed I shuld have, verely my Lord noon I have, nor never had, nor never see noon, savyng suche as be wont to remaigne in the Counsell House of Calice, and in the handes of th' Officers and the Counsell ther, concemyng the ordre of the retenue, and the rule of the Toune ; wherof I never had copye nor noon desired to have. • Turbervylc. 8 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 9 m My singular good Lord, in my most humble wyse I beseche your good lordship favorabely & beningly to interpretate & take the premisses, and, in considera- cion of the same, to be soo good lord to me as by your good meanys thys my excuse, grounded uppon reson- able causes, may be acceptable to the Kynges Grace, to you my Lord, and all other of the Kynges most ho- norable Counsell. Also my Lord, I have not soo sklenderly buyldyd my selve, nor soo weykly estableshed my house in thies parties, that I can honestely or conveniently so sodenly depart hens, nor incontynent come theder. I have also many causes in my handes bothe of correccions & justice, that if I shuld sodenly relinquyshe theme, I shuld unresonabely & inhonestly disapoynt many ma- ters & persons, to my great rebuke & sclaundre. And oonys in xv. dayes I visit my Cathedrall Chyrche, & the Monastery e of Hyde, whych may not s(X) sodenly be discontenued. Finally my Lord, I also beseche your good lordship, that in case thies advised fortificacions & municions of Calice and the other places, be ordeyned to be doo for suspicion of Werre or Siege, that then the reparacion and ryggyng of Ships be in lyke wyse avaunced, for if owr enemyes be lordes of the See, Calice may not long hold. In lyke wyse the Isle of Wyght whych hathe no Capitaigne bydyng wythin it, and is full sklendrely inhabit, and wors fortifyed & provydcd of artillarye, and also Portesmowthe, shalbe oon of the fyrst thyngs that owr enemyes woll loke uppon ; flPor as your good Lordship well knoweth, if the werre fortune, it shall do great service. And in thys partie I beseche you my Lord, to remembre the warant that I left wy th you for the wages of ij. goonners for the towre, & the blokehowse, and the keper of the brewe bowses theer, whych must be regarded be it werre or peaxe. Thus doo I presumptuosely encombre your good Lordship wyth thies rude maters, but they be necessary ; and I do make me sure ye knowe and considre the same better then I can wryte. And thus I shall daily pray the Holy Trinitie to send you, my Lord, as good lyfe and long as I wold wyshe to my self. At Wynchestre the ^ last day of Apryle. Yo^ humble bedeman and preste, RI. WYNTON. It is evident from one part of this Letter that our Historians have followed each other too implicitly in asserting that Wolsey's ingratitude was the principal cause of bishop Fox*s retiring from Court. We have here his own authority for ascribing it to a different motive. He had ** no little remorse in his conscience." The scenes of the reign of Henry the Seventh preyed upon his recollection. 10 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ti LETTER XCVII. Anne Boleijn to her father Sir Thomas Boleyn^ ujxyn her coming to Court. [ms. coll. cobp. christi cantabb. cxix. 9. Ort^.] ♦^* The reader is here presented with what it is believed wiU prove to be the earliest of all Anne Boleyn*8 Letters now remaining, written to her father immediately before her appointment as one of the Maids of Honor to Mary Queen of France, the sister of King Henry the Eighth. By the report of our Historians, Amke must have been at this time in her eighth year. It is the first Letter of her own composition in French, and is preserved among archbishop Parker's Manuscripts at Cambridge. The present Copy is from a Tracing, kindly supplied to the Editor by his friend the rev. Thomas Shelford. For the emendations and Transla- tion in the mai^, the reader's thanks are due to Charles Konig, Esq. who, in this instance, has loosened a knot which was tied too tight for the Editor to unravel without assistance. Hever Castle in Kent, whence this Letter appears to have been dated, was Sir Thomas Boleyn*s residence ; where tradition still pretends to be full of the recollection of the loves of Henry and Anne. In the signature to this Letter, Anne Bdieyn appears purposely to have Frenchified her name. It is here placed out of chronological order : but, in truth, the Editor had at one time determined to omit it from the Collection, believing that the attempt to decipher it would be in vain. The ** Ejusdem Epistolae Versio Latina" which follows the original in Nasmith's Catalogue, is an unsuccessful attempt at a Latin translation, somewhat later in point of time, by a hand unknown. 1 I MoNss*". Je^ antandue par vre lettre que a ves envy b que touf . S onnette fame^ quan je vindre^' a la courte ^ • j HI. k aves envoyd, or, avei euvie: the latter seme has heen adopted in the translation. <^ toujoursf '< femme. * viendraL < cour. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 11 et ma vertisses^ que la Rene prendra la pein de devisser^ a vecc c moy de quoy me regoy ^ bien' fort de pensser parler a vecc ung perssone tante sage et onnete cela me ferra a voyr^* plus grante anvy* de continuer a parler bene franssais et aussy espels especiale man pour sue que mellaves tant recomende** et de meman* vous a versty ^ que les gardere la meux que je poure ^ monss*" Je vous suplye descusser'" sy malettre et" male escripte car je vous asure quele et ettografie « de monantandemant sule P la ou 9 les auttres ne sont faits que escript de ma main et Semmonet me dit la lettre mes demeurea fan je lafi ^ moy meme de peur que lone ne saces sanon que » je vous mande et je vous pry II 4 ' Tratulation, Sir, I find by your letter that you wish me to appear at court in a manner becoming a respectable female, and likewise that the Queen will condescend to enter into conversation with me. At this I re;)oice, as I do to think that conversing with lO smtible and elegant a princess will make me ever more desirous of continuing to tpeak and to write good French ; the more so as it is by your earnest advice* which, I acquaint you by this present writing, I shall follow to the best of my ability. Sir, I entreat you to excuse me if this letter is badly written : I can assure you the spelling proceed* entirdy from my own head, while the other letters were the work of my hands alonet and Semmonet tells me he has left the letter to be composed by myself that nobody else may know what I am writing to you. 1 therefore pray you • m'avertissea. *> deviser, i. e. s'entretenir famili^rement. c avec. ' rejouy. ' faira avoir. ' envie. " 6peler. i> specialement par ce que (vous) me I'aves tant recommand^ » noa main. •■ avertis. I que je le garderai (observerai) le mieux que je pourrai. "> d'excuser. " ti ma lettre est. je vous assure qu'elle est orthographic. f leuL 1 la ou, i.e. au lieu que. r m'est demeuree afin (que) je lafie (fisse). ' que Ton ne sachc, sinon que. It ORIGINAL LETTERS. que la loumire » de votre vue net libertte dc separe ^ la voullonte c que dites aves de me edere ** car hile*^ me samble quettes ascure on .... la ou vous poves sy vous plet me vere ^ de clarasion de vre paroile et de moy soues sertene que miara seoffice de peres R ne din gra- titude h que sut en passer ne et fasera mon a vecsion queste» ede libere^ devivre autant sainte que vous plera me commander et vous prommes que mon amour et vonduel par ung si grant fermette quele nara James pover de sane '" deminuer et feres »» fin a mon pourpono a pres mettre recommande bine humbla- mante a vre bone grace et scripte P a Uevre de Vre treshumble et tresobiessante fille ANNA DE BOULLAN. i\ Translation, not to Buffer your superior knowledge to conquer the inclination which you say you have to be of service to me; for it seems to me you are certain .... where, if you please, you may fulfil your promise. As to myself, rest assured that I shall not,* ungratefully, look upon this office of a father as one that might be di*. pensed with ; nor will it tend to diminish the affection you are in quest of (?), re- solved as I am to lead as holy a life as you may please to desire of me: indeed my love for you is founded on so firm a base that it can never be impaired. 1 put an end to this my lucubration after having very humbly craved your good-will and aflection. Written at Hever by Your very humble and obedient daughter ANNA DK BOULLAN. • lumlere. b n'aye hbert6de supper, olAFr.J^ vaincre (defeat, overthrow). c volcmt^. * aider. • 11. f faire. % soyez certain que je mirerai {fw regarderai) cct office de pere. »» ni d'ingratitude. » ni cflacera mon affection qu*t^ \ >' et je delibere — I propose. i fond^. «» si grande fermet<5 qu'ellc n'aura Jamais le pouvoir de s'en— » ferais. o pourpens, old Fr. deep study or thought, perpcMkMU p terite. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 13 LETTER XCVIII. The Vice President and Fellows of Magdalen College to Cardinal Wolsey^ upon his request to dig stone from their quarries hi the neighbourhood of Oxford for his New College, [mS. COTTOK. FAUST. C. VII. foL 187. Orig,^ •^* Wolsey had been fellow and bursar of Magdalen CoU^. Fiddes, as well as the tradition of Oxford, ascribe to him the building of Mag- dalen Tower, between 1492 and 1501. Chandler, in his liife of the founder of the College, is unwilling to allow it, though he admits that Wolsey was in ofHoe at the time of its construction. The quarries alluded to in the early part of this Letter were those of Hedington near Oxford, from which Magdalen Collie had been itself built, and which had been worked from the time of Henry the Third. The rest of the Letter is complimentary to Wolsey, for settling the differences at Oxford between the townsmen and the scholars, and they had been very serious from 1516 to 1523, when King Henry the Eighth, through the Cardinal's influence, granted to the University a fresh and ample charter of privileges. In 1524, Wolsey appointed John Hygden, the President of Magdalen Collie, to be the first Dean of Cardinal College. He was again made Dean of the same College in 1532, upon its refoundation by King Henry the Eighth, as Christ's Church College. Magntficentissimo Principi D^ Thomae Omnipo- tentis Dei providentia Archiepiscopo Eboracensi, Sa- crosanctae Romanae Ecclesiae presbytero Cardinali, Apostolica? Sedis et a latere Legato, Angliae Primati et Cancellario summo, Vicepreses Magdelanensis ac f 14 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 15 PI u universus Contubernalium coetus, fcelicitatcm precatur perpetuam. Accepimus nuper Literas tuas magnificentissime Princeps, quae profecto candidissimi pectoris tui testes syncerissimse esse potuerunt, Nimirum quum apud nos Magdalenenses infinitis nominibus tuos, in re levi- cula et nullius profecto momenti, si aliqua meritorum tuorum ratio habeatur, precibus potius quam imperio uti maluisses. Quorsum enim spectat, ut tu Princeps maximus, et cujus sapientia jam totum Christianum Orbem in stuporem converterit, petas potius quam imperes ut liceat Celsitudini tuae ad opus pientissimum, videlicet hoc sacrosanctum Asylum uti Lapidicinis nos- tris ; quae baud dubie si omnino aure^ essent^ quales apud Persas jactitantur monies^ nunquam tamen vel minimae beneficiorum tuorum parti respondent valuis- sent. Nam ut alia innumera et quae incredibilia pene viderentur, omittamus, quid unquam rebus nostris utilius aut accommodatius contigisse potuit, quam est istud quod nuper singularis sapientia tua divinumque consilium, facillime et velut minimo digitulo praestitit, confirmavit, et ratum fecit ? quum te autore, te duce, te auspice foelicissimo, repente velut ab intestino bello, a civili discordia, ab infesto tum odio turn dissidio, a litigiis, jurgiis, et simultate maxima, quum demum e plusquam aestuariis irarum fluctibus, in fratemam pa- cem, in veram concordiam, in quietam et sinceram amicitiam, in sempiternam praeterrita? litis oblivionem, in tranquilissimum unanimi consensus portum, traduci- mur, componiniur, et sedamur. Animum ergo hostilem deponimus, bellum execramur, damnamus arma, con- tumeliorum piget, adeo ut nunc atrocissimum suppHcii genus perferre videremur, quam iterum banc in arenam descendere. Ca&terum quandoquidem ea hominum imbecillitas est, ut nequeant aliquando a periculis suis temperare, quin naufragus interdum, resarcita navi, mare repetat, victusque victorem hostem nonn unquam bello lacessat, curavit circumspectissima prudentia tua eum virum nobis perficiendum, cujus oculata sagacitate, animique moderatione futurum speramus, ut quemad- modum animus noster adhuc recenti hujus furoris me- moria a dissensione longissime abhorret, ita quoque in posterum omnis dissentiendi occasio auferatur et pereat. Nam ut alias complures et animi et corporis illius dotes quas in homine, vel hoc tantillo spacio quo nobiscum versatus est, satis clare perspeximus non recenseamus, nihil penitus praetermittet, quod ad banc concordiam quae tuis auspiciis inter nos cepta est, stabiliendam perpetuoque sanciendam pertinet. Omnes enim ex aequo, mira comitate, humanitate maxima, compellat, tractat, et sibi conciliare studet, non alia (ut plane ap- paret) de causa, quam ut quum omnes sibi arctissime devinxerit, se cum omnibus, ceu caput cum membris, in unum idemque corpus, indissolubili nodo adglutinet et constringat. Pergat ergo infinita bonitas tua nobis semper hujusmodi viros procurare. Pergat benefa- 16 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ciendo semper se vincere. Pcrgat dcinum de virtute et Uteris tarn ultra fidem bene mereri, ut si nunquam antehac incepissent, per te initium sumpsisse videantur. Vivat, valeatque Majestas tua semper foelix faus- taque. Magnificentissimo Principi I>. Thomse Dei Optimi Max. benignitate Archiepis- copo Eboracensi, Sacrosanctae Romanse Ecclesiae Presbytero Cardinali, Apostolic® Sedis et a Latere Legato, Angliee Primati et Cancellario Summo, dentur h» Liters. Op the Letters which are extant, addressed to Cardinal Wolaey, whether from private individuals, from corporate bodies, or from crowned heads, there are scarcely any which are not fiUed with compliment and flattery. Francis the First, in writing to him, signed constandy " votrc bon amy." Charles Duke of Savoy wrote " Mons'. le Cardinal mon cousin.*** Margaret Queen of Navarre announced her belief of her pregnancy to him, apparendy at her modier's desire, widi her own hand, as " Mons'. mon bon frere;*' finishing " votre bonne sceur et fille Mar- guerite.** «» Christiem King of Denmark wrote to him " Amico et Pro. tectori nostro longe charissirao.*' Charles the Fifdi used to sign " votre vray bon amy.** Margaret archduchess of Savoy almost uniformly wrote to him " votre bonne mere Marguerite ;** and even the superscriptions of her Letters, " a Mons'. le Legat d*Angleterre mon bon fill.** « Lower in Society greater homage was paid. Bishops, Lords, Abbats, Priors, and die inferior clergy, vied with each odier in their terms of aduladon. The President and Fellows of Magdalen College Oxford, in die preceding Letter, wrote " Magnificendssimo Principi ; vivat, valeatque Majestas tua.** The Prior of Wlnchcombe caUs him ^' CardinaUum splendor et decus : gloriose Cardinale et Princeps;** end- ing, " in dulcissimo Jesu, et in omnibus Sanctis, semper vivat sacra vestra dominado, sancdssime, reverendissime Pater, et D. merit© obser- vantissime.** To muldply these instances were needlcM. • MS. Cotton. Vesp. F. in. fol. 58. fc Ibid. fol. 57 b. •• Madame ma commande ne craindrc point a vouf ewrlDra quelle pansse que je soye fjrousse de quatre moys." * ' MS. Cotton. Galba B. viii. foil. 9t, 184 b, 137. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 17 LETTER XCIX. Cardinal Wolsey to King Henry the Eighth^ chiefly upon the discontent expressed at tlie manner of sup- pressing tJie small Monasteries with which his College at Oxford was to he endowed. [mS. baker, BRIT. 2IUS. HARL. 7035. p. 174.] •^* The return of Francis the First to his dominions, so minutely nodced in one or two Letters of the preceding Volume, was followed by demands from England of certain restitutions, the enforcing of which in the nc^ociations at Compeigne was deputed to Wolsey alone. This was, in fact, the critical moment of Wolsey 's fortunes, when, to use Cavendish*8 words, his enemies "lay in a-wait with my Lady Anne to take the Cardinal in a brake.** The first part of the present Letter alludes to these n^ociations. The rest shows that the enterprise to ruin him in his absence had become successful : the King himself not only listening to, but reiterating the general dissatisfacdon at die Suppression of those Monasteries with the revenues of which the Cardinal's College was to be endowed. It is re- markable that in this Letter, as if in compliment, Wolsey calls it the KlNO*S INTENDED COLLEGE. The following is the dde of this Letter as given in Baker*s hand writing : ** Letter written by Card. Wolsey *8 own hand to K. Hen. 8*''. transcribed from a Copy ukcn of it by ArchBp. Abbot, endorsed thus, ' The Ongimll I sent back io the office of the Kitig's Papers, Jta estf o. CANT. Apr. I7, 1616.* *' To the King's Most noble Grace, Defensor of the Faith. S\ After my most humble & lowly recommenda- tions, it may like your Highness to understand that it hath been & is much to my rejoyce & comfort, to perceive by the relation of S^ Tho. More how the dis- courses & communications which I have had with the VOL. II. SER. 2. c i 18 OEIGINAL LETTEKS. Chancellor of Alanson sent from my Lady the Fr. King's mother for treaty of peace with your Highness, have been to your contentation & pleasure ; wherein S^ as in all other your affairs, I have not, ne shall pre- termit any labor, diligence, study, or travail, which may be to the conducing of the same to such end as shall be to your Highness honor, exaltation, & benefit. And where it hath pleased your Highness of your excellent goodness & gracious favour, to advertise me by the said S"*. Tho. More of such reports as have ben made unto your Highness, consisting in two things, the one con- cerning the office of Clerk of the Market within the liberties of the Monastery of St. Albans, & the other my officers in the Suppression of certain exile « & small Monasteries, wherein neither God is served, ne religion kept, which, with your gracious ayde & assistance, converting the same to a far better use, I purpose to annex unto your intended College of Oxford, for the encrease of good Letters & virtue. I most humbly thank your Highness for that it hath pleased the same, so like a good & gracious Master, to give unto me knowledge & admonition therof, ascertaining your Grace, that as to the office of Clerk of the Market within the liberties of the said Monastery, I never was minded either to extend or to diminish, but in such manner to use the same as I found the said Monastery possessed aforetime ; for at your last being there, the * Exile, t. f. Alien Priories ; Cells to foreign Mouasteriet. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 19 Graunts made by your noble Progenitors, confirmed also by the late King of famous memory, your noble father, whose soule Jesus pardon, & also by your Highness, were showM unto your Councell, whereby they evidently perceived, that neither the Marshall of England, ne the Steward of your most hon^l^'. House- hold, ne also the office of Clerk of the Markets, shall be exercised with the said liberties, by other then the officers of the said Monastery, as by the Graunts & Confirma- tions, ready at your good pleasure to be eftsone showed, doth right largely appear. Nevertheless, whereas the inquest & officers there, have not justly, discreetly, & indifferently assessed & taxed the prices of the Market, as to right, equity, & the good commodity of your Grace's servants hath appertayned ; I who knew no- thing thereof, am not only discontented with them, for their misdemeanor in that behalf, & shall with God*'s grace, see them ordered accordingly, but also have no small cause most humbly to thank your Highness, whome it hath pleased to see the said prices reformed, unto the due order & direct course. And God forbid that I should, or suffer any man to, encroach upon any part of your jurisdiction royall, trusting verily, in con- sideration of my poor service, that your Highness will be as good a Lord to that your Monastery, as your noble Progenitors have been, as I most humbly, on my knees, beseech your Highness to be. And albeit S*". some folks, which be always more c2 II m 20 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. n 8 ~i|,, I: !! -I J prone to speak evil & report the worst without know- ledge of the truth, have percase informed your High- ness of some disorder that should be used by my Com- missaries in suppressing of the said Monasteries, yet most humbly I shall beseech your Highness, after your noble & accustomed manner, to give no credence unto them unto such time as your Grace may hear my de- claration in that behalf. For S^ Allmighty God I take to my record, I have not meant, intended, or gone about, ne also have willed mine Officers, to do any thing concerning the said Suppressions, but under such forme & manner, as is & hath largly been to the full satisfaction, recompence, & joyous contentation of any person which hath had, or could pretend to have right or interest in the same, in such wise, that many of them giving thanks & laude to God, for the good chance succeeded unto them would for nothing, if they might, return or be restored, & put again into their former State, as your Highness shall abundantly & largly perceive, at my next repair unto the same. Verily S*". I would be loath to be noted, that I should intend such a vertuous foundation for the encrease of your Highnesses merit, profit of your subjects, the advancement of good learning, & for the weale of my poore soule, to be established or adquired ex rapinis. But, God willing, shall in such wise proceed to the perfection thereof, with prejudice or derogation of any man^s right or interest, that it shall appear to all the world, that I am minded to sett forth that act sincerely, purely, & without injury, wrong, or damage to any person. Howbeit, S' . I account myself most bounden unto your Highness, in that it hath pleased the same so favourably & benignly to advertise me, of the re- ports contrived in that behalf, which I trust in such wise to avoyd, that your Highness shall not only be therwith contented, but also they shall peradventure be the more circumspect, to make any such like reports hereafter. Finally, S**, I send herewith unto your Highness, a Copy of certain Articles & Clauses excerpted & taken out of the Popes Letters now sent unto his Oratour here resident, declaring in what terms he doth stand with the French King, alledging that he hath nothing done, nor intendcth to do, to the prejudice of your Highness & the Emperour. And albeit his Holy- nesses demeanor in that behalf, is not so laudable, ne of such sort, as I would it were, yet it is not so evill as it hath ben bruted & reported, trusting that after the arrivall of my last Letters, wherein I have ben rounde & plain, his said Holyness shall alter his copie, & per- case shew himself according to such expectation as your Highness & I have had of him. And thus Jesus preserve your most noble & royall estate. At my Howse besides Westminster y^' 5^»^ day of Febr. by your most humble Chapleyn, T. CARD . EBOR. fSt ORIGINAL LETTERS. I ? 1 I"- h LETTER C. Henry Stafford to King Henry the Eighth ^ praying to he restored as son and heir of Edward Duke of Buckingham, J,D, 152U. [cart. AXTIQ. cotton. XIII. 19. Orig.^ •«• From the statement in Dugdide*8 Baronage, an ordinary reader would suppose that Henry Lord Stafford had been restored, without in- tention of further disturbance, to a portion of his father's lands, in the U'** of Henry the Eighth. The present Letter of petition, presented in 1629, explains the manner in which Wolsey's vindictive feeUngs Interfered with what was intended to be royal bounty. Dugdale states that this Lord Stafford, by Ursula the daughter of Sir Richard Pole, had issue three sons and a daughter. We here learn upon his own authority that he had boarded in an Abbey firom sheer poverty for four years, with his wife and seven children. In his moste humble wise shewethe vnto yo^. Highncs your most humble and true subiect Henry Stafforde, fione of EdwM-de StafForde late Duke of Buckingham, whiche eght yeres paste for his offences contrary to his aQegians, by verdite of his perys of highe treason was atteyntyde, and after for the same sufFred not only his dethe, but by the course of your lawes forfeited all his landes, goodes, and hereditamentes, into your Highnes handes, and after by your highe Courte of Parlament more largely therof atteyntyde ; not only forfetting all the premysses, not only in debarring his heires from all his landes, goodes, and possessions, but also from ORIGINAL LETTERS. » all honor, degre, and reputacion that of right to every true subject apparteynyth or belongyth after there degres, except yo . Highnes of yo". most mercifull and juste disposicion, calHng to yo^ gracius remembraunce, do ponder not only the offence done by the father of your saide suppliant to the utter vndoing of his heires for ever, but also will most equally mercifully agayne waye and remembre, first the powr innocensy of your saide suppliant in and of all and every of his faders offences, and also his true and onspotted demeanor not only sins the dethe of his saide father, but always affore, not vnknowne to your Highnes ; and where your moste noble Grace of your most bowntious disposicion graunted to your saide subject and suppliant CCCCC marke landes, to take and parceyve sins the next Mi- chalmes after the dethe of his saide fader, not only for his leving but also for the joyntor of his wyffe. So it is moste graciouse Prince that at the tyme of dely- very of the saide Landes to your powr subject by the Lorde Cardinall, late your Highe Chancheler, your powr Suppliant perceyving the same landes not to be of the saide valure by^ most humbly declared the same then by sondry bokes made by your auditors and otherwise to the saide Cardinall, whiche at that tyme willyd your powr suppliaunt to take the saide landes, and promysyd on his prestwoode to be contynuall suter to your Highnes for the pcrformacion of the saide CCCCC markes, to • The blank here it in the otiginet. edit. If 24 ORIGINAL LETTERS. whome yo^ saide Suppliant contynually after was suter till the next Parlament folowing ; at whiche tyme he answerd that owther he shulde be content with the saide landes, or elles he shulde not only have no landes at all but also your Graces highe displeaso*". Wherfore your saide Suppliant, cheffely exchewing your highe displeasour, and trusting that the saide Cardinall at lengythe wildhave remorse for his wrongfuU and vn- true deling with your powr subjecte, dyde not only mekely accept the same lande, but also hathe conti- nually be suter to the saide Lorde Cardinall, whiche alwayes hathe put your saide subject in comforte of ampliacion of lyving, wherof no effecte as yete hathe folowyde, to the greate poverance and vndoing of your saide powr subject. And for bycause affortyme, for none offence fownde nor imputyd to your powr sub- jecte, he was (after grette coste done uppon a powr house in Sussexe in whiche he dwellyde thre yeres) causyd by the Lorde Cardinall most sodenly to leve and brek uppe his housholde, and to departe and sell that litill whiche he hadde there to his greate losse and hinderance, and bycause he hathe no dwelling place mete for him to inhabyte upon suche Landes as he hathe of your most graciouse gyfte, and there tarying to knowe his pleasour where he shulde abyde, fayne to lyve full powerly at boorde in an Abbey this foure yeres daye, wyth his wyff and seven children, to there gret care, sorowe, and hevynes. In consideracion of the premysses, most humbly bysiching yo'. Highnes yo». ORIGINAL LETTERS. 25 powr suppliant, considering his truythe and circum- stance o/ the premysses, to restore yo"". saide suppliant in his blode as sone and heyre of blode to his late fa- ther by what so ever name or surname yt shall please yo'*. Highnes, with suche ampliacion of lyvjrng as shall stande with yo*". Graces pleaso^, and farther protestyth by thys his peticion that he nowther desirythe nor covet a the highe name or dignytie that his late father hadde, nor never dyde, God he takyth to his juge ; nor to have therby any estate, preemynence, dignitie, name armys, maners, landes, or tenementes, other than by your Hignes shalbe appoyntyde ; but that he may be indyfferently taken, and reportyd amonge with other your true subjectes after his demeano% that yt may be scene that your Highnes dothe bere no displeaso^ nor grudge, but equally according to his demeryte dothe, and will hereafter take him, and he, his wyffe, and children, shall not only praye dayly for your Highnes, but also spent his goode and lyffe in your Graces ser- vice, in whiche his lyf to spende and fynysshe, is and shalbe his most desire and comforte. ^ • covctelh. . . , T -** b The Coltonian Manuscript Vespasian F. xiir. fol. 116 b. has an onginal Letter of Henry Lord Stafford, probably written at this very time, to Mr. afterwards Sir Thomas Wriothesley. •• Master Wrysley as hertely as my hart cane thinke I recomend me to ye, and so do thanke yow of gret geniiUnes shoued unto me, whiche I assure yow shall not be fforguten on my be halffe if I may do you plesur. And for lake of lesir I pray yow to gyve orders to this berer. also your aduysse ffor my Sute to my Lord Pryvy Sell whiche I truste ys butt resonabil with Godis grace, hou send ye as weU to ffarc as I wuld my sclffe. This Twysday the xxvj. day of March. Vo' boundonc, HBN^-.Y bT AFFORD." 96 ORIGINAL L£TTSS8. 0EI6INAL LETTERS. £7 LETTER CI. Cardinal Wdsey to Thomas Cromwell, entreating him to come to him^ and to enquire if the Lady Anne's displeasure is assuaged, [a feagbient in the cottoniaw libra&t. Orig.^ • « Among die fragments of the Cottonian Library rescued fVotn the Fire of 1731, there are many of Wolsey's Letters and Drafts of Letters, entirely in his own hand, both before and after his fall. They seem to have belonged to CromweD^s Papers; and, being imperfect, have been neglected by his Biographers. Those before Wolscy's fall, are, one to Mr. Strangwysh at Wherwell, that the King had granted him the cus- tody of the heirship of Sir Ralph Bygott's sons; one to Mr. Bulmer on some benefice ; one to Mr. Ashton one of his servants or agents ; two letters from Hampton Court, on the suppression of an insurrection ; and a portion of a letter to the King, in which he regrets that he cannot send His Majesty some quails, but will send some seeds ; regrets that one Stubbes stands in a Premunire, adding " I think it will cost hym money or he get out," and then says " I beseche your Grace to be so good Lorde as to send me a geldinge ; and I trust shortly to see your Grace :" dated London the last day of June. Of the Letters after the Cardinal's fall several are to Cromwell, and most of them begin Hke the letters to him which are printed in the former Series: '^Entirely beloved;" " Myn onely ayder in this mine intolerable anxiety and heaviness;" "My only refuge and ayde;" "Myne owne good, trusty, and assuryd refuge in thys my calamyte." Wolsey has been thought to have borne his disgrace with somewhat less of manly feeling than became his (Ugnity : indeed his Letters bear evidence of it both in this and in the former Series : but there were mo- ments when he shewed a degree of courage even toward the King. When Master Shelley, one of the Justices of the Common Pleas, announced to him that it was the King's pleasurfe to possess himself of York Place, Wolsey pleaded that he had it not as his own property but as the patri- mony of his See, and that consent on his part would be as it were a " departure with another's right for ever." Shelley told him that his Highness had " sent for aU the Judges, and for aU his learned counsel, in xtKoH ieUnmnatiom it wat f^ retclvei iKai hit Grace shouldn. cognize before a Jttdge the right thereof to be in the King and hu iuc- cetsors. * Master SheUey,' quoth he, » yc shall make report to the Kmg's Highness, that I am his obedient subject and faithful chaplain and headman, whose royal commandment and request I will in no wise disobey, but most gladly fulfil and accomplish his princely wiU and plee- sure in aU things, and in especial in this matter, in as much as ye, the fathers of the Uws, say that I may lawfully do it. Therefore / charge your conscience and dischaeoe mike. Howbei^ I pray you, show Hu Majesty from me, that I most humbly desire His Highness to caU > fuitheriug. 28 OAIGINAL LETTERS. wher as I can nat, God shall rewarde yow. Now ys the tyme to shewe whether ye love me or not. Wher- fore in any wyse take . . . thys purpose summe lytyl tyme. Ye shal not tary here long .... . . whych your comyng I shal showe yow myne in all suche thyngs as ye have wryttyn to me afore. I am now in no . . . poynt to wrytt at the leynth any thyng, nor shalbe abyJl any yf I contynue in thys cas nam dies met J* . . entur . . with Mr. Nores affor your comyng of whom ye may . . . . sum specialnes yf the desspleasure of my lady Anne be sumwhat assuagyd, as I pray God the same may be, then yt shuld that by summe con- venyent meane she be further ys the onely helpe and remedy all possyble means atteynyng of hyr favor, I have God knowyth to • . . nowe to showe cheryte, F^y. your wyl Although the latter part of this Letter is wanting, there can be no doubt that it was written from Esher. Wolscy speaks of the illnes* which agitation had brought upon him in strong terms. In the Fiist Series of these Letters* one from Dr. Augustine to Cromwell, in Italian, • Vol. U. p. a. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 29 has been slightly mentioned, requiring aid for ** Monsignor Reveren- dissimo,*' the usual style in Italy for a great churchman, and evi- dently meanuig Wolsey, dated Esher Jan. 19, 1529-30. This Letter is so ill written, as far as penmanship goes, that it would be difficult to give an exact transcript of it. Nevertheless it deserves a farther notice. Augustine begs in it that Master Butts and Master Walter may be sent down as soon as possible ; adding in Latin " Res multum urget Pru- denti et Amico pauca." He wishes Leeches, hungry mes, to be pro- cured, and desires that Master Balthasar, or if he cannot or is unwilling, that some other person may be sent, who understands to put them on. He adds again in Latin, " Periculum est in mora :" and signs " A vestri commandi, Auo. de Aug." P! LETTER CII. Cardinal Wolsey to Thomas Cromwell^ concerning his House, belonging to the See of York, at Batter sea in Surrey* [mS. cotton. BRIT. MT7S. Ortg.^ ♦,• A moiety of the manor which had belonged to the Stanley family in Battersca, consisting of nearly four hundred acres of land, with houses, &c was purchased in the Sg"* of Henry the Sixth, by Laurence Booth then bishop of Durham, and by him afterwards annexed to the See of York, of which he became Archbishop. The House upon this estate, not far from the water-side, at Battersea, called York-House, is said to have been built by him. It was in- tended as a residence for his successors when their affairs should call them to London ; and fourscore acres of land were reserved, by a special clause in their farmer's lease, to be surrendered to the Archbishop to use as demesne lands, at a month's notice, whenever he should be resident at Battersea, or within sixty mUes of that place. This is the House aUuded to in Wolsey's Letter. Tradition speaks of Wolsey's residence here; and the room is yet shewn in which he is said to have entertained Anne Boleyn ; Lysons however in his Environs of London thinks both traditions hnprobable : the House being too smaU to contain half of the Cardinal's retinue, and so ORIGINAL LETTERS. his residence at Whitehall bearing the same appellation, where his enter- tainments were more likely to have been given.* It is remarkable that in the superscription of this Letter which must have been written in the month of June 1530, Cromwell is designated at Wolsey*8 wellbeloved Counsellor and Servant, ** Young Daunce,** for whom, as his father-in.law, Sir Thomas More had be^ed the occupation of York House at Battersea, was the son of Sir John Dancy. He married Elizabeth, Sir Thomas Morels second daughter. There is something in this Letter which tells us that Sir Thomas More had misgivings of his elevation. Nor is it unworthy of remark that the signature of him who here asks a favor, stands at the haul of those who preferred charges against Wolsey. Maister Cromwell in my right harty and lovyng maner I commende me unto you, signifieng unto the same that albeit I have heretofor, as ye do well knowe, at the sute and desir of my Lord Chaunceler made unto me on the behalf of young Daunce his sonne in lawe, graunted unto hym the use and occupieng of my poor house in Batirsey, if any casueltie of deth, or any other incommodite or inconvenience chaunced unto hym, wherby he shulde be inforced or compelled to remove from his awne house ; yet, I never mente nor intended that my por servaunte John Oxynherde, who hath maried a poor kynswoman of myne, shulde be expelled out of the same ; but that they shulde have their habitacion and dwellyng place therin, for their relefe and comforte. Notwithstanding, my said por kynswoman commyng hither from thens to her no litle coste and charge (her husbonde beyng upon the See • EnT. of London, i^\ edit. vol. i. pt. i. pa. ti, W. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 91 for helpyng of the conveyance of my por stuf hither) hath shewed unto me that she is commaunded clierly to remove and departe from the said House, not know- yng wher to have a place to put in her hede, to the utter undoyng of her, her husbond and children: wherof, if it so be, I do not a little mervaile, consider- yng that in makyng of the said graunte unto my said Lord Chaunceler, I never thought ne ment that they shuld be clierly removed from the said house, but that my Lord Chauncelor . . other his folks beyng in the forsaide necessite shulde have alweys the occupieng and use of the principall parte of the same. And they in • . absence to have tlie custodie therof,'and in their presence to have .... cem in the same for their dwellyng & mansion place as shalbe righte convenient. And thus I alweys declared unto yong Maister . promysyd that they shuld not be disturbed . . their moved from the . . . Wlierf . , . . to your . . . and good dexterite to move hym on my behalf thus to be contented and pleased ; requyryng and praying you furthermore that they may have, besids that they have all redy, parte of such pastures ^ wer reserved to the use of my household, to ferme, payng therfor as moche as any other wolde do for the sustenaunce of their catall, withoute the which they cannot leve. And grete pitie it wer and ferre discrepant from kyndenes that any strangers fi il 32 ORIGINAL LETTERS. shulde have any preferrement by lease, copy, or other- wise afore any of my pore kynne, unto whom I am naturally and of charite bounden to see in their neces- sites. Nowe ye beyng advertised of my mynde in the premisses, myne assured trust is that ye wol for the love that ye bere to theym and me see theym ordered accordyngly. In doyng .... ye shall admi- nister unto me right singular pleasur, as knoweth God who alweys preserve you. From my manor of South- wel th • . . . day of June. Your lovyng ffrende T. CAR'is ebor\ To my right trusty and wel- biloved counsaillor and ser- vaunte Thomas Cromwell. LETTER cm. Cardinal Wolsey to King Henry the Vlllth. recom- mending to the King his College at Oxford. [draft in wolsey's hand, a fragment in the cottokiaw LIBRARY.] •,* The expected destruction of Cardinal College was one of Wolsey's last afflictions. It had been founded in 1526 upon the site, and partly with the buildings of the Austin Monastery of St. Frideswide ; but before the vast design could be perfected, Wolsey had incurred the premunire. Still, however, it was not dissolved, but continued in being after Wolsey'g death. On or about July \T\ 1532, the prayer of Wolsey's petition WM 80 far complied with, that it was reestablished for a Dean, twelve ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3S Canons, &c under the style of Kynge Henry the Eiohthe's Col- lege IN Oxford, which was again surrendered into the King's hands July 18*>», 1645; and the next year the See of Oxford being removed from Oseney hither, the Priory Church was made its Cathedral, by the name of CHRIST CHURCH, and the chapter and CoUege refounded. The last patent of foundation was dated Nov. 4'*», 1546. A Copy of the Statutes by which Wolsey's foundation was to have been governed, is still preserved among the Hargrave Manuscripts in the British Museum. The Re-foundation is without Statutes : Henry the Eighth intended to have given them, but died befcve they were prepared. Most gracyous Sovereign Lord and mercyfull Prince, prostrat at your majestys fete with wepyng terys, this shalbe in moste reverent and humble maner to recomende onto your excellent cheryte and goodnes the poore College of Oxford, wych for the gret zeele and affection that your Grace beryth to good Lettres, vertue, and norishyng of Lernyng,and in consyderacion of peynfull and longe contynued servys . . con- tentyd that I shuld erect, founde, and establishe, and wher, not withstandyng my convyccion in the Premu- nyre, of your most excellent nature wych hath ever be moved and propensyd to clemency and mercy then to rygor and severyte, yt hath pleasyd your Hyhnes to your perpetuall meryte, honor, and most abundantly to impart your mercy, lyberallyte, and bountiosnes vnto me, for the which I accept my self of all creatures l3rv3mg to be most oblegyd and bwnd3m ^unto your Majeste. So yt may please the sam to have pety^ and pity. VOL. II. SER. 2. 84 ORIGINAL LETTERS compassyon of the poore Dene and Canons of the sayd Colege wych now reparyth onto yowr Hyhnes for knowlege gracyus pleasure in there establyshment and contynuance • . . . yf yt schule seyn* to your hyhe wysdom and mercyfuU cherytable goodnes .... be Statuts or Ordynance any thing therof ys . . . superflus or owt to be reservyd both ther and Submyttyng our sylf to suche ordyr and dyreccion 11 devyse and take .... in that behalf shulbe agreable conformable and . . . and dayly to Almyghty God dayly prayers for the ot . . . There is a fragment of another Letter to King Henry the Eighth from Wolaey, of which enough does not remain to ascertain the entire subject, further than that it seems to relate to the capture of " a Bryton schyp." It begins, ** Moste gracyous Sovereyn Lorde as to the premyssys and dedaracion of the troweth, albeyt yt ys long agon sythyns thys thyng was don, and by reason of myn age, gret hevynes, and calaniyte, my remembrance ys nott so finesche or quicke as yt hath beyn ; yet insuyng your moste dred commandement as ny as I can call to mynde I shall declare what I do knowe and what have bye done in the forseyd matter/* ORIGINAL LETTERS. 55 LETTER CIV. Wolsei/ to Crofnwell, Thanks Jbr assistance; and re- commending his Colleges. [dEAFT IK WOL8EY*8 HAKD. A FRAGMENT.] M. Cromwell for as moche as thys present berrer departyth by post for the dethe of M. Larcke on whos sowle Jhesu have mercy, and that I am in suche In- dyssposycion of body and mynde by the reason of suche gret hevynes as I am yn, being put from my slep and mete for such advertysments as I have had from yow of the dyssolucion of my College with the smale comfort and apparence that I have to be retenyd by the Kyngs hyhnes in thys myne extreme nede, makyth me that I can not wrytt onto yow for wepyng and sorowe, wherfor thes shalbe not onely to geve onto yow my moste efFectualle thancks for suche gret paynys as ye have takyn in all my causes him so to requyte the same to your full satysfaction , . , . as I shulbe of more abylyte but also to recommende .... poore astat and Collegys to your and other goode . . ds helpe and relefF besechyng God to inspyre in hert more pity and compassyon and to consyder . • . d2 36 ORIGINAL LETTERS. . . . moste nobyll hert whether I have deservyd thus ..... to be delt with And that such thyngs as I have . . . . to the increase of Gods honor feyth and relygyon extyncte and convertyd to other prophane . . . virtuusy and shall of lyclyhoode . . . ende referryng the redresse therof .... God and to the Princes moste mercyfull thus with wepyng terys I lye Sowthwell . . ORIGINAL LETTERS. 37 Drafts of one or two other Letters occur, entirely in Wolaey's hand, soliciting the friendship of individuals for his College at Oxford. Of these the following may serve as specimens. 1. Myn owne goode M. Antoney aftyr my moste herty recommendations with lycke thancks for the goodnes wych as a most lovyng perfyght and constante frende ye have showyd onto me in all my causys and pursuitU most entirly praying yow of contynuance this shalbe semblable * to de- syre yow that foras moch as the Deane and Canones of my pore College in Oxford doth nowe repare unto the Kyngs Hyhnes for knowlege of hys gracyous pleasure on ther establysshement and contynuance to be good mastyr onto them, and in place and tyme as ye schall nede and se cause to helpe them with your sad** wyse cownsell and good advertyse- ment And sythyns as ye do well trowe the seyd College hath beyne erectyd and induyd with lands by the Popes . . auctoryte, the Kyngs moste royall asent concemyng the sa in as ef. fectuall wyse as cowde be devysed by the Jugys of the lawe and other well lemyd men, gret pety and yt were that for my in the Premunyre opon consyde .... respects M ye wol trowe that thes poore ScoUers and schuld ittffyr ather by dyssolumg of ther body . . . . . or by takyng • semUablT. * S"^** Awey of any notable Wherfore open my . . . and with for the olde love and amyte that heret now the Kynges Hyhnes and . . . . as fit . . • you shall a thjmg so . • cannot be in consyens convertyd to any other use then of the seyd College. This doyng ye shall bynde not oncly them and me ever more but also besyds our dayly prayers so to requyte your goodnes as ye schall have cause to thyncke the same to be well imployed and bestowyd to . . . 2. Myn owne good mastyr Shelley aflyr my moste harty comendacyons thes shalbe in moste entyre and efFectuall wyse to desyr you at the re- verens of God and in the way of cheryte and for the olde Amyte and Love that hath bcyn be twyxt us and for that I have usyd your counsell therin to be good Mastyr to the poore Deane and Canens of the Car- dynalls College in Oxford and with your dyscret cownsell and faverable ayd to helpe them nowe in ther extreme nede as well for the contynuance of t . . . incorporate Body as also that no notoble or gret portion of the ho . . be takyn from them ; for gret pety and, &c. (that they should suffer). S. Myn owne lovyng M'. Crumwell thes shalbe not ondy in . . herty and lovyng maner to salute yow but also to sygnyfy .... I am gretly desyrows to understand and here from you . . . afferys stand and procede not onely conscmyng my Collie . . . also myn owne poore asUt in the releff wherof myn ondowted trust ys that ye wole in all placys and tymys shew yow ... as myn assuryd frinde and onely comfort And suerly .... yn what hevynes of mynde I am yn presently a M«ne dayly more and more do increase I have no d your gentyl hert wold have com- paasyon therof And that . . . possybyll meanys ye wold studdy and labor for .... *nd releff. And albeyt I have acquyetted Q|. assurance consemyng the Inquysycions of the lands appert my poore archbyshoprych yet such brutu and oppr .... sprongyn therof in thes parts that I am wery of undyretand and here the same. Ther ys no thyng here .... lamentacion and momyng not knowyng particularly what .... I pray God that I may be onys in re. ■ 1 38 OBIGINAL LETTEE8. posse and may be had to my pore astat and old ■ervycys b contynue yt wher ye may reduce all my thyngs and dexteryte to summe substantyall tnyne and . • . . in your poore * to make my lorde of Northfoike niy I am moste desyrows. And havyng such opportu to the Kjmgs presens, ye may from tyme .... forthe my causys at the reverens of God . . to your gret meryte a . • • laude . . Ye have nowe the gret love and zele that ye wards and without suffcryng me for hevy And fynally yo and peynys . . . . shalbe fully But The Correspondence relating to his College seems to have kept the hatred of Wolsey^s enemies alive. In this respect it was perhaps unfor. tunate for him ; for though the King, whilst Wolsey lived, took no pub- lie steps to continue the Foundation, he suffered it to stand, and evidently regarded it with kindness. The Courtiers feared that by producing a personal intercourse with the King, it might restore the Cardinal to favor. LETTER CV. John Briertorine to Mr. Tho. Wriothesley Cleric of the King's Council^ reporting the Jcmmey of his Master an English Ambassador^ through France^ with re- marks upon the rigidness of search which was exer^ cised in the time of Charles Vth, the Emperor^ in Spain, [ms. cotton, vesp. c. XIII. fol. 258. Orig.] My dewtie moost humbly remembred, these shalbe moost humbly to doo you t'understande that my ORIGINAL LETTERS. S9 • power. Maister with all the rest of his company have passed a long and a paynefuU Journey in sauftie without pe- rishing of horse or man, thanks be to God, as through the realme of Fraunce by Lyons, and soo by Avinion,* and from thens to a Castell in the borders of Spayne called Salsees, the strongest Castell (in myne opinion) in the World ; and thence to Barsilona, and soo passed Catilone into Arragone, where we came into a €itie called Seragoza, where we were extremely handeled, as though we had been Jewes. All our cariage was had home to the serch house, where all my Master's apparail and the gentlemens, with the rest of the ser- vaunts were serchcd to th'uttermost. They made us to pay for all things that were unwome. There escaped not somoch as a dossen of points. ^ They be the spitefullest people in the world. We could have no favor amongs them. My Master told hem that he wold pay no custume ; for it was limited that every Ambassador shuld goo and come fre in all places christened. All that wold not help. He told them he wold ride in post to th'Emperor without his com- mission, and declare unto him, he being an Ambassa- dor, after what sorte he was handeled. They an- swered therunto and saide, that if Christ or Sanct Fraunces came with all their flock they shuld not eskape. Th'Emperes, but nowe of late, sent a Post to th'Emperor at Barsilona, with a litle Floure of silke, of her oune making, enclosed in a box, which she wold • Aviguon* tag». 40 ORIGINAL LETTERS. have had conveyed secretel y : and as sone as the Post to the said Seragosa was come, they came to serch him. He wold have given them a hundereth crownes to have passed uncerched. They would not under a thou- sande ; and whenne they had sene it, the thinge itself was not worth a cople of ducketts. They set as much by th'Emperors Lettres as they doo by myne. From thens we came to Castila where we be nowe ; whiche we shall praise as we finde hereafter. We have founde it veray good hitherto. At my Master accesse in post to this Towne th'Em- peror caused his officers to dislodge a Countie * for my Master, which is the fairest lodging in the Town next to th'Emperors. Yesterday at after none th'Emperor sent for my Master, where he was gently entreteigned, nat with pompe and setting furth of himself, but with sobre and discrete words, like a wise man. Other newes we have none here worth the writing, but that I pray God sende you muche worship, with good lief and long, to the pleassour of God. From Valedolide the xxiij'»'. of June. Your moost humble servant JOHN BRIERTONNE. To the right worshipful and my ringuler good Mr. Mr. Thomas Wriothesley oon of the Clerks of the Kings moost honorable Signet. • a Count. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 41 LETTER CVI. Eleanor Countess of Rutland to the Lady Lisle ; a Letter oftJtariks and kindness, [ms. cotton, vesf. f. XIII. foL 90. Orig.] •^» Eleanor, daughter of Sir William Paston of Paston in the County of Norfolk, knt. was the second wife of Thomas earl of Rudand. My verie good Lady, in my right hertie maner I recommende me unto your good Ladishipe, signifying the same that I have received frome youe, by maister Hussey, a Pipe of Gascoigne Wyne and two barrells of heringe, for the whiche and others your manyfold kindnes heretofore shewed I rendre unto youe my hertie thankes, assuring the same that if there be any pleasure that my Lorde or I can doo for youre ladi- shipe, here or elswhere, ye shall have the same accom- plished to the best we can accordingly. And where ve be verey desirous to have youre daughter maistres Basset to be oon of the Queue's Graces maids, and that ye wold I shuld move hir Grace in that behalf, thies shalbe to doo your Ladishipe to wite that I prceive - right well the Kingis Highnes pleasure to be suche that no more Maids shalbe taken in, untill suche tyme as some of them that nowe be with the Quenes Grace 43 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 43 be preferred. Albeit if ye will make some meanes unto mother Lowe, who can doo asmoche good in this matier as any oon woman here, that she maye make some meanes to gete your said doughter with the Quenes said Grace: and in soo doing I think ye shall obtene your purpos in every behalf. And I for my partie shall doo the best I can to preserve here, for I wold be right glad thereof bothe for the greate ho- nestie that is in hir. And thus our Lorde kepe your Ladishipe in helthe. At the Corte the xvij. daye of February. Your Ladiships assured ELYNOR RUTLAND. To my very good Lady ray Lady Lislie her good Ladyshipp, these be yeven. child brought her very early into notice. Lingard conceives that it alone gave rise to the tale that she was in reality Henry's own daughter by the lady Boleyn, a story which Cardinal Pole would not have faUed to have told if it had been true. Henry's profligacy toward Maky, the elder sitter of Anne Boleyn, he has not spared, but reproached him in his Treatise " Pro Ecclesiastic© Unitatis defensione," addressed to Henry himself, and written by his express desire, • first with seducing her, and then with retaining her as his mistress. The Work is rare ; the reader shall be possessed of Pole's own words : « Si uxorem idcirco reliquisses, quia legem tibi persuasisse nefarium illud et abominandum matrimonium pronunciare, an non maxime operam dares, ne te iterum tali matrimonio contaminares ? an non ab iis personis penitus abstineres, quae in eadem, ac deteriore etiam quam prior uxor, causa essent— Quid ea, quam tute tibi in repudiate locum consociasti, cujusmodi tandem est ? An non soror ejus est, quam tu et violasti primum, et diu postea coNCUBiNiE loco apud te habuisti 9 Illa IPSA est. Quomodo ergo nos doces, quam refugias ab illicitis matrimo- niis? an tu hie legem ignorabas, (i. Cor. 6,) quae non minus profecto vetat, sororem te ejus ducere, cum qua ipse unum corpus factus sis, quam ejus cum qua frater ? si una detest anda est, altera etiam DETESTANDA." ^ The precise date of Henry's misconduct with Mary Boleyn is not preserved. Anne must have returned to England about or before 1526. When Mary Queen of Louis the Twelfth came back as a widow, Anne went into the train of CUude Queen of Francis the First, where she remained till the rupture between the two kingdoms. After the detail here given, the reader will not wonder that Cromwell should be informed that his Master was held in derision at Antwerp. LETTER CVII. John Coke to Master Thomas Cromwell reporting' a satyrical exhibition at Barrow reflecting on King Henry and Queen Anne. [ms. cotton, galba. b. X. foL 40. Orig.] •,• The respect of the English nation for Anne Boleyn's memory is M Queen. The extraordinary distinction which was shewn to her as • Right honorable Sir, and my right syngulier and especiall good Maister, after moost humble recomenda- cions precedyng,as to your right honorable Maistership apperteyneth. It shall please the same to understonde • — " in guls Uteris praecise imperavit, ut meam sentcntiam Bcripto tertarer." Reg. Poll Apolog. at Car. V. tuper quatuor Ubrls a se scriptis de Unitate Eccl. Edit. Brix. *• R^. Pole ad Henr. VIII. Brit. Hegem pro Ecclw. Unitatis defensione Libri IV. fol. Rom. lib. hi. fol.lxxvilb. 44 OBIGINAL LETTERS. howe that a naughty person of Andwarp resorted to this towne of Barowe this Pasche marte, with Images and Pictures in cloth to sell : among the which clothes he had the Picture of our soveraigne Lord the Kyngy (whom our Lorde preserve). And this day settyng up the same Picture upon the Burse to sell, he pynned upon the body of the said Picture a Wenche made in cloth, holdyng a paier of balance in her hands; in th'one balance was fygured too hands to geder, and in th'other balance a fether, with a scripture over her head, saiyng that Love was lighter then a fether, whereat the Spanyards and other of the Duche nacion had greate pleasure in deridyng, jestyng, and laughyng therat, and spekyng sondry opprobrious words ayenst his moost noble Grace and moost gracious Quene his bedfelowe. Wherupon immediatly and with all dili- gence and haast possible (after I had knowleige therof) I resorted to the Scowte, borowmaisters, and skepyns of the said towne of Barowe, declaryng unto them the maner of this naughty person, and facion of the Span- yards and other, who, incontinent, sent for the said person, and examyned hym streightly therof, which excused hymself, allegyng that he meaned therby no hurt. Nevertheless he said that a certeyn Spanyard (to hym unknowen) desired hym to lette it stande, and he shuld be borne out: wherupon they commanded hym to commytte no suche like thyng eftsones upon payne of forfaiture of all his merchandises, and further OBIGINAL LETTERS. 45 to be punyshed in exemple of other. And thus after my humble servys presented unto your moost honorable Maistership, with my daily praier, I lowly beseche the Holy goost to sende the same th'accomplisshyng of your noble desires. Written at Barowe the xxij^^ day of May Anno xv^. xxxiij^. by the hand of your moost humble servant JOHN COKE, Secretary unworthy to the Merchants Adventurers, To Mastf. Thomas Cromwell of the Kyngs most honorable Cownssell soil dd. at London. LETTER CVIII. Matliew Kyng to Thomas Cromwell, upon the raising of the Siege qfCoron hy Andrew Doria. [MS. COTTON. MUS. BRIT. KERO. B. VIl. foL 91. Orig.] •^* This specimen of the foreign correspondence with Lord Cromwell acquaints us with the particulars of the relief of Coron by Andrew Doria, one of the greatest Sea-Captains of the sixteenth Century, who having quitted the French service in disgust in 1528, was now the Admiral of the fleet of Charles the Fifth. Coron, one of the most ancient towns of the Morea, had been taken from the Venetians by Bajazet the Second in 1500 ; and by Doria from the Turks m 1532. Doria quitted it in 1534, that it might not be an obstacle to his negotiations with the Sultan. Coron, in the sixteenth Century, from ito situation, was considered a place of great defence. 46 ORIGINAL LETTERS. In Venys the 1 day of October an ' 1533. Ryght worshipffull Syr, my dewty con83rryng » in most humble wyse I recommende me unto yowr gocxl- nes, ever more desyryng to herof ^ yowr good welfare whiche I pray Jhesu long to contynewe unto his ple- zure. Moreover plesyth yt yowr Mastership to have onderstonding of the newis here in thes parties : as upon the Fryday the xij. day of August last the Turks Armado was before Coron ; by water Ixj. galy and XX. foysts, c and by lond xij.M. men of armes Turks. And the same Fryday Androwe Dory come to geve socours to yt with xxvj. galyes and xxiiij. ships, and fought with Turks with ther ordenaunce, in so moche the Crysten men slew of the Turks xvj. or xvijC. and ther was not slayne of Crysten not xx. persons : this persevyng the Turks, that thay wayr so sore beten with ordenance, fled toward Muddowne, and in fleyng thay met with ij. of Doryes ships that was behynd ther ffelows, and the Turks toke on of them, and the other wolde not yelde. This seyng Dory, he retornyd agayne, but with ix. of his Galyes, and rescuyd the ship that was not taken, and toke her agayn that was taken, with ij.C. Turks in her, and then with all his ships and galyes wentt and geve socours to Coron, vytell for ij. yere with ordenaunce and all other neces- saryes. Now this seyng the Campe of the Turks by lond, that the galyes and foysts ware fled, in lyke • coofidering. * hear of. « • pinnace or little ship. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 47 maner thay fled lyke bests, and left ther ordenaunce and vytells behynd them ; which Androwe Dory had, all pesably : and so Dory remaynyd in Coron v or vj. dayes to fet ord\ ^ and put in wages iiij.M. men of armes, and then departyd with his ships and galyes, and went back agayn to Myssyna. This is all that has ben done this Somer in this parties. Other newis I have none to wrytt unto yow Mastership, but that ther ys great deth in Constantynople. No more unto yowr Mastership at this tyme, but that I pray Jhesu save yowr lyfe in helth and prosperite long to endure. Amen. Wrytten ut supra By yow^ servaunt and trew bedman MATHEW KYNG. Al multo raag*"". Domino M. Tomaso Cromwell in London. ■ ordenance. 48 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 4d LETTER CIX. Lord James Butler to Mr. Rob, Cowley in London, censuring the conduct of the Earl of Kildare^ then Lord Deputy^ and others, in Ireland, [us, COTTON. TIT. B. XI. fol. 406. Orig.] I HAVE receyved your Letters and am right glad of the bringing to light of sucbe matters as was falsly surmysed and reaported of my Lord Prive Seall in this land ; whiche to prove, ye knowe that I emystly indeworid myselfe, as to my dwetie dud appertaine. My Lord Deputie is the Erie of Kildare newly borne againe, not oonly in distruyng of thoos that alway have servid the Kinges Majestie, but also in mayntenyng the hole secte, band, and aliaunce of the said Erie, after so vehement and so cruell a sorte as the like hath not been seen to be bydden by, O Connor, that evyr hath bene the oonly scourge of the Englishe pale, who hath maried the erle of Kil- dares doghter, is his right hand ; and who but he. O Karroll,nowe called Fargananym, that hath maried the said Erles other doghter, and was alway the conduc- tor of the traictor Thomas Fitzgerald to the Irishrie, is nowe in favor with him, noo man like, nexte O Connor ; insomouche that he hath lately sent his houshold ser- vantes and his awne company with the said Fargana- nym to beseige the Castell of Byrr, whiche, as you knowe, is my lord my fathers inheritans ; like as the Erie of Kildare did at the begenyng of his rebellion. My said Lord Deputie hath promeysid to geve to the said Fargananym (as he affermeth) Rossocree and the Nenaghe whiche hath been thees viij^"^. yeres in Irishmen is possession, unto suche tyme as my lord my father recoverid the same, by reason of the Kinges Ma- jesties graunte to him therof, oute of the said Irishmens harides nowe of late. I wolde he went aboute to re- cover Englishmens possessions oute of Irishmens handes as ernestly as he doth practys to kepe and defend the same in the said Irishmens handes. O Neile, th'erle of Kildares kynnysman and chiefe band, who alway aswell in my Jord of Northfolkes tyme, being tjie Kinges Lieutenaunt, as also in Sir William Skeffington is tyme being his Graces De- putie, was the scourge that the said Erie had uppon the bordores of Mith and Uriell, when the said Erie wolde procure him to styrr, is nowe mouche made of by my said Lord Deputie ; insomouche that he doth promeys to bringe him to Dublin to bere the swerde afore him, as he did before the Erie of Kildare. What followed therof I nede not to tell you, &c. Kedaghe roo and his brethrin the late O Mores sonnes, who assaulted me and after murdrid my VOL. II. SER. 2. E 50 ORIGINAL LETTEE9. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 51 brother Thomas, nowe of late hath prayd the lord- ship of Owghter-Inn, xx. myle within the English pale, having noo more company but viij"' horssmen, and parte of my Lord Deputies servaunts who comaunded the gentlemen of the Countie of Kildare in my Lord Deputies name to suffre the said O Mores sonnes to passe by, and not to medle with them, when they were in a full redenes to rescue the said prey ; wherof my lord Deputie had xx kyne, Stephen Appare x kyne, and Edmund Archebold son of ther guydes ij kyne. The said Kedaghe and his brethrin were Thomas Fitz- geraldes mynons, and none like them in effect aboute him, and were drawen to robbe the IngHshe pale then, like as they are nowe. Nowe of late my lord my father, taking with him O More that nowe is, to Dublin, by vertue of my Lord Deputies letters, who was chosen by my said Lord Deputie, the Kinges Majesties Comyssioners, and the Counsaill, to be chiefe Capitaine of Leys, and have taken his landes of the Kinges Highnes by certain ser- vices accordingly, there was taken, and moost cruelly intreated by my said Lord Deputie ; so that my said father have had suche rebuyketherby thrughoute all this land, and also have taken the same so to hart that not regarding his age and debilitie of body all his frendes scarcely could stay him from going to the Kinges Ma- jestic to complayne of all the premyssis, thoo he shuld be carried thether in a horse littere. ) There is noo thinge so unjuste or so wrongful! but our Deputie here, for the favor whiche he berith to the Geraldyns, other for kyne or mony, wolde accepte, suffer, and allave » the same. To be playne with you, like as Counte Duruse in Flandres when the peace was concluded betwene the Emperor and the Frenche Kyng by Monseur Dubure lieutenaunt to the Emperor, and others of the Em- perors Counsaill, whiche peace the said Counte Duruse thought to be against his Maisters honnor, dud pro- meys not to put hameys evyr on his bakke under the said Lieutenaunt, unto suche tyme as he had seen the Em[>eror ; so likewise do I promeys, as thus adwisid, withoute I be comaunded by the Counsaile who can not ruele my Lord Deputie any thing in this matter, not to put barneys on my bakke under him, my duetie alway unto his rome and auctoritie oonly exceptid, unto suche tyme as I se the Kinges Highnes or knowe his Majesties pleasure by my Lord Privie Scale, to whos good lordship I am ashamed to write, seing I have not at this tyme his mony reddy to be sent to his brdship ; but God willing I woll make bessye shifte to send the said mony in haste unto him with all pos- sible deligence. I wold rather wishe me to be at Je- rusalem, soner then his Lordship shuld conjectur or fynde in me any pointe of untrouth in that or in any thinge else willingly, • allow. e2 52 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. ss I do not thus complayne withoute twoo greate a cause, for there is none of all my servauntes that walkes the kinges strete of Dublin, but is quarrelled withall by my Lord Deputies servauntes, in calling my lord my father and me Trautors ; which were it not the rome that he is yn, both he and they shuld be sone answerid ; but the treasone woll be founde where it bathe bene alwayes. Alias that the chiefe Justice, the Maister of the Rolles, and You ar not here for the space of iiij. dayes ; and there againe to se howe the worlde goes, our Go. vemor thretnes every man after suche a tyranny us sorte as no man dar speke or repungne reasonably against his apetite, more then I or any other true Christen man durst speke against the Bisshopc of Rome'*s usurped auctory tie yf we were there ; of whose Secte he is chief and principall in this land, albeit ther is noo thinge so apparante but he wold denye, &c. My lord my Fatlier as yet is not retomed from Dublin, and as I am enformed your sonn Walter is gone over with letters from him and others of the Counsaill to my lord Privie Scale ; what the tennor of them or of his instruccions is I do not know as yet. To conclude, yf all Irland shuld devise to enfeble the Inglishrie of this land, and by a meane under color of indyfferencye to streinthen the Irishrie, they could not imagyne or put the same in effecte more emyst then my Lord Deputie nowe doth, and, thnighe comforte of him, O Neill callith for his blake rent in Mith and Uriell, Mc Morrow in the Counties of Kilkeny and Wexford, and this newe O KarroU in the Coimtie of Tiperarie moost of all, by reason that my said Lord Deputie did put downe the last O Karrolls sonnes that servid the Kinges Highnes in the Rebellion and at all other tymes. He hath trodden them under fote to strength the said Fargananym, the erle of Kildare^'s sonn in lawe, which O Karrolls sonnes were ever a yokke in his neke wherby he could not hitherto styrr oute of his awne Countre to do any Englishmen hurt. So that my lord my Father and I, because he is mayn- teined and borne by my said Lord Deputie dare scarcely resist him in the distruyng of Ormond, or for the taking of the said blake rentes whiche by parliament is re- strayned to be any further payd by any of the Kinges subjectes.^ I pray you to have me moost hartilly recomendid to myne awne good Lord Privie Scale, to whom I am moost bonden of any erthly creator aldemexte the Kinges Majestic ; and to oppen unto his lordship aH the matters forsaid at length to be declarid unto the Kinges Highnes for my discharge in that behalfe, and thus fare you hertily well, from Kilkeny the xx day of Junii. If the Boke winche is put yn by syxe Cardinales in • Black-Rent, was a payment made to the powerful Irish chieftains to purchase their protection ; and was considered by them as a recognition of their ancient sove- leignty. See Lei. Hist. IreL il 54 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Rome against the abuse of the Churche or Congrega- cion of Rome be put in prente there, I pray you send me oon of them, having me hertilly recomended to my good lord of Worchester whos good lordshipe woll send me the same or some other good wurkes yf you put him in remembraunce of the same. Your awne JAMES BUTLER. LETTER ex. « John Mason at ValladoM, to Thomas Starlcey at Padua, A. D. 1535. Observations made in Spain. News from England. More and Fisher committed to the Tower. Execution of the Holy Maid of' Kent, S^c. [m8. cotton. VE8P. c. XIII. fol. 327- Orig.\ My assurid frind, I commend me hartly to you. Sir in my last Letters I wrote somewhat of length of the manner and fasshon of thys Contray, as myche as a strawnger might. I do nothing more diligently than note and marck every cite, hyll, filde, and specyally siche as olde authorys, Romaynes, make mentyon off; as Saltus Castulonensis, Sagunthus, Numantia, Char- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 55 tago nova, Bilbilis, Hispania citerior and ulterior, how they be devidid ; with many other ; whereof the moste part I have sein, and the rest as shortly as occasion shall coom, I wyll. Here be many Cyties, butt nother great nor peopled, nother yett goodly buyldid, notwithstond'ing that in every of them here and there you shall finde goodly howsis. The people be tractable i noweghe and gen- tyll whan we have nothing to doo wyth them, domi parci, forts voraciss. Freers and Moncks be in great reverence, to whome only itt is lawfull to speke with a mannis wife alone. Vitaylls be of a competent pryce: all other things as cloth, lether, books, &c. be unresonable dere. We be departyd from Tolledo, whyche is the metropolitan of Castilla, th^Archbisshop whereof may dispende 80,000 ducats by yere. This is off all Castylla the bed towne and best peoplid ; and famowse by resonn of the river Tagus which ronnith by itt: but itt is the paynefullist towne that ever mann duellyd in. Itt is through so up hyll and downe hyll. Here master Embassador lost the stuard of his Howse, ij. mules of 100 ducats a pece, and a mule of 60 ducats. From thens tVEmperor removid 250 Maij, driven from thens by reson of the unreason- able bets that there be, and is come to Valladolid, 300 myle nere unto Englond. Whereas Imperatrix, within vj. days after hir entrans, obortiit fetum mas- ' 1 [ 56 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 57 culum, to the great displesur of th'Emperor aiid all in Spayne. Mr. Embassador tooke his jorney strayt from ToUedo to Valladolid. Th*Emperor made a grete progress before he cum there, and I, for eertayne besines, followyd the Cowrt, and saw by the way many sumptuous receyvings of th''Emperor in to Townes and Cyties. And among all on Duke, callid el Duque de Alva, recey vid him in to his Howse, and the space of iiij. dayes fownde hym and all his Cowrt (which was estemid at 4000 parsons) horsmet and mannismete. And to me was delivered for th'Embas- sador of Inglond, every day, ij. shepe with all manner off other things inogh for forty men, notwithstonding that I tolde them that th'Imbassador was not in the towne. From thens he went to Salamanca. This is a great Universitie, conteyning seven or eight thowsand Students, all in manner studiing Law ; all other lerning they sett nowght by, notwithstanding that dayly there be red all the vij. Scyences, with Latin and Greek competently well. There th'Emperor hard disputa- tions, whiche was * Utrum Ikeai Chrkiiano Principi per helium vtndicare Injuriam illaiam Amko^ and was defended quod sit Of Inglond lityll ty dings cum to us but as medical menta go m pulmones. They be almost in all the worlde before they com hither. Papam nan agnoscu mu^' That I am sure you know. Every man swerc now in verba Regis et Begince; qui nolunt^ turriti statimJlunL^ Inter quos sunt ter maxmus ilk Morus et RoFFENsis,^ and many other. As for th'execution • committed to the Tower. b •• MoRi'8 et RoFFKNsis:" Sir Thomas More and bishop Fisher: whose subM- quent fate after a Iciifithened imprisonment, every reader is acquainted with. Cardinal Pole ha« given an account of Sir Thomas Mork's coming from the Tower to his trial truely affecting : " Quin illud llbenter scire veUm. quibus oculis. quibus auribus haec quae jamdu- dum narro. de condemnatione et supplicio Mori, vel audire cum referrentur, vel cum fterent aspicere potueris. Scd tu potius Londinensis civitas. cujus m conspectu haec gerebantur, cum e carcere eductum ad causam majestatis dicendam vuleres eum, ad cujus tribunal allquanto ante reos majestatis sisti memineras : quem tu pueruro, fcdolescentem. virum. ingrave««ntc denique aetote per omnes honorum gradus summa cum laude et omnium gratulationc propter rarissimas ejus virtutes proces- wsse, et tandem ad amplissimum munus conscendisse videras. et quia dvis idem et alumnus tuus erat, non sine tacito quodam gaudii sensu videras, quod m eo laudem tuam ac decus agnosceres: cum eundem e carcere sordldatum, ac reum exeuntem, non tarn annorum numero quam carceris pkdork et molbstia SENEM jam rACTUM (tunc ei.im primum canum in conspectum tuum career exhibuit) toto cor- pork, viribtu fractis, debilitatum, cum scipioni innitens, et sic etiam fix agrum corpus sustentans, non tam ad causam dicendam, quam ad ckrTam condkmna- TiotiEM, longissima et maxime celebri via potius trahbretur quam irbt: quibus hscc ocuhs aaplciebas ? Quid cum eadem via jam condemnatum ut proditorum pcenas lueret, retleuntem vldcbas, cujus fi.les crga te imllo iiec pra>mio nee supplicio osten- ttto i)otuerat expugnari, quibus oculis aspiciebas? Nempe lachrimantibus scio. Necenim certe aliter fieri potuit, cum videam ali en iShiMOS etiam homines, qui cum nunquam noverant. nunquam ab eo beneficium acceperant, tantum dolorem ex ejus morte accepisse. ut cum qua- de ea re scrlpta circumfcruntur legerent lachnmas tenere non potuerint : sed ut si^ suum civcm ac de se optime meritum. crudehssime et Iniquissime nccatuin audircnt, ita Moro homini cxterno. neque alia re quam fama sibi noto illachrlmaverint. Ac mihi pUnc, tanto intervallo, haec de ilUus morte scribenU, qui non tam multas privatim amoris causas cum co habui. sed virtutw iiotius et probiUlis ergo, quodque patria; utilissimum esse scirem eum amavi ct colui • sic tamen (icsUs est mihi Ueus) invito lachrima; oboriebaqtur, ut scriptionem nuixiine imiiedircnt, et iiwas sa^pe lileras delerent, ut vix ultra progredi \x»sem." Poli pro defens. Eccles. Uniutis. fol. xciiii. More was beheaded July 6th, 1635. Fisher had suffered in the month of June. Hall says, " Ako the xxii. day of Uie same moneth Jhon Fvsher bishop of • Rochester was beheaded, and his head set upon London bridge. This bishop was of very many meiine Umented, for he was reiwrted to be a man of great learuyng ; and a man of very good life, but therein wonderfully deceived, for lie maintained the Pope to be supreme Head of the Church, and very maliciously refused the Kynge's tytte of Supreme Head. It was sayd tliat the Pope, for that he held so manfully with hlro and stood so stifly in his cause, did elect him a Cardinal, and sent the Cardiualle* hat as farre as Caleys, but the head it should have stand on, was as high as London Bridge or ever the hat should come to Bishop Fysher, and then it was too late, and therfore he neither ware it nor enjoyed his office."* Baker, the Cambridge antiquary, luu preserved a porUon of a Letter from Thomas • Hall, Cilit. 1448. Hen. VUl. fol. ccxxvi. 58 ORIGINAL LETTERS. i^ of the holy Made of Kent with doctor Booking &c. I am sure you have hard, if not sende me worde and I wyll wryte it at length. What end this Tragedy wyll com to God wot. Iff that may be callid a Tragedye quce inceperit a nuptiis. As Gallina hath bin the cause of all, so for the defense thereofF, uni Gallo Jidimtis Julij. By your sure powre frind JHON MASON. D. Thomae Starkeyo Anglo, Paduae. To my sure frinde M. Thomas Starquey in the hows off Mr, Pole in Padua. )! i ill! 60 OKJGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CXI. Richard Layton to Lord Cromwell, from himself and his associates, upon his Visitation of the University of Oxford. A.D.15S5. [mS. cotton. FAUSTINA. C. VII. foL 205. Orig.] Pleasit your Goodnes to be advertisyde that in Magdalen Colege we fownde stablisshede one Lecture of Divinitie, two of Philosophie one morale another naturale, and one of Laten tonge, well kept and dili- gently frequentede. To' these we have adjonede a Lecture in the Greke ; that is, the Grainmer in Greke perpetually to be rede there, and all the yewthe there- unto to have confluence for ther principull. In New Colege we have stablisshede two Lecturrs publique, one of Greke an other in Laten, and have made ther- fore for evermore an honeste salarie and stipende. In All Sowllen Colege we have in lyke maner stablesshede two Lectures, one of Greke an other in Laten, with a goode stipende and salarie therunto assignide for ever. In Corpus Christi Colege we fownde two Lecturrs stablesshede by the founder, one in Greke another in Latten, publique for all men thereunto to have con- course. We have further stablessede a Lecture in Laten tonge, publique, in Marten Colege; and an HI 1? ORIGINAL LETTERS. 61 other in Qwenes Colege ; and have assignede and made a sufficient stipende for either of thes for evermore. Bicawse we fownde all other the Colegeis not able in londs and revenewis to have within them lecturs pub- lique, as the other afore rehersed hathe, we have in- jonede the saide poire Colegeis that they, and evere of them, shall frequent and have dayly concourse unto the said Lecturs. Pcenam imposuimus to every scoler within the Universitie not heryng at the leste one of thes Lecturs. For that day that he shalbe absent from one of the said Lecturs to be punissede in the losse of his commons for that day, the said paine evere day tociens quociens absens fuerit nisi concurrenti catisa all qua legitima, approhanda t a men per PrcBpo- situm Colegii sive Aulas. We have sett Dunce » in Bocardo, and have utterly banisshede hym Oxforde for ever, with all his blind glosses, and is nowe made a comon servant to evere man, faste nailede up upon postes in all common bowses of easment. Id, quod oculis meis vidi. And the seconde tyme we came to New Colege, affler we hade declarede your Injunctions we fownde all the gret quadrant Court full of the leiffs of Dunce, the wynde blowyng them into evere comer ; and ther we fownde one Mr. Grenefelde a gentilman of Bukyng- hamshire getheryng up part of the said bowke leiffs (as he saide) there to make him sewells or blawnsherrs to • Dun Scoius. Itt 6S ORIGINAL LETTERS. II !l^. kepe the dere within the woode, thereby to have the better cry with his howndes. We have also in the place of the canon lecture jonede a civel lectur tobe rede in evere Colege hale^ and In. We have further, in visity nge the religiouse students, emongyste all other Injunctions adjoyned that none of them, for no maner cause, shall cum within any Taveme, Inn, Ale-howse, or any other Howse what so ever hit be, within the towne and the suburbs of the same, upon payne onse so taken by day or by night to be sent imediatly home to his Cloister whereas he was professede. Without doubte we here say this acte to be gietly lamentede of all the duble honeste women of the Towne, and specially of ther Laundres that now may not onse entre within the gaitts, and muche lesse within ther chambers, wherunto they were ryght well accustomede. I doubte not but for this thyng onely the honeste matrones will sew unto yowe for a redresse. Other thyngs moo wiche ys to tediouse and long to conceve by wrytyng we have done, wiche all I shall declare unto yowe at my cummyng. This Sonday by nyght we shaU make an ende for all. This day we repaire to Colageis for the redresse of division and complaintt put unto us. To morowe by vij. of the Cloke in the momyng I wilbe in the Chapitre Howse at Abyngton, and I truste to bring yow the trewthe of evere thyng for that Howse ; and thereof doubte ye hall. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 63 not. On Wedinsday, by nyght at utermoste, I truste to be with yowe at Winchestre, Gode willyng, who sende yowe as goode helthe as your hert desierith. We fynde here all men applyng and glade to accom- plishe all thyngs. From Oxforde thys Sonday the xij^*^. day off Septembre by your moste assurede poire preste and servant BYCHAEDE LAYTON. To the ryght honorable Mr. Thomas Cromwell, cheffe Se- creUrie to the Kyngs Hyghnes. LETTER CXII. Wmiam Pepwell to King Henry the Eighth. Intelli- gence concerning ilie Emperor^ BarbarossUy SfC. [mS. cotton. VE8P. C. XIII. fol. 262. Orig.} ♦/ This Letter is interesting, inasmuch as it is from an Agent of the English government in private correspondence with his Sovereign. He mforms the King that he had written two Letters to Mr. Seaetary " of that that he thought needful ;" names the arquebuss as an improvement in artillery which was coming into fashion ; and records the desire of Charles the Fifth to create a force of cavalry. The act of perfidy proposed at the close of this Letter, shows how little scrupulous Henry the Eighth was believed to be, by those who served him, in attaining any purpose. Please hit youre moost exelent Highnes of your most abundante grace to understand that sens my 64 ORIGINAL LETTERS. U comyng yn to thys parties I have wrytyn ij. Lettres unto M. Secretary of that me thoght nydfull. And lyke your Grace here ys cum newys from the Cowrt how th'Emperor wulbe at Sevyll shortly after Crystmas, and the Emperatrys also, and thens to Bar- salona, and so unto Ytalya. He hathe a makyng a hondrythe new Galeys they say, to be redy by Aperell; muche ordenaunce ys com hether owt of Flaunders, and muche pepull comaundyd to be in a redynes. They do ocupy her now moost part Arcubosys, wiche gy vythe doble the strok of a hand gon : ther ys many com hether owt of Byskay, and Mores pyks. Also and lyke your Highnes all this Contrethe stondy the great feyr of Barba Roxa. He hathe a bove a hondrethe Galeys yn a redynes. He is now in Tunys wich ys the bed plase of Kyngdon of Mores » that he hath takyn sens he cam from the Turk. So all the Kyngdom ys hys. He ys lyke to do sum harm thys summer. The Emperor hathe made a act that no man shall ryd a pon no mewlys nor haknes withe sadells a pon a great payn, to the yntent to have in tyme cumyng many horsemen. Her be ij. bretheryn that dwelt in Lymeryk ; they be the Emperors servaunts. They mys use themsclfs agaynst your Highnes, as I am yn formyd. Yf I can, • the Kinf^om of the Moors. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 65 I wull make them a banket a bord on of Shipys Brystow, and, yf they cum ther, the shall land no more yn Spayn. Other, at the present, I have not to wryt your moost noble Grace but [by] the shipis of Bristow, God wyllyng, I wull com hom, and to your good Grace suche pore serves as in me lyeth ; restyng dayly prayng to Almyghty God for the prosperous pre- servacyon of youre moost noble a[nd] royall estate. Wrytyn yn Sant Lucas on saynt Stevyn's day. Youre Graces pore servaunt WYLLYAM PEPWELL. Un to the Kyngs most exelent Highnes. LETTER CXIIL Jrchbishop Cranmcr to King Henry the Vlllth.^ chiefly concerning Reginald Pole, ivho afterwards succeeded him in the Archbiihoprick of Canterbury, [harl. MS. 787' foL 18.] •,• Pole makes a beautiful use of iEsop's fable of the Sick Lion and the Fox, when Henry, affecting not to be displeased with, but half con- vinced by his Work upon The Unity of the Church, invited him to England to communicate further on the points which it concerned, and to explain certain passages in it which his Majesty had found obscure and difficult. Pole was upon his guard against the insidious invitation, and remained in Italy. For once, the King was disappointed of his victim- In the Letter immediately before the Reader the Invitation is mentioned as report only : Pole's own words shall form the comment. VOL. II. SER. 2. F p 66 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 6T it " Quwnquam iUe quidem in Uteris voluntatem 8uam dissimulare volebat, non minus quam apud ^sopum in fabula Leo, qui se aegrotuni in antro simulabat, ut reliqua minora animalia, qu« ad eum visenoi causa ingrederentur, minori labore devoraret. Inter qu« cum poatremo vulpes ab eo accersita ad ostium usque specus venis8e^ et ibi, "^ °"™* fabula, subsisteret, Leo increpans ejus diffidentiam, sic earn postmodum, ad ingressum invitavit, cum dicere^ sc agrotum valde esse, et ob hanc causam illam accersivisse, quod ejus consUio prae catens fideret ; quare propius accederet, nee dubitaret ingredi. Eodem prorsus modo Rex mecum in suis Uteris satis benignis verbis egi^ cum diceret, non sibi displicere qua scripsi, sed quia de rebus maximi momenti scnpta eran^ et in magna controversia positis, difficile esse per absentis scnpU ea plene percipere ; coram haec melius explicari posse. Quare hortan et jubere, ut ad se quam primum venirem, Ubenter me auscultaturum. Hiec quidem in Uteris, qu« minime difficUem interpretationem ejus volunUti. prsbuerunt: prasertim cum in reUquis ejus actis, qu« gravem lUam quasi nature crisim sequebantur, nihilo mitiorem factum eum a^direm, nuUum aUeviati morbi signum viderem : vidissem autem quae m fabula vulpem ab ingressu deterrebant vestigia illorum, qui vel sponte, vel ac cersiti ad eum in antrum accesissent, ui omnia aversa, nulla retho es,ent conversa. Quhj me satis admonebant, ni imprudentior bruto haberi veUem, et quid sperare, et quid facere deberem." Apolog. ad Car. V. Imperat. p. 77» """^^""■^^"^^"^^ • Pleaseth it your Grace to be advertised that I have receyved News out of Rome, from one named John Bianket a Bononois borne, sometyme my ser- vant, & now servant unto the Cardinall which was late Bishop of Worcester, & more privy with him of all Secrets than any other about him. And amonge other thinges thus he writeth. « The Pope hath called hither many Prelats for matters concerning the Counsell, amonge whom is Mr. Raynold Pole made much of, & much sett by, & receyved of the Pope himselfe very gladly. And be- cause the saying is that the King had sent for him home into England and desired him, and promised him alsoe great thinges if he would come, or at the least if that he would not goe to Rome, He now is come hither, not regarding the Kings desire, promise, nor threats. And here men doe esteeme & thinke surely that the Pope will make him Cardinal, & now he hath given him lodgings for himselfe within the Palace, & will have him neare him. And amonge those great men that be here for this matter, the selfe same Raynold Pole is here truly most esteemed & most sett by of all. And doubtles they be all singular fellowes, & such as ever absented themselves from the Court, desiring to ly ve holily. As the Bishop of Verona, the Bishop of Chiete, the Archbishop of Saleme, the Bishop of Carpentras otherwise called Sadoletus, & many other that now be here for to consult these matters of the Counsell, the which I cannot see how it can goe foiv ward as longe as the matters of warre kindled between the Princes are unquenched, without whom it is like that it cannot goe forward. Nevertheless there be sent Messengers to intimate the Counsell thorough Chris- tendome, leaving you apart, to whom they will intimate it there in writing & in citacions. Fryer Denis which wrote on the kings side, being now Generall of the Re- ligion, Cometh as Embassador from the Pope towards the Kinge of Scotts. The Emperor is now in Genoa ; and many Princes, specially the Duke of Florence goe to see him, & to shew themselves gladd, that he is f2 I.I 68 0BI6INAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 69 f m arrived there safe & in good health, which chanced but to a few Gentlemen, which be allmost all sicke. There is intreaty made for peace all that may be, and it seemeth that the Frenchmen have good hope therein, for they have left of warre, & have noe more men in Italy now, but Guido Rangone his men & those of Turin, which as yett they hold with certaine other Castles. And the Pope is fervent & hott in intreating of this Peace." Here have I written the very wordes of the Letter as I did translate them out of Italian into English as neare as I could word for word, which I can doe noe less then signifye unto your Highnes, forsomuch as there be some thinges concerning the Generall Coun- sell, & Mr. Raynold Pole, whereof I thought it my duty to give notice unto your Grace. And thus I be- seech the mighty Lord of Lords to strengthen & pre- serve your Grace ever, & to resist & suppress all your Highness adversaryes with your Rebells & untrue Subjects. At Knoll the 18^*^. day of November. Your Graces most humble chaplaine & beadisman, T. CANTUARIEN. To the Kings Highnes. LETTER CXIV. Henry Montague to Secretary Cromwell desiring his protection^ upon the Death qfhisjatlier-in-law Lord Bergavenny Euridge, [mS. cotton. VESPASIAN P. XIII. foL 106. Orig.] *0* Oeoi^ Lord Bergavenny, the subject of the ensuing Letter, died in the 27'*' Hen. VIII'*'. A.D. 1635. Thomas NevyU, who signs this Letter, was brother to this Lord ; and H. Nevyll his son and heir, was summoned to Parliament in the 3' and 4">. Edw. VI'''. he afterwards ■at in judgement upon the Queen of Scots. ■ Plesith hyt you to understond that wher hit hath bene the wyll of God to call to hys mercy, this present Sunday in the momyng about ij of the cloke my father in lawe the lord Bergevenny, who allways in his tyme trusty d you above all men, and that in the ende of his lyfF apperyd unto us manifestly, for then he comunyd of you saying that he was well assuryd of you, so that I and my two uncles shulde have your lawfull favor in executyng his wyll And that you shulde not th3mke he dyd forgett you, he remembryd you with this tokyn of golde, dissyryng you to be good unto my Lord his son, the whach ys the Kynges ward, and shalbe at his • See Du(d. Bar. torn, u p. aio. Sli* !i 1 I It II \\\ Hi 70 OBIGINAL LETTERS. Graces commaundement whan yt shall plese his Grace, as knowith God who have you in his kepyng From Eurydge within the forest of Waterdown Yours assuryd HENEY MONTAGUE. Your own T. NEVYLE. Yours hartelly assuryd H. NEVYLL. To the right worehippfuU Mr. Secretary to the Kynges Highnes, be this delivered. 3» f *♦ i LETTER CXV. Edmund Harvdfrmi Venice, to Dr. Starlcey, News respecting the Emperor and affairs in Italy. [M9. cotton. NERO B. VII. fol. 100. OrigJ] • • Of Edmund Harvel, the writer of this Letter, the Editor has not discovered any Account. In a Letter to Dr. Starkey, dated Venice, 7th April 1635, he says, " I awe moche to Mr. Winter'* (Holsey a natural son) " for his friendly mynde toward roe, as I understande by Mr. Farmer, advancing me gretely to Mr. CromewelL I pray you in my name to give him grete thanks for his humanite, of the wiche I wiU have perpetual memorye.*' Mr. Stakkey I have writen unto you sens my re- tome twies, advising yow of sochc newis as hath ben l!r ORIGINAL LETTERS. 71 occorent. By the last post owt of England I marvel that from yow and other we had not Lettres. Mr. Pole is continual in writing of his work, and that with extreme studye wiche brekith him moche, specially in thes sharpe coldes wiche hath raignid her many dais. By al the next monith I stime^ that his labor shal take end, and by my opinion ther came not soche a thing abrode as this shalbe in owr dais ; for be you assurid that Mr. Pole hath grete vertu and eloquence, with prudence and judgement, as no man thatlevith more.'^ And I dowt not but his writing shalbe both grateful and also admirable to al vertuous men, and specially unto you who delitith of him so moche, as I am per- swaded yow do. To come to the wordly ^ besines, th'Emperor by al the present departith for Rome with a grete nombre of men, and wil entre in Rome habitu trtumphalu He preparith a grete Navye of Galeis, 100 ; and many ships ; as also an hoste of xl. M. to passe into Africke «. Cardinal Pole in the Defence, which he addressed to the Emperor Charles the Fifth, of his work " de Ecclesiastica Unitate." confesses his obligaUons to Henry the VlUtfc. for his education. His mother, as wlU be seen hereafter, was the preceptress to the Princess Mary. " Scribo enim, Caesar, contra Regem Angliae, qui sum ipse Anglus, contra eum Regem, quocum me sanguine natura conjunctum esse volult, et quern propter ipsius indolem. quam oljm pre se tulit, ac propter nonnulla ejus in me beneficia tali amore ac veneratione prosequutus sum, ut nemo unquam hominem magis amavent, nemo Prlndpem majori pietate et observantia coluerit; cujua liberalitate et cura me fateor hai^sre quod scribere possum, quod literas noverim,9Mi mk solum ex Nobilitatk Anolu A in Uteris cduccndum et instituendum curavit." Apolog. p. 67- «• worldly. '!|!l 4 i.i * 72 OBIGINAL LETTEBS. ayenst Alger, Barbarossa^s towne, kept with 3000 men, as the voyce is published : albeit ther is suspi- cion of other bessines. The French Kings practises with Venecians hath bene right grete with inestimable promesses ; but thes men stondith strongly for th'Em- peror as farre as it is knowen. They have no monye for the use of ware ;» and to beginne withowt a good ground they will not do lightly. It is trowth that they are insupportable to see the State of Milan in th'Emperors hands. Her is grete suspicion of the French King ; but now in Italye he hath litil frendship ; for al the hedds except only Venecians are imperial. The Duke of Florence shal marye the Emperors dawghter. Flo- rentins hath provide in vayne to recover ther libertye of th'Emperor with grete condicions. Of the Concel her is litil mention. It is thowght the Turke shold at the present be in Const >!•'. but of that is no certainte : biit the fame is very constant of the grete ruyne he had lately of the Sofi. I pray yow salute me most entierly to myne honorable masters. And of my mony, habeas^ rogo te^ rationem ut mihi aliquando persdvatur. This Turks absence hath uttirly dec^d this towne for lacke of doings. Cesse not to write perpetually, for ther is nothing more • war. k tried. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 73 pleasant to us then your Lettres. Bene vale. In Venice the 18 Januarij, 1535. Yo"' EDMOND HARVEL. To the right worshipful Mr. Thomas Starkcy in London. Tanner informs us that Thomas Starkey, apparenUy the person to whom this Letter is addressed, was rector of the church of Great Monge- ham. In 1536 he was admitted Master of the College of St. liaurence Pountney, which he vacated by death in 1538. Two Letters, in 1535, from Barnard in Sandro, one dated from Padua the other from Venice, are addressed to him " in Aula Regis;" a third, from Venice, dated 5th Oct. 1535, is directed " Honoran. domino Thomas Starkeio, utrius- que Juris Doctori peritiss. Londini. Atte Dowgate in my Lady of Sarysbury's Place.'* Tanner says he wrote '' An Exhortation to the People, instructing them to unity and obedience;^' printe4 by Berthelet in quarto, without date. LETTER CXVI. Edmund Harvel to Mr, Thomas Starlcey. The opi- nion compressed at Venice upon Henri/ the Vlllth's cruelty to tJie Monks. Barharossa settled in Tunis. [MS. COTTON. MU8. BRIT. NERO B. VII. fol. 93. Ortg-.] You require to be certefied frely of the judgement made her of the Monks deth with yow. To write yow I lli 74 ORIGINAL LETTERS. plainly therof, the thinge was notid her of extreme crueltye, and al Venice was in grete murmuracion to her it ; and spake long time off the bessines to my grete displesure, for the infaming of our Nacion with the vehementist words they cowde use ; for they are perswadid of the dede mennis grete honeste and ver- tus, and that ther opinion was conforme with the most part of all Cristendome ; wherby they stand it was don ayenst al honest lawis of God and men to put soche men to deth, and after that kind wich is novum et in- auditum. I promise yow faithfully I never saw Ita- lians breke not at no matter tofor so vehemently as at this thing it seamid so strange and so moche ayenst ther stomacke. • • # * * Barbarossa hath made uttirly deliberacion to re- mayne in Africa, and hath fortefied himself strongely in Tonis. His Navy was not navigable thowgh he wold have departid thens, lacking a grete nomber of his sclavis and roars wiche are dede, and also he found no commodite for reparing and dressing of his galeis, wherby he is constraynid to experiment the fortune : but men hath evil opinion of hint, that he shall not be hable to sustayn this grete imperiall powar if it be con- vertid ayenst him ; and if Barbarossa with his annye shold be subdued, men reken quod actum esset de Otho- niano. But how soever the thing procedith, men are • rowers. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 75 in expectacion of grete mutacions of things. They reken th'Emperor shold depart with thre hundred sailis owt of Spaigne, and the Marks^ of Guaste hath in Sicile 150 sailis ; the nomber of fotemen are 30 M. and horsemen 2000 ; al militarye men besides a grete nomber of gentihnen and nobles with ther familye wiche is grete, and also the Ships and Galeis provided of ther sodiars. A more puissant Navye by long me- morye came not abrode as is this imperial. Hens of few dais we shal know I hope some thing memorable. Of al you shal have continual advise. I thinke to go shortely to AnC. but I wil make shorte retome by Godds grace. Vale, Venetiis the 15 June 1535. Yo'« EDMOND HARVEL. To the right worshipful Mr. Thomas Starkey in London. • Maniuis. I 76 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 77 LETTER CXVII. Edmund Harvel to Mr. Thomas Starkey^Jrom Ve- nice 5 Feb. 1535-6. A Portion of a Letter. [mS. COTTOK. NERO B. VII. foL 105. Orig.] " The newis of th'old Quenis deth hath ben her divulged more then x. dais passid, and taken sorow- fully not withowt grevous lamentacions, for she was incredibly dere unto al men for her good fame, wiche is in grete glorye emong al exteriour nations. Hie palam ohloquuntur de morte illiuSy ac vereiitur de PuELLA regia ne brevi mayi.^ sequatur. I assure you men spekith her ^ trance of thes maters, wiche is not to be towchid by Lettres.*" <-' • qu. mandato. " * here. « The fear which, according to this Letter, the Venetlani expreased for the safety of the Princkss Mary, was also felt in England. The King's hanhnetM to her at this time is well known. Pole records that the last stab which Henry gave to Katherlne was upon her death- bed, when he refused both her's and her daughter's entreaties for a last interview. *' Uiium tamen non possum pnetermittere amissi sensus omnis anu>ris argumen- tum, nuucime quod Satanam, uon aliam creaturam, ostendit; quod in fine vitc illius nobilissimae femins dedit. Cum tandem dolore victa, animam afllictam Deo esiet redditura, statim ciun sensit illud tempus propinquare (quo tempore hoitcs, qui all- quid hominis tenent, solent hostlbus misericordiam prastare) hoe toium pojttulabat a viro, vt Hceret communam filiam videre, et ilti de more imoriens benedict ionem, irr MATSR, impertiri. Quid hie dicam i Cum hoc idem filia cum lacrymis postularet, mater vix extremum spiritum ducens flagitaret^ quod hoctis, nisi crudeliiwimua, nun- quam negasset, conjux a viro, mater pro filia impetrare non potuit, .\s uaxc quidem coNSOUkTlONSM tH cjrtremo tpiritu dark voluit." Apolog. p. 163. LETTER CXVIII. Edmund Harvel from Venice, to Dr. Starkey : after the arrival of the News of Queen Anne Boleyn^s execution. [M8. cotton. KERO B. VII. foL 110. Orig.^ Sir, I HAVE yours of the last of April wiche delitith me alwai singularly, and wher you exhort me to write to those honorable frends, I reknowlege therin your frendly concel and love towards me, fully perswaded that it shold be gretely to my furtherance. To show you my minde liberally, I have litil plea- sure and comfort of myselff considering the perpetual factions and discords of the worldly things wiche makith me cold to come emong men in publico. My minde enclinith moche rather to folow a private and quiet liff and give ope^ the worldly fastidie to them qui ambiunt honores, in the wiche number I was never gretely to be rekenid. Yowr Boks I shall not forgette to provide. Your Newis I have seen, but thes other wiche more dais passid wer divulgid of the Quenis case made a grete tragedye wiche was celebrate by al mennis voyces with • up. 78 ORIGINAL LETTERS. admiration and grete infamy to that Woman to have betrayed that noble Prince after soche maner, who had exaltid her so highe, and put himselflf* to peril, not withowt perturbacion of al the Worlde for her cawse. But God shewid himselfF a rightful judge to discover soche highe treason and iniquite. But al is for the best, and I reken this to the Kings grete fortune that God would give him grace to see and towche with the hand what enemyes and traytors he lyvid withal ; of the wiche inconvenience his Grace is fay re delyverid, for what time ther might have folowid dommage to his Grace inestimable. Venice 26 May 1536. LETTER CXIX. Lady Briarty Governess of the Lady Elizabeth^ to Lord Cromwelly from Hunsdoriyjor Instructuytis concern- ing Iter, after the death of Q. Anne her mother, [ms. cotton, otho c. X. foL 230. Orig.\ •^* This Letter has heen already printed by Strype, • but with a material omission, and in so imperfect a form, that it stands here at least in a more authentic shape. Unfortunately it suffered much injury in the fire of the Cottonian Library in 1731, so that in a few places the Editor has been obliged to supply the lacunse. In this service Strype*8 copy has been called in aid. Queen Elizabeth's manners when a child, form no unmteresting por- tion of this Letter. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 79 My Lord, after my most bownden dewte, I recom- mend me to your good Lordshype besychyng yow to be good Lord to me, now in the gretest ned that ever ... for et hathe plesed God to take fro me hem that was my most con ...» in thys world to my gret hevenes. Jhesu have marcy on her sowl an . . . I am sokerles and as a redles createwr bot only fro the gret tr . . . . b have in the Kyngs grace and your good lordischep for now in yo . . . I pot al my hole trost of comfort in thys world besychyng yow to lo ... me that I may so do. My Lord, whan your Lordsychep was last here, et pleased yow to say, that I should not mestrost the Kyngs Grace, nor your Lordsychep which word was mor comfort to me than I can wryt, as God knoweth. And now et boldethe me to shew yow my powr mynd. My Lord, when my Lady Marys Grace was born, et pleased the Kings Grace to appoint me Lady Mastres ; and made me a Barones. And so I have .ben am to the Cheldem hes Grace have had sens. Now et es so, my Lady Elizabethe is put from that degre she was afore : and what degre she is at now, I know nat bot be heryng say ; therfor I know not how to order her, nor my self, nor non of bars that I have the rewl of: that is, her women & bar • Eccl. Memorials, vol. i. p. US. • comfort. b trust I. 1 80 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 81 . gromes: besychyng yow to be good Lord to my Lady, & to al hers: And that she may have som rayment; for she hath neither gown nor kertel, nor petecot, nor no maner of linnin for smokes, nor cer- chefes, nor sieves, nor rayls, nor body-stychets, nor handcerchers, nor mofelers, nor begens. All thys har Graces Mostake, I have dreven of as long as I can, that, be my trothe, I cannot drive it no lenger : be- sechyng yow, my Lord, that ye wel see, that her Grace may have that es nedful for har, as my Trost es ye wel do. Beseeching you, my owen good Lord, that I may know from yow be writing, how I shal order my self; & what es the Kyngs Graces pleser, 8c yowrs, that I shal do in every thing. And whatsom ever it shal pies the Kyngs Grace, or your Lordship to command me at al teyms, I shal folfel et, to the best of my power. My Lord, Mr. Shelton saythe he es Master of thys Hows : what fashion that shal be, I cannot tel : for I have not sen et afor. My Lord, ye be so ho- nourable your self, & every man reportethe your Lordsychep lovethe honour, that I trust your Lord- ship wil se thys Hows honerabely orderd, how som ever it hath been aforetime and ef et pies yow, that I may know, what yowr Order is, & if it be not per- formed, I shal sertify to your Lordshyp of it. For I fear me, it wil be hardly inow performed, for ef the head of . . knew, what honour meancth, et wel be the beter orderd : ef not, et wil be hard to bring it to pass. My Lord, master Shelton wold have my Lady Elizabeth to dine & sup every day at the bord of Astat. Alas ! my Lord, it is not meet for a child of har ag, to kepe sych rewl yet. I promes you, my Lord, I dare not take et upon me to kepe har Grace in helthe & she keep that rule : for ther she shal se dyvers mets & freuts, and wine : which would be hard for me to refryn her Grace from et. Ye know, my Lord, there is no place of corekcyon ther. And she es yet to young to correct greatly. I know wel, & she be ther I shal nother bryng her up to the Kings Graces honour, nor hers; nor to har helthe, nor my pore honesty. Wherfore I shew your Lordship this my descharg, besycheyng you, my Lord, that my Lady may have a mess of met to har owen logyng, with a good dish or two, that is meet for her Grace to et of: And the reversion of the mess shal satisfy al her wemen, a gentleman usher & a groom. Which been eleven persons on her side. Suer I am, et wil be (in to right little) as great profit to the Kings Grace this way, as the t'other way. For if al this should be set abroad, they must have three or four mess of meat, where this one mess shal suffice them al, with bread & drink, according as my Lady Maries Grace had afore; & to be ordered in al things, as her Grace was afore. VOL. II. SER. 2. G 82 OaiGlKAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 83 \ i I f I God knoweth, my Lady hath great pain with her great teeth, & they come very slowly forth : & causeth me to suffer her Grace to have her wil more than I would ; I trust to God & her teeth were well graft, to have her Grace after another fashion, than she is yet : so as I trust the Kings Grace shal have great comfort in her Grace. For she is as toward a ChUd, & as gentle of conditions, as ever I knew ene in my leyf. Jesu preserve her Grace. As for a Day, or two at a hey teym, or whan som ever it shal please the Kings Grace to have her set abrod, I trost so to indever me, that shee shal so do as shal be to the Kings honeur, & hers : and than after to take her ease again. I think master Shelton wel not be content with this. He may not know it is my desier ; but that et es the Kyngs plesure, & yours it should be so. Good my Lord, have my Ladys Grace & us that be her poor Servants in your rememberance. And your Lordship shal have our harty prayers by the Grace of Jesu : ho ever preserve your Lordship with long life, & as myche honer as your nobel hart can desire. From Honsdon with the evil hand of har that es your dayly bed-woman. MARGET BRYAN. content, that I am so bold to wryt thus to your Lordsychep. But I take God to my joge, I do et of trew hart, and for my discharge. Besychyng yow, exsept my good mynde. To the ryght nobel, & my syngeler good Lord my Lord Prive Sel, be thys delyverd. The Cottonian MS. Append, xxviii. folr 39. contains a list of New Year's Gifts to Prince Edward in the 30»»" Hen. VIII. The King and his nobles gave principaUy plate. The Lady Mary's Grace gave a coat of crimson satten embroidered with gold, with paunses of pearls and sleeves of tinsel, and four aglets of gold. The Lady Elizabeth's Grace " A shyrte of CanCyke ofuEB. owne woorkynge.' »» LETTER CXX. Maryy widow of Henry Duke of jRichmondy to the Duke of Norfolk her father, respecting her suit to the King for her maintenance. [mS. COTTOX. VESPASIAN F. XIII. foL 75. Or%g.\ I beseech you, my owen good Lord, be not mes- And thowgh I am in dowt how yowr Graces shall g2 ! i 84 ORIGINAL LETTERS. take it that I should thus dally troble ) ow wythe my besy letres, yet I trust yowr Graces will consider how thes mater towcheth me most of any other, & myne es the part boothe to speeke & sue if I had not siche a good intercesser to the Kynges Mageste en my behalfe as yowr Graces es, where of as yet prosedeth no effect bwt wordes, wyches maketh me thenke the Kynges Hyegthn' is not assartayned of my holl wudouefwll & rygth thereen, for ef he were he is so just a Pry nee, so gracyous & of sych eqyte, that I am sure he wolde newer suffer the justyce of his laws to be denyed to me the wnwoorthe desolat widow of his late Son that newer yet was denyed to the poorest gentylwoman in thes realme. And if it wolld pleas ye as oftymes I have humble desyred yowr Grace to gy we me lewe to com up & sue myne owne cawes beyng nowhis to good to be in parson an humble suter to his Maygeste, I do not dowt bowt uppon the sygthe ther of hes hyegthn' shuld be mowed to hawe compasyon on me, consyderenge that he hemselfe alone mayd the maryage, & to thenke that it shalbe myche hys Majestys honor to grante me that his laws gywe me to mayntayn me wthe, the de- solat wydowe of his late Son, in the degre that his Mayjeste hathe kalled me to, yet newer the lesse put- tynge my hole mater en to yowr Grases handes & my lorde Prewe Seals, who as ye wryet hathe promesed to be good lord theryn, most humble desyereng yowr ORIGINAL LETTERS. 85 blyssenge T bede your Graces farwal frome Kengngael this Wadenes day. By your humble dowther MARY RICHEMOND. To my were good Lord and Father the Dowke of Norfolk thes be de- lyvered. LETTER CXXI. King Henry Vlllth. to . ^ - - to examine into certain matters relating to Gardiner bishop of Win- Chester^ and Morris his receiver. A. D. 1536. [mS. cotton. VESPASIAN F. XIII. fol. 71 ^» OHg.] Henry R. Ryght trustie and intierly belovyd we grete you well, advertysyng you that we havyng hard what the Bysshop off Wynchester hath doone in the hous of Syon, althoughe he wold so set the same forth unto us as we myght have occasyon to thynke he hath doone truly as becummyth hym towardys us, yet havyng thys forenone spokyn with Morres the Res- cey vor ther, we may well perceyve hym to have ostentyd and bostyd hym to have doone more then in deede he 86 OEIGIKAL LETTEES. J hath, and a coloryd dowblenes ether to be in hym or in Morres, or in bothe. Mores not answeryng dyrectly to dyverse introgates by us to hym mynystryd. We havyng therfore shewyd hym that intendyng to trye hys truthe to us, wyll not go abought to grope hym, but wyll se yf accordyng to hys dutie he wyll of hys awne mynde confesse the mere trawthe, we alredy knowing mych mo then he wenyth ; wherfore we re- quyre you, uppon hys repayre unto you, studyosly to examyne hym, by whome ye shall perceyve dowblenes in the other, in him, or bothe, the whiche being never so craftely handelyd, I wold not wer hyddyn, not dowtyng yt shall your circumspect maner desyrus and attentyfF mynd in trying owt trawthyt, known unto us as yt ys« Thys fare ye well. From our manor of Grene- wyche the xxvjth. day of the xxvijth. yere of our reigne. LETTER CXXII. WiUiam Earl of ' Southampton to Lord Cromwell con- cerning Blockhouses to he made at Calshot Point and Cowes, [mS. cotton. T1TU8 B. 1. foL 396. Orig,\ •^« The date of this liCtter must be placed in, or somewhat subse- quent to^ 1537 ; that being the date of Sir William Fitzwylliam's creation ORIGINAL LETTER^. 87 as Earl of Southampton. Among Lord Cromwell's " Remembrances," preserved in the same volume with this Letter, fol. 428. is an " Item, for v.C". appoynted to Calshot and the Cow." Please it your good Lordshippe, this bearer my felowe. Mills, came hidre to have spokin with you. The cause of whose comming, in your Lordshippes absence, I have declared to the King, wich resteth in thies to poyntes. The tone for the workes at Cal- shorispoynte, tooching wiche his sayeng is, that the Barbican of the Towre wol bee readie by Michaelmas, if they may knowe where to have Covring for it. And in that the kinges Majeste is resolvid that there shalbee led takin, aswel for the said Barbican, as the Towre it self, of the leades that arr at Beauley ;» so that for delivery of the same, Maistre Wriothisley must make a warraunt, and his Grace wol signe it. The toodre poynt is tooching monay and charges of the said works, and also the work at the Cowe in thTsle;^ concerning wich this said bearer saith that by the next pay day, the money alreadie received wol be spent : so that he thinketh, and also it apperith by the declaracion of Bartine, that it woU axe at both places no lesse than one thousand marces more. And that by extimacion the said thousand markes, with the monay nowe remaigneng in his handes, woU performe the workes. In wich poynt, the Kinges Majeste is also pleased that your Lordshippe shall assigne & • Beaulieu, or Bcwley Abbey, in the New Forest. »• West Cowes. 88 ORIGINAL LETTEUS. I ; I 11 deliver ouht a prest, and wolled me so to write unto you. And my Lord undre your correction, me thinketh it were best, that the hole some, shold bee deliverd all at ones, rather than to mak any mo sutes for it. Sir the kinges Majeste hathe beene somwhat a erased thoroughe cold, & kepte within yesturday ; howbeeit, this day his Grace hath beene abrode, and killed half a score of stagges with the Ladies ; and is nowe, our Lord bee thanked, aswel as he was afore, wich our Lord continewe. Oodre newis I have none to send your Lordshippe, but thus commend the same to the kepinge of th'oly Trinity. From Ampthil the xijth. of Septembre. Your good Lordshippes assured, W. SOUTHAMPTON. To ray singuler good Lord ray Lord Privie scale his good Lord- shippe. LETTER CXXIIL King Henri/ the Eighth to the Lady Anne Savatiy widow. [ms. cotton, tit. b. 1. foL 68. Orig."] •»♦ A Letter of Sir Thomas More to Cardinal Wolsey in the former Series of these Letters* afforded an instance of the King proposing a * YoL i. f). Wt. Letter LXXIII. 1 OBIGINAL LETTERS. 89 match for the widow of an Alderman of London. This was usual, where Widows were the King*8 wards. M''idow of the King, vidua Regis, says Ck>wel, was she, who, after her husband^s death, being the King*s tenant in capite, was forced to recover her dower* by the writ " de Dote as- signanda,^* and could not marry again without the King's consent.* The present 16 a sort of wooing Letter from the King, in which His Majesty announces to a widow that he has fixed upon a husband for her. By the King. Henry R. Deee and welbelovede we grete you wele, lating you wete our trusty and welbeloved servant Stephen Mylles hath shewed unto us how that he, for the longe experience and knowlege of your vertuous demeanor, sadnesse, and womanly demeanure, is greatly mynded towards you, to honor you by wey of maryage befor all other. We considering his honest intent and porpose in this behalf, exhorte and desire you to shewe yourself of hke towardnes and herty love to our said servaunt for the solempnisacion of matrimonie betwene you, to Godd's pleasour. And in your thus doing, ye shall nat oonly cause us to bee good and gracious liege Lord unto you booth in any your reasonable porsuytts to be made unto us, but also thinke yourself in our opinion right wele bestowed to your herts ease and comfort hereafter. Yeven under our Signet at our . To our dere and welbelovede the Lady Anne Savon, widowe. • 'See the Stat of the Prerog. an. it Edw. H. Mag. Chart, cap. vii. and 32 Hen. VUI. cap. xlvi. 90 ORIGINAL LKTTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 91 LETTER CXXIV. King Henry the Eighth to the Mayor and Aldermai of London, respecting the Office of Metership of Linen Cloth and Canvas in London, [ms. cotton, tit. b. I. fol. 80. Orig.] By the King. Heney R. Ryght trustie and welbiloved We gret you well. And where as our trusty e and welbeloved servaunt William Blakenhale, chief clerke of our Spicerye was in possession of the office of metershippe of lynyn clothe and canvas within our Cytie of London and subburbis of the same, as ye now being Mayre know and can testifie, till of late, without cause or deserte, both contrarye to the gift to hyme made, and also against justice and equytie, you have evictyd hym of the pos- sessyon of the same, and also have taken the profetts to hym apperteynyng to your own use. We therefore marveling nott a lyttyll of your ingratitude to us and to our servaunt in that case exhibited, by these our Lettres requyre you, and nevertheles commaunde you that you not alonly put our sayd servaunt in full possessyon of the said office immediatlye apon the syght hereof, ac- cording to the gift to hym gevyn, but also to restore hyme to all suche profetts and sommes of money as you have recey ved by reason of the said office ; fayling nott therof as you tendre our pleasor. Yeven at our manor of Westm^ the xvj^'>. day of Maij the xxviij**'. yere of our Reign. To our trusty and right welbiloved Councellor Sir John Allen knyght Mayor of our Citie of London, and to the Aldermen of the same. LETTER CXXV. Thomas Cumptun to Lord Cromwell, upon the dis- missal of the Franciscan Monks of Guernsey, who had refused to take the oaths required by the King. A. D. 1537. [ms. COTTOK. VESPASIAN F. XIII. fol. 138. Orig.] Please hit your Lordship how that I have accord- yng to our souverain Lord the Kinges gracious com- mission, and to the instruccions to me delivered by your Lordship uppon the same, don my debuer*^ accordyng to the teneur of hit. And have called unto me all the Freres Observantes straungers whiche were left in the Convent of the Freres Observantes of Sainct Fraunces * devoir. 92 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 93 within the Isle of Guernesey at my departyng, and ac- cordyng to the same commission and instruccions have infourmed them to be sworn to our souverain lord the Kinges Hyghnes, to his Lawes & Actes, declaryng unto them the hoole continu of the same ; the whiche Freres after that they had understanded the teneur of the said commission and actes, and after that they had communiked together and taken avisement, refused to take the said Othe, I avysing them how that they wold abyde the rigor of our said soverain Lord the Kynges Lawes and Statutes in that behalf; wheruppon they required me to let them goo in to Normandy theyr naturall contre ; saying howe that they had heretofore made an Othe, whiche othe they wold not change, but rather forsake the Convent and Countrey than to make any outher. Wherfore accordyng to your Lordship instruccions I caused a Bote to conducte and passe theym into Normandy, their naturall contre, takyng the conductours of them conducte mony to pay for the frayght of the boote & for them until they were come to their next Convent. Also certifying your Lordship that I have send you by this present berrer the very true and veritable Inventory of all suche goodes mouva- ble and stuff of howsehold as were within the said Con- vent of Freres, made in the presence of the Deane & of too Jurattes of thes Isle as hit shall apere to your Lord- ship under their sealles and signes : and have set the said goodes in sufficient custody & surete until the tyme I knowe further of our souverain Lord the Kynges Majeste most gracieux plaesur in hit. Suplying your Lordship to admytte my symplesse for I have don in hit the moost of my power, submyttyng myself to ful- fill allwayes your Lordship his plaeser when hit shall plaese you to commande me. Written in Guernesey the XX th. day of September by yours THOMAS CUMPTUN, Leutenaunt. LETTER CXXVI. Robert Cowley^ one of the Council in Ireland^ to the Duke of Norfolk^ a Discussion on the Finances of Ireland, [m8. cotton, tit. b. XI. foL 40L Orig.\ •^* From internal evidence this Letter must have been written about 1538. It affords a striking picture of the state of Ireland at that time ; and among the facts which it puts upon record, none is probably more remarkable than that which acquaints us that whilst the Exchequer of England was so complete in its official arrangements, that of Ireland was destitute even of Books of the Revenue. My humble duety premysid to your noble Grace, it may pleas the same to bee advertised, that I, beeing oon of the Kinges majesties Counsail here, unworthy, seeing the Kinges great Thesaure sundry times sent cute of his Graces coffers from England hither, the I d4 OBIGTNAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 95 li great revenues of the land, the infenyt goodes and cattailes of theym which have been put to execusion, and of all the Religious Houses suppressid and dis- solved, fynes, forfaictures, amercyamentes, casuelties, kyne gevin by Irishmen as amendes for their offences in takyng partie with enemys, incomes for leases of fermes, custumes, and many other proffits due to the Kinges Highnes consumyd ; Hereing on the other parte the exclamasion of the Souldiours that their wages was but very lytill, and that they might have no payment ; The marchauntes, craftymen, and labourers in like- wise, I made serche in the Eschequier, to know whate the extunt of the Kinges Revenues was of certainte, besides casuelties; and there coulde be founde no maner roll, boke, or scrowe of the Kinges Revenues, with the barons, with the remembrsters, with the chamberlayns, ne with the engrosers ; and it shuld be entrid in every of their bokes. Soo the Kinges Highnes hath no footed or knowlage of his revenues, or of the employmentes. Brabason thesaurer of the warres and oon Thomas Agard have receyvyd all the Kinges revenues and dueties, destributid the same at their pleasures with- out making any of the Counsail prevy therto : wherby men thinke they, betwixt theym, have gaynyd xx^M, markes at the leest : and I beleve the same. They have had all the dooing, receyptes, surveyoures, comptrollers, audytoures, paymaisters, letting out of • turn total at the foot of a page ? fermes, allowances of all accomptes all they twoo, soo as they have doon whate they wol. They have the substance of all the Kinges fermes and make the price theymselves, and appoynt the dayes of payment at their owne pleasure, wherto noon is prevee. There was never seen soo sharpe receyvoures and soo slowe payers. They gayne yerely ij^M. markes by their fermes and fees besydes their snap shares ; which is a nemo Jit infenyt. Therfor requysit that a Comyssion bee sent hither, to suche as wol emestely and truely execute their comys- sion ; or els to send hither ij Comyssioners, substanciall men, that bee not nedy or gredy, to repell all lesys made, which must bee by Acte of Parliament ; and to take deliberatly a new Survey for the Kinges ad- vauntage. And where now every souldior covetith to have iij or iiij great fermes, oonly to enriche theym- selves and to make their handes, passing not uppon any service, peynes, or feates of warre, but lying in the herte of the countrey with his horse, horsekeper, sume ij horses, and his wenche, for xd. Irish a weke ; farcing delicatly, and yet making no payment. They can .f3mde money to goo gorgeously appayrid, and their wenchis, and to ryote in ple3dng at the dyse mony ynogh ; their purses full ; but to pay the litill xd. a weke, they have no mony. This^ the Kinges thesaure sent hither is consumyd, • Thus. 96 OBIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 97 h Us iiii his Graces revenues and proffittes, likewise the cuntrey oppressed never the xth. parte soo soore, utterly beg- gerid ; the men of warre subdued that shuld serve the Ejnges Highnes of the cuntrey birthe, which here all the burdon of the chargis of holding horsemen, gallo- glas and kerne, carriage of the armyes victailes, draw- ing the ordynance and artillery, without wages, and yet the pore men theymselves gooinge to the hosting bearing their wallettes in their neckes, utterly undoon. And yit divers of the armye, not contentid to have their victailes conveyd at the charge of the pore hus- bandes, desire to have more cartis to their private advauntage, to take a fyne of mony to their purses, others to have theym as sklaves to carry wyne, to bee solde to their proflfit uppon the franke caryage of the pore people. The Constableshippis of the Kinges garysons and manoures is gevin to suche personages as charge the King with more then all the revenues of the same do extende, and kepe not their nomber ne do their due- tyes, but passe to make their handes, pillaging the te- nantes, forstalling the marketes of victailes and mer- chandises, to the undoyng of the kinges cities and townes ; and will not goo to the felde with the Deputie for defence of the contrey, saying their charges is but to kepe their garysons; and when enemys resort to theym they doo noo exployte not so moche as to shote oon gone, but as people dysroayde ; and where thees great holdinges put the cuntrey to importible charges they shuld, and the cuntrey, in this Somer tyme, lye in the feldes redy to assault the enemyes, and not in Castelles and Towres distansyng farr a sunder. Sir undoubtidly a hundrith english speres northern, on horsback, well horsid harnyssed and of good rule, a hundrith archers, and a hundrith goners all on horse- back, to geve daily attendance upon the Deputie, shuld doo more good then all this nomber namyd ; ix CI. summe lying in garysons dooing no good, summe in townes by pretence of sekenes, and the horsemen not well horsid, lacking hames and wepyn, many of the3rm symple per- sonages rydyng m pyllyns with an Irish darte, naked, without any hames. Under correccion I thinke very necessary that who soever it shall pleas the Kinges Highnes to comyt the rowme of his Graces Deputie unto, may have a Comys- sion to holde a Parliament ; and by auctoritie of the same to adnull and repele all leesis made hitherto of all fermes of the Kinges manoures, landes, and posses- sions in this land, of all and every parcell to his Grace accrued by wey of atteynder, eschetes, dissolucyon of Religious Houses, or otherwise, leasid out towhatesoever persons by the space of vij yeres last past, and a new Survey to bee made for the Kinges proffit ; Wherby his Highnes shall wyn no small yerely augmentacion of his Graces revenues. I write against my silf, to de- parte with all myn awne fermes, to preferre the Kinges VOL. II. SER. 2. H 98 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 99 ! proffit ; trusting to have summe ferme of Tellies or other scrapes for my pore house. I covett no excesse to make me riche. This forsaid vicethesaurer Brabson and his compa- nion Thomas Agard have takyn up all the fruytful fermes of this land without mesure, and suffer no gen- tilman to have any ferme somoche as a pore tethe to kepe his house for his mony, or yet a litell parke to kepe his horses in for rent. Such havok and skame- ling as they make was never seen, to the utter pilling and beggering of the land too lamentable to expres. The said Brabson hath a brother called Rol>ert Brabson who is Constable of Carelingford having to his purse all the kinges revenues there of Custumes, all the Castel meeses of hering, landes, woddes, and other proffites, to the yerely valure of C. li. And over that xvi horsemen in the Kinges wages and kepith not his nomber, and lye widely to doo any good exploite : and yet not contented therwith. Where a good gen- tilman calUd Davyd Sutton who kepith at his charge divers horsemen and fotemen, had the constableship of the Kinges castell of Kildare, the said Robert did put hym oute, and for lucre toke uppon hym self to bee constable of Kildare, keping in his handes the consta- bleship of Carelingford, distansing asunder Ixx. myles ; and left not in the Castell of Kildare any manner of pese of ordynance, somoche as a hand gonne or any pese of artillery, not oon bowe, but likking up the proffut ; and O Conor beeing thereof monysshed, en* tered into the towne and bumyd it, and entered into the castell and ryfeled it of all the cattaill therein put for refuge, and toke horses out of the CastelL And oon hand gone may have kepte theym out and saved the Castell and all that was therein. Sir the next remedys to refourme all thies cnormy- ties after my pore conceyte is as followith. First that the Kinges Deputie may have a Commys- sion to holde a Parlement, and by auctoritie of the same to adnuU, repele,and make voide all maner fermes and leases made by the space of thees vij yeres past of all the Kinges possessions spirituell and temporell, and to make other actes for the Kinges proffet and the comon welthe of the pore land. Item that the fermes may bee distributed discretely and parted emonges the gentilmen of the cuntrey to enhable and encourage theym to doo service to the Kinges Highnes, and to enterteyne and kepe men of warre. Item the constableshippes in like wise to gentilmen of the cuntrey, for a great part suche as have landes and wol fynde sufficient suerties to kepe the Castelles suerly to bee rendered to the Kinges Highnes saufely at his pleasure or to whosoever his Grace will appoint. Wherby the Kinges Highnes shal have great yerely revenues where he hath noon, the gentilmen of the cuntrey enhabled to kepe men to serve the Kinges H S 100 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGIKAL LETTERS, 101 111 Grace, and the Deputie furnysshed with the strenght of the hole arinye to make a stronge campe, where now by pretense of keping garysons the King is not served ne the Deputie furnysshed with men. Item that parte of the Armye may bee content to departe from suche charges of Constableshippis, that wol take no paynes, but take their passe tymes in good townes plesantly, permitting their Castelles to bee takyn and prosterated behinde theyme, as on Dewke constable of Castel Jordan in the borders of O Conors cuntrey, this last weke, was passing tyme whiles the Castell was takyn, brokyn, and ryfeled, and the warde like feynt cowardes gave over the Castell and rendered themselves presoners to O Conor, who had vj half hakes, a redd pese, a passvolant, ij hackbusshes, and a shipp pese, with all their pellets, moldes, and pow- der, which O Conor kepith to the great daunger of the Kinges subjectes. Item that the nomber of the Armye may be my- nyshed and to be pyked, clene, honest men, hardy, well horsid, hamessid, and dihgent, and that they may have sufficient wagis to lieve uppon honestely and noo neede to compleyn or oppres the cuntrey. Item that the Kinges revenues bee better orderid then it hath been to this tyme ; that there bee audi- toures, surveyours, and comptrollers uppon the The- saurer and generall recey vor ; and that all goodes and cattailes due to the King be preysid and solde to the Kinges moste proffit, and that all the Kinges revenues be receyvyd in the Receipte openly, and imediatly entered into the RoUes of the kinges officers, as remembisters, engrossers, and chamberlayns of the kinges Eschequier, to remayn of recorde ; soo that no suche pleying of Coll under the Canstilstyk or Jugge- linges of the kinges revenues bee no more usid as it hath been. Item that the receytes of the kinges revenues may bee put in an yron Coffer which is redy to have iiij lockes, and the keyes thereof to be delivered to iiij suche as the Kinges Grace shall appoynt to recorde the receptis and paymentes, and whate is superfluous above necessary employmentes, to remayn as a Thesaure at the kinges comaundement. Item that certain Comyssioners may bee appoynted, suche as bee close handed and not nedy or gredy, to make inquesicions in all places of all mens demeanures, of all extorcions, bryberyes, concelementes, collusions, and other abuses, wherby I truste every man shalbe known in his kynde, and the King to have parte of his right beeing embeseled, and the pore people sume recompence. Where your Grace and others of the Kinges moost honorable Counsaill directed your honorable letters unto the lord high Justice, to the Archebisshop of 10^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. lOS Dublyn, and to me to make serche for suche coyne plate and goodes as the lord Leenard Gray late the Kinges Deputie had here and the same to seyse to bee furthcomyng at the Kinges pleasure, with as htil ru- more as might be ; Accordingly the said lord Justice and the said Archebisshop furthwith went to Maynothe there seysing all suche stuff and jewelles as there was founde, making thereof an inventary ; and I repayred to Saint Mary Abbay and toke an inventary of suche stuff as there was. And we have examynyd Arlond Ussher, who by his othe hathe deposed that a litill before the said lord Leonardes departing, the said Ar- lond had in his kepyng a stele casket locked, full of mony as he supposid, golde, and divers bagges of money sealyd; which casket and bagges oon Lewte toke from him : and how mouche mony was in the casket and bagges the said Arlond could not tell, but it is thought to bee a very greate thing. It is said that there is more stuff of his prevely in keping ; and we forbere to certifye the inventarys that we have all redy, trusting to fynde more, and to send the hole to gidders with asmoche diligence and spede as ^ may be. At the wryting hereof the lord Justice was campyd besides Foure with the best bande of the kinges sub- jectes that ever was seen to gidders in Irland, with xxj dayes victailes, an host of viij M'^. men hable to geve battayll to O Brone, O Nele, O Downyll, and O Conor, but they lacke horsemen, which is a great lacke. The said Irish Capteyns made avaunte that they all wold have met to gidders at Fena by Fower, but I thinke sethens O Nele hath receyvyd the Kinges letters and his pardon, I think he will not stirre ; and I think that Richard Butler, Donogh O Brene, and Callagh O Kar- royl wol kepe O Brene soo hete that he shall not bee hable to come out of his cuntrey. Thees Tooles and Kevaghes trouble us moost on our bakke syde, for whoos resistence we have been fayne to leve the substance of our strenght till now that we have truyce with the Tooles and with parte of the Kevaghes for vj wekes ; God knowith whate hold or trust is in their othes and promyses. The lord Justice and the boost wol goo uppon O Conor to doo theire beste uppon till they have spent all their victailes ; and when that is doon, I cannot see how any moore generall boosting can bee made this yere; the cuntrey bee soo pore with holdyng horsemen, gallogglas and kerne, carting and carriage, fyndyng the armye mete and drynke for litill or no thing, that they be beggered and not hable to fynde or contynue this excessive charge ; and if we shuld suffer our hold- ynges to goo from us we shuld bee weeke and in great perill yf the confederesy of thees Irishmen shuld con- tynue. Humbly beseching your grace to contynue your gracious favours to me, and to vouchesauf to bee good to this berer in his resonable pursuytes ; beseching al- \ 104 <»BICINAL LETTERS. mighti god to geve your grace the complement of your noble hertis desires. At Dublin the vjth day of July your gracis olde servant and daily oratour BOBERT COWLEY. To the lorde of Northfolkis good Grace with spede. LETTER CXXVII. Arthur Viscount Lisle to Lord Cromwell, concerning' a report of one of bishop Latimer^s sermons^ and upon the state of the borders at Calais. A, D. 1538. [MS. cotton. VESPASIAN F. XIII. foL 111. Orig,'\ *4i* Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle, was the natural son of King Edward the Fourth, but whether by the Lady Elizabeth Lucy or by Jane Shore is uncertain. He was created Viscount Lisle in the 15th Hen. Vlllth. upon the resignation of that title by the Duke of Suffolk, and in 1527 ^^s elected and installed a knight of the garter. In the 24th of Hen. Vlllth. 1532, he was constituted Lieutenant of Calais ; whence, eight years after, some of his servants having plotted to betray the place to the French, he was sent for and committed to the Tower. The Letter which recalled him to England, burnt and mutilated, is still preserved in the Cottonian Manuscript Calig. £. iv. fol. 34. couched in no terms of courtesy. The Lord Lisle*s personal innocence appearing, the King sent him a ring from his own finger, with such kind expressions that his heart became overcharged with joy, and the night following, March 3d, 33 Hen. Vlllth. he died. The King*s mercy, it was observed, tipon this occasion, was as fatal as his judgments. After most harty recommendacions, this shalbe to advertise you that the xxvj. day of this present moneth OBIGINAL LETTERS. 105 I receyvyd a letter frome Sir John Wallop which I send you hereyn inclosyd. Further toching Newes occurrant here ys that Doctour Latymer hath tomyd over the lefF, for on Wedynsday in the ymber weke he prechyd before the Kinges Highnes knowledging the popes auctorite to be the highest auctorite apon erth, and if he shall my suse hymself he ought to be reformyd by a generall Counsaill and none otherwise. He also confessyd our Lady & holy Saintes most necessary to be honoryd & praied unto, and that pilgrimage is very accepUble unto alhnighty Godd and profitable for the welth of mannes sowle. I beseche you I may know your pleasure whether there were any such Sermon or no. Wherby, if it be contrary, the partie which hath brought such tidinges may be punysshed in ensample of other, here or elswhere, as it shall please the Kynges highnes and you. Newes aboute the borders here ys that the Emperour hath made proclamacion at Dun- kirk, Burborow, and Saint Omers, that no horse shall passe oute of his domynyon to no Inglishman nor Frenchman. Also Turneyham was solde to the French- men, and the byer and seller, aswell the Frenchman as Flemyng taken and be in the custodye of Mounsier du Bever. Moreover the Capitayne of Turwyn was at a poynt with an archer of the emperours garde for Arye, and it was discovery d, so the said archer ys hanged drawen and quarteryd, insomoche that all the townes 106 ORIGINAL LETTERS. !• on the fronters kept never better watche in tyme of warre, then they doo now. And as it is said procla- macion is made through the Emperours lande, that every man being under hys obeisaunce, within vj. wekes to come and be resident within hys domynion. And thus I pray Jesu preserve you with prosperous lif and long to his high pleasore. From Calais the xxvij day of February. Your own to commawnd ARTHUR LYSSLE. LETTER CXXVIII. Hi i Margaret Countess of' Salisbury to a Lady^ concerning the marriage of the ladifs daughter, [M8. cotton. VESPASIAN F. XIII. foL 88. Orig.^ *,• Margaret Countess of Salisbury has been slightly mentioned in the former Series. She was the second daughter of George Duke of Clarence brother of King Edward the Fourth, and was bom at Farley Castle in Somersetshire. She married Sir Richard de la Pole, Knt. In the 5th Hen. Vlllth. she was allowed to inherit the state and dignity of her brother Edward Earl of Warwick and Salisbury, who had been at- tainted in the 19th of Henry Vllth. ; and was allowed to bear the second of his titles. On the 14th of October in the same year, she had the King^s letters patent for all the castles, manors, and lands of Richard Earl of Salisbury, her grandfather, which came to the Crown by her brother^s attainder. Sandford, from a manuscript in the Library of the Herald's CoUq^e, acquaints us that the Countess of Salisbury, by the particular I IP ORIGINAL LETTERS. 107 direction of Queen Catherine of Arragon, had the care of the Lady Mary's education. It was probably at this tune that the following Letter was composed. It ought perhaps to have had an earlier place assigned to it in the Collection, but being without a positive date it was thought best to connect it with the letters which related to the Countess's attainder. Madame, I recommend me unto you, doyng you to undrestonde that I have receyved your Lettres by yourservanteconcemyngthemaryageofyourdoughter, by the whiche I do perceyve that the Gentilwoman beyng accompaned with your said doughter unto your howse, hath informed you that it was my mynde for hir to certyfye you that the Controwler of thePryncesse howsolde dothe here hys synguler favour to your said doughter. Trewly she mysusyd hir selfF in gevyng you any suche knowlege on my behalff, for I ensure you that I dyd geve unto hir no comaundment so to do, for at that tyme I had harde no comunycacion touchyng that matter. Howbeit sens oure departyng from Hartelbury, the said Controwler hathe movy d and comonyd with me therin, of the whiche I have certy- fied your doughter, but I canne perceyve no thyng in hyr wherby any effecte shulde he had or taken in that matter. Wherfore I pray you to be a good and na- tural! modre unto hyr, and I doute not but she will alwayes use hirselue to you as a naturall chylde ought to do to hir modre : and wolde advyse you to looke wele upon the matter whiche I sent you woorde of be- fore tyme, that it may be brought to a good ende for m m A f 108 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. in my m3mde it wolde be a veary meate bargayn if it be wele fynyshed and come to passe. And thus I pray God it may be accomplessed to bothe your comfortis. From Worcetor the xx^h daye of August. mabg''£T salisbeky. I LETTER CXXIX. Sir Thomas Wriothesly at Brussels, to Sir Thomas Wyat in Spain, upon the commitment of the Mar- quis of Exeter and Lord Montacute to the Tower, A. D. 1538. [fRAOM. IK THE COTTONIAN LIBRARY, CALIO. D. XI. Orig.^ •^* In its present state this Letter has neither the writer's signature, nor a superscription ; but both are ascertained from a passage in Lord Herbert's History of Henry the VIII*''. in which a single line of it is transcribed, and from the word Wiatt, with which it opens. Lord Herbert says, '* The particular offences yet of these great persons are not so fuUy made known to me that I can say much. Only I find among our Records that Thomas Wriothesley, Secretary, (then at Brus- sels,) writing of their apprehension to Sir Thomas Wyat (his Highness ambassador in Spain) said, that the Accusations ttere great, and duly proved.** This Letter certainly gives us an insight into the real cause for be- heading the Poles: *' the surely of my Lord Prince, our only Jevel after his Majesty.** The committal of these Lords has been slightly mentioned in a Letter to the Lord Fitzwalter in the former Series. • From the present Letter it appears that their domestics were their accusers. His Majesty determined '* on committing them to ward, that all inconvenience might be ensued ;** and he loved them so well that he was loth to proceed against them : but WITHIN TEN DAYS they were beheaded. • Vol. ii. p. 96. Letter cxxxv. ORIGINAL LETTERS. loa . . WlATT. After my most herty commendac6ns, getting knowlege of this Postes departure but ever nowe and the same going in suche hast that I could not have any lenger tyme to wryte but as he stode by me, I must be shorte against my will, and shall by thise onely advertyse you that on Monday in the evenyng, which was the iiij^^. of this moneth, the Marques of Excestre and the Lorde Montague were commytted to the Towre of London ; being the Kinges Majestie soo grevously touched by them, that, albeit. His Grace hath uppon his special favor borne towards them, passed over many accusations made against the same of late by their oune domestiques, thinking assuredly with his clemencye to conquerre their cancerdnes, as Cesar at the last wanne and overcam Cynna. Yet His Grace was constrayned for avoyding of such malice as was prepensed bothe against his personne royal and the surety of my Lorde Prince, our only Juel after his Majesty, to use the remedy of committing them to ward, that all inconvenience may thereby be ensued. Th'accusacions made against them be of great import- aunce and duely proved by substancial wytnes. And yet the Kings Majestie loveth them sowell, and of his greate goodnes is soo lothe to procede against them that though their oune famylies in maner abhorr their facts it ys doubted what his Highnes woU doo towards them. II I i I ! \w I t 110 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I write this unto You bicause you may peraventur here sumwhat hereof, and the thing percase sinisterly interpreted. Nowe that you knowe the truth you may declare the same upon my poor woord, and so yow may make aunswer accordingly. Thus I must byd you most hertely wel to ffar for lak of ferther leiser. From Bruxells the xiij'*». of Novembre at night late. 1 LETTER CXXX. Lord Southampton and the Bishop of Ely to Lord Cromwelly upon the Seizure of' the Countess of' Salisbury. [fBAOM. IK THE COTTONIAK LIBB. CALIO. D. XI. Orig.] *0* Warblington near Havant in Hampshire, whence this Letter is dated, was the Countess of Salisbury's residence. Some small ruins of her mansion are still remaining. It was originally a square pile of about two hundred feet surrounding a quadrangle, moated ; and had been the seat of the Montacutes. Cowdray Park whence the next Letter is dated, is near Midhurst in Sussex. It had been granted to Sir William Fitzwilliam, afterwards Earl of Southampton, the writer of this and the succeeding Letter, in 1533; and he built the Mansion there which was afterwards completed upon a grander scale by Sir Anthony Brown. Lord Herbert is wrong in conjecturing Cowdray to have been the re- sidence of Lady Salisbury. The Earl of Southampton carried her to his own house, as the first stage of her journey, should it be the King's plea- Dure to commit her to the Tower of London. Please it your good Lordshippe to bee advertised that as by our oodre Lettres wee signified to the same ORIGINAL LETTERS. Ill wee wold, so yesturday the xiij^^. of this Novembre wee travayled with the Ladie of Sarisbury al day both before and aftre none, til ahnost night. Albee it for all that wee could doo, thoughe wee used her diversely, she wold uttre and confesse litle or nothing more than the first day she did, but stil stood and persisted in the deniall of all to gidres. And this day between viij. and ix. in the morning, having received your Lordshippes Lettres dated from Westm. the said xiij^h. wee furth- with upon receite of the same, eftsones repayred unto the said Lady. And first afore wee came to hir sight, calling her men servaunts afore us, according to the continew of your said Lettres, wee apprehendid Stand- ishe; and that doone went in hand with her. And althoughe wee than entreatid her in both sorts, some tyme with doulx and myld wordes, now roughly and asperly, by traytring her and her sonnes to the ix*h degree, yet woU she no thing uttre, but making her self clere, and as unspotted, utterly denieth all that is ob- ject unto hir ; and that with most stif and emest words: sayeng that if ever it bee found and proved in her that she is culpable in any of those things that she hath denied, that she is content to be blasund in the rest of all the Articles layd against her. Surely, if it like your Lordshippe, wee suppose that there hathe not been seen or har * woman so emest in her QQ manlique in continuance and and so precise aswell in gest • heard of a ? 1 }■ 112 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 113 a wordes that wondre is to be . . . . . . For in her aunswer and declara ....** she behavith her self so, and so . . all thing sincere, pure, and up ... c on her part, that wee have concey . . . d and needs must deeme and th . . «^ the tone of ij. things in her, that her Sonnes have not made her pr . .^ ne participant of the bottom and pitt . . $ their stomaks, or ells is she the . . . errant Traytresse that ever And nowe that wee have sei . . . . *» goodes and given her notice > Kings pleasure is she shall g . . she seemeth therat to bee somewhat appaled. And therfore wee deeme . . . it may so bee, she woll the uttre somwhat, when she is remo wiche wee entend shalbee to mo ... ^^ So that wee have cawsed invento ... ^ to bee made of her said goodes, and of suche things as may bee easily caried, as Plate and oodre . . . charge. Our purpose is to take .... us. For the rest, and for the . . . . of her houshold, wee have . . . . . . appoynted John Chadreton and . . . . . stuard of Houshold, whome .... . . for an honest man, that they s , . . , the ordre and rule therof ; and . . . waite and attend continually theron til suche tyme as the • gesture as in ? k declaration. « upright. * conceyved. • think. ^ privy. 1 of. k seised her. i tbatthe? • to-morrow. > Inventories. Kings pleasure be further knowne from your Lord- shippe therin ; but also wee have required one White, who is fermor of the late Priorie of South wyke,a maistre Waite, and maistre Talke, who bee all gent, and neighbours there, with oodre the Kings servaunts and faythfuU subjets to have vigilant ie to the same, that if any stirreng or misordre chaunce or befall, the same by their good meanes, powers, and discretions may bee stayed and put in quietnes. As for Standishe wee shall bring him saulf upe with us ; for, beeing exa- mined, no thing can wee get him to confesse. Thus th'oly Trinitee preserve your Lordshippe. From the manor of Warblington the xiiij^^'. of Novembre late in the night. Your Lordshippes assured W. SOUTHAMPTON. THOMAS ELIEN. ... singuler good Lord the Lord Privy Scale ... good Lord. The fragments of the Depositions against the Countess of Salisbury, mentioned by Lord Herbert, are still remaining in the bundle with these lietters. It is objected to the \Countess that she would not sufTer Tjrn. dal*s Testament nor any of the Books which the King had recently pri. vileged to come into her house : and that she disliked the new learning altogether. There is nothing of real consequence as to crime mentioned in them ; at least which is remaining now. One of her domestics or retainers appears to h«ve been acquainted with one of Lord Cromwell's domestics. » John White, to whom the Priory of Portchester or Southwyke in Hampshire had been granted in the aoth Hen. VHI. VOL. II. SER. 2. I i 114 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CXXXI. The Earl of Southampton and the Bishop of Ely to Lord Cromwell. A Second Letter. [fsaom. in the cottokian library. Ibid. Griff.] according to the purport of . . . . lettres of the xiiij**^ of this Novembre wee have nowe removed the Lady of Sarisbury, and this last night arrived with the same at Cowdrey. And where in the same our Lettres wee towched our opinions, that beeing removed, she wold perhappes uttre some thing more than alreadie she had doone : so this shall bee to advertiese you that syns our arrivall here, tray- vayleng sondry tymes and aftre sondry sortes with her, somwhat elles of newe have wee goten of her wich wee deeme materiall. And liekwiese laboreng with Standishe, have pyked ouzt of him more than in the beginneng wee could. And shall aswell therof, as of all oodre our procedinges, and specially of her gesture and precise aunswers and declarations to the maters obiect against her, make your lordshippe trud reaport at our retome. Wee assure your Lordshippe, wee have dealid with suche a one, as men have not dealed withall to fore us ; wee may call her rather a ORIGINAL LKTTKRSi 115 strong and constaunt man, than a woman. For in all be- havior howe so ever wee have used her, she hath shewid her self so emest, vehement, and precise, that more could not bee, so that wee thinking thoughe wee used all industrie and diligence to presse her to uttre more, if any more lay in her stomake, wee shold but spend tyme, and not mutch or no thing prevayle, agreed to departe hense towardes the Kinges Maiestie, and no ferther to travayle at this tyme. And so beeing in redines to take our joumay between one and ij at aftre none this xvjt^ of Novembre, and even at poynt to take leave of her, John Chadreton, and Whyte, whome wee appoynted with oodre, to take ordre of her hous- hold, til the Kinges pleasure were further knowne, sent us Lettres, wherin were enclosed certayne bulles graunted by a bushoppe of Rome, wiche were found in Standishe chambre, with a copie of a lettre found in a gentilwoman's chest, made, as it apperith by tenor therof, by the said Lady unto the Lord Mountague. And forasmutche, as the mater comprised therin semed have stopped our Joumay th . . . • king, and shaU spend the same in ... . eftsones with her, so that wee have exam whether, wherfore, and when she made .... and by her examinacion have tried ouzt .... wrote the same, and have sent for the . . . aboutes whose examinacion wee entend to I 2 116 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 117 this next day til none, and so to make no . . de- more here, but putting her in suche ordre . . suretie here, as the Kinges pleasure is she shold bee left in, with convenient speed to come h . . . And then give you advertisement of all togidre. Thus th'oly Trinitie have your lordshippe . . . keeping. From Cowdrey the xvj^*\ of Novem. Your Lordshippe asured, W. SOVTHAMPTON. THOMAS ELIEN. To our singuler good Lorde the Lord Privie scale his good Lordshippe. LETTER CXXXII. Lord Cromwell to the King ; a portion of a Letter dated Landcm^ the \^th of March, Tlie discovery of a nest of Traitors on board a French Ship at South Sliields, [m8. cottok. tit. b. I. foL 263 b. Orig.'\ •^* In the former, and in some earlier Letters of the present Series, the traits which are mentioned of Lord Cromwell^s character are scat- tered. A few remarks upon the general circumstances of his life will not be misplaced here : and he may perhaps be exhibited to less advan. lage than before. His origin was obscure ; nor is even his parentage thoroughly ascer. tained. From a Letter already printed, there seems reason to believe i that he had some connexion either in early or in middle life with the household of the Marchioness of Dorset ; ' and Hall informs us that he was Wolsey's " chief doer" in suppressing some of the meaner mo- nasteries preparatory to the foundation of Cardinal College ; an employ- ment which shows that he must have been in M^olsey's service at least as early as 1524. Yet we are told that he served in the capacity of a com- mon soldier in the Duke of Bourbon's army at the sacking of Rome, which did not happen tiU 1527 ; and which could not possibly have been. Fox is the authority for this fact ;b as well as for the assertion that Cromwell, Moee, and Gardiner were brought up together m Wol- sey's household ; whereas More, who was brought up in the family of archbishop Morton, was so few years younger than Wolsey himself, that he was even a representative in parliament in the reign of Henry the Seventh, long before Wolsey attained to power. Nor do the doubted parts of Fox's narrative end here. Cromwell, in a pMsage which has been particularly referred to in the former Series of these Letters, is described as scrupulous, when in a state of grandeur to repay the debts and obligations of his humbler fortune ; more especially to one Francis Frescobald, a Florentine, who had been his benefactor when abroad. Yet even the charm of this Tale is dissolved when we find its authority is a Novel of Bandello.*: The outline of CromweU's history is given in few words by Cardinal Pole ; who states the general belief that he was bom in a village m the neighbourhood of London; that he was the son of a fuller, and at one time (whether sooner or later is not said) a common soldier m the wars of Italy ; that he was afterwards in the service of a Venetian merchant whom the Cardinal knew, and kept his books of accompt ; that l^ing tired of commercial life, he came home, and took to die profession ot the Uw, but that even in this pursuit he did not succeed tdl Wolsey employed him in suppressing some decayed Monasteries ; that in that busmess his genius was developed, and that hU conduct in it rendered him so un. • See the former Seriw, vol. i. p. 218. Letter LXXVIII. runU^inn h,.t k «rrnmweU " he MY*. •' had vet DO wund taste nor judgment of Rehgion, but wl wS^iarlt^fuT. without Jnse or regard of God and .us word as he himsetf ^;Snt often twl to declare unto Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, shewmg SH-^etrL-i ris"- ^^^ P^ri - NoveUe, edit. Mil. I&60, 12". vol. U. p. 140. Nov. xviu. 118 ORIGINAL LETTERS. :i popular that the public voice called for his punishment : fortunately for him, at the moment, he obtained an introduction at Court. * The reader probably remembers that remarkable passage in Caven- dishes Life of Wolsey, in which the writer says, ^^ It chanced me upon All-hallown day to come into the great chamber at Asher, in the vaondng, to give mine attendance, where I found Master Cromwell leaning in the great window, with a primer in his hand, saying of our Lady mattins. He prayed not more earnestly than the tears distilled from his eyes. Whom I bade good morrow. And with that I perceived the tears upon his cheeks. To whom I said, ' Why, master Cromwell, what meaneth all this your sorrow ? Is my lord in any danger, for whom ye lament thus ? or is it for any loss that ye have sustained by any misadventure ?* *• Nay, nay,* quoth he, * it is my unhappy adventure, which am like to lose all that I have travailed for all the days of my life, for doing of my master true and diligent service.' * Why, Sir,* quoth I, ^ I trust ye to be too wise, to commit any thing by my lord's command- ment otherwise than ye might do of right, whereof ye have any cause, to doubt of loss of your goods.* ' Well, well,' quoth he, * I cannot tell ; but all things I see befmre mine eyes, is as it is taken ; and this I under- * *' Sic ergo, si tale nomen quaeratur. Cromvellum eum appellant, fi genu>« (to nullo quidem ante euro, qui id nomen gereret. audivi. Dicunt tamen. viculum esse prope Londinum, ubi natus erat, et ubi pater ejus pannis verrendis victum quvrita> bat, sed de hoc parum refert. Nunc si conditio qucratur, sic quidem de eo intellexi, aliquem in Italia fuisse gregarium militem, fuisse etiam mercatorem, ncc tamen longius progmsum in mercatura fuisse, quam ut scriba euet mercatoris. et libros rationum servaret, optima vero novi ilium mercatorem, qui Venetus erat natione, cui operas suas locabaU Tandem hujus conditionis peitacsus, domum reversus, causidicis se inuniscuit, his qui jura Regni profitentur. In quo eo magis m; proficere sperabat, quod versuti et callldi ingenii sibi conscius esset ad defendendum tam ini- quum, quam sKjuum, quod ex externoruro commercio valde acuerat, cum nostrorum hominura ingeniorum simplicitatem semper contemnereL Nee tamen in hoc genere valdir crevit, antequam ad Monasteriorum ruinam perventum est. Quod inccepit ▼ivente adhuc Cardinal! Eboracense, duro Monasteria quaedam pene a suis deserta, et illorum bona ac pracdia in subsidium pauperum qui in gyinnasiis Uteris operam dabant essent cOnversa. Hie vero notus esse coepit, idque ostendit ad hanc artein solam se natum fuisse, ad ruinam et vastationem, id quod crebra aliarum artium mutatio dedaravit, in quibus nihil crevit, in hac vero statim Celebris esse coepit, et pluribus notus, ita tamen in illis initiis hujus suae artis notus, ut cum Cardinalis, cujus assecla fuit, et ex cujus authoritate et imperio illam suam artem exercebat, ab adiininistratione Reipublicse remotus esset, et dignitate privatus, ipse omnium voce, qui aliquid de eo intellexerant, ad supplicium posceretur. Hoe enim qffirmare possum, qui Londini turn €U{fUi et voces audivi, adeo etiam ut per civitatem univer- sam rumor circunnferretur, eum in carcerem fuisse detrusum, et p ro p 9 di tm pro* ductum iti ad supplicium. Nee vero populus uUum spectaculum Ubentius expecta- bat, nee ille rumor ex alia re nascebatur, uisi quod omnes eum sciebant omni sup- plicio dignum-" Poll Apolog. ad Car. V. Imperat. pp. 126, IST. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 119 stand right well, that I am in disdain with most men for my master s sake ; and surely without just cause. Howbei^ an iU name once gott^ will not lighUy be put away. I never had any promouon by my Lord to the increase of my living. And thus much will I say to jou, that ^ intend, God willing, this afternoon, when my Lord hath dmed, to nde to London, and so to the Cour^ where I will either tnake or mar, or 1 come again.* " • . , j u* '^^ «« The day after, Cromwell was at Court, and sought and obtamed an audience from the King; Cardinal Pole, who had the account from CromweU himself and others who were present, relates that upon A^ occasion Cromwell suggested to the King a mode of overcoming the drf. ficulty of the Pope's opposition to the divorce, by takmg the authority into his own hLs and declaring hhnself Head OF THE Chubch within hi. ou^n Realm. The King gave ear to the proposUion ; ^d was so pleased with i^ that he thanked him, and admitted hmi to the dignity of a Privy Counsellor.* CoiUd any thing have more completely .eakd the ruix o/ Wolsey s FORTUNES than this suggestion ? It is evident that Cromwell's support of Wolsey went no farther than a given point. When he saw that the ruin of that Minister was thoroughly reLlved upon, he seized the opportunity to raise himself. After CromweU had delivered to Wolsey the thousand pounds from the Kmg to pay the expenses of his journey to the north, he seems to have done no more for : "i^^^ l^e^urof^ra-r^r^^^^^^ to the King i. .imile videtur. duocapiu in eodem ^ J^ ^^^ti/a^ juTsu^. quod illi kstute vindicent a jurisdictione Regum. . S^'^^^^' lUe aa ^'^ ^.^.^^^ ^anto nun- abstulerunt; omaret simul auctonUtem ^^^'Z^io^^^ inpinnaculum quam omnibus majoribus suis v^sa es^ Et ^"^ ^^^J^'f^^^J^^^ potestati Eccle- Templi, vel in montem escelsum '^"'» ^'"•'"'*'' ""^^^^^ numero et siasticae videri possent. sic omma '^"°^\ ^^^^^^^^"'^^^^^^ opulenUfuerunt.oM..sEP.«.^^^^^^ illi ostendit, cum »»"d adjunge^. "u^^c Sum consensu Consilii supremi Regni, quod revera es, vocan te facias, et nunc "'^"' . . ^^ proponant. ha- quod non erit difficile impetrare. s. f «"«>^™'"^^'^X;,''^orum eri^^^^^ Seas, facias dari. Quo facto non «?»"«" «^ o^^^tur qiod initio omnis po- sed etiam omnium desideriorum. " »"*lX "Ju^Ta^ n^rium erit, ut scilicet testatis,utiDauctoriUtemstab.lemmducatuJ^p^asquamn^ ^^. ^^ graves pcenas statuas, nemini del.nquenti P*"^^^. "^ "^°f ^^s, u O-imen /«-» EUri Z verbo. vel -'P^- -^^""^^^.J"^^^^^^ ut sis Capct nc M^rari-/-' Vind,c« e^ quc^^t prop^'^m ^ pp.«i,,«. Tvo R.ONO et soLCM CAPUT. Apok»Pa. aa ^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^ The C-a.dmal adds ^^^^^^l ta^^^^^^^ .^^^^^.^ ,,, ^^ ^u.^, ejus wXab eodem nunc to (*r. I romweiiu» j«v consilii fuerunt imrticlpcs." P. !»»• I I 120* ORIGINAL LETTERS. him. We have no mention of his name when Wolsey was ordered to London to take his trial ; none upon Wolsey^s journey ; none in his last moments : nor have we any subsequent mention of the name of Wolsey frtHn Cromwell, except in the single instance of the dialogue at arch- bishop Cranmer*s table, when Cromwell declared that he was never so far in love with Wolsey as to have waited on him to Rome if he had been chosen Pope.* We now come to the character of Cromwell as the Minister of Henry the Eighth. If Pole may be believed, and no good reason can be given for doubting his veracity, Cromwell was frank in disclosing his own Machiavellian principles.** That he possessed such, cannot be disputed. The Cottonian Manuscript Titus B. i. contains numerous Notes, in Lord Cromwell's own hand, of " Remembrances" when he went to the Court, the Council, or the Parliament Their folds and creases show that they were the Memoranda which he doubled up and carried in his pocket : and it is singular that he should have suffered such to remain. Of these the following are specimens : " First touching the Anabaptists, and what the King will do with them.*: " Item what the Kings Highnes will have don with suche persons M do remayne in prison by the accusacion of Hale the prieste. " Item to remember all the Juells of all the Monasteries in Englonde, and speciallie for the Crosse at Pawles of Emorads. " To cause Indictaments to be drawenfor all the Qfendort in Trea^ tone and mysperuHon, as the case shall requyre^ conceruyng the Nonne of Canterbury. ** Item to remember my Lorde Chauncelor for his ende. " Iton to send to my Lorde of London to gyve conmiandment to the precher not to praye for the Pope at Powly's Crosse upon Sondaye. " For the Indytment ageynst the Abbott of [Reading] and other. " Item a Conmiission of Oyer determyner into Barkshyr for his in- dytment and tryall. " Item certoyn persons to be sent to the To wre /or theforther exame-. nacyon of the abbott ofGlaston, • See Vol. ii. p. l. First Series. , •> — '* Suam tentcntiam conclusit de officio prudentis Consiliarii, hoc in primii pertinere, ut diligenter ^nvestiget quo tendat voluntas Principis. Qua in re me- diocri prudentia opus esse dicebat, dum non semper, quam verbis oatendunt. earn intus voluntatem gerunt. Quos decet maxime in seimone, religionis, pietatis, et re- liquarum virtutum pra^lara nomina semper proponere, quia tanien cum his eorum voluntas semper conveniat," &c. Poll Apol. p. 128. • They were burnt, April 29th, 1S40. Stowc, Ann. p. 5T0. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 121 (( Item the Abbott Redyng to he sent down to be tryed and exe- cuted at Redyng with his complycys. " Item the Abbott of Glaston to be tilted at Glaston and also TO BE executed THER trir/t Ai* cowi/?/ycy*.» " Counsaylours to gyve evydens ageynste the Abbott Redyng ; 3lr. Hynde; the Kyngs Attorney. " Counsaylors to gyve evydence ageynste the Abbott of Ghiston j Rychard Pollard, Lews Forscew, Thomas Moyle. " Item to se that the Evydens be well sortyd, and the Jndytmentts well drawn ageynst the sayd Abbotts and thayr complycys. « For money to be sent to Calyes for the deffrainge the Lady Annes *"^For money for the deffraing of the Ladie Anne's charges with her trayne after the arryvall in Englonde tyll she cum to Grenewiche.^ " Item what pleasors or rewardes the King wiU gyve to them that shall departe from the Ladie Anne at Calays; and of what kinde they shalbe to be delyvered to my Lorde AdmyralL " Item to knowe the Kinge's Highnes pleasure touching the Lord Mordan^ and suche other as ffreer Forest named for his prmcipal fireendes. " Item the Monastery of Syon to come by Premunire. " Item to advertise the Kyng of the orderyng of Maister Fyssher, and to shew hym of the Indenture whiche I have delyveryd to the Sohcxtors. " Item to knowe his pleasure touching Maister More. " Item wlien Maister Fissher shall go to his execution, with also the other. " Item what shall be done farther touching Maister More. « Item to send unto the King by Raffe<= the behaviour of Maister Fissher. " Item to remember Rok the traytor of Ireland. « Item to remembre the examinacion of my Lorde Marques beareward, and Payne his felowe. " Item to remembre spccyally the Ladie of Sar. " To send Gendon to the Towre to be rakkyd, and to sende Mr. BeUesys, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Peter to assyst Mr. Levetennaunt m th exa- .""^Tt^* to remember the Balade made of tlie Prync^ by my Lady Mary. " Item for the dely very of the Marchynes of Excestr. • See Stowe's Annals, an. I5t«. b The Ladv Anne here meant is Anne of Clevcs. < TuUrafto^iards Sir lUlph Sadler: the mention of whom wdl occur agam. I:li 1^2 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^ Item what the Kyng wfU have done wUh the Lady of Saru M. *' Item for the dyetts of young Courtncye and Pole. *^ Item the Sanctuary men being yet at Beaulieu for debt, that they may contynue there for their lyves. ^^ The payment of Quene Annes debts. ^' Item to remember my Lorde of Canterbury his best Myter to be demaunded in the lewe of the Kyng^s legacie. '* Item to remembre to know the trew valew of the goods of Castell- Acre, /or my parte therof, *•*• Item how that this daye I and my Lorde of Worcester be in hande with the Lord Darcye at the Towre. '* Item to shew the King the patrons* ofth*Inhrowderiefor the Quene. *' Item to cause all the Estattutts touching the Popes auctoryte and the K3mgs successyon to be abbredgyd, to the intent the pyth and effect of them may be declaryd to the Frenche Kyng. *^ Item to appoynt of the most assuryd and most substancyall of all the gentylmen within everey sh3rre of this Realme to be sworn of the Kjmgs Clounsayle, and they to have commandement to explore and inserche, to know who shall preche, teche, or speke any thing to the advancement of the Popis auctorytie and, yf any suche be, indelaydlye to apprehend them and to commytt them to warde. *' Item, to have in lyke case substancyall persons in evereye good Town thorow owt this Realme to explore and inserche of all suche persons as shall in any wyse talke, preche, or teche any thing in the advauncement of the Popis auctoryte. " Item to have the Acte of and for the Kjmg's successyon oppenlye proclamyd thcrow out this Realme, to the intent the PepuU shall not make them ignorant therein ; and who so ever shall offend to be orderyd according to the sayd Estatute and the payns conteynyd in the same. ** Item, to cause all the Bekynes thorow owt the Realme to be with all spede repajrred, and to put order that they may be watched and in a redynes for all chancys. *' Item Letters to be wryttyn to all suche as have any Forteressys nere imto the Costs of the See, to th*intent that thaye may according to thayr dewte se them orderyd, and suche theyr munyscyons and artylyerye as be within the same to be putt in redynes and clensyd. *' Item to appoynt Prechers to goo thorow owt this Realme to preche the gosspeU and trew woord of God. " Item to send the Copye of the Actc of the Kinges succession to the Prynces Dowager, and also to my Lady Maryc, and to geve specyall comandement that the same may be redde in the presens of them bothc, and to take theyr answer.^' • patterns. OKIGINAL LETTERS. 19S There is a separate Memorandum in the same Volume, foL 481, rf a more extended kind, headed " Thinges to be treated of in Counsail: « Item specially to note in what astate the kinges affayres stande in and to provide too that his Grace may at the least have oon fr^nde, and nowe the case standing as it doth to accelerate that matier soo that it may be doon in tyme. , , . " Whiche be the wayes and meanes for the kmg to acquire this freendeship and uppon what groundes. First his Highnes hathe two doughters, though not lawfully yet KINGE8 DODOHTERS, and forasmoche as princes commonly conclude amyties «id thinges of greate importance by alliaunces, it is thought necessary that those twoo doughters shalbe made of some estimacion, withoute the which no man woU have any greate respecte unto them. " And forasmoche as the one of them is of more age thenne the other, «id more apt to make a present alUance themie the other for want of age is, if it might please the Kinges Highnes to declare her according to his Uwes whiche to her estimation is thought wUbe a great thmg, or elles otherwise to advaunce her to some certain Uving decent for suche an estate, wherby she may be the better had in reputacion ; Itjs thought the more acceleration wold be made for her: and thenne a like du-ection to be Uken for my lady Elizabeth, wherby as his Grace by thenne may provide him of a present freende, soo he may have the other m store hereafter at his pleasure to get also an other freende, as the commodiUe of his affaires shaU require; for as we thinke the only shewte wikex the Frenche kmg hathe, is to compasse the mariage betwene the duke of Or- leaunce and the duchesse of MiUain, whiche in estate were not to be com- parid to any of the ku.ges doughters if she wanted that endowment of Millain, which the Frenche king thinkethe by that meanes to get into his handes, and if that shuld happen, thenne shall not only the Frenche king and the bisshop of Rome wyve together by all lightly wood against us, soo that the kinges Highnes shalbe destitute of freend^hip on a^l sides, but ako his doughters shaU aswel remayn unprovided for, as be left m suche case as no prince of honour shalbe left to desire the kinges amyUe by meane of either of the same.'* The following « Remembraunces" relating to grants of Monasteries occur in another page. " Item to remember Warner for a Monastery. Item Doctor Keii The Lord Grey Wylton. Raff Sadelere. Nycolas Rusticus, Mountegrace. M'. Gostwyke f^' ^^^^/^^"^^-^ j^ ' Kyngysmyll for WharweU. John Freeman for Spaldyng. My Selff fl- Launde. Item to remember John Godesalve for sum thmge, for he hade nede. Item to remembre my lord Ferres." 124 ORIGINAL LETTERS. r! It is but just to Cromwell's memory to own that we are at least in- debted to him for one useful institution ; the introduction of Parish Re- gisters. These, for Marriages, Christenings, and Burials, were injoined strictly by the Injunctions of 1538. But we are also indebted to him for the multiplication of the laws of treason, and for the invention of at- tainting persons already in prison^ by Parliament, without bringing them to triaL The mention of this in his own case, by himself, will occur in a powerful form hereafter. He was not the first condemned by this law, for the Countess of Salisbury was the first : • yet Cromwell suffered death before her. He was the first who waa executed under it. - ■ neque enim lex «p<|uior ulla, Quim oecis artifices arte perire sua. Stowe affords us evidence that Cromwell was not less arbitrary as a man than as a minister; noticing the Church of the Augustine Friers in London, he says " On the south side and at the west end of this Church many fair houses are builded, namely in Throgmorton Street one very large and spacious, builded in the place of old and small tenements by Thomas Cromwell master of the King's Jewel- House, after that master of the Rolls, then Lord Cromwell, Knight, liord Privy Seal, Vicar Ge- neral, Earl of Essex, High Chamberlain of England, &c. This House being finished, and having some reasonable plot of ground left for a garden, he caused the pales of the gardens adjojming to the north part thereof on a sudden to be taken down, twenty-two foot to be measured forth right into the north of every man's ground, a line there to be drawn, a trench to be cast, a foundation laid, and a high brick wall to be builded. My father had a garden there^ and an house standing close to his south palCf this house they loosed from the ground, and hare upon rollers into my fathers garden twenty-two foot^ ere my father heard thereof no warning was given him, nor other answer, when he spake to the surveyors of that work, but that their master Sir Thomas commanded them so to do ; no man durst go to argue the matter, but each man lost his land, and my father paid his whole rent, which was vi'. viii*. the year for that half which was left. Thus much of mine own knowledge have I thought good to note, that the sud- den rising of some men, causeth them to forget themselves. The Com- • Cardinal Pole in one or two Letters which are extant speaki of his mother's death. In one he notices her dying words : " Quanquam quidem, qus me afflixerat, non me prorsus omni consolatione orbatum reliquit. cujus si vel novissima verba miaera natura auscultare posset, cum diceret. ut audio. ' beatos esse qui propter injustitiam persequutUmem patiuntur,' non solum me, et seipsam omni dolore libe> raret, sed gaudio etiam replerct, adeo ut cum Prophcta dicere iHWcm, ' mkmur rui Dai ax oKLacTATUs sum.' " Epist. P. iii. lit. xlv. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 125 pany of the Drapers in London bought this house, and now the same is their common hall." * i • «,r Fox has recorded one or two other instances of his personal exercise ot arbitrary power which it is not necessary to quote here. In the Chapter House at M^estminster an original Letter is P«»ervea from Cromwell to his wife, addressed to her at the House descnbed by Stowe. The following copy of it was communicated to the editor by the reV. David Powell : " Elyzabeth I commend me unto you and have sente you by this berer a fatt doo, the one half whereof I pray you may be delyvered unto my gossyp mastres Smyth, and with the rest to use your pleasure. And further yf Richard Swifte be cum home or fortune to cum shortly, I wiU that he resorte to me at Begham or Tonbridge with all dylygenoe. Such news as ye have in those partyes I pray you sende me parte by this berer. At Begham the xxix^^ day of November. And farther I pray you sende me word in wryting who hathe resorted unto you syns my departuer from you to speke with me. Per your husbend THOMAS CRUMWELL. To my well beloved wyf Elyzabeth CrumweU agenst the Freyers Augus- tines in London be this given." This Letter must have been written in 1525, that being the year of the suppression of Begham or Bayham Abbey. Who Cromwell married, beyond what appears in this Letter, is un- known. Sir Richard Cromwell, alias WQUams, from whom Ohver Cromwell was descended U beUeved to have been a son of the Lord Cromwell's sister. This daye, being my Lord Chancelor my lord of Sussex and the Bishop of Duresme with my,b I have receyved lettres from the President and counseillors of Your Graces Counseill in the North, dated ixo Marcij, conteynyng that a certain Frenshe ship, laden with- Scotishe goodes, wether dryven at Southschelis in the • Surv. of London, edit. 160«. p. ISO. ►me. n 126 ORIOINAL J.ETTERS. countie of Duresme, whereof the erle of Westmerland having advertisement, and by certain persons from Scotland advice geven afore, serched the ship : found under the bagages in the botom thereof a nest of Traytors, that is to saye oon Robert More preste of Churstie which was lately scappid from Hexams prison, and two Irishe men, a monk and a frere, who had with them sediciouse and trayterouse lettres agenst your Grace, directed to the bishop of Rome and to the tray tor Pole: amonges the which ther was oon from that yong rebell traytor Fitzgerald to the Cardinal Pole, conteyning the kyndnes he had founde in h3rm and in his, and requiring him not to put him in obli- vion, but beleve the said monk ; his hand and seell be at the same. Also ther be lettres, long, from an arant traytor Rurik bishop of Derens, in your Graces land of Irland, his hand and grete scale at it, to the bishop of Rome, declaring the calamites of the papistes in Irland, with sundry trayterouse lyes agenst your Graces officers ther: an other lettre of credence to the said Pole, and many other. We have examyned them, and doo fynd the same to be cause of disclosing many thinges. They lack almost the Englislie and Laten tong. Wherfor I have put men understanding the Irishe and Laten tong to examyn them, and write their depositions. And the same had, I shall by my next lettres advertise your Majestic of the hole effect more particularly. We then k it as it were a myracle that ORIGINAL LETTERS. 127 God drave them hither, to be disclosed andpunished : and assuredly they think nolesse or greter then we doo. Their lettres were hydden in corners. But other lettres there were from Scotishmen to marchauntes of Dieppe, and for certain Bulles and Dispensations to be obteyned at Rome for Scottes, which touched nothing your Graces subjectes nor affaires, wherfor, being the same opened and perused, they have ben redelivered agayn, and the Frenshe ship sufFred to departe. Amonges the Scotishe Lettres there was but oon thing notable, that is th^Abbot of Melrose wrote to some freend of his at Rome that noon Indulgences or Expeditions obteyned ther shuld tak no effecte in Scotland withoute the licence of their Prince. The which purpose I lik well, trusting that the mercy of God woll extende his brightnes upon them to perceyve the truth of his word and gospeil to the bishops con- fusion. # # # ♦ * A Thursday I received Lettres from Harvel your Grace's servant and subject now dwelling at Venece, the oon directed to your Majestic conteyning oonly thanks and som other general purpose of his good affection. I beseche your Grace to regarde his good will and zele in good part and consider that within a litel tyme he shalbe better hable to do service and gett experience of your Graces affaires. The other Lettres be directed unto me, conteyning besids thanks certain 128 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 129 ^ occurrences there. Your Highnes shall receyve them herewith. The Irishe monke purposed to resorte unto the traytor Pole ; he was with hym in Fraunce, and at Camerik the last tyme that the said Pole was ther. I trust in the meane tyme to be continually occupied about th'^accomplishment of the Commissions and other your Grace's proposes and resolutions ; ffor the whiche my lorde Admyrall is alredy goon to employe hymself for his part, and my lorde of SufF. is likewise gon to Lincoln shir. I trust our dutie shalbe so well em- ployed to your Grace'^s service that ye shal have cause of contentement at the lest to take our doings in good part. I beseche your Ma^^^. t'accept our pouer good wills and smale power, who shalbe alwayes redy to obeye to th'uttermost your graciouse commaundements and speceally ye may be assured for myn owne part being of most bounden duetie obliged therto. Thus I beseche allmyghty God to send your Maieste accom- plishement of all your gracious desires. Writen at London the xiiij'h of March. Your Majesties most bownden subject and servant, THOMAS CRUMWELL. LETTER CXXXIII. Lord Cromwell to the Kin^, dated Lcmdan 17th March in tJie Kvening, A portion of a Letter : concerning a/fi Irish Morik^ one of the Traitors before men- tioned* [m8. cotton. TITUS. B. 1. foL 259. Orig.'\ I TAKE God to be not onely your Grace''s protector but also a merveillouse favorer, so that in my hert I hold me assured although all the rest shuld have conspired agenst your Grace, yet ye shall prevail through his grace assuredly ; seeing that now I under- stand from Ireland that your rebels Desmond, Byryn, O nell, and Odonell do moch combyne and practise togeder. I think a miracle of the arryvaill of the Irish monk which was wether driven hither, they were iiij. Ships at their departure of Scotland a fortnight ere they could procede any thing forward ; and, by tem- pest, iij. of them drowned in th''other sight wherein this monk was dryven to this your Grace's land by the wynd ; whereto of all places in the world he was the most lothe to arryve. It shalbe a great hindrance to the said Irishe rebells purposes and practises whan they shall knowe themselves so to be at this tyme by the in- VOL. II. SER. 2. F 130 ORIGINAL LETTERS. i f terception of this monk, their messenger, so interrupted. We cannot as yet gett the pyth of his credence, wherby I am advised to morowe ones to go to the Tower and see hym sett in the Bracks » and by torment compelled to confesse the truth. LETTER CXXXIV. E. Hord Prior of Hentm in Somersetshire to hi^ brother Men Horde^ announcing his intention of submitting' to the King, [m8. cotton, cleop. e. IV. fol. 270. Orig.] •.♦ This Letter, from the Prior of a Carthusian Monastery to his brother, probably explains the feeling of a large portion of the Heads of the Religious Houses at the time of the Suppression. They were called upon to give up that " which was not theirs to give ;" that which was dedicated to the Almighty for service to be done to his honor continually ; and limited in its distribution to deeds of charity. They yielded to necessity. Willis says that Henton was surrendered to the King by the Prior and nineteen monks March 31". 1539. » The Brack or Brake, wa» a spwies of rack. The very instrument which Crom- well protet^n the intention of using, or a portion of the horrid machine, wa« lately remaining in the Tower. It is engraved on wood In the Note* to Isaac Reed'i edition of Shakspeare, vol. vi. p. Ml. It is also mentioned by Judge Blackstone in his Com- mentaries. vol. iv. ch. 25. He says, " The trial by rack is utterly unknown to the Law of England ; though once when the Dukes of Exeter and Suffolk and other ml- niiters of Henry the W^. had laid a design to introduce the civil law into this king- dom as the rule of government, for a beginning thereof they erected a rack for tor- ture which was called in derision tfte Duke of Exeter' t daughter , and still remains in the Tower of London ; where it was occasionally used as an engine of State, not of Law, more than once in the reign of Queen Elizabeth." In Mary's time It had been frequently used. ORIGINAL LETTERS. Jhus 181 In Owr Lord Jhesu shall be yowr Salutation. And where ye marvelle that I and my brotheme do nott frelye and voluntarilie geve and surrendure upe owr Howse at the mocyone off the Kyngs Commissinars, but stonde styfflye (and as ye thynke) obstenatlye in owr opynion, trulye Brothere I marvelle gretlye that ye thynke soo ; but, rather that ye wolde have thowght us lyghte and hastye in gevyn upe that thynge whyche ys not owrs to geve, but dedicate to Allmyghtye Gode for service to be done to hys honoure contynuallye, with other many goode dedds off charite whiche day- lye be done in thys Howse to owr Christen neybors. And consideryng that ther ys no cause gevyn by us why the Howse shull be putt downe, but that the ser- vice off Gode, religious conversacion off the bretheme, hospitalite, almes deddis, with all other owr duties be as well observyde in this poore Howse as in eny rely- gious Howse in thys Realme or in Fraunce ; whiche we have trustyde that the Kynges Grace wolde considere. But by cause that ye wrytte off the Kyngs hye dis- pleasure and wy Lorde Prevy Sealis, who ever hath byn my especialle good Lorde, and I truste yette wyll be, I wyll endevere my selffe, as muche as I maye, to perswade my brotheme to a comfFormyte in thys ma- tere ; soo that the Kyngs Hynes nor ray sayd good Lorde shall have eny cause to be displeside with us : trustyng that my poor brothern (whiche knowe not K 2 132 ORIGINAL LETTERS, ORIGINAL LETTERS. J 33 where to have theme lyvynge) shall be charitable looke uppon. Thus owr Lord Jhesu preserve yow in grace. Hent\ X. die ffebriiarii. , E. HORD. To hys brother Alen Horde in Medylle Temimlle dd. LETTER CXXXV. Thanias Lord La Wdrr to Lord Cromwell desiring that Boxgrave Abbey may he spared, [m8. cotton, cleop. e. IV. foL 234. Or\g.\ •^» This Letter stands in need of a short Introducdon. Lord La Warr calls himself in it the Founder of Boxgrave Priory ; that is the Patron. By the ancient institutions of the Realm, it was lawful for the donors of lands to religious and charitable uses, or their heirs, to resume tliem if the rents and profits were not applied to the purposes for which they were bestowed. This is expressly stated in a Latin letter from King Edward the Third to the Pope, printed in Rjrmer's Fordera. • Hence also the care so frequently observable in our Abbey Registers to perpe- tuate the descents of those in whom the right of patrAiagc was vested. Boxgrave Priory in Sussex was founded at an early period as a Cell to the Abbey of De 1' Essay in Normandy, from which it was afterwards severed, as an Alien Cell, and made indigenous, in the reign of Edward the Third. Sir Thomas West Lord La Warr inherited the patronage of this Priory as descended from Rotjert de Hay a who had given it to De TEssay. In this Letter Lord La Warr solicits first that Boxgrave may remain * Rym. Feed. torn. iii. p. i3&. M imsuppresscd ; then, if it cannot so remain, that it may be converted into a College; thirdly, that, if that may not be, he may have the farm of it, with all such other things as the Prior had for the provision of the House, granted to him by the King. The Site and premises of this Priory were actually granted to Lord La Warr, who, as appears by a Letter from the Visitors to Lord Cromwell dated 27"' March, paid 125/. 13«. \i. for the goods belonging to the House. This was one of very few instances in which the descendant of a founder, at the time of the Dissolution, recovered the alienated patrimony of his family. Earl's Colne in Essex granted to John Vere earl of Ox- ford was another. It was to the credit of the English nobility, that no selfish motives on their part led them either to wish for or to promote the suppression of the Religious Houses. Sir Thomas More has a remarkable passage to this effect in his Works : ** And to say the truth, much marvel have I to see some folk now so much and so boldly speak of taking away any possessions of the clergy. For al be it that once in the time of the famous Prince King Henry the Fourth, about the time of a great rumble that the heretics made, when they would have destroyed not the cle^y only but the King also and his nobility too, there was a foolish Bill and a fals put into a Parliament or twain, and sped as they were worthy : yet had I never founden in all my time while I was conversant in the Court^ of all the Nobility of this land above the number of seaven (of which seaven there are now three dead) that ever I perceived to be of the mind, that it were either right or rea- sonable, or could be to the realme profitable without lawful cause, to take any possessions away from the clergy, which good and holy Princes and other devout virtuous people, of whom there be now many blessed saints in heaven, have of devotion toward God given to the clergy, to serve God and pray for all christen soules." • M''hen the Houses were once dissolved, the Nobility, with the rest of the world, thought it no sacrilege to share in the acquisition of conven- tual estates. Papists and Protestants, indiscriminately, accepted grants. The Suppression of these Houses it will be remembered was prior to the Reformation of Religion, and was effected by a King and Pariiament of the popish communion. Right worshipful! Sir, in my most harty wise I re- commend me to you, verey desyrus to here of your » The Apology of Syr Thomas More knU made An. 1533. Works, edit. 166T. p. 8HS. 5' 134 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 135 good helthe, thankyng you of your provyd goodnes shewed to me undeservid, for the whiche you bynd me to be yours dewryng my lyffe ; and so shall ye ffynd me to the best of my letyll powre. Pleasyth you to be advertysed that I have perfFyt word that the Acte is past that all Howses off Rely gyon that is under three hundred markys ys gevyn to the Kyngs Highnes, bothe the lands and goodds : and that by the said Acte his Highnes may by his Letters patents under his grete Seale gyve lysence to as many as shall stand with his Gracys pleasure to contynewe un-subpressyd. And so it is that I have a power Howse called Boxgrave, very nere to my power howse, wherof I am ffounder, and there lyethe many of my aunsytorys, and also my wyfFys mother. And for by cawse hyt is of my fFoundacyon, and that my paryshe Churche is under the Roofe of the Churche of the said Monastery, and have made a power Chapell to be buryed yn ; wherfor yf hit might stand with the King's Gracy's pleasure for the power servyce that I have doyn his Highnes to ffore bere*^ thesub-pressyngof the same, or else to translate hyt yn to a College of suche nombre as the lands wyll here. And yf hyt may not stand so with his Gracys pleasure, then I wold lowly beseche hys Grace to have the pre- farment of the farme, with all suche other thyngs as the Pryor yn his tyme had for the provysyon of his Howse. WherfFor I wyll beseche you that I may hare your lawffull ffaver, good wyll, and helpe hereyn. And suerly, Syr, I shall recompence your goodnes, kyndnes, and payne hereyn, so that I trust that for soe power a thyng that you shalbe contentyd and pleasyd : besech- yng you to be as good to me hereyn as you may be, as my most trust ys in you. As knowythe the blessyd Trinite who long preserve you. Wryttyn at my power Howse apon owre Lady Day. Your owen assuryd THOMAS LA WARR. LETTER CXXXVI. The Lord Cromwell to the Earl of Shrewsbury, re^ specting the punishment of a Hermit for uttering traiterous words. [from the Orig. COMMUNICATED TO THE EDITOR BY WILLIAM BRAY, ESQ.] • forbear. After my right herty commendacions to your Lordship I have by this bearer your servaunt, bailly of Chesterfeld, receyved your Lettres and the byll therin enclosed concemyng th^Ermyte, the whiche being by me examyned, answered that he could not teU whither he spake ever the same trayterouse words or not. I have caused an Inditement to be drawen ther- 136 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 187 upon whiche your Lordeship shal receyve herwith : and also I have thought convenient to retom the said Hermite unto you agayn, there befor the Justices of Assise to be tryed and to th''exeinple of all other to be punyshed according to right and the King's lawes. I thank evermor your Lordeship for your good zele, dili- gence, and dexterate in repressing and apprehending suche perniciouse and detestable felons; and therof shal I not faile to make true raport to his Highnes, who I am assure shal tak the sam in most thankfull part. Thus I beseche our holy Creator to sende you prosperite and long liflfe. From Cheleshith this xiij^^. of July. Your Lordshippis assuryd THOMAS CRUMWELL. To my very good Lorde Therle of Shrewesbury Lorde Stuarde to the Kings Ma*'*. LETTER CXXXVII. Lord Cromwell to King Henry the Eighth, Jrom Antwerp, [ms. cotton. TITUS B. I. foL 261. Orig,\ News The newes in Antwerp from th'Emperors Court be, that about the later ende of Maye the said Emperor shall take his waye towards the French King, and his Armey surely go upon Barbarya. The Duchesse of Myllan is no mor sick, and in Antwerp is hope that yet your Highnes shall marye her. » * * * * London this xvj^^. of Aprill. ■ Your Magestes most humble subject and servant THOMAS CRUMWELL. \ 1S8 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 139 I I LETTER CXXXVIII. Zxyrd Cromwell to Xing' Henii/ the Eighth^ dated London Idth Apr ill. The examination of the Marchioness of Salisbury, The arrival ofHiero^ nymo, [ms. cotton, tit. b. I. foL 265. Or\g,\ The Marquise hath ben examyned, and in effect albeit she pretendeth ignorance and no knowlege of the person that shuld reporte the tale, yet nevertheles she confesseth in substance the moch like wordes to have ben told her. I shall assay e to the uttermost of my power, and never cesse tyll the bottom of her stomack may be clerely opened and disclosed ; and to that shal I not be slack, to the intent that if I may pyck oute the same and be as helthy as I trust to make myself, I shall on Mondaye next, by mouth, declare the same unto your Highnes more then I could by any writing. I trust Allmyghty God shall bringe all thinges to lyght that any ungodly and untrue persons have con- spired agenst your Grace, as hitherto (praysed by god) it hath ben seen. • ♦ • • « Here arryved yesterday oon Hieronymo an Italian of Senes a man of moche outward simplicite and as weak lernyng as ferre as I can perceyve. He fledd the persecution of the Papist^ in Italy, and went to Witteberg where he hath ben but a litel season ; yet nevertheles he hath Lettres of commendacion from Martin Luther, Philip Melanchton, Creutziger, Ozi- ander and other lemed men, and therewith som Let- tres to my lord th'archebishop of Canturbury and to your graces chapleyn Mr. Thyxstyll. The simplicite of the man, and his rude appareill and behaviour, shewe the man not to be in my jugement grately suspected. I have sent him to the said Archebishop aswell for to juge of his lernyng as also for to helpe him as he shall see cause. LETTER CXXXIX. Tliomas Pery to Mr. Ralph Vane, one of the Lord CromwelTs gentlemen^ upon his sufferings in the Inquisition at Tryana. [MS. COTTON. VESP. c. VII. foL 91 b. and 102. two copies. Orig.] •/ Thomas Pery was an English resident in Spain, The chief causes of his persecution appear to have been a refusal to acknowledge King Henry the Eighth to be a heretic, an alledged approval of the destruction of the Monasteries m England, and of the selling of the Church Bells, which in ancient times were consecrated. The detaUs of this Statement serve at least to show the opinion which was held of Henry's conduct in the countries which remained catholic; and more especially in the dominions of his nephew the emperor Charles the Fifth. The declaration of the judge Pero Diez, that the Inquisition would have burnt Henry himself if it could have found him witliin its jurisdiction, is at least ingenuous. 14fO ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. Here after followithe all maner of thinge as conserninge myne Acwsacyon and what procedyde ther of in the Castell of Tryana, as here-after fol- lowithe, in anno 1539. The 9'^ daye of Octobre laste paste, whiche was in the yere of owr Lorde God aforsayde, I beinge in my ware howsse, whiche warehowsse was in Ayemonte, in the dwellinge howsse of Gomes Malmazeda, ther being bessy brosshing sowche clothys as I hade ther of other menes consynyde unto me be commyshin, as be the commyshones more larger wyll a pere, and as for sowche goodys as I hade of my nawne I had solde and dyschargyde fowrthe of thys contre afowre ; That day, seweinge vij pecis of northen dossens that I delyweryde to my nost aforesaid Gomes Malmezada, whiche was in parte of payement of my servant Francys Bolde ys bowrde, whiche was for ij yeres yendinge at Sent Myghell the arkangell laste paste in the yere afore sayde; and I so beinge in my ware howsse bessy, ther yentrede in a pryste, dwellinge in Ayemonte, with twoe or thre men in hys company, and as he came in he sawe a brassyne bell, whiche bell myght waye ij kyntalles wayght lyttell more or les, the whiche wone Thomas Edwardys marchante of London browght in the same shype, that I came in for to sell, onknowinge unto me that ther was ony sowche thinge in the shype, or a lande, I toke Gode to recorde I knewc nothing ORIGINAL LETTERS. 141 ther of tyll the sayde pryste spaycke of it, he sainge what a goode Crysten is yowre Kinge of Ynglande to pwte downe the Monesterys and to take awaye the belles, to the whiche I answeryde and sayde that if yowe thinke that he be not a good Crystyane go yow thyther and showe his Grace so, and he wyll make yow answer. The sayde pryste answerid and sayde that he hade neyde to hawe more helpe yf he showlde go thyther to showe hym so. He sayeng to me agayne, do yowe saye that he is a goode Crystyan. I answeryd and sayde that he is a goode Crystyan and I do take hym so, and he is so takyn in hys Reyme for a goode Crys- tyan ; he sayinge no he ys no good Crystyane he ys a Erytycke, for he pwttythe downe Monesterys and sellythe the belles, and that he ys Pope within hym selfe in his Reyme ; askinge yf that were well downe or no, to the whiche I answeryde and sayde, that, as twching that I hade nothing to do withall, for his Grace and his Consell knowy the what they hawe to do in his Reyme, but wher yowe saye he ys an erytyck I deny it, he ys none, but he ys a goode Crystyan ; and if thowe wyl not beleive me feyche a nottary and I will geive hit the bye testymonyall that he ys a goode Crystyan ; and I wyll swbscrybe hit with my nowne hande : wher apone he reqweryde sowche as was ther with hym to beyer hym wittnes what I said, wherapone I rezytyde the wordes a fowresayde agayne, for cawse they showlde the better understonde me, and so theye m ii 142 ORTGINAL LETTERS. departyde: I, thinkinge that T showlde a harde no more of them, the next daye after, I departyd frome Ayemont to Leype which was iiij leges of, tlier to procwre for the laydinge of my shype. The whiche shipe I was bownde to layde bye a serten daye in payne of forffettinge of a houndred marke starlyng, as larger will apere by the sayde chartwrpartte '^ at all tymys ; and at my commyng to Leype I bowght of the dwke of Beja, a bounder pypis of bastardes,'^ as Thomas Edwarde and Willyam Est dothe knowe, marchantes of London, the whiche mar- chantes dyd layde the sayd wynes in the sayde ship, I being ther in Leype. The xj daye of that present I was restyde be the commandement of the vyckyr of Leype, and so had to presson and theyer a chayne of yorne of two fadome longe mayd fayste to my leyfte legge, ther remaynynge xj dayes ; and the xxj daye of that present thyther cam the Algwazyll mayeor of the Inkyzissyone of Sywell,^ and he came to the pryssone to me and browghte with hym a nottary, and mayde me swere to macke trewe answer to all thinge that he showlde axemyn'^ me apone payne of the lawe 5 and all thinge was wryttyne downe by the said nottary. Furste he exemynyde me what money or jewelles I hade, or what dettes was owinge me in any place throweowte • charter-party. b Bastard was raisin wine. See Minshieu's Dictionary in v. and Cole's Latin Diet. 1679. Shakspeai* speaks both of white and brown bastard. e Seville. * examine. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 143 the Reyme of Spayne ; or what goodys I had of my nowne, or of onny other marchantes consynyde unto me be commyssyone or otherwyse ; wherapone I was fayne to confes what was myne and what was other menes, for to exchewe the daunger that myghte fol- lowe: wherapone the sayde Algwazell mayor mayde seqwestracyone of xxxviij peices of whyte kersseyes and xviij statwtes, which was and is for the acownte of wone W'". Wode merchant of London, as will apere by hys commyssyone which they hawe from me. Also he seqwestyd xxx peices of northen dossenes, and xvj stray tes of dywers cowllers, the whiche dossenes and stray tes was and is for the acownte of wone Rycharde Felde merchaunte of London, as also wyll apere by his commyssyone whiche they hawe likewyse frome me. And of my nowne goodes he seqwystyde iiij doccets '^ in reddy moneye and a rynge of golde, and my cheyste with dywers thinges in hit, as consernyng my aparel and dywers other thynges which I am not in parffet remembrans of; and thys downe he tooke me fowrthe of prysson in Leype, and wolde abrowghte me to Sywell with a payer of boltes apone my leggcs, as thowgh I hade byne the stronegest theyffe in the worlde; but the dwcke of Beja being my syngwlar goode lorde wolde not that I showlde so to be carryde, he yentryde^ swrte for me to the sayde Algwazill in two thowsande dwccetes,-^ and that he showlde cary me • ducats. b entrcd. 144 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 145 i 1 apone my howrsse at my pleswre, and that I woolde present myselff in the Castyll of Tryana,^ and soldyd ; and cam thyther the xxvij daye of Octobre, wheyer I dyd remayne untyll the viij daye of Febrwarii, whiche was xvii weycks ; and in all that spayce theye wolde swffer no erly^ cryature to speyke with me. God knowythe what paste with me that sayde space. And the fyrst daye of Nowembre 1 reqweryde aw- dyens, and one the seconde daye I hade awdyens befowre the Lycencyado the Coro, and when I cam be fowre hym he axemynyde me yff I knewe wherfore I was pressoner. I answeryde and saide ye, and I re- syttyde to hym the wordes before sayde, the whiche he cawssyde to be wryttin ; and moreover I saide to hym that if I hawe saide ony thinge otherWysse then I ought to do, I spayke hit mayre be reassone I was provokyde by the sayde pryste, dessyering hym of mercy and penanes, which he cawsyde to be wrytten downe ; and then he resorttyde unto the prosses that was sent hym frome Leype by the vyckyr, whiche was myne acwzacyon, axing me yf I knewe he that acwzyde me or ony of the wittnes ; I sayeing no, that I knowe none of them, he axyde me agayne yf I sayde no nother thing but the wordes abowesayde ; he saying that the wittnes dothe depowys forther, I sayeing yf they do depowys ony other thing then I hawe con- • Triana was the name of one of the suburbs of SevlUe. Ito tower or casUe was the prison of the Inquisition. b eartlUy. fessyde, I do refawre me to them, and so restyde at that tyme ; and he sent me in agayne. The iiijt*» daye of the same monthe he sent for me agayne, and exemynyde me yf I cowlde prowe that the kyng of Ynglande was a goode Crystyane, and also myselff; he sayeing unto me that yowr Kinge was declaryde and so here takin for anerytycke; to the whiche I answeryde and sayde, that I knewe no sowche thinge, but that his Grace dyde usse hymselfe in hys Reyme as a goode and a faythefwll Crystyan. He axyde me what was the thinges he dyde that mowyde me to saye that he was a good Crystyan, to the whiche I answeryde and sayde that hys Grace hathe cawssyde openly to be proclayemyde throweowt hys Reyme, commanding all hys trewe and feythfwU subjettes to upserve and keype all manner of holly sacrementes and sacrementaws, and all holly serwes to be sownge and sayde in all paryschyre-* and chyrchis throweowit his Reyme, to the oner and glory of Gode, and that hys Grace hymselfe dowthe dayly here masse and serwe Gode within hys owyne chapell whiche is within hys owne mansyon, and confessyth hym selfe, and re- cewythe hys maker yerlye acording to the lawdebwU usse and costom of owr holly mother Chwrche, and so commandyth all hys swbjetts to do the same apone payne of deythe, and also to keype the yemberinge • parishry. VOL. II. SER. 2. 146 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 147 fastys and all other fasting dayes acording to the olde ansyent costome : and so he sent me in agayne. The xyth daye of the same present he cawUyde me agayne, and bayde me to gewye the names of sowche wittnes as I wold hawe exemynyde for the prowffe of thys thinge aforesayd ; and so I dyde gewe the names of sowche personys as I thowghte nessessary to prowe the same, to the nomber of xl. ynglysshemen and strangers, in Sywell, Sent Lwcar, Cadz, Ayemonte, and Leype ; the whiche coste me myche money the sending of the prosys abowte, and when I had prowyde myne intent, they let hit leyedyde » and wolde never let me knowe what was downe in hit ; for theye sawe hit serwyde not for ther purpowys : and so sent me in agayne. The 24^*» daye of the same present, he cawUyde me agayne, and exemynyde me if I had ony other thinge to saye, and I sayde no I had nothinge ellse to saye, but that I refare meselfe and all thinge afore rezeyttyde and to the wyttnes, dessyering hym to do me jwstys with mercy. Then he exemenyd me yf I dyde not beleive and thinke in my consyanes that the kinge of Yngkmde were a goodeCrystyan, and he pwtting downe the Monesteryes and taykinge awaye the belles, and that he is Pope within his Reyme, whether I dyde be- leive hit to be well downe or no ; to the whiche I an- sweryd and sayde that I dyd beleive hys Grace to be a good Crystyan, and the reste I belewyde to be well • lay dead. downe for asmyche as hys Grace hathe not downe hit apone hys owne heyde, but be the consell of all his nobylles of his Reyme spyrytwall and temporall ; and more, that the arsbysshopes and bysshopys dowyth opynly preyche hit in the pwlpytes throwtheowit the Reyme, and many wother docters whiche be takin for gret lernyde men, and they do declare that all that his Grace hathe downe he maye do hit be the atoryte of holly scryptwre ; the whiche cawsythe me to gewye credanes unto hit, I beinge onlemyde ; yf yowe cane informe me that he cane not do hit by holly scripture I wyll swbmyt my selfe and aske mercy; to the whiche he wolde make me no answer but that I showlde knowe more hereafter ; and so he sent me in agayne. The xth daye of Decembre he cawUyde me agayne to here myne acwzacyon presentyde by the fyscall, which he rede before me, and ther declaringe the Kinge Grace of Ynglande for anerytycke, and a parsson apartyde frome the holly mother chyrche of Rome, he not abeying owr holly father the Pope, and declaryde me Thomas Pery for an erytycke, for cawsse I dyd belewe that his Grace was a good Crystyan, and in that I dyde belewe that all that hys Grace hade downe to be well downe ; and he reqwryde the sayde Jwge to pounysse my boddy as anerytycke, and to condem all my goodes to be loste, the wone halfe to the Em- peroures mageste, and the other halfe to the holly In- kyzyscyon, bedinge me to macke answere by and by l2 I 148 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORICINAL LETTERS. 149 unto hit. To the whiche I answeryde and sayde, that I knewe his Grace for no erytycke but for a good and a faythefwlle Crystyan, and so he ys takyne in his Reyme ; and 1 myselffe a good Crystyan and all the kyne I came of; and forthermore, I hawe occwpyde thys contry this xiiij yere, I trwste ther ys no manner of parson cane saye the contrary, dessyring hym to do me Jwstys ; and so he sent me in agayne. And the xiii^^ (jgyg of ([^^ say me present mown the I was cawUyde agayne before hym to declare be fore the nottary what goods I hade in my powre, or owtte of my powre, of my nawne, or of ony other menes con- synyde unto me, or yf I hade ony money e owinge me in all thys cowntre of Spayn^ ; and so I dyd, and then he sent me in agayne. The xxiii' daye of the sayme monythe the Lyssen- cyathoa Coro came into the presson to me wher I was, and axsyde me howe I dyd, and whether I lackyde ony meyte or dryncke, and that I showlde taycke paynes, for hys fellow docter Pero Diez wilbe here shortely ; and at hys comyng he and I wyll commen togyther and we wyll be sowne^> at a poynte with yowe; to the whiche I answeryde and sayde, Sir, I besyche yowre mastershype in the oner^* of Gode to do me Jwestea,'' and let me not be utterly caste awaye here in prysson, re- mayenyng fwll of varment which cawsythe me to hawe no lyste of meytte nor dryncke, nor hawe no bede to » Licenciada. k soon. « honor. <> justice. lye one but apone a fewe canys,» with my cape under my heyde, and so he departyde. And the xix^^» daye of Jenewery I reqweryde awdy- ens,b and the xx daye I was cawllyde before Docter Pero Diez and he exemynyd me what I wold hawe that I hade axkyde awedyens,^ and I sayde, Sir, I dessyer ^^owe of Jwstys ^ and let me not be caste awaye a thys fasshyone in presson. He sayeinge unto me what ys yowre name, I showyde hym my name was Thomas Pery ; then he sayde to me yowe mwste answer towe or ihre thinges and yowe shalbe shorttely dysspached. Tlie fyrste ys whether yowe belewe that yowre kinge is a goode Crystyan in yowre hartte. To the whiche I answeryde and sayde that I dyd, and do belewe that hys Grace is a goode Crystian. The seconde is yf yowe dyde saye in Ayemonte in the howsse of Gomes Malmazetha that yowr kyng dyd well in pwtting downe the Monesterys and takinge awaye the Belles ; to the whiche I answeryde and sayde that I dyd not so saye, but I sayde to the pryste when he axkyd me that qwestyan that I hade nothing to do withall, the King and hys Consell knowythe what they dothe within his Reyme. The therde ys yf you dyde saye that youre Kinge was Pope in hys Reyme or no, to the whiche I answeryde and sayde that I dyd not saye so, nor I namyde not the Pope nor spayke not of hym, and so he sent me in agayne. • canes. »» audience. ' juslice. 150 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Also the xxvij daye of the same monthe he cawllyde me agayne, and sayde unto me here hath byne dywars* lemyd men, and hathe seyne yowre prosses, and saythe for asmyche as the wyttnes doythe prowe in the de- possycyone that yowe spayke the wordes whiche ye hawe denyde, theye sayeing that yowe muste neydes confes hit and that yowe dyde belewe hit in yowre harte ; to the which I answeryde and sayde that yf the wyttnes dothe depowys any otherwyse then I hawe confessyde, they hawe the more to answere fore afore Gode, for I sayde no notherwise, and so he sent me awaye ; and within a nower after he sent for me agayne, and axkyd me yf I hade remembryde my selffe, I sayeing that I had no other thinge to remembre me of but that I hade confessyde ; then he sayeing that ye ar senttensyde to torment for cawse ye wyll not tell the trwthe ; < Sir, I have towlde yowe the truthe and ye wyll not belewe me.