¦Y^LU'WMHYEI&SinrY''

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME
of the
Alfred E. Perkins Fund

e
THE

COURT AND TIMES
OF j
CHARLES THE FIRST;
ILLUSTRATED by
AUTHENTIC AND CONFIDENTIAL LETTERS,
PROM VARIOUS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS ;
INCLUDING
MEMOIRS OF THE MISSION IN ENGLAND
OF THE
CAPUCHIN FRIARS
IN THE SERVICE OF QUEEN HENRIETTA MARIA.
BY FATHER OYPRIEN DE GAMACHE,
capuchin preacher and missionary to the queen.
EDITED,
WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES,
BY THE AUTHOR OF
" MEMOIRS OF SOPHIA DOROTHEA, CONSORT OF GEORGE I.,"
" THE COURT AND TIMES OF JAMES I.," ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON :
HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER,
GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.
1848.

F Shoberl, Jun, Printer to H.R.H. Prince Albert, Rupert Street, Haymarket.

By3S 2

LETTERS

CONTAINED in

THE SECOND VOLUME.

Beaulieu, Mr., to Sir Thomas Puckering, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 23, 34, 43,
47, 49, 51, 65, 67, 101, 104, 105, 111, 117, 122, 126, 127, 136, 138, 154,
156, 157, 166, 167, 168, 173, 175, 179, 180, 183, 184, 188, 190, 199,
200, 203, 206, 215, 216, 217.
Dorchester, Lord Viscount, to the Earl of Carlisle, 1.
Geesley, Sir George, to Sir Thomas Puckering, 14, 16, 17, 22, 35, 36,
118, 136, 139, 145, 165, 181, 182, 191, 193, 194, 199, 223, 225, 232.
Harsnett, Dr. Samuel (Archbishop of York), to Sir Henry Vane, 37.
Isham, Mr. Justinian, to Paul D'Ewes, Esq., 11.
Jackson, Rev. Arthur, to A. Bownest, Esq., 286.
Laney, Dr. Benjamin, to the Rev. John Cosens, 19.
Mead, Rev. Joseph, to Sir Martin Stuteville, 8, 13, 24, 26, 27, 30, 40,
43, 48, 50, 52, 59, 60, 62, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 74, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 85,
89, 93, 95, 97, 99, 102, 104, 119.
Nohgate, Edward, Esq., to Robert Read, Esq., 284.
Paget, Justinian, Esq., to Mr. Tremyll, 227.
Paget, Justinian, Esq., to James Harrington, Esq., 222.
Paget, Justinian, Esq., to Dr. Charles Twysden, 225.
Pory, John, Esq., to Sir Thomas Lucy, 188.
Pory, John, Esq., to the Lord Brooke, 184, 195, 204.
Pory, John, Esq., to the Rev. Joseph Mead, 54.
Pory, John, Esq., to Sir Thomas Puckering, 89, 106, 111, 122, 127, 132,
140, 148, 151, 158, 161, 168, 176, 212, 218.
Rossingham, Edward, Esq., to Sir Thomas Puckering, 228, 233, 237,
241, 244, 249, 252, 253, 256, 259, 263, 266, 270, 273, 277, 281.

THE
COURT AND TIMES
OF
CHARLES THE FIRST.

[The writer of this letter, whose acquaintance the reader com
menced in the outset of his political career as Dudley Carleton,
was now at the zenith of his greatness. The credit with which
he had acquitted himself in his embassy to Holland, in a period
of great difficulty, had obtained for him the honours of the
peerage, and the post of secretary of state. He was subsequently
engaged in many important negociations ; but, as a statesman,
was too completely identified with the court to create for him
self a durable reputation. His letters and speeches convey indi
cations of talent, but are in no slight degree tinctured with
prejudice, for he was determined to view every thing through a
courtly medium, which, presented to him by such arbitrary agents
as Buckingham and Laud, could not avoid filling his mind with
false impressions. He was, however, spared the sight of the
troubles with which this false policy afflicted the nation, for he
died in 1631-2.]
Lord Viscount Dorchester to the Earl of Carlisle.
Court, this 19th December, 1628.
I cannot make a better entry into a secretary's place,
which his majesty hath conferred upon me, than by paying
your lordship the first fruits of my letters, as they are the
first I write in that quality, not by commandment, for
your servant hath his despatch already by other hands,
but out of a due respect to your person and service, with
VOL. II. b

2 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
acknowledgment of many and very weighty obligations
renewed unto me, when I had the honour last to see you
at the Hague, when you gave me the comfortable assurance
of his majesty's gracious intentions towards me. And as
I have been true to your lordship, according as you en
joined me, not to take knowledge thereof to his majesty,
or any other, I must be as true to myself in retaining
always a grateful remembrance, and rendering your lord
ship my most humble thanks for those good offices, which
I very well know how to value.
We now expect your lordship's return hither with ex
pedition ; and though affairs (I mean such as are foreign)
may be pressed to a resolution by intervening ministers, and
delay may draw on danger, I see no other likelihood but that
they will attend your lordship's coming. God direct them
to the advancement of his cause, and the king, our dear
master's honour and service.
Meanwhile, our domestic businesses continue in the
same train, which I advertised your lordship by two
several letters (one by Mr. Wood, the other by one of
your gentlemen) ; that they were entered into upon the late
change. Every one walks within the circle of his charge,
and his majesty's hand is the chief, and in effect the sole
directory. The parliament is like to hold at the appointed day, the
20th of the next month ; and all things, by his majesty's
personal order in council, as well as in church as common
wealth, are provisionally so disposed, that he may the
better hope for a fair and loving meeting with his people.
As well in this regard as all others, I very much wish
and desire your lordship's presence here amongst us, know
ing how much your fresh experience, joined to that of long
continuance, can contribute to affairs both at home and
abroad.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 24, 1628.
I have this day received yours of the 20th of this
month ; for answer whereunto, all that I can present to

CHARLES THE FIRST. 3
your consideration concerning the holding of the parlia
ment at the time appointed is, that hitherto I can per
ceive no motion to the contrary; and that the general
voice and opinion goeth to the confirmation thereof, not
only because we are already come within the time, that by
orderly course the despatches should be made for the
countermanding or putting off of the same, whereof
hitherto we hear no speech at all, but also because of some
particular passages observed and interpreted to tend to
the preparation of a parliament. As, namely, that which
I wrote unto you in my last, of the stopping and suspend
ing of the Spanish treaty; and, likewise, the speeches
used by some at the council-table, for the maintaining the
true religion against the growing Popery and Socinianism,
which the new Bishop Montagu the first broacher thereof,
by writing in this country, hath now, by a late letter of
his written to the Archbishop of Canterbury, plainly dis
claimed from. As also that the said archbishop is now
reinstated in his majesty's favour ; by whose appointment
there is a private convocation of some selected clergymen
held at his house at Lambeth, for the repressing of those
errors ; which thing I, for my part, do think be not only
advisedly but also really intended by his majesty.
Touching the captains that have been examined about
the last unfortunate journey to Rochelle, seven of them
that have been found faulty are committed to the Mar-
shelsea ; and the king seemeth to be much offended with
them. But how or whether they will be further proceeded
against, I do not know. Of the other captain and sol
diers that have been in that expedition, there is especial
care taken to have them paid their due, afore the king's
servants or any other can receive any penny.
For any other prize of the Plate fleet made or brought
in by the Hollanders, I do not hear. Neither do I as yet
hear of more than of three ships that is safely come into
Holland ; the rest lying as yet upon the coast, in expecta
tion either of some more favourable weather, or of more
ships out of Holland for their safe convoy, they being
waited for by fifteen or twenty Dunkirkers, which are not
like to let them pass without some scuffling. But of any
b 2

4 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
stay made here of that fleet, I have not heard hitherto ;
only it hath been reported, that they had made large
offer to the king to be wafted home by his ships.
For the Muscovian ambassador's errand, I do not hear
nor conceive it to be other than about the ordinary matter
of trade and intercourse between our merchants and them,
the said ambassador himself being one of that profession.
We are here put in some hope, that the queen is with
child, she having some signs thereof, but a little longer
time will make it better known.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
, London, December 31, 1628.
I cannot hitherto discover any cause to recant that
which I have therein written concerning the holding of
parliament, which I find rather confirmed by that there
hath been order to have those robes and furnitures fetched
from Windsor, which are to serve for the parliament,
although it is true that there hath been great and stormy
labouring to hinder it.
One Captain Guy, of Bristol, hath made a rich prize
upon the Spaniards, but not upon the Plate fleet ; neither
is the said prize as yet brought in.
Mr. Porter, who was gone into Spain about the peace,
being lately come back in a Spanish ship, which was run
aground by Burford, in Dorsetshire, and there broken in
pieces, though without the loss of any man, was so roughly
handled at his landing, that they not only took from him
and those of his company all that they had, but stripped him
and them of all their clothes, and left them so naked many
hours afore they could afford them any harbour or courtesy,
although he cried out to them he was the king's servant.
But, upon the receipt of a warrant, despatched away from
thence, he hath been since, and the Spaniards better
entreated and respected, and is now hourly expected at
court with two Spanish gentlemen, that are coming along
with him under the name of travellers, the rest of the
passengers being bound, as they say, for Dunkirk. At

CHARLES THE FIRST. 5
their coming, we expect to see whether the Spanish treaty
be as forward as the French, which, by a courier that
came on Monday last from France to the Venetian am
bassador, we hear to be in a fair way of speedy conclusion,
the King of France finding himself so engaged (as the
courier reporteth) against the King of Spain not only for
the quarrel of Mantua, but also of Genoa, which hath
cast itself into his protection, having shaken off that of
Spain, and expelled, as he saith, the Spanish ambassador
out of the town, that he is now sending three great
armies over into Italy, the one under the command of the
Marquis of Coeuvre (called now the Marshal D'Estrees), by
the Switzer's country, another commanded by the Marshal
de Crequi, through the Duke of Savoy's dominions, who
giveth them free passage, and the third by sea, under the
Duke of Guise's command, for the assisting and maintain
ing of Genoa. Which being so, I make no doubt but
that shortly, God willing, both we and the French Pro
testants shall have a good peace with France.
My Lord of Carlisle is at the Hague, and daily now
expected here, and Sir Thomas Roe with hiin.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 7, 1628-9.
Herewith I send you a declaration made by his majesty,
in consequence of the convocation held at Lambeth about
the maintaining of the true [faith] against the errors
lately crept into the church ; which I thought to let you
see before your coming up to the parliament; of the
holding whereof at the time appointed there is no more
doubt made. And it were to be wished that it had been
sooner, for the preventing or suppressing of the difference
growing daily more and more between the king and the
subjects, about the matter of tonnage and poundage,
through the obstinate resolution of some merchants which
refuse to pay it ; so as within these three days, to free
themselves from the customers' hands and compulsion, they
went, with two or three hundred armed men, aboard their
ships, and brought from thence great store of merchandize,

6 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
namely, currants, to land, which they had already laden
upon carts, to carry them to their private houses; but
that they were forced by the customers' stronger hand to
let them be brought back to the Custom House, where
they are kept till the duty be satisfied.
In the mean time, it hath not a little troubled the council
to see those bold refractory courses used by the subjects to
the open contemning of the king's authority, from the
vindicating whereof from such violent and direct attempts,
I think there will be order taken to have some of the chief
attempters clapt up, until the difference be fully cleared
and settled in the parliament.
The peace with France, as I hear, doth still go forward
underhand, as well by the intervention and ministry
of the States', as of the Venetian ambassadors. But of
the Spanish treaty I can say no more than I have done by
my last, though Mr. Porter be now within these two days
come to the court from his journey into Spain.
My Lord of Carlisle is now daily expected here out of
Holland.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Tliomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 14, 1628-9.
Because I made accounts that you would have repaired
hither this week, to be at the beginning of parliament, I
did intend to have forborne writing any more for this
time unto you. But your letter, which I received this
day, doth invite me to resume the pen again, which at
this present hath only two short but material points to
represent unto you. The one is, the advancement of our
peace with France, which, as I understand by credible
reports and probable conjectures, is now brought so for
ward, that the difference which it did chiefly stick at about
the queen's household, is, in a manner, accommodated ;
his majesty being content for the public good to readmit
into her service some of those servants of hers that were
sent away ; but of what sort, or bow many, I do not yet
understand ; only I am persuaded they will be few, besides
some number of priests. But now, because his majesty is

CHARLES THE FIRST. 7
engaged in honour by the late duke's manifesto, published
in the Isle of Rke, to see those of the religion righted in
their grievances, I suppose because the King of France is
stiff not to have them mentioned in his treaty with England,
that his majesty doth protract the conclusion thereof, till
he see them first, to have assured their particular peace,
which they are now in hand withal.
The second point that I have to present unto you, is of
the joyful assurance we have now of the queen's beingf
Avith child, Monsieur de Ventelet, one of her chief ser
vants among the French, being this day departed into
France, to carry the news thereof to the queen mother,
though, for my part, I am of opinion that the same is not
the only errand ; but that he goeth about the business of
the peace also.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 21, 1628-9.
I make no doubt but that you have had ere this the
doleful news of the Prince of Bohemia's unfortunate death,
who, going with his father from the Hague to Amsterdam
to see the ships of the West India prize, was drowned by
the way in the Haarlem Sea, with nineteen persons more
of their company, by the unhappy encountering of their
boat with another that was stronger, laden with beer,
whereby, being splitted, it was presently filled up with
water, and sunk ; and the murthering boat, having a fair
wind, would have left them all there ; but a skipper of
the king's boat being gotten into it, did with his dagger
threaten death to the master thereof, if he would not pre
sently to save the King of Bohemia, to whom a cable being
cast, he was by that means saved, together with a woman
and a lackey that took hold thereof with him. But the
poor prince, though he was hoisted up by the gentlemen
that were in that distress with him to the top of the mast,
and the other boat, as it is reported, did what they could
to save him, yet he could not be found till the next
morning, that they came back to seek his body, which was
found embracing the pole that was lapped in his cloak,

» THE COURT AND TIMES OF
and his cheek fastened by the frost to the said pole.
Which deplorable accident hath been such a wind to the
poor father's and mother's hearts, as, it is much feared, that
together with the present indispositions of their bodies,
(she being newly brought to bed, and he much bruised
and distempered with that miserable accident) it may
endanger their lives.
The king hath been much grieved with the hopeful and
towardly prince, and hath put all his court into mourning
for him ; and is now sending Sir Robert Carey to the King
and Queen of Bohemia to condole with them in his name
for that heavy affliction.
He was a prince so admirable, both for his natural
parts and learning in those young years, being but fifteen
years old, as that the eyes and hopes of all the afflicted
party were already fixed upon him. But God's ways are
not our ways ; neither are his thoughts our thoughts ;
neither doth he ever want means to bring his purpose to
pass. My Lord of Carlisle, who arrived here at length the
last week, brought this doleful news with him, having
been the first that acquainted the Queen of Bohemia with
it. He hath been every day since his arrival very private
with the king ; but all is kept so close, that there is little
known as yet of his manifold negociations. He hath had
very great honour done him everywhere, especially at
Venice, and hath brought an extraordinary rich present
from the Duke of Savoy ; and, among the rest, a sword
worth, by report, ten thousand pounds sterling. With
him there is a gentleman come from the Duke of Savoy.
But now, sir, being at this present sent for for the king's
service, I am forced abruptly to break off here, only this
I cannot omit, that the parliament began yesterday at the
appointed time.
Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, the last day save one of the wet
and unhappy January, 1629.
On Friday last week his majesty reconciled my Lord of
Holland and my Lord Carlisle, and with his hand joined

CHARLES THE FIRST. 9
theirs, with this protestation, that whosoever should go
about to dissolve that knot, he himself would be his enemy.
Besides, my Lady of Carlisle is restored to the queen's
bedchamber and into her favour ; and one Mrs. Smith, a
servant of her majesty's, and one that by her loud tongue
had kindled these coals of discord, turned out of service ;
many of the queen's goods being found to be purloined and
concealed among hers ; besides that she had been famous
both in France and here for other than virtuous qualities.
On St. Stephen's day, the lords justices of Ireland being
in Dublin, sent to the archbishop of that see and the Bishop
of Kilkenny, and to the mayor and sheriffs of the town, to
apprehend a popish bishop and some friars and priests
that were publicly celebrating mass there. They did so ;
but, leading them through the streets, their faction rescued
the bishop, and had like to have stoned our Protestant
Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Kilkenny to death,
and some say Kilkenny is since dead. The lords justices
thereupon raised a power, and appeased the mutiny, and
possessed ten houses, where mass was used to be said, with
soldiers, and so dispersed the priests and friars out of the
town. Whereupon, a Franciscan soon after hanged him
self in his own girdle, being, as you know, a cord ; and
another friar, of some other order, hanged himself in the
night out at the street. It seems they failed of some ex
pectation by this attempt, or could not bear a success so
contrary as was the driving of the exercise of their religion
quite out of town. This is the true relation, and not as
others told it ; some, that the Archbishop of Dublin was
slain ; the Earl of Cork, one of the justices, made to fly
to save his life ; others, that the primate of Armagh was
slain by two Jesuits, or friars, who, when they had done,
likewise slew themselves to escape torture, &c. Thus
some related ; but it was partly false, and partly mistaken,
as you may collect by the true relation aforesaid.
I saw a letter, written on Thursday this week, wherein
was verbatim thus : — " The judges of the King's Bench
have declared their opinion against the gentlemen, viz.,
that their crimes are within the cognizance of that court ;
else, say they, the king must call a new parliament for the

1 0 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
punishment of a parliament man, if he commit murder in
parliament time. 2. They allege many precedents: among
the rest, that Plowden, in Queen Mary's time, had said
some words against the queen's dignity in parliament, and
was fined for the same in the King's Bench. S. Said the
judges, the acts of the whole body of the parliament are
not questionable in an inferior court ; no, nor the act of a
member thereof, so far as he does aught as a member of
that body ; but else they are, as said Sir Nicholas Hyde,
' If I should on this bench strike a man, I were punishable
at the sessions; because, when I strike, I do deponere
personam et officium judicis, and break the king's peace.'
Some of the gentlemen's counsel said, among other things,
that they were as ambassadors from their several boroughs,
and therefore not punishable, unless they had violated, jus
natures or gentium ; which the attorney -general jeered at.
The judges will proceed to sentence next Monday." Thus
that letter, wherein there seems some defect in the rela
tion, which we look to receive in a more perfect manner
to-day from another hand.
The same author adds, that the matter about prohibi
tions was that Thursday to be heard at the council-table.
That Sir Henry Yelverton1 was dead; death giving him
but two days' warning, and supposed he died of an
apoplexy. But I think I heard of his death long before
this, unless that were a false report. Of the Spanish am
bassador, what he does, I can hear nothing. Some say
his commission is not yet come ; and that thereupon our
ambassador was sent to, to stay at Lisbon till he heard
farther from hence. Of the Isle of Providence, christened
by Sir Benjamin Rudyard, I shall inform you as soon as I
get any perfect relation.
Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, February 3, 1629.
My letters will afford you but a poor entertainment at
this time, it having almost no other subject but the con
firmation of the former advertisements, especially in the
' Formerly attorney-general, and at last one of the justices of the Common
Pleas, in which he died, 24th January, 1629-30, at his house in Aldersgate Street.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 1
continuance of the complaints of the English merchants,
and of his majesty's ambassador in their behalf, for that
they can get no manner of justice in France for the resti
tution of their ships and goods. And although the officers
there can allege no colour of justice for the detention
thereof, yet they refuse to restore them, because, say they,
there is no right done nor satisfaction given to the French
in England. In the mean time, it is feared lest this mis
understanding may grow to a farther unkindness and mis
chief between the two nations, considering what causes of
jealousy are given besides by these great preparations that
are made for the sea in France, against the which we are
likewise preparing here some number of good ships to be
presently set out, and taking order to have the whole fleet
in a readiness to meet with any foreign attempt. Another
discontentment they have here against the French, for their
furnishing the Spaniards with great quantity of corn out
of Bretagne.
In Scotland, there hath been some broil of late by the
renewing of the deadly feuds between some of the great
houses. Here Sir Walter Long was brought this day into
the Star Chamber, for having at the last election which
was made for the parliament left the sheriffhood, which
was then in his hands, to become a burgess of the said
parliament. But the determining of the cause is put off
till Friday next. No news as yet from Sir Francis Cotton
since his arrival at Madrid, nor any thing done here by
Don Carlos Colonna. The Marquis of Hamilton is come
back out of Scotland.
Mr. Justinian Isham to Paul D'Ewes, ' Esq., at Stow
Langton, in Suffolk. London, March 5, 1628.
I am sure you are desirous to hear of our late parlia
ment's proceedings, which, had they been better, I should
have been more desirous to have written them.
On Monday last, Mr. Speaker 2 was appointed by the
1 Father of Sir Simonds D'Ewes.
2 Sir John Finch, a mere creature of the court. He was stigmatized by his own
kinsman, Sir Peter Hayman, as " the disgrace of his country, the^blot of a noble
family, and whom posterity will remember with scorn and disdain !"

!2 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
king to signify to the Lower House that the parliament
was adjourned until the 1 Oth day of this month. But as
the speaker began to deliver his message, the gentlemen,
foreseeing what he was to say, commanded him to be
silent. Whereupon, as he was about to go out of the house,
they plucked him back by force, and held him in his chair.
So locking the door to themselves, they laid the key upon
the table ; which done, after divers speeches by sundry
men spoken, with a general voice they proclaimed that
none should give tonnage and poundage ; and also, that
they were traitors to the king and state, who either
favoured Arminianism or popery,1 as* Bishop Laud, said
one, as my lord treasurer, said another; every one parti
cularizing whom he thought fit. But my lord treasurer's
second son being a parliament man was much commended
for a modest speech which he forthwith made in the de
fence of his father. In the mean time, the king sending
two or three messengers one after another unto them, they
were kept out, the 'doors not suffered to be opened. Thus
they, some saying one thing, some another, some ready to
take their swords in their hands, continued in this distrac
tion, until they perceived that they could conclude of little
or nothing. So opening the door to go out there stood a
sergeant-at-arms sent from the king ready to enter ; who
was no sooner seen than they rushed all out, and carried
him away before them in the crowd. It is said, that a
Welch page hearing a great noise in the house cried out,
" I pray you let bur in, let hur in, to give hur master his
sword, for they are all fighting !"
The proclamation came out yesterday for dissolving the
parliament. Sir John Elliot, Mr. Selden, and Mr. Coryton,,
' The articles of the protest in which the House concurred were: — " 1. Whoso
ever shall seek to bring in Pqpery, Arminianism, or other opinions, disagreeing from
the true and orthodox church, shall be reputed a capita) enemy to this kingdom and
commonwealth. 2. Whosoever shall advise the taking of tonnage and poundage.
not being granted by parliament, or shall be an actor or instrument therein, shall be
reputed a capital enemy to this kingdom arid government. 3. Whatever merchant
or other person shall pay tonnage and poundage, not being granted by parliament,
shall be reputed a betrayer of the liberties of England, and an enemy to the same."
The reader may refer with advantage, for a full account of this stirring act in the great
political drama that was being performed before the nation, to the Journals of both
Houses of Parliament for this date, Whitelock, p. 12; Rushworlh, vol. i., p. 655;
Disraeli, vol. ii., p. 253; and Lingard, vol. ix., p. 292.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 3
are said to be committed. There is also a speech, that
some in the higher house should accuse one another of
treason. 1

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, March 22, 1628-9.
All our town and colleges are shining at this present
with bonfires, our bells ringing, and for joy the queen's
with child.
I hope you received my yesterday's. The chief news
since is of the French army gotten over the Alps in Pied
mont by a way never till now essayed ; the manner also
strange, as by rolling great round pine trees down the hills,
to harden the snow ; and then slid down upon it, they
and their baggage and all. The army is between thirty
and forty thousand men, and besieges Susa. They are
said to be very joyous at court for this news, as being for
this year freed from all fear of the French invasion.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, May 13, 1629.
Hoping you are safely come to your house with my lady
your wife, and all your company, I will begin to send my
weekly salutations thither unto you, which for the present
shall go accompanied with the welcome message of the
peace between this crown and France, published on both
sides on Sunday last, the ^ of this month, which was here
performed with sound of trumpets by two heralds, assisted
with the two sheriffs of London, who first proclaimed it at
Whitehall Gate, and then in the city, and the next day
1 In dissolving the parliament, the king allowed his vindictive feelings against the
more patriotic members to betray themselves. " It is far from me," he said, "to
judge all the House alike guilty, for there arethere as dutiful subjects as any in the
world ; it being but some few vipers among them that did cast this mist of unduti-
fulness over most of their eyes." The vipers were almost immediately summoned
before the privy council : and they bore the distinguished names ofSelden, Elliot,
Holies, Hobart, Hayman, Coriton, Long, Valentine, and Stroud : of course, this pro
ceeding was merely preliminary to their being sent to prison ; and the short-sighted
persecution which they severally endured forms one of the most discreditable fea
tures in the history of their sovereign.

14 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
again, to wit, on Monday morning, before Westminster
Hall ; a copy of which proclamation you shall herewith
receive. Some few bonfires were made here and there tor
it ; but without any public order, and also without any
great demonstration of public joy expressed, but only by
the Venetian ambassador, the mediator of the peace, who
had many fireworks before his house.
I make no doubt but in France, though they seem to
have the advantage upon us, they have been as glad in their
hearts of this reconcilement, which they have as much and
more need of than we.
In the mean time, sir, you may hear afore this letter
comes into your hands, the unexpected, most doleful news
that we have had from Greenwich this day of the queen's
being suddenly brought to bed, as I hear, through a fright,
of a dead prince, about two of the clock at night, which hath
plunged the court and the city into a great grief, and dis
appointed the hopes and expectations of many. I do not
yet know the true circumstance of this unhappy accident :
only it may be a cause to add fears to our sorrows, that
Chamberlain's help was used in her majesty's labour ; if we
are yet assured that her person, God be thanked, is, after
such distress, in a reasonable good disposition.
Mr. Stroud and Mr. Long J having sued their Habeas
Corpus, have been, after some further delays used by Mr.
Attorney, put off till Saturday next.
For the matter of trade, we are still labouring at court
to make it go forward. Yesterday, the French merchants
were before the Lords about it, and are to give up their
answer on Friday next.

Sir George Gresley,2 Bart., to Sir Thos. Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, May 28, 1629.
My occasions falling out to keep me in town this vaca
tion, I cannot but for your many courtesies acquaint you
1 Two of the imprisoned members.
2 He was created baronet May 12, 1611, being then seated at Drakedrow, in
Derbyshire. He was member for Newcastle-under-Line in the parliament which
began March 17, 1627-8.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 5
with which occurrences, as I can upon the sudden call to
mind. And first concerning the proceedings against the
parliament prisoners in the Star Chamber on Whitsuntide :
the attorney -general having informed the Lords that, instead
of their answers to the bill of complaint, he had received
pleas and demurrers against the power of that court to
question any thing done in parliament, only Sir Peter Hay
man ' had answered to every part of the bill, and denied
the charge thereof, yet joined in the demurrer against the
jurisdiction of the court. Whereupon it was ordered by
the court that the two chief justices should consider of
the bill and demurrers, and so to deliver their opinion of
the validity thereof on Friday next. The chief justices,
especially Richardson, desiring the rest of the judges might
be joined with them, it was answered that the lord chief
baron should be only added to them ; but the rest to be
called as assistants to consult and advise with them, but
not otherwise. Now it is said that Judge Crooke is gone
out of the town, that the chief baron will not meddle in
the business, and that the two chief justices are resolved
to return the censure thereof back again to the Lords.
Sir Peter Hayman hath so much enlargement for his
ample answer, as Mr. Attorney termed it, as a confinement
to his chamber, or for his health's sake to go into the
country, so that he have one of the keeper's of the Gate
house's men to attend him : but my foolish opinion is, that
for all this show of favour he shall be censured as soon as
any of the others.
The courtiers brag more of the merchants' condescend
ing to trade than is cause : for though some have shipped
away cloths that did lie upon their hands, yet it is said
some of the same men deny to buy or send away more
until the judges have delivered their opinions of the law
fulness thereof.
Captain Pennington is appointed by his majesty to go
presently to sea with two of the king's ships and three of
his whelps ; the project and voyage yet unknown, but
most conjecture for the Elbe. Here is talk of changing
of officers, and Sir Randolph Crew to be master of the
1 One of the prisoners.

1 6 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
wards, if his brother Sir Thomas will let him give money
for it. Sir Henry Vane1 is returned,'and for his good service,
which is yet kept secret, is to be comptroller, and my Lord
Saville to take his ease in the country, being an old man,
Mr. Wainsford to be cofferer in Vane's place. The Earl
of Danby is discontent, and desires to go as ambassador
into France, in that he shall not be deputy of Ireland as he
was promised.
Sir Thomas Edmondes hath sold his crown office to one
Willis, a lawyer of the Temple, for £6000, and goes am
bassador to France, out of a hope at his return to be lord
deputy of Ireland. But the truth is, the Lord of Falkland
and the lord treasurer are to match two of their children
together, and thereupon the Lord Falkland to continue
lord deputy still. The painter 2 that comes from Brussels
and Dunkirk to treat of peace with Spain, they say is
arrived here.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, June 4, 1629.
First, for the Star Chamber, it was ordered, that Mr.
Attorney should have leave to mend his information against
the parliament-men in point of the prefixed day of the
period of the parliament ; and that the gentlemen should
have liberty to alter their pleas and demurrers ; or else
to make new answers within eight days, in that their
counsel urged that such alteration of the information
might make that sufficient which now they held insufficient.
Besides, that point was the ground of the pleas and de
murrers they had now put in. It was, likewise, further
ordered, that if my lord chief baron 3 could not be at the
debate of the business, which was to be before the judges
on Tuesday last, by reason of his being sick of the gout,
that then two chief justices4 should report their opinion of
1 Ancestor of the Dukes of Cleveland. He figured prominently in the political
history of the time, filled the highest offices in the State, and was ultimately princi
pal secretary of state; but, being unhandsomely treated by the crown, and dismissed
from his employment, sided with the parliament.
2 The celebrated Rubens. 3 Sir John Walter.
4 Sir Nicholas Hyde and Sir Thomas Richardson.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 17
;heir pleas and demurrers upon Friday or Saturday next ;
f so be they could be made by that time ; the which I
ihink they will not be.
The news of Essex is, that in Whitsun week Judge
Brooke was sent thither, with a commission of oyer and
leterminer and of martial law, and thereupon called a
privy sessions, and hanged one woman and three men, for
jreaking house in Maldon openly in the day-time, and taking
jnly some corn, and the woman saying, " Come, my brave
[ads of Maldon, I will be your leader, for we will not
3tarve." The report from France is, that the king hath of late put
all the Protestants of a town of Languedoc, as I take it,
named Parnas, or such a like name, to the sword.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, June 10, 1629.
Mr. Lyttleton 1 so played his prize in the stating and
arguing of our parliament-men's case at the King's Bench
bar, on Friday, the first day of the term, that he hath
won eternal praise, but seemed so to displease Mr. Attor
ney General,2 that he denied to argue against that he said
in the gentleman's behalf, either the next day, according
to his own promise and rule of the course the last day of
the last term, or to appoint any certain day, saying, he
hoped he should not be denied the privilege of his place,
to plead last, which he would perform at his best leisure,
having at present too many weighty businesses lying on
his hands. Whereupon, the court gave a rule for him
to argue upon Tuesday following, if he could be ready ; if
not, upon the Saturday after that.
Saturday, the second day of the term, being appointed
for the delivery of the two chief justices' and the chief
baron's opinions concerning the gentlemen's demurrers in
the Star Chamber, there was a great appearance of the
lords and privy counsellors, and a great expectation what
1 Afterwards lord keeper, and a peer. ! Sir Robert Heath .
VOL. II. C

lo THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the issue would be ; but proved, as my lord chamberlain
was pleased to term it, the second part of England's joy ;
for they only met, and sat in the court awhile, and rose
again, without doing anything. Only the two chief justices
informed the court that they had spent three forenoons in
hearing the counsel on both sides, and two afternoons in
conferring with the rest of the judges ; but had so many
rolls and precedents to look over, that they were not yet
ready to report their opinions thereof, but would do it so
speedily as possible they might.
Upon Tuesday last, the gentlemen's keepers, notwith
standing Mr. Attorney's message to the contrary, brought
them to the King's Bench bar, when Mr. Selden demanded
censure of the court. The judges answering that Mr.
Attorney was absent, and beginning to put cases, he re
plied, that it was in their power to give Mr. Attorney
what time they pleased to argue ; and that they came not
to dispute cases, but, in short, to receive justice of the
court, which was, either to be bailed, which every one of
them had ready, and named them ; or else to have Habeas
Corpus, or a rule of court de die in diem, to attend their
censure to the contrary. Whereupon there was a rule
granted for their appearance again upon Thursday, and so
from day to day, as they desired.
The same afternoon, the judges were all sent for to
Greenwich, where the king alone, without any of his
council being by, sent for them first, one by one, com
manding them to declare their opinion, what he might
do in the Star Chamber business, without either fear or
flattery ; for he desired to know the truth : and afterwards
asked them all together; and, as the report goes, there
was four against us, and eight with us ; of which one is
turned Turk, and so remain yet seven on our side, if the
lord keeper and lord privy seal (before whom, this after
noon, by command) persuade them not to the contrary.
I had almost forgot to have told you, that Mr. Stroud
was so bold as to ask the judges whether they would not
bail a seditious priest, though not seditious parliament-
men, as they were charged to be ; and told them, that if

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 9
any of them should die in prison, their blood would be
required at their hands.1
There is a rumour of three new lords to be made for
these employments. Mr. Humphrey May, to go deputy
for Ireland ; Sir Francis Cottingham ambassador into
Spain ; and Sir Thomas Edmondes into France ; the last
of which will be at his return out of France, if it be not
done already.

Dr. Benjamin Laney2 to the Rev. John Cosens.3
Winton House, June 25, 1629.
Your congratulations and well-wishes do add much to
my living, though of itself as good as my hopes and de
sires, and as much as the service I am able to do in the
church will fully employ; though it receive no addition,
which your hopes and kind wishes would provide for me.
I am very glad, and rejoice with you, that God hath
bestowed on you the best comforts of marriage in another
son ; and long may he live, that you may enjoy them.
The times may seem to afford much news, yet no great
matters have lately fallen out. There is great expecta
tion of the success of the siege which the States of Hol
land, &c, have laid against a town of great consequence
in the Netherlands. The Spanish party, in fear of it, have
wrought, besides their forces at hand, the bringing down
of * * * out of Germany ; and for that purpose there is
a peace concluded between the emperor and the King of
Denmark : at least, it is so forward, that the commissioners
1 It should be remembered, that the prisoners at their own suggestion brought
their case before the judges, by a writ of Habeas Corpus, and sued to be discharged
or bailed ; but the king, in the same spirit of wanton injustice that had deprived
them of their liberty, anticipated thejudgmentof the court — which must have been
in their favour, by placing them in the charge of the lieutenant of the Tower, with
strict orders against their removal for any purpose. After a while, however, the
king became more rational, and sanctioned their liberation on good bail and ample
security for good behaviour : these conditions, as they inferred some offence in the
prisoners, they would not accept ; and Charles next had recourse to his attorney
general, who filed a criminal information against Eliot, Holies, and Valentine,
who refused to plead to it, as they disclaimed the right of the Court of King's Bench
to judge their conduct in parliament. Notwithstanding which, judgment was
given against them, as will be seen in the sequel, as vindictively as subservient
judges could render it.
2 Afterwards bishop of Ely.
3 Prebendary, and afterwards bishop of Durham.
c2

20 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
of both sides have concluded it, though the emperor and
the king have not yet set their hands to it.
The nobility of both sides grow weary with the war ;
and it is like enough to have an end between them. But
what the rest of the confederates will do, I cannot tell, or
whether they be included, or any of them, in the peace.
This will cause some alterations, however. I pray God it
be for the best ; for all this is not a taking away, but a
change of the war only to their best advantage.
Sir Thomas Edmondes is gone ambassador into France,
to finish the peace begun between them and us; which
as yet is not gone beyond a cessation of arms ; nor so far
neither on the French side ; for they have since done a
great deal of spoil upon our English : but, according to
their mutual consents, there must be account given of it.
Our greatest home-business hangs still in suspense.
The merchants cannot be brought on to trade so freely as
they were wont. Moneys come in slowly ; and you know
then what inconveniences follow in the court, murmuring
among the servants and against the chief officers: and
now the lord treasurer with them is as ill as ever was any ;
and every day, for a great time, the city hath removed
him, and put the late-made Lord Wentworth in his place;
a thing never thought on by those that should indeed do
it. And my Lord of London is also in the city made lord
keeper. But all these reports are only to work jealousies
and hatred upon their persons and dissensions with their
friends. The gentlemen of the House of Commons, who were
committed by his majesty, have followed the suit for their
enlargement close ; but, after long and often deferring
judgment, towards the end of this term, a little before it
was expected that the judges would enlarge them, it
pleased the king to remove them out of those prisons
wherein they had formerly been, into others ; and so by
that means their Habeas Corpus was avoided for the
present; and now they must of necessity lie in prison till
the next term, unless the king be merciful to them, which
he is ready to be, if they will humbly sue for it : of which
one or two of the company be already assured of who

CHARLES THE FIRST. 21
upon their petition obtained their liberty; and, for the
rest, they may be thought unworthy of that they are not
willing to ask; So long as subjects may have their liberty
so cheap as for the asking, they were extremely to blame
and unthankful to complain.1
It seems Smart 2 is not yet called to account for his
sermon and other pranks. It was thought fit to remove
the hearing from hence to York ; and it was undertaken
by my Lord of York 3 with much alacrity ; and I hope
they will not suffer it to die. What he may brag and
talk in the mean time, who can help ? No man hath the
command of his loud tongue.
A couple of your beagles, Prynne4 and Burton,5 have ob
tained a prohibition against the commission here this term,
for fear of that, it was thought fit, as I guess, to remove
Smart's business to York. The lawyers have pared our
ecclesiastical jurisdiction to the quick, and for any thing I
can see the court hath nothing left but a neck only to be
trod upon. If it go on thus, the commissioners may shut
up shop.
The bishopric of St. Asaph is void, and it is hotly pur
sued by two Welsh competitors, Dr. Theodore Price6 and
Dr. Williams, the latter of which it may be is not known
to you, unless you can remember him a schoolmaster in the
lord chamberlain's house, in which trade he still lives, and
in reward of that service his lord doth vehemently promote
his suit : but I hope the other will carry it.
1 Truly a courtier's opinion.
2 Prebendary of Durham, who was afterwards deprived of that dignity, and
degraded. 3 Dr. Samuel Harsnet.
1 William Prynne, of Lincoln's Inn, who, while denouncing the offences of the
times, did not spare the offenders : they were both powerful and vindictive, and
punished him with fines and mutilations.
6 Henry Burton, formerly chaplain to the king, when Prince of Wales. He
thought proper to assail the prelates of the church — of whose characters he must
have been pretty well informed — as " blind watchmen, dumb dogs, ravening wolves,
antichristian mushrooms, robbers of souls, limbs of the beast, and the factors for
antichrist ;" and, as may naturally be supposed, the whole hierarchy, with Laud at
their head, assisted each other in hunting him down, and in worrying him when he
was down.
6 Educated at New College, Oxford, prebendary and sub-dean of Westminster,
and prebendary of Winchester. He died 15 December, 1631; and in his last sick
ness disclaimed the communion of the Church of England, and died in that of the
Romish Church.: — Bishop Hacket's Life of Archbishop Williams.

22 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, June 28, 1629.
My stay here is prolonged by a perverse adversary, whose
peevishness is such, that it will not suffer me to come down
with my sister and brother Gybs, whom I promised not to
prevent in presenting you with the passages of this last
week. But the receipt of your lines and your lady's re
membrance rouseth me from that laziness, and moveth me
to give you a little touch of such things as they will at
large inform you of; as the shift which was used on Satur
day last to prevent the parliament-men of that liberty,
which otherwise the law would have allowed them, had
they but appeared in person, which they could not do by
reason those that were in the Tower were by new warrants
the night before committed to other prisons, and those in
other prisons to the Tower. So that when their keepers
were called to bring forth their prisoners, they had none
such in their custodies. Whereupon the judges said it
was not their parts to make them appear, but to remand
them, bail them, or discharge them ; which they were
ready to do, according to their judgments upon that which
had been argued on both parts.
Now I have done with our parliament-men, I will give
you notice what befel Mr. Speaker ' 011 Tuesday last in
the rolls, in moving the master of the rolls to alter an
order which he had made, and Sir John Finch did not
like ; and the master denying his motion, he out of the
heaviness of his spirit said he must have it mended. The
master replied he should not. Whereupon he said he would
complain to the king that his counsel could neither be heard
nor believed in that they said. Whereupon Sir Robert
Rich gave him a kind of mild check, but Sir John Salter
told him he were best make haste, or he would acquaint
his majesty first with his insolent carriage towards a court
of justice. Whereupon some of Gray's Inn, being by,
cried out, " Degrade, degrade," by reason that by his per
suasions a barrister of Gray's Inn was fairly put out of
Commons ; and so the gentlemen of the House are in a re
bellion, and invite this barrister to dinner and supper
every day, as their guest, to one mess or another. But
1 Sir John Finch.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 23
Sir John Finch hearing that noise behind him, and Sir
John Salter asking him what it meant, he snatched up his
papers and went away in a rage; and what will become of
it time will show.
For the news of one of your Hertfordshire's high con
stables dying distracted; the King of Denmark's peace
with the emperor ; the Hollanders desire to entertain our
English regiment ; the number of the tons of our ordnance
which is to be transported for the redemption of the king's
jewels ; and the hard usage of the French, if they be but
pirates, which have of late taken twenty-two vessels of
ours near the Isle of Wight, and many men more towards
Wales, by cutting off our Englishmen's ears, and slitting
their noses, and so sending them home, I wholly refer to
my brother Gybs' relation ; and what account shall fall out
this present week I hope to be the writer of the next week.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, 22 July, 1629.
Here is little done with the French ambassador till we
hear out of France how his majesty's ambassador shall be
dealt withal after the king's arrival at Paris, of whom we
suppose that he had his first audience as upon Sunday last;
the queen mother having refused to treat about any busi
ness with him, for want, as she pretended, of a sufficient
commission. In the mean time, the release of such French
prisoners as were here, which maketh us hope that the like
favour will be showed to Sir Thomas Dishington and other
English prisoners in France. He was also lately feasted
by my lord treasurer at Roehampton, where the king did
him the honour to be present at his coming back from
Windsor. His majesty stayed here some four days, and
on Monday went back with the queen to Greenwich ; from
whence her majesty is going to-morrow towards Tunbridge,
where she intends to drink of the waters, and the king to
wards Theobald's.
Afore his departure he hath made an extraordinary
commission of oyer and determiner, under the great seal,
to sit upon that tumult mentioned in my last, for the

24 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
which it is thought that some of the captain's side will be
severely punished, they being charged not only to have at
tempted the releasing by force of the prisoner Bellingem
out of the Serjeant's hands, and to have forced the consta
ble's guard, but also to have gone about to raise a sedition
by stirring up the gentlemen of the Temple. All the
council are named to be of that commission, together with
my lord mayor, the judges, and some others.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, July 25, St. James's, [1629].
The business of the Temple gentlemen is now, I doubt
not, so much listened after, that I shall not need inform
you any more particulars, as hearing them daily by others.
Captain Stamford, he that was so great with the duke, is
said to have been the ringleader and the chief inflamer of
them, being himself with some other soldiers set on fire by
the slaughter of one Dawson, a captain or lieutenant, who
was in the rescue of the arrest run through the body with
a halberd by some of the Serjeant's party ; though, as is
said, he was little more than a bystander, and had no
weapon about him.
My lord chief justice, we hear, is sent for, and gone up
to London ; and talked, there shall be an extraordinary
assizes for the arraignment of the offenders. Our Satur
day last's letters said there are warrants out for sixty gen
tlemen ; and that it would certainly cost some of their
lives. They talked there are many of them dead of the
wounds they received ; but I have seen yet no letters of this
week. On Thursday was sennight the French ambassador was
feasted by my lord treasurer at his house of Roehampton,
by Putney, and so were both their majesties ; but whether
at one table, my author said he could not tell ; for he
heard there was a new institution, or rather mutation, in
court, whereby it is ordained that from henceforth no
ambassador shall be seated any more at the king's table,
but be entertained in that kind by some great officer, as
useth to be done in Spain and France, and according as /

CHARLES THE FIRST. 25
my lord treasurer did now. Likewise, whereas his ma
jesty was wont to answer the French ambassador in his
own language, now he speaks in English and by an inter
preter. And so doth Sir Thomas Edmondes to the French
king, contrary to the ancient custom ; so that although of
late we have not equalled them in arms, yet now we shall
equal them in ceremonies.
Sir Henry Fane,1 cofferer, a great creature of my lord
treasurer, is to go ambassador extraordinary, first to the
States, and then to the archduchess ; but not yet known
for what purpose, though imagined to make an overture
of a peace between Spain and Holland.
Postscript out of a letter this day : —
" On Wednesday came forth a proclamation for the chi-
rurgeons to discover to the lord president of the council,
or one of the secretaries of state, all their patients (and
lodgings) hurt in the late uproar ; and commanding all
officers to make search for and apprehend Captain Vaughan,
H. Stamford,2 and one Ward, an ensign, that were fled,
and hid themselves, intimating withal that strict justice
for example sake should be used against the authors and
actors of that rather rebellion than riot. And on Thurs
day, at the Guildhall, in a purchased sessions, was Captain
Ashenham,3 an Essex man, arraigned of murder, and John
Stamford (the late duke's man) as accessary thereunto ; as
also divers householders in Fleet Street for refusing to aid
the constables, and abetting the gentlemen. The two first
were found guilty, and had judgment of death, and were
yesterday in the forenoon executed at Tyburn. Stamford's
wife and father made means to the duchess i to move for
his life ; who answered, she would never open her mouth
for murder, for her lord's sake. Then they went to the
queen, who presented their petition to his majesty, who,
before he would receive it, said, ' If it were for Stamford,
he would not grant it ; because, having before tasted of
his grace, (when he murdered by night a watchman at
1 Vane.
2 " I know not whether this be the same Stamford with the following or not, for be
is John."— Note of Mr. Mead.
3 In a letter from Mr. Beaulieu he is called Ashworth.
4 Of Buckingham.

26 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Duke Humfrey's) he had now made so ill use of it as to be
the very motor and first occasioner of all this mischief.
" The citizens were acquitted, but very sharply re
proved." Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, September 19, 1629.
Mr. Pory wrote last week that the news of the massacre
of our men and colony at St. Christopher's by eleven sail
of French, whereof the Admiral of France, a ship of forty-
six brass pieces, called Le Roi, was one, with the aid of
800 French, whom we had suffered to live with us in the
same island, was spread all over court at the time of the
solemnity at Windsor, which made many a sour look upon
the ambassador for such barbarous cruelty in a time of
treaty. Whereas, Captain Kirke, the last year at Canada,
gave their nation not only quarter there, but also passage
home in their ships.
But if the King of Spain's great fleet, which is now
going for the Indies, do light upon them, it may perhaps
(saith mine author) revenge our blood ; for there are forty
galleons and two merchant ships, with 7000 land soldiers
aboard them, sent not only to guard home the Plate fleet,
but with commission to sweep off all plantations, English,
French, or Hollanders, which they shall find in their way.
That all the papists in Scotland, save some five hundred,
have taken oath to conform themselves to the religion there
established by law ; and these five hundred, if they do not
conform, shall be excommunicated, and then put to the
horn, that is, prosecuted as rebels and outlaws.
Though the taking of Wesel be stale news, yet, having
seen the copy of a letter from Mr. Dinely, tutor to the
Prince Palatine's now eldest son, to Sir Henry Wotton
thereabout, I will exscribe his relation of the manner
thereof, though the letter be of an old date.
A relation of the surprise of Wesel.
" About a week before," saith he, " a great convoy was
sending with provision to the enemy's camp ; whereupon
Colonel Didum, governor of Enmarick, with 1,400 (the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 27
bruit said 2,200) firelocks, and Captain Quad and Helstein
with 700 horse, were despatched under pretence to cut off
the convoy ; which the governor of Wesel, Losano, believ
ing, strengthened it all he could, fully secured of the town.
The convoy arrived in the Velen ; but upon the 9th or 19th
of August, by peep of day, Monsieur Didum was about the
walls of Wesel, and finding the ditch dry and the rampart
scaleable, entered not far from the fifth port, killed the
watch, surprised the corps de garde, and let in divers of
his men by the gate, who, marching up to the governor's
house, took him prisoner in his bed, and made him walk
with the keys to another gate, where the rest of the people
stood, which being opened, they all entered, and became
masters of the town. By chance, the chains, which used
to be drawn, were forgotten that night, whereby the horse
had no impeachment.1 There was in the garrison two
companies of Spaniards, two of Walloons, two of Burgun-
dians, and one troop of horse. Such as made resistance
were slain ; the rest retired into a fort without the town,
which the next day was abandoned, and fifty officers were
taken prisoners. All was done in good order ; the burghers
neither appeared in the action, nor were pillaged. Only
the King of Spain's cloth shop was rifled, because his
majesty, they say, played the draper."
Thus, Mr. Dinely, three days after it was taken, namely,
on the 22nd of August, old style.
The French ambassador comes hither on Wednesday
next, and they say our chancellor2 with him. On Thursday,
we have an act for him at the schools. Whether the
comedy at Trinity will be ready, I know not. Some say
they cannot get their lessons.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, September 26, [1629],
I suppose you are before this safe returned from Stow,
and have received my letter ; now, I will add such as we
have since heard of occurrences either at home or abroad.
And first, concerning St. Christopher's, Mr. Boswell, who
1 Impediment. 2 The Earl of Holland.

28 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
hath some interest there, told me here on Tuesday, at
night, that he had talked with and diligently inquired ot
those who came thence, and found they knew nothing
certain, but that the French boarded our ships in the road ;
that they saw some of our men fall into the sea, but
whether voluntarily to swim to shore, or otherwise, they
could not certainly tell; that our fort thereupon shot
some thirty shot at the French, but what hurt they did
amongst them they knew not; that themselves, in their
flight, were a long time chased by the French. And
Mr. B. thought they were going to Newfoundland, and
took our ships by the way, either to strengthen themselves
against Captain Kirke, or to deceive him, as he did them
last year. And yesterday I received a letter from Mons.
de Vic, secretary to Sir Thomas Edmondes, that came but
on Wednesday out of France, affirms the French took only
our ships, and departed, without landing. Howsoever,
the French ambassador seems to be much moved at what
soever is done, and vows restitution. And my Lord of
Carlisle protesteth unto the merchants, whom it concerneth
as well as himself, that, if restitution be not made, he will
spend all he hath, to his shirt, and all his credit, to force
satisfaction. Our merchants have also sent their agents
to Dieppe to require restitution of the Great St. James
and the Benediction, two of our prime merchant ships
taken by the French, the one on the coast of Barbary, the
other on the coast of Guinea, and brought into that port.
They say, if our king will grant them letters of marque,
they will desire no other remedy than what themselves
shall find. But the letters I received yesterday report
farther, that the French, not contented with taking those
ships, and others of our nation, at the Canaries and St.
Christopher's, have arrested our English ships at Calais
and Rouen, under pretext that Captain Kirke had destroyed
their plantations and fortifications at Canada.
Burlamachi is gone over to Amsterdam in one of the
king's ships, to redeem the jewels of the crown, there
pawned by the duke.
It was reported in last week's letters that the whole
county of Cornwall had presented unto his majesty a

CHARLES THE FIRST. 29
petition in behalf of the gentlemen prisoners, that they
might enjoy the benefit of the Petition of Right, and be
set at liberty. Yesterday's letter says, that the said
gentlemen had taken out their writs of Habeas Corpus,
and should be released by way of bail the first day of the
term; and that my Lady Apsley sent one of them, on
Wednesday, that her husband, the lieutenant,1 was gone to
the court about their release, and carried with him the
barbed arrow which Mr. Selden so narrowly escaped,
because his majesty was desirous to see it.
The French ambassador came hither on Wednesday,
about three o'clock, and our chancellor with him, and was
lodged at Trinity College. That night came also my Lord
of Warwick, with very many horse. On Thursday morning,
they had an act at the schools well performed; went
thence to our Regent House, to be incorporated, where
the orator entertained him with a speech, then dined at
Trinity College, where were great provisions sent in before
by our chancellor, and a gentleman of his also with them
to order that part of the entertainment. At three o'clock
they went to the comedy, which was " Fraus Honesta" 2
acted some years since ; the actors now were not all so
perfect as might have been wished, yet came off hand
somely. The music was not so well supplied as heretofore,
said those who have skill that way. On Friday morning,
they visited many of the colleges, where they were enter
tained with speeches and banquets, and, among the rest,
at ours and Emmanuel. From thence they went to Peter
House, the vice-chancellor's3 college, where was also a
banquet, and where the orator4 made the farewell speech.
All this was so early done that they went hence to London
that night.
1 Of the Tower.
2 Written by Mr. Stubbe, Fellow of Trinity College.
3 Dr. Matthew Wren.
4 Robert Creighton, educated at Westminster School and Trinity College,
Cambridge. He succeeded Mr. George Herbert in the place of orator, in 1627;
and, after the Restoration, became Dean of Wells, and, in 1670, Bishop of Bath
and Wells. He died, November 21, 1672, aged about seventy-nine.

30 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, October 10, 1629.
It may be I shall not do amiss to acquaint you with
something out of the sphere of my wonted intelligence.
There was a gentleman that had belonged to the Earl of
Marlborough,1 who was very inquisitive of your estate,
whether Mr. Stuteville was yet unmarried, and of his
freedom in that respect. To whom, when I had made him
answer, as I thought fitting, I desired to know the reason
why he asked these questions. He seemed at first un
willing to tell me ; but being but a little pressed, he told
me that one of the Earl of Marlborough's daughters had
been commended to Mr. Stuteville; that he seemed to
listen thereunto; and some notice had been taken that
way. I asked what their portions were. He told me
.£2000 apiece (there being two of them), and fell to com
mend the gentlewomen exceedingly, and, above all, for
their discretion in behaviour, &c. I replied, that portion
was but small, and nothing comparable to that respect
they would challenge in regard of their father's honour,
which perhaps might be reputed an inconvenience, as cir
cumstances might be. This was the sum of our discourse,
which I thought not fit to conceal.
I send you Mr. Pory's letter, with a corranto, nor have
I any other news as yet.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, October 17, 1629.
Our news, received last Saturday, was this : that on
Saturday before, viz., October 3, by virtue of a writ of
Habeas Corpus from the judges of the King's Bench to the
Lieutenant of the Tower, four of those seven gentlemen
prisoners, to wit, Mr. Holies, Sir Miles Hobart, Mr. Long,
and Mr. Valentine, were brought before their lordships to my
lord chief justice's chamber, at Serjeant's Inn, and were pre
sently put into four several rooms. Mr. Long, being first
called forth, was told by the lord chief justice, it was his
majesty's gracious pleasure they should be released, so
1 Sir James Ley, late lord treasurer and president of the council.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 31
they would put in bail for their good behaviour ; which
motion Mr. Long a good while withstood ; but having one
Mr. Earle of his counsel then present, his lordship advised
him to retire himself, and so to confer with his counsel
about the matter. Mr. Earle had the power to persuade
him ; so he returned, and, together with his sureties,
entered a recognizance for his good behaviour. The judge
would have had him bound de die in diem, to a time in
definite, which he refused, and so was bound over only till
the Friday following, being the first day of the term. But
when be saw those other three gentlemen that came with
him absolutely refuse to enter into any such bond, he then
much repented him of what he had done, and besought the
judges, that whereas he had been circumvented and sur
prised by weak counsel, they would be pleased to render
him his recognizance, and so remand him to prison with
the rest. Whereunto they answered, it was not in their
power to revoke it ; so he went home melancholy to his
mother's house, and the day following, received the com
munion at Mr. Shute's1 church, in Lombard Street. The
same day, at five in the afternoon, not only those three
that came with Mr. Long, but the other three also, viz.,
Sir John Eliot, Mr. Selden, and Mr. Stroud, were brought
by the lieutenant to the same place before the same persons,
where all of them, with one voice, told the judges they
neither would nor could enter into any such bond ; because
for them to be bound to their good behaviour would argue
and imply they had misbehaved themselves in parliament,
whereby they should betray their innocency and liberty.
Besides, Mr. Selden affirmed that the Habeas Corpus,
which those judges had sent to the lieutenant for them,
was illegal, because it was wrong directed, viz., Consta-
bulario, whereas it should have been, Locum-tenenti Turris,
and therefore all proceedings grounded thereupon must be
void in law.
On Friday following, being the fifth day of term, those
six gentlemen, by virtue of their own Habeas Corpus,
which themselves had sued out, were brought by Mr. Lieu-
1 Josias Shute, M.A., who was instituted into the rectory of St. Mary Woolnoth,
Lombard Street, in 1611, and died in 1643.

32 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
tenant to the King's Bench bar. Where first my lord
chief justice told them it was his majesty's pleasure they
should be set at liberty, if, according to the manner of
proceeding in that court, they would put in bail for their
good behaviour : and he was seconded by the rest of the
judges his brethren. Mr. Selden for himself in particular
(as all the other gentlemen did) answered, that until Sa
turday before, notwithstanding they had formerly been
brought four times to the same bar, there had never been
word nor thought of any such matter as to be bound to
the good behaviour : and that, for his particular, he durst
not enter into any such bond, for fear of the displeasure of
a future parliament, where he might be justly censured for
a betrayer of the liberty of the subject. Nevertheless, he
said, in case their lordships would bail them simply out of
the present condition they now stood, which merely re
flected upon things said and done in parliament, then being
in the state of free men, none of them all would refuse to
bring in their sureties for their good behaviour, in such
manner as their lordships shall require. My lord chief
justice told them, that in the return of the writ there was
no mention at all of parliament, but only contempt of go
vernment and sedition ; which were causes sufficient where
upon to require good behaviour. Whereto Mr. Selden
replied, that in cases both of felony and treason there had
men been bailed in that court without any putting in bond
for their good behaviour. My lord chief justice's last
resolution was, that if they still refused to put in bail for
their good behaviour, they might, for aught he knew, con
tinue prisoners there seven years longer : that now, if they
would accept of it, the favour of the court was offered
them, which, if they now did refuse, it would not be so
easy for them to attain unto another time.
All the gentlemen in particular speak for themselves ;
but when nothing prevailed, Mr. Stroud propounded two
suits unto the judges: one, that they might once a week
come to that bar to demand their liberty ; another was
that they might go to church on Sundays. To which the
judges answered nothing. Sergeant Ashley,1 father-in-law
1 Sir Francis Ashley, of Dorchester, in Dorsetshire.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 33
to Mr. Holies, did offer, together with other sureties, to bail
him, in case he would be bound to the good behaviour.
But Mr. Holies gave him thanks for his courteous offer.
The same time Mr. Long was also required by the judges
to renew his recognizance for his good behaviour, who de
clared unto them, that neither his sureties would enter into
any such bond, nor himself neither. Whereupon my lord
chief justice told him he should now have his desire, viz.,
to return to prison. So he was committed to the King's
Bench, and the other six remanded to the Tower.
In the mean time was my lord chief baron (Walter)
suspended from his place ; and it is talked Judge White-
locke succeeds him. They talked also of some other, as
Judge Crooke, who, together with my lord chief baron,
have a writ of ease. But my lord chief baron's is not
yet sealed, though much feared.
There is news from St. Christopher's, by a ship richly
laden come thence, that the French, having taken seven of
our ships, came also, some eight hundred of them, on land,
intending to conquer the island. But ours, being fifteen
hundred, had retired themselves from the fort to a thicket
wherein they had placed some pieces of ordnance, which
so well played their part upon the secure French coming
to assault them, that some three hundred being slain, the
rest were presently environed by ours, which lay hid in the
thicket, who then cried for a parley, and redeemed their
lives with the restitution of the ships they had taken.
Among the residue which were slain by the cannon, a kins
man of the cardinal's, being general of the same forces,
was one. There were but twenty-five of ours slain.
I received a letter from the D.1 yesternight, who says, it
was said Sir Francis Cottington took his leave on Sunday to
go for Spain ; but others affirmed he was yet stayed a
fortnight longer. That my lord treasurer should be made
Earl of Romford. It is said the Spaniard offers peace
with large conditions unto the States ; which that people
is afraid will be accepted ; but some think not, unless
France consent thereto. 1 Dr. Meddus.
VOL. II. D

34 THE COURT AND TIMES OF

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, October 22, 1629.
On Monday last, the king and queen came back to the town,
but the next day the king went to Theobald's, there to stay
only till Saturday ; and then he is to come and stay for
good and all at Whitehall. He hath lately made some al
teration in his court, by the putting down of some tables,
as, namely, those of the lord privy seal, the lord president,
and one of the principal secretaries, and by cutting off the
board-wages, and making such other reformations in the
household as tend to the sparing of the king's purse.
The sentence is not yet come to my lord chief baron for
the putting him out of his place, and his friends are in
some hope, that he shall stay in it, he having some good
friends about the king that labour to keep him in it. Sir
Francis Cottington is not yet gone, but hath taken his
leave of his majesty, and is to depart this week, carrying
Mr. Pecke, one of the king's chaplains, along with him,
who is specially commanded by his majesty to attend him
in this journey ; wherein there is no doubt made but that
he shall effect a peace with the Spaniards as matters stand
with them at this time, which hath made their pride to
come down so low as to seek for it at their greatest
enemies' hands. As soon as Sir Francis Cottington shall
be embarked at Portsmouth, Sir Henry Vane shall be
despatched into Holland ; and the ship that shall carry
him is at her coming home to take in Don Carlos Colonna
at Dunkirk, and to bring him hither. We are also expect
ing shortly the ambassador named Monsieur de Fontenay
Mareuil, who is to come out of France to reside here, for
whom my Lord Dorset's house hath been hired for £300
the year. With the priests that are to come from thence*
they have obtained that an overseer shall also come to
govern them, who indeed is a bishop, but hidden under
that name. Their lodgings are provided near the Tennis
Court in Somerset House, which Tennis Court is to be
converted into a church for them.
Captain Kirke is come back from Canada, and hath

CHARLES THE FIRST. 35
brought the Frenchmen prisoners that were there, having
taken their forts, and left an English garrison in them.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, October 24, 1629.
The news of this place and time I presume you have
from better pens. Yet, I had rather be a little trouble
some than condemned of neglect. The lord chief baron
was on Thursday last sequestered from sitting in the Ex
chequer Court; but the warrant for his discharge is not as
yet signed. It is rumoured that Judge Whitelocke shall be
his successor; the solicitor a judge ; and Sir John Finch,
solicitor. What passed between the judges and our parliament
gentlemen upon their appearance the first day of the term,
the enclosed will inform you, as well as I was able to
take it.
The queen, as the report goes, is a great purchaser both
for her love and money : for they say she hath obtained
to have eight capuchins, eight other priests, and one bishop,
to come presently over, and that she hath bought all the
houses between Somerset House and the Mitre Tavern,
and will build a gallery towards the street for herself, and
lodgings for the religious men. And some say Somerset
Tennis Court must be turned into a chapel.
My Lord of Dorset is become a great husband ; for he
hath let his house in Salisbury Court unto the queen for
the Ambassador Leiger of France, which is daily expected
to come over, to lie in, and giveth for it £350 by the
year, and for the rest of his stables and outhouses towards
the water side, he hath let for £1000 fine and £100 by
the year rent, unto the master of the revels, to make a
playhouse for the children of the revels.
Count Henry Vandenberg is, if not beaten, as some say,
out of the * * * certainly marched away ; for which
good news the States' ambassador here hath had a fast,
and given God thanks.

d2

36 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, November 15, 1629.
This day sennight Sir John Eliot and Mr. Valentine
were removed to the King's Bench, to keep Mr. Long
company. On Friday Mr. Holies was set at large, upon
putting in bail for his good behaviour. His sureties were
Sergeant Ashley and Mr. Noy, who were bound in £500
a-piece, and himself in £1000. Mr. Selden, Mr. Stroud,
and Sir Miles Hobart, remain in the Tower, but have the
liberty thereof.
The lord chief baron denies the delivery up of his
patent, unless they can convict him of some misdemeanour,
yet they say he must out ; and, as the report goes now,
Mr. Attorney of the Wards shall succeed him therein;
Mr. Noy be attorney of the Wards ; and the lord treasurer
master of that court. It is said also, that he shall be made
an earl and knight of the garter ; and having put down the
tables at court, [the king] will now reduce the attendants
therein to a certain number, as they were in Queen Eliza
beth's time. And, for example, all the queen's are sus
pended, but these six following, viz. — Tyrwhit, Pringle,
1 Sydenham, Jermyn, Howsden, and Fielding.
The lord president of the north1 and the archbishop of
York are come up to be sworn of the privy council. The
Earl of Clare is committed to the custody of Sir William
Becher. Sir Robert Cotton's study and writings were suddenly
seized upon, and himself committed close prisoner to the
Bishop of Ely's.2 Mr. Selden's papers likewise seized on
in the Tower, yet hath the liberty thereof. The cause of
all this is not as yet certainly known, but the rumour is
for suspicion of compiling some libellous book, or for
privily conveying a defamatory precedent into the King's
Bench Court.
I have sent you the bill of such as are in election to be
sheriff for our circuits.
The Countess of Dover3 died this last week at Hunsdon.
1 Thomas, Lord Viscount Wentworth. 2 Dr. Buckeridge.
3 Judith, daughter of Sir Thomas Pelham, of Sussex, Bart., and wife of Henry
Hunsdon, created Earl of Dover, March 8, 1628.

CHARLES THE FIRST.

The queen is reported to be with child. And to conclude,
for foreign news, the Queen of Spain is brought to bed of
a young prince ; and the plague is very great in Rochelle,
Bourdeaux, and Languedoc.

Dr. Samuel Harsnett1 to Sir Henry Vane2.
London, November 6, 1629.
On Tuesday, in the evening, there were sent Mr. Vice-
chamberlain and others to seal up Sir Robert Cotton's
library, and to bring himself before the Lords of his ma
jesty's council. There was found in his custody a pes
tilent tractat, which he had fostered as his child, and had
sent it abroad into divers hands, containing a project how
a prince may make himself an absolute tyrant. This per
nicious device he had communicated by copies to divers
lords, who, upon his confession, are questioned and re
strained. My Lord of Somerset sent to the Lord Bishop
of London, the Lord Clare to the Bishop of Winchester,
and the Lord Bedford I know not well to whom. Cotton
himself is in custody. God send them well out.

Dr. Samuel Harsnett to Sir Henry Vane.
London, November 7, 1629.
Yesterday his majesty was pleased to sit in council,
with all the board, and commanded that devilish project
found upon Sir Robert Cotton to be read over unto us.
For mine own, I never heard a more pernicious, diabolical
device, to breed seditious humours amongst the people.
His majesty was pleased to declare his royal pleasure
touching the lords and others restrained for commu
nicating that project, which was to proceed in a fair,
moderate, mild, legal course with them, by a bill of infor
mation preferred into the Star Chamber, whereunto they
might make their answer by the help of the most learned
counsel they could procure ; and though his majesty had
in his power most justly and truly to restrain them till
the cause was adjudged, yet out of his princely clemency
he commanded the board to call them, and to signify unta
1 Archbishop of York. 5 At this period ambassador at the Hague.

38 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
them his majesty's gracious clemency; which was, that
the restraint should be taken off them, and their free
liberty given them to attend their cause in the Star
Chamber. They were severally called in before the Lords,
the king being risen, and acquainted by the keeper with
his majesty's gracious favour. Two never spoke word,
expressing any thankfulness for his majesty's so princely
goodness ; two expressed much thankfulness, which were
my Lord of Bedford and Sir Robert Cotton. St. John
and James are still in prison ; and further than unto these
the paper reacheth not in direct travel, save to Selden,
who is contained in the bill of information. I fear the
nature of that contagion did spread farther, but as yet no
more appeareth. I am of opinion it will fall heavy on the
parties delinquent.
[Sir Simonds D'Ewes's account of this affair, in his
autobiography, the MS. of which is preserved among the
Harleian MSS. in the British Museum, vol. 646, is as
follows : —
[" Amongst other books he [Mr. Richard James] lent
out, one Mr. John, of Lincoln's Inn, a young, studious
gentleman, borrowed of him for his money a dangerous
pamphlet, that was in written hand ; by which a course
was laid down, how the kings of England might oppress
the liberties of their subjects, and for ever enslave them
and their posterities. Mr. St. John shows the book to
the Earl of Bedford, or a copy of it; and so it passed
from hand to hand, in the year 1629, till at last it was
lent to Sir Robert Cotton himself, who set a young fellow,
he then kept in his house, to transcribe it ; which infal
libly proves that Sir Robert knew not himself that the
written tract itself had originally come out of his library.
This untrusty fellow imitating, it seems, the said James,
took one copy secretly for himself, when he wrote another
for Sir Robert, and out of his own transcript sold away
several copies ; till at last one of them came to the Lord
Wentworth's hand, of the north, now lord deputy of
Ireland. He acquainted the lords and others of the privy
council with it. They sent for the said young fellow, and

CHARLES THE FIRST. 39
examining him where he had the written tract, he con
fessed Sir Robert Cotton delivered it to him. Whereupon,
in the beginning of November, in the same year 1629,
Sir Robert Cotton was examined, and so divers others,
one after the other, as it had been delivered from hand to
hand, till at last Mr. St. John himself was appeached, and,
being conceived to have been the author of the book, was
committed close prisoner to the Tower, being in danger to
have been questioned for his life about it. Upon his exa
mination upon oath, he made a clear, full, and punctual
declaration, that he had received the same manuscript
pamphlet of that wretched, mercenary fellow, James, who
by this means proved the wicked instrument of shortening
the life of Sir Robert Cotton ; for he was presently there
upon sued in the Star Chamber, his library locked up
from his use, and two or more of the guard set to watch
his house continually. When I went several times to visit
and comfort him, in the year 1630, he would tell me, they
had broken his heart, that had locked up his library from
him. I easily guessed the reason, because his honour and
esteem were much impaired by this fatal accident ; and
his house, that was formerly frequented by great and
honourable personages, as well as by learned men of all
sorts, remained now upon the matter desolate and empty.
I understood from himself and others, that Dr. Neile and
Dr. Laud, two prelates that had been stigmatized in the
first session of parliament, in 1628, were his sore enemies.
He was so outworn within a few months with anguish and
grief, as his face, which had been formerly ruddy and
well-coloured, such as the picture I have of him shows,
was wholly changed into a grim, blackish paleness, near
to the resemblance and hue of a dead visage. I heard it
certainly affirmed, that the young fellow whom Sir Robert
Cotton kept in his house, and had employed to transcribe
the said written tractate, was his bastard, which shows
God's admirable justice, to cause the spurious issue of his
fatal lust to prove the immediate instrument of his final
ruin. I at one time advised him to look into himself, and
seriously to consider why God had sent this chastisement
upon him, which it is possible he did ; for I heard from

40 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Mr. Richard Holdisworth, a great and learned divine,
chat was with him in his last sickness, a little before he
died, ' that he was exceeding penitent, and was much
comforted in the faithful expectation of a better life.' "
[Mr. James, mentioned by Sir Simonds D'Ewes, was
Richard James, fellow of Corpus Christi College, in Ox
ford, born at Newport in the Isle of Wight, and writer of
several sermons both in Latin and English. He died at
the house of Sir Thomas Cotton, Bart., in the begin
ning of December, 1638. — Wood, Athen. Oxon., vol. i.,
col. 615-617. Sir Simonds D'Ewes, in his Life of himself,
fol. 140, gives a very severe character of him, styling him
an atheistical, profane scholar, but otherwise witty and
moderately learned ; and he informs us, that he had so
screwed himself into the good opinion of Sir Robert Cotton,
" as whereas, at first, he had only permitted him the use
of some of his books, at last, some two or three years
before his death, , he bestowed the custody of his whole
library on him. And he being a needy, sharking com
panion, and very expensive, like old Ralph Starkie, when
he lived, let out or lent out Sir Robert Cotton's most pre
cious manuscripts for money, to any that would be his
customers, which Sir Robert was wont to lend freely to
his noble and loving friends ; which I once made known
to Sir Robert Cotton before the said James's face."]

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, November 7, 1629.
The news we received this day sennight was as follow-
eth : That on Thursday at night that week, Sir John
Eliot, Mr. Holies, and Mr. Valentine, were removed out
of the Tower to the King's Bench. That Mr. Holies was
so much importuned by his wife and her friends, as it was
said he would yield at length to be bound to his good
behaviour. That the other three also then remaining in
the Tower were to be disposed to other prisons. That
the same Thursday, Mr. Chambers, by virtue of an Habeas
Corpus, appeared at the King's Bench bar, to plead for
his liberty ; but it was denied him by the judges, and he

CHARLES THE FIRST. 41
was remanded to the Tower. And the reason they gave
was, that they could not release any by Habeas Corpus who
had been committed by the Star Chamber, or Chancery,
or Court of Requests. And it was supposed he had the
like success with his demurrer the day following, in the
Exchequer, as touching his plea against the proceeding of
the Star Chamber against him.
The tables in court were reduced to Queen Elizabeth's
number ; and likewise the king's pensions are to be con
formable to hers. As, for example, whereas the gentle
men pensioners' allowance was augmented from £50, in
Queen Elizabeth's time, to £100 in King James's reign ;
now, under King Charles, they are drawn back to £50
again. So, likewise, the gentlemen of the chapel, from
their £40 of King James's time, to their £30 of Queen
Elizabeth's time, et sic de cceteris. By which means, one
told my author, his majesty would save £50,000 per
annum. And, although they were thus curbed, yet would
it be better for the generality of pensioners, in case they
might be paid as currently as they were in Queen Eliza
beth's days, when nothing upon earth was surer than
Exchequer pay. And, for a conclusion, my author saith,
he heard wise men say, that whereas his majesty's pensions
were now risen to above £70,000 a-year, Queen Elizabeth's
never came to above £l 7,000. The courtiers, some say, are
afraid, yet for all this, they shall be put to board wages, the
speech only whereof discontents them.
Sir Francis Cottington went towards Portsmouth on his
ambassage, on Monday that week, and was now at length
really gone, maugre the French ambassador, who, with
all the strength he had, opposed his journey, and used the
queen's assistance therein. So that when Sir Francis
Cottington came to take his leave of her, and to know
what service her majesty would be pleased to command
him to her sister, answered him as I told you in my last.1
And then, when she could not prevail with his majesty to
cross the ambassage, she shed tears in anger.
Sir Henry Vane is also gone Leiger unto the Hague ;
and the Lyon of the king's, having landed him at Flushing,
1 That she would have nothing to do with Spain, nor with any person there.

42 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
is then to bring Don Carlos de Colonna, the Spanish am
bassador, from Dunkirk hither. That the week before
two small Dunkirkers took four Amsterdam ships, bound
for London, and thought to have much money in them.
There was a fifth, which escaped. They had a tall man-
of-war to convoy them ; but, at the first bout, it was shot
between wind and water, and forced to make towards
land. The Dunkirkers also then took an English ship
that came from the East countries, and two coal-ships.
The great tide in the Thames did more than £10,000
damage in Thames Street, in cellars, shops, and warehouses,
and made three or four breaches from Blackwall towards
Gravesend, whereby much cattle and sheep were drowned,
grass and corn spoiled. They say it was near three feet
higher than any man can remember.
On Wednesday was sennight, one Coe, a solicitor-at-
law, was in the Star Chamber censured to perpetual
banishment, because he had written something in disgrace
of my lord keeper and judge Richardson. I saw but one
letter yesterday, which being not purposely of news, had
only thus much, that on Wednesday morning last, the
Earl of Clare and Sir Robert Cotton were both committed ;
the earl to the Bishop of Winchester's custody, but Sir
Robert, my author knew not then whither. It was
written from the court. I expect to hear more to-day,
and the reason ; for I doubt it is true.
Dr. Wren is not again elected vice-chancellor, nor
sought to be; but Dr. Butts, of Benet. They say he
may, if he will, be bishop of Rochester, that bishop J being
removed to Bath and Wells ; and so all Dr. Prideaux's
friends can do nothing. I send you two books, the
" English Gentleman" and " Spanish Pilgrim,"2 the
author3 of the last being your countryman, and some
twenty-four years old, and was in town here, and gave to
1 Dr. Walter Curie.
2 " The English Spanish Pilgrim ; or, a Discourse of Spanish Popery and Jesu
itical Stratagems."
3 James Wadsworth, son of James Wadsworth, B.D., of Emanuel College, Cam
bridge, who, attending Sir Charles Cornwallis, ambassador into Spain, as his
chaplain, embraced there the Romish religion. His son, who had been educated
underthe Jesuits, at St. Omer's, came to England, and declared himself a Protestant.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 43
every head of a college one of his books. Read it, and
you will see strange passages of a young man's miseries.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, November 18, 1629.
On Sunday last, the earls of Bedford, Somerset, and
Clare, together with Sir Robert Cotton, were brought
before the Lords, and from thence were set at liberty for
their persons, but yet bound to answer in the Star
Chamber to such informations as should be laid against
them. Mr. St. John remaineth yet in the Tower, and Mr.
James in the custody of a justice of peace in Westminster.
What further proceeding will be against them we shall
shortly see. By my last, I did let you understand how
some new lords had been sworn of the privy council ; to
whose number my Lord of Falkland, lately returned out
of Ireland, hath been since added.
Upon the French ambassador's great complaints against
Kirke, for his action in Canada, the matter hath been
debated in council ; and it is thought that, for the good
of the peace, the place will be restored unto the French,
although there is nothing as yet resolved about. Neither
is there any order hitherto taken between the two states,
for the settling of the trade for the time to come, or the
satisfying of the merchants' complaints for the time past.
My Lord of Carlisle, to his loss of St. Christopher's Island,
hath a new affliction added, by the loss of his only daugh
ter, who died yesternight, of an imposthume that she had
in her head. My Lady of Oxford1 is in another tune,
being married, since Thursday last, to my Lord Bruce s

.2

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, December 12, 1629.
The news we had on Saturday last was as followeth :
that the Earls of Somerset and Clare, together with Sir
1 Diana, one of the daughters and co-heirs of William, Lord Burghley, son and
heir to Thomas, Earl of Exeter, and widow of Henry Vere, Earl of Oxford.
2 Thomas, second son of Edward Bruce, baron of Kinloss, master of the rolls.

44 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Robert Cotton, had petitioned his majesty, as it was said,
but not to decline the Star Chamber, in which their busi
ness was still depending. For on Monday that week,
November 30, was an order made, " That whereas the
said earls had answered unto the information against them
upon their honours, and not upon oath, as was usually in
that court ; and that, notwithstanding they were persons
of honour, his majesty might justly refuse to accept them,
notwithstanding the pretence of any declaratory order to
the contrary in the higher house of parliament, which,
without the consent of the Commons and his majesty's
royal assent, might not alter the settled course of law, or
the constant rules of other courts ; nevertheless, his
majesty, to show to the world how far he is from using
strict proceedings in his own case, (as this is) was willing
to dispense with the breach of the rules of the court in
this particular ; and that the said answers put in by the
said earls without oath should be allowed ; but so that
this be not any precedent against the king or any others
in any case which might happen hereafter. And, upon
the motion of Mr. Attorney, it was farther ordered, that
the said earls and other defendants should answer to the
interrogatories within one week ; and that Mr. Oliver St.
John, Esq., and Richard James, gent., should be made
defendants to the said information, and their names inserted
therein, and they two to put in their answers within eight
days, and to be examined upon interrogatories within four
days after. Notwithstanding which order, Mr. St. John
and Mr. James cannot be inserted in the information,
because Mr. Attorney hath not in the same prayed that
particular with his majesty.
On Saturday (this day fortnight) Sir John Eliot, Mr.
Holies, and Mr. Valentine joined with Mr. Attorney in the
demurrer concerning the jurisdiction of the King's Bench;
and the day appointed for arguing the same is the second
day of the next term. At the same time, the counsel of
Sir Miles Hobart and Mr. Stroud moved, that they might
be permitted to go about their business, as well as the
residue were. But the judges answered, the Tower was
out of their jurisdiction ; but, if they would remove them-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 45
selves by Habeas Corpus from thence into the King's Bench,
then it would be in their power to give them such leave as
they demanded.
On Monday morning, it being moved by Mr. Seidell's
counsel, in the Star Chamber, that he might be permitted
freely to go up and down about his business, his request
was granted. But Sir John Eliot and Mr. Valentine
desiring of the judges, by their counsel, to be bailed, were
again answered, that unless they would observe the rules
of the court to be bailed to their good behaviour, they
might lie by it these seven years.
On Saturday also, November 28, Mr. Fowkes, the mer
chant, was, by virtue of his Habeas Corpus, bailed out of
the Fleet, at the King's Bench bar, namely, after he had
submitted himself to the Exchequer, and yielded to pay
tonnage and poundage for all his goods.
I should have told you a story in my last, but that I
feared my lady 1 would impute it to my want of respect
to that much-to-be-considered and honoured order, if I
should be too rash to blab upon the first intelligence that
which so much concerned the reputation thereof. But
now hearing it confirmed, I will beg leave to tell it as I
last heard it. The Lady Lawrence, of Gloucestershire,
being to be godmother to a child, desired of the minister
that her chaplain might baptize it, which he refusing to
grant, or so much as to give leave to have it baptized in
any other parish, (which was desired) she was fain to be
content that he should do it. But holding the child at the
font, when the minister had sprinkled the water, she took
it away, and the minister reading still on, and offering,
when he came at the words, to cross it, she turned up the
child's backside, bidding him cross that. When this was
done, fearing the minister would complain thereof to the
hi°h commission, where she would be severely censured,
she endeavoured, by a worse means, to prevent him. She
conspired with an attorney's wife to accuse the minister
of an attempt to have ravished her ; which the attorney's
wife accordingly complaining of to justice, and finding
that, in respect of the minister's untainted honesty, the
1 Stuteville.

46 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
business was suspected, went up to London to complain
there ; where, meeting with her husband, and he demand
ing the occasion of her coming up, when she had told him
as aforesaid, he suspected likewise, and would not leave
her, till she had confessed she was suborned by the Lady
Lawrence, who is thereupon brought into the Star Chamber
to answer it, and her son (he that married a gentlewoman
your neighbour) bound in £4000 for her appearance.1
The gentleman whose son slew his mother is Sir William
Dorrington, of Hampshire, held one of the worthiest knights
of these parts, but was son to that Mr. Dorrington that
threw himself down, many years since, from St. Sepulchre's
steeple. This unhappy young man was his second son,
and had been a scholar of Oxford, a very debauched gen
tleman, and some say drunk at this time, others, in a
frantic melancholy. His mother came up into his chamber
to reprove him for some misbehaviour in this unfit mood,
and so occasioned this heavy accident.
There was at the end of the term a mad case censured
in the Star Chamber. A knight bachelor falling out upon
some words with a baronet, the baronet told him he was a
better man than he. The knight asked, Why ? The
baronet replied that, by the dignity of baronet, he was
honourable, the knight but worshipful. The knight, in
indignation, said he would beat his honour out at his * * ;
and thereupon bummed him soundly, pretending he did to
drive out his honour at the back door as aforesaid. The
knight was fined £500, and the baronet exceedingly
laughed at, and so was the business ended.
After Don Carlos, the expected Spanish ambassador,
refused to come, there was, upon notice thereof, a mes
senger despatched instantly after Sir Francis Cottington,
but wherefore I know not. This, it seems, occasioned the
report he was come back. I send you the conclusion of
the business between the town and our University ; I mean,
the order of the king and council.
1 We felt some scruples about printing this statement — but, as it is vouched for
as a fact that came under the cognizance of one of the tribunals, we unwillingly
allow it to stand exactly as it was written.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 47
Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 16, 1629.
There is little come to my knowledge for public occur-
rents that I could have presented you withal, saving only
that upon the resolution taken by the King of France to
go shortly with an army towards the frontier of Champagne,
where it is conceived that his majesty's ambassador extra-
ordinary's presence would be but unserviceable, letters have
been written both for his revocation out of that place, and
for Sir Isaac Wake's revocation also from the court of
Savoy to come and supply the place of ambassador ordinary
in France, which letters, I suppose, by this time, to be
come to both the places ; so as very shortly we may expect
the coming back of Sir Thomas Edmondes hither, unless
some new growing occasion do cause a protraction of his
departure from thence ; where all this while, through that
unhappy difference about the precedence with the cardinal,
I cannot perceive that he hath done anything, besides the
receiving of the king's oath for the ratification of the
peace, but the procuring of Sir Thomas Dishington's and
Iton's, the engineer's, release out of prison, having not
been able hitherto to get any restitution of the English
ships and goods that have been taken since the publishing
of the peace, nor any order made for the settling of the
trade and commerce for the time to come. And here is a
speech that Monsieur de Chateauneuf, who hath done as ,
little here, is also shortly to be revoked, and Monsieur de/
Fontenay Mareuil in the way coming to be Lieger here,/
who will bring the Capuchins along with him, and, as I
hear, a bishop, under the title of aulmosnier, to be overl
them, and a Catholic physician for the queen, to be near\
her in any occasion of her sickness, and especially when \
she shall be brought to bed. The queen mother stood j
hard also for a French lady of honour to be about her \
majesty, but that would not be yielded unto.
They are still labouring here to make up a navy, and
very shortly, as I hear, they will have a hundred good
ships ready to put to sea. Don Carlos de Colonna, since
my last writing, hath given assurance hither, by his letters,

48 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
that he will be now very shortly here, and hath caused all
necessary provisions to be made for his house. Whereupon,
another post hath been despatched to Sir Francis Cotting
ton into Spain, to will him (as it is supposed) to go forward
in his journey and negociation. Of Sir Henry Vane I
have heard nothing as yet since his going over.
The Dunkirkers are abroad, with twenty-eight ships, to
watch, as it is thought, the coming back of Burlamachi
out of Holland with the king's jewels, which he went some
three months ago to redeem for a certain quantity of
ordnance, which his majesty is to give to them that had
them in pawn.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, December 19, [1629].
I have no news to tell you ; all our intelligence the last
Saturday failed, save that the doctor,1 writing of his
private business, told us besides, that they then laid wagers
at London, pro and con., for the summons of a parliament
after Christmas. But, as I hear this week, the hopes
thereof have no probability, if it be true that his majesty
means to be for Scotland in April, and hath summoned a
parliament to be held there in May, with which news
Marquis Hamilton is ridden post into Scotland, if the
postmaster may be credited, who told us so much here on
Thursday. Also the doctor had a letter from Salisbury,
of a villanous murder there committed. A traveller, that
had some charge about him, lay at an inn, meaning to be
gone early in the morning. The host, understanding it,
with three comrades, lay in wait for him, with whom he
acquitted himself so well, as that he slew three of them,
the host himself being one, and wounded the fourth. But
being himself sorely hurt, and not able to go on his
journey, returned back into the inn, little suspecting his
evil came from thence ; and there, after his wounds were
dressed, was murdered in his bed by the hostess and her
servants, who told the chirurgeon, coming again to dress
his wounds, as he had appointed, that his patient felt him-
1 Meddus.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 49
self so well that he would needs go his journey the next
morning, which the chirurgeon knowing to be impossible,
causes search to be made, and so discovered the villany.
They say also that, at the last delivery at Newgate, were
no fewer than eighteen condemned for murder.
Don Carlos's last reason given why he could not come
when the king's ship was offered him, was because his
majesty and his council were jealous of the French
king's preparations in Picardy and Champagne, himself
being governor of Cambray, &c, and so to look to those
frontiers.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 30, 1629.
There is nothing happened here in the court since my
hist that I may add to my former advertisements, saving
that there have wanted no plays for the solemnizing of the
Christmas holidays. The admiral's place is not yet dis
posed of, but likeliest by the common rumour and appear
ance to fall upon my Lord of Holland than upon any other.
The Countess of Carlisle keepeth yet at Essex House ; but
it will not be long, it is thought, before she come back to
court. The Marquis Hamilton promised the king, afore his de
parture, that he would be here back again by Candlemas ;
the cause of his sudden departure being, as I hear, to be
there present at the marriage of one or two of his sisters.
I understand that in that country there was lately an exact
search made and account taken of all the recusants there ;
and that the whole number of them did scarce come to
five hundred, and that the council and justices there do
hold such a strict hand over them, as that the Marquis of
Huntley, being gone back thither with the king's letters,
was by them confined in a place far from his own country,
and all his popish servants taken from about him, and
others put in their places.
Don Carlos Colonna is now at length landed, and ex
pected to be here to-morrow ; my Lord of Newport being
appointed to meet him at Gravesend, and to bring him in
VOL. II. E

50 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the king's barges. From Sir Francis Cottington there are
no letters come yet since his arrival at the court of Spain,
he being yet two days' journey from it at the writing of his
last. Concerning the English businesses solicited by Sir
Thomas Edmondes, the king's ambassador in France, I
hear they rather go backward than forward, they having
lately given there a sentence, without the privity, and
rather against the will, of the English merchants, whose
ships have been taken since the peace, for the selling of
the goods out of them, having a purpose, as it is thought,
afterwards to make use of the ships. I hear, moreover,
that they are resolved there not to yield henceforth any
more respect or obedience at sea to the King of England's
banner, and that a matter of a higher nature hath been
agitated in the council there, namely, to make him leave
the title of King of France : whereby it may be con
jectured what their good will and designs are against this
State. Here are three East India ships, lately arrived
with good lading, at Plymouth.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, January 13, 1629-30.
For news, Bethlem Gabor, Prince of Transylvania, hath
been poisoned by the practice of the Palatine of Hungary
and an Hungarian Jesuit that came to the prince counter
feiting himself a poor exiled German Protestant minister ;
who was since taken at Casshaw, and there exquisitely
tortured, and quartered, or rather torn in pieces with four
horses. Besides, the Palatine himself, for seeking to bring
in popery at Ottenburg, was thrown out at a window, but
not much hurt. I saw a letter of December 19, from Sir
Isaac Wake's secretary at Turin in Savoy, wherein is this
passage : " The Imperialists under the command of Colalto,
and Spaniards under Marquis Spinola, have been busy and
bold with the Duke of Mantua since the French king
retired from hence. The Spaniards have re-entered upon
all in Montferrat which Gonzales de Cordova had quitted ;
and Colalto -hath taken all the Mantuan territory unto the
walls of Mantua, which he besiegeth straitly, and hath

CHARLES THE FIRST. 51
shut up in it the duke and all his family. The French, we
hear, are coming with a powerful army to relieve him.
The Pope's ministers labour hard for a peaceable accom
modation ; and Paneirella, a great man in the court of
Rome, hath for the present procured a suspension of arms
for a month. What the issue will be will shortly appear.
The Venetians assist Mantua. The Duke of Savoy yet
keeps himself neutral." Thus much out of the letter.
On Saturday, January 2, the Earl of Newport 1 fetched
Don Carlos de Colonna, the Spanish ambassador, from
Gravesend to London ; and on Wednesday, my Lord of
Salisbury conducted him from bis house in Aldersgate
Street to Whitehall, where he had his first reception and
audience in the banqueting house, both their majesties
being present, all the ladies (whereof the three duchesses
were part) standing on the queen's side, and all the lords
on the king's. He carried himself more humbly and re
spectively to his majesty than Spanish ambassadors used
to do. He there delivered his letters of credence, and
had some quarter of an hour's discourse with the king ;
but afterwards was with him half an hour in the privy
galleries, and, passing over the terrace towards the presence,
his majesty opened a window, and saluted him once more.
Then went he on the queen's side, where he ascended to
wards her majesty through a beautiful line of ladies. He
hath presented twenty Spanish jennets to his majesty.
The French and Dutch are said to do, and will oppose the
design of the Spanish ambassador all they can.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 20, [1629-30.]
Notwithstanding those great preparations made in France
for the land, they are still going powerfully forward there
with their sea preparations, which the common rumour and
apprehension voiceth to be chiefly intended against this
country, and within these seven days there is an advertise
ment sent hither, that there is some enterprise projected
upon the islands of Jersey and Guernsey. True it is, that
1 Mountjoy Blount, natural son of Charles Blount Earl of Devonshire.
E 2

52 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
hitherto there hath been little or nothing done on neither
side for the establishing of the peace ; for hitherto his
majesty's ambassador in France could not get any restitu
tion made there of any English ship or goods that have
been taken since the publishing of the peace, nor any order
taken for the settling of trade and commerce for the time
to come ; nor any satisfaction for that part which remain-
eth to be paid of the queen's dowry. And the French
ambassador doth complain that there is little satisfaction
given him here in any thing that he sneth for.
The Spanish ambassador, Don Carlos Colonna, hath not
appeared, nor done any thing since his first audience, pre
tending, as it is said, that he hath not yet received his
commission ; expecting perhaps till he hear of Sir Francis
Cottington's negociation in Spain ; from whom there is no
news come as yet since his landing at Lisbon, where he
was kindly and honourably entertained, and feasted at the
charges of the city.
Here the jars seem to continue still, at court, between
the Earls of Carlisle and Holland ; and one of the queen's
women, one Smith, hath been banished out of the court
for having falsely reported that there was a new-year's
gift sent by the Countess of Carlisle to her majesty, which,
if any had been brought, there was order given aforehand
that it should not be received.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, January 23, 1629-30.
Before I mention any impertinences, I will make relation
of such news as I have. Of those eight defendants prose
cuted in the Star' Chamber for handling the project, seven
had been examined upon interrogatories, viz., the three
earls, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. James, Mr. St. John, Mr.
Barrell ; and only Mr. Selden remaineth unexamined. And
some say Mr. Attorney hath drawn a replication to their
answers on the behalf of his majesty, and that he will forth
with proceed to examination of witnesses ; and, if it be
possible, will bring the cause to a hearing this next term.
Others report that David Foulis having presented the ori-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 53
ginal of that project to his majesty, and Sir Robert
Dudley's letter from Florence, wherein it was enclosed,
hath therewith so satisfied his majesty as he will no farther
prosecute the business, save only against my Lord of So
merset. Mr. Chambers the merchant is offered, in case he
will acknowledge the Star Chamber and the Exchequer
have done him justice, that he shall be released out of the
Fleet. But he saith, before he will do that, he will first
die in prison ; for in acknowledging so much, he should by
consequence acknowledge himself perjured.
My Lord Baltimore, alias Sir George Calvert, being
weary of his intolerable plantation at Newfoundland, where
he hath found between eight and nine months' winter, and
upon the land nothing but rocks, lakes, or mosses, like
bogs, which a man might thrust a spike down to the but-
head in, (for so Mr. James, Sir Robert Cotton's library-
keeper, who was sent minister thither some nine years ago,
describes the place) his lordship this last summer sent
home all his children into England, and went with his lady
into Virginia. Being come thither, the governor and council
presently sent for him, and interrogated him what his pur
pose or intention was, being governor of another plantation,
to abandon that and to come thus into Virginia ? His
answer was, he came to plant and inhabit amongst them.
" Very willingly, my lord," said they, " if your lordship
will do what we have done, and what your duty is to do."
Then they propounded the oath of allegiance to him, which
he presently took, but refused to swear that of supremacy.
Whereupon they told him, they durst not admit any man
into their society which would not acknowledge all pre
eminences belonging to his majesty ; and so prayed him to
provide himself for the next ship, wherein they have shipped
him home.
About the time of his being there, a certain Indian,
dwelling some five days' journey off, came there, and offered
himself, his wife, and four children, wholly to become Eng
lish both in affection and religion ; and to assure them of
his fidelity, he conducted their little army this harvest to
the secret habitations of the Indians their enemies ; upon
whose corn and persons, by his guidance, they wrought

54 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
more spoil and revenge than they had done since the great
massacre there. And this action had so much the more
justice in it, by reason that of late those treacherous sa
vages assailed the house of one Mr. Poole, a minister, and
slew him, his wife, and all his family. This Indian also,
who hath been so fortunate a guide to the English, hath
proffered to bring them to a rich silver mine, and that
upon pain of his life, if it prove not true : and so the most
active men in the country have undertaken the voyage.
The country aboundeth now with provisions of victuals, as
kine, hogs, poultry, corn, &c, more than ever, and in time,
saith my author, will attract all other English plantations
to incorporate with them.1

Mr. Pory to the Rev. Joseph Mead.
London, February 12, 1629-30.
Now, for the king, queen, and prince of Newfoundland,
they have no relation at all to Virginia or to my Lord
Baltimore's being there; who, though his lordship do
extol that country 2 to the skies, yet he is preparing a
barque to send to fetch his lady and servants from thence,
because the king will not permit him to go back again.
And for that king and prince so much talked on, I hold
them of no great importance against the French, by reason
of the paucity of their subjects, who, if they be one hundred
men, women, and children, it is a great matter in that most
horrid region.3 But if the prime patentee of that flourishing
new kingdom4 can, by making show and ostentation of those
savages, effect his project of creating an order of baronets of
Nova Scotia (as, I hear, is intended), who, for £500, shall
have precedence of all Scottish and Irish baronets, and of all
English also, of a future creation, shall have the privilege
1 That " plantation " is now one of the most wealthy and important of the United
States of North America.
2 " Virginia, I suppose : or new Scotland, if he went thither from Virginia." —
Note by Dr. Birch.
3 " By reason it is so overgrown with woods as he supposeth."  Note by Dr.
Birch. 4 " The Scottishmen say their colony is already five thousand men, women, and
children, and increaseth daily from all parts of Scotland ; that there is I know not
how many hundreds of the name of Gordon, the chief of which name is a great
papist," he— Note by Dr. Birch.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 55
of barons, in being free from arrests, shall have one thou
sand acres of ground in that tract, and a riband, with an
order hanging to thereat for distinction's sake ; then I will
extol him for his wit and industry.
But, to draw nigher home : on this day sennight, Mr.
Walter Long, one of those persecuted parliament men,
was censured in the Star Chamber at two thousand marks,
imprisonment in the Tower during his majesty's pleasure,
and his humble submission to his majesty and to that
court. The crimes laid to his charge were, first perjury,
for that, contrary to his oath of his shrievalty, he was
above a month absent out of his county, while he was
high sheriff of Wiltshire, without his majesty's special
license, although his counsel alleged two licenses, one his
majesty's writ, by virtue whereof he was chosen to serve
for a burgess of Bath in the House of Commons, and the
other his majesty's proclamation, commanding all knights,
citizens, burgesses, &c, that were chosen, to make both
their personal appearance and abode in parliament. And
this perjury of his was aggravated, in that he used industry
and practice, both by letters, conference, or his presence,
upon the election-day at Bath, to get himself chosen.
His second crime was, disobedience to his majesty's writ,
directed to him for choosing knights of the shire against
these words, " Nolumus te vel temetipsum vel guemvis
alium Vice-comitem aliqualiter eligere," &c. Whereto
his counsel made answer, that by those words was intended
he should not choose himself knight of the shire, but not
meant that he might not be chosen burgess, as many
high sheriffs have been, and also have served in parliament
without blame, as I think verily he might have done, if he
had not been so active in the House of Commons. His
third fault was, neglect of his office, and consequently of
the commonwealth. My Lord of Winchester1 was the
first man that fined him at £2000 : [and my Lord Arch
bishop of York2 made a bitter invective against him,
taking Mr. Attorney's place upon himself. Whereupon
some  reminded him, that these speeches ill became
1 Dr. Neville. 2 Dr. Harsnet.

56 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
 l] My Lord Conway said that, although he
was not at the hearing of the cause on the Wednesday
immediately going before, yet was he so thoroughly satis
fied by the preceding speeches, as he thought fit to fine
the defendant at £2000, &c. Whereupon, my lord keeper
bade the registrar strike his vote out of the book, because
he took upon him to judge that cause which he had not
heard pleaded at all. And if his vote had been allowed,
then Mr. Long's had not been two thousand marks, but
£2000, because the votes for either had been equal, and,
according to the custom, the greater sum had prevailed
for the king. My Lords of Carlisle and Holland were of
a quite other humour ; for, because they were absent on
Wednesday from hearing of the cause, when it came to
their turn to speak, they veiled their bonnets and kept
silence. [One lord among them, as I was assured by an
officer of the court, prayed that his majesty might 
 the kingdom 2] ; but divers of their lordships con
demned the new doctrine, viz., that nothing said or done
in parliament was punishable in any other court.
The first Monday and Tuesday of this term, Sir John
Eliot, Mr. Holies, and Mr. Valentine, did, by their learned
counsel, argue for their plea formerly put into that court,
which was, that the Court of the King's Bench had no jurisdic
tion to call any thing in question said or done in parliament.
They should have had a third day for arguing, but the
judges cut them off on the second day, and declared their
own opinions to the contrary, viz., that the very same
things said and done by them in parliament were cen
surable in that court. So a rule of court was entered,
that those three defendants should be allowed to plead to
Mr. Attorney's information, if they would, as upon Monday
was sennight. But then they would not. And yesterday
was sennight, not only two of them three, but the residue
of those prisoners in the King's Bench, moved at the bar
for their Habeas Corpus. Whereat one of the judges
said, "he wondered much that they would demand that which
1 The sentence within brackets is in parts illegible,
2 This sentence was also blotted out.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 57
had so often been denied them. What, come they to out
face the court?" Hereupon, a rule was immediately entered,
that they should be deprived of their accustomed liberty of
walking abroad all day, and should altogether be confined
to the prison of the King's Bench. But on Sunday morning,
another rule was sent to Gilbert Barrell, their attorney,
whereby he might give notice to Sir John Eliot and Mr.
Valentine (Mr. Holies being already out upon bail) that
they had liberty given them against Tuesday next follow
ing to confer with their learned counsel about framing an
answer, if they would, to Mr. Attorney's information.
But that day they did nothing but only move by their
counsel for longer time. So yesterday was granted them
to bring in their answer, wherein they also failed. Then the
Lord Chief Justice Hyde gave them some austere language,
yet was persuaded by Judge Croke to grant them yet this
morning, being the last day of term ; and yesternight
their attorney and counsel, upon my knowledge, were
appointed to draw their plea in answer to Mr. Attorney's
information. Yet this morning it was not presented in
court ; and, therefore, upon a nihil dicit (which is held
equivalent to a confession or pleading guilty), sentence was
pronounced out of Judge Jones's mouth of a fine of £2000
upon Sir John Eliot, imprisonment in the Tower during
his majesty's pleasure, and to be bound to his good beha
viour during life. Upon Mr. Holies, of one thousand
marks, and upon Mr. Valentine, of £500. Thus silent
they were out of a generous resolution rather to run the
hazard of a nihil dicit, and of the judge's censure there
upon, than to have subjected the House of Commons, by
any pusillanimity of theirs, to the jurisdiction of any infe
rior court.1
As touching the great cause depending in the Star
Chamber against the three earls, some say my Lord of
Bedford hath wound himself out; and so it is hoped the
higher powers will satisfy themselves with having thus
punished four of the parliament men. And, besides, the
lawyers are of opinion that, whereas Sir David Foulis's
deposition hath discovered the ground of Mr. Attorney's
1 The three following lines in the original are blotted out.

