Ex Libris C. K. OGDEN THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES A SELECT COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL LETTERS; Written by the moft EMINENT PERSONS, ON VARIOUS ENTERTAINING SUBJECTS, And on many Important Occafions : From the Reign of HENRY the Eighth, to the prefent Time, IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: Printed for J:. and J. RIVINGTON, in St. Paul'* . and J. DODSLSY, \&PaIl-MalL M.DCC.LVT a o ' _ PREFACE. ; Sekff Colkttion of Letters, written fy the moft -eminent Wits, Sthtefmen, and Phi-, hfophers of our own Nation^ bas been greatly wanted. But in making fach a Collection, the chief Difficulty lay in knowing what io rejett. Remarks on Religion and Government ', foreign Ne- gotiations, and dry Pa/ages of Hijlorv, however acceptable they might be to' the Curious, would be wry little relijhed by the Majority of Readers 3 yet if all fetch 'were to have been thrown ajide, many Letters in which Wit, Humour, and En- tertainmnt were blended with graver A 2- Matters, iv PREFACE. Matters, muft alfo have been omitted. It was therefore thought neceflary, not in- tirely to rejecJ fuch Letters^ and at the fame time to admit of none but 'what 'were thus jeafoned with Pleafantry or Amufement. No Translations of foreign Letters have place in this Collection , the Intention of it being to do Honour to the Men of Genius of our own Country , and to give Juch natural Pictures of them-' felvesy and the Times they lived /, asHi- Jlory has not furnified. Whatever Reception thefe Volumes may meet with from the Public , the Editors of them may Jay wiffr great rfruth^ that they are the bejl Collection of Engliih Letters which have hitherto been pub- lifted. It was judged proper to infert none of earlier Date than the Reign of Henry the Eighth. The Engliih Lan- guage^ and indeed the Performances of eur WriterSy before that Time, not be- ing altogether fo intelligible or inftruclive es to claim a Place in tbeje Volumes.. It PREFACE. v It is only neceffary to obferve farther^ that no Notice is here taken of thofe Col- letfions of Letters lately publifhed of Mr. Pope, Doftor Swift and others,, as they are almojl in everybody's Hands, and frefo in their Memories. A SELECT COLLECTION O F LETTERS. LETTER I. Henry VIII. to Anne Bullea; My Sititetbeert and Friend, AND my Heart put themfcives into your Hands, begging of you to take them to your good Favour j | and that, by my being abfent from i you, your Aftectton may not be diminifhed towards them ; for it would be a great Pity to augment their Pain ; for Abfence gives me enough, and more than ever, and more than I could have thought; and" calls to my Remembrance a Point of Aftro- VOL. I. B nomy, 2 A feleft COLLECTION nomy, which is this, That by how much far- ther the Moors are diftant from the Sun, the Heat is notwithftanding more fervent ; fo it is with our Love : For though we are perfonally diftant from each other, the Heat of Love remains, at leaft on our Side, and I hope the fame on yours ; af- furingyou, that the Anxiety of Abfence is already too great ; and when I think of the Augmentation thereof, which I muft ftill fufFer, if it was not for the firm Hope I have of your inviolable Affection towards me, to put you in Remembrance of that, fmce I cannot be perfonally with you at prefent. I fend you the neareft Likenefs to it I can, to wit, my Picture fet in Bracelets, the only Device which I have left, wifhing myfclf in their Place whenever it fiiall pleafe you. Written by the Hand of Your Servant and Friend. LETTER. H. To the SAME. 'TpHE Uneafinefs I bore, by being uncertain * of your Health, gave me a great deal of Trouble ; nor could I enjoy any Quiet without knowing the Truth : but as you have as yet felt no* thing, I hope I may aflure you that you will efcape * it, as I hope we have ; for we were at Wal- tham, where txvo Ufhers, two Valets de Chambre, your Brother, and Mailer Treafurer fell fick, but arc now perfe&ly recovered ; fmce which we be- te ok ourfelves to your Houfe at Hondfon, where, God be praifed, we are very well for the prefent > # The Sweating Sickncfs, and ^/LETTER S. 3 and I believe, if you will retire from Sufry y as we have done, you will efcape it without any Danger. And to give you ftill greater Comfort, I am informed, of a Truth, that very few or no Women have fell ftck, but none of our Court, and that very few in thefe Parts have died ; where- fore I beg of you, my dearly beloved, to harbour KO Fear, nor to give yourfelf Uneafinefs at our Abfence : For wherefoever I am, I am yours. No't- \vithftanding we muft fometimes obey the Wjfl of Fortune; for who will, in fome Things, ftrive againft her, are often drove thefartheft back ; where- fore comfort yourfelf, arid be courageous, and fling away all Evil as far as you can. I hope foon to make you fing the Return. Time, at prefent, will let me write no more, but that I wifh rrryfclf in your Arms, to eafe you of your jtrft Thoughts. Written by the Hand of him who is, and ever {hall be, LETTER III. 3fy the S A M E. I 'T 1 H E examining the Content? of your Letters A put me into a very great Agony, not knowing how to underftand them, whether to my Drfad- vantage, as in fome others I underftand ; beg- ging of you, with a fmcere Heart, to inform me of your Intentions, in regard to the Love between us. Neceffity obliges me to infift ori this Anfwer, having, for more than a Year paft, been pierced by a Dart of Love, not being afTured where to find Place in your Heart and Affection ; which cer- tain laft Point has guarded me a little while in B 2 this 4 A feltR COLLECTION. this, not to call you my Miftrefs, with which, if you love me but with a common Love, this Name is not appropriated to you ; for that de- notes a Singularity vaftly different from common Love. But if you have a Mind to perform the Part of a truly loyal Miftrefs and Friend, give yourfelf Body and Heart to me, who would be, and has been long, your moil loyal Servant. If with Rigour you do not forbid me, I promife, that not only the Name mail be due to you, but likewife take you for my Miftrefs ; rejecting and treating others, in comparifon of you, far from Thought and Affection, and to ferve you only'; begging of you to give me a full Anfwer to this rude Letter, on which, and in which I may truft. But if you do not pleafe to give an Anfwer in Wri- ting, appoint fome Place where I may have it by Word of Mouth, and with a willing Heart I will meet you at the Place. No more, for fear of incommoding you. Written with the Hand of him who would willingly remain Tours. LETTER IV. To the SAM E. I Heartily thank you for your handfome Pre/ent, than which, well weighing the whole, no- thing is more beautiful, not only for the beautiful Diamond, and Veflel in which the folitary Damfel is tofTed ; but principally for the beautiful Inter- pretation and moft humble Submiflion, by your Gcodnefs in this Cafe made ufe of, well thinking, that to merit this by Opportunity will be very di- fficult, if your great Humanity and Favour did not of L E T T E R S. 5 not aflift me, for which I have watched, watch, and will watch all Opportunities of Retaliation poflible ; to remain in which, my whole Hope has placed its immutable Intention., which fays, out Jll'ic, ant nullibi. The Demonftrances of your Affection are fuch, the beautiful Words, the Letters fo affectionately couched, which, in Truth, oblige for ever to ho- nour you, love and ferve you ; begging of you to continue in this firm and conftant Purpofej on my Part afluring you, that I will rather augment it, than make it reciprocal, if Loyalty of Heart, Dcfire of pleafing you, without, any other Motive, may advance it j praying you, that if any Time heretofore I have given you Offence, that you would give me the fame Pardon that you afk ; af- furing you, that for the future my Heart fhali be wholly dedicated to you, much defiring that the Body might be alfo, as God can do it, if he pleafes, to whom I beg once a Day to do it, hoping that, in Time, my Prayers may be heard, wifhing the Time to be fhort, thinking it very long to our Review. Written by the Hand of my Secretary, who, in Heart, Body, and Will, is Your loyal and mojl ajjured Servant* t E T T E R V, To the SAM E, A Pproaching near the Time, which has feemed *"* fo long to me, I rejoice the more, becaufe it feems to me almoft come, notwithftanding the entire Accomplifliment cannot be till the two Per- fons are met ; which Meeting is more defired on B 3 my A fekfl COLLECTION my Part than any worldly Thing : For what Sa- tjs'faftion can be fo great in this World, as to enjoy the Company of one's moft dearly Beloved, know- ing that (he has the fame Pleafure on her Side ? The Thought of which gives me a deal of Pleafure ; then judge what muft the Perfon do, whofe Abfence has given nr: more Heart-achings than Tongue or Writing can exprefs, and which npthing but her Prefence can remedy r Begging you, my Dear, to tell your Father en my "Pai t, to come two Days before the Time appointed, that he may be at Court before, or at leaft on the Day fixed; for otherwife I fhall think that he made not the Courfe of the Amorous, nor anfwered my Ex- pectation. No more at prefent, for want of Time ; hoping very foon that, by Word of Mouth, I fhall tell you the Pains I have fuffered during your Ab- fence. Written by the Hand of my Secretary, who wifhes himfelf now privately with you, who is, and ever will be, Your loyal and moft ajjursd Servant* LETTER VI. fo the SAME. Darling, *T^Hefe fhall be only to advertife you, that this * Bearer and his Fellow be difpatched with as many Things to compafs our Matter, and to bring it to pafs, as our Wits could imagine or de- Tiife j which brought to pafs, as I truft by their Di- ligence it fhall be fhortly, you and J fhall have our defired End, which fhould be more to my Heart's Eafe, and more Quietnefs to my Mind than of L E T T E R S. 7 than any other Thing in this World, as, with God's Grace, fhortly I truft (hall be proved ; but not fo foon as' I would it were. Yet I will infure you there mall be no Time loft that may be won, and further cannot be done, for ultra pojf'e ncn eji tjje. Keep him not too long with you ; but de- iire him, for your Sake, to make the more Speed : For the fooner we fhall have Word from him, the fooner mall our Matter come to pafs. And thus, upon Truft of your fhort Repair to London, I make an End of my Letter, mine own Sweetheart, Writ- ten with the Hand of him, who defireth as much to be yours, as you do to have him. LETTER VII. -K' ' ' " *'"=" Queen Anne Bullen to King Henry. SIR, VTOur Grace's Difpleafure, and my Imprifon- ment, are Things fo ftrange unto me, as what to write, or what to excufe, I am altogether ignorant. Whereas you fend unto me (willing me to confefe a Truth, and fo obtain your Favour) by fuch an one, whom you know to be mine an- cient profefled Enemy, I no fooner received this Mefiage by him, than I rightly conceived your Meaning ; and if, as you fay, confefling a Truth, indeed, may procure my Safety, I fhall, with all Willingnefs and E>uty, perform your Command. But let not your Grace ever imagine, that your poor Wife will ever be brought to acknowledge a Fault, where not fo much as a Thought thereof preceded. And, to fpeak a Truth, never Prince 64 had 8 A felett COLLECTION had Wife more loyal in all Duty, and in all true Affection, than you have ever found in Anne Sullen ; with which Name and Place I could willingly have contented myfelf, if Qod and your Grace's Plea- fure had been fo pleafed. Neither did I, at any Time, fo far forget myfelf in my Exaltation, or re- ceived Queenfhip, but that I always looked for fuch an Alteration as now I find : For the Ground of my Preferment being on no furer Foundation than your Grace's Fancy, the leaft Alteration, 1 know, was fit and fufficient to draw that Fancy to fome other Subject. You have chofen me, from a low Eftate, to be your Queen and Com- panion, far beyond my Defert and Defire. If then you found me worthy of fuch Honour, good your Grace let not any light Fancy, or bad Counfel of mine Enemies, withdraw your princely Fa- vour from me ; neither let that Stain, that unworthy Stain, of a diiloyal Heart towards your good Grace ever caft fo foul a Blot on your moft dutiful Wife, and the infant Princefs your Daughter. Tiy me, good King, but let me have a lawful Trial ; and let not my rworn Enemies fit as my Accufers and Judges : Yea, let me receive an open Trial (for my Truth fhall fearn open Shame) then fhall you fee either mine Innocence cleared, your Sufpicion and Con- fcience fatisfied, the Ignominy and Slander of the Worfd flopped, or my Guilt openly declared. So that whatfoever God or you may determine of me, your Grace may be freed from an open Cenfure, and mine Offence being fo lawfully proved, your Grace is at Liberty, both before God and Man, not only to execute worthy Punifhment on me, as an unlawful Wife, but to follow your Affection, already fettled on that Party, for whofe Sake I am now as I am, whofe Name I could, fome good while of L E T T E R S*>. 9 while fince, have pointed unto your Grace, being not ignorant of my Sufpicion therein. But if you have already determined of me, and that not only my Death, but an infamous Slander muft bring you the enjoying of your defired Happinefs,. then I defire of God that he will pardon your great Sin therein, and likewife mine Enemies, the Inflru- ments thereof ; and that he will not call, you to a ftricl Account for your unprincely and cruel Ufage- of me, at his general Judgment-feat, where both you an3 myfelf muft fhortly appear, and in whofe Judgment, I doubt not (whatsoever the World , may think of me) mine Innocence (hall be openly known, and fufficiently cleared. My 1 aft and on- ly Requeft mall be, that myfelf may only bear the Burthen of your Grace's Difpleafure, and that it may not touch the innocent Souls of thofe poor Gentlemen, who, as I underftand, are likewife in ftrait Imprifonment for my fake. If ever I found Favour in your Sight, if ever the Name of AnneBul- len hath been pleafing in your Ears, then let me obtain this Requeft ; and I will fo leave to trouble your Grace any farther, with my earneft Prayers to the Trinity to have your Grace in his good keeping, and to direct you in all your Ae pay weekly 15 Shillings for the Bord-wages of rny- poure Hufband, and his Servant ; for the mayn- tsinin? v/hereof, I have ben compellyd, of verey Neceffyte, to fell Part of myn Apparell, for lack of -other Subftance to make Money of. ^"here- fore my moft humble Petition and Sewte to your Maifterfhypp at this Time, is to defue your Mai- fterfhipp's favorable Advyfe and Counfell whe- ther I may be fo bold to attend upon the King's mofl gracyoufe Highnes. I truft theyr is no Dowte in the Caufe of my Impediment ; for the yonge Man, being a Ploughman, had been dyfeafed with the Agi'ue by the Space of three Years before that he departed. And befides this, it is now fyve Weeks fuh he departed, and po other Perfon dyf- exifed of LETTERS. n eafed in the Houfe fith that Tyme - y wherefore I mod humblye befeche your efpecyaf gud Maifter- fhypp (.as my only Truft is, and ells knowe not what to doe, but utterly in this World to be un- done) For the Love of God to confyder the Pre- mifTes ; and therupponn, of your mofr fubundant Gudnes, to fhewe your moft favorable Helpe to the comfortyng. of my poure Hufband a-nd me, in this our great Heyynes, extreme Age, and NecefFyte. And thus we, and all ours, fhall dayly, duryng our Lyves, pray to God for the profperous SuccefTe of your ryght honorable Dygnyte. By your pours eontynuati Oratryx, Dame ALIS MORI. To the Ryght Honourable, and her efpecyall gud Maifter Secretarye. LETTER IX. Lafy Stafford to Mr. Secretary Cromwell, TiyT After Sekrytory, after my pour Recommandai- iV * fhyons which ys finally to be regarded off me that ame a pour banyfhd Kreatur Thys fhall fie to defyre you to be goode to my pour H-oufbandc and to me. I am feur yt ys nat orteknone to you the hy Dyfpleflure that bothe he and I ttavfe bothe of the Kyngs Hynes and the Queens Gras, by the Reflbn of our Maryagge wytheout tha^V Knollyge, wheryn we bothe" doe yeld our felfs faulty, and doe knollyge that we dyd nat walle to be fo hafty nor fb bold wytheout thayr Knollyge. But wone Thyng, good M^fter Sekretory, confedar, that he was younge, and Love ovarcame RefTone ; and 12 A feltft COLLECTION and for my Part, I faw fo myrhe Onefty yn hym, that I loyd hyme as well as he dyd me, and was yn Bondagge, and glade I was to be at Lybarty : So that for my Part I faw that all the World dyd fete fo lytyll by me, and he fo myche, that I thoute I could take nobetar Way but to take hyme, and to forfake all othar Ways, and lyve a pour onefte Lyffe wythe hym ; and fo I doe pout no I>outs but we fhould, if we myht wons be fo hapy to recouver the Kyng's grafshyous Favour and the Quen's. For well I myht a had a greater Mane of Birth,, and a hyhar ; but I ynfuer you I could nevar a had wone that fhould a lovyd me fo well, nor a mor oneft Man. And byfydesthat, heys bothecome offe an aunfTyent Stok, and agayn- as mete (yefFyt was hys Grains Plefaur) to doe