** Than he commayndyd the Alcaylde to hawe me into the prysson of torments, wher althinges was preparyde for me, and strypyde me fowrthe of my clowthis as nakyde as ever I was bowme, and then the porter browghte me a payer of lynnen breches and then cam in the Jwge and his stry wano,** and he sette hym downe in a chayer within the prysson, haweinge a kwsshingc of tapstery worke under hys feytte, and then I knelyde downe apone my knewyes holdinge up my handes to * divers. ^ Escribaiio> Span, a notary. • cmhion. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 151 hym, dessyring hym to be goode unto me and to do me jwstys, he sayeing unto me confes yow the trwthe and we axke no more. I answeryd and sayde I hawe confes the trwthe and ye wyll not belewe me, therapone the porter and another tooke me be the armes and cawsyde me for to set downe apone the syde of the bwrryco'* and browght the wone of my armes over the other, and caste a rope v. tymis abowtte them bothe, and so drewe the sayde rope withall ther myght. I thynking they wold a plockyde the fleshe from the bownys, and cryed apone the sayde Jwge to showe me mercy, sayeing to hym yowe saye thys is a howsse of mercy but hit is more lycke a howsse of morder then of mercy ; wherapone he comandyd me to be layde apone the bwrryco and at the yend therof ther was a nerthen pane whiche myghte holde iij or iiij gallones of watter, and in hit a tocke of fy ne cotten contayenyng iij yardes longe or more, whiche I showlde a recewyde into my boddy by dropys of watter in at my mowthe, whiche is a greweus payne, and to be bownde with ropys to the sayde bwrryco,^ and when I sawe so lyttyll mercy in hym I axkyde hym what he wolde that I showlde do, he sayeinge I wolde ye showlde tell the trwthe ; I have sayd the trwthe and ye wyll not belewe me, I mwste saye as yow saye or elles ye are dysposyd for to morther me ; he sayeing ' no morther but jwstys ;** and so I confeste that I sayde hit and thowght hit and • burrucho, the wooden horse i 152 ORIGINAL LETTERS. SO he cawjjsyde hit to be wrytten, and so went hys waye; and 1 was onelowesyde agayne. The xxixth daye of the same monthe I was cawllyde agayne befowre the sayd Jwge Pero Diez, and he cawssyde me to be sworne of the holly Awangeleste and exemenyde me be the vertue of the sayde othe, and cawssyde the nottary to rede all thinge that passyde in the pressone of tormente whether hit was trew or no. I sayeing God knowythe all trwthe ; he sayeinge to me, was hit not trwthe ; yf hit were not, ye mwste go thyther agayne. Then I sayde ' Ye Ser, hit ys trewe.' Then afterwarde I dessyeryng hym for the onor of Gode to gewe me good consell that I maye sawe » my sowUe, to the intent that I wolde prowe his mynde, he sayeing to me that he wolde gewe me good consell, sayeing unto me ' Brother ye shall understonde that abowy t x or xij yere agowe yowr Kyng wrytte agaynste Lwtther ^ that greyt erytycke, and no crystyan Kinge so myche as he ; and nowe he is the gretteste erytycke in the worlde ; and if we hade hym heyere we wolde borne hym ; all the world showlde not sawe^^ hym. I sayeinge so, I besyche yowr worship to showe me what pennyones he hathe he sayeinge that he ys a wery tyrante, and a man qwyller, and he kepythe no j wstys but doythe all thinges of hys owne ryall power. And spendithe hys tyme in all vysshwsnes, and in hownt- yng and halkynge;c and more, he hathe absentyde ORIGINAL LETTERS. 153 wve. ^ Luther. < hawking. hymselff frome the holly mother chyrche of Rome and from the Popys attoryte for cawsse the Pope gewye a senttanes with Qwyne Katterin to be hys lawefwll wyffe ; which he wolde not upserwe^ nor keype but toke another and lewyde^ with hyr in a vowetery ; and within shorte space after he cawssyd hir heyde to be stroken of; sayeing unto me that I knewe wherfpre, and that I knewe that all thys was trwe : to the whiche I an- sweryd and sayde that I knewe hys Grace of a good Crystyan, and that he dyd nothinge in hys Reyme but with consell of hys nobull conssell, and be the order of jwstys ; and when the Qwyne was heyddyd I was not in the Reyme, I knewe nothing of hit ; and so he sent me in agayne. The viijth daye of Februarii I was cawllyde owyte of the presson by the Alkaldy, and he strocke of my yerones and hade me fowrthe into the courte of the Castyll, wher I was bade kneyll downe apone my kneysse befor teit prystys ; and in my company Johne Robyns, Harry Hollande, Robarte Morgante, and Willam Alcot, and so we were assoyllyde, sayeinge the sawme of " Messerery^c ower us, and dysplyde us with a fagget stycke and so comandyd us to stande up apone a rowe be the wallys syde bare hedyde in owr cottes ; and the porter of the castyll browght for ewery man a nabet'^ of sent Benettes, of yellowe can was with two rede crossys a pece, whiche he caste over owr 4 • upserve. fc Uved. ' Psalm ]L <> a habit. 154 ORIGINAL LETTERS. heydys apone owr backys, whiche abetta myghte be halfe a yarde deype and every wone of us a candyll of waxe in owr handys ; and so we were caryde fowrthe of the Castyll into the streytte, wher the pressyssyon taryid for us with the nomber of iij or iiij thowssande pepwll ; for the daye afore they cawssyde the trom- pettys with dronscellettysi> to go abowit the Cyte, that sowche a nalt showlde be downe the nexte daye ; so we foUowyde the Crosse, and apone ewery syde of us went a man, and so we went to a parysshe chyrche cawllyde sent Annes in Tryana, and in the boddy of the chyrche ther was a skafolde mayde which we were set apone, and ther reymaynd the hye masse tyme, and a sermon te was mayde bye a awstyne^ fryer wone of the fathers of the sayde inkyzystyon. d And the aserte of thys sermonte was declaring that we hade aryde innessentlye^ for cawse we knewe not the scrypture, and, after he hade downe, ther cam into the pwlpytte a nottary of the inkyzytyone,<* and openly declaryde every manes sentaunes ; the seycte of my sentaunes was that theye condemnyde my boddy to do that opyn pennanns for cawsse I hade sayde that the Kyng of Ynglande was a goode Crystyan, he beinge an erytycke ; and sayeinge that I sayde that the Kyng • halriU »• Dr. Birrney, Hist. Mug. vol. iii. p. 5. In a Manuscript conccrntng the Household and Chapel Royal of King Edw. Vlth. finds the mention of dromslades, a specie* of Drum; apparently the same Instrument. In a note he says, "Perhaps tnm Trommel schlager, drum beater. Gtrm.'* c Austin. «« InquUiUon. • med innoccnUy. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 155 petting downe of Monesterys, and taycking awaye the Belles, and that he was Pope within his Reyme, I dyd saye and belewe hit to be well downe ; the sayd not- tary declaryng that hit was erezy and agaynst owr hollye Mother Chyrche. And also he declaryde that theye hade condemnyde my boddy to the prysson of Perpetwe, ther to remayne vj monthys, and not to departte owte of it withowtte the sayde a bett a apone my backe ; ewery Sonedaye to go to Sent Salwadorys, and ther to heyer hye masse and a sermone ; also he declaryde that theye hade sen- tensyde all my goodes to be loste, the wone halfe to the emperowrys mageste, and the other halfe to the howsse of the holly inkyzy scyon ; b and so I was caryde with pressesshyon agayne to the castell of Tryana, wher I dyd remayne tyll thre of the clocke at after- nowne whiche was apone Shrowe sonedaye, c and then we were cawllyd in before docter Pero Diez, he saye- inge unto us we have usyde yowe as a loweinge mother dowythe use hir chylde, for yf she lowe hym she wyll chastyse hym, and so hathe owr holly Mother Chyrche ussyde yowe ; but if yowe aflPende agayne in never so lyttell a thing, ther ys no remedy but you mwste be bowmde ; d and so he comandyde us to be caryde from the castyll of Tryana to the prysson of Perpetwe wher I do remayne, abyddinge the mercy of the Lorde ; and myght dye for fawyt e of comfort yf hit • habit. k Inquisition. ' Shrove Sunday. <> burnt. • fault. 156 ORIGINAL LETTERS. were not of the goodnes of Mr. Haryson, Johne Fylde, with dy wers other of owr nassyon whiche dothe helpe us of chery te ; for theye hawe not lefte me wone blancke » nor it garment to my backe, Gode amende them. Be me THOMAS PERY. To his ryghte worshipefull Rayffe Vane gentyllman belonginge to my Lorde Prewe Sealle dwellinge in Hadleye besyds Twnebryche in Kente this be dd. The Mary Fortwne of Leye> LETTER CXL. John Earl of Bath to Lord Cromwell, complaining' of his father'' s unjust will and his mother-in-law'' s malice. A, D. 1540. [mS. cotton. VESPASIAN F. XIII. foL 99. OHg.^ ♦»* John Earl of Bath, the elder, died 30th April, 31 Hen. Vlllth., having enjoyed that title rather less than two years. Right honorable and my synguler good Lord, after my most hartie comendations and lyke thankes for • blanket. k The other copy of thi« Letter is addressed " To the worshipfwU Rychard Fylde merchant, this be dd. in London." Below, as in this copy, is the name of the vessel which conveyed the Letter. •• The Mary Fortwne of Leye." Richard Fylde, or Feid, has been already mentioned in the Letter itself, see p. 142. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 157 your manyfolde goodnes exhyby tt to me, of the wich I besecheyou of contynuance, these shall be signifiyng to your good Lordeshype that wher it hath pleased Allmyghty Godde to call my naturall father to his fatall ende, and upon my handes to leve sondry wayghty charges without allowance by will or other- wyse, ordaynyng & constitutyng my lady my Mother- inlawe sole executryx of all & syngler his goodes move- able and unmoveable, to no lytle hyndrance of me & myne. I shall wyth farvent zele desyer that it may please your good Lordshipe to have the syght of my lord my Fathers will, and the same to examyne wyth such dextery te that I may have wherwithall to serve our Prynce. I thynk no chyld so unnaturally entreated as I am, beyng allwaies dylygent & obedyente as nature dyd therto me bynd. Nor yet my lady my Mother- inlaw at any time hath hadde by me occasion so cruelly to incense my lord my Father agenst me in tyme of makyng his testament, no part of his goodes to bequeth me ; consyderyng she hath syx hundred markes yerly of my inhery tance to her joynter. Other refuge than your good Lordeshype I have none, whom I beseche to be to me a father, as I shall be to you my lyff duryng a humble chyld ; hartely prayng that it may please you so to accept me. Furthermor I shall desyer your good Lordshepe that I may be at some end with the Kynges Highnes for my spetial lyvery, and rea- sonable dayes to have of payment of such sum as it I 158 ORIGINAL LETTERS. shall please the Kynges hjgh Majestic with his ho- norable counsyll to assigne.a I am, my good Lord, & long have byn, sore aggreved with the agew myxte with a cough & haskenes, wich, with attendance & watche taken with my Lord my father, the tyme of his syckenes, is paynfully encreased, that I dare not take any jomey as yet ; nother to attend, as my dewtie is, upon your good Lordeshipe, nother yet to know a determynat end of the House of Saynt Johns in Bridgewater with the demaynes therunto belongyng ; ^ praying your good Lordeshipe to accept my absence, and at convenient season to have me in remembrance. Thus most hartely fare your good Lordeshipe well. Frome Domeford the thyrd day of May. Your Lordships faythefully assured. JOHN BATHON. LETTER CXLI. The Commissioners in the Cause of Anne qfCleves to King Henry the Eighth^ acquainting him thai she acquiesced in his determination. [MS. COTTON. OTHO c. X. fol. 247 b. Orig.l Pleasith your Majestic to undcrstande howe ac- cording to your Highnes commaundement we have • Special livery of his father's lands was granted to him Pat n Hen. VIII. p. ]. k The reversion of the Site of the HospiUl of St John Bridgewater did not, however, (all to the Earl of Bath. It was granted March I0th, S4 Hen. VIII*i>. to one Humfry CoUes and his heirs. Grig. S4 Hen. VIII. p. s. nu. xxxii. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 159 declared your Grace's Commission to the Quene by the mouth of an Interpreter who did his parte very wel : and the Quene without alteracion of countenance hath made answer, th'affecte wherof tendith to this, that she is content always with your Majestic . . . . . The hoi circumstaunce We shal declare . . at our cummyng to morowc. And this night . . . Your Highnes appoyntement we t*ry savyng the bishop of Winchester ^"^ London this night to th'intent he maye .... be at the Convocation. In our opiny al thing shal procede weltoth your Highnes vertues a desires and preserve your Majestic . . . Richemont this Tuesday at Your Majc . . . obedient . . . subg • ••••. » virtuous. IGO ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CXLII. Lord Cromwell to King Henry the Eighth, A Letter from his Prison in the Tower. [m8. cotton, tit. b. I. fol. 267. Oriff.\ *»♦ This Letter has been already printed by Burnet in the third Volume of his History of the Reformation, * but not correctly, so that an apol(^y is unnecessary for printing it again here. In the first Volume of his History, Burnet has printed another Letter from Cromwell to the King,'* copied from the Cottonian Manuscript Otho C. X. still more incorrect than this, and with great omissions ; so much so, that with the exception of two or three paragraphs, it hardly appears to be the same Letter. Ujifortunately the original of that has been so injured by fire that it can be collated in parts only. Cromwell thanks his Sovereign at the opening of it, for sending certain honourable personages to him at two several times, " at one time sued for, and at the other time declaring his state and condition in most honourable, prudent, and sage fashion," and says that, in their repair to him, they heard him in every thing without interruption, and with such gentleness that he could no more desire. The next paragraph is very important. He remonstrates in it against the Bill of his Atuinder. He says he was informed by the persons already mentioned, that " myn offences being by honest and probbabic wytnes proved, I was by your honorable Lords of the Upper House and the worshipful and discrete Communes of your Nether House convycted and attaynted. Gracyous Sovereyn, when I herde them, I sayd, as now I saye, that I am a subject and boom to obbey lawse, and knowe that the tryall of aU lawse only consystcthe in honest and probable wyt- nes, consyderyng that the State of the Realme hadde hardc and resayvyd them." Here the Letter breaks off: though again he adds, " Albeit lawse be lawse.** In a subsequent portion he says, " Syr uppon my knees I most humblye beseche your gracyous Magestye to be good and gracious lorde to my pore son, the good and vertuous woman his wyffe. • Ilbt. Reform, vol. iii. Rcx>. 161. k Ibid. vol. i. Rec. ia». ORIGINAL LETTERS. 161 and thayr poore chUdem, and also to my tts ; • and this I desyre of your Grace for Christ*s sake. '* •» From one part of this Letter we learn that Henry sent Cromwell money while in the Tower: and it appears to have given him more than a hope of life. CromweU then mentions Anne of Cleves and the Marriage in iL Your " Grace repayeryd towards nyght to Gren- wyche wher I spake with your Grace, and demandyd of you how ye lykyd the Ladye Anne ; your Grace being sumwhat hevy, as I toke hyt, answeryd and sayd she was no suche manner of wooman as she hadde bene declaryd to you, with many other things, whiche surlye moche grevyd me; ffor I persayvyd your Grace to be nothing content: never- theles^your Highnes determenyd for the mariage to be had.*' Again he says, " Insomoche that after her protestacyon made beffore your lordes, and your preparacyon to maryage in the momyng, going thorow your Chamber of presens, your Highnes sayde to me thes woordes or the lyke m centens, * My Lorde yff yt were not to satysfye the Woorlde and my Reahne, I woolde not doo that I shaU do this daye ffor non erthelye thing ;* and therewith one browght your Grace woord that she was comm- yng; and theruppon your Grace proccdyd to the final determynacion of r*m!^n"/'!K TT" **"' * '^^"^ *^** Cromwell foresaw his fall two years before it TfThJir r^;.!^r '^^^7*"^ '"•ght not suffer, placed money for them in the hands ol tneir resi>ective friends. C r^nwe He n ' ri^ *?^^^^^^ ^^''^^^^ '^^^' ^^ <^'^^-^ baron Wn^In. «i!?pr?« J^ Elixabeth daughter to Sir John Seymour of Wolfhall co. r tr h; h' r t '^ '*,"•'" °^ '^^'""'■'•^'' *"^ ^•'^^^ °^ ^" Anthony Oughtred. Dy her he had three sons and two daughters. See Dugd. Bar. torn li n sts T?«. onginal of the following Letter from this Lady to the^ingrafHe fa'^hj in-Jw-s ex^njtion u ,>reser^ed in the Cottonian Manuscript Vespi. F. xn,. f^. 157. Mv H ^^,^'"^^!' ?«*"« of my moste humble submission unto your exceUente KI^«tio. ^Vhereas it hath pleased the same of your mere mercil and Tfyn^ Koodnes. notwahston.lyng the heynous trespaces and most grevous oflenees of my hu bonde and me. as the extreme indigence and povertie wherewith my .saide FaAer m awes moste detesUb.e offences hath oppresse.1 us. is therby right m^he hol^ axulrelyeved. Lyke «, I have of longe tyme bene nght desyrous prLnte^ weU^ render moste humble thankes. a. also to desyre contynnuenee of the^e your Highnes moste benigne goodnes ; so considerynge your Grace's mosteT^h ^n-J ToTr^H^n^ U^rrr"^' '^ °^ ™'^'^^"«^ - ^^«^ rbfeso':?' un'S IlZi!^K^fM <*^^a^.«i ™e as yett otherwise to sewe unto your Grace then allon y by thie. my moste humble Lettrcs, untyU your Grace's «iide affkirrshalte partely overj««ed : moste humbUe besechinge your Majestic, in the meaneteSone memfullye to acceptethis my moste obedyente sute. and to extende youfac^tZ^' PC Ue and gracious goodnes towardes my ««de pore husbonde and me.^o rv« hath nor Godde mllynge never shall offende your Majestic, but eontynul^lye nrav^ for the prosperous esUte of the same long tyme to remkync knd c^ntynewe ^ V'our most bonde woman KLV8ABBTH CROMWELL." VOL. IL SER. 2. M 1 162 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. the Scremonyes usyd" and " after passyd that day honorablye." The remainder of the Letter dwells upon the same topic : and one or two paiMges are something like what Burnet has printed, and which need not to be reprinted here. " I am a right symple man" Cromwell adds " to be a wytnes in this matyer, but yet I thinke, next your Grace, I know asmoche as anye on man lyvynge in thys Realme dothe ; and that this is trewe, God shalbe my wytnes who best knowethe the trowthe." After another mention of the Marriage, he finishes with an ejaculation for the long life, prosperity, and wealth of Henry. The last words upon the last burnt page are " Uppon my knees prMtrate .... pardon, mercye ...,,** There is one passage in this Letter which deserves separate attention. Cromwell says, " And Syr that ever I have dyssayvyd yow in anye of your Tresure, surlye I have ... and that God Almyghtye best knowethe.'* We are of course to conclude that kot is the word which the Fire of the Cottonian Library has taken from this sentence ; but it is curious that the particular of the charge of his retaining treasure is preserved in another Volume of the same Collection," among some original Memoranda of Money paid by virtue of the royal warrant after his apprehension. It probably did him essential harm, and has been hitherto entirely unnoticed. " May it please your moost excellent Majestic to be adver- tised that I your most humble servaunt John Gostwyck have in my hands, whiche I treasaured from tyme to tjrme un- knowne unto th'Erl of Essex, whiche if I had declared unto \ hym he tcolde have caused me to disburse by cwnmaundement, I WITHOUT WABHAUNT, QS heretofore I HAVE DOK, J We now return to the Letter which is preserved entire. The reader will perceive in it a striking resemblance to some of Wolsey's Letters. It contains almost the same expressions of dejection; wiUi constant and fearful cries for Mercy. X.3I. U.*' MosTE gracyous King and most mercyfull Sove- rayng, Your most humble most obbeysaunt and most bounden subiett and most lamentable servaunt & pry- soner, prostrate at the feate of your most excellent Magestye, have herd your pleasure by the mowthe of • BIS. Cottend. xxviii. fol. 12&. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 163 your Comptroller, which was that I sholde wrytte to your most excellent Highnes suche thinges as I thought mete to be wryttyn consernyng my most miserable state and condicyon ; for the whiche your most ha- boundaunt gpodnes, benignite, and lycens, the Immor- talle God, Three and On, rewarde your Magestye. And now most gracyous Prynce to the matyer. Fyrst wher I have bene accusyd to your Maiestye of Treason, to that I saye I never in all my lyffe thought willinglye to doo that thing that myght or sholde dis- please yowr Magestye ; and moche lesse to doo or saye that thing which of hit selff is so highe and abhomy. nable offence as God knowyth, who I dowt not shall reueale the trewthe to your Highnes. Myn accusors your Grace knowyth ; God forgyve them. For as I ever have hade love to your honor, person, lyffe, pros- perite, helthe, welthe, Joye, and Comfforte, and also your most dere and most entyerly belovyd son the Prynce his Grace, and your procedinges, God so helpe me in this myn adversyte ; and conffound me yf ever I thought the contrarye; what labours, paynes, and tra- vayles I have taken according to my most bounden deutye God also knowyth ; for yf it were in my power as yt is Godds to make your Magestye to lyve ever yong and prosperows, God knowith I woolde; yf it hadde bene or were in my power to make yow so riche as ye myght enryche allmen, God helpe me as I wolde do hit ; yf it hade bene or were in my power to make M S ■\ f»«l * 164 OKIGINAL LETTERS. your Magestye so pusaunt as all the woorlde sholde be compellyd to obbey yow, Crist he knowy th I woolde ; for so am I of all other most bounde ; for your Maies- tyes a hath bene the most bounty ffull Prynce to me that ever was Kyng to his subiect ; ye and more lyke a dere father, your Magestye not offendid, then a master. Suche hathe bene your most grave and godlye coun- sayles towards me at sundrye tymes. In that I have offended I ax yow mercye. Sholde I now for suche exceding goodnes, benygnyte, liberalyte, & bountye, be your tray tor, nay then the gretist paynes wer to lityll for me ; Sholde any faccyon or any affeccyon to any poynt make me a traytor to your Mageste, then all the devylles in hell conffounde me, and the venge- aunce of God light appon me, yf I sholde ons have thought it. Most gracyous Soverayng Lorde to my remembraunce I never spake with the Chauncelor of the Augmentacyons and Frogmerton to gether at on tyme ; but yf I dyde I am sure I spake never of any suche matyer ; and your Grace knowy the what manner of man Throgmerton hathe ever bene ever towardes your Grace, and your procedinges ; and what maister Chaunceler hathe bene towardes me God and he best knowyth. I will ne can accuse hym. What I have bene towards hym your Magestye right well knowyth. I woolde to Crist I hadde obbeyd your often most gracyous grave cownsayles and advertysmenttes ; then • Sic. in orig. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 165 it hadde not bene with me as now it ys. Yet our Lorde, yf it be his wille, can do with me as he dyde with Susan who was falslye accusyd ; unto the whiche God I have onlye » commyttyd my sowlle ; my bodye and goodes at your magestyes pleasure, in whos mercye and pyete I doo hollye repose me ; for other hope then in God and your Magestye I have not. Syr as to your Common welthe I have after my wytt, power, and knowlege, travaylyd therin, havyng hadde no re- spect to persons (your Maiestye onlye except) and my dewty to the same; but that I have done anye in- iustyce or wrong willfullye, I trust God shalbere me wytnes, and the woorlde not hable justlye to accuse me. And yet I have not done my dewtye in all thinges as I was bounde, wherfor I aske mercye. Yf I have herde of any conbynacyons, conventycles, or suche as wer offenders of your lawse I have, though not as I sholde have done, for the most parte revealyd them, and also causyd them to be punyshed, not of malesb as God shall judge me. Nevertheles, Sir, I have medelyd in so many matyers under your Highnes, that I am not able to answer them all ; but on thing I am well assuryd off, that wittinglye and willinglye I haue not hadde will to offend your Highnes ; but harde it ys for me or any other, medlyng as I have done, to ly ve under your Grace and your lawse but we must daylye of- fende : and wher I have offendyd I most humblye aske • alunc. >> malice. 166 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ■'4 l! mercye & pardon at your gracyous will and plesure. Amongyst other thinges, most gracyous Soverayng, maister Comptroller shewid me that your Grace shewid hym that within thes xiiij days ye commyttyd a mat- ter of gret secresye which I dyde reaveale contrarye to your expectacyon. Syr I do remembre well the ma- tyer, which I never revelyd to any creature ; but this I dyde, Syr, after your Grace hadde openyd the ma- tyer fyrst to me in your Chamber and declaryd your lamentable fate, declaring the thinges whiche your Highnes myslykyd in the Quene, at whiche tyme I shewyd your Grace that she often desired to speke with me but I durst not, and ye sayd why sholde I not, alleging that I myght do moche good in gooing to her, and to be playn with her in declaring my mynde. I theruppon lakkyng oportunyte, not being a lytill grevyd, spake prevely with her Lorde Chamberlayn, for the which I aske your Grace mercye, desyrynge hjnm, not namyng your Grace to hym, to fynde som meane that the Quene might be inducyd to order your Grace plesauntlye in her behaveor towardes yow; thinkyng therbye for* have hadde some fawtis amendyd to your Magestyes comfort. And after that, by g©. nerall woordes, the sayd lord Chamberlayn and other of the Queues Cownsayle being with me in my Chamber at Westminster for lycens for the departure of the Btrang maydens, I then requeryd them to counsayle ORIGINAL LETTERS. 167 thayr mastres^ to use all plesauntnes to your Highnes, the which thinges undowtydlye wern^ bothe spokyn before your Magestye comyttyd the secret matyer unto me, onlye of purpose that she myght have bene in- ducyd to suche pleasaunt and honorable fassyons as might have bene to your Gracys comfForde; which above all thinges as God knowyth I dyd most covyt and desyre. But that I openyd my mowthe ta any creature after your Magestye commyttyd the secresy therof to me, other then onlye to my Lorde Admyrall, which I dyde by your Gracys comaundement, which was uppon Sondaye last in the mornynge, whom I then founde as willing and glade to seke remydye for your comfort and consolacyon, and sawe by hym that he dyd as moche lament your Highnes fate as ever dyd man; and was wonderfullye grevyd to se your Highnes so trowbelyd ; wysshing gretlye your comfFort, for the attaynyng wherof he sayd, your honor salvyd, he woolde spend the best blood in his belye,** and yf I woolde not do the lyke, ye and willinglye dye for your comflPort, I woolde I were in hell; and I woolde I sholde receyve a thousande dethis. Syr this is all that I have done in that matyer and yf I have ofFendyd your Mageste therin, prostrate at your Magestes fete I most lowlye aske mercye and pardon of your Highnes. Syr ther was also layde unto my charge at myn examena- cyon that I hadde retaynyd contrarye to your lawse. • for to. • mistress. *» weren, were. < <$tc> in otig. i ' 168 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Syr, what exposycyoii may be made uppon retaynowrs I know not, but this will I saye yf ever I retaynyd any man but suche onlye as were my howsholde ser- vauntes, but ageynst my wiU, God conffound me. But most gracyous Soverayng I have bene so called on and sewyd to by them that sayd thay were my frendes, that constraynyd therunto I resayvyd thayr chyldren and freendes not as retaynors, for thayr fathers & parenttes dyd promysse to fynde them, and so toke I theme not as retaynowrs to my great charge, and for none evyll as God best knowythe, interpret to the con- trarye who will ; most humbly beseching your Ma- gestye of pardon yf I have ofFendyd therin. Syr I doo knowlage my self to have bene a most myserable and wretchyd synner, and that I have not towardes God and your Highnes behavyd my self as I owght and sholde have done : for the which myn offences to God, whyles I lyve, I shall contynwallye kail for his mercye ; and for myn offencys to your Grace, which God knowyth wer never malycyous nor willfull, and that I never thought treson to your Highnes, your Realme, or Posteryte, so God helpe me, ayther in woorde or dede. Nevertheles, prostrate at your Magestes^ in what thing soever I have offendyd I appell to your Highnes for mercy, grace, and pardon, in suche wyse as shalbe your plesure; beseching the allmyghtye Maker and Re- demer of this Woorlde to send yowr Maiestyc con- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 169 tynuall and long helth, welthe, and prosperyte, with Nestor's yeres to reigne ; and your most dere Son the Prynces Grace to prosper, rayn, & contenew long after yow; and they that woolde contrarye, short lyffe, shame, & confusyon. Wrytin with the quaking hand and most sorowfull herte of your moste sorowfull subeiect and most humble servaunt & prisoner this Satyrday at your a of London. THOMAS CRUMWELL. ** The ix. daie of July," says Hall, " Thomas lorde Cromewel, late made erle of Essex, as before you have hard, beyng in the CounsaU chamber, was sodainly apprehended and committed to the Tower of London, the whiche many lamented, but mo rejoysed, and speciallye suche as either had been religious men or favored religious persones, for THEi BANQUETED and TRIUMPHED together that night ; many wish- yng that that daie had been seven yere before ; and some, fearyng lest he should escape although he were imprisoned, could not be mery. Other who knewe nothyng but truth by hym, bothe lamented hym and hartely praied for hym. But this is true that of certain of the Clergie he was detestably hated, and speciaUy suche as had borne swjmge and by his meanes was put from it, for indede he was a man that in all his doLnges semed not to favor any kynde of Popery, nor could not abide the snoffyng pride of some Prelates, whiche undoubtedly, whatsoever els was the cause of his death, did shorten his life, and procured the ende that he was brought unto ; whiche was that the xix. daie of the said monethe he was attaynted by Parliament, and never came to his answere, which lawe many reported he was the causer of the mak3mg thereof, but the truthe thereof I knowe not. The Articles for whiche he died appereth in the Record where hb attaynder is written, whiche are to long to be heere rehersed : but to conclude he was there attainted of heresy and high treason ; and the xxviu'**. day of July was brought to the skafTold on Tower HilL"»' Hall next gives his speech upon the scaffold from Redman's copy, who printed it " Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum.** <= " Then,*' says • feet omitted. • Tower omitted. <> Hall. edit. 1548. Hen. Vlll. foL ccxUi. Sec Harl. MS. 3362. 170 ORIGINAL LETTERS. if Han, * made he hia piayer, which was long, but not so long as both godly and learned ; and after committed his soule into the handes of God, and so paciently suffered the stroke of the axe by a ragged and boocherly miaer, whiche very ungoodly perfourmed the office." In his speech, according to the custom of the time, he desired the people to pray for the King ; but made no mention of him in his own prayCT afterward, if the copy which Fox has preserved be genume: for in pomt of composition it is so much more finished than the speech, and express^ so singular and so sure a confidence in the divine mercy for his tormer deeds, that it looks more like a completion made to embahii his memory, than the prayer which he would have been likely to have uttered at the hour of death. The whole is given in the note below. • Of Cromwell's wit and shrewdness the Reader must have formed no mean opmion. Fox says that in answering those who came to him when prisoner m the Tower, from the King, " whatsoever articles and mterrogatories they propounded, they could put nothing unto ftmi, either concerning matters ecclesiastical or temporal, wherin he was not more ripened, and more furnished than they themselves. Amongst l^^It^ *^*^ ** ^"^ CromweU said at the hour of hU death. O Lord Jesus, which art the only health of aU men living, and the evcrUutina life tht^Ll :".?,** ^'"^ '7? ''^':^' '^*"« ^*"""' ^^^^ ^^^^^ iBcominitteAnt^ wiuTn SL "'^^ T ^''*'' '^^ ^"^ ^^ "^'^^ "«*>' *" '""^ hope that thou iuit I^r^H '"*''^:' "^ r "«"" "' '^' ^ ^y '» '^' resurr^on of the just I beseech thee, most merciful Lord Jesus C:hri.t. that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soul against all temptations, and defend me with the buckler of thv mercy agam.t all the assaults of the Devil. I ,ee and knowledge that there I. in my. sdf nohope of i,alvat,on. but all my confidence. ho,.e. and trust is in thy most mcr- citul goodness. I have no meriU nor good works which I may alkdge before thee • to ^"fn^?:"T''%?^' ' '^u*'^'^^ ^^ «"* '^ through ThJ mercy I trusJ to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sin. ; but wilt take and accept me for righteous and just, and to be the inheritor of everlasting lift?. Thou, meraful Lord, wast bom for my sake; thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake ; thou didst teach, pray, and fast for my sake ; all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake ; thou sufferedest most grievous pains and torments for my sdce; finally, thou gavest thy most precious body, and thy blood to be died on the cros. for my sake. Now most merciful Saviour, let all theae tbina lZLTt^'^' "f *"" ^"^^i *^V**°°* ^°' "*' •'^^ ^ «'^«« '^y*^^ •»«> forme! Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spots and foulness of my sins. Let thv h^^k!!;?* ^!t! *nf «»'« niy unrighteousness. Let the merits of thy passion and lA>od shedding be satisfaction for my »ns. Give me. Lord, thy gn«, oitO»e fSh ThL^.r^?'^'^ r ?' '^"^ '^^^ ""' ^ '^'' "^^ "-y ever be^ and oo!^t^nL That the hope of thy mercy and Ufe everlasting never decay in me. that love wax ^tco^d.n me Finally, that the weakness of my flesh be not ove come ^th tJ^ U»T Of d^th. Gr^it me. merciful Saviour. thiU wh« death hrth riiut upThe ey« death hath taken away the use of my tongue, yet my heart maVcry and say unto W^. Lord, into thy hand. I commit my soul. Lord Jesus rSve m^^v^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. 171 the rest of those Commissioners which came unto him, one there wai whom the Lord Cromwell desired to carry for him a Letter to the King, which when he refused, saying that he would carry no letter to the King from a traitor, then the Lord Cromwell desired hun at least to do for him a message to the King. To that the other was contented, and granted, so that it were not against his allegiance. Then the Lord Cromwell, taking witness of the other Lords what he had promised, * You shaU commend me,' said he, ' to the King, and teU him He shall find you as false a man as evo- came about him.' Besides this he wrote a Letter to the Kmg, whereof when none durst take the carriage upon him. Sir Ralph Sadler (whom he also had preferred to the King before, being ever trustie and faithful unto him) went unto the King to understand his pleasure, whether he would permit him to bring the Letter or not, which when the King had granted, the said Master Sadler, as he was required, presented the Letter unto the King, uhicJi he commanded thnce to be read unto him, iniomuch as THE King seemed to be moved there- WITH." Whether the Letter which has been here laid before the Reader was that which moved Pluto to tears, or whether it was the Letter in which Anne of Cleves is mentioned, or any other, for Cromwell wrote several to the King, we are uncertain. That Sir Ralph Sadler was Cromwell's messenger is probable. He was Cromwell's clerk when the latter was solicitor to Wolsey, and rode with his master from Esher upon that memorable journey when he went to make or mar. • Cromwell made his fortune for him, not only by the employ which he procured for him at Court, but by obtaining for him some large grants of monastic possessions. The Site of the Abbey of Lesnes in Kent was granted to him very early after its Dissolution, in the 28th of Henry Vlllth. before Cromwell had secured a single grant for himself. The Reader may perhaps be curious to know what were the grants of lands, monastic or other, which Henry the Eighth made to Lord Cromwell. The following occur upon the Rolls of the Originalia. In the 26th of Hen. VII Ith. he had the manor of Hackney, in Middlesex, granted to him, and in the 28th Hen. Vlllth. the manors of North Ehnham and Becdey. In the 29th Hen. Vlllth. he shared in the plunder of the monasteries, and received a grant of the site and possessions of the rich Priory of Lewes in Sussex, including its Cell of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. In the same year he became possessed of the Site and lands of Michelham Priory in Sussex. In the 30th of Henry the Eighth he obtained the Site of Modenden Priory, in Kent, with various other • Cavendish's Life of Wolsey, Singer's edit. vol. i. p. 304. 11^ IHI 172 ORIGINAL LETTERS. landa in Kent, Sussex, Essex, and Rutlandshire. In the same year he received the manor and Casde of Okehara, in RuUandshire. In the Slst ot Henry the Eighth he obtained the site of Chiche St. Osithe's Priory, in Essex, with other large possessions in Essex, Norfolk, &c. : and in the 32d of Henry the Eighth the site of Launde Priory in Leicestershire. • Tanner says the Monastery of Alceter, in Warwickshire was granted to iiim, but gives no date. Such was Thomas Cromwell. Our Historians have united to confer upon him a better character than he deserved. His zeal for Wolsey in Ae outset of that Minister's fall, and his agency in bringing on the Keformauon, have been suffered, if not to veil, certainly to extenuate many acts m his conduct of government which were contrary both to law and right. ' ■! I !|l LETTER CXLIII. Otwell Johnson, a merchant of London, to his brother John Johnson of the Staple at Calais ; on mer- chandize and news, [fHOM the original among his majesty's records IK THE TOWER OF LONDON.] • The first part of this Letter contams some details of mercantUe matters, and affords us a notion of the quantum of profit with which a merchant was contented in the time of Henry the Eighth. The latter part relates to the condemnation and constancy of Anne Askew, who suffered at the stake for differing from Henry upon the sub- ject of the real presence. The report was that she was rakked after HER condemnation; " which is a strange thing,- says the writer, m my understanding. The Lord be merciful to us alL» Something has been said in the Introduction to a former Letter, on the variety in the modes used of burning heretics in England. In the case of Anne Askew and those who died with her, according to Fox, a smaU quan- Uty of gunpowder was applied, to shorten the pain of the sufferers. He says, « The sermon being finished, the martyrs standing there tied at three brL^"""'"""'''""' '"'" **"" ^^* ^ *^" ^'^'^^'y °""«^ ""^ons hb •• Reincm- »' ORIGINAL LETTERS. 173 several stakes ready to their martyrdom, began their prayers. The mul- titude and concourse of the people was exceeding, the place where they stood being railed about to keep out the press. Upon the bench under St. Bartholomew's Church sate Wrisley Chancellor of England, the old Duke of Norfolk, the old Earl of Bedford, the Lord Mayor, with divers others mo. Before the fire should be set unto them, one of the bench hearing that they had gunpowder about them, and being afraid lest the fagots by strength of the gunpowder would come flying about their ears, began to be afraid : but the Earl of Bedford declaring unto him how the gunpowder was not laid under the fagots, but onely about their bodies to rid them out of their pain, which having vent there was no danger to them of the fagots ; so diminished that fear." » At London the 2^^^' in July, 1546. BuoTHER, with my harty comendacions to you, my systar your wifF (mother to fayre yong boye I trust long befor this tyme), and to my power Mary not being able (as I doubt) to bear nether boy nor wenche, with my brother, Mr. F. and all other our frends in your quarters. This shall lett you understand that sins my comyng to London I have received the Lettres unto you hierin closed or bound with, and have aunswered as moche of them as hath ben in my knowledge, the reste I referre to you. The things recited in Robert Androwes Lettre I have received, and also by the Shippe that brought the Harlem frisado dyvers other small parcels with thayer prices ; viz', white threde 4ft). at 28 stivers the ft). ; iij. several lbs more of 8^ 41, 6^ 8'^., and 5^ ; a painted Story of the Scripture cost T**. sterling; ij. • Acta and Mon. vol. ii. p. 580. 174 OEIOINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 17^ f*f small tonekins of capers qt. 44 ft. cost 4r\ 6 ^ and a thirde q^ a scope of Olyves cost vj^^. I pray you send me word, if you can befor my comyng downe to you agen, what shall be done with thies things. M^^. Smyth wold gladly have some of your threde, but she lyketh not the coursest sorte, and yet I suppose all that sorte was bought for her ; let me know if you can shortely of what sortes she shall have anny. From Calleis yesterday is arryved Rychard Hor- woodes shippe, who haeth brought the xij. leight cloethes in ij. cases that Robert Androwes Lettre dbethe make mencion of, the same being sent thiether directly from Andwarp by Peter Symons, and in your absence directed to Robert Mattres my gossep,a whom I have allowed for freight and charges of the same thiether, and have paid hier the lyke agen, and the king^s custome also, which is ij^ of a peise, so that these frisados stand us in double chargis, and therfor we shall be the lesse gainers by them. I have received them but this day a land, and for that cause have not yett shewed them to any person, but I trust not to kepe them long. The Harlems cost at Andwarpe clear, abourd the shippe 23i. l^ 21. sterl«^. ; and the custome, freight, and other chargis hier amount to 17% sterling, or thereabout ; so that thay stond in above 4". sterling a peise, which is full xvj. grots a yard, and the mon- nm"^lJ^rr,t J Gor 1^^ '"^^^^^-» "•«» ^ -*^ ^ '^'"^ ^-« the neys accompt but at 25%; and yet Thomas Lokke and other men serve Mr. White th'alderman for 5\ 6^. sterling the yard of Harlems, and for 5\ the leightes, which is a very slender reconing in my jugement and skantly wourth a man's venture. Well, if I can dispatche ours for 17 grote and 15^, they shall away, and than you may advise yourself whether you will medle with moo or not. Your lynnen cloeth will not yet away nether, for uppon this peace men stay themselves uppon hope of moche more plenty comyng in of all things ; and in dede Frensshmen come in dayly with Frenshe wins a and canvas. Th'exchaunge is up agen above xxiiij% as you may perceave by Robert Androwes Lettre, and hier, sins my comyng, it is ryssen to 24\ 4^. at sight, and for the payments (so it past not the 15^^. of Sep- tembre) at 24«. 8^. and some 10\ ; for the last of the same mouneth not under 25\ I differre the taking up of any monney for you un- til! I have made sale of the frisados and lynnen cloeth, which I intend to do (God willing) befor my comyng downe, though I make my wiif lay withoute my com- paigny eight or ten dayes longer than I spake of at my departing, mais la bouche consue. Besids the monney that I shal make of the said wares, as I trust, my hope is to have 40^ or 50^K of my owne to bring downe with me, and so perchance I shall nede to take but a little ■ wiae*. 176 ORIGINAL LETTERS. by th'exchaunge. Be you assured you shalbe cliarged no further but as veray necessite shall constraine me. Newes owte of Flanders Robert Androwe doeth write you, and we hier sins that tyme that moost of th'emperours men that he hadde raysed to do him service agenst the Germains (as the bruyte went) have refused to warre agenst th'Electors of th'empirc, and so he shalbe shrodely served of his pourpos : and fur- thermore some say that the Germains will depose Fer- nandus from his Kingdome of Hungary and Seignorie of Osterwike, by cause they will no longer trust anny such papist as he is to be govemeur of thayer frontiers toward the Turks. What the conclusion of this bruyte will prove unto God knoweth. In dede my M**. shewed me on Sonday last that the King hadde newes of vjxx.m. men that thTmperor was appoynted to rayse veray shortely, and that his quarell agenst the Germains was not for anny cause of Reli- gion, but for thayer certain disobedience agenst him in things that concerne th'Empire. Moost men ells thinke otherwise, but vous cognosces Thome. Our Newes hier of D^. Cromes canting, recanting, decanting, or rather double canting, be thies : that on Sonday last, befor my Lorde Chauncelor, the Duke of Norfocke, my Lord Great M^, M'. Riche, M^ Chaun- celor of the Tenths, with the Suthwells, Pope, and other nobles and knightes, and on th'other side the Bisshoppes of London and Wourcester, aU principal ORIGINAL LETTERS. m Doctors and Denes, beside gay grayamesses, a and a rable of other marked people, the reverent Father just named openly declaired his true measning and right understonding (as he said and according to his con- science) of the vj. or vij Articles you hard of as he shuld have done upon the ijde. Sonday after Ester, but that he was letted from his said true intent by the per- suasions of certain perverse mynded persons, and by the sight of lewde and ungodly books and writings, for the which he was very sorry, and desired the audience to be ware of such books, for under the fayer appier- ance of them was hidden a daungerous accombraunce of Christen conscienses, and so exhorted all men to embrace auncientnes of catholike doctrine, and forsake new fanggelnes. On Monday following quondam bishopp Saxon, Mt't^ Askewe, Christofer White, one of M^res. Fayres sons, and a tayliour that come from Colchester or theraboute, wer arraigned at the Guyld Hall and re- ceived thayer judgement of my Lord Chauncelor and the Counsail to be burned, and so wer comitted to Newegate agen. But sins that tyme, th'aforsaid Saxon and White have renounced thayr opinions, and the talke goeth that they shall chaunce to escape the fyer for this viage : but the gentilwoman and th'other man remayne in stedfast mynd, and yet she hath ben rakked sins her condempnacion (as men say) which is a straunge III' 'A i • grey amicct. VOL. II. SER. 2. iU. 3i I I. 178 OBIGINAL L£TT£RS. thing in my understanding. The Lord be merciful! to us all. With M^rt'^. Fayrer I have communed concerning her monney, and she haeth answered me that when she doeth intend to occupie her monney she will lett me knowe for to write to Robert Androwe to make it over. Wull I she haeth bought owte of Hartfordshire some, xmd owte of Cottiswold she may have at xvj*^. and a grote as moche as she will, good, midle, and refuse, as the Countrey doth give it, and not otherwise ; but she dareth not medle with moche withoute your advise therunto, which she requireth you to be certefied of as shortely as you can. Your milne you forgat to shewe me who shuld have it, and therfor I pray you do it befor my departing hens agen : and my gould pourses I thanke you you kept also. And thus remembering no mo things but that M"". Dunne your hoerse haeth a newe master this day in Smythfeld for \\ sterling, I bidde you moost hartely well to fare. Recommend me I pray you to M'. Cave and M^^^'\ Cave. In hast, Yo". loving brother OTWELL JOHNSON To my loving frtiidJohn John- sone merchant of the Staple at Callcis^ now at Glapthorne. LETTERS \i OP THE REIGN OF EDWARD THE SIXTH. • wtxiL v2 Ix the former Series of this Work, to the Introduction to the Letters of the Reigns of Edward the Sixth and Queen Mary, the Editor expressed his anxiety to enrich his Volumes with Three Letters from Lady Jane Gray to Bullinger the Swiss reformer ; copies of which he was at that time unable to procure. He did not then know that any of them had been published. He has smce, however, received copies from Zurich, through the hands of a friend who is no longer numbered with the livmg, and under circumstances which toduce him to lay the Tran. scripts and the Letter which conveyed them, tc^ther, before the reader. ** British Museum, January d'>>, 1820. ** My Dear Friend, " The todosed Paper will, I thmk, be received by you as an agreeable New Year's Gift, and if I am right m this anticipation, I have great pleasure m sending it. I received it to-day, per Pott from Paris, after I had seen you. It contains a Copy of Lady Jane Gray's Letters to Bullinger, transcribed with the utmost accuracy itom the original to the Zurich Library. " You recollect that I was disappototed to my first application con- ccmtog these Letters, the person to whom I hud written not taktog the slightest notice of my request. But about four weeks ago, a Swiss gen- tleman from Zurich, Dr. Lavater (of the family of the great physiogno- mist) called upon me on occasion of taktog leave previous to his de- parture from England. I mentioned the subject to him, and he promised to do every thtog he could to fulfil my wishes, if not sooner, at least to the Spring, when he should himself be returned to Zurich. Like a true man, he not only has kept his promise to mtod, but given it the promptest execution. Instead of waittog, it seems, he immediately wrote to a friend at Zurich, and the latter not only attended most readily to the request made, but has done so with a degree of care and accuracy which has quite delighted me. At the same time, he must have been a man of leamtog, and a perfect scholar. You see this from the mai^toal notes which are his, to which all that preciseness and diligence are shown which are met with to the Editor of a classical Author. " I have no doubt that this transcript is as mtoutely accurate and cor- rect as it was possible to make it : and this gives it an additional claim to your notice. " These Letters are curious documents, not merely with regard to Lady Jane Gray, and die cultivation and condition of her mtod ; but also with respect to the age to which they were penned, showing what solidity and depth of leamtog young females of high birth were capable of attaintog. The Latinity is so good and so classical, that I thtok it would be dan- gerous for any scholar of the present day to enter toto competition with the writer on that score. They are very characteristick under these potots of view ; and if there are other reasons for toserttog them in your work, these will form a strong additional motive. ** Dr. Lavater's friend has, besides, given him the following in- formation : " 1. That these Letters were, some years ago, copied by a Mr. Mor- genstein, who prtoted them to a Pn^ramma of the University of Dorpat to Russia. " 2. That they are to be found to Simon's Voyage en Suis$e, ** 3. That the first I^etter was published by Simler in a Paper, in which he announced a work de Rcformatione Ecclesice AnglicanoB,*^ '* This information, though desirable for you to possess, should not have the least influence on your determination to print the Letters ; be- cause you are now in possession of a transcript immediately derived from the original source, and with such accuracy, and so perfect, that it would be wrong to omit them. No where will these Letters be so much in their right place as in your work. Ever yours most truly, G. H. NOEHDEN.** *^To Henry Ellis, Esq.* «« JOANNiE ORAIiE AD HENRICUM BULLINOERUM EPISTOLiE. 1. Immortales tibi ago gratias, agamque dum vivam, Vir doctissime : nam rclaturam me affirmare non possum ; tantis enim tuis ofliciis non videor mihi rcspondere posse, nisi forte ita sensurus es, ut me referre gratiam putes, cum memoria tenebo. Ncque immerito. Accepi enim a te literas gravissime et disertissime scriptas, quae quidem mihi gratissimae erant : tum quod rebus gravioribus omissis ad me, quse tam eruditi Viii Uteris todigna sum, scribere e tam longinqua regione hac tua ingra- vescente tetate dignatus es; tum etiam quod eius generis tua scripta sunt, ut non vulgaria qusedam ad delectandum, sed pia et divina ad do- cendum, moncndum et consulendum, ea prsesertim, quee et mece aetati et sexui ac familiae nostras dignitati inprimis conveniunt, continere videan- tur: to quibus, ut to aliis omnibus, quas to summam Reipublicae Christianas utilitatem edidisti, non solum te exquisite doctum et singulari eruditione praeditimi ostendisti ; sed etiam ingeniosum, prudentem et » These Letten have also been recently printed, though from what copy the Editor U not aware, in Mr. Nioolai'a Remains uf Lady Jane Gray, accompanied with 1>anilationft. i pium oonsUlarium, qui nihil sapis nisi bona, nihil scntis nisi divina, nihil jubes nisi utilia, et nihil paris nisi honcsta, pio et tam observando patre digna. O me felicissimam ! cui talis contigit amicus et prudens consiliarius (nam ut Schelomo habet vjn* n"in njrwn) * quseque jam cum homine tam docto, Theologo tam pio et verae religionis acerrimo 9rpofiocxa> necessitudinis et amicitiae jure conjuncta sum. Multis de no- minibus Deo O. M. me debere puto, et inprimis quod, postquam me pio BucEBO viro doctissimo et patre sanctissimo orbasset, qui dies noctesque WW5 xai Xfltf non destitit mihi, quae ad vitam instituendam et fonnandam necessaria essent, suppeditare, quique meum in omni probitote, pletate et litenirum scientia cursum et progressus provehebat et suis optimis consiliis adhibitis incitabat ; te, Vir colendisshne ! mihi eius loco con- cessit, qui, ut spero, mihi tardanti et moram trahenti calcaria, ut ccepisti, addere volueris: nihil enim mihi optatius evenire aut acciderc potest, quam ut digna huiusmodi clarissimorum Virorum, quorum virtutum nullus satis esse possit praeco, literis salubcrrimisque consiliis ducar, utqae idem mihi contingat quod vel BLESiLLiE, PAULiE, et EusTO- CHio, quas divus Ule, ut fertur, Iebonymxjs instituit et suis concioni- bus habitis ad divinarum rerum cognitionem perduxit ; vel quod mulieri illi aetate confectae, cui divus Joannes epistolium quoddam hortatorium et vere theologicum conscripsit, vel quod Severi matri, quae consilio Orioinis usa est, eiusque monitis acquievit ; quae omnes non tantum sibi laudis et commodi ex corporis forma, generis nobilitate, et divitiarum copiae comparaverunt, quantum gloriae et felicitatis ex prudentissimorum vm)rum consiliis hauserunt, eo quod non dedignabantur homines illi tam singulari eruditione et admirabili pietate conspicui eas quasi manu ad optima quaeque ducere, et quae ad salutem aetemam ei futura vita feli- dtatem maximum haberent momentum suggerere. Quod ut tu mihi facere digneris, cum neque ingenio, nee eruditione, nee pietate infimus inter eos omnes haberi debeas, iterum atque iterum a te peto. Audacula tibi videar oportet, quae tam audacter hoc efflagito : sed si consilii mei rationem respicere volueris, nempe quod ex pietatis tua> pcnu ea depro- mere cupiam, quae cum ad mores formandos, turn ad fidem in Christo icrvatore meo confirmandam conducere queant, hoc quod facio mihi vitio vertere nee pro tua huraanitate poteris, nee pro tua prudentia volueris. Ex libello illo vera; et non fucatae religionis pleno,»» quem nuper ad Patrem et me misisti, tanquam ex horto amoenissimo flores suavissunos colligo, et Pater etiam, dum per gravissima negotia licet, in eius lecUone quotidie sedulo versatur. Quem autem inde uterque reportobimua fructum, de eo tibi et Deo propter te inmiortales gratias agere debemus. • ProTerb. xl. 14. Salut in multitudine consiliarioruin. De perfectione ChrUtianorum, a^l Hrnric t m II. Gall. R^. Non enim aequum esse putamus, ut per te tuique similes, quos non paucos hac in parte felicissima parit Oermania, a Deo O. M. tot tanta. que vere divina dona ingratis accipiamus animis. Solemus enim homines hominibus, ut par est, beneficiis beneficia compensare, et donorum coUa- torum meinores nas prsstarc : quanto magis igitur operam navare debe- mus divinae bonitati, si non ex omni parte respondere, at saltern laetis animis, quae confert, amplecti, et ex animo pro illis gratias agere ? Nunc ad laudes, quas mihi tribuunt tua literae, venio, quas ut nee vcndicare, ita nullo modo agnoscere debeo ; sed quidquid mihi divina bonitas largita est, id omne acceptum illi refero, tenquam mearum rerum omnium, quae virtutis aliquam speciem habent, Autori summo et soli, quem meo nomine r<^es velim, ornatissime Vir, assiduis tuis precibus, ut me hac in parte measque rationes omnes ita moderetur, ut tanta eius benignitate non indigna reperiar. In animum induxcrat illustrissimus Pater meus ad iuam humanitatem scribere pariterque gratias agere pro tuis praedare susceptis laboribus et singulari ilia humanitate, qua inductus cs suo nomine Sermonum quin- tam decadem inscribere eiusque auspiciis in lucem edere; nisi gravis- simis r^iae majestatis negotiis in ultimos Britanniae fines fuisset avoca- tus; sed ubi per publicas occupationcs vacabit, quem diligentissime ad te scribere se velle affirmat. Poetremo hebraicari iam incipienti mihi si viam et modum aliquem ostenderis, quem in hoc studiorum cursu tencre maxima cum utilitate debeam, me longe Tibi devinctissimam red- dideris. Vale, totius Ecclesiae Christiana? summum decus et ornamen- turn, et te diu nobis suaeque Ecdesiae superstitem servet Deus Optimus Maximus. Tuae Pietati deditissima JOANNA ORAIA. II. Facere non possum, ni nimis ingrata officii immemor, et beneficiis tuis indigna videri velim, Vir Ornatissime, quin in singulas res meritaque tua, quae plurima fuerunt, gratias tibi ingentes agam. Quanquam me- hercule et id cum pudore facio : neque enim tanta necessitudo, quantam tu mihi tecum esse voluisti, neque tot beneficia a te in me bis prorsus indignam collata tantummodo gratiarum actionem videntur desiderare, • neque ego lubenter pro maximis tuis beneficiis tam vili orationis munere defungor. Hoc etiam nonnihil angit anunum meum, cum ad literas, quas tanto viro darem, exc(^tandas quam parum idonea sinr mecum perpendo. Neque certe meis naeniis puerilibusque nugis tuam gravita. tcm perturbare, aut tanta barbarie tuaj eloquentiae obstrepere vellem atque auderem : nisi et nullo me alio modo tibi gratificari posse scirem, • Sniprit Joanna desyderare; et pauUo ante tantumoda f ' 'I 1'^ li< et de tua solita satisque perspecta mihi humanitate baud dubitarem. De Uteris autem, quas proxime abs te accepi, sic habeto. Posteaquam semel atque iterum (nam semel non videbatur satis) eas legissem, tantum fruc- tum reportasse ex tuis pr»claris et vere theologicis prseceptis • visa sum, quantum ex diutuma optimorum auctonmi lectione vix eram assequuta. Suades ut veram sinceramque in Christo servatore meo fidem amplectar tibi in hac parte. 'o^""°*^°' iwpiiur, tantumodo, coiwyderent. Sed quid haec ad tuam gravitatem scribo, cum tanta mea barbaries sit, ut nee digne tuam pietatem laudare, nee satis vitae int^ritatem enco- miis» celebrare, nee, prout convenit, suspiciendam et admirandam doc- trinam enarrare possit. Opus enim esset, ut, si prout Veritas postulat, te collaudarem, Demosthenis vel faeundiam vel Ciceronis eloquentiam haberon. Tanta enim tua sunt merita, ut cum et tempus satis longum, tum etiam ingenii acumen et sermonis el^antiam plus quam puerilem ad ea explicanda desiderent. Tantum enim in te sibi, ut apparet, placuit deus, ut et te suo r^no et huic mundo adaptaverit. in hoc enim terreno vitae ergastulo aetatis cursum transigis, quasi mortuus esses, eum tamen vivis, idque non solum primum Christo, sine quo nulla vita esse potest, et deinde tibi, sed etiam infinitis aliis, quos ut ad eam immortalitatem ru et quam ipse assequutus »> posteaquam ex hac vita migraveris, diia volentibus perducas strenue laboras et assidue conaris, utque id tua pietas effectum reddat quod cupit. Deum iravrox^ro;*'^ omnium rerum bona- nim largitorem preeari non cessabo eiusque divinas aures, ut diu in hac vita superstes sis, pulsare non desinam. Haec ad te audacius quam pru- dentius scripsi : sed tua in me bencficia tanta exstiterunt, qui ad me tibi incognitam scribere et quae ad animum omandum et mentem expoliendam neeessaria essent suppeditare dignatus es, merito n^ligentiae incusari et officii oblita videri possem, si omnimodo me tui tuorumque meritorum memorem baud praeberem. magnaque praeterea mihi spes est, te huic meae plus quam muliebri audaciae, quae virgo ad virum, et indoeta ad erudi. tionis patrem scribere audeam, ignoscere, et meae barbariei, quae te gra- vioribus rebus occupatum meis trieis, naeniis et puerilibus Uteris pertur. bare non dubitem, veniam dare velle. Quod si a te impetravero, me multis nominibus tuae pietati debere plurhnum, existimabo. si quid enim hac in parte peccatum fuerit, mei erga te tuasque virtutis'' amoris abun^ dantiae potius tribuendum est, quam vel audaciae, quae in nostrum sexunl cadere nuUo modo debet, vel temeritati, quae t»j T)jf xpictwi 8uvayui<« valde adversari solet. Splendor siquidem tuarum dotum ita mentis meae aciem vel cum tua lego, vel cum de te cogito, perstringit, ut non quid mea convcniat conditioni, sed quid tuae debetur dignitati, in mentis meae cogi' tationem veniat. Ceterum' hie fluctuare animus solet atque in diversas distrahi partes, dum quid mea aetas, sexus et in Uteris mediocritas, imo infantia potius, postulat, meeum considero. quae, eum singula, tum universa multo magis, a scribendi officio deterrent. Contra autem eum tuarum virtutum praestantiam, famae tuae celebritatem et meritorum • Scriptit enoomeis. Pott pro ut. fc Sic aupnuctiptum manu Joannce, literit paullo minoribu* ; sine commate. • Sine accentu. <> Sic, antiqua forma accueativi. • Sine accentibut, ' Sciipsit cxtctum. tuorom crga me magnitudinem intueor, guperior inferior! • cogitatio cedit, T» xpnTitt fiov^ dignitati tuas ; et plus apud me, quod tua postulant me- rita, quam quod alia suadent omnia, valere solet. Reliquum autem est, Vir Clarissime, ut vehementer a te petam meo nomine viro illi inclyto et eruditione, pietate gravitateque antesignano, nomine Bibliandro, mihi tamen incognito, salutem ex animo dicere. Tantum enim eius in nostra patria eruditionis famam audio, tamque illustre eius nomen apud omnes ob singulares animi dotes a Deo illi concessas esse accipio, ut nolens volens huiusmodi viri caelitus, ni faUor, nobis emissi pietatem sinceritatemque amplecti, quae paululum cognitionis consecuta sum, cogar ; et ut diu huiusmodi Ecclesia column®, qualis <= vos estis, prospera sint valetudine Deum precor. Tuae autem Gravitati bene optare, ob humanitetem mihi ostensam gratias agere, et multum valere iubere, quamdiu spirare licuerit, non desinam. Vale, Vir Doctissime. Tuae pietati deditissima Jo/AMKA ORAIA. Inscriptlo externa ah alia manu : Doctissimo simul ac colendissimo viro Domino Henrico Bullingero, Tigurinae Ecdesia ministro, h« red- dantur Literae. Sia William Cecil, afterwards Lord Burghley, in " A brieff Note of his Submission to Queen Mary,'* alluding to the Letter which was signed by the Lady Jane Gray as Queen, printed in the former Series of this work, says " 1 eschewed the wryting of the Quene's Highness hattard^ and therefore the Duke ^ wrote the Lettre himself, which was sent abroode in the Reahn." « Cecil, however, with all his subUety was unable to* worm himself into the favor of Queen Mary. • In autographo eat extretna linea sup, turn ob chartam pauUulum dueiuum non- tiullarum ayllabarum lacuna. Initio Mequentia linete est feriori cogitatio. b Sine accentu. c Sie./brma antiqtia. «> The Duke of Northumberland. • See MS. Lansd. N". 1V4. art. i. i':1 i ORIGINAL LETTERS. ISt LETTER CXLIV. William Thomas clerk of the Council, to Ki/ng Ed- ward the Sixth ; presenting a List of Questions in History and Policy for his improvement, [hs. cotton. TITUS B. II. i(A* 96. OrigJ\ •^» The education of an Infant Sovereign, in all ages and in every country, is an object of anxious solicitude ; that of an orphan prince in- finitely more anxious. Nor can we wonder that individuals should be found stepping out of their way to offer schemes for advancing his instruction. King Edward the Sixth, in the Journal of his own life still preserved among the Cottonian Manuscripts, says, he " was brought up till he came to six years old among the women. At the sixth year of his age he was brought up in learning by Mr. Doctor Cox who was afterwards his almoner, and John Cheke, M'. of Arts, two weU-leamed men, who sought to bring him up in. learning of tongues, of the scripture, of philo- sophy, and all liberal sciences. Also John Belmaine, Frenchman, did teach him the French language." * With none of these fixed plans did William Thomas interfere. He merely proposed a series of qucstimis calculated to draw from those to whom they might be put valuable information upon subjects of History and State-policy. From his situation as clerk of the Council, it is not improbable that they were drawn up by the desire of the Protector Somerset ; and intended as the materials for conversation between Edward and those who were about him, in the intervals of study. Of William Thomas an Account will be found in Wood's Athens, and in Chalmers's Bi(^raphical Dictionary. Strype has printed some other papers addressed by him to King Edward the Sixth, from the Cot- tonian Manuscript Vespasian D. xviii.** He appears to have been made clerk of the Council about 1549. On the accession of Queen Mary he was deprived of his employment at Court, and is said to have meditated the death of the Queen ; for which, or some other trefisonable enterprize, he was executed at Tyburn May the IS***. 1653 ; having previously aU tempted to destroy himself. • IIS. Cotton. Nero C. x. k Hit " Perygrine" in this Collection, addressed to Peter Aretine, in defence of Henry the Eighth, has not been printed. \l III 188 ORIGINAL LETTERS, To the Kings Highnes. Pleaseth your excellent Ma^\ albeit that my grosse knowledge be utterly unapte to entreprise th' Instruction of any thinge unto your Highnes, whose erudicion I knowe to be suche as everie faithfull hert ought to rejoise at : yet imagining with myself that hitherto your Majestic hath more applied the studie of the tonges than any matter either of Historic or of Policie, (the Holie Scriptures excepted,) and consider- ing that (syns your Highnes is by the providence of God alreadie growen to the admynistracon of that great and famouse chardge that hath been lefte unto yow by your most noble Progenitors) there is no earthlie thinge more necessarie than the knowledge of such examples as in this and other regiments heretofore have happened : me thought of my bounden dutie I coulde no lesse do than present unto your M a^J^. the Notes of those Dis- courses that are nowe my principall studie, which I have gathered out of divers aucthors, entending with layssor to write the circumstances of those reasons that I can finde to make most for the purpose. And bi- cause there is nothing better learned than that which man laboureth for himself, therefore I determined at this present to give unto your Highnes this little Abstracte only. Trusting that liek as in all kinde of vertuouse Learning and Exercise ye have alwaies shewed yourself most diligent, even so in this parte which concemeth the chief mayntenance of your high n\ ORIGINAL LETTERS. 189 astate, and preservacion of your Common Wealthe, your Majestic woU shewe no lesse industrie than the matter deserveth. For, though these be but Questions : yet there is not so small a one emongest them as woll not mynister matter of much discourse worthie the argument and debating; which your Highnes may either for passetyme or in earnest propone to the wisest men. And whan so ever there shall appeare any dif- ficultie that your Majestic wolde have discussed, if it shall stande with your pleasour I shall most gladly write the circumstance of the best discourses that I can gather tooching that parte, and accordingly present it unto your Highnes : most humbly beseching the same to accepte my good will in as good parte as if I were of habilitie to offer unto yo^ Ma^^^ a more worthy thinge. Yo^ Ma*•^ most humble servaunt WILLIAM THOMAS. 1 . Whereof hath growen th^aucthoritie of Astates, and howe many kindes of Astates there be ? 2. Which of all Astates is most commendable and necessarie ? 3. Wheather a moltitude without heade may prosper ? 4. Wheather is wiser and more constant, the Molti- tude or the Prince ? 5. Wheather is it better for the Commonwealthe M 190 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I! I 1 I r. t I: that the power be in the Nobilitie or in the people? 6. Wheather a meane Astate may beare a great subject ? 7. What Lawes arr necessarie, and howe they ought to be mainteigned ? 8. Howe easelie a weak Prince with good ordre may longe be mainteigned, and howe sone a mightie Prince with little disordre may be destroied ? 9. What causeth an enheritor King to loose his Healme ? 10. Wheather Religion, besids the honor of God, be not also the gretest staie of Civile ordre ? and whea- ther the Unitie thereof ought not to be preserved with the swearde and rigor. 11. Wheather of the twoo is the more unkinde, the People or the Prince ? 12. Howe Unkindenesse may be eschewed? 13. What is th'^occasion of Conspiracies ? 14. Wheather the People commonly desire the de- struction of him that is in aucthoritie, and what movcth them so to do ? 15. What a man of authoritie may do in the Molti- tude ? 16. What is to be observed in chooseng of Officers ? 17. Howe flatterers arr to be knowen and despised? 18. Howe mennes opinions in great matters arr to be pondered ? ORIGINAL LETTERS. 191 19. Wheather in Judgements the meane waie ought to be observed ? 20. Wheather a man of aucthoritie ought to con- tempne his inferiors ? 21. Howe dangerouse is it to leape from Humilitie unto Pride, and from Pitie unto Creweltie ? 22. Wheather men may easelie be corrupted ? 23. Howe much good mynisters ought to be re- warded and the evill punished. 24. Howe daungerouse it is to be aucthor of a newe matter ? 25. Wheather accusations arr necessarie, and whea- ther yll reaportes arr condempnable. 26. Wheather yll Reaporte lighteth not most com- monly on the Reaporter ? 27. Wheather ambitious men, mounting from one ambicion to an other, do first seeke not to be offended, and afterwards to offende ? 28. Wheather it be daungerouse to make him an Officer that ones hath been misused. 29- Wheather they be not often deceaved that thinke with humilitie to overcome Pride. 30. What force the Prince'^s example hath emongest the Subjectes ? 31. Howe a Prince ought to goveme himself to at- taigne reputacion ? 82. What thinges deserve either praise or reproache? 33. What is Liberalitie and Miserie? hi 192 ORIGINAL LETTERS. h " t i I 4 \ i \l ■ :t I c. - ! t ! ft •*■• 34. What is Creweltie and Clemencie ? 35. Wheather Hate and Dispraise ought to be eschewed ? 36. What is Fortune ? 37. Howe men lye oftentimes blinded with fortune ? 38. Wheather it be not necessarie for him that woll have contynuall good fortune, to varie with the tyme ? 39. What Prince's amytie is good ? 40. Wheather a puissant Prince ought to purchase amitie with money ? or with vertue and stowtenes ? 41. What trust ought to be had in Leages ? 42. What is the cause of Warre ? 43. Howe many kindes of Warre there be ? 44. Howe many kindes of Souldeors ? 45. Wheather they that fight for their owne glorie arr good and faithfull souldeors ? 46. Why do men overrenne straunge countreys ? 47. Howe shulde a Prince measure his force, and howe rule himself in warre ? 48. Wheather a manifest warre towards, ought to be begonne upon th'ennemye, or abidden till th'enne- mye beginne ? 49. Wheather is it better to assaulte or to defende ? i 50. Wheather money be the substaunce of warre or not ? 51. Wheather weake Astates arr ever doubtfull in determyneng and wheather much deliberacion doth rather hurte than heipe ? ORIGINAL LETTERS. 193 * ■ 52. Wheather is greater in Conquest, vertue or fortune ? 53. Wheather prevaileth more in fortune, Policie or Force ? 54. What is Policie in warre ? 55. Wheather Conquests arr not sometime more noysome than proffitable ? 56. Wheather it be wisedome to adventure much ? 57. What meanes ought to be used in defence ? 58. Wheather the Countrey ought not alwaies to be defended, the quarell being right or wronge ? 59. Wheather inconveniences ought rather to be qualified and overcome with layssour, or at the first plainely repressed ? 60. What daunger is it to a Prince not to be avenged of an open Injurie? 61. What discommoditie is it to a Prince to lacke Armure ? 62. Howe much ought Artillerie to be esteemed ? 63. Wheather ought more to be esteemed, Footemen or Horsemen ? 64. Wheather it be not daungerouse to be served of straunge souldeors ? 65. Wheather is an Armie better governed of one absolute head, or of divers ? 66. What ought the Generall of an Armie to be ? 67. Wheather is more to be esteemed a good Cap- VOL. II. SER. 2. o ill 194 ORIGINAL LETTERS. h$^ I V * taine with a weake Armye, or a stronge Armye with a weak Captaine? 68. Wheather it be necessarie that generall Cap- taines have large Commissions ? 69. What advantage is it to foresee the ennemyes purpose? 70. Wheather a Captaine in the fielde may forsake the feight if his ennemye woU nedes feight ? 71. What it is to be quicke of Invention in the time of battaill ? 72. What sufferaunce and tyme is in Feight ? 73. Wheather it be necessarie to assure th'armie before the feight ? 74. Wheather it be not necessarie sometime to f eigne folic ? 75. Howe to beware of crafte, when th'ennemie seemeth to have committed a folic ? 76. What advauntaige it is for a Captaine to knowe his grounde ? 77. Wheather Skyrmisshes be good ? 78. Wheather Fortresses arr not many thnes more noysome than proffitable ? 79. Wheather an excellent man doth alter his cow- raige for any adversitie ? 80. Wheather Princes ought to be contented with resonable victories ? and so to leave ? 81. Wheather Furie and Braverie be many times necessarie to obteigne purposes ? ORIGINAL LETTERS. 195 82. Wheather Promises made by force ought to be observed ? 83. Wheather it becommeth not a Prince to pre- tende liberalitie when necessitie constreigneth him to depart with thinges. 84. What is vertue, and when is it most esteemed ? 85. What destroieth the memorie of things ? It becometh a Prince for his wisdome to be had in admiracion aswell of his chiefest Counsaillors as of his other subjects; and syns nothing serveth more to that than to kepe the principall things of wisedome secrett till occasion require the utterance, I wolde wishe them to be kept secret; referring it neverthelesse to your Majesties good will and pleasor. I' LETTER CXLV. TJtomas Barnabe to Sir William Cecily proposing methods of distressing the French, A. Z>. 1552. [ms. lansd. 2. art, 85. Orig.l After my mooste humbliest comendacions unto your Mastership, yt shalle please you to be advertysed, that I have ben of late with the Comyssionars of France that be here com ; the which is Mons'. Aubery lieute- n o2 196 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ] V"' ^1 nant civill of Parys, and Mons^. Du Val, advocate for the kinge of Newehaven, Homfleut and Harfleut, the which be ryght honest gentlemen, and speke well, and saye that they are not alonlye sente to comon^ with us as the people luakethe reporte of them, but to make restitucion ; and one of them also sayd unto me, that our people be verye desirous here to have warre with them, and that we shoulde not fynde the realme of France after the sorte that we did for vj score yeares agone when we did conquere yt, for, he sayd, than that the Duke of Normandy, & the Duke of Brytayne, and the Duke of Bourgoigne were all iij against the Frenche kinge, and nowe that is knytt all to one realme ; and that we maye see what greate hurte we have don them with the warres, that my lorde of Northfolke and my lorde of Suffolke and the Kinges Majestic have don, and what towne we can showe that we doe holde : but onlye have spente out all our ritches, and destroyed a greate nombre of subjectes, and lefte all our monnye in Flanders, Heynou, and Artous to the utter destruc- tion of our realme. The which I answered hym agayne to my simple wytte, that I have hadde as motche ex- perience in France or in those parties, as motche as anye man in the Realme of Englande ; and was mar- ryed there for xxxviij yeres agone, and sence I have hadde saveconduites of the Kings Majestic, where- uppon hathe growen greate sutes & to my utter un- • commune. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 197 dowynge, soe that I dare be bolde to saye that there is never a porte, haven, or baye betwene Bouloigne and Bourdeaulx, but I knowe h)nn; and as for the realme of France besyde, I ought to knowe yt, for I have ben xxviij viages in France in poste for the Kings Majestic, & contynuallye there all the while that my lorde of Winchester ^ and master Wallop were there ; and likewise by my lorde of London ^ and my lorde Pachettes^' dayes, and somwhat I gathered there amongst them ; for I thinke there weare few men that was sente soe manye tymes to the Counsell privy- lye, for bye matters as I was ; for the Embassadours wente never to the Corte but for the Kinges previe affayres, but alwais yt was my chance to be sente for everye mans matters: wherfore there was nother the Chancelour nor the Cardynall of Lorayne, nor the Cardinall of Parys, nOr the Admyrall, nor the Cun- stable, whiche have continewed longest in favor, but I have knowen them all : and as for the Cunstable, som- what I can saye of hym ; I thinke he be one of the doblest & dissemblingst gentelmen that is in the worlde ; for there is no more assurance of his worde then to holde an ele by the tayle ; but will speak fayre, & promise fayre, .& worke the contrarye ; and besyde all this I promyse you of my faythe, he is as popishe as 'I am Englishe, and alwaies hathe been, for the which my lorde of Winchester nor M^ Wallop did not hate hym, for I doe knowe yt, for I was sente • Bishop Gardiner. * Bishop Bonner. Paget'*. 198 obigiAl letters. i» i'^ dyvers viages by my Lorde Crumwell, and perceived howe the matter wente, for the which theye sayd bothe of them that I was my lorde Crumwelles spye, and soe I am assured that theye tolde the Cunstableone daye; but I cared not, for I hadde the King my masters pro- cedinges hanginge in myne eyee, and as Paull sayethe, ' I am that I am.' God knowith my poore harte, how motche I doe tender the wealthe and prosperyte of myne owne nacion ; and that I am sory from the botom of my harte to thinke that they of France excepte » us to be grossed natured people and covetous, and theye have sayed unto me or nowe, that yf we hadde never so rhnke or malicious warre with them they knowe howe to by us for monye, the which me thinkethe weare a strange thinge. Howebeyt that it was seene by my Lorde Cardinalles dayes, for he hymselfe toke iiij hondreth thowsande Crownes for to make peace betwene the Frenchemen and us : the vhich then was not a lyttell spoken of in France. I woulde wishe to God that we did knowe our owne strenght and poure, and what portes, bayes, and havens we have that other Reahnes have not ; yt is unknowen, but in all France be barde havens, b and yet by reason that they main- tayne their fishinge and theyr thevinge, there is more maryners in one towne there, then is here from the landes ende to St. Mychelles Mounte. I have sene com owte at one tyde in Dieppe five hondred and fy\e botes ; and in everye bote x or xii men ; the which was ' havens having bars al the entrance. •accept. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 199 a marvelous matter to see, howe they be maintaynid by fyshinge, and what ritches theye gette by the See, and howe theye mantayne their townes and portes; and as for us, lette us begynne at Sandwiche, and goe to Dover, Hyde,«^ and Hastings, & to Willchense,^ and se howe they goe downe for lacke of maintenance, and in a manner no maryners in them ; which is for lacke of good pollicye to set them a worke, which Sir, yf yt please the Cownsell to understande those thinges that I will showe you, they shall sette vj or vij thowsand maryners a worke more then theris, in that thinge that France can lyve no more withowte, then the fyshe withowt water; that is to saye Newe-castell Coles; which withowte that, they can nother make stele worke, nor metall worke, nor wyer worke, nor goldsmythe worke, nor gonnes, nor no manner of thinge that passethe the fier. And as for them, ye shall se in peace time iij or iiij score of ships of Normans and Brytons at ones, as soone as theyr fishinge is done, and as theye be departed comethe as manye moe ; so that I occupying saveconduytes in France, have bought coles at Newcastell for ij^ & ij'. a chauldron & for xiijteen nobles have solde them agayne in France. Also the Vice-amerall of Normandye, Mons'^. De May, and the Vicounte of Dieppe have prayed me to bringe in New- castell Coles, and I shoulde have any other manner of comodyte that they hadde within the Realme, whether y t were poldaries for say lis, or any other thinge. Nowe, • Hithc. »» Winchelsea. 200 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 201 U)^ maye you see what a comodyte is this small thinge to this realme, soe that me semethe yf the kinges Majestic would take in these coles into his owne handes & lette no other ships but Englishe ships fetche them at Newecastell ; and soe to bringe them into Kente, and make a staple in sutche place as shoulde be thought necessary, you sholde not only sette a wonderfull sorte of maryners a worke, but also it sholde be a greate strenght to the realme, and spetially to the cuntry of Kent ; the which is verye lene of men by the see syde ; consydering the premysses aforesayde of the goinge downe of the townes. Also it is not unknowen but that the Frenche kinge hath taken the salte into his owne handes & hathe gruntiers in every towne to sell yt to his proflPyte. Nowe maye you waye that the one is vittaylle & the other is fuell, also is it but reason we shoulde avance our owne comodyte, as well as they do theyrs, to maintayne our owne suhjectes withall. Also I woulde wyshe that their shoulde nother fuel nor vittayle goe owte of the realme but uppon Englishe botomes. Moreover I have sene goe owte at one tyde owte of Rie together xxxvijtie Hoyes laden with woode and tymber, and never an Englishe maryner amongst them; which is a wonderfull dyscomodyte to this Reahne. I have greate marvaile that these things have ben soe longe forgotten, which is soe necessary a thinge to be spoken of. And nowe Sir, I praye you, speke we of the citi^ of London, there be so many notable marchantes and ritche halles of landes ; some maye spende viij hondred pounde, som vj hondred, som lesse and som more ; and greate revenewe com to them yerelye for quartrayes and forfettes, which rysethe to no small som; and nothinge don withall, but make grete feastes everye monthe or vj wekes at theyr halles, and cause vyttailles to be dere ; but yt myght be torned to a more honorabler use. Also yt woulde be a gi*eate maintayninge to the kinges subjectes for every Crafte to have a Shippe to carye theyr marchandyses to and fro, to the greate avancement of the kinges honor and to theyr owne comodytes &, yf chance sholde fall, which Grod forbydde, that a Ship sholde be loste, the Halles myght easelye here the smartes therof. I thinke there is never a Cytie in Christendome, havinge the occu- pynge that this citie hathe, that is so slenderlye pro- vided of Ships, havinge the See coming to yt as this hathe. I have harde of late moche complaininge for En- glishe ships to lade gooddes into Spayne and other places, and there is none to be hadde : yf this thinge hadde ben thought on in tyme, happelye this whorle borle* of takinge of our shippes sholde not have chanced ; for the frenchemen doe aledge, that yt was the Spanyardes goodes and other of the Emperours subjectes, wherfore I praye Grod that this matter maye be loked uppon in tyme to com. Nowe I com to your Mastership with an other matter, yf so be yt that we shoulde warre with them, • hurly-burly. ^2 OlICTKAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 203 u i (as God defende,) for ther is no man of God but he will seake peace, I knowe a towne in Normandye, which yf it were oures, we shoulde kepe France & Normandye subjecte; is yt possible to be beleved.? yea, as sure as the livinge God ly vethe, I have known within this xxxviij^>e yere there was but iij bowses, ij bowses to laye cables and ancres in, and the other a vittailinge bowse, and at this present daye I thinke there be iij thowsande ; y t is nowe a seconde Rone, & yt is the verye gulfe, gulet, and mouthe of the See, and a make-peace yf we hadde y t ; it is all the Frenche kinges joye, and he callyth the maryners of that towne his maryners, his pylates, & histheves ; they be main- taynid, & take of us, of the Portugalls, and of the Spanyardes ; all is fyshe that comethe to nette, theye will have a pece of everye man. Now Sir, where as the chefe of the Frenche kinges revenewe is levelled uppon sake as afore sayd, yet can it not be brought into France nor Normandy, but yt muste com in danger of that towne, for the Canell ^ liethe of that syde of the lande betwene Polhed and that haven ; nother no mar- chandises owte of what realme soever yt comethe, but it muste goe by that waye ; and also there can nothinge com owte of France, nother wyne of Ansurois, nor wyne of Bayon, nor wine of Orleans, nor wyne of Parys, nor any other marchandyses that is made in Parys or Rone to goe to any other realme, beynge caryed by water, but yt muste nedes passe that waye ; nother no armye that the Frenche king can sende owht to Scotlande, nor to vyttaille his armye to the See, but it is all sette forthe there, I can not tell what I should wryte more of yt, for it is so commodyous. There was one of the wittiest heddes in all Crystendome of a marchante, which showed me ones standinge there together, that we neded none other rodde to scorge Normandye and France, but only that, yf we hadde yt ; and I showed the same to my lorde Crumwell, and he sente me thether uppon the kinges coste, and I drewe a placke of yt, & brought yt to hym; the French kinge was there the same tyme, & the Admyrall Brian, and the C unstable that is nowe, were there ix dayes to vewe yt, & to caste yt ditches, and over that theye made a crye that whatsoever wolde com and buylde there at Newehaven shoulde have his founda- cion and coste hym nothinge ; and soe after my cominge home, my lorde Crumwell conferred the matter with me and my lorde Fitzwilliams that was then lorde amerall, better then iij or iiij owres pervewing the placket, & sayde yf he lived, and that warres shoulde happen that shoulde surelye be remembred, for yt was worthe the heringe ; and soe he put me to the Kinge, and soe travaiUed in his Graces affayres xxviij^^ viages, bothe in France, Spayne and Italye, and founde hym always good lorde unto me, or els I hadde ben a verye poore man ; for I hadde ij ships taken by tbe Frenche- men for xxvj''*' yeres agone, and have hadde contynuall • canal. 204 OEIOINAL LETTEES. sute with them & never coulde brynge yt to an ende, but was fayne to leve yt and followe the Kinges af- fayres; and hadde thinges manye tymes to saye to my lorde of Winchester concerninge the Kinges pro- cedinges, the which might not well awaye withall, nor Jarmyne Gardener his secretarye. And soe whan my lorde Crumwell died, I fered my lorde of Winchester, and soe ceassed & fell to my sute agayne in France ; for I hadde manye a hevye looke for hym of Mr. Walloppe ; and he sayd that my greate God was gone, and that there was none longinge to hym but spies and heretikes, but as for me I did those thinges that I was commanded to doe by those dayes. And nowe for asmoche as I doe see the gloriosnes of the Frenche- men, and howe theye doe rejoyse of their roberyes, I can doe no lesse but certiffie your Mastership, that, as I knowe ; for yf we will knowe our owne strenght theyr corage shalbe bated well ynoughe ; for kepe them from fishinge and geve no saveconduites, and kepe them from Newcastell Coles, and they are not able to lyve. Or yf the westeme men have leave to goe to the see & take what they can, and mantayne a lyttel pretye He called Oldemay, wheras I have ben or nowe, and stande in the toppe of the Castle in a clere daye, and sene a man ryde a horsbacke in France, & nother the Brytons nor the Gascons can conveye any thinge into France or in Flanders, but they muste com betwixt the shore and them. Yt is an other manner of thinge ORIGINAL LETTERS. 205 then it is taken, for I woulde wysshe from the botom of my harte that yt myght be looked uppon, yt woulde make the Brytons and the Normans & the Gascons to stope. I have or nowe advertysed all this to my Lorde of Somerset, bothe by wrytinge and by mowthe, and his Grace hathe wrytten me a letter to com to hym and conferre certayne matters with hym, and woulde have sent me into Gascoin whan the insurrection was there, the which yf I hadde gon and the C unstable hadde catched me, I hadd payed for my comynge ; and whan I declared his Grace my mynde, I contentyd hym. I do rejoyse from the botom of my harte to thinke howe towarde a master we have; and agayne I rejoyse to see howe. Godes word is trewlye and syn- cerlye set forthe ; there lackethe nothinge but to fere God, and to be in obedience of our Pry nee ; I doe re- joyse agayne to see what godlye provision here is for the poore, the which woulde rejoise any Englyshe harte to see, and also that these matters aforesayde may be loked uppon & that the ships and the mary- ners may e be maintainid ; for the viceamerall of France, Mons^ De May, hathe sayd unto me or nowe, that we hadde no ships in the realme of Englonde that weare any thinge worthe, but the Kinges, & that yf theye hadde sutch portes & havens as we have, and sutche comodytes longinge to them, theye wolde make them selves berdes of golde. I put no doubtes, but my lorde of Northumberlans grace hathe knowledge of these S06 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 207 thinges, by reason that his Grace laye longe in Rone of a longe tyme. I am so bolde to write halfe a dosen wordes to his Grace, the which I woulde humblye de- Byre you to deliver yt hym, & to reade hyin my booke. And thus mooste humblye I take my leave of you for this t3ane. Wrytten at London the first daye of Octo- ber, by yours with his poore sarvice during his lyfe, THOMUS BARN ABE. To the right honnorable and his spetiall good master Sir William Scicil^ secretary to the kinges Ma- jestic. LETTER CXLVl. BisJiop Gardiner to the University of Cambridge^ upon the eating of Flesh in Lent, and on the pronunda' tion of Greek, [m8. cole, voL xliL p. 419.] Mr. Vice Chancellor, after my ryght hartie co- mendations, ye shall understand I have been adver- tysed how dyvers of the Regents of that Universitie, who shuld rule and be good example to other, have this Lent last past very dissolutly used themselves in eatynge of fleshe; whych fault how it hathe been punisshed here I am sure ye have harde: wherin I have been noted a greate avaunser, and setter furthe of that punishment ; which rumour, albeit it be not trewe, and that indede the Kynges Majestic himself, with th'advise of the rest of the Counsell, dyd earnestly prosecute, as th'eflecte hathe shewed in sum that mis- order : yet neverthelesse, by cause th'ofFence is greatter in Scholers then in other, and specially called to the state of Regents, I cannott quietlye passe over, and ncglecte this Informacyon ; havinge soe apparente and manifeste truthe as it hathe, beinge browght to lyght sondry wayes, as this berer can enforme you, unto whome I praye you geve credence therin. Wherfor I pray you travayle with me for reformacion, which I wold have so used as the matter myght be punisshed withowte encrease of the slawndre, which mighte doo hurte to the hole Universite : and therfore I have devised and thowght good that ye shuld secretlye speke with suche as be noted faultie, and enducinge them to confesse ther faulte, and paye sum fyne, by your discrecion to be taxed, to the use of the Universite, soe to dismisse them withowt further publishinge of their names: wherin I wold ye used suche temperaunce as the payne wer not contempned ne the partie greved above his astat. But I wyll have it in any wyse punisshed ; for I wyll not suffer the Universite with theise dissolute manners to be corrupte. Londes have not been geve, or Lectures fownded for any suche evyll purposes. If the Offenders will have pytie of themselfs and ther i: { I 208 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 209 owne fame, and so privilye and secretlye with yow submitt themselfs to punisshment, I wyll gladlye here wythe them : but otherwyse, this charitable waye not regarded, I will procede to an open Inquisicion and note the faulte where I finde it. I am not desyrous to know ther names, but onlye to understand from you that, by payment of the taxacion, the matter is punisshed : wherof I pray you certefie as shortlye as ye shall have done any thinge in it. The last yere, by consent of the hole Universite, I made an Ordre concerninge pronunciacion of the Grek Tonge, apoyntinge paynes to the transgressors, and finally to the Vice Chancellor if he sawe them not executed: wherein I pray you be persuaded that I wyll not be deluded and contempned. I did it se- riouslye, and will maynteyne it. If you see the trans- gressors punisshed, I have cause to be content : but otherwyse I intende, in you and the Procters persons, to use myne auctoryte geven me by the Universite ; wherunto I trust ye wyll not enforce me. To be Chauncellor of the Universitie is only Honor, whyche by contempte is taken awaye ; and I wylbe ware to geve any man cause to contempte me. What en- formatyon I have I wyll not wryte: but by that I shall see from hensforth, I wyll beleve that is past. Howe necessarye it is to brydle the arrogance of yought,^ the experyence of your yeres bathe, I doubte » youth. not, taught you : and it wold muche greve me pryvatlye to have any varyaunce with you, of whome I have had so olde acquayntaunce ; which cannot be, if ye suffei them not, by tolleracyon, to hope more of you wolde avow they'shulde. The Kynges Majestic hath, by the insp3rracyon of the holy Groost, componed all maters of Religion: which Uniformitie, I pray God it may in that and all other matters and thinges, extende unto us, and forgettinge all that is past, goo forthe in agreement as thowghe ther had been no suche matier. But I wyll withstande fansyes even in pronunciacion; and fight wythe th'*enemie of quyet, at the first entree. Wherfor I pray you, Mr. Vice Chancellor, loke emestlye on thies matiers, and geve me cause by your industrye to rejoyce in the Universite, and only care for acquietinge our matiers wythe the Towne, wherein I trust we shall have good spede by the grace of God, who sende you hartelye well to fare. At the Court the 15^»> of May. Your assured lovinge frende, STE. WINTON, To Mr. Dr Vice Chancellor of Cambridge. VOL. II. SER. 2. i^lO ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CXLVII. The Princess Elizabeth to the Lords of the Council concerning some landed property y and dealings with one Smyth. • [m9. cottok. vespas. r. xiii. fol. 173. Orig.\ •^» This Letter relates to some pasture land at Wobum which the Princess Elizabeth had taken for a term of one Smyth, and was unwilling to relinquish to the Earl of Bedford, by whom, in a controversy with Smith, it had been claimed. The Uck of pasture for her provisions, she says, had been the cause of heavy charges : and she would not, God willing, forego her right untill better provided. The Household Book of the Princess Elizabeth for a year, from the 1st October, 6th Edw. Vlth. to the last day of September, in the 6th Edw. Vlth. is still extant in the possession of the Liord Viscount Strangford, by whom it has been obligingly lent to the Editor of these Volumes. It is entided " Th'Accumpte of Thomas Parry esquyer Couferor* to the righte excellent Princesse the Ladie Elizabeth her Grace, the King*8 Majesties most honorable Sister." Every page signed at the bottom by the Princess. The sum total of Receipts, including the " remayne of the preceding year," amounts to 5791/. 1*. ^d. with the third part of a farthing. The payments are entered under the heads of Bakehouse and Pantry ; Buttry and Cellar; Spicery and Chaundry ; Kitchen and I^ardcr; the Acatryes ; Pultry ; Squillerie ; Sawcerye ; Woodyard ; Stable ; Wagen, Lyveries, and Almes; Chamber and Robes; and Reparacions. The total of payments within the time of the Accompt, 3029/. 18*. S\d. ; leaving for the wants of the next year 1507/. 0*. 0\d. a half farthing and the third part of a farthing, which sum is stated to have been delivered into her Grace's own hands upon the determination of this Accompt. The expences of the House amounted to 3938/. 18*. Id. ; but deductions for " the hides, felles, and intrails of the cattle*' supplied 207/. 3#. b\d. The entries in the Bakehouse and Pantry are chiefly for wheat lender the Buttry and Cellar great ^antitics of beer are entred, with swete wine, Raynishe wme, and Gascoigne wine. In the Spicery and Chandry nothing of particular note occurs. In the Kitchen and Larder * ( 'offerer. I ORIGINAL LETTERS. 211 fresh-water fish occur firequently. Board-wages for servants are con- tinually mentioned. Lamprey pies are once entered as a present. John Taylor for making of the Tome-broches coates ix«. ij«*. In the Acatryes " one bore" xxx». In the Wood-yard " rushes" occur. In the Stable " horsbrede." The Wages of household servants for a quarter of a year amounted to 82/. 17*. 8rf. The lyveries of velvet coats for xiij. gentlemen at xl». the coat, amounted to 26/. The lyveries of the yeomen to 78/. 18*. Given in almes 7/. 15*. 8i. at sondrie times to poor men and women. Among the entries of the Chamber and Robes are the following : ** Paid to John Spithonius the xvij'*". of Maye for bokes, and to Mr. Allin for a bible, xxvij*. iiij**. ** Paid to Edmunde Allin for a bible, xx». " Paid the thurde of November to the Kepar of Hcrforde gayle for fees of John Wingfelde, beyng in warde, xiij*. iiij '. " Paid the xiiij'**. of December to Blaunche Parrye for her half yeres annuitie c\ and to Blaunche Qwrtnaye for the like, Ixvj^ viij*^. " Paid the xiiij'**. of December at the Cristening of M***. Pendred's childe, as by warraunte dothe appeare, 1*. ^ Paid in reward unto sondrie persons at S^ James, her Grace then beyng there, viz. The Kings fotemen xl'. Th'under kepar of SS James, X*, The gardener v*. To one Russell grome of the Kinge's great chamber, x«. John Forman, x*. To the Warderobe xl«. The Violans, xl*. A Frenchman that gave a boke to her Grace, x*. The kepar of the Parke gate of S. James, x". Mr. Staunfords servants xx*. The Lorde Russells minstralls x*. In th'ole, as by warrant appereth ix'>. xv*. '* Paid in reward to sondrie persons the x'**. of August, viz. to Farmor that plaied on the lute, xxx*. To M^ Ashefelde servant, with ij. prise oxen and x. muttons, xx". More the harper, xxx*. To him that made her Grace a table of walnut tree xliiij\ ix''. And to Mr. Cocke's ser- vaunte which brought her Grace sturgeon, vj". viij''." If bothe apparaunt poynts touching myne honor and my necessitie also constreined me not, goode my Lordes I shulde sone have served all your expectacions towching Wobume ; and long sithens have appeased my Lorde of Bedfords mynde therin. But syns your wisdomes enformed of that other side do affirme that V 2 212 ORIGINAL LETTERS. it were myne honor and a poynt of comen justice not to intromit therwith, the matier being Htigiouse, so trusting in your good willes towardes me do for aun- swere resolve with you in this manner, as knowing myself a long tyme to have great nede of pastures for my provicions, the huik wherof hath bene to my great chardges. At Shroftide last, and long tyme bifore my Lorde Privy Seall to my knowledge did intromytt in suche sorte therwith, I contracted indede with one Smyth for his interest therein, being then (parcell thereof for a few yeares yet to come onely excepted) clearely dischardged of all former contractes and other thinges in his owne handes and right. And he upon suche consideracions of recompence as I toke with hym to dischardge the thing clearely at and untill our Ladie day last, and myself to beare the chardges thens for- warde, by force wherof I entred, and am therof as ye may now well undrestounde by just ordre of the lawes justlie possessed, from the which to be now rejected were to my great dishonor, syns all the contrey knoweth it. And for your Lordshipps farder satisfaccion in this matier, syns I herde of the controversie betwene my Lorde and Smyth, it is not unknowne that I sent unto hym my hoole state and condicion herein, with farr larger and more benevolent offers then I received aimswere, or being evyll handelyd canne be contented to offer agane ; and therfore this I say, that if it be my right to holde it, I trust that ye will not myslyke i ORIGINAL LETTERS. 213 that I kepe it, for I will not, God willing, forgoo it untill I may be better provided. And if my Lorde have better right therunto then I have, then I will give it over with all my hart unto him without con- tencion. And as I utterly denye to Smyth any sup- portacion at my handes in any of his misdemenors against my Lorde, and do and shall leave him to suffer that he haith most deserved at my Lordes handes ; so do I hope quietlie to injoy that that I tliis^ justly have come by with my Lordes good will, both because I have bene suche one towardes my Lorde for the good service he did my father, as if habilitie served I wolde not have failed to have given of myne owne a farr better thing, and agane bicause it is not unknowne to my Lord, nor to any of you all, but that it is most re- quisite for me to seeke some pastures for myselfe which had never none out of lease appointed me by others. And thus I committ you all to God desiring you to make my humble comendacions to the Kinges Majestic, for whose health I pray daily, and daily and evermore shall so do during my lief. At Hatfilde the last day of Mau 1553. Your verye lovinge frende, ELIZABETH. Although no additional Letters have occurred of consequence con- cerning the Protector Somerset, it will not be out of place here to mention tliat among the Cottonian Charters in the Museum is a Paper, indorsed • thus. I'P iji 214 ORIGINAL L£TT£R8. OUIGINAL LETTERS. 215 in SecteUry Cecill's hand, " Wryting of the Duke of Sanurtet in the Tower of London'' It was the Paper of Questions put to that nobleman when prisoner. It is so decayed, torn, and discoloured, that its contents are inserted below, » merely that they may be preserved. The Cottonian Manuscript Titus B. ii. contains Lists of the neces- saries of dress and other accommodation, which the Duke and Duchess • *• 1. Whether dyd Palmer the Lord Gray or bothe move you funt to kepc the feld and to drawe northwards. ♦• 2. What moved you to cretlytc Partriche.when you followed hU counsaile to re- move from Syon, and came to London contrary to the oppynyon of some othert. •* 9. To howe many dyd you declare your mynd what tyme you came to Kli place t'apprehend the Duke of Northumberland then Erie of Warwyke, and who dyd gere you furst advise thereunto, and to whom you did repent the not doing of it. *• 4. Whether dyd Partriche or eny other geve you adviie to promyse the people their Masse, Holywatter, with such other, rather than to remayn styll so unquietid. " 5. Wyth howmanyedyd you conferr concemynge the taking of the l*le of Wight, and the fortifyeng of Poole or cney other place. " 6. Howmany tymes had you eny message or intelligence from Vane he being in the Tower, and by whom and whose meanes. " T. Whether dyd you mystrust after you had spoken secretly with Sir Thomas Arrundell, lest he had bene purposly set aworke to yndermynd you, and to whom you dyd wish that you had not gon so farr with hym. •• 8. What was the uttermost talk that dyd pas betwen you and Syr Thomas Amm- dell at that tyme: and howe many noblemen and others he wolde assisted. '* 9. Whether dyd you consent that Vane shuld labore the Lady Elizabethe's Grace to be offcndyd with the Duke of Northumberland then Erie of Warwyk, the Lord Marques, th'erle of Pembroke then M'. of the Horse, or any others of the Counsaile; and how and by whom you had intelligence of Vane's Proceedings in that behalf. " 10. Howe often tymes have you conferred with th'Erle of Arrundell, and he with you, of the mysliking of the State and Government ; and what you dyd conclude to be the Reformacion thereof. •• 11. Whether have you yourself, or any other for you, at any tyme conferred with the Lord Paget to the like effect; and howe you dyd perccve or knowe his inclination thereunto. " 13. Whether dyd it procede furst from yourself or from the said Erie of Arun* dell, to have a Parliament immediatly upon the attaynyng of your purposes ; and what matters you wold have had set forth at the said Parliament. «• 18. With how many have you conferretl for the setting forth of the Proclamacion to perswade the People to myslyke the Government, and to be ofltndyd wyth the Counsaile, and specially the doings of the Duke of Northumtterland, th'Erle of Pembroke, and the Marques of Northampton ; doing theym to understand that they went alwut to destroy the Common Wealth, and also had caused the King to be dig- pleasetl with the Lady Marye's Grace his Highnes sister. " 14. What was th'effect of the message that Stannop brought from th'Erle of Arrundell to you or to my Lady, concemyng of distrust he had concevyd of the dis* closing of some of the secret poynts or conferences that had passed betwen you. " 15. What was th'effect of the talk that passed betwen you and Stannop a lone, and betwen you and Stannop and my Lady, at your last being at Beddington : and how often hath Stannop devised with you apon the myslyking of the Kings Ma<>« coun. sale, and specially of the foresaid Lords, what advise he wold geve you for the reforma- cion of the same ; and whether he wold hym self ofl'tr to take such part as you dyd ; and what other frei»ds he wold offer to assist you with all." of Somerset prayed to have at the time they were in the Tower. The Reader will probably think them characteristic, especially of the Duchess. Grandeur in a dungeon is not often desired by a captive. " Things necessarie for the Duke o/Somerset, which he praythe to have : Firste one gowne ; item, one velvet cappe ; item one night cappe ; item, two dubletts; item, ij. payre of hose; item, iij. shirtes; item ij. night kerchers ; item vj. hande kerchers ; item iij. dussen pointes ; item ij. payre of velvet shoes ; item, iij. table clothes j item iiij. hande towells; item iij. cupbourde clothes ; item one dusson table napkings ; item x". in money to paye for his wasshinge, clensinge, and other necessaries. " Thinges necessarie for the Duches o/Somerset, which she prayeth to have. Firste one waste cote of velvyt wrought; item, ij. payre of knitte hose; item ij. payre of knitte sieves; item, one payre of wollen hose, which was in a plate cheste that mistres Susan kepte; item, vij. plane smockes which was last made ; item, vj. highe coUerd patletts and ruffes to the same ; item vj. wayste smockes, whereof iij. wrought ; item, vj. froc kerchers, whereof iij. fyne; item, ij. duble railes; item, vj. hand kerchers ; item, the laces that mistres Pursbey had in keapinge ; item, the crimisyn sattcn boxe with the stuffe that is in it; item a gowne of blacke velvyt egged with genetts, or else the gowne of blacke satten egged with black jenetts ; item, a kirtle of blacke velvet playne ; item a verdingale ; item, a peace of skarlet for a stomycher ; item, a piece of pointinge ryben ; item, some blacke silke and white threde ; item iij. little books covered with blacke velvyt which be in the cheste where this linning lyethe ; item ij. payre of gloves ; item, one payre of lether slippers ; item xx". in money to paye for wassinge, clensinge, and other necessaries ; item ij. standing pottes for wyne and here ; item, ij. cuppes for here, and a nest of boilles for wyne ; item, vj. silver disshes, and ij. silver sawcers, and one dusson of pewder dishes ; item, iiij. sylver plates ; item, iiij. sylver spoones ; item, iiij. table clothes ; item iiij. hand towells ; item, ij. dusson table napkins; item, iiij.cupboarde clothes." Among the Cottonian Charters too, in a hand-writing of the time, the following Account is preserved of the Duke of Somerset's last speech and execution ; it is somewhat different from that given by Stow in his Annals. " * ]M asters and good fellows, I am come hither for to die ; but a true and faithful man as any was unto the Kings Majesty, and to his realme. But I am condemned by a law whereunto I am subject, and as we all ; and therefore to show obedience I am content to die ; wherewith I am well content, being a thing most heartily welcome unto me ; for the which I do thank God, taking it for a singular benefit, and as great a benefit as ever might come to me any otherwise. For as I am a man, I have de- served at God's hand many deaths ; and it hath pleased his goodness. 216 0£1GINAL LETTERS. I! t! whereas he might have taken me suddenly that I should neither have known him nor myself, thus now to visit me and call me with this pre- sent death as you do see, when I have had time both to remember and knowledge him, and to know also myself; for which thing I do thank him most heartily. And, my friends, more I have to say unto you as con- cerning Religion. I have been always, being in authority, a furtherer of it to the glory of God, to the uttermost of my power, whereof I am nothing sorry, but rather have cawes and doo rejoyce moste gladlye that I have so done for the greateste benefyt of God that ever I had, or any man myght ha we in thys world; besechyng you all to take yt soo and to follow yt on styll, for yf not ther wyll follow and come a worse and great plage.* " Sodenly came a wonderous fFeare apon the peopUe after thos wordes of hym spoken, by a great sowend whych appered unto many abowe in tlie element as yt had byne the sowend of gunpowder set on fyer in a close howes burstynge out, and by a nother sowend apon the growend as yt had byn the syght of a greate nomber of greate horses ronnynge on the people to overe ronne them : so great was the sowend of thys, that the pcopUe fell dowen one apon the other, many wythe bylles, and other rone som thys waye some that waye, cryeng alowed ' Jesus save us Jesus save us.' Many of the peoplle cryeng ' thys waye thaye come, that waye theye come, awaye awaye.* And I loked when one or other shuld stryke me on the hedd, so was I stonned. The peoplle beyng thus amassed, espyes Syi Anthony Browen apone a lytell nage rydyng toward the scaffold, and therewjrthe burste out cryenge in a voyce * Pardon, Pardon, Pardon,' hurl- yng up their cappes and dokes wythe thes wordes sayng ' God save the Kynge, God save the Kyng.' The good Duke all thys whyell stayed, *nd wythe hys cappe in hys hand wayted the peopUe to come tc^cthcr, saynge the»e wordes to ther wordes of Pardon, * There ys no suche thynge good peopUe, there ys no suche thynge, yt ys the ordynans of God thua for to dye, where wythe we moste be content ; and I praye yow now lettc us praye together fFor the Kynges Maieste, to whouse Grace I have bynne aUwayes a ffaythefull, trewe, and moste lovyng subjecte, desjrros allwayes of hys moste prosperos succes in all hys afTayres ; and ever glad of the ffurtherance and helpyng fTortheward of the Commen Welthe of thys Realme.* At whyche wordes the peoplle awensewerd ' Ve, ye, ye;' and som sayd wythe a lowed voyce *■ that ys fowend now to trew :' » To whouse Grace I beseche God to send &, grant to rayngne moste prosper, oolye to the pleasor of God.' " t LETTERS OF THE REIGN OF I- l'- i QUEEN MARY. H I •i m With the practice of the Venetian Senate, of demanding from iu Ambassadors a full Account of the Courts and Countries to which they were respectively sent, the Reader has been made acquainted : nor will he be displeased to see a Translation here of the Memoir which was presented to the Doge and Senate of Venice by Giovanni Michele, upon his return from his Embassy to England in 1557. It fills the deficiency in this Work occasioned by the want of Letters in the reign of Mary. A Copy of the Original of this Memoir is preserved in the CJottonian Manuscript Nero B. vn. in a hand of the time of Queen Elizabeth, who in a genealogical table at the end, in the same hand, is named as Queen. A later copy, probably made for another Doge, and in a hand two centuries nearer to the present time, occurs in the Lansdowne Manuscript 840, but altered and spread out with comment. Dr. Lingard, in two or three passages of hin History, in Mary's reign, has referred to a third manuscript of it preserved in the Barberini Library, No. 120a A Survey of England by an intelligent foreigner, who made himself acquainted with the intire machinery of the State at such a period, has a particular claim to notice. " Report of the Sig'. Giovanni Michele on his Return from England^ A.D. 1557. *' The Island of England, described by the ancients as the first and largest Island of any which had come to their knowledge, is situated in the Ocean, to the west of Europe, in fifty-one degrees and a half; opposed on the east to the coast of Lower Germany, on the west to the Island and Kingdom of Ireland, on the north to the Orkeney Islands, and on the south to the Provinces of Normandy and Brittany called by the Latins Tract ua Armorici. " It has been denommated in various ways, first Albion^ next Britannia^ and lastly Anglia^ with divers etymologies (according to the opinion of some writers) which it is, at present, neither the time nor place to dwell upon. It stretches from south to north, extending eight hundred mile* in length and three hundred and twenty in breadth, resembling in form an unequal triangle ; and measures in circumference, Scotland included, one thousand seven hundred and twenty miles: that is two hundred and eighty less than was computed by Caesar. It is conveniently fur- nished with rivers and harbours, and has, above all, a very temperate atmosphere. It is not altogether plain, but varied with hills so pleasing that as you view them at a distance they are scarcely to be distinguished in rising from the level ground. " It is fertile, and with regard to its Inhabitants, abounds in every thing requisite; and though it may want some articles which serve 7. I f t more for comfort and luxury than for neeetsity, it is supplied with them by foreigners. But, in place of these it gives much more of its own productions, such as wool, cloths of every kind (which article is of great importance as well on account of quality as quantity), tin, lead, copper, coal, l^umes and sometimes wheat, and every kind of white grain. Among the articles of import, are drugs and spices, sugar, and every de- scription of fruit coming from Spain and France, wine, oil, things called hops (the flowers of a certain tree or plant necessary as ingredients for making beer), cloths or tissues of gold and silk, and all kinds of mercery goods. For these and as many other important branches of traffic, and for the convenience of its situation, it is visited by all the nations of Europe, from Poland to our quarter ; and lastly by Muscovy, Russia, and India (that is to say West India), and by the coast of Guinea. WTience it is esteemed beyond all the Islands of the World, convenient, pleasant, and opulent. " It is divided into two parts, which embrace two Kingdoms, separated by the rivers Solway and Tweed. That which the English are in pos- session of, is divided into three and according to some into four chief provinces or portions, consists of twenty-five cities or episcopacies, and two archbishopricks, the names of which, in order not to be tedious, I shall for brevity's sake leave to the historian and geographer to detail ; observing that as the provinces differ from one another in their customs, so are they different in their language ; for the Welsh speak a different tongue from the inhabitants of Cornwall, and both different from the English people. To the Cornish and the Welsh idioms two other tongues are to be added, which the people speak in the remotest part of Scotland, one similar to the English, and the other totally different : an extraordinary phenomenon, and which has excited the astonishment of those who have written on the subject, to see in one Island five varieties of Language. *' I should be taking upon myself the office both of a historian and geo- grapher were I to attempt to give an account of the maritime and inland places of the Island which are most remarkable : but it shall suffice for me to say a word of the City of London, the capital of the kingdom and the residence of the Sovereign, regarded indeed, with reason, -as one of the principal cities of Europe, whether it be from the abundance and con- venience of every article which it is able to supply for the use of men, or from the number of its inhabitants, estimated commonly, including the suburbs and the territory of Westminster which serves as a suburb, at 150,000 souls. * It is distinguished by its fine streets and edifices, and particularly by a bridge, which has nineteen arches all of solid stone, over the river, and by the cathedral church of St. Paul ; but still more • The Lansdowne manuscript increases this number to iso^ooo. It i. i by Its situation, being advantageously placed on the banks of the river ihames, from which, beside the beauty of the scenery, it derives great convenience for the accommodation of the numerous ships of three and tour hundred of our tons burthen, which enter there from every quarter. It has also the advantage of the tide, though the city is at a distance of more than sixty miles from the sea. Above all, it is rendered opulent not merely by the mulUpUed trafhck, and the great trade which it has with other countries, but by the many privileges enjoyed by the in. habitants themselves without exception, that is to say by the commonalty, ^e merchants, and artificers. It is governed by a body of about twenty' fave persons called Aldermen (chosen from amongst the wealthiest and most monied citizens), ahnost in the form of a republick, with unlimited power, so that neither the King nor the King's ministers interfere in any thing! I have said the Commonalty, because the Nobility, af^er the custom of trance and Germany, aU live in the country remote from the city.* In order to say something of then: riches, it is estimated that in the two compani^ of Adventurers (those who by special privilege can alone import goods from Flanders into England and from England into FUndtrs) and of the Staplers (those to whom the exportation of wool is committed) there are many individuals possessed of from fifty to sixty thousand pounds sterlmg, aU or the greater part in ready money, which according to Ae present cou«e of exchange makes more than two hundred thousand gold ducats : besides a great number of others of different companies, as f„H "t'". '"if' ^ 'P'""* ""^ «^^' '^^^ "^« ^ ^^ed grocers, and, which wdl appear incredible, the company of those who deal in sali fash : aU of them uncommonly rich, either to the amount before men- tioned or to a greater sum : so that it may be said with truth that thi. city may enter into competition with the wealthiest in Europe " Bu^ passing over this part as known to every body, and as little CMcntial to our purpose, and coming to that which is of more importance and calculated for the mfonnation of our most excellent Senate ; before I begm to speak of the character of the Prince, and of those who hold the TK*'Lr""T'' ^ ""^^ ^'"'^y '°"** "P**" ^^^i» general matters which belong to the nature of this Kingdom, especiaUy as regards its power ; in order that it may be ascertained whether more or less weakness or on the contrary more or less strength than is commonly thought il denved from its constitution. And not to waste time, I say, that although m times past the power and dominion of this kingdom were half as ex tensive and important again to what they now are (having for three hun." dred years and more had possession of Normandy, Britany, Guienne, and » They prefcrreil the counlry for recular abode th it th..« . i . much under the eye uf the Court ; but^nany of^e „^ i^ I'.d towl ""' ^ ^ where they came u,K,n great emcrgeuca. anu'whc a i>!r;t;;i;f.:rbi:rt^^^ 2 t-t Gascony, which are the chief provinces of France, and having for a long time held Scotland in tributary subjection, having farther, for sixteen years and more, ruled absolutely over the whole kingdom of France, in which Henry the Sixth was publicly crowned as Sovereign at Paris in 1348,* so that it may be said, these foreign possessions were only lost the other day, nothing of them remaining but the titles and some neighbour- ing islands, all of little value except a part of the Island and Kingdom of Ireland, and two fortresses on the continent, Calais and Guisnes), it has, notwithstanding the total loss of so many important possessions, in the end remained and still remains so powerful, that it appears it has no need of others for its own defence ; nay it is not only difHcult, but it may be said to be impossible, if there be no division in the kingdom, that it can be conquered by force, as your Serene Highness will perceive from particular circumstances in the progress of my Account. " For, to speak first of the Maritime Forces, which must be principally considered, the Kingdom being insular ; although these also are greatly diminished from what they used to be, not to mention the equipment of a thousand large vessels and more, which those kings made against their enemies, and particularly Henry the Fifth against Charles the Sixth King of France, in 1418 ; but not to dwell on matters too remote from our memory, we will speak of later times, of those of King Henry the Seventh and King Henry the Eighth, when the crown possessed about a hundred ships, all ready appointed and provided with officers who re- ceived constant pay, that they might be ready for service on any emergency at an hour's notice. The number of ships now scarcely amounts to forty; being thus reduced, either by neglect or the necessity of saving expense : some having been sold, and others become unfit for service. Yet these few remaining ships (when joined with those of private persons, such as we have before alluded to, and which are at the King's disposal as if they were his own on any occasion, and kept in his pay, which also applies to foreign shipping when necessity requires) are not only sufficient for defence, but also do considerable execution in offensive operations. For it is said that there are scattered in the different Ports of the Kingdom, large and small vessels, yet all fit for service and capable of acting against an enemy, so great a number, that if they were united together (which in time of need could easily be done by the King's com- mand) they would form an extraordinary amount, that is to say of numy hundreds ; as the English relate, perhaps more than two thousand ; but we should even maintain that this was but a moderate estimate. There would, beyond a doubt, be so many, that if a part of them were furnished with soldiers, artillery, and other necessary things (which when occasion • Here \% a mistake : Henry the Sixth was crowned at Paris Dec. ITth, 1431. I ^ i ^ required might be done without trouble, as in point of artfllcry and every sort of ammunition and anns this kingdom may cope with any other, even the best provided, on account of the constant supply of these articles, which is attended to with the utmost solicitude) they would not fear any force, however great, acting cither on the offensive or the defensive. This is what I have, in general, to say upon the Shipping and the Maritime Power of the Country. " With regard to the Land Forces, speaking first of the Infantry or soldiers serving on foot, these would indeed be innumerable if we took into account all those who, in case of need, would rise for the defence of the kingdom, remote as they are ; for in one county alone of the thuty. nine into which the kingdom is divided, viz. that caUed ' Vorkshier,' it is said that for this service are enrolled 70,000 men and more ; the vulgar notion even goes as far as 100,000 : but not speaking of these, but only of men of property, who would voluntarily and without compulsion come forward to serve as soldiers within the kingdom and abroad, even these would appear in great numbers, it having been observed that the armiet composed of these volunteers, with which the Kings beforementioned have sometimes passed the sea, and speaking of the last, with whom Henry the Eighth crossed over to the enterprize of Terouenne in the year 1526, • and to the conquest of Boulogne in 1544, they amounted to forty or fifty thousand Englishmen ; and the number would have been much greater, if the expence had not been considered in carrying them out of the kingl dom. It is thought by those who are competent judges, that in the hour of trial, when a general effort was to be made, a body of twenty or twenty- five thousand of these troops might be raised, aU furnished with cuirasses and polished arms, »» that is to say, if to those which the Court could arm, those of the gentry and particular barons were also added. For there is not one of them, who in proporUon to his retinue, and the power ^ he poMesses, has not a store of arms for a considerable number of people, so that it is said that some of them together might arm thousands; asVor example, the Earls of Derby, Shrewsbury, and Westmoreland, but above aU the Earl of Pembroke. «* These troops, though not practised and ex- • Here is another mistake of date. Therouenne was nurrendered to Kiiu Hcnn the Eighth Sept. 29**^, 1518. ^^ nmrj »> " corsaletti et anni bianche." « facolta * The general fact is corroborated by Lord CromweU himself in a. Letter to Kin* Henry Vlllth. dated London. Feb. 5«h, without year, preser^ ed in the Cottonian MS" Tit. B. 1. fol. 257. Speaking of a visit he had received from the Marshal de Castillon* he ays " I toke occasion to br>ng hym up to myn Armary. and have shewed unto hym such store of hameys and wepens as I have, the whiche he semed to esteme moche. and I tolde him that there wer other particuler Armarye. of the Lords and Gentilmen of this Royaulme, more then the nombre of twenty, aswell or better fur nyshed then myn was, whereat he woundred, and sayd that he thought your GracJ the Pnnce best furnished thereof in Christendom." I perienced soldiers (because there would be few among them who would know how to mani^e their arms, and to handle the pike, arquebuse, or other sort ot weapon, it not being the practice in this kingdom to attend to such exercises), yet being intermixed with veteran soldiers, of which there are many of the natives who have learnt the trade of war by serving abroad, they would in every case present a respectable body and produce a great effect, especially when on the defensive, both by their steadiness and martial spirit, and still more by their numbers. The ardour in fighting would be shared by all, the veterans as well as the raw levies, because, as every body knows, there is not a nation in the world that esteems danger and death more lightly than the English. So much for the English Infantry. I will not omit to notice, that among their of- fensive weapons some make use of large sticks of the height of a man,* heavy and armed with iron at the head, from which various iron points, five or six inches in length, issue from all parts, which are dangerous instruments, calculated to break and smash whatever they meet with. But above all, their proper and natural weapons are the bow and arrow, the practice in which is so extensive as a common exercise among all clawcs of persons, without distinction of rank, age, or profession, that it exceeds all belief. This is not merely the effect of choice, but arises like- wise from an obligation under which all the heads of families are placed by act of Parliament, and indeed all, both young and old, to forego every other exercise, and practise diligently only this, whereon the whole stroigth and hope of the English people are supposed to depend. They are, in truth, so dexterous and expert in the use of the bow, that they do not yield in skill and aptitude to any set of people whatever ; and such is the opinion and estimation they entertain of this species of arms, that they prefer it to any other, even to the arquebuse, and place more reliance on it for their defence and security than on the latter, in which notion they differ from the officers and soldiers of other nations. They shoot witfi such force and dexterity at the same time, that some are said to be able to pan through corslet and whole armour ; and there are few among them, even those that are moderately practised, who will not undertake at a convenient distance, to come invariably within two or three inches of a given area. In this weapon consists for the most part their attack. As to their mode of defence, they have not the same advantage, whether it be that they less regard, or less value it. For when they fight, be it on horseback or on foot, they prefer being unincumbered and active as to their persons, to being cased in armour ; in order to be able to move with ease forward and backward, and to leap and run ; though their safety might be insured by their submitting to that incumbrance. For this • gran bastoni d'altessa d'un huomo. I* reason they commonly make use only of a light skull-cap for the protec- tion of their heads, in the form of a mere head-piece to cover half the head, rather than in that of a helmet or any thing more substantiaL For the protection of the body they wear a sort of corslet, which indifferently guards the forepart ; or they rather prefer what may be called a shirt of mail. * But what they most frequently make use of, is a quilted jacket or waistcoat, several times doubled, two inches or more in thickness, which is esteemed the surest defence against the force of arrows. Upon their arms they wear plates, or stripes of mail put lengthways. *■*■ As to the Cavalry, which is considered not less neceHary for attack than for defence (I speak of light Cavalry) •> it might be very numerous if it were but of a good description, because this Island produces a greater number of horses than any other country of Europe. But the horses being weak and of bad wind, ^ fed merely on grass, being like other cattle and animals kept in field or pasture which the temperature of the climate ad- mits of, they are not capable of any great exertion, and are held in no estimation. Nevertheless they are bold and spirited, especiaUy if those be excepted which come from the Province of Wales. They do very well in the field for reconnoitering and skirmishing, and harassing the enemy : and they would do much better if they were better fed. As to heavy Cavalry, ^ though good as far as the men at arms are concerned, yet as the country does not produce horses for that species of service, except a few in Wales and a few of some particular race which the Queen possesses, the kingdom has very little of it. The fact is, that as it is well ascertained what forces are necessary and useful, by means of the obligation under which the Barons and Prelates are of maintaining a certain number of men for the defence of the kingdom and the service of the King, they keep as many of that description of force as they have an opportunity of ob- taining. The horses which we commonly see in the cavalry are all fo- reign, imported from Flanders, the Queen having ordered that every one liable to this service should provide himself with what is required of him, lest this branch of service should by its intermission be entirely n^lected. Now if all the forces which exist of this description were brought tc^ether at a general muster, accompanied by their dependants and the gentlemen who are called esquires, besides the archers of the Court who are all obliged to serve on horse-back fully armed, a body would be collected exceeding 2000 men, which would be a great force for this species of arms, excelling as to the description of the men, and mounted on horses calculated for every service. • comisa de maglio. c deboli et di poco lens. •> leggion. * cavaleria grosM. -L^^ l'^ " Of such kind is the armed force of the English, capable, as is evident, to resist any invasion from abroad, provided there be union in the king- dom ; to which may be added the aid of troops from Ireland, a wild race of people subject to the Crown of England, who without diflliculty could come over, after a passage of one day, or in some places of eight or ten hours, as has been done on former occasions, for the service of the king- dom ; when they have obtained the credit of having shown great prowess. • " This would be the place for me, after having stated the number and quality of the forces both by sea and land, to state likewise the expence, and the manner in which they are maintained in time of war, to show the difference of the practice adopted in this kingdom from that fol- lowed by your Highness and other Princes. But as this is a subject of such extent, and would require a particular detail, I shall reserve it for another opportunity. Therefore to proceed in my remarks, I have to state, that beside that sort of defence of which I have been speaking, the kingdom is strong in this, that Nature has placed it in an Island with a sea all around, and a sea different in character from other seas, there being in no part of the Mediterranean as far as it is known, a simi- lar course of water, with so remarkable a flux and ebb, increasing and decreasing ordinarily from twelve to fifteen paces ; which has been the reason that, as the Kingdom is thus to be considered as one general fortification, the Sovereigns have paid but litde attention to fortifications in detail, deeming the latter superfluous, either with regard to domestic or foreign enemies. For as to the former, the point always was, and still is, to get possession of the field ; of which whosoever is the master, has been, is, and always will be the niaster of the Kingdom : and he will re- duce the enemy (were he to retire to a fortress) to consume hunsdf, and perish without relief, by famine ; such is the nature of the country. As to foreign enemies, since these could not act except by means of fleets, the country being insular, the system has been and continues to be, to pre- vent them from approaching any part of the Island except with risk and danger. With this view therefore, in suspicious times, guards are stationed round the Island, and along the coast on eminences, to give notice, by means of signals, as is done in the Levant when apprehensions are entertamed of the Corsairs (in the day-time by hoisting flags and in the night by lighting fires) of the approach of any vessels. The country people, apprized by these signals, immediately hasten to the pomt which is threatened, as they are bound to do (all heads of families being an. swerable with their lives), and provided with arms and four days* pro- vision at least By these, together with the guards, the store of arms, artillery, and ammimition with which the country is furnished, the • •' Imona provova." VOL. II. SER. 2. " Kingdom s protected, and its defence secured. For those that assemble can never be o few in number, nor so weak, as not to be able to oppose any sudden attack, and, with the succour that hourly would reinforce them, to maintain a good defence, and ultimately avert the danger so much the more, as on the part of the enemy the aggressor would be at the mercy of wind and tide in attempting to effect a landing in the ports, which cannot be entered except at high water, or with so very favourable a wind as may be able to overcome the force of the water. The example of Cffisar's expeditions, and others of former tune across this Sea, would discourage the most daring enterprises of this kind. The reason is that the coast is dangerous, and the wind extremely changeable ; so that from the Sea the Country cannot well be invaded by means of a surprize, nor without making a powerful defence and resistance ; with great risk to the Invader. ** On the land-side, it is only the Northern provinces, toward Scotland, that stand in need of being guarded. The Scots might otherwise, at any hour, make inroads and commit depredations, stimulated not only by the hope of plunder (a great temptation as they inhabit a barren and conse- quently a poor country) but also by the hatred which neighbouring Nations generally entertain one toward another, which is increased, in this instance, by constant wars and long-standing differences and jealousies. Now this frontier is secured by a force of fifteen hundred soldiers, distributed in four quarters. First in Berwick, the frontier to the east, near the mouth of the river Tweed, a place of strength and extent, which has a salmon fishery : it was taken from the Scots in a war long ago, and never either restored to, or recovered by them. Another garrison is in the city of Carlisle, the frontier-town to the west. The remainder are stationed in two other towns of less importance, situated between the former, viz. one called Orch, • the other Warck, besides the city of Durhani, a renowned place among the English. Though in this city no soldiers are commonly kept and paid, yet being very populous, it has always been reputed one of the chief bulwarks against the inroads of the Scotch, of whose dis- position toward the present Queen it will be proper to speak afterwards, when I come to mention their conduct towards the other sovereigns. *♦ Another frontier, besides that of Scotland, and of no less importance for the security of the kingdom, though it be separated, is that which the English occupy on the other side of the sea, by means of two fortressea, Calais and Guisnes, guarded by them (and justly) with jealousy, espe- ciaUy Calais. For this is the key and principal entrance to their domi- nions, without which the English would have no outlet from their own, nor access to other countries; at least none so easy, so short, and so • «• Oerdia." -U -2^ ^ secure : so much so, that if they were deprived of it, they would not only be shut out from the continent, but also from the commerce and inter- course of the World. They would consequently lose what is essentially necessary for the existence of a country, and become dependent upon the will and pleasure of other sovereigns, in availing themselves of their ports, besides having to encounter a more distant, more hazardous, and more expensive passage; whereas, by way of Calais, which is directly opposite to the harbour of Dover, distant only about thirty miles, they can, at any time, without hindrance, even in spite of contrary winds, at their pleasure, enter or leave the harbour (such is the experience and boldness of their sailors) • and carry over either troops, or any thing else for warfare, of- fensive and defensive, without giving rise to jealousy and suspicion : and thus they are enabled, as Calais is not more than ten mUes from Ardres, the frontier of the French, nor farther from Gravelines, the frontier of the Imperialists, to join either the one or the other, as they please, and to add their strength to him with whom "they are at amity, in prejudice of an enemy. For these reasons therefore it is not to be wondered at, that, besides the inhabitants of the place, who are esteemed men of most un- shaken fidelity, being the descendants of an English colony settled there shortly after the first conquest, it should also be guarded by one of the most trusty barons which the king has, bearing the title of Deputy, with a force of five hundred of the best soldiers, besides a troop of fifty horse- men. It is considered by every one as an impregnable fortress, on account of the inundation with which it may be surrounded, although there are persons skilled in the art of fortification, who doubt that it would prove 80 if put to the test For the same reason Guisnes is also reckoned im- pregnable, situated about three miles more inland, on the French frontier, and guarded with the same degree of care, though, being a smaller place, only by a hundred and fifty men, under a chief governor. The same is done with regard to a third place, called Hammes, situated between the two former, and thought to be of equal importance, the waters which inundate the country being collected around. So by these fortresses, besides the forces which I have described, the country is secured. ** But as neither the one nor the other would be adequate to that pur- pose, if that resource were wanting upon which every thing depends, and without which no State, however strong it may be in other respects, can exist in safety either ftx)m external enemies or internal commotion (always fatal in this country), namely, the means of supporting the forces alluded to, and the ways of finding the money, I will give a brief account of the resources of the kingdom. They may be considered as of two kinds, first of treasure accumulated, secondly of means derived from the • " t«Dto e fatta la prattica et Tardire di quelli marinari." q2 < ( ii revenue. As to the former, it consists in the jewels, and the gold and silver plate provided for the use of the sovereign, suitable to his dignity and splendor, wherein, if England does not surpass other nations, it is at least on a level with them, as has been shown on many occasions, and espe- cially at the marriage of the present Queen. Of any other treasure, available for use, I have not heard : on the contrary, instead of such ac- cumulated wealth, I shaU have to speak of the public debt, but will, for the present, postpone this subject, proceeding to the consideration of the ordinary revenue. This is derived, as I am informed, from five or six main sources, of which, as they differ from those of other states, I think it incumbent upon me to give some account. Among the revenues the guardianship of minors is a great prerogative both of this kingdom and of Scotland, such a grievance being neither known to, nor practised by any other Sovereign, either christian or infidel. It is, indeed, a very •trange practice, and consists in this, that all those, who after the death of their father, are under twenty-one years, be they male, or female (we must be understood to speak of elder children, because the inheritance goes exclusively to the first-bom), remain as wards under the guardian- ship of the king, who becomes the usufructuary of all they possess, except of as much as is required for maintaining them : and this applies to land and all manner of property which the Crown may claim under its feudal prerogative, whether small or great, were it even a pair of gloves, or a pair of spurs. This continues till the wards have passed the aforesaid age of twenty-one years, up to which time the king disposes of their property as if it were his own, either in giving it away, or selling it, or appropriating it to himself. Thb revenue would produce a great deal if the king did not show so much liberality as he does ; for it may be said, that not only the property of the nobility, but that of the whole island is more or less subject to the prerogative of the Crown ; arid if time per- mitted, I would detail the very great inconvenience which thence arises, not only frx)m the little attention that is paid to the property of the wards, but to the wards themselves, the guardians appointed being generally mercenary persons, who purchase these guardianships for a certain price, and look only to their private interest. They frequently form, almost by force and fraud, matrimonial alliances with their wards and their own children and poor relations, whatever difference there may be between them in point of rank or fortune. Whence arise, besides the debasement of blood, while the low-bom intermix with the nobility, remarkable in- stances of hatred and aversion between those that are so married ; and very frequent separations and divorces. Within this prerogative of guardianship are farther comprehended, not only minors, but also those who hold theb property from the crown, though they be of full age. It is the established rule both of England and Scotland, that no one who V ^ enjoys this kind of property, can, when he wishes to marry, do so, unless with the consent and approbation of the king, the patron and disposer of marriages and dowries : but it must be observed that in asserting this part of his prerogative the king is extremely indulgent. From this species of revenue no more than ten or twelve thousand pounds sterling were formerly derived ; now that the possessions of the church are incorporated with those of the people generally, by which the property of individuals is greatly augmented, I understand that, notwithstanding all the favours which the king shows, it produces little less than thirty thousand pounds. " Besides the revenue before described, there exists another, which is called Livery. This consists in one year's income, which all those have to pay who hold property from the Crown, on their succeeding to such property, and to other property not so circumstanced ; and a third species, which is called Reliefs which relates to the recognition of feudal posses- sion. Of these the number and variety is so great, that those which are called military fiefs exceed by much sixty thousand ; bringing more or less profit to the king on being renewed, according to the importance and nature of the fiefs : the revenue hence derived is called extraordinary revenue, in opposition to that which is called the ordinary revenue. The ordinary revenue, also called the old revenue, constitutes as it were the patrimony of the Crown, yielding thirty thousand pounds per annum ; to which is joined at present the Duchy of Lancaster, assigned to one of the king's sons when there is one, and producing sixteen thousand pounds, but as much as twenty-four thousand pounds, when certain dues, which are attached to it, are levied. But, above all, there is the duty, called Custom^* which is taken on every thing imported or ex- ported, whether foreign or English, with a great difference however be- tween these two, foreign articles paying sometimes the quadruple of what the English do. This branch of revenue would be very productive, con- sidering the great amount both of imports and exports, if it were dif- ferently collected and administered, namely, in a manner similar to what is done in other states by dataries; *» but being collected by the sovereign himself, the greater part is wasted in donations, or lost by the pilfering of those who are employed : for of 200,000/. and more, which it is said to produce annuaUy in the common course, the fourth part scarcely reaches the Royal Treasury, the remainder is consumed by the expenses of collecting and the persons employed in this business. " Such were from ancient times, and are still, the most important sources of revenue, besides which there is the profit derived from the mines of iron, lead, and tin, chiefly the latter ; there not being, as we may say, any part of the island which is not full of these metals, the soil being • " la Costuma." k •• datiarU." III almost every where of a mineral nature ; but above all the province of Cornwall is of this description, where those metals are commonly dug. There was, and still is, the income arising from vacant bishopricks, and formerly also from abbies, which is not inconsiderable. The nomination to the former of these ecclesiastical preferments depends upon the King, who by delaying to fill them up, as he sees fit, appropriates the fruits of them while they are vacant to himself. " The Crown moreover derives 30,000/. from the pastures and lands about Calais and Guisnes. It has 20,000/. from Ireland, but this doet not enter into account, as that sum scarcely suffices to cover the expendi- ture of that kingdom. It has the confiscated property of rebels, besides the fines, which, in several tribunals, but particularly in that called the Star-chamber are levied on the nobility and gentry for misdemeanours, and on officers and public servants for embezzlements and other irregu- larities of which they may have been guilty ; besides those who are every day condemned for felonies. AH these revenues coUectively, both ordinary and extraordinary, were said, before the time of the Schism,* to amount, one year with another, to the sum of 160,000/., which, reckoning the pound at four large gold ducats, as was at that time the reckoning of money, made 600,000 gold ducats. Thus, with the usurpa- tion of church-property, so scandalously committed at that period by King Henry, who alienated himself from the church, the revenue was doubled, though much connivance and negligence were purposely ad- mitted, in order to reconcile the people by suffering individuals to par- take of the plunder. With this increase it was estimated that the Crown had an annual income of more than 310,000iL, which, in those days, made a sum of more than one million two hundred thousand gold ducats. Of this sum the present Queen has ceded more than 60,000/. in behalf of the clergy, having given up the tithes and what are called first fruits, that is, the income of one year, which the priests paid on being appointed by the King to any benefices ; an usurpation by the said King Henry. They were the same as the annates which were paid to Rome. Having farther restored the fruits and revenues of more than eight hundred be- nefices, which were dependent on abbies and monasteries, called by the English * priories,' '' which revenues the Crown enjoyed : these are now in possession of the clergy on which the benefices have been conferred by the bishops in the several dioceses. To the former cessions must be added what the Queen restored to the Order of Rhodes. <* She is, on the other hand, burdened with all the pensions which at the overthrow of • The Reformation : " inanti al tempo del Scisma." b (< beneficii curati dependenti di Abbatie et Monasterii chiamati di loro Prkmci.* Michele must mean rectories, or great tithes. « " alia Religione de Rodi." ■2-3, tlic monasteries were assigned to different ecclesiastical persons who had been thrown upon the world, for maintenance. These pensions are now, by a certain repartition, divided and paid by the clergy. She retains, however, the revenues of the dissolved Abbies and Monasteries, which it is impossible to restore (even if there were a disposition) to their former state, except after a very long course of years, so complete was the ruin and destruction that befel them. In this manner, between these and the ordinary revenues mentioned above, the Crown is still in posses- sion of more than two hundred thousand pounds a year ; which being reduced by the standard of money, deteriorated by one third through mismanagement, still amounts to something less than six hundred thou- sand gold scudi. With such resources it is not to be doubted that when the country is not at war, as it ordinarily has no need for its security of any of those heavy expenses which other countries are liable to, namely, of cavalry, infantry, and fleets, being naturally very secure, so it has sufficient not only lai^ely to provide for the maintenance, dig- nity, and splendour of the King, but abundantly to minister to all his pleasures. For excepting the protection of the fortresses on this side of the sea, and the garrisons in Scotland above mentioned (which, however, when there is no war, nor any apprehension of war, are kept by the people of the country itself upon half of the pay), and excepting the pro- vision for the King's guard, namely, the three hundred archers and the fifty serving gentlemen, one with the other at 25/. per annum, and fifty pensioners at 50/. a man per annum, excepting farther the repairs of bridges," and those few vessels that are kept in commission, the providing artillery, renewing arms, and all sorts of ammunition, together with the repairs of houses and royal palaces, of which there is indeed a very great number, considering the extent of the kingdom ; besides the maintenance of ambassadors, judges, and other official persons and public servants, all which are unquestionably ordinary and necessary charges for the pre- servation of a kingdom : then, all these expenses deducted, which, though considerable, are in fact of no vast amoimt, all the remainder certainly is spent, with much profusion and waste, upon the household, the table, horses, armour, chapel,^ wardrobe, and other establishments for the king's person, with a great number of officers, and what they call clerks. I use the term profusion^ as there is no nation which in its maimer of living and ordinary expenditure is more extravagant than the English ; because they keep more servants, with a greater distinction of offices and degrees in which these servants are placed. In this manner, to mention only one particular, in order to give an idea of other expenses of greater moment, the expense • " ponti:" the Lansdownc MS. re-ids " porti" harbours. ^ " della cappella :" the Lansdowne MS. reads " della caccia," the .hunting esta< blibhment. r t * II of the court, in the mere article of living, that is, of eating and drinking, and of what solely relates to the table, amounts to from fifty -four to fifty-six thousand pounds sterling a year, making 230,000 of our scudi. It is a monstrous thing to see the quantity of victuals usually consumed, with the allowances to attendants and servants ; and yet not the fourth part is now expended of what was spent in the time of Henry and Edward, the predecessors of the Queen ; her Majesty having succeeded in correcting many abuses, and regulating superfluities, partly by limit- ing and partly by entirely abolishing many tables, and taking away all arbitrary supplies of provisions. From these sources the income of the Crown is derived, and in this manner it is spent ; there remaining in ex- traordinary exigencies, either of war, or debt, or other public occasions, extraordinary ways and means, which would be very various and pro- ductive for the Sovereign, if he were disposed to make them a part of those public burdens which are imposed in other kingdoms, where they are considered ordinary. But the liberty of this country is really singular and wonderful ; indeed there is no other country, in my opinion, less burthened and more free. For they have not only no taxes of any kind, but they are not even thought of: no tax on salt, wine, beer, flour, meat, cloth, and other necessaries of life, which in all parts of Italy especially, and in Flanders, are the more productive the greater is the number of in- habitants which consume them. But here every one indiflerently, whether noble or of the common people, is in the free and unmolested enjoyment of all he possesses or daily acquires, relatuig either to food or raiment, buying or selling, except in those articles which he imports or exports by way of traflick. The regular taxes before mentioned are paid only by those who hold property of the Crown, and this applies solely to the nobility, and not to the commonalty. Nothing else, however small, is paid to the Sovereign. The Kingdom, therefore, has no otlier extra- ordinary supplies but the subsidies, which in time of need are publickly granted by the intervention of parliament, to which every one contributes without distinction, both foreigner and Englishman ; but even these are paid with great accommodation to the people, there being always two instalments allowed, which are commonly of two years, the payments being made according to an estimate of what a person is worth, so many groats in the pound, according to necessity, and the greater or lesser pressure in which the sovereign finds himself. These estimates are more moderate than we find them in other countries : yet are the subsidies never so small but that with the tenths of the bishopricks and the clergy which are comprehended in them, they do not produce more than a mil- lion of gold. * • Michele here probably again calculates from the ducat. ill 3a " Having said enough of the forces and fortresses of the kingdom, it remains to speak of the form of government, in order to make known the great difference there is between this and other kingdoms. It will suffice, however, to do this briefly. The Country is not governed in the administration of justice, as other States and christian Countries, by the civil and imperial law, but by municipal laws, like our own republick ; which laws having been instituted by William of Normandy, the bastard, sumamed the Conqueror (as having by force conquered the whole kingdom), it is no wonder that they are so much directed as they are to the advantage of the king, and so little to that of his subjects; and that they are so fuU of intricacies, contrarieties, and doubts. For they were derived from a nation than which there is not one in the world more practised in the fallacies and ambiguities of legal proceedings, ■ namely, the Norman. These laws are observed in the courts of justice immuta- bly in their full vigour; and they are publicly read in colleges^ in the Norman language ; in which language, but a few years ago, all law-suits were conducted, all legal deeds performed, and public documents written : and what will appear strange, a doctor's degree (a particular practice of this country c) is conferred in it. And if time would permit, I might re- late some truly remarkable anomalies and abuses in their judiciary pro- ceedings and in the form of their trials, particularly of what they deno- minate Inquests, which are in use all over the kingdom, and in all sorts of cases both civil and criminal ; and a pattern of disorder they are. They consist of twelve men, summoned by the judge after the trial is con- cluded, for the sake of obtaining their opinion on the litigated point ; in giving whidi it is required that they should be imanimous, as otherwise the judge cannot proceed to pronounce sentence. *' But to avoid becoming tedious I shall omit particulars, and only observe, that with the exception of judicial matters, every thing relative to the government of the realm is dependent on the will of the Kings, who in point of fact are absolute lords and masters. However, as either through indolence, convenience, or the consciousness of their importance (following in this respect the footsteps of the Grand Turk), they rarely trouble themselves about business or men of business ; they have established a Council similar to that of the Bashaws,** composed of the principal and most confidential servants they can find, who pretty nearly in the manner of the bashaws assemble together, and following the King's person (for which purpose they have board and apartments at court, and are served H' • " piu instrutta nelle falacie et nelle longelle delle liti." *> He means the Inns of Court. The Lansdownc MS. reads the " Colleges of London." e " u«o speciss". in quel Regno." <> " a qucUo de Bsutsa. Ill with great pomp and circumstance *), they ease the King of the fatigue and trouble of governing, and constitute themselves masters not only of the people and public ministers, but also of ambassadors and princes. Thus it may be said they are the ears, the person, and the very voice of the King. They send their written mandates through the realm, their com- mands to the ministers are given in the most authoritative manner, and as punctually obeyed, and resolutions are passed by them as though they proceeded from the King himself. Into this sort of council, called the Royal Council, are occasionally admitted the thirty-four principal officers of the court and the King's household, such as the steward,** whose office an- swers to that of grand master in France or ^ maggiordomo maggiore* of the Emperor's court, and the comptroller, who has the particular charge of the expenses and provisions of the court ; all of them are, in general, noble- men and first-rate gentlemen, who hold their official situations not from necessity but by the command of the King, it being understood that no principal charges and offices of the realm or of the court devolve on any but high-bred and above all trust-worthy persons. Besides these, the King (not being limited to any particular number) also uses to admit such other individuals, whether noble or commoners, both of ecdesiatical or secular estate, as are desirous of that honour, in which, however, favour and good luck oftentimes carry it over merit of every description. By these the kingdom is governed in all circumstances, under the pleasure of the King. But inasmuch as occasionally circumstances occur of im- portance to the realm or the subjects, such as passing new laws or revising and amending old ones, making provision of money for carrying on wars or other public business ; in such, and similar cases, tlie Kings, out of sheer modesty, use to keep up the old custom of calling Parliaments, or convoking the three estates and orders of the realm, <= viz. the clergy, the nobles, and the commons, in order that they bring on and examine into the matters that have occurred, and submit their opinions to the King either for confirmation or rejection. In the beginning, and, indeed, many years after the introduction of parliaments, the liberty and security of those three estates were such that even the lowest person of them might, without any danger, were it even against the King's person, give free utterance to any expressions calculated for the public good, or dic- tated by zeal for his country ; the Kings in those times being looked upon rather as political and civil chiefs than as lords and masters or monarchs, as they are at the present day. Thus at first the power of the King ap- peared, and really was weakened by parliament ; but from the time of li • " rUpetto." •—» >> " ftuordo." r " i Re per modesta continuar nell use antico di cahiamari Parlamcnti convocandi i trestati in esso ct ordini del Regno." I -l2 Edward III. who reigned in 1325* and afterwards, the influence of par- liament was gradually but greatly diminished by the power of the King, so that at the present day little remains, besides the ancient form, that might convey an idea of its original freedom and authority. Indeed the Kings now-a-days make use of the show of parliaments rather for the sake of cloaking their pleasure and appetites, and ridding themselves of trouble and fatigue in consultations on doubtful, and of responsibility in dangerous affairs, than with a view to sacrifice any small portion of their power ; for nothing determined upon in Parliament is valid unless it have received the sanction of the King.. Neither can parliaments alone pass any decree or any act whatsoever, nor can they assemble without being called by the King. In the same spirit the Kings use, in more than one way, to keep out or bring in whomsoever they please ; choosing for the latter purpose such only on whose good disposition towards them they can firmly rely. They are at this time become so formidable and power- ful that they may do even as they please ; nor can any body, whether it be m parliament or out of it, impunely, and, indeed, without utter ruin to himself, venture to stand up in opposition, or even to make the least show of resistance to their pleasure. In short, servants they enter par- liament, and servile are their proceedings therein. " It might not be out of place here to describe the ancient and truly beautiful costume'' in which the King and the barons appear on solemn occasions ; the distinction of the Houses into which parliament is divided, the one that of the nobles and prelates, called the Upper House, the other that of the burgesses as they are called (although, in point of fact, they are most of them cavaliers and persons of quality, and of first-rate talents), constituting the Lower House; their mode of debating; the mode in which they give their suffrages, retaining therein the usages of the an- cient Romans ; and lastly, the form of the speech which, on the breaking tip of parliament, is delivered by the King on giving either his assent to or dissent from the matters proposed or ii^solved upon by both the houses. It would, likewise, be the right place here, after having given an idea of the government of the realm, to expatiate on the manner in which the King's person is served ; on the management of his household both for public and private purposes, and which differs so widely from that in use among other princes. I might also dweU upon the special privil^e which, among christian potentates, the King of England enjoys, in common with the French and Roman Kings, of being consecrated and anointed when crowned ; I might explain the origin of the royal titles viz. King of France and of Ireland (in addition to England), Defender of the Faith ; I might dilate upon the prerogative he possesses to touch • He began to reign in 1S2T. «> *' habito. ->- 1 7 M for the scrophula, and to bless rings* as a remedy against the falling sickness and lameness ; and, lastly, I might speak of the Order of the Garter belonging to this kingdom, as the Order of St. 3Iichael does to France, and that of St. Andrew, called the Order of the Fleece, to the House of Burgundy. All these topics, however, curious as they are, would require too much time, and some of them may already be known by accounts given of them by others : I shall therefore pass them over, and proceed to that part of my Report which relates to the royal persons and ministers. " Queen Mary, the daughter of Henry VIII'''. and of his Queen Cathe- rine daughter of Ferdinand the Catholic, King of Arragon, is a Princess of great worth. In her youth she was rendered unhappy by the event of her mother's divorce ; by the ignominy and threats to which she was exposed after the change of religion in England, she being unwilling to bend to the new one ; and by the dangers to which she was exposed by the Duke of Northumberland,'' and the riots among the people when she ascended the throne. She is of short stature, well made, thin and deli- cate, and moderately pretty ; her eyes are so lively that she inspires reverence and respect, and even fear, wherever she turns them ; neverthe- less she is very short sighted. Her voice is deep, almost like that of a man.*^ She understands five languages, English, Latin, French, Spanish, and Italian, in which last, however, she does not venture to converse. She is also much skilled in ladies* work, such as producing all sorts of embroidery with the needle. She has a knowledge of music, chiefly on the lute, on which she plays exceedingly well. As to the qualities of her mind, it may be said of her that she is rash, disdainful, and par. simonious rather than liberal. '^ She is endowed with great humility and patience, but withal high spirited, courageous, and resolute; having during the whole course of her adversity been guiltless of any the least approach to meanness of comportment ; she is, moreover, devout and staunch in the defence of her religion. Some personal infirmities under which she labours are the causes to her of both public and private afflic tion ; to remedy these recourse is had to frequent blood-letting, and this is the real cause of her paleness and the general weakness of her frame. These have also given rise to the unfounded rumour that the Queen is in • •• anelU:" not atntelli as the LaiiMlowue MS. ThcM " anclli" were the Cramp- Rings, of which see Brand's Popular Antiq. vol. i. p. ia». Burnet, in the Appendix to his History of the Reformation, has printed the ceremonial fmr the oonsecration of them. »» The contriver and executor of the plot to put Jaue Gray upon the throne « " Ha grocchl tanto vivi, ch'inducano reverentia et timore a quello verso chi !c muoui. ha tutta via U vista molu corta. La voce grussa et quasi di huomo." <* " SubitSj »degnusa> et miserctta in tosto che llberalc." a state of pregnancy. • The cabal »» she has been exposed to, the evil dis- position of the people towards her, the present poverty and the debt of the Crown, and her passion for King Philip from whom she is doomed to live separate, are so many other causes of the grief by which she is over- whelmed. She is, moreover, a prey to the hatred she bears my Lady Elizabeth,*^ and which has its source in the recollection of the wrongs she experienced on account of her mother, and in the fact that all eyes and hearts are turned towards my Lady Elizabeth as successor to the Throne. " My Lady Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry VIII»>'. and Ann Boleyne, was bom in the year 1533. She is a lady of great elegance both of body and mind, altliough her face may rather be called pleasing than beautiful ; she is tall and well made ; her complexion fine, though rather sallow; her eyes, but above all her hands, which she takes care not to conceal, are of superior beauty.** In her knowledge of the Greek and Italian languages she surpasses the Queen. Her spirits and understanding are admirable, as she has proved by her conduct in the midst of suspicion and danger, when she concealed her religion and comported herself like a good catholic. She is proud and dignified in her manners ; for though her mother's condition is well known to her, she is also aware that this mother of hers was united to the King in wedlock, with the sanction of the holy church and the concurrence of the primate of tlie realm ; and though misled with r^ard to her religion, she is conscious of having acted with good faith : nor can this latter circumstance reflect upon her birth, since she was bom in the same faith with that professed by the Queen. Her father's aflfection she shared at least in equal measure with her sister, and the King considered them equally in his will, settling on both of them 10,000 scudi per annum. Moreover the Queen, though she hates her most sincerely, yet treats her in public with every outward sign of affection and regard, and never con- verses with her but on pleasing and agreeable subjects. She has also contrived to ingratiate herself with the King of Spain, through whose influence the Queen is prevented from bastardising her, as she certainly has it in her power to do by means of an act of parliament, and which would exclude her from the throne. It is believed that but for this inter- ference of the King, the Queen would, without remorse, chastise her in the severest manner ; for whatever plots against the Queen are discovered, my Lady Elizabeth, or some of her people, may always be sure to be mentioned among the persons concemed in them. * •* DI questo raorbo e proceduto quel vana rumore della sua gravidanta che an- dava tanto in menti che le tette s' ingrossanano et mandavano fuori del latte." * " Congiurc." c •• Ml Ladi Elizabetta." * " di faccia sia piu tosto gratiosa che bella, grande et ben formata, di bella came anchorche olivastra, belli occhii, et sopra '1 tutto bella mano de la quale fa pro- fessione." (^ Z1>T) P " King Philip is of short stature, but his person appears to advantage both when armed and in common attire. Though of great aflfability and politeness, his character is marked with gravity. His understanding is good and his judgment correct. Besides Spanish, he knows Latin, Italian, and French. He is also liberal and religious, but without possessing .either the dignity or the ambition of his father. ^ He abhors war to such a degree that he never takes the field in person, imitating therein his great- grandfather Ferdinand, who obtained greater advantages and more glory through the exploits of S'. Prosper©, the Alarchese di Pescaro, Antonio di Leyva, and other generals, than he could have done by his own exertions. He is hated by all nations, the Spanish not excepted, and much envied by the house of Austria. Neither is he the richer for not being fond of war. Being however as it were forced to war by the French, he affects valour and impetuosity, lest the enemy should slight him and prove still more unceremonious in breaking truces and agreements. ' As to his authority in England, your Serene Highness may be assured that in all affairs • of importance, whether public or piivate, he is made to act precisely the same part as if he were the natural king of England, and this on account of the great respect and love with which he is treated by the Queen and Cardinal Pole. Sensible, however, that he is new *» in this kingdom, he modestly, and wisely too, leaves every thing to the management of the Queen and the CardinaL He receives petitions, but more in the character of mediator than as a patron, letting justice take its course in criminal cases, but frequently stepping forward to pro- cure pardon or mitigation of punishment after conviction. He, moreover, has always maintained himself and his whole court entirely at his own expense, and even allows pensions amounting to upwards of fifty-four thousand scudi in gold, to some Englishmen who remained faithful to the Queen in the conspiracy of Wiat, without receiving any farther services from them. His coming to England has proved more useful to the country than any thing that has lately happened, for it has been calculated that the money which he, together with other foreigners who came hither for his sake, have spent here, in little more than one year, amounts to a mil. lion of gold, the whole of which remains in the island. With all this he cannot live with dignity in this country, on account of the insolence with which foreigners are treated by, the English, and which it is not in his power to obviate. *' This may suffice of the royal personages. Of the Ministers, in order not to tire your Serene Highness, I shall only mention Cardinal Pole. His mother was tlie daughter of George Duke of Clarence, and his fa- ther Richard Pole, great chamberlain of Henry VII"'. and Knight of the Order. On the shoulders of this man now rests the whole weight of the • *• fattioiii." b •• phe i huomo novo," ^.x government of the realm, both with r^ard to secular and spiritual affairs. He is a man of great learning and goodness of heart. His opinion is of such authority with the Queen, that, by a mere sign with his hand, he could remove any person firom the situation he holds, or bring him to punishment ; whence he is envied and hated by the principal ministers. With all this, he uses his power with great discretion and humility ; he abstains from interfering with any thing not particularly committed to his charge, setting thereby an example to Englishmen who, on coming into office and power, are but too much given to meddle with things that do not concern them ; and too desirous of appearing more than they really are ; whence, right or wrong, they will stubbornly persevere in the mea- sures they have once taken in the management of affairs. The Cardinal confers on every subject with Monsignor Prioli, and makes use of none but Italians for his confidential servants. '^ It remains to say a few words on the state of religion and on the suc- cession to the throne. " Religion, although apparently thriving in this country, is I appre- hend in some degree the offspring of dissimulation. The Queen is far from being lukewarm in it ; she has already founded ten monasteries,* and is about to found more. Generally speaking, your Serene Highness may rest assured, that with the English the example and authority of the Sovereign is every thing, and religion is only so far valued as it in- culcates the duty due from the subject to the prince. They live as he lives, they believe as he believes, and they obey his commands, not from any inward moral impulse, but because they fear to incur his displeasure ; and they would be full as zealous followers of the Mahometan or Jewish religions did the king profess either of them, or commanded his subjects to do so. In short they wiU accommodate themselves to any religious persuasion, but most readily to one that promises to minister to licentious- ness and profit. " As to the Succession after the demise of the Queen, the following are the competitors. My Lady Elizabeth, who is falsely considered disqua- lified by illegitimacy of birth, for though King Henry VIII'''. has substi- tuted her for her sister by will, and though an act of parliament has been passed in her favor, they still will have it that this was an act of violence, and that Henry^s last Will cannot set aside the laws both of God and nature. Mary Queen of Scots : her succession is opposed by an act of parliament, which prohibits a person bom out of the kingdom to become • These were. Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, to which she annexed the Nunnery of Dartford in Kent : the Grey Friery at Greenwich in Kent : the College of Man- chester in Lancashire: St. Bartholomew's Priory in Smithfleld, the House of the Knights Hotipitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, the Savoy HoRpital, Syon Nunnery, and Westminster Abbey, in Middlesex : Wolverhampton College in Staffbrdshire : and the Carthusian Priory of Shene, in Surrey. Michele is correct in the number of Houses restored, but not as to the precise nature of their foundations. f 111 Uo ^Hl heir to any thing in it. Those who are in favor of it allege that a muni- cipal law (if there was such a law at all, which they deny) cannot, in the case of succession, be opposed to the law of nature ; inasmuch as a lawful successor cannot in any manner be deprived of his natural right, proceed- ing from God, unless he should be guilty of rebellion or treason, and be convicted and condemned as such. And even supposing, they say, that such a law exists, it was certainly not passed prior to Margaret's leaving England for Scotland ; but, in point of fact, there is no such law among the ancient constitutions of the Crown.* My Lady Katherine, daughter of my Lady Frances, Duchess of Suffolk, and sister of my Lady Jane who was beheaded. There is still another sister. •> These were, by the will of Henry VIIL substituted for the present Queen and my Lady Elizabeth, in case the latter should die without issue. But they also claim precedence of my Lady Elizabeth in the succession, by virtue of the last will of King Edward. My Lady Margaret, Baroness of Strange, pretends that, treason being upon the house of her cousin, on account of her sister Jane, the former is likewise attainted, and consequently excluded from the succession, whence the Lady Margaret, as the nearest in blood (and legitimately of English birth) has a just claim to it. •'Henry VI T.K heir of the '" of Luicaster ) Arthur died B. p. L- Eliz. heiress of the Fam. of Vork. Henry VI lit". V. I Edward VI. K. Mary g. Elis. adh. Archib. — — Margaret Douglas \^ E. of Angus 1 — ' Mary Douglas m. to Matt. E. of Lenox. J l«h. James K. Sc. I" h. I 2d h. Louis r=:Marv Cha\ Brandon XII*'-. of n^ D.ofSuff. France. Lenox Jac. v.— : I I Frances Duchess of Suff. wife of Henry Gray D. ofSutrolk. Eleanor w. of Henry £. of Cumb. Henry L.==Mary Darnley. / Q. of Scots. I James VI. K. Sc. I Jane bi-headcd. H r-l atherine w. of the £.ofHerf. Margaret, wife of Henry E. of Derby. .J Edw. I,ord Beauciiamp. I Ferdinand Lord Strange." ■ '* Non si trovando nelle constitutione antiche delta Corona legge tale alcuna." It is evident that the vulgar opinion alluded to by Michelc, arose from the law of private inheritance being construed into a rule fur the Succession. k Mary Gray, omitted in the pedigree ; of whom more will be said when her Letters occur hereafter. Such is the Memoir of Giovaimi Michele. Upon the last topic of his Report the Editor is anxious to add another page. It will explain much that occurs of jealousy and heart-burning in succeeding letters. It appears that during the reigns both of Mary and Elizabeth the sub- ^^c u^^Jf*"'"'" ^" °°«^ °f ""i^e«al Interest. Among the Royal MSS. m the Museum there are two which deserve particular notice ; and both It IS beheved were placed in the Royal Library in the time of Queen Jbiiz&oeth herself. The first, called " A Persuasive to the Queen to name her Successor," pa«gr^'h """'"' ^°^* ^^ ^' *'''°'*^' ^' foUowing singular "To let your Majestic understand our opinions herin, we do thinke it our dudes we do assure our selves that the breath shalbe no sooner out of ^""^ ^J.:/ y^"' ^^"^^^^ ^ »«' «^tled in your life tyme, but that aU your Nobilhty, CounseUors, and whole people, wilbe up in armes with aU the speede they inay ; yea their care and hast to arme themselves wUbe so earnest that they wiU thinke themselves most happie that can first ^v^^T ^" ^""^ ^"^ '^' ^"^^'' ''"'^ '^'^ *^' ^i^^ -' ^ny KINOES proclaimed, as ther will COMPETITORS, the which will be FOURE or FIVE at the least, so that then your executors wilbe so busied to set up a new Kinge (yea it is likely two or three) that they shall not possible have one hower leisure to attende nor once thinke of your BuriaU or Wia" The other 16 E. xxxvi. is a long Discourse on the " Seigneuw Anglois et estrangers pretendans droict a la Couronne apres le deces d Elizabeth a present Royne d'Angleterre ; et qui en est le plus-proche par leur Loy poliUque:" Written at Paris in 1671 ; in which the fol- lowing is given as the list of CLAIMANTS. ^k^'k'^^^'i^ "'''Tu'' '^.'^ ^'''''' Catherine Countess of Hertford, She herself, as wiU hereafter be seen, died in 1567. .!* lu^ If"^ Strange, also claiming from the House of Suffolk. Edta^'L^Tnf '^^"^^"' " '^"'^ '""- ^"- ^-«^- of 4. Henry Devereux Viscount Hereford, • descended by his mother through the Bourchiers fix)m Elizabeth daughter of Richard Earl of Cambridge. r ?K '^^T ^"""rT ^\*'' '''' "^^^'N^'^ON, Whose mother was of SdUbu "^ Montacute eldest son of Margaret Countess 6. Lord Stafford, son of Ursula second daughter of Geoffrey Pole and Margaret Countess of Salisbury. »» ^ • It should be Walter Viscount Hereford. k UKula was rtnlly the daughter of Sir Richard Pole. VOL. IL SER. 2. !l; f - fc-f'V^ i! 7. The Lord Manners Earl of Rutland, whose mother wa» the daughter of Henry Marquis of Exeter, son of William Earl of Devon and Catherine daughter of Edward the IV*»». a The Lords Schope and de Berkeley claiming by their wives as descendants of Anne daughter of Edward the IV'»'. 9. Charles Nevil Earl of Westmoreland, descended from Ralph Nevil who married Jane, the fifth and youngest child of John of Ghent Duke of Lancaster. 10. The Earl o/" Worcester as descended from John of Ghent. 11. Margaret Countess o/ Lenox, the daughter of Margaret of Scotland, eldest sister of Henry the Eighth. 12. Mary Queen of Scott. Although Mary Queen of Scots stands twelfth upon the List, the Work was evidently written m France to support her claim. Exclusive of any consideration arising from religious difference, the opinion seems for a long tune to have been general that the Queen of Scots was excluded under the Statute of the 23'»' of Edward the Third, which, as far as the law of property is concerned, declares those bom in parts beyond sea only " inheritable" in England, whose parents were in the King's allegiance. OKIGINAL LETTERS. 243 LETTER CXLVIII. The Lords of the Omndl to Qu^en Mary, announcing their Proclamation of her Title. [ms. lansd. 3. art 26. a Draft.] OuE bownden dueties most humbly remembred to your excellent Majestic, it may lyk the same to under- stande tliatt wee your most humble faythfuU and obedient subjectes, having allways (God wee take to wytnes) remayned your Highnes true and humble sub- jectes in our hartes ever sythens the death of our late Soveraigne lorde and master your Highnes brother, whom God pardon ; and seing hitherto no possibilite to utter our determination herein, withowt greatt de- struction and bludshede bothe of our selfes and others till this tyme, have this day proclaymed in your Citey of London, your Majestie to bee our true naturaU Soveraigne liege Ladie, and Queen, most humbly be- seching your Majestie to pardon and remy tt our formar mfirmites, and most graciously t'accept our meaninges, which have byn ever to serve your Highnes truely, and so shall remayn with all our powers, and forces to th'effusion of our bludd, as thies berars our very good lordes therle of Arundell and L. Paget can, and bee redy more particularly to declare; to whom it may please r2 r 244 OBIGINAL LETTERS. your excellent Majestic to give firme credence: and thus we do and shall dayly pray to Allniighty God for the preservation of your most royall person long to reigne over us, from your Majesties Cytey of London this . . day of Julie the fyrst yere of your most pros- perous Reygne. LETTER CXLIX. Queen Mary to the Bp. of Winchester^ Chancellor of the University of Cambridge^ Jbr the restoration <^ Popery, [m8. cole, vol. xlii. p. 426.] Ryoht reverende Father in God, ryght trustye & ryght wel belovyd, we grete you well. And wheare amonges dyvers other Inconvenyences & Misorders brought in & sett furthe in that our Universitie of Cambridge, one of the greetest & chefFe occasion of many of the sayd Misorders is, that withowt sufficient authoritie, only uppon the sensual! myndes & rashe determinations of a fewe Men, th'awncient Statutes, Foundacions, & Ordinaunces of the hole Universitie, the Colleges & other places of Studentes, have byn moche altered, broken, & allmoste utterlye subverted ; wherby not only the last Wylls of many good men « I ORIGINAL LETTERS. 245 have byn broken, & many wise, pohtike, & godly Or- dinaunces, confyrmed by Parlyaments & by sondry our Progenitors, fondlie & irreverentlie contempned, but the consciences of many honest men, which by ther othes were bownde to th' observacion of the seyd Statutes & Foundacions, have byn moche incombred, & yought loselie & insolentlie brought upp, to the greate discredit of th'Universitie, & no small hyn- draunceof the Commonwealthe of all our Realme : We therfor, knowing it our bownden dewtie to Almightie God, by whose only goodnes we acknowlege ourselfe called & placed in the Royall Estate of this Realme, to travell by all the meanes wee may, that his Glorye & holy Wyll beinge trulye declared to all our Sub- jectes, he may, of all sortes, in ther severall vocacions, be reverentlye feared, served, & obeyed, have thowght good for a begynninge, to wyshe that th* examples herof, may fyrst begyn in our Universities, where yonge men, and all sortes of studentes, joyninge god- lye conversatyon with ther studyes in Leaminge may after, as well by ther doinges as by ther preachinges, instructe & confyrme the rest of our subjectes, both in knowlege & feare of Almightie God, in the due Obedyence towardes us, our lawes, & all others ther superiors, & in ther charytable demeanour towardes all men. And because we know that when order is not kepte, all thynges grow to confusyon, we ther- fore have thowght good to wyll & requyre you, our r 246 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Chauncellour, & all others the Heades & Governours of the Colleges, & other Howses, that both yourselfs for your owne partes do exercyse your offices, & lyve, & cause all Scholers, Studentes, Servantes & Ministers, with others lyvynge under you, of what sorte, state or condytyon so ever thei be, to lyve, & frame them- selfes, theire studyes, conversations & maner of lyvinge, in soche forme & order, as by th'aunciente Statutes, Fundacions & Ordinaunces of that our Uni- versitie, & of the Colleges, & others, is to you severally apoynted, whiche Statutes & Fundacions, we wyll to be inviolablye kepte & observed, accordinge to th' aunciente Fundacions & Ordinaunces of the Fownders, & Grauntes of our Progenitours ; & therfore do efte- sones requyre & charge you our Chauncellour, whome we do auctoryse by theis presentes, for that purpose, to se the same well & truelye observed, as you wyll answer for the contrarye, Notwithstandinge any In- junctyons, or newe Ordinaunces made, sett furthe, or delyvered by any Vysytours or others, sythens the deathe of our Father of most worthye memorye King Henrye th'eyght, (whome God assoyle) or any other newe devyces to the contrarye hereof. Geven under our signet at our maner of Rychemonde this xx^^' of August, the first yere of our Reigne. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 247 LETTER CL. Mart/ duu£?Uer of Enianuel Kin^ qf PortiigcH to Queen Mary I, [us. COTTON. VE8P. F. III. fol. 48. OHg. ENTIRELY IN THE princess's hand.] •^« Mary daughter of Emanuel King of Portugal, by his third wife Eleonora of Austria, was the second cousin of Queen Mary. She was bom June 8**", 1521. She was promised in marriage in 1626 to Francis dauphin of France, eldest son of Francis the First, who had recently married her mother, but the marriage never took effect any more than others which Anselme says were intended for her with several of the Sovereign Princes of Europe. She died unmarried in 1678, and was buried in the monastery of St. Mary at Lisbon which she had built. » The Letter here laid before the reader is sealed with a shield of Arms in a lozenge, party per pale, the dexter side empty, possibly in allusion to her havmg been engaged in marriage to Francis, the smister filled with the arms of Portugal. Marij: Angh'ae Reginae serenissimse, Maria Portu- galliae Infans, Regis Emanuelis filia, S. P. Cum primum de feelici rerum tuarum successu nun- cius adiatus est, earn cepi animo voluptatem, quam et ratio sanguinis postulabat, et vero sum mi erga te amoris integritas exigebat ; turn quod Deus Optimus Maximus inter infaelicium temporum concitatos motus illsesam te, et velut e mediis tempestatibus ereptam ac servatam, cui summam regni traderet, solam dignam • An Octob. 1562 Your assured W. CECILL. LETTER CLX. Archbishop Parker to Sir WiU'iam Cecily concerning the Jbundation of a Grammar School at Sandmich in Kent, J. D. 1563. [m8. laksdowne 6. art. 71. Orig.\ Where of late, I made a requeste by letters, to your honor, for the obteyninge of the Counsells letters in that cause opened unto yow : no we I wolde be a suter to the Queues majestie, by your favourable fur- derance, for the behofe of the Towne of Sandwiche, conceminge her Highnes licence, as well to the Deane and Chapter for their alienacion, or rather a lease in fee farme of a rude acre of grounde belonginge to their Churche, wheron the towne wolde builde a gramar Schoole: Mr. Manwood beinge so well dis- posed therto, that he is fullye determyned to geve to that foundacion xx. li. by yere imperpetuum of his owne possessions presentlye. The Deane and Chapter (whome I have perticulerlie solicited) be well willinge of their grante, steyinge onlie at the quenes licence : the Towne itselfe whoUie bent to the erection : Mr. Manwood his lande redy for assurance. The oportu- nitie beinge suche, I dowt not of the Quenes Majesties good and gracious assent : as I have learned by ex- perience by my owne sute to her highnes, for the re- coverye of the stipende of the Schoolemaster at Stoke coUedge; perceyvinge then her godlie zeale to the furderance of learninge, yea in that case, where the Stipende went out of her owne cofers. This rare example of so godlie foundacion in Mr. Manwood, a man of his vocation, who be comonlie judged rather to employe all ther habilities to their owne posterities, then to suche common respects; and he beinge not without yssue, (and is dailie like to have more) might have followed the common example, in leavinge the gaynes of his tyme to his ofspringe. And therfore I wolde wishe his purpose wer savored, bothe for example to others, as also to put awaye the common judgement whiche runneth upon suche as be of his callinge. I take it to be a motion of God, in consideracion that we pore Bishopps be not nowe able to succede our pre- decessours in their so liberall foundacions. Nowe you, suche as you be and as Mr. Manwood is, muste laye hande to the furderance of suche publicke endew- 270 ORIGINAL LKTTFllS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 271 mcntcs, or ellcs ye be not like to leave to your Sue- cessours vvliiehe ve have reeevvcd of voiir Aneestoins. For that I wolde have a vevve partlie of the gromule and situacion therof, (and for other causes) I (this last Sundaye morninge) rode thether from my house, and was there by vij. of the clok ; the rather so sone, to prevent their cyvilitie of receyvinge, (as the maner is) and partlie to be present at ther wholl Service. But in the firste consideracion they ))revented me : for, thoughe the morninge was verie fowle and raynye, yet I founde the Mayer and his Jurattes redye at the towne gate to accumpanye me to my lodginge^ and so to the churche, beinge men of honest civilitie, and comelie, grave parsonages of good understand- inge : ther streets (as they might be for the stray tnes of them) cleane, and not muche saverye, ther service songe in g(K)d distinct harmonic, and quiett devotion. The singinge men, beinge the Mayer and the Jurattes withe the head men of the towne, placed in the queere fayre and decent, in so good order as I cowde wishc. My Auditorye greate and attentyve to heare, and also to understande the Queues pleasure in publication of the General! Prayer and Faste : that I se not but the Queues majestic shall have of them good sul)jectes & true Oratours. And furdermore, upon the erection of this Schoole; her Highnes shall have a nomljer of yonge tender handes lifte up in prayer for her Ilighncs prosperous Raigne. The Strangers there, In^inge verie godlie in the Sal)othe daye, and busie in ther worke on the weke daye, and their quietnes suche as the Mayer and his Brethren have no causes of variances comynge before them. As for other disorders re- formable by ecclesiasticall lawes, I have before nowe deputed ther Minister (a grave learned man) to exer- cise (by myne authoritie) ecclesiasticall censures as he shall see cause. As hetherto litle hathe bene spied. By all the premisses aforesaide considered, I meane to comende the Townes requeste to the Queues favour, so lawdablie behavinge themselves as I se them, and partlie to expresse to you someparte of my joy whiche I have here by them in this outwarde corner of my diocess. And therfore, I praye your Honor helpe them. In so doinge mercedem reportabis a Domino in resurrectioiie justoriim, whiche God of his mercye make joyfull to the Queues Highnes and to us afl. From my house at Bekesbounie this xxvij^»'. daye of Auguste 1563. Your honors assured, MATTHUE CANTUAR. To the right honorable Sir William Cecill knight princi- pal! Secretarie to the Quenes majestic at the Courte. ^'\ I J rl \ ^72 OUIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CLXI. Lord John Gray ofPyrgo to Sir William Cecily in behalf of his niece, the Lady Catherine Gray. [ms. lansd. Num. T. art. 55. Orig.^ The reader has been already made aware, that after the exclusion given by the Will of Henry the Eighth to the posterity of Margaret of Scotland, after the Acts of Parliament which he left unrepealed, and the publication of Edward the Sixth's Will, the right to the Crown of England was very generally considered to have devolved upon the House of Suffolk, of which the Lady Catheris^e the sister of Lady Jane Gray was the heir. This Lady had been married to Lord Herbert, the son of the Earl of Pembroke, whose father apprehending danger from an intermarriage with royal blood, obtained an inmiediate divorce. ■ The Lady Catherine then entered into a secret contract with the Earl of Hertford, whose sister the Lady Jane Seymour resided with her in the Court ; both, seemingly, as Maids of Honour to the Queen. The Queen went one morning to Eltham to hunt, when Lady Jane and Lady Catherine, according to previous concert, leaving the Palace at Westminster by the stairs at the orchard, went along by the sands to the EarPs house in Chanon Row ; Lady Jane then went for a priest, and the parties were married. The Earl accompanied them back to the water- stairs of his House, put them into a boat, and they returned to the Court time enough for dinner in Master Comptroller's chamber. Having con- summated his marriage Lord Hertford travelled into France. The preg- nancy of Lady Catherine became apparent, and was soon whispered through the Court. She first confessed it privately to Mrs. Sentlowe, and afterwards sought Lord Robert Dudley's chamber to break out to him that she was married, in the hope of softening the anger of the Queen : but Elizabeth committed her to the Tower, where she was aAer- wards delivered of a son. Lord Hertford was summoned home to answer for his misdemeanor ; when, confessing the marriage, he also was com- mitted to the Tower. » SeeNaunton, Fragm. Rq^al. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 273 A Commission of Inquiry was next issued, at the head of which were Archbishop Parker, bishop Grindal, and Sir William Petre; when the parties being unable within a time prescribed to produce witnesses of the marriage, a definitive sentence was pronounced against them : and their imprisonment ordered to be continued during the Queen's pleasure. By bribing their keepers, however, they found means to have further inter- course; the fruit of which was another chUd. The Queen's vexation was now increased, and Lord Hertford was fined fifteen thousand pounds in the Star Chamber" for a triple crime; five thousand for deflouring a virgin of the blood-royal in the Queen's House; five thousand for breaking his prison ; and five thousand for repeating his vicious act. A Copy of the Proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry Li 1561 is stUl preserved in the Harleian MS. 6286, with the examinations of the Earl of Hertford and the Lady Catherine. The particulars as the reader will expect are extremely minute. The Interest which the families of this young couple took in their fate will be seen in this and some succeedmg Letters. It is a great while, me thinckethe, Cowsine Cecill, since I sent unto you, in my Neeces behalfe, albeit I knowe, (opportunitie so servinge) you are not unmind- ful! of her miserable and compfortlesse estate. For who, wantinge the Princes favor, maye compt him selfe to live in any Realme ; and becawse this time of all others hathe ben compted a time of mercie, and forgevenes, I cannot but recommende her woefuU liffe unto you. In faithe, I wolde I were the Queenes Confessor this Lent, that I might joine her in pen- naunce to forgeve and forget; or otherwise able to steppe into the pulpett, to tell her Highnes, that God will not forgeve her, unleast she frelye forgeve all the worlde. Thus restinge in hope of her Majesties fur- ther favor, shortlie to be extended, towardes my Neece, VOL. II. SER 2. V \\ t A 274 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. :| I committ you to Almightie god. From Pirgo the sixthe of Marche 1563.- By your lovyng cousin and assured frynd, JOHN GREY. To my veryc lovinge cowsigne Sir William Cecill knight cbeife Secretarie to the Queenes majestie. A List of the furniture with which the Lady Catherine*8 prison- chamber in the Tower was supplied, in August 1561, from the Ward- robe there, will not be unamusing to the reader : It consisted of five pieces of Tapestry to hang the chamber ; three window pieces of the like stuff; a sparver for a bed of changeable silk damask ; a silk quilt of red striped with gold ; a bed and boulster of downe with two pillows of downe ; one white linnen quilt stuffed with wool ; four pair of fustians, the one of six breadths the others of five ; two carpets of Turkey making ; one small window carpet ; one chair of cloth of gold raised with crimson velvet, with two pommels of copper gilt, and the Quenes Arras on the back ; one cushion of purple velvet ; two footstools covered with green velvet ; one cubbard joined ; and one bed, one boulster, and a counterpane for her woman. It must be owned that this List looks royal ; but some marginal notes in the hand writing of Sir Edward Warner the Lieutenant of the Tower, declare the whole to have been old, worn, broken, and di- lapidated. » Sir Edward Warner in a I^etter to Sir William Cecill Sept. S'**. 1563, says that the Lady Catherine did further injury to this furniture " with her monkeys and dogs." •* Portraits of Lady Catherine, holding her infant son Edward Lord Beauchamp in her arms, are preserved both at Alnwick and at Warwick castles : that at the former by Hans Holbein. Sir Egerton Brydges in his edition of CoUins's Peerage vol. i. p. 173. says that she had three children ; Edward who died young, Edward Lord Beauchamp, and Thomas, who took to wife Isabel daughter of Edward Onley of Catesby in Northamptonshire. • MS. Lansd. Num. S. art. 41. ^ MS. Lansd. Num. 7. art. tx. ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^5 LETTER CLXII. Lord John Gray to Sir WlUiam Cecil, thanking him for the delivery of his niece to his custody at his seat of Pyrgo. [ms. lansd. 6. art. 27. Orig.\ •»• The ravages of the Plague in London in I5f»3, induced Queen Elizabeth to relax something of her severity toward Lord Hertford and Lady Catherine. Secretary Cecil writing to Sir Thomas Smith in France, in the month of August that year, says " My Lord of Hertford and my Lady Catherine, by cause of the plague are thus delivered. He with his mother as a prisoner. She with her uncle my Ix)rd John Grey." ' He adds, " They die in London above a thousand in a week." Good cowsigne Cecill, what cawse all we have to thincke ourselves bounden and beholdinge unto you, the lively e facte of your great friendshipp in the deli- very of my Nyece to my custodye are sufficient pledges and tokens for our bondage unto you duringe our lives; and althoughe I can justly e lament the cawse of her .imprisonment, yet can I not lament thus far forth her beinge there, becawse I see yt hathe ben the onelye meanes wherebye she hath seen her selfe, knowen God, and her dewtye to the Quene; which when it shall farther please the Quenes Majestie to make triall of, I dowbt not but my sayinge and her doinges shall T 2 I ^ Jl 3 il 'I i 276 ORIGINAL LETTERS. accorde ; in which meane time I shall accordinge to my Lord Roberts lettre, and yours, directed unto me, se all thinges observed accordinglie. Assure your selfe (cowsigne Cecill) She is a penitent and a soroful woman for the Quenes displeass'. and most humblye and heartelye desires you to fynishe that your frendshipp begonne, for the obteyninge of the Quenes favor in the full remission of her faulte. This with my wyves hearte commendatyons and myen to you and my good lady (ower cousen) your wyfe, I byd you most heartely farewell. From Pyrgo the ^29^' of August, 1563. By yo*" lovyng Cousine and assured pouer frynd dowryng lyfe JOHN GREY. To my very lovinge cowsigne S'. William Cecill knight chiefe Secretorye to the Queue's Ma'*'". Ptboo, whence this Letter is dated, was the name of a capital messuage in the manor of Havering at Bower in Essex, which had anciently been one of the Houses belonging to a Queen consort and her jointure. Joan widow of Henry the Fourth died there July 9">. 1437. The esUte having been long in the Crown, Queen Elizabeth April 24»»>. 1659 granted it to Sir John Gray second son of Thomas Marquis of Dorset and brother of Henry Duke of Suffolk, and of course uncle to the Lady Catherine. A Letter of Lord John Gray*s to Sir William C-ecil, from Pyrgo, 20th Jan. 1564, complains of the reports which had gone abroad of the large sums expended for his prisoner, who appears to have been main- tained at the expense of her husband, though at Pyrgo. He finishes his details with " My Ladle of Hartfords wekelye Rate for her borde, her childe, and her folks here : ORIGINAL LETTERS. 277 " For my Ladye her selfe For her ChUde . For her Childe*s nurce For 31". Isham . For M". Woodforde . For M". Page . For NoweU For Robert For W". Hampton . For a lackye For her launder . For the widow that washethe the childes clothes lxvj«. • • • _ XUJ». vj«. vj.. vj'. vj'. v». y. vj-. V*. v*. vuj" • • • • J Ulj", * * * J vuj'*, * * • A Vllj**, vuj" * * • J vuj", vj". xvj*. viij*'." • LETTER CLXIII. Lady Catherine Gray^ Countess of Hertford, to Sir William Cecilly upon her removal to Pyrgo. [ms. lansd. MS. 0. art, 32. Orig,\ Good cosyne Cecill: after my very hartye com- mendacions to my good cosyne your wyfe and yow, wyth lyke thanks for your greate frendship showed me in thys my Lords dely verye and myne, wyth the obtayn- yng of the Queens Majesties most gracious favor thus farforth extended towards us, I can not but acknow- ledg my selfe bounden and beholdyng unto yow ther- fore ; and as I am sure yow dout not of myne owne deare Lords good wyll for the requitall therof to the • MS. Lansd. Num. 7. art. 52. '■ 'I i 'I ''n 278 ORIGINAL LETTERS. uttermost of hys power, so I besich yow, good cosyne Cecill, make the lyke accompt of me duryng life to the uttermost of my power ; besecheng your farther frend- shyp for the obtayning of the Queens Majesties most graceous pardon and favor towards me, wych wyth up- stretched hands and downe bente knees, from the bot- tom of my hart, most humbly I crave. Thus restyng in prayer for the Queen'*s Majesties long raigne over us, the forgevnes of myne offence, the short enjoying of my owne deare Lord and husband, wyth assured hope, throughe Gods grace, and yowr good helpe, and my lord Robert,^ for the enjoying of the Queens Hyghnes favor in that behalfe, I byd yow, my owne good cosyne, most hartely farewell, from Pyrgo the thred of September. Your assured frend and cosyne to my small power, KATHERYNE HARTFORD. To my very loving Cosine Sir William Cicyll knight Chief Se- cretary to the Queens Majestie give thecs. • Loal Robert DiuIUn. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 279 LETTER CLXIV. Lord John Gray to Sir Wm. Cecily that his niece the Lady Catherine still pines ai&ay at the Queen's dis- pleasure, [m8. lansdowke 6. art. 33. Orig,] My good cowsigne Cecill, the onelye desire and care that my ladye hathe of the Queenes Majesties favour enforsethe these fewe hues, as nature bindeth me, to put you in remembrance, of your offered frend- shipp and great good will, alredye showed, to the full perfectinge of the Queenes Majesties favour in my neece. I assure you cowsigne Cecill (as I have written unto my lorde Robert) the thought and care she takethe for the wante of her Highenes favour, pines her awaye : before God I speake it, if it come not the soner, she. will not longe live thus, she eatethe not above six mor- selles in the meale. If I saie unto her, " Good madam, eate somewhat to compfort your selfe,*" she faules a wepinge and goethe upp to her chamber ; if I aske her what the cause is she usethe her self in that sorte, she aunswers me, " alas Unckell, what a lifFe is this, to me, thus to live in the Queenes displeasure ; but for my lorde, and my childeme, I wolde to God I were buried.'' ii 280 OEIGINAL LETTERS. Good cowsigne Cecill, as time, places, and occasion maye serve, ease her of this woofull greiffe and sor- rowe, and rid me of this liffe, which I assure you grevethe me even at the hearte rootes. Thus be- sceachinge God in this his visitacion, to preserve us with his stretched owt arme, and sende us, merely to meete, I salute you and my ladie with my wives most hartey commendacions and mine. From Pirgo, the xxth. of September, by your lovyng cousin and assured pouer frynd dowryng my lyfe JOHN GBEY. To my verye lovinge cowsigne Sir William Cecill knight, cheife Secretorye to the Queenes Ma- jestie. LETTER CLXV. Lord John Gray to Sir Willmm Cecil, inclosing the lady Catherine'*s Petition to the Queen. [m8. laksdowne 6. art. 37. OHff.] My good cousen I have heerin enclosed the coppie of my neyces letter to the Queenes Mageste, wherin I ORIGINAL LETTERS, 281 am to crave your fryndly advyes and counsell (before yt be delyvered to my lord Robert,) howe you lyke yt; for yf you wyll have onni thyng amendyd theer I pray you note yt, and my man shaull bryng yt backe to me agayne. For I wold be lothe theer shuld be onni faute found with onni word theerin wrytten. Good cousen Cecill as you may contynew your fryndshipp to the furtherauns of the Queenes Magestys most gracyous favor and merse towardes her, I assure you she hathe emputed no smaulle parte of her well spedyng unto your assured fryndshippe, wyche I am shure nether she nor I neyd not to request the contynuauns therof. Thus besechyng you to make my hearty commenda- tyons to my good lady my cousen, your wyfe, I take my leve of you for this tyme. From Pyrgo the 7^1> of November 1563. By your lovyng cousine and assured frynd to my smaulle power JOHN GREY. To my verye lovinge cowsigne Sir William Cecill knight cheif Secreiarye to the Quenes Majestie. Lady Caiherinc*t Petition to tJie Queen, I DARE not presume Most gracious Soveraigne, to crave pardon for my disobedient and rasche matchinge of my selfe, withowt your Highe. lies consent, I onely most humblye sewe unto your Highenes, to conti- newe your mercyfull nature towarde me. I knowledge myselfe a most unworthyc creature to feale so muche of your gracious favour as I have 7(1 ! "I ' \ 282 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 28S I don. My just felt miserye and continuall greife dothe teache me dallye, more and more, the greatnes of my faulte, and your princelye pittie en- creasethe my sorrowe, that have so forgotton my dewtie towardes your Majestie. This is my great torment of minde. Maye it therefore please your excellent Magestie to licence me to be a most lowlye sutor unto your Highenes to extende towarde my miserable state your Magesties further favour and accustumed mercye, which uppon my knees in all humble wise I crave, with my daylye prayers to God, longe continew and preserve your majesties Raigne over us. From Pirgo the vjth. of November 1563. Your Majesties most humble bounden and obedient subjecte. * LETTER CLXVI. Lord John Gray to Sir WiUiam Cecil, still npoii the grief of Lady Catherine, [ms. laxsdowne num. 0. art. 43. Orig.^ The aiigmentinge of my Neeces greiffe in the wantte of the Quenes Magesties favour enforsethe me (besides my dewtye in nature) everye waye to declare and recommende unto you, her miserable and wofull state ; this thre or foure daies she hathe for the most parte kept her bedde, but altogether her chamber, in suche wise as I thought once I shulde have ben driven to have sent for some of the Quenes Phisicions ; and I never came to her, but I founde her either wepinge or els sawe by her face she had wept. Where- fore good cowsigne Cecill, for the mutuall love which ought to be betwixt christen men, and for the love wherewith God hathe loved us, beinge his, procure by some waye or meanes, the Quenes Majesties farther favour towardes her ; for assuredlye, she never went to bed all this time of her sicknes, but they that watched with her muche dowted howe to fynde her in the morninge, for she is so fraughted with fleame by rea- son of thought, wepinge, and settinge still, that many times she is like to be overcume therewith : so as if she had not painefuU wemen about her, I tell you trewlye cowsigne Cecill, I coulde not slepe in quiet. Thus with my hartey commendations to you and to my good ladye my cowsigne I wishe you the same quiet of minde, as to my selfe. From my howse at Pirgo the xij''\ of December 1563. By your lovyng cosine and assured frynd to his power JOHN GREY. To my vcrye lovinge cowsigne Sir William Cecill knight cheif Secrctorye to the Quenes Majestic. • MS. Lans(U Num. e. art. ST. 284 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ■ LETTER CLXVII. Lady Catherine Countess of Hertford to Sir WiUiam Cecil. [ms. laxsdowxe num. 6. art, 44. Orig.l What the long want of the Queens Majestys ac- coustumed favor towards me hath breade in thys iny- serable and wreched body of myne, God only knoweth, as I dayly more and more, to the torment and wastyng therof, do otherwyse feale then well able to express : wych if it shuld any long tyme thus contynew, I rather wyshe of God shortly to be buryed in the fayth and feare of hym, then in thys contynuall agony to lyve. As I have wryten unto my lord Robert, so, good cou- syne Cycell, do I unto yow. I must confess I never fealte what the want of my Prynces favor was before now, wych by yowr good means and the rest of my very good Lords ons obtayned, I shall not requyre any of yow, if it faull through my default, to be means for the restetucyon therof ; so myndfull, God wyllyng, shal I be not to offend her Hyghnes. Thus desyryng the contynuance of yowr frendshyp I most hartely byd yow farewell, good cousyne Cecyll, prayng yow to ORIGINAL LETTERS. 