58 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
information, viz., that the " Discourse* or project was
framed and contrived within five or six months past here
in England," to be a mere falsehood ; because he testifieth
upon his oath, that it was seventeen years ago contrived
out of England, by Sir Robert Dudley, at Florence ; there
fore, some learned in the law do conclude that, either
Mr. Attorney must frame a new bill, and they new
answers ; or else he must let this bill fall to the ground.
They say, to-day, upon the Exchange, that his majesty
is very angry with the Dunkirkers. Whether he be or no,
I know not ; but he hath now good cause. For, within
these few days, they took a ship of eight pieces of ord
nance out of the Downs, laden with his majesty's own pro
visions of cordage, cables, &c, towards the setting forth
of some ships to the defence of the Narrow Seas. The
Spanish ambassador (whose crest upon the stern of his
treble-gilt coach is Noah's dove, with an olive branch in
her mouth, and the word Revertar, alluding to peace)
tells his majesty confidently, that the French preparations
at sea will sooner or later light upon England. And now
that his majesty is about to set out twelve ships, great
and small, to defend the Narrow Seas, we are treating
with Spain a cessation of arms, which was offered by
Don Carlos before his coming out of Flanders, and refused
by the advice of our privy council : since when, these sea-
wolves have taken from us to the value at least of £100,000.
Monsieur de Fonteney, designed for leiger ambassador
here out of France, is, for the same purpose, come down
to Calais with his wife and family, attending there for
transportation ; which some give for an argument that
the French king will not in haste invade us. Another
argument may be, because that the great Cardinal Richelieu
being descended into Italy with a great and expensive
army, and making Cassel the seat of his affairs, hath pro
pounded such haughty and lordly conditions to the poor
Spaniards and Imperialists there, as if they would swallow
them, they would be accounted base all over; such as
these : 1. That the Duke of Nevers shall hold the Duchy
of Mantua and Marquisate of Montferrat in fee of him-
1 The manuscript lentout of Sir Robert Cotton's library.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 59
self, as an independent prince, without any relation to the
empire. 2. That the emperor shall quit the Valtoline, by
withdrawing all his forces out of it ; and shall leave it in
the same state he found it. And 3. That the Spaniards
and Imperialists shall first lay down their arms.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, February 12, [1629-30].
All the news I have is, that Mr. Long was on Friday,
last week, censured in the Star Chamber, where they laid
upon him no less than £2000 fine for his parliament em
ployment during his sheriffalty. There were letters pro
duced which he had written to some friends to procure him
to be chosen burgess. The judges would have censured
the three parliament gentlemen at their bench ere this,
but that they desired respite to advise with their counsel,
the matter being great, and much concerning them ; which
was granted till Thursday this week, being term end : but
how they fared then, I yet hear not. It was thought
dangerous for them to let the judges proceed against them
upon a nihil dicit ; because he that is silent in foro, is
supposed to confess all he is accused of, and is to receive
judgment accordingly.
Our council of war have resolved the French king cannot
yet in a long time be ready with his fleet for any attempt
either against us or others ; and therefore not to be feared ;
and suppose that king is ambitious to have the dominion of
the sea as well as other princes, and that to be the reason
of providing so great a fleet ; for it is said, he hath set apart
300,000 crowns a-year to be bestowed that way.
Sir Charles Howard, the Earl of Nottingham's son by
the Scottish lady, Sir Francis Stuart's sister, a wild young
scholar at Oxford, by some acquaintance there was brought
to one Smith's house, a citizen of London, where he fell in
love with one of his daughters, a very lovely woman they
say, and of a singular carriage for one of her breeding ;
and married her without the privity of the lady his mother :
who upon knowledge thereof threatening to reject him,
the fickle young gentleman presently rejects his wife,

60 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
would not come at her, uses her most unfittingly, &c. The
business hath been before my Lord of Canterbury, who
laboured to reconcile them all three, but in vain ; and
what will be the event, if it be worth listening after, it
may. I shall know in time.
I forgot to tell you, that the last week came to London
the king, queen, and young prince of New Scotland, which
is the west part of that tract which was in the patent
which Sir Ferdinando Gorges had for New England ; but
he consented that Sir William Alexander, a Scot, should
' have a patent thereof from King James, anno 1621, but
to be governed by the laws and depend upon the King of
England. It is that which in your Speed hath on the north
side of the river, Canada on the east, and south the ocean,
on the west, Rio St. Jean or R. Pontager, where it frontiers
New England. But if the first relation of the discovery
after this Scottish patent be true, (as it is in Purchas) it is
a much more fertile and delicate country than what Sir
Ferdinando reserved for New England. This king conies
to be of our king's religion, and to submit his kingdom to
him, and to become his homager for the same, that he may
be protected against the French of Canada. Those savages
arrived at Plymouth were a while entertained at my Lord
Poulet's,1 in Somersetshire, much made of, especially my
lady 2 of the savage queen : she came with her to the coach,
wThen they were to come to London, put a chain about her
neck with a diamond valued by some at near £20. The
savages took all in good part, but for thanks or acknow
ledgment made no sign or expression at all.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, February 27, 1629-30.
On Saturday last were censured in the Star Chamber
fourscore persons, seven at £40 fine, and the residue at
£100 or £200 a-piece, for plucking down a pale which
Sir James Fullerton and Mr. Kirke of the bedchamber had
1 John Poulet, created Baron Poulet of Henton St. George, in the county of So
merset, July 23, 1627.
2 Christian, daughter and heir of Chri.-topher Ken, of Ken, in Somersetshire.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 61
erected about Gillingham forest in Dorsetshire, after thev
had felled down all the woods ; the inhabitants thereabouts
pretending a commonage upon it, notwithstanding it was
given by his majesty under his broad seal to those two
Scottishmen. The two ringleaders of the rout were cen
sured also to stand upon the pillory at the next market
town. On Wednesday the same week, as they came from the
Blackfriars' sermons, two pursuivants laid hold on one
Dr. Leighton, now a physician, once a minister, but sus
pended therefrom for inconformity, a fiery Scotsman, who
told them he would not obey any such anti-Christian au
thority ; and so would not stir. Nay, being then com
manded in the king's name to obey the constable assisted
with six men, he also refused, so that at length they were
forced to carry him upon their shoulders, and was presently,
without examination, committed close prisoner to Newgate.
This is he that some years since published a book called
" Sion's Plea," and said to be sold in secret for twenty
shillings a-piece, and to contain such vile matter, as some
think may go near, if not altogether, to cost him his life,
if he be proved to be the author. Besides, I am certainly
informed this week, that since his imprisonment there was
a letter cast into the Bishop of London's house, which bade
him look to it that this man came well off, or he should
ere long have a pistol or something else in his belly.
Mr. Long, newly censured, presented on Monday was
sennight a petition to their Lordships in this form : —
" Right Honourables, your petitioner having been lately
censured by your Lordships in his majesty's court of Star
Chamber, doth, in obedience to his majesty's laws, in all
humbleness submit himself thereunto, and doth acknow
ledge your justice therein. And yet for that his case is
rare and of such nature that your petitioner doth and ever
must protest that, until your Lordships' censure was pro
nounced, he did not know nor could believe that he had
offended therein, he doth now humbly pray your Lordships,
that as he hath submitted to your judicial, so he may make
his humble resort to your favourable consideration ; and
that the same and your petitioner's long and strait impri-

62 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
sonment past may move you to mitigate the greatness of
his fine, and to suspend the execution of his censure. And,
because he is most sensible of and most sorrowful for his
sovereign's high displeasure, (which of all the calamities of
this life he accounteth the greatest) he humbly prayeth
your Lordships to be pleased to be his favourable inter
cessors to his most excellent majesty, that he will graci
ously vouchsafe out of his abundant goodness to pass by
your petitioner's offence, and to restore him to his princely
favour. And your petitioner shall, during his life, serve
his majesty (as his duty requireth) in all faithful and loyal
obedience, and your honours in true thankfulness." But
his petition was rejected, and himself on Tuesday morning,
as my author heard, committed from the Fleet to the
Tower. Sir John Eliot was not yet sent prisoner to the Tower,
though he had sent to Mr. Lieutenant to provide him a con
venient lodging, that he might send his upholsterer to trim it
up. Concerning his fine, my author heard him say, that he
had two cloaks, two suits, two pair of boots, and gullasheer,1
and a few books ; and that was all his present substance ; and
if they could pick £2000 out of that, much good might it
do them. Besides, he said, when he was first close pri
soner in the Tower, a commission was directed to the high
sheriff of Cornwall and five other commissions, his capital
enemies, to inquire into his lands and goods, and to seize
upon them for the king ; but they returned a nihil.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, March 6, 1629-30.
The title of Dr. Leighton's book is " Sion's Plea against
the Prelacy." He refuseth to answer the high-commis
sioners as being parties, and so incompetent judges, but
appealeth to the lords of the council. His famed passage
about his majesty's marriage (as I hear by those who have
read the book) is, that " missing an Egyptian," meaning
the Infanta, " he had light upon a daughter of Heth,"
meaning her majesty : not, as some relate, missing a Jew,
1 Galoches.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 63
had married a Turk ; though it be little better, for he im
plies a Canaanite. Since his committing, his wife hath
also been committed to the same prison for her disordered
tongue ; and a buttonmaker for putting his mouth to the
keyhole of the prison door where he lay, and crying aloud,
" Stand to it, doctor, and shrink not," and such like
words. But the best news written last week was, that his ma
jesty was graciously pleased that there should neither be
nurse, rocker, nor any other officer belong to the queen's
nursery (after she was brought to bed) save only Protes
tants. Howsoever, on Tuesday that week at night, the
queen's Capuchins arrived by water at Denmark House,
being eight in number, besides four lay brethren. They
were the harbingers of the French leiger ambassador,
Monsieur de Fonteney, who followed the day after, and in
a great storm of rain was brought to his lodging in my
Lord of Dorset's house in Salisbury Court ; for which he
hath already, at £300 a-year, paid five years next before
hand, viz., £1500. Philippo Burlamachi, the famous
merchant, is now to be employed over into France to fetch
home the other moiety of the queen's portion, which will
amount to £120,000, namely, upon this ground and con
sideration, that whereas Monsieur de Chateauneuf, the
French ambassador extraordinary, hath been very impor
tunate with the king to call a parliament for confirmation
of her majesty's jointure ; his majesty being loth to run
the hazard of a parliament, hath gotten the best landed
of the lords of the council to become bond for the assu
rance of the same jointure : which way, they say, hath
satisfied the ambassador, and so like to satisfy also the
king his master. Another way for his majesty to get
money for the present is the fines of the coronation knights,
which it is hoped will equal a subsidy.
The Isle of Wight men are promised by his majesty and
the lords £3000 towards the reparation of their nine forts ;
which sum will furnish the materials, but the islanders
must be at the cost of the workmanship.
Mr. Coxe, that Hertfordshire gentleman who, in Michael
mas term, procured his elder brother to be hanged for

64 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
a felony done long ago, and to prevent his pardon, caused
him, by subornation, to be executed an hour before day,
and all to get an inheritance, hath lately hanged himself,
and so provided the same snare for himself which he had
procured for his elder brother. And, they say, my Lord
of Salisbury1 will prosecute a great judge of the land about
it, in the Star Chamber.
The judges of the King's Bench, before their departure
on their circuit, entered not Sir John Eliot's censure im
posed by them in that court upon record ; for which cause
he is not yet gone to the Tower. But Mr. Long's fine of
two thousand marks is returned into the exchequer; and
so it seems to be meant he shall assuredly pay it, if his
lands and goods be not surely conveyed away. Mr. Va
lentine hath leave to go down into the country by the
authority and virtue of an Habeas Corpus.
My Lord of Carlisle hath twice in one week most
magnificently feasted the Spanish ambassador and Mons.
Reubens,2 also the agent, who prepared the way for his
coming ; who, in honour of England and of our nation,
from whom he hath received so many courtesies, hath
drawn with his pencil the history of St. George, wherein,
if it be possible, he hath exceeded himself; but the pic
ture he hath sent home into Flanders, to remain there as
a monument of his abode and employment here. And now
there is a commission under the great seal, directed to
certain of our lords to treat with the Spanish court.
You have done me an exceeding great favour in sending
me the whole proceedings and event of your demoniacal
imposture ; for when I received your last letter by Mr.
Honey wood on Tuesday or Wednesday, I thought it was
but an English devil, when he understood not Greek from
1 Sir Symonds D'Ewes, in his History of his own Life, giving an account of the
death of Sir Nicholas Hyde, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, on the 13th of
June, 1631, has the following passage : — " He had also at the Guildhall or Newgate
session before this circuit [the summer one of 1631] condemned a man to die un
justly, and precipitated his execution; for which William Cecil, Earl of Salisbury,
had complained to the king, and the said Hyde was not only like to have lo3t his
place, but to have come into greater trouble for it, had he survived. And some
therefore thought the fear of this had hastened his end." This appears to be the
same story with that mentioned by Mr. Mead in his letter of March 6, 1629-30;
though Sir Symonds D'Ewes was mistaken in the date.
2 The great painter, who was liberally patronized whilst in this country.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 65
Latin. The discovery was opportune for the woman ac
cused : they might also have fared amiss these assizes ;
but what shall be done with the confederates?1 We have
some news at Cambridge, but it is too long to relate;
besides, I must not tell tales forth of school.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, March 10, 1629.
At present I have little matter to write of; for con
cerning the Spanish businesses, and what passeth in that
treaty, they are arcana imperii, which must not come out
of the sanctuary till the time bring them forth. Never
theless, if that which, by circumstances and conjectures, is
gathered thereof, may be allowed to pass, thus much I
may tell you, that the same rumour which you have in
the country of Sir Francis Cottington's coming back, is
very rife here amongst us at court : and that he himself
hath desired to be called home, for the little hope he
found there of doing any good in that negociation. Whereof
the chief rub will be about the restitution of the Pala
tinate, at least of so much thereof as the Spaniards do
hold ; who to elude us, and disable themselves therein,
are reported to be in hand with the emperor and Duke of
Bavaria, to surrender unto them the towns that they hold
therein. Howsoever, Sir Francis Cottington shall speed
for the public in that employment, I am sure he shall find
but a cold comfort at his own house at his return, his
lady having since his departure buried two of their chil
dren, a son and a daughter, which were very dear unto
him ; and the third, which is the last, being also, as is
reported, dangerously sick.
Out of France we have had no news this fortnight, Sir
Thomas Edmondes being now daily expected here, who,
at his coming away from that court, had a present of
£1800 in plate bestowed upon him, and a coach worth
£300. This day, Mons. de Fontenay Mareuil, who is
newly come to be leiger ambassador here, hath had his
1 This passage appears to refer to some of those lamentable delusions so common
in the seventeenth century, which went under the name of witchcraft.
VOL. II. P

66 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
first audience of the king and queen, in a very solemn
manner, in the Banqueting House, being accompanied
thereto by Mons. de Chateauneuf, the extraordinary am-
bassor, who will very shortly prepare for his departure.
To-morrow the Spanish ambassador is to have a private
audience.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, March IS, 1629-30.
For our news we received on Saturday, as followeth : —
That on Saturday before (this day fortnight) Sir John
Eliot was committed to the Tower, upon a rule of the
King's Bench, grounded upon his sentence there. Mr.
Long and he are fellow-commoners, and have the liberty
of the house. That one Dudson, under-marshal of the
King's Bench, and one of my lord chief justice's tipstaves,
when he delivered him at the Tower, made this formal
speech : — " Mr. Lieutenant, I have brought you this worthy
knight, whom I borrowed of you some few months ago,
and now do repay him again." Before his departure out
of the King's Bench, the judges, before they went their
circuit, sent him and those other gentlemen, his fellow-
prisoners, this message — that they were much grieved at
the misbehaviour of their pages and servants, for tossing
dogs and cats in a blanket, in the open street of South-
wark, near the King's Bench prison ; and saying, " We
are judges of these creatures, and why should not we take
our pleasure upon them, as well as those other judges
have done upon our masters?" Mr. Long's fine of 2000
marks is returned into the Exchequer, but will hardly, as
is thought, be levied, because he hath made over all his
estate long since.
On Sunday was sennight, one of the queen's capuchins
preached before her majesty at Somerset House, concern
ing vows and the observations of Lent ; and that whosoever
did eat flesh in that holy time, without license or dispen
sation, was ipso facto damned.
Sir Francis Cottington, they say, hath written to his
majesty out of Spain, that he hath had noble reception

CHARLES THE FIRST. 67
and fair answers to all his propositions. The commis
sioners appointed here to treat with the Spanish ambas
sador, are my lord keeper, lord treasurer, Earl of Arundel,
Archbishop of York, lord president of the north, and the
Lord Viscount Dorchester.
Sir Thomas Edmondes parted from Paris onward of his
journey for England, above fourteen days ago, on Friday
last, yet was neither come home nor heard of. But Sir
Isaac Wake desires not to pass from Turin thither (to
Paris) till his arrearages be paid.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, March 18, 1629. v
As the coming of the capuchins hither with the new
ambassador had raised the hopes and hearts of the Papists
here, and made them dream of a new liberty, so as they
flocked openly in hundreds and thousands both to the
queen's and the foreign ambassador's chapels ; so are they
now as much dashed and troubled with an order lately
made by the king, that none that is his subject born shall
be suffered to come into the queen's nor the said ambas
sador's chapels ; but as many as shall be found coming
out from thence shall be apprehended, and brought before
the lords of the council. Whereat both the queen herself
and the ambassadors also seemed to be much discontented,
her majesty thinking herself wronged in the abridgment.
of that liberty which hitherto she hath been let to enjoy,
and the ambassadors likewise thinking it to be a dero
gation to their privileges. But to these it was showed,
that by the course taken for the execution of this order,
their rights and privileges were no ways touched ; for that
the pursuivants, and such as had orders to apprehend the
delinquents, were not to enter nor set foot within the
precinct of their houses, but stand out in the streets.
And for the queen, besides that she was made to under
stand that it was against the covenants of her contract of
marriage that her chaplains should be used by any but by
herself and her own servants, there was a particular
order made, for her greater satisfaction, that none of her
f2

68 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
said servants should be hindered or troubled in the free
exercise of their religion.1
Here are daily complaints made of the continual prizes
and wrongs done by the Dunkirkers, TftOt only along the
coasts, but also within the very rivers of this kingdom,
where they have taken divers ships of late. The Duke of
Saxony, that went lately from hence into France in a
man-of-war, was set upon by them between *Dover and
Calais, and like to have been taken, after he' Bad been
four or five hours in fight with them, if he had not been
rescued by some Hollanders that came to his succour.
We hear, that in Spain all the English ships that are there
have been arrested, to be used, as it seemeth, for some
service of that king. Sir Thomas Edmondes is now landed
at Dover.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, March 20, 1629-30.
Our last Saturday's letters relate this : that on Wed
nesday, that week, towards evening, my Lord of Dor
chester delivered to the Lords sitting at the council-
board, that it was his majesty's pleasure, none of his sub
jects shall go any more to mass in the queen's chapel;
which, that it may effectually be performed, his majesty
hath appointed two of the queen's gentlemen-ushers, Sir
John Tonstall to stand at the gate, and Mr. Steward at
the chapel-door, to divert all, saving Frenchmen. My
Lord of Dorset, her majesty's lord chamberlain, highly
approving this gracious message from his majesty, said he
would act his part therein to the full ; and if any should
grow stubborn, would have them turned out per force,
and exposed to the law ; for which forwardness of his, the
residue of the Lords applauded him. My Lord of Dor
chester delivered besides, that himself and his fellow
secretary Coke had order from his majesty to visit all the
ambassadors, and to let them know how his majesty takes
2 The zeal of the queen's priests to make converts, and her own imprudence in
sanctioning their proceedings, created a good deal of ill feeling amongst the Pro
testant population. In the following letter the reader will find the measures
detailed, to which the goverment had recourse to check the evil.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 69
notice, that many of his subjects do resort unto their
houses to hear mass ; that his majesty will not violate
their privileges as ambassadors ; but this he will do — when
his subjects come forth of their houses, he will cause them
to be apprehended, imprisoned, and prosecuted by law.
What our council here wrote by his majesty's command
to the lords justices and council of Ireland, the last of
January, upon occasion of that uproar at Dublin by the
friars and their adherents in Christmas time, you shall
find in the enclosed. And for the event, Sir Henry Bour-
chier was told on Thursday, last week, by his servant,
newly come out of Ireland, that the priests, Jesuits, friars,
and nuns, are so hunted and imprisoned there, as they are
rare to be found ; and that the two lords justices have set
in work the choicest instruments for that purpose that
could be found in all that kingdom, who will act that
business both zealously and faithfully.
On Friday, at night, yesternight was fortnight, a letter
to my lord mayor was thrust under his gate, and he
charged therein, upon his allegiance, to deliver another,
enclosed to his majesty, which the next morning he accord
ingly sent to the king.
The last week died two of the plague in London, one in
Shoreditch, another in Whitechapel ; and I saw by a letter
yesterday, that there were four dead this week, and all in
St. Giles's parish. God grant it prove not an ill sign of
some greater infection to follow.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, March 27, Easter-even, [1630].
I shall not hold you long to-day, having not many
things to write ; yet that little I have is a great deal, if it
be all true, for thus saith mine author, March 19 : — The
most I can present you at this present, saith he, are the
several reports of the overthrow of the Spanish fleet.1 Five
hundred priests and friars were said to be fled out of
Ireland for Spain, and more following them. And the
Sunday before, my author wrote, in conformity to the
1 The Dutch West India fleet.

70 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
order made by the council board, according to his majesty's
message the week preceding, some thirty papists were appre
hended at ambassadors' doors, and imprisoned or disposed
of to answer it.
The queen's majesty, having no fancy, it seems, to our
English midwives and nurses, had sent into France for
both : who, as they were coming, together with a dwarf,
and, as some say, twelve nuns, were all intercepted and
carried away by the Dunkirkers. But I hear, by letters
from London yesterday, that being not found good prize
at Dunkirk, they were released, and are now safely arrived
in England. The queen looks her time about the end of
May ; and when she is once safely delivered, his majesty
means to be for Scotland.
A gentleman that was at Winchester assizes and. the
execution there, says, that the second sonjof Sir William
Dorington, or Dodington, was there and~then condemned
for the foul murder of his mother, and after executed, but
either senseless of the fact, or distracted. And that, at
the Berkshire assizes, was. a boy of nine years old con
demned and executed for example, for burning a house or
two, who only said upon the ladder, " Forgive me this
fault, and I'll do so no more."
The dwarf taken by the Dunkirkers was Sesquipedal
Geoffrey,1 coming from the queen mother out of France,
with jewels given him by her and the ladies of that court
to the value of £2,500, and presents for her majesty
worth £5000 more ; and, in his company and the same
bark, the queen's midwife, her nurse's husband, Rocan,
her dancing master, &c. They escaped by means of the
governor of Calais, who, hearing they were taken, attached
all the persons, and seized upon all the goods of the arch
duchess's subjects there.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, April 16, 1630.
At London, this week, died of the plague but eight,
whereof one within the walls. Of the Duke of Bavaria's
1 Sir Geoffry Hudson — the Tom Thumb of his day.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 71
death I never heard till yours, though I saw a letter from
the doctor yesterday, wherein, if he had had that to write,
he would not have complained for want of news. I suppose
it is as true, as that the infection is again broken out at
Cambridge, which though we know nothing of here, yet
the Northamptonshire carrier this week desired a certificate
from our magistracy that we were clear; otherwise, for
sooth, the burgomasters of Northampton would not suffer
him to come any more. I know not what they ail, unless
somebody had a fancy that it should begin again that time
twelvemonth, and now will needs believe it is so. This is
the day twelvemonth when I sent you word of it last year,1
and now I inform you that we neither yet know nor fear
any such matter, and we pray and hope we shall so con
tinue.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, April 17, 1630.
Not many days agone, a certain oatmeal maker, taking
upon him to be a preacher, and therefore imprisoned, was
called before the high commission, where, keeping on his
hat, and being asked why he did not put it off, he answered
he would never put off his hat to bishops. " But you will
to privy counsellors ?" said one of them. " Then as you
are privy counsellors," quoth he, " I put off my hat, but
as ye are rags of the beast, lo ! I put it on again !" To
wards the conclusion came in the Bishop of Winchester,2
saying, " Let us dismiss this frantic, foolish fellow; we
do but lose our time, and cast it away upon him. Let us
assume some other business." " Hold thy peace," said
the oatmeal maker, " thou tail of the beast that sittest at
the lower end of the table." 3
There is a bill put into the Star Chamber against
Bonham Norton, late the king's printer, and fourteen
others, for accusing my lord treasurer4 of bribery. My
1 " According to the days of the week ; otherwise to-morrow."— Note by Mr.
Mead. 2 Dr. Neile.
3 No doubt the reader will regret to learn that the name of this worthy has not
been preserved. 4 Weston.

72 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
author heard also there was a new bill put in against the
three earls, Sir Robert Cotton, and the rest, about the
business of " the Project."
There died this week of the plague at London, eleven ;
viz., Botolph, Aldgate, one ; Clement Danes, three ; Giles-
in-the-Fields, two ; Leonard, Shoreditch, one ; Martin-in-
the-Fields, one ; Mary, Whitechapel, three. Six parishes
infected. I suppose you have heard of the like calamity
begun and threatened us here in Cambridge. We have
had some seven died ; the first, the last week (suspected,
but not searched), a boy. On Monday and Tuesday, two,
a boy and a woman in the same house. On Wednesday,
two women, one exceeding foul, in two houses, viz., the
two former. On Tuesday, a man, one Homes, dwelling in the
midst between the two former houses ; for all three stand
together at Magdalen College End. It began at the
farther house, Forster's, a shoemaker, supposed by lodging
a soldier, who had a sore upon him, in whose bed and
sheets the nasty woman laid two of her sons, who are both
dead, and a kinswoman. Some add, for a cause, a dung
hill at the back of his house, in a little yard, in which the
fool this Lent time suffered some butchers, who had killed
meat by stealth, to kill it there, and to bury the garbage
in his dunghill, so to avoid discovery, by which it became
very noisome even to Magdalen College. The other two
houses, the one is a smith, the hithermost, and the middle
most Homes', a tap-house, all beyond the bridge.
But the worst news of all told me this morning by one
of the searchers is, that this last night died a child of
Pembroke Hall baker's, next the Cardinal's Cap, with all
the signs of the plague, both spots and swelling, which
discovers, the town to be in very great danger. For there
died some fortnight since one Disher, a bookbinder, sud
denly, and another or two before either his or his neigh
bours, one being a soldier, whom this Disher, keeping an
alehouse, lodged, and was comrade to the soldier that was
supposed to have infected the shoemaker's house, at
St. Giles's. There was a very great number at Disher's
funeral ; but presently thereupon, by the death of some
other, grew a suspicion, which, since the plague broke out

CHARLES THE FIRST. 73
at St. Giles's, was examined, but nothing would be con
fessed till now this happened upon this child, whose
mother is that Disher's wife's sister, and was with her
both at and since the death of her husband. We hear, the
plague, by some relation to these houses, is broken out at
Histon and Gurton. Besides, that it is begun in Nor
thampton and other places. God have mercy upon us,
and deliver us.
For the Earl of Pembroke,1 we heard of it on Sunday
last, in the forenoon. But this day's letters relate it more
perfectly, namely, thus : on Friday,2 he supped with my
Lady of Devonshire, without Bishopsgate, was very
jocund at supper, rejoicing much that the day before, being
his birthday, his lordship had arrived to the age of fifty,
hoping now, he said, to attain to his father's years, that
lived till sixty-four, and so see many happy days. After
supper, he retired to his house at Baynard's Castle, where,
staying up till midnight, he found himself very well ; but
after he had been awhile in bed, his lady3 lying by him, he
fetched a profound groan, whereat she, being not able to
wake him, shrieked out for company, who,' coming in,
found him speechless, in which condition he lay till eight
in the morning, what time he died. They say, that many
years ago, Mr. Allen,4 of Oxford, had cast his nativity,
and had brought him to his fiftieth year, but could promise
no farther. The corpse being dissected, they found his
cephalic veins burst, and his brain all mingled with blood,
which did suffocate his animal spirits. The rest of his
nobler parts, as his heart, liver, and lungs, were all decayed,
and one of his kidneys rotten. He died intestate, and left
debts behind him of above four score thousand pounds ;
for a great part whereof, divers of his servants were
engaged, who had raised themselves to fair estates under
him; his whole revenues, while he lived, amounting to
£22,000 a-year, and his lady now having £12,000 re
venue, whereof £9,000 of her own inheritance, the rest,
jointure. Before my lord steward was thoroughly cold,
1 William, 3rd Earl. ! April 9.
3 Mary, eldest of the three daughters and co-heirs to Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury.
* Thomas Allen, of Gloucester Hall.

74 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
it is said my Lord of Arundel, pretending her not to be
mentis compotem, begged the custody of her from his
majesty, especially because my Lord Maltravers, his son,
1 is her heir-apparent in case she have no child. But her
affection stood a great deal more to my lord chamberlain,1
who hath so much prevailed with his majesty as to obtain
the keeping of her and her lands. But the Bishop of
London2 was chosen chancellor of Oxford on Monday last,3
and in that, too hard for my lord chamberlain, from whom
he won it by nine voices. My lord treasurer had gotten
a letter of recommendation from his majesty, which came
two hours after the election.
The old Countess of Arundel 4 is dead, by whose death
the earl hath £6000 a-year.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, April 24, 1630.
As for the present, the infection is not yet come near
our end of the town, but remains still beyond the bridge
and in Trumpington Street, of which, since my last, have
1 died five, viz., on Sunday, Forster himself, the good man
of the house where it first began, beyond the bridge, out
of whose house had died three or four before. On Tuesday
morning, died a child, by the Mitre, of which more after
wards. On Wednesday morning, or in the night preceding,
died one in a house called the Holt, behind Peter House,
who dwelt till a week before at the Castle End ; and, as
it seems, fearing himself, removed thither without either
consent or knowledge of the parish. On Thursday morning,
at four o'clock, died a boy of one Myton's, dwelling behind
the Castle Hill. He is a tiler, and belonged to St. John's
College. He knew not how the infection should come at
him, unless, as he said, by a dog his son played with,
which came from one of the infected houses. The last
night save this, died a maid in Disher's house, out of which
house proceeded all this calamity, and whence those two
children, which have died in that street, viz., last week,
1 Philip Earl of Montgomery. - Laud. 3 April 12.
4 Anne, (laughter of Thomas, and sister and co-heir of George Lord Dacre,s, of
1 Gille3land, and widow of Philip Earl of Arundel, who died in the Tower, in 1595.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 75
by the Cardinal's Cap, and this week by the Mitre, re
ceived their infection ; the mother of one being his wife's
sister, and the other his or her kinswoman. He was (as I
think I in part told you in my last) by trade a bookseller,
but kept an alehouse, and by that occasion, about the
beginning of the last month, lodged a soldier, one Thorne-
ton, a Yorkshireman, who died in his house the next day.
One Watson and his wife, of the Spittle House End, stript
him and wound him ; and a tailor there, one Pue, bought
his clothes ; all three of them dying suddenly within four
or five days after, which occasioned some muttering and
suspicion then, but the circumstances being not known,
and the plague at London not then spoken of, it vanished
and was forgotten. About the beginning of this month,
some three weeks since, died Disher himself suddenly,
being walking and drinking till some hour before, which
drinking humour made most conceive he died of distemper
that way, though some, who had a little hint of the former
circumstances, suspected the worst. Howsoever, the most
were secure, insomuch, that because he was a bookseller,
all of that trade (saving Mr. Greene, who was not at home)
made a contribution to his funeral, and went there with
others to bring him forth, to the number of sixty persons,
or more. The wicked woman, his wife, concealed what
had formerly happened, and though the business were ex
amined before the plague broke out at the Castle End, yet
she still denying it, as also did the rest whom it concerned,
until that her sister's child dying by the Cardinal's Cap, it
was discovered, and now confirmed by the death of her maid.
Herself, who, they say, hath a sore or two upon her, was car
ried yesterday to the pest-houses upon the common toward
Hinton, being till now only shut up and watched, as are still
all those that are found to have had any family relation or
converse with her or her husband in that danger, or with
those who died thereupon at Spittle House End.
This is our perfect story, from the mouths of those who
are appointed to take notice of and to order such as fall in
danger, and to see those searched which die in this time of
suspicion. In the mean time, our University is in a manner
wholly dissolved, all meetings and exercises ceasing. In

76 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
many colleges, almost none left. In ours, of twenty-seven
messes, we have not five ; our gates strictly kept ; none
but fellows to go forth, or any to be let in without the
consent of the major part of our society, of which we have
but seven at home at this instant. Only a sizer may go,
with his tutor's ticket, upon an errand. Our butcher,
baker, and chandler, bring their provisions to the college
gates, where the steward and cook receive them. We
have taken all our officers we need into the college, and
none may stir out. If he doth, lie is to come in no more.
Yea, we have taken three women into our college, and ap
pointed them a chamber to lie in together ; two are bed-
makers, one a laundress. I hope the next parliament will
include us in the general pardon. We have turned out our
porter, and appointed our barber both porter and barber,
allowing him a chamber next to the gates. Thus, we live
as close prisoners, and I hope without danger.
At London, the bill was this week but seven. Whereof
in Botolph's, Aldgate, two ; St. Giles's, Cripplegate, two ;
St. Clement Danes, three. And yet, which is strange,
many places near London, as my author writes, are infected,
especially towards the water-side, as Greenwich, Newington,
Barnes, Ditton, by Kingston ; and on this side Thames,
Twickenham, by Isleworth, Hounslow ; some say Hampton
Court, Brentford, &c. Thus my author. Others name
Lambeth and Croydon also. By all which it should seem
to be dispersed by those disbanded soldiers, and if care be
taken, by God's blessing, may be stopped before it grow
dangerous. For news, I sent you the last week the relation of the
Earl of Pembroke's death, which I at that instant received.
There was, besides, in our letters these particulars : that
on Sunday before, some pursuivants and other officers,
having apprehended some of his majesty's popish subjects
as they came from mass, out of the house of Monsieur de
Fonteney, the present leiger ambassador for France, the
residue retiring back into the court, the French came
forth with their naked swords to guard them, but were
soundly beaten, and not without bloodshed, into their gates
by the people, that with their rude weapons rushed upon

CHARLES THE FIRST. 77
them. The queen's chapel is still so strictly guarded that
no subjects of his majesty may enter. And the Spanish
ambassador hath of himself prohibited all his majesty's
subjects of what nation soever from coming to mass.
Mr. Coryton, who was in the Tower with Sir John Eliot,
&c, and was released thence by a submissive petition, hath
the greatest part of his land, lying, I suppose, in Ireland,
begged by one Plunket, an Irishman, who hath a commis
sion under the great seal to inquire into his title, and
accordingly to proceed against him.
There is a poem which I cannot yet get, called
" Geffreidos," describing a combat between Geoffrey, the
queen's dwarf, and a turkey-cock at Dunkirk.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, May-day, [1630].
From London, April 23, we had as followeth : there are
three Knights of the Garter chosen, the lord treasurer, the
Earl of Lindsey, lord high chamberlain, and the Earl of
Exeter. About Easter time, or somewhat before, was a letter by
a gentleman-like man given somewhat early to a porter,
two other porters being present, to be delivered to one
Mr. Cordall, in Milk Street, who was not then stirring,
yet the letter was left, and the porter known. When
it came to be opened, there was another enclosed in it
to the lord mayor, and in that another to his majesty,
wherein, it is said, was very dangerous matter. The
porter being questioned by the Lords, produced the other
two persons to testify how he received it. The other two
said, they doubted not but to know the man, if ever they
saw him again, who were thereupon promised a good re
ward if they met with him ; and now they have charged
one Thimbleby, sometime, or still, a servant to Mr. Row
land Wilson, vintner, near Blackwell Hall, to be the man
who gave the packet, who, it is said, denieth it, but was
on Tuesday that week sent to the Tower.
The plague was that week in London but seven. But
at Greenwich, there had died on Sunday, Monday, and

78 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Tuesday, six or seven in five houses ; and the Friday
morning, when my author wrote, it was said to be increased
to the number of twelve, and above twenty houses shut up,
partly infected, partly of such as have visited those which
were. Nevertheless, they were still, at least two days be
fore, at work in the queen's chamber, there having, on
Monday night, been a warrant sent thither from his
majesty to remove the infected out of the town into the
heath. And still, it is said, the queen hath a mind to lie
in there, though but in the Castle in the Park. Thus
much was written last week.
This week, they write the plague in the city was brought
down to three, and the whole number of burials decreased
twenty-five. For Cambridge, I send you a printed bill from the begin
ning till Saturday last, wherein those which I have marked
with a stroke, thus — , died before the infection was publicly
known, which was not till April 10. Besides those in the
note I sent you on Saturday last, there died that week
three more, namely, the night before and that morning
wherein I wrote, which, till I had sealed, I knew not of.
The one of them was at the pest-house. For this week,
since Saturday, I look for a bill from the printing-house.
The number, as I think, within the town is some five or
six at the most, and one of them broken out this night in
a new house, in St. Clement's parish ; all the rest beyond
the bridge, unless a child that died last night in Trinity
parish, a clean corse ; but the mother died the week before
of the plague.
All our parish, all the petticurie, all the market-hill and
round about it, are yet (God be thanked) absolutely clear
and unsuspected. What the new moon will discover after
to-morrow, God knows.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Balsham, October 20, at night, [1630].
There died this last week but three, all in the pest-
houses : but a suspicion is of a house in Jesus Lane, where
some are said to have died of the purples. This morning
one died at a house by the Tolbooth, who had returned

CHARLES THE FIRST. 79
from the Green, and was thought to have been clear, but
now thought to die of the plague.
All acts and assemblies of the University are adjourned
until the 20th of the next month ; by which time the
sophisters must return to keep their acts, though but
privately in their colleges. The doctor l wrote this last
week, that Spinola was for certain dead, and the Marquis
de la Croce general in his stead. Little else worth writing.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Balsham, October 27, [1630].
I found a letter to myself from Dr. Meddus, whose in
telligence was as followeth : that by letters from Antwerp
and Italy the certain death of Marquis Spinola was con
firmed ; who, seeing no hope of life, desired to be carried
from the camp before Casal to Genoa, to die there, but
died in the way thitherward, September 25-15.
There died of the plague the last week, at London, 61
in twenty-two parishes ; 1 5 within the walls. In West
minster, 3. The whole number of burials, 278.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, November 27, [1630].
The next day after I came hither I received a letter
from Mr. Pory of the 19th of this month. The contents
whereof are these : that Bonham Norton was put to close
imprisonment till he should make a punctual submission
to my lord keeper. The doctor adds, he was threatened
with irons. That Sir Robert Cotton's library was re
stored,2 and himself admitted into his majesty's favour.
That Sir Miles Hobart, Mr. Selden, Mr. Stroud, and Mr.
Valentine, were removed from the Gate-house that
week to the prison of the King's Bench. That Dr.
Leighton, after he was degraded at Lambeth in ordine ad
altiorem pcenam, and there affronted the court with his
1 Meddus.
" This does not appear to have been the fact, as appears from Mr. Pory's letter
to Sir Thomas Puckering, of May 12, 1631.

80 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
hat on his head, was escaped out of the Fleet. The man
ner was — one Leviston, a zealotical Scotsman, a tailor,
came with a gray suit of apparel under his cloak, in com
pany of another gentleman, apparelled in .the like, and
coming to visit a person likewise there. Whilst he went
to his friend, Leviston comes to Leighton, disguises him,
cuts his beard, and brings him out with him. The porter,
thinking he had been that other gentleman who came with
him before, let them pass freely. But presently it was dis
covered that Leighton was gone, the gentleman in the gray,
who was left behind, laid hold on, but, for anything could
be found, altogether ignorant of the plot, and only in-
treated by Leviston to go with him, each to visit their
several friends there. A general search was made that
night in the city, and through the inns of the court, the
gentlemen whereof took it unkindly that they should be
suspected for Puritans. Leviston and divers of his com
plices were attached, but no Leighton could be heard
of. But I heard yesterday, by letters from London, that
he was apprehended at a widow's (some say a lady's) house
in Hertfordshire, near Hitchin, and is brought back again
to his lodging, to the no small grief of some favourites of
his, who, as I heard by one come out of Bedfordshire, said
he was delivered out of prison by the prayers of the
Church, as St. Peter was. But others about London say,
as I hear, that this flight of his had given a great blow to
the cause by deserting it, which he should have stood more
stoutly to. But, alas ! lie durst not, for his ears. Levis
ton, I hear, and his complices are to answer it to-day in
the Star Chamber.
But to go on again with my first letter, which moreover
relates : that the Dunkirkers have burned houses and taken
away cattle in the Isle of Wight. That all the playhouses
at London were now again open, since there had died that
week of the plague but 18. But this week (I saw the bill)
there died but 7 there ; for which God be praised. That
on Tuesday that week, November 16, was solemn running
at the ring in honour of the queen's birthday. On Wed
nesday, universal ringing of bells for Queen Elizabeth's
coronation. That on Thursday, November 18, all the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 81
vintners, inn-holders, and victuallers, were summoned into
the Star Chamber for dressing of flesh on Wednesdays,
Fridays, and Saturdays. That one Mr. Vassal was com
mitted to the Fleet for refusing to pay the impost upon
currants. That out of some thirteen shires was come
about £16,000 for fines for knighthood.
_ I will add a list of our college officers and retainers who
either have died or been endangered by the plague, which
I understood not so well till now.1
We keep all shut in the college still, and the same per
sons formerly entertained are still with us. We have not
had this week company enough to be in commons in the
hall; but on Sunday we hope we shall. It is not to be
believed how slowly the University returneth. None almost
but a few sophisters to keep their acts. We are now eight
fellows. Bennet College but four. Scholars not so many.
The most in Trinity and St. John's, &c. The reassembling
of the University for acts and sermons is therefore again
deferred to the 16th of December.
Dr. Chaderton tells me, there hath died of the whole
number about 108 in our parish. I have not told them,
as having not the bills. You may examine them. I hear
not yet of any that hath died of the sickness this week.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, November 28, Advent Sunday, [1630].
Just now I can tell you that Leighton received part of
his censure on Friday morning, when in the Palace-yard
before Whitehall; having first received nine stripes, he
was advanced to the pillory, and there lost one ear, was
slit on one nostril, and branded in the forehead. He
spake much comfort to himself, being, he said, assured
that in his suffering the Spirit of Glory rested upon him.
1 l,our second cook and some three of his house; 2, our gardener and all his
house; 3, our porter's child, and himself was at the Green; 4, our butcher and
three of his children ; 5, our baker, who made our bread in Mr. Atkinson's bake
house, had two of his children die, but then at his own house, as having no employ
ment at the bakehouse ; 6, our minister's daughter had three sores, in her father's
house ; but her father was then and is still in the college ; 7, our laundress (who is
yet in the college) her maid died of the infection in her dame's house; 8, add one of
our bed-makers in the college, whose son was a prentice in a house in the parish,
whither the infection came also.
VOL. II. G

82 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Leviston, Sanderson, and a third, were also, the day be
fore, I think, censured in the Star Chamber for contriving
his escape, at £500 fine, and imprisonment during
pleasure. My Lord Chief Baron Walter 1 is dead, died a
pious death, but rich withal, his personal estate amounting
to £30,000 in value, having left to his eldest son £500 a
year land, and to his younger £800 a year, upon condi
tion that he take upon himself some bookish profession ;
otherwise, not to enjoy a foot. He died on Thursday
was fortnight.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, December^, i630.
The remainder of the last week's news, together with
what this week brings, is as followeth : That on Friday,
November 19, being his majesty's birthday, my lord
mayor, as he sat at dinner, received a check from the
lords of the council, because he suffered the bells to stand
so silent, and a commandment to set them all on work,
both in city and suburbs ; which was accordingly done, and
above a thousand bonfires kindled that night ; although his
lordship said, when he heard it, that he never knew that
ceremony to have been done before. This message may
seem to have been occasioned by that universal ringing
and flaming of bonfires for Queen Elizabeth's coronation
two days before.
The same day, Mr. James Eliot, groom of the privy
chamber, and Mr. Cockburne, a Scots carver to his majesty,
were committed to the Tower for having buffeted one
another in the presence at Whitehall. On Saturday be
fore, viz., November 20, Mr. Noy pleaded for his client,
Mr. Vassal, (who denies to pay impost upon currants) en
deavouring to prove that he could not be detained in
prison, when the Customers had seized ten times as much
of his goods as the impost came to, quia nemo debet pro
eodem delicto bis puniri.
1 Sir John Walter, educated at Brazennose College, in Oxford. He had been
counsellor to the University of Oxford, attorney to Charles Prince of Wales,
sergeant-at-law, and in 1625 was made Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. He
died November 18, 1630, aged 67 years.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 83
The same day, Mr. Attorney exhibited a Bill in the
Exchequer against Mr. Littleton and Mr. Mason, charging
them to have been privy to some fraudulent conveyances
made by Mr. Walter Long, now prisoner in the Tower ;
whereby his majesty shall be defrauded of his fine in the
Star Chamber.
Dr. Leighton, as ye heard, received half his corporal
punishment on Friday was sennight, having had one ear
nailed to the pillory and cut off, one nostril slit, and one
cheek branded. It is said, the other side should be so
served, but it is not yet ; and perhaps shall not. For, at
the censuring of those that helped him to escape, some of
the lords said, that had he not made an escape, his majesty
was graciously inclined to have pardoned all his corporal
punishment. His wife went before him to the execution,
and said, " As Christ was crucified between two thieves,
so was her husband led between two knaves." When he
put his neck in the pillory, he said, " This is Christ's
yoke," and that the spirit of glory rested upon him.
When his ear was taken off, he said, " Blessed be God.
If I had a hundred, I would lose them all for the cause."
He said his wounds were Christ's wounds, and such like
passages. But the doctor x this week relates two addi
tional ones, if not worse, concerning him. As, first,
that many resorting to him, as at other times, so the day
he purposed to escape in the manner ye have heard, he
went to prayer, wherein he had strange ejaculations, as
desiring God, for his own glory and cause, to show a
wonder ; and, as he did for Peter and others, so by night
to send his angel to open the prison gates, and fetch him
forth. In so much that the day after, his disciples said,
" God had heard his prayer, and by his angel delivered
him:" which, as saith my author, is a gross impiety.
The second was on the pillory, where he told the people
he suffered that for their sins ; and out of the Psalms and
Isaiah applied unto himself the prophecies of Christ's
sufferings, to the great scandal of many.
Dr. Donne, dean of St. Paul's, was said to be dead 2 in
the former week's letters ; and it is not yet contradicted,
1 Meddus. 2 He did not die till March 31, 1631.
G2

84 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
that I hear. Fowkes, the merchant who heretofore op
posed so much in the matter of tonnage and poundage,
hath sent some letters beyond sea, wherein he hath en
trenched upon matters of state, and is therefore brought
into the Star Chamber. It is said Justice Davenport,1 of
the King's Bench, is like to be lord chief baron.
There died this week at London, of the plague, 20 in
twelve parishes ; of which, 4 in four within the walls.
So it is increased again since the former, 13.
When I had thus mustered together all the news I had,
and laid the paper by me, comes Mr. Pory's letter, which
furnishes me with some more material and full intelligence :
That Sir Humphrey Davenport, my lord treasurer's kins
man, shall be lord chief baron ; Mr. Solicitor puisne judge
of the Common Pleas in his place ; and Sir John Finch
solicitor. That Ewer having put in a demurrer into the
Star Chamber, to stop the Earl of Danby's bill against
him, it was overruled by their lordships, and he enjoined
to prepare his answer against the next term, being charged
in the said bill that he termed his lordship a base lord.
Coryton, and Cotton, two gentlemen of the late House of
Commons, being out of the same court of Star Chamber
summoned by the Lord Viscount Falkland to answer
certain interrogatories concerning one Bushell, who com
plained in parliament against his lordship, do claim the
privilege of that sovereign court of not being questioned
in any other inferior, for anything there said and done.
So the matter is referred to my lord chief justice, who is
the next term to deliver his opinion thereupon.
That there hath of late been such undecidable contro
versies between our merchant-adventurers and the mer
chants of Holland about the tare 2 of our cloths, that we
have not vented one cloth at Delft these five months ; and
now are removing the trade to Embden. And our cloths
of late have been so slightly made, as in one half year in
the Low Countries our nation hath abated to the value of
11,000 in that kind. But now there is a skilful commis-
1 Sir Humphrey Davenport, He succeeded Sir John Walter as lord chief baron.
2 " Tare signifies the abatement or allowance for faults or defects in our cloths."
—Note of Mr. Mead.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 85
sioner sent into the four shires of white cloths, to see them
made according to the several statutes, in such sort as
hereafter they shall be subject to no tare at all.
Our ships are embargoed in Spain until they have sent
their fleet to sea. On Tuesday, November 30, arrived a
post out of Spain, with the conclusion of the peace be
tween them and us ; which on Sunday (this day) is to be
proclaimed, and on Tuesday to be sworn to by his majesty.
Against which day a royal feast is to be provided there
for entertainment of the Spanish ambassador, Don Carlos
de Colonna, who in one respect deserveth it; namely,
because he hath sent an express messenger with a com
mand from his Catholic majesty to Dunkirk, that after
Sunday (December 5) they shall take no more of his
majesty's subjects by sea.
After Sir Francis Cottington had sworn the king to the
peace, he told him, " Sir, now it is in your power to break
the peace." — " And is it not in your king's power," said
his Catholic majesty, "to do the like? What mean you
by this saying?" — " I mean," quoth Sir Francis, "that in
not restoring the Palatinate, your majesty may break the
peace." — " I hope," said the king, " that I shall obtain as
much favour from the Emperor for the Count Palatine, as
the King of France hath done for the Duke of Mantua."
Dr. Leighton was branded in the cheek with an S;
and, though he bore his punishment very stoutly, yet
he is since fallen into a fever. Had not the Scottish
tailor, the shoemaker, and the joiner, carried themselves
most submissively in the Star Chamber, they had under
gone corporal punishment for helping him to escape.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, December 19, 1630.
The doctor [Meddus] writes that the peace with Spain
begins not in the Narrow Seas till Monday, December 20,
nor on the coast of Spain till after three months, nor to
the Southward before the expiration of nine months.
That on Monday the Earl of Castlehaven 1 was taken from
1 Mervin, Lord Audley, Earl of Castlehaven.

86 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the Gatehouse, and brought to the Tower, as for other
most foul and abominable misdemeanours towards his own
wife,1 so for cuckolding his own son by his Ganymeda in
his own sight, and other such abominable and never-heard-
of villanies in our land before. That it was reported he
should say to the Lords,2 " As other men had their several
delights, some in one thing, and some in another, so his
whole delight was to damn souls, by causing them to do
such things as might surely effect it." The king said,
when he was first committed, he should be hanged, or
howsoever die for his villanies. But whether the judges
can find law enough for it, it is not yet resolved.
That at their London Session were about thirty cast ;
twenty-three had judgment of death, and amongst them
an old knight, one Sir N. Halsey,3 for having two wives ;
by the first of which, and lawful one, he had sixteen chil
dren. But he is reprieved.
That on Tuesday, the Spanish ambassador feasted at
his house, in Aldersgate Street, my Lord Treasurer,
Lord President, Lord Privy Seal, Earl Marshal, Earl of
Dorset, Earl of Carlisle, Earl of Holland ; my Lord
Viscount Dorchester being also invited, but detained by
his gout.
That which now follows, is Mr. Pory's alone, viz., That
Monsieur Joachimi, the States' leiger ambassador here, in
respect of the great famine and want of bread now in
Holland, became a suitor to the Lords by reference from
his majesty that he might obtain for his masters the
States to furnish their war-magazine 1500 lasts, that is
1500 quarters of wheat, and 300 lasts more to supply
their garrisons in Brazil. The Lords answered, it was
impossible, both in respect of our scarcity and against the
humour of the people, who would presently rise in com
bustion when they should perceive any such matter. And
1 His second wife, Anne, daughter of Ferdinando, Earl of Derby, and widow of
Grey Bridges, Lord Chandos.
2 " Whether he said so to the Lords or not, fides sit penes authores ; but a Fellow
of our House assures me, he knows a gentleman, a neighbour of his, to whom he
stuck not to say as much." — Note of Mr. Mead.
3 " He is a Cornishman, and, I hear, pleaded for himself that the first, by whom
he had so many children, was not his wife, because the priest but half married
them, omitting I know not what."— Note of Mr. Mead.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 87
besides, that whatsoever Ireland and Scotland could spare,
would be little enough for England.
Sir Henry Vane should have been here six weeks ago,
but he was importuned by the States to stay to help them
to hammer out a peace or truce with Spain, whereof it
seemeth they stand in need. But through their churlish
jarring with our merchants about the tare of cloth at
Delft, ours have removed their staple, and the designed
place was Embden ; from whence news is come, that our
three ships sent thither are safely arrived, having narrowly
escaped certain sands, upon which they touched. And
now my author hears their headstrong merchants would
willingly condescend to what our merchants stood upon ;
but he fears it comes too late. For Antwerp, as one says
newly come from thence, stands in confident expectation
to have the staple established there ; whither, not being
able to pass by the way of Schelde, because of Lilloskance,
they have designed Ostend for the port from whence our
cloths may be transported a little over land to Ghent, and
from thence by water to Antwerp. And to add a little
more discomfort to those of the United Provinces, they
say Sir Edward Parham, who, in primo of King James,
was arraigned of high treason at Winchester, is raising a
regiment of English to serve the archduchess, if he can
get them, for they were but homely used the last time
they served her.
But howsoever the general opinion is, that Marquis
Hamilton will, without fail, the next spring, transport for
the King of Sweden 8000 or 10,000 men, the greatest
part, if not all, out of Scotland. And before the begin
ning of Michaelmas term, my author saith, he saw some
sixteen or twenty carpenters at work upon an engine, or
carriage, for six muskets, manageable by one man, and to
be crowded before him like a wheelbarrow upon wheels,
and of which, within the compass of a day, that one man
shall discharge more shot (so saith Captain Hamilton, the
projector or engineer) than forty single musketeers. Of
these the marquis hath made, and will make 1000, which,
at £5 a piece, will cost him £5000. Whereunto, that
he might want no money, he hath sold his pension in the

88 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
custom-house, of £2,500 yearly, for £12,000, whereby it
appears how far he hath engaged himself in this business ;
and howsoever the Spaniards may like it, it is no breach
Of the peace.
Mr. Selden, Sir Miles Hobart, Mr. Stroud, and Mr.
Valentine, have been newly offered, by the judges of the
King's Bench, that they may now bail themselves to their
good behaviour upon their own bonds, without troubling
any sureties, and in small sums ; which, because it is a
new proposition, they are jealous, and dare not meddle
with it. But they have since been suitors to the judges,
that either they might have leave to go to church, or
else be committed to the Tower, where there is a church
to go to.
Mr. Chambers, the merchant, hath professed to the
Warden of the Fleet, to Mr. Attorney, the Barons of the
Exchequer, the Judges of the King's Bench, and the
Lords of the Council, once and again, saying, " Put me
above or under ground, in light or in darkness, I will
never acknowledge the sentence given against me in the
Star Chamber to be just." But for all this stoutness, he
cannot get £3000 worth of goods out of the hands of the
officers of the custom-house. What stomachs have some
men ! Mr. Fowke's letter, for which Mr. Attorney sum
moned him into the Star Chamber, and which was written
to his factor at Leghorn, since dead, was, some say, thus,
or to this effect : — " The times are dangerous, the parlia
ment being once again dissolved ; which, I fear me, will
neither be to our profit nor to our honour. Lord have
mercy upon our honour."
There died at London this last week but five of the
plague, and but one of them within the walls. With us,
on Thursday,1 died one, in the same house where the last
died three weeks and five days before ; that is, within two
days of the month expiring. But the house hath been
all this time shut up, and so it disquiets us not.
1 " The same morning died Dr. Cage, of Borough Green, having but a short time
enjoyed his new dignity. We are not here so many as we are wont to be, yet
enough to hear quickly when a good living falls void." — Note of Mr. Mead.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 89
Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, January 10, 1630-1.
The ground of the quarrel between Mr. Croftes, one of
the queen's pages, and the Earl of Denbigh, was this : —
Mr. Croftes had angered the Earl of Desmond,1 young son
to my Lord Denbigh, who thereupon spurned Mr. Croftes.
Mr. Croftes knocked him in the queen's presence, and
made him go crying to his father. He sends his glove in
token of a challenge, and into Hyde Park they go. The
event was, as you shall hear in the transcript.
That the Earl of Carlisle succeeds Sir James Fullerton
in his place of groom of the stole, gratis, notwithstanding
that his majesty, to comfort Sir James in his sickness,
sent him word, that whosoever should succeed him should
pay to his assigns £6000. The place is worth £2,500
per annum.
That after the proclamation of the peace fifteen days,
the Dunkirkers had, contrary to the treaty, taken twenty
of our English ships.
There was a letter delivered to the Earl of Carlisle from
an unknown hand to this effect : — " Right honourable your
lordship, being in so great grace and favour with his ma
jesty, should do an acceptable service to move him, that
no more masques should be upon the Lord's day, but on
some other days, &c."
There hath none died of the plague since before Christ
mas. The two in the General Bill are of some formerly
omitted.

Mr. John Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering. January 13, 1630-1.
That on Friday last, at night, it was his hap to be a
spectator of the pompous deportation of Sir James Ful
ler ton's corpse from his house in Broad Street to West
minster, being accompanied with no fewer than 100
coaches, with torchlights answerable. " Little did he
1 " The Earl of Desmond says to Mr. Croftes, ' Your hose are too short.' Mr.
Croftes replies, ' So is your nose.' The earl spurns him. Thus the doctor relates
jt."_iVcrfe of Mr. Mead.

90 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
think of such grandeur, when he was usher of the Free
School in Dublin ; and Sir James Hamilton, since created
Viscount Claneboy,1 and now one of the greatest subjects
in that kingdom, schoolmaster : where they laid the first
foundation of their fortune, in the latter end of Queen
Elizabeth's reign, by conveying the letters of some great
lords of England, who worshipped the sun-rising, to King
James, and his letters back to them, this way of obliquity
being chosen as more safe than the direct northern road."
That a few days before he died he sent this compli-
mental message to the king by the Marquis Hamilton,
that if the souls in heaven had any notion of persons and
of things done on earth, he would, as he had ever done,
continue to pray perpetually to Almighty God for him.
That a little before his death the king had sealed a privy
seal to him, and his assignees, for £8000 ; and that the
Earl of Carlisle, who royally feasted the Spanish ambas
sador on Sunday last, succeeds him [Fullerton] in his
place of groom of the stole, gratis.
That Philip Burlamachi hath gotten a brave employ
ment into France, to fetch home the latter half of the
queen's portion, being £120,000, and satisfaction also for
three great rich English ships, treacherously taken by the
French after the peace proclaimed. " Do you think that
the French, being so exhausted by their wars, would part
with such heaps of treasure for nothing ? No : you may
be sure they would not. The bait, therefore, to allure
them thereunto, is the fort of Kebeck,2 in Canada, to get
it out of Captain Kirk's clutches; the trade of beavers
and otters, which they want to enjoy by the possession
whereof, having been worth unto them, communious annis,
£30,000 by year." That the said fort sticketh in their
hearts, as Calais did in Queen Mary's.
That certain merchants of London were about to set
out a new voyage for the discovery of the north-west
passage, one of the adventurers wherein asking in his
hearing Sir Thomas Button, who had formerly been em
ployed in the like discovery, his opinion concerning the
same, his answer was, that if they meant to do good
1 Serjeant-at-law and privy councillor to James I. 2 Quebec.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 91
therein, they must make choice of an honest and sufficient
man to be employed therein, whom they must not tie up
with any directions, but relying upon his art and judg
ment, leave him at liberty to practise the same according
to occasion ; " for," said he, " the directions given to me
at my setting out to my voyage for the like discovery,
destroyed quite the success thereof: for having sailed
four hundred leagues into the Strait, and the tides of the
Eastern Ocean ceasing, and the tides of the Western Ocean
coming in strong, which I ought to have followed, I was
by my directions diverted into a bay, where, being frozen
up, I was forced to abide all the winter, and so leave the
further pursuit of that discovery.
That the king had made a grant to the Earls of War
wick and Holland, of a little island lying near unto the
coast of New Spain, in the West Indies, called by the
Spaniards Catalina, but by their lordships Henriette, after
the name of our queen.
That on Sunday last were published in the court strict
orders, appointing who should come into the privy lodgings,
and who should not. That the same day Sir Robert Yale
(I believe, says Sir Thomas Puckering, he mistakes his
name for Deall), a gentleman of the privy chamber, and
Mr. Patrick Murray, one of the king's carvers, did in the
same room spit in one another's faces ; and that the same
night the masque was performed at the court with great
splendour. That the king and queen went yesterday
towards Newmarket, where the university of Cambridge
shall be spared from furnishing preachers to the court,
the king's chaplains in ordinary being appointed to that
function. That Sir Humphrey Davenport, late puisne judge of the
Common Pleas, is now by patent under the great seal
called to be Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
" Are not the patentees for discovery of hidden treasure
come yet into Warwickshire? of all which treasure by
them to be found the king is to have the fourth part."
He observed some differences between the articles of
the peace newly concluded with Spain, and those which
were concluded between King James and Philip III.

92 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
in anno 1604, viz., that those were treated and con
cluded in London, because the Spaniards begged that
peace : these at Madrid, because we sought the peace.
Witness Mr. Endymion Porter's journey into Spain three
years agone, sent by the late duke. 2. That to those articles
the names, together with the qualities of all the commis
sioners, English, Spanish, and Flemish, for the Archdukes
Albertus and Isabella, were added in print, to these the
name of no one commissioner. 3. That to those, as an
additament, were affixed five other articles, two whereof
tended to exempt the English from payment of the duty
of 30 per 100, and the other three were to mitigate and
qualify the rigour of the Inquisition ; all which are left
out in these. And, lastly, that those articles were tri
partite between the King of England, the King of Spain,
and the Archdukes beforenamed ; these are only bipartite
between the said two kings, by reason that the archduchess
hath seven years agone resigned up to the King of Spain
her right and interest in the Low Countries.
That the report goes that Sir Edward Parham shall in
the spring carry over 4000 men to serve on that side.
That the Hollanders being shy of these proceedings and of
our herring fleet, in preparing against the spring, will
neither buy of our merchant adventurers their cloth lying
at the value of £100,000 at Delft, nor suffer them to ex
port it to any other mart, but keep it as a pawn to save
them harmless against any afterclap. That on the 19th
of December last, O.S., they had like to have lost Wesell ;
for the Rhine being frozen over, 6000 of the enemy,
coming over the Rhine from Rhinberk side, gave a furious
assault to the town, 400 of them having by scaling gotten
into the same, who were fain to leave their bones there,
and the rest to retire.
That some say, that the Duke of Saxony hath joined
with the King of Sweden ; but until summer be come, Mr.
Pory cannot tell what to believe of that prince, so various
and uncertain the reports are concerning him.
That at Marseilles the common people have been so ex
asperated with new taxes, as that they cried out " Vive le
Roy Philippe ;" as who should say, we can soon call in

CHARLES THE FIRST. 93
Philip the Fourth : and that the report is that all Provence
and Languedoc are in actual rebellion, against whom the
Prince of Conde is sent : that Burgundy is in a combus
tion : and that the governor of Verdun is professedly re
volted from the crown of France.
That Sir Isaac Wake, the king's ambassador in Pied
mont, designed from France, hath had thirteen of his people
dead in his house of the plague, of which three waited on
him in his chamber, but not one gentleman ; but that they
have all of them had fevers : and that Mr. Morton, who
brought the last packet, had come all the way with a quo
tidian fever, of a cold fit and a hot fit upon him ; who,
while the cold fit was upon him, was fain to run on foot,
and in his hot fit to post it moderately : but that in nine
or ten days after his arrival at London he had taken off the
fever. That at the instance of the Lady Wake there had
been thanksgiving made in divers churches in London for
her husband's escape, and prayers for his safe return : and
that the king, to comfort him after his affliction, had given
him a boon (besides his allowance of £6 per diem) of
£600. 
Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, January 30, 1630-1.
On Monday, the first day of this term, Sir Humphrey
Davenport was elevated into the place of lord chief baron
by my lord keeper and lord treasurer, where he promised
respect to the ease of the subject as well as to the profit
of his majesty. Yesterday, January 29, was the day he
appointed to decide the pleas against fining for knighthood.
Into his place of puisne judge of the Common Pleas, my
author heard, that Baron Vernon (now one of the judges
of the Exchequer) is to ascend, and Mr. Weston, a lawyer,
kinsman to my lord treasurer, into his.
Sir Edward Coke being very infirm in body, a friend of
his sent him two or three doctors to regulate his health ;
whom he told that he had never taken physic since he was
born, and would not now begin ; and that he had now
upon him a disease which all the drugs of Asia, the gold
of Africa, the silver of America, nor all the doctors of

94 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Europe could cure — old age. He therefore thanked them
and his friend that sent them, and dismissed them nobly,
with a reward of twenty pieces to each man.
The most prevailing word at this time in Holland is,
arm, arm, arm. They levy horse and prepare foot to be in
the field before the enemy, and do pretend to raise 10,000
horse, a number which they never yet aspired unto. They
have of late (if one Vander Bragg, a Dutchman, told my
author true) declared the Arminians to be schismatics, so
soon as they had repaid those of Amsterdam the great sum
they had borrowed of them towards the siege of the Busse.
My author was told the day before his writing, that my
Lord [Sir Henry] Vane was returned thence pure, that is,
free from all obligation to that republic. For whereas
other ambassadors have been rewarded with house rent,
gifts, or pensions, (as Sir Ralph Winwood's son and heir
enjoys a pension from them during life) he neither was nor
would be beholden to them for the value of a doit ; and
so can freely discourse to his majesty the state of affairs
there. Those States by their edicts do stiffly oppose our
clothing ; yet necessity makes their subjects buy of ours
by stealth : which the States knowing well enough, dare
not but connive at, for fear of stirring up an hornets' nest
about their ears. And so now ours seem to have the better
end of the staff.
The youngest daughter of the Queen of Bohemia was
lately christened at the Hague under the name of Sophia.1
Her godfathers were the States of Friesland, and god
mothers the Countess of Keulinberg and Madame de Bre-
derode, who each of them gave £30 sterling, to be distri
buted in the nursery, as the godfathers did £40, and in a
box of gold worth £50 a patent to their god-daughter for
a pension of £40 2 durante vita.
The voyage intended for the North- West discovery is
chiefly furthered by Mr. Briggs, and the man to be therein
employed is one Fox, a master of a ship of Hull, and
though never yet in those parts, so my author thinks, yet
is held to be a very skilful seaman.
1 Afterwards Electress of Hanover.
2 The figures in the MS. are not easily made out.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 95
A friend of mine being this last week present at the
High Commission Court, heard there a case of marriage
between a Welch gentleman and his sister's son's wife
judged to be incest : yet the gentleman had had five chil
dren by her. This was in the same degree for affinity which
the case of Sir G. A.1 is for consanguinity.
There died in the city this last week of the plague nine ;
whereof but one within the walls. We continue at Cam
bridge still sound, God be thanked.
Sir George Gresley to 
Essex House, February 2, 1632.
Here is no foreign news at this instant, but what this
enclosed aviso advertiseth : only there is a rumour that
the King of Sweden with a selected company is gone sud
denly from his court, and great assembly of ambassadors,
upon some secret design not known unto any. Where
upon some ill-wishers to his prosperous proceeding have
presumed to report that he was taken prisoner in riding
post to meet his queen, or in riding forth, slenderly at
tended, to view some of his enemy's works. And it is said
my lord treasurer hath called one gentleman to account
for the same, and made him bring forth his author. But
I cannot as yet hear the certainty of the gentleman's news,
nor the truth thereof. On Sunday last the old Venetian
ambassador took his leave at court, and the new one was
received, and had audience there.
The queen and her ladies do practise the masque, which j
they intend to perform at Shrovetide twice a-week.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, February 6, [1630-1].
Their majesties came both from Royston to London on
Monday last, intending to have lain at Theobald's, where,
not finding their bedding arrived, they were enforced to
come to Whitehall, where, nothing being prepared for
their entertainment, they were fain to try what hospitality
the prince kept at St. James's. On Saturday, yesterday
1 Giles Allington.— See Mr. Mead's letter of May 20, 1631.

96 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
was sennight, January 29, Sir Henry Wallop, sheriff this
last year of Hampshire, Sir Thomas Thynne, of Somerset
shire, Mr. Elwes, of Northamptonshire, as likewise those
that were then high sheriffs of Suffolk, Worcester, and
Dorsetshire, were fined at £200 a man for not having
summoned so many to fine for knighthood, as the com
missioner found afterwards out.1
On Tuesday Mr. Littleton, Mr. Sherland, and Mr. Mason,
three famous lawyers, pleaded for some of those that have
refused to fine. They confessed both the antiquity and
legality of the king's right to summon his subjects ad arma
gerenda at the time of his coronation, and that his majesty
might summon them toties quoties, until they either ap
peared, or submitted themselves to a fine. First, there
fore, they were to be particularly called per legatos et
bonos summonitores, to appear in a certain place at a cer
tain time, most of which have been now omitted. Whither
being come, they were to present themselves to the lord
great chamberlain ; and if within four days he did not
employ them in the king's service, they might safely de
part to their own home. If he did, then were they to
receive an upper garment and a belt out of the king's
wardrobe. Some are of opinion, saith mine author, they
made the case very clear on their client's side : others, that
they by consequence spake more for his majesty's advan
tage than for their clients ; and that Mr. Attorney would
as on Friday (which was the day) make good use thereof,
and be able to answer all their arguments.
For the sums that have been brought in at several times
before Christmas, my author was told they do amount to
£50,000, and since Christmas to £20,000 ; and that my
lord treasurer aims to advance them to £100,000.
On Monday, Mr. Attorney put up an information in the
King's Bench against Mr. Selden, Sir Miles Hobart, Mr.
Stroud, and Mr. Valentine, for having, in the time of the
late pestilent vacation, abandoned their prison of the Gate
house, and retired into the country ; whereunto on Thurs
day morning they all appeared.
1 " The doctor says he heard the new Hampshire sheriff had returned 120 more
than Sir H. Wallop had."— Note of Mr. Mead.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 97
Sir Giles Allington ' was the same day cited to appear
before the high commission at Lambeth ; but while he was
expected, my Lord Wimbledon, his ally, came in, and
made his excuse.
Mr. Walter Montagu, in his return forth of France, was,
by reason of an hideous storm, forced to cast himself sud
denly into a boat near Dover pier, and for haste to leave
behind him those packets he brought over for the king and
State, and his own jewels which were given him in the
French court, in the bark which brought him over. But
the bark, getting fortunately into Dunkirk, returned
within three days after to Dover, and delivered up his
charge. The East India fleet being departed with these
easterly winds, my Lord of Denbigh is gone the same way
with them in ambassatre to the Kino: of Persia.
Mr. Henry Briggs, of Oxford, the great mathematician,
is lately dead,2 at seventy-four years of age.
There died of the plague at London but six, and in four
out-parishes. We continue, God be praised, sound.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, February 27, 1630-1.
On Sunday night last, Mr. Jumes Maxwell, accompanied
by two of my lord treasurer's sons, brought news out of
France that all there is in combustion ; that the queen-
mother is confined to her house in the Fauxbourg St.
Germain, and a strong guard set upon her.
For home news, I will begin with that great controversy
between my Lord Marshal and the King's Bench, which
took up so much of my last letter. It was discussed on
Friday was sennight before his majesty and the lords at
Whitehall, but not decided, because though the two tip
staves were then in mercy released out of the Marshalsea,
yet his lordship hath authority given him to prosecute
Jones anew, and to send a new warrant after him, if any
messenger of his lordship's dare pursue him into Wales,
whither he is gone.
1 " A friend of mine hath a letter that my Lord of Holland had already begged his
fine."— Note of Mr. Mead.
2 He died 26 January, 1630-1.
VOL. II. H

98 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Judge Jones,1 for speaking somewhat too plainly of my
Lord of Arundel's court,2 was shrewdly shaken up by both
lords chamberlains of the king's and queen's side ; my Lord
of Pembroke calling him a saucy fellow. In fine, my
author heard, the judges notwithstanding (if my Lord of
Arundel do catch Jones once again) are resolved to relieve
him, and to stand to the maintenance of their court, being,
as they affirm, the highest and ancientest next the parlia
ment, as where, till King Henry VIII.'s days, all the kings
were wont to sit in person, and where all the subjects in
England, both peers and commons, are tryable for goods,
lands, and life ; where the judges do in so high a degree
represent his majesty's person, as that if the greatest sub
ject in England do kill one of them as he sits there to
administer justice, he shall be guilty of high treason. The
judges did acknowledge themselves, considered in their
own persons, to be but poor mean men, and my Lord of
Arundel to be a person of high birth and eminent fortune,
yet that in the former respects, when they sat in judgment
upon the bench, they were not to yield unto him. My
author heard on the day he wrote that his lordship had
been a suitor to his majesty to appoint some commissioners
to determine the controversy between them. His lordship
for the present had prevailed by vouching a statute enacted
anno 13, Richard II., cap. 2, which saith that in case the
constable or marshal do draw causes into their court which
belong to the decision of other courts, the party grieved
(as now Jones, for example) must obtain a privy seal from
his majesty, directed to the constable or marshal, to stop
their proceeding until the king's council have determined
to the jurisdiction of what court the cause belongeth.
Whereby the king's council some antiquaries would under
stand not the privy council, but the king's great council of
lords in parliament.
On Saturday (yesterday sennight) Sir Richard Weston's
case concerning certain lands and manors he sues for,
which his ancestors sold, was ventilated in the Star Cham-
1 Sir William Jones, one of the justices of the King's Bench.
2 See some account of this court in the Earl of Clarendon's History of his own Life,
vol. i., edit. 1759, 8vo.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 99
ber ; and the innotescimus, or certificate, under the great
seal (which is a bar against his obtaining of those lands)
was damned by my lord treasurer and nine voices more,
there being but three voices for it, viz., the Lord Chief
Justice Hyde, my lord privy seal, and my lord keeper,
who all spoke to the point, and my lord keeper endeavoured
to answer all the arguments and allegations of the ten
opposites. The final pronunciation of sentence is deferred
till the hearing of Mr. Stoke, who hath purchased one of
those manors, and whose evidence the innotescimus is.
On the same Saturday night, a woman having negli
gently left a pan of coals under one of the stalls or shops
in Westminster Hall, which do pass along from the Com
mon Pleas towards the Chancery, all those shops save
three were burnt up; and the flame mounted so high on
the west side of the Hall, as not only some of the angels'
wings were singed, but the fire took hold on the roof; and
had not Mr. Squib, one of the tellers of the Exchequer,
passed occasionally l through the Hall betimes on Sunday
morning, and hired two sailors to climb up, and to open
the lead in three or four places and pour down water, that
goodly hall had been burned down. So now his majesty
will suffer no more shops to stand there.
One day since the term, my lord keeper in the Star
Chamber said, that his majesty's instructions, lately pub
lished, were not to diminish the authority, but to stir up
the diligence of justices of the peace.
There died of the plague at London this last week, 9.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, March 6, 1630-1.
For our intelligence on Saturday, it is as followeth :
that there are a great number of schedules to be sent out of
the Exchequer all England over, to estreat issues upon all
such, as being summoned, have not as yet paid fines for
their knighthood. And the issues, they say, are increased
from 405. to £4, £6, £8, £10, yea, some to £20. It is
thought that ere long they will bring all the unknighted
1 As it was his custom on occasion. ii 2

100 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
lords into play, and that they expect from the Lord Pierre-
point, Earl of Kingston, for a fine for his knighthood, no
less than £2000. All the six clerks were some few days
since called before the Lords to compound for their ex
orbitant fees, and it is thought it will cost them £2000 a
man. But Mr. D'Ewes, saith my author, is not like to
live many days ;* and so there is like to be another great
windfall for Sir Julius Csesar, before Sir Dudley Digges
steps into his place.
So soon as the two lords chief justices have ridden their
circuits, they are to meet at Salisbury, there to indict the
Earl of Castlehaven, whom, if the grand jury find guilty,
he is then to be tried by his peers, at the King's Bench
bar, either the next term, or before.
That my Lord of Carlisle was, the last week save one,
sworn groom of the stole, in Sir James Fullerton's place.
That Captain Pennington told Captain Gosnald the other
day, at my lord treasurer's, that the Earl of Holland, our
chancellor, should ere long be made admiral.
That the Marchioness of Hamilton was, on Tuesday
last, delivered of a daughter, and that they say her hus
band's expedition towards the King of Sweden holdeth
good, and that his majesty, to give him encouragement
and maintenance in those wars, hath bestowed on him the
impost of wines in Scotland, which will amount very near
to £20,000 a year. Sir Francis Cottington is daily ex
pected out of Spain, who, they say, in the King's ship the
Corvertine, brings hither a huge sum of reals and pistoles,
to be conveyed or made over by bill into Flanders for the
King of Spain's service.
That my Lord of Canterbury's Office of the Faculties
was never so set on work as now, for granting of licenses
during life to eat flesh on fasting days; my lord keeper
and my lord treasurer (as they say) having advised their
friends so to do; because there will be a strict account taken
concerning that business ; and it is thought that thousands
will be fined, not only for dressing, but for eating flesh ;
1 Paul D'Ewes, Esq., one of the Six Clerks, and father of Sir Symonds D'Ewes.
He died, 22 February, 1630, of a fever and pleurisy, at his house in the Six Clerks'
Office.— Life of Sir Symonds D'Ewes, written by himself. Harl. MSS., vol. 646.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 101
and my lord mayor, they say, hath order to swear four
men in every ward to make diligent search who do dress or
eat flesh.
A certain cock -brained English minister, saith my author,
preaching in Holland to an auditory of English soldiers,
and saying that Queen Elizabeth was a slut, because she
had not swept the house of God clean of those rags and
relics of popery, the soldiers, so soon as he was come forth
of the church, fell upon him, and cuffed him well favour
ably for his pains.1
Of the plague at London died 7.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, March 7, 1631.
Here are two couriers lately come from Sir Henry Vane ;
but all the packets going now to Newmarket, the contents
thereof are kept there from us, being, as it seemeth, mat
ters of secrecy. By word of mouth only they have re
ported that the King of Sweden had lately taken Creutz-
nach, the only town of the Palatinate besides Frankendale
and Heidelberg that remained in the enemy's hands. It
is thought that the said king hath a straight intelligence,
and some o-reat design in hand with the States, having-
lately sent unto them his great chancellor Oxenstiern, a
man of great reputation in Christendom for his abilities
and valour. And this is the time that the States have ap
pointed to put their army into the field. A letter come
from those parts hath spread a rumour here that the Duke
of Saxony should be fallen from the King of Sweden to
the emperor; but there is little credit given thereunto. I
had almost omitted to let you know that one of those two
couriers that are come from Sir Henry Vane, named Gif-
ford, a great papist, and a man being very ill affected to
the King of Sweden, of whose carriage and affairs he had
made here a very partial and prejudicial report in a former
journey ; he being complained of for it by the said king
to Sir Henry Vane, was despatched hither by him, as Urias
1 To abuse Queen Elizabeth has now become too common a practice, with writers
of a certain class, to excite observation.

102 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
by David, with letters of his own condemnation, and so
hath been clapped up upon his arrival here. What pro
ceeding may be farther against him, or what mystery in
the proceeding, we shall shortly see.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, March 13, 1630-1.
My author hears that no mean or ordinary fine shall ex
cuse those six clerks of the Chancery, no, nor some forty
officers more of the same court, as cursitors, filazers, petty
bags, hanaper, &c, for having taken exorbitant fees ; and
that the prothonotaries and other officers of the King's
Bench and of other courts will fall within the same predi
cament, Mr. Attorney being to inform against them all in
the Star Chamber, and their lordships there to censure
them at their pleasures and discretions.
That for certain all those that have been summoned and
have not fined for knighthood, must now pay three entire
subsidies and a half, that is, seventeen single subsidies and
a half; as if a man be £10 land in the subsidy-book, he
shall pay £35.
The last week was christened the Marquis of Hamilton's
daughter; her godmothers being the queen, and the old
Countess of Buckingham and my lord treasurer her god
father. On Thursday it was said that his lordship the
marquis was gone towards Scotland, to make preparations
there for his expedition toward the King of Sweden into
Germany ; and that his majesty, besides £40,000 im
pressed money, which he must have of my lord treasurer
for his better encouragement and maintenance in these
wars, hath given him the impost pf wines in Scotland for
eleven years.
On Monday, the king sent away one Mr. Elphinston,
his majesty's carver, to carry assurance of the marquis's
journey ; and for the defraying of his charges, though the
kino- allowed him nothing, yet the marquis gave him £300.
That there are six colonels nominated, three Scottish, as
Hamilton, Ramsey, and Grey; two English, Sir Jacob
Astley (who also is serjeant-major-general of all those

CHARLES THE FIRST. 103
troops) and Sir William Brounker ; and one Irish, who is
to command an Irish regiment, Sir Piers Crosby.
Sir Francis Cottington is, about Sunday last, come
home from his ambassage in Spain, extreme rich both in
money and jewels, the king there having, at his arrival at
Lisbon, given him for his first boon the custom and impost
of £20,000 worth of kerseys and baize. He hath brought
home with him a great mass of treasure of gold and silver
for the King of Spain's service and payment of his soldiers
in the Low Countries, which occasioned his so long stay :
the quantity, as my author heard, being of 120,000 pounds
weight, which equals £360,000, (the doctor writes two
hundred chests) which is all to be coined here, and made
over in bills of exchange into Flanders by Burlamachi and
Ricott. There came, besides, along with the king's ship
which brought him, fifteen hundred Spaniards, who, since
she got into Portsmouth, are safely arrived at Dunkirk.
Don Carlos de Colonna, the late Spanish ambassador
here, so soon as he was landed in that town, called in
question and hanged two of those sea captains ; the one
for having expressly set sail out of that port for the rob
bing of English after he knew the peace was concluded ;
(those that were abroad at the conclusion having fifteen
days' liberty) the other for having since those fifteen days
put some of our nation at sea to extreme torture, to make
them confess they had Holland goods aboard. This Don
Carlos is, under the archduchess, general of the wars for
the King of Spain in the Netherlands, and labours mainly
to bring the staple of our cloth to Bruges, in Flanders,
where it was of old, before it came to Antwerp.
On Monday last, Sir Miles Hobart was released out of
the Gate-house upon his own £50 bond to his good beha
viour ; for which some account him pusillanimous.
My Lord of Salisbury hath found out among his evidences
that original deed under three seals, which hath confirmed
that innotescimus under the great seal, which, since the
end of the term, my lord treasurer, and nine voices in the
Star Chamber more, had condemned for a counterfeit in
the behalf of Sir Richard Weston, my lord chief justice,
my lord privy seal, and my lord keeper, defending it.

104 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
There are two messengers, gentlemen of worth, which
came hither on Thursday was sennight from the King of
Bohemia ; the one his prime secretary, the other one, who
was an agent here formerly four years together. They
are defrayed at our king's charges, have ten dishes a meal
allowed them, and, it is thought, shall be sent from his
majesty hence to the emperor, perhaps about restitution of
the Palatinate.
There died of the plague at London this last week 10 ;
9 in six out-parishes, and 1 within the walls. I hear
there is, since the bill, five new houses shut up in the
Strand.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, April 2, 1631.
Archie, whilst he was in Spain, got a pension from that
king. And do you not think he was lapped in his mother's
smock, if it be true, which himself told my author, that he
hath now received the arrearages thereof, amounting to
£1,500? On Thursday was sennight, died Sir John Coupier, and
left a rich widow that may dispend £4,100 per annum,
whereof £2,500 in jointures by her former husband, Sir
Charles Morison, and this, and £1,600 land of inheritance
of her own.
There died of the plague this last week, thirteen;
whereof ten in six out-parishes, and three in two parishes
without the walls.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, April 6, 1631.
The Dean of St. Paul's, Dr. Donne, is lately dead,1 in
whose place Dr. Winriffe2 hath succeeded.
The lords are not a little troubled about the daily
reports that come unto them of the people's discontent-
1 He died March 31, 1631.
2 Thomas WinrifF, made dean of Gloucester in 1624; advanced to the Bishopric
of Lincoln in 1631. He died in 1654.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 105
ments and stirring in divers places for the great dearth of
corn, and are endeavouring to take some speedy order
therein.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, April 14, 1631.
At this present I shall only inform you of the news that
Mr. Montagu brought two days since from the court of
France, concerning Monsieur, that he is gone from Besan-
9on into Lorraine, and is now there with the duke, who
hath given notice thereof to the king, and earnestly en
deavoured by his letters to excuse himself therein towards
him, professing that he had been surprised by Monsieur,
and could not refuse to receive such a guest, that came to
trust himself so confidently into his hands, preferring
withal, that if his letters and messengers were not sufficient,
he would come himself to give the king satisfaction therein.
Monsieur hath but his ordinary train with him, having
sent away at his coming into the Franche Comte, all the
gentlemen and horse that were there, and came with him
as far as Bellegarde, saving only the Dukes of Elboeuf,
Bellegarde, and Rohannez, the Comte de Moret, and two or
three persons more of qualitj^, which are declared criminels
de lese-majeste, unless within a month they return and
submit themselves unto the king, who at this present lieth
at Fontainebleau, and the queen mother as yet at Com-
peigne, from whence she sheweth herself very unwilling to
have her restraint removed to another place. Mr. Mon
tagu reporteth also, that the Duke of Vendome is raising
3000 men in France for the States' service, and that in
Italy matters are drawing to a general and absolute accom
modation, which yet few men will be easily brought to
believe. Sir Isaac Wake is now at length come to Paris, but
with a very small train, because many of his family have
been carried away by the sickness in Piedmont, which
made him to come on, and to lie there privately for some
days, till a new supply of servants, which is gone from
hence to fill up his house, be come unto him.

106 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, April 21, 1631.
Because Warwickshire is conterminous with Gloucester
shire, I will not presume to tell you what hath been done
by my Lord of Northamptonshire and Serjeant Dendy, at
the Forest of Dean ; but mine humble suit is, my noble
patrons,1 to you both, that you will agree whose servant
of either of you shall write me the particularities of that
business, and I assure him his letter shall never prejudice
him, for I will burn it as soon as I have read it.
To proceed with our English affairs, a familiar friend of
my lord privy seal,2 tells me his lordship went lately down
to his Castle of Kimbolton to take possession of Naybridge
Park and the meadows thereto belonging, being granted
by his majesty in fee farm to his lordship and his heirs for
ever, in consideration of having relinquished his patent of
justice in Eyre, on this side Trent, and yielded up that
place to my Lord of Holland.
My noble Lord of Essex hath brought his new married
lady3 to town, extreme sick, to recommend her to the
skill of the doctors. The Lady Marquess of Winchester,4
daughter to the Lord Viscount Savage, had an impostume
upon her cheek lanced; the humour fell down into her
throat, and quickly despatched her, being big with child,
whose death is lamented as well in respect of other her
virtues, as that she was inclining to become a protestant.
On Monday, the sheriffs of London began to build scaf
folds in Westminster Hall against Monday next, for trial
of the Earl of Castlehaven, there being twenty-seven lords
summoned by writ to be his judges (whereof all the lords
of the privy council, except the Earls of Exeter and Bridge-
water, are part), and my lord keeper to sit lord high
steward for the day. His sentence, as I am told by an
active justice of the peace, is like to undergo some difficult
1 Sir Thomas Puckering and Sir Thomas Lucy.
2 Henry, Earl of Manchester.
3 His second wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Pawlet, of Edington, in
Wiltshire. 4 Jane, wife of John Powlet, Marquess of Winchester, by whom he had one son,
Charles, afterwards Marquess of Winchester.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 107
questions of law, who tells me also that my Lord of D.
swore unto him they should never obtain his voice to
condemn him, though he be one of those twenty-seven
peers. On Sunday night, the old Countess of Buckingham
feasted both their majesties in her lodging at Whitehall ;
and on Monday night, my lord chamberlain ' did the like
at his lodgings at the Cockpit, after his extraordinary
great winnings at a horse-race at Winchester.
The same morning my Lord of Salisbury took his jour
ney to Hertford for regulating of the corn markets in that
shire, and my Lord of Holland to Brentford for the same
purpose. But my Lord Wimbledon being for the same
end last week in Kingston market, he told it my Lord of
C, who told it me again ; " Corn," said he, " did rise
there 18.v. in the bushel that day, and I think it did so
because we were there." His lordship's project and
practice of drawing money from the alehouses is laid
asleep. One Odour, a scrivener, in Holborn, that set him
on work, was that man of my Lord Verulam,2 who, by
conveyance of bribes, was the occasion of his overthrow.
The meal-chandlers here in London, who were not only
some of them clapped in Newgate, but all of them bound
to buy up no more corn or meal within thirty-five miles of
London, found a new trick to elude their bond ; to wit, on
a sudden they bought up all the corn and meal in these
London markets, and so raised the price since Easter two
shillings in the bushel, which fell so much the week before
Easter. Two houses at Greenwich were lately shut up as being
suspected of the plague, and all the stuff in one of them
burnt, and the people removed thence. But I heard
yesterday, it proves but a suspicion, in which respect their
majesties will remove the court thither the sooner.
Gerbier,3 the duke's painter, is to reside agent with the
archduchess, and having been all his lifetime a papist,
hath provided himself of a protestant chaplain. I hope
the next they send to her shall be a barber, as Louis XL
of France sent his barber to a Duke of Burgundy, one of
1 Philip, Earl of Pembroke. 2 Bacon. •> Sir Balthazar.

108 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
her predecessors. And now they say Mr. Thomas Carey,
of the bedchamber, son to the Earl of Monmouth, shall go
lieger ambassador into Spain.
Captain Weddall, he that was so much employed by the
duke at the Isle of Rhe, being now come home general of
these two East-India ships, the Charles and the Jonas, and
being returned home this third voyage of his, extraordinary
rich ; the governor of the Company told me he had ful
filled the Jew's proverb, which they use in Barbary, " The
first voyage for thee ; the second for thee and me ; and
the third for me." But, defend himself as well as he
can, they mean to call him to account. Touching at the
isle of Madagascar, in their way homeward, they, bought
there at their first coming, an ox that would have been
worth twenty marks in Smithfield, for eight great beads
worth eightpence. But towards their departure the
savages grew politic, and raised the price to ten beads
an ox.
Yesterday, I heard of a prodigious thing which I am
neither apt nor willing to believe, that one hath got a
license to transport five ships' lading of fuller's earth
(without which that people can make no cloth), into
Holland, where their intent and purpose any time this
twelvemonth hath been to make cloth of their own, that,
if they could, they might banish ours out of the world.
I hear that my lord treasurer, by the solicitation of
some servant of his, hath proffered a salary of £500
a-year among certain druggists and merchants to undertake
for his majesty the business of tobacco, about which there
have been divers meetings ; but they dare not touch any
of his lordship's salary, for fear lest it might shortly prove
birdlime to them and their estates.
The last news out of Germany, written by Mr. Goodman
and Mr. Elsington, his majesty's two last messengers to
the King of Sweden, are, that after some of Tilly's people
(for Tilly himself was not within two hundred miles of the
place), with the loss of 2000 men, had won New Branden
burg, and left 600 men in garrison to keep the town, the
King of Sweden, so soon as he heard of it, marched
thitherward ; the noise of whose coming made that new

CHARLES THE FIRST. 109
garrison to value one pair of heels above two pair of hands :
so they left only their sick and hurt people behind them,
whom that brave king, instead of revenge, cherished and
entertained into his service. We hear from other hands,
that the evangelical princes assembled at Leipsic have sent
to the emperor an instrument or manifest under the hands
and seals of twenty-seven of them ; and that, having so
done, they were all of them resolved to take arms.
Sir Robert Anstruther, at Hamburg, hearing that
Mr. Goodwin, as he passed by sea from Lubeck towards
Stralsund, was taken by a man-of-war of the emperor,
wrote unto Tilly for his release, as being a servant of the
King of Great Britain. Whereunto Tilly's answer was,
he was sorry it was not true ; because, had it been so, he
might have had an occasion to have shown how much he
respected and honoured the King of Great Britain.
One strange accident I must recount unto you, that
lately happened in Germany. One Mr. Fairfax writes
from Francfort, to Sir Thomas Gore of Yorkshire, his
kinsman, that eighteen Hollanders (whereof three had
their hands in torturing our people to death at Amboyna,
in the East Indies) lying one night in the same town as
they were going towards Strasburg, being at supper in
the midst of their cups and jollities, those three discoursed
to the rest, how bravely they had triumphed over the
English at Amboyna, and what justice they had done
upon them, &c. This discourse of theirs came suddenly to
the ears of two English captains of horse, serving under
the Emperor, being then in town, who, next morning, with
a troop of horse, met those Hollanders in a wood, and
bid them prepai'e themselves, for they must die. The
Hollanders said they hoped otherwise, for all the money
they had was at their command. " We seek not your
money," said they ; " you may throw that upon a dung
hill, if you please. It is your lives we must have, in revenge
of the blood of a kinsman of ours, and other English
which you tortured to death at Amboyna : and, if we had
time, we would inflict all those tortures of fire, water, &c,
upon you ; but, being scanted thereof, you shall die an
easier death. You three shall be hanged first, for being

110 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
actors, and the residue after you, for being applauders
and justifiers of that tragedy." After they had hanged up
sixteen, they made the two surviving to cast the dice,
which of them should escape to carry the news into Hol
land ; whom they bid to tell his masters, the States, what
justice two Englishmen had done upon those heinous
malefactors, which they had suffered so many years to go
unpunished.1 Sir Thomas Gore and his letter have been
examined by the lords of the council ; and Sir Francis
Barnham of Kent said to a friend of mine, that my Lord
Treasurer had told him it was true.
Here hath been a speech, as if Bahia, also in Brazil,
over and besides Fernambuel,2 had been once more taken
by the Hollanders ; for extirpating of whom out of that
main (if they can at least) that great fleet, which had
been four months in preparing at Lisbon, (all which time
our English merchant ships there to their great damage,
that they might carry no news abroad, have stood embar
goed) is now at length ready to set sail ; and their rendez
vous, from whence they are to begin their voyage, is Porto
Port. This fleet, I heard an English merchant trading for
Spain say, had not been ready this twelvemonth, if they
had not by our nation been furnished with cordage,
munition, and hands also.
Out of France, I hear, that Monsieur, having written a
satirical letter to the king his brother, charging him with
oppressing the people, discontenting the nobility, follow
ing ill counsels, &c, the king having published it in
print, doth answer it only with marginal notes. Also,
that Monsieur hath sent a petition to the parliament of
Paris, that, whereas Armand du Plessis, Cardinal de
Richelieu, hath procured from the parliament of Dijon an
arrU, or sentence, condemning him and his followers
eomme criminels de lese-majeste, and accusing him and
them to have gone voluntarily out of France to trouble
the peace of that kingdom, he saith it is a mere slander ;
for, in consequence of his mother's disgrace and imprison
ment, he was forced to fly for his own safety ; and, had
1 An instance of Lynch Law — by no means uncommon in these disturbed times.
2 Pernambuco.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 1 1
the cardinal once removed them two out of the way, there
would then no obstacle be left between his malice and the
king's destruction and ruin of the kingdom. He prays
therefore, the parliament of Paris, that they will confirm
no such edict, but will take the entire consideration of the
whole cause into their own judicature.
Here are now the Western merchants suitors at court,
for redress of that confiscation that hath been put upon
£40,000 worth of their kerseys at Rouen, about which,
they say, the French king is content to have a treaty •
for performance whereof Sir Isaac Wake is very op
portunely come out of Piedmont to reside at Paris, in
whose house, on Easter-day, did communicate not so few
as an hundred of our nation, there being now a great
number of English.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, May 4, 1631.
It is thought the Earl of Castlehaven's execution is put
off till his servants, that are charged with the same crimes,
be tried. Others say, that his son offers large money, and
to take in his wife again, to have his life saved. He is
said to be very penitent ; but he will have no other con
fessor but a mass-priest.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart. May 12, 1631.
That Sir Robert Cotton, that unparalleled antiquary
and statesman,1 was dead, on Friday last [May 6], who, in
1 Sir Symonds D'Ewes, who was intimately acquainted with Sir Robert Cotton,
observes, in his Lifeof himself, that Sir Robert was admirably skilled in thepolityand
government of the state and church of England. " Nay," adds he, " so full he
was almost of all variety of knowledge of that kind, and his tongue being unable to
utter his inward conceits and notions fast enough, it would often enforce him to a
long stuttering when he endeavoured to speak exceeding fast. He was a most
sound theoretical Protestant, and hath, in my hearing, most vehemently and
learnedly opposed the Romish abominations', openly professing that he did not see
how a Tridentine papist could possibly be saved : that is, a papist firmly holding all
the base, cursed, and damnable decrees of the Council of Trent. This I the rather
add, because too many did falsely report him to be a pontifican. I cannot deny
but his practice and conversation was too contrary to that religion he approved in
his judgment, having been for divers years together a miserable pursuer of his

1 12 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the time of his sickness had sent for Mr. Holdsworth,1
the divine, who had strictly confessed him, reconciled him
to Almighty God, absolved him from his sins, and infused
such comfort into his soul, as he would not want, as Sir
Robert himself told Mr. Pory, to be the greatest monarch
in the world. That the Bishop of Lincoln,2 also, attended
by the Bishop of St. David's,3 and Dr. Pierce, minister of
the place, having been with him the greatest part of the
night before he died, and having absolved him once more,
said, at his departure from him, that he came thither to bring
Sir Robert Cotton comfort, but that he carried away with
him more comfort from him than he brought. That before he
died, he bad requested Sir Henry Spelman to signify to the
lord privy seal, and to the rest of the lords of the council,
that their so long detaining of his books from him, without
rendering any reason for the same, had been the cause of
this his mortal malady ; upon which message, the lord
privy seal came to Sir Robert, when it was too late, to
comfort him from the king ; from whom the Earl of
Dorset likewise came within half an hour after Sir Robert's
death, to condole with Sir Thomas Cotton, his son, for his
death, and to tell him, from his majesty, that, as he loved
his father, so he would continue his love to him. That
Sir Robert had entailed, as sure as law could make it,
his library of books (which would appear in his heart, if it
were ripped up, as Calais in Queen Mary's) upon his son,
Sir Thomas Cotton, and his posterity ; who, after he shall
have performed his father's exequies (whose corpse was
yesternight carried towards his ancient manor of Conning-
ton in Huntingdonshire), makes no doubt to obtain the
same; but Mr. Pory, for his part, for all these court-holy-
waters, should awhile suspend his belief thereof.
lust ; and even in his latter time, when his abilities decayed, he drank sack in which
snakes were dissolved, being commonly called viper-wine, to restore nature. Yet
God of his infinite goodness unto him sent him an heavy affliction before his
decease, which,- 1 am persuaded, gave him a full sight of his former sins, and was
the happy occasion of his hearty and true repentance." By .rtiis affliction, Sir Sy-
monds D'Ewes means the seizing of Sir Robert's library, and the prosecution of
him. 1 Richard Holdsworth, rector of St. Peter's Poor, in London, and in November,
1629, elected professor of divinity in Gresham College.
2 Dr. Williams.
3 Dr. Theophilus Field.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 1 3
That on Monday last, Sir Joscelyne Percy ' was buried
near his father, in the Tower, being dead the day before,
between six and seven of the clock in the evening, of a
furious calenture ; the Earl of Leicester having closed up
his eyes. That on Thursday last, the Lady Viscountess
Wimbledon's corpse was carried over the bridge of London,
with a train of twenty caroches, drawn with six horses
apiece ; and many more with four, and with torches sans
nombre. That a warrant was come to the lieutenant of the
Tower, for the execution of the Earl of Castlehaven, on
Saturday next; who, as some of the Tower told Mr.
Pory, should be beheaded betimes in the morning, before
the opening of the gates. That Brodwell and Fitzpatrick,
his con-criminals, are not yet tried ; although some of the
chief of the judges have said that they ought first to be
tried, before their master suffer execution.
That Sir Giles Allington- being now deprived of all
shelter and protection of the Court of Common Pleas,
was, on Thursday last, at Lambeth, bound to appear there
this day, together with his wife, before the high commis
sioner, and to stand to their sentence and censure; to
which purpose Mr. Dalton, brother-in-law to Sir Giles, by
his marriage with his own niece, was also bound in £1000.
That Sir Robert Hitcham, ancient sergeant-at-law to
the king, was on Friday last fined in the Star Chamber
£200 for having caused to be read in the open sessions at
Woodbridge, in Suffolk, near to both their dwellings, a
paper of scandalous articles against an ordinary attorney
of that county, whereof he had refused him a copy, re
quiring the same, or to prosecute against him upon the
same, as he had then provoked him to do. This matter being
let to sleep by the space of two years by the said Sir Robert,
the said attorney had questioned him as a libeller, and had
prevailed against him, as if a mouse should overturn an ele
phant. That yesterday, in the same court, Yeworth, a soli
citor of Oxfordshire, and a famous common barrister, was
censured in £1000 fine to the king, and £1000 damages to
'Seventh son of Henry, 8th Earl of Northumberland, who having been sent to
the Tower, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, for being implicated in one of the
plots in favour of Mary Queen of Scots, shot himself, June 21, 1585.
VOL. II. I

114 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the Earl of Danby, for scandalous speeches uttered by him
against the said earl. In the reading of the examinations
taken in which cause, two odd things had been read before
the lords : the one, that Yeworth, being told of two lords
standing and talking together, said, then one of them is a
fool ; the other, that it being said unto him, that there
were twenty-five privy counsellors, he answered, that if
five of them were wise men, that was all.
That at the same time it was agreed that the order of
the last term for the damning of the Innotescimus (which
Sir Richard Weston and his friends laboured to overthrow)
should with very little alteration be entered of record.
Whereupon Mr. Attorney-General, in a kind of bravado,
dared Mr. Pargiter, one of the defendants, or any other,
to bring forth the deed under three seals, whereof the said
Innotescimus was a copy : which deed the Earl of Salis
bury having found among his evidences since the said order
made, had showed the same to the lord treasurer, who
seemed then to be well satisfied therewith.
That there is a commission under the great seal to some
or to the whole body of the privy council to balance the
jurisdictions of all the courts of justice, and to set limits
from time to time to the power of every of them ; a mean,
whereby in time to draw appeals from all of them to the
council board.
That two English ships lately come home from Lisbon
relate that the fleet prepared there to beat the Hollanders
out of Brazil (to prevent the discovery of the secrets
whereof they had embargoed themselves and all others by
the space of five months) dares not now go thither, because
they hear that the Hollanders are too strong there for
them ; and that they have only sent thither eight ships
stragglingly one after another to put men by stealth into
that country to hold the Hollanders in play. That the
said ships do farther report that the Hollanders have taken
once more in that country the Bahia de Stodos Santos, so
as they are in a fair likelihood to become masters of all
that country : and that their West India fleet had taken
nine ships of the Spanish fleet of Terra-firma, laden with
gold, cochineal, ginger, tobaccO, hides, &c.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 115
That on Friday last the Lord Vere embarked himself
for Holland ; which day was their bid-day of general fast
in these countries, before the going forth of their army ;
to which being assembled at Shenks-sconce, their usual
place of rendezvous, the Prince of Orange was on Mon
day last to go up to his guard. That the said prince had
obtained from the States the grant of large reversions for
his son, a child of four years of age, in case that he in this
expedition shall come short home. That the report is that
they will have in their army 12,000 horse, and so huge a
proportion of foot answerable, as that they will dare to
besiege Antwerp.
That he [Mr. Pory] had, from an authentical hand, a
gentleman who came from Paris on Saturday last, that the
King of France despairing of bringing the court of parlia
ment of Paris to verify the Declaration of Dijon, (to give
way to the better effecting whereof in his absence he had
kept himself at Fontainebleau by the space of six weeks)
came to Paris on Sunday was sennight about six of the
clock in the evening, to try whether his presence would
beget in them any better respect to his commands ; giving
out that he would make it his next morning's work to go
in person to the parliament : but that therein the expecta
tion of the people was frustrated, there being, instead
thereof, in the afternoon of that day, a council held,
whereof, to make the resolutions the more strong, billets
were sent to all the great ones in town (among whom were
divers who were never accustomed to be called to council)
to summon them thereunto. That this council being thus
assembled in the Louvre, it was propounded unto them to
advise how the king should govern himself concerning
Monsieur's his brother's request to the parliament, and the
verifying of the Declaration of Dijon, the former of which
they had received, and rejected the latter.
To which the Marshal Schomberg, out of his great af
fection to the cardinal, spake first to this effect : — That in
regard that the said request did contain in it matter of
main defamation against a person whose services had been
and were so useful to his king and country, he thought
that there could not a less reparation of honour be done
i2

116 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
him, than that the said request should be publicly burned
in the Greve by the hands of the hangman. To the same
sense all those of the cardinal's party voted. That the
first man who spoke to a contrary sense was the Marshal
Crequi, who said, that he bare more respect to the name
of Gaston, which he saw subscribed to the request, than to
consent that such an indignity should be put upon him.
Whose opinion most of those who voted, after him, fol
lowed ; being glad of so good an example. Whereupon
it was in fine resolved, that the king should with his own
hand tear out of their register-books the said request and the
deliberation of the parliament, commanding them in a
body to wait on him that afternoon at the Louvre, and to
bring their registers with them.
Accordingly, they being come to the number of about one
hundred and twenty presidents and counsellors, besides their
ushers and notaries, found the king sitting in a chair upon
a scaffold raised about a foot high in the gallery of pictures,
attended by the Count de Soissons, the Cardinal de Riche
lieu, the Garde des Sceaux, and divers other officers and
counsellors, who at the approaching of the premier-presi
dent rose from his chair, and coming to the skirt of the
scaffold spoke to them of the parliament, telling them
that his Garde des Sceaux should signify unto them the
cause of his sending for them. Who thereupon making a
speech, declared to them therein how justly the king was
offended with them for receiving Monsieur's request, and
refusing to obey his majesty's command in verifying the
Declaration of Dijon ; concluding with a peremptory com
mand, in the king's name, that they should from thence
forth forbear to meddle any more with matters of state
farther than they should be occasioned by his majesty's
commands. His speech being ended, the registers were
called for, out of which the king tore with his own hand
Monsieur's request and their deliberation concerning the
Declaration of Dijon ; and then, threatening them that if
they did not for the time to come carry themselves more
dutifully and obediently towards him, he would serve them
as he had done to the Court des Aides, he dismissed them.
Among whom it being observed, that the Presidents Gayon

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 1 7
and Barillon, and l'Aisne the counsellor, the men who had
spoken the most in the parliament to these matters, were
not; Boissoce, a captain, exempt des gardes, was at eight
of the clock that evening sent to them to their houses, to
signify unto them the king's pleasure and command, that
they should no more exercise their charges ; and that they
should within twenty-four hours retire themselves from
Paris, the first of them to Bourges in Berry, the second to
Clermont in Auvergne, and the third to Limoges. Where
upon the court of parliament had assembled the next
morning, but had deferred the taking of any resolution
thereupon to another time.1
Thus far Mr. Pory's authentical author related : besides
all which he saith he hears other ways, that Monsieur re-
maineth still at Nancy, in the court of the Duke of Lor
raine, where he hath had a very dangerous sickness, in
which he was twice let blood, but is thereof recovered;
and that Monsieur le Grand Due de Bellegarde, having
forsaken him, shall be suffered to resume his government
of Burgundy after he shall have aired himself some six
weeks in Italy.
That the articles of peace lately concluded at Chierasco,
and sworn to by the emperor's ambassador Galas, the em
peror hath disavowed ; as the King of France had done
those which, being concluded at Ratisbon, his ambassador
Monsieur de Lionne had sworn to. But that it was said
that the emperor, whom, Mr. Pory saith, the King of
Sweden hath by this time sufficiently put in mind of mor
tality and of the lubricity of fortune, cometh fast on
again.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, May 12, 1631.
Sir Isaac Wake, the new ambassador at Paris, after a
month's expectation and waiting, hath had at length audi
ence of the king; but of the cardinal he cannot get it
unless he will yield him the precedency, which his instruc-
1 There is a curious coincidence here, that is not likely to escape the reader's at
tention.

118 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
tions will not allow him to do. I am afraid matters will
fall foul again ere it be long, between the two States ; and
the secret preparations which are making on both sides by
sea increase the suspicion thereof. The king, of his own
accord, hath bestowed the place of vice-admiral of the
Narrow Seas upon Captain Pennington, which another
made full account to have gotten, the same day.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, May 19., 1631.
You have ever such exact and full intelligence of foreign
affairs, as but that I want other matter, it were altogether
needless for me to give you but this brief of that little
which I have learned ; which is, that the allegations which
Monsieur preferred against the cardinal in the parliament
were so well approved of, that it was agreed upon to
summon him to his answer. Whereof the king having
notice, came to Paris, accompanied with the cardinal, and
demanding of some of the chiefest of them what was done
therein ; and it being delivered unto him in writing, he
grew so much enraged that he did tear it in pieces, and
imprisoned two of them. Upon which, at their next
assembly, they resolved to dissolve, and every man to de
part to their own houses, without despatch of any other
business. Which the king understanding, sent for them
again, set the imprisoned at liberty, and commanded them
to fall close to such businesses as they had in negociation.
For home affairs, here is nothing to inform but the
execution of the Earl of Castlehaven at Tower Hill, upon
Saturday ; who died very confidently, denied his guilt as
to the facts for which he was to die, and professed to die
in the true orthodox faith of the Church of England,
renouncing all the superstitions and errors taught or
believed in the Church of Rome, or any other church
whatsoever. The business betwixt the Lord Falkland and Sir Arthur
Savage is now in agitation in the Star Chamber ; and so
far as the hearers can yet perceive, there appears to be

CHARLES THE FIRST. 119
foul carriage on both sides ; and what the issue will be,
this term will hardly determine.

Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville.
Christ College, May 20, 1631.
On Thursday was sennight (as in the postscript of my
last I partly informed you), Sir Giles Allington being
stripped of all protection of the common law, was, by
eight bishops and four of the other commissioners, fined
to the king £12,000 ; bound in a bond of £20,000 never
to cohabit or come in her private company more ; to be
committed to prison, or to put in sufficient bail till both
of them have undergone the censure of the court, which
enjoins them to do penance both at Paul's Cross and at
Great St. Mary's, in Cambridge. Besides his father-in-law
and brother-in-law, Mr. Dalton was fined £2000 for having
procured the licence, and hardly escaped the point of
perjury. The eight bishops were — my Lord's Grace of
Canterbury;1 the Bishops of London,8 of Winchester,3
of Norwich,4 of Coventry and Litchfield,5 of Bangor,6
of Rochester,7 and of Gloucester.8 It was the solemnest,
the gravest, and severest censure that ever, they say, was
made in that court. All the bishops made speeches, and
all very good ones, many excellent and learned, wherein
the Bishop of London bore the bell from them all, demon
strating the foulness and heinousness of the crime. After
the doctors had pleaded pro and con., the censure, accord
ing to the manner, began from the juniors of the civilians.
The first fined Sir Giles but £1500, and Mr. Dalton £500;
others, Sir Giles £2000 ; others of the civilians £10,000 ;
others, £12,000; and that proportion, or thereabouts,
kept the bishops, yet some went above it, viz., to £15,000.
All agreed from the beginning in the £2000 bond for
separation, and in the ecclesiastical censure of penance to
be done at Paul's Cross and St. Mary's, in Cambridge,
Dr. Wickham being asked here, by one of our fellows,
1 Dr. Abbot. 2 Dr. Laud. 3 Dr. Neile.
4 Dr. White. 5 Dr. Morton. 6 Dr. David Dolben.
1 Dr. John Bowie. 8 Dr. Goodman.

120 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
whether he thought the penance could not be commuted,
he answered confidently it would not. After the sentence
pronounced, the Bishop of Rochester asked Sir- Giles,
standing there with his mistress, " What he thought now
of the heinousness of his offence ?" Sir Giles mildly re
plied, " That now he believed it was a great and heinous
one ;" but said no more. That which I wrote in my last,
out of a letter written whilst the court was yet sitting, that
it was pleaded, on Sir Giles's behalf, that they had not yet
known each other, I have heard no more of since : yet it
is like the doctors whom he entertained invented some
thing to say for their fee ; as Sir Henry Martin, I hear,
told them in refuting them, who is very much commended
for an excellent speech, nothing inferior to himself in that
kind. But I hear- one thing more, that the Bishop of
London especially showed himself a man of spirit and cou
rage : for between the time of the tendering the two rules
from the Common Pleas and the day of the censure, and
that, as some say, at the council table, he spake in this
manner : " If this prohibition," quoth he, " had taken
place, I hope my Lord's Grace of Canterbury would have
excommunicated throughout his province all the judges
who should have had a hand therein. For mine own part,
I will assure you, if he would not, I would have done it in
my diocese, and myself in person denounced it both in
Paul's Church and other churches of the same, against the
authors of so enormous a scandal to our church and reli
gion." I know not what you will think of it in the
country, but we say here it was spoken like a bishop
indeed. On Thursday was sennight, likewise, Sir Archibald
Douglas, husband to the Lady Davis the prophetess, (who
was sister to the late Earl of Castlehaven) was committed by
the lords of the council for having practised with the Earl
of Castlehaven's servants in their several prisons, (who were
witnesses against his lordship) to make them deny upon
their trials what they had before confessed against him.
Which was one reason more to hasten his execution, which
was performed this day sennight in the morning, by the
axe, upon Tower Hill. He spake but few words, and, as

CHARLES THE FIRST. 121
I hear, to this effect : that God had given him honour,
riches, and abilities, both of body and mind, and that he
had abused them all. That he had deserved death many
a time, and so it was just with God now to bring him to
it, though he were not guilty of the two facts for which he
was now condemned.
Then, saying he was faint, and not able to make any
long speech, he pulled out of his pocket a written confes
sion of his faith, whereunto he had subscribed his name,
and caused his page to read it to the people. Dr. Wick
ham,1 who was there with him on the scaffold, and told
this and some other things unto one of our fellows this
week at Cambridge, admonished him not to forget to give
thanks unto his majesty for changing the kind of his death,
and to acquit the justice of the State which had condemned
him secundum allegata et probata. He replied, " It was
true : " but I may tell you," quoth he, and leaned to his
ear, " upon as weak evidence, as ever nobleman was con
demned." He inquired what noblemen were there; and
understanding my Lord of Warwick was there on horse
back, he addressed himself towards him ; thanked him for
his honourable courtesy shown to him at his arraignment ;
desired him to render his humble thanks unto his majesty
for affording him a trial by his peers, for giving him such
respite to prepare himself to die, for changing the manner
of his death ; desired God to bless him, and that he and
his might sit upon the throne of this kingdom as long as
the sun and moon should endure.
This doctor, archdeacon, and residentiary of York, and
his majesty's chaplain in ordinary, a very discreet, cour
teous, and every way qualified gentleman, together with
the Dean of Paul's,2 were his confessors and ghostly fathers.
He told my friend, who asked him, and seemed desirous to
know, what he thought of this denial of the earl's, thus
much only, that when they refused to give him a while the
Communion, because he persisted in his denial, and much
urged him to confess his guilt, he thus encountered them :
1 Henry Wickham, D.D., of King's College, Cambridge. He was son of William
Wickham, Bishop of Winchester, who died in June, 1595.
2 Dr. Thomas Winniff.

122 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
" Gentlemen, you have been witnesses of my secret con
fession. I appeal therefore unto your own consciences,
by that I have confessed unto you, whether you can in
reason believe, that if I were guilty of these two facts, I
would not confess them unto you also." Which I under
stood to intimate, that he had been guilty of crimes of as
high a nature as those, and it may be of the same kind,
yet was falsely accused of these two facts. " Yet," saith
the doctor, " we went to the witnesses, and they still per
sist, notwithstanding, in their first tale." His majesty,
they say, shall get by his death nothing but a lease worth
some £l,700 to be sold.1

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, May 25, 1631.
The Marquis Hamilton, who was gone post into Scot
land, is now come back with small furtherance, as I hear,
of his intended journey, pretending that he could find but
four hundreds of men there that would go over with him,
because the most part of their best men are already in
foreign employments. So as I hear, he doth intend to
take up his men in England, if he can speed better here
than he hath done in his own country, which is not very
likely. The king hath caused his navy to be newly furnished,
and keepeth it in readiness ; for what cause I know not ;
only I hear he hath had many jealousies given him of the
designs of the cardinal, who taketh on very much that
Canada is not restored.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, June 16, 1631.
Although his majesty went yesterday to Chatham, but
not the queen, and was carried against the tide, in a barge
with twelve oars, to Gravesend ; yet some business, which
1 This is the last letter extant from the Rev. Joseph Mead to Sir Martin Stute
ville, who died suddenly of an apoplexy at St. Edmond's Bury, on Monday evening,
13 June, 1631. Mr. Mead survived till October 1, 1638.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 123
hath importuned me also this morning, so that I have very
little time left me to write, would not permit me the hap
piness of seeing so glorious a sight, concerning which in
my next I must report me to the reporters, who were eye
witnesses. His majesty does well to look to his navy at this pre
sent, when as a Falmouth man, who in his bark went
to discover what the French are doing at Brest, and Blavet
in Bretagne, bringeth back news, as I was told yesterday,
that he says there are fifty men-of-war, the least of 400,
and some of 1000 tons and upwards. And yesterday it
was observed unto me, by a worthy friend of Sir Thomas
Lucy, that not only this town, but all other port towns
that lie opposite to France, do at this time swarm with
French. Amongst other of the Lords, my Lord of Holland went
along yesterday with his majesty, his friends, hoping he
would be there pronounced lord admiral, the verity whereof
I shall tell you in my next. Yesterday sennight, his lord
ship had an odd accident befel him in Theobald's Park.
A bee stung him on the cheek ; and not only that, but his
neck, his shoulder, and his arm, swelled, and was very
troublesome and grievous to him for four or five days, but
by this time I hope it is cured.
Yesterday, I heard one say my Lord Treasurer would
be declared lord admiral also, bringing this instance in
probability thereof, that in King Henry VIII.'s days
Thomas Duke of Norfolk was not only lord treasurer and
lord admiral, but earl marshal also.
Le Chevalier de Jarre, whom I think I mentioned in
my last, against his farewell had £3000 paid him out of
the exchequer for parties which he had won of the king at
tennis. My Lord of Bristol received £4000 also from
thence, but in part of payment of a more serious and con
siderable debt. And his lordship, they say, is to go am
bassador to the emperor. But to the King of Sweden and
the Protestant princes of Germany, Sir Henry Vane was
on Sunday last declared to go ambassador, which Sir Tho
mas Roe, who hath done so important services in those
parts, taketh not well.