the Kyng Servys as any young Jentyllmane yne hys Court. There- fore, good Maftar Sekretory, thys mall be mySute to you, that for the Loue that well- 1 kno you doe ber to all my Bloude, tho' for my Part I have not defarvyd yt but finally, bye the Rofibne, of my vylle Condafshyons, as -to pout- my Houfband to the Kyng's Gras, that he may doe hys Duty as aU outhar Jentyllmene doe; and, good Maftar Sekre- tory, fue for us to the Kyng's Hynes, and befhych bis Hynes, whyc.he ever was wount to take Pety, to have Pety one ous ; and that yt woull pies hys-. Gras, of his Goodines, tofpeke to the Qwen'sGras for ous ; for as far as I cane,parfayve, her Gras ys. fo hyly dyfplefled wyth ous both, that wythoute the Kyng be fo Good Lord to ous, as to wythe- draw hys Reguor, and fue for ous, we are nevar lyke to recovar har Grafys Favoor, whych ys to hevy to ber. And feinge ther ys no Remydy, for God's Sake help ous for we have byne, now a quarter ' off a ^er maryyd, I thanke God, and tp late now to, call ef L E T T E R Sv_ 13 call that agayn ; wherfor yt ys the more Almones to helpe. Bout yeffe I war at my Leberty and myhte chous, I ynfeure you, Maftar Sekretory, for my lytyll Tyme I haue tryyd fo myche Onefty to be yne hym, that I had rathar beg my Bred wyth hyme, thane to be the gretyft Quene kryftynd and I by- lyve veryly he ys yne the fame Cas wythe me, for I bylyve veryly a would nat forfake me to be a Kyrig ; therfor,. good Maftar Sekretory, beyng we are fo well togethar, and does ynetende to lyve fo onefte a LyfFe, though yt be but pour, ftiou Part of your Goodenes to ous, as well as you doe to all the Worlde byfyds ; for I promys you ye have the Name to helpe all them that hathe Nede, and a- Bionkft all your Suetars, I dar be bolde to fay that you have no Mater more to be pytyed thane ours j. and therfor for God's fake'bfe e;ood : to ous, for yne you ys all our Trouft} and I bemych you, good Maf- tar Sekjetory,. pray my Lord my Father, and my Lady, to be good to ous, and to lete me have thayr Blefiyngs, and my Heufband- thayr good Wyll, and I wool! never dcfyr mor oft' them. Allfo I pray you defyr my Lorde of Norfolke^ and my Lorde my' Hrouthertobe good to ous; I darn-at wryteto theme, they ar fo cruel agaynft ous j but yeft wyth any Payne that I could take wyth my Lyfte I myght wynether good Wyls, I promys you therys noChyld' lyvying would ventar mor than I ; and fo I pray you to report by me, and you fhall fynd my Wryt- yng true, and yn all poynts, whyche I may pies theme yne, I mall be redy to obay theme neryft' ray Hulband, home I ame mofte bound to, to whom I moft hartly bemych you to be good' unto, whyche for my Sake, ys a pour banyfshed Mane, for an oneft and a goddy cawes; and be- yng that I have red yne old Bouks, that feme, for aws. 14 A feleff 'COLLECTION awsr jouft Cauflys, have by Kyngs and Quells byn pardonnyed by the Suete of good Folks. I trouft yt (hall be our Chans, thourow your good Help, to come to the fame, as knoyth the God, who fende you HefChe and Harts efe. Scryblyd wyth her yll Hande* who ys your pout humble Suytor always to commands, MARY STAFFORD, To the Right Wour/hypfull, and my fyngular good Frynde t Maftar Sekrtlory., to. the Kings Hjnes tkys le t S. LETTER X. Earl of EfTex to Queen Elizabeth. TfRom a mind delighting in Sorrow, from Spirits ' wafted with Paffion, from a Heart torne in Pieces with Care, Grief and Travel, from a Man that hateth him/elf and all Things that keepeth him alive, what Service can your Majefty expect, fmce your Service paft deferves no more then Banifhment *>r Prefcription in the curfedeft of all other Coun- tries ? Nay, nay, it is your Rebel's Pride and Sue- cefs that muft give me Leave to ranfom my Life out of this hatefullPrifon of my loathed Body j which if- it happen fo, your Majelly fhall have no Caufe to miflike the Fafhton of my Death, fince the Courfe of my Life could never pleafe you. Tour Majffty's exiled Servant^ Ro. ESSEX. LETTER of LETTERS. LETTER XL Lord Chancellor Egerton/0 tbe-E. 0/Effex. My very good Lard, T T is- often feen, that he 'that ftands by feeth mure -* than he that playeth the Game ; and, for the moft Part, every one in his own Caufe ftandeth irt his own Light, and feeth not fo clearly as he mould. Your Lordfhip hath dealt in other Men's Caufes, and in grearand weighty Affairs, with greatWifdom. and Judgment ; now your own is in Hand, you are not to contemn or refufe the Advice of any that love you, how fimplc foever. In this Order I rank myfelf among" others that love you, none more fimple, and none that love you with more true and honeft Affection ; which (hall plead my Ex- cufe if you mall either miftake or miftruft my Words or Meaning. But, in your Lordfhip's honourable Wifdom, I neither doubt nor fufpeft the one nor the other. I will not prefume to advife you, but moot my Bolt, and tell you what I- think. The beginning and long Continuance of this fo unfeafbnable Difcontentment you have feen 2nd proved, by which you aim at the End : If you A hold ftill this Courfe, which hitherto you find to be worfe and worfe (and the longer you go, the fur- ther you go out of the Way) there is little Hope or Likelihood the End will be better : You are notyet gone fo far, but that you may well return : The Return is fafe, but the Progrefs is dangerous and defperate in this Courfe you hold. If you have any Enemies, you do that for them which they could never do for themfelves: Your Friends you^ leave to 1 Scorn and' Contempt ; you forfake your- felfj 1 6 A feleEl COLLECTION felf, and overthrow your Fortunes, and ruinate your Honour and Reputation : You give that Com- fort and Courage to the foreign Enemies, as greater they cannot have , for what can be more welcome and pleafing News, than to hear that her Majefty and the Realm are maimed of fo worthy a Mem- ber, who hath fo often and fo valiantly quailed and. daunted them ? You foriake your Country, when it hath moft Need of your Counfel and Aid : And laftly, you fail in your indiflbluble Duty which you, owe unto your moft gracious Sovereign, a Duty im- pofed upon you not by Nature and Politic only,, but by the religious and facred Bond wherein the divine Majefty of Almighty God hath by the Rule of Chriftianity obliged you. For the four firft, your conftant Refutation may perhaps move you to efteem them as light ; but being well weighed, they are not light, nor light- ly to be regarded. And for the four laft, it may be that the Clearnefs of your own Confcience may feem to content yourfelf ; but that is not enough; for thefe Duties fraud not only in Contemplation or inward Meditation, and cannot be performed but by external Actions, and where that faileth, the Subftance alfo faileth. This being your prefent State and Condition, what is to be done ? What is, the Remedy, my good Lord ? I lack Judgment and, Wifdom to advife you, but I will never want an honeft true Heart to wifli you wellj nor, being warranted by a good Confcience^ will fear to fpeak that I think. 1 have begun plainly, be not of- fended if I proceed fo. Bcne credit qui cedit tempo- ri: And Seneca faith, Cedendum eft fortune. The Medicine and Remedy is not to contend and flrive, but humbly to yield and fubmit. Have you given Caufe, and yet take a Scandal untc you ? then all. 4 you. of LETTERS. 17 you can do is too little to make Satisfaction. Is Caufe of Scandal given unto you? Yet Policie, Duty and Religion enforce you to fue, yield, and fubmit to our Soveraign, between whom and you there can be no equal proportion of Duty, where God requires it as a principal Duty and Care to himfelf, and when it is evident that great Good may enfue of it to your Friends, yourfelf, your Country, and your Soveraign, and extreme Harm by the con- trary. There can be no Difhonour to yield ; but in denying* Difhonour and Impiety. The Difficul- ty (my good Lord) is to conquer yourfelf, which is the Height of true Valour and Fortitude, whereunto all your honorable Actions have tended. Do it in this, and God will be pleafed, her Majefty (no. doubt) well fatisfied, your Country will take Good, and your Friends Comfort by it ; and your- felf (I mention you laft, for that of all thefe you, efreem yourfelf leaft) mall receive Honour} and your Enemies (if you have any) mall be difap- pointed of their bitter fweet Hope. I have delivered what I think fimply and plainly : I leave you to determine according to your own Wifdom : if I have erred, it is error amoris, and not amor erraris. Conftrue and accept it, I befeech you, as I meant it j not as an Advice, but as an Opinion to be allowed or cancelled at your Plea- fure. If I might conveniently have conferred with yourfelf in Perfon, I would not have troubled you with fo many idle Blots. Whatfoever you judge of this my Opinion, yet be afiured my Defire is to fur- ther all good Means that may tend to your Lord- fhip's Good. And fo wifhing you all Happinefs and Honour, I ceafe. Tour Lordjhifis mojl ready and faithful t though unable poor Friend^ THO. EGERTON, Cu/l. Sigil. LETTER 1 8 A feleft COLLECTION LETTER XII. The Earl's Anfwer. "V/T Y very good Lord, Though there is not that * * Man this day living whom I would fooner make Judge of any Queftion that might concern me, then yourfelf ; yet you muft give me Leave to tell you, that in fome Cafes I muft appeal from all earthly Judges : And if in any, then furcly in this, when the higheft Judge on Earth hath impofed upon me the heavieft Punifhment, without Triall or Hearing. Since then I muft either anfwer your Lordfhip's Arguments, or elfe forfake mine own juft Defence, I will force mine akingHead to do me Service for an Hour. I muft firii deny my Dif- contentment (which was forced) to be an humo- rous Difcontent) and in that it was unfeafonable, or is fo long continuing, your Lordfhip mould ra- ther condole with me then expostulate : naturall Seafons are expected here below, but violent and unreafonable Storms come from above : There is RO Tempeft to the paffionate indignation of a Prince, nor yet at any Time fo unfeafonable as when it lighteth on thofe that might expect an Harveft of their carcfull and painfull Labours. He that is once wounded muft needs feel Smart till his Hurt be cured, or the Part hurt become fenflefs. But Cure I expect none, her Majefty's Heart being obdurate ; and be without Senfe I can- not, being of Flem and Blood. But you may fay, I aim at the End : I do more than a'im, for I fee an End of all my Fortunes, I have fet an End to all my Defires. In this Courfe do I any Thing for mine Enemies r When I was prefent I found them abfo- lute, of LETTERS. 19 Jute, and therefore I had rather they fhould tri- umph alone, than have me attendant upon their Chariots. Or do I leave my Friends ? When I was a Courtier I could fell them no Fruit of my Love and now that I am an Hermit, they (hall bear no Envie for their Love to me. Or do I forfake my- felf, becaufe I do not enjoy myfelf? Or do I overthrow my Fortunes, becaufe I build not a For- tune of Paper-Walls, which every Puff of Wind blovveth down ? Or do I ruinate mine Honor, be- caufe I leave following the Purfuit, or wearing the falfe Mark or the Shadow of honor ? Do I give Cou- rage or Comfort to the Enemies, becaufe I neglecl myfelf to encounter them, or becaufe I keep my Heart from liufinefs, though I cannot keep my Fortune from declining ? No, no, I give every one of thofe Confiderations his due right, and the more I weigh them, the more I find myfelf juftified from offending in any of them. As for the two laft Objections, that I forfake my Countrey when it hath moft Need of me, and fail in that Indiffo- luble Duty which I owe to my Soveraign ; I an- fwer, That if my Countrey had at this Time any Heed of my Publick Service, her Majefty that go- verneth it, would not have driven me to a private Life. J am tied to my Countrey by two Bonds ; one publick, to difcharge carefully and induftriouf- ly that Truft which is committed to me ; the other private, to facrifice for it my Life and Carkaffe, which hath been nourished in it. Of the firft I am free, being difmiffed by her Majefty : Of the other nothing can free me but Death, and therefore no Occafior. of Performance fhall fooner offer itfelf, but I will meet it halfe Way. The indiffoluble Du- ty I owe unto her Majefty, the Service of an Earle and of Marshall otEngland, afld I have been con- tent 2O A fehtt COLLECTION tent to do her the Service of a Clerk j but I cart never ferve her as a Villain or a Slave. But you (ay I muftgive Way to Time. So I do ; for now that I fee the Storm come, I have put myfelf into Harbour. Seneca faith, we muft give Way to For- tune. I know that Fortune is both blind and ftrong, and therefore I go as far as I can out of the Way. You fay the Remedy is not to ftrive : I neither ftrive nor feck for Remedy. But you fay, I muil yield and fubmit : I can neither yield myfelf to be guilty, nor this my Imprifonment lately laid upon me, to be juft; I owe fo much to the Author of^ Truth, as I can never yield Truth to be Falfhood, nor Falfhood to be Truth. Have I given Caufe, you a(k, and yet take a Scandall ? No", I gave no Caufe to take up fo much zsFimbria his Complaint: for I did tctuth telum corpore accipere j I patiently bear and fenfibly fed all that I then received when this Scandall was given me. Nay, when the vileft of all Indignities are done unto me, doth Religion enforce me to fue ? Doth God require it ? Is it Impiety not to do it ? Why ? Cannot Princes erre ? Cannot Subjects receive Wrong ? Is an earthly Pow- er infinite ? Pardon me, pardon me, my Lord, I can never fubfcribe to- thefe Principles. Let Solo- mon's Fool laugh when he is ftricken ; let thofe that mean to make their Profit of Princes, fhew to have no Senfe . of Princes Injuries ;' let them ac- knowledge an infinite Abfolutenefs on Earth, that do not believe an abfolute Infinitenefs in Heaven. As for me, I have received Wrong, I feel it ; my Caufe is good, I know it; and whatfoever comes, all the Powers on Earth 'can never fhew more Strength or Confrancy in opprefTing, than I can {hew in_ fuftering whatfoever can or (hall be im- pofed upon me. Your Lordfhip in the Begiiuiing *f L E T T E R'S. it -of your Letter makes me a Player, and yourfelf a Looker on ; and me a Player of my own Game, fo you may fee more then I ; but give me Leave to tell you, that fince you do but fee, and I do fuffer, I muft ofNeceflity feel more then you. I muft crave yourLordfliip's Patience to give him that hath a crabbed Fortune, leave to ufe a crooked Stile. But whatfoever my Stile is, there is no Heart more humble, nor more affected towards your Lordfhip, than that of Tour Lordfhifs poor friend^ ESSEX. LETTER XIII. Sir Philip Sidney to >. Elizabeth. M O S T feared and beloved, moft fweet and gracious Soveraign,' To feek out Excufes of this my Boldnefs, and to arm the Acknowledging of a Fault with Reafons for it, might better mew, I know I did amifs, than any Way diminrfh the At- tempt ; efpecially in your Judgment, who being able to difcern lively into the Nature of the Thing done, it were Folly, to hope, by laying on bet- ter Colours, to make it more acceptable. There- fore carrying no other Olive-branch of Interceffion, than the lay ing of my felf at your Feet ; nor no other Insinuation, either for Attention or Pardon, but the true vowed Sacrifice of unfeigned Love, I will in fimple and direct Terms (as hoping they {hall only come to your merciful Eyes) fet down the Overflowings of my Mind, in this moft important Matter : Importing, as I think, the Continuance of your *22 A feleft COLLECTION your Safely; and (as I know) the Jo^s of rfcy Life. And becaufe my Words (Iconfefs, fhallow; but, coming from the deep Well-fpring of moft loyal Afrec'tion) have delivered unto your moft gracious Ears, what is the general Sum of my travelling Thoughts therein ; I will now but on- only declare, what be the Reafons that make me think that the Marriage with Mounfieur will be unprofitable to you : Then, will I anfwer the Objections of thofe Fears, which might procure fo violent a Refuge. The Good or Evils that will come to you by it, muft be confidered, either according to your Eftate, or Perfon. To your E- ftate : What can be added to the being an Abfo- lute born, and accordingly, Refpedted Princefs? But, as they fay, the Irishmen were wont to call over them that dye, They are Rich, they are Fair, what needed they to dye fo cruelly ? Not unfitly to you, endowed with Felicity above all others, a Man might well afk, What makes you in fuch a Calm, to change Courfe ? To fo health- ful a Body, to apply fo unfavoury a Medicine ? What can recompence fo hazardous an Adventure ? Indeed, were it but the altering of a well main- tained, and well approved Trade : For, as in Bo- dies Natural, every fudden Change is full of Peril : So, this Body politick, whereof you are the only Head, it is fo much the more dangerous, as there are more Humours, to receive a hurtful Imprcilion. But "Hazards are then moft to be re- garded, when the Nature of the Patient is fitly compofed to occafion them. The Patient I account your Realm, the Agent Mrunf.sur, and his Defign ; for neither outward Accidents do much prevail againft a