285 make my harty commendacyons to my cousyne yowr wyfe. From Pyrgo the xiij of December yowr poore cousyne and assured , frend to my small power, KATHERYNE HARTFORD. From a Letter of Sir William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith of the 27th April, 1564, it seems probable that the Lady Catherine and Lord Hert- ford's imprisonments, in a measure, owed their prolongation to the mis- taken zeal of one John Hales, who had been clerk of the hanaper in the reign of Henry the Eighth. He says, " Here is fallen out a troublesome fond matter. John Hales had secretly made a book in the time of the last Parliament wherein he hath taken upon him to discuss no small matter, viz. the title to the Crown after the Queen's Alajeste. Having confuted and rejected the line of the Scottish Queen, and made the line of the Lady Francis mother to the Lady Catherine only next and lawful. He is committed to the Fleet for this boldness, specially because he hath communicated it to sundry persons. My Lord John Gray is in trouble also for it. Beside this, John Hales hath procured sentences and counsels of Lawyers from beyond seas to be written in maintenance of the Earl of Hertford's marriage. This dealing of his offendeth the Queen's Majesty very much. God give her Majesty by this chance a disposition to consider hereof that either by her marriage or by some common order, we poor subjects may know where to lean and adventure our lives with contentation of our consciences." * In another, dated May 9th, 1564, Sir William Cecil says that he him- self is not free from suspicion " because some of those committed upon the occasion had access to him in their sutes." "In this matter I am by conmiandment occupied, whereof I could be content to be delivered : but I will go upright, neither ad dextram nor ad sinistram,^'*^ • MS. Lansd. Num. 102. art. 49. Bishop Jewell expressed himself in a similar manner upon this subject in a Letter to Peter Martyr, from Salisbury 7t>> Feb. 1562: •• Est Puella quaedam nobihs, domina C'atherina, Ducis Suffolchiensis filia, ex sanguine regio, eoque nominatim scripta ab Henrico Octavo in Tcstamento, ut si quiii accidisset, quarto loco succedcrct. Ex eo. Comes Ilcrfordiensis, juvenis, Ducis Somersetensis films, suscepit filium, et multi putant ex stupro, sed ut ipsi dicunt, ex legitimis nuptiLs. Se enim clam inter se contraxisse, et advocato sacrificatore, et paucis quibusdam arbitris, junxisse Nuplias. Ea res turbavit animos multorum. Nam si sunt verse Nuptia?, Puer, qui susceptus est, alitur ad spem Regni. O nos miseros, qui non poaaumua »rire, «t4b quo Domino victuri ximus." Burnet, Hist. Ref. vol. iii. App. Num. 65. ^ MS. Lansd. Num. 102. art. si. . 1 !5 li| 0i 286 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 287 I" On the 26th of November, 1564, CecU writes, " Lord John Graye died five days past at Pyrgo, of whom his friends report that he died of thought, but his gout was sufficient to have ended his life." From this Letter it appears that Lady Catherine was then in the custody of Mr. Petre.» On the 30th December he says, " The Queen's displeasure continueth still toward my Lord Hertford and my Lady Catherine." *» Soon after- wards we find them again in the Tower. LETTER CLXVIII. Anne Duchess of Somerset to Sir William Cecil, so- Ikiting the release of her son Lord Hertfiyrd and the Lady Catherine, [m8. lansdowve a art. 43. Orig.'\ ♦^* This Letter is mdorsed with the date of Jan. 9, 1565. ^ Good master Secretary after thys long sylens and for that as yet myne olde occasyon lettes myne at- tendans, I have presumed by leter to renew my sute for my Sonne to the Quenes Majesty, and have lykewyse wrytten to my lord of Leycester, prayng you to sett in your helpyng hand to ende thys tedyous sute; wherin for me to reson how moch her Hyghnes des- plesure ys to long lastyng, or how unmeate yt ys thys yowng couple should thus waxe olde in pryson, or how farre beter yt were for them to be abrode and lerne to ser\'e, I wyll not ; but leave those and such lyke speches to the frendly settyng forth of my good Lord and you ; only my sekyng ys, that as ther ys none other cause syns her Majesties regne but hath had some favorable order or ende, so by your emest conferryng and joynyng with my good Lord, thys yowng couple may fele some lyke of her Majesties plentyfull mercy ; to the procurement wherof, the more emest my Lord and yow shall shew your selfes, the more shall you sett forth the Queenes Majesties honor ; and as a mother I must nedes say, the beter descharge your callynges and credyte. And so restyng in prayer, that God wold blesse your travell to some comfortable ende I take my leve. Your assured lovyng freynd, ANNE SOMERSET. To my very lovyng freynd Mr. Secretary. LETTER CLXIX. Anne Duchess of Somerset to Sir William Cecil: upon the same. [m8. LAK8D0WNE 9. art 32. Orig.] *»* This Letter is endorsed as having been received April 18th, 1566. » MS. Lansd. Num. IM. art. ST. >> Ibid. art. &9. Good Mr. Secretary, yf I have let you alone all thys whyle I pray you thynke yt was to tary for my L. iMi 288 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Leycesters assystans, to whom as I have now wryten to take some occasyon to do good in my Sonne's cause, so are thyese to pray you to provoke hym, and joyne with hym to further the same ; trusting the occasyon of thyse Holy Weke and charytable tyme of forgeve- nes ernestly sett forth by hys Lordship and you, wyll bryng forth some comfortable frute of rely ve to the long afflycted partyes: wherin my Lord and you cannot go so farre but God's cause and the Quene's honor bedd you go farther. Thus moch I thowght good to wret as gevyng occasyon for my Lord and you to move the Quenes Ma^) to mercy, and not styll to suffre this cause alone to rest withowt all favor and forgevenes, I can nomore but ons agayn pray yowre ernest dealyng herein ; and lykwyse that myne humble duty of thanks for Mr. Mychells passport may be donne to her Hygh- nes, and so do leave you to God. Yo* asured lovyng frynd, ANNE SOMERSET. To my lovyng frynd Mr. Secretary. Ill Within a year from the receipt of this Letter death released the Lady Catherine from her sufferings. The Harleian MS. N". 3.0. foL 380. contains what is called " The Manner of her departing." The Reader will peruse it with a feeling of pity. " All the night she continued in prayer, saying of psalms and hearing them read of others, sometimes saying them after others, and as soon as one Psalm was done she would call for another to be said ; divers times she would rehearse the prayers appointed for the Visitation of the Sick, and live or six times the same night she said the prayers appointed to be ORIGINAL LETTERS. 289 said at the hours of death, and when she was comforted by those that were about her, saying ' Madam be of good comfort, with God's help you shaU live and do well many years,' she would answer ' No, no, no life in this woride, but in the world to come I hope to live ever; for here is nothing but care and misery, and there is life everlasting:' and then seeing herself faint, she said ' Lord be merciftd unto me, for now I begin to fain^' and all the time of her fainting, when any about her would chafe or rub her to comfort her, she would Uft up her hands and eyes unto heaven and say ' Father of Heaven, for thy son Christ's sake, have mercy upon me.' Then said the Lady Hopton unto her, ' Madam be of good comfort, for with God his favour you shall live and escape this; for Mrs, Cousen saith you have escaped many dangers, when you were as like to die as you be nowe.' ' No, no my Ladie my time is come, and it is not God's will that I should Uve any longer, and his will be done, and not mine ;' then, looking upon those that were about her, ' As I am, so shaU you be, behold the picture of yourselves.' And about vi. or vij. of the docke in the morning she desired those that were about her to cause Sir Owen Hoptone to come unto her, and when he came he said unto her, ' Good Madam how do you,' and she said, » Even now going to God, Sir Owen, even as fast as I can ; and I pray you and the rest that be about me to bear witness with me that I die a true Christian, and that I beUeve to be saved by the death of Christ, and that I am one that he hath shed his most precious blood for ; and I ask God and all the world forgiveness, and I forgive all the worid.' Then she said unto Sir Owen Hoptone * I beseech you promise me one thing, that you yourself with your own mouth will make this request unto the Queen's Majesty, which shall be the last suit and request that ever I shall make unto her Highness, even from the mouth of a dead woman ; that she would forgive her displeasure towards me as my hope is she hath done; I must needs confess I have greatly offended her, in that I made my choice without her knowledge, otherwise I take God to witness I had never the heart to think any evU against her Majesty ; and that she would be good unto my children, and not to impute my fault unto them, whom I give whoUy unto Her Majesty : for in my life they have had few friends, and fewer shall they have when I am dead, except Her Majesty be gracious unto them : and I desire her Highness to be good unto my Lord, for I know this my death will be heavy news unto him, that her Grace will be so good as to send liberty to glad his sorrow- ful heart withalL' • Then she said unto Sir Owen, * I shall further desire you to deliver from me certain commendations and Tokens unto my Lord,' and calling unto her woman, she said, ' Give me the box wherein • The Lord Hntford remained In prison nine years. VOL. II. SEB. 2. jj 288 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I Leycesters assystans, to whom as I have now wryten to take some occasyon to do good in my Sonne's cause, so are thyese to pray you to provoke hym, and joyne with hym to further the same ; trusting the occasyon of thyse Holy Weke and charytable tyme of forgeve- nes ernestly sett forth by hys Lordship and you, wyll bryng forth some comfortable frute of rely ve to the long afflycted partyes: wherin my Lord and you cannot go so farre but God's cause and the Quene's honor bedd you go farther. Thus moch I thowght good to wret as gevyng occasyon for my Lord and you to move the Quenes Ma^y to mercy, and not styll to sufFre this cause alone to rest withowt all favor and forgevenes. I can nomore but ons agayn pray yowre ernest dealyng herein ; and lykwyse that myne humble duty of thanks for Mr. Mychells passport may be donne to her Hygh- nes, and so do leave you to God. Yo' asured lovyng frynd, ANNE SOMERSET. To my lovyng frynd Mr. Secretary. Within a year from the receipt of this Letter death released the Lady Catherine from her sufferings. The Harleian MS. N». 39. foL 380. contains what is called " The Manner of her departing." The Reader will peruse it with a feeling of pity. " All the night she continued in prayer, saying of psalms and hearing them read of others, sometimes saying them after others, and as soon as one Psalm was done she would call for another to be said ; divers timea she would rehearse the prayers appointed for the Visitation of the Sick, and five or six times the same night she said the prayers appointed to be ORIGINAL LETTERS, 289 mM at the hours of death, and when she was comforted by those that were about her, saying ' Madam be of good comfort, with God's help you shall live and do weU many years,' she would answer « No, no, no life in this worlde, but in the worid to come I hope to Hve ever; for here is nothing but care and misery, and there is life everlasting:* and then seeing herself faint, she said ' Lord be mercifiil unto me, for now I begin to faint,' and all the time of her fainting, when any about her would chafe or rub her to comfort her, she would Uft up her hands and eyes unto heaven and say ' Father of Heaven, for thy son Christ's sake, have mercy upon me.' Then said the Lady Hopton unto her, ' Madam be of good comfor^ for with God his favour you shaU live and escape this ; for Mrs. Cousen saith you have escaped many dangers, when you were as like to die as you be nowe.' ' No, no my Ladie my time is come, and it is not God's will that I should Hve any longer, and his wiU be done, and not mine ;' then, looking upon those that were about her, » As I am, so shaU you be, behold the picture of yourselves.' And about vi. or vij. of the clocke in the morning she desired those that were about her to cause Sir Owen Hoptone to come unto her, and when he came he said unto her, ' Good Madam how do you,' and she said, » Even now going to God, Sir Owen, even as fast as I can ; and I pray you and the rest that be about me to bear witness with me that I die a true Christian, and that I beUeve to be saved by the death of Christ, and that I am one that he hath shed his most precious blood for ; and I ask God and all the world forgiveness, and I forgive aU the world.' Then she said unto Sir Owen Hoptone * I beseech you promise me one thing, that you yourself with your own mouth wiU make this request unto the Queen's Majesty, which shaU be the last suit and request that ever I ahaU make unto her Highness, even fit)m the mouth of a dead woman ; that she would forgive her displeasure towards me as my hope is she hath done; I must needs confess I have greaUy offended her, in that I made my choice without her knowledge, otherwise I take God to witness I had never the heart to think any evU against her Majesty; and that she would be good unto my chUdren, and not to impute my fault unto them, whom I give whoUy unto Her Majesty ; for in my life they have had few friends, and fewer shall they have when I am dead, except Her Majesty be gracious unto them : and I desire her Highness to be good unto my Lord, for I know this my death wiU be heavy news unto him, that her Grace will be so good as to send liberty to glad his sorrow. M heart withaU.' • Then she said unto Sir Owen, ' I shall further desire you to deliver from me certain commendations and Tokens unto my Lord,' and calling unto her woman, she said, ' Give me the box wherein • The Lord Hotford remained in prison nine years. VOL. II. SEB. 2. jj 290 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 291 my wedding Ring is,' and when she had it she opened it, and took out a Ring with a pointed diamond in it, and said, ' Here Sir Owen, deliver this unto my Lord, this is the Ring that I received of him when I gave myself unto him and gave him my faith.' ' M'hat say you. Madam,* said Sir Owen, ' was this your Wedding Ring ?' * No, Sir Owen,' she said, ' this was the Ring of my assurance unto my Lord, and there is my Wedding Ring,' takmg another Ring all of gold out of the box, saying, ' Deliver this also unto my Lord, » and pray him even as I have been to him, as I take God to witness I have been, a true and a faithful Wife, that he would be a loving and a natural Father unto my children, unto whom I give the same blessing that God gave unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' And then took she out another Ring with a Death's head, and said ' This shall be the last Token unto my Lord that ever I shall send him ; it is the picture of myself.' The words about the Death's head were these ' While I lyve yoitrs,* and so, looking down upon her hands, and perceiving the nails to look purple, said, * Lo here he is come,' and then as it were with a joyful countenance she said * welcome Death,' and embracing herself with her arms, and lifting up her eyes and hands unto heaven, knocking her hands upon her breast, she brake forth and said ' O Lord ! for thy manyfold mercies, blot out of thy Book all mine offenses !' Whereby Sir Owen perceiving her to draw towards her end, said to Mr. Bockeham were it not best to send to the Church that the beU *» may be rung, and she herself hearing him, * Good Sir Owen let it be so.' Then immediately perceiving her end to be near, she en- tered into Prayer, and said, ' O Lord ! into thy hands I commend my soul, Lord Jesus receive my spirit :' and so putting down her eyes with her own hands she yielded unto God her meek spirit at nine of the clock in the Morning the 2?'' of January, 1567." The marriage between Lady Catherine Gray and the Earl of Hertford was not established till 1606 ; when the priest who had joined them being produced, and other circumstances agreeing, a jury at common law found it a good marriage.'^ Several papers relating to Lord Beauchamp's Appeal against the Sentence of the Commission, in 1604, occur in the Cottonian MS. Vitellius C. xvi. foil. 412, 458, 516, 522 : and Sir Julius Csesar's Notes from the Jurisconsults when the sentence was reversed, in the Lansdowne MS. 732. » This King had been exhibited by Lady Catherine to the Commission of Inquiry. It consisted of five links, the four inner ones containinfi the following posieofthe Earl's making : " At circles five by art compact shewe but one Ring in sight. So tnist uniteth faithfull mindcs with knott of secret might; Whose force to breake but greedie Death noe wight posseueth power. As time and sequels well shall prove. My Ringe can say no more." «» The Ptunng Bell. It was rung at the passing from Life to Death, with the in- tention that those who heard It should pray for the person dying. • Brydges's Edit, of Collins's Peerage, vol. I. p. 17a. LETTER CLXX. Secretan/ Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith in .France. The Queen seized with Illness, [ms. lansd. 102. art. 58. Orig.\ The Quenes Majesty fell perillosly sick on Saturday last, the accident cam to that which they call diarrhoea. We feared a flux. She is somwhat weakned, but in helth and will attend hir affayres after Satyrday, which is to morrow, assure you. She is clearly hoole, but for the tyme she made us sore af rayed. Thanked be G(xl for both. For of both we take good : warned by hir sicknes, and comforted by hir recovery, * * # * # XV. Decemb. 1564. Yours assured, W. CECILL. u2 292 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 293 I II! LETTER CLXXI. Sir William Cecil to Sir TJumas Smith. A portion of a Letter, The Earls of Leicester and Sussex made Jcnig^hts of the French King's Order. Lord Damley and Lord Leicester separately proposed as husbands for the Scottish Queen, Sir William wishes a marriage for Queen Elizabeth. [ms. lansd. 102. art. 59. Orig.] •»• The appearance of content which Queen Elizabeth affected, to live and die a maiden Queen, has been already commented upon in the second volume of the fonner Series. They, however, who peruse the original papers of her time, will learn that this content was subject to vibrations. Marriage indeed, whether for herself or others, was a constant ■ource of perplexity. Sir William Cecil in the latter part of this, and in one or two other Letters here before the reader, speaks of the double offer of matrimony to the Queen, the projected marriage of the Queen (^ Scots, and the secret but undignified marriage of the Lady Mary Gray, M all going on at the same time. Lady Catherine Gray and Lord Hert- ford were in prison. • « • • • On Saturday the French ambassador was here with the Queens Ma'^. who delt in twoo principall matters, the one to know hir plesur for the offers made by the King his Master, to choose my Lord of Lecester and any other to be named by hir Ma*^. to be of his Order. Wherunto hir Ma*^. did resolve to have my Lord of Lecester to be chosen: but for the second place she wold herafter advertise the Kyng hir plesure. The second matter was to know hir plesure in his former sutes made that the French Kings subjectes might resort with commodities from the Kyng of Spaynes low Countrees hyther, wherin abowt x. dayes past he had a long debate with the Counsell, and wold not be therin satisfy ed all though we shewed hym what yow had wrytten, and how yow found the Kyng and his Counsell satisfyed with your answers made. But now we had a very reddy answer to hym, that was because we had not prohibited the French but for a season duryng theis differencees with Flaunders, we being now at an accord with them he shuld see that liberty shuld be gyven shortly to all persons, and then the French might use there plesur. This knowledg gyven hym of our accord, semed to answer hym fully, and he sayd that he was therof fully gladd. Now why lest I am wrytyng, I understand that meanes is made that Sir Nicholas Throkmorton might goo to the French ambassador with report that uppon instance made by my L. of Lecester hir Ma ^ will name my L. of Sussex for the second party, and so untill I here more I doo forbeare wrytyng thereof. In Scotland ther hath bene a Perlement wherin no- thyng is doone but the restitution of the Erie of Lenox; as for my Ladyes claynie to Angush, by reason of the greatness of the Erie Morton being Chancellor, no- thyng is attempted. The Erie of Lennox frends wish that the L. Darly might marry with the Scottish Quene : and I see some devise to bryng the Quenes 294 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. ORIGINAL LETTEKS. £95 i Majesty not only to allow therof, but also to move it to the Quene hir sistur: but I see no disposition therto in hir Majesty ; -^ but she rather contynueth hir desyre to have my L. of Leicester preferred that waye, for which purpoos ther was this last month a metyng at Barwyk with my Lord of Murray and the Lord of Ledyngton, but yet covered with other matters : and now of late it is from thence renewed, to know with what conditions the Queens Majesty will preferr hym, wherein at this present no full answer is yet gy ven : but to saye the truth of my knoledg in theis tyclle matters I can affirm nothyng that I can assure to contynew.b I see the Qu. Ma*^ very desyrooss to have my L. of Lecester placed in this high degree to be the Scottish Queen^^s husband, but whan it commeth to the condi- tions which ar demanded, I see her than remiss of hir emestnes. This also I see in the Qu. Ma^> a sufficient contenta- • The Instructions to Mr. Randolph how to confer with the Queen of Scots when her marrying with Lord Damley was suspected, in Secretary fetil's hand writing, are preserved in MS. Lansd. Num. 8. art. 22. >• Lord Damley seems to have been anxious to retain Lord Leicester's kindneta at this time. The Harleian MS. T87. fol. l. preserves the following Copy of a Letter from him to Lord Leicester, written in February 1664 5. " My especial! gooh you as well as your owne heart would. From Dunkell the 21 of February is&t. Vour Li» sMuretl to command, > H. DAUNLKV." " My L. my father scndeth your Lordship his most harty commendacions." tion to be moved to marry abrood, and if it so may j)lease Almighty God, to leade by the hand some mete person to come and lay hand on hir to hir contentation, I cold than wish my self more helth to endure my yeres somewhat longar to enjoye such a world here as I trust wold follow : otherwise I assure yow, as now thyngs hang in desperation, I have no comfort to lyve. ♦ # ♦ • * The 30 of Decemb. 1564. Your assured for ever W. CECILL. LETTER CLXXIL Sir WiUiam Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith on the Queen qfScofs marriage with Lord Damley, Proposi- tions of the Emperor and France for Queen Eliza- hetKs marriage, [MS. LAN8D. 102. art. 60. Orig.] Sib, I THYNK the twoo Queues have satisfy ed ether them- selves with their enterviews, or rather filled the desyres of their traynes. Ther are sondry expectations of the fructs hereof, and as most commenly used in Prynces casees, no small thyngs projected. I dowt not but though yow shall bo farr off, yow will use a long lu 296 OEIGINAL LETTERS. »' anglyng wand to catch some knoledg. And lykewise I thynk yow here of some expectation what shall follow of the rumor of the mariadg betwixt the Q. of Scotte and the L. Darlye. The Lord of Lyddyngton cam hyther to obteyne the Q. Majesties consent, but he found great offence. Sir Nich. Throkmorton was sent to declare the miscon- tentment of hir Majesty, and meanes how to break it. He retomed on Fiydaye well rewarded ; but he cold not dissolve it, although he sayth it is mislyked of all the substance of the realme, and she hir self confesseth that if it were to be done she wold be otherwise ad- vised ; but she is determyned, and prayeth hir Ma'y here to comport with hir untill she will send on of hirs hjther (which shall be M>. Hayes) to declare to the Quenes Majesty some reasons on hir behalf. I thynk my Lady Lennox shall be committed to some furder custodye; and my Lords hir husband and sonne shall forfayt that they may here with us. And because it is lykely ther fundation in England is uppon Papists, the Protestants here shall receave more comfort and the Papists more disgrace. Th'Emperors Ambassador is not idle in his matter but presseth the matter for the Archduk discretly and diligently. One great obstacle is that the Q. Majesty wiU nedes see before she marry. And how that devise can be performed, if she shuld assent ether to the French Kyng, or to the Archduke, will prove hard. Hir Ma'y remembreth hir promiss to remavn free ORIGINAL LETTERS. 29T untill she have well answered the French Kyng, and so hir Ma*y considereth mete for hir honor to doo ; which causeth the Emperors ambassador to lack resolution, and yet he fy ndeth, as I her, so generall a lykyng amongest the great Lords here that he is in great hope to spede. What shall follow God knoweth. My Lord of Lecester furdereth the Quenes Majesty with all good reasons to take on of these great Prynces, wherin suerly perceaving his own cause not sperable, he doth honorably and wisely. I see few noblemen devoted to France ; but I being Mancipium Regina^ and lackyng witt for to expend so great a matter, will follow with service wher hir Ma^ will goo before. Sir H. Sydney shall be Deputy in Irland. Shan C^neyle hath overthrowen James M^Onele, and takyn hym and his brother, wherin a nombre of English soldiors being with Shan did only gayne the Victory. If now the Queens Majesty may have the possession of theis prisoners, it shall be profitable: other wyse Shanes victory will be dangerooss for Irland. • » • « * And thus you see I have scribled many thyngs in haste to satisfy your expectation, assuryng you my lesure is so lytle as I thynk this to be the twentyth Lettre all redy wrytten this daye on Sonday 3 Junij 1565. Yours assured W. CECILL. Vx S98 O&IGINAL LETTEKS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 299 ^Ht w LETTER CLXXIII. Sir WiUiam Cecill to Sir Thomas Smith : still upon the Queen ofScofs marriage. The Scottish Lords disgusted. The Marriage of Lady Mary Gray. [ms. lansd. 102. art. 62. Grig.] M"-. TnoMwoRTH was sent to the Queen of Scott.s. Uppon this occasion, the Scottish Queen hath sent twise h^rther to requere the Queens Majesty to declare for what causes she did misly k of this Mariadg, off ryng also to satisfy the same. In the meane tyme, troobles arrise there betwixt her and the Erie of Murraye and others being frendly to the common amyty of both the reahnes ; whereunto for sondry respects it semeth con- venient for us to have regard. The Duke, the Eries of Argile, Murray, and Rothoss with sondry barons are joynid together, not to allow of the mariadg other- wise than to have the Religion stablished by law, but the Quene refuseth in this sort, she will not suffer it to have the force of law, but of permission to every man to ly ve according to his conscience ; and herewith she hath reteyned a gret nombre of Protestants from asso- ciation oppenly with the other. She hath sent for the Erie Murray, but the mistrust is so farr entred on both sydes, that I thynk it will fall to an evill end, for she hath putt the Erie of Murray to the horn and prohi- bited all persons to ayde hym. Nevertheless the Duke the Erles of Argile and Rothoss are togither with hym. We shall here by M"*. Tomworth what is most lykly to follow. # • * * # The Queues Majesty, thanked be God, is well dis- posed towards mariadg. Th'Emperors Embassador is departed with an honorable answer, and hym self well satisfyed ; and commen opinion is that the Arch- duke Charles will come; which if he doo, and will accord with us in Relligyon, and shall be allowable for his person to hir Majesty, than, except God shall purpoose to contynew his displesur ageynst us We shall see some success. Here is a unhappy chance and monstruoos. The Serjeant Porter, being the biggest gentillman in this Court, hath marryed secretly the Lady Mary Grey ; the lest of all the Court. They are committed to severall'^ prisons. The offence is very great. And so now being hasted by • sc|>aratc. soo OKIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 301 It f! the French amb^ I end. From Wyndsor the 21 of August 1565. I thank you for your dilligent Advertisements. Your assured to command W. CECILL. To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith knight. The Queenes Majesties Ambass'. re- sident in France. LETTER CLXXIV. Mart/ and Henri/, King and Queen of Scots, a circu- lar Letter declaring a Progress against the Rebels^ and ordering men to join them at Edinburgh in arms, [ms. cotton, calig. b. X. fol. 333 b. OHg.] Teaist freind. We grete you wele. That quhilk before we suspectit hes now declarit the self in deid, for oure rebeUes hes reterit thame to the Incuntre, the suffering quhairof is na wayis to ws honorabill. We mynd, God willing, in proper personis to pas for thair persute, quhairunto it is neidfuU that We be weill and substanciouslie accompaneit. We pray zow thairfor effectuusle that ze with zo^ kin, freindis, and houshold Weill bodin in feir» of weir, and providit to remaine fol XV. dayis efter zo'' cuming, addres zow to mete ws at Edinburgh the xxv^^ day of August instant be sex ho'*s at evin, and swa to pas furthwat w^ ws as ze will declair the gud affectioun ze beir to ws and o'* service, and do ws maist acceptabill pless'". Subscrevut with oure handis at Edinburgh the xxiij. day of August, 1565. MARIE B. HENRY R. LETTER CLXXV. Sir William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith: upon the ArchduJce'*s offer to the Qu£en, [ms. lansd. 102. art. 63. Ortg.'\ I Doo not well remembre whyther I wrote to yow of the Emperors Ambassadors answer here. The Quenes Majesty will marry with none without sight of his person, nor with any that shall discent in Relli- gion ; for the rest of the Articles they are referred to the Treaty betwixt Kyng Phillip and Queen Mary. I think the Archduke will come. But of his Relligion no body shall know I thynk but hir Ma% nor she, • fare? f' S02 ORIGINAL LETTERS. untill he see hope of spedyng. The whole Nobihtie, to my understanding, favor this very much, and my Lord of Lecester hath behaved hym self very wisely to allow of it. I am so willing to have you come home, that my brother being named as your successor, I doo press hym therto much ageynst his will. The 30^^ of August, almost at midnight. Our intercourse standeth upon narrow poynts, and all for our import of clothes. But yet I trust they will accord. Yours assured. To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith knight The Quenes Ma"''* Ambassador re- sident in France. W. CECILL. LETTER CLXXVI. Sir William Cecil to Sir Thomas Smith. The Queen of Scots' subjects dissatisjied. The imolcnce of Darnley. [m8. laksd. 102. art, 64. Orig.'\ Sir, At this present I have so manny wayes to turn my hand that I can write no more, but only remitt yow to hir Ma^'t^^ Lettres. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 303 The Queen of Scotts hath much less nombre of Herts than hir subjects, but yow know the inequalite of the match, and therfor the event is uncertain. The yong Kyng is so insolent as his father is weary of his government, and is departed from the Court. Assure your self to here shortly certenty for your revocation, p^ Septemb. 1565. Yours assured, W. CECILL. To the right honorable Sir Thomas Smith knight the Quene's Majesties Ambassador in France. LETTER CLXXVII. The Queen to Mr. TJioma^s Randolph concerning the Appointment of Commissioners to meet on the Jr cm- tiers cif Scotland. [ms. lansd. 8. num. 25. Orig.\ By the Queue. Elizabeth R. Trusty and welbeloved we grete you well Where by your letters of the xxiiijth. of January directed to R a 304 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 305 our Secretary, and by him imported to us and our Counsaile, it appeareth upon signification made to that Quene by you of the appointment of our cosin the Erie of Bedford and Sir John Forster to be our comissioners upon the frontiers, that she named at the first for hir part the Lord Hume and the Lord Cefford hir wardens ; and afterward upon an allegation made by you of the inequality betwixt the degre of our cosin the Erie of Bedford and the Lord Hume, it was ther- fore changed and ordered that the Erie Bothewell shuld be in place of the Lord Hume, which yow took for the last resolute answer. Herupon we find some difficulty what to allowe or to refuse, for in dede were it not that we wold gladly by entring into a treaty attempt some good meanes for the restitution of the Erie of Murrey and his associates, and therwith also procure, as the time requireth, to have better administration of justice upon the frontiers then presently appeareth : we wold not procede any furder in a matter that hath such untowardnes in it as it hath. And therfore upon this occasion we do resolve that you shall herin use your discretion to obteyne this our purpose which followeth. We have no good liking to have the Erie Bothwell one, and therfore if it might be compassed by your dealing with some of the councellors there, that have both good meaning to peace and creditt, we wold wish that some other Erie of better disposicion than we take the Erie Bothwell to be, might be joyned either to the Lord Hume or to CeffiDrd, or to any better (if better may be gotten) which shuld content us, for in no wise if we may choose, can we allowe of Bothewell. And we think, if it were not to encrease this mallice towardes the Erie of Murrey, yt were reasonable to except playnly against him in respect of his yll re- portes and slawnders which we have hard that he made being in favour both of the Quene his Soveraigne and of us, and therby farr unmete to treate in any matters of amyty towching us. Nevertheles we remitt it to your consideration whether to expresse that, or otherwise to use the matter to procure the forbearing of him. And if you shall find no convenient way to obteyne any other Erie of good condition in his place, then we shall accept the Erie Bothwell, although we think the first choyce of the Lord Hume were better. But to avoyde the example to have an Earle of our Land matched with a baron of Scotland, we shall aventure of the Erie Bothewell. And thus yow see how hardly we ar brought to this Treaty, and yet for the considerations above expressed, we wold have you procede: wherin we require you to use your discretion as may best tend to the purpose ment, and therof to advertise us with as much spede as you can. Geven under our Signet at our pallace of West- VOL. II. SER. 2. X 806 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 307 minster the second day of february 1565 the eight ' yere of our reigne. To our trusty and welbeloved servant Thomas Randolph esquier our Agent Scotland. LETTER CLXXVIII. Richard Onslow, Esq, Recorder of London , to Sir William Cecil; concerning the Proclamation against Hosiers. [ms. Lansdowne a art. 64. Orig.] May it please your honour to be advertised that in the execucion of the Quenes Majesties late Proclama- cion against Hosiers, I have ben often demaunded by dyvers of them whether they niyght lawfully without offending of the proclamacion, or daunger of forfayture of their landes, lyne a Sloppe-hose not cutte in panes wyth a lynyng of Cotton stytched to the Sloppe, over & besydes the lynnen lynyng, and the other lynyng stray tt to the legg : whereunto upon consyderacion of the wordes of the proclamacion I aunswered them all, that I thought surely they could not ; and that any loose lynyng not straytt to the legg was not permytted, but for the lynyng of panes only, and that the hole upper stock being in our Sloppe uncutt, could not be sayd to be in panes, wherewith they departed satisfied. Sythens which tyme dyvers of them have ben wythe me, & declared that for as moche as they have refused to lyne the Slopp so, their customers have gone from them to other hosyers dwelling wythout Temple Barr, who not only have so lyned the Slopp, but also have sayd that your Honour hath declared, that they may lawfully so doe ; and that some of your servauntes do weare such ; whereof I thowght it my dutye to adver- tise your Honour, and further do desyre yowr advise therein, to the ende that yf it were so meant by the proclamacion (whiche I could not gatherr of the wordes thereof) or that it shall be promytted & tollerated in that poynt, that I may give understanding thereof to our poore Citezins, who otherwyse by their more care- full obeyng of the same, may be sore hyndered & im- poveryshed by losse of ther customers and lack of worke ; & other foryners be thereby enryched. And thus I leave further to trowble your Honour wyshing to the same contynuance of good helth. From my poore howse in the late Black Freres in London this last of February 1565. Your Honours moost humble at commaundement, RY. ONSLOWE. To the right honorable Sir William Cecill knight, Principall Secretarye of the Quenes Majestie, and Master of her Majesties Wardes & Lyveries, : geve thes. X 2 U It? 308 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 309 LETTER CLXXIX. Ladjj Mary Gray to Sir IVilliam Cecily upon her loss of the QaeerCs favor, [ms. lansdown£ 8. art. &J. Orig.'\ •^* The cause of the grief mentioned in this and the succeeding Letter has been ahready explained in a paragraph in that of Sir WiUiam Cecil of the 2l8t Aug. 1565. Lady Mary Gray the third and youngeat daughter of Henry Duke of Suffolk had married Henry Keys, the Queen's gentleman porter. Sir William Cecil says they were committed to separate prisons. He also says that She was the smallest woman in the Court. Sandford says she was deformed ; and that she died without issue. The date of 1566 in these Letters is, of course, \b^. Mr. Hawtrey mentioned in the second, was the person from whose charge she was exchanged to that of the Duchess of Somerset. • It is probable that she died before 1571, as her name does not occur in the List of Claimants for the Succession, noticed in the observations upon Michele's Report, ftx)m a French Manuscript written in that year. Good master Secrytary I must crave pardonn at your handes for trublynge you sg oftenn withe my rude letters, but I trust you conceve what a greffe the Quenes Majestes displessur is to me, whiche makes me to wyshe deathe rather thenn to be in thes greatte mesery witheout her Majestes favor, and therfor I am forst to crave your help and goodnes to be a con- teneweall mean for me to her Majeste, to gett me her Majestes favor agayen ; trustynge if I myghte ons ob- tayne it, never to foregoo it, whill I lyve, so necttly- gently as I have donn, God geveinge me his grace, • See Lord Burghley's Note, of Queen EliMbeth\ reign, ir Mur.lln. p. 764, whiche I truste hee will withe my conteneweall prayer for it, and therfor as you have begonn to forther me to her Majesty for her Majestes favor, so I truste yow will contenewe untill you have gotten it me. And thys I leve to trubell you for thys tyme, prayenge god to send you good spede. From Chekers the xxiiij*^^ daye of Jenuary 1566. Yours to commande duringe my lyfe, MARY GEAYE, To the ryghte honorable Ser Willyam Cycell knyght, pryiici- pall Seer y tar y to the Quenes most excelent Majeste at the Courte^ geve thes. LETTER CLXXX. Lady Mary Gray^ assuring Sir William Cecil of her repentance, [ms. lansdowne num, 8. art. 68. Orig,'\ Good master Secretary, I have receved your mes- sage you sente me by master Hawtry, wherin I do parceve you ar in dout whether I do contenew in my foly stell or no ; whiche I assuer you I do as muche repent as ever dyd any, not only for that I have therby geven occasyon to my enymyes to rejoyes at my fond parte, but also for that I have therbc incurred the 310 OKIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 311 Quenes Majestes desplessur, whiche is the greattest grefF to me ; for that the princes favor is not so sonn gotten agayn, and I assure you to be without it is suche agreff to any true Subjectes hartt, as no turment can be greatter, as I most wofull wreche have to well tryed ; desiringe rather deathe then to be any longer without so greatt a juell, as her Majestes favor shold be to me. Wherfor for god sake, as you have begun for to be a meane to her Majeste in gettinge me thes great and longe desired tressure, so contenew untell you have made me so happy as to obtayen it for me, and this I leve to trubell you any forther at this tyme, prayinge to god to send you prossperus sucses. From Chekers the vij daye of February 1566. Yours to commande duringe my lyfe, MARY GRAVE. To the ryghte honorable Sir Willyam Cecill knyght, prency- pall Secry tary to the Quenes raost excelent Majeste at the Court geve thes. LETTER CLXXXI. Christopher Jansoriy Master of Winchester School^ to Sir William Cecily upon the perverseiuss of Rich*, Lyllington^ one of his Scholars, [ms. lansdowke 10. art. 66. Orig.] ♦^* The unceasing employ of Sir William Cecil's mind while Secre- tary of State, can only be known to those whose researches lead them to the documents of his time. From the question of Peace or War down to a regulation for the lining of slop-hose ; from quarrels at court to the bickering between a schoolmaster and his scholar ; from the arrest of a Peer to the punishment of a cutpurse ; all was reported to him, and by all parties in turn was his favour craved. Christopher Jonson, the writer of this Letter, became master of Win- Chester School in 1560. Wood, in his Athenae Oxonienses, describes him as a Latin poet, a philosopher, and a physician. He did not remain master of Winchester School for a great many years ; but settled in Lon- don, and practised as a physician in the parish of St. Dunstan in the West, where he died in 1597. Right honourable my duetie with all humblenesse consydered : I received of late your honoures Letters in the behalfe of one Richard Lyllington a scholare of myne : who if he had not spared the truthe at his last beinge with your Honour, I am perswaded you wold have spared his commendations unto me ; not because I am not willinge to obay your commandment ether herein or in any other matter, but because I presume, of your justice and wysedome, that you wold not willingly defend any such. 312 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 313 The whole matter is thus, as at all tymes I ever founde him very tumultuous and disobedient, so a litle before his repayre to your Honoure, a pykery « being committed amongest my scholares, and the suspicion falling vehemently upon him (besyde his owne confes- sion) I happened to chalenge him for the same ; but he choesinge rather to be expelled, as he sayde, then corrected for his fait, dreue his knyfe at me which he had for the purpose provided, and standinge at ward agaynst me and our Subwarden, shoed such an exam- pie of stubbemesse to my scholars as theis twenty yeares I have not hard the lyke. Notwithstandinge being apprehended and punished for this disorder, the same day he departed the College without licence, but with such a threatninge stomach, bye report, as that I was advertysed by my frendes to beware of his secrete malice. The next tyme I sawe him, he brought your Honoures Letters ; upon the sight whereof I received him agayne, though I perceived he had glosed »> alto- gether with you. Synce that tyme hitherto, he hath continued in suche overthwartness, as (were it not for your Honoures sake) nether I nor the College cold beare him. That which we doe in sufferinge his evell rule, I feare will prove to the animating of others far- der then good order can abyde. Tliis I beseke your honoure consyder of, and pardon me if towarde such I a pilla^. •• glossed, palliated by exposition. I discharge my vocation. From the College by Win- chester, the xvij^*'. of Maie. Your honoures most due to commande CHRISTOFER JONSON. To the right honorable sir WylliamCecill knight, principall secretarye to her Grace. LETTER CLXXXII. Sir Tliomcui Gresham to Sir William Cecily upon tJte prolongation of the Queen's debt, at Twelve per Cent. [m8. Lansd. num, X. art. 72. Orig.\ •^* This and the next Letter throw light upon the greater money transactions of the time of Queen Elizabeth, in the hand-writing of the chief merchant of her reign. Sir Thomas Gresham appears to have stipulated regularly for all who advanced loans under his guarantee to be released from the Statute of Usury. The ordinary rate of Interest under the Statute of the 37'»» Hen. VIII*''. c. 9. was at this time fixed at 10/. per cent Queen Elizabeth confirmed it with the addition of some severe clauses in her IS"* year. The statute of the 21"' James I*', c. I7. reduced interest to eight per cent. During the Usurpation and in Charles the Second's time it fell to six per cent, and lastly by the Statute of the 12'** Ann. st 2. c. IG. was reduced to five per cent. Right honorable S^ it maie like youe funderstandc that as tills dale at x. of the clocke in the foore none I 314 ORIGINAL LETTERS. received yours of the xxvjth. and xxviij^^ And her- with it maie please youe to receyve the note of the prolongation of the Queenes Ma*"^ debts for the makinge of the new Bonds. Other I have not to molest yo^ Honnor withall, but that by th'order of yo'' steward Billet I have writen to Cloughe by this Poste for xv m. slatte and iij m. borde, to be sent from Andwarpe by the next shippe that comith, most humblye besechinge youe if there be anny other thinge I maie stande youe in steade, and specially for the love of monneye, I praie youe of all frendshipe to use no man but me. As towchinge the Q. Ma^*" warraunte for the prolonging of her debte, it maie please you to make it as to youe shall thinke good, so that I do not excede th'interest of xij. per cent by the yeare, which I will assure yo' Honnor is verie good chepe monneye as the world goeth there nowe. As knowith the Lord who preserve youe with increse of honnor. From London the xxix »». of , August anno domini 1568. I sent yo' Lettre to my Ladie Hobby by my footlnan upon the receipt therof At yo' honnors commaundment - THOMAS GRESHAM. To the right honnorable S'. Wil- liam Cecill knight The Queeiie's Ma»\ principall Secretary. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 315 LETTER CLXXXIII. Sir Tluyinas Gresham to Sir William Cecily again upon money lent to the Queen, [m8. laksdowne, 12. art. 8. Orig.] Right honnorable Sir, this morning I have receaved yours with my lettres by my servaunt, wherbie I do perceyve that the monney whiche remainith in my handes of sir William Garrard, and for the armur, must be paid to the merchauntes. Wherin I shall proceede with paiment of half there somes untill furder your pleasor be knowen ; for the whiche it maie please you to send me the Quenes Majesties Warraunt. And wheras your Honnor doth now thinke som difficulte to paie anny monney to the Quenes Majesties creditors beyond the seas, Sir in my opinion you neede not to make any dowt therof, yf her Highnes do see her mer- chauntes well paid here in London this first some, for bie that time the other monney shalbe payable hear bie the Quenes Majestic to her said merchauntes, they shall have both plenty of monney at Hamborough and heare. Assuring you the goodes that our merchauntes hathe shipjx?d from Hambrough hither is well worth 316 OKIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 317 \] c. UK li. and better. And the shiping that they make now from hens with our comodityes is richely worthe ij c. M'. li. and better for that there wilbe above xxx M'. Clothes the custom wherof wilbe worth to the Quenes Majestie at the least x UK whiche will discharg that debt if it stand so with the Quenes Majesties pleasor. Sir, I do percey ve the gretest care that you have is that our merchauntes shall not have monney enoughe for to by up our commodityes, wherin you neede not to dowbt considering the good vent they have had at Hamborough alredie, and are like to have. Therefore I shall most humblie beseche you for the staie and advauncing of the Quenes Majesties credit, this smal paiment that is agreed upon alredy at Hamborough maie be paid : considering that I have writen hereto- fore to the said creditores they should have a paiment made there now this August, whiche paiment will not a litle advaunce her Highnes honnor and credit. And how muche her Highnes credit hathe stand her in steede beyond the Seas, for reddie monneye, it is to tedius and to long a matter to trowble you withall. But if my credit were suche, that I were able to per- swade the Quenes Majestie and you, I would have that matter now sorowid for above all other thinges : assuring you Sir I do know for certain that the Duke de Alva is more trowblid with the Quenes Majesties gret credit, and with the vent of her Highnes commo- dities at Hamborough, then he is with anny thing els, (and quaketh for feare) whiche is one of the chifest thinges, that is the let that the said Duke cannot com by the tenth penny that he now demandeth for the sale of all goodes anney kind of waye in the Low Countrey (whiche Sir I beleve wilbe his utter undoing). Therfore Sir, to conclude, I would wisshe that the Quenes Majestie in this time shuld not use any strangers, but her own subjectes, wherbie he and all other Princes maie se what a Prince of power she ys. And bie this meanes there is no dowbt but that her Highnes shall cause the duke of Alva to know him self, and to make what end with that Low Countreys as her Majestie will her self, what brute soever is here spredde abrode to the contrary. Sir seing I am entrid so farre with yowe for the credit of the Quenes Ma- jestie beyond the seas, wherin I have travailed this XX. yeres and bie experience in using our owne mer- chantes I found gret honnor to the Prince (as also gret profit to the merchantes) and to the whole Realm, whatsoever our merchauntes saye to the contrarye. For when our Prince ought owr merchauntes Ix or iiij'^'^ m' li. then they knew them selves, and were daily reddie to serve as good chepe as straungers did, whiche Sir I would wissh again in this time of extremity to be usid, for that I know our merchauntes be able to do yt, because the debt is devided into many mennes M« 318 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 319 mi I I m f!! h handes, and bie no meanes cannot hinder them having interest. Other I have not to molest you withall but that as the n. of this present Mr. Bennedik Spinola brought home to my howse a merchaunt of Jauva calid Thomas Ragio to take his leave of me to know if he could plesor me with anny thing in Flaunderes, and as I thanked him, so emong other communication of pro- fit and for service by him ministrid, he desired me to be his frind for suche monney as the Queues Majestic hathe of his in the Towr ; with that I asked him what his som was and he said xx or xxx m^ ducates; but by talke I perceive he hathe muche more with other of his frindes. Now Sir seing this monney in the Towr doth appertain to merchauntes, I would wishe the Queues Majestic to put it to use of som profit, as to mynt hit into her own coyne. Wherby she shalbe a gayner iij or iiij m' li. and enriche her Relm with so muche fine silver. And for the repaiment therof, her Highnes maie paie it bie the waie of exchaung or otherwise to her gret fardell and profit. As also her Majestic maie take it up of the said merchantes upon intrest uppon the bandes accustomid for a yere or twoo, whiche I think they wilbee right glad of, and so with the said monney her Majestic maie paie her debtes both hear and in Flaunderes, to the gret honnor and credit of her Majestic throughout all Christendom ; as knowith the Lord who preserve you with the in- crease of honnor. From Gresham howse the 1#^ of August 1569, at ix of the cloke at night. At your honnors commandment, THOMAS GBESHAM. Sir I most humbly thancke you for the remembrans that you have of my sewte for my lady Mary Grey and for my lande at Meserley. To the right honnorable Sir William Cecill knight^ the Quenes Majesties principall Secretary. After this last Letter follow, in the Lansdowne Manuscript, Notes of the Sums of money taken up in liondon in November and December 1569, by Sir Thomas Gresham, for a six months' day of payment ; with a note of the prolongation of the Queen's Majesty's debts due in the City of London the last day of May A. D. 1570, and prolonged until the last day of November, 1570. Each sum at a broker^e of one per Cent, and six per Cent interest for six months. The lenders were principally aldermen of London ; though the Lady Joane Laxton widow occurs more than once. Sir Thomas Gresham signs the schedules. At the end of the first he writes, " It may like your Honnor to understand that to every one of these bondes the Queen's Majesty must give out her ac- customed bonds ^r Oie discharging of the Statute ©/"Usuries, which I would wish might be presently set at liberty if it were possible for the better accomplishing of her Highness enterprise. Thomas Gresham." At the end of another Schedule he says, ^^Sir to every one of these bonds there must be made Her Majesty's bond for the discharge of the Statute of Usury, as heretofore they have had the like, which is now of no force, because the time and date is expired." The liansdowne MS. 113. art. 19. contains " A Note of the sums of money that came into the hands of M\ Thomas Gresham and passed from him, in tlie time of Queen Alary.'* iVHP 320 ORIGINAL LETTERS. •ft LETTER CLXXXIV. The Lady Stanhope to Sir William Cecil, for his counsel to Mr, Hotham tvho had married her daughter, and through jealousy wished to divorce Jicr. [ms, lansdowne 12. art. 1. Orig.^ •,* This and the two succeeding Letters, whilst they present the de- tails of a family quarrel, materially illustrate the Grievance of Ward- ship, a prerogative which Michele has already accurately defined in a former page; and which, as Blackstone acknowledges, was one of the greatest hardships of our ancient tenures. Lady Stanhope, the widow of Sir Michael Stanhope of Shelford, in Nottinghamshire, had obtained by purchase the wardship of a Hotham, had married her daughter to him, and found, too late, that whatever might be the advantages of property, her daughter had gained little of affection in the union. A Scheme was proposed to Queen Eliiabeth, somewhere about the year 1570 by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, a projector of some talent in his day, for the setting up an Academy in London, chiefly for the educatiott of Her Majesty*s Wards, the prefatory portion of which applies directly to the circumstances named in Lady Stanhope*s letters. He says, " Forasmuch as (most excellent Sovereign) the most part of noble- men and gendemen that happen to be your Majesty's Wards, the custody of their bodies being of bounty granted to some in reward of service or otherwise, not without your honorable confidence of their good education, yet nevertheless most commonly by such to whom they are committed] or by those to whom such committees have sold them, being either of evil religion or insufficient qualities, are through the defaults of their guardians for the most part brought up, to no smaD grief of their friends, in idleness and lascivious pastimes, estranged from aU serviceable virtues to their Prince and Country, obscurely drowned in education for sparing charges of purpose to abuse their minds, lea5^ being better qualified, ihey should disdain to stoop to the marriage of such purchaser's DAUGHTERS.** It is by no means intended in these remarks to fling any imputation ORIGINAL LETTERS. 321 upon Lady Stanhope, for, according to her own statement she took pains to place Mr. Hotham in Lord Burghley's family; to be retained in which, was at that time considered fortunate even for the young nobility. The facts, however, in Lady Stanhope's Letters, joined with the allega- tions in Sir Humphry Gilbert's Proposal, show what was the condition of wards, and that among the improvements of our national policy few have been more truly beneficial to the common subject, than the change which took place in the time of Charles the Second in the guardianship of Orphans. Mr. Hotham mentioned in these Letters was John, afterwards Sir John Hotham of Scarborough, who was high-sheriff of Yorkshire in 1584. Juliana, the daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope, was his first wife, and bore to him three daughters, Elizabeth, Jane, and Juliana, who all died without issue. Lady Stanhope, his mother-in-law, the writer of these Letters, was Anne daughter of Nicholas Rawson, Esq. of Audley in the county of Essex. Right honorable, my humble dewtie premised, it may please yow to be advertised that I am at this present driven to write unto yow, as to one at whose handes, if I have not frindlie helpe, I am like in short time to bring my old dayes with sorow unto my grave ; for alas how unhappie a woman am I, that having ever sins the death of M'. Stanhope imployed my hole tyme, and that litle that God left me for the setting forwardes and advauneement of my children, should now in my elder yeres have any of them turned home to me with misery and shame. Woe be to that unluckye bower that I first delt, at the emest desir of himselfe, to buy the wardship of that unkind gentleman my Sonne (if he were worthy of the name of a sonne) Ho- tham. I sought his good by all meanes possible, I v6L. II. SER. 2. » Y ill ii II I I iM i S22 ORIGINAL LETTERS. preferred him to your service, for the which he was so long the better, as while he remembred the vertuous education, in honest liffe and good religion, he received with yow ; but sens, for theis foure yeres, he is so geven over to his owne will, as he forgetteth God, abuseth his owne body with evill company, and which is tlie frutes therof, hathe, of long tyme, upon a hatred con- ceived of my daughter his wiffe, evill intreated & in sundry sort slaundred her ; and now lastlie confederal with a naughty pack which he kepeth in his house, who served her as her woman, hathe made a traine to have colour to sclaunder his saide wiffe, sent her away, and caused his servauntes to leve her at my sister Bevercotsis, as it were to the wide world; and sins seweth to be divorced from her, to the end to mary the said wicked woman. O Lord ! Sir, I pray yowe, thinke what discomfort it was to me to receive her in that sort, but how muche more grief it is to my hart to heare the sundry sclaunders he hath most untrulie bruted & blasted of her, and how can I live to se him worke his tirannous will against her by the way of divorce, especiallie in Yorkshire, where he may subome men & women to say what he listeth to serve his develishe purpose, I beseach yow Sir even for the frindship I have ever reposed in yow, stretch forth now your helping hand to me & my daughter in this our misery, & not ours onlie, but a blott & rebuke to my hole ORIGINAL LETTERS. 323 kinred & frindes. The case how it standeth, this bearer my sonne, Edward Stanhope, shall report unto yow, as we receive it of her, & otherwise aswell by the report of servauntes as his owne; & other her bre- therins knowledge of his usages hertofore, as also by good & evident presumptions, which if it be trew. Justice requireth she should not be oppressed, and thoughe I know yow are not in this case a Judge, yet how hardely the unbrideled rage of a husband that is disposed to spoile his house, & undone himselfe may be stayed by the wifFe that is left penyles to defend her cause, onles she hath the ayde of some good frindes, I trust yow will for alliaurice & frindship sake judge. For alas Sir I am not able (onles I should undoe my- selfe and my children, that be yet unprovided for) to wade in defence of her cause by lawe ; and besides the world is geven to condempne the woman where any sute of divorce is made ; I therfore humblie beseache yow lett the auctorytie that you have had over him whilest he served yow extend thus farr, as it will please yow to call him before yow, and by your frindlie wisdome so govern his unstayednes, as if it may be, they may live together in the feare of God which with all my hart I do wishe. But if the rage of his jelous hed be such as he cannot yet content himselfe so to do, then it may please yow to order it so, that she may, having some allowaunce, live with her frindes, and I Y 2 324 ORIGINAL LETTERS. will do the part of a mother to frame her to devise by all good and godlie meanes possible to recover him to that contentacion which should be their greatest com- fort. All which referring to your good government, with my most hartie comendacions to my good Lady, I humblie leve yow, being somewhat stayed with the assured hope we have of your frindlie dealinge in this behalfe. And so with my dew comendacions to my good Lady, I humblie leve you to the Almightie. Shelford this vij th of Aprill 1569. Your honors most humblie bound, ANNE STANHOPE. To the right honorable Sir William Cycill knight, chief Secretarie to the Quenes most excellent Majestie, & one of her Highnes most honorable Privye Councell. LETTER CLXXXV. John Hotham to Sir WiUiam Cecily requesting to be exciisedjrom appearing before him. [m8. lansd. 12. art, 93. Orig.] May it pleas your Honor that wheras I have resavid your Lettre wherin your Honor willethe me to repare ORIGINAL LETTERS. 325 unto yow to be orderyd towchinge th^occasions of my wyfTe. Thes may be most humblie to dessire your Honore that waye to hold me excusede. For as much as in thes affayres (your Honor not offendid) I am fullie resolvid never to order that abuse but as the Lawe will therin determyne, as ryghtlie moved ther- imto by the truthe of my cause, as also thorrowe the Stanhope's eville delinge many wayes with me. At this instant I am boythe unfurnyshed of horse and mony for such a suddeyne Jorney, havinge so lyttle warnynge as Edward Stanhope haithe geven me to provid my wants ; the which consideryd, I trust your Honor will taike myne absence in good part. Further it meight not all to gethere be without danger, by meane of a bound that the Stanhope's have agenst me, in whos curtesie I nethar have nor will none affiance. I beseche your Honor in resspeckt of my bounden dewtie unto yow, nethar urge me to th'^inconvenience that myne Adversaries requier, nor forget what shame by the bringinge my wyfe and me together your Honor meight heape to me your sarvante, the which I hope your Honor will not, altho the perswacions of the contrarie be never so importunate. Trewe it is I rest holye at your Honor*'s comandement duringe my lyfe ; but in this case onlie I humbly trust your Honor will pardone my boldnes in delinge playnly lyke myne intcncion. Humbly my service remembred I wyshe 826 ORIGINAL LETTERS. yow th'increace of honor that your hart desyrethc. From Skorbrowghe the 15 of Aprill A'». 1570. Your Honor'^s humble Servant at comaundement, JOHN UOTHAM. To the right honorable S' William Cecylle knyght, M'. of the Wards and Lyveries, Secretorie to the Quenes Majestic, and of her Heyghnes raost honorable Counsell at the Courts geve thes. li LETTER CLXXXVI. Lady Stanhope to Sir William Cecily to bring tJie business between Hotham and her dauglUer to a good end, [ms. lansoowne 12. arU 76. Orig,] Sib, It 18 my very hard fortune to live to this day to have one of my daughters with reproche turned home unto me, & muche harder had it ben for her if I had not now lived, being as she was turned to the wide worlde to seke relieffe. And thoughe I thoughte yow could not be voide of many troubles, yet had I divers occasions to move me to trouble you also; to m ORIGINAL LETTERS. 327 take some order betwixt her husband and her. I per- ceive hitherto he hathe not onlie litle regarded your favourable dealing with him in this matter, but tumes the delay alltogether to my daughters sclaunder, what with reporting sundry untruthes of her in all places where he comes, & causing the meanest that is towardes him to do the like. I trust it is all untrew that he hathe charged her with to yow, & to others, but it is manifest that many of his reportes be utterlie against trouthe. In the meane while I am greatlie burdened to kepe his wifFe who seketh the defacing of me and mine. And were it not that God dothe reveale his and his womans evill intentes against my daughter, in that he hathe had a child by her begotten as it should seme about that very time, he hathe already layed that blott of my daughter which she should hardlie ever wype of. At my Sonne Edward Stanhopes deliverye to him of your honors last letters, he saide he would not come onles he might be assured not to be arrested for debt which he oweth me, which advauntage I was content to refuse, thoughe the debt hathe ben long dew, be- cause I would not be a hinderer of your good motion, wherupon he promised to come. I pray yow therfore Sir, either make some good end therof, or if the de- fault be in him as the delaye hathe ben hitherto to my great charge, howsoever we deale with him, yet suffer him not so muche to abuse your gentlenes. What els resteth to be done, I referr it to your wise consider- ■^1 I:- 4' f 328 ORIGINAL LETTERS. acion. I am further to geve you humble thankes that upon a motion made from me by word by Edward Stanhope afore Christmas, that I mought have the graunt of my sonne Coopers sonnes wardship, if he, being yet sicklie should dye, yow promised it to me; I am the glader therof for that I knowe some would seke it rather for gaine sake then meaning good educa- tion to the child. I trust the father shall live and do well, and if he do not, I hope my daughter and I shall so deale in his education as you shall like well ©f the disix)sing of him. And yet I rest most bound unto you for the same. And so I humblie leve you to the Almightie. Tburgarton this last of Marche, 1570. Your honors most humble bounde kinswoman, ANNE STANHOVK. To the right honorable Sir Wil- liam Cicill knight, chiefe Secretary to the Quenes most excellent i\Ia- jcstie, & one of her Highnes most honorable Privy Councell. ORIGINAL LETTERS. S29 LETTER CLXXXVII. Sir Ralph Sadler to Lord Burghley concerning tlie manner in wJcicli the Queen of Scots received the news of the Duke of Norfolk'' s condemnation. [ms. cotton. CALia. c. III. fol. 194. Orig.] •,• From this Letter it should seem that Sir Ralph Sadler took charge of the Queen of Scots while Lord Shrewsbury went to Norfolk's arraign, mcnt. Please it your Lordship The postes whether they worke or play have their hyre, and therforr I spare not their labour though I have none other occasion then to advertise your L. that all is well here concerning this charge, and that yester- day I rcceyvid your letters of the 17^'' of this present (for the which I most hertely thanke your L.) togither with a briefe discourse of the Dukes arraignement and condempnacion, which I fourthwith impartid unto my lady of Shrewsbury to the ende she might take occas- sion to make this Queen understande of the same ; and also I gave it out to the gentilmen in this House both what nomber of the Nobilitee did passe upon his tryall, and also that his offences and treasons were suche and so manyfestly and playnely provid, that all the noble men did not onely detest the same, but also without 830 ORIGINAL LETTEES. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 331 . I any manner of scruple objected, by comen consent every of them did pronounce him giltie. Which, being put abrode here in the House after this sort, was brought unto the knowledge of this Queen by som of her folkes which harde it, before my Lady cam unto her, for the which this Queen wept very bitterly, so that my lady founde her all to be wept and mourning, and asking her what she ayled she answered that she was sure my lady coulde not be ignorant of the cause, and that she coulde not but be moche greved, to understand of the trouble of her frendes, which she knew well did fare the worse for her sake, for sure she was that the Duke fared the worse for that which she of late had written to the Q. Majestic ; and sayid further that he was un- justly condempnid, protesting that as farre as ever she coulde perceyve by him or for any thing she knew he was a trew man to the Queen her sister : but being an- swered by my lady that as she might be sure that whatsoever she had written to the Q. Majestic coulde do the duke neither good nor harme touching his con- dempnacion, so if his offences and treasons had not ben grete and playnely proved ayenst him, those noble men which passed upon his tryall wolde not for all the good on erth have condempned him. She therupon with mourning there becam silent, and had no will to talke any more of the matier, and so lyke a trew lover she remayneth still mourning for her love. God I trust will put it into the Queen's Majesties hart so to provide for her self that such trew lovers may receyve suche rewardes and frutes of their love as they have justly deserved at her Majesties handes. All the last.weke this Queen did not ones loke out of her chamber, hering that the D. stode upon his arraigne- ment and tryall, and being troubled by all likelihod with a giltie conscience and feare to heare of suche newes as now she hathe receyved. And my presence is suche a trouble unto her that oneles she com out of her chamber I com litle at her, but my lady is seldom from her, and for my parte I have not syns my comyng hither so behaved meself towardes her as might justly give her occasion to have any such mislyking of me ; though in dede I wolde not rejoyse at all of it, if she had any better lyking. But though she lyke not of me yet I am sure that this good lady and all the gen- tilmen and others of this house do lyke well ynough of me ; which doth well appere by their curteous and gentill enterteignement of me and myn. My lorde hathe a costly ghest of me, for I and my men and xxxvj. horses of myn do all lye and feede here at his charge, and therfore the soner he come home the better for him. Trusting his L. be now on the way, and therfor I forbere to write unto him. But if he be there, it may please you to tell him that all is well here, and that my Lady and I do long to see his L. here. And as I doubt not she wolde most gladly have him here, so I am sure she can not long for him more then If t. y t J- SS2 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I do, loking howerly to here som good newes from your L. of my retoume. And so I beseche Almightie God to preserve and kepe you in long lif and helth, and to increase you in honour and vertue. From Sheffelde Castell the xxj^t of Januarie at night 1571. with the rude hande of Your L. to commaunde as your owne R. SADLEIR. To the right honourable and my very good lord, my Lord of Burghley, of the Queens Majes- ties Pryvy councell. LETTER CLXXXVIII. Margaret Countess of Lenox and Angus, to Sir WiU Ham Cecil, justifying lierself' and her Lord from false rumors, [ms. cottok. calio. c. IX. fol. 22. Or\g,\ •,* Camden, in his History of Queen Elizabeth, under the year 1578, says, " Much about this time Margaret Douglas Countess of Lenox, niece to King Henry the Eighth by his eldest sister, widow of Matthew Earl of Lenox, and grandmother to James King of Great Britain, having survived eight children which she had been mother of, passed to her heavenly country in her climacterical year ; and was buried at Westminster with a stately funeral at the Queen's charges. She was 8 matron of singular piety, patience, and modesty ; wlio was thrice cast into the Tower (as I have heard her say herself) not for any crime of ORIGINAL LETTERS. 333 treason, but for love matters; first, when Thomas Howard, son of Thomas Howard the first Duke of Norfolk of that name, falling in love with her, died in the Tower of London ; then for the love of Henry Lord Damley, her son, to Mary Queen of Scots ; and lasdy, for the love of Charles her younger son to Elizabeth Cavendish, mother to the Lady Arabella, with whom the Queen of Scots was accused to have made up the match." • The precise date of the Letter here before the reader does not appear. It was certainly written before 1572, when Matthew Earl of Lenox died. It shows the effect which even the gossip of the Court had upon the mind of Queen Elizabeth ; the Coimtess, at a considerable distance of time, being obliged to defend both herself and her husband against the false rumor that they had recommended in the previous Reign the imprison, ment of Elizabeth in the Tower. There is another Letter of the Countess in the Cottonian Collection written rather earlier, apparendy in 1669, which, as it has been omitted in its chronological order, shall be given here in the smaUer type. This also is a curious Letter, inasmuch as it exhibits her and her husband in so reduced a state of fortime that she had " been forced to lay her jewels in gage for money to bear the ordinary charges of their house ;" yet anxious to have the guardianship of their grandson the Scottish King. It is as follows : " After my moste hartye comendacions to yow, good Mr. Secretorye, I doubte not but partely yow do knowe howe manye sorowfull greyfes I have passed. I thanke God of all. Besydes this late chaunce that hathe hapned by the death of the Lorde R^^t of Scotlande, being not one of the leaste, but cheifiye yt towcheth me nearest to see my L. my husbonde, who and I have been togethers this xxvj yeres, fall into suche an extreme hevynes, being very evell at ease sence theis discomfortable newes of Scotlande came ; so that if he contynewe anye tpne in the same I feare he can not longe indure, his inwarde greif ^ suche ; and I not able by anye meane to coniforte him, saycnge that onles God of his greate mercye and pyttye put to his helping hande, he seeth playnelye the distruction of that lytde innocent King nere at hande ; wyshinge of God that before that daye shoulde come, seing that he cannot be sutfred to be there in place, and nowe in ty me of nede to have bene a helper and a strengthnynge to that saide innocent Kinge agaynste his ennemyes, that God wolde take him oute of this miserable lyfe. The two pryncypall causes that cheifiye greveth and feareth my Lord is, that the prync3rpall ennemyes of the saide Kinge, and gyltye of his father deathe, as he is informed, arre put • Hist. Elii. p. 337. % 334 ORIGINAL LETTERS. t i la to Ijbertye ; and he being the graundfather, to hii greate greif absent from hym who of right must nedes have bene the dieileat pyllor and •trengthe to the saide king in that Realme. My L. sayeth further that he thinketh two causes bathe bene and is the let of his goenge thither, the one for religions cause, and the other for bearing of rule, which if he had bene sufired to have gone, he wolde have put all that bathe suche an opynyon of him oute of that error. As for Religion yt shoulde never have fayred the worse for hym, but rather the better ; And for bearing of rule there as a Regent or Governor, his mynde was never so to do, nor to have trobled him self withall, being of the yeres which he is of; but to have been an assystaunt to suche noble men as the Quenes Majcstie here, and the State there, shoulde have thought meete to have taken the government of that realme : and my saide L. to have had but onely the keping of the saide kinges person, and the noble man that is in possession thereof ah-edye to have joyned with him, and this shoulde the Quenes Majestie have had good proofe of his good servyce bothe to the Kinge and State there, and also to the Quenes Majestie here, or yt had bene longe. But he saieth that seing he can not perceyve that her Highnes is wiUinge that he go into that realme, his moste humble sute unto her Maieatie is, to be a meane that the saide King may be brought into this her Highnes Realme, and so to be noryshed here under her Majesties protection and keping, for the better safetye of his person, wherein he moste hartelye desiereth yow to be a meane unto her Majestie for. Otherwyse my L. moste humblye craveth and besecheth her Majestie, for Godes cause, to be a meane that the saide Kinge may be delivered uito his handcs, and with her Majesties favour he may departe with him to some forrayne Coun- trye, for the safetye of the lyttle Innocent ; otherwayes whosoever bcre aucthorytie in that Realme, and so longe as he taryeth within the same, he maketh no accompte of that yonge Innocentes lyfe. My L. saieth that he dothe not blame her Majestie of his stay here, for he knoweth right well yt is not longe of her Highnes, knoweing the godly e and good nature her Majestie is of, btft suche as have bene there longe tyme ; his back frjmdes ; not having deserved yt at theire handes : wyshinge of God that they may meane as trewlye and fathfullye towardes her Majestie as he doth. " Now good M'. Secretorye after I have made the discourse of this my greif unto yow, as touching my L. And althoughe her Majestie were willinge, that he shoulde go into Scotlande, and in healthe and strengthe of bodye as presentelye he is not yet in, I can not see howe his purse can be able to take that chargeable jomey in hande ; being in suche poore state as presentelye we arre, for latelye I have bene forced to laye my jewelles in gage for money to here the ordynarye charges of our House. Thus leavinge to ttoble yow anye further I corny tt yow good M'. Secre- ■qi ORIGINAL LETTERS. 335 torye to Godcs holyc protection. From the Quenes Majesties House of Somersett place this Candelmes daye, Your asured lovcyng frend MABOARET COUNTESS."* I Good mester Sekretory y have reseved your ansuer by my man Fowler upon the Quens words to you, wharby yt apyreth Her Majesty hath byn informyd and doth credyd the same that y in tyme of her High- nes trobyll in Quen Marys rayne shold be rather a mene to agment the same then demynishe yt, in putyng then in the Quens hed that yt was a quyetnes for the teme to hawe her shut up &c. Mester Sekretory none on lyve ys able to justyfy thys false and ontru report of me made among others the lyke, as therin y will be swome yf y were put to yt, that never in all my lyfe y had or ment to hawe eny sych words with Quen Mary tochyng the Quens Majesty ; nor y for my part bare no syche stroke to geve eny advyce in eny sych weyghty matter. But what shold y say even as my Lord and y undeservyd hath had extremety showd apon the informasyons most ontruly geven unto the Quen's Majesty of ows so late, y for no other but the continuance therof as long as Her Hyghnes doth hyre^ and credyt the furst tale without profe to be tryed, and as yt apperethe dyscredytethe my answers eny way made to the contrary how tru soever they be ; • MS. Cotton. Calig. C. i. fol. ST 6. '' hear. 336 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 'I u t but yf my Lord and Y myght fynde the Qucns Ma- jesty so good and grasyous onto ows as to hyre owr accusers and ows fase to fase y wold then be owt of dowt to fynd shortly sum part of Her Hyghnes favor agen wych y shall beseche you to be a mene for, and to partysepat the contentes of thys my letter to her Majesty, in wych dowyng ye geve me occasyon to be redy to requit the same as my power shall extend, and so with my harty comendasyons I bed you lykwyse farwell. From Sheathys the second of Octobre Your assuryd frend to my power MARGARET LENNOX and ANGUS. To my very frend Sir Wyllara Cycell knyght chefe Secretory to the Qucns Ma''*'. Master of the Wards, and on of her Hyghnes inost honorable Prevy Councell. i\ III Lord Burghley made a memorandum that Latly Margaret Lenox died at Hackney in 1577. See Murdin, p. 542. It was upon account of her dying in debt that the Queen paid the expenses of her funeraL See the Hafleian MS. 289. foL 198 b. END OF VOL. II. LONDON : PRINTBD BV THOMAS DAVISON, WHITBKRIARS. ™l COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIF This book is due on the date indicated below -»t^« ^f „ '''^flnlte period after the date of Y •".^ \ i COLUMBIA UNIV^Sb 0032250681 ^: /I' '.\1 'Ji ^' '•» -.<- -9$ ■V%. •I' V TO o rg >!- -J ,**; #fc* C»S*£>£i^ .."J.- .V?.. ••. f ■ .«» j' - « » , , ,'"ii * ■*■ V5»i'f;,li' ' % t ' ' '. « / ^ Columbia Winibtviit^ in rtje dtp of ^eto |?or% LIBRARY ■ i 4 ; ..J 1 : 3 1 ) M -I ^•.. ^ . / i; :#^ l/-" l^.^ / / / '3 ORIGINAL LETTERS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH HISTORY. Jr v^ • , ; ILLUSTBATIVE OF ORIGINAL LETT. COL.CpLL? ENGLISH HIST[)]£f|BRARY [ N.YOR INCLUDING NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS: FROM AUTOGRAPHS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, AND ONE OR TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS. WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY HENRY ELLIS, F. R. S. Sec.S.A. KECPER OF THE MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. SECOND SERIES. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: PRINTED BY THOMi^S DAVI80M, WIIITEFHIAIIS. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HARDING AND LEPARD, PALL-MALL EAST. MDCCCXXVII. I "U s\ CONTENTS. VOL. III. LETTER p^cB / cLxxxix. Minute of a Letter from Queen Elizabeth to the Queen of Scots, Feb. Ist. 1571 1 cxc. Henry Middelmore to Lord Burghley, report- ing a Conversation he had had with the Lord Admiral of France, concerning Flanders, the proposed match with the Duke d'Anjou, &c. 3 cxci. Sir Thomas Smith to Lord Burghley. Lord Lincoln's arrival and reception at Paris; their joint proceedings. 12 cxcii. Edwin Sandys bishop of London to Lord Burghley, upon the News of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. Recommends measures j for safety, with the beheading of the Queen j of Scots 23 cxciii.^ The Earl of Sussex to the Lord Treasurer, upon the Queen's wish to sign a Commission to execute by martial Law 26 cxciT. William Fletewood, Recorder of London, to Lord Burleigh, on the manner of tanning Leather in the reign of Queen Elizabeth in different parts of England -. , , 28 cxcv. Walter Earl of Essex to the Lord Treasurer, offering his eldest son to be married to his Lordship's daughter si cxcvi. Edmund Bishop of Peterborough to Lord Burghley ; upon the state of his Diocese, and the unruliness of the Puritans in it. . . . 33 v"3 A - O O A^ -Jt "-11 iJ \J X ii CONTESTS. LETTER PAGE cxcvii. Lionel Duckett Lord Mayor of London^ to Lord Burgbley, upon the reformation of ex- cessive feasting in the Halls of the City Com- panies and in Taverns 37 cxcviH. Sir Thomas Smith to Lord Burghley. The Queen anxious on the Affairs of Ireland. The business of Ulster 39 txcix. Sir Thomas Smith to Lord Burghley. Queen Elizabeth has a convenient Cold 40 cc. Richard Prise of Brecknock to Lord Burgbley, upon the abuse of the Cymmortha and the general state of \V^ales 41 tci. John Langley Lord Mayor of London to Lord Burghley, claiming the accustomed War- rants for Venison 51 ecu. Serjeant Fletewood, Recorder of London, to Lord Treasurer Burleigh, upon the Black As- size at Oxford ; various City Intelligence, &c. 53 cciii. Elizabeth Countess of Lenox to Lord Burgh- ley, thanking him for using his interest with the Scottish Ambassador that the Earldom of Lenox might devolve upon her daughter Arabella, A. D. 1578 57 cciv. The Earl of Shrewsbury to Lord Burghley and Lord Leicester, announcing the death of Eli- zabeth Countess of Lenox 59 ccv. The Countess of Shrewsbury to Lord Burghley, that the Lady Arabella may have the lands which were assigned to the late Countess of Lenox her mother. A. D. 1581-2 62 ccvi . The Countess of Shrewsbury to Lord Burghley : again respecting the assignment of an Income to the Lady Arabella. A. D. 1582 64 ccvii. The Due d'Anjou to the Earl of Sussex, ex- ,\ pressing his attachment to the Queen 67 ccviii/Trhe young Earl of Essex to Lord Burghley ; his first Letter from Trinity College Cam- bridge 72 CONTENTS. LETTER rAGE ccix. R. Wrighte, tutor to the Earl of Essex at Trinity College Cambridge, to Mr. Richard s^^ Broughton, for clothes and plate for the Earl 75 ccx. Robert Earl of Essex to Lord Burghley in an- swer to his Letter which had recommended \to him what was true Nobility. 77 he Earl of Essex, from Cambridge, to Lord Burghley; pleased with his return to the University from Keiston in Huntingdonshire, where he had retired for a time from the Plague 78 ccxij. The Earl of Essex, from Cambridge, to Lord Burghley, to pay an annuity to a poor man a friend of his father 79 ccxiii. The Earl of Essex to Lord Burghley upon his Lordship's charging him with want of frugality 80 ccxiv. The Earl of Essex to Lord Burghley, that he yields to sell Keyston to pay his debts 81 ccxv. The Lords of the Council to the Bishops, re- commending a Collection to be made among the Clergy for the Town of Geneva 83 ccxvi. The Recorder of London to Lord Burghley, upon his Searches for Seminary Priests .... 86 ccxvu. Father Sanders the Jesuit, to the Catholick NobiUty and Gentry of Ireland, to stir them to Rebellion 92 ccxviii. Lord Burghley to Sir George Carey and Mr. Bowes at Berwick. Impatient at not hear- ing of the Scots affairs 97 ccxix. Lord Burghley to Sir George Carey, upon the forbearance of James the Sixth toward the Duke of Lenox 100 ccxx. Sir Robert Carey to his father Lord Hunsdon, that the Queen is impatient for his Lordship to go to his Government of Berwick 102 ccxxi. Lord Hunsdon to Lord Burghley. His grief for her Majesty's speeches to his son: and his desire to resign his office 103 li' { I CONTENTS. LCTTER PAGE ccxxii. The Mayor and Aldermen of Exeter to Lord Burghley, to know the truth of the Hue and Cry that the Queen of Scots had fled 106 CCXXII I. The Mayor and Aldermen of £xeter to the Lords of the Council to know if London had been set on fire 109 ccxxiY. The Lords of the Council to the Earl of Shrews- bury Earl Marshal of England^ directing the execution of the Q. of Scots Ill ccxxv. Robert Carvyle of Berwick to Secretary Wal- singham^ after the death of the Scottish Queen 118 ccxxvi. Thomas Randolph to Secretary Walsingham. The King of Scots indisposed ; he depends upon the Queen : wishes for some persons of her Majesty's hunting establishment to be sent to him 120 ccxxvii. Walter Stokes at Rouen to Dr. Elye, on the state of Affairs in England after the Execu- tion of the Queen of Scots 125 ccxxv III. The Warden and Fellows of All Souls Col- lege Oxford to Lord Burghley, that they cannot let their woods as the Queen would wish to Lady Stafford 128 ccxxix. The Warden and Fellows of All Souls College Oxford to Lord Burghley, intreating him to pacify the Queen's displeasure 138 ccxxx. B. C. an English Spy to his Government^ upon the preparation of the Spanish Armada 134 ccxxxi. The Queen to the Marquis of Winchester and the Earl of Sussex^ Lieutenants of the County of Southampton^ to prepare against in- vasion , J37 ccxxxii. Sir Edward Radclyffe to the Earl of Sussex. The Queen's Visit to the Camp at Tilbury . . 141 ccxxxiii. Daniel Rogers to Lord Burghley, upon the state of Denmark. A. D. 1588 143 rcxxxiv. George Longe to Lord Burghley. Desires a LETTIR ccxxxv. CCXXXVI. CCXXXVII. CCXXXVIII. CCXXXIX. CCXL. CCXLI. CCXLII. CCXLIII. CCXLIV. CCXLV. CCXLVI. CCXLVII. CCXLVIII. CONTENTS. PAGE Patent for Glass-making. He states how that Art c^me first to England 157 Dr. Whitaker to Lord Burghley, upon a false report that he had forbidden an Oration to be made in his College upon the Queen's Day. . 160 King Jamet the Sixth of Scotland to Queen Elizabeth. The failure of the conspiracy at Falkland \q2 The Earl of Essex to Lord Burghley, in favour of the Lady Walsingham 154 The Countess of Shrewsbury to Lord Burgh- ley, representing her care of the Lady Arabella 1 65 Anthony Hall the elder, to Lord Burghley, that his son Anthony might be made a Pursuivant. Reminds Lord Burghley of secret services.. 168 The Lords of the Council to the Lords Lieu- tenants of Sussex, to inquire what sons or kinsmen of Gentlemen in that County were beyond the Seas obtaining Education 1 T 1 Sir Henry Cocke to Lord Burghley, from Hert- fordshire ; upon the mode of furnishing the Trained Bands of that County with Arms.. 175 Lord Essex to Lord Burghley upon the taking of Cadiz ^ i7g Camden the Historian to Sir Robert Cotton. The Queen seriously ill. A. D. 1596 179 Sir Robert Wrothe to Mr. Michael Hickes. Intelligence concerning robbers who fre- quented Lay ton Heath in Essex. , igo Mr. Francis Bacon to Mr. Hickes, apparently at the time of Queen Elizabeth's last Illness 188 Thomas Wilson, to Sir Thomas Parry at Paris. The State of England immediately after King James's Accession gQj Sir Robert Cecil to Sir Thomas Parry. An Omission in a Letter from James the First to Henry the Fourth of France gos Sir Robert Cecil to Sir Thomas Parry. The Treaty with Spain. A portion of a Letter.. 205 CONTENTS. CONTENTS. w ij CCL. ecu. LETTER PAGE ccxLix to the Bishop of Norwich, upon matters of Religion 31^ Meriel Littleton to Mrs. Barnaby of Bochel- ton, on her hope of obtaining a place for her Nephew in the Household of Prince Henry. 218 Thomas Lorkin to Mr. Adam Newton, the Tu- tor of Prince Henry, detailing the manner in which a young English Gentleman completed his Education at Paris, in 1610 220 Sir Ferdinando Heyborn, to Sir Michael Hickes ; he sends some musical Lessons on the Virgi- nals for Sir Michael's daughter 223 Nicholas Charles to Sir Robert Cotton, upon the Creation of the new Nobility called Baronets 225 Prince Henry to King James the First, upon the Match intended for him 226 Lord Rochester to Henry Prince of Wales, upon the subject of his Highness's intended Mar- riage. A. D. 1612 229 Prince Henry's Answer to the preceding Letter 230 The Lady Elizabeth to the Lord Mayor of Lon- don, and the Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the Merchant Tailors' Company, upon the eve of her leaving England, in be- half of her Man-Cook. A. D. 1613 231 Nicholas Charles Lancaster herald, to Sir Ro- bert Cotton. The prevalence of Duels ^33 Lord Chancellor Bacon to the Lords of Parlia- ment upon his Impeachment 235 Mr. Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville. The Prince Palatine's complaint to the King 238 Mr. Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville. The Bi- shop of Lincoln made Lord Keeper. The King and Queen of Bohemia entertained at Amsterdam. The Earl of Southampton's search concerning the Earl of Hertford's marriage 238 -rcLXii. Mr. Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville. The Benevo- lence. The King's Declaration at Theobalds 240 LETTER CCLXIII. CCUI. CCLIII. CCLIV. CCLV. CCLVI. CCLVII. CCLVIII. CCLIX. CCLX. CCLXI. CCLXIV. CCLXV. CCLXVI. CCLXVII. CCLX VIII. CCLXIX. CCLXX. CCLXXI. CCLXXII. PAGE William Laud Bishop of St. Davids to Sir Ro- bert Cotton, requesting the return of a Ma- nuscript borrowed from the Library of St. John's College Oxford, of which he had been President 241 Edward Tilman to Paul D'Ewes, Esq. The Death of King James, and the proclamation of King Charles the First. The Marquis of Hamilton reported to have been poisoned. News from Breda and Rome 243 Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincoln to the Duke of Buckingham, that he may be restored to the favour of the new King 255 Mr. Augustine Baker to Sir Robert Cotton, en- treating for a present of Books for the En- glish Monastery at Cambray 256 The Lord Dorchester to Mr. De Vic, Charge d' Affaires at Paris. Queen Henrietta retired to St. James's preparatory to her t;oniine- ment. A Doctor sent from France to attend her ; who is ordered to return 259 The Earl of Dorchester to Mr. De Vic : an- nounces the birth of the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Charles the lid.... 262 Mr. Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville. Sir Ed- ward Coke declining in health. The Christen- ing of the Princess Sophia youngest daugh- ter of the Queen of Bohemia 263 George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering. The Birth of the Princess Mary, afterwards Princess of Orange 264 Mr. John Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering. The death of Lord Dorchester. Funeral of the Countess of Essex. Various News 266 Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering. The Queen prepares to act a Part with her Ladies in a Pastoral. Ben Jonson writes his Play of the Magnetic Lady. Her Majesty lays CONTENTS. LETTER PAOI CCLXXIII. CCLXXIV. CCLXXV. CCLXXVI. CCLXXVII. CCLXXVIII. CCLXXIX. CCLXXX. CCLXXXI CCLXXXII. the two first stones of the Chapel for the Capuchins at Somerset House. Archbishop Laud. A Riot at Lincoln's Inn 270 Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering. Various News. King Charles the First has the Small Pox. The Death of Gustavus King of Swe- den, and of the Elector Palatine. Wagers laid that the King of Sweden is alive. The Duchess of Richmond sends a Silver Font for the Christening of Lord Carnarvon's ChUd «73 Jo. Pory to The Queen Mother's intention to come to London 278 Mr. Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering. The Queen of Bohemia declines her Brother's In- vitation to England. The Duchess of Buck- ingham endeavors to overthrow her Father's Will. Mr. Prynne SUr-chambered for his Work on the unlawfulness of Plays The Viscoimt Wentworth to the Earl of New- castle, defending his conduct in Ireland.. The Covenanters to the King. Proposals for Peace. A. D. 1639 «90 The Marquis of Hamilton to King Charles the First, upon his withdrawing from the Parlia- ment of Scotland •W H. B. a member of the House of Lords, to the Speaker of the Higher House 295 Dr. Pinke, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, to the Earl of Pembroke, Chancellor of that Univer- sity, upon the dangers which threatened it at the opening of the Civil War 296 . The Earl of Pembroke to Dr. Pinke, in answer to his Remonstrance 300 C. H. to William Sancroft, then of Emanuel College Cambridge, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. The Battle of Edge- Hill. A. D. 1642. 301 279 281 CONTENTS. """ FAG« ccLxxxiii. The King to the Rector and Fellows of Exeter College Oxford, for the loan of their Plate. . 305 ccLxxxiv. The King to the Rector and Fellows of Exeter College, for individual subscriptions for a limited time for the support of Troops 308 ccLxxxv. The King to Thomas Bushell, Esq. Master Worker of the Mines Royal, acknowledging his Services 309 ccLxxxvi. Queen Henrietta Maria to Sir Theodore May- erne, from Exeter. With a single Line from the King 315 ccLxxxvii. The King to his Nephew Prince Maurice, then before Lime in Dorsetehire 316 ccLxxxviii.The Commissioners of the Parliament of Scot- land to the English Commissioners, announ- cing the King's Arrival in the Scottish Army 323 ccLxxxix. King Charles I. to Dr. Juxon Bishop of Lon- don; the King sends him a Case of Con- science 325 ccxc. The King to the Princess Elizabeth, from Hampton Court 323 ccxci. The King to the Princess Elizabeth, from New- port in the Isle of Wight 331 ccxcii. Charles Lewis Prince Palatine, to his Uncle King Charles ; congratulatory upon the King's safety, and wishing for an accommo- dati(m with the Parliament 333 CCXCI II. The Prince Elector to the Lord Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers, that some of the Welsh Prisoners who had been taken by the Parliament's Army might be transported for the service of the State of Venice 334 CCXCI V. Jos. Kent, at Venice, to another Englishman abroad. News arrived from England 335 ccxcv. Joseph Kent to the same : announcing the King's Execution 339 ^cxcvi. King Charles the Second to sends his Thanks for assistance 351 !f! LETTER CCXCVII. CCXCVIII. CCXCIX. CCC. CCCI. CCCII. CCCIII. CCCIV. cccv. CCCVI. CCCVII. CCCVIII. CONTENTS. PAGE Major General Harrison to Oliver Cromwell as Lord General. A Letter of cant 353 John Bradshawe the regicide, to the Lord Ge- neral Cromwell ; another Letter of cant.... 356 Mr. William Bateman to Mr. Hugh Bateman. The Distresses of the English Merchante. The " Liberty" a State Man of War cast away near Harwich 358 Certain Ministers and others of New England to Cromwell, upon his application to them to send Missionaries to Ireland 360 Oliver Cromwell to Col. Hacker. He that prays and preaches best will fight best 365 Oliver Cromwell to the Lady Elizabeth his wife 366 Congratulation from " some that feared the Lord" in Herefordshire to Cromwell, upon his dissolution of the Long Parliament.... 368 Mr. Thomas Bateman to Mr. Hugh Bateman ; the Dissolution of Barebone's Parliament. . . 372 King Charles the Second to the Earl of Leven, from Cologne 375 King Charles the Second while in exile, to his aunt the Queen of Bohemia 376 Oliver Cromwell when Protector, to the Grand Signior, respecting the surprizal of an En- glish Ship called the Resolution 377 The Protector to the Vizier Azem, upon the same 381 LETTERS OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH CONTINUED. . I ill 8l III ii II' 1 ORIGINAL LETTERS, ETC. LETTER CLXXXIX. MintUe of a Letter frcmi Queen Elizabeth to the Queen of Scots, Feb. 1st, 1571. [NS. cotton. CALIO. C. III. fol. 141.] Madame, of late time I have receaved divers letters from yow to the which you maie well gesse, by the ac- cidentes of the time, whie I have not made anie answer ; but speciallie because I sawe no matter in them that required any such answer as could have contented yow, and to have discontented yow had bin but an increase of your impatience which I thought tyme would have mitigated as it doth commonlie where the cause thereof is not truelie grounded and that it be so understand ; but now findinge by your last letter the 27^^. of the last, an VOL. III. SKR. 2. 9 2 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. d m r H I w \\. increase of your impatience tending allsoe to manie un- comelie, passionate, and vindicative speeches, I thought to change my former opinion and by patient and ad- vised wordes to move yow to staie, or ells to quahfie your passions, and to consider that it is not the manner to obtaine good thinges with evUl speeches, nor benefitts with injurious chalenges, nor to gett good to yourself with doinge evill to another. And yet to avoyd the fault which I note yow have comitted in filling a longe letter with multitude of sharpe and injurious wordes, I will not by way of letter write anie more of the matter, but have rather chosen to committ to my cosin the Erie of Shrewsbury the thinges which I have thought meete upon the readinge of your letters to be imparted unto you, as in a memo- rial in wrytinge he hath to shewe you : wherwith I thinke yf reason may be present with you, and passion absent at the reading, you will folowe hereafter rather the course of the last part of your letter then the first ; the later being wrytten as in a calme and the former in a storme, wishing to you the same grace of God that I wish to myself, and that he niaie direct you to desire and attaine to that which is meete for his honnor and your quietnes, with contentacion both of bodie and minde. Given at my Pallace of Westminster the first dale of February 1571. Your Cosyn that wisheth you a l)etter mynde. LETTER CXC. Henrt/ Middelmore to Lord Burghley^ reporting a Conversation he had had with the Lord Admiral of France^ concerning Flanders^ the proposed match with the Duke di'Jnjou, ij-c. [ms. cotton. VE8P. p. VI. foL 89. Orig.] •/ Oaspard de Coligni, the second of the name, Lord Admiral of France, was born In 1516 at ChatiUon sur Loing, was a soldier from his infancy, and had signalized himself in numerous military engagements in the reigns of Francis the First and Henry the Second. After the death of the latter monarch, having become a huguenot at the persuasion of his brother, Francis de Coligni, he headed the Protestants against the Guises. The court which he paid to Elizabeth, and which is so par- ticularly expatiated upon in this Letter, increased the hatred in which he was held by Catherine de Medicis and her party. The dissimulation of Charles the Ninth toward him, is without a parallel in History. It ended, as the reader probably knows, in an awfiil scene of unexpected treachery, a more particular mention of which will occur hereafter. Right honorable. Sir Arthur Champemome and I being invityd by the Admirall of Frawnce to supper the tenthe of this present, the sayd Admirall in the ende of the same desieringe throwghe olde acquayn- tawnce (as he sayd) to have some speache with me privatelye, dyd take me asyde, and usyd suche wordes unto me as I have thowght it my dutye faythfuUye to make reaport therof. His entrye into his discourse tok bcgyninge at the infinite obligations he had to hir B 2 Il ' « M I ■^ 4 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Majestic, acknowledginge to holde bothe his liefFe, re- ligion, and all he and the protestantes dyd at this daye enjoye in this contrey (next after God) at the only handes of hir Majestic and of hir good support; wherein I meane not now to be so large, as he was willynge by many good wordes to make shewe of a gratefull harte towardes hir Majestic ; this only I will putt in, that his duty of allegiance resenyd to the Kynge his souverainc, he was and wolde be sollye at the devotion of hir Majestic, wisshinge nothinge more in this worlde other that some good occasion might be offeryd wherby he might make in some sorte appcre the dcsier he had to serve hir Highnes, wherin neyther his bloudde, neyther his hcfle shulde be sparyd. From hence lie grewc into the matters of Flawnders, wherof he askyd me what I harde, I tolde him lytic, and then he toke occasion to open unto me all that had happenyd latelyc there, and wisshyd somewhat might be doune there joyntlye by the Queues Majestic and this Kyngc. Yow know sayde he, how mightye the kynge of Spaigne ys, how ryche he is, and what an ennymyc he is to your state ; we also knowe the smale good will he beareth us. How dangerous a neighboure he maye shortlye growc unto yow and us, yf he prevayle, at this tymc in the Lowe Contreys, we bothe maye easelye iee. He will not then content him sclfc with small matters, nor yet with common ametye, but (having in his coffers the xvij millions of crowncs which he ORIGINAL LETTERS. 5 seakethe to leavy, and will leavye of the Lowe Con- treys, yf he be not withstoode, togeathcr with his other supplyes from the Indes) will eyther gyve lawe to us and yow bothe, or els make waiTc uppon us with suche advantage as we maye hardly sustayne. His deseign in sight of the wisest at this daye, is to make himselfe monarche of Christendome, or at the least to rule the same. How necessarye then it shalbe for yow and us to brydle that dangerous affection in him is easye me thinkethe to be perswadyd, and never more easy to be executyd then by the occasion presently offeryd, of the Lowe Contreys so greatly garboyled. In the entir- prisinge of which matter I doe wishe a resolute and determinyd order to be sett downe and agreed on be- twixt bothe our Princes, and that suche, so perfect, ceartaync, and good intelligence maye be had on bothe sydes, and so apt and mete ministers usyd and em- ployed with bothe parties, as all good, sincere, and trewe dealynge might be assueryd, all gealousye, sus- pition, and mistrust taken awaye and avoydvd. Other- wise, and withowt this mutuall accorde and consent yf we or yow, or bothe, shall take in hand to attempt any greate matter that waye, lett us assuer our selfes that no good successe canne come therof. Here he stayed, and prayed me to speake my opinion. I sayd they were matters owt of my reache, and farre from myne acquayntawnce, and that I knewe least of her Majesties disposition that waye. Neverthelesse he II 6 OBIGINAL LETTERS. reaquyryd me by waye of pryvate speache betweiie him and me, to speake that I thowghte in the matter. I sayd I colde only tell him of an opinion comenly receavyd emongst us in England from the beginninge of these cyvill warres. We dyd desyer that eyther Prince might enjoye his owne, as well Spaigne as Frawnce, and eyther State to stande in lyke proportion and degree of governement as before, and not that the king of Spaigne shulde take any thinge from Frawnce, or they any thinge from him, wherby any of them bothe might growe the greater, and so prove a more daingerous neighboure to us of England. That we thowght that God had alreadye made so good and even a division of these partes of Christendome, settelynge them of long tyme in the houses and handes of them that presently dyd possess them, as it shulde she we very daingerous to every State to suffer the same any waye to be innovatyd or alteryd. That of all other thinges we colde least lyke that Frawnce shulde com- maunde Flawnders, or bryng it under theyr obedi- ence, for therin we dyd see so apparawntlye the greatnes of our dainger, and therfore in no wyse colde suffer it. He confessyd I had reason to speake as I dyd, but sayd it was not now so ment in any sort, but that the Queues Majestic shulde have, yf it pleasyd hir to joyne with the Kynge in that enterprise, as good a parte at the least in the same as the Frenche Kynge shulde have, and suche and so muchc as rea- 0RI6IKAL L£TT£RS. T sonably she colde desier, and so he wolde undertake. He sayed further that there was inoughe for them bothe, and yf he dyd not thinke it for the Queues greatenes, honor, and suertye, he protestyd he wolde never have openyd his moothe in it ; marye the only dainger was in the protractinge of tyme, in lettynge slipp good occasion, and in to late reasolvinge, and so endyd that iwte of his talke. Now sayd he I must tell yow how greatly I doo rejoyse at this new League betwixt the King my master and the Queue of England, and how muche I wishe the contynuawnce of the same. And as it hathe alredy taken a very good beginninge, so all meanes must be sowght to conserve it. And emongst the rest I fynd none of more efficacye then some good and favorable alliawnce to be made. Here sayd he, before I passe any further in speache of this matter, I praye yow beleave that I will saye nothinge but as one that desierethe all honor and suertye to the Queues Majestic, and that as I ame many wayes most bownde to hir, so ame I not uncareful! of hir in any thinge that I maye knowe to be for hir preservation and good. It is trewe that the King and the Quene Mother, do desier greatlye to marrye Monsieur le Due to the Quene your mistris, but that desier of theirs hathe not, nor canne carye me further, then that I maye see joynyd withall the Quene your mistris honor, saftye, and quietnes. I have consideryd the state of your Quene, the state of your Contreye, and the state 8 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 9 I ,ii (!»■ of Monsieur le Due, and doo me thinkethe see that greate contentation maye growe herof to hir Majestic, greate happines to the Ducke, and a most suer amitye and frendshyppe betwext the two realmes, I was not a lyttle sorye when I first hard of the breache of the motion that was made to the Quene your mistris for Monsieur, but understandinge the cause to be religion, the Quene willinge in no sorte to admitte or suffer any other then hir owne, I colde not but praise hir, and rejoyce in hir constancy e that waye ; I must Monsieur Middelmore speake to yow francklye, and yet in speakynge of my Princes I must use a due reverence and regarde. Suerly Monsieur is a goodly gentilman, and hathe many perfections in him ; but yet if I were suche a personage as havinge either suster or dawghter, I might inatche them that waye, I wolde a greate deale soner make choise of Monsieur le Due then of the other. He is of so good a nature, so wise, so vertuous, and so well stayed. I protest unto yow, I think he will make as rare a prince as any is in Christendome. Of himselfe, he is greatlye desierous of the matter, of yeres but two behinde his brother, of byrthe as worthye and honorable as any other. And were it not better for the Quene your mistris to take suche a on ^ as must thinke himselfe greatly honoryd by the matter and most bownde unto hir for it, then on who shall thinke • an one. to have almost no preferment by it. Monsieur hathe in him a certayne expectation of this Crowne, and in a manner beleavethe he is alredye Kynge, he is so neare it. Now Monsieur le Due is the thirde brother further from the crowne, and so the lesse dayngerous for yow, the fitter to marry, and on that shall accompt him selfe greatly honoryd therby. If I dyd not thinke that all honor and good shulde ensue to the Quene your mis- tris herof, I wolde not use this speache unto you, but trulye yf it be well and indifferentlye weyed, togetlier with the trewe estate of the Quene your mistris, you shall fynd herby hir suertye is well provydyd for, all factions are suppressyd, hir greatnes must nedes growe with it, hir pleasure and contentation cannot be small, and the two realmes shall have most just cause to re- joyse. I do not knowe what disposition is in hir Ma- jestic to marye, but if I be not muche deccavyd, hir greatest suertye and your greatest good is for hir to marrye ; then yf she will doo that shalbe best for hir sclfFe and yow, which is to marye, I saye unto yow for the good I know in this younge prince, I wishe they might matche togeather. And now I have by waye of fryndly talke impartyd to yow thus muche of this matter, let me I praye yow here what yow thinke of it. I sayd that the hartes of princes were in the handes of God, and that he only dyd knowe her dis- position to maryage ; marye in this matter that he had propowndyd, as there mighte rise many doubtcs and ^: 10 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 11 I questions, so I notyd by the waye two speceall pointes to be consideryd, the difference of the ages, and the diversitye of religions. For the first he answeryd that if before when the matter was movyd for Monsieur, hir Majestie dyd not stande upon the age, but upon other thinges, there is not that difference in yeres be- twene Monsieur and Monsieur le Due, but that the on maye be thowghte as fitt as the other ; and for religions, he shulde be first a traytor to God, then a traytor to hir Majestie, and lastly a traytor to his own conscience; but it was the thinge he had greatest hope of in the younge Prince, and dyd not dowbte but that he wolde con- forme himselfe bothe in that and all other thinges to the good lykynge of hir Majestie, havinge alredy so good an inclination that way. His conclusion was that at the next dispatche into Englande I wolde lett hir Majestie understande how muche he thowght him- selffe bownde unto hir, and how muche he was at hir devotion, wysshing unto hir all happines and con- tentation. This is the some of that he sayd unto me ; he is day lie at the Court and very well usyd by the Kynge and his breatheme. The duke of Guise and hee doo not yet speake togeather. How muche he acknowledgcthe himselfe to be beholdynge to bothe your lordships, and how ready to doo yow pleasure or service, I will leave to tell yow, imtill I come home. Of these former matters and of those of Flawnders, I thinke your lordships shall also now here in my lord Admiralles and my lorde Ambassadors letters, for bothe they have news out of Flawnders, and they have had conference with the Admirall of Frawnce, who made them and all the English lordes and gentilmen a greate supper the xvj of this monethe. Our lord Admirall hathe receavyd at this Kynges handes great honor and all good usage, and that in a more familiar sort then hathe bene seane. The Kynge shewethe greatly to rejoyse in this league. Hir Majestie gave me in charge, at my leave takynge, to buy som dry thinges for hir here; but there is suche scarsitye of them throwghe defences and proclamations made by the Kinge (and that lyttle that is, so greadelye bowght up for this mariage) as I feare me I shall hardly brynge home any thinge to hir lykynge. Thus I Immbly take my leave of your lordships. From the Lovre, the kynges howsse in Paris, this xvijth. of June 1572. Your lordshipes most humbly to use and commaunde H£N. MIDDELMORE. 12 ORIGINAL LETTEUS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. V6 LETTER CXCI. Sir Thomas Smith to Lord Burghleij. Lord Lincoln's arrival and reception at Paris ; their joint pro- ceedings, [ms. cotton, vesp. f. VI. foL 93. Or\g.'\ My very good Lorde, the viij^'» of this moneth, my Lord Admirall arriving here at Paris the ix^''. he thought best to rest. The x**^. my lord Ambassator resident sent to de Limoges, prayeng him to cawse Secretary Pinard ^understand when my lord shall have audience, and seeke owt som precidentes that we might conferr them with ours, so that when we should com to the action ther might be no altcracion nor dowte fownde on neither partie. The xjf''. cam to us Monsieur de Pinard himself, with Mareshall de Cosse, & Monsieur de Forest who was Ambassator in England, who told us that yt was the Kinges pleasure my lord Admirall should rest him that daie, which was Weddensday & Thursday, and that on Friday my lord Admirall, 1, & my lord Am- bassator should com to Madrill, wher the King & the Queene was, & the Queene his Mother som what sick, and that then the King wold have us all iij to dyne with him. And as towelling that which was to be done in wordes & writings, the forme was agreed on betwixt us at that tyme to the contentment of both the parties. Yt was declared to us that notwithstanding our goeng to Madrill, the king wold com to the Louver here in Paris, and take the oth in St. Germaines church, a parish church hard by the Louvre, and uppon the tyme som debate made, yt was agreed yt should be at the end of Even song, t'avoid all offence that might chaunce on either party, rather then at Masse, and that we should accompany the King to his seate, & ther leave him to such ceremonies as was used in ther Romish Even song, retyring ourselves into a by chapell prepared for the nones in the same church ; that being done we should bring the King to the place wher the oth should be taken. This was then thought to be best t'avoid all inconveniences, so that the Kinges pleasure were also that so it showld be done. On Friday my lord Admirall had diverse coches sent for himself & my lordes of his treyne, which were the Kings owne, the Queenes, & Queene Mothers & others the best in the cowrte ; and prince Daulphin, the duke de Monpenciers son, to accompany my lord Admirall in the same coche, and. so he arrived at Madrill, which is about iij english myles from the Louvre, about ix of the clock or x in the morning, when the King was scarsely risen. But as sone as he was up, my lord Admirall was sent for, who after verie curteous & ho- norable enterteignment delivered hir Majesties letters m 1 •■' 14 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 15 and did his message, which was so well & so hartely received of the King, & with so good wordes againe as cowld be. Then he was brought by Monsieur to the Queenes chamber, the duke D'Alanson still attending uppon him untill he cam away, wher he was also verie honorably received of the Queene. All the cowrte was then in dueil & morning for the Queene of Navarre. The Queene Mother as then being sick, excuse was made, & he praid to attend till the next daie when it was hoped she should be better. That day the King invited and had my lord Admirall to dynnar. At which table onely was the King, Monsieur, & the Duke D'alanson, under whome, all on one side, sat my lord Admirall, I, & Mr. Walsingham, & at that table, nor in that hall, no more persons did sit. The service was as apperteined to such a Prince ; the lordes & the rest of the treyne were feastid in an other place. At night (for in Fraunce on fridaies thei do use ordenary soups) my lord Admirall, we, & the rest of the noble & gen- tlemen of his treine supped in an hawle appointed for the same, adjoyning to my lords lodging, serv^ed with the Kinges men very honorably. Likewise on the Sa- terday dynner & supper was ordered. That day at the aftemone my lord Admirall was brought by the kinor to the Oueene Mothers chamber, who in a wast- cote in hir bed with many ladies abought her, emonges whom Madame Margarite & the old duches of Ferrar enterteyned my lord Admirall & us all with marvelous good wordes, asking hartely of the Queenes Majesties health, & shewing hir great gladnes of this league & amitie. And me she axid if my lord had nothing to speake of the other match ; (she said) I knew what she nient; I answered nothing so far as I could leme. Becawse of hir sicknes ther entred into hir chamber none englishmen but we iij, & the duke of Alanson taried with us untill we cam out from hir chamber. On Sonday in the morning ther was great store of coches brought to Madrill, and as sone as the King had hard masse, he & his ij brethren & my lord Admirall in one coche, the prince Daulphin & Mr. Walsingham & I in an other coche, the noblemen & gentlemen of England in other coches provided for them, cam from Madrill to the Louvre, where in the great cham- ber or hawle, after that the King had shewed my lord Admirall the magnificence of his owne chambers & cabinetes, dyner was preparid, & ther dyned as before the King & his ij brethren, my lord Admiral & we ij, all vj at one table & on one side ; the table was served very magnifically & all with gentlemen & tall men, which I have not sene here before accustomid ; but such a presse in the hawle & so nere to the kings table, that scarcely the ministers cowld have rowme to bring the meate or the drinck to the table ; this is the maner & familiarity in this contrey. Not long after dyner my lord being retired to his chamber, he was streight sent for agayne (for in dede the King dyned very late) and 16 ORIGINAL LETTERS. SO a great nomber of lords & gentlemen goeng before, the king & my lord Admirall, Monsieur & I, the duke of Alanson & Mr. Walsingham, with likewise a great nomber of noblemen & gentlemen folowing, cam to the place in the church of St. Germayne by the Louvre which was preparid for the King & his brethren to sit, where also was preparid a place for us, but to avoid all offences that might arise, we were conveyed by Mon- sieur Lausack to a side chappell in the same churche richtly tapisserid & hangid for the nones, where was also stooles & settes covered with cloth of gold preparid for my lord & us. The lordes & noblemen of Eng- land had an other preparid for them ; and for the rest of the treyne a third, in which we taried untill that evensong was done, which thei that can skill of it did sale was song in very good musick. To us cam one of our religion the duke of Bullion. When Evensong was done we were brought to the King & so in the same order as we cam to the churche, the King, & his brethren & we cam before the high alter, where the busshop of Auxerre, le grand Aumosner du Roy, holding the boke where gospells lay open, having in his left hand a paper of the forme of the othe, the which the King laying his right hand uppon the boke open, red, & so kissed the boke & then torned him to my lord Admirall, & said my lord Admirall I pray yow tell my good sister the Queene that I do not sweare this oth in wordes onely, but with myne hole hart, and do rejoise so mich thereof ORIGINAL LETTERS. 17 as eny man can, & will kepe it firmely so long as God shall geve me lief. Then they began & song Te deum. And so while thei were singing the King retomid in the same order as he cam, and my lord Admirall & we so accompanid as before. Not only all the churche, but all the streetes wher we passed so full, that skarsely the King & we cowld have rowme to go. The king both in the church & in the way, many tymes staying as it were to looke on the people, & that the people sJmwId loke on him & us, & rejoice the more fully with him. One thing I had forgot in the morning, when the King cam to my lord Admirall richely ap- parayled, & not in a morning weede as he was overnight, he told my lord Admirall that altho he had cawse to mowrne, and the mancr was alwais that when eny prince or princesse of the bloud were dead, both the king himself & all the cowrte did mowrne at the least for the space of a moneth, yet he did so rejoyce of my lord Admiralls comyng, & at this amitie that he cowld not mowrne in dede, & therfor he wold use no hipo- crisie but dispense with himself & all the other, to shew in their apparell the joy thei had in their heartes; l>eside that he wold not com as morning or sorowfull but as glad & joyfull to sweare to such a good love & amitie, with many other wordes the which my lord Admirall can better & more fully declare then I. When we cam against the Louvre, there was a coche preparid wherin the King & his brethren & my lord VOL. III. SER. 2. ^ 18 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Admirall went from the Louvre to the Tuillery' and the prince Daulphin Mr. Walsingham & I in an other, the other lordes noblemen & gentlemen of England ni other coches, or on horsback. In the garden of the said TuUerie is the Queene Mothers building, in an Alley beside a pleasaunt fontayne or conduicte ; there was preparid the Kinges supper ; the king led my lord Admirall to diverse partes of that garden which is large & faier, to se the deseignes of his mother, and there in a litlc pavillion or open banketting howse covered with slate, the king & his ij brethren, my lord Admirall and we ij. did sup, & no more. Emonges other noblemen there was the Admirall of France & iij brethren to the Mareshall Montmorency, the duke of Guise & Daumale, & Conte de Rez, altho of diverse faccions yet both well lokid upon of the King ; they & the other noblemen of England & of Fraunce were provided for in other place. After sowper the admi- rall of Fraunce & the other noblemen cam agayne, where the King & Monsieur & the Admirall of Fraunce had long & very familiar, &, as apperid, pleasaunt talke almost an hower togither alone, none other approching to them, which was very comfortable to som, & as suspicious & displeasant to other. The Admirall of Fraunce had invited my lord Admirall & his treyne & us to supper with him at his owne lodging in Paris for the next daie which was Monday, where in deede at night my lord Admirall, we, & all his treyne had a ORIGINAL LETTERS. 19 noble, magnificall, & sumptuous supper, and in so good order that no man had cawse to compleyne, but every man occasion to think that it cam of a loving, fre, & hberall hart. Commynge from the churcli on Sonday, Monsieur likewise hymself invited my lord Admirall furst, & after either of us, to dyne with Jiim on Tewisday the xvijH'. at his loging over against the Louvre, where the same day my lord Admirall being conductid thither by Monsieur de Torre, de Lausack & de Malvesiere, who never almost forsakid us, & diverse other of Mon' sieurs gentlemen. Monsieur & the Duke his brother met him in the hall, and brought us into the^ great chamber where we dyned, where was the dukes de Montpencer, de Nevers, & Daumale, with a great nomber of other nobles & gentlemen. At the table there sat furst Monsieur, then my lord Admirall, & after my hxd Ambassator, next to him the duke of Guise, my lord Talbot, duke Daumale; at the tables eand. Monsieur Dauville, de Mern, & Torre. On the other side over against Monsieur, his brother the Duke, then I, then the dukes de Montpencier, de Nevers, and Mareshall de Ccsse ; at a table beside, all the rest of the noblemen of England & Fraunce! There was very great chere & costly, yet that was not enough ; after dynner furst my lord Admirall & we were brought to here excellent musick, (as thei said, that could skill of yt) furst of the voice with virginalls, 20 ORIGINAL LETTERS. then of Voninis schole, with the voice, violls, & lutes ; after that an Italian comedie, which candid, vaulting with notable supersaltes & through hoopes, and last • of all the Antiques, of carying of men one uppon an other which som men call labores Herctdls ; these things may better be declared by word of them that saw & can skill of it, then by writing, especially of nic. That done, when we showld take our leave, the Duke his brother, himself, invited furst my lorde & then either of us to dyne with him the next day in his lodg- ing. That daie being Weddensday, becawse the wea- ther being extreme bote, and his howse was so litle he borowed the Conte Rez's howse for us to dyne in, whcr when my lord Admirall cam into the cowrt (Monsieur de Torrey, Lausack & de Malvesier accompaned with other gentlemen being sent before to accompany him thither) Monsieur & the Duke with other noble men met my lord Admirall, & brought him into the hawle wher was a great & sumptuous dynner preparid. On the one side sat furst Monsieur, then my lord Admirall, then Mr. Walsingham, then the prince Daulphin, then Monsieur Chevalier & my lord Talbot, & at the tables eand Monsieur Danville & Mern. On the other side, furst the Duke, then I, then the Duke of Monpencier, Nevers, Guise, & my lord Clynton. Of the service I nede not speake, yt was as magnificall & good as thei cowld devise. At an other table sat all the other noble men & gentlemen of England & Fraunce. Behinde ORIGINAL LETTERS. ai Monsieur stood all the dynner while Marquis de Vil- lars, called now Mareshall de Savoy, one of the iiij ordenary Mareshalls of Fraunce, for de Tavanes is the vth. & extraordenary. There was there also standing other noble men & gentlemen of Fraunce whom I knew not ; there was great presse & therfore extreme heate all the dynner while. After dynner Monsieur & the Duke brought my lord Admirall & us into a chamber somwhat more fresh, where we heard excellent musique both of voice & virginalls, & of voice & violls as the daie before. And the duke shewed unto us he had provided for us a comedie, & some eskrymeurs to shew us pastyme, but lie saw the day was so bote & the place, that he feared he should do us more displeasure & grief with heate then pleasure, and so was it true, the day being so bote & the company & presse so great. At the goeng away ther was preparid, with such a spoute as thei water gardens, damaske & fine water to reyne uppon the company, and then a mad felow to blow damask & fine smelling powder all abowt. And so this day passed, saving the duke de Nevers himself invitid my lord Admirall and either of us to supper with him the next day. This is hitherto a brief dis- course of that which hath passed sith my lord Admi- ralls commyng to Paris, & sith the end of my last let- ters to your honour. And so I commyt your lordship n ORIGINAL LETTERS. OllIGINAL LETTERS. 2S to almighty god. From the Louvre in Paris the xviijth. of June 1572. Your lordshipps aliwaies at Commaundement F. SMITH. To the right honorable and ray verie good lord my lord Burgh- ley, princi. Secretary to the Ma- jestic. LETTER CXCII. Edwin Sandys bishop of London to Lord Burghley^ upon the News of the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. Recommends measures Jbr safety^ with the behead- ing of the Queen of Scots, [ms. lansdowk 15. art 41. Orig.'\ •^* Lord Clarendon calls fifteen hundred and seventy.two " that infamous year/* from the barbarous and inhuman Massacre of Paris which took place in it, more usually, from the day on which the trans, action occurred, called the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. An event, he observes, attended and accompanied with as foul dissimulation and as horrid perjury as ever added deformity to wickedness.* The Reader who would learn the minute particulars of this detested Tragedy may consult Davila*s History of the Civil Wars of France, the Memoirs of Margaret Queen of Navaxre, the Memoirs of Sully, the liife of Theodore Agrippa d'Aubigne, Thuanus, Mezcray^s History of France, Wraxhall's History of the House of Valois, and Lingard^s nar. rative in a Note at the end of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. • Rclig. aiKi Policy, p. 43T. The Massacre of Paris was subsequently repeated in other towns, liingard has assembled the Dates ; at Paris August the 24»»» ; Meaux the 25»»« ; La Charite, 2C»»> ; Orleans, 2T^ ; Saumur and Angers, 29»»' ; Lyons, SO^^; Troyes, September the 2^\ Bourges, the W^; Rouen, I?**; Romans, 20"'; Toulouse, the 23-'; Bourdeaux, October the 3'. The numbers of those who perished, and neither age nor sex were spared, are variously reckoned by different writers, from ten to a hundred thousand : but should we take the half of the lowest number, the deed loses nothing of its atrocity. It was the Editor's first intention to have given all he could have found upon this Massacre, but the Correspondence was too long for the limits of his Work. Much relating to it wUl be seen in Diggers Compleat Ambassador, although the Letters are impcrfecdy printed, and some of them have wrong dates. The Editor here contents himself with a single Letter, from Edwin Sandys bishop of London ; from which, and from other Letters, it appears that the horror of this deed led even good men to fear that nothing but strong measures could prevent massacre from spreading through all parts of Protestant Europe. The present Letter is evidence also that the first thought of beheading the Queen of Scots arose out of the panic of this very massacre, although for fourteen years the thought did not ripen into execution. Pope Gregory the Thirteenth had no sooner notice of this deed than he went in solemn procession to the Church of St. Louis in Rome, to re- turn Gotl thanks for it as for a happy victory, and sent a nuncio to France to congratulate the Kmg. Lord Clarendon thought that Gregory alone paid his devotions for it ; but in France its anniversary was long celebrated, ^^illiam Cecil, writmg to his grandfather Lord Burghley from Paris, 25th Aug. 1683, says, " Upon St Bartelmewes day, we had here solemn Processions, and other tokens of triumphs and joy, in remembrance of the slaughter committed this time eleven years past. But I doubt they will not so triumph at the day of Judgment." • Theese evill tymes trouble all good mens headdes and make their hearte sake, fearinge that this bar- barous treacherie will not ceasse in Fraunce, but will reach over unto us. Neither feare we the mangling of our body, but we sore dreade the hurt of our Head : • Orig. Letter. MS. Lau»A. ; il ^4 OBIGINAL LETTERS. il for therin consisteth our lief aiid saftie. We shall dutiefuUie praie. Give you good advise. And God, I trust, will deliver us owt of the mouthe of the war- inge Lyon. The Citizens of London in thees dan- gerous dales had need prudentlie to be dealt withall ; the preachers appointed for the Crosse in this vacacion are but yonge men, unskilfull in matters political!, yet so carried with zeale that they will enter into them and poure furthe their opinions. Yf the league stand- eth firme betwixt hir Ma'""', and the Frenche Kinge, (as I suppose it dothe,) they may perhappes, beinge not directed, utter speache to the breache therof. Howe that will be liked of I dowte. Yf I may receave from yo**. L. some direction or advise herin, I will not faill to directe them so well as I canne. The Deane of Paules and I will first occupie the place, givinge ex- ample howe others may followe. Sundrie have re- '^ quired a publique Faste and Praier to be had, for the confoundinge of theese and other cruell enemies of Goddes gospell; but this I will not consent unto, withowt warraunt from hir Ma''^'. Thus am I bolde to unfolde a peece of my mynde on the sudden, and to make yow pertaker of my simple cogitacions, knowinge that accordinge to yo*. olde wonte, you will take the same in good parte. Hasten hir Ma*'^\ home- warde, hir safe returne to London will comforth many heartes oppressed with feare. God preserve yow, and directe yow with his* spirite to counsell to his glorie. : I ORIGINAL LETTERS. 25 In haste from my howse at Fiilham this vt»'. of Sep- tember 1572 y*^*". L. humble at commandment. ED. LONDON. The saftie of our Quene and Realme, yf God will. 1. Furthwith to cutte of the SCOTTISH QUENE'S HEADE : ipsa est nostrt fundi calamitas. 2. To remove from our Quene Papistes, and suche as by private persuasion overthrowe good counsel!. 3. The Q. ma^'<'. to be garded stronglie with Pro- testants, and others to be removed. 4. Order must be taken for the safe kepinge of the Tower, and for good order to be had in London for strengtheninge of the Citie, and that they receave no Papistes of strengthe to sojourne there this wynter. 5. A firme League to be made with the yonge Scot- tishe Kinge and the Protestants there. 6. A League to be made with the Princes Protestants of Germanic, offensive and defensive. 7. The chiefe Papistes of this realme are to be shutte uppe in the Tower, and the popishe olde Bushoppes to be returned thither. 8. The Gospell earncstlie to be promoted, and the Churche not burdened with unnecessaric ceremonies. 9. The Protestants, which onlie are faithfull sub- . 26 ORIGINAL LETTERS. jectes, aie to be comforted, preferred, and placed -in autoritie, the Papistes to be displaced. Theese put in execution, wolde twrne to Goddes glory, the saftie of the Quene's Ma'''*\ and make the Realme florishe and stande. To the right honorable my sin- guler good Lorde the Lorde of Burghley, highe Treasuror of Englande. m LETTER CXCIII. The Earl of Sussex to the Lord Treasurer^ upon the Queen's wish to sign a Commission to execute by martial Law. [m8. lansd. n. art.2\, Or'tg.\ *^* Camden, in his History of Queen Elizabeth, explains the intention of this lietter. He says, " Whether I should here make mention of the frantic Opinion of Peter Burchet, I know not, who perswaded himself that it was lawful to kill such as opposed the truth of the Gospel. So far had the error of this opinion transported him, that he drew his dagger upon Hawkins that famous sea-captain in the open street and wounded him, supposing him to be Hatton, who was then in great favor with the Queen, and of her Privy Council, whom he had heard to be an enemy to the Innovators. • The Queen was so extraordinarily incensed with this fact, that sfie commanded the man to be presently executed by martial or camp-law^ until she was informed by discreet persons that martial-law was not to be used but in camps, or in turbulent times ; but that at home and in time of peace, the proceeding must be by form of judiciary pro- cess. Being therefore indicted, he affirmed tliat what he had done was * The Puritans. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 27 consonant to the holy Scriptures, and therefore lawful. Whereupon bemg to be condemned of hercsie, he promised to renounce his opinion; but yet he shifted it off, and would not. Then being thrown into the rower of London, he slew one of his keepers with a biUet which he snatched up out of the chimney, knocking him on the head: for which he was condemned of murder, had his right hand cut off and naUed to the gallows, and then was hanged, discovering a silent reluctancy." " Thk Q. sate in the grete Closette or Parler She gave order to Mr. Secretary to bryng to her the Com- myssion for executyng by marshall lawe to be sygned at after dyncr. God put into her harte to do the best. My Lord Admyrall is gretely greved with the spech that he should advyse it, and is directly ageynst it. He told my Lord of Leicester of the execution don in London in the Rebellyon of Wyatt, but he never told it to the Queue. My Lord of Arundell is very vehement ageynst it in speche to me. The Queue asked for your Lordship, and seemed to look for you ; beynge her byrthe it was hollydaye. I told her the Judges did sytt this daye in the Exchequer, and in Westmester liallc, which it semed she knew not before. What wyll become of thes actz at aftyr dyner your Lordship shall her this nyght. As I was at dyner, ^t:. October 1573. Your L. assured To the right honorable & my very good L. the L. High Tre- sorer of England. T. SUSSEX. I I • Hibt. of Q. tli/. p. 199. 28 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 29 LETTER CXCIV. IVtlliam Fleteivoody Recorder of London^ to Lord Burleigh^ on the manner of tanning Leather in the reign of Queen Elizabeth in different parts of England, [ms. lansd. 20. art. 4. Orig.\ • « Some Observations on the Statute for Tanners, in the 5th of Elizabeth, occur in the Lansdowne volume. Num. 6. art. 58. "W^hence it appears that of fifteen clauses only six could be kept, the rest were to be dispensed with, chiefly from the circumstance of the framers of tlie Act being totally ignorant of the Tanner's art. Right honorable and my vcrie good Lord, ac- cording to your Lordships order prescribed by your honorable leltres I have conferred with certen persones of good calling and skill upon these Articles exhibited by certen Tanners, the which, though they be manye and longe, yet the principall greffs do concist in the first and the x''» article : the one for the lymyng, the other for raisyng. My Lord, suche as I conferred with were of opinion against all these articles ; and then I sent for a Tanner before us, who indeed dyd agree with many of the said articles ; but my Lord, although ray sky 11 in tannyng of Lether be small, yet for these xiij. yeres I have geven my mynde that weyes to understand of that facultie. My wifes mother in Buckingham shire was maried unto a Tanner, whose name was William Howse of West Wykham ; he died at Christenmas last ; he was Ixxiiij. yeres of age ; a man both of greate welthe, verie wise, and most skill- full in his arte ; and suche a one as made the best lether in this lande, and solde it best chepe. His desire was to serve the poore, and helpe yonge be- ginners. He was a vertuous man. My Lord he tolde me unto the time of his deathe, allwaies, that it was impossible to make good leather according to the words of the lawe, and wished many times of God that the Lawe might be reformed. And further my Lord I have viewed myself all the Tanne-howses betwene Norham castell and Dover castell, and the most parte of Northe Wales, and so up to Norwyche, and I finde that everie countrye in tannyng of Lether dothe varie one from an other : and yet they make, or, if they list can make verie good lether. It is harde to cause a Northeren Tanner, or any other in his old daies, to lerne a newe order of Tanning: and surelye one forme of Tannyng can not be used in all places. The Somersett shire hyde being of a 1-ed heare will never make half so good lether as will the Derbishire hide. The Middelsex hyde is not so good as the Vale hide, the which vale is within xx-'» miles of Middlesex. The hides of most Countryes do differ. The waters do differ. In some places the waters are too sharpe and pearcyng, the which an ignorant Tanner doth not discerne. The 30 ORIGINAL LETTERS. chalkc waters of Chilton liills hath no fellowe. Some never Ivnie their hides, but worke off the heare with strcngtli of men, and that wilbe excellent let her. IVIy Lo. the owse of Ashen barke dronke, is an extreme purgation : even so it openetli the rawe hide, and dothe mervelouslie raise or puff it up. The owse of the Oken barke dronke, is the extremest binder that can be founde in phisicke ; and even so it bindeth the lether, the which is commendable. All the excel- lencie and connyng of a Tanner concistethe in the skillfull makinff of his owes: surelie thev must be nianye and severall, and one stronger then an other. The time of the changing of the I^ether from one owes to an other must be timed at prescribed howres, or els the lether wilbe utterly spoiled. My Lo. there be an infinite nomber of rules to be observed in Tannyng, the which fewe Tanners did ever conceyve ; muche lesse the Parliament who conceyved theire informacion of suche whome nowe I do by experiens knowe not to be skillfull. My Lo. in Febuarie last the Tanners whose names be written under this bill of Articles sett downe these Articles for a remembrans to be provided for at the next Parliament. Surelie My Lo. I, amongest others unworthie, did argue with them, and founde most of them verye simple men in theire Arte. Where- fore my good Lo. if a toUeracion might be made by your Lordships good meanes untill the Parliament come, I thinke it wolde do nuiche gesidcs my houses, demaines, and parkes, I will give to your lord- ship one hundreth poundes or two hundreth markes by yere for his educacion, I will assuer to your daugh- tor five hundreth poundes by yere in jointure, and, uppon the mariage, depart with a convenient portion for their maintenaunce during my lief; yf at yeres of discretion the match shalle not goe forward, I will give to the gentelwoman to her mariage two thousand poundes. And thus much in the behalf of my sonne. From myself you shall most assured lie l(x>ke and ever fynde as firme and constaunt frendship as your lordship shall receive by enie other alliaunce in Englande ; to all which pointes I gage myne honour and faith, and have testified the like to the bearer to be utterid to your lordship as I do now also confirm e it with my hand and seale. Their is equality sufficient in their yeres, no great distaunce in neighborud betweene Tiboldes and Bonington, such an occation might make me like well of my landes in Essex, where if God send me lief I might hereafter shewe all offices of frendship to the good Countesse your doughtor, of whose match I mistrust not but your lordship shall in the end receive singuler cumfort. Your lordship seeth how open & plaine I am ; use me as it shall please you : and BO with my most harty commendacions to my lady I ORIGINAL LETTERS. 33 take my leave. At Knockfergus the first of Novem- ber 1573 at your lordships commandement W. ESSEX. To the right honorable my veriegood lord the lord Burleighe Lord Treasoror of Englande, it fi LETTER CXCVI. Edmund Bisliop of Pete rboroiigh to Lord Burghley; upon the state of his Diocese^ and the unruliness of the Puritans in it, [m8. Lansdowne 17. nrt. 27. Orig.\ My most humble comendations unto your honour premised, &c. My verie good Lorde, I moste entierlie, in the name of Christe Jesus, beseche you (in whome under God and my prince is my onelie truste and staye) vouchsafe amonge your other cares of ths state of this Realme to looke uppon theis sheires of Northampton and Rutlande, committed in spirituall government unto me. And for because God haith blessed your coun- sailes and devises ever to the welthe of this Realme, let it not greve you to ayde me with your counsaile for VOL. III. SER. 2. D 34 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 35 i iil the better discharge of my office, and peace of the countrie. I am, withoute Godds assistance and yours, verie weake and unable to execute and dischardge the same in these troubles, nowe moved and procured by those whome men doe call Puritans and their fautors. They are growen apparentlie to neglecte, if theie do not abhorre the devine servise sett owte by publique aucthoritie. So that in the Towne of Overston where M''. Carleton dwelleth, there is no devyne service upon most sondayes and hollidaies, accordinge to the booke of Commen Prayer, but in steede thereof ij sermons be preached most commenlie by one M**. Standen, and one M'. Kinge, men for their opinions not licensed by me to preache at this daie. When thei are determined to receyve the communion theie repaire to Whiston, where it is their joye to have manie owte of divers parisshes, principallie owt of Northampton Towne and Overston aforesaid, with other townes thereabowte, theare to receive the sacramentes with preachers and ministers to their owne likinge, and contrarie to forme prescribed by the publique order of the Realme; which bredeth in myne opinion great scisme and devi- sion, with grudge and mallice amonge the people, so that I am doubtfull, that further evell will ensewe thereof. To their purposes they have drawen divers yonge ministers, to whome it is plauseble to have ab- solute authoritie in their parrisshes. In their waies theie be verie bolde and stowte, like men that seeme not to l)e withowte greate frendes. Whoso standeth against them, theie seeke to molest by som meanes, as latelie my chauncellor, whome by endytementes verie much, and yet more by clamors and reproches openlie in the face of the countrie thei disquietted, professinge not to be satisfied by anie other meanes but by his departure owte of the countrie ; which, no dowte of yt, wold make well of their syde and for their purpose, for if men by voices and clamors might be removed owte of the waie, which withstand their unlawfull doinges, I dowte not but that theie will shorthe have frendes inowe, and fewe to resiste their attemptes. I write not this to defend my chauncellor, if thei be able justelie before discreete and indifferent Judges to finde him culpable, so that I wolde not have him to escape dewe correction accordinge to the quantitie and qua- litie of his faulte ; but I wold be lothe to have him per- mitted and geven over ever to their pleasures. And glad I wold be that indifferent judges might have the hearinge both of his adversaries offences and of his ; before whome I truste he shalbe founde either in no faulte at all, or elles in suche faulte onelie as maye well obtayne forgivenes ; if it be otherwise it shall not greve me, so that he suffer not more then he haith de- served. In this my chauncellores case I have to crave som ayde to bringe yt to the juste triall of the wyse, as in myne owne causes afforesaid, I stande in greate neede of som direction from you, for seinge theie are d2 36 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTKRS. 37 ill I encreased and waxen bolde when I and myne officers have bene to resist them, muche further will theie proceede if I be destitute of a chauncellor. When som of them have offended, I am written unto by those whose letters in mylde wordes be unto me rather a commaundement then a request. Therefore I beseeche you, as before I have done, to releive me with som parte of your counsell. I wolde not thus trouble you, my good Lorde, if this matter touched not asmuche the peace and quietnes of the Laietie, as it doth the regi- ment of theSpiritualtie; wherefore I besech you pardon me, if in this anxietie and doubtfulnes I flie unto you for advise. At Peterborowe this xiij'h. of Aprill 1573 Your honours at commaundement in the Lorde Jesus EDMUNDE PETRIBURG. To the Right honorable my verie good Lorde, the Lorde Trea- surer of England. LETTER CXCVII. Lionel DucTcett Lord Mayor of London, to Lord Burghley, upon the reformation of excessive feasting in the Halls of the City Companies and in Taverns, [m8. I.AM8D. 16. art. 72. Orig.\ Our dutie to yo' Lordship humbly done; it may please the same to be advertised that for auoyding the excessive spending of venison and other vitail in the Halles of this Citie, which we understand to haue ben offensive to her Ma*>^' and the Nobilitie, we haue by act of Comon Counsel forbidden such festes herafter to be kept, and haue restrained the same only to ne- cessarie metinges in w^' also no venison is permitted, as by the copie of the Act herew-^ sent unto yo' L. may appere. And further for that we finde not only great expense of venison to haue ben in Tauernes and Cookes houses, but also very many and great enormities bothe of dronkennesse, seditions, rumors, unthrifty assemblies, incontinence, and other euelles to growe of inordinate resorting to tauernes and tippling houses, specially by the meaner sort, we have sought meane to redresse such disorder by restraining the drinking and eating in such houses. The forme of this Act, which we herewith send yo^. L. hath ben considered by me the Maior and all my brethren the Aldermen, and by I 1{ 38 OBIGINAL LETTER?:. i a great number of the discretest comeners to whome the same hath ben comitted, and in our and their opi- nions, and generally of good citesens, very well thought of, so as we intend to procede w^'^ ofFring it to the Comon Counsel if yo*" L. haue liking therof, which yo" good allowance we thought meete herin to haue respect unto not only for yo' L. good aduise which we humbly beseche you to geue us, but also for that without yo'^ good raeanes for some like order in S^ Martin''s and Westm** and other exempt and adioyning places, it is by many citesens thought that our pro- ceding here will lack a great part of the frute that is hoped to ensue thereby. For which cause we haue bothe sent yo' Honor the Bill, and this bearer or officer in- structed in that mater to attend upon yo^ L. for yo** good pleasure how yo' wisdome will aduise us for di- rection in this behalf, which we beseche you that it will please you to impart vnto vs, whoe shall be redy to follow the same. And so we comitt yo''. good L. to the tuition of Almighty God. At London this vj*»'. of August, 1573 Your Lordships humbles LEONiLL DUCKETT Mayor THOMAS OFFLEY, Aldcrvtian Rowl HAYWARDE Alderman. To the right honorable and our singular good Lord , the L. Burgh- ley, Lord Highe Tresorer of Eng- Itnd. t ORIGINAL LETTERS. 39 My very good Lord, yesternight the Quenes Ma- jesty said she wold se all the Lettres which cam from Ireland, and talk with Malby. Therfor I pray your Lordship, if you com not home agayn to the Cowrte the sooner, send me the answer to the dowtes, which I toke your Lordship yesternight, lest Hir Majestic ax for them. I will draw out in the meane while out of my L. and my L. Deputies Lettres what articles doth requier answer. In very deede yt is high tyme som conclusion were made, and som plat drawen to be folowed in that en- terprice of Ulster. Marche and the Spryng drawth fast on ; and except the mater be spedely begon, irre- solucyon and long treynyng will make opportunyte and occasion to flie away untaken, and a great deale of LETTER CXCVIII. Sir Thomas Smith to Lord Burghley. The Queen anxious on the Affairs of Ireland. The business of Ulster. [ms. laxsd. 19. art. 81. Orig.] i 40 ORIGINAL LKTTEKS. money to be lost. God long preserve your Lordship in helth. From Hampton Cowrt the last of Jan. 1574. Y^ L. allwais at commaundment T. SMITH. In our maters of the Societe also tyme drawth fast away without eny thyng doeng. To the right honorable my verie good Lord the L. Burghley, L. High Thresorer of England. LETTER CXCIX. Sir Tluyinas Sviith to Lord Burghley. Queen Eliza- beth has a convenient Cold. [ms. laksd. 21. art, 16. Orig.] II My very good Lord, I moved the Quenes Majestic for the commyng of the Noblemen of Venyce, and shewed what hast thei made and whie, acordyng as your L. had written. Hir Majesties answer was, that your Lordship should make answer that hir Highnes ORIGINAL LETTERS. 41 had taken a great cowld, and therfor wold kepe hir chamber a day or two : but if they cowld tarie untill Saterday they should be wellcom : for then indede the Cowrte wold be furnished. My Lord of Leyces- ter, my Lord Adm''. and a great nomber of the noble men now beyng absent, which by that tyme wilbe re- temed. Other Answer then this upon eny replie I could not get. Hir Highnes liketh well that you do apoynt a Gentleman, eny of the named, to attend upon them. Thus I bid your Lordship most hartely fare well. From Wyndsor the xvij^»^. of No. 1575. Yo"" L. at commaundment T. SMITH. To the right honorable my verie good Lord, the Lord Burghley, L. High Thresorer of England. LETTER CC. Richard Prise of Brecknock to Lord Burghley uptm the abuse of the Cymmortha and the general state of Wales. [ms. lansd. 21. art. 32. Orig.^ •^* Pennant defines Cymmortha, assemblies of people to assist a neighbour in any work ; such, he says, are very frequently in use at pre- sent. There are Cymmortha, or assemblies for spinning ; for works of husbandry ; for coal-carriage. The abuse of these meetings was nut confined to thw period alluded to 42 ORIGINAL LETTEHb. in Richard Prise's Letter. They hail been made a pretence at least as early as the time of Henry the Fourth, to assemble able bodied men lor an Insurrection. By Statute 4'^ Hen. IV'. chap. 27. it was ordained and established " that no westour (or host), rhymer, minstrel, nor vagabond, be in any " wise sustained in the land of M'ales to make Cymmorthas or ffather^ " ing upon the common people //«- lein, which can but read the divine service, doth serve ij. some iij. parishes, and those two or thre miles asunder at the least. Wherby the comon people are so rude and ignorant in the most necessary pointes of the Christian faith, that overmany of them cannot as moche as saie the Lordes Praier and Articles of the >l ■ I 48 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Belief in anie Language that they understand. And therfore it is no mervell that they are very injurious one to another, and live in contempt both of the Lawes of God and man ; as in keeping, one his brothers wief, another his wiefes daughter, and living and dwelling with them (as manie doth most abominably) seing they are not instructed in the fear of God. But this lack of good Teachers doth partly growe by reason the Churches are (in manner) all impropriate, and no livinges lefte to mainteine sufficient Curates, but suche as please the proprietaries and their fermors to geve ; which comenly will geve as litle as they can. I feare me I have ben over-tedious unto your honor, wherof I humbly crave pardon, sith the necessitie of the cawse hathe urged me thereunto. Assuring your lordship that unlesse the foresaid enormities and exactions be spedely redressed, as the people are allready greatly disquieted and impoverished therby, so they will shortly be alltogeather unable to yeld the Prince anie Subsidie worthe the levieng, or to serve her Majesty but with their bare bodies. So I humbly take my leave, praieng God that you male longe lieve in health and increas of honor, for the benefite of the coinon wealth. From Brecknock the last of January 1575. Most humbly ever at your Lordships comaundment, RICH. PRISE. ORiaiXAL LETTERS. 49 Such appears to have been the state of one County at least in South Wales, in 1675. There is a very curious Paper in another part of the Lansdowne Collection,* probably written about the same time, entided " The State o/ North Wales, touching Religion," but which also illustrates in a small degree the manners and condition of the people. They still considered themselves as a Nation in captivity. " The people,*' says the writer, " naturally are very devout, having in heart doubtless engraffed as great fear, regard, and reverence of a supemall power as any people in the world elsewhere have, but more than the name of God they know nothing at all ; and therefore as utterly ignorant of him or their salvation, do still, in heaps, go on pilgrimage to the wonted Wells and places of superstition, and in the nights, after the feasts when the old offrings were used to be kept at any idol's Chapel, albeit the Church be pulled down, yet do they come to the place where the Church or Chapel was, by great journeys barefoot, very super- stitiously, &c. The meane for the meeting and knowledge of the time when the Pilgrims shall come is chiefly wrought by their pencars or head-minstrells, who at the direction of some old gende woman do ordi- narily give the summons of the time certain for such meetings. " Upon the Sundays and Holidays the muldtude of all sorts of men, women, and children of every parish do use to meet in sundry places, cidier on some hill or on the side of some mountain where dieir Harpers and Crowthers sing them songs of the doings of their Ancestors ; namely of their wars against the Kings of this realme, and the English nadon ; and then do they rip up their pedigrees at length, how each of them is descended from their old Princes. Here also do they spend their time in hearing some part of the lives of Thalaassyn, Marlin, Beno, Rybbye, Jermin, and such other the intended Prophets and Saints of that country. " The common sort of Gentry of that Country do ordinarily, in every place and each company, advance the ability of the Dominion of Wales, preferring the same to be more than the valor »» of the Kingdom of Scot- land, and the abilities of the people of that province or part of this realm to be more able to maintain a regal estate than be the Scots. And here is to be noted when they lie idlcly on the mountain's sides how then they talk of the fastness and natural strength of every way, place, and hill of their country. " Truely at this day yf you look thoroughly to the whole number of gentry and others of all sorts in North Wales, ye shall scarcely find any (the Bishops and some few others excepted) yet in any sort well instructed in the faith of Christ : for of the whole multitude, such which be under thirty years of age seem to have no show of any religion, the others well * MS. Lansil. ni. art. 4. VOL. III. SER. 2. *» value. K 50 ORIGINAL LETTERS. near generally all dare to profess and to maintain the absurdest points of popish heresy; according to which knowledge (most lamentable to be spoken) the greatest number of them do frame their lives in looseness, licentiousness, contention, and other such like. " If the enemies of God and true Religion shall ever endeavor the dis- quiet of the setled state, they are in policy to practice the same where ignorance most aboundeth and where the Gospel hath been least preached, which surely is in Wales.*' In a subsequent part of the Lansdowne Collection, there is a lietter from the Preacher of Bishop's Castle in the County of Salop to I^ord Burghley, relating to a practice in which Wales was likewise behind Eng- land in civilization, that of occasionally holding Fairs on Sundays.* *' To the Right Honourable William Baron of Burghley, Lonle High Treasorcr of England. " Your suppliant Walter Stephens, preacher of Bushoppes Castle in the Counde of Salop, where contrarie to the exprcsse word of God and con- trarie also to the Lawes of this Realme the Fajrres holden not onlie in the Towne of Busshopes Castle, but also for the moste parte in all other townes in Wales and the Marches thereof happening upon the Sundaie and Saboath daie, are holden upon the same Sundaie and Saboath daie on which they fall, to the high displeasure of Almighty God. And where in all the chief Citties and Townes of the Realme, and in all East, West, and South parts of the Realme, and in many other civiU and well ordered places the same great abuse is reformed, and remayneth unre- formed chiefly in Wales and the Marches thereof, which causcth (no doubte) Gods heavy hand over them. Your humble suppliant mcaneth by your Lordships favour to exhibite a Petition unto your Lordsthip and the rest of the Lords of Her Majesties moste honourable previe Councell for reformacion therein to be had, wherein he moste humblie besecheth your moste honourable Ivordship being one of the chief patrons of true religion. That it would please the same in this so charitable and good a service to give your Lordships spcciall assistaunce and countenaunce, a worke (no doubte) moste acceptable unto Almightie God." It is indorsed in Lord Burghlcy's hand ''*' Lett this Sute be moved to the Counsell and I will further it. W. BURGHLEY." • The holding both of markets and fairs on Sundays was forbidden very early in England. First by the Laws of the Northumbrian priests, about the year 950. " Diei Soils mercaturam prohibemus ubique, et omnem populi conventum, et omue opus, et quamlibet peref^riiiationem tam in curribus quam in cquis cum oneribus ;" then by the Liber Constitutionum of King iEthelred ; and a third time in the Lawe* of Canute. The Market of St. Germains in Cornwall is the only one which is ex- pressly said in the Domesday Survey to have been held " in die Dominico," on Sunday. Matthew Paris, however, informs us, under the year 1200, that Fairs and Markets had been constantly so held in England from a remote period. The Statute of the 27th of Henry the Sixth intended to have abolishek a small solutiv on Monday ; began on Tuesday, yesterday, to drynk of the water to the quantite of three pynts at six draughts; this daye I have ailded ij. draughts, and so drynk four pyiits ; and tomorrow am determyncd to drynk v. pynts and dim. With sugar I fynd it potable with plesoir, even as whey. I meane not to bath these viij. dayes, but will contynew drynkyng x. dayes. Here are in company M'. Roger Mannors for whose company I hartcly thank your Lordship, Sir William Fitzwilliam, Sir Thomas Cecil, my Lady Harryngtun, and M». Edmunds, with others." H 54 ORIGINAL LETTERS. then S'. Thomas Gresham dronk an other, and S''. Wittm Dam sell the third ; and I pledged them all. At the same fFeast Sir Leonell Duckett was chosen M^ '^ and dy ner being done (as the order is) we brought the M''. home to his howse, where we had a great and a royall bankett ; and that done I walked to Powles to leame some newes, where came sodenly into the Church Edmond Downing, and he told me that he was even then come out of Worcestershire, and that my Lo. chief Baron died at S John Hubands howse, and that he is buryed at Lemster ; and he said that the comen speache of that Contry is that M*^ Serjaunt Barham shold be dedd at Worcester, but that is not certen ; the like report goeth of M' Fowler the clerk of the same Circuit. He told me that M'. Davers, M' . Doyley the uncle, and S'. Iloberte his nephue, M'. Thomas Wayneman, M ' . Symon Harcourt, M'*. Babington, M' . Mychaell Nasshe, and a nomber of other gentlemen that were at the Gaole-deliverie at Oxon are all dedd. The Inquest of lyfe and death are almost all gone. Such clerks, servaunts, and yong gentlemen, being schoUers, as were at the same Gaole-delyvery are either dedd or in great danger. M"^. Solicitors sonne and heire being brought home to his fathers howse at Woodstock lyeth at the mercy of God. M'. Attorneys sonne and heire was brought very sick from Oxon to his fathers howse ' Miulci of the C'utn]>aii\ . ORIGINAL LETTERS. 55 at Harrow, where he hath bene in as great danger of deathe as might be, but nowe there is some hope of amendement. The gaole delivery of Oxon (as I was told) was kept in the Towne Hall, a close place, and by the infection of the Gaole (as all men take yt) this mortalitie grew. Thus much for yesterdayes newes being Monday. Upon Sonday last, I rode over to Harrow to see M»" Attorneys sonne, where I found M' Attorney and M'^ Gerrard and all theire howshold in helth, saving the yong gentleman, who I trust is on the mending hande. Upon Saterday last in the after noone we had an Oier and Determiner in the Guyld hall, the which we use to hold in the vacation tyme to kepe the people in obedience. There w as besides us of the City M*". Southcott and M'. Leiftenant. Upon the fore noone I sate in the Duchie, where I did arraine a Cutler, a neighbour of yo' good Lo. for bawdery. Thus much shall serve for th''occurrents of Satterday. Upon Fryday last we had much busines, the Sub- sedy for the Borough of Southwerk was sytt upon ; and the Subsedy for Midd. and the Musters were sitt upon at the Justice hall. There were two Lettres considered of that came from the Lords of the Coun- cell, the one touching the nomber of Alehowses in Middlesex, and Dover haven, &c. and the other for the avauncing of Archery &c. The same day we 56 OEIGINAL LKTTKUi>. OKIGINAL LETTERS. 57 !|H ll examined certen roogs and masteries men. This shall suffise for Fryday. Upon Thursday there was nothing ado but preach- ing of Sermondes : and at my parishe church tlie Deane of Chester did prech. And thus much for Thursday. Upon Weddensday was arreyned in the Guy Id hall on Hayward, an inbrotherer, a Servaunt of my Lo. Wentworthes, at which time the Stat, made in 18 of this Queene for the supposed fathers for getting of children was put in execution. The example whereof will doe muche good here in London. This shall suf- fise for Weddensday. Upon Tuesday we had little or no busines, saving that the Shomakers of London, having builded a faire and a newe Hall, made a royall feast for theire frends, which they call their howse wanning. Upon Monday here fell a mischaunce betwene two of my Lo. Chamberleyns men, and the on of them was killed in Powles churche yarde. Thus much for Mondaye. Peradventure yo' Lo. would knowe how my self is occupied. I am in very deed my Lo. at this presente at the request of dyvers of my ffryndes setting downe an Order how Justices of Peace shall use themselfs in theire offices. I am I thanke God in the middest of my travell, and I hope within this month to make an end ; for I have collected all my matter, and it wanteth nothing but good disposicion. » Thus most humblye I take my leave of yo' Lordship, at Bacon House in Foster Lane in London this xxx'*' of July 1577. Yo' Lo. most humble W. FLETEWOODE. To the right honorable and my singular good Lord, my Lord High Treasorcr of England. LETTER CCIII. Elizabeth Countess of Lenox to Lord Burghley^ thanking him for tisinghis interest loith the Scottish Ambassador tJuit the Earldom of Lenox might de- volve upon her daughter Arabella. A. D. 1578. [ms. lansd. 27. arU 5. OrigJ\ ♦,♦ The Harleian MS. 289. fol. VMu contains the particulars of the dower of the Lady 3Iai^ret Lenox, as well as the subsequent particu- lars of the tide of the Lady Arabella to the Earldom. " After the death of Matthew Earl of Lenox the earldom came to the Kings Majesty, who on the 8th April 1572 aswcll by the Earl of Marr then Regent, under the Great Seal of Scodand, as also by the whole con- Kent of the nobility and council by act of Parliament, did give the same unto the Lord Charles late Earl of Lenox and to his Iwirsfor ever : " After whose death the said Earldom by reason of the said gift, de- scended unto the Lady Arabella dowghter and heyre of the said late Earl deceased, ** The Lord Regent being requested to grant the wardship of die lands • This work was not published till lonp afu-r Flctewomlcss death: svo. 16&8. 58 ORIGINAL LETTKRS. unto Eliaabeth Countess of Lenox for her dower, not only denied the •ame, but also denied to allow the Lady Arabella as heir to the Earldom : " So that the Regent will not permit the Countess to deal with the said Earldom, neither in her own right as for her dower, nor in the right of the young Lady, as tutor or guardian unto her." The Regent Marr's reasons against granting the Earldom to Arabella occur in the same Manuscript, fol. 200 ; a more powerful reason than all perhaps was that Queen Elizabeth had interested herself in the Lady Arabella's favor. After the death of Charles Earl of Lenox, the earldom was made to devolve upon his uncle Robert Earl of Caithness, who resigned it into the King's hands in favor of his nephew Esme Stewart, lord d'Aubigny. He, in 15«1, was created Duke of Lenox.* To him King James the Sixth would have married the Lady Arabella, but to that Elizabeth would consent. I CAN but yckl your Lordship most harty thankts for your continual 1 goodncs towardes me aitd my lytell one, and specyally for your Lordship's late good dealynge with the Scotts imbasedor for my poore childs ryght, lor which as allso sundry otherwys we are for ever hounde to your Lordship, whom I besech styll to fur- tlitr that cans as to your Lordship may seem best. I can assuer your Lordship th'Erldome of Lennox was grauntcd by Acte of Parlymente to my Lord my late husband and the heyres of his body, so that they shuld offer great wronge in seekinge to take it from Arbela : which I trust by your Lordship's gocxl meanes wyll be prevented, being of your meer goodnes for justis sake so well disposed ther unto. For all whychc your Lordship's goodnes (as I am bound) I rest in hart • Sec DoiigiH!., Pttrimi ui >».. 402. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 59 more thankfull then I can anywys expres. I take my leve of your Lordship, whom I pray God longe to preserve. At Newgat Strete the xv. of August Your Lo : as I am bounden Upon my advertysmente to my Lady my Mother of the infection at Chelsey (from whence I would at the first have removed if I had knowne any fitt place), though the danger was not great, she hath com- manded me presantly to com hether for want of a more convenyant House, To the ryght honorable my very gowl Lorde, the Lo: Burgh- ley Heigh Tresorer of England. E. LENNOX. LETTER CCIV. The Earl cf Shrewsbury to Lord Burgliley and Lord Leicester^ announcing the death of Elizabeth Coun- tess of' Lenox. [M8. lansd. 34. fol. 1. Ortg.\ •^* The Earl of Shrewsbury in this, and Lady Shrewsbury in the next Ijcttcr, both call Elizabctli Countess of Lenox their daughter, pro- Hi \ II I 60 ORIGINAL LKTTEKS. bably because their eldest son Clilbert Talbot, afterwards Earl of Shrews- bury, had married 3lary her elder sister. She was really the daughter of Sir William Cavendish of Chatsworth, in Derbyshire. My verrye good Lordes, itt hath pleased God to call to his mercy owtt of this transitorie Worlde my daughter Lennoux this present Sondaie, beinge the xxj*''. of January aboute three of the clocke in the morninge. Bothe towardes God and the Worlde she made a moste godlie and good ende, and was in moste perfect memorye all the tyme of her sicknes, even to this last hower. Sondrye tymes did she make her moste earnest and humble prayer to the Allmightic for her Majesties most happie estate, and the longe and prosperous contynuance thereof, and, as one most infynittlie bounde to her Highnes, humblie and lowlie beseched her Majestic to have pyttie up}X)n her poore orphantt Arbella Stewarde ; and as at all tymes heretofore bothe the mother and poore doughter was most infynitely bounde to her Highnes, so her assured trust was that her Majestic wolde contynewe the same accustomed goodnes and lx)untic to the poore childe she leftt ; and of this her suite and humble pe- ticion my said doughter Lennoux by her last Will and Testamente requireth bothe your Lordships (to whome she founde and acknowledged her selfe allwaies moste bounde) in her name most lowlie to make this humble pcticion to her Majestic, and to present with all humy- origixal letters. 61 litie unto her Majestic a poore remembrance (delivered by my doughters owne handes) which verry shortelie wilbe sent, with my doughters humble prayer for her Highnes moste happie estate, and most lowlie besech- inge her Highnes in suche sorte to accepte thereof as ytt pleased th*'Almightie to recey ve the poore Widowes myte. My wyffe taketh my doughter Lennoux deathe so grevouslie that she neither dothe nor can thincke of any thinge but of lamentinge and wepinge, I thoughte ytt my parte to signifie to bothe your Lordships in what sorte God hath called her to his mercye, which I beseche you make knowne to her Majestic ; and thus with my verrye hartie comendacions to bothe your good Lordships I ceasse. Sheffeilde Mannor this xxj*'^. of Januarye [1581-2]. Yo^. Lordshipps assured, G. SHREWESBURY. To the right honoorable my very good Lordes, my Lord Burghley L. Treasorer of England, and my very good Lord and Cosin th'Erle of Leicester, of her Majesties most lio- iiorable Previe Counsaile. I m ORIGINAL T.F.TTKRS. LETTER CCV. The Cmniess of Shrewsbury to Lord Burghley, that the Lady Arabella may have the lands which were assigned to the late Countess of Lenox her mother. A,D. 1581-2. [ms. lansd. 34. art. 2. Orig.^ My honorabil good Lord your Lordship hath harde by my Lo. howe yt hathe pleased God to visit me; but in what sortt soever his pleasure is to laye his hevye hande on us we muste take ytt thankefulHe. It is good reason his holly e will shoulde be obeyed. My honorable good Lo. I shall not nede here to make longe resitall to your Lo. howe that in all my greatest matters I have bene singularelie bounde to your Lo. for your Lo. go dys- posytyon by the death of my daughter Lennox, whom yt pleased God (I doute not in mercye for her good, but to my no smale grefe, in her l)est tyme) to take i I • ORIGINAL LETTERS. 65 out of this world, whom I can not yet remembar but with a sorrowfull trobuled mynde. I am now, my good L. to be an humble sutter to the Queues Ma- jesty that yt may please her to confyrme that graunt of the whole syx hondryth pounds yerely for the edu- catyon of my dearest Juyll Arbella, wherein I assuredly trust to her Majestye**s most gracyous goodnes, who never denyed me any sute, but by her most bountyfuU and gracyous favors every way hath so much bound me as I can never thinke my selfe hable to dyscharge my dutye in all faythfull servyce to her Majesty. I wyshe not to leve"^ after I shall wyllyngly fayle in any parte therof to the best of my powar. And as I know your L. hath especyall care for the orderinge of her Majesty "^s revenewes and of her esstate every way, so trust I you wyll conseder of the pore infants case, who under her M^^y. ys to appeale onely unto your Lo. for succor in all her dystresses ; who, I trust, can not dyslyke of this my sute in her behaulfe, consedering the charges incydent to her brenging up. For altho she were ever wher her mother was duaring her lyfe, yet can I not now lyke she should be heare nor in any place else' wher I maye not sometymes see her and dayly heare of her, and therfore charged with kepynge howse where she muste be with such as ys fyt for her cauling, of whom I have specyall care, not only such as a naturall mother hath of her best beloved chyld, » Iiv«. VOL. in. SER. 2. i ft! I t ! I' I |tt 66 ORIGINAL LETTEHS. but much more greatter in respecte howe she ys in bloude to her Majesty ; albeyt one of the pooreste as depending wholly of her Majesty ""s gracyous bountye and goodnes, and being now upon vij. yeres, and very apte to learne, and able to conseve what shalbe taught her. The charge wyll so increase as I dout not her Ma^^ wyll well conseve the syxe hondryth poundes yerely to be lettell ynough, which as your L. knoweth ys but as so much in mony, for that the landes be in lease, and no further commodetye to be looked for duaring thes few yeares of the chyldes mynorytye. All which I trust your L. wyll consider and say to her Ma^^ what you shall thinke therof ; and so most hartelye wyshe your good L. well to doe. Sheffeld this vj^*^. of May. Your L. most assured loving frend, E. SHBOUESBURY. To the ryght honorable and my very good L. the L. Burghley L. Treasourar of England* i| i! The Shrewsbury family took the entire charge of tlie Lady Arabella*s education. The following Letter from Lord and Lady Talbot to Lord Burghley, to take leave of him on going into the country in 1588, occurs in the Lansdowne Manuscript, num. 34. art. 54. It is accompanied by a postscript from the Lady Arabella. ^^ Righte honorable and our espetiaU good Lordc, on Thursday laate we attended reddy at your Lordships house to have taken our leaves of your Lordship, but had answer by Mr. Cope that, at that tyme, your Lordship beynge sumwhat touched with payne we myghte not con. veniently have accesse to you. Wherfore beyng now reddy agaynste Munday next to begyn our jomey into Nott: shyre, We now thynke ORIGINAL LETTERS. 67 good herby to present our humble dutyes to your Lordship, and if our attendance on your Lordship our selves yet before our goynge myght not be mconvenient or troblcsom to your Lordship we shalbe moste reddy and glad so to doe. Otherwyse we will by thes few lynes in humble manner take our leaves of yo' Lordship, at whos commandement above any others we will ever remayne unfaynedly : and ever beseche the AUmyghty God to graunte unto your Lordship moste perfyte health, all honor, and happynes. From our pore lodgynge in Collman strete this xiij»\ of July 1588. Yout L. moste assuredly at your commandement for ever GILB. TALBOTT. MARY TALBOTT. " Je prieray Dieu 3Ion*^ vous donner en parfaicte et entiere sante, tout heureux et bon succ^s, et seray tousjours preste a vous faire tout honneur ct service. " To the right honorable and our espetiaU gootle Lorde the Ix>rde Burghley Lonl Tresurer of England." ARBELLA STEWARD. LETTER CCVII. The Due (TAnjau to tJie Earl of Sussex^ expressing his attachment to the Queen, [M8. cotton. TITUS B. VII. fol. 361 b. Orig, ENTIRELY IN THE duke's hand.] •»• There is no date to this Letter, though it must have been written about 1580. At this time Elizabeth was still coquetting; and her courtiers writing upon marriage, as if to aid her Majesty's procrastina- tion. Sir Thomas Smith, one of the best writers of his day, penned sevend disserUtions upon the subject with no trifling show of erudition. His " Abstract touching the Queen's ]\Iarriage" is one of the shortest and the best. It shall be given at the end of this Letter. The Proposals of Marriage to Queen Elizabeth, with the correspondence and remarks consequent thereon, would fill more than three such Volumes as the present. f2 H 68 OBIGINAL LETTERS. MoNcousi>j ie ne veus perdre ceste occasion sans vous assurer de ma bonne vollonte, et vous prier de me continuer tous bons offices a Pandroit de la Royne ma M estresse, et luy donnes a toutes occasions assuranse de mon fidelle servise. Je suis bien ayse d''antandre par le Sieur de Simpe que sa Majeste ayst eu ray son ses rebelles d'Irlande, je men rejouis infinimant. Tenes moy en sa bonne grase, et vous assures de la myene autant que d'amy que vous aves james, et croyes que je vous en fere toujours preuve et a tous sens qui seront coume^ vous tres fidelles a la Royne ma Mestresse, a la quelle je baise mille fois les mains, et prie Dieu vous avoyr en sa garde. De Paris se xiii. Setanbre. Vostre bon Cousin et tres assure amy, FRANCOYS. A Monsieur le Conte de Suset mon cousin. An Abstract touching the Queen's Marriage^ by Sir Thomas Smith, [RARL. MS. 787. fol. 54 b.] ** It is better for the Queen*s Majesty to remain unmarried. *' 1. In respect of God. Viiginity is better than Matrimony, because it was followed by Christ, preferred by St. Paul. The Virgin hath care to please God ; and John the Baptist and most of the Apostles virgins. Virginity kept in the primitive Church as best pleasing to God. Viiginity, because hard to be kept, is most laudable in Princes. " 2. In respect of the Prince. Wherein is to be considered Danger in often Conception by loathsomeness of meat ; appetite of strange meats ; morpherd : at Delivering, present danger of death, as was seen in Queen comme. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 69 " Princes Inheritrices, evil intreated by their husbands Jane and Queen Catharine Parr; continual danger if she be fruitful. If God had not given a notable quantity of foolishness and forgetfullness to Women, after one childbirth they would never accompany with men again in respect of the pains and danger. * In marrying a subject, she di.vparageth herself; if a stranger, she maketh him her stead: besides seldom agreement in maniage. Amalesuntlia, Beatrix Lady of Verselli, Jane the Queen of Naples, Mary Queen of England, ^ and others. " In respect of the Commonweal, Here consider the good government now. Compare Queen Mary's married time with this time. The Queen may govern in peace by her Council, in war by a GeneraL By two Princes, the court augmented, and the commons more burdened. &c *' The Answer, " In respect of God. Virginity an indifferent thing of itself; altered by circumstances. Abraham as holy in knowing Sarah, as Elias in his virginity. Paul prefers virginity not for itself, but in itself, as having less trouble. For a Prince (whose succession is the foundation of Peace) to live a sole life is a great mischief. Issue is a blessing of God ; as to David, &c. but the want thereof is a token of God's great displeasure ; as in Saul, Jeroboam, Ahab, &c. " In respect of the Prince. Most women escape well in childbirth. Aristotle in his Politiques would have a law, that women should not use themselves to fine diet when they were with child ; but that they should use themselves to labour, travelling as pilgrims to Lucina, Latona, &c '* The Queen furnished with things necessary of Physicians, might have easier travail than otlier women. The hope of posterity, and the glory thereof, should comfort her. The commodity ensuing, greater than the present danger ; which at the most is but two or three hours. In five hundred years, only two Queens died of childbirth. Queen Catharine Parr died rather of thought. Because Henry the First died in eating a lamprey; Rufus in hunting; therefore shall Princes forbear the like? Bringing forth children doth preserve the body from diseases, and bettereth the colour. Amalesuntha, Beatrix, Jane of Naples were monsters among women ; and make no general rule. As touching agree, ment ; we see by experience that the knot of love in marriage surmounteth all other love, and the husband, setting all things apart, doth study and care for the conservation of his wife. So hereby a husband may stand • Erasmi Encomium Moria>. »> Sir Thomas Smith here alludes to Philip the Second's absence in Spain, which weighed to much on Mary'i mind. I II !' 70 OUIGINAL LETTEKS. OEIUINAL LETTERS. 71 il her Majesty in more stead then the wUcut counsellor, by who»e eyes and ears she seeth and heareth of the greatest aft'airi. " In respect of the Commonwealth. In the good Government now, the whole Parliament desired a husband for the Queen. It were to be wished that the Queen would do what lieth in her for issue, as Queen Mary did. " The presence of a Prince most available. King Henry the Third, the Black Prince, Henry the Fifth. The Romans did more by their Con- suls and Proconsuls tlien by Legates, &c The wars of the Venetians have worse success because their generall is not absolutely as a Dictator. The augmentation of the Court and burthening of the Commons is nothing in respect of the safety of the whole stote. (ireat miseries like to ensue, if the Queen continue in her sole life. "That a Stranger is to be preferred in marriage with the Queen, in respect of the causes of marriage which either are Essential ot Accidental. " £Mential. The begetting of children without offence of God ; the remedy to resist tempution; the comfort that one hath of another. These be indifferent, and do neither exclude the Stranger nor receive the Englishman. " Accidental. Honour. In marrying with an Englishman she marry cth her subject, and disparageth herself. In marrying a stranger her honour augmented, so Queen Mary purposed by marrying King Philip. Mary of Burgundy by marrying with Maximilian made her progenitors the most honourable in Europe. Mary of Scotland in marrying with Francis the Second had the like purpose. So Claude of Brittany, &c. *' Power. Which consisteth in keeping her own, and resisting the enemy. In this, by marrying an Englishman she hath not one man the more to increase her power, but commonly the less, through envy bom at theh- equal so preferred ; as the marriage of Edward the Fourth with Elizab. Woodvill showeth. Marrying a Stranger she uniteth her huft. band's power unto htrs and is thereby strengthened. " Riches. In marrying an Englishman, since all is aheady her own, she nothing cnricheth herself but rather impoverishcth to furnish him according to his esUte. In marrying a Stranger she doth adjoin tlie riches of another kingdom or country to her own. " The Answer. " That an Englishman is rather to be chosen in respect both of causes Essential and Accidental. " Essential. The first is not indifferent ; for a Prince mere English is to be wished, which will not derive liis love from England to his father\s country, as the Danes and Normaiis did at the first; rejecting Englishmen and preferring Danes, &c. For the second ; strangers more prone to temptation of the flesh, both Italians, French, and Spaniards ; and Germans, which overshadow their fault with dnmkenness. For the third ; diversity of language, conditions, disposition, manners, laws, is neither conformable nor pleasant, and he will labour to conforme us thereto. For these essential causes therefore the Englishman is to be preferred in comparison of others, both for love towards her Majesty, and sure knowledge of nature and inclination, which in strangers do depend upon uncertain reports. " Honor. It is no disparagement to marry a nobleman of England, for the nobility are the right arms of the Prince ; the nursery of the blood royal, and therefore are called cousins by the Queen herself. The kings of England never disparaged themselves by marrying with English women. Erasmus saith, it makes no matter where the prince marrieth, if it be for the good of the realm : and he calleth marriage with strangers uneven marriage. They also which are bom of such mingled blood have their loves mingled, which Queen Mary, descended of Spanish blood, shewed in her affectionate love towards Spaniards. The evil success and dishonor of Medea, Ariadne, Phillis, Omphale, Dido, &c. in marrying with strangers. Queen Mary thereby lost Calais to our dishonor. Mary of Burgundy brought her country into subjection to the House of Austria. Mary of Scotland impoverished her realm by her match with Francis, through the oppression of the French. ** Power. In marrying a subject, her power is not dispersed. Not the marriage with Elizabeth Woodvill was cause of trouble, but the dis- allowing of the Earl of M'arwick's embassy. England without foreign help able to perform her ow^n wars, as King Henry the Eighth marrying at home, won both France and Scotland. In marrying an Alien and con- joining signiories, more trouble, more danger, more charge. Constantine, when he took the empire, left Britain to the spoil of Picts and Scots. Edward the Third, by adjoining France, dispeopled England. Henry the Sixth, uniting France to England, lost both. " Riches. England, by good government, sufficient to enrich the Prince. In marrying a foreign prince she should rather impoverish England, for no man will be so unnatural as to impoverish his native country to enrich us. No region can do more than bear ordinary charges : for in wars and marriage, &c. they are enforced to amass money by ex- traordinary means. Queen Mary's match with King Philip was so far from enriching England, that never prince left it more indebted, both at home and beyond the seas. ■ It was declared in parliament by a burgess • In this Sir Thomas Smith differs from Michele. The debt of the Nation it nhould be remembered had but little to do with Philip i>ersonaIly. Camden, under 1568. lays that England was '• overcharged with debt incurred by Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth." koit. i n ORIGINAL LETTERS. of London, that Ix)ndon was worse at her death by 300,000/. than at the death of Edward the Sixth. The kings of England which had most abroad, left England poorest. Where these three accidental causes Honor, Power, Riches, are respected in marriage, the Devil and the "World are the brokers and marriage makers." LETTER CCVIII. The young Earl of' Essex to Lord Burghley ; his Jirst Letter from Trinity College Cambridge. [ms. la>'81>. 25. art. I'J. Orig.\ •/ Lord Oriord, in \m '' Royal and Noble Authors," has shown the relationship of Robert Devereux Earl of Essex to Queen Elixabeth in a short Table. It accounts for the manner in which his father ad. dressed a Letter to her; two days before he died, prmted by Mur- din; with another to Lord Burghley, his last act in worldly affairs. The first relates to the general countenance, education, and matching of his children, esi>ecially recommending his eldest son. The last contains a request that Hereford,* as he calls him, may be brought up in Lord Burghley's household. *» The Queen's partiality for young Essex at a later period, needs not to be enlarged on here. Burghley became a kind and honest guardian. Cole, the Cambridge antiquary, was inclined to believe that Queen Elizabeth's Lord Essex was placed by his patron at Queen's College ; but it is clear not only from this but from other Letters and documents that Trinity was the College at which he was brought up, and from which he corresponded with Ix>rd Burghley. £itex*s Letters, whether in liatin or English, short or long, of an earlier or a later date, public or private, paruke uniformly of the same clearness and elegance of manner. • Viwount Hereford waw the MToiid title of (he Karl of Esacx. * See Murdin, pp. »oo, 302. ORIGINAL LKTTKilS. 73 My very good Lord. I am not only to give your Lordship thankes for your goodnes towardes me in your Lordship's House, wherby I am bounde in duty to your Lordship, but allsoe for your Lordships greate care of placing me heare in the University, wher for your Lordships sake I have bene very well entertained both of the University and of the Towne. And thus desiringe your Lordship''s goodnes towardes me to continue I wishe your Lordship healthe with the con- tinuance of your Lordships honour. From Trinity Colledge in Cambridge the xiij. of May 1577. Your Lordships at commandment, To my very gootl Lord the L. Burleighe Lord High Trea- sorer of England. In the same Volume which contains this Letter, among Items of ex- pense incurretl, we have *' The Parcells " set down, " which my Lord of Essex bought at his entrance in his chamber at Cambridge." These are curious as affording a complete notion of the College Rooms of a young nobleman at this time, the ward of the Chancellor of the University. " Imprimis twenty yards of new grene brode sayes, 56*. Item, the frame of the South window in the first chamber, 6*. 4**. Item, for more glasse in the same, 4*. Item, for forty foote of quarters under the hanginges, 2*. Item, payd to Mr. Bird at my entrance for parcels which appertain his proper bill and acquittance, 20*. Item, two casements with hingells in the South window, 2*. 6*^. Item, new hangings in the study of paynted cloth, 16». Item, for payntinge both chamber and study over head, 5». Item, shelves in the study, 12'^ Item, a conveyance into the bedchamber out of the study, 2*. 6<*. Item, a place makinge for the trindlc bed to drawc through the wauU, lO**. Item, for bordinge a place fur fewell and making a light into it, 6'. Item, a table in the study, 3*. 4''. Item, for the furniture in the little study, 18'*. Item, litUe 74 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 75 ml I i' I Irons to hould open the casements with, 8''. Item, my yait of tlie dorc betwixt M'. Forcett and me, 3». 6^. Item, for a rest at the chmniey, 4*^. Item for a foot stoole at the window, 4'*. Item, for tow shelves mo in the frame of the study, 12'. Item, a locke and thre keyes to the outward chamber dore, 3*. 4'*. Item, a table in the bed chamber, 2*. 6**. Summa totalis 7'. O*. lO*'." Signed Gervasiui Babington,^ In his Tutor's bill of expenses for a quarter of a year from the feast of St. John Baptist to October 1577* we find. Item, for my Lord, five pair of shoes, 5». Item, one pair of winter boots, 6». For my Lord at the salting, according to custom, 7*« For arrowes for my liord, 2*. 6\ For three frames of wainscot for maps, 4'. 6**. For rushes and dressing of the chambers, 4". My I^ords commons for the quarter, 54". For his Lordships cisinge, 35". For his Lordships breakfast for the quarter, 23". For meat on fasting nights and times extraordinary, 25". To the Laun. dress for his Lordship's washing, 6*. 8^. Yox my liord to the chief reader, 2«. Item for Ramus Logique with a commentary, 20**. For Ramus on Tullies Orations, 4". For Sturmius de Elocutione, 4". For Grimalius de Optimo Senatore, 2\ 4''. For Isocrates in Greek, 4". For a standing desk for my lords studie, 6*. Given for my Lord in reward and where his Lordship hath been entertained, 15". To the barber for his Lord, ship's trimming, 2*. For a broad riding hat, 8*. For the carriage of his Lordships trunk with his apparel from London to Cambridge, 2*. 4**. For two dozen of trenchers, lO'. For Inke and quills, C. The total of the Bill amounted to 45'. 10". 2'«.'» Various Items of the Earl's detached expenses occur in another page of the same Manuscript. A Journey to the Court, 29'. 17". S"*. Wages for a quarter due at Christmas, to Robert Wright schoolmaster, 5'. ; to Piliard the Frenchman for the like, 50*. ; to Edward Wrightinton for the like, 13". 4*'. Apparel for the same time amounted to 21'. 3". (f. The purchases of this sort were chiefly made in London. To ThomM Tennant at the falcon on Ludgate hill, for a felt hat lined with velvet, 11".; renewing a velvet cap, 4". 6^. ; for new lining his hat, 12'^. To IMistress Croxton in Chepeside for four shirts at 10*. a piece, 40*. ; six handkerchefs at 20'*., ten shillings. To Peter Hoxton milliner at Flete- bridge for two pair of best worsted stocks, 13". 4''. ; two pair of socks 12''. ; for a pair of hose of Race, 29*. 4^*. Among other charges considered as extraordinaries, we have for his lodging at Somerset House, 40". ; in little rewards, play, &c. at Hampton Court, 3'. ; for the " accidents of Armorie,'' 4". for his seale of Arms, 45*.*^ • MS. Laiisd. 'i5. art. 4>i. >> Ibid. art. AO. « MS. Lands. 25. art. 45. LETTER CCIX. R, Wrighte^ tutor to the Earl of Essex at Trinity College Cambridge^ to Mr. Richard Broughton, for clothes and plate Jbr the Earl. [ms. lamsd. 25. art. 48. Orig.^ *,♦ Notwithstanding the expenditure just mentioned, my Lord of Essex's wardrobe seems not to have been marvelously stocked. His Tutor writes that as to clothes, he was in such immediate want, that he was likely not only to be thread-bare but ragged. " His lordship's necessity crieth out on us." M''. Broughton, my hartie commendations re- membrcd. I neade not write unto yow of my Lord his extreme necessitie of apparell where yow yourself was an eye witnesse. But this I say, as yow knowe yt, so other men mervayle that his gret want is not suppHed, sith the time of the yeare beside the con- sideration of his estate doth require gret change. Therfore as yow tender his heakhe, I pray yow sol- licite the matter to my Lord Treasourer, for unlesse yow doe not only remember my Lord but see his commaundement put in execution, he shall not onley be thrid bare but ragged. Ther Potts we looked for accordinge to the manner; I pray yow hartelie see them dispatched. I write carnestlie not so much to stir up yow, whom I know to be very forward in my Lord his causes, but because his Lordships necessitie 76 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I i crieth out on us. Thus fare yow well. From Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge the xj'*\ of June 1577. Com- mend me I pray yow to M^ Burrell. Yours R. WRIGHTE. Ther wants A faire gonne for my L. holidaies. 2 Dublets. Three paire of Hose. Two paire of nether socks. A velvet Cap. A Hatte. A basen and Ewer Potts or Goblets Spones Plats A Sake Candlestiks Potts to be geven to the Colledge. Hangings. Mungomery.* A gonne Two paire of Hose Two Dubletts Two paire of Nether stockes A Cap * Lord L»Hcx's attendant, or confldeutial servant. >■ Sylver Plate. Ther is consideration to be had of him sith he is to be mayntayned as a gentleman, and the place doth require the same. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 77 My Lord hath solHcited his owne cause to my Lord Treasourer by thes Lettres. ^ To his very frend Mr. Richard Broughton of the Inner Temple. LETTER CCX. Robert Earl of Essex to Lord Burghley in answer to his Letter which had recommended to him what was ime Nobility, [ms. lansd. 2o. art. 25. Orig*^ *^* In this and the two succeeding Letters, the reader has three sliort specimens of the Earl of Essex's Latin style. They at once reflect credit upon Essex, and show the care which Lord Burghley took to educate the son of his friend. AccEPi literas tuas honoratissime Domine, in quibus non solum de valet udine mea te soUicitum, sed etiam educationis studiosum ostendis ; habeo igitur Honori tuo maximas et humilimas propter singularem tuam de me curam gratias, speroque me ita tempus impen- surum, ut, relicta Academia, studium tamen non re- linquam, atque ut Ruri virtutem ac literas Academicas consectari videar, quaj eam ad quam dominatio tua fc IIU short Note to this purpose, in Latin, is preserved in the same Volume, art. 21. ^ ! i <■ ' i. li ■ 78 ORIGINAL LETTERS. me hortatur veram Nobilitatem parient. Vale. Kei- stonii, prid. id. Octobr. 1577. Honoris tui observantissimus R« l!erie done nere Ware ; they are reprived. For any other thinges here hapenyng there are none worthe wryting of, save this one thing, that here are fortie brables and pickeries done abowt this towne more in any one daye, then when I cam first to serve was done in a moneth ; the reason is of these multitude of Buildings being stuffed with poore nedie and of the ■ vix. Sir Robert Lane 90 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 91 worst sort of people. Truelie, my singuler good Lord, I have not leasure to eat any meat I am so called upon. I am at the least the best part of an C. nightes in a yerc abroard in Searches ; I never rest. And when I serve Her Majestie the best, then I am for the most part the worse spoken of; and that many tymes in the Court I saw no man to defend me ; and as for my Lo. Maior, my cheff head, I am dryven every daie to bawk hym and his doynges. My good Lord for Chrisfs sake be suche a meane for me as that with creduit I may be removed by her majestie from this intoUerable toyle. Certenlie I serve in a thankles soile. There is, as I leme, lykc to fall a rowipe of the Queen^^s Serjiaunt. If your Lo. please to helpe me to one of those rowmes, assure your honor I will do her Majestie as paynfuU service as vj. of theym shall doo. Helpe me my good Lo. in this my humble sute, and I will good willing sett downe for your Lo. suche a booke of the lawe as your Lo. will lyke of. This 2 May, 1582. Bacon Howse. Your good Lo. most bounden W. FLETEWOODE, My Lo. I have sent unto your honor a box of suche stufie as these libellers use for theire printe. There be certen Yrishemen that are the utterers of the last heard booke, one Dowdalc dothe use to sell theym. The original Confession of one John Brushford, a Seminary priest, is preserved in the Lansdownc volume 96, art. 03. It at least affords a notion of the difficulties which the Seminary priests had to encounter in their missions. He says, '* I came over a lyttell before the laste Statute made agaynst the cominge in of Preestes, and by reason therof I founde everye bodye so fearfuU as none woold receave me into ther houses ; wherfore I, with an other preeste caled John Tadde, hyred a chamber in a poore cottage in the woode by Totnam.Hyghcrosse, wher we remajmed close six or seven monethes, sendinge the poore man to the Cyttye for Victualls. After this I laye in Hc^lane at one Mrs. Tempestes, a wydowe woman, the space of other five or six monethes. I had also a chamber in Grayes Inne Lane at one Blakes howse, unto the which I resorted when I knew not whether to goe els. I was once at Clarkenwell at Sir Jo. ArundeUs, but, for that he was then in troble in the Star chamber about one Mr. Hygyncs a preeste, I coulde not be receaved, but I was with him after- ward in the Gate House. As for my Ladye his wyfe, I protest before God as I hope to be saved, I never was with her or in her presence any where to my remembrance, for she was ever fearefull, and, after Sir John*8 troble, never beare yonge preestes any good will. What shee dyd unto olde preestes I cannot telL *"*■ After this I lyved secretlye in a vylli^e on the playnes of Salis- burye, not far from Amesburye, with one Mr. Durdoe and his wyfe, in the house of one Edwar Wyse ; unto which house resorted alsoe one Mr. Jo. Grove. The good man of the house and his W3rfe weare protestantes, and dyd harbor us for noe other thinge but for his gayne ; not knowing what I was (as I thinke). Wee remayned in this place about syxe monethes, and after that, some suspitionc growings of the place, I went with the sayd Mr. Durdo and his wyfe into Wales, and weare lodged in one Mr. Harbertes house not far from Monmothe, wher I remajmed some three monethes, untyll the gentyllman began to suspect what I was, and then I retomed to London, wher I remajmed untyll I had c^xnlu. nitye to departe the land, which I eamestlye desjrred, cheeflye for that I had determined to forsake the worlde, and to serve God quyetlye in Re- ligione, and takinge bote at Southhamptone I landed at St. Vtdleryes in Caus, not far from Deepe ; and goinge to Parys, was ther, after some sute made, admytted into the Company or Societye of Jesus, and sent to Verdune for my probatione, wher I remayned a novyce untyll I was compelled by extreame sicknesse to departe thence. The persones of any reputacione that I was acquaynted withall about Londone, weare Mrs. Tempest and her children. Sir John Arundell when he was a prisoner, Mrs. Yates of Lyford, (I dyd not knowe her husbande,) and once I re- 92 ORIGINAL LETTERS. member I was with Sir Thomas Fy tzherbert ; and in the contrye M r. Durdoe and his wyfe, Mr. Grove, Mr. John Skydmorc. *''' I was, I remember, once intreated to have ryden into Ck>mwall, but I durst not, for that I was well knowen by the waye. " I was once alsoe at one Mr. Corams house by Wynchestcr, and spake with the gentyll woman, but when shee pcrceaved what I was shee rt-quested me to holde her excused ; her husband was not at home ; her house was full of strangers, and shee had sheepe to share,* wherfore she prayed me to departe. " As for men that loved to deale in matters of state, God knowcth that I never knewe anye suche, but evermore abhorred to deale in suche mat- ters. That which by chance I have hardc or knownc in partes beyonde the seacs I have at lardge set downe in the othi-r paper here unto anexed, and as I ever was soe I nowe vowe for ever to be true, loyall, and lovingc to my Prince and Contrye, or els I pray God I maye never lyve. Amen, Amen, JO. BRUSHFORD. «> LETTER CCXVII. Father Sanders the Jesuit^ to the Catfiolick NoOiiittj and Gentry of Ireland^ to stir thern to RcbcU'ion. [ms. LAN so. 96. art. 39. Orig."] • • Camden has given an account of the expedition which in 1579 carried Father Sanders to Ireland. He says, ^^ In Munster, a Province of Ireland, James Fitz-Morris raised a new rebellion ; the same James which a while before, falling upon his knees before Perott President of Mun. ster, had with lamentable bowlings and humble intreaties begged his pardon, and most religiously vowed his fidelity and obedience to the Queen. This man (who was never well but in troubles) had withdrawn himself into France, promising the King that if he would assist him, he would unite all Ireland to the Sceptre of France, and restore the Komish religion in that Isle. But being wearied out witli delays and in the end * shear. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 93 laughed at, he went from France into Spain, and made the same pro- mises to the Catholick King. The King sent him over to the Bishop of Rome ; from who;n having (at the earnest solicitation of Sanders an En- glish priest, and Allen an Irish one, both of them Doctors in Divmity) gotten a little money, the autJiority of a Legate granted to Sanders, a consecrated banner, and letters of recommendation to the Spaniard, he returned into Spain, and from thence arrived about the first day of July, WITH THOSE TWO DIVINES, three ships, and a small body of men, at Saint Mary Wick (which the Irish contractedly call Stnerwick) in Kerry, a peninsula in Ireland, where in a place solemnly consecrated by the Priests, he erected a Fort, and drew up his ships close under : which ships Thomas Courtney an English gentleman, who lay by chance at anchor with a man of war in a road hard by, soon after set upon, took, and carried away, and deprived the Spaniards of the benefit of the Sea."» One of the original printed Indulgences granted by the Pope on this occasion to those who should join the Irish rebels, preparatory to the expedition, is still preserved in the same Volume of the Lansdowne Col- lection with Father Sanders's Letter; and bears date in 1677. It is in- dorsed in Ix)rd Burghley*s hand, " Bulla contra Reginanu For Jam. FiTZ-MoRis." It has at the bottom, a wafer Seal of one of the Car- dinals, and is further attested by one of the apostolic Notaries. The Letters J. H. S. at the beginning, have the Cross above and the Nails below, incirded with a Glory. •» Pits, who was related to Father Sanders, places his death in 1581. Camden, in 1583. M'^hether he perished of cold and hunger, or died of diieaaeis uncertain. • Camd. Hist Eliz. p. 3S6. ^ MS. Lantd. 96. art. ss. * J. H. S. Copia Brevit Sanctinaimi Domini nottri Gregnrli Papa XIII. super facultate concessa Jacobo Gtraldino do- mint) de Kiericow ithi gerendi bellum tidversut Elisabetham prtetentam Anglue Re- ginam, infidei Catholicee favorem. Gregorius Papa XIII. Univenis Pr»latis, Principibus, Comitibus. Barenibus, totique Clero, Nobilitati, et popuHs Reinii Hibemic, »alutem et Apostolicam benedictionem. Inter caeteras Christian! Orbis Provincia«, quae Jongo i nobis terrarum spatio disjunctae sunt, Apos- tolica Sedes Ilibernorum nationem ob fcruentis ipsorum devotionis constantiam, et inviolabilis sinceritatis affectum erga catholicam religioncm et Romanam Ecolesiam, nppiui declaratum, singular^ amore, et praecipua charitate semper complexa est, nosque his de causis taiito magis ejusdem Regni vexationibus, affliction ibusque movemur. et quantum in nobis est, tarn personarum libertati, et quieti, quam ani- nurum saluti cupimus subvenire. Proinde cum nuper ex praestanti et nobili viro Jacobo Geraldino Domino de Kiericourithi, et Gubematore gcnerali Desmonia in abftentia Comitis Detmoniae, ut asscrit, qui hac ipsa de causa ad nostram se contulit 94 ORIGINAL LETTERS. To the righthonora!)le and Catholikc Lords and Worshipfull Gentilmen of Irland, N. Sander D. of Divinitie wisheth all felicitie. Pardon me, I beseche you, if upon just cawse I use the same words to your Honors and Worships which S. Pawle wrote somtyme to the Galatians : * Who hath enchanted you, not to obey the Truthe ?' for if you be not bewitched, what meane you to fight for haeresie against the true faith of Christ, for the Devil against God, for Tyrans that robbe you of your goods, lands, lives, and everlasting salvation, against your own brethern, who daylie spend their goods and shed their blood to deliver you from these miseries ? What pneientiain, ingenti cum animi nostri dolore cognoverimus, quot, quantaquc mala propter orthodoxc fidei aroorem, veraroque religioncm patiantur l»Uc viri probl ab Elizabetha, quae Deopariter, et hominibus infesta, in Anglia, et ista Hibemia; Insula superb6 et impi6 dominatur: cumque idem Jacobus zelo domus Dei, santoque religionis restituendte desiderio, patrie amore, et insita sibi virtute, animique magnitudine impulsus, jugum istud servitutis adeo durum, et intolerabile. i vestrb cervicibus depellere, auxiliante Domino, in animo habeat, speretque se multos tarn pii consilij, et conatus habiturum esse adjutoies; ideo vos omnes et singulos per viscera misericordiae Dei monemus et hortamur, ut temporis opportunitatem agno- scentes, talis Ducis pietatem et fortitudinem pro virili quisquc vestra strenui adju- vetis, nee timeaUs foeminam, qua; anathematis vinculo jamdiu inno and as much delay interposed as decency required, she at last M ORIGINAL LETTERS. 107 I' determmed to carry the sentence into execution : but even in this final resolution she should not proceed without displaying a new scene of duplicity and artifice. In order to alarm the vulgar, rumours were pre- viously dispersed that the Spanish fleet was arrived at Milford Haven ; that the Scots had made an irruption into England ; that the Duke of Guise was landed m England with a strong army ; ifiat the QUEEN OF SCOTS WAS ESCAPED FROM PRISON, and had raised an army ; that the northern counties had begun an insurrection ; that there was a new conspiracy on foot to assassinate the Queen, and set the City of liOKDON ON fire ; nay, that the Queen was actually assassinated." Two of these rumours form the subject of this and the succeeding Letter; and their dates are remarkable. They are of the third and fourth of February. The Queen of Scots was beheaded on the eighth. Our duties moste humblie remembred with our moste humble and hartie thankes to your good Lord- shipp. May yt please your Honor to be advertizid We recyved the seconde of this Februarye, about the hower of one in th'aftemowne, a Precepte herein en- closed for Hue and Crye to be made touchinge the fleyinge of the Quene of Scotts, which, accordinge to the same, we fearing the warste, did presentelie dispatche notwithstandinge the symplenes of the in- ditinge of the same and th'ordre thereof, without hande or scale of any Councellor or Justice, hopinge in God that the contents thereof arr untrue ; and for that we heare no farther certayntye of the contents thereof, and do perceyve that the rumor thereof with the watchinge, wardinge, and serchinge thereupon, which as yet we contynewe, yf the same come of any pollycie of the enemyes to her Majesty may breede some trouble or inconveniens to the Countrye, Wee 108 ORIGINAL LETTERS. moste humblye pray to be advertized of the certayntie thereof, and to be directed from your Honor what ys farther to be done therein. And so comniyttvnge you to the Almightie who preserve you etemallye we most humblie take our leave. Exon the thirde of Februarie 1586-7. Your Honors moste humbly to be comaunded GEORGE SMITHE, Jfaior. NYCHOLAS MARTYN. THOMAS BRERETON. (Inclosure.) Theis are to charge you in her Majesties name upon payne of deathe, to make diligent searchc, and hew and crye, every wayc for the Queane of Skotts who is iiedd, and to laye all high wayes and staye all barks and shipping in your harbours, for that the direction came from M'. Howard Esquier. So yow kepe a standing watche daye and nyght untill yow recey ve order to the contrary, and let this be dun by the chefe of your parishe. Honyton at xj'^", of the clock in the forenoon this present Thursday. THOMAS WARD, Constable of Honytotu This Hue and Crie to go to the jy ayer of Exceter and so forth. Rec. by David Colles of Honyton the sccondc of February aboutc one of the clock in the afternoon. To the righte honorable our very good Lorde the Lorde High Trea- sorer of England yeve these with speede. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 109 LETTER CCXXIII. The Mayor and Aldermen of Exeter to the Lords of the Council to know if London liad been set on fire. [ms. lansd. 51. art. 43, Orig.\ RiGHTE honourable havinge reeeyved Hue and Crye that her Majesties Citty of London by the Ene- myes ys set one fyer, and thereby ar commaunded to have our men and armor in redynes upon payne of death in great haste, as by a Copie of the same Pre- cepte of Hue and Crye which is herein enclosed ap- peres, we hopinge in God that the same premysses ar untrue, and yet fearinge the worste have caused our men and armor accordinglie to be in redynes, have thought good to adresse this l>earer to your Honors for the certaine knowledge of the premises ; praying your Honors to voucesafe to sende us your direccion in the premisses. And thus most humblie take our leave Exon the iiijth. of February at the hower of one in the nighte 1586. Your Honors most humblie to be commanded GEORGE SMiTHE Maicyr ofExm. NICHOLAS MARTYN. THOMAS BRERETON. RICHARD PRAY. 110 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ' (Inclosure.) Theis ar in the Quenes Majesties name to charge and commaunde immediatelie upon sight hcrof to sende like Preceptes fower manner of waies from Towne to Towne to make your armor and artillery in re- dynes, and that with aU speed upon paine of death, for London is set one fyre ; for M'. Turlett of Austen le Well brought this worde from the Bell the first of Februarie. Sende this to Exeter with all spede. WILLIAM BOWEBMAN, Justice, R''. this from Sampforde Peverell this present Satterdaie th« iiij»»». of Februarie 1586, at viij of the clock in the Eveninge. Rec this by the handes of Roberte Smyth of Colompton the iiij•^ of Februarie at x. of the Clock in the nighte. WILLIAM KYRKUAM. WILLIAM MAB8T0N. EDWARD HE&TE. Theis ar in her Majesties name streightlie to charge and commaund you that upon the sight hereof you sende like precepts two or three waies fro Tithinge to Tithinge to set your men in armour with all spcede uppon paine of death, for London is one fire. Let this go to Exeter upon horseback. Hast, hast, hast. THOMAS WARDE, Constabk of Honyton. R**. from M'. Collins this iiij'>«. of Februarie about viij. of the Clock at night. ' R**. this by Phillip Balston of Honiton vitler, betwixt the houers of ix. and x. By me ROGER CHANDOH. To the righte honorable The Lordes of her Majesties moste honorable Pryvy Councell. ORIGINAL LETTERS. Ill LETTER CCXXIV. The Lords of the Council to the Earl of Shrewshui^ Earl Marshal of England^ directing the execution of the Q, of Scots, [ms. kenkett, voL xlviiL foL 93. from the papers of dr. NATHANIEL JOHNSTON.] After our right hearty Commendations to your good Lordship, this bearer M*". Robert Beale who your Lordship knoweth to be honest, wise, and trusty, Cometh to your Lordship with a Commission under her Majesties hand and seale, having been directed to shew the same to our very good Lord the Earl of Kent, because his abode was in his way and for that he is second in the Commission, and your Lordship the principall, and for that it is convenient that Sir Amyas Pawlett be acquainted therewith the bearer is directed to come by him, and after to conferr with your Lordship how M''. Pawlett may have knowledge of your minde to repaire unto your Lordship if his health can serve him. And so also the Earl of Kent may be ready to attend upon your Lordshippe at such time as by you shall be thought convenient. And so praying your Lordshippe to credit the bearer in such thinges as he is willed to signifie to your Lordshippe [A 112 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 113 on our behalfe we bidde your Lordshippe right hartely farewell. From Greenwiche in haste the 3 of February 1586. Your Lordshippes assured lovinge friends WM. BURLEGH. R. LEYCESTER. HUNSDON. F. KNOLLYS. FE. WALSINGHAM. H. DERBY. C. HOWARD. COBHAM. CH. HATTON. WM. DAVISON. On" the back of this Letter from the Lords of the Council, by the ap- pointment of the £. of Shrewsbury, was written by another hand as follows : " Brought by Mr. Beale with the Commission the &K of February 1586, at Orton Longueville ; with him came Sir Drew Drury ; and the 7*1'. day went to Fotheringhay, and the S^\ of February executed the Scots Queen according to my Commission. Mr. Andrews the Sheriff of Northamptonshire I sent to bring her down to execution, and so I chained him with her body living, and with her dead corps.