124 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Now, as touching that brave king, if we may believe the
reports of Antwerp, they say that the Duke of Saxe having
abandoned the Protestant party, and declared himself of
the Austriacal, the king is fain to retire back toward the
Baltic Sea, Tilly giving him chase. But here is a Baron of
Moravia, who lost all for serving the King of Bohemia,
that reports quite otherwise ; namely, that the Duke of
Saxe stands firm to that Evangelical League ; that he
takes in high disdain that barbarous execution acted by
Tilly at Magdeburg, as an ignominious affront done to
him and his religion ; and that he hath persuaded Breslaw,
(called in Latin Vratislavia) the prime city of Silesia,
which the emperor some five times hath attempted and
missed of, to adhere to the King of Sweden and to him.
Also that Colonel Bouditz, one of the same king's chief
commanders, hath taken Truppa, a strong town upon the
frontiers of Moravia, and the very key thereunto : and
lastly, that all the Protestants in Bohemia, Lusatia, and
Moravia, and Silesia, will adventure their lives with the
king. It is generally reported throughout the town that the
Prince of Orange hath put his great army into garrison,
sans rien /aire, which an old soldier interpreted yesterday,
that they had so billeted them in the towns upon the con
fines, as at any forty-eight hours' warning they could draw
them to a head. It is said, besides, that the States are in
examination of some, whom they suspect to have discovered
their plans to the enemy.
But, to return home to ourselves : on Saturday, Fitz-
patrick, one of the servants and accusers of the late Earl
of Castlehaven, was arraigned in the King's Bench, and
pleaded not guilty, as his fellow Bradway had the last
term done ; and complained, as he came down from the
bar, that his life should now be called in question for
having testified the truth : and Saturday come sennight is
the day appointed, when both of them shall there comf to
their trial of life and death.
My Lord Fauconberg1 and his son have at length made
> Sir Thomas Belasyse, created Lord Fauconberg, May 25, 1627, and Viscount,
January 31,1642, for having distinguished himself in the service of the king against
the parliament. He died in 1652.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 125
their submission both to the king and my Lord Wentworth,
not only verbal, but in writing, and under their hands;
an act thereof being entered into the council-table books,
both here and at York. Whereas, there are three thousand ¦
attorneys belonging to the Common Pleas, and one thou
sand would serve to do the business, the residue being but
incendiaries and make-baits, it is said (whether earnest or
to break a jest upon that kind of people) that two thousand
of them shall be cashiered.
On Thursday last, my Lord of Salisbury, according to
appointment, went to my lord treasurer's with his counsel
and papers, to the end the matter informed against him
into the Exchequer might be heard and determined. His
lordship, having attended about half an hour in an outward
room, and being then called in, he expostulated in plain
terms with my lord treasurer, for making a person of his
quality, being an earl, a privy counsellor, and a knight of
the garter, so long to wait his lordship's leisure. But he,
putting by that thrust as handsomely as he could, and
pretending some greater business in hand, dismissed my
Lord of Salisbury and his cause till Monday. But then,
my Lord Treasurer being commissioner, joined with my
Lord Keeper, my Lord of Arundel, my Lord of Carlisle,
Earl Morton, and the Earl of Monteith, lord president of
Scotland, about the examination of certain Scotsmen, was
all day locked up ; whereby my Lord of Salisbury's cause
is put off sine die.
The Scots that were examined were, first, James Hay,
Esq., of the body, and another of his name, about speak
ing certain words (as it is thought) concerning the Marquis
Hamilton's expedition to Sweden. But they, bringing
forth their author, one Mr. Meldrum, their countryman,
were dismissed. Meldrum is now close prisoner with
Justice Heywood in Westminster. And the Lord Mackey
and the Lord Ochiltree are committed also to their lodgings.
The same Mackey, a Western or Irish Scot, being the famous-
est man of their nation in the late wars of the Kings of Den
mark and Sweden in Germany, was, of all the Scots, most
affected by the King of Sweden, and designed in his
thoughts as the fittest man, without comparison, to have

126 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
conducted over his troops, which might have been raised
out of the king's dominions ; into which employment it
hath pleased his majesty to constitute my Lord Marquis
Hamilton. Elphinston was his agent with the King of
Sweden, and Meldrum was the agent of Mackey. The
marquis going into Scotland (whether by the practice of
Mackey and his friends, or in respect of his great reputa
tion) could raise but few men, namely, not above 1500.
All these things are discoursed of; but what the point of
the examination was, is not yet clearly known abroad.
The next week, it may be, I shall be better able to tell
you.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, June 29, 1631.
Here men are still musing to know the cause of the
committing of the Scottish lords, the Lord of Ochiltree
and the Lord of Rea, with some others of that nation,
about which there have been so many, so close, and so
serious sittings kept these eighteen days ; whereof, although
the mystery be not yet unfolded to the publie knowledge,
yet thus much I am made to apprehend thereof, that there
was a plot made by some of them to cast my Lord Marquis
Hamilton into suspicion of some mischievous design by
him intended against his majesty's person and the prince ;
whereof his majesty, after a due examination of the busi
ness, hath openly justified the said lord at the council-
board, and some others that were involved in the same
accusation. And it is thought it will go hard with these
false accusers, who are to be sent back into Scotland,
there to be judged by the laws of their own country : and
this is as much as I can yet understand of this mystical
business. Upon the beginning of this week, two of the late Earl
of Castlehaven's men were condemned to death for being
accessary to his foul actions.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 127
Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, July 20, 1631.
My Lord Marquis of Hamilton did set sail from the
Downs on Sunday last, with thirty-four ships, besides
those that are set out of Scotland to meet him, with two
thousand of that nation ; so as his number is held to be at
least eight thousand. The Scottish lords that accused him
are still kept in prison here, the one in the fleet, and the
other, to wit, the Lord Rea, in the Tower, together with David
Ramsey, who is appointed to fight with him for the clear
ing of their difference. But the clergy having opposed
themselves against that course of trial, it is doubted yet
whether there shall be way given thereunto.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, September8, 1631.
On Monday, the States' ambassador caused a letter
publicly to be read in the Dutch church, and thereupon a
general thanksgiving to be made for a glorious and memo
rable victory on Friday last, obtained by the Prince of
Orange upon the Spaniards, who had some great design
either upon Lillo, the Isles of Cazant, Fergoes, or Wal-
cheren. They were 4000 soldiers, the flower of the army,
colonels, captains, officers, sans nombre, that had put on
all their richesse and bravery, with an intention to have
won honour, while they befooled and lost themselves.
They were embarked in fourscore great flat-bottomed
boats, guided by 800 mariners, which came aground at a
low water, whereby, I suppose, grew their disadvantage ;
for as yet we cannot know all the particulars. Besides,
they had along with them 100 pieces of fair brass ord
nance, that glistered like gold, and 700 great trees
chained together, and armed at the ends with great iron
pikes, as if they had been made purposely to stop up the
mouths of rivers or harbours. There were three barrels
of silver come also. Of the men, some were slain, and all
the residue to the number of 3000 taken prisoners, with all
their abovementioned luggage. Their unlucky general,

128 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Count John de Nassau, not above a year also agone
ransomed from the States, attempting, together with the
Prince of Barban<;on, to escape in a small boat, was taken
prisoner. About a fortnight agone, when they were big
with child of this project, which came to so abortive a
birth, they had a gaudy procession at Antwerp, full of
superstitious and heathenish gewgaws, whereat not only
the archduchess, but the queen-mother also, was ; being
indeed nothing else but a prologue to the ensuing tragedy.
But they will have a braver procession at the Hague,
wherein those proud Spaniards, with their adherents,
must be led in triumph. The plain, plump Hollander
proceeds in another method ; who, before any great under
taking, useth not the vain, ostentatious pomp of a pro
cession, but celebrateth a bid-day, or a general fast, which
publican-like humility (as it seems by the event) pleaseth
God better than the others Pharisaical-glory : so that now
they have no cause to sing a Te Deum, but rather to howl
out a black Sanctus.
Here is other news come to town also, though not so
ripe and certain as the former ; and that is, that the
Count Stirium, governor of the Grill, in the midway
between that and Wesel, met the Duke of Lerma, with
his Spaniards and Italians lately come out of Italy,
(there being about 8000 men on either side) and fought
a battle with him, and slew some 5000 of his followers :
for which, mine author saith farther, there hath been a
thanksgiving in Holland. But, as touching this, I will
suspend my belief until my next.
On Sunday, in the banqueting house at Whitehall, both
their majesties gave very honourable reception to Johannes
Albertus Racouski, treasurer of the Great Dukedom of
Lithuania, and ambassador extraordinary from the King
of Poland ; the lane through which he passed being
built of pensioners on the king's side, and of the
beauties of the court on the queen's. He was conducted
in and out between the Earls of Arundel and Carlisle.
From Sir Abraham Williams's, in the great palace of
Westminster, where he lodgeth, he was attended to the
court gate by trained bands of pike and shot, proper men,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 129
well armed and apparelled, who, at his return out of the
court gate, gave him two general volleys, and the like at
his own gate. Some say his errand is to demand the
eldest daughter of the Queen of Bohemia in marriage to
Uladislaus, Prince of Poland, and to appear splendid in
the court, he had made him at the Hague many curious
and costly suits of apparel, to the value of £1500, not
after the Polish, but altogether after our fashion, being the
first ambassador of that country here that ever wore any
other habit than that which is proper to his own nation.
He had scarce paid for his brave clothes, but news came,
the Queen of Poland, his mistress, was dead ; so now he
is constrained to cloud himself and his followers in mourn
ing. Dead she is for certain ; but whether in that manner
before written is controverted, it being since found out
that Mr. Gordon was not there in person, as he affirmed
both to king and queen, to my Lord of Canterbury, and to
an hundred more. This Racousky is a person of a comely
presence and promising countenance, of great birth, riches,
and learning, being able exactly to speak five or six
languages. He comes at his own charge, and hath brought
with him two great standard chestsfull of plate for his
particular use, and at his return home he is to be rewarded
with the office of a vaivod, or viceroy.
Here is arrived also the Abbate di Scaglia (he that
hath had so many midnight meetings with the late duke),
ambassador, they say, not from his own sovereign, the
Duke of Savoy, but from the King of Spain. He is
reputed a man of a working spirit, and indeed a true boute-
feu, and, aiming now at a cardinal's hat, is now come to
play his prizes, intending by his unwearied activity to
make this court the scene of negotiation for all Christen
dom. But that disgrace so lately happened to his party
in the Netherlands, will, I suppose, put water into his
wine, and will a little curb the fierceness of his spirit.
Besides, that the Spanish faction here cannot do all they
desire, doth notably appear by a very late experiment.
A certain Hollander took a prize from a Spaniard worth
£10,000. In our Admiralty Court the cause hath been
long in trial. About a month ago, his majesty wrote to
VOL. II. K

130 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Sir Henry Martin, the judge, that he should give sentence,
after so long consideration of the cause, according as 'he
thought just in his conscience, by the law of nations, the
law of the admiralty, and having respect also unto his
former treaties both with Spain and Holland. Some great
ones of the Spanish faction, considering this letter left him
at liberty to judge as he should think good, importuned
him to stop the pronouncing of the sentence until they
had spoken with his majesty, and obtained other manner
of letters, which Sir Henry said, when he saw, he would
consider of. They were at least ten days soliciting his
majesty to revoke that letter, and to send Sir Henry
another according to their mind, but found the king as
unmoveable as a rock. So Sir Henry, seeing they came
not again, gave sentence, about a fortnight ago, on the
Hollander's side.
Yesterday, upon occasion of speech concerning Mr.
Recorder's death (who, whether he be dead or alive, I
cannot certainly tell), I heard said, his majesty from hence
forth would [leave] the city to free choice of their recorder,
and would suffer no courtier to intermeddle in the business.
Captain Pennington is returned from his attendance
upon the Marquis ;l and, it is said, he landed his men near
Wolgast, in Pomerland, and lost but two of them in all
the voyage. The French, at Rouen, have lately confiscated
three score thousand pounds worth of our cloth. Do you
think, then, they will be apt to pay Burlamachi the other
moiety of the queen's portion, for which he is gone over,
except it be out of our own? The late duke8 made a
senseless war upon them, wherein they got the better;
and so now they will keep us under.
I heard merchants of great worth discourse the other
day how the Susan and Helen (according to assurance
made in this town), being bound out of Spain for this port
of London with £50,000 for the King of Spain's account,
a certain bark, by way of anticipation, coming aboard of
him in the Downs, and bringing sufficient authority to
discharge both ship and insurers, took out the treasure,
and before she could get into the coast of Flanders, was
snapt up by a Holland man-of-war.
1 Of Hamilton. 2 Buckingham.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 131
I hear that the Duke of Guise is fled quite out of
France, and gone to Rome ; and that the occasion was
this, he was about to levy some men within his government
of Provence to have stood up for Monsieur. The cardinal
being too nimble for him, went speedily to Lyons, assembled
an army there, and sent it into Provence, under the conduct
of the Marshal of Vitry ; the very approach whereof made
the duke to take to his heels.
There was lately within the court at Monceaux a great
falling out and combat between the Dukes of Chevreuse
and Montmorency. Some tell it thus : Madam de Mon-
bazon, the flower of that court, giving Monsieur de Mont
morency a scornful smile, he began to sing to her a new-
invented ballad, wherein her honour seemed to be a little
touched. She complains to Chevreuse, as her champion.
He waylays Montmorency beneath in the court, they both
draw, and Chevreuse is wounded. Another relateth it
thus : Monsieur de Montmorency taking delight to hear a
new ballad sung, wherein Madame de Chevreuse's copyhold
was touched, her husband charged him, as if he had taken
delight in his disgrace. The other denied it. He replied,
" You do well to deny it, car autrementje vous eusse Men
estrille." At which word of disgrace, Montmorency up
with his fist, and gave him a great blow upon the face.
They draw. The guards took Montmorency's part, as
being the better beloved. The end was, they were both
committed. I hear the Duke of Savoy hath required the city of
Geneva to render up their church livings, as the emperor
hath done the cities and princes of Germany.
The town of Orange had awhile ago like to have been
betrayed to the French, being, as it seems, an eyesore to
the cardinal, because it is the only Protestant town in all
France which is not yet dismantled. One Valkenburgh,
whom not only this prince, but Prince Maurice also, had
trusted with the government, some two years ago, held it
most traitorously underhand from the French, whom some
commissioners from the prince caught in a trap, and cut
his throat. Now the Baron Dhona being placed by the
prince governor there, a plot was infused into some French
K 2

1 32 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
of the same garrison to have served Dhona of the same
sauce, either coming or going from church ; whereof having
notice, he hath kept the castle ever since, and not come
down into the town. Now the French at the court, who
are not so much to be trusted, as so many petty devils, do
disavow it to the pit of hell.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, September 22, 1631.
On Sunday morning, came letters to the king out of
Germany, signifying that the emperor, having promised
the Duke of Saxony that neither he, his subjects, or terri
tories, should be molested and meddled withal, so long as
he remained neutral, Tilly, in violation of the same promise,
first besieged Erfurt, a city under the duke's protection,
and the greatest in all Germany, and wrung from them a
great composition, and, not contented with that, invaded
the duchy of Wirtemberg, the duke's own patrimony, and
burnt and spoiled at his pleasure. Yea, he pierced farther
into this country, and at last required him, in the emperor's
name, to leave his neutrality, and to declare himself. Now,
seeing he must needs, and that he was urged thereunto by
outrage and perfidious dealing, he declared himself for the
King of Sweden, and, as a sure pledge of his fidelity, de
livered Wirtemberg into his hands, being the strongest
town in all his dominions, where the scholars welcomed
his majesty with orations and gratulatory speeches. He
bade them be good followers of Luther, and pray for him,
and he would fight for them.
It is said also in the same letter that the king hath
recovered Magdeburg. I am told by others that Tilly
sought to have surprised the duke's person, but missed of
his mark ; and that, going with intention to have besieged
or surprised Leipsic, he was followed so close at the heels
by the forces of the king and duke, as he was glad to lay
aside that enterprise. As this duke hath declared himself
for the king ; so, they say, the Duke of Bavaria hath done
the like for the emperor, who, by edict, hath prohibited all

CHARLES THE FIRST. 133
his subjects to speak or write anything concerning the
King of Sweden.
Archibald Rankin, a Scot, and a servant of that king,
gave me a note entitled, " A list of the King of Spain's
forces by sea, which are taken by the Prince of Orange,
and of the prisoners likewise," ten great pontes, in every
one of which fourscore men ; fifty-eight great shallops, in
each whereof were fourscore men ; twenty frigates and flat-
bottoms, full of people, victuals, and munition, whereon
were mounted ten demi-cannon, twenty whole culverins,
all of brass, and a hundred brass pieces besides, of a lesser
bore, 300 murtherers, and about 5000 soldiers and 2000
mariners. Another note adds, eleven barrels of silver
coin, 8000 granadoes, two barrels of halters, and a great
quantity of knives, of above a foot long. The three
principal commanders which escaped away in a boat, were
Count John de Nassau, the governor of Breda, and Monsieur
de Boye, admiral of the fleet. These following remained
prisoners : the Prince of Louny, the Prince of Torsony,
the Earl of Bossa, the Earl of Dornath, the Earl Nie-
meguen, the Count del Jour, two colonels, twenty-five
captains, forty ensigns, and 4000 ordinary soldiers.
The Duke of Vendome hath obtained leave of his excel
lency to send his two capuchins, which were prisoners, to
Antwerp, which the prince condescended unto, and lent
them his coach, with six horses, and they are gone either
to the duke's mother or to the infanta; but there are kept
prisoners one Jesuit and three friars. Thus far Mr. Ran
kin's note ; which how true it is, I cannot easily aver.
For my Lord Chaworth, who was with his lady at the Spa,
and came home lately by Brussels and Antwerp since that
famous defeat, saith that there was but one man of quality
taken prisoner, and that was a gentleman of Cainbray
which attended on Don Carlos de Colonna, while he was
ambassador here. He saith besides they make nothing of
this defeat there, nor are they much moved thereat. But
by his ladyship's favour Mr. Boswell told me yesterday
that the archduchess's subjects are forbidden upon pain of
death to talk of that defeat. His lordship farther affirms
that of those ten great pontes there escaped one, and of

134 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the seventy flat-bottoms there escaped nine. He saith far
ther that the Prince of Pinelli, an Italian, before the setting
out of this fleet, asked the archduchess whether she meant
to present those boats and men to the Prince of Orange.
She, smiling, asked him what he meant by that question.
" I am in good earnest, madam," said he ; "I asked your
general, the Marquis of Santa Cruz, if he knew where the
Prince of Orange was, and what he intended, and he told
me he knew nothing at all; and therefore I concluded
with myself your highness had better make a present of
them than a sacrifice." His lordship saith farther that
Williamstadt was the place they aimed at, and that Count
John's covetousness precipitated the action ; for, being the
Prince of Orange's own town, he made account it would
have fallen to his share. And if they had won it, then
would they presently have beleaguered Bergen-op-Zoom,
and striven to have been masters of all. But "God
laughed them to scorn, and the Holy One of Israel had
them in derision." His lordship saith, moreover, that the
archduchess hath already sent the prince the ransoms of
those men that have been taken prisoners : but his excel
lency will not as yet part with them ; and therefore it is
thought he hath some enterprise in hand.
Concerning the queen mother, his lordship saith she
pleads only for justice against the cardinal for having im
prisoned her ; that she utterly disclaims to join or have
anything to do with Monsieur, and hath reduced her ex-
pences to four score pounds a day ; which is duly paid by
the archduchess to her servants, as amounteth not fully to
£30,000 a year.
On Sunday last the Polonian ambassador took his leave
of both their majesties, and at his valediction there was
one new precedent made at Denmark House, it being the
first time that ever the pensioners waited with their axes
in the privy chamber. Sir Henry Vane, also being to go
ambassador to the Kings of Sweden and Denmark, &c, did
then and there take his leave also, and brought all his gen
tlemen, both voluntaries and domestics, to kiss the king's
and queen's hands. Besides the two abovenamed, there
were three others in the court at the same time, to wit,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 135
the French ambassador, the Venetian, and the Abbate di
Scaglia, being the Savoyan ambassador.
The King of Sweden, when he begins to march any
whither, saith always this prayer, or to this effect : — " Oh,
Lord, deal with me, and with this my people, as our hearts
are inclined to relieve the oppressed."
Some, that write lately from Antwerp, do say in their
letters that upon the late defeat there was great sadness
and consternation among them. There is no such matter
as the drowning of ten thousand Spaniards in the Isle of
Princeland, hard by Williamstadt. True it is a gap was
laid open, and the sluices were ready to play, but the
Spaniards were not so foolish as to enter. The Count of
Stirium met with the Italian regiments, slew six hundred of
them, and took as many prisoners ; and had utterly de
feated and cut them to pieces had they not sheltered them
selves under the ordnance of Guelders, and got into the
town. The King of Sweden before this time cannot choose but
be master of Rostock, seeing that his forces took in
Warmind, the chief fort thereto appertaining long since.
The Marquis of Hamilton, within three or four days after
his arrival at Wolgast, marched with all his troops towards
the King of Sweden. Sir Thomas Conway and Lieutenant-
Colonel Lesley do now beat up their drums to get more
soldiers for the King of Sweden, who, they say, will not
entertain a papist in his army ; and therefore he refuseth
Sir Pierce Crosby's Irish regiments.
Since the said defeat, a certain man in Ghent had his
hand cut off, and was hanged and quartered, for having
conspired with the Prince of Orange as touching that town ;
a poor revenge, God wot.
Dr. Brookes, master of Trinity College in Cambridge,
died on Saturday ; and I hear Dr. Lucy hath the reversion
of this place. The lord chief baron,1 I hear, shall be lord
chief justice ; Baron Weston, lord chief baron ; Mr. Solici
tor, baron ; and Sir John Finch, solicitor.
1 Sir Humphrey Davenport.

136 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, October 26, 1631.
My Lord Richardson was promoted on Monday last to
be lord chief justice of the King's Bench; whose place in
the Common Pleas, Sir Robert Heath, the king's attorney,
doth now possess, and Mr. Noy, the lawyer, is made the
king's attorney, at whose choice for that place many men
have wondered.
The King of Sweden having been contented to help the
King of Bohemia with the allowance of £5000 by the
month, which he was wont to have from the States, towards
the making up of an army, the said King of Bohemia hath
thereupon moved the king our master, and is a suitor to
him by Sir Francis Nethersole's solicitation, that he may
have the like assistance to the same end from his majesty.
But, besides that we are very bare of money, the treaty
that his majesty hath in hand with the emperor at Vienna,
where Sir Robert Anstruther hath been a long time for the
peaceable accommodating of that business of the Palatinate,
doth hinder us as yet from taking any other course therein.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, October 27, 1631.
I hold it no satisfactory excuse to neglect my accus
tomed intelligence of the weekly occurrents here, although
I conceive you have them much more exactly by others,
and therefore do hereby acquaint you with the removal of
my Lord Richardson to the King's Bench upon Monday,
whither he went like a bear to a stake ; and, being there,
cried out a speech to this effect — that he hoped his ma
jesty's favour would have gone so far along with him as to
have let him have ended those few days he had to spend
in the place he was now called from. But he found that
in this world there was alteration of men's minds, healths,
and places, and thought upon his conscience that the world
was confident that he sought not for this place which his
majesty had now conferred upon him for his honour, though
some might take it for disfavour.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 137
The same day Sir Robert Heath, in his speech to the
lord keeper when he was made Serjeant, said he thought
himself happy in having had the fortune to have his ma
jesty's favour, to follow his lordship successively in two
places, and for the selfsame term of years, viz., his soli
citor and attorneyships, in both which he had the happi
ness to have his majesty's ear, with a great deal of more
favour than he could deserve by his service in either of
those places. And therefore, for a token of his thankful
ness, humbly desired his lordship to present his majesty
with a ring set round with great diamonds, being worth
£1000. Upon Tuesday he came in his Serjeant's robes
to the Common Pleas, and came not to the Hall by land,
but by water, which is not usual ; and this day or Satur
day he is to take his place of lord chief justice.
The same day Mr. Noy takes upon him the place of his
majesty's attorney, of whom there goes many merry tales ;
as, when the king told him he had resolved to make him
attorney, he demanded of his majesty what wages he would
allow him for the execution thereof, for that he was now
well cliented ; and when he was his majesty's sworn ser
vant in that place, he held it very unfitting to dishonour
his majesty or the place so much as to be called and run
from bar to bar to gain fees from other clients. The lord
keeper also having recommended a messenger unto him,
the man addressing himself to attend him one day to the
Hall, he looking back and checking the man for following
him, the man, thinking he had been but in jest, followed
him still ; at which he grew very angry, and said the
people would take him to be his prisoner, and so com
manded him home.
It holds for certain yet that the Bishop of Winchester 1
shall be the Archbishop of York : but who shall be Bishops
of Winchester or Ely will not be known in haste.
I have heard that a bishop should say unto the king,
that it had been better the defeat had fallen upon the King
of Sweden's side than upon Tilly's : but I will not affirm
it to be true, or that it was the Bishop of London.2 And
1 Dr. Richard Neile. 2 Dr. Laud.

138 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
our papists will not by any means believe that Tilly is
dead, or that his defeat was so great as is reported.
It is said the Hollanders offer to put 12,000 men into
the Palatinate, if so be our king will but allow £6000
a month towards their maintenance, which I doubt will
not be ; for that it is said that the king being in debt two
millions, when the new treasurer came into his place, the
said lord hath paid £l 60,000 thereof since, and that there
is not now £4000 in the exchequer.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, November 2, 1631,
On Sunday last here arrived one Cassill, heretofore
lieutenant to Captain Fleetwood, who was at the battle of
Leipsic with the King of Swedeland, from whom he parted
eight days after, having been near seven weeks upon the
way ; and brought a letter from him to his majesty, to
give him notice, as to his good brother and friend, of the
great and complete victory which God had given him
against his enemies, and withal to represent unto him the
fair opportunity which now was offered of restoring the
King of Bohemia to his estate. His majesty was very
exact and punctual in examining of the said Cassill upon
all the circumstances and particulars of that great action ;
whereupon, after he had answered to his satisfaction, his
majesty bestowed the honour of knighthood upon him ; his
relation being the surest, and in all likelihood the truest,
of all the advertisements we have hitherto had of the con
tingents of that victory. From the which he varieth in
divers things : for he reports, as I am informed, that the king
had not above 15,000 men, to wit, 7000 foot, and 8000
horse of his own; and the Duke of Saxony some 18,000
in all ; which together made but 33,000. Whereas Tilly
had 42,000 in his army; who at the first onset had clean
overthrown, as he reports it, the Duke of Saxony, and
made himself master of his ordnance ; so as there was only
two or three regiments left of all his army, that made head
to the enemy, all the rest and the duke himself being fled
away, whom the king soon called back to the pursuit of

CHARLES THE FIRST. 139
the victory : in acknowledgment of which great benefit he
brought, as this man saith, presently after the same, three
months' pay for the king's service, and to the king himself
a present of four mules laden with gold : and all the loss
that he reports to have been made between them at the
battle is of 1200 men; whereas Tilly lost above 15,000,
besides the prisoners and all the riches and provision of
his camp, he himself being hurt in two or three places,
but yet he could not hear that he was dead.
Neither do Sir Henry Vane's letters newly received,
written from Leipsic in his way to the King of Sweden,
import the same ; but rather that he is recovered of his
wounds, and gathering a new army, though many there
are still that will lay wagers to the contrary. But the
king having divided his army which is very strong, and
now plentifully supplied with all manner of provisions,
into two parts, doth so waylay and stop all the passages,
having made himself master of all the country of Franconia,
as that it will be hard for them to join their forces toge
ther; which if they could bring to pass would make, no
question, a very great army in those parts, besides the
forces that the emperor hath yet in Silesia ; for that the
Infanta, as we hear, is now sending up 10,000 men, and
the Duke of Lorraine a greater number, unto him, to join
with his own forces and those of the Catholic league,
which now must needs be much weakened and shaken by
this great blow, and by the incursions which the king
maketh now in the bishops' countries. In the mean time,
the two good towns of Rostock and Wismar have yielded
to the King of Sweden, and those forces, that blocked
them up under the Duke of Mecklenburg's command, are
now free to be employed any where else.
For the Duke of Saxony, we hear he is now with the
Lord Marquis of Hamilton in Silesia. Of the Duke of
Bavaria we can hear no certainty.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, November 9, 1631.
Upon Thursday last the Duke of Vendome, illegitimate
brother to the queen, arrived here from out of the Low

1 40 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Countries, and is lodged at Sir Abraham Williams' house.
Upon Friday morning, about four of the clock, the queen
was (God be praised) safely delivered of a princess, who
was christened the same morning by reason it was weak,
1 (as some say) it being born three weeks before the time.
But I have heard it was done to save charges and to pre
vent other christening. The name Mary : the Countesses of
Carlisle and Denbigh godmothers, and the lord keeper
godfather ; and the nurse, one Mrs. Bennet, (some say wife
to a baker) and daughter to Mrs. Browne that keepeth
Somerset House.
Concerning the new sheriffs, Mr. John Temple was
pricked for your shire ; * but I now hear he is like to get
off, the king being angry that the best men in the shires
be not put into the bill, and that the sheriffs keep or
dinaries. The foreign news here this week is that the king of
Sweden should have put a garrison into Frankfort : the
Duke of Bavaria fled out of the Palatinate with all his
goods into his own territories, whither the king intendeth
to follow him, being 50,000 strong; and the papists say,
that Tilly hath gathered together again between twenty and
thirty thousand men.
This night the old Earl of Kellie's young lady was
buried in St. Clement's church.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering.
London, November 17, 1631.
The last week growing acquainted with Sir John Cassill,
he that was knighted by his majesty for bringing letters
from the King of Sweden, I asked him whether he came
by the way of Hamburg ; and whether he met my lord
ambassador, Sir Henry Vane, there ? He said he did both,
and that he was come thither before his lordship, and was
the first man that related the King of Sweden's victory
unto him. Which having done, he told me, his lordship
grew very blank thereat, and retired himself with much
sadness to his chamber. Whereat Sir John said, that he
1 Warwickshire.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 141
himself was much out of countenance, and asked some of
his gentlemen whether their lord were not a papist, that
showed so little affection to the good success of the Pro
testants. He saith, moreover, that he had heard his lord
ship's errand was to persuade that victorious king to a
peace : which message, how unseasonable it would be, now
that brave king hath the law in his own hands, you may
easily judge ; for by that rule of Tacitus, " Arma tenenti
qui justa negat, omnia dat," the emperor hath given him
all ; and he is in a fair way to his throne regal to add one
imperial crown. But since the victory, I hear Sir Henry
Vane hath received new instructions more suitable to the
time and occasion.
On Sunday, one Mr. Hurst, secretary to Sir Robert
Anstruther, brought letters from his master now resident
at Vienna in the emperor's court ; and he told a friend of
mine that the first question the king asked him was, what
was become of Tilly ? Whereto he answered, that my lord
ambassador his master had inquired of the emperor, of his
counsellors and courtiers, and all others that were like to
know any thing, and findeth that from the day of the battle
to the day of Mr. Hurst's coming away, they had no certain
news at Vienna, whether Tilly were dead or alive : and
therefore in probability a man may conclude him to be
dead, though not in certainty. On the contrary, the mer
chants of this town, both Dutch and English, that have any
correspondence in Germany, though they wish as well to
the King of Sweden as to their own hearts, are generally
of opinion that Tilly yet liveth, because their letters, espe
cially from Frankfort upon the Maine, do still mention
Tilly and his army, which they say about the end of Oc
tober was encamped at Assenburg, within three Dutch miles
of that town, as if they had taken it pro confesso that he
is living ; and that, as the king is on the one side of the
Rhine, so he is on the other. And yesternight a gentleman
of very good intelligence told me, that whether Tilly be
dead, or whether he be alive, all commands hitherto in
that army go under his name : and it may be it is his
nephew's that stands for a stale. He told me further that
not only the emperor's, but the King of Spain's ambas-

142 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
sador was with the Duke of Saxe, to lay all the fault of
Tilly's invading his country, and of his more than savage
cruelty at Magdeburg, upon Tilly's own shoulders, and to
put the duke in mind what good offices the House of
Austria had to him and his predecessors in estating them
first in that great and rich dukedom, and to proffer him
satisfaction for all damages, &c. The duke denied not the
good offices done to his family by the House of Austria,
but affirmed withal he had done them as good offices in re
storing to them at his own charge, and with the loss of
his reputation, those revolted provinces of Lusatia, Mo
ravia, and Silesia ; and, likewise, that whereas of late
he presented most humble petitions to his imperial majesty
for redress of sore grievances, both he and they were
rejected and despised ; and not only that, but his country
by the emperor's general overrun with fire and sword. And,
therefore, if they would obtain any thing of him, they
must first begin at the King of Sweden, who had redeemed
him and his country out of the jaws of destruction. And
he makes this accusation laid by both ambassadors against
Tilly a probable argument of his death.
Mr. Hurst, as Sir Andrew Boyd told me from his
mouth, saith farther, that the reason why Tilly's name yet
stands may be this : he heard that one Piccolomini, an
Italian, a general of Tilly's ordnance, being the man that
first re-collected Tilly's scattered troops into a body,
called it by the name of Tilly's army. He saith, more
over, that at Vienna they set a good face upon an ill game,
telling the people it is but a flea-biting ; and that they
will (yes, marry, will they) quickly set the Swede packing.
But he saith, if the emperor lose but one battle more,
farewell, then, House of Austria.
And, for the restitution of the Palatinate, Sir Robert
Anstruther's chaplain writes, the emperor gives none but
dilatory answers, referring him to a future treaty to be
made between his imperial majesty and the King of Spain ;
which for the King of Bohemia's profit may be concluded
ad Calendas Grcecas.
I was told, yesterday, that the archduchess had sent up
into the Palatinate 15,000 men; which is an argument

CHARLES THE FIRST. 143
the King of Spain means never to deliver his part up by
treaty. But some Dutchmen tell me, there can be no
such matter, because the Prince of Orange hath laid so
many traps in their way ; but that the King of Bohemia
himself, if he be not already gone, is very shortly to march
up with an army of 12,000 men.
Concerning the King of Sweden, one Mr. Perkins, son-
in-law to Sir William Courteen, writes from Francfort
by the last post that, coming before the Castle of Wurtz-
burg (in Latin, Herbipolis) the strongest fort in Franconia,
he was driven, with the loss of many of his men, to take
it by assault, putting all he found there armed to the
sword, and saving all the rest. Here the bishop of that
place, esteemed one of the richest princes in Germany, and
most of the inhabitants thereabout, had hoarded up their
treasure, which Mr. Perkins saith was so huge a mass, as
it could amount to no less than one hundred tuns of gold,
every tun being £10,000 sterling; in the total, ten hun
dred thousand pounds sterling.
There in Franconia, they say, being the garden of
Germany, he purposeth to make his seat of residence, and
his magazine for the wars, and therefore is now strongly
fortifying of Bamberg and Wurtzburg, and hath sent for
his queen to be brought to bed in Wurtzburg Castle,
where, besides that mine of treasure, he found 100 pieces
of brass ordnance (whereof 26 had the King of Bohemia's
arms upon them) and as many lesser weapons as would
arm 30,000 men, besides store of ammunition. Yea, the
said Mr. Perkins (who, they say, is a discreet man) writeth
farther, that the king hath already two third parts of
Germany at his devotion.
The same king now lately sent Sir Thomas Roe a
present of copper, worth £2500, whereof, when he heard
news, he went presently to his majesty, and told him the
King of Sweden had sent him a present. If his majesty's
pleasure were he should receive it, he would ; if not, he
would send it back again. " God forbid, Sir Thomas,"
said the king, " that I should deprive you of it, having
done so good and faithful service for us both." And
indeed his majesty had reason to do no less ; for I have

1 44 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
heard Sir Thomas Roe is £7000 behindhand for that his
ambassage, having himself defrayed all the charge of his
voyage. Therefore, I would have no friend of mine to become
an ambassador. The king, in his letter to Sir Thomas
Roe, acknowledgeth that, by his most secret counsels and
conferences with him, he was excited and animated to this
just and honourable war in Germany. And so the lords
here say, that Sir Thomas needs none other epitaph.
Besides, what an honour is it to King Charles, that had an
ambassador who was a prse-consultor to so lofty an action.
The Landgrave of Hesse hath taken the city and terri
tories of Paderborn in Westphalia, and puts them to con
tribution. I should have told you how the king met with
Piccolomini's army above-mentioned, and cut off five regi
ments of them. Mr. Perkins saith he bends towards
Bavaria. The deputies of the Spiritual Electors ran out
of Francfort for fear of "the king's approach, being within
six Dutch miles of that town.
The Duke of Lorraine hath supplied the emperor with
6000 foot and 2000 horse. They say, the emperor is
obtaining from his Holiness a bull of crusade against the
King of Sweden, the benefit whereof is to be enjoyed in
purgatory ; whither the king, if they come in his way, is
like to send them, as fast as a northern wind this autumn
blows leaves off the trees. For he is already, in printed
books, styled Gustavus Magnus.
Some talk here of a parliament, and others of the king's
journey into Scotland ; both which cannot stand together.
My lady of Roxburgh is made governess to the princess.
The emperor hath made his son general, and Wallenstein
lieutenant-general of his army about Vienna, &c.
There are seaffolds and seats made up in the Painted
Chamber, for a lord great constable shortly to sit there to
give sentence upon the Lord Mackey and Mr. David Ram
sey, what they are to do or suffer. Some say, my Lord
Arundel shall be the man, and others my Lord of Lindsey ;
and that whosoever be must have an earl marshal there
subordinate unto him.
Sir James Wingfield, whilom of Kimbolton Castle, in
Huntingdonshire, was lately delivered out of Lincoln's Inn,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 145
by the benchers, into the hands of justice, for having upon
an arrest most cruelly wounded and mangled one Brooke,
under-sheriff of Middlesex.1
Yesterday, they rang for the queen's birthday, to-day
for Queen Elizabeth's coronation, and on Saturday for
King Charles's birthday, being now thirty-one years of
age. An alderman told me my Lord of Suffolk 2 is dead. ,
Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, November 29, 1631.
I am this week to present you with the joyful news of
the winning of Prague, by Count Thorne, who, upon his
arrival in Bohemia, with some of the Duke of Saxony's
and of the King of Sweden's forces, the country people
flocked unto him ; and he no sooner appeared before the
city but it yielded without any blows. It is also said,
that Tilly is certainly dead ; and that he died at Cologne
the first of this month, stilo novo. Frankfort is yielded
up to the King of Sweden, by composition ; and the
emperor's forces lying between Bavaria and the Palatinate,
the king fortifieth such towns as he hath already got in
those parts, and for the present lieth still until some
forces, which he expecteth, come unto him.
Upon Sunday, at the going to the chapel, the king took
the lord chamberlain's white wand from him, and gave
him, in lieu thereof, a silver mace, and made him lord high
constable, for the trial of the difference betwixt Donald
Mackay, Lord Rea, and Mr. David Ramsey. On Monday,
the Marshal's Court was held in the Painted Chamber.
The commission granted only unto the lord high constable
and the earl marshal : and the lords assistants were the
Lords of Pembroke, Dorset, Carlisle, Mulgrave, Morton,
Mentieth, Falkland, Wimbledon, and Wentworth. The
commission being read by Mr. Dethick, the king's proctor,
the lord marshal (and not the high constable, which was
much noted, he having the chiefest place) directed all, and
made a short speech, wherein he showed first the king's
1 A scion of the WingSeld family, descended from Sir Richard Wingfield, one of
the ablest military commanders of his time, of Kimbolton Castle. This noble seat
Sir James sold to Sir Henry, afterwards Baron Montagu.
2 Theophilus, second Earl of Suffolk, who did not die till June 3, 1640.
VOL. II. L

146 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
great care and watchfulness, that it might be a just, equal,
and legal trial. Next, the legality and usefulness of this
kind of trial upon the like occasions. And, lastly, the
error which the multitude ran into, in conceiving that a
marshal's court cannot be called, but of consequence a
combat must be fought within one or two days ; which
was a thing neither so suddenly nor certainly to be con
cluded. The lord marshal's speech ended, the Lord Rea and
Mr. Ramsey were brought to the bar by two heralds, and
placed in their places, which were the breadth of the
court asunder. Which done, the king's advocate, Dr.
Duck, made a relation of the whole proceedings of the
business until this time ; and of the legality in bringing it
to this kind of trial, alleging it to be justifiable, both out
of the writings of learned men, and also by precedents in
this kingdom.
This done, the Lord Rea and Mr. Ramsey were called
from the bar, and brought up to the bench, and so stood
on either side of the court under the lords. The Lord
Rea, being asked what he had to say against Mr. Ramsey,
did present a petition he had formerly preferred to the
king, which he desired might be read openly in court;
which was performed by the king's proctor. The effect
whereof was, that his accusation against Mr. Ramsey was
not out of any malice, ostentation, or thirst of his blood :
and, therefore, if the truth might appear, either by the
trial of Mr. Myldred, whose examination had been taken
in this business, or by another lawful way, he desired
not this way : otherwise, he did not petition out of any
fear of combating, which he would willingly perform ; and
did humbly pray his majesty's favour so far as to let him
have the advice of his counsel in the way of his proceed
ing : which his majesty having granted him, he had
engrossed his accusation in parchment, and so delivered it
unto the king's proctor to read. The effect being that,
having met and conferred several times with Mr. Ramsey,
in Sweden, Germany, and the Low Countries, Mr. Ramsey
had not only sought to draw him into actions of treason,
but also spoken disloyally of the government of this king
dom ; viz., that the realm was so governed that it was not

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 47
for an honest man to live in it ; which caused him to live
out of it. Whereunto he answering, " God amend it !"
Mr. Ramsey replied, " We must help God to amend it ;"
and that my Lord Marquis would come over with some
troops, ere it were long, and then some course might be
taken for the redress of such things as were amiss ; and,
in the mean time, he was so furnished with money that he
could spend £5 or £6 a day. All which he was ready to
make good with his life ; and, for a pledge, threw down
his glove into the court.
Upon which, Mr. Ramsey being demanded what he could
say in defence of this accusation, he entered into a dis
course how improbable it was that he should carry himself
so disloyally. Unto which the lord marshal said, " Mr.
Ramsey, I am loth to interrupt any gentleman speaking in
his own defence, yet must advise him either to speak punc
tually to the points of his accusation ; or otherwise peti
tion the king that he might have the advice of counsel to
draw his answer thereunto." To which he replied, " that
all that he could say was, that all that the Lord Rea had
objected against him was false, and he would justify
the same with his life ;" and so threw down his glove as
his pledge for performance thereof. Whereupon the
lord marshal advised Mr. Ramsey not to disadvantage his
cause by so general a denial, for that he could not but
confess that they had met and conferred together; and
therefore said he would not compel any man to take coun
sel, but he could wish he would suffer his answer to be
drawn and put in writing by his counsel, to every point of
his accusation. The which he yielding unto, the court
ordered, that the Lord Rea should put in sureties to pro
secute his accusation ; and Mr. Ramsey to put in sureties
to put in his answer and defence by a day to be limited.
Whereupon Sir Walter Crosby, Sir Pierce Crosby, and two
more Scotsmen were bound body for body for the Lord
Rea ; and the Lord Roxburgh and another Scots lord, body
for body for Mr. Ramsey ; as also that they should keep
the peace in the mean time, especially each to the other.
And so the court adjourned until Friday next. l2

148 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering.
London, December 1, 1631.
I hear, my Lord Craven1 made proffer to the king to levy,
at his own charge, for the service of the King of Bohemia
3000 [men], and give them coats of arms, and allow them
victuals, until they be delivered up in Holland. Whereto
his majesty's answer was that he could not resolve any
thing in the business, until he had heard from Sir Henry
Vane his ambassador, who is now with the King of Sweden.
It is reported about the town (how truly I know not) that
all the English have forsaken the Marquis Hamilton,
because he would force them, contrary to nature in a
manner, both to beat and march the Scottish march. I
should have told you before, if I had remembered so much,
that my Lord Craven is upon his departure, if not already
departed for the Low Countries.
Whereas, on Tuesday was fortnight, the Earl of Middle
sex being called in question, in the Exchequer chamber,
about an account of fourscore thousand pounds, desired
that he might have the objections urged against him, to
consider of, and that his cause might have a private hear
ing. On Tuesday was sennight my lord keeper in the
same place delivered that his majesty's pleasure was, that
cause should come to a public and legal trial, to the end
that if his majesty did abate the earl any thing, or favoured
him in aught, it might appear to issue out of his mere
grace and bounty. And on Saturday, the barons, in open
court, by having discovered some error, reversed the judg
ment entered in that court in confirmation of his pardon,
and so have frustrated it, and laid him open to the law :
and some say, if he escape for £10,000, he makes a good
day's work of it.
The same day, also, those barons adjudged to my Lord
of Carlisle nine houses in Wapping under a title of con
cealment called par presture, that is to say, encroachment
upon the Kmg's Waste, as if they had won the ground
their houses stand upon out of the river of Thames, which
1 William Baron Craven, of Hamsted-Marshall, Berks; subsequently created an
earl.

CHARLES THE FIRST. I 49
belongeth to none but his majesty. His lordship, as I take
it, hath followed this suit these ten years, and sueth for
above sixscore houses more ; and it is thought the con
demnation of those nine will make all the rest come in
and compound, which, standing upon one level with the
nine, will at last be found to be in the same predicament.
And, for that purpose, Mr. Attorney is commanded to
make diligent inquiry whether there be any par prestures
in that place, or no ?
On Friday, at noon, came the first news of the taking of
Prague, the chief city of Bohemia, from the emperor by
Count Thorne, from Calais ; and the same night was
thoroughly and indisputably confirmed by the post of
Antwerp, who brought letters in his budget testifying the
same, not only from Frankfort, Nuremberg, &c, but also
from Prague itself. And it is not only confessed by our
papists, but even by the Spanish resident himself, and by
Signor Almerigo the Florentine agent, who is as much ad
dicted to the cause of Austria as any Spaniard. My lord
treasurer likewise had letters to the same effect ; so that
it is as clear and manifest as the sun in the meridian. The
manner was this : — Count Thorne, the first peer (as I un
derstood him) in that kingdom, and the chief worker of
the King of Bohemia to that crown, and he that caused
the emperor's commissioners to be fenestrated or cast out
of the windows of the Castle of Prague, and that ever
since the loss of that city to the emperor had lived in
exile, stripped of all his goods, lands, and possessions ; this
Count Thorne, I say, having with five hundred fore-run
ning horse attempted the minds of the people, and prof
fering liberty to those whom the emperor had kept in
slavery, all the country showed themselves most ready to
revolt, and at the presence of the count did actually so.
He had (so far as I can conjecture) six thousand men of
the King of Sweden, which, upon the probability or rather
certainty of a general revolt, were strengthened with some
troops of the Duke of Saxony. He sent word beforehand
to Prague, that whosoever would depart with bag and
baggage, might; and so accordingly many did. When
he approached near the town, Don Baltazar, a Spanish

1 50 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
governor thereof, and Wallenstein Duke of Friedland, fell
a persuading the people and soldiers to help them to make
resistance; but they found their devotions so cold both
towards them and their master the emperor, as, pretending
to go parley with Count Thorne, they rode out of the gate,
and there turned their bridles, and made all the haste they
could towards Budweitz, the strongest town of all Bo
hemia upon the frontiers of Austria. The count being
entered the city, pillaged the Jesuits and the Jews, and
none else. And that he might give his enemies no rest,
having added, to his Swede and Saxon, Bohemian forces
also, he marched forthwith towards Budweitz ; which those
that write out of Germany say, he will not be long in
taking in. And for aught that I know, those of Austria
may be as ready to revolt as their neighbours of Bohemia,
being no less oppressed.
They write from Nuremberg, that the emperor's army,
and that an huge one of between 50,000 and 60,000 men,
was, when the letter was written, viz., November 8, old style,
in the marquisate of Anspach, some ten miles from thence,
at a place called Rottemberg. They demanded of Nurem
berg provision for 3000 horse, or else threatened they
would burn all the villages round about that town. But
the Nurembergers gave them the negative, saying they
were already engaged to the King of Sweden, to whom
they had lately sent 50,000 rix-dollars. The same man
(who is a weekly writer to his correspondent here) saith
farther, that both Ulm and Strasburg have declared them
selves for the king, and do levy as many men for him as
briskly they can.
Now it is confessed by all men, that Tilly died the 23rd
of October ; and so we shall no more be haunted with his
ghost. The Duke of Ferria, governor of Milan, having taken
from the Venetians, that held it in deposito, the Valtoline,
hath urged the French king to send an army into Italy,
either to hinder or divert his proceedings ; and the Duke
of Savoy is now altogether French.
The last news I have heard is, that the people of Mes
sina in Sicily having slain some of the custom-house for

CHARLES THE FIRST. 151
setting afoot some new imposition, the governor coming
down out of the castle to do justice upon the malefactors,
the townsmen made head against him, and drove him back
with the slaughter of 500 of his Spanish soldiers. The
like tumult upon the same occasion was lately in Biscay,
whither the King of Spain having sent an alcalde or judge
to do justice upon the mutineers, they made no more ado
but knocked him on the head. Then the king sent word
he would visit them with an army of 30,000 men. They
answered, he should then meet with an army of 30,000
men.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 14, 1631.
I will tell you the freshest news first, and for the other,
valeant ut valere possint. I was told yesternight by a
very good hand that the Lord Ochiltree (he that accused the
Marquis of Hamilton, and the prime of the kindred in
Scotland, of treason in the most transcendent degree), was
lately beheaded in Edinburgh. When he came to be
arraigned before the commissioners, he was assigned two
advocates to plead for him, Nicholls and Hudson, who,
"being called to the bar, besought their lordships that were
commissioners to excuse them, for they were ashamed to
open their mouths for so guilty a person, or in so foul a
cause. And David Ramsey is like to speed little better
here ; for yesterday, at the Lord High Constable's Court,
after Dr. Eden, his counsel, had pleaded for him the best
he could, it was ordered that Mackay should, on Monday,
produce testimonies against him for the proof of three
things : 1 , of certain exhibits or letters, whereby it will
plainly appear that he had written as much as Mackay
charged him to have spoken ; 2, that being sent to the
Prince of Orange and the States from the Marquis of
Hamilton, he demanded the audience and reception of an
ambassador, as if he had been sent from a king ; 3, that
since their confinement of the one to Richmond and of the
other to Greenwich, Ramsey, contrary to all orders, sent
Mackay a private challenge ; which very case, in Richard

152 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
II.'s time, cost one man's life, as making him guilty of his
adversary's accusation. Besides, Mackay is approved for
his modesty and grave temper, not only by the Lords but
by the spectators; and the other as much censured for
his impatience and intemperate behaviour. And for the
clearing of somewhat in this business, Sir Thomas Roe,
being newly gone down into Northamptonshire, is sent for
in all post haste.
The post of Antwerp, which should, according to custom,
have been here on Friday, came not till yesterday ; and,
as himself, so his news came far short of our expectation ;
for we here dreamed, and it-was said to be written out of
Holland and other places, that the King of Sweden had
taken not only Mentz but Coblentz, Bonn, and Cologne
also : and that he meant not to stop till he came as far as
Wesel and Burick, that he might make his dominion con
tiguous to the territories of the States. But we hear now,
it is far otherwise, because these letters report he hath not
so much as taken Mentz, nor sat down before it; for
going from Frankfort towards the north side of the Rhine,
and Mentz standing on the south side, and the river being
there very broad, when he attempted to make a bridge
to pass over his army, he was (some say twice, others
thrice) repulsed by the enemy. And why should any*
general at all times expect desired success. True virtue
is redoubled by opposition, as in philosophy, heat by anti-
peristases of cold. Si hdc non succedat, alia ineundum
est via.
Some say here, that the French king is gone to conquer
Lorraine, not only because he hath harboured Monsieur,
his brother, but also for that he is gone in person, with
the greatest forces he can make, to aid the emperor. In
case it prove true, it will make a brave diversion of
Spaniards and Imperialists from Mentz and out of the
Palatinate, for the King of Sweden's advantage, and they
say there are 5000 men in garrison at Mentz, whereof
2000 are Spaniards.
qx By one and the same courier, two reasons were given
for probability of a parliament, as, namely, that the French
king will not pay the other half of the queen's portion,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 153
until her jointure be confirmed by Act of Parliament ;
and, secondly, because Sir John Eliot and Mr. Selden have
lately been courted and caressed by some great men, who
are most in danger to be called in question. And two
reasons also for the queen's mother coming over : first, in
that the king, her son, hath given her notice, that if she
will live in any place out of the King of Spain's dominions,
she shall have her whole revenues (being not so little as
£100,000 a-year) paid her. Otherwise, not a groat. And
secondly, because the Duke of Vendome, who cannot
abide her, because she was author of his seven years' im
prisonment, is making haste to be gone out of England,
albeit he intended to stay all winter, until he heard the
news of her coming.
Sir Robert Honeywood, agent for the King of Bohemia,
hath been very earnest in persuading his majesty to a
present contribution towards the recovery of the Palati
nate, saying, that the most direct and honourable way is
by the sword, especially in this present conjuncture, when
the King of Sweden is so victorious near the place. That
the Emperor and King of Spain have for two years
together delayed and deluded his majesty by treaty, and
will do so to the [end,] as intending never to part with
that by way of treaty, which they have gained by the
sword. And suppose it should be rendered back by treaty,
yet that would not be done by those two haughty princes,
without imposing some base submissions and some un
worthy conditions upon the King of Bohemia and his
posterity. The final resolution was, that letters should be
sent both to the king and the emperor by one and the same
messenger (which cannot perform the journey in less than
two months) ; and if their answers be either negative or
dilatory, then must a second war break out against Spain,
and a parliament be summoned for recovery of the Pala
tinate. Sir Henry Vane had his audience of the King of Sweden
at Wurtzburg, the 6th of November, and is now returned
back down the Meine and the Rhine, and it is thought he
will be here again by Christmas. He sent his letters by
one Gifford, a Jesuited fellow, who detracts from the King

] 54 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
of Sweden as much as he can ; yet hath brought a letter
from him to our king, assuring his majesty he will take
order that the custom of our merchants' goods at Dantzic
and Elbing shall be brought down from 14 in the hundred
to the old rate of 3i per cento. The Queen of Spain is
come to Erfurt, the greatest city in Germany, and in the
heart thereof, guarded from Stetin, in Pomerland, only
with four troops of horse, and passing as quietly as if she
had been in Sweden. The cities through which she passed
did stamp upon great medals or coins of gold her king's
picture and hers, in honour of them both, which were no
less than high treason to the emperor, if he were able to
revenge it ; but now, on the contrary, even in Imperial
towns themselves, it is accounted treason to have intelli
gence with the emperor, as lately in Bremen, where some
of the citizens were clapt in prison by the magistrates for
the same cause.
Wismar is now taken for certain, and the Marquis of
Hamilton and Duke of Mecklenburg said to be joined with
the King of Sweden.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 14, 1631.
The King of Sweden had no farther intent, at his first
landing in Germany, than to settle himself upon some river,
and therefore to fortify himself, chiefly, if he could, upon
the Elbe ; and then, without any farther proceeding at
that time in Germany, to fall upon the emperor's countries
of Silesia, Bohemia, and the rest. But his great victory
against Tilly, having carried him beyond the scope of his
design, he hath left the execution thereof upon those
countries to his lieutenants, and himself hath prosecuted
the game against the bishops and the body of their league,
which was the chief strength of that party, professing his
only end to be to restore the true religion and public
liberty in Germany, which the emperor, with the help of
the said league, had almost suppressed.
Concerning the confederate princes of Leipsic, it is true
that hitherto the Duke of Saxony and the Landgrave of

CHARLES THE FIRST. 155
Hesse have showed themselves almost the only actors.
But although the Elector of Brandenburg do not war
himself in person, yet he doth contribute both his men,
towns, and money to the war ; and both the Duke of
Weimar and the Duke of Mecklenburg have put them
selves in the field. But the Administrator of Wirtemberg,
either out of fear, being threatened by the emperor's forces,
or rather out of a bad affection, took a clean contrary
course, betook himself to the emperor's party, and deli
vered into his hands his two nephews, the young Duke of
Wirtemberg and his brother, so as now he is held for no
other than an enemy.
The other princes of the Confederacy, being able to do
little of themselves, are not much spoken of : only we hear
that the Duke George of Lunenburg is levying good troops
for the King of Swedeland, and that the circle of the
Lower Saxony have now declared themselves for him ; and
are likewise preparing a little army for the common de
fence. The Landgrave of Darmstadt, who had always held
strongly for the emperor's side, and had been much sup
ported by him against the Landgrave of Cassel, hath now
yielded to the victorious fortune, and put himself and his
country into the said king's hand. Of whose proceedings,
since my last, we have not had any certain advertisements,
nor of any farther action in tliose parts. Only there is a
report that the Count John de Nassau is come back with
his army into Flanders, and hath left his cannon behind
him, not being able, by reason of the foul ways, to bring
it along with him. And on the other side it is reported
that the States are preparing a hundred companies of foot
and thirty companies of horse to go up to the Palatinate ;
but under whose command I do not yet understand.
At the town of Anspach, where the Electors of Bran
denburg use to be buried, I hear the imperialists have been
so barbarous as to break open their graves, and scattered
their bones abroad. Whereupon the Swedish cried out
against them that they did use their cowardly revenge
against the dead, because they durst not look the living in
the face.

156 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
The King of Sweden is made and acknowledged by all
the Confederates for the director of the war in Ger
many. The two Scottish men's business, which, from Friday last,
after the hearing of the Lord Rea's reply, had been put off
to this day, to hear Mr. Ramsey's rejoinder, hath been
now put off again to Monday next, for the hearing of the
proofs.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December21, 1631.
By a courier come from Sir Henry Vane since the
writing of my last, by him despatched from Frankfort
the ~ of this month, we understand that the King
of Swedeland being solicited by those of Nuremberg for
relief against the emperor's army, which had besieged them,
he turned back from the Rhine with his army that way.
But, as soon as the Imperialists heard of his coming, they
raised their siege, and withdrew themselves from thence.
Whereupon those of the town, being gone forth in the pur
suit of them, killed and took a good number of them, and
amongst the rest the Count of Anhalt, a man of good
account on the enemy's side, who is now prisoner in the
said town. Whereby the Imperialists have now betrayed
their weakness, and the said king confirmed the reputation
of his strength, and his credit with his allies, having shown
himself able and ready to assist them. Which being done,
he came back presently towards the Rhine, whereon he
had set up a bridge at this courier's coming away from
those parts, and was that day gone before the town of
Oppenheim to besiege it. He reports that there are ten
thousand Spaniards in the Palatinate, and that he met with
fifteen hundred horse besides about Namur, going up
thither out of Flanders. He doth believe Tilly to be alive,
but reporteth him (as some others had done before) to be
so weakened in his brains, as that he is no better than a
dead man ; and is confident that Pappenheim is the man
that commandeth now the emperor's army.
Here is at present a gentleman newly come from the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 157
queen mother, who, as I understand, doth not now so much
press her coming over as she did before.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 28, 1631.
After the King of Sweden had passed on this side of the
Rhine, by means of a bridge which he made with boats
taken from those of Wormes, he went and besieged the
town of Oppenheim, wherein were 3000 Spaniards for the
defence of the same, whom he put to the sword, having
taken the town by assault ; and then took by composition
the cities of Mentz and Wormes, and the towns of Creut-
nach, Stein, and others, in the Palatinate, wherein there
are not any able to make him resistance, saving only the
town of Frankendale ; so as by the virtue of that brave
king, that poor country is in a fair way of its deliverance
from the claws of the Spanish and Popish tyranny. And
though it came not directly from them into the right
owners' hands, yet I am persuaded there is so good an in
telligence between the recoverer and his majesty for them,
as that, with the performance of some conditions which he
hath demanded of us, he will be friendly, and restore it
into their possession. To which end I understand that his
majesty hath resolved to assist him with £100,000.
On the other side we have these and other good and
admirable tidings out of Bohemia, that the emperor's army,
lately driven from Nuremberg, being entered into that
kingdom for the defence of the same against the new con
queror's, hath been utterly overthrown and defeated in set
battle by the old Count of Thorne, with a very great
slaughter, namely, of the General Tiffenbach and divers
others of the chief commanders of the said army. Where
upon, it is reported that the whole country of Moravia is
come into the victorious hands ; and that in Bohemia
there is only the town of Budweitz remaining for the em
peror, who upon this new misfortune is said to have with
drawn himself from Vienna to Gratz. These great news
we had this day at court, to cheer up our Christmas with,
which the king hath particularly expressed upon this occa-

1 58 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
sion. The Duke of Vendome is departed this day to go
back into France.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 12, 1631-2.
This other day, Sir John Eliot's attorney-at-law told
me he had been with him long since his removal into his
new lodging, and found him the same cheerful, healthful,
undaunted man that ever he was.
My Lord Rutland, as I am told by an intimate courtier,
goes to church, and therefore needs pay no more for recu
sancy. Mr. Giffard, (he that brought letters from Sir
Henry Vane, and did pocket up the lie given him by Sir
John Cassell before many in the queen's privy-chamber)
before his return back agaiD, was sworn gentleman of the
privy-chamber extraordinary, whereat some repining, my
Lord of Arundel, his noble patron, to hit their envy in the
eye, caused one of his sons to be sworn after him to the
like place. Some say Giffard received a double incon-
veniency thereby ; first, in that being a fellow extremely
Jesuited, he was fain to take the oath of supremacy, where
upon, some that were by do say that he stared and looked
wild, as if he had been distracted : secondly, by this
honour laid upon him his mouth was stopped from asking
any other recompense either for his pains or charges.
Mr. William Boswell, a clerk of the council extraor
dinary, who was joined in commission with my Lord of
Carlisle when he was in Italy as secretary for the ambas
sage, and one of the ablest and honestest men of our
nation, is designed by his majesty to be resident in the
Hague in place of Sir Dudley Carleton, nephew to my
Lord of Dorchester. The lord high constable's court for
trial of Mackay and Ramsey was adjourned from Monday
till to-day ; where what the event will be I cannot relate
unto you till my next.
, The last Sunday night the king's masque was acted in the
/IBanqueting House, the queen's being suspended till an
other time by reason of a soreness which fell into her deli
cate eyes. The inventor or poet of this masque was Mr.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 159
Aurelian Townshend, sometimes towards the Lord Trea
surer Salisbury, Ben Jonson being for this time discarded,
by reason of the predominant power of his antagonist,
Inigo Jones, who this time twelvemonth was angry with
him for putting his own name before his in the title-page,
which Ben Jonson made the subject of a bitter satire or
two against Inigo.1
Now, to satisfy you what I can touching foreign affairs,
I am told at court that the King of Sweden shall be paid
the other moiety of the queen's portion ; the French king
being willing rather to pay it to him than to us. And
whereas some papists absurdly give out that the French
king hath sent a defiance for having meddled with the
spiritual electors, the case is quite contrary ; for he hath
answered the ambassadors of those electors that, if they
will declare themselves against the house of Austria, he
will then mediate for them to the King of Sweden : other
wise he will leave them to stand upon their own bottoms.
And they say the French king — though not yet in print,
yet in words to those ambassadors and agents that are
about him, and in deeds to all the world — hath now pro
fessed enmity more than ever against the house of Austria:
the main reason whereof is because he knows well enough
that if he had not called that victorious king into Ger
many, the Austrians had poured some four armies into
France at one clap. And now, it seems, the choler of
those two nations or families is grown so settled and so
inveterate one against the other, as the flame thereof will
not be quenched but with the ruin of the one side. And
what hath been the Duke of Bavaria's reward for having
cast away ten thousand of his subjects in the emperor's
service ? Marry, he hath been fain upon his knees to pre
sent a blank paper to the French king for his most chris
tian majesty to write thereupon what laws and conditions
he pleaseth to impose upon him. So the king hath received
him into his protection ; but, for more surety's sake, now
1 Ben wrote many things about this period pro and con., for he wa3 equally skilled
in satire and eulogy. In the present instance, he overwhelmed the unhappy archi
tect with a torrent of hard names from the storehouse of his reading. See his
" Expostulation," which was followed by an epigram, and what he chose to style
" A Corollary," addressed " to Inigo Marquis Would-be."

1 60 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
while he is marching up into Alsatia, hath left French
garrisons in all that duke's strongholds.
The Duke of Vendome, since his departure, hath written
from Calais that both kings with their armies were at one
time within five hours' march one of another. The Queen
of Bohemia is lately brought to bed of a son, and sorry she
cannot be ready to accompany her husband into the Pala
tinate. When the King of Sweden first sent for him
thither, he made answer (as I told you in my last) he had
neither men nor money. " No !" said the king : " what, a
brother of the King of Great Britain, and protected by the
States, and must he come to me in his doublet and hose !
Let him come, howsoever, and I will do my best to restore
him to his patrimony." To which end, I hear, that incom
parable king hath sworn all the towns he hath taken in the
Palatinate to the service of their original master, the Pals
grave. And I am told also that he hath given order to
the Duke of Saxony once more to proclaim him King of
Bohemia. Old Tilly, they say, hath at length thrust him
self into a monastery at Brussels, that he might verify the
saying, " Desperatio facit monachum." But I do scarce
believe, though it were told me from a good hand, that the
emperor hath sent an ambassador extraordinary to the
Grand Signor to send him aid against the King of Sweden.
Mr. Gordon, the king's, or rather the merchants', agent,
now at Dantzic, writes that he hath demanded aid also
from his brother-in-law, the King of Poland, from whom,
saith he, it was as easy for him to get a penny as to wring
Hercules's club out of his fist. Nor will the state there
suffer any men to be sent out, because they will not pro
voke so formidable an enemy. He writes farther that all
Bohemia is re-conquered, saving the two strong towns of
Pilsen and Budweitz ; and that old Count Thorne is able
to do more by his old acquaintance and correspondence,
than the Duke of Saxony with his army.
Sir Robert Anstruther, in a letter dated the 29th of
November, relateth that the emperor, being then still at
Vienna, had assembled the States of Austria to give him poll-
money, upon every head, for maintenance of the war,
which was not as then concluded. He saith farther, that

CHARLES THE FIRST. 161
the Duke of Saxony, being then about to erect a citadel at
Prague, had summoned all the nobility and gentry of Bo
hemia to bring in their tenures, with intention to reject
all those that were not antienter than 1620, and to restore
the antient possessors. He saith, also, that the same
duke bears a deadly feud as well to the Duke of Bavaria
as to the emperor.
Sir Henry Vane, in his letters delivered to the king on
Monday, recanteth the battle in Moravia, said to be fought
between the Saxon forces and Tiffenbach, saying that Tif-
fenbach is yet alive ; and that there was no such matter.
It is no marvel, therefore, if my intelligence sometimes
faileth me, when so great a master in Israel is fain to re
cant. The same letters report that Frankendale was not
as yet taken, but beleaguered by that peerless king with
at least 30,000 men, there being within it 4000 foot and
8000 horse. The Spaniards had provided a mine of gun
powder at Heidelberg to have blown up the king, if he
had come thither ; but, having heard of their stratagem, he
will easily avoid it.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 26, 1631.
On Friday last the lord high constable's court for trial
of Mackay and Ramsey was adjourned till to-day, when
what is or may be resolved is impossible for me to know. I
heard one say, not long since, it is a very airy business, and
not to be laid fast hold on by those that have the managing
of it. The judges and common lawyers say, in case a
combat be awarded, whosoever kills the other is, by their
law, guilty of murder : and I have heard bishops and di
vines say it is a heathenish [act] to seek truth by that
way ; and that all duels and combats whatsoever are con
demned by general councils. Yesternight I was told by
a knowing man that the whole business would be referred
to the common law ; the truth whereof I shall not be able
to tell you until my next.
On Monday, being the first day of the term, Mr. Selden,
to perform his recognizance and save himself and his bail,
VOL. II. M

162 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
appeared at the King's Bench bar, and prayed the judges
he might be released. My Lord Chief Justice Richardson
appealed to Judge Jones what was fit to be done, because
he knew the cause of Mr. Selden's imprisonment. Judge
Jones put it off to Mr. Noy, the king's attorney : and he
answered he had neither order nor instruction about him ;
and therefore he could not meddle with him. So the judges
would have referred Mr. Selden for farther answer until
to-day, which is Thursday, but he would by no means con
sent to that, saying, if his appearance were not entered
upon record, his recognizance was forfeited, and if it were
entered, the recognizance was void. Therefore, if they
would not release him, he must enter a new recognizance,
which he prayed might be in a lesser sum . Whereupon
Judge Richardson drew it down from £2000 to £1000,
and he and his sureties were bound for his appearance
there the last day of the terra : and it is thought that, in
summa summarum, he will be called to be the king's
solicitor. The same morning, Sir Walter Long was brought to the
Exchequer bar, and there was interrogated by the barons,
whether he would appear and answer to a bill there exhi
bited against him by Sir Richard Heath, whilst he was
Attorney-General, wherein he is charged to have made
fraudulent conveyance of all his estate, of purpose to de
fraud his majesty of that £1000 fine which was imposed
upon him in the Star Chamber, for absence out of his
county in time of shrievalty. Whereunto Mr. Long said
he would neither appear nor answer to any such bill, but
would in all the business be a mere patient, and no agent
at all : their lordships might do their pleasure, but he
himself would have no hand in it. So they gave him till
Monday to consider better thereof, and, if he will not then
appear and answer, it is thought they will take him pro
confesso, and proceed against him as they shall think fit.
The manner of his coming thither was this : a writ under
the great seal of England was sent to the Lieutenant of
the Tower to deliver him into the custody of the sheriffs
of London ; and another writ, under the great seal also,
was sent to them to receive him, and to bring him to the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 163
Exchequer bar: and so, likewise, two great seals more
must be despatched for his recommitment to the Tower.
The same lieutenant complained to his majesty of Mr.
Valentine, that being a prisoner in another prison for the
same offence, yet did he usually and very often visit Sir
John Eliot in the Tower. Hereupon, Mr. Weeks, the keeper
of the Gate-house, being questioned by the lords, why he
had given so much scope to his prisoner, produced Sir
Robert Heath's warrant, which permitted him to license
Mr. Valentine to lie in the rules, and to go whither he
would, about some law business he had in hand. Then
Sir Robert Heath, being also called in question, made it
appear he had obtained leave of his majesty so to do. In
fine, Mr. Valentine, by order from their lordships, is drawn
back out of the rules into the prison ; but not so strictly
kept in these, but that he may sometimes go abroad, as
he did last Sunday to the sermon at Lincoln's Inn. I
hear, Sir John Eliot is to remove out of his dark smoky
lodging into a better.
On Monday morning also, my Lord of Essex and divers
others of the nobility appeared before the lords of the
privy council at Whitehall, about compounding for their
knighthoods. His lordship said, he was not only present
at the coronation, but employed also in services very near
his majesty's person, as bearing the sword before him, and
helping to put on and put oft" his robes ; and was there
ready to have received knighthood, or any other honour his
majesty should have been pleased to vouchsafe on him. So,
my lord treasurer asked his lordship, whether he would
stand to that plea ? He said he would ; and so said all
the rest, for they all plead.
Now, if you ask me what they do in foreign parts, I
must, in the first place, not omit to tell you that our
noble countryman my Lord Craven, being godfather to the
king of Bohemia's son newly born, hath given him a cup
board of plate worth £l 500, and a pension out of his lands
during his life of £200 a-year. His lordship is now gone
up towards the Palatinate with the King of Bohemia, and
it is said they set forth on Monday sennight, being the 1 6th
of this present. Sir Henry Vane's eldest son, and Cole,
M 2

164 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the post that attended on him, met them onward of their
journey as far as Arnheim, being, as Cole saith, conveyed
along by 2500 of the States' horse, and 500 firelocks, and
to be met upon the confines of Germany by the Landgrave
of Hesse with another army. At Arnheim, the said king
met with the last ambassador he had sent to the King of
Sweden, bringing assurance, both in letters and words, of
that victorious king's constant love towards himself, his
queen, and children. Cole told a friend of mine yesterday,
that the King of Sweden, as he keeps the most regular
camp, so did he now at his late abode in Mentz keep the
most glorious court in respect of princes, ambassadors,
and other great persons attending on him, of all the kings
in Europe. He saith he is now gone to Hanau, not above
eighteen English miles from thence, and but six from
Frankfort, to bid his queen so far welcome into Germany ;
and that six commissioners from the city of Cologne are
gone after him for the rendering up of their town. He
saith farther, that the city of Spire, wherein is the impe
rial chamber for deciding of all causes, is newly surren
dered to that brave king. Also, that he hath taken in all
the lower Palatinate, saving Frankendale, Heidelberg, and
Cruznach, all which he hath blocked up. And it is thought
Sir Henry Vane would not send home his son and heir,
but upon some extraordinary message. And it is whispered
in court, that the Spaniards will render up Frankendale
unto him, as to his Majesty of Great Britain's ambassador,
that is to say, when he can hold it no longer, and perhaps
upon some intolerable terms of conditions. But, if it be
true, which I hear of others, it seems they are well prej
pared to render it to the King of Bohemia, when he is
come thither, because they have permitted some ministers
to preach the Gospel there. Cole saith farther, that Mag
deburg is relieved by Count Pappenheim, who, with 4000
horse and some hundreds of foot, broke through one of the
king's quarters into the town. Others tell me that the
Jesuits at Prague, having plotted to betray that town again
into the emperor's hands, were banished thence, and out
of the whole kingdom of Bohemia on St. Stephen's day,
and that after their plot was discovered and prevented.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 165
The strong fort of Manheim (for the town was dis
mantled long agone) was very lately taken by stratagem
for the King of Sweden. Two hundred soldiers, hid in a
great vessel under a lading of faggots, leaped suddenly on
shore, slew the sentinel, found the rest asleep, and so took
it without loss of one man. I hear also that the king
hath fortified Mentz during his abode there.
As the emperor is said to make great preparations in
Austria, Hungary, &c, so the king, besides others, is now
levying of no less than 300 cornets of horse. The French
ambassador presented him with 300,000 crowns from his
master, and departed from him most contented ; and Ra-
gotzki's (prince of Transylvania) ambassador offers 60,000
men in his master's name. The French king hath got
leave of the city of Strasburg to pass his army of 2500
foot and 6000 horse over their bridge : and then he may
go either into Austria, to hunt the emperor, or into Swit
zerland, and thence into Italy. They say, Monsieur, his
brother, whatever hath formerly been told of their recon
cilement, is for certain at Brussels, where he hath been
entertained like a king, and hath had a canopy borne over
him ; and yet they say, also, that Brabant and Flanders
do refuse at this present to pay contribution.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, January 26, 1632.
There is now at the King of Sweden's court betwixt
twenty and thirty princes and extraordinary ambassadors.
The King of Bohemia hath gone up to him with eight troops
of horse and 1500 musketeers. Sir Henry Vane's eldest
son,1 which came to town on Tuesday last with a packet
of news, affirms the same, and hath, as it is rumoured,
brought some secret news to his majesty, which some con
ceive to be the delivery of Frankendale and Heidelberg
to our English ambassador by the Spaniard ; which if
accepted of upon condition, and in way of thanks to that
king, when, as the world seeth, he is forced thereunto by
the King of Sweden's arms, it will be as great an affront
1 Who was beheaded after the Restoration.

166 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
as can be put upon the King of Sweden by us. I had,
yesternight, the sight of a letter from the Chancellor of
Sweden to Sir Thomas Roe, which confirmeth the report
which Mr. Francis Gordon brought over concerning the
sudden death of the Poland queen ; a wonder which the
tempest and thunder did to three churches in that city,
when she made Luther and Calvin such hobgoblins in her
procession. The letter inciteth Sir Thomas Roe to inform
the king and the nation, that, whereas he heareth Mr.
Gordon was cried out upon for a liar, he doth assure him
from such, whose credits are not to be questioned, that
the same day the procession was performed in that manner
the queen died suddenly ; that the tempest and thunder
did strike off the head of our Saviour's picture, the crown
of the Virgin Mary's and the .... of John Baptist in
the Jesuitical church ; and in the Dominical and other
churches the crown of thorns from off the head of our
Saviour, the candlesticks and cup off the high altar, and
divers other the like wonders.
This morning, being the conclusive day for the business
betwixt our two Scots combatants in the Earl Marshal's
court, whither I am now going, I have not leisure to write
you any more news at this time.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 30, 1632.
We have it confirmed from all parts, that the princes
of Germany are in a very good union amongst themselves,
and are still animated both in their councils and wars by
the spirit of that heroical and wise king, who, foreseeing,
as it were, his destiny, had set down his advice and direc
tions for their future courses after his death ; which he left
as a legacy unto them, and are by them, as I hear, punc
tually followed and observed.
Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, February 6, 1632.
We have now here my Lord of Arundel, newly come
back out of Holland, of whose errand you have already

CHARLES THE FIRST. 167
understood the effect by my former. But, besides, he
bringeth this news, that the States have broken off their
treaty with the Flemish, being resolved not to be longer
amused, but to get their peace with the sword ; to which
end they have made great preparations for the war this
year, and have given order to their soldiers to be ready to
go into the field the next month of March.
The King of France's journey to Metz is put off for a
month. We do suppose my Lord Ambassador Weston to
be now in his court, being come back out of Italy, where,
I hear, he shall be employed to make an association be
tween the two kings for the cause of Germany, and
especially for the recovery of the Palatinate.
Here we have a young ambassador, the Prince Radzovil's
son, from the new King of Poland, to give notice to his
majesty both of his predecessor's death and of his own
election to that crown ; who had his audience yesterday in
the Banqueting House, having performed that office
already in Holland, and being shortly to do the like in
France.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, February 13, 1632.
Having little to trouble you withal at this time con
cerning foreign matters, I will begin this letter with the
woeful and lamentable accident of fire which happened
yesterday, and burned down about sixty houses on London
Bridge, having begun by the carelessness of a maid in a
house on this side the bridge, and so been carried by
the wind along the same ; whereby not only so many
houses, and the goods that were in them, were utterly
lost, but some persons also have been burned and hurt.
And it was much feared that some of the arches would
have been spoiled also, by reason of the quantity of coals
and other fuel that was in the cellars or vaults. But I
hear that now, God be thanked, the fire is quenched.
Touching the passages in the Star Chamber and the
Exchequer Chamber this term, I make no doubt, sir, but
you have heard how Mr. Sherfield, the Recorder of Salis-

168 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
bury, hath been sentenced and fined for beating down a
window of a church in the said town, where God the
Father was represented in a picture, pretending that it
was abused to idolatry. And how certain feoffees' mo
neys, bequeathed and given for redeeming of impropria
tions, to the sum of £7000 or £8000, have been questioned
for it, and those redeemed livings, wherein they had
placed ministers of their own choice, resumed and put into
the king's hands. You have heard also how a great num
ber of lords and gentlemen are called in question, and
like to be troubled, for having sojourned here in the city,
contrary to the king's proclamation ; and I hear that many
more are like to be questioned, for having likewise broken
his majesty's proclamation in eating of flesh at prohibited
times, which may be a work reserved for the next term.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, February 20, 1632.
We do very shortly expect here the return of my Lord
Ambassador Weston, who is now at Paris, and, as I hear,
hath made there some motion for the re-establishing of
the young Princes Palatine, as Sir Robert Anstruther
hath done in Holland : whereto, I think, it will be ex
pected that we shall first put our hands. The Prince of
Radzovil, having with commendation finished his ambas
sage in that court, is gone to perform the like into France.
And now we have here the Chancellor Oxenstiern's son, a
towardly young gentleman, together with a nephew of
Count Gustavus Home, and some other Dutch gentlemen,
that are come as travellers to see this court, where they
are much respected and caressed. On Sunday last, my
lord treasurer was created Earl of Portland at Whitehall.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, February 23, 1631-2.
My Lord of Dorchester l being now dead, and on
Sunday night, with no great pomp, buried in Westminster
1 Sir Dudley Carleton.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 69
church, many there are, both in court and town, nomi
nated as competitors for his place. Some lords, as my
Lord Cottington in chief, my Lord Viscount Falkland, my
Lord Hobart, and my Lord Aston. Likewise, Sir Thomas
Roe, Sir Isaac Wake, Sir Kenelm Digby ; to whom some
stick not to annex Mr. Walter Montagu 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 Protest
ant, and of a true Englishman ; bate me only the lean
cheeks, canvass trusses, and wooden shoes, which he
mentioned once in parliament.1 But then we had a duke,
since whose death, we may say of my Lord of Dorchester,
as Virgil says of Hector, " Quantum mutatus ab Mo /"
This day sennight the Lord Mackay presented, in the
Lord High Constable's Court, a solemn and formal protes
tation in writing for the truth of his bill. But Ramsey,
for his answer, protested only in words, desiring the time
appointed for the combat might be shortened. But on
Saturday, when upon better advisement he offered his
protestation also in writing, as pleading ignorance in so
unusual a case, the lords, because on Thursday he had
neglected their Monday's order, would not accept it, but
said they would farther consider thereof. My lord high
constable also, on Saturday, appointed the weapons of
these two combatants should be, first, a lance ; secondly, a
long sword ; and, thirdly, sword and dagger. And, for de
fensive arms, they were referred to further consideration.
But, since, I heard a skilful man say, that it was in the
defendant's choice what defensive arms the appellant and
he should put on ; and whether they should wear any at
all or no.
On Friday, my Lord of Essex, accompanied by my
Lords of Warwick and of Holland, was present at the
solemnization of his mother's 2 funeral in the chancel at
Tunbridge ; her corpse in her chariot, covered with black
1 See Rushworth, vol. i. pp. 358, 359.
2 Frances, daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, married, first to Sir Philip
Sidney, then to Robert, Earl of Essex, and at last to Richard, Earl of Clanricarde.

170 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
velvet, attended on by eight coaches, and a great troop of
horse, being brought thither by torches at midnight.
The bishopric of Durham must pay one year's rent to
his majesty, ere another bishop be installed. And, since
the death of the late bishop,1 who was designed for Win
chester, some say my Lord of London2 will accept of
Winchester. Now, it is current in every man's mouth,
that the king's journey into Scotland is put off till another
year. But on Tuesday, his majesty carried the queen a
pleasanter voyage, namely, from hence to Theobald's,
thence to Royston, so on to Cambridge, where three
comedies are provided for their entertainment, and, lastly,
to Newmarket, where their majesties do stay till a fortnight
before Easter, and do then return.
The statute, as I take it, of 1 2m°- of Queen Elizabeth,
enacting, that whosoever builds a cottage without laying
four acres of ground unto it, shall forfeit £10, and £40
a-year so long as that cottage doth stand, is now to be put
in execution here within twenty miles of London round
about, where, and in the suburbs of this town, will be found
many thousands of such tenements.
I am told, but not by any of either house, that my Lord
Rich,3 being newly returned out of France, shall marry the
Lady Anne Cavendish, daughter of the late Earl of Devon.
Her portion to be £8000 from her father, and £3000 or
£4000 from her mother: her jointure, £2000 a-year.
My Lord Rich's portion, after his father's death, £6000
a-year (all his brothers and sisters nobly provided for),
and his present maintenance, until then, £] 500 per annum.
I hear, that the unknighted Catholic lords, lying all under
the lash of Queen Elizabeth's statutes (which, whensoever
his majesty shall be pleased strictly to put in execution,
he may soon undo them all), do 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 treble, and one half over and above. My Lord
1 Dr. John Howson, who died February 6, 1631-2.
2 Dr. Laud.
3 Robert, afterwards Earl of Warwick, survived his father but one year, dying
Mav29, 1659.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 171
Pierrepoint, Earl of Kingston,1 who is £300 only in the
subsidy, is required to pay £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 Earl of Banbury, aged fourscore and
six, is said now to lie upon his death-bed ; but I hear,
that his sister, my Lady of Leicester,2 being six years
elder, can yet walk a mile in a morning.
My Lord Bishop of Lincoln, called this other day before
a committee of the Lords, did much repine at it, that he,
having been lord keeper, and, for aught he knew, being
still of the body of that council, should be brought before
referees, and not before the body. The occasion was a
complaint of Dr. Lamb, his chancellor, against his lord
ship, because he would, by the strength of the canon law,
deprive the doctor of his office ; for that he would not
renew his patent from his lordship, when it was proffered
him. Whereupon, my lord's secretary, having obtained the
reversion of the place, sues the doctor at the common
law, et hinc illce lachrymce.
On Monday, one Mr. Sandwich, kinsman to my Lord
Aston, giving Mr. Henry Jermyn, a prime servant of the
queen, some foul words in the preaching court at White
hall, as supposing, while Mr. 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. Mr. Jermyn
struck him a box on the ear. Sandwich drew his sword,
and, had not the thrust been put by by a footman, had
hazarded Jermyn's life. But how the Lords have cen
sured it I know not.
If you ask me what they are doing in remote parts, I
must first tell you what concerneth ourselves. I hear,
therefore, that Burlamachi, by the power and industry of
Sir Isaac Wake, hath obtained an assignment out of the
imposts of alum, to be paid the other moiety of the queen's
portion. And I believe it the rather, because yesterday,
1 Commonly called " the good Earl of Kingston." He greatly distinguished
himself at the breaking out of the civil wars, fighting for the king, and was acci
dentally shot on the 30th of July, 1643, by his own partisans, when a captive in the
hands of the Parliamentarians.
3 Lettice, widow of Walter, Earl of Essex, of Robert, Earl of Leicester, and of
Sir Christopher Blount.

1 72 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
one of our Canada merchants told me, they must send for
their people out of the fort of Quebec in that river, which,
some three or four years agone, was taken from the
French, by Captain Kirke, but now, in respect of the said
payment, is to be restored to them again. Wherein
they make a good bargain, for they will gain not so
little as 100,000 crowns a-year by the trade of beavers
there. Now, let me transcribe verbatim what my cousin,
Robin Marsham, one of Sir Henry Vane's voluntary gen
tlemen, writes to me, on the 4th of February, old style,
from Frankfort, where both King and Queen of Swe
den do commonly reside. " In the mean time," saith he,
" take this for certain, that Madgeburg is in, and that
Pappenheim, by my Lord Marquis and Bannier, suffered the
defeat of a regiment, and lost six ensigns. Pappenheim is
now upon the Weser stream, and my Lord Marquis before
Wolfenbuttel. Tilly is again made general for the
Catholic League, being with his forces in Swabia by
Ohne, and the Bishop of Wurtzburg is sent ambassador
for the same league to the King of France. Wallenstein
prepares against the spring for Bohemia, and the Duke of
Saxe, though he be now at Dresden, makes ready to meet
him. The King of Sweden parted from hence but yester
day to Mentz, and is now marching towards Vanderberg,
who, with 10,000 or 12,000 men, is past the Moselle.
That king is resolved to give him battle, if he will meet
him. I am going to the army to-morrow. Therefore, till
the King of Bohemia come, farewell." Thus far my cousin.
The French King, being now at or near Paris, and, as
some say, his army also being retired from the frontiers of
Germany into France, droops of a melancholy disease : in
whose favour, as I hear a Catholic report, the cardinal
begins to decline. Meanwhile, Monsieur his brother
spending the King of Spain £250 a day, was lately feasted
a day and a half at Antwerp. From which town some
have written that Count Henry Vanderberg, mentioned by
my cousin, hath been defeated, and made to retire home.
The French King, they say, levies all the power he can,
intending this spring to invade Artois, leaving Brabant or

i i

CHARLES THE FIRST. 173
Flanders to the Hollander, and Liege, Limburg, and Lux-
emburgh, to the Swede.
The articles propounded in the late truce of fourteen
days, by the Protestant League in Germany to the Catho
lics, were these : 1 . That all edicts, prescriptions, bans, &c,
of the emperor, published in prejudice of any man since
the year 1620, be revoked. — 2. All goods and lands, by
force thereof taken away, restored. — 3. Evangelics made
as capable for honours and offices as Catholics. — 4. All
names that may breed division in religion, buried. —
5. Both leagues to join against the house of Austria. —
6. And to choose the King of Sweden king of the Romans.
For, they say, he is now like to be chosen king of Poland,
his competitors being Ladislaus, son to the late king, and
Leopoldus, the emperor's brother. And it hath been said,
a month ago, that the greater part of Hungary, by their
ambassadors, have offered to elect him their king. And
if all this prove, then a man may say the crowns do
come rolling in at his feet.
My Lord of Canterbury ! told me, yesterday, from Sir
Francis Nethersole's mouth, that the Kings of Sweden and
Bohemia are joined, after the king had taken in Heidel
berg, Bamberg, and Lindau. The two kings met, as a
merchant told me, with two armies of 4000 apiece, in a
great field between Frankfort and Mentz. When they ap
proached, the armies making a stand, the kings met on
horseback, and, having saluted each other, dismounted and
embraced ; but he of Sweden the other with such joy and
affection, as he lifted him up on high, which was appre
hended for a good omen to the King of Bohemia by all
that saw it.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, March 14, 1631-2.
As the weather beginneth to grow warm, so are busi
nesses like to do where the stages of action are at this
day in Christendom, and especially in Germany, where the
Popish electors, and the rest of that league, having re-
1 Dr. Abbott

1 74 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
fused to accept of the neutrality with the King of Sweden,
upon the conditions proposed by the King of France, and
the Duke of Bavaria joining again with the emperor, the
opposition is like to grow mighty against the King of
Sweden, especially being so powerfully strengthened and
supported as it shall be by the King of Spain, who is
resolved to set up his rest for the defence of the emperor,
and to that end hath raised by extraordinary ways great
sums of money in Spain, and sent Don Gonzales de Cor
dova into Flanders, to be general of an army against the
Swedish party ; who, being arrived at Paris, is there now
in the quality of an ambassador extraordinary to negotiate
a peace, if it may be gotten upon any conditions with the
King of France, to cut off, if it be possible, his assistance
from the King of Sweden, which in human likelihood
may sway the balance of the present great quarrel in
Christendom. What the said Gonzales will be able to
work with the said king I know not ; but hitherto he hath
showed his affection most inclined to the King of Sweden
and his party, to whom he hath lately sent £100,000
sterling, according to the contract which is between them,
and hath promised, as I hear, the like sum to the States'
ambassador, who seem to forbear putting their army in
the field till they shall have received that money. Besides,
I hear that the Marshal de la Force is with his army in
the country of Treves, following the King of Sweden's
orders, who of late hath taken the town and castle of
Creutznach, in the Palatinate; where my Lord Craven
hath gotten a great reputation, and received a push of a
pike or of an halberd in the thigh. The King of Bohemia
was present at that action, to whom the King of Sweden
has given the right hand in his own lodging, and that title
of Bohemia everywhere ; as do also all the princes of that
part, saving the Landgrave of Darmstadt, whom the King
of Sweden hath checked for it.
Those of Frankendale, notwithstanding their being
blocked up, have made an incursion, carried away good
booties, and burned all the villages to the city of Worms.
There is great suspicion of the Duke of Saxony, that he
will play false, and close up again with the emperor.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 1 75
Some of his forces have been beaten lately in Bohemia.
Tilly is with an army of 15,000, within two leagues of
Nuremberg. Gnstavus Home and Bannier, for the King
of Sweden, are about the Upper Palatinate. Wallen
stein, for the emperor, groweth very strong. Here is a
rumour of a new truce granted by the King of Sweden to
the bishops, but I hope it will not prove so. Here we
have an extraordinary ambassador from the States, who is
gone to Newmarket. At his return from thence we may
hear somewhat of the subject, and success of his nego
tiation.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, March 20, 1632.
From Germany, we hear of great and extraordinary levies
that are made there for the emperor ; whereupon some
have taken occasion to discredit the strength of the other
party. But, if we give credit to the last advertisements
that are come from thence, their forces are in as good
case as his, and as well able to stand upon the offensive as
the defensive. Colonel Hepburn, a brave Scottish com
mander, although he be a Papist, who went some months
since discontented from the late King of Sweden into
France, is newly come over with a commission from that
king to raise a regiment of Scottishmen for his service.
My Lord Weston is also newly come back from his
ambassages, and the Duke of Lennox from his travelling
with him ; who, in their passage from Calais to Dover,
being in one of the king's ships, met with a small fleet of
twelve or thirteen Hollanders, that were bound for the
East Indies, whereof they warned the admiral to strike
down his topsail before the king's ships ; which he re
fusing to do, they made some eighteen shots at him,
whereof some pierced him through and through. Where
unto the said admiral made answer in like manner with
his ordnance against the ship royal, whose captain would
have thereupon pursued and sunk the Hollander ; but they
having more seriously considered of the matter^ they did
not think fit to give way thereto ; ^and so the Hollander

1 76 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
went on and escaped away, whose insolence in this action
is disallowed and condemned here by the ministers of
that State.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, September 20, 1632.
The story of King Henry VIII.'s reign, written in
Latin by Sir Henry Bourchier,1 was never yet printed, nor
will he publish or communicate it till Sir Thomas Cotton's
study be set at liberty, that he may compare it with the
originals there, out of which he first took it. That which
the queen's majesty, some of her ladies, and all her maids
of honour, are now practising upon, is a pastoral penned
by Mr. Walter Montagu, wherein her majesty is pleased to
act a part, as well for her recreation as for the exercise of
her English. Ben Jonson, who I thought had been dead,
hath written a play against next term, called " The Mag
netic Lady." 2
yfi On Friday, at eleven in the forenoon, her majesty
with her own hands helped to lay the two first square
corner-stones, with a silver plate of equal dimension be
tween them, in the foundation of her Capuchin Church,
intended to be built in the Tennis Courtyard of Somerset
House ; which stones, in the presence of 2000 people, at
least, they consecrated with great ceremony, having caused
to be engraven upon the upper part of that plate the pic
tures of their majesties, as founders, and the lower side of
the capuchins, as consecrators.
One wrote to me from Cambridge two things in com
mendation of the present Bishop of York;3 first, that
1 He mentions this work in a letter to Archbishop Usher, from London, April 13,
1629: — " I now spend my time in gathering matter for the story of Henry VIII.,
which in time, if God spare me life and health, I intend to publish." — Life and
Letters of Archbishop Us/ier, published by Dr. Parr, p. 406.
2 The poet was not absolutely dead; although so much neglected, he was obliged
to appeal to the lord treasurer Weston for some assistance to keep him alive.
Friends rallied round him in his distress, and he was enabled shortly afterwards to
produce " The Magnetic Lady, or Humours Reconciled;" in which, according to
his own description in " the Induction," the heroine is " a lady, a brave, bountiful
housekeeper, and a virtuous widow, who having a young niece ripe for a man, and
marriageable, he makes that his centre attractive to draw thither a diversity of
guests, all persons of different humours, to make up his perimeter."
3 Dr. Nevile, who died in 1640.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 177
being by his coachman hurried apace through a town where
were many poor people, as if he had meant to save his
master's purse harmless, he called him knave for his labour,
and made him stand still till such time as he had with his
own hand freely distributed to them all. Secondly, that
being advertised by some of his officers how he might levy
a tenth upon his clergy, as well as his late predecessor'
had done, he answered he would in no case attempt any
such matter : for he was come to benefit, not to change
his clergy. One day the last week my Lord of Arundel and
his son, my Lord Maltravers, having espied my Lord of
Canterbury's coach on Banstead Downs coming towards
theirs, before they came a butt's length short of it, both
their lordships alighted, and went a great pace towards his
grace's coach ; who, when they approached, said, " What !
and must my lord marshal of England take so great pains
to do me so much honour? Were my legs as good as my
heart, I should have met your lordships the better half of
the way." Then my Lord of Arundel replied, " It might
well become an earl marshal to give so much respect to
an archbishop of Canterbury, besides the particular obli
gation from his lordship to his grace for his noble usage
of his son and daughter Maltravers, while they were his
prisoners." Whereupon my lord's grace took occasion to
congratulate unto both their lordships my Lord Mal-
travers's brave and hopeful progeny of three sons and a
daughter; and so they parted. His grace by his diet
hath so moderated his gout, as it is now rather an in
firmity than a pain. He looks fresh, and enjoys his health,
and hath his wits and intellectuals about him ; so that if
any other prelate do gape after his benefice, his grace,
perhaps, according to that old and homely proverb, [may]
eat of the goose which shall graze upon his grave.
Upon the death of the master of the rolls in Ireland,
Mr. Emanuel Gifford, who was so great an apologist for
the duke in parliament, and therefore much favoured by
him, should by virtue of a great seal obtained in King
James's time, succeed in the place. Against which, I
hear, my lord deputy, that now is, will mainly oppose.
1 Dr. Harsnet.
VOL. II. N

178 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
It is as fully resolved as any future contingent can be,
that the king's journey into Scotland shall begin before
the end of March; and his majesty saith, God sending
him life and health, that nothing shall hinder him from
performing it, but (which at this time is very unlikely,
and which God forbid !) an invasion. Sir Henry Vane, as
I am told from two very credible authors, is returning
home from his embassage with the King of Sweden ; but
with what success I know not. My Lord Bishop of
London, as I hear, is about Michaelmas to enjoy Win
chester ; and I have heard heretofore he should keep the
jurisdiction of London also, but that the revenue should
go to the reparation of St. Paul's.
On Monday, in the evening, divers gentlemen of Lin
coln's Inn throwing brickbats at a new-built house at the
lower end of the garden, towards Holbourne, because the
owner had turned his house of office that way, one of the
house discharged hail-shot upon Mr. Attorney's1 son's face,
which by good chance it missed his eyes, yet it pitifully
mangled his visage.
On Monday, at night, there was one read a letter pub
licly upon the Exchange, written or pretended to be
written by Mr. Lionel Wake, a popish merchant at Ant
werp, some eleven days ago, which saith that the news
from Cologne was, that the King of Sweden having charged
Wallenstein on the rear, his troops turning face about,
fought a battle with the king, and slew the greatest part
of his infantry, and made him retire back into his trenches,
where, if he would, he had an outlet to escape : but that
Nuremberg within few days would be the Emperor's. The
fellow that read the letter was by some laughed at for his
pains, and told that always before that king's great vic
tories, such flams were still cast out by the papists.
The last that I can learn of that brave king is, that
having upon our 21st of August united his power into one
body, was master of the field, assailed Wallenstein's
trenches, and drove him into his utmost strengths. And
to-day I hear the king hath proffered him many skir
mishes ; and that there have been sharp bickerings between
1 Noy.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 179
them, not without loss on the king's side, as well of men
of note as of common men. And the last thing of all that
I have heard is, that the king has found a way at length
to divide the army proper to Wallenstein, from that of
Bavaria ; but no general battle, a thing which all men's
expectations do hunt after, is yet fought. The Duke of
Bavaria, though he have left his army with Wallenstein, yet
some say he is gone away discontented, and with a small
train, into some town of his own country. General Ossa,
if not taken prisoner, is still besieged in Philipsburg, whi
ther he fled for succour ; and they write that upon his
defeat the garrison at Heidelberg are ready to come to a
parley. Pappenheim hath let himself and his baffled army
to hire unto the burgomasters of Cologne, that he may
defend them from the French and Swedish forces there
about. But the news, written not above three days agone, by
Mr. Daniel Skinner from Calais, is that the assembly of
the States at Brussels are broken up without concluding
anything at all, quoniam Hannibal est ad portas ; that is
to say, as he writes, the Prince of Orange is gone with an
army to Brussels, and Count Henry Vanderberg with an
other army to Mechlin.
It is reported and written out of France, that the noble
cardinal, desirous to conquer his deadly enemies with
courtesy rather than with rigour and revenge, hath ob
tained of the king the pardon both of Monsieur and of the
Duke of Montmorency, and in the king's edict against the
said duke hath made the protestants of Languedoc highly
to be extolled for their loyalty to the king, and promised
great favours: which mind, both in the king and in him,
God continue.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, September 26, 1632.
Our last news concerning the King of Sweden do import
that he, not being able to draw Wallenstein to a battle,
nor to beat him out of his entrenchments with those bat
teries which he had raised upon certain mounts, did resolve
n2

1 80 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
to set upon a castle, which, being near joining to the said
entrenchments, would have given him a great advantage
against them. But he found the same so well fortified
and defended, as that though he continued his assault nine
or ten hours together, yet at length he was forced to give
over, and to retire with the loss of 1500 or 2000 of his men,
amongst whom were some of his colonels and other officers ;
and amongst those that were hurt, General Bannier hath
had one of his arms broken in two places with musket-shot.
The Duke of Weimar had his horse killed under him ; and
so, they say, had Wallenstein also, who, likewise, by
the report of such of his men as were taken prisoners, made
a great loss of his side, and found after the fight divers of
his colonels wanting. And this is at this time the cer-
taintest advertisement we have of the passage of things
there. Some merchants' letters do affirm that, since, the
king hath forced him out of his entrenchments, and driven
him into a wood. But this shall remain in suspense till
we have a further confirmation of it.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, October 3, 1632.
Out of Germany we hear that the King of Sweden,
having left ten of his regiments with those of Nuremberg
for their defence, is come down himself with the rest of
his army into Franconia ; the King of Bohemia being come
away from him with ten thousand men into his Lower
Palatinate, where he intendeth to raise as many more to
prosecute himself, and to achieve the recovery of that
country, wherein now he is not like to find any great oppo
sition or difficulty, those of Franconia being brought now,
as we hear, to a very low ebb, till he may be favoured
with the like opportunity for the recovery also of the rest
of his countries. In the mean time, the Duke of Saxony
hath almost made himself master of all Silesia, having
given a very great defeat to Don Baltazar de Marodas, and
after that taken Breslau, the chief city of the country.
The Archduke Leopold, the emperor's only brother, who

CHARLES THE FIRST. • 181
had also the command of an army for him about Tyrol, is
lately dead.
In our court the mourning was kept on Saturday and
Sunday last for Don Carlos, which was recompensed with
the news that were brought there at the same time of the
Duchess of Savoy being brought to bed of a fair daughter.
My Lord Marquis Hamilton is on the way coming home.

Sir George Gresley, Bart., to Sir Thos. Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, October 11, 1632.
What is done either by the King of Sweden's army or
Wallenstein 's since their removal, or whether the King of
Bohemia be come from the king in discontent, or with the
loan of 10,000 men towards the settling him in his own
dominions, is so diversely reported, that I refer you therein
to Mr. Pory's intelligence. For French news, the Queen
of France hath of late received some hurt by a fall out of
the coach ; whereupon Mr. Henry Jermyn was sent from
our king and queen on Saturday last to visit her. The
King of France and his brother are upon terms of peace,
which concluded, the queen will return. And it is said
our queen endeavoureth to get leave of the king that she
may go into France this next spring.
Marquis Hamilton is landed, and hourly expected at the
court ; but I see Mr. Frederick Hamilton in town. Here
are two of our merchants lately broken for some £'50,000,
by whom it is said Sir Thomas Roe hath lost five or six
thousand pounds. One of their names is Saunders, and
they are both now in hold. And it is reported for certain
that two of the richest merchants in Spain are lately put
into the Inquisition.
The Lord Rea is at liberty with his young wife at Green
wich, and Davy Ramsey banished the realm with £500 in
his purse, which he is to have at the king's return from
Newmarket, and so depart the realm.
Serjeant Berkeley and Serjeant Crawley are the men now
nominated to succeed in the late deceased judges' places.
And yesterday the inhabitants which pulled down the new

182 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
enclosures within Feckenham forest were censured in the
Star Chamber to pay £500 a-piece fines to the king, and
to acknowledge their offence at the assizes, and to repair
the fences at their own charge.
One Mr. Lunsford also, a Sussex man, and near neighbour
to Sir Thomas Pelham, was, for killing divers deer in Sir
Thomas's park, and other riots committed against him and
his servants, censured to pay £l,000 fine to the king,
£500 to Sir Thomas, and £200 to his servants ; to be
bound to his good behaviour in £2000 bond, with suffi
cient sureties ; and in that he was either beyond sea or
lived obscurely, that a privy seal should go out for him ;
and if he did not come in and acknowledge his offence at
the assizes in Sussex, betwixt this and Whitsuntide, his
fine should be doubled, and he abjure the land, according
to the statute in that case provided.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, October 18, 1632.
If by a more perfect demonstration I could show my
respect, I would not so often with such trivial terms entertain
your precious time. But since you are pleased still to
accept so favourably of my service in this kind, I shall not
fail to inform you such news as I shall hear. And so at
this time, that Sir John Poolie did yesterday in West
minster Hall affirm to many there that there were letters
come from the Sound and gone to the king, importing that
there were posts sent by the King of Sweden to the King
of Denmark to signify unto him that God had given him
so good success in the pursuit of Wallenstein's army, that
he had defeated it, even to the horse that defended Wal
lenstein's own person. Which news being told unto Mr.
Burlamachi by an acquaintance of mine, who asked him
what he heard, Burlamachi replied, that whatever he
should hear to the contrary, yet he must be confident that
the news from the King of Sweden was very good, as would
shortly appear by letters from Hamburg.
It is also reported that the King of Bohemia, demanding
of the King of Sweden what his intention was towards him

CHARLES THE FIRST. 183
for the restoring him to his possessions, according to his
professions to all and performances to some of the princes
of the religion, he bade him repair unto his chancellor,
who should within four days resolve him therein : which
the King of Bohemia performing, the chancellor told him
that the king his master's promise was to restore, if he
could, all the Lutheran princes to their possessions ; and if
he were one of that number, he had no doubt of the king
his master's performance. This being related to Sir Francis
Nethersole, and asked what he heard, he replied there was
some such answer given the King of Bohemia; but he
could not affirm the truth thereof, until he had seen the
King of Sweden's manifest, which he should do within a
day or two.
It is said for certain that Wright, the Bishop of Bristol,
Bowles, the Bishop of Rochester, and Curie, the Bishop of
Bath and Wells, have all three their conge d'eslire for
their removals; viz., the Bishop of Bristol to Coventry and
Litchfield, the Bishop of Rochester to Bath and Wells, and
the Bishop of Bath and Wells to Winchester. And it is
thought that Dr. Juxon, clerk of the closet, shall be Bishop
of Rochester.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, October 18, 1632.
Concerning Germany, the post of Antwerp giveth out
that the King of Sweden hath been foiled by Wallenstein,
and that himself has gone no man can tell whither. But
by another advertisement we do not understand that any
thing is passed between them since they rose and left one
another by Nuremberg. This only we hear, that Wallen
stein did after that divide his great army into three parts,
whereof he sent the one into Silesia against the Saxons,
who are reported to have not only subdued all that pro
vince, but invaded also Moravia. The second part of his
army he sent against the boors of the river Ems, which in
great numbers have taken arms, and fortified themselves
upon the confines of Austria, against the emperor. And
himself with the third part, amounting to some 20,000

184 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
men, hath retrenched himself near Forcheim, a strong
place in Franconia, with an intent, if he can, to regain
that country.
The king, after his retreat from Nuremberg, came to
Neustadt, there to refresh his army, especially his horse,
which were much wearied and decayed for want of fodder ;
and after he had visited his queen at Wurtzburg, he went
up after those that were sent against the boors, whom after
he had secured, he came back into Franconia. But what
he or Wallenstein have done since we do not understand.
My Lord Marquis of Hamilton is newly landed and gone
to the king to Newmarket, who is now fully resolved to
perform his journey into Scotland the next spring.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, October 24, 1632.
Concerning the German affairs, there are many rumours
spread here to the King of Sweden's disadvantage. But
the likeliest news we have from thence are that he is gone
towards the upper parts of Bavaria, to countenance the
boors, which are strong there in arms against the emperor ;
and that Wallenstein keepeth his camp about Forcheim and
Bamberg, in Franconia, whilst the Duke of Saxony is pur
suing his conquests in Silesia, and Gustavus Home with
the Rhinegrave, in Alsatia. My Lord Marquis Hamilton
landed the last week, and is yet with his majesty at New
market, who is expected to be here back on Monday next.