true inward Strength, nor doth inward Weaknefs lightly fubvert it of L E T T E R S. 23 itfelf, without being thruft at by fome outward Force. Your inward Force (for as for your Treafures fndeed, the Sinews of your Crown, yourMajefty doth beft and only know) confifteth in your Sub- jects, generally unexpert in warlike Defence : And as they are divided now into mighty Fadtions (and Factions bound upon the never dying Knot of Re- ligion) the one of them to whom your happy Government hath granted the free Exercife of the eternal Truth ; with this, by the Continuance of time, by the Multitude of them, by the principal Offices and Strength they hold j and laftly, by your Dealings both at Home and Abroad againft the Ad- verfe Party, your State is fo entrapped, as it were impoflible for you, without excciliveTrouble, to pull yourfelf out of the Party -fo long maintain- ed. For fuch a Courfe once taken in Hand, is not much unlike a Ship in a Tempeil, which how dan- geroufiy foever it be beaten with \Vaves, yet is there no Safety or Succor without it : Thefe there- fore, as their Souls live by your happy Govern- ment, fo are they your chief, if not your fole Strength. Thefe, howfoever the Necefiity of hu- mane Life make them lack, yet can they not look for better Conditions than prefently they enjoy : thefe, how their Hearts will be galled, if not alien- ed, when they fee you take a Hufband, a French- man^ and a Papift ; in whom (howfoever fine Wits may find further Dealings or painted Excufes) the very common People well knew this, that he is the Son of a yezabel of our Age ; that his Bro- ther made Oblation of his own Sifter's Marriage, the eafier to make MafTacres of our Brethren in Belief ; that he himfelf, contrary to his Promife, and all Gratefulnefs, having had his Liberty, and principal 24 of L E T T E K S. principal Eflate by the Hugoniies A'leans, did fack LacbarijlS) and utterly fpoil them with Fire and Sword : This I fay, even at the firfl Sight, o;ives Occafion to all truly Religious to abhor fuch a Mafler, and confequently to diminim much of the hopeful Love they have long held to you. The other Faction (moir rightly indeed to be called a Faction) is the Papifls ; Men, whofe Spirits are full of Anguifh ; fome being infefled by others, whom they accounted damnable ; fome having their Ambition flopped, becaufe they are not in the Way of Advancement ; fome in Prifon, and Difgrace ; fome, whofe befl Friends are ba- nifhed Praclifers ; many thinking you are an U- furper ; many thinking alfo, you had difannulled your Right, becaufe of the Pope's Excommunica- tion ; all burdened with the Weight of their Con- fcience ; Men of great Numbers, of great Riches, {becaufe the Affairs of State have not lain on them) of united Minds (as all Men that deem themfelves opprefled, naturally are) with thefe I would wil- lingly join all difcontented Perfons, fuch as Want and Difgrace keeps lower than they have fet their -hearts. Such as have refolved what to look for at your Hands ; fuch, as Cafar faid, hcibiis opus eft belh chili j and are of his Mind ; Mak in acie quam inforo cadere : Xhefe be Men fo much the more to be doubted, becaufe, as they do em- brace .all Eflates, fo are they., commonly, of the bravefl and wakefullefl Sort, and that know the Advantage of the World mofl. This double Rank of People, how their Minds have flood, the North- ern Rebellion, and infinite other Pradifes have well taught you : Which, if it be faid, it did not prevail, that is true indeed ; for, if they had pre- vailed, it were too late now to deliberate. But, at '^LETTER S. 25 at this prefent, they want nothing fo much as a Head, who, in effeft, needs not but to receive their Inftru&ions, fince they may do Mifchief enough only with his Countenance. Let the Signig- nian in Henry the Fourth's Time, Perkin Warbeck in your Grandfather's ; but of all, the moft lively and proper, is that of Lewis the French King's Son in Henry the Third's Time, who having at all no Shew of Title, yet did he caufe the Nobility, and more, to fwe-ar direcT: Fealty and Vafialage ; and they delivered the ft rongeft Holds unto him. I fay, let thefe be fufficient to prove, that Occafion gives TVlind and Scope to ftranger things than ever would have been imagined. If then the affectionate Side have their Affections weakened, and the Difcon- tented have a Gap to utter their Difcontent; I think, it will feem an ill Preparative for the Patient, I mean your Eftate, to a great Sicknefs. Now the agent Party, which is Mounjieur^ whether he be not apt to work upon the Difadvan- tage of your Eftate, he is to be judged by his Will and Power : his Will to be as full of light Ambi- tion as is poiTible j befides the French Difpofition, and his .own Education, his inconftant Attempt a- gainft hisr Brother, his thrufring himfelf into the Low Country Matters, his fometime feeking the King of Spain's Daughter, fometimes your Majefty, are evident Teflimonies of his being carried away with every Wind of Hope : taught to love Great- nefs any way gotten, and having for the Motion- ers and Miniiters of the Mind, only fuch young Men as have Ihewed they think evil Contentment a Ground of any Rebellion ; who have feen no Com- mon-wealth but in Faction, and divers of which have defiled their Hands in odious Murders. With fuch Fancies, and Favourites, what is to be hoped VOL. I. C for? 26 A feleft C o L L E c T i o NT for ? Or that he will contain himfelf within the Li- mits of your Conditions, ftnce in truth it were ftrange, that he that cannot be contented to be the fecond Perfon in France, and Heir apparent, fhould be content to come to be fecond Perfon, where he fhould pretend no way to Sovereignty ? His Power, I imagine, is not to be defpifed, fince he is come into a Country where the Way of Evil-doing will be prefented unto him : where there needs no- thing but a Head to draw together all the ill-af- fected Members : himfelf a Prince of great Reve- nues, of the moft popular Nation of the World, full of Soldiery, and fuch as are ufed to ferve without Pay, fo as they may have Shew of Spoil ; and without queftion mall have his Brother ready to help him, as well for old Revenge, as to divert him from troubling France^ and to deliver his own Country from evil Humours. Neither is King Philip's Marriage herein any Example j fince then it was between two of one Religion ; fo that he in England flood only upon her Strength, and had abroad King Henry of France^ ready to impeach any Enterprize he mould make for his Greatnefs that way. And yet, what Events Time would have brought forth of that Marriage, your moft blefled Reign hath made vain all fuch Confederations. But Things holding in prefent State, I think, I may eafily conclude, that your Country, as well by long Peace and Fruits of Peace, as by the Poifon of Divifion (wherewith the Faithful mall by this means be wounded, and the contrary enabled) is made fit to receive Hurt ; and Mounjieur being every way likely to ufe the Occafions to hurt, there can almofr. happen no worldly Thing of more immi- nent Danger to your Eftate Royal. And as to your Perfon, in the Scale of your Happuiefs, what Good of L E T T E R S. 27 Good there may come by it, to balance with the Lofs of fo honourable a Conftancy, truly yet I per- ceive not. I will not (hew fo much Malice, as to objedl the univerfal Doubt, the Race's Unhealthful- nefs ; neither will I lay to his Charge the Ague-like manner of Proceedings, fometimes hot and fome- times cold in the time of Purfuit, which always rightly is moft fervent. And I will temper my Speeches from any other unreverend Difgracings of him in particular (though they may be never fo true) this only I will fay, that if he do come hither, he muft live here in far meaner Reputation than his Mind will well brook, having no other Royal- ty to countenance himfelf with ; or elfe you muft deliver him the Keys of your Kingdom, and live at his Difcretion ; or laftly, he muft feparate himfelf with more Difhonour, and further Difunit- ing of Heart, than ever before. Often have I heard you with Proteftation fay, no private Pleafure or Self-affection could lead you unto itj but if it be both unprofitable for yoar Kingdom, and unplea- fant to you, Certainly it were a dear Purchaie of Repentance. Nothing can it add unto you, but the Blifs of Children, which I confefs were a moft unfpeakable Comfort. But yet no more appertain- ing unto him, than to any other to whom the Height of all good Haps were allotted, to be your Hufband; and therefore I may afliiredly affirm, that what Good foever can follow Marriage, is no more his than any body's ; but the Evils and Dan- gers are peculiarly annexed to his Perfon and Con- dition. For as for the inriching of your Country with Treafure, which either he hath not, or hath otherwife beftowed it ; or the fraying of your Ser- vants Minds with new Expectation and Liberality, which is more dangerous than fruitful) or theeafmg C 2 ef sS A feleft COLLECTION of your Majcfty of Cares, which is as much as to fay, the eafing of you to be Queen and Sove- reign j I think every body perceives this way either to be full of Hurt, or void of Help. Now refteth to consider, what be the Motives of this fudden Change ; as I have heard you in moft fweet Words deliver. Fear of ftand ing alone, in refpect of Fo- reign Dealings ^ and in them from whom you fhould have Refpecl:, Doubt of Contempt. Truly itanding alone with good Forefight of Government, both in Peace and warlike Defence, is the ho- jiourableft Thing that can be to a well eftablifhed Monarchy. Thofe Buildings being ever moft ftrong- ly durable, which lean to none other, but remain from their own Foundation. So yet in the Particulars of your EfTate prefent- Jv, I will not altogether deny, that a true Mujfi- fiiffa were very fit to countermine the Enterprize of mighty Carthage. But how this general Truth can be applied unto Alounfieur, in truth I perceive not. 7'he Wileft, that have given beft Rules where fureft Leagues areto be made, have faid, That it rnufi be between fuch as either vehement Defire of a third Thincr, or as vehement Fear doth knit their Minds together. Defire is counted the weaker Bond ; but yet that bound fo many Princes to the Expedi- tion of the Holy Land. It united that invincible Henry V. and that good Duke of Burgundy ; the one defiring to win the Crown of France from the Dauphin, the other, defiring to revenge his Fa- ther's Murder upon the Dauphin, which both tended to one. That coupled Lnvis XII. and , Ferdinando of Spain, to the Conqueft of Naples. Of Fear, there are innumerable Examples. Moim- fieurs Defires, and yours 3 how they fhould meet in public Matters, I think no Oracle can tell ; for, ty, the of L E T T E R S. 29 as the Geometricians fay, that Parallels, becaufe they maintain divers Lines, can never join ; fo truly, two having in the Beginning contrary Prin- ciples, to bring forth one Doctrine muft be fome Miracle. He, of the Romifti Religion ; and, if he be a Man, muft needs have that manlike Proper- to defire that all Men be of his Mind. You, e Erector and Defender of the contrary, and the only Sun that dazleth their Eyes. He, French, and defiring to make France great ; your Majefty, Eng- UJh, and defiring nothing lefs than that Frame fhould grow great. He, both by his own Fancy, and his youthful Governors, embracing all am- bitious Hopes, having Alexander's linage in his Head, but perhaps evil painted. Your Majelly, with excellent Virtue, taught what you fhould hope; and by no lefs Wifdom, what you may hope; with a Council renowned over all Chrijlen- dom, for their well tempered Minds, having fct the utmoft of their Ambition in your Favour, and the Study of their Souls in yoiu- Safety. Fear hath as little Shew of outward Appearance, as Reafon, to match you together ; for in this Eftate he is in, whom fhould he fear ? His Bro- ther ? Alas ! his Brother is afraid, fmce the King of Navarre is to ftep into his Place. Neither can his Brother be the fafer by his Fall ; but he may be the greater by his Brother's ; whereto whether you will be an Acceflary, you are to determine. The King of Spain, certainly, cannot make war upon him, but it muft be upon all the Crown of France, which is no likelihood he will do. Well may Monnfeeur (as he hath done) feek to jnlarge the Bounds of France upon his State ; which 1 ike- wife, whether it be fafe for you to be a Counte- nance to, any other way, may be feen. So that C 3 * $o A feleft COLLECTION if neither Defire nor Fear be fuch in him, as are, to bind any public Faftnefs, it may be faid, that the only Fortrefs of this your Marriage, is of his private Affection ; a Thing too incident to the Perfon laying it up in fuch Knots. The other Objection of Contempt in the Sub- jects, I aflure your Majefty if I had not heard it proceed out of your Mouth, which of all other I and will fooner follow by Slighting, than by too much Wooing. And in this Dedication of yourfelf to the Public, 1 recommend unto you principally, that which, I think, was never done fince 1 was born; and! w.hich, becaufe it is not done, hath bred almoft a Wildernefs and SoKtude in the King's Service ; which is, that you countenance, and encourage, and advance, able Men, in all Kinds, Degrees and Profeffions. For in the time of the Cecils^ the Father and the Son, able Men were by Defign arid of Purpofe fupprefledy and' though of late, Choice goeth better, both in Church and Com- monwealth, yet. Money, and Turn-ferving, and cunning Canvafles, and Importunity, prevail too much. And, in Places of Moment, rather make able and honeft Men yours, than advance thofe that are otherwife, becaufe they are yours. As for cunning and corrupt Men, you mufl (F know) fbmetimes ufe them 3 but keep them at a diftance j. of L E ' T T E R S. 37 efiftance ; and let it appear rather, that you make ufe of them, than that they lead you. Above all, depend wholly (next unto God) upon the King, and be ruled (as hitherto you have been) by his Inftruclions; for that is beft for yourfelf. For the King's Care and Thoughts for you, are according to the Thoughts of a great King ; whereas your Thoughts concerning yourfelf, are, and ought to be, according to the Thoughts of a modeft Man. But let me not weary you; the Sum is, that you think Goodnefs the beft Part of Greatnefs; and that you remember whence your Rifing comes, and make Return accordingly. God keep you. Auguft 12, 1616, LETTER XV. >'*, Sir Francis Bacon to Sir Edward Coke. Mr. Attorney^ T Thought beft once for all to let you know in * Plainnefs what I find of you, and what you fhall find of me. I am one that know both mine own Wants and other Mens, and it may be perchance that mine may mend when others ftand at a Stay. And furely I may not in public Place endure to be wronged, without repelling the fame to my beft Advantage to right my- felf. You are great, and therefore have the more Enviers, which would be glad to have you paid at another's Coft. Since the time I miffed the Solicitor's Place, the rather I think, by your means, I cannot expect that you and I mall ever ferve as Attorney and Solicitor; but cither to ferve with another 'upon your Remove, 3 38 A felett COLLECTION or to ftep into fome other Courfe. So as I am more free than ever I was from any Occafion of. unworthy conforming myfelf to you, more than general Good-manners, or your particular good Ufage fhall provoke; and if you had not been fhort-fighted in your own Fortune (as I think) >u might have had more Ufe of me ; but that ide is paft. I write not this to mew any Friends what a brave Letter! have writ to Mr. Attorney ; I have none of thofe Humours : but that I have written is to a good End, that is, to the more de- cent Carriage of my Mafter's Service, and to our particular better underftanding one another. This Letter, if it fhall be anfwered by you in Deed, and not in \Vord, I fuppofe it will not be worfa for us both; elfe it is but a few Lines loft, which for a much fmaller Matter I would adventure.. So this being to>yourfelf, I for my Part reft Your &c. F'R. BACON. LETTER XVI. f0 tbe SAME, when Lord Chief Jujlice in difgrace. My very good Lordy ''"pHough it be true, that who confidereth the * Wind and the Rain, fhall neither fow nor reap, Ecclef. ix. 15. yet there is a Seafon for every Action. And fo there is a Time to fpeak, and a Time to keep filence ; there is a Time when the Words of a poor fimpk Man may profit ; and that poor Man in the Preacher which delivered the City by his Wifdom, found, that without this Op- portunity, of LETTER S. 39 portunity, the Power both ofWifdom and Elo- quence lofe but their Labour, and cannot charm; the deaf Adder. God therefore, before his Son that bringeth Mercy, fent his Servant the Trum peter of Repentance, to level a very high Hill, to prepare the Way before him, making it fmooth and ftreight.. And as it is in fpiritual Things,, where Chrifr, never comes before his Way-maker hath laid even the Heart with Sorrow and Repen- tance ; fince felf-conceited and proud Perfons thinlc themfelves too good and too wile to learn of their Inferior, and therefore need not the Phyfi- cian : fo in the Rules of earthly Wifdom, it