** The Reader shall now be presented with the identical Narrative of the Execution of the Queen of Scots, which was forwarded from Fo- theringay to the Court. Two or three Statements of this Transaction were drawn up at the time. There was a Short one, copies of which are preserved in the Cot- tonian Manuscripts JuL F. vi. foil. 246, 266 b. and Calig. B. v. foL 175 b. Another, a Copy of the Account of the Earl of Kent and Mr. Beale to the Lords of the Council, dated on the day, is preserved in the Cottonian MS. Calig. C. ix. fol. 163. And there is a Third in the Sute Paper Office, somewhat longer, said to have been drawn up by a Roman Catholic, evidently one of her servants. The present Narrative is from the Lansdowne MS. 51. art. 46. It is indorsed in Lord Burghley's hand, " 8 Feb. 1586. The Manner of the Q. of Scotts death at Fodrynghay, wr. by Ro. Wy." Accounts of the Scottish Queen^s death have been dressed up from this Document by several writers : but it is here given accurate and entire. A Reporte of the Manner of the Execution of the Sc. Q. per. formed the viijth. of February, Anno 1586 in tlie great hall of Pother- *nghay, with Relaelon of Speecliet uttered and Accion* happening in Vie said Execution, from the delivery of the said Sc, Q. to Mr, Thonws Androwe* Esquire Sherife of the County of Northampton unto the end of the taid Execucion. First, the said Sc. Q. being caryed by two of Sir Amias Pauletts gentlemen, and the Sherife going before her, cam most wiUmgly out of her chamber into an entery next the Hall, at which place the Earle of Shrewsbury and the Earle of Kente, commissioners for the execucion, with the two gouvemors of her person, and divers knightes and gentlemen did meete her, • where they found one of the Sc. Q. servauntes, named Melvm, kneeling on his knees, who uttered these wordes with teares to the Q. of Sc. his mistris, ' Madam it wilbe the sorowfuUest messuage ' that ever I caryed, when I shall report that my Queene and deare Mis- I ^ is dead.' Then the Qu. of Sc shedding teares, aunswered him, ^ You ought to rejoyce rather then weepe for that the end of Mary ' Stewards troubles is now come. Thou knowest Melvin that all this ^' world is but vanity, and fuU of troubles and sorowes ; cary this mesuage ^' from me and teU my fxendes that I die a true woman to my religion, * and like a true Scottish woman, and a true French woman. But God ' forgive them that have long desired my ende; and he that is the true ' Judge of all secret thoughtes knoweth my mynde, how that ever it ' hath been my desire to have Scotlande and Englande united together. ' Comend me to my Sonne, and tell him that I have not donn any thinge ' that may prejudice his Kingdom of Scotland ; and so, good Melvin, * farewell ;* and kissing him, she badd him pray for her.»» • The Earl of Kent and Mr. Beak's NarraUve says, " there were present. We whieh have signed this Letter. M'. Henry Talbott esquire. S' Edward Mountegewe knight, his son and heir-apparent, and William Mountegewe his brother. Sir RicLrd KnighUy knight, M'. Thomas Brudenell. M'. Bevill, M^. Robert and John Winge- othCTs "'* *^°""''*°** Raynor, Benjamyn Piggott, M'. Dean of Peterborough, and « ^75* ^^ **' '^®"' ""^ ^^' ^^® ''****« **>'* scene « ''"le differently : they say. At the rtayre foot she pawsed to speake to Melvile in our hcaringe. which was to this effecte : • MelvUe, as thou hast byn an honest servaunt unto me, so I pray thee ' If ~"'y™"* ^ ^y «»""«' *"d commend me unto him. I have nott impugned his ' Religion nor the Religion of others, butt wyshc him wele. And as I forgive all that ' have offended me in Scottland. so I would he should allso. and beseache God that he would send him his hoUye spirytt and yllumynate him.' MelviU's aunswere was that he would so doe, and at that instant he would beseache God to assist him with his splrytu Then shee dcmaunded to speake with her Priest which was denyed unto her, the rather for that she came with a superstityous payre of beades and a cruaflx. She then desired to have her women to helpe her, and uppon her earnest VOL. III. SER. 2. . T l! 114 ORIGINAL LKTTERS. Then she turned her to the Lordea and told them that she had certayne requestes to make unto them. One was for a some of mony, which she said Sir Amias Paulett knewe of, to be paide to one Curie her servaunte ; Ilex^ that aU her poore servauntes might enjoy that quieUy which by her Win and Testamente she had given unto them ; and lasdy that they might be all well intreated, and sent home safely and honesUy into their contryea. ' And this I doe conjure you, my Lordes, to doe.* Aunswere was made by Sir Amias Paulett, * I doe well remember the « mony your Grace speaketh of, and your Grace neede not to make any ' doubte of the not performaunce of your requestes, for I doe surely thmcke * they shalbe graunted.* * I have,' said she, ' one other request to make unto you, my Lordes, < that you will suffer my poore servauntes to be present about me at my ' death, that they may reporte when they come into their countryes how I * dyed a true woman to my religion.* Then the Earle of Kente, one of the commissioners, aunswered, * Madam * it cannot welbe graunted, for that it is feared least some of them wold * with speeches both trouble and greive your Grace and disquiett the ' company, of which we have had allready some experience, or seeke to * wipe their napkins in some of your bloode, which were not convenient.* *My Lord,* said the Q. of Sc. ' I will give my word and promise for » them that they shall not doe any such thinge as your Ix)rd8hip hath « named. Alas ! poor sowles, yt wold doe them good to bidd me farewell. ' And I hope your Mistres, being a mayden Queene, in regard of woman- * hood, will suffer me to have some of my owne people aboute me at my ' death. And I know she hath not given you so straight a commission * but that you may graunt me more then this, if I were a farr meaner * woman then I am.* And then (seeming to be greeved) with some teares uttered thes wordes; ' You know that I am cosin to your Queene, and ' discended from the bloode of Henry the Seventh, a maryed Queene of ' Fraunce, and the anoynted Queene of Scotlande.' Whereupon, after some consultacion, they graunted that she might have some of her servauntes accordinge to her Grace*s request, and there- fore desired her to make choice of halfe a doscn of her men and women : Who presently said, that of her men she wold have Melvhi, her poticary, her surgeon, and one other old man beside; and of her women, thoic two that did use to lye in her chamber. After this She, being supported by Sir Amias two genUemen aforesaid, and Melvin carying up her trayne, and also accompanied with the Lordes, Knightes, and Gentlemen aforenamed, the Sherife going before her, she jequort, and sayinge that when other Gentlewomen were executed ihee had wdd In Cronycles that they had women allowed unto them, yt wa» permytted that thee should have twee named hy her selfe. which were M«. Curie, and Kennedie. ORIGINAL LETTJERS. 115 pMwrf out of the entery into the great HaU, with her countenance care- lesse, importing thereby rather mirth then mournful! cheare, and so she wil ingly stepped up to the scaffold which was prepared for her in the Hall, bemg two foote high and twelve foote broade, with rayles round aboute, hanged and couvered with blacke, with a lowe stoole, long cushion, and blocke, couvered with blacke also. Then, having the stoole brought her, she satt her downe ; by her, on the right hand, satt the Erie of Shrewsbury and the Erie of Kent, and on the left hand stoode the Shenfe, and before her the two executioners ; round about the rayles stood Knightes, Gentlemen, and others. Then, sUence being made, the Queenes Majesties Commission for the execution of the Queen of Scots was openly redd by Mr. Beale clarke of the CounseU; and thes wordes pronounced by the Assembly, 'God save the Queene. * During the reading of which Commission the Q. of Sc. was 8llen^ listening unto it with as smaU regarde as if it had not concerned her at all ; and with as cheerfuU a countenaunce as if it had been a Pardon ^ her Majestic for her life ; using asmuch straungenes in worde and deede as if she had never knowne any of the Assembly, or had been ignorant of the English language. Then on • Doctor Fletcher, dean of Peterborowe, standmg directly before her, without the rayle, bending his body with great reverence, b^an to utter this exhortacion foUowing : * 3Iadame the Q. most excellent Ma»«- &c.» and Iterating thels wordes three or fowre tymes, she told hun, ' Mr. Dean, * I am sctUed in the auncient Catholique Romayne religion, and mynd to I spend my bloode m defence of it.* Then Mr. Dean said, ' Madame, ' chaung your opinion and repent you of your former wickednes, and ' settle your faith ondy in Jesus Chris^ by him to be saved.* Then she aunswered agayne and againe, ' Mr. Deane, trouble not yourselfe any * more, for I am settled and resolved in this my reUgion, and am pur- ' posed therein to die.* Then the Earie of Shrewsbury and the Earl of Kente, perceavinge her so obstinate, tolde her that sithence she wold not heere the exhortacion begonn by Mr. Dean, * We will pray for your * Grace, that it stande with Gods will you may have your harte lightened, * even at the last howre, with the true knowledge of God, and so die I dierein.* Then she aunswered * If you will pray for me, my Lordes, * I will thanke you ; but to joyne in prayer with you I wiU not, for that ' you and I are not of one religion.* Then the Lordes called for Mr. Dean, who kneeling on the skaffold staires, began this Prayer, " O most gracious God and merciful Father, " &c*' aU the Assembly, savmg the Queen of Scots and her servauntes, •ay Ing after him. During the saying of which prayer, the Queen of Scots, • one. i2 116 OBIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. in sitting upon a stoole, having about her necke an Agnus Dei, in her hand a crucifix, at her girdle a pair of beades with a golden crosse at the end of them, a Latin booke in her hand, began with tewea and with loud and fast voice to pray in Latin ; and in the middest of her prayers she slided off from her stoole, and kneeling, said divers Latin prayers : and after the end of Mr. Deans prayer, she kneelinge, prayed in Englishe to this effecte : • for Christ his afflicted Church, and for an end of their troubles ; for her Sonne ; and for the Queen's Majestie, that she might prosper and serve God aright.' She confessed that she hoped to be saved ' by and in the bloode of Christ, at the foote of whose Crucifix she wold shedd her bloode.' Then said the Earle of Kent, ' Madam settle Christ Jesus in your harte, and ' leave those trumperyes.' Then she lide regarding, or nothing at all, hit H. good counsell, went forward with her prayers, desiring * that God wold averte his wrath from this Ilande, and that he wold give her griefe, and forgivenes for her sinnes.' These, with other prayers she made in English, saying she forgave her enemyes with all her harte that had longe sought her bloode, and desired God to converte them to the truthe ; and In the end of the Prayer she desired all Saintes to make intercession for her to Jesus Christ, and so kissing the crucifix, and crossing of her also, said these wordes, ' Even as thy armes, O Jesus, was spredd here upon the Crosse, so receive me into thy armes of mercy, and forgive me all my sinnes.* Her prayer being ended, the Executioners, kneeling, desired her Grace to forgive them her death : who aunswered, ' I forgive you with all my harte, for now, I hope, you shall make an end of all my troubles.' Then they, with her two women, helping of her up, began to disrobe her of her apparell ; then. She, laying her crucifix upon the stoole, one of the executioners tooke from her necke the Agnus Dei, which she, laying handes of it, gave it to one of her women, and told the executioner that he shold be aunswered mony for it. Then she suffered them, with her two women, to disrobe her of her chayne of pomander beades and all other her apparell most willingly, and, with joy rather then sorrowe, helped to make unready her selfe, putting on a pair of sleeves with her owne handes which they had pulled off, and that with some hast, as if she had longed to be gonn. All this tyme they were pulling off her apparell, she never chaunged her countenaunce, but with smiling cheere she uttered thes wordes, ' that she never had such groomes to make her unready, and that she never put off her clothes before such a company.' Then She, behig stripped of all her apparell saving her peticote and kirtle, her two women beholding her made great lamentacion, and crying and crossing themselves prayed in Latin ; She, turning herselfe to them, imbrasinge them, said thes wordes In French, ' Ne crk vous, fay prome i' ( pour vous," and so crossing and kissing them, bad them pray for her and rejoyce and not weepe, for that now they should see an ende of aU their Mistris troubles. Then She, with a smiling countenaunce, turning to her men servauntes, as Melvin and the rest, standing upon a bench nigh the Scaffold, who sometyme weeping sometyme crying out alowde, and conUnuaUy crossing themselves, prayed in Latin, crossing them with her hand bad them fare- weU ; and wishing them to pray for her even untiU the last howre. This donn, one of the women having a Corpus Christi cloth lapped up three-comer-wayes, kissing i^ put it over the Q. of Sc. face, and pinned it fast to the caule of her head. Then the two women departed from her, and she kneeling downe upon the cusshion most resolutely, and without any token or feare of death, she spake a lowde this Psalme in Latin, ' In te Domine confido, non confundar in ctcmam,* &c. Then, groping for the blocke, she layed downe her head, putting her chynne over the blocke with both her handes, which, holding there, stiU had been cutt of had they not been espyed. Then lying upon the blocke most quietly, and stretch- ing out her armes cryed ' //* mantis tuas, Domine,' &c three or fowre tymes. Then She, lying very still on the blocke, one of the executioners holding of her slitely with one of his handes, she endured two strokes of the other executioner with an axe, she making very smale noyse or none at all, and not stirring any parte of her from the place where she lay ; and so the executioner cut off her head, saving one lide grisle, which being cutt asaunder, he lift up her head to the view of all the Assembly, and bad ' God save tfie Queene: Then, her dressing of lawne falling off from her head, it appeared as grey as one of threescore and tenn yeares old, polled very shorte, her face in a moment being so much altered from the forme she had when she was alive, as few could remember her by her dead face. Her lippes sdrred up and downe a quarter of an hower after her head was cut off. Then Mr. Dean said with a lowde voice, < So perish all the Queene's Enemyes ;' and afterwards die Earle of Rente came to the dead body, and standing over it, widi a lowde voice said, ' Such end of all die Queenes and the Gospells enemyes.' Then one of die Executioners pulling off her garters, espied her lide dogg which was crept under her cbdies, which could not be gotten fordi but by force, yet afterward wold not departe from the dead corpse, but came and lay betweene her head and her shoulders, which being imbrued with her bloode, was carycd away and washed, as aU diinges ells were diat had any bloode was eidier burned or clean washed :• and die Executioners • The Narrative in the Cottonian MS. Jul. F. vi. says. " The bloodye clothe, the t»iocke, and whatsoever was eLie bludyc, was burnt in the chimney fier. ' i i 118 ORIGINAL LETTEES. sent away with mony for their fees, not havinge any one thing that be- longed unto her. And so, every man being comaunded out of the Hall, except the Sherife and his men, she was caryed by them up into a great chamber lying ready for the sui^eons to imbalme her.** There is a Transcript of this Report in the Cottonian Manuscript Calig. C. IX. fol. 405., with a Dedication to Lord Burghley, evidently intended, at the time, for publication as a separate Tract. LETTER CCXXV. Robert Carvyle of Berwick to Secretary IVahhiffhavi, after the death of the Scottish Queen. [MS. COTTON. CALIG. C. IX. fol. 171. Orig.] RiGHTE Honorable my dutie remembred, these are to sertefie your Honor that I have bene in Scotland ever synce the last of February and colde get no dispatche untill Monday the sixt of this Instant att n3me of the clock in the mornynge ; and then I re- ceyved (att th'*ands of the secretary whoe rulethe the Courte) a Letter to M'. Carle, from hym, by war- raunte from the Kings Ma^»^'. which was to this effecte, that he showlde write that the Kinge wolde receyve no Embassador as yet, partly by reason of his hevines and sorowyng for his Mother, and also for that he is not resolved that the Queues Ma^**^" is so sory for his mothers death as he was informed she was. And K ORIGINAL LETTERS. 119 further because he caimot staye the Rigor of his peouple, beinge wickedly bent and evell geven, as I bothe hard and sawe with myne eyes ; for there is dayly Libells sett upp in open strete, and cast into the Pul- pet boathe ageynst the Kinge himself, the Master of Gray, M' . Archibald Dowglas, and the Preachers ; and amongest the rest, the fourth of this instant, there were two sett upp att my Lodgings very odiouse and de- testable ageynst the Quenes Ma^*"\ the Coppie wherof I have sent you herein closed ; which Two I toke off, and the one I gave to the Secretary to shewe the Kinge, the other M^ Robert Carye hath to sende to my L. Chamberlayne. And truly I fynde, for all this sturr that the Secretary is very well incliened towards her Ma^"'. and a favorer towards the mayntenaunce of peace and amitie, and the Kinge hymselfe also. But towchinge the sendinge awaye of Embassadors in to other Countries, they are not yet fully agreed; and towchinge the M^ of Gray and his doinges. Your Honor shall here more in Roger Ash ton his packquet. And so untill my next I humbly take leave, comyttynge Your Honor nowe and ever to the protection of th'Almightie, trustinge you will accept my good will. Bar wick in hast the xfK of Marche 1586. Yo^ Hono'^ to my power ROBAET CARVYLE. Poste script. CurcelFs man stands fast and firme, and is ready to t 120 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 121 il tfi be employed when I shall here from yo'^ Honor. It were good that the Secretary were used, for he is very gret. Your Honor shall receyve a Pacquet from Roger Ash ton. (Inclosure,) '* Fruere pro ftinere func. To Jesabell that English heure, Receyve this Scottishe cheyne. As presagies of her gret malhouer For murthering of owre Quene. The Chayne was a little Corde of hemp, tied halter- wise." LETTER CCXXVI. Thomas Randolph to Secretary Wahingham. The King of Scots indisposed ; he depends upon the Queen : wishes for some persons of Jter Majesty s hunting estahlishment to he sent to him, [ms. cotton, calio. c. IX. foL 221. OrigS\ ♦/ James the Sixth, it is probable, forgave Elizabeth for his mother's death much sooner than his people did. Within three months of that event, by the testimony of tiie present Letter, " he determined whoUy to depend upon her Majesty; and to run fter fortune against the WHOLE WORLD." He departed suddenly from Edinburgh to Falkland, merely " to see the deer that her Majesty had sent him, to be taken out of the Carts and put into the park," but with one littie void in his wishes, " He hath prayed me," says Randolph, " that by your Honour her Ma- jesty may be moved to lend him, for the space of two months, a couple of her Majesty's yeomen prickers, and a couple of the grooms of the leash. He prayed mc also to put your Honour in remembrance of some horses and geldings." James was polUkalii/, not fehsonally ac- quainted with his mother. In my last I wrate unto your Honor that the King was come from Fawklande and gone to Dawkeith to passe his time two or thre dayes. The second night after his cominge thither he fell into a greate losenes of his bodye and withall had a very great vomet. He continued thus sicke for the space of xxiiij'ie howers, and after that begininge to amende, the next morninge found him selfe very well, and so continueth. Uppon Wedensdaye he came agayne to this Towne, he supped at the M^ of Grayes howse, to th'end he might the more convenientlye and more secretlye speake with M^ Archibale Duglas then at the Courte. Of his de- partewre so sodenlie to Fawkland (which in deede was but to see the deare that her Majestic sent him to be taken owt of the Carts, and to be put into the Parcke) the speach was common that he was gone to the Lords of the other faction, and that all the countenance and shewe of favoure to th other noblemen was but des- guised and fayned. This being found falce, and his disease known, the brute was incontinent that he was poysoned, though indeed yt was but a passion after some disorder of some meate eaten, or excessive tra- vell, wherof indeed he taketh to muche. He being now fullie and wholie recovered I spake with him this daye.a With reverence I prayed him to forbeare those excedinge travels and exercises of his bodye; but he had rather impute the cawse of his sicknes unto « G Ma. 122 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 125 111 any other thinge then unto that. Fawling into talke of the Amitie and League, I find him remayne con- stant in that mind that he was of at the first, and that he ys determined wholie to depend uppon her Ma- jestie, and to roone her fortune agaynst the whole worlde. The danger of the late conspiracie against the noble men now in credit, ys cleane cut of as in all apparance. Captayne James Steward ys now in Ireland with James Macconell as the King ys suerlie advertised. His wyfe commaunded to repayer within viij. dayes to Lovet to her owne Countrye, and not to come agayne untill she be sent for, or to enterwarde into the Black- ness. Coronell Steward hath his Lettres drawne with licens and favour of the K. to travel 1 for a space wher he will, and in the same Lettres ys recommended to all Princes for ther favor. Yf now the Ministers and Bisshoppe of S^ Andrews agree at this Assemblie, I heaxe of no greate matter like to trowble this State excepte yt be fatall to the Nation never to remayne longe quiet. I have ben ernest for the expellinge of the Jesuits and speciallye to have Hoult delivered, which ys as- sured unto me shalbe yf he or any other remayne in this Countrye. The Lord Maxwell and Johnstone like to agree, as also the Master of Glams and the Erie Cray ford. Lord Maxwell cometh as oft to the Sermons as any t>f the Lords doe, and the infection of Poperie beinge removed (of which ther ys good hope) he wilbe in shorte time to be compared in wisdom with the wisest nobleman in Scotland. The Master of G lames and the Secretarye have gotten of the King the wardshippe and marriage of the Erie Mongomeris sonne, being but two yeares of age, which in the time of his non age ys thought wilbe worth unto them xM''. starlinge. Whatever men get from him, I find that litle cometh to his owne purse, •and this I see he must do or have noe life amonge them. What hath passed betwene the King and M^ Archi- bald him selfe can best reporte, onelye this I can say that by the Kings report to me he standeth bounde to her Majestic, in whose name noe demaunde can here be refused, not so much as the request in favoure of the poore woman that ys mother alredye to xlj. children, and now agayne with child with one or two more. Now that her Majestic hath furnished this King with deare sufficient to make him passetime for this Sommer, he hath prayed me that by your Ho. her Majestic may be moved to lend him for the space of two monethes a cowple of her Majesties Yeomen prickers and a cowple of the Groomes of the Leese, he prayed me alsoe to put your Ho. in remembrance of some Horses and Geldinges. Ther came latelie to Lcith to smale barcks besids 124 ORIGINAL LETTERS. those that last I wrote of, the one from Callice, the other from Boulloigne. That of Calais brought Let- ters to this Embassador. Ther pretence ys for Sault, what other arrant soever they have had hether. Yester- daye the £nib. had audience of his busines at this time. I knowe nothinge as yet. At Edenb: this 7 of Maye 1586 Yo^. Ho. ever to commande THO. RANDOLPH. To the right honorable S'. Francis Walsingham, Principall Secretarye to her Ma'***. There is a very curious Paper in Randolph's handwriting in the Lansdowne Manuscript vol. 53. art. 1. which chaises James with re- ceiving large sums of money from the English Court in the very year of his mother's death. " Memorandum that Anno Domini 1585 I was sente into Scotlande by her Majestic to the Kyng ther. I receavede by Her Majesties order out of th'Eyschecker 2000/. to be miployed for her Highenes service upon the noblemen and other then at my discretion, and as I found cawse, which some of monie I bestowede as then I was wylled, and as the same was imployed from tyme to tyme advertised by my Lettres to M'. Secre- tary Walsingham, as in some of my Lettres of that yere unto his Honour it may appere, as also be founde in some Notes or Coppies of Lettres wrytten by my selfe and yet remayninge amonge Wryttings of Scottysshe cawses, for the tyme of my beinge ther in that ycare. This I wryte for my discharge ; for that other Accompte I canne make none, nor yet of the 4000/. which I delivered unto the Kynge selfe by lyke commande- mentsfrom her Ma'ie in A». 1586,/or that, in such cases, nether Princes gyve Bylles of their handes, nor any other that receave the lyke rewardes or guifts from Princes, for daynger or reproche unto themselves for rc- ceavinge of the same. ** Sondrye other tymes since her Majesties reigne I have receaved divers other great somes of monie to be delivered as well to my L. of Murraye as my L. Morton and other, for which I have no bylles of ther handes to shewe, not was ever wylled to demandc anye, but by my Lettres adver- •I OETGINAL LETTERS. 125 tisede of the paymente ther of, and therin my worde and wrytinge suf- ficiendie creditede, as also suche monie as at sondrye tymes I have geven IRot Intelligens, and non farther accompte made then my own worde and credl^ as the lyke is used to aU other Embassadors in her Ma^'" service. Two thousand pounds I delivered to M^ Robert Brown, for which I have a bylle of his hande. Wrytten by me the 8«* of Octob'^ 1587 at my howse in I^ondon. THO. RANDOLPH." Strype, in his Annals, voL lii. p. 382. has quoted from the Cottonian Library, James's second thoughts for not revenging his mother's death, and they are not unaptly introduced here. He says, " I am unable to revenge the heinous murder committed on my dearest Mother, First in respect of my tender youth, not trained up in dexterity of arms,* either to withstand injuries or to conquer mine own right; being, at all times bygone, detained in capUvity. Next my excessive cowpif from fiandto hand, from needy to needy, to greedy and greedy; having sufficient patrimony and casualty, and yet as none at aU in store." LETTER CCXXVII. Walter Stokes at Rmen to Br, Elye, on the state of Affairs in England after the Execution of the Queen of Scots. [ms. laksd. 96. art. 27. Orig.^ After I had delivered my last letters to be sent to you, we harde of the imbarkeing of showgiars b at Deape, & abought a weake after of maney moore sent cupidity? ^ soldiers. 126 ORIGINAL LETTERS. to Bullen the same waye, but to what eande we can not learne for certentie. I melt with Syster Elizabeth Saunders at Deape, out of Englande, of home I heare of greate scarsitie theare, & muche troble for the Ca- tholicke fayth ; and that Mr. Pylcher, with two laye- men, wheare executed in Dossetsheare abought Easter last as the yeare gooeth with us. The partey that came with hir brought the Statutes, the abstracte heareof shalbe heareinclosed yf I can have leasuer to wryte them forth. My lorde Chaunseler & Sir Raffe Sadler ar bothe dead of late, and Sir Amiaus Paulet, the Queene of Scottes keeper, is in great disgrace for hir execusion, as also one Davisonne, secretarye, is in the Tower, and put from his office, and deapely fyned also, for not proceading with the Queene of Scottes ac- cording to his mistresses commaundement at the deli- verye of the warrant, which was not to put yt in exe- cution before the Reahne should he actiudlij invaded by someforan power. Of Scotlande we have no greate newes, but that an ambassador is at Paris to demaunde helpe as the Scotchmen will nedes have yt. Wade is retoumed, & oure Shippes released, & yet doo some marchantes will thayer factors to make saale of all with speede & to take reddye mooney. Oure feere of troble conti- neweth, & greate scarsitie of Comne which is* soulde heare for abowe xii*. the Englysshe busshel, &, we feare, will not bee had for aney money, by meanes that ORIGINAL LETTERS. 127 Englysshe & Hollenders doo interceptte all that com- meth from Dansce,a & have taken of latte at one tyme 35 shippes laden with corne. A frenche man comming out of Englande telleth of strainge dealing at sea by Englishemen and Hollenders, that no man passeth unrobbed & stripped even to his skynne ; & that Drake is soore beaten & hath lost some of his shippes, as the reporte gooeth in London ; the lyke was heare also in Roan but not beleeved, & but in fewe mens moothowes. ^ Written lybelles ar sett up in London against the Frenche inhabitans theare, & other straingers theare, threatening theare death yf thay doo not departe by some shorte daye ; greate re- portes also of muche sturre with the Scottes in the northe, & that thaye doo keepe Barweake from vit- telles, & have stayd some of our nobilitye being sent theether, which I doo scarse beleeve ; he telleth also of the death of some other Noblemen, as the Earle of Rutlande & Northumberland, & others which he can- not name. Theare ar comme to Roanne this night two En- glyshemen, of home we expeckte newes ; yf thay will parte with aney you shall have them. Dwcke Neveers is made governor of Pickerdie, & a strayte edictke is publyshed anewe against the heretickes from the Parla- ment at Parris. Our countryemen saye that Mr. Pylcher was exe- Dantzick. * mouths. 128 ORIGINAL LETTERS. cuted of late as I saide before ; Mr. Hambden at Sa- lisburye ; two prestees at Gloster, one was Mr. Saundes in summer laste ; one other preste to death at Worster, whoes name I cannot name, which I was desierus to have learned because of our frendc Mr. Shawe. The Earle of Pendbrooke president of Wales. I can not performe my former promisse as towching the abstracte of the statutes, nother can I, for lacke of tyme, to con- tinew my letter aney longer; whearefore I take my leave for this tyme. From Roan this present xth. of "Maye WALTER STOKES. To his worshipfull frencle Mr. Doctor Elye geve thcs at Mus- siexaunt. LETTER CCXXVIII. The Warden and Fellows of All Souls College Oxford to Lord Burghley^ that they cannot let their woods as the Queen would wish to Lady Stafford, [ms. LAKSD. 54. num. 16. Orig.] •^« This and the succeeding Letter are introduced, merely to show in what trifling domestic matters the Court formerly interfered : even to the granting of a CoUege-Jjease. In this instance the Queen herself had had some discourse with Lord Bui^hley. The alarm of the Fellows of All Souls when called upon to leave their names behind them is not un- amusing. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 129 Our humble duties premised to your good Lordship. Whereas hir Majestic hathe latelie had some speech with your H. touching a letter which hir Highnes writt to us in the behalf of the Ladie Stafford, for the graunting her a leasse of our woodes in Middlesex. Which considering that hir Majestic took it to be a thing neither unusual nor prejudicial for the house to let, she loked we should withoute stay or question have yelded to ; & bicause it is not granted, hir Highnes will is now we should without stay either passe such a leasse to the Lady Stafford, or else that Mr. Warden repaire to Coort, there to attend on your H. and make his answere, aU which your H. hath given us the warden & felowes of AUsohi CoDege in Oxon by your honorable letters to understand. May it please your H. hir most excellent Majestic writ unto us for such a leasse, wherin when we were asked our opi- nions, we did all of us think we could not yelde ther- unto : for such reasons as afterwardes we gave in part with supplication unto hir Majestic, which reasons, ere they came to hir roial handes, we thought it dutie & wisdom to make our visitor the L. Archbishop of Can- terbury, & Sir Francis Walsingham with them ac- queinted ; who did both of them like the same so well, as Mr. Secretary undertook, withoute our furder troble, to deliver the same unto hir Majestic ; which he did as we here in Julie last ; the truthe wherof we took & take to be such, as therupon til now we nothing VOL. III. SER. 2, r 130 ORIGINAL LETTERS. doubted but hir Majestie of hir princely clemencie had well allowed of the same. But that the same our answere notwithstanding ; the saide suite should now be renued ag^dn & urged also by your Honour's letters so effectually, it doth not a litle (in a sort) dismay us. Howbeit, that your lordship may both in yourself con- ceive better of us, & by your means unto hir Majestie, helpe us also to be better thought of then it semes we be ; we will shew your lordship plainly what moveth us herein to do as we do. First we know the College cannot possibly defray its ordinary expenses without some other help, over & beyond the ordinary revenues: which charge hath bin usually & is yet especialli bom by our woodes : oute of which we did alweis cut, more or lesse, yerely as necessity required : the greatest parte of which woodes are these in Middlesex. Agein we never let our woodes but once, & that by great over- sight, which being perceved, means were made that they were presently (withoute any profit to the lessee) surrendred agein unto the CoUege : & this one tyme we trust your lordship will not count an use. Besides, if misfortun sholde befall the College, as fire, ruin, in- vasion, or sutes in lawe ; our only refuge is the College woodes. Moreover, our tenauntes thereaboutes have had & have sufficient fireboot, plowbote, tymber, &c. which can neither now be leased from them, nor if it sholde, can it be chosen but their fines or rentes or both must likewise abate. Lastlie, what decay & spoile ORIGINAL LETTERS. 131 hereby may hapen unto our woodes (besides the alterca. tion aboute the same, bicause they be dispersed here & there in hedgerowes in our tenantes groundes,) we can- not tell. And where it is thought a certaintie of yerely rent should be more commodious to our College then the casual falles, sith our charge is somtyme more & somtymes lesse, we finde it most convenient by our own experience to take of them as nede requireth as oute of a Treasory ; which cannot any waies by a set rent be supplied. All which things compared with the state of the College, & every one of our oathes, namely. " Quod dicto CoUegwf^lis ero^ damna, scandala, vel preju- DiciA dicto Colle^io nullaienusjhciam, aut quatenus in me Juerit JieH sustimbo^'" we cannot see how possibly we can yelde therto. Now wheras your H. writeth that the Lord Arch- bishop our Visitor hath thought hir Highnes request very reasonable, & therefore moved us to yeld therto, we assure your Lordship it is nothing so, as by his Graces letters it may & dooth appere. And thus having truly set down our myndes,we humbly praie it may be taken in the best sense ; & that your H. will become our fa- vorable intercessor unto hir Majestie, whome we have bin alweis redy to our powers to gratify in all things, as these bearers well can shew ; though much & mani- fest have bin our hindrance. And so most humbly ^SS^^g of your good Lordship, & by your H. also of K 2 132 ORIGINAL LETTERS. hir Majestie, the good opinion of dutifull & loving sub- jects, which we dezire no longer of God to ly ve then we shalbe alweis found & dezerve to be accounted, we take our leaves. Allsowles College in Oxon. SP die August! 1587. Your Lordships ever most humble at comaundment The Warden cmd Fellows of Allsoulen College in Oxon. To the right honorable the Lorde High Treasorer of England, oure verie especiall good Lorde. LETTER CCXXIX. The Warden and Fellows of All Souls College Oxford to Lord Burghlej/, intreating him to pacify the QueerCs displeasure. [ms. LAN8D. 54. num. 22. Orig'] Right honorable oure very good Lorde. As we have bin troblesom to your Lordship in solliciting your H. to be a means to hir Majestie in oure mater of woods which the Ladie Stafford was a suitor for, so we thought it our dutie to let youre H. knowe what ende we have obteyncd thcriu. Which is original letters. i 133 } this. Mr. Vicechamberlin having made hir Majestie acqueinted with our answere, saieth, that as he cannot say hir Majestie is well pleased therwithall, so yet he seeth no cause to stay us longer at Coort, but that leav- ing a Catalog (fall our names we may depart, tiU we here more from hir Highnes (if hapely it please hir Majestie to send agein) ; which that it may not hapen he honorablie promiseth his good endevour. Nowe as we knowe not howe highlie hir Majestie may be dis- pleased with us, nor to what ende this Catalog may tend, so most humbly we beseech your Honor, as best knowing the inconveniencies of such a leasse, for the favor you beare to Leming, upon aiiy good occasion, to pacific hir Majesties displeasure towardes us; and to shewe your opinion of the whole cause, best knowen to your H. In which youre Honors doing, as we assure oureselfes, your Honors credit with hir Majestie shalbe hable to countervail all sinister informations ageinst us ; so shall we & our Successors have cause to continue a most honorable memorie of this your Lord- ships great favor to oure College. Your honors ever most humble at commaundement. T/ie Warden and Fellowes //Allsowles College in Oxford. To the right honorable the Lorde Treasorer of England, our verie especial] good Lorde. 184 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCXXX. B. C. an English Spy to his Government upon the preparation of' the Spanish Armada, [MS. HARL. 296. foL 190. Orig.] Madrid 28 May 1588. My laste was owte of this towne of the laste of Aprill whiche I sent by waye of Italic, not havinge better commodytie for the place and tyme, whiche, presently, is full souspitious. This do I sende by the waye of Lion, whiche perhappes maye arryve before the other. My Jomey into Portugall, and the money I lefte to one there, coste me mutche, as in my former I wrote; synce whiche I have had more particular advises as herin I sende yow. And althoughe I judge this Navie (no we in a redynes under the castell of Belem expectinge wynde to sett sayle) maye be in your quarters before these come to your handes, yett woulde I omyt no occasion to wryte, seyenge that where here- tofore I was in the number of the incredulous, yet nowe beinge in place where I maye here and see, I confes to be in the wronge; for nowe I am owte of dowte they will in very dede that waye : so that the Lyghtnynge and Thunder clapp wilbe bothe in a moment. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 135 From Dunkerke is lately come to Lisbone a smale shipp with good spede, havinge passed in vij dales; she bringethe from the Duke of Parma certayne pi- lottes for the conducte of this Armye, and sayethe that upon all the couste of our lande she never sawe one sayle, and further avowethe that the saide Duke mutche solycytethe the departure of the Armata. The newes here from Constinoplea are, and that duplicate, howe Ebrami Bassha, generall of the sees, ys to yssue withe a hundred galleys, and that these Gouvernors of Thunis, Trypoli, and Argell,b with others of the coaste of Barbary, have in redynes fyftie more to joyne with hym ; wherby is expected grete spoyles upon the coastes of this Kinges domy nions ; to the beste remedye wherof that presently maye be, is ordeyned horssemen, and the prince made generall of those seas puttethe in order eighty galleys to followe and to annoye them ; accompt- inge that in October they must of force retyer. About xvj monthes agone was taken a Youthe en- tringe Spaine owte of France, about Fontarabie, who hathe gyven owte his person to be begotten betwene our Queue and the Erie of Leycester; borne att Hampton courte, and furthwith by the elder Assheley delyvered into the handes of one Southome the ser- vant to Mrs. Assheley, with chai-ge upon payne of deathe that the sayde Southorne shoulde not revele the matter, but bringe ytt upp; who brought the babe to Constantinople. Algier. Iti 136 OEIGINAL LETTERS. a myllers wyfe of Mowlsey to gyve ytt sucke, and afterwards the said Southome goynge into his countrey whiche was Wurcester or Shropshier, caned with hyni the chylde, and there brought ytt up in leamynge and qualyties. In the ende, discoveringe unto this youthe the whole secrete, he tooke a flyght over sees, where many yeres he hathe remayned untill his commynge hyther. His name is Arthure, and of xxvij yeres of age, or there about. This forsoothe ys his sayenge, and takethe upon hym lyke to the man he pretendelhe to be ; wherupon he wanteth no kepers, and is very solemply warded and served, with an expence to this Kinge of vj crownes a daye. If I had myne Alpha- bete I woulde saye more towchinge his lewde speches; and yf I maye I will do hym plesure, specially beinge called to accompt about hym, as yt is tolde me I shall shortly be; the kinge beinge informed that aboute that time I ser>'ed in Courte, whereby I maye saye somewhat to this matter. ^ Here in this towne and countrey are grete prayers, processions, fastinges, and almes, for the happy succes . ThU sort of scandal was not confined to Queen Eli«ibcth. In the Lan«lownc MS 53 r.T79.nTcry curious Examination taken by virtue of Letters from the Loi;iI of Que^ Elizabeths Council in ,68T. respecting one Anne Bumell who wisSS U hav^nnounced herself a. the dauRhter of Fhil.p K.nook Spain, and J^ « « mt^« ^ Q"««N Marv was h.r MOTUKn." she being marked " upon imK ^NKS oT HKH BMK" uHtH tHe ARMS OK Eno.and. Hcr wlu it wa. discovered iere troubled, through great misery and penury, and the sl.ght.ng of her Hu.bai.d. To be serious however, that Queen Elizabeth had her private attachments no rca- Jm dTlel^n who peruses the documc.ts ai.d histories of hcr time can doubu They p otbir^peratcragainst hcr entering the married sUtc more than any physical c-Iu^. though to «x>the the wishes of hcr people the Queens Intjnit.on of nuirrying ciintinucd to be rumoured and encouragc of May 1588. Yours to use. B. C. LETTER CCXXXI. The Queen to the Marquis of Winchester and the Earl of Sussex^ Lieutenants of the County of Souths ampton^ to prepare against Invasion. [ms. cotton, tit. b. II. foL 203. Orig,'\ By the Queene. Elizabeth R. Right trustie, and righte welbelovid cousines wee greete you well. Whereas hecrtofore upon the ad- vertismentes, from time to time and from sondrie f 138 ORIGINAL LETTEE8. OUIGINAL LETTERS. 139 Hji iM places, of the great preparations of foren forces, made with a full intente to invade this our Realme and other our dominions, wee gave our direccions unto you for the preparinge of our Subjectes within your Lievetennauncies to be in readines for defence againste any attempte, that mighte be made againste us and our Realme, whiche our directions we finde so well performed, that we cannot but receave great contente- mente therbie, bothe in respecte of your careful pro- cedinges therin, and allso of the greate willingenes of our people in generall, to the accomplishement of that wherunto they weare requiered. Shewinge therbie their great love, and loyalltie towardes us, which as wee accept most thanckfullie at their handes, acknow- ledge ourselves infinitlie bounde to Almightie God, in that hit bathe pleased him to blesse us with so lovinge and dewtifuU Subjectes: so wolde wee have you make hit knowen unto them on our behalfe, for- asmuche as we finde the same intention not onlie of invadinge, but of makinge a conquest allso of this our Realme, nowe constanilie more and more detected, and confirmide as a matter fuUie resolved on (an Armie beinge alreadie put to the Seas for that'purposse which we doubte not but by godes goodnes, shall prove frus- trate), wee have theerfore thoughte meete, to will, and requier you forthewith, with as muche convenient speede as you male, to call togeather at some con- veniente place or places the best sorte of gentehnen under your Lievetennancie, and to declare unto them that consideringe these great preparacions and arro- gante threatninges nowe burst owte in action upon the Seas, tendinge to a conquest, whearin everie mans particular state is in the hiest degree to be towched, in respecte of Countrie, Libertie, Wiffe, Childeren, landes, life, and that which speciallie to be regarded, for the profession of the trewe and sincere Religion, of' Christe ; and layinge before them the infinite and un- speakeable miseries, that followe upon any suche ac- cidente and change (which miseries ar evidentlie scene by the fruites of the harde and crewell governmente that is holden in Countries not farre distante, wheare suche chaunge dothe happen, whatsoever pretence is otherwise geven forthe for the cause of Religion) wee doe looke that the most parte of them shoulde have, upon this instante extraordinarie occasion a larger pro- portion of furniture, bothe for horsemen and footemen (but especiallie horsemen) then hathe bine certified, therbie to be in ther best strenghte against any at- tempte whate soever, and to be imployed bothe abowte our owne parson and otherwise, as they shall have knowledge geven unto them, the nomber of which larger proportion as sone as you shall knowe, wee requier you to signifie to our privie CounseU, heer- unto as wee doubte not but by your good indevoures, they wilbe the rather conformable. So allso wee assure ourselves, that Almightie God will so blesse their loyall ! 140 ORIGINAL LETTERS. hartes boren towardes us their lovingc Soveraigne and their naturall Countrie, that all the attemptes of any ennymies whatesoever shalbc made voicd and frustrate, to their confusion, your comfortes, and to Godes highe glorie. Geven under our signet at our mannorof Greenewiche the xviijth. daieof June 1588, in the xxxth. yeere of our Raigne. WINCHESTER. To our right trustye and right welbcloved Cousins the Marques of Winchestre and the Earle of Sussex, Lieutenants of our Coun- tie of South*. The details of the regular force which the English assembled to op- pose the Armada, both by sea and land, are minutely given in a Manu- script formerly belonging to the Koyal Library. • It opens with a copy of the lA)rd Admiral Howard's Commission for returning to the Seas in Augus^ 1588. The different di^npUons of Vessels which formed the Queen's Navy are next enumerated, amounting In all to a hundred and eighty-one ships, manned by 17,472 «»Uore. The military force consisted of two armies, one for immediately- op- posing the enemy under the Earl of Leicester; the other for the defence of the Queen's person, commanded by Lord Hunsdon. The army ap- pointed for the defence of Her Majesty's person amounted m the total to 45,362, beside the band of Pensioners ; with thirty-six pieces of ord- nance' The total of Lord Leicester's army amounted to 18,449. The sum of both armies to 63,511, beside 2(>00 foot who were expected from the Low Countries. The forces of the Presidentship of the North re- mained there, to answer the service in case any thing should be attempted on the side of Scotland ; the forces of the Presidentship of Wides were also stationary ; nor were any forces drawn from the Counties of Derby, Stafford, Lmcohi, Salop, Chester, Lancaster, or ComwaU. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 141 LETTER CCXXXII. Sir Edivard Radclyffe to the Earl of Sussex. The Queen's Visit to the Camp at Tilbury. [m8. cotton, otho e. IX. foL 180 b. Orig.^ %• Bishop Kennett, in one of the volumes of his manuscript Col- lections, • now in the British Museum, has preserved a copy of part of a Letter from the Earl of Leicester to the Eari of Shrewsbury dated from the Camp at Tilbury, August 15th, 1588. " I have been in continual toil and business since my coming to tlie Camp, but now God be thanked the most difficulties are passed which lay most upon my own head : and our gracious Queen hath been here with me to see her Camp and People, which so inflamed the hearts of her good subjects, as I think the weakest person among them is able to match the proudest Spaniard that dare land in England. But God hath fought mightily for her Majesty^ and I trust they be too much daunted to follow their pretended enterprize.'* The Armada had been defeated in a series of Actions from the 21"' to the28»^ of July 1688; though, as will be seen in the present Letter, the soldiers of the Duke of Parma were still expected by more than common rumour to embark upon their Enterprize. . Lo. may perhaps condemn me of nev . . in all this time written unto you ; but . . I could hardly heer of any messinger nor . . . comming to the camp could I leame • MS. Reg. is r. XXI. • MS. Lansdowne, 982. foL ill b. 142 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 143 i'i how to send mett with Mr. Chayrc by whom I was desierus to discharge thys pairt of my dutye. Her Majestie hath honored our Camp with her presence, and comforted many of us with her most gratious usage. It pleased her to send for me into my Lord generalls tent, and to make me kiss her hand, giving me many thanks for my forwardness in this ser- vice, telling me I shewed from what howse I desended, with many gratious words of your Lordship's good service, assuring me that before it wear long, she would make me better able to serve her, which words being spoken before many did well please me, however the performance follow. My Lord admiralls retume is, I ame suer, knowne unto your Lordship long before this. Whilst her Majestie was at dinner in my Lord Generalls tent, ther came a post and brought intelligence that the Duke with all his forces was embarkt for England, and that he would be hear with as much speed as possibly he could. The newes was presently published thorow out the Camp, to what end I know not, but noe preparation is made for the sending for more men, which maketh us thinke the newes untrew, we having in the whole camp of horse and foot not above 16000. I feare to troble your Lordship overlong with my scribled Letter ; therefore with the remembraunce of my humble service to your Lordship, my good Lady, and my Lord Fitzwaters, I take leave, desiring the Almightye to prossper you all to your best contente- ments. From Burntwood this x''. of August. Your honor's most humbly, and very redy to be commanded. EDW. RADCLYFFE. To the right honnorable and my singuler good Lord the Earle of Sussex, Captaine of Hir Ma«'«^». Towne of Porchraouth be thes dd. LETTER CCXXXIIL Daniel Rogers to Lord Burghley^ upon the state of Denmark, A, D. 1588. [ms. lansdowke 67. art 30. Orig.^ •»• This Letter is of value, as shewing the relative feelings of England and Denmark toward each other in 1688. Elizabedi had sent to condole the death of Frederick the Second ; immediately after whose interment, his son Christian the Fourth, then but eleven years of age, was proclaimed King of Denmark and Norway, and four Regents appointed to manage the administration of affairs till he should arrive at the age of legal maturity. The Crown of Denmark was then elective. Christian the Fourth visited England in the reign of James the First Maximilian archduke of Austria, whose imprisonment is alluded to, was the son of Maximilian II««. and brother of Rodolph W. He had been chosen King of Poland, in opposition to Sigismund who had been chosen by odiers of the nobility in 1587, but endeavouring to defend his tide by arms was defeated and taken prisoner. Sigismund Hid., his an- tagonist, was son of John Hid. King of Sweden. Something will also be found in this Letter concerning the external relations of Sweden and Muscovy. II 144 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Right honnorable although about the end of the last month I sente a dispatche unto Mr. Secretarie by one of my servauntes, which I trust his honnor hath imparted unto your Lordship, yet I thouglit good, having obtayned a lyttle more leasure, to write like- wise unto your Lordshipp, by which your Lordship may understande that both the Queene and the yongc King of Denmarck^ have thought verie well of the causes for which I was sente unto them; which both highlie do esteeme of the benevolence of her Majestic towardes them, in condoling by so open a manner ; as likewise for that it pleased her Majestic to offer the continuance of her friendshippe so bountifullie, in this their afflicted estate : for which causes I have been caressed here after the best manner. The fowre Go- vernors have travelled likewise, both severallie and joyntelie, to declare unto me effectuallie how well they be affected to the maintenaunce of all good cor- respondencie to be enterteined with the Crowne of Englande. As for the arrestes in the Sounde, although by reason of great complaintes made agmnst our pirattes, . The foUowing List of the Children of Denmark of whom Anne aftcrwanb the Q^Jn of Jamrfhe First wm one. taken in I58U, occur, in the Lansdown MS. «. fo^r It is followed by the names of the chief person., the coun«.UoTs. and the senators of the kingdom. ..„««!«• " Elizabetha primogenita. nascitur ColdingsB 25 AugmU anno 16T1. & «» A nniu>itur Scandcrburci 12 Dccembris anno 15T4. CH^s^^r 'l^u. D.X *. R... -OH- Frld»>ch.bunn ..April.. .n,» Hildaricus, nascitur Coldingae 80 Decembris anno 15T8. AugusU, nascitur Coldingae 8 Aprilis anno 1580. Hedwigis, nascitur Friderichsburgi 5 AugusU anno 1581. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 145 some were bente to graunt a staie of our shippes, I have dealt so earnestlie with them in this matter as they have all fowre promised unto me that there shall from henceforward no more be permitted. Yea I procured that certaine goodes to the value of 6000/. sterJinge, appertayninge to certaine Englishmen, con- fiscated the day before I came, were by my quicke in- tercession all released. I delivered my negotiation which I had to passe with them (being thereunto re- quested) in wryting, to th'intente I might have their aunswere lykewise in wrytinge. The copie of that which I delivered over unto the Governors in Latin, I sente in my last packett unto Mr. Secretarie, where- bie your Lordship may perceave that I have touched divers thinges whereof I had no charge, and yet could not but move them, having regarde unto the circum- stances of this present time. There were certaine which had recaved Commissions from the kinge of Spaine to serve him with certaine shippes, mariners, and souldiors uppon the seas, which being invited with great stipends, thought they might so doe : but being advertised of this matter, as they were ready to de- parte, I complained unto the Governors declaring how farre the attempt of such men were against the Leagues which were between the Crownes of England and Denmarke, and nothinge conformable unto the sincere freindshippe which had been betwixt her Majestic and the late Kinge their master. Uppon this complainte VOL. HI. SER. 2. 146 0RI6IKAL L£TT£RS. of mine, although the parties pleaded their previledges, the Governors tooke severe order that neyther they nor any other of the subjectes of the Crowne of Den- mark or Norway, or apjKTteyning to the Dominions of the king, should eyther at this present or hereafter serve against her Majestie. The Gentlemen of theis realmes have great libertie and aucthoritie, according as the antiquitie of their fa- milies may comend them. Two hundred yeres past, they had Lords, Earles, and Dukes, of which some encrochinge upon gentlemen, gave them occasion to op- pose themselves, which became masters over the higher nobilitie, and afterward dealt with the king in such manner, that order was taken there should no greater nobillitie then Gentlemen, against whom the kinge can lyttle effectuate without the advise of the Counsellors of the realme, which are wont to be twenty-four in number: but at this present there are but twenty. They ought all to be borne in the kingdome of Den- marke and Norway, and now being but xx^'*'. two of them are Germans, one borne in the Dukedome of Mecklenburghe, and the other in Holsatia. As for the other dukedomes of Sleswycke and in Holste, the king hath other Councellors, eleven in number, at this present. The deceased kinges brother, Duke John, hath shewed himselfe to be miscontented, for that being a king of Denmarkes sonne, and a king of Denmarkes brother, and uncle to the present kinge, yet the Estates ORIGINAL LETTERS. 147 have neglected him, not making him an overseer of his nephew, the yonge elected king, neyther lefte him anie parte of government, as he thought they would have done, and as in Germanic the manner amongest the electors and princes is in use ; but the nobillitie of the realme of Denmark, to the intent they might maine- teine their libertie, alleage that the estate of the princes of Germanic doth depend uppon succession by inherit- aunce, and not by election, by which the Kingdome of Denmarke consisteth. There are likewise some other gentlemen, which for enormous faultes had been sett at great fines by the late kinge, which in this nonage of the yonge kinge stomacke at the matter, and travell by such freindes as they have, to have the said fines restored unto them againe. There be likewise manie gentlemen which pretend that the last king did greatlie prejudice their liberties in huntinge, which at this pre- sent do urge to recover their auncient privilcdges, and insiste that strangers be not suff'red to sitt in Councell. In appeasing theise and the like dissentions, the aucthoritie and carefullnes of the Chancellor is highlie commended, who is even the Pearle of Denmarke; who of late hath been verie sicke. If God should have taken him away, I assure your Lordship there might have ensued extreame confusions in theis Kingdomes. The foure Governors have been appointed by the rest of the Senators of the realme, and but for one yere ; at the end whereof, four others are to be chosen, during l2 148 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 149 the kinges nonage. Howbeit it is thought that the Chancellor and the Treasurer must allwaies continue, for they are not minded to CrowTie the yonge kinge, before he come to just yeares, and to such judgment, as he may know unto what condytions he shall sweare. The estates of the Countrie have delivered up to the fowre Gouvemors certaine articles which they would have to be followed and observed ; who gouveme verie warily, not forgetting their owne kinsfolkes, which they doe greatlie advaunce, and do travell to heape great treasures for the kinges use, w^herefore they doe discharge manie that served the last kinge, who was wonte to have Dukes and Earles in his Courte, which he mainteyned, allowing to some xij. horses, to some more, and to some lesse, with verie good stipendes, which they thinke this Kinge, by reason of his nonage, may well wante. Monsieur Dansey the French kinges Embassador doth thinke that this kinge of Denmarke is one of the richest Kinges in Europe, because he is nothing in- debted, and hath great treasure laid up for his use, which yet at this time is all ruled by the disposition of the four Gouvemors. Besides the revenues of the toll of Elsenoer, I have learned, that the king hath yereHe to the value of two hundred thowsand dollars, for the custome of Hamburghe and Rostocke beare,^ with which the whole realme is served, with such other • Beer. toll as he receaveth for oxen and horses, which yerelie are carried out of these Countries, besides the reve- nues of seven Bishoprickes of Denmarke and Norway, which are alltogether confiscated to the Crowne, the Bishoppes of which jurisdictions were wonte to be great princes and as it were the electors of Denmarke, which were all suppressed, and their Bishoprickes an- nexed to the Crowne by the late king and his father. The Queene of Denmarke hath her dowrie allotted unto her in the Islandes of Falster and Lolande, most fertile countries, which are right over against the Duke of Mecklenburghes her fathers dominions: which Queene is a right vertuous and godlie princesse ; which with a motherlie care, and great wisedome, ruleth the children ; unto whom all Embassadors do addresse themselves, in the presence of the fowre Gou- vemors, which indeed rule all. Henrie Rammell, although he is none of the fowre Governors, yet is the cheifest about the Queen and Kinge, neither without him doe the fowre Gouvemors anie thinge at all. He is the mouth of the whole realme; a man indued with great giftes, and who hath seen much, and is verie eloquent, and knoweth more of the government and estate of the whole world then all the rest of the Counsellors ; between whom and the chancellor is great freindshipp. Amongest other gentlemen of great name, none was in greater favor with the last kinge, nor at this time better liked ' ;ui 150 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 151 of in the whole Coiirte, then Gert Ranzow, sonne to the kinges Lieutenaunte in Holsatia, which Gert is Connestable of the castle and jurisdiction of Croen- burghe, as also Captain of the kinges guardes, who being but of the age of xxxj"*'. yeres, hath seen the most part of Europe, having besides been at Constan- tinople and in Egipte, and speaketh many Languages, who after liis retume from Spaine, being sent thither by the last king, came to the Court of Englande, and there spake with Mr. Secretary ; he is a man that hath great desseins, borne to great honnor, and offreth his service unto her Majestic, promising to bring unto her Highnes, when she shall require it, 3000 footemen and 1000 horsemen ; of which his offer I thought it my dutie to make here some mention, for that according as thinges may fall out he hath meanes to doe greater service unto her Majestic then some Princes have ; for by his fathers aucthoritie and wealth he can doe much, and in despite of the Empire, having havens of his owne neare unto the sea, may send over into England forces, when he shall perceave that her Majestic will desire it ; whereas at this present, the princes of Ger- manic have so strictlie bound their subjectes, that if her Majestic would have anie forces from thence, she must wryte unto manie princes for to have that favour shewed unto her : besides, that if her Majestic use this Gert Ranzow, she may spare great expences, be- cause that Princes will have greater allowances then he would demand, of whom I thought good to write thus much, because that if her Majestic commaunded me, at my departure to consider with myselfe out of what places of Germanic she might readiest have forces in case necessitie should enforce her to send for forraine power. Amongest others which have condoled and con- gratulated the yonge Kinge, the emperor of late sent one, and withall a faire coche with six great horses unto the kinge ; desiring him to employ his creditt for the deliverie of his brother the Archduke Maximilian, even as his father had done the best for the recom- mending of him and his brother Archduke Matthias, for the advauncinge of one of them to the Crowne of Polande, about which matter all the princes of Austria, with their kindred, are especiallie busie. The Pope hath sent the Cardinal! Aldobrandinus into Polande, where he hath been royallie receaved. The king of Spaine hath likewise used his creditt, and, at the Emperors request, the most part of the princes of Germanic have sent their Embassadors. Their intent is eyther by faire or fowle meanes to have the Archduke Maximilian to be delivered, who oi late did his best to escape away, which is the occasion that he is now the streightlier looked unto. There be 2000 men which keepe watch about him, which they con- straine the Archduke to mainetaine. The Chauncellor told me of late, that he had receaved letters out of 152 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 153 M Polande, by which he is advertised, that the Chaun- cellor of Polande doth offer theise conditions for his deliverie : First that the emperor his brother do restore certaine castles in Hungarie unto the Polonians : Se- condlie, that he take to wife there yonge kinges sister, with the best part of Livonia for her dowrie : Thirdlie, if God do take away their kinge, and he doe survive, that they will choose him for their kinge : or if he shall have anie male child by the said wife, that they will bind themselves to electe him. The king of Sweden his^ father, at this present holdeth a parliament, to the intent he may conclude what is best to be done with the Muscovites ; for that the iiij"*". yeres treues, about the beginninge of the next yere, wilbe expired. The Lituanians at the time of the election of their yonge kinge, made peace with the Muscovites for fourteen yeres, which peace was confirmed by their yonge kinge; so that the father feareth that his sonne shall not be able to in- duce the Polonians and Lituanians to assist him against the Muscovites. The king of Sweden is counted very ticklish in matters of religion; he causeth manie superstitious and popish ceremonies to be reduced into the Church, which offendeth manie. He is not accounted the wisest ; he is vaine and loftie ; unto whom I purpose to send Monsieur Varrhall, one whom the erle of Lei- • The King ftf Poland's. cester commended unto me, who being a Licenciate of Law, may follow the cause of Mr. Allen, which the Queenes Majestic herselfe commaunded me to take care of. The plague doth merveilouslie raigne in Sweden, at this time, which hath consumed whole Townes. At my first comminge to the Courte of Denmarke I mett with Adam Cians Baron of Podelitz, Duke Cas- simires Embassador, who in the behalfe of his master, dealt with the cheifest princes of Germanic, to ap- pointe some place and time where they might consult together, how by a league they might in time occurre against the daungerous practises of the papistes. For which cause, the Gouvemors of Denmarke have given him a favorable aunswere, promising that they wilbe glad to further the Dukes request, and will send their Embassadors, at the ende of August, to joyne with Duke Ulricke of Meckleburg his Embassadors ; which joyntelie shalbe sente unto the elector of Saxonie, to accelerate the meetinge, which Duke Cassimire de- sireth : which elector of Saxonie gave unto the sayd Baron Podelitz likewise a favorable aunswere. The late king of Denmarke a lyttle before his death wrote a pithy letter unto the said Elector his nephew, to induce him the sooner to embrace this matter, and withal 1 gave him advyce to take heede of two counsel- lors about him, Scoenbercke, and Ponnitz ; unto which 154 ORIGINAL LETTEttS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 155 the French kinge of late, notwithstanding his ownc wante, had sent 10,000 French Crownes. Being come this farre, I am advertised, that the emperor mistrusting he shall not obtaine the deliverie of his brother the archduke Maximilian out of prison, travelleth to appointe a Diett or meeting of the princes of Germanic, to the intent they might be all induced to contribute for the levying of forces to be emploicd against Polande for the procuring of the said Arch- dukes libertie : But the Electors and other princes of Germanic knowing the cause of this desired Diett, do excuse themselves having shewed themselves, by the way of entreatie, readie to deale for the said Arch- dukes deliverance. With theise occurrences I desire your lordship to be contented at this present, fearing least allreadie I have been over tedious unto your lordship in sending so longe and confused a letter. I beseech the Allmightie God to confirme your lordships health and to prosper and give good successe unto all your honnor's endevors. From Roschilde the x^^. of August 1588 Your Lordshippes most humble at commaundement DANIEL ROGERS. Senator es et CansUiarii RegiwrumDani(E Norwegian ^c. Nicolaus Kaas, Dominus de Tarup: Cancellarius Regis. Petrus Guldenstem de Tym, Regni Marescallus. Petrus Monck de Estuatgaard, Regni Admirallius. Georgius Rosenkrantz de Rosenholme, Magister Palitii. ChristopherusValckendorfedeGlorop,Thesaurarius. Steno Brahe de Knudsturp. Georgius Skram de Thielle. M andropius Passeberg de Hagisholme. Ericus Hardenberg de Matterup. Haguinus Ulstandt de Huckeberg. Andreas Binge de M idsturp. Henricus Bellow de Spitterup: Vicarius Regis in Jutlandia, et Capitaneus Arcis Coloniae. Axel Guldenstem de Lyngbui, Vicarius regni Nor- wegiani. Corvitius Wiffert de Ness. Absolon Goie de Kielsturp. Jacobus Schefeld de Wisborn. Breida Rantzow de Rantzouisholm. Christianus Skele de Fusingor. Albertus Frys de Harritzkier. Arvidus Huitfeld de Odersberg, Regni Cancellarius. Ducatum SlesviccB et Holsatioe ConsilariL Henricus Rantzovius, Dominus de Breidenborg, Praefectus Segebergensis. Petrus Rantzow de Troiburg, Praefectus Flensbur- gensis. ■■r^ : ( 156 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 157 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. Johannes Blome de Sehedorfs, Praefectus Hadersle- biensis. Johannes Rantzow de Hasselberg, Praefectus Ren- desburgensis. Benedictus de Alefelde, de Lemkulen. Georgius Schested de Nortesche. Detleuus Brocktorff de Schreuenborn. Daniel Rantzow de Sehegaard. Henricus Alcfeld de Saturpholme. Nicolaus de Alcfeld, de Geltinge. Christopherus Rantzow de Guenibeck. Nomina aliorum Offictartorum Primariorum. Stein Maltizen, Marescallus Aulae. Gerardus Rantzovius Connestabilis Regioe Kronne- burgensis, & Capitaneus Prsetorianorum Regis. Eustachius van Tunen, Praefectus stabuli Regis. Henricus Rammel Praefectus & Gubemator Regis, & Consiliarius. Jonathas Gutzlaubius, J. V. Doctor, Cancellarius Ducatuum Slesvicae & Holsatiae. Absolon Jul, Secretarius Danicus. Johannes Buckholt, Praefectus Insulae Islandiae. To the right honnorable my verie good Lorde the Lo. Burgheley, knight of the noble order of the Garter, one of her majesties most honn**'^ privie councell, and Lo. highe Th>er. of England. LETTER CCXXXIV. George Longe to Lord Burghley, Desires a Patent for Glass-maMng, He states how that Art came first to England. [ms. lansd. 59. art. 72. Orig.'l To the right honourable the Lord Burgleighe Lord Treasurer of England. Att what tyme that Troubles began in France and the Lowe Countryes, so that Glass could not conveni- ently be brought from Loraine into England, certaine Glassmakers did covenaunt with Anthony Dollyne and John Carye, merchants of the saide Low Countryes, to come and make Glass in England. Wheruppon Dol- lyne and Carye obtained the Patent for making of Glass in England in September the ix^^ yeare of the Queene's Majesties raigne for xxj. years ensueinge under these conditions, to teache Englishmen and to pay custome, which Patent was fully expired a yeare ago. Carye and Dollyne, having themselves no knowledge, were driven to lease out the benefitt of their Patent to the Frenchmen, who by no means would teach Englisl> 158 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 159 men, nor at any tymc paide one peny custome. Cary being dead, Dollyne tooke vj'. upon a Case of Glass. For not performaunce of Covenants, their Patent being then voide, about vj. yeares after their Grant, other men erected and set on worke divers Glasshouses in sundry parts of the Realm, and having spent the Woods in one place, doe dayly so contynue erecting newe Workes in another place without checke or controule. About vij. yeares past, your Honour called them that kept the Glashouses before you, to knowe who should paye the Quene's custome, whose answerc ge- nerally was, that there was no custome due, but by condicions of a speciall privelcdg which no one of them did enjoye, and they not to paye custome for comodi- tyes made within the Realme. Thus hath her Majes- tic beene deceived and still wilbe without reformation. I most humbly desire your Honor to graunt me the like Patent, considering my pretence is not to contynue the making of Glass still in England, but that therbye I maye effectually repress them. And wheras ther are now fifteen Glashouses in England. Yf it so like your Honor (granting me the like Patent) to enjoyne me at no tyme to keepe above ij. Glashouses in Eng- land, but to erect the rest in Ireland, wherof will ensue divers commodityes to the commune wealth, ac- cording to the effect of my former Petition. The Woods in England wilbe preserved. The superfluous Woods in Ireland wasted, then which in tymc of rebellion Her Majestic hath no greater enemy theare. The Country wilbe much strengthened, for every Glashouse wilbe so good as twenty men in garison. The Country wilbe sonner brought to civilitye, for many poore folke shalbe sett on worke. And whereas her Majestic hath now no peny proffitt, a double custome must of necessity be paide. Glass be transported from Ireland to England. May it please your Honor to be gracious unto me and God willing, I will putt in sufficient securitye not only to performe all things concerning the Patent, but allso (thankfully acknowledgeing the good I shall re- ceive by your Lordshipp) to repaire your Honor''s buildings from tyme to tyme with the best glasse, duringe the terme of the said Patent ; and allso be- stowe one hundred Angells at your Honors appoint- ment, I have spaken to Dollyne as your Honor willed me, and may it please your Honor to appoint some tymes that we may both attend your Honor. Your Honours poore Orator GEORGE LONGE. 160 OEIGINAL LETTERS. ^P^ ') LE^'TER CCXXXV. Dr. Whitaker to Lord Burghley, upon a false report that he hadjbrhidden an Oration to be made in his College upon the Queeri^s Day. [m8. lansd. 63. art, 8fi. Or\g.\ •^* Bishop Kennett, in one of his Manuscript volumes in the Museum, notices a Sermon preached at St. PauPs Cross the 17»»«. of November 1590 by Thomas Holland D.D. Professor of Divinity in Oxford, to which was annexed a Defence of the Church of England for the an- nual celebration of the day, 4'*». 1601. The writer specifies the time when its observation began. He says, " About the twelfth year of the reign of her Excellency was the first practice of the public Solemnization of this Day, and (as farre forth as I can hear, or can by any diligent enquuy leame) the first public celebrity of it was instituted in Oxford by Dr. Cooper, being then there Vice Chancellor, after Bishop of Lincoln, and by remove from thence Bishop of Winchester ; from whence this in- stitution flowed by a voluntary current over all this Realme.** The Seventeenth of November is still kept as a holiday at the Ex- chequer, and at Westminster and Merchant Tailors Schools. After my humble dutie to your honorable Lord- ship, a frend of myne that lately came from the Court, hath given me to understand, that a rumor is spred in the Court, and hath come to the eares of some of the most honorable Counsell, how that I on the Queenes day last did forbidd in our College an Oration to bee made in praise of her Majesties governement. I thinke I am not without some bothe enemies and back-frendes; but that such a thinge should to such, and in such a place bee reported of mee, being so utterly untrue, and I am assured voidc of all colour of truthc, I can- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 161 ' not but marvell mucli. My humble suite to your Honor is, not to give credence to any such report, if peradventure by some meanes your Honor may heare of It : and also to represse it, that it goe no further to my discredite, which some perhaps seeke by theis sinister sleights. The truth is, I never forbadd, nor hindered any such oration, and wee had an oration in our College hall on that night, pronounced by one whom I appointed myselfe for that purpose, whose name is Heblethwaite, now a felow of the College : at which oration I was present, and our whole com- pany, and divers of other Colleges, whom I sawe and can name, if neede require. The action was solemne, with bone fiers in both the courtes of the College, as also it hath bene ever since I came to this College : and the report hath proceeded from some envious body, God knoweth whoe. My poore credit which I labour to keepe I humblie commend to your lordships ho- norable protection, beseeching Godd long to continue this happy and blessed governement, -and your lord- ship, in health and honor to the greate good of this Church and common wealth. From St. Johns College in Cambridge this 14 of Maie 1590. Your honors in the lord to comaund. WILLM. WHITAKER. To the Right honorable the Lord of BurghleyL. high Treasurer of England and Chancellar of the Universitie of Cambridge my verre good lord. VOL. III. SER. 2. 1^ m I 162 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCXXXVI. King James the Sixth of Scotland to Queen Elizabeth. [us. COTTON. VESP. F. III. fol. 30 b. Orig. £NTIIL£LY IN THE XIN6*8 HAND.] *J* Francis earl of Bothwd's unsuccemful attempt to seize the person of James the Sixth at Holyrood House in the winter of 159^, and his similar failure on June 20'*'. 1592 when the King was at Falkland, form the subject of the present Letter. The Reader will find the particulars of both Conspiracies detailed in archbishop Spotiswoode*8 History of the Church of Scotland, foL Lond. 1677. pp. 38(>, 389. From Falkland Bothwel fled first to the West borders and thence to England, where he was in reality protected by Elizabeth. The manner in which he after- wards surprised James in his palace, in 1593, is told by Spotiswoode, p. 395. In 1595 this turbulent nobleman fled to Spain, and thence to Naples, where he died a few years after the accession of James to the Throne of England. Madame and dearest Sister, the residence of youre Ambassadoure heir quhom by ye are asucll advertisliit of everie accident fallis out heir, as lykeuayes informit quhat my request or desyre is that ye soulde do at this tyme, this I saye is the cause that stayes me un- troubling you sa oft with my ouin Letters as other uayes I uolde doe ; in speciall I doubt not ye are suf- ficientlie informid of this lait rare and rashe attempt confirming nou at Falklandc that treason quhiche in uinter thay comittid at Holy rude House ; but Godd be praised quho gave the last the uorst successe. Nou it restis for me to hunt thaime the best I may, and y OEIGINAL LETTERS. 163 thairin to spair no painis nor traiuell, and for your pairt of concurrence alsuell that none of these traitouris shall finde refuge in any pairt of youre dominions, as also that ye will, according to youre ouin lauis and thaire just desertis, punishe suche of youre ouin leude subjectis as uere inducit by thaim to assist thaim at this deid. I doubt not in this cace of youre gode uill in respect of the straitt bande of amitie betwixt us, and besydis that, I leave it to youre consideration if this be not a perilluse president for all Princes. And l)ecause this tume uill of necessitie dryve me to extra- ordinarie chargiz I must hairtelie praye you at this tyme to send me that quhole summe of Annuitie quhiche I did the last yeire require of You ; not that I ame ignorant of the greatness of youre present adoes, but that I trust ye uill in this tume tume your eyes a littell from looking upon youre ouin estait to blinke upon the necessaire cace of youre Friend. But re- mitting this and all other thingis to her louing consi- deration quho neuer yett failed me in any my adoes, I comitt yo Madame and dearest Sister to the protec- tion of the Almichtie. From Edinburgh the fyft of Julie 1592. Youre most louing & affectionatt brother & cousin JAMES K. M 2 164 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 165 n W LETTER CCXXXVII. The Earl of Essex to Lord Burghley^ in favour of the Lady Walsingham.^ [m8. laksd. 71» art. 74. Orig.'\ My very good Lord, my Lady Walsingham, who since the death of her husband hatli bene a troublesom sutor to your Lordship, doth now conclude all sutes with one request, which is neither great, nor in my opinion unreasonable. It is that your Lordship will help to free her from the debt of 1400 which M^ Secretary was bound for for M"". Bowes. M**. Bowes will aunsuer yt to her Majestic in such tyme as shallbe assigned unto him for his other debts, yf, by your Lordship's favor such payment may be accepted. Though your Lordship graunt nott favor in these cases, because you are a good husband for the Q. yett I hope your Lordship will, in the case of a widow thatt is poore and frendlesse, shew more than ordinary consideration. Att your Lordships commaundment To the right honorable my very good Lord the L. High Tresorer of £ngland. • This Letter is indorsed In pencil with the date of July 9, 1599. LETTER CCXXXVIIL The Countess of Shrewsbury to Lord Burghley : re^ presenting her care of the Lady Arabella. [ms. lansd. 71. art, 2. Orig.^ My honorable good Lord; I resevyd your Lord- ships Lettre on Wedensday towards night, being the xxth. of this September, by a servant of M^ John Talbotts of Irelande. My good Lord I was at the first much trobled to think that so wicked and mis- chevous practises shold be devysed to intrap my pore Arbell and me, but I put my trust in th' Almighty, and wyll use such dilaigent care as I dobt not but to prevent whatsoever shalbe attempted by any wycked persons ageinst the pore chyld. I am most bounde to hyr Majesty that yt pleased hyr to apoynt your Lord- ship to give me knowledge of this wycked practyse, and I humbly thanke your Lordship for advertysinge yt ; yf any such lyke hereafter be discovered I besech your Lordship I may be forewarned. I wyll not have any unknowen or suspected person to come to my howse. Uppon the least suspicion that may happen here, any way, I shall give advertisement to your Lordship. I have litle resort to me; my house is Ill I 166 ORIGINAL LETTEUS. furnished with sufficient company ; ArbcU walks not late ; at such tyme as she shall take the ayre, yt shalbe nere the house, and well attended on ; she goeth not to any body's house at all; I se hyr almost every howre in the day ; she lyeth in my bed chamber. If I can be more presise then I have bene I wylbe. I am bound in nature to be carefull for Arbell ; I find hir loving and dutyfull to me, yet hir owne good and safety is not dearer to me, nor more by me regarded then to accomplish hyr Majestie's pleasure, and that which I think may be for hyr service. I wold rayther wyshe many deaths then to se this or any such like wycked attempt to prevayle. About a yere since, there was on Harrison, a semi- nary, that lay at his brother's howse about a myle from Hardwyck, whome I thought then to have caused to bene apprehended, and to have sent him up; but found he had licence for a tyme. Notwithstanding, the seminary, sone after, went from his brothers, find- ing how much I was discontented with his lyinge so nere me. Since my comming now into the cuntrey, I had some intelligence that the same seminary was come ageyn to hys brother's howse ; my sonn William Ca^ vendysshe went thither of a sudden to make serch for hym, but cold not find hym. I wryte thus much to your Lordship that yf any such trayterous and noughty persons (thorough her Majestye's clemency) be suf- fred to go abroad, that they may not harbor nere my OMIGlNAL LETTERS. 167 howses, Wyngfeld, Hardwik, nor Chattesworthe, in Derbyshire ; they are the likest instruments to put a bad matter in execution. On Morley, who hath attended on Arbell, and red to hyr for the space of thre yere and a half, shoed to be much discontented since my retorne into the cuntry, in sayinge he had lyved in hope to have som annuitie graunted him by Arbell out of hyr land duringe hys lyfe, or some lease of grounds to the value of forty pound a yere, alledging that he was so much damnified by leving of the Universitie ; and now saw tliat if she were wy Hinge, yet not of abylitye to make hym any such assurance. I understanding by dyvers that Morley was so much discontented, and withall of late having some cause to be dobtfull of his forward- nes in religion, (though I cannot charge him with pa- pistry,) toke occasion to part with him. After he was gone from my Howse, and all hys stuff caried from hence, the next day he returned ageyn, very impor- tunate to serve without standinge upon any recompence, which made me more suspicious, and the wyllinge to parte with hym. I have an other in my howse who will supply Morley 's place very well for the tyme. I wyll have those that shalbe sufficient in leminge, ho- nest, and well disposed, so nere as I can. I am inforced to use the hand of my sone William Cavendysshe, not beinge able to wryte so much my self for feare of bringing great payne to my hed. He 168 ORIGINAL LETTEES. OllIGINAL LETTERS. 169 i|l only is pryvy to your Lordship^s Letter, and neyther Arbell nor any other lyvinge, nor shalbe. I besech your Lordship I may be directed from you as occasion shall fall out. To the uttermost of my understanding, I have and wylbe carefull. I besech th' Almighty to send your Lordship a longe and happy lyfe, and so I will committ your Lordship to his pro- tection. From my howse at Hardwyck the xxi'*^ of Sept. 1592. Your Lordships as I am bound, E. SHROUESBUBY. To the right honorable my very good Lord, the L. Burghley Lord Tresorer of Englande. LETTER CCXXXIX. Antliony Hall the elder^ to Lord Burghley^ that hia son Anthony might he made a Pursuivant. [X8. LAKSD. 76. art, 2\. Orig.] *^* In this Letter, which from the tide to it should seem to be of ordinary cast, we have a singular disclosure. The Secretaries of the Queen of Scots, it will be remembered, were never confronted with her upon her TriaL Upon inquiry at the Collie of Arms, it does not appear that the suit made in this Letter was successful : no person of the name of Anthony Hall occurring in the Lists of the Heralds or Pursuivants. May yt please your Honnor, that where I am an humble suitor in the l^ehalfc of my sonne Anthony Hall, in respect of dy vers services that your honnor & other my Lordes have commaunded me, as passing twise into France with the Seminarie preistes & Je- suites, being in number fast upon 60, as appeareth by certificates in the Counsell cheste of their good usages by me ; as allso the conveighaunce of 4000 & 500 Irishe transported to Bristoll at two severall tymes, as appeareth by certificate delivered to your honnors under the common seal of the Towne of Bristoll ; as allso the keeping of Jaques de Naa iJie Scottishe Queenes Secretarie six weekes, /, anely, lying on a pallet in his chamber untill he had discovered ALL THE TRWETH HE KNEW TOUCHING THE SCOT- TISH QUEENES treasons, testes Mr. Phillipps her majesties decipherer, & Mr. Era. Mills ; as allso my howse was possessed at your honnors commaund- ment certayne dayes & nightes, whereby Ballard the preist, & Babington, with others of those trayterous crewe, were apprehended in a garden neere my house, testes Mr. Phillipps & Mr. Era. Mills ; as allso the keeping of Richard Randolphe (a professor in the la we) in Bridewell and in the Counter as a prisoner, certayn dayes & nightes, who perswaded Bennett the preist that he should revoke those treasons whereof he had accused the Erie of Arondell, untill he had confessed all the treweth, testis Mr. Wade Clerck of the Coun- sell. In respect of which my loyall & dewtifull ser- vices, I humbly am a suitor that yt might please your ;l 170 OAIGINAL LETTEBS. I !! Honnor to receave into the place of a Pursevant at armes my sayd sonne, a scholler brought up at Cam- bridg in Emmanuell Colledg, & since professing the Lawe at Bamardes Inne, & by my L. Andersons gifte Clarck in the prennitories office in the Common Place.'* Notwithstaunding, I perceaving his inclination apt to gather gentlemens Cotes, as well on churche windowes, stone walles, as noble mens tombes, whereby he hath collected some thirty thowsand or more cotes of his owne tricking & wrighting, besyd a pretie skill in counterfeiting pictures after the lyfe or otherwise, am hereupon, knowing his sufficienty, by some of the said Officers at Armes made knowen unto me, humbly to beseeche your Honnor to stand my good Lord in my sonnes suite, so shall yt worck in me a ready nes & dewtie, whensoever your Honnors shall commaund me other or the like services, & he contynually bound, praying your Honnors long happines. Your honnors humble servitor to commaund, ANTHONY HALL, SCnior. To the right honorable his sin- gular good Lord, the L. Bourghleigh L. high Thresorer of £ugland. • Prothonotarles o£Bce in the Common I'leai. OllIGINAL LETTERS. 171 LETTER CCXL. The Lords of the CouncU to the Lords Lieutenants of Sussex y to inquire what sons or kinsmen of Gen- tlemen in that County were beyond the Seas obtain- ing Education. [MS. HARL. 703. foL 73.] To our verie good Lords the Lord Admirall and the Lord Buckhurst, the Lieutenants of the County of Sussex, and in theire absence to the Deputie Lieutenants of that County. After our verie hartie commendacions, the Queenes Majestic finding noe small inconvenience to growe unto the Reahne by sending out of the same the Children of many Gentlemen under coulour of learning the Languages, wherby they are for the most parte bredd and brought uppe in the Popish religion and corrupt- nes of manners, to the manifest prejudice of the State heere; which her Majesty, desirous to reforme as a disorder of no small importance, hath geven order that Inquisition be made throughout the Realme what sonns of Gentlemen are at this present beyonde the Seas con- veyed over at any tyme within seaven yeares last passed, and by what lycence tliey are gone. And for .M 172 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 173 ! such as are departed out of the llealme, if they be sonnes of anye Recusants or of such as doe conformc themselves in shewe oneh'e to avoide the danger and penahies of the Lawes, it is not to be doubted but that the intention of their parents hath bene to have them brought upp and instructed in Poperie : and of those, many doe become Seminarie Priests, Jhesuits, and unsounde subjects, and sent hither to pervert such as are dutiefull and well inclyned, and to practice thereby to disturbe the quiett and happie govemement of her Majestic. Wee therefore for the better execution of her Majesties direccion in this behalf, have made spe- ciall choice of you as of persons in our opinions meete for your loyallties and affection to her Majestic and the good of the Contrye, to be ymploied in this service, and doe hereby require and auctorize you and every of you, joyntlie and severallie, by all good meanes to enquire and examine what Gentlemen within that Countye have at this present any sonnes, kinsemen, or other persons, whose education hath bene committed to their chardge, or whome they doe relieve or any way mayntaine out of the Realme, being sent over under colour to learn Languages or for any other respectes, not being notoriouslie imployed in her Majesties mar- tiall services, or trade of merchandize, as apprentices or factors to knowne Marchaunts, and to sende us a cathologue of the names as well of the fathers and parents or of theire tutors and patrons, as of the sonns and other parties so sent over or niayntayned, in what parts they are, and how long they have been absent. And of those fathers, parents, and other frends by whome any such have bene sent out of the Realme, yf any of them be founde to be Recusants, or have bene evill affected, and in your knowledge are but faynedlie refourmed, you shall cause bonds to be taken in good sommes of money to her Majesties' use for their per- sonall appearance before us by a certen day, by you to be prefixed ; and before the bonds so taken, you shall by auctoritie hereof enter and make search in theire bowses, for Jhesuits, Seminarie Priests, and other suspected persons, and apprehende and committe them to prison yf any suche shall be founde ; as allso to open and make search in their closetts, chests, desks, and coffers, (onelie for books, lettres, and wrytings that may anie way conceme matter against the State or the Religion here established) which you seaze and send hither unto us forthwith ; signifying the manner of your proceedings, and your oppinions of the men and the matters appearing by your search against them, that wee uppon their appearance may take order with them aswell for the revocation of their sonns and kinsmen as for any matter that by your endevours may be discovered against them. And if the residence of anie of theis shall happen to be farre distant from you, or any one of you, then may you by vertue of theis our Lettres make choice of such one or twoo I • m 174 ORIGINAL LETTERS. honest gentlemen, being Justices of the Peace and not partiallie affected lowarde them, inhabiting neare unto them, to whom you may give direction for the per- formance of the search, &c. And for your particular Warrant therein you may sende unto them a coppie of this our Lettre under your hand (which shalbe unto them as sufficient as the originall unto you). Herein wee require you to use your best and uttermost endevours, and with as much convenient dilligence as you may, to retoume us your orderlie Certificat, an- swering the several! poynts of theis our Lettres and Direccions. Soe fare you well. From Hampton Court the last of December ] 593. We leave to your LL. to appoint your Deputie Lieutenaunts and such of the Justices of the Peace for th'exe- eucion of this service within your charge as you shall thinck to be fitte. Your very loving ffrends JO. PUCKERING C. S. W. BURGHLEY. ESSEX. C. HOWARD. W, COBHAM. T. BUCKHURST. EG. CECYLL. JO. FORTESCUE. jf ORIGINAL LETTERS. 175 LETTER CCXLI. Sir Henry Cocke to Lord Btirghley, from Hertfotd- shire; upon the ntode of furnishing the Trained Bands of that Cminty with Arms. [hs. laksd. 76, art. 37. Oriff.] Right honorable, and my verye good L. havinge of late fullye performed our generall musters of the Sheare and therwith allsoe taken a perfect vyewe of all the Trayned Bandes, we founde manye defectes in them, bothe of men, armour & other furniture. The men we have carefully supplied, soe that the bandes are nowe verye well furnished. But for the supplye of the armour and other furniture, (which are manye) in respect that we have sente forthe dy vers bandes into forren services furnished oute of the Trayned Bandes, we finde that the charge therof wilbe verye great unto our Countrye, which in truthe my good Lorde is but poore. Enteringe therfore into consideration howe therin the same might eny wale be eased beinge daylie charged with many other necessary payments, I founde this (in my poore opinion) to be a verye good meanes ; that wheras moste of our Justices of peace through- oute the whole Sheare (and soe I thinke ells wher) h :ii 176 OllIGINAL LETTERS. have not used to shewe eiiyc armour at the generall musters, but (in respect of their places) Iiave hetlierto forborne the same (which in the wiiole Sheare dothe amounte unto a verje great number). Under youre Honors favoure it were verye fitt and necessarye that for soe muche (at the leaste) as everye of them ought of right to flnde (accordinge to their easye taxations in the Subsydye) they shoulde bothe make shewe of them and imploye them allsoe amongst their neighbourcs in thos her Majesties necessarye servyces, which will nowe, & hereafter allsoe, spare the Countrey a great deale of money in thes kinde of provisions ; and for the rest of their armour and furniture above thes proportions, they may at their pleasures keepe them pryvatlye to themselves, wherof in that daungerous time of 88 I sawe noe great use : for many men kept their armour & furniture close shutt uppe in their Armories with- oute enye offer of imployment of them. This errour hathe growne, uppon this weake conceipt, that if men shoulde once dely ver in writinge what nomber of horses armours & other suche furniture they have in a red- dines to serve her Majestic it shoulde styll remayne as a recorde ever after to charge them with the find- inge of them. This straunge conceipt & fancye, noe doubte of it, dothe keepe secreat & concealethe the knowledge of a verye great strengthe bothe of horse & armour within the Realme, which, beinge not in tyme made knowne, canne never be orderlyo imployed, nor OniGINAL LETTERS. 177 to eny good purpose used. And wheras (my good L.) by the Statute many men are (amongst other armours) bounde to finde Allmayne ry vettes, which beinge verye olde and by their yll shape growne unserviceable, under your honors favoure, it weare very good (in my poore opmion) that they were (by persuasion) converted into Corslettes which wylbe a good meanes to increa^ that kmde of armour. Great nombers allsoe of Bowes & Bylles are required by the Statute, whereof the Bowes for wante of use are likewise unserviceable. Therefore manye of them beinge converted into Muskettes (which many have offered) wyll add a great strengthe unto our Countrey. These thinges I doe humblye referre unto your honors good consideration, who in youre wisdome cane beste judge & discearne what course is fittest to be taken in them. And soe restinge allwaies reddye at your commaundment, with the remem- braunce of my humble duetye, I doo comytt youre good L. to Godes mercyfull protection. From Brox borne, the xviijth of June 1594 Your honors most assured m eny service H. COCKE. To the right honorable my verye gooee a good parte of justice to exa- myne and leame what persons in the country doe haunt innes, typling howses, and highe wayes, ryding gallantlye, ly vinge in apparell and other expences forr above their knowne lawfull meanes of ly vinge and abilitye, of which sorte Manweringe, Curtail, and Essex were knowne to bee three. *^ 2. In October, at b^ynninge of last Mychaelmas tcrmc, iij or iiij<>' • MS. Reg. 16 E. xxxvi. I ORIGINAL LETTEBS. 183 DarJnf n K '" *' '••'* *»)"» »' GadeshUl on the west ^rte of Rochester, and at Chatham downc on the east pane of Rocte wearing. vSelvTi'T''? ^""'^ '""^ °""= "^ •^"" »»'»«5™« .hcvea did r^l "^ ^ ! "^ ''r ""'"" *"' •» *' P-^^"""' """bed the Xlrnl "ft rT *" »"'"' *" 'h"' should bee no hue and 7bh^^l t • '"*' '^'° '"*' By™ » "»«he woorde for the pLZ "p.^'the h h"" " r''" °*" "' *'" *-« companye deCS JnTpU'" '^''' ""'' »" ■"- «>-' ""veTthat waye with:it ^1 trl*i ^'*" *!.""'• "^ *" My*"'™*' terme, uj or iiij gentlemen from London rydinge home towarde, Canterburye, at the w« enHf did knowe thirCn,^r,l ^ . ! "^ '*"'"= °'" o^*' »''«^ ""«■> rydmge toward, GadeshiU againe; and after they had passed Ch«^ m Chatham streete at a Smythes forfge, they didL the r^of^e sTft ryden, .»ymg .bout shoing of their horsses, and then the Lwe me^ doubted to be sett uppon at Ch.tham downe, but their com^! be" " Ae g^ter they pa«ed without troble to Sittingbome that nygtl'^S they harde of robberyes daylye done at ChathL downe and G^^S^ r ^ ""l^""^ ''*' " "' 'i »*«' - I""y« companions ^rt^ horssed. moche haunted the inne. and typlinge howses M RThl S^ tmgbome, «,d R«:hester, withe liberaU expTces. ^^ heape, and whiles tl.e partye was busye in telling the hcape, this CurtaU mil ' I 184 OaiGIKAL LETTERS. being in companye, toke awaye that Testerne, and being in talkc with one of his acquaintance, who sayde he mervelled to see Curtail in so good estate for apparell and horsse and other mayntenancc. Curtail sayde that he spent C li. by yeare ; the other asking him howe he came by so muche lyvinge. Curtail awnswered that he came by the reste as he came by that straye Testerne. " 6. And Curtail lyving with prodigall expences, being asked whome he did serve, awnswered that he dyd serve no man but lyved of himselfe, but nowe and then when yt pleased hun he had entertaynment at the howse of his good captaine Sir Edward Hobby ; and in the course of that winter nere Chatham downe within a myle or ij of Sir Edward Hobbyes howse, weare manye Robberyes done uppon one Gason, one Chapman, and Manser, and many others, but no discoverye of the malefactors. '* 7. Howbeyt one Shawe of Rochester nere Chatham downe, rydinge in the waye, was sett uppon by foote theves who did fell him from hi* horsse and by other trewe mens company cominge he escaped robbinge, which Shawe uppon his cominge to Rochester beinge examyned by a Justice of peace, sayde that for the hurte to him done he would be re- venged uppon this Curtail and one other, Parker, Sir Edward Hobbyes cater, whome he did knowe to bee ij of them that sett uppon him. " 8. Afterwards at Lent Assizes, one Manwaringe, a notoriouse theife and a famylier of Curtail, was arraigned for a fellonye, and notwithstand- inge plaine evidence againste him, was acquitted by a badd Jurye which weare by the Justices of Assize bound over to awnsweare for their misde- meanor, and Curtail was present at the same Assizes and thought that he did use meanes for helpinge of his fi^ind Manwaringe. And notwith- standing that acquittall of Manwaringe, the same Manwaringe was for a burglarye done in Canterburye and other matter of felonye (besydcs that whereof he was acquitted) repryed to the jayle by the Justices of Assize without bayle, to receive his furder tryall for the burglarye and felonye done at Canterburye, when I should come to Canterburye after the end of my Circuit. *' 0. But notwithstandinge suche reprye by the Justices of Assize and Gaiole deliverye, before my cominge home from Circuit, Sir Edward Hobbye came to Canterburye and there procured some one or ij other Justices of the peace unlearned in the lawe to bayle Manwaringe, and so a notoriouse theife ys escaped from his deserved punishment, a manifesto cotttempte againste Justice for Justices of peace to bayle a prysoner (re- pryed without bayle by Justices of Assize and gaiole deliverye) and be- cause a Justice of peace who had travelled in the examynacion of Man- warings offence and declaringe to Sir Edward Hobbye the repry of the Justices of Assize and Gaiole deliverye would not joyne in bayle of Man. waringe, therfore with reprochfull spcachcs the sayde Sir Edward Hobbye ORIGINAL LETTERS. 185 ^rd^rt^f """ ^''^" *^' "^^ •^"^^^- ^^'^ Manwaring and the sayu OurtaU weare great famyUyars. "10. Afterwards the Customer of Sandwiche with his man, rydinge in the hye waye betwene Chatham and Syttingbome, this CurtaU came by on horsebacke swyftelye runinge and crying aloude haghe, haghe, aftcT a frenche manner in suche wise as the Customer and hisla^ b^me knoT! . TT ^^ '*"'" ^"' ^"^^^ ^""^"^"^ * ^*™yli»' of CurtaUs and knowne to the Customer, told the Customer he should not neade to feare, Z^TZ^ r f "^."u'^' '""^ "^ ^"^ ^ «^°^« ^y * horseback! ^mge hagh, hagh, and he told him yt was Curtail, who was commonly caUed Justice Greybearde, but sayd that the Customer should have na nurte, and so the Customer passed to Syttingbome. .^. " ^uu ^^^ ^ '^^ aforesayde circumstances declared to me, I finding ^ robberyes to be suche and so manye as the Contrye was grevyd and grea ly annoyed, and against the malefactors suspected no Justice of peace durste proceade, and finding that Manwarmg a notoriouse theife was con. temptuosly sett at libertye by Sir Edward Hobbye, and being at iibertye was like to doe muche mischeife, and that tliis CurtaU and Manwaring kepte themselves aboute Sir Edward Hobbyes howse in the Isle of Shep- pey where no constable or any like officer from the partes about Canter, burye durste there entermedle, and finding that the over nomber of typ. ling howses did muche harbor and encrease malefactors, for some reforma- cion of those ij myscheiffes thought good with the advise of some other of the Justices of peace learned in the lawe, to hold a speciaU Sessions for inquirye and reformacion of those ij matters, at which Sessions uppon dewe sommons weare eight or ix Justices of peace, and I gevmg a breife chardgc gave one note for reformacion of those inordynate robberyes that persons by commen fame suspected to lyve hawnting innes, and riding m the hye wayes from place to place, with appareU and expences farr ex! ceadmg their known lyvings and abilyties weare moste lyke to be the malefactors, of which sorte I declared what circumstances to me had bene confes*^ touching CurtaU and Manwaringe, and shewed a puree with a Home Whistle for a caU amonge theves dispersed in a woode, by myselfe taken uppon one Hachfeild after a robbery at GadeshUl, att beginninge of Mychaelmas terme. And I did give an other noate for suppressing of tmnecessarye typling howses withe the names of them also, wherupport the Jurye, more of their owne knowledge lying in the Contrye aU the wynter, then of my knowledge lymg in London, did endyte CurtaU and Alanwarmge and presented dyverse of the typling howses, and no man of myne was any of the Jurye, after which specyaU Sessions an other robbciye of one HaU in the Queenes highe waye was done at EUiam tayre by iiijor. or v. horsemen theves, and by myne examinacion and «eafche I found John Essex, a lyke myspender of his thrifte and lyving If \ ' 186 OBIGINAL LETTERS. as Curtail ys, to bee one of that companye, and theruppon I rode to Maydstone Quarter Sessions, and there, uppon my chardge and notes shewed, the sayde Essex was also indited, and so by my meancs the saide iiij"' malefactors be indyted viz. Hachfeild, Manwaiing, CurtaU, and Essex, iij of them beinge yet at lardge and cannot be apprehended ; howebeyt this my begininge of proceadinge against them hathe skattered the nestes and companyes so that robberyes hathe not usually bene done since as weare before, to the good quiett and comforte of the Contrye, which was the cause I did only seeke without malice to any person as God shall be my Judge, and for the mystakinge of the daye and tyme of tlie robberye layde in the endytment or super horam ignotam that ys in lawe not materyall, so as uppon evidence at the araignment the facte maye be proved to be done uppon any man at an other daye. And to aggravate any evydence at the arraignment at the Assizes, I will not yf Man waring and Curtail his familyar will appeare at the Assizes, and yf Curtail will declare truly the names of those iiij"'. or v^ of his swifte rydinge com- panyons who did overtake- Mr. Fyneux, Mr. Smythe, Mr. Pryse, and Mr. Hadds, att Gaddeshill after the end of laste Mychaelmas teniie, wherbye the hawnting robberyes in the hye waycs maye ceasse and not be frequent as they have bene." Another Memorandum in the Lansdowne Collection num. 79. shows the state of several Counties as to robberies in 1595. It is as follows : All these verie notorious Thccvcs, and have above xxv"«^. more of their companic, all notable thceves. " At lardge. Stephen Hales taken. Thomas Burley taken. John Jackeson taken. John Moore taken. Thomas Dudson taken. Thomas Dance. " There have bene comitted by theisc and there complices within one smale precincte onelie of Gloucestershire, called the Scaven Hundreds, above thirtie robberies within one year and a half: and in some other places of that shire above twentie more in that time. ^^ All now at large, Nicholas Dobbinge ^ and latelie in warde and bailed or have broken prison. alias Bryges, John Baker Edward Gylsforde Robert Rimer William Povey AU these alsoe, notable Theeves : and have above fortie that are of this so- . cietie, and many of them doe many times partake the one with the other of many of tlie former corn- Richard Bande panie in execution of the beforementioned robberies. " Burley and eighteen more of the companic, this last yeere, robbed in Northamptonshire, at the faire of Northampton, and from thence at ORIGINAL LETTERS. 187 of rlrt-r"^ ! "fT Of LudIo»c, md tooke from them to the vakwc t,en«P r.K" 1 *^'' "'* *'"''«"^ ■"»'« ■" hi, companic, tett upon •oe prevented .. Aey tooke, that is a, yet knownc, not pasrinfc^ x". but the m«he wa, for above a thowsande powndes which the clothiers had. »„-! „.^ , ™ ^° "^ ™™ '""'J' "'''^"« done in Warwickshire, and other places Aereaboute, by some of the persons before named and U«|r comphc^smce Michaelmas laste. And of late there was a rob- bme committed upon Mr. Spencer in his owne house, at which there were about fowre and twentie discovered to be ««,r„ some with bowes •nd arrowes, and some with gunnes. .J. r''rT,P"l7 ""^ "" """* "'»'"* ^""0 " T^i hiU in Surrey •boute AUhallonUde laste. """"s;. JaJ^^ "Tk"'' "''''"^ '' '" ^'^ » «"=•« ««°Panies as afore ^d rnhh^.h'™' ^ ■* "^"''^ '^ «""*'^«' d~ d«" termined with more expedition for the benefit of poor clients. " His own household he governed with great moderation ; his ordinary expencet being without excess, but not without decency. He was much delighted with building, which himself would term his Vanity, wherein he spent large sums of ORIGINAL LETTERS. 191 (( But now leaving the further prosecution of tliis matter (as fit to be re^rvetl for another time) I wiU address myself to my former purpose, and proceed with the particular description of the Queen's disposition and natural gift, of mind and body, wherein she either matched or ex- ceeded aU the Princes of her time ; as being of a great spirit yet tempered with moderation, in adversity never dejected, in prosperity rather joyful than proud: affable to her subjects, but always with due regard of the greatness of her esUte, by reason whereof she was both loved and feared. " In her later time, when she shewed herself in public, she was always magnificent in Apparel ; supposing haply thereby that the eyes of her people (being dazzled by the glittering aspect of those her outward orna- ments) would not so easUy discern the marks of age and decay of natural beauty ; and she came abroad the more seldom, to make her presence the more grateful and applauded by the multitude, to whom things rarely seen are in manner as new. " She suffered not, at any time, any suitor to depart discontented from her, and though oft times he obtained not that he desired, yet he held himself satisfied with her manner of speech, which gave hope of success in a second attempt And it was noted in her that she seldom or never denied any suite that was moved unto her, how unfit soever to be granted, but the suitor received the answer of denial from some other. " In granting Offices she used many delays, but, after long suite, she gave them voluntarily. The one perhaps she did, for that she loved to be sued unto and to be gratified with rewards ; and the other that she might not seem to yield by importunity, and so loose the thanks that a good turn freely bestowed deserveth. " She was accounted in her latter time to be very near and over-sparing of expence ; and yet, if the rewards which she gave of meer motion and grace had been bestowed of merit with due respect, they had doubtless purchased her the name of a very liberal Prince. Howbeit (notwith. money, as appeareth by his Houses at Burghley and Theobalds; a matter wherein such as are therewith delighted can hardly retain a measure of expence; although by reason of his conUnual residence at Couit he had very small use of them. •• Of the public Treasure he was for the most part sparing, as best knowing the occasions of public expence. Of his own he was no ill husband ; and indeed in his later times as some have thought too much inclined to parsimony; an humour which commonly possesseth men abounding iu wealth, and is in a manner insena- rably annexed to old age. " Offenders against the State he punished with severity, yet ofl times using lenity If the case required it. OflRences against himself he was more ready to remit than punish, being so far from desire of revenge as he would not seem strange to receive into Ills favor even such as had openly wronged him by speech or action, and now and then to reward them, either for that he thought thereby to give them assurance of his affection, and to make them more firm, or else that he held it well beseeming a noble nature to forbear revenge when it hath most power to execute it." 192 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 193 ^/ standing the subsidies levied in many Parliaments and the diverse sums of money lent her by her subjects,) she was enforced to sell some of her owne Lands and Jewels to support the charge of the Irish war. " Certain it is that some persons attending near about her would now and then abuse her favour, and make sale of it, by taking bribes for such suites as she bestowed freely ; likewise purveyors and other officers of her household, under pretence of her service, would ofttimes, for their own, vex and burthen with many impositions the poorer sort of the in- habitants near the usual places of her residence : and although it be ac- counted in a manner as great a fault for a Prince to be ill himself, as to have ill officers about him, yet, the consideration of her sex (she being a woman and wanting convenient means to imderstand the grievances of her people but by report of others) may seem to carry some colour of excuse. " She was very rich in Jewells, which had been given her by her sub- jects ; for in times of Progress there was no person that entertained her in his house, but (besides his extraordinary charge in feasting her and her train) he bestowed a Jewel upon her; a custom in former times began by some of her special favourites that (having in great measure tasted of her bounty) did give her only of her own ; though, otherwise, that kind of giving was not so pleasing to gentlemen of meaner quality. " During the long continuance of her Government many secret Trea- sons were practised against her life, both by strangers and also by some of her own unnatural subjects ; but God that had ordained her to die (as she had lived) in peace, would not suffer them to prevail in theur bad intentions ; and Doctor Parry that had vowed to kill her (being alone with her in the garden at Richmond and then resolved to act that Tragedy) was so daunted with the majesty of her presence (in which he then saw the image of her grandfather King Henry the Seventh, as him- self confessed,) that his heart would not suffer his hand to execute that which he had resolved. And the self same day that the late Earl of Essex, being then in disgrace, entered the City with diverse noblemen and gentlemen of quality in a confused troop, when report was made unto her of the manner thereof, she (being then at dinner) seemed nothing moved therewith, but onely said that ' He that had placed her in that seat would preserve her in it,' and so she continued at her dinner, not shewing any sign of fear or distraction of mind ; nor omitting any thing that day that she had been accustomed to do at other times: an argu< ment of a religious resolution and great constancy in a woman (as I think) but rarely to be found in men of more then ordinary spirit. '* Touching those commendable qualities whereto partly by nature and partly by education and industry she had attained, there were few men, that (when time and occasion served) could make better use or more show of them than herself. The Latin, French, and Italian she could speak very elegantly, and she was able in aU those languages to answer embassadors on the sudden. Her manner of writing was some- what obscure and the stile not vulgar, as being either learned by imita- tion of some author whom she delighted to read, or else affected for dif- ference sake, that she might not write in such phrases as were commonly used. Of the Greek tongue also she was not altogether ignorant. She took pleasure in reading of the best and wisest Histories, and some part of Tacitu8*8 Annals she herself turned into English for her private exercise. She also translated Boethius de Consolatione Phaosophiae, and a Treatise of Plutarch dc Curiositate, with divers others. " For her private pleasures she used them moderately and warily, without touch to her reputation, or offence to her people. She was in her diet very temperate, as eating but of few kinds of meat and those not compounded : the wine she drank was mingled with water, con- taining three parts more in quantity than the wine itself. Precise howers of refection she observed not, as never eating but when her appetite re- quired it. « In mattere of recreation, as singing, dancing, and playing upon in- struments, she was not ignorant nor excellent : a measure which in things indifferent best beseems a Prince. ** She was of nature somewhat hasty, but quickly appeased: ready there to shew most kindnes, where a litde before she had been most sharp in reproving. Her greatest grief of mind and body she either patienUy endured, or politicly dissembled. I have heard it credibly reported, that, not long before her death, she was divers times troubled with the gout in her fingers, whereof she would never complain; as seeming better pleased to be thought insensible of the pain, than to ac- knowledge the disease. And she would often shew herself abroad at public spectacles (even against her own likeing) to no other end but that the people might the better perceive her ability of body and good dis- position, which otherwise in respect of her years they might perhaps have doubted ; so jealous was she to have her natural defects discovered, for diminishing her reputation. " As for flatterers it is certain that she had many too near her, and was well contented to have them." " After" the Earl of Essex " his death," says this writer, '^ the Queen imagmed that the peoples affection towards her waxed more cold than had been accustomed, and from that time forward entering into a more «enou» consideration of her years and natural infirmities, she fell at length into a sicknen, proceeding first from some distemper of body, which concurring with the indisposition of her mind brought her to her end. It 18 credibly reported that not long before her death she had a great VOL. III. SEK. 2. ^ i m ill 194 ORIGINAL LETTERS. \ apprehension of her own age and declination by seeing her face (then lean •Dd fuU of wrinkles) truly represented to her in a glass, which she a good while very earnestly beheld : perceiving thereby how often she had been abused by flatterers (whom she held in too great cstimatioD) that had in. fonned her the contrary. ••••••♦ " But now to return, where I left, namely with the death of the Queen, for that divers rumours have been spread concerning the manner of it, I think it not amiss to note some particular circumstances which 1 received by information of such persons as had good means to understand the truth of things, and no reason at all to misreport them. *' About three weeks before her death (her sleep decaying) she began to faU into a melancholy passion ; and being persuaded to use the help of physic, she utterly refused it ; eidier for that she thought her body being not thereto accustomed it would not do her good, or else that (having satiety of the world) she desired rather to die than Uve. For she would divers times say in the time of her sickness 'I am not sick ; I feel no pain ; and yet I pine away.' She was wholly addicted to sUence and solitariness, which gave occasion of suspicion that she was aflBicted in mind : but being moved by some of her Council to impart such griefs as they doubted might trouble her, she answered that she ' knew nothing in the world worthy to trouble her :* and it is a constant opinion of such as were most inward with her, that she was then free from any such impression, as it is not altogether unlikely, considering that melancholy diseases (as physicians tell us) proceed not always from the indisposition of the mind, but sometimes from the distcmpcraturc of humor in the body, causing a kind of numbness and stupidity of the senses. The Bishops (who then attended at the Court) seeing that she would not hearken to advice for the recovery of her bodily health, desired her to provide for her spiritual safety, and to recommend her' soul to God, whereto she mildly answered ' That I have done long ago.' She sate up six days together without any sleep, and yet was she not be- reaved of understanding, but had tlie use thereof (even after her speech failed) as appeared by divers motions of her eyes and hands lifted up, when she was required by the Bishops to give testimony of the hope and comfort she had in God. It is reported, that when she was demande that he had a drunkard for a wet-nurse, to whose vitiated milk he was indebted for so considerable injury that, although weaned within twelve months, he could not walk till his sixth year : and it is remarkable that in another of Sir Theodore's Manuscripts, his " Ephemerides" or daily Journal of attend, ance upon other Patients, he states a similar fact of Anne of Denmark James's Queen, who was carried about in the same manner till her ninth year. « Sir Theodore says. His Majesty^s legs were slender, scarcely (;trong enough to carry his body ; that his jaws were narrow and rendered swal. lowing difficult, a defect which he inherited both from his mother, and from King James the Fifth ; <* that his head was strong, and never ■ MS. Sloane. Brit. Miis. 1679. >> " Jacobus I. Magnte Britan. Rex, natu« est Edimburgi anno 1566. 19 Junii, bora matiitina xi|. " Nutrlcem unam habuit, ebriosam; ablactatus intra annum." — " Rex ad textum usque tetatis annum non poterat incedere. ted gestabatur, adeo debilis fuit a matt lactis temulentse Nutricis guctu." • MS. Sloane, 306S. fol. 189 b. Rkoina. " Nata in regione frigidLiDima et aquilo- nari ; qu8E>rendum an vixerit in Hjrpocaustis? Ad nonum usque annum non potuit incedere. sed brachiis gestata, hinc inde circumportata fuit." * *' Tibic a natura graciles minusque firms ad molem corporis sustinendam."— " Fauces angustac difRcultatem faciunt in deglutiendo, quod vitium Kxrellent. Majet' tati haneditariuin €»t a matrx ct avo jACOfiO Qi'iNTO, Scotia Hegibut" MS. Sloane, ut supr. 10T9. affected by the sea, by drinking wine, or riding in a chariot ; * that in moist weather and in winter he had usually a cough ; that his skin was soft and delicate, but irritable, and that when he vomited, it was with so great an cfTort, that his face would be sprinkled with red spots for a day or two ; ^ that he never eat bread, always fed on roast meat, and seldom or never eat of boiled, unless it was beef; ^ that he was very clumsy in his riding and hunting, and frequently met with accidents ; ** that he slept ill, waked often in the night, and called his chamberlains, nor could sleep be again readily induced unless some one read to him ; ^ that he was pas- sionate, but that his warmth quickly subsided ; that he had naturally a good appetite and a moderately fair digestion ; that he was very often thirsty, drank frequently, and mixed his liquors, being very promiscuous in his use of wines. ' Till 1613 he had never taken medicine ; and, like his predecessor, was always averse to it. « ^ • " Cerebrum habet flrmissimum, quod a marl, X vini potu> a vectione in rheda nunquam fuit perturbatum." •» " Cutis tenuis et delicata admodum, qua? prurit facillime." " Vomit cum magno conatu. ita ut post vomltum tota facies maculis rubris per diem unum et alterum variegata appareat." * " In cibis non admodum ponat, nisi quod nihil comedit paiiis. Assatis camibus fere vescitur, elixatis aut raro, aut nunquam. nisi bubula. Dentibus carens (qui ex- cidere a catarrho) non masticat cibos sed deglutiL" Sir Theodore adds. " Fructus wfttis; quavis hora diei et noctis edit, satis parce tamen quavis vice, sed sine ordine." Again. " Fructibus wpatot; plus aequo indulget E. M. unde aucta in corpore humi- ditas." «• " Julii 16. 1612. Contusio in pede sinistro ab occursu ligni sive allisione ad tig- num, dum angustiorem subiret portam equitare." " Rex KX Scotia venien* in Anp^iam, ex equo lapsus, freoit claviculam dkx- Tn.\M." This sentence forms a comment to one part of Sir Robert Cecil's Letter to Sir Thomas Parry, on the King's approach toward London, printed in the former Series, vol. iii. p. 72. " Alio tempore a casu passus est ; curatus fuit optime." There are other instances in Sir Theodore's Journal which are unnecessary to quote, James usually concealed his hurts that he might not be pressed to take Medicines. In 1615 he received considerable injury from a fall down stairs at Lydiard Tregoze. Speaking of James in his fifty-seventh year. Sir Theodore says, " Violentissimus ollm Venationis exercitiis deditus Rex. nunc est quietior, et plusquam par esset jao& aut sedet; sed id ab imbecillitate tibiarum arthriticarum." • " Male naturaliter dormit, et inquiete: sspissime expergiscitur noctu, vocatque cubicularios, neque nisi legente Anagnoste obrepit somnus ut plurimum." ' " In PoTU peccat quoad qualitatem, quantUatem,frequentiam, temptu, ordinem. Promiwnie bibit cbrkvisiam, ajlam, vinum Hispanicum, Gallicitm dulck. Album (qui ipsi ordinarius potus est) ut plurimum crassum et turbidum. Aliquando, praserUm fluente alvo, Alicanticlm tinctum. Attamen non curat sit vinum frenetotum, dummodo dvlck. Summa ipsi cum aqua et omnibus aquaUbiu antipa- theia." In a side note. Sir Theodore adds to the list " Vinum Muscatkllinum tur- bidum, unde diarrha-a." In another place he says. •• Nisi victus rationem mutet, prsesertim in Vino dulci et turbido atque in fructuum ingurgitatione, nihil boni spe* randum est." « " A versus ab omnibus medicament is Rex." Sir Theodore dwells particularly upon hi» grief tor the deaths of Prin« Henry, and of his Queen. The latter was followed by a severe illness at Royston. Toward the close of life. His Majesty suffered under a complication wf disorders ; stone, gout, and graveL ■ Many of the particulars here mentioned, are perhaps beneath the sober dignity of History to relate : *> but it is presumed that their appearance may be pardoned in a Work which claims no other merit than that of preserving a faithful portrait of manners, persons, and events, firom con- temporary sources. Fuller describes King James's manner of speaking. " His Scotch tone,** the historian says, '•^ he rather affected than declined : and though his speaking spoiled his speech in some English ears, yet the masculine worth of his set Orations commanded reverence if not admiration in all judicious hearers ; but in conmion speaking as in his hunting, he stood not on the clearest but nearest way. He would never go about to make any expressions/* > " Oct. 1. 162S. Po«t ingentem diarrhoeam E. M. incidit in doloreni nephhticutn sinistri Uteris, vomuit, magna ut mwis est ot)ro0-i7> Numerous others are not quoted, of which the following are specimen*: ** Diarrhoese per totam vitam obnoxius Vere et Autumno, potissimum autem circa finem August! vel initio Septembris, post esum fructuum. Aliquando cum fcbricula, sxpius sine febre. Praeludia hujus diarrhcne fer^ mocror animi, suspiha, suspicio omnium, csteraque melancholica symptomata." •* Sxpissime laboravit dolore Collco i flatu (qui nffectut etiam/iiit Matri familia- ri&). His ad vicesimum quartum usque sptatis annum gravior.dcinceps mitior, semper evasit. Causa: istius doloris cxdcm fuenuit semi>cr, jejunium, maror, frigus noc- . tumum. A contrariis levamen." " Multum mungit. Stemutat sa'pissime.- OBIGINAL LKTTEBS. SOI LETTER CCXLVI. Thonias Wilson^ to Sir Thomas Parry at Paris. The State of Englaiid immediately (iftcr Kin^ Jamciss Accession, [ms. cotton, calig. e. X* foL 359. Orig.^ • # # • • OuB English affayres goc on with a smooth pace and a sinilinge countenance, God grante them good continuance. Our virtuous Kinge makes our hopes to swell. His actions suitable to the tyme and his na- tural disposition. Sometymes he comes to Counsell, butt most tyme he spendes in Feelds and Parkes and Chases, chasinge away idlenes by violent exercise and early rysinge, wherein the Sone seldome prevents him. The people according to the honest English nature approve all their Prince''s actions and words, savinge that they desyre some more of that gracious affabilitye which ther good old Queen did afford them. He is att the present att Windsore havinge vewed all his howsese, and att that he purposeth to entertayne his Quene and Sone, who about fourteen dayes hence are ther expected. For matters de facto, domcsticall, I shall not wrytc ^-^ 202 OllIGINAL LETTEKS. ORIGINAL LETTEUS. 203 much till the Coronation and Parliament be past. Only, for gayning the love of the People ther ar many thinges in the meane while done, as takinge away of all Monopolies, and other matters reformed wher pri- vate gayne hath caused public grevance. » Our mer- chants which trade for Levant have on Sonday last given over ther patentc, and the Kinge hath released ther yearly pension of 4000/. per annum. # « * • # From Greenwich this 12^'» of June, 1603. Your Lordship'*s most devoted and affec- tionate in all service or command, THO. WILSON. • King James in his •• Proclamation inhibiting the use and execution of any •* Charter or Grant made by the late Queen Elizabeth, of any kinde of Monopolie*, •• &c- states " that the Queene our sister deceasetl, finding, some few yecrcs before her death, that some things hatl passed her hand at the importunity of her servants, whom she was willing to reward with little burden to her estate (otherwise by neces- sary occasions exhausted,) which though they had and might have foundation in princely prerogative, yet cither by too large extending thereof, or for the most part in respect that they were of such nature at could hardly be put in use without hin« derance to multitudes of people, or els committed to inferiour persons, who in the execution thereof did so exceedingly abuse the same as they became intoUerable, had pur{)06ed to revoke all Grants of that nature, and did begin with sonic, which were held most unjust, putting the rest to the examination of her Lawes to sUnd or fall m in the construction of Law they might consist or not." Ther* b an exceeding curious Licence preserved In the Cottoolan mantucript Galba C. ii. fol. 253. from which it appears that William Treasorcr, a maker of musical instruments, his heirs and assigns, had letters patents for eight years from King Philip and Queen Mary, datctl July the 11'*". in the first year of their reign, to provide and buy within the realm of England, in any place or places, one hundred thousand lasts of ashes, and four hundred thousand dozens of old worn shoes, and export the same to foreign jwrts. Queen Elizabeth on the 13»^ March, in the second year of her reign, confirmed the same for an a«lditional term of twelve years. Trca- sorer, as a consideration for the renewed patent, having devis«d and given to the Queen a new Instrument Musicall, sending forth the sound of Flutes and Rccordes; and likewise promised and took upon him, at his labour, costs, ami charges, to repair and amend before the feast of St. Michael next ensuing the great Organs in the Queen's chapel at Greenwich. LETTER CCXLVII. Sir Robert Cecil to Sir Ttwrtms Parry. An Omission in a Letter from James the First to Henry the Fourth of France, [ms. cotton, calio. e. X. fol. 40C. Ortg'.] •^* There is no date to this Letter, but from Monsr. de Rosny being at Dover at the time it passed toward its destination, it must have been written about the 14th or 15th of June 1003. Under the name of Rosny, it is possible that every reader may not recognize the person who was aftcrwanls Duke de Sully. His Memoirs arc full of etiquette upon his arrival at this time ; so that, knowing tliis, it will not appear very won- derful that the slovenly James was, for once in his life, punctilious upon a word. SIR, His Majesty by the hastines of his Dispatch mis- took in the description of his Lettre to the French King, and insteed of this stile A Mons", mon Frere etc. he hath written A mon bori Frere etc. The Newes of this errour comes from Mons^". Roseny^ from Dover, • This is the only Letter in these Volumes in which the name of Monsieur de Rosny will occur. He became Duke de Sully, February the 28th, 1606. A short digression, even if it docs not illustrate English History, will be pardoned here, as it relates one whose name has been long valued, and who shared in all the fortunes of Henry the Great. The reader probably remembers the very particular mention in Sully's Memoirs of a Letter which he received in loos from Pope Paul the Fifth, who was anxious to effect his conversion. Sully says, " I answered this obliging Letter with all the de- t enmf it deserved. Without saying any thing upon the change of religion, I con- tMrtad myself with praising the virtues and great qualities of his Holiness, assuring him of my obedience, my anxiety to serve him, and my ardent desire that I might have it in my power to Ix* useful to him. My whole Letter was filled with thanks for the sentiments he professed towards me, and wishes for his.completc prosi)crity ; and, without affecting my religion, I forgot nothing which could be due to the cha- ] 1 204 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 205 wher the Messenger was sent, so as he is by this time fair on his way. The King being also here with the Queen in a great deale of business, and the Letter being ractcr of a Sovprei|tn Prince, and in particular to that which a whole Church fjivcs to the Pope; I made no scruple to use the expression of kissing hU feet, which, no doubt, would have been dispieasin^; to my brethren the protcstants." The Cardinal Du Perron in his Ambassades, fol. edit. 1629, p. 443. has recwded the manner in which Pope Paul the Fifth received this Letter. He made the Cardinal read it over to him three times successively, " me disant i tout propos que Monsieur de Rosny I'obligeolt trop, qu'il lui faisoit trop d'honneur, qu'il ne se pouvoit voire une lettre mieux faitte, n'y pour les conceptions, n'y pour lea paroles, n'y pour la f^ravitd et diRnit6 de la manierc d'ccrlre: et que s'il n'y eust point eu I'interest qu'il avoit, pour ses loUanges qui y estoient mesl^es, il eust dit absolument, que c'cctoit unc det phis belles lettres, qu'il eust Jamais leuts." The original of Sully's Letter is at this moment preserved in the British Museum ; it was purchased in 1816, of the ( hevalier Binda, the private Secretary to Joachim King of Naples, in a Collection of Papers chiefly relating to the War of the League. It has at least the merit of prtsentiug the reader with a Just specimen of what Sully considered as his best style. The Memoirs, It will be recollected, are not now pre- sented to us in the form and language in which they were left by Sully, the form having been digesteil and methodised, and the language polished and corrcctftl. The dotted parts of Sully's Letter, here given, have been destroyed in the original by mildew. " Trc« sainct Pere, •• Les benedictions et graces hiftnies, tant spirituelles que tcmporelle«,dont oe f^nnd Dieu ctemel a si literalement et en toute plenitude favorise vostre Sainctet^, et les signales tesmoignages de patemelle affection dont elle a voulu continuellement gra- tjfier mon Roy et ma patrie, nvoient desja aquis telle puissance sur mcs voluntcs, et si bien disjiose mon ceeur a luy deineurer tres humble et tres fidelle serviteur que je n'estimois pas pouvoir rien adjoustcr a la passion extreme que j'avoU d'estre honorc de ses commandemens, ausquels j'ay voue perjwtuelle obcissance; mais voiant a ctste heure par le brief dont il a pleu a vostre beatitude monorer tons mes dessains et mcs esperances sunnontees avec tel exes de bonte, piete, et courtoisie je ne veux cntreprendre dexpriraer par mes parolles Ic resentimeut que j'en ay dans mon ame ny avec quels liens une grace si }Mirticuliere ct specialle me tien attache a son fidelle service mais me oontenteray de les aitmirer comme des effets procedans [du] ciel ct d'une vertu qui na point sa pareille et sans la crainte que Jay cue do^tre accuse je • de me taire que de parlor confcssant par un silence plain dliumilite mes deffauts et vos meritcs infinis. l^esqucls me font cspcrcT que a linmitation de celuy qui vous a estc si liberal de set graces et lequel saiM acception de personncs se plaist et di-lccte aiix lounnges et offVandet quil rccoit de Mt plus infimcs creatures lors quelles procedent dun caur sans fcintise vostre piete ci clemence auroit agreable d'acce]»ter les veux de mon bicn humble service et que je dediane mes jours et ma vie iwur cstre emploies sous son obeissance qudque inutillc que je luy peusses estre protestant neantmoins que si mon malheur me prive du moien de proportionner mes services a mun debuoir et a ma devotion mcs desirs de parvenir a ceste felicite demeureront etemcls et que Je publieray en tous lleux vostre gloire et louange immortelle randant millc graces a vostre Saintcte des bclle» admonitions qu'il luy a pleu de me faireet la supliant en toute humilitede netrouver mauvais si estinunt ne pouvoir faire aucune action plus louable quen inmiLmt les voatres Jadressc mcs tres ardcnics ct continucllcs prieres a ce grand Dieu crcatcur de toutes cboscs afin quil luy pUise estant le pcrc des lumicrcs ass [istcr >] ct ilumincr all of his own hand, he is so loth to write all anew (becawse the backsyde lackes a woord) as his Majesty wold have you take notice to the Embassador privatly, and desire to have the Lettre, and you may easily amend that woord which will save all, and if the worst shold come, the King in liis other Lettre d'Estat hath observed the right forme, for this escape is only in that of liis owne hand. « * # * # LETTER CCXLVIIL Sir Robert Cecil to Sir Thomas Parry. The Treaty with Spain. A portion of a Letter. [ms. cottok. calio. e. X. fol. 15& Orig.'\ The Treaty with Spayne hath stayed untill the Spanish Embassadours arrivall, in whose howse one hath died of the plague, whereby his Audyence is differed ; but now he shall be receaved at Wynchester, de too sainct esprit vostre ze . . t beatitude et luy donncr de plus en plus entiere congnoissance dc sa verite et bonne volunU^ en laquellc consiste le salut et la felicite etemellede toutes creatures, liaisant en ceste devotion treshumblcment les pieds de vostre Saintete comme celuy sur qui elle a aquis toutes sortes de tres estroitcs obliga- tions, et qui desire conaervcr a Icsgal de sa propre vie la qualite de Votre trcshumble, tres obeisant. et tresfidcUe setviteur, MAXIMILIAN OS BXTHUNB R08KY. A Paris ce IT Novcmbre, IMS. Au tres sainct Pere kr Pa|x;." 206 ORIGINAL LETTERS. where the Kinges Court resolveth to resyde as long as the Infection followes us not, which hetherto it hath done, though noe further (I thanke God) then among some hangers-on upon the Court. To give you my judgment what particular thinges wilbe concluded in the Treaty is more then I can doe for any thinge which yet hath passed ; but when I observe the fashyon of thinges how they are carryed, I doe conclude suf- ficiently that a Peace we shall have without the com- pany of the States of the Lowe Countryes ; whose fall or standing is the only object of good or evell con- sequence of the same. The Count of Arembcrgc hath in mylde termes expostulated with the Kinge for suf- feringe leavyes at this tyme to be made for the Low Countryes: but he hath therein only receaved the ordinary answeare, and very truly. First that the King hath nether given Commission nor alloweth any pay to any. Next that he is a King of many people of active bodyes, to whom he cannot deny libertye to serve ether Princes or States not enemies.* And soe for this tyme I committ you to God's pro- tection. From the Court at Wynchester this 27^*'. of September, 1603. Your very lovinge freind RO. CECYLL. • The Letttr ia here burnt, and the remainder of the sentence gone. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 207 Since my Lettre bcgonn, the Spanish Embassador hath had audience at Wynchester publickly of the King and Queen. He hath congratulated with the King from his Master in pknitudme Amoris professing purpose to hold aetemal Peace and Friendship. The King receaved it with reciprocq generall kindness, but added, that notwithstanding former Peace and non personall Amity, many particulers were to be traictyd of in the public considerations. He confessed so much, and shortly expecteth commission, till which time Arenberg retoumeth to Bruxells, where he will atend it out of Spanc, and then come back within xx^y. dayes. This day the Spanish Embassador sent for private Audience which he shall have. The peace which was concluded between England and Spain on the accession of James to the English crown, has been so emphatically referred to by the Historians of both countries, that even the unessential and trifling circumstances which attended its ratification in London, are not without their share of interest. They are recorded in a Spanuh Pamphlet of the utmost scarcity, of which James's own copy is preserved in the library of the British Museum. Its title is, *■'■ Relacion de la Jornada del Exc*"**. ''*• Condcstable de Castilla a las pazes entre Hespana y Inglaterra, que se " concluyeron y juraron en Londres por el mes de Agosto A no 1604. En Anvcrs, en la emprenta Plantiniana 1604. 4'°." For the discovery of this curious Tract, as well as for the present Abstract of it, the Editor is indebted to his friend Charles Konio, Esq. The details entered into by the author, the diplomatical precision with which he adverts to the most trivial circumstances and occurrences on the Constable's progress, or to points of etiquette, with complimentary references to His Excellency, are characteristic of the times, but fre- quently bordering on the ludicrous. The Embassador plenipotentiary upon this occasion was the Duke de Frias, Constable of Castile, who had been preceded the year before by Count Villamediana to congratulate 206 ORIGINAL LKTTERS. ORIGINAL LF-TTERS. g09 James on his accession to the crown of England, and as the bearer of over- tures of peace. After the Count's return the Duke de Frias set out upon his embassy to continue the negotiation between the two crowns, accom- panied by a great retinue, among whom were, as the two principal com- missioners of peace, the same Count Villamediana, and senator Dr. Alexandre Rovida; on the latter of whom the laborious part of the mission appears chiefly to have devolved. After having made some stay at Paris, the Constable proceeded to Brussels, where the Spanish commissioners were joined by those of Archduke Albert and his consort, viz. Count Aremberg and the Coun- sellor of State Juan Richardote. All these went before the Plenipoten- tiary, who remained in Flanders on account of indisposition and in order to watch the progress of the negotiation. Count Villamediana and Se- nator Rovida had an audience on the 19th of 3Iay, in which the latter, in an elegant Latin speech, introduced himself to the King as the humble organ of the deputation. The King's answer was : " Gaudeo vchcmcntcr de adventn iuo, turn oh majimum quod tpcratur totius Christ ianifatit henefidum, turn propter personam tuam tarn claram. Placeat DcOy ut ncgotium ad quod venis, ad conimunetn utllUatem quamprimum per- Jlciatur." The first meeting of the Deputies took place on the 30'^ of May : those on the English side were, the Earl of Dorset, Ijord Treasurer, the Lord Admiral, Lord Densier (Devonshire) Viceroy of Ireland, the Earl of Northampton and liord Cecil. liord Northampton opened the meeting with a speech, which was followed by one from Rovida ; it is given at full length, and is no bad specimen of the Doctor's eloquence and latinity. This conference was succeeded by fifteen others till the end of August, when the business was suflficicntly advanced to induce the Plenipotentiary to come forward : he embarked at Gravellinen, to which port the King had ordered five of his best men of war (galeones) with a number of small craft to convey his excellency and suite to Dover. Being prevented by contrary winds and a very rough sea from making this port, they landed some miles above it, where Admiral Monson, who commanded the fleet, gave a sumptuous repast on board, of which the Constable, though but little inclined to it, courteously partook; but of the other cavaliers not one was sufficiently recovered to venture on performing the same act of politeness. In the mean while all the Spanish and several of the English commissioners, together with the master of the ceremonies. Sir Lewis Lukener, who had assembled at Dover to welcome the Embas- sador, on seeing the fleet proceed to another quarter, had in coaches and on horseback made the best of tlieir way to the spot where it was at anchor. At Dover the Embassador was received, under a discharge of cannon, by the Mayor and Corporation. Tuesday 17th. The illustrious caval- cade set out for London. The Duke, not quite recovered from the effects of the voyage, was carried in a litter. Near Canterbury they were met by Baron Otton (Lord Wotton), and Ser Rode (Sir John Roper), with upwards of five hundred cavahy (tropas de cavallos), accompanied by a great num- ber of ladies in coaches and mounted on palfreys, together with a host of gentlemen with their servants in livery coats bearing the devises of their masters. Wednesday the 18th. I^eft Canterbury for Setemburg (Sitting, bourn), where they found a prodigious concourse of people. Here they were also joined by the Earl of Northampton, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (govcmador de los quatro puertos). A great public dinner was given by the Constable. FHday the 20th. The whole party embarked in twenty-four covered barges (feluccas) and arrived in four hours in the " wide and delicious" river Thames, which was nearly covered with barges and boats fiUed with the curious, among whom, in a disguised (disfra9ada) barge, was the Queen wearing a mask, together with the Countess of Suffolk, the Lord High Admiral, and Lord Cecil. The Em- baisador and part of his suite landed at SomerseUhouse, the splendor of the apartments of which is much extolled, and his Excellency proceeded to his bed-room ; the bed of morado damask bordered with gold. The King was absent hunting, at the distance of seventy mUes from London. The Queen sent the Eari of Suffolk to welcome the Embassador. Saturday the 21st. Thomas Esquine (Erskine) captain of the King's guard, waited upon him, to apologize for His Majesty's absence, which it was expected would be prolonged for two or three days. Feasting continued throughout the palace the same as on the preceding day, except that the Constable, still fatigued by travelling, took his supper in bed. Sunday the 22d. The English commissioners waited upon the Embassador, with Lord Cecil at their head, who delivered a speech in elegant French ; the following Wednesday was fixed upon for the first grand meeting. His Excellency was so weU pleased, that, on Ukmg leave, he accompanied the com. missioners to the distance of one apartment farther than strict etiquette warranted. Monday the 23d was spent in receiving visits ; " Baron Otton" came at three o'clock " in the evening." Feasting as on the preceding day. The Constable, to fortify himself agamst the fatigues of the next day, retired early to bed, in which he partook of his supper. Tuesday the 24th. Visits on business from the Archduke's deputies, except Count Ahrenberg, who was laid up with a fit of the gout. At 4 o'clock the Lord Chamberlain dispatched a gentleman to kiss the Duke's hands, and to inform him that the King was approaching. His Majesty arrived at 6 o'clock with thirty poet horses. The audience put off till the morrow. Wednesday the 25th. After dinner the Embassador and deputies proceeded in three coaches belonging to the Kuig, the Queen, and the Prince, to the Audience, which took place at VOL. III. SER. 2. n 210 ORIGINAL LETTERS. two o*clock in an apartment where some dancing was going on (ilonde havla sarao) before the Queen, who was seated on a raised arm chair under a splendid canopy richly ornamented with rubles, emeralds, and hyacinths. As soon as the King was apprized of the Constable's arrival, he seated himself on the right hand of the Queen, the litUe prince Henry between them girt with a sword, forming altogether a very pleasing group. The King having embraced his Excellency, introduced him to the Queen, after which he took his seat next to his Majesty on a richly ornamented ta- bouret. After being welcomed and complimented by the King in french, the Embassador took an opportunity, among other topics, of speaking in praise of the noble diversion of hunting, especially when coupled with the love of letters, so rarely met with among crowned heads. To which the King promptly, though indeed rather sharply replied, that if Kings and common Men of letters were mustered, perchance but one might be found among the former deserving of that appellation, but he apprehended that was more than could be said of the ktter. Thursday the 2Cth. At ten o'clock in the morning, the first great meeting of the Deputies took place, and was adjourned at twelve for the purpose of sitting down to dinner ; the Constable in the chair. His ExceUency soon rose, and, with his hat off, drank to the Lord Treasurer the health of the King ; it went round with unbounded applause, as did that of " the Queen" likewise given by the embassador. The Lord High Admiral next drank unto the Embassador the health of the King of Spain, after which Lord CecU rose and stated that he had it in command from his royal Master to say, that His Majesty drank to one of the gentlemen present the health of the Constable, and that it should go round m the usual manner. After dinner the Deputies retired into the gallery, and the Embassador to take his siesta, for the space of half an hour, when business was resumed, and continued till four o'clock. After this his Excellency had a private audience of the King, to which he went in state accompanied by Lord Panbru (Pembroke) and other noblemen, in royal coaches. He subsequently viewed the Palace, and the Gardens, where the Prince of Wales amused hhnself with wielding a pike and with other martial exercises. His Excellency then returned to Somerset-house, and took his supper in bed ; the rest of the suite supped as usual. Friday the 27th. was the day appointed by the Queen to give an audience to the Embassador, but Her Majesty sent an excuse, being tormented by the tooth ach (gran dolor de muelas). The day was spent in making purchases at the Exchange (Pale o Bolsa que Uaman), and in receiving visiter^ among whom was Baron Quingloss (Ld. Bruce of Kudos) one of his Majesty's privy council. Saturday the 28th. the Queen informed the Consuble, through Sir Lewis Lukener, that she would see him in the evening after the meeting of the Commissioners. At four o'clock the Earl of Sussex made his appearance, to escort his ORIGINAL LETTERS. m Excellency and suite. They were ushered into the audience chamber, where the Queen, preeminent in beauty and el^ance, was seated under a splendid canopy, with the Prince standing by her sid/e, and upwards o£ twenty maids of honor, likewise beautiful in the extreme, drawn up in a line in front of the throne. Her Majesty rose from her seat, nor would resume it before the Duke had seated himself on a tabouret in front of her. She conversed with all the strangers in the most condescending and polite manner for upwards of an hour, and caused the Prince to exhibit his proficiency in dancing with three of the ladies. The Embassador afterwards kissed her Alajesty's hands, craving at the same time permis- sion to salute the ladies present ; a custom, the writer says, of which the non-observance on such occasions is deeply resented by the fair sex of this country ; and leave was accordingly given. Prince Henry having ex- pretaed a wish to see a Spanish horse, his Excellency immediately ordered one to be sent to him richly caparisoned, together with an embroidered doublet and sash, with which he was greatly delighted. Sunday the 29th. was the day appointed for the solemn ratification of the peace ( juramento della paz). A most imposing pageant was exhibited, by the procession of both the English and Spanish Commissioners and functionaries, in coaches and on horseback, with their attendants and servant?, all in the most goi^eous attire. The Embassador was received at the palace-gate by the Lord Admiral ; at the foot of the staircase by the Captain of the Guard ; and at the entrance of the presence-chamber by the Lord Cham- berlain and other great ofliccrs of state. The King, accompanied by the Prince, walked up to the Duke de Frias, and placing him on his right and the Count Villamediana on his left hand, the procession, by the sound of trumpets and kettle drums, moved towards the Chapel, where an inunense confiux of people was assembled. Two richly furnished pews were erected near each other, the one for tl»e King, the other (on the '* Gospel-side'* of the Chapel) for the Constable ; the Queen was seated in a tribune by herself. Various pieces of church music were performed, after which the King and the Duke proceeded from their respective pews to a table in front of them, with a casket placed upon it. Lord Cecil then took out of the casket the parchment containing the articles of peace (these may be seen in Rymer's Fcedera, tom. xvi. p. 585.) and after having proclaimed its contents, kissed the document and presented it to the King, who handed it over to the Embassador, and his Excellency to Dr. Rovida. The King then placing his hand upon the gospel of a bible translated by St Jerome and printed for Plantin (the publisher of the pamplJet before us) swore upon it, repeating word for word the articles read to him by Lord Cecil. His Majesty then took the hand of the Duke de Frias hi token of restored peace and amity, after which both returned to their places. The air was now rent by the general acclamation of v2 212 ORIGINAL LETTERS. " Peac^, Peace, Peace ; God save the King, God save the King." Thus, the reporter adds, the ceremony ended, without the aid and intervention of any ecclesiastical rites. The procession then left the Chapel in the same order in which it had entered, all making their obeisance to the Queen on passing her tribune. The King now retired to his apartment, and the Embassador with the rest of the noblemen and commissioners repaired to a room to rest themselves before the banquet commenced, which took place in the Audience Chamber. This apartment had been beautifully fitted up for the occasion ; it was fumbhed with a buffet raised by several steps, and covered with a profusion of ancient and modem gilded plate of exquisite workmanship ; an opposite side board bore vessels of gold, agate, and other precious materials. On each side of the Uble was a railing to ensure the respectful distance of the people. The dishes were brought in by gentlemen of the household preceded by the Lord Chamberlain, each making four or five obeisances before they placed them on the table. Earls Panbrue (Pembroke) and Southampton officiated as Stewards (Maestresalas). Grace being said (it is not men- tioned by whom) their Majesties washed their hands with water from the same ewer, the towels being presented, to the King by the Lord Trea- surer, and to the Queen by the Lord High Admiral ; the Prince of Wales had a ewer to himself, which was, after him, used by the Embassador. The reporter proceeds to describe the manner in which the illustrious party was seated at table, and enumerates the noble persons in waiting, among whom we have Lords Sosbreu (Shrewsbury), d*Arbe (Derby), &c The first thing the King did was to send a melon and some oranges on a green branch t& the Embassador, observing that they were the fruit of Spain transplanted into England. The duke made his humble acknowledgmenL His Majesty then rose, and, uncovered, drank to the Embassador " the Royal family of Spain, and may the Peace be happy and perpetual;" the Duke rose, and having returned thanks and expressed his firm con- viction that the peace just concluded would be lasting and beneficial to both crowns and to Christianity at large, pledged his Majesty, and the toast went round to the great delight of the Royal entertainers. The Duke rose the second time, and in his turn drank unto the King, out of the iid of a beautiful agate cup set with diamonds and rubies, " the health of the Queen," supplicating that his Majesty would vouchsafe to pledge him from the cup itself, which the King accordingly did, passing it, round the Uble, back to the Embassador, who replaced it on the Royal cupboard. The assembled people now exclaimed, " Peace, Peace, Peace ; God save the King." After this a King of Arms made his appearance, who, by sound of trumpets and kettledrums, returned humble thanks to His Majesty for having concluded the much wished for peace with the King of Spain, which he aaved permission to proclaim throughout the Kingdom. The ORIGINAL LETTERS. 313 Proclamation is given in a Spanish translation. The Duke rose again and drank unto the Queen the health of " the King," out of the lid of a beautiful dragon-shaped vessel of crystal set in gold ; Her Majesty pledged him through Don Blasco de Aragon who officiated as cup bearer, and the dragon was replaced on the Queen's cupboard. The King also drank unto President Richardote (Count Arenberg being prevented by gout from attending) " the health of the Archduke and his consort,'* of whom he spoke In terms of great regard and friendship. Soon after, the King sent a message to the Constable by the Earl of Northampton to acquaint him that this season was memorable to his Majesty not only because he had concluded a Peace, but also because one of his sons and princess Isabel were each about completing their fourth year,* and he hoped the latter would one day prove herself the reverse of a former Isabel and be instrumental to the preservation of peace and amity between England and Spain : the King would therefore allow the Constable to drink his son's health to him. The Duke immediately obeyed, and, in his answer to the royal message quoted the lines of Sannazarius's poem De Partu Vitffinisy in which allusion is made to the Virgin's atoning for the evil entailed upon the world by our first mother : Cumque caput fuerit tantorumque una malorum Foemina principium, lacrimasque et funera terris Intulerit, nunc auxilium ferat ipsa, modumque Qua licet afflictis imponat foemina rebus. The next health given by King James was " the Princess of Spain." It was foUowed by several others. The dmner lasted about three hours ; at the conclusion the cloth was removed, and the table lowered (pusieron la mesa en el suelo), when thehr Majesties, according to ancient custom, placed themselves upon it (de pies sobre ella), to wash their hands. The Constable and Count Villamediana had a ewer between them ; the rest of the guests took what ewers they could get. This ceremony being over, the King and Queen retired to their apartments ; and the Embassador with the commissioners repaired to the gallery to view the pictures. In the mean while dancing had commenced in the audience room, to which they were invited by a message from the King. They found the royal couple seated • " Aquel dU era dichoso para el, pues se hazia la par, y cumplian sua hijos anos, y U Princena Isabella, quatro; que assi le diesse licencia para que le brindasse a la lalud de los hijo8." This passage is obscure. What " Isabel" King James could allude to. it is not easy to say. Perhaps it was one of the children of Philip 111. who died at an early age, and are not particularly noticed by historians. His next health " The Princess of Spain" appears to countenance this supposition, under which the singular nunil)cr has been substituted by the translator for the plural *• hijoi;" Prince Charles having, at the iicriod above alluded to, nearly completed bis fourth year. 214 ORIGINAL LETTERS. under the canopy. The company was rendered more brilliant by up- wards of fifty maids of honor and other ladies, all most splendidly dressed, and " beautiful in the extreme." The Prince of Wales was desired by his royal parents to open the ball with a Spanish gallarda, a partner being pointed out to him among the ladies ; he acquitted himself with much grace and delicacy, introducing some occasional leaps (con nmcho donayrc y continencia, y algunas cabriolas). After this the Earl of Southampton invited the Queen, who, with three other ladies and gentlemen, danced a brando^ which, Sobrino informs us, is a dance in- troduced from England mto Spain. Various other dances, respecting the exact nature of which a profound silence is observed by lexico- graphers, were gone through, and the ball concluded with a correnta, danced again by the Queen and Lord Southampton. The party after this went to the window, where they had a view of a place fitted up with a kind of amphitheatre for innumerable spectators. Bears, the property of the King, were here baited by greyhounds (lebreles), a sight which appeared to give general satisfaction ; a bull running about at the end of a rope, and tossing and goring mastifs let loose upon him, followed next ; and the entertainment concluded with rope dancing and feats of horsemanship. Their Majesties now retired to their apartments. The Constable returned home escorted by fifty halberdiers with their bills. Owing to the fatigue of this busy day his Excellency sat down to supper in his private room. Monday, the 30th. His Excellency on awaking found himself slightly attacked by lumbago. The royal family made inquiries after his health in the course of the morning, and at four o'clock in the evening the King came In person, in a barge, ac- companied by the Lords Admiral and Treasurer, and approaching the bed, gave him a hearty embrace (y en la cama le dio un grande embra^o), Hon sum dignus ui intres sub tectum meum was the Constable's return to this act of condescension on the part of the King, who ordered the Earl of Northampton to be interpreter for the rest of their conversation, the principal topic of which was the late negotiation. After having pre- sented the patient with a lai^e diamond ring in commemoration of the marriage, as he called the peace, the King withdrew, promising at supper to drink to the speedy recovery of the Constable. Late in the evening James set out on a hunting expedition. Tuesday, the 31st. The Queen sent the Lord Chamberlaui to inquire after the health of the Embassador. He also received a present from the King consisting of a ponderous ser- vice of plate, some of it gilt and enamelled, and of great antiquity. Pre- sents were also given to Count Villamediana and the rest of the Spanish commissioners. Wednesday, Sept. 1st. The Embassador received visits in bed. Thursday, the 2d. He found himself sufficiently well to rise and take leave of the Queen : in the evening the five English commissioners ORIGINAL LETTERS. 215 took their leave of the Constable. Friday, the 3d. was spent in paying valedictory visits. Saturday, the 4th. The Queen sent by the Vice- Chamberlain a box set with diamonds, containing the portraits of both their Majesties, as also a stomacher (garganto) set wifh large pearls of great value, intended for the Duchess. At twdve o'clock, after dinner, the Plenipotentiary left London for Gravesend, accompanied by the Lords Northampton and Wotton and three other noblemen. Sunday the 5th. He proceeded with Lord Wotton to Rochester, for the purpose of ob- taining correct information respecting that interesting part of the Thames and the river Medway. At the entrance of the harbour is a fort called ** Stroub" (Stroud), and on the right side towards London, another known by the name of " Quinoer midvyve," which means, " half way between London and the sea." Rochester has a good suburbs called " Optenuru»» (Upnor). The shipping consisted at this time of thurty first-rate galeons, and about fifty ordinary ones, together with four gallies (" galleras"), each with twenty-four rowing benches, and flatter than those belonging to the King of Spain. The magnificent appearance of the galeon called the Royal Admiral Ship, on board of which they went, surpassed every thing they had before seen or heard of. A constant firing was kept up from Fort " Stroub" and the man of war. The party proceeded to SiU tiogboume and Dover, and made their passage to Calais on board the mne man of war which had brought them over ; the greater part of the suite, horses, coaches, &c having been sent durect to Spain on board of another man of war. At the end of this Pamphlet are three poems, written in honour of the great Pacificator, by the English College and Seminary at St Omer. Hi LETTER CCXLIX. to the Bishop of Norwich^ upon matters of Religion, [ms. Lansd. 841. foL 32. The Signature of this Letter purposely tomoff,'\ Right Hon. and my very good Lord, meeting with 216 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 217 SO convenient a messenger as this my loving Couzin, I could not omitt my most bounden duty of writing to your Lordship at this present. The Occurrences of the time, which perhaps your Lordship is not ignorant of, are especially about the matter of Religion. On Saturday last, being the ninth of this present, there was a Petition delivered to his Majesty by three or four Knights of Northamptonshire in favour of the Ministers which refuse Subscription ; whereat His Majesty took such a deep impression, as the next day, being Sunday, he sat eight howers in council with the Lords. In this Meeting he first most bitterly inveighed against the Puritans ; saying, that the Re- volt in the Lowe Countries, which hath lasted ever since he was borne, and whereof he never expected to see an end, began first by a Petition for matter in Re- ligion, and so did all the Troubles in Scotland. That his Mother and He from their Cradles had been haunted with a Puritan Devil, which he feared would not leave him to his Grave : and that he could hazard his Crown but he would suppresse those malicious Spirits. From the Puritans he proceeded to the Papists, protesting his utter detestation of their superstitious Religion, and that he was so far from favouring it, as, if he thought his son and heire after him would give any toleration thereunto, he would wish him fairly buried before his eyes. Besides, he charged the Lords of the Council and the Bishops present, that they should take care them- selves, and give order to the Judges of the Land, to the Justices and other inferior Officers, to see the Laws speedily executed with all rigour against both the said extremes. Hereupon, yesterday, being Ash Wednesday, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Judges of the Land, giving the charge to the Gentlemen of the Country in the Star Chamber, as the manner is at the end of every Terme, declared His Majesty's pleasure ; shewing withall in most vehement manner, how much themselves were incensed against the disturbers of the State in both extreames. My Lord Chancellour delivered his Speech with teares. He asked three Questions ; the first of the Lords of the Council, whether to gather hands to move his Majesty by Petition in matters of Religion {as certain Puritan gentlemen went about) were not a matter tending to Sedition and Rebellion ? They all answered Yea. The second was to the Judges, whether those men that were deprived for not con- forming themselves, cou'd be restored by Lawe? They answered No. The third was concerning Pa- pists. Thus much I am bold to relate to your Lord- ship, not doubting but you are already, or shall be, more particularly informed by my Lords the Bishops 218 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 219 that were present. And so with acknowledgement of my ever bounden duty I rest Your Lordship'*s ever to be commanded London, Feb. 14 h. 1604. To the right honourable my very good Lord my Lord The Bishop of Norwich, These. LETTER CCL. Merkl Littleton to Mrs, Baniahy ofBochiiton^ on her luype of obtaining a place for her Nephew in the Household of Prince Henry, [frox the librabt op the society of antiquaries. Orig.'\ Deare Aunt I ame as willinge to effect your request for your cosen Bamaby as you are to desier the same, but I assuer you thinges heare stand not nowe in such termes as happeliea manie imagen ; for I would have you (good Aunte) assuredly beleve that there is as much (if not more) difficulty to place gentlemen with the Prince, as with the Kinge himself. Yonge Com walls frinds may bragge of their building of Castells in the aeier, but I • haply. dare assuer you theie are farr from havinge meanes to place him there. The Sonnes of nobilitie, and of great desert, are alredie denayed, howe then should such an obscure and unknowen fellow have prefennent. My Brothers eldest sonne is as meet to attend him as any other of his sorte, and before Cornwall for manie re- spects, yet will not my brother open his mouthe for him untill the Prince be settled, and better hopes of prevailing then yet there are ; what hereafter may be donne I knowe not, but if there shall appcare any pos- sibility, beleve me (good Aunte) neyther my desier, nor my brothers endevors, shalbe wantinge for your kinsmans preferment. I meane (God willinge) to be at Franckley by the later end of the Whitson week, after which time you shall see I will doe the uttermost of my endevors and power to pay you some of your money, and geve you newe assurance for the satisfaction of the rest at as shorte dayes as by any possible meanes I may, for as you were most nearest in blud to my deare husband of any to whom he was indepted, so shall you find that I (in the reverent remembraunce of him and for the love I beare you) will place you the first that I will endeavor truly to se satisfied and discharged. Thus, hopinge shortly to see you, I for this time bide you most hartely farewell, restinge Yo^ MER. LITTLETON. - .*fi I- 220 ORIGIXAL LETTEKS. LETTER CCLI. Thomaa Lorkin to Mr. Adam Newton, the Tutor of' Prince Henry, detailing the manner in which a young English Gentleman completed his Educatioih at PariSy in 1610. [m8. laksd. 841. fol. 100. OHg.^ • • Mr. Puckering mentioned in this Letter was probably the son of Sir John Puckering, who was for a short time Lord Keeper in the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. The contrast which this I^etter affords to the System of Education for the young Nobility, followed a hundred and fifty years before, as de- «cribed in the unpublished Version of Hardyng^s Chronicle/ deserves the reader's attention. *' And as Lord's sons bene set at four year age To Scole at learn the doctrine of lettrurc. And after at six to have them in language, And sit at meat seraely in all nurture. At ten and twelve to revel is their cure. To dance and sing and speak of gentleness. At fourteen year they shall to field I sure. At hunt the deer and catch an hardiness. « For deer to hunt and slay, and see them bleed. An hardiment giveth to his courage, And also in his wit he taketh heed Imagining to take them at avantage ; At sixteen year to werray and to wage. To just and ride, and casdes to assail. To skirmish als, and make siker scurage. And set his watch for peril noctumailc. • MS. Laniid. 204. It » the Chronicle z» it was originally written, and presented to King Henry the Sixth : the I'rinted Version is the Chronicle as it was re-written ami presented to Khig Edward the Fourth. The variations arc very comidcrable. (( ORIGINAL LETTERS. And every day his armour to assay In feat of arms with some of his many. His might to prove, and what that he do may If that he were in such a jeopardy Of warre by falle, that by necessity He might algatcs with weapons him defend : Thus should he learn in his priority His weapons all in armcs to dispend.'* 221 Syr The chief errand of my last Letters was to let you understand of our safe comming hither. These will give you an Account of our tyme spent here. Our dayes therefore are thus divided. In the forenoone M''. Puckering spends two houres on horsebacke; from seven to nine one morning, from nine to eleven another. Two other houres he spends in French ; one in reading, the other in rendring to his teacher some part of a Latine author by word of mouth. A fifth hour is employed in learning to handle his weapon which entertains him till twelve of the clock, when the bell warns him to dinner, where the company continues together till Two oClock, either passing the time in discourse, or some honest recreation perteyning to armes. Then they are warned by the bell to dauncing, which houlds him till Three, when he retyres himself into his chamber, and there employs with me two other hours in reading over some Latin author ; which done, he translates some little part of it into French, leaving 222 ORIGINAL LETTERS. his faults to be corrected the morrow following by his teacher. After supper we take a brief Survey of all. This is the Course which we have entred upon, and which we mean to follow till he be further advanced in the Language. Mons' . Ballendine hath commended unto us Paulus .Emilius in French, who writeth the History of the Country. His counsell we meane to followe. I have not yet found opportunitie to move him in that which yt pleased you to commaund me, but will wayt a fitt occasion. And thus desyring to have my humblest service remembred to youi-self and worthy M*^. Newton I end, and rest Your most humbly devoted in all duty and service THOMAS LORKIN. Paris this 6 of Novemb. Stilo novo. To the bono'*"* M'. Adam New- ton at the Prince's Court in Eng- land. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 223 LETTER CCLII. Sir Ferdinando Hcyborn^ to Sir Michael Hickes, [ms. lansdowne 92. art. 61. Orig.\ •^* This Letter is dated from Tottenham in Middlesex, where, in the parish church, the figure of Sir Ferdinando Heyboume kneeling in ar- mour, still remains upon a Monument half of which only belongs to him. The inscription, now concealed by the lining of a pew, describes him as a knight and justice of peace, and says, ^^ he waited at the feet of Queen Elizabeth of famous memory, and our Sovereign Lord King James, in their Privy Chamber.*' The contents of this Letter have so much of professional appearance, that in the Catalogue of the Lansdowne Manuscripts it is entered as from Ferdinando Heyboume " a musician.** In the reigns of Elizabeth and James the First, IVf usic was considered an essential part of good education, and was probably expected as a re- quisite qualification in a gentleman of the Privy Chamber. Sir Ferdi. nando, when he left the Court on Queen £lizabeth*s demise took to farm, ing to increase his income. He then, or subsequently, held a moiety of the manor of Wyloughby in the adjoining parish of Edmonton. M\ Candeler mentioned toward the close of this Letter was the brother of his second wife, the daughter of M^ Richard Candeler of Tottenham whose figiu-e in a citizen*s gown occupies the dexter side of the same monument with Sir Ferdinanda Sir Ferdinando Heyboume died June the 4**". 1618. Sir When I sawe you last, you spake to me for some Virginall Lessons for your daughter. I have therfore made theis of purpose for you, which is more then I have doon since Queen Elizabeth dyed. For since her death I have had many things to drawe me from all 224 ORIGINAL LETTERS. musicall exercises, and nothing to invite me therunto ; till nowe that his Ma^*^' hath byn pleased graciously to consider of my yeeres and long service, and to grant me leave to wayt as I shall fynd myself able : and by that means I shall enjoye my self at home the more, and sometyme perhapps take pleasure to looke uppon the Virginalls when the wether serves not to hedg and dich, and to do those things that I must nowe get my lyving by : and then if my labor in this kynd, or any way, may do yow pleasure, I shalbe willing to bestowe it. If he that teacheth your daughter will coppie theis out, and leave my coppie at M**. Candelers office in the Royall Exchange, and therwithall write me a word or two howe theis things may fi tt your daughters hand, I shall, as my leisure will serve, remember yow some- tymes with some such toyes : which is all I am able to do for my frends, among whome I desire to hold yow ; and so I shall ever seeke to deserve. Totnam this 16^'* of Augt. 1611. Y*". assured poore frend FER. HEYBORN. To my honorable frend S'. Mi- chaell Hicks give theis^ at his House in London. ORIGINAL LKTTERS. 2^5 LETTER CCLIII. Nicholas Charles to Sir Robert Cotton, upon the Creation of the new Nobility called Baronets. [M8. cotton. JULIUS C. III. foL 92b. Orig.] •»• Sir Oliver Lambert, says Betham, having reduced the Province of Ulster in Ireland, the King, in order to preserve it in subjection, and to encourage a plantation therein by the English, instituted the hereditary dignity of Baronet, May 1 V\ 1611. The persons upon whom this honor was bestowed engaging singly to maintain thirty foot soldiers in Ireland for three years, at the rate of eight pence English by the day ; and to pay the first year's wages into the Exchequer at one payment, upon passing their patents; which, with fees of honor, amounted to near Twelve Hun- dred Pounds. With the precise circumstances of the discussion aUuded to in the present Letter, the Editor is unacquainted. Right worshipfull Sir, my duty remembred, I have made bould to trouble you with this Script, conteyn- ing some of the occurrences and buisnes of the Baro- nettes since your going out of towne. The matter hath bin heard on both sides, wherein by the Baronettes was shewed the promiscuous using of Baronett and Banna- rett, and their proofes held for litle and nothing worth, being accompted Monkish Stories ; » and so made but a mistake in all ages. Withall it was urged that if they could shew a Baronett made formerly, and after- ward corruptly called a Bannarett, that then it were a good instance to proove them all one. This and some other such like argumentes, too long to be written, • Baronetn and BuronuH occur, as diminutives of Baiiones. in a deed in the Museum, datod WK July, ic"- Hen. Vlllib. '" *"* VOL. III. SER. 2, r. H 226 ORIGINAL LETTKES. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 227 II were used of eyther part on two severall dayes of hear- ing, and the last day it seemed to leane toward the Baronettes side, that they should be declared Banne- rettes; but with proviso to give place unto Barons yonger sonnes ; and we have delivered in a note to the Lordesof the Privileges & Immunityes of a Bannarett, but what they will allow I cannot yet heare of: but on Saturday next the finall determination is expected, if some troublesome Spirit do not hinder it ; which end I wish were well made, & am glad that you are not seen in it at this tyme. And no doubt it wilbe to the Content of you and other understanding gentlemen. Thus wishing to your worshipp all health & prosperity, I take my leave. From my Lodging in the Office of Amies, Thursday the 2d of Aprill Anno Dni. 1612. Your Worshipps bounden to be commanded NICH. CHARLES, LancosUr, LETTER CCLIV. Prince Henry to King James the Firsty upon the Match intended for him, [m8. cotton. T1TU8 B. VII. foL 437- Orig, ENTIRELY IK PRINCK HENRY^S HAND.] May itt please your Majesty Seing that your Majesty'*s pleasure, signifyed unto me by my Lo. Rochester, is, that I sett downe my opinion concerning the Proposition lately made by your Ambassadour unto Villeroy ; your Majesty must par- don both the bouldnesse of my writeing, and the weake- nesse of my opinion in a matter of such consequence. Wherfore may itt pleise you to consider, that for so farr as your Ambassador hath hethertoo proceeded in itt, [he] hath wrouglit the same effect that might have benne looked for ; but, when itt commeth unto a more particuler Negotiation, whether they will then yeald unto such conditions as your Majesty in your wisedome shall thinke fitt, the successe of theire next entervew will make you give a more neare guesse. The cause which first induced your Ma'y. to pro- ceede in this proposition by your Ambassador, was the hope which the D. of Bouillon gave your Ma'y of breakeing theire other match with Spaine If the con- tinuance of this Treaty hould onely upon that hope, and nott uppon any desyre to effect a match with tlie second daughter, in my weake opinion I hould that itt stands more with your Ma > ■ honour to stay your Ambass. from mouving itt any more, then to goe onne with itt. Because no great Negotiation should be grounded upon a grounde that is very unsure or uncer- taine, and depending upon theire wills who were the first causers of the contrary. Next itt will not be ho- norable for your Ma >. that the world should see, that when you shall have broken itt off, after a long Treaty, q2 228 ORIGINAL LETTERS. you did itt onely to breake off the other, seing they will saye that itt is your owne falte not having made soone enough ane ouverture for the first. Whether your Ma'> will proceede further in itt upon the desyre you have to make a match with the second, that, with the rest, I leave unto your Ma^^'s further and better judgement. Butt if your Ma . be resolved to continew itt in respect of itt self, then I intreate your Ma : . be sure, both of the certainty, and of tlie sende- ing of her hether upon the conclusion, or at the fur- thest, att the goeing of the other in to Spayne. I feare I have trobbled your Ma >'s patience so long with a good tale ill tould ; but you must impute this falte unto your command, and nott unto my presump- tion. I shall ever hould my self very happie to be commanded by him whom I have most reason of all others to love, honour, serve, and obey, and who shall ever finde me his most humble, faithfull, and obedient son and serv^ant HENRY. Richmont, this 29 of 'Tuly, 1612. To the King's most excell' Majesty. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 229 LETTER CCLV. Lord Rochester to Henry Prince of Wales upoti the subject of his intended Marriage. A. D, 1612. [in the POSSE88IOK OF LORD VISCOUNT 8TRANOF0RO.] •»* This Letter is endorsed with the date of Oct 4"'. 1«12. Pleas your Highnes I AM by his Majesty commandit to send your High- nes this Dispache from France as a mater personally conceminge your self, whairin his Ma. observes two things, first that the Match with the eldest daughter is utterly desperate ; next that this propositione for the seconde daughter is so strongly aprehendit as they will refuse no conditiones that with reason may be de- mandit, and will accommodat all difficulties and hin- derances that may in any sort interrupt the issue of a work so much acceptable, and by tham passionatly taken hold of; only that incongruity betwixt your Highnes age and hirs is one inconvenience which nei- ther syde can help. As for the portione which accordinge to the example of the elder sisters, is but fiwe hundreth thousand crounes, His Ma^^ notwithstanding under other pre- tences thinks thair may be hope in respect of thair earnestness to increase the Summe. 230 OUIGIKAL L£TTEIIS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 231 In conclusione, his Ma >. willes that your Highnes considder that the Lady can not be maid rypper nor fitter then her age pennittes, which is no more then Nyne yeers ; but with all desyres to heere your High- nes free opinione what your conceyte is of this particu- lar compared with the others. So humbly taking my leave I rest at your Highnes command RO. ROCHESTER. Roystone, Saturday, 9 at night. that I choose rather to bewray the weaknes of my judgement by obedience, then that His Majesty should not fynd in me a willingnesse to do my best endeavors for the satisfying of all his commandements, which I doubt not you will beleeve from Yo Lordships good friend HENRV. This was probably one of the last I^etters written by Prince Henry. He died at the age of eighteen, November the 6*''. 1612, lamented by every rank of society. * LETTER CCLVI. Prince Henry's Answer to the preceding Letter. [also communicated by lord strakoford.] My Lord Having perused the Dispatche which togeather with your Lordships Letter was sent unto me, and accord- ing to His Majesty's command considered of the points concerning my self in particular, I have reto^vmed you this enclosed Answere to be delivered unto His Majesty, wherein if I do not fullie satisfie His Majesty's expectation, I hope so much the more to be excused LETTER CCLVII. The Lady Elizabeth to the Lord Mayor of London^ and the M aster ^ Wardens , and Court of Assistants of the Merchant Tailors'* Company y upon the eve of lier leaving England, in behalf of her Man-Cook. A.D.ieiS, [from the court books of the merchant tailors* company.] *♦* The great honor which this Company had long received in having Kings for brothers of its fraternity, may perhaps in part account for the • One of the Lansdowne Manuscripts preserves the following Verses written upon his death by Hugh Hollande, fellow of Trinity College Cambridge. " Upon Prince Hbnry. " Loe where he shineth yonder A fixed Star in Heaven, Whose motion here came under None of the Planets seven. If that the Moone should tender The Sun her love, and marry. They both could not engender So sweet a Star as IIarrv." ^52 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 233 petition of the present Letter. Richard the Second, Henry tlie Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth, Edward the Fourth, Richard the Third, Henry the Seventh, and Henry Prince of Wales, had all been enrolled among ita members. • Sir John Swynnerton the Lord ^layor of London in 1613, to whom the Letter is primarily addressed, was also a Merchant Tailor. Court interference upon vacancies in city places, at an earlier period than this, has been already noticed, and was continued somewhat later. Charles the Second's Letter is still extant recommending a Clerk to this Company. The Princess Elizabeth's application, however, as far as herself was concerned, was an attempt to pay a debt of gratitude. She was going to the Palatinate, and wished to secure the reversion of a new post for a faithful servant. It appears from the Merchant Tailors' Books that the vacancy did not take place for some time after, when John W'arde, whom the Princess had recommended, was not the successful candidate. There is no date to this Letter, but it was received by the Company May 5^^. 1613. The Princess had left England before the Letter could be laid before a Court. To my ho. freindd S". John Swynnerton Lo. Maior of London, and to the Wor •'. Maister, Wardens, and Assistants of the Company of Merchauntailors. My Lorde, I have not bin forward to wringe you with requests. As this the first, soe is it likely to be the last, especyally in this kinde. That which I am to move you and yo*^ Company for, is this : I am given to understand that the Cooke be- longinge to your Hall, being an olde man, is not soe well able as he hath bin to doe your service, but, by reason of his Impotency, dryven to comitt the same to another : in regard whereof for that I have knowne the • Janics the First was a member of the Grucen' Compaity. bearer hereof, John Warde, to be sufFycient for the operacion of such a place, havinge had experience of his honesty and discreete consideracion, doinge me ser- vice in the howse where I have lived since my cominge into England, I am willing to commende him unto you for the Cooke of yo*". Hall, to be accepted when that olde man shall leave his place by death, or otherwise resigne it. I presume my Lettre shall carrie that re- spect with yo" Lo?P. that to enlarge it with more in- ducements shalbe needless. Yf I may heare before I leave this place, that John Warde doth rest assured of yo". favoures in this behalfe, it shall setle an affection in me to continewe Yo^ ffreinde ELIZABETH. LETTER CCLVIII. Nicholas Charles Lancaster herald, to Sir Robert Cotton. The prevalence of Duels, [ms. cotton. JULIUS c. III. foL 102 b. Orig.] *,• In the former Series of these Letters, one was introduced from Sir Francis Cottington to Lord Northampton on the punishment of Duels in Spain, accompanied by some particulars illustrative of the great prevalence of Duels in England at the beginning of the seventeenth Century. The present Letter affords a further confirmation of the fact. 234 OlllGlXAL LETTERS. Sir, not knowing how I may deserve that love and courtesie you have allwayes afFoorded me, yet still pre- suming upon your favour, I have made bould to ac- quaynt you with such newes as our Citye is filled with. And first the Lord Bruse is certeynly slayne by Mr. Sackvile in the feilds without Andwerpe in Brabant, and Sackvile himself sore wounded also. My Lo. Harington died within twoo dayes journey of Hidel- berg, and a gentleman of his a brother to Sir Edward Bushell very trecherously killed by the meanes of Sir Andrew Keth master of the horse to the lady Elizabeth. But Keyth is in hould to be sent over into England. There is also a quarrell betweene my lord of Essex and Mr. Harry Howard, and one of them is gotten over, but there are letters sent to the Archduke and the French King to prevent theyre desperate pro- ceedings. There is also a talke of a quarrell betweene my lord of Rutland and my lord Danvers, as also of other noble and gentlemen of good quality, but I thinke the truth of some few have given occasion to some idle brayne to coyne others and fill the world with rumors of Duel Is. My Lord of Bedford they say is very sick, but my Lord Petre is not yet dead but in great danger : and amongest the rest to fill up the mouth of mortality Sir James Pemberton our late Mavor of London on Thursday morning last gave up the ghost. Thus desiring your pardon for my bolaViess, remembring ORIGINAL LETTERS. 235 my thankes to Mr. Tho. Cotton and Mistris Cotton, and Mr. Bevill, I take my leave, from my Howse in Coleman Streete London, this 10^' day of September Ao. Dni. 1613. Yours, ever bound to your love and courtesy, NIGH. CHARLES, Lancaster. I have not yet seene Mr. Clarenceux and the returne of the Carier was so short that I heard not of him above an houre before he was to go away, or else I would have written you some particulers concerning these Dueilles. LETTER CCLIX. Lard Chancellor Bacon to the Lords of' Parliament upon his Impeachment, [ms. DOXAT. 4106. foL 123. Orig.] •^* This was the Letter which the Duke of Buckingham presented to the Lords, when the consideration of Lord Bacon's case was referred to them from the Lower House ; and it indicates the anguish of Lord Bacon's mind. The particulars of his Lordship's fall are too well known to be more than glanced at here. Upon his Confession, when a Committee of the Lords were sent to him to demand whether it was his own hand which had subscribed it ? and whether he would stand to it or not ? he an- swered, " My Lords, it is my act, my hand, my heart I beseech your Lordships to be merciful to a broken reed." The original schedule of his debts, at the time of his death, is still ex- tant, in the possession of M'. Upcot of the London Institution. They amounted to Twenty-two Thousand three hundred and seventy-one pounds, one shilling, and three pence. 236 ORIGINAL LETTKKS. OKIGIXAL LKTTERS. 2(57 I ■■ MY VEBIE GOOD LORDS I HUMBLYE praye your Lordships to make a favour- able and true construction of my absence. It ys noe fayninge nor fayntinge, but sicknes both of my harte and of my backe ; thoughe joyned with that comfort of my mynde that persuadeth me, that I am not farre from heaven, wherof I leele the first fruites. And because, whether I lyve or dye, I woulde be glad to preserve my honor and fame, as farre as I am worthye, hearinge that some complayntes of base Bryberye are come before your Lordships, my requests to your Lord- ships are. First, that you will mayntayne me in your good opynion without prejudice untill my cause be hearde ; Secondlye, that in regard I have sequestred my myride at this tyme in great part from worldlye matters, thinkinge of my accompt and answere in a higher Court, your Lordships would geve me some convenient tyme accordinge to the course of other Courtes to advise with my Counsell, and to make my answere ; wherin neverthelesse my Counsells part wilbe the lest, for I shall not by the grace of God trick up an innocencye with cavillacions, but playnlye and in- genuouslye (as your Lordships knowe my maner ys) declare what I knowe or remember ; Thyrdlye, that accordinge to the course of Justice I may be allowed to except to the witnesses brought against mc, and to move questions to your Lordships for their crosse examinacions ; and likewise to produce my owne wit- nesses for discoverye of the truthe ; and Lastlye, yf their come anye more peticions of like nature, that your Lordships would be pleased not to take anye pre- judice or apprehension of anye number or muster of them against a Judge that makes two thousand De- crees and Orders in a yeare ; not to speake of courses that have bene taken for huntinge out complayntes against me ; but that I may answere them accordinge to the rules of Justice severallye and respectivelye. These requests I hope to appeare to your Lordships noe other then just. And so thinkinge my selfe happye to have soe noble Peers and reverende Prelates to discerne of my cause, and desyringe that noe privi- ledge of greatnes for subterfuge of guiltynes, but mcane (as I sayed) to deale fayerlye and playnlye with your Lordships, and to put my selfe upon your honors and favours, I pray God to blesse your coun- sells and your persons ; and rest Your Lordships humble servaunt, FR. ST. ALBAN, CaUC, 9 Martij, 1620. To the right ho. his verie good Lords the Lords Spyrituall and Temporall, in the Upper House of Parliament assembled. 238 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCLX. Mr, Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville, Palatine's complaint. [ms. harl. 389. p. 99. Orig.] The Prince • * • # • M^ Meddus told a friend of mine this week, that the Prince Palatine had written to our King, that, if His Majestie would have bestowed the money which he hath spent in Treaties and upon the Navy to Algiers in behalf of the Spaniard, upon his Daughter and children, their inheritance had beene preserved, and need not to have sued to their enemies ; whereat His Majestie was offended not a litle. Christ Coll. June 23, 1621. LETTER CCLXI. Mr. Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville, The Bishop of Lincoln made Lord Keeper. The King and Queen of Bohemia entertained at Amsterdam. The Earl of SouthamptmCs search concerning the Earl of Hertford's marriage. [ms. harl. 389. foL 100. Orig.'\ I AM told that D". Balcanquell should write that D^ Williams had the Scale for L. Keeper thrice given ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 239 and taken from him in one day. They say the King should say that Charles A<^as against him, and how could he make him recompense unless he gave it him : to which some report the Doctor answered He should be content with the Bishoprick of London, if he might hold his Deanry still in commendam. He hath sat and spake in Starchamber. « « « « • The King and Queen of Bohemia were lately royally entertained at Amsterdam, where all the English women of fashion came to the Queene and were graciously accepted. One M^ Paget an English preacher preached before them. His text, that of the Revelation to the Angell of the Church of Smyrna, ' Be faithfull unto death and I will give thee a crown of life ;' which he urged (as they say he can do well) according to the present occasion bravely. I am told even now as a secret, that the Earl of South Hampton hath beene searching concerning the lawfulness of the Earl of Hertford's marriage, which is that wherewith the King is offended : for it is sayd, that the last Parliament the King or somebody should propound a motion to pronounce that issue illegitimate, &c. &c. Some talk of other things, but I think all uncertain. Yours to command, JOSEPH MEAD. Christ Coll. Jun. 30, 1621. JJ40 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 241 I LETTER CCLXII. Mr. Mead to Si?' Martin Stuteville. The Benevolence, The Kings Declaration at Theobalds, [ms. hakl. 389. foL 140 b. Orig.^ • • « • • The Benevolence goes on. A merchant of London who had been a clieesenionger, but now rich, was sent for by the Council, and required to give the King dp. 200, or to go into the Palatinate and serve the Army with Cheese, being a man of eighty years of age. He yielded rather to pay, though he might better have given nine subsidies according as he stands valued. This was told to me by one that heard it from his owne mouth. They talk also of Privy Scales. His Majestic at Theobalds, discoursing publickly how he ment to governe, was heard to say He would goveme according to the good of the Common-Weale, but not according to the Common- Will. Christ CoU. Feb. 2. 1621-2, LETTER CCLXIIL WVliam Laud BisJiop of St, Davids, to Sir Robert Cotton, requesting tlie return of a Manuscript boi- rowed from the Library of St. John's College Oxford, of which he had been President, [ms. cotton. JULIUS C. III. fol. 152. Orig.\ Sir, After longe deliberacion I am boulde to imparte a business unto you which troubles mee. It is not longe since I was President of St. Johns Colledge in Oxon ; and duringe the tyme I was in that place. Sir William Paddye (a worthy benefactor to that poore Colledge) importuned the lendinge of an auncient volume of Beda to you, which the Statutes of that howse could not well beare ; but that it was thouglit at that tyme unfitt to distast a man that had done soe much good for the Colledge, and intended much more. The cause which hee alleadged was, that you had use of it for some thinge that concerned your Howse and Inheritance. Upon my cominge awaye from that Headshipp, there began (as there uses in such Societies) a faction about the choice of a newe Govemour. The heate that was then strooke is not yett quenched in the VOL. III. SER. 2. ■ u^ OEIGIKAL L£TTEJi:>. OHIGIKAL LKTTKKS. 524^ II loosingc partye; and out of an opinion that I had some hand in the business for him that obtayned, they have beene soe angry with niee, that they have not only beene content to forgett all the service I did that Colledge, (which I can without vanity saye was some) but have picked all the occacions they could to detract from mee. That which they have most colour for against mee, is the lendinge of this parte of Beda out of the Lybrarye : and though att that tyme when it was done, their consentes were more forward then other honester mens, yett nowe they are over bould with my reputacion, & chardge all the gylt of the accion upon me, & more too. Sir, if it please you to thinke mee worth the havinge, you have now an opportunity to bind mee to you ; and if it please you to lett mee have this Booke to send backe to the Colledge and be to take of that which trou- bles my owne mynd and gives some unadvised men too much occacion to be bould with mee. You shall in lewe of it have my continuall service ; and if any thinge of worth in like kind come to my handes in any place where God shall send me to live, I will freely give it in recompence. This hath been the occacion, which hath kept mee from begginge your acquaintance : and because I find that I sufFar att the Colledge everye daye more then other for it (though the President & ?ome of the Seniors out of their due respecte to Sir William Paddy forbeare) I am very desirous to doe twoo thinges att once ; namely to quitt that business, & to make my selfe both knowne and a debtor to you, both at once. I will hope you will refuse mee in neyther. And soe for this tyme I leave you to the grace of God, and shalbee reddy to she we my selfe both to you and your worth Your very lovinge frend GUIL. MENEVEN. Durham Howse, November 22, 1623. LETTER CCLXIV. Edward Tilman to Paul D'Ewes, Esq. The Death of King James, and the proclamation of King Charles the First, The Marquis of Hamilton re- ported to have been poisoned. News from Breda and Rom£. [m8. harl.'383. OrigJ\ Noble Patrone My absence from Stow grieves mee not a little this sicklle time, but I am not at mine owne disposing till our Terme be ended. ♦ • ♦ » « B ^ S44 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 245 Of those that I left sick in your familie especiallie, I am not unmindfull in my best thoughts : the decease of our late King makes me conceive everie little sick- nesse to bee mortall : a tertian turn'^d into a burning fever hath divorced his soulc from his bodie, and kept him from the honour his later designes have been sup- posed to aime at, of restoring Christendome. On Wednesday King Charles was heere proclaimed, and I know not what the omen of yt was, but the joy of the people devoured their mourning. Wee had Thunder the same day, presentlie upon the Proclama- (ion, and "'twas a cold season, but all feares and sor- rowes are swallowed up in joy of so hopefull a suc- cessor. God bee blessed wee are not left destitute. The day of the King's death wee are not yet certaine of, 'tis thought 'twas March 24''>. because the Lord Mayor was not at Pauls Crosse that day ; but the 27^^ is given out for the day, and then was K. Charles first proclaimed at London. The King, however naturallie impatient, yett before his death verie patient, hath left, they say, a Con- fession of his faith to be published, to stop the mouthes of Papists, that of late also have given out that Mar- quesse Hamilton died Roman catholique. 'Tis thought hee was catholiquelie poisoned, and so now is his name : but this will bee vindicated. Newes about alarums in Breda and Spinola's campe, three nights togither, the soldiers on both sides being at quiet, and the cause not knowne. I heard of M^ Mede of Spectres reported, of an Arme hanging over Breda with a bloodie sword; and a Divell walking through Spinolas camp with mcyrt in his mouth, &c. which M^ Elborough can acquaint you with. The Pope hath furthered the French much of late in some designes toward Genoa, but repents now, be- cause he sees his Cardinals are offended at yt. And upon that occasion this motto was set on Pasquine, Cecinit GaUus^fevU Petrus. More Newes I have not; and this is ynough to trouble you. I would not bee tedious. I commend you and all yours to the mercie of God, wishing you more health then I as yet can attaine to, and rest Yours to be commanded in the Lord EDWARD TILAJANf Cambr. AprilJ 1, 1625. To my much honoured patrone Paul D'Ewes Esquire these. Exclusive oi the Volume mentioned in a former page, relating to King Jameses health and personal habits, there are no less than nineteen others in the Sloane Collection of Manuscripts, folio and quarto, in the hand-writing of Sir Theodore Mayeme, filled with what he stQes his ** Ephemerides," a Journal of the Cases which he attended from 1603 to 1649.* The earlier Volumes, previous to 1611, relate to his French patients; the rest are his " Ephemerides Anglicte,'' and record the dis- ofders, prescriptions for, and cures of persons of both sexes of so great • MS. Sloan. Brit. Mus. 246 ORIGINAL LETTERS. n TlM consequence, that they may be stiled, for the period they embrace. Medical Annals of the Court of England/' The cercmoniousness with which Sir Theodore prefaces the Patient'* case in many instances, is entertaining. The day and hour of his birth, his personal formation, the state of the different organs of his frame, the peculiarities of his diet, his likes and dislikes, the diseases to which hi« parents were liable, and the casualties he had himself undergone in the course of life, are all exactly registered, with such remarks super-added as might tend to aid Sir Theodore's skill when again called in at any subsequent time. The whole written in Latin. Among the most par- ticular of all perhaps is the Account of Robert Earl of Salisbury. It is giyen in the Note below, • though somewhat abridged. On the 20th of July, 1617, he attended my l^ord of Buckingham for a humor in his right car, caused by riding bare-headed two years before, in the winter, hunting with the King.** • •* My Lord dk SALisBf by, UH Julii 1611. •* Natus anno 1563, l Junil, hora secunda post med lam nocf era. Infar.*; rulrici excidit, nutrix aulem celavit malum. An. 48. l Junii 1611. Scolk)«li a ca»u, noo a nu:ura: mater tamcn aliquantulum gibba. Statura cxigua et brevU. Thorax ab leva parte compressus, ab altera elatus. Pulmonet licet comprimi debeant vitio confirmation is. nullum tamen inde sequitur respirationis symptonia. Corpus adnio- dum macileuturo et exsiccum. Temperamentum calidum, siccum, bilio*um. Ce- rebrum frigidissimum, humidissimum. Cor ct pulmo, calida. Hepar calidum. Ventriculus frigidus, in quem bili« rejicitur ab hcpate. Lien rotundus, duru«. Renea calidi. Vesica |)assa est incommodum, 8ua"oup««v. Artus debiles- Pater et frater arthritlci. Canit e« coepit anno xxx". Omnia sensoiia l)ona. Bene dormit per »ex horas sine interruptione. Panim mungit. Pituitum per o« attrahit. Ex- crementa a cipite laljentia, aliquando salsa. Nulla unquam vertigo. Nulla in pueritia convulsio. Nullus spin* dolor. Nulla tussi>*. Vox facilis. Nunquam •anguincm spuit. Nullus unquam thoracis afTrctus. Nulla cordis iialpltallo. Bonus appctitus. Omnia etlulia placent. Non dclettatus salsis, nee utitur sale; non pi()eiatis. Non edit piscct*. Salso bove dclectatur. Fructus «dit quamplurimos prseterpoma. Edit cerasa priecoccia; uvas, qu« semper nocent. Ventriculus non bene coquit. Appetitus digestione melior. Horis vj. a prandio sitit, tunc bibit alam et cerevisiam simplicem, ita movetur appetitus. alias non edit, nam bile oppletur itomachus. Vitium digt^stionis ftrmentalio, non pondus. Flatus plurimi.qul per posteriora vacuantur ; istis cum turgent hypochondria, torpent actium s ; lis reddltis optime ambulat. Flatus per superiora nunquam. Nulla oris amaritudo. Nunc peteunt dentes ; obnoxius catarrho m dentes, quorum qiutuor avulsi. Ter bibit io pastu. Non sitit nisi post longum sermouem. Non amat vinuni, neque eo utitur pro potu ordinario. Ob flatus, ante c> MS. Sloan. 2UC3. fol. 334 b. < MS. Sloan. 2064. fol. 49. * MS. Sloan. 2068. fol. 71 b. • MS. Sloan. 2068. fol. 128 b. ' MS. Sloan. 2072. fol. loi b. f He say*, " Mstri Rej^ina? .\ngli» Annae quoad corporis constitutionom admodum r ( ^48 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 'JlV\ In 1028 we have the copy of a I^etter which Sir Theodore wrote to King Charles the First upon his quitting the use of th« Wellingborough waters in Northamptonshire : • and, in the same year, he prescribed for " Mons'. Cromwell, vaidc melancholicus.''^ In 1643, we have his *' Advia pour Monseigneur le Conte de Northumberland sur TUsage des Eaux de Townebridge." <^ Whoever is desirous to know the sUte of the Physician's Science in the reigns of James and Charles the First, must consult the Volumes here described. Sir Theodore Mayeme was among the first who intro. duced the chemical practice, which time and experience have now fully established. gimilis sibi ipsa videtur. Hactenus valde fuit roburta. Nunc sibi nullo modo cavet. Continue Stat. Regimen vivendi postulat. A purgantibus abhorret. Phlebotomiara admittit." MS. Sloan. 2008. fol. is. • " Lettre escritte au Roy, de Welliroboroaghe, quittant I'uaage da EAuct. 19 Aug, 1628." MS. Sloan. 2069. foL T9 b. >» Ibid fol. 03 b. 15 Sept. 1628. ' MS. Sloan. 20T4. fol. 101. LETTERS OF THE REIGN OF CHARLES THE FIRST, I! I P 35^ Mrs. Hutchinson has drawn a piciure of strong conlraat between the Courts of King James and King Charles the First The Court of James, she says, was a nursery of lust and in- temperance, the fashion of which was so followed by the gentry of the land, that every great house in the country became a sty of unclcanness. But in the change of the King., the face of the Court was changed ; Kino Charles was temperate^ chatte^ and serious; so that the fools and bawds, mimics and catamites of the former court grew out of fashion ; and tlie nobility and courtiers who did not quite abandon their de- bnucheiies, had yet that reverence to the King to retire into comers to practise them. Such was indeed the personal character of Charles the First. None of his predecessors possessed more estimable or more manly virtues. But in the favour of his people, in his unseasonable notions of prerogative, in negotiations, and in war, he was attended by a strange fatality. Like Lord Strafford, whatever he did, or had even a regard unto, was doomed to pass the fiery trial. The malevolence of his fortune was extreme. In the Hargrave Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum are the Jleports of Cases in the King's Bench and Star Chamber be- ginning Trin. 3 Cha. I. and ending Trin. 7 Cha. I. by Sir Nicholas Hyde Chief Justice of the King's Bench, in his own handwriting.* At fol. 97- of the volume which contains them, the Chief Justice gives a particular and curious Account of the manner in which King Charles the First, previous to passing the Petition of Rights, consulted the Judges secretly on the claimed Right of the King to commit without shewing the cause, and on the effect which the Petition might have on his Prerogative in that respect. The Questions to the Judges and their Answers are given at length : and as these have never yet been in print, the reader may probably like to have them placed before him. They fill a chasm in what Rushworth has collected relating to the Petition, and are given in the Note below. •* • MS. Hargr. 37. fol. s«. k •• Nota, que apre» cest Terme ( Pa»ch. 4 Car. 1. 1 fine, et en le temps del Parliament, et apres que le Petition pur lc« liberties del People fait accord et vote en amhideux les maisons, et per eux ttiutcs agree d'etre present al Roy. Les Seigniors agree le ai de May de present al Roy un Protestation de lour intents en le petition, et meme le jour le Roy done a eux accesse a lui, et ils en escript cc deliver en ceux paroU : " May it please your most excellent Majesty we the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in your High Court of Parliament assembled, do humbly and unanimously declare unto your Majesty that our intention is not to lessen or impeach any thing that by the Oath of Supremacie we have sworn to assist and defend." (Compare Pari. Hist, ▼iii. p. 350.) Afterwards the said 26»»«. of May the King sent for the two Chief Justices, Hyde and Richardson, to attend him at White Hall, who came unto his Majestic, who in pri- 2i3\ The greatest of all the errors that King Charles committed was the signing by commission the Bill which roidered the Parliament perpetuaL vate delivered them a Case, and required them to assemble together all the Judges, and under their hands to give their Answer thereunto. Wliioh Case here foUoweth : First Question. " Whether in no Case whatsoever the King nuiy not commit a subject without ihening a cause."