Mr. Pory to the Lord Brooke, at Warwick Castle ; or, in
his absence, to Sir Thomas Puckering. London, October 25. 1632.
That I may now tell your lordship, or at least your two
noble friends my patrons in Warwickshire, first what I
heard last, I was told from a Frenchman this morning, that
so soon as monsieur had yielded to the king his brother,
the first thing the king did, he paid all the strangers
that were in Monsieur's service, and sent them away : but
for his domesticals he presently beheaded twenty of them,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 185
and caused those that were fled to be hanged up in effigy,
and their houses, if they had any, to be rased, and their
woods to be cut down. Those towns, also, that took his
part, or showed him any countenance, were demolished to
the very foundation, to the end that none in that kingdom
might. Monsieur is confined to Tours, the Duke of Mont
morency imprisoned in Bois de Vincennes, the Duke
d'Elboeuf escaped. The cardinal made administrator of
all Monsieur's estate, the queen-mother never to return
into France during his and the king's life, and the Protes
tants, for their fidelity in Languedoc, much caressed by
both. Monsieur, indeed, tempted those four great Pro
testant towns of Nismes, Montpellier, Montauban, and
Aiguemortes ; but found them, like so many ricks, im
moveable from their loyalty to their sovereign. And when
the Bishop of Montpellier would have betrayed that city
to Monsieur, the Protestants took up arms, and delivered
him up to the king. For consideration whereof, that king
hath revived the Edict of Nantes, and hath in the Cours
des Aydes throughout all the Courts Parliaments in France
placed half the officers Protestants, as it was in his father's
time : and therefore the " Cour des Aydes " was in all
places named " La Chambre my-partie."
But now let us turn back and look what is done at
home. On Tuesday was sennight, Mr. Mason, of Lin
coln's Inn, made a motion to the judges of the King's Bench
for Sir John Eliot, that whereas the doctors were of opi
nion he could never recover of his consumption until such
time as he might breathe in purer air, they would for some
certain time grant him his enlargement for that purpose.
Whereunto my Lord Chief Justice Richardson answered,
that, although Sir John were brought low in body, yet was
he as high and lofty in mind as ever ; for he would neither
submit to the king nor to the justice of that court. In
fine, it was concluded by the Bench to refer him to the
king by way of petition.
Yesterday was sennight, my lord keeper, my lord privy
seal, my Lord of Arundel, my Lord of Kelly, my Lord
Wimbledon, my Lord of London, my Lord Cottington, and
Secretary Windebanke, signed an order at the council-

186 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
board in these words : " Upon consideration had at the
board of the great abuse in the printing and publishing of
the ordinary Gazettes and pamphlets of news from foreign
parts : and upon signification of his majesty's express
pleasure and command for the present suppressing of the
same, it was thought fit, and hereby ordered, that all
printing and publishing of the same be accordingly sup
pressed and inhibited. And that as well Nathaniel Butter
and Nicolas Bourne, booksellers, (under whose name the
said Gazettes have been usually published) as all other
stationers, printers, and booksellers, presume not from
henceforth to print, publish, or sell any of the said pamph
lets, &c, as they will answer the contrary at their perils."
They say the occasion of this order was the importu
nity of the Spanish and archduchess's agents, who were
vexed at the soul to see so many losses and crosses, so
many dishonours and disasters, betide the House of Austria,
as well in the Upper as in the Lower Germany; but this
smothering of the Currantos is but a palliation, not a cure,
of their wounds. They will burst out again one of these
days. I hear of another great sum of money come out of
Spain to be coined here, and then to be made over by bills
to the archduchess. Four of the king's ships and six mer
chant ships are to go for the coast of Ireland, to beat
the Turks thence. And the occasion was this : Captain
Plumley was sent thither with one of the ships royal and
two whelps to seek out Nutt the pirate, was met withal by
twenty-seven great Turkish men-of-war, who gave him
chase ; and, had he not hied him the faster into harbour,
might have sunk or taken him. There is now a great
present of horses and rich saddles to be sent to the Duke
of Savoy, where my lord ambassador Weston now resideth,
and where his brother-in-law, the Duke of Lennox, is to
marry the Duke's sister.
I should have told you, in a more proper place, that a
minister in St. Mary's at Oxford prayed, very lately, it
would please God to inspire the Courantiers with the spirit
of truth, that we might know when to pray and where to
praise ; which prayer was, I think, ominous.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 187
One much conversant at the court told me, this other
day, how truly I know not, that my Lord of Newcastle l is
sworn gentleman of the bedchamber, and hath paid £2000
for it. Besides that, Mr. Eliot, the king's page, and Mr.
Croft, the queen's page, falling at odds, went out into the
field, and that Mr. Eliot slew Croft. Another courtier,
but of greater quality and more intimate, saith that Mr.
Montagu's pastoral, wherein her majesty is the prime
actress, is extremely long, for my lady marquis's part is
as long as an ordinary play.
Sidney Bere, Secretary to Gerbier, the English agent
at Brussels, is newly come over with letters to his majesty,
wherein some think the archduchess craves his mediation
for obtaining a truce or peace with the Hollanders ; others,
to offer him the possession and protection of the coast
towns of Flanders.
Some ten days agone, there was a debate at Newmarket,
before the king, whether his ships ought to be manned
with for every ton a man, or with a man for every two ton
only. Sir Robert Mansell, Sir Sackville Trevor, and
others of the old captains, were of the former opinion ;
and some of the newer captains of the latter; but the
king, when he came to town, will add the brethren of the
Trinity House to the consultation, and will be judge and
umpire himself.
To-day my Lord of Middlesex was to plead his own
cause in the Exchequer Chamber, about an account of
fourscore thousand pounds that is laid to his charge. How
his lordship sped I know not.
Wallenstein for certain is gone into Saxony, and the
king they say is marched into Austria to join with the
tumultuous boors against the emperor. The King of Bo
hemia is in the Palatinate, but what he doth I know not.
Pappenheim hath raised the siege before Wolfenbuttel ; and
they say is going about to join with Wallenstein, in coun
terpoise of whom the king hath sent Duke Bernard of Saxe
Weimar to aid the Duke of Saxe with ten thousand men.
1 William Cavendish, Earl, and afterwards Duke of Newcastle; one of the
king's most celebrated commanders during the Civil Wars.

188 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, October 31, 1632.
The best news I can write unto you, at this time, is that
the king, God be thanked, is come in good health this
afternoon from Newmarket, two days after the queen, who
arrived here on Monday. Other news we have not had
any from any foreign parts with any certainty, since my last
written the last week; men's expectations hanging still
upon the motions of the King of Sweden's and Wallen-
stein's armies in Germany, and upon the success of the
negociation and treaty at Maestricht.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Lucy.1
London, November 1, 1632.
Since my last, Nathaniel Butter told me that a gentle
man of his acquaintance having dined this day sennight in
company of Mr. Taylor, the archduchess's agent, and asked
him the reason of calling in the Currantos, he answered
the news was so ill, as the lords would not have it known.
And besides, he told me that he would (if he dare be so
gofid as his word) complain to their lordships how much
Taylor had abused them in this answer. Besides he is
getting to be translated divers Antwerp Currantos, to show
their lordships how they lie upon us and our friends, and
we in the mean time must be muzzled and our mouths
stopped. But yesternight I met him at Whitehall, after
he had been in Mr. Secretary Coke's chamber ; and he told
me he hoped ere long his Currantos would be revived.
My Lord Bishop of Lincoln was at first summoned up
to the Star Chamber by a letter from my lord keeper, as
peers use to be ; but having excused his not coming up
for default of health, he was then served with a writ as a
common man, to which whether his lordship have yet ap
peared I know not.
My lord treasurer hath made a new discovery in Scot
land of masts to serve any of the king's ships, and of pitch
and tar (the trees I mean that do yield them) as much as
will serve for the whole kingdom as well for ships as for
1 Grandson of Shakspeare's Justice Shallow. He was member for Warwick
shire in six parliaments.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 189
sheep. I have heard of these commodities talked of to be
in Scotland, twenty years ago ; and they are now related
by some Scotsmen, but the truth lies in the trial.
The two Bristol men, after the expense of two summers
in discovering a North West passage, are returned back
re infectd : only I heard John Tradescant tell my Lord of
Ca. that they had discovered an island where were store of
unicorns' horns, long and wreathed like that at Windsor,
which I have heard to be nothing else but the snout of a
fish, yet very precious against poison.
I heard a lord say, yesternight, here is much contention
between Captain Porter and Captain Plumley who should
be general of those four ships royal (for merchant ships I
hear not of), and it is thought Porter will carry it. Nutt
the pirate, who hath played freaks any time these two
years between the coasts of England and Ireland, and is
now at his admiral to ship off thirty-six pieces of ordnance,
and his vice-admiral, and scorns to take any other booty
but money, hath sent word to my Lord Wentworth, the
new lord deputy, that he attends in these seas to waft his
lordship over.
Yesternight, his majesty being returned from New
market, and having among other lords met with my lord
privy seal, did highly congratulate and extol unto his lord
ship the rare parts of Mr. Walter Montagu, his son, in
poetry and otherwise : so that he is a favourite of both
their majesties.
Sir John Cassell, that had been kept so long close pri
soner, was last Saturday brought forth and examined by my
lord treasurer, my Lord Cottington, and Secretary Winde-
bank ; and one of the queries was, whether he had any
private intelligence with the King of Sweden. One Mr.
Palmer, a gentleman of £1200 a-year land lying in So
mersetshire and Sussex, is cited by Mr. Attorney into the
Star Chamber for having broken his majesty's late procla
mation in living here in London, albeit his house in the
country be burnt, he being an unmarried man, and one
that pretends physic here for his health. There are now,
also, in that court bills depending against some of the six
clerks, some of the prothonotaries, and the clerks of the

1 90 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Hanaper, for exorbitant fees : and it is thought that all
the ministerial officers of any worth here about London
must pass through the same purgatory, it being a fruit of
the commission which hath been on foot these three years
to make a scrutiny into them.
On Monday, beingmylord mayor's day, his lordship seeing
the prince stand in a window in Cheapside to behold the
pageant, went up to him where he was, and kissed his hand,
and the day following, he and the aldermen sent his high
ness a purse with £5000 in gold therein.
A letter dated in Nuremberg our 5th of October saith,
that the king had left his chancellor Oxenstiern in that
city with eight regiments to defend it. That Wallenstein
was gone directly into Saxony, and the first enterprise he
went in hand withal was the besieging of Coburg, a strong
fortress of the Duke of Saxe Coburg, who being therein
himself sent to his cousin Bernard Duke of Saxe Weimar
for aid, who in answer bade him have patience and stand
out but four or five days until he could put himself in a
readiness, and then he would relieve him, or lose his life.
The king, as saith that letter, is gone directly into Bavaria,
where he first recovered the town of Rain, being the first
he took there ; and the only town he put garrison into at
his coming away. From thence he marched towards Deck-
endorff, a town in the Lower Bavaria in the way towards
Regensburg and Passau, where met him an ambassador
from the revolted boors in Austria ; to whom he presently
sent commanders, and followed himself with his whole
army, to take part with those boors against the emperor.
Whereupon they say the emperor demolished the suburbs
of Vienna. Yet some say the king is followed after Wal
lenstein, and think it absurd and senseless for a man to be
of any other opinion.
I might have told you more, but that the post of Ant
werp is not yet come.
Mr. Beaulieu. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, November 1, 1632.
Concerning Germany, we hear that Wallenstein is now
in the Duchy of Coburg, a part of Saxony, which he hath

CHARLES THE FIRST. 191
miserably wasted and ransacked ; and that the King of
Sweden, having sent a good number of men to the Duke of
Saxony, under the command of the Duke of Weimar,
went himself with the rest of his army upon some design
towards the Daniibius, where the rumour is since (but how
true I know not) that he hath taken Ingolstadt. A little
while before, the Duke of Bavaria's men having regained
the little town of Rain near Donawert, the king did so
bestir himself for the importance of the place, which
maketh his entrance into Bavaria, as that he recovered it
again within three or four days after, and beheaded the
governor that had surrendered it. Whereupon the Duke
of Bavaria, as we hear, came away from Wallenstein's
camp with 20,000 men to the relief of his own country.
Montecuculi, who was lately beaten by Count Gustavus
Home, is with 5000 more at Ratisbon.
I hear that the Duke of Saxony, being much incensed
against the emperor for the spoil of his country, hath for
bidden, through the same, the use of the ordinary prayers,
which were yet made there for him.
Sir Henry Vane hath been a long time at Strasburg,
expecting the return of his secretary Curtius from hence,
whom we suppose to be by this time with him ; so as we
shall shortly look for him here : and the said Curtius is
gone with a commission to remain agent- with the King of
Sweden. The King of Bohemia is now in the town of
Mentz, and hath sent Colonel Poplitz hither, to see for
some immediate help and assistance from hence to finish
the recovery of his country ; since that the treaty could
not take effect with the King of Swedeland.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, November 7, 1632.
I am heartily glad not only to hear of the hope of your
own perfect recovery, but also of your little daughter's.
That Sir Thomas Lucy is your new sheriff will, I conceive,
be no news unto you by that time this comes to your
hands. Sir Thomas Wharwood is for Staffordshire and
Mr. Manners for Derbyshire. The Earl of Northumber-

1 92 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
land 1 died at Petworth on Monday night last, about ten
of the clock.
One Mr. Palmer, a Sussex gentleman, was this day
(November 5) brought ore tenus into the Star Chamber
for disobeying the proclamation for living in the country,
and staying in town all this last vacation, as by his con
fession to Mr. Attorney upon his examination he had
twelve years together, having £600 a-year land in Sussex,
no house, and £240 a-year in Somersetshire and an old
mansion-house ; and that £60 a-year of his rent in So
mersetshire was rent of assize. And farther, that for to
avoid a composition for knighthood he had pleaded his
not having £40 a-year land. Being asked what he had
to say for himself, why he should not be censured for his
contempt to the aforesaid proclamation, he alleged he
never was married, never was housekeeper ; indisposition
of body, and no house fitting for a man of his birth to live
in : and that what he had was burnt, some part of it a
year and a half ago with most of his furniture ; and he
had not as yet done any thing either towards the repair
or furnishing it. And some more such excuses ; which in
the opinions of the Lords did rather aggravate than exte
nuate his offence, so that he was fined £1000. So you
see what is sure to befal such, as shall not observe the
proclamation. The churchwardens and constables of every
parish are commanded to give in the names of such
strangers as live in their parish, and how long they intend
so to do.
The great Cardinal of France hath had twice conference
with Monsieur, who hath revealed all his copartners and
their plots, insomuch as Duke Montmorency and sixty
more persons of quality are beheaded thereupon.
The archduchess is still in treaty of peace with the
Prince of Orange, and either are met or shortly do meet
at the Bourse. Count Henry of Vanderberg hath, they
say, two or three towns near Cologne, and some say
Cologne itself is besieged by him, and some forces of the
King of Sweden. And the Papists do now begin to con-
1 Henry, ninth earl.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 193
fess that the king is master of the field, notwithstanding
their late brags to the contrary.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, November 14, 1632.
Pappenheim is said to have burnt the city of Wolfen-
buttel, and rased all the fortifications about it. He is yet in
Thuringia and the land of Brunswick, and is now marching
to join with Wallenstein. The Prince of Orange, Vander
berg, and General Bannier, with their several great armies,
are come before the city of Cologne. They demand, first,
80,000 rix-dollars, which they paid Pappenheim also.
Secondly, forty ton of gold for the charges the States have
been at before Maestricht, which they would have taken
sooner, if Pappenheim had not been. Thirdly, a restitution
of all the damages which those countries have sustained by
reason of Pappenheim's coming down.
Wallenstein is yet in Saxony and  , and having
forsaken Coburg and divers other towns in Saxony, seems
to take his march towards Nuremberg again.
The Duke of Saxony is coming with the Brandenburg
forces out of Silesia, to join with the forces of the Duke
Weimar, in Saxony. The great city of Breslau, which
at last is come to agreement, was the cause why that duke
could not sooner depart with his forces out of Silesia. The
Swedish general, Dubuld, is left still in Silesia, to prosecute
the viceroy, and is now marching towards Moravia.
The emperor hath granted to the boors free exercise of
their religion ; but they refuse it, and persist in their re
bellion. The High German Courants mention 20,000
Transylvanians which their prince, Ragotski, hath sent into
Bohemia to aid the King of Sweden. The King of Bo
hemia is still in the Lower Palatinate, without any forces ;
and, as the letters speak, pro hospite agnoscitur, in his
own country.
Some letters, which those of Frankendale sent to the
archduchess, have been lately intercepted. They complain
exceedingly of their mortality, hunger, nakedness, and
other inconveniences ; but the King of Bohemia hath no
VOL. II. O

194 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
forces at all to besiege those places. The King of Sweden
doth not proceed in his march towards Austria, but is
coming down with his greatest forces towards Nuremberg.
He hath regained two great towns near Nuremberg, which
Wallenstein had lately taken. The whole army marcheth
towards Saxony. The king himself went through this city
with 500 horse. The Duke of Bavaria is still in his own
country, with 10,000 men. General Bannier is left in
Bavaria, with 15,000 men, to resist the duke. Gustavus
Home is yet in Alsatia with his army, about Benefield.
The King of Sweden hath levied 10,000 Switzers, which
are now on their march. It is said by some letters that the
sickness is in Nuremberg and Frankfort. The archduchess
hath sent some commissioners to the Bourse to treat of
peace. The King of France sends his forces for the most
part into Picardy. The Polonians are for certain to make
an end of the election of their king this month.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, November 14, 1632.
Of the Dutch treaties we hear nothing as yet ; but, in
the mean time, the Prince of Orange hath, with a part of
his army, strengthened with some garrisons, taken by
force the town of Orsoy, a little above Rhynberg, and is
now, as we hear, besieging the said town of Rhynberg,
having sent up the other part of his army to live and
winter in the country of Cologne, in revenge of the passage
and favour afforded there to Pappenheim, at his coming
down to the relief of Maestricht. To the same end, and
for the same cause, Count Henry Vanderberg's troops, on
the one side, and Bauditzen, with his forces, on the other,
are fallen likewise upon the said country, where Bauditzen
hath first taken a strong and rich abbey, called Siburg,
and then the town of Lintz which lieth upon the Rhine.1
The King of Sweden having left Bannier, with 15,000
men, in Bavaria, to make head to that duke, is gone with
some 20,000 foot and 6000 horse, to meet with Wallen
stein in Saxony, who, upon his coming, withdrew himself
into Bohemia, where, we hear, the king is following of him.
1 The Danube.

CHARLES THE FIRST. ] 95
Here we begin now to prepare and proceed for the
intended journey into Scotland, which, I hear, is to begin
the 11th of May next.

Mr. Pory to the Lord Brooke.
London, November 15, 1632.
Mr. Palmer, whom I mentioned in my last to Sir
Thomas Lucy, that one calamity might not light on him
alone, since his censure in the Star Chamber, is prosecuted
by Mr. A ttorney, as touching his knighting ; for, having
formerly pleaded he had not £40 land, and now confessed
to Mr. Attorney that he had £600 a-year (his lands, they
say, being really worth 1400 per annum) his second plea
or request is, he may be legally fined by the barons, and
not arbitrarily by the Lords. His younger brother com
plains of him to the king for having detained from him all
this while his inheritance of fourscore pounds a-year;
whereby it hath come to pass, that having run unavoidably
into debt, and being now prisoner in the King's Bench for
it, Mr. Palmer allows him only 205. a-week to find him
victuals. On Monday, I was told by the clerk of the entries of
the Star Chamber, there is now a bill really exhibited into
that court against my Lord Bishop of Lincoln, which
chargeth his lordship (as the same clerk, upon superficial
view, tells me), with spreading false news and rumours,
with disclosing secrets out of council, and with extortion
in some things while he was lord keeper. The same night,
having met with Sir John Eliot's attorney, in Paul's
Churchyard, he told me he had been that morning with Sir
John in the Tower, and found him so far spent with his
consumption, as not like to live a week longer.
I hear that my Lord President of the North hath so
scoured the popish recusants of that climate, and hath
drawn so much politic blood out of them as amounts to
£30,000, and hath sent also Mr. Radcliffe, his forerunner,
into Ireland, whom he hath advanced to the place of king's
attorney there, to inquire into the state of affairs, thereby
to make preparation for his lordship's arrival. o 2

196 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Mr. Treasurer of the Household, Sir Thomas Edmondes,
hath been villanously cheated of no less than £2000 by
one Mr. Wright, that was a counsellor of Gray's Inn, and
clerk of the Commons House of Parliament, and that, as
Mr. G. related it unto me, in manner following. When he
went ambassador into France, he sold his office of clerk of
the crown, and left the said sum of money, in deposito, in
Mr. Wright's hands, whom he trusted with it even until
now of late. But not long since, either hearing that Mr.
Wright was sick, or having some occasion to use the
money, he despatched a messenger to him for it. Wright,
having returned a general and ambiguous answer, in
writing, without acknowledging any such sum, or promising
of payment, did so startle Mr. Treasurer, as made him go
in person to his house, and finding the door shut against
him, with this answer, that the man lay drawing on, and
would not be disturbed, he threatened to break up their
doors ; and so they let him in. Then, having demanded
his money of Mr. Wright, at his bed's side, he could get
no other words from him but, " I pray you pardon me; I
beseech your honour to pardon me." Soon after he was
gone, Mr. Wright died, and since Sir Thomas hath seized
On all those goods of his he can meet withal.
Yesterday, one was recounting unto me all the brave
works the Bishop of Lincoln, now called in trouble, hath
performed ; as, namely, in the first place, three libraries,
one at Westminster, a second at Lincoln, and a third (and
that a stately one) at St. John's College, in Cambridge,
over and besides his reparation of the north side of West
minster Cathedral, and of Lincoln Palace throughout ; his
maintenance of a number of scholars, as well in his house
at Westminster as at the Universities ; his building of a
square court of stone at Lincoln College, in Oxford ; and,
which may be instar omnium, his purchasing of £300 a-
year land, and bestowing it on his present bishopric. And
yet must he take up his cross for all that. When the bill
was brought unto him by Mr. Attorney's clerk (so
Sir C. Y. tells me), he said somewhat merrily to him,
" You mistake the party ;" quoth he, " this bill belongeth
to the Earl of Lincoln, and not to the Bishop." The

CHARLES THE FIRST. 197
messenger replied, " If it please your lordship to peruse
it, you shall find it concerns the Bishop only."
Those four of his majesty's ships that have been so long
in preparation are now ready to set sail ; and they say
Captain Plumley (he that ran with his naked sword at Sir
Miles Hobart as he sate in the back of his coach) shall go
general. And yesterday, I was told that they go neither
to be revenged of the Hollanders, for taking my Lord
Maltravers's buss, for they humbly beseech a benign inter
pretation from his majesty of that act, nor against the
Turkish men-of-war upon the coast of Ireland, who will
not be found there in the midst of winter, nor to fetch
Don Ferdinand, the King of Spain's brother, to his govern
ment in the Low Countries, being overland already through
Italy ; but to transport a great mass of money out of
Spain to the archduchess, and to countenance a fleet
through these seas, to carry men to her also. Whatever
it be, the event will discover the plot.
Now, they say, that Nutt the pirate, being cast away
upon the coast of Bretagne, but escaping on shore, was,
with all his gang of varlets, discovered by the merchants
of our nation to the magistrates there, to be pirates, and
so were entertained according to their quality.
On Sunday, in the afternoon, and after supper, till mid
night, my lord mayor visited as many taverns as he could,
and gave warning to the vintners not to suffer any drink
ing in their houses, either that day or night ; and the
same afternoon also, he passed Moorfields, and put down
the wrestling of the Western with the Northern men,
which was there usual on that afternoon.
This other night, being with a privy councillor, he told
us, by way of discourse, that my Lord of Northumber
land,1 upon this great change of fortune, must more majo-
rum give the king an aid ; and the sum his lordship
guessed at was £7000, but I hope that noble lord will
scape for less.
My Lord H. told me, concerning his friend, the Duke de
Montmorency, that he was found content to stand the
sentence pronounced against him in Toulouse, without
1 Algernon, tenth earl.

198 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
appealing higher. The king sent him word he should
have four days' time to prepare for death : but he made
answer, he would not be beholden to the king for four
days, no, not for four hours ; for, as he was thoroughly
prepared, so he desired suddenly to be despatched. When
he was mounted upon the scaffold, Pere Arnold, his con
fessor, told him he must put off his doublet : " Yea, hose
and all," said he, " if you will ; for I am sure we must
go naked into Paradise."
The court here is full of it, that Monsieur is once again
flown out ; some saying he is gone to Bayonne, the next
strong town to Spain. But my said lord saith, he was met
on this side Paris, coming northward with his favourite
Puylaurens. The bad news out of Germany by this last post is, that
the boors of Austria are beaten, though not quite van
quished, by the forces of the emperor. Item, that Wal
lenstein hath taken and plundered Leipsic, having done
the like before to Torgau, and to Coburg, the town, but
not the castle, and had, without mercy, overrun a great
part of the Duke of Saxe's dominions. But the good
news on the other side is, that Duke Bernard of Weimar
hath defeated forty cornets of Wallenstein's horse, that
should have helped up Pappenheim to have joined with
him. And they say Pappenheim hath got a clap from
Lunenburg and Kowenhoussen. The king is pursuing
Wallenstein, with an army of 25,000 men. Bernard
Weimar hath another, of 14,000, and Anheim, in Silesia,
of 15,000. All which are to meet at a point, or rendez
vous, in conjunction against Wallenstein : so as it is
thought this winter will decide the controversy either on
the one side or on the other.
My said lord tells me, moreover, that the Conde
d'Olivares hath a project for maintenance of his master's
wars, to suppress all orders of friars and monks in the
Low Countries, save Franciscans to preach, and they will
preach idolatry and superstition enough ; and Jesuits to
teach scholars, and they will teach them knavery suffi
cient. And I hope the residue, when the Conde goes

CHARLES THE FIRST. 199
about it, will curse him well-favouredly with bell, book,
and candle.
The treaty at Maestricht is adjourned to the Busse,
where it is thought his excellency (who hath lately taken
Orsoy, and is now, as they say, besieging Rhynberg) will
winter.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, November 21, 1632.
For the matters of Germany we have, at this present,
such tidings here and of such a nature, as we dare not as
yet believe ; although the report of them seem to carry
much probability with it. Yet this particular I may
affirm to be true, that the town of Frankendale hath at
length yielded to the King of Bohemia, being forced
thereunto by the violence of the plague, which had almost
devoured all the men that were in it; and by the extreme
want that they were brought to. But that the King of
Sweden should have taken from Wallenstein the town of
Leipsic, which had newly yielded unto him, and after
wards overthrown him and his whole army, with the
slaughter of 15,000 of his men, and the gain of 166 of his
colours ; it is that which our beliefs stick at, till we have
the news thereof confirmed, which are come to divers
merchants from Hamburg, by letters dated ten or twelve
days since, and brought also by some skippers from Dun
kirk. But the truth of such an action cannot long remain
in suspense, which I hope the common rumour will come
into your parts before my next can come unto you. Sir
Henry Vane is newly landed.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, November 21, 1632.
There came news to court on Saturday night, of a great
defeat given Wallenstein by the forces of the Duke of
Saxony, Brandenburg, Duke Weimar, and some Swedish.
The town talks of the killing of 15,000 foot and 1500
horse, and divers colours taken. But all the certainty

200 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
that I can inform thereof is, that the chancellor of Sweden
hath written to Sir Thomas Roe, that if he should write
to him in characters, he could write to him such news as
would make his heart leap for joy : but in that his lines
might be intercepted, as some formerly had been, he
would only write in general that they succeeded as well as
heart could wish. The report is here, that Bannier, the
Swedish general, offering the inhabitants of Cologne
easier conditions than the Prince of Orange or Vander
berg demanded, they have yielded the town to him, and
he hath put in garrison for the King of Sweden. And it
is seconded this week for certain, that Monsieur, being
under the custody of a guard, notwithstanding his betray
ing of his co-partners, hath made an escape, and is fled to
Brussels again.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, November 28, 1632.
I make no doubt, but that the common rumour hath
already carried to your ears the doleful tidings of the
lamentable death of that heroical King of Sweden, who
hath buried his life in the most glorious, the most bloody
victory, that hath been in Christendom these many years.
The battle was fought the " and " of this month,
between the towns of Leipsic, which Wallenstein had in
his hands, and that of Naumberg, where the king had
retrenched himself some four or five Dutch leagues dis
tant the one from the other. Wallenstein having increased
his army with Pappenheim's, Helke's, and Galas's forces, all
imperial commanders, which could not make it less than
50,000 strong; and I think the king's army was little
inferior to it in number, having the Duke of Weimar's
and Gustavus Home's forces with his. The fight began in
the morning, between the king and Pappenheim, who held
it out a long time against the king ; but at length, he
being killed with a cannon shot, his men were put to
flight, and almost all cut in pieces, till that Wallenstein,
coming about noon with his fresh army, stayed the king's
pursuit, and set upon him with such a resolution, as that

CHARLES THE FIRST. 201
he maintained the fight with him all the afternoon, till at
length some part of it began to give back, and to take to
flight ; but the other part made good the field, and kept
it all night : which the next morning, being set upon by
the king's forces, was also utterly defeated ; so, as by
common report, Wallenstein left there two third parts of
his army, and the king no less than one half of his, toge
ther with his own person, which was more accounted of
than many armies. He was killed the first day of the
fight, with three musket-shots ; and, as our advertisements
do relate, lived thirty-six hours after. But the letters
that are come this day out of France, do affirm that, he
continuing still in the fight, after he had received all these
wounds, was afterwards carried away with a cannon shot,
and that his body remained amongst the rest of the dead
till the victory was fully gotten. Wallenstein was carried
out of the fight, in a litter, much hurt, to Leipsic, where
he was presently besieged by the king's army ; but what
followed or happened since, we do not yet know.
Of what consequence this great accident is like to prove,
you may, sir, in your judgment, imagine. Our general
fear is, that the fall of that worthy and powerful head,
which kept not only the two nations of Germany and
Sweden, but the Germans also amongst themselves, in a
firm union, will be now the dissolution of that whole body,
by the disorders and distractions which will grow, and shall
be wrought by their enemies amongst them, unless God do
assist them with an extraordinary inspiration.
Sir Henry Vane is newly come back from his embassage,
who did much wonder to hear of this battle at his arrival,
considering the state wherein he had left the armies at his
coming away from thence. The queen-mother was fully
resolved to have come over hither; but her departure
having been stayed by Monsieur's arrival at Brussels,
means have been used in the mean time to prevent her
purpose ; and now Mr. Murray, of the bedchamber, is sent
over to excuse the matter unto her.

202 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, December 3, 1632.
The death of the King of Sweden is now confirmed here
by the coming of Dalbier from those parts, who secondeth
that ill news with the death of the King of Bohemia,1 who,
in putting a garrison into Frankendale, took the infection
of the plague there, and removed to Mentz,2 and there died
of the sickness. The death of these two kings doth so
overjoy the opposite faction, that they report the Duke of
Savoy and Count Henry Vanderberg to be dead ; and that
the King of France, the cardinal, and Prince of Orange,
are all dangerously sick.
Dalbier's relation of the battle is, that Wallenstein's
forces and Pappenheim's were joined together ; that the
king's army and theirs were not above 35,000 ; and that
there was not above 5,000 killed in the place of both
sides ; that the king charged his enemies twice or thrice
bravely in his own person ; wherein, having received a hurt
in the shoulder and breast, he desired Bernard Saxe
Weimar to carry him off a while ; and as they were turn
ing away, a horseman of the enemy shot the king and
Saxe Weimar, and killed him presently. Whereupon the
skirmish grew so hot they could not carry the king off till
the battle was ended with the death of Pappenheim, the
taking of all the enemies' ordnance, bag and baggage, with
many colours, and the flying away of Wallenstein into
Leipsic, who stole from thence also in the night. Farther,
he saith, that it is concluded that that army shall go
under the name of the queen, as it did of the king, and
that Saxe Weimar is made general thereof. I pray God
they have the Elector of Saxony's hearty and constant
support thereunto, in that they two have not heretofore so
well accorded ; which if they now do, the business may
prosper : otherwise, it is much to be doubted.
We are now here all in mourning, and the king hath
been heavy and ill these ten days ; and this day, it is said,
it proves to be of the smallpox, and that they begin to
come out. I pray God bless and preserve him, and that
1 He died November 29, it was stated of malignant fever. 2 Mayence.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 203
he meddle not too much with physic. Mr. Murray is not
as yet returned from Brussels from the queen-mother, and
I cannot inform you of her coming or no hither.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 5, 1632.
Now, sir, concerning the woful news I wrote unto you
by my last of that brave King of Sweden's loss, it is true
that there are divers merchants upon the Exchange that
offer yet to lay great wagers upon his life. But here,
at court, we make no more doubt of his death, having it
confirmed (besides the former informations out of the Low
Countries and out of France) by the mouth of an eye
witness, to wit, of Dalbier, a man well known in those
parts, who, as he reporteth, was in the battle, and came
not from the camp till three days after, where he affirmeth
that he saw the king's body ; which, he saith, was found,
after the victory, stripped and naked, amongst the rest of
the dead, having his right arm broken with a musket-shot,
and a pistol-shot in the body, which gave him his death's
wound. And although this happened unto him almost an
hour after the fight was begun, yet his men maintained it
bravely afterwards five or six hours longer, till they had
at length made themselves masters of the field and of
the cannon of their enemies, which saved themselves by
the favour of the night, there being not, as he reporteth,
above five or six thousand dead on both sides upon the
place. What is become of Wallenstein and of his men, he can
not tell ; but for those of the other party, he saith, that
they presently swore an union amongst themselves for the
maintaining of the cause, and revenging that brave king's
death, unto whose queen they have taken an oath of obe
dience, having made Duke Bernard of Weimar general of
his army, (who is highly commended for his valour showed
in that battle) until by an assembly which they have
appointed to be kept shortly at Ulm, there may be a
better order taken for the governing and managing of the
affairs.

204 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
And, as seldom a misfortune cometh single, the same
Dalbier brought us also the sad news of the King of Bo
hemia's death, who died of the plague in the town of
Mentz, a fortnight after the King of Sweden, for whom
this court began to put on mourning on Sunday last, the
king having expressed much sorrow for it, and sent pre
sently Sir Francis Nethersole to his poor desolate sister to
afford his best comfort in so great afflictions.
His majesty hath not been well of late, having had first
two or three fits of an ague, which is now turned into the
smallpox, whereof the first spot began to appear on Satur-
\ day at night, as he was going to bed to the queen, having
\ since daily come forth on his body more and more, but
] very favourable, and, God be thanked, without any fever
or appearance of any danger; his majesty having never
kept his bed for it.
Sir Robert Anstruther is lately come back, together
with my Lord of Leicester, from their several embassages.
And here is a rumour that one of them, or Sir Henry
Vane, shall be shortly sent back into Germany upon these
new alterations, Sir Robert Anstruther having missed by
the way of the commission which was thereupon sent him
to have stayed him at Hamburg.

Mr. Pory to the Lord Brooke. London, December 6, 1632.
Being obliged, in your turn, to write to your lordship
thither into Warwick, whether you be present or absent,
the first thing that proffers itself to my memory is, that
my lord mayor, for avoiding a dearth, will not suffer any
town-dwellers to sell meal in these markets, but only
badgers and mealmen out of the country. On Saturday,
ray Lord of Leicester and Sir Robert Anstruther landed at
Gravesend out of one and the same bottom, after his lord
ship had ended his embassage with the King of Denmark,
and Sir Robert his with the emperor, being now to reside
leiger in France;
Tliose four of his majesty's ships royal which had been
so much talked of, and have been so long in providing and

CHARLES THE FIRST. 205
rigging at Chatham, are now at length gone to sea, Cap
tain Plumley, the general, being not to open his com
mission until he come into the midst of the Channel. I
was told this other day by a very knowing man that they
are first to take in the queen-mother and Monsieur at
Dunkirk, and to carry them into Spain, and then to bring
Don Ferdinand, that king's only brother, to his govern
ment in the Low Countries. However it be, time will
give us the truth of their design.
On Saturday also, his majesty having taken cold after
he had heated himself at tennis, some red spots appeared
on his face and breast, which by Sunday morning were
converted into the smallpox. Yet the queen (as I heard
a Frenchman of the court affirm) lay with him both those
nights ; and since, also, in the daytime, will never be out
of his company. This disease makes him not continually
to keep his bed, but all the day long he is up in a warm
room, with a fur gown on his back, and is merry, and eats
and drinks heartily, and recreates himself with some game
or other. And so, God be thanked, there is no doubt of
danger in him.
On Friday, Dalbier, a German, who was Count Mans
field's paymaster in all his wars, he that should have
fetched over the Dutch horse for the late duke from Emb-
den, and which hath served some time under the King of
Sweden since his coming into Germany — Dalbier, I say,
came to court; and Burlamachi, that accompanied him
thither, told me the news he brought out of Dutchland
were as followeth : that he was four days in the Swedish
army after the battle was fought ; that he saw the dead
body of the King of Sweden ; that Pappenheim, the bravest
commander that ever served the emperor, was slain in the
same battle ; that the Swedish army got the victory ; that
Wallenstein left his ordnance behind him ; that Bernard,
Duke of Saxe Weimar, pursued Wallenstein towards Bo
hemia ; that Dalbier, as he passed through Frankfort, un
derstood the Chancellor Oxenstiern Avas gone up to con
sult with the Duke Elector of Saxony about the carriage
of the main business ; and that when Dalbier was come to
Mentz he found the King of Bohemia dead there of the

206 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
plague, which he had gotten at Frankfort. Thus far
Burlamachi. The manner of the King of Sweden's death he thus de
scribes ; I mean, Dalbier. The king, saith he, being shot
on the arm with a pistol, called to his cousin Bernard,
Duke of Saxe Weimar, to make way for his retreat, that
he might go and dress his wound. But, as the word was
in his mouth, a horseman of the enemy, prying the king
stedfastly in the face, said, " You are the bird we have so
long looked for ;" and with that shot him through the body
with a brace of bullets, so that the king fell off his horse
stark dead, and Duke Bernard slew the man that had thus
killed him. But that which sounds harsh and incredible
in all men's ears, is that the king's body, thus falling,
should be so much neglected, as to be left all day and all
night in the field, and to be found next morning stripped
stark naked among the promiscuous carcasses. But Browne,
that arrived here on Saturday, being sent post by Curtius,
the king's agent, from Frankfort, contradicts Dalbier in
this, saying the king's corpse, so soon as ever it fell, was
laid in a waggon, and that, being since embalmed, it is
carried along with the army as an incentive to stir up his
soldiers to revenge his blood. Both do agree that the
king, by his last will and testament, constituted the queen
his wife to succeed him in authority, and ordered a council
of war continually to attend her, that she might sign and
confirm all their despatches and resolutions.
If the King of Bohemia be dead, the emperor hath a
great advantage thereby, because there is none now living
but himself that hath any title to that so long con
troverted crown. Besides, upon that king's death, our
king and state are obliged to do more for a nephew than
for a brother-in-law, and more likewise for a widow than
for a wife. Well, the mourning here in court for both
kings began on Sunday, and is to continue until New-
year's day. And yet some, and those not a few, are so
incredulous, as they will not believe the death of either ;
for yesterday there came letters to town from Amsterdam,
Haarlem, the Hague, and Delft, which affirmed the King
of Sweden to be alive, though those from Antwerp said

CHARLES THE FIRST. 207
the contrary. Yesterday there was at least £200 laid in
wagers that he is still alive. Mr. James Maxwell's bro
ther, hearing them there yesterday affirm the king's life
so confidently, said he would lay ten to one the king
was dead : such a throng of people came about him with
gold in their hands as almost put 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 Mr. Berrington, a merchant-adventurer, who saith,
that letters from Leipsic and Magdeburg do avow the king
to be alive ; and that the reason why it was generally
thought he was dead was, because so soon as he was hurt
he retired into his tent, and kept himself close there for
two days under the surgeon's hands.
Some friends of mine do tell me there will shortly be a
parliament, for establishing the young Count Palatine in
his inheritance ; which, if it come to pass, the king's
journey into Scotland must be prorogued until another
year, notwithstanding the gestes thereof be already set
down. On Sunday, the Duchess of Richmond sent to her
godson, my Lord of Carnarvon's child, a font of silver, for
him to be christened in, and two college pots : one for the
nurse, and another for the midwife.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 12-22, 1632.
I suppose you have been sufficiently informed by my
former of the unfortunate death of that brave King of
Swedeland, which is now daily confirmed from all parts,
and that he died upon the field of a pistol-shot into the
head, after he had received two musket-shots in other
parts of his body. But that which made it so variously
reported of was, the policy and care which the chief men
of his army had to conceal it as long as they could, lest
it should discourage their soldiers, and give advantage to
their enemies, who suffered a greater loss in that battle
than Dalbier reported, and were forced to leave the town
of Leipsic four days after it, although they kept still

208 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the castle, which hitherto we do not hear that they have
surrendered. Wallenstein, with the rest of his army, retired towards
Bohemia, and, as we hear, made a stand in the towns of
Shreberg1 and Chemnitz, whither it is reported that the
princes pursued him, and that they have pitched their
camp against them in those parts.
The king, God be thanked, is well recovered of his
smallpox, and is now ready to come abroad. Sir Robert
Anstruther is making ready to go back presently into
Germany upon these new occasions.

Mr. Pory to . . .
London, December 13, 1632.
Since the writing of my last, I am given to understand
that Sir Robert Anstruther, though newly come home, is
with all speed to return into Germany ambassador from
his majesty to the Princes of the Evangelical Union, who
are to meet in Frankfort, and to hold a diet there, so the
plague do not hinder them, upon the 6th of January ; and
they say the French king, to observe their proceedings,
and have an oar in the business, will lodge himself with
an army at Metz. I hear those four ships royal, that have
been so long spoken of, are not gone a northern course, as
towards Dunkirk, but have stood a western way, towards
Plymouth, Falmouth, &c.
Sir W. C.2 writes from Brussels, that the French there,
with the queen-mother and monsieur, made account 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.,3 and that Mr. William Murray,
of the bedchamber, was not sent to the queen-mother
in vain.A gentleman, not unknown to Sir Thomas Lucy, told
me from my Lord Cottington's mouth, that Sir John Eliot's
1 We have not been able to identify this place, as it is not in the map : but such
singular liberties were at this period taken with the orthography of proper names,
that this difficulty is by no means of unusual occurrence.
2 William Curtius. 3 King Charles.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 209
late manner of proceeding was this. He first presented a
petition to his majesty by the hand of the lieutenant, his
keeper, to this effect: — " Sir, your judges have committed
me to prison here in the Tower of London, where by reason
of the quality of the air I am fallen into a dangerous dis
ease. I humbly beseech your majesty you will command
your judges to set me at liberty, that for recovery of my
health I may take some fresh air," &c. Whereunto his
majesty's answer was, " It was not humble enough." Then
Sir John sent another petition by his own son, to the
effect following : — " Sir, I am heartily sorry I have dis
pleased your majesty, and, having so said, do humbly
beseech you once again to command your judges to set me
at liberty, that when I have recovered my health I may
return back to my prison, there to undergo such punish
ment as God hath allotted unto me," &c. Upon this the
lieutenant came, and expostulated with him, saying, it
was proper to him, and common to no man else, to do
that office of delivering petitions for his prisoners. And
if Sir John, in a third petition, would humble himself to
his majesty, in acknowledging his fault and craving par
don, he would willingly deliver it, and made no doubt but
he should obtain his liberty. Unto this Sir John's answer
was : — " I thank you, sir, for your friendly advice, but my
spirits are grown feeble and faint ; which, when it shall
please God to restore unto their former vigour, I will take
it farther into my consideration." Sir John dying not
long after, his son petitioned his majesty once more, he
would be pleased to permit his body to be carried into
Cornwall, there to be buried. Whereto was answered, at
the foot of the petition, " Let Sir John Eliot's body be
buried in the church of that parish where he died." '
1 One of the most active originators of " Progress" in the seventeenth century
was a Cornish gentleman of the name of Eliott, who, having stabbed a man in a
quarrel, hastened to London, with the object of getting the favourite Buckingham,
with whom he had been intimate, to shield him from punishment. He got off
with a heavy fine. The wounded man recovered, and on applying for a return of
the money Eliot had paid, under the belief that the blow had been fatal, he was
forced to be satisfied with the honour of knighthood. Sir John, however, received
other dignities, such as the posts of vice-admiral of Cornwall, and chairman of
the committee of Stannaries, and was unquestionably bound to the court, till some
private quarrel with his patron caused him to become .one of the most active
members of the patriotic party in the House of Commons; and the reader must
have noticed with what spirit he led the opposition measures, and with what
VOL. II. P

210 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
The next week, Currantos shall be permitted to be pub
lished ; but some men say, now that incomparable king is
dead, they will buy no more. On Sunday was sennight, that
famous divine, Mr. Holdisworth,1 promised his auditory,
that up on Sunday last he would preach a funeral sermon
in lamentation of the death of that brave king. But when
Sunday was come, he treated upon another argument, be
cause, said he, the news of his death had all that week
been so neutral and uncertain; for upon yesterday was
sennight, at nine o'clock at night, it pleased his majesty
to send his coach for one Mr. Lowe, deputy for our mer
chant-adventurers at Delft, to relate unto him what he
had told some of his friends upon his late arrival from
thence, namely, that a little before his coming away there
was a man came to Delft (and he seemed to be a man of
quality, as being attended by three servants), who affirmed,
that three days after the battle he saw the King of Sweden
sitting, with his arm in a blue scarf, at a sermon and
thanksgiving for the victory ; that he had the honour to
kiss his hand, and left him alive and well ; but when he
was come some ten miles from the place, there he found
rumours spread of his death, which accompanied him all
the way into Holland. The reason whereof, he said,
might be, because the king, for two days after he was
hurt, remained close in his tent, under the surgeon's hand,
which made the generality believe he was dead. Adven
ture his life against nothing, this man said he would not;
but if the magistrates, or any other in Delft, would put
1000 guilders (that is to say, £100 sterling) into his
hand, he would pawn his head against the king was then
alive. Upon this report, Dalbier, being interrogated
anew, was so impudent as to deny some part of what he
had said before some of the lords, namely, that the King
of Sweden's body (and that in so well-disciplined an
courage he endured the persecution they brought upon him. He possessed con
siderable literary as well as oratorical talent, evidences of which are to be found in
certain satirical effusions, entitled "Verses, being chiefly invectives against the
Duke of Buckingham," and a treatise, called " The Monarchie of Man," which he
wrote whilst a prisoner in the Tower. The injustice to which he at last fell a
victim, and the unfeeling answer of the king to the application of his family for his
corpse, are among the least excusable of the many ill-judged acts of this unfor
tunate monarch.
1 Hector of St. Peter's Poor.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 211
army) lay neglected in the place where it fell all that day
and the night following, and was found next day, stripped
stark naked, among the vulgar ; and that he saw it so,
and kissed the wounds of it. But what would you have
more from a dresser of felts at Strasburg, for so Sir
Thomas Roe saith originally he was, which is not so noble
as a maker of felts or a knitter of caps ; and that his
wife, in a red waistcoat, sued to him once, as he passed
through Strasburg, to be a means to her husband, while
he was all in his bravery, to allow her but two dollars a
week, and she should think herself a very happy woman.
Upon the report of Mr. Lowe, there was upon the
Exchange, for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Satur
day, such and so many wagers laid upon the life and death
of the King of Sweden, as never the like was seen ; and
upon Thursday, from two hours before day until night, here
was ringing of bells in one place or other for joy of the
good news. Yea, healths in many places were drunk to
that good king; and, some people, had they not been
better advised by their discreeter neighbours, had made bon
fires that night. I had almost forgot to tell you that his
majesty, the same night Mr. Lowe was with him, took of
his servants, and others that were about him, seventy pieces,
to render to every man an hundred for one (that is to say,
7000 in the sum total), in case the King of Sweden were
dead. But the prettiest imposture of all happened on Monday
morning. Where Justice Long had swallowed it, I know
not ; but he gave it my Lord Chief Justice Richardson,
and through him unto all Sergeant's Inn. His lordship
sent it instantly to the master of the rolls, and he to my
lord keeper, and it flew as swift as lightning from one end
of the town to another. And what was it, think you, but
that the king, having that morning received certain news
of the King of Sweden's being alive, had reprieved and
pardoned these fourteen prisoners which had been con
demned at Newgate sessions on Saturday, and were pre
sently to be executed ? True it is, those fourteen were
reprieved and pardoned (whereof eight were women), but
merely at the queen's suit, and upon occasion of the king's
p 2

2 1 2 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
recovery from the smallpox, whereof (they came forth of
his body in great abundance), his majesty, God be thanked,
was never sick.
But since, the king's death is most certainly confirmed,
not only by an express to the Holland ambassador,
but by another also to his majesty from Curtius, his
agent, not now at Frankfort as formerly, but in the
Swedish army ; so that now there is no more wagering of
the business. The Queen of Sweden, being a most dis
consolate lady, and the Chancellor Oxenstiern, are now
at Erfurt. Duke Bernard of Weimar, being general of
the Swedish army, hath given Wallenstein a second over
throw at Swickaw, in his way to Bohemia. The Elector
of Saxe was battering his own castle of Leipsic, held from
him by the Imperials, and Bannier had slain 4000 of the
Duke of Bavaria's men.

Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 3, 1632-3.
Though I have no answer of my last Thursday's letter
to my noble Lord Brooke, yet, in hope you also and Mr.
High Sheriff1 had your shares thereof, I now begin where
then I ended ; letting you know, in the first place, that,
after I had then written, the first news I heard was that
my Lord of Arundel was passed through Cheapside, onward
of his journey towards the Hague, whither his lordship, as
I am told, goes ambassador extraordinary to condole with
the Queen of Bohemia, under the same title and appella
tion, for the death of her husband ; and to the States-
General also to treat with them about means how to esta
blish the young Prince Palatine, her eldest son, in his in
heritance, and to secure the queen's jointure in the Palati
nate to her, as also concerning the fishing upon our coast,
for which purpose old Sir William Monson, that hath been
a great projector in that business, is gone along ; and be
sides whom, I named in my last the young Lord Sheffield,
Sir Frederick Cornwallis, and two of the heralds, as,
namely, Neve, York herald, and Philpot, Somerset herald.
1 Sir Thomas Lucy.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 211 5
His lordship set sail, with a fair wind, upon Sunday, at
two in the afternoon, and there is no doubt, by the grace
of God, but he is ere this got to the Hague.
In case the queen do come for England, I hear that her
lodging appointed in court is the Cockpit, at Whitehall,
where she lay when she was a maid ; and, in the country,
is assigned her his majesty's house at Eltham. With my
Lord of Arundel, in this fleet, is gone Sir Robert Anstru
ther, his majesty's ambassador extraordinary also to the
Diet in Germany, which, they say, is to be holden at Wit-
tenburg, where the King of Sweden's body lies embalmed,
being attended by a guard of 2000 men. One mad fellow
writes from thence, that the princes have made them black
banners mingled with red, intimating blood and revenge
for that king's death ; and that they have vowed one to
another, they will not abandon the cause until they have
buried that renowned corpse in Vienna. I have been told
also by a courtier, that Sir Robert Anstruther carries with
him fifty-eight letters of credence to several princes and
great personages now in Germany.
The French king, for his ambassador, sends thither the
Marshal de la Force, to animate those princes against the
House of Austria, and to promise them all the aid and
assistance he can give them. And the more to encourage
the same marshal, he hath bestowed on him all the offices
and charges of the late Duke of Montmorency, in Lan
guedoc, which is a very good exchange for the Protestants
there, that, from under the government of their professed
and active enemy, are come to be governed by their true
and real friend. I hear also that the French king hath
sent to the Duke of Rohan, general of his army in the
Valtoline, a fresh supply of 16,000 men; and also that
the French have taken Oudenheim, in the Lower Palatinate,
a fortress belonging to the Elector of Treves. The Duke
Elector of Saxe, I hear, is so forward to hearken unto the
French king's motion, as he hath vowed to spend all his
treasure rather than that the House of Austria should any
longer domineer.
But once more to look homeward to ourselves, on
Christmas day, not only Bishop White, the almoner, in his

2 1 ?t THE COURT AND TIMES OF
morning sermon to the household, but the Bishop of London
also in his, some two hours after to the king, made sharp
invectives against some points of popery ; and, which was
much marvelled at by the auditory, quoted Calvin divers
times with a great deal of respect ; which, when Ph. Bur
lamachi was told, in my presence, he said it was a good
julep against a parliament.
On Wednesday next, the queen's pastoral is to be acted
in the lower court of Denmark House, and my lord cham
berlain saith that no chambermaid shall enter, unless she
will sit cross-legged on the top of a bulk. No great lady
shall be kept out, though she have but mean apparel, and
a worse face, and no inferior lady or woman shall be let in,
but such as have extreme brave apparel and better faces.
Yesterday, one showed me the copy of a letter from the
King of Sweden to the King of Bohemia, dated at Armstadt,
November 28, but eight days before he was slain in battle,
wherein he taxeth the King of Bohemia of too much dis
trust and incredulity, in that he was jealous the King of
Sweden would detain from him his dominions, or any part
thereof, and assureth him, upon the word of a king, that,
if God did lend him life, he would, without expecting any
recompense or reimbursement for his own pains, or for the
sweat, money, and blood, that had been and should yet be
spent for the recovery of those places, restore him entirely
to all, that did formerly of right belong unto him, or was
ever in his possession, only upon these two conditions,
first, that he should, throughout his Palatinate, allow the
King of Sweden's, that is to say, the Lutheran religion, to
all that had a mind to profess it; and, secondly, that the
King of Bohemia should acknoAvledge him, and no man
else, his restorer.
The Chancellor Oxenstiern, for his service and industry,
since the king's death, is to be loved and admired by all
such as are lovers of the good cause, left by the late king,
of famous memory, under his charge and tuition, namely,
setting up the Germanic liberty, and levelling of the House
of Austria. For the first thing he did, so soon as he was
sure of the king's death, was his passing with incredible
celerity from town to town, and from city to city (not

CHARLES THE FIRST. 21 5
Omitting the least fort or sconce), and his swearing both
the civil magistrate and military officer unto the allegiance
of the queen ; whereby he settled their minds, and kept
them from revolting, as the enemy expected they would
have done, whensoever God should call Gustavus Adolphus
from among them. And therefore it is verily thought the
princes at the Diet will choose him director of the war.
Yet the papists here do report he is taken prisoner ; but
upon what grounds, I know not, no more than where
Taylour, the archduchess's agent, should find that, upon
that bloody day of the 6th of November, Wallenstein went
off with the victory. For, if he did, it was but a poor one,
when he was fain, not for triumph or joy, but for haste
and fear, to run away with it, and the next morning, to
leave the Imperial garrison within the town of Leipsic to
a breakfast of cutting of their throats ; the Wallensteiners
in the castle also having since yielded to Colonel Knip-
penhausen upon composition.
Frankendale was delivered up by the Spaniards into the
hands of the Swedes, upon the 24 th of November, when
the garrison that marched out were 1300 foot and 70 horse,
with five pieces of ordnance, having left many more pieces
behind them than they found there at their first taking it,
and great quantity of munition. Heidelberg was then also
[surrendered] upon terms of composition, it being resolved,
so soon as the Spaniards were out, that the King of Bohe
mia's corpse should be brought in to be interred by his
grandfather there.
In the room of Pappenheim, deceased, is risen up his
lieutenant-general, the Count of Gronsfeld, who was lately
marching: to Cologne, to guard it and Bonn from General
Bauditzen, who had received his ordnance from Mentz.
Gustavus Home hath lately taken Stickstat and Colmar,
in Alsatia ; and his general of horse, the Rhingrave Otto,
hath defeated a Marquis of Baden.
Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 10, 1632-3.
Being now much distracted for the king's service, I cannot
make so full an answer to your kind letter as otherwise I

216 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
would, have done ; although for the present the occasions of
writing be not very rife, and seem to cool with the weather ;
all foreign actions of war being now, in a manner, at
a stay till the spring revive them again, and bring forth
the effect of the consultations which are now in hand both
in France, Germany, and the Low Countries. Only, I
hear, that Count Gustavus Home goeth on still in his
conquests in Alsatia, having lately taken the towns of
Colmar and Hagenau, so as there remains no more but the
town of Brisac, of all that rich province, to be conquered.
Likewise, in the country of Cologne, Bauditzen hath taken
divers places, and, amongst the rest, the town of Manheim,
within a league of that great city, which is thereby much
straitened and troubled. The Elector of Saxony, as we
hear, is levying ten new regiments for the prosecution of
the war.
Here we are in expectation of the coming shortly of the
Queen of Bohemia, who hath now given assurance thereof,
but doth not intend, as I hear, to make any long abode
amongst us. This night, our queen hath acted her costly
pastoral in Somerset House, which hath lasted seven or
eight hours.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 16, 1633.
There being no letters come yet from my Lord of Arundel
since his departure from hence, we have as yet no further
assurance of the Queen of Bohemia's coming over, than as
we hear it from other hands that she hath accepted of the
king's brotherly invitation ; and that she doth intend to
come after she hath taken order in some necessary busi
nesses which she hath in those parts ; but whether with a
resolution to continue her abode here or not, it is doubtful.
Upon the return of the deputies that were sent by the
Flemish commissioners to Brussels, with a fuller commis
sion, they go now in hand with that treaty at the Hague;
but, in all men's opinion, with small likelihood of any
success. In Germany, tLe emperor bestirreth himself every way

CHARLES THE FIRST. 2 1 7
to take advantage of the King of Sweden's death, having
not only delivered out a great number of commissions for
the raising of men, to be commanded by Wallenstein, who
is risen again from the dead, but also sent divers mes
sengers to the confederate princes, to treat severally with
them, and to withdraw them, or as many of them as he
can, from their union ; whilst, in the mean time, he doth
employ the Landgrave of Darmstadt to treat openly with
the Elector of Saxony, his father-in-law, and with the
other princes, about a general peace. For the opposing
of which practices and frustrating them, the King of
France hath given the princes assurance of a royal assist
ance, if they will stick fast in their union, and make
choice of an able leader for the war, having to that end
sent one Monsieur de Feuquieres to the Elector of Saxony
and other princes, and one Monsieur de ITsle to the city
of Strasburg, and other towns. He hath also sent Mons.
de Charnasse to the States, and doth intend, as I hear, to
come himself to Metz with an army.
The Duke of Bavaria hath delivered out many com
missions for the raising of men, to free his country of
those forces which the Palatine of Berkenfeld hath in
tliose parts. The Count of Home is still going forward,
having lately taken the town of Friburg, and blocked up
Brisac ; so as he may shortly join forces with the said
Duke of Berkenfeld against the Duke of Bavaria. But
General Bauditzen is like to be sorely set upon in the
country of Cologne, not only by the Count of Gronsfeld,
Pappenheim's lieutenant and successor, but by a good
number of Spaniards, which are gone out of Flanders and
Lunenburg against them. At whose heels the Prince of
Orange, on the other side, hath set the Duke of Bouillon,
with a good number of horse and foot.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 23, 1632-3.
My Lord Goring, and Sir Francis Nethersole, being
come back on Sunday last, out of Holland, have seconded
and confirmed the advertisement which the Earl of Arundel

218 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
(who stayeth yet behind) had sent two days before, that
the Queen of Bohemia having accepted for her own person,
with all thankful acknowledgment, the favour of his
majesty's kind and brotherly invitation for her return
hither, hath, nevertheless, excused herself from her coming
till his majesty's return out of Scotland, in respect of her
children, whose occasions and interests (which she is to
regard above any other things in this world) stand now in
such need of her personal assistance, as that she cannot so
soon leave those parts, without an extreme prejudice to
their affairs. Which excuse his majesty hath favourably
accepted of; having, out of his tender affection, seasoned
his invitation with the proffer of this free choice unto her,
either to come or to stay, and to come either alone or
with her children, or with as many and such of them as
she would be pleased.
I hear that the States and the Prince of Orange do take
a particular care of those young princes, and have resolved
never to conclude the treaty which they have in hand,
unless they be fully restored to their rights and pos
sessions. Mr. Pory to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 24, 1632-3.
Since my last unto my Lord Brooke, I am given to
understand that not only many subpoenas have been made
to summon such into the Star Chamber, as have been
delinquents against his majesty's proclamation, by their
abode in town, but the greatest part have been served also
upon such as could be met withal. My Lord Bishop of
Lincoln, notwithstanding the last term's Star Chamber
Bill put in against him were overthrown by a demurrer,
and taken off the file, is against this term cited, both by
letter and subpoena, to appear and answer in that court to
a new Bill which Mr. Attorney hath framed against him.
On Monday, Sir Francis Stanley, brother to my Lord
Strange, and second son to the Earl of Derby, died of the
smallpox, which he got by visiting of a great person ' that
was lately infected with that disease.
1 Probably, the king.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 2 1 9
Mr. Prynne, of Lincoln's Inn, hath been examined by
one of the secretaries about his " Histriomastrix," that
voluminous invective against all manner of interludes and
stage-plays, and is to be prosecuted in the high com
mission thereabouts. Mr. Noel,1 son and heir to the
Lord Viscount Campden, who on Christmas day was
married at court to the Lady Anne Fielding,2 hath lost at
tennis (in one day, as I take it) to my Lord of Carnarvon,
my Lord Rich, and other young gallants, £2500 ; her
portion, which his majesty gave with her, not exceeding
£3000. On Sunday, my Lord Goring and Sir Francis Nether-
sole returned hither from the Queen of Bohemia, bring
ing news, as I hear, that besides her present indisposition,
both of body and mind, to undertake such a journey by
sea in the midst of winter, it now behoved her most espe
cially to keep on that side the sea, that, over and besides
the aid which his majesty may vouchsafe her, she might
continually be at hand to solicit the interest of the Prince
Palatine her son, as well with the States'-General as with
the princes of Germany: and, in case she should come
over at all, yet doth she not think it fitting to come over
until his majesty be returned out of Scotland.
On Monday, in the afternoon, there were two contro
versies in agitation before his majesty and the lords at the
council-board. One between my lord chamberlain, as
lord warden of the Stanneries, and Sir Thomas Richard
son, as lord chief justice of the King's Bench : and the
other between Sir Henry Martin, judge of the Admiralty,
and the said lord chief justice ; and all about prohibitions.
As touching the first, ray lord chamberlain complained
that, whereas suits that merely concerned the tin-mines
in Cornwall might be most speedily and impartially de
cided by juries upon the place, which were acquainted
with the business ; such as were officers there, and could
not be spared, were often by prohibitions called up
hither, a journey almost of three hundred miles, and then
1 Baptist, second Baron Noel, and third Viscount Campden, who died October
29, 1683, at the age of seventy-one. He was a faithful partizan of Charles.
- Second daughter of William Earl of Denbigh.

220 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
held there, God knows how long, for a despatch, the ver
dict being referred to a jury of Middlesex, who are mainly
ignorant of the tin business. So it was resolved, and the
judges commanded, that no more prohibitions should be
sent to the Court of the Stanneries. Concerning the
second controversy, Sir Henry Martin said, he had often
besought his majesty to put some other into his place ;
because, by reason of prohibitions out of those superior
courts, he could not do his majesty or the subject that
service which be desired. And he said, farther, that if
their prohibitions continued as frequent as they were wont
to be, once within seven years there would be never a ship
left in this river to go to sea : for the proceeding in the
Admiralty is so summary, as in three court days any ordi
nary cause may be determined, and so merchants and sea
faring men quickly set free to go about their business ;
whereas, in the superior courts, it will be at least a year's
work ; and, in the meanwhile, the master and chief
mariners are kept idle from sea, the ship lies rotting
by the walls, navigation is hindered, and trade is over
thrown. The judges answered, they were bound, by their
oaths, to do as they did ; and, therefore, could not deny
any subject a prohibition, that should require it at their
hands. Besides that most, if not all, of those suits that
were drawn out of the Admiralty, by prohibition, did con
cern some contract or other, which is an object most
peculiar to their common law. Here Sir Henry Martin
distinguished between a contract made, and a contract
rising. A contract perfectly made, he acknowledged for
the object of their law : but a contract between merchants
and mariners was still rising, and not perfected until the
voyage were ended. Then Judge Jones said he would
gladly know, whether prohibitions were de jure, or de
gratia? If they were de jure, then, he said, before he
could deny any that were asked of him, he must entreat
my Lord of London to absolve him of his oath. The
bishop, as having by this request too much of the Pope
put upon him, was so surprised with choler, as for a while
he could not open his mouth to speak. At last, having
paid Justice Jones home for his dilemma, as he called it,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 221
he told him there was another way to the " wood" besides
prohibition ; which was far the more just and equitable.
And this Sir Henry Martin explained to be that, after a
sentence given, and the same sentence performed and
executed in the Admiralty Court, then might the party
grieved appeal to one of those superior courts. And if
the sentence were there found to be unjust, then was the
party satisfied to pay double to his adversary of what the
sentence had been allotted him ; and the judge wa3, at
his majesty's mercy, to censure him as he pleased.
And here, by the way, I had almost forgot to tell you
how much both his majesty, my lord treasurer, my lord
privy seal, and others, did cry down prohibitions de jure ;
affirming, that all prohibitions were de gratia ; and that
the judge, salvo juramento, might indifferently either
grant or deny them. Then, his majesty told the judges
he would have them no more to bring his River of Thames,
namely, below the bridge, into the county of Middlesex, by
a figure, which they call fictio juris ; but that he would
have his river as free from their jurisdiction as the main
ocean sea is, or ought to be. In fine, my lord treasurer,
my Lord of London, Sir Henry Martin, and Mr. Attorney,
were appointed a committee, to consider of Rules and
Orders how the Admiralty might comport itself towards
those superior courts, and those towards it.
Those brave monsieurs in France do, for the present,
discourse of nothing so much as of an infallibility that
their king must be emperor ; and no man dare contradict
them, unless he will run the hazard of a duel. And if
his great Cardinal Richelieu chance to be Pope at the
same time, what will not they two attempt for the honour
and ingrandizing of the nation. " Mai dal detto alfatto
vi e gran tratto"
In a letter, written at Brussels, on Saturday was sen
night, I have read, that the Duke of Arschot, the Arch
bishop of Mechlin, and the Pensioner of Antwerp, who
were sent before Christmas out of the body of their fellow-
deputies, now treating at the Hague, to fetch conclusive
instructions, either for a peace or truce, are still in Brussels,
attending the return of a courier from Spain, sent to fetch

£

222 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
new directions. For their said deputies, the States-
General, now assembled at Brussels, have laboured to ob
tain phnitudinem potestatis, namely, that they might freely
conclude whatsoever they should in their discretion think
available for their country. But the Spaniards do not
like such an unbridled power. The same letter tells me,
also, that about a fortnight ago, the inhabitants of Brus
sels, in a general assembly, declared and promised, that
whatsoever the States-General there should conclude or
determine, they would give their consent and obedience
thereunto. And it saith, farther, that in imitation of this,
all the rest of the towns in those provinces will do the
like, which I apprehend a fair preparative of turning the
Spaniards out of the Low Countries.
Though they now treat of peace, yet both sides, I mean,
Holland and Spain, do mutually prepare for war.

Justinian Paget, Esq., to James Harrington, Esq., at
Walton-upon- Trent.
From the Middle Temple, January 28, 1633.
I hear it from a gentleman of credit that at Cambridge,
about a fortnight since, a hog ate up a child lying in the
cradle. Mr. Prynne of Lincoln's Inn hath lately set forth a book
entitled " Histriomastrix, or the Players' Scourge," the
sale of which is prohibited, and he to appear at the high
commission on Thursday next, where, when I have heard
what is charged against him, I will, if you desire it, send
you a more particular relation. His book is extraordinarily
stuffed with quotations of old authors, which they say are
his only arguments. He cites St. Austin, who saith, " Si
tantum modo boni et honesti viri in civitate essent, nee in
rebus humanis Ludi Scenici esse debuissent." But I do
not conceive this to be the only cause why he is called in
question, but rather some exorbitant passage concerning
ecclesiastical government ; for I hear he compares the play
ing on the organs between the first and second lesson, to
interludes and stage plays. It is observable that his book

CHARLES THE FIRST. 223
was published the day after the queen's pastoral at Somer
set House. 
If you please to lend me Sir Kenelm Digby's mathe
matical discourse, which you once told me of, I shall
receive it as a special favour.

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, January 3!, 1632-3.
There is very little more news this week than I found at
my coming to town, and therefore might I imagine that
you had as much the last week, or the same, which I now
can send. Yet, to show myself not slothfuller than here
tofore to do you any service I can here, I have adventured
to inform what I have learned, viz : — That the Queen of
Bohemia prays the king's pardon for not coming into Eng
land 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 per
form. Besides the States and princes in those parts offer
ing to go up into the Palatinate with the young prince her
son, and to establish him in some part of his inheritance
this next summer, it might seem some neglect in her to
depart thence before the expiration of so short a time.
That the States have broke off the treaty of peace, and
intend to be in the field very early this year, and to main
tain four thousand horse more than heretofore, whereof
they raise two thousand of their own : the other two thou
sand from the Duke of Bouillon, whom they have made
governor of Maestricht.
The messenger which was sent to learn the truth of the
battle, and of the King of Sweden's death, came to town
upon Saturday night ; but I have not as yet heard any
relation he hath made thereof.
The news from those parts which I hear is, that the
Jesuits, endeavouring to increase the dissension betwixt the
Lutheran and Calvinist princes, hath caused them to link
themselves in a more accord than heretofore. That the
Duke-Elector of Saxony hath made his three sons take an
oath to maintain a war against the House of Austria to

224 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
revenge the King of Sweden's death, who lost his life in
defence of them and their possessions. And that the King
of France, offering the Duke of Bavaria to secure his own
dukedom unto him if he would leave the emperor and side
with him, and the duke desiring to consent thereunto,
hath sent two thousand horse and three thousand foot to
join with Gustavus Home's forces, who is lately come into
Bavaria out of Alsatia.
And whereas it hath heretofore been voiced in what dis
content the King of Bohemia departed from the King of
Sweden, I have sent you the copy of a letter which the
King of Sweden wrote, as it seems, in answer to a letter
which he had formerly received from the King of Bohemia,
wherein, in my opinion, he gives no cause of discontent to
the King of Bohemia.
The Duchess of Buckingham hath put in an information
into the court of Wards, against the now Earl of Rutland,
whereby she endeavours to overthrow the late earl 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 new earl.
Mr. Prynne, an utter-barrister of Lincoln's Inn, is
brought into the High Commission Court and Star Cham
ber, for publishing a book, a little before the queen's acting
of her play, of the unlawfulness of plays ; wherein in the
table of his book and his brief additions thereunto he hath
these words, " Women actors notorious whores ;" and that
St. Paul prohibits women to speak publicly in the church,
"and dares then," saith he, "any christian woman be so
more than whorishly impudent, as to act, to speak publicly
on a stage (perchance in man's apparel and cut hair) in the
presence of sundry men and women ?" Which words, it
\s thought by some, will cost him his ears, or heavily
punished, and deeply fined.1 Mr. Attorney is very strict in
prosecuting all sort of men and women for staying in town
1 The writer's anticipations were well grounded. Prynne had not only attacked
the diversions of the court — he had been eq ual ly severe on those of the church, and
Laud was implacable; but though the church and court mutilated, fined, and im
prisoned him with a vengeance truly savage, they did not succeed in extinguishing
his spirit. While in prison, he issued a pamphlet, in which he attacked clerical
abuses with greater bitterness than ever.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 225
contrary to the proclamation. And there is process forth
against many, whereof I have sent my brother Gibbs a
copy.

Justinian Paget, Esq., to his uncle, Dr. Charles Twysden.1
February 2, 1633.
That which commands my pen's service at this time is a
notorious cause which I heard on Thursday last, at the
high commission at Lambeth, which, as my weak memory
will help me, I relate to you. Mr. Bernard, late lec
turer at St. Sepulchre's church, was informed against by
the University of Cambridge in several articles, as follows,
viz: — 1st. That he having obtained the favour to preach
at St. Mary's last summer, he used these scandalous words
concerning the queen, viz : — " Lord, open her eyes, that
she may see her Saviour, whom she hath pierced with her
superstition and idolatry."
2nd. That in his sermon he said there is a broad differ
ence between the substance of religion and the purity
thereof. 3rd. That in his said sermon he taxed the university of
idolatry, saying, " he that bows to the high altar is an
idolator, and whether there be any such here you know
best yourselves."
4th. That he said these treasonable words, viz : — " You
think treason to be only against the king, but I can tell
you of a far worse treason than that, to wit, the treason
against the commonwealth, which is so much the worse,
by how much the body is better than a member, and the
whole is better than a part."

Sir George Gresley to Sir Thomas Puckering.
Essex House, February 6, 1632-3.
I have received the letter you sent by Mr. Hunt, the
contents whereof gives me just cause both to acknowledge
and to strive to deserve your voluntary courtesy therein.
I hoped to have sent you, this week, a very true relation
1 Doctor of Laws, and Chancellor of Coventry and Litchfield.
VOL. II. Q

226 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
which is lately come over of the King of Sweden's death
and battle. But Butter having got it to his hands, and
thinking to have printed it, it is there stopped both from
publishing it in print or copying.
The news of the princes of Germany is, that business
succeeds well amongst them ; for that the princes have
sworn to be faithful and hold constantly together ; and
that if any one fails, they will all fall upon him ; and
that they have sent to Marquis Darmstadt (if I mistake
not his name) who hath hitherto kept himself a neuter,
and since the king's death been with the emperor, to leave
off his negotiation with him, or they will presently drive
him out of his territories. And the Duke-Elector of Saxony
hath given the country of Franconia to Saxe Weimar, to
salve all fractions which might arise betwixt them. There
is also a rumour that the Queen of Sweden should be lately
brought to bed of a prince, and dead in childbed.
Here came to town on Monday last an ambassador from
Poland, and had audience upon Tuesday. He is not twenty
years of age ; but the most confident man in his carriage
and speech that I ever saw. He is one of the greatest
and richest men in that kingdom ; for his revenue is said
to be £200,000 sterling per annum ; and that he is able
to bring 40,000 horse into the field ; and he is a very good
Protestant, and one who much honoured the King of
Sweden. My Lord of Arundel came to town upon Mon
day night ; and some say that the States have given him
so good satisfaction of their true and faithful intendments
to the king and this kingdom, that he hath promised them
to be for them all he may. But our papists say the
contrary. The Queen of Bohemia's two eldest sons had a great
desire to bring my Lord of Arundel on board his ship at
his coming away; and Sir Charles Morgan seeming to
persuade them from it, they said he had nothing to do
with them ; and if Sir Jacob Astley would permit them,
they would accompany him ; which he giving way unto,
they lay all night on shipboard with him.
Monsieur de Beuse's effigies hanged up in France.
Prynne was committed to the Tower on Friday last.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 227
Mr. Sherfield's business for breaking the glass windows in
Salisbury church had hearing this day in the Star Chamber ;
but the censure put off till Friday. The Lady Wotton
was fined £500 the last week in the High Commission
Court for an inscription she put upon her deceased lord's
tomb, viz., that he died a true Catholic of the Roman
Church ; and for removing the font to set up the said
tomb, he having desired to be buried as near the place he
received his baptism as he might.

Mr. Beaulieu to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, March 6, 1632-3.
I hear that the council of Swedeland, since the death of
their brave king, have resolved to prosecute his designs ;
and have sent some supplies of men out of their country to
the princes. Concerning the Palatinate, I understand that
the Chancellor Oxenstiern hath promised to the Lords
Administrators to restore as much of it to the young
Princes Palatine, as is in the Swedish hands, according to
the intent and promise thereof made by the King of Swe
den to the King of Bohemia, upon certain conditions, some
eight days before his death.

Justinian Paget, Esq., to his Cousin Tremyll. August 22, 1633.
Give me leave to tell you of a late accident, which hath
much troubled the lord mayor, viz. — As he went the last
week toward Rochester, one in his company by chance
rode over a man, and left him for dead ; and as he came
back toward London, one of the blockhouses in testimony
of their respect shot off a piece of ordnance. Which by
chance having a bullet in it, killed a man rowing along
the river in a lighter.
You may be confident that Dr. Laud is Archbishop of
Canterbury ; for his conge, d'hlire was returned the last
week, and it is said the king hath given his royal assent ;
but it seems every man hath not ; for it is said that a preacher
in London, in his prayer, prayed God not to send a Bonner
Q 2

228 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
or a persecutor of the Church among them ; as if he thought
Dr. Laud would be such an one.

Mr. E. R. Y to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, December 31, 1633.
The business of the Earl of Suffolk 2 stands thus. His
majesty was moved to send the Lord Cottington once
more to know the earl's answer; upon Thursday, the 1 9th
December, the earl being in physic, his lordship sent, and
he was entreated to come the next day ; but before he
could get to Suffolk House the earl was gone to the king
at Hampton Court ; but his majesty was gone to Nonsuch.
So the earl lost his labour; but the next day, the 21st,
the earl got to speak with the king at Whitehall, where he
desired his majesty that he might not send his majesty any
answers, but come in person. Here the king began to
make a repetition of all that passed betwixt the earl and
my Lord Cottington : so told my Lord of Suffolk he was
not well advised to say he was turned off in disgrace. The
earl told the king, the rumour of losing this place had
drawn all his creditors upon him ; for he was much in debt.
Saith the king, " What care I for your debts ? You must
look to them. If you will surrender up your office, I shall
reward you to your content. If otherwise, I will have
the place, and be disengaged of my promise. And where
is your obedience ?" saith his majesty. Upon which his
majesty shook very much. My lord's last request was that
his majesty would be pleased to let him hold his place till
the noise of losing it were over, and then he would lay it at
his majesty's feet. The request seemed so reasonable that
his majesty granted it. The earl took his advantage with
the king, before the lord treasurer or Lord Cottington had
spoke with him, to whom, when his majesty had told the
passages betwixt the earl and himself, with what his ma-
1 Edward Rossingham. He succeeded Mr. Pory as a writer of news for Sir Thomas
Puckering, in which capacity he attained a great reputation. He had been abroad;
and appears to have been known to the Earl of Strafford, and to have enjoyed the
confidence of Sir Thomas Edmondes, Sir John Digby, and other public men.
2Th«ophilus Howard, Earl of Suffolk, was commanded by the king to give up his
post of Captain of the Band of Pensioners. He died June 3, 1640.— Earl of Straf
ford's Letters, vol. i., p. 167.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 229
jesty had granted, they seemed not to be well pleased,
saying, my Lord of Suffolk under this colour will hold off
a good while. His majesty replied, his request was so rea
sonable he could not deny him ; but yet he would take
such an order as the earl should not long hold it.
The earl of Salisbury being willing to resign up his re
version of the mastership of the wards, the next thing will
be to get the master of the wards in being to surrender ;
that either the lord treasurer or the Lord Cottington may
succeed ; for Sir Walter Pye, the Attorney of the Court
of Wards, does now what he pleaseth, whom they hold to
be a great grievance in this kingdom, whose power they
intend to moderate upon exchange.
Some preferment must be sought out for Mr. Secretary
Coke, that my Lord Jerom Weston l might succeed him.
Then all will be well.
The Earl of Suffolk gives it out that he hath satisfied
his majesty, but does not tell in what manner. He is
shortly to be married to the Lady Leigh, Sir Henry Leigh's
widow, of Oxfordshire. This lady is daughter to the old
Countess of Devonshire. I see the earl at court, crawling
up and down ; and my opinion is, that a good caudle
would be better for his weak body than a lusty widow, as
she is.
Dr. Goodman, Bishop of Gloucester, was to be removed
to Hereford. He petitioned his majesty that he might
hold the bishopric of Gloucester one year in commendam ;
which did so much displease the king, that he shall not
remove at all.
It is now resolved, and the order is entered, that hence
forth there shall be eight Masters of the Chancery civilians,
and all the four Masters of Request.
The soap business is almost at an end. The certificate
is made, but not yet published : it justifies the new soap
and damns the old. Upon Monday, the 23rd, the lord
mayor was sent for to the court, where his majesty and
the lords rebuked him for his partial proceeding in favour
of the old soap, and disparaging the new. Their lordships
sent a warrant with four of their hands to it, the lord trea-
1 Eldest son of the lord treasurer, the Earl of Portland.

230 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
surer's being one, for to bring a poor woman out of South-
wark before them for speaking invectively against the new
soap. I think she was well chidden, and so dismissed.
/The new company of gentlemen soapboilers have procured
(Mrs. Sanderson,1 the queen's laundress, to subscribe to
the goodness of the new soap: but she tells her majesty
I she dares not wash her linen with any other but Castile
J soap : and the truth is, that most of those ladies that have
I subscribed have all of them their linen washed with Castile
soap, and not with the new soap.
Sunday, the 22nd, the king sat in the council. More
than half a day was spent about a complaint against the
mayor, and the town-clerk, and some of the burghers of
the town of Gloucester, for giving an annuity of £20
per annum to a poor minister of that town, that was
brought into the High Commission as a delinquent. That
this annuity should be given is an affront to the court :
therefore, the board ordered that they should all of them
be brought into the High Commission and answer it there.
Mr. Prynne hath petitioned his majesty that he may have
the liberty of a subject, that is, to go to his study to his
books, and to confer with his counsel before he put in his
answer. This liberty he hath given him, to confer with
his counsel and to go to his chamber, where sixteen books
f are laid out for him ; but no liberty to go into his study.
Dr. Dee,2 in his last sermon before the king, upon the
text, " Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps
that gave thee suck," did so extol womankind as if he had
been to marry a daughter, and had no portion for her ;
and in case she would not off without money, then she
might apply the latter part of his sermon, which was the
glory of virginity. He spake so much in commendation
of virginity, as I do verily believe all those women that
heard him, that have wicked husbands, or are aged, wish
themselves virgins and young again. Sure this doctor
1 Bridget, daughter of Sir Edward Tyrrel, knight, and wife of William Sander
son, Esq., the historian, who at the Restoration was made gentleman in ordinary
of the king's privy-chamber, and knighted.
2 Probably Francis Dee, D.D., educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. In
1606, he became rector of Trinity the Less, and in April, 1615, rector of All-
Hallows, Lombard Street. In 1630, he was made Dean of Chichester; and in
1634, Bishop of Peterborough, and died October 8, 1638.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 231
made no good choice of the court to commend virginity in.
But the greatest clerks are not always the wisest men.
Well, he proceeded so far in the commendations of the
Blessed Virgin, as he did boldly say, her body was now
more glorified than the bodies of Enoch or Elias, that
were translated. •"'*"'
In this month, a warrant under the king's hand was
sent into the Signet Office, to draw up a warrant for the
privy seal to the customers. The effect was this, to bor
row or take up £200 beforehand from the customers to
redeem certain of the king's jewels laid to pawn for £200.
Within a day or two after, other warrants were sent into
the Signet, to draw up warrants for the receipt of £30,000
out of the Exchequer. But Sir Robert Pye says there is
no money. I wonder much the first warrant was not
drowned in the second, the £200 in the £30,000. So
needed they not to have discovered the king's necessities ;
but they know best what they have to do.
Upon Sunday last, the king and the council sat again
upon the soap business ; and now it is determined that the
patentees for this new soap shall have power given them
to seize upon all such soap as hath been made since the
middle of November last, or thereabout; to seize upon
the pans and all their other utensils belonging to the
trade of soap-boiling; and lastly, to commit the soap
boilers themselves to prison. It seems the king and the
Lords are well satisfied in the goodness of this new soap,
and that part hath been adulterated by the procurement
of the old company. Some allege, that by putting into a
barrel of soap a small quantity of rhubarb or a glass of
sack, either will make that barrel of soap unserviceable.
It is granted that this new soap hath blistered the washers'
hands, and done other mischiefs. But then again, it is
believed that the soap was sophisticated with some ob
noxious matter to work that mischief. It is said that
there shall come forth a Proclamation concerning it. Then
shall we know what to trust to.
Upon Sunday last, Dr. Croke,1 Judge Croke's son that
1 Charles Croke, D.D., rector of Amersham, in Bucks, and Fellow of Eton Col
lege. He was younger son of Sir John Croke, of Chilton, in Bucks, one of the
justices in the King'3 Bench.

232 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
was, preached before the king. He made a very short
prayer, and as short a sermon. He was miserably out ;
and yet he was never in ; for he said, he did not fetch of
his text. His two prayers and his sermon were not all
half an hour long. Well, however, the man is a good,
honest man, and hath £600 per annum. Besides, he keeps
a private school for noblemen's sons, and breeds them very
well. A better schoolmaster he is than a preacher.
There are five or six commissioners appointed, to peruse
the certificate about St. John's, in Cambridge, which hath
depended so long ; the two archbishops, the lord keeper,
the Earl of Holland, some say both the secretaries, some
but one, that is Secretary Windebank.

Sir George Gresley to Sir TJiomas Puckering, Bart.
Essex House, January 23, 1633-4.
That which, at this present, I am able to inform you is
the reformation of the prices of all small acates, the offi
cers of the Green-Cloth having made complaint that the
rates of such manner of provision was grown so high, that
the compounders could not furnish the household with
provision at the rates they then were bound to do. Where
upon, by the king's express command, the lord mayor hath
set forth his proclamation and a rate upon the prices of
small acates, which I have sent my brother Gibbs ; and
the price of beef and mutton is to be taxed also very
speedily. The wine customers, as it is said, will petition
the king for a defalcation of their yearly * * * or
otherwise they are not able to hold them. But the vint
ners are so circumspect to observe the decree, that if you
bring meat ready dressed with you into their houses, they
will not furnish you with a trencher and napkin to eat it.
Some of the little innkeepers, as I hear, went to the
court, to petition the king, but were committed to prison
for their pains.
And one Mr. Humphrey, a son of Dr. Humphrey,'
which was president of Magdalen College, in Oxford, is
1 Laurence Humphrey, D.D., who died February 1, 1589-90, at the age of sixty-
three.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 233
committed to prison for prophesying that doomsday should
be upon Friday come month. The manner of Sir Francis
Nethersole's offence and his commitment was, as it is most
voiced, that pressing to have had some speech with the
king, and being prevented therein, he wrote a letter to
Secretary Coke, which trenched too much upon his ma
jesty's person ; the effect being, as it is reported, that as
King James was voiced to be the first loss of the Pala
tinate, so his majesty would be voiced the second loss
thereof, if so be he did longer delay to declare himself
what aid he would give towards the restoring the Queen
of Bohemia and her children to their inheritance : which
being revealed by Secretary Coke, he was sent for and
committed to Mr. Trumball, and upon farther examination
concerning his offence, and slipping away from Mr. Trum
ball, committed to the Tower.
There is some muttering of the change of officers ; as
that my lord chamberlain should be lord steward, and the
Duke of Lennox lord chamberlain ; that Mr. Noy shall be
master of the Wards, and the recorder, or Sir John Bankes,
attorney-general. But it is most certain that none but
civilians shall be hereafter either masters of Request or
Chancery ; by which you may smell who looks and hopes
to be lord chancellor.
As for foreign news, I hear not any but a report that
the King of France will set up the Duke of Savoy to make
his claim to Milan.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, January 23, 1633-4.
The last week came out a commission about buildings.
This, commission takes force from the 1 st of March, in the
second year of King James ; about which time the procla
mation was published about buildings in the city of Lon
don and thereabouts. This new commission is to inquire
what buildings have been erected ; whether upon new or
old foundations ; whether they have been built according
to such orders, ordinances, and directions, provided in the
proclamation ; if any have had leave to build by the com-

234 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
missioners appointed for building. It was upon some sug
gestions exhibited unto them : now these suggestions are
to be removed ; if now they appear false or feigned, to be
void. All these things are to be looked into by juries
upon oath, by the commissioners' own proper view, and by
all other ways and means whatsoever. All such buildings
as are precisely according to the directions in the procla
mation to stand ; but all such as are contrary, some of
them to be demolished as the commissioners shall think
fit. All the others, as are thought fit to stand, to com
pound with the commissioners, and to pay a yearly rent to
the king and to his heirs and successors for ever. The
commissioners, the lord treasurer, earl marshal, Earl of
Dorset, Lord Cottington, Mr. Comptroller, the two secre
taries, Sir William Howard, Sir Henry Spiller, Mr. At
torney, Mr. Inigo Jones. This new commission does not
only look into the city, but two miles round about the
city. Warrants are already sent out and returned from
the parishes of St. Martin's in the Fields, St. Giles' in the
Fields, and St. Clement's. How many new buildings since
the time abovesaid, whether upon old or new founda
tions, by whom built, and the present tenants. It is verily
supposed that the delinquency of this proclamation will
bring into the exchequer a round sum of money ; and never
more need.1
The last Thursday, my lord mayor published a procla
mation about the rating of all manner of fowl -. and be
cause his lordship would be sure to leave out none, the
coney is rated amongst the fowl. I think to enclose the
proclamation itself, if they be not all bought up. For any
thing that I see yet, my lord mayor's proclamations are
not worth a doit, for fowl continues very dear still. The
great lords have many of them ordered their caterers to
buy according to the rates, or not at all. They resolve to
have no second course, but to feed upon beef and mutton,
and lamb and veal, and pig, and such kinds of meat ; and I
am sure some of them have had nothing else. One of the
great lords' caterers, offering my lord mayor's rates for
' It was one of the numerous schemes the government had recourse to to bring
money into the treasury.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 235
fowl, was refused. Upon which he called the constable,
and then the market-folk let the fowl go for the price set
down. The board hath ordered the clerk of the market in
the country to set the same rates there. Upon Tuesday
last his warrants went out to that purpose : so that now it
is hoped we shall pay but honest, reasonable rates for fowl.
But methinks my lord mayor tithes mint and cummin,
and leaves out the greater, as beef and mutton, which the
middle and meaner sort of people feed on, unlooked after.
Yet some tell me there is a squint eye upon those, too.
Upon Friday last, died Sir Edward Barkham, alderman
of London. He hath left behind him a very handsome
fortune, above £4000 in land, yearly revenue, besides
£25,000 in ready money, and a great stock besides. He
was a Norfolk man. Some land he had there ; but much
more in Lincolnshire. " From the devil and Alderman
Barkham good lord deliver us !" God hath heard their
prayer in part, for the alderman will vex them no more.
It is said he died in part like Herod, in the 12th of the
Acts, eaten up with lice. He was a hard man, that is
most certain.
Andrew Humphrey, a son of that Reverend Dr. Hum
phrey, some time master of a college ' in Oxford, and
Dean of Winchester, the last Sunday in the king's chapel,
in the sermon time, reared up upon a stake a parchment
with the sun and moon both turned into blood, pictured
upon the parchment, and a pair of spectacles. One of the
gentlemen of the chapel seized upon it, and reached it to
my Lord of London.2 This madman says, that upon
Friday come five weeks, the sun and moon shall be turned
into blood ; that the queen shall go to a Protestant church
with the king, and hear Protestant service ; and the Jews
shall be converted, and the world shall end some few
weeks after. This poor fellow hath the Scripture at his
fingers' ends, and saith he has had strange apparitions, as
a hand, and sometimes a foot, through a candle, and when
he began to lay hold of it, it vanished. These seven years
these things have been revealed unto him; and he was
threatened some two nights before, that, unless he ac-
1 Magdalen. 2 Dr. William Juxon.

236 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
quainted his majesty with these matters, he should be
damned. I cut off all other his lunacies.
Upon Friday last, Wither,1 the English poet, convented
before, the board all or most of the stationers of London.
The matter was this. Mr. Wither hath, to please him
self, translated our singing psalms into another verse,
which he counts better than those the Church hath so long
used : and therefore he hath been at the charge to procure
a patent from his majesty, under the broad seal, that his
translation shall be printed and bound to all Bibles that
are sold. The stationers refusing to bind them, and to
sell them with the Bible, (the truth is, nobody would buy
the Bible with such a clog at the end of it) and because
some of them stood upon their guard, and would not suffer
Mr. Wither with his officers to come into their shops and
seize upon such Bibles as wanted his additions, therefore
he complained of them for a contempt of the great seal.
After their lordships had heard the business pro et con., at
length their lordships thought good to damn his patent in
part ; that is, that the translation should no longer be sold
with the Bible, but only by itself. And for my part, I
think their lordships have done very well in ordering it in
this manner.

[The correspondence during the next two years does riot
appear to have been preserved ; nevertheless, the occur
rences of the time must have afforded ample materials for
an active "intelligencer." Laud had now arrived at the
zenith of his greatness, and was leading as busy a life as
might be expected from so restless a persecutor. All sorts
of expedients were had recourse to for levying contribu
tions upon the people, and almost every form of injustice
perpetrated upon those who dared to complain or remon
strate. The prisons were full of patriots, the streets
swarmed with rogues and idlers : there was no confidence
1 George, author of " The Shepherd's Hunting," and several other works. At
the breaking out of the civil war, he greatly distinguished himself on behalf of the
Parliament, for which, at the Restoration, he was imprisoned and persecuted.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 237
in the present, and no hope in the future — trade was para
lyzed, commerce at a stand, and nothing seemed capable
of increase but the tyranny which was so rapidly sapping
the best energies of the nation. Yet signs not to be mis
taken were manifested that there was a spirit abroad the
Star Chamber could not quell, and the Tower could not
confine — against it, mutilation and beggary, disgrace and
ruin, were of no avail ; and when the government fancied
it had quelled an assailant, it had created a martyr, whose
example was instigating the whole country.]

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, March 30, 1636.
One of those two priests I mentioned in my last was
clapped up by my lord's grace,1 because he preached the
sermon the Sunday before in the queen's chapel in Somer
set House, that place being only allowed to the queen's
chaplains, and not to any other priests, especially any
English priests. The other was committed for company ;
his fault was his being a popish priest.
Tuesday, the last week, the East India merchants
attended all the afternoon to deliver his majesty a petition,
which at last the king snatched from them, supposing it
had been against the going out of Sir William Courtney's
ships ; but, so soon as he found it otherwise, and that it
only tended to beseech his majesty, now that an extraor
dinary ambassador was come from the United Provinces,
his majesty would be pleased to take their grievances of
Amboyna into consideration, that they might be repaired,
the king came back and told them, that although they had
not moved him in it, yet he did always resolve in the first
place to propose to be righted in that particular : yet we
hear nothing of it. This complaint being taken away, in
all other things the Dutch and we shall differ very little,
or not at all.
The prothonotaries, that Mr. Attorney-General had
1 Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury.

238 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
brought into the Star Chamber for extortion of fees, have
compounded. They pay to his majesty £10,000, and
their fees are to be regulated henceforward. The last
week, ray lord keeper and lord privy seal, and my Lord
Cottington, sat to regulate them. I hear that they have
cut off a large thong out of one fee ; namely, whereas
those prothonotaries took two shillings for the first three
sheets of all bills, and twelve pence the sheet for all sheets
above the first three, their lordships have ordered that
from henceforth they shall take but eightpence the sheet
for all bills, though there should be a thousand sheets in a
bill; more or less, twelve lines in every sheet, and ten
words in every line.
The earl marshal had moved his majesty to send Mr.
Selden, the lawyer, along with him in his journey to
Vienna. The king did send to him to provide to go along;
but Mr. Selden had no stomach to it ; and therefore he did
use all his helps in time to get off; which he hath done
with much ado, and, as I hear, with some distaste. But
now it is said all is well again ; for it is verily believed
such a journey as this may prove to be would kill Mr.
Selden, who is known to be a most tender man. It is said
that Dr. Samuel Turner goes along [with them,] but that
is not very certain, nor yet true he goes not.
Many gentlemen of quality make all possible means to
go this journey ; but my lord marshal is very choice of his
company ; and therefore it is thought my lord hath engaged
his majesty^o appoint his company, but only such as his
lordship shall approve of. The embassy is for restitution
of both Palatinates, the Higher and the Lower, and the
electoral dignity. The emperor does offer the Lower pre
sently, and the Higher with the electoral dignity, after the
Duke of Bavaria's decease, who is an aged man, therefore
cannot live long. If this offer of the emperor should be
accepted, and that after the Duke of Bavaria's death the
other two were prolonged, and not forthwith delivered, (and
many other accidents might happen before that time) the
young elector, who is now innocent, may be engaged in
some business that the emperor may cavil at ; so all former
promises may be rendered void. These and many other

CHARLES THE FIRST. 239
are said to be the causes why the king refuseth this pre
sent offer, and therefore doth send the earl marshal to
treat about restitution of the whole.
Because the French king hath raised our gold, (as in my
last) therefore there have been some propositions here to
raise all our coin, to prevent the transport of it. Saturday
last the merchants and some goldsmiths, Sir Thomas Roe
and others, were at the council-board by appointment, to
show cause why the king should not raise the standard
both of gold and silver. Some few days they have to pro
vide their reasons, which it seems were so strong, as his
majesty does now believe that he should be the greatest
loser by the abasing of the coin. Those which receive
most money should be the greatest losers. Mr. Mann1
and Mr. Harvey,2 the merchants, did well ; but Sir Thomas
Roe did exceed : and now for certain that project is laid
aside, never to be meddled with any more, to the great
joy and content of all parties, but some of the mint-men,
who were said to have put his majesty upon this design.
It is said that when a king doth abase his coin, it is like a
breaking merchant who takes up goods at £30 in the hun
dred loss, to support credit a little longer; and that this
is the French king's case right, who spent this last year
eight millions and £200,000 sterling.
There is a strict command given by his majesty, that all
servants shall or will take both the oaths of supremacy
and allegiance, and the Communion this Easter. This
command for the receiving of the Communion was the last
year, but not that of taking the oaths.
Saturday last all treaties of composition were broken
off between the Earl of Essex and his lady, but very much
against her will. Mr. Lowe, her counsel, cavils at the
strict drawing up of the articles, and saith she may forfeit
her £1300 yearly allowance before she is aware; and
having renounced her jointure and thirds, she may so be
utterly undone : and therefore, saith he, unless the articles
be more loosely penned, he refuseth to be of her counsel.
1 Thomas Man, author of " England's Treasure by Foreign Trade," published by
his son. John Man, Esq., at London, 1669, in 8vo.
2 Daniel. See the Earl of Clarendon's Life, written by himself, vol. i.

240 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
The articles do only bind her to these four particulars : to
renounce her jointure and thirds ; never to complain, peti
tion, or sue for alimony ; to disclaim all title to the earl's
personal estate ; and lastly, never to seek to cohabit again
with her husband. In all other things whatsoever she is
left at large to complain and to do what she will. It was
once inserted as an article that if ever she had any child
by my lord, she should forfeit her £1300 yearly composi
tion. It was set down in this manner for the more honour,
because, if so be she should ' have any children, whosoever
got them, yet my lord must father them by the law. This
article the countess did utterly dislike, and therefore my
lord was contented to desert it. It is feared the super
abundant caution of the countess may do her some preju
dice, if my Lord of Essex should be forward to take the
advantage of this breach : but, it being no fault of the
lady's, it is like to be pieced up again.
Sunday last it was resolved that the Earl of Leicester
should go ambassador extraordinary into France, but upon
what embassy that is not publicly known. The same night,
the king sent for the Earl of Leicester, to give him warning
to provide himself for the employment. We have certain
news out of France that Mr. Noy, the late attorney Noy's
son, is slain. Some reports make it by Captain Biron, who
slew him in a duel, and then fled. Another report killed
him by one Brierly (or such a name), and a third saith he
was stabbed. But true it is that he is slain, and his next
brother is the king's ward.
The lord deputy of Ireland is very much offended with
the Lord Mountmorris for sending over his wife and chil
dren. His lordship hath been before the board to answer
it. The deputy, after he had chidden the Lord Mount
morris for it, told him how gracious his majesty had been
to him to give him a pardon of his life, if he would sue it
out : but he must first acknowledge the king's justice
(which is the sentence of the martial court). He must
also acknowledge all those charges to be true concerning
the corrupt managing of his offices. The lord offers to
acknowledge his majesty's grace, and to sue out his pardon ;
but neither to acknowledge the justice of the martial court,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 241
nor yet those charges of his corruption : so he was dis
missed, to advise better upon it.
It is most true that my Lord Brooke had such a privy
seal as my letter mentioned.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
[London], April 13, 1636.
Mr. Daniel Harvey, the merchant, hath procured a
privy seal to extend Captain Milwood's goods, with a non
obstante of his royal protection, (as in my last) for to re
cover his full debt of £2700, which is not yet due, save
about £400 of it ; and all Captain Milwood's power can
not overthrow this privy seal, which was granted to Mr.
Harvey as being one of her majesty's receivers. This privy
seal does very much prejudice the rest of the creditors
who should have had about a mark in the pound at least.
Our extraordinary Dutch ambassador lies very ill ever
since the presents were delivered. He requires no audience,
that it is marvelled at why he came over. Mr. Secretary
Coke is appointed to treat with him, if he would desire it,
as the ambassadors have ever done. This is like to prove
a very scurvy business.
It is said that the king hath lately sent to all the am
bassadors and agents of the French, the Spaniards, and the
Dutch, to let them know, that they may acquaint their
masters with it, that it is his majesty's pleasure that nei
ther of their people shall fish any more in our king's seas
without his especial license. This I hear very confidently
spoken, but I am not certain of the truth of it. It is
much feared the Dutch and we shall be farther out than
ever. It was given out lately that the Dutch had pri
vately propounded the old business of Amboyna with the
king, the East India merchants here never being made
acquainted with it, but that is false ; there is no agree
ment yet made. This Dutch ambassador that is now come
over is suspected for a bold man, because Monsieur Bracell,
that was here some years since to treat about the Amboyna
business, juggled so with our State, and therefore was
sent hence with scorn and reproach. Therefore now that
VOL. II. R

"242 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
some ambassador was to be sent hither about the same
business, in the first place at least a dozen of the States
refused this employment, till at last this Monsieur Beveren
accepted of it, who hath yet done nothing, and our State
does observe it to see what he will do.
The last week we had certain news from Paris that the
Lady of Purbeck was declared a papist ;l and that she had
engaged their Majesties of France and the Cardinal Riche
lieu to move the King of England for her pardon, and that
she may come over. They do undertake it, and to that
purpose they have sent instructions hither to their ambas
sador extraordinary, who is also very zealous in the busi
ness. The lady hath written a long letter of three sheets
to her majesty, the story of her life from her very child
hood to her conversion, humbly desiring her majesty to
intercede for her pardon. She hath also written to the
Duchess of Buckingham and to some other of the great
ladies, to take off my Lord's Grace of Canterbury. It is
said she is altogether advised by Sir Kenelm Digby, who
indeed hath written over letters to some of his noble
friends of the privy council, wherein he sets down what a
convert this lady is become, so superlatively virtuous and
sanctimonious, as the like hath rarely been either in men
or women : and therefore he does most humbly desire their
lordships to farther this lady's peace, and that she may
return into England, for otherwise she does resolve to put
herself into some monastery. I hear his majesty does
utterly dislike that the lady is so much directed by Sir
Kenelm Digby, and that she fares nothing the better for it.
Here hath been an Italian these two or three years in
the habit of a priest, that begs of every gentleman, saying
he is a protestant. This rogue (for he is no better) had
got together £218, and being very lately in Southwark
and resolved to go to his w  , was loth to carry with him
all this money, and therefore hides it in a hole by the side
of a ditch, under the high-water mark, and claps a clod of
earth upon it ; so leaves it, and to the wench he goes,
with whom he continued somewhat long, until the tide had
washed away the clod of earth and his purse of money,
1 Earl of Strafford's Letters, vol. ii., p. IS,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 243
which fell into the midst within the ditch. At his return,
missing his money, the rogue cries out as he had been
mad, that all the people come about him, and, hearing
what the matter was, they fell to raking for the money,
but not finding it, away goes the Italian : but the
people continue the search, till at last they found it, and
got out of the purse eight pounds before the constable did
sense it, who carried it to Sir John Lenthall of the King's
Bench. But the parson of St. George's Church soon gives
notice of it to my lord's grace, who acquaints his majesty
with it, desiring this booty may go to the repairing of
Paul's. The king consents — the money is sent for — but
Sir John Lenthall refuseth to part with it but legally ;
and upon security to discharge him he parts with it. His
grace had warrants out before this accident to apprehend
this Italian for some abuse he had done to the Italian
preacher of Mercer's Chapel ; and now this £218 must be
deposited toward that fine shall be laid upon him in the
high commission for abusing the Italian preacher.
The commission which hath been on foot, every Monday
these two months, upon the prebends of Westminster's
complaints against the bishop of Lincoln, is now put off
till the Monday after Easter week. Monday last, lie had
a very ill day. A new charge is lately risen up against
him, that his lordship hath received, out of the prebend's
allowances, £3300, towards the reparation of the Abbey
Church. They charge him, that he hath not laid out
half the money ; and that he keeps the rest. His lord
ship saith, a bargain is a bargain, and gives in no account.
But his grace told his lordship it was a base bargain ; so
requires the bishop to bring in the accounts, which the
bishop hath small mind unto : and whether his lordship
can now make a true account, yea or no, is a great ques
tion ; because it is said his lordship hath made several
accounts, and then dislikes them again.
The last week, there died of the plague, two French
children out of one house, in Whitechapel parish. Upon
search, since, it appears that in Stepney and Whitechapel,
eight houses have been infected, and fifteen persons have
died of the plague, and all French, as I hear. Now there
r 2

244 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
is strict order taken to send such as are infected to the
pest-house, and to burn their goods.
Sunday last, the city complained to the king, that the
prison of Newgate was so full of poor prisoners, as they
feared it might breed the infection there : that there were
forty-seven condemned persons, which his majesty had
reprieved, that were kept there, which did starve the rest
of the poor prisoners. About twenty of them were re
prieved at the elector's coming into England. To put
them out of the gaol, were to send so many ravening
wolves amongst lambs ; and none durst venture to carry
them over sea. That they of the court and the city knew
not how to dispose of them ; and it were hard to hang
them now in cold blood. That gaol-damp of Hereford
hath already killed a great many that were at the last
assizes, and many more are sick even to death. The
stench of one poor prisoner suffocated them all.
Sir * * * Hamilton, near kinsman to the Marquis, goes
the queen's agent to Rome, in Brett's stead.
/ Monday last, after their majesties had spent some time
l at Ludgate Hill, in perusing Butler's wares (Monstevens's
successor), they went to Bethlehem, to see the mad folks,
where they were madly entertained. There was every
one in his humour. Two mad women had almost frighted
the king and queen, and all their attendants, out of the
house, by their foul talk.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
London, May 4, 1636.
The last week, there died of the plague 1 3, in the parish
of Stepney ; in Whitechapel, 2 ; in Bishopsgate Street, 1 ;
and at Aldgate, 1 ; in all 1 7. The City of London hath
delivered two petitions to the king. The one is, that
his majesty will be pleased, that all those which die of
the plague in the parish of Stepney may not be certified
in the weekly bills of London, as his majesty hath com
manded lately, but that they may be certified in a bill
by itself; because, it being included in the city bills,
it is generally taken abroad that London is more infected
than, God be thanked, it is : so it not only breeds a fear

CHARLES THE FIRST. 245
in the country-people of coming to Loudon, but of receiving
any commodities from the city. There are divers other
reasons, which I cannot set down, because I have not read
the petition. The other is, that whereas his majesty hath
been pleased to grant an incorporation to include into one
body the Strand, Covent Garden, Westminster, and all
other places whatsoever, within three miles round about
the City of London, and within the city, that is exempted
out of the corporation of the city ; and also, no way to
infringe the liberties of the dean and chapter of West
minster, to have a governor, wardens, assistants, and com
monalty, to fine all such as refuse to bear office ; the
natives, born and bred up in any trade within the said
liberties, to pay 4s. apiece for their freedoms ; all trades
men of other places to pay 20*. for their freedoms, and
aliens to pay 40s. ; all apprentices to have their inden
tures registered and enrolled in some hall, which they
may purchase ; power to purchase land ; to take quarter
age, 12«/. of natives, and 2*. of strangers; all these pay
ments being to his majesty's use ; this grant being already
past the privy seal, the city doth petition it may be sus
pended, and not pass the great seal, until they have made
their just exemptions, which they humbly desire his
majesty would be pleased to take into consideration.
Friday last, the officers of the Custom House petitioned
the lords of the council against some officers belonging to
the new society of soapboilers, who came with a warrant
under the hands of some of that society, with a constable
also, and attempted to break into his majesty's storehouse,
that had Charles R. upon the door, to take out there a
parcel of Castile soap, of six thousand pounds weight at
the least, which his majesty's searchers of the Custom
House had seized upon, being goods forfeited by his
majesty's proclamation ; and, therefore, a third part of
the said goods, so forbidden, belonging to his majesty's
searchers, which the society of soapboilers would have
taken from them. For this insolency of attempting the
breaking open the king's storehouses, the lords have com
mitted only those that would have executed the warrant.
Before the earl marshal's going out of England, his

246 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
lordship had procured a grant under the privy seal to have
a fair kept upon St. Mark's day, once in every year, for
ever, at Wem, a town in the county of Shropshire, to
have the toll and all other profits thereto belonging, to
him and his lordship's heirs for ever. But, before the
grant doth pass under the great seal, a writ ad quod dam
num is to be returned, that his majesty shall suffer no kind
of prejudice, nor yet his loving subjects.
There is a new imposition of 18dL upon every hundred
weight of hops, that shall be imported after Midsummer
next ensuing. This 18c?. is over and above the imposition
set down in the late book of rates made and published at
Michaelmas last. There is also a like imposition of 1 8d.
upon every cow, heifer, ox, steer, and runt, that shall be
imported into England and Wales out of Ireland, to begin
at Midsummer next also.
Tuesday, in the Passion week, the lord deputy had a
Castle Chamber Court in Dublin (which is our Star Cham
ber), where the Lord Mountmorris was brought as a male
factor, with a guard, and brought to the bar for his con
tempt in not putting in his answer to Mr. Attorney's
bill exhibited in that court some few days before against
his lordship. The Lord Mountmorris pleaded he was
so straitened in point of time, and also that his counsel
were not yet returned from their circuits, that he could
not draw up his answer. My lord deputy took these
as excuses only to gain time, and that he refused to
make answer, rather in opposition to his lordship, than
for lack of time or counsel : and therefore his lordship
protested, before a year went about, he would make
his lordship more humble. So, for this contempt, and
also for joining in combination with Sir Piers Crosby1 to
raise a scandal that my lord deputy had beaten a poor
man to death, that had petitioned him for the release
of his barque, which his lordship's officer had seized upon,
his lordship was committed a close prisoner to the Castle,
and all his lordship's papers seized upon by my lord
deputy. Since which time, the Lord Mountmorris being
1 A military adventurer of considerable reputation ; remembered chiefly for having
been a witness against the Earl of Strafford.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 247
very [ill], and supposing, for want of rest, that he could
not live, he desired Dr. Howell, the divine, might come to
administer the Sacrament unto him, to fit himself for
another world. But, before Dr. Howell might have leave
to go to the Lord Mountmorris, he must take an oath not
to convey any message or letter to the said Lord Mount
morris, nor yet bring any from him, neither directly nor
indirectly. Having taken this oath, he had leave, and
did administer the Sacrament. Letters from Ireland of
the 22d of April tell us, that my Lord Mountmorris, for
want of sleep, is become mad ; and that he can get nothing
down, whatsoever he takes, but presently casts it up
again ; so much is this poor man afflicted with the heavy
displeasure of my lord deputy. Now, as for killing the
man, which is a mere scandal raised upon the deputy, his
lordship caused a commission to examine how the poor
man died, and of his lordship's beating him. It plainly
appeared he died of a consumption, and not of my lord de
puty's beating of him. It is true, that he died within some
days after he was beaten, and that gave life to the report.
Monday last, Mr. Secretary Windebanke signified the
king's pleasure to Mr. Darcy, one of the three agents
sent out of Ireland by the province of Connaught, about
Michaelmas last, to treat, or rather to plead their title to
that province, which my lord deputy would and had
entitled his majesty unto, by ancient title of five hundred
years since. Two of the commissioners were sent back
about Christmas ; and, as it is said, upon their arrival in
Dublin, they were committed close prisoners. The king
kept this Mr. Darcy here, although the lord deputy had
often written that the king's business did infinitely suffer
by this Mr. Darcy's absence there. Mr. Darcy is a law
yer, a stout man and a bold ; and, as it seems, no servant
to the deputy. For, whereas the deputy, with others, do
farm some customs in Ireland, and licenses for exporta
tion, at £15,000 per annum, this Mr. Darcy hath lately
offered the king £30,000 for these very same customs and
licenses. And, if it be true which is written out of
Ireland, Mr. Darcy would not lose by the offer, there being
made the last year £40,000, which was £20,000 clear

248 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
gains. The king did not accept of this Mr. Darcy's
proffer ; and now Mr. Secretary Windebanke hath signified
the king's pleasure to Mr. Darcy, that he forthwith, upon
his allegiance, repair into Ireland, and there to present
himself to the lord deputy, of whom he shall know his
majesty's further pleasure. Saturday last, with a heavy
sad heart, the poor man went hence towards Ireland ; and
it is believed that my lord deputy will stay Mr. Darcy's
arrival, and afterwards set out towards England.
Sunday, the news came to court, that Sir Arthur
Capell had slain Sir Thomas Lenthropp in a duel at
Hadham, (young Mr. Capell's) in Hertfordshire ; a couple
of very honest, fair-conditioned men, and old friends in a
very strict manner ; the business they fell out upon being
of no consideration. Sir Thomas Lenthropp said, Sir
Arthur Capell told him my Lord Howard was not pleased,
that he, my Lord of Dover, Mr. Capell, and many country
gentlemen besides, came to hawk upon grounds which
were in his lordship's liberty, he being there : and that
they neither came to him, nor sent to him, as if my Lord
Howard had not been considerable : and this was a good
while since. Sir Arthur Capell had forgot he told Sir
Thomas Lenthropp so much ; " but," saith he, " if I had
told you so much, must you, therefore, make me the
author?" They were made friends, but Sir Thomas
Lenthropp, two or three hours after, pressed hard upon
Sir Arthur Capell to fight, that he could not avoid it.
So, to the next close they went, where Sir Arthur Capell,
at the second pass, ran him through the heart. All cry
shame of the company that did not presently reconcile this
difference. On Monday last, the justice-seat was kept at Stratford
Langthen, in Essex, where all the judges delivered their
opinions that by the perambulation of the 29th of Edward I.,
and also by a judgment of the king's bench in Richard the
Second's time, all that part of Essex is forest which was
lately delivered to be in the bounds. The Justice-in-Eyre
gave the sentence, but yet did heighten the king's mercies,
who was ready to shew all favour to his people there.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 249
Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
[London,] September 28, 1636.
Sunday this last week the Spanish ambassador had his
audience at Oatlands. This great don will not abate the
least punctilio of the ceremony belonging unto him. He
was first fetcht by the Earl of Carlisle from Greenwich to
his house at South Lambeth : from thence, Saturday, the
17th, attended on by my Lord of Salisbury, to Abscourt,
the Lord of Dunsmore's house, to be the nearer : upon
Sunday, to Oatlands. My Lord of Salisbury would fain
have been spared, but could not, by reason there was none
of his quality, both of the council and of the order, so near
the court as his lordship was. The Prince Elector was at
the audience, and was observed to swell to see the pride
of the Spanish dons, but they took no notice of his
highness. Captain Walter Stuart hath been examined by Mr.
Secretary Coke why he did not suffer the king's officers to
search the king's ship which brought the Spanish treasure,
it being objected there might be more Spanish treasure
sent aboard here than was entered, and more than was.
agreed upon. Notwithstanding all this noise for the trans
port of the Spanish treasure, nothing will come of it in the
end, for I cannot yet learn of any just charge upon any of
the actors in it.
The demur about the going out of the new ship-writs
was only to resolve whether so great a sum should be
levied by these new writs as was raised by those of the
last year.
I hear by some good letters out of France, that my Lord
of Leicester is in extraordinary esteem there ; and that his
lordship does manage a private treaty between us and
France, which the French king's ambassadors here have no
knowledge of.
Friday, the 1 6th, Mr. Henry Percy,1 hunting the stag
with his majesty in Windsor Forest, they came in both to
the fall of the stag. Mr. Percy took a knife to strike into
1 Younger brother to Algernon, Earl of Northumberland, created afterwards, by
King Charles I., Lord Percy, of Alnwick, in Northumberland.