is not poflible for Nature to attain any Mediocrity of Perfection, before me be humbled by knowing her- felf and her own Ignorance. Not only Know- ledge, but alfo every other Gift (which we call' the Gift of Fortune) have Power to pull up earth- ly Afflictions only level thefe Molehills of Pride, plough the Heart, and make it fit for Wif- dom to fow her Seed, and for Grace to bring forth her Increafe. Happy is that Man therefore, both in regard of heavenly and earthly Wifdom, that is thus wounded, to be cured ; thus broken, to be made ftraight ; thus made acquainted with his own Imperfections, that he may be perfected. Suppofing this to be the time of your Affliction, that which I have propounded to myfelf is, by tak- ing this feafonable Advantage, like a true Friend (though far unworthy to be counted fo) to fhew you your true Shape jn a Glafs, and that not in a falfe one to flatter you, nor yet in one that fhould make you feem worfe than you are, and fo offend you 3 but in one, made by the Reflection of your own Words and Actions, from whofe Light pro- ceeds the Voice of the People, which is often not unfitly '4& A felett COLLECTION" unfitly called the Voice ofGod. But therein (fince I purpofcd a Truth) I muft intreat liberty to be plain, a Liberty at this time I know not whether or no I may ufe fafely j I am fure at other times I could not: yet of this refolve you;f If, itprocatcU eth from Love, and a true Defire to do y.u good j that you, knowing the general Opinion, may not altogether neglect or contemn it, but mend what you find amifs in yourfelf, and retain what your Judgment mail approve ; for to this end mail Truth be delivered as naked as if yourfelf were to be ana- tomized by the Hand of Opinion. All Men can fee their own Profit ; that Part of the Waller hangs before. A true Friend (whofe worthy Office I would perform, fmce I fear both yourfelf and all great Men want fuch, being themfelves true Friends to few or none) is firft to mew the other, and which is from your Eyes. Firft therefore behold your Errors. In Difcourfe you delight to fpeak too much, not to hear other Men ; this feme fay becomes a Pleader, not a Judge, For by this fometimes your Affections are intang- led with a Love of your own Arguments, though they be the weaker ; and rejecting of thofe, which when your Affections were fetled, your own Judg- ment would allow for ftrongeft. Thus while you fpeak in your own Element, the Law, no Man ordinarily equals you ; but when you wander (as you often delight to do) you then wander indeed, and give never fuch Satisfaction as the curious Time requires. This is not caufed by any natural Defect, but firft for want of Election, when you, having a larae and fruitful Mind, mould not fb much labour what to fpeak, as to find what to leave unfpoken, Rich Soils are often to be weed- ed. Secondly, tf L E T T E R S. 41 Secondly, you cloy your Auditory, when you would be obferved. Speech muft either be fweet or fhort. Thirdly, you converfe with Books, not Men, and Books fpecially Humane, and have no excellent Choice with Men, who are the beft Books : for a Man of Action and Imployment you feldom converfe with, and then but with your Underlings ; not freely, but as a Schoolmafter with his Scholars, ever to teach, never to learn. But if fometimes you would in your familiar Difcourfe hear others,^ and make election of fuch as know what they fpeak, you fhould know many of thefe Tales you tell to be but ordinary, and many other things which you delight to repeat, and ferve in for No- velties, to be but ftale. As in your Pleadings you were wont to infult over Mifery, and to inveigh bitterly at the Perfons (which bred you many "Enemies whofe Poifon yet fwelleth, and the Ef- fects now appear, ) fo are you ffill wont to be a lit- tle carelefs in this Point to praife or difpraife upon flight Grounds, and that fometimes untruly, fo that your Reproofs or Commendations are for the moft part neglected and contemned ; when the Cenfure of a Judge (coming flow but fure) mould be a Brand to the Guilty, and a Crown to the Virtuous. You will jeft a Man in Public, without refpect to the Perfon's Dignity, or your own. This difgraceth your Gravity more than it can advance the Opinion of your Wit ; and fo do all Actions which we fee you do diredly with a Touch of Vain-glory, having no Refpecl: to the true End. You make the Law to lean too much to your Opinion, whereby you fhew yourfelf to be a legal Tyrant, ftriking with that Weapon where you^pleafe, fmce you are able to turn the Edge any way. 4* A felett COLLECTION way. For thus the wife Mailer of the Law give* warning to young Students, that they fhould be wary, left while they hope to be mftructe.d by your Integrity and Knowledge, they fhould be de-- ceived with your SkiJ], armed with Authority. Your too much Love of the World is -too much. feen, when having the Living of locco/. you re- lieve few or none. The Hand that hath taken fo much, can it give fo little ? Herein you fhew no* Bowels of Com paiTion, as if you thought all too little f^r yourfelf ; or that God had given you all that you have (if you think Wealth to be his Gift.,. I mean that you get well, for I know fure the reft is not) only to that End you mould ftill gather more, and never be fatisfied> but try how much, you could gather, to account for all at the great and general Audit-day. We defire you. to amend; this, and let your poor Tenants in 'Norfolk nd, fome Comfort, where nothing of your Eftate is fpent towards their Relief, but all brought up hi- ther, to the impoverifhing of your Country. In your laft,, which might have been your beft piece of Service to the State, affecHoned to follow that old Rule which giveth Juftice leaden Heels and iron Hands, you ufed too many Delays, till theDelinquent's Hands were loofed,and yours bound. In that Work you feemed another Fabius ; here the Humour of Marcellus would have done better, What needed you have fought more Evidences than enough ? while you pretended the finding out Qfmore (milling your aim) you difcredited what you had found. This beft Judgments think, though you never ufed fuch Speeches as are father- ed upon you, yet you might well have done it, and but righly : for this Crime wasfecond to none but the Powder-plot j That would have blown up of L E T T E R S. 43 all atone Blow; a merciful Cruelty; This would have done the fame by degrees ; a lingring, but a fure way : one might by one be called out, till all Oppofers had been removed. Befides, that other Plot was fcandalous to Rome, making Popery odious in the Sight of the whole World : This has been fcandalous to the Truth of the whole Gofpel ; and fince the firft Nullity to this Inftant, when Juftice hath her Hands bound, the Devil could not have invented a more mifchievous Practice to our State and Church, than this hath been, is, and is like to be. God avert the Evil. But herein you committed another Fault, that you were too open in your Proceedings, and fo taught them whereby to defend themfelves j fo you gave them time to undermine Juftice, and to work upon all Advantages both of Affections and Honour, andOpportunity, and Breach of Friendftiip, which they have fo well followed, fparing neither Pains nor Coft, that it almoft feemeth an Offence in you to have done fo much indeed, than that you have done no more. You ftopt the Confeffions and Accufations of fome, who perhaps had they been fuffered, would have fpoken enough to have re- moved fome Stumbling-blocks out of your way j. and that you did not this in the Favour of any one, but of I know not what prefent unadvifed Humours, fuppofmg enough behind to difcpver all, which fell not out fo. Hovvfoever, as the Apoftle- faith in another Cafe, you went not rightly to the Truth, and therefore though you were toibe com- mended for what you did, yet you were to be re- prehended for many Circumftances in the doing j and doubtlefs God hath an Eye in this Crofs to your Negligence, and the Briers are left to be. Pricks in your Sides, and Thorns in your Eyes. 5^4 'A feleR COLLECTION" But that which we commend you for, are thoio excellent Parts of Nature, and Knowledge in the Law, which -you are indued withal ; but thefe 'are only good in their good Ufe. Wherefore we thank you heartily for ftanding ftoutly in the Com- monwealth's Behalf, hoping it proceedeth not from a Difpofition to oppofe Greatnefs (as your Enemies fay) but to do jufrice, and deliver Truth indifferently, without refpect of Perfons ; and hi this we pray for your Profperity, and are forry that your good Actions mould not always fucceed hap- pily. But in the Carriage of this, you were faulty; for you took it in hand in an evil Time, both in refpecl of the prefent Bufmefs which rt interrupted, and in regard of his prefent Sicknefs whom it con- cerned : whereby you difunited your Strength, and made a Gap for the Enemies to pafs out at, and to return and aifault you. But now, fmce the Cafe fo ftandeth, we defire you to give way to Power, and fo to fight, that you be not utterly broken, but referved intirely to lervethe Common wealth again, and do what Good you can, fmce you cannot do all the Good you would. And fince you are fallen upon this Rock, caft out the Goods to fave the Bottom ; flop the Leaks, and make towards Land; learn of the Steward to make Friends of the unrighteous Mammon. Thofe Spaniards in Mexico who were chafed of the Itidians^ tell us what to do with our Goods in our Extremities j they being to pafs over a River in their Flight, as many as caft away their Gold fwam over fafe ; but fome more covetous, keeping their Gold, were either drowned with it, or overtaken and flain by the Savages. You have received, now learn to give. The Beaver learns us this Leilbn, who being hunted for his Stones, bite* */ L E T T E R S. 43 them off: You cannot but have much of your Eftate (pardon my Platnnefs) ill got. Think how much of that you never fpake for : how much, by fpeaking unjuftly, or m unjuft Caufes, Account it then a Bleffing of God, if thus it may be laid out for your Good, and not left for your Heir to haften the wafting of much of the reft, perhaps of all ; for fo we fee God oftentimes pro- ceed-s in Judgment with many hafty Gatherers, You have enough to fpare, being well laid, to turn the Tide, and fetch all things aaain. But if you efcape (I fuppofe it worthy of an if, ) fmce you know the old Ufe, that none called in que- ftion, muft go away uncenfured : yet confider, that Accufations make Wounds, and leave Scars j .and though you fee your Tail behind your Back, yourfelf free, and the Covert before ; yet remem- ber there are Stands. Truft not to reconciled Ene- mies, but think the Peace is but to fecure you for further Advantage. Expect a fecond and a third Encounter ; the main Battle, the Wings are yet unbroken ; they may charge you at an Inftant, or Death before them. Walk therefore circumfpectly ; and if at length by means of our good Endeavours and yours, you recover the Favour that you have loft ; give God the Glory in Action, not in Words only ; and remember us with Senfe of your paft Misfortune, whofe Eftate hath, doth, and may hereafter lie in the Power of your Breath. There is a great Mercy in Difpatch. Delays are Tor- tures wherewith we are by degrees rent out of our Eftates. Do not you (if you be reftored) as fome others do, fly from the Service of Virtue to ferve the Time, as if they repented their Good- nefs, or meant not to make a fecond Hazard in God's Houfc. But rather let this Crofs make you zealous 46 A felett COLLECTION zealous in God's Caufe, fenfible in ours, and more fenfible in all, which exprefs thus. You have been a great Enemy to Papifts; if you love God, be fo ftill, but more indeed than heretofore : for much of your Zeal was heretofore wafted in Words. Call to remembrance that they were the Perfons that prophefied of that Crofs of yours long before it happened ; they faw the Storm coming, t>eing the principal Contrivers and Furtherers of the Plot ; the Men that blew the Coals, heat the Iron, and made all things ready ; they owe you a good turn, and will, if they can, pay it you. You fee their Hearts by their Deeds ; prove then your Faith fo too. The beft good Work you can do, is to do the beft you can againft them, that is, to fee the Law feverely, juftly, and diligently exe- cuted. And now we befeech you, my Lord, be fenfible both of the Stroke, and Hand that ftrik- eth. Learn of David to leave Sbimei, and call upon God ; he hath fome great Work to do, and he prepareth you for it ; he would neither have you faint, nor yet bear this Crofs with a Stoical Refolution. There is a Chriftian Mediocrity worthy of your Greatnefs. I muft be plain, per- haps rafh. Had fome Notes which you have taken at Sermons, been written in your Heart to prac- tife, this Work had been done long ago, without the Envy of your Enemies : But when we will not mind ourfelves, God (if we belong to him) takes us in hand ; and becaufe he feeth that we have unbridled Stomachs, therefore he fends out- ward Crofles, which, while they caufe us to mourn, do comfort us ; being afTured Teftimonies of his Love that fends them. To humble ourfelves there- fore before God, is the Part of a Chriftian ; but for the World and our Enemies, the Counfel of the ^/LETTERS. 47 the Poet is apt ; 'Tune cede malis, fed contra auden- tlor ito. The laft Part of this Counfel you forget, yet none need be afhamed to make ufe of it j that fo being armed againft Cafualties, you may ftand firm againft the Aflaults on the Right-hand and on the Left. For this is certain ; the Mind that is moft prone to be puft up with Profperity, is molt weak, and apt to be deje&ed with the leaft Puff of Adverfity. Indeed me is ftrong enough to make an able Man ftagger, ftriking terrible Blows ; but true Chriftian Wifdom gives us Armour of Proof againft all Aflaults, and teacheth us in all Eftates to be content. For though me caufe our trueft Friends to declare themfelves our Enemies, though me give Heart then to the moft cowardly to ftrike us, -though an Hour's Continuance countervail an Age of Profperity, though me caft in our Dim all that ever we have done j yet hath me no Power to hurt the Humble and Wife, but only to break fuch as too much Profperity hath made ftiff in their own Thoughts, but weak indeed and fitted for renewing, when the Wife rather gather from thence Profit and Wifdom by the Example o{ Da- vid, who faid, Before I was chaftifed I went wrong. Now then, he that knoweth the rieht Way, will look better to his Footing. Cardan faith, *' That Weeping, Fafting, and Sighing, are * c the chief purgers of Griefs." Indeed naturally they help to aSwage Sorrow; but God in this Cale is the only and beft Phyfician. The Means he hath ordained are the Advice of Friends, the Amendment of ourfelves : for Amendment is both Phyfician and Cure. For Friends, although your Lordfhip be fcant, yet I hope you are not altogether deftitutej if you be, do but look on good 4% ^ feh ft COLLECTION good Books, they are true Friends, that will nei- ther flatter nor dhTemble j be you but true to yourfelf, applying what they teach unto the rarty grieved, and you fhall need no other Com- fort nor Counfcl. To them, and to God's Holy Spirit dire&ing you in the reading 'of them, I com- mend your Lordfhip, befeeching him to fend you a good Iflue out of thefe Troubles, and from henceforth to work a Reformation in all that is amifs, and a refolute Perfeverance, Proceeding, and Growth in all that is good, and that for his Glory, the bettering of yourfelf, this Church and Commonwealth, whofe faithful Servant whilft you remain, I remain a faithful Servant to you. LETTER XVII. X)r- Sharp to the Duke of Buckingham : with Queen Elizabeth's Speech to her Ar- my at Tilbury Fort. T Remember in Eighty-eight, waiting upon the * Earl oiLelceJler at ^Tilbury Camp, and in Eighty- nine going into 'Portugal with my noble Mailer the Earl of EJfcx, I learned fbmewhat fit to be imparted to your Grace. The Queen lying in the Camp one Night, guard- ed with her Army,/ the old Lord Trealurer Bur- high came thither, 'and delivered to the Earl the Examination of Don Pedro > who was taken and - brought in by Sir Francis Drake, which Exami- nation the Earl of Leicefter delivered unto me to publifh to the Army in my next Sermon. Tne Sum of it was this. Don of LETTER S. 49 Don Pedro being afked, what was the Intent of their coming, ftoutly anfwered the Lords, What, but to fubdue your Nation, and root it out ? Good, faid the Lords : and what meant you then to do with the Catholiques ? He anfwered, We meant to fend them (good Men) dire&ly unto Heaven, as all you that are Heretiques to Hell. Yea, but faid the Lords, what meant you to do with your Whips of Cord and Wyer ? (whereof they had great Store in their Ships) What ? faid he, we meant to whip you Heretiques to death, that have aflifted my Mailer's Rebels, and done fuch Difhonours to our Catholique King and People ? Yea, but what would you have done, faid they, with their young Children? They, faid he, which were above feven Years- old, fhould have gone the Way their Fathers went j the reft mould have lived, branded in the Forehead with the Letter L. for Lutheran, tor perpetual Bondage. This, I take God to Witnefte, I received of thofe great Lords upon Examination taken by the Councel, and by Commandement deliver 6 d it to the Armie. The Queen, the next Morning, rode through all the Squadrons of her Armie, as armed P allas^ at- tended by noble Footmen, Leicejler^ Ejjex^ and Norrls then Lord Marfhal, and divers other great Lords. Where fhe made an excellent Oration to .her Armie, which the next Day after her De- parture, I was commanded to redeliver to all the Armie together, to keep a publique Fall. Her Words were thefe. "MY loving People, we have been per- " fuaded by fome, that are careful of our Sa'ety, VOL. I. D "to O A feleft COLLECTION " to take heed how we commit ourfelf to armed *' Multitudes for fear of Treachery : but I aflure * c you, 1 do not defire to live to diftruft my faith- * l tul and loving People. Let Tyrants fear ; I 14 have alwayes ib behaved myfelf, that under * c God I have placed my chiefeft Strength and " Safeguard in the loyal Hearts and Good-will *' of my Subjects. And therefore I am come a- " mongft you as you fee, at this time, not for cc my Recreation and Di/port, but being refolved rie of Walgrave. 