* W hereunto they made an answer the same day under their hands, which was the next day presented to his Majesty by the said two Chief Justices, wliich foUowelh in these words : The Judf^s Answer. " We are of opinion that by the general rule of Law the cause of commitment by His Majestic? ought to be shewen ; yet i»ome case may require such secrecy that the King may commit a subject, without shewing the cause, for a convenient time." Which said answer being delivered to his Majesty by the said two Chief Justices, it pleased his Majesty then to deliver them a Second Case, and required them to as- semble all the Judges, and under their hands to declare to him the Law therein, but rcquierd them to be very secret, and to reveale the matter to none, as he also had done in the former. Whcrtuppon they all, the next day assembled, and after con- sulution had, they all subscribed their names to an Answer to the same, except the Lord Chief Baron, who by reason of sicknes was not present at their consultaUon ; which Resolution was delivered to his Majesty by the said two Chief Justices the SO'h of May. The said Second Question foUoweth in these words : Serond Qne.ition. '• Whether in case a Habeas Corpus be brought, and a Warn-uit from the King, without any general or special cause returned, the Judges ought to deliver him before they understood the cause from the King." The Jwiffes Answer. •• U|K)n a Habeas Corpus brought for one committed by the King, if the cause be not siHfcially or generally returned, so as the Court may take knowledge thereof, the party ought by the general rule of lawe to be delivered. But if the Case be such that the same requireth secrecy, and may not presently be disclosed, the Court in discretion may forbear U> deliver the prisoner for a convenient time, to the end the Court may be advertised of the truth therof." This answer being so delivered, his Majesty then gave unto the said two Chief Justices a Third Question, and commanded them to assemble their brethren forthwith, and give him an answer to the same under their hands ; which they also received, and the next day all met together, and. after deliberation had. they all subscribed their names to an answer to the came ; which by the said two Chief Justices was pre- tented to his Majesty upon the 81". of May : no person being present with his Majesty at any of the said meetings. The said Third Question here foUoweth. Third QueHion. " Whether if the King grant the Commons Petition, he doth not thereby conclude himself from committing or restraining a subject for any time or cause whatsoever, without shewing a cause." The Judys' Answer. •• Every Law, after it is made, hath his exposition, and so hath this Petition, and the Answer must have an exposition as the Case in the nature thereof shall require to stand with justice which is to lie lefte to the Courts of Justice to determine, which eaimot particularly be discerned until such case shall happen : and although the Petition be granted, there is no fear of conclusion, as is intimated in the Question." i£l Straflford's attainder was signed upon the same day, with the same pen. By the one, as the event shewed, the King was punished for consenting to the other. The Act which rendered the Parliament perpetual, by placing an irrevocable power in the hands of his enemies, sealed the King's destruction. It was stated in the Observations prefixed to the Letters of this Reign in the former Series, that none had occurred to the Editor which bore upon the taste of King Charles the First for the Arts, nor any upon the last dreadful event of his life. But among M. Van Sypsteyns Manuscripts, sold by auction in Ix)ndon by Mr. Sotheby, in 1825, he saw a Letter in French from King Charles the First to the Prince of Orange in favor of OTie Torensius, a painter, who had been imprisoned at Haerlem, requesting on account of the excellence of his Art, that the term of his imprison, ment might be shortened, as his Majesty meant to employ him. This Letter was dated from Westminster in the month of May lfi30.» Dr. Birch also in one of his manuscript Volumes in the Aluseum, has pre- served a copy of the King's Letter of Warrant for purchasing a Col- lection of Paintings at Venice in 1634, of which he was to be a fourth Upon the second of June, being Whitson Monday, in the morning, hi« Majesty came to the Parliament House, and the Commons were sent for by the Gent Ussher. and in full Parliament the Petition was read : and then the Clerk of the Parliament read the King's Answer to the same, which followeth in these words : The King's Answer. *• The King willeCh that right be done according to the Laws and Customs of the Realm, and that the Statutes be putt in due execution, that the subjects may have no cause to complain of any wrong.or oppression contrary to their just rights and liberties ; to the preservation whereof he holds him self in conscience as well obliged, as of his prerogative." Afterwards upon the T'h. of June the Lords conceaving this Answer not to be full and latiafactory, desired a Conference with the Commons, who meeting presently, they all agreed to petition His Majesty to give a full and satisfactory Answer to the said Petition in full Parliament ; which being agreed upon, their Lordships presently sent four Lords, viz. the Lord President, the Duke, the Lord Steward, and Lord Chamberlain to desire Hia Majesty to appoint a time that both Houses might attend him with their said Petition: who, shortly after, returned with this Message, that His Majesty would come to the Parliament House that very Afternoon at four of the clocke, to receive the Petition and Answer the same: at which hour His Majesty ac- cordingly came, and the Commons were sent for, Ixxv. at whose coming, the Lord Keeper, in name of Lords and Commons, presented by speech the said Petition : to which His Majesty answered that he conceived that his former Answer had been ftill. and according to every man's desire, but because he found that it was not so con- ceived. he now resolved to give them such an Answer as none should find fault wlth- all; and therefore commanded the Petition of Right to be read by the Clerk, which being read, the King's Answer was read in these words " Soit droit Jtiit come e*t iffier" » In the Catalogue of King Charles the First's Pictures, two only by this Painter occur. as3 part owner, provided his share of the purchase came to no more than eight hundred pounds. *■ Peacham in the second edition of his " Complete Gentleman*' 4»<». 1634, having spoken of the Collection of Statues at Arundell House, saya, '* King Charles also, ever since his coming to the Crown, hath amply testified a royal liking of ancient Statues, by causing a whole army of old foreign Emperors, Captains, and Senators, all at once, to land on his coasts, to come and do him homage and attend him in his Palaces of Saint James and Somerset House. A great part of these belonged to the great Duke of Mantua ; and some of the old Greek marble bases, columns, and altars were brought from the ruins of Apollo's temple at Delos by that noble and absolutely complete-gentleman Sir Kenelm Digby kn'. In the garden at S*. James there are also half a dozen brass Sutues, rare ones, cast by Hubert le Sueur his Majesty's servant, now dwelling in S». Bartholomews London ; the most industrious and excellent statuary, in all materials, that ever this country enjoyed. The best of them is the Gladiator, moulded from that in Cardinal Borghesi's Villa, by the procurement and industry of ingenious Master Gage. And at this present the said Master Sueur hath divers other admirable moulds to cast in brass for his Majesty, and among the rest, that famous Diana of Ephcsus. But the great Horse with His Majesty upon it, twice as gfreat as the life, and now well nigh finished, will compare with that of the New Bridge at Paris, or those others at Florence and Madrid, though made by Sueur his master John de Bologna that rare workman, who not long since lived at Florence. At York-House also, the Galleries and Rooms are ennobled witli the possession of those Roman Heads and Stotues which lately belonged to Sir Peter Paul Rubens knight, that ex- quisite Painter, of Antwerp : and the Garden will be renowned so long M John de Bologna's Cain and Abel stand erected there, a piece of wondrous art and workmanship. The King of Spain gave it His • " Whkrbas we understand that an excellent Collection of Paintings are to be sold In Venice, which are knt»wn by the name of Bartolomeo della Stane his Collection. We are desirous that our beloved servant M'. William Pettye should go thither to make the bargain for them. We ourselves being resolved to go a fourth share in the buying of them (so it exceed not the sum of eight hundred pounds sterling) but that our Name be concealed in it : and if it shall please God that the same Collection be bought and come safely hither, then we do promise in the word of a King that they shall be divided with all equality in tnis manner ; viz. that they shall be equally di- vided into four parts by some men skilfull in painting; and then every one interested in the shares, or some one for them, shall throw the Dice severally; and whosoever throws most shall choose after first as he casts most, and shall take their shares freely to thdr own uses as they shall fall unto them. In witness wherof we have set our hande this eighth day of July In the tenth year of our Reign, A. D. 1694-" MS. Donat. Brit. Mus. 4ioe. art. es. I ^A Majesty at his being there, who bestowed it on the late Duke of Buckingham/* On the last dreadful event of King Charle«*8 life, a single Letter has occurred for the present Series. An Englishman at Venice details to another Englishman abroad, the arrival of the news of the King's death.* There is a Sermon among what are called the King's Pamphlets in the British Museum, entitled " The Subject's Sorrow, or Lamentations upon the Death of Britaine's Josiah King Charles," 4'». Lond- 1649; marked, in manuscript upon the title, as the production of bishop Juxon : being the only printed Sermon ascribed to him. It is written in a style of considerable fervour, and contains some interesting particulars of King Charles's character and manners. Noticing his Majesty's eloquence, the writer says, that had he not had " some natural difficulties in pronunciation, he would have been ap- proved the best orator and perfect master of language that ever Britain bred." It is expressly stated in this Sermon that the King himself desired ♦* that unto his Golden Manual might be prefixed his Representation kneeling, contemning a temporal Crown, holding our blessed Saviour's Crown of Thorns, and aspiring unto an eternal Crown of Happiness.'* ^ Adverting to the calmness of the King upon the Scaffold the author says, " He cheerfully undresst himself to his spiritual repose." The portion in which the strongest language is found in this discourse, is that addressed to Hugh Peters, in allusion to the Text of his memo- rable Sermon preached before the King : " Bind your Kings with Chains, and your Nobles with fetters of Iron." The bishop addresses him as the carnal Prophet, who walked by the light of his own eyes, and called his darkness light ; and " who (as the Jews unto our Saviour) reached vinegar and gall unto God's anointed in the agony of his sufferings." • The King's Speech upon the Scaffold waa published " by special authority," surrounded with a black border. " London, printed by Peter Cole, 1S4»." It has a few marginal notes of particulars which occurred at the Execution. «> This very Portrait of King Charles the First, engraved by Marshall, adorned the original edition of the E'xu;» B«ffiXixij. 8». l«48. The same Portrait, as Urge as life, in oil-painting, was afterwards put up in many of our Churches. ORIGIXAI. LhTTEKS. U55 LETTER CCLXV. Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincoln to the Duke (f Buck- ingham^ that he may he restored to the favour of the nexv King, [ms. harl. 7000. art. 103. Or\g.\ Most Gracious Lord, beinge com hither, accord- inge unto the dutye of my place, to doe my best ser- vice for the praeparation to the Coronation, and to wayte upon his Majestye for his royall pleasure and direction therein, I doe most humblye beseech your Grace to crowne soe many of your Graces former favoures, and to revive a creature of your owne, strucke dead onlye with your displeasure (but noe other discontentement in the universall worlde) by bringinge of me to kisse his Majestyes hand, with whom I tooke leave in noe disfavoure at all. I was never hitherto brought into the praesence of a Kinge by any Sainct beside your selfe ; tume me not over (most noble Lord) to offer my prayers at newe Aulters. If I were guilty e of any un worthy e unfaithfulnes for the time past, or not guiltye of a resolution to doe your Grace all service for the time to com, all con- siderations under Heaven could not force me to begge 256 OBIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 257 it so earnestlye, or to professe my selfe as I doe before God and you Your Grace his most humble affectionate and devoted servaunt JO: LINCOLN. Westm''. this 7''' of Januar. 1 625. To my most gratious Lord the Duke of Buckingham^ these. LETTER CCLXVI. Mr. Augustine Baker to Sir Robert Cotton^ entreating for a present of Books for the English Monastery at Camhray. [ms. cotton. JULIUS c. 111. fol. 187. Orig.^ • * The Abbe Mann in his Short Chronological Account of the Re- ligious Estoblishmentt made by English Catholics on the Continent of Europe, » says of the Benedictine Nuns of Cambray, " This Abbey was begun in the year 1623 by M". Francis Gavin and two others, all professed Nuns of the Monastery at Brussels. The esta- blishment was made chiefly by means of father Rudisind Barlow, Pre- sident of the English Congregation of St. Benedict, to which it ever after remained subject. These Nuns, besides the regular duties of the Order, were occupied in the education of young Ladies. In 1793 they under- went the same fate as all the other English Convents in France.** SiE, I was gladde to understande of your life and health, which this bearer being latlie in thes partes. Archaeolog. vol. xiii. p. 26T. made knowen unto me. I shall praie to God that the prolonging of your dales male be a meane to dispose you for the better departure, when it shall please God to call you out of this uncertein and short life. Ever since my being with you I have lived in a cittie in thes forein partes called Cambraie, assisting a Convent of certein religious English women of the order of St. Benet newlie erected. They are in number as yet but twenty nine. They are inclosed, and never seen by us nor by anie other unlesse it be rarelie uppon an extra- ordinarie occasion, but uppon no occasion male they go furth, nor male anie man or woman gette in unto them. Yet I have my diet from them, and uppon occasions conferre with them, but see not one another ; and live in a house adjoining to theirs. Their lives being con- templative, the comon Bookes of the worlde are not for their purpose, and litle or nothing is in thes dales printed in English that is proper for them. There were manie good English bookes in olde time, whereof, thoughe they have some, yet they want manie; and thereuppon I am in their behallf become an humble suitor unto you to bestowe on them such bookes as you please, either manuscript or printed, being in English, conteining contemplation. Saints Lives, or other de- votions. Hampole's workes are proper for them. I wishe I had Hiltons Scala Perfectionis in Latin; it woulde helpe the understanding of the English (and some of them understande Latin). The favour you VOL. III. SER. 2. s 258 ORIGINAL LETTERS. shall do them heerin will be had in memorie, both to- wardes you and your posteritie, whereof it male please God to sende some hether to be of the number, as there is allreadie one of the name, if not of your kindred. This bearer will convey hether such bookes as it shall please you to single out and deliver to him. I desire my humble service to be remembred to my Ladie allso, for whose soule with your owne and your posterities, myself and this Convent will be gladde to have such particular occasion as this will be to have you in perpetuall recommendation, wherein we will not be wanting. Your beadsman and servant in Christ. AUG'*. BAKER. Cambraye the 3d of June 1629. To Sir Robert Cotton knight and baronett. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 259 LETTER CCLXVII. The Lord DorcJ^ster to Mr. De Vic, Charge (T Affaires at Paris. Queen Henrietta retired to St. James's preparatory to her conjinement. A Doctor sent from France to attend her; who is ordered to return, [ms. iiarl. 7000. art, 161. Orig.'\ Sir, I HAVE received your Letters of severall dates and must in them acknowledge your diligence, by whose helpe we have a good representation of forraine Oc- currents in the varietie of their motions and progresse. And that the correspondence may be mutuall, so farre as the duties of your employ ements are interested in the knowledge of affaires here, I will acquaint you with some particulars to that purpose, wherein it will bee of neerest alliance and sympathie with the place you are in, to understand first the good health and contentement the Queene enjoyes at St. James, whither she is expresly retired to attend the happie hower for herself and us. The place proves very aggreable to both their Ma- jesties, as well for conveniency of lodgings which are well repartited for both, as for other respects ; the king s2 260 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^261 having his recreations neere, and the Queene her in- tertainenients and devotions, for which the new-built Chappel is decently adorned, and the new-come Ca- puchins lodged commodiously beyond the austeritie of their rule : so as the French Ambassador himself hath professed to me, he could not conceive how it was pos- sible for things in all respects to bee so well accom- modated. Yet in this generall satisfaction something hath fallen out to crosse it, by sending hether from France a cer- taine Doctor to attend the Queene in quality of her domesticque Physition. A point had been heretofore refused after earnest instance used for a Bishop and Physition to bee sent over, and his Majesties expresse pleasure to the contrarie declared here aswell to the Marquis de Chasteauneuf, as in France by Sir Thomas Edmonds. Yet this man hath beene addressed to the Ambassador to introduce him into the Court, and the Queene persuaded in cleare and plaine termes to speake to the King to admit him as domestique. His Majesty expressed his dislik of this proceeding, but with regard to the present state the Queene is in, and to the Queene mother (under whose name this man comes over) so as contenting himself to let the Ambassador know this Doctor may returne as hee is come, with intimation he should doe it speedily. The stile was afterwards changed, and the French Am- bassador willing to helpe the matter spake to the King, that the said Doctor might be admitted to kisse the Queenes hand and to carrie the newes into France of her Majesties safe delivery : which the King excused by a civil answere : and since commanded me to let him'* understand that he heard him as Mons'. de Fontenay in this particular, and answered him accordingly. But if he should persist herein and presse him as Ambassa- dor, he should be forced (considering what formerly passed both concerning the man and the matter) to say that which would displease him. And this I have let you understand with so particular relation of the cir- cumstances, to the end you should want no informa- tion how the businesse passeth, in case there should bee occasion ministred to make use thereof, though otherwise you neede not speake of it. I thank you for your particular and frequent advertisments which His Majesty likes very well of, and I rest Y''*. most assured DORCHESTER. Whitehall 27 of May 1630. • The Ambassador, kpit. f 262 OKIGINAL L£TT£KS. LETTER CCLXVIII. The Earl of Dorchester to Mr. De Vic: announces the birth of the Prince of Wales. [ms. harl. 7000. art. 162. Orig.] Sib, I EECEAVED this moming by M'. Hopton your last Letters, and though I had allready written to you by this bearer, the cause of publick joy, since hapned, occasions the addition of these lynes to let yow know that yesterday before noone the Queene was made the happy Mother of a Prince of Wales. Herselfe (God be thanked) is in good estate, and what a child can promise that reckons yet but two dayes, is allready visible, as a gratious pledge from Heaven of those blessings which are convayed and assured to King- domes in the issue of their Princes. As this hath sett on worke here whatsoever may serve to speake the fullnes of our harts in the language of publicke rejoysing, soe His Majestic hath thought fitt to communicate his con- tentment to the King and Queenes of France by his owne letters, whereof M'*. Montague is the bearer, and hath commission to invite that King and the Queene OUIGINAL LETTERS. 263 mother to joyne with the King of Bohemia ii^ christ- ning of the yong Prince. And soe in hast I rest Y'^. to be commaunded DO&CHESTER. From Whitehall The 30 of May 1630. To my very loving frend M'. De Vic remayning for his Migesties afiaires at Paris. LETTER CCLXIX- Mr, Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville. Sir Edward Coke declining in health. The Christening" of the Princess Sophia youngest daughter of tlie Queen of Bohemia. [MS. UARL. 390. foL 534. Orig,\ Sir Edward Coke being now very infirme in body, a freind of his sent him two or three Doctors to regulate his health; whom he told, that he had never taken phisick since he was borne, and would not now begin ; and that he had now upon him a disease, which all the drugges of Asia, the gold of Africa, the silver of America, nor all the Doctors of Europe could cure. Old Age. He therefore both thankt them and his friend that sent them, and dismist them nobly with a reward of twenty pieces to each man. 264 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 265 The youngest daughter of the Queen of Bohemia was lately christened at the Hage under the name of Sophia. Her Godfathers were the States of Frize- land, and Godmothers the Countess of Keulinberg and Madam de Brederode ; who each of them gave .£'30 sterling to be distributed in the Nursery, as the God- fathers did <^40, and in a box of gold (worth £50) a Patent to their God-daughter for a pension of £4^ durante vita. # • « « • LETTER CCLXX. George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering. The Birth of the Princess Mary, afterwards Princess of Orange. [m8. harl. 7000. art. 23a Orig.] SlE, Upon Thursday last the Duke of Vandom illegiti- mate brother to our Queen, arrived here from out the Lowe Countries, and is lodged at Sir Abraham Wyl- liams his howse. Upon Friday mominge about four of the clocke the Queene was (God be praised) safely delivered of a Princess, who was christened the same morninge, by reason it was weake (as some say) it beinge borne three weekes before the time : but I have heard it was done to save charges, and to prevent other Christeninge. The name MARIE ; the Countesses of Carlisle and Denbighe godmothers, and the Lord Keeper god- father; the Lady Roxborowe governess, and the Nurse one M"* Rennet (some say wife to a Baker) and daugh- ter to M'^'* Browne that keepeth Somerset House. # # # * * Your very assured friend and servant, GEORGE GRESLEY. Essex House the d^K of Nov. 163L The Harleian MS. 6988. fol. 133. contains the foUowing List of the Children of Charles I. and Henrietta, in the hand writing of their daughter the Princess Elizabeth : " Prince Charles borne at Greenwich May 15, 1629. Prince Charles borne at S'. James May 29, 1630. Princesse Mary borne at S». James November 4, 1631. James Duke of Yorke borne at S». James October 14, 1633. Princesse Elisabeth borne at S'. James December 29, 1635. Princesse Anne borne at S*. James March 17, 1636.» Princess Katharine borne at Whitehall Jan. 29, 1639. ^ Henry Duke of Gloster borne at Otlandes July 8, 1640. Princes Henrietta borne at Exeter June 16, 1644. Pbinces Elisabeth." • Fuller, in hi« " Worthies of England," relates the circumstances of the Princess Anne's death as they were told to him by Mistress Conant one of her rockers. He says, " She was a very pregnant Lady, above her age, and died in her infancy when not full FOUR years old. Being minded by those about her to call upon God even when the pangs of death were upon her, * I am not able,' saith she, * to say my long Prayer,' (meaning the Lord's Prayer) • but I will say my short one. Lighten mine eye; O Lord, leaf I sleep the sleep of death ;' this done, the litUe lamb gave up the ghost." Worth. Midd. p. 289. »» Katharine, says Fuller, survived not above half an hour after her baptizing. Ibid. p. 240. ^66 OEIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCLXXI. Mr. John Pm-y to Sir Thomas Puckering. The death of lA>rd Dorchester. Funeral of the Countess of Essex, Various Nercs, [MS. HARL. 7000. art, 171. Orig.] Noble Sir My Lord of Dorchester beiug now dead, and on Sunday night with no great pomp buried in West- minster Churche. Many there are both in Court and Towne nominated as competitors for his place ; some Lordes, as my Lord Cottington in chief, my Lord Viscount Falkland, my Lord Herbert, and my Lord Ashton, likewise Sir Thomas Roe, Sir Isaac Wake, Sir Kenelm Digby, to whonie some stick not to annex M'. Walter Montague and Sir James Bagg. My Lord of Dorchester, though he left no great estate behind him (not above .£*700 a year) yet left he a good name both of an able statesman, a sincere Pro- testant, and a true Englishman; bate me only the leane cheeks, canvas-trusses, and wooden shoes, which he mentioned once in Parliament. But then wee had a Duke. Since whose death we may say of my Lord Dorchester, as Virgil said of Hector, " Quantum mu- tatus ab illo.'^ « # * • • ORIGINAL LETTERS. 267 On Friday my Lord of Essex, accompanied by my Lords of Warwick and of Holland, was present at the solemnization of his mothers funeral in the chancel at Tonbridge ; her corps in a chariot covered with black velvet (attended on by eight Coaches and a great troupe of horse) being brought thither by Torches at midnight. • * • • • Now it is current in every mans mouth that the Kings journey into Scotland is putt off till another year. But on Tuesday his Majesty carried the Queene a pleasanter voiage, namely from hence to Theobalds, thence to Royston, so on to Cambridge (where three Comedies are provided for their entertainment) and lastly to Newmarket, where their Majesties doe stay till a fortnight before Easter, and then do return. The Statutes (as I take it) of 12"". of Queen Eliz. (enacting that whosoever buildes a Cottage, without laying four acres of ground unto it shall forfaict ten pound, and 40 . a year so long as that cottage doth stande) is now to be putt in execution here within twenty miles of London round about, where and in the suburbs of this Town will be found many thousand of such tenements. I am told, (but not by any of either house) that my Lord Rich being newly returned out of France shall marry the Lady Anne Cavendish, daughter to the late Earl of Devon. Her portion to be i?8000 from her 268 ORIGINAL LETTERS. father, and £S or 4000 from her mother. Her join- ture, <£2000 a yeare. My Lorde Riche his portion, after his fathers death, ,^6000 a yeare (all his brothers and sisters nobly provided for) and his present main- tenance, imtill then, i?1500 per annum. I heare that the unknighted Catholique Lords, lying all under the lashe of Queen Elizabeth'*s sta- tutes, (which, whensoever his Ma^>. shalbe pleased strictly to put in execution, he may soon undoe them all,) doe willingly compound for their knighthoods, paying only double to what they are in the Subsidy, whereas others, (if they can get it from them) must pay the treble, and one half over and above. My Lord Perpoint Earle of Kingston (who is e£^300 onely in the subsidy) is required ^o pay c£*2000 (which is almost seven times as much) but his Lordship refuseth so to do, and standeth upon his plea, and so, I hear, do twenty five Lords more. The Earle of Banbury aged four skore and six is sayd now to lye upon his death-bed ; but I hear that his sister, my Lady of Leicester, being six year elder, can yet walke a mile in a morning. My Lord Bishop of Lincolne called this other day before a Committee of the Lords, did muche repine at it, that he having been Lord Keeper, and for ought he knew being still of the body of that Counsell, should be brought before Referees, and not before the Body. The occasion was a complaint of D**. Lambe his chan- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 269 cellor against his Lordship, because he would by the strength of the Common Lawe deprive the Doctor of his office, for that he would not renew his patent from his Lordship, when it was proffered him ; whereupon my Lorde's Secretary having obtained the reversion of the Place, sues the Doctor at the common Lawe, et hinc nice lachrj^mce. On Monday one M"*. Sandwiche kinsman to my Lord Ashton giving M"". Henry Jermin, a prime ser- vant to the Queen, some fowle words in the preaching court at Whitehall (as supposing while M^ Jermyn was at play he had bandied balls on purpose at him, as he stood in the gallery at the upper end of the Tennis Court) M^. Jermin struck him a boxe on the eare. Sandwich drew his sworde, and had not the thrust been put by by a footman, had hazarded Jer- min's life. But how the Lords have censured it, I know not. ♦ # # ♦ ♦ Your humble Servant JO. PORY. London, Feb. 23, 163L 270 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 271 LETTER CCLXXII. Mr. Pory to Sir Tliomas Puckering. Tlie Qiieen prepares to act a Part icith her Ladies in a Pasto- ral. Ben Jonson writes his Play qf the Magnetic Lady. Her Majesty lays tlie two first stones qfthe Chapel for the Capuchins at Somerset House. Archbishop Laud. A Riot at Lincoln'^s Inn, a [ms. iiarl. 7000. art. 101. Ortg.'\ Noble Sir That story of king Henry the eigtlis raigne written in latine by Sir Henry Bourchier was never yet printed, nor will hee publishe or communicate it, till Sir Thomas Cottons study be sett at liberty, that hee may compare it with the originals there, out of which he first took it. That which the Queens Majesty, some of her ladies, and all her maides of honour are now practicing upon, is a Pastorall penned by M'. Walter Montague, wherein her Majesty is pleased to acte a parte, aswell for her recreation as for the exer- cise of her Englishe. Ben Jonson (who, I thought, had bene dead) hath written a play against next terme called the Magnetick lady. On Fryday at eleven in the fomoon Her Majesty with her owne handes helpt to lay the twoe first square corner stones, with a silver plate of e(iuall dimension between them, in the foundation of her Capuchins churche intended to be built in the Tennis court-yard of Somerset house, which stones in the presence of 2000 people at least they consecrated with great cere- mony, having caused to be ingraven upon the upper part of that plate, the pictures of their Magesties as Founders, and the lower side, of the Capuchines as consecratours. • » • ♦ « One day the last week my lord of Arundell and his Sonne my lord Maltrevers having espyed my lord of Canterburies coach on Bamsted downe coming towards theirs, before they came a butts length short of it both their lordships alighted, and went a great pace towards his Graces Coach, who when they were approached said " What ? And must my lord Marshal of England take so great paines to doe me so much honour? Were my legges as good as my hart, I should have mett your lordships the better half of the way."' Then my lord of Arondell replied, it might well become an Earle Marshall to give so much respect to an Archbishop of Canterbury, besides the particular obligation from his lordship to his Grace for his noble usage of his sonne and daughter Maltrevers, while they were his prisoners. 272 OKICINAL LETTERS. Whereupon my lords Grace took occasion to con- gratulate unto both their lordships my lord Maltrevers his brave and hopefull progeny, of three sonnes and a daughter : and so they parted. His Grace by his dyet hath so moderated his gout, as it is now rather an infirmity then a paine, hee lookes freshe and enjoyes his health, and hath his wittes and intellectualls about him ; so that if any other prelate doe gape after his benefice, his Grace perhaps (ac- cording to that olde & homely proverbe) eat of the goose which shall graze upon his grave. # ♦ ♦ • • On Munday in the evening diverse gentlemen of Lincolnes Inne throwing Brickbattes at a new built house at the lower end of their garden towards Hol- bome, because the owner had turned his house of office that waye, one out of the house dischardged haile shot upon M--. Attumies sonnes face, which though by good chance it mist his eyes, yet it pitifully mangled his visage. Your humble Servant JO. POBY. London Sept. 20 1632. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 273 LETTER CCLXXIII. Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering. Various News. King Charles the First has the Small Pox. Tlie Death of Gustavus King of Sweden, and of the Elector Palatine. Wagers laid that the King of Sweden is alive. The Duchess of Richmond sends a Silver Font for the Christening of Lord Carnar^ vorCs Child, [ms. harl. 7000. art. 185. Orig.] Right Hon^^^ Being obliged in your tume to write to your Lord- ship thither unto Warwick, whether you be present or absent, the first thing that proffers itselfe to my memory is that my Lord Mayour, for avoiding a dearth, will not suffer any towne-dwellers to sell meale in these marketts, but onely badgers and meale-men out of the countrey. On Satturday my lord of Leicester and Sir Robert Hanstruder, landed at Gravesend out of one and the same bottome, after his lordship had ended his am- bassage with the King of Denmark ; and Sir Robert his with the Emperour, being now to reside lidger in France. VOL. III. ser. 2. T 274 OIHGIXAL LETTERS. OBIUIKAI. I.ETTEKS. 275 Those fower of his Majesties ships royall which had bene so much talkt of, and have bene so long in pro- viding and rigging at Chatham, are now at length gone to sea ; Captain Plumley, the General, being not to open his commission untiU hee be come into the midst of the channell. I was tolde this other daye by a very knowing man, that they are first to take in the Queen mother and Monsieur at Dunkerk, and to carry them into Spame; and then to bring Don Ferdinand that Kinges onely brother to his government in the Low Countnes. However it bee, time will give us the truth of then- designe. On Satturday also his Majesty having taken colde, after he had heatt himselfe at Tennis, some redd spottes appeared on his face and breast, which by Sunday morning were converted into the Small Poxe ; yet the Queen (as I heard a French man of the court affirme) laye with him both those nights, and since allso, in the daye time, will never be out of his com- pany. This disease makes him not continually to keep his bedd ; but all the day long hee is up in a warme room with a furrM gowne on his back ; and is merry, and eats and drinkes hartily, and recreates himselfe with some game or other. And so (God be thanked) there is no doubt of danger in him. On Fryday Dalbier a German (who was Count Mansfelds paymaster in all his warres, hee that should have fetch't over the Dutch for the late Duke from Embden, and which hath served sometimes under the King of Sweden since his coming into Germany) Dalbier, I say, came to the court. And Burlamacki that accompanied him thither told me, the newes he brought out of Dutchland were as followeth : That hee was four dayes in the Swedish army, after the battell was fought. That hee sawe the dead body of the king of Sweden. That Papenheim, the bravest commander that ever serv'd the Emperour was slaine in the same battell. That the Swedish army gott the victory. That Walstein left his ordinance behinde liim. That Bernard Duke of Saxon Weymar pur- sued Walstein towards Bohemia : that Dalbier, as hee passed through Frankford, understood the Chancelour Oxeinstern was gone up to consult with the Duke Elector of Saxony about carriage of the maine busines : and that when Dalbier was come to Mentz, hee found the king of Bohemia dead there of the plague which hee had gotten at Frankford. « Thus farre Burla- macks. The manner of the king of Swedens death hee thus describeth; I mean Dalbier; the King (saith hee) being shott on the arme with a pistoll calPd to his cousin Bernard Duke of Weymar, to make way for his retreat, that hee might goe and dresse his wound. • The King of Bohemia died at Mentz Nov. ayh. less ; as it was subsequently mid of a nnal ignant fever. * /v i 276 OUKilN'AL 1, UTTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 277 But as the word was in his mouth, an horseman of the enemy prying the King steadfastly in the face, said, you are the birde wee have so long lookt, and with that shott him through the boddy with a brace of bul- letts ; so that the King fell off his horse stark dead, and Duke Bernard slewe the man that had thus killed him. But that which soundes harshe and incredible in all mens eares, is, that the Kinges Ixxly, thus falling, should bee so much neglected as to be left all day and all night in the field, and to be found next morning stript stark naked among the promiscuous carcasses. But Browne that arrived here on Saturday, being sent post by Curtius the kinges Agent from Frankford, contradictes Dalbier in this, saying, the Kinges corpse, so soon as ever it fell, was layd in a waggon, and that being since embalmed it is carried along with the army as an incentive to stirre up his soldiers to revenge his bloud. Both doe agree, that, the King by his last will and testament ^constituted the Queen his wife to succeed him in authority, and ordered a councill of warr con- tinually to attende her, that shee might signe and firme all their dispatches and resolutions. If the King of Bohemia bee dead, the Emperour hath a great advantage therby, because there is none now living but himselfe that hath any title to that so long controverted Crowne. Besides, upon that Kinge« death, our King and Sute are obliged to doe more for a Nephew then for a brother in lawe ; and more like- wise for a widdow then for a wife. Well, the mourning here in Court for both Kinges began on Sunday, and is to continue untill Newyeares daye : and yet some (and those not a fewe) are so in- credulous, as they will not beleeve the death of either. For yesterday there came letters to town from Am- sterdam, Haerlem, the Haghe, & Delft, which affirmed the king of Sweden to be alive, though those from Antwerp said the contrary. Yesterday there was at least 200''. layd in wagers that he is still alive. Mr. James Maxwells brother liearing them there yesterday affirme the kinges life so confidently, said hee would lay ten to one, the king was dead. Wherupon suche a throng of people came about him with golde in their handes as almost putt him out of countenance ; and made him glad to accept no more but three pieces. At night, with the tide, arrived from Delft a servant of one M'. Berrington, a merchant adventurer, who saith that letters from Leipsig & Magdeburg doe avowe the king to Ik? alive, and that the reason why it was generally thought he was dead, was, because so soon as hee was hurte he retired into his tent, and kept himselfe close there for twoe dayes under the surgeons hand. Some friendes of mine doe tell me there will shortly bee a Parlament for establishing the young Count Palatine in his inheritance : which if it should come to 278 OllIGlKAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 279 passe, the Kinges journey into Scotland must be pro- rogued untill another yeare, notwithstanding the gestes thereof be already sett downe. On Sunday the Duchesse of Richmond sent to her godsonne, my lord of Carnarvons childe, a Fount of silver for him to be christened in, and twoe CoUedge- Pottes,a one for the Nurse, and another for the mid- wife. So I rest and am your humble Servant JO. PORY. London December 6. 1632. LETTER CCLXXIV. Jo. Pory to [MS. iiARL. 7000. art. 18& Orig.^ Decemb. 1J3. 1632. • • ♦ ♦ • Sir W. C. ^ writes from Brussells, that the French there with the Queen Mother and Monsieur made ac- count to have kept a brave Christmas here at London, and for that purpose had trussed up their trinkets half topmast high: but it seemeth they reckoned before their host that should have been^ K. C.« and that M**. William Murray was not sent to the Queen mother in vain. . • « • ♦ « LETTER CCLXXV. Mr, Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering. The Queen of BoJiemia declines her Brother'^s Invitation to England. The Duchess of Buckingham endeavors to overthrow her Father'^s Will, Mr. Prynne Star- chambered Jbr his Work on the unlawfulness of Plays, [ms. HABL. 7000. art. 246. Orig.] * »Hvcr iiiu(^. b Sir William Curtiutt. Sir There is very little more newes this Week then I found at my coming to Town, and therefore might imagine that you had as much the last Weeke, or the same which I now can send. Yet to shew myself not slothfuller than heretofore to do you any service I can here, I have adventured to informe what I have learned : viz. * King Charles. 280 ORIGINAL LKTTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 281 That the Queen of Bohemia prays the Kings pardon for not coming into England at this present, in that she much desires that their meeting might be without any mixture of mourning at all, which her late great loss will not as yet permit her to perform : besides the States and Princes in those parts offering to go up into the Palatinate with the young Prince her son, to esta- blish him in some part of his Inheritance this next Summer, it might seeme some neglect in her to depart thence before the expiration of so short a time. ♦ # « ♦ • The Dutchess of Buckingham hath put in an In- formation into the Court of Wards against the nowe Earle of Rutland, wherebie she endeavours to over- throwe the late Earle her father's will, and thereby to recover all his personal estate, with the Castle of Bel- voir and divers other lands, as heir general, from the nowe Earle. M'. Prinne an Utter Barrister of Lincolns Inne is brought into the High Commission Court and Star Chamber, for publishing a Booke (a little before the Queene's acting of her Play) of the Unlawfullness of Plaies, wherein in the Table of his Booke and his brief Additions thereunto he hath these words, " Wo- men actors notorious whores C and that S . Paul pro- hibits women to speake publiquely in the Churche; " and dales then'' sayth he " any Christian woman be so more then whoreshly impudent as to act, to speake " publiquelie on a Stage (perchaunce in man's apparell " and cut haire) in the presence of sundrie men and " women ?" which wordes it is thought by some will cost him his eares, or heavily punnisht and deepely fined. • * ' * « * Your very assured friend and servaunt GEO. GIvESLEY. Essex House the 31 s^ of Januarie 1632. LETTER CCLXXVI. The Viscount Wentworth to the Earl of Newcastle^ defending his conduct in Ireland, [m8. uarl. 7190. fol. 12. Orig.^ •*• Sir Thomas Wentworth Bar', was made Baron Wentworth of Went worth- Woodhouse in the County of York by Ijetters Patents, dated July 22'. 4*'». Cha. I", and upon the tenth of December following was created Viscount Wentworth. He was immediately after this made Lieutenant of Ireland, and on the 12'*". of January in the \b^^, of Charles the First was raise^ to the dignity of Earl of Strafford. He was beheaded upon Tower HiU, May 12*''. 1641. His death, the reader knows, laid heavy on the conscience of King Charles the First. This Ijcttcr, written six years before his fall, is in some degree pro- 282 ORIGINAL LETTERS. OKIOIXAL LETTERS. 283 i phetic of the fate which befell him. " It hath been ever my fortune," he says, " that whatever I do, or have but a regard unto, must still paM the fiery trial.** My very good Lord I have receaved three of your Letters, for which I humbly thanke your Lordship ; and indeed they cam all at one passadge over unto me, so as I could not re- tume an answeare unto them other then togeither. I doe instantly desire your Lo'*. to beleeve I write no complement to my Lord of Newcastle, for beleeve me at one worde (and more since you so commaund you shall not heare from me) I never writ any thing of my respect and affection to your person but I will scale to the uniforme truthe of it with the best bloode I have. It is your LoP*. greate goodnesse to expresse so much care of my health, and indeed I will not either too much indulge it, nor yet willfully cast it from me, and so in a very indifferent temper submit all to the good pleasure of Almighty God. Ther hath been all possible indeavoure on that side to overthrowe or at least to blemishe the proceedings held this last summer, in the intitling his Ma^y. to the Province of Connaght, but his Ma^. persists im- movable to all ther arts, and gives us, his Ministers here, all the incouradgroent and support we can de- sire; so as I am very confident that businesse will go on to his desired end, and conclude with much honour and profit to his Ma^V., with greate security and settlement to this kingdome ; but to tell your Lo'. very plainly, itt will stande me upon to make sure to keepe my self close and squaire in all to his Ma**»^^. service, for I see passing well if they can in any sorte devide me from that, I shallbe soundly paid single. Well I give them good leave ; let them not spare me ; hitherto they have not gotten an eye of me, and I trust God shall still open my eyes both wayes ; and to give yo'. Lo». a taste that ther are bold men in the opposition, where it seemes they want itt, and daire put it upon lawe, equitye, or honoure upon all or any of them ; if ther be any of the three for them in the case aganst the Crowne I am content to loose my life, which I am indeed perswaded would not be taken to be the least pleasing thing in the worlde to some of them. It is probable enoughe my Lo. of Somerset may marry my sister in lawe, " ther is boute a beame,'' as the Hallifax phraise is, and yet it is most certaine the Earl of S'. Albans affects me not at all ; my Lord what thinke you, can I helpe either ? whie then lett every man doe as he likes, for as it is in the ballett, " I like the humour well.*" As concerning my Lord Cottingtons having the staffe, I finde your Lo*^. in one letter for the negative, and in your latter letter you incline to the affirmative ; things in contingencye are never more then probable, 284 ORUnXAL LETTERS. OKIGIXAL LKTTLllS. 285 and T confesse to have been allsoe at my severall read- ings upon this pointe of learning as well as your LoP.; yet still my opinion differs, for I was before Christmas very confidentt his Lo!>. would have been Treasoroure, and now since Christmas, I begin to suspect it plaguely he may chance to goe w^^out it; and in truthe I would give you my reasons, but that they are of many particulars which might require more lengthe then would well consist with civility. 'Tis very true indeed it is reported, and very loudly, that I was the death of the Late E. of St. Albans; beleeve me they might as well impute his being three- score and twelve yeares old unto me as a crime ; but hereupon they have taken hint and published me all over the Court for a man of the most austere and im- placable nature in the worlde. I wishe with all my heart the staffe were once in sum good hande or other, for ther are some on that side that do so abhor to thinke that it should ever be my fortune to touche upon it, as till that be surely lodged, it is not pos- sible to still thes base calumnies ; they dayly springe aganst me to make me odiouse, nor yet for my inno- cencye to be publikly hearde : but at after, I trust a poore man may be admitted to become a gamester to save his owne stake, whilst ther is nothing left on the borde for them to loose. 1 have indeed my Lord greate asseurance in his Ma*'^^ gratiouse favour and justice, and have hitherto abundantly tasted of both in my imployment on this side, nor was I ever left, or the hande of his pro- tection taken off me ; and so as I hold that footing, in good faithe I shall dance roundly and merrilye with all the rest. I am very confident he holds me an honest man, and will vouchsafe to heare me as oft as ther is occasion ; for the rest I have noe more to doe but to execute what he is pleased to commaunde, which I shall most readily and hartely pursue, be it with or aganst my opinion and affections. By the way doth yo'*. Lo'\ learne of me, or I of your Lo'. to write still thus crookedly towards the right hande, for my parte I thinke wee have both got such a tricke of it as wee shall scarsly leave it so long as wee Live. I am not of his opinion that makes your pretences at Court so hopeless ; his confidence cannot overcome, nor reduce my beleefe; I am sure his Ma^^. hath all the reason in the worlde lo grant your sute, being very much for his honoure and profit, and therfore the knowledge of his Ma*'^**'. wisedom still makes me perswade myself it willbe done. I shall never think otherwise. I heare nothing of his Majesties cumming hither ; but once in foure or five yeares it may becum not all- togeither unworthy his looking upon. Now before I shall in obedience to your LoPs, de- sire goe to bume your Letters, I cannot but easily 286 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 287 ■ i beleeve they that made me the manslayer of the E. of S^ Albans, will impute my Lo. Mountnorris unto me for willfull and plaine murther; and therfore have sent your Lo;>. the sentence past against him before a council of warre, to the intent you may have a clearer light into the trespasse that drew him within the danger of so heavye a iudgment. Only two things I assure your Lo'\ ; I gave noe opinion at all in the Cause, and that his Ma*y^ avowes me in what hath been done ; howbeit I understande sum other of the greate Lords open lowde aganst it, but it hath been ever my for- tune that what ever I doe, or have but a regarde unto, must still passe the fierye triall. Besides this proceeding had aganst the Lo. Mount- norris, ther is an other inquirye which hath been upon him, as touching sundry misdemeanours of his in his place of Vice-treasurer where the matter opens so foule upon him, as I doubte he will lose his place, and be found deeply censurable in the Castle-Chamber at after. And so I rise, and into the fire go your Letters ; and may I allso followe them if ever I be other to you, and all your commaunds, then Your Loi>\ most faithful and most DubUn this 27'K of humble servant January. 1635. wentworth. E. of Newcastle. I From the Harleian Manuscript 4931, fol. 8C. we learn that the names of those who voted against the Bill for Lord Strafford^s Attainder were posted up for a whole day, May 3d, 1641, in the yard which led to the Parliament stairs, with this Title " These are the Betrayers or their Country." The following were the names. Lord Digby, Mr. Herbert, Sir Richard Owen, Sir Henry Slingsby, Sir William Camaby, Capt. Digby, Sir Edward Elford, Mr. Holboume, Mr. Tailor, Mr. Price, Mr. Newport, Capt. Pollard, Mr. Fen wick, Mr. Venables, Mr. Edw. Kirton, JVIr. William Withrington, Sir Richard Lea, Mr. Jo. Coventry, Mr. Jane, Mr. Porter, Mr. Scoone, Lord Buckhurst, Sir George Clifton, Sir William Pennyman, Sir Thomas Danby, Sir Robert Hatton, Mr. 'Weston, Mr. Alford, Mr. Bridgman, Mr. William Mallory, Mr. Fettiplace, Mr. Griffith, IVIr. Arundell, Mr. Edgecombe, Mr. Warwick, Mr, Loyd, Mr. Christoph. Price, Mr. Parrey, Mr. Travinnion, Mr. William Stanhope, quart. Lord Compton, Sir Th. Fanshaw, Sir George Wentworth, Sir Nic. Stanning, Sir Patrick Curvein, Mr. M'eston, Serjeant Hide, Mr. Sclden, Mr. Chickley, Dr. Turner, Mr. Th. Cooke, Mr. Griffith, Air. Portman, Mr. Alberough, Mr. Sidn. Godolphin, Mr. Nodi, Sir Fred. Comwallis, Sir Geoi^ Wentworth. • Mr. WTiite, The following persons were absent whose good will for Lord Straffi)rd was known : Mr. Henry Piercy, * Sir Guy Palmes, Sir Joh. Strangwaies, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Strangwaiet, 31r. ChadwelL Mr. Edw. WaUer, • This name occurs twice, as if Intended to mark the i>erM>n as a member of Lord Strafford's family. f 1 ' i; 288 ORIGIXAL LFTTF.RS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 289 11^ 11 Two hundred and four voted for the Bill, beside near twenty who de- Glared themselves not to have been present at the hearing of the Cause. . Among what .re called The King's Pamphlet, in the British Mu^um the CoUectio^of which . begun by a Mr. George Thojna^n . -" ^"^""^^.'^".X Tn order of King Charles the First, there is a .ingle folio sheet, printed at London in 1041, containing *• Vkrsbs iHtel^ written by Thomtu Earle ofStmfford. 1. Go, empty Joyes, With all your noyse. And leave me here alone In sweet sad silence to bemoan* Your vaine and fleet delight, Whose danger none can see aright. Whitest your false splemlor dimmes hU sighU Goe and insnare With your false ware Some other easie wight. And cheat him with your flattering light : Rain on his head a shower Of Honours, Favor. Wealth, and Power, Then snatch it from him in an houre. Fill his big mlnde With gallant winde Of insolent applause : Let him not feare all curbing Uwes, Nor King and Peoples frowne, But dreame of something like a Crowne, And climbing towards it tumble downe. Let him appeare In his bright sphere. Like Scynthia in her pride. With sur-like troups on every side; Such for their number and their light As may at last o'rewhelme him quite And blend us both in one dead night. S. Welcome sad Night, Grief's sole delight, Vour mourning best agreet With Honour's funetall obaequie* : In ThetU lap he Ucs Mantled with soft securities. Whose too-much sun-shine blind* his ey«. The charge against the Lord Mountnorris of mutiny, alluded to in the preceding Letter, fonned one of the more memorable incidents of Lord Strafford's life. He came over to England, in consequence of the issue of the trial, to answer his accusers in person, and to vindicate himself from the charge of oppression. Was he too bold That needs would hold With curbing raines the Day, And make Sols fiery steeds obey ? Then sure as ra&h was I Who with ambitious wings did fly In Charles his Waine too loftily. T. I fall I fall. Whom shall I call > Alas can he be heard Who now is neither lov'd nor fear'd ? You, who were wont to kisse the ground Where e're my honour'd steps were found. Come, catch me at my last rebound. 8. How each admires Heav'ns twinkling fires. When, from their glorious seat, Thrtr influence gives life and heat : But O ! how few there are, (Though danger from that act be far) Will stoop dnd catch a falling Star. 9. Now 'tis too late To imitate Those Lights, whose pallidnesse Argues no inward guiltinesse : Their course one way is bent : The reason is theres no dissent In Heaven's High Court of Parliament" Another Copy of this Sheet, with an •• Elegiack Poem" also said to have been penned by the Eari a little before his death, printed in the same year, occurs in the Harleian MS. 4981 : but, at the bottom is written in a contemporary hand " Strafford never niade a Verse in hit life. Tkstk Epis. Armaou." VOL. III. SER. 2. h I 290 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCLXXVII. The Covenanters to the King. Proposals for Peace. A. D. 1639. [MS. HARL. 6851. art. 6. Orig.] • ♦ A short passage from Hume shaU form the Introduction to thi* Letter " The Scottish army was a« numerous as that of the King, but inferior in cavalry. The officers had more reputation and experience ; and the soldiers, though undisciplined and iU-amied, were animated as well by the national aversion to England and the dread of becoming a province to their old enemy, as by an unsurmountable fervour of religion. The Pulpits had extremely assisted the officers m levying recruits, and had thundered out anathemas against all those rvho went not out to assist the Lord against the mighty. Yet so prudent were the leaders of the malcontents, that they immediately sent submissive Messages to tlie King, and craved to be admitted to a Treaty.'* One of these Messages is now before the Reader, with the Answer which was sent in return. To the Kinges most excellent Majestic the Supplication of his Majesties Subjects of Scotland, humblie shewinge, That whair the former meanes used by us have not beene effectuall, for recovering your Majesties favor and the Peace of this your Majesties native kingdome, wee fall downe yett againe at your Majesties feete, most humblie suplicating that your Majestic wold be graciously pleased to appoynt some few of the many worthic Men of your Majesties Kingdome of England whoe are well affected to the true religion and to our ORIGINAL LETTKRS. S91 common peace, to hcare, by some of us of the same disposition, our humble desyres, and to make knowen to us your Majesties gracious pleasure ; that as by the Providence of God wee are joyned in one Hand under one King, soe by your Majesties great wisdome and tender care all mistakinges may be speedily removed, and the Two Kingdomes may be kept in peace and happiness under your Majesties long and prosperous raigne; for which wee shall never cease to prdy, as becometh your Majesties most faithfull Subjects. (The Answer.) At His Majesties Camp, the eighth of June 1639. His Majestic having understood of the obedience of the Petitioners in reading his Proclamation as was com- manded them, is graciously pleased so farre to con- descend unto their Petition, as to admit some of them to repaire to his Majesties Camp upon Monday next, at eight of the Clocke in the morninge, at the Lord Generals tent ; where they shall finde Six persons of honor and trust appointed by his Majestic to hearc their humble desires. JOHN COKE. u 2 292 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 293 !i 111 ill LETTER CCLXXVIII. The Marquis of Hamilton to King Charles the First. [MS. HARL. 7001. foL 87. Orig.^ • • Sanderson, in his History of the Reign of Charles the First, expUins the object of this Letter. He says, " There feU out an accident in Scodand whilst the King was there, concerning the two Marquesaea Hamilton and Argyle; upon some information that their persons were in danger, they both withdrew from the Parliament of Scotland, and for some days removed out of Edinburgh. The suggestions were exammed in that Parliament, where they had power enough, yet nothmg was M)parent to their prejudice, and the examinations upon the whole matter sent hither by the King to the Parliament in England, such strange glosses and interpretations were made upon that acciden^ reflecting upon the King and his honour, as if at the same time there had been such a design to have been acted here as they had fancied there."* Most sacred Soveraigne, It is an exceedinge great grief unto me that your Majesty^s affaires suffer so great delayes through the interruption of this unhappie business which occasioned my removal from Court upon those grounds I have by my former Lettres humbly represented to your Majesty. But seeing the effects thereof have been so far contrary to my intentions, I doe with all humility beg your Ma- jesty's pardon for the same. Nor am I able to expresse my real trouble for that heavy aspersion I am informed is laid upon me, as if I could have admitted a thought • IlUt. of the Life and RaiRne of King ( harles. fol. 1688. p. 4«4. of your Majesty's being privy to any such base acte which I heard was intended against me; a crime greater in me to have believed than in any else living, who hath had the honor and happinesse soe long to know your Majesty, and of whose goodness and favors I have had soe many and real testimonies, which at all tymes I shalbe ready to declare unto the world and make appeare by my carriage that I shall ever prefer the good of your Majesty ''s service before any thing that can conceme Your Majesty^'s humblest servant, and most faiethfuU and loyall subjecte HAMILTON. Kcneill tlie 23* of October 1641. A printed sheet in the possession of Benjamin Heyi^ood Bright, Esq. presents a View of the state of Holland at this time, in re^^ard of its policy toward England, in " The Copy of a Letter written by Mr. William Newton, one of the Gentlemen Uthen unto the Lady Elizabeth, unto his brother Francis Newton, Esq. one of the four Squires of the Body to hit Majettie, From the Hage, March the W\ new stilCy 1641. " Brother, ^^ Wee are here at the Hage, but in little better case, as touching feares and jealousies, then you are in England : true, the matter of the Prince of Orange is seemingly composed, I wish I could say ended, fire raked up may possibly appeare, yea and flame. The States will not trust him with monies and paying of the Armie as formerly : but will set up and create a new Officer for that purpose. This sometimes dis- 21)4 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. J^95 contents his Highnesse. The Governor of Bergen ap Zome, that Town of so great strength, being once a neere servant to his Highnesse, and brought up a long time under him, in very necre services, and preferred unto that great place of trust by the Prince's mediation, him would the States now very faine remove : but the talk goes here that He will not hearken to it, having that great garrison firm on his side ; as it is feared upon too just grounds. The Prince hath all the Annie, so that wee are not yet heere quite cleer of all surmises of after-claps. The Burgers in the Townes plainly give out that they feare the Prince hath been afore- hand with them : and one of the Burgemasters of Flushhig, openly in my master the Prince's presence chamber, told my Lord Goring, in my hearing, that they had just cause to feare that the Prince's son's marriage with the eldest daughter of the King of Great Brittaine, had set the Prince on such a high straine, that shortly hee doubted either then- ruinc or his owne. Pray God things may stand as they were, for unwonted aspiring thoughts produce many times enterprizes more pleasing than successfuL If distempers should again break out here, I thinke wee must be forced to come to visit you in England. Truth is, the States Generall have never the better opinion of the Prince of Orange since this match : some think the worse. Nay their usuall respects are something colder toward my Lady and blaster, who, I dare say upon my oath, is . heartily grieved for this distance, and discorrespondence between the Prince and them, and hath no interest or partnership, but sorrow in it, "Und who must needs reape disconvenience by it : and may account this to the rest of her crosses. The Queen's entertainment at the Hage is in my very soule more royall then heartie, the Dutch liberalitie is almost at an end; and the Queen's entertainment begins to slaken with them : only his Highnesse holds on his wonted noblenesse in chearing her. They set her Majestic a day that they would be rid of her, if so it please or stand with her occasions. Proclamation against your Parlia- ment delinquents, forbidding them strictly to repaire hither during her l^Iajesties abode here upon paine of imprisonment, and sending back into England with strict guard, hath been here published in all Townes and dominions of the States ; yet two have bravely adventured to kisse her hand, who came hither wonderfully well disguised, and walked not openly in Court, lay in the Prince of Orange's owne lodging, and after two dayes took their leave either for France or Brussels. God knowes the Qucene is very narrowly watched here, as a Personage of her quality may bee, and I durst pawn my life the Parliament hath some agents here meerly to attend that businesse ; and three of them are, in my con- science, L. O. S. S. I. H. Her Majestic would have gone first to Cullen, to have attended upon her mother, then to Brussels, but was denied. The Prince of Orange seemed very forward to accompli^» of September, 1642. LETTER CCLXXXII. C. H. to William Saner oft, then ofEmunuel College Cambridge, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, The BaUle ofEdge-Hill. A, D. 1642. [MS. HARL. 3784. fol. 141. Orig.'\ ♦^* C. H. ia believed to be C. Henshaw. On Sunday last I saw the Battle which was the bloudiest I believe the oldest soldiers in the field ever I", r 11 302 ORIGINAL LETTERS. saw. We have routed utterly their horse and slain it chased away so considerable a party of their foot, that the Enemy is very weak. Though we have lost some, yet few of eminency, save some prisoners. The Earl of Lindsey, Willoughby, & Colonel Lunston, the Lord St. John, with the Lord Fielding are slain, with many others. My Lord of Essex escaped us by being in an alehouse. We have his coach, & much money in it. There needs no more to assure any understanding man we had the day, than to tell them (which is true) we had all their ordnances in the field & fetcht them out next morning in their sight. They are so weak they have entrenched themselves, and we are now going on our intended march to Oxford, having only gone backward on Sunday to bestow this breathing on them. We have taken about five colours and cornetts, and lost about five or six colours, but never a comett. The King hath five hundred of their horse alive, and of eighteen hundred not one horse is left them. At the beginning of the fight two double troops came over to the Kings party commanded by Sir Faithfeill For- tescue and Mr. Gervase Pain, & fought against that side. It is commonly reported the Earl of Essex his soldiers run away dayly. Three hundred prisoners are taken, among which is Serjeant Major Barrey a recusant of the Irish. Some of those affirm that on their side are slain no less then four thousand. My Lord Albeny is slain on the King'^s side, and Doctor ORIGINAL LETTERS. 303 Lake. The King gave fire to the first piece, the Lord General having first demanded the word, which was *' Go in the name of God and Pll lay my hones with ymirs^ Marquis Hartford is now on march with ten thousand men armed out of Wales, and intends to meet the King at Oxford. Sir R. Hopton and Mr. Rogers bring as many from the West Country. c. H. There is another Account of this Battle extant upon the Minutes of the Society of Antiquaries, to whom it was communicated by their Se- cretary Dec. 20*''. 1792. ** It states that on Sunday the 23d of October, about 7 o'clock, there came warning to the band to which the writer belonged, of their address to the Court of Edgcote where they had left his Majesty the night before; that they must at all speed come away, for that the Parliament Forces were drawn very near them, and His Majesty intended to give them battle. But His Majesty and most of the Army were gone before to Edgehill six miles off, and there they saw the enemy about two miles off. So the Army drew down the hill into a plain of arable ground between Edgehill and Keynton. All was set in readiness by two oVlock, and then the great Ordnance played upon each army till three o'clock or after ; that they joined both horse and foot in several wyngs as in such cases, and still the great Ordnance playing on both parts in terrible manner. It so continued, with many severall passages of wounded men brought off and slain on both parts, till six o'clock at night, and in apparent view," says the writer, ** our men got ground of them, and our Horse quickly routed theirs, and chased them about three miles in execution, the whilst the greatest part of the foot were now in exceeding hot service and many slain on both parts, but, it is said most of theirs, and conceived seven or eight thousand, and fire pieces of Ordnance taken. How many of their Army fell can not be known but to those that miss them, or what men of eminence slain, but the Lord St. John who was shot through the body was taken and dyed next day. Sir William Essex *■ and divers others • Lortl Clarendon calls him Charles Essex, and says he had been bred up a Page under the Earl of Euex. 1. iii li i' I \m 304 ORIGINAL LETTERS. were taken prisoners. It is doubted whether our Lieut Gen. is taken or slain being shot in the leg, his son the Lord Willoughby taken prisoner and sent by them to Warwick Castle, also carryed thither ColL Longford,* Coll. Stradling, and Coll. Vavasour. " Sir Edmund Vamey the Kn'. Marshall being the Master Standard- bearer slain, and the standard gotten by the enemy, but fetched off again and brought to his Majesty by Capt. Smyth a young gentleman whom his Majesty knighted the next morning in the field. " The Lord Abignye slain, many noble Gentlemen hurt. Cap. Howard second son to the Earl of Berkshire, Sir Nicholas Biron, ColL Fielding, Sir Richard Grims, Sir George Shaw of Kent, and others. " The number of oiur common men lost not certainly known, but the next evening we perceived some of our Companies lessened, yet certainly not by a fourth part so many as of theirs. " Our Band attended his Majesty in a squadron on his right hand, and our servants at a distance behind us, but after an hour or thereabout he commanded Sir William Howard our Lieut, with our band to uke charge of the Prince and the Duke of V'ork, whereupon the Princes by his Majesty's direction were drawn a little farther out of danger, biTt for- wardly the great Bullets often fell near the King and them, and some passed over their heads that his Majesty was often importuned to draw ofF further, but by no means would, and presently rode away into the head ranks and encouraged them on with great valour and resolution, that all men were much distracted for fear of him, but praised be God he came happily off, and stayed all that night on the hill only by a fire, giving order for all things as occasion required. " Before it was quite dark we had a command from the King to cany the Princes away to the house they lay at the night before; but the piBHgr being ill, it was now eight o'clock ere they alighted, from whence about two o'clock they hasted away to the King again at Edgehill, where we found all things preparing for another battle, and the enemy who had been somewhat better refreshed by their retirement into Keynton made some shew of expecting us again ; but his Majesty who had that night often bemoaned the loss of so much blood among his own subjects, thought better for that time to draw away his army, than to put on his own men and horses again that had met with no relief but had stood and lain upon the cold groimd from Sunday Evening to Monday noon." A third Account of this Battle, written by one Bernard Stewart, occun in the Harleian Manuscript 3785. All these Narratives, written at the moment, in their general tenor • Lumford. ORI(;iNAL LKTTEKS. 305 confirm the details given by Lord Clarendon, but with the addition of some new and striking facts. Lord Clarendon mentions one or two instances of wounded persons of rank being carried, after the Fight of Edgehill, to Oxford for surgical as- sistance : but among Sir Hans Sloane's Manuscripts is a Diary of one Byrne a. Surgeon, whence it appears, from a case or two, that some who were wounded by gunshots both at Edgehill and Newbury were brought even to a London Hospital for assistance. Compare MS. Donat. 153. foU. 137, 139. LETTER CCLXXXIII. The King to tite Rector and Felloivs of Exeter College Oxford^ for the loan of their Plate. [from the archives of EXETER COLLEGE. Orig.\ •/ Ruding, in his Annals of the Coinage of Britain, has detailed numerous particulars of the loan made by the University of Oxford and its Colleges to King Charles the First, after the batde of Edge hill, of their money and plate. It was on this account that the King removed his Mint from Aberystwith to Oxford : and thence issued a very large proportion of the silver coin, still extant, which bears his name and effigies. Ruding has given a particular enumeration of the Plate sent to the King by the Colleges, in the months of January and February 1643, amounting to something considerable as bullion. S«. John's College however is omitted in the List : and the common report has been, that that College, of which the archbishops Laud and Juxon were successively Presidents, refused to deliver its plate to the King. Among D^ Rawlinson's Collections in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, is a folio volume of 3Iemoranda relative to the Baskerville family, uTitten by one Thomas Baskerville, who takes occasion to introduce an account of most of the Colleges with some of the College customs, and among others has the following relating to S'. John's. " I am informed by my worthy friend ^V. Richard Rod, that when King Charles the First had his residence in Oxford, in the time of oar VOL. III. SF.R. 2. T ■I i a li: II 806 ORIOINAT. LETTERS, Civil Wars, the King wanting cash to pay his soldiers, he was necessi- tated to send for the College Plate to coin money, and accordingly had it delivered to him. But S». John's College people being loath to loose the memory of their benefactors, gave the King a summe of money to the value of it, and so it staid with them some time ; but the King's urgent •ccasions for money stiD pressing him forward, he sent to demand it a second time, and had it; vpon w'ch the King ordered the rebus of Richard Bayly tht then President of S'. John's, 1644, to be put on the money coin'd with the Plate. M'. Rod did help me to half a crown of this money, which hath the Rebus of Rich. Bayly on both sides viz. under the King a horse back on one side, & under, this motto rel : PRO : LE : ANG : LIB : PAR. The Protestant Religion, The Laws of England, and the Priviledge of Parliament. And, under 1644. on the other side." It should be added that Mr. Baskerville, who was a friend of Anthony a Wood's, lived about 1680, sufficiently near the time to ensure the ac- curacy of such a statement, to fabricate which he could have no sufficient motive. The existence of the coin with the R. B. upon it, and the addi- tional circumstance of the College not having in its possession any plate with a date antecedent to the Restoration ( the communion.plate excepted) corroborates what has been advanced, and so strongly, that the common report, founded doubtless on the retention of the silver in the first instance, is now unworthy of credit Charles R. Trusty and welbeloved wee greete you well. Wee are soe well satisfyed with your readyness and affection to our service that wee cannot doubt but you will take all occasions to express the same : and as wee are ready to sell or engage any of our Land, soe wee have melted downe our Plate for the payment of our army raysed for our defense and the preservation of the , Kingdome. And having received severall quantityes of Plate from divers of our loving subjects, wee have removed Our Mint hither to Our Citty of Oxford for the coyning thereof And wee doe hereby desire you. oru;inal letters. i307 that you will send unto Us all such Plate, of what kinde soever, which belonges to your College, pro- mising you to see the same justly repay ed unto you after the rate of 5s. the ounce for white, and 5s, 6d. for gilt Plate, as soone as God shall enable us ; for assure your selves wee shall never lett persons of whom wee have soe great a care to suffer for their Affection to Us, but shall take speciall order for the repayment of what you have already lent to Us, according to our promise, and allsoe of this you now lend in Plate, well knowing it to bee the goods of your College that you ought not to alien ; though noe man will doubt but in such a case you may lawfully lend to assist your King in such visible necessity. And wee have entrusted our trusty and welbeloved S'". William Parkhurst Kn'. and Thomas Bushell Esq. Officers of our Mint, or either of them, to receive the said Plate from you, who upon weighing thereof shall give you a Receipt under their or one of their hands for the same. And wee assure our selfe of your very great willingnesse to gratify Us herein, since besides the more publique Consideracions you cannot but knowe how much yourselves are con- cerned in our sufferings. And wee shall ever remem- ber this particular service to your advantage. Given at our Court att Oxford this (>'*» day of January 1642. To our trusty and welbeloved the Rector and Fellowes of Exe- ter Colledge in our University of Oxon. X 9 ii 308 ORTC.IKAL LETTERS. LETTER CCLXXXIV. The King to the Rector and Fellows of Exeter Col- lege, Jar individual subscriptions Jbr a limited time for the support of Troops, [from the archives of EXETER COLLEGE. Orig.^ Charles R. Trusty and wellbeloved wee greet you well. Wee doe with great unwillingness renew our desire of trouble and charge to any persons from whom wee have re- ceaved such ample testimonyes of their duty and af- feccion as wee confess to have received from you ; but wee are confident you doe enough understand your owne welbeing to be soe much comprehended in ours, that you will upon all occasions extend the utmost of your abilityes to assist us, and therfore wee have thought fit to impart a busines unto you wherin all well affected persons about us have expressed great readines and alacrity to serve us, in undertakeing se- verally to pay soe many of our foote soldiers at fower shillings the weeke (for one month) as they think fit, in which without any great burthen to themselves they advaunce our service in a very considerable degree. Wee doe hereby recommend the consideration herof to you, not doubting but that you will so far express ORIGINAL letters. 309 yourselves this way, that wee shall not be disappointed of our expectation. Wee doe assure you in the word of a King that this charge shall lye on you but one moneth, beyond which you shall not need to feare it shall be comended to you. And our pleasure is that you retorne the names of the severall members of your Colledge who shall subscribe (with their subscriptions, for wee expect this supply from perticulers and not from the publique stock, which wee beleeve to be exhausted already for our ayde) to our Chancellor of our Ex- chequer within two dayes after the receipt of this our Letter, that he may present the same to us ; and soe wee may be informed of the perticuler persons whoe in this our extremity are soe sensible of us. And soe wee bid you heartily farewell. Given at Our Court at Oxford this 27t»» day of June 1643. To Our trusty and welbeloved, the Rector and Fellowes of Exeter Colledge. LETTER CCLXXXV. The King to Thomas Bushell, Esq. Master Worker of the Mines Royal, acknowledging his Services, [cart. UARL. AVTia. lll.B. 61. Orig."] •^* Thomas Bushell, Esq. had succeeded Sir Hugh Middleton in 1631 as liessee of the Lead-Mines in Cardiganshire, which were so rich in silver as to come under the denomination of Mines Royal. 310 OKIGIXAL LKTTERS. In ari Indenture between the King and him dated July 30th, 1637, H is stated that he had given to His Majesty and his Privy Council in- formation of the richness of the mines in the Principality, the goodness of the Ore of which had been, till then, ^o far unknown, that it had been transported to other nations for Potters ore, out of which strangers refined silver. In consequence, power was given to Bushell to set up the Mint at Aberystwith, which has been already mentioned, for the coining of all such bullion as should be drawn from the mines of the Principality : the mint to be from time to time regulated by the Warden of His Majesty's Mint in the Tower of London, whence the coining-irons were also to be received. Bushell was, for a while, placed under sequestration by the Parliament ; but, finally, had his Grant of the Mines Royal confirmed to him both by Oliver and Richard Cromwell.* Charles li. Thustie and welbeloved, wee greete yoii well ; callinge to minde your vigilant eye of care upon all occasions, and the nianie true services you have actually done us in these times of trying a subjects loyalty : as in raiseing vs the Darbyshire Minors for our life Guard at our first entrance to this warr for our owne defence, when the Lord Lieutenant of that Countie refused • Nor was it to the Parliament only that Mr. Bushell stood livlebted for perse- cution. The following Letter from King C'liarU* the becond while in exile speaks of the individual cruelty of certain persons who dealt with him. The Original Lt preserved among the llarleian Charters in the Museum, cart. 86. h. ST. C.R. Wee greete you well ; beinpe cretlibly informed that you and your partners con- tinue your cruelty against M'. Bushell, farmer of our Mines Hoyal, and recall your bargain made with him for the pre-emption of his own Lead, to the utter ruin of him .•md the rest that gave him credit, (notwithstanding the Intercession of our deceased father's Letter) to the contrary, which you shall find us to l)e so sensible of, that, if by your oppression he be forced to leave the country and consequently his employ- ment in our mines Royall for the public good, you may rest assured upon the word of a Prince we shall take and esteeme your severity or civility unto him as to ourself. ami, when lime shall serve, requite the same to you and your i>o»tcrilit*. Given under our hand this fourth of August 1640, stllo vcteri. To Thuuixs Ucaci>n and Lucus Lucy, Mccchout^. OKltilNAL LETTERS. 311 to appear in the service : supply inge us at Shrewsbury and Oxford with your Mint for the payement of our Armye, when all the Officers in the Mint of our Tower of London forsook their attendance, except S**. Wil- liam Parkhurst : your changing the dollars with w^^'. wee paid our Souldiers at six shillings a piece, when the malignant partie cried them downe at ffiue : your stopping the Mutinie in Shropshire when the soldiers had left their arreares uppon the Country e, and brought the associacion of the Gentrie to perfeccion : your providing us one hundred tonnes of lead shot for our Army without mony, when we paid before twentie pounds per tonne; and your helpinge us to twenty six pieces of ordinance, when wee were at a straight for supplying of Chester, Shrewsbury, and other places : your cloathing our liefe Guard and three regiments more, w'^'. suites, stockings, shoes, and moun- terees when wee were readie to march in the flfeild : your invention for our better knowinge and rewardinge the Forlorne Hope with Badges of Silver at your own charge when the soldiers were ready to run away through the instigation of some disafected persons : ^ • The only specimen of this Badge at present known, is in the Cabinet of Edward Hawkins, Esq. of the British Museum, who also possesses a copy of the Proclanui- tion under which it was issued : and which is too curious not to be transcribed here. " Charles R. •• Trusty and well beloved. We greet you well. Whereas we have received in- formation that those Souldiers which have been forward to serve us in the Forlorn HoPB, are not looked upon according to their merited valour and loyal service. Wc do therefore require, that from hence forward the Commander in Chief, lx>th of Horse and Foot, which lead up the Forlorn Hojx;, upon whom also wc mean to be- stow special Tokens of our Princely favour, do signify in writing the names of those -1 i: r [ I i!lj '4 312 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 313 mi your contraclinge with Merchants beyond the Seas, for providing good quantities of powder, pistoll, carabine, muskett and bullen, in exchange for your owne com- modities, when wee were wantingeof such ammunicion : with diverse other several I services which wee hope our royall successors will never forget, and to assure you that w ee shall beare them in our princelie remembrance. Wee hereby promise you, in the word of a Prince, to make those traiterous subjects Smyth, Wild, and Ste- phenson for to restore those lands of Chawford Dene, Hampsteede, and Euston which you sold them, and to free you and your three Sureties Edmund Goodier, Charles Mordent, and the ladie Anne Wade of the debts you owe to such rebellious persons as shall be proved they have assisted the Parliament (either by their purse or power) against vs, to the end that you maye enjoy your desires at Euston rocke and the soulttiers whom they fint most forward in scrvinp their Kitiff and foundry, that care may be taken to reward their deservings, and make them specially known to all our good subjects. For which end we have thought fit to require Sir William Parkhur»t knight, and Thomas Bushell esquire. Wardens of our Mint to provide, from time to time, certain Badgkh of Silvkr, containing our royal Imairf and that of our dearest aon Prince Charles, to be delivered to wear on the breast of every man who shall be certified under the hand of their Commander in Chief to have done us faithful service in the Forlorn Hope. And we do therefore most straitly command, that no Souldier at any time do nell, nor any of our Subjects presume to buy or wear any of these said Hadgrs, other than they to whom we shall give the same, and that under such pain and punishment as Our Council at War shall think fit to inflict, if any shall presume to offend against this our Royal command. And we farther ret. Kcb. vol. ii. p. Tie. \-\\ i ^'N 316 ORIGINAL LETTEIIS. TheKing^by a difTerent conveyance, sent another Letter to Sir Theodore. It was comprised in a single line. " Mayeene, Pour ramour de moy, alle trouver ma Femine. C. R." h ' Sib Theodore Mayeme and Sir Martin Lister, left London in the Queen's chariot on May 21st, and arrived at Exeter 3fay 28th, 1644. The Queen was delivered of a daughter, Henrietta, afterwards Duchess of Orleans, on June the 16th.* M'ithin little more than a fortnight after her delivery Her Majesty left Exeter for Cornwall, whence in a short time she retired from the harbour of Falmouth to France, never to see the King again. LETTER CCLXXXVII. The King to Ms Nephew Prince Maurice^ then before Lime in Dorsetshire. [ms. harl. 6986. art. 107* Orig, the postscript iv the RiNo*tt HAND.] Charles R. Most dear and entirely beloved Nephew, wee greet you well. By the inclosed you will see the full state of our business here, and the several resolutions taken upon the motions of the Rebels in these parts. Waller being now joined with Essex, it is probable • There is a Portrait of her in the Town hall of Exclcr, the gift of King Charlc» the Second to the City. 1 ' OHIGINAL LETTEKS. 317 that he will not looke Westward until 1 they shall have tried what may be done upon our Array here, or on this Towne. But howsoever Wee desire you to keep forth Scouts and Intelligencers to give you timely ad- vertisement, if he shall advance Westward. As soon as you shall have finished what can be done upon Lyme, or shall plainly see that it is not to be taken, wee desire you to draw with all your forces to Bristol, to be there in a readines to meet with or come to Us as there shall be occasion, whereof wee shall send you notice. And so Wee bid you most heartily farewell. Given at our Court at Oxford 2S'\ May 1644. By His Ma**>^^ command, EDW. NICHOLAS. ^his is of so much importance for my service, that I desire you to take notice that this is not an ordinary dispache from a Secretary, but a particular direction from me, upon mature deliberation. C R. To Prince Maurice. No fresh Letters of historical interest of the year 1646 have occurred to the Editor for his second Series. In lieu of such, however, he presents the reader with a short Narrative by Sir Gilbert Talbot, relating to some transactions which took place in that year, and which either from the failure of the n^otiation, or some other cause, have been left unnoticed by the Earl of Clarendon. The present copy is from the Harleian MS. 6859. p. 33. iii % : • 318 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ** A Narrative of the Venetians tender of assistance 1o Kino Charles the First in hit Civil Wart: and the Dittapoint- ment of it. As likewise of the Design o/* confiscating the English Merchants effects ik Turkey to HIS MA- JESTY'S USE ; by Sir O. Talbot. " Being employed in the service of King Charles the First at Venice in the beginning of the Rebellion, I observed that the Venetian Ambas- sador who resided altogether in London gave such Weekly account of the Affairs of England and of the various success of the War, as came to him from the partial relation of the Rebels : and so great credit was given to his despatches, that it was not easy for me to gain any belief in the contradiction of his apparent mistakes ; whereof I gave an account to the King my master. " To the end therefore that I might with more confidence and assurance aver matters of fact. His Majesty gave command to both his Secretaries of State (altho' it was the province but of one) to give me, weekly, a true impartial Account of all that happened in the war, as well to his damage as advantage, with order to me to communicate it to the Venetians, be- cause all the London Narratives lessened his Majesty's Victories and magnified his Losses. " Within a short time after that I had begun this method, I was ad- vertisetl of the unfortunate battle of Marsam-More,* wherein His Ma- jesty's Army received a very great loss. " Hereof I gave an early Account to the Doge (Francisco Erizzo) who was so much discomposed with my relation, that the good old man shed some tears, saying that it was pity so vertuous and worthy a Prince should receive such hard measure from his own subjects, of whose misfortime, he added, the Republic was so deeply sensible that they would readily assist his Majesty in so just a cause, with men, money, arms, or ammunition, whensoever he pleased to make use of them. " I returned Thanks in His Majesty's name for that princely Offer, but knowing it was not in the power of the D<^e to make so large an engagement for the Republic without express leave from the Senate, I told his Serenity that I would not fail to give his Majesty an account of his proffered kindness, but that it might go to his Majesty with greater authority, I humbly desired his Serenity that he would vouchsafe me his words in writing, least I might unhappily mistake his expressions. " To this he replied that he would assemble an extraordinary Pre- gadi that night, and I should have the result of it the next night, which he doubted not but would be to my satisfaction. > Marston Moor. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 319 4 Ji *' I was accordingly sent for the next morning to the College, and a Vote of the Senate delivered to me in as large terms as the Doge had (the day before) expressed himself; this I sent away by an express the same day into England, and least the Secretary might not understand the importance of it, being written in the rude Venetian dialect, I sent it likewise translated into English, and it was delivered to Secretary Nicholas at Oxford. " The King was then gone to Ragland Castle, and no present answer could be returned to the Paper : nor had I so much as a direction from the Secretary to entertain the Venetians with thanks till his Majesty's pleasure might be known : but when so much time was elapsed (least the Senate might think their compliment neglected) I pretended that I had received command from the King my master to let the Republic know that his Majesty was highly sensible of their kind and generous Offer which deserved the fullest expression of his thanks, but that he was not without hope to compose their disorders, without giving trouble to so good an Ally. But if he should be put to the last extremity, he was glad to know where he might fix upon so good and sure a friend as their voluntary generosity had shewed them to be. " His Majesty being at last reduced to very great straights and no notice taken all that while of the Venetian civility, I knew not what con- struction to make of it ; I began to suspect the sincerity of the Secretary, for I was altogether a stranger to him. " To clear this matter, and withal to procure some settlement for my future subsistence in that imployment (which 1 had till then defraid upon my own purse and credit) I asked leave to return into England, and His Majesty gave me leave for six months. " When I came to Oxford the King was in great want, and the Lord Cottington, Secretary Nicholas, Chancellor Hyde, and M'. John Ash- bumham were in consultation which way to procure a subsistence for the household, which for some time had been supported by the Sunday" s Offerings. I had at that time occasion to speak with Sir Edward Hyde, and sent my name in to him. He called for me in, and said to the rest, in his merry way, ' possibly this Foreign Minister may acquaint us with some foreign project to get money when we want,' and desired me to im- part my skill. I told him he had not ill addressed to me, for I had been a long practitioner in that art, yet I knew but one way, which was when we have not of our own we must borrow of our friends. He replied my invention was dull, for they had tried all their friends already. I asked leave to differ from him in opinion, for I was well assured they had not tried the Venetians. ' It is,' said he, ' because we do not take them to be so our friends as to lend us money.' *- That is your own fault,' said I, *• Sir Edward Nicholas can give you a better character of them.' ' No, \ "I S20 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. H II believe me,* said he, ' not I.* * Do you keep any copies of your De- spatches by you,' said I. * Ves,* replied he. I desired him then to examine my Letters of such a month. He went to his Office, and im- mediately returned with the original Order of the Senate. " They all cried out upon him, and he defended himself by the hurry and confusion of marches, which caused this forgetfulness. *^ Away ran M^ Ashbumham to the King with this matter, and I was immediately sent for. His Majesty asked me why he was not made acquainted with this aflPair sooner ? I answered, I presumed it had been imparted to him when I transmitted it at first to his Secretary. I further added, that I was put to a great loss for want of Directions, what return I should make to the Venetians, and I told him what message I had framed and delivered in his name, and begged his Majesty's pardon that I had done it without his commission. He replied, I had my pardon, for I ought not to have done less. He then commanded me to put my- self in readiness, for he would within three days send me back to Venice. *' I took the boldness to say, it would not misbecome the greatest Subject that his Majesty had, to go upon the message; and 1 thought the Venetians would expect to be courted out of their money. Vet diis I said, not to decline tlie Journey ; for I was ready to obey his I^Iajesty's commands. His Majesty took me at my word, and would have none else go. " As soon as my Credentials and Instructions were finished, his Majesty was pleased to give me the honour of knighthood, caused me to be sworn Gentleman in Ordinary of his Privy Chamber, and raised my character to Envoy Extraordinary. " I kissed his Majesty's hand, and began my journey with auspicious circumstances, but it did not end with the like success. I fell into a party of three hundred of Massy's horse, and escaped them miraculously ; and endured no small storm upon the rocky coast of Lower Brittany. " When I came to Paris, I met with several packets from my Secre- tary (whom I had left at Venice) mentioning the first rupture betwixt the Turks and the Venetians, and the daily increase of the appearances of war, from whence I began strongly to suspect the disappointment of all my hopes, yet resolved to proceed upon my Journey, in expectation that those differences might happily be accommodated by the Venetian prudence. " But when I arrived at Venice, I found matters so irreconcileably exasperated, that I held it very improper to press the Venetians to the performance of their promise to his Majesty, and therefore turned my discourse, and told the Doge that his Majesty had remanded me ex- pressly to return his most solemn Thanks for their generous offer of as- sistance to him in his domestic troubles, wherewith (altho' not yet quieted) ORIGINAL LETTERS. 321 he was not more perplexed than for that they hindered him from being in a condition to send them aid against their dreadful enemy ; and since he was not able to serve them that way, he would send command to his Ambassador at the Ottoman Court to endeavour to do all the good oflices of a mediator, to procure their peace with that Emperor. " Having passed this compliment I had no more to do at Venice, and had his Majesty's leave to return for England without any formal Let- ters of revocation whensoever I should find it expedient. Yet, being dis- quieted beyond measure with the disappointment of my hopes, it came into my head to write to Sir Sackville Crow (then ambassador at Constan- tinople) both to acquaint him with the miscarriage of my business, and to advise him to try whether the Grand Signior might not be prevailed with to espouse his Majesty's cause against his rebels (as it was the in- terest of all Princes to do, least their own subjects might take example from a prosperous rebellion to throw off all obedience) and, if he dis- covered any appearance that (by bribing the Vizier, or otherwise) it might be effected ; upon his Intimation of it to me, in cypher, 1 would procure his Majesty's authority for him to proceed in it. "Haying sent away the Proposal, I returned back for England, and coming into the West, was by the commission of the Prince of Wales (his now Majesty) made Governor of Tiverton ; which command, upon the march of General Fairfax into the West was abandoned by the former Governor, Col. Amias Pollard. " The Phice, not long after, being assaulted by General Major Massey, who was happily repulsed, and then besieged by General Fair- fax, and every hour in danger to be lost ; for my Horse were mutinous, and I had but two hundred Foot in Garrison, and some of my chief Officers unfaithful, and the enemy without, twenty two thousand strong ; therefore apprehending the worst, I bum'd all my papers, and among the rest my cypher with Sir Sackville Crow. " I was soon after stormed, and (a main Post being betrayed by Major Sadler) taken, and sent away prisoner to Lime, and thence to Weymouth, where obtaining my liberty upon exchange I went to the King at Oxford, which was the first time I saw his Majesty after my return from Italy. " I there gave him a more particular Account of my unsuccessful journey to Venice, and acquainted him with what Proposal I had made to Sir Sackville Crow, whereof his Majesty was well pleased to approve. " I stood in daily expectation of Sir Sackville's Answer, which at length came to me in cypher, but I had burnt my key at Tiverton. «' I went immediately to his Majesty and told him, that I had now received a Letter from Constantinople, but knew not what it contained in r^ard that it was written in cypher and I had burnt my key ; this was about twelve of the Clock, and his Alajesty took the Letter, and VOL. m. SER.2. Y ^^^ii lii i p 322 ORIGINAL LETTERS. lit commanded me to attend him at Three in the Afternoon ; when I came I found the Letter uncyphered by Prince Robert,* which gave all fair , hopes of the design. " His Majesty therefore immediately sent away full power to Sir Sack- ▼ille Crow to pursue the Proposal, which was, that since the English Rebels had got all the possession of the Revenues of the Crown into their hands, the Grand Signor would give leave to the Ambassador to confiscate and seiie all the English merchants effects throughout his do- minions for His Majesty's service ; whereunto the Grand Signor conde- scended. " The great consideration now was, which way this might best be effected. That the Grand Vizier was to be bribed no man questioned. But I took the boldness to speak my fear to Hb Majesty, that when the Merchants should perceive their danger, they would out-bribe the Am- baaiador, and reverse the order for confiscation ; I therefore humbly pro- ceeded that His Majesty should borrow a considerable sum of that Em- peror, and impawn his subjects effects for reimbursement, and His Majesty approved of what I offered. " But Sir Edward Hyde (who could not brook to hear his method disliked, especially by a person unqualified to advise) used many argu- ments to prove the caution unnecessary j and m the Order went as he had first drawn it up. And the Ambassador when be waa empowered, proceeded to sequestration. " Thereupon the Factors meeting in a general consultation, concluded that there was no way for them to avoid this ruin, but (as I had before conjectured) by over-bribing ; and therein they were so successful, that they not only reversed the Order for sequeatration, (representing to the Grand Signor that if it proceeded it would destroy the Cloth trade for ever, and diminish his customs) but prevailed with him to deliver up the Ambassador to be sent home to the Parliament, which proved the ruin of his fortune, and the loss of a Design which might otherwise in all probability have secured the Crown and Life of the best of Kings. {Signed) Sim GiLBEmT Talbot.** • The name by which Prince Rupert wats frequently called, both in print and ia conversation. aoiT. (i ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3^3 LETTER CCLXXXVIII. The Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland to the English Commissio7iers, announcing tlie King's Arrival in the Scottish Army. [harl. MS. 787. foL 41.] •»• The reader need hardly be reminded tha^ at this time, Oxford had become the Ust refuge of loyal devotion. Its forUfications indeed were strong, but the forces of the Parliament were hemming it round, and no devotion could resist famine. The King saw the necessity of leaving it. At three o'clock in the morning of April 2T^. 1646 he pMMd Magdalen Bridge, with M'. Ashbumham and D'. Michael Hud- son; the King as Ashbumham's servant, and D'. Hudson as their guide. The route they took is minutely described in Peck's Desiderata Curioia, where D'. Hudson's examinations before the Parliament are printed. Irresolution and a circuitous journey delayed the King's arrival at SouthweU tiU the 5'". of May. The Scots, soon after his coming, qtiitted their post with some precipitation for Newcastle. Right Honorable. The discharging of ourselves of the duty wee owe to the Kingdom of England, to you as Commissioners from the same, moves us to acquaint you with the Kings cominge into our Army this morninge : which having overtaken us unexpectedly, hath filled us with amazement, & made us like men that dreame. We cannot thinke that he could have been soe unadvised in his resolucions, to have cast himselfe upon us with- y2 K 324 ORTOINAL LETTERS. out a reall intencion to give full satisfaction to both Kingdomes in all theyr just & reasonable demandes in all those thinges that conceme Religion and Righte- ousness. Whatsoever be his disposicion or resolucion, you may be assured that we shall never enterteyne any thought, nor correspond with any purpose, nor countenance any endeavours that may in any circum- stance encroach upon our League and Covenant, or weaken the Union or Confidence between the Nations. That Union unto our Kingdome was the matter of many Prayers. And as nothinge was more joyfull to us then to have it sett on foote, so hitherto have we thought nothinge too deare to mainteyne it. And we trust to walke with such faithfullness and truth in this particular, that as we have the testimony of a good Conscience within ourselves, soe You and all the world shall see that we mynde your interest with as much integrity & care as our owne, being confident You will enterteyne noe other thoughts of us. From Southwell May 5, 1646. Signed by the warrant and command of the Commissioners for the Parlia- ment of Scotland. LOTHIAN For the right honorahle the Commissioners of the Parliamant of England. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 325 LETTER CCLXXXIX. King Cliarles I. to Dr. Juxon Bishop of London; tJie K'vng sends him a Case of Conscience. [bAKER*8 MSS. in the PUBL. lib. at CAMBRIDGE VOL. XXXiil. p. 402. From tfie Original^ then in the hands of Sir Willkun Juxon^ the Bishop"/ great nephew.} %• The Propositions which were now submitted for the King's ac- ceptance were the cause of the following Letter, the subject of which gave him much uneasiness. Alexander Henderson, one of the most eminent of the presbyterian ministers in London, was sent at this time to persuade the King to consent to the extirpation of Episcopacy. In the personal controversy between them, the presbyterian was confessedly defeated. He died of chagrin and disappointment within a short time after he had left the King. Had Charles consented to the sacrifice, there seems reason to believe that he might have remained a King in name. But, to use Clarendon's words, " He was too conscientious to buy his peace at so profane and sacrilegious a price.** Newcastle 30 Sept. 1646. My Lord My knowledge of your worth and learning, and particularly in ressolving Cases of Conscience, makes me at this time (I confess) put to you a hard and bold task, nor would I do it, but that I am confident you know not what fear is in a good cause. Yet I hope You believe that I shall be loath to expose you to a needless danger, assuring you that I will yield to none of your friends in my care of your preservation. I 'i'.i Ill 31^6 ORIGINAL LETTERS. |i| need not tell You the many persuasions and threat- nings that hath been used to me for making me change Episcopal into Presbiterial Government, which abso- lutely to do, is so directly against my conscience, that, by the Grace of God no misery shall ever make me : but I hold myself obliged by all honest means to eschew the mischief of this too visible storm, and I think some kind of compliance with the iniquity of the times may be fit, as my Case is, which at another time were unlawful. These are the grounds that have made me think of this inclosed Proposition, the which as one way it looks handsome to us, so in another I am fearful least I cannot make it with a safe conscience ; of which I command you to give me your opinion upon your Allegiance. Conjuring you, that you will deal plainly and freely with me, as you will answer it at the dreadful day of Judgement. I conceive the Question to be, whether I may with a safe Conscience give way to this proposed temporary compliance, with a resolution to recover and maintain that doctrine and discipline wherein I have been bred. The duty of my Oath is herein chiefly to be consi- dered ; I flattering myself that this way I better com- ply with it, than being constant to a flat denial, con- sidering how unable I am by force to obtain that which this way there wants not probability to recover, if ac- cepted, (otherwise there is no liarm done) for my Regal authority once settled, I make no question of recover- I I) ORIGINAL LETTERS. 327 ing Episcopal government, and God is my witness my chiefest end in regaining my power, is, to do the Church service. So expectingyour reasons to strengthen your opinion, whatsoever it be, I rest Your most asseured, reall, faithfull, constant frend CHARLES E. I desire your opinion in the particulars, as well as in the general scope of it ; and yet mend much in the penning of it. I give you leave to take the assistance of the Bishop of Salisbury and D^ Sheldon, and either of them. But let me have your answer with all con- venient speed. None knows of this but Will Murray, who promises exact secrecy. If your opinions and reasons shall confirm me in making of this Proposition, then you may some way be seen in it, otherwise I promise you, that your opinion shall be concealed. The restraint under which the King was now placed, induced him again, though ineffectually, to think of an Escape. » Finally, however, • The ** Perfect Diumall of aome Passages in Parliament and from other parU of this Kingdome." from Jan. 4'»'. to Jan. H'**. im6 T, has the following " Monday. January 4«i>. •• Letters from Newcastle mention further what we gave you in the end of the last «ck. that the King would have escaped privately from Newcastle in the night time disguised (some say in the habit of a sailor), and that the suspicion was so great, and the stir so great upon it, that they were all up in the Town in guards all night^ and Gen. Leven sent for his lifeguard of horse to be nigh the Town, and quartered them in tlie way to Tinmouth. The King is much diticontentcd at the Proceedings of the 11 m ih 1' 328 ORIGINAL LETTERS. his person was disposed of. " Upon the payment of two hundred thou- sand pounds in hand," says Clarendon, " and security for as much more upon days agreed upon, the Scots delivered the King up into such hands as the Parliament appointed to receive him.** In the month of February 1647 he was removed to Holmby House in Northamptonshire; and in August that year came to Hampton.CourL Mr. Endymion Porter in a Letter to Sir Edward Nicholas, a part of which has been already quoted, dated from Paris, ^ Decemb. 1646, says " It seems your Honors friends the Scots have sold the King, and yet they are his White Boys ; and our Grandees lay the fault on his not taking the Covenant and signing the Propositions.** So varying even those were who were deemed friendly to the King. LETTER CCXC. The King to the Princess Elizabeth, Jrom Hamptcni Court. [ms. DONAT. BRIT. MUS. 32fi0. arl. as. Ong.\ •^* Three original Letters of King Charles the First to the Princes* Elizabeth, occur in the Sloane Collection in the Museum dated 20'*». 27"' Oct. 1647 and 14'»" Oct. 1648. They were presented to Sir Hans I 1 Parliament of Scotland, and that they should agree to deliver up his penon to the Parliament of England." " By another Letter from Newcastle the Report of his Majesty's intention to escape is conflrmetl, the arguments to enforce the belief that Paudon Gate was endea- voured to be opened, and the Sally-port adjoining, that M'. William Murray was very late at Court that night, comhig down the stairs at so unusual a time, though he gave the officer the word yet he stayeil him in the guard three hours until the (luvemor sent for him ; the conceit is, his Majesty would have gone into the Holland man of war which lies still at Shields. The General intends to double his care, having a)<(>ointed some officers out of every regiment to attend day and night, besides the lifeguard, a squadron whereof watch every night." A Letter in the " Perfect Diumall" from Jan. ii* to Jan. \v^, i«4«-7. says. " The King did Intend to escape, M. Murray was to act Ashbumham. and the King a serviture, the Dutch ship to convoy him, the wind being cross; Hartpoole was to be the place, but timely discovered and prevented; we shall see the event, something is brewing ; more of that shortly. York, Jan. 8, leM." ORIGINAL LETTERS. 329 Sloane in 1733 and had been preserved in the femUy of the Earl of Lei- cester. The first and last of these are here given. The Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Gloucester, it will be remem- bered, after the Duke of York had escaped from S». Jame8*s in 1648, • • Among the Tracts in the British Museum caUed the Khig's Pamphlets there is one, of no common occurrence, intitled "A Declaration «/ Hia Hif(hntgge the T>ikk o/Vorkk hi, going away from St. Jameses ; and concerning the right honourable the Earle of Northumberland, from whom he went. April 22, 1648. Imprimatur Gil. Mabbot." Lond. 1048. 4«». It is as follows : " On Friday night. April 21, 1648, the right honourable the Eari of Northum- berland, having been forth, returned to Saint Jameses about eight a clocke at night, and found the Duke of V'ork with his Brother in his diamber. " His Lordship waiting upon his Highnesse, entertoined some discourse with him for a time ; and afterwards withdrew. " The Duke (after that) went into his sisters chamber, and spent some Ume in mirth with the young Ladies. •• Between nine and ten of the clocke. the Eari of Northumberland went to his Highnesse chamber, to see him go to bed according as his Lordship used to doe about that time. And finding the Duke not there, supposing that he might be playing with the gentlewomen, (as he used to doe) his Lordship sent M^ Sammon to tee for the Duke. But his Highnesse not comming, the Earle sent another mes- senger, and a third, and so more, to looke in all places, supposing that he might |>erhaps have hid himself somewhere, as he had often done in sport, to make them h>oke for him. Yet after all this no news could be brought to certifie where the Duke was. " Then his Lordship made sUict inquiry who had scene him last, and where hee «§. And it was advertised that he was within little more than halfe an houre before with the Gentlewomen, playing and very merry. " It was also further certified, that a little before that time hee had gone downe the backe staires, and was passing the entry towardes the garden, wher M'. Howard and M'. Owen, two of his gontlemen that waited on him. then were talking, and that the Duke seeing of them there, did presently retume up the staires againe : whereby it was (after he was gone) supposed that he came then downe with an intent to have gone away, but finding those gentlemen there, was prevented. " It was also advertized that the Duke had that evening called to the gardener for the key of a backe door that was a private way into the Garden very seldom knowne to be opened, whereupon it was supposed that he went away that way. •' Hereupon search was made in the Gardens, and all about the Parke, but none couW give any intelligence at all concerning him. But in the Garden, by the said private doore. there were the prints of mens feete which seemed to have Utely trodden there, and there were some of the feete seemed very small, which they sup- posed to be U»e Duke's treading. These feelings were traced through the Garden, and every way over the Parke, and on the other side of the Parke towards the Cherry- garden, and they found on the other side of the Parke (against the Garden) the like prinu of such feetings as were at the first door which was suspected in the Garden. But they could hear no further which way his Highnesse should be gone. " Then the Earle of Northumberland sent that night to all places from whence he could supix)se hee might expect assistance, to the finding and bringing of the Duke back. HU Lordship sent a messenger to the Speaker of the House of Commons, ajHl »ni»ther messenger to the Lord Generall ; he sent also to the Earle of Warwick,' to the Lord Mayor of the City of London, and to Collonell Barkestead and f olonell Rich, that so hee might have aU the assistance which miglit bee for the looking after : » V 330 ORIGINAL LETTKRS. weire taken from the Earl of Northumberland and committed to the care - of the Countess of Ijeicester, with whom they resided first at London and afterwards at Penshurst. Some time after the King^s death tliey were removed to Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight, where the Princess died of grief for the troubles of her family, Sept. 8"*. 1660. The Duke of Gloucester remained there, with no other style than M'. Harry, till 1662; when Cromwell permitted him to embark for Holland. Sir Theodore Mayeme, who had prescribed for the Princess Elizabeth in 1649, has made an affecting Memorandum of her death in his Ephe- merides : the immediate cause of her death was a fever : **■ Ex febre ma- ligna tunc grassante, obiit t» cusiodia in Vecti Insula procul a Medicis et Rehediis, die 8 Septemb. circs tertiam pomeridianam.*** Hampton court 27 Oct. 1647. Dear Daughter This is to assure you that it is not through forget- fullness or any want of kyndenes that I have not, all this tyme, sent for you, but for such reasons as is fitter him. His Lordship (also) caused a search to be made of his servants, and the Gen- tlemen, and all persons of the house to sec who were missing, but found not one wanting. The Groome was called and search of the Horses made, antl there was not one Horse missing, but all safe in the Stables. Also concerning the Duke, it was found that Hee went away without cloake or coate, and in his hose and shooes. And although His Lordship had had as much strictnesse as could be, to keep sus- pected persons from commlng to the Duke, yet he made inquiry what peiaoiH they could thinke of that might be suspected, that had lately beene with him same ftw dayet before. And upon inquiry, no account could be giTen of any that they couW suspect Yet His Lordship was acquainted that there were (the day before) as the Duke was crossing the way , two poor men that had kissed his llighnes hand, seeming to be very poor mean fellows, but they had not time to speak much to him ; only some few words, the discourse being so short, that (it was thought) they could not have time to doe any thing in relation to this design ; but what those mm wei* it b not known. " Herein his lordship endeavoured all that possibly he could for finding out the business, but could not be satisfied in any thing. •• Now it is so. that the Earl of Northumberland did never underUke to be answerable for the Duke ; and so much his Lordship did declare to the Parliament upon the former hitercepted Letters, which discovered his intentions to make an escape before. But according to the desires of the Houses his Lordship hath used the utmost of his endeavours to prevent it" • MS. Stoan. wib. foL S3. ! ORIGINAL LETTERS. 331 for you to imagen (which you may easily doe) then me to wry te : but now I hope to see you, upon Fryday or Saterday next, as your brotlier James can more parti- cularly tell you ; to whom referring you, I rest Your loving Father CHAKLES R. LETTER CCXCI. The Khig to the Prhicess Elizaheth^Jroin Newport in the Ide of Wight, [ms. don at. 3299. art. 85. Ortg.\ Newport 14t»» Oct. 1648. Deare Daughter It is not want of affection that makes me write so seldome to you, but want of matter such as I could wishe, and indeed I am loathe to write to those I love when I am out of humore, (as I have beene these dayes by past) least my Letters should troble those I desyre to please, but having this oportunety I would !.i ill 332 ORIGINAL LETTEB8. not loose it ; though, at this tyme, I have nothing to say, but God bless you. So I rest Your loving Father CHARLES R. Give your Brother my blessing with a kisse ; and comcnd me kyndly to my Lady Northumberland by the same token. In the interval between the two last Letters the King had taken his flight from Hampton Court. The following particulars of which, with one or two new facts occur in ** The Moderate Intelligencer" from Nov. 11th to Nov. 18th, 1647. " November 11. " This day will be famous in after times, because towards the end of it his Majesty escaped a kinde of restraint under which he was at Hampton Court, and according to the best Relation, thus : He, as was usuall, went to be private a little before Evening Prayer ; staying somewhat longer than usuall, it was taken notice of, yet at first without suspition ; but he not comming forth suddenly, there were fears, which increased by the crying of a grey.hound again and again within, and upon search it was found the King was gone, and by the way of Paradice, a place so called in the Garden, in probability suddenly after his going in, and about twilight. He left a Paper to the Parliament, another to the Com- missioners, and a third to CoL Whaley." ill ORIGINAL LETTERS, 333 '11 LETTER CCXCIL Charles Lewis Prince Palatifie, to his Uncle King Charles; congratulatory upon the King'^s safety^ and wishing Jbr an accommodation with the Par^ liament, [m8. harl. 6988. art, 108. Ortg.\ •»• Charles Lewis, second son of Frederick and Elizabeth, King and Queen of Bohemia, came into England at the age of eighteen, having previously been honoured with the Order of the Garter. While his younger brothers Rupert and Maurice were fighting in defence of the King, Charles Lewis went over to the Parliament, and actually conde- scended to sit in what was called the Assembly of Divines at Westmin- ster. It has been supposed that his conduct was the result of a secret agreement between the King and himself, but there seems no ground for the supposition. The Lower Palatinate was restored to him, as his father's eldest surviving son, in 1648. He obtained leave from the Parliament to visit his Uncle the day before his execution : but the King declined the interview. IP *i Sir Your Majesties favorable acceptance of my humble respects to and attendance upon your person since your comming from Holdenby, (notwithstanding the dislike you expressed of my wayes and of my reasons for them,) makes me hope that, whilest I doe informe my- selfe whether I shall have the permission to waite on your Majesty as I did lately, you will be pleased to accept this humble assurance of my joy for the safety ^i \\ I 384 ORIGINAL LETTERS. of your person, and of my constant wishes that a good understanding betweene you and the two Howses of Parliament may restore your and the Kingdomes greatnesse and happinesse. Yet, whatsoever may happen to the contrary, or your Majesty may thinke of me, I will never forget the personal respect and observance I doe owe you, as Your Mat>\ most humble and obedient neveu and servant CHARLES. Whitehall this 24th. of Nov. 1647. For Y'. Majesty. LETTER CCXCIII. The Prince Elector to the Lord Manchester y Speaker of the House of Peers ^ that some of the Welsh Pri- soners who had been taken hy the Parlianwnfs Army miffht be transported for the service of the State of Venice. [MS. HAEL. 7001. art. 119. Orig.] ♦,♦ The Victory aDudod to in this Letter was gained by Col. Horton on the 8th oi May, 1648, near Cardif, over the forces conjinandol by li ■ ORIGINAL LETTKUS. 335 General Langhome. Two Letters from the Colonel describing it arc printed in the Lords' Journals. The number of the prisoners was guessed at three thousand. Thii Letter from the Prince Elector was brought in and read in the House of Lords on the same day on which it was written, when it was " Ordered To be sent down to the House of Commons, that Prince Phnip shall have a thousand soldiers of those which are taken m Wales by Col. Horton, he giving good security for the landing of them in Italy." Another Order was made and sent down to the Commons, that Sir James Bannaton should have a similar number of the prisoners upon the same terms.* The Commons, however, modified the Proposition ; by them it was Ordered that Prince Philip should have power to entertain and transport such person* (u should willingly go, not exceeding the number of one thousand, upon the conditions tendered in the Prince Elector's Letter; and that it should be referred to the Committee for Prisoners to take care that the cautions and conditions were observed. Of the grant for Sir James Bannaton nothing was said in the Commons.'' My Lord I COULD not but thinke it very seasonable upon this late News fi-om Walles, once more to sollicite the Howse for their permission to transporte some of those prisoners there taken, for the service of the State of Venice, under the commaund of my Brother Prince Philip. And therefore shall desire your Lordship to move the Howse, that they would bee pleased to give leave unto my said Brother, or the Officers appointed by him for the levying and transporting of a thousand of these prisoners, my Brother ingaging his word and the said Officers giving sufficient securitie that these Souldiers shall not bee imployed to the prejudice of • Journ. H. of L(mU. vol. x. pp. 2&3, 864. ^ (otn. Journ. vol. v. p. M4. 336 ORIGINAL LETTERS. the Parliament affaires. The grant of which desire as it will disburthen the kingdome of many disaffected persons, so will it make a further addition to their former favours unto Your Lordships most affectionate friend to serve you CHARLES LODOVIC. Somerset House this 12 of May 1648. For my Lord of Manchester, Speaker of the Hoase of Peeres. LETTER CCXCIV. Jos, Kenty at Venice, to another Englishman abroad. News arrivedjrom England. [ms. dokat. BRIT. MUS. 3299. arU 97* Orig.^ Noble Sir I'^M sorry I cannot thanke ye, for any of your Let- ters lately receaved, and the rather because youVe pleased to deprive me of those favoOrs which (you know) I ever had in a most particular esteeme. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 337 Tills relates to you the news from home, which is extreme badd, as concerneing his Ma^*»t"* owne Person ; for the rest, I rather rcjoyce then afflict myself. But to come to what I would saye, here followes the very words of William's other Masters letter to him from London, viz. " These are to let you know the sad and deplorable condition now fallen on us by our owne Army, who have in a hostile and violent manner seased on the Commons house of Parlament, seased upon forty one of the members in one daye by the soldiers of the Army, threatning above one hundred more who are forced to absent themselves from their dutyes, they not permitting any to goe in but such as they please. They have also garrisoned the City with the greatest part of their Army. What they will doe in the end God knoweth. They try for life whom they please by martiall lawe. ' The King they say is brought to Windsor and there they meane to try him for his Life.a What I > • The Newspaper called '• The Moderate tntelligencer," Dec. 2ist to 28th, 164S, glve« the following Account of the King's journey toward Windsor. " Farnham, Dec. lo^h. His Majesty came yesterday from Hurst Castle en horse- back, dined at a Ladies, and after to Winchester to bed, this day he reposed at Alton, and came to this place to bed ; tomorrow he will be be-times at Windsor Castle, to the govemour of which, Col. Harrison (who performed this busincsse, being assisted with about 2000 horst) will deliver up his charge, viz. the King, who by instructions is not to be spoken with, nor visited by any, but such as shall have speciall direction from the Parliament or Geuerall. The King is indifferent chearfull, having at de- parture of the Commissioners intimated his desire of a settlement and peace to his three Kingdomes, though his flnall answer proved not satisfactory, and so no re- stauration to him, he being, as he said, one that had seen more trouble than his Predecessors, which could not but have impression u^wn him, as to make shorter hi« days than other ways he might have attained, be he pcnnitU-d to live out them." In " The Perfect Weekly Account," from Dec. 27th to Jan. 3d, i64«, a com munication datctl " Windsor" says, VOL. III. SER. 2. « % ' I ii 338 ORTGINAT. LETTERS. will bee the end of this great and high presumption God knowes. They keepe the forty one members still prisoners, and carried Sheriffe Browne out of this citty prisoner to St. James, and say they will trye him for his life, for what God knoweth ; the like they will doe to Sir Wn^. Waller, Coll»i Copeley, S^ John Clot- worthy, and Col'* Massey,^ and I beleeve divers of our Aldermen will goe the same waye, as Langham, Gay re. Bunch, and Adams, if cann finde them. Here is no trade, nor like to be as long as these our Masters goe this waye. Pray for us.' By which conclusion you maye easily discover the sad condition of our Presbiterian rel)els, when a Par- lament man of that faction writes to Venice (and to my William) to be prayed for. Some have advice that S^ Paul's Church is nowe a Stable for th' Army's •* Since the Kings coming hither many people have dmired to see him, which they are not denied, yet are the Parliament* Votes observed that no Addreues be matle to him, or any speake with him, without leave from the Lord General or the Speaker of the House of Commons. His Majesty hath three new suits, two of them are of cloth with rich gold and silver lace on them, the other is of black satin, the cloak lined with plushe. Since the King came to Windsor he shews little alteration of coitn^ or gesture, and, as he was formerly, seldom seen to be very merry, or much tOHMportod with any news either with joy or sorrow : ao now, although he expects a severe change and tryal, yet doth he not shew any great discontent. " He demands the reason of the alteration of the depoftmcnta of tbOM about him, and being told it was according to orders of the House ttml the knee. te. should be forborne, he said he ne're lookt upon those any more than a» of thing's ceremonies, which were at the election of any whether they would use them or not." Again. " Windsor I Jan. 1648. The Kings new deaths are come to him. He put on one of his suits the last Lords day. He relbsed to observe the last Wednesday in publick. but useth his own private devotions as he frieaseth. He hears of the preparations to bring him to tryall, and seems to be well satisfied for what followes ; but is very reserved in his discourse thereupon having not yet fully delivered his mind, whether he intends to plead or not." » See Clar. Hist. Reb. '■ ti ORIGINAL LETTERS. 339 horse; their head quarters are at Whitehall. I can- not saye anything from Holland. Our Operas and Comedys are already begann, they I hope will invite you hither. My man hath a fuddle in stoare for your Adrian. My respects to noble cavaliere Wyllis, Doctor Warner, Messieurs Croyden and Nicholas, with all th'other gentlemen of our nation. My little prayers to you are, Sir, that you would bee pleased not to exercise too much crueltye on Noble Sir Y»" most affectionate & moste humble Servant JOS. KENT. Venice the 15 Jan. IGtf. LETTER CCXCV. Joseph Kent to the same: announcing the Kind's Execution. [m8. donat. 3209. art. 97. Oriff.] NOBLE SIR, I HUMBLY beg your pardon for my last weeks silence, for I vow to God I was so strangely surprised with grief, that I could not prevaile with my troubled mindc for half an hours repose, to give you some relation of 4 7 ^ 340 ORIGINAL LHTTERS. ■ft I . / I the sad and unexemplary murther of our Soveraign, whose soul is at rest. The Antwerp Post came this morning, but without any Letters from our scandalous Island. I will im- part with you what I have learnt from thence and Holland, concerning it. Its written to several merchants of my acquaintance in Town that the Marquiss Hamilton and Lord Goring were, two days after His Majesty "*s execution, shot to death ; some say they were beheaded, but all conclude they are dead. ' Gregory the ordinary hangman of London was commanded to assist to the Kings death, which he re- fused, but to invite him to it he was proffered two hundred pounds, which he would not hear of; then they threatened to burn him, and at last imprisoned him, because he would not consent to so great a wicked- ness ; but a Judas will never be wanting, a Collonel formerly a brazier (to the great dishonour of the noble military ait) with his servant a minister, both masked,'* • This was a false rumour. Dtike Hamilton indeed, the Earl of Holland, and Lord Capel were all beheaded March 9th. 1648-0: but Lord Goring was not than within the Parliament's power. >> Colonel Joyce and Ilu^^h Peters are the persons here alluded to. It is remarkable that upon the Journals of the House of Commons, 7th June, 1660, immediately after the Exception from pardon of the two executioners of the King, it was resolved that Mr. Hugh Peters and Comet Joyce be forthwith sent for in custody by the Serjeant at Arms ; as if a suspicion existed in the Parliament that they were really the persons. Journ. H. Com. vol. viii. p. 5T. Lieut. Col. Joyce was also charged to have been the person who beheaded the King by William Lilly. Ibid- pp. 53. 50. Lilly's Hist, of his Life. 8". 1715, pp. 89, 90. One Mathew had previously been secured as concerned in the King's murder as early as May I4th, 1660. Journ. H. Com. vol. viii. p. 35; and in 166'2 two persons of the names of Daybone, or Dayberon, and UickcrstafTe, were likewise secured u|X)ii suspicion ; but, as Mathew had been, so they were dls> ORIGINAL LETTERS. 341 were those who cut the thread of His Majestie's life, and, in it, his loyal subjects happiness. A rogue of a charged. In the GenL Mag. for 1767. a claim to the performance of the horrid deed was set up by tradition for one William Walker, who dictl at Darnall in the parish of the Holy Trinity at Shefticld, in 1700. After all, it seems most probable that the person who actually beheaded the King was the common executioner. Among the Tracts relating to the Civil War, which were given to the British Museum by his late Majesty King (ieorge the Third in 1762, there are three upon this subject. One is intltlcd •• The Confession of Richard Brandon the hangman " (upon his death-bed) concerning his beheatling his late Majesty. Printed in the •• year of the hang-man's downfall, 1649." The second is intitled •• The Last Will " and TesUroent of Richard Brandon," printed in the same year. The third is " A Dialogue or Dispute between the late hangman" (the same person) "and Death," iu verse, without date. All three are in quarto. The following are the most important paragraphs of the first Tract : " The Confession of the Hangman concerning His beheading his late Ma- jesty the King of Great Brittain (upon his Death bed) who was buried on Thursday last, in White Chappell Church-yard, with the manner thereof. " Upon Wednesday last (being the20t»> of this instant June, 1C49,) Richard Brandon, the late Executioner and Hang-man, who beheaded his late Majesty, King of Great firitUin, departed this life ; but during the time of his sicknesse, his conscience was much troubled, and exceedingly perplexed in mind, yet little shew of repentance for remission of his sins and by-past trangressions, which had so much power and in- fluence upon him, that he seemed to live in them, and they in him. And on Sunday last, a young man of his acquaintance going in to visit him, fell into discourse, asked him how he did, and whether he was not troubled in conscience for cutting off the King's head. He replyed, yes ! by reason that (upon the time of his tryall, and at the denouncing of Sentence against him) he Jiad taken a vow and protestation, wishing God to perish him body and soul, if ever he appeared on the Scaffold to do the act or lift up his hand against him. " He likewise confessed that he had thbty pounds for his pains, all paid him in half- crowns within an hour after the blow was given ; and that he had an Orange stuck full of Cloves, and a handkircher out of the King's pocket, so soon as he was carryed off from the Scaffold, for which Orange he was profferd twenty shillings by a gentle- man in White-hall, but refused the same ; and afterwards sold it for ten shillings in Rose mary Lane. •• About six of the clock at night, he returned home to his wife living in Rose mary lane, and gave her the money, saying, that it was the deerest money that ever he eam'd in his life, for it would cost him his life. Which prophetical words were soon made manifest, for it appcare, the rccU)r, to institute a search in the Parish Register whether such a burial really took place. The following was the answer which he received. "Sir, " I very willingly comply with your wishes, arui have much satisfaction in seoding you the result. ' 1649. Buriall. June. 3i«. Rich. Brandon, a man out of Rosemary Lane.' •* To this is added a marginal Note: ' This R. Brandon is aupposed to have cut • off the head of Charles the first.' " This Note is evidently not in the same hanil with the Register, yet it bears the OUIGINAL LETTERS. 343 more inhuman, its written that the little Duke of Gloucester was placed against the scaffold to see his royal father sacrificed. » P. Rupert is joyned with the English, I meane the Irish frigates and ships, and are betwixt Dover and Calais. They have taken many small vessels coming and going to London, and one of the Parlia- ments men of war. In brief, without the immediate help from God we are a lost nation, and already pointed at by all that are Christians. My humble duty and respects to noble Sir R. Wyllis, and all the other gentlemen of the nation, to whom I know you will impart this, although most horrid news; and I beseech you tell M^ Worth I have receaved his Letters, which I answer not until tomorrow, because if I canne learn any thing else of news, I will add to him. M''. Bayly very affectionately salutes Sir Richard and your noble self, to whom I will ever continue, Noble Sir, Your most affectionate and most humble servant JOS. KENT. Venice the ll'*» Marche Thursday. mark of antiquity. The Register Book appears to have been rebound within these thirty years, and this Note has narrowly escaped the binder. Vour faithful and obedient servant, O. MATHtAS." To Henry Ellis, Esq. ' This also was said at the time, but without foundation. f t 'I 344 OUIGIXAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 345 The Newspapers of the day, though here and tliere perhaps erroneous in minute facts, convey a full impression of the Scene which was passing at this time. ** The Moderate Intelligencer,'' Dec. 28 to Jan. 4, 1649, says, " Paris Dec. 26»»«. " The Queen of England is returned from her derotions in the House of the Carmelites, where she hath been for divers days. She seems not dejected at the present state of the King her husband in England, yet, say her Ladies, her nights are more sad than usual.** " The Armies Modest Intelligencer,'' Jan. 19 to 26. " Thursday Jan. 24. " News came this morning that an Ambassador from Holland landed yesternight, and is expected this day at London. Its reported he hath something to impart in behalf of the King, but whether his message be in the name of all the United Provinces, or only from Holland, is not yet known. Its believed only from the latter. *' It is also said that the Queen of Bohemia hath a desire to come over to see her brother.*' " Tlw Moderate Intelligencer," Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, 1649. " January 25. " A Letter came this day from the Prince of Wales, in which he takes notice that his Father was in Treaty with his Parliament, and had the faith thereof for his safety ; yet was by force taken away, and carried from place to place, and now upon trial for his life. He represents the fair opportunity that the Army had of making the Kingdoms happy in restoring him ; which, if they would prosecute, he would give it all the furtherance he could, by pressing the King his father to what they or the Kingdom desired ; but if they should be instrumental to take away his life, he left it to their consideration, how it would sound, and be resented by all the Princes and States of the World, that an Army, and such an Army should do such a thing. »« " The Kingdome's Weekly Intelligencer," Jan. 23 to 30, 1648-9. " Munday Jan. 29. " The Embassadors of the States of Holland have indevoured to in- tercede for the King*s life, and speedily again will return into Holland, rather the witnesses of his death, than to return with the desired news of any longer continuation of his life. " The King hath desired, that if any more days may yet be added to his life, he may be permitted to see his Children ; but if that cannot be allowed, he hath no desire to see them at all, because that the occasion of their meeting, and the last farewell at their departure will administer but more subject of affliction to him and them. His Children are this day with him ; howsoever, it is believed on to-morrow he will suffer ; and to that purpose the way is now ray led in from Whitehall to the great Gate as you go to King-street, about the middle whereof, it is said, the Scaffold will be raised.** " The Moderate," Jan. 23 to Jan. 30, 1649. " From Harwich. " Two Letters came the last Week from Prince Charles, the one di- rected to the Parliament and the other to his Excellency. That to his Excellency was sent to the House, without being opened. Neither of them are yet opened or reported. " Whitehall, 29 Jan. " Scaffolds are this day building, and will be all night, in order to the King's Execution. His Majesty burnt all his Papers this day, and his several clavises to the private Letters sent in characters to him, which done. His Majesty and Doctor Juxon did much rejoyce." " The King's Children came this day to him ; and the late dead, but now alive Lady Elizabeth amongst the rest.** " T/ie Moderate Intelligencer," Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, 1649, says, The night after the Sentence was passed, " he commanded his dogs should be taken away and sent to his wife, as not willing to have any thing present that might take him off from serious consideration of him- self. Being desired to say somewhat, how far he was guilty of the death of his father and the rebellion of Ireland, he said, with reverence of God be it spoken, he had done nothing that he needed to ask pardon for.'* " The Kingdome's FaithfuU Scout," Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, 1648-9. " Jan. 29. This day the Lord Gen. Fairfax (at a CouncU of War with his Officers) propounded (as is said) to put off the execution of the King.** (( The Perfect Weekly Account," Jan. 31 to Feb. 7, 1648-9. " Wednesday, January 31. *' In my last I told you the Scaffold was building at the Kings owne Gate for his execution, which was yesterday consummated, on which could no man have come with more confidence and appearance of resolu- tion than he did : viewing the block (with the axe lying upon it) and iron staples in the Scafibld to bind him down upon the block, in case he 346 OBIGINAL LETTERS. had refused to submit himself freely, without being any way daunted, yea when the deputies of that grim serjeant Death appeared with a ter. rifying disguise, the King with a pleasant countenance said he freely for. gave them." The Journals of the House of Commons, at this extraordinary moment, present a strong contrast to the Newspapers. They seem to indicate a dread on the part of the Members least too much should be entered upon them. " Die Mercurii, 24** Januarii, 1648. " Pkayers. The House according to former Order, met ; and adjourned itself till To-morrow Morning Eight of Clock. '' Die Jovis, 25« Januarii, 1648. " Pbayers. The House, according to former Order, met ; and adjourned itself tiU To-morrow Morning, Eight of Clock. '' Die Sabbati, 2T> Januarii, 1648. " Ordered, That Dr. Juxon have leave to go to, and continue with the King in private, under the same restraint that the King is. " Ordered, That the Duke of Gloucester and the Lady Elizabeth have liberty to visit the King. *'*' Die Martis, 30 Januarii, 1648. "Ordered, That his Highness Charles Lodowick, Prince Elector, have leave to go see and visit the King. " Die Martis, 30 Januarii, 164a Post meridiem. " Ordered, That the common Post be staid untill To-morrow Morn- ing, Ten oftfie Clock. " Die Mercurii, 31» Januarii, 1648. " Commissary General Ireton reports a Paper of divers particulars touching the late King's Body, his George, his Diamond, and two Seals. " The Question being put. That the Diamond be sent to Cliarles 8tuart, son of the late King, commonly called Prince of Wales ; *•' J t pasted with the negative. OUIGIXAL LETTERS. 347 ** The Question being put. That the Garter be sent to hun ; *' It passed nilh the negative. " The Question being put. That the George be sent to him ; *' It passed with the negative. " The Question being put. That the Seals be sent to him ; " It passed with the negative. " Colonel Harrison, Sir John Danvers, Sir Michael Livesey, M\ Scott, Lord Grey, M'. HoUand, M'. Allen, M'. Edwards, M'. Oldes- worth, M'. Trenchard, M'. Pine, M'. Love, Colonel Fleetwood, or any Three of them, are to consider of the particulars presented, concerning the King's Body, and other things contained in that Paper, presented by Commissary General Ireton ; and also to peruse the papers of the late King ; and make report to this House, what they think fitt to be done therein : and this Committee is to meet in the Queen's Court, to-morrow at two of the clock in the afternoon, and M'. Marten is to take care of it." Excepting bishop Juxon, and archbishop Usher (who meant to wit- ness the scene from his House, but fainted when the King came out), all who had taken an active part for their Sovereign, and still loved and pitied him, either shut themselves up or abandoned the metropolis upon the fatal day. Evelyn, in his Memoirs, under Jan. 1649, says, " The villany of the Rebels proceeding now so far as to try, condemn, and murder our excel- lent King on the 30'^. of this month, struck me with such horror that I kept the day of his martyrdom a fast, and would not be present at that execrable wickedness ; receiving the sad account of it from my brother George and M'. Owen, who came to visit me this afternoon, and re- counted all the circumstances." ■ At the end of " A Declaration of the Cornish Men concerning the Prince of Wales,'* 4'>. Lond. 1648-9, we have a short notice of the manner in which King Charles the Second received the Intelligence of his father's death. " Feb. 7. Letters from Southampton say that on Friday, Feb. 2*^. the Prince received intelligence of his Father's death, and being much asto- nish'd thereat, declared himself with a sad dejected countenance to divers gentlemen attending his person, saying * O unfortunate Prince, tliat ever I should live to see this day ; now woe be unto the Kingdome of England.* ^Vith that the tears trickled down his cheeks, and his Highness betook himself to some privacy for a while." Nor was tlie grief for the King's death confined either to tlie Prince or • Evelyn's Memoirs, vol. L p. U33. »* 348 ORIGINAL LETTERS. to England. In the Perfect Weekly Account, 28th Feb. to 7lh Afarcli, 1 649, we read, " Tuesday, March G'**. Most of the gentry of Scotland since the death of the King, are clothed in mourning ; and the Chair of State in the Parliament House, and uppermost seats in ifie Kirks^ and the Pulpits^ are clothed black/* It would have been satisfactory to the Editor of these Volumes to have given a few Letters of Archbishop Laud : there are many extant which show with what dread he for years viewed the gathering tempest. The limits to which this Work was necessarily confined forbade their introduction. Still it seems hardly right to suffer so eminent a character to pass entirely unnoticed here. In the Diary of Byrne the surgeon, which has been already quoted in the mention of Edge-hill %ht, there is a notice of his attendance upon the Archbishop in the Tower in the month of June, 1C44, whence it should seem that health was breaking up with him.* The Archbishop's sentence was " to be hanged, drawn, and quartered." He petitioned the Lords that in case he must die, he might be beheaded, not hanged. This, when referred to the Commons, was at first refused, but, upon a second application, after some debate, allowed. Fuller notices the barbarity of those who witnessed his execution : ** Sir John Clotworthy," he says, " (a member of the House of Com- mons) being present, interrogated him concerning his assurance of sal- vation, and whereon the same was grounded. Some censured this inter, ruption for uncivil and unseasonable, as intended to ruffle his soul with passion just as he was fairly folding it up to deliver it into the hands of his Redeemer. But the Archbishop calmly returned, that his assurance was evidenced unto him by that inward comfort which he found in his own soul. Then lying down on the block, and praying ^ Lord receive my Soul,* the executioner dexterously did his office, and at one blow severed his head from his body. Instantly his face (ruddy in the last moment) turned white as ashes, confuting their falsehoods who gave it out that lie had purposely painted it to fortify his cheeks against dis^ covery of fear in the paleness of his complexion.*' * • MS. Sloan. Brit. Mas. 15S. fol. 151 b. k Ch. Hi»t LETTERS DURING THE USURPATION OF OLIVER CROMWELL. II Few liCtters of the Fanatical Period have occurred to the Editor of these Volumes, and those few (with the exception of the Ijcttcrs which Cromwell wrote to the Grand Signior and his Vizier) will perhaps excite no extraordinary or deep Interest. They are full of cant and grimace, and, for the most part, affect extreme Piety. It is amusing to see how the Oliverians canted to each other even in moments of confidence. Cromwell lays it down, in one Letter, quite as a military axiom, that he who prays and preaches best will fight best The IMinisters of New England who acknowledged that " desolate Ireland had been drenched and steeped in blood," still thought that, with their assistance, it might " be moistened and soaked In the Waters of the Sanctuary." The Congratulation to Cromwell of " some who feared the Lord in Hereford- shire" is unequivocally impious. Harrison says to Cromwell, *' Run aside sometimes from your Company and get a word with the liOrd : why shoidd not you have three or four precious souls always standmg at your elbow, with whom you might now and then turn into a comer : I have found refreshment and mercy in such a way." And even Bradshaw concludes another Letter to Cromwell with " The Lord of Hosts be with you, the God of Jacob be your refuge." There have been admirers of this Hypocrisy even in later times. So true is Seneca's adage, " Prosperum Scelus Virtus vocatur." ORIGINAL LETTERS. 351 LETTER CCXCVI. Kifig Charles the Second to , . . * Thanks for assistance, [m8. lansd. 123G. foL 87. Orig,'\ •with I RECEIVED by this bearer One Hundred pounds, for which I heartily tlianck you, and had sent sooner to you, but consideration of your safety caused me to forbeare till this opportunity. I am very sensible of your former sufferings, and ere long I hope in God to lett you see how mindfull I am of what you have done. Your assured faithfull friend CHARLES R. S^ Germains Aug. 30th. 1649. 60.65. Few names of persons are now preserved, out of the many who re- mitted money to Charles the Second during the hardships of his exile. He returned receipts to most, if not all ; sometimes as in the preceding Letter, with the name of the person in cypher ; at others expressed by initials so contrived as to blind the name. When D'. Hamey the phy- sician sent him money, the receipt, dated from Breda, entirely in the King's hand, was made to B. P. H. i.^. B. H. P. Balwin Hamey phy- sician. I 352 ORIGINAL LETTERS. II' il There is a curious passage referring to these contributions in the Mer- curius Politicus, July lO'**. to W^. 1656, probably drawn up by Crom- well himself. It is preceded by the particulars of the capture of Lucy Bailow, the mother of the Duke of Monmouth. " Whitehall. *' July 16. His Highness by warrant directed to Sir John Bark&tcad Lieutenant of the Tower, hath given order for the release of one that goes by the name of Lucy Barlow, who for some time hath been a pri- soner in the Tower of London. She passeth under the character of Charles Stuart's Wife or Mistress, and hath a young son, whom she openly declareth to be his ; and it is generally believed, the boy being very like him, and both the mother and child provided for by him. When she was apprehended, she had one master Howard in her company, and the original of this Royal Transcript was found about her, sealed with Charles his signet, and signed with his own hand, and subscribed by hia Secretary Nicholas, which you have here transcribed verbatim. ' Charles R. ' Wee do by these Presents of our especial grace, give and grant unto M". Lucy Barlow, an Annuity or yearly Pension of Five thousand Livres, to be paid to her or her Assignes in the City of Antwerp, or in such other convenient place as she shall desire, at four several payments by equal portions, the first payment to begin from the first of July 1654, and so to continue from three months to three months during her life ; with assurances to better the same, when it shall please God to restore us to Our Kingdoms. Given under Our Sign manual, at our Court at Cologn, this 21. day of January, 1655. And in the sixth year of our Reign. By his Majesties command. Nicholas,* " By this those that hanker after him may see they are furnished already with an Heir apparent, and what a pious charitable Prince they have for their Master, and how veil fie disposeth of the Collections and Coutru hiitions Tchich they make for him Jiere, towards tfte maintenance of his Concubines and Royal Issue. Order is taken forthwith to send away his Lady of pleasure and the young Heir, and set them on shoar in Flanders, which is no ordinary curteaie." IS ORTGTXAL LETTERS. 353 LETTER CCXCVII. Major General Harrison to Cromwell as Lord Ge^ neral, A Letter of cant, [from the Orig. IK THE LIBRARY OF THE SOC OF ANTIQUARIES. MS. NUM. 138. art. 6.] •«• This Letter was written to Cromwell immediately after his de- parture for the Scotch campaign, which he finished on the S** of Septem- ber following with the Victory at Dunbar. Harrison, like many others of his time, when the military sword was not wanted, had recourse to what was called the sword of the spirit ; he was much given to prayer and preaching. At the Restoration he suf- fered as a R^cide. Pepys saw him executed at Charing Cross Oct. la"". 1660, and says that upon the scaffold he " looked as cheerful as any man could do in that condition.** Granger says he died exulting in the cause for which he suffered. My Deare Lord To spare your trouble I forbeare to give yow my excuse for not waiting on yow to Ware. I know yow love me, therefore are not apt to except, though in this particular I had not failed, but that Orders from the Councell superseded me. Considering under how many and greate burdens yow labour I am afraid to saie anie more, that I maie not add to them, but love and duty makes me pre- sume. The buisines yow goe upon is weightie, as ever yett VOL. in. SER. 2. A A (' 354 ORIGINAL LETTERS. yow undertooke: the issue plainly and deeply con- cernes the life or death of the Lords people, his owne name and his Sons : nevertheless maie yow rejoyce in God (whose affaire itt is) who, having heretofore given yow numberlesse signall testimonies to other parts of the worke, will in mercie prosper this, that Hee maie perfect what hee hath begun. And to omitt other Ar- guments, that in Deut. 32. 27. hath much force on my hearte, especially the last words, " And the Lord « hath not done all this.'' I beleive if the present enemy should prevaile, Hee would as certainly re- proach God and all that hitherto hath beene done as aforesaid, even as I now write, but the Jealousie of the Lord of Hosts for his greate name will not admitt itt. My Lord bee carefull for nothing, but praie with thanksgiving (to witt in faith), PhiU. 4. 6, 7. I doubt not your successe, but I thinke Fmth and Praier must bee the cheife engines, as heretofore the ancient Wor- thies through Faith subdued Kingdomes, out of weak- ness were made strong, waxed valiaunt in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the Aliens. Oh that a spirit of Faith and Supplication maie bee poured forth on yow and your Armie ! There is more to bee had in this poore simple waie then even most Saints expect. My Lord lett waiting upon Jehovah bee the greatest and most considerable business yow have every daie ; ORIGINAL LETTERS. 355 reckon itt soe more then to eate, sleepe, or councell to- gether. Run aside some times from your Companie, and gett a word with the Lord. Why should not yow have three or four precious soules allwaies standing att your elbow, with whom yow might now and then tume into a comer: I have found refreshment and mercie in such a waie. Ah, the Lord of compassion owne, pittie your burdens, care for yow, stand by and refresh your hearte each moment. I would I could in anie kind doe yow good, my heart is with yow, and my poore praiers to my God for yow. The AUmigh- tie Father carrie yow in his very bossome, and deliver yow (if itt bee his will) from touching a very haire of anie for whom Jesus hath bled. I expect a very gracious retume in this particular : but I am sorry to bee thus tedious, pardon mee. Here is little newes, onely Charles Vane retorned from Portugall, who left our Fleet indifferently well, and that they had seised nine of the PortugalPs Shipps. The Father of Mercies visitt, and keepe your Soule close to him continually, protect, preserve, and pro- sper yow, is the praier of, my Lord, Your excellencie's loving Servant Whitehall whilst I breath, 3earer, accept I pray you of this paper remembrance and salutation from him who both upon the publique and his owne pry- vate account is verie much your dettor, and with other your poore friends here prayes for and adores the ma- nifestation of Gods gracious presence with you in all your weyghty affaires ; which as they are undertaken in zeale to God's glory and his peoples good, willj through continuance of the same dyvine presence and mercy, be crowned with answerable successe ; and w1k>- soever belong to God in the Nation where you are, will in the close of all, have cause to say periissemus nisi periissemus. In the mean tyme, God can and will tame those stubbome spirits, and convince them of their hypocrysy who create you all this trouble, and give a mercifull testimony to the sinceritie of his poore servants hearts who have appealed unto him. My Lord I forbeare particularizing things here : only this, God is gracious to us in dyscovery of many of our enemies desygnes (which thereby have proved abor- tive), and delyvering their Councels in a good measure into our hands; and in watching over the common safetie, there is much acknowledgement due to the in- defatigable industry of M. Generall Harrison, your faithfull ser\'ant and substitute in that worke here. Your Lordship will shortly heare of some numbers of godly persons in a regimentall forme here in London whose example will be followed by others of like good mynd in Norwich, Kent, and other places, who have sent for Commissions to us for that purpose, and our resolution is they shall not want Incouragement. My Lord, I will trespasse no further upon your tyme. The Lord of Hosts be with you : the God of Jacob be your refuge. The humblest of your welwillers, fFryends and servants Whytehall JO. bradshawe. 30 Aug. 1650. For his Excellencie The Lord Generall Cromwell Theise. if 1 f If 358 ORIGINAL LETTEttS. LETTER CCXCIX. Mr, William Bateman to Mr. Hugh Bateman. The Distresses of the English Merchants, The " Lu hertif a State Man of War cast away near Har- wich, [from the Or'lg, ly THE POSSESSION OF CAPT. HUOH BATEMAX, communicated to the editor by FREDERICK madden, ESQ.] *«* This Letter details the situation of the English merchants at the time of the Rupture with Portugal, in 1 G50. The King of Portugal, in common with the other Sovereigns of Europe, favoured the Royal cause, till Admiral Blake*s appearance with a fleet obliged him to submit to the politics of the English Republic He after- wards entered into a Commercial Treaty with Cromwell, the compact of which formed the groundwork of aU the subsequent relations which have hitherto existed between the two Countries. I London, \9.'^\ October 1650. SlA I THINK its not unknown to you our sad business of Portugal, where with others I am concerned some- what deep, God restore it to the interessed, for all is lost there : we have writing thence that they have seized two Millions of Crowns, which is worth five liundred thousand Pounds besides twenty and (xld sail of Ships which are in the West Indies, which belong to English Merchants ; and truely its thought that our U I ill OUIGINAL L£TT££S. 359 Estate will amount to near eight hundred thousand pounds. And further I must advise you that, about the beginning of September, the Parliament's Fleet met with a galion of the Portugals which was worth one hundred and fyfty thousand pounds which they at- tempted to take, but an unlucky shot come on her hold, which sunk her. There was three hundred men in her and all drowned but twelve men. Likewise by Letters of the 17^. Septemb^ last, we have advice that our Fleet was driven away from the place they lay at, and when they were gone Prince Rupert with twenty four sail of Ships and six fire ships came forth, and as yet its not known whither he is gone, and if he should go in to the Strayts as its conceived, and join with the French, we poor merchants are totally un- done, for the French are very strong in shipping there, and we hear they are fitting out fifteen sail of ships more to join with the rest of their fleet. They have taken above thirty sail of English shipping from us at tyme, and sixty sail of Hollanders. The Parlia- ment have warned awav the Holland embassador from honor, who is gone, and its feared that we may fall out with them. There is a State man of war, the Liberty by name, cast away near Harwich ; she had fifty piece of Ordnance in her, and was coming up to be fitted to go in company of nine sail more for Lex^a > Lixboa, i.e. Lisbon. Il 360 ORIGINAL LETTEttS. to lye on the coast of Portugal all winter. God send better news. I am afraid it may detain the business some whit. To his lo. Cosen M'. Hugh Batenian at his house at Chesterfield These dd. Darbyshire. LETTER CCC. If! '1 Certain Ministers and others of New England to Cromwell, upon his application to them to send Mis- sionaries to Ireland. [mss. SOC. antiq. num. IIMJ. art, 34. Orig.'\ *.* The barbarity of Cromwell in the Irish campaign of 1040 i» {sufficiently known. Lord Clarendon has expressed his belief that the miseries endured by Ireland from the opening of the Great Rebellion till 1655, were exceeded by the sufferings of no nation but the Jews. The Letter here introduced to the Reader, was the answer to one of the expedients proposed by Cromwell for gradually improving the con. diiion of that Country. The difficulty of this undertaking had been long before acknowledged by King Charles the First in a Letter to the Duke of Buckingham, printed in the former Series. ^^ As for News I can say but little yet ; Ireland being the only Egg we have yet sitten upon, and, HAVING A THICK SHELL, we have not yet hatched it.'** Whether any of the New.Englanden« absolutely setdcd in Ireland, in * Sec the I'uiiucr bciiui, \ul ui. |>. i4tf. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 361 consequence of Cromwell's proposal, the Editor of these Volumes is not aware. Some other correspondence probably exists upon the subject. The warmth with which Cromwell's butcheries are applauded in this Iietter affijrds matter of astonishment Right Honourable As the state of England hath bene pleased to call you to cheife place of civil and military Command in Ireland, so hath the Lord to admiration prospered your undertakings there and made you a glorious In- strument of the execution of his just vengeance upon those bloody monsters of mankinde, and therein heard the cries of his dyeing and liveing people in Ireland, together with those of his Saynts in both Englands, who have cryed in his eares for vengeance against the inhuman murtherers of his poore people in Ireland ; and what can the remnant left of his people there, or the rest of their bretheren in both Englands doe lesse, than thankfully acknowledge amongst all other wonders of God's grace done for you and by you, that he hath there also compased you about with his favour aa with a sheld, and crowned you with renowned vic- tories over these bloody rebells and enraged enemies of his name and saynts ; nor can we doe other then thankfuly acknowledge this as a superadded mercy to all the rest, that by his grace he hath kept it in the frame of your heart amidst all the glorious victories which under God you have gotten, thankfully to ascribe the glory thereof to him alone, who is the King m V r I l< ) 362 OKIGINAL LKTTEKS. of Glory, the Lord of Hoasts mighty in battel, and your pious care in abaseing men and meanes to exalt the Lord in all your Victoryes, as it hath not a little honoured you in our eyes ; soe have we looked at the same, as a speaking pledge that God will yet goe on to perfect his admirable worke by you : now therefore Iledoubted Worthy, thinke with yourself * What shall * I render to the Lord for all his benyfits towards me, * what further service hath the Lord to use me in, whoe * hath done soe great things for me and by me.' Yea you are studdying (thrice noble Sir) which way to lift up the name of Jesus Christ there where it hath beene most vilely trampled upon, and where you are called to cheife place of rule, there to take effectual care that Jesus Christ alone may reigne, and that desolate Ireland which hath bene drenched and steeped in blood, may be moystened and soaked with the waters of the Sanc- tuary, for which end your Honour is pleased to cast your eyes, as upon godly people and ministers in England, soe upon such like in America also, whose hearts the Lord may moove to soe blessed a worke. We therefore whose names are underwritten doe, in behalfe of ourselves and some others here in New England humbly retume to your Honour many thanks for your noble offers respecting us also, and since your Honour hath so large a heart given you of the Lord as to de- sire to build him a Temple amidst the ruinous heaps in Ireland, and so royal a spirit as to be ready soe OKIGIKAL LETTERS. 363 nobly to befreind the freinds (even in America also) of any such workes, soe farr as to improve your utter- most interest for their furtheraunce in removing thither, and for their safe and comfortable habitation there, together with like care had of their injoying the Lord in his ordinances there, we know not but we may attend this providence of the Lord soe far also as to observe what further of the minde and counsel of God may appeare to us in your seasonable prosecution of your noble proposals, hopeing that as we came by a crJl of God to serve him here, soe if the Lords mind shall cleerly appeare to give us a sufficyent call and in- couragement to remove into Ireland, to serve the Lord Jesus there, wee shall cheerfully and thankfully imbrace the same. Thus commending your Honours weighty occasions to the Lords guidance and blessing, we humbly take our leaves, resting Your Honours to serve you in the Lord PEETEK BULKLEY, mhl, SAM. WHITING, Wm. JOHN KNOWLES, mifl. THO. coBET, min. New England danyel denyson. 31. 10 Month 1650. john tuttell. m The Conditions which these Ministers and godly persons proposed, previous to setting out for Ireland, are entered upon another Paper. They were as follow : U\ 364 OKIGIXAL LETTERS. OUKllXAL LETTKUS. SG5 II ; II " That in mater of Religion we may have like liberty csUblished by favour of the State of England, for the exercise of the worship and go- vernment of Christ as here we enjoy in New England. *' That such a proportion of outward encouragements in houses and lands as the State shall thinke fit in favour to bestow upon suche as prin- cipally and personaUy engage in this worke may be set forth by the Par- liament or Counsel of State, and after divisions to be made by us with some appointed by the Parliament to our Assocyates. " That some quantity of land may be granted for the advancing of learning, by a Free-Scoole and CoUege. " That we may have free choyce of the cheife millitary govemour to be over the Garrison where we shall sit downe, and such a one as may be of our owne company, if we have any fit person amongst us, or if not, that we may have liberty to nominate some other godly man which the state of England may aprove of. " That in regard we come from a pure Ayre, we may have a place in the more healthfull part of the country. " That in regard of the meanness and inabillity of sundry godly persons (which doe or may desire to joyne with us) to transport themselves and famelics, the State would be pleased to think of some way of lending them some helpc. *' That we and our company may for some ycares be freed from pub- lique charges. " That noe Irish may inhabite amongst us, but such as we shall like of. " That we and our company may have convenyent tyme allowed us for our transportation into Ireland. " Lastly intimate our sufferings under the tyranny of Episcopacy, which forced us into exile (to our great hazzard and losse) for noe other offence but professing that truth which (through mercy) is now ac- knowledged.** LETTER CCCI. Oliver Cromxvell to Col. Hacker. He that prays and preaches best wiU fight best. [ms. lansd. BRIT. Mus. 1236. art. 99. Orig.\ Sir, I have the best consideration I can for the praesent in this businesse, and although I believe Capt. Hub- bert is a worthy man, and heere soe much, yett as the case stands, I cannott with, satisfaction to my selfe and some others revoake the Commission I had given to Capt. Empson, without offence to them, and reflection upon my owne judgement. I pray lett Capt. Hub- bert knowe I shall not bee unmindefull of him, and that noe disrespect is intended to him. But indeed I was not satisfied with your last speech to mee about Empson, that he was a better praecher then a fighter or souldier or words to that effect. Truly I thinke Hee that prayes and praeches best will fight best. I know nothing will give like courage and confidence as the knowledge of God in Christ will, and I blesse God to see any in this Armye able and willinge to impart the knowledge they have for the good of others. And I expect itt bee encouraged by all Chiefe Officers in this Armye especially : and I hope you will doe soe. .5; I;; } 366 OKIGTNAL LKTTEnS. I pray receave Capt. Empson lovinglye. I dare assure you hee is a good man and a good officer. I would wee had noe worse. I rest Your lovinge friend, Dec. 25, O. CROMWELL. 1650. For Col. Francis Hacker att Pebles or else where. Thiese. l< '. LETTER CCCII. Cromwell to the Lady Elizabeth his xvtfe. (ms. harl. 7^2. Orig.^ My deerest I COULD not satisfie my selfe to omitt this poast, although I have not much to write, yett indeed I love to write to my Deere whoe is very much in my heart. It joyes mee to heere thy soule prospereth ; the Lord increase his favors to thee more and more. The great good thy soule can wish is that the Lord lift upon the light of his countenance which is better then life. The Lord blesse all thy good counsell and example to those about thee, and heere all thy prayers, and accept thee alwayes. I am glad to heere thy Sonn and Daughter u ORIGINAL LETTERS. 367 are with thee. I hope thou wilt have some good opportunitye of good advise to him. Present my duty to my Mother, my Love to all the familye. Still pray for Edenburgh SdofMay, 165L For my beloved wife Elizabeth Cromwell att the Coclcpitt in West- minster, theise. thine O. CROMWELL. When Cromwell became Protector in 1653, his wife assumed the style and title of Protectress. The following appears to have been their daily establishment of Diet : *' The Privy Lodgings for his Highness the Lord Protector in White- haU are now in readiness, as also the Lodgings for his Lady Protectoress ; and likewise the privy Kitchin, and other Eatchins, Butteries, and Offices ; and it is conceived the whole Family will be settled there before Easter. The Tables for Diet prepared are these. A Table for his Highness. A Table for the Gentlewomen. A Table for the Proiectorett, A Table for Coachmen, Grooms* A Table for Chaplains and Strangers. and other domestic Servants. A Table for the Steward and Qai- A Table for Inferiors or Sub-ser- tlemen. vants." Weekly Intelligencer of the Commonwealth, Tuesday, March 14'^ to Tuesday, March 21, 1653. 368 Onir.lXAT. l.FTTFRS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 369 « I' 't V s h!i p I LETTER CCCIII. Congratulation Jrom " some that Jear eel the LorcP in Herefordshire to Cromwell^ upon his dissolution of the Long Parliament, [ms. soc. AKTia. NUM. 138. art, 59. Orig.\ •^* Congratulatory Addresses came into fashion in the time of Crom- wdL The Art of framing them, as the present specimen will show, arrived very early at its maturity. The humble and thankfull Congratulation of some that feare the Lord in the County of Hereford (who are the smallest and unworthiest in the Nation). After so many throes and pangs (severall contests betweene the Powers of the World and the Interest of Christ) we conceive the great and long desired Reforma- tion is near the Birth. We blesse the God of Heaven, who hath called you forth and ledd you on, not only in the high places of the fFeild, making you a terror to the Enemie ; but also (among those mighty ones whom God had left) to the dissolving of the late Parliament. O, my Lord, what are you, that you should be the Instrument to translate the Nation from Oppression to Libertie, from the hands of corrupt Persons to the Saints ? and who are we ? that we should live to see these dayes, which our fathers long'd to see, and reape the harvest of their hopes ? To be lowe in our owne eyes when God raiseth us is a true testimonie of hu- mility and uprightnes. No action of service or honour ever swePd the heart of Christ ; him, we believe, You make your Patterne. Let the high praises of God be in our mouths, and the Generations to come tell of his wonders. Let the improvement of this opportunity be your Care and our Prayer, that you may follow the Lambe whithersoever' he goeth, and we attend. you with our persons, peti- cions, purses, lives, and all that is deere to us, and remain Your ffaithfull and humble servants, signed by us in the name of many more; BEN. E. MASON, JOHN HERRING, RICHARD NICHOLETTS, THO. SEABORNE, ROBERT WEAVER, RICH. DELAMAIN, Heref i. May 7 '». 1653. WROTH ROGERS, JO. CHOLMELEY, MORGAN WATKINS, RICH. WALSHAM, JO. WOODDYATT, JOHN GARNONS, WALTER MEIRICKE. The feeling expressed in this Letter was not universal. Many sup- posed that Cromwell in dissolving the Parliament intended to restore King Charles the Second. This is strongly expressed at the close of a Ballad on the subject, even as late as the month of July, preserved in manuscript VOL. III. SER. 2. B B 370 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 371 \i It- V if W I among the King's Pamphlets in the British Museum, entitled (like several others) '• A New Ballad to the Tune of Cock-LorreU." The Parliament had been dissolved on the 20th of ApriL " Will you hear a strange thing ne'er heard of before, A Ballad without any lies ; A Parliament that is tum'd out of door, And a Council of State likewise. Brave Oliver came to the House like a sprite, His fiery look struck the Speaker dumb : * You must be gone hence,' quoth he, * by this light Do y' intend to sit here till Doomsday come ?' With that the Speaker look'd pale for fear. As if he had been with the night-marc rid. In so much that some did think that were there That he did ev*n as the Alderman did. But Oliver though he be Doctor of law • Yet seemed to play the Physician here, M''hose physick so wrought in the Speaker's maw, That it gave him a Stool instead of his Chair. Sir Arthur »> thought Oliver wondrous bold, I mean that Knight that was one of the five. For he was loth to loose his freehold ; But needs must he go whom the Devil doth drive. And gone he is for the North-Covmtry, In hope thereabout to make some stir > But in the mean time pray take it from me. Brave Arthur must yield to brave Oliver. Harry Martin wonder'd to see such a thing Done by a Knight of such high degree. An art which he couldn't expect from a King, Much less from such a John Doric as he. But Oliver, laying his hand on his sword, Upbraided him with his Adultery, Then Martin gave him never a word. But hiunbly thank'd his Majesty. • He was created Doctor of Laws May lJ»th, 1849, by the University of Oxford. '•> Sir Arthur Hasilerigge. Allen the coppersmith* was in great fear. He did us much harm since the war b^an, A broken cit was he many a year. And now he 's a broken parliament-man. Bold Oliver told him what he had been. And him a cheating Knave did call, Which put him into a fit of the spleen, For now he must give an Account for alL It went to the heart of Sir Harry Vane, To think what a terrible fall he should have, For he that did once in the Parliament reign Was called, as I hear, a dissembling Knave. Bradshaw that President, bold as a Pope, MTio loves upon Kings and Princes to trample ; Now the House is dissolv'd, I cannot but hope To see such a President made an Example. Now room for the Speaker without the Mace, And room for the rest of the rabble rout ! My masters, methinks it's a pitiful case. Like the snufT of a Candle thus to go out. Some like this change, and some like it not, For they say they are sure it was done in due season, Some say it was the Jesuit's plot Because it resembled the Gun-powder treason. Some think that Cromttell with Charles is agreed. And say 'f were good policy if it were so, lyeast the Hollander, French, the Dane, and the Swede Do bring him in whether he will or no. And now I would gladly conclude my Song With a prayer, as Ballads are wont to do ; But yet I'll forbear, for I think ere '< be long We may have a King and a Parliament too. July 13, ir»53." • He is called Francis Allen, Esq. in the List of the Council of State. Crom* weliiana. p. 119. B B /2 I' Hi I'- 1 lik |i ( H » S I'' y 572 OlllGlNAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. S73 LETTER CCCIV. Mr. Thomas Bateman to Mr, Hugh Batcman ; the Dissolution ofBarebone's Parliament. [from the Orig. IN THE POSSESSION OF CAPT. HUGH BATEMAN, communicated to the Editor by FREDERICK. MADDEN, ESQ.] •,♦ The original Instrument by which Oliver Cromwell, under the title of Captain General of the Annies, convened a hundred and thirty- nine persons from different Towns and Counties of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who formed what was called " Barebone's Parliament," was exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries, Feb. 9th, 1793, by Francis Stephens, Esq. It was at that time in the possession of Mr. Robert Fleetwood, the great-great-grandson of George Lord Fleetwood. A printed List of the Members of this Parliament, with an engraved View of the manner of its sitting, by Hollar (though without his name), was published upon a single sheet at the time. The Dissolution described in the Letter here given, bears a sort of mi- niature resemblance to the dissolving of the Long Parliament by Crom. well in person. Loving Cosen Yesterda\ morning M'. Kent and I went to Westminster where we came to the Resolving of the Parliament. The Corporal of the Garde went up with a fyle of muscateers to the door of the House, and he only went in and told the Speaker his business, and took the Mace, and turned them all out of the House, and locked the doors, and carried the keys away wilh him, and carried the Mace to the Court of gard ; so all these Parliament men went to White Hall where they surrendered their commissions to him that gave them ; my wife and I present. Our services to you and your Lady, and I am Sir Your faithful Servant, TIIO. BATEMAN, London the 13 ''. Decemb*". 1653. To his lo. cousin M". Hugh Bateman, at his House at Cluster- field tld. Derbyshire. Post payd. A MONO the Pamphlets given to the Museum Library by his late Majesty is " A true Narrative of the Cause and Manner of the Dissolu- tion of the late Parliament upon the 12''». of Decemb. 1653, by a Member of the House then present at that Transaction," • which gives a statement not unlike that in the present Letter, though more circum- stantial. It says, ^' Reader " Knowing that various reports will be spread concerning the Dis- solution of the Parliament, I hold it needful to give you a true and particular account of the matter of fact, waving many circumstances that are material which were previous to this change. " Yesterday morning being the 12'''. instant very many persons came an hour and more sooner to the House than was usual, which was the first apprehension that was taken of any thing to be done, but, by that, something more then ordinary was conceived would be attempted. The Speaker taking the chair, a member made his address to him to this effect ; that he must disburthen himself of some things that had a long time lain upon his heart ; that he was now to speak to the esse or being, rather than the bene esse^ or well-being of the Common-wealth, which was ready to sink under us through the ill management of the power betrusted with us ; and that for his own part he must resign his power from whence he had it, foreseeing clearly that their waitings and expectations of ever • 4*0. Loud. ieS3. It w.as published Decemb. 19K 374 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 315 coming on to things of public good, were more and more disappointed, and so came to these particular instances : • ••••♦ " For these considerations they could not satisfy themselves to sit any longer, and so be guilty of bringing confusion and desolation upon the Nation. But if any would yet be so hardy as to continue there, he would say unto them in the words of the Prophet, ' Ephraim hath joined him- self to Idols, let him alone.* " This was seconded by two others, who interwove their speeches with some bitter invectives which were heard with patience. After them another Member stood up, and declared himself to speak with much dis- advantage, in that he had not, as the other, any premeditated thing to say ; but told the Speaker he had in his hand an expedient in reference to the things comprehended in the Vote of Saturday last that he hoped would satisfy all ; and that the Committee for regulating the Law had ready to be offered to the House Bills of very great concernment to the good and ease of the people ; and protested before God, Angels, and Men, his dissatisfaction to the thing moved as being destruction to the Common- wealth. Others standing up to second him could not be suffered to speak: but some others pressing the former motion, saying withall it was not now a time to debate. The Speaker being of their judgement (the whole business being before contrived) without putting it to the question or adjourning to any other place, left the chair, and went hastily out of the House with them : some thirty and odd staid within, who mutuaUy declaring that they had profest in the presence of the liord t?uit they tcere called o/GoD to that place, which was the principal mo- tive that drew them thither ; and that they apprehended their said call was chiefly for promoting the interest of Jesus Christ. Beginning therefore to consider what to do, ColL Goff and Lieut. CoU. White came in and entreated them earnestly to go out, pressing It often. It was as earnestly replied to them, that at their personal request they could not, but desired them to withdraw unless they had command to put them forth; which, when they perceived, they commanded in some mus- queters ; upon which they withdrew. Soon after, several were sent for to come to White Hall, where an Instrument was drawn up for resigning the power to the General, which was subscribed by many, but refused by others. This the late Speaker with a short preamble delivered to the General, who was ready with his officers to receive it." LETTER CCCV. King Charles the Secmd to the Earl (fLevcn.frmn Cologne, [ms. birch, mus. BRIT. 4156. fol. 165. Orig.] •^« liOrd Clarendon says, that the King and his sister the Princess Royal arrived at Cologne about the middle of September, 1655; but this, and the succeeding Letter, bear date fi-om that place early in the month o/* August. CoUen, 12 '^ Aug. 1655. My Lord Leuen, I heare you haue made some contracte to leauy men in Scotland and to transporte them beyonde the seas for the seruice of some forraine Prince, w l». I double not you have vndertaken with- out the least ill purpose towards me ; but I looke vpon all designes of that nature as most prejudiciall to my seruice and mischiuous to the Kingdome, and therfore desire you not only to decline it your selfe, but to dis- swade all your frindes from it, and I am confident your affection is such to me that you will satisfie me heerein ; and you shall allwayes finde me to be, Your affectionate frinde CHARLES »• For the Earle of Leuen. Indorsed in another hand 12 Aug. 1655 Charles Stuart to the Earl of Leven. Intercepted liCttcr. 376 OAIUINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 377 I : * [I: LETTER CCCVI. Xing' Charles //'. whUe in exile ^ to his aunt the Queen of Bohemia, [ms. lansd. 1236. foL lOa Orig.\ *J* According to Clarendon the King remained at Colc^e " above two years, contending with the rigor of his fortune with great tempfr and magnanimtty ;" that is, as the present Letter will explain, with the thoughtlessness which afterwards distinguished him in England. A short passage in Pepys*s Diary affords a comment upon that part of the present Letter which relates to the King's taste for dancing and fiddlers : May 31*'. 1664. '■'• I was told to-day, that upon Sunday night last, being the King's birth.day, the King was at my Lady Castlemaine's lodgings (over the hither gate at Lambert's lodgings) dancing with Jlddlers all night almost; and all the world coming by, taking notice of it." • Collen Aug. 6. Madame I AM just now begining this Letter in my Sisters Chamber, wher ther is such a noise that I never hope to end it, and much lesse write sence. For what con- cernes my sisters journey and the accidents that hap- pened on the way, I leave to her to give your Ma*y. an account of. I shall only tell your Ma^. that we are now thinking how to passe our time ; and in the first place of danceing, in which we find to ^ difficultyes, the one for want of the fidelers, the other for some body both to teach and assist at the danceing the new Dances : and I have gott my sister to send for Silvius as one that is able to performe both : for the fideldedies my L^l* TaafTe does promise to be there convoy, and in the meane time we must contente our selves with those that makes no difference betweene a himine and a coranto. I have now receaved my Sisters pickture that my deare cousin the Princess Louise was pleased to draw, and do desire your Ma*) thank her for me, for 'tis a most excellent pickture, which is all I can say at present, but that I am, Madame, Your Ma^^*'^ most humble and most affectionate nephew and servant CHARLES R. To the Queen of Bohemia, my deerest Aunte. LETTER CCCVII. Oliver Cromwell when Protector ^ to tlie Grand Signior, respecting the surprizal of an English Ship called the Resolution. [communicated by the HIGHT HON. THE LORD VISCOUNT STRANOFORD.] •^* Lord Clarendon says, that Cromwell's greatness at home, was but a shadow of the glory he had abroad. • Pe|»y»'« Memoirs, vol. i. p. 29«. >► two. ! i ( ! 378 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 379 f^: Four years previous to the writing of this Letter, Cromwell had dally authorised the publication of a ^^ Ale^age which he sent to the Great Turk, with his Demands and Propottals, and the releasing of the English Captives." Lond. 1654. 4»«». The Tract which contains it, concludes with this paragraph : " As touching the influence the Lord Protector hath gained by his Message to the Turks, 'tis a thing wonder- fuUy to be admired ; and indeed it causeth no little admiration throughout all Christendom : for true it is, the Argier men of War are become associates with the English, and will not permit a man of our Nation to be carried captive into thraldom ; but seize and take all their Sallee ships, and others, that have any English in them, and bring them in to Gen. Blake, who at this very instant ridet triumphant in the Levant Ocean." The Sultan of the Turks to whom the Letter here placed before the Reader was addressed, was 31ahomet the Fourth. Oliver by the grace of God Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging. To the high and mighty Emperor, Sultan Mahomet Han, Cheife Lord and Commander of the Mussulman Kingdome, sole and supreme Monarch of the Eastcrne Empire, greeting. Most high and mighty Prince We doubt not but you have found by your owne experience, aswell as by information of such as have bin of Councell with your royall preedecessors, that the Amity and Traffique so long continued betweene both Nations hath bin of great advantage and benefit in many respects : to the disturbance whereof We should be very unwilling that any occasion should be offered on our part ; who desire nothing more then a continuance and increase of that friendship which hath bin established. But it falleth out that the same hath bin too frequently interrupted, by such as exercise pyracy and spoile at Sea ; who though they are ene- mies to all entercowrse and civill Society, and disho- norable to Princes and States, yet find places of re- treate and succor in some part of your dominions. An instance whereof (to omit many others) appeareth in the late surprizall of an English Ship called the Re- solution ; which being laden with cloth, tyime, lead, and money (to the value of two Hundred Thousand dollars) and bound for your owne Port of Scanderone, was yet in her passage (nere Candy) assaulted by seaven Ships of Tripoly, (part of your Majesties fleete, and then actually in your service,) and by them car- ried to Rhodes, another of Your Majesties Ports, where we are informed the Captaine Bassa hath bin so farr from disowning the Action, that he hath in scome and contempt of the Capitulation, secured the Ship and Goods, as also the Master, Mariners, and Passengers, who had not a ragg left to cover them. Which barbarous act, so repugnant to the Emperiall Capitulations (which ought to be held inviolate), so injurious to Trade, and so dishonorable to your Ma- jestic, we cannot pass over without a due consideration and representation to You, as a manifest breach of Peace : and therefore We doe presume so much of your wisdome and justice, that you will not only command li' ■ < '!'< 380 OUIGINAL LETTERS. OKIGIXAL LETTERS, 381 1 11 a totall aiid compleate restitution to be made of the Ship, Goods, and Money, and releasement of the Men, but also for your owne honor take course for suppress- ing those pyrates, and prohibiting their retreate into places and receiving favour and succor from persons under your obedience ; as also for punishing such as countenance or abett them, and for a generall redress of all former injuries too commonly practised on our people, both to our dishonor and their irreparable loss. In all which we have given order to our Am- bassador residing at your High Port to informe you more particularly ; desiring to understand your reso- lution herein, that upon knowledge thereof we may take such course as shalbe agreeable to justice and to the good of our people, whom we are bound to protect in their lawfull courses of Trade. And so we wish You health and true felicity. Given at Our Pallace at Westminster the 11^''. day of the moneth of August 1657. Indorsed Copie of His Highnes Letter to the Grand Sig^ Aug*'. 11'^. 1657. Resolution. For Constantinople. LETTER CCCVIII. The Protector to the Vizier Azem, upon the same. [communicated by the lord viscount strangford.] Oliver by the grace of God Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging. To the high and excellent Lord, the Vizier Azem High and excellent Lord As we have now done to the Grand Signor your Lord and Master, so doe we also to You, complaine of an act of violence and injustice exercised towards divers Merchants of this Commonwealth interessed in an English Ship called the Resolution ; which being laden with cloth, tynne, and money, and bound for the Grand Signor's owne Port of Scanderone, in a peaceable course of trading, was (notwithstanding) in her way (nere Candy) assaulted by seaven Tripoly Men of Warr actually ingaged in the Grand Signor's service, and by them carried to Rhodes : where the Captaine Bassa hath secured the Ship and her lading, and imprisoned the master, mariners, and passengers, TV 382 OEIGIKAL LETTERS. OBIGINAL LETTERS. 383 being in number forty five persons. Which Act, so contrary to the Emperiall capitulations, and to the very essence of Commerce, being an absolute breach of the Peace between both nations, We cannot but judge wilbe held very dishonorable to the Grand Signor, and accordingly resented by him, even to the severe punishment of the Captaine Bassa who so readily owned the action, and of those others, enemies of humane society, who are guilty of an attempt so foule and disgracefull to a Monarch pretending justice. And we shall not doubt but, as an intimation of his justice he will command compleate restitution of Ship and Goods, and releasement of the persons : otherwise you must shortly expect a ruine and dissolution of all Trade, besides the confusion and danger that may grow to your owne State. And therefore We presume you will, (though for noe other respect then your owne in- terest and safety,) be instrumentall to procure repara- tion in this particular, and an utter extirpation of those Sea Rovers; that so Peace and the effects thereof, which have bin found so advantageous to both nations, may be preserved, to the mutual good of each. In all which We desire you to give eare and credit to our Ambassador there, and to procure such speedy an- swere and retume from his Emperiall Majesty as may stand with equity and with the continuance of that Amity which hath bin setled between both nations, and which We shall not willingly give the least occa- sion to disturbe without some great provocation. Given at Our Pallace at Westminster this ll^h. day of the Month of August in the yeare 1657. Indorsed Copie of His Highness Letter to the Vizier. Aug*. 11. 1657. Shipp Resolution. For ConstP. END OF VOL. 111. 1f%(: Vr H LONDON : FHIMTCD BY THOUAS DAVISON, WlIITEFRIAMi^. '; 11 ;i:? \B ttu iii s^^' \5^^ * J. :v ■J^l*?!*^/^ COLUMBIA UNIVEKSITY UBRARIES^ the Ubrarlan In charge- .=== •^ COLUMBIA UNIVt 0032250690 . ^ m- 1 A.^ •<^-Vi; C28(»4«)»«»00 ,4-tl ^ »^ "^ut(/T<^, ■ •«? - • - * -- ■?'^ u,/ #*'■ it;?. >tr' 1/ •T >C n^:. i>t5^>^f; ^ ^^. -.;^*t;: ;& ■! .,.;* f",-S ■»*■# '0^1 £iR,\*.3 \^J :ii fc^-' S^'^. m . /- "*• . . i itei 5i*«^ . I "^ A^\ Columbia ®[nibers(itj> ^ in tfte Cit? of ^eto gorfe LIBRARY ) ■ This book is due two weeks from the last date st?mpcd below, and if not returned at or before that time a fine of five cents a day will be incurred. m--^ tj »l f?T8? ^' !.. I ORIGINAL LETTERS, ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH HISTORY. LONDON : PHINTED BY TU03IAS DAVISON, WHITEFllIAHS. k 8 1 it • ' /^ .^ ^ ^;: V v 1 ^ K v^^ N ■ '^ X ^ 4 ^ \i ^ ^ - ^ "^ s > 2s V. Jt ^ - s 4^ S ^ x^ 1 s 1 -N| X ^ c; V 1 -.^ ^ * 4-, < V 5; •X 5r ^ A V A ^ 1 ^ ^ i ^ ^ > ^^ ^ ILLUSTRATIVE OF ORIGINAL LETT^ ENGLISH HISIXJrUBR IHY, f N.YORK. J INCLUDING NUMEROUS ROYAL LETTERS: FRO.AI AUTOGRAPHS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, AND ONE OR TWO OTHER COLLECTIONS, WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, BY HENRY ELLIS, F.R. S. Sec.S.A. KEEPER OF THE MANUSCRIPTS IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. SECOND SERIES. IN FOUR VOLUMES. VOL. IV. LONDON : PRINTED FOR HARDING AND LEPARD, PALL-MALL EAST. .MDCCCXXVII. u \\ \i CONTENTS. VOL. IV. LETTER CCCIX. CCCX. CCCXl. CCCXII. CCCXllI. CCCXIV. cccxv. CCCXVI. PAGE Mr. Jo. Greenhalgh to his friend Mr. Tho- mas Crompton. A Visit to the Jewish Synagogue established in London 3 The Rev. Stephen Bing to Dr. Sancroft Dean of St. Pauls : upon the ravage of the Great Plague ^ Mr. Bing to Dr. Sancroft. The Plague con- tinues. The Bishop of London endea« vours to recall the Pastors who had left their Churches 25 Mr. Bing to Dr. Sancroft. The Sickness continues. One of the late King's Judges taken prisoner, but rescued. The disaf- fected take advantage of the confusion oc- casioned by the Plague 27 J. TiUison to Dr. Sancroft. The Necessities of the Poor. The parish of St. Giles Cripplegate more severely visited by the Plague than any other in London 30 Mr. Tillison to Dr. Sancroft. Further par- ticulars of the violence of the Plague. ... 33 J. Tillison to Dr. Sancroft. The great de- solation of the City 35 King Charles the Second to the Duke of Or- mond, concerning the dismissal of Lord ChanceUor Hyde 38 24491 J VI I CONTENTS. LETTER PAGE cccxvii. Dr. George Hickes ta Dr* Patrick. The State of Affairs in Scotland iO cccxviii. Dr. Hickes to Dr. Patrick upon the same. . 45 cccxix. Dr. Hickes to Dr. Patrick. Michell's Trial 47 cccxx. Dr. Hickes to Dr. Patrick. Michell's Sen- tence and Execution 52 cccxxi. Mr. Henry Savill to his uncle Secretary Coventry 57 cccxxii. The Duke of Monmouth to Sir Rohert At- kyns, A. D. 1679 64 cccxxm. Dr. Zacheus Isham Dean of Christ Church Oxford, to Dr. £dmund Borlase. Ru- mours after the Dissolution of the Parlia- ment at Oxford 65 cccxxiv. Sir James Dick, Bart. Lord Provost of Edin- burgh, to Mr. EUies at London. The Duke of York shipwrecked on the Sand- bank called the Lemon and Ore 67 Lady Rachel Russell to 73 to "Mr. EUis, Secretary of the Revenue in Ireland. Hampden said to be reprieved. Some of the Bishops falling out of favour 83 The same to the same. Hampden reprieveil. The Bishop of London in disgrace. A Pardon granted to Roman Catliolic Officers for holding their commands without taking the Test 85 The same to the same. The Trial and Ac- quittal of Lord Delamere 86 Samuel de Paz to John Ellis, Esq. Lord Delamere has an audience of the King. False Reports of Quo Warrantos issued against Catheilral Churches. Mrs. Sedley to be Countess of Dorchester. Sir Henry Waldegrave to be Baron AValdegrave ... 88 tccxxx to Mr. Ellis. Montague cccxx v. cccxxvi. cccxxvii. CCCXXVllI. CCCXXIX. cox -O".^' ^ ^.N.YORK,y ^ I^Mia^ burnt, m Harbord ordered to surrender ®^ cccxxxi. The same to the same. Public News. Countess of Dorchester. The Princess Anne. Pepys ^0 cccxxxii. The same to the same. Judges and Ser- jeants changed. Disorders in London on account of Popery 9% cccxxxiii. The same to the same. King James drinks the Church of England as established by Law. The Judgment in the Case of Sir Edward Hales ^^ cccxxxiv. The same to the same. The Appointment of Lords Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction ^^ cccxxxv. The same to the same. Bishop Compton called before the Lords Commissioners . . 98 cccxxxvi. The same to the same. The Duke of Or- mond. Father Peters. Lord Tyrconnel 100 cccxxxvi I. The same to the same. The Affliction of the Princess of Denmark 101 cccxxxviii. The same to the same. The Birth of the Prince • 102 cccxxxix. The same to the same. D. of Monmouth's Chaplain pardoned 103 cccxL. The same to the same. King James at the Camp on Hounslow Heath. Pannel of the Jury at the Trial of the Seven Bishops. Various lesser News 104 cccxLi. The same to the same. Trial of the Bishops, who are brought in not guilty 106 cccxLii. The same to the same. Disorders of the Populace upon the Acquittal of the Bishops 1 09 CCCXLII I. Changes in the Privy Council, &c. The King dines at the Camp twice a week. The Prince declared Prince of Wales. Changes in Westminster Hall 110 Vlll LETTER CCCXLIV. CCCXLV. CCCXLVI. CCCXLVII. CCCXLVIII. CCCXLIX. CCCL. CCCLI. CCCLII. CCCLIII. CCCLIV. CONTENTS. PAGE The same to the same. Joy at Rome upon the birth of the Prince of Wales 112 The same to the same. The Departure of the Court. The Prince taught by the Marchioness of Powis his Governess to present a Petition to the King for in- creasing the Number of Hackney Coaches, the revenue arising from which was to be applied to the maintenance of Foundling Children. Circuits of the Judges. Ex- cesses of the Mob at Amsterdam upon the celebration at the English Consul's on the birth of the Prince of Wales 114 The same to the same. A Household esta- blished for the Prince of Wales. The ac- quitted Bishops hold Catechizings and Confirmations in their respective Bi- shopricks. Their example followed by the Roman Clergy 116 The same to the same. Falsity of a Report concerning Father Peters 118 The same to the same. The Prince of Wales indisposed. The Judges and their Charges 119 The same to the same. A Wet-nurse pro- vided for the Prince of Wales. Death of Henry Carre. Various News 120 The same to the same. The Prince of Wales recovered. His Wet-nurse has a Go- verness to look after her 122 The same to the same. The Queen Dowager 123 The same to the same. Writs to be issued for the Parliament ibid. The same to the same. Court News. Mr. Skelton the late Envoy at Paris committed to the Tower 124 The same to the same. Mr. Skelton. The Mayor of Scarborough tossed in a Blanket 125 CONTENTS. IX LETTER CCCLV. CCCLVI. CCCLVII. CCCLVIII. CCCLIX. CCCLX. CCCLXI. CCCLXII. CCCLXIII. CCCLXIV. CCCLXV. CCCLXVI. PAGE The same to the same. The Mayor and Aldermen of London address the King and Queen. The King's Address to them respecting the Dutch Fleet 126 The same to the same. The Prince of Orange reported to be upon the point of embarking 127 The same to the same. The King's Procla- mation concerning the intended Invasion of the Dutch. The Dukes of Ormond and Berwick have the Garter. Hearing before the Council concerning the tossing of the Mayor of Scarborough in a blanket ibid. The same to the same. The Charter of the City of London restored 129 The same to the same. Coffee Houses and otlier Houses which dealt in News sup- pressed *^^ The same to the same. Description of the Dutch Fleet. Measures taken for defence ibid. The same to the same. The Society of Mag- dalen College Oxford restored. Imprison- ment of Hubert Bourke. Various news. . 132 The same to the same. The General News of the day ^^^ The same to the same. The Prince of Orange driven back ^^^ The same to the same. The Council ordered to wait upon the Prince and Princess of Denmark with the depositions concerning the Birth of the Prince of Wales. The Prince of Orange's Declaration dispersed about the Town. Reports of the Dutch Fleet ••• ^^^ The same to the same. The Dutch arrive upon the Coast of Devonshire 141 The same to the same. The Prince of Orange at Exeter ^*® i X II LETTER CCCLXVII. CCCLXVIII. CCCLXIX. CCCLXX. CCCLXXI. CCCLXXII. CCCLXXIII. CCCLXXIV. CCCLXXV. CCCLXXVI. CCCLXXVII. CCCLXXVIII. CCCLXXIX. CCCLXXX. COXTEXTS. PAGE The same to the same. The Prince of Orange still at Exeter. The general state of Affairs 143 The same to the same. Lord Lovelace taken in his way to join the Prince of Orange. Dr. Burnet reads the Prince's Declaration at Exeter. News from the West 1 46 The same to the same 1 49 The same to the same. General News. . . . 150 The same to the same. Reports and In- formation of the Day 152 The same to the same. Continuation of News 154 The same to the same 157 to John EUis^ Esq. More News 159 to Mr. Ellis. Storms. The Prince of Orange's movements. The Rising in Cheshire 161 The same to the same. The King returns. The Princess Anne withdraws herself. General News 164 The Princess Anne to the Queen ; apologizes for absenting herself 166 to John Ellis, Esq. The Queen and Prince gone for France. The King follows. The Prince of Orange generally declared for 167 to John Ellis, Esq. The Prince of Orange invited to Town. Tumults of the Mob. The Army dis- banded. The Prince of Orange's Pro- )K)sal8. Lord Chancellor Jefferys taken in disguise 1 70 to John Ellis, Esq. King James returns from Feversham. Arrival of the Queen and Prince at Ostend. Princess Anne's entry into Oxford 1 75 CONTENTS. XI LETTER CCCLXXXI. CCCLXXXII. CCCLXXXIII. CCCLXXXIV. CCCLXXXV. ctci.xxxvi. CCCLXXXVII. CCCLXXXVllI. CtCLXXXIX. CCCXC. fCCXCI. CCCXCII. CCCXCIIl. cccxciv. FACE The same to the same. King James's final retirement from Whitehall. The Prince of Orange at St. James's 179 The same to the same. King James ar- rives in France 185 The Eari of Melfort to Mr. Innes from Rome. The Circulation of the Gun Money in Ireland 1^6 The Earl of Melfort to Father Maxwell ... 189 The Eari of Melfort to the Queen of James lid. Anxiety for the confirmation of the News that the Battle of the Boyne had been gained by James. His Advice as to the first steps to be taken upon English ground 190 The Earl of Melfort to the Queen, from Rome ; still in suspense 198 The Earl of Melfort to King James the Second from Rome 200 The Earl of Melfort to Mr. Innes; intro- duces an Irish priest of the name of Rich- ard Molony 207 Mr. Theophilus Harrison to the Rev. John Strype 209 King WiUiam the Third to His discontent with the Parliament. Changes proposed for Ireland 214 Charles Lyttelton to his father Sir Charles Lyttelton upon the conduct of Louis the XlVth. after the death of King James the Second 217 Sir George Rooke to Prince George of Den- mark : after the taking of the Vigo Gal- leons by the English Fleet, Oct. 12th, 1702 223 Lord Tarbat to Queen Anne. He tenders his Resignation as Secretary for Scotland 225 The Duke of Queensberry to Queen Anne, i Xll LETTER CCCXCV. CCCXCVI. CCCXCVII. CCCXCVIII. CCCXCIX. cccc. CCCCI. CCCCIl. CCCCIII. CCCCIV. ccccv. CONTENTS. PAGE upon the debating of the Act of Security in the Parhament of Scotland 227 The Duke of Queensberry to Queen Anne ; again upon the Act of Security. A Plot to overturn the Government discovered. . 230 The Duke of Queensberry to the Queen, upon the Rising of the Parhament. Again upon the supposed Plot 236 Dr. D'Avenant to his Son, after the News of the Battle of Hochstet, otherwise called the Battle of Bleinheim, had arrived in London 241 Prince George of Hanover, afterwards King George II., to Queen Anne, upon his re- ceiving the Order of the Garter 246 Prince George of Hanover to Queen Anne, upon receiving his Patent as Duke of Cambridge. CorapUmentary upon the Union with Scotland 247 Lord Sunderland to the Duke of Newcastle. Proposes to make a stand in Parhament, or the Prince of Wales will be brought in 249 Lord Sunderland to the Duke of Newcastle. The Resolution of certain Peers to declare against the Court. The Removal of Prince George of Denmark from his Office of Lord High Admiral projected . 251 Dr. White Kennett, afterwards Bishop of Peterborough, to 255 The Earl of Sunderland to the Duke of Newcastle. The Death of Prince George of Denmark. Official Changes 257 The Duke of Marlborough to The dismal aspect of affairs 259 Robert Harley, Esq. to the Elector of Han- over. His devotion to the Elector's Per- son and Serene House 260 CONTENTS. Xlll LETTKR ccccvi. CCCCVII. CCCCVIIl. CCCCIX. ccccx. ccccxi. CCCCXII. CCCCXIIl. CCCCXIV. ccccxv. CCCCXVI. CCCCXVll. CCCCXVIU CCCCX1X. PAGE The Elector's Answer to Mr. Harley 261 Robert Harley, Esq. to the Elector of Han- over, in return to his Highness's Answer 262 The Duke of Buckingham to the Elector of Hanover. Offers his humble and zeal- ous service ^^^ Mr. Harley, now Earl of Oxford, to the Elector of Hanover. The Queen's care of the Elector's interest 266 The Princess CaroUne, afterwards Queen of England, to Queen Anne 267 Secretary Bromley to the Princess Sophia. . 268 The Earl of Oxford to Baron \^assenaar Duyvenworde. Against any branch of the Elector's Family coming over with- out the Queen's consent 269 Archbishop Dawes to the Princess Sophia. The zeal of himself and the Clergy for the Protestant succession 27 1 Lord Chancellor Harcourt to Baron Schutz. The Writ of Summons for the Duke of Cambridge ^"^^ The Earl of Oxford to the Elector of Han- over, after " the accident respecting the Writ" 273 The Elector of Hanover to Queen Anne an- nouncing the loss of his Mother 275 The Elector of Hanover to the Lord Trea- surer Oxford upon the same 276 . The Prince Elector to Queen Anne : to be restored to favour 277 The Elector of Hanover to the Lord Trea- surer Oxford, upon the necessity for the presence of some Prince of his House in England, to secure the Queen and her Dominions against the designs of the Pretender ^^^ XIV LETTER CCCCXX. I' CCCCXXI. CCCCXXII. CCCCXXIII. CCCCXXIV. ccccxxr. n i^ I ccccxxvi. CCCCXXVII. CCCCXXVIII. CCCCXXIX. CCCCXXX. CCCCXXXI. CCCCXXXII. CONTENTS. PAGE Dr. White Kennett, afterwards Bishop of Peterborough, to Dr. Samuel Blackwell. King George the First expected from Han- over. The Queen's Interment ordered. Divisions of Interest upon, and Applica- tions for Church Preferment 285 Archbishop King to Archbishop Wake. The Prince of Wales, afterwards King George lid. chosen Chancellor of the University of Dublin 289 Archbishop King to Archbishop Wake, after the death of the Archbishop of Tuara. Stat4i of the Clergy in his Diocese. The " Quarta Pars Episcopalis" 291 Bishop Kennett to Mr. Samuel Blackwell. The King's preparations to go to Hanover 298 Dr. White Kennett to Mr. Blackwell. The Princess of Wales has a severe confine- ment 299 Bishop Kennett to the Rev. Mr. Blackwell. King George the First's intention to make a Progress to Yorkshire. Trials of the Rebels 30 1 The same to the same. The Princess re- covered 302 Dr. Kennett to the Rev. Mr. Blackwell. The King returned from Hanover 303 Dr. White Kennett to Dr. Blackwell. Pro- ject of Charles Xllth. of Sweden for the Invasion of Kngland. The Court quiet 304 The same to the same 306 Dr. Kennett to Mr. Blackwell. The King of Sweden a less bugbear ib. Dr. Kennett to Mr. Blackwell. Bangorian Controversy. King George the First ... 307 Dr. Kennett to Mr. Blackwell. General News 308 CONTENTS. XV LETTER CCCCXXXIII. CCCCXXXIV. CCCCXXXV. ccccxxxYi. CCCCXXXVII. CCCCXXXVIII. ccccxxxix. CCCCXL. CCCCXLI. CCCCXLII. CCCCXLIII. CCCCXLIV. CCCCXLV. CCCCXLVI. PAGE Dr. Kennett to Mr. Blackwell. The Princess near her confinement 309 The same to the same ib. Dr. Thomas Tudway to Mr. Humphry Wanley, Lord Oxford's Librarian. Dr. Bentley's behaviour when the King went to Cambridge 311 The same to the same. Still upon Dr. Bent- ley 312 Archbishop King to Archbishop Wake. The Differences at Court 315 Archbishop King to Archbishop Wake. Still upon the Court differences 316 Bishop Nicolson to Archbishop Wake : de- tails his Journey to take possession of the See of Derry 317 Jos. Wilcocks to Bishop Kennett, from. Han- over. An Account of what was passing there during the King's Visit in 1720 . . . 320 Dr. Nicolson, Bishop of Derry, to Arch- bishop ^Vake. The effects of the South Sea Scheme upon Ireland 324 Dr. King, Archbishop of Dublin, to Arch- bishop Wake. Still upon the Affair of the South Sea Company 325 The Archbishop of Dublin to Archbishop Wake, upon the same 327 Dr. King, Archbishop of Dublin, to Arch- bishop Wake. The effect of the South Sea Failure still continues in Ireland .... 329 Dr. Nicolson, Bishop of Derry, to Arch- bishop Wake. The new Irish Half- pence 330 Dr. Nicolson, Bishop of Derry, to Archbishop AVake. Apprehension of losing all the Gold and Silver in Ireland in exchange XVI CONTENTS. CONTENTS. XVll LETTER CCCCXLVIl. CCCCXI.VIII. CCCCXLIX. CCCCL. CCCCLI. CCCCLII. CCCCLIII. CCCCLIV. CCCCLV. CCCCLVI. PAGE for Halfpence and Farthings. Debates upon it in the Commons of that King- dom 332 The same to the same. The panic in Ire- land increases. Dean Swift prints his Let- ters on the subject 333 The same to the same. Leagues and De- clarations among the Shopkeepers, &c. of Ireland, against Wood's Halfpence 334 The same to the same. Further Associations against the Currency of Wood's Money 336 The same to the same. The Address of the Irish Parliament upon his Majesty's fa- vour in the matter of Wood's Patent. . . . 338 The Duke of Wharton to Lady Jane Holt his sister. Endeavours to extenuate his conduct 339 Major General Moyle to the Duke of New- castle, upon the Seizure and Execution of Captain Porteous by the Mob at Edin- burgh 347 Dr. Edward Chandler, Bishop of Durham, apparently to the Archdeacon of North- umberland. The Rebels approaching from the North. The spirit of the dif- ferent Counties 351 Duncan Forbes Lord President of the Court of Session in Scotland, to Mr. Mitchell. The State of Edinburgh after the Suc- cesses of the Rebels there and at Preston Pans 353 Duncan Forbes, Lord President, to Mr. Mit- chell. Mr. Gordon. The want of sup- plies wherewith to oppose the Rebels . . . 357 Andrew Mitchell Esq. to the Earl of Hol- dernesse. Collins, the courier for England, LETTEB CCCCLVII. CCCCLVIII. CCCCLIX. CCCCLX. CCCCLXI. CCCCLXII. ccccLxin. CCCCLXIV. CCCCLXV. CCCCLXVI. CCCCLXVII. CCCCLXVIII. CCCCLXIX. VOL. IV. PAGE robbed of his Despatches at the Gale of BerUn 367 Mr, Mitchell to the Earl of Holdernesse. His Interview with the King of Prussia respecting the lost Despatches 370 Mr. Mitchell to the Earl of Holdernesse- The discovery of the Thief 372 Mr. Mitchell to the Earl of Holdernesse. The Stealer of Collins's Portmantle brought to Berlin 376 Robert Symmer, Esq. to Mr. Mitchell. The Toulon Squadron sailed for Port Mahon 378 Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. The unac- countable behaviour of the English Fleet 379 Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell. Tke arrival of Admiral Byng's Despatches. His neglect to relieve Port Mahon after beating the French. Reinforcements sent out. The Public despond 3tJl Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. The con- tinuance of Public disappointment 386 Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. Port Mahon lost. The Indignation against Admiral Byng's conduct, general 387 The Earl of Holdernesse to Andrew Mit- chell, Esq. A Change taking place in ths Administration 389 The Eari of Holdernesse to Mr. Mitchell. His Lordship at the head of the Admini- stration 390 Mr. Svmmer to Mr. Mitchell. Admiral Byng capitally convicted 892 Mr. Symmer to Mr, Mitchell. The rigor of Admiral Byng's Sentence 395 Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. The Opinion of the Judges taken upon Admiral Byng's Sentence • 397 SEB. 2. b xvm 'i*\\ LETTER CCCCLXX. CCCCLXXI. CCCCLXXII. CCCCLXXIII. crccLxxiv. CCCCLXXV. CCCCLXX VI. CCCCLXXTII. CCCCLXXVIII. CCCCLXXIX. CCCCLXXX, CCCCLXXXI. tOXTENTS. PAOB Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. A Motion made in the House of Commons for the • mitigation of the rigor of Admiral Byng's Sentence. The Examination of the Mem- bers of his Court Martial by the Lords. . 398 Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. Admiral Byng has but three days to live 402 The Right Hon. William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, to Mr. Mitchell. Ex- presses his attachment to, and admiration of the King of Prussia 404 Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. The King and the Duke of Cumberland have the Gout for the first time 40^ Mr. Pitt to Mr. Mitchell. The King of Prussia intercedes for the Pardon of the Lord Marischal. Mr. Pitt's veneration for the King of Prussia 407 Lord Holdemesse to Mr. Mitchell, upon the Pardon of the Lord Marischal 410 Mr. Pitt to Mr. Mitchell. His respect and reverence for the King of Prussia 411 Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. The Ex- penses of the War. Lord George Sack- ville disgraced 41S Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. The death of General Wolf 414 Lord Harrington to Mr. Mitchell. The Union between the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pitt 415 Mr. Mitchell to the Earl of Holdernesae. The Court of France uses the pen of Voltaire to draw Secrets from the King of Prussia. The King of Prussia's character of VolUire 417 The Right Hon. William Pitt to Mr. Mit- CONTENTS. XIX LETTER CCCCLXXXII. CCCCLXXXIII. CCCCLXXXIV. CCCCLXXXV. CCCCLXXXVI. CCCCLXXXVII. CCCCLXXXVIII. CCCCLXXXIX. CCCCXC. CCCCXCI. CCCCXCII. CCCCXCIII. CCCCXCIV. PACE chell. Expresses his joy at the King of Prussia's Successes 420 J. Wright, Under Secretary of State, to Sir Andrew Mitchell. The Reports upon King George the Second's Will 422 General Yorke to Sir Andrew Mitchell. The opening of the Reign of George the Third 425 Lord Barrington to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. . . 