250 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the stag, but, his glove being wet, his hand slipt down to
the blade, and hath cut two of his fingers in such manner,
the queen's surgeon that dresseth him does fear he will
hardly ever recover the use of those two fingers. Rochester
Car, Sir Robert Car's brother, of Lincolnshire, hath been
mad all this summer, and kept up ; but, some ten days
since, he broke loose into the streets, and said, in the
audience of many people, that he would go to the court ;
that he had no business there, neither with king, queen,
nor state, save only to kill the king, and then he would
marry the queen. The people knocked him down for
these speeches. )(This being told her majesty, she fell into
such a passion asdier lace was cut to give her more breath ;
but, God be thanked, she was soon well again. Now she
is very visibly with child. k
Monday, this last week, a poor man, Bumsted by name,
sometime Serjeant to Sir John Thimblebee, was sent a
prisoner from Oatlands to the Tower of London. His
offence was for saying he would cut off the king, or the
king must first be cut off. But what the circumstances
were, that I cannot learn yet. I do hear it is a very poor
silly fellow, but such language is not to go unpunished.
The 16th, my lord admiral weighed anchor in the
Downs, and set sail for Yarmouth, where he arrived the
1 8th, but had in his passage very foul weather, that they
had much ado to keep the Roebuck, the king's pinnace,
from sinking, and my lord admiral's kitchen ship. Wed
nesday night, letters came from my lord admiral to be
sent in post haste to Captain Cartwright, riding in the
Downs. He is captain of the king's ship, the Happy
Entrance. This ship is one of those eight considerable
ships my lord hath to attend him in this commission, to
distribute licenses to the Holland's busses now fishing at
Yarmouth. There are two other small ships, but those
two are baubles in respect of offensive ships. I do hear of
sixteen Dutch men-of-war that are with the Dutch busses
at Yarmouth. It is, therefore, believed my lord admiral
hath sent for the king's ship, the Happy Entrance, to come
to him with all possible expedition. Whereas it was said
that the Dutch fishermen were willing enough to acknow-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 251
ledge and pay the toll demanded, and that the Provincial
States did much oppose it : I do hear, now, that there was
no such thing ; that neither the one nor the other do con
sent, and that those Dutch captains of the States' ships of
war have been soundly rebuked since they came into
Holland, for persuading those busses in the north seas to
take the aforesaid licenses.
I do hear from court that the king and his lords are to
be all this week in council at Windsor ; and that upon the
10th of October his majesty goes towards Newmarket to
stay there until Allholland-tide. But the queen is to con
tinue still at Oatlands. This week the ship-writs will be
delivered ; and it is supposed this fishing imposition upon
the Dutch busses will be again in consideration. The
household is to be at Windsor till Allholland-tide : then
their majesties are to remove to Hampton Court.
The last week our East India merchants had news of
two East India ships that were safely arrived in Plymouth,
but very weakly manned, very many of the sailors being
dead, some of them falling down dead as they were handling
the ropes. The Dutch have also news of a rich ship of
theirs, the Amboyna, which is also come from the East
Indies. This Dutch ship touched at the Cape, where,
seeing our two ships, she set sail and would not speak with
them ; yet give it (the Dutch pretend) that this ship left
our ship in great want of such things as they could not
spare them ; and hearing our ships were not arrived, they
cast out some jealous suspicions, as if they had been cast
away, only to advance the prices of their own commodities.
But within two days after, our ships came into Plymouth
to contradict all these Dutch reports. But yet the Dutch
have the better end of the staff, for their one ship is much
richer than both our ships sent together.
Captain Cartwright's ship, the Happy Entrance, is not
commanded to Yarmouth, but to waft over the merchant's
letters, which if he shall neglect, another shall be put in
his place. This was the contents of my lord admiral's
letter which went down the last week in so much haste.

252 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
October 5, 1636.
The Spanish ambassador hath already removed his
habitation from that house in South Lambeth, which was
some time Sir Noel Caron's ; the States' ambassador and
he hath taken Nottingham House, in Chelsea, whither he
is already come. Sunday, this last week, there was much
ado at the court at Windsor. The French ambassador
urged vehemently the sending over of the Spanish treasure
against some of the privy council ; and I hear some great
ones did side with him. But nothing came of it, save only
that Captain Walter Stuart was committed a prisoner to
the Fleet at Reading during this time of infection at
London. I hear he was committed, not because he car
ried over the treasure, but because he would not suffer the
king's ship that came with it from Spain to be searched by
his majesty's officers.
It is said at the court, that Sir John Pennington hath
taken one of those Turkish pirates that had so much
molested the western coasts. But our letters from the
west country tell us only, that he is there arrived, with so
many ships, to clear those seas of them. But we hear
from Southampton of a ship, belonging to that town, that
hath brought in a Turkey ship, thus : — The Turks,
marking this Hampton barque, manned out their long-boat
to take her ; but this long-boat was cast to leeward, and
could not fetch them up, which the barque observing, and
also being well provided, and taking notice that the Turks'
ship was very much weakened by the absence of so many
of their men as were in that long-boat, she beat up the
helm, sets upon the Turkish ship, and takes her without
any great difficulty, and brings both the ship and men
into harbour. The west-country people have no great
belief that the king's ships will do any good against these
Turks. They rather believe, that if so be the counties did
set out ships, the west-country seamen would be much
more zealous in prosecution of those Turks in revenge of
their sufferings.
Thus say the letters of the 27th of September from the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 253
fleet riding at anchor ten leagues out at sea, north of
Yarmouth, where the fleet hath endured very hard weather,
the winds blowing high at south-west. Two of their great
ships were gone God knows whither, the James and the
Nonsuch ; two of the merchant ships, the Jonah and the
Great Neptune, were discharged by my lord admiral, their
victuals being almost spent, only so much left as to bring
them into harbour. My lord general can neither find nor
hear of any of the Holland busses ; but a Scotsman,
coming from Campveer, a town in Zealand, to which
belong divers busses, did assure my lord general that
whilst he was there a command came thither from the
lords of the States, that no busses should go out to fish
this latter season of the year ; which, it seems, is very
true, because our fleet can find no busses there, which at
other times did never fail. Our fleet is like, therefore, to
be called home presently, but their victuals will force them
within one fortnight. I do now hear from the court, that
letters are sent to recal my lord general, who is to leave
the fleet, and land at Yarmouth the 12th of this month.
But his majesty hath been very earnest to make the Dutch
acknowledge ; for my lord had a command to put out
more to the north of Yarmouth, to seek out the busses, and
either force them to take licenses [or prevent] them from
fishing : but the lords the States have prevailed for this year.
The court of wards is to be kept at Acton from All-
hollandtide till the end of the term, because otherwise his
majesty will lose much in his profits : and to this end
proclamation comes out suddenly.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
October 11, 1636.
That Scottish report I wrote in my last, that the Lords
the States had commanded no busses should go out to fish
this second season, is now contradicted by other letters
from the fleet. For my lord general, according to his
wonted vigilancy, plied to and again, from day to day,
till at last he met with a fleet of busses, newly come from
Holland, an hundred or thereabouts, part of these having

254 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
been licensed at their last being in the North Seas ; the
rest, about sixty, took licenses, and paid the duties de
manded. They used all industry to avoid our fleet, and
our fleet as much to surprise them. This happened on
the 29th of September. The next day, about evening,
they espied another great fleet of busses of about 800.
Those had thirteen men-of-war to guard them. Our fleet
made after them with all the sail they could pack on, but
all in vain, to come near them. For first they were so far
to windward, that our heavy ships could not weather them ;
and, secondly, the winds were so high, that though our
ships came in the skirts of the most leewardly of them,
yet they durst not man out their long-boats to board them.
All the advantage, therefore, our fleet have of them is,
that they must fish in the night : then our ships plying it
up in the wind are with them in the morning before they
can well get up their nets. But hitherto, the winds have
been so high, that they could neither fish, nor our ships
well follow them ; and therefore our fleet rides at anchor
out in the sea, for fear of being driven upon the sands,
with those easterly winds they had had there. Those two
ships which were blown away are come to them again ;
one of them, the James, a very great ship, having escaped
firing very narrowly. They were boiling of pitch within
board ; the flame took some part of the ship ; and but
that one of the sailors ventured his life to quench it, which
he did, the ship had surely perished. My lord general
hath most nobly rewarded this poor fellow.
Sunday, the last week, the high sheriffs throughout all
the counties of England and Wales were pricked. It is
said, the king resolves they shall all stand, like the laws
of the Medes and Persians, irrevocable.
Friday last, the ship writs were all sealed, and carried
to the court on Saturday, with the high sheriffs' patents,
and power given to take and give the old high sheriffs
their discharge in the country. These writs, with the
patents, and the bonds for the high sheriffs of all the
Welch counties, are forthwith to be sent down, that the
writs in the Welch counties may be presently put in exe
cution. Why the patents of all the sheriffs of the English

CHARLES THE FIRST. 255
counties were not sealed at the same time, I can give no
certain account, unless it be a statute in force, that no
high sheriff in England shall enter into his high shrievalty
till * * # * * * *;forI hear that was objected
presently, after the sheriffs were all pricked. But I am told
it was the resolution that the high sheriffs' patents and
these new ship-writs should have all gone down together
presently. And whereas, heretofore, Sussex and Surrey have ever
had but one high sheriff to serve both those counties, the
like for Huntingdon and Cambridgeshire, from henceforth
those counties shall have their peculiar high sheriff, this
being the first time.
I hear that all the county of Galway, in Ireland, have
submitted all their estates they hold in that county wholly
to his majesty. They will no longer contest against his
majesty's title.
My lord deputy is sent for to come to the court. It is
supposed it is only that upon this submission the king will
give some instructions to my lord deputy, before his lord
ship's going over, about the ordering of this business.
Our merchants do much complain of some Portugal
Jews here in London, that trade greatly for Spain, to their
great prejudice. But this is not all: they do receive
damage by them another way, as thus : a ship of London
being laden with linen cloth at St. Malo, in France ; this
ship the French took, as she was homeward bound, and,
searching what lading she had aboard, they find, by the
bills of lading, some parcel of this linen cloth was consigned
for Lisbon in Portugal, and to be first landed at Dover, to
be shipped presently again to go for Spain. This landing
of these French goods was only a deceit, to avoid the
French king's edict, that no French commodity should go
for Spain, under the penalty of forfeiture of the ship, and
all the goods aboard her. This ship is carried to Boulogne,
our merchants having near £6000 in her, which goods
were to be brought up to London ; but the other small
parcels belonging to some Portugals have confiscated all.
Our merchants complain ; but the French will not forego
that advantage ; so we lose all.

256 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
My Lord of Leicester, ambassador extraordinary with
the French king, hath sent over his secretary. We have
been in treaty with France of late, the French courting us
very much. I do hear there is some new confederacy con
tracted between the French and us. There is a whispering,
as if it were already concluded ; but that is more than I
dare avouch. It seems the French press upon us to make
good some old article made between us, when Sir Thomas
Edmonds was ambassador to the French, at the king's first
coming to the crown, which is said to be, that when
soever either of the two king's dominions is invaded by
a third prince or state, each king is to give his assist
ance against the foreign invader. It is now the French
king's case, the Spaniard having invaded part of the
French dominions ; and the French now sue the perform
ance of this article. What is like to be done in this par
ticular, I cannot yet learn. But so much I do learn, that
the French and we are at this present upon excellent good
terms ; and it is said that the ambassadors extraordinary
do not use to send over their secretaries upon any ordinary
occasions. It is certain the French can make no new
confederacies; but the United Provinces are to be included,
by reason of their league offensive and defensive against
one another's enemies. And, therefore, it is believed the
fishing difference between the Dutch and us will be com
posed in this treaty between the French and us.
About some ten days since, here arrived the two sons
of the Landgrave of Hesse; yet some say they are his
brothers. They are but young ; the eldest not above
sixteen years of age. My lord treasurer hath feasted
them ; and I hear the king sent for them the last week to
come to Windsor. The Landgrave of Hesse's business at
the Hague was for some aid, which, I hear, he hath ob
tained of the States, and is now returned again to Hesse
Land.
Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
November 23, 1636.
When my Lord of Northumberland was at sea, two places
fell void in the king's ships, a purser's place, and a cook's

CHARLES THE FIRST. 257
place. According to the express words of his lordship's
commission, he disposethof them. Sunday, the 13th, his
lordship being at Windsor, these two, whom his lordship
had put in, petitioned him to assist them ; for by a letter
sent by Mr. Secretary Coke, with the hands of the com
missioners of the navy, they were put by their places. My
Lord of Northumberland, the king being at council, com
plained of this to his majesty, spake very discreetly, and
very stoutly. Mr. Secretary Coke and his lordship argued
pro and con. the business before the king and his council,
the attorney by. After much debate, it was adjudged on
my lord's side, who did nothing but what his commission
in express words warranted him to do. And Mr. Attorney
affirmed it was the same my Lord of Lindsey had. So it
was commanded by the king to Mr. Secretary Coke that
by my Lord of Northumberland's warrant alone they two
should be admitted again ; which he should signify to the
officers to be his pleasure.
There hath been more fighting at court, for the same
day the two combatants, Will Crofts and Peter Apsley,
were before a committee of lords to examine their difference.
********* 1 crofts replies somewhat
sharply, calling him fool, telling him his tongue was as
long as his nose. Peter steps to him and mumbles him
about the nose ; some looking on who were friends to both.
So that night it passed away. Apsley kept his chamber
all the next morning, expecting to have heard from Crofts,
but did not. Mr. Crofts came to dinner to my Lord of
Holland's. There somewhat was let fall by some of them
which made Mr. Crofts know that he was somewhat slow
in putting off his calling of Apsley for mumbling his nose.
Not long after Peter comes in. Here they fell to cuffs indeed
after some little arguing, but were parted and made friends
by Mr. Goring and Mr. Neville. Mrs. Seymour being
told of this, thinking herself much injured, complains to
the king and queen ; which they hearing, they utterly
denied these passages. The king called for Apsley and
examined him. He confessed the words, and both of
1 An offensive expression has here been struck out, which was not to the credit
of Mr. Peter Apsley, and bore a scandalous allusion to one of the queen's ladies.
VOL. II. S

258 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
them were commanded to attend at Windsor. There
before some few of the council it was heard. Crofts
came off well enough, got committed to my Lord Dorset,
and Apsley to his chamber with a sharp admonition and
reprimand. Our merchants have complained of the Dunkirkers for
making prize of some goods of theirs of £2500 value,
which they sent over to Amsterdam in a small barque of
eighty tons. Amongst divers parcels of goods there was
£300 worth of oils for the dressing of cloth. These oils
the Dunkirkers make to be provision for the belly, and
therefore prohibited goods. The master of the barque was
a subject of the Duke of Holstein, who is in amity with
the Spaniard. What oath this master hath taken our mer
chants know not; but he hath his barque restored him. The
Dunkirkers very craftily hath procured a chapman under
hand to give a great price for the oil, as if it were meal-
oil, to prove the goodness of it by the great price in their
courts of justice against our merchants, who made affi
davits this last week here in town what oil it was, and for
what uses, and that it was no meal-oil. This is to be cer
tified to Dunkirk ; yet our merchants have no great hope
to procure justice there, unless our state be jealous in it,
for they sold their oil under pretence that they were 
 , before it came to be pleaded in their courts of
justice. Divers of our merchants have been in great fear that
the Spaniard and we should fall foul, although the state
had not intimated such jealousies unto any of them, as
is usual in such cases, that the merchants might by that
warning withdraw his goods out of the Provinces be
longing to that crown. Others of our merchants have
better hopes, because they observe some alteration within
these new days ; for they hear that Mr. Arthur Hopton
is now to go for Brussels to be his majesty's agent there
(he was agent in Spain), and of this there is little doubt
made. There was order given to make over £800 by exchange
to Paris for some minister of state there, or going there,
very lately. That is countermanded by another order to

CHARLES THE FIRST. 259
make over the £800 to Brussels, for Mr. Hopton's use
there, it is believed.
Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
January 4, 1636-7.
Some letters out of the west country tells us of a ship
of Sallee of 1 7 pieces of ordnance riding at anchor near
Rochelle. A ship of Exeter, laden with fish, came to an
anchor close beside the Sallee ship. That the Turks boarded
her, took out all her men, and the best of her lading, and
then sunk the ship. But since, by a leak in the Sallee
ship, she was forced to come into Rochelle, where the ship
was laid ashore. That all the men aboard her walked
freely ashore. The English which live there have procured
the Christians liberty, some sixty persons, which do now
sue for damage for that ship laden in the French king's
harbour. And it is said that the articles between the
French and those of Sallee are, that they shall not come
within ten leagues of the French shore. Only with those
of Sallee have the French made a league, and not with
the Turks of Algiers or of Tunis.
Sunday before Christmas, the bishop,1 dean, and chapter
of Lichfield, sent up a complaint to the lords of the council
against the Lady Eleanor Davis. It seems thecathedral church
in Lichfield is lately very beautifully set out with hangings of
arras behind the altar; the communion-table handsomely
railed in ; and the table itself set out in the best manner, and
the bishop's seat fairly built. This lady came one communion
day in the morning with a kettle in one hand and a brush
in the other, to sprinkle some of her holy water (as she
called that in the kettle) upon these hangings and the
bishop's seat, which was only a composition of tar, pitch,
sink-puddle, water, &c, and such kind of nasty ingredients
which she did sprinkle upon the aforesaid things. This
being the act of a madwoman, the lords to prevent further
mischief have given out two warrants, the one to bring the
lady to Bethlehem ; the other to the keeper of Bethlehem
to receive her. There are messengers gone into Stafford
shire to bring her up. 1 Dr. Robert Wright.
s2

260 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
There have been this last summer, and now lately again,
some jealousies put into my lord's grace, that Sir Robert
Howard was in France this last summer; that he was
also there with my Lady of Purbeck just before Christmas,
which is contrary to his majesty's commands, and his
bonds, that he shall not go into her ladyship's company.
Upon this complaint their lordships sent three letters :
the one to my Lord of Suffolk, being at Dover ; another to
my Lord Vaux, in Northamptonshire ; and another to
Lord Edward Howard, forthwith to send Sir Robert Howard
to the board, or to give a true account of what was be
come of him. This last Wednesday Sir Robert Howard
appeared, having been at Dover just at that time that
these letters came to the lord warden of the Cinque Ports.
My lord warden's letter to the lords was, that he had
examined his brother whether he had been in France, yea
or no ; that he had sworn deeply to him that he had not
been over, neither had he attempted it since his majesty
denied to give him leave this last spring; and that Sir
Robert Howard, if their lordships so pleased, would take
his oath upon the Holy Evangelists to the same purpose.
St. George's feast is put off again. Sir Thomas Roe,
the chancellor of the Garter, hath sent letters to all the
knights to put off the feast till the 18th of next April.
The 23rd day following is St. George's day, so that two
St. George's feasts will come close together. These letters
were sent this last week for the proroguing of it.
In one of my last letters I wrote, that Mr. Burton had
refused to take the oath ex officio. I hear since that he
hath not only been suspended from the execution of his
ministry, but also from the profits of his living. He is
said to have written a book, called " Divine Judgements
upon Sabbath-breakers." He confesseth, as I hear, that
he wrote the book, and gave it to a printer, who printed
it against his knowledge ; but he absolutely denieth that
he wrote three or four leaves at the end of the book,
which, I hear, do very much scandalize Mr. Attorney Noy,
because he prosecuted Mr. Prynne. I have not seen the
book, therefore I can say little of the contents of it ; but
sure Mr. Burton was guilty, because he was not to be

CHARLES THE FIRST. 261
found. I do further hear, that Mr. Burton is had in sus
picion to be the author of the scandalous book, entitled
" News from Ipswich." When he is found, it will be laid
to his charge.
Since the death of my Lord Spencer,1 my Lord of Hol
land hath gotten the wardship of the young lord's2 body
only, that is to have the benefit of his marriage ; but his
majesty reserves the benefit of the ward's land. But I
hear the Lord Spencer had made over a great part of his
estate to raise portions for younger children ; and if so be
that conveyance be good in law, the benefit of the ward
ship will be rather small.
Lord Wimbledon's lady was delivered of a son the
Friday before Christmas. My lord marshal landed one
day this last week : he came to the king at Hampton
Court upon Thursday last. The week before Christmas
we had news of an East Indian ship, called the Discovery,
worth £100,000, which was put into Plymouth. She
brought news out of the Indies, that a small ship, called
the Roebuck, which went out of England in April last,
was twelve months ; that this ship hath taken two
junks in the Red Sea, and in them about £60,000 in
money; how they tortured the poor Indians, by setting
burning matches to their fingers, to make them confess
where their treasure lay, that they have burnt their fingers
to their hands. These two junks belong, the one to D — ,
which the Portugals hold, the other to the great mogul's
people. Those of D — were tortured, but not the people
of the other junk, because our East India merchants have
much goods in the mogul's country.
Upon complaint of the great wrong done by the English
to the mogul's subjects, all our factors at Surat and
at * * * are clapt up in prison, and £20,000 seized
up, to repair the losses in one of the junks ; and our mer
chants expect daily to hear that £40,000 more are taken
from their factors, to repair the losses of the other junk.
Yet this is not all : for our merchants fear that before this
1 William Lord Spencer. He died on the 19th of December, 1 636, aged forty-five.
2 Henry, created Earl of Sunderland, 8th of June, 1643. He died on the 20th
of the following September.

262 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
complaint is at Constantinople, how the English have
robbed in the Red Sea, whereby the trade there is dis
tracted, to the infinite loss of the grand signor in his
revenues in those parts, it is feared the grand signor, in
revenge, will make an attack upon all the English goods
in Turkey, which are at this time worth £400,000 and
upwards. Sir William Courteen was part owner of this
ship, the Roebuck, and one of those who set her out,
having procured letters of reprisal, to take from any people
in- those parts which were not in amity with England.
There went at the same time in consortsnip a great ship,
called the Samaritan ; but we have no news of her yet,
nor of what she hath done.
So soon as Christmas is over, the East India and Turkey
merchants will complain to the Lords against the owners
of the Roebuck, to require reparation of their damages
from them.
There are two particulars much spoken against in this
business. The one is, that Sir William Courteen having
an estate of £200,000 in lands and money, that he
should not be satisfied with it, but must procure letters of
marque, to take from those that had never done him any
wrong. The other is, that the English in the Roebuck
should torture the poor Indians; which the Hollanders
will cast in our dish, when we lay their cruelties done in
Amboyna to their charge. What the ill consequences of
this hit upon the Indians will be, we shall see shortly. In
the mean time, our merchants are in great distraction.
The going out of these two ships was carried with so much
secrecy, as the owners of these ships might not know to
what parts they were bound, fearing the merchants of
both companies would have used all possible means to
have stopt them.
Mr. Walter Stuart, that went lately over to Brussels, of
whom there were so many various reports, is now re
turned, and hath been with his majesty this Christmas.
We have letters from a Scot's minister in Sweden, Mr.
Duric, that hath been employed by some well-disposed
here in England, about a pacification in Germany between
the Lutherans and Calvinists. He writes over to some of

CHARLES THE FIRST. 263
his friends and benefactors, that the churches of Sweden
have consented to this pacification ; that they have com
posed a symbol of fundamentals, which both the Lutherans
and Calvinists do hold without interfering one with
another, leaving out all controverted points. But how
this pacification will be accepted in Germany, of that we
have heard nothing yet.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
January 11, 1636-7.
Some letters out of Ireland tell us, that my Lord
Mountmorris, since my lord deputy's arrival there, is
content to submit, to acknowledge the sentence of the
martial court against him to be most just, and that he
hath subscribed unto it, whereby he hath avoided, through
the king's mercy, a very heavy sentence of the Castle
Chamber Court, which is our Star Chamber, upon that
bill exhibited against him for exaction and extortion of
fees in some of those offices he held.
Also it is written, that the jury of Galway, that would
not, upon full evidence given in, find his majesty's title to
that country, have also submitted to the king's mercy,
whereby they are not only released out of prison, but
also about twelve of them being fined £4000 apiece in
the Castle Chamber, their fines are drawn down to £8000
amongst them ; not to be paid by equal portions, but to
be proportioned according to their several abilities — some
to pay more, and some to pay less.
Now, whereas three of the four counties of Connaught
were all found by their several juries, by the evidence
given in, to be his majesty's, the king demands but this
composition of them : first, the fourth part of all those
lands ; and, for the other three parts, two-pence halfpenny
per acre for yearly rent, besides fractions, which I under
stand not. But the county of Galway is not like alto
gether to speed so well, because they obstinately opposed
his majesty's title at the trial ; but finding since their
error, they shall have some favour, though not in that
measure with the other three counties. It is acknow-

264 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
ledged that my lord deputy does proper in all he takes in
hand, his lordship does manage things with so much
courage and wisdom.
I wrote lately of £150,000 of Spanish treasure which
was put in at Dover ; that two parts were to be coined at
the Tower ; the other third, by the agreement, was to go
over to Dunkirk in specie. This third part is not yet
gone over. The reason is, I hear, they cannot get a good
convoy to go along with it. This was not wont to be so,
but it is said the world is a little changed with the
Spaniard. The Spanish ambassador was at court Friday in the
Christmas week, and had private audience with the king
above two hours. But yet neither hath the English ship
laden with Dunkirk goods been released, nor hath the
Spaniard gotten a convoy for this treasure to his mind ;
and therefore, it is said, all that third part of the treasure
shall be brought up to the Tower also to be coined, as
being the cheaper way, rather than be at the charge of
hiring a convoy.
The west counties having been much oppressed by
pirates, have often petitioned the board for licence to set
out ships to take these pirates to their best advantage, so
to secure their coasts ; but because such a licence might
have much prejudiced the admiralty, it was not over-
suddenly granted. But yet now lately their petition is
granted, by reason of the continual clamours of this great
oppression of the Turks upon their poor seamen, and
others. The last week died the lieger ambassador of France,
Mons. * * *. He had the reputation of a very
honest man. It is said, that since his coming into England
he never received one sou of his entertainment from the
state of France, but spent of his own estate.
Upon Twelfth-day the East India Company went to
Hampton Court, to petition his majesty to give them leave
to sue those merchants and others that set out the ship
the Roebuck, for reparation of all such damages they sus
tained in the Indies, by reason of the piracies committed
in the Red Sea by the Roebuck. Also they desired his

CHARLES THE FIRST. 265
majesty would please to give his letters, to be sent to the
great mogul, and to the governor of Surat, to disavow his
giving any way to any of his subjects for the committing
of any such piracies. His majesty was pleased not only
to grant their petition, but to give a most gracious hearing
to the reading of the long relation of all the particulars
of the piracy, of their torturing the poor Mahometans, as
it was sent out of the Indies. His majesty was most
piously sensible of many passages in it, which mentioned
the dishonour of our nation, the dishonour of God (which
should have been first), and the ruin of that trade; and
all by this late cruel piracy. His majesty was pleased to
take notice, that he knew of the going out of these ships,
the Roebuck and the Samaritan ; but did utterly disavow
that he gave any commission to do any act like this, and
therefore they should all answer it.
It was resolved, that the term must be kept in London ;
but it was lately questioned, by reason that the two last
sick Bills have increased in and about London. His ma
jesty hath sent his letters to the lord mayor of London,
and also to the justices of peace of Middlesex, with in
structions what they shall do in their several jurisdictions
for preventing the increase of this infection, which doth
not only keep his majesty from London, but does also
infinitely distract his majesty's affairs at present.
Tuesday, this last week, their majesties came to Somerset
House to lodge there. Wednesday morning, his majesty
went to Arundel House, to see those rarities which my
lord marshal had brought out of Germany. One of
those rarities is a manuscript, most curiously written in
vellum, of the way how to make the elixir and the philo
sopher's stone ; which, though my lord marshal may have
no great faith to accomplish by this manuscript, yet, for
curiosity's sake, he was content to purchase it at Ratis
bon, being presented him there for the price of fifty rix-
dollars.1 Sunday last, there was read in some churches, in the
afternoon, in the city, some directions from the Lords of
1 The delusions of alchymy still exercised a powerful influence over the minds
of men even of education and intelligence.

266 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the council ; first, that all such householders as had lived
in the country all the time of the infection, whose houses
in and about the city had been infected, these were for
bidden to return to their houses before the next justice of
the peace should give way to it ; which he shall not do
until he be assured that those same infected houses, and
all the stuff in them, have been thoroughly aired ; for,
indeed, the want of this care hath been the cause of the
increase of the plague in some of these last weeks. Also,
no lodgers are to be admitted this next term in any of
these said infected houses, but by the next justice of
peace's approbation, as aforesaid.
Upon Twelfth-night, the Royal Slave,1 which had been
acted at Oxford before their majesties the last summer,
was acted by the king's players at Hampton Court.
These players had procured from the university all their
apparel and the scenes, which the university did not alto
gether approve of; yet they lent them, but with a letter
to my lord chamberlain, that because they had provided
that entertainment only for their majesties against their
coming to Oxford, they humbly besought, that what
they had done for the entertainment of their majesties
might not be made common upon a stage. And this was
the request of the university in general.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, -Bart.
January 17, 1636-7.
Some of his majesty's council learned by assoilment,
have been searching the records in the Rolls, as also in
the Tower, to find out some precedents where his ma
jesty's subjects, that hold their lands by knight's service
or by escuage, or by carnidge (which last is blowing of a
horn upon the marches of Scotland or Wales before they
were annexed to the crown), have by virtue' of these
tenures served his majesty in his wars beyond the seas ;
and when they could not go in person, they had either
supplied their place with a good man, or paid a certain
yearly sum of money for the finding of some other. There
1 Written by William Cartwright, M.A., student at Christ Church, Oxford.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 267
were many commissions found in the Rolls, but not one
so full as was looked for. How they sped in the Tower
records, that I do not know.
The Bishop of Lincoln hath sent to the board letters of
complaint against one Shelley, as assessor of ship-money in
his lordship's town of Bugden ; as also against Sir Robert
Osborne, a justice of the peace thereabouts. The business
I cannot learn perfectly. Thus I hear it : because the
constable did not comply with Shelley in the manner of his
assessing, therefore does Shelley snatch the roll out of the
constable's hand, and put it up in his pocket, and would
not return it back again, which the bishop understanding,
he commits Shelley to the jail, without bail or mainprise.
But Sir Robert Osborne approving what Shelley would
have done, he bails him. Of this the bishop complains ;
and so possesseth their lordships by his letter, as if he had
been very zealous to do his majesty service, which their
lordships do apprehend, and thereupon return the bishop
letter of thanks. Yet, when this business was in agitation,
there was an attachment granted out of the Star Chamber
Court against the bishop for not bringing in a commis
sion for his examination of witnesses ; which his lordship
having notice of, he sends it in before this attachment was
signed, saying, he had thought the Star Chamber office
had not opened during the twelve days, and that was the
reason he delayed putting it in according to the day ap
pointed. The bishop's cause will be put off till the first day in
Easter term ; because, before it can come to hearing, some
orders about expunging of witnesses must be settled in
court in that cause : but then both bills will be ready for
hearing. Upon the bishop's complaint, Shelley was sent
for up. He tells a fair tale for himself, casting all the
blame upon the bishop ; that the lords are all at a stand ;
and therefore they have appointed a day to hear all parties.
Some say that Shelley's report makes the bishop to have
done his majesty a great disservice ; and that he, having
eight hundred acres of land in that town, he would have
forced it from being charged with ship-money, and have
laid it upon the poorer townsmen. But, whether this be

268 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
true or no, I am yet uncertain till their lordships have
heard all parties.
Wednesday, the 18th, the queen comes to lodge at
Somerset House. The king goes to Theobald's. They
both meet at St. James upon Saturday, to keep there.
The household comes to Whitehall ; but the lords of the
council meet at the Star Chamber, because they will not
draw too much company to the king's house at Whitehall
this time of infection.
Sir Robert Howard, according to their lordships' letter,
attended at the court to know their lordships' pleasure.
My lord's grace being made acquainted with it by his
brother, Sir William Howard, his grace told him his proofs
were not ready. His majesty coming into the room at
that instant, and knowing what the business was, his grace
did protest to his majesty he honoured that family, but
was zealous to prevent the living in such a train as Sir
Robert Howard and my Lady Purbeck had been accused
for : that though his proofs were not ready at present, yet
he doubted not but he should prove that Sir Robert Howard
and my Lady Purbeck had met privately together this last
summer. His grace did reprove Sir Robert Howard's living
so much at Dover Castle, which was too near to France, but
wished Sir Robert Howard to live at Audley End until he
had more leisure to question him for breaking his bonds.
This last week, the East India Company served one
Kenestone, belonging to the Custom House, first with a
writ ne exeat regno ; then they laid an action upon him of
£10,000, for damage done them in the Indies by the ship
the Roebuck, which he is said, with some others, to have
sent out. Bonele, which was Sir William Courteen's man,
was also to be served ; but he is fallen desperately sick.
Young Courteen is also to be served ; but there is a little
demur whether an executor is liable to answer damages.
I do hear amongst the merchants that there is no great
question to be made of it, but having the estate, he shall
be responsible for damages. Kenestone can get no bail ;
therefore, he lies in the Compter.
I hear that Endymion Porter hath been with my lord
keeper, to move his lordship that some more mild course

CHARLES THE FIRST. 269
might be taken in this business, that honest poor men
might not be undone. But I hear the East India Company
will not be taken off. It is said by some that Mr. Porter
had a chief adventure in the Roebuck, but no action is
laid against him, unless his partners do bring him in. This
suit is to be laid in the Court of Admiralty, before Sir
Henry Martin.
The Spanish treasure is at last gone for Dunkirk. His
majesty had one half per cent. So one of his majesty's
ships did convey it over. But there hath been much dif
ficulty about it, as some of the agents to procure it were
extremely tired about it.
There are half a score of the merchants' ships of the
greatest burthen taken up in the river Thames, for the king's
service, to be filled against the spring ; but there is a little
question whether the owners will victual them and pay sea
men's wages. The last year, the king allowed £3 a man
monthly, which was good pay. His majesty will allow so
much this year, but he will abate the third part of the
men : because it is confessed all the ships were over
manned which had infection amongst them, though not of
the plague, yet of other diseases. The owners are well
enough pleased with it, if so they might have larger allow
ance for those men, towards the wear and tear of their
ships : for, whereas the past year they had £300 for their
ships, they are like by this reckoning to have but £200
per month this year, which they are loth to consent to.
But if they refuse, the king will victual and pay the wages,
and allow them, by the statute, but half-a-crown per ton
monthly for their ships, according to the burthen of each
of them, which would be a much greater loss unto them,
which they know well, and therefore they will be better
advised, and take his majesty's offer. By this great abate
ment of seamen, there will be the more to serve the mer
chants in their voyages, which is taken into consideration.
The talk at court is, that my Lord Edward Howard
shall marry the widow of Sir Francis Crane. One report
makes her worth £20,000 in personal estate, and £2000
yearly jointure. Another report abates to £5000 yearly
estate and £1400 jointure.

270 THE COURT AND TIMES OF

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
February 1, 1636-7.
The last Wednesday there was one John Wray, a mer
chant, fined in the Star Chamber, £2000, imprisonment,
good behaviour, and to be examined upon oath what other
delinquents he can discover for the same offence he is
punished for, which was for transfer of fuller's earth. He
confessed he had transported sixty-four loads, which cost
six shillings the load, which he sold at Rotterdam at
ten shillings the barrel. He paid no custom, and it was
prohibited by two proclamations. Lord Finch alleged
that a bill had passed the Lower House to make transport
of wool, felts, and fuller's earth, to be felony. My lord's
grace said that the Hollander cannot make cloth without
soap, if we keep from them our fuller's earth. Wray saith
there was no custom due for transport of fuller's earth,
because it was prohibited : which my lord keeper denied,
and said there was custom due. Upon Wray's undertaking
that no fullers' earth shall be transported hereafter, the
lords did promise to mediate for the king's mercy.
Sir James Bugge's cause, plaintiff and defendant with
my Lord Mohun, was put off by his majesty's letter till
the next term.
There hath been another quarrel lately at court between
Will Crofts and Mr. Goring, thus. Mr. Crofts came to
Hampton Court Garden, and sent to call to him Mr. Berke
ley, who is going for Sweden. He desires Mr. Berkeley
to call Harry Jermyn, promising to speak nothing to him
in repetition of old grievances. Mr. Jermyn is called.
One present saith Mr. Crofts did renew his old quarrel,
contrary to his promise, for which Mr. Berkeley would have
questioned him, but that Mr. Goring took it to do himself.
The other report saith, that Will Crofts did compliment
with Mr. Jermyn, desiring him to renew old friendship
before his going out of England. All this he spake aloud
to satisfy Mr. Berkeley. And then he takes Harry Jermyn
aside, and then he challenges him, which was accepted ;
the length of the weapons given, and the place to fight in

CHARLES THE FIRST. 271
appointed. Sir Frederick Comwallis " is Harry Jermyn's
second. That day they were to fight comes my Lord Went
worth to Mr. Berkeley's chamber, he being in bed, and
desires to know of him where the place of fighting was
appointed, for Mr. Crofts had quite forgot it. Mr. Ber
keley tells my Lord Wentworth he was no fomenter of
quarrels, and desired to be excused. Mrs. Seymour taking
notice of this quarrel, acquaints their majesties with it. The
king presently sends to my lord chamberlain to prevent
their fighting. His lordship sends to Mr. Jermyn, who
returns, that all was ended between them. And how it
ended I hear not, unless it was that Mr. Crofts did not
meet. He is now gone for France. It is said he was
jealous that Mr. Jermyn did him some ill offices at court,
which kept back his restoring hither.
Friday last, seven merchants of London were fined
£17,000 in the Star Chamber for transportation of gold.
Some are fined deeper than other some. The same day
there were two ore tenus ; one man for counterfeiting my
Lord Dorset's hand to the commissions for building, that
they should not pull down some houses that were built
this summer contrary to the proclamation of building.
There were two other men sentenced for counterfeiting
divers of the lords' hands, to fetch before them Sir William
Courteen, and one Abraham Becke, both very rich men.
Of these two they got fifty, which betrayed them to the
hands of justice.
I do hear that all that the emperor's agent had to say
to his majesty at his last audience, was only that a King
of the Romans was elected and crowned ; which it is said
his majesty took very ill, the rather because it was expected
the agent should have somewhat concerning my lord
marshal's embassy.
Some letters from Ireland tell us that my Lord Mount
morris hath submitted to his majesty thus. He was made
acquainted that it was his majesty's pleasure he should
make such a submission as my lord deputy should approve
of. My lord deputy, therefore, sent his lordship a sub-
1 Created Lord Comwallis, of Eye, in Suffolk, April 20, 1661. He died January 3,
of the following year.

272 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
mission fairly written, and required his lordship to sub
scribe it, which his lordship did very willingly, never so
much as reading it over. This being brought to his lord
ship, and the manner of his subscribing it related, my
lord deputy within a few days after causeth my Lord
Mountmorris to be brought into the Star Chamber there
before the lords and the judges. This paper, with my lord
Mountmorris's hand subscribed, was presented to him. He
was asked whether that were his hand or no, which he con
fessed to be his hand. Then was the paper given to one of
the clerks to be read, that the whole court might be witness
to his lordship's submission, and then his lordship was re
leased out of prison. I do hear my lord Mountmorris was not
pleased that his submission was so publicly read. His sub
mission to my lord deputy is not yet made; so it is written.
I cannot yet learn whether the argument will be pleaded
this term between the king and the subject, concerning
the legality of the writ for the levying of ship money. The
Earl of Lincoln and my Lord Say do prosecute the under
sheriffs for distraining their goods. I am told it is likely
to be argued before all the judges in the Exchequer
Chamber. It is said Mr. Solicitor is provided for the king ;
but I hear the subjects' counsel is not yet ready for it.
One tells me that in the last assizes, before Judge Jones,1
in Shropshire, this ship-writ was tried. An under sheriff
was prosecuted for distraining, and a jury there found it
for the king against the subject. But I will learn the
truth of it, and set it down in some of my next.
The sheriff of Essex lately did assess an hundred near unto
him at so much. Then he sent to the high constables to
proportion it to the several towns and persons, which they
did not do in the time limited. He sends to them a second
time and gives them so many days more ; but they were as
negligent as before. The high sheriff taking notice of
their carelessness, he forthwith gets half a dozen of waggons.
With these he goes in person to the houses of the afore^
said high constables, and distrains their goods, which he
causeth to be put into these waggons. Then he sells them,
so raiseth that sum of money laid upon the whole hundred.
1 Sir William Jones, one of the Justices of the King's Bench.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 273
Mr. Stroud, that lives in Dorsetshire, was lately sent for
up to the board by a pursuivant, thus : — He refuses to pay
the ship money. He was distrained. He sues to the she
riff for a replevin, which was denied him. He goes to the
county court. There he gets it to replevin his goods from
the under sheriff, for which he came up to the board this
last week ; and being questioned about it by his majesty
himself, he pleaded that he was over-rated, and that made
him get a replevin, which he would not otherwise have done ;
and so he hath got free of his pursuivant ; but he is to
pay the pursuivant's fees.
His majesty taking into consideration the increase of
the plague in Westminster, and in St. Martin's parish, he
hath therefore given order to all the judges to despatch
the business of the term, and for the Lent assizes to be all
done by the end of the term, that the people may retire
out of the city, so to avoid the increase of the plague, so
much as may be.
Friday last, the East India Company were with his ma
jesty. He required them to take small bail, £13,000, to
let Kenestone out of prison, who was clapped up upon an
action of £100,000. Though the Company had no great
stomach to it, yet, to give his majesty content, who desired
it, they did release him upon Monday following.
The old Countess of Derby ' is lately dead.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Ptickering, Bart.
February 7, 1636-7.
There hath been much looking out to find the author of
that scandalous book, entitled, " News from Ipswich." A
great bundle of these kind of prohibited books were lately
taken in one Mr. Boye's house, a silenced minister dwelling
in an alley in Coleman Street : but the minister himself
was not taken ; and since he hath concealed himself.
The pursuivants have been waiting about these six
weeks to take Mr. Burton, a London minister,2 of whom I
1 Alice, daughter of Sir John Spencer, of Althorpe, in Nottinghamshire, and wife
of Ferdinand, Earl of Derby, who died April 10, 1591 The Countess died January
26, 1636-7.
2 Rector of St. Matthew's, Friday Street.
VOL. II. T

274 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
have written before. He is had in great suspicion to be
the author of " News from Ipswich." So much they have
against him, that a hundred of those books were sent down
to a clothier in the county of Gloucester, to dispense them
abroad in the country at eightpence apiece, afterwards the
money to be returned up to London to be paid to Mr.
Burton. These books were sent to the clothier without
any charge that he should be wary to whom he distributed
them. And he being careless, my lord's grace had some
notice of them. It is well known this clothier is a very
precise man, and full of zeal to have dispersed these
books, therefore he is to expect little mercy in the way
of justice.
Wednesday night this last week, my lord treasurer's
servant Dandy, by a warrant under divers of the lords of
the councils' hands, came to Mr. Burton's house in London,
and by the assistance of some constables, and one of the
sheriffs of London, he broke open his doors and seized
upon his person. Tuesday night, Mr. Burton was carried
to the Fleet, and there made close prisoner, because he
will not take an oath ex officio, to make true answers to
all such articles as are exhibited unto him out of the High
Commission Court. By virtue of that high commission,
that court does not only confine a man to close imprison
ment that refuseth to take the oath ex officio, but also
there is power given, that the party refusing shall have a
fine laid upon him some High Commission Court-day, which
is some Thursday in the term. It is supposed Mr. Burton
is careless of this fine, being suspended from the profits of
his living, which was all his livelihood ; and now he hath
no more to lose. Friday last, his wife came to the lords
of the council, to divers of them apart, and presented them
with an appeal drawn by her husband, during his house
keeping, which was all the time the pursuivants did look
out for him. This appeal is from the high commission ;
upon which court, it is said, he doth cast many foul asper
sions, which still doth aggravate Mr. Burton's offence. His
wife was the same day, by order of the board, sent a pri
soner to the Fleet for presenting these appeals.
The distraining for non-payment of the ship-money was

CHARLES THE FIRST. 275
not tried before Judge Jones, as in my last. However, all
things were ready for the trial. Counsel were fee'd on
both sides. Mr. Serjeant Cresswell was for the king.
But a juror was withdrawn, that it might be tried at
Westminster Hall at more leisure.
The last week, the high sheriff of Essex, that was this
last year, was served with a writ of scire facias out of the
exchequer, to return the names of about three score
refusers of ship-money in that county. I do hear, by some
of those whose names are to be returned, that they have
no disposition to plead against the king, neither yet have
they resolved to pay their money. There is some kind of
hope, that some of them have, that my lord's grace, with
some others of the lords, will join to move the king to
remit this trial, to let fall the ship-money ; then to call a
parliament. But, for aught I can learn, this is a most
fond fancy, which they will find to be so in a few days.
What hath been the ground of this supposition I cannot
learn, unless it be that the king's agent, M. Augier's,
coming to court this last week, who brings the assurance
from France that the French will conclude no peace with
the house of Austria, but that shall have relation to the
restoring of the Palatinate. But as the French do promise
this, so they expect the performance of some promises
upon our part ; but what they are I do not yet know.
M. Augier hath not brought over, as was expected, a
full ratification of those articles in treaty between France
and us ever since my lord of Leicester's going to France ;
but only that the French will treat upon them, and that
they are in a fair way of agreement. It is supposed this
delay may be, because, without the consent of the lords,
the States of the United Provinces, the French may con
clude no more treaties, being in a league, offensive and
defensive, with the Low Countries.
Tuesday, this last week, the Spanish ambassador had
audience. It is supposed he took notice of that rumour
which was spread all the town over, that his majesty had
given way that the prince elector should set out ships
to the prejudice of his master, the king of Spain. That,
therefore, he required audience to understand from his
t2

276 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
majesty how far he had given way to it. It was observed
that the ambassador's countenance was very cheerful at his
going into his majesty's presence, but very cloudy at his
return, which was very speedy ; such a short audience as
the- Spanish ambassador's have not been accustomed unto
here these many years.
His majesty sits very often in the council with the junto
for foreign affairs. All is said to be about the Prince
Elector Palatine. I am told we shall have some declara
tion very suddenly printed and published against the house
of Austria, to protest against those new wrongs done to
the Prince Elector Palatine.
We have very late letters from Sweden of the arrival of
Sir George Fleetwood, colonel, whom his majesty sent
over after Michaelmas, that he was heartily received by
the state there, and much the rather because of those pro
positions he brought with him from his majesty ; and,
saith the letter, whereas, the Swedes were treating of a
peace in Germany, upon the arrival of Sir George Fleet
wood with these new propositions, the Swedes did fully
resolve to break off all treaties of peace.
Some letters from Paris tell us of three English com
mitted to the Bastille : Sir Thomas Gage, a young gen
tleman of Bon College, in Paris ; Mr. Yatts ; and, two
days after them, Father Talbot. The perfect cause of
their imprisonment this letter mentions not. Three causes
are suspected for Mr. Yatts's imprisonment, that he hath
either dipt or rounded the Spanish pistoles, or that he
hath let fall some words against the State, or that he hath
given some intelligence of the State of France to the State
of Spain. This is all we do yet hear touching their con
finements. Friday last, the lords heard that difference between the
Bishop of Lincoln and Shelley, as in some of my last. I
hear it did appear upon examination that the bishop was
much to blame. He would have taken in that roll where
he was cessed £ll or £12 (I know not whether), to have
made a new roll to have eased himself, and to have laid
upon divers poor people that received alms of the parish
(as it was the last year). The bishop was over-passionate,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 277
and Shelley was not so dutiful as it became him. The
lords spent much time to hear it, but concluded nothing at
all against the bishop, because the king had all his rights.
The judges are to begin their circuit the next day after
the term, that the town may be cleared of as many people
as have business in the country.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
February 14, 1636-7.
There have been rumours about the town this last term
that his majesty's attorney-general should be removed,
and some other be put in his place. The ground of this
report was the complaint of one Cralett, a goldsmith in
Lombard Street, against Mr. Attorney's man, Cockshott,
who was accused to have left out of the Star Chamber bill
some rich men that had been transporting of gold, and that
he had only been prosecuting such men as were not able to
pay the king the one-half of the fine imposed upon them.
This complaint reflected much upon the attorney. My
lord keeper and my lord's grace had the examination of it.
Their lordships, having fully examined the business, found
Mr. Cockshott clear of all those charges laid against him ;
and Mr. Attorney was found to have exceeded his prede
cessors in his diligent prosecuting of those delinquents.
And so it certified to his majesty : whereupon the king, in
the presence of his lords, took notice of this report, the
attorney being in presence. He also acknowledged the
faithful and good service of his attorney ; telling his
attorney that he was his friend, and although he had many
enemies, yet, so long as he was his friend, they should do
him no harm : and much more to this purpose. Then gave
the attorney his hand to kiss in token of his favour.
I do hear that one Mr. Cole, a justice of the peace,
about Haverill, in Suffolk, giving the charge the last ses
sion at Bury, among other things gave this in his charge.
That if they knew any who used on Sundays any of those
sports permitted in the king's book, and against the
statute, or any minister that shall or doth refuse to ad
minister the communion to any unless he come up and

278 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
kneel at the rail before the communion-table, that they
should indict them, both the one and the other.
In some church within the county of Bedford, there was
lately an altar of stone, with four pillars altarwise erected.
It seems there had been one there before : for, in digging
thereabouts, the altar-stone was found in the ground.
This being complained of to the diocesan, the Bishop of
Lincoln, he came to the church to see if it were so, yea or
no, and finding it there, his lordship caused it, in his own
presence, to be digged up, and to be taken quite away,
telling the parson that, if he pleased, he might set the
communion-table there, but altars were forbidden by the
statute. In that business between the bishop and Shelley, wherein
the bishop was so passionate, upon the relating it to his
majesty, the king hath commanded the Lords to allow
Shelley good costs, because the bishop hath so much
troubled him, besides Shelley's false imprisonment.
Thursday, my Lord Say's counsel moved, in the Bench,
that he having sued the sheriffs upon an action of trover, and .
conversion, for taking two of his oxen for not paying ship-
money, which was a business of great consequence, there
fore his lordship moved it might be tried at the King's
Bench bar, and not at the assizes. The king's counsel
being called for, and appearing, they moved against my
Lord Say and the sheriffs for a combination, because the
sheriffs had pleaded not guilty. Whereupon, my Lord
Say's counsel moved that a day might be appointed against
the next term. In the mean time, they consented that
the defendant might mend his plea, which the king's
counsel accepted of; so a day was granted.
Some day this last week, all the judges met about the
legality of the ship-writ : and it is generally said that they
have all subscribed that his majesty may, in times of
necessity, impose what sums of money he pleaseth upon
the subjects for defence of the kingdom, for setting out of
ships, for providing of ammunition ; and that it is only in
the king's breast to determine all those times of necessity.
There was a talk that this shall be entered into all the
courts at Westminster. Indeed, I have heard that his

CHARLES THE FIRST. 279
majesty should so far declare himself that, but in times of
necessity, he would never send out those writs, which his
loving subjects should find, when those times of necessity
were once over; but now that his prerogative in the
Narrow Seas was questioned, it was high time to vindicate
it. It is well known that the Cardinal Richelieu hath had
a long design to make the French king the lord paramount
of the Narrow Seas, which is now no more thought of,
since his majesty's fleets have been abroad. Yet we have
a very late complaint, that, as Sir Henry Martin, with one
of the king's ships, and a whelp, was wafting over about fifty
barques, laden with Spanish silver, three or four French
ships put out of Calais to have taken some of those barques.
That they kept out their French colours, and to windward
of the king's ship. And when Sir Henry Martin dis
charged out of the great ship upon them, they let fly again
at the whelp, refusing either to take down their flag, or
to come to leeward of the king's ships, which, as his
majesty is lord of the seas, they ought to have done.
Wednesday last week, there was a cause heard at the
council-table about the sealing of Ireland. Some had
gotten a grant of the king to seal iron, pretending the
subject was much abused. Therefore, to prevent abuses,
they undertook, with two seals, to distinguish the better
from the worse. They had licence towards their charges,
to impose so much upon the ton of iron as amounted to
eight shillings and tenpence the ton. The king's rent
was but a hundred marks a-year, and, by computation,
they would raise £15,000 a-year. Whereupon, said my
lord privy seal, it is fit the king shall have £] 0,000 a-year
out of it. Their lordships did appoint, to hear the busi
ness more at large, the Sunday following ; for the iron
masters in Sussex and elsewhere refused to pay the imposi
tion, and did endeavour to prove this grant, besides the
imposition of eight shillings and tenpence, to be otherwise
very prejudicial to the subject, and to themselves in par
ticular. It is said my Lord Marquis Hamilton had a share
in this patent. Upon Thursday, his majesty sent to the
Lords not to meddle any more in that cause till he should
give further order about it.

280 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Those Englishmen which were committed to the Bastille,
their offence, I hear, is that Father Talbot, the Jesuit,
hath been a long intelligencer to Spain, and that he sent
his despatches sometimes by Sir Thomas Gage, and other-
times by Mr. Yatts, besides the suspicion of Yatts's rounding
of pistoles.
Saturday, the king's counsel moved, in the King's
Bench, that the defendant sheriff to my Lord Say's declara
tion, that no plea of his to my Lord Say might be taken,
unless the king's counsel's hands were to that plea ; for it
was supposed that both plaintiff and defendant did hasten
to bring this cause to trial at the assizes.
Sunday, the opinion of the judges about the ship-writ,
of the lawfulness of it in times of necessity, before said,
with their names subscribed, was read at the council-board,
to be recorded to clear that difference in after-ages.1
Saturday, the protestation against the election of a King
of the Romans, and the translating the Palatinate and Elec
torate upon the Duke of Bavaria, came out in print in the
Prince Elector's name ; but so modestly set down, as, with
more modesty, it could not have been expressed.
It is said his majesty is very suddenly to publish his
manifesto of all those several treaties, and promises made
for the restoring of the Prince Elector's honours, dignities,
and dominions back again.
The Lady Davis, that was sent for before Christmas by
a warrant from the board for her misdemeanour in the
cathedral of Litchfield, is now come up, and to go to
Bethlehem to lodge there. But she is so poor, as the ques
tion is at the board, who shall maintain her there. It is
ordered that her husband shall be sought out, and, if he
shall refuse to allow her competent maintenance out of her
own jointure, then so much shall be levied upon those
lands, whether he will or no.
Saturday, the following cause was tried at the Exchequer
Bar. A great, rich Spaniard, sometime a customer in
some of the King of Spain's ports, came into England to
1 John Hampden had brought the legality of levying ship-money as a question
for the consideration of the Court of Exchequer, and although the twelve judges,
after twelve days' deliberation, decided against him, the gross injustice of this
acted as a lever on the public mind, in a manner most injurious to the crown.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 281
live here, and brought a great estate with him, as fearing
to be called in question, to give an account how he
raised his estate. The last spring, he had a great
quantity of treasure brought him from Spain with his
money. There was about a £1000 in jewels, set and
unset, all which came here amongst the money to pay
no custom. It was made known to one of the searchers
at the Custom House that this Spaniard had jewels,
which he showed to such as came to his house, in the
nature of merchandize. They, therefore, got a warrant
to search his house. They find them, and take them all
away. He brings an action against them. He pleads
they were his wearing jewels ; that he was no merchant ;
that he never sold jewels, or anything else, by the way of
merchandize, all days of his life. I cannot learn that ever
he sold any jewels, but it seems he was proved to be a
merchant of other commodities, which he yet denies ; so
all his jewels were confiscated.
I hear of a proclamation coming out, to raise powder
from \1d. to 18c?. the pound, which is £l 10*. the barrel.
But the kino- is to have the benefit of it.

Mr. E. R. to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart.
February 21, 1636-7.
All this (the king's letter and question to the judges
about ship-money, and the judge's answer1) being read
upon Tuesday last week in the Star Chamber, my lord
keeper debated upon it in his charge, saying, that the
judges are the king's witnesses of his benign proceedings;
that the lands and lives of all the subjects were determinable
by the judges : a command to enter this into all courts, to
the end that every refuser may reform himself : great
honour to the king that he descends to have his preroga
tive determined by the judges, that justice and mercy may
meet. All that will refuse to pay this ship-money may
sue and have the law open : but then the king's council
must be made acquainted with it. If any one oppose, he
shows his ignorance : and the younger lawyers, sons of the
1 Printed in Rushworth, vol. ii.

282 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
law, are not to dissent against the fathers of the law, who
have given their judgments of the lawfulness of this writ.
The sapie day, my Lord Finch1 moved, that Mr. Attor
ney should bring into the Star Chamber the author and
the printer of a book which sets down the opinion and
judgments of the judges upon the interpretation of several
of the statutes ; which book hath been abroad these three
or four years, so I hear.
Also, the same day, the judge's opinion, which is in the
nature of a decree, was read concerning inmates, to stop
the increase of them, which breeds such mischief in the
Commonwealth. It was, that all such inmates which fell
to decay, and so to be kept by the parish, they were to be
continued in their houses rent-free, and to be kept at the
only charge of the landlord which admitted them.
Now, concerning the sixty Essex refusers that were to
appear in the Exchequer by a scire facias. Wednesday,
the 8th of this February, they appeared, and the rule of
the court was, they should put in their plea the Saturday
following. Thursday, Sir Richard Saltonstone petitioned the lord
chief baron 2 to assign him counsel, but his lordship would
not do it alone. Friday, he petitioned in court, but the
chief baron being absent, it was neither granted nor
denied. Saturday, he appears again, as fearing judgment
upon a nihil dicit ; and, at the rising of the court, moves
again for counsel to be assigned him, and time, till the
first day of next term, to put in his plea. He hath counsel
assigned, but must bring in his plea the Monday following.
Monday, Mr. Attorney moves for judgment against all
the Essex refusers, upon a nihil dicit, for not one had
appeared, only Sir Richard Saltonstone, who moves
again for longer time to bring in his plea, alleging the
return of the sheriff was so uncertain, he could ground no
plea upon it until both the sheriffs had agreed upon the
rule. For Sir Cranmer Harvey had rated him but £4, and
Sir Humphrey Mildmay had returned him £8 for one and
the same writ. The attorney alleged it was against the
1 Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
2 Sir Humphrey Davenport.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 283
rules of the court to give two rules against the king : and
also, that this was only to protract time. So the barons did
order Sir Richard Saltonstone to deposit the £8 in court,
then to have till the next day to bring in both the sheriffs
to settle the rate, whether it were £4 or £8, which his
counsel did yield unto.
But judgment passed upon the other refusers upon a
nihil dicit. And now this £8 is deposited, it is yet a
question what manner of proceeding will be upon the
putting in of the plea.
Thursday, the king sat in council, to hear the differ
ences between William Sandys, Esq., plaintiff, and Sir
William Russel, defendant. Sandys hath undertaken to
make the river Avon, in the counties of Worcester, Glou
cester, and Warwick, navigable, by an invention he hath,
and was encouraged to do it by the general approbation of
the principal men of those counties, and of the towns
corporate through which this river of Avon runs, it being
eighty miles in a deep vale ; counties most part of the
year not passable with carts. His majesty, finding Sir
William Russel to have mainly opposed this public service
in a popular way, pretending the great prejudice of the
cotanties, and that to hinder this work, by his procure
ment, many riots were committed, he was very earnest to
have his attorney to have put a bill in the Star Chamber
against him ; but yet at last was pleased only to send him
to the Fleet until he should submit and conform to his
majesty's commoners, the best men some of them in those
counties. Friday, the justice in Eyre sat in Essex forest. He
gave charge to the high sheriff to pull down all fences
within the bounds of the forest, as brick walls, pales, &c,
that the deer might have their full range. It is believed
this charge will draw those within the forest to a com
position. One Mr. Bonham made his most humble submission in
that court, for killing a stag and the daughter of a hind ;
acknowledging the offence to be of so transcendant a na-
. ture, that his whole estate and his liberty rested wholly
at the king's mercy, and much more to this purpose.

284 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
He was fined £500, and imprisoned during the king's
pleasure. The same day, there were divers merchants and gold
smiths fined in the Star Chamber, about transporting of
coin. There are pretty cases in this sentence, which I
will learn, to set down in my next letter.
Sunday last, the arrears of ship-money uncollected yet
in Northamptonshire came in question at the council-
table, where it appears that Sir John Dryden and Mr.
Cockayne, the two last high sheriffs successively, had not
performed their duties, in distraining for nou-payment of
the ship-money, of the last writ before this now in collect
ing ; which writ was directed to Sir John Dryden, but
Mr. Cockayne succeeding him, the fault lies upon both of
them ; therefore, they are like to be made examples :
for Mr. Attorney hath order from his majesty to exhibit
an information into the Star Chamber against both of them.

[The letters for several months are Avanting in this
collection ; but this may partly be accounted for, by the
death of Sir Thomas Puckering, which terminated the
correspondence which had been carried on so long and
zealously.

Extract of a letter of Edward Norgate, Esq? to Robert
Read, Esq. , secretary to Sir Francis Windebank2 in
Drury Lane. Barwick, May 29, 1639.
The king made an halt at Alnwick, upon some alarm
that was in the camp, whereof he received information
' Son of Robert Norgate, D.D., master of Corpus Christi or Bennett's College,
Cambridge. He was one of the clerks of the signet to Charles I., and for his skill
in ornamental and heraldic drawing was made Windsor Herald. He also possessed
considerable knowledge and judgment in painting, for which talent he was employed
by the Earl of Arundel to collect pictures for him in Italy. Fuller, in his
" Worthies," styles him " a right honest man." He appears to have accompanied
Charles I. in his expedition against the Scots, of which he gives a lively account.
He died December 23, 1650.
2 Secretary of State.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 285
from my lord general, so that persons of great quality lay
in their coaches, carts, &c, the town being little, and
company great. So at Morpeth I staid, but the next day
went on to Alnwick, whence the king was gone that
morning to the army at Gaswick, five miles short of Bar-
wick (for the alarm was false). The next morning,
passing through Belfort (nothing like the name either in
strength or beauty, it being the most miserably beggarly
sodden town, or town of sods, that ever was made in an
afternoon of loam and sticks), there I stumbled upon
Mr. Murray, one of the cup-bearers to his majesty, who
had taken up the every and only room in the only ale
house. Thither he kindly invited me to a place as good
as a death's head, or memento for mortality ; top, sole,
and sides being all earth, and the beds no bigger than
so many large coffins. Indeed it was, for beauty and
conveniency, like a covered sawpit. Our host was a
moving, uncleanly skeleton. I asked him who had con
demned him thither. He said, durum telum necessitas ;
that he was fearful other gentlemen of quality (a horse
troop), being billeted the night before at a little vil
lage three miles further, coming to the place after a
long and weary march, found no other accommodation
than a dark and rainy night ; in all the town not one
loaf of bread nor quart of beer, not a lock of hay nor
peck of oats, and little shelter for horse or man ; only a
few hens they roasted and eat without bread, but not
without water. Their horses had nothing. He told me
I should find the army in little better condition, the foot
companies having stood in water up to the ancles by
reason of the rain : that in forty-eight hours they had no
bread, nor other lodging but on the wet ground, the camp
being low, near the sea-side, nor any shelter but the fair
heavens. After dinner I rode to the army, where I think there
was not above seven thousand foot ; the horse, elsewhere
disposed into villages, about three thousand. There I
found the cause of the late want was for want of carriages
to bring bread to the army ; but now they were better
accommodated, yet lay sub dio. The king was in his tent,

286 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
about whose some of the lords had pitched theirs. I think
none that loves him, but must wish the army ten times
doubled, and those ten fifteen times better accommodated ;
especially seeing this town as ill provided as the other,
and the hourly reports of the Scots advancing, ten
thousand in one place, fifteen thousand in another, to
second their fellows. Yet are we told they come with a
petition, but it seems they mean to dictate the reference
themselves, wherein I believe Sir Edward Powell will have
little to do.
To this town (Barwick) I came last night, where Sir
John Borrowes and I could hardly get a loaf of bread to
our supper ; a black cake we got, scarce edible. I went
to Mr. Secretary's [Sir John Coke] to beg one, and had it
given me with much difficulty ; Mr. May protesting that
his master was glad to send to my lord governor's for
bread for him and his the day before, and that he got but
two halfpenny loaves. This day, our host fetching us
some to dinner, had it snatched from him by a soldier,
who much complain. The people here say that, if some
present and speedy order be not taken, they shall want
bread for their families, the soldiers devouring what can
be got ; and the Scots, by whom it seems this town was
formerly supplied with victual of all kinds, and that in a
plentiful manner and cheap, being debarred, they fear,
extremely the want of provisions; the country in Nor
thumberland side being very barren, but plentiful beyond
the boundred towards Scotland.

Rev. Arthur Jackson,1 M.A., to A. Bownest.
London, July 10, 1640.
I would be most glad to see you at Stoneberry, but I
fear my business will not permit me. And, besides, being
full persuaded, so far as I yet see, that I have not now
any long time to preach (unless God doth miraculously
1 Rector of St. Michael Woodstock. He was educated at Cambridge, where he
took the degree of M.A., in which he was incorporated at Oxford, July 15, 1617.
He was minister of St. Faith's, under Paul's, both before and at the time of the
Restoration, but was ejected from that living for nonconformity, in 1662. He died
August 5, 1666, at the age of 73.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 287
help) I would willingly follow the plough as close as I
can, before it be taken out of my hands. My brother
will send you the book of new canons, wherein you will
find an oath, which, if God be with me, I hope I shall
never take. The Lord be merciful to us !
Upon Saturday last, all the silver and gold which
merchants and goldsmiths had, as they were wont weekly,
put into the mint, to have it out again in money coined,
was stayed for the king's use. Mrs. Snow's son-in-law,
Mr. Snell, had £4000 there. Mr. Noel, of my parish,
£400 ; but many had many thousands. One goldsmith in
Lombard Street, £47,000, which he had bought of several
merchants, expecting to pay it when it came out of the
Mint. The whole quantity of that which was stayed came
to about £300,000. Great heart-burning this hath made in
the city ; and now, at last, it is come that they must lend
the king of this £40,000, and be allowed to take the
rest. It is thought this will overthrow the Mint, mar all
trading, undo the best customers, and so turn at length to
his majesty's extreme prejudice.
I hear also that the king hath taken £60,000 of Paul's
money ; but whether that be true or no, I know not..
Remember us, I pray, to my father and mother, and
beg their prayers for us. Jo is going to take ship upon
 next, in troublesome times, God knows. I would
have persuaded his master to have stayed his goods for a
time, till I saw what the issue of these things would be ;
but he would not.

[The increasing sense of insecurity which was pervading
the country, and the feverish state of excitement into
which the people were thrown by the irritating measures
of the government, if they did not check correspondence,
made its preservation almost impossible. This accounts
for the scarcity of news-letters after this date ; but the
great incidents of the time are so well known as to render
such illustration the less necessary. With the year 1640,

288 CHARLES THE FIRST.
commenced the last stage in the career of Strafford ; the
deliberations of a new Parliament, and its speedy dissolu
tion ; the commotions which ensued in consequence of
this precipitate measure ; the march of the Scottish Cove
nanters into England ; the consent wrung from the king
for another parliament ; and its impeachment of Strafford,
and his execution. Then followed the preparation of
Charles for a struggle to support his authority ; the raising
the king's standard at Nottingham, and the organization
of the popular force that was to be led against it ; the rise
of the parliamentary generals ; the vain struggles of the
victim against the power he had goaded into hostile action ;
the trial and execution of Laud ; the final overthrow of
the sovereign ; and, last scene of all, the gloomy tragedy
at Whitehall, in which a weak and selfish nature rose to the
highest honours of martyrdom. With the close of the first
month of the year 1649, the people of England beheld the
hapless termination, by the hand of the executioner, of the
reign of Charles the First.]

MEMOIRS OF THE
MISSION IN ENGLAND
OF THE
CAPUCHIN FRIARS
OF THE PROVINCE OF PARIS,
FROM THE YEAR 1630 TO 1669.
BY FATHER CYPRIEN OF GAMACHE,
ONE OF THE CAPUCHINS BELONGING TO THE HOUSEHOLD OF
HENRIETTA MARIA,
QUEEN OF CHARLES THE FIRST.

INTRODUCTION.

The following Memoirs, now first translated from the original
French manuscript, which has never been published, will be found
to illustrate the collection of letters that precedes it, in a manner
equally curious and interesting. Miss Strickland, in the eighth
volume of her " Lives of the Queens of England,11 has frequently
referred to the Memoirs of Pere Cyprien of Gamache, which
afforded her much interesting material for her admirable biography
of Henrietta Maria ; but it is impossible for the reader to form an
adequate notion of this singular production without having it be
fore him in its entire state. It has, therefore, been faithfully
rendered into English, without the slightest alteration or omission.
We refer to the writer for an account of himself; and, though he
may be sometimes over-credulous and prejudiced in favour of his
own faith and of his own religious order, he may be regarded as
a new authority on many affairs of great importance that took
place in the reigns of James I. and Gharles I., and, even down to
the reign of Charles II., he brings forward evidence well worthy
of consideration. But the chief point on which he is likely to be
quoted, is the state of religious feeling in England in the seven
teenth century, and the efforts made to bring back the people to
the old faith. For this grand object, it will be seen that the Ca-
U2

292 INTRODUCTION.
puchins,1 of which fraternity Father Cyprien was so distinguished
a member, were put forward as the chief agents ; and certainly, if
zeal and activity could have realized the purport of their mission,
their labours would have been crowned with success ; but the old
system of religion had left such painful recollections in the mass
of the population, that the impressive spectacles and the capti
vating oratory of the missionaries realized few and unimportant
results, and the religion of the country, in its Puritan charac
ter, became more and more antagonistic to the Papacy. In
the progress of these changes, the observant reader can scarcely
fail to recognise the singular similarity of the efforts then made
by the Eoman Catholic Church to re-establish its old domination
in these kingdoms, with those which have recently been in opera
tion here, for the same object. The agents may have different
names, but their powers are the same, and identical are their
sources and purposes. By the religious world, peculiarly sensitive
as it is at this period to every influence, the Memoirs of Pere
Cyprien are sure to be read with attention. We place it before
them not only as a great Fact, but as a great Moral.
1 The Capuchins were a branch of the Franciscans ; for several interesting
notices of their missions, the reader is referred to Ranke's " History of the Popes."

MISSION IN ENGLAND
OF THE
CAPUCHIN FRIARS
OF THE
PROVINCE OF PARIS.

" That man," says the great St. Augustine, "is not
a lover of equity, who dislikes to do a just and reason
able thing." I should be guilty of this fault, if I were
not to obey cheerfully the order of my -superiors, to
draw up some memoirs of my mission in England, since
it concerns the glory of God and the honour of our
Order. I comply with this command with as much sub
mission as I feel regret at having received it so late ; that
is to say, after forty years spent in those virtuous and
profitable duties : for, in that long space of time, having
no other object but to gain souls for God, and to advance
his glory, without having had the slightest thought of
ever giving an account of my proceedings to others;
nor could I recollect so many different occurrences, so
many adventures, so many memorable actions ; add to
which, that all the Capuchins of that illustrious mission,
in the first times, labouring with great zeal for the con
version of souls, said nothing about the happy success
of their labours, too well satisfied that they should be
known to God alone. Now that death has removed
those good servants from this world, leaving me alone
behind them, this narrative must of necessity forego
many interesting conferences with the ministers, diffi
culties overcome, dangers escaped, conversion of Pro-

294 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
testants to the Catholic faith, and other remarkable cir
cumstances : so that it will comprehend chiefly what has
happened to myself individually, and much, even of that
is effaced from my memory at the age of seventy-four
years to which I have attained. In what follows, I shall
relate nothing of which I have not a perfect recollection.
Madame Henriette Marie de France, daughter of the
great Henry IV., sister of King Louis XHL, was mar
ried to Charles Stuart, Prince of Wales, son of James,
the first of that name, King of Great Britain, in 1625.
Very soon after her arrival in England, her quality of
Princess of Wales was changed into that of Queen, by
the death of her father-in-law, King James, and by the
legitimate succession of the prince, her husband, to the
royal dignity.1 M. de Belule,8 founder of the Oratory,
afterwards Cardinal, had at that time great influence at
the court of France, and he employed it in bringing
about an agreement between the two crowns, that a
certain number of Fathers of the Congregation should,
with himself, attend that princess to England, and serve
her in the functions of the chapel, under the authority
and direction of Monseigneur, the Bishop of Mandes,
our grand almoner.
The Fathers of the Oratory, on their arrival in London,
were lodged in the suburb of St. James, in sight of the
royal residence, to which access was not obtained of the
sentries without extreme difficulty by the Catholics, who
repaired thither to attend divine service.3 Besides this
obstacle, which prevented those Fathers from promoting
the affairs of religion, malicious spirits excited in the
court a violent animosity in the English against the
French, and a disagreement between the Queen's people
and the Duke of Buckinkam, who stood high in the
favour of the King, and who had the greatest share in
, the government of England.4 This disharmony increased
1 The celebration of the marriage did not take place till after the death of James ;
therefore, Henrietta Maria was never Princess of Wales. See letter from John
Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton, vol. i., p. 18.
2 Mentioned as le Pere Berulle in the letter of Sir William Boswell, vol. i.,p. 26.
3 Compare this with the account given of the proceedings of these priests, vol. i.,
p. 33.
* The disputes between the two religions appear to have been first occasioned by

CHARLES THE FIRST. 295
to such a degree, that the strong persuasions of the duke
induced the King to resolve to order the French to leavT
England and to return to France, after he had told them
that he would send one of the gentlemen of his court to
the King his brother, to inform him of the causes of this
dismissal.1 Thus, the Fathers of the Oratory and the rest
of the French quitted England, without any advancement
of the Catholic religion.
The Queen was grieved at this dismissal, but was
obliged to yield to necessity. One of the principal
articles of her marriage was, that she should always
have, in the chapel, the free exercise of the Catholic,
Apostolic, and Roman Religion; to this end, she was
always to have priests ; the King, her husband, there
fore detained two of those of the Oratory, till matters
should be arranged, and till others who were peaceable
and disinterested should be given him.
The Duke of Buckinkam, who was no friend to the
Cardinal de Richelieu, and who had been charged with
the removal of the French, in order to annoy and embroil
him in these generous and holy enterprises, induced, by
his address and influence, the King of England to give a
favourable reception to the rebel deputies of La Rochelle
(besieged by the army of the King of France, its legiti
mate sovereign), and, to support their damnable rebel
lion, he strengthened it with a powerful naval force, the
command of which he gave to this same Duke, who was
particularly solicitous to obtain that post.
As soon as the ships were equipped and supplied with
all necessary stores, he set sail and steered for the Isle
of Rh6, where at first he had some advantage, but which
lasted not long : for soon afterwards he saw, with ex
treme grief, his whole force put to the rout by the violent
attacks of the Sieur de Thoyras, who commanded in that
island. Part of his troops were cut in pieces, the cavalry
lost in the marshes, four pieces of cannon and forty-
four colours taken, sixteen hundred men killed, without
the new queen dismissing her Protestant servants, and acting in an insulting manner
on many occasions. See vol. i., p. 39, 40, 50. Her priests now began to be very
troublesome, and displayed very little discretion. Ibid., p. 52.
1 See vol. i., p. 119, 134, &c, for a full account of this proceeding.

296 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
reckoning those who were drowned in their great haste
to regain their ships ; six score prisoners, among whom
were the general of the cavalry, five captains, twelve
gentlemen, whom the King of France soon set at liberty,
generously sending them back to the Queen of England,
his dear sister.1
This noble civility did not prevent the King, her hus
band, from equipping a new armament of one hundred
and forty ships, the command of which he gave to the
Earl d'Amby [Denbigh], who filled the place of the
Duke of Buckinkam, assassinated in England, when
he was taking leave of a gentleman and on the point of
putting to sea. The fleet, having a fair wind, anchored
off St. Martin de Rhe, when all the soldiers landed from
their ships and made their attacks, which were received
by the French with such firmness, and repelled with
such vigour, that, after losing a number of their men,
two transports, and a fire-ship of forty tons, they found
themselves obliged to return to England. However,
the republic of Venice applied itself so successfully to
the reconciliation of the two courts, that it saw the
mediation crowned with a noble peace.2
It was accompanied with many conditions which
related to religion and the State. It was necessary to
keep up the exercise and the various functions of the Ca
tholic religion in the chapel of the Queen of England; for
this purpose, it was requisite to send her several priests.3
The most Christian King Louis XIII., and the queen-
mother, Mary de Medicis, esteemed the Capuchins, and
honoured them with their affection; they even kept
about their royal persons the Reverend Father Joseph
of Paris, Capuchin preacher, a man of extraordinary
understanding, profound learning, and eminent virtue,
who had governed for several years the provmce of
Touraine in quality of Provincial with remarkable pru
dence. Among so many virtuous and learned priests,
1 The whole of this precious enterprise will be found narrated in the first volume
of this work.
5 Father Cyprien hurries over many important events ; but these have already
been related at sufficient length.
3 They are first announced at p. 418, vol. i., again vol. ii., p. 35—47.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 297
regular and secular, who greatly contribute to the
splendour of France, the Capuchins had the honour to
be selected and appointed by the Most Christian King
to go to England. He arranged that ten Capuchins of
Paris should go and alone serve the Queen of Great
Britain, his sister, in quality of confessors, chaplains,
and almoners ; that they should wear the habit of Capu
chins in the place where they lodged, and in the Queen's
chapel, where they should freely perform all the eccle
siastical functions, such as those required in celebrating
the august sacrifice of the mass, administer the com
munion to the people, preach, catechize, baptize, marry,
confess, &c.
The Queen of England, who had always honoured
the Capuchins with her affection, and who desired them
for her service, was highly pleased with this article of
peace. The King, her husband, likewise agreed to it,
having a high esteem for the Capuchins, whom he had
known in Spain. He had heard the Reverend Father
Bouerick speak, in a learned and illustrious conference,
on the subject of religion : he had even had some familiar
conversation with the Father, a man of extraordinary
merit, as well for the noble virtues which he practised
all his life in our holy Order, as for the books which he
composed in an elegant style, and which he gave to the
public. He wrote one for the conversion of that prince,
to whom he dedicated it. The others were "Demon
strations of the Faith," in two volumes folio; "Annals
of the Capuchins," also in two volumes ; " Answer to
the apostate de Dominis, Archbishop of Spalatro. " *
The King was therefore well pleased that the Capuchins
should serve his wife; and, above all, Pope Urban, who
had a brother a Capuchin, expressed particular satis
faction on this occasion, and gave his benediction to the
Capuchin missionaries, who should be destined for this
noble and profitable office.
This being the case, out of the great number of
friars distinguished for virtue and talents, who belong
to the province of Paris, and render it illustrious above
1 For several notices of him, see " Court and Times of James I."

298 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
all the other provinces, it was requisite to select such as
were fitted for this noble and important employment:
after having invoked the Holy Spirit and maturely de
liberated, the Reverend Father Leonard of Paris, who
had already been twice provincial, was elected Superior
of that mission, having been previously appointed Pre
fect of the general mission of England and Scotland.
Eleven other Capuchins were nominated to accompany
him, and to live under his superintendence ; namely, the
venerable Fathers Cherubin, of Amiens; Esme, of Beau-
vais, preacher and reader in theology, and at that time
warden of the convent of Mondidier ; Ange, of Soissons,
4 preacher and reader in theology ; Lambert, of Fliscour,
preacher ; Jean Louis, of Avaney, preacher ; Joseph, of
Paris, preacher; Cyprien, of Gamache, preacher and
reader; F. Blaise, of Paris, and F. Sebastien, of Bar sur
Seine, — all these for the service of the Queen ; and for
the chapel of the ambassador, the Marquis de Fontenay
Mareuil, were chosen the most venerable Father Basile,
of Rheims, preacher, and the most venerable Father
Seraphin, of Compiegne, also preacher. After this elec
tion, the Capuchins chosen were withdrawn from the
convents in which they were dispersed, and collected in
the great convent of Paris, to be prepared for their de
parture. The liberality of the Most Christian King sup
plied everything that was necessary for their mission,
such as new clothes, &c, and he provided also for the
expense of their journey.
A grand almoner was needed to succeed Monseigneur,
the Bishop of Mandes, who had been sent out of the
kingdom, with all the Queen's people, by express com
mand of the King. To this office was appointed Mon
seigneur Bertaut, Bishop of Bazot, a prelate equally
pious and learned, who had recently answered the book
of Dumoulin,1 the celebrated minister, intituled "Le
Boucher de la Foy," with which all the Hugonots of
France were wonderfully taken, and which they had
almost always in their hands. The merits of this worthy
prelate were the motive that induced France to appoint
1 Peter de Moulin. See "Court and Times of James I."

CHARLES THE FIRST. 299
him to this post : I am not sure that they were not also
the cause of the refusal of England to receive him,
saying that she wanted no bishop in that post, but would
assent to its being given to any other priest who had not
that quality.
This affair, which was not very speedily settled, pre
vented our departure for a time. Meanwhile, his Most
Christian Majesty sent to England the Marquis de
Chateauneuf, as who was very serviceable in cementing
the peace that was concluded, and who skilfully managed
all the affairs of his commission, one of the most con
siderable of which was the establishment of a grand
almoner, and of the Capuchins about the Queen; be
cause the King, her brother, in order to obtain the dis
pensation for her marriage, had promised his Holiness
to use his endeavours and his authority to keep con
tinually about the Queen, his sister, churchmen com
mendable for learning and virtue, to assist her in the
exercises of religion and in matters of conscience.
As soon as the Marquis de Chateauneuf arrived in
England, he treated with the King and the Queen about,
the coming of the grand almoner, and of the Capuchins.,;
The King at length roused up, and refused a bishop for;
grand almoner. After this answer, the ambassador]
quickly sent a gentleman to France, to bring back withj
him the Capuchins who were destined for the service of
her Majesty. His Holiness had already given the prei-
fecture of the missions of England and Scotland to thfc
Reverend Father Leonard, and to the Reverend Fathei*
Joseph, of Paris ; and there were at the moment in thp
two kingdoms disguised Capuchins, who laboured in the
mission with great edification and profit: in Scotland!
the Reverend Father Archange, whose life has been
written under the designation of a Scotch Capuchin, and:
the Reverend Father Epiphane de Lindesay, who had
wrought admirable conversions in that country, where
he died at the age of eighty-four years : we shall speak
of him more at large at the end of these Memoirs.
Those who carried on the mission in England were the
Reverend Father Anselm, who had been reader of theo-

300 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
logy in Germany, the Reverend Father Ange Parnel, and
the Reverend Father Richard, all Englishmen by birth. '
The gentleman who had come from England to take
back the Capuchins had the mortification to return
without them, by order of the council of the Most
Christian King, foreseeing with great wisdom that such
an army would make a great noise in England, not only
on account of their religion, but also of their way of
life, and their dress, the like to which had never been
seen in that kingdom since the unhappy change of
religion. The most judicious of the council were of
opinion that it was expedient to defer sending the Capu
chins till after the departure of the Marquis de Fontenay
Mareuil, who was appointed to go thither soon as ordi
nary ambassador. This delay exceedingly vexed M. de
Chateauneuf, in the thought that the glory of the esta
blishment in England was here from time to time to be
given to the Marquis de Fontenay Mareuil, who was his
inferior. This persuasion excited in him great dissatis
faction, and caused him to resort to all the most in
genious devices of his acute understanding. In order
to set aside this arrangement, in fact, he exerted himself
so effectually at the court of England as to produce a
change in everything that was previously determined,
and especially in the orders of the King, his master, and
he cleverly contrived to keep about the Queen the two
Fathers of the Oratory, who were to have gone back to
France on our arrival in England.
This intrigue not being known to the council of the
Most Christian King, his ordinary ambassador, the Mar
quis de Fontenay Mareuil, left Calais, and the Capuchins
with him, on the 24th of February, 1630; and, as if the
demons had foreseen the future prosperity of that mis
sion and had resolved to prevent it, soon after their em
barkation, there arose a tremendous storm, which seemed
as if it would have buried all in the waves. However,
after several difficulties, the wind preventing them from
reaching Dover, they landed in the Downs.
1 Some notices of the Catholic priests in England, at this period, will be found
in vol. i., p. 397 and 452.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 301
Thence they proceeded incontinently to London, where
the Reverend Father Leonard, accompanied by Father
Cyprien of Gamache, was conducted by the ambassador
extraordinary to the King and to the Queen, and received
with strong demonstrations of affection; and lodgings
were assigned them, with all the friars, in a house which
the Queen had bought, quite close to her palace of So
merset House, which her truly Christian and royal libe
rality had furnished with every thing necessary for their
condition, adding a garden to it and enclosing it with a i
strong_wall. The intrigue of Monsieur de Chateauneuf, j
who had gained the ascendency in the council of the King'
and Queen of Great Britain, and prevailed also against
the orders of the Most Christian King, became known
by this time. He caused the two Fathers of the Oratory
to remain, though they were to have returned to France,
as I have observed, on the arrival of the Capuchins in
England. This affair greatly shocked the Reverend Father Leo
nard, who was destined to be confessor to the Queen,
and caused him to resolve to leave England and to go
back to France, and to induce all the friars to return
thither. He took their opinions thereupon, that he might
not be alone in the enterprise; all agreed in thinking
that it would be better to stay, and that, without having
the confession of the Queen,1 the Capuchins might greatly
promote the glory of God in the assisting of Catholics
and in the conversion of Protestants. Having come to
this conclusion, they began to learn the English language,
and in a year they qualified themselves to hear confes
sions. At that thne, they wore cassocks and long sleeves,
like the secular priests, and were extremely desirous to
have permission to resume their religious habit. The
Reverend Father Leonard asked and obtained it of the
Queen, and received orders, at the same time, to make
all necessary preparations for public service in the
1 The poor Capuchins, for such unworldly men, appear to have been strangely
disconcerted, at finding a queen taken out of their hands by members of a rival
order.

302 THE COURT AND TIMES OP
chapel and for preaching on the Sunday following, which
was the third Sunday in Lent. On this agreeable news,
they immediately relinquished their cassocks, resumed
their Capuchin dress, appeared next day in the chapel,
where they celebrated the sacrifice of the mass, and
chanted vespers and complins. The Reverend Father
Esme of Beauvais preached with wonderful satisfaction
to her majesty. The lesson was concerning a dumb
man, which furnished the preacher with occasion to say
to the Queen that if, since the dismissal of the French
and the war with France, the preachers were dumb to
her majesty's ears, the master of all preachers, the Holy
Ghost, had spoken to her heart.
| The rumour of this divine service held by the Capu-
ehins spread over the whole city of London, and drew
an innumerable multitude of people of both sexes and
.religions to the Queen's chapel. The Cathohcs looked
| with joy upon the Capuchins as men sent by Heaven
I to show, in the profession of their life, the truth of the
| faith which they had received from their ancestors, and
i who had always boldly maintained it, at the expense of
^their fortunes, their honour, and their blood. They
could not turn their eyes from that dress, in which they
contemplated the poverty of Jesus Christ, in the humility
of the Gospel and the contempt of wealth. They com
pared this simplicity with the luxury of the ministers,
and thanked God for having kept them in that religion
of which their fathers were genuine professors.
A gentleman whose obstinacy and false zeal rendered
jhim remarkable among the Puritans or Calvinists, came
with some one of his sect to see and to make game of
(these new Capuchins, clothed in dresses so extraordi
nary and so strange in this kingdom. He saw them,
surveyed them with attention, reflected long upon the
modesty of their looks, the gravity of their demeanour,
the poverty of their dress, the reverence in their prayers.
A ray of light, flashing upon his mind, convinced him
that these men were the real professors of religion.1 He
1 This conviction must have been of wonderfully rapid growth: but still more ex
traordinary is the rapidity with which the convert is subsequently disposed of: a

CHARLES THE FIRST. 303
conceived an idea of embracing their faith, and, after
mature consideration on the subject, he resolved to
become a Catholic, spoke to a priest, opened his heart
to him, received the necessary instructions from him ;
and, having deplored the long years that he had remained
with the Puritans in ignorance of the true religion, he
made the general confession, received absolution of his
sins, fell ill, and, provided with the holy sacrament of
extreme unction, he departed this mortal life, to live, as
it is reasonable to believe, eternally in heaven. The
truth of this history is confirmed by Monseigneur the
Bishop of Chalcedon, who officiated at that time as
ordinary and superior of the secular priests in England.
As England is full of various sects opposed to one
another, and all hostile to the Cathohcs, the King's
council, apprehensive lest the great noise of this happy
beginning in the Queen's chapel should excite some dis
turbance in it, forbade the English Catholics to go
thither, and to attend the divine service there, and gave
commissions for imprisoning all who should violate this
ordinance;1 in fact, many Catholics only left the chapel,
whither their devotion had led them, to enter dismal
prisons, to be confined among persons of various classes.
A very virtuous young lady, big with child, wife of an
officer of the Queen's, was dragged thither with such
violence that she was extremely ill in consequence, and
was delivered before her time of a dead infant. The
zeal of the Queen was kindled by this affair, of which
she made grievous complaint to the King, obtained an
order for the release of the Cathohcs from prison, and
the confinement there of the persecutors by whom they
had been consigned thither with such inhuman violence.
The state of religion was afterwards quiet, and the
Cathohcs enjoyed a sweet and agreeable peace. The
pursuivants, who are of the meanest class, and mostly
apostates, furnished with commissions for taking the
priests and the papists, as they call them, were happily
feature, however, which the reader will find a common result of the Capuchin con
versions. 1 See vol. ii., p. 67 and 68.

304 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
taken away : the people began again to come eagerly
to the Queen's chapel, to hear mass, the catechism, the
disputations, the sermons, vespers, complins, to confess
their sins, to receive the adorable sacrament of the
eucharist, to be married, and to have their children
baptized. This happy success was increased by the arrival Of a
grand almoner, sent from France and accepted by
England. I have said that the council of his Britannic
Majesty had refused the Bishop of Bazot, and would
not have a prelate invested with that character. For
this reason, France artfully had recourse to compliance
for filling that office of grand almoner to the Queen, and
sent M. du Peron, a man adorned with all the excellent
qualities befitting an illustrious ecclesiastic. He was
nephew of the most eminent Cardinal du Peron, and
was afterwards his successor in the bishopric of Evreux.
He conducted himself in the court of England with such
moderation, such suavity, such modesty, that Protestants
as well as Catholics entertained only love and respect
for him. The bishopric of Angouleme being vacant,
he was appointed to it by his Most Christian Majesty.
The King of Great Britain, having experience of the
mildness of his disposition, and taking pleasure in his
conversation, consented that he should continue to hold
the office of almoner with the quality of bishop. From
the bishopric of Angouleme he went to that of Evreux,
upon the nomination of the King of France, and by the
bulls of Pope Urban VIII. concurred to place him in a
See which his uncle had so worthily occupied.
It is an ancient custom in England, that, soon after
Easter, when the weather is fine, the court sets out on
progresses, that is to say, the King, the Queen, and all
the courtiers, leave London and go into the country to
various royal residences in the provinces, .staying six
weeks at one, two months at another ; the whole king*
dom thus having the satisfaction to see its sovereign.
The Reverend Father Leonard received orders to attend
the Queen in these progresses. For this purpose, aj
carriage was given him by her direction for himself and

CHARLES THE FIRST. 305
his companion, and a cart to carry his little stock of
furniture, because that good Father insisted on doing
everything or nothing in the Queen's chapel, and thought
that, if he adhered firmly to that resolution, the Queen
would send back to France the two Fathers of the Ora
tory. He excused himself, therefore, from attending
the Queen, at which she was greatly offended, and com
plained to the French ambassador, who wrote on the
subject to the council of the Most Christian King, made
the Fathers of the Province of Paris acquainted with it,
particularly the Reverend Father Joseph, who was pre
fect of the mission, and the Reverend Father Paschal
Dabuisse, the then Provincial, who sent word to the
Reverend Father Leonard that, the term of the Reverend
Father Paschal's provincialate having nearly expired,
and he having always acquitted himself so worthily in
that post, it was best that he should cross the sea and
return to the province, in order to occupy it once more.
Accordingly, he went back, and was elected Provincial
for the third time, and afterwards definitor-general to
the chapter which was soon after held at Rome.
This Reverend Father was endued with a wise pru
dence, a charming suavity, and a great zeal for regu
larity. As he had received a good part of the
Capuchins belonging to the Province of Paris, he had
there acquired such great authority, and so much love
and deference for his person, that every one complied
cheerfully with his orders ; wherefore he was universally
wished for in the office of Provincial. It was an inter
position of Divine Providence which disposed things in
England in the manner which we have related, in order
to invest him again with that honourable quality in
which he attended our general chapter at Rome.
Pope Urban VIII., who had great zeal for the con
version of England, was apprised that this Father had
resided there as Superior of the Queen's Capuchins.
He expressed a wish to see him, gave him a kind recep
tion, heard him with satisfaction speak of the state of
religion in that kingdom, of the moral virtues and kind
ness of the King and the zeal of the Queen, of the pro-
VOL. ii. x

306 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
gress which the Capuchins made under his authority,
and of the great benefits that might reasonably be hoped
for there. This account was highly pleasing to his
Holiness, who gave his benediction to the Reverend
Father Leonard, and granted all his requests. To these
favours our chapter added the quality of definitor-
general of the whole Order of the Capuchins. So this
Father left Rome, and returned to France to govern the
Province of Paris, where we will leave him, and continue
the memoirs of England.
There are three royal residences in London. The
principal, the usual place of abode of the King, the
Queen, and the whole court, is called Hoithall [White
hall] ; the second is called St. Jemes's [St. James's], an
illustrious palace, to which are attached a very fine
garden, and an extensive park full of [blank in orig.] and
one of the finest Malls that are to be seen. The third
bears the name of Somerset House, which belongs par
ticularly to the Queen, and is the finest palace in all
England. Of all these houses, the Queen chose St.
Jemes's for her lying-in, having with her two Capuchins,
while the others remained at Somerset House, who, in
the habit of secular priests, met all together on Sun
days and festivals to chant vespers and complins, and to
preach before her Majesty, who was happily delivered,
and gave England a fine prince, then called Prince of
Wales, and now Charles the Second, King of Great
Britain. As soon as he was in the world, the King, his
father, sent a gentleman to tell the Capuchins not to
trouble themselves about the baptism of his son, as he
would attend to it himself, and satisfy the Most
Christian King, his brother, on that point. He acted in
this manner for the purpose of eluding one of the most
important articles of his marriage, namely, that the
children born of it should be brought up and instructed
in the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion till the
age of fourteen or fifteen years, and that they should
afterwards choose the religion in which they should
desire to live and die. France, which was then rent
with intestine war and factions, did not make all the

CHARLES THE FIRST, 307
resistance that could be wished to the infraction of an
article, the observance of which was so necessary to the
welfare of the King and of all England.1
To fill the place of the Reverend Father Leonard in
England, there was sent the Reverend Father Jean
Marie de Tresson, who from Knight of Malta had
turned Capuchin on the following occasion. His bro
ther, who was his elder and his only brother, was
learning to dance, and led the daughter of the master
who instructed him. She was fair, handsome, good-
tempered, agreeable in conversation, and so charmed
this young gentleman that, notwithstanding her low
condition, he married her. His father, who had a noble
and proud heart, could not submit to this disgrace : to
keep up the glory of his family, he sent for his Cheva
lier, made him return from Malta, obtained from Rome
a dispensation from his vows, with power to marry, and
told him that he would leave him sole heir to all his pos
sessions on his marrying a woman of condition. The
Chevalier most humbly thanked his father, and begged
for time to think about the matter ; the upshot was that
he could not find a woman who pleased him, and with
whom he should like better to ally himself than with the
religion of the Capuchins.2
The Reverend Father Jean Marie de Tresson brought
with him Brother Marin, of Paris, a friar full of fervour,
in place of F. Blaise, who nad returned to France with
the Reverend Father Leonard. Both were heartily
welcome to the Queen, who had long meditated the
building of a church for the exercises of religion and
for the benefit of the other Catholics. Divine service
had previously been performed in a spacious room, fitted
up hi form of a chapel; the zeal and address of her
Majesty having obtained the consent of the King her
husband, she immediately gave directions for laying the
foundation of this sacred edifice immediately adjoining
to Somerset House.
1 Why the young prince being christened according to the Catholic ritual was
" so necessary to the welfare of the King and all England," the good Father has
not ventured to state.
2 Surely his researches amongst the sex must have been very limited.
x 2

308 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
On the day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which
was the 14th of September, when Heraclius, loading
upon his imperial shoulders that sacred wood, bore it
to Mount Calvary, whence the fury of the Persians had
carried it away, the piety of the Queen planted the
cross upon the mount of Somerset House, the first
place from which heresy hurled it at the time when the
religion was changed in this unhappy kingdom. A
plot of ground, on which the chapel was to stand, was
very tastefully fitted up in form of a church; rich
tapestry, served for walls; the most costly stuffs for
roof; the floor was strewed with flowers, which diffused
an agreeable odour. At the further end was seen an
altar, garnished with magnificent ornaments, with large
chandehers of silver gilt, and with a great number of
vases, the costliness and workmanship of which ren
dered them worthy of being compared with those of
Solomon's Temple. The Queen knelt upon a cushion
of crimson velvet under her dais, attended by the Mar
quis Fontenay Mareuil, ambassador of the King of
France, and by a great number of other Catholic gen
tlemen and ladies. M, du Peron, her grand almoner,
performed high mass with solemnity, and granted some
indulgences, while harmonious music ravished the
heart. The concourse of people was so great, that it
seemed as if all the inhabitants of London had concerted
to attend this noble ceremony. Mass being finished,
her Majesty was conducted by the ambassador to the
place where she was to lay the first stone, which she
touched with her royal hand; and then, laying hold of
a trowel, the handle of which was covered with fine
fringed velvet, respectfully presented to her by the in-
tendant of her buildings, and taking mortar from a large
glittering basin of silver gilt, and with a grace which
imparted devotion to the people, she threw it at three
times upon the stone, in which was enchased a large
silver plate with this inscription : —
Henrica Maria, Henrici IIII. Gallorum Regis filia,
Caroli I. Magnse Britannia? Regis conjux, Ludovici XIII.
in Gallia regnantis, et Philippi IIII. Hispaniarum Regis

CHARLES THE FIRST. 309
Soror, Templum hoc singulare pietatis monimentum ad
Dei optimi maximi gloriam sicut Religionis Catholicae ex-
ercitium, R.R. P.P. Capucinorum provincial Parisiensis
(quos in suuni peculiare obsequium vocare dignata est)
ad usum est Catholicorum conimodum sub felicibus
Beatissimse Virginis Marias auspiciis evexit, et primum
ejus lapidem Jacobi Peronii magni sui Eleemosinarii
benedictione consecratum, sua manu Regia posuit, die
24 Septembris, anno 1636.
If the devotion of the Queen appeared great and re
ceived much praise as well from Protestants as from
Catholics in this ceremony, her liberality was not less
conspicuous. Though the workmen who began this
edifice were few in number, and their experience of the
bounty of her Majesty caused them to hope for large
gifts, her magnificence nevertheless surpassed all their
expectations; for, in presents and in money, they received
to the amount of six thousand francs, with which they
were so satisfied that they gave a thousand blessings to
the Queen and made the air ring with shouts of joy,
crying and repeating a thousand thr.es, "Long live the
Queen ! — long live the Queen !"
The rumour of this ceremony gave greater eclat to
the name of the Capuchins, and spread it throughout
every part of the vast and populous city of London.
People talked of them in their houses ; they said that
they were persons so strange, wearing dresses so extra
ordinary, leading so austere a life, that every one con
ceived a desire to see them. Accordingly, persons of
quality, ministers, people of all conditions, who had
never been out of the kingdom, came to see them, as one
goes to see Indians, Malays, Savages, and men from the
extremities of the earth.
England is an abundant country, and has no taxes ;
the inhabitants lead a luxurious life, far removed from
the poverty of other places, for which reason austerities
touch them deeply. To edify them, and to render them
the more disposed to a holy conversion, the Capuchins,
whom they came in crowds to see, resolved by common i
consent to add something striking to their austerities J

310 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Their beds are usually composed of a paillasse and a
hard pillow of straw, and a blanket. They took away
the paillasses and the pillows, leaving nothing but the
bare boards to he upon, using a wooden desk, instead
of pillow.1 This little self-denial was admired by the
English whom curiosity had brought into their chambers.
With this disposition they talked to them of the suffer
ing life of Jesus Christ, whom it was right to imitate,
of the great St. Paul, who, all confirmed in grace, chas*
tened his body ; of the importance of living and dying
in the true religion in which such things are practised.
England, formerly full of monasteries and of holy friars,
who led that sort of life before the reign of Queen Eli
zabeth and of King Henry VIII., who made the schism
in the Church, thus disposing them, exhibiting to them
our mysteries, and grace operating in them, a great
number, of all sorts of conditions, forsook heresy and
embraced the orthodox faith; but the highest and the
lowest conversions were not till after the completion of
the church which her Majesty had built. For, all things
being quieter, we acted with more freedom, and never
theless with great moderation, taking care that nothing
should appear and occasion a noise. The English lan
guage had become more familiar to us, and easier ; one
converted person brought several others, who were either
related to him, or friends of his.
On Sundays and festivals, our confessionals were
surrounded by a crowd of penitents. At every mass
there was a great number of communicants. We car
ried the sacraments to the Catholics in prison, and to
the sick in various places in and out of the city of Lon
don, so commonly that this happened almost every day,
and in such number that in one forenoon a single Ca
puchin carried the sacraments sometimes to eight sick
persons, in quarters and places far distant from one an
other. The building of the chapel royal being finished, in
1636, in order to give more glory to God, and greater
1 The simplicity with which these little Capuchin arts are narrated provokes a
smile.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 311
esteem for the Catholic religion to the Huguenots, the
Queen resolved that the first mass should be held there
with all possible pomp and magnificence. To this end
she gave orders to the Capuchins to omit nothing that
they could devise to render this solemnity august. An
eminent sculptor, named Francois Dieussart, had lately
come from Rome for the Count Lacoudelle. They ap
plied to him, and begged him to assist them in this pious
design. He complied with a very good grace, and made
a machine, which was admired even by the most inge
nious persons, to exhibit the Holy Sacrament, and to
give it a more majestic appearance.
It represented in oval a Paradise of glory, about forty
feet in height. To accommodate it to the hearing in
the chapel, a great arch was supported by two pillars
towards the high altar, at the distance of about eight
Roman palms from the two side walls of the chapel.
The spaces between the pillars and the walls served for
passages to go from the sacristy to the altar. The
choir of music was placed with the organ and the other
instruments, on either side over those vacant spaces.
The pillars being planted and the arch erected, the
opening was found to be twenty-six Roman palms in
width, and thirty-seven in height. Over each side ap
peared a Prophet, with a text from his prophecy. Be
neath the arch was placed outside the portable altar,
ten palms in height. The ascent to it was by six steps,
disposed in three orders ; the largest, which was in front
with the balustres, left an unobstructed view of the altar
to the persons present, and the others, on the sides, in
theatrical form, were also surrounded with balustres, in
order that the priests, wearing their ornaments, might
easily reach the altar without being pressed by the
crowd of people. Behind the altar was seen a Para
clete,1 raised above seven ranges of clouds, in which
were figures of archangels, of cherubim, of seraphim, to
the number of two hundred, some adoring the Holy
Sacrament,2 others singing and playing on all sorts of
musical instruments, the whole painted and placed ac-
1 A dove, the emblem of the Holy Ghost. • The Host.