4. Rectorie of Graf ton. 5. Prebendary of Peterborough, 6. Chaunter of Lincoln. 7. Prebendary of Afgarbie.. 8. Prebendary of Nonningtcn. 9. Reiidentiarie's Place of Lincoln. LETTER XX. Dr. Field, Bijhcp c/Landaff, to the SAME, My graciqus good Lord, T N the great Library of Men, that I ha^e * ftudied thefe many Yeares, your Grace is the beft Book, and moft Claffick Authour that I have read ; in whom I find fo. much GoodnefTc, SweetnefTe and Nobleneffe of Nature ; fuch ;.n heroick Spirit, for boundlefle Bounty, as I never did in any. I could ir.ftance in in any v fome of whom you have made Deanes, fome Bilhops, fome Lords and Privy. Councellours. None that ever looked toward your Grace did ever go empty away ; I need go no farther then myfelf (a Gum of the Earth) whom, fome eight Years ago you railed ^/LETTERS. B5 raifed out of the Duft, for rayfmg but a Thought fo high as to ferve your Highneife. Since that, 1 have not played the Truant, but more dili- gently ftudied you then ever before. And yet (Dunce that I am) I (land at a Stay, and am a Nonproficient j the Book being the fame that ever it was, as may appear by the great Proficiencie of others. This wonderfully pofeth me, and fare there is fome Guile, fome Wile in fome of niy Fellow-ftudentSy who hide my Book^ front me, or fome Part of it. All the Fault is not in mine own BlockimnefTe, that I thrive no better. I once feared this before, that fome did me ill Offices. Your Grace was pleafed to proteft no Man had, and to aflure me no Man could,. My Heart tells me, it hath been alwaies upright, and is ftill moft faithful unto you. I have examined my Actions, my Words, and my very Thoughts, and found all of them ever fince moft found unto, your Grace. Give me leave after fo long Pati- ence (for which Vertue you were once pleafed to commend me to my old Mafter King janui t and I have not yet loft it) now that for thefe twelve Months almoft, I have been not onely upon the Stage, but upon the Rack of Expectations, evcu diftra6led between Hope and Fear, to comfort: myfelf with Recordation of your Loving-kind - nefles of old, when on that great Feaft I)ay ot your being inaugured our Chancellour, my Look was your Booke, wherein you read SadneUe, to which I was bold to anfwer, I trufted your Grace would give me no Caufe. You replyed with (lofle of Blood rather) that was your noble Kx- preflion. But God forbid fo precious an EfFti- ikm. I would emptie all my Veins rather than you mould ^bleed one drop ; when as one Blaft of D 4 your 56 A felecl COLLECTIOM your Breath is able to bring me to the Have;! where I would be. My Lord, I am grown an old Man, and am like old Houfhould-Huffe, apt to be broke upon often removing. I defire it. therefore but once for all, be it .//, or Bathe and Wells ^ and I will fpend the remainder of my Days in writing an Hiftory of your good Deeds to me and others, whereby I may vindicate you from the Envie and Obloquy of this prefent wick- ed Age wherein we live, and whileft I live in praying for your Grace, I am tot all! e and finallie, THEOFHXLUS LANDAVEN. LETTER XXI. Sir Walter Rakigh to James I. 1 T is one Part of the Office of a juft and wotv * thy Prince, to hear the Complaints of his Vaf- fals ; efpecially fuch as are in great Mifery. I, know not, amongft many other Prefurnptions ga- thered againft me, how your Majefty hath been perfuaded, that I was one of them who were greatly difcontented, and therefore the more like- ly to prove difloyal. But the great God fo re- lieve me in both Worlds as I was the contrary : and I took as great Comfort to behold your Ma- jefty, and always learning fomcGood, and bet- tering my Knowledge by hearing your Majefty's Difcourfe. I do moft humbly befeech your Sove- reign Majefty not to believe any of thofe in my Particular, who under pretence of Offences to Kings, do eafily work, their particular Revenge.. of L E T T E R S. 57 I truft no Man under the Colour of making Ex- amples, mould perfuade your Majefty to leave the Word Merciful out of your Style ; for it will be no lefs Front to your Majefty, and become your Greatnefs than the word Invincible. It is true, thai the Laws of England are no lefs jealous of the Kings than Cccfar was of Pompcy's Wife : for notwithftanding me was cleared for having Company with Claudius^ yet for being fufpected,. he condemned her. For myfelf, I protcft before almighty God, and I fpeak it to my Mafter and Sovereign, that I never invented Treafon againfl him ; and yet I know I mall fall in manibus eorurn t . a quibus non pojjltm evadere^ unlefs by your Ma- jefty's gracious Companion I be fuftained* Our Law therefore, moft merciful Prince, knowing her own Cruelty, and knowing that me is wont- to Compound Treafon out of Prefumptions and Circumftances, doth give this charitable Advice to the King her Supreme, Nan folurn fnpicns eff f . fed & mifericorS) &c. Cumtutiusfjtrcddereratio- nem nuferlcQrdue quam .judicii. I do therefore on the Knees of my Heart befeech your Majefly., from your own fweet and comfortable Difpoii- tion, to remember that I have ferved your Ma- jefty twenty Years, for which your MajeRy hatlv yet given me no Reward ; and it is fitter I mould be indebted unto my fovereign Lord, than the King to his poor Vaifal. Save me therefore, moil- merciful Prince, that I may owe your Majefly my Life itfelf, than which there cannot be a greater- Debt. Limit me at leaf}, my fovereign Lord, that I may pay it for your Service when your Majefty fhall pleafc. If the Law deftroy me* your Majefty mall put rne out of your Power., and I ihail have none to fear but the King oi" Kings, WALTER RALEIGH. D LET- 58" A fete ft COLLECTION LETTER XXII. Sir Walter Raleigh to Sir Robert Car. S I R, AFTER many Loffes, ancUmany Years Sor^ *"* rows, of both which I have caufe to fear I 1 .. was miftaken in their Ends, it is come to my Knowledge, that yourfelf (whom I know not but by an honourable Favour) hath been per- fuaded to give me and mine- my- laft fatal Blow,. by obtaining from his jVlajefty the Inheritance of my Children and Nephews, loft in Law for want of a Word. This done, there remaineth nothing with me but the Name of -Life. His Majefty, whom I never offended,, (for I hold it- unnatural and unmanlike to hate Goodnefs) ftaid me at the Grave's Brink ; .jyot- that I thought his Majefty thought me worthy-of many Deaths, and to be- hold mine caft out of the World with myfelf, but as a King that knoweth the Poor in Truth., hath received a promi-fe from God that his Throne fliall be eftablimed. And for-you, Sir, feeing your fair Day is but in the Dawn, mine drawn to the Setting ; your own Virtues and the King's Grace afl'uring you of many Fortunes and- much Honour : I befeech you begin not y.pur firft building upon the Ruins of the Innocent, and let not mine and their Sor- rows attend your firft- Plantation. I have ever been bound to your Nation, as well for many other Graces, as for the true Report of my Trial to the King's Majefty ; againft whom had I been zaalignant, the hearing of. my Caafe. would not have of L E T T E R S. 59 have changed Enemies into Friends, Malice into Companion, and the Minds of the greateft Num- ber then prefent into the Commiferatiou of mine Eftate. It is not the Nature of foul Treafon to beget fuch fair Paflions ; neither could it agree with the Duty and Love of faithful Subjects (efpecially of your Nation) to bewail his Over- throw that had confpired againft their moft na- tural and liberal Lord. I therefore trufl that you- will not be the firft that mall kill us outright, cut down the Tree with the Fruit, and undergo the Gurfe of them that enter the- Fields of the Father- lefs : which, ifitpleafe you to know the Truth, is far lefs in Value than in Fame. But that fo worthy a Gentleman as yourfelf will rather bind us to you. (being fix Gentlemen not bafe in Birth and Alliance) which have Intereft there- in : and myfelf with my uttennoft Thankful?- nefs will remain ready to oby your Command- ments . WALTER RALEIGH, LETTER. XXIII. Sir Walter Ralngh to Prince Henry, Son of James I. May if pica fa your Hjgbnefs t / *pHE following Lines are adJrefTed to your * Highnefs, from a Man who values his Li- berty, and a very fmall Fortune in a remote Part of this Ifland, under the prefent Conflitution, above all the Riches and Honours that he could any where enjoy under any oiher EfK-tblimmem.. You fee, Sir, the Doflrines that are lately come , into the" World, aad IKW far the Phra'fe has ob- tained,- 60 A : ' Jel'eft COLLECTION tained, of calling your royal Father, God's Vice-- gerent; which HI Men have turned both to the Difhonour of God, and the Impeachment of his Majefty's Goodnefs. They adjoin Vicegerency. to the Idea of being all-powerful, and not to that of being all-good. His Majefty's Wifdoin, it is to be hoped, will fave him from the Snare that may lie under grofs Adulations; but your Youth, and the Thirft of Praife, which I have obferved in you, may poflibly miflead you- to hearken to thefe Charmers, who would conduct your noble Nature into Tyrany. Be careful, O my Prince ! Hear them not, fly from their Deceits ; you are in the Succcffion to a Throne, from whence no Evil can be imputed to you, but all Good muft be conveyed from you. Your Father is called the Vicegerent of Heaven; while he is good, he is the Vicegerent of Heaven. Shall Man have Authority from the Fountain of Good to do Evil ? No, my Prince ; Jet mean and degenerate Spirits, , which want Benevolence, fuppofe your Power impaired by a Difability of doing Injuries. If want of Power to do ill, be an Incapacity in a Prince, with Reverence be it fpoken, it is an In- capacity he has in common with the Deity. Let me not doubt but all Pleas, which <. ! o not carry m them the mutual Happinefs of Prince and ; People, will appear as abfurd to your great Un- derftanding, as difagreeable to -yourroble Nature. Exert yourfelf, O generous Prince, againft fuch Sycophants, in the glorious Caufe of Liberty ; and aflume fuch an Ambition worthy of you, to fecure your Fellow-creatures from Slavery ; from a Condition as much below that of Brutes, as to a& without Reafon is lefs miferable than to a other Right can flow from God. While your Highnefs is forming yourfelf for a Throne, con- fider the Laws as fo many Common-places in your Study of the Science of Government j when you mean nothing but Juftice, they are an Eafe and Help to you. This way of thinking is what gave Men the glorious Appellations of Deliverers and Fathers of their Country; this made the Sight of .them roufe their Beholders into Accla- mations, and Mankind incapable of bearing their very Appearance, without applauding it as a Benefit. Confider the inexpreffible Advantages which will ever attend your Highnefs, while you make the Power of rendering Men happy the Meafure of your Actions.- While this is your Im- pulfe, how eafily will that Power be extended ? The Glance of your Eye will give Gladnefs, and your very Sentence have a Force of Bounty, Whatever fome Men would inimuate v ypu have loft your Subjects when you have loft their Incli- nations. You are to preiide over the Minds, not the Bodies of Men ; the Soul is the EfFence of the Man, and you cannot have the true Man againft his Inclinations. Choofe therefore to be the King, or the Conqueror of your People; it may be Submiflion, but it cannot be Obedience that is pafiive. 1 am, I*V Tour Higbnefs's London, Aug. 12. l6ll, moft faithful Servant) WALTER RALEIGH, LET- 62 A feleff G o L L E c T i^> \~ LETTER XXIV. Lord Bacon to James I. after his Difgrac?. To the KING. It may pleafe your mo/? excellent Afaje/ry t T. N the midft of my Mifery, which is rather * affwaged by Remembrance than by Hope, my chiefeft worldly Comfort is to think, that, fmce the time I had the firft Vote of the Commons Houfe of Parliament for Commiffioner of the Union, until the time that I was, by this laft Parliament, chofen by both Houfes for their Mcffenger to your Majefty in the Petition of Re- ligion (which two were my firft and laft Services) 1 was evermore fo happy as to have my poor Services gracioufly accepted by your Majefty-, and likewife not to have, had any of them mifcarry in my Hands; neither of which Points I can any wife take to myfelf, but afcribe the former to your Maj city's Goodnefs, and die latter to your prudent Directions, which I was ever . careful to have and keep. For, as I have often faid to your Majefty, I was towards you but as a Bucket and Ciftern, to draw, forth and conferve, whereas yourfelf was the Fountain. Unto this Comforc of nineteen Years Profperity, there fucceeded a Comfort even in my greateft Adverfityi fomewhat of the fame Nature, which is, that, in thofc Offences wherewith I 'was charged, there was not any one that had fpecial Relation to your Ma - jeify, or any your particular Commandments. For as towards Almighty God there are Offences agaiiift the firft and fecond Table, and yet all. againft; ^LETTERS. 63 againft God; fo with the Servants of Kings, there ar& Offences more immediate againft the Sovereign, although all Offences againft Law are alfo againft the King. Unto which Comfort there is added this Circumftance, that as my Faults were not againft your Majefty, otherwise than as all Faults are; fo my Fall was not your Majefty's Act, otherwife than as all ac"b of Juf- tice are yours. This I write not to infmuate with , your Majefty, but as a moft humble Appeal to your Majefty's gracious- Remembrance, how honeft and direct you have ever found me in your Serr- vice, whereby I have an affured Belief, that there is, in your Majefty's own princely Thoughts, . a great deal of Serenity and Clearnefs towards , me, your Majefty's now proftrate and caft down . Servant. Neither, my moft gracious Sovereign, do I, . by this Mention of my former Services, lay claim to your princely Graces and Bounty, ... though the Privilege of Calamity doth bear that Form of Petition. I know well, had they been much more, they had been but my bounden Duty: nay, I muft alfo confefs, that they were,, from time to time, far above my Merit, over and fuper-rewarded by your Majefty's Benefits, , which you heaped upon me. Your Majefty was and is that Mafter to me, that raifed and ad- vanced me nine times, thrice in Dignity, and fix times in Offices. The Places were indeed the painiiileft of all your Services; but 'then they had both Honour and Profits; and the then Pro- fits might have maintained my now Honours, it" I had been wife ; neither was your Majefty's immediate Liberality wanting towards rne in fome Gifts, if I may hold them. All this I do moft thankfully acknowledge; and do herewith con- elude,, , 04 flea COLLECT ro'N elude, that for any thing ariftng from myfclf to move your Eye of Pity tov/ards me, there is much more in my prefent Mifery than in my paft Services ; fave that the fame, your Majefty's Goodnefs, that may give Relief to the one, may give Value to the other. And indeed, if it may pleafe your Majeftjy this Theme of my Mifery is fo plentiful, as it need not be coupled with any thing elfe. I have been Somebody by your Majefty's flngular and undeferved Favour, even the prime Officer of your Kingdom.. Your Majefty's Arm hath often been laid over mine in Council, when you pre- fided at the Table ; fo near was I ! I have borne your Majefty's Image in Metal, much more in my Heart. I was never, in nineteen Years Service, chidden by yourMajefty; but, contrariwife, of- ten overjoyed when your Majefty would fometimes fay, I was a good Hufband for you, though none for myfelf; fometimes, That I had a way to deal in Rufinefe fuavibus medis^ which was the way, which was moft according to your own Heart ; and other moft gracious Speeches of Affection and Truft, which I feed on to this Day. But why mould I fpeak of thcfe things, which - are now vanifhed ? But only the better to exprefs my Downfal. For now it is thus with me : I am a * Ye?r and a half old in Mifery j though, I muft ever acknowledge, not without Ibme Mixture of your