430 Lord Barrington to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. The Administration settled 432 Colonel Graeme to Mr. Mitchell, upon Lord Harcourt's Journey to demand the hand of the Princess of Mechlenburg Strelitz . . 434 Colonel Grceme to Mr. Mitchell. Prepara- tions for the Princess's Journey 437 The Earl of Harcourt from the Court of Strelitz, to Mr. Mitchell at Magdeburg. Preparations for bringing the Princess, afterwards Queen Charlotte, to England 439 Lord Barrington to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. Mr; Pitt's Resignation of the Seal* 441 Lord Barrington to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. Lady Hester Pitt created a Peeress. Mr. Pitt receives a Pension. Ministerial changes 444 Lord Barrington to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. New Administration under Lord Bute. The Duke of Newcastle's Audience from the King upon his Resignation 445 Mr. Symmers to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. The Birth of the Prince of Wales 447 The King of Prussia to Sir Andrew Mitchell, upon the taking of the Havannah 448 Mr. Symmer to Sir Andrew Mitchell. The Preliminaries of the Peace of 1762 arrive ratifieil 449 in I i XX CONTENTS. CONTENTS. XXI LETTER CCCCXCV. CCCCXCVI. CCCCXCVII. CCCCXCVIII. CCCCXCIX. ^' i^ D. 1>I. HIT. Bin. DIV. DV. DVI. DTII. »VIIl. PAGE Mr. Symmer to Sir Andrew Mitchell. Th6 state of Parties. The Duke of Newcastle's sacrifice of tlmolument. A Victory gained by Admiral Keppel ♦^S Lord Bariington to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. Still on the State of Parties in the Debate upon the Peace 455 Lortl Barrington to Mr. Mitchell. The iubject of the Peace continued 458 Frederick the Great of Prussia to Sir An- drew Mitchell, upon his receiving a Copy of the Treaty of Peace of 1763 460 Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell. Lord Bute's retirement from Office. He details the Changes of the Administration which were to take place the next day 461 Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell ; upon the further Changes of Administration 463 Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell. The Affair of "a worthless man named Wilks" 464 Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell. The Death of Lord Egremont 465 Lord Barrington to Sir Andrew Mitchell. Mr. Pitt's unreasonable terms. His failure in negociation for Office 466 Mr. Erskine to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. De- tails explanatory of the preceding Letter 467 Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell. The King's Message on the subject of Wilks. Mr. Pitt's Speech upon the Address in consequence. The Duke of Newcastle . . 472 Lord Barrington to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. Greneral News 475 Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell. Wilks and the North Briton, No. 45 476 Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell. Michel, LETTER DIX. sx. BXI. DXII. BXJII. OXIV. DXV. DXVI. DXVII. DXVIII. DXIX. FAGB the Prussian Minister in England, re- called 479 Mr. Stuart Mackenzie to Sir Andrew Mitchell: upon his removal from the Privy Seal of Scotland 480 The Rev. William Cole to Mr. Alban Butlef, President of the English College at St. Omers. The Sute of Society in France. Rousseau in England 483 Mr. Alban Butler to the Rev. William Cole, from St. Omers, in answer 488 Lord Barrington to Sir Andrew Mitchell* A fresh Change in Administration. Mr. Stuart Mackenzie has the Privy Seal again 401 General Conway to Sir Andrew Mitchell. His Majesty's Proposition to form a System in the North which may counter- ^ balance the Family Compact 492 The Earl of Chatham to Sir Andrew Mitchell; on the proposed Confederacy of the North 495 Sir Andrew Mitchell to the Earl of Cha- tham. He details the subsUnce of a Conference with the King of Prussia . . . 498 General Conway to Sir Andrew Mitchell ; upon the coldness with which the King of Prussia received the Proposal for a Northern Confederation 500 Sir Andrew Mitchell to the Earl of Chatham. Relates a private Conversation with the King of Prussia 503 Mr.Wroughton to Mr. Mitchell from Po- land. A Mistake about a Cypher 506 General Conway to Sir Andrew Mitchell: The King receives a Letter by the Post 1} '! I XXII CONTENTS. I LETTER DZX. DXXI. Dxxn. DXXIII. Dxxir. DXXV. DXXVI. DXXVII. DXXVI 1 1. DXXIX. DXXX. I'AOC from an English Sailor. His Majesty's Orders upon it 507 James Richardson, an English Sailor, forcibly detained in the King of Prussia's ser- Tice, to his Majesty King CJeorge Hid.. . 509 Sir Andrew Mitchell to Lord Rochford. The King of Prussia still insensible to the ad- vantages of tlie proposed Confe <^ this It CCTtainly rfiows that in 1662 the Jews were existing i„ I^„don wUhaSj.agog.e bum after the fashion of their own worship , S o»pee^Uon which the writer saw assembled, consisted of a hund^ J«v. besides women ; that they we,e not people who appeared as sttj • Hi«t. of his own Time, vol. i. p. 71. K 2 4 ORIGINAL LETTERS. gling sojourners, but gentlemen and merchants, rich in apparel even to the wearing of jewels, and that they had not one mechanic-person amongst them. It expressly states that in Oliver's time the Jews had celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in booths, upon the southern side of the Thames; and has a direct reference to their withdrawing themselves as much as possible from public notice upon the Restoration of King Charles the Second, evidently from the circumstance that the Act for their exile hatl never been formally repealed. The evidence of this Letter too is to a certain extent corroborated by two entries upon the Journals of the House of Commons ; one, in 1G60, representing the Jews as a people existing amongst us without protection ; the other, in 1670, ordering an Inquiry to be made upon what terms they were permitted to reside in England. It is evident then that Cromwell brought them back. ** Monday, l^^^ Dec \6G0. M'. HoUis represents to this House an Order made by the Lords of H. Majesty's Privy Council, and specially recommended to this House for their Advice therein, touching Protection for the Jews : which was read. '^ Ordered, that this business be taken into consideration tomorrow morning." Joum. H. Com. vol. viii. p. 209. ** Luns 6 die Feb. 1670. Ordered, that a Committee be appointed, to inquire into the Causes of the Growth of Popery ; to prepare and bring in a Bill to prevent ; and also to inquire touching the Number of the Jews and their Synagogues, and upon what terms they are permitted to have their residence here; and report it, with their opinions, to the House." Ibid. vol. ix. p. 198. But we have evidence which is still closer to the point. Thomas Violet, a goldsmith of London, in a Petition to the King and Parliament dated December the 18*'*. 1660, which was printed in 1661, settles the question. Cromwell, it will be remembered, after the arrival of Menasseh Ben Israel in England, summoned by his Letters the two I^rds Chief Jus- tices and the Lord Chief Baron, seven Citizens of London (including the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs) and fourteen of the most noted Preachers, to attend him at Whitehall Dec. 4'''. 1655, there to debate two questioris before him and his Ck>uncil ; first whether it were lawful, at all, to re- admit the Jews ; secondly (if it should be thought lawful) upon what terms to admit them. Hugh Peters, with some other divines, were after- wards added to the number of the debaters. The Ijawyers were not against their return ; and the citizens were some- what indifferent, but the preachers assailed each other furiously with texts of Scripture, and spent so much time in tummg over their bibles for proofs that they passed four days in the di»cussion ; till one of them If ^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. g having concluded a senseless Argument with a Prayer, which he said wiUi some warmth, that they did not answer his expectations. " He hoped, he said, to have had some clearing of the Case, as to his Con scrzKc. ; but instead of tha^ they had made the matt;r mo« doub^^" Lh m'' "^""""^ ^*" '' "^ '^'^^'' therefore that he m'ght do every thmg for H.^ Glory, and U,c good of the Nation; and thereupon dismissed the Assembly."* "lereupon ^^0^0? l;f rwl^nd^^^^^^ T""""« ^'^^ ^-Posals about the ad- a. followeth; '""**"' *"^ ^""''^' adjournment. The Proposals are A Tramlate of the Proposals of Manasseth Ben Israel. &c. These are the GraP« and^vour. wh.ch in the name of my Hebrew Nation I Mana^ Ben I'r^f^ u anu 8art>gnard of your Highness, even as the naUves themselves. And fnr gutter security in time to come. I doe supplicate your Highn^To^ J^ an Oalht mLlnfi! r"/ P'.^»^ y**"' ^iR^rie^ to allow us publicke Synagogues, not only in wiU?t7gZbirb; 'J.T " '""*"'" °" °' "^^ ^°^" ^ ^^- -' '^' othe,!*"' *' ""*' "^ "^''"^ "^ '^^•^ ^'•^'y •" '^' »«•*» of merchandise, a. thi*.* JJlfl^*" the end those who shall come may be for the uUlity of the people of thi. Nation, and may l.ve without bringing prejudice to any. and not giveTffenc^f your most serene Highness wiU make choice of a per«>n of quality, to h>form him H^hnrfnS^Uli^r'"' oblige themselves by oath to maint.^ fealty toTo^ 6. And (to the intent they may not be troublesome to the Judges of the Land touchmg the contests and difference, that may arise betwixt those oTo^r NaHonVSaJ your mo. «^ene Highness will give license to the head of the Synagogue t" uKe wuh h,m two Almoner, of hi. Nation, to accwd and detennine all the Sen^ and procc«. conformable to the Mosaick Law. with liberty neverthele^ to an^n,om j:::; ««rj^itS! ^"" ^"-^ ^^^ - -'^-^" ^^ ^"- ^^^ ^ ---- .hi' 7^'/" **^/^I? ^""^ *^" ^"y Laws against our Jewish Nation, they may in the first place and before all things be revoked, to the end that by thrr^^s^e ZTtrnelSn::'^""' "^"^^^^ ""^^ ^^ "^^"^ ^^ P Je^^ion^o^To:: Wh.ch thmgs your most serene Highness granting to us. we shall always remain mo.t aflecfonately obliged to pray to God for the pr'o.,>enty of your hT^^^cL a"S b ORIGINAL LETTERS. Violet expToMily states in his Petition that, after this Debate, Crom- well and his Council gave a Dispensation to a number of Jews to settle in London, that they were suffered to exercise their religion, that they were in reality invited in by Thurloe and protected by Cromwell, and that the greater part (answering to the description of the persons mentioned in the present Letter) were ^* P(»tugals or Spaniards'" by birth. This fixes the time of the Re-admission of the Jews to the opening of the year 1G56. Violet further states that it was Cromwell's intention to have made them farmers of the Customs and Excise, and to have given them naturalization. At the very moment when Cromwell's Conference was held, the war between the Swedes and the Poles had driven a large number of the Jews who were resident at Cracow, to Hamburgh : and the circumstance of a temporal Prince arising who was inclined to encourage their settlement in his country, appears to have attracted their most serious attention. Raguenet, in his History of Cromwell's life, details the particulars of a very extraordinary fact ; that, much about the time of Menasseh's coming into England, the Asiatic Jews sent hither also the Rabbi Jacob Ben Azahel with several others of his nation to make private inquiry whether Cromwell was not that Messiah whom they had long expected ; and that under pretence of viewing the Hebrew Books and Manuscripts belonging to the University of Cambridge, they took the opportunity to ascertain amongst Cromwell's relations at Huntingdon whether any of his ances- tors were of Jewish origin. The real object of their errand becoming known, and being imlikely to suit the Saints of the day, Cromwell is said to have dismissed them hastily. The whole passage from Raguenet's History will be found in the Note below.* of your illustrious and most sage Council, that it will please him to give happy suc- cess to all the Undertaking of your most serene Highness. Amen. " An Advkrtibcmcnt. The Reader is to take notice, That his Highneu at severall Meetings, fully heard the Opinions of the Ministers touching the said Proposals, expressing himself there- upon with indifferency and moderation, as one that desired only to obtain satisfaction in a matter of so high and religious a concernment, there being many glorious pro- mises recorded in the holy Scripture concerning the calling and conTcnkxi of the Jews to the Faith of Christ. But nothing at all hath been concluded ai to their admission ; his Highness proceeding in this, as in all other Aflkin. with good advice, and mature deliberation." Merc Polit. Dec. 20 to Dec. 27. 1655. > " Enfin sa reputation s'accrut de telle sorte, que les Juife qui ^toient en Asleayant appris toutes les grandes choses qu'on disoit de lui, par la voix de la Renomm^e qui les grossissoit to(kJours de plus en plus k proportion qu'elle les portoit plus loin, r*»o- lurent d'envoyer quelqu'um dck leurs en Anglctcrrc, pt>ur h'informcr si il n'dtolt point \ ORIGINAL LETTERS. 7 M'hatever Cromwell's ultimate intentions may have been in favor of the Jews, they were frustrated by his death. To say noUiing of ancient prejudice, he had mercantile jealousy to contend with ; and the sort of Return to which the Jews had submitted, havmg made them available for the purposes of his policy, it is not unlikely that Cromwell would have done nothing more to serve them. 1e Libiratcur qu'ils atteiidoient, et qu'ils ont toiijours cm trouver dans tous les Capl- taines extraordinaircs qui ont paru au Monde depuis leur dispersion. •• lis choiMrcnt, pour cette Commission, le c^I^brc Jacob Bcn-Arahel qui eut ordre de prendre avec lui, en passant par la Boh^me, David Ben Ekaaar Rabin de leur Synagogue de Prague qui savoit toutes les langues de lEurope en perfection, et le Kabi Manass^ Ben Israel d'Amsterdam qui leur devoit scrvir de conducteur. •• Lors qu'ils furent arrivez A Londres, pour cacher le veritable sujet de leur voy- age, ib ne montrirent d'abord qu'une Lettre de Cr6ance touchant I'^tablissement d'un Bureau pour le Commerce du Levant dont ils faisoient esp^rer de grands avantages aux Anglois; la Chambre des Directeurs du N^goce les re<;?ut avec joye, et leurs propositions y furent tr^s-favorablement ^couties; mais comme on ne pouvoit les reoevoir sans introduire une nouvelle sorte de Religion dans la R^publique, on les renvoya i Ciomwel qui avoit seul I'autorit^ de le faire en quality de Protecteur. •• Cromwel leur fit, de mfeme, un tr^s-bon accueil en consideration du Commerce <]ui pouvoit devcnir plus florissant en Angletcrre par leur moyen. 11 leur accorda m^me une Audience seciette qu'ils lui demand6rent, dans laquelle ces deux Juifs lui •yant ttmoigni combien ils estimoient la famcuse Bib!ioth6que du Collie de Cam- bridge, Cromwel qui ne pouvoit pardonner k cette University le z61e qu'elle avoit fait parottre pour le feu Roy. promit k ces Strangers de leur en vendre tous les Manu- scnts avec les autres volumes qu'ils trouveroient les plus rares. •• lis all^rent done, encore une fois. pour revoir les Livres et prendre un m^moire de leur nombre, et de leur quality, ce qu'ils firent en presence des Bibliothecaires qui les kur montroient, et qui crurent qu'ils n'avoient point d'autre dessein en cela que de ladsfaire leur curiosity, comme ils le t6moignoient. Mais au lieu de revenir droit i Londres, ils prirent occasion de ce petit voyage pour se transporter, suivant le prin- cipal dessein de leur commission, dans la Province de Huntington d'oii les parens de Cromwel itoient originaires, afin de s'informer de sa Naissance, et apprendre de ceux qui pouvoient le mieux connoltre sa Gto^alogie, s'll ne se trouvoit point quelqu'un parmi ses Ancestres qui f ut sorti du sang des H^breux. " Quelqucs pr^autions qu'ils prissent pour rendre secrette cette recherche in- tense, ils ne purent si-bien faire qu'elle ne fQt dfecouverte ; la nouvelle s'cn publia aus4l-tdt dans Londres oii I'on en fit des railleries plquantes contre le ProtecUur qui en Gonceut un ressentiment si vlf, que non seulement il refusa k ces malheureux Juifs la Ubertfe du Traflc, et le trait* de la Bibliothdque du CoWige de Cambridge qu'il leur avoit fait esp^rer, mais dc plus il leur de -lara avec beaucoup de chaleur, dans une Audience qu'il rendit exprds tr^»-solemielle, que la R6publique et lui faisoient profession d'adorer un Dieu crucific; et qu'ils ne vouloient avoir aucun commerce avec eux qu'ils regardoient comme ses plus irr6conciliables ennemis ; et en mfime terns il lescong^dia. sans leur vouloir permettre de r^pondre le moindre mot. " Mais de quelque artifice que Cromwel se servit, pour persuader au peuple que le a«le qu'il avoit pour la Religion Chr«icienne avoit 6.i le moUf de sa rupture avec les Juifs; cela n'eropecha pas que tout le monde n'apprlt que son seul ressentiment en avoit t:6 la cause, par le moyen d'un libelle qui courut alors, intituli, * Cromwel Lion de la Tribu de Juda,' dans lequel ce que je viens de dire de la deputation des Synagogues d'Asie et d'Allcmagne dtoit rapport* avec toutes les reflexions fines, et toutes les railleries delicates qui sc pouvoient faire, sur cette matiere, contre le Pro- tectcur," Histoired'Olivier Cromwel, par Raguenet. 12*. Par. 1691. p. 200—293. X X a OllIGINAL LETTEllS. il' r itt Mb. Ckompton, When any thing ever occurred in my reading any where concerning the manner of the Jews divine wor- ship (though since the Destruction of their City and Temple) I have always thought it worth the seeing of a Christian ; at least for once where it could be obtained. And amidst other fashions of Religions which my cu- riosity hath prompted me with a desire to see in this City, having been at the meetings and worship of Pa- pists, of Anabaptists, of Quakers, of Fifth Monarchic men, and I considered and concluded with myself, that there must in reason need be some number of Jews in this City, though those only merchants, and that conse- quently they must have some place of meeting together for their divine worship. Whereupon, as occasion of- fered me to converse with any that were likely to in- form me, I inquired hereof, but could not of a long time hear or learn whether or where any such thing was. But lately having a desire to spend some of my time here in learning the Hebrew tongue, and inquiring of some one that professed to teach it, I lighted upon a learned Jew with a mighty bush beard, a great Rabbi as I found him afterward to be, with whom after once or twice being together, I fell into conference and ac- quaintance ; for he could speak Latin, and some little broken English, having as he told me been two years in London. He said he was an Hebrew of the He- OlllGINAL LETTERS. 9 brews of the Tribe of Levi, and his name (I had liked to have said his Christian name) Samuel Levi. He told me his own mother is yet living, and dwelleth at this present in the City of Jerusalem, from whence he had received ten several Letters within these two years. For it is a custom amongst them, that those who are of able estate, though bom and have lived in other countries, yet when they grow old they transport them- selves thither to end their days, and lay their bones there in the Holy place as he called it. He said he was brought up, and was a student eleven years, in the Jews College in Cracovia the chief City of Poland, where the Jews have an University, and that he had newly written over the Five Books of Moses with his own hand in Hebrew, without points, in rolls of parch- ment, for the use of a Synagogue : and that himself had formerly been Priest to a Synagogue of his own nation in Poland. A very modest man, and once with much ado I got him to accept of an invitation to take part of a dinner with me : at which time he told me that he had special relation as Scribe and Rabbi to a pri- vate Synagogue of his nation in London, and that if I had a desire to see their manner of worship, though they did scarce admit of any, their Synagogue being strictly kept with three doors one beyond another, yet he would give me such a ticket, as, upon sight thereof, their porter would let me in upon their next Sabbath Day in the morning being Saturday. I made i \ 10 ORIGINAL LETTERS. m \h show as though I were indifferent, but inwardly hugged the good hap. When Saturday came, I rose very early, the place being far from my lodging ; and in a private corner of the City, with much ado, following my directions, I found it at the |X)int of nine o'clock, and was let come in at the first door, but there being no Englishman but myself, and my Rabbi not being there then (for they were but just beginning service) I was at first a little abashed to venture alone amongst all them Jews ; but my innate curiosity to see things strange spurring me on, made me confident even to impudence, I rubbed my forehead, opened the inmost door, and taking off my hat (as instructed) I went in and sate me down amongst them ; but Lord (Thoma frater) what a strange, uncouth, foreign, and to me barbarous sight was there, I could have wished Thoma that you had then sate next me, for I saw no living soul, but all covered, hooded, guized, veiled Jews, and my own plain bare self amongst them. The sight would have frighted a novice, and made him to have run out again. Every man had a large white vest, covering, or veil cast over the high crown of his hat, which from thence hung down on all sides, covering the whole hat, the shoulders, arms, sides, and back to the girdle place, nothing to be seen but a little of the face ; this, my Rabbi told me, was their ancient garb, used in divine If f ORIGINAL LETTERS. 11 worship in their Synagogues in Jerusalem and in all the Holy Land before the destruction of their City : and though to me at first, it made altogether a strange and barbarous show, yet me thought it had in its kind, I know not how, a face and aspect of venerable antiquity. Their veils were all pure white, made of taffata or silk, though some few were of a stuff coarser than silk ; the veil at each of its four comers had a broad badge ; some had red badges, some green, some blue, some wrought with gold or silver, which my Rabbi told me were to distinguish the tribes of which each was common. I was a curious and critical spectator of all things there, and when I came to my Chamber in the after- noon I wrote down the particulars in my note book, while fresh in memory. Their Synagogue is like a Chapel, high built ; for after the first door they go up stairs into it, and the floor is boarded ; the seats are not as ours, but two long running seats on either side, as in a school : at the west end of it there is a seat as high as a pulpit, but made deskwise, wherein the two members of the Sy- nagogue did sit veiled, as were all both priest and people. The chief Ruler was a very rich merchant, a big, black, fierce, and stern man, to whom I perceive they stand in as reverential an awe as boys to a master : for when any left singing upon their books and talked, or that some were out of tune, he did call aloud with f 12 ORIGINAL LETTERS. a barbarous thundering voice, and knocked upon the high desk with his fist, that all sounded again. Straight before them, at some distance but on a seat much lower, sate the Priest. Two yards before him, on midst of the floor, stood that whereon the Service and Law were read, being h'ke to an high short table, with steps to it on one side as an altar, covered with a green carpet, and upon that another shorter one of blue silk ; two brass candlesticks standing at either end of it; before that on the floor were three low seats whereon some boys sat, their sons, richly veiled, as gentle comely youths as one should see ; who had each his Service Book in hand, in Hebrew without points, and were as ready and nimble in it, and all their pos- tures, as the men. There was brought in a pretty Boy at four years old, a child of some chief Jew, in rich coats, with black feathers in his hat, the priest himself arose and put a veil over the child's hat of pure white silk, fastening it under the hatband that he should not shake it off*, and set him upon a seat among the boys ; but he soon leaped offhand ran with his veil dangling up and down ; once he came and looked at me, wondering perhaps that I had no veil ; at length he got the inner door open and went to his mother ; for they do not suffer the Women to come into the same room or into the sight of the men : but on the one side of the Synagogue there is a low, long, and narrow latticed window, ORIGINAL LETTERS. IS through which the women, sitting in the next room, do hear ; as the boy opened it, I saw some of their wives in their rich silks bedaubed with broad gold lace, with muffs in one hand and books in the other. At the east end of the Synagogue standeth a closet like a very high cupboard, which they call the Ark, covered below with one large hanging of blue silk ; its upper half covered with several drawingcurtains of blue silk ; in it are the Books of the Law kept. Before it, upon the floor, stand two mighty brass candlesticks with hghted tapers in them ; from the roof, above the hang- ings, two great lamps of christal glass, holding each about a pottle filled up to the brim with purest oil, set within a case of four little brass pillars guilded. In the wall at either end of the Synagogue, are very many draw boxes, with rings at them like those in a Grocer's Shop ; and in it (as I came sooner in the morning than many or most of them) I saw that each Jew at his first entrance into the place did first bow down towards the Ark wherein the Law was kept, but with his hat on, which they never do put off" in this place ; but a stranger must ; for after a good while two EngUshmen were brought in, at which I was glad, being alone before, and they were bareheaded until they were set down amongst them, which then put on their hats. The one I knew to be a citizen and shopkeeper. At last I saw my Rabbi come in. Each Jew after he had bowed went straight to his box, took a little key out y 14 ORIC.IKAL LETTERS. !^ of his pocket, unlocked it, took out his veil and lxx)ks, then threw his veil over his hat and fitted it on all sides, and so went to his place, and fell a tuning it upon his Hebrew Service Book as hard and loud as he could ; for all is sung with a mighty noise from first to last, both of priest and people ; saying some prayers; and all was done in the right true Hebrew tongue, as my Rabbi affirmed to me afterwards ; which, to this end, they do industriously teach all their children from their infancy, having their schoolmistress on purpose, especially their Service books, which they have at their fingers'* end. There was none but had a book open in his hand, about the bigness of our hand Bibles. I looked upon several of their books as they sate by me and before me, yea I could plainly see both lines and letters in the Priest''s book wherein he read, I sate so nigh him, and all were the true Hebrew letters, but in all the books without any points. The Priest''s son, a comely youth, standing at the Table or Altar alone, sung all the former part of the Service which was a full hour long, all the rest singing with him, with a great and barbarous noise ; this consisted mostly of the Psalms of David, with some prayers intermixed, which they sung standing up looking East, and with a lower noise and in tune not unlike to that when the reading Psalms are sung in our quires; but their reading Psalms they sung much what like as we do sing bal- lads ; and I observed that when mention was made of K ORIGINAL LETTERS. 15 the Edomites, Philistines, or any enemies of David, or Israel's, they stamped strongly with their feet, that all the Synagogue sounded again. There were two or three composed Hymns, which they, all standing up and looking toward Jerusalem, sang very melodiously. After this former part of the Service finished, the Priest's son officiating hitherto, which was about an hour, there was deep silence for a pretty while; then the Priest arose and some of the chief Jews with him, and they went with a grave, slow pace, up the Syna- gogue, to fetch the Law of Moses, and when they came to the Ark wherein it was kept, the priest drew the curtain, and opening the double door of it, the Law appeared, then the whole assembly stood up and bowed down just toward it, and the priest and those chief ones with him, stood singing a song to it a little while. The Law was written in two great rolls of very broad parchment (as my Rabbi told me after- wards, and he told me the meaning of each thing that I desired, to which you must impute all that I here interpret). The roll contained the Book of Genesis and was much lesser ; the other being three times as big, contained the other four Books of Moses. This roll was as thick as a pretty round pillar. Either roll had two fine thrown Staves of black wood, one fastened to either end of it, whereon it was rolled up, the staves meeting in the middle; and the roll was swaddled about with a fine blue scarf, and over it was put a I (•r ill 16 ORIGINAL LETTERS. covering or case of blue silk fringed at tlie bottom ; and in the top of the over roll was stuck like a fine tree of silver, hung full of silver bells, which my Rabbi told me they called the Bells of Aaron, and in the top of the other roll was stuck a rod, having artificial flowers upon it, in remembrance of Aaron'^s Rod that budded. The priest took forth the two rolls of the Ark and delivered them to two of those with him, who taking the bottom of the staves in their hand, carried them straight upon high, rearing them to their shoulder ; so they came back in a solemn procession, bringing the Law with singing (those only sang who brought it) melodiously one of the Songs of Sion. * The Law shall forth out of Sion come,' &c. And as the Law thus passed along by them the people bowed towards it, and such as could reach took up the fringe of its costly covering in their hands and kissed it. When they had brought it to the altar, four or R\e were busied in uncovering and unswaddling the roll. The priest's son t(X)k in his hand the Silver Bells of Aaron and the budded Rod, and came and sate down next of all to me, thrusting his side so close to mine that part of his veil lay upon mine arm, he holding the Bells and Rod all the while close by my nose : then the priest opened and spread the Law about a yard wide, and lifted it up a full yard above his head, turn- ing himself, and showing it East, West, North, and South. The Jews meanwhile l)owing down towards it ORIGINAL LETTERS. 17 with great reverence. The parchment of it was full yard broad, the ground yellow, the letters pure black, and all without points. I sate within two yards of the Altar. Then the priest laid the Law upon the altar and took in his hand a small silver cane or quill, with the sharp end thereof pointing at the lines of the Law as he read, for the greater reverence ; it was half a yard long. Then there arose one out of the assembly and came unto the priest, making low reverence; when the priest asked aloud whether he desired to hear the Law read, who saying « yes,' the priest bade him pray then, and he looked upon his Hebrew Service Book which he had in his hand, and read over a short prayer very fast ; then the priest read a few lines of the Law with a loud voice, in a thundering barbarous tone, as fast as his tongue could run, for a form only ; then asked the man whether he had heard the Law, who saying ' yes," he bad him give thanks then, and he read a short prayer out of his book as before : so, bowing himself to the Law and the Priest, he went to his place, and another came, and did in like manner until five or six had thus heard the Law read to them ; which they count a special piece of honour to them. After that, five or six were busied in wrapping up swaddhng and veiling the two rolls of the Law again, whereon they put their Bells and budded Rod again, and carried back with solemn procession as before, and the priest placed it in the Ark ; and they stood singing VOL. IV. SER. 2, C 18 ORIGINAL LETTERS. B'1 I to it awhile. Afterwards the priest alone, at the Altar, read very many short prayers, to which they all stand- ing up said * Amen,' using this same word. Then a comely youth standing in the midst of the Synagogue, and looking towards the Law, sung alone a long Anthem, and after thh was there long Supplication, which was the most solemn part of all their service ; which they all spake together standing (for they never kneel), with their faces East, often bowing down alto- gether; it being partly a complaint of the long de- solation of their City and Temple, partly a prayer for the coming of Messiah and their Restoration (thank my Rabbi for the interpretation) ; * Sion is become a ploughed field, and Jerusalem made an heap of stones, thy servants think upon her stones and it grieveth them to see her in the dust ; our ancient and our beautiful House, where our fathers served thee, lieth waste ; then gather ua o Lord from amongst the Heathen; remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; remember thy promises made unto our fathers, in our time, in our time, O Lord," &c. I confess that looking earnestly upon them in this, and thoughts coming into my mind of the Wonders which God wrought for their fathers in Egypt, and who heard the Voice of God speak to them out of the midst of the fire on Sinai, and seed of Abraham the friend of God, I was strangely, uncouthly, unaccus- tomedly moved, and deeply affected ; tears stood in ORIGINAL LETTERS. JQ i«y eyes the while, to see those banished Sons of Israel standing in their ancient garb (veiled) but in a strange land, solemnly and carefully looking East toward their own Country, confessing their sins and the sins of their forefathers, humbling themselves and bowing down together (as often they did in their Supplication) be- fore the God of their Fathers, who doubtless will hear them or their posterity better than they desire, will open their eyes and let them see that the true Messiah came long since, even he whom their fathers pierced and they shall mourn over him and be brought unto him, and to their own land. After this, for a con- dusion of all, the Priest read certain select promises of then- restoration, at which they showed great rejoicing, by strutting up, so that some of their veils flew about like morris dancers, only they wanted bells. This forenoon service continued about three hours, from nine to twelve, which being ended, they all put off their veils, and each man wrapping his veil up, went and put it and his Hebrew Service Book into his box and locking it departed. * My Rabbi invited me afterwards to come and see the feast of Purim, which they kept he said for the deliverance from Haman's Conspiracy, mentioned in the Book of Esther ; in which they use great knocking and stamping when Haman is named. Also he desired me to come and see them eat the Passover, which they did ten days before our Easter, and he had got me to c 2 20 ORIGINAL LETTERS. the door of the place, but I felt such a reluctancy in ine, as that having in part satisfied my Curiosity by seeing their manner of Service once, my heart would in no wise give me to go again amongst those Unbe- lievers, in that place where my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in whom is all my hope and trust for ever, was not owned. So I came away back again without seeing it ; though afterwards I understood that several had been there to see them eat it, who brought away some of their unleavened bread with them, and showed to some who told me, one year in 01iver'*s time, they did build booths on the other side of Thames, and kept the Feast of Tabeniacles in them, as some told me who saw them ; but since the King''s coming in, they are very close, nor do admit any to sec them but very privately. When I was in the Synagogue I counted about or above a hundred right Jews, one proselite amongst them, they were all gentlemen (merchants) I saw not one mechanic person of them ; most of them rich in apparel, divers with jewels glittering (for they are the richest jewellers of any) they are all generally black so as they may be distinguished from Spaniards or na- tive Greeks, for the Jews hair hath a deeper tincture of a more perfect raven black, they have a quick piercing eye, and look as if of strong intellectuals; several of them are comely, gallant, proper gentlemen. J knew many of them when I saw them daily upon the r w ORIGINAL LETTERS. fa Exchange, and the Priest there too, who also is a mer- chant. It were tedious to relate the several disputes I had with my Rabbi at our being together, and his strange rabbinical and indeed irrational reasonings against Christ. In a word the curse is upon them to the uttermost; and they have a grosser veil over the eye of the soul, than that which covers their heads • they are so firmly possessed with an invincible prejul dice against the Cross of Christ, and so doat upon their imaginary Messiah to come a temporal Kin^ that shall conquer all the princes of the earth, and make their nation Lords of all the World, that an argument from the strongest, clearest, and most convincing rea- sons that can be brought for Christ, is but an arrow shot against a wall of brass. Bene vale mi Thomi et ora tu pro Judaeis, et pro miserrimo peccatore omnium Chnstianorum. Ille tuus olim fraterrimus et in per- petuum frater ubicunque terrarum, London, April 22 ». ''''' geeenhalgh. 1662. Quod ad Judaeos. Coepit ab his, delata ad nos, referetur ad illos Nostra fides, et erunt sub Mundi fine fideles. For my worthy friend Mr. Thomas Crompton, Minister of Astley Chappel, These. 22 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^^ LETTER CCCX. The Rev. Stephen Bhig to Dr, Sancrqft Dean of St Pauls : upon the ravage of the Great Plague, [m8. uarl. 3783. foL 41. Orig.^ *,* In this and some succeeding Letters the reader will find a few par. ticulars of what occurred in the Great Plague of 1065; to the full de- scription of which neither the pencil nor the pen have yet been adequate. The desolation was too wide and too fearful for any one to seek ma- terials for a picture of it while it raged : to the contemporary Letters of survivors therefore, and their Diaries where such exist,* can we alone look now for its minute details. These should be sought for and formed into a Volume. Such a publication might be useful, not only to thoee who read and reflect, but to all who in the pride of science or the greedi- ness of trade would speculate upon the chances of contagion. >* De Foe*8 Journal of the Pl^ue of 1605, was an entire fiction ; though it deceived Dr. Mead. •vf i^ I • There is aii entry in Pepys's Diary, rol. i. pp. MS, »64, one p«rt of which is aflbcting. Pepyswas then at Woolwich. He says, " My Lord Urounclicr, Sir J. MiOMi and I up to the Vestry at the desire or the Justices of the Peace, in order to the doing something for the keeping of the plague from growing ; but Lord ! to con- sider the madness of people of the town, who will (because they are forbid) come in crowds along with the dead coqises to see them buried ; but we agreed on some orders for the prevention thereof. Among other stories, one was yery passionate melhought, of a complaint brought against a man in the town, for taking a child from London from an infected house. Alderman Mooker told us it was the child of a very able citizen in Gracechurch Street, a saddler, who had buried all the rest of his children of the plague, and himself and wife now being shut up and in despair of escaping, did desire only to save the life of this little child, and so prevailed to have it received stark-naked into the arms of a friend, who brought it (having put it into new fresh clothes) to Greenwich ; where U|X}n hearing the story, we did agree it should be permitted to be received and kept in the town." >> The following passage in the Additions to the Account of Cheshire by the Messrs. Lysons in their Magna Britannia, p. S45> although it relates to the former Plague of 1625, will not be thought impertinently called to notice here. •• Since the Account of Malpas has been printed we have l)een favoured with the communication of the following very remarkable entries in the pariah Register at that place, relating to the ravages of that dreadful disorder the plague, which swept ■> } ORIGINAL LETTERS. 23 27«» July, 1665. Sir, I HAVE sent by this opportunity " The Weekly News'' and " The Bill of Mortality.'' The prayers of the Church are continued, and persons attending as yet. # ♦ • ♦ • It is said the Sacrist is out of town, and there will be no Communion as customarily, of the which I have been inquired, and to which I could not make answer fully. People frequent the Church as before, except- away a whole family in the township of Bradley. The circumstance of a man being induced to dig his own grave, from the conviction that the slender and sickly rem- nant of his household were unable to provide him with the rites of sepulture, presents that dreadful calamity to our imagination, in a more awful and horrific view than any of the many distressing particulars we remember to have met concerning it. •♦ 1625. *' Thomas Jeflferie, servant to M'. Dawson of Bradley, buryed the x^K daye of August, in the night, he dyed of the Plague; before this was buryed a daughter of the sayd Dawson's, but not of the sickness, as it is thought. " Richarde the ionne of Thomas Dawson of Bradley (that died of the plague.) buryed the xiii»»«. of August in the night, ie«5. •♦ Raffe Dawson, sonneof theafforesayd Thomas, came from London about xkv^K of July last past, and being sicke of the plague, died in his fathers howse. and soe infected the sayd howse, and was buryed, as it was reported, neare unto his fathers howse. •• Thomas Dawson of Bradley, died of the plague, and was buiyed the xvi^h. day of August 162», about iii<*. of the docke. after midnight •• Elyzabeth, the daughter of the afforesayde Thomas Dawson, died of the plague of pestilence, and was buried the xx. of August, 1618. •• Anne the wyffe of John Dawson, sonne of the afforesed Thomas Dawson, died of the plague of pestilence, and was buryed the xx*. of August. " Richarde Dawson, (brother to the abovenamed Thomas Dawson of Bradley) being sicke of the plague, and perceyving he must die at that tyme, arose out of his bed, and made his grave, and caused his nefew. John Dawson, to cast strawe into the grave which was not farre from the howse. and went and laid him down in the sayd grave and caused clothes to be layd uppon and soe departed out of this world ; this he did because he was a stronge man and heavier than his sayd nefew, and an other a wench were able to burye. He died about the xxiiij'*. of August. Thus much I was credibly tould he did, 1625. •• John Dawson, sonne of the above-named Thomas, came unto his father, when his father sent for him, being sicke. and having laid him downe in a ditch, died in it the xxix'h. daye of August 1625, in the night. ♦• Rose Smyth servant of the abovenamed Thomas Dawson, and the last of that howschold, died of plague, and was buryed by William Cooke, the v'b. daye of Sep. tcmbcr, 1625, near unto the sayd howse.* 24 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 3 t I- ing on Sundays, and the last Holyday, on which we had a Sermon, and shall have another on the Fast- day. The increase of God's Judgment deads people''s hearts, that trading strangely ceaseth, and bills of Exchange are not accepted, so that they shut up their shops ; and such a fear possesseth them, as it is wonderful to see how they hurry into the country as though the same God was not there that is in the city : so that those that are living, and lived in the great sickness time,^ saw nor knew not the like, when there died four thou- sand a week. I pray God to prevent a sad sequel. Great complaint there is of necessity ; and needs must it be the more when the rich haste away that should supply the poor's want. I have been since the writing of my last letter in several places, being informed of some, that are shut up, to be in a very necessitous condition, to see if it were so or no ; and so finding them, I have been bold to extend your charity to the outrunning the bank you honoured me with. The Lofd extend the yearnings of his bowels of compassion towards us, that we be not consumed by the means of his heavy hand ; and give us grace to depart from the plague of our hearts, that this Plague and grievous Sickness may be withdrawn from us for Christ Jesus his sake: that so we may have the blessed happi- ness again of meeting together in his Howse with one * A. D. ltfv&. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 25 accord to record his name. Thus prays he always, who shall be much honoured to be esteemed the lowest of Your worship'*s most humble and faithful servants, STEPHEN RING. These to the reverend and right worshipful Dr. Sancroft, Dean of St. Pauls, London, at the Rose and Crown in Tunbridge, present. LETTER CCCXI. Mr. Biiig to Dr. Sancroft The Plague continues. The BhJwp of London endeavours to recall the Pastors who had left their Churches. [m8. harl. 3783. fol. 42. Orig.'\ 3 August, 1665. Reverend and eight Worshipful, I HAVE sent the " Weekly BilP and " News,'' as I did the last week (and so God willing shall continue your command) which I hope was received, and like- wise a Letter with four letters enclosed by a special friend the week before. The Cross Sermons ^ are con- • Thoic prcaehctl at St. Paul's tioks. kdit. 86 OUIGINAL LF.TTEttS. if tinued, and we had on the Fast Day a laudable Ser- mon by Mr. Risden minister in Bread-street, my Lord Mayor being present, Sir Richard Brown and Sir John Robinson and other Aldermen, with a great congregation. Our Prayers are continued three times a day, but we do not our attendance, for now there are but three Petty Canons left ; viz. myself, Mr. Clifford, and Masters, with two Vicars, Mr. Simpson and Morrice ; the rest are out of town. Mr. Portington lies at the point of death, whose turn being to officiate this week, I supply ; for none else would do it except they are paid for it. Little mercy ; the Lord be merciful to us. I wish it were as formerly, which was not so in such case of ne- cessity. Dr. Barwick remembers his service, and asked me, as also others, if I heard any thing concerning the monthly Communion, the which I could say little to. So waiting God's good will and pleasure in and for his gracious presence again, and the grace of yours in his Holy Place where it hath pleased the King of Kings to place you governor, he heartily prays for, who humbly remains Your worship''s most humble and affectionate servant, ST£PU£N BING. It is said that my Lord Bishop of London hath sent to those Pastors that have quitted their flocks by i'ri ORIGINAL LETTERS. n reason of these times, that, if they return not speedily, others shall be put into their places. To the reverend and right wor- shipful William Sancroft, Doctor of Divinity, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London, these present. LETTER CCCXII. Mr, Btng to Br, Sancroft. The Sickness continues. One of the late King's Jitdges taken prisoner^ but rescued. The disaffected take advantage of the con' fusion occasioned bi/ the Plague, [MS. HARL. 3783. fol. 49. Orig.\ 10th. August, 1665. Reverend and right worshipful, I HAVE sent you the Thursday's intelligence, half of which was in the other sent on Monday, which I hope is received with the answer to the letter that came to my hand on Saturday last ; and likewise the " Weekly Bill,'' which is very sad, and the more sad are our times that neither calm nor storm will abate the fury of our ! 2S ORIGINAL LETTERS. '■\ monstrous spirits, who in the face of a congregation, as at Paul's the other day, will say these Calamities are caused by the Government in Church and State. The Sickness is broke out in two places since Mon- day in St. Gregories ; one Dwelling opening into your yard, and the other at the left comer of the entry of our going into the Church. It is in Cambridge also, of which I forgot to tell you. And whereas I told you of two sick in the Petty Canons ; it is said the husband died of a consumption, but the wife lies sick of a plague sore. For other places infected in the parish I informed in my last, with that of their Lord- ships being present at the prorogation of the Parlia- ment until the 3 '. October, and that of the Convocation by virtue of King s writ until 26 K Jan. following. At the end of the last week one of the late King''s judges being taken, he was sent to the Tower, but by the way, at the lower end of Cheapside, by a con- course of people he was rescued.'* This morning it was told me that some confederacy is found out ; and may all their devices be frustrated, and the devisers caught in their own traps that seek ill to Sion and the King. The Lord be gracious to this Church and Nation, and down with them that would down with governors and • This same circumstance is mentioned in Pepys's Diary, vol. i. p. 359. "Aug. S'*. 1665. I am told of a great riot upon Thursday last in Cheajtside: Colonel Danvcrs, a delinquent, having been taken, and hi his way to the Tower was rciicued from the captain of the guard, and carried away ; one only of the rcM:ucr» being taken." ORIGINAL LETTERS. 29 Government. They hope that this his hand of dis-' pleasure will work much for them, but we trust he will correct us in his fatherly judgment, and not in his fury, that we may be the better fitted to meet him once more in the beauty of Holiness to praise his name, which God grant for his mercy's sake in Christ Jesus. So are the hearty prayers of him who is and shall be always. Your most humble and faithful servant, STE. BING. Dr. Barwick the constant frequenter of our church, sometimes three times in a day, remembers his service to your Worship. These for the reverend ami right wor". Will"'. Sancroft, Dr. of Di- vinity, Dean of the Cathetlral Church of St. Paul, London, present. To be left at the Rose and Crown in Tunbridge. ■ ^ 30 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCCXIII. J. Tillison to Dr, Bancroft. The Necessities of the Poor. The parish of St. Giles Cripplcgate more severely visited hy the Plague than any other in London. [ms. harl. 3785. foL 48. Orig.\ \\ August the 15^''. 1665. Reverend Sir, I received yours of the 1 l^h. instant, and in obedi- ence to your commands carried the enclosed to Mr. Welsted and received £\\^ who just then was ready with all his family to be gone into the country ; but your bill coming to him in so seasonable an hour he has left order at Sir Robert BarkwelPs to discharge your bills if any come upon him from you. I have likewise acquainted Mr. Bing with your intentions of charity towards the poor, and shall take Dr. Barwick's advice before it be disposed of, and (if it might be) have your directions a little too. I hope you will not take my simple well meaning amiss, nor take it ill if I put you in mind of our own parish, where there is all this time sixteen or seventeen houses visited, a great many of them poor and in want, and that some of the parishioners, as I am informed (I heg your pardon for ORIGINAL LETTERS. 31 my good will) do a little grumble that you left nothing for the poor when you went away. I perceive since this that Mr. Bing had the disposing of some of your charity, and I do not doubt but that he will give you an account of it ; nor do I think it is your will that any partiality should be used in this case. It is very probable that some neighbouring parishes may stand in need, but I am sure that the miserable condition of St. Giles's Cripplcgate, which is one of your peculiars, is more to be pitied than any parish in or about Lon- don, where all have liberty least their sick and poor should be famished within doors ; the parish not being able to relieve their necessities. I had, not long since, such a sum as yours to distribute, and where I knew not the necessity of the poor I paid a sum to the churchwardens, and they to the overseers of the poor, so that I had an account brought to how many persons in each parish it was distributed, but this is no rule for You. Your neighbour and tenant Fleetham has his health, God be thanked, very well, and though his maid was reported to be dead with his child, she is recovered, and all the family well, a Dr. Barwick is very careful of him and his family, and of keeping the gates duly locked up. I was lately at Fulham, and my lord comn)anded me to let you know that himself and fa- mily are all in good health, and to send his commenda- • All the family. cxccpUtig the maid, were aflerwanls swept away. Sec p. 37. 1 -1: J ♦ ■ ' - I J •r S2 ORIGINAL LETTERS. tions to you, and that he desired very much to hear where you were resident, and how you did enjoy your health. I had one from my master this day, wherein he and my mistress commend them to you, and would be glad to see you at Canterbury when you remove from Tunbridge ; though you may be better accom- modated elsewhere, not better welcome. 1 am not certain whether I shall remove from this place or no, nor do I know how long it will please God to give me my life :^ however I think no fitter person that is likely to stay here, with whom to leave the trust of your house, than Mr. Almond ; I am persuaded you need not question his fidelity. If I do remove I shall give you timely notice. Dr. Barwick and Mr. Bing pre- sent their services to you. The prayers of the church are continued by Mr. Bing, Mr. Clifford, and Mr. Masters, and* Simpson attending. I smoke your house twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays. I beg the con- tinuance of your prayers, and rest Your obedient humble servant, J. TILLISON. It is reported that above eight hundred are already buried in Cripplegate parish this week. ^ • Pepys in his Diary, vol. i. p. 859 «ays, •• Aug. Iffh. the Town f^n-owing to un- healthy, that a man cannot depend u^hju living two days." In another place, " Sad news of the death of so many in the parish of the plague, /ort>/ hmt nifrht. The Bell always going." •» The Bill of Mortality for a subsequent week,29'h. Aug. to 6*^. Sept. returned S67 dead of the plague in this Parish. The total returned buried in that week from rrip;>legate, was C90. The poor of this Parish having liberty to go about* the coii. tagion became more extende40 to Mr. Daniel Keilway, and £5 to those of the choir to whom you directed me, who return their humble service and thanks, and pro- mise to continue their constant attendance in the ser- vice of the Church. I likewise paid m to the church- wardens of St. Gileses Cripplegate since your last to me ; the rest of your charity I hope Mr. Bing will give a good account of. He had £^ of your last money from me. Though your care could not have been more than it was for furnishing me with money ' to discharge those payments which you ordered in your last, yet all those ways failed every one. Dr. Barwick pretended yesterday that he had not so much money of his own to disburse presently, but at the last VOL. IV. SER. 2. I 34 OKIGIKAL LETTERS. )S ' 1 m .1 (though a little scrupled at first) he was willing to let me take £4eO out of the common stocky and that we intended to do this morning, but God Almighty has ordered it otherwise, by striking Dr. Barwick with so desperate sickness that it was not fit for me to go to him, nor he in a condition to be reminded of any such thing ; it seems not one member but all the parts of his body bears a part in his sufferings ; neither rising nor botch does yet appear ; a slow weak pulse and faint- ness possesses him ; his sweating is not much ; seeing this to happen it made me void of hope to effect my business, yea and daunted me very much too. But after a little pause I went to Sir Robert Viners (there Mr. Welsted's money lies) but could not receive one penny unless I brought Mr. Welsted's note. I am sorry Mr. Welsted should forget his promise, he is some where towards Uxbridge. Your tenant Fleetham died this afternoon. Ken- drick the bellringer has languished since last Sunday, we have some hopes this evening that he may recover. Johnson your bailiff was buried last night. I am very sorry Mr. Sisson has caught so troublesome a compa- nion as an ague. I wish he may shake it off before winter. Mr. Bing presents his humble service to you. I am a little doubtful whether this will come to your hands. I have no other directions to send to you but by inquiring from one inn to another in Southwark this afternoon. If I do but once find a conveyance I ORIGINAL LETTERS. S5 shall be ready to observe your commands upon all occasions so long as I live, for so long shall I be your faithful servant, JO. TILLISON. LETTER CCCXV. J. TiUison to Dr. Sancrqfl. The great desolation of the City. [ms. uarL. 3785. fol. 50. Orig,\ Sept. 1#^ 1665. Reverend Sir, « « « • « We are in good hopes that God in his mercy will put a stop to this sad calamity of Sickness ; but the desolation of the City is very great. That heart is either steel or stone that will not lament this sad Visita- • tion, and will not bleed for those unutterable sorrows. It is a time, Gt)d knows, that one woe courts another; those that are sick are in extreme sorrow ; the poor are in need; those that are in health are in fear of in- fection on the one side, and the wicked inventions of hellish rebellious spirits to put us in an uproar on the other side. d2 X ! ■> I .'< ■, m: H 36 ORIGINAL LETTERS. What eye would not weep to see so many habitations uninhabited ; the poor sick not visited ; the hungry not fed ; the Grave not satisfied I Death stares us continually in the face in every infected person that passeth by us ; in every coiHn which is daily and hourly carried along the streets. The bells never cease to put us in mind of our mortality. The custom was, in the beginning, to bury the dead in the night only ; now, both night and day will hardly be time enough to do it. For the last week, mortality did too apparently evidence that, that the dead was piled in heaps above ground for some hours together, before either time could be gained or place to bury them in. The Quakers (as we are informed) have buried in their piece of ground a thousand for some weeks to- gether last past. Many are dead in Ludgate, Newgate, and Christ Church Hospital, and many other places about the town which are not included in the bill of mortality. The disease itself (as is acknowledged by our prac- titioners in physic) was more favourable in the begin- ning of the contagion ; now more fierce and violent ; and they themselves do likewise confess to stand amazed to meet with so many various symptoms which they find amongst their patients. One week the general distempers are botches and boils; the next week as clear-skinned as may be; but death spares ORIGINAL LETTERS. 37 neither. One week, full of spots and tokens; and perhaps the succeeding, none at all. Now taken with a vomiting and looseness, and within two or three days almost a general raging madness. One while patients used to linger four or ^ve days, at other times not forty-eight hours ; and at this very time we find it more quick than ever it was. Many are sick, and few escape. Where it has had its fling, there it decreases ; where it has not been long, there it increases. It reigned most heretofore in alleys, &c. now it domineers in the open streets. The poorer sort was most afflicted ; now the richer bear a share. Captain Colchester is dead. Fleetham and all his family are clearly swept away, except one maid. Dr. Burnett, Dr. Glover, and one or two more of the College of Physicians, with Dr. O' Dowd, which was licensed by my Lord's Grace of Canterbury, some sur- geons, apothecaries, and Johnson the chemist, died all very suddenly. Some say (but God forbid that I should report it for truth) that these, in a consultation together, if not all, yet the greatest part of them, attempted to open a dead corpse which was full of the tokens; and being in hand with the dissected body, some fell down dead immediately, and others did not outlive the next day at noon. All is well and in safety at your house, God be thanked. Upon Tuesday last I made it my day's work to kindle fires in every room of the house where I could 38 ORIGINAL LETTERS. do it, and aired all the bedclothes and bedding at the fires, and so let them all lie abroad until this morning; the feather bed in the back chamber was almost spoiled with the heavy weight of carpets and other tilings upon it. I am afraid I have been too tedious, and therefore beg your pardon and take my leave, who am, Reverend Sir, your most faithful humble servant, JO. TILLISON. Brimstone, hops, pepper, and frankincense, &c. I use to fume the rooms with. For yourself. i: i . ?] ■Mi J. < if: LETTER CCCXVI. King' Charles the Second to tfte Duke of Ormonde con- cerning' the dismissal of Lord Chancellor Hyde. [mS. DONAT. MUS. BRIT. 640?. 4. FEOM THX Orig. IN THE POSSES- SIOM OF SIR GEORGE CLARKE.] *^* Eachard alludes to this Letter in his History. He says, ^' As to the private reasons of the Ring^s abandoning the ChanceUor, His Majesty wrote an obliging Letter to the Duke of Orraond, then in Ireland, to give him satisfaction in that matter ; as knowing him to be his intimate friend. The Letter was never yet published, nor would a Copy of it be granted ; but I have more than once been told the substance of it by those who have read it ; and the principal reaser leaves excelling the other in fineness, a property almost in all Plants ; which leaves they gather every day, and drying OEIGINAL LETTKRS. 59 til them m Uie shade, or on iron pans over a gentle tire till the humidity be exhausted then put them up close in leaden pots, and preserve them for their Drmk Tea, which is used at meals, and upon all Visits and Enter tainments in private Families, and in the Palaces of Grandees. And it IS averred by a Padre of Macao, native of Japan, that the best Tea ought not to be gathered but by Virgins who are destined to this work, and ^ul.'^-.r^r^'^r "''"'''^" Patiuntur: gemma qua nascuntur in summ.tatearbuscula servantur Imperatori^, ac pracipuis ejus Dynastis; qua autem mfra nascuntur, ad latera, populo conceduntur.' The said knowledge and wisdom, do frequently seU it among themselves for twice ts weight m saver, and the high estimation of the Drink made therewith hath occasioned an mquiry into the nature thereof among the most in- telhgent persons of aU Nations that have travelled in those parts who tZZ'' % r.^ '^^""'^ ^^ "" ^^y^ imaginable, have comm nded to the use of their several Countries, for its vertues and operations par ticularly as foUoweth, viz. F*^«uons, i^ta. Drink Ir^^fi!! '" T'^''^'"^y »^o'' P»-«P^' for M'inter or Summer. The ex^t : Jd tg':' "^ '' "^^^ ^'^^-"^^' P---g - l-'^-t health until lust7*'ltTrJr I'^u'V' '^'''' ^' "^^^^^^ '^^ ^o^y -^ive and «mL.h\K ^K '^" ^'"^'^'^'^ «^**^^"^«^ ^"d heaviness thereof. It «moveth the obstructions of the spleen. It is very good against the stone and gravel, cleansing the kidneys and uretei^ being Tan k w U^ ^Tol 'h""^"' "' ^"^- '' ^^^^^ ^-y ^'^ difficufty b'eltt detetrthe' ^^T" '' " ^"^ ^^^^^ ''^''^^^ ^"^'^'^^-ns, and deareth the sight. It removeth lassitude, and cleanseth and purifieth the weakness of the ventricle or stomach, causing good appetite and digestion, and particularly for men of a corpulent body, and?uch as a,^ wuhout trouble whole nights may be spent in study without hurt to the body in that it moderately heateth and bindeth the mouth of thesto- m^k. It prevents and cures agues, surfeits, and feavers, by infusing breathir^f fh "^^ ^"'' ^'^"'^ ^^^^^^^"^ ^ "^^^ ^^^^^^ 'omit and breathing of the pores, and hath been given with wonderful success. It Irts^'L'^ ^~"^ "^'^ ""^^ '^"^ "*^^^) strengtheneth the inward parts, and prevents consumptions, and powerfuUy assuageth the pains of the bowels, or griping of the guts and looseness. It^ good fo^ colds, dropsies, and scurvies, if properly infused; purging the blood by sweat 60 ORIGINAL LETTEUS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 61 and urine, and expclleth infection. It drives away aU pains in the cholic proceeding from wind, and purgeth safely the gall. « And that the vertues and excellencies of this Leaf and Dnnk are many and grea^ is evident and manifest by the high esteem and use of it (especially of late years) among the Physicians and knowing men m France, luly, HoUand, and other parts of Christendom ; and tn England it hath been sold in the Leaf for six pounds, and sometimes for tek pounds the pound weigh^ and in respect of its former scarceness and dcamess, it hath been only used as a Regalia in high Treatments and Entertainments, and Presents made thereof to Princes and Grandees, till tlie year 1657. . j « ♦ The said Thomas Garway did purchase a quantity thereof, and tirst publickly sold the said Tea in Leaf and Drink made according to the di- actions of the most knowing Merchants and Travellers into those Eastern Countries: and upon knowledge and experience of the said Garway » continued care and industry in obtaining the best Tea, and makmg Prrnk thereof, very many Noblemen, Physicians, ^Merchants, and GenUemen ot quality have ever since sent to him for the said I^eaf, and daily r^rt to his House in Exchange Alley aforesaid to drink the Drink thereof. " And that Ignorance nor Envy may have no ground or power to report or suggest that what is here asserted of the vertues and excellencies of this precious Uaf and Drink hath more of design than truth, for the justification of himself and satisfaction of others, he hath here enumerated several Authors, who in their learned Works have expressly written and asserted the same, and much more in honour of this noble Leaf and Drink, viz. Bontius, Riccius, Jarricus, Almeyda, Horstius, Alvarw Semeda, Martinius in his China Adas, and Alexander de Rhodes m his Voyage and Missions in a large discourse of the ordering of this Leaf and the many vertues of the Drink, printed at Paris 1653, part 10. diap. 13. , " And to the end that all persons of eminency and quality, genUe- men, and others, who have occasion for Tea in leaf may be supplied, these are to give notice that the said Thomas Garway haUi Tea to sell from SIXTEEN to FIFTY SHILLINGS the pound. ^* And whereas several Persons using Coffee, have been accustomed to buy the powder thereof by the pound, or in lesser or greater quantities, which if kept two days looseth much of its first goodness. And toras- much as the Berries after dryitig may be kept if need require some months; therefore all persons being remote from liondon, and have occasion for the said powder, are advised to buy U»e said Coffee berries ready dried ; which being in a mortar beaten, or in u uiUl ground to powder, us they use it, will so often be brisk, frcsli, and fragrant, and in If I "n -T' '". "T^'^ ^ '^ ""'" P^P"'"*' ^ ^he great satisfaction of the Dnnkers thereof as hath been experienced by many in this City. Which commodity of the best sort, the said Thomas Garway hath always reatly dned to be sold at reasonable rates. ^ "Also such as wiU have Coffee in powder, or the Berries undricl, or Chocolate, may by the said Thomas Garway be supplied to their conte.it : with such further Instructions and perfect Di«.ti:n' ll to u^ Tea, Coffee, and ChoeoJate, as is, or may be needful, and so as to be efficacious and operative, according to their several vertues. (( FINIS. " Advertisement, "That Nicholas Brook, living at the Sign of the Frying-pan in S*. Tuhes^Street against the Church, is the only known man for making of Mills for grinding of Coffee powder, which Mills arc by him sold Lm 40 to 45 shillings the Mill." The Coffee House named in the preceding Paper still exists as Carra, «'«y * Coffee House. Secretary Pcpys, in his Diary, vol. i. p. 76. with- . 1 1 f V . '^ """^ ^""^ ^ ^"P ^^ ^^ (* ^^^ 'Irink) of which I never naa drank before, and went away." Paris, Aug. 12, 1678. Though as a Secretary of State I ought not to trouble you but with things relating to the good of the Public Weal, as an Uncle methinks I may sometimes present you my duty, which is no small favour; for, as I take it, my friends have as little to brag of my duty as of any relation they have, I having been pretty sparing of it, and they may thank God when I am in the humour to pay it, though I do not ; for methinks it is an ill sign when after fixe and thirty years old, a 6ii ORIGINAI, LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 63 I! man changes for any thing, and I am so afraid that my decent behaviour is rather a sign of age than virtue, that I begin to repine at the least act of mine that seems to have any decency in it. All the comfort I have in this contemplation is, laying a part of this upon your kindness to me, and the good reception I always find at your house, more especially that arbi- trary dominion I am suffered to exercise over that most notable minister of state your Butler. These I hope are the charms that have prevailed with me to remem- ber (that is to trouble) you oftener than I am apt to do other of my friends, whose Buttery-hatch is not so open, and who call for Tea instead of Pipes and Bottles after dinner ; a base unworthy Indian practice, and which I must ever admire your most Christian family for not admitting. The truth is, all nations are grown so wicked as to have some of these filthy customs. The vice of this flourishing Kingdom being not to sit long enough by two hours at table, and by that time one is well sate and settled to an admirable dinner, every body rises in haste upon the news that the King has dined, as if what filled his belly filled those of all his subjects ; and that it were treason to be hungry (though fasting) when the King had dined ; so that in more senses than one it may be said, no man in France can eat but the King. I dread my share of this tyranny when I go to Fontainbleau : the day for that voyage being Monday se^nnight ; and a little after every snip of a statesman must follow for his own credu. And though I have no commission to justify my pretensions to wisdom, the French are so much better discoverers of men's abilities than the Endish that all the worid cannot beat it out of men's headi but that I am in the deepest of the secret of Peace and War ; and tliey rely upon nothing more than my pru- dence for a good conclusion of so weighty an affair. After this, would not one think that they ar; all witches here .P for alas I what have I done to give the least suspicion of this kind ? I appeal to all my friends, all my relations, and all my acquaintance whether I have deserved this at any body's hands, and whether I look more like a carrier of peace than several of my ac quaintance that are gone into Flanders look like car ners of war. For my part I am a modest man, and neither desire to be painted with an olive-branch in my mouth nor a general's staff in my hand; a glass of wine shall serve my turn in both, and the very next shall be to your health, and so God bless you my ever honoured Uncle, and Right Honourable Secretary of State. -^ Gl OUIGTXAT. LETTERS. LETTER CCCXXII. The Dtde of Monmmith to Sir Robert AthynSy A. D, 1679. [from the Orig. IX THE BRITISH MUSEUM.] *^* The disgrace of Monmouth to which this Letter relates, was fol- lowed by the King's Declaration respecting Lucy Walters, printed in the former Series. For seventeen or eighteen years the suspicion was kept alive at intervals, that Monmouth might by some chance be made the Successor to the Crown ; for the King was not looked upon as the only person who secretly encouraged the intention. That the Report prevailed not only after the Duke had left England by order, but even after the King's Declaration of 1C80, will be seen in the Letter which follows this. Siu, Whitehall, 19 »'. Sept. I HAVE received the King's commands to go out of England for some time, and in obedience thereto, I am preparing myself for my journey. But before I go I am willing to make the settlement of my Estate, and I am informed that one part of it must be done in the presence of one of the Justices of the Common Pleas, who being all out of town at this time, I take the liberty to desire you would give yourself the trouble to come to London on Monday next, wherein you will very particularly oblige, Sir, Your humble servant, MONMOUTH. For Sir Robert Atkins, Bart, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Common Pleas, at his house near Barnet. OBIGIXAL LETTEKS, 65 LETTER CCCXXIIL Dr. Zachetm Isham Dea?i of Christ Church Oxford, to Dr. Edmund Borlase. Rumours after the Dis- solution of the Parliament at Oxford. [ms. DONAT. BRIT. MUS. 1008. foL 112. Orig.] Sir, Christ Church, Mar. 31, 1681. We have not been so much an University here of late as a Stage, upon which very sudden turns and changes of state affairs have been acted ; but what de- nomination the Drama must have cannot appear till the event, for the last act is not yet come, and we must expect other revolutions. Indeed the Dissolution of the Parliament was very surprising to all here, as well as to the Country ; and to me the mystery of it seems to be in the dark : but truth will not always be so, and in time we may hope to see the plots and contrivances of our disturbers unravelled and defeated. We have a long story here of a private conference between the King and the Earl of Shaftesbury, who pro- posed to him the declaring of the Duke of M. to be legitimate, and the enriching of himself by the Church- lands; but the King firmly rejected both these proposals as unjust. I will not warrant the truth of this relation, but it is confidently reported amongst us ; and if it be VOL. IV. SER. 2. J, 66 ORTGIXAL LETTERS. true, the designs of our leading patriots, (as they would be thought,) are sufficiently manifested. It is no less warmly discoursed of here, that the next Parliament will be called hither about November : but I am not apt to believe, that his Majesty will be inclined to have another so soon. Sir, what transactions were done and carrying on in the short Parliament here you must certainly be well informed, having the mouth of it at Chester, and there- fore I shall not pretend to give you any account of it : but had their stay been longer, I should sometimes have ventured to give you a taste of my improvement among our politicians ; because I find that you are so highly favourable to me as to accept of my correspond- ence; though truly. Sir, you are not very likely to thrive by this trade, for you exchange gold for brass. How- ever, Sir, I am very well pleased with this intercourse, which is so advantageous to me ; nor will you lose much by this traffic, because your communications, like those . . . ^ light, diminish not the fountain ; and be- sides, not ^> . . . what I gain from you is still yours ; but I am so entirely myself as being, Sir, Your most obedient and most devoted servant. Z. ISHAM. For the most honoured Dr. Edmund fiorlasc, at his house in West Chester, these. • 9u. ofthe. b Qu. note that. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 67 T LETTER CCCXXIV. Sir James Dick, Bart, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, to Mr. EUies at Lrnidon, The Duke of York ship- wrecked on the Sand-bank called the Lemon and Ore, [mS. DONAT. MUS. BRIT. 5719. rBOM SIR JAMES DICK's BOOK OP LETTERS.] •»• The Duke of York was wrecked upon the Lemon and Ore, about sixteen leagues from the mouth of the Humber, on the morning of May r.th, 1G82. Sir James Dick, the writer of this liCtter, in consequence, assumed for his crest a Ship in distress and sinking, with the motto " At Spes infracta,'** Edinburgh, 9i\ of May, 1682. Deae Sir, Upon Sunday, at eight o'clock at night, his Royal Highness with his retinue arrived safe here, there being a most sad disaster upon the Saturday before, at eleven o'clock in the morning ; « the man of war called the Gloster, Sir John Barrie Captain, wherein his Highness was, and a great retinue of noblemen and gentlemen, whereof I was one, the said ship did strike in pieces and did wholly sink in a Bank of sand called the Lemon and Ore, about twelve leagues from Yar- mouth. This was occasioned by the wrong calcul and ignorance of a Pilot, and put us all in such con- • Kennett. HisU Engl. vol. iii. p. 404. places this Accident (he day before, " on Friday, May StJ*." F 2 6S OUIGIMAL LETTF.RS. stemation that we knew not what to do: the Duke and all that were with him being in bed when she first struck. The helm having broke, the man was killed by the force thereof at the first shock. When the Duke got his clothes on and inquired how things stood, she had nine feet water in her hold, and the sea fast coming in at the gun-ports ; the seamen and pas- sengers were not at command, every man studying his own safety. This forced the Duke to go out at the large window of the cabin where his little boat was ordered quietly to attend him, lest the passengers and seamen should have thronged so in upon him, as to overset his boat. This was accordingly so conducted as that none but Earl Winton and the President of the Session, with two of the betl-chamber men, went with him. They were forced to draw their swords to hold people off. We seeing they were gone, did cause tackle out with great difficulty the Ship's boat, wherein the Earl of Perth got, and then I went by jumping off the shrouds; the Earl of Middleton immediately after me did jump in upon my shoulders ; withal there came the Laird of Touch with several others, besides the seamen that were to row, which was thought a sufficient number for her loading, considering there was going so great a sea, occasioned by the wind at North East ; and we seeing that at the Duke's boat side, there was one overwhelmed by reason of the greatness of the sea, which drowned the whole in her except two men, whom OklGIXAL LKTTEIIS. 69 1 we saw riding on her keel. This made us desire to l)e gone, but before we were loose, there leaped from the shrouds about twenty or twenty-four seamen in upon us, which made all the spectators and ourselves to think we would sink, and all having given us over for lost, did hinder an hundred more from leaping in upon us. With those that were left was Lord Roxburgh and Laird Hopton, and Mr. Littledel, Roxburgh's ser- vant. Doctor Livingston, and the President of the Sessions' man, and my servant. They all being at the place when I jumped would not follow, because it seems they concluded it more safe to stay in the vessel than to expose themselves to our hazard ; all which persons in an instant were washed off and drowned. There will be perished in this disaster above two hundred persons, for I reckon there were two hundred and fifty seamen, and I am sure there were eighty noble- men, gentlemen, and their servants; my computation was that there were three hundred and thirty in all, of which I cannot learn that a hundred and thirty are found alive. Our difficulties and hazards that were in this boat were wonderful. If the rest had not thought us all dead men, I am sure many more would have jumped in upon us. We were so thronged we had no room to stand, and when we were forcing ourselves from the ship, she being sinking by degrees all the time; and besides the surfs were so boisterous that we were like to be struck in pieces ujx>n the wreck so 70 OUIGIXAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 71 sinking, it was not but with great difficulty that we forced out the boat from the ship ; and when we came to row to the nearest yacht, the waves were such, we being overloaded^ that every moment we thought to have been drowned ; and being about midway to the yachts, there were a great many swimming for their lives, who caught a dead gripe of our boat, holding up their heads above the water and crying for help ; which hinderance was put off and their hands loosed, by telling them they would both lose themselves and us ; yet this would not do to make them loose their gripe, till they were forced off by several in our boat, except one that took hold of me, whom I caused catch into the boat, lest I should have been pulled out by him ; and when it pleased God to bring us wonderfully to one of the yacht'*s side, being not less than a quarter of a mile distant from our ship, they not daring to come nearer by reason of the sand bank upon which we were wrecked ; and if we had not shot off guns, shewing them our distress, the other men of war that were immediately following would have met with the same disaster; but they immediately bore off. The four yachts came as near as they could, and put off their boats to* help us, but all that could be done could not prevent this great loss of about two hundred men. I was in my gown and slippers, lying in bed, when she first struck, and did escape in that condition ; and when unexpectedly and wonderfully wc came to the I r yacht's side, called Captain Saunders, we were like to be crushed to pieces by it, which by reason of the great sea was like to run us down. At last a rope was cast, which was so managed that we were brought to the lee side, then every man climbed for his life, and so did I, taking hold of a rope, and made shift upon the side till I came within men's reach, and was hauled in ; and I then looked back but could not see one bit of our Great Ship above water, but about a Scots ell long of the staff upon which the Royal Standard stood ; for with her striking she had come off the sand bank which was but three fathoms, and her draught was eighteen feet. There was eighteen fathoms water upon each side when she struck, and so did sink in the deepest place. Now if she had continued upon the three fathoms, and broke in pieces there, all would have had time to have saved themselves ; but such was the misfortune, that she was wholly overwhelmed, and all washed into the sea that were upon her decks. There would have been relief by boats if she had stood half an hour longer. So to conclude this melancholy account, all the above persons, our countrymen, that were of respect, are as I have told. Of Englishmen of respect there were lost Lord O'Brien and Lord Hyde's brother, who was lieutenant of the ship ; and a number of noblemen and gentlemen's servants, which I cannot name. I can hardly speak with any that were aboard with the M 72 ORIGIKAL LETTERS. Duke but they have lost of servants more or less. God make me thankful for this wonderful deliverance. I believe I shall have trouble now that both my Lord Roxburgh and his man are lost, to recover payment of these bills : all my clothes and papers are lost, having nothing saved but the twenty guineas which were in my little pocket with my watch, and the little box with my wife's ring and necklace; but for my papers, I rolled them up in a handkerchief, and put them off me, so that both the King's letter for the .^'ISOO ster- ling, and the accompt I filed with you, are gone. Yesterday his Royal Highness called the King's Council, and there the King's will was declared as to his Chancellor, who was the President of the Session ; my Lord Queensberry for Treasurer, and Lord Perth Justice-General which Queensberry had before. Notwithstanding the disaster his Highness met with in this last sea voyage, yet he is within five or six days, with his Duchess and the Lady Anne, to take shipping for London. JAMES DICK. To Mr. Ellies, in Lonilun. The reader will do well to compare the Letter which he has just read, with the very different statement which Hume gives of the circumstancea of the Shipwreck. He says, " As the King was master in England, and no longer dreaded the clamours of the country party, he peniiitted the Duke to pay him a visit ; and was soon after prevailed on to allow of his return to England, and of his bearing a part in the administration. The Hi ORIGINAL LETTERS. 73 Duke went to Scotland, in order to bring up his family, and settle the government of that country ; and he chose to take his passage by sea. The Ship struck on a sand-bank, and was lost ; the Duke escaped in the BARGE ; and it is pretended, that while many persons of rank and quality were drowned, and among the rest Hyde, his brother-in-law, he was very careful to save several of his dogs and priests; for these two species of favourites are coupled together by some writers. It has likewise been asserted, that tlie barge might safely have held more persons^ and that some who swam to it were thrust off, and even tlieir hands cut, in order to disengage them." Among the persons of consequence who perished at this time, beside those who are mentioned in the Letter, was Sir John Douglas. The commander, Sir John Berry (called Barrie by Sir James Dick), escaped by a rope over the vessel's stem. He was afterwards examined before the Privy Council, when the King, having satisfied himself that no fault attached to him, gave him the command of another vessel, the Henrietta, destined for the Coast of Ireland. LETTER CCCXXV. I, Ladij Rachel Russell to [saiT. MUS. Orig. PRESENTED BY JOHN WILMOT, ESQ.] Woburn Abbey, April 30, 84. Sir, Yours of the 20''» of April I have read; your Prayers and Wishes are kindly accepted by your af- flicted servant ; who have no other shadow of comfort but to find myself at all esteemed by worthy persons, and those had so for, and were so by that loved friend 74 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 75 my soul longs to meet again. When at any time you allow me the like favour, and I am not in London (as I purpose it not yet) if your Letters be left at my Ser- vant'*s house who brings this to your Servant, they will be carefully and safely delivered me. I have appointed him, at his giving this to your servant, to direct him where he shall find him ; his name is Benjamin Por- daye, his house in Great Russell Street near Montague House; he shall be very punctual to your servant. Till I have a return to this from you, Sir, you shall receive no further trouble from your ever mournful but obliged faithful servant, R. RUSSELL. ^ Of the Illness which immediately preceded the death of Charles the Second a very full and curious detail in Latin is preserved in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries, together with copies of the Prescriptions administered (two of them signed by no fewer than fourteen Physicians), and an Account of the appearances of his Majesty's body when opened ; the whole completely removing the suspicion that the King was taken off by poison. It begins, " Feb. 2«, 1684. *' Ad octavam praecise horam Rex serenissimus Carolus II. Iccto rc- cens relicto, dum in cubiculo leniter inambulabat, inordinatum quendam in cerebro sensit motum, cui mox aphonia motusque convulsivi vchc- mentiores succedebant. ^^ Adcrant forte tunc ex Medicis Regiis omnino duo, qui, ut tanto Re- gum optimi periculo mature prospicerent, venam ei in brachio dcxtro apcrucrunt, ^unguini::i(juc cduxerunt uncias circittr sedccini. *' Interim et csteri Medici, per celerrimos nuncios advocati, in Regis subsidium convolarunt; habitoque inter se consilio, omncm navarunt opcram, ut periditanti Majestati suppetias ferrent praesentaneas.** • ••••• On the morning of the 6^K it is said, ** Cajtcrum (Eheu !) intempesta jam nocte S. R. vires usque adeo in- fractae videbantur, ut totus Medicorum Chorus ab omni spe destitu- tus animum despondent ; ne tamen ulla in re officio suo viderentur deesse, gcnerosissimum illud Cardiacum instituunt 52 Antidoti Raleighanae 3j« Julap. Perlat. cochL 5. Sp. Salis Armoniac. succinat. g". XX. M. statim propinentur. *' Novissimo huic mcestissimoque Medicorum Convcntui aderant, C. Scarburgh, E. Dickenson, E. Browne, R. Brady, T. Short, C. Farell, T. Witherby, T. Millington, R. liower, P. Barwick, J. Le Febure. " Aderat etiam inclytus ille heros, Regis frater unicus Regnique Op- timo jure haeres. Jacobus hinc Eboraci quidem et' Albaniae Dux illustris- simus, hodie vero Britanniarum augustissimus ]\Ionarcha, qui sunmia in Regem pietate et plusquam fratemo amore afFectus, de illius salute usque adeo sollicitus fuit, ut a decumbentis lecto vix unquam decedere sustinuerit, nunc totus in luctu versans, nunc sedulus exequendis Medi- corum consiliis ipsemet invigilans alias ab Archiatro Ccelesti opem auxi- liumque ardentissimis precibus votisque et gemitibus subinde efFusis im- plorans, ut omnibus constiterit maluisse ipsum charissimi fratris consor. tio perfrui, quam Sceptro, frustra reluctantibus Fatis. Nam post tot amicorum vota et suspiria, post omne genus medelae a fidissimis juxta et cruditissimis Medicis tentatum, Regum optimus orthopnaea lethali ex improviso correptus, quae cum subinde violentiam remitteret, mox acrius recrudesceret, fomite mali perpetuo superstite, tandem toto naturae robore dolorum immanitate attrito, mortalem coronam placide deposuit, ut ac- ciperet immortalem. " Expiravit Februar. sexto paulo post meridiem, anno aetatis quinqua- gesimo quarto ad finem decurrente.*' The following is the Account of the Opening of the Body : *' In Caroli Secundi augustissimi Britanniarum Regis Corpore apcrto post mortem reperiebantur, P. In cerebri cortice Venae et Arteriae super modum repletae. 2^*. Cerebri tum ventriculi omnes serosa quadam materia inundati, turn ipsa substantia consimili humorc haud leviter imbuta. 3'*. Thoraci dcxtri lateris PulnuHies Pleurae tenaciter adlia^rentts, sinia- 76 ORIGINAL LETTKns. tra vcro plane libcri, qucmadmoduni ex Nature iustituto in sanis esse solet. 4°. Pulmonum substantia iieutiquam culpanda quidem sed sanguine referta. 5°. Cor amplum firmumque, et in omnibus rectissime formatum. 6<*. In infimo ventre nihil prteter naturale, nisi quod hcpatis color ad lividitatem inclinaret, forte a sanguinis inibi restitantis pleonasmo, quo renes et lien cernebantur suffarcinati." The total of the " Medicorum Chorus,*' as appears from the Sig- natures to the diflferent Prescriptions, included also the Doctors, Gu. Charleton, £dm. King, C. Frazier, Per. Mendes, and M, Lister. In all SIXTEEN. In the preceding Series the death-bed scene of King Charles THE Second, rnrrounded by the Protestant Bi*hojj.% has been fully described. Nevertheless it is equally undoubted that he received the ritei of the Romish Church the day before his death. Dr. Birch, among hi» Papers bequeathed to the Museum, has a copy of a Letter from one J. Aprice, to his brother-in-law Mr. William Lyn- wood of Deane in Northamptonshire, detailing Father Hudleston's Account to him of his administering extreme unction to the King. Dr. Birch has added a " Note of the Bishop of Lincoln" at the end, in these words : " The original Letter is now in the hands of Mrs. Ejrre of Stamford, and J. Aprice abovementioned was a Romish priest and relation of hers, as was also ]\lr. L)aiwood to whom the Letter was written." It is not generally known, however, that Father Hudleston's own Ac- count is extant in print, published under the patronage of James the Second and the Queen Dowager, in a M'ork of which the following is the Tide : " A Short and Plain Way to the Faith and Church: composed many years since hy that eminent Divine Mr. Richard Hudleston of the English Congregation of the Order of St. Benedict ; and now published far the common good, by his nephew Mr. Jo. Hudleston of the same Congregation, To which is annexed his late Majesty King Charles tfte Second his Papers found in his Closet after his decease. As also a Brief Account of what occurred on his Death-Bed in re- gard TO Religion. Permissu Superiorum." London, 1688, quarto. The dedication of this Tract is " To the Queen Dowager." John Hudleston declares himself, in it, to have been in Her Majesty's service from the time of her first Accession, and that the Book which had been written by his uncle was Hrst seen by him ^^ in his retirement at Moseley in Stailbrdshirc." ORIGINAL LETTERS. 7< The Dedication is followed by " The Publisher (John Hudleston himself) to the Reader." Hudleston here gives an Account of his Uncle's life and Studies, and states that the AVork, the title of which has been just copied, was instrumental in King Charles the Second's conversion. He then says, '* There are none so ignorant who have not heard of the defeat of his late Majesty's Army by the Rebels at M''orcc8ter, on the 3**. September 1651 ; and of the then Preservation of His sacred life and person by the care and fidelity of his catholic subjects, of whom I acknowledge myself the most unworthy. In this sad conjuncture it was, that the desolate King after having been harassed to and fro, Night and Day, in continual fatigues and perils, from Wednesday the day of the battle till Sunday following, at last found an Asylum and Refuge at M'. Whit- grave's House at Moseley, whither divine Providence, not long before, brought me, and where I had first the honor of attending upon him. During this retreat, whilst M'. Whitgrave, his Lady, and Mother, (who alone of all the Household were privy to the secret) were often busied in watching and other discharges of their duty towards his accommodation and safeguard. His Majesty was pleased to entertain himself for the most part with me in my chamber, by perusing several of my books, amongst others he took up this present Treatise then a Manuscript, lying on the table of a closet adjacent to my Chamber. He read it ; he seriously con- sidered it ; and after mature deliberation pronounced this Sentence upon it (viz.) ^ I have not seen any thing more plain and clear upon this sub- ' ject : the Ailments here drawn from succession are so conclusive, I * do not conceive how they can be denied.' Now that this was not any sudden motion or superficial compliment of His Majesty, but the pro- duct of a real and solid conviction is manifest by the tenor and gravity of the words themselves ; by the Papers found in his Closet after his de- cease under his own hand, which seem even to the very manner of ex- pression to breathe the same spirit and genius with that of the book ; and lastly by those truly Christian Catholic resolutions he took (albeit through frailty late) in disposing himself for an happy departure out of this World by an entire reconcilement to God and the Church." At the end of the Tract, p. 31. we have Copies of Two Papers written by the late King Charles II. of " blessed memory." » The first concerns the Declaration of the King that the Roman Ca- tholic is the only true Church. At the close of it is this Attestation. ** This is a true Copy of a Paper I found in the late King my Bro- ther's strcmg Box, written in his own hand. J. R." • These have been printcil more than once. 78 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 79 H The second ia to the same effect, showing that the Roman Catholic is the true Church " from whence there can be no Appeal** Attested " This is a true Copy. J. R.** Afterward comes " A Brief Account of Particulars occurring at the HAPPY DEATH OF OUR LATE SOVEREIGN LoRD KING CHARLES THE 2'^. IN REGARD TO RELIGION ; FAITHFULLY RELATED BY UI8 THEN Assistant Mr. Jo. HUDLESTON. *' Upon Thursday the Fifth of February, 1685, between Seven and Eight a Clock in the Evening, I was sent for in hast to the Quecn*s Back-stairs at Whitehal, and desired to bring with me all things necessary for a dying Person. Accordingly I came, and was ordered not to stir from thence till further notice. Being thus obliged to wait, and not having had time to bring along with me the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, I was in some anxiety how to procure it : In this conjuncture (the Di- vine Providence so disposing) Father Bento de Lemos a Portuguez came thither, and understanding the circumstance I was in, readily profer*d himself to go to S^ Jame8*s and bring the most Holy Sacrament along with him. " Soon after his departure I was called into the King's Bed Chamlx:r, where approaching to the bed side, and kneeling down, I in brief pre- sented his Majesty with what service I could perform for God's honor, and the happiness of his Soul at this last moment on which Eternity depends. The King then declared himself: That he desired to die in the Faith and Communion of the Holy Roman Catholic Church ; That he was most heartily sorry for all the Sins of his life past, and particu- larly for that he had deferred his Reconciliation so long ; That through the Merits of Christ's passion he hoped for Salvation ; That he was in charity with all the world ; That with all his heart he pardoned his Ene- mies and desired pardon of all those whom he had any wise offended, and that if it pleased God to spare him longer life, he would amend it, detesting all Sin. " I then advertis'd His Majesty of the benefit and necessity of the Sacrament of Penance, which advertisement the King most willingly embracing, made an exact Confession of his whole Life with exceeding compunction and tenderness of heart ; which ended, I desired him, in farther sign of Repentance and true sorrow for his Sins, to say with me this little short Act of Contrition. " ' O my Lord God, with my whole heart and soul I detest all the ' Sins of my Life past for the Love of Thee, whom I love above all ' things ; and I firmly purpose by thy Holy Grace never to offend thee ' more. Amen, sweet Jesus, Amen. Into thy hands, sweet Jesus, Icom- ' mend my Soul ; Mercy, sweet Jesus, Mercy.* " This he pronounced with a clear and audible voice, which done, and his sacramental penance admitted, I gave him Absolution. " After some time thus spent, I asked His Majesty if he did not also desire to have the other Sacraments of the Holy Church administred to him ? He replyed, * By all means 1 desire to be partaker of all the helps ' and succours necessary and expedient for a catholic Christian in my ' condition.' I added, * And doth not your Majesty also desire to receive the pretious Body and Blood of our dear Saviour Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist ?* His answer was this : * If I am worthy^ pray fail not to let me have it.* I then told bun, it would be brought to him very speedily, and desired His Majesty, that, in the interim, he would give me leave to proceed to the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, he replyed, ' With all my heart ;* I then anoyled him, which as soon as perform'd I was cal'd to the door, whither the Blessed Sacra- ment was now brought and delivered to me. " Then returning to the King, I entreated His ^Majesty that he would prepare and dispose himself to receive. At which die King raising up himself, said, * Let me meet my Heavenly Lord in a better posture than in my bed.* But I humbly b^g'd His Majesty to repose himself: God Almighty who saw his heart, would accept of his good intention. The King then having again recited the forementioned Act of Contrition with me, he received the most Holy Sacrament for his Viaticum with all the symptoms of devotion imaginable. The Communion being ended, I read the usual Prayers termed * the Re commendation of the Soul,' ap- pointed by the Church for Catholics in his condition. After which the King desired the Act of Contrition : ' O my Lord God,* &c. to be re- peated : this done, for his last spiritual encouragement I said, *' * Your Majesty hath now received the Comfort and Benefit of all the Sacraments that a good Christian (ready to depart out of this ^Vorld) can have or desire. Now it rests only. That you think upon the Death and Passion of our dear Saviour Jesus Christ, of which I present unto you this figure' (shewing him a Crucifix); • lift up therefore the Eyes of your Soul, and represent to yourself your sweet Saviour here crucified : bowing down his head to kiss you : his arms stretched out to embrace you : his body and members all bloody and pale with death to redeem you : and, as you see him dead and fixed upon the Cross for your re- demption, so have his remembrance fixed and fresh in your heart : be- seech him, with all humility, that his most precious blood may not be shed in vain for you : and that it will please him by the merits of his bitter death and passion to pardon and forgive you all your Offences : and finally to receive your Soul into his blessed hands ; and when it shall W 80 OKICllXAL LETTER SL please him to take it out of this transitory World, to grant you a joyful! Resurrection and an eternal Crown of Glory in the next. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost Amen.' " So, recommending His Majesty on my knees, with all the transport of Devotion I was able, to the divine mercy and protection, I withdrew out of the Chamber. *' In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my Name. JO. HUDLE8TON." The Editor has been informed that in a Diary still extant of Philip Earl of Chesterfield, who was immediately about the person of King Charles the Second, the particulars of father Hudleston*s admission to the King on this occasion are recorded. M. Barillon, also, in his Letter to Louis the Fourteenth, printed in the Appendix to Mr. FoxV History of the Early Part of the Reign of James the Second, written im- mediately after Charles's death, corroborates Hudleston's Narrative in the main facts. Hudleston's introduction to the King was certainly in- tended to have been a secret, but Barillon very properly believed that it could not long be kept : " cependant les ferames de la Reinc, et Ics au- tres pretres, ont vu tant d'allees et de venues, que je ne pensc pas que le secret puisse etre long terns garde." Barillon says, that Hudleston had a wig and cassock to disguise him : " on lui donna unc pcrruque et une cassaque pour le degiiiser." The Duke of York who introduced him to the King said, "Sire, voici un homme qui vous a sauve la vie, et qui vient a cette heure pour sauver votrc ame. Le Roi repondit, qu*il soil Ic bien renK." Hudleston's Interview lasted for three quarters of an hour. f LETTERS OF THE REIGNS OF t KING JAMES THE SECOND, AND K. WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. VOL. IV. SER. 2. C ORIGJXAL I.KTTERS. 83 LETTER CCCXXVI. The liCtters of the Reigns of KING JAMES the SECOND and KING WILLIAM and QUEEN MARY are here combined, not only because it is impossible to separate one Reign trom the other at the immediate moment of the Revolution, but because King James retained possession of a part of his Irish territory till the Battle of the Boyne drove him finally from his Dominions. Of the Reign of KING WILLIAM alon^^ Two Letters only are given. Those which relate to the Revolution teU the daily story of their time. A political Change of such importance never perhaps took place in any Country with less of violence and bloodshed. Public Feeling wm certainly moderated, if it was not entirely subdued, by the recollections of the Great Rebellion. ^o Mr. EUis, Secretary of the Re- venue in Irehnd. Hampden said to be reprieved. Some of the Bishops falling out of favour. [ms. donat. 4194. pag. 1. Orig.\ rlf VV'^^ numerous other Letters in the Donation Volume, 4194, wnter. The Post-marks, however, authenticate the transmission of the Letters and a Seal of Arms upon two or three, affords a presumpt on that the name of the writer must have been the same with that of the pers^ to whom the Letters we,, sent. The Arms are those of EUis of ^t^. M T' u ^"^^'^ ^"^"^ P^^^« >" «"« «' two of the I^t^ he could not have been a brother. He held a post about the Go- z^L^r "' " '" "'"""" ""^^"^ *^^- **^"^« ^-^ London, Jan. 5^\ 1681. Dear Sie, ^ I HAD yours of the 19 \ I suppose, but it bore no date. I hope your Lord Lieutenant is safely arrived by this time, though some of our inspired folks said on Saturday he was cast away, and he could not be at the water-side till Thursday evening. The whole discourse both in City and amongst the under-spurr- leathers of the Court is that Hambden is to die on Friday,a but he himself has better knowledge of what 84. ORIGINAL LETTERS. OttlGIXAL LETTERS. 85 usage he is likely to receive from Court ; and I am well informed that the warrant that they say was signed for his execution was a reprieve; though in the Re- corder's Roll of the condemned, his name was crossed amongst the designed for execution. A strong report now goes likewise of a Session of Parliament ; but those behind the curtain say not. I apprehend Dela- mer in much danger ; his trial comes on on Thursday next week. The Bishop of London's fame runs high in the vogue of the people. The London pulpits ring strong peals against Popery ; and I have lately heard there never were such eminently able men to serve in those cures. The Lord Almoner Ely is thought to stand upon too narrow a base now in his Majesty's favor, ^ from a late violent Sermon on the Fifth of November. I saw him yesterday at the King's Levy, and very little notice taken of him, which the more confirms what I heard. Our old friend the new Bishop St. John gave a smart answer to a (no very well put) Question of his M with respect to him, that shows he is not altogether formed of court-clay ; but neither you nor I shall withdraw either of our friendship for him on such an account. We have still whispers of new Law men : Chief ' Francis Turner bishop of Ely. He Iiad preached the Sermon at King Jamei the Second's Coronation. He was discovered to have corresponded with the Court of St. Germains. and In 1CJK> was deprivcil for refusmR to take the oath^ to King William and Queen Mary. Justice, Attorney, and Solicitor General: but who succeeds I can [not] hear yet further than that Allibone says lie will do fine things in a great place. The latter end of next month we are likely to see you. I hear of rare matters putting in order in Scotland ; Religious Houses settled ; &c. : but more of that hereafter as I hear the bruit of it. Lemii. Kingdon is patching up again. Adieu in haste. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary of his Majesty's Revenue in IrelanU, Dublin, . LETTER CCCXXVIL The same to the same. Hampden reprieved. The Bisliop of London in disgrace. A Pardon granted to Roman Catholic Officers for holding their conu ?nands without taking the Test. I IBID. p. 3. Orii;.^ Sir, January 9^''. 168^. I THANK you for your last Letter. I gave the in- closed to Sam, who is well, and we drank your health to-day at friend Colletts. I suppose it will be no news to tell you that Mr. Hambden is reprieved, and it is believed will be pardoned ; or that my Lord Bishop 86 OAIGIXAL LETTEUS. of London » is no longer a Privy Councillor or Dean of the Chapel, which places the Bishop of Durham fills. Yesterday a Proclamation was ordered for the pro- roguing the Parliament till W^\ May next ; and then not to sit unless there be special occasion. This day came into our office a Pardon for the Roman Catholic Officers now in the Army of all pains and forfeitures incurred by their holding their commands without taking the Test, &c. and a dispensation for them to hold their commands for the future, notwithstanding the Acts for the taking the Test and Oaths of Alle- giance and Supremacy, &c. Lord Delamere comes to his trial on Thursday next, for which a scaffi^ld is pre- paring in Westminster Hall. For John Ellis, Esq. Custom- House, Dublin. LETTER CCCXXVIIL The same to the same. The Trial and Acquittal of Lord Delamere. [ibid. p. 9. OHjg'.] • • Henry Booth, Lord Delamere, was accused of acting in con- junction with the Duke of Monmouth. Lord Orford says he narrowly escaped the fury of Jeiferies, who was high-steward upon his trial : but ORIGINAL LETTERS, 87 Speaker Onslow, in a note to the last edition of Burnet's History of his Own Times says, that Jefferies behaved himself with a decency and a dignity upon this trial which he had never shown before. Lord Dela- mere was afterwards one of those who planned the Revolution. Yet William had little affection for him : he made him Earl of Warrington in 1690, but afterwards dismissed him to gratify the Tories. 16 Jan. 168^. On Thursday Lord Delamer came to his Trial in Westminster Hall before his Peers, who were twenty six in all. They unanimously acquitted him. The evidences against him were very many, and the cir- cumstances very numerous and presumptive ; yet there happened to be but one positive witness (and he a very suspicious one) whose testimony was invalidated by a cloud of others for the Lord, who made a very notable defence, and being well skilled in our Laws, and withall a good spokesman, gave all the advantage to his cause, and good entertainment to his auditors. It is said the King hath already ordered that Evi- dence (called Saxton") to be tried for perjury; and when he hath got his reward for that, he will be sent into the West to be tried for high-treason as having been in the Rebellion. This fellow also was the chief, if not only evidence against Sir Robert Cotton and Mr. Offley, upon whose testimony the bills of high misdemeanor were found against them at Chester. • Henry Compton, youngest son of Siienccr earl of Northampton, was translatcil from the Sec of Oxford to London, Dec. isth, I67S. • It !«hould be Saxon, kdit. i 88 OKIGINAL LETTEKS. LETTER CCCXXIX. Samuel de Paz to John Ellis, Esq. Lord Delamere has an atidience of the King, False Reports of Quo Warrantos issued against Cathedral Churches, Mrs, Sedley to he Countess of Dorchester, Sir Henr}^ Waldegrave to he Baron Waldegrave^ [ibid. p. 11. Orig.] Whitehall, 19 Jan. 168^. ♦ « * « « My Lord Delamer was admitted last Saturday to kiss the King's hand, when his Majesty was pleased to give him warning as to his future behaviour. The Gazette tells you of the Orders already given for the proceeding against Saxon for perjury. • # * # « The King has shewn great concern at the false reports spread abroad of Quo Warrantos being out against Cathedral Churches and the like, and in order to prevent the ill consequences of such like false re- ports, all possible care is taking for the suppressing of all seditious Newspapers, or Letters commonly read in Coffee-Houses and sent about to poison the Country. Mrs. Sidley is making Countess of Dorchester,* • Catharine daughter of Sir Charles Sedley, Bart, was created Countess of Dor- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 89 and Sir Henry Walgrave (married to Mrs. ChurchilPs daughter) a Baron of his own name, a Dear Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant. SAM. DE PAZ. Mr. Ellis. LETTER CCCXXX. ^o Mr. Ellis, Montague House hurnt. Mr. Harlxrrd ordered to surrender, [ibid. p. 12. Orig.'\ 'I- Whitehall, the 21 Jan. 168' On Wednesday at one in the morning a sad fire happened at Montague House in Bloomsbury, occa- sioned by the Steward's airing some hangings, &c. in expectation of my Lord Mountague's return home, and sending afterwards a woman to see that the fire-pans with charcoal were removed, which she told him she Chester. Jan. «J. 1685 6. Burnet says much upon the agitaUon which the advance- ment of this Lady to the Peerage brought uj^on the Queen and the Romish priests Mrs. Sedley was as litUe restrained in her conversation as the Lady Castlemaiire had been : and was so far from beautiful in face, that Charles the Second used to say, his brother •• had her by way of iwnance." She afterwards espoused the Earl of Portmorc, and died in 17 IT. * See tlie former Series of these Letters, vol. iii. p. 3^8. 90 OHIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. had done though she never came there. The loss that my Lord Mountague has sustained by this accident is estimated at i?40,000, besides ^^6000 in plate, and my Lord Devonshire's loss in pictures, hangings, and other furniture is very considerable. The Earl of Arran is very dangerously ill. A Privy Seal is sent to Mr. William Harbord, com- manding him to appear within fourteen days before some of his Majesty's Privy Council, upon his alle- giance. 91 LETTER CCCXXXL The same to the same. Public News. Dorchester. The Princess Anne, [ibid. p. 35. Orig.^ Countess of' Pepys, London, April 6 K 1686. Yours per the 5*^. of last month came on Saturday hither per the boat we concluded lost. The busy time of Devotion is now over here. His Majesty, God bless him ! one of the zealousest. Ten hours in a day some- times. The Court returns from St. James's to White- hall to-morrow, and go not to Windsor till the middle of May ; when, also, the Camp opens at Hounslow. Our sparks all go for Hungary to-morrow. D. Ha- milton, Lieut. Gen. Drummond, &c. come to town this evening ; sent for I imagine. It will end in his Grace becoming Commander of Scotland, though the common vogue is, he was sent for to be chidden for the method of his management since he became a Commissioner of the Treasury there. Our Ministers of State have all retired likewise this holy season ; Lord Chancellor to his Country House near Uxbridge, Lord Treasurer to Twitnam, Lord Sunderland to Althrope ; either for their private satisfaction in their consciences, or to avoid showing in town whether they have any or no. I imagine your Countess Dorchester will speedily move hitherward, for her house is furnishing very fine in St. James's Square, and a seat taking for her in the new consecrated St. Anne's Church. The French King is not right yet, though little is said of him. Madame de Maintenon makes all the applications to him that he stands in need of. I hear poor Pr. Anne is sadly teased about a new declaration in matters of so that at last it is agreed to, after lying in. But I hope it may not be thus. Say nothing of it. New equipage in great splendor is every where to be seen, especially their Majesties. Her Majesty is won- derfully glorious in her own apparrel. Here is arrived an Italian Prince of Piombino, the greatest spendthrift in the world reckoned, for he has consumed the greatest part of a matrimonial estate of 92 OKIGIXAL LKTTKUS. ORIGINAL LKTTEUS. 93 150,000 '. per annum, and the Treasure of TInce Popes. So it seems not that we need fear his politicks. This next Term I am like to be confined hither, and then what I shall do I know not. Lord Or — and Oss — come next week. If their favour help not, I will see you for a little to wind up a mean bottom very indifferently worth my while ; and so go for Paris, and with my Lord Denbigh into Italy in the winter. I hope you will succeed in your design of removal hither; but these Lords keeping thus out of town, puts us both out of our way. Phil has many wonderful kind expressions from the King, so that I imagine some room in the Navy (where they rowle in money) might be found. So I advise you to solicit hard and court kindly. Sure Pepys would value Lord Ossory's re- commendation at no mean rate, though Eurc and he together neglect all where money chinks not.** You may be sure of me on all occasions. • Samuel Pepys, Esq. with whose Memoirs the world has been so recently de- lighted, is the person here alluded to. He was Clerk of the Act* of the Navy. Eure, as he is called, was William Ilewer, Esq. a Commissioner of the Admiralty, who had been Pepys's servant. There is another Letter in the same Volume dated London, April lO'h. lesc, which speaks in stronger terms. The writer says, •• I shall urge your monkish brother all I can, and imagine his personal interest in will do. He tells me he discoursed Pepys about the matter who told him all was settled. I know the griping temper of both him and Eure, and what rates every poor boson (boatswain) pays for what he has purchased with his blood and many years hardship." One cannot upon this occasion refram from adverting to some passages In Pepys's Diary, even at an earlier period, which show how rapidly he obtained his wealth. June 3d. 1660. ♦• At sermon in the morning; after dinner into my cabin to cast my accounts up, and find myself to be worth near 100/. for which I bless Almighty God, it being more than I hoped for so soon, being I believe not clearly worth «*/. when I come to sea besides my house and goods." vol. i. p. 66. Dec. 1660-1. " Myself in constant good health, and in a most handsome and thriving condition, iilcssetl be Almighty (Jo«l for it." vol. i. p. 88. Oct. 30«h. 1603. •• To my great sorrow find myself 43/. worse than I was the last Your new Chancellor is on the road, and I am going to sup with Will Legg, Governor of Kinsale, who follows him to-morrow. LETTER CCCXXXII. The same to the same. Judges a^id Serjeants changed. Disorders in London o7i account of Popery. [ibid. p. 44. Or\g.\ London, April 27»ii. 86. ♦ * ♦ * # Here are a new set of Judges and Serjeants, such as they are. For their names I refer you to the Ga- zettes, and for their virtues to those that know them better. Solicitor General was put out on Saturday, and Powis in his room, a very young counsellor, but I cozen and careful man in Christian causes. The At- month which was then 760/. and now it is but tit/. But it hath chiefly arisen from my layings out. in clothes for myself and wife." vol. i. n 25t Dec. SO'h. 1666. •• All the afternwn to my accounts and fh,>n f?„H great joy, a great deal worth above 40,K)/. foTwrch^he Lord >^ l"™^!,' '^."^^ principally occasioned by my getting 500/. of CoTktJo: my'itfitVw^^^^^^ ^ pnie goods, and from M'. Gauden's making n.e a present of Jon/ Jl '^rgains of him 800/. for Tangier. .i«. Thus ends thif yeL! E,Ty gr^t^v Tthi's m^n ^''? have raised my estate from 1300/. in this year to ^^J ""^T^'Z^ " "''°""'- ' ,.T' "• /®**' " "^^ '"y accounts wherein at last I find them clear and right • but a^ g^ "bJve'Zf^Thu enT tT''"' 'V'' ' '"^ ^""^ "^^"^ ^^ ^ ™-et ..atio^'voU.'p!^: "'' *'" '^"^ "' '^"'"^ "^"^" -'» "^'^^-^^^^ t»^s 94 ORIGINAL LETTERS. toriiey is tlireatened, but yet keeps within the Bar. Many, more new matters are let fly abroad to see how they will relish, that they may be given to chew. On Sunday, the London hot-heads were bantering Mr. Sandford's Chapel, got away a cross, and set it by a pump, paying very disorderly adoration to it, with holloaing, and then going back and taking a crucifix, and saying they would have no wooden gods wor- shipped. These frighting the priest, but not hurting him. Then comes the Lord Mayor and commands the peace. The answer was in a scornful way. ' What ! the Lord Mayor of our city come to preach up popery ! too sure, it cannot be !"* Then the guard miUtia was ordered to send the rabble away ; and asking what they meant, the answer was, ' Only pulling down popery,"* and their return was, ' If that be all, we can- not in conscience hinder.' But vespers not going on in the chapel, they dispersed. By next Sunday more matters may occur. The King went hence on Monday his water voyage to visit the ships at Chatham, and returns not till Thursday ; and I shall not wonder if the Scotch regi- ment of guards now quartering at Greenwich be quar- tered in Cheapside before this week is out. More comes to my knowledge than the common talk of a letter will bear, or than ordinary reason would put there. Twenty thousand swords lately seized in Stockton OHir.IXAL LETTERS. in Yorkshire, and many people buzzing about ; and from Holland the Amsterdam caballers have sent spies that have very lately escaped here. I suspect old Macclesfield has put his blundering brains to work, and they will dash out his son's if he have any : for it is not his fault, but father's flight that keeps him in fetters. » The Court cares not to stir hence till the latter end of May, and the King himself encamps with his army. I will say more as to yourself on Saturday. LETTER CCCXXXIIL The same to the same. King James drinks the Church of England as established hy Law. The Judgment in the Case of Sir Edward Hales, [ibid. p. 48. Oriyrr.] June 22^1. 86. The King they say dined in the camp, and in my • Charln Gerrard, Lord Oerrard of Brandon. He was first made Earl of Newbury by King Charles the Second, who afterwards, in I679, changed his earldom for that of Macclesfield. H\% flight from juttice is noticed in a Proclamation dated from Wmdsor, Sept T'K. 1685. In the 2J. James U\ he was convicted of high-treason and sentenced to die. but was afterwards pardoned. He subsequently fled to Holland' whilst Monmouth was preparing for his expedition, and thence to Germany, whence he returned to the Hague in 1688, to take part in the preparations of the Prince of Orange. See Ormerod's Hist, of Cheshire, vol. i. Introd. p. xlil. note. Kennefs Hut. Engl. vol. iii. pp. 442, 488. 96 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 97 Lord Dunbarton's tent the other day ; where after his and the Queen's heaUh had gone round, His Majesty was pleased to renew his kindness to the Church of England, by beginning a health to it as established by Law. The judgment in the case of Sir Edward Hales is gone for His Majesty, and one of the arguments and reasons for it as I am told, is, that what the act enjoins in that case, being a service or ceremony relating to His Majesty, he may in his prerogative royal dispense with it. •' # # # « * LETTER CCCXXXIV. The same to tJie same. The Appointment of Lords Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, [ibid. p. 69. Orig.] 17 July, 86. In return for your kind letter of the 7"^^. I have not much to send you worthy your curiosity. What takes ■ " An Action was brought" (against Sir Edward Hales) "on thestat. 2y^. Cha. II. c. 2. for the penalty of 500/. on account of his executing the office of a Colonel of Foot without taking the Communion, Oaths, and Tett; to which the Defendant pleaded, he had a dispensation under the broad seal to act, non obstante the statute : to this the Plaintiff demurreil, and in conclusion, judgment was given for the De- fendant that his plea was good." Life of King James the Second, publ. by Dr. J. S. Clarke, vol. ii. p. 82. Sir Edward Hales, after the Prince of Orange's arrival, fol- lowetl the fortunes of King James. up most men here is a new Commission that His Ma- jesty hath issued out, whereby he is pleased to consti- tute Seven Lords Commissioners for executing and exercising all Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction : viz. the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop of Durham, and Bishop of Rochester, Lord Chancellor, Lord Trea. surer. Lord President, and Lord Chief Justice Her- bert. They have power and authority to visit and correct all offences, to enquire of any misdemeanors against the ecclesiastical laws, and to punish the same offenders by suspension, deprivation, and excommuni- cation, and other church censures, according as they in justice shall think meet; to examine into all irre- gularities and immoralities punishable by church laws, and even into Disorders in Marriages ; and to call before them and punish any offenders, or any that shall seem to be suspected persons ; to cite and swear wit- nesses ; to punish the obstinate and disobedient ; to tax and condemn in costs the party prosecuting or prosecuted ; to have a Register (who is Mr. Bridgman), and a Common Seal with the circumscription of Si- gillum Dominorum Commissariorum S. R. Majestatis ad Causas Ecclesiasiicas. For all this Three are to be of the quorum, whereof Lord Chancellor to be one. They are farther to cause all Universities, Colleges, Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, to bring up their charters and statutes when required, and the same to alter as they see cause, and to add to or diminish from VOL. IV. SER. 2. H 98 ORIGINAL LETTEUS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. the same ; and where there is room, to make such sta- tutes as any five of them shall think meet, notwith- standing any law, statute, &c. to the contrary. This is the purport of it as far as I can remember. We know not yet who succeeds the Bishop of Ox- ford. Doctors South, Hooper, Aldridge, Levett, and Dr. Parker are talked of; the last stands fair with the King and is now at Court. » Lords of Powys, Arrun- del, Bellasis, and Dover are said to be this day ad- mitted of the Council at Hampton Court. Mr. Ellis. 99 LETTER CCCXXXV. The same to the same. Bishop Covipton called before the Lords Commissioners. [ms. donat. mus. BRIT. 4194. fol. 69. Orig.'\ •^* In " the Life of King James the Second collected out of Memoirs writ of his own hand," we read, " It was not long after the opening of the Commission, that D'. Sharp, rector of S'. Giles, was complained of for using reflecting expressions on the King and his government ; upon which His Majesty ordered the Bishop of Londc»i to suspend him." 10th. Aug. 86. Yesterday Lord Bishop of London appeared be- fore the Commissioners, who told him he was to answer • Samuel Parker, D. D. was coniiecratc«l bishop of Oxford October i7'i>. imo. He died March 20'><. l«87. His Histoiy of his own time from 1600 to icso, is cufticiently known. to tliis Question, « Why ho disobeyed tiie King in not suspending D . Sharp when his Majesty commanded ?' His Lordship said, he hoped it was no disobedience to say he ould not do it without a judicial Act. But, the better to frame his Answer, he desired he might have. First, a Copy of their Lordships' Commission ; Second, his Charge in writing ; and a longer time to answer to it. First, the Lords told him, that no Courts granted Copies of their Commission, and that this had passed all the offices to the Great Seal, whence he might easily get a copy : Second, that there was no libel given in in this case, that the proceedings were as in the like cases summary and ore tenm, and the charge being but a plain easy question, he might give it as plain an answer upon the place. Third, that they thought any long time to be unnecessary. However, that they would allow his Lordship till next Monday. h2 100 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 101 LETTER CCCXXXVI. The same to the same. The Duke of Ormofid, Father Peters, Lord Tyrconnel, [m9. DONAT. 4194. fol. 01. Orig,'\ London, Nov. 30 »•. 1686. Dear Sir, I FOUND yours of the 10'^. here when I came last Thursday and had writ on Saturday last that I knew little what to write, especially Lord Duke of Or- mond being out of Town in Hampshire to see a house which he has a mind to purchase, but I think will not, though he is very much bent upon having a decent country-house in some sporting part of the Kingdom. After a little discourse with his grace, I brought you in, and how desirous you were to be beholden to him for a transportation hither. He said he doubted the difficulty would be great ; and stumbled at doing for me what he formerly promised ; so that I left him but indifferently satisfied. I must work as well as I can. My Dartmouth interest too is at a very low ebb. The Jesuit Jack Peters is very great and Tyr works by him. This High-Priest has the lodgings in White- hall which were the King's whilst Duke. Tyr ^. makes all the visible preparations for the chief govern- ment of your kingdom, as coaches, plate, beds, &c. and Tho. Sheridan his chief secretary. This is the public vogue, but no other signs, no declaration in Council, nor any thing in the offices ; and WiU. Shaw is confident he wont go this twelvemonth ; what reason he has for his confidence I cannot see. a ♦ ♦ • « # If Tyr. comes, the Royal Chap, of Christ Church is in a fine way. Direct to Mr. Wynnes in Germain Street. LETTER CCCXXXVII. The same to the sanu. The Affliction of the Princess of Denmark, [ms. donat. mus. BRIT. 4194. foL 118. Orig.] 5H'. Feb. 168|. The beginning of February proves still fatal and unlucky to us here. Upon the second, the late King • The Earl of Tyrronnell went for Ireland Jan. iith. ,68« ^nh his Majesty's Com- mi^ion as Deputy of that Kingdom ; the Commission not to be in force till after fourteen Days of his arrival there: Lord Tyreonncll carrying at the same time a letter from the King to the Lord Lieutenant, that he should be constituted in the interim the Lord Lieutenant's Deputy, that the Lord Lieutenant might come away in that quality, and ha\ c no greater person there than himself while he staid. Latter of Jan. ii'h. »>-n«r. 102 OKIGINAL LETTERS. OEIGINAL LETTERS. 103 a sickened, and upon the same, three days ago, died the Lady Ann Sophia youngest daughter of the Princess of Denmark, to tiie great grief of us all, and the more as that it happened upon the heels of a miscarriage, » and that the eldest daughter Lady Mary lies de- sperately ill. All this put together, may, I am afraid, too sensibly affect the Princess herself. # * • # # We are told L. Tyre is driven back to Neston.'' LETTER CCCXXXVIIL The same to the name. The Birth of' the Prhice. [ms. donat. BRIT. Mus. 4194 p. 201. Orig.\ 12i«'. June 88. Dear Sir, In return of all your favours from thence I can send you now the joyful news of a Prince of Wales. God continue it to us. It is a brave lusty boy, and like to live. Nothing but this happy incident could have justled that of the Bishops so soon out of our thoughts. What will become of them I know not. Thanks for yours of the 1^^. Mr. Ellis. • In a previous Letter of the game writer it is mentione«l that the Priiice»» had miscarriett January the 21**. * The news of Lord Tyrconucll's arrival at Dublin tame t«) Eiijjland, Feb. T'»>. LETTER CCCXXXIX. The same to the sarn^, D. ofMmmcmtNs CJtaplatn pardofied, [ms. DOKAT. MU8. BRIT. 4194. fol. 20^ OHg.^ June ai'^t, 1688. ♦ • ♦ # # On the 19 »'. was a Trial at Westminster Hall be- tween the Earl of Lincoln and several Pawnbrokers who had received divers parcels of his goods that had been stolen. The Earl indicted them upon an Action of conspiracy with the Thieves, and upon hearing of the matter the Court was very ill satisfied with those sorts of Cattle called Pawnbrokers, alias receivers of stolen goods, and declared them to be one of the ble- mishes of the government. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Nathaniel Hook, the late Duke of Monmouth his Chaplain, who was concerned in the Rebellion, and hath ever since skulked up and down without being able to obtain his pardon, threw himself lately at His Majest/s feet, desiring His Majesty's pardon, or to be speedily tried and executed ; since now life itself, as well as the sense of his guilt, was wearisome to him ; whereu|X)n His Majesty thought fit to extend his gra- cious pardon to him. 104 ORIGINAL LETTJiRS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 105 LETTER CCCXL. The mine to the same. King James at the Camp on HoumUno Heath. Pannel of the Jury at the Trial of the Seven Bishops, Various lesser News, [MS. DONAT. BRIT. MUS. 4194. foL 2lC. Orig.^ Sir, London, June 28t»». 1688. His Majesty was pleased yesterday to go to Houns- low heath, where the Camp opened, and a battalion of the Guards marched. His Majesty did the Lord Churchill the honour to dine in his tent. In his return he called at Richmond, and viewed the Palace where the Prince oH Wales is to be lodged ; as the Prince and Princess of Denmark are to be at Hampton Court. To-morrow (though St. Peter's Day) being the day for the Trial of the Seven Bishops, preparations are making for it accordingly. It's a bad wind blows nobody good. The Officers of the Court will get well by the trial for places and conveniences to hear the same, which are sold excessive dear. Most of the no- bility are also come up and will be present. The pannel of the Jury as it was agreed on, is as followeth Sir Roger Langley, Sir Willian; Hill, Sir John Berry, Roger Jennings, Thomas Harriott, Geoffry Nightingale, William Withers, William Avery, Thomas Austine, Nicholas Grice, Mich. Arnold, Thomas Doune, Richard Shoreditch, William Hewer, Nicholas Baxter, Nehemiah Arnold, John Green, Robert Barre, George Ford, Charles Prior, Ed. Harris, John Walton, James Supple, Richard Cooper. Of which the twelve first will likely stand for a Jury, m case they do appear, unless some very legal objec- tion be made against them. Most of them are known to be Church of England men : several are employed by the King in his Navy and Revenue : and some are, or once were of the Dissenter's party. On the 26'''. M'. Attorney General prayed judg- ment against several Charters and Corporations in England and Wales that are forfeited for not pleading to the Quo Waranto brought against them. * ♦ • # # We expect Verses gratulatory upon the birth of the Prince from both the Universities ; and also from the Society of Magdalen College in Oxford, in a particular book by themselves. We are told from Oxford that the Convocation voted against an act, only Obadiah Walker and some of his friends were for it. Cambridge seems also inclined I if 106 OUUnXAL LETTERS. to have no conimencenient, but it is not yet de- termined. The Count de Grammont is dispatched by the most Christian King to compliment the Court of England u}K)n the birth of the Prince. LETTER CCCXLI. The same to the same. Trial of the Bishops^ icho are brought in not guilty. [ms. donat. BRIT. Mus. 4194. p. 219. Ong.\ Sir, London, June the 30t^>. 1688. Yesterday the Seven Bishops came to their trial, which held from morning till seven at night. We gave you an account of the Jury in our last. The first twelve stood ; only Sir John Berry was not there. They did not bring in their verdict last night, and it is said they had not agreed upon it this day at four in the morning. The Counsel in handling the matter for the Bishops divided the substance of the information into two parts, whereof the same consisted. The first was that they had maliciously, seditiously, and slanderously made, contrived, and published a false and seditious libel against the King, which tended to diminisli his royal ORIGINAL LETTERS. 107 authority and prerogative ; the second part of the plea for the Bishops was to the special matter of their Pe- tition, which shewed there was no malice or sedition in it. As to the first point, much time was spent in proving the hands of the Bishops. That of the Archbishop was proved and well known by several ; but that of the other Bishops was not otherwise made out than by the belief and supposition of the witnesses ; though their own servants were subpoenaed against their masters: so that the Court were of opinion there was not suf- ficient proof of their hand-writing. As to the Archbishop, it was objected that he could [not] be within the indictment, for that it was laid in Middlesex, and his Grace had not been out of Surrey in seven or eight months. To this it was answered that his signing and writing of the Petition, and sending of it over to be delivered in Middlesex was a sufficient publishing of it there ; but the Court was divided in this point. Then the King's Counsel alledged that the Bishops had owned their hand-writing in the Council, and had also confessed the delivery of the petition. It was re- plied on the bishops' side, that they had owned their hands, but after that the Lord Chancellor had required them to do it, and that they had done it trusting to their Majesties' goodness that no advantage would be made of their confession against themselves. But they 108 OIUGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. denied they had owned the delivery of the petition, much less that they had published it : and there being no other evidence of it than that they had been with the Lord Sunderland, and had offered his Lordship a sight of a petition which he had refused, nor did he see them deliver it to the King, the Court said it was only a presumption and no proof. As to the matter of the petition, whether a libel upon the government or no, the Attorney and Solicitor Ge- neral maintained it was, for that it Iwldiv meddled with the acts of the government, declaring His Ma- jesty's toleration to be illegal, and thereby tending to diminish the King's authority and prerogative royal. To this the Bishops' Counsel replied, that they had done but what was the right of every subject, to peti- tion the King; and that, in matter of conscience and upon the account of religion, they were by their oaths and by laws of the land to take care of; and quoted several laws and statutes to the purpose. They urged also that they did not declare the King's declaration of indulgence to be illegal, but said only that the par- liaments of 6^>, 72, and 85, had declared so ; where- upon the Journals of the Lords and Commons were read. The Court was also divided in this point. The Chief Justice and J. AUebone said that it was a libel ; but J. Powell and Holloway were of a contrary opinion. The Attorney and Solicitor were only for the King, 109 and kept their ground against Pemberton, Sawyer, Finch, Pollexfen, Treby, and Sommers, who were for the bishops. This morning between ten and eleven the Jury brought in their verdict, the bishops attending in court, NOT GUILTY in part or whole: which causes great joy. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary to the Commissioners for the Revenue of Ireland, Dublin. LETTER CCCXLII. The same to the same. Disorders of the Populace upon the Acquittal of the Bishops, [MS. DONAT. 4194. p. 221. Oriff.] Sir, London, July the 3d, 1688. The jury having brought in their verdict of not guilty upon the bishops on Saturday morning, the un- ruly Mobile broke out into wild huzzas and acclama- tions. Some of the gown were also observed to be as loud as any ; for which the Attorney General caused one of Gray\s Inn to be seized, and l>ound him to an- I 110 ORIGTNAL LETTERS. swer to an infonnatioii ; the Solicitor General was like to catch another, but tliat he narrowly escaped in the crowd. The giddy rabble continued their disorderly joys till Sunday morning, making bonefires all Saturday night and committing some insolencies where they found no contributions. Several were wounded, others were robbed ; and many will be called to an account this week, that the Quarter Sessions do begin. Yesterday the Lord Mayor appeared before the King and his Council to give account of those few bonefires which were made in the city by some of too fiery and indiscreet zeal. # # # * # LETTER CCCXLIIL Changes in the Privy Council, <^c. The King dines (it the Camp twice a week. The Prince iJeclored Prince of Wales. Changes in Wesfmin.^ter Hall. [MS. DON AT. 4194. p. 228. Orig.] Sir, London, July 7 ''. I(i88. Last night his Majesty was pleased to admit of his most honourable Privy Council these persons followina; ORIGINAL letters. Ill viz. Sir John Trevor, Knight, Master of the Rolls, Mr. Sylas Titus (commonly called Colonel Titus), and Christopher Vane, Esq. son of the late Sir Henry Vane, a person of good estate in the county of Durham. His Majesty is so much pleased with the care and ability of Sir William Williams, his Solicitor General, particularly in his late behaviour about the trial of the bishops, that he has been pleased to confer the honour of a baronet upon him. His Majesty dines a( the Camp most commonly twice a week, as he did last Wednesday with Major General Worden, where there were eight regiments of horse, besides six or seven thousand foot drawn up. Their Majesties and the Prince continue in very good health. The King hath declared the Prince, Prince of Wales, though he is not yet created, and hath ordered him to be prayed for in all churches under that title. About fifteen days hence the Court will be removing to Windsor, and the Prince to Richmond. About the 10 !'. of this month the Queen's Majesty intends to come abroad, her Month being then out ; and to welcome Her Majesty there are eight or nine vast Engines made upon the Thames of different forms and figures which are to play several sorts of Fire- works within a few nights after. Since the trial of the bishops. Sir Richard Holl oway 112 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. and Sir John Powell, two of the judges of the King*s Bench Court, have had their quietus sent them. • • * # # It is commonly discoursed that there are some other changes to be in Westminster Hall ; and if so, it is generally believed that his Majesty will have a gra- cious regard to the merits and great capacity of Sir William Williams his Solicitor General. LETTER CCCXLIV. The same to the same. Joy at Rome itpmi the birth of the Prince of Wales. [ms. doxat. BRIT. MU9. 4194. p. 239. Orig»] London, July 17 W 1688. # « « « • This Evening the Fireworks upon the Thames will be played. The devices of them are very inge- nious, and too long to be here inserted. There are several thousands of Baloons that are to be shot into the air, and then to fall into the River and represent several figures. There are twelve Mortar-pieces that are to cast granado shells into the air, which when ORir.IXAL LETTERS. 113 they break will discover odd nn'xtures and shapes; the %ure of Bacchus representing Plenty, out of whose great tun and belly are to be discharged about eight or nme barrels of combustibles. There are also two large feminine figures, which represent Fecundity and Loyalty, the emblems of the first are a Hare and a Hen and Chickens, each of which are in their proper time to act their part in the magnificent Show of this Evening. Our Italian letters continue to speak of the dismal confusion occasioned by the late earthquakes. That they had now again taken out four hundred persons alive from under the ruins of the Houses, and amonff others a Lady with child, who through a kind of miracle had there continued buried, though alive, for eleven days together, even without drinking or eating And that a pillar of Fire had been seen to fly in the air over the City of Coritto. At the same time they tell us of the extraordinary joy at Rome upon the birth of the Prince of Wales and that it was expected his Holiness would suddenly nominate M. Barberino, or some other prelate, to carry his Royal Highness the blessed clouts. VOL. IV. SER.2. 114 ORIGINAL LETTERS, LETTER CCCXLV. The same to the same. The Departure of the Court. The Prince taught by the Marchioness of Powis his Governess to present a Petition to the King for increasiiig the Number of Hackney Coaches^ the revenue arising from which was to be applied to the maintenance of Foundling Children. Circuits of the Judges, Excesses of the Mob at Amsterdam upon the celebration at the English Consul's on the birth of the Prince of Wales, [ibid. p. 240. Or%g.'\ SiK, London, July l^". 1688. Orders are given for carriages and other necessaries, for the removal of the Court, to be ready next Monday, and on Tuesday their Majesties depart for Windsor, the Prince to Richmond, and the Princess of Denmark to Tunbridge. It is yet uncertain whether the King designs a Pro- gress this summer ; if so, it will likely be towards York. But the Scots would have it somewhat farther. The Lady Marquis of Powis, govemante to the Prince, hath taught his Royal Highness a way to ask already, for, few days ago, his Royal Highness was ORIGINAL LETTERS. 115 brought to the King with a petition in his hand, de- smng that two hundred Hackney Coaches may be added to the four hundred now licensed, but that the revenue for the said two hundred might be ap- phed towards the feeding and breeding of Foundling Children. ^ The Judges were introduced to the King last Sun- day by the Lord Chancellor, and had their charge and instructions given them before they go their circuits: It is said they are to repeat the same assurances to the Counties, that his Majesty is resolved to convene a Parliament in November, and to direct that such members be chosen as will comply with his Majesty', intentions, which are for the ease and quiet of his subjects. * * • ♦ « What is said of the Prince of Orange having sent ^ve Dutch Men of War, and their having made a descent upon St. Christophers, and driven the French thence and seized the Place by way of reprizals for what the French did at Orange, is very uncertain, and is an invention of them that love to feed the town with the Air of Novels. The mobile at Amsterdam did, at the English Con- surs celebrating the birth of the Prince of Wales, commit such rudenesses as require severe resentment! 1 '' * rv 116 ORTOINAI. r.ETTKRS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 117 LETTER CCCXLVI. The same to the same. A Household established for the Prince of Wales. The acquitted Bishops hold Catechizings and Confirmations in their respective Bishopricks, Their example followed hy the Roman Clergy, [ibid. p. 242. Orig.^ Sir, London, July 9\^K 1688. An Establishment of the Prince of Wales his house- hold is made, wherein Sir Stephen Fox is said to have had a hand, and in most places to have put those that are or were his own servants and relations. On Tuesday last was solemnized the marriage of my Lord Chancellor's son with the daughter of the late Earl of Pembroke, in favour of whom against the pre- sent Earl a decree past in Chancery this last term ; her mother (who is the Duchess of Portsmouth'^s sister) was present at the marriage, and though she be a Ro- man Catholic, yet consented the marriage should be performed by a Protestant minister. This match af- fords matter of discourse. • » » « « The bishops that were lately in the Tower are gone to their respective bishopricks, and have resolved to Jiold frequent catechizings and confirmations ; and last week the Archbishop began at Lambeth, and at Croy- don in Surrey, where the Bishop of Gloucester assisted him in confirming some thousands of children that were brought to them. This good example is followed also by the Roman Clergy about the town, and last week Bishop Ellis, assisted by Father Poulton the Jesuit, confirmed some hundreds of youth (some of them were new converts) at the new Chapel in the Savoy. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ The Bishop of Durham is still indisposed, and has suspended several of his Clergy, particularly Doctor Morton his chaplain, for not reading the Declaration ; the Bishop of Chester is said to intend the same thing in his Diocese, and especially at Chester, where the Dean is affirmed to have once promised the reading, and then to have been sick a bed when the day came,' so that it was not read in the Cathedral. His Majesty returned yesterday at noon from tlie Buoy in the Nore, where he spent a whole day in viewing his squadron of ships, and is said to have given orders for the equipping of ten more. The Archbishop and the Clergy of London are said to have had several conferences with the chief of the Dissenting ministers, in oxder to agree such points of Ceremonies as are indifferent between them, and to take their measures for what is to be proposed about religion at next Parliament. ^ i I 118 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCCXLVII. The same to the same. Falsity of a Report concerning Father Peters. [ibid. p. 247. Orig.l •^* The person called Father Peters in this Letter, was Edward Petre the King^s Confessor, who was at the head of the Jesuits, and whom Janics \^a8 absurd enough to make a member of his Privy CounciL He greatly accelerated the downfall of the King. Sir, London, July 26^''. 1688. On Tuesday their Majesties went for Windsor, and Tomorrow the Prince of Wales is to remove for Rich- mond. His Royal Highness goes abroad in the Park every day to take the air. • « # • • What is said by some newsmongers about the Town, of four soldiers having shot at Father Peters in the Camp, is false; no such indignity having been offered to any of the fathers ; only one of the King''s priests happened to be riding six or eight miles from the Camp, as two soldiers were a drinking the King's health, and out of gaiety discharged their musquets ; and this was found to be the fact u\yb\\ examination at a Council of War. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 119 LETTER CCCXLVIII. The same to the same. The Prince of Woks in- disposed. The Judges and their Charges. [ibid. fol. 263. Orig.\ London, Aug. 1^\ 1688. Their Majesties have passed three or four days at Richmond with the Prince of Wales, his Royal High- ness having continued indisposed by the gripes and looseness. Several consults of Doctors and Midwives and Nurses have been had ; and at last it was resolved his Highness should have the breast, and a fresh coun- try woman hard by was had on Saturday, and he hath since sucked and been much better. The Queen is resolved to continue with the Prince at Richmond till he be well and in a condition to be removed to Windsor. Councils and Committees were put off at Windsor by reason that the King was with the Prince at Rich- mond. ♦ ♦ # ♦ ♦ Great exceptions are taken by the several Counties against the Judges, who arraign the Bishops in their Charges at the Circuit Sessions after they have been 120 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 121 : fairly acquitted by a Tryal and a Verdict in the King's Bench. Some of the Judges are said to have behaved them- selves lukewarmly in the matter, and to have foreseen, at least forethought, what disservice to the Crown a general discontent may prove to be, so that we may expect some farther change in Westminster Hall the next Term. LETTER CCCXLIX. The same to the same. A Wet-Nurse provided for the Prince of Wales. Death of Henry Carre, Va- 7'ious News, [ibid. foL 267- Orig.] Sir, London, Aug. 9 ''. 1688. At Richmond the Prince of Wales continues to suck the Nurse allowed him, and it hath that good effect which is natural and usual to children, and their Majesties returned thence this day to Windsor. The Nurse is the wife of a Tyle-maker, and seems a healthy woman. She came in her cloth petticoat and waistcoat, and old shoes and no stockings ; but she is now rigged by degrees (that the surprise may not alter her in her duty and care). A i:nOO per annum is already set- tled upon her, and two or three hundred guineas already given, which she saith that she knows not what to do with. Yesterday morning about three or four o'clock died that pains-taker Henry Carre author of the late ' Pacquet of Advice from Rome^ and of the ' Weekly Occurrences;' some of our chief Newsmongers are posted to Windsor to put in for his places. The Judges at Oxford made strict inquiry after those scholars who had rescued the townsmen from the constable for abusing of Obadiah Walker, and the High Sheriff of the County recommended it to their Lordships' cares in an elegant but short speech he made in the Court, to this effect : « Pray my Lord let's have Justice, or good night Nicholas.'' The Marchioness of Powys hath had a Privy Seal for .^'lOjOOO to be paid her without account to be laid out for the use of the Prince of Wales. We hear his Royal Highness is to be proclaimed and registered upon the Council Book of Ludlow, though he be not like to be created yet for some years. The Lord Chancellor went on Monday morning towards Canterbury to visit his brother, who is one of the Prebends there ; his Lordship passes thence to Dover to wait on the Countess of Pembroke who em- barks for France. 122 I I ORIGINAL LETTERS. i. rr ' I LETTER CCCL. The same to the same. The Prince of Wales recovered. His Wet-Nurse has a Governess to look after ?ier, [ibid. p. 269. Orig.] Sir, London, Aug. 14, 1688. On Saturday last his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was removed from Richmond to Windsor, where he is lodged in the Princess of Denmark's House (which was M'^ Ellen Gwyns) and is well recovered of his late indisposition, to the joy of the whole Court and Kingdom. His Highnesses Nurse is also in health and good plight, being kept to her old diet and exercise. She hath also a Goveniess allowed her (an ancient gentle- woman) who is with her night and day, at home and abroad. # « * • # The Prince of Orange is now forming a Camp near Maestricht, and 'tis said the Elector of Brandenburgh and other neighbour Princes are to have bodies of men within call, to join if there shall be occasion.'* » The secret Confederacy between the Pri::co of Orange and the Elector of Bran- denburgh at this time, was celebrated by the latter on a llfedaK The Obverse repre- sented the Elector's bust to the right, hair long, in armour with a mantle : the Legend. FRIDER . Ill . D . G . M . BRAND . S . R . I . A . C . ET . ELECT. • R . FALTZ.' The Reverse bore a whole length figure of Juno her finger to her mouth, a sceptre in her left hand, and an Eagle at her feet. A Flc-ct in the distance. Legend, EXPED . HRITAN . CONSIL . ET . ARMIS . ADIVTA. Exergue, 1688. R. V. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 123 LETTER CCCLI. The sanic to the same. The Queen Dowager. [ibid. p. 29C. Orig.] Lond. Sept. S^\ 1688. The Queen Dowager thinks of going to live re- tiredly, and to receive no visits but from the Royal Family. LETTER CCCLIL The same to the same. Writs to he issued for the Parliament, [ms. donat. 4194. p. 298. Orig.] Lond. Sept. 15th. 1688. The Lord Chancellor hath been in town since Wednesday. The Pariiament Writs are all ready, and will be sealed and delivered out next Tuesday. The Elector again repeated this Medal when King of Prussia. Obv. his bust to the t\g\\i, laureate, shoulders bare. Leg. FRIDERICVS . D .G . REX . BORVSSIAE. • r . MAEL." The Reverse was from the same die as the preceding Medal. Frederick did not assume the royal title till the month of January, noi. His Kingdom was acknowledged in iiis by the Treaty of Utrecht. He lent WilBam alM)ul six thousand troops. The King of Denmark also issue. Old Stile. My Lords, I am going to the navy to embark. I hope you do not take it ill that I do not make it known to you all where I am going. I will assure your Lordships, that what I am designing is for the good of the Protestant Religion in general, and of your State in particular, as is not unknown to some among you. I will either succeed in it, or spend my blood to the last drop. My Lords, your trust in me, and kindness to me at this time, is un. bounded ; if I live, and make it not the business of my life to make your Lordships suitable returns for it, may Ood blast all my designs, and let me pass for the most ungrateful wretch that ever lived. Sir, 2. Heer FagelVs Ansv/er by Order. My Lords the States are not at all displeased that you conceal from them your design ; they do repose an entire confidence in your Highness* conduct, zeal to the Protestant religion, and affection to their State ; other, wise they would never have given you the absolute disposal of their navy, their armies, and their money. My Lord, the States wish you all the success in your designs, and have ordered a Public Fast, and Prayers to God, for your success through all their dominions ; and beg it of your Highness not to vcntiure your life and person unnecessarily, for though their navy and tlicir army be the very sinews of their State, your person is more considerable to them than botlu ORIGINAL LETTERS. 141 LETTER CCCLXV. The same to the same. The Dutch arrive upon the Coast of Devonshire, [MS. DONAT. MUS. BHIT. 4194. fol. 161. OHg,] Sir, 6t»'. Nov. 88. Just now at, Seven, we hear the Dutch fleet (five hun- dred sail) was put into Torbay, Exmouth, and Dart- mouth ; all conclude they design to Bristol, but will take Exeter and other places in the way. We here are in good health though in some hurry, and hope for good success ; our enemies having fed these two months upon a biscuit, two herrings, and a pint of Dortz-en- gelze a day. We hope to find their noble courage much cast down. When any thing occurs and I have a minute^s time, I shall give you part of it ; a Counter- Declaration is sent to the press. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary for the Revenue of Ireland^ at Dublin. 140 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^1 !. I I \ In meanwhile, several people come from the Country report to have heard the noise of guns going off, whence some fancy that the Fleets may have been engaged, but having no account from any good hands, there is no credit to be given it, and it is more probable that it was some more ships sailing out of the river to go and join the fleet which rides about the Galloper. The same Volume, fol. 344. contains 1. The Prince of Orange hit Speech to the States. Hague, Oct 13'>>. Old Sdlc. My Lords, I am going to the navy to embark. I hope you do not take it ill that I do not make it known to you all where I am going. I will assure your Lordships, that what I am designing is for the good of the Protestant Religion in general, and of your State in particular, as is not unknown to some among you. I will either succeed in it, or spend my blood to the last drop. My Lords, your trust in me, and kindness to me at this time, is un. bounded ; if I live, and make it not the business of my life to make your Lordships suitable returns for it, may God blast all my designs, and let me pass for the most ungrateful wretch that ever lived. 2. Heer FagelVs Anru/er by Order, Sir, My Lords the States are not at all displeased that you conceal from them your design ; they do repose an entire confidence in your Highness* conduct, zeal to the Protestant religion, and affection to their State ; other- wise they would never have given you the absolute disposal of their navy, their armies, and their money. My Lord, the States wish you all the success in your designs, and have ordered a Public Fast, and Prayers to God, for your success through all their dominions ; and beg it of your Highness not to venture your life and person unnecessarily, for though their navy and their army be the very sinews of their State, your person ib more considerable to them than both. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 141 LETTER CCCLXV. The same to the same. The Dutch arrive tipm the Coast of Devonshire, [MS. DONAT. MUS. BRIT. 4194. fol. ICl. Ort^.] 6t»». Nov. 88. Sir, Just now at, Seven, we hear the Dutch fleet (five hun- dred sail) was put into Torbay, Exmouth, and Dart- mouth ; all conclude they design to Bristol, but will take Exeter and other places in the way. We here are in good health though in some hurry, and hope for good success ; our enemies having fed these two months upon a biscuit, two herrings, and a pint of Dortz-en- gelze a day. We hope to find their noble courage much cast down. When any thing occurs and I have a minute'^s time, I shall give you part of it ; a Counter- Declaration is sent to the press. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary for the Revenue of Ireland^ at Dublin, '' \ 142 ORIGINAL LETTERS. '■ LETTER CCCLXVI. The same to the same. TJie Prince of Orange at Exeter. [ibid. foL 368 b.] W\ Nov. 88. Sib, Yours of the 24^^. past are but just come in ; the Prince of Orange is at Exeter since yesterday twenty thousand strong, he hath bespoke ten » thousand pairs of shoes. The Country is not fond of him nor for- ward to run in to him; they keep good order, but cannot prevail with Coll. Strangways or any of his neighbours to come at them, but they send their in- viting Letters unopened up to the King. They want Oxen and Horses for draft. Our artillery went out this day. The King follows next Thursday : so that you will imagine we are here in hurry and some con- fusion. We seized a Bag of Letters and a Boat of theirs going for Holland. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary for the Revenue of Ireland, at Dublin. • In the next Letter it is said six thousand. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 143 LETTER CCCLXVII. The same to the same. The Prince of Orange stiU at Exeter, TJie general state of Affairs. [ibid. foL 369.] Sib, London, Nov. IS, 1688. It is said the Prince of Orange is now settled at Exeter as his head quarters, but that most of his com- panions are lodged in the neighbouring towns ten or fifteen miles off. The six thousand pair of shoes which he bespoke at Exeter are not yet ready, and so we know not what way they intend to take. Others think that the bespeaking these shoes was but a trick to drill on time, tiU they could see if any part of England would come in to them ; but we are assured their allies come on but slowly, all the West being quiet, and almost unconcerned at their being there, while they pay for what they have. Some of the scurf and meaner part run in to them as they would to see a show, but generally retreat the next day ; most of our Western people having ever since Monmouth's time been much troubled with dreams of gibbets, &c. The Dean and Chapter as well as the Bishop ran 144 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 145 i>. ; I away at their coming into Exeter, and so would most of the inhabitants, but that it happens to be a great fair time there. They stop and rifle all Mails and Letters that pass that way, and the doing of it now in fair time does (in some people's opinion) seem as if they looked for money and bills of exchange, and not letters of news. Some tell us they begin to plunder and imprison, notwith- standing they have promised the contrary, having taken violently ,£*300 from the Collector of Excise, and thrown him into prison. Though there has been a great noise as if some men of quality, Mr. Wharton and others, were gone in to the invaders, yet it proves false, for Mr. Wharton was seen since at Court and other places where he frequents. Some few of the Maltsters and Butchers of Buck- inghamshire (most conmionly those that owe more than they can pay) are missing, and supposed to be run away in hopes to plunder, not to pay their creditors. Great endeavours are used to prevail with the lads of London to be troublesome under the pretence of pulling down the Popish Chapels in Lime street, Bucklersbury, and S^ John's : some scores of them have rendevouzed these two last nights, but upon beat of drum, and appearing of any small part of the Militia, have scampered away, and by flight provided for their safety. The Lord Mayor and Lieutenancy of the City, as well as the Officers of the County of Middlesex, keeping a strict eye to the least motion that is made by these young mutineers. Our Fleet is still about the Downes, and that of the Dutch about Torbay, several of their sea and land men desert them, last night a Lieutenant of one of their Men of War was examined at the Council in White- hall, he was originally a Scotsman, and says their Fleet is but forty-four sail, and twelve fireships, and no great vessels among them, and that they begin to want provisions. We have no farther apprehension of a party of their fleet being gone Northward, for that Major-general MaCay who was to command them was one of the first who landed in the West. We are told the Duke of Beaufort has broke his arm at Bristol, which, if true, is the greater mischance at this time that his presence is so necessary for the King's service at that place. The French go on with their conquests in Germany without control, it being sleeping time with the Ger^ mans, who did not expect a campaign in the depth of Winter; all the Palatinate is surrendered, and many of the Locks of the Rhene in the Electorates of Co- logne, Mayence, and Treues ; Coblentz, the famous magazine and fountain of good Rhenish wine, is bom- barded, and quite ruined to the ground, but the French of a sudden retired from before it, likely to go upon some design that required more haste. The French VOL. IV. SEK. 2. _ 146 ORIGINAL LETTERS. are drawing men together towards the borders of Holland, being loath to slip the opportunity of the Prince of Orange's absence with the chief and l)est of the Dutch officers. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary to tHe Commissioners for the Revenue of Ireland, at Dublin. Mt> 'i: , I. LETTER CCCLXVIII. The same to the same. Lend Lovelace taken m his way to join the Prince of Orange. Dr, Burnet reads the Prince's Declaration at Exeter, News Jrom the West [ibid. p. 374. Orxg.\ Sir, London, Nov, 15, 1688, Last night came an express from Cirencester in Glocestershire, with an account that the Lord Lovelace riding through that town with a strong party of about a hundred horse very well armed, was stopped by the Militia of the County, and they requiring of him what was his business to go so aimed, and whither he was a going ; but his Lordship not giving any good answer ORIGINAL LETTERS. 147 of himself or his company thought it his best way to fight his passage through, and charging the Militia, which was but part of a Troop, they came to blows, and in the scuffle one Major Louridge and his Son who commanded the Militia were killed, one Captain Wil- liams and five or six more wounded ; but we do not yet hear how many of the rebels were killed ; only that the Lord Lovelace and thirteen of his followers were taken and are now in the Gaol at Cirencester. This Party designed to go join the Prince of Orange in the West, from whence the Lord Lovelace had been come but few days, and those with him are supposed to be his tenants and neighbours, but none of any great note that I can yet hear of. We are told from good hands at Exeter that Dr. Burnet has taken possession of that Cathedral,-^ and lx)th preached in it on Sunday last before the Prince of Orange, and then openly read the Prince's Declara- tion ; though the Prince and he well approved of the not reading the King's late Declaration. Burnet sent in the Prince's name to all the Clergy, commanding them also to read it, and to read a Form of Prayer for the Prince's good success, but they are said to have all unanimously refused, and rejected the Proposal. We do not find that any one Gentle^tian of quality, substance, or estate is come in to them from the West, but some from the Easteni parts of England flock to ' The Bishop cf Exeter h.iil fled to Court, as will be seen \\\ another Letter. L« 148 ORIGINAL LETTFRS. them by the means and interest of those Lords and others said to be already there, as E. Shrewsbury, E. Maxfield, Lord Mordent, one of the Whartons, Lord Wiltshire, and some Scotch Lairds also. The Prince has his Privy Council which meets every day, which consists of the said Lords and other Gen- tlemen, as Major Wild man (and some other Oliverians) together with Burnet, Ferguson, and Balfour who is a Scotch field-preacher, and said to be the man that mur- dered the Archbishop of St. Andrews about the year 78 and for which he has been since fled and protected by the States of Holland. His Majesty is very well satisfied with the zeal and care of the Militia in Glostershire, who behaved them- selves so well upon the occasion in taking the Lord Lovelace, and it is said his Majesty intends some par- ticular mark of favour to every one concerned in that action which, as it is much for their own honour and for the credit and reputation of the Militia of that County, so it is hoped it may prove a good example to the Militia of other Counties to do their duty likewise. Some Letters from the West say the Prince of Orange intends for Bristol, and thence to Glostershire and to Salop, and that he has abundance of copper and tin Boats to use upon the Severn ; but of this, time must tell us the certainty, and his Majesty has sent some thousands of his army to dispute their passage about Bristol. DUIGINAL LETTERS. 149 Orders are given to stop all passengers in all parts of England who have no passes from a Secretary of State, and the Militia are to take care in it, as well as the civil Magistrate. For John Ellis, Esq. Sec. to the tJommissioners for tlie Revenue of Ireland, at Dublin. LETTER CCCLXIX. The same to the saine. XiBiD. p. 375. Orig.^ 17 Nov. 88. Just now late comes yours of the 3^. This day at two o'clock his Majesty marched for Windsor with the Prince of Wales. They 'II be tomorrow at Bazinstoke or Andover. The Queen is here still ! This is a me- lancholy time with us all ; what adds to our pain is, that our Fleet set sail yesterday in quest 'tis thought of the Dutch Fleet. God send us good success. A Petition signed by the Archbishops and several Lords (about seventeen in all) was this noon delivered his Majesty, praying him to call a Free Parliament, and to prevent the effusion of blood. I know not what answer it had. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary for the Revenue of Ireland, at Dublin. _< 150 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCCLXX. The mme to the same. General Newa, [ibid. foL 177«] Sir, London, Nov. 17, 1688. Yesterday his Majesty's Fleet under the Lord Dartmouth set sail out of the Downs towards the West, the wind N. E. a brisk gale, and it is confidently re- ported his Lordship's orders are to fight the Dutch. The Lord Lovelace and his partizans that were taken with him are removed from Cirencester Gaol to Gloster Castle under a strict guard. The Prince of Orange continues to seize on the King's money at Exeter : besides the £^O0 we formerly mentioned, we are told now of ^4000 more arriving from the Customs and Excise. « ♦ « • • This day was published a proclamation forbidding the holding of Exeter fair, or any other fair within twenty miles of that place. Yesterday the Bishops in Town attended his Ma- jesty, but how far any persons have expressed their desire of an acconmi(Klation, we know no farther than the common report. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 151 On Thursday last the Bishop of Exeter kissed the King's hand in order to be Archbishop of York, and the Bishop of Bristol to be Bishop of Exeter. A bill was brought to the Grand Jury against Cap- tain Lexham for dispersing the Prince of Orange's Declaration, but would not find it, as is reported, unless they had a eight of a copy thereof. One Mr. Purefoy is taken into custody of a Messen- ger, and a Lieutenant in the Lord Dartmouth's regi- ment is brought back. On Thursday evening we were not a little surprised that part of some regiments had deserted to the enemy. His Majesty departed this day and lies at Windsor for to-night, to-morrow at Basingstoke, and will be at Salisbury on Monday. The ten Officers taken in the Dutch fly boat were removed from the Gate-house to Newgate. This day the Queen with the Prince of Wales re- moved to Windsor. The Gentleman that writes the news being called this day about extraordinary busi- ness, has been forced to leave the collection of the news to his clerk. ^ ' For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary to the Commissioners for the Revenue ot Ireland, at Dublin. 152 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCCLXXI. The same to the same. Reports and Iiiformatum (if the Day, [ibid. fol. 379.] Sir, London, Noverab'. the 20 •'. 1688. Though it be commonly and credibly reported tliat our Fleet sailed by Dover on Friday and by Ports- mouth on Saturday last, yet there is no manner of account yet come upon what design it was bent, but all conclude it was with orders to find out the Dutch Fleet, which is still about Torbay. But the sharp East winds we have had these three days have been one reason that we have heard of no action. His Majesty lay on Saturday at Windsor, and on Sunday night at Andover, and was expected yesterday betimes at Salisbury. Here is a report as if Sir Rowland Guynne were landed with a Party in Wales, where he hopes to find those that will join him in great numbers, but some think he has not experience sufficient in military affairs as to make it very probable. We hear the Militia are every where strict in exa- ORTGliJAL LETTERS. 153 mining such as pass and traverse the country, especially if the persons or their numbers be any thing suspicious. It is said his Majesty hath sent for the breakmg down the Bridge of Kersham near Bristol to prevent the incursion of the Rebels into Gloustershire. His R. H. the P. of Wales went from St. James on Saturday in his way (it is believed) towards Ports- mouth. The Queen continues still at Whitehall, but will follow, as people say, in a few days. The Dutch Army is reported to begin to want money, yet the strictness of discipline keeps the sol- diers in quiet. The Prince is said to have hanged one for stealing a bone of mutton, yet we do not hear any correction was given those that robbed the King^s Party of their horses and clothes. ♦ # # * * The Petition presented on Saturday by the Arch- bishops and other Lords, about nineteen, is printed, the Prayer of it is that his Majesty would forthwith call a free Parliament, and use such means as should to him seem fit for preventing the effusion of Christian blood. A Report is very hot about Town that the Lord Delamere is up in Cheshire at the head of a consider- able body of Horse, that he declared himself in favour of the Prince of Grangers proceedings, and had him- self read that Princess Declaration at the Market Cross ; those rumours adding at the same time the names of sundry Lords and Gentlemen that concur with that J 154 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Lord in the same measures and that their general ren- dezvous is to be at Derby ; but though several ex- presses are dispatched upon this account, yet as all this is with uncertainty we shall forbear all particulars till further confirmation. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary to the Commissioners for the Revenue of Ireland, at Dublin. LETTER CCCLXXII. The same to the same. Continuatioti ofNeics. [ibid. fol. 381. Orig.] ' . Sir, London, Nov. 22, 1688. The winds have continued so loud and violent of late that we could not exj^ect to hear of any action be- tween the Fleets, were they both never so well disposed. Besides we are told the Dutch Fleet is dispersed by the late storm ; above thirty sail being driven to the Westward towards Lands End. His Majesty's Fleet rides by Westwards of Portsmouth, not many leagues from Torbay. We want the confirmation of the news that is spread about, as if there had happt^ned a rencontre iK'twixt a original letters. 155 party of his Majesty's Army and that of the Pnnce of Orange, and that Colonel Kirk and some others are killed. Nor do we find it to be true what is said ot Mr. Bernard Howard's being killed in a duel by one of his own officers, who had provoked Mr. Howard to give him some unbecoming language. His Majesty is in good health at Sarum, and reviews some part of his troops daily, who are cheerful and brisk The Marshal de Schomberg threatened to brine most of them to their night caps, without stnkmg n ctroke People please themselves here with a conceit as if Admiral Herbert had met with a French Squadron and had at one dash sunk nine or ten of them, wh.ch is every whit as true as that an ^rmy of 60,000 French arc already landed at Dover. Though there never was more occasion of inquiry for busy impertinent people that gad about all day Ion- for coffee and news, yet never was less certamty of what passes in the world; most people affectmg to disguise the truth, and there being at present about the City many engines that are made use of to spread what xnost suits the humour of some party ; yet the City ot London was never more quiet, every man minding his business and securing their debts, and the generality of the soberer and the richer sort have expressed their dislike of these proceedings, which are like to perpe- tuate and entail war upon the nation, by the removal Jl 156 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 157 of the Prince of Wales who is now at Portsmouth, and as some will have it will pass into France. We have no farther account of the Lord Delamer and others, in and about Cheshire, who are said to march out of that County to join others about Stafford- shire and Nottinghamshire, in order to march to the West ; it is a long march, and accidents may happen in the way. We do not yet hear of Sir Rowland Gwyne. Our foreign advices tell us the Lord Thomas Howard was come away from Rome carrying with him among other things the Pope's Bull, whereby he sub- mits all the differences between him and France to his Majesty's determination and mediation. The Prince of Orange has been at Bridgewater, and other places in the neighbourhood, and swept away all the horses in the County ; haunting all the markets, and seizing all the cattle that come in, but giving some money for them ; he took away a hundred in one market day at Tiverton, and borrowed seven from Sir Creswell Tint, a gentleman of that neigh- Ixjurhood. We do not yet hear of his advancing fur- ther. It is said he has turned out the Corporation of Exon, and granted them a new Charter. He has also settled three Commissioners to manage the Revenue of Customs, Excise, and Hearth-money, who are Lord Wiltshire, William Harl)ord the late Surveyor Ge- neral, and Monmouth's Anthony Rowe. It is said He and his Council have again published another Declaration, wliich is not yet seen in these parts, offering to be confined with his army to any comer of the Kingdom till a Free Parliament be called ; but this is but a hearsay. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary to the Commissioners for the Revenue of Ireland, at Dublin. LETTER CCCLXXIIL The same to the same, [ibid. foL 385. OHg.\ London, Nov. 23\ 1688. I HAD yours of the 23 ». past, and thank you in the name of the Kingdom for the quiet repose you pro- mised us this winter; but by the last Easterly wmd you would find we are not to enjoy such sweet sleeps as you wish us, for the Army 27,000 strong will be able to offer battle by Tuesday next on Sahsbury Plains, and our imperial Monarch at the head of them, where my person (amongst his faithful subjects) intend to stick by him. I am like to be well paid for my pains, but cannot at this instant tell the value, but it is no part of the reason of my going : though I can (to my sorrow) say why milk-asses are provided for. The 158 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 159 health is in a very ill state, what with the fa- tigue of these preparations, and the anguish of such a sort of people''s going to the enemy, viz. we are well assured of the Earls Wilshire, Shrewsbury, Macles- feild, Lords Lorme, Mordent, Mr. Sydney, &c. we fear E. Dev — Exe — Rad — Lord Lovelace, E. Man- chester, Lord Grey Rut — , with eighty Gentlemen and a great number of the finest horses of England. Our intelligence from the West comes slow or is much con- cealed : the end of these matters are dreadful, or at least the execution. This Household went to-day, and we think the King may before or on Monday. If I should repeat all the occurrents pass here, they would fill volumes ; but the ordinary people list themselves apace, and the gentry thereabouts are slow in coming in, but those of the East make up the want sufficiently. D. of Grafton is here though calumniated, and some others. None can be absent two days but undergo censure. Lord Colchester, Thomas Wharton, Charles Godfrey, Anthony Roe, &c. are gone I fear. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary of his Majesty's Revenue in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland. LETTER CCCLXXIV. to John Ellis, Esq. More News. [MS. DONAT. 4194. foL 387. Oft^-l •/ This Letter is in a different hand to the preceding Letters; and evidently came from a different person. Sib, London, Nov. 24*h. 1688. The Falmouth Letters of the WK instant say, the Company of Foot of the Earl of Huntington^s Regi- ment that was in Pendennis Castle are marched towards Plymouth, and a Company of the Militia marched in, to which are to be added three Companies more of the Militia who are to relieve each other. • # ♦ * * Last week a great Tin-work gave over, by which four hundred Tinners are out of employ, who it is feared will all march to the Prince of Orange. None yet of the County of Cornwall are come in unto him. In the Western parts reports have been of a mas- sacre in Ireland of six thousand ; but a Vessel is come into Falmouth which came out of Cork the last week. The master says that all was in peace and quiet, and no such thing feared. 160 ORIGINAL LETTERS. The Prince hath seized Dartmouth Castle, and is marched Eastwards. Yesterday and this day the Officers in the Tower of London have been employed in planting mortars upon the White Tower, which makes a noise among the women and cliildren. On Tuesday morning the King intended to rendez- vous his whole Army on the Plain next SaUsbury ; and it is generally believed the Army was then drawn up. But I have not seen any Letters thence. • • « • * The Prince hath left four thousand horse and foot in gan-ison at Exeter, and made Mr. Seymour, the late Speaker, governor. The King's Majesty hath been a little indisposed, and some drops of blood fell from his nose, upon which His Majesty was let blood, and now is perfectly well. A council of war, held at Salisbury, resolved it was His Majesty's interest to return to London with the army, lest the Prince, in his march, get betwixt the King and his capital city : to which His Majesty hath consented, and I am told the army is upon their march, and that the King (who was expected this night) will be here on Monday at the farthest. A small party of foot being far advanced towards the King's forces. Col. Sarsefield commanded a de- tached party of horse and dragoons, and met widi them at Wincaton, eighteen miles from Salisbury, ORIGIKAL LETTERS. 161 where the Colonel killed about thirty and hanged four, and lost of his own party five, and Col. Webb's son who was a cornet. But it is said young Schomberg meeting a party of the King's horse upon Doncaster road hath killed fifty-three out of sixty-five in revenge, refusing to give quarter, as is by report charged upon Col. Sarsefield, beside the hanging four which some say were revolters. The King's fleet are at Portsmouth now. Some have suffered much in the late storms, and I am told a Fourth Rate is lost. Just now comes an express that the Earl of Danby and some Lords have seized York, the governor, and Castle, and declared for the Prince of Orange. LETTER CCCLXXV. to Mr, Ellis. Storms. The Prince of Oranges movements. The Rising in Cheshire, [MS. DONAT. MUS. BRIT. 4194. foL 391. Orig.\ • • This is in the same hand with the former anonymous Letters. Sir, London, Nov. 24t»'. 88. We had most violent storms these three nights past, which still began with the evenings, and must have VOL. IV. SER. 2. M 162 OMIGINAL LETTERS. f done great damage to the Fleets, though we have not yet the particulars of it. Two or three of his Ma- jesty's ships are already put into Portsmouth to be refitted, and the Lord Dartmouth got in time enough to avoid the brunt of the hurricane. It is said the Prince of Orange is marched with his artillery out of Exeter, and takes his way towards Axminster, and intends to encamp at a place called Wincanton (where the late Skirmish was, mentioned in the Gazette of this day), though some think his chief aim is upon Bristol, and will make the best of his way thither, though the season and those roads be very inconvenient for heavy carriage and cannon. Most people had difficulty to believe that the Prince of Orange had forbidden praying for the King. But letters from good hands are said to confirm it, and that Burnet's prayer for success against the King is commonly used, though the English Clergy have re- fused it. We are told of several Addresses and Petitions for a free Parliament that are coming from several parts of the Kingdom, but we are told the generality of Eng- land as well as this City do not intend to meddle with the merits of this Invasion, but to take a surer card, and so declare for the Monarchy and our Laws as now established. The Gentry of Yorkshire were assem- bled for that purjiose on Thursday last, the result of whose deliberations we shall know ere long. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 163 Of all the men that have appeared in arms and de- clared for the Prince, none have done more zealously than those who began the dance in Cheshire, who ga- ther weight like a snow-ball, and, as many affirm, do plunder as they go, having begun with the taking of a waggon of arms sent hence to one Captain Lee's com- pany quartered at Manchester. But we must suspend our belief to what is nevertheless confidently reported, namely, that they fall foul upon their old friends and neighbours, (particularly Mr. Lewson-Gore, whose house they are said to have entered by force, and taken away all his arms and horses, and even his lady's coach- horses), by reason the nice will condemn this conduct as too outrageous a violation of the rules of Knight- errantry. The chief officers of this body are affirmed to be old Oliverians that have long lain lurking about Chester and Cheshire, in expectation of a day of plunder. The Party that was detached to break the Bridge of Kenisham near Bristol was commanded by Captain Loyd of the Earl of Peterborow's Regiment, who in his return met seventeen sparks well mounted, march- ing to the AVest, and took nine of them prisoners, and all their Horse. His Majesty continues in good health at Sarum ; only was let blood once since his being there. Several of the Duke of St. Alban's Regiment are M 2 f 164 ORIGINAL LETTERS. come back, though in a most plundered condition ; having refused the large pay and encouragement which was offered them ; but it would not weigh against their allegiance. For John Ellis, Esq. Secretary to the Commissioners for the Revenue of Ireland, at Dublin. LETTER CCCLXXVI. The same to the same. The King returns. The Princess Anne withdraws herself. General News. [ibid. foL 393. Orig.\ Yesterday between four and five of the clock the Kincr came to Whitehall, and looks very well. We hear by some of his company that Prince George, the Dukes of Grafton, Ormond, Lord Churchill, Lord Dumlengrick, Sir George Hewitt, Colonel Trelawny, Colonel Berkeley, Lieutenant General Kirke, Mr. Harry Boyle, Captain Kendall, and very many others of note, are gone to the Prince of Orange's Army. Kirke, we hear, is retaken by the King's forces, and bringing to town ; but what is at least as bad news as this, is, that yesterday morning when the Princess of Denmark's women went to take her out of her bed. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 165 they found she had withdrawn herself, and hath not yet been heard of. Nobody went in her company that we hear of besides Lady Churchill and Mrs. Berkeley. Lord ChurchilPs bedchamber place is given to Lord Melford, and his Troop of Guards to the Duke of Berwick ; and it is said this morning that Lord Dover hath the Government of Portsmouth, and Mr. Skelton is made Lieutenant of the Tower. We hear to-day that the Duke of Albemarle is dead at Jamaica. The King hath sent to all the Lords Spiritual and Tem- poral that are about the Town to attend him this after- noon at four of the clock ; if I hear any thing that passes there, you shall have it. I have told you many lamentable Stories, and I wish you do not hear more from other people. I thank you for your favour of the 5th of this month, and for the good Account you give me of yourself. Remember us to my Brother and Sister when you see them. I do not write to-night to either of them. All here are your servants. Pray tell me what is become of Dr. Dunn. I hope you have heard I have delivered the enclosed present you sent me for Lord Clarendon. I am always. Dear Sir, Yours most faithfully. 27'»v Nov. 1688. We hear that the Lords have spoke very freely to his Majesty. The things proposed by them were, a free 166 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Parliament, a General Pardon, and a Treaty. The King hath taken a short time to consider of them, when they are to attend him again. ■ LETTER CCCLXXVII. The Princess Anne to the Queen ; aixjiogizcs for ab- senting' herself. [ MS. LAN8D. 1236. foL 238. J Madam, I BEG your pardon if I am so deeply affected with the surprising News of the Prince's being gone as not to be able to see you, but to leave this Paper to express my humble duty to the King and yourself; and to let you know that I am gone to absent myself to avoid the King's displeasure, which I am not able to bear, either against the Prince or myself: and I shall stay at so great a distance as not to return Ixjfore I hear the happy news of a Reconcilement : and, as I am confident the Prince did not leave the King with any other de- sign than to use all possible means for his preservation, so I hope you will do me the justice to believe that I am incapable of following him for any other end. Never was any one in such an unhappy condition, so divided between Duty and Affection to a Father and an Hus- band ; and therefore I know not what I must do, but ORIGINAL LETTERS. 167 to follow one to preserve the other. I see the general falling off of the Nobility and Gentry, who avow to have no other end than to prevail with the King to secure their Religion, which they saw so much in danger by the violent counsels of the Priests, who, to promote their own religion, did not care to what dangers they exposed the King. I am fully persuaded that the Prince of Orange designs the King s safety and preservation, and hope all things may be composed without more bloodshed, by the calling a Parliament. God grant an happy end to these troubles, that the King's reign may be prosperous, and that I may shortly meet you in perfect peace and safety ; till when, let me beg of you to continue the same favourable opinion that you have hitherto had of Your most obedient daughter and servant, ANNE. LETTER CCCLXXVIII. to John Ellis, Esq. The Queen and Prime gone for France, The King folhws. The Prince of Oratige general! f/ declared for. Decemb. 11, 1688. Dear Friend, I AM now to tell you that the Queen and Prince of Wales went down the River yesterday morning, and 168 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 'tis believed gone for France, and the King went this morning about the same time ; I hear hardly any body with him. God preserve him in health. But here all people are wondering. The Prince of Orange will be in Oxford this night. The people in the city are search- ing all Roman Catholic houses for arms and ammuni- tion : and this day they are about the Strand and other places. The Duke of Northumberland has put out all Papists out of his Troop of Guards, and so they say they will out of all the Army. The King's party, which I hear was Colonel Butler's dragoons, and the Prince's, had a skirmish. 'Tis said about fifty of the King's were killed. This was about Reading, on Saturday night or Sunday. I am told a Common Council were called this night. The Bishops and Lords that are here sate at Guildhall to-day with my Lord Mayor, who is the best man in the King's ab- sence; and Colonel Skelton, who was Lieutenant of the Tower, came and yielded up his trust, and for the present my Lord Clare and some other Lords are in it. This sort of News concerns every body ; but I now tell you, that the good Lady Dowager of Ossory died this morning about six o'clock. She was taken yester- day morning with a sort of an Apoplectic Fit, and had three or four of them ; and so that good Lady is taken out of a World that is, and is like to be very full of trouble. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 169 The Prince seems to say he will settle Ireland ; if so the Comptroller of the Ordnance was turned out without any cause. I pray consult Garret and my cousin Gourny what is fit to be done ; if that employment be in arrear in the Treasury, I wish an item were given not to pay. This night I was frightened with the wonderful light in the sky, and 'twas the Rabble had gotten the wainscot and seats of a Popish Chapel in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and set it on fire in the middle of it. Until we knew what it was we guessed it to be a great Fire. Here is a very great Guard, both Militia and the Army. You will hear very suddenly all declaring for the Prince of Orange, from whom the Commis- sioners sent to the King, before he went away, this Message; that he came to settle the Protestant Religion, and de^red all the Papists might be disbanded, and to call a Parliament, and that he would not come near London but with the King's leave, and with what num- ber of men the King should say, provided he had not a greater to mind him. But now 'tis believed he will be here very soon. My Wife and all in St. James's send heartv service to you. I hope I may see you in the Spring. God send us a good meeting. J 170 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCCLXXIX. . . . . . . . to John Ellis, Esq. The Prince of Orange invited to Town. Tumults of the Mob. The Army disbanded. The Prince of Orange'' s Pro- posals. Lord Chancellor Jefferys talcen in disguise, [ibid. p. 397. Orig.^ *^* After the momentary excesses of the Mob, the most striking fact mentioned in this Letter is the capture of lord Chancellor Jefferys, the very sight of whom, though a prisoner and in disguise, frighted the Lord Mayor. His committal it appears was virtually the act of tlie Council at WTiitehalL A few years ago, the Portrait of this man drew universal attention at one of the Exhibitions of the British Gallery, where the benignity which the painter's art had thrown upon the countenance led many to suppose that History had been cruel to the Judge. Whether long acting in tlie distribution of justice as Recorder of London, at such a period, made his heart insensible for later life, may perhaps admit of doubt. Law certainly never wore so frightful an aspect as upon his last Circuit in the West. Did we want the proof of his severity. King James has himself given it ; » Granger says he embraced the Judge upon his return, and called his Circuit " Jefferys's Campaign.^'' Sir, London, Dec. W\ 1688. Upon notice on Tuesday of the King'*s being secretly withdrawn, the English-Dutch Officers that were under confinement in the Savoy were discharged, and are now gone to attend the Prince. ♦ « « « • • Life of James U. publ. from his own Mcmoi», by Dr. Staiilcr Clarke, vol. ii. pp. 43, 44. OKIOINAL LETTKHS. 171 In our last we left the Lords assembled, as also the Common Council for this City. The former have departeon sight of the Prisoner fell into a violent paralytique fit, so as to hinder him from examining him, and still con- tinues ill. Nevertheless, upon the directions of the Council at Whitehall, the Lord Chancellor was com- mitted Prisoner to the Tower. The Bishop of Chester is said to have been seizecarancc in ^r^Clt' Not! ngZ. . before the bishop came to Oxford, lie say». the following rrie^lblf -tance of Bishop Compton'. spirit. "King James d«coursmj •i h^n some tender point, was so little pleased with his answers, that he UAd Wm ' Hetlk^more Uke a cilonel than a bishop/ To which he repliec.. 'that hirMai" ty did him honour in taking notice of hb having formerly drawn h.s swon ^n d^^ce of the constitution ; and that he should do the ..me aga.n. .f he hved o !f ft n^ry.' Accordingly, when matters were com.ng to extremity, he car- l^ff he^^ Anne to Nottingham, and marched into that town at the head Sf a Sne troop o5Tentlemen and their attendants, who had formed a guard for her Highness." Biogr. Hist, of Engl. vol. iv. p. 28S. u Prince George of Denmark, as appear* by another Letter. OUIGIXAL LETTERS. 179 LETTER CCCXXXI. The same to the same. King' Jameses final retirement from WhHeJiall The Prince of Orange at St. Jameses, [M8. DOKAT. BRIT. MUS. 1482. fol. 7C. Orig,^ London, Dec'>^'. m\ 1688. * • * # # What we add to the King's last withdrawing from Whitehall is, that the Marquis Halifax, Earl of Shrews- bury, and the Lord Delamere arrived at Whitehall on Tuesday about twelve o'clock, and brought the King the message to retire the same day, either to Hampton Court, or somewhere else, signifying that the Prince did not think it safe for him to come to London so long as his Majesty had such a confluence of Papists still about him, and that the Prince's Guards should go along with him to preserve him from the insults of the mobile ; the King went accordingly at one o'clock, and lay that night at one M^ Eckinse's house an Attorney in Gravesend, and about ten itext morning set forwards for Rochester. His Majesty's barge was followed by ten or twelve boats of the Prince's soldiers. The Prince of Orange remains at St. James's, where n2 i I 180 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I no great business were done yesterday by reason of paying and receiving Visits; only a Regiment was sent to possess themselves of the Tower ; most of the Bishops about the town were with his Highness; the Duke of Norfolk came and paid his devoirs. The Prince in the afternoon went to Whitehall, and from thence, in the Queen's barge, to Somerset House to comphment the Queen Dowager. In his return hearing that the Prince and Princess of Denmark were come to town, he called to see them at the Cock-pit. » . The Harleian RoU. Y. n. preserves the original Accompt of the Rweipts ami Exp^n^ oftng WilUan. from Che thne of his landing to his Arnval at St. Jamc. «. .' The Duplieament of the Accompt of Wlllm. Harlx>rd. Esq. of the money by him received and i>aid for their Ma-, service m the WesU Rec"*. ai'**. March, 1690-1. The Duplicam.. of the Accompt of the Right honorable Will'm Harbord. Esq. one of thdr Ma^ i« King WiUm. and Queen Mary's Privy eouncell who was by the saui Kmg ap!^int^S>misfary gen", from the tyme of hU landmg In the West part of th.. Kdome of England, untill his anivall at his pallace of S'. James. W herem he the is Wmm liarbord doth voluntarily charge himself with the severa^l Sume. of mony by E^m or his Deputy George Bride received and paid for the sa.d Kings Ser- W^ betlLn the l Uh day of November 1688 and the 15th day of December foUowmg. o Thfsevra 1 iLrLns hereafter named. As by an Aeco-. thereof exhibited by the sa d George Bride ^n his corporall oath taken before John Turton Esq;, one of the Ss of his sai\r now Ma^^-. Exchc Paid to M'. Anthony Smith, being left unpaid by the Dutch Soldiers . 17 6 To a Messenger sent to summon in the Officers of Excise, & for his horse hire 116 To a Messenger at Hungerford, sent to press cartes and waggons . . o lu o For Parchment for makeing Comissions 10 For Hire of Carriages from Salisbury to Newberry which brought mealc 3 o o For bringing money ariscing by Excise from Newberry to Wallingford o 2 fi Paid tcnn Dragoones two Serg". one wcckcs pay to attend the pressing of waggt>ns and cartes to carry the money 7 <» Paid at Newberry for 3621 loaves of bread delivered the Soldiers by direc- cions of Count Solmcs 29 6 10 Paid M'. Bradwell, an officer of the Excise, at Newberry for his Sallury upon his paymt. of the money he had received foi that duty . . 6 5 Paid at Wallingford for 112 pairc of Shoes brought thither from Salisbury 22 8 o For two Carts bringing meale from Salisbury to Wallingford . . . i o o Paid at Wallingford for rcleifc and dyctt of Prisoners taken at Reading 2 lo o Paid therefor 1237 loaves of bread at 8 MS. Lansd. 840. fol.TO. 186 ORIGINAL LETTEftS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 187 ill ,il " Jnttructiotu. M^ILLIAM R. To our right trusty and welbclovcd Counccllor Arthur Herbert Esq'. Admiral and Commander of our Ships in the Narrow Seas. Given at our Court at Whitehall this 16 day of March, 1688-9. In the First Year of our Reign. In case you shaU take any Ship or Vessel in which the late King James shall happen to be, you are to treat him with Respect, and immc- diately send us an Account thereof. But without expecting any further Orders you are hereby required to transport him to some Port belonging to the Sutes General of the United Provinces, and give notice of the Arrival to the said States, and you are to dispose of the said King James into such hands as the said States shall appoint to receive him. You arc to leave such a Number of Ships in the Stations apiwintcil bv the other Instructions as you shall judge that service wUl require. ' W. R. By His Ma''*^*. command. MOTTINGIIAM. »» LETTER CCCLXXXIII. y/k? Earl o/'Mclfort to Mr. Innesfrom limitc. Tlw Circulation of the Gun Money in Ireland. [»IS. LAN8D. MUS. BBIT. 1163. p. 164.] ♦ • The portion of the Letter here printed, with several other lAtlers which succeed it, are copied from the Earl of Melfort's Register of what he wrote to the Court of St. Germains during his negotiation with the Pope, from March 8th to Dec 13th, 1690, preserved in three Volumes in folio among the Lansdowne Manuscripts in the Museum.* These Volumes were bought at Paris in 1744 of the then Counuss of Melfort, who had marrictl the Earl's grandson, by Mr. Barbutt Secretary^ of the Post-Officc. They afterwards became the property of Philip ('artertt » MS. LmmA. Mus Uril. 1 163. Webb, Esq. at whose decease they were purchased by the IMarquess of Lansdowne at that time Earl of Shelbume. The Earl of Melfort had become a convert to Popery early in the reign of James the Second, to whom he was Secretary of State. In 1 689 he accompanied that King to Ireland, where in the capacity of sole Secretary he endeavoured to engross all power to himself, and excited the jealousy not only of Lord Tyrconnel * the Lord Deputy of that Kingdom, but even of the Count d'Avaux the French Ambassador ; so that James was obliged to remove him from the direction of affairs, and, the Queen fearing the same jealousy at St. Germains, he was sent at once to negotiate the King's business at Rome, where Louis the Fourteenth is said to have allowed him a pension to support his character. This notice of him, which occurs in the Life of King James the Second published by Dr. Stanier Clarke,'' explains the neglect with which, from his own account, the Court of St. Germains treated his dispatches ; not condescending, even as late as the month of October 1690, to let him know either privately or officiaUy, the fate of the battle of the Boyne. Some of these Letters are interesting, as displaying, in true colours, the conduct of the Pope toward King James. In prosperity professing zeal to assist him, in adversity giving pity only. Two or three of the Lord Alelfort's Letters are impassioned. When he returned to St. Germains, the Earl of Melfort still continued a favourite with the King and Queen, and again had the administration of affairs, till a Letter which he wrote to his brother the Earl of Pertli, intercepted by King William,*^ caused Louis the Fourteenth to banish him to Angers. He died in 1713. Mr. Innes, to whom the following Letter is addressed, as appears from • Lord Tyrconnel was afterwards created Duke by King James. The following Is the Earl of Melfort' s complaint of his unkindncss, in a Letter to the Queen from Rome, dated Sept. aoth. •• Your Majesty is pleased to bid me say no more of that matter of the Duke of Tyrconnel, and I obey most heartily since I know it is your inclination, which may convince your Majesty of the difference of the regards he and I have to your service; for had he as easily laid down his unjust grudge against me, as I do now my just one at him, I had been in less trouble, and I hope the King would have been l)etter served. I dare say your Majesty condemns him in your heart for the want of gene- rosity at least. If I had had him in Scotland, I and all my friends should have strove to serve him, and to make him greater than we found him ; but, without a fault, to let loose a pack of about fifty nephews against me, besides the females, and all the time protest all manner of friendship and respect for me, swearing he could not tell what could be done when 1 was gone, to send his Dutchess to cry an hour at my lodgings, and make me cry too for company, and all this while harbor malice in his heart is horrible. But since your Majesty commands, for ever I forgive him and am friends with him, and will do what you will have me in that as in every thing else." MS. Lansd. 1163. vol. iii. p. 110. \> Vol. ii. p. 389. ' It i& printed in Kennctt's Hist. Eng. i^* edit. vol. iii. pp. 792, 793. f ill ti I 1 188 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Bishop Kenntt's List of the Court of Su Germains, was King James's Secretary of State for Scottish Affairs. * He is better known perhaps as the Principal of the Scots College at Paris. 28^. April, 1690. ♦ ♦ • • * My Letters from Ireland say that the Brass Money goes now amongst the Rebels' army as well as guineas, and that it pays debts and clears mortgages as cur- rently as any other money ever did ; and that I have but very few enemies left there. The World is a game of hazard, and not worth a wise man's pains to be anxious for ; do our duty, and be careless of the Crowd. • • ♦ ♦ ♦ The different expedients to which King James resorted u\wn his arrival in Ireland to procure a sufficient supply of money having faikd, he attempted to remedy the scarcity by coining Sixpences of copper and brass. Those were first made current by proclamation June l«tli 1G89 ; and before the end of the month, in pursuance of another proclamation, * King James's Court at this time consisted of 1. The Dnke of Powis, Lord Chamberlain. 2. Col. Porter, Vice Chamberlain. 3. The Earls of Dunbarton anil Abcrcorn, Lords of the Bedchamber. A. Captains Macilonald, Beadles, Istaflbrd, and Trevanion, (Jrwma of the Bed* chamber. 5. Fergus Graham, Esq. Privy Purae, 0. Edw. Sheldon. Esq. Sheldon, Esq. Sir John Sparrow, Board o/OrwN Cloth. T. Mr. Strickland, Vice Chamberlain to the Queen. 8. Mr. Brown, brother to the Lord Viscount Montacute, Secretary of State /br England. 9. Sir Richard Neagle, Secretary nf State for Ireland. 10. Father Innks, President of the Scots CoUcKC, Secretary ofStute^ 9miland. 1 1. John Caryll, Esq. Secretary to the Qticcn. 12. Stafford, Esq. previously Envoy in S|>ain. The Five last were the King's Cabinet Counsellors. Kennclt's Hi»t. Engl, ad edit. vol. ui. p. 60i. iiolc. ORIGIKAL LETTERS. 189 pieces somewhat larger were circulated, purporting to be Shillings and Half-crowns, to which in the next year Crowns of brass were added. These are usually called Gun Money, probably from the circumstance of some brass cannon having been delivered to the Commissioners of the Mint from the court of Dublin Castle, to be converted into this money, which was ateo made from bell.metal and every description of what was technically called battery. " In this wretched sort of money the popish soldiers received their sub- sistence, and the protestant tradesmen and creditors their debts ; James promising at a more favourable time to exchange it for silver. Nine days after the battle of the Boyne, King William ordered these coins, by proclamation, to be reduced in value : the crown, and the half- crown of the larger size to go for a Penny each, the smaUer half-crown to go for Three farthings, and the shilling and the sixpence for a Farthing each. * LETTER CCCLXXXIV. 7Vic Earl ofMelfort to Father Maxwell, [ms. LANSD. BIUS. BRIT. 11G3 p. 1G4.] 231 April, 1690. • # « « ^ God be thanked that the succours are safely arrived to you, and that his holy hand appears for the King. I am glad of the success of the Copper Money. God alone was the sender of it, and nobody has reason to be vain of it. To his own name be the glory of it, for undeniably it has done good ; but that it should go amongst the Rebels is a strange thing. » See Simons on Irish Coins, and Ruding's Annals of the Coinaffe of Britain. ! 190 ORIGINAL LETTER^. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 191 I am doing all I can, and that to no great purpose ; the hearts here are harder than marble, and there is not such a thing as fellow feeling (the presbyterian word). No man knows what it is to do more than just to his own family, and it is a tramontano folly to give to any but for interest, I mean temporal. I labour against all the oppositions imaginable, and yet gam ground, and am in no ill reputation with the men of the Country who are very nice of esteeming strangers : but God I hope will give success to the King here and every where else, and that he shall quickly put him in possession of his own. LETTER CCCLXXXV. The Earl of Mclfort to the Queen of James IF. ' Anxiety for the cmfirmation of the News that the Battle of the Boyne had been gained by James. His Advice as to the first steps to be taken upon English ground. [MS. LANSD. 1163. voL U. p. 225.] • • King WiUiam, the day before the battle of the Boyne, while re- connoitering, was wounded by a ball from a field-piece, which having grazed on the bank of the river slanted upon his right shoulder and tore the flesh. The English, seeing some disorder among Uiose who attended him, set up a shout through their camp. The Report of King William's death flew presently to Dublin, :»nd thence spreail not only to Paris, where the people expressed their joy by bonfires and illuminations, but through the whole of Europe. The Battle was fought upon July 1st, 1690. During the action itself. King James stood with some squadrons of horse on Dunmore Hill ; but Count Lauzun informing him that he would be soon surrounded by the enemy, he went oflT attended by the regiment of SarsfieW to Duleck, and thence to Dublin. He staid there one night : but the next morning, according to Kennett, attended by the Duke of Berwick, the Duke of Tyrconnel, and the Marquis of Powis, he went to Waterford, and thence to St. Germains. King James's own Memoirs say nothing of these attendants, but that the King went on board a vessel at Duncannon. The Letter now before the Reader is instructive to those who peruse the page of History. It shows at least what one of his advisers recom- mended to James when impressed with the notion that Victory was his. That James would have gone as far as Lord I\Ielfort in his changes seems more than probable. The older he grew, the harder grew his heart. In the Latin letter which he wrote to the Pope from Dublin, 26th Nov. 1689, and which Lord Melfort himself presented to the Pope, James expressly says, " The only source of the Rebellions against us is that we embraced the Catholic Faith, and we do not disown that to spread the same not only in our Three Kingdoms, hut over all tTic dis- ported Colonies of our Subjects in America was our determination.'** 12ti'. Aug. 1690. May it please your Majesty, All that concern, anxiety, joy, or fear can bring, being on me almost at once, at least by near succeeding fits, your Majesty cannot blame me if I long to be freed of them by a full confirmation of the success in Ireland and the death of the Prince of Orange, that the King is safe, and your Majesty once again happy in seeing and having so near a prospect of Whitehall. • " Unica turbarum contra nos excitatarum origo est, quod Catholicam Fidem amplcxi simus, ct eamdem in tria Regna, et late sparsas per Americam nostrorum subditorum Colonias reduccre statuisse, nuper neutrum ncgamuB." The Letter is printed in Lord Somers'i! Tracts. lit 11 192 ORIGINAL LETTERS. It is not a time to trouble your Majesty with long Letters, yet not knowing where the King's impatience may have carried him, and knowing where his affairs require him, if assisted as he may well hope to be with some troops and the French fleet, I mean to England, least he be parted ere this come, I continue to inform your Majesty that as soon as the happy news of the Usurper's defeat and death was brought hither, I de- manded an audience, and in it saw all the expressions of a sincere joy in his Holiness for so important, so unexpected a success. What passed I shall not take up your Majesty's time now to repeat, least I might encroach on more necessary matters ; only, in short, at the confirmation of the News he has promised to do for the King all he can do, and in the best manner he can, that is as to the owning of what he does, and this is an additional cause of my impatience for news from your Majesty. I have been with the Ministers too, and all of them rejoice and speak fair, and I am confident something more considerable will be done, as for the last time they are to be at charge in this matter. Pray Heaven it may be so, for it is a hard task to get any thing here. I need not put your Majesty in mind of the absent. I know your generosity too well to doubt it. For God's sake let me see the King once again, and then send me to the end of the World, and you shall find an obedience c()rresj)ondent to the humble duty I owe. OKIGIXAL LETTERS. 