312 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
cording to the rules of perspective. The Holy Sacra
ment formed the point of view, with hidden lights, but
which kept increasing, so that the distance appeared
very great, and the number of figures double what they
were, deceiving, by an ingenious artifice, not only the
eye but also the ear, all conceiving that, instead of the
music, they heard the melody of the angels, singing and
playing upon musical instruments.
The first circle, in the form of an oval, was twenty-
seven palms in height and eighteen or twenty wide, and
so the other circles, decreasing in proportion to the last,
which was only six and ten palms in height and width.
The first circle contained Ajagels larger than life, sit
ting on clouds, singing and playing on instruments : in
the fourth and fifth there were Angels in the habit of
deacons, some with censers, others with incense-boxes,
some kneeling in the attitude of supplicants, others
prostrate, pointing at the Holy Sacrament to their com
panions, all of them of a size proportioned to the dis
tance. In the sixth and seventh circles were seen chil
dren with wings in various postures, like so many little
Angels issuing from the clouds, playing together with
gestures full of respect, some turned towards the centre,
others showing the adorable Sacrament to the people,
inviting them to rejoice and to adore it with them. In
the eighth and ninth circles appeared cherubim and
seraphim among the clouds, surrounded with luminous
rays, with extraordinary skill. The place where the
Holy Sacrament lay had a bottom of gold, and as for
the lamp to the cloth covering the pyx, it was a red
oval with rays, the whole of which was so well con
trived and appropriate, and with such splendour, that
the painting seeming to vanish, there was left nothing
but the brilliancy of the lights, which caused that place
to appear all on fire. The number of the lights was
about four hundred, besides the great multitude of
tapers ingeniously arranged upon the altar, which
lighted the first circles.1 All these things, being thus
disposed, were covered with two curtains.
1 Extremely ingenious and imposing: but surely such machinery was much
better suited to a theatre than to a religious temple.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 313
It was the 10th of December, in the year 1636, that '
the Queen came with all her court to hear mass. As
soon as she had taken the place prepared for her, the
curtains being drawn back, all at once gave to view
those wonders which excited admiration, joy, and adora
tion in her Majesty and in all the Catholics. At the
same time, the music, composed of excellent voices, set
up an anthem, the harmony of which having no outlet
but between the clouds and the figures of Angels, it
seemed as if the whole Paradise was full of music, and
as if the Angels were themselves the musicians ; those
who sung being in fact concealed and not seen by any
body ; thus eye and ear found at the same time gratifi
cation in this contrivance of piety and skill.
The anthem being finished, the acolytes, sub-deacons,
and deacons, and Monseigneur du Peron, then Bishop
of Angouleme, and grand almoner of the Queen, in the
pontifical habits, came forth from the sacristy, and as
cended to the altar by eight steps, and celebrated with
the greatest solemnity the holy mass, which was sung
in eight parts so melodiously that one must have had a
heart of stone not to be moved by it. Tears of joy
seemed to trickle from the eyes of the Queen, con
sidering, in this pious and striking ceremony, the grace
which God bestowed on her to erect a church where
would thenceforth be celebrated all the divine services
which heresy had banished from England. It was
about one hundred years since mass had been ponti-
fically celebrated ; a multitude of Catholics thronged to
receive the Holy Communion from the hand of the
bishop, who gave his benediction and indulgences to
those present.
After dinner, her Majesty again went to attend ves
pers, complins, and the sermon. The musicians, having
perceived the satisfaction which the charming melody
of their singing afforded the Queen, were animated to
such a degree that they far surpassed what they had
done in the morning. After vespers, Monseigneur du
Peron ascended the pulpit, and delivered a very learned,
very eloquent, and very pathetic sermon on this text of
the Psalms : " This is the Lord's doing, and it is mar-

314 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
vellous in our eyes." He dwelt with wonderful force
upon the grace which God vouchsafed to the Queen to
have a Catholic Church, with hberty to have the whole
divine service performed there, after it had been
abolished and forbidden for so many years in all Eng
land, Ireland, and Scotland. The sermon being finished
with the satisfaction of the Queen, with the applause
of the whole audience, which was very large, her
Majesty retired. Those who were in the chapel had
great difficulty to leave it on account of the crowd of
people who were bent on forcing their way in to see the
magnificence displayed there. The crush lasted so long
that it was impossible to close the doors of the church
till the third night, when the King gave orders that it
should be cleared of strangers, for he was desirous to be
himself a spectator of that magnificent representation.
Accordingly, he went thither, attended by his grand
marshal, the comptroller of his household, and some
other gentlemen. He admired the composition, kept
his eyes fixed upon it for a very long time, and said
aloud, that he had never seen anything more beautiful
or more ingeniously designed.
To satisfy the devotion of the Cathohcs and the
curiosity of the Protestants, who never ceased coming
in crowds from all parts to behold this wonder, the
report of which had spread in all quarters, from the 8th
of December, the day consecrated to the immaculate
conception of the most Blessed Virgin, the Queen, with
great prudence, ordered the chapel to be left with all its
decorations till Christmas.
This religious and brilliant ceremony was followed
by exercises of piety, which her Majesty's Capuchins
continued ever afterwards in her chapel. From six
o'clock in the morning there were successively masses,
and in general communions, till noon. Not a day
passed without bringing some penitents to the con
fessionals. On Sundays and festivals, the throng was
so great that one could not get in without great diffi
culty. Persons were obliged to wait two or three hours
before they could enter a confessional. On those days,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 315
a controversial lecture was held from one o'clock till
two, immediately before vespers, which the Capuchins
and the musicians, placed in two galleries opposite to
each other, sang alternately. When vespers were
finished, the preacher mounted the pulpit, and preached
for the space of an hour or three quarters on the gospel
of the day, touching occasionally upon certain contro
versial points, to confirm the Cathohcs in their faith,
and to draw Huguenots thither. Compline was then
sung. Then followed various conferences, some of
piety with Catholics, others of religion with the Secta
ries, who came eagerly to be instructed in our creed,
and to have their doubts resolved.
The Christian doctrine was publicly taught in French
and English on three different days in each week.
Every Thursday there were expounded in French for
the French all the symbols of the faith, the command
ments of God and of the Church, the Sacrament, the
Lord's Prayer, the way to confess and communicate
properly, and to pass the day in a Christian manner:
and for the Enghsh the same things were taught in
their language every Wednesday and Saturday. The
Capuchin employed in this holy duty first catechised all
the children, who were very numerous, and then held a
short discourse, expatiating upon the great gratitude
which they owed to God for all the benefits which they
had received from him, and particularly for their voca
tion to the Catholic religion, as it was really true that
there was no salvation for those who are separated
from it, and die in that unhappy separation. This
touched the Protestants who attended those lectures.
Conceiving this proposition to be false, they wished to
inform, themselves more solidly and more at leisure of
the reasons and grounds in private conferences, in
which they were convinced of this truth, afterwards
renounced their errors, and desired to be reconciled to
the Catholic Church, which their forefathers had
criminally forsaken.
The Queen had obtained from the most Reverend
Father General of the Jacobins the establishment of the

316 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
confraternity of the Holy Rosary in her chapel, with
that of the third order of our seraphic Father St.
Francis; the Father Superior of the Capuchins, destined
for the service of the chapel, was director of the two
confraternities. The Queen, who had always regarded
the most Blessed Virgin as her good mistress and her
dear mother, and who had always had great reverence
for the seraphic Father Francis, applied very humbly to
be inscribed and incorporated in both confraternities.
The Cathohcs of her court, gentlemen and ladies, small
and great, and innumerable people with them, followed
her in this devotion. Every Saturday in the year, the
litanies of the Blessed Virgin and other reverential
services were sung with great solemnity in that chapel
dedicated to the glory of that celestial lady, who was
held in such great veneration by the Cathohcs, French
and English. The brothers and sisters of the confra
ternity of the Rosary met, confessed, and communicated
regularly on the first Sunday in every month. The
brothers and sisters of the third order did the same every
second Sunday. On these days were held celebrated
processions, which were attended out of curiosity by
many sectaries, some of whom, touched by them,
sought conferences and were converted.
Monsieur the Marquis de Fontenay Mareuil, a very
prudent and very virtuous gentleman, who had conducted
us to England, having finished his embassy, had orders
to return to France. The Reverend Father Basile, of
Reims, and the most Venerable Father Seraphin, of
Compiegne, who had served him as preachers, almoners,
confessors, and chaplains, during his embassy, accom
panied him on his return. He had for his successor in
this illustrious post the Marquis de Poigny, a gentleman
of high probity, who desired to have two Capuchins of
the Province of Paris, like his predecessor. The ad
vanced age of Father Basile of Reims required rather
retirement and rest than the laborious duties of mis^
sionary. This idea led our Superiors to resolve to leave
him in France with his companion, and to give M. de
Poigny two other Capuchins. These were the Reverend

CHARLES THE FIRST. 317
Father Vincent, and Father Charles, both of Beauvais,
and both endowed with estimable qualities. The most
Venerable Father Charles has shown his zeal and pru
dence in the office of guardian, confessor, and director
of nuns, at Senlis. As for the Reverend Father Vin
cent, God had ennobled him with a penetrating mind,
and a great facility of speaking learnedly about every
thing, on all sorts of subjects, and with ability to express
his ideas with peculiar clearness. These valuable talents
caused him to be in great request in England, won for
him mightily the affection of the ambassador, who
availed himself of his counsel and loved him dearly.
He saw with pleasure his chapel always full of Catholics
and Protestants, drawn thither by the excellent sermons
of that Father; but he rejoiced much more at the secret
conferences which he had with the principal ministers,
particular friends of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who
wished with him to bring the Protestant religion so near
to the Roman Church, that a union should ensue almost \
imperceptibly.1 The devil, fearful of this important result, which
would tend to the ruin of his power, excited an unfor
tunate persecution against the Reverend Father Vincent,
which caused him to be recalled to France with his
companion. The ambassador was so deeply affected at
this, that the violence of his grief put an end to his life
and consigned him to the tomb. The Reverend Father
Joseph, prefect of the mission, learned too late how
much that good Father promoted the prosperity of the
Catholic Church in England, and repented of having
given his assent to his recall. On his return to France,
he was elected chief warden of the Province of Paris for
the general Chapter, and afterwards first definitor and
warden of the great convent of Paris, where he died a
holy death.
Before him the Reverend Father Esme, of Beauvais,
had returned to France by order of our Superiors, who
1 This archbishop was Laud: he was the leader of the " Puseyites"of the seven
teenth century, and an intrigue was on foot at Rome, at this period, to procure him
a Cardinal's hat, for his eminent services in advancing the Romish religion in
England.

318 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
sent for him to take the office of warden of the convent
of Amiens. He had preached four or five successive
Lents before the Queen, to her extraordinary satisfaction,
for which reason she wished to keep him for her chapel;
however, after several efforts and importunities, she per
mitted him to return to France. From the very first
sermon that she heard from his lips — it was, as I have
already remarked, on our arrival in London, the third
Sunday in Lent — she talked of it to the King, with
warm commendations, and ever continued to entertain
that high esteem for his insinuating suavity and per
suasive eloquence. I never saw a man stronger in
reasons and less envious of petty advantages, even in
things which are commonly connected with devotion;
such as rosaries of rare wood, handsome medals, cruci
fixes of superior workmanship, fine and well bound
breviaries. Obedience kept him for a long time at the
convent of Soissons. He taught our young friars phi
losophy and theology, and afterwards held the office of
warden, in which he ended this miserable life, to com
mence, as we trust, a happy one which shall have no end.
His virtues rendered him, agreeably to his name,
beloved of every one, especially of the gentlemen of the
town of Soissons, and, above all, of Madame d'Elboeuf,
abbess of the royal monastery of Notre Dame. Having
known the great prudence and strength of his mind, she
made him superintendent of her affairs, and followed his
counsels. On this account she manifested great grief
for his death, and formed the design of erecting a tomb
to perpetuate the memory of so worthy a friar. This
intention, which, for reasons, was not carried into effect,
showed the great piety and the constant affection of that
princess. The successor of the Reverend Father Esme in the
mission of England was the most Venerable Father
Francois Marie Boduel, a friar of a superior under
standing, of angelic purity, of ardent zeal, and most
exemplary character. Now that he is dead, I can say
this to his honour, for I knew him intimately in quality
of his confessor, during the course of several years.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 319
After his return to France with the other Capuchins,
whom an order from the Parliament obliged to leave the
kingdom, the knowledge of his virtues induced our
Reverend Fathers to give him first the office of Master
of the novices at Paris, in our convent of St. Jacques,
and afterwards that of warden at the same place. He
was thence sent to the convent of Troyes, for which he
had a more particular affection, because he had been,
as it were, regenerated there by the exercises of his
noviciate and by his religious profession, and there
renewed his first fervours, gave himself up entirely to
prayer and to attendance on the sick, who were very
numerous in the convent. He there found what he
sought, namely, the grace to end, by death, his regular
life where he began it. His attentions, his fatigues, his
watchings with the sick, brought upon him a violent
fever, which reduced him to extremity. He begged
pardon of all his brethren, both absent and present,
received all the last sacraments with great devotion, and
expired ; pronouncing this word of Jesus, " Mary," whom
he had always greatly loved.
The most Venerable Father Jean Louys, of Arancy,
having passed six or seven years in the service of the
Queen's chapel, and in the exercises of the mission, re
ceived from our Superiors an obedience to return to the
Province of Paris. As he was of noble birth, of a gene
rous heart, and of great zeal, for the defence and the
advancement of the Catholic religion, he thought, in his
youth, that he could not succeed better than by making
himself a Knight of Malta. Accordingly, he was re
ceived into that Order, and employed in expeditions
against the Turks, in which he signalized his courage
and valour. This success did not puff up his heart,
but kindled there a desire to raise himself to still higher
perfection. He turned his thoughts to all the conditions,
on all the professions, on all the religious orders, in
which he might be most certain to acquire it. He con
sidered all of them with attention ; and, at last, after long
meditation on this subject, the rehgion of the Capuchins
seemed to him most apostolic, and best suited to his

320 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
purpose. He resolved, therefore, to embrace it, and to
change his cuirass for a hair shirt, his helmet for a cowl,
his baldrick for a thick cord, and his sword for a bre
viary ; in short, he resolved in his mind to pass, if he
could, from the Order of Malta into that of the Capu
chins. He besought this favour, addressed earnest soli
citations to our Superiors, and, following up the business
with ardour, he obtained his desire, to his great satisfac
tion.1 In the year of his noviciate, and in that which followed
profession, there were remarked in him a fervent soul
and a spirit so mortified that he usually added further
austerities to those prescribed in our Order. His fer
vour, together with his other excellent qualities, induced
our Superiors to put him to the study of philosophy
and theology, in which he succeeded well. He received
the sacred character of priest, and was chosen for the
mission in England, in which he made wonderful pro
gress. Knowing from experience that it was necessary
to speak the language of the country, in order to con
verse with the Protestants, and to draw them gently to
the true faith, to serve the English Cathohcs in the con
fessionals, in catechising, in preaching, he applied him
self to the study of that language with such assiduity,
that he outstripped all the other missionaries, and was
the first who heard the confessions of the English.
Frequently he had not leisure to take his meals, so much
was he occupied with confessions, with attending the
sick, and with conferences with heretics, the number of
whom converted was very great. The devil, enraged at
this progress, raised up for him a wicked sorceress, whom
he had infinite trouble to withdraw from the slavery of
Satan ; and, to gain her for God, he employed fasting,
discipline, prayer, exorcisms, and inexpressible labours,
which seemed to have obtained from Heaven the con
version of this wretched creature ; but, after several re
nouncements of the devil, after many protestations to
live as a true Christian, she always relapsed into her
1 This is the second instance related by Pere Cyprien of a Knight of Malta
having turned Capuchin.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 321
diabolical engagement. I know not how this ended ;l
but I know that Father Jean Louys, after his return to
France, greatly advanced the glory of God there, by his
fervent preaching, by his catechising, by the confessions
of the penitents whom he converted, by all the functions
of missionary, which he performed in various places for
several years ; lastly, by his mortified and religious ex
ample, which excited to virtue those who considered
with attention the greatness of his zeal and the holiness
of his actions.
The most Venerable Father Victor, of Paris, was sent
in his place ; and, after him, the most Venerable Father
de Vautelet, by the special favour of their Britannic
Majesties, under the following circumstances: — M. de
Vautelet, equerry to the Queen, and his wife, dame des
atours, earnestly besought her to prevail upon the King,
her husband, to permit Father Robert de Vautelet, Ca
puchin Preacher, their brother, to go from France to
England, and to be added to the ten Capuchins, who,
by an agreement between the two Crowns, were em
ployed in the service of the chapel of the Queen.
Without having power to increase the number, the
King granted the request, and this Father came to
be incorporated in the family of her Majesty's Capu
chins. He was a friar of great sanctity, and extremely la
borious, who had long performed mission duties, and
the office of warden in France. He slept very little,
was endowed with so excellent a memory as to forget
nothing of what he read, and preached extempore with
the greatest facility on all occasions and on all kinds of
subjects. After his banishment from England, with the
rest of the Queen's Capuchins, having learned thattheHoly
Congregation de Fide Propaganda was applying to our
Reverend Father Provincial for some Capuchins to un
dertake the mission duties at Neocesarea, he offered
himself, with great fervour of mind, for that employ
ment, which was given to him. He embarked, there-
1 Father Cyprien has just said that the Sorceress "always relapsed:'' conse-.
quently, the struggle must have ended to the disadvantage of Father Jean.
VOL. II. Y

322 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
fore, with some other Capuchins, as their Superior.
After several great difficulties and some terrible dangers,
he arrived at Neocesarea, where he spared neither pains,
nor labour, nor address, to advance the glory of God;
but, meeting with powerful obstacles, which thwarted
his pious designs and rendered all his efforts useless, he
was obliged to go to Constantinople. The ambassador
of the King of France, who resides in that capital city
of Greece, received and kept him for some time in his
house. Such were the pleasure, instruction, and conso
lation which he found in his company, that he could not
suffer him to depart. The extraordinary memory and
extensive reading of that Father furnished ever new
subjects of conversation. They were, nevertheless, obliged
to separate : the Reverend Father Prefect of the missions
having given him the office of Superior in our convent
at Smyrna. He went thither, and acquitted himself
worthily of that duty. No sooner was Monseigneur
the Bishop of Celica acquainted with his merits, than he
honoured him with the appointment of his grand vicar,
at which some Friars of another Order, who aspired to
that dignity, manifested great discontent. He persevered,
however, and acquitted himself of it to the satisfaction
of every one, and particularly of him who had conferred
on him that office. He laboured powerfully for the
conversion of the schismatic Greeks, at confessions and
Christian instructions, and in preaching. At length,
God, to reward his merits, sent a disease, which removed
him from the earth to place him in heaven, as we have
every reason to believe, from the innocence of his life
and the holiness of his actions.
Previously to the coming of the Capuchins to England,
schism had infused an extraordinary aversion to the
Pope and the Catholics into the minds of the Protestants.
They held, as an article of faith, that the Pope was
Antichrist and the Catholics idolaters, infidels, blood
thirsty, seditious, enemies of peace and of kings. In
fact, all those men, collected from all parts of the king
dom, who composed the Parliament, having enacted
against them those terrible statutes which I shall pre-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 323
sently enumerate, how could the simplicity of the most
reserved fail to be taken by surprise? how was it pos
sible to entertain any good feeling for a religion pro
hibited as highly dishonourable to God and most perni
cious to the State, condemned by three or four hundred
persons assembled, by lords, by prelates, by doctors, by
men of all professions, by the whole elite of England,
publishing horrible ordinances against those who pro
fessed and practised that religion?
I have collected some of these ordinances, which will
show you the pitiable state of the Catholics who lived
at that time in England, Scotland, and Ireland. They
are from a grave and trustworthy author, who extracted
them from the Acts of divers English Parliaments, and,
to make them known to all Europe, inserted them in a
book printed at Treves in the year 1583, and intituled
" Concertatio Ecclesias Catolicaa in Anglia, adversus
Calvinos, Papistas, et Puritanos."
These iniquitous ordinances are of two sorts : some
end in the privation of temporal goods, the confiscation
of lands, pecuniary fines, the loss of revenues, imprison
ment, and banishment; and others, much more severe,
require blood and death, condemn priests to be hanged,
drawn, and quartered, their quarters to be exposed upon
iron spikes on London Bridge ; by a horrible confusion,
causing them to pass for egregious traitors, for the most
atrocious malefactors, though not accused, much less
convicted, of robbery or murder, of any attempt against
the King or the State, or of any other crime, but merely
of being a priest; so unjust and detestable are those
laws, the first of which, relative to pecuniary punish
ment, is as follows :
1. Whosoever shall refuse to attend the preaching
and prayers of the minister in the Protestant church,
and shall pass a month without paying that attendance,
shall be obliged to pay twenty pounds sterling — (a pound
sterling is equivalent to 13 or 14 francs of our money)
— Whoever is unable to pay that sum, shall abide in
prison till such time as he has paid that fine.
2. Whosoever shall be convicted of having heard
y 2

324 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
mass, though privately, shall be imprisoned for one
whole year, and shall not be released from prison till
he has paid two hundred and eleven crowns; and the
priest who has said mass shall be imprisoned for the
same time, and pay four hundred and twenty crowns for
each several time that the evidence of witnesses shall
attest his having performed that ceremony.
3. Every ecclesiastic who will not pubhcly renounce
the Romish Church, and the authority of the Pope,
shall be deprived of all benefice and ecclesiastical dig
nity whatsoever.
4. Scholars and masters shall not be received into the
Colleges of the Universities, nor admitted to degrees, till
they have first sworn that the Pope has no authority in
the affairs of the Church.
5. No person shall act as a magistrate, or hold any
office, till he has pubhcly made the same renunciation of
the Pope and of the Romish Church.
6. Wards, having attained the competent age, cannot
be put into possession of their property, till they have
taken this oath.
7. The same oath must be taken by the members of
the lower House of Parliament; otherwise, their votes
shall not be received.
8. All persons beneath the dignity of Baron, refusing
at two different times to make this renunciation of the
Pope and the Romish Church, shall be deprived of their
goods, possessions, revenues, and be imprisoned during
the term of their natural lives.
9. All those who shall deny that the Queen is the
supreme head of the Church of England shall be liable
to the same punishment.
10. All who shall receive or keep medals, crosses
of gold or silver, crucifixes, and such like things blessed
by the Pope of Rome, shall also suffer the loss of all
their goods and imprisonment for life.
11. Whosoever shall keep in his house, for the in
struction of his children, a teacher, who shall not attend
the Protestant church, and who shall not be approved
by a Protestant bishop, shall pay every month a fine of

CHARLES THE FIRST. 325
thirty-three crowns, and continue this payment till he
has dismissed such teacher from his house.
12. All the property, moveable and immoveable,
houses, lands, and revenues, of one who shall know
that some person has reconciled another to the Church
of Rome, and shall not, for the space of twenty days,
have declared it to the magistrate, shall be confiscated.
As for his life, that shall be disposed of according to the
good pleasure of the Queen.
13. Whosoever shall know two persons, one of whom
has reconciled the other to the Church of Rome, though
he himself does not belong to it, if he does not inform
against both before the public magistrate, shall suffer
the like penalty.
14. In like manner, he who shall have reconciled
another, and in any way aided such reconciliation,
though not himself reconciled, shall be liable to the
same penalty.
15. Whosoever shall know that any one has advised
obedience to be paid to the Pope of Rome in ecclesias
tical causes, and not have denounced him to the magis
trate, shall forfeit all his goods, as above.
16. Whosoever has suffered another to talk to him
about obeying the Pope of Rome in ecclesiastical matters,
and not given information against that person, shall be
punished by imprisonment and loss of goods.
17. Whosoever knows that a priest has given abso
lution to any person, and does not make it known to the
magistrate, shall suffer the like punishment.
18. Whosoever knows any priest that has power to ab
solve, though he does not exercise it, if he does not give
information against him, is liable to the same penalty.
19. Whosoever knows some one who says that he has
power to absolve, though he really has not, and does not
inform the magistrate, shall be punished with imprison
ment, and the forfeiture of all his goods.
20. Whosoever knows that some one has absolved
another, whether the absolution was solicited or not, and
does not denounce both parties, shall incur all the penal
ties above mentioned.

326 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
21. Whosoever knows some one who has dissuaded
from the rehgion now pubhc in England, that is to say,
the Protestant, and endeavoured to draw away some
other person to the Romish religion, and to obedience
to the Pope, if, in the space of twenty days, he fails to
inform the magistrate, his goods shall be forfeited, and
he shall be imprisoned for life.
Such were the most unjust, accursed, detestable, pe
cuniary laws : yet there were others which far exceed
them in cruelty, which make innocence pass for the
crime of lese-majesty, that is to say, for the greatest of
all crimes, which breathe nought but murder, blood,
fire, and carnage, with the infamous calumny of treason,
to throw odium upon the Catholics put to death in this
manner, and to rob them, in the estimation of the people,
of the glory which belongs to them — that of martyrs
losing their fives in defence of the true faith. The first
of these laws is the following :
1. Whosoever shall have said, written, affirmed, or
signified, in any manner, by ciphers, or, being required,
shall have confessed that the Pope of Rome is head of
the Church of England, or, that he has power in eccle
siastical matters, such person shall be guilty of the crime
of high treason, and suffer the punishment ordained for
traitors to the State.
2. Whosoever shall have made any appeal to the
Pope, and obtained from him any bulls, or the like, and
brought them to England, shall undergo the punish
ment due to the crime of high treason.
3. Whosoever shall bring to England agnus deis,
beads, medals, and such hke things, blest by the Pope of
Rome, shall be held guilty of the crime of high treason.
4. Whosoever shall have said, written, signified, or
confessed, that the Queen of England is heretic or
schismatic, shall suffer the same punishment.
5. Whosoever shaU have reconciled any one to the
communion of the Romish Church shall be liable to the
like punishment.
6. Whosoever shall have refused three different times
to renounce the Pope of Rome and to avow the supreme

CHARLES THE FIRST. 327
authority of the Queen in ecclesiastical matters, shall be
guilty of the same crime of high treason.
7. Whosoever shall have been voluntarily reconciled
to the communion of the Romish Church shall suffer the
same penalty ; which is likewise awarded in all the fol
lowing cases, viz. : —
8. Whosoever shall have procured the reconciliation
of another to the communion of the Romish Church ;
9. Whosoever shall have advised some one to be recon
ciled, though without having managed that reconciliation ;
10. Whosoever shall have persuaded another to obey
the Pope of Rome in ecclesiastical matters ;
11. Whosoever shall have allowed himself to be per
suaded to that obedience ;
12. Whosoever shall have procured or instigated the
persuading of any one to this obedience ;
13. Whosoever shall have promised to obey the Pope
of Rome in ecclesiastical matters at some future time ;
14. If any priest absolves one of the Queen's subjects ;
15. Whosoever shall have the power to absolve in
England, though he never exercises that power ;
16. Whosoever says that he has that power, though,
hi fact, he has not ;
17. Whosoever has received that absolution, whether
he has applied for it or not;
18. Whosoever shaU have procured absolution for
another ;
19. Whosoever shall have advised another to get
absolved, though he has not procured that absolution ;
20. Whosoever shall have advised absolving in gene
ral, without having decided any particular person to that
absolution ;
21. Whosoever shall have dissuaded from the Pro
testant religion, wilfully preventing another from em
bracing it, to draw him to the communion of the Romish
Church and to obedience to the Pope of Rome :
This last, and all the others convicted on the above-
mentioned charges, shall be guilty of the crime of high
treason, and as such condemned and taken to prison,
from the prison dragged on a hurdle to the place of
execution, and there hung by the executioner to the

328 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
gallows ; and, when it shall be admitted that they are
strangled, he shall cut the cord that held them sus
pended, he shall lay them upon the ground near a great
fire, strip them stark naked, cut off their privities, which
he shall throw into the flames, rip open the belly, tear
out the bowels, separate from them the heart while still
palpitating, which he shall hold up to the people, crying
with a loud voice, " This is the heart of a traitor!"
cut the body into four pieces, which he shall boil and
stick on the top of iron pikes, which shall be set up in
various public places, as a mark of their perfidy and in
horror of their treason.1
Are not these executions barbarous, horrible, and
frightful, and for innocent crimes, for holy actions, for
noble practices, which, in the sight of God, are deserving
of eternal rewards !
Can the most detestable crimes of which enraged
malice is capable be prohibited with more laws, in more
different ways, with more subtilty, more address, more
captious circumstances, to catch the most moderate, and
are there punishments" more atrocious ! This it is that
renders the memory of Queen Elizabeth infamous, exe
crable,2 all these new ordinances having been made at
her mstigation and under her authority ; but, on the con
trary, it is what gives wonderful lustre to the piety and
zeal of Queen Henrietta Maria of Bourbon, who under
took to bring over a nuncio from the Pope to England,
notwithstanding that horrible aversion to the Pope and
to the Romish Church.3
The conversations of the Protestants with the Capu
chins contributed greatly to promote that holy and
generous undertaking. Having heard talk of their way
of life and their dress, they were brought by curiosity
to the Fathers. They spoke to them, conversed with
them, were tamed by degrees, inquired concerning their
1 These barbarous penalties are unfortunately derived from the dreadful code of
punishments for religious offences first instituted by the Romish Church, and prac
tised in various countries, either through the agency of the Inquisition or other
ecclesiastical court, and indicate the impression left on the public mind by the
burnings and torturings that disgraced the reign of Queen Mary.
2 And renders still more infamous and execrable the memory of her immediate
predecessor — her example in religious persecution.
3 For an account of Henrietta Maria's proceedings with the Pontiff, the reader
is referred to Dr. Lingard, chap. 5, vol. ix,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 329
faith, which they found totally different from what it had
been represented to them. From the ministers they
learned with astonishment that the Catholics were far
from the sentiments which were attributed to them re
specting the person of the Pope, not believing that he
was a God, or some such divinity, to whom adoration is
paid, but a mortal man, and in his own person a sinner,
like other men, although vicegerent of Christ, successor
of St. Peter, head and pastor of the universal Church ;
that such was the faith of the true believers, who were
in like manner taught to adore no other sovereign than
God alone, to flee from rebellion and sedition, to pray
for their princes, to obey them in every thing that is
not contrary to God; to endure with patience persecu
tion, banishment, imprisonment, loss of property, and
death itself, for the maintenance and the defence of their
faith. These genuine persuasions, impressed upon the minds
of several who visited the Capuchins, insinuated them
selves among those of the court and the palace, even to
the King. The piety of the Queen availed itself of this
favourable occasion to sohcit the King's permission to
have pubhcly in England a nuncio of the Pope. She
had shortly before sent to Rome the Chevaher Chavil-
ton1 and the Chevaher Digby as her agents to Urban
VIII., who then filled the chair of St. Peter, and who
manifested great kindness for all the English, Catholics
and Protestants, but who had a particular affection for
the Queen, whom he honoured as his dearest daughter
with presents, among others, of a very rich shrine, con
taining the rehcs of St. Martin. Her Majesty, being at
Paris, gave it to the Carmelites of the Rue St. Jacques.
In this favourable disposition, the Queen, assisted by
grace, obtained what she desired with such ardour ; to
the great dehght and astonishment of all the Catholics,
she had the King's consent that nuncios on the part of
his Holiness should come over to her. The first was
Monsieur de Pansany . [Panzani],2 canon of St. Peter's,
1 Sir William Hamilton, brother of Lord Abercorn.
2 Dr. Lingard says the first was Leander, an English Benedictine monk, and the
second, Panzani, an Italian priest. — History of England, vol. ix, p. 314.

330 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
at Rome ; the Pope made him a bishop on his return ;
the second, Monsieur Carne, a native of Scotland, who
was created cardinal on his return to Rome, where he
died on his arrival; the third, Monsieur Rosetty, who
saw the commencement of the troubles of the regicide
Parhament, from whom he suffered many vexations,
which his Holiness compensated with a cardinal's hat.
He is highly esteemed at Rome at the moment that I am
writing these memoirs.
These nuncios had successively their chapels open to
all the Cathohcs, to the great discontent of the Puritans,
who, filled with animosity and fury against the Pope,
were enraged to see these ecclesiastical prelates sent
from Rome so well received by the King, with permis
sion to profess pubhcly what they called Popery. From
morning till noon, masses were continually said in their
chapels ; the Cathohcs attended them : there were no
pursuivants to hinder any persons, or to oppose their
devotion. The nuncios paid their court to the King
and to the Queen. They were known to every body.
Their carriages rolled along the streets of London,
without any one daring to say a word against them ; and
the sectaries, undeceived, began to beheve and regard
as a real prince, a legitimate lord, and an amiable sove
reign, him whom the envenomed calumny of the clergy
had before caused to be reputed a wicked usurper, a
bloodthirsty tyrant, an enemy of God, a detestable anti-
Christ. Zeal for religion having rendered the Queen so
estimable to all the Cathohcs, particularly in the court
of Rome, it is no wonder that those whom she sent thither
were so well received. Here is one instance among others.
A bad lying-in had placed her Majesty in evident
danger of death. As she had always been brought up
in very great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and was
singularly attached to her, she had recourse to her
powerful intercession. With great humility and fervour,
she prayed, in this extreme necessity, for her assistance,
and she received immediately an extraordinary ease,
which was followed by a very happy delivery and per
fect health. In gratitude for so great a benefit, she

CHARLES THE FIRST. 331
made a very rich, very valuable, and very magnificent
present to the chapel of Our Lady of Loretto, and ap
pointed the Reverend Father Jean Marie de Treston,
then Superior of the Capuchins of her chapel, to be the
bearer of it. Honoured with this royal commission, he
went to Rome, where he had no sooner arrived than the
Pope and the cardinals desired to see him. He received
such welcome, such testimonies of affection, such
caresses, such honours, that his humility must have
sunk under them, if it had not been very solid.
At this time, all was quiet in England. There were
uo persecutions against the Cathohcs; all the King's
subjects lived in universal peace, through the wise con-|
duct and counsels of the Earl of Portland,1 high treasurer)
and president of his Majesty's council. He had private
correspondence with the Reverend Father Joseph of
Paris, a Capuchin, whom Cardinal Richelieu kept about
him out of respect. This nobleman favoured the Queen's
Capuchins, but underhand, clandestinely, and in secret ;
to prevent its being known that he had an inclination!
to Popery, as they term it.
This intercourse with the Reverend Father Joseph,
and this secret affection which he entertained for the
Capuchins, were followed by a success highly conducive
to his salvation. For, some time afterwards, a grievous
illness obliging him to relinquish earthly affairs, and to
think only of those of heaven, grace opened his eyes,
to see the newness, the instability, the falsity of the
Protestant sect, and the continual antiquity, the invari
able firmness, the infallible truth, of the Catholic Church,
in which his ancestors had lived holily and died happily.
In these pious sentiments, he applied for a priest, re
nounced heresy, embraced the orthodox faith, was
honoured with a visit by the King, to whom he de
livered the stick of the office of high treasurer, with
these few words : " Sire, with respect and gratitude I re
turn this stick into the hands of your Majesty, lamenting
exceedingly that I have been less faithful to God than
1 As he was created Earl of Portland in 1633, and died the following year, we are
enabled to mark the date of this tranquil period.

332 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
to your service." — " No, no," said the King; " the
stick cannot be better than in your hands ; there I wish
it to remain." — Whereupon the treasurer replied, " Sire,
I am no longer capable of holding it, for two reasons :
the first, because I do not expect to recover from this
illness; the second, which will appear hateful, but
which I neither can nor ought to conceal from your
Majesty, is, that, by the grace of God, I am now a
Catholic." — " Only get better," rejoined the King; "the
Catholic religion shall not prevent your retaining this
stick." His Majesty returned deeply affected at the
dangerous illness of so good a minister, who took,
instead of the baton of treasurer, the baton of the cross.
And, kissing that, having received the sacrament and
extreme unction, he departed this life with the marks
of a predestined soul.
His successor, as first minister of State, was the Arch
bishop of Canterbury,1 who, under the authority of the
Kmg, undertook to effect a uniformity of the Protestant
religion throughout Great Britain, which comprises
England and Scotland, resolved to introduce the cere
monies into the Church, and ordered the clergy to wear
the surplice in the performance of their duty. To back
this prelate, several ministers began to preach pubhcly
quite the contrary of what had before been believed —
such as the following truths : that the Pope is not Anti-
Christ; that ceremonies are necessary in the Church;
that auricular confession is obligatory on every one
who has sinned; that in the Christian religion there
must be altars. Not content with proclaiming these
truths from the pulpit, they composed divers books,
which were printed, published, and distributed in all
quarters, I leave you to conceive with what consolation
to the Cathohcs ; while the Puritans, that is to say, the
Calvinists, were inflamed with wrath, fury, and rage.
Peccator videbit et irascetur ; dentibus suis fremet et
tabescet. At that time we were much visited by Pro
testant ministers, who conversed very familiarly with
us, willingly listened to the reasons of our belief, in-
1 Laud.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 333
quired concerning our ceremonies, came to the Queen's
chapel to learn the practice of them, admitted that the
Catholic was the true Church, but, withheld by the con
sideration of their benefices and of their wives, imagined
that they could be saved in the Protestant Church,
having, they said, the same fundamental points as the
Church of Rome.1
An English Countess, who had always been brought
up in the Protestant religion, living very near our house,
desirous to know what sort of people we were, came fre
quently to see us. By degrees, she took a hiring to our
conversation, and conceived a totally different opinion of
our faith from that with which ministers had filled her
mind ; was assailed by various doubts touching the f
Protestant rehgion ; became finally persuaded that the
Catholic rehgion had always subsisted? that her ancestors
had lived and died in it ; that, ever since the first preach
ing of the gospel, all the saints who reign gloriously in
heaven had been Catholics; that, before the schism of
King Henry VIII., England, united to the Roman
Church, had peopled Paradise with great numbers of
saints.3 These truths, accompanied by other solid
reasons, excited in that lady a profound respect for the
Cathohc rehgion, and urged her to embrace its faith :
but, hi a matter so difficult and so important, though
endowed with an excellent understanding, nevertheless,
diffident of herself, she inquired if we would agree to
a conference in English, upon her business, with two
English divines, chaplains to the King. We answered
that the proposal was very disadvantageous to us,
because the English language was foreign to us and
natural to those ministers ; yet, for the sake of her con
version and the salvation of her soul, we would joyfully
1 This movement of a certain portion of the Established Church to assimilate its
ceremonies as closely as possible to those of the Catholics is almost identical with
that of the Puseyites.
2 The good lady might have been persuaded, but, if she possessed any historical
knowledge, she could not have been convinced of this.
3 The object of the Reformation was to return to that pure faith in which the
Saints had died, and from which the Church of Rome had, in each succeeding
century, more and more departed, till it had degenerated into a confused jumble of
idolatrous ceremonies and superstitious legends, the greater portion of which were
as much at variance with common sense as with genuine Christianity.

334 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
accept it, provided that the whole should be kept secret,
so as not to give offence either to the King or to the
State. She gave us a solemn promise to this effect.
With this assurance, Father Cyprien of Gamache, who
spoke English, went to her house with Father Francis
Marie Baduel, who merely served for companion, not
understanding the English language. They found in
the house of this lady two of the most eminent Enghsh
divines. After several civilities, they entered into dis
putation on the reality of the body and blood of Jesus
Christ in the Holy Sacrament and on the communion,
in one kind only. God gave such a blessing to the
disputation that the lady left the Protestant Church,
and made a generous profession of the Catholic faith,
in which she still continues to this day to manifest
great zeal and fervour.1
Prince William of Nassau, son of the Prince of Orange,
having come to England to seek Mary Stuart, eldest
daughter of King Charles I. in marriage, Dr. Vane,
almoner, otherwise chaplain, to his Majesty, one of the
ablest and most eminent of his divines, was appointed
to preach before that young prince in a large apartment
in Somerset House. The Queen's chapel was very
near to it. Father Cyprien of Gamache was then
preaching there, and saw the minister familiarly, mani
fested great friendship for him, conversed with him
mildly on the diversity of religions, one of which only
was the true one ; proved, by strong reasons, that this
true rehgion was that of the Catholic, Apostohc, and
Romish Church. The minister admitted that one might
certainly be saved in it, but that salvation was not ex
cluded from the Protestant Church, which agreed with
the Romish in all those fundamental points. He was
told in reply that the sacraments are fundamental points,
and particularly the Lord's Supper, in which the two
religions are opposed : and, since it was admitted that
certain points were fundamental and not others, all that
1 We should have been better satisfied of the truth of this statement, had
Father Cyprien given the names of the lady and the " most eminent English
Divines :" but the good Father continually perplexes us with a deficiency of memory
in respect to names and dates.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 335
God has revealed and that is proposed by the Holy
Church belongs alike to the faith, and must be alike
believed by true behevers. These reasons, and several
others, threw the minister into great agitation; but
worldly interests, the revenues of several benefices,
which he must have lost on embracing the Catholic
rehgion, induced him to continue in the Protestant.
A few months afterwards he fell so sick that he ex
pected to die. All the conferences which had passed
on the subject of rehgion then recurred to his mind.
He made serious reflections upon them ; weighed with
great care the reasons adduced in favour of the Church
of Rome ; and, finally, being convinced that it was the
only true one, he sent at night to beg Father Cyprien
to come to see him. On his arrival, " Father," said he,
" our conferences, with the grace of God, have en
lightened my mind. I doubt no longer that the
Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church is the true
one. I am resolved to live and die in it. I beheve all
that it beheves, and reject and condemn all that it con
demns. I will make, if you please, the profession to
you." After some instructions on so important a sub
ject, he confessed with a strong feehng of grief, received
absolution of his heresy and of his other sins ; and the
following night, according to his desire, the Holy Com
munion and extreme unction were adminstered to him.
Instead of dying in these holy dispositions, as it was
wished, being so well prepared, he recovered his health,
preached in his parish with the permission of his con
fessor, a thoroughly Catholic sermon, which deprived
him of all his temporal goods, and banished him from
England. His wife and his children, after several re
fusals, followed him in his conversion and banishment.
They live with him in Paris, where he wrote an English
book, intituled " The Stray Sheep Returned to the
Fold," which has made a great number of Cathohcs hi
England. In order to subsist, theology being thence
forth useless to him, he applied with ardour to the study
of medicine, took his doctor's degree, and, when he had
begun to support himself by that profession, God pur-

336 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
posing, as we may beheve, to bestow upon him a
happier life, sent a fever which consigned him to the
grave, after receiving all the sacraments of the Church,
exhibiting many acts of contrition, rendering devout
thanks to the Divine Majesty for having called him to
the Cathohc, Apostohc, and Roman religion. He left
a disconsolate wife and several children, of whom Pro
vidence took such care that they are ali well provided
for: some in honourable offices in certain religious
orders; others are employed in the court of England;
and his wife is married again to a gentleman of piety
and condition, to whom she shows equal respect and
love, and by whom she is reciprocally so fondly loved,
that their union may serve for a perfect model to mar
ried people.
Two other young ministers, who were not yet mar
ried, came frequently to walk in our garden. They
usually addressed themselves to me, expressed pleasure
with our conversations, which were frequently upon re
ligion. After several very civil disputes, several alter
cations, several objections and rephes, at length, grace
operating within them, both acknowledged that the
Roman was the true Church, in which salvation was to
be sought ; and that, the Church being but one, the
Protestant opposed to the Roman could be but a sect
in reahty, and a Church in appearance, from which
salvation was shut out for all those who lived and died
in its profession. These two ministers, therefore, re
nounced it, forsook its creed, embraced the faith of the
Romish Church, and made a solemn profession of it,
went to France, and, after some studies and long
exercises of piety, received holy orders, were both
priests, celebrated the holy mass for the space of seven
or eight years, laboured charitably for the conversion
of souls, gained for the Church several of their country
men who were in Paris, and then disease removed them
both, one after the other, from this miserable life, to put
them in possession of one infinitely happier in heaven,
as we may reasonably judge.
A young Catholic lady was earnestly desirous of the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 337
conversion of a Protestant friend of hers. Her zeal
sought all means, and found none more efficacious than
to take her to the Capuchins, recollecting that several
had been converted in that way. Her address con
trived to excite in her friend a strong desire to see the
Fathers, saying that they were extraordinary men, who
dressed in a strange fashion, that they hved wholly
upon alms, though several of them had been rich,
without reserving any thing for themselves ; they had
given all they had possessed to the poor, that they
might be poor with Jesus Christ, who never had either
home or income. The Protestant lady, admiring all
this, requested the speaker to obtain for her a sight of
these extraordinary people. They came, therefore, to
gether to see me. In conversation, I learned from the
lips of the Protestant that she was the daughter of a
Puritan father and a Catholic mother, who had suffered
much for her rehgion, who had hved and died in it,
notwithstanding the ill usage and persecution which
had attended her through life. I praised this con
stancy, and said that it was a great blessing to be the
daughter of so virtuous a mother, whose good example
of religion and piety she ought to follow. I added that
it was one of the most important affairs in the world,
shice it regarded our eternal salvation; that the
Catholic rehgion was the only true one; that we must
five and die in it to be saved; that there was no salva
tion for those who were separated from it, and who
died in that awful separation. I supported all these
propositions by proofs and by reasons adapted to her
capacity. She yielded after some resistance; strong
grace caused her to resolve to renounce her father's
sect, to five and die in that religion in which her dear
mother had displayed so firm and so holy a persever
ance, and in which she had so happily ended her days.
She afterwards related to me a remarkable circum
stance, which had left in her heart some good feehng for
the Cathohc religion. When she was a little girl, her
mother had left her at home, while she went secretly to
the house of a Cathohc gentleman to hear mass there.
vol. ii. z

338 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
The Puritans, sworn enemies of the Cathohc religion,
knew of it, and resolved to go thither in force, to break
open the door of the place in which mass was said, to
secure the priest, with all the ornaments of the Church,
and all persons whom they should find there. A good
friend acquainted the little girl with this mahgnant
design, and desired her to run off as fast as she could to
tell her mother that there was a great conspiracy
against the house where she was, and that she must
come away immediately and return home. The child
obeyed, but, meeting by the way with a young play
fellow, she loitered a long time. The conspiracy was
meanwhile carried into execution. After the consecra
tion, when those who attended the august sacrifice of
the mass were about to communicate, the furious
satellites arrived, broke open the door with violence,
entered the house, searched every where, found
the secret oratory hi which mass was said, seized
the priest and the persons present, carried them off
prisoners, took missal, crucifix, cup, a small pyx, in
which were kept the consecrated wafers, the cope,
stole, in short, every thing which, as they said, smelt of
Popery, and threw all into a large fire kindled in the great
place of the city. A great number of people collected
there saw with astonishment the pyx, containing the con
centrated wafers, open with a loud noise amidst the
flames, and the host soar away into the air, without re
turning to the earth, or being ever seen afterwards.1 The
young lady whose conversion I am relating was present
at this miraculous sight, which left in her heart favour
able impressions of the Cathohc rehgion, in which
happily she died.
Scotland, England, and Ireland, are three distinct
kingdoms, governed by one and the same sovereign,
commonly caUed King of Great Britain. The various
rehgions are so mixed in these three kingdoms, that
each professes a particular one, which there predomi
nates over the others, and is more generally practised.
1 After perusing this sentence, we are afraid the reader's confidence in Pere
Cyprien will be very much disturbed,

CHARLES THE FIRSJ^ 339
lnTrefena^~is~tne" Catholic, in England the Protestant,
and in Scotland the Puritan or Calvinist, which boasts
of following the pure Scripture alone, and is therefore
extremely hostile to the Catholics.
A young Scotch gentleman, having finished his studies
at Edinburgh, the capital of the kingdom, was desirous
to see England, particularly London, which he had often
heard spoken of as one of the largest, wealthiest, and
most commercial cities in Europe ; and he wished his
eyes to be faithful witnesses of the marvels which his
ears had heard. Accordingly, he prepared for the
journey and set out, arrived safely in London, visited
his friend, a Scotch Catholic, who had settled there to
serve God with less hindrance and in greater tranquilhty
than in Scotland. This friend, very zealous in behalf of
his rehgion, was extremely glad of his coming, in the
hope of gaining him for Jesus Christ. He talked to him
about the most remarkable things which he would see
in the city, and among others, about certain extraor
dinary men called Capuchins, who had come some time
ago from France to serve the Queen in a magnificent
chapel, which she had lately had built. The young
gentleman immediately conceived a desire to see that
chapel and those Capuchins. He came thither with his
friend, who knew me, who honoured me with his affec
tion, and desired that I should be called. The young
Scotchman was greatly surprised to see so strange a
dress. At first he was as if thunderstruck. After some
civilities, he wished to know what was our faith, our
way of life, our exercises, what worship we paid to God,
wherefore those altars, wherefore those images, where
fore those confessionals, wherefore we made the observ
ance of those things such an essential point. I gave
him the reasons, which he would not entertain at first,
being prepossessed with contrary opinions.
In the sequel, after much reflection on the subject, he
called upon me several times to obtain further elucida
tions of the matters which he had propounded to me.
At length, finding that what I answered him was ac
cording to the rules of the Gospel, from a powerful
z2

340 - THE COURT AND TIMES OF
movement of grace, he renounced the heresy hi- -»vhich
he had lived, made profession of the Catholic religion,
found our Capuchin life so conformable to that of the
Apostles that he resolved to embrace it, went for that
purpose to France, called upon our Reverend Father
Provincial, manifested so strong a desire, besought and
urged him with such earnestness, that he admitted him
and named him Brother Julian of Scotland. In his
noviciate he was all fervour, which greatly increased at
his profession. He was then sent to Soissons, where
he fell ill, suffered violent pains with great submission
to the will of Heaven, expressed the most humble thanks
and gratitude to God for his vocation to the Catholic
religion and to the religious life of the Capuchins,
begged pardon of his brethren for any bad example
that he might have set them, and, provided with all the
sacraments, displaying several acts of contrition and love
of God, he passed from this miserable hfe to a better, after
living three years in our Order with great edification.
An English gentleman of the Protestant religion, who
held honourable offices, and was a member of the
King's Council in Ireland, had business which happily
obliged him to come to London ; and, as Divine Provi
dence takes particular care of the elect, and has admir
able expedients for leading them into the way of heaven,
when heresy or the disorders of any other sins cause
them to stray from it, it happened that I was summoned
on aceount of some works of charity to a Catholic house
where this gentleman was, whom I did not know, and
had never heard of. Having finished the business on
which I had come, I was told that he had recently
arrived from Ireland, that he led a moral life, though
in the Protestant sect, that he had a docile disposition,
and that, without much controversy, dispute, and alter
cation, he would acquiesce in the truth, and embrace
the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman rehgion, if strong
reasons should convince him that it was the only true
one. This gave me occasion to join the company in
which he was, to converse civilly with him upon in
different matters, to talk of the state of Ireland, of the

CHARLESTJHrFlRST. » i ¦ 341

manners of the Irish*" of their customs and their way of
life ; lastly, of their Catholic rehgion, to which they had
always inviolably adhered, as they had received it from
their ancestors, in spite of imprisonment, exile, loss of
goods, and other calamities, which had served only to
display their generous constancy, to augment their
merit, and to render it praiseworthy in time and in
eternity. This gentleman was at first somewhat sur
prised at hearing me advance these things, and speak
with such freedom : but his surprise ceased when he
knew that I was one of the Queen's Priests ; and he
agreed with me that there is nothing we ought not to
do and to suffer for the defence of the true religion, in
which alone one can be saved. I then proved to him
by sohd reasons that there is not and cannot now be
any true religion but the Catholic, Apostolic, and
Roman. After much discourse on this subject, many objec
tions, many questions, many answers, he at length
acquiesced and yielded to the truth ; whereat greatly
rejoicing, after pointing out to him the great obligation
which he owed to God for that important grace, I gave
him some instructions concerning our mysteries, on the
obligation to lead a Christian life, and the means of
doing so; and on the manner of duly confessing and
communicating. Being thus disposed, he received abso
lution of his heresy, confessed, took the sacrament with
extraordinary fervour, returned to Ireland, practised
secretly all the exercises of his religion, at the same
time attending the King's Council as usual, retaining
his offices, which he would have lost, and done a great
wrong to his family if he had declared himself a Catholic.
Two years passed in this manner, when business again
called him to London, where he fell ill. He apprized
me of his condition. I visited him. His disorder in
creasing, he made a second general confession to me,
received the sacrament and extreme unction, gave a
thousand thanks to God for his vocation to the Catholic
religion, deplored the years spent in the behef of the
Protestants ; and, after various acts of faith, hope, and.

342 THE COURT ji-rT» TIMES O^
charity, he passed happily from this mortal hfe on earth
to the immortal in Paradise.
His funeral was accompanied with some remarkable
circumstances. You must know that in London there
are but two Cathohc cemeteries belonging to the two
churches of the Queens, wherein are interred none but
their officers and servants, of both sexes, who die in the
faith of the Church of Rome. The other Catholics are
buried by the ministers in the cemeteries of the Protes
tants, after the priests who attend them at their death
have blessed some mould, put it into the coffin with the
body, said prayers, and performed secretly all the other
usual ceremonies of the Church. The gentleman whom
I am speaking of had a great desire to be buried in the
cemetery of the Queen's Chapel. He begged of me to
solicit this favour of her Majesty, who cheerfully as
sented. To prevent the notice which this action might
excite, the body was conveyed at night in a carriage ;
we received it into our church, and did all that the
Romish ritual prescribes for the burial of the dead. All
this was to be kept quite secret ; otherwise, the ministers
would have made a great noise, the people would have
been strongly excited, and great complaints, very pre
judicial to the English Cathohcs, and especially to the
family of the deceased gentleman, would have been
made to the King.
To prevent this mischief, his relations and friends re
solved to have a coffin, to put into it stones and other
things of the weight of a body, to make the ministers
beheve that the remains of their relation were enclosed
in it. So this coffin was carried solemnly to the Pro
testant church, in a hearse, with pomp and magnificence,
with flags and the sound of trumpets. All that is done
at the most expensive funerals was observed at this ; —
several ministers, a large assembly, a great number of
gentlemen and other persons of quality, a funeral dis
course in praise of the deceased, by one of the most
eminent preachers, who apostrophized the stones under
the idea thai he was addressing the body of the de
ceased.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 343
The multitude of converted Huguenots was so great,
that the number of the Catholics who came to the
Queen's chapel was such, that they never entered or
left it but in a crowd. While some were within, at
tending the august sacrifice, the others were waiting at
the door. There was a continual ebb and flood of people
from six in the mornmg till twelve at noon; and the
King, looking at them from a window of the Queen's
palace, and by his silence approving of their devotion,
seemed to condemn the unjust laws of the Parliament
against the Catholics, who are in fact the most faithful
and the best subjects of Kings, from the principles of
their creed, which oblige them to pray for them, for
their family, and for their State.
Not a week passed but there were two or three con
versions of Huguenots, who renounced heresy, and em
braced the orthodox faith. The exercises of the Catholic
rehgion, to which I have adverted, flourished with such
success, both in and out of the Queen's chapel, that
zealous persons could not behold them without tran
sports of joy.
Mary of Medicis, Queen of France, who at that time
came over from Flanders to England, where she resided
nearly four years, expressed to the Queen, her daughter,
her extraordinary satisfaction at the mild treatment en
joyed by the Catholics, and the great progress of their
holy rehgion in the kingdom where it had formerly been
so persecuted. The gentlemen and ladies of her suite,
having heard talk of the great afflictions which the
Cathohcs had formerly suffered in England, were like
wise astonished, and had the same sentiments as the
Queen, their mistress ; but, above aU, her confessor and
preacher in ordinary, the Reverend Father Suffren, of1
the company of Jesus, a man of extraordinary merit,
whose signal piety and the fervour of whose sermons
had gained him such wonderful reputation in the great
city of Paris as to make him pass for a saint, and for
the most famous, the most devout, the most popular
preacher of his time, — this great man blessed Heaven a
thousand times on finding in England those fervent exer-

344 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
cises of the Capuchins, and that notable advancement of
rehgion which he would not before have ventured to
imagine. These circumstances afforded him great con
solation, which was changed into grief, on learning the
iniquitous ordinances of the new Parliament, which
obliged the Capuchins to five as prisoners, and to keep
their chapel closed. This woful intelligence being
brought when Father Cyprien, of Gamache, was with
him, "Father," said he, weeping, '•'•bene currebatis; quis
vos impedivit ? " which are words of St. Paul.
There were seen at this time three melancholy things
at once : Queen Mary de Medicis forced to leave England,
and to seek refuge at Cologne ; Monsieur Rosetty, nuncio
of the Pope, expelled from the kingdom, after incurring
imminent danger of his hfe from the fury of the people ;
the Capuchins prisoners, out of hatred to the Cathohc re
ligion and the Queen, for whose service they had come.
They wrote on the subject to the King of France and to
Cardinal Richeheu : copies of their letters are subjoined.
Letter of the Capuchins of the Queen of England to the
King of France. Written in their Prison.
Sire, — We throw ourselves at your Majesty's feet, to
implore in all humility the aid which piety and justice
induce us to hope for. In the absence of the Queen,
your dear sister, and our good mistress, the Parliament
of London has pronounced a decree, which violates the
articles of her marriage, which insults the glory of God
and the honour of your Majesty. We will write more
at length upon it to his Eminence Monseigneur the
Cardinal Duke de Richeheu, beseeching his usual zeal
for the interests of God and for yours, to represent to
your Majesty the strange injustice of this edict, the
shameful treatment of crowned heads, and the sufferings
to which we are reduced. Whereupon we await the
commands of your Majesty, for whom we offer our
prayers to God in quality of, Sire,
Your most humble, most faithful, and most obe
dient Servants and Subjects, the Capuchins of
the Queen of England.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 345
Letter of the Capuchins of the Queen of England to
Monseigneur the Cardinal Duke de Richelieu. Written
after their chapel was shut up and themselves imprisoned
by the unjust decree of the Parliament of London.
Monseigneur, — We make bold to write to the King
as our Sovereign, and to your Eminence as the singular
Protector of the interests of God and of his Majesty,
to represent in all humility how much both are in
jured by the violence which we are at present suffering.
We pretend not to add to the information given you by
Monseigneur the ambassador, but merely to acquit our
selves of the duty which we owe to God, to the King,
and to your Eminence. To this end, we have judged it
proper to send you a true relation of all that has passed
up to this time, that your excellent understanding may
make its usual reflections, and form, according to its
custom, a sohd judgment thereon.
Your Eminence is aware that the Queen, on leaving
this place, would not take with her more than two
Capuchins to serve her during the journey, and com
manded all the others, for the benefit of the Cathohcs, to
remain in London, and to perform their usual functions
in her chapel : being at Dover, on her way to Holland,
she did us the honour to reiterate this order, and to re
commend us to Monseigneur, the ambassador of France,
that we might have his protection in any case of need
which might arise during her absence. Notwithstanding
this, here is our chapel shut up, and we prisoners, by an
unjust edict, which breaks the articles of the peace be
tween the two crowns, violates the respect due to the
King who sent us, is a manifest outrage against their
Britannic Majesties, and a pernicious example of re
bellion of subjects against their lawful sovereign. The
penetrating mind of your Excellency will discover more
mischief in this infamous sentence than we are capable
of representing to you, Monseigneur,
Your most humble, most obedient, and most faithful
Servants, the French Capuchins, Missionaries in
the Service of the Queen of England.

346 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
The government of the Kingdom of England is at
once monarchical and aristocratic. The King is sove
reign in such a way that he cannot impose any tax upon
his subjects, nor draw any money from them without
the consent of the assembled States, or what they call
the Parhament. It is composed of two chambers, an
upper and a lower. In the upper are the lords, the
archbishops, the bishops, the dukes, the marquises, the
earls, the viscounts, the barons. The lower chamber
contains the baronets, the knights, the mere gentlemen,
the burgesses chosen by the towns of the kingdom. The
sovereignty of the King consists in convoking this
assembly when he pleases, and in dissolving it when it
will not comply with his pleasure. His domains being
most ample for defraying the expense of his household
and supporting the dignity of the Crown, he has no
need of the Parhament, unless when he is obliged to
provide for some extraordinary expense, as for carrying
on war, building ships.
In the reign of Charles I., the rehgion practised, and
the only one permitted, in England was the Protestant,
which admits of bishops, altars, and ceremonies. The
Puritans, who reject these and stop, as they say, at the
pure Scripture, have so prevailed, and have so strangely
multiplied, that they exceed the Protestants in number.
The Archbishop of Canterbury being the first minister
of State, resolved to destroy or to reduce them to the
Protestant rehgion. For this purpose, he obtained from
the King an ordinance requiring all ministers to wear
surplices in the churches, and to observe there certain
ceremonies which were not previously practised. The
Scotch, obstinate Puritans, and animated by those of
England, refused to obey, preached up rebellion, raised
the people, and maltreated the partisans of the King,
persecuted the bishops of their nation, sought their
lives, which were safe only in flight or concealment,
formed a powerful league against the King their sove
reign, ruined those who refused to enter into it; in short,
they set the whole kingdom of Scotland in commotion
and rebellion. Force was required. The King, who

CHARLES THE FIRST. 347
had no guards, which his predecessors had constantly
kept, gave commissions to several captains to raise soldiers
and to levy a strong army. It was soon ready,
marched, arrived at the field of battle. Strange success !
many Puritan officers, and soldiers of whom it was
unfortunately composed, said that they would not fight
against their brethren, thus making a mock of the arch
bishop and of the King. What was this prince, thus
affronted, to do ? He was told that he must have a Par
hament. He convened one. The Puritans were in a
majority, and bent on ruining him. They promised
traitorously to give him all the money that he asked for,
and to make him one of the greatest monarchs in the
world, if he would engage not to dissolve the Parhament.
The King, misled by abominable counsellors, comphed
with the demand, and at the same time stripped himself
of his authority, which consists particularly in this
point — to convene and dissolve the Parliament when he
pleases. No sooner had this assembly obtained the word and
promise of indissoluble continuance, than it caused this
to be proclaimed by sound of trumpet, that it might be
pubhcly known. It possessed itself of the forces of the
kingdom, and appointed a captain of the faction to com
mand in the Tower of London, which is in that city what
the Bastile is in Paris ; and began to make ordinances
prejudicial to the Crown, through the criminal practices
of five or six persons of that wretched assembly. The
King, accompanied by one hundred gentlemen, went to
the Parhament to seize them. They had warning of
his coming, and withdrew before he arrived. Not
having found them, he contented himself with causing
seals to be put in their houses on the doors of the
cabinets, in which were the papers of their cursed
correspondence and of their abominable faction; but
these men, animated by the spirit of the devil, acted in
such a manner that, by their persuasion, the Parliament
ordered, with horrible outrage, that the King's seals
should be broken, to the great contempt of his Majesty.
Accordingly, the King's seals were broken, the doors of

348 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the cabinets were opened, and the papers of the seditious
members were removed. To them may be applied what
St. John says : — Superbia eorum qui te oderunt ascendit
semper. The detestable Parhament made the seditious
come back, not as criminals and culprits, but in triumph,
with the beating of drums, the flourish of trumpets, and
the firing of cannon. The King, unable to endure this
infamous confusion, left London, which he never entered
afterwards. Queen Mary de Medicis had previously retired, to go
\ to Cologne ; the Queen of England, her most dear
J daughter, was obliged also not only to quit that rebel-
/ lious city, but to separate herself from the sweet and
| amiable conversation of the King, her husband and her
i lord, to cross the stormy sea, to sail to Holland, to take
S over the Princess Mary, her eldest daughter, the future
, 1 consort of William of Nassau, only son of the Prince of
1 Orange, and to find through this marriage more easily
and more abundantly supplies of money, arms, and
soldiers, to resist the detestable Parliament, which had
possessed itself of all the forces of the Kingdom, and
which had on foot a powerful army against its lawful
sovereign. She took with her two Capuchins only, to
serve her spiritually in this voyage, which she expected
to be short, and left all the others at Somerset House,
after recommending them to the ambassador of the King
of France, her brother.
There happened at this time a lamentable accident,
which threw us all into great consternation, and caused
us to augur the calamities which followed. The ordi
nances of the Parliament obliging us to keep our chapel
closed, and forbidding us to celebrate the august sacri
fice of the mass, we said it in a httle oratory of the
house, that amidst so many misfortunes we might not
be deprived of so great and salutary a benefit : there we
kept the most holy eucharist, for the supply of the sick,
for our lay brethren, and for some Catholics in par
ticular, who came to us in secret. One day, on going
to take up the pyx, to administer the communion to
some one, the priest found nothing in the tabernacle.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 349
He began to tremble, turn pale, and weep. He left the
altar, and related this lamentable news, which was hke a
thunderbolt to us, and caused us to think that God was
forsaking this place ; recollecting how he had abandoned
the hapless city of Jerusalem, after the voice of an
angel had been heard crying in the temple, " Let us go
hence !" In spite of all the pains that were taken to
ascertain what had become of this pyx and of the wafers
which it contained, all our search proved useless; we
never could learn anything about them, except that the
sequel brought forth those disasters which this melan
choly accident had caused us to dread.
As the King and Queen were passionately attached to
each other, they could not part without extreme regret
and grief. After many kisses, many tears, which con
jugal love drew from the afflicted eyes of the Queen, the
anchors were weighed and the ships stood out to sea.
So she parted from the King, who never ceased looking
at her standing upon deck, till the great distance with
drew her from sight. Then, taking off his hat, he waved
it round several times, bidding her a very affectionate,
but very sad and painful adieu. It seemed as if Heaven
designed to portend to the Queen the lamentable cir
cumstances which followed. A furious tempest sud
denly arose, contrary winds began to roar, and drove,
tossed, and battered the ships with the utmost violence,
as if they were bent on sinking them ah : some actually
perished, and with them many valuable things and men.
But, at length, God, who reserved this generous princess
for other trials, enabled her to reach HoUand safe and
sound, but very weak and very dejected. She was
received with great joy and magnificence; and then
commenced rich and splendid preparations for the
marriage of Madame her daughter with Prince William.
Nothing was omitted that could contribute to the mag
nificence of this great solemnity, which seemed to ease
all pains and to lighten aU past sorrows. The mind of
the Queen, however, was still suffering anxiety about
the state of the King ; and, in spite of all the diligence
she used, to go and rejoin him soon, she was obliged,

350 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
contrary to her intention, to stay a long time in Hol
land. One of the principal objects of her voyage was to
take back to the King military stores and forces to
resist the violent proceedings of the Parliament. She
laboured assiduously at this business, which being
completed, she embarked to return to England. The
weather was mild, the air serene, the wind favourable,
but lasted so not long. Presently the wind shifted, and
continued so contrary that the fleet, after being tossed
about to its great peril by a horrible tempest, was
forced to put back to the port from which it had sailed.
It was obliged by necessity to stay in HoUand, and to
wait for weather more propitious for navigation, on the
first appearance of which, the Queen and aU her people
embarked a second time, and again found themselves in
the greatest danger from contrary winds and furious
tempests, which threatened every moment to bury all
| the ships in the deep. SaUors who had made several
| voyages to India had never found themselves in such
! extremity. AU cried for mercy; the Catholics con
fessed, to prepare themselves for death ; enmities were
changed into affectionate reconcUiations ; those who
previously hated one another embraced, and all begged
forgiveness of each other. Several ships foundered,
among others that which had on board her Majesty's
chapel, in which there was a fine piece of the true cross,
and the goods and clothes of the gentlemen and ladies.
The ships which carried the horses were aU lost, with
the carriages, the grooms, and other servants.
In this great disaster, the Queen, as devout as she
was generous, had recourse to Heaven, and implored
the aid of the Blessed Virgin, whom she had always
loved, and whose favourable assistance she had received
on several occasions. She made a vow to go on a pil
grimage to the church of Our Lady of Liesse, to found
in it certain masses in perpetuity, and to give it a silver
ship. After this vow, the wind lulled, the tempest
ceased, the sea became calm, the Queen arrived safe
in port, and repaired very soon afterwards to the

CHARLES THE FIRS'l^/ y 351
King, who received her with inexpressible joy and
satisfaction. The Capuchins who had remained in London during
the voyage of the Queen, their most dear mistress,
whose return they were continuaUy expecting, could
not receive the very agreeable tidings of her arrival
without transports of consolation. AU went to the
altar, to render their most humble thanks to God for it.
AU offered to him for this purpose the adorable sacrifice
of the mass; aU, with great joy and fervour, sang the
Te Deum ; and then conceived great hopes of seeing
their church again open to aU the Cathohcs, and the
holy rehgion flourish once more.
But, alas! deplorable circumstances ran counter to
these pious thoughts. The gentlemen of the Parha
ment, enraged at the return of the Queen, resolved to
carry things to the last extremity. They dreaded the
subtUty and address of that wise princess, could not
bear the faith put by the King in her prudent counsels,
were filled with animosity against her person, and with
furious hatred of the rehgion which she professed.
They knew that she had brought from Holland large
sums of money, aU sorts of arms and munitions of war,
and that a great number of brave officers and generous
soldiers had accompanied her and entered into her
service. They recollected that the outrages offered to
their King, their legitimate sovereign, were so atrocious,
that they could not expect any pardon from his
clemency, though it was extraordinary. They gave
orders, therefore, that the Queen's Capuchins, whom
they had doomed to imprisonment, should be removed
from Somerset House, their usual abode, and taken into
the city, there to be detained prisoners, tiU fresh orders.
As soon as this resolution was pronounced, the Puritans,
triumphing with joy, collected a furious band of officers,
soldiers, and other most malignant and determined per
sons that they could meet with, to come, they said, to
the ruin of the Papists, to the ruin and banishment of
the Capuchins, to the seizure of their provisions and
their goods, to the plunder of aU their houses. All this

352 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
being concluded on, unknown to the Capuchins, they
were much astonished to see aU at once their house
invested, their doors broken open with violence, their
rooms fuU of armed men, then provisions Carried off,
their furniture, for which they were indebted to the
liberality of the King of France, plundered, and them
selves seized by officers without pity.
France was then in the most profound peace with
England. The Capuchins lived in London by common'
consent of the two Crowns : they hved in great retire
ment, whoUy engaged in the duties of their profession.
They were not accused of any misdemeanour : nobody
had any complaint to make against them. If the Par
liament had agreed that they should leave England, and
had signified to them this resolution, though unjust and
violent, without reason, and contrary to the agreement
and alliance of the two Crowns, the Capuchins would
nevertheless have obeyed it, and would have gone : but,
without speaking to them about any arrest, without
giving them any notice, without saying a single word
to them, to send armed men against them, to break open
their doors, to use aU sorts of violence, to treat them as
the greatest criminals in the world, to seize their persons,
to pUlage their house, to enter their church insolently, to
commit aU sorts of impiety in it, to break in pieces the
confessionals, to demolish the altars, and — what my pen
cannot record without trembling — to vent their rage
upon Jesus Christ himself, in the mystery that demands
of us most love and reverence, to renew his painful
passion, to scourge a crucifix, and then break it in
pieces, pierce another with halberts ; in short, practise
cruelties which the greatest barbarians would hold in
abhorrence !
It was on Thursday in Passion week that the Parha
ment committed these strange violences and these hor
rible outrages. Monsieur the Duke d'Epernon, having
unfortunately faUen into disgrace with Cardinal Riche
lieu, had retired to London, whither Madame his wife
and MademoiseUe his daughter had come to seek him
and to stay with him. In compliance with an injunc-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 353
tion to be observed at Easter, they all desired to confess
and to receive the holy sacrament. On that day, I
have said that the chapel of the Capuchins was shut,
and that the Pope permits missionary priests to say
mass privately in the houses of the Catholics. Agree
ably to this power, Father Cyprien of Gamache, who
was confessor in ordinary to Monsieur, Madame, and
MademoiseUe d'Epernon, and their household, had been
requested to come in the morning secretly to their residen ce
to receive their confessions, to perforin the holy mass
there, to administer the holy sacrament to aU ; and, as the
Parliament had forbidden the Capuchins to leave the
place where they dwelt, in order that the Father should
not be seen, and come more safely, M. d'Epernon sent
a chair for him, in which he was brought.
No sooner had he finished the adorable sacrifice of
the mass, and administered the holy sacrament to all
present, than a man entered quite breathless to say that
the Capuchins were apprehended, that their doors had
been broken open, that their house was fuU of soldiers,
and a multitude of other persons, who made a tremendous
noise, were pouring forth aU sorts of abuse against
Papists, laughing at the Capuchins, taking away their
slender store of provision, and their furniture. These
dismal tidings rendered M. d'Epernon apprehensive that
his house might be invested and pillaged, if it was dis
covered that Father Cyprien was concealed in it: he
ordered him, therefore, to be carried in the chair to
Monsieur the ambassador of the King of Portugal, the
ambassador of the King of France not being then in
England. The Capuchins had received orders from the
King of France to remain in London, notwithstanding
the absence of the Queen, which lasted above a year ;
and, inasmuch as the strange injustice of the Parliament
had seized aU the revenues of the King, the Capuchins,
who cannot beg in those heretical countries, and who
had previously lived exclusively upon the alms of the
Queen, being unable to subsist, the Most Christian
King commanded his officers to furnish them with all
they had need of, and had even the goodness to write
VOL. II. A A

354 THF/COURT AND TIMES OF
to them, by the pen of Monsieur de Chavigny, Secre
tary of State.
At that time, you heard nothing talked of in London
but the ruin and desolation of the Catholics. They had
no longer any divine service ; the Queen's chapel was
shut up. They durst not now go, as formerly, to the
ambassador's : the vehement animosity of the Puritans
inflamed the people against them. Their house was
plundered, their goods were carried off; plots, designs,
enterprises, criminal correspondence, which they had
never thought of, were attributed to them. I recoUect
that a noted Puritan, inspired by the devfl, invented this
detestable trick to render them odious to the most mo
derate Protestants. He carried a packet which he said
be had found by accident, which was addressed to the
Parliament, and he recommended that it should be
opened. This packet contained a bloody handkerchief
and a letter, the tenour of which was that those who
should act against the Cathohcs would soon see their
shirts stained with their own blood, as the blood of
another had stained that handkerchief. Accursed, in
fernal, diabolical invention, which made innocence pass
for criminal, and which fiUed the Parliament with fury
against the poor Catholics, and against all that they
hold in veneration !
After England had emerged from the darkness of
paganism, to follow the light of the true faith, it made
such great progress in Christian perfection that it gave
to the Church militant an innumerable multitude of
most virtuous persons of all classes and conditions, and
to the Church triumphant many holy ecclesiastics,
bishops, doctors, priests, monks, seculars even of the
highest ranks, kings, queens, princes, princesses, mar-
quisses, earls, and the like. It displayed its piety in so
many churches, so many monasteries, so many sacred
edifices, which it planted in the most conspicuous and
public places, to keep up in the minds of the faithful a
respectful and affectionate memorial of him who sacri
ficed himself upon it, and who gave his blood and his

CHARLES THE FIRST. 355
life that we might live eternally with the angels in
Paradise. In the largest and most commercial street in London
called Jaipsaide [Cheapside], had been seen from time
immemorial an illustrious monument of the ancient and
fervent devotion of this kingdom — a lofty, rich, hand
some, gilt cross, wrought with extraordinary skUl, sur
rounded by statues or representations in relievo of the
twelve Apostles. Besides exhibiting to the eye the
adorable mystery of our redemption, it was a handsome
ornament and a noble antiquity to the city of London;
hence it had subsisted amid the most raging fury of
the heretics, amid the most vehement animosities against
the Catholics in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who had
declared herself a sworn enemy of the Romish Church,
whose faith she had nevertheless professed, and had
hved in it during her youth. She renounced it after
the death of Queen Mary, in order to possess a king
dom which did not belong to her,1 embraced the Pro
testant rehgion, inflicted dreadful cruelties upon the
Catholics, banished some, ruined others, had these be
headed, those strangled, threw them aU into deep afflic
tion, caused the execrable laws to which we have ad
verted to be enacted against them, was insatiable of the
blood of priests, for whom her satellites made strict
search everywhere, pardoning none, ripping up their
bellies, tearing out their bowels, cutting their bodies
into four quarters, and putting them afterwards upon
iron spikes, and setting them up on the gates of towns.
Although, however, she manifested so rancorous and so
strange a hatred against the Catholic religion, she never
suffered the beautiful cross in Jaipsaide [Cheapside] to
be touched ; on the contrary, she had some of the gild
ing repaired, which the course of several centuries had
effaced ; so that this rich monument of the very fervent
and commendable piety of the ancient English was not
merely suffered to stand, but was embellished during
the reign of that barbarous Queen. Her cruelties were
1 Here are a few mistakes : we are afraid the zeal of Pere Cyprien for his faith
outruns his regard for truth.
AA 2

356 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
not great enough to demohsh and ruin it ; for that the
raging fury of a regicide Parhament was required.
It would not suffer what the Queen had tolerated in a
good Spanish lady, a marchioness, a widow, and wealthy.
Having heard of the sanguinary persecutions to which
the Catholics were exposed in England; animated with
a holy zeal, she went thither, in the genuine spirh of
Christianity, to relieve the poor with the riches which
God had bestowed on her, and to suffer with the perse
cuted. Her alms to the needy were very extensive;
and, to draw upon herself every kind of contempt, con
fusion, and insult by a virtuous act of rehgion, she did
honour publicly to the great cross of Jaipsaide [Cheap-
side], prostrating herself before an innumerable con
course of people, who loaded her with abuse, pelted her
with mud and stones, hustled her, struck her.
The generous marchioness took pleasure in this ig
nominious and dangerous treatment, and by so holy an
example, she animated the Cathohcs to endure suffering,
and accused the insolence and the cruelty of the Pro
testants. To prevent similar circumstances, and to
abolish in England all Catholic marks of religion, the
rebel Parliament, surpassing in its fury the diabohcal
animosity of its most passionate heretical predecessors,
ordered that noble cross to be pulled down, demolished,
laid level, with the statues of the twelve Apostles, which
were around it. The Puritans, triumphing in this ac
cursed decree, carried it immediately into execution.
The report of this proceeding spread throughout the
whole city of London ; people thronged to the spot from
aU quarters : drums and trumpets were sent for ; ladders
were raised against the cross.
The first whom fury urged to mount, drew upon
himself a just punishment for his sacrilegious outrage,
' by a faU upon the iron spikes surrounding the statues
of the Apostles, which pierced the body of the wretched
man, and put an end to his life.1 This fatal example,
which ought to have made the others tremble, rendered
them neither more timid nor less furious, attributing
1 This incident appears to have escaped the chroniclers of the times.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 357
the accident to chance, and not to the effect of the
divine justice, which avenged the criminal hardihood
of that man transported with passion. They therefore
mounted the ladder after him, put ropes about the cross
and the necks of the Apostles, which were pulled by a
number of men with such violence, as to drag all of
them down one after another. When their fury had
succeeded in puUing clown and smashing one, shouts of
joy were raised, the drums beat, and the trumpets
flourished, as for the gain of a great victory, or the
taking of a town. These outrages to the images of the
servants were transferred to those of the master, from
the figures of the Apostles to the cross of Jesus Christ :
and, without considering that he had so loved it that he
had chosen it and bathed it with his precious blood;
that he submitted to be attached to it ; that his disciple
St. Andrew honoured it, respected it, as being sancti
fied by the precious death of his dear Master; in short,
that it was the noble instrument of our salvation —
stifling aU these holy and true thoughts, tliose men,
transported with rage, pulled down that beautiful and
ancient cross; they sapped it at the foot, demolished
and razed it so completely that not a vestige of it was
left. Then the drums redoubled their rolling, the
trumpets their notes of gladness, the people their shouts,
their rejoicings, their hooting, their mockeries, their
abuse, their revuiugs against the Catholics, whom they
caUed Papists, idolaters, cursed race, servants of Anti
christ. It seemed as though it had been a representation of
the things that were seen at the death of our Saviour,
when aU sorts of abuse were heaped upon him, when
he was reproached with having saved others and being
unable to save himself. " Look," said they, " at that
man, who boasted that he would destroy the Temple and
rebuUd it in the space of three days." Some wagged their
heads, out of the great contempt which they entertained
for his person; others laughed at him as a cheat and
impostor, and, without being touched even slightly by
the horrible torments which he was suffering, said that

358 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
his crimes had deserved them, that the scourgings, the
thorns, the nails, which had covered his whole body with
blood, were a just pumshment for his offences : whfle
his apostles and his disciples kept concealed, for the fear
which had seized them deterred them from appearing.
You would say that these impieties were transferred
from the original to the figure. The Jews abhorred
Jesus Christ as an impious wretch; the cross was a
scandal to those furious heretics, who regarded it as an
object of abhorrence. The Catholics, who hold it in
veneration, were by them reputed idiots, idolaters, dolts.
Not satisfied with holding them up to derision, they
loaded them with all sorts of contumely, particularly on
account of the worship which they paid to this blessed
instrument of our salvation. The Jews mocked Jesus
Christ ; they hooted him, wagged their heads in scorn ;
these heretics did the same by the cross. Jesus Christ
was scourged by the Jews, and the cross outraged by
the heretics. The Jews represented Jesus Christ as an
impostor, and these heretics say that the cross was a
false sign of piety and an imposture of devotion. Mount
Calvary rang with the noise of the confused voices and
clamour of the people, saying, "Let him die! let him
be crucified !" and in the great street of Jaipsaide [Cheap-
side], one of the highest in London, strange cries of an
infinity of voices said, " Let the cross be thrown down,
ruined, demolished, completely razed!" Exinanite, ex-
inanite, usque ad fundamentum !
The Puritans, having so unhappily but so fully suc
ceeded in their pernicious design, transported with joy,
puffed up with pride, set about nothing less than exter
minating aU the Catholics in England, and abolishing
their very name, beginning with the Queen's Capu
chins. The shop -boys, whom they caU 'prentices, are
very numerous there ; they raised them, and instigated
them to go to Parliament to the number of three thou-
1 sand, petitioning that the Capuchins should be expelled
from England. Those Fathers heard every day nothing
but threats of death, and expected no other than that
fatal effects would ensue. They went several times in

CHARLES THE FIRST. 359
a body before the altar of their church, that they might
be slaughtered there all together, not by order of Par
liament, but by the fury of the people and of the 'pren
tices, animated, as I have said, by the strong solicitations
of the Puritans. To escape these sanguinary threats, the
Capuchins concealed themselves in a secret place in the
Queen's house. After consulting together, and dis--
covering that their death was sought only out of hatred
to the Catholic religion, they generously offered them
selves to suffer, very glad to die in so good a cause ;
but this divine Providence did not permit. According
to the decree of the Parliament, they were taken from
Somerset House into the city, where they were kept in
prison for a month, and, by another decree, banished
from the kingdom of England and sent back to France,
being, for this purpose, put on board a ship, which car
ried them to Calais.
It was already more than nine months that the Queen
had been with the King, her husband, by whom she be
came pregnant, soon after her return from HoUand.
The time for her lying-in being near at hand, she re
solved to pass it in the city of Exeter, where she was
happUy delivered of the Princess Henrietta Anne, who
was married to Philip of Bourbon, only brother of the
King of France, and Duke of Orleans. The favourable
issue of this accouchement gave great joy, but it did
not last long; for, the army of the Parliament being
not far off, and preparing to besiege the city, the Queen,
who knew it, was obliged, a fortnight after her delivery,
to leave her new-born infant to the mercy of her furious
enemies, to retire precipitately on board a ship, weak
and iU as she was, to expose herself to the tempests of
the sea, and to seek in France, her dear, native land, a
sweet and secure asylum from the rage and persecution
of her subjects.
On her passage, this afflicted princess was several
times at the point of death, from extreme weakness,
from violent apprehensions for her infant, abandoned to
the fury of those tigers, and from a very serious and
distressing accident, which divine Providence permitted

360 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
to try the firmness of her courage, and to heighten her
virtues. The Parliament, which had possessed itself of
aU the King's forces, had given the command of the
fleet to a cruel enemy of the King's. He weighed anchor
at the moment of the Queen's embarkation, and, crowding
all sail, pursued her ship, but was not able to overtake
her, otherwise he would have made prize of her, as he
designed and attempted to do, when her Majesty was
returning from Plolland to England ; for then his rage
rose to such a pitch that he ordered his guns to be fired,
for the purpose of destroying the Queen and the crews
of her ships, but God reserved her for other sufferings.
In all her travels by sea and land, she always had
two Capuchins about her. In passing from England to
Holland and from HoUand to England, the fury of the
tempests, by which several of her ships were lost, and
the unwholesome air of the sea, made her attendants so
sick and weak that not one of them was able to wait
upon her. The Reverend Father Jean Marie Treston,
who was then with her, rendered her aU the services
which she had previously received from twenty or thirty
different persons. Having been a Knight of Malta,
much at sea, his constitution had become so habituated
to a naval life, that he received no inconvenience from
it, and employed his health in charitably assisting aU
the sick, and particularly the Queen, for which she after
wards returned him many thanks, and of which she
liked to talk to the King, to the gentlemen and ladies,
and to the persons of quality who came to see her.
I have related above that this good Father had refused
an illustrious marriage, renounced a large fortune, and
relinquished high honours and expectations to embrace
the cross and to foUow Jesus Christ in his poverty, his
sufferings, and his humUity, in the Order of the Capu
chins. Ever since he had taken the habit, he had so
conducted himself that his holy life was an exemplar of
the noblest virtues, which made him appear a genuine
imitator and disciple of our Seraphic Father, St.
Francis. He had an extraordinary affection for the most
Blessed Virgin, recurred to her in all his necessities,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 361
fasted every Saturday in honour of her, and never
passed a day without addressing some prayers to her.
God, being pleased to reward his good services, visited
him with a severe Alness soon after the persecution of
the Parhament had forced the Queen to seek refuge in
France. As soon as he found himself attacked by the
disorder which at last laid him in the grave, he relin
quished the secular habit which he wore with the per
mission of the Pope, resumed with joy the dress of Capu
chin, endured his violent pains with admirable patience
and resignation, expressed the greatest sorrow for his
offences, begged pardon of aU his brethren, received
most devoutly the Holy Sacrament and extreme unction,
and passed happUy from this miserable life to a better.
Father Cyprien of Gamache took his place by order^
of his Superiors and by the good pleasure of the Queen
who desired to have him about her. Accordingly, he
attended her in aU her journeys : wherever she went, in
France or hi England, wherever she abode in the royal
residences in France, at St. Germain en Laye, at the
Louvre, at the Palais Royal, at the chateau of Colombe,
he paid her respectfuUy aU the assiduities which she
desired of him, and scarcely a day passed without his
seeing her in private, agreeably to the order which he
had received from her own lips, to converse with her on
subjects of devotion which that pious Princess sought
with the more evident ardour, the more the convulsions
of her kingdom convinced her by fatal experience of
the instability of honours, wealth, grandeur, pleasure,
of aU earthly things, and caused her also to regard
them only with disgust. It was devotion that engaged
her whole heart, and that inspired her with the thought
of speedUy fulfilling the vow which she had made at
sea to Our Lady of Liesse. As soon as she had landed
and arrived in France, she commissioned one of the most
eminent goldsmiths of Paris to make her a beautiful
ship of sflver, complete in aU its parts, wrought with
the utmost perfection of which his art was capable.
The goldsmith received her Majesty's order, with great
submission and joy, commenced the work without delay,

362 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
and in some weeks, having finished it, he carried it to
the Queen, who put it into the hands of the Capuchins,
ordering them to go and offer it in her name in the
church of Our Lady of Liesse, tiU inconveniences
should cease to prevent her from performing the pil
grimage herself. The Capuchins, honoured by this
commission, executed it forthwith. Six of her Majesty's
Capuchins, who had then returned to France, carried
this present to offer it to God and to Our Lady in the
chapel of Liesse, celebrating the holy mass in thanks
giving for the preservation of the Queen, and then put
into the hands of the Treasurer this present, with the
foUowing inscription :
Authori Perpetuae Laetitiae.
Henrica Maria, Regum Gallia? Henrici quarti filia,
Ludovici XIII. Soror, Regis Britanniarum Caroli primi
uxor, quod e Batavia rediens, gravissimis j aetata tem-
pestatibus, quibus demersae sunt aliquot in ejus conii-
tatu naves, incolumis in Angliam appulerit, votivam
navem argenteam posuit. Orans.
Componat tumidas animosa Britannia turbas,
Ut gravis insani concidit ha maris.
Votum.
Hanc Domino ponit Christo Christique parenti
Sospes ab Oceano Regina Britannica navem,
Et vovet insanas sic oderit Angliae turbas
Ut Pelagi fluctus voto cessere praecantibus.
Patres Capucini Serenissima? Reginaa cum eleemosinis,
concionibus, et sacro ministerio, hoc clementissimum
donum haec in aedes laatitiae detulerunt 4° Man, an. 1664.
Letter of the Queen of England to Monseigneur the
Bishop of Laon.
Monsieur the Bishop of Laon, — I have been informed
of the attention which you have paid to the reception
of a httle offering which the Capuchin Fathers have
brought on my behalf to Our Lady of Liesse, as a token

CHARLES THE FIRST. 363
of gratitude for having been preserved from shipwreck,
through the goodness of our Lord and through the
intercession of his most holy Mother, in a tempest
which befel me last year at sea. Having also purposed
to found a mass to be said every Saturday in the year
for ever in the said chapel, I have ordered at the same
thne whatever is necessary to this end to be delivered,
so that there is nothing further to be done than to draw
up a contract. For this purpose, I send a Capuchin, one
of my almoners, with power to do all that shall be
needful on this occasion, promising myself that, as you
have already taken some pains about this good work,
you wUl continue to bestow such as are in your power
and authority for terminating it, to the glory of God
and to the honour of the most holy Virgin, and as a
perpetual token of my gratitude to both. This is what
I request of you, till I come in person to pay my vows
in the said chapel, when I shall express how much I am
obliged to you for everything. I pray God to have you
in his keeping. Your good friend,
Henriette Marie R.
Monsieur the Bishop of Laon,
at St. Germain en Laye, 7th September, 1644.
Letters of Monsieur the Treasurer and Monsieur the
Receiver of the Chapel of Our Lady of Liesse.
I, the undersigned, Canon of Laon, and Treasurer in
the chapel of Our Lady of Liesse, certify that I have
received the sum of fifteen hundred livres from the
Queen of England in the chapel of Liesse, at the charge
of having low mass performed on the Saturday in every
week for ever, promising that a contract to this effect
shaU be drawn up as soon as possible in the needful
form. Done at Laon, the 8th of July, 1664.
A. Le Voivier.
We, the undersigned, Masters and Receivers of the
Bishop of Laon, certify that Monsieur Le Voivier,
Canon of Laon, and Treasurer of the chapel of Liesse,
put into the chest of Our Lady of Laon, in our pre-

364 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
sence, the sum of fifteen hundred livres, given by the
Queen of England, at the charge of celebrating, ac
cording to her intention, low mass in the chapel of
Liesse every week on Saturday. Done 8th of July, 1644.
Marquet. De Ponty. Perrin. Aubert.
Now that the life of the Queen of England is out of
danger in France, let us return in spirit and in thought
to England, to witness there the bloody death of the
priests, executed during and after her departure. The
fury of the abominable Parliament was excessive, not
only against its mild and lawful King, against his
amiable Queen, against his whole royal house, but also
against the English priests. AU that the detestable
laws had formerly enacted against them was renewed.
The pursuivants, who are vicious men and mostly
apostates, who knew the priests, went and ransacked
Cathohc houses in quest of them, for the purpose of
seizing and dragging them to prison and the gibbet.
When convicted of being priests, either by their own
confession or the deposition of witnesses, without being
guflty or even accused, the judge immediately sentenced
them to that kind of death, which the hangman did not
in general execute tiU three or four days after appre
hension. During the whole time of their imprisonment,
the Capuchins, disguised so that they could not be
known, went to render them spiritual and corporeal
assistance, to the utmost of their slender abihty. Several
Cathohcs did the like, especiaUy hi the two, three, or
, four days which intervened between apprehension and
1 death. The money which they gave to the gaoler had
two effects : it opened the prison-doors freely to them,
and closed that of the priests' room, so that the exer-
jcises of religion practised could neither be seen nor
known. For the priests said mass there, heard confes
sions, administered to the people the adorable sacra
ment in then disguise. Father Cyprien of Gamache,
and Father Sebastien of Bar sur Seine, passed the night
before their martyrdom with them, received images
signed by their own blessed hands, with the promise of
their prayers, confessed to them, heard their masses,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 365
took the sacrament from their hands, said with them the
litanies of the most Holy Virgin, of aU the Saints, and
many other prayers, to thank God for the great favours
which he bestowed upon them, and to obtain from his
bounty the especial grace to die hohly, for his glory.
Thus prepared, these faithful and generous warriors
left the prison, found at the door a hurdle upon which
they were required to seat themselves, and then the horse
moved away, drawing them to the place where they
were to be sacrificed. The Capuchins foUowed them,
and, mingling unknown among the multitude of the
people, stayed till the conclusion of the sanguinary
tragedy. The priests, on arriving at the place of execu
tion, kept upon their hurdles, spoke standing to the
people, prayed to God, thanked him aloud for the favour
which he conferred on them to die for so good a cause,
said that they were not condemned for any crime which
they had committed, though they acknowledged them
selves great sinners, but solely because they were in
vested with the character of priests, which in past ages
had been venerable in England, offered prayers to God
for the King and for his whole kingdom, forgave, from
their heart, for their death, the judges who had unjustly
condemned them, declared boldly that the Catholic,
Apostohc, and Romish rehgion was the only true one,
and that it was necessary to live and die iu it in order
to be saved.
The officer of justice who is present, and presides at
this fatal tragedy, imposed sUence upon them, and made
them get up into a large cart, where there were several
criminals. An unknown priest, who was in the crowd,
then gave them the last absolution, after an act of con
trition communicated to the priest by a sign previously
agreed upon between them ; for instance, lifting up the
hands, or stooping the head. MeanwhUe, the executioner
put the ropes about their necks, did the same to the
other criminals, fastened them to the gallows, and, the
cart drawing off, they were left hanging. Without
weighing upon them, or using any other violence, they
were thus left till they were half strangled, and, the

366 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
priests being only half dead, the executioner cut the
rope, placed them on the ground, stripped them of their
clothes, cut off what decency forbids to be named,
ripped open their bellies, tore out the bowels, separatmg
the heart, which he held up to the people, crying aloud,
" This is the heart of a traitor." He then threw the
parts and bowels into a great fire, which was burning
there. At last, to conclude this bloody tragedy, he cut
the body into four parts, which were afterwards exposed
on the point of iron spikes upon London Bridge.
The Cathohcs present at this horrible sight mani
fested unexampled fervour, dipping white cloths in the
innocent blood of these generous martyrs. They ex
posed themselves to aU sorts of dangers, in order to save
from the fire their hearts, or some other part of their
entraUs, which they kissed, honoured, and preserved as
sacred relics. The Capuchins brought away several
which their zeal rescued from the flames ; one of them
was on the point of bemg despatched by the crowd ; when,
seeing a condemned priest arrive, in a wonderful trans
port, he went and embraced him, kissed him, and took
him by the coUar, to draw him away, and so preserve
him most carefuUy. Instantly several cried out, " A
priest ! a priest !" which is a crime of State punishable
with death in this unhappy country. At this outcry
he was obliged to loose his hold, and quickly buried
himself in the crowd with such address that he
escaped. In the first persecution which the detestable Parha
ment caused against the Catholics, two priests were
apprehended and declared priests, one upon his own
avowal, the other upon the declaration of witnesses : one
was a friar of St. Benedict, the other a secular priest.
Both were sentenced to be dragged upon a hurdle,
hanged, drawn, and quartered, and then set up on
spikes erected on London Bridge. This sentence,
though cruel, was so agreeable to the friar, that he
expressed excessive joy upon it. The secular priest,
led by another way, was not in the same sentiments.
He did all he could to obtain his pardon and his release

CHARLES THE FIRST. 367
from this dreadful kind of death. On the eve of the
day appointed for the execution, while we were at table
in the prison taking a light supper, the person em-*
ployed to obtain the pardon arrived, and said aloud
that neither pardon nor favour was to be expected;
that the Parhament was determined to put to death five
priests who were prisoners, notwithstanding the pardon
which the clemency of the King had granted them
(his Majesty had promised not to grant any more, pro
vided that the Parliament did not put to death those
who had received that favour from his bounty), that
now they must make up their minds and prepare for
death. The priest, hearmg these tidings, of which he was
forewarned by extraordinary favour, was totaUy changed.
Death, of which he had previously entertained such
dread, now seemed desirable ; what he had before found
bitter was in an instant rendered delicious, to our
great astonishment. The joy which he felt could not
be repressed, to such a degree did his heart overflow in
these words of transport: "AU for the best," said he,
" 'tis aU for the best : we wfll die to-morrow for the
cause of Jesus Christ. Ah ! what a favour ! how un
worthy am I of it ! I receive it purely from thy merits,
O my Saviour!" And then, looking at us, "My
Fathers," said he, " let us all together address our
prayers to him, to thank him for this signal mercy,
which ought to rejoice us. Let us then enjoy our
selves;" and putting his hand into his pocket, "Here,"
said he to an attendant, "take this money, and fetch
us some Spanish wine." This was done immediately.
AU the conversation, during the remainder of supper,
was on cheerful subjects mixed with holy rejoicing.
Very soon after we had supped and returned thanks to
God, one of us commenced the vocal prayers, which
were continued alternately with the mental, tiU day
break. These good priests then celebrated the holy
mass one after the other, and both offered themselves
to the Eternal Father in sacrifice with the adorable
sacrifice of the body and blood of his Son Jesus Christ.

368 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
We received the communion from their sacred hands,
after receiving from their lips absolution from our sins
at the tribunal of penitence. So they went generously
and cheerfully to suffer the barbarous punishment ex
pressed in their sentence. We had the happiness to
follow them, and to witness their great courage and
their exceeding zeal to die for the faith.
Another priest, fiUed with holy resolution, who, in
the heat of martyrdom, was inspired by the Holy
Ghost, surprised the officer of justice by a praiseworthy
subtilty, in order to proclaim to the innumerable con
course of people there present the falseness of the Pro
testant rehgion, which they professed, and to show that
the Catholic was the only true Church, the high esteem
which he felt for it, his unshaken resolution, and his
great joy in dying in it, in yielding his life and blood
in defence of a cause so just, so noble, and so excel
lent. This generous soldier of Jesus Christ, being at
the place of execution, the rope round his neck ready
to be tied to the gallows, looking round upon the
people, and fixing his eyes upon him who presided on
this tragic occasion, " Sir," said he, " here am I con
demned to die for no crime that I have committed
against the King and against the State, but merely for
having said mass in the quahty of priest. It is true
that death is very frightful in itself, and capable of
striking terror into the stoutest hearts ; still your de
cree obliges me to undergo it because I am a Cathohc
and a priest ; but, sir, if I were now to renounce the
Catholic rehgion and to turn Protestant, what would be
done with me?" "I swear," rephed the president,
" that not only shaU your sentence not be carried into
effect, but that you shah be exempted from that igno
minious and bloody death, aU the preparations for
which are before your eyes, but with life, which is the
best gift of Nature, you shall be recompensed with
some good hving."
This was what the priest expected ; not that he might
avaU himself of it according to the intention of the
President, but to render his proposal and his Protestant

CHARLES THE FIRST. 369
religion ridiculous, to dissuade the people from it, and
to dispose them to the Catholic religion ; for, on this
flattering answer of the President, the priest, animated
with the spirit of the Holy Ghost, raising his voice,
said in a loud and very grave tone, to the whole
assembly, " Gentlemen, you have heard the very ad
vantageous offer made to me ; you see that it depends
only upon myseU' not to die here quitting the Cathohc
rehgion; you have heard that I have been promised
both life, and recompence, and living, in the Protestant
religion : but, no ; it is not a religion ; it is only a sect
of which Luther and Calvin were the first authors.
There is no other rehgion but the Cathohc, Apostolic,
and Roman ; it is the only true religion, founded by
Jesus Christ, cemented by the precious blood of an in
numerable host of martyrs, confirmed by an infinity of
miracles ; it was in this faith that our ancestors lived
and died, (the Enghsh of past ages) and it is in it and
for it that, by the grace of God, I shaU rejoice to die."
These words, uttered with very great fervour, as
tonished aU the people, greatly rejoiced the Catholics,
deeply touched some Protestants, covered the President
with shame and confusion, and in a furious rage he
ordered the executioner to hang up that wretched
traitor, as he caUed him, and to execute the rest of the
sentence, which was accordingly done.1
The death of these good priests being founded only
on the Catholic religion, the truth of which they sted-
fastly defended, there was not one of the faithful but
believed them to be real martyrs. Under this firm
persuasion, the ambassador of Portugal, who was then
in London, urged by a holy zeal, ardently desired to
have the head of one of those whom I have just spoken
of. To this end, he sent for the hangman who had ex
ecuted them, treated secretly with him concerning the
matter, agreed for a very considerable sum of money,
one half of which he paid down immediately, and pro
mised him the remainder on his bringing that blessed
i I have not been able to discover any corroboration of this: or of the equally
incredible statements which it precedes.
VOL. II. B B

370 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
head. What do you think the hangman did? — why, a
real hangman's trick. He found to his thinking the
execution of this affair easy by the foUowing expe
dient. That same day a Protestant who had died was
buried. At night, after dark, the hangman dug him
up, cut off his head, put the body back into the coffin,
covered it with earth, as before, carried the head so cut
off to London Bridge, where was the priest's head stuck
on the top of an iron spike, climbed up to remove that
precious head and to put that of the Protestant in its
place, that the fraud might not be discovered, and that
nobody might perceive it : but his inhuman covetous-
ness was punished, for, being very high and striving to
accomplish his bloody design, he fell heavily upon the
pavement, which bruised his whole body, and very
narrowly missed faUing into the river Thames : the
earth from which he had taken the dead refusing to
receive him, the element of water desiring to stifle him
for his cruelties. So this wretched man, bruised, half
killed, and unable to walk, had great difficulty to crawl
to the ambassador, to withdraw his promise, saying
that, while endeavouring to reach the head of the priest,
he had been on the point of losing his own, and that
he had lost much more than he had gained by his bar
gain, for he had only gained a trifle of money, and lost
the sound health of his contused body.
A pursuivant, as cruel as this executioner, was more
clever than he in his wickedness. I have said that
those who are caUed in England pursuivants are in
famous persons, most of them priests, friars, Catholics,
apostates, blasphemers, in short, extremely vicious men,
armed, nevertheless, with commissions for maltreating
the Cathohcs to discover where mass is said, for im
prisoning those who attend it, for extorting money from
them, and, above aU, for hanging priests.
One of these pursuivants, travelling in the country,
feU in by the way with a priest in plain clothes, whom
he took for a layman. He saluted him very civiUy,
inquired whither he was going, and, having learned this
by the answer, he expressed great joy, because he should

CHARLES TIIK FIRST. 371
have the honour of his company, as business called him
to the same place. Thus they proceeded together.
They con versed about passing events, about the different
religions in England — Quakers, Papists, Independents,
Brownists, Protestants ; and in these conversations the
priest, being upon his guard, was very reserved, and
said nothing that could betray his character. This
reserve caused the pursuivant to suspect that this man,
so modest and so retiring, might possibly be a priest.
He strove to discover him, put several questions, which
the priest answered so adroitly that he left nothing for
the pursuivant to lay hold of.
At night they went to a tavern, and supped together.
After supper, the pursuivant retired to his bed, and,
affecting to be a Catholic, in order to catch the priest,
he took from his pocket a long chaplet, muttering as if
he was praying. The priest, seeing him in this apparent
devotion, believed him to be a Catholic, and, rejoicing
at this meeting, he took out his breviary, which he kept
concealed. This was what the pursuivant expected.
Next morning he had his companion thrown into a
dismal prison. Ingenious but diabolical artifice of this
wicked man, who in this manner surprised, imprisoned,
and caused the death of several good priests. After so
many crimes, could you ever have conceived what was
to happen to him? Infinite mercy of God, how admir
able art thou ! This persecutor of the Catholics, being
forestaUed by mighty grace, turned Catholic, and died
penitent. It is likely that the priests whom he had
martyred on earth, obtained for him this signal favour
in heaven !
At this same time, a young English lady, to whom I
was confessor, manifested such wonderful zeal and
courage for religion, that she was apprehended, and put
in prison, through the infamous treachery of her maid
servant, who received some money from the Puritans to
accuse her of having harboured a priest in her house,
and having permitted him to say mass. The judge knew
her, and was anxious to find means from her answers
not to be obliged to pass sentence of death upon her.
b b2

372 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
" I am greatly astonished," said he, " that a young
lady like you, of noble birth, and possessing abundance
of good sense, should amuse yourself with the super
stitions of the Papists, and attach yourself to them."
" And I, sir," answered she, " am much more as
tonished that you, who are a scholar, a man of learning,
who know that the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman
religion has flourished so much in England, and supplied
heaven with so many saints in the course of several cen
turies — you, who cannot be ignorant that the religion
which you profess is not a religion, but a new sect un
known to our ancestors — I am astonished that you
should follow it, forsaking the true faith of aU our
ancient fathers."
The judge, confused at this reply, heard by two or
three hundred persons, rejoined: "We are not here,
madam, to resolve these questions, and to enter into
controversies, but to examine if you are criminal or not.
It is not within the sphere of women to be acquainted
with the laws. You know not that our laws condemn
to death all who harbour English priests in their
houses." " Begging your pardon," answered the lady, " I know
that well enough. I heard it mentioned long ago, for I
had the happiness to be brought up a Catholic. I was
told of that unjust law in my childhood."
" In that case," rejoined the judge, "you ought to
speak with more respect of the laws of this kingdom.
You are somewhat ruffled : one must excuse your little
effusion of anger." And, endeavouring to save her, and
to find the means of doing so in the innocence of her
words—" Confess frankly," said he, " that you knew not
that he whom you harboured in your house was a priest."
Had she said "No," as the judge desired, and as he
had made an opening for her to do, he would have sent
her back without condemning her. She ardently wished
to die for so good a cause, wherefore she boldly answered
that she well knew the man already condemned to be a
priest, that she had received him under that quality,
and that, if it were to do again, she would do the same.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 373
She sought death, from which the judge was desirous
to exempt her. He employed all sorts of devices to
save her, and she exercised innocent assiduity to die.
Accordingly, aU these depositions obliged the judge to
pass sentence of death upon her, condemning her to be
hung, which is the usual punishment for all persons,
both gentle and simple, in England.
This wished-for sentence gave great satisfaction to
the servant of the young lady, who returned quite
joyous to prison. One thing only caused her uneasi
ness : this was a very young child, a boy, whom she left
destitute of fortune and assistance. I recommended
him to the Duchess of Epernon, who was then in
London, and whom I knew to be very charitable. At
my request, she received the child into her house, and
undertook to brmg him up and provide for him. This
good news wonderfuUy cheered the condemned lady,
who was immediately relieved from her uneasiness, and
gave a thousand blessings to Madame d'Epernon. Thus
feeling in her heart an internal ease and peace, she
forgot all earthly things, and employed the little time
she had left in holy preparations for death. She could
not thank God sufficiently for the inuumerable blessings
which she had received from his bounty, and particu
larly for the signal favour to be condemned for the
defence of the true faith and of the true religion. She
made a general confession, begged earnestly to be en-
roUed in the proud Order of our Seraphic Father^ St.
Francis; she retained the habit which she gloried in
being invested with, and wearing outwardly as weU as
inwardly, at execution.
She passed the preceding night in prayer, was present
at the adorable sacrifice of the mass, and, to strengthen
herself by the heavenly nourishment of the body and
blood of Jesus Christ, she received the holy communion.
Morning being come, she took the money she had left,.
and put some pieces into her pocket to give to the exe
cutioner who was to perform for her the good office of
putting her to death for so just a cause and on so noble an.
occasion. Her heart was filled with joy at the thought

374 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
that, Jesus Christ, her Lord and her God, having died
for her, the greatest felicity that could befal her in this
life was to die for him. Li this holy disposition, the
cart which was to convey her to the place of execution
having arrived, she got into it cheerfully. The horse,
which we followed, did not go so fast as she wished, so
strongly did she deshe to suffer immediately. That
desire, however, was not fulfilled, through a particular
mercy of the Providence of God, who, satisfied with her
good-wUl, and her sincere resolution to sacrifice her dear
Isaac, would not permit this bloody resolution to be ac
complished : He, therefore, prevented Isaac from being
sacrificed. As the cart approached the place appointed for the
death of the criminals, the judge, who followed, mounted
on a fine horse, ordered the driver to stop; and the
lady, apprehending that she should be prevented from
dying, cried, " Come, driver, come along, I wiU give
you a crown." The driver was obhged to obey the
judge, and to set the lady down at the prison which she
had just left — a circumstance incomparably more dis
tressing and painful than death could have been was it,
in her eyes, to be sent back, and left there for a long
time ; but she left it at last, and died holily a natural
death, at the time of the last voyage of the Queen of
England. The devU, who has always been the ape of God, see
ing him highly honoured in the Catholic religion by the
holy and generous martyrs whom it gave to him, so
bestirred himself, and was so active, that the heresy of
which he is the author sacrificed others to him, as the
following incidents show. It is wonderful to see in
England the number of different sects, which all boast
of following the genuine doctrine of Jesus Christ, and
which, nevertheless, attack, and are at irreconcnable
enmity with one another. We have made frequent
mention of the Protestants and the Puritans, who,
among these sects, form the two most considerable
bodies, and are the most inveterate each against the other.
As they profess contrary creeds, and are obstinately

CHARLES THE FIRST. 375
attached to them, there is no violence that they do not
employ hi defence of them. The Protestants manifest
the greater moderation of the two ; but the outbreaks of
the Puritans are extraordinary. This war of religion
rages not only between province and province, but be
tween town and town, between family and famUy,
between servant and servant, between sister and sister,
between brother and brother, of the same sect. If these
differences did but terminate in mere disputes, in alter
cations, in words — but they go beyond threatening
words and outrageous abuse, to cruel, barbarous, and
sanguinary acts. Here is an instance.
Two brothers in the country, who woidd not be mar
ried, dwelt in the house of their mother, who was a
widow, and lived respectably upon the produce of a
farm which belonged to them. One of these brothers
was a zealous Puritan, the other a moderate one. Con
versing one day about the time, manner, and posture in
which the sacrament ought to be taken, they were of
totaUy different opinions. The zealous Puritan boasted
that he foUowed pure Scripture ; insisted that the Lord's
Supper should be taken as the Apostles took it. The
other said that there was no obligation to foUow aU that
had been done in the observance of this sacrament; that
the zealous Puritans, who piqued themselves on being
so rigid in the observance of all things, did not practise
it, since our Lord had held what is caUed his supper
with the Apostles, in the evening after supper, and they
take it in the morning before dinner. He added that
this sacrament requires of us respect, devotion, rever
ence, both inward and outward ; consequently, it ought to
be received kneeling, not sitting. He adhered firmly to
this argument, pressed it strongly, and several times the
other had nothing to reply, grew warm, flew into a pas
sion, instead of answers poured forth abuse ; at length,
in a furious rage, he used most outrageous language,
stormed, and threatened. His eyes flashed, he foamed
at the mouth, he could not brook being conquered.
Boning with rage, he meditated revenge, and employed
his hands to obtain what his understanding could not

376 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
gain for him. He imagined that it was making a sacri
fice to God to remove from the wTorld a man so opposed
to his word, and resolved to render him that pitUess
service. He made up his mind to this sanguinary deed,
and determined to be the executioner of his own brother.
Abominable resolution, which he carried into effect
with savage ferocity.
He armed himself with a large and very sharp knife,
went in quest of his brother, crept softly into his room,
looked about, perceived him. He approached him, and,
favourably for his design, found him asleep. Rejoicing
that easily and without resistance he could procure him
an everlasting slumber, and send him into the other
world, he grasped the knife, he lifted his arm to cut his
throat, wounded him, and raised shrieks which reached
the ears of his mother. She could not conceive what
was the matter, and ran in great haste to the place
whence the noise proceeded, to ascertain. When she
reached it, O God, what a sight met her eyes ! She
beheld one of her sons dying, drowned in his blood ; the
other furious, foaming with rage, holding the great
knife in his hand, distained with the blood of his poor
expiring brother, which he had shed.
The heart of the mother was rent with grief; her
strength failed her, and she fainted. Recovering,
after some time, from her swoon, and eyeing the
fratricide with affrighted looks, " Ah, villain !" she
cried, " what hast thou done, wretch that thou art?
Thou hast kflled my son ; rage and fury have made thee
the butcher of thine own brother ! What ! imbrue thy
cruel hands in his innocent blood! Go, abominable
murderer; begone from my presence, and never let me
see thee more ! When I produced thee, it was not a
human being that I brought into the world, but a mon
ster, a lion, or a tiger. Would to God that thou hadst
never existed, or that death had stifled thee at the
moment of thy birth !"
The proud murderer, unable to brook these reproaches,
threw off all respect, and renounced all the feelings of
Nature; his raging fury, burning more violently than

CHARLES THE FIRST. 377
before, inspired his heart with the detestable resolution
to employ the weapon dripping with his brother's blood
to spiU that of his mother, and to put cruelly to death
her from whom he had received life. Accordingly,
gnashing his teeth, he went up to her, and, with a rage
more than savage, raised his arm and thrust the knife
into the body of her who had given him being, as if
fratricide had not been sufficient for his execrable
cruelty, without adding matricide to it. If we are to
judge of the tree by its fruit, who but must feel hoiror
of that obstinate and accursed adherence to one's own
opinion, which is inseparable from aU sorts of heresies,
and especiaUy the Puritan ! '
Here is another incident which happened nearly at
the same time, and shows the extraordinary aberrations
of that wretched sect, and the aversion which aU
genuine servants of God ought to entertain for it.
Several Calvinists, with their ministers, having met,
ordered a good supper to be provided for them. All
being ready, the dishes being upon the table, each took
his place, and the minister at the upper end: after
some conversation on indifferent matters, the principal
persons, keeping their glasses well filled, drank to the
minister, and then fell to drinking to the health of one
another. Growing warm, they began to declaim against
the Papists; they were accused of superstition, railed
at, ridiculed on several points, particularly in relation
to the Lord's Supper. The minister, who was a shrewd
fellow, and glad to get a treat at the expense of the
others, took this occasion to say that their Reformation
was in truth a work of Heaven, but that it was not
wholly accomplished, in regard to the Lord's Supper.
To render that work perfect, everything that Christ
had done at the Lord's Supper ought to be precisely
observed. Every one applauded this notable idea : the
minister who originated it was warmly praised ; it was
even declared to be an inspiration of Heaven which
1 This narrative is about the most lamentable instance on record of the moral
blindness which religious bigotry will sometimes produce. Such atrocious murders,
if they had been perpetrated, would have filled the whole kingdom with horror.
Father Cyprien's zeal very far outruns his discretion here.