Majefty's Grace and Mercy. For I do net think it poflible that any one, whom you once loved, (hould be totally miferable. Mine own Means, through my own Improvidence, are poor and weak, little better than my Father left me. The poor * Therefore this was wrote near the Mi'Jdls of the Year- ^/LETTERS. % poor Things that I have had from your Majefty are either in Queftion or at Courtefy. My Dig- nities remain Marks of your part Favour, but Burdens of my prefent Fortune. The poor Remnants which I had of my former Fortunes, in Plate or Jewels, I have fpread upon poor Men unto whom I owed, fcarce leaving myfelf a con- venient Subfiftance; fo as to conclude, I muft pour out my Mifery before your Majefty, fo far as to fay, Si tu defer is , perimus. But as I can offer to your Majefty's Companion little arifing from myfelf to move you, except it be my extreme Mifery, which I have truly open- ed ; fo looking up to your Majefty's own felf, I mould think I committed Cain's Fault if I mould defpair. Your Majefty is a King, whofe Heart is as unfcrutable for fecret Motions of Goodnefs, as for Depth of Wifdonu. You are, Creator-like, faclive, not deftru&ive ; you are the Prince in whom hath ever been noted- an Averfibn againft any thing that favoured of an hard Heart; as, on the other fide, your princely Eye was wont to meet with any Motion that was made on the re- lieving Part. Therefore, as one that hath had the Happinefs to, know your Majefty near-hand, I have, moft gracious Sovereign, Faith enough for a Miracle, and much more for a Grace, that your Majefty will not fuffer your poor Creature to be utterly defaced, nor blot that Name quite out of your Book, upon which your facredHand* hath been fo oft for the giving him new Orna- ments and Additions. Unto this degree ofCompaffion, I hope God; (,of whofe Mercy towards me, both in my Pro- fperity and Adverfity, I have had great Tefti- monies and Pledges, though mine own manifold* aad; 66 A feleft C o L L fe c T and wretched Unthankfulnefs might have averted them) will difpofe your princely Heart, already prepared to all Piety you mall * do for me. And as all commiferable Perfons (efpecially fuch as find their Hearts void of all Malice) are apt to think that all Men pity them, fo I allure myfelf that the Lords of your Council, who, out of their Wifdom and Noblenefs, cannot but be fenfible of human Events, will, in this way which I go, for the Relief of my Eftate, further and advance your Majefty's Goodnefs towards me ; for there is, as I conceive, a kind of Fraternity between great Men that are, and thofe that have been, being but the feveral Ten-fes of one Verb. Nay, I do further prefume, that both Houfes of Parliament . will love their Juftice the better, if it end not in ,my Ruin; for I have been often told, by many of my Lords, as it were in the way of excufing the Severity of the Sentence, that they knew they left me in good Hands. And your Majefty knoweth well I have been all my Life long ac- ceptable to thofe Aflemblies ; not by Flattery, but by Moderation, and by honeft exprefling of a Defire to have ail things go fairly and well. But if it may pleafe your Majefty (for Saints. I fliall give them Reverence, but no Adoration-; my Addrefs is to your Majefty, the Fountain of Goodnefs) your Majefly (hall, by the Grace of God, not feel that in Gift, which I fliall extreme- ly feel in Help ; for my B-efires are moderate, and my Courfes meafured to a Life orderly and referved, hoping (till to do your Majefty Honour in my way; only I moft humbly beieech your Majefty to give me leave to conclude with thefe Words, which Neceffity fpeaketh: Help me, dear * Vouchfafe to exprefs towards me, of L E T T E R S. 67 dear Sovereign, Lord and Mafter, and pity fb far, as that I, that have borne a Bag, be not now in my Age, forced, in effect, to bear a Wallet ; nor that I, that defire to live to ftudy, may not be driven to ftudy to live. I moft hum- bly crave Pardon of a long Letter, after a long Silence. God of Heaven ever blefs, preferve^, and profper your Majefty. Your Majejlys. pour ancient Servant and Beadfman* Fn. BACON* LETTER XXV. Countefs of Nottingham to- tbe DanifB Ambaffador. SIR, T Am very forry this Qccafion fhoul'd have been * offered me by the King your Mafter, which makes me troublefome to you for the prefent. It is reported to me by Men of Honour,, the great Wrong the King of the Danes hath done me, when I was not by to anfwer for myfelf : for if I had been prefent, I would have letten him know how much I fcorn to receive that Wrong at his Hands. I need not to urge the Particular of it, lor the King himfelf knows it beft. I proteft to you, Sir, I did think as honourably of the King your Mafter, as I- did of my owiv Prince; but now I perfuade myfelf there is as much Bafenefs in him as can be in any Man. For although he ha 6S A feleft COLLECTION- be a Prince by Birth, it feems not to me that there- harbours any princely Thought in his Breair. ; for either in Prince or Subject, it is the bafeft that can be to wrong any. Woman of Honour. I de- ferve as little that Name he gave me, as either the Mother of himfelf or of his Children ; and if ever I come to know what Man hath informed your Mafter fo wrongfully of me, I mould do my beft for putting him from doing the like to any other. But if it hath come by the Tongue of any Woman, I dare fay fhe would be glad to have Companions. So leaving to trouble you any fur- ther, I reft, your Friend,, M. NOTTINGHAM, LETTER XXVI. jMr. Ruthen totbcEarlcf Northumberland, My Lord, T T may be interpreted DIfcretron fometimes to *- wink at private Wrongs, efpecially for fuch a one as myfelf r that have a long time wreftled with a hard Fortune, and whofe Actions, Words and Behaviour are continually fubjedr, to the Cen- fure of a whole State ; yet not to be fenfible of public and national Difgrace, were Stupidity and Bafenefs of Mind : for no Place, nor Time, nor State, can excufe a Man from performing that Duty and Obligation wherein Nature hath tied him 'to his Country and to himfelf. This I fpeak in regard of certain infamous Verfes lately by your Lordfliip's means, difperfed abroad to difgracemy Country and myfelf, and to wrong^ and ilain by me the- ^/LETTERS. 69 #he Honour of a worthy and virtuous Gentlewo- man, whofe unfpotted and immaculate Virtue your- felf is fo much more'bound to admire and uphold, in that having dimonorably aflaulted it, you could not prevail. But belike, my Lord, you dare do any thing but that which is good and juft. Think not to bear down thefe things cither by Great- nefs or Denial ; for the Circumftances that prove them are fo evident, and the Veil wherewith yoa would fhadow them, is too tranfparent. Neither would I have you flatter yourfelf, as though, -like another Giges, you could pafs in your Cour- fes invifible. If you owe a Spite to any of my Countrymen, it is a poor Revenge to rail upon me in Verfe : or if the Repulfe of your lewd Defire at the Gentlewoman's Hands, hath inflamed and ex- afperated your Choler againfl her, it was nevar known, that to refufe Northumberland's unlawful Luft was a Crime for a Gentlewoman deferving to have her Honour called in queftion. For her Part, I doubt not but her own unfpotted Virtue will eafily wipe out any Blot which your Malice would caft upon it ; and for me and my Country- men, know, my good Lord, that fuch Blows as come in Rhime, are too weak to reach or harm us. I am afhamed in your Lord/hip's Behalf for thefe Proceedings, and forry that the World muft now fee how long it hath been miftaken in Nor- thumberland's Spirit. And yet who will not com- mend your Wifdom in choofing fuch a fafe Courfe :as to wrong a Woman and a Prifoner ? the one of which cannot, and the other, by Nature and Quality of the Place, may not, right his own wrongs. Wherefore (fetting afide the moft ho- norable Order of the Garter, and protefting that whatfoever is here iaid, is no way intended to the Nobilitv 70 A feleft COLLECTION Nobility and Gentry of England in general, which I doubt not but will condemn this your difhonourable Dealing, and for which[both myfelf, and I dare truly fay all my Countrymen fhall be even as ready to facrifice our Bloods as for our own Mother Scotland) I do not only in regard of our own Perfons affirm, that whatfoever in thofc infamous Verfes is contained, is utterly falfe and wntrue, and that yourfelf hath dealt moft dif- honourably, unworthily, and bafely ; but this I will ever maintain. If thefe Words found hardily in your Lordmip's Ear, blame yourfelf, fmce yourfelf, forgetting yourfelf, have taught others how to difhonour you : and remember, that tho' Nobility make a Difference of Perfons, yet Injury .acknowledgeth none. PATRICK RWTHEN. BETTER XXVII. Sir Thomas Roe to Secretary C advert. Right Honcuralle^ A BOUT tenne Dayes before the Date of **~* this, I difpatched a Gentleman, my Kinf- inan, expre/Fe to his Majefty, with Letters from the Grand Signer Sultan Ojman ; and gave large Advice to your Honour, and to the Lords, as well of the publique Occurrences, as of myne owne Succefs in other Bufmefs : wherein you ihall find, whenfoeuer they arrive, that I had fet- tled all things o'iuen me inCommifiion, both from his Majeftie and the Company, and obteyned newe and large Priui ledges ; recouered, by war- rant Money extorted, though yet vnpaid ; pro- cured tf L E T T E R S. 71 cwrsd fuch Commands and Letters for Tunes and Algier^ fent exprefsly by the Emperour, that Lmight haue boafted of a profperous Induftry, as you will fee by Copies already fent you. And therein your Honor will finde, that I prophciied of thefe things that are now come vpon vs, fore- feeing that which I could not preuent. QiiJPednefday laft, the yth prefent, the Sultan, according to his obftinat Purpofe, fending over his Pauilions, the Soldiours rofe, both Janizaries and Spahees, and firft ftaid the Tents, and then brake into the Courts of the Seraglio with infinite Tumult, demanding of the Emperour not to proceed, and to deliuer the great Vizier Delauir Bafla, and the Hoia the Tutor, the Caflariaga, the chiefe Eunuch-keeper of the Women, the Tefterdar, the Treafurer, and fome others/ as priuy and confenting to this Voiage, which would, (as they pretended) deftroy the Empire. The King promifed, but delayed, and attempted to conuey them, and fome Treafure, to Jljia Side ; but they preuented him, and kept Guard all that Day, only facking the Houfe of the Hoia. The King, in the meane tyme, made fome Showe of defending his Pallace. The next Morning, the Fury encreafing, they demanded thofe Officers, or elfe they would carue their owne Juftice ; fo that lie for the prefent was forced to hyde himfelf ; .and then taking Oath among themfelves, not to rifle the King's Houfe, they entered in, and by Menaces found the Vizier and Caflariaga hidden, whom they prefently cutt in pieces ; and fo feek- ing the Emperour, not able to finde him, nor force any to tell where he had conueyed himfelf, they cryed out, they muft haue a King ; and then demanded for Sultan Mujlafa, Uncle to Ofmaii, by 72 A fdeEt COLLECTION by him depofcd, beeing a foft>fpirited Man, and to fpeake modeftly, of no great Witt j who bee- ing found in a Vault (where the King had putt him fmce the Beginning of the Rebellion) halfe- flarued, they tooke up, and fett him on the Throne, and proclaymed him Emperour, taking him out of that Seraglio, and carryeing him to another. Ofman amazed with thefe Newes, firft practized the Woemen, whither he was conuey- i ed, to murther him, and here beganne in the Night a newe Uprore. The Soldiours refcued him, and tooke him to their owne Colledge halfe dead. Thus a Man defpifed, naked, taken from a Pitt, at firft only begging a little Water, was in a Moment made one of the greateft Monarchs in the World. The Depofed, not yet in Defpera- tion, the fame Night dealt with the Aga of the Janizaries, and one Huzein Baffa, Vizier in the Warrs of Poland, to aflift him, .promifing die Soldiours great Beneuolence. They counfell him, in this Extremity, to goe out to the mutined Troops to offer his Larges, and to fee if he could move them to any Compaffion ; which he did, with them, and fewe others accompanied. When he came fo vnlooked for, they laid hold on him, as he was pleading his own Caufe. The Aga of the Janizaries, and Huzein Bafla, butt feeming to perfwade for him, were inftantly cutt in pieces. Then the poore Ojtnan tooke a Clothe, and couered his Face, expecting Death j but they fet him vpon a Horfe, and fent him inftantly to the feaven Towers vnder gocd Guard, and euer fince* have bene ymployed in the Sack of thofe Houfes, with whofe Maftcrs they had any Quar- rel as yll Minifters, and haue touched nothing lfe. At this Inftant I am aduifed, that the newe great 2 cf L E T T E R S. 73 Vizier Daout Bafla, by the Command of the newe Emperour, hath ftrangled Ofman^ fent to Prifon butt fower Howers agoe : the firft Em- perour that ever they laid violent Hands on j a fatall Signe, I think, of their Declynation. I cannot difcourfe at this prefent, hauing but one Hower allowed mee to write by the Venetian Baile, and all not yet appeafed. But I would not his Majeftie fhould recciue yt from another Hand ; therefore you wil be pleafed to prefent, and to ac- cept res geftaS) in this Hurly-burly. I have Know- ledge of all the Ground of this Bufmefs, and the Practize of the great Vizier, now flayne, to al- ter the whole Frame of Gouernment of this Em- pire ; a braue and wife Plott, if yt hath taken Kffedl; which had either made him Monarch of the World, or wholly torne and diffolued it. But God hath his Hand and Power in thefe things a- bove our reach j and I will fend your Honor the Story of this, wherein you mall fee ftraunge things propofed, and now confounded. And this is the third Day fmce thefe Troubles be- ganne, and I hope wil be the laft, though I fu- ipctft a Warre to enfue, of which I will advife your Honor in tyme. Conftantinople, loth May, 1622. LETTER XXVIII. fo the SAM E. Right Honorable. *~p H E former is a Copy of myne,, fent you * the laft Weeke, written in hafte, and while VOL. I. E ws 74 ^ feleEl COLLECTION we were vnquiett, and not free from Feare ; for the Subftance, it is all true, only fome Difference in the manner of no Moment, which I muft then take as I could gett yt from Report. But I will in few Daves trouble you with the whole andlanje Difcourfe, which I think is one of the rareft and Jtrangeft Stories, both for the Defigne and Con- fufion thereof, and for the great Alterations fol- lowing, and Waies opened to greater, that this Age, or many former haue produced. In the meane while, to giue your Honor a Longing to know more, I will for this time touch the Pro- ject, and fome fewe Obferuations vpon it, and then conclude with myne own Bufinefs. Firft, vour Honor muft knowe, that this laft Emper- our, Ofman, was a Youth of a great and haughty Spiritt, very couragious, and a mortall hater of the ChrifHans ; cnuious of the Glory of his Auncef- tors, hauing defigned great Things ; and ambiti- ous to aduance his Name higher than any of theirs. His firft Enterprife was that of Poland^ which hee vndertook of his owne Head, againft the liking both of Viziers and Soldiours, who in a Monar- chy, grown to Riches and Hight, declyned from her antient Difciplyne by Eafe and Wealth, and perhaps, longa domlnatlone incrtes, are euer corrupt and lazy. This Action he thought lo eafy, as that he had difpofed of the Distribution of his Conqueft, and diuided the live Lyon's Skynne. Being met vpon the Borders with a poore Army, in comparifon, he was firft (as I.enformed you) worfted at Cbotytt, fo that he was fayne to leaue yt vntaken. Then, when he would haue forced the Trenches of the Chancellor, to haue advanc- ed into a playn Country, he could neuer procure his Janizaries to fight j 'though engaging his Per- fon, of L E T T E R S. 75 Ton, once or twice, beyond the Regarde of his Quality ; and in Conclufion was compelled to rife fhamefiilly, and to treat vpon eafy Condi- tions ; and, to faue his Honor, was very gladd, 'by my comming, of that Pretence to make a Peace (which yet depends) vntill hee had exe- cuted his deepe concerned Councells. For this Difgrace, he tooke fo rooted an Indignation a- gainft the Janizaries, and fo iuftly, that he often complayned, he was no King that was fubjecl: to the Infolenccy of his owne Slaues, vpon whom he fpent his Treafures ; and yet they would nei- ther fight in Warre, nor be content in Peace, without exacting Bounties. Delauir BafTa Vizier, a Man of great Witt and Courage, and called from the Eaitern Parts to this Action, who came in a hraue and fotildiourly Equipage aboue all his Captaines, was fodainly made great Vizier, the former beeins; in the fame Difgrace common with the Soldiours, though not in the Fault. This Man was neuer bredd here, but had liued in Ac'tion for many Yeares, and fo had no Faction nor Dependence in Court, but flood vpon him- fclfe ; and beeing now, vnlooked for, advanced to this high Dignity, he wrought vpon the King's Difcontent, and nourished yt j and in Conclufion told him, It was true, he was no Emperour, nor could bee, while the Janizaries had the Power which they had lately vfurped. That they were corrupted from their antient Inflitution, and were lazy Cowards, vnworthy of Bread. But if he would follow his Advice, lie could prouide him a newe< Soldioury about Damafcus, and from the Coords, of JVIen, etier bredd in the frontire Warre, and of great Courage ; and that of them he fhould ere& a newe Militia, that Ihould wholly- E 2 depend j6 A feleft COLLECTION depend of him only, enterteyning forty thoufand ia Pay, which fhould allway be his Guard. That euery Beglerbcgh, in his Gouerment, fhould trayne fome of the Inhabitants, who, in all Occaflons of making a great Army, fhould be in readynes ; and he.eby he fhould fpare infinite Treafure, and fecure his Eftate, eaten and in danger by thefe Drones ; and be able, with Men of new Spiritts, to doe greater Matters then any of his Auncef- tors. The King, pleafed with this Councell, gaue all to the Vizier's Direction, who was a true Soldiour, and a very wife Man, able, by his Cre- ditt in Afia^ to performe this and more ; for he was exceedingly beloued 1fi thofe Parts, very rich, and had kept Damafcus for himfelfe in the laft Rebellion. Upon this Conclusion betweene them, he fent his Letters to his Friends, and provided ten thoufand thereabouts, and ten thoufand from the Coords, all upon pretence of invading Perfia ; and had caufed the Emir de Saida to raife twenty thoufand, which was called a Reuolt, but was indeed in ayd of the King's Purpofes, who pretended to goe priuately to Mtcha ; but his End was to meete thofe Soldiours, and to flay a Yeare at Damafcus, vntill he had regulated his new Army, and then to retorne to Ccn/'taniinople^ and root out and diflblue all the Chambers of the Janizaries, and call the Spahees and Timariotts, and to exauclorate all their Captaynes, who eate vp his Country. And hauing thus fettled all things here, he then refolued, with his new Soldiours, to attempt the Recouery of his Honor in Cbrijlendomt ; in the nieane tyme to hold all good Friendfhipp and Correfpondence there in all Parts. Certenly this was a braue and well- grounded Defigne, and of great Confequence for the of LETTERS. 