193 The Duke of Tyrconnel has, as we are informed, I)ehaved himself on this occasion, that, were he my mortal enemy, in duty to the King I would forgive him and love him ; and I must say that Mr. de Lau- zun deserves whatever can be done for him, as do all others in that action proportionably to their part in it. Hoping this will be soon with your Majesty I can- not hinder myself from saying that the first steps in English ground are most dangerous, and that there- fore great care is to be had how they are made as to Treaty, if that be absolutely necessary, which I hope in God it shall not ; but if it is, all the rocks we have split upon must be minded, so as that in time coming we may not be in danger of the same fate. These rocks are obvious. Besides the Oaths and Penal Laws against dissenters from the Church of England, there is the standing Army of Foreigners, the power of Money, the exorbitant Usurpations of Parliaments, the Trial of High Treason or other crimes against the Crown by Juries, the Habeas Corpus Act, and such like, which, if not regulated more advantageously for the Crown or quite abolished, I can see no comfort the King can have of his Crown, or safety the. Subjects can have from their own follies. There is a great consideration of forming the Party the King will choose to govern by, for by a Party a factious State must still be mastered ; endeavouring to use all equally in it, being a certain way to lose all. VOL. IV. SER. 2. O 194 ORIGINAL LETTERS. >i I And this, your Majesty may well remember, was an opinion I have had of a long time, and might have done good then, as experience shows now. This Party ought to be of men of tried loyalty ; for with our Countrymen there is no trusting to new men nor to probabilities, so corrupt our blood is grown by hereditary rebellion against God and the King. Of this Party greater care is yet to be had of forming the Court, both in regard to the King's and to your Ma- jesty's servants, that the persons composing it may be such as dart back the beams of glory they receive ; that is, do honour to your Majesty from whom they receive it ; that they be of the best blood, and pru- dentest, honestest, and loyalest principles ; such as may make others impatient and ambitious to come into the number ; not such as we have seen in times past. Those amongst them who are in authority over others of them be men of Order, and have qualifica- tions as well as quality to get respect and to force obedience, that things may look with that regularity which becomes the service of so great a Monarch ; and it were to be wished that the way of serving were put into a more modern dress. Above all things care must be had that such as have been active in the King's service in his absence be well rewarded, and all Ad- vantages taken to punish such as have been the Authors or Promoters of this Rebellion ; and if the King be forced to pardon, let it be as few of the Rogues as he •i lii ORIGINAL LETTERS. 195 can, and with a watchful eye over them, remembering that King David pardoned Chimei at his return to Jerusalem, but took care that he should sooner or later feel the smart of his wickedness the first failing he made. Such as are excepted, no pardon should ever be al- lowed ; and amongst these should be as many of those families where father and son both are engaged, or such as have been hereditarily disloyal ; for from such there is no more loyalty to be expected than religion from the Devils. It is not in their nature, and Rebellion is like the sin of Witchcraft, neither can repent. One thing has brought another, and when I begin to consider, all this is plainly impertinent to your Majesties, who understand your affairs infinitely better than any other. But it is the nature of true concern to be anxious for every interest of the persons it re- gards ; and though I err, yet it is well meant, and I know your Majesty's goodness will pardon me, and though on this subject I have much more to add, yet respectfully I shall make my fault no greater at this time and at this distance. If this comes safe to your Majesty's hands before any new orders be sent me, it will be more than time to send them ; for as soon as the confirmation of this new Herod the Prince of Orange his death shall come, all that is to be expected from this will be immediately done, and my longer stay here will be needless, and I o 2 I'; J 196 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 197 li )\ am afraid prejudicial on several accounts, of which at this distance I dare not speak nor write freely as I would. I am extremely sorry to see from several Let- ters that some of your Majesty's servants of our Country at St. Germains have been so indiscreet as to show their dislike that the French should beat the English at sea. Indeed I have pain to believe them so little concerned in your Majesty's happiness, but it is written to the Cardinal de Fourbin and to the Duke de Chaulnes. If it have made no noise, then it is well. If there be any thing in it, such are most un- worthy, be who they will, of the honour of serving your Majesty : but they name nobody, nor can I guess who the persons are. The methods to be taken with that Court, if the King go into England as I hope he shall, are the nicest things I see in the whole matter ; but these your Ma. jesties will concert yourselves, and adjust so as that it may not be in the power of whispers and stories to alienate any part of the affection so necessary for your mutual interest. It is impossible to imagine the falsehoods spread abroad by the AUies-Ministers here, who go through the town offering great wagers that the French had greater losses at Fleury than the Allies, and that their fleet is totally defeated. But to us who are sure of the contrary, it is some joy to see the mean shifts they are put to. Would to God we were as sure of the Usurper's death, and of the Victory in Ireland, of which with the utmost impatience we expect the con- firmation from Ireland, for from Versailles it seems to come directly enough hither. I have only the Letters of the 17^^ Juiy^ ^o that I want those of the 10^. of that month, and those of the 24'*^. and that, notwithstanding others have got Letters of that date which brought the News of the total de- feat in Ireland of the King's forces, and his flight, which had broken my heart if that of the death of Orange had not come before. Your Majesty's goodness has allowed me to write so long Letters, and therefore I hope you will pardon them and all the impertinencies they contain, which, however, are meant with the greatest sincerity and most unalterable concern that it is possible for any man to have for any earthly thing. May God Almighty bless your Majesties and the Prince, and may you be soon happy and in possession of your own, that God may be glorified in the mira- culous work, and your faithful servants happy in the thoughts that your Majesties are so. Amongst these there is none more unalterably, more humbly so, than. May it please your Majesty, Your Majesty's most humble, most faithful, and most obedient subject and servant, MELFORT. My Lady Melfort presents her most humble duty to your Majesty. 198 ORIGINAL LETTERS. M LETTER CCCLXXXVI. The Earl of Melfort to the Queen, from Rome ; still in suspense, » [MS. LAN8D. MUS. BRIT. 1103. VOl. U. fol. 251.] 19 »'. Aug. 1690. May it please your Majesty, Never was any body so tossed with contrary pas- sions as I have been since the time I heard of his Ma- jesty's arrival into France, for then we had the fear that all was lost in Ireland. Immediately after we had an excess of joy, to hear that Orange and Schomberg were killed, and their troops beaten again. The rage to be triumphed over by the Spaniards, who affirm the Prince of Orange alive, Ireland his, and he returned in glory to London, with all the circumstances of the King's defeat, Orange's entry to Dublin, &c. And in all this time we have not one scrape of a pen to free us of all these pams we suffer, nor the hopes of any, since I have none to that I sent by Venice, which, I am in- formed, was delivered into your Majesty's hands. But at all this I wonder not. I well consider the condition your Majesty is in, and from my heart I compassionate all you have suffered, but indeed somebody about your Majesty might have followed the way I shew them, ORIGINAL LETTERS. 199 since they would not think how to find one to send safely to us here what it is most necessary for your Majesty's affairs that we know; for as soon as the truth of these things comes, the Pope will declare his last pleasure in what I have to propose to him, and I am hopeful it will be somewhat more conform to the necessity of the King's affairs than what has yet been done. I hope your Majesty has got the last bill of 10,000 Roman Crowns I sent, and will still believe that all that is possible for me to do shall be done, and that since I am so unhappy as to be out of any capacity of assisting the King at this time, I shall pray for him that God Almighty may do it, and re-establish your royal family in peace, and give addition to your hap- piness for the patience with which you have suffered. I have nothing to trouble the King with, not know- ing where he is, and knowing that your Majesty fully informs him of all, especially of that zeal with which he is and shall ever be served by, may it please your Majesty, Your Majesty's most humble, most faithful, most obedient servant, MELFORT. '. 200 OniGINAL LETTERS. I 1)1 •l\ LETTER CCCLXXXVII. The Earl of M elf art to King' Javies the Secmdfroin Rome. [mS. LAN8D. 1163. vol. \\\. fol. 14.] 5 »«. Sept. 1690. May it please your Majesty, YouE Majesty's Letter of the 30'»'. of July from St. Germains I had not till Wednesday last, being the 30th. of August. I most humbly thank your Majesty for your goodness to me and mine. My services are due by many indispensable obligations, and I shall still endeavour by zeal to show the greatness of that most humble affection I have to your royal person and interest. So soon as I had received the honour of your Letter and the other for his Holiness I demanded- audience, but Thursday being appointed for singing the Te Deum for the taking of Napoli de Malvoisie, which the Pope was to perform in person at S^^. Maria Major, I was put off till Friday at night. On Friday's night being admitted to audience of his Holiness, I delivered him your Majesty's Letter, which he received most kindly, asking if your Majesty, the ORIGINAL LETTERS. 201 Queen, and Prince were well. He said, * O how much do I compassionate their condition :' and having opened the Letter, he gave it to me to read for him, which ended, he said he would answer it, and approve of all your Majesty had done ; but that he saw it was left to me to enlarge on what it cont^ned. I told him that the first thing I had order to inform him of, was, the reason why your Majesty had quitted Ireland, which was the united request of all the Gene- ral Officers of your Army, who wisely considered that in your royal person consisted all their present hopes ; and that though Ireland might be lost the sooner, yet your Majesty would be more in a condition to act for the whole, being in France, where it was necessary to concert the, whole matter; that they well considered that none could have so much interest with the Most Christian King to procure them succours, or, by at- tacking England, draw the forces which oppressed them another way. That these considerations had prevailed with your Majesty, and I hoped his Holiness would approve of what your Majesty had done. He said that it was perfectly well, for that your Majesty being safe your re-establishment was certain ; and that he approved extremely of jjour having come away, and would write so much to your Majesty himself, I told his Holiness that now your Majesty was come to France to demand succours from that King, the next thing I had commanded me was to beg of his I ^ 20^ ORIGINAL LETTEES. OKIGINAL LETTERS. 203 Holiness what assistance it was possible for his Holi- ness to give. That the enterprize was great, and that though France should do all they could, yet that all would not be near what was sufficient, and that there- fore his HoUness of necessity must see this most just cause perish, to the reproach of all the Catholics who did not assist or help to support it. That there never was a time in which the Holy See had so much honour to gain or lose, and that the Eyes of all Europe was upon his Holiness to see if he would tamely suffer a Catholic Kingdom to faU into the hands of heretics, unconcerned to see so many hundreds of thousands of Catholics under the grievousest persecution, and greatest temptation to lose their Religion. That by a timely and suitable assistance his HoHness might have had the glory in his Pontificate to have advanced the Ca- tholic Religion in England and Scotland, where it was not ; and as that would have been much to his honour, I was assured he would never give occasion to the contrary by suffering a Cathohc Kingdom to be dis- membered from the Church in his time, without giving all the assistance he could to such as were endeavour- ing its defence. That a timely supply might do much, and I was not sure but 12 or 15,000 stand of Arms might have prevented these mischiefs if sent in time, since your Majesty wanted not Men but Arms to have out-numbered your enemies. That that was neglected, but that for the future I hoped his Holiness would turn his thoughts more intently on a thing in which he and the Church of God were so much concerned. His Holiness repeated all his former compliments of what he would do and suffer for your Majesty, but that he could not act against all the world, and he had not wherewithal to do as he would. That all the world was in war. That war was come into Italy. That there was scarcity at Rome. That the rents of the Ecclesiastic State were not paid. That he was in thousands of straits and difficulties. That the little he had given was borrowed : he had in it given his Entrails, so difficult is it now to find money. I thanked his Holiness for what he had done, it was a mark of his sense of what he was obliged to do, and at the same time one infallible proof of his Poverty being so very disproportioned to what it was designed for, that I did not insist for what was properly his Holiness's, but that some other fund might be em- ployed in so good, so pious, so necessary a work. That there were many sums employed for pious ends whereof his Holiness might dispose by changing the intention r and that there were many other ways of raising money if he had a mind : and that the assisting your Majesty was a hundred times a more pious work than building of Churches, especially where there are already too many: that by this speedy assistance he would not only do a work glorious for him, but absolutely neces- 204 ORIGINAL LETTERS. sary for his honour, and for the reputation if not safety of the Holy See. He considered a little without saying any thing ; he then asked if Orange was dead. I told him it was not yet certain; and he saw Letters from all parts bore contradictions, some say he was, others he was not. * It is doubtful,' said he, * but however, I am fixed * in myself that England will throw off that Monster, * and call back their own King. I pray for it every < day, and would give my life to procure it.* He said he had thought of your Majesty's concenis and how to help you, that he would consider of it, and all that ever he could he would do; that, in the mean time, he would answer your Majesty's Letter. I humbly thanked him for the hopes he gave me, that I should inform your Majesties of his good inten- tions, and begged of him to consider how the season was advanced, and how precious time is to us. And whilst he considered how to help, I begged of him to reflect on the Triumph of the Heresy in Ireland, the altars overthrown. Churches profaned. Catholics per- secuted, the sacrileges committed on the persons of the rehgious, priests, and bishops; and I persuaded myself this view would quickly determine his Holiness to do something of importance. He repeated to me what he had said before ; that he would think, that he n ORIGINAL LETTERS. 205 would consider, and do all that he could in the world for your Majesty's assistance. This repetition was a sign that he intended to finish this audience ; and so I shewed my desire to be licen- tiated, which his Holiness perceiving, began to inform me of Napoli di Malvoisie, what importance it was of to the Venetians, &c. I congratulated his Holiness on that Conquest as a christian and a catholic, and as a servant to your Majesty with whom the Venetians had preserved their Alliances : and this I did to show his Holiness the difference of the spirit which actuates us, and that of the House of Austria. We were glad that Christianity gained, though from those that fought against our enemies : whilst they sung the Te Deum for the Church's having lost a Kingdom, and a Here- tic's Victory. But I hoped that God, in his good time, would put a stop to these Impieties. His Holiness asked me if it was possible that any Cathedral had sung the Te Deum for Orange's Victory ; I told him that I had their own printed News for it, at which his Holiness seemed horribly scandalized. Thus ended this Audience, by which your Majesty will see how far the warmth which appeared at the News of the Usurper's death is cooled now they think he is alive. And the truth of the matter is, they have but little mind to do any thing if they could hand- somely shun it. And if any thing considerable be done, it will be when your Majesty has almost certainty i| i 206 ORIGINAL LETTERS. li on your side, for they would help up the last steps, and care not for being at the expenses till they can say this helped immediately to set him on his Throne. At a distance it is impossible to judge, and I have that to say I dare not commit to cypher; but, in general, there is no hope of any thing considerable till your Majesty be just going for England, which I assert boldly you are ; but the French posts coming only once in fifteen days, they always wait for con- firmations, and so I am delayed. We are now in more uncertainty than ever, not knowing if Orange be dead or living, where the French fleet is, nor what may be their design ; nor are we less ignorant of what is doing in England and Scotland, whether any of their designs so much talked of be Jike to take effect, or if those inclinations believed to be in the people still continue. So that, as to that point, we are just as miserable as it is possible for us to be: God Almighty send us the comfort of some good news for your Majesty, and then we, like sea- sick travellers, soon forget our pains. I wish it were possible to get the remains of your Majesty's army, or a considerable part of them, brought from Ireland to England, so long as the French are masters of the Sea, and might hinder the rebel army from returning to England : for I am confident never nothing will turn the tide in England, but carrying the war thither. The fear of having a war within the H I ORIGINAL LETTERS. 207 Kingdom having infallibly been what made the de- fection of the people so universal as it was : but I hope all this comes too late, and therefore I shall not insist on it. As for myself, I entirely depend upon your Majesty to be employed as you shall think best for your royal service, as I have ever done, and having laid before your Majesty my humble thoughts I am secured on the side of conscience, and I know your Majesty's ge- nerosity, and if I may add justice, will have care of my reputation. Which, with all else I am master of, shall ever be employed to prove that I am, more than I can tell. May it please your Majesty, Your Majesty's most humble, most faithful, and most obedient servant, MELFORT. LETTER CCCLXXXVIII. The Earl of Melfort to Mr, Innes : introduces an Irish priest of the name of Richard Molony. [ms. laksd. 1163. vol. iii. p. 49.] V y«» Letter to the Queen of the 1 1th Nov. Lord Melfort calk this person "Bishop Molony." He had written a Letter to Lord Melfort m which "the story of Ireland was set down.'* , I r 208 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Sir, 13'h. Sept. 1690. The Bearer hereof Richard Molony is an Irish Priest who has passed his studies at Rome, and returns now to the mission in Ireland. He is desirous to kiss the King and Queen's hands : so he being a very honest man, I intreat you to procure him that satisfaction or any other service that hes in your way, and what you do for him I will look upon as a favour done to Sir, Your most humble servant, MELFORT. \\ A pass was given with this Letter to the aforesaid Molony, and another to James, who went along with him. There was a pass likewise given the same day to three English Gentlemen that went to Naples. In a Letter to the King of the 28th Oct. Lord Melfort details the particulars of another Interview with the Pope : ** Yesterday was the soonest that 1 could deliver your Majesty's Letters to his Holiness, who received them with all the demonstrations of real affection it is possible to express. He cried so that I had extreme com- passion lo see him ; he told me that his heart shed tears of blood to think of your condition, and that night and day he thought how to assist you ; that there was nothing in his power he would not do ; that his condition was to be lamented; he saw Europe in distress, the Church in danger, your Majesty in want, Italy threatened, himself not secure, and the Emperor in circumstances with him as not to permit him to be useful for remedying of the ills ; that he had made propositions of peace ; that the Most Christian King had answered favourably, that Spain had an- swered that it was not now the time to think of peace, that the Emperor •( i^ OEIGIKAL LETTERS. 209 h«l not answered and so he found would not hear of peace; that aU of them asked assist^ce who had war with the Turks, who were comin. a The Audience bemg ended Lord Melfort went to the Cardinal Rubini that the Turks affairs pressed harder than the danger of the heretics • the second that what they could give the Emperor might si^ni^ but' Lord Melfort's anxiety to return was now great; after giving his reasons for demanding it of the King, he adds, " Indled there^rnotht U^ing I thought not to have ever mentioned, and that is my aTlowLcl of which I have seen nothing in six months; for three of which Idrew bdls, but smce that time I have neither credit nor money, nor will Z i^vance me one farthing; and aU this befaUs me after I was inforTed VVl^Teo '"""" "^ '*^"" ^^^^- ^*"^- ' ^^3. vol. iiL LETTER CCCLXXXIX. Mr. Theophihcs Harrison to the Rev. John Strype. [M8. cole, MU8. BHIT. vol. IiL p. 39?.] Dublin, Aug. 23, 1690. Dear Sir, After some few days' stay at Liverpoolfor a wind, blessed be God, I had a good and quick passage. M'! Bonnell tells me he acquainted you with the transactions of King James's (rovemment here, and how severely the poor Protestants were handled : their Churches, VOL. IV. SER. 2. • , 910 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 211 11 contrary to the royal word, seized and prophaned by idolatrous worship. The calamities under which they groaned were so great, that they cannot be conceived by any but those who were actual sufferers, or who beheld the cruel executioners perform their barbarous parts. All men are convinced that they ought to re- turn solemn thanks to Heaven for sending a Conqueror who gives new life to their drooping spirits, and cheer- fully submit to that Providence which has eased them from a burden under which it was impossible for them, in human probability, to have much longer subsisted ; they themselves, as well as their substance, being almost consumed, and without miracles must necessa- rily next winter be famished. A Jacobite is a monster here, and passive obedience an absurdity. The usage of Protestants here, they say, was sufficient to convince the most fierce Jacobite, had he been in the same un- happy circumstances. As to the present posture of affairs. Limerick is closely besieged, the out- works taken, and all the men in them put to the sword, though they cried for quarter. The occasion of this severity was Sarsfield's cruelty, who two days before surprised our guns, within seven miles of the Camp, and killed all the waggoners to- gether with their wives and innocent babes : so that when the Irish cried quarter, answer was made they should have the same quarter the waggoners had. The guns were re- taken, and though damaged, in good order again. It is reported, that Limerick has offered to parley. It is certain Tyrconnel and Berwick have left Lime- rick : so have the French, who are marched towards Gal way, being a more convenient harbour for their re- turn homeward : but the Garrison of Galway has denied them admittance : so that they lie encamped between Limerick and Galway. It is said, that His Majesty has promised the soldiers the plunder of Limerick, which is thought to be very considerable, which ani' mates the Army to a very great degree. You heard, I suppose, that Douglases men were drawn off from Athlone, at which several that ran away, at the rout of the Boyne, rallied, and made a body of about 3000 in the County of Westmeath, in which part of Athlone stands. They plundered all Protestants ; burnt their houses, and forced them to fly to these parts for shelter : upon which Col. Wose- ley, with his Enniskilling men, who are really very formidable, was sent into the Country. About sixty of his men, not staying for the rest, set upon five hun- dred, killed about Mty, and took several prisoners, with the loss of three men only. They are now en- camped at Mullingar, the County Town, and so keep the Country in some order. I preached last Sunday in my own Church, where I found about thirty of my scattered flock ; my Church miserably defaced ; the seats were employed to wains- p2 ■I i: «12 OKUilNAI. LETTERS. 1 I cot a room for the Priest; but no Priest appeared, nor any of the considerable Popish inhabitants. Some with King James's army, some abscond, and Pro- testants not yet returned to their houses, which were all possessed by the Irish : so that the Country looks somewhat desolate. My pulpit cushion was dragooned ; the velvet made into a pair of breeches ; but chalice, &c. preserved. There is no want of com in the Country, nor of other, provisions, but how it will be in winter God knows; for most are willing to part with what pro- visions they have at an easy rate, for fear of the Army on the one hand, and of the fugitive Irish, or Rapperies, who steal in the night on the other. It was my good fortune to leave a faithful servant behind me, who had lived with me above eleven years : his friends are all Papists : he an Irishman, but bred up in the Protestant Religion, to which and his Master, he had been stedfast. Notwithstanding very strict search, he has preserved most of my goods : he was forced to sacrifice some few things, to save the rest : bedsteads and chairs were my greatest loss. I found surplice and hood, and two good gowns and cassocks, as I left them. I did not know when I landed whe- ther this servant was alive ; but next day he came to me, and brought me two horses, which, in the rout, he took from men that owed me old debts, and picked up £5 in money, least I should want at my landing : he ORIGINAL LETTERS. 213 settled my tithes also before I came as well as he could : but what was set for ^300 formerly, scarce amounts to £150 now. But blessed be God it is as it is. As to my Deanry lying near Athlone, I must expect no profit from thence this year. And now I beg you to present my service to all my good friends in Low Layton, particularly the good fa- mily at Ruckholts. My thanks to Mr. Houblon for his Letter, as much as if I had occasion to make use of it ; for his correspondent was ready to do me any kindness. I will not forget my promise to M^ Hill, &c. I am sincerely, dear Sir, Your affectionate Brother, and humble servant, THEO. HARRISON. I am informed it was not Sarsfield that took the carriages ; but whoever it was, he burnt them, and threw the women and children alive into the fire ; one of the waggons excepted, in which was the Treasure to pay the Army, but that was re-taken. To M'. Strype, to be left at M'. John Hill's, Stationer in Change Alley, opposite the Royal Exchange. i (I I 214 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. LETTER CCCXC. JTiwg- William the Third to His discontent with the Parliament. Changs pro- jposedjwr Ireland, [m8. donat. 4748. fol. 15. Or\g.\ •,* The Donation Manuscript in the Museum, N». 4748, contains Nine original Letters of King William the Third, between Oct. 18th, 1697, and Aug. 15th, 1700, enth«ly in his Majesty's hand-writing. They have no address, but seem to have been written to Baron Ginkle, afterwards Earl of Athlone. The Letter here given is one of them ; and is presented as a specimen of King William's French style. In the opening of it the King appears to allude to the Resolution of the House of Commons April 9th, 1700, " that an Address be made to his Majesty that no person who was not a native of his Dominions, except the Prince of Denmark, be admitted to his Majesty's Councils in England or Ireland^** to prevent the presenting of which, the King went to the House on the 11th of April and pro- rogued the Parliament to the 23d of IMay. A Hamptx)n-court ce ii^. de May 1700. Il y a bien long temps que je ne vous ay point escrit, la raison est qu'estant tousjours incertain de Tissue de la derniere Session du Parlement; je n'ay voulu vous repondre a auqu'une de vos Lettres, vous pouves juge le chagrin que m'a cause toutte leur Pro- cedures extraordinaires, et je vous asseure que ce n'a pas este une des moindres de vous voir prive de ce que je vous avois donnc avec tant de plaisir. J'*espere 1 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 215 pourtant que je ne seres pas hors d'estat de recognois- tre les bons services que vous m'aves randu, et j'en chercheres les occasions avec empressement surquoy vous pouves faire fons, c vous doit estre bien de la satisfaction dans le juste resentiment que vous deves avoir de ce qui vous regarde que personne n'a peu trouver a redire a vostre conduite, au contraire tous en ont paru satisfait, et le Vote qui a passe le dernier jour en furie ne vous regarde qu' indirectement, et je vous puis asseure, que vous n'en aves este auqu'une- ment Toccasion, il y a eu tant d'intrigues dans cette derniere Session que sans avoir este sur les Lieus, et bien instruit de tout Ton n'y peut rien comprandre. II me sera impossible de continuer la Commission de 1^^\ Justices en Irlande comme elle est presentement, ainsi j'ay resolu d*y envoier le Due de Shrewsburi comme Vice Roy, et que vous commandies TArmee sous luy. Ne croies pas que cela vous sera une de- gradation, personne ne le comprandra icy comme cela, et je scai que tout le monde le souhaite, et le croient absolument necessaire pour mon service. J'en suis entierement convaincu, ainsi J'espere que vous ne vou- deres pas me refuse d'accepter ce commandement, n*y ne pas abandonner mon service. Je vous assure que je n'en ay jamais eu plus de besoin qu*a present, des gens de vostre capacite et fidelite. J'espere que j^ trouveres des occasions a vous donner des marques de mon estime et amitie, et je ne vouderes pas vous engage S16 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 217 en cecy si je ii''estois asseure qu'^auqu'un nial ne poura vous en arriver, mais je scai que cela aura une aproba- tion generale, et je ne doute pas que vos amis ne vous en informeront de mesme, et je suis bien aise de vous dire que vous en aves beaucoup et parnii toutes partis. WILLIAM R. The Reader is, no doubt, aware that the preceding Letter affords no solitary instance of King William's discontent with his Parliament. There is a stronger one, however, preserved, which the Editor cannot persuade himself to leave unchronicled here. In the month of December 1698, when the Commons were so irritated at the King's presuming to maintain a greater number of Troops than their predecessors had voted, such was his Majesty's indignation that he threatened to abandon the Government. The Speech which he penned and intended to have delivered upon that occasion, t* still remaining in the Kino's own hand among the Manuscripts in the British Museum. We are not told by whom he was influenced to withhold it. The Countess of Suffolk, lady of the bedchamber to Queen Caroline, told the late Dr. Morton that She communicated this original Draft to the Queen, who chose to keep it, returning her only a Copy. After the Queen's death it came into the possession of the Princess Amelia, who gave it to Lord Berkeley of Stratton for the Museum. «M». aOe. *' Je suis venu icy dans ce Royaume au desir de cette Nation pour la sauver de mine, et pour preserver vostre Religion vostre Lois et Libertes, et pour ce subjet j'ay este oblige de soutenir une longue et tres oncreuse geurre pour ce Royaume, laquelle par la grace de Dieu et la bravoure de cette Nation est a present terminee par une bonne Paix ; dans laquelle vous pouries vivre heureusement, et en repos, si vous voulies contribuer a vostre propre seurete, ainsi que je vous I'avois recommande a I'ouverture de Cette Session ; mais voyent au contraire, que vous aves si peu de guard a mes ad vis, et que vous ne prenez auquun si peu * de soin de vostre seu- rete, et vous exposes a une mine evidente, vous destituant des sules et uniques moiens que pouroit servir des moiens necessaiie pour •» vostre defense. II ne seroit pas juste ou raisonable que je fune temoin [de] • auquuii. k a. vostre perte ne pouvant rien faire de mon coste, pour I'eviter [sans voui pouvoir defendre et proteger]* ce que a este la seule veu que j'ai eu en venant en ce Paiis ; ainsi je dois vous requerir de choisir et me nommer teues personnes, que vous jugeres capable auquels je puisse laisse [I'ad- mmistrauon du] •> gouvemement en mon absence, vous asseurant que quoyque je suis oblige^ a present de me retirer HORS DU ROYAUME, Je concerveres toujours la mesmes inclination pour son adventage et pros- pent^ ; et que quandt je poures juger que ma presence y seroit necessaire pour vostre defense, et que je jugeres le pouvoir entreprendre aux succes, vous vous me feres en estat que je seres dont porte a y revenir et hasarde ma v,e pour vostre seurete, comme je I'ay fait par le pass6 : priant le bon D.eu de bemr vos deliberations, et de vous inspirer ce que est necessaire pour le bien et la seurete du Royaume.'* The words placed in the lower part of this and the precedmg page with letters of reference, are King William's marginal Alteration^ LETTER CCCXCI. CharUs Lyttelton to his father Sir Charles Lyttclton upon the conduct ofLmds the XlVth, after the death cf King James the Second, [from the Orig, IN the libhahy of the society of antiqua. AIES.] ♦,♦ The countenance given by Louis the Fourteenth to the son of James the Second, both before and after his father's death, was the cause not only of sarcasm, but of the circulation of scandalous anecdote. " The Great Bastard Protector of the Little One^^ was the tide of an English TxHct, affected to have been printed at Cologne in 1689, and reprint^ in il ;."Tu t '^"l' **^ '*"" Interview mentioned in the present Letter. The Enghsh thought they could not better requite a sympathy which did Louis the Fourteenth more honor than his greatest Victories. The question of the legitimacy of the birth of King James's son is now laid at rest. King WiUiam himself did not venture to go into it • E»unt hor« d'estat dc vous defendre ct protcffer. • forctf. '> adminiilre Ic. 218 ORIGINAL LETTERS. King James in his Memoirs, • says, that Count Bentmck " bemg asked why his Master made not appear the illegitimacy of the Prince of Wales, as he had promised ? he answered, that they neither questioned his legi- timacy, nor were concerned about it, for that his Master being now in possession of the Throne, was resolved to keep it while he lived, and cared not who it went to when he was gone.*' Paris, Sept. 2TK 1701, N. S. We received yesterday my dear Father's of the 6***. instant, and are glad to find you are all pretty well at Hagley, and no occasion to try the Bath waters, where I hear there is a mighty swarm of people. * • # • # I should be glad to stay at Paris as long as you think fit, both to mend my French and my Dancing, which I think I can do better here than in another place, as also to see a little more of the French world. I should be extremely glad to see Flanders and Holland before I come home; not but that I long mightily to see my dear friends at Hagley, but because I believe we may go now without any trouble as to the war. There be no likelihood of any, this season being so far advanced, but it is thought the next spring there will be some bustle in Flanders, some people not being pleased with the King of France'^s owning our young King, and treating him with all the respect and kind- ness imaginable. The moment King James was dead, the Prince of Conti went and complimented the Prince as King, as did all the rest of the Court at St. Ger- • VoL ii. p. 812. ' ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^19 mains. On the 20th. the King of France went to St. Germains, after it had been hotly disputed in the Council whether he should or no : all the Princes of the blood were hotly for it, but some di the politicians were against it : but it was carried by a great majority of voices. When the King of France came to St. Germains, the King met him at the top of the stairs, and after they had embraced one another gave him the right hand, and conducted him into the room where the Queen » laid upon the bed to receive him. After the ceremonies finished the King conducted him back to the top of the stairs, always giving him the right hand. The next day the young King went to Versmlles to return the King of France's visit, who treated him with the same ceremony and respect that he was used to treat his father, but with a great deal more ten- derness, as considering he is very young. When he met him atop of the stairs, he took him in his arms and embraced him with as much kindness and tender- ness as if he had been his own son. He conducted him into a room where there were two armed-chairs for the two Kings : the King of France always gave him the right hand: when the visit was ended, the King of France conducted him back to the top of the stairs. They have given him the same guards that the late King had. ' Mary of Esle. ed. 2^ 11 ORIGINAL LETTERS. The late King desired the young one in his Will that he would continue all his Servants as they were, and take care of all his faithful subjects that had suf- fered with him, especially the Protestants, and that whenever it should please God to restore him to his Throne, he advised him to govern his people without any regard to their being Papists or Protestants, and that he should by no means endeavour to alter the Religion established, but to govern according to the laws and customs of his country, without which he was sure no King of England could ever be happy, but withall charged him to be a true Son of the Church, and not to change upon any account whatsoever, quoting some Scripture sayings, as " what signified it to gain the whole world and lose his own Soul," and some more to the same purpose. He declared some new Honours. My Lord Perth is made Duke : Lord Middelton, Earl of Monmouth : Mr. Carrol, Lord Carrol. The King's body is here at the English Benedictines in deposit, there to be kept, as they say, till they can have an opportunity to send him to Westminster to be buried. The Queen is at a Convent called Shalio, within a league of Paris. • * ♦ ♦ • I beg your and mother's blessing. I am your dutiful and obedient son C. LYTTELTON. LETTERS OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE. ORIGINAL LETTKRS. 223 Although the Letters of the Reign of Anne which the Editor has here produced are far from numerous, some amongst them will be found which have intrinsic interest Two from the Duke of Queensberry to the Queen at the opening of the Scotch Plot, Dr. D'Avenant's Letter to his Son after the News of the Victory of Blenheim had arrived in London, Lord Sunderland^s three Letters, and the Correspondence with the Elector of Hanover, have strong claims upon the Reader's notice. The last consists of a few Specimens only out of a large CoUection. To the Eye of Posterity, the Reign of Anne will ever appear to be one of the most prosperous in the English Annals : as successful in Arts as in Arms. But to those who lived under it there were inconveniences. The Nation had been oppressed for the greater part of a century by suc- cessive struggles, and though it had settled the contested limits between the King and People, the Court and the Country were yet torn by jealousy and faction. A claimant to the Crown, out of the Succession which the Law had settled, stood as a rallying point for all who were discontented. The dissensions of her Ministers impaired the health of Anne, who may, without figure, be said to have sunk under her anxieties. LETTER CCCXCII. Sir George Rooke to Prince George of Denmark : after the taking of the Vigo Galleons by the English Fleet Oct. I2th, 1702. [from the Orig, FORMERLY IN THE POS8ES8IOK OF T. B. RICHARDS, ESd.] •.• The following is the character of Prince Geoi^ of Denmark given m the Memoirs of the Secret Services of John Macky Esq « His Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, husband to the Queen «id Lord High Admiral of England, is brother to the late Kin« of Denm^k and uncle to the present. He was chosen by King Charles the Second to be husband to his niece the Princess Amie, becauL having no dominions of his own to gratify, he would have nothing else in viel but the mterest of England. " In the reign of King Charles the Second, having little English and being naturally modest, he rruuie no considerable figure, nor in the reign of Kmg James, ull the increase of Popery alarming the whole NatioV ll^r^ .^" "^' '^ "^^ ^^'^^^^ ^«^^^y ^«' '^' bringing "During aU King WiUiam's reign he never went into the Admini TTa r T" f^""*^' "^ Parliament regularly, and often to Court," diverted himself with hunting ; and never openly declared himself of a^ party. > A^ ?^ 'l^.e Queen's accession to the Throne he was made Lord High Admiral of England and Warden of the Cinque Ports. " He is a Prince of a familiar easy disposition with a good sound un- derstanding, but modest in shewing it: a great lover of the Church of EngUnd the nearer it comes to Lutheranism : this he often shows by his vote in die House of Peers, otherwise he does not much meddle with affairs out of his office. "He is very fat, loves news, his botde, and the Queen, by whom he has had many children, but none aUve. He has neither many friends nor enemies in England. On the Queen^s accession to the Throne he was towards fifty years old." : 224 ORIGINAL LETTERS. At a later period, as will hereafter be seen, Prince George of Den. mark had enemies. The character of him here quoted is from the Har- leian MS. 6760 : not from the printed edition of Macky's Memoirs. Royal Sovereign at Vigo, Oct. 16th, 1702. Sir, I THINK myself very- happy in this opportunity of congratulating the Queen and your Royal Highness on the first action of her Majesty's Reign and your Administration in your Office of Lord High Admiral of England, which I hope will prove as glorious to her Majesty, and as advantageous to her Country and subjects as any thing that has been performed in the time of her's and your Royal Highness'' predecessors. The action will tell its own story throughout the world, and therefore I shall not illustrate upon it. The in- closed Copy of my Letter to Sir Charles Hedges is as particular, as just, and as modest a relation as becomes me to give, who had the honour to be at the head of the service. I shall add no more to my most humble duty to her Majesty and your Royal Highness, but my prayers that God Almighty may preserve you long together and bless you with success in all your under- takings, which concludes me her Majesty's most duti- ful and loyal subject, and, royal Sir, Your Highness' most obedient, most humble, and truly devoted servant, 6. rooke. His Royal Highness the Prince. ORIGINAL LETTERS, 225 LETTER CCCXCIIL Jjyrd Tarbat to Queen Anne. He tenders Ms Re- signation as Secretary for Scotland, [from the Orig. IN THE POSSESSION OF THE lOED VISCOUNT STKAN6F0ILO.] May it please your Majesty, The matter of fact in what is past, since my last, I have put in my Lord Treasurer's hand ; I dare not write my private judgment on what is passed as law; and there being an act passed last day, declaring it High Treason to quarrel, impugn, or endeavour to alter or innovate the claim of right, or any article thereof, I will not adventure to give judgment on it, now your Majesty's authority is recognised in the first act, and touched by the Royal Scepter, and so is law. The last is passed in Parliament but not as yet touched, nor the other act ratifying Presbyterial Government, but wait your Majesty's Commissioner . to give them the touch. I have sent several other acts to my Lord Treasurer, offered, but not yet voted. We are (and I believe truly) informed that there are several such acts to come in. It was the greatest honour that ever I did attain, to be chosen by your Majesty to be one of your Secre. VOL. IV, SER. 2. q 226 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 227 taries. It was an extraordinary satisfaction and hap- piness for me to wait on your Majesty'^s person. I ever accounted it my greatest duty to serve your Ma- jesty, as I did your royal predecessors, with untainted fidelity and loyalty ; and, as I wish, so I hope to die in that course, whatever be my station. But with all possible fidelity and duty, be pleased graciously to allow me to represent to your Majesty that I am unfit on many accounts to serve your Majesty in this capacity of a Secretary, or in any public station. It were unpardonable indiscretion to trouble your Majesty w^ith the particular reasons which bring me to this mis- fortune, since the circumstances wherein affairs are put, renders my service not only useless but j^rhaps hurt- ful to your Majesty. I assure your Majesty with all sincerity before God, that I am not relinquishing so honourable a post on any cause or occasion from what relates to your Majesty (allowing my unfitness to be one) nor does my age or infirmities, or any private motive make me thus to withdraw. This I do, un- known to any ; nor will I divulge it until I have your Majesty's allowance, and then I beg and hope for your Royal protection and continuance of your gracious favour in the capacity of your private subject ; though my age and some other obstructing impediments lie heavy on me, yet your Majesty's command shall bring me to give an account of this action, and of some other things to your Majesty if it be judged worth the while. This with no great joy, but with a faithful heart, is with all humble duty humbly offered by Your Majesty's Most humble, most faithful, most obedient subject and servant, ...1 ^^ ,^ TARBAT. 8«'. May, 1703. LETTER CCCXCIV. The Duke of Queensherry to Queen Anne, upon the debating of the Act of Security in the Parliament of Scotland, [from the Orig, IN THE POSSESSION OF THE LORD VISCOUNT 8TBANGFORD.] May it please your Majesty, We were in hopes of finishing the tedious Act of Security, having added the clause that the successor should be a Protestant and of the Royal line, when we found several additions brought in to confound the Act ; one was calculated to catch the Bigots, that the Successor should be of the Kirk of Scotland as by law established ; this was thrown out by a great plurality : there was another clause offered on Friday by my Lord Roxborough, that whoever was King or Queen o 228 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 229 of England should never be King orQueen of Scodand, except upon such a multitude of limitations as rendered the matter impracticable, and these limitations to be enacted this very Session of Parliament. It was carried by a few to enter into the consideration of this clause. Here I must regret to your Majesty that my Lord Privy Seal- entered into both these clauses, though they are pretty opposite in themselves : and it is too plain that he generally joins in any motion that is brought in to break up this Parliament, without its coming to do those things which are necessary for your Majesty's service or securing the peace of the Kingdom. He seldom votes with your Majesty ""s other servants ; and when that happens, he never brings any body along with him, so that either he really has not the influence he pretended, or is not sincere in employing it for your service, and yet when he goes contrary to us, having the second vote and being an officer of state, he either takes off others, or gives them a pretence to divide from us. Your Majesty may remember that from the first meeting of your Parliament, I represented to your Majesty that the division among your servants was the greatest difficulty that I fore.>aw in your business, and if you are pleased to observe the accounts that your Majesty has received from time to time of the • The Marquosn of AthoV proceedings of your Parliament, you will find that your servants succeeded in every thing wherein they were unanimous ; and I am sure that if they will yet concur, and act a sincere and vigorous part, that we are very well able to bring this Parliament to a happy conclusion ; but if it should break up in ill humour it would bring a suit of mischiefs and great animosities betwixt the two nations; and it is strange that some do concur in the hiimour of speaking against the iu- fluence that English Ministers are thought to have in Scots affairs, when at the same time they do value themselves and are considered by others as having a great share in your Majesty's favour by the means^'of these same Ministers against whom tliey encourage the clamour. I am bold to say, that if your Majesty will either make your servants of a piece, or let it be un- derstood that whoever will differ and divide from the rest shall be under your Majesty's displeasure, that we shall yet be able to bring matters to a right settlement. For my own part I am ready and resolved to ven- ture my life and fortune in your Majesty's service against all that shall presume to oppose you, and as I have used your Majesty's authority with faithfulness, so I have avoided all height and ostentation in the ho- nour I have to represent your sacred person ; yet there was a great noise made on Friday because I adjourned the House at eight o'clock at night, after most part of the members were gone out or wearied, so that many liad intreated I might adjourn that meeting, the matter !i 230 ORIGINAL LETTERS. pRItilNAL LETTERS. 231 being of the last consequence, and not ripe for any vote. There is a memorial of this matter sent to Mr. Naime to be laid before your Majesty, with the opinion of your servants, that it is your Majesty *s undoubted prerogative to adjourn, which is done by your Com- missioner every day, and that I have not exceeded the ordinary course, nor transgressed any law, and that there is no occasion for any clamour, but only a fixed resolution to break up this Parliament, in which too many concur ; but that being a matter of so ill conse- quence, it shall be struggled against with all the pa- tience and application in the power of, Madam, Your Majesty's most dutyful, most humble, and most obedient subject and servant, QUEEKSBERRY. Holyrood-House, July the 18'i'. 1703. LETTER CCCXCV. The Duke ofQiieensherry to Queen Anne; offain upmi the Act of Security. A Plot to overturn the Govern- ment discovered* [from the Orig.nnxTT indobsed in the DUKE*8 HAim-WRITiyO, " Copy of my Letter to the Q« AuguH \VK 1703."] •^* This and the succeeding Letter from the Duke of Queensberry to Queen Anne, occasioned no slight commotion in England. The Reader who would acquaint himself with the general particulars of die Plot which the Duke discovered to the Queen, may consult Bishop Burnet's History of his own Time,* Boyer's Life of Queen Anne,** Smollet's History, c and the Journals of the House of Lords ; "' where as much as was suffered to be known of its detection may be found. The gentleman of " quality and integrity'* mentioned by the Duke of Qucensberry, by whom the Secret was disclosed, was Simon Fraser Lord Lovat, a man of desperate enterprize and abandoned morals, who, it is but right to say, bad been oudawed for having ravished the Marquess of Athol's sister, and who at last expiated this and all his crimes upon the scaffold in 1747^ That there were two sides to die Story is certain. Ferguson, an expe- rienced plotter, who had been known in the Duke of Monmouth's rebel- lion, asserted that die only secret design which existed at this dme among the Jacobites was to make the Queen receive such terms as Henry the Second had agreed upon widi Stephen, to reign during her life, and then to be succeeded by her brother. The rest, he said, was framed by the Duke of Queensberry, to decoy some of the Scotdsh Lords, who would not go every lengdi which he went, into guilt. Burnet, to a certain extent, corroborates diis by his own testhnony, as far as the Marquess of Athol is concerned. He says, '* M^hen I heard this, I could not but remember " what the Duke of Athol had said to myself, soon after the Queen's " coming to the Crown : I said, I hoped none in Scotland thought of the " Prince of M'ales : he answered, he knew none that thought of bun as " long as the Queen lived: I replied, diat if any thought of him after that, I vras sure the Queen would live no longer than till they thought their designs for him were well laid : but he seemed to have no appre- " hensions of diat. I presendy told the Queen of this, without naming " the person, and she answered me very quick, there was no manner of " doubt of diat : but though I could not but reflect often on diat dis- " course, yet since it was said to me in confidence, I never spoke of it to " any one person during all the Inquiry that was now on foot : but I " think it too material not to set it down here." Burnet says, the Letter which the Duke of Queensberry sent, widi the seal unbroken, to the Queen, in the hand of die Queen Dowager, was written in such general terms, that it might have been directed to any of the great nobility ; and probably he who was trusted widi it, had power given him to direct it to any to whom he found it would be most accepta- • Edit Oxf. 18». vol. V. pp. 05, IM. '• Hut. of the Reign of gu. Anue digested into Annals, V'ear the Second. S". 1T04. p. 244. ' Edit. 12". 1794. vol. ii. p. V13. ' JuunuiU oi Uic House of Lords, vol. vii. i( ii ii 232 ORIGINAL LETTERS. '! ble : for there was nothing in the Letter that was particuhtr to any one person or family ; it only mentioned the promises and assurances sent to Tier by that Ijord. It was directed on the back by another hand, sup- posed Fraser*8, to L. M. The Duke of Queensberry's Letter is dated August 1 V^. 1703. Lord Murray had succeeded his father as Marquess of Athol on the T^. of May precedhig : and on the SO'*", of July he had been advanced to the dignity of Duke of AthoL This Plot, added to general clamour, for a short time deprived the Duke of Queensberry of all his Offices except that of Lord of Session. May it please your Majesty^ I HAVE sent full accounts to Mr. Nairne of the pro- ceedings of your Parliament, to lay before your Ma- jesty, and am very sorry that I am never able to give your Majesty better news from it. It is very uneasy to me, and cannot be pleasant to your Majesty, that I always complain of your own ser- vants, and especially my Lord Privy Seal, who leaves me, and concurs in almost all the humorous votes which tend to jealousies and division betwixt your two Kingdoms. We have had two votes lately, in which I presume your Majesty would have expected that I should have had the concurrence of those whom you are pleased to trust in your service. The first was, whether the Officers of State should be left out of that Parlia- ment, or meeting of Estates, which (long be it hence) should name the successor; and though it was fully and well argued, that they were essential Members of the Parliament, yet I could not prevail with my Lord ORIGINAL LETTERS. 233 l*rivy Seal to vote for us : and next, this day a clause was brought in, ordaining the Kingdom to buy arms, and that the whole fencible men should be trained and exercised in arms, and the reason for this was very fairly given, that because what was done would cer- tainly offend England ; and therefore that this King- dom ought to be put into a posture of defence. It was as fairly argued by us, that to give an order or law for arming was both unseasonable, and undutiful to do any such thing during your Majesty''s reign, which might embroil business with England, and encourage the common enemy abroad ; yet in this I could not prevail with my Lord Privy Seal to give us his vote ; and some others of your Majesty's servants made a very cold appearance ; and it is hard that, though the plurality of the Parliament are very well inclined to your Ma- jesty^s service, yet by the fault of ourselves (for I dare presume to say no worse) we are almost outdone in every thing. Yet I still hope, in what concerns your Majesty, your servants will not encourage any en- croachments to be made upon your prerogative ; and that they will concur to obtain the less at last ; but for the invasions that are to be made upon the Successor, though I have struggled all I can in every point, yet these will be crowded into this Act of Security, which was brought in by my Lord Privy Seal against my will, which I think will now be finished in a day or two. I shall send it to your Majesty, that you may 234 OAIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^S5 consider whether you will allow it to be touched, though I am afraid that I shall not be able to hinder them to tack it to the Supply Act. I presumed lately to acquaint your Majesty that I had seen some letters from a Gentleman come from France, in which he spoke with some assurance of overturning the Government here. Since that time, those who received the letters asked liberty from me to meet with that Gentleman, that they might try if they could learn any thing that might be useful to your Majesty's service, which I yielded to, and one of them had a long conference with him, of which I have given your Majesty an account in a memorial herewith transmitted, and I beg of your Majesty, that it may be kept as secret, and made known to as few, as may be. I am not yet allowed to name the persons, but if your Majesty commands me I must obey. God knows whether the story be true or false, but my author is a man of that quality and integrity that I dare assure your Majesty there is neither mistake nor trick on his part ; and this I must say further, that there are several points related in the Memorial, that are otherwise confirmed, for I have seen a letter to Brigadier Maitland from one of his officers, wherein he tells him that he had intelligence of a Highland hunting, where six hundred of the best of the Laird of Grant's men were to be in arms, and the Duke of Hamilton, and the Marquis of Athol were to be there; this letter I have sent to Mr. Nairne. Major General Buchan acknowledges that one Mackenzie was put into the Bastile before he came away, besides the total desertion of all the cavaliers, except my Lords Balcar- ras, Wigton, and Dunmore, at that instant when these last orders came from France, and their joining in all things contrary to the prerogative of the Crown, with the vote this day of arming of the Country, do mightily instruct this declaration ; and it agrees pretty well with the advertisement Mr. Stanhope had about money to be sent hither ; but whatever is in the matter, I thought it my duty to represent it to your Majesty. I must l>eg leave to know from your Majesty, if that j>erson shall apply to me, and be willing to own what he has said, how I shall use him. It is strange enough that in his circumstances he should have said so much, and it can hardly be expected that he will forfeit what he may expect from France, without getting some terms from your Majesty. I apprehended, at first, that any opposition I met with here, was no further intended than to force them- selves into places, and though I value the honour of being in your Majesty's favour and service at the highest rate, yet when I considered that the conse- quences would only be as to me, and that it would be of less importance to your Majesty, who served you, I had far more ease in my mind. But now that I have too great ground to apprehend this opposition is sup- i - r I 236 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ported in order to attack or shake your Majesty's Government, I shall be ready to expose my life and fortune in your service, and though I may not be suc- cessful in the trust with which your Majesty has ho- noured me here, yet I dare say, that I shall be found faithful, and that the failure has not been on my part, but for the want of assistance from your Majesty's other servants ; and at the worst I hope nothing shall be carried that concerns your Majesty immediately ; and a supply for some years may put your Majesty in condition to retrieve what was not to be hindered by, Madam, Your Majesty's most dutiful, most humble, and most obedient subject and servant. Holy rood House, August the llt»'. 1703. LETTER CCCXCVI. The Duke of Queemberry to the Queen^ upon the kising of the Parliament. Again upon the sup. posed Plot, IfROM the DHAFT indorsed IK THE DUKE's HAND-WRITINO, " Vopy of my Letter to the Qn Sep\ the 25'''. 1703."] May it please your Majesty, I i>TAY here some days, that I may receive any ORIGINAL LETTERS. 237 orders your Majesty may be pleased to give, after the rising of the Parliament is known, which I expect may be on Sunday or Monday next, and I shall be ready to set out next morning. In the mean time I have endeavoured to confirm such members as have served your Majesty in the Parliament, and engage them to return in the same sentiments, and I found many so well satisfied with the touching of the Acts, that they were frank to have given the Sessions at the 12th of October, and so well pleased to see that your Majesty keeps matters on the foot of the Revolution, that I am sensible we should have been stronger in the Parlia- ment in October than perhaps we can be thereafter; and I was once resolved to have asked your Majesty's allowance for the Parliament to sit at, or about, the time to which it is adjourned, but I was afraid that your Majesty's other servants would not concur with me; and I find that many of them are resolved to o-o to Court, and give out that they have invitations to at- tend your Majesty, which made me forbear to insist for the Parliament's sitting two or three weeks in October. The President of the Session could not be well absent from the Session here, and my Lord Regis- ter's health did not allow him to travel. So I have with much difficulty prevailed with my Lord Stair to come along with mc, because he knew all my i 238 ORIGINAL LETTERS. management and the proceedings of Parliament, in which he served your Majesty very heartily and honestly. I am glad to observe that there is a great calm at present here ; one sort of people are pleased, and the other have got no irritation, and they content them- selves that the Session was not obtained. I have seen that person of whom I formerly made mention to your Majesty ; he confirms all that he had said to these persons who had dealt betwixt us, and adds many things more; he says he was let into all the secrets of the correspondence of Scotsmen with St. Germains, and tells plainly that very many do correspond there. I am bound to tell your Majesty (though I ought not to believe him) that he says, he saw a letter last winter, written by my Lord Tarbat to my Lord Middleton, bearing that he was made Secretary of State, and that in a short time the Duke of Queensberry was to be shifted out, so as he was to be sole Secretary, and would have all the management of Scots business in his hands, that to secure their friends there would be a General Indemnity past, and the North country and Highlands would be made all of a piece; that the Duke of Queensberry had received ^ve thousand pounds from the family of Hanover; that my Lord Middleton said, he knew the Duke of Hamilton was capable to be bribed, but did not believe the Duke of Queensberry ORIGINAL LETTERS. 239 would have taken money ; he declares that Mr. Ogilvie of Boyn had frequent correspondence, which he begun when he went over to France, about his marble (yet I must do this gentleman the right to tell your Majesty that he did behave himself fairly in the Parliament, and there was none of the Gentlemen who call them- selves Cavaliers that did keep their words so well to me as he did) ; he declares that there were three letters written by the late Queen at St. Germains, whereof one was directed to the Duke of Hamilton as Earl of Arran, which was delivered by one Captain James Murray, the other was committed to the person him- self to deliver to the Duke of Gordon, which he actually did before he had entered into any correspondence with me, and the third was directed to the Lord Murray now Marquis of Athol, which was not delivered when he began this correspondence, and that he found the way to be master of that letter before it was delivered, which he gave to me, and I have transmitted to your Majesty, without breaking the seal, which is clear the effigies of the King, your Majesty's father. This per- son is willing to come to London, and to give what accounts he knows, providing he may do Jt secretly, and he offers to return to France, and discover all the correspondence and designs, but says that if he fall under observation, or that he be discovered, he runs the risk to be broke on the wheel ; he says what money 240 ORIGINAL LETTERS. * ' is transmitted yet from France, is only for the use of some particular persons, and that it comes by biDs to Xuondon, and brought hither in specie. I confess it is hard to think how one should know, or be ready to reveal so much, yet the delivering of that principal letter, and the showing his own com- mission under the hand and seal of the Prince of Wales, as King James the Eighth and Third, which he says was the first paper sealed with his new Seal, these do give credit to what else could not have been so well trusted ; and he says that he has a commission as Major General from the French King which lies there, that it might give no offence, till once the forces designed were raised. I thought it necessary to enter- tain him with some money till your Majesty do signify your further pleasure about him. The Marquis of AthoPs great failing in the Parlia- ment, with this letter, made me once very doubtful whether I should give him out his patent as Duke, which your Majesty had commanded to be done ; but the regard I have punctually to obey all your Majesty's commands determined me to give it out, and now many who were witnesses of his actings in Parliament, and who know that he stands upon a Jacobite foot, are mightily scandalized that he finds the first effects of your Majesty ''s great favour after the Parliament, and this I am afraid may discourage them, who have ORIGINAL LETTERS. 241 acted a contrary part for your Majesty's service m It. Having holies shortly to attend your Majesty, I shall at present offer no more trouble from, Madam, Your Majesty's most dutiful, most faithful, and most obedient subject and servant Holyrood House, Sept. the 25t»\ 1703. LETTER CCCXCVII. Dr, D'Avenani to his Son, after the News of the BaU tie ofHochstet, ot/ierwise called the Battle ofBlein- heim, had arrived in Lo7idon, [MS. LANSD. 773. fol. 51, Oriff,] •»• Charles D'Avenant LL.D. was the eldest son of Sir William D'Avenant the poet. An Account of him will be found in the Biogra- phia Britannica. His works, as a political writer, are weU known. Henry D'Avenant his son became the English Agent at Frankfort. Aug. W\\ 1704. Harry, I HAVE in eflTect ^ve of yours to answer, viz. the four that came together, and the fifth which arrived m9 ^^ ^ K VOL. IV. SER. 2. m I 242 ORIGINAL LETTERS. on last Sunday night, but before that Mail arrived, I had seen Colonel Parks, who with other good news brought me that of your being in perfect health. He got hither by Thursday the lO'*'. instant at two o'clock afternoon, notwithstanding he was kept two days and a half at sea by contrary winds, and landed 120 miles from London, so that the haste he made was very com- mendable, and I hope it has made his fortune. The Queen told him he had given her more joy than ever she had received in her life, and that very soon she would make him glad. The Duchess of Marlborough and my Lord Treasurer bid him be careful of his person, and that they would take care of his fortune. When he arrived there was a general damp upon the spirit of all those who understood business; the Wednesday Mails gave us an account of the junction, and we be- gan to apprehend that the French and Bavarians were superior in Germany, or that at best the Duke would be able to do no more than to form some Siege, which as to the sum of affairs would have been of no import- ance, and 'tis visible enough what would have been the effects of a fruitless campaign. They who malign the Government, that is to say the high-flyers of both sides, would have triumphed beyond measure, taxes must have been augmented, and yet if nothing had been done the Queen's affairs would have gone on very heavily next Session of Pailiament, the Ministers would certainly have been attacked, as it generally ORIGINAL LETTERS. 243 happens in our government when the stete labours under misfortunes or disappointments ; but, God be thanked, this is now all over, and I take the Queen's throne to be now securely fixed, and that her ministers are upon a foundation which nothing can shake. With- out this victory there are those who have malice enough perhaps to have accused the Duke of Marlborough for his march to the Danube, though 'tis evident nothing else could have saved the Empire from utter ruin. The Victory was so complete, and the whole action con- ducted with such wisdom, that there is no room left for envy or malice to detract from the Duke's honour. I look upon it as the greatest battle that has been fought for the.se last thousand years, considering that the flower of all Europe was at once engaged ; the battle of Pavia was in no degree so considerable, and yet the consequences of it lodged the power of Europe for a whole age in the hands of Spain. 'Tis such a blow to France that I am confident they will not recover it in many years, nor can I remember to have read in History of any country that did ever heal after it had received so deep a wound ; I mean under a monarchy. As Comenes says, " Perte de battaile a grande Qiie," which he said upon the battle the Duke of Burgundy lost by Nancy, by which the fate of that great Princi- pality was determined ; and upon the same ground we may hope that the blow France has received on the Danube will, however, for one age put a stop to the R 2 ^44 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 245 designs they have been forming for Universal Empire. I have this post congratulated with the Duke of Marl- borough for his victory. Enclosed you have a copy of my letter. About three weeks ago Count Brian9on delivered me the medal from Princess Sophia, and I had pre- pared a very elaborate letter to Her Royal Highness, the design of which was to prepare her for the disap- pointment I have foreseen for some time she would receive as to the succession in Scotland ; indeed I did not think that matter would have been so soon deter- mined, but it seems they began the Parliament with it. They have granted the Queen a six months"* tax, and she has passed their Security Act, whereby the Crown- Prerogative is very much diminished, and they have got their ends with the Queen'*s obtaining hers. How- ever, I am of opinion "'twas the wisest course Her Ma- jesty could take, for she has thereby reconciled to herself all those who opposed the Court upon any principle of the public good; for, having whatever they could in reason or justice desire, they who shall form Oppositions hereafter will be thought to be bribed by France, which upon this Victory will be but a cold game. Upon the whole matter I hope the Queen"'s hands are now so strengthened, and her enemies both abroad and at home are so dispirited, that she will be able to obtain in any part of her dominion whatever ^he conceives to tend to the general welfare of her people, so that I beheve in a little time the Succession will be settled, especially if England next Session of Parliament shows itself inclined to enter upon an Union, and to grant the Scots a free communication of our Trade, which I have ever thought just, and without which I am apt to think they will never ac- knowledge our Successor, unless by force we compel them to do it. I thank you for the copy of your letter to Mr. Har- ley : there was nothing in it against which there could be a reasonable objection, nor did your last to me con- tain any more melancholy reflections than the Duke himself made to my Lord Treasurer; however, consi- r dering the good News which got hither before your last despatch, I am glad you were so fortunate as not to communicate your politics to Mr. Secretary. I desire you to look out sharp whether or no there is any likelihood of the Duke of Bavaria'*s entering into the Alliance before Christmas ; we think here he will be reduced to it, and that the Confederates will still give him terms. Sir Stephen Evans and I in partnership have laid two hundred guineas upon it ; if you believe him obstinate, or the thing impracticable, advise me of it, for I can edge it off, and with advantage. Your mother and grandmother send you their blessings, and sisters their love. I am Your most affectionate father, CHARLES DAVEKANT. My t *1 - f' t J 246 OHIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCCXCVIII. Prince George of Hanover, afterwards King George //., to Queen Anne, ujmn ?tis receiving the Order of the Garter. [319. DONAT. BRIT. MU8. 4JK>3. fol. 17- ENTIRELY IS THE PRINCE's HAND.] Madame^ J'ai regu avec une parfaite reconnoisance la Lettre dont il a plus a votre Majeste de charger Mr. le Baron de Halifax. Je suis penetre de la marque de distinc- tion dont elle a bien voulu m'*honorer en me donnant rOrdre de la Jarretiere. Je supplie votre Majeste d'etre persuadee que je ne desire rien plus ardemment que de faire voir par mes actions que je ne suis pas indigne d''entrer dans un si illustre corps. My Lord Halifax n''a pas manque de me donner les assurances les plus obligeantes des sentimens pleins de bonte de votre Majeste a mon 6gard. Je me flatte qu'^ son retour en Angleterre il luy fera fidcle rapport dc mon m ORIGINAL LETTERS. 247 parfait devouement pour elle, et du profond respect avec lequel je serai toute ma vie, Madame, de votre Majeste le tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur, GEORGE AUGUSTE, Pr, EL Hannover, ce 20 Juin, 1706. A sa Majesty La Reine de la Grand Brctagne. 3 ■ m > ! 1 LETTER CCCXCIX. Prince George of Hanover to Qtteen Anne, upon re^ ceiving his Patent as Duke of Cambridge. Com- plimentari/ upon tlie Union with Scotland, [ms. DONAT. BRIT. MUS. 4903. art, 25. Orig. ENTIRELY IN THE prince's HAND-WRITING.] Madame, Mr. How n''a pas manque de me remettre la Lettre dont votre Majeste m'a honore avec les patentes de Due de Cambridge, qu'*elle a eu la bonte de m'accorder. Je la supplie tres humblement d'etre persuadee que j'^ai recu Tune et Tautre avec une extreme reconnois- sance, et qu'*on ne pent pas faire plus de cas que j'en f'^Hl 11 !i;: m \ .i ,s 248 ORIGINAL LETTERS. fais de cette dignite, ny etre plus penetrc que je le suis de la maniere obligeante dont votre Majeste me Ta conferee. Je tacherai d'y repondre par le plus parfait devouement, et par les sentimens leg plus zelez et les plus respectueux. Je me flatte, que votre Majeste ne trouvera pas mauvais si je me sers d*une occasion si favorable pour lui temoigner la part que je prends au grand ouvrage qu'elle vient d'acheuer en donnant la demiere main i\ FUnion des deux Royaumes. Cest im endroit si glorieux de son Regne, que quoi qu'il n'ait ete qu une suite continuelle de merveilles et de grands evenemens, il semble que celuicy fut necessaire pour mettre dans tout son jour le soin infatigable avec lequel votre Majeste s^aplique i\ affermir sur des fonde- mens inebranlables le bonheur de ses sujets. Je suis avec un tres profond respect, Madame, de votre Majeste, le tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur, GEORGE AUGUSTE, Pr, El, Hannover, ce 8 Avril, 1707. A sa Majeste La Reyne de la Grand Bretagnc. ORI(;iNAL LETTERS. 249 ♦■ LETTER CCCC. Lord Sunderland to the Duke of Newcastle. Proposes to make a stand in Parliament, or the Prince of Wales icill be brought in. [m8. lansd. 123G. foL 230. Orig.\ S. '",1- Althorp, Aug. 9^'^ 1708. My Lord, I BELIEVE Lord Sommers and Lord Halifax have acquainted your Grace with the unlucky accidents that liave prevented our waiting you at Welbeck; however I should have done myself the honour to have gone alone, but that, since my coming here, I have had the ill luck to sprain my foot, which has put me to a great deal of pain and trouble, but is now something easier. I own I am extremely concerned at this dis- appointment, for besides the pleasure of waiting upon your Grace, it would have been of use to have talked together of the present posture of our affairs, which though they are very fortunately and unexpectedly mended abroad, by our success in Flanders and in the West Indies, yet seem to grow worse and worse every day at home ; for without running over all the particu- lars, such as the villainous management of Scotland, ,^^ m 250 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ri the state of the Fleet, which is worse than ever, the condition of Ireland in which the Protestant interest is lower and the Popish higher than ever, their late management in relation to the Invasion, and in parti- cular the pardoning Lord Griffin, is a declaration to the whole world, as far as in them lies, for the Prince of Wales and against the Protestant succession. These are such proceedings, that, if there is not a just spirit shewn in Pariiament, we had as good give up the game and submit to my Lord Treasurer and Lord Marlborough's bringing in the Prince of Wales. My reason of troubling your Grace with all this is to conjure you not to defer coming to town too long, till just the ParUament meets ; for whatever is proper to be done must be concerted beforehand, and that cannot be done without your presence and influence. I know you are very averse to coming to town before your time, but three weeks or a month sooner or later I hope will break no squares, and it is so absolutely necessary, that it is the joint request of your friends and humble servants; and indeed our all is at stake; for if next Sessions of Pariiament does not redress the mischiefs, there's an end of the Revolution and the Protestant succession. I have obeyed your commands in relation to Mr. Rayner ; as for Mr. Attwood, several merchants of the other side have lodged a Petition against him, so that he has desired to have the matter put off till more of his % ORIGINAL LETTERS. 251 friends are in Town. Your Grace may depend upon my doing him all the service I can. I hope your Grace has your health well in the country, and beg you to believe that I am with the greatest truth and respectj My Lord, Your Grace's most obedient humble servant, SUNDERLAND. LETTER CCCCL Lord Sunderland to the Duke of Newcastle. The Resolution of certain Peers to declare against the Court. The Removal of Prince George of Den- marl from his Office of Lord High Admiral pro- jected. [ms. laksd. 123& foL 238. Oiig.] My Lord, I GIVE your Grace this trouble at the desire of the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Bolton, Lord Dor- chester, Lord Orford, Lord Wharton, Lord Towns- hend. Lord Sommers, and Lord Halifax, to give you an account of what has passed between them and Lord Treasurer in relation to the present posture of our 252 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^53 \\\ 1 affairs, in which they hope what steps they have made will meet Avith your approbation. They have upon the best consideration among themselves come to this resolution and opinion, that it was impossible for them, with any reputation to themselves or safety to the public, to go on any longer with the Court, upon the foot things are at present ; for that if one looks round every part of the Administration, the management of the Fleet, the condition of Ireland, the Proceedings in Scotland, the management of the late Invasion, the disposal of Church Preferments, &c. they are all of a piece, as much tory, and as wrong as if Lord Rochester and Lord Nottingham were at the head of every thing, under the disguise of some considerable Whigs in some considerable places, but with so little credit, or to so little purpose, that they can neither obtain any right thing to be done, nor prevent any wrong one. They considered that the management of the fleet, as it is of the greatest consequence, so it is under the most scandalous management of all, and that this is never to be cured but by the Prince's quitting ; for that what- ever Council he has, George Churchill will in effect be always Lord High Admiral ; so that they have in a body declared to Lord Treasurer, that if this is not immediately done, they must let the world and their friends see they have nothing more to do with the Court. The man they propose to be Lord High Admiral is Lord Pembroke (which would open a re- dress for Ireland, and, what is so much desired by all honest people, the President''s place for Lord Sommers). My Lord Treasurer seemed to agree with them in opinion, (as his way always is in words,) but at the same time pretends great difficulties, and that when Lord Marlborough comes all will be set right, which by the way cannot be much before Christmas. To this the Lords told him that they could no longer rely upon promises and words, and that therefore they must take their measures, till this thing was actually done, as if it never was to be done ; and they told him therefore plainly that they would and must oppose the Court in the choice of a Speaker, that being the first point to come on, for that they liad no other way left to let the world see, and all their friends, that they were upon a different foot to this. He was pleased to make a pro- posal, which was as ridiculous as it shewed the uncer- tainty of their intentions to do any thing that was right, and that was that there should be an Act of Parliament obtained to allow the Prince to continue Lord High Admiral, and to empower his Council to act for him. It would be tedious to repeat all the objections the Lords made to this proposal, as absurd, ridiculous, and ineffectual, and what no Parliament ever would hear of: I will only mention one particular, which is very remarkable and pretty extraordinary, that Lord Treasurer told them that he had mentioned this pro- posal to Lord Chancellor, and that he had entirely !il een forced to omit a great many par- ticulars for fear of being too tedious, so I was very desirous myself, as well as at the command of these Lords, to explain this whole affair to your Grace as well as I could, hoping you will approve of what they have done ; for, in our present condition, all depends upon our acting of a piece and in concert ; and, if we do so, we must carry our point, and save our Country, which I think is in as great danger as ever I knew. I must add the request of all these Lords to your Grace, that you would let them have your company and assistance here in town as soon as may be. I am ever, with the greatest respect, My Lord, Your Grace's most obedient humble servant, SUNDERLAND. LETTER CCCCII. Dr. White Kcnnett, afterwards Bishop of Peterborough ^ to [ms. i.aksd. 825. fol. 7. Orig,\ Dear Sir, On Thursday night I was pressed away by com- mand into service here the next morning, for want of ordinary Chaplains, which I wish it were in my power to supply, that you might see the duties of Waiting. ^56 ORIGINAL LETTERS. II jii i; !i^ I was under the sad apprehension of being hurried away to Newmarket, but her Majesty, resisting the advice of her physicians, was pleased yesterday to comply with a motion of the Prince, and declared her resolution of not going this season, which I see is a great joy to most of the good Courtiers, and gave the Ladies a new lesson, that she who governs the Nation can govern herself so well, as always to oblige her Husband. Dr. Atterbury preached the election Sermon Mich. Day for the Lord Mayor, correcting Mr. Hoadley for Sedition, and carrying up the old d(x;trines of Obed. so very high, that a majority of the Aldermen were much offended, and put a negative upon the mo- tion for printing his Sermon. We have yet no certain advices of taking Lisle, but we seem very much to depend upon it, and upon a happy end of the Campaign in every part of Europe ; which I pray God grant. Due respects to you and yours. Your affectionate kinsman, WH. KENNETT. Kensington, Octob. 2, 1708. i ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^57 LETTER CCCCIIL The Earl of Sunderhind to tlie Duke of Newcastle, The Death qfPrhice George of Denmark. Official Cliangcs, [ms. lansd. 1230. fol. 244. Orig.\ London, Nov. 4 ''. 1708. My Lord, Since I wrote last to your Grace, and had the ho- nour of your answer, the death of the Prince has made so great an alteration in every thing, and particularly in what was most at every body's heart, the affair of the Admiralty, that as soon as it happened, those of our friends of the House of Commons that were in Town, and that were the most zealous with us in setting up Sir Peter King, begun to press us to accommodate the matter and not to make division, since by this ac- cident there was room to have every thing set right ; since that, my Lord Treasurer has acquainted us that the Queen had agreed to make Lord Pembroke Lord High Admiral, Lord Sommers President, and Lord Wharton Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Lord Sommers is out of Town, so that whether he will be persuaded to accept of it, or no, I cannot tell ; but he would be VOL. IV. SER. 2. 8 258 ORIGINAL LETTERS. SO much in the wrong if he should not, that I won't doubt but he will. These Proposals are so great in themselves towards putting things upon a thorough riirht foot, that those Lords in whose names I wrote last to your Grace have desired me to acquaint you with it, and that their thoughts upon it are, that since these main things are like to be done, it would by no means be right to venture a division of our friends upon the first point of the Speaker, and therefore they have already spoke with Sir Peter King, in order to endeavour to make him easy in it ; so that if your Grace is of the same mind, and approves what they have done, you will please to let your friends of the House of Commons know it in the manner you shall judge properest. We are in expectation of seeing you here every day. However, these Lords directed me to acquaint you with it as soon as possible. I am ever, with the greatest truth and respect. My Lord, Your Grace'^s most obedient humble servant, SUNDERLAND. ..If ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^9 LETTER CCCCIV. Th€ Duke of Marlborough to . . dismal aspect of affairs, [ms. sloak. 1407. ^ol. 104.] The Sir, Aug. the mK 1710. Poor Mr. Cardonnel being sick, I must ask your pardon for writing in English : but I would not defer any longer returning you my thanks for your obliging Letter of the 5'*^. and assuring you at the same time the satisfaction I take in the good choice the Elector has made of Mons'*. de Bothmer. Our conjuncture in England is so very extraordinary, that it will require not only his diligence but also his utmost prudence. I pray God every thing may end for the best ; but our dismal aspect seems rather favourable for France than for ourselves. I am with truth. Sir, Your faithful friend and servant, MARLBOROUGH, s 2 11 ; M-; 260 ORIGTXAL LF.TTF.RS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 261 LETTER CCCCV. Robert Harlem/, Esq. to the Elector of Hanover. Hh devotion to the Elector's Person and Serene House. [mS. SLOAN. 4107. foL IOC.] •,* The Reader is now presented with a few Letters which show the manner in which the British Statesmen, when they thought the reign of Anne seemed drawing to its close, approached the heirs expectant. The Princess Sophia was advanced in years. Their chief homage was to the Electoral Prince. Queen Anne's aversion to the presence of a Prince of the House of Hanover at her Court, will he seen in some other Ijctters. It probably was not the mere presence of a successor that was so hateful. The Elector of Hanover, when Prince, in 1680, had expressly arrived on the shorts of England as a suitor to the Queen, then the Lady Anne, but had quitted them to marry the Princess Sophia Dorothea of Zell. Anne too, in spite of the Protestant Succession, had moments of thought, if not of pity for her brother. May it please your Highness, I DO myself the honour to make this tender of my most humble duty to your Electoral Highness by the hands of Mrs. Cresset, who being my relation, and her affairs calling her into Germany, I was not willing to let her go without putting in your Highncss''s hands this testimony of my devotion to your Electoral High- ness'*s person and your Serene House. I have hitherto chose, that this should appear rather by my actions than by bare words. But since the Queen has done me the honour to bring me again into her service, I could not be a faithful or acceptable servant to her Majesty without studying to serve your Highnesses interest. I do not presume to give your Electoral Highness any account of the late changes here. I doubt not but that Earl Rivers has laid before you the grounds which necessitated the Queen to do what she has done ; which has also given the greater and better part of the Nation an opportunity to express their duty to your most Serene House. I have taken the liberty to write this in English, because I know your Electoral Highness has an En- glish heart ; that you may be assured it comes from a heart entirely devoted to your service. I am, with the profoundest duty, may it please your Highness, Your Electoral Highnesses most dutiful, most humble, and most obedient servant, ROBERT HARLEY. London, Novemb. -^L., 1710. LETTER CCCCVL The Elector'' s Answer to Mr, Harley, [ms. LAN8D. I23C. foL 263. Orig.\ Hannover le 15 Dec. 1710. Monsieur, Madame Cresset m'a rendu la Lcttrc que vous m 262 ORIGINAL LETTERS, ORIGINAL LETTERS. 263 1 I »v avez pris la peine de m'ecrire. J'ay re<^u avec beau- coup de plaisir les assurances qu"*elle contient de vostre attachement aux interets de ma Maison, et c'est avec beaucoup de joye que j'aprens que la Reyne honore de sa confiance un Ministre qui connoist si parfaitement les veritables interets de la Grand Bretagne, et qui a toujours marque tant de zele pour sa Patrie. Comme rien ne m*est plus precieux que cette bien- veillance dont sa Majeste m'a donne tant de marques, vous ne scauriez m'obliger plus sensiblement quVn contribuant a me la conserver. Je la cultiveray de mon coste avec tout le soin imaginable, et je seray tou- jours fort aise de vous faire voir la consideration que fay pour vostre personne, et la sincerite avec laquellc je suis, Monsieur, Vostre tres affectionne, GEORGE LOUIS, EUctCUr* Mr. Robert Harlay. LETTER CCCCVII. Robert Harley^ Esq. to the Elector of Hanover y in return to his Highness'^s Answer. [MS. DOKAT. 4107. «rf. 122.] May it please your Highness, I RECEIVED the great honour of your Electoral Highnesses Letter of December 15th, with that pro- found respect and thankfulness which is due to so obliging a mark of your condescension and goodness. I beseech your Highness to accept the assurance of my utmost fidelity and inviolable attaclnnent to the interest of your family, to which I am obliged, as well by duty to the Qiicen as by the common good of my Country. The Queen takes all occasions to express the great esteem she has for your Highness, and concern for your interest ; and, as a further instance of her Majesty's desire on all occasions to improve that good correspondence which is so necessary, the Queen com- mands me to communicate to your Electoral Highness a change she has been obliged to make in her Court, by removing the Duchess of Marlborough. Last night the Duke brought the gold key, the ensign of one of liis wife'^s places ; the Queen having indulged him his choice to bring it or have it sent for. This is so far from hindering the Duke from continuing in his ix)st, that he seems resolved to accommodate himself to the Queen's pleasure, and go on in her service. The causes of this lady's disgrace have been so public, and of so many years' continuance, that it will be need- less to trouble your Electoral Highness on that head. The places will be sjxjcdily disposed, and the chiefest will fall to the share of the Duchess of Somerset. I shall think myself extremely happy, if any occasion shall be ever offered me to manifest the great vcne- Ir'i i'-i1 m [ 1^ 264 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ration and duty wherewith I am, may it please your Electoral Highness, Your Highnesses most humble, most dutiful, and most obedient servant, RO. HARLEY. Jan. Yc9 *-iTT LETTER CCCCVIII. 7V/t' Duke of Buckingham to the Elector of' Hanover Offers hu humble and zealous service, [m». don at. 4007. fol. 132.] Windsor, Oct. 9^1'. 1711- Sib, Not having received the honour of any commands from your Electoral Highness by Mons*^. Bothemar, I have hitherto restrained myself from repeating the Offers of that humble and zealous service which I am sure your Electoral Highness can have no possible cause to doubt of, after my constant endeavours to show it on all occasions. But this late transaction be- tween Britain and France, of which the Earl of Rivers is sent to give you exact information, has given occa- sion, not only for the Queen herself, but for her Ministers also to show their timely care and uttermost « ORIGINAL LETTERS. n^ concern for the Succession in your illustrious line ; and having myself not only an affectionate zeal, but even a jealous regard to the things relating to that matter, I can with all assurance give your Electoral Highness the satisfaction of my being a witness that no part of those overtures was so much at the heart of every body employed about it, as that which indeed deserved it most, the Protestant Succession ; and therefore what- ever happy occasion I had, some few years ago, to be a little remarkable in my concern for her Royal High- ness your Mother, I could not at this time, with all my zeal, outdo the faithful service which every Lord in- trusted has shown in tliis Affair. The business of the Medal also in Scotland, if not immediately prosecuted through the remissness of some who have been dis- placed there for that failing, is now to be strictly punished, as I am sure it ought to have been at first. I had some particular reason not to put this Letter into the hands of my Lord Rivers, and hope you will pardon this liberty in Your Electoral Highness'*s most humble, and most obedient servant, BUCKINGHAM P. '. '^ * ■■!. f 266 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 267 LETTER CCCCIX. Mr. Harley, now Earl of Oxford^ to the Elector of Hanover. The Queen* s care of the Elector's interest, [ms. don at. 4107. art. 129.] May it please your Highness, The Queen sending Earl Rivers to communicate U) your Electoral Highness an affair of great consequence, I presume to desire leave at the same time to make your Highness a tender of my most humble duty. My Lord will give your Electoral Highness the detail of what has passed here with relation to a Peace, and the care her Majesty has taken in the first place of the interest of your Highness and your Family. This the Queen has done without any reciprocal obligation or promise from her Majesty to France, notwithstanding the great need we have of peace, and that the nation is exhausted ; yet the Queen would not act without the concurrence of all her Allies ; and therefore your Highness will observe that all steps taken here arc but provisional : though it would have been no difficult matter to have adjusted the interest of the several Allies, but that the Queen was resolved to give none of them any cause of jealousy, but leave each State to make their own demands at the general Treaty, which the Queen proposes to be opened immediately. I did myself the honour to acquaint your Electoral Highness witli the Queen''s compliance to your desires of having some of your cavalry return this Winter for a parti- cular occasion ; and I shall ever esteem it the greatest felicity of my life when I have any opportunity to show the inviolable attachment and great veneration where- with I am. May it please your Electoral Highness, Your Highnesses most dutiful, most humble, and most obedient servant, OXFORD. Oct. the -.'g, 1711. LETTER CCCCX. The Princess Caroline^ afterwards Queen of England, to Queen Anne. [»IS. DO NAT. BRIT. MU8. 4903. art. 47. Orig. ENTIBELY IN THE princess's hand.] Madame, J''ay re<^eu avec un tres profond respect la Lettre done il a plus a votre Majeste de m*honnorer par le S'. Harlais, on ne peu estre plus reconnoissonte que je la suis, Madame, pour toute les graces que votre Ma- m 268 ORIGINAL LETTERS. r jeste my temoigne la, supliant trcs humblement de mc les conserver comme a une personnequi en connois plaine- ment le prys,et qui est avec une tres parfaite soumission, Madame, de votre Majeste La tres humble et tres obeissante servantc, CAROLINE. Hanw. le 29 Sep. 1712. LETTER CCCCXI. Secretary Bromley to the Princess Soph'ut. [ms. donat. 4107. urt. 13(».] Madam, Since my Son goes with Mr. Harley to Hanover I beg your Highness will permit me to do myself the honour to assure you of my sincere and unfeigned regards for your interests and those of your Serene Family, on which the future happiness of my country depends. This opinion will always engage me to be, with the most profound respect, Madam, Your Highness''s most obedient and most humble servant, W. BROMLEY. Whitehall, Feb. 12, \l\l. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 2G9 LETTER CCCCXIL T/iC Earl of Oxford to Baron Wassenaar Duyven- rvorde. Against any branch of the Elector'^s Fa^ ni'ily coming over without the Queen'' s conaent, [ms. SLOAN. 4107. fol, 161.) April I*, 1714. Right Honourable, This last past I received the honour of your Letter of the 17th of April, for which be pleased to accept my most humble thanks. I send you this Letter by an express messenger, who is going to Mr. Harley with my Letters to Hanover ; and if you please, he will carry any thing you think fit to write. But that I may answer that openness, wherewith you so obligingly treat me, I do in the most solemn manner assure you, that next to the Queen, I am entirely and unalterably devoted to the interest of his Electoral Highness of Hanover. This is not only from the conscience of my oaths, but out of profound respect to the Elector's great virtues. I may without vanity say, that I had the greatest hand in settling the succession. I have ever preserved the same opinion, and it is owing to the declarations the Queen has so often made in their favour that the generality of the iA 270 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 271 people are come to be for that Serene House. I am sure that Lady Masham, the Queen's favourite, is en- tirely for their Succession. I am also sure that the Queen is so ; and you may do me the justice to assure his Electoral Highness, that I am ready to give him all the proofs of my attachment to his interests and to set in a true light the state of this Country ; for it will be very unfortunate for so great a Prince to be only Prince over a party, which can never last long in England ; and let me in confidence tell you, Sir, that there is but one thing can be any way of prejudice to the Succession in that family, and that is the endea- vour to bring them, or any of them, over without the Queen's consent. Two Courts in this Country have been so fatal, and the factions are so high, that it must be very mischievous both to the Queen and to that Serene House, to have any such thing enterprised, that may create a difference between the Queen and that family, that will change the dispute to the Crown and the Successor ; whereas now it is between the House of Hanover and the Popish Pretender. I will add but this one word, that I will assure you, that upon any advances of kindness from the House of Hanover, I will pawn my life for it, they shall receive most essential proofs of the Queen's friendship ; and I am sure that is the best confirmation of their Suc- cession. Be pleased to accept my most hearty thanks, and to believe me to be, with the greatest respect. Right Honourable, Your most humble and most obedient servant, OXFORD. LETTER CCCCXIII. Archbishop Daioes to the Princess Sophia, The zeal of himself and tlie Clergy for the Protestant suc- cession. [ms. SLOAN. 4107* fol. 164] Madam, I WANT words to express my deep sense of the great honour which your Royal Highness has done me in vouchsafing to take notice of, and kindly accept, my poor endeavours to serve your illustrious House, and in that the Protestant interest in general, and our own happy Constitution in Church and State in particular. It is so much both my duty and my interest to do all that I am able for this end, that I should be unpar- donable if I did it not. I hope your Royal Highness will every day more and more have the satisfaction of seeing, not only myself, but the whole body of our clergy are faithful and zealous as becomes us in this respect, and that the same good spirit is still amongst I 272 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ; 1 :i I us, which so laudably and, through the blessing of God, successfully opposed and got the better of the attempts of France and Popery in King James's reign. Madam, I daily and most ardently pray to God for the health, long life, and prosperity of yourself and every branch of your illustrious family ; and particu- larly that he would guard and maintain your right of succeeding to the Crown of these Realms, as now by law established. I am, with the most profound duty and respect, Madam, Your Royal Highness'^s most obedient and most faithful servant, W. EBOR. London, May the 4th, 1714. LETTER CCCCXIV. Lord Chancellor Harcaiirt to Baron Schutz, The Writ of Summons Jbr the Duke of Cambridge. [ms. LANSD. 122C. fol. 251). Ong,\ Sir, When you came to me yesterday and told me that by order of the Princess Sophia you demanded a Writ of Summons for the Duke of Cambridge, I let you ORIGINAL LETTERS. 273 know that I thought it my duty to acquaint Her Majesty therewith. I have accordingly laid this matter before the Queen, who was pleased to say, that not having received the least intimation of this demand from you, or in any other manner whatsoever from the Court of Hanover, she could hardly persuade herself that you acted by direction from thence; that she therefore did not think fit to give any other answer than this, that I should do what the law required. The Writ for the Duke of Cambridge was sealed of course, when the Writs of Summons to all the other Peers were sealed, and lies ready to be delivered to you whenever you call for it. I am, Sir, Your most humble servant, HARCOURT, C. LETTER CCCCXV. The Earl of Oxford to the Elector of Hanover, after " the accident respecting the Writ:'' [ms. donat. 4107. foL 142. Orig.] May it please your Royal Highness, Though I expect Mr. Harley every moment in re- VOL. IV. SER.2. I- i?' M ^74 ORIGINAL LETTERS. turn from your Court, and tlicreby shall have another opportunity of doing myself the honour to present your Royal Highness with my most humble duty and the assurance of my utmost service, yet I profit of this occasion of the Queen's messengers attending your Royal Highness with her Majesty's letter, to lay my- self at your feet. I have no enemy who knows me, that is not just enough to allow me to be inviolably attached to your succession ; nothing comes in competition with that, because I know I please the Queen when I am zealous for the service of your Serene House. I hope therefore I shall find credit with your Royal Highness when I humbly lay my sincere opinion before you. I am sure the Queen is most hearty for your succession ; and if there be any thing which may render it more secure which is consistent with Her Majesty's safety, it will be accomplished. It is not the eager desires of some, or what flows from the advice of any whose dis- contents (perhaps) animate their Real, can balance tlie security you have in the Queen's friendship, and the dutiful affection of all her faithful subjects ; for as I am sure your Royal Highness's great wisdom would not choose to rule by a party, so you will not let their narrow measures be the standard of your Government. I doubt not but this accident which hath happened about the Writ, may be improved to increase the most perfect friendship between the Queen and your Serene Family. I shall study to do every thing which may ORIGINAL LETTERS. 275 demonstrate the profound veneration and respect where- with I am. May it please your Royal Highness, your Royal Highness's most dutiful, most humble, and most obedient servant, OXFORD. May |§, 1714. LETTER CCCCXVL The Elector of Hanover to Qmen Anne annmtnctng^ the loss of his Mother, [ms. donat. 4903. art. 50. Orig,] Madame, J'ay re^eu la lettre du \% de May dont il a plu li V? Maj? de m'honorer. Mais ayant eu le malheur deux jours apres sa reception de perdre Madame TElectrice ma Mere, par une mort subite, qui m'a rempli d'affliction, et que je ne manqueray pas de notifier a V7 Maj*^ d'une maniere conforme au re- spect que je luy dois, je me trouve oblige par une si 'uste douleur de differer de quelques jours a repondre au contenu de la lettre de V'f Maj^*. Je la prie d'etre persuadee du soin et de Tempressement que je T 2 276 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTEUjs. 277 apporteray toujours a cultiver riionneur de ses bonnes graces, et du respect avec le quel je suis, Madame, de votre Majeste le ties humble et tres obeissent serviteur, GEORGE LOUIS, Ekctettr. Herrenhausen, le 11 Juin, 1714. A sa M f* la Reine de la Gr. Bretegne. LETTER CCCCXVII. The Elector of Hanover to the Ijyrd Treasurer Ox- Jord upon the same. [MS. LAN8D. 1236. fol. 285. Orig.\ Herrenhausen, le 11 Juin 1714. My Lord, cTay re^eu le 6 de ce Mois vostre Lettre du 30 de May, et ayant perdu, le 8, Madame TElectrice ma mere par une mort impreveue, qui m'a rempli d'une tres grande affliction. Je ne suis pas encore en estat de repondre A son contenu. Je le feray au premier jour, et j'auray Thonneur de notifier ce triste evenement a sa Majeste d'une maniere conforme au respect que je luy dois. Je Vous prie de vouloir employer votre grand credit aupres d'Elle, pour qu'Elle me conserve Thon- neur de ses bonnes graces, et d'etre persuade que je suis tres sincerement. Milord, Vostre tres affectione GEORGE LOUIS, Elccteur. A niy Lord Grand Thresorier. LETTER CCCCXVIIL The Prince Elector to Queen Anne : to be restored to favour, I MS. DUNAT. 4903. art. 57. Orig. entirely in the princess HAND-WRITING.]* Madame, C'est avec beaucoup de douleur que j'^ai remarque par la Lettre du 30 de May dont votre Majeste m'a honore, qu''on a travaille a me rendre suspect aupres dVlle, et d me representer comme capable dVxciter des troubles, etd'encourager des factions dans ses Royaumes^, Comme ce sont lii des desseins dont ie me pardonne- rois pas memc la pensee, ie souhaiterois ardemment • The Paper on which thib Letter is written is edged with black. • 1 278 ORIGINAL LETTERS. d"*etre a portee d'en pouvoir desabuser voire Majeste et d'etre connu d'elle de plus pres. Je suis persuade, que ma conduite Tengageroit bientot -k me rendre jus- tice, et a m'accorder Thonneur de ses bonnes graces, que ie rechercherai toujours avec le deniier empressc- nient^ etant avec beaucoup de respect, Madame, de votre Majeste, le tres humble, et tres ob^issant scrvitcur, GEORGE AUGUSTE, Pt, El. Hannover, ce 15 Juin, 1714. LETTER CCCCXIX. The Elector ofHafwver to the Lord Treasurer Oxjbrdy upon the necessity Jbr the presence of some Prince irf his House in England, to secure the Queen and her Doviinicnis against the designs of the Pretender. [MS. LANSD. 1236. fol. 287. Orig.'\ *^* Lord Oxford resigned his staff of Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain into the Queen*s hands, at Kensington, July the 27*^. 171*1 ; she dying upon the 1*^ of August following. Upon the Klng*s arrival at Greenwich, Lord Oxford went there and kissed his Majesty's hand, but no intercourse in any other respect took place. In Administration liis conduct had been equivocal. He had corre- '1 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 279 sponded at tlie saiue time with the dethroned family, and witli tlic House of Hanover. As a tory also he was unacceptable. On June lO'"*. 1715, the House of Commons impeached Lord Oxford of high treason ; and on July \&^. he was committed to the Tower by the House of Lords, where he suffered confinement till July 1*'. 1717* when, after a public trial he was acquitted by his Peers. He now with- drew from public life, devoting himself chiefly to the accumulation of those literary treasures, from the manuscript portion of which so much has been drawn for these Volumes. He dietl May the 21»'. 1724. I; J Hannover, le 15 de Juin, 1714. Mylord, J 'ay vu avec beaucoup de plaisir, dans vostre Lettre du 30 de May, les nouvelles assurences que vous me donnez de vostre zele pour la succession Protestante, et de vostre attachement pour mes interets. Ces bons sentiments n'^ont jamais este plus necessaires qu'a pre- sent, puisqu''il s'*agit de dissiper les ombrages qu''on tache d'*inspirer contre moy et contre ma Maison, en nous imputant des dessins prejudiciables a Tau thorite de la Reyne ; et quoy que je me flatte que la Lettre que je me donnc Thonneur d''ecrire a sa Majeste |X)ura contribiier a lui faire connoistre la sincerite de mes intentions, vous m'*obligercz infiniment Mylord, si vous voulez bien y joindre vos bons offices. Vous aurez vu par le Memoire que j'ay fait dclivrcr icy a vostre Parent combien je souhaite de conccrter avec la Reyne tout ce qui paroist estre encore necessaire pour PafFermis&cmcnt de la Succession Protestante ; et vous f280 OKK.IXAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 281 ft ^ ignorez pas que plusieurs personnes distinguees de Tun et de Tautre Party qui ont cette succession fort en coeur, et qui sont sujets fidelles et serviteurs zeles de la Reyne, ont juge que la presence d'^un des Princes de ma Mai- son seroit le nioyen le plus efficace pour mettre en seurete la Personne et les Royaumes de sa Majeste contre les desseins d'un Pretendant, qui se tient tou- jours a portee malgre les instances de la Reyne, et qui a lieu de compter sur un puissant secours estranger. II paroist en effect Mylord, que quand mesme la Nation pouroit estre en seurete contre le Pretendant pendant la vie de Sa Majeste, il n'*en seroit pas de mesme en cas qu*il plust a Dieu d affliger la Grand Bretagne en retirant a luy une Reine, qui la gouveme avec tant de gloire, et quVn ce dernier cas la presence d'un Prince de la ligne Protestante ne seroit pas de peu d'^utilite pour empecher les desordres du dedans, et les invasions du dehors. Si vous savez quelque autre moyen de procurer d la Succession une seurete equivallente, vous m'obligerez fort de m*en faire part. Vous pouvez vous en ouvrir au Ministre de confiance que jVnvoye ^ sa Majeste, et qui vous rendre cette Lettre, et comme vous avez este un des premiers promoteurs de la Succession Protestante, et que vous avez travaille en tant d''occa- sions pour Taffermir, je vous prie de continlier a le faire dans telle cy, et d*estre |x?rsuade (jue vous trou- verez en moy toute la rcconnoissance que vous en pou- vez alttndre, et que je seray fort aise de me voir en estat de vous en donner des marques, estant tres sin- cerement Milord, Vostre tres affectione, GEORGE LOUIS, EUcteur, A SHORT time previous to the writing of this Letter a Memorial at- tested by the Seals of the Princess Sophia and the Elector, dated May 7'»». 1714, had been presented to M'. Harley at Hanover. It dwelt upon the same topics with those which are here pressed by the Elector alone, making a request also that steps should be taken to drive the Pretender from the Court of Lorraine to Italy. " Cest dans cette confience que L. A. E'". prenens la liberte de representer a S. Ma»*^. la necessite qu'il y a d'obliger le Pretendant a se retirer en Italie, et le danger qui pourroit resuetcr de son plus long sejour en Lorraine tant aux Royaumes de S. M'^. qu'a sa Personne Royale et a la Succession Protestante." This last sentence seems to fix the date of one of the best Songs written in the Pretender's favor, and which it is believed has never before appeared in Print. The Copy here given is from the Lansdowne MS. 852. p. 370. From Queen Anne's Proclamation of June 21'*. 1714, her Majesty's attempt to remove the Pretender from Lorraine appears to have been un;$uccc8sful. A SONG. Bring in the Bowl, I 'U toast a Health To one that has neither land nor wealth : The bonniest lad you ever saw Is over the hills and far awaw : Over the hills, and over the dales : No lasting Peace till he prevails. Pull up my lads with a loud Huzza, A Health to him that 's far awaw. By France, by Rome, likewise by Spain, Bif all forsook but DuKE Lorrain ; The next remove appears most plain AVill be to bring him back again. 282 OUIGIXAL LETTERS. Over the hills and far awaw, Over the hills and ftir awaw. The bonniest lad you ever saw Is over the hills and far awaw. He knew no harm, he knew no guilt. No laws had broke, no blood had sipilt ; If rogues his Father did betray. What *8 that to him that *s far away. Over the hills and far awaw, Beyond those hills and far awaw The wind may change and fairly blaw, And blaw him back that *8 blown awaw. LETTERS or Amongst Sir Hans Sloane^s Manuscripts, as well as in the Library of the Society of Antiquaries, copies are preserved of several interesting Letters from Dr. Smith, one of Queen Anne's Physicians, to the Duke and Duchess of Shrewsbury, relating to her Majesty's last illness. The Queen had been for some time declining in hcaltli, about the management of which the Physicians appear to have differed, particularly in the ex- hibition to their patient of the Jesuit's bark. About two months before the Queen's death, an imposthumation came in one of her legs, upon the subsiding of which, as Dr. Smith considered, the gouty humour translatetl itself upon the brain. Anxiety of mind was the disposing, gout the immediate cause of her Majesty's demise. THE REIGN OF KING GEORGE THE FIRST. 4 ORIGINAL LETTERS. 285 The nearer we approach to our own times, the more important do the events of History appear. We combine what we read with the traditions of our fathers, and seem to half-live in the Century which went before us. With the reign of GEORGE the FIRST a milder sway began than was knowu under the Plantagenets, the Tudors, or the Stuarts ; the King was wise, benevolent, and mercifuL The Nation was now harassed by the animosities of the Ministers ; who in some instances were as corrupt toward their Country as they were implacable toward each other. A remarkable proof of the firmness both of the King and Prince in this Reign, at an important moment, occurs in Letter CCCCXXVIII. " If my Lord Orford persist in declining the Sea-service," says Bishop Kennett, " the Prince himself will be Lord High Admiral : and if Mr. M^all be uneasy. King George has heard that King William once under- took to sit himself at the head of the Treasury board.'* In the former Series, the Letters of this Reign which concerned the Rebellion of 1 7 15 were numerous. In the present Collection, those which relate to the King's expected arrival, the state of the Clergy in the Diocese of Tuam, the project for invading England by Charles the Twelfth of Sweden, Dr. Bentley's conduct at Cambridge when the King attended the Conmienccment, the effects of the South-Sea year, the panic in Ireland upon Wood's Halfpence, and the Duke of Wharton's Letter from Spain to extenuate his conduct, claim the reader's chief notice. LETTER CCCCXX. Dr. White Kennett, afterwards Bisliop of Peterborough, to Dr. Samuel Blackwell. King George the First expected from Hanover, The Queen's Interment ordered. Divisions of Interest upon, and Applica- tions for Church Preferment. [ms. laksd. 1013. fol. 198. Orig.] Dear Sir, Since my last nothing of moment has occurred, but what you hear sufficiently by all the public papers. All things are quiet, and all persons seem to be under no other impatience but that of expecting the new King. The day of his setting out from Hanover was fixed to Wednesday last, but advices since have adjourned it sine die, upon occasion of interview with the Court of Prussia, of advising some affairs with the Emperor, of better ordering his Government and Family that he leaves behind, and of being himself a little indisposed by eating too freely of melons. Most agree in his motion at the beginning of next week, and expect to hear of his coming to the Hague about the end of it, and of his arrival here the week following, a The Lords Justices have agreed on a form or manner of Entry, of which we know no step but that lodgings ■ The King and Prince .irrivetl at the Hague Sept. iV*. 1X14. 286 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 287 111. are preparing for the King and Court at Greenwich, by which it is presumed he will come up the river and land there, and after a night or two will go by barge to the Tower, or by land to St. George's Fields, and so in a very solemn procession through the City.» The Queen'^s body is to be carried from Kensington this night to the Prince's Chamber, to be interred on Tuesday night, ^^ according to an Order this day pub- lished by the Earl Marshal. There is an unhappy division of interest and appli- cations for the vacant See of Ely. The first motion was by the Lord Treasurer for his kinsman the Bishop of Oxford : a second by the Lord Not. for his brother the Dean of York : some of the Regents (perhaps wisely) for translating the Bishop of London to that richer See, and filling the City with a man more agreeable to them and the Court : and, at last, many for Mr. Hill, and he in earnest for himself, though in the habit and life of a layman for about thirty years past. The Archbishop is too sensible of these contrasts, and complains of the ill impression of them upon his own mind : though with submission (as one told him) owing in great measure to his forbearing to declare his own judgment : for if he had pleased to tell the other justices at first, that he intended to recommend the Bishop of St. Asaph, I believe nobody would have set up any thought of competition. » The royal Entry from Greenwich through London, was on Sept. 79K ^ Seethe SolemnixaUon of the Queen's Interment at Westminster, Augtistthcxvh. in the Gaaettc. There is likewise great soliciting for the Canonry of Christ Church and Hebrew Professorship, vacant by the death of Dr. Altham. It is said the late Lord Treasurer had promised it to his chaplain Mr. Simon Ockley. The Christ Church men are said to be most desirous of Dr. Wells, and he has sent up a Letter to the Bishop of Lincoln which I know was laid before his Grace on Thursday last, but, I presume, no agree- able man. Dr. Felling, Chaplain to the Speaker, would have the best title to the Canonry if he understood Hebrew. The greatest master of that tongue, and other Orientals, is Mr. Clavering, one of his Grace's chaplains, lately by him preferred to the Deanery of Bocking, which has made way to Mr. Ibbetson of Oriel to succeed him as Chaplain at Lambeth. The French King's rejecting the importunities of the Fretender is an argument of his good faith or great necessity. Tlie barbarous dragooning of our merchants will extort satisfaction, at least, in a free Farliament. We long to hear of the fate of the brave Barcelonians. The last we heard (poor souls) was their hanging out a black flag with a death's head upon it, to signify by that token that they would sooner die than surrender. We are afraid the French will take the ruins of that City by storm, before they can hear of our good inten- tions to relieve them. If a miracle of God's Frovidence preserve them, it may give a new turn to Sicily and the whole Kingdom of Spaip. Stock is very high, and all people in good spirit. 288 ORICIXAL LETTERS. None to all appearance more sanguine than they who would be still called Tories. They, forsootli, adhered to the Protestant Succession. They are most forward to go out and meet the King. They, by their prin- ciples, have been always for the Church and the Crown. They are the surest friends of the Preroga- tive, and they, if we believe them, are the majority of the Nation, and can command a new Parliament. The pulpits in and about London have not been so modest as one would have expected at such a juncture. It is certain that Dr. Wells has preached ever since the demise with a double entendre, and with an eye directly on another King. Dr. Sach.'* has vehemently reflected on the Duke of Marllwrough's public entry, and called it an unparalleled insolence, and a vile trampling upon royal ashes, &c. Others of better figure have so bemoaned the Queen as if Monarchy and the Church had died with her. Nay, some have chal- lenged the faction (as they call them) to tell where is the Pretender, or where is the danger of him ! as if his not coming now were an argument that he never meant it. This day the Lord Chancellor read one Speech in the name of the Regents, and the Speaker made an- other very good one in the name of the Commons upon the money bill for the Civil List, and so both Houses adjourned to, I think, this day se'nnight. It is supposed the King will be inclined to commit » Sachcverell. OniGlN'AL LETTERS. 289 ecclesiastical Preferments to a Commission of Arch- bishops and Bishops, to deliver himself from unrea- sonable importunities of that kind. My own concern, I think, will be to contract myself to a more private life, being abundantly satisfied that our public Affairs are upon abetter bottom, and the Church and Nation more safe and flourishing, and hopes of a better balance of power in Europe and a better regard to the Pro- testant interest abroad. I pray God grant it. Your very affectionate friend, A Oi i~, . Wri. KENNETT. Aug. 21, 1714. These To the Reverend Mr. Samuel Black- well, B. D. Rector of Brampton, in Northamptonshire, near Harborough. LETTER CCCCXXI. ArchhhJiop King to Archbishop Wake, Tlie Prince of Wales, afterwards King Gem-ge IP. chosen Chancellor of the University of Dublin. [H8. DONAT. BRIT. MUS. fill 7. p. 2.1 Dublin, Feb. 16^^. 1715. May it please your Grace, I sHotJLD have congratulated the Church and your VOL. IV. SER. 2. rr S90 ORIGINAL LETTEHS. OBIGINAL LETTERS. !?91 Grace on your Translation to the See of Canterbury, but a severe fit of the gout, rheumatism, and cholic has disabled me near four months from writing. This is only to acquaint your Grace that the Uni- versity here are come to a very good temper, and, as an instance of it, they liave this day unanimously elected his Highness the Prince for their Chancellor ; which is not a matter of mere form, but of great influence, and gives him a very great power over them. I must entreat your Grace's favour in their behalf, and that you would use your interest with his High- ness to take this in good part, and prevail with him to receive them into his favour and protection. The University intend to send it over by some of their own Body in the most respectful manner, as soon as the Instrument is prepared.^ This had been done sooner, but could not well, by reason of the absence of two of the Fellows that were in England, and came over purposely to expedite the matter. I hope this will have a good effect on the Church here and whole Kingdom. I add no more at present but my most hearty prayer for your Grace's health and • The Provost and Dr. Howard, one of the senior Fellows, were subsequently sent bv their Body to i»rea«nt the Instrument of Election to the Prince. success in your great charge in which God hath placed you, and that I am, with the utmost respect, My Lord, Your Grace's most humble servant, WILL. DUBLIN. LETTER CCCCXXH. Archbishop King to Archbialiop Wake, after the death of the Archbishop ofTuam. State of the Clergy in his Diocese. The " Quarta pars Epi^copalis,'^ [ms. donat. BRIT. Mus. 6II7. page 5.] Dublin, March 29''. 1716. May it please your Grace, Though I am disabled by a return of the gout in my right hand, yet I rather choose to make use of an- other's, than omit acquainting your Grace with what I think to be of moment to the Church. It has pleased Grod to make the Archbishoprick of Tuam vacant, by removing out of this world Dr. Vesey the Archbishop thereof, who died yesterday morning. The state of that Diocese is very lamentable, there not being a score of beneficed Clergymen in it. Several of them are non-resident, and all of them very ill provided ; which u 2 Ml il rli I'll III i 5 ; 292 OKIGINAL LETTERS. proceeds from three causes. Tlie first of which is Impropriations. The second is want of a legal settle- ment of the tithes and other dues of the Clergy. Before the Reformation they had a certain portion out of every thing which the people used for the support or conveniency of life ; as for example, a gallon out of every brewing of drink, and so on other occasions ; and for every such offering they had a peculiar name ; and these continued to be demanded and exacted, in a great measure, till the Restoration of the Royal Family. But in the 18 '' year of the reign of King Charles the Second, they wtTe all taken away by act of parlia- ment under the notion of being barbarous customs, and an equivalent promised the Clergy for them ; but that equivalent was never yet given them ; nor do they pay tithe of any thing but grain and wool, and in some places of hay. Now that country being most of it a grazing country, and stocked with black cattle, it yields a clergyman but a small pittance. The third reason of the Clergy's poverty in that Diocese proceeds from what they call Quarta Pars Episcopalh, by which the Bishop has the fourth part of all the tithes in most parishes. The Impropriator then having in most places one half, and the Bishop one fourth, your Grace may easily imagine in what a miserable condition the Clergy must be, that have but a fourth part of the tithes, and the tithes so uncertain. I do find that in the North of Ireland the Bishops ifli ORIGINAL LETTERS. 293 had a third part, the Clergy a third, and certain Lay Rectors or P'armers (called) another third part : but, on the forfeiture of Tyrone, King James the First, in the six Counties escheated by that rebellion to the Crown, gave the forfeited tithes to the clergy and the forfeited fee-farms of land to the Bishops, in lieu of the tithes, and likewise settled a Tithing Table, accord- ing to which tithes are paid to this day : and both Bishops and Clergy are well provided for in those counties. But in Connaught things stood upon the old foot till the time that the Earl of Strafford was chief Go- vernor of Ireland, who began to look into the state of the Church there, and found that the bishops had made away their lands in fee-farms ; and a very small pit- tance was left to maintain their successors. The Arch- bishoprick of Tuam was reduced to £160 per annum. But upon farther inspection into the fee-farms, it was found that many of them were forfeited, or the pro- prietors' title to them defective in law ; upon which the fee-farms were seized, and restored to their respective Sees, upon condition that the Bishops should give up the Quarta Pars of the tithes to the Clergy. This was an advantageous change to both : and accordingly the Bishops of Elphin and Killala made their resigna- tions, their Quarta Pars was settled upon their clergy, and they enjoy it to this day. The Archbisliop of Tuam did the like ; and his resignation was on the 294 OllKilNAL LETTKKS. road to Dublin. But the wars broke out in 1641, and stopped it on the way ; for I do not find that it ever came to Dublin. On the Restoration, a very old man, and a great sufferer for the Royal Cause, being made Archbishop of Tuam, the Quarta Pars came into consideration : and on account of his great age and merit, it was agreed that he should hold it during his incumbency, which they concluded could not be long. His next successor had the same plea, and was likewise suffered to enjoy it. In the year 1679, the then Archbishop being trans- lated to Dublin, Dr. Vesey, the now deceased arch- bishop, then Bishop of Limerick, was named for Tuam ; upon which the Clergy bestirred themselves and peti- tioned the Chief Governor and Council for their equi- table right to it ; that the archbishop had resigned as well as the other bishops, and had his equivalent, which was much more valuable than the Quarta Pars ; that by the Act of Settlement the dispositions made in favour of the Clergy by th^ Earl of Strafford were con- firmed ; and that hitherto they had been debarred of the benefit thereof by the power of the Archbishops, and the favour shewed them by the Government, This Petition was very favourably received by the then Chief Governor and Council; for they had been several times promised that, on the first Remove, restitution should be made them. They were then well able to \\W OKllitNAL LETTERS. 295 prove the resignation ; and the equivalent is still en- joyed by his successors. The Archbishop, finding that the Cause was like to go against him, made haste to his bishoprick ; and calling the clergy together, dealt so effectually with them, that he brought them to a compromise, and prevailed with them to recall their Agent, and let their Petition drop ; which was done on these terms to the best of my memory. The War- denship of Galway was in the hands of a very old man, one Dr. Vaughan, brother to the Lord Chief Justice Vaughan; and the Archbishop did agree with the ^^<^»*gyj that he would use his interest with the Govern- ment to procure that in Commendam when it fell, and then that he would give up the Quarta Pars to them. The Wardenship soon fell, and he got it in com- mendam ; and then entered into a new treaty with the Clergy, and got them to consent that he should hold the Quarta Pars during his incumbency ; and by this agreement he has held it about thirty-four years. I am told there is some reference to this agreement in the Patent, but I have not yet got a sight of it. As soon as I do, I shall be able to give your Grace a more certain information. In the mean time I think it necessary to acquaint your Grace with the nature of this Wardenship. There was in Galway, before the Reformation, a Collegiate Church with a Warden, and a certain number of vicars. The endowment, if I remember right, was nine appro- 2^6 ORIGINAL LKTTKUS. I ' m priated country parishes. On the Reformation this College was granted to the town of Galway, to whom the election of Warden was granted ; but is now looked upon to be in the Crown by the forfeiture of 1641. The value is reckoned to be less than i'200. The Care of the Town and the Parishes is to be supported out of this ; by which your Grace may perceive how improper a fund this was to support the cure of the town, and how much more improper such a cure is for a Commendam. The Town is populous ; most Papists in it ; several Nunneries and Frieries ; and we have not been able, with all our laws, to suppress them utterly. I have now laid the case as full as I can, at present, before your Grace. And, the favour I am to entreat of your Grace is, to interpose, and not to suffer the Archbishoprick to be disposed of till the matter of the Quarta Pars and Wardenship be settled ; the miserable state of that Diocese absolutely requiring it. The only objection that can be made against it is, the smallness of the revenue of the Archbishoprick. I have not yet got a rent-roll, but soon shall, and will transmit it to your Grace; and I believe when the cheapness of the country is considered, and the differ- ence of the expenses attending the archbishoprick of Dublin, that the Archbishoprick of Tuam, with the Bishoprick of Kilfenora that goes along with it, may, in proportion, be very near as good (though perhaps pot sufficient to tempt one of your clergy who despairs ORIGINAL LETTERS. 297 of preferment at home, to intrude into his poor Brother's pittance, and defraud him of his expectation). We have but about six hundred beneficed Clergymen in Ireland ; and perhaps of these hardly two hundred have c£lOO per annum : and for you to send your su- pernumeraries to be provided out of the best of these, does look too like the rich man in Nathan's parable. Your Grace's predecessor was well apprized of the state of the Poor Clergy of Ireland, and had great re- gard to them, particularly in this matter. And I hope when your Grace is fully apprized of the state of this Church, your Grace will be of his opinion. In the mean time, if your Grace will be pleased to look upon the life of Bishop Bramhall before his Works, it may be of some use to enable your Grace to frame some notion of our condition. I heartily pray for your Grace's health and happi, ness ; and am, with the greatest respect. My Lord, Your Grace's most humble servant, WILL. DUBLIN. I am afraid an Act of Parliament may be necessary to settle the business of the Quarta Pars ; for, though thirty-six years ago the resignation could be proved, yet by the death of witnesses, and the burning of the records in the Council Chamber, I doubt whether we could now make legal proof upon a trial ; and perhaps an Archbishop, when once invested, may bring it to that. 298 OKIGINAL LETTERS. , li i ; LETTER CCCCXXIII. Bishop Kennctt to Mr. Samuel BlackwelL The Khiga preparations to gv to Hanover, [mS. LAK8D. 1013. foL 213. Orig.] # • # • # His Majesty's Voyage though not expressly yet de- clai-ed, is, I think, sufficiently understood, and I sup- pose will be communicated to the two Houses this next week. The retinue is not fixed, but by common re- port his Majesty will be attended by three clergymen. Dr. Torriano as deputy clerk of the closet, and the dean of Winchester Dr. Wickart, and Dr. IMenard or his brother, as chaplains, who have all been travel- lers, and are good masters of the French tongue. The Regency will be sole in the Prince,^ with an assisting Council. ♦ ♦ • ♦ • June9^»\ 1716. • The Prince of Wales was constilutctl Guardian of the KinR.loin and his MajcMyu Lieutenant during his abwrncc beyond sea, July 6'b. 171«. His Majesty embarked at Gravescnd, the same day, for Holland, where he landed on the v\ and proceeded cUractly to Pyrm«nt in Germany. ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 299 LETTER CCCCXXIV. Dr. White Kennett to Mr. BlackwelL The Princess of Wales lias a severe cmfinement. [m8. Lansd. 1013. fol. 202. Orig,\ Dear Sir, I RECEIVED yours this week, and thought to have sent you a large Letter by this post, but the melancholy impressions of fear and suspense for the good Princess take away all other thoughts at present. I am now in waiting at Court, and left it shut up on all sides this afternoon. The good Princess had the symptoms of labour on Sunday evening, and 'tis thought might have been safely delivered of a living son that night, or any time before Tuesday morning, if Sir David Hamilton or Dr. Chamberlayne, who attended without, might have been admitted to her; but the Hanover midwife kept up the aversion of the Princess to have any man about her, and so, notwithstanding the im- portunity of the English ladies and the declared advice of the Lords of the Council, she continued in pains till Friday morning between one and two,a when the mid- wife alone delivered [her] of a dead male Child wounded' in the head. She has since been extremely weak and subject to continual faintings, and 'tis said all things ! • Nov. vy IT 16. 500 ORIGINAL LETTEllS. are not after the manner of women in that condition. This afternoon, about four, the Lord Belhaven, in waiting on the Prince, came out of the womcn'^s cham- ber, and told me the Princess had been asleep for about an hour, and was more easy after it, and had no return of her fainting fits. But we are every minute in sor- rowful apprehensions ; and God knows what may be the news before I seal up this. Your affectionate friend, WH. KENNETT. Saturday, 6 at night, 1716. P.S. Nine at night. Sending frequently to St. James's, the last account is more comfortable, that her Royal Highness is somewhat better and if this night past well over, there will be great hopes of her doing well. To the Rev. Mr. Samuel Black- well, B. D. Rector of Brampton, near Harborough, Northampton- shire. ORIGINAL I.ETTEHS. .'^Ol LETTER CCCCXXV. Bishop Kennett to the Rev, Mr. Blackwell King George the First's intention to maike a Proscress to Yorkshire. Trials of the Rebels. [ms. lansd. 1013. foL 204. Orig,] If common report and general belief be good au- thority, the King has deferred his thoughts of going abroad, and intends to make a Progress to Yorkshire alxjut the end of July ; to stay awhile at the Lord Burlington's, and drink of the neighbouring Span. It is most likely his road will lead through Northampton and Harborough, or at least Althorp and Bowden, &c. I presume the clergy of your diocese will in a body wait upon his Majesty with some Address * * ♦ ♦ * • # It is said that Mr. Gascoyne, one of the Preston rebels now in Newgate, offers to make up such evidence as will be sufficient to bring some of the Tower Pri- soners to Trial. The other trials are, in course, de- pending, and, after all provocations, the examples of Mercy will very much exceed those of Justice. This is all I recollect at present, but that in general the King's interest and honour rise higher every day, 302 ORIGINAL LETTERS. and to pray for his life includes all other public hap- piness. I am, Dear Sir, Your very affectionate friend and kinsman, WH. KENNETT. To the Rev. Mr. Samuel Black- well, Brampton, near Harborough, Northamptonshire. » ri I f LETTER CCCCXXVI. The same to the same. The Princess recovered. [ms. lansd. 1013. fol. 208. Orig.] The Princess is in a very safe condition ; the long depending labour, and the loss of a fine Prince upon it, made a great ruffle at Court. The persisting of the midwife that she wanted no other help, has put the English ladies out of all good opinion of her ; and the unwillingness of Sir David Hamilton to interpose with- out express command, brought on him severe expostu- lations and rebukes from the women, and particularly from good Mrs. Wake. He is most concerned that the Archbishop, in tenderness to the Princess, should tell him that he neglected his duty to the Public. * * ♦ ♦ « Nov. 24, 1716. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 303 LETTER CCCCXXVII. Dr. Kennett to the Rev. Mr. Blackwell. returned Jrorti Hanover. [ms. lansd. 1013. fol. 215. Orig.'\ The King The noise of joy in the streets is just now so great, that I must be very short not to be interrupted by it. Other accounts by this post will tell you that the King landed last night safe at Margate, that the Prince and many Nobles are gone out to meet him on the Kentish road, and hope to conduct him this evening to St. James's. My account (if it fail not) would add that my Lord Townshend will be received with as good humour in himself, and as gracious a countenance from the King as any other subject whatsoever : and that no one change will be made in favour of the Tories, but still the same wise and steady administration. Only if any of the Whigs, so called, grow peevish and unrea- sonable, he will deal with them as with any Tories, give them their lives, that's all. So far as he been used abroad to govern by his own prudence and inte- grity, and so far will he apply those noble virtues here in the strictest regard to our Laws and Constitution, as well as to his own honour and true interest. Your affectionate friend, Sat. Jan. 19, 1716-17. wh. kennett. 804 OIUOIXAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCCCXXVIII. Dr, White Kennett to Dr. Blackwell. Project of Charles Xllth. of Sweden for the Invasion of Eng- land, The Court quiet. • « [ms. lansd. 1013. fol. 217. Orig.^ Much has been cut out from the original ofth'u Utter, ♦ « * * ♦ We have been here under a new alarm. It is no longer a doubt that the Rebels have been driving at another push, and have concerted with another King to meet him in the North. He to invade with twenty thousand, and they, good folks, to join him with twenty thousand more : and so to restore King James, and so to return to Sweden, and so all things to be well. This project indeed has been swimming in the heads of the Jacobites a long while, and they made no great secret of their hopes and expectations. Yet we thought a mad party could never find so mad a Prince. But so 'tis, the desperate Cause has at last met with a suitable undertaker ; and the tables are really turned from a descent upon Schonen, •* to a reverse upon Scotland. # # # # # It will have one good influence upon great minds, and teach them not to draw and fight among themselves » Whither Charles XII'*". had retired from Stralsund. 805 in the face of the enemy. That discretion appears already. The Court seems quiet, and the prime mi- nister is the King, and they are his only favourites who can and will be his best assistants : if not, they may go and help themselves. If my Lord Orford persist in declining the sea- service, the Prince himself will be Lord High Admiral : and if Mr. Wall be uneasy. King George has heard that King William once undertook to sit himself at the head of the Treasury board. My Lord Towns- hend has conquered others' humours and commanded his own resentments, and has not only submitted to accept the government of Ireland, in name and title, but begins to do business, and to keep his levees for that Kingdom. Lord Sunderland is thought to be at the head of all Councils, but with no distinguishing . . yet at least. What truth in the rumours of Grace, and Garter, and young Lady, I don't know. The worst consequences are, no reducing the Army nor the Taxes in the present juncture. Necessity must be the superior law. Otherwise, I dare say, the event of things will be, that the Jacobite faction rebel against the Providence of God, and by his wisdom and goodness are bringing about their own destruction and our only safety. * • • • # Your faithful friend and kinsman, Febr. 2, 1716-17. wh. kennett. VOL. IV. SER. 2. X 306 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Ill II LETTER CCCCXXIX. The same to the same, [ibid. foL 220. Orig.'\ We have had uneasy convulsions and strange aU tempts toward a confusion among us, nor can our greatest men yet agree among themselves who shall be and shall not be the Prime Ministers. And yet amidst these divisions at home we are daily threatened with invasion from abroad, though certainly we are so well prepared against it, that the King of Sweden, who was so desperate to project it, must have much more en- thusiasm in him to put it in execution. « * # • # March 16, 1716-17. LETTER CCCCXXX. Dr. Kennett to Mr. BlackweH, The King' of Sweden a less btigbear, [ibid. foL 222. OHg.] The King of Sweden is every day a less bugbear to us ; not that we have any advice of his letting fall the '; »i ORIGINAL LETTERS. 307 intended expedition, or diverting it elsewhere. And I think we are so well prepared, that he had better come once than be always a-coming. LETTER CCCCXXXL Dr, Kennett to Mr. Blackwell. BangormnCmtroversy. King George the First, [ibid. fol. 224. Grig.'] • • ♦ » # I CAN send you no news but that the paper war about the Bishop of Bangor draws a dreadful deal of ink, black and bitter. The cry is more than the wool on either side. I wish the first word had been spared, for I do not know when the last will be given. As to Parliament, after some convulsions, the Session seems to be drawing to a quiet end. The trial I suppose to be reserved to another meeting. Amidst all disputes and personal piques of Ministers, new and old, I am fixed in this opinion, that King George is one of the honestest men, and one of the wisest Princes in the world. And such a Prince, at the head of a good cause, will support it and be supported by it. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ June 8^h. 1717. x2 308 ORIGINAL LETTERS. II ,f j, if /f i S: ' ; 1 'I' . 1 ■j LETTER CCCCXXXII. Dr, Kennett to Mr, BlackwelL General News. [ibid. fol. 228. Grig,] • • • • « Your Physician Sir David Hamilton is gone to the Bath for some weeks; to be down again before the expectation of the Princess, who returns to St. James's about the end of September to lie-in there. • « • • « This place is empty of all people of fashion ; and I have very little conversation with men that know any thing of the Court, where all things are said to be well and easy, and to promise peace and happiness ; but let things be never so well administered, there will be dis- contents and murmurs among those people that want places, and especially among those that want the Pre- tender. The glorious Victory of Prince Eugene over the Turks, and the taking of Belgrade, and the extending of conquests farther, is a just cause of joy to all good people ; and, amongst other good effects, will hasten a Peace in the North if the King of Sweden will listen to any reasonable terms; and will be an immediate check to the perfidious attempts of some Catholic Powers to disturb the Emperor while engaged against ORIGINAL LETTERS. 309 the common enemy ; and will prevent our being drawn into another war. • • • • # James-Street, Westminster, Aug. 31, 1717. LETTER CCCCXXXIII. Dr. Kennett to Mr, BlackwelL The Princess iiear }i£r Confinement, [ibid. fol. 232. Orig,] Sir David Hamilton was called to Hampton Court, and is now set upon the watch in St. James's Palace, for every minute of call or question from the Princess. • ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Octob. 5, 1717. LETTER CCCCXXXIV. The same to the same. [ibid. fol. 23a Grig,] ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Your Physician Sir David Hamilton has very much 3 * 310 OBIGIKAL LETTERS. improved his interest at Court upon occasion of the good Princess's delivery of a son : for though he did not assist in the immediate moments, yet, by the igno- rance or humour of the same midwife, her Royal High- ness was so slow in the calls of Nature, and so far going into convulsive faintings, that there was great danger of her life and the child'*s, if Sir David had not prescribed some raising medicines that brought on regular and effectual pains, and a speedy safe delivery. I congratulate with you the public blessing. The last fortnight of October I spent at Hampton Court, as called to wait there a little out of time. I saw as much Royal goodness and noble hospitality as an honest heart could wish. But Courts and Crowns have so many cares and troubles appendant to them, that I begin to affect privacy, and to love my own studies more and more. Parties are struggling to meet the next Session, and to contend, as the custom is, for places, rather than for any other cause. But the King is so gracious and wise, that he will if possible reconcile enemies without forsaking friends. « • # # • Your very affectionate friend and kinsman, WH. KENNETT. James-Street, Westminster, Novcmb. 16, 1717. !(• ORIGINAL LETTERS. ail LETTER CCCCXXXV. Dr. Thomas Tudway to Mr. Humphry Wardey^ Lord Oxford^ s Librarian, Dr, Bentley's behaviour when the King went to Cambridge. [MS. HAEL. 3779- foL 69. Orig.^ I GAVE you an account before of Bentley's baulks and blunders about the King's reception here; since which he has met with two pretty remarkable ones. The first was wherein I was concerned. There was a grace put up for a gratification for me, for my care and pains at the reception of the King in King's College Chapel ; this Bentley maliciously opposed, in spite, because we had wrested that solemnity out of his hands, who would have had it at his own Chapel ; but this was carried against him and the whiggish crew, by a sufficient majority. The Monday following (the day that the Masters were at Wimple,^ and IVIr. Jef- ferys staid there, and Mr. Prior who had been at Cam- bridge but for them) being the day that we choose a y ice-Chancellor, Bentley, with a reinforcement of devils, almost as wicked as himself, returned to the charge. The two heads pricked were Dr. Gooch, and Dr. Bradford commonly called Tadpole ; but the • Wimpolc. If 312 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Master of Caius carried it by a greater majority than before. Nov. 9th. 1717. LETTER CCCCXXXVI. The same to the savie. Still upon Dr. Bentlq/, (ibid. foL 77* ] You know Bentley and his communication, and therefore there needs nothing more to be said on that head. You have heard already the noise his exaction made at King George's Commencement of Four Guineas for every Doctor of Divinity which he created, other- wise he refused to create them. They all paid it but a few, but with great reluctance, and thereupon he pro- mised that if that matter ever came to be determined against him he would refund. The Chancellor gave it against him. So has the Vice-Chancellor, and the Heads. Hereupon Dr. M iddleton, one of the aggrieved, and lately one of the fellows of Trinity College, de- mands of him his four Guineas, which he refusing to repay. Dr. Middleton sues him in the Vice-Chancellor^s Court. He making no appearance to the Suit, the ! '! ORIGINAL LETTERS. 313 Vice-Chancellor sends a decree to arrest him, which is executed always by one of the beadles. He went to his lodge and told him his business, and showed him his authority. He desired Mr. Clark the beadle to let him see it, which he refused to do out of his own hand ; but making protestations upon honour to restore it, he gave it him, which he like a true Bentleian, and like his bondjide, put into his pocket, and added, like an overgrown school-boy, which is his just character, " I told you I would give it you again, but I did not say when.*" Hereupon the Vice-Chancellor, who has be- haved with great courage and resolution, granted an- other decree; but my gentleman would not then be found ; and while the beadle waited in one of his rooms for him, he sent Ashenhurst and others of his creatures, who mocked and insulted, and asked him what he did there. He told them that he must speak with the Master. They told him the Master could not be spoke with, and bid him come out, which he refused to do till he had delivered his message. Hereupon they locked him in, and made him a prisoner two or three hours. This insult upon the authority of the University, with a thousand other insolent speeches, defying the Vice-Chancellor and Heads, and at all times and occasions behaving himself with the greatest contempt, and speaking reproachfully of every body that he had any concern with ; the Vice-Chancellor, like a brave magistrate, those things being all drawn 314 ORIGINAL LETT£U$. I II up into kind of articles, and affidavit being made of them, summoned a Court, and all these insolences being again read and repeated and swore to, the Vice-Chan- cellor pronounced him suspended from aU his Degrees, and sent him word further, that if he did not, on the next Court-day, appear and make his submission, and acknowledge his offence, he would deprive him of his Professorship and declare it void. What a struggle must there needs be now betwixt Bentley's pride and his interest ! Some say one will make him submit, and others are of the mind that he will risk all. However, Monday or Tuesday the Vice-Chancellor designs to have a Court, and then we shall see the devil pluck in iiis horns. Your affectionate and obliged friend and servant, THO. TUDWAY. I forgot to tell you that six or eight of the Heads were the Vice-Chauccllor's Assessors upon the Bench, and assenting to this execution of Bentley's. OUIGIKAL LETTERS. 315 LETTEll CCCCXXXVII. Archbishop King to Archbishop Wake. The Differ- ences at Court. [ms. donat. 61 17. p. 99.] Dublin, Jan. IVK 1717. f # * * * I AM perfectly at a loss as to any knowledge of what passes at Court, and am heartily sorry to find your Grace seems so much a stranger there. I am afraid your Grace is only Bishop of Canterbury. If the whole world had consulted together to find an effec- tual way to make a faction irreconcilable, I cannot imagine they could have invented a more infallible, than to hinder all conversation or common civilities among partisans. And whoever invented or advised that prohibition was surely his crafts-master. How can it be expected that ever persons should come to a good understanding between themselves, when common friends are not allowed to be common friends, but all obliged to declare themselves mutual enemies. I pity your Grace and others that are sincere to his Majesty, who, I fear, arc neither at liberty to speak your minds, nor do your duties. For aught I find, we generally are of one mind here as to that affair, and 316 OBIGINAL LETTERS. spbak the same way, bemoaning the fatal circumstances, and pleasing ourselves only in this, that we are at a distance from it. But, as your Grace observes, the mischief will cer- tainly in the event reach us if it continue, and I doubt it will all Europe. Pray God prevent the effects of it. But is there nobody that dares deal with the parties as Joab did with David, when he found him engaged in a practice that disgusted and shamed all his friends ? I pray God that there be not the same necessity for such a freedom of advice in this exigent as there was in that affair; and that there may not want those that will give it with the same boldness. ***** Your Grace^s most humble and obedient servant, WILL. DUBLIN. LETTER CCCCXXXVIII. Archblahop Kiiig to Archbishop Wake. Still ujxm the Court differences. [ms. donat. 61 17. p. 101.] Dublin, Feb. &^. 1717. I DO not know any body that has a more difficult « # • # ORIGINAL LETTERS. 317 game to play than your Grace in the present circum- stances : and I think "'tis rather more difficult by reason the liberty is allowed you to visit the Princess. More may be expected from your Grace by both parties than is in your power ; and every thing you do or say will be inquired into; and ten to one but misre- presented. I am of opinion this breach will be made up ; but I doubt 'twill be with great slaughter of favourites on both sides. Your Grace's most obedient servant and brother, WILL. DUBLIN. LETTER CCCCXXXIX. Bishop Nicolson to Archbishop Wake: details his Journey to take possession of the See ofDerrtj. [ms. donat. mus. bhit. 61 10. p. 121.] Londonderry, June 24, 1718. My very good Lord, I HAD the honour of your Grace's letter of the 10 '\ just as I was leaving Dublin this day se'nnight, and about an hour after I had sent to the post my last letter for Lambeth. The Archbishop of Dublin did not S18 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ^:t come home whilst I staid in town, which bereft me of the opportunity of getting his particular informal tions concerning the state of his quondam diocese of Deny, which his singular courtesy would not have suf- fered him to withhold. I was also forced to come away without personal assent to my hcence of return to my family, and of continuing in England till May next ; which favour I readily obtained from the other two Lords Justices. They were also pleased to grant me a guard of dra- goons, with whom I travelled in great security through a country said to l>e much infested with a set of barba- rous and pilfering Tories. I saw no danger of losing the little money I had ; but was under some appre- hensions of being starved : having never beheld even in Picardy, Westphalia, or Scotland, such dismal marks of hunger and want as appeared in the countenances of most of the poor creatures that I met with on the road. The wretches lie in reeky sod-hovels ; and have gene- rally no more than a rag of coarse blanket to cover a small part of their nakedness. Upon the strictest in- quiry, I could not find that they are better clad or lodged in the winter season. These sorry slaves plough the ground to the very top of their mountains, for the service of their lords ; who spend truly rack rents, as somebody supposed those of this diocese would be spent, in London. A ridge or two of potatoes is all the poor tenant has for the support of himself, a wife, and com- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 319 monly ten or twelve bare-legged children. To com- plete their misery, these animals are bigoted Papists ; and we frequently met them trudging to some ruined church or chapel, either to mass, a funeral, or a wedding, with a priest in the same habit with themselves. I was pretty curious, my Lord, in inquiring after the temporal state of my Metropolitan, our Primate ; but had not the satisfaction of finding that his revenue was so great as it had been represented to your Grace. I went through all the apartments of his chief Palace at Drogheda ; which is so far from meriting a compa- rison with Lambeth, that I can modestly aver my suc- cessor will find a better house in Rose Castle. His Grace comes so seldom there, and so little fuel has been spent in it of late, that I should be as much afraid of living there as I am of bringing my family into one somewhat better in this town. Hither I came in much more pomp than I wish for last Saturday in the evening. The Chancellor of the diocese (Dr. Jenkins, cotemporary with my Lord of York at St. John's in Oxford) brought me to his house on the road, at ten miles' distance ; where I was met by the neighbouring clergy, the two citizens in Parliament, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, &c. who all accompanied me to my lodging. The next morning I was enthroned by the Dean ; and have been every day since regaled and feasted by some great man or other. Yesterday the Bishop of Raphoe and I were 320 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 321 ri ^ : i «■ t complimented with the dignity of Freemen ; and after he left us, the Corporation gave a splendid entertain- ment, in their Guildhall, to me and all the clergy in town. These joys are exceedingly damped by the account your Grace gives of your continuing indisposed. ♦ # • • * I am ever your Grace'^s most obliged and dutiful servant, W. DERRY. LETTER CCCCXL. Jos. Wilcocks to Bishop Kennettyjrom Hanover. An Account of what was parsing there during the King's Visit in 1720. (ms. lansd. 1038. foL 81. Orig.\ My Lord, I BECKON this will have the honour to wait on you in the country, and I flatter myself that a visitor from Hanover, which is at present the great theme of con- sultation, will not be unwelcome to your Lordship. It was some time before we had any occurrences here worth communicating; his Majesty being gone to Pyr- mont and my Lord Stanhope to Berlin, here was for several weeks but a very thin Court at Herrenhausen. Since the King's return from the waters, which agreed very well with him, we have had a great ap- pearance of strangers, especially foreign ministers. The King of Prussia has paid a visit here of about ten days: he has a brisk enterprising look, wears a short waistcoat, narrow hat, and broad sword, and has his own hair tied back, and obliges all his soldiers and the officers of his army to do the like ; and because his army is clothed in blue, he generally wears the same colour himself. The Duke of York a came hither soon after his Ma- jesty's return from Pyrmont, and designs to stay with him till he goes to the Gohre ; he is a very obliging affable Prince ; I have the honour sometimes of dis- coursing with him, and he has asked me a great many questions about his nieces, the young Princesses, and their education. His revenue, as Bishop of Osnabruck, is about 100,000 crowns per annum. Prince Frederick was for some months indisposed, he had a trembling on his nerves, which put him much out of order, but it is now above six weeks that he has had no return of it, so that 'tis hoped it has quite left him. His behaviour is very manly ; he speaks English pretty well ; I have the honour often to dine and sup with his Highness, and can assure your Lordship that he is in all respects a well accomplished, and very fine youth. th'e rl^f wllJ^t^^nT ^ B'^"'?^-'^^^ LunenburRh. the brother of King George VOL. IV. SER. 2. ^ p 322 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. f' ii « . ;•! 1 I have the pleasure to acquaint your Lordship, as I am told by very good hands I may, that the affair of Religion is likely to take a good turn in the Empire and be amicably accommodated. My Lord Stanhope's concern for the Protestant interest in general, is ac companied with a very exemplary behaviour at Hano- ver, we have a Chapel in the Court, where his Lord- ship has never yet failed of coming on Sundays with his family, and my congregation is now pretty con- siderable. I do not find there is any thing considerable printing either at Leipsic or Helmstadt, except Keppler's works in the former, in several volumes folio, by the Emperor's encouragement, they talk of collecting Mr. Leibnitz's pieces, but it is not certain when they will be published. The quality and gentry of this country taking to the sword, learning is in no great credit; the superin- tendants have generally but small incomes, but the Abbot of Lockum, who is the first ecclesiastic in the Duchy of Hanover, has about £1500 sterling per annum : he is near ninety years old, but holds as fast as the Bishop of Durham. •* Sir G. Byng, his two sons, and Captain Saunders arrived here the other day from Italy, and have been very graciously received. The King is mightily pleased with a new jette d'eau in Herrenhausen gardens made by one Andrews an Englishman, and which throws . Nathaniel Lord Crew Jjccnmc bUhop of Durham in 1674. He did Scv)t. 12'^. 1721 . aged eighly-eight. 323 up a great quantity of water about sixty feet high. The Palace at Hanover is better than St. James's, and the Gardens at Herrenhausen larger than those at Kensington. Here is a public Library but not extra- ordinary, the best in this country is that of VVolfen- buttel, where it is said there are abundance of Manu- scnpts relating to the Government of Britain. The Lutherans here, though they hold a real pre- sence m the Eucharist, disclaim the term consubsfan- t.at.on, and say it is a word of reproach thrown upon them by the reformed: however it be, as they draw no consequences of adoration or any thing like it, if it be a specu at. ve error, it seems to be a very innocent one. The Churches of the Lutherans are adorned with pictures and images, but they use no surplice H,s Majesty continues in very good health, and I hope about two months hence to have the honour of waiting on your Lordship in London; in the mean ' time with respects to your good Lady and family, I am My Lord, Your most obedient servant, TT ^ ^^^' WILCOCKS. Hanover, Sept. 5, 1720. N. S. he held .1 tCLr/; nC.t:^ "H/fr ^' ^'^^'^ ^^^^^ preferment, even the arckishopr Hf Vork L/h"^^^^^ 'f ^ ^' aged eighty-tliree. P ^^^ ot \ ork , and died March 9^\ lysfj, S24 OBT(;iXAT. l.KTTEBs. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 325 I ii ? H LETTER CCCCXLI. Dr. Nicdson, Bishop ofDerry, to Archbishop Wake. The effects of the Smith Sea Scheme upon Ireland. [ms. donat. 6116. p. 1970 Londonderry, Dt^-. 6»''. 1720. My very good Lord, The last Letter wherewith your Grace honoured me was dated November the 3''. and came regularly about the 13'^. From that day we have not had one word of Advice out of England till this morning, when nine Packets arrived together, and brought us the first sure notice of his Majesty's safe return, for which we are this minute giving solemn thanks in ringing of bells, bonfires, &c. This is a cheerful scene when compared with the gloominess which has been upon all our faces for some months past : and I am afraid the darkness will yet thicken. Our trade of all kinds is at a stand, insomuch that our most eminent merchants who used to pay bills of ^1000 at sight, are hardly able to raise ^100 in so many days. Spindles of yarn (our daily bread) are fallen from half a crown to fifteen pence ; and every thing else in proportion. Our best beef (as good as I ever eat in England) is sold under three farthings a pound. And all this not from any extra- ordinary plenty of commodities, but from a perfect dearth of money. If Mr. Walpole, or any other wise man, will bring the two Kingdoms out of the present plunge, he will be a meritorious patriot. ♦ ♦ ♦ « ♦ We feel the poverty of the town and neighbourhood of Manchester (whence we used to have an annual de- mand for all the yarn we could spin) as much as the inhabitants of the place can do. • * • • ♦ Your Grace's most obliged, obedient and dutiful servant, W. DERRY. LETTER CCCCXLIL Dr.Kifig^ Archbishop of Dublin, to Archbisliop Wake. Still upon the Affair oftlie South Sea Company. [ms. donat. 6117. p. 126. j Dublin, Feb. 9^. 17:20- ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ As to your South Sea Affair I told the fate of it last April, when it was at three hundred for one hundred, 326 ORIGINAL LETTERS. and the event has in every particular answered my pre- diction, which I set down in a few queries which I shewed to my friends but would not suffer them to be printed, because I understood that whoever said any thing against the South-Sea was looked on as disaffected to the Government and Ministry, which is an accusa- tion I would by no means lie under. I find both Houses are pretty smart on the Directors ; but I hear nothing said concerning those whose office it was to prevent the ruin of the Nation. If they did see that, and suffered it when it was so very easy to prevent it, it is no hard matter to determine what they deserve. If they did not see it, they were the only blind set of men in the Kingdom, and for the future ought never to be trusted in any public business ; and, beside that, chas- tised for meddling in the matters of which they were absolutely incapable : for surely such ought not to go unpunished. But it is now no new thing to hang little rogues and let the great escape. * ♦ # ♦ • Your Grace's most obedient servant and brother, WILL. DUBLIN. • ; i^-. i ORIGINAL LETTERS. 327 LETTER CCCCXLIII. The Archbuhop of Dublin to Archbishop Wake, upon the same. [us. DONAT. CI17. p. 127.] Dublin, March 23, 1720. ♦ ♦ * • # I WILL say no more to your South Sea, but it has surely made us miserable to the highest degree, if starving be a misery. I lately had a petition from three hundred families concerned in the linen, silk, and woollen trade. I laid it before the Government, with another to the Justices and Council ; upon which I was ordered to inquire into the truth of the matter, and thereupon I procured the several ministers, church- wardens, and other substantial citizens to go through the parishes, and to inquire and see the circumstances of the petitioners. They have done so in most parishes, and returned the names of above thirteen hundred, beside wives and children, who are all out of employ- ment and starving, having sold every thing to get them bread. I was of opinion before, that one-third of this City needed charity ; but this and other inquiries have assured me that at least one half are in this lamentable state. I liave ordered a collection in every Church for 328 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 329 i iil 5-: S • -4.: S • ;i In it* « I 1 ■ > »l I '■ i! 1 !: I them, and engaged the Clergy to represent their case* in the most effectual manner to their people, but alas ! this, and all the subscriptions I can get for them, is nothing in respect of their wants. Most of our gentry and officers, civil and military, are in England. Those that are here, cannot get their rents from their tenants. The merchants have no trade; shop-keepers need charity ; and the cry of the whole people is loud for bread. God knows what will be the consequence. Many are starved, and I am afraid many more will. This is an effect in a great measure of the public management. And all the satisfaction I yet see the nation are to expect, are sonic hard votes on some few Directors ; and not one word against those that stood by and saw them do the mischief, when they might and ought to have prevented it. And if the account we have here be true, no industry is wanting to screen the criminals; and the inquirers are discouraged. Whether there be truth in this your Grace knows. I am sure, however, it is no service to the Government to have it reported. We were in a miserable condition in King James's time ; but we generally had meat and drink, though with insufferable slavery and oppression : but now we have nothing of those but what we bring on ourselves, yet the poor are in danger of starving, and many have perished. The Gaols are full, not of State prisoners, as then, but of debtors. Your Grace will pardon my giving you this trouble. The truth is, it is so great a grief to me to see so many miserable, and not to be able to relieve them, that I can hardly think, speak, or write of any thing. Your Grace's most obedient servant and brother, WILL. DUBLIN. LETTER CCCCXLIV. Dr. King, Archbishop of Dublin, to Archbishop Wake. The effect of the South Sea Failure still continues in Ireland. [ms-donat. 0117. p. 135.] Dublin, May 15^''. 1722. ****** The present bustle gives us great uneasiness, and wiU help to sink this Kingdom, by putting a stop to all trade and business. Nobody will part with a farthing of money, if he can help it, till it be over. We are the more uneasy, because we know the bottom or rea- son of it; and people entertain wild and strange sur- mises concerning it, which are fed and heightened by private letters from England. We are sending off Six Regiments to assist you. One would think, con- sidering the number of Papists we have here, that our ''•i 330 ORIGINAL LETTERS. gentry are for the most part in England, and all our money goes there, that we should rather expect help from you in any distress, than send you Forces to pro- tect you. Yet this is the third time we have done so since His Majesty's accession to the Throne; and withal preserved the Kingdom from any Insurrection or Rebellion ; which is more than can be said for Eng- land or Scotland. , 1 . i N. II: LETTER CCCCXLV. Dn NicoLmi, Bishop ofDerry, to Archbisliop Wake. The new Irish Halfpence, (ms. donat. 6116. p. 237.] • • The Reader need hardly be informed that, in 1722, the want of small money in Ireland had grown to such a height that even considerable manufacturers were obliged to pay their workmen with tallies or tokens of card signed upon the back, to be afterwards exchanged for money. Counterfeit coins too, called Raps, were in common use, made of such bad metal, that what passed for a halfpenny was really not worth half » Farthing. In order to remedy these evils, the King granted a patent to William Wood, Esq. the chief lessee of the mines on the crown lands, for coining and uttering Halfpence and Farthings in that Kingdom. The privilege was for the term of fourteen years, the quantity to be coined limited, and the issues to be under the inspection of a Comptroller ap- pointed by the Crown. A rent of 800/. per annum was reserved to the King, and 200/. a year to the Comptroller. Notwithstanding these re- strictions, and though the coins in weight, fineness, and execution, ex- ceeded any which had been previously made for Ireland, the measure % ORIGINAL LETTERS. 331 became unpopular, and the prejudices of the people were so worked upon by Swift and others, that M^ood was finaUy induced to surrender his Patent, The Reader who would know all that passed upon the subject of this and some succeeding Letters, may consult Simon's Essay on Irish Coins, pp. 69, 70, 171 ; Swift's Works, vol. xv ; Ruding's Annals of the Coinage of Britain, 8 «. edit. voL iii. p. 472—485 ; and Coxe's Memoirs oi Sir Robert Waljwle. Dublin, Sept. 91^K 1722. My very good Lord, This day the Bishop of Elphin and I had the fa- vour of being admitted to hear the Debates of our House of Commons on (their only subject of contro- versy) the new Irish Halfpence. They have loaded the Patentee (W. Wood) with heavy censures; but treated His Majesty, the Lord Lieutenant, and the English Ministry, with decency. The Report from the Committee of the whole House is to be made on Monday, when an Address will be made on their several Resolutions, wherein they unanimously agree that this Kingdom would have suffered a loss of 150 per Cent by the Patentee's execution of his powers, if he had performed the conditions of his grant, and much more by his abuse of it. Dining very late with the Lord Chancellor will not admit of a fuller report from Your Grace's most dutiful, W. DERRY. I n 332 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 333 LETTER CCCCXLVI. Dr. Nicolsm, Bishop ofDerry, to Archbishop Wake. Apprehension of losing aU the Gold and Silver in Ireland in exchange for Halfpence and Farthings. Debates upon it in the Commons of that Kingdom^ [MS. DON AT. 611G. p. 24L] Dublin, Sept. lO^K 1723. My very good Lord, By the last post I promised your Grace our Ad- dresses to His Majesty and the Lord Lieutenant, not considering that the former cannot be published till the King's Answer is received. What most alarms us is a general apprehension of losing all our Gold and Silver in exchange for Half- pence and Farthings of an adulterated metal ; which (as is computed) will carry off above Seventy per Cent, if they are allowed to pass current. On this topic the Commons were very warm yester- day ; and their Debates ended in a Call of their Mem- bers, and the appointing a day (Friday se'nnight) for the consideration of that particular. I am, my Lord, Your Grace's ever faithful, W. DERRY. LETTER CCCCXLVIL The same to the same. The panic in IreUnd im^r eases. Dean Sxvift prints his Letters on the subject. [m8. don at. 6116. p. 264.] London Derry, August 21st. I724. My very goAd Lord, 'Tis an inexpressible Ferment wherein this distracted Kingdom is at this present, on account of a panic fear which we are under of being ruined by Wood's Halfpence. This Morning's Packet has brought us printed Copies of the late Report of the Committee of your Council upon this subject ; which shows us what course is like to be taken. As an Antidote against this we have had two printed Letters, generally sup- posed to be penned by Dean Jonathan, animating all our Farmers, Shop-keepers, &c. peremptorily to refuse the acceptance of this Brass-money, by what authority soever countenanced ; and (in plain terms) to shoot Mr. Wood or his accomplices through the head, when- ever any of them shall dare to offer their Trash in payment here. Nay, since the coming over of the Report, most of the several Companies of Merchants, Drapers, and other Tradesmen in Dublin, have sub- scribed a sort of Association to this purpose. And, 334 ORIGINAL LETTERS. since I began to write this Letter, I am told that the Merchants in this Town are, at this very time, copy- ing after their betters. I have ventured (and a bold venture it is) to caution some of them against engaging in such a warm enterprize. My Lord, I cannot but vehemently suspect, that this evil spirit is raised by those that hope for more considerable outrages amongst us ; especially when the Insolence of our Popish Priests increases so visibly every where. • ♦ • • • Your Grace's most dutiful servant, W. DERRY. LETTER CCCCXLVIIL The same to the same. Leagues and Declarations among the Shopkeepers^ ^c. of Ireland^ against WoocTs Halfpence, [MS. DONAT. 6116. p. 28().] London Derry, Oct. 2 ». 1 724. My very good Lord, • ♦ • ♦ ♦ I AM not surprised at your Grace's wondering at our unaccountable Warmth about Wood's Halfpence. The matter seemed as strange to me ; and I freely ex- pressed my thoughts as long as I durst. By degrees ORIGINAL LETTERS. 335 we are now come into a general conflagration. All our pedlers and petit merchants are confederating into solemn Leagues and Covenants against the currency of them. In one of the little borough towns of this Diocese the shop-keepers and ale-drapers have sub- scribed a formal engagement, wherein they abhor, de. test, and abjure Mr. Wood and his Copper, in the same words wherein their ringleaders have bid a de- fiance to tlie Pretender and his false Money. Tliis frenzy (which is indeed epidemical throughout the whole Kingdom) had seized several of my neigh- bours in this town : but upon the application of some of the chief of them for my opinion, a stop (I hope a final one) is put to the progress of the infection here. I am told that some Hot-spurs among our Justices of the Peace have drawn up a declaration, in the fashionable way, which they design to offer to their brethren (and the Grand Jury) at their Quarter Ses- sions on Tuesday next. But half of the Bench being Clergymen, I hope to suppress that also. The Lord Lieutenant's coming (unless some comfort about tlie Half-pence be his forerunner) will be a little dreaded by Your Grace's ever dutiful^ grateful, and faithful servant, W. DERRY. 336 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER CCCCXLIX. The same to the same. Further Associations against the Currency of' Wood's Money, [MS. DOlfAT. 6116. p. 122.1 London Derry, Oct. 30^»'. 1724.. My very good Lord, My last acquainted your Grace that our Justices of the Peace and Grand Juries were threatening to enter into Covenants and Associations against the Currency of these Halfpence and farthings, according to the pre- cedent given them by the three Estates of the County of Dublin. This great example was accordingly followed, as I am credibly informed, by all the Counties of the Pro- vince of Ulster ; this of London-Derry only excepted. We had not one word said of the matter : but some of our good neighbours abundantly supplied this defect. They not only covenanted (after the common form) « never on any pretence whatever to receive or pay any of that coin," but that they would " prosecute to the utmost all others that should give any countenance to its currency." To complete our security, our Spiritual Draper wrote a fourth Letter on this fruitful subject, directed ORIGINAL I.ETTIiRS. 337 to the whole people of Ireland ; wherein he exhorts the Kuigdom most stedfastly to adhere to that glorious comb.nat.on whereunto they have thus bound them- selves^ This advice he thinks necessa^- at this junc- ture, because of a report spread abroad that the Lord L.eutenant is coming over to settle Wood's Halfpence. falsehood, and proves it to be so by (as sneering) panegyrics on his Excellency, Mr. Walpole, &c. Care was taken to publish this satire the very day before the Lord Lieutenant landed, and within two days after U had a second edition. This gallant patriot asserts. .„ words at length, that Ireland no more de pends on England than England does upon Ireland; that they who assert the contrary, talk without any ground of law, rea«,n, or common-sense ; that the Par- laments of England have sometimes assumed a power of binding this Kingdom by laws enacted therefbut this has been opposed by invincible arguments, from truth, justice, and reason, &c. Thus, my Lord, we are come to the highest round in our ladder; and if „o mark be set on this insolent nol OM h.ir of hi. he«l fall to the ground -f™^." v '^"^ """*• ">»« """ the people rescued Jonc,^a„ IhaX he S J" ,,7°"^'?' "'* ""^ ""' ""y- So »ame to the same. The Address of tU Irish Par. liariient upon his Majestr/s favour m the matter oj Wood^s Patent. [MS. DOKAT. 6116. p. 284.] ;l! Dublin, Sept. 21". 1725. My veby good Lord, Upok this day's delivery of the enclosed Speech from the Throne (which was done with as graceful an emphasis as I ever heard) Addresses to his Majes^ and the Lord Lieutenant were immediately resolved on, in terms as dutiful and respectful as could be de- sired: but upon appointment of Committees to draw up those, instructions were offered which look per- Dlexing, and occasioned long debates. H,s Majesty s koyal favour and condeseendan in the matter of Wood's Patent was not thought to be sufficient to bear ^he whole weight of our acknowledgments, unless his lil ORIGINAI, I.KTTEBS. 339 Wisdom was also allowed its share. The meaning of that word on this occasion was plainly discernible However, a majority carried the Amendment : but, we hope, that either the Com.nittee or the House itself (on second thoughts) will throw it out. a This struggle has kept us so late, that I am hardly able to subscribe myself Your Grace's most dutiful servant, W. DERBY. LETTER CCCCLL The Duke of WUrtou to Lady Jane Holt Ms sister. Endeavours to extenuate his conduct. [MS. DONAT. C4ia foL 5. Orig.l m»ding the Duke u, return to ^r^J^ hj! ^^^ »fJl»f«on, com. when it wu delivered to hi.,, /^"8'»"<^ "» trace, being m a coach wi*outope„iZr^dttl°: ~T'''"?'''*"''' "•» *' -^^ lowing Letter! ^ *" "*'^"" " <"«P«'»«' by the fol. Pope say». He died . ,. "»»^ «""«»« of cocACAarcA and State." At hn death in 1731, the UUe became extinct. 7. 2 340 ORIGINAL LETTERS. OKIGINAL LETTERS. 341 Dear Sister, My name has been so often mentioned in the public Prints, and consequently become the subject of private conversation, that my personal friends (you particu- larly) may with reason expect to know from myself what steps I have taken or intend to take, and the true reasons of my present resolution. As to the reasons of my conduct I do not think it proper to write them directly to You, I must refer you to some papers you will soon see published through all Europe ; I will not trust the good manners, or the good nature of my enemies by writing any thing to you that might expose you to trouble, for it would sharpen the prosecutions begun against me, if you should suffer the least inconvenience from tenderness to me. Whatever relates to myself gives me no un- easiness. Every virulent vote, every passionate re- proach, and every malicious calumny against me, are so many real commendations of my conduct, and while you and my sister Lucy are permitted to live quietly and securely, 1 shall think our Family has met with no misfortune, and has therefore no claim to the com- passion of its truest friends. I know your tender concern and affection for me, and write chiefly to give you comfort, not to receive any from You ; for I thank God that I have an easy contented mind, and that I want no comfort. I have some hopes, I have no fears ; which is more than some of your Norfolk neighbours can say of themselves. I desire your prayers for the success of my wishes and prosperity of our Family ; I scorn the false pre- tended compassion of my enemies, and it would grieve me much more to receive the real pity of my friends. I shall not wonder if, at first, you should be affected with the warmth of the Proceeding against me, and sliould shew some concern at the attempts to strip our family of its title, and to rob them of their estates ; but you will soon change your mind, when you consider that my real honour does not depend on WaJpole or his master^s pleasure, that a faction may attaint a man without corrupting his blood, and that an estate seized by violence and arbitrary [power] is not irrecoverably iost. The word late is now become the most honour- able epithet of the Peerage, it is a higlier title than that of Gr(u:e, and whenever you hear me spoke of in that manner, I beg you to think as I do, that I have received a new tnarJc of tumour, a mark dignified by the Duke of Ormond, Eari Marischal,^ and others. You that have often read Clarendon's History must know that during the reign of Cromwell and the Rump Pariiament, the whole Peerage of England was styled THE late House of Lords ; there was then no want of late Dtckes, late Earh, and late Bishops, and why sliould that be reckoned a reproach to a single Peer, • Of the Earl Mariscliall a furllicr inciitioii wiU occur hcrcafitr. \ 111 1;.? S42 OKIGINAL LETTERS. which was then the distinguishing title to the whole body ? Was that usurper Cromwell the fountain of honour ? Had he who murdered one King any more power to taint the blood of his fellow subjects, than his illustrious successor who has fixed a price on the Head of another ? For as Lord Harcourt finely observes in his Speech on Dr. Sacheverel, there is little or no dif- ference between a wet Martyrdom or a dry one. Can a High Commission Court at present, or a Secret Com- mittee, tarnish the honour of a family ? Is it a real disgrace to be condemned by Macclesfield, Harcourt, Townshend, or Trevor ? Is it a dishonour to be robbed of a private fortune by those who have stript the widow and the fatherless ? who have sold their Country? who have plundered the public? No, my dear Sister, assure yourself that this unjust Prosecution is a lasting monument erected to the honour of our family ; it will serve to render it illustrious to after ages, to atone for the unhappy mistakes of any of our misguided ances- tors. If it should end with me, it will, however, have outlived the Liberties of England. Those honours which we received at first from the Crown, can never be more gloriously interred than in the defence of the injured rights of the Crown ; than in the cause of the rightful Monarch of Britain, the greatest of Princes and the best of Masters. But I forget myself by enlarging too far on a sub- ject that may not be so conveniently mentioned in a ORIGINAL LETTERS. 343 Letter to you ; my zeal for my Country, my duty to my Sovereign, my affection to You, and my respect to my Family and its true honour, have carried on my pen farther than I intended. I will only add that no change in my circumstances ever shall lessen my tender con- cern for you or my sister Lucy, to whom I desire you would present my love, and charge her as she values my friendship never to marry without my consent. Be assured that no distance of place, nor length of time, shall abate my affection for you, and my enemies shall find whenever I return to England, it shall be with honour to myself and with joy to my friends ; to all those I mean who wish well to the Church of England, and to their native Country. Neither shall any thing tempt me to abandon that cause which I have so deliberately embraced, or to forsake that Religion in which I was educated. Wherever I am, I shall be always, dear Sister, Your sincere friend and brother, WHARTON. Madrid, June the 17'»'. N. S. 1726. To Lady Jane Holt. ijiMBIH 1 1 LETTERS OF THE REIGN OF KING GEORGE THE SECOND. OUIGINAL LETTERS. 347 In this as in some preceding Reigns, the topics on which the Ijettera treat are few, and they relate chiefly to the latter part only of Kino George the Second's time. The murder of Capt. Porteus in 1736, the Rebellion of 1745, the robbery of the English Courier at the Gate of Berlin, and the Fate of Byng, are the most prominent subjects. Next to these, the Letters of Mr. Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, the pardon of the Lord Marischall, and the proof that Voltaire drew secrets from the King of Prussia for the Court of France, are perhaps the most attractive. Frederick the Great's laconic character of Voltaire ^iU not be overlooked. LETTER CCCCLII. Major General Moyle to the Duke of Newcastle, upon the Seizure and Ejrecution of Captain Porteous by tlie Mob at Edinburgh, [mS. HARL. MUS. BRIT. 7187.] •»• The Case of Captain Porteous was one of extraordinary interest at its tune. As Captain Lieutenant of the City Guard of Edinburgh he was charged with, and adjudged guilty of firing upon the populace without order from the Magistrates, upon an attempt of the mob to seize the body of a culprit whose execution had just taken place, April \b^\ 1736. On July the 20"». he was sentenced to die. Circumstances which were subsequently brought to light, appeared to lessen his guilt, and Queen Caroline, who was then Guardian of the Realm, sent a reprieve for six weeks, which it was thought would be followed by a change of the sentence to transportation. His execution stood fixed, upon the expiration of the reprieve, for the &K of September. Upon the night of the 7»"». as will be seen in the following Letter, the populace seized the Toll-booth by surprise, found the prisoner, and hurried him by torch, light to the Grass-market, where throwing a rope over a sign-post twenty feet high, belonging to a dyer, near the ordmary place of execution, they pulled him up, but his hands being loose, he fixed them between his neck and the rope, so that the mob were obliged to let him down again. Having on two shirts, they wrapped one about his face, tied his arms with the night-gown he had on, pulled him up again, and completed his execution. '-A r 111 Edinburgh, 9^^'. September, 1736. My Lord, I THINK it my duty to acquaint your Grace with what happened here last Tuesday night, about a quar- ter of an hour after ten. Being then in my bed, Colonel 348 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Pears, who commands General Sabine's regiment in the Canongate, came and told me he heard there was a great disturbance in the City, on which I imme- diately ordered him to assemble the six Companies quartered here, and to parade them near the Guard in the Canongate, and to send for the three Companies from Leith, which was done with as much expedition as possible, for some of the Companies are quartered at a great distance from the Canongate. I dressed myself as soon as possible, in order to join the regiment. I was scarce dressed when Mr. Lindesay came to me, and told me there was a great mob in the City. It then wanted about fourteen minutes of eleven ; he assured me they had got possession of the City gates, and that with much difficulty he got out by a small wicket, and was obliged to come round by the King's Park. He made no demand of a guard to assist them, but I told him I had ordered the regiment to be under arms, but that I could not force any of the Town gates, or give orders for attacking the mob, without legal authority from the Lord Justice-Clerk, or some other of the Lords of the Justiciary ; for it was from one of them I had received all orders relating to the military since I came into the Country. I then asked Mr. Lindesay if Lord Justice-Clerk, or any other of the Lords of the Justiciary were in town ? His answer was that neither the Justice-Clerk nor Lord lloyston was in town ; but Lord Newhall was, but there was no getting ORIGINAL LETTERS. 349 to him. On which, knowing the Justice-Clerk lived but two miles and an half off the town, I desired Mr. Lindesay to write immediately to him for his directions, what he would have the Troops do ; and sent the letter by my own servant, who gallopped all the way. My Lord being in bed, he got no answer from him till near one o'clock : the letter was directed to Mr. Lindesay, so I never saw the answer ; and long before it came, the poor man was hanged by the mob. By what I since hear, he was executed before Mr. Lindesay came to my house ; for they got him out of prison a little after ten. It was a great oversight that the poor man was not put into the Castle as soon as his reprieve came for him ; that being the only place to secure him from the rage of the mob. This unheard-of barbarity had been concerting several days, and I am surprized the Magistrates were not more on their guard. The Town-soldiers, instead of resisting, delivered their arms to the mob; the Turnkey of the Prison owned he had a hint given him in the morning, that the Pri- son would be attempted to be broke open that night, and that he acquainted the Gaoler of it, and desired him to make it known to the Lord Provost, that care might be taken to prevent it. The Magistrates were drinking together in the Parliament-close when the mob first assembled, but did not care to read the pro- clamation, which was a very great neglect in them. 350 ORIGINAL LETTERS. On their sus?pecting the mob would rise that night, the care of the Port next to the Canongate, ought to have been immediately put under the guard of the King's forces, and then the communication between the City and Suburbs would have been kept open. I have to add, that had the Troops forced their way into the town by demolishing one of the gates, without a egal authority, your Grace would soon have had a telrible complaint from the Magistrates. The regiment here are much fatigued, having lain two nights on their arms. I cannot but mention to your Grace that this is the third prisoner, within the memory of man, that has been taken out of the Tolbooth here, and barbarously murdered by the mob. They charge me with procuring Porteous''s reprieve, and threaten to murder me in my bed or set fire to my house; but I despise them all. I don't hear that any of the crimi- nals are yet apprehended, though well known by many of the inhabitants of the town. I am, &c. JOHN MOYLE. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 351 LETTER CCCCLIII. Dr, Edward Cliandler, Bishop of Durham, apparently to the Archdeacon of Nortlmmberland. The Rebels approaching from the North. The spirit of the dijfferent Counties. [ms. donat. 6484. Orig.] 15th. Oct 1745. Mr. Archdeacon, In answer to yours concerning Mr. Brown's Ordi- nation, I am to acquaint you that his Instruments that he sent up are right, • * ♦ * ♦ You have surely done your part in contributing largely in two Counties, and it is a commendable cau- tion to remove your family to Durham, for fear of a sui-prize. A single man can upon a little notice scam- per off. But to tell you my opinion, I believe if the Rebels be not already advanced to the South, they will have no stomach hereafter to such an expedition. For Mr. Wade with his forces will be to-morrow at North AUerton, and then he will be too near the bor- ders of Scotland for them to look him in the face. It is said Lockheart hath detached his Clan from the Pre- tender, and is himself on the road to London to claim M 352 ORIGINAL LETTERS. M the benefit of His Majesty'*s Proclamation. Others are said to be gone home also with their plunder. We hear E. Marshall is one of the persons con- cealed in the Spanish ship taken by the Bristol pri- vateer, and that the Plot begins to be unravelled, wherein Papists of rank are said to be concerned. I hear of no others. General Cope and Col. Fowke are sent for up, to be tried by a Court Martial, and it is thought this is to lead the way to some Impeachment. We hear the English forces from Williamstadt arc landed about Newcastle ; if so I hope both Northum- berland and Durham will be more than sufficiently secured : and the burden of the Associations be soon ended. It is a noble spirit that reigns in all the Coun- ties, but unless the troops can be put under a proper regulation and discipline, they cannot stand before a body of Highlanders. They have, however, their use to prevent plundering by parties. I doubt not but Providence will protect you where- ever you stay, or go : nor need you be too scrupulous about leaving your Parish, when your stated time and business call you elsewhere. I hope you will attend the Ordination, and am. Sir, Your affectionate brother and servant, E. DURESME. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 353 LETTER CCCCLIV. Duncan Forbes Lord President of the Court of Session in Scotland, to Mr. Mitchell Tlie State ofEdin. burgh after the Successes of the Rebels there and at Preston Pans. [FROM THE PAPERS OP AXDREW MITCHELL, ESQ. AFTERWARDS SIR ANDREW MITCHELL. BRIT. MUS.] fr«y t^'^T ^^'"^^"^ ^'^- ^^"^^'ds Sir Andrew MitcheU, K. B. J^w ^^'^^^^"^Po^dence this and numerous other letters have been copied for the present Series, was Under Secretary, from 1743 to 1745 to the Marquees of Tweedale then Secretary of State for Scotland, whose ^^^C"" ITl''^ ^ ^' ^'^ y^*'- ^" 1750 Mr. Mitchell became Member of Parliament for Aberdeenshire; and in 1766 went as His Bntannick Majesty^s Envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the jL 28fh^77. ^'l'"^"^^ ^i^ ^ »hort interval, tUl his death, Few readers need Ui be told who was Duncan Forbes. « I knew jmd venerated the man,- says Bishop Warburton, " one of the greatest that ever Scotland bred, both as a judge, a patriot, and a christian." He was born at CuUoden in 1685, was appointed Solidtor-gencral of Scot- 'Vl,' "^^"^^ ^**' ^'^^^r"^* i" 1722, Lord Advocate in 1725, and in 1742 Lord President of the Court of Session. In the rebeUion of I745 he mortgaged his estate to support the Government. The refusal of the finghsh Ministry to repay the expenses he had mcurred is said to have shortened his life. He died in 1747, at the age of sixty-two. Culloden, W^, November, 1745. My Dear Andrew, I AM mortally tired with writing a Letter to the Marquis of an immoderate length, and in a hand so VOL. IV. SKR. 2. A A 354 ORIGINAL LETTERS. i t \\ I! like Arabic, that I doubt your help will be wanted to decypher it. But it was impossible to make it shorter, and I am but a bad scribe : besides that, I have much more business on my hands at present to disturb my attention than I should have had, if the Rebels had permitted me to go through the course of the Session at Edinburgh. When I came first to this Country, though I was not just treading in the path of a Chief Justice, the prospect was very flattering, and the errand I came on had no appearance of difficulty ; but the rebels' suc- cesses at Edinburgh and Preston Pans soon changed the scene. All Jacobites, how prudent soever, became mad ; all doubtful people became Jacobites ; and all bankrupts became Heroes, and talked of nothing but of hereditary right and victory : and what was more grievous to those of gallantry, and if you will believe me much more mischievous to the public, all the fine Ladies, if you will except one or two, became pas- sionately fond of the young Adventurer, and used all their arts and industry for him in the most intemperate manner. Under these circumstances I found myself almost alone; without troops, without arms, without money or credit ; provided with no means to prevent extreme folly, except pen and ink, a tongue, and some reputation ; and, if you will except M acleod, whom I sent for from the Isle of Skye, supported by nobody of common sense or courage. Had Arms and Money ORIGINAL LETTERS. 355 come when they were first called for, before these unexpected successes blew up folly into madness, I could have answered it with my head, that no man from the North should have joined the original flock of Rebels that crossed the Forth ; and even as it has happened, it is no small consolation to me, that except Macpherson of Cluny, whose force does not exceed three hundred, none from the North have reached them in time to march along with them Southward from Edin- burgh ; that no more than about two hundred of the Clan Chattan a have marched, who had got as last Satur- day no farther than Perth, and that notwithstanding the restless endeavours of the Earl of Cromarty, the Master of Lovat, and others, no more than a hundred and fifty or a hundred and sixty of the Mackenzies have been debouched, and that even those have not as yet passed the Corryarcck, no more than the Erasers, who to the number of five or six hundred have flocked to arms, and who possibly may think better, if the weather permit the force which we hourly expect from the Isle of Skye to join us quickly, before they leave their country exposed. By this diversion, his Majesty's army will have a much smaller body of Highlanders to deal with to the Southward than other- wise they should have had ; and, if a small number of troops could be spared from it to take possession of • The Claw Chattan consisted of Sixteen Tribes earh hnvin« «k • l. , A a2 »:''ll 356 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I Edinburgh, and to secure the fords of the Firth, as, on the one hand, the small numbers of Highlanders that are marching towards Edinburgh could not join their brethren, so, on the other, the retreat of those that have marched towards England would be cut off. But this, if practicable, has doubtless been done before this time. As to the Independent Companies, I have disposed of such of them as are hitherto given with the greatest discretion I was master of, following this rule, to be- stow them on such as could be trusted and could the most quickly bring the men together for the service. I shall have a dozen of them together soon, and some more in a little time ; and in this operation I should have succeeded better, but for the folly and roguery of mankind, which finds many ways of exerting itself. You will naturally observe that the cutting off the communication with the rest of Scotland, confined the nomination of the officers of those companies to the North. E. Loudon's arrival has been a vast relief to me; his skill and diligence joined to patience and a very obliging behaviour, must be of very great service to the public at this juncture, when those talents are so much wanted and so scarce. As I am pretty much fatigued with wielding the pen, give me leave to conclude ; but before I do so, to put you in mind that I have hardly seen a common London Print for a month ; that I know nothing of OHIGIXAL LETTERS. 857 what is, or has been doing in the world for these three months past ; and that any thing that you may be pleased to entertain me with in my Lord Marquis's packet will come probably safe. I dare say you will put his Lordship in mind of despatching what in mine to him is suggested, if he should stand in need of a monitor, which I am confident he will not. I am, my dear Andrew, truly yours, - DUN. FORBES. LETTER CCCCLV. Duncan Forbes, Lord President^ to Mr, MitcheU. Mr. Gordon, The xoant of supplies ivhereivith to oppose the Rebels, [MITCHELL PAPERS, BRIT. MUS. Orig.^ Culloden, 22 Dec. 1745. ♦ • * • ♦ As to Mr. Gordon, who seems to be a pretty young man, he may be sure of my best offices. Though upon the plan which the necessity of the service obliged me to pursue, in raising the Independent Companies, which ;>1 !l 358 ORIOINAI. LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. a59 i was to give tlie nomination of the officers to the well affected Chiefs who could instantly produce the Com- panies, it was not possible to give him a commission ; I have, however, recommended him in the strongest manner to E. Loudon, whom he will attend in the remainder of this ill-favoured campaign; and what service I can do him shall not be wanting. I am obliged to you for yours of the 7 "'. which came by a sloop from Leith, despatched by the Soli- citor, because it gives me notice that what I wrote by the Salbach is come to hand, and hopes that some time or another the supplies sought may come under con- sideration and be ordered. Though give me leave to tell you, my dear Andrew, it is somewhat mortifying, that when men are exposing themselves as we are doing in this Country, and thereby doing what we know to be very essential to the Government, our safety, if no more were in the question, is so slightly treated, and this Country left unguarded, to be possibly the seat for some months of a War that may cost Britain im- mense sums and very great danger, when small atten- tion and the timely supply of a few thousand stand of arms, and a few thousand pounds, would in all human appearance prevent such fatal consequence. It sur- prized me, I own, to find in neither of the packets to me any letter from my Lord Marquis, though there was one to the Moderator of the Synod of Murray, in answer to a letter with an address which was trans- nntted along with my last despatch. This must have been owing wholly to some acci- dental mistake in mislaying the Letter, if any such was written, or more probably to the hurry the ministers may have been in, which prevented their taking time to come to resolutions, and give directions on the de- mands I made ; the nearness of the danger, which at that time was approaching Londonj may have been the cause why they overlooked one that was more remote. But as that alarm must have worn off in a day or two at farthest after the date of your last, I am hopeful they have before this time thought in good earnest of our case, and sent us the supply desired ; if they have not, the consequences will, I am afraid, be severely felt ; as, besides the want of arms, our money is almost spent. But if this have a quick passage, and if upon the receipt of it the supplies are immediately despatched, they may happen to come before it is too late ; especially if the Rel>els choose to make a stand for any time at Perth. To understand distinctly what I write, witii the reason for writing so, you must consider my letter to my Lord Marquis of this date, which I presume you will see, and my reason for writing to you so urgently on this subject in terms which might possibly be not altogether so proper to put in a letter to his Lordship, which may be seen by other eyes, is, that my Lord may know and be able to express to the Ministers who must t 360 OKIGINAL LETTERS. cooperate with him," the sense I have, and which I fear all those who act along with me generously in this Country will soon have, of the neglect with which we are treated, if what I complain of is not speedily re- medied. I have nothing further to sayi my dear An- drew, but that I am sincerely yours, DUN. FOliDES. By thu kindness of his friend Edward Hawkins, Esq. the Editor is here enabled to lay before the Reader a List of the various Medals, struck in England and elsewhere, connected with the History q/'KiNO James the Second's Abdication^ iht Birth of his Son, and the Efforts ancl Sufferings of his Family till their extinction: including various Medals of lx)uis the XIV"*. K. William the III'*. Queen Anne, and William Duke of Cumberland, bearing upon the same subjects. The Reader will observe that vpon the Medals of the Son of James the II''. the date of his birth on those struck in England is the 10^**. upon the Foreign Medals 20'** of Jime: being occasioned by the difference of the stiles then in use. 1. An infant, reclininf; upon a state cradle, strangles a serpent in each hand; the ground strewed with fragments of slaughtered serpent*. Leg. MONSTRIS . DANT . FVNERA . CVNvE. Rev. The Princes Plume. Leg. FVLTA . TRIBVS . METVENDA . CORONA. Ex. 1688. Diam. 1.^ Cabitteta, Royal. B. Mas. Dr. Hunter. Edw. Hawkins, Eaq. arg. 2. Armorial shield of the Prince of Wales, erowned, supported by four infant genii, one of whom holds the Prince's plume, another the ducal shield of Cornwall. Leg' HONOR. PRIN. MAG. BRIT. FRA. ET. HIB. NAT. 10. IVN. IfSS. Rev. the hifant Prince reclining on a cushion: above, two infant genii with trumpets hold a crown and palm branch, and support a band inscribed, VENIAT . CENTESIMVS . H-iERES. Diam. \-^. Otb. Dr. Hunter, arg. 8. Busts, to the right, of James H. and Q. Mary ; shoulders mantled ; the King lau> veate. Le^. lACOBVS.U. M. BRIT. REX. MARIA. M. BRIT. REG. Kev. a Map of ANGLI A, SCOTIA, HIBERN I A, whence storms are retiring westward, as theSun rises. Leg.lLLKS FVGAT . RECREAT ISTAS. Kr. OB NATVM WALLIifC PRINCIPEM GAB. SILVIVS EQ. AVR. AD SER. DANIiE ET NOUVV. REG. ABL. EXT. C. C. MDCLXXXVIII. Diam. l|. Ca6. Bodley. a wr. Trattle. Hawkins. Sec. arg. 4. The King's bust to the left, laureate, hair long, mantle over breest. Leg, lACOnUS II. D. G. BRITANNIARUM IMPERATOR. Rose under hcMl. Rev, The Queen, in a canopied bed, holding the infant Prince. I^g. FELICITAS PUBLICA. Kr. OB FELICISS. M. BRIT. PRINC. NATIV. ao lUN. 1688. IG. VITUS Eg. B. C. MARC. D'ALBVVILLE ET SA. ROM. IMP. APIJD B.\T. ABLEG .EXT. C. C. Diam. ul^. Cab. lloyal. Huulcr. Trattle, Stc. &c. arg. OKIGINAL LETTEKS^ 361 I ». Bust to the left, laureate, manUe over shoulders. Leg. GIVE THE KING TH V IVDGMENTS : O GOD. Rev. An angel guarding the infant Prince in acradle beneath a canopy. Leg. AND THV RIGHTEOVSNESS VNTO THE KINGS SON. -Psal. T2. 1. £*.• The IMnce of Wales bom June 10, 1688.' Diami^. Cab. Reeve. Hawkins. H. Ellis, pewter. The device of this medal is stampt in imitaUon of cngravmg, and the workmanship is very rude. ••Truth trampling upon the serpent of deceit, and opening the door of a cabinet inscribed, lAC. FRANC. EDVARD SVPPOSIT. 20 JVNII 1688. Within appears a Jesuit pushuig through the top a cushion, upon which is seated an infant holding a clialice m one hand and crowning himself with the other. Leg. SIC NON HERE- DES DEERVNT. In the distance appears the Dutch Fleet advancing under favourable breezes from heaven. Rev. The Trojan horse with hU trappings, in- scribed, LIBERT. CONS. SINE. JURAM. ET. LEG. P. Leg. EQVO NVN- QVAM TU CREDE BRITANNE. Diam. 2^ Cab. Royal, arg. cm. B. Mus. Hunter. TratUe, &c. &c. arg. T. Aglauros opens a basket, placed amid roses and thisUes, whence Erichthonius ^fffL^Jr J° ^^® distance are females alarmed at the sight. Leg. INFANTEMQUE VIDENT, APPORRECTUMQCE DRACONEM. Rev. A withered rose-bush, bearing two decayed flowers; at a little distance springs up a small sucker with a single bud. Leg. TAMEN NASCATVR OPORTET. Ex. MDCLXXXVIII Cab. Royal. B. Mus. Hunter. Hawkins. &c. arg. 8. Will. III. habited as a Roman Emperor, trampling upon a serpent, and support- ing Mary wearing the crowns of her triple kingdom ; her shield is suspended from an Orange tree, entwined with roses and thistles. In the distance appear James II. and Father Petre bearing away the young Prince, who is playing with a windmill, (alluding to the report that the young Prince was the son of a miller). P. A. F. the initiaLs of the artist's name. Leg. DEO VINDICE lUSTITIA COMIIE. Rev. Boats landing troops near a casUe. Leg. CONTRA INFANTEM PERDITlONIs' Ex. EXPEDITIO NAVALIS PRO LIBERTATK ANGLIC MDCLXXXVIII*. Diam. 1|. Cab. Hunter. Hawkins, arg. In the Royal Cabinet is a variety of this medal, in which Father Petre carries the Pix, instead of the young Prince; a monk carry.ng a crucifix accompanies him instead of the King. 0. King William, bust to the right, laureate; hair long; mantle. Lee GUILIEL. in. D. G. PRINC. AVRA. RELL LIBER. QVE. RESTI. Rev. The Ark of the Covenant ; above is EM AN VEL huriing thunder against French soldiers and beaming rays ujwn Britannia and Belgia. In front. Father Petre and a monk with the young Prince, and the emblems of the Papacy, tumbling. Diam. 2. Cab Hunter. Trattle. ar^. 10. A French ship; Father Petre upon a lobster holds the young Prince playing with a windmill. Leg. ALLONS MON PRINCE, NOUS SOMMES EN BON CHEMIN. Kr. lAC. EDVARD SUPPOSEE 20 JUIN. 1688. iter. The Pre- tender's Arms; a shield, bearing a windmill ; above, a Jesuit's cap, whence depends a double rosary, enclosing the motto HON I SOIT QVI BON Y PENSE : a lobster is suspended instead of the George. Leg. LES AT.MES ET L'ORDRE DU PRE- TENDU PRINCE DES GALLES. Diam. 1^. Cab. Royal, arg. nd a^n. Tho- mas. arg. 11. Britannia greeting the approach of Belgia. Leg. M. BRIT. EXP. NAV. BAT. LIB. REST. ASSERTA. Rev. An eagle casting a young bird from the nest uixjii a rock ; another Eagle hovers above. In the distance a Fleet. Lcgk EJICIT INDIGNVM. .Sec Vauluon, vol. iii. p. aOT. 12. Bust of Louis XIV. to tlic righU Leg. LVDOVICVS MAGNVS REX. 362 ORIGINAL LETTERS. Rev. The Belgic Lion, supporting iUelf by the staff* of Liberty and the labarum, drives toward the eoast, where a French ship waits for them, K. James II. with his sword broken. Father Petre holding the young Prince with his whidraill, and the snakes of discord. Leg. AVT REX AVT NIHIL. Kr. REGIFVGIVM lAC. AD LVD. XIV. Diam.l^. Ca6. Hawkins. H.EUli. pewt. 13. Bust of James II. to the left, laureate, long hair, mantle. Lcff. lACOBVS If. D. G. BRITANNIARUM IMPERATOR. Rev. A fox setting fire to a tree, whereon are an Eagle and nest: at a distance an Eagle carrying off* a cub. Leg. MAGNIS. INTERDVM. PARVA. NOCENT. REGNO. ABDICATO. IN. GAL- LIAM. APPVLIT. Ex. 4 IAN. 1689. S. N. Diam. 2^ Cab. Royal. B. Mus. Hunter, &c. &c. atg. 14. Louis the XIV.: bust to the right Leg. LVDOVICVS. MAGNVS. REX. CHRISTIANISSIMVS. Rev. GalUa welcoming the arrival of James IL. his Queen, and the young Prince. Leg. PERFVGIVM REGIBVS. Ejc. IAC. II. M. BR. REX CVM REG. CONI ET PR. WALLIiE IN GALL. RECEPTIS MDCLXXXIX. Dtam. l|« Cab, Hawkins, an. &c. Sac 15. Same bust to the right. Leg. LVDOVICUS MAGNVS R. CHRIST. F. P. SEMP. VICT. Rev. a wreath of roses and pomegranates entwined, with a band in- scribed LVDOVICO MAGNO, enclosing the Inscription, OB REGEM REGINAM ET PRINCIPEM MAGNiE BRITANNliE SERVATOS. Dtam. 2^. Cab. Royal, arg. 16. Busts of King William and Queen Mary, to the right. Leg. GULIELM. R. MARIA REGINA F. D. P. A. Reo. An Eagle ejects a young one from the nest. Leg. NON PATITVR SVPPOSITITIOS. Ex. JURE REGNI VINDIC. MDCLXXXIX. Diam.\h Co*. Royal. B. Mus. flrr^. The obverse of this medal gives sometimes a different representation of the King and Queen. 17. King William's bust to the right, laureate. Leg. GULIELM. III. D. G. BRITANN. R. RELIG. LIBERTATISQ. RESTITUT. Rev. An orange tree entwined with roses and thistles, and having the shield of Britain attached, rears its head amid the clouds, where are the words ITE MISSA EST, and whence lightning is directed against James II. on one &ide, with his crown and sceptre falling from his grasp, and Father Petre on the other, going off* with the Pix and the young Prince carrying his windmill. Snakes of discord accompany their flight. £r. INAUGURATIS MAIESTATIBUS EIECTO PAPATU EXPULSA TVRANNIDE BRITANNIA FELIX. 1689. Diam. 2. Cab. Royal. B. Mus. Hunter. Trattle. Hawkins, arg. Another obverse representing the busts of King William and Queen Mary sometimes occurs to this medal. 18. Queen Mary, bust to the left, mant. on shoulder. Leg. MARIA. D. G. MAGN. BRIT. FRANC. ET. HIB. REGINA. Rev. An Eagle flying toward the sun, holds one eaglet, and drops another. Leg. NON PATITVR SVPPOSITITIOS. Ex. EXCELLENTISSIM^ PRINCIP. JVS REGNI VINDICATVM. EIECTO bVPPOSITITIO. MDCLXXXIX. Diam. 2. Cab. Royal. Hunter, arg. 19. The attainted Prince of Wales's bust to the left, in armour. Leg. lACOBVS WALLI-(E PRINCEPS. n. b. Rev. A vessel dismasted in a storm. Leg. 169T. lACTATVR NON MERGITVR VNDIS. Diam. l|. Cab. B. Mus. Hunter. Bodleian. Hawkins, etn. 20. Another bust of the Prince to the left ; no drapery. PRINCEPS. N. B- Rev. The Sun partly eclipdeil. Leg. BRIS. Ex. 1697. Diam. I. Cab. Hunter. Hawkins, an. at. BusL same as preceding. Rev, A mine exploding near a bastion. Leg. QVO Ug. IAC. WALLL« CLARIOR E TENE- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 363 COMPRESSA MAGIS. £r. 1697. Dtam. I. Cafc. Royal, aur. Hunter. B. Mus. Hawkins. H. Ellis. . RoyaL aur. arg. B. Mus. Hunter. Hawkins. II. Ellis, an. 24. K. James II. bust to right, laureate, in armour and mantle. Leg. lACOBVS : II:D:G:M:B:R: n.r. Rev. The Prince's bust to the left, hair long and tied, in armour. Leg. IAC. WALLIiE PRINCEPS. N. K. Diam. lO- Cab. B. Mus. Hunter. Hawkins, ar/?-. 25. Another. Obv. nearly the same as last. Leg. of obverse, lACO. II. DEI. GRATIA. Diam. \.^. Cab. Bodleian. Trattle. arg. 26. Bust to left, same as Rev. of two preceding. Rev. Sun rising disperses demons ; sea-coast and ships. Leg. SOLA LUCE FVGAT. Ex. 1699. Diam. i^ Cab. B. Mus. Hunter. Trattle. Hawkins, arg. 27. Buit, same as preceding. Rev. a Cornucopia. Leg. PAX VOBIS. Ex. 1699. Diam. \\. Cab. Hunter. Bodleian. Hawkins, arg. 28. Bust to right, laureate. Leg. lACOBVS. II. D. G. M. B. F. ET. H. REX. N.R. 1699. Hw. The Prince's bust to left, in armour and mantle. L«^. IAC. WALLIiE. PRINCEPS. Diam. \^ Cab. B. Mus. Hunter. BodL Hawkins. Ac. atg. 29. Busts of James II. and Mary; he laureate, and clothed with ample mantle. Rev. Bust to left, in armour and mantle. Leg. lACOBVS. III. D. G. M. B. F. ET. H. REX. Diam. 2. Cab. Trattle. Hawkins, chased and gilt 30. Bust to left. Leg. IAC. III. D. G. MAG. BRIT. REX. n.r. Rep. The meridian sun dispelling clouds. Le^-. VIRTVS MOX NVBILA PELLET. Ex. 1T04. Dtam. 1 ^. Cab. Hawkins, arg. 81. Bust of Prince James to the left, laureate, in mantle. Leg. CVIVS EST. N.R. iter. Map of BRIT. S('OT. HIB. Ltf/ir- REDDITE. Diam.i^. Cab, B. Mus. Hunter. Bodl. Hawkins. H. Ellis, arg. an, 32. Bust of Prince James to left, laureate, no drapery. Leg. CUIUS EST. n. r. Rev. Similar to precetiing. Dtam. 1.^ Cab. Royal. B. Mus. Hunter. Bodl. Hawkins. II. Ellis, an. 83. Bust of Prince James to left, in armour and mantle. Leg. CUIUS EST. N. R. Rev. Map of ANGLIA, SCOT. HIB. Leg. inscribed on band, REDDITE IGITUR. Dtam. 2. Cab. B. Mus. an. cast Bodl. an. Trattle. arg, 34. Ship; sails set, wind fair. Leg. IAC. 8. D. G. M. B. F. ET. H. REX. Rev. St Michael and Dragon. Leg. SOLI DEO GLORIA. Dtam. |. Cab. Trattle. Hawkins, arg. 55. Ship: sails set, wind adverse. Leg. IAC. III. D. G. M. B. F. ET. H. R. Rev. St. Michael and Dragon. Leg. SOLI DEO GLORIA. Diam. g. Cab. B. Mus. aur. BodL Trattle. Hawkins, atg. These two pieces were struck to present to such persons as came to the nominal king to be cured of scrophulous affections by his touch. 36. Queen Anne's bust to the left, crownetl, in mantle. Leg. ANNA D. G. MAG. ET UNIT^ BRITA. FRA. ET HIB. REGINA. c.w. Rev. QVOD DEVS ET RECES LEGITIMI HENRICVS ROSIS lACOBVS NOMINIBVS ANNA 364 ORIGINAL L£TT£RS. REGNIS CONIUNXERVNT LVDOVICVS XIV GALL. REX PRINCIPE SVPPOSITITIO SEPARARE AVSVS EST D. XXIV MART. MDCCVIU. I>(am.i|. Cab. Huiiter. arg. 37. Bust, same as preceding. Rev. HENRICVS ROSAS lACOBVS NOMINA ANNA REGNA VNIVIT MDCCVII CONFIRMAVITQ. FACTA IRRITA LVD. XIV GALL. REG. CONSPIRATIONE PER PR. SVPP. lACOB. DE WALLIS MDCCVIIL i. G. i. DJam. l|. Cab. Hunter arg. S8. The gueen's bust, to left, laureate, in mantle. Leg. ANNA. D. G. MAGN. BRIT. FRANC. ET HIB. REGINA. •. Rev. Sceptre entwined by the Row? and ThUtle. At a distanct;, Rebels conducting to the Tower, and the SALISBURI cap- tured. Leg. QUIS NOS IMPUNE LACESSET UNITAS. Kr. IRRITO SPURII lACOBI REDITU IN SCOTOS CLASSE GALLICA EXTERNATA MDCCVIIL Diam. 1 1. Cab. Hunter. Trattle. arg. ao. Bust of Prince James, to left, laureate, no drapery. Leg. DOMINVM COGNOSCITE VESTRVM. s. r. Rev. Sheep. COGNOSCVNT ME MEiE. Kx. IT 10. IMam. 1-^ Cab. B. Mus. Hawkins, ten. 40. Bust, to left, in mantle, lACOBVS III. D. G. M. B. F. ET H. REX. Bust to left. Leg. PRINCEPS LVD. SER. M. B. REGIS SOROR. Cab, B. Mus. Hunter. Trattle. Rev. N. iu 171i. Diam. 3-jljp Cab, B. Mus. Hunter. Trattle. Hawkins, ten. arg. A copy of this medal, highly chased and gilt, sometimes, though rarely, occurs. One is in the collection of Mr. Hawkins. 41. Bust to left, laureate, no drapery. lACOBVS III. D. G. M. B. F. ET H. REX. N. R. Rev. Bust to left. Leg. PRINCEPS LVD. SER. MAG. BRI. REGIS SOROR. N. R. Diam. 1^ Cab. Hunter, arg. Trattle. «n. Hawkins, arg. 42. Busts of Prince James and the Princess Louisa, facing, each in an oval border; the field between decorated with scroll ornaments. He, in armour and mantle ; she, with her hair filletted, her mantle bioachal in front and on shoulder. Diam. 2. Cab. B. Mus. arg. Struck only on a thin plate of silver. 43. Queen Anne's bust to left, laureate, rich gown and mantle. Leg. ANNA AVG VSTA. Rev. Bust of Prince James to left, in armour, and mantle. Leg. C VI VS EST. Diam. l|« Ca6. Trattle. chased, gilt. This and two or three others of similar workmanship were executed by desire of some partisans of the exiled family, to form a series of medallic portraiU of its members. 44. K. Geo. the I»«. bust to right, laureate, in armour and mantle. Leg. GEORGI VS D. G.MAG. BR. FR.ET HIB. REX. F.D. i.e. RtfP. An angel with sword and palm pursues cavalry. L«/r.PERJURII ULTRIX. £r. AD. DUNBLAINUM. ISNov. 1715. Diam.il. Cab. Royal, arg. ten. B. Mus. Hunter. ar^. die. ^. 45. Bust same as preceding. Rev. A trophy of arms, on a pedestal decorated with united hamls; two captives chained to the base. Leg. FIDES MILITVM. Ex. REBELL. AD PRESTON CAPT. IS Nov. 1715. Diam. ij. Cab. Royal, arg. «n. B. Mus. ten. Hunter, arg. die. &c. 49. Bust to the right, of Prince James, laureate, in armour and mantle. L«^. NIHIL EFFICIENS. Rev. Map of SCOTIA BRITANNIA HIBERNIA. At the top. 1708. M. MART. Middle of Scotland. 1716. M. FEBR. Leg. BIS VENIT VIDIT NON VICIT FLENSQVE RECESSIT. Diam. I \. Ca6. Hunter. Hawkins, ar/r- 47. Busts to right ; he, in armour, and mantle ; she. with her hair decOTated with iiara and beads. Ug, lACOB. III. R. CLE.\IENTINA. R. uamkban. Hev. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 365 Hercules leaning on his club, takes the hand of Venus; Cupid near her holds a caduceus. Leg. REGIVM CONNVBIVM. Ex. KAL. SEPTEMBR. MDCCXIX. Diam. i|. Cab. B. Mus. arg. Hunter. Bodl. Hawkins. «rn. &c. 48. Bust to left, in rich gown, manUe, &c. Leg. CLEMENTINA. M. BRITAN. FR. ET. HIB. REGINA. OTTO HAMERANI F. Rev. Clementina in a car; Rome, in the distance. Ug. FORTVNAM CAVSAMQVE SEQVOR. Ex. DECEPTIS CVSTODIBVS MDCCXIX. Diam. i|. Cab. B. Mus. Hunter. Bodl. Hawkins, arg. &c. 49. Bust to right, in armour and mantle. Leg. lACOBVS. III. D. G. M. B. F. ET. H. REX. Rev. Bust to left. In a rich gown and mantle. Leg. CLEMENTINA MAGNiE BRITANNIiE ET C. REG. orro hambrani. Diam. ij. Cab, Hunter, ten. Bodl. «n. Ac &c. 60. Busts, same as last but two. R. 55. with the words, look, lovb, and TOhhow: ORIGINAL LETTERS. 367 LETTER CCCCLVI. Andrew Mitchell Esq, to the Earl of Holdernesse. Collinsy the courier for England, robbed of Mji Despatches at the Gate of Berlin, [MITCHELL PAPERS, BRIT. MU8. VoL i. foL IC. Mfl. MITCHELL^S OWN COPY.] •»• With Mr. MitcheU*8 Mission to the Court of Berlin the Reader is acquainted. He left England April the \9^\ and arrived at Berlin May &\ 1766. In this and some accompanying Letters it will be seen that the patience and address of the new Ambassador were very soon put to a severe trial. Berlin, Saturday 9Q^\ May, 1756. Mr Lord, The anxiety I have felt for these last eight and forty hours cannot be expressed. The cause of it was this ; on Thursday the 27^^. I despatched Collins with Letters to your Lordship, wrote with that freedom which the security of the conveyance justified. He received from my own hand the Packet, about half an hour after eleven at night, and he set out from the Inn where I am still lodged, a quarter past midnight in a post waggon. In about an hour afterwards, he returned, and gave me an account of what had hap- pened to him as follows. That he had put up the Despatches in his port- 368 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 369 mantle, which together with his saddle was put upon a post waggon ; that he had several times felt for the portmantle, as he was agoing from my house towards the Gate of the Town, and found every thing right ; that at a very small distance from the Gate, he per- ceived the portmantle was gone ; that he immediately stopped the postilion, got a candle and searched all the way back to my house, but found nothing. I instantly wrote to Count Podewils to acquaint him with what had happened to the Courier, desiring the aid of the Magistrate and of the military upon so extraordinary an occasion. Orders were forthwith given, and I sent Letters to the Commandant of the Town and to the Lieutenant of the Police. All this was done before day-break. Unhappily there was a grand review of the troops that Morning, and it was impracticable to get at the King, as he was to be on horseback by five in the Morning. I went to the review, hoping to have an opportunity to tell his Majesty what had happened, but found it impossible to speak with him in the field. I told my story to his first Aide-de-Camp, and I with- drew before the review was quite over in order to be early at Court. So soon as his Majesty came, he expressed to me in a very gracious manner his concern for what had hap- pened, and immediately gave Orders to his Generals and to his Officers of Justice to make the strictest search possible, and to be sure to do every thing pour eclaircir cette ciffaire, which he had very much at heart. His Majesty, at my request, was pleased to promise an indemnity, and I desired Count Podewils, Count Finkenstein and the Lieutenant de Police to offer any reward they pleased, which I should pay forthwith. They have fixed this at Mty Ducats : and the same was proclaimed by beat of drum all over the Town instantly. The Courier has given a specification of every thing contained in his Portmantle, which the Lieutenant of Police gave notice of to the principal Jews in this Town. The military are very active to make the discovery, and though there are twenty thousand soldiers now in Berlin, I confess I have little suspicion of them, such is their discipline and regularitv. Notwithstanding all these precautions (and more I could not think of) nothing has yet appeared; and I write this by post to acquaint your Lordship with what has happened, in case I should not be able to despatch Collins, so as to reach the Packet of this day sevennight. My intention is to send him off early on Monday morning, and I am now preparing Copies of my Despatches of last Thursday, to be transmitted to your Lordship ; and I hope, at the same time, to be able to send a Copy of the Proces verbal that has been taken concerning this unlucky affair. I say publicly that I suspect nobody ; and indeed it would be injurious to mention the reports and con- VOL. IV. SER. 2. B B Ill 370 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 371 •1 ^ ,!M :!■■ i!' f jectures that this robbery, or more properly theft, has occasioned at Berlin. But I trust to the King's justice, and to the cordiality with which he acts, for a full discovery. I have the honour to be, &c. ANDR. MITCHELL. LETTER CCCCLVII. Mr. Mitchell to the Earl ofHoldernesse, His Inter, view with the King of Prussia respecting the lost Despatches, [ibid. fol. 20 b. MB. MITCHELL'S OWN COPT.] (Most secret) Berlin, Thursday 3<^. June, 1756. My Lord, Last Sunday morning the 30^»». May, the King sent for me privately. After expressing his concern for what had happened, and assuring me that every thing should be done to facilitate the discovery, he asked what I had wrote concerning Russia, &c. I told him fairly the contents of my Letters, and offered, if his Majesty pleased, to bring the rough draughts of my Letters and translate them to him myself. He said there was no occasion. He was satisfied ; and owned that I had not mistaken his meaning ; but he seemed uneasy that the Letters were not yet found, notwithstanding the orders he had given. When I told the King what I had wrote concerning the Prince of Hesse, he said I will deny that I ever said such things, and lay it upon You. I will tell him that you are an enthusiast, and so zealous a Protestant that you cannot think with candor of one that has changed his religion. » To this I agreed. I likewise owned to him what I had wrote to your Lordship about the communication of intelligence. He seemed pleased with my openness, and said the Cypher must be used for the future with any thing that I tell you. I gave him my word tliat it should. The King then read to me a private Letter of In- telligence dated from Paris the 2\^^. of May. It was wrote in Cypher. • * # » # I must now acquaint your Lordship with two things that give me real pain, as they come through my chan- nel ; but the King's service must and ever shall take place of every other consideration. Count Podewils told me that some secret Letters from Petersburgh bear that Sir Charles Williams, having rendered himself very obnoxious by his inso- ■ The Hereditary Prince of Heste Cassel who had married a daughter of King George the Second, had about this time been prevailed upon to embrace the Roman Catholic Religion. Great doubts were entertained whether this change would not exclude him from the succession to the Laudgraviate. He however succeeded to it in noo, and died la 1785. SB2 372 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 373 ,-i. I * lent behaviour, had every thing to fear, not only for his own person, but with regard to his dignity as Am- bassador, which he feared might be affronted. He concluded by saying that Russia was of the utmost importance. He wished we had a wise man there. Another thing he mentioned to me was that Mr. Cressener had made himself disagreeable to the Elector of Cologne by his indiscreet manner of talking, and that he should not have been accredited to the Circle. I told him Cressener was not, and that he had only a Letter to the Senate of Cologne. He told me I was mistaken, and desired me to write about it ; for says he, " Though the Elector cannot be gained, he ought not to be affronted."" * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ I have the honour, &c. ANDB. MITCHELL. LETTER CCCCLVIIL Mr. MttcheU to the Earl of HoUlcrnesse. discovery of the Thief, [ibid. fol. 18 b.] The Berlin, Thursday 3'. June, 1756. My Lord, I TAKE the liberty to send your Lordship a Copy of my Letter of the 29^''. May, and I shall now give your Lordship an account of the success of our inquiries into that affair. I saw the King on Sunday morning. He appeared to me resolved to be at the bottom of the affair, as there were some circumstances that gave ground for suspicion, which your Lordship will find in the Paper marked A.^^ For this reason I suppose, as well as on account of what is contained in my most secret Letter of this date, his Majesty was pleased to renew his offer of pardon, and to promise a reward of Two Hundred Ducats for the discovery ; but all this had no effect. President Kirkhaisen, Lieutenant of Police, had given to the Jewish Elders a Copy of the Specification of the Things contained in the Messenger's Portmantle ; this was read in the Synagogue on Saturday, and notice was given at the house of every Jew of the theft com- mitted. Sunday, about three in the afternoon, a Jewish wo- man brought three guineas to the house of the Lieute- • " A. ** Ab the Reports spread about here are very injurious to the French and Austrian Ministers, and some people were wild enough to name Monsieur de Valori, I openly and loudly declared that 1 believed Him^ and every other Minister here incapable of being concerned in such an affair. ** Monsieur de Peubla wanted to send a Courier to Vienna. He sent several times on Saturday for an Order for post horses (which here must be sipuetl by the Secretary of state and the Governor or Commandant of the Town). This was shifted off' till Sunday morning ; but the impatience he shewed on this occasion increased the sus- picion against him, and, I found, nuide an impression on the King and his Ministers. I still said that I believed him innocent, and that only some low thief was concerned, and that this Courier was despatched to inform the Court of Vienna of the Prince -of Hesse's having entered Into the Prussian Service. I am of opinion that this incident increased his Majesty's keenness to make the discovery." 374 ORIGINAL LETTERS. OBIGIKAL LETTERS. 375 nant of Police, which she said she had received of a joiner and his daughter that came to buy linen of her on Friday about ten o'clock in the morning. The house where the joiner lodged was immediately searched. He denied every thing ; but the daughter being m- timidated, confessed " that the theft had been com- mitted by her brother, that he brought the Tortmantle home about one o^clock on Friday morning, that it was not opened till eight o'clock, that her brother gave her three guineas, and at the same time gave one guinea and four ducats to the father, and kept the rest to himself," (there were in the Portmantle twenty-five ducats, four guineas, and four half-guineas) « and that all the other things" (the Messenger's frock only ex- cepted, which had been produced and sworn to) '^ and the Despatches were immediately burnt." She added, that if he. Lieutenant of Police, « would go to the house, he would find the ashes in the poil or furnace where they were burnt :" this he immediately did, and he has shewn me the cake of ashes, about which still is , to be seen the remains of the wax cloth in which the Messenger had wrapped the Despatch. The father, after some very severe floggings, has confessed and confirmed what his daughter had said; but the son who committed the theft is not yet found. I think it hardly possible he can escape, as every body here are upon their mettle, the King having signified his plea- sure in so explicit a manner. Upon the whole, I think it highly probable, every circumstance considered, the papers have been destroyed without being seen by any body. So soon as the enquiry is finished, I shall send your Lordship a Copy of the Proces verbal; in the mean- time, I despatch Collins, and I beg leave to recommend him to your Lordship's clemency, as he has behaved very well during his stay here.a Had you seen him after the misfortune he would have greatly moved your compassion. The King went to Potsdam last Monday afternoon. He will return to Berlin on Friday, and set out for Stetin on Saturday. • « # * « By the last post to Petersburgh, I sent a Note to Sir C. H. Williams in Cypher, of which the inclosed is a Copy.^ I have the honour, &c. ANDR. MITCHELL. • The Recommendation, however, was of small avail. Mr. Symmers, a private friend, and who will hereafter occur as a Corresiwndent of Mr. Milchell's, June is^. 1766, having congratulated him that his Pacquet had not fallen into the hands of the French, says, " In the meanwhile poor Collins remains the sufferer. Yesterday the Lord Chamboiain's Warrant came into our Office to suspend him from being Mes- lenger, ai^ to stop the payment of his bills and salary." fcwTo " Sir C. H. Williams. *' Berlin, Sunday SVK May, use. "Sir, •* I have reason to believe that the Court of France have sent one Douglass to PMersburgh in order to traverse your n^otiations. It is surmised that Douglass has Letters of Credence ready to produce, and it is believed that he has a very large credit to be used for very bad purposes. I have the honour to be, with great respect, Vour Excellency's, &c. ANDR." MITCHE1.1.." 376 OKUilNAL LKTTKKS. LETTER CCCCLIX. Mr. Mitchell to the Earl of Holdernesse. The Stealer of Collinses Partmantle brought to Berlin. [ibid* fol. 23 b.] Berlin, Saturday 5^«'. June, 1756. My Lord, Having wrote to your Lordship so fully by ColUns of the 3'. Now, if it In., twssible for him to hold out a httle longer, there may yet be hopes entertained of the Relief of Port Mahon and of the brave and gallant officer who defends it: for it cannot be long e're Broderick (who sailed with four Ships of the Line from Plymouth the 30". of May) comes up with Byng, which must enable, and in a manner compel the Fleet to make another, and it is to be hoped a more successful Attempt (if it be not already done by a second engagement) to drive the French from before the Port. At all events, we are to trust to it, that when Hawkc and Saunders arrive at the Fleet, and take upon them the command of it, ORIGINAI. I.ETTF.BS. 381 we shall again recover the dominion of the Mediterra- nean ; as the arrival of Lord Tyrawley and Panmure will put the Garrison of Gibraltar upon a better foot- ing, and free us from the apprehension of losing that important Place likewise. • • • * * LETTER CCCCLXIL Lord Barnngton to Mr. MitcluU, The arrival of Admiral Byng's Despatches. His neglect to relieve Fort Mahon after heating the French. Reinforce- ments sent end. The Public despond. [MITCHELL PAPEB8, VoL XXXV. foL 1. Orig.] • • WillUm Wildman Viscount Banington of Ireland, was bom in January 1717, and iMcame Member for Berwiclj in 1740. Master of the Great Wardrobe in 1754, and in the following year Secretary at War. Chancellor of the Exchequer in l^f<\, and Treasurer of the Navy in 1762. In July 1765 he was rejippointed Secretary at War. He quitted the House of Commons in May 1778, and the War Office in December. In 1781 he was appointed Joint Postmaster General, but was removed in 1782. He died February the 3^ 1793. Cavendish Square, 24*''. June, 1756. I SHOULD have sent you an earlier account, my dear Mitchell, of Sir Alexander Gilmour's being appointed an Ensign in the first Regiment of Guards, if I had 382 OEIGINAL LETTEES. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 383 BI ' ! •5^ f not been desirous to stay till I could furnish you with some Intelligence concerning our Affairs in the Medi- terranean which might be trusted and believed. The French Accounts never deserve any confidence, and never deserved less than at present, when they have formally communicated to the Ministers residing at Paris a Naval Victory in the Mediterranean which has really turned out a Defeat. Admiral Byng's despatches arrived yesterday, and acquaint us with the particulars of the Action which happened on the 19^- May. It consisted only in a cannonading of four hours, the French avoiding a close engagement. Their ships were cleaner and went better than ours, and they were under sail the whole time. At night the French se- parated entirely from our Squadron, and were not to be seen the next day, though we la^^ to in the place where the Action happened ; so the field of Battle was ours. The French Squadron most certainly behaved ill, and ours did not make use of several advantages with which they were furnished by fortune or the misconduct of the enemy. Mr. Byng remained off Mahon (though at some leagues distant from it) till the 25^^ and then (you will be filled with astonish- ment and indignation when you hear it) returned to Gibraltar without renewing the fight, though he once perceived the enemy from his topmast head ; without landing or attempting to land any succours; without even trying to send a Letter to General Blakeney, or knowing more of the Island he was sent to defend, than that the King''s colours still appeared in St. Phillips. By this retreat, the inferior and beaten Fleet of France remained master of those Seas, and was enabled to throw whatever their army wanted into the Island. The English Squadron was less damaged than the French, superior in number of ships of the line, still more superior in number of guns, weight of metal, and strength of ships; but most of all in seamen; for Byng's Squadron was more than complete as to men at the time of engagement, and no ships ever went from hence better manned. By this time you have concluded that our Admiral was mad, and you have blamed his officers for not confining him. Alas ! they were as infatuated as their chief ; for the retreat was made in consequence of a Council of War at which Major General Stuart and three Colonels who were sent to their posts in Minorca improperly assisted. This Council unanimously advised the return to Gib- raltar for reasons which I am ashamed even to repeat. You have undoubtedly heard of another extraordi- nary Council of War at Gibraltar, and of General Fowke'^s disobedience of his orders to send a Battalion to Minorca on board Admiral Byng^s Fleet ; in conse- quence of which liOrd Tyrawley has been sent to su- persede General Fowke ; and on a suspicion too well verified since. Sir Edward Hawke, and Captain Saun- ders lately made an Admiral, went to replace Admirals t.j ■■^«p»' I) \ m Jj III. 7 384 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 385 Byng and West. This cargo of courage, the richest which has ever been embarked on board any ship since the expedition of the Argonauts, sailed last week in the Antelope, and I hope will arrive at Gibraltar before Admiral Byng returns to Minorca, with five large sliips of the line which had been sent from hence to reinforce his squadron. The Duke of Cumberiand, who has hitherto judged exactly right with relation to every event of the Siege of St. Phillips, not only hopes but thinks our Garrison may hold out till the new Commanders arrive at Mi- norca. It is certain the French have made many mis- takes, and very little progress. The Duke de Rich- lieu^s conduct is much blamed in France, perhaps unjustly, for he has great difficulties to encounter, such as I think he could never have surmounted if the Duke of Cumberiand's Plan of defence had taken place. Perhaps you have not heard distinctly what that Plan was, and therefore I will shortly explain it to you. Once in a fortnight or three weeks a fresh Battalion was to be thrown into St. Phillips, with every thing which the Garrison wanted : the sick, the wounded, and every nuisance was to have been removed by the same ships which brought the reUef, and carried to Gibraltar : I mean such wounded soldiers as could be removed. Every supply was to have been cut off from the French, and their small army left to struggle with sickness, climate, and want. It is plainly evident this Plan was as practicable as any thing of that nature can be. Regiments and ships went continually from hence, Batallions were ordered from Gibraltar; our Fleet (though it lagged by the way) was superior, and beat the enemy, I may say, in spite of our teeth. The fort is open towards the sea, and can only be invested towards the land. Our passage to Minorca (though longer than could reasonably have been expected) brought the Fleet in time. The Governor of Gibraltar and our Admiral have defeated every thing; and having destroyed a moral certainty of success, leave us nothing but faint hopes. It is determined to make some severe examples. I am sorry the last war as well as the present show the want of more noble motives. You may perhaps have heard that our Fleet went too late to the Mediterranean. Do not believe it could have gone sooner, or at the time it went stronger, with- out destroying the effect of our Western Squadron which must always be superior to the enemy''s; and which has hitherto by that superiority protected all our trade, taken almost all the trade of France, and prevented the succours intended to be sent from thence to America, where we have a very great Army, which took the field in May. Our countrymen, according to custom, despond. I never will till I see good reasoit; nay, till no hope or means are left. I regard war as an accompt debtor VOL. IV. SER. 2. c c ^1 i^lili m 886 OKtGINAT. l.KTTEKS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. and creditor of loss and mischief between two nations. There must be Articles on both sides, and the utmost you can expect is, that the balance of Distress shall be at last in your favour : hitherto it is so. I am obliged to write in great haste, and have not time to correct, or have copied over fair what I have written ; but you can excuse every thing in, dear. Mitchell, Your most faithful and obedient humble servant, BAHRTNGTOK. LETTER CCCCLXIII. Mr. Slimmer to Mr. Mitchell. The continuance of Public disappointment. [ibid. vol. xxxviii. fol. 5. Orig.] f 1 Whitehall, 9^>». July, 1756. ♦ • ♦ • • We have now been destitute of public news for upwards of a fortnight : but we wait for Intelligence from the Mediterranean, and look for it every day with a degree of impatience that cannot easily be expressed. After the terrible disappointment we had in Byng^ unaccountable behaviour, not only in the pitiful Action 387 he had with the French, but in his return to Gibraltar and abandoning the gallant Blakeney and his brave garrison to the fate of a cruel Siege ; we remain in a manner inconsolable, and have nothing to raise our hopes but the expectation of Hawke and Saunders arriving in time to take the command of the Fleet from Byng, and fly to the relief of Port Mahon, if happily it should be able to hold out so long. What increases our anxiety is, lest Byng (to whom some of his friends, it is said, have sent expresses both by Land and Sea, to let him know what is thought of his conduct in Eng- land) should seiae the opportunity of Broderick's arrival, and by making a desperate, but yet periiaps another cowardly attempt upon the French, irre- trievably ruin our affairs there. Whatever the event may be we must now soon know. # # * # « LETTER CCCCLXIV. Mr. Symmer to Mr, Mitchell. Port Mahon lost The Indignation a^aitist Admiral Byng's condticty general, [ibid. foL 7- Orig.] London, 6^h. Aug. 1756. ♦ * • * # I TAKE it for granted you have a full and distinct c c 2 Hi I all 388 OKIGIXAL LETTERS. account of the late unhappy event of the loss of Port Mahon. * ♦ ♦ • • You cannot imagine what a general Indignation appears on the score of 3yng's dastardly and unac- countable behaviour. A Notion prevailed some days since that he had come up to Town. Upon this a gentleman, who it seems had the misfortune to resem- ble Byng in person, was pointed out in one of the streets of the City for the Admiral, and if happily some people had not come up and rescued him by declaring who he was, he would have been torn to pieces by the mob. You will find by the public papers that a Captain and a party of sixty dragoons had gone down to Portsmouth to bring him up, and to-day it was expected he would have been safely lodged in the Tower. Perhaps he may be by this time arrived : but a few hours ago there was a surmise that he was still at Portsmouth, or rather on board of the Man of War, the party having found it impossible to conduct him so much as through the streets of Portsmouth without exposing him and themselves to insult. OAIGIKAL LETTERS ^89 LETTER CCCCLXV. The Earl of Holdermsse to Andrew Mitchell^ Esq. A Change taking place in the Administration, [MITCHELL PAPERS. voL xviu. foL 77. Orig.\ (Private,) London, Nov. 3^. 1756. Dear Mitchell, The circumstances alluded to in my office Letter are the confusion that reigns in the interior. We have literally no Administration, and God only knows when we shall have one. Touch lightly upon the subject to the King, » tell him something of our Parties, talk of Pitt, Fox, &c. Tell him what you have seen and what you know of men and manners in this Coun- try, but don*t let him take any alarm at our wild, in- considerate, precipitate way of acting. We are not squabbling about measures, but about men. Our Alliance with him must and will be supported by all sides. How long I shall be your correspondent I can- not guess. Whether I go out or stay in, you shall not blush for me. I act upon honest principles. My fortune may, but my character shall not suffer. • The King of Prussi*. m S90 ORIGINAL LETTERS. OKICINAL LETTERS. 391 h r Adieu dear Mitchel, in the present scene of hurry and bustle I have scarce time to assure you that I am ever yours, HOLDERNESSE. Mr. Mitchel. LETTER CCCCLXVI. The Earl of Holdernesse to Mr. Mitchell. H\s Lord- ship at the head of the Administration. [MITCHELL PAPERS, vol. xviU. foL 81. Orig-] (Private.) ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^, j^gg Dear Sir, The short hints I have thrown out to you from time to time, as well as the unusual cessation of my public Letters, must have let you partly understand the confusion that reigned here for some time past ; things begin to take a shape ; how long it may last I cannot judge, but happen what may, I think your affairs at Berlin will certainly go right. Mr. Pitt has been laid up with a severe fit of the gout ever since his nomination to the Office, which has greatly retarded business. I think his opinions upon Foreign Affairs now he is in place are exacUy the same with mine, however different they were some time ago. Tempora mutantur cinos, &c. I hope you will never find that maxim applicable to your old friend in Ar- lington Street. I know long ago of some private Letters wrote to you by the D. of N. ^ You were in the right not to discover a secret intrusted to you, but though (few- reasons you know) I bore this from him^ such mat- ters must cease for the future with otiiers. I there- fore insist that I may know directly if any other person in the Administration offers to correspond with you. While I remain in business I will do the duty of my office myself^ and without submitting to those disagreeable interruptions I have met with from others; nor will I henceforward be led by persons of my own age and less experience. In short, dear Mitchel, if I stay in I must now have my share of the Cake, and if you hear I continue, depend upon it I have succeeded in what I think just and reasonable pretensions. A volume would not explain to you the transactions of these last six weeks. I have five Administrations in one day, and none existing at night. The Duke of Newcastle is great in his retreat, and does himself great honour by the manner in which he bears what his enemies only call a disgrace. The Parliament will produce a motley scene next * week. You are happy to be out of the scrape. « « • * « Ever most truly yours, holdernesse. * Uukc of Newcastle. 392 ORIGINAL LETTJiKS. OKIGIKAL LETTEKS, 393 LETTER CCCCLXVII. Mr. Symnier to Mr. Mitchell Admiral Byng capi- tally cofivicted. [ibid. voL xxxviiL foL 34. Orig.] London, 28*''. Jan. 1757. My dear Mitchell, I WRITE a few lines to acquaint you that thi» morning about seven o'clock an express arrived at the Admiralty, with an account that Admiral Byng was capitally convicted, and was to be shot within a few days. After what I wrote to you in my last of the ^1*K of this month you will perhaps be surprised at this News ; but 1 can assure you your case is not singular ; the most of people here are as much surprised as you can be : not that they either thought he ought, or that they wished he would be acquitted ; but the accounts that had come from Portsmouth for about a week or two past had been so favourable for Byng, that it was generally con- cluded he would have been acquitted, and some went so far as to say that it would be to his honour. Nay at this very time we are assured he had his Post-Chaises stand- inty daily, nay hourly, ready, to carry him to London as it were in triumph : and yesterday I saw a gentle- man who is intimate with some of his relations, and ^ho told me they were in hourly expectation of hfs arrival at London, taking it for granted he would be as expeditious in his journey as any messenger that could bring the accounts of his acquittal. I was to-day further informed from very good hands, that a gentle- man who dined with him on Tuesday last says, that after dinner Mr. Byng told him that as soon as he should come to Town, he would resume his Seat in the House of Commons, and return the charge upon his enemies by an accusation, the heads of which he read to this gentleman. All this can only be accounted for by observing, that there were a number of people em- ployed by him to write by every post from Portsmouth, giving the most favourable accounts imaginable of the progress of his Trial, and filling all the newspapers with paragraphs to the same purpose, at the same time that he himself, and all about him, affected a shew of the most sanguine hopes, or rather of a state of absolute security. Certain it is, however, that his Court Mar- tial, upon the closing of the evidence, were not without their difficulties. They took no less than a week to come to their final resolution. This is imputed to the tenderness, or perhaps to the partiality of some, who endeavoured, though in vain, to save him. A very odd circumstance was thrown in after the close of the Evidence which has afforded matter of speculation. A Letter came from M. Voltaire ad- dressed to Mr. Byng, which was stopped at the Post- m 394 OKIGIKAL LETTERS. office, brought to Lord Holdemesse, and opened. This contained an original Letter from the D. de Richlieu to M. Voltaire, in which he declared that Mr. Byng had acted like a brave and a prudent Admiral in the Engagement; and that as the French were greatly superior in men, and in the condition of their ships to the English on that occasion, had Mr. Byng obstinately persisted in a closer engagement, he must by that have given up the English Fleet to sure destruction. You may judge whether that attestation could have been of great service to Mr. Byng. Many are of opinion that this Certificate of good behaviour had been begged by him or his friends. A report goes that the Court Martial have recommended the criminal to the mercy of the K. Whatever foundation there may be for this, it is not imagined that the K. will pay the least attention to it. We have no other News here at present. Shall I not hear from you soon.? I ever am, Dear Mitchell, Yours, &c. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 395 LETTER CCCCLXVIII. Mr, Symmer to Mr* Mitchell. The rigor of Admiral Byng^s Sentence. [ibid. fol. 3C. Orig.^ London, Febr. the l^t. 1757, My DEAR Mitchell, I SEND you the slip of the Newspaper herewith enclosed, as a supplement to my Letter of Friday last. If you have not had any other copy of the Sentence against Admiral Byng transmitted to you, this ought not to be unwelcome, for you may depend upon its being authentic. You will see what a strange Sentence it is. Our friend Hillsborough had a very just ob- servation upon it, that it was not so much a Sentence against Admiral Byng as against the Law ; and that instead of condemning the Admiral they condemned the Law to be shot. There is so much in this, that it is reported, I am afraid with too much foundation, that some of high rank in the Navy, as well as some Captains, declare they will not serve under the rigor of so hard and unequitable a law, as it subjects their lives and reputations to the judgment a Court Martial may form of what they may please to call a neglect of Ml It 396 OEIGINAL LETTERS. duty, though perhaps the Commander regulated his conduct on what appeared to be best at that tmie. It is even said an application wiU be made to ParUament to alter this Clause of the Act ; an Act, so much the more remarkable on this occasion as it seems Admiral Byng was one of those who contributed much to carry it to this degree of rigor. In the meanwhile all the worid agrees, that it was a cruel thing to throw the determination on the King, who is in a manner told in the Sentence that he ought to pardon Byng, notwithstanding that he has in a solemn manner declared in his Answer to the Address of the City of London that he will allow Law and Jus- tice to have their course. The City begin already to sound this very high. It is assigned as a reason why the Court Martial threw this hard task upon the King; that, it seems, they were divided in their opinions ; five were for convicting him capitally, four for no more than breaking him, and the remaining four for acquitting him. In this variance of judgment they continued dis- puting it for six days together, till at last they agreed to compromise it in the manner they have done. # • * • ♦ I ever am, dear Mitchell, Yours, &c. OHTUIXAL LETTERS. 397 LETTER CCCCLXIX. Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell The Opinion of the Judges taken upon Admiral Byng's Sentence. [ibid. foL 38. Or\g,\ i;,ondon, 8^^. Febr. 1 757. • ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ The fate of Byng is what occupies almost every head, and opens almost every mouth in London. The popular torrent is against him. The King, it is said, has declared he will not interpose in the matter; he will not, he says, interrupt the course of Justice ; and as it is the business of the Admiralty Board to sign the dead warrant of those condemned by a Naval Court Martial, he leaves them to proceed as the Law in such a case directs. The question recurs, what does the Law direct in the case of so extraordinary a Sentence .? It is reported, and, as I am informed, upon good foundation, that the twelve Judges are this evening or to-morrow to meet his Majesty's Cabinet Council, to give their Opinion with regard to this matter. ♦ • * ♦ ♦ I ever am sincerely yours, &c .1 I I m II 398 ORIGINAL LKTTERS. LETTER CCCCLXX. Mr. Summer to Mr. Mitchell. A Motion made in the Hmise of Commons Jot the mitigatUm of the rigor of Admiral Byng's Sentence. The Examinatim of the Members of his Court Martial by the Lords. [ibid. foL 40. Orig.] London, March the 4^^. 1757. My dear Mitchell, Since my last Letter to you of the 8'»'. of last month the attention of the public has been almost entirely taken up with what has passed with regard to Ad- miral Byng's extraordinary Sentence. The Admiralty Board, \o whom it belonged to order the Sentence to be carried into execution, demurred to the legality of it, and humbly requested his Majesty that the opi- nion of the twelve Judges might be taken upon it. In consequence of this, it was laid before the Judges, who returned an unanimous opinion that it was legal. The Lords of the Admiralty thereupon, with his Majest/s consent, signed the Dead Warrant appointing him to be shot as upon Monday last. In the mean while a motion was made in the House of Commons by Sir Fr. D d, and supported strongly by Mr. P. and the new M ry, to take into consideration the 12^^. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 399 Article (that upon which Admiral Byng had been tried and condemned) and to give leave to bring in a Bill to mitigate the rigor of it. As this was, in other words, to move for an Address to reprieve or rather pardon Mr. Byng, which must of course have followed, the House considering it in that light evidently shewed their disapprobation of the motion ; and upon Lord Barr — n's proposing to put the previous question, Mr. P. who saw that it would be lost for Mr. Byng by a most extraordinary majority, desired that Sir Fr. might withdraw his motion. This attempt, beside the ap- plication of some in the Ministry humbly made to his M ty for mercy, having failed of success, another expedient was set on foot in behalf of Mr. Byng. Sir Fr. acquainted the House that several of the late Members of the Court Martial, as he was informed, were under great uneasiness of mind on account of the Sentence passed on Admiral Byng, and that they were of opinion that if they were by Act of Parliament dis- charged from their Oath of Secrecy they had taken, they could disclose matters that might shew the said Sentence to be improper. This was confirmed by Mr, Keppel, one of the late Members of the Court Martial and Member of Parliament, who rose up in his place and declared that to be his opinion, as also the opinion of four others of the said Court Martial. Upon this a Cabinet Council was held, and the Message, a copy of which I here send you enclosed, was brought to the i V i •I 400 ORIGINAL LETTERS. House. In that message you will observe that an in- accuracy with regard to one of the great privileges of the House had inadvertently been suffered to slip, which you may be sure did not fail to be animadverted upon in very strong terms. Nevertheless, after much opposition, it was unanimously agreed upon that such a Bill might be brought in, which was thereupon im- mediately presented, read twice, committed, and or- dered to be engrossed, and Tuesday last it was brought up to the Lords. Their Lordships received this ex- traordinary Bill in quite a different manner than the Commons had. Lord Mansfield and Lord Hardwicke took the lead, and shewed, with great strength of rea- soning, that such a Bill could not be suffered to pass with any sort of propriety, unless it appeared to their Lordships, by sufficient evidence at their Imr, that there was suitable and most undoubted ground to found an Act of such an extraordinary nature upon. Whereupon it was resolved that all the late Members of the Court Martial should be ordered to attend their House as Wednesday last. On Wednesday they ap- peared ; and such was the expectation of the public, that I think I never saw so crowded a House. Lord Mansfield, supported by Lord Hardwicke, seemed to take the management of the Affmr upon him ; and both acquitted themselves to the satisfaction of all. There were two plain questions put to every one of the Mem- bers of the Court Martial, called separately to the bar : ORIGINAL LETTERS. 401 The first, " Do you know of any matter that pass*d pre- vious to the Sentence of the Court Martial, that shows the Sentence to be unjust?'' The second, " Do you know of any thing that pass'd that shows the Sentence to have been given from any undue practice or motive ?"" To each of these questions every one of the Members answered « No.'' It was further asked of every one of them, if they desired the Bill might pass into an Act to discharge them from their Oath of Secrecy ? and all of them, excepting Mr. Keppel, Admiral Norris, and Captain Moor, answered, they did not desire it, but severals added they had no objection to it, if it could give any satisfaction to others. A fourth question was put, viz. « If they could disclose any thing that might be necessary for his Majesty's information, or likely to incline his Majesty to mercy ?" and all of them (ex- cepting the three before mentioned) declared they could not, the most of them referring themselves ujx)n the head of Mercy to what they had added to their sen- tence, and their Letter to the Lords of the Admiralty. Such was the purport, if not the very words of the questions put to them, the two last of wliich were from Lord Halifax; and such were their Answers, aiven in the clearest manner imaginable. Upon tlie whole, the conviction of the House was so strong, that there was no necessity of passing the Bill, that it was given up bv the few Lords who favoured it : and the Proceedings there- upon, for the satisfaction of the Nation, were ordered VOL. IV. SFR. 2. D D ' h M 402 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 403 to be printed. As the ferment of the Public, especially of the City, has been very high upon this occasion, you will not be surprised to hear that some particular Gentlemen, one in particular, have greatly suffered m point of popularity from their conduct in this affair. V— It— rs C 11 took the liberty to say in the House, in one of the debates, that Admiral Byng had been the ruin of the last A n, and that he did not doubt but that he would be the ruin likewise of this. Many are of his opinion. You may hear more of this. Be surprised at nothing. ♦ # ♦ • * ^ Mr. Byng's respite terminates Monday se^nnight, the WK instant, when if nothing, I may say, preter- natural happens, he must be shot. I am, my dear Mitchell, Yours most sincerely. LETTER CCCCLXXI. Mr. Stammer to Mr. Mitchell Admiral Byng has but three days to live. [ibid. fol. 43.] London, March 11, 1757. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ • As I find that the Proceedings in the House of Lords in the Case of Admiral Byng do not make a Pamphlet of too large a size to go by the Post, I here- witli forward it to you. The Trial is made up into a proper pacquet and waits at Lord Holderness's Office to go by the first Messenger that shall be despatched to you. The unhappy subject of all this, Poor Byng, has but three days to live ; Monday being fixed for the day of his execution, without the least apparent pro- bability, I may say possibility, of a Reprieve, much less a pardon. There is indeed a report current to-day, that the Common Council of the City have some sort of a de- sire of petitioning*in his favour. If they should, it can be of no effect. They are so far from being the mouth of the City, that their voice runs counter, almost upon every great occasion, to the genuine voice of that re- spectable Body. If the King had thought fit to have spared Byng, and that such had been the prevailing wish of the people, the Common Council would cer- tainly have petitioned against him. With regard to the state of the present Administra- tion I have little or nothing to add to my last Letter. Affairs are in a manner all afloat. The Dike of Popu- larity being broke down, they lie open to inundation. Nothing can save them, but that the different Streams may perhaps not be brought to unite in one main Current. n D 2 iii ill 404 ORIGIKAL LETTER!*. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 405 LETTER CCCCLXXII. The Right Hm. William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, to Mr, Mitchell, Expresses his attach- ment to, and admiratim of the King of Primia. [ibid. voL xxiL foL 3. Or%g.\ (Private,) Whitehall, March 3Pt. 1 757. Sir, The favour of your Letter from Dresden of the 12 »i. inst. is every way too interesting to remain one moment unacknowledged. The infinite condescension and gracious goodness of his Prussian Majesty towards me, I feel as I ought, and consequently can express but very inadequately the most grateful sentiments of veneration and zeal for a Prince, who stands the un- shaken bulwark of Europe, against the most powerful and malignant confederacy that ever yet has threatened the independence of mankind. I need not add, that I should be most unworthy of the honour of serving the best of Sovereigns, if my zeal for the prosperity and glory of so firm and mag- nanimous an Ally, did not endeavour to keep some pace with the sentiments of his Majesty's own royal breast. I will trust to your friendship to employ the properest and most expressive terms to lay at the King of Prussia's feet my real sentiments of attachment and admiration. I may now come to a very pleasing and valuable part of your Letter, where, in most obliging expressions, you mention old acquaintance and friendship. I shall have a particular pleasure in cultivating the honour of your kind remembrance, and desire you will remain assured that no one is with more truth and regard than myself, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant, W. PITT. LETTER CCCCLXXIIL Mr. Symmer to Mr, Mitchell, The King and the Duke of Cumberland have the Gout for the first time, ■ [ibid. voL xxxviii. fol. 113.] London, \T\ Nov. 1758. ♦ ♦ * # # The King was taken ill of a cold upon his coming to Town Wednesday last week. That did not hinder 406 ORI6IKAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 407 him to appear and to undergo the fatiguing honours of his Birth-day, Friday last, though every body took notice of the indisposition he laboured under. He likewise made a shift to appear, for a few moments, the Sunday following. From that time he submitted to a confinement in his private apartments ; every body was alarmed ; on Wednesday and Yesterday a report was current in the City he was dead, and numbers of people hurried to the shops to buy their mourning clothes. No doubt but that something of this report will get into Foreign Gazettes. I think it therefore proper for me to tell you, and it is with the greatest satisfaction I give you the information, that this is nothing but a false alarm. His Majesty's indisposition has taken a very favourable turn. In short, it has ended in the Gout, and he is now confined to his chair, a good deal out of humour to be so confined, and pretty much in pain, but in other respects in very good health. This is a distemper that seems to be somewhat epide- mical at present in the Royal Family. The Duke is confined to his apartment on the same account, and likewise for the first time ; for neither His Majesty nor He had ever an avowed attack of the Gout before. LETTER CCCCLXXIV. Mr. Pitt to Mr. Mitchell The Kin^ of Prussia in- tercedes for the Pardon of the Lord Marisclud. Mr. Pitfs veneration for the King of Prussia. [ibid. vol. xxii fol. 21. Orig.] •»• George tenth Earl Marischal was bom about 1693, and succeeded his father in 1712. On February the 3«». I714, Queen Anne gave him the command of the Scottish troop of horse grenadier guards. He signed the ProclamaUon of King George the First August 1«'. I714 ; but being unacceptable to the Duke of ArgyU he was deprived of his command. The Earl set out for Scotland in disgust, and in the following year entered rashly into the RebeUion. An act of Attainder now passed against Earl Marischal, his titles, and hereditary office of Marischal of Scotland, which last had been in his family from the time of Malcolm the Second. Escaping abroad, he returned to Scotland in 1719 with the Spanish troops sent by Cardinal Alberoni. The Spaniards were defeated, and the Earl a second time escaped to the Continent He resided for some time in Spain in straitened circumstances, but at last went to Prussia, where he gamed the friendship of Frederick III. who, in 1750, sent him his ambassador extraordinary to the Court of France ; invested him with the Order of the Black Eagle ; and gave him the government of NeufchateL In 1 759 he was ambassador from Prussia to the Court of Madrid, where discovering the secret of the Family Com- pact, by which the different branches of the House of Bourbon had bound themselves to assist each other, he communicated that important intelli- gence to Mr. Pitt, who representing his lordship's case to King George the Second, a pardon was granted to him May 29''*. 1759. From the Letter immediately before the Reader, and from the Letter which follows it, it will be seen that the King of Prussia had also inter- posed in his favour. • Havmg quitted Madrid, he came to England, • Nor was Earl Marischal less indebted to the kindness of Sir Andrew Mitchell. In a Letter dated " Madrid ce 24 Aout nS9," he says, *• I am most gratefully ac- * 408 OUIGINAL LETTEIIS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 409 and was introauced to King George the Second, June 15 ^ 17C0. HU former disabaitiea were further removed by an Act of Parliament 33 Geo. II. Having recovered a portion of his family estates under another act, Stat. 1 Geo. III. c 14. • he intended to have setUed in Scodand, and came thae for a time ; but at the King of Prussia's earnest soUcitation he returned to Prussia, where he died at Potsdam 3Iay 28»^ 1778. »• Private, Sir, You will be informed by the Earl of Holdeniesse, now returned from Bath, of the pleasure His Majesty took in complying with the wishes of the King of Prussia in favour of Lord Marshal ; and I have only to add on the subject, that nothing was left for the King's servants to do on the occasion but to admire the generosity and clemency of two great Monarchs displaying themselves so amiably, and to be happy in the growing harmony and confidential friendship which daily manifest themselves between their Majesties. knowluU{iii{? of ihc goodne» of both tlie Kings towards me, and also of your good office*, for 1 know by Baron Knyphauscn that bc'fore he delivered the King of Prussia's Letter, the King of England was alrealy disposed to grant my pardon. You had. it seems, previously prej^ared well the way. as I have wtit to my friends in S?cotland. that they may know the obligation I think I have to you. « • ♦ • • " I know from Baron Knyphausen not only the King's goodness and clemency, but also the favour of his Ministers towards me ; whatever more they shall add shaU be with gratitude received; and to them I leave it." • Earl Marischal writes to Sir Andrew Mitchell, in the following terms, from London, February 2^- 1761. " Vou will see perhaps by the public papers that my Bill has passed both Houses ; the King made notify by his Ministers his consent. It would have passed in a way much more advantageous to me. had it not been for one Webb, a Member of Parliament, an attorney, and esteemed by all a K I do not mean a King. Had it not been for Mr. Nugent of the Treasury he had/Urtive- went thrust into my Bill unperceived a clause which would have given to me and to my heirs, by Act of Parliament, a law-suit of fifty years. *' MARISCHALL." •? Coinpaic Wovnl's ciiit, of Doiigliiss, Peerage of Scotland, vol. ii. pp. 190, I9T. The approbation the King of Prussia is pleased to express to you of the measures pursued, and of the fair and honest proceedings of the King's servants, fills me with the deepest satisfaction and sincerest joy for the public ; at the same time that the distinguished protection and infinite condescension of that heroic monarch towards the least amongst them have indeed left me under impressions beyond the power of words, and in addition to all the warmest sentiments which my heart has long devoted to the greatest of Kings and pride of human nature, gratitude, that can only cease with my life, has completed the ties of inviolable attachment. I have the pleasure to acquaint you that, this day, the pecuniary succour to Prussia, and the subsidy to the Landgrave, together with nineteen thousand Hes- sians for this year, passed the Committee, with one voice only against it. I return you many thanks for your obliging presents, and desire you will be per- suaded that I shall be happy in the occasions of testi- fying the great truth and consideration with which I remain, Dear Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, W. PITT. Whitehall, Jan. 26'\ 1759. r^li f 410 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I LETTER CCCCLXXV. Lord Holdcrnesse to Mr. Mitchell, upati the Pardon of the Lord Mareschdl, [ibid. vol. xiv. foL 4. Or%g.\ Private. Whitehall, Jan. Tl'K 1759. Dear Sir, As I hope soon to have occasion to despatch a mes- senger to you I shall give you little trouble by this post, but I could not forbear acquainting you, without loss of time, that in consideration of the King of Prussia's apphcation His Majesty is pleased to consent to pardon the late Lord Marshall. You know the precautions that by the Constitution we are obliged to take, in Cases of Attainder for Treason by Act of Parliament, so that I cannot yet tell in what shape this affair will be carried into execution, but it will suffice for the present, that you should know it will be done. Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, HOLDERKESSE. Mr. MitcheU. original LETTERS. 411 LETTER CCCCLXXVL Mr. Pitt to Mr. Mitchell. His respect and reverence for the King of Prussia. [ibid. vol. xxii. fol. 23. Orig.\ Whitehall, June the \%\ 1759. Dear Sir, I WILL not trouble you here with regard to my De- spatch to Mr. Porter, a copy whereof, in your cypher, is transmitted to you by the Earl of Holdernesse in order to be communicated to the King of Prussia, and relative whereto Baron Knyphalisen has writ so fully and so fairly to his Court. I will only say on this subject, that we do more than I dared to hope ; indeed all that we possibly can ; and far beyond that to which any imaginable consideration but the just weight of His Prussian Majesty, could ever have carried us. What I sat down only to do, is to acknowledge the favour of your very obliging private Letter of the 20*. past, and to give some expressions in a short word, to the deep and lively sentiments of most respectful gra- titude and veneration which such a testimony from such a Monarch must engrave for ever in a heart already filled with admiration and devotion. Truly dear as His Prussian Majesty's interests are *-'i> w. w 412 ORIGINAL LETTERS. to me, it is my happiness to be able to say, that if any servant of the King could forget (a thing, I trust, is impossible) what is due by every tie to such an Ally, I am persuaded His Majesty would soon bring any of us to our memory again. In this confidence I rest secure that whenever Peace shall be judged proper to come under consideration, no PEACE of UTRECHT will again stain the annals of England. Accept yourself my best thanks for the obliging language you was so good to hold of an old acqumnt- ance : and believe me with great truth and considera- tion. Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, W. PITT. LETTER CCCCLXXVII. Mr, Symmer to Mr. Mitchell The Expenses of the War. Lord George Sackville disgraced, [ibid. vol. xxxviii. foL 145. Orig,'] London, WK Sept. 1759. • # ♦ ♦ ♦ How much do I wish that all this bustle in Europe were over, and that I had you here, in the quiet Cabi- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 413 net of Mount-street, to philosophise about Electricity and the hidden Powers of Nature. To give you some little sketch of the political State of Affairs at home, I must acquaint you, that the late Successes his Majesty's Arms have been crowned with by Sea and Land, together with a certainty now of having nothing to fear with regard to an Invasion from France, have consolidated the power of the Minister who has been active in those measures, and raised him above all opposition. The only apparent difficulty the present Administration has to struggle with, is to sup- ply the expenses of the war, if it should continue. It is computed that a sum not less than eighteen millions has been requisite to defray the charges of Government, civil and military, during the course of this year. This is a sum so immense, that, setting aside the debt that must accumulate upon it, there is not a nation in Europe could bear the burthen of it long. The weight of it begins to be felt by us in a very sensible manner ; and indeed it is amazing, however forward people are to subscribe, that so much specie can be found as is necessary to effectuate that expense. Our comfort is that it must go as hard with our enemies, in conse- quence of which we may soon hope for Peace. I take it for granted you are no stranger to what has been reported concerning the behaviour of Lord G. S le at the Battle of Minden. He has been come home now some days ; yet that docs not silence the m 414 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 415 hawkers, who every day have some new piece of scur- rility against him, to bawl about the streets. The Pamphlets already wrote on the subject (none of which I have or shall read) are enough to compose Volumes. What is most material is, that he is stripped of all his military employments : and that when he demanded a Court Martial, he was told he might go to Germany to have it, and might be assured that whatever sentence should be passed upon him there, would be confirmed here. In such a Country as E d, and with a man of intrigue and abilities as Lord G. I should not be sur- prised if in six months hence the current runs another way. LETTER CCCCLXXVIII. Mr. Symmer to Mr. Mitchell. The death of General Wolf. [ibid. foL 143.] London, Oct. 26, 1759. ♦ ♦ # # ♦ I TAKE it for granted you have had authentic ac- counts of our great success in America, as soon as it was possible for you to receive them. I should have been glad however to have thrown in my little in- formation of those matters at the same time ; if it had been no more than to have congratulated with you upon the joyful part of the news, and at the same time condoled with you on the loss of a man who, as a Ge- neral, or as a private person, is hardly to be replaced. I need not tell you I mean Mr. Wolf. I knew him but a little : but what I knew of him made me esteem, admire, and love him. If you were acquainted with him I am sure you will not differ in opinion with me. LETTER CCCCLXXIX. Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell The Unim between the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Pitt. [ibid. VoL XXXV. fol. 21.] Cavendish Square, 14 Jan. 1760. ***♦♦■ If I were to give you an account of the past and present state of things here since I wrote last, I should compose a Volume. You have no time to read or I to write any thing so voluminous. These transactions will amuse us in conversation when we meet, but for the present it may suffice that I assure you of the union, cordiality, and good-will which reigns at present among the King's servants : it, fortunately for them, our mas- ter, and the public, is such, that there never was more ■'■M, Ui '-4'\ "Ml » 416 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I at any period of our time. I could not have said this three months ago, but I can safely assert it now, and I think there is every appearance that the same happy temper will continue. I verily believe that the Duke of N. and his brother did not more cordially wish each other to continue in their respective stations, than the Duke of N. and Mr. Pitt do now : and there are less disputes and coldness than there used to be between the two Brothers. This union, great and extraordinary as it may seem, is nothing in comparison with that of the Parliament and the Nation, which seems to have one mind and one object. What is most asto- nisliing, the object in which this whole people is united is wise and good. Do not however imagine, my dear Mitchell, that this proceeds from any improvement made by our countrymen either in wisdom or in virtue, for it arises solely from this ; no man who can raise any sort of disturbance finds it either convenient or agreeable to be out of humour at this time. As every Speech, Pamphlet, and Paper, are full of panegyrick on the present measures, the Nation believe it is all deserved, and think they were never so well served nor governed. Perhaps they never were, but this opinion does not arise from thence. They are ready to carry on the War, or to make a Peace according as the one or the other shall be recommended to them ; and if the War continues they are for the first time persuaded it will be made in the best manner and in the l)est places. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 417 These are happy conjunctures, my dear friend, and I hope and believe the proper use will be made of them. ♦ ♦ * * # I asked the Duke of Newcastle to-day, if I might give you the comfort of knowing that you were well with him, which you know is an expression of his Grace's. The Duke^s answer was, " no man in Eng- land better, and so I desire you will tell him, with many excuses for not answering his Letters.'' I am, my dear friend, . most faithfully and affectionately yours, BAERINGTON. LETTER CCCCLXXX. Mr. MitcheU to the Earl ofHoldernesse, The Cmrt of France uses the pen of Voltaire to draw Secrets from the King of Prussia, The King of Prussia's character of Voltaire, [IBID. VOL V. foL 118 b. ME. MITCHELL'S OWN COPT. J (Secret,) Meissen, Thursday, Sl^t. July, I760.- My Lord, A FEW days ago I received a Letter from Mr, Mackenzie, his Majest/s Envoy at Turin, enclosing one from Baron Edelsheim to the King of Prussia • ,(;> VOL. IV. SER. 2. £ E ■ ^ ■ !l ' J 418 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. the Originals of both which Letters I here transmit to your Lordship. So soon as the Baron's Letter could be decyphered I gave a copy to his Prussian Majesty, which he read over in my presence, and seemed a good deal provoked and piqued with the behaviour of the Duke de Choiseul, and not much pleased with the conduct of the Bailly de Froulay. The next day the King of Prussia sent me an answer to that Letter to be put into our French cypher, which accordingly has been done, and sent to Mr. Mackenzie under a merchant's cover. Your Lord- ship has a copy of it here enclosed. « • ♦ ♦ ♦ Two days ago happening to dine with his Prussian Majesty alone, I threw out by way of conversation some reflections on the indignity with which Monsieur de Choiseul had treated Baron Edelsheim, charged with a Letter of Credence. The King of Prussia, after mentioning, with some warmth, the weakness and absurdity of the French Ministers, replied, that Baron Edelsheim had, properly speaking, no Letter of cre- dence, but only a Letter from Minister to Minister in which even a blank was left for the inserting of his name in case there should be occasion, and he added that as to the seizure of the Baron's papers, which was the only reasonable motive for arresting of him, the French would be disappointed if they expected to make discoveries by them, for he had given the Baron 419 no written Instructions, and they would only find a particular cypher which was of no consequence. I then took the liberty to observe that some late Letter his Prussian Majesty had written which had fallen into the French Minister's hands, seemed to have given great offence. His Prussian Majesty replied « I have wrote no Letter, but one to Voltaire." I ventured to say, « Perhaps your Majesty may have in that Letter made use of some strong expressions with regard to the Duke de Choiseul." He answered, « No. I think I made use of this proverbial phrase, that the Duke de Choiseul was possessed by ten millions of Austrian devils;" that, as to the rest, he had told Voltaire, he would keep to his alliance with England, and that if the French had a mind for Peace they must speak out plainly; and he said that this Letter to Voltaire was an Answer to one he had received from him, in which Voltaire had assured him that the French Ministers were perfectly well disposed towards a Peace. I think proper to acquaint your Lordship minutely with every circumstance concerning this affair, which I wish may agree with the accounts received from other parts ; but I cannot help adding that the King of Prussia's Correspondence with Voltaire lias, on this, and former occasions, given me some uneasiness and suspicions ; for I believe the Court of France make use of the artful pen of Voltaire to draw secrets from the King of Prussia, and when that Prince writes as a wit E E 2 I > 1 : 420 ORIGINAL LETTERS. OWGINAL LETTERS. 421 lilt and to a wit, he is capable of great indiscretions. But what surprises me still more is, that whenever Voltaire's name is mentioned, his Prussian Majesty never fails to give him the epithets he may deserve, which are the worst heart and greatest rascal now living ; yet with all this he continues to correspond with him. Such, in this Prince, is the lust of praise from a great and elegant Writer, in which, however, he will at last be the dupe, for by what I hear from good authority of Voltaire's character, he may dissemble, but never can nor never will forgive the King of Prussia for what has passed between them. I am, &c. ANDREW MITCHELL. LETTER CCCCLXXXI. The Right Hmi. William Pitt to Mr. Mitchell. Ex- presses Us joy at the King of Prussia's Successes. [ibid. vol. xxii. fol. 25. Orig.\ Sept. 9*^. 1760. (Private.) Dear Sir, I CAN not let a Messenger go away without con- veying some expressions at least of all my heart feels on the glorious and stupendous successes with which 3 Providence has at last crowned the heroic constancy of spirit and unexampled activity of mind of that truly great King you are so fortunate to contemplate nearly. Never was joy more sincere and universal than that MThich Mr. Coccei^s arrival confirmed to us ; and amidst a whole Nation's joy, none can surpass, if any can equal mine. May Heaven continue to prosper the arduous work, for much, very much yet remains to be done, and other wonders to be performed. May all prove propitious, and may success inspire sentiments of peace, to fix at last this long-fluctuating scene of blood and desolation, and to give stability and happiness to the fortunes of this unconquerable Monarch. Mr. Coccefs appearance and manner fully answer to the advantageous portrait you make of him ; and I esteem myself happy in the acquisition of that gentle- man's acquaintance. Accept my best thanks for the volume of admirable poetry which you was so good to send me. I find there the happiest imitations of the Ancients : the de- licacy of Horace, and the force of Juvenal. I am, with great truth and consideration. Dear Sir, Your faithful friend ^nd most humbk servairt, W. PITT. %: yn M i . i it m 4:22 ORIGINAL LETTERS, LETTER CCCCLXXXIL J, Wright^ Under Secretary of State, to Sir Andrew Mitchell, The Reports upon King George the Secofid's Will. [MITCHELL PAPERS. O/ig.} Whitehall, Nov. TK 1760. • • # • * The King's Will is so variously reported that I do not presume to vouch any one of them. That of the most authority I have, is, that he left only ^£^35,000 to be equally divided between the Duke, Princess Amelia, and the Landgravine of Hesse. A small parcel of Bank notes, about ^£^6000, were found in his drawer, with a desire of them being sent to the Coun- tess, whirh with two thousand guineas the King found loose were sent iramediatelv, and I hear was all he left; that the great distresses in Germany since this War began had run away with all that he might other- wise have left. "w. LETTERS or THE REIGN OF KING GEORGE THE THIRD. i 'f fl I m N In any Retrospect which future times may make, the Reign of GEORGE the THIRD will be found as instructive to the Philosopher as the Historian. In duration it extended to the full limit of an ordinary life ; in great- ness of events it had no parallel in the Ages which went immediately before it. It was marked by the loss of a vast empire upon the Western continent, and by the acquisition of sixty millions of subjects upon the Eastern side of the Globe ; by the dawn of restoration to the Arts ; by the most important discoveries in every science ; by the greatest naval, and the greatest military glory. • Nor must it be forgotten that George the Third released the Judges of the land from dependence upon himself. The Reader, however, is not for a moment to suppose that the Letters here presented to him, form any thing like a perfect, or even a continued Picture of the Reign of George the Third. They regard a few Occurrences only in a bng Period ; apd relate mostly to the earlier Administrations of the King's Government. Some will nevertheless be found amongst them of no ordinary import. None are probably of higher interest than those which depict the conduct of the Sovereign himself amid trials. The integrity of his mind, his powers of persuasion, the kindness of his heart, his decision, and his magnanimity are every where apparent. « The Regency b^an Feb. 3^. isii. King George the Third died Jan. ay«>. isao. OKIGINAL LETTEUS. 42j LETTER CCCCLXXXIII. Gaieral VorJce to Sir Andrexv Mitchell. The opening of the Reigji of George the Third. [MITCHELL PAPERS, vol. xxxvii. foL 151. Orig.^ Hague, January 8*^. 1761. Dear Sir, I HAVE not wrote to you of late, because I really have not very well known what to say after the loss we sustained in October; and I was desirous to see a little first what was Hkely to happen, as well as to learn whether your arrival with H. P. M. at Leipsic might produce any thing to enlighten my understanding. As we seem hkely to continue sometime longer in the dark, I must break through my silence to wish you a happy New Year and many more agreeable ones than you have spent of late ; Mr. Coccei the second furnishes me with the opportunity, and I won't let it escape. I do not know whether you have correspondents who hiform you exactly of our interior; if you have, all I have to say may be useless; i^ you have not, a few' lines may not be unwelcome. The young Monarch has ascended the Throne in the happiest acra of the British Nation, the first of his family ' *t t f iH I 426 ORIGINAL LETTERS. born ill England, in the prime of life, with a gooil constitution, and with the good opinion of his subjects. He has many amiable and virtuous qualities, is rather timid, but since his accession I am told he represents well, and spoke his speech with great grace and dig- nity. He received all his Grandfather'^s servants with great goodness, and pressed them to continue in his service, which they consented to, though some of them, particularly the Duke of Newcastle, was in- clined to retire ; but all the Whigs in the Kingdom united to desire his continuance in employment, and he was promised the direction in the new Elections, with all the other influence he formerly enjoyed. Mr. Pitt has, however, the lead, and Lord Bute has a dif- ficult game to play as a personal friend and favourite, with weight, of course, but no employment of business. This, you see, must occasion new scenes, which will be represented as people''s passions and interests lead them. Hitherto things have gone on smoothly in appearance, and in Parliament unanimously, and the only thing which occasioned a fluster was the invitation and ad- mission of some Tory Lords and Commoners into the mi Bedchamber ; a measure which I should have no ob- jection to, if concerted, but which without that may rather tend to divide than to unite. In what manner the New Parliament will be chosen we shall soon see. I hear the fashion at Court is to say, it shall be a Par- iiament of the people's own choosing, which, in these ORIGINAL LETTERS. 427 times, may open the door to new cabals and difficulties though the principle of it may be wise and honest. Lord Hardwicke has been much caressed by theKing and his Ministers, and continues to give his helping hand without place or pension. The Duke of Argyle and Lord Bute were reconciled in an hour, and have settled their matters to mutual satisfaction, which I and many others expected would be the case whenever a late event happened. The Marriage was hotly talked of for some time, but that is now subsided. The Saxe Gotha match does not seem to have the Vox Populi, but His Majesty has not many ladies to choose out of, if he designs to marry. As to the Wor, they would be glad to get out of it if they could, and His Majesty wishes personally for it. One difficulty is out of the way, which is Hanover, for at present the influence from that quarter is quite at an end, and though great goodness is expressed towards them, no partiality or any appearance of it. We were in hopes because France was ruined that she would make some advance, but France seems to take pleasure in her ruin, and holds her tongue, and pretends she will make another campaign, and that she has found the money for it, though all the bankers here deny it. Had the expedition against Gottingen succeeded, I am inclined to think some overture would have been made; but I don't know what they will do at present, unless |M 4-28 O&IGINAL LETTEK^b. >il 1" I to make another declaration as last year; perhaps with the same success. His Prussian Majesty must be sup- ported if possible, and no one in the British Council has any idea of leaving him ; but we are always afraid for him, and are not wise enough always to see how Iki can be assisted. In the meanwhile the Season is again approaching for the armies to take the field, and a re- solution must be taken before that time. If the French stay in Hesse they will embarrass us greatly, and the wisest thing His Prussian Majesty can do for his own interest is to help to drive them away ; he would not only encourage the British nation, but enable us to negotiate for him with great advantage. At Vienna they are not too flush of money, and the accounts I see from their army represent it as very much shattered and tattered, and that they shall have great difficulties in putting it in order again. The single article of new clothing them again is a very considerable object. Who is to command it is uncertain; some imagine Daun will not, and talk of the Archduke with Laudohn for director. I know nothing about the Russians, which is the most essential to be informed about ; and as to the Swedes, I hope there is a good chance for their being out of the question for the next campaign, if things go on as they are represented to us. This is the short Sketch of what I know ; if any tiling material happens which may assist or comfort ^rou, I will let you know it. His Prussian Majesty ORIGINAL LETTERS. 429 has a faithful ally in the King, and one who will not leave him in the lurch. Whether he sees any light himself to extricate himself, besides sheer fighting, is more than I am informed of; but to judge from what I do see, I should not imagine he has, which I am sorry for, for I am always for negotiating even in the midst of fighting. We are told that he has great sue cess in completing his army, which is astonishing; but h,s Country must suffer, as all parts of it have been ravaged by turns, and his enemies are such as have no bowels at all. Monsieur Coccei will tell you aD the anecdotes of London better than I can. He seems, as well as his brother, much pleased with his reception, and much delighted with all that was said to him. Lord Pembroke left the enclosed Letter with me to be forwarded under cover to you by the first oppor- tunity. This with my best wishes for your health and happiness is all the trouble you shall have to-day from, Dear Sir, Your most affectionate and faithful humble servant. J. Y. My best compliments wait on Mr. Burnet, and I beg to be kindly remembered to my worthy friend Mamitz. J. Lvi'l H^ 430 ORIGINAL LETTERS. H |i LETTER CCCCLXXXIV. Lord BarringUm to Andrew Mitchclly Esq, [mitcuell papess. voL XXXV. fol. 27- Orig.\ W 4i i Cavendish Square, 5*^*. Jan. 1761. » • # * # Nothing can be more amiable, more virtuous, better disposed, than our present Master. He applies himself thoroughly to his affairs, he understands them to an astonishing degree. His faculties seem to me equal to his good intentions, and nothing can be more agreeable or satisfactory than doing business with him. A most uncommon attention, a quick and just concep- tion, great mildness, great civility, which takes nothing from his dignity, caution and firmness, are conspicuous in the highest degree ; and I really think none of them over or underdone. After so much panegyric on the Master, you will not expect any on his Ministers. You know them as well as I do, so I shall say nothing con- cerning them, but that if three of the number can agree, they may do every thing for themselves, their friends, and their Country. Whoever unnecessarily breaks this important triumvirate will deserve public execra- tion, and perhaps may have it ; for I think the Nation ORIGINAL LETTERS. 43^ for once desires quiet both at home and abroad. After telhng you my wish, I will tell you my opinion : I thmk they will agree so as to carry on business to- gether ; and that is as much as can be expected. The distinction shown to our patron and friend the Duke of Newcastle has done him the highest honour. Never was a caU to Government so unive.^1: it was not to be resisted, even in the opinion of those who thought he should retire. He certainly was himself of that opinion and intended retirement, how much soever he might have repented it afterwards. Adieu, my dear MitcheU ; preserve your good hu- mour, recover your health, and be never a moment without the most confident belief that I am most sin- cerely and affectionately yours. BARRINGTON. P- S. I ask no questions about myself, but I am rather of opinion I shall continue Secretary at War. J n ■ 'I m 432 ORIGIXAL LETTERS. |i LETTER CCCCLXXXV. Lord Barrington to Andrew Mitchell^ Esq. The Administration settled, [ibid. foL 29. Orig.\ II ill J ^if Cavendish Square, 23^. March, 1761.- My dear Mitchell, Some time since I acquainted you by desire of the Duke of Newcastle that you would soon be a Knight of the Bath : I wish he had not given me this Com- mission, as the Ribbons were disposed of yesterday, and you had not one of them. I have expostulated with the Duke on this occasion. He protests it is not his fault, and that he has the most real value and regard for you ; which indeed I believe IS true. I hope this will be the last and the most mortifying disappointment of your life. Our Administration is at last settled ; I think well settled in the main, and my opinion is that it will last. Our friend Holdemesse is finely in harbour: he has j£*4<000 a year for life, with the reversion of the War- denship of the Cinque Ports after the Duke of Dorset, which he likes better than having the name of Pensioner. I never could myself understand the difference between a Pension and a Sinecure Place. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 433 The same strange fortune which made me Secretary at War ^.e years and a half ago, has made me Chan- celior of the Exchequer. It may perhaps at last make 7 . Tt ' '^"^ ' "" "1"^"^ ^' '^ ^' -' the head of the Church, as of the Exchequer. My reason tells me It would have been more proper to have given me an employment of less consequence, when I was re- moved from the War Office; but no man knows what IS good for him. My invariable rule therefore is to ask nothing, to refuse nothing, to let others plaee me and to do my best wherever I am placed. I have the satisfaction to be perfectly well with my Royal Master, who really deserves all love and admira tion, and with the three persons whose union can alone keep this Country great and happy. Perhaps I may contnbute to the continuance of it, and it shaU be my utmost endeavour to do so. In all situations, my dear Mitchell, I am equally your fnend and servant. Use me always as such, and believe me ever most faithfully and affectionately yours, BARRINGTON. Andrew Mitchell, Esq. ii VOL. IV. SER. 2. F F 434 OHUilXAL I.KTTF.RS. i! • t; I » ' I' I ii If iii| LETTER CCCCLXXXVI. Colonel Grceme to Mr, Mitchell, upon Lord Har- caurfs Journey to demand the hand of the Princess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, [ibid. vol. li. foL 1. Ortg.\ Strelitz, 17 \ July, 1761. Sir, The 15^*'. instant I received n Letter from Lord Bute of the 7'^^ enclosing a Copy of the Declaration which His Majesty was to make to his Council next day the 8'-\, a Double of which I herewith send you for your information, in case you may not have had any account of it from England. His Lordship also informs me that Lord Harcourt was next day to be declared Master of Horse to the Queen, and named Ambassador from His Majesty to make the formal demand of the Princess, and conduct her to England. That his Lordship was to set out immediately, and supposed he would be at Strelitz by the end of this month at latest. This information his Lordship gave me with a view that I might have every thing in readi- ness for the Princess's journey, so as my Lord Har- court should not be detained here above two or three days. ORIGIXAL LETTERS. 4^5 The route which the Princess takes from hence is through the Prignitz. Tlie Stages, Mirow, Witstock, Pritzwalck, Perleberg, Lentsen, at wh.ch last place the Princess crosses the Elbe, and enters on the Hanover territory. The Duke of Meck- lenburgh conducts the Princess to the Elbe, and is to apply to the Regency of the Country to have horses in readmess ; but as the circumstances of the times, the 2 of the Country, .ieh the approaching har;est, may occas,on some difficulties i„ the supply of horse for so large a lietinue as the Princess wiH have along -th her, I bought proper to inform you of the above par .culars^hoping to obtain through your interposition wUh the Mm,sters such directions to the Regelcy i„ tha part of his Prussian Majesty's dominions, as ma! obv.ate all difficulties which might occur to retard tZ Prmcesss journey. I cannot exactly inform you at what place in the Prignitz the Princss will take a n|ghts quarters, but I believe at Perleberg. The P ace .but middling, and cannot afford ver/commo- d.ous lodg,n^. I hope that the Magistrates will do ^e r part, and see the Prince accommodated in the best manner that circumstances may admit of I regretted that I was not fortunate enough to have F F g ! .J m^ 436 ORIGINAL LETTERS. i the pleasure of paying my respects to you at Berlin, to which place I lately made a short trip to satisfy curiosity, but shall on all occasions be glad of any op- portunity to testify that regard with which I have the honour to be. Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant, DAV. GR.EME, ColL m M\ (C(ypy of His Majesty s Declaration,) Having nothing so much at heart as to procure the welfare and happiness of my people, and to render the same stable and permanent to Posterity, I have, ever since my Accession to the Throne, turned my thoughts towards the choice of a Princess for my Consort, and I now with great satisfaction acquaint you that, after the fullest information and mature deliberation, I am come to a resolution to demand in marriage the Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg Strelitz, a Princess distin- guished by every eminent virtue and amiable endow- ment ; whose illustrious line has constantly shown the firmest zeal for the Protestant Religion, and a particu- lar attachment to my Family. I have judged proper to communicate to you these My Intentions, in order that you may be fully apprized of a matter so highly important to me and to my Kingdoms, and which I persuade myself will be most acceptable to my loving Subjects. li- lt OBIGINAI. LETTEBS. 437 LETTER CCCCLXXXVII. Colonel Grwme to Mr. Mitchell. Preparatwm for the Princess's Journey. [hiTCHELI PArEHS, IBID. fol. 5. Orig.] Sir, Strelitz, llth. Aug. 1761. If I could with any certainty have given you intel- hg«nce of the arrival of Lord Harcourt at this place, and of the departure of the future Queen for England' I should not have failed Uking an opportunity of no! ticing one and t'other to you, as well as to acknow- ledge the receipt of your obliging Letter of the 20* July. I yesterday had a Despatch from Lord Harcourt at Stade, where he landed on the 7'". He is to be here the 14-1'., and on Monday the 17'". the Princess sets out on her Journey to England. Lord Bute writes me that the Duchess of Ancaster, Mistress of the Robes, and the Duchess of Hamilton, Lady of the Bed-cham- ber, with Mr. Herbert, and Dashwood, come to attend the Princess to England. These are the only particulars relative to this Journey worthy your notice. 438 ORIGINAL LETTERS. In the Prussian County of Prignitz where the Princess is to pass, all Orders are given, and I have reason to think all dispositions made that may make the journey expeditious and agreeable to Her Serene Highness. On Thursday I send a messenger to meet Lord Harcourt, when I shall send him the Letter you sent me for his Lordship by the last Estafette. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most humble and most obedient servant DAV. GB.£M£. I« LETTER CCCCLXXXVIII. The Earl of Harcourt from the Cmirt qfStrelitz, to Mr. Mitchell at Magdeburg. Preparations Jbr bringing the Princess, afterwards Queen Cliarlotie, to England. [hitcbell FAPEB3. voL Iviii. foL 33. Orig,] Strelitz, Aug. 17"'. 1761. Dear Mitchell, How unfortunate am I to lose the opportunity of meeting you at Perleberg ! but still more concerned for the accident that has deprived me of that pleasure of introducing you to the most amiable young Princess I OaiGINAL LETTEKS. 439 ever saw. You may imagine what Reception I have met with at this Court coming upon such an errand as brought me here, where the great honour the King has done this Family is seen in its proper light. I reached this place on the 14s no regular beauty, but she is of a very pretty size has a charming complexion, very pretty eyes, and finely made. In short she is a very fine girl, I can't finish my Letter, dear Mitchell, without giving you the strongest assurances of my affection and good wishes for the recovery of your health, and that you may live to return to your Country, and re- ceive rewards adequate to the important and dangerous services you have been employed in. a I must detain you a little longer to give you a short w-««rK.t."j::r*'.r'" "-" "^ '"^ '"■■«<'"'-^ '■• >.i. Baule.. „. id 440 ORIGINAL LETTERS. I HliU account of the very unexpected honour His Majesty has done me. I was in the country a planter des ckmiQpy when I received an order to attend tlie Privy Council in which His Majesty declared his intention to marry. Lord Bute, whom I honour, and to whom I am personally obliged, desired me to call upon him, and he declared to me His Majesty'^s gracious intention to send me upon this honourable commission, and to appoint me Her Majesty's Master of the Horse, which honours I expected as much as I did the Bishoprick of London just vacant. There was no room to hesitate one moment whether I was to accept su^h a mark of distinction. I waited upon the King immediately, whose goodness to me was such as ought for ever to attach me to his service, if I had not already looked upon myself as one of the most zealous of his subjects. I happened to be one of the few, perhaps the only man of quality that did not solicit some favour of him upon his Accession to the Crown. He took notice of it, and was pleased with it. After what happened to me some years ago, it was beneath me to become a solicitor for favours and employment. If the King thought me worthy to be employed I knew I should receive some mark of favour ; if not, I was sure no solicitation would signify. I have troubled you with this Account because I am sure you will be pleased to see an old friend receive such marks of His Majesty'^s regaixl. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 441 i If I can be of any service to you at my return to England, you may for ever command your most sincere, and affectionate friend, HAECOURT. I will take care that not only the Princess shall be convinced of your attention to her, but His Majesty also and Lord Bute shall be apprized of it. Col. Graham ' desires his compliments. We set out this afternoon, but we shall not be at Stade till the 2«d. Excuse this hurry. LETTER CCCCLXXXIX. Lord Barnngtm to Andrew Mitchell^ Esq, Mr. Pitt's Resignation of the Seals. [MITCHELL PAPERS, VoL XXXV. foL 31. Orig,] Cavendish Square, 51'. Oct. 1761. Dear Sir, A VERY important and I think an unfortunate event has happened this day. Mr. Pitt has resigned the Seals. For some time past there has been a difference of opinion in the Cabinet as to the conduct proper to be held with Spain. Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple were * Grcme. t\\ 442 ORIGINAL LETTERS. !! ill I 1 IT. ill of one opinion, which they gave in writing to the King. The other Lords, ten in number, among whom were the Dukes of Newcastle and Devonshire, the Earls of Granville and Bute, Lords Mansfield, Ligonier, and Anson (I had forgot Lord Hardwicke) were of a con- trary opinion, which they severally but unanimously delivered by word of mouth in the closet. Both parties adhering firmly to their way of thinking, Mr. Pitt has taken the part I have mentioned, which I fear will occasion great inconveniences both at home and abroad. However I do not see any disposition any where to change the system of the War ; or to make peace on improper conditions. I do not indeed at present see any probability of the thing in this world I most ar- dently wish, an honourable conclusion of those dis- tresses which have desolated some parts of the Globe and impoverished others. It was an expectation of this happy event that kept me so long silent. I desired to obtain my pardon for the seeming neglect of which I have been guilty, by sending you some very good news ; but, alas ! I see no hopes of a pacification, and my favourite scheme of union between the three great men of this Country is at an end. I must in justice say, it has not failed by the two Lords; and I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that they are thoroughly and cordially united. ♦ * • • • I continue, my dear Mitchell, advancing without ORIGINAL LETTERS. 443 application to advance, or indeed desire ; being con- vinced that I have long been placed too high. When the time comes for my retiring to the situation best adapted to my nature, I hope to fall easily : I promise you that your old friend will not fall in the dirt. If the public good and the duty you owe to the best and most amiable master that ever lived since the days of Titus would permit you to leave the station you are now in, it would give me infinite satisfaction. Old friends fall off, and I find new ones are not so easily made as I thought they were when I was younger. This makes me anxious to get near to those who remain. Of these, one is gone to Ireland as Lord Lieutenant, a and another (Lord Hillsborough) is going thither in order to settle a very good estate which Sir William Cooper has left him in that Country. Adieu, my dear friend, believe me to be ever most affectionately yours, BARRINGTON. Lord Ilalil'ax. 4^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 445 If LETTER CCCCXC. Lord Barrington to Andrew Mitchell^ Esq, Lady Hester Pitt created a Peeress, Mr. Pitt receives a Pension. Ministerial changes, [MITCHELL PAPERS, IBID. foL 33. OHg.^ Cavendish Square, 9^^. Oct. 1761. Dear Sir> I have just time to acquaint you that Lady Hester Pitt is a Peeress, Mr. Pitt has a Grant of omb proved to be but the bursting of a bubble; and that what had been the objcK^t of terror became the subject of derision. The Division in the House of Commons was 329 to 65, and the speaking in both Houses greatly superior on the side of the Administra- tion. In the House of Lords there was no division. It is said the Duke of Newcastle sent a Message to his Party in the H. of C. not to divide; but Mr. Dempster, a young member of N. B -. who had taken it into his head to be in the minority on this occasion, took it likewise into his head to bring the House to a Division, which exix>sed the nakedness of the Party. There were two other things that weakened the Opjio^ sition in the Lower House, Mr. Pitt, though he declared against the Terms the Administration had obtained of Peace, yet he refused to join in Opposition with the D. of N., and taking that day an opportunity of apo- logizing, ill a solenm manner, as well for his past con- duct as his present opinion, he made an effort, which (from the bad state of health he was in) he sunk under. He spoke upwards of three hours ; returned often, though weakly, upon the same ground ; lost himself sometimes ; lost the attention of the House, and left his friends dispirited by the appearance he had made. The other accident was, that Ch. Townshend, who a few days before had resigned, and who was ex- pected to have broke out into strenuous opj)osition, made one of the best speeches he ever had made in hij v. 454 ORIGINAL LETTEllS. OKIGINAL LETTERS. 455 , If lit? r life, in favour of the Peace. On the whole, so sur- prising an eclaircissement seems to have had a decisive influence on the present state of Affairs. The Public talk very differently of the Peace from what they did a month ago. No more mobbing now ; no infamous prints are now hawked about ; and if the halfpenny on the pot of beer be taken off* (which is talked of) a cer- tain person will even become popular, and may have mobs of his own. In short nothing could be more fa- vourable for the establishment of this young admini- stration than the unsuccessful attempt that has been made against them. This event not only puts an end to Opposition (at least any formidable one) for a long time, but even, in a manner, to News itself; for public business will of course fall into a regular train of affairs, , which, barring unforeseen accidents, will produce nothing new. At present we have nothing to talk of but changes, which fall heavy on the Newcastle party. All those of his Grace's friends whom he has drawn into op- jwsition with him, some of whom are little able to make such a sacrifice, are or will be turned out. It moves one to compassion to think of the p(X)r old Duke him- self. A man once possessed of c£'25,(X)0 per annum of landed estate, with cP10,000 in emoluments of govern- ment, now reduced to an estate of scarcely £6,000 jkt amuim, and going into retirement (not to say sinking into contempt) with not so much as a feather in his cap, and but such a circle of friends as he has deprived of their Places. The three Lieutenancies he had, the last things he continued to hold, have this week been taken from him. That of Middlesex has been given to Lord North, which will greatly increase his Lord- ship's power and interest in this county. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ I am afraid I have tired you. But I must give you a piece of good news by way of a bonne louche. Ac- counts came yesterday that Admiral Keppcl had made a capture of a French Fleet of eighteen St. Domingo rich Ships and five Frigates; the Prize is valued at between two and three hundred thousand pounds. Adieu, my dear Mitchell. LETTER CCCCXCVL Lord Barrmgion to Andrew Mitchell, Esq. SttU c the State of Parties in the Debate upon the Peace. [ibid. vol. XXXV. foL 4L Ortg,] Cavendish Square, \^K Dec. 1762. Deae Sie, It is a considerable time since I wrote to you, for excepting the Peace (which you had an eariicr account 456 OKIGIKAL LETTEBS. OIUGIXAL LETTKltS. Hi Hi! of than I could send you) nothing has happened that I could write or you read without concern. I was in hopes till Thursday last that some fortunate tbough unexpected accident might have prevented those divisions which threatened to destroy the unani> mity we have enjoyed so long. The die is now cast. The Duke of Newcastle and Lord Hardwicke spoke against the Preliminaries in the House of Lords, where however there was no division. In the House of Com- mons 319 Members voted Thanks to the King for the ^ Peace he has concluded ; 65 only voted against those Thanks. I look on the Opposition as now declared. Whoever disHkes this Peace cannot possibly approve any other measure of this Administration. The head of this Party is the Duke of Cumberland : the Duke of Newcastle is supposed to be thoroughly connected with His Royal Highness, and also the Duke of De- vonshire. Lord Hardwicke is supposed to join them no farther than he has thought himself obliged to do, from his long friendship with the Duke of Newcastle. Lord Royston, his eldest son, voted in the House of Commons for the Address approving the Prehminaries; the Attorney General in his speech commended them on the whole, though he expressed a wish that some of the articles had been otherwise. Neither he nor his youngest brother, who is in the Board of Trade, stayed the division. Mr. Pitt came to the House on crutches, out of his bed, to which' he had been confined for some 457 weeks: he six)ke three hours and twenty-five minutes standing and sitting: he never made so long or so bad a speedi, blaming the Preliminaries in general, though he commended that part of them which relates to the Cession made by France on the Continent of North America. He was very moderate in his expressions, not at all abusive, declared he had no connexions with others supposed to be opponents, and intimated that he should attend Parliament very httle this Session. Your friendship for me will allow my adding a word about myself. You know my attachment for the Duke of Newcastle and for him only ; and you can therefore conceive how distressful it has been to me, that I should take a different part from him in public affairs. I very early and very explicitly told him, that I thought sup- port of Government a duty, while an honest man could support it: that I approved and even admired the Peace which the Administration had concluded : and that I had long agreed with his Grace in thinking it was of the most dangerous and mischievous consequence to continue the AVar : that I could not, in short, contra- dict the dictates of my own reason, and the whole of what I had said and done for the last eighteen years of my life. He continues to treat me with great fami- liarity and friendship, and I have great reason to hope he does think I act from principle ; kpowing w ell there never was a time when even he could prevail on me to do what I thought wrong. In all matters which per- 458 ORJGIXAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 459 sonalJy concern his Grace or his Administration, I am as entirely his as ever, and must always remain so ; of which I have made the most explicit declarations in every place where it ought to be known. Adieu, my dear friend ; I will add no more than that I am ever most affectionately yours, BARRINGTON. LETTER CCCCXCVII. Lord Barringtan to Mr, MHclielL The auhjed of the Peace continued. [ibid. fol. 43. Orig.] Cavendish Square, 18 •'. Jan. 1763. # # ' # • • The Peace is less disliked in the City than it was; I believe it is well relished in the Country, where no- thing is made by war, and the inhabitants are sufferers by the taxes it occasions. Of this I am certain, that the opposition to the Preliminaries from those who when in Administration had invariably asserted a ne- cessity for Peace, is approved no where. . You ask me what is the object and intention of our old friend. They were to force out the Administra- tion and to force himself in, with full j)ower. This liaving failed, I think he is at a loss how to rcct. Wis- dom and Virtue prescribe retirement and quiet, though too late, and with a bad grace. But, as you well ob- serve, *« the best and most moderate, when formed into Party, may be carried lengths they never intended to go.'' I therefore stopped at the threshold, and I have that satisfaction upon reflection which you so kindly foretell. I should indeed be perfectly happy in my present situation, if I did not continually lament that of my benefactor and friend, who can never more enjoy happiness or quiet ; a circumstance which does not give the less concern because it is of his own making. All those who followed his Ideas in either House of Parliament are removed from their employments ; and also others, very near and dear to him ; nor is there any appearance that they will ever be re-instated or re- compensed. The Parliament meets next Thursday. If any thing material happens you shall know it from me. • * ♦ ♦ ' ♦ Most faithfully and affectionately yours, BARRINGTON. It is not known who will be President of the Coun- cil. Lord Granville has left X^SOOO to his youngest luunarried daughter, and the rest of his fortune to his s(w, whpm he never would see. He died vastly in debt. ^:| I Ml •160 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTKRS. 4G1 LETTER CCCCXCVIII. Frederick the Great of Prussia to Sir Andrew Mitchell, upon his receiving a Copy of the Treaty of Peace of 1163, [MITCHELL PAPERS. Vol. xli. foL 129. Oll^.] Monsieur Mitchell, Je connois tout le prix de la diligence que le Roi votrc Maitre vous a ordonne de faire, pour Me remet- tre une Copie en son Norn, du Traite definitif de Paix que Sa Majeste vient de condure. Vous Tassurercz, Je vous en prie, de la parfaite reconnoissance que Je lui en ai, et de la joye que Je partage avec lui, sur un ouvrage si digne de lui et si salutaire a toute TEurope. Je vous sais grc dVilleurs de Tempressemcnt que vous avez eu a satisfaire ces ordres. Je suis persuade de la sincerite des sentiments que vous me temoignez li Toc- casion de ma Paix conclue avec les Cours de Vienne et de Dresde. Le Compliment que vous m'cn faitcs, m''a ete ainsi tres agreable, et vous pouvcz compter de votrc part, sur TafFectueuse estime que Je vous con- serverai toujours. Sur ce Je prieDieu, qu'^il vous ait, Monsieur Mitchell, en sa sainte et digne garde. FREDERIC. a Dahlen, ce lie de Mars, 1763. a Mr. Mitchell, a Berlin. LETTER CCCCXCIX, Lord Barrin^on to Mr. Mitchell, Lord Bute's retire- ment from Office. He details the Changes of the Administration which were to take place the next day. [ibid. vol. XXXV. fol. 45. Grig.] Cavendish Square, llti» April, 1763. Dear Sir, Lord Bute resigned last Friday. He will have no office ; and declares he will not be Minister behind the curtain, but give up business entirely. The reasons he gives for this step are, that he finds that the dislike taken to him has lessened the popularity which the King had and ought to have ; that he hopes his retire- ment will make things quiet, and His Majesty's Govern- ment easy. To this public reason, Lord Bute adds, that his health absolutely requires exercise and calm- ness of mind. He says that he unwillingly undertook the business of a Minister, on the King^s absolute pro- mise that he might retire when the Peace should be made. I am of opinion that he had a clear and fully sufficient support in both Houses of Parliament, and therefore I deem his resignation voluntary. People are infinitely surprized at it ; for my part, it is when a man accepts the Ministry, not when he quits it, that i . 46^ ORir.IXAL LETTEUS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 403 » my wonder is excited. Mr. Grenville is to be first Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He, with the two Ministers of State, are to be the ministry. Mr. Fox will continue Paymaster and be a Peer. Charles Townshend will be at the head of the Admiralty, and Lord Shelbume of the Board of Trade. The Duke of Bedford President ; Lord Gower Privy Seal; Sir Francis Dashwood called to the House of Lords as Baron Dispenser (in abeyance since Lord Westmoreland's death) and is also to be Master of the Wardrobe ; Oswald will be a Vice-Treasurer of Ire- land, in the room of Lord Sandwich, who goes to Spain ; Hunter, and a Mr. Harris, whom you do not know, will be Lords of the Treasury ; and Lord Digby a Lord of the Admiralty. Lord Northumberland goes Lieutenant to Ireland ; and Lord Hereford Ambassa- dor to France. It is expected that all or most of these changes will happen to-morrow ; but in this Country nothing is certain. * * # • # I am, dear sir. Most affectionately yours, HARRINGTON. LETTER D. Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell; upon the further Changes qfJdministratwn. [ibid. fol. 47. Orig.] Cavendish Square, 19^»» April, 1763. Dear Sir, My Letter of last week was in general prophetic, but not in every part. The Duke of Bedford has de- clared he wiU not keep the Privy Seal, or have any office. It is said the Duke of Rutland will be Privy Seal, and Lord Gower Chamberlain. Charles Townshend accepted the Admiralty last Thursday, and went to kiss the King's hand the next day ; but he brought Peter Burrell with him to Court, and insisted he likewise should be one of the Board. Being told that Lords Howe and Digby were to fill up the vacant Seats at the Admiralty, he declined ac- cepting the office destined for him, and the next day received a dimission from the King's service. Lord Sandwich is actually first Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Granby Master of the Ordnance, and General Towns- hend Lieutenant-General in his Lordship's room. Lord im 4G4 OKIOIXAT. LETTERS. Ligonier lias a pension and is created an English Baron. I am, my dear friend, Ever most faithfully yours, BARRIKGTON. LETTER DI. Lord Barnngtm to Mr. Mitchell The Affair of a worthless man named Wilks!^ [ibid. fol. 49. Orig.^ Cavendish Square, 13 May, 1763. My dear M. « # » • • Nothing is at present talk'd of here but the Affair of a very impudent worthless man named Wilks, a Member of Parliament, who was lately taken up by the Secretaries of State for writing a most seditious Libel personally attacking the King. This was done by the advice of the Attorney and Solicitor General, who were of opinion he was not in such a case entitled to privilege. However, the Court of Common Pleas have otherwise determined, and he is set at liberty. The Secretaries of State have filed an information against him in the King's Bench. The mob are as usual for the Libeller, who is a kind of Sacheverell ; ORIGINAL LETTEJtS. 465 but I think I never knew all persons above the degree of mob more united than at present in lamenting the insolence with which Government is attacked. Most affectionately yours, BARRINGTON. P. S. I am sorry and ashamed to say, that Lord ♦****♦ has on this and all similar occasions united himself to Mr. Wilks and the mob. LETTER DIL Lord BarHngton to Mr. Mitchell Lord Egremont, [ibid. foLSl. Orig.-l Tlie Death of Cavendish Square, 2^■'■ " 466 ORIGINAL LETTERS. . t LETTER Dili. Lord Barrington to Sir Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Pitfs unreasonable terms. His failure in negociationfor Office, [ibid. fol. 53. OHg.'\ Cavendish Square, 30'»' Aug. 1763. Dear Sir, Last Saturday Mr. Pitt attended the King by order at Buckingham House, and stayed there above three hours. He returned thither Yesterday, but all treaty is at an end, the King deeming Mr. Pitt's de- mands unreasonable, though he was ready to have gone a great way to make every thing easy. A Secretary of State in the room of Lord Egremont will soon be named, who together with Lord Halifax and Mr. Grenville will form the Ministry. When I know more you shall hear again from, My dear friend. Yours most affectionately, BARRINGTON. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 467 ex^ LETTER DIV. Mr, Erskine to Andrew Mitchell, Esq, Details planatory of the preceding Letter, [MITCHELL PAPERS, VoL Ixi. fol. 23?. Orig,} hu\or^ by Sir Andrew Mitchell, - Mr. Erskine, r. at Berlin." Sept 27"'. 1763. Dear Sie, It is now a considerable time since I have had it in my power to send you any Accounts that would afford nie the least pleasure in writing or you in reading. The kte important transaction has produced such a change on the face of our Domestic Affairs that all who smcerely wish well to their King and Country flatter themselves with the hopes that a Calm will suc- ceed to the Storm which hung over us, and threatened every moment to burst on our heads ; and that the con- vukive rage of inflamed parties will subside into a de- cent contest for Power, and a constitutional opposition Unanimity, in time of Peace, is not to be expected- perhaps, not to be wished. You will doubtless have received from your other Correspondents much better information of the particular incidents which led to and accompanied the grand Event than I can possibly H H 2 ■^1 1^ 4G8 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ii give you: but, as I am happily detached from all Parties, though I have a great personal regard for maijy Individuals on both sides the Question, you will probably not be displeased with comparing such par- ticulars as I have been able to pick up, with the more authentic Accounts you have received from others. The Convention between L. B. and M. P. was long carrying on with the utmost secrecy under the media- tion of L. S e, a young nobleman who is said to be possessed of great abilities, to have studied the system of ministerial craft with great assiduity under that able master M. F. and to unite to no small share of presump- tion the most unbounded ambition. The Ministry, suspicious of some such Transaction, jealous of the in- fluence L. B. still retained over , and alarmed at the spirit of discontent which the Opposition had so art- fully and assiduously spread through the whole Nation, were in the mean time busily employed in forming a private plan for their own support, by which they hoped to regain the confidence of the People, and give weight and consistency to their Administration. Threats of a general Resignation were the arms to be employed for carrying their plan into execution. L. E 1'*8 death disconcerted all their measures, and hastened the conclusion of the treaty between L. B. and M. P. At M. P.'s first interview with he behaved with great modesty and decorum ; but when he insinuated that ^ would doubtless be pleased that L. B. and he ORIGINAL LETTERS. 469 should unite their Councils for his service, stopped ' him short. « How ! M. P. do you mean to laugh at me ? You must know, as well as me, that that noble- man is determined never more to take any share in the Administration." M. P. was, however, on the whole, so moderate in his demands, and so condescending that there seemed little reason to doubt of an happy issue to the Conference. Towards the close of it, said « that as a Coalition was now happily to take place, he hoped it would be general and diffusive, that all past rancour, malice, and ill-will would be buried in oblivion, as nothing could give him such real plea- sure as to see his People united and happy ; that he especially wished to see L. T e reconciled to his brother, whose good heart lie was thoroughly con- vinced of, and whose affection for his Lordship all their differences had not been able to stagger.'^ To this M. P. made no reply. The next day L. T. and M. P. were at Court ; they bowed very low ; - spoke to them without constraint ; but, as I thought, with apparent coolness. They, however, thought them- selves so sure of success that they summoned their friends to Town. But, at the next Conference (from what motive I have not been able to learn) the scene was entirely changed, the style of a Dictator was as- sumed ; terms were no longer proposed but prescribed ; and conditions exacted that nothing but the most ab- • ject meanness or most absolute despondency could I'i ' 1,- 1:1 ^f ^ i n \ 470 ORIGINAL LETTERS. assent to ; a total Bouleversement of the Government was demanded ; an universal proscription of all who had served it boldly threatened, with some few invidious exceptions ; and sic volo, sic juheo^ denounced a total annihilation of Regal Authority. " The whole frame of your Government is disordered and will require seven Years at least to restore it to the state it was in eighteen months ago; your army is in the utmost confusion, an4 must no longer be governed by a Secretary at War totally ignorant of all military affairs ; there must be a man of experience put at the head of it, a man of cha- racter, rank, and dignity, to give weight to his com- mand.'' " I agree with you, M. P., and by the picture you have drawn you doubtless mean L. G — y*" (this disconcerted him a little and he replied) " Or — or — or L.A- ■e." " All those who voted for the Peace must be turned out, and all the Tories to a man : the D. M. mdeed is young and has not yet been tainted, and L. H X may be trusted ; but the D. B. must have no share in Administration, I will have nothing to do with him or with any Tory whatever.'' " Tories, M. P. ? I protest I do not understand you ; if you mean by Tories such, and such, and such, you will please to recollect you brought every one of them in yourself." Thus, unassisted, c^d debate the important point of his own Sovereignty with that able and (unfor- timately) violent Negotiator ; and having, during the whole Conference, preserved tlje utmost command of ORIGINAL LETTERS. 471 his temper, concluded it with those remarkable words, " Should I consent to these demands of yours, M. P., there would be nothing more left for me to do, but to take the Crown from my own Head and place it upon yours ; and then patiently submit my Neck to the Block.'* The Ministers were not a little alarmed at M. P.'s admission into the Cabinet without their concurrence, and it was whispered that they intended to avoid the disgrace of being turned out by an immediate Resigna- tion. L. S. did resign, but assigned a plausible reason for it, and declared his adherence to the Ministry. called the Ministers together, acquainted them with what had passed between him and Mr. P., and, in a spirited Speech, let them know that he expected they would labour assiduously in discharge of the duties of their respective Departments, so that no blame might be thrown upon his Government; that he should always be willing to take their advice in Council, and hoped, with their assistance, he should be able to go- vem in a manner wholly unexceptionable and for the good of his People ; but that he was determined, for the future, never to be guided by the councils of any Individual ; and that he would suffer any extremities, and even retire to Hanover rather than suffer himself to be enslaved by the ambition of any of his Subjects. In consequence of all this the Ministers gave out that they would apply diligently to their respective business, and give themselves no concern about the If 472 OIUGIKAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 473 future efforts of the Opposition. The exorbitant de- mands of the Great Man were generally condemned, the spirit of universally applauded; even the City begins to change their style, and the three Lords taken in have the approbation of the Public. The Meeting of Parliament is as much wished for as it was before dreaded, through an anxiety lest any disagreement among the Ministers, or any fresh plans of Opposition, should disturb the present tranquillity of the Nation. This is now the exterior appearance of public affairs : what still lurks behind the Curtain, or whether the sparks of discontented ambition will again burst into a flame, Time must discover. LETTER DV. Lord Barrington to Mr. Mitchell, The King's Mes- sage an the subject of Wilks. Mr, Pitfs Speech upon tlte Address in consequence. The Duke of Newcastle, [ibid. voL XXXV. foL 55. Oflg,^ Cavendish Square, 17^**. Nov. 1763. Dear Sir, Last Tuesday the Parliament met, and the House of Commons, before the King'*s Speech was reported from the Chair, took into consideration a Message from his Majesty on the subject of Mr. Wilks, stating the impediments thrown in the way of his Trial by the decision of Westminster Hall on the head of privilege. After long debate on various points it was determined that the North Briton, No. 45, was an infamous sedi- tious libel, &c. It was also resolved to proceed farther on the Message next day, when the point of Privilege should be discussed, and inquiry made whether Mr. Wilks was the author of that Paper, with intention, on proof thereof, to expel him ; but just as the House was going to proceed Yesterday on this business, news came that he had been shot through the body in a duel, by Sam Martin, late Secretary to the Treasury. Martin had said in a speech the day before (after men- tioning some virulent abuse thrown on him in a former North Briton) " that whoever was capable in a printed anonymous Paper to asperse him by name, was a cowardly scoundrel." Wilks, the next morning, wrote a Letter to Martin acknowledging himself the Author of that Paper, and they proceeded to Hyde Park where the duel was fought. The wound is not thought dan- gerous ; but it occasioned the putting off the considera- tion of the Message, and we went on the Speech. The Address was moved by Lord Carnarvon and seconded by Lord Frederick Campbell. Mr. Pitt spoke with great ability and the utmost degree of temper. He said he had not ahered his opinion of the Peace, which 474 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 475 he still thought inadequate to our situation and suc- cesses ; but that being made and approved by Parlia- ment, nothing more unfortunate could happen than that it should be broken. That it was every man's business to contribute all he could to make it lasting, and to improve it ; for which purpose he recommended Union and Abolition of party Distinctions as absolutely necessary. He spoke civilly, and not unfavourably of the Ministers ; but of the King he said every thing which duty and affection could inspire. The effect of this was a Vote for the Address, nemine contra dkente, I think if .£50,000 had been given for that Speech, it would have been well expended. It secures us a quiet Session ; and with the help of a division of 300 to 111 the day before, will give strength and reputation to Government both at home and abroad. I delayed writing to you till I could send you somewhat worth your reading, which I could not do till Parliament met: I now send you this good news with infinite satisfaction. I must return for a moment to Wilks, that you may know more of Mr. Pitt's present temper, for which I cannot account. He speaks as ill of him and his writings as any body; he approved the Resolution against his Paper No. 45. except one word ; but he is very warm on the affair of Privilege, which he insists to have been rightly determined by the Court of Com- mon Pleas, and violated by the Secretaries of State. He abused the opinion given by the Crown Lawyers, and treated both Attorney and Solicitor General very roughly, though the former has resigned, and was supposed to be politically connected with him. I know not what to make of this in all respects most extra- ordinary Man. I went to see the Duke of Newcastle the day after he came to London, and he received me very kindly. At parting I said, I should frequently pay my duty to his Grace if I thought it would be agreeable to him : in answer to which he desired I would. He looks very well and hearty. I know nothing of his Politics, for he did not say a word on those subjects, though I stayed with him alone above a quarter of an hour. He was greatly concerned for Lord Hardwicke, who is in a declining and dangerous way. ♦ ♦ * ♦ ♦ Adieu, my dear Sir, and pardon the length of this Letter. B. LETTER DVI. Lord Barri7igton to Andrew Mitchell, Esq, News, [ibid. fol. 5y. Orig.\ General Cavendish Square, \9.^K Jan. 1764. <► * # ♦ # I DO not expect opposition from Mr. Pitt when the Parliament meets ; and all other opposition is briitum ;t ■ ft in 476 ORIGINAL LETTERS. fulmm. Wilks will be demolished, whether he comes home or stays abroad ; and I think Government will recover vigour and dignity, both which it has greatly wanted in respect to its foreign and domestic concerns. Lord Hardwicke has surprisingly recovered, and I hope will live. Our old friend the D. of Newcasde is very well at Claremont. I see him pretty often, but we never have talked about Politics since we differed so entirely about them. I pity him most sincerely, but know not how he can now mend his situation. What a Situation he has lost ! He might have been the support of the Crown and the arbiter between Government and Fac- tion. Adieu, my dear Mitchell, believe me ever Most faithfully and affectionately yours, HARRINGTON. The reports of changes in Court and quarrels among Ministers are groundless. The present time is pecu- harly given to lying. 1 LETTER DVIL Lord Barringtm to Mr. MitdieU. Wilks and the North Briton^ No. 45. [ibid. foL 63. Orig.^ Cavendish Square, 26 Feb. 1764. Dear Sir, Yor have probably heard of some near Divisions in original LETTERS. 477 the House of Commons lately, but perhaps you are not informed exactly of the points which occasioned those divisions. The following Account will not be unacceptable to you if you have not received a better. Wilks was taken up by Lord Halifax on a general warrant to seize the printer, publisher, or author of the North Briton, No. 45 ; together with their papers. Of this he complained the first day of the Session, as a violation of his privilege ; but the hearing of that complaint was postponed to the consideration of the King's Message concerning him. After his Expulsion, the complaint was taken up, not in his name, but as regarding the Privileges of the House, by Sir William Meredith and Sir George Saville. On inquiry it was found that nothing had been done by Lord Halifax, or others concerned, but what was warranted by the constant usage of office from the earliest times, particularly when Lord Townshend, the Duke of Newcastle, and Mr. Pitt were Secretaries of State ; and therefore the House unanimously agreed there was no ground of censure or blame on the present occasion : but the Opposition proposed a motion de- daring such General Warrants to be illegal, as in truth I believe them to be. The Ministers would not con- sent to this declaration of Law by one House of Parlia^ ment, though they did not assert the legality of the Warranto. They said Westminster Hall were the best interpreters of Law, or else an Act of Parliament ; and f:- 41 478 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. therefore proposed to adjourn the consideration of the matter for four months, which was carried at seven in the morning by ^2 against 218. There were in the course of this proceeding several long days and near divisions, many persons extremely well disposed to Government and in employment voting in what they called a constitutional point, with the Opposition. I think they will most or all of them come back to their friends ; and if this point, greatly laboured by active opponents, does not raise more flame without doors than there is an appearance of at present, I hope it will not do Government any real or lasting mischief. As to Change of Administration, I dare say it will produce none; though I am persuaded your namesake here has written different accounts to his Court, i* Wilks has been convicted on the Indictments against him for writing the North Briton, N"\ 45, and the Essay on Woman ; so I think it impossible he can ever come hither. He and his Cause are already for- gotten by the only friends he had, the Mob ; and we shall not soon have any similar writings, # « « # • Ever most faithfully yours, BARHINGTON. 479 » The l*ni8sian Minister Micht'l. LETTER DVIII. Lord BarrmgicM to Mr, Mitchell Mkhel, tlw Prm^ Stan Minister in England, recalled, [ibid. fol. C5. OHg.] Cavendish Square, 17'^i May, 1764. * • * # ♦ Michel is recalled. This event very unexpected, and I believe disagreeable to him, he did not know till last Tuesday. I find our Court has desired the Court of Berlin to change their Minister here : indeed Michel has stayed in England so long, that he is grown as in- triguing and as factious as any man in the Country, which is saying a good deal. Worontzow was recalled by his Mistress without any application from hence ; it appearing by his own de- spatches, that he was not fit to remain here. He will grow older and wiser, and it is a pity he suffered him- self to be seduced by Michel. * ♦ ♦ ♦ # Mr. Grenville has obtained a great deal of credit, and deservedly, in the House of Commons ; and that credit helps him much every where. Lord Halifax's Garter is Veil timed j and my Lord Chancellor is made an EaH purely to shew favour to such as firmly sup- m 480 ORIGINAL LETTERS. port Government. Adieu, my dear Mitchell. Believe me ever most affectionately yours, BARllINGTON. . p. S. Mr. Pitt has parted with his house in town, does not in the least talk like an opposer, and seems to be retired tout de bon. LETTER DIX. Mr. Stuart Mackenzie to Sir Andrew Mitchell : upon hi^ removal from the Privy Seal of Scotland. [MITCHELL PAPERS. Or%g.'\ •,• The Right Hon. Stuart Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, the brother of Lord Bute, had been Envoy Extraordinary at the Court of Turin in the latter part of the Reign of Kmg George the Second. He was constitutetl Lord Privy Seal of Scotland in the room of the Duke of Athol, April IG**". 1763. Dutens has given an elegant character of Mr. Mackenzie in his Memoirs. ]\Ir. Mackenzie died, at the age of 82, April &\ 1800. Hills Street, 4^^ June, 1765. The King having many reasons to be displeased with some of his Ministers, resolved to make certain Changes. He accordingly directed the Duke of Cum- berland » (who was the only person in this Kingdom from his rank and peculiar circumstances who could talk to the several heads of the subdivisions of the William Augu«tus Duke of Cumberland, third son of George 11., died Nov. 8«»>. IT«5. f ORIGIXAI. LETTERS. 481 Opposuion) to sound several persons in order to the formation of a different Government from that which he had about him. His Royal Highness obeyed his Majesty's orders in the best manner possible. He met w.th Pitt and Temple, who after much conversation he found would not come into office. He then turned to the Duke of Newcastle and his friends, who either through timidity of Pitt not coming in, or fiom other motives, declined acceptance. So that after many en- deavours, and turning things into every shape possible, the Duke advised his Majesty, as his only resource left, to send for the present people again, and to take them m. This advice was seconded by two men no less attached to the King, nor no less bold in Council than the Duke himself; I mean the Lord Chancellor and Lord Egmont. His Majesty offended in the highest degree with the Insolence offered him by his present Ministers would have put any mortal in their place that could have carried on business, if the three Great Persons abovementioned could have suggested to him any plan for that purpose. And they un- doubtedly would have done it if they could, as there IS no animal on the face of the earth that the Duke has a more thorough contempt for or a greater aversion to than GrenviUe. However, as no other remedy could- be found, his Majesty sent for those people again. They on their part demanded certain terms without which they declined coming in ; the principal of which 1' I I I :lil VOL. IV. SER. 2. I I 482 OftlGIKAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. was, that I should be dismissed from the Administra- tion of the Affairs in Scotland, and (on a further ex- planation) likewise from the office of Privy Seal. His Majesty answered, that as to the first, it would be no great punishment, he believed, to me, as I had never been very fond of the Employment ; but that as to the second, I had his promise to continue in it for life. Grenville replied to this purpose : " In that case. Sir, " we must decline coining in.*" " No,"" says the King, " I won't on that account put the whole Kingdom in " confusion, and leove it without any Government at " all ; but ril tell you how that matter stands; that he " has my royal word to continue in the office : and if « you force me, from the situation of things, to violate " my royal word, remember you are responsible for it " and not I.*" Upon that very solemn charge, Gren- ville answered, " Sir, we must make some arrangement « for Mr. M.'' The King replied, " If I know any '« thing of him, he will give himself very little trouble " about your arrangements for him." His Majesty afterwards sent for me to his Closet, ^here I was a very considerable time with him, and if it were possible for me to love my excellent Prince now better than I ever did before, I should certainly do it ; for I have every reason that can induce a generous or a grateful mind to feel his goodness to me; but such was his Majesty's situation at that time, that had he absolutely rejected my Dismission, he would have put me in the 483 most disagreeable situation in the world: and what' was of much higher consequence, he would have greatly distressed his affairs. I can add no more at present, but must beg of you to communicate what I have said on this subject to Lord Milton, Lord Stone- field, and my other friends. LETTER DX. The Rev. WiUiam Cole to Mr. Allan ButUr, President of the English College at St. Omers. The State of Society in France. Rcmsseau in England. [M8. cole, VoL XXV. foL 17b.] %• This Letter, and the Answer it received, are here inserted to show athow early a day the springing of the Seed was noticed which afterwarJI produced the French Revolution. The effects of the New PhilZT and fear of Ae ruin it portended, determined Mr. Cole, as far backT^m to retract the intenUon he had formed of settling in France.. ^ dote oV^^Xn^wTriJ r w^l"„.^^- '""^ '- '^^'^ ^ ^^"owln. Anec- «. ZJ^!J^*A r"^"*""**" ""^ «*"^' ^y •"^^ke. to the Bishop'. Pah^ and W^' wi!: 'Jl""^''« r** "^^ ^°""*» o«t. and as goon communicated to ofe N^.: Tk ^ *** "^* « itir about It : but by the mediaHon of liTDukeTt Norfolk the Af&^r waa huahed up, and Mr. Butler Li hi. portmantSu r«tor^ to ¥i\ ii2 484 ORIGINAL LETTKKS. Blecheley, near Fenny Stratford, Bucks, Jan. 26, 1766. Dear Sir, I AM afraid you begin to think that you entertained a very unthankful guest, and that your hospitality was thrown away upon a person who makes so ill a return for it : but I hope to justify myself fully to your can- dour, when you have heard my reasons for not acknow- ledging your great civility to me at St. Omers, both in lodging me so comfortably, and entertaining me so hospitably under your roof, ♦ ^ # • ♦ • I told you, when at your house, that one chief reason of my Journey into France was, to look out, on that side of the water, for a quiet, pleasant, and comfortable re- treat, where I might, with my own private fortune, be enabled to live pretty near as fully and plentifully, when I quitted my preferment which is near equal to my estate, as with it in England ; where we are so bur- thened with taxes of every sort, and every thing at so excessive a price, that the greatest economy will hardly allow a man of a private fortune to live within compass, if he will do as his neighbours. This I conceived might have been practicable in France, where taxes are not so numerous, and where provisions are much cheaper. However, before I left Paris, I began to be sick of my design, for two or three reasons : I found every thing almost, both there and on the road through OBIGIXAL LETTERS. 485 Amiens to Calais, near as dear as in England ; I found it would not be easy to find any society with the na- tives, who do not love us, and indeed have no reason to do so ; but tlie thing which disgusted me most, was the looseness of their principles in point of Religion. I travelled to Paris through Lille and Cambray in their public voitures, and was gieatly scandalized and amazed at the open and unreserved disresi)ect both of the trading and military people for their Clergy and religious establishment. When I got to Paris it was much worse. I had an opportunity by a friend^ being at Paris, with whom I spent most of my afternoons, and where was a great resort of French company of the best sort, as he was a man of fashion and literature, to be further convinced of the great prevalency of Deism in that Kingdom ; when, if they go on at the rate they have done for these last few years, it is much to be feared, that any mode of Christianity, much more the best, will fare but ill with so loose a people. I was shocked at this barefaced infidelity, as well as my friend ; who is so far from being a bigot to any form of Christianity, that we rather looked upon him in England as indifferent to all : ^ so that it was with the greatest pleasure I often • This friend WM the Hon. Horace Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford, with whom Mr. Cole was upon terms of the closest friendship. There was a still earlier period in Lord Orford's life, when he was even enthusiastic in the cause of Religion. Cole, in his manuscript Preparations for an •• Athena Cantabrigienses" in an Ac count of Henry Coventry, Esq. Fellow of Magdalen CoUegc Cambridge, says, Mr. t oventry was •• a man of good estate, part of it in the Isle of Ely. I used to be much •• with him at Dr. Middleton's and Mr. Horace WaJpole's. When he first came to 1 U i 486 OKIGINAL LETTERS. heard him engaged very warmly in defence of our com- mon Christianity, against these philosophers, as the French Deists affect to call themselves ; and, upon this principle, that it was time enough to think of pulling down the present established Form of Worship, when they could agree among themselves to establish a better. The French nobility, ladies as well as men; military gentry, and even tradesmen, are infected with this new Philosophy. God alone knows where it will end : but I fear the worst. I ever thought we were bad in England; but I never heard so much public infidelity any where as while I was in France ; where, however, to its honour be it spoken, they have spewed out Rousseau ; while England, according to custom, has licked up the vomit. I hope you will pardon the indelicacy of the expres- sion: but resentment to see the folly, blindness, and ill-judgment of my Countrymen, who are now a madding in caressing a man whom all good Government, Christian or Heathen^ ought to detest, forced me to make use of it. All our News-papers for this last fortnight have had regularly two or three articles relating to this great Mr. Rousseau and his settling in England. If the Emperor had paid us a visit, more noise could not have been " the University he wu oi a religious enthusiastic turn of mind ; as was Mr. H. W. *' also, even so much as to go with Ashton, his then great friend and now Fellow of " Eton, TO PRAY WITH THR PRisoNBRS in the CASTLE; aAcrwards both Mr. Co* *' voitry and Mr. Walpole took to the infidel side of the Qucrtlon. Mr. Coventry *' was authiur of ' Philemon to Hydaspes.' " ORIGINAL LETTERS. 487 made about it ; and we seem to think we have made a great acquisition in a man, who was it not already in part done to his hands, lias it in his heart to unloose all ties both civil and ecclesiastic. But I will have done with this argument, and will only add, that it gave me the most hearty concern to think what was likely to become of the flourishing Gal- lican Church, if a stop, a providential stop, be not put to this present Phrenzy. I must own I still long after a retreat somewhere about you, or in Normandy, if a proper place could be found. I lament I had so short a time with you, as I am fearful I shall have no opportunity of talking this and other matters over with you in England : however, if you should have a call here, I should be infinitely happy to see you at this place, which I might the sooner hope for, as you told me the neighbouring County of Northampton was your native one. I shall be glad of every opportunity to approve myself, re- verend Sir, Your much obliged and faithful servant, WILLIAM COLE. 'm • Marc follow some Notes in correction of, and addition U> Mr. Alban Butler's LivM of the Saints. 488 OUIGINAL LETTKRS. LETTER DXI. Mr. Alban Butler to the Rev, William Cole^Jrom St, Omers, in ansxver. [ibid. fol. 25 b.] Honoured and Reverend Sir, Words cannot express how much I think myself indebted to you for your most obliging and valuable Letter, dated Jan. 26^''. particularly for your most learned Remarks on Bishop Fisher, and just correc- tions of Errata in the Biography, most indeed of the Press. My Batavia Sacra is dated in 1754 : per- haps only the Title Page is new. # • # • # The frightful Portraiture of the monstrous growth of Libertinism and Irreligion alarms and disturbs me beyond expression : a good deal indeed I knew to be true. Such scandals put virtue to the test ; yet they only overthrow the weak. Those who are better grounded, are awaked into greater watchfulness, fear, and fervor at the sight, as we daily see. Nay, these New Philo- sophers, as they call themselves, carry publicly the antidote against the infection of their own Poison; first, by the glaring absurdity and inconsistency of their rash errors ; and secondly, by the licentiousness of their morals, their shocking pride, and ridiculous boasting and assurance. Mi ORIGINAL LETTERS. 480 Those who cultivate virtue are upright and un- biassed; the light of reason in them is pure, their judg- ment sound, their principles clear, rational, consistent m every part, supported by the strongest evidence. One such ought to have more weight than a thousand whose hearts are led astray, and whose passions put out their eyes by the mist they raise. • I cannot wonder that Dean Swift should say. The opinion of Sir Thomas More alone would have more sway with him, in many cases, than that of a whole assembly of interested time-servers. Such men God always raises up by his Grace ; men hidden in God to the world, united to him by perfect purity of heart, and eminently endowed with a true spirit of humility, meekness, charity, and all other virtues ; true terres- trial Angels. What a comfort is it to meet and con- verse with any such servants of God ! The inundations of vice make Infidelity rife : but the Christian Revela- tion is in itself no less true, no less heroic, no less essential. We must strive with the greater earnestness to secure our lot with the small number, as the torrent of the wicked threatens to bear us down with the greater violence. The necessaries and conveniences of life are grown much dearer in France than formerly ; but not in the same proportion as in England ; where, I much fear, in a few years, one half of the people will become beggars, and be maintained by the other half II •:;! 490 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ifi I have every where found amongst the French a sufficient number of friends, both obliging and very cordial and agreeable. Should you ever be inclined to try these Parts (and the neighbourhood of England I have always found to have many agreeable circum- stances) it would make me completely happy, if in my power to contribute in any thing to make your situation agreeable. The most advantageous way of employing money here is now in the Life Rents upon the King, which yield Ten per Cent : or on the Clergy for ever. Five per Cent. I am sorry you should think our poor entertainment to have deserved to be remembered. I shall always think myself much obliged to your goodness in accept- ing our humble lod^ng ; and shall more so, if you ever find it convenient to favour us with your company a longer time, and as frequently as it shall suit your con- venience. In every thing in my poor power I shall be very happy to obey your orders, execute any commit- sions, or give any proof of the most sincere respect and esteem with which I am, Hond. rev^^ Sir, Your most obliged and devoted humble servant, A. BUTLER. ,J ORIGINAL LETTERS. 491 LETTER DXIL Lord Barrington to Sir Andrew Mitchell. Afresh Change in Administration, Mr. Stua?'t Mackenzie has the Privy Seal again. [MITCHELL PAPERS, VoL XXXV. fol. 71.] Cavendish Square, July the 31st. 1766. I HAVE sent you no account, my dear friend, of what has been doing here for above a fortnight, because nothing was determined till yesterday, when a number of persons kissed the King's hand for various appoint- ments. I send you an accurate List of them inclosed, and you shall hear from me any further changes which may take place. Mr. Steuart Mackenzie is to have his Privy Seal again. The Paymaster's Office is to be divided into two employments, but I know not for whom. I do not hear A'ho is destined to succeed Lord Dartmouth. I earnestly wish the Board of Trade may be restored to Lord Hillsborough, who will cer- tainly execute it better than any other man living, and who wants employment to divert melancholy thoughts which too often recur. ♦ ♦ ♦ « « I must now give you a short history of the Change which has just happened. Sunday the 6^^ of this month the King told Lord Rockingham that the Chan- i I i \4 i\ 492 ORIGINAL LETTEttS. OHIGINAL LETTKUS. 493 cellor had just been giving his opinion (and reasons ujion which it was founded) why the Administration should no longer l>e left in its weak state. His IVIajcsty repeated what had past in this conversation, adding his own arguments on the subject, and concluded witli saying, that it was his duty to strengthen his Govern- ment. He accordingly sent for Mr. Pitt, by whose advice, as is supposed, the King also sent for Lord Temple, and offered him the Treasury, but his Lord- ship after some conversation with Mr. Pitt (said to have been very warm) went back to Stow. I believe Lord Rockingham has been ofl'ered any Court office, but he will have none. Lord Winchilsea told the King he had taken nothing from him, but what on account of health he must soon have given up. It is said Mr. Yorke will resign his employment of Attorney General; but excepting that, I hear of no intended resignations, or indeed material alterations. • • « « • LETTER DXIIL General Conway to Sir Andrew MitcJielL His Ma- jesty's Proposition tofoim a System in tlie North which may counterbalance the Family Compact, [MITCHELL PAPEB8, UT 8UPK. Orig.\ •^* For an Account of the Alliance between the branches of tlic House of Bourbon, known by the name of the Family Compact, the reader may consult the Annual Register, vol. iv. p. 51. v. p. 3. It was considtatl at its time, as an event of the most extensive, lasting, and alarming influence. Sib, St. James's, August 8*^'. 1766. I HAVE it in command from his Majesty to inform you, that his Majesty being convinced that nothing can tend so effectually to secure the continuation of the present General Tranquillity, as the forming such a firm and solid System in the North, as may prove a counterbalance to the great and formidable Alliance framed by the House of Bourbon on the basis of her Family Compact; and considering a Connexion of Great Britain with the two great Crowns of Russia and Prussia, as the natural foundation of such a system, has been pleased to appoint Mr. Stanley his Ambassa- dor Extraordinary to the Court of Petersburgh, who will be instructed to act in conjunction with you, and in order to that, will have his Majesty's commands to pass through Berlin ; there to confer fully and freely with you, on the most effectual means of bringing this great and salutary Plan to the desired conclusion : and that he may be enabled to do it more effectually, will have Credentials to his Prussian Majesty ; so as, in concurrence with You, to settle the proper measures to be pursued in the progress of this affair : in which the intimate knowledge you possess of the State of that Court where you reside, and of the dispositions and * I f1 494 ORIGINAL LETTERS. views of his Prussian Majesty, will be of the most es- sential service. But as You are thoroughly acquainted with the coldness that has lately reigned between the Courts of London and Berlin, and have been witness to the extreme backwardness his Prussian Majesty has shewn towards any ideas of a more intimate connexion with this Court, you will not wonder that his Majesty, previous to the sending Mr. Stanley over, and to be- ginning any actual Negotiation, is desirous to know, whether this most friendly step taken by his Majesty is viewed with pleasure by the King of Prussia. After opening therefore in the most confidential manner the Plan proposed by his Majesty, and thereby giving his Prussian Majesty the strongest proof of his Majesty's inclination to act on terms of the most cordial union, you will, as soon as may be, for his Majesty's information, report to me in what manner these over- tures have been received; and will accompany the same with such intelligence or observations, as appear to you material for throwing the fullest lights on this interesting and important business, and as may be a direction for the further prosecuting it with effect. To you. Sir, who are so entirely master of all that relates to this subject, it will be little necessary to add any more. You are, in general at least, informed of the Obstructions which the Treaty of Alliance with Russia, so long since proposed, has met with ; and if by means of this mode of Negotiation, and in this new il ORIGINAL LETTERS. 495 form, that object can be attained, You, Sir, who will be a chief instrument in promoting it, will deserve and undoubtedly obtain the highest approbation and applause. I am. Sir, with great truth and esteem, your most humble and obedient servant, H. S. CONWAY. LETTER DXIV. The Earl of Chatham to Sir Andrew Mitchell; on the proposed Confederacy of the North. [ibid. vol. xxii. foL 39. Ortg-.] i!.i (Secret,) London, Aug. 6'^. 1766. Dear Sir, Mr. Conway's office Letter will have informed you of the advice the King's servants have most humbly submitted to his Majesty. These few lines (writ by the King's order, and which his Majesty sees) will apprize you more effectually than volumes, of his Ma- jesty's royal purpose to establish a firm and solid System for the maintenance of the publick Tranquillity. In this great view the King has been graciously pleased, by my most humble advice, to appoint Mr. Stanley, your friend and mine (whose abilities for this most I x'f 496 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. important work point him out with distinction,) his Ambassador to the Court of Russia. The object of his mission is so clearly and with such precision (as to the outline) marked in the Minute of the Cabinet transmitted to you by Mr. Conway, that I do not trouble you with the repetition of it. I will only observe, my dear Sir, to a discernment hke yours, that the intended journey of the King's Ambassador to Russia by way of Berlin with a Credential to the King of Prussia, in order to open, in concert and con- junction with You, the whole Plan to his Prussian Majesty, before any opening of it be made to the Cmirt of Peter sburghy is a step of such decision and confidence on the part of his Majesty, as can not fail to make deep impressions on the mind of that clear sighted Monarch the King of Prussia, if he be in the least inclined to- wards this great work. The King, on his part, as- suredly wishes it, but his Majesty wishes it, like a Great King of Great Britain, salvd Majestate. If his Prussian Majesty meets, on his part, the King's fa- vourable dispositions, I see before us a happy prospect of durable tranquillity ; .and this momentous affair, like most great things, would immediately proceed with little formality and abundance of substance and real mutual confidefice. More words upon this important matter are totally useless: I will only add that you are to make such use of this Letter with his Prussian Majesty, as you 497 shall judge most conducive to the great object of it. Your own perfect knowledge of that Court, your Zeal, Ability, and Address, are the best instructions. My heart is in this arduous business, so highly for the King's dignity and repose ; and yours, I know, will go with ardour along with it. The conjunction of the King's Ambassador as he passes, I am persuaded, will cause no uneasy sensation in a mind composed like Yours. I am ever, with unalterable esteem and warm affec- tion, My dear Sir, Your most faithful friend and obedient humble servant, CHATHAM. " Resolved, That his Majesty be advised to take the proper mea- ^ures for forming a Triple defensive AUiance for the maintenance of the public Tranquillity in which the Crown of Great Britain, the Empress of Russia, and the King of Prussia, to be the original contractmg Parties w,A provision for inviting to accede thereto, the Crowns of Denmark! and Sweden, and the States General, together with such of the German' or other Powers, as the Original Contracting Parties shall agree upon' and as are not engaged in the Family Compact of the House of Bourbon! Resolved, That it is the opinion of his Majesty's Servants, that Mr Secretary Conway do take his Majesty's pleasure on a letter to be im-' mediately writ to Sir Andrew Mitchell, to acquaint hun with the above Plan and to inform him at the same time, it is the King's intention, that Mr. Stanley, appointed his 3Iajesty's Ambassador to the Court of Russia, 8haU go by way of Berlin, with a proper Credential to his Prussian mZ jesty ; then, in concert and conjunction with Su- A. Mitchell, more fully toopen this measure; and will set out for that purpose, as soon as Sir A. MitcheU shaU have transmitted hither an Accoun^ that his Prussian Maj^ty wiU view with pleasure this very confidential step on the part of His Majesty." ^ VOL. IV. SDR. 2. K K 498 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER DXV. Sir Andrew Mitchell to the Earl of Chatham. He details the substance of a Conference with tlie King of Prussia, [ibid. vol. vii. fol. 60 b. sir a. Mitchell's own copy.] (Private.) Berlin, 17^\ September, 1760. My Lord, My Letter to Mr. Conway of this date will inform your Lordship of what passed in the Conference I had with the King of Prussia at Potzdam, and of the man- ner in which I have executed the important commis- sion with which I was charged. As I found the King of Prussia averse to enter into new and stricter connexions with England, as well on account of the usage he met with towards the end of the late war, as of the unsettled and fluctuating state our Government has been in since the conclusion of the Peace, I made a proper use of your Lordship's Secret Letter of the 8"\ of August, and urged his Prussian Majesty upon this point, that now by your Lordship'*s taking a share in Government the cause of his distrust was taken away, and therefore his diffidence ought to cease. He answered, I fear my friend has hurt himself by accepting of a Peerage at this time. li- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 499 I replied that though I did not know your motives, I was persuaded you could give a good reason for what you had done ; that I was not at all alarmed by the clamour and abuse thrown out against you on that ac- count, as it was the effect of the arts and malice of your enemies, on purpose to discredit you with the People, who were easily misled by first impression and misrepresentations, but were as easily brought back again to their senses by right actions and a steady conduct ; that I was persuaded this would be thecase with your Lordship; and to confirm what I said I mentioned to him what I had been a witness to, when by your Speech in Parliament you saved the American Colonies, and was abused most scurrilously as a traitor to your Country for so doing; that in a very short space of time, the People saw they had been deceived, acknowledged their error and expressed their esteem, gratitude, and attachment to you in a stronger manner than ever they had done before; that this I hoped would be the case now, which brought to my mind what I had observed in the Field when certain great Officers never appeared in their full lustre but by re- covering what was deemed desperate. His Prussian Majesty smiling, said, I understand your allusion, and hope it will be so. I have, &c. ANDREW MITCHELL. i\ K K S 500 ORIGINAL LETTERS. i !:( LETTER DXVI. General Conway to Sir Andrew Mitchell ; upon the coldness with xvhich the King of Prtissia received the Proposal Jwr a Northern Confederatixm* [MITCHELL PAPEBS, UT SUPIU Oriff.1 St. James's, Sept. 30 »\ 1766. Sir, My last contained a mere acknowledgment of your Despatch of the 17^*^ instant by Lauzun; it was not then in my power to say more. Since that, your Letter has been considered by most of the servants his Ma- jesty honours with his confidence, and I have now his Majesty's orders to inform you of the satisfaction his Majesty has expressed in the care and attention with which you have conducted yourself in opening to his Prussian Majesty this delicate and important matter. His Majesty could not but regret the time lost by the King of Prussia's absence, but as you, from so long an experience, must be thoroughly acquainted with that Monarch's temper, he does not doubt, the part you took in not writing, or following him into Silesia, was upon proper judgment of the ill effect it might have had in the outset of this Negotiation, and the event certainly shews, that his Prussian Majesty's temper ORIGINAL LETTERS. 501 and disposition towards the reception of this Overture, were such as could not well bear being soured by any adventitious or accidental circumstances of displeasure. Notwithstanding many things his Majesty had heard of the King of Prussia's manner of expressing himself of late, in regard to connexions with this Country, his Majesty could not but receive with much surprize your account of the great coldness with which he received the advance made to him ; and, whether his language is sincere or affected, it seems fit he should understand the value of the Alliance which his Majesty from pre- dilection offers, must not be so beat down and treated as if England had particular selfish views alone to serve, and was asking a boon, instead of proffering a most honourable and advantageous System of Union for the public good ; for the mutual security and advantage of the Powers proposed to be parties in it, and for none more evidently than for his Prussian Majesty himself; the jealousy and power of whose neighbours, and the weak state of whose internal affairs, from the disorder of his trade and finances, seem to call loudly for the prop of so firm and powerful an Alliance as that now voluntarily proposed to him. He says the times are not proper. What, while the Family Compact of the House of Bourbon exists, strengthened by their union with the House of Austria? The most formidable combination ever yet formed, and the most dangerous to the liberties of Europe ! i\ li i 502 ORIGINAL LETTERS. He says there are Matters of Disaission between us and France, likely, one time or other, to he the occasion of a New War, in which the natural Interests of Prussia might not lead her to take part. His Majesty ought to be told, that a matter of discussion called Silesia, is the object in Europe most likely to kindle a New War, if not timely prevented by prudent and proper measures. These things must be put in their true light : and this change, attempted to be given at the outset of this negotiation, must be very effectually and very explicitly set right. His Majesty's dignity demands it, and the success of the negotiation, upon a proper foot, depends upon it. He asks what Stipulation ? None till we know he is disposed to treat upon an equal foot, on the general ground of mutual defence, and the support of the ge- neral Peace and Tranquillity. Free from subsidies in time of peace, and from such engagements as the honour and interest of this nation must refuse, particularly the Turkish clause, endeavoured to be imposed upon us by Russia, and never before attempted to be intro- duced in the various Treaties of defensive Alliance made by Great Britain, either with Russia or with the House of Austria. If his Prussian Majesty is cordial, if he is disposed to this great Union, we meet him more than half way. If he expects to be entreated, he should know it is not ii^ Mi ORIGINAL LETTERS. 503 for his Majesty's honour to go farther than the step already taken. A continuance of hesitation will be looked on as a refusal, and his Prussian Majesty will probably repent, ere long, having lost the fairest and Noblest oppor- tunity that could offer to build his own Honour and Security on the same firm basis with the general Peace and Liberty of Europe. I am, with great truth and regard. Sir, your most obedient humble servant, H. S. CONWAY. P. S. You will use the contents of this Letter at your discretion, according to the situation of things at Berlin when it comes. To Sir Andrew Mitchell. a I LETTER DXVIL Sir Andrexo Mitchell to the Earl of Chatham, Relates a private Conversation with the King of Prussia, [ibid. vol. vii. fol. 78.] (Private.) Berlin, 6^''. Dec. 1766. My Lord, As in my Letter to Mr. Secretary Conway, by this messenger, I have given an ample account of what 504 ORIGINAL LETTERS. t I! i'i I passed in the audience I had of the King of Prussia at Potzdam on the 1*'^ instant, I am now to give your Lordship, in confidence, a Relation of a Conversation I then had with that Monarch as a private man, and not in the character of a Minister. After the Audience was ended, I took the Hberty of observing to the King of Prussia that I remarked with regret, in the course of the conversation, that he had not spoke to me with the same freedom and openness he was wont to do on former occasions, and that I suspected he had only given the specious not the real reasons for his disinclination to the Treaty proposed. He answered with good humour, that my conjecture was not absolutely without some foundation, and that he would own to me as a private man, that it was not easy for him to forget the ill-usage and injustice he had met with from our Nation at the time of making the last Peace, and he then enumerated particulars. I re- plied, that it was not candid to impute to the Nation the faults of private Men who were then unhappily Ministers ; that there was now a fixed and settled Ad- ministration, whose way of thinking and acting was very different from that of their Predecessors; that whilst your Lordsjhip was at the head of it, he could reasonably have no sort of diffidence; that the Triple Alliance proposed was a favourite measure of your Lordship's, which you had much at heart, for pre- serving the public tranquillity, and for uniting the ORIGINAL LETTERS. 505 interests of the King with those of his Prussian Majesty. The King of Prussia answered, I have a very high opinion of Lord Chatham, and great confidence in him ; but what assurances can you give me that he has power, and will continue in Office ? I replied, I had not th^ least doubt of either, as your Lordship was now the darling of the King and People. His Prussian Ma- jesty said, that does not agree with my accounts from England. I assured him of the truth of what I had advanced, and that I believed the contrary reports had been raised by your Lordship's enemies. He said he wished it might be so, but till he saw more stability in our Administration he did not choose farther con- nexions ; and he concluded by adding, I have spoke to you with freedom as a private Man, and expect upon your honour, that you will not make a bad use of it ; which I am sure of not doing in communicating this to your Lordship only, and desiring at the same time the most perfect secrecy. I own the King of Prussia's conduct amazes me. I had hopes a little reflection would have shewn him his real interest, but vanity and caprice are often too strong for reason ; and to these motives I ascribe the Answer he has given to the King's salutary Proposal, for I do not even suspect his having Views to an Alliance in another Quarter. If he is cool to our Nation, He has ' the French in abhorrence and contempt, of which he n 506 ORIGINAL LETTERS. W-^^ i t makes no secret. His Plan seems to be (if he has any) to stand unconnected upon his own Bottom, which ex- perience might have taught him is far from being a safe one. Notwithstanding all that has passed, I think it pro- bable that if our Treaty with Russia be once settled, the King of Prussia must for his own safety either de- sire to be admitted into it, or throw himself into the arms of those who do not seem desirous of receiving him ; but, my Lord, this leads me too far, and your Lordship can best judge whether the laying this high- minded Prince under such a necessity be a proper measure at this Juncture. I have, &c. ANDE. MITCHELL. LETTER DXVIII. Mr, Wrmighton to Mr, Mitchell Jratn PoIancL A Mistake about a Cypher, [ibid. vol. xxix. fol. 221. Orig.'\ ».!■ I I ^ if t 4; Sill, Warsaw, the 24«' Dec. 1766. I AM honoured with your Letter of the 13'J» inst. but am sorry to tell you that what is contained in the Cypher is as great a secret to me as to every other ORIGINAL LETTERS. 507 person here ; your Secretary having made use of a Cypher, of which the Key is not in my possession. I have only those marked H. and I. 1757, and beg for the future that you will not write me in any other. We have as yet no News from Petersburg, though waiting for it with the utmost anxiety. I heartily wish you the Compliments of the Season, and have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant, THOMAS WROUGHTON. A son Excellence Mons'. le CheV. de Mitchel, Envoye Extra, et Min. Plen^''. de S. M. B. a la Cour de Berlin. LETTER DXIX. General Conway to Sir Andrew Mitchell, The King receives a Letter by the Post from an English Sailor. His Majesty's Orders upon it. [ibid. voL XX. foL 186. Orig.] Sir, St. James's, August 7^''. 1 767. His Majesty has received a Letter by the Post from ' one James Richardson, an English Sailor, who, above 608 ORIGINAL LETTERS. !;■'. a twelve month ago, was, partly by force, partly by terror, inlisted in the Prussian Service. As the King's disposition inclines him to lend an eai- to the Complaints of the meanest of his Subjects, he perused this Letter with attention ; and finding in it a remarkable air of truth and sincerity, he directed me to transmit it to you, that you may make inquiry concerning its grounds and foundation. If the poor man's Narrative be found conformable to fact, and if he be inlisted otherwise than from his free choice, it is His Majesty's pleasure that you make application in his behalf to the King of Prussia, and recover him his liberty. With regard to the other Correspondence with which you have favoured me, I am directed to express to you His Majesty's satisfaction in your Intelligence. Every thing is in a profound tranquillity between the two Courts, and indeed over all Europe, except in Poland, where I hope, as well as you do, that affairs will soon come to a composure. This happy situation is the cause that my Despatches to you are so rare, and con- tain so little matter of importance. I am with great truth and regard. Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, H. S. CONWAY. Sir Andrew Mitchell. liU ORIGINAL LETTERS. 509 LETTER DXX. James Richardson^ an English Sailor^ fordhly de- tained in tJie King of Prussia s service , to his Ma- jesty Kifig George III\ [ibid. foL 223. Orig,] Sir, The inscerted comes with my dutyfull seruice to your honered and moast Soveren Mayjesty, hopeing that your Mayjesty will pardon my bouldness and exkcapt of those few lines, i am perswaded with gen- tlemen of qualyty to make my unfortnet fate known and on what condittion acame into this Land, iam a seaman bred and born in Whitewell near York Cetty in Yorkshire. James Richardson is my name : born of powr parrents: served eight years duttyfully to John Besswick of Scareborough in the coasting and marhent service : but not withstanding, my supperyours always gave me agood carrackter. But now my un- fortenate fate was to be trapand in this land, and to give the truth to your Mayjisty how and in what maner icame into the King of Prowsia's dyminions isaild from London to Memell in one Squiress Mailing ships of Scareborough ; ihath been fife years in his sons and his shiping; and on May the SO'*' 1766, in the after- n r i! i ,1 WP KU 510 ORIGINAL LETTERS. noon, iwent on shore with fowr men more to tacke awalk and vue the fashons of the country, and being warm weather we went in to a publick house to get adraft of brandy and warter, and the landlord askt me to tack awalk in to acountry town about fowr Inglissh miles from Memell, and not thinking anny ill that the man would do tome iwent with him and his wife : my commarades seming verry easey about with me thay stayd behind : and at nine of clok ihired afarmer and his waggon bein the fashon to ride in litle waggons, to bring me and the landlord back : came three men and asked me to let them ride, they towl me that thay lived in Memmell, but when by Memmell gates iwanted to get out and discharge the waggon ; but they bounded me fast hand and feet with lines, and carryed me to Cenesbourga to the revow, and sold me for fifty doalloars to Captain Rabinnights companny in Generall Lalla- bourn reggiment on foot. Ihath written to his May- jisty King of Prows in Berlien 4 letters, and to my Parrents, but cannot get one out of the Country, for the head Gennarralls in this part of the country hath given strict orders to the posts not to let anny pass but what must com into thare hands, so that aman may write untill he is gray headed before he can get one seafe. The Generall hath written me down to go under the life gard : but the Captain towld him that iwass and inglissh man. I dont think he will send me away, for if iget * KoningsburjT. I ORIGINAL LETTERS. 511 once to Berlien ishall get my dishcharge, for the King he will not allow anny man to serve him without he coms with agood will. I was fowr dayes in the camps before they could get meto swear. They threatned me with imprisonment for term of life, and to live on bread and warter, and not understaning the laws of this Land idid swear to stand good for no longer then ican getaway. Blessed be God i am not yoused ill, for when thare own contiymen they flog, brouse, and beat with a stick, they give me a good word ; but when iam alone ifreat and cry to that condishon that ilay seick for ten weeks to geather to think that iam stole away from my native land in such amaner, and no hope of geting clear at all. A verry honorowble ould gen- tleman, a marchant from Ingland hath tould me that it would be the only way for to send your Mayjesty those few lines, being aman born of powr parrants, and hath towld me that when your Highness pleases to send sum of your subjects to Berlien on your own account, to write tow or three lines to his present Mayjesty on my behalf it will be of agreat service ingeting my dis- charge ; and for the good your Mayjesty will do for me iam willing to obbay and serve your Mayjesty ather by land or sea, so long as breth remain ; as i hope and pray to my macker for your Hieness to forgive and pardon me if i hath written anny thing amiss, for ihath partly forgoten my mothers toungue, and to in- dight my letters in adeascente maner. This Letter imust smugle awayin toan inglishmans hands that none 512 ORIGINAL LETTERS. of the ofHscears catsh me with this letter, iam 28 years of agge and 5 foot aleaven in hight. and so no more at prescent, but remain in prays to the Allmighty for your Mayjestys long rean, and in peace with all men JAMES RICHARDSON. From the revow in camps in Cenesbourg May the 31*^'». 1767. loallenboum is the gennarralls name, in Captains Rabynights companny on foot, owr winterss quarters is in Anglebourg 15 duchmiles from Cenesbourg. For his Prescent Mayjesty King George y*" third London. " 1^^ 1:1 14 i li Indorsed, " in Mr. Conway's Letter to Sir Andrew Mitchell of the 7'^ Aug. 1767." Upon a separate Sheet is, The Sailor's Certificate of his discharge. ** This is to sertify that I James Richardson hath got my discharge from lallenboun ridgiment on foot, and hath got one dallar to bear my expenccs on my way, and a pass, and macke the best of my way to owld ingland. Rasllinbourg September 18-^. 1767.^ • The Post-mark of the Letter is •• HrtL," from which place it appears to ha%'e been forwarded by the friend into whose hani's the sailor professed hi* intention of unu^^gling it. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 513 LETTER DXXL Sir Andrexv Mitchell to Lord Rochford. The King of Prussia still insensible to the advantages of the proposed Cmfedcracy. [ibid. vol. vii. fol. 200 b.] (Secret,) Berlin, Saturday the ll^h February, 1769. My Lord, In answer to your Lordship's Letter of the Tl^K of January I have the satisfaction to acquaint You that the conduct I have hitherto held at this Court, will be found to be exactly agreeable to His Majesty's senti- ments signified to me in your Letter, Since the year 1766, when, by his Majesty's com- mand, I made an Offer tr) the King of Prussia, of entering into an Alliance with Great Britain and Russia, which that Monarch was pleased to receive not only with coldness and indifference, but even to decline it absolutely, I have never, directly nor indi- rectly, dropt the least hint of His Majesty's desiring any stricter Connexion with this Court, and have avoided, in the Conversations I have had with the Prussian Ministers, the showing any curiosity to be informed of the King their Master's transactions at the Court of Petersburg or elsewhere, convinced in my rOL. IV. SER.2. L L riA 514 ORIGINAL LETTERS ;P ' I'" I own mind that His Prussian Majesty would, sooner or later, repent of having refused the generous Offer His Majesty had made him. How far the King of Prussia may wish success to an Alliance between Great Britain and Russia, I have no opportunity of knowing, but cannot help doubting as to his sincerity in that point. The Language His Prussian Majesty directs his Ministers to hold at different Courts, may possibly be contradictory, as it depends chiefly upon the repre- sentations, whether well or ill-founded, made by those Ministers, and on the humour the King of Prussia happens to be in at the time he receives them, with- out reflecting on the consequences; for I yet see no symptom of His Prussian Majesty's having altered liis Opinion, nor have I been able to discover that that Prince has adopted any other system than that of waiting to profit of Events as they may happen. In this situation of Affairs I, therefore, cannot help admiring your Lordship's Answer to Count Maltzan, viz*. That it did not become His Majesty at this time to make an Offer of joint Mediation^ at tJie requisition of a third Power y unless it was desired by tlie Court qf Petersburg itself I have, &c. ANDR. MITCHELL. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 515 LETTER DXXIL Lord Rochford to Sir Andrew Mitchell The Expul- sion of Mr, Wilksjrom the Hmise qfCommxms. [ibid. vol. xxi. fol. 27. Orig.\ Sir, Whitehall, 7«\ Feb. 1769. Having nothing particular at present in command from His Majesty, I write only to have the satisfaction of acquainting you that on Friday last the expulsion of Mr. Wilks from the House of Commons was de- termined by a Majority of 219 to 137, which it is to be hoped will undeceive Foreign Courts with regard to the embarrassment they might suppose would continue to be given to Government by that turbulent spirit. I am, with great truth and regard. Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, ROCHFORD. P. S. Your Letters to No. 6. have been received and laid before His Majesty. Sir Audrew Mitchell. LL S 51G ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 517 ^■i-- (> I In LETTER DXXIII. Sir Andrew Mitchell to Lord Cathcart at St, Peters- burgh. Baron Dimsdale^s reception at Potsdam, [ibid. voL viL foL 211.] Berlin, Saturday, 2» April, 1769. My Lord, Since my last of the 14 ''. of March I am honoured with your Excellency's Note of the 17 h. February, O. S., enclosing the printed Account of the advantages ob- tained over the Tartars by the Russians, and on the iV^. instant Baron Dimsdale arrived here and der livered to me your Excellency's two Letters, and I have since received that of the ^^ March by Post. 28'". J ' Baron Dimsdale was in so great a hurry to get home, that with the utmost difficulty I prevailed with him to stay two days here, and for that purpose was obliged to read to him the paragraph in your Excellency's Letter that concerned himself, with which he was highly pleased. On Wednesday the 12^K he delivered Count Solm's Packet to Count Finckenstein, and the next day in the evening he was desired by an express message from the King of Prussia to come to Potzdam, as his Prussian Majesty wanted to see him. Accord- ingly the Baron set out for that place on the 14^^. in. stant, and I have no doubt he will be very well received. So far I had written to go by the last Post, but de- layed finishing my Letter till I should get an account from Baron Dimsdale of his reception at Potzdam, which I have now received in a Letter from that Gen- tleman, dated the 16 \ from Magdeburg, and shall give it your Excellency in his own words : " On Saturday the 15 *S in the morning, I was con- ducted in a coach with a person that spoke English to Sans Souci, where we aiTived about ten o'clock, and, after waiting about an hour, was told that the King was gone to take a ride, but would see me on his re- turn. At twelve the King returned, and I was ordered to go into his apartment. He met us at the door, and said in French, « Sir, I think you inoculated the Empress and the Prince at Petersburgh ;' I answered, * Yes, an't please your Majesty.' All the answer he made was, ' I felicitate you on the occasion, and wish you a good journey.' Then, turning short on his heel, he was gone in a moment. " I make no reflections on this reception, but leave you to judge of it from this Relation, Only it seems as if an Englishman was not in fashion there, for upon the whole his Majesty ^s manner of speaking was far from being gracious." The singularity of this Reception would most cer- tainly surprise me if I was less acquainted with the King of Prussia : however I cannot agree with the Baron that it was owing to his being an Englishman. 518 ORIGINAL LEtTERS. Hi • >•-< ; The affront was certainly to the Czarina and to Count Solm's recommendation. The same want of Communication with regard to this Court's transactions, complained of in my former Letters to Your Excellency, still continues, and on my part I make no Advances, havjig received no Orders to that purpose, nor observed any symptom of a Change of Sentiments in the King of Prussia. * * # • * I have, &c. AXDR. MITCHELL. LETTER DXXIV. Sir Andrew Mitchell to Lord Rochford. Kamckejwid of Agriculture. [ibid. voL vii. fol. 214 b.] Count (Private.) Berlin, 29 ''. April, 1769. My Lord, Count Kamcke, a gentleman of considerable rank and fortune in this Country, will deliver to your Lord- ship a Letter of mine of the seventh instant, wherein I took the liberty of introducing him to your Lordship. He is particularly curious in Agriculture, and his chief business in England he told me is to learn from the Fanners their Arts of Cultivation, &c. and for that purpose he proposes to retire into Yorkshire for some ORIGINAL letters. 519 time, and will lodge in the house of Christopher Brown at Nottingly near Ferrybridge in that County. This Gentleman is a great projector, though in him- self no conjuror; but as I have reason to suspect that part of his errand to Britain may be to engage useful and industrious artificers to transport themselves into this Country, I think it my duty to give your Lord- ship this particular notice, as well for the sake of the Publick, as for these unfortunate People, who may be deluded by fair promises to come abroad, which are seldom or never fulfilled in this Country. I have, &c. ANDREW MITCHELL. LETTER DXXV. Lord Rochford to Sir Andrew Mitchell, A Contest at the Ball at Court for 'precedence^ between the French and Russian Ambassadors, [ibid. vol. xxi. fol. 33.] ( Private and Circular.) Whitehall, 13"' June, 1769. Sir, I THINK it necessary to acquaint your Excellency of a disagreeable Affair which passed at the Ball at Court on the 5'i». instant, and which you will no doubt have heard of through other channels. The Russian Ambassador, coming in first, placed 5^0 ORIGINAL LETTEKS. 1 himself on the bench next the Ladies ; tlie Imi>erial Ambassador coming in soon after, Count Czernicheff very politely gave him the upper hand. Some time after- wards the French Ambassador coming in, stood before the Envoys' bench behind the Ambassadors. Count Czeraicheff, turning round, entered into conversation with him, when, on a sudden, the French Ambassador stepped over the bench and pushed himself in with some violence between the Imperial and Russian Am- bassadors. Some very warm words passed between Count Czernicheff and the French Ambassador, the former particularly treated him as aji ImpertinenL The Spanish Ambassador then coming in, and settling himself quietly amongst the Ladies, Count Chatelet beckoned to him to come and place himself next the Imperial Ambassador, on which the Russian Ambas- sador got up, and seated himself between Madame Maltzan and Madame Very. At going away some warm words again passed, and the Russian Am- bassador following Count Chatelet, more high words ensued upon the staircase, and they both went together in the Russian Ambassador's coach. The King, out of his great tenderness and humanity, ordered Lord Weymouth and myself to wait on the French and Russian Ambassadors to prevent any mis- chief happening, which was accordingly done. On Tuesday moniing Count Chatelet made a visit to the Russian Ambassador, and said how sorry he was such an affair had happened. The Russian Ambassa- ORIGINAL LETTERS. 521 dor appears personally satisfied with the excuses made for the personal incivility, but considers his Court as highly insulted. The two Ambassadors were desired by Lord Wey- mouth and me to consider the next Levee day as in- consequential with regard to Ceremony, till the King s pleasure was known on what had passed ; and thus the affair remains between the Courts of Petersburgh and France : but as the French Ambassador's violent pro- ceedings on this occasion could not be agreeable, hap- pening immediately in the Palace, a Note will be sent from the Lord Chamberlain to all the Foreign Mi- nisters, notifying that the King does not expect there should be any Ceremony at a Court Ball, and when the Note is given. You shall have a copy of it. I will make no Observations of my own upon this affair, but leave you to judge from the true state of it, who has been in the wrong. You must be sensible by the bold step of the French Ambassador, he got the pas. Whether the Russian will attempt to recover it on another occasion, I cannot pretend to determine. I am, with great truth and respect. Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant, KOCHFORD. P. S. Since writing the above the enclosed note has been sent to all the Foreign Ministers residing here. ROCIirOED. Sir Andrew Mitchell. I 5n ORIGINAL LETTEKS. Copy, " The Earl of Hertford liord Chamberlain of His Majesty's House- hold, has received His Majesty's Commands to communicate to all the Ministers of Foreign Powers residing at this Court, that the Balls at St. James's have ever been considered by the King as Private Balls, where no Precedence was to be observed. His Majesty conceives that a want of Information on this head may have given rise to unpleasant Altercations which this Notice must effectually prevent for the future. 9'^ June, 1769." LETTER DXXVI. Sir Aiidrew Mitchell to Lard Rochford. The King . of Prussia's approbation of General PaolVs conduct. [ibid. voL vii. fol. 222.] (Separate,) Berlin, Saturday, IT'*'. June, 1769. My Lord, The first News from Italy of the brave Defence of the Corsicans and the Defeat of the French gave uni- versal joy in this Country, and raised the expectation of all ranks of People, who naturally love liberty even though they do not enjoy it ; but what is more particu- lar, his Prussian Majesty, as I am informed, not only expressed great satisfaction at the ill success of the French, but high approbation of General Paoli^s con- duct, and openly drank that gentleman's health at his table. Whether this proceeded from his affection to the Corsicans and their cause, or from his hatred to the French, I shall not determine. I have, &c. ANDREW MITCHELL. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 52S LETTER DXXVII. Sir Andrew Mitchell to Lord Rochford, His detail of a Conversation with the King of Prussia* [ibid. vol. viL foL 227.] (Secret.) Berlin, Saturday, 15 K July, 1769. My Lord, The fit of the Gout with which the King of Prussia has been affected, appears not to have been so slight as was reported. He has the gout still in one of his hands, and his looks are visibly altered by it, but in other respects he seems to be very well. I must now mention to your Lordship an incident which happened on the 13^^. instant at Charlottenbourg. In the circle at the Queen's assembly his Prussian Majesty was pleased to distinguish me very particu^ larly. He first led me into a window, and after talk- ing some time there, he carried me into another room, where he made me sit down by him, and I believe our conversation lasted above a quarter of an hour ; towards the end of it the King of Prussia's two brothers, Princes Henry and Ferdinand, entered the Room, when his Prussian Majesty made them sit down by us. This must have been observed by all present, as the door of ' the room into which we had retired was left open ; and •, Si]' Ml 5 .; ' m 524 ORIGINAL LETTERS. some people remarked that his Prussian Majesty had taken little or no notice of the French Minister, whose behaviour has, hitherto, as far as I know, been very prudent and circumspect. However little material the Conversation I had with the King of Prussia was, I shall acquaint your Lord- ship with the heads of it. That Monarch asked me about Wilks ; I answered, his credit was greatly de- cayed, and he sunk in reputation ; that the people of England were returning to their right senses, though there were not wanting some seditious men, who en- deavoured to alarm them upon points equally frivolous as those of Wilks, but that I believed they could not succeed, as the grievances they complained of were imaginary, not real, and that in all popular Governments it had ever been the conduct of seditious men to capti- vate and deceive the people with specious pretences. His Prussian Majesty then talked of Corsica, and of the fate of Paoli with some tenderness, and of the ad- vantages that might accrue to the French from the acquisition of that island. To this I replied that Paoli had many well-wishers in England, and his fate was greatly to be lamented, but that I could not see the advantages the French would reap from that Conquest whilst England remained superior at sea ; that I had heard there were few or no sea-ports in Corsica the possession of which could not be maintained without great expense ; that so soon as the French became noK ORIGINAL LETTERS. superior at sea, the ports of Marseilles, Toulon, and An- tibes were sufficient for their purposes of intercepting the Levant trade, &c. The next head the King of Prussia mentioned to me was concerning the English East India Company, the fall of their stock, and the danger they were supposed to be in from the attacks of the Indian Princes. To this I said that I really had no information but from the Newspapers, but that it appeared to me the Directors had acted with great good faith and prudence in producing publicly the despatches they had received from the Indies, and thereby preventing the further fall of the stock ; that the interest of many who wanted to purchase in at a low price had occasioned the sudden fall, upon the arrival of the first news from India ; that I gave very little credit, to the reports printed in the Newspapers concerning Indian affairs, as there was much to be got by sinking the price of stock, and that besides the French, Dutch, and other nations, jealous of the advantages the English had in the East Indies, greedily embraced and propagated every report that could hurt the English Company, &c. ; that I had no doubt the French were endeavouring to do us all the mischief they could in the Indies, but as this was na- turally to be expected, I hoped and believed his Ma- jesty's Ministers would give the greatest attention to every transaction that could in any wise affect so im- portant a branch of Commerce. ', if Mi- 526 OBIGINAL LETTERS. The last question the King of Prussia asked me was, whether we had any hopes of settling our Ame- rican affairs. I answered we had good hopes, that I had heard a Plan was actually preparing for that pur- pose, though no part of it had yet been communicated to me. Thus I have minutely stated to your Lordship every thing worth mentioning that passed between his Prus- sian Majesty and me, but can draw no conclusion from it with regard to a Change of sentiments. Perhaps the whole that has happened may have been a scene calcu- lated to mortify the French Minister at this Court. I have, &c. ANDREW MITCHELL. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 527 LETTER DXXVIII. Sir Andrew MitcheU to Lord Rochjbrd. The King' of Prussia's " Dialogue de Morale^ His Majesty takes Medicines (^his own prescriptiofi. [ibid. foL 274 b.] Berlin, Saturday, 81 "^t. March, 1770. My Lord, Since my Letter of the 27^^\ nothing has occurred here worth writing, and I take the liberty to transmit to your Lordship some Copies of a little Piece entitled " Dialogue de Morale a Pusage de la jeune Noblesse,'' which was published here two days ago, and is said to be of the King of Prussia's composition. I have now the satisfaction to acquaint your Lord- ship that his Prussian Majesty is in a fair way of re- covery from a very severe fit of the Gout, with which he was attacked last week. The King of Prussia's indisposition proved more serious than was apprehended. He was seized, I am told, with a fit of the gout and the emerods at the same time; but that monarch is now thought out of all danger, into which he had thrown himself by the taking of some medicines of his own prescription, and by what I have heard was in more danger from the medicines than from the distempers, of which, however, I have not yet learnt any accurate account, a I have, &c. ANDREW MITCHELL. • The King of Prussia's recovery is noticed in several subsequent Letters. In one to Lord Rochford, dated Berlin. Saturday Mt**. May. 1T70, Sir Andrew says " Two days ago was published here a Pamphlet entitled Examen de rEssai sut les Prejuges, a book which has made much noise in France, which I have yet hardly tillMto read, but the Examen is worth Your Lordship's looking into, for I am well MRired it it of the King of Prussia's own writing, though I cannot guess at the reason of publishing it." t:,:::,' H.|j -r;^ 528 ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER DXXIX. Lord Barrmgton to Sir Andrew Mitchell. The Entry of Lord North into Admimatraiion. [ibid. vol. XXXV. foL 79. Orig,'\ 1-. Cavendish Square, April 24'i'. \TiO. • ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Though I can send you no very agreeable Account of what is doing here, I can say with truth that in my opinion things are in many respects better than they were. Lord North bids fairer for making an able and good Minister than any man we have had a great while, Lord Chatham excepted, whose conduct this winter has cancelled many of the obligations this Country owed him for his services in Administration. I think also that our heats are subsiding, and that men are coming to their senses. When I can draw a like and at the same time a pleasing Picture of our situation, you shall be again reminded of, dear Sir, Your ever faithful and affectionate HARRINGTON. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 529 LETTER DXXX. Sir Andrew Mitchell to Lord Rochford. The French advise the Pretender to go to the English Colonies. [ibid. voL vii. foL 281 b.] (Private.) Berlin, Saturday, 26 ^ May, 1770. My Lord, I HAVE received certain Notice that the King of Prussia, one day last week, at his own table at Potz- dam, told as a piece of news which he had received from his agent at Rome, that the Duke of Choiseul had advised the Pretender to go to the English Colo- nies, which he had rejected with great indignation and contempt. These are all the particulars I know. I have, &c. ANDREW MITCHELL. LETTER DXXXL Lord Barrington to Sir Andrew Mitchell The ge- neral state of Affairs. \Vilks and the Bill of Rights forgotten. [ibid. voL XXX v. foL 71.] Cavendish Square, Jan. 10'^. 1771, ♦ ♦ * ♦ ♦ I HAVE not taken upon me to inform you of what has passed here since you left us; for little has happened that you would read or I could write with pleasure. VOL. IV. SEB. 2. j^ j^ 530 OBIGINAL LETTERS. OHIGINAL LETTERS. 531 ■:\ r Things at home are much mended in the course of last year. Wilks and the Bill of Rights are entirely forgotten, except now and then when the wild and wicked wretches who composed that seditious faction abuse each other in print. They have openly quarrelled, and spare each other as little as they spared better men. The Country and the Metropolis are perfectly quiet. The King (though most shamefully attacked in newspapers with a licentiousness which his Servants are very blamable to suffer) gains ground in the opinion and esteem of his People, and the Ministry though not highly rated is not disliked. If our Armies, Fleets, and Finances, are not exactly what the Nation wishes them to be, they are certainly in better condition than those of our Neighbours ; and if, contrary to my wishes, we must go to War about a most trifling ob- ject, » I do not see that we have much to fear. # • • • • Your old and sincere friend the Writer of this Letter, has not had a moment^s illness ^nce he saw you ; and has felt but little disquiet from the abuse he has long undergone in common with his betters. Adieu, my dear Sir Andrew, believe me ever with the mofit perfect truth and affection Your most faithful and obedient humble 6«rvaot, BARRINGTON. ■ ImA Buthngloii aUudes to Um Diafmlt vith Spain ooMeming r«nil«i«l's U\ LETTER DXXXIL The Rev. Dr. Lort to Mr, Cole. Lord Chatham has a Fit in the House of Lords. [MS. COLE, vol xxiv. fol. 154 b.] Tx^ c London, April 8, 1778. Dear Sir, • * ♦ ♦ ♦ I WAS in the House of Lords when Lord Chatham fell down in a fit : from which he is not yet well reco- vered. I have no doubt that the Duke of Richmond's pointed attack upon him was the principal cause: though the heat and effluvia of a very crowded house must have also cooperated. • ♦ * ♦ • Adieu. M. L. LETTER DXXXIIL Mrs. Bristow to General Washington, respectiiig a Memorial in favour of her Son, an infant, whose liereditary estates in America had been confiscated. IFEOM A VOLUME OF Orig. LKTTE18 BEQUEATHED TO THE BBITISH MUSEUM BY THE LATE JOHN WILMOT, ESQ.] •»• Long before this Letter had reached its address, General Wash. Ington had resigned his commission, and had withdrawn into the shade of M M 2 53^ ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. .y. 1 1 J-* ■ ij ■■ -n private life. He forwarded Mr^. Bristow's Memorial, without delay, to the Governor of Vu-ginia ; and his final Letter, at the end of two years, to a person with whom he had no acquaintance, does credit both to hia head and to his heart. 533 Spring Garden, London, 27^^, Nqv. 1783. Sir, The high character I have heard of your Excellency emboldens me to take the liberty of addressing a few lines to you (though I have not the honour of being personally known to you) in behalf of my Son. The Copy of a Memorial and Petition addressed to the Governor, the Senate, and House of Delegates of the State of Virginia, which I have the honour to en- close to your Excellency from myself and the two gen- tlemen who are joint Guardians with me, will convince you of the justice of our cause and claim. You, Sir, I am told, have children of your own, therefore can more easily imagine than I describe what a parent must feel on seeing her only son, a child of now but ten years old, deprived of so large a property, which has been in his family for so many years ; and his father dying seven years ago, he will have three sisters' fortunes to pay, which of course were left in proportion. Your Excellency, from your noble character and abilities, must have great weight with the Legislature. Let me entreat you by all the ties of honour, justice, and humanity, to support the Petition. Consider, Sir, my child's tender age made it impossible for him to do any act inimical to the Country ; and the laws of every State (1 have always understood) are formed to protect, and not to prejudice Infant Property. May I hope you will not think me too presuming if I request the honour of a line to let me know this has reached your hands. I will not further intrude on your time, but beg leave to subscribe myself with great respect, Your Excellency's most obedient humble servant, M. BRISTOW. His Excellency General Washington. LETTER DXXXIV. General WashtJigton to Mrs, Bristow in return, [ibid. Orig.'\ Mount Vernon (in Virginia), 15 '«. June, 1784. Madam, Your Letter and the Duplicate of it, dated the 27tJ'. of last November, with the Petition to the Assembly of this State, only came to my hands the 10 h. instant. By the following Post I transmitted them to the Governor, as the Legislature was then sitting at Richmond. What effect the Application may have on that Body, is not for me, at this time, to announce. It is to be 534 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ORIGINAL LETTERS. i WJ w u V7. feared however, as the lands were involved in the act of general confiscation, previous to the Preliminary Articles of Peace, that unless there is something in the case more discriminating than Minority (which I un- derstand is not an exclusion in the law) You will receive very little redress. But from any thing I know at pre- sent of the issue (if a determination has been had upon the subject) I can furnish you with no information on which to ground either Hope or Fear. If it were the latter, it would aflPord cause for regret that minors and innocent persons who have not aided or abetted the Contest should have become sufferers by it. This, however, is but too often the case in civil, as well as other Commotions. I have not delayed a moment, Madam, to acknow- ledge, after they came to my hands, the receipt of your Letter and Petition, and shall have great pleasure in announcing the favourable issue of the latter, if the fact will warrant it. With great respect, I have the honour to be. Madam, your most humble servant, G. WASHINGTON. Mrs. Bristow. 5S5 LETTER DXXXV. GetUral Wushtngtiyn to Mrs. Bristoiv. Ttie final Amiver upon the decision made hy the Assembly of Virginia. (ibid. Oriff.] Mount Vernon, 2'. June, 1786. Madam, Though small were the services I rendered you, consequent of your first Application to me, yet it be- hoves me to add, in answer to your favour of the 15^^i of December last, that it was all I then had, or now have in my power to offer. For having no share in the Legislative or Executive concerns of this Country, I could do no more than to bring your Petition before the former. This I did by a letter to the Governor enclosing it. What the ultimate determination of the Assembly was respecting this matter, I am unable with precision to inform you. Generally I was given tp un- derstand, that however hard the case might appear to be, it was to be ascribed to the nature of the contest in which we had been oppressively involved ; and though to be lamented as a misfortune, was not to be attributed as a fault in the Justice of this Country, since it was difficult, if not impracticable, to draw a line between 536 ORIGINAL LETTERS. ill - J -" the promoters and actors, and innocent victims of the War in a national point of view. How far the reasoning is good I shall not take upon me to decide, but with much truth may assure you that I can readily enter into your feelings on this occa- sion, and sincerely wish that those who were the Con- trivers and Abetters, were alone to be the Sufferers by the War. I have the honour to be, Madam, your most obedient and very humble servant, G. WASHINGTON. Mrs. Bristow. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 537 LETTER DXXXVI. The Right Hon. Edmund Burle to John JVilmot, Esq. on the Subscriptions raised for the Relief of the French Emigrant Clergy. [ibid. Orxg.'\ Sir, I WISH my stay in town would have permitted me to attend further in the Committee, and to offer the little assistance I could give to forward their very laudable designs. I could do little more than to offer to the gentlemen of the Conmiittee, and to You, my best acknowledgments for the unwearied application which all of you, and most particularly yourself, have shown to this Charity, which, as long as it is conducted according to the ideas of the gentlemen of the commit- tee, at once prudent and liberal, must redound infinitely to the honour of the National Character. It is for that reason I beg leave most earnestly to recommend it to them to consider only what they themselves think proper to be done. I know the sentiments of many of the most considerable subscribers ; and I can speak it with perfect certainty, that they repose the most un- bounded confidence in the Committee, and do not think them at all responsible to any other persons than to them, the subscribers, for any thing they may do. Above all they do not think themselves responsible to the anonymous scribblers of paragraphs in the News- papers. They wish that no man should give an account of his own free bounty. If the contrary opinion and practice should prevail, Charity would be put under the direction of Malevolence. We know of no Public to which we are accountable, because it is a vague name; and a sort of fictitious tribunal, before which we never can be acquitted. Above all we do not submit to the idea, that it should be represented by the News- papers. Therefore, I for one (and I am authorized to speak for more than one), entreat that nothing which can be said in them should prevent you from giving that substantial and effectual relief to the objects of your charity, which respect to their persons and their 588 ORIGINAL LETTERS. comfortable subsistence absolutely requires. I cannot bear the thoughts of their being (as I believe two hun- dred of them are) thrown like carcasses upon one an- other, two of them in a miserable little bed, and in some cases three; that some of them have been ten days without having their shirt washed. The incon- venience of nursing loathsome, and often dangerous disease with health, besides many other obvious in- conveniences which result from this mode of lodging, makes me most earnest Uiat Relief should be given agamst it. This inconvenient mode, I knew, had arisen originally from the number who crowded in at once, and could not otherwise be disposed of, but it is continued, from the insufficiency of the limited allow- ance to answer all the purposes of life in any manner whatsoever. I confess I wish too that attpntion may be had to their clothes, which having been originally taken up as a disguise whilst they were hunted down in France, here exposes them to the scorn and derision instead of the compassion of the populace. Besides, their dispersion renders it difficult for them to be kept under the inspection of their superiors, a case necessary to their existence. For if but one person in so many Hundreds should be betrayed into any irregularity, a thing which nothing but a most vigilant discipline can possibly prevent, all the worthy, sober and religious part would be exposed to public odium, and the whole obiect of this laudable association would be defeated. OaiGIXAL LETTERS. 539 Mankind is at all times naturally apt to construe these things but too liberally, and to extend guilt ; but now, that natural disposition to scandal is reduced to System. I look on some irregularity not happening before this time with the greatest astonishment. But without the last degree of care it must happen. Therefore, pray, whilst we have a shilling, let us trust to that Providence, which has hitherto so liberally supplied us, for the rest, and spare no rational and prudent expense to forward the wishes of the principals of their Clergy, in methodizing and arranging their people under what they aim at, the most rigid disci- pline. I fear else every inconvenience, and things I dread to think of You will excuse the trouble I give you ; but your benevolence has induced you to go through a great deal of it. I have the honour to be, with a most sincere respect. Sir, Your most obedient and humble servant, EDM. BURKE. Duke Street, October 2'K 1792. John Wilmot, Esq. 5M) ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER DXXXVII. The Right Hon, Edm. Burke to John Wilmoty Esq, [ibid. Orig.] •»• A few months before this Letter was written, Mr. Burke had lost his only son. Richard Burke, Esq. succeeded his father in the repre- sentation of the borough of Malton, but did not live to take his seat in the House of Commons. He died August the 2**. 1794. It is to this same affliction that Mr. Burke alludes in his Letter to the Duke of Bedford, published Feb. 24"». 1796. " The storm has gone over me ; and I lie like one of those old Oaks which the late hurricane has scattered about me. I am stripped of all my honours ; I am torn up by the roots, and lie prostrate on the earth." Dear Sir, I AM exceedingly flattered by the compassionate sentiments that you are pleased to entertain of a de- solate, afflicted, and useless person, who, for a while, and in a little way, acted a part under you, in the generous care you have taken of the sufferers in our common cause, and who are, I am greatly afraid, only our precursors in misfortune. It has pleased the Great Disposer of all things to give them, for a short space at least, for an asylum, such a Country as this ; and for a Protector a person of such zeal and humanity as you possess. Where our asylum will be, when our hour is come, and who will be the person to succour and console us, are things hid in the deep mystery of future dispensation. I see the ORIGINAL LETTERS. 541 danger, but I do not see the method or the way of an escape. It seems decided, that some great change is to take place in the whole of human affairs. The only thing which appears to me consolatory, is, the magnanimity of the King and the two Houses. We have still, and so have some other nations, resources enough, if we have the spirit and the skill to use them. If I thought that they who find no resource but in submission to a most cruel and implacable, and now the most powerful Enemies that this Nation ever had, acted only from pusillanimity, we might have hopes, that necessity might generate courage. But I know that they are of another character ; indeed, men bold and confident in the extreme. When, therefore, in a conflict, I see the bold playing the part of the feeble and pusillani- mous, I do not consider them as shrinking from an enemy, but as acting in his favour. This is very alarming : and the more so as, for the first time in our struggle with France, (whatever form it might appear in) its dangerous power and extravagant ambition has disunited our Councils and weakened our Efforts. But I still praise the wisdom and the spirit of those who resist the great dangers that environ us both from without and from within. God may, whilst these dissensions last, raise up some great military character to save us. The paper which was sent to me under your frank, though purporting 542 OEIGINAL LETTERS. to be a sort of manifesto from a Royalist Lieutenant- General (if he is at all, or a Royalist) has not added to my hopes of the appearance of such a Character. I forget this man^s name, and I have little desire to recur to his paper to find it, though, I believe, it may be on my table. I trust in God, whilst we have so many excellent and sound French Emigrant Officers, we shall not, in any way, great or small, employ a person capable of writing such miserable, vapouring, and empty stuff. Once more a thousand thanks for your indulgent re- membrance, and believe me ever. Dear Sir, Your most faithful and obliged humble servant, EDM. BURKE. Feb. 6, 1795. J. Wilmot, Esq. LETTER DXXXVIII. Mr, Burke to John Wilmot, Esq. [ibid.] Dear Sir, So far as I am acquainted with the Debates, which is very imperfectly, I agree with you in opinion about their spirit and tendency. ORIGINAL LETTERS. 543 The people, as you say, ought to be made to know their danger in its full extent ; not only its nearness but its true nature. They ought not be lulled into security. To debate the question of Peace at all, in our cir- cumstances, is not a good symptom ; but to suffer it to be debated, as a thing within our choice, looks almost desperate. In one sense, to be sure, it is in our choice. We may have it on the Terms on which Holland, and the Austrian Netherlands, and the Countries on the Lower Rhine enjoy it. I am but a poor judge of Official arrangements: I hear of them late and irregularly, and so mixed with true and false reports, that I hardly know what to make of them. If the Duke of York be at the head of the Army, as you say he is, I am not at all sorry for it, provided he has good support and a good military Council. I have a very high opinion of him, and his rank (still if properly supported) will be of great use in keeping that great machine in order. As to expe- rience, he has more than enough. The World has been undone by looking to experience, in a case to which no experience applies. He is as old a man, I believe, and has as much experience as Pichegru. We want energy, we want enterprise, much more than we want experience; for if that could have saved Europe, it was full of old officers. In a case like ours I have no opinion at all of old men. If nothing can be done by :«.' M 544 ORIGINAL LETTERS. the young, nothing can be done at all. I verily believe there is not, in the Government of France, or in the Command of its Armies, a man of above five and thirty. I have the honour to be, with the most sincere respect. Yours ever, EDM. BURKE. Feb. 12'K 1795. J. Wilmot, Esq. THE END. ERRATA. Vol. i. p. »68, 1. 22, for " the redemption," r. " general redemption. Vol. ii. p. 12, Anne Boleyn's Letter should be addressed, '* Mons'. Mons^ de Boullan mon jiere." VoL iii. p. 203, 1. 4 of note, r. •* relates to." 200, 1. 8,/or " Ser Rode," r. " Ser Rope." May z -■ « 1918 LONDON: PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISOK, WII1TEFR1AR8. 'I \^ \^ ^ o # I 1 \ * lIKJf COLUMBIA UNIVERSI 0032250673 4 Ti^ r < Ilx V'.I ^':^:^3 "►^tir-jj S3 iMl 1 1 Rl ^S Pf? y, \ . aoi W .^*^^'- ■ a Ait .it ■ * " -t Mil ■■•■a •a ii ^ . • > •v.'/ -vJi^^^^>:?^