378 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
ought to be followed up and put into execution ; and, as
our Lord had held this feast in the evening, after supper,
without longer deferring so pious a business, one of the
party recommended that a good supper should be or
dered for the next evening, and that they should after
wards hold the Lord's Supper exactly copied from the
pattern that Christ had left us.
The whole party met again next evening at supper.
They ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves. Supper
being over, the time arrived for proceeding to the
Lord's Supper : — " Gentlemen," said the minister, " we
have not attended to one thing of consequence: here
are many women in our company. There were none
when Christ held his supper; the Apostles only were
present. Therefore, to imitate it precisely, and to do
exactly what he did, let us adjourn the party until
to-morrow, give orders for another supper, at which
there shaU be men only, without any women."
Orders were accordingly given, and the men of the
company did not faU duly to attend this rehgious sup
per. Having finished, and each being weU primed with
good cheer : — " Gentlemen," said the minister, " in the
Lord's Supper which we are about to hold, there is one
thing that gives me concern : we ought to observe aU
the circumstances, if it shall be in every respect like
Christ's. Now, at the supper which he held, there was
a Judas; which of our party wiU be that Apostle?"
Nobody would offer to personate that wretched traitor.
Again supper passed off, without any imitation of that
instituted by Christ. Who can help being astonished
at the extravagance of these deluded creatures, and at
the cunning of their minister in taking advantage of
their silly simplicity. This story furnishes only subject
for laughter; here is a piteous tale, which can only
make the reader weep.
One of these zealous Puritans, who cannot endure
anything venerated by Catholics, beheld, with eyes of
aversion, a large stone cross which had stood from time
immemorial in the parish churchyard. He ardently
desired that it should be thrown down and demolished.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 379
Gladly would he have employed his arms for this pur
pose, but he was afraid of the people. Never did he
pass it without an emotion of anger; this being, as he
said, a mark of Popery and an object of superstition.
In this unhappy disposition, he was elected church
warden. He joyfully accepted the office, under the
idea that he should have it in his power to overthrow
with impunity that instrument of our salvation, which his
ancestors had erected. Accordingly, animated by a
zeal which was not of God, he caused that beautiful
and ancient cross to be puUed down, the quality of
churchwarden inspiring him with this boldness. The
people murmured violently : some reproved him for it ;
others threatened him ; but, after all, nothing more was
done. The stones of the cross were placed against the
wall of the church, where they lay for many years ; tiU,
at length, this enemy of the cross was, for the second
time, put into the office of churchwarden. The demo
lition occasioned by him being then forgotten, and the
stones hi the same place, after they had been employed
for a most sacred representation, he resolved to use
them for the most ignominious and infamous purpose
that can be imagined : my pen shudders to record it. He
ordered them to be hoUowed to serve for a hog-trough.
O God ! what a change ! To what excess does not
Heresy carry the insolence of men! A thing con
secrated to the divine worship, destined to represent to
us the great and adorable mystery of our redemption,
to be afterwards exposed to a horrible outrage, to such
extreme degradation as to be turned into a trough for
unclean animals, for the vilest of beasts, for hogs !
O, divine Justice, wflt thou leave this crime unpunished?
No, vengeance followed such atrocious misdeeds. The
wretched Puritan, who was the author of them, went
mad. He grew raving, took aU the keys of his house,
flung them into the weU, threw himself in after them,
and thus put an end to his detestable life. Tragic and
fatal effect of heresy ! Ah ! who can tell all the disasters
which it has produced in the world? the battles which
it has fought? the blood which it has spilt? the pro-

80 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
vinces and the kingdoms which it has desolated? the
innocent persons it has slaughtered? the crowned heads
it has dethroned? and, whose lives, by a strange cruelty,
it has taken away?
My pen shudders with horror at the infamous and
barbarous treatment to which it subjected Charles I.
He was a King very strict in his morals, prudent and
mUd in his government, exempt from the vices which
generaUy sully thrones — in short, a pattern for good
princes, who wanted nothing in order to be perfect but
the true religion; and yet his subjects took up arms
against him, drove him, as we have said, from his
palace and his capital, robbed him of his revenues,
made themselves masters of the forces of the kingdom ;
and, having conquered those whom loyalty armed in
his defence, forced him to leave England, and to seek
refuge in his kingdom of Scotland; and, as heresy is
disloyal everywhere, this unfortunate prince found no
more safety in Scotland than England. The Scotch,
arrant Calvinists, who ought to have been transported
with joy to possess this good King, refused him the
protection which honour and compassion should have
induced them to afford to the greatest criminal that
had withdrawn to them, and put himself into their
hands; on the contrary, had no thought of doing so.
They sold him to the English for a sum of money paid
down, like a brute beast. Ah! what an indignity to
that crown! sold and bought in that manner! The
English, furious and enraged against him, loaded him
with abuse, offered him a thousand outrages and insults ;
and, by a detestable decree, ordered that his head should
be cut off by the hand of the executioner ; but, though the
hand of the executioner was accustomed to blood, stiff it
had such a horror of shedding that of its prince, that, to
avoid being stained by it, the executioner secretly left
London, and kept himself concealed on the day of exe
cution. Another man in a mask, who was said to be
a minister, took his place, and, more inhuman and cruel
than a thousand executioners, holding in his hand a
sharp cutlass, with a lion's rage and a tiger's fury,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 381
struck his King with such force that, at one stroke, he
severed his head from his body. 0 cruelty! O bar
barity ! 0 injustice ! execrable, abominable parricide ! —
a most innocent King condemned to death by his own
subjects; condemned, after receiving a thousand insults
and outrages from them ; condemned to die, and pub
hcly by an ignominious death, in the presence of an
innumerable concourse of people, by the hand of an ex
ecutioner, that is to say, of the vilest of men ! Was
there ever seen a more extraordinary injustice, a more
horrible, more lamentable cruelty, a greater degradation
of sceptres, thrones, princes, and monarchs !
The city of Paris was then blockaded, on account of
some disorders of certain seditious persons. During
the minority of the King, people could neither go in nor
out of it without very great difficulty. The Queen of
England, residing at the Louvre, had still a gentleman
at St. Germain en Laye, where the court of France was
staying, to receive news from England. During dinner,
which I attended for the purpose of pronouncing a bles
sing on the table, some one came and apprised me to
wait after grace was said, and not to leave her Majesty,
but stop and comfort her, upon the sad tidings which
were likely to be brought her of the lamentable death
of the King her husband. This painful inteUigence
made me shudder all over, and detained me till the con
clusion; after about an hour, the variety of conversa
tion which took place on indifferent matters had not
removed the uneasiness of the Queen, because she knew
that the gentleman sent to St. Germain was coming
back. She complained of his being so long in bringing
her an answer ; whereupon the Earl of St. Albans took
occasion to say to her that " the gentleman was so faith
ful and so prompt in executing the commands of her
Majesty, that he would not have failed to come sooner
if the news had been favourable." " What is it then?"
asked the Queen. " I perceive plainly that you know."
The Earl replied that in fact he did know something of it ;
and, being pressed to tell, after several evasions and many
ambiguous expressions to prepare her by httle and httle
for the fatal intelligence, he at length declared it to her.

382 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
The Queen, not expecting anything of the kind, was
so deeply shocked that for the moment she was quite
overwhelmed, without words, without action, without
motion, like a statue. A great philosopher says that
moderate afflictions permit the heart to sigh and the
mouth to lament, but that very extraordinary, terrible,
and fatal accidents, fill the soul with a stupor which
renders the lips mute and prevents the action of the
senses. Curat leves loquuntur, graves stupent. Such was
the pitiable state to which the Queen was reduced. The
words and the reasons that we employed to rouse her,
found her deaf and insensible. We were obliged to de
list, and to remain about her aU in profound silenco,
/some weeping, others sighing, aU with dejected coun
tenance, sympathizing in her extreme grief.
| This continued tiU the beginning of the night, when
the Duchess de Vendome, to whom she was much at
tached, came to see her ; aU in tears, she respectfully took
her hand, kissed it very affectionately, and then talked
to her with such success that she roused this disconso
late princess from the extreme heaviness, or rather
stupor, which the astounding and lamentable news of
the King's death had produced. This world being after
wards disgusting to her, she turned her thoughts to the
way of life which she should thenceforth lead. Retire
ment strongly attracted her, but she had with her Ma
dame her daughter, whom the law of God and maternal
love obliged her to take care of. Gladly would she
have changed the magnificent residence which she had
in the Louvre, for an humbler dwelling in some monas
tery ; but the princess her daughter, eight or nine years
old, wals an obstacle.
Having maturely weighed these things, she resolved
to retire for a time, with some of her ladies and bed
chamber women, to the monastery of the Carmelites, in
the fauxbourg St. Jaques, at Paris, and to leave her
daughter at the Louvre, recommending to the Countess
of Morton, her gouvernante, to pay great attention to
her morals, and to me of her learning. Thus this af
flicted Queen left the Louvre with the tears of her
household, went into the monastery of the Carmelites,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 383
where she devoted herself more particularly to prayer,
to mortification, to meditation, and to mental prayer, in
which she adored the inscrutability of the judgments of
God, paid her submission to the wiU of Providence, saw
the great frailty of the creature, the inconstancy of the
things of the earth, the slight estimation in which the
grandeur, wealth, and honours of the world ought to be
held, the importance of labouring for our salvation, the
obligation to pray daffy for the grace of heaven in order
to arrive there.
Meanwhffe, the affairs of the King her son and of
the whole royal family were in a very bad state, and re
quired her attentions, her counsels, and her efforts. I
was employed to speak to her upon the subject: she
yielded to my reasons, left the monastery, and came and
continued to reside at the Louvre.
The furious tyranny of Cromwell, the author of the
execrable parricide of his King, had already changed
the ancient monarchical State of Great Britain into a
Republic, caused it to be declared by Act of Parliament
that the chffdren of Charles I. had forfeited all the
rights and revenues to which they could lay claim in
aU and each of the three kingdoms. The Scotch and
the Irish did not consent to a decree so manifestly un
just; the Scotch being desirous to recover in some
measure their honour, and to wipe off the stain of
having sold their King, which had covered them with
infamy, now received Charles II., who showed no
resentment for their unworthy treatment of the
King his father. The bad state of his affairs obliged
him to smother his just resentment, to use towards
those dissembling people a very ingenious and neces
sary dissimulation; he complied, therefore, with their
humour, relinquished that majestic haughtiness which
accompanies royalty, exhibiting to them nothing but an
agreeable insinuating familiarity, which won them and
indeed induced them to take up his defence, his cause,
and his estabhshment, to begin with. They made him
a great number of proposals, demanding several things,
which he granted with a good grace. They declared

384 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
him, therefore, at once lawful King of the Kingdom of
Scotland, published that declaration every where, gave
the necessary orders for the august ceremony of the
coronation, which was attended by aU the lords and the
gentry of the country, and celebrated by innumerable
people with extraordinary rejoicings.
The next thing to which they turned their attention
was raising an army. The officers, the colonels, and
other commanders, formed altogether a considerable
army, consisting of 10,000 foot and 3,000 horse, which
400 more, moved by the justice of so good a cause,
came from various parts of Scotland to join. This
army encamped at Ourcester, [Worcester] where it
erected forts and the like fortifications, but which were
of little utility ; for the ambition of CromweU, who kept
vigilant watch for the consolidation of his extensive
power, had no sooner received inteUigence of this army
than he meditated its destruction. He saw that the de
feat of these Scotch troops was absolutely necessary
for his interest. Wherefore, not content with employ
ing all the forces of his army for the purpose, that he
might not fall short in so important a business, he hired
as many new soldiers as he could meet with. He dis
posed of all the revenues of the kingdom, and bestowed
largesses on those who joined his party; so, in a very
short time, he numbered 50,000 men in his army.
Without losing a moment, he marched it, with thirty
pieces of artiUery, direct to Ourcester.
Near the city there was a fort, which was attacked
with such violence and by so many men, that the
courage and skiU of its defenders could not save it.
The siege of the city was immediately formed; the
cannon began to play; the besieged made furious
saUies; great numbers were slain on both sides, but
the forces were too unequal: 13,000 men were not
capable of resisting 50,000, abundantly provided with
all sorts of warlike stores, and fortified by thirty heavy
cannon.1 On this occasion, the King displayed mar-
1 Father Cyprien 's account of the Battle of Worcester, and of the' subsequent
flight of the King, the reader will find frequently at variance with the ordinary
"authoritii s.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 385
veUous courage, appearing sword in hand, animating
the soldiers much more by his valorous example than
by big words, and as, in the heat of the battle, his royal
person was exposed to great danger, his most faithful
servants with great prudence besought him to retire.
Seeing the rout of his army and the great advantages
of the enemy, the King foUowed their counsel, and
found a favourable moment for carrying it into execu
tion, for it was dark. Having ordered his captains to
escape with their men as they best could by different
roads, he set out himself, accompanied by the Earl
d' Erby, [of Derby] the Earl of Rochester, and two of
his colonels only, that he might not be known. He
galloped without stopping tiU daybreak, and lodged
in the house of a peasant whom the Earl of Rochester
was particularly acquainted with, and whose fidelity he
had put to the test. The name of the peasant was
George Pendril, and he had five brothers, all older than
himself. He besought his Majesty to permit him to
fetch them to wait upon him. The King, fatigued with
the battle and with the exertions of the night, was in no
want of appetite, but the danger he was in obliged him
to think of what was most urgent.
He could scarcely fail to be discovered, for search
was making after him in all parts by such a midtitude
of soldiers. To balk their search and to escape their
fury, he thought that he could not do better than to
disguise himself, to put off all the marks of greatness,
and to change his quality of king into the apparent
form of a peasant, rendering himself by this expedient
unknown to any of the parliamentary party who might
meet with him. This resolution once formed was pre
sently executed. The Earl of Rochester cut off the
fine hair of the King, who stripped off all his clothes,
to his very shirt, which he exchanged for one of coarse
linen, green cloth breeches, a leathern doublet, an old
rusty hat, thick shoes, and he carried a hatchet in his
hand that he might not be recognised.
Two hundred Parliament horse came soon after
wards in quest of him to that place, but the King was
VOL. II. C C

386 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
gone out into the next wood, to which Pendril had led
him for the purpose of concealment. The two earls
and the two other gentlemen, who had accompanied
him from Ourcester, proposed to part from him, for fear
their presence should excite a suspicion that his Majesty
was not far off, and afford occasion for making search
after him. The King thought their proposition judici
ous ; whereupon they all took leave of him with great
pain : among so many different roads, one took one,
another another, to escape.
The Earl of d' Erby, brother-in-law of M. de la Tre-
mouiUe, was taken, thrown into prison, sentenced to
lose his head, for no other crime but being, according
to the law of God, faithful to his King. He hved in
the Huguenot religion, of the falseness of which a good
priest had formerly convinced him ; and of the truth of
the Cathohc, Apostohc, and Roman Church. From that
time probably this earl would have embraced the faith,
if many human considerations had not prevented him.
Business having caUed away the priest to a certain
place, while on his way thither, he felt within him
something not to be described, which urged him to take
another direction. FoUowing the impulse, he went to
the town where M. d' Erby was imprisoned.. He paid
him a visit, recaUed himself to his remembrance, held
conferences with him on the subject of rehgion, told
him that he was about to appear before God, to have
eternal happiness or misery irrevocably aUotted to him,
that, his salvation was impossible out of the Romish
Church, that he must be reconciled to it, and die in its
faith in order to be saved ; that, having been so faithful
to his Khig, he ought not to finish this life in unfaithful
ness to God. Aided by the assistance of grace, he
acquiesced in these reasons, desired to be instructed,
made his confession, received absolution for his heresy
and his other sins, took the communion, and died a
good Catholic.
Meanwhile, the King, in disguise, with a great hedg-
ing-biU in his hand, was in the wood, where the infor
mation which he received obliged him to stay, in order

CHARLES THE FIRST. 387
to escape the pursuit of the Parliamentary horse, who
were scouring the whole country in search of him.
There was in the forest an oak of great size, with many
wide-spreading, interlaced, leafy branches, having at the
top of the trunk a place where six men might harbour
without being perceived. The King climbed up to it,
and with him a colonel who was attending him. There
he rested. He slept for four hours, as soundly and as
sweetly as he could have done in the softest bed. Not
withstanding his great haste and anxiety to get to this
tree, the colonel had found means to fill his pockets
with some pieces of bread and cheese, and had secured
a bottle of beer. With this fare of a country servant,
the King made a meal, to which appetite gave such
zest, that the most dainty wines and viands had never
seemed to him so delicious.
While the King stayed in this tree, the horse soldiers
who spread themselves over the whole country, in hopes
of taking him, being disappointed of finding him, re
tired, and enabled his Majesty to leave the wood and
return to Pendril, his first host. He could not remain
long there unknown. He was obliged to think of some
other place. Several occurred to his mind. After
carefully considering them, he deemed none of them
more suitable and safe than the house of Monsieur
Whihgrave [Whitgreave], a Cathohc gentleman, with
whose fidelity in his service he was perfectly acquainted.
He resolved to go thither, and, as the road was long,
and he could not travel on foot, Pendril, who was a
great friend of the miUer of the place, pretended to have
particular occasion for the horse, which he used for
carrying out his flour. He borrowed him, took him to
the King, who mounted him, and immediately galloped
off. In the darkness of the night, the horse, stumbling
frequently, gave Pendril, who followed, occasion to say,
with a view to amuse the King, that it was no wonder
the poor beast's load was too heavy for him, since, in
stead of a sack of flour, which was his ordinary burden,
he had now to bear three mighty kingdoms. The King
laughed, and arrived very early in the morning at the
c c 2

388 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
house of M. de Whihgrave, who received him with all
sort of respect and with surprising satisfaction.
In this house there was an extremely secret place,
where a priest dwelt concealed from the research of the
pursuivants, who are appointed to apprehend and im
prison the priests. The King betook himself to the
secret lodge, tarried there hi assurance, and took some
rest and some slight refreshment. Soon afterwards, my
Lord Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, came to seek him.
The moment he perceived him, he felt his heart moved
by two strong passions — the one pain, and the other
pleasure — the one sorrow, the other joy. He rejoiced
greatly to behold once more his dear master, and to
behold him escaped from so many perils; but the
wretched phght in which he saw him pierced his heart.
Agitated by these different feelings, he threw himself at
his feet, and, respectfully taking his hand, bathed it with
the tears which joy and grief at once pressed from his
eyes. To such a degree was he overwhelmed with as
tonishment, that he could not utter a word : he spoke
only by his gestures, which expressed much better the
feelings of his heart than the most eloquent language
could have done ; and then, recovering from his surprise,
" Ah, my prince," said he, " what a happiness for me,
and what consolation to meet so fortunately with your
Majesty ! What thanksgiving do we not owe to Heaven,
for having so wonderfully preserved you, after so mar-
veUous a protection of your royal person ! No, I have
no doubt that God wiU gloriously seat you on the
throne of your ancestors!" — "Let him do what he
pleases," said the King. " His divine wffl be done, and
to him be never-ceasing thanks for aU the assistances
that I have received from him. You, too, sir," added
the King, " are greatly indebted to him, for having,
through his means, escaped so many dangers. How
have you come hither, and what has passed since our
separation?" Wilmot related how, after taking leave of his Ma
jesty, my Lord d'Erby and he resolved to take different
roads, that they might incur the less suspicion, and be

CHARLES THE FIRST. 389
more likely to escape the notice of the soldiers, who
were dispersed on aU sides. This plan succeeded well
with him, but was fatal to the other. Divine Provi
dence permitted Lord d'Erby to fall into the hands of
his enemies, who knew him, took him prisoner, gave
information of it to the Parliament, who pronounced
sentence of death upon him, which was forthwith ty
rannically executed. The King, who was much at
tached to the gaUant nobleman, could not learn these
disasters, without feeling the deepest grief, and ab
horring the abominable murders of the enraged Par
liament. It was necessary to consider of the means of saving
the King : after long consultations upon the subject, the
result was that there was no safety for him in England,
and that it was absolutely necessary for him to leave the
country. The resolution was good, but how was it to
be put in practice? how travel such a distance to reach
a port? and having arrived there how cross the sea
without being known ? Dissimulation was very re
quisite ; in this affair, women far surpass men. Monsieur
Wilmot knew one who possessed a superior under
standing, and whom he beheved to be fit for so great a
design. Women have long been employed on such
occasions. Heaven made use of the virtuous Judith, to
raise the siege of Bethulia, and to deliver the inhabi
tants of that conquered town from death, with which
they were threatened by the General Holofernes. The
ruin of the Jewish nation was decreed, if Queen Esther
had not prevented it by thwarting the schemes of the
ambitious Aman, and becoming acquainted with King
Ahasuerus; his detestable malice was justly visited with
that punishment which his pride had designed to inflict
upon others. People will talk for ever with praise of
the Maid of Orleans, who, surmounting the weakness of
her sex, took arms and fought with such brilliant success
for France, that she rescued the King from the oppres
sions which he was suffering, and replaced him glori
ously upon his throne. After these glorious examples,
it is no wonder if the King of England and the Lord

390 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Wilmot resolved to have recourse to the ingenious
artifice of a woman, in order to deceive the eyes of the
soldiers, to escape from their hands, and to get out of
rebellious England safe and sound.
A colonel, named Lane, brave, generous, very loyal,
and strongly attached to the service of the King, lived
in those parts. He had a daughter about twenty-two
years old, not remarkable for beauty, but endowed with
a noble mind and superior understanding. Monsieur
Wilmot, who was particularly acquainted with them,
told them that they might easily do a memorable action,
which would be the means of making their fortune, and
which would gain them immortal glory in the sight of
God and men : the business consisted in conducting the
King to the city of Bristol, whence he might easily pass
to France. The colonel and his daughter embraced
this proposal with pleasure, protested that they would
cheerfuUy risk their hves for the service of his Majesty,
who received their good will very graciously, thanked
them, and promised to make acknowledgment some day
for all the kind offices that should be rendered him. It
was then necessary to consider of the means of exe
cuting this important design.
The King wished to consult on this subject the
opinions of those three persons who then composed his
whole councU. Monsieur WUmot spoke first, and the
other two afterwards. The King, having heard them
all with attention, remarked particularly from their con
versation that Colonel Lane had a married daughter at
Bristol. This appeared to him a very favourable cir
cumstance for his design, and he availed himself of it in
the foUowing manner. Madmoisel Lane, the colonel's
second daughter, was to make an excuse for visiting her
sister ; she was to perform the journey on horseback,
riding behind a servant ; the King, in disguise, was to
be that servant ; then, the roads being fiUed and occu
pied by soldiers, a passport would be wanted. She
obtained one from the officer commanding in that
quarter for the Parliament. Care had been previously
taken to boil walnuts in their green husks; the liquor

CHARLES THE FIRST. 391
was rubbed upon the King's face, and, instead of his
pleasing fair complexion, gave him a colour darker than
olive, and disfigured him entirely so that he was not to
be known again.
As soon, then, as the passport had arrived, without
losing a moment's time, the King took, instead of sceptre,
a whip, instead of the royal mantle a servant's shabby
surtout, and, thus equipped, mounted the horse ; Mad-
moisel Lane was lifted behind him, and away they
gaUoped. Having gone five or six leagues, they met young
Lane, the lady's brother, returning from the house of
one of his friends, whom he had been to see. Not
knowing the business upon which she was going, or the
young feUow who was conducting her, and who ap
peared in very mean plight, after reciprocal salutations,
he said to her in Enghsh, " Who is that rogue — that is
to say, mean beggarly feUow — who is conducting you?
How can you take such a chap?" She rephed that,
having nobody to perform that service for her, and being
in haste to set out, she had taken the first that came.
And so they parted, to continue then journey, the one
towards the house of their father, the others to Bristol,
which they could not reach in one day.
Having gaUoped twenty miles, (that is the way they
reckon in England) they alighted at an inn, where her
conductor paid her aU the attentions of a faithful serving-
man, handed her up stairs to her chamber, fetched her
everything she wanted, and looked after her supper. A
maid servant obliging him to turn the spit, on which
some meat was roasting for supper, he had so much defer
ence for her, that he laid hold of the spit immediately,
and began turning. His good wiU, which deserved
praise, was rewarded only by Ul language and abuse, for,
not being bred to that occupation, he was less vigilant
than he should have been, and, at last, the servant flew
into a passion with him, calling him a stupid dolt who
was fit for nothing. This treatment he bore with the
more patience, because he had great difficulty to refrain
from laughing. The spit being snatched from his hand

392 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
by violence, he went to give directions about his horse,
and then waited upon his mistress at table. After
supper, he left her in her own chamber, and retired
himself to another.
Having slept soundly for five or six hours of the
night, he rose, as soon as day began to dawn, when his
vigffance had made every preparation for starting. His
mistress was ready, so they mounted and gaUoped off
in good style for seven or eight leagues, talking with
glee of the innocent deceptions, of the cleverness with
which the King counterfeited the servant, of the gravity
of the lady, keeping up constantly a forced air of mis
tress, and receiving with authority the submission and
the services of the King. During this agreeable con
versation, they saw at a distance a party of horse in
their road, and coming towards them. They were in
quest of the King, who, nothing daunted and with head
erect, spurring his horse, presently met them. All
looked at him, but none of them knew him, neither had
the slightest suspicion or mistrust who he was ; aU took
him for a real servant and a mere valet — him, who was
their lawful sovereign. They asked demoiselle Lane
where she lived, whether she had seen the King of
Scotland — so they caUed him, because he had been
solemnly crowned there ; if she knew where they were
likely to find him ; to which she might weU have given
the answer that St. Athanasius gave to those who were
seeking him. He told them, Yes, and that he was not
far off — and, in fact, the King was before the eyes of
these horsemen, but Divine Providence deprived them of
the faculty of recognising him, and permitted him not
to faU into their barbarous hands, reserving, as we shall
see, this generous prince for something great, for his
divine glory.
Questions and answers being finished, the parties se
parated ; the soldiers going one way, and our traveUers
the other, that is to say, towards Bristol, where they
arrived safely. There they found Lord WUmot, Earl
of Rochester, who was greatly rejoiced at so happy a
meeting, of which the dangers of travelling had excited

CHARLES THE FIRST. 393
in him great apprehensions. It is an effect of love to
feel alarm, and to apprehend misfortune for the beloved
object, especiaUy when one knows that it is in some
danger. And, the more violent these alarms, appre
hensions, and pains have been, the greater is afterwards
the joy, when one sees the 'danger escaped. Such was
the state of the excellent Wilmot, who had already bar
gained with a captain, a friend of his, for a ship to carry
him secretly to France, with twelve or thirteen atten
dants. While supper was getting ready, they retired to an
apartment, and related aU the adventures of their jour
ney, which made them laugh more than the wittiest
and most amusing comedy could ever have done. In
this merry humour, they went to table as soon as they
were apprized that the dishes were on it, and that all
was ready. Mr. WUmot took the upper end, and the
King, though disguised as a groom, having so fortu
nately conducted Mademoiselle Lane, had permission to
sit at the foot of the table. During supper, each acted
his part to perfection — hunger rendering aU the viands
delicious. The captain of the ship came to inform them
that it was time to be gone ; but they showed no inch-
nation to leave so soon what had been so weU begun.
That they might continue more at their ease, they pressed
him to take a chair, and to enjoy himself along with them.
He did not refuse; so there he was at table, eating
and drinking; and, having pretty weU satisfied his
appetite, he looked around him and surveyed each of
the party. He remarked a certain majesty in him who
was placed below the others; and, as the King was
much talked of about that time, he suspected that this
might be he.
Supper being over, and the table cleared, he stepped
up to Monsieur Wilmot, and whispered in his ear the
idea which had occurred to him, and which was treated
as absurd, and as a mere imagination, and which, in the
end, proved true enough : for, as the wind was fair, no
time was lost in getting on board, and, after sailing a
night and a day, every one rejoiced to find himself off

394 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the coast of Normandy.1 On their arrival in port,
their joy was redoubled, and mingled with thanksgivings
to Divine Providence for its protection amidst such im
minent dangers. Then was the rage of enemies con
quered, alarm dispeUed, assurance strengthened; all
disguises ceased, Truth shed abroad her rays, revealing
the condition of each, and proving that the captain
was not mistaken in holding him to be a real King,
who appeared in the character of a servant and per
formed its duties. In fact, aU knelt before him, recog
nised him as true and legitimate sovereign: aU paid
their submission to him, and, among the rest, the cap
tain of the ship, who there received with great joy a
trifling present from his Majesty, with a promise that
he would some day acknowledge the good service which
he had done him. He returned weU satisfied to the port
of Bristol, without boasting of that which, had it been
known to the Parliament, would infaUibly have cost him
his hfe.
The King, having thrown aside the mean attire of
groom, and aU the other marks of disguise, and put on
apparel suitable to his rank, with a wig upon his head
instead of his fine hair which had been cut off, came to
Paris to join the Queen, his mother, who received him
with transports of joy. She knew not whether she
ought to beheve her eyes, so strongly had she appre
hended that she should lose him amidst the awful
dangers to which he had been exposed, and from which
she beheld him, through the grace of God, unexpectedly
and happily preserved. She wished for the like blessing
for her three other children, the Dukes of York and
Gloucester, and Madame Anne, whom the iniquitous
Parliament kept closely confined in the royal house of
St. Jemes, in London.
The eldest of the three was a girl, caUed Madame
Anne, about twelve years old. She was endowed with
perfect beauty, great courage, and a fine understanding,
' It would appear, from Pere Cyprien's relation, that Charles II. embarked from
Bristol ; but, as it is well known, the royal wanderings continued for some time
after reaching that port, and that he subsequently escaped in a ship from Brighton.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 395
which rendered her the more sensible to the misery of
her captivity, inasmuch as her royal birth ought to have
exempted her from it, and those who kept her prisoner
were seditious, rebeUious, bloodthirsty, parricidal sub
jects, deserving torments of all sorts. Conversing with
her brother, the Duke of York, she often said to him,
" If I were the Duke of York, I would not be here now."
This advice, several times repeated, induced the Duke
of York to resolve to act upon it. He had a valet de
chambre, who was faithful to him. He told him that he
placed perfect rehance upon him, and that, in this con
fidence, he asked, hi the utmost secrecy, if there were
any means to get out of England unknown, to pass over
to France to the Queen, his mother. The valet de
chambre replied that the affair was one of great impor
tance ; that it was necessary to think about it, and to keep
it very secret. After long consideration, he thought that
the business might be happily accomplished in this
manner. These iUustrious chUdren were accustomed frequently
to pass the evening in a game which consisted in one of
them hiding, and being then sought after by the others.
The Duke of York was to pretend to hide himself, and,
eluding his keepers, whffe the others were engaged in
seeking him, he was to slip on hastily a girl's dress pro
vided for him, and, in this disguise, he was to be con
ducted to the River Thames, which is near the palace of
St. Jemes, and get into a boat prepared to carry him to
Gravesigne [Gravesend], which is only about twenty
mUes from London, and where aU the large ships lie.
There a vessel would be quite ready to receive him,
without his being known, an agreement being first made
with the master to carry two men and a little girl over
to HoUand for a certain sum of money. This plan was
proposed to the little duke, who thought it very good,
extremely ingenious, and prudent.
The author of the scheme got a girl's dress made,
engaged a boatman, and agreed with the master of a
ship. Everything being prepared and quite ready, and
the last supper which these royal children were to take

396 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
together being over, the Duke of York said that they
must have a game ; that his brother and sister had hidden,
and he had found them ; but, for his part, he knew so
secret a place, that he defied them both to find him.
The chaUenge being accepted, he left the room, softly
entered the park, to which he had the key, hastened to a
place agreed upon, where he found his valet de chambre,
who took off his doublet and breeches and put on him
petticoats, frock, cap, and dressed him so cleverly by
the light of the moon, that the most sharp-sighted
would have taken him for a real girl. Thus equipped,
he was taken to the boat, and by the boat to Gravesigne
[Gravesend]. He went on board the ship which was to
carry him over ; but no sooner had he arrived, than the
wind, which had been fair, shifted, and became so con
trary, that it was impossible to get under weigh.
Meanwhile, his brother and sister kept seeking him,
but to no purpose. One hour, two hours, passed in this
search, in which they were joined by others, but these
were not more successful than themselves. A report
was soon circulated throughout the house that the
Duke of York had escaped. The keepers were in con
sternation. There was not a place, not a corner, that
was not examined; but to no purpose. The Duke's
governor, who was responsible for him, was in violent
agitation : he considered, he meditated, he mused, where
the prince could be. He conceived that he could not
be unknown in England, that he would of course have
been persuaded to leave it; that for this purpose he
must have gone to Gravesigne [Gravesend], He im
mediately despatched a man on horseback post-haste
to that place, where, as we have observed, the young
prince was detained by contrary wind, which prevented
his ship from leaving port. Alas ! should he be taken,
what can he expect from his barbarous enemy but a
dreary prison, harsh treatment, perhaps a cruel death !
But, 0 admirable providence of God, just before the
arrival of the messenger, the wind shifted again and
became quite fan; the anchor was weighed, the ship
dropped down the river to the sea, and pursued her

CHARLES THE FIRST. 397
voyage with such rapidity that in a very short time she
entered a Dutch port. What joy for the young prince,
and for the valet de chambre who had contrived his
dehverance !
After taking some rest, they proceeded to the Princess
of Orange, who was delighted to see them. On learning
aU the circumstances, she honoured with a valuable
present and abundance of praise the valet de chambre
who had so ably managed this important business.
The taffors were soon set to work to make clothes for
the Duke, who put off his petticoats and other female
attire and adornments to appear as a prince. The strong
desire which he felt to see his mother, who was in Paris,
soon urged him to set out for France, having begged
the princess, his sister, to consent to his departure.
She would gladly have detained him longer, had she
not preferred the satisfaction of the Queen, her mother,
to her own gratification.
Accordingly, the Duke set out. Away he went,
entered France, arrived in Paris, and immediately
repaired to the Louvre, where the Queen, his mother,
resided. He appeared before her, feU upon his knees,
and humbly solicited her blessing. According to the
holy custom of England, the Queen blessed him, raised
him from the floor, clasped him in her arms, and kissed
him with a joy which my pen cannot describe.
Meanwhile, a rumour ran through the city of London
that the Duke of York had escaped. His governor
was in great tribulation. Cromwell was alarmed, and
expressed vehement anger; and, fearful that the Duke
of Gloucester and his sister should follow this example,
he had them taken from the royal house of St. Jemes,
and sent them to be shut up in the castle of [blank in
the original — Carisbrook] where the King, their
father, had been prisoner. The princess, then about
twelve years old, endowed with an exceUent under
standing, justly appreciating her high birth, vexed at
being obliged to leave the royal residence of St. Jemes,
was absorbed in melancholy thoughts on approaching
the castle to which she was going. There she made

398 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
many doleful reflections : she thought that it was the
wretched place where rebeUious subjects had imprisoned
their prince and their lawful Sovereign, where royalty
had been treated hke a slave by infamous rebels, where
enraged malice had oppressed innocence, which the
King, her dearest father, had quitted only to ascend a
lamentable scaffold, and shuddered on calling to mind
all the disasters and calamities of her royal house.
These melancholy thoughts, which she long and
studiously revolved in her miud, made such deep
impressions on her heart, and so heated her blood, that
a violent fever ensued. It seemed at first that it was
too violent to last long, but the event proved otherwise ;
for the disorder kept increasing, resisted aU remedies,
and at length put an end to the hfe of the afflicted
princess. The Queen, her mother, could not learn her
melancholy death without shedding many tears. The
King, her brother, the Duke of York, the Duke of
Gloucester, and the Princess of Orange, manifested the
greater sorrow, on account of the illustrious and extra
ordinary quahties with which Nature had enriched that
beautiful princess. They looked upon her as an in
strument that might contribute to the re-establishment
of their royal house by means of some high marriage.
Of aU the children of the late King, the only one now
left in wretched England was the Duke of Gloucester,
who, notwithstanding his tender years, was carefully
watched, lest he should be carried off, and should fol
low the example of the Duke of York. In fact, he had
a strong deshe to do so, and would gladly have carried
it into execution, had he possessed the power. It was
a great punishment to him to find himself separated
by violence from the Queen, his most dear and honoured
mother, from the King, and from the Duke of York, his
brothers, and from the princesses, his sisters. His
thoughts and his affections went every day to visit
them ; as he could not be with them in body, he was so, at
least, in heart and spirit ; and, keeping his secret to him
self without revealing it to any body, he fortified
himself in the resolution to get out of miserable Eng-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 399
land, and to go to them as soon as Divine Providence
should have opened the way for him.
Meanwhffe, a year and more passed on. He' in
cessantly revolved the design in his head, and thought
to draw his valet de chambre into it imperceptibly. He
expressed great friendship for and confidence in him :
he gave him some slight hint of his intentions, and,
perceiving that the valet de chambre showed no repug
nance, he opened himself further to him, and spoke to
him more freely. The latter, who was not deficient in
good sense, applauded the Duke's idea ; and, as interest
is in general the master-wheel that sets at work aU the
others, and the powerful motive which makes people
act, considering that the King and the Queen would
reward him handsomely if he rescued the young prince
from his captivity, he offered to do whatever he pleased,
and promised him secrecy and fidelity. The Duke told
him that he must speedUy secure a ship, that he would
go on board on the pretext of taking an airing, and so
cross to France. As the whole was cleverly planned,
so it was successfully executed.
What joy for the King, the Queen, and for all the
royal famUy, after so many sad separations, to find
themselves aU together again in health, beyond the
reach of the barbarous fury of the Parliament ! And
what subject of admiration to find in the little Duke, at so
tender age, a conduct so judicious! He was endowed
with such superior understanding, that, after the King's
restoration, his brother, then scarcely seventeen years
old, having a seat in the Upper House of Parliament,
after each had given his opinion on the affair in hand,
and the reasons on which it was founded, would repeat
those opinions, with the reasons, of more than sixty
persons composing the assembly. He refuted pleasingly
in detaU what each individual had advanced, and clearly
pointed out the disadvantages; and then he gave his
own sentiments, which he supported by sohd reasoning.
This increased his joy at his deliverance from captivity,
on his happy arrival in Paris, and at the wished-for
meeting with the Queen, his mother, and his brothers

400 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
and his sisters. France gave all of them pensions
suitable to their rank, and assigned to them royal
apartments, at first in the Louvre, afterwards in the
Palais Royal. They took their meals together at the
same table. Being obhged to attend there to give the
benediction, I observed every day a great number of illus
trious persons and others, who came to see them, and
who pitied their unfortunate lot, considering them so
accomplished and so unjustly expeUed from their
kingdom. God, infinitely gracious, who aims only at good in
the conduct of aU the affairs of this world, never per
mits an evU, but with a view to the benefit which he
purposes to draw from it. The convulsions in England
by the regicide Parliament have been so strange, that
all Europe is astonished that out of such great evils
Divine Providence has caused great blessings to arise
from the happy conversion of an innumerable multi
tude of persons of aU sorts of conditions, who would
never have become Catholics had the kingdom con
tinued quiet.
I place in the first rank of Ulustrious persons Madame
the princess Henriette Anne Stuart, whom the King,
her father, would have kept continually in the Protes
tant religion, to counteract the ideas which several of
his subjects entertained that he had himself a leaning
towards Popery, and in the firm belief which he held,
that salvation was not excluded either from the Protes
tant or from the Catholic religion, and that one may be
saved in either.
Monsieur de Vinebant [Windebank?] was of this
opinion, and therefore could not suffer the Cathohcs,
and particularly the priests, to be maltreated, kindly
preventing them, by his devices, from being imprisoned,
or causing them to be released from the prisons and
dungeons to which the rancorous malice of the Puritans
had consigned them. To avoid the fury of the Parlia
ment, this gentleman came to France. Conversation
with the Catholics enabled his daughters to discover the
error in which they were, and the grace of God imparted

CHARLES THE FIRST. 401
resolution to renounce the Protestant religion, and to be
received and enrolled in the Catholic Church. They
made this happy change unknown to their father, who
learned it soon afterwards from their own lips, who
expressed his displeasure, aUeging that in the Protestant
religion, as in the Catholic, one may go to Paradise.
Those pious ladies listened with patience to what their
father said, answered him humbly, according to the
instructions which they had received, found means to
make a learned and virtuous priest speak to him, offered
up prayers to God for his conversion, which they at
length obtained with transports of joy. Some time after
wards, he fell sick, exhibited through aU his iUness
striking sentiments of piety, contrition, love of God,
gratitude and thanksgiving for the blessings which he
had received, particularly for his vocation to the Ca
tholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church, in which, provided
with aU the sacraments, he passed happily from this life
to a better. One of his daughters, who laboured hard
in this affair, died in the odour of sanctity, and the other
is at present one of the virtuous nuns at the Calvary of
the Marais du Temple at Paris.
Madame the Countess Danneby,1 sister of the late
Duke of Buckinkam, and first Lady of Honour to the
Queen of England, who had gone to France, foUowed
the religion of her most dear and honoured mistress,
and lived there in such innocence and purity, that, to
the glory of God be it said, I frequently had trouble to
find in her confessions subject for absolution. She died
with aU the marks of a predestined soul. Madame the
Countess of GuUdford,2 her daughter, after some troubles
of mind, yielded to the truth, and made profession of
the Cathohc rehgion. She persevered in it for a long
time with extraordinary fervour, which seemed to verify
in her the words of our Lord, that the last comers
should be the first — Erunt novissimi primi. She suc
ceeded Madame her mother in the post of first lady of
1 The youngest sister of the first Duke of Buckingham was married to William
Fielding, first Earl of Denbigh.
2 Elizabeth married Lewis Viscount Boyle, who was killed at the battle of Liscarrol,
on the 3rd of September, 1642. She was created Countess of Guildford in 1660.
VOL. II. D D

402 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
honour, and was buried with her in the church of St.
Eustache at Paris.
I should also place in this rank an eminent minister
[chaplain] of the King's, called Dr. Gough, who united
in his person the character of priest with the quality of
Catholic. He has placed himself with the Reverend
Fathers of the Oratory, where he stiU is, after serving
our dearest Queen for some time as one of her almoners ;
otherwise, one might form a volume of aU the others to
whom the temporal calamities of England proved a
great sphitual blessing, Divine Providence guiding and
turning these imfortunate changes of State into happy
changes for others, which grace wrought in them by
the forsaking of the Protestant religion, and the holy
profession of the Catholic religion. The number of
these persons is countless. God has given me the grace
to reconcUe in Paris a multitude, whom the disturbances
in their country had driven into France. I leave them
in sUence. God knoweth them — that is sufficient. There
are, nevertheless, some more whom zeal for the glory of
God requires me to note here.
The first of these persons is an Irish gentleman,
commonly called My lord Insinkuin [Inchiquin], who is
still hving. The Irish are to be commended for many
things, especiaUy for the Catholic religion, which they
have almost aU preserved inviolable. Their exclusion
from places, the confiscation of then goods, imprison
ment, exile, the most furious persecutions, have not
been capable of making them renounce that blessed and
ancient faith, handed down to them by their forefathers.
It is true that, in the prodigious multitude of people
who fill that kingdom, some have not shown that firm
ness, and, accommodating themselves to the times, have
followed the religion, or rather the heresy, which King
Edward and Queen Elizabeth caused to be preached to
them. The ancestors of Monsieur de Insinkuin were
of this number; forsaking the Cathohc rehgion, they
had since lived in the Puritan, and brought up their
children in it, who not merely embraced its creed, but
added thereto a violent hatred against Catholics.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 403
Monsieur Insinkuin, transported with false zeal,
manifested that hatred against them on aU occasions
that occurred during the whole time which he passed in
that false rehgion. The rank of lord, the influence
which he had in the country, the appointments with
which the King had honoured him, furnished him with
the means of exercising upon those innocent persons aU
the persecutions that error and animosity prompted.
Never was Saul more ardent in such a cause : his fury
was wreaked above aU on the priests, whom he caused
to be imprisoned, banished, even tried, and hanged with
the greatest criminals. Seeing this, who would not have
abhorred such a man ! who would not have said that he
was a victim of the Devil, whom heU was yawning to
swaUow! O mercy of God, how admirable art thou!
After all these awful crimes, the grace of Heaven
touched this miscreant, enlightened his mind, enabled
him to see the falseness of his zeal, the errors of his
creed, the truth of the Catholic rehgion, the heinous-
ness of his offences, the terrible chastisements which he
deserved, the obligation to pass the rest of his days in
the faith of the Romish Church, and in aU the most
rigid exercises of penitence.
Such were the pious sentiments which he expressed
on opening his heart to me, and desiring some direction
for his conscience. It mav be said of him, after his
profession of the Cathohc faith, that grace prevailed
over his offences, and that it superabounded where vice
had before reigned. God permitted him to be deprived
of his possessions, banished from his country, reduced
to extreme indigence by the injustice of the regicide
Parhament. This was not sufficient to expiate his
crimes : Divine Providence destined for him far greater
calamities. Being invited to Portugal, to take the rank
of general in the army, after a severe sea-fight with the
Turks, he was made prisoner, with a son of his, carried
to Algiers, subjected to outrages, stripes, wounds, chains,
and, at length, redeemed after suffering grievously ; and
now he continues his penitence, with a Dutch wife, who
d d 2

404 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
is furious against the Cathohc religion, and keeps her
husband in a state of continual penance.
Neither ought I to omit here a very noble English lady,
caUed Madame Standeley [ Stanley?], kinswoman- of
one of the most eminent divines, and of the most cele
brated preachers in England, with whom I had, in
London, several conferences respecting an English lady
who renounced the Protestant rehgion to follow the
Catholic — I preached at that time to the English nuns
in the Faubourg St. Victor at Paris. Madame de
Standeley frequently visited them, having come to
France that she might not witness the strange disturb
ances and convulsions in her own country. She at
tended our sermons, which afforded me an easy means
of speaking to her, of assuring her that I knew her
relation, the minister; that I had conferred with him,
that the lady who was the cause of our conference had
become Cathohc ; that I hoped for the like success with
her, when the grace of Heaven, together with my
reasons, should have made her acquainted with the
errors of the Protestant Church, and the truth of the
Catholic, Apostolic, and Romish Church. She told me
that she was so firmly founded in her faith, that he
must be very clever who could draw her away from it,
and induce her to embrace one so contrary. Her reply
gave me occasion to produce my reasons in several
conferences. She made a great number of objections,
which were immediately answered. At length, her
mind was so convinced, that she embraced the Catholic
religion, of which she afterwards made a solemn pro
fession. She had two daughters, to whom she said not
a word about her change of religion, intending to
oblige them, without any violence, but with a holy
gentleness, to do what she had done. The elder,
thirteen or fourteen years of age, fell sick. During her
illness, thinking of the Protestant religion, which her
mother had forsaken to foUow the Catholic, she found
herself in a perplexity of mind and in doubt, not
knowing what to decide upon. In this state, her

CHARLES THE FIRST. 405
mother coming to her : " My dear mother," said she,
" if I die now, what will become of me? what will be
come of my soul? where would it go to?" — " Why, my
dear?" asked the lady. — " Because," replied the patient
judiciously, " I am neither Protestant nor Cathohc. I
cannot persuade myself that the Protestant religion is
good, since you have renounced it; and I am not
Catholic, because I am not acquainted with its faith,
and make no profession of it. If you have found the
true way to heaven, why do you not teach me it?" —
Judicious reasoning of a girl, and inspired no doubt by
grace, to convert her entirely to God, as it turned out !
I spoke to her afterwards. I propounded the reasons
which had won her mother to the Catholic rehgion;
and, having explained to her our mysteries, and given
her instructions for living as a good Cathohc, she made
a profession of that faith; recovered from her illness,
obtained health of body together with that of mind, and
afterwards evinced great fervours, which, increasing with
age, have withdrawn her from the world, and made her
a perfect nun of the Order of the Visitation.
I shaU add one memorable circumstance which ought
to be noted, as showing the force of grace and the
power of the Holy Eucharist in a young lady, fourteen
or fifteen years of age. Her father was an English
Protestant, one of the first gentlemen in England ; her
mother, a Frenchwoman and Cathohc. I had always in
structed this little girl, along with the others of the court ;
and had strongly recommended to her to say every day
a Pater and an Ave for the conversion of Monsieur
her father. Being at the royal palace, where the
Queen was then residing, God sent this young lady a
severe Ulness, in which she had the happiness to re
ceive aU the sacraments. After she had received the
Holy Eucharist, wlhle we were following the priest
who had administered it, and who was returning to St.
Eustache, carrying the pyx, she expressed a strong
deshe to see her father, who went to her the moment
he was informed of it. He having asked her how she
was : " Papa," said she ; " I have just received our

406 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Lord in the Holy Eucharist; I have received it as a
provision for performing happily the great journey to
heaven, having nothing further to do on earth. That
good Saviour, who gave his blood and his life to earn
Paradise for us, inspires me to teU you, my dear papa,
that you must be a Catholic to get thither. I am
going to die, and I shaU die with joy, if I see you in
the disposition to be a Catholic. Yes, my dear papa,
be Cathohc; it is for your welfare, your happiness,
your salvation. I teU you this from an inward feeling
imparted by the good God whom I have just received,
and. who is now in my heart." These words, pro
ceeding from the lips of a beloved daughter, and that
daughter dying, so overpowered that good father, and
affected him so deeply, that he was like one thunder
struck : his tongue continued mute. He answered only
with his eyes, which poured forth abundance of tears.
Thus weeping, violently agitated, and deeply sorrow
ing, he retired to a secluded place, to give vent to his
grief, and to meditate the better upon the words of his
expiring daughter.
On our return from the Holy Sacrament, which we
had accompanied and conducted to St. Eustache, this
good news was brought me, and gave me occasion to go
to this gentleman. He was weeping, deeply afflicted,
and, as far as I could perceive, inwardly much agitated.
" It seems to me, sir," said I, " that what so deeply
grieves ought to console you. Good children are a joy
to their parents. Your dear child has always been re
markable for goodness; and now, in particular, God
displays in her evident marks of a chosen vessel. Ah !
what a subject for rejoicing! Yes, sir, instead of
weeping, rejoice and thank the good God, who has
bestowed so much grace upon her. I have heard
that, during my absence, she has spoken to you. You
may think, perhaps, that I have put into her mouth the
words which she has uttered ; but, that you may know
that they come from God himself, who desires your
conversion, who has inspired her with what she has
said to you, who has spoken to you by her dying lips ;

CHARLES THE FIRST. 407
I declare, before Heaven and earth, that I have in no
way solicited her to speak to you, that I have not
prompted a single word of the searching discourse
which she has held to you. It is God who has put
into her mouth the most important words which she
has addressed to you. Think weU of it, sir; act for
your own benefit; comply; give your consent to this
extraordinary grace, which caUs you to the Catholic
rehgion. Break the chains which have hitherto bound
you to the Protestant religion. Let these words of Job
be verified in you, ' Lord, thou wilt caU me, and I will
answer thee. — Vocabis me, et ego respondebo tibi.' —
' Hearken to day with effect to the voice which has
spoken to you,' says the Prophet. All ! beware of
rendering it useless to your salvation, by unhappny
hardening your heart. Hodie, si vocem Domini au-
dietis, nolite obdurare corda vestra."
Grace, operating with these words, had made such
a change hi the gentleman, that he appeared already
Cathohc; but, immediately afterwards, the conferences
which he had with a minister, who is now a Protestant
bishop, ruined aU his good sentiments, and, for that
time, prevented his conversion, of which, however, there
are still good hopes.1
Madame, the Duchess of Richemont2 [Richmond], '
only sister of the Duke of Buckinkam, is too illustri
ous a personage to pass over in sUence her conversion,
which made so much noise throughout the whole King
dom of England, and even in France, where she was
well known. She succeeded the Countesses of Danneby
and GuUdford in the very honourable place of first lady
of honour to the late Queen of England — a title which
she bore with great splendour and benefit. Though
the Catholic rehgion was then in some sort tolerated,
during the mUd and quiet reign of Charles II., stiU it
was not permitted, and there was danger that some dis-
1 This appears to be the only instance where Protestantism is allowed the advan
tage against Capuchin arguments.
2 Mary, first married to Charles Lord Herbert; secondly, to Esme Stuart, Duke
of Richmond and Lennox; and thirdly, to Thomas Howard, brother of Charles,
Earl of Carlisle. She died in 1685.

408 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
pleasure of the Parhament should cause the rigorous
laws against those who make profession of it to be put
in force. This prevented many persons of quality from
declaring themselves Cathohcs, contenting themselves
with following and practising its doctrines in secret;
nay, to conceal then opinions the more completely,
some attended the service of the Protestants, notwith
standing the prohibition of the Holy See. These are
commonly caUed Schismatics, and are excluded from
the sacraments, unless they resolve and promise not to
go any more to such assemblies : for, though they are
Cathohcs in then hearts, their attendance at Protestant
preachings is an apparent disavowal of this and an ex
ternal profession of the Protestant rehgion, assumed
that they may not be deemed Cathohcs, and that they
may retain their property and hold places which the
Catholic religion renders all those who profess it inca
pable of doing according to their pernicious laws. Two
different briefs of Popes expressly forbid Catholics this
attendance at the preaching of Protestant ministers.
There are, however, Enghsh priests who explain away
these briefs, and who secretly maintain that, on certain
important occasions, Catholics may, without offence,
frequent the churches of the Huguenots, and hear the
sermons of the ministers. In this opinion, they admit
them to confession, and administer the sacraments to
them, without obliging them to desist from those
practices. Be this as it may, Madame the Duchess of Richemont
was not hke those concealed and timid Cathohcs. Her
more generous zeal impeUed her to declare herself
openly a Catholic in the face of the whole court of
England, to profess the Cathohc faith pubhcly, and to
perform solemnly aU its exercises, without dreading
either loss of her possessions, or disesteem of her per
son, or the reports circulated among the people to the
prejudice of her reputation. All this serves to show
what we have said, that God has drawn his glory from
the disorders of England, by the holy death of so many
generous martyrs, who have cheerfully given their blood

CHARLES THE FIRST. 409
for the defence of the true faith, and for the happy con
version of a great number of Ulustrious persons, who
have, by this means, renounced the Protestant Church,
to follow and practise the Catholic faith.
But for these disasters, as I have observed, Madame
the Princess Henriette would not have been brought up
in France, whither she was taken to withdraw her from
the barbarous hands which unjustly put to death the
King her father. The Queen, her mother, a fortnight
after her birth, was reduced to the cruel necessity of
leaving her to save her life, crossing the sea, and coming
to France. The Scripture says that Nature has im
pressed on the heart of a woman sentiments which wiU
not permit her to forsake the infant to which she has
given birth. Numquid oblivisci potest mulier infantem
suumf (Isaiah, xlix.) The thoughts of the Queen, on
her arrival hi France, flew a hundred times a day to
wards the princess, her daughter, left behind in England ;
and a hundred times her prayers, mingled with her
tears, demanded her of God. Would he refuse so just
a sohcitation? — His heart is too tender not to grant it.
In fact, He wUled that the infant should be restored to
the mother ; and, because He found a glory in foiling
strength by weakness, he employed weakness hi this
affair, and enabled it to triumph over the criminal pru
dence and the formidable power of the whole Parlia
ment. His goodness inspired the Countess of Morton, the
gouvernante of the Princess, with the idea of stripping
off her rich robes, her costly attire, her magnificent
ornaments, to clothe herself in old rags, to assume the
guise of a beggar, to pass for the wife of a valet de
chambre, equally meanly clad, counterfeiting the men
dicant ; and, hi like manner, the princess was dressed in
a httle tattered, patched frock, and caUed Peter, to con
ceal her the better. This precaution was not useless.
The Countess, having maturely reflected upon the
matter, thought that it might easUy be accomphshed,
set about it, and soon saw her undertaking crowned by
the effect, having made all her arrangements very se-

410 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
cretly. As she was taU, and of a very elegant figure,
in order to appear humpbacked, she had some pieces of
linen stuffed under her ragged gown. In this state she
set out, carrying the infant in her arms, proceeded,
reached the port without obstacle, and went on board
the passage-vessel. Those to whom it belonged were
very glad to get rid of this beggar-woman, and that
France should be burdened with her. In this manner
she crossed the sea. She arrived at Calais, where aU
dread of being known was at an end ; the apprehensions
of falling into the cruel hands of the Parliamentarians
ceased ; an agreeable assurance took the place of those
feelings: disguise was no longer needed; the rags of
mendicity were stripped off; each resumed the apparel
suited to her rank ; the name of Peter was changed to
that of Princess.
Intelligence of the whole affair was despatched to the
Queen, who quickly sent her carriages, and the gouver-
nante, with all her train, reached Paris in safety, and
respectftdly placed in the hands of her Majesty the pre
cious deposit, which she had so happily preserved
amidst so many awful dangers. O, the transports of
joy ! 0, the excessive consolation to the heart of the
Queen ! She embraced, she hugged, she kissed again
and again that royal infant. The father of the prodigal
son made extraordinary rejoicings on his return; his
dehght and consolation were heightened by the reflec
tion that this dear son had been lost, and was happily
preserved and found, that a sort of death had taken
away life, and that life was restored. The Queen,
having much greater cause to say the same in another
sense, had also more reason to open her heart to joy,
and to fill it with consolation. Many thanksgivings
did she render to God for this mercy ; and, regarding
the Princess as a chUd of blessing (un enfant de bene
diction), she resolved, with the grace of God, to have
her instructed in the Catholic and Roman religion, and
to use aU her efforts to obtain the consent of the King,
her husband.
Accordingly, as soon as the sparks of reason began

CHARLES THE FIRST. 411
to glimmer in the mind of that precious child, the Queen
honoured me with the command to instruct her, took
the trouble herself to lead her to the chapel of the
Louvre, where I taught the chUdren the Christian doc
trine, and, nobly exercising the humUity of Christianity,
she deemed it no abasement of the royal dignity to stay
and listen aU the time that I was catechising, hke the
lowest of the company ; nay, the Spirit of God, which
enables us to profit by the smaUest things, inspired her
with such a fondness for these instructions, that she said
aloud, on going away, that she would always come to
hear them. Such was her resolution ; but it was not
carried into effect, being set aside by persons who had
not either her zeal or her hunulity.
However, I then began the instruction of that royal
Princess ; I infused into her infant mind the elements of
the Christian rehgion, and adapted my instructions to
her capacity. In proportion as her judgment became
formed, and she advanced in that kind of knowledge, I
unfolded to her the secrets of our mysteries, endeavoured
to fill her mind with Gospel truths, and to impart to
her a thorough conception of the three great obligations
which she owed to God : — to be caUed to the Catholic
religion, out of which there is no salvation ; to profit so
advantageously in spiritual matters by the revolutions
and troubles in England ; to have been chosen from aU
eternity to profess the true faith ; to be the only one of
the royal house to possess that ineffable fehcity to see
herself happffy in the way to heaven, whither the princes
and princesses of her family could not come, whUe
heresy made them walk in other tracks. I represented
to her mffdly the greatness of these blessings, and how
highly she ought to prize them, adoring Divine Pro
vidence, who had permitted the disturbances in Great
Britain to save her; for, had that kingdom remained
quiet, according to all human appearances, the King,
her father, would not have consented to her being a
Catholic, as we have already observed, as weU to coun
teract the opinion of many of bis subjects that he was
inclined to Popery, as from being falsely, but firmly,

412 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
persuaded that Paradise is open to Protestants as weU
as to Catholics, and that both may alike be saved,
whatever be their creeds.
And, because Madame the Countess of Morton was
Protestant, and always present at the mstructions which
I gave to the httle princess, I frequently urged these
points— the great gratitude which she owed to God for
her vocation to the Cathohc religion ; the importance of
showing zeal, firmness, constancy, in it, of never sepa
rating from it for any human consideration or any
interest whatever; because eternal salvation is prefer
able to all the grandeur, to aU the advantages, to aU
the fortune of the world. I impressed upon her, by all
the reasons proportioned to her understanding, that this
salvation is not to be obtained but in the Catholic re
ligion. This truth, so frequently repeated, caused
Madame Morton to say, when famUiarly conversing
with the princess, " I do think Father Cyprien is work
ing so hard at the catechism as much on my account as
on your Royal Highness' s." This the princess, who
possessed a good understanding, related to me after
wards in secret.
I recoUect that, one day, the Queen, her mother,
seeing her with pleasure so warm in the cause of re
ligion, said to her, " My dear, as you have so much
zeal, why do you not convert your gouvernante ?"
" Madam," replied the princess, in her chndish reason
ing, " I do as much as I can in that way." — "And what
is that?" rejoined the Queen. " Madam," answered the
princess, in her infantine hmocence, " I embrace my
gouvernante, I hug her, I kiss her, I say to her, ' Ma
dame Morton, be converted; be a Catholic: you must
be a Catholic to be saved. Father Cyprien teUs me so
very often; you have heard him as weU as I: be a
Catholic, my good lady, and I will love you dearly!' "
God, who makes use of the mouths of innocent little
chUdren to draw praise from them, caused this innocent
princess to speak thus to her gouvernante, with whom
I afterwards had several conferences: she became per
suaded that the Catholic religion was the safest for

CHARLES THE FIRST. 413
eternal salvation ; human interests prevented her from
admitting that it was absolutely necessary for it. At
length, she was convinced ; she acquiesced in it ; she be
lieved it ; deferring, however, the practice of that faith
from worldly considerations.
After long delays, she resolved to go to England, to
settle aU her affairs there, to return to France, and
then make a public profession of the Catholic religion.
But how awful are the judgments of God! and how
dangerous it is not to answer him when, by oft-repeated
inspirations, he speaks to our hearts, calls us, urges us
to listen, and to obey him ! Madame the gouvernante
failed sorely in this duty. Success in this conduct
proved extremely baneful to her : for, being in London,
on account of her domestic affairs, she was seized with
a very violent inflammatory fever, which led her into
thoughts and resolutions contrary to the happy change
which she had projected. Seeing a Catholic lady, a
good friend of hers, enter her chamber — " Madam,"
said she, aloud, " taUc not to me about religion; urge
me not to be a Catholic, I never will be one." Thus
died that miserable lady, who pretended to dispose of
divine graces according to her good pleasure.1
Madame the Duchess of Amilton [Hamilton] expe
rienced a like fate. Several conversations touching
religion induced her to resolve to renounce the Pro
testant and to embrace the Catholic. I was destined
for her confessor, and to receive her into the Church.
This matter was to be kept quite secret, because the >
duke, her husband, being a stanch Puritan, and a re
lation of the King's, would have been in a raging pas
sion with his wife, and would have left no means
untried to get us sent out of England. This idea, to
gether with the amusements of the court, and various
worldly considerations, were to this lady specious but
unhappy pretexts for deferring her conversion from
week to week and from month to month. Amidst
these delays, she feU dangerously iU. The duke, her
husband, suspected from some appearances that she
1 The good Father is evidently here a little out of temper, and a good deal out
of truth.

414 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
intended to be converted. To prevent this, he stayed
continuaUy with her, so that no priest should speak
to her. She died without being reconcUed to the
Church. As she would not when she could have been,
by a just judgment of God, she could not when she had
a desire to be. So true it is that it behoves us to listen
to God when he speaks to us, and to do what he in
spires. The duchess was extremely deficient in this
point as weU as the Countess of Morton.
After all these amusing digressions, which are con
nected with the subject of which we are treating, to
resume and to continue the history of our little princess,
we must state that she was tenderly loved by the Queen,
her mother, as it is commonly the case that fathers and
mothers are fondest of the last child whom they have
brought into the world; witness the patriarch Jacob,
who was more attached to Joseph and Benjamin
than to any of his other chUdren. The Queen
reckoned the little princess as the last of her children ;
though she had a true mother's affection for them aU,
yet it was remarked that the httle princess was the best
beloved. She was endowed with a noble understand
ing, extraordinary beauty, and uncommon skill in aU
the exercises befitting her royal rank. She was so suc
cessful in them, that she equaUed the best performers in
dancing, in playing upon musical instruments, hi the
baUet, and the like. Her agility, her exquisite figure,
her sweetly majestic carriage, all her motions, were so
correct, so weU regulated, that there was nobody but
praised her. The report of her abilities spread to all
quarters. Madame the Duchess of Savoy envied her
sister, the Queen, mother of the httle princess, for it,
expressed her high satisfaction, and, under the idea
that she was brought up, like the other princes and
princesses her brothers and sisters, in the Protestant
religion, she added that it were to be wished that as
great pains might be taken to form the mind of the
princess, her niece, and to fill it with Christian truths,
as were taken to form her body to all the noble exer
cises of her rank.
On this intimation, the Queen thought it necessary

CHARLES THE FIRST. 415
to make known, not only to France, but to all the
neighbouring States, that Madame her daughter was
brought up in the profession of the Catholic, Apostolic,
and Roman Church. For this purpose she commanded
me to write, print, and publish the Christian instruc
tions which I had given to the young princess. This
command, and the order of my superiors, obliged me to
give to the world Les Exercices dune Ame Royale, con
taining the duties which every Christian owes to God,
to the Saints, to his neighbour, and to himself, with the
instructions and practices of the employments usual on
working days and on holidays. These exercises, con-
tamed in three volumes, 8vo., were preceded by another
small book, which explains the obligations of baptism.
All these books, being published and distributed, made
known what the Queen desired, namely, that Madame
Henriette, her daughter, was educated in the Catholic
religion. As she advanced in age and perfection, the King, her
brother, was replaced on his throne, miraculously, as it
were, without war, without battle, without drawing a
sword. This peaceful restoration, together with the
exceUent qualities of the princess, induced Monsieur
the Duke of Orleans, with the consent of the King, his
brother, and of the Queen, his mother, to solicit her in
marriage, before concluding which, it was necessary to
confer with the King of England. Orders for this jour
ney were immediately given by the Queen, his mother,
and they set out from hence in the month of November,
1660. They took shipping at Calais, in Enghsh vessels, in
which the highest nobles of the court of England had
come to compliment and accompany the Queen on be
half of the King, her son. I know not if there was
ever seen so dead a calm, which made the sea look hke
glass ; the wind was so completely at rest, that the saUs
of the ships, deprived of the desirable breezes, kept
those large vessels motionless. In spite of aU the efforts
of the crews, it took two days to cross from Calais to
Dover, though the distance is so short, that, with a fan

416 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
wind, it may be performed in three hours. The Duke
of York, high-admhal, came to receive the Queen, his
mother, with the whole fleet, composed of such a mul
titude of ships, and ranged in such a manner, that their
masts appeared like large trees, and resembled a spacious
wood. When on board, the guns began to thunder;
each ship firing in its turn and order, one after another,
they kept up a noise marveUously loud and delightful,
which lasted for a good half hour, at Calais and at Dover.
All the rarest and the most exquisite viands rendered
the supper sumptuous, not only for the Queen and for
Madame her daughter, but likewise for all those who
enjoyed it, gratifying the palate and satisfying that
craving hunger which the calm sea air had produced.
This regale was at the cost of the Duke of York, who
knew that we were fasting — it was then Lent : in order
to obtain an exemption for it, he had the goodness to
come to us, and said, " I have heard that, at this time,
you do not eat meat, and that you are fasting : you wiU
fare Ul, for not only have we no supply of fish, but all
these people are Huguenots, who wUl not do what they
might to treat you weU; but, while I am speaking, I
recollect that we have some sturgeon here. I will go
and order it to be given to you." We returned warm
thanks to that prince, in admiration of his rare kindness.
On approaching Dover, the King came to meet the
Queen, his mother: the respect, the attentions, and all
the testimonies of perfect joy which he paid her may
be better imagined than described. In this excess of
joy, and in delightful conversations, the ships advanced
and arrived at Dover, where the King had prepared fes
tivities of extraordinary magnificence for his honoured
mother, for the princess, his sister, and for aU their
retinues, whose expences, he defrayed.
Arriving about three o'clock in the afternoon, the
King, the Queen, the Duke of York, the Princess of
Orange, and our princess Henriette, Prince Robert
[Rupert], son of the Prince Palatine, King of Bohemia,
the parties at the entertainment, were of diffrent re
ligions, some Catholics, some Protestants. Several dif-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 417
ferent graces were said. The King's chaplain began,
and blessed the viands after the Protestant fashion.
Immediately afterwards, I did the same, according to
the Catholic, saying in a grave and loud tone, " Benedic
Domine nos, et h<vc tua dona qua; de tua largitate sumus
sumpturi, per Christum Dorninum nostrum^ and, ex
tending my arms, I made with the hand the sign of a
large cross over the dishes, which had been set on the
table, the King, the Queen, and aU the others standing
while grace was said. The Puritans, the Independents,
the Quakers, of whom the town of Dover is full, and
who are sworn foes to the ceremonies of the Church,
and particularly to the sign of the cross, were highly
astonished at the liberty which I took to make it thus
pubhcly at the table of the Protestant King. They
were much more astonished on the foUowing day, when
we said mass in a very large apartment, with all the
doors open, in the presence of an innumerable con
course of people, most of whom admired the devotion
of the Catholics, others inflamed with rage, from a bhnd
and highly criminal aversion which they bear to the
Romish church.
We celebrated the same sacrifice, in the like manner,
at Canterbury, in a much more spacious place, and be
fore a much larger concourse of people. Several were
sensibly touched with the reverence with which we
treated those high and sacred mysteries, which they
compared with the meanness and nakedness of their
Lord's Supper. x This solemn and public sacrifice was
much more striking in London, particularly at the great
festival of Christmas, which, in the kingdom of England,
is in some sort august beyond all other nations. At this
time, the ordinances of the kingdom required the gentry
to rethe to their country houses, for the purpose of
practising hospitality, that is to say, keeping a well-
furnished table, and open to aU comers. I know a
nobleman who treated most sumptuously aU sorts of
persons, great and smaU, gentle and simple, who came
to his house, from Christmas-day to the feast of the Three
1 The good Father forgets in what manner this ceremonial was first performed.
VOL. II. E E

418 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Kings, expending more than 10,000 Jacobuses in this
munificent and charitable donation. A thorn from the
crown of our Lord, carried to England, and planted
there, by St. Joseph, of Arimathea, according to ancient
tradition, and the assurance of very grave authors, never
misses flowering on Christmas-eve. The people of the
place usuaUy bring a branch to the King; and as, in
those parts, they know nothing about the reform of the
calendar, they count ten days after us. The late King,
laughing, and holding this branch of thorn in his hand,
said, that it proved that its calendar was better than
ours, because that shrub blossomed on Christmas-eve,
kept according to the style of England, and not accord
ing to ours.
This is said by way of digression, respecting that
great festival, which was celebrated in the palace of
VuithaU [WhitehaU], where the King usuaUy resides,
with so much piety, pomp, and magnificence, that a
great number of Protestants, who attended, were highly
edified, and some reconciled to the Church. The Catho
lics, in particular, were delighted to see then rehgion so
publicly and so solemnly professed, even in the residence
of the King, after so many persecutions, so many unjust
laws, so many atrocious edicts against their property and
then persons, so many ruins and desolations, which they
had suffered during the detestable rebellion of the regi
cide Parliament. One thing that grieved them much
was the return of the Queen to France. However, the
severity of this affliction was soothed by a strong hope
that the stay of her Majesty at Paris would not be long,
and that they should have the happiness to see her
again soon in England, never more to leave it whUe she
lived. Such was, in fact, the intention of this good
princess, but Divine Providence disposed otherwise.
These earthly joys are generally mingled with bitter
ness. The happy arrival of the Queen in London, the
pubhc and peaceful exercise of the Catholic religion, hi
which she indulged, hi the residence of the King, her
son, the future marriage of Madame Henriette, her
daughter, with PhUip de Bourbon, only brother of the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 419
King of France — these things, and several others, were
agreeable subjects for rejoicing; but, very soon, there
was a sad cause for alarm in violent and mortal pains
which aU at once attacked the Princess of Orange. She
had been brought up, by order of the King, in the Pro
testant religion. The Queen, her mother, who could
not openly oppose this order, had placed about her a
young lady, who was secretly a Catholic, and who in
fused into her the sentiments of that holy faith. She
represented to her in then conversations, when they
were alone, that she was to be married, and, according
to all appearance, either to the son of the Emperor of
Germany, or to the Dauphin of France, or to the prince
of Spain, who were all Cathohcs, and, of course, it was
requisite that she should be Catholic. " I have no ob
jection," replied the princess ; "let me be taken to mass :
I shall be very glad to go." She habitually carried a
rosary in her pocket, which she took out and showed, in
order to please us, when her sharp eyes perceived no
Protestants. These exceUent dispositions were thwarted
by the great troubles of the kingdom, which required
her to be sacrificed as an innocent victim for the public
welfare, by giving her in marriage to the Prince of
Orange, under the idea of receiving through him power
ful succours in men, money, arms, and munitions of
war, to crush the unhappy rebellion of the subjects of
the King: so that unfortunate princess foUowed the
Huguenot religion, agreeably to the manner in which it
is practised in HoUand.
Nevertheless, we cannot but believe that she always
retained something of those good dispositions which she
had manifested in her childhood. It was necessary to
revive them in her illness ; it was necessary to remind
her of them, and to represent to her by sohd reasons
the importance of dying in the Catholic religion. Such
was the design of the Queen, who did not succeed,
through a strange dispensation of Divine Providence;
the disease increasing suddenly to such a degree of vio
lence as to put an end to the life of this unfortunate
princess before she cordd be spoken to upon this subject.
EE 2 •

420 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
I know not whether it was the Puritans who, when she
first fell Ul, spread a report that the disease of the prin
cess was contagious, to prevent the Queen from going
near her. In fact, Madame Henriette was removed
from that place, and I had orders to accompany her to
another royal house, caUed St. Jemes. We had not
been there long before word was brought us that the
Princess of Orange had expired.
During the whole time that the Queen abode in Lon
don in the King's house, for the space of three months,
there was but one table for the King, for the Queen, for
the Duke and the Duchess of York, for the Princess of
Orange before her death, for her sister, Madame Hen
riette, and for the Prince Palatine Robert [Rupert], son
of the King of Bohemia. The dishes being placed on
table, one of the King's ministers [chaplains] said a
short prayer in the Enghsh language: immediately
afterwards I began the benedicite, which those royal
personages heard standing and with reverence. This
practice is not observed in the Queen's household,
though the King, her son, and the Duke and Duchess of
York, Protestants, were at table : the minister [chap
lain] was not there, and the Queen's priests alone pro
nounced the benediction. It happened one day, in the
King's house, that the dishes were upon table and their
Majesties ready for dinner; the minister and I, being at
some distance, strove to get nearer in haste, but the
people who filled the room prevented us from advancing.
We were obliged to use some violence, in which the
minister feU. The noblemen and gentlemen about the
King then began to laugh and jeer, and say aloud that
the mhiister was upset, knocked down, floored, and the
priest victorious.1
In the month of February, 1661, the Queen left
London to return to France. She embarked at Grave
signe [Gravesend] with the King, her son, who came to
escort her. Madame Henriette, future consort of Mon-
1 A few pages back Pere Cyprien testifies to the piety of this court : this ex
ample of it is just what might be expected from the distinguished circle over
which " the Merry Monarch" presided.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 421
sieur the Duke of Orleans, was so sick at sea that it was
necessary to land at Portsmouth. During the fifteen
days or thereabout which then Majesties stayed there, I
went several times to hear the minister of that Hu
guenot town preach, and had afterwards some confer
ences with him, the success of which was very satis
factory. He admitted that there was error in the reli
gion which he professed; that the Cathohc was the
safest, but that he could not foUow it, having a wife and
chUdren, and no other means of subsistence but his
living. I mentioned this to the Queen, to whose great
zeal this favourable news was very agreeable. She
ordered me to assure the minister that, if he would
become Cathohc, he should not want for assistance, and
that, for her own part, she would settle on him for life
an annuity equal to the produce of his living. With
many thanks to the Queen, he said that, being unable to
execute his design immediately, he would take the
liberty to write about it to her grand almoner and me,
when we should have arrived in Paris. I know not
whether his letters were lost, or whether he was induced
to change his resolution, God so permitting, having
refused his favours when they were offered to him. Be
this as it may, when at a distance we never could learn
anything concerning him, nor ever heard talk of him
through any that we met with.
The Ulness of Madame Henriette rendered our stay
at Portsmouth extremely dull ; and besides, the place
itself has nothing agreeable about it but a fine harbour,
being destitute of aU other amusing things. As soon,
therefore, as Nature had given that princess strength to
walk and to endure the sea air, she went on board again
with the Queen her mother, and afterwards all their
attendants in several ships, which arrived safe at Havre
de Grace. We were obliged by necessity to make some
pause there, in order to take breath, and to make aU
requisite arrangements for the journey to Paris. The
Queen was cautioned not to pass through Rouen,
because the smaUpox was rife there and had carried off'
several persons. This was thought, at first, to be a trick

422 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
of the governor and of the city, to spare themselves the
attentions, services, and expense', necessary for the
honourable and pompous reception of her Majesty.
Be this as it may, the Queen took another route, on
which M. de LongueviUe, governor of Normandy, came
to meet her with a squadron of horse, composed of the
smartest and best mounted nobles in the whole province.
He had near at hand a chateau, where he magnificently
regaled her Majesty, aU the gentlemen, aU the ladies,
and her whole court. Next day, the first President of
the Parliament of Rouen, foUowed by his whole fine
court of justice, came to pay his respects and submis
sions, accompanied by an excellent and eloquent speech,
to which she listened with attention ; and, as she was en
dowed with a very subtile and ready understanding, she
made him on the spot a very judicious reply, and recom
mended to him the Capuchins of that province, with
reference to some httle disagreement with the Peres
Penitens. The President deemed himself highly ho
noured by the approbation of her Majesty, held her re
commendation of the Capuchins very dear, and pro
mised to employ aU the influence and authority which
he possessed to ensure success to it. So, highly pleased,
he took leave of the Queen, who got into her carriage
and continued her journey, accompanied by M. de
LongueviUe and aU the gentlemen who had foUowed
him. After they had gone a great way, the Queen pre
sented her hearty thanks to aU, but particularly to M.
de LongueviUe, and obliged them to return home.
M. de Montagu, her grand almoner, abbot of St.
Martin, at Pontoise, earnestly besought her to do him the
honour, before she proceeded to Paris, to alight at his
abbatial residence, which he had superbly fitted up and
prepared for that purpose. She acquiesced in his re
quest, alighted, and stopped in his house, and found aU
things in exceUent order. WhUe she was surveying the
rich pictures, the jeweUery, the porcelain, the embellish
ments, there was heard the sound of drums, trumpets,
kettle-drums, and presently appeared the King, the
Queen, and Monsieur, who came to salute the Queen,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 423
and to express their joy at her happy arrival. The
King and the Queen, his consort, conversed tiU night
with the Queen of England ; and Monsieur fancied him
self in Paradise on seeing Madame Henriette, whom he
tenderly loved, whom he regarded as his future wife,
whose absence had given him very great pain and un
easiness. Having heard of her Ulness, his fears lest
she should die had occasioned sleepless nights, excite
ment, agitation, inward pahis, dreadful anguish. Look
ing stedfastly at her, he scarcely knew whether he
ought to believe his eyes, so delighted was he to behold
her again, and so overcome that he could hardly speak
when he kissed her. After some pause, after recovering
Ins spirits, he wished to learn from her own lips the
success and the particulars of her journey. He listened
with extreme attention and rapturous delight to the nar
rative of her adventures. Gladly would he have passed
the night thus, but it grew late, and he was obliged to
break off the conversation and return with the King to
the chateau of St. Germain. MeanwhUe, M. de Montagu
had prepared a supper of the most delicate viands and
the most dehcious wines that he could procure for the
Queen and all her attendants.
Louis XIII., father of Philip, Duke of Orleans, was
own brother of Madame Henriette of Bourbon, Queen
of England, mother of Madame Henriette Stuart. So
the two iUustrious persons, the offspring of such near
relations, could not be married without a dispensation
from his Holiness the Pope. For this purpose, as soon
as the articles of marriage were agreed upon, a courier
was despatched to Rome from their Majesties, who
solicited the Pope to grant this important dispensation.
It was brought during Lent, and the marriage was
celebrated immediately in the chapel of the Palais
Royal, where the Queen of England then resided. The
whole was performed without pomp, without ostenta
tion, without much ceremony, on account of Lent,
which is a season of penance, of tears, of mortifications.
Some days after the marriage was contracted, Monsieur
wished to have his wife in his apartments in the

424 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Tuileries and at Fontahiebleau ; the thing was just and
according to God, but nevertheless attended with dif
ficulty and vexation.
There is nothing so melancholy, so painful, so in
supportable as the separation of persons who have a
perfect love for each other. Between the Queen and
Madame her daughter, the mother loved her daughter
with excessive fondness, and the daughter loved the
mother with a nobly humble and respectful affection.
Ever since a spark of reason began to glimmer in the
mind of Madame, she had never been parted from the
Queen, her mother ; she saw herself continually as if in
her bosom : so she was her consolation in the calamities
of England. After so many years passed in that man
ner, judge if the separation could take place without
great violence. Hence it was that, when Monsieur
came to fetch this princess and to take her to his apart
ments in the TuUeries, there was general mourning in
the Palais Royal: sighs, tears, sobs, of the Queen
and of Madame made some weep, melted the hearts of
others, and pained aU. It took some time to moderate
the grief of these royal personages. Madame desired
that the service which I rendered to the Queen her
mother might not prevent me from seeing her, and con
tinuing the same offices which I had performed for her
before her marriage. I received orders to that effect
from her Majesty also. I was, therefore, obliged to call
upon her frequently during her stay at the TuUeries.
In private, I conversed with her on the dangers of
the court and the necessity of grace to avoid them, of
humility and fervent prayer, which must be frequently
offered up to God to obtain that grace. I represented to
her mildly that the iUustrious quality of daughter of a
King and wife of a very great prince, only brother of a
very mighty monarch, ought never to make her forget
that she was a Christian, whom it behoved to live
like a Christian, to foUow the precepts of Jesus
Christ, and to imitate his life ; that, being married, she
owed great love, perfect fidelity, and entire submission
to Monsieur, her husband. Sometimes, speaking of

CHARLES THE FIRST. 425
the strange vicissitudes of England, I set before her,
from fatal experience, the inconstancy of earthly great
ness, the instability of aU that the world prizes, the
wretchedness and the brevity of this mortal life; the
importance of attaching one's self to God and labouring
for a happy eternity, which one never can arrive at but by
purity of conscience and by the merit of good works,
enemies of mortal sins, one alone of which is capable of
depriving us for ever of that ineffable happiness, as
many who are now groaning in heU experience to their
great disaster, and as the devUs themselves, who for
merly were eminent angels, are forced to confess. Such
were the subjects on which I talked to Madame, when
obedience obliged me to go to see her at the Tuileries.
The King left Paris, to pass the summer at the delight
ful and magnificent chateau of Fontahiebleau. Monsieur
and Madame accompanied him. The Queen of Eng
land stayed meanwhUe at her house of Colombe. The
obhgation to remain with her separated me from
Madame, whom I afterwards saw but seldom, and only
when she sent to fetch me to hear her confession. I
no longer talked or conversed with her about spiritual
things but at such times, and that very briefly ; com
pany, business, the bustle of a great court which oc
cupied that princess, depriving me then of the means of
speaking to her as I had been accustomed to do.
Seriously reflecting on what I said to her, she came
sometimes to the chateau of Colombe, to pass two or
three days with the Queen, her mother. I then had
opportunity to see her conveniently, to speak with her
in private, to touch mUdly and quietly on the affahs of
her conscience, on her exercises of devotion, on the in
structions which she had received before her marriage,
on the great importance of following them strictly,
since a happy eternity depended upon it, in order that,
now she had become a woman, she might retain in her
memory and in her practice what she had learned as a
girl. I reminded her, in the space of half an hour, of the
principal things on which I had conversed with her

426 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
during the course of several years. Thus passed all
the rest of the time that I was employed in her spiritual
guidance ; that was tiU the last time that the Queen,
her mother, returned from France to England; for,
after so wide a separation of kingdoms and so great an
estrangement, it was no longer possible to pay both
even ordinary attention. It was, therefore, absolutely
necessary to give up one or the other. The person of
Madame was very dear to us, but we had the greatest
obligations to the Queen, her mother. Among so many
holy religious orders as there are in France, she had
particularly chosen the Capuchins to be continuaUy
about her royal person, to serve her as chaplains,
almoners, and preachers; she had caUed them from
France to England, to officiate in that magnificent
chapel which her piety caused to be built, to the great
blessing of many Protestants, who embraced the Ca
tholic faith, and to the wonderful utihty of the Cathohcs,
who there found masses, sermons, catechisms, confes
sions, communions, vespers, comphns, litanies, spiritual
conferences, in short, the free exercise of their religion.
Besides these advantages, which imposed on the
Capuchins the obligations of the deepest gratitude, and
of perfect submission to the desires of her Majesty,
her express commands and the order of Superiors were
other ties which bound them inseparably to her service.
As, therefore, I could not stay with Madame, I begged
her not to take it amiss if I accompanied Madame, her
mother, and proposed to her at the same time another
Capuchin, whom she took instead of me for her con
fessor. This was the Reverend Father Jean Chrysos-
tome, of Amiens, a monk of uncommon merit and
capacity, who had passed through the principal offices
of the Order of the Capuchins, and who had worthily
acquitted himself of them. His learning, together with
his polite manners, had made him preacher, reader in
philosophy and theology, warden, master of the novices,
and several times definitor in the Province of Paris.
The exceUent qualities with which he was endowed
rendered him so agreeable to that illustrious princess,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 427
that she always retained him for her confessor, and sent
for him expressly to be attended by him in her last
illness, in which she expressed such generous re
solutions, so complete a disengagement from the
earth, so much contrition for her faults, such ardent
love of God, that all present unanimously judged
that she quitted this world only to pass gloriously into
heaven. The Queen, solicited by the King her son, by the
Duke of York, and by the greatest lords of England, to
return to London, where she had added a superb
buUding to her palace of Somerset House, resolved to
leave France, gave the necessary orders for her journey,
commanded me to accompany her, with the Reverend
Father Apohnaire of Paris, who was then our com
panion after the decease of the Most Venerable Father
Lambert, of Flicourt, a monk of great virtue and high
example. Before the troubles in England, we were ten
Capuchins in the service of her Majesty. The intrigues
of the Fathers of the Oratory who had preceded us,
who had been sent out of England by command of the
King, and who were anxious to establish themselves
there again, caused the Queen, through the medium of
the Earl of St. Albans, to apply for no more than the
two Capuchins, who were then actually in her service.
Having recently received that impression which kept
her fixed to that number, it was not the time to speak
to her about the agreement between the two crowns,
that ten Capuchins should officiate in her Majesty's
chapel. It behoved us' humbly to acquiesce in the
application, and to await a favourable opportunity, and
to manage adroitly with her, to obtain her consent to
the re-estabhshment of the old number, ten. Our
solicitations, favoured by the grace of God, were actuaUy
successful, notwithstanding the power of the Earl of St.
Albans and M. de Montagu, grand almoner of her
Majesty, who was a warm partisan of the Fathers of the
Oratory, by means of one Father Gough, an intimate
friend of those two gentlemen. From chaplain of the
King of England, he had become Catholic, then Father

428 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
of the Oratory, and afterwards almoner of the Queen, as
I have already said.
Our general chapter was then met at Rome, where
the profound learning and the rare prudence of the most
Reverend Father Antoine de Carpenedo induced all
the Fathers having voices to vote for his being general
of all the Capuchins. I wrote him a letter of congratula
tion touching his holy election, and informed him of the
order which we had received from the Queen for our
return to England.
After all the permissions, consents, benedictions, of
our most Reverend Father General, and of our most
Reverend Fathers Superiors of the Province of Paris,
we were obliged to hold ourselves in readiness to attend
the Queen on her journey, in order to continue in her
service in England. She left Paris accompaihed by
Monsieur the Duke of Orleans and his wife, who escorted
her to Beauvais, where they could not separate without
abundance of tears, particularly on the part of the
mother and the daughter. Madame, who had always
been brought up under the eye of the Queen her mother,
could not leave her, having never found in her any but
a holy sweetness, amidst all the bitter trials attending
the disturbances in England ; and love, like a weight,
which descends rather than ascends, kept the heart of
the Queen pressed to that of her daughter, who could
not bear that kingdoms and seas should part their
persons : but this separation, being judiciously and sted-
fastly resolved upon, obliged both to submit : so Mon
sieur and Madame took the road to Paris, and the Queen
that to Calais, where I found her, and the most
Reverend Father Charles Francois, of Abbeville, preacher,
a Capuchin full of zeal, who was learning the Enghsh
language from a desire to be some day missionary in
England. I did not neglect this opportunity to associate
him with us, and to increase our numbers by degrees
to ten, according to the old agreement between the two
Crowns. I took him to pay his respects to the Queen ; I made
him say a few English words, and at the same time

CHARLES THE FIRST. 429
besought her Majesty to aUow him to come and serve
her with us. She complied ; not knowing in what state
her house and our lodgings in London were ; she said
we must wait tiU we were there before we sent for him
to come to us. In fact, she promised to send for him
when she should be settled in her palace of Somerset
House. I made a very earnest supplication to her on the
subject : she spoke about it to her grand almoner, who
was adverse to us, and who inspired her with different
sentiments ; but I had already written to Calais, to direct
the Father to come over as quickly as possible. He
lost no time, and came in haste. No sooner was he in
London, than I informed the Queen of his arrival. She
was surprised at it, and by no means pleased : but the
thing was done, and she had the goodness to assent to
it presently afterwards.
When the cruel edict of the detestable Parliament
had put to death its rightful King, banished the Queen,
imprisoned and then exiled and sent back aU her Ca
puchins to France, the magnificent chapel in which they
celebrated the divine sacrifice was, alas ! sacrilegiously
changed into an infamous meeting-house of Huguenots,
who smashed the images, pierced the crucifix with halberts,
broke up the confessionals, demolished the altars, as I
have already related, pulled down the house wherein we
dwelt. Some private person obtained permission from the
Parliament to build another there in its stead. The
Queen, on her arrival in London, found that house full,
and her chapel a scene of desolation. She was obhged to
repair the latter, and to wait tiU the former was empty, in
order to lodge us in it. While thus waiting, some months
passed away; at length, the whole being repaired and
fitted up, we began to perform divine service in the
ehapel, to the great consolation of the Catholics: the
number of the old and the new, of those who were
born of Catholic parents, and of others, Protestants
converted to the faith, being very great, and coming
from morning tUl noon to the church to be present
at the adorable sacrifice of the mass, three Capuchin
priests were too few to satisfy their devotion, to con-

430 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
fess them, to instruct them, to catechise them, to
preach to them. We told the Queen this, and be
sought her zeal to permit us to send over to France
for more Capuchins to serve along with us. lhe
answer was, that she would speak to her grand almoner
about it.
As she had an acute understanding, was very strict in
reserving to every one his right, the superintendence
of her chapel, which belonged to her grand almoner,
required that he should at least be apprised of those
who were taken to officiate there. We were assured of
the good-wiU of the Queen, who had always approved
highly of our services, who had been much pleased with
the instruction that we had given to Madame her daughter,
and who had honoured us on a thousand occasions with
signal testimonies of her kindness. On the other hand,
we knew that her grand almoner would have been glad
to see Fathers of the Oratory in our places. Accord
ingly, he assented not to the proposal of her Majesty,
who persisted in it, and acted so energeticaUy in our
favour, that he was at length obliged to consent ; but
with a circumstance, which sufficiently showed his dis
like of us. Having more inclination than power to
remove us from the service of the Queen, he resolved
to have at least the satisfaction of excluding some of us
from it. During a period of fifteen years, there had been
ten of us Capuchins in this highly noble and useful
office. Monsieur the grand almoner to the Queen
thought that, on her re-establishment, eight would be
sufficient for the service of her chapel and her person.
She yielded at first, that she might not completely dis
please him ; but I afterwards represented to her, that in
this number eight there were two friars, and that six
priests were not enough to attend to the altar, to cele
brate the sacrifice of the mass the whole forenoon, and
to perform honourably all the other functions, as weU
before her Majesty out of chapel as in her chapel. She
admitted that this was true ; and, notwithstanding the
repugnance of her grand almoner, she promised to send
for seven Capuchins of the Province of Paris to be

CHARLES THE FIRST. 431
associated with us three, and to make up the number
ten, which was speedily done.
The beautiful church, which had served the Hugue
nots for a meeting-house after our banishment, being
completely repaired, and aU the Capuchins who were
to officiate in it having arrived, we began to perform
divine service in it. The news soon spread among the
Cathohcs, who then came in perfect quiet, without being
in any way molested for then religion, by a holy tolera
tion, through the bounty of the King. They came in
crowds to this sacred place, to attend the adorable sacri
fice of the mass, to confess, to receive the communion,
to hear preaching and the catechism, which was taught
in French and in English, to have their children bap
tized, to be married, according to the forms and cere
monies of the Romish Church. We performed peace
ably aU these functions, as wTe had been accustomed to
do before the troubles of the kingdom, without the two
Fathers of the Oratory, who were then in the Queen's
service, and since happily deceased, finding then in
terests suffer in any respect whatever. On the con
trary, they rejoiced thus to see religion flourish, and
God glorified, through our ministry. We hoped for
the hke sentiments in those who succeeded them, where
fore they surprised us, when, favoured by Monsieur our
grand almoner, and the Earl of St. Albans, who had
great influence over the mind of the Queen, they pre
tended to a superiority over us in the performance of
the spiritual functions, and to such a direction of her
Majesty's chapel, that it was only by their permission
that we were to administer the sacraments there, and
under then authority.1
I spoke to Monsieur the grand almoner on the sub
ject, and calmly represented to him that, according to
the treaty of peace between France and England, the
Queen's chapel was to be served by the Capuchins only;
that those Fathers of the Oratory had been left solely
through an intrigue; that, on our arrival in England,
1 The little jealousies of these ecclesiastics prove how unalterable is poor human
nature, under whatever circumstance it may be placed.

432 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
they were to have returned to France ; that their pre
decessors had never claimed this right; that, for the
space of sixteen or seventeen years, that Monsieur
Duperon, Bishop of Evreux, had held the office of grand
almoner, we had always done the duty of the chapel
peaceably under his authority, independently of any
other; that this practice, founded on custom, ought not
to be changed, unless for some very extraordinary cause,
and no such appeared; lastly, that it was for him to
award justice, which was entirely on our side. These
reasons, and several others, made no impression upon
his mind, which was mightily prejudiced and prepos
sessed. He remained inflexible, and decided, with
animosity, against us and in favour of the Fathers of
the Oratory. In this extremity, I had recourse to the
Queen, who listened to me with great attention, charity,
and patience; and, notwithstanding what her grand
almoner and the Earl of St. AJbans had previously
said to her, she kept the balance so even, that, not con
tent with continuing to us all the functions of her chapel,
independently of the Fathers of the Oratory, she obliged
them to apologize to us for their inconsiderate attempt.
We have already said that her great devotion to the
mother of God had induced her to deshe to have in her
chapel the confraternity of the Holy Rosary, to attract
Enghsh Catholics to the love of that most blessed Lady.
She had actually applied for and obtained this ancient
and truly noble confraternity from the most Reverend
Father General of the Order of St. Dominic, who had
made us Superiors of it, with power to admit all such
persons who wished to be received into it as we should
think proper. The Queen was the first who proposed
to be received, and, after her, the gentlemen, the ladies,
the people of the court, and numberless other Catholics,
who repaired every Saturday to the altar of the Blessed
Virgin, where her litanies were devoutly chanted. They
confessed and communicated every first Sunday in the
month, attended the solemn processions that were held
on those days in honour of that Holy Lady; a beautiful
image of whom, exquisitely carved out of that kind of

CHARLES THE FIRST. 433
wood which is csilledmontaigu [mahogany ?], which Queen
Mary de Medicis had brought from Flanders, and given
to her very dear daughter, our Queen, was carried by a
priest in his pontifical habit. This devotion of the
Rosary was so striking, and made such impressions on
the heart, that persons of aU ranks came every day
sohciting to be enroUed. Thus it continued for the
space of several years, constantly increasing, till, in
order to extinguish it, the DevU excited throughout the
whole kingdom a furious war against rehgion, and
against the King and the Queen, his beloved consort,
obliging her to pass nearly twenty years in melancholy
banishment. At length, through the mercy of God,
that war ended; peace was restored to England, the
Queen returned to London, and was reinstated in her
palace. The first thing to which she directed her at
tention was the revival of the confraternity of the Rosary
in her chapel ; and she commanded me to write to the
most Reverend Father General of the Order of St.
Dominic to obtain his permission, which he granted,
and highly praised the zeal of the Queen : thus the ex
tinct devotion was rekindled ; the brothers and sisters of
the Rosary assembled; many others joined them, and
increased and filled up the number of the persons
deceased in that holy confraternity during the war.
Solemn processions recommenced, with confessions and
communions, the recitation of the Rosary, the whole
service, and aU the exercises of piety, which had been
aforetime performed in honour of the Holy Virgin.
After the piety of the Queen had accomplished this
salutary re-estabhshment of the Rosary, for the glory of
God, for the honour of the most Holy Virgin, for the
benefit and spiritual advancement of numberless Catho
hcs, there were crowds of people who earnestly begged
to be admitted into that holy congregation. The chapel
became more frequented, conversions more common,
our labours for the salvation of souls more arduous and
unremitting. To enable us to be the more successful,
and to render the mission stUl more flourishing, our
Reverend Father Provincial, with the Reverend Fathers
VOL. II. F F

434 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
definitors, sent us this letter, with the foUowing regu
lations.
Letter of the Most Reverend Father Provincial of the
Capuchins of the Province of Paris to all the Capuchin
Missionaries in England.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is but just
that, labouring in the business and for the general good
of the whole province, and of each convent in particular,
we should also devote a few hours to the welfare of your
mission, which we consider as the noblest and holiest
employment in our rehgion. We have, therefore,
thought it right to draw up the httle regulations which
we transmit to you, that you may observe them faith
fully, hoping that by this means your way of life may
be more regular, that you may set a better example to
your neighbours, and give more glory to God in your
occupation. Accept these gifts, and let the Reverend
Father Superior require them to be read at least once
every two months. If we were with you, we should
know better what you need, and add other regulations
to these ; but as our absence deprives us of aU other
light, we shall confine ourselves for the present to these,
begging you to remember in your holy sacrifices him
who is,Venerable Fathers, your most humble and most
affectionate servant in Jesus Christ,
F. Nicolas, Provincial.
Regulations for the Fathers Missionaries in England.
The Friars ought frequently to recollect that they
are not missionaries, and we dispense them only that
they may labour seriously for the salvation of souls :
and if, instead of thus employing themselves, they seek
amusement in the unprofitable conversations of seculars,
they abuse then dispensation, betray then conscience,
and are absolute double-dealers.
Since the best means of being serviceable to others is
to be good to one's self, and one cannot be good to one's
self without fulfilling one's obligations, each will render

CHARLES THE FIRST. 435
himself assiduous in the offices, in the communities, and
in the mental prayers which are marveUously service
able for raUying the mind chssipated by associating
with seculars, and which give us a great advantage
over aU other missionaries. These exercises cannot be
omitted by any one whatsoever, either for visiting in
the town, or for mere conversation with seculars; but
only for confessions, conferences with heretics, atten
dance on the sick, and the like.
The conduct of souls being a very difficult, but a very
meritorious business, when well performed, very dan
gerous when carelessly executed, every one wiU study
to do that duty without favour or affection to any crea
ture, solely to glorify God. Let us strive to make our
selves very skilful in the discovery and practice of the
means of effecting the salvation, and advancing to per
fection those whom we guide.
Embarrassment with temporal things in favour of one's
neighbour, being frequently an impediment to sphitual
benefit, and an occasion of evU reports against the com
munity, we forbid you to occupy yourselves with such,
as also to receive letters from, or to send them to, secu
lars, to borrow, or to beg money to relieve the poor, &c.
Unless for some important spiritual benefit, any of
these, or simUar things, be necessary, the missionaries
wUl not enter into them without the permission of the
Father Superior, to whom an account must be given of
everything ; and when one is obliged to go out fre
quently for the conversion of heretics, one must acquaint
the Father Superior with it, that he may know what
business one is about, and what houses one frequents.
Our Seraphic Father, St. Francis, forbids in his rule
all suspicious consorting with women, which has proved
fatal to the greatest saints. l In order to avoid clashing
with the most holy prohibition, to keep ourselves in
good odour, and to withdraw ourselves from even the
shadow of sin, we wiU that the Friars admit not females,
whether single or married, into their chambers, and that
they allow them not to enter their garden ; but, when it
1 This is an acknowledgment for which we were not quite prepared.
F F 2

436 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
is necessary to speak to them, that this be done in the
church, or in the house, in places set apart for the pur
pose ; to which end the Father Superior wUl assign one
or more places for conversation with such females,
single or married, as may come to our house, and for
bid them to be spoken with out of the places so set
apart. In order that blessed poverty may be better observed
by the Fathers missionaries, we desire the Father Su
perior to be careful to provide for aU the wants of the
missionaries, whom we forbid to make use of money for
ordinary and individual necessities, leaving the Father
Superior to attend to aU that, whenever it shaU be ne
cessary to go in a boat, or the like, which cannot be
done without money, they may use it, with the blessing
of the Superior, whom they will ask for it as it is wanted.
But they must not keep any money in then rooms, or
elsewhere, and shaU receive what they have need of, by
order of the Father Superior, to whom they shaU deliver
what they have left on their return, when they have
satisfied the want for which they received the money.
Done at Paris, in our definition, the 16th of September,
1668. F. Nicolas, Provincial.
Some missionaries having found difficulty in these
reforms, the Reverend Father Provincial added to them
this explanation, in a letter addressed to the Reverend
Father Cyprien, of Gamache, Capuchin preacher, Supe
rior of the Capuchin missionaries in the service of the
Queen of England.
My Reverend Father, — Having heard that some of
our missionaries in England find some difficulty in un
derstanding some of the articles which have been made
by the definition in our chapter for the good government
of that mission, I am very glad to give you an elucidation
of them in the three or four foUowing articles :
1. That the service of the Queen and of the chapel
be preferred to aU things.
2. That the missionaries always bear in mind that
they are not mere missionaries, but regular mission-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 437
aries, who ought to unite regularity with the duties of
the mission, without wishing to imitate those who live
in private houses, who go and come, who do what they
please, and as they please.
3. That our missionaries should not be abroad so
much, nor go out so assiduously as not to stay at home
one day in the week to coUect themselves, to study, and
to prepare themselves for the important employments
of confessions, preaching, conferences with heretics.
4. That no one dispense himself from communities,
prayers, regular services of the Queen, and of the chapel,
unless with the permission of the Reverend Father Su-
perior, or for some important business of the mission,
which wiU be communicated to him, and which cannot
be deferred tUl another time.
Such are the four articles which I beg you to be
pleased particularly to enforce, that they may be strictly
observed by our Father Missionaries, and all the rest
that has been ordered in our last chapter by the defi
nition, for the good government of that mission. Forget
me not, too, I beg of you, in your holy sacrifices, who
am, my Reverend Father,
Your most humble and affectionate servant,
F. Nicolas, Provincial.
Dunkirk, 20th February, 1664.
The Queen beheld with great joy, in her chapel, the
extraordinary influx of people who filled the confes
sionals, who came to the communion table, who attended
the divine service with a fervour which animated her
zeal, of which she gave signal tokens on many occasions,
which Divine Providence afforded her : here is a noble
example of it.
The English are habitually engaged in the navigation
to the East Indies. Their ships coming from those dis
tant parts, frequently put into the port of London, and
are always bringing rarities thither. I know not how it
happened that one of these ships had on board a little
Chinese lad, fourteen ,or fifteen years old, saUow, of a
gentle disposition, weU made, and of good figure. He

438 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
was presented to the Queen, who received him very
kindly, in a spirit of religion, with the intention of con
tributing her endeavours towards making him a Chris
tian and a Catholic. Being incorporated with her house
hold, and numbered among her servants, she ordered me
to instruct him in the catechism, to influence him to wish
to be a Christian. I received the command with sub
mission and respect, and began to talk to this young
heathen, who had already learned the English language,
and entirely forgotten that of his own country.
It was in this language that, after some httle conver
sations on indifferent things, I strove to make him
comprehend, by natural reasons, that there is a God,
who made this vast universe, and everything in it; that
this God has no body, that he is a spirit, who has al
ways existed, and wiU exist for ever, who is in heaven,
on earth, in every place in the world; who sees every
thing, knows everything, possesses infinite knowledge;
by whom man, animals, the elements, and all things
have been produced ; that this God is alone, and cannot
be multiplied, because, hi multiplication, he would not
be infinitely perfect, the one not having the perfection
of the other. Supposing there were more Gods than
one — two, for example — these two Gods would not have
the same perfections ; having the same perfections, they
would be entirely the same, and would be but one God :
on the contrary, having different perfections, neither
would be entirely perfect, not having the perfections
that would be in his companion ; thus neither would be
God. This point was not difficult to the Chinese; he
comprehended it extremely weU,1 but the mystery of
the Trinity puzzled him ; and as it is impenetrable, and
infinitely above nature, so at first it appeared impossible
to him. He could not persuade himself that God was
perfectly sole and single, and that, in this simple unity,
there were Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three abso
lutely distinct persons, each of whom was God. He
found the same difficulty in the incarnation, and in the
Eucharist, being unable to conceive that a God, who,
1 He must have been a very clever youth.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 439
by his immensity, fills heaven and earth, was reduced to
the small size of an infant, and afterwards to an igno
minious death on a gibbet, and lastly, to the mean
quality of victuals, serving Christians for spiritual food
in the Holy Sacrament.
AU this shocked him much ; I therefore said to him
that; these mysteries being elevated above nature, it was
no wonder that natural reason could not reach them ;
that God, being all-powerful, all things were possible
to him ; that it was not naturally more difficult to God
to change a visible substance into another that was
invisible, than it would be to him to create heaven and
earth out of nothing; that, being truth itself, he could
not lie, and that he had revealed to us these things to
which we had some resemblances in nature, as I pointed
out to him. He acquiesced, and expressed no difficulty
in believing the words hell, the immortality of the soul,
rewards of the good, and punishment of the wicked
after this life, the perfection and holiness of the Chris
tian rehgion, and in its sacraments, its mysteries, and
in aU that it ordains and prescribes for chUdren, in a
countless number of virgins, confessors, martyrs, who
have cheerfully given their blood and then lives in
defence of the truth. I related to him some instances,
which touched him, and, with the grace of Heaven,
excited in him a desire to be a Catholic. This deshe
he repeatedly confirmed to me, and gave me occasion
tb tell him that this desire was an inestimable favour
and blessing which he ought to prize highly, and to
thank God for all his life, salvation being so bound up
with Christianity that it was not possible to be saved
without being a Christian. I then gave him the in
struction necessary to prepare him for baptism, and
informed the Queen of this happy success.
She rejoiced greatly, and it so spurred her piety,
that she not only resolved to attend the ceremony of
baptism, but deemed it no derogation from her royal
dignity to perform the office of godmother, and to au
thorise what she had ordained touching our indepen
dence on the Fathers of the Oratory in the ecclesiastical

440 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
functions of her chapel. Without making any mention
of them on this occasion, she dhected me to provide aU
things for the striking solemnization of baptism, desned
that I would officiate and baptize this youth, and sent
to request M. the Abbe" d' Aubigny, brother of the
Duke of Richmond, and grand almoner of the young
Queen, to name the boy, whom he caUed Peter, which
was his own name. Thus, the young Chinese, so far
distant from his country, deprived of his own father
and mother, sustained a lucky loss, since he was made
by the grace of baptism a real heir of Paradise, and
had on earth for his sphitual father one of the most
Ulustrious gentlemen of England, and for mother a
mighty Queen, who designed to secure to him an
honourable subsistence.
This sacred ceremony was performed before a great
concourse of people; many Protestants were mingled
with them, to be spectators of this noble action, to see
the beauties of the chapel which they had heard talked
of, and to take notice in what manner, with what cere
monies, we served God. Among these was a young
man, versed in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew lan
guages, which he made it his profession to teach in
London, in a pubhc school, with his father, who was an
eminent divine. I had several conversations with him,
which he received with docility; he liked them, and
took occasion from them to come to see me several
times ; and, after explaining to him, in many interviews,
the principal points of our faith, grace at length appear
ing in his heart, he renounced the Protestant religion
and embraced the Cathohc, in which he manifested
great fervour, employing himself with zeal in the con
version of his countrymen, in writing and viva voce.
Among those whom he has served in this important
matter, his father is one of the most considerable.
We were conversing one day on the obligation to
five in a Catholic manner in order to be saved. I told
him that he ought to pray to God for that grace for all
men in the world, and particularly for Monsieur, his
father, and for Madmoisel, his mother, whose con-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 441
version was so much the easier, because they led a
strictly moral life; that, having received from them
life, existence, education, and other advantages, he
ought not to omit either prayers, or sohcitations, or
addresses, to withdraw them from heresy, and to lead
them into the ways of salvation ; that the procuring for
them this internal felicity is, in some sort, a spiritual
birth to those from whom he had received the corporeal.
Hearing this, the young man, animated with holy fer
vour, resolved to undertake the affair, though he saw
at first very great obstacles. His father had always
preached and taught a doctrine contrary to the Romish ;
his school gained him high acquaintance, made him
many friends, afforded an honourable subsistence to his
large famUy, by the considerable profit which he de
rived from it. He could not embrace the Cathohc re
hgion, without ceasing, not only to preach, but even to
frequent any Protestant church, his continual absence
from which would cause him to be looked upon as a
Cathohc, and this persuasion of the people would ruin
his school, and prevent him from teaching, which he could
not do without the permission of the bishop, who would
not give it to a Cathohc.
These reasons, and many others, were strong, these
obstacles powerful, but grace proved stronger and more
powerful. It prevailed against them aU, and proved
nobly victorious through the mediation of the son, who,
upon pretext of a walk, drew his father to our house,
introduced me to him, afforded me the means of speak
ing to him, and conversing with him. After the usual
civUities, we had several conversations, temperate, but,
at the same time, forcible ; the result was that the Holy
Ghost, acting powerfuUy on the heart of the minister,
filled him with confidence, and inspired him with a
generous resolution to renounce all human interests for
the salvation of his soul, to forsake the Protestant re
ligion, to live and die in the Cathohc. After receiving
the necessary instructions on this important subject,
being well prepared for the profession of the faith,
I thought that he ought to make it accompanied by

442 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
prudence ; that it should nevertheless be as solemn as
possible, that we might draw others by this holy ex
ample. I spoke on the subject to the Queen, who
thought my proposal reasonable, took a warm interest
in this affair, rejoiced greatly, and determined to be
present with the Catholics of her court at this holy
act. Monsieur the Abbe de Montagu took no less
interest, and expressed no less satisfaction, on account
of this event. I requested him to perform the cere
mony, in order to render it more solemn.
On the day appointed, therefore, dressed in alb and
stole, seated on a rich chair before the altar, the
minister, kneeling at his feet, after a short discourse that
was addressed to him, declared aloud, that the Pro
testant religion, in which he had too long hved, was
one of error, which he renounced with all his heart;
that he deeply regretted having passed so many years
separated from the Catholic, Apostolic, and Romish
Church, which he believed to be the only true Church,
and humbly begged to be received into it ; then, in a solemn
and elevated tone, he made the profession of faith of the
sacred council of Trent. Monsieur, the grand almoner,
exhorted him to continue stedfast in that faith, and to
acknowledge aU the days of his life that very great
felicity, to pay humble thanks to God for it, and then
he gave him absolution from heresy, reconcUed him
with the Church, and sent him to me for his sacra
mental confession, the whole in presence of the Queen
and the Catholics of her court.
Being thus happUy converted, having made his con
fession, and twice or thrice received our Lord Jesus Christ
in the adorable sacrament of the Eucharist, he took
pains to communicate to his famUy the great felicity
which he himself enjoyed. His wife was a lady per
fectly well bred, morally virtuous, of a mild disposition,
who esteemed her learned husband a very excellent
man, who had great confidence in him, and lived with
him in great harmony. In these excellent dispositions,
she could not learn his change of religion, and the
powerful motive which had urged him to it, without

CHARLES THE FIRST. 443
being mightily touched, and without thinking of fol
lowing him, that she might not be separated from him
in faith, as she had never been in affection and charity.
She therefore wished to be more particularly instructed
in so important an affair, which involved the peace of
her house and her eternal salvation. The reasons
which clearly and solidly proved the falsehood of the
Protestant religion, and the constant truth of the Ca
thohc, were propounded to her in detaU. She compre
hended them, examined them, reflected much upon
them, and at length acquiesced in them. Thus grace
effected, without much difficulty, her conversion and
that of aU her chUdren.
It was afterwards wonderful to see the fervour of aU
these new converts, who shamed the cowardice of
ancient Catholics, and who strikingly proved, in then
holy examples, the truth of these words of our Lord,
Erunt novissimi primi — " The last shall be first;" being
gained last for the service of God, by then fervent
exercises they shaU, in a short time, make greater pro
gress in virtue, and advance much further in perfection
than the others have done in the course of many years.
The minister, his wife, and his chUdren, came separately
with great assiduity, on Sundays and hohdays, to the
sacrifice of the mass, to vespers, to complins. We put
the minister into a particular place, where he could see
and hear the priest at the altar, without being himself
seen by anybody : his wife, who had her face masked
and muffled up in a scarf, entered the Church with
reverence, but freely, and took her place with the other
women. Then devotion was great to the most Holy
Eucharist, which they received every month, and on
aU high festivals, with an extraordinary sense of the
awfulness of that august sacrament and of their own
unworthiness. After leading this praiseworthy life for
four or five years, they ended it by a happy death. Of
the whole fanhly, two chUdren only were left, who
thanked God every day for the mercies which they had
received from his goodness; and particularly for the
favour of their vocation to the Catholic Church.

444 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
If the conversion of this whole happy famUy gave
me great joy, as there is no satisfaction on earth that is
not mingled with or foUowed by something unpleasant, I
received, about this time, sad tidings which rent my heart
with grief. Before the troubles in England, and the un
just decree for our return to France, I had the direction
of a good Catholic lady married to a Protestant knight,
who was engaged in various commissions for the King.
Then marriage had produced several chUdren, whom
the mother brought to be instructed in the Christian
doctrine, finding them in great danger of foUowing the
rehgion of then father. I frequently talked to them
of the grace of hving and dying Cathohc in order to be
saved. I took particular pains to impress this salutary
and constant truth upon then minds. So thoroughly
had they comprehended it, that it seemed impossible
for them to be shaken in it. They bore noble testi
monies to it on occasions that afforded me high satis
faction, and came assiduously to divine service, confessed,
and took the communion frequently with warm feelings
of devotion.
In this way, they continued during the whole of our
residence in London, after the restoration of the King,
and the return of the Queen, his mother. I inquired
concerning the state of these persons, whose charity
had rendered them very dear to me, and with whom I
had taken such pains. I learned, with astonishment
and grief, that Monsieur the Chevalier was dead; that
aU his chUdren had been won over to the Protestant
rehgion in various ways; that Madame, then mother,
who had continued Cathohc, could not prevent this
pernicious and lamentable change. I went to this
good lady to confer with her on the means that we
could take to withdraw the chUdren from then errors,
and to bring them back to the ways of salvation.
We knew that the eldest daughter was reputed to
have a superior understanding ; that she formerly mani
fested esteem and kindness for me ; and that, being of
an exceUent disposition, heresy had not completely
stifled those sentiments. Without showing that I

CHARLES THE FIRST. 445
knew anything of her damnable faU, I purposed to
caU upon her, and, if the good God should so bless
our conversations, that they should persuade her to
forsake heresy and again embrace the true faith, the
conversion of brothers and sisters would afterwards be
easy. In this resolution, I went to her house, after com
mending my enterprise to God. She received me
pohtely, but not with the frankness and affection of
past times. I inquired concerning the whole famUy,
and how it had fared during the strange revolutions of
the kingdom, since we left the country. We then
turned to the subject of rehgion : she changed colour,
began to blush, to tremble, and to say, what did it
signify what rehgion one was of, provided that one led
a regular moral life, that one took care to observe
the commandments of God, and that the life of the
Christian was governed by his ordinances? This an
swer, which did not surprise me, gave me occasion to
reply that this language was not Cathohc; that she
had formerly learned a different doctrine, and that she
had entertained other sentiments, which I had taught
her in the Queen's chapel; that there is but one true
Church through which one can attain eternal happi
ness; that one must live and die in it to be saved.
Jesus Christ obliges aU Christians, by an express ordi
nance, to listen to it; to beheve and practise what it
says ; and pronounces a sentence of condemnation upon
aU who separate themselves from it, who refuse to
hearken to it ; whoever has not faith, does not beheve,
is already judged and even condemned by a sentence
of present justice. The heathen, the publicans, have
not the faith; they do not beheve: in that separated
state there is no salvation for them. Now, our Lord
declares and protests that he who does not listen to the
Church is like a heathen and a publican ; and hving in
the impossibility of salvation so long as he continues
in that wretched state. It is, therefore, a manifest
error to beheve that it does not signify of what religion

446 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
one is, provided that one leads a moral life, and that
one may be saved in any rehgion.
The lady listened with attention to this little dis
course, which was interrupted by the coming of some
person to visit her. I left them together, and took
leave of the company with some good hope, founded
on the serious attention which the lady had paid to
all that I had said. I went afterwards several times
to her house, and, in all our conversations, I strove to
impress her with that great truth, that it is impossible
for any one who does not die in the faith of the Ca
thohc, Apostohc, and Roman Church to attain salva
tion. Having nothing to urge against the strong
reasons which I produced, she was touched by them.
I saw her as if doubtful and humbled, considering what
resolution she ought to take.
The French language was famUiar to her : she spoke
it naturally, took pleasure in speaking it and hearing
it spoken ; for which reason, instead of going to hear
English Protestant sermons, her inclination led her to
the Huguenot church in the Savoy, where the French
meet, and where the minister preaches in French.
There she was highly esteemed for having forsaken the
Catholic rehgion ; she was admired for her fine under
standing, which had penetrated the clouds of Popery
and detected its faUacies; every one applauded the
change; every one, on seeing her enter the church,
made her a low obeisance, and there was a particular
place of distinction into which she was put. AU this
fed her vanity, flattered her pride, and contributed
much to prevent her from leaving that false Church.
It was a chain that must be broken before she could be
withdrawn from it. Victorious grace produced that
effect, recalling to the memory of this lady her first
profession of the Catholic faith; the great fervour
which she then manifested, the inward peace which she
then possessed, the consolations which she enjoyed in
the exercises of piety, the agitation and trouble in
which she found herself ever since her change of reli-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 447
gion, the great reverence and the holy ceremonies with
which God was served in the Catholic churches, the unde-
voutness and the nakedness of Huguenot places of wor
ship,1 the miracles which divine power caused to be
wrought from time to time in the Roman Catholic
Church, the exemplary hfe of innumerable rehgious of
both sexes, who have renounced the honours, riches,
and pleasures of the world, in order to conform the
more closely to the obedient, austere, and suffering
hfe of Jesus Christ, who has set us an example, and
requires us to imitate it; in the religious orders so
many learned persons, who, in the dead of night, rouse
up from their slumbers; rise with fervour, watch and
devoutly sing the praises of God; who expose them
selves to a thousand dangers by land and sea; who
penetrate to the Indies, to the most distant parts, to
convert the infidels ; who are in continual submission to
their superior; then deprived of that which is most
prized by man, namely, his own wiU ; and lastly, lead a hfe
of great austerity and hardship : with the lights derived
from their studies and their prayers, they would not re
main in the Cathohc Church if it were not the true
one ; and God would never permit them thus to suffer
and to be harassed purely for his glory; he would not
leave them in error; his goodness would be interested
in it.
These reflections and others, which grace put into the
heart of the lady, with abundance of tears, which sor
row for her past faults wrung from her eyes, snatched
her from heresy, re-established her in the Catholic reli'
gion, and now she edifies aU the Catholics by her zeal
and her fervour.
Shortly before her happy conversion, I had attended
Madame her mother when dying, administered the sacra
ments to her, and obtained leave from the Queen for her
interment in our cemetery. This favour, conferred on
the mother, contributed much to withdraw the daughter
1 Father Cyprien always lays great stress on the ceremonies of the Protestant
worship not being so grand as those of the Romish Church. At least, it may be
said for the former, that their places of worship were not more naked than those of
the Saviour and his Apostles.

448 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
from her errors, and to bring her back into the ways of
salvation. The famous Calvinist, Father Dumoulin, of Chacontan,
and afterwards of Sedan, left many chUdren, who are at
present dispersed in various provinces and various king
doms. I knew two of them in England ; one is minister
and canon of Canterbury; the other fives in London,
and practises medicine, after occupying a professor's
chair in the university of Oxford. The latter, named
Louis Dumoulin, had a Cathohc friend, to whom he
strove to communicate the poison of heresy, which he
had himself sucked in with his nurse's milk. He saw
him frequently, and always solicited him to the damnable
desertion of the Romish Church. Having a hundred
times heard his father discourse on this vast subject, his
memory was full of the false reasons which he had
learned from his lips ; and, having added others to them
himself by means of his studies, and by reading Hugue
not books, he was never barren on this point, and had
always something new to say ; so he greatly annoyed
the ears and the mind of his friend, and made him waver a
httle in his faith, when the grace of Heaven caused him
to say, that though, indeed, he had not passed his life in
turning over books, still he had learned so much as to
know that his was not a new faith, that it was that of
his ancestors from time immemorial, from whom it had
been handed down to him by tradition and a continuous
succession, and that, if he chose to enter into conference
on this subject, not having been himself brought up in
the schools, he would request a friend of his, who had
studied, to make amends for his deficiency. At the
same time, he named Father Archange, of Beauvais, one
of the Queen-Mother's Capuchins, and assured him that
he would be very glad to confer with him.
Dumoulin, who did not expect this answer, expressed
surprise at it, and could not, without disgrace, refuse so
ready and so frank an offer. Distrust of his bad cause,
and the slowness of his mind, induced him to consent
to confer, not oraUy, but in writing; and, in order to
comply with this promise, which he could not avoid ful-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 449
fining without great injury to his reputation, after con
sidering for a long time how he could back, with honour,
out of the engagement, he wrote, that those of his party
and those of the Popish party both thought themselves
to be in the true rehgion ; but, these two parties, believ
ing totaUy opposite things, one of the two must neces
sarily be in error — which was it? Both pretended to
keep far aloof from it ; both pretended to foUow truth :
now, one must know, added Dumoulin, that rehgion
follows this important truth, if it conforms to the
Church of the first four centuries. Huguenot inge
nuity had forged this most specious expedient in ap
pearance, but in reality leading to no conclusion, till
aU the controverted points were first settled and de
cided by antiquity, which would require an unlimited
time to render it necessary to turn over aU the books
of those first ages ;l for, having shown, for example,
that the Christians of those days believed the reality
of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the holy
Eucharist, having proved this great truth by the testi
mony of the first Fathers of the Church, it would
afterwards be requisite to prove the august sacrifice of
the mass, then the intercession of the Saints, and so of
aU the rest ; and then, every proof being contested by
the minister, who would have said that the passage ought
not to be understood in that way — judge whether the
expedient proposed by Dumoulin was a ready and con
vincing mode of setthng the matter. Besides that, it had
been so often discussed, concluded, and solidly proved
by so many celebrated authors, particularly by the learned
Secaret, in his answer to the King of Great Britain.
Great as was the shrewdness of the minister in
making this proposition, no less sincerity and judgment
were shown by Father Archange, of Beauvais, in an
swering him, that he did not reject his proposal and his
demand ; but, before proceeding to the execution, it was
necessary to agree upon two points, without which none
of the matters in dispute between them could be defini-
1 There was only one book it was necessary to turn over ; a Book, by the way,
to which Pere Cyprien never refers.
VOL. II. G G

450 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
tively settled. The first was, whether that Church of
the first four centuries was infallible ; for, supposing that
it could be, or that it actually was in error, it would not
thence foUow that one which should be conformable to
it wordd be the true Church, since this conformity would
render it a partaker in its errors.1 The second position
where it was requisite that they should come to an under
standing was, respecting an umpire, capable of bringing
the two parties to agree, touching the explanation of
passages of the Holy Scriptures and of the Fathers of
the Church, which they might adduce in proof of what
was aUeged; that is to say, that conformity with the
ancient Church. Father Archange, of Beauvais, added
that, when once agreed upon these two absolutely neces
sary points, each might then proceed steadUy to the
search after proofs of this presumed conformity.
The minister found himself embarrassed by this
answer, which he did not expect. He took a long time
to consider about it, and, in order to preserve the httle
reputation which he had acquired, and which he would
have lost, if he had stopped there, he replied that the
Church of the first four centuries was not infallible, and
that there needed no other umpire for settling their dif
ferences but the Holy Scriptures. But Father Archange
had already anticipated his reply, proving by evidence
that the Church of the first four centuries, not being in
fallible, was liable to abide in error, to mingle a false
creed with its true articles. This being the case, a
Church which should conform to it would not follow the
pure truth, and could not justly bear the title of the
true Church of Jesus Christ. This reason was strong;
so his adversary made no reply to it, nor to the neces
sity for an umpire to settle disputed matters. This
could not be the Scripture, since each would explain it
to his own advantage. There was necessarUy required
an infallible oracle, from which might be learned with
assurance the true meaning of a contested passage;
1 If the Church of the first four centuries was in error, the Church of a subse
quent period was not likely to be less so. We should imagine, the nearer to the
source of Christianity, the purer the stream.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 451
otherwise, the dispute would continue endlessly and
without leading to any conclusion. I know not what
effect these reasons produced on the mind of M. Du
moulin, for his own salvation ; but I know that, being
convinced by then manifest truth, he ceased writing, and
would no longer continue the conference, which ren
dered his Catholic friend immoveable in the faith. This
man, who, seemed before to waver a httle, was the more
strongly confirmed in the behef of the Romish Church,
in which he died. Dumoulin was reduced to a disgrace
ful sUence by the force of truth, which rendered him
unable to answer, and to withstand the reasons of the
Capuchin, which he had rashly attacked.1
This victory of Father Archange was foUowed by
another. A certain Frenchman, son of a trader of
Paris, an upright member of a celebrated rehgious
order, finding his profession unprofitable, had assumed
the secular habit, and gone to England. He stopped in
London, a populous and wealthy city, where aU sorts
of sects are congregated. He was in intercourse with
Anabaptists, who afforded him some assistance, and
furnished him with the means of setting up in business,
and introduced him to a young woman, whom he mar
ried, and so wrought upon his mind that they persuaded
him to renounce the Catholic, Apostohc, and Roman
Church, and to embrace the Anabaptist faith. Curiosity
brought him afterwards to our church, and then into
our garden, where he met with Father Archange, who
received him very civUly, conversed with him on indif
ferent subjects, inquired if he had lived long in London,
what motive had brought him thither, and what profes
sion he foUowed. These innocent questions, put with a
winning kindness of manner, and an agreeable and respect
ful familiarity, opened the heart of this man, who
answered them all with perfect frankness and sincerity.
He said that he had made trial of a religious life ; that,
his profession producing him nothing, he had left his
monastery, without any design of forsaking the Cathohc
religion, in which he was bred ; but that the Anabaptists,
1 As usual, the good Father is a little intolerant.
G-G2

452 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
whom he had faUen in with, had shown him very clearly,
from the Holy Scriptures, that theirs is the true faith,
which he had embraced, with the intention of passing
the remainder of his life in it.
Father Archange was not at all surprised at this
answer, manifested no coldness, met him with the same
kindness of look and manner, and was rather pleased
with his frankness. After speaking in terms of due
praise of the Holy Scriptures, which were dictated by
the Holy Spirit, which were the word of God, which,
like God, were essential truth, into which lies and false
hood cannot enter, he began to show how important it
is to understand them rightly, to comprehend their true
meaning ,a that the want of this knowledge had produced
heresies ; that aU of them boast of being authorized by
the Holy Scriptures. He afterwards proved to him the
absurdity of the Anabaptist creed, and the truth of the
Romish Church, by reasons so clear and so strong, that
this man, sorry for having withdrawn from it to foUow ex
travagant novelties, took leave of Father Archange, went
home to his wife, related to her what had passed, stated the
reasons by which his mind was convinced of the faUacy
of the creed of the Anabaptists, and of the orthodoxy of
that of the Roman Church, demonstrated both to her so
convincingly, that she acquiesced in it, and afterwards
came with her husband to Father Archange, from whom
they received together the instructions necessary for con
firming them strongly in the true faith, and for leading
a Christian life. In this good disposition both of them
renounced heresy, solemnly made then profession of
faith and then sacramental confession. Having thus
hved together for some time in great harmony, it pleased
God to call to himself the wife, who departed from this
world, cheered by the sacraments of the Church, with
the signs of a predestined soul.
These conversions, next to God, are owing to the
zeal of Father Archange, of Beauvais, who delivered
every Sunday a sohd but famUiar controversial lecture,
1 The good Father did not attempt to explain why this " true meaning" should
be accessible only to one set of men.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 453
in the church, from one tUl two o'clock. AU profited
there, both Catholics and Protestants ; the former being
better instructed and more confirmed in the true faith ;
the latter, opening their eyes to the truth, acknowledg
ing then errors, humbly sohciting then reconciliation
to the Catholic Church; so that we had daily agree
able occasions to raise Cathohcs who had faUen under
the severity of persecutions; to set right schismatic
persons, who, being secret and concealed Cathohes, at
tended the Protestant service for the preservation of
their property ; to confer with aU sorts of heretics, who
were astonished to learn that our faith was so contrary
to the account given of it by their ministers, who repre
sented it as full of errors and blasphemies. I have made
mention of the other services which we rendered to the
Cathohcs in and out of the chapel, in the administration
of the sacraments. Thus God was glorified, and religion
received daffy fresh accessions by the conversion of some,
and by the spiritual advance of others.
The Queen was the cause of these great benefits ; she
was the primum mobile that impeUed the whole machine ;
nothing was done but under her authority and protec
tion. It were to be wished that her life had lasted a
century. Divine Providence decreed otherwise, and
sent her a lingering Ulness. God had given her a
generous mind and a very dehcate body. The terrible
afflictions of which we have spoken, exercising her
courage, had increased its vigour, but at the same
time they had reduced the strength of her body. On
her last return to England, encountering the rude ah of
the chmate, after having long breathed that of France,
which is much purer, she found herself seriously indis
posed, and endured aU her pains with great fortitude
and resignation to the whT of God.
One year, two years, three years, passed away in
this suffering state, which, becoming worse, caused her
to think of remedies. She recoUected that the waters
of Bourbon had always been of benefit to her, and felt
some inchnation now to go thither. The Catholics
stopped her. Her presence was advantageous to the

454 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
service of then religion. Her malady urged her to this
journey ; zeal for the welfare of the Catholics opposed
it: she wavered long irresolute. At length she be
thought her that she might leave England for a time,
and seek health in France, without detriment to the
spiritual welfare of the Catholics, leaving her chapel
open for service by eight Capuchins, in the same manner
as if she were present. She mentioned this matter to
the King, her son, who found no difficulty in permitting
the chapel to be kept open ; but a very great one in
parting with so dear and virtuous a mother : however,
her health being so precious, he gave his consent. So
she resolved to depart, and commanded me to attend
her, with another of her Capuchins, whom I should
think fittest for this journey. I chose the Reverend
Father Mathieu, of Auxerre, who had the honour of
preaching before her for two Lents in London, with
great satisfaction; and who could, on occasion, continue
that practice in France ; and, in fact, he did worthUy
acquit himself of this duty all the time that this great
princess hved.
Shortly before her departure from London, our duty
obliged us to go aU together to learn her pleasure, and
to receive her commands from her own hps. As God
had endowed her with a shrewd and ready understand
ing and great fluency of speech, she made us imme
diately a fine address, in which she declared that her
journey, with the grace of God, would not last long;
that her chapel would be constantly open to the Ca
thohcs, French and Enghsh ; that she should take with
her Father Cyprien and Father Mathieu; that aU the
rest were to stay and to perform during her absence
the same spiritual exercises which they practised in her
presence ; that it was necessary to labour for the assist
ance of Cathohcs, and for the conversion of heretics as
they had been accustomed, that is to say, in such a
manner that nothing should appear outwardly, so as
not to afford any cause of complaint to the Protestant
bishops and ministers, and to our enemies the Puritans ;
that if, during her stay in London, we had acted with

CHARLES THE FIRST. 455
that prudent caution, we ought to observe it much more
strictly in her absence. She added that those who
went into the city, to administer the sacraments to the
sick and to prisoners, ought so to conduct themselves
that the Protestants who came to her chapel, and who
knew us, might be edified ; and that, for the rest, she
had no need to recommend herself to our prayers, being
sure that the affection and zeal which we had for her
service would not aUow us to forget her.
She left London, accompanied by the King and
Queen, and the gentlemen and ladies of her court, who
embarked with her. Having proceeded about fifteen
leagues out to sea, it became necessary at length to
part, and to bid one another fareweU, which, without
being aware of it, was for the last time in her hfe ; and
so, perhaps, without any particular feeling of sorrow.
The King returned to London, the Queen proceeded
without accident to Calais, and from Calais to her
chateau at Colombe, whither their Majesties, Monsieur,
Madame, and the whole court of France repaired to pay
then respects to her. As it frequently happens that
one gains when the other loses, if the court of England
was grieved at the departure of this most amiable
princess, the court of France, and particularly Monsieur
and Madame of Orleans, manifested inexpressible joy at
her happy return.
She passed the summer very agreeably at Colombe,
and the winter in Paris, at the magnificent Hotel de la
Basiniere, which the King gave her for her residence.
When she left London, the plague was commencing
there : it increased to such a degree that, in a single
week, it carried off four or five thousand persons.
This caused the Queen to think of shutting up her
chapel, that this contagious disease might not spread
further by the intermixture and communication of
healthy and infected persons, who should come to
divine service. She mentioned this matter to me, but
without coming to any resolution. I wrote on the
subject to our Fathers in London. Filled with zeal and
fervour, they begged me to work upon the Queen to

456 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
obtain from her goodness permission for the doors of
her chapel to continue open as usual, notwithstanding
the plague, to aU the Cathohcs, that they might thus
enjoy the benefit of the sacraments, and not be left de
stitute of spiritual assistance when they most needed it.
I proposed this to the Queen : her piety led her to deem
it so reasonable that she would rather suffer her
palace to be infected than that one Cathohc should die
without confession and viaticum.
Accordingly, orders were given that the chapel should
be kept open, and that the Catholics should be at
liberty to frequent it in the time of the plague just as
when there was none. That contagious disease, which
threatened all, obliged every one to be upon his guard,
to think seriously of his soul, to redouble his fervour,
and to be more assiduous in attendance on divine ser
vice : of course, the chapel was more frequented than
ever. Amidst this great concourse of people, several
who were seized with the plague met, confessed, and
innocently imparted corporeal death to the priest from
whom they received spiritual hfe by absolution of their
sins and the infusion of grace.
Of the eight Capuchins who were left in London at
the departure of the Queen mother, two caught the
disease in that manner : these were the most Venerable
Fathers Francois of AbvUe [AbbeviUe], and Apohnaire
of Paris. An ardent zeal for the salvation of souls
kept them almost incessantly engaged in exercises of
charity, sometimes hearing confessions, at others carry
ing the sacraments to the sick, at others again confer
ring upon religion with heretics. This same zeal led
them to beg me to use my solicitations with the Queen
to forego her purpose of preventing this great misfor
tune for the Catholics — the shutting up of her chapel —
desiring stUl to continue their attendance on them.
They were fuUy aware that, in the service which they
should render them, they would endanger their own
lives, but they deemed it a great favour to foUow Jesus
Christ, their master, and, in imitation of him, to die for
the salvation of their feUow-creatures. In fact, it was,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 457
whffe confessing infected persons, that both of them,
one after the other, took the disease, which deprived
them of this miserable earthly hfe, to give them a
happy one in heaven.
Father Charles Francois had received an exceUent
education before he entered our Order. He afterwards
continued his studies with great assiduity. It is true
that, having embraced a rehgious life, that he might
meet with the fewer obstacles to virtue, and the better
to advance himself in Christian perfection, he spent the
greater part of his time in this employment. That
which was left him was so devoted to study that he
wasted none on useless things. By these means, he
acquired extraordinary skiU in polemics and in cases of
conscience. These two things were of wonderful ser
vice to him in the mission ; the one for the conversion of
Huguenots, in the conferences which he had with them,
the other for the direction of souls in confession.
The most Venerable Father Apohnaire of Paris was
endowed with so many exceUent qualities, that Nature
seemed to have been stingy in giving him so smaU a
body, that she might be the more prodigal in adorning
him with many other valuable advantages to compensate
that innocent defect. He had a sweet temper, respect
ful, courteous, agreeable to every one. He liked to
employ himself upon the httle conveniences of convents,
and was so clever in aU sorts of mechanical arts that
you would have thought he had served an apprentice
ship to them before he embraced a religious life. His
piety and his skill were extraordinary in the decoration
of churches, and in the ornaments of altars, keeping
up at the same time that poverty which is essential to
us. His ingenuity and skill gave them a beauty and a
lustre which others scarcely have with gold, diamonds,
and other rich materials. His cleverness in aU things
induced our Reverend Fathers to give him the office
of Warden, which greatly shocked his feelings, and
which he nevertheless accepted, from a spirit of sub
mission. In this office he behaved so weU that he
equalled the prudence and the wisest government of

458 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
old superiors ; and so he would ever have continued, if
his great humihty had not forbidden it, being forcibly
and perseveringly desirous to obey and not to command.
The King of England, Charles II., being happUy re
placed on Ms throne, employed his affectionate solicita
tions, and the humble intreaties of the gentlemen of his
court, to prevaU upon the Queen, his mother, to resolve
to return to England, and to pass the rest of her life
there. Father Apohnaire was then our companion
with her Majesty ; after the death of the most Venerable
Father Lambert, of Fliscourt, we had hved some years
together in the Palais Royal. Two things in him were
very praiseworthy, namely, great diffidence of himself,
and entire submission to his superiors. This diffidence
dissuaded him from going to England, on the specious
pretext that he should there have to perform the duties-
of the mission, that it was a downright heretic country,
and that he had not the qualifications requisite for s
good missionary. This notion he retained for some
time, tUl Father Charles, of AbvUle, who then governed^
the province in the absence of the Reverend Father
Provincial, intimated to him that he believed him to be..
caUed by God to that mission ; that the way to succeed
was to continue to cherish that feeling of diffidence of
himself and of the capacity of his own strength, but,
without brooding too much over that diffidence, to turn
to God, to put his trust in his goodness in all that con
cerned his glory, and to await with great faith the suc
cour of his mercy and of his power. Father Apohnaire
received this advice from the lips of his Superior as
coming from God. He dehberated no longer about
going to England; aU his scruples vanished, his de
pressed courage was raised, cheerfulness appeared in
his countenance, and thus disposed him to set out; the
virtue of rehgion, which he eminently possessed, impeUed
him, as I have said, to the decoration of churches, where
fore, when in London, he was charged to keep the
Queen's chapel always duly adorned. To this pious
duty he applied himself with great diligence, and exer
cised all his skiU in order to increase the splendour and

CHARLES THE FIRST. 459
the majesty of the altar, in order to honour Jesus Christ,
who dwells there in the adorable sacrament of the
Eucharist, to raise the devotion of the Cathohcs, and to
win for the Church such Protestants as came to see
those rare pieces of workmanship, and thus afforded us
opportunities of speaking to them, and of representing
to them the falsehood of their religion and the truth of
ours. AU the pensions of the Queen, for the subsistence and
wages of her people, being stopped on the blockade of
Paris, she was obliged to sell her jewels and the plate of
her chapel. On returning to England, she accepted from
Madame the Duchess d'AiguUlon that of the late M. le
Cardinal de Richeheu, which was very rich, very splen-
uid, very magnificent. Being placed upon the altar,
and ranged with the other ornaments by the skUl and
ingenuity of Father Apohnaire, it was a ravishing sight
to the eyes, a subject of high admiration to the mind,
a ad a strong incitement to devotion of heart ll According
. > the difference of seasons and festivals, the altar was
^ressed in so many different ways, that there was always
some clever and pleasing novelty to admire, through the
inventive ingenuity of this industrious Father. Seeing
the most Venerable Father Charles Francois, of AbviUe,
whose confessor he was, attacked and carried off, he
was deeply affected, and soon afterwards felt himself
seized by the same malady, which, in a short time, re
moved him from this world, to place him, as we may
well believe, for ever in heaven. The Queen, who was
fond of him, manifested great sorrow for his death.
In order that her Majesty's chapel might always have
a sufficient number of priests to officiate in it, and that
the Catholics might not be deprived of the assistance
necessary for then salvation, she desired that other
Capuchins of the Province of Paris might go and fiU
the places of the deceased. The Reverend Fathers
Superiors sent thither the most Venerable Fathers
Robert Bourlon, Mathieu of St. Quentin, and Antoine
of Quimper, all three zealous preachers, who laboured
1 We were not aware that there was so much virtue in plate.

460 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
with great fervour in the duties of the mission, adminis
tering the sacraments to Cathohcs, converting Hugue
nots, and rescuing from apostacy several persons whom
debauchery had induced to leave France for England.
The Reverend Father Robert Bourlon endured with
firmness the violent assaults of several enemies of re
ligion and of Christian piety ; and, by his arguments,
his perseverance, and his dexterity, he fixed those whose
good, graces he won, and who, giving themselves up to
a false creed and to false persuasions, were on the brink
of a precipice. The indisposition of the Queen diverted
him from learning the English language, which would
have been very useful. After the decease of her Maj esty,
his chief employment was with the French, many of
whom profited by his conversations, some to advance to
Christian perfection, others to escape from heresy, into
which adversity had thrown them. I know two who
are under the greatest obligations to him in this respect ;
they are two persons of quahty, who had been to see
England, and whom the pernicious conversation of.
zealous Calvinists had perverted. Father Robert found
means to speak to them, and so convinced them by his
reasons, that they admitted then errors, renounced then
heresy, and returned penitent to the arms of then
mother, the Holy Church.
Before obedience sent the Reverend Father Mathieu,
of St. Quentin, to England, he had written a contro
versial book, which gained him great reputation. He
had acquired stiU more by his modesty, by his fervour,
and by his other virtues, which induced M. Colbert, the
ambassador of the King of France, to choose him in
London for his confessor. He gained many ladies for
God, by several conferences on the subject of religion :
this became talked of. It happened fortunately for a
young Frenchman, of fine understanding, of Huguenot
parents, who had received an exceUent education, and
was well versed in controversy, which he had more par
ticularly studied, as he intended soon to be a minister;
and the pride which always accompanies heresy had
given him a high idea of himself, and a strong desire to

CHARLES THE FIRST. 461
exhibit his ability on the first favourable occasion. He
considered the title of the Queen's Capuchin as the mark
of an iUustrious antagonist, over whom a victory would
be very glorious. Under this idea, he entered into con
versation with the Father, and, after some indifferent
discourse, he advanced an heretical proposition, which
the Capuchin immediately laid hold of, and refuted so
solidly, as to throw confusion upon him whose pre
sumption promised him triumphs. The Huguenot
being forced in this post, entrenched him self in another,
in which he was not more fortunate, for he had to do
with a generous and experienced warrior. At length,
finding himself incapable of resisting, he did as the
governors of besieged towns do, who, when they can no
longer defend themselves, deshe to capitulate. He said
that he should confer better another time on these de
bated points. After a few slight skirmishes, he surren
dered, and confessed the truth, which the spirit of pride
refused to acknowledge in good company. He resolved
to renounce Calvinism, to embrace the Cathohc, Apos
tolical, and Roman rehgion, and to make a public pro
fession of it, which he did with great courage and joy,
because the grace of the Holy Ghost, and the instruc
tions which he had received, had rendered him more
humble. He is now a worthy ecclesiastic, full of fer
vour. The Reverend Father Antoine, of Quhnper, is not
only a friar of exemplary character and abUity, like the
other missionaries, but he has also the wonderful facUity
of speaking six or seven different languages, of which
he has very usefully avaUed himself in various places,
particularly in the city of London, which commerce
renders very famous, and where you meet with people
of all nations and all religions. The Cathohc merchants,
the French, Spanish, Flemish, and German, were very
glad to converse with a Capuchin who understood and
spoke their language, to submit to him difficulties of
conscience, to ask his opinion, to lay before him then
sins in the tribunal of penitence, and to receive absolu
tion of them. As for the professors of other religions,

462 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
though he was extremely averse to their false creeds,
nevertheless, speaking their language, he found ready
access to them. His serene countenance, his modesty,
seasoned with cheerfulness, imperceptibly gained the
good-will of those with whom he conversed. From one
topic to another, he skilfully led them to the subject of
rehgion ; explained to them, with great anxiety for their
salvation, that the rehgion which they professed was not
the true one ; that they must be incorporated into the
Romish Church, and die in its faith, to find a place in
heaven. Proceeding thus with nhldness and love, he
won many for God, even in the presence of the ministers
with whom he often had disputations, and always with
success. Having orders to note the persons whom, by
the grace of God, he converted to the faith, and received
into the Church, I find thirty-five on his list. He has
given, on many occasions, noble testimonies of his zeal
and his abilities. I shaU notice only the foUowing trait,
which is ingenious.
An Enghsh gentleman, brought up in the Protestant
religion, being in France, was happUy, and very secretly,
converted to the Catholic church. On leaving Paris, to
return to England, he was addressed to me by Father
Ange, of Raconies, a Capuchin, whom he had met with.
As it was of great importance to his fortune, and to the
preservation of his property, that it should not be known
that he was a Cathohc, he covered the principal exer
cises of religion with the darkness of night. He came
to me very early in the morning, before it was fight, to
confess and communicate, in a very secret place, where
he could not be perceived. A long time passed in this
manner. The Queen-mother having come to France
for the benefit of her health, as I was obliged to attend
her, during my absence, he had recourse to Father
Antoine, of Quimper. He admired his understanding,
took great pleasure in Ms conversation, and, to enjoy it
the longer, he begged him to accompany him in a jour
ney which he had to take into the country. His influ
ence was too great, and his request too reasonable, not
to be complied with. Having, therefore, the Father in

CHARLES THE FIRST. 463
Ms house, he told him that a niece of his, a Protestant,
was committed to his care, upon promise that he would
not suffer a change of religion to be talked of to her ;
that he had agreed to this fatal condition, the violation
of wMch would be productive of very great incon
veniences to himself and to several other Cathohcs. He,
therefore, begged him not to speak to her on the sub
ject, saying, that God had his intentions with her, and
would convert her at the time ordained by Ms Provi
dence. This intimation surprised Father Antoine, and.
did some violence to his zeal, which eagerly sought
occasions to gain souls for God. He was sorry to lose
one whom he thought a fit subject; but the order was
too exphcit to act contrary to it. He was obliged, there
fore, to make up his mind to a gloomy sUence. As,
however, love is ingemous, he considered whether there
was not some method of satisfying the gentleman by
saying notMng to the young lady, and of endeavouring
to gain her by some other way. After he had long
turned tins idea in his mind, he bethought him of the
following expedient. He wrote a letter, addressed to a
minister, to whom he proved by clear and solid reasons
that the Protestant religion is false ; that it is impossible
to be saved in its faith ; that the Romish Church alone
is the true Church ; and that, out of its communion, there
is no salvation. Having folded this letter, without
seahng it, he dropped it in a place to which the young
Protestant lady was to come presently. She picked it
up, read it several times, and, having a good under
standing, she was so enlightened and touched by it,
that she determmed to turn Cathohc, and nobody could
divert her from that holy resolution.
The most Venerable Father BasUe, of Soissons, know
ing that Madame HamUton, married to the Earl of
Selkirk, was not particularly attached to the Pro
testant rehgion, found means to speak to her, and to
have several conferences with her, which, at length,
caused her to resolve to embrace the Cathohc rehgion,
to pass over to France, and to go to Soissons, where
she received absolution from heresy, and was solemnly

464 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
reconcUed to the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman church,
by Monseigneur the Bishop of Soissons, who begged
Madame the Abbess of N6tre Dame to receive her for a
time mto her royal monastery, in order to confirm her
in the true faith, and show her the practices of sohd de
votion, and the pious exercises of her nuns. After a
stay of five or six weeks at this place, she came to Paris,
to pay her respects to Madame the Duchess of Orleans,
who received her very civUly, and gave her handsome
apartments in the Palais Royal, wMther I was sum
moned, to explain to her the mysteries of our rehgion,
and to receive her sacramental confession, which I did
several times, and had occasion to converse with Mon
sieur the Earl, her husband, who showed no displeasure
at her conversion to the Catholic faith ; so he is a pru
dent, moderate, sensible gentleman, susceptible of rea
son, and of a sweet temper. I left Mm in very good
sentiments, which God wUl bless, if he pleases, and
render instrumental to his salvation.
We have, at last, arrived at the end of those conver
sions, at the conclusion of that great progress of the
Catholic rehgion, and at the last period of tins mission,
wMch, through the grace of God, has produced such
happy effects m England. What is common to aU the
things of this earth, which have their beginning and
then end, could not faff to happen to tins mission. All
its foundation and its support was the service of the
Queen ; it was permitted on her account alone ; this was
the only cause that gave it subsistence, and, that cause
being taken away, the mission must necessarUy be at an
end ; as the life of the Queen kept it ahve, so her de
cease was death to it.
It was the intention of that zealous princess to return
to England, as we have said, for the preservation and
the promotion of the Catholic religion. Heaven, satis
fied with these pious wishes, prevented then fulfilment,
decreeing that France should be the theatre of her
death, and that her hfe should not extend beyond the
year 1669. AU the time that she passed in France,
after her last return to England, she was continuaUy

CHARLES THE FIRST. 465
subject to fainting-fits, sleeplessness, and other bodUy
aUments. The waters of Bourbon, which she went to
drink every year, afforded a temporary mitigation of
her complaints, but did not take them away; nay, at
last, finding these more inveterate and obstinate, they
produced neither diminution nor rehef. This generous
Queen was not dejected on this account ; she uttered no
complaints, no repmmgs, showed none of those iU tem
pers which are common with aUmg women. With the
blood of the great Henry, she had inherited a courage
that was never to be cast down by difficulties, which
disguised the sharpness and severity of her pains, and
which caused her fine face to exhibit an agreeable se
renity, and a majestic cheerfulness, as if she had enjoyed
perfect health. I have frequently heard her say, that
complamts in iUness were useless, or, if they served for
anytMng, it was to show the great weakness and the
httle resolution of the persons who complained. She
laughed at those ladies who scream, who weep, who
lament, about a touch of headache or toothache, as if it
was aU over with them.
Monseigneur the Duke of Orleans, and Madame, his
wife, who were deeply interested in her health, begged
her to permit the most eminent physicians of Paris to
hold, in her Majesty's presence, a consultation upon
her complaint. She consented; and at the same time
M. Vallot, first physician to the King, M. Esprit, first
physician to Monseigneur the Duke of Orleans, and M.
Ivelin, first physician to Madame, repaired to the chateau
de Colombe, agreeably to the orders which they had
received, and there, conjointly with M. Duquin, first
physician to the Queen, they paid their respects to her
Majesty, and mquired concermng her complaint. She
explamed to them, and told them all the symptoms and
circumstances with such clearness, that she left M.
Duqum, her physician in ordinary, nothing to add but
Ms mode of treatment, and the medicines which he had
employed for the cure of the disorder. M. VaUot ap
proved of everything, and, in discourse afterwards, said,
that, by the grace of God, the disorder did not threaten
VOL. II. h H

466 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
any danger which was to be dreaded; that the ailments
#f the Queen were painful, but without danger of death;
that, to the remedies which M. Duquin had employed,
he should merely add three grains1 {grains), which would
remove the sleeplessness of her Majesty, and contribute
greatly to her health. The Queen, hearing grains men
tioned, declared positively that she would not take
them, as she found by experience that they disagreed
with her, and that the famous English physician, M. de
Mayerne, had warned her never to take any. M. de
Vallot answered with great respect, that the grains
which he proposed to give were of a particular compo
sition, and that he would not have been so iU advised
as to propose them, had he not known to a certainty
that they would be conducive to her health ; he begged
her Majesty to be thoroughly persuaded of that, and
said that he weU knew how precious her hfe was, and
how much it behoved them to employ none but sure
remedies for its preservation; and that, if he acted
otherwise, he should be the greatest criminal in the
world. These words made some impression on the
mind of the Queen, who asked the ophiion of the other
physicians. AU of them coincided in that of Monsieur
VaUot. M. Ivelin, who spoke last, said, with great
moderation and prudence, that he knew not the com
position of those grains, but he had such an esteem for
M. Vallot, that he reputed him to be so able and so
excellent a man that he would not give her Majesty
anything whatever, if he did not know to a certainty
that it was proper and salutary for her.
I was present at this illustrious and fatal consulta
tion, the result of which was that the Queen took the
grams at eleven o'clock at night. She submitted with
difficulty, her great courage triumphmg over the re
pugnance that she felt for them. She kept very regular
hours ; that for supper having arrived, she sat down to
table, ate heartily, amused herself agreeably after her
repast, lauglhng as if nothing ailed her. She had pre
viously put all her affairs in order, provided for the
1 Probably that portion of an opiate, or that number of pills.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 467
payment of her household, and arranged with the King,
her son, that, when God should caU her from the world,
aU the persons then in her service should be paid their
usual wages and recompensed by the payment of two
years beyond: of this she had assured her confessor,
with whom she had on that day had long spiritual con
versations, in order to prepare herself for the commu
nion, which she designed to take the next day, not
having been able to do so on the precedmg, which was
the festival of the nativity of the most blessed Virgin.
But, O God, how inscrutable are thy judgments!
Thou didst infuse these good sentiments into that pious
Queen, thy servant; thou didst produce in her those
holy resolutions; though didst mspire her with that
deshe to communicate, and, without willing the effect,
thou wast satisfied with this desire; thy Providence
made use of the fatal consultation of physicians to re
move her from us, changing her earthly kingdom (as it
is to be presumed) for an empire in heaven. Death,
which, in the opinion of Aristotle, holds the first rank
among terrible things, was dreadful in her eyes : though
she never represented it to herself as any other than far
distant, stUl the bare idea of it made her shudder ; so
she did not like any one to talk of that doleful subject.
She often said to me, that it behoved us to prepare well
for it, by purity of life and frequently taking the sa
crament, by the performance of good works, and not by
talking so much.
In these holy dispositions, 0 adorable Providence,
thou didst permit her to faU mto a temporal slumber,
in wMch death threw her into an everlasting one, to
translate her from this world to the other, without her
perceiving it, as if she were perfectly ready, as if there
were not an hour of the day that she had destined to
some particular employment, to rouse her to vocal, to
mental prayer, the mass, meals, company, recreations,
business, aU which had different hours aUotted to them.
Bed-time havmg arrived, she lay down to rest, and
slept soundly, till the lady, who lay in the same cham
ber, woke her to take the fatal medicine prescribed for
HH 2

468 THE COURT AND TIMES OE
her by the physicians — those luckless grains, which
robbed her of speech and hfe ; for, from the moment
she took them, she never spoke. The lady left her for
some time without saymg anything to her after that mur
derous dose ; then she asked her how she felt, whether
she wanted anything, and, receiving no answer, she
raised her voice, and repeated the question several
times m a stUl louder tone, to make her hear; but
having, instead of words, nothing but sighs, oppressions
of the chest, palpitations of the heart, she quickly sent
the valets de chambre, who were at hand, to inform the
priests and the physicians of the circumstance. We
were among the first that came, and the priests pre
sently foUowed, and then the confessor. Each spoke
to her : the physicians, havmg felt her pulse, asked her
several questions respecting her complamt; the priests
exhorted her to contrition for her sins, to the love of
God, and to confidence in his mercy, besought her to
give some sign that she understood us, but she replied
only by a mortal sUence. Some of the physicians at
tributed it to certain vapours which had ascended to
the brain, which could not last long, and which, when
dispelled, would leave the patient capable of speaking.
I beheved them at first ; and then, seeing that there was
no abatement of her malady, I urged the confessor to
cause extreme unction to be admimstered. He left the
duty to me, and I immediately apprized M. the Cure'
of Colombe, who came in haste, and admmistered that
sacrament ; and, when provided with it, she, without vio
lence, withoutthe shghtest convulsion, with great serenity,
and a sweet expression of countenance, rendered up her
soul to God. A gentleman went off immediately for
St. Germain en Laye, where the court of France then
was, to acquamt the King, Queen, Monsieur and Ma
dame d' Orleans, with the lamentable tidings, which
affected them so deeply that they could not repress
their tears.
Thus it wUl be seen that this great Queen had ac
quired an empire, as it were, over hearts. Her excel
lent qualities, her piety, her cheerful temper, her virtue

CHARLES THE FIRST. 469
of domg good, and of not offending any one, and the
gift of speaking weU, rendered her amiable to every
body. The King regarded her not only as his dearest
aunt, but still more as the bond of union and peace
between France and England. Monseigneur the Duke
of Orleans, bemg convmced of her rare prudence and
her great affection, communicated his affahs to her
with perfect confidence, and retained for her the senti
ments and affection which he should have entertamed
for his own mother. My pen would strive in vain to
express here the violent grief of Madame d' Orleans, his
wife, the great love which she bore to a mother, so
tender, so virtuous, so lovmg, and so beloved ; and aU
that we have related on this subject in these Memoirs
wUl furnish a much better idea of the keenness of her
sorrows than anything that my pen can write.
M. VaUot, who had so strongly urged the Queen to
take those unlucky grains, was loudly blamed for it.
The esteem which he had acquired at court for his
medicine suffered a great dimmution. The servants of
the deceased shouted after him, that he had deprived
them of their dearest mistress. It was thought that,
after so fatal an accident, he could not maintain his
ground m the city, honourable and important as was the
post of first physician to the King ; but he found friends,
who talked of it to his Majesty, who told him that their
opinion of the death of the Queen was, that she had a
complaint which rendered it impossible for her to live
any longer ; that the grams which she had taken were
not by any means the cause of her death, for they had
restored health to several other patients ; that M. VaUot
had experienced in Ms own person the salutary virtue
of this medicine, using it when he was himself ill, and
by its means recovered health ; that, after so much ex
perience, he had had reason to prevaU on the Queen to
take some of these grams. This speech made an im
pression on the mind of the King, whose goodness con
sented that M. VaUot should continue in his ordinary
service. It was not for any long time ; for, in a few
months, he feU into a dangerous illness, from which his

470 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
grams could not rescue him, or prevent his leaving the
court and life to enter a tomb.
Though the house of Colombe was to the Queen as a
monastery, and her cabmet as a ceU, which she fre
quently entered to commune more quietly and more
intimately with God ; nevertheless, to animate herself
stUl more for his service, she often visited the convents
of nuns ; and, to advance herself stUl more in virtue by
the example of others, she several times stayed there
for several weeks. She retired, for three whole months,
to the monastery of the Carmelites, in the Faubourg
St. Jacques; afterwards the nuns of St. Francois de
Sales, desiring to settle at ChaUlot, near Paris, and to
change mto a house of prayer a palace which had opened
to earthly pleasure only, tins pious princess supported
them with her authority and her means ; she bought in
her name the palace and the lands belongmg to it.
Generously surmounting the great difficulties which the
DevU raised up m this busmess, she put the nuns in
quiet possession of that house, of which she became the
foundress, and she reserved for herself apartments to
wMch to rethe at certam times. There she usuaUy
passed Advent, Passion Week, the feasts of Easter and
WMtsuntide, the octave of the Holy Sacrament, and the
feasts of the most Blessed Virgin ; never thinking her
self so near to her end. Some years before her death,
she had resolved to recompense aU her household, and to
pass the rest of her life in this place of solitude and
retirement. The virtues and the holy exercises of the
nuns had so attached her to it, that she could have
wished to he there even after death ; but, foreseeing that
her rank of Queen and of FUle de France would be a
bar to the interment of her body there, she determined
at least to give her heart to this place. According to
her intention, a few days after her decease her body was
opened, and that truly Christian and royal heart was
solemnly carried to the nuns of ChaUlot.
There was nobody who knew the noble and rare
qualities of this great Queen, but lamented her decease.
France and England were long in extraordinary mourn-

CHARLES THE FIRST. 471
ing for her. England, struck with a horrible blhidness,
had formerly most unjustly banished her, persecuted her,
and fired cannon at the vessel which she was on board
of: but now, the whole kingdom, penitent for its
abominable crime, convinced of the virtues of her whose
destruction it had before sought, with such injustice,
could not hear of her unexpected death without melting
into tears, manifesting sorrow in aU sorts of doleful ways,
and transmitting to posterity an everlasting memorial of
her m elegies and other mournful pieces, and in Latin
and Enghsh graces, m such quantity, that, if they were
aU coUected, they would form a whole volume.
France, to which the memory of the Great Henry is
so precious, wMch did not regard this death as merely
that of the Queen of England, but as the end of the
chUdren of that worthy monarch, as a FiUe de France,
mild, familiar, obliging, domg good to every one — in
short, endowed with aU the exceUent qualities that are
capable of whnhng the heart — in France, her obsequies
were solemnized at St. Denis, with a pomp as splendid
and royal as it was rehgious. The piety of the King of
France, nephew of the deceased, took upon itself the
whole expense, and appointed Mr. the Bishop of Amiens,
one of the most eloquent prelates of the age, to dehver
the funeral discourse of that august service.
Madame the Duchess of Orleans, daughter of that
Queen, grateful for the obligations which she owed to
so dear and so worthy a mother, had another very cele
brated service performed for her in the chapel of
ChaUlot, where M. Bossuet, bishop of Condon, nobly
set forth the heroic virtues of that Queen in the funeral
discourse which he delivered to the marvellous satis
faction of his whole audience. In the foUowmg year,
on the anmversary, these solemmties were renewed;
when the Reverend Father Mathieu, of Auxerre, Capu
chin preacher, attested m a rich discourse the extraordi
nary merits of her august Majesty. Though Msgrs. the
Prelates had related wonders of her m their harangues
of the preceding year, stUl they had not so completely
exhausted this royal subject, as not to leave very rare

472 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
and very exceUent particulars to be added from his own
knowledge by this Father, having had the honour of
being for several years preacher to her Majesty, and
belonging to the spiritual household of that great Queen ;
and he published, with not less eloquence than truth, the
respectful and grateful acknowledgments paid to the
lamented memory of the deceased, who had so highly
honoured them with her affection.
The Enghsh manifested the great sorrow which they
felt for her unfortunate decease, not only by a general
consternation throughout the kmgdom, but by aU sorts
of doleful pieces, composed m various languages.
Such were the revolutions of one of the greatest
Queens that ever hved; such her life, her death, her
obseqmes, the end of the noblest and the most useful of
our missions, which, estabhshed and subsisting only by
authority of that royal princess, dropped with her into
the tomb. It is true, as I have remarked at the com
mencement of these Memoirs, that, before her marriage,
some French and English Capuchins performed the
duties of the mission in England and Scotland, but it
was very secretly, in disguise, gomg out at mght to be
less noticed, and to avoid being taken up as guilty of
high treason, for which the quality of priest would
render them liable to a most cruel death, according to
the miquitous laws of that kingdom. The French
Capuchins were not then in that great perU ; they acted
with freedom in the chapel of the French ambassador,
not clandestinely, but without any parade. The humi
lity of our former Fathers, who wished to leave to God
alone the knowledge of then good actions and the care
of transmitting them to posterity, has left us in ignor
ance of many memorable firings, which would now con
duce greatly to our edification; so, having been parti
cularly acquamted with only two missionaries of that
time, it wUl be about tnem alone that I shall here set
down what I learned as weU from their own accounts
as from other testimonies concerning those faithful
persons. The illustrious birth, the exceUent judgment, the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 473
great prudence, and the other noble qualities of the
Count de TUheres, having induced Louis Xin. to
chuse him for his ordinary ambassador to his Britannic
Majesty, who was then James, the first of that name,
that nobleman, who particularly honoured the Capu-
clhns with his affection, applied for two of them, for the
guidance of his conscience and that of Ms household, to
be the directors of his chapel and his preachers. To
acquit themselves duly of this office, it was not suffi
cient to possess great virtue, and a talent for preaching :
it was requisite to be versed m polemics, and to know
how to treat skUfuUy with the Huguenots. Father
Ange de Raconies was endowed with those superior
qualities ; our Fathers, therefore, selected him, and gave
him, with another Capuchm, to that ambassador. After
his return, I had the good fortune to be associated with
him for carrymg on the mission, particularly agamst
the Huguenots of La Brie, where he had many rela
tions mfected with the heresy of Calvin; so the jour
neys and the conversations that we had together made
me mtimately acquamted with him. He was of a noble
famUy, a man of fervent zeal and enrinent piety after
his conversion ; for, m his youth, he had foUowed the
errors of Calvm, with which his relations were mfected.
Heresy, encouraged by the Devil, had made such pro
gress m France, and had become so powerful and so
cruel, that King Henry III., who then reigned, found
himself obliged, in order to preserve his kingdom, to per
mit a sanguinary action, caUed to this day the St.
Bartholomew.1 To escape this terrible storm, many
retired to foreign countries, whence the orthodox faith
was already bamshed, having renounced the Romish
Church, to foUow the wUd notions of some deluded
minds, such as several places in Germany, whither
M. de Raconies removed with aU Ms famUy. Seeing
1 The historical reader need scarcely be reminded that the sovereign, who not
merely permitted but planned and assisted in performing that sanguinary action —
certainly the most sanguinary that Christendom ever witnessed — was not Henry
III., but his brother Charles IX. ; and that this sanguinary act was instigated by
the Pope, and his fiendlike mother, Catherine de Medicis ; and highy applauded by
that detestable bigot, Philip II. of Spain.

474 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
that Ms young son, whom we now caU Father Ange,
was strongly awakened, and had a superior understand
ing, he placed Mm in Huguenot schools, and was de
lighted to hear that he made great progress there, and
that he surpassed aU his compamons : and, as science puffs
up, if it is not tempered by hunrihty, which this scholar
had not, he conceived so high an idea of himself that
he sought occasions for engagmg in disputation with
the most enrinent doctors of the Romish Church, his
vanity and presumption promising him triumphs. In
this assurance, having finished his studies, and the
affahs of religion bemg more tranquU m France, he
came to Paris, for the purpose of conferring with the
doctors, and to oblige them, by the force of his argu
ments, to embrace his opinions. Accordingly, he had
several conferences with them, the success of which
was contrary to his hopes ; for, instead of perverting
the others, as he expected, he was himself completely
converted to the Catholic rehgion. The conversations
of these learned persons enabled him to perceive that
his reasons were very Ul founded; that the religion of
Calvm was but a sect, which had nothing less to sup
port it than the Word of God ; that the Holy Scriptures,
Divine tradition, the holy Fathers, antiquity, rendered
this truth indubitable that the Romish Church is the
Church of Jesus Christ, the sole true Church, out of
which there is no salvation. The proofs which those
doctors gave him of this were so solid and so powerful,
that the mind of the young Huguenot was convinced.
Nevertheless, as obstinacy is the characteristic of heresy,
and as it is hard to wrench aU at once from the heart
what education has planted there, he did not at first ac
quiesce in these reasons, sohd as they were, continued
the disputations, gave some weak answers, made some
replies ; but the brave defenders of the truth proved to
him that the answers and the replies were frivolous,
and confirmed so clearly and so solidly all they had
advanced on the subject of religion, that the aggressor,
having nothing more to say, signified, by a movement
of grace, that he had hitherto lived m error, that the

CHARLES THE FIRST. 475
reformation of Calvin was but a pernicious deformity,
that his Church had but the name ; that, in fact, it was
an absolute sect; that those who foUowed it were in
error, that the Romish Church was the only universal,
apostolic, and true Church of Jesus Christ, into which
he humbly begged to be received. His application
greatly rejoiced our doctors, who immediately began
to mstruct him in our whole creed, in our mysteries, in
our ceremonies, in the sacrament of penance, in the
manner of confessmg and communicating properly;
and, by the permission and authority which they ob
tained from Mr. the Cardinal de Gondy, then Bishop
of Paris, they publicly gave him absolution from heresy,
and mcorporated him with the Church, in which, after
appearing thrice at the tribunal of penance, he con
fessed aU Ms sins with great contrition, and received
absolution. Purified, deeply humbled, and ammated
with a hvely faith and an ardent love, he approached
with great reverence the Holy Table, and gave great
edification to all those who saw him communicate with
such devotion, strictly foUowing the guidance of his
confessor. He endeared himself particularly in those
two sacraments, penance and the Eucharist.
In order to receive them every month with more pro
fit, he renewed and increased, by stUl greater fervours,
his first preparations; by these means, he made very
considerable progress in perfection in the space of the
two or three years that he remained m the world. For,
after seemg the great danger of being lost, impeUed by
strong graces, he resolved to leave it, and to enter into
the rehgious state, where his salvation would be in less
peril ; and because, among all the Orders, that of the
Capuchins appeared to him to be most detached from
worldly things, most apostolic, he solicited with humi
lity and earnestness to be admitted mto it. After
several applications on his part, and several refusals given
by our Fathers, to put Ms vocation to the test, they at
length found that it was from God. He was admitted,
and clothed in the sacred habit of Capuchm. During
the whole time of his noviciate, he mamfested a perfectly

476 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
contented mind, great courage, ardent zeal, and extra
ordinary fervours, which spoke m his favour, and urged
the Fathers and the Friars to give their votes for his
profession: he made it with many remarkable senti
ments of devotion. Living afterwards in great seclu
sion from aU worldly matters, he strove continuaUy to
advance himself to perfection, m order to render himself
a true son of the Seraphic Father St. Francis, and to
become, by this means, more pleasmg unto God.
In this manner, he spent three years, after which,
though he had studied much in the secular state, though
his fine understanding, his great assiduity, and his
application to books would have rendered him learned,
nevertheless, to purify his knowledge, derived from a
bad source, to separate from it the wortMess, and to
leave only the valuable, to add to it sciences of assured
worth and perfectly holy, our Fathers thought it right
to set him about the study of theology, to which he
gave himself up, and in which he made Mmself such
an adept, that he never relaxed in the least in his first
fervours and in his ardent devotion ; on which account
he was by obedience promoted to holy orders, and
afterwards to the office of preacher and apostolic
missionary. Having happUy disengaged himself from the errors
which education had instiUed into his mind, he wished,
with vehement deshe, to withdraw from them all those
whom the misfortune of then birth, or a dissolute life,
had plunged into them. To this object he directed his
prayers, his efforts, and his studies. I have often seen him
deplore the mfatuation and the ruin of those misgmded
people : gladly would he have given his blood to gain them
for Jesus Christ, by making them children of the true
Church. His great zeal on tins pomt caused him to
resemble the great St. Paul, who wished to be accursed
for his brethren, obstinately attached to Judaism;
Madame, his mother, being dead, Monsieur, his father,
took for his second wife a lady named Rachel, whose
beauty was not mferior to that of her for the love of
whom a servitude of seventeen years seemed a very

CHARLES THE FIRST. 477
short time to the patriarch Jacob ; but, if this exquisite
beauty imparted great splendour to her body, heresy
gave great deformity to her soul, for she surpassed aU
others m obstinacy. She had a daughter, over whom
she watched with the greater care, because, knowmg her
to be extremely docUe, she apprehended lest the conver
sations with her brother the CapucMn might induce her
to embrace the Catholic faith, which actuaUy did happen.
AU the efforts of man are of no avaU agamst the
design of God; great as was the care of this mother, it
could not prevent her daughter from stealing out of her
sight, and tallting in secret with Father Ange, who re
presented to her the falseness of the sect of Calvin and
the truth of the Cathohc Church, and who gave her
proofs of tiris so clear and so forcible that she resolved
to embrace the faith of the Romish Church, m spite of
the great obstacles wMch she foresaw, the punishments,
the sufferings, and the persecutions that her conversion
would draw down upon her. Being persuaded that her
eternal salvation was at stake, she thought that she must
disregard every other consideration adverse to this im
portant end.
Father Ange, delighted to see her m this holy dispo
sition, commumcated the pious secret to Madame de
Gondy, wife of the general of the gaUeys, and mother
of the most Eminent the Cardmal de Retz, so worthy
of the purple with which he is invested. This lady,
filled with zeal for the salvation of souls, spoke of this
affair to other devout persons ammated with the same
spirit as herself, and, acting all together, they secretly
mtimated to MademoiseUe de Racomes to feign indis
position on a Sunday agreed upon, and excuse herself
from accompanying Madame her mother to preacMng.
Being thus left at home alone, and havmg nobody with
her but some serving-man or maid, a carriage should
be sent for her ; she was to get mto it without any one
belonging to the house knowing whence it came, or
whither it was going. Madame the lady of the general
of the gaUeys, and other ladies of high quality, received
her with that joy and kindness which exceeding charity

478 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
is, in this case, capable of producing, and treated her
like their own daughter, had her thorougMy instructed
in all our mysteries, took extraordinary care of her;
and, after her profession of faith, kept her tUl Divine
Providence, wMch governs aU things, united her m mar
riage with a virtuous, wealthy, and highly esteemed
gentleman. It was with the consent of aU her relations
that this alliance took place, that this great honour was
done her. Madame de Raconies, her mother, had then
recovered from all those passions which had been
extreme on her return from preaching. Not finding her
daughter at home, and learning that a carriage had
come to fetch her, she judged, and rightly judged, that
her brother the Capuchin had persuaded her to turn
Catholic, and her fury was terrible. Under this idea,
she gave vent to her rage ; she screamed like a maniac.
Nothing escaped her hps but language of the grossest
abuse, and horrible imprecations. She cursed her son, the
Capuchin ; and you would have said that she had divested
herself of the feelings of humanity, to assume those of
a raging honess, or a furious tigress, who had been
robbed of her cubs m her absence.
In these frightful passions, Father Ange had not
reframed from appearing before her, though those
violent outbursts gave him great pam. He comforted
himself, however, with the consciousness that he had
furnished no occasion for them. He beheld with delight
the glory of God sMne forth with great splendour in the
conversion of a soul which forsook the ways of heU to
follow the desirable path of everlasting salvation. He
paid humble thanks to God, and besought of him the
grace to make many similar conquests, which was
granted to him ; for a great number of Huguenots were
converted to the Cathohc, Apostolic, and Romish rehgion
by his indefatigable solicitations and efforts.
Business having called him to Rome; he had the
honour of speaking several times with the great Cardinal
BeUarmin, who took extraordinary pleasure in his con
versation; learning from him the mode in which our
French Huguenots conduct themselves, their devices,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 479
then artifices, and then round-about ways, which were
not so weU known to his Eminence when he gave to the
public his great controversial work, which has spread
Ms fame aU over the world, as virtue gives him glory in
heaven. In consequence of these discourses, the Cardinal
conceived a Mgh esteem for Father Ange ; thought that
he ought to employ him m the reduction of heretics;
and, m order that nothmg might prevent him from acting
with suitable freedom in this office, he obtained for him
considerable privUeges, such as to be Apostohc mis
sionary, to have a companion on feast days, whom he
could employ to absolve from heresy; and with these
advantages, he most usefully applied to the labour for the
salvation of souls, and, in particular, for the conversion
of heretics.
Among the great number whom he gamed for the
Church, I shaU notice only two who are Ulustrious
above the rest, the one in France, the other in Eng
land. The one in France was his nephew, Charles
Francois d'Abbra de Raconies, who exceUed m philo
sophy, m theology, and in preaching. The University
of Paris placed him in the first rank of its most enrinent
and ablest phUosophers, and he was foUowed by four
hundred students, who listened to him with admiration.
In theology he won the palm from aU the Bachelors.
The first place was due to his merits; but, as it is
always favour which confers tins place, and as no per
son can hold it without great expense, he was dispensed
from it, and had the second place. With this recom
mendation, Raconies had, m his degree, more honour
and less expense. Passing from the degree of doctor
to the divine exercise of preaching, his learning, accom
panied by piety, zeal, and eloquence, made him preacher
to the King. His sermons consisted in general of
three parts: the first, on doctrine; the second, upon
controversy ; the last, on morahty . In the first, he taught
some Christian truth; in the second, he attacked the
Huguenots ; in the third, he hiveighed against corrupt
manners. IUustrious persons convicted of error by Ms contro-

480 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
versies, deshed to see him enter into conference with
the famous nrinister, Dumouhn. He complied with joy,
with the permission of the Kmg. This conference was
held before many persons of quality of both religions.
M. de Raconies argued with such subtlety and such
solidity, that M. Dumoulin, finding himself too weak to
resist so powerful an adversary, had recourse to address,
and artfully broke off the conference in which M. de
Raconies had effected the conversion of the noble per
son, who had been the cause of this learned and brilliant
dispute. And, after this conversion, he achieved a
great many others, in the merit of which Father Ange
de Raconies had a share; having, by the grace of God,
won for the Church, and for God, him who was the
cause of tins great felicity. I recoUect that, preaching
in the Church of St. Germain de l'Auxerrois, he invited
his congregation to attend on the foUowing Sundays,
to witness the investiture of Dumoulm, the nrinister,
who was going to take the habit of Capuchin. This
news greatly astonished the people, who thronged to
the place in crowds, and who were not in the secret.
Dumoulin had engaged, by a solemn promise, to
assume the Capuchin habit, if one could prove to him one
tiring, which M. de Raconies was assured of verifying by
a convincing demonstration. These controversial dis
putes, the number of persons whom he snatched from
heresy, the very considerable benefit arising from his ser
mons, brought him into such esteem, that the Kmg, who
was acquainted with his merits, appomted him to the
bishopric of La Vaur, which highly pleased the Pope;
who immediately sent him the Bulls. Among aU the
conversions which the zeal of Father Ange de Racomes
effected m France, is not this of Mr., his nephew, a
memorable one? The other was very illustrious in
England, in the person of Madame the Duchess of
Lenox, mother of M. d'Aubigny, grand ahnoner to the
Queen. The Count de TUlieres, having orders to go on
embassy to the King of England, he desired to have
two Capuchins, one skUled in controversy and a good

CHARLES THE FIRST. 481
preacher. Our Reverend Fathers offered him Father
Ange, with another who bore the name of Deluynes,
who was related to the great favourite of Louis XIII.
Both made considerable progress in England by their
conferences, then insinuating conversations, their great
zeal, and then good example. King James was then
living ; I have heard talk of him ; and, though the faith
which they preached was contrary to that which was
instilled into the minds of his subjects, not only did he
not express any displeasure, but he even deshed to see
a work on rehgion written by Father Ange, which his
Majesty honoured with an answer, and to which he
added marginal notes with his own royal hand. It was
a noble and advantageous opemng for the conversion
of the King ; but the wonderful secrets of Divine Pro
vidence prevented the effect by the removal of Father
Ange, whom Mr. the Ambassador sent to France on
some important business.
Before he set out, he had treated with many persons
of quality, and, among others, with the Duchess of
Lenox, to whom he had demonstrated, by Scripture
and reason, that the Protestant religion, in which she
hved, was not the true rehgion necessary for salvation.
At first, tins made no great impression on her mind,
and produced no happy effect, but was foUowed by her
holy conversion to the Cathohc rehgion. At the time
of our arrival m London, she told us that the learned
and pious conversations of Father Ange de Raconies
had been like a seed thrown upon the earth, which
does not immediately produce its fririt, but in a suc
cession of seasons ; for, thus retahring in her mind the
solid reasons of Father Ange, she had long meditated
upon them; and, at length, they had made her re
solve to renounce the Protestant and to embrace the
Catholic faith. As her rank was very high, for she
had the honour to be related to the King of Great
Britain, her conversion excited great notice, and touched
several who began to doubt of their faith ; and, desiring
to be instructed, were brought to the knowledge of the
truth, followed it, and passed the remainder of their
VOL. II. I I

482 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
lives hohly in the Catholic, Apostolic, and Romish
rehgion. I have forgotten the names of some other English
Capuchins, who served the mission in England and
Scotland, before our Queen arrived there. Her coming
rendered heresy more reserved, and served to temper
the violent hatred borne to the priests, and the strict
search made for then persons, and the severe torments
with which it afflicted their innocence. Before, there
was nothing for them but prisons, gibbets, and aU sorts
of punishments; wMch showed the great zeal of our
missionaries, who, notwithstanding those objects of
terror, went to England to withdraw some from their
errors, and to confirm others in the true faith. God
gave them the grace to succeed m then labours ; but,
then humihty having concealed the particulars, let us
go from England to Scotland, the mission of which
was also dependent on the provmce of Paris.
Father Ange, of Scotland, rendered himself famous,
among others, by the ardour of his zeal, and by the
subtUty of Ms understanding, which are set forth in
brilliant colours m the history of his hfe, which an elo
quent pen hath given us by the title of " The Scotch
Capuchm;" and to that I refer the reader who knows
that, at the same time, another Capuchm, named Father
Chrysostome, of Scotland, effected several conversions,
as weU by the sanctity of his life as by the force of his
reasons. I shaU only notice here the principal, wMch
were weU known to me, such as that of a virtuous
gentleman and Enghsh knight, caUed Richard Forster.
He sprang from a very noble and a stanchly Cathohc
family, which the persecutions caused him to leave at
an early age, to embrace the Protestant religion. He
had the good fortune to be the grandson of a martyr.
His grandfather had suffered death in defence of the
faith. TMs noble cause having made him a prisoner
along with two priests, the jailor one day left the
prison-door open inadvertently; the priests, on per
ceiving it, said : "It seems as if Divine Providence
affords us this means of escape, that we may continue

CHARLES THE FIRST. 483
to assist the poor Cathohcs. Let us commend our
selves to God ; let us take our time adroitly, without
noise; let us aU go out one after another." Mr.
Forster approved then design, as far as they were con
cerned, but not for himself; said that, in fact, they
would do weU to preserve themselves for assisting
those who should have need of their aid ; that it would
be easy for them to conceal themselves in the city,
where they were not known ; that they would have no
difficulty to proceed to another, where they were un
known; but, for his part, he was married; that he had
a wife and cMldren, and that God had not caUed him,
like them, to the administration of the sacraments, and
to the conversion of the people ; that he had promised
his family, when he parted from them, that he would
never forsake them ; and that he would await in the prison
the accomplishment of the designs which God had with
him. Accordmgly, he stayed behind; the priests went
forth, and he was soon condemned to death, which he
underwent with great courage and joy. The prayers
of this martyr and father were powerful with the
Almighty to rescue from heresy a son who was moraUy
virtuous, and who had formed an intimate friendship
with a Mr. Taleur [Taylor?], an Enghshman by birth,
and agent to the Archduchess of the Low Countries,
Isabel Claire Eugeme. He was at home when Father
CMysostome arrived to receive 99 tapers and 99 ad
dresses, touchmg his mission and his journey; for this
judicious and zealous agent, besides the affahs of his
employer, was much engaged for the benefit of Ca
thohcs and for the protection of priests. He received
with great gravity Father J. Chrysostome ; and, on learn
ing his intentions, he told him that he had come most
opportunely; that a respectable gentleman, a good
friend of his, resided on the borders of Scotland; that
he could go with him m perfect assurance, and procure
for him a signal benefit, by persuadmg him gently to
forsake the Protestant religion and to embrace the Ca
thohc, which had always been that of his ancestors.
At the same time, taking him by the hand, they went to
i i 2

484 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
the gentleman, who was in another room. " Here,"
said he, " is a good friend of mme, who wiU accompany
you, if you please, on your return home. He is going to
Scotland, and your road is that which he must take,
I am certain that you wUl like his company, and Ms
conversation wiU beguUe and shorten the journey." —
" WeU and good," rephed the gentleman, " I shaU be
dehghted; the long journey would have been very
tedious, if I had been obliged to travel alone." They
settled then affairs, and soon set out.
During the journey, Father J. Chrysostome begged
Mr. Forster not to take it amiss, if he did not continue
his conversation aU the way, as he wanted a httle time
to himself, to attend to his private affahs. This time
was employed in prayers and meditations, with wlrich
the gentleman was highly edified. He told me that the
Father, conring to himself, as from a trance, asked one
day, " Quelle heure est ilf" [What o'clock is it?], not re
collecting that he was speakmg to a gentleman who
knew not a word of French. His prayers and his medi
tations rendered Mr. Forster weU disposed to profit by
his conversations, wMch were always seasoned with
piety. He afterwards spoke of the difference of the two
opposite creeds, and feU adroitly upon the impossibility
of being saved m both, because there was but one true
Church estabhshed by Jesus Christ, preached by the
Apostles, and cemented by the blood of so many mar
tyrs ; said that this true Church could not be the Pro
testant, since it had neither the antiqmty nor the other
essential marks which it had ; that it had sprung up but
lately ; that Luther and Calvm, men who led bad fives,
were its founders. He added that tMs glorious title of
true Church, and Church of Jesus Christ, belonged to the
Romish Church ; that, ever since it was founded, it had
continuaUy persisted, in spite of the cruel and sangui
nary persecutions, which aimed at its extinction; that
it had flourished in England and Scotland for several
centuries ; that the Churches of these two kingdoms were
Ulustrious testimonies of it. The gentleman acknow
ledged that they were, and that his father had even

CHARLES THE FIRST. 485
been condemned to death, and the sentence executed,
merely because he was convicted of being a Papist.
This ingenuous avowal was a fine field opened and
strong arms given to the Capuchin, for conquering and
securing his man. In fact, he pressed him so closely,
that he remained completely victorious, making him
sensible of Ms blindness in things so clear ; of his want of
courage to attend the places of worship of his ancestors ;
in short, of the genuineness of the Romish church, and
the necessity of livmg and dying in its faith, in order to
be saved.
So far, he was unacquamted with the character of
Father J. Chrysostome, and that he was a priest. He
was anxious to find one who would admit him into the
church ; and then the Father, delighted to see such ex
ceUent dispositions in his neophyte, conceived that the
time to discover himself had arrived. He excused him
self for not having entirely revealed himself to him, the
unjust laws of the kmgdom having obliged him to con
ceal his quality; that, by the grace of God, he was a
priest, would receive him into the Church, hear his con
fession, and render him aU the assistance of his ministry.
This mtimation greatly rejoiced, and, at the same time,
surprised Mr. Forster, who made his confession and his
profession of faith on reaching home. His wife was of
the Protestant religion. He was earnestly desirous to
induce her to embrace, like himself, the faith of the
Romish Church. Father J. Chrysostome and he having
commended this important affair to God, she received
so much grace, that she was converted to God, and
with her aU their children, and some servants of both
sexes. It often happens that Heaven impels us to en
terprises, and, as it were, bandages our eyes, that we
may not perceive the difficulties which would depress
our courage, and prevent us from accomplishing the
good, strong insphations of which it has imparted to
us. This was the case with Mr. and Madame Forster.
Convinced of the truth of the Romish Church, he had
generously joined it, without considering the fearful
penalties decreed in England against Catholics, but

486 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
which they afterwards underwent with great resolution
and joy.
All intercourse with heretics, and particularly the par
ticipation in the sacraments, being forbidden us, they
found themselves greatly at a loss in regard to the bap
tism of the children born after their conversion. Madame
Forster, finding herself near her lying-in, her husband
and she made believe to quit then house, with the m-
tention of hving somewhere else for a while. They set
out in broad day, before the faces of the people; re-
turnmg secretly at night, they kept the house closed,
and had the infant, which had come into the world, bap
tized by Father J. Chrysostome. But God, designing
to exercise their virtue, permitted malicious and vigUant
Calvmists to notice that the chimney of the chamber of
the master of the house threw out a thick smoke. They
judged that the famUy was still there, and that they
might gain something by surprising them. Under this
idea, they went thither, broke open the doors, found the
lady in bed, .and her husband with her, whom they
treated with all sorts of indignities, and, after ravaging
aU they could, they threatened them with the direst
penalties. But God prevented the execution of these
threats, by means of a considerable sum of money,
which these new Cathohcs were obliged to pay, and
which they did with a celestial joy, emanating from the
grace which associated them with1 of whom
St. Paul speaks, praismg them for that generous pleasure
with which they lost their property for the sake of
Jesus Christ. They learned afterwards, by happy ex
perience, what a good and infinitely liberal master he
is; and that, by losing something in his service, one
gains a great deal more than one loses.
Heaven having brought the Lord High Treasurer
acquamted with the superior understanding and the
sohd virtue of Mr. Forster, he employed him secretly
in the affairs of the kingdom, induced the King to grant
him a pension, derived important services from him for
the State, for the Catholics, and for religion. The Queen,
1 Blank in MS.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 487
being informed of the matter, determined to have him
for her treasurer, and it was in this office that I had the
happiness to be acquainted with him.
Such were the fruits of the mission of Father J. Chry
sostome. If it is so successful m its commencement, what
are we to think of its progress and its conclusion, both
bemg concealed from us! What I have related was
told me by the converts. Not knowing anything further
of the mission of this Father, let us proceed to that of
Father Epiphane Lindesay, missionary, at the same
time, m Scotland, and, I may ahnost venture to say, the
most laborious and the most zealous that I have ever
known. The conversations that I have had with him
have afforded me reason to speak of him in this manner.
Father Epiphane was a scion of the very noble and
very ancient fanrily of Lindesay, m the north of Scot
land. His father was Earl of Maine, and his mother
daughter of another earl ; aU estimable for the antiquity
of then nobility and for generosity, but much more so
for the purity of the Catholic Church, which they had
preserved mviolably, amidst the most vehement perse
cutions of the heretics. God blessed their marriage
with this happy chUd, who was named Roger in bap
tism. As soon as he was old enough to learn the Latin
language, he was sent to the coUege under a Huguenot
master, who knew him to be brought up in the Cathohc
rehgion; wherefore he paid stricter attention to his
actions, and, finding them so different from those of his
other scholars, he predicted the profession for which
this exceUent boy was destined. He said without re
serve, and prophesied, that he would some day be a
priest, wMch actuaUy came to pass. His many ex^
ceUent qualities rendered him so amiable, that, though
the minister was of a different faith, stiff he loved him
much, and was deeply grieved when he was taken from
his school to be sent to Flanders, to the Scotch College
of Louvain, which was then governed by the Reverend
Fathers Jesuits. There the young student felt happy in
no longer having to hear the scornful things launched by
the Hugueiiots against our faith, and the impieties that

488 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
annoyed his chaste ears. There it was that holy in
structions and good examples powerfuUy animated hun
to the study of science and vhtue. He applied himself
to it so assiduously, and made such progress, that the
good students regarded him as the model which they
ought to follow.
Having finished his studies, he prayed to God to make
known to him the state of life which he was to embrace.
After having earnestly commended to him that im
portant affair, he had the inspiration to become a priest,
to assist spirituaUy the poor Catholics of his country,
and to oppose heresy, which was making great ravages
there. He asked the advice of his confessor, opened to ¦
him his whole heart, and acquainted Mm with aU his
intentions. The confessor consulted God, and was in
spired to assure his pemtent that he was caUed by God
to the ecclesiastical profession, to the service of the
mission, and to the assistance of the Catholics. He
received that answer as coming from Heaven, and im
mediately prepared Mmself for holy orders by medita
tion and the practice of the virtues. After each order
had been admimstered to him successively, accordmg to
the injunctions of the canons, at length, adorned with
the character of priest, and furnished with the faculties
of missionary, he left Louvam, and returned to Scot
land, with the greater resolution, because furious perse
cutions were then raging agamst the Cathohcs, and
particularly against priests. He gained some Puritans
for God, assisted a great number of Cathohcs, cheering
some under then afflictions, exhorting others to perfec
tion, catechizing these, preaching to those, and adminis
tering the sacraments to aU.
God, designing to increase his merit, and to render
his virtue more conspicuous, in order to teach others
by his example, permitted him, amidst these sacred
avocations, to be discovered, apprehended as a priest,
and consigned to a prison, with aU sorts of abuse and
Ul-usage. There he remained for a long time, and
suffered much ; but his sufferings were soothed by in
ward consolations which the Holy Ghost infused mto

CHARLES THE FIRST. 489
his heart. His dungeon was an oratory, where he
prayed to God, who gave him the grace to prepare
himself well to die for his glory. In fact, he was about
to be condemned as a priest. Such was the fate to
which he was reduced. It was what he desired with
ardour, rejoicing to acknowledge by his death the obli
gation which he owed to God, who had died for Mm ;
but this dear Master was satisfied with his wiUingness,
and, reserving him for severer trials than death, insti
gated a person in authority to obtain very cleverly a
commutation of the sentence of death into that of per
petual banishment from the kingdom. He was thus
deprived of the happiness of martyrdom, for which he
ardently longed. The sentence which released him
from prison dhected also that he should be conducted
under good guard to a seaport, where he embarked,
and returned to Flanders. He then began to visit the
Capuchins, and to take a liking to their way of life,
which seemed to him quite apostolical, felt strong in
spirations to embrace it, and humbly solicited to be
received. After several apphcations, he was at length
admitted, and his fervency animated the novices to
virtue, and edified all the professed to such a degree,
that they gave him all then votes for his profession,
which he made with sentiments of deep devotion.
There were at that time in Flanders many persons
addicted to witchcraft, some beset, others possessed by,
the Devil. Father Epiphane was ordered to exorcise
them. God gave Mm grace to do it with such success,
that he broke the contracts, dispelled the iUusions, dis
solved the spells, and drove out the DevUs, who were
enraged against him, while his virtue rendered Mm most
amiable to the people.
He studied hard in despite of himself, giving to God
the glory of aU his good works. Several years passed
in this manner, during which he frequently thought of
the unhappy heresy of his country, and cherished in
his heart a strong desire to assist it. His Superiors,
not doubting that these fervours and this charitable
feeling proceeded from Heaven, deemed it right to send

490 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
Mm back to Scotland. With the merit of holy obedi
ence, and with the faculties of missionary, he set out,
to the general grief of the monks and of the people,
who usuaUy called him " the good Father" — " the
holy Father." But, if Flanders mourned at his depar
ture, Scotland greatly rejoiced at his return. Among
aU the Cathohcs who participated largely in this joy, a
gentleman of note exhibited solemn demonstrations of
it. He honoured and loved him much, begged him to
come and hve with him, and be the director of his
famUy. Father Epiphane consented, assumed the spi
ritual direction of that house, gave exercises to each,
animated them to virtue by fervent exhortations, said
mass to them every day, and so regulated that house
that you would have taken it for a monastery. But he
was not content : his zeal was too much cramped in this
place ; he was deeply grieved that he could not extend
it further. He believed himself caUed by God to dis
course with Huguenots, to gain them for the Church,
to confirm the faith, to confess, and to admhrister the
holy communion to the poor Catholics m the country,
who had no assistance. These motives induced Mm
to beg the gentleman to take another priest ; represent
ing to him that any other could render him the same
services that he was domg ; but that, not havmg, like
him, a robust body, not behig capable of enduring hunger,
cold, and heat, all priests were not fit, like him, for the
arduous duties of the mission in the country, whither
God called him.
This request was too just and too charitable not to
be granted. The gentleman acquiesced in it, but not
without pain : so Father Epiphane departed with the
regrets of every one. You wiU be surprised at the
manner in which he equipped himself, and the cha
racter which he assumed. On leaving the house of this
gentleman, he put on a dress similar to that worn
by those among whom he was going to labour. He
was going to assist the poor — he dressed Mmself as a
poor man. He was going to give to souls a spiritual
pasture — it was requisite to have a shepherd's dress

CHARLES THE FIRST. 491
conformable to that office. He put on a shepherd's
dress, with knapsack, crook, and flageolet, on which he
had purposely learned to play. In this humble garb, he
travelled on foot through aU Scotland, visiting the poor
Cathohcs, whom he confessed, said mass, adnrinistered
the communion to them, exhorting them to perseverance,
and bestowing alms on them out of the little that was
given to him for his own subsistence. The Cathohcs
of one quarter informed him of those in the neighbour
hood to which he was going, and he was furnished with
certain marks by those by whom he was sent; and,
because the pursuivants were continually on the watch
for the apprehension of priests, our shepherd missionary,
having recourse to a holy deception, for the purpose
of lulling aU suspicion in regard to his person, in the
evenmg, in sight of everybody, stopped with the shep
herd who was tending his flock, not very far from some
place where there was a Catholic house. He made
friends with that man, got into conversation with him,
played on Ms flageolet, and then, bidding him farewell,
he went, in the darkness of night, to the Catholic house,
where he performed aU the functions of missionary, and
then set out agam in the dark to go to others. Is not
this an ingenious stratagem? What eyes could have
been sharp enough to discover a priest m this disguise !
Thus it is that charity has these holy and subtle arti
fices, and that it knows perfectly weU how to unite the
prudence of the serpent with the simplicity of the
dove, for the glory of God and the salvation of its
neighbour. Having thus visited the poor Catholics dispersed
tinough different provinces of Scotland, he tarried in a
district where they were more numerous and more de
stitute of spiritual assistance. He was content to lodge
with poor Catholics, in a very mean hou'se, which was
offered him, recoUecting these words, in which he took
great defight, — I am sent to preach the gospel to the
poor, and to converse with the lowly. His fare was
not different from that of the poor. He lived with
them in this northern kingdom, where wheat is rare ;

492 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
and the table was covered with oaten bread only,
cheese, skimmed mUk, and a little beer, on which he
subsisted for many long years, till he became the oldest
missionary, having exercised that noble vocation tiU the
age of 84 years.
His devotion to the Most Holy Virgin was extra
ordinary. He regarded her as his dearest mother.
To honour her and to qualify himself the better to
receive her favours, he fasted so strictly on the eve of
her festivals, that he ate notiring whatever, and did the
same on the eves of solemn holidays. He had accus
tomed himself to eat but once a day; and, though his
life was a perpetual fast, which rendered him victorious
over aU the attacks of the flesh, and kept him in such
purity, that his confessor, who was, in these parts, a
good Jesuit priest, declared in a paper m his own hand
writing, that he had kept inviolable the integrity which
he had brought with him into the world on the day of
his birth. With that strict fasting, which contributed
greatly to the maintenance of that virgin purity, was
united the extreme care which he took of Ms conscience,
over which he watched, with wonderful attention.
Twice a year he made a general confession of his whole
life. His confessor mildly msinuating that there was
no need to repeat it so often, he replied that the sinner
cannot repeat often enough his contrition for his sins.
When we arrived in London for the service of the
Queen, our Superiors recaUed aU the Capuchins, natives
of the kingdom, inasmuch as there was great danger of
their being known and taken, and, if they had been con
victed of being priests, subjects of the King, engaged
in the mission, contrary to the laws of the kingdom,
they would have furnished occasion for us to be sent
back to France. So Father Epiphane had orders to
leave Scotland. As soon as he had received the letter,
he came to London, to see our Superior, and to give
him an account of his proceedings, m order to pass
afterwards into Flanders, the province in which he had
made his profession ; but his prompt obedience, and the
entreaties of several persons of quality, and the great

CHARLES THE FIRST. 493
assistance which Scotland received from Mm, induced
our Reverend Father Superior to send him back thither,
under the idea that no inconvenience would arise from
that measure, smce it was founded on the glory of God.
Burdened with many mfirmities, having greatly
weakened his stomach, he was enjoined by his con
fessor to take a little wine; though his temperament
had a great repugnance to it, he nevertheless obeyed,
and, findmg himself worse for it, it was deemed expe
dient to permit him to do as he had been accustomed.
I have already remarked that he had chosen a poor
house for Ms ordinary habitation. In a great persecu
tion, he received warning from his confessor to leave it,
and to betake himself to a safe place at the residence of
a gentleman of quality, who was fond of him, and
wished much to have Mm in his house. He went
thither out of obedience, but tarried there oMy a short
time ; for the poor people not bemg aUowed to enter,
and he being prevented from gomg out to them, lest it
should be known that the gentlemen m question har
boured a priest, he left the gentleman's house, and,
putting all his confidence in the protection of God, he
returned with the poor people, whom he assisted spi
ritually and temporaUy, as much as he could, expe
riencing the truth of those words — He that giveth to
the poor lendeth to the Lord. He assured Ms con
fessor that every time he thus gave somethmg, he him
self received afterwards m alms four times as much
as he had given.
Adorned with so many and such noble virtues, it is
no Wonder that he should so greatly advance the glory
of God m Scotland, that he should convert so many m-
fidels, that he should oblige so many persons to forsake
their disorderly lives, that his exhortations and his ex
ample should excite so many people to virtue, in short,
that he gained so many souls for God. At this sight,
the DevU regarded him as his sworn enemy. He could
not suffer him to withdraw so many heathen from his
sway ; and, to revenge himself on this Father, and to
stop his progress, he raised up against him the most

494 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
energetic satellites, the Puritans. It was Whitsunday,
I believe. They said that tMs festival was held in
great veneration by the Papists ; that, in aU probabUity,
mass would be said at a Catholic house to which Father
Epiphane was suspected to have retired. Thither they
went with the intention of seizing him, bringing him to
trial, and having him condemned to death. They broke
open the doors, and proceeded to the room where the
Capuchm was. He had already said mass, adnrinistered
the communion to the persons present, and put away
aU the ornaments. They took particular notice of
each Catholic, and did not perceive the priest, though the
room was very smaU, and there was no place of con
cealment, as if the protection of God had rendered him
invisible. Havmg escaped this danger, he presently
feU into another. FaUing in with Ms persecutors, they
used great violence to secure him, but he slipped out of
their hands, and fled with a swiftness which proved
fatal to him. He feU into a ditch and broke a leg,
which stopped him short ; his pursuers, not having ob
served him faU, were surprised at not seeing him, could
not imagine what had become of him, and returned
mortified at the escape of the fugitive, whom they
reckoned upon takmg, to their profit and advantage.1
The Devil had stimulated them to war against this
servant of God, who was afterwards the object of his
triumphs m Scotland, as he had formerly been the ob
ject of his victories in Flanders. He threw them into
more confusion in Scotland; victory is so much the
more glorious to the conqueror, and the confusion the
greater to the vanquished, since he was overthrown in
the heart of his empire. Is not Scotland the wretched
domain of Satan ? — weU, it was m Scotland that Father
Epiphane triumphed. His victory then is the more
splendid, and the confusion of the DevU so much the
greater. A troop of those unhappy spirits had taken posses
sion of a woman in the country. They exercised their
1 We are afraid the reader will consider this " a lame story."

CHARLES THE FIRST. 495
tyranny over her, tormenting her in all sorts of ways.1
She did what she could to be delivered from them ;
but, having found the means recommended to her use
less, she had recourse to Father Epiphane, who pre
pared himself for the conflict by fasting, mortification,
and fervent prayers. Provided with these spiritual
arms, he attacked the mfernal powers with the ex
orcisms of the Church, and commanded them to go out.
At first, they made a strong resistance ; but at length
they found themselves forced to obey. One of them
spoke, and said that he would go forth alone, and that
four of his companions would stay. Father Epiphane
obliged him afterwards to teU his name, and the
reason why he took possession of that woman. He
said Ms name was Bel-Zebuth [Belzebub], and that this
woman, bemg mounted on a horse, which was carry
ing a sack of corn to the mUl, the horse flung both
sack and woman, who flew into such a rage that she
gave up to us both sack and horse, and herself, which
gave us occasion to secure her person, and, by an order
from Heaven, to possess her. AU present were sur
prised at this answer, and, though the Devil is the
father of hes, the woman knew that he had told the
truth. One would have thought that after this he must
have taken himself off, but he stoutly mamtained his
ground, and he was obliged to repeat the exorcisms,
which fmaUy ejected them all, leaving at their depar
ture a horrible stench, which infected the whole room,
perhaps to give those present a foretaste of heU, whence
that stench proceeded.
These rebeUious spirits had several times before ex
perienced the force of the holy prayers of Father
Epiphane, and of the special grace which he had re
ceived from Heaven, to drive them out of bodies of
which they had taken possession. I omit the relation
of these tirings, in order to say a word concerning
witchcraft, which he rumed. He found in some viUage
1 The passage which follows shows Father Cyprien's credulity in a very strong
point of view. If he had his information from Father Epiphane, the latter de
serves to be styled Father Munchausen : indeed, the Baron, in this and other mar
vellous stories to be told presently, has been excelled by the Capuchin.

496 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
ill Scotland a very surprising thing. The inhabitants
of this place had cows, from some of which they de
rived great profit, and others caused them expense
without any profit. In one house, they gave abundance
of milk, one of them as much as two of the most
productive. In another house, they gave no milk at
all, nothing but blood. Father Epiphane judged that
this marvel was the effect of witchcraft, and, under this
impression, he considered who was in and about that
house. His search discovered a cart-rope fuU of
knots, and this he conceived to be the speU, as it really
was. He took the rope, threw it in the fire, and, when
it was consumed, the speU was dissolved. Things
returned to their usual course; the cows which had
given blood yielded nothing but milk, and the super
abundance obtained from the others was reduced to the
ordinary measure.
This roused stUl more the rage of the Demon against
the Capuchin Father, who laboured so successfully for
the ruin of his empire. To daunt his courage, he ap
peared to him several times in divers hideous shapes,
to revenge himself upon him. He resolved to be the
ruin of him, and would have been too, had not God de
prived him of the power. This Father, going one dark
night to a place whither he was summoned, crossing a
river, the bridge of which was not above a foot and a
half wide, the DevU strove to fling him from it and to
drown him. This detestable attempt turned to his own
confusion, for Heaven denied the power of hurting him,
as soon as the Father had commanded him in the name
of God to be gone.
I know generaUy that there are several miracles in
the life of Father Epiphane ; but, as I am not acquainted
with the detaUs, I pass them over with the intention
of writing them another time.
After so many vigils, and austerities, and labours, in
the mission, he fell into great bodUy infirmities. The
age of four score years and four, which rendered him
the oldest of the missionaries, enfeebled him to such a
degree, that he could no longer holdup, and, consequently,

CHARLES THE FIRST. 497
he could not say mass in that infirm state. As his end
drew nigh, like the candle which gives more light when
on the pomt of going out, stretched on a truckle-bed,
he never ceased to perform with fervour the functions
of missionary, to direct his attention to the Catholics
old and new, whom he had by the grace of God with
drawn from heresy, giving them holy instructions, and
representing to them the great blessing of the faith,
exhorting them to preserve it carefully, to suffer death
rather than relinquish that behef of which they had
made profession. He encouraged them to suffer for
living well, to gain souls for God by their good example,
and by then devout conversations. He fed them with
tMs pasture, and, thus fed, he sent them to their homes ;
and yet he who could not sleep at night, partly on
account of the complamts which oppressed Mm, — partly
on account of Ms habit of being up at night, going
abroad m the dark, that he might not be observed, that
time which others passed in sleep, he employed in acts
of contrition and love, in holy meditation, and in fervent
prayer. Several weeks passed in that manner. At length,
findmg his strength almost entirely gone, he sent for
the Reverend Father, the Scotch Jesuit, who was his
confessor. He put into his hands aU his books and
every thing he had; begging public pardon for such
bad examples as he might have given ; thanked God for
all his blessings, and particularly for his vocation to the
Cathohc religion, and to the Order of the Seraphic
Father St. Francis ; renewed the vows of his religious pro
fession ; reiterated Ms sacramental profession ; received
viaticum and extreme unction; and passed happily
from this world to go probably to heaven, to receive
the reward of his excellent charity in the glory which
I wish you, in the name of the Father, through the Son
and the Holy Ghost. 8
8 Amen. 8
8
What I have written concerning Father Epiphane
I learned partly from Ms own mouth, when he came
VOL. II. K K

498 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
from Scotland to London, and partly from Father Clerc,
the Scottish Jesuit, who was his confessor in his last years,
after the death of the Capuchins, who performed the duties
of the mission along with him. He mtitles the paper which
he sent to me, Brevis Synopsis Vitae ac Mortis. V. P.
Epiphami, Ordhris Capercinorum, S. P. Francisci.
At the end he adds, Many other greater things, wMch
he did, said, and underwent, as they have been proved
to me, I wUl send at an early day, God wUling. Mean
while I have received this miniature of St. Andrew, the
Apostle of Scotland, which resembles Father Epipha-
nius to the life.

I, the undersigned, have attentively read these
Memoirs, in which I have not found any thing contrary
to good morals or contrary to the faith.1
F. Anselme, of St. Rambert,
Of the Order of Capuchins.
I ought not here to omit a letter which he wrote to
me a year or two before his death, in answer to one
which I had sent him, with some little presents. It
shows the great dangers in which he found himself, the
Divine Providence which delivered him from them, and
the avenging Justice which punished the persecutors
of the Cathohcs.
Reverend Father, I have received your letters, with
the manuscripts, for which I return you many thanks.
You wish to be made acquainted with the various
dangers that have befaUen me during so many years.
Many I recoUect to have related to you already in
London : I wUl add the foUowmg, in which the won
derful providence of God is strikmgly displayed.
I came into this kingdom of Scotland m the year
1620, at which time there were, as far as I know, but
three priests in the whole kingdom. I first went to
the north coast, where I laboured some years, thence
1 This is rather an ambiguous certificate: it is a pity the writer forgot to certify
how much he had found in the Memoii s contrary to truth.'

CHARLES THE FIRST. 499
to the western, and, lastly, I reached the southern dis
trict. At that time, about the year 1630, a most vio
lent persecution arose against the Catholics. A certain
nobleman, havmg obtained authority, coUected three or
four hundred of his friends and confederates, partly
horse, partly foot, who unexpectedly feU upon the
houses of the Catholics, and, having carried off their
goods, seized, and threw them into prison. The report
of this most hriquitous act havmg reached the adjacent
Cathohcs, they betook themselves to flight. The leader
of the band, however, as soon as he returned home,
glorying in Ms plunder, was stricken by a terrible
disease, and bis conscience upbraiding him, he thought
that it was a punishment sent by God for his villany.
He, therefore, when near death, admonished his sons
not to do anytiring agamst the Papists, if they wished
to avert from themselves a sinrilar scourge. But this
salutary admonition was disregarded; the second son,
worse than the father, succeeded him in Ms place : day
and Mght he harassed the Catholics, but he soon fell
into a mortal disease, by wMch his whole body was
putrefied, and he died vomiting up his vitals from his
mouth. A certam Baron, not at aU daunted by this awful death
of the deceased, took his place, but only for a short
time. For, when he was the most hiveterate enemy of
the Cathohcs, he rendered himself the avenger of his
guUt, by the explosion of a gun, the ball from which
passed tMough his heart. Another Baron supplied his
place, and shortly afterwards was carried off by a disease
unknown to the physicians.
Then followed an extraordinary circumstance, the
memory of which is not yet forgotten. It was now the
turn of Mr. Thomas Ramsay, a minister, who was seized
with madness, and, at certam intervals, when somewhat
compos mentis, could not be prevaUed upon before his
death to pray to God. After him Jacobus Brunus
[James Brown?], the most rutMess of all, going to bed
in health after the work of persecution, was found to
have fallen a victim to sudden death in his sleep. There
kk2

500 THE COURT AND TIMES OF
was then sent to those parts a certain viscount, who,
returning home after inflicting persecution ^ on the
Catholics, feU into a disease, and sunk under it within
ten days ; and his corpse filled all around with such a
stench, that it was found necessary to consign him to the
earth at night, as the viscount's sister told me.
The viscount was succeeded by the mhrister Galterus
Gladmates, the most mimical against me of them aU.
He obtained power to seize me, with books, cup, and
Catholic instruments and ornaments. Fried with hatred
and rage, he came with some armed sateUites, broke
open the house wherein I was then accustomed to lodge,
coUected the books and the ecclesiastical ornaments, the
more valuable of which he reserved for himself; the
rest, havmg kmdled a fire in the pubhc market-place, he
burned. Boasting of this outrage as weU to his neigh
bours as in the pulpit, witMn two months, having bitten
off part of Ms tongue with his teeth, he breathed forth
his spirit. His body could scarcely be carried away on
account of the stench.1
After aU these, a certam gentleman, a most wicked
man, and the bitterest enemy of the Catholic Church,
summoned many Catholics before his tribunal, and con
fined them in the most loathsome dungeons, but, on his
return home, he was crossmg a river in a boat, when
the boat was upset, and he, carried away by the stream,
with his companions m viUany, perished, partly suffo
cated by the water, partly strangled by the clasp of his
cloak. If I were to add aU that I could relate to you,
neither days nor years would be sufficient.
Here I lived many years alone, without any com
panion, scarcely ever stirring out of the house, till the
year 1648, since which time I have had a faithful com
panion and constant friend. My intercourse was mostly
with poor Catholics and such as were least known or
suspected. I went to them at night, and took rest in
houses remote from others. Thrice was I betrayed, but
never taken. The first sold me to the Earl of Dunbar,
1 This is a favourite accompaniment to dissolution with the good Capuchin, but
why it should he a feature peculiar to Protestants the Father does not say.

CHARLES THE FIRST. 501
for a suit of clothes and one hundred Scotch marks ; but,
having timely warning of the treachery from a Cathohc,
I evaded the snares of the noble. The second sold me
to Thomas Ramsay, the minister, for one hundred Scotch
marks ;: I had given notice for the Cathohcs to meet in
the house of a certam nobleman, the Duke of Dumfries,2
at one o'clock ; and the minister was apprized of the
time. I therefore anticipated the hour, and, on return-
mg home, went out again immediately, at the inspira
tion, as I verily tirink, of the Holy Ghost. The
minister, with some others, entered the house, and
having sought me everywhere without finding me, he
sent some of his people to a neighbouring hUl, where
he had understood that I sometimes concealed myself,
and where indeed I then was, but hid among bushes.
The minister, disappointed of Ms prey, bemg seen by
some persons, whUe returning home, said that he had
not yet given up aU hope of catching me. For, said
he, I have been bargaining with some persons to betray
him. I have given each of them five English shilrings ;
and I have promised a hundred marks to whomsoever
shaU deliver Mm to me. The tMrd sold me to one of
my relations; but, early forewarned of his treachery,
I evaded the danger. These are the particulars that
occur at the moment : more another time, if God grants
life. Meanwhile, I am,
Your friend from my heart,
Eplphanius Lindesay, Cap.
1 The good Father's value seems to have fallen since his first betrayal.
2 There was no Duke of Dumfries. William, kinsman and successor of Robert
Lord Crichton of Sanquhar, (who was hanged for the murder of his fencing-master)
was created Earl of Dumfries June 12, 1633.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

Page 5, line 21—" Sir Thomas Roe."
He obtained great reputation as a traveller to Turkey, Persia, and other parts of
the East, whither he had been sent in the capacity of ambassador, and on his return
published accounts of what he had observed. In 1629, he was sent to mediate a
peace between the kings of Sweden and Poland, and was afterwards employed in
other missions in Germany; was present at the Congress of Hamburg, and was
subsequently sent to the Diet at Ratisbon, to negociate for the restoration of the
unfortunate King of Bohemia, of which negociation he published an account. He
represented Oxford in Parliament in 1640, and Charles I. soon afterwards created
him a privy councillor and chancellor of the order of the Garter. He died in 1644.
Page 16, line 9—" Sir Thomas Edmondes.''
In the preceding reign he had been ambassador at the court of Brussels, and sub
sequently to that of France ; to which court he was again accredited in 1629.
Page 53, line 1—" Sir Robert Dudley."
Son of the celebrated Earl of Leicester, by his second wife. He had been
obliged to fly the country soon after the accession of James, but found a refuge at
the court of the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, where he obtained the post of cham
berlain, and employed himself in the composition of various literary works, one of
which was the unfortunate manuscript that, falling into the hands of Sir Robert
Cotton, occasioned him so much annoyance. He died in 1639.
Page 100, line 1 — " The Lord Pierrepoint, Earl of Kingston."
Commonly called " the good Earl of Kingston," from the generosity of his dis
position. On the breaking out of the struggle between the king and the parliament,
Lord Kingston raised four thousand men, and was shortly afterwards appointed
lieutenant-general of all his majesty's forces in the counties of Lincoln, Rutland,
Huntingdon, Cambridge, and Norfolk. He was a very active commander ; never
theless, he was surprised by the enemy, and, while being conveyed in an open boat
to Hull', on the 30th of July, 1643, was pursued by Sir Charles Cavendish, when
the Parliamentarians refusing to surrender their prisoner, they were fired upon,
and the Earl fell mortally wounded; the boat was captured, and the crew put to
the sword. Page 103, line 1 — " Sir William Brounker."
He was gentleman of the privy chamber to Charles I., and vice chamberlain to
his son, when Prince of Wales. He was raised to the peerage, September 12,
1645, as' Baron Brounker, of Newcastle, and Viscount Brounker, of Lyons, county
of Dublin. He died July 20, 1649, and was succeeded by his eldest son, who, for
fifteen years, was president of the Royal Society.
Page 104, line 15 — " Archie."
The well "known fool of James I.

504 ADDITIONAL NOTES.
Page 125, line 6 from bottom— " Lord Ochiltree."
Sir James Stewart purchased the lordship of Ochiltree from Andrew, the third
lord, who resigned the title in his favour in 1615.
Page 133, line 11 from bottom — " My Lord Chaworth."
Sir George Chaworth, created Baron and Viscount Chaworth, in 1627.
Page 189, line 6 — " John Tradescant."
This name belonged to three men of considerable celebrity in their day, as gar
deners, travellers, and antiquaries. They were grandfather, father, and son. The
first two arrived in England together in the reign of James I., having travelled
over a great portion of Europe and the East. They took a house at Lambeth,
which they filled with the curiosities they had collected in their several journeys,
which was well known to the sight-seers of the metropolis as Tradeseant's Ark.
The second John Tradescant was appointed gardener to Charles I., and was assisted
by his son. The contents of the Ark formed the nucleus of the Ashmolean Museum.
Page 190, line 12 — " Chancellor Oxenstiern."
A full account of the proceedings of this eminent man, with copious information
respecting the war in Germany, in which each of the different celebrated com
manders, whose names are given in the text, played so distinguished a part, will be
found in Coxe's " History of the House of Austria."

THE END.

F. Shoberl, Jan., Pi-inter lo H.R.H. Prince Albert, Rupert Street.

YALE UNIVERSITY

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