77 the renewing of this decayed Empire, if God had not deftroyed it ; for it is very true, the Turkijb Emperour is now but the Janizaries Treafurer. If this Proieil had taken place, God knowes what Euents it might have produced by a Civill Warre ; for doubtlefle the Soldioury here would haue fett upp a new King, and maynteyned him as they could, and this European Part had bene torne away by theDivifien; befides Zk&wrBafla, hauing the King in his Polleflion, and the Trea- fure and his own Authority fo greate, and his In- clynation velle imperare^ once difcouered, it may well be thought that he would haue fhared fome Part of this greate Eftate. If, on fhe other fide, the King had preuailed, and the Vizier proued faithful!, I am perfwaded they would haue made fuch a Reformation, and erected fuch a newe Order for the Warre and Treafure, that he would haue troubled all Chriftendsme ; but, ubi difqulfe- tor famuli bums ? Nonnc infatuavit Deits fapientiam mundi buius ? Perdam japicnticimfapientum, et va- riant reddam intelligentiam intelligentium. I know not whether I ought towifh, that thefe Councells had fucceeded or not : now I am fure we are here governed by a poore and feely Man ; or rather, here is no Gouernment, where Slaues, that in. fewe Howres could chaunge the greateft Monarch, are become fb infolent, that yett there is no open Diuan or Councell, vntill they haue receiued a Donatiue for Guerdon of their Iniquity. Your Honor will giue mee leaue to make fhort Obfer- uations. Firft, that the Treafury, by the three Chaunges in fower Years (for euery Janizary in the Empire, whether abfent or prefent, " hath twenty-five Checquins Gold, befides the Spahfes and other Orders) and by the late Warr, is very E 3 much 78 A felefit Co L LECTIO- N much exhaufted, and thefe Fellowes all Huing that haue had the Milke, and now inured to profperous Mutinies, they haue taken fuch Head as cannot be differed, nor fately taken off; and I doe not think that all is quiett, though it appears fo ; but that we fhall haue new Troubles from, thofe prepared in dfia^ who will attempt a Re- venge for the Death of a Kina; that was their Martyr : Et hinc ruhiee. Secondly, in the De- grees of the Vprore itfelfe ; that the Soldioura had no Intention at fiift, either to depoie or hurt their Emperour, butt only to ftay him, and to cutt off the Counfcllors of his Journey,, whom the next Day, dead and buried, they bitterly la- mented, knowing they had rafhly fett vp one whom they muft change for Difab'ility. Third- ly, at the Order ; that thefe Mutiners, hauing no Head or Direction, kept that Reglement, that they tooke Oath in thcirFury in the King's Yard, not to fpoile nor fack the Imperial! Throne, -as their owne Difhonour, and neither committed nor fuffered any Infolency nor Violence in the Citty ; and, which is ftrange, I thinke there hath not bene done, in the three Dayes and three Nights, one thouiand Checquins Damma^e to the Neutrally, nor to any butt to thofe obnoxious for. fome former Quarreil : and fix of them meeting with ioo/. of myne in the Streets, in the Hands of a poore Man, they firft tooke it away ; but he pleading it was myne, the-y retorned ytj fo that I may wonder at fuch orderly Diforder. This Pk>tt was difcouered to the Soldiours, by Words of Difdaine lett fall from the Kins, by rtmouing all his Treafure, pulling down the Riches cf his JJoufe, melting Furniture and Saddles, and what- ibeuer could be converted into Bullion. Thus your. ^/LETTERS. 79 J'our Honor hath a Modcll of Troubles and my Contemplations, which Tyme may enlarge. For our owne Bufines : they will now doe any thing I fhall propound for Poland^ hauing fent Offers thither, and will fend into England ; but whether it were well done now to aflift to any Peace, I know not ; yet will follow my Inftru&ions. Wkhin fower Dayes after this, I procured to be renewed all my Commands and Letters for Tunes and Algier, in this Emperour's Name, and haue difpeeded them away, according to my Advifes fent your Honor by my Cofen, Robert Roe ; fo that I think I fhall rather fortify than weaken that Define. The Letter written to his Majeftie by the laft Emperour /hal be confirmed, and wee are in ft in prijtino fta!u. I befeech your Honor, read Part of this my Letter to his Majeftie, and medi- ate for me, that yt may abfolve mee, vntill I can put it in better Forme, being fcarfe allowed Tyme to tranfcribe this, that you may read yt. Et ab bis incendiary;, libera nos Domtne. Conftantinople, . 16 May, 1622. Your Honor s affectionate seruant. LETTER XXIX. Relation of the Death of Sultan OSMAN. 'T^HE Grand Signior, Sultan Ofman^ difcontentcd * euer fince his Djfgrace in Poland, as foone as he came to Co^ijlnntinople^ pretended a Journey vpon the Emir de Saida, who was reported to be in Rebellion, hauing taken Armes to other Ends : but beeing diuerted from this Purpofe by the great Inrlance of the Viziers, and that it would not fo well ferue his fecrett Defsgnes, becaufe he muft .then keep an Army on foote, he gave out that E. he- 8o A feleft COLLECTION he would vifitt Mccka, the Tomb of his falls Prophett. To make this Voiage the more fecure in Appearance, he feemed content to accept of any Treaty with the Polacks, euen to Conditions both of Difadvantage and Difhonor. For his Eftates in Hungary^ he re-enforced the Frontire with diuers Troopes ; and though he were much troubled at the League betweene the Emperour of Germany and Betklem Galcr, yett he difTembled it foe as that he would not difpleafe the Tranfylua- nian, but rather offered newe Succors, and For- bearance of his Tribute. From the Incurfions of the CoJ/ach, he hoped to afiure himfelfe by th Treaty of the PoL'S ; and in occafion of Breach, he had the Tartars ready to requite them, it bee- ing both their Trades to live vpon Spoile and Robbery ; and for more Security, he appointed twenty Gallies to keep the Black Sea. The com- mon People, and Viziers, that loued Reft, and knew not the Defigne, were much troubled and difcontent at this Journey, who made many Re- monftrances to him of thclnconuenience and Dan- ger to leaue the Seat of his Empire to the Truft of a Deputy, in a Tyme when Betb/em Gabor was newly reconciled to the Germayne Emperour, and therefore not to be trufted, and the Polacks newly conciled to him, and therefore to be miftrufted. Diuers other Reafons were made to him, many Petitions delivered from the Churchmen, Law- yers, and from all Eftates ; but melancholy Re- uense had wholly poflelled him, fo that by no means he could be perfwaded to defift. The Soldioury palFed fo farrc, as to threaten publique- ly, and to proteft they would not follow, but ra- ther fett upp another King in his Abfence, that fhould ftay among them. This alfo wrought no other of L E T T E R S. 81 other Effect, butt Encreafe of Defpight againft them. In Conclufton, carried by his owne Fate to Deftruetion, the yth of ' Mtiy (hauing firft com- manded away all his Gallies to the Leua/it, and thereby difpofed away many of his Soldtours) he begarvne to pafTe ouer his Tents and Pauilions to AJia Side, with great Quantities of Treaiure. The Janizaries and Spahees (who had alfo fecrett Intelligence vpon the King, his owne Words and Adlions betrayeing fome further Deffigne than a Pilgrimage ; for he made Preparations to carry a- way all his Jewells and Treaiure, euen defaceing his Pallace, and taking from Churches, and his Wardrobes, whatfoever could be conuerted to Bullion) fuddenly mett at the Hyppodrome in the City, upon a \Vord giuen, and from ' thence ranne to the Seraglio in Tumult, butt without Armes ; and there, according to their barbarous Mutinyes, cryed out for the King (hauing firft taken order to ftopp the PafTage of any thing vpon the Water) who appearing to them, afked, What this Infolency meant ? and what they pretended ? They then, by the Mouth of a Multitude (for they had no Head but that of the Monfter) de- manded firft, That he fhould not proceed in his Purpofe to goe to Afecba, nor into djia ; but that he muft abide in the Citty. Secondly, They would haue deliuered to their Fury the great Vi- ' zier Delavir BafFa, the Hoia or, the King, the Caflariaga Gouernour of the Woemen, the Tef- terdar or Treaforer, the Caddee-lefkar or chiefe Juftice, and fome ethers, as Enemyes to the State, and conferring to this Voiage, which, they pre- tended, would be the Ruyne of the Empire. The firft, after a little Difpute, the King granted vjito them, promiiing to giue ouer his. Journey ; E "5 : but $2 A file El COLLECTION but they, not content, exacled it in Writing. To the feconci he replyed, That it was a Difhonor to him to haue his Seruants fo vfed without Order of Juftice ; but perfwaded them to haue Patience to ftay untill Satterday, the next Diuan or publique Council], where they fhould all appeare ; and, if they were found culpable, they mould receiue Punifhment : not meaning to performe any of this, but to gett time, and allay the prefent Fury, Thefe Fellowes, not content with this moderat Anfwere, vndertooke to knovve that they were guilty, and therefore that there needed no other Wittnesj Tryall, nor Judge, but themfelves ; and" with -extreame Clamor called to haue them de- liuered : but the King, refufmg to giue them any- other Satisfaction, and they, vnprepared for Force, rctorned into the Citty, which was now all in feare, euery Houfe and Shopp fhut upp, expect- ing a generall Sack. But they followed the Way of their owne Hatred, and fmt went to the Home of flie Hoia, which they brake and pillaged ; but not finding him, they proceeded to the great Vi- zier's, who made fome Defence, and, they bce~ ing unarmed, beat them off, and fo they fepa- rated, beeing nowe Euening ; but kept a Guard tn fome Parts of the Towne. This Night the King made an Attempt to fend cuer to Afia Side, but was preuented, and to fortify and defend his Seraglio, which is walled ftrongly about, and hath alway in it, of houfhold Seruants, about three thoufand : but, it feems, no Man would arme in his Caufe ; , for the next Morning thefe Mutiners afiembled againe, and taking their Armes, went firil to the Mufti or Arch-prieft a- mong them, and forced him and dmers others to Accompany thejn to the Court, where they anew demanded of L E T T E R S. 5 demanded thefe Men, butt with more Infrance- and Fury. In the mean tyme, the Hoia, Cad- dee-lefkar, and Tefterdar fledd, and were yet neuer heard of. The Vizier retired to the King, and perfwaded him earneftJy to goe ouer in Perfon in his owne Boats (which from his Garden he might eafily doe) to *$&, ,and there to take Horfe, and he would fecure him from all Perill ; but the King would not moue, bidding him ffay confi- dent and afiured, that he would punifh thefe Re- bells. The wife old Man, feeing this Conftancy or Obftinacy, defired leaue to mike for himfelfe, which he either tooke or obteyned, and fo gott away to the Hermitage of a Sain& renowned amongft them, who (like himfelfe) betrayed him to a Captayne of the Janizaries, yet did him the Fauour as not to deliuer him to the Multi- tude, but carried him back into the King's Houfe~ All this tyme it was difputed in the Seraglio about the Delivery of thefe Officers, the Emperour rc- fuftng, the Rebells clamouring and threatening-; infomuch as he beganne to feare they would break in, and, in their Rage, do worfe then was yett. pretended. Whereupon, whether by the King's Order, or by his owne Confent, willing to be the Peace-offering, the Vizier went out to them,, and with good Anurednefs demanded, What they fought of him, and wherein he had offended ? But they anfwered him with their Swords, and fodainly cutt him in pieces. The Emperour,, feeing their Fury fo outragious, had now more Caufe to doubt, and retired himfelfe, then too* late, when he had loft his braue Counfellor,. would haue fled into dfia y and could not, but conueyed himfelfe into a priuat Place, prepared by his Buftcngi Bafla, or chiefe Gardiner. The 84 A feleft COLLECTION Rebells continue without in their Maddnefs, uffc- ing for the King, and for more Sacrifices : but the Seruants protefting they knew not where he was, they faid, They muft haue a King, and, it" he would not appeare, they would make another. And hairing a while attended, they refolueu to enter the Pallacc (but firft tooke a general Oath, not to fack the Imperiall Throne, which they called their Houfe and their Honor) and there feeking for the King, not able to find him, they extorted by Confeflion, the Caflariaga, and flewe him } and then they demanded for Muftafa, Vn- ele to Oftnan t by him formerly depcfed, a Man efteemed rather holy (that is franticquej than wife, and indeed fitter for a Cell then a Scepter. The King, the firft Day of this Tumult, had putt Muftafa into a Vault with two Negro Wo- men, without Bread or Drink - } in which Eftate thefe new Electors found him allmeft naked, and halfe pyned. At firft fight, he thought they had bene the Meflengers of his Death ; butt that Feare patted ouer, he begged of them a Cupp of Wa- ter, whom they tooke, and inftantly proclaymed their Emperour, which he was as loath to accept, uti pudebat aufti ncminis. How vnftable are the Eftatcs of the greateft Princes ! Quern dies videt -V miens iaccntem^ huac dies videt fugiens regna:-:t c m, He that was now in the Jawes of Death, naked, ftarued, and dyeing for Thirft, is become the Emperour, and may drink Gold, or the Bloud of Men. They, as yet not knowing what was become of Ofman, and loath to truft Muftafa in the Pallace, carried him in Tryumph to the old Seraglio, and there left him, departing to the Sack of the Vizier's Houfe, and fo in the Euen- ing to their Rendeuous, where they kept both good ^LETTERS. 8$ good Guard and good Order in the Citty, from Fires and other Infolencies. Sultan Ofman, a- mazed with this Newes, fo foone as they had left the Court, came out, and called to Counfell in the Night Huzein Baffa, late Vizier in the Polifif Warr, and the Aga of the Janifaries, both faith- full to him, and demanded their Aduife ; firft ' hailing fent to the Seraglio, to pra&ize the Wo- men there to ftrangle fl&ftafa. Butt fome tak- ing his Part, a newe Vprore arofe in the Houfe betweene that Sexe ; and the Soldiours that kept Watch, taking the Alarum, entered in and ref- cued him, and from thence remoued him to the Chambers of the Janizaries, where they guarded him for that Night in an ill Lodging. All this tyme Ofman confults what Courfe to take. Thefe two his Frends, and fome others, tell him, that the Cafe was defperat, and would not be cured but by a defperat Remedy j and therefore they a- greed, that the Aga fhould goe and perfwade with the Mufti, and that the King in the Morn- ing fhould fodainly prefent himfelfe to the Soldi^- ours at their owne Dore, and make Experience what his Prefence, his Submiffion, and his Bene- uolcuce promifed, could worke, to moue them to - Loyalty or Companion ; which Counfell, early in the Morning, they putt in pradlize. The King, accompanied with the Mufti (who neuer contented to his depofing, though he fauored the Soldiours againft the Vizier) with Huzein B allay and about twelue Horfemen, went directly to the Janizaries Colledge, where Muftafa was kept } and there in Tears made them an Oration, offer- ing great Recompense, repenting of his Errors ; and finally, inuoked them, by the Meritts of his Father, and all his Aunceftors, to haue fome Piuy upon their true Mafter. The Multitude, tarn 86 A' feleft COLLECTION tarn prona in miferucrdlam quam immodica fevitia fucrat, now know not what to doe j a filent Mur- mur ranne amongft them, and they were halfe conuerted : but the Aga of the Janizaries, think- ing to merit of the King, and beginning to plead vnfcafonably for him, with fome harm Words of Vpbraydure, ntnatura rnaris cmni fiatu venti tur- bida^ anewe moued their Fury j fo that they cry- ed out, Treafon, and fell vpon him and Huzein Baffa, and cutt them into peeces, euery Man taking a part of their Flefh to fatiat their Re- venge.. The Mufti would fpeake, but is -with-- drawne by fome for Refpect to his Place, and with difficulty is conveyed away. Now the poor Of- man lies his Frends flayne, and knowes not which way to conuert himfelfe ; but bynding vp his Eyes with a Napkin, expecls Death as the laft of their Fury. But they carry him firft before Miiflafd) and accufe him as the Diilurber of the Peace of the Empire, and demand Sentence ~a.~ gainft him : more vulgi^ fuum quifque fiagitium a/ijs objetf antes.- The forfaken Prince pleads for Life, and the newe King knowes not how to condemne, but nodds, and agrees to all that is propounded. At laft they confult with themfclues, and putt him vpon a Horfe (an infolent Spahee changing Turbants with him) and fent him away Prifoner to the feaven Towers vnder good Guard, and then retorned their newe Mafter, and placed him in the Seraglio, and imperiall Throne, where he h,ath need of good Broaths and Nourifhment to reftore his decayed Body. The Soldiours think all is done, and (only facking the Houfes of Huzein Bafla, and fome others, their concerned Enemy es) they retorne in quiett to their feueral Lodgings, and haue no further Malice. But the newe Vizier, Daout Bafla, made by Mnjiafa^ Jcnew well, if Ofman of"L E'T T E' R S. 87 Of man Kued, that this Storme might pafle ouer, and he would as eafily, and by the fame Meanes, retorne to his Eftate, as he fell from it; vulgus, ut j mo > /?, cuiufque novt motus cupidum ; therefore he confulted with fome fewe interefled in Mufafa's Preferment, and thereby obnoxious to Ofman y to fearch how many of the roiall Bloud were left a- liue, and refolued, if there remayned twoe, to make an end of Ofman. Twoe of his Brothers were found, the one about twelue, the other about feauen Years of Age ; and thereupon the Vizier went himfelfe to the Prifon, with a pack of Hangmen, and gaue order to ftrangle the vn- foitunat Prince, who now, hairing had no Reft in two Nights, and thinking himfelfe fecure for a Seafon, was newly fallen afleepe ; but, awaked by the comming of thefe Meflengers, afked What Newes ? fayeing he did not like their fo- dayne Intrufion. They at firft ftood amazed, and the King made {how to defend himfelfe > but a ftrong Knaue ftroke him on the Head with a Bat- tle-axe, and the reft, . leaping vpon him, ftrangled him with much adoe. Thus, one of the greateft Monarchs in the World is firft affronted by mutined Troopes, his owne Slaues almoft vnarmed, and fewe in Nom- ber, no Man taking vp a Sword to defend him ; and they who beganne this Maddnes, not meaning to hurt him, by the encreafe of their owne Fury, which hath no Bounds, depofe him againft their owne Purpofe, and at laft expofe his Life, againft their Will, to the Councells of other Men whom they equally hate; and now they mourne for their dead King as frefhly, as they raged vnreafonably, knowing they haue ftayned their Honor, beeing the firft of their Emperours they euer betrayed, and that they haue fet up another whom they muft now 8 A feleft COLLECTION chaunge for Difability. Non unquam tulii documents, Jars maiora, quam fraglll loco Jlarent fuperbi. T his is the laft A6t of the Life of Sultan Ofrnan, but his Intents and 2;reat Defigns which drewe vpon him this fatall Blowe, I fuppofe will not be vnworthy the Communication : the Practices, Reafons, Secretts, and Councells of all Actions beeing the Soul of Hiftory, and res gefta but the bare Carcafs. And I am perfwaded, as many Ages haue not produced fo ftraunge an Example of the Incertenty of humane Greatnes, fo in the Difpofition thereof, and in theWaies leading there- unto, there is feen euidently the wonderful! Prouidence of God, in confounding the Councells of the worldly Wife, who had laid a Foundation of newe Greatnes, whereby he afpired the uniuer- fall Monarchy ; ambitious of the Honor ofTraiari, in whofe tyme the decayed Empire was faid, primum movers lacertos^ et feneQutem imperij quaji reddlta iuventute revirefcere : and, laftly, the World may fee vpon how weake Foundations this Monarchy was at firft builded j how it is now fhaken and corrupted ; how their Kings are fub- iecl: to the Rage of a fewe Slaues ; how Anarchy hath prepared yt an eafy Prey to any able Hand that would attempt it. From the Inuafion of Poland all thefe Changes tooke their Beginning. Sultan Ofman aduanced to the Throne in his Youth, full of Heat and Bloud, beeing of a great and haughty Spiritt, very couragious,"ftrong of Body, a mortall Hater of Chriftians, -enui- ons of the Glory of his Anceftours, and am- bitious to raife his Name aboue any of theirs, had projected in himfelfe the Conqueft of the Remaynes of the bordering Europe. B-ut to fo great Defignes he had one Vice that refifkd all Hope of Piofperity, which was extreme Auarice, and of L E T T E R S. *$ and hee fell into the later Tymes, and decrepuf Age, ubi vires luxu corrumpebantur^ contra veterem dijciplinam^ et injlituta maiorum y apud quos > virtute quam pecunia^ res militaris melius Jictit. His firft Enterprize was that of Poland^ moued by the In- curfions of the Coffacks^ which yet he undertooke of his owne Head, without the Councell of any of his Viziers ; who, in a Monarchy growne to the height by Eafe and Wealth, and perhapps longa dominations inertes^ are euer corrupt and lazy, and againft the likeing of all the Soldiours, who nowe, contrary to their Institution, beeing married, and Fathers of a Family, entered into Trades, receu- ing nothing, in Warr more than in Peace, prater periada et labores, are not eafily drawne from their owne Chymneyes. This A6tion he thought fo eafy, as he had difpofed of this Conqueft, and diuided the Hue Lyon's Skynne. But beeing mett vpon the Borders with a poore Army in compari- fon, he was firft arrefted at Chotyn^ a little Fortrefie, which he was fayne to leaue behind him untaken.j and then feeking to Aduance into the playne Curv- try, by forceing the Trenches of the Chancel- lor of Poland, oppofed againft him, he coidd neuer procure his Janizaries to fight, though en<- gaging his Perfon once or twice beyond the Re- guard of his Quality, and his owne Troops ready to mutyne againft him, or forfake him, he was enforced at laft to raife fhamefully his Camp, and to accept of any Treaty to faue his outward Honor. In this Attempt he loft aboue a hundred thoufand Horfes for want of Fodder, and eighty- thoufand Men for want of Fighting; for they would rather dye running, or pyllaging, or eating, than in the Face of the Enemy. For this Difgrace, he tcoke fo inward and rooted an Indignation againft the 90 A feleff COLLECTION the Janizaries, and fojuftly, thatheoften lamented himfelfe, and complayned, he was no King that was fo fubjeCt to the Infolency of his owne Slaues, vpon whom he fpent great Treafures ; and yet they would neither fight in \Varre, nor obey in Peace, without exacting new Bountyes and Priuiledges. Delaiii BalTa, a Man of a great Wit and Courage, lately called from the Eaftern Parts, where he had long gouerned with Honor, to this Action, who oame in, though late, yett in a very braue and warrlike Equipage above all other his Capteynes, was fodainly made great Vizier ^ the former, Hxxan Barla, being in the fame Difgrace common with the Soldiour, though not in the fame Fault. This Man was neuer bredd at Court, but had lined many Years in Action, and fo had neither Faction nor Dependence here, butt flood upon himfelfe and his owne Meritt j and beeing now, vnlooked for, advanced to this high Dignity, he wrought vpon the King's Difcontent, and nourifh- ed it, and in Conclufion told him, That it was true, he was no Emperour, nor could be fafely aliue y while the Janizaries had that Power which they lately vfurped : informing him, that they were corrupted from antient Institution, and were lazy Cowards, giuen ouer to Eafe and Luft ; et animo t>er libidincs corrupto^ nibil honeflum Inerat* But if his MajefHe would pull vp his Spirits, and follow his Advifc, he would prouide him a newe Soldioury, about. Damafcus, and from the Coords, of Men euer bredd in the fronthe Hardnes and Warre, of great Courage and Experience ; and that of them he fhould erect a new Militia, that fhould wholly depend of him, enterteyning only forty thoufand in pay, which fhould allway be his Guard ; and that in the Diftribution of euery Prouince, of L E T T E R S. 9 r Prouince, he fhould conftitute, that the Begler- begh in his Gouerment fhould trayne fome of the Inhabitants, who in all Occafions fhould be in readinefs ; and hereby he fhould fpare infinite Treafures fpent vpon thefe Drones, that eat vp his Eftate, and' with Men of newe Spiritts and Hopes he fhould be enabled to doe greater Mat- ters then any of his Aunceftors. But, with all, he defired the King to communicate this Coun- iell to no Man, nor to truft his Life vpon ano- ther's Secrecy, Delauir Bafia neuerieuealinghim- felf to any butt the King, who, extreamely pleafed with this Aduife that flattered his owne Humour,, confented, and remitted all to the Vizier's Direc- tion, who was a true Soldiour and a very wife Man, able by his Creditt in Jfia to perform all he had undertaken ; for he was exceedingly be- loued in thofe Parts,, very rich,, and had kept DamafatS) whereof he was Gouernour, for him- felfe in the laft Rebellion. Vpon this Conclusion betweene them, it was nrft agreed, that the King fhould pretend to goe in Perfon againft the Emir de Saida, who v/as moued to take Armes really, to allift in the Defigne. But they vfed it to couler the Departure of the Emperour, which, when it was well weighed, it was found that then the Army of Janizaries muft be kept together, which could not agree with their Ends. Here- upon the Journey of Mecba was diuvlged, that the King might, vnder the Shadow of an holy Pilgrimage, goe out with fmall Trayne,. and dif- peric thole, who were fufpeded to him ; and for this Preparation was made, but fomwhat too grofsly, by melting of all the Plate, .Saddles, Fur- niture of Houfe, Lamps of Churches, and what- elie could he.mwe cafily conueighed away 9? A feleft COLLECTION in Mettle, with all the Jewells and Treafur}*, This gaue the firft Suspicion, which was con- firmed by diuers vnaduifed Words lett foil by the King, of Difdayne againft the Cowardife of the Janizaries, and that he would fhortly find him- felfe Soldiours that fhould whipp them ; and laft- Jjr, difmifling all his Houfhold, except fome fewe Elect, the Difcontertted obferued and betrayed him. Delauir Baila kept his owne Secrett, and in the rneane tyme prepared by his Frends in Ajla ten thoufand about Damafcus, tenne thoufand from the Coords^ befides thofe in readinefe of the Emir de Saida, and all vpon pretence of defending the Borders of Pcrfia^ as hauing Intelligence of fome Chaunge in thofe Parts ; and gaue order, that all thefe fhould meet the Kinge at Daatajcus^ where he would prefently cutt oft his Guard, and flay there vntill he had regulated his new Army and Difciplyne, and then to retorne tryumphant to Conjlantinople^ and vtterly root out the Order of Janizaries, Spahees, and Timariotts, and to exauitorat all their Capteynes and Officers, to fet- tle a new Gouerment, and to chaunge the Name of the Citty. And all thefe Things fucceeding, he then refolued, with his new Soldiours, to at- tempt the Recouery of his Honor in Chrijhndome ; in the meane tyme, to hold a dhTembled Frend- fhipp there in all Parts. Certenly this was a braue and well-grounded Deiligne, and of great Con- fequence for the renewing of this decayed Em- pire, languifhing vnder the Infolencies of lazy Slaues, if God had not deltroyed it; it beeing very true, that the Turkijh Emperour ftands at the Deuotioii of his owne Troopes for Peace or Warr, Life or Death ; and is, in effect, nothing but the Steward or Treasurer of his Janizaries. If this Proje& ef L E T T E R S. 93 Project had taken effect, what Euents it might haue produced by a Civill Warr, is not eafy to j-udge; for doubtlefs the Soldioury here would kaue fett vp another King, and maynteyned him as well as they could, and this European Part had bene in danger to haue bene torne away by the Diuifion. Befides, Delauir Bafla hauiug the King and the Treafury in his Poffeflion, and his owne Credittfo great, and his Inclynation, velle imperare, nee difcoiiered, it may well be thought that he had fome Ends of his owne to {hare a Part of this mighty Eftate. If, on the other fide, the Vizier had proued true and faithfull, the Reformation and new Erection of the Difciplyne of Warre, and the Encreafe of Treafure confequent to the Difmifllon of the old Militia, would haue bene f-earfull to all Cbnjlendome ; but ubi eft fapiens? t/bi dlfquifitor fesculi hnius? Perdam fapientiam fap'i- entum^ et vanam reddam intelhgentia?n intelti gentium. It is a great Queflion whether were the wifer Wifh, that thefe Counfells had fucceeded, or not ; for either Diuifion and Subuerfion, or a new Profperity and Enlargement of their Dominion, had necef- larily followed. Some Obfervations vpon this Oc- cafion will not be very impertiment to thofe that defire to know as well the Difpofition and Vfe, as the Things themfelves. Firft, in the Purpofe of theSoldiour ; not at all to violate nor hurt the King, much leiFe to depofe and murther him j but only to take away thoie about him whom they thought AfMants in this Project. Yet the Fury once on foot, they proceeded by infenfible Stepps, to the uttmoft of Outrage, againft many Innocents in that Bufmefs, though otherwife obnoxious ; and againft the Throne and Life of their owne Em- nerouri ubi fur or ingruat? innocentes ac noxios iuxta cadcrc 94 A felecl COLLECTION tadere. Secondly, in the Degrees ; that euen yett .the King had not fallen thus lowe, if firft he had not loft that Awe and Reuerence which alway at- tendeth vpon Majeftie, by vnfeemely Offices done by him in the Streetes and Tatternes, apprehend- ing many Soldiours for petty Faults like a Confta- ble, making his Perfon common, cheape, and defpifed among them, which was wont only to be feene and feared, as fomwhat fupra kumanitatem. .And this he did alfo in Hatred and Difdayne of thofe that had in the Warr forfaken him. And :laftly, now in his laft ACT, if his owne Obftinacv had not plunged him into Deftruclion, but that he had foftened them by feafonable yeelding to Tyme, he had prevailed only by Tyme. Thirdly, in the Order ; that thefe Mutineers hauing no Head nor Direction, kept that Reglement,that they tooke Oath in their Fury, in hot Blood, in the King's Yard, not to-difhonour, fpoile, nor fack the Im- periall Throne ; neither committed nor fuffered .any Infolence nor Violence in the City to the Neu- - trails, butt rather proclaymed Peace and Juftice. Fourthly, in the Ccnfequence ; that at the third JDaye's End all was as quiett, and all Men in their Trade, as if no iuch thing had happened ; only the Janizaries fufrered no Diuan nor Council!, vn- till they had received a Donatiue, as Guerdon of their Iniquity. In which r.llb the infinite Waft of Treaiure is worthy Conflderation, which muft of neceility bee exceedingly exhaufted by three Changes in fower Yeares, and by the late Warrs in Perfta and Poland. For euery Janizary in the Empire, abfent or prefent, whole Roll is about forty thoufand, receiues twenty-five Chccquins -Gold, befides Spahees, Jamoglans, and all othrr Orders, at euery Alteration, which amounts in all no are ^/LETTERS. 95 tfieare to two Millions. And now thefe Fellowes all liuing, that have tafted the Sweet of profperous .Mutinies, hand ignari fuinma feeler a incipi cum peri- culo, peragi cum prtzmio, they haue taken fuch a Head as cannot fafely be iurrered on, nor fecurely be taken oft. Fiftly, of certeyne Prsefages that fore- ranne ; it being related to mee from the Mouth of a Caddee;inward with the King, a Moneth before the Tumult, that Ofman dreamd in the Night that he thought to ryde a Cammcll ; and beeing mounted, ,hc could not force him to goe by Strypes or fayre ineanes; and then, he defcending in a Rage, the Body of the Beaft vanifhed, and left his Head in the King's Hand; who next Day, troubled at this Fancy, lent to a learned Man familiar with him, for the Interpretation ; he excufed himfelfe, as vjifit to giue Opinion in a Matter of that Coufe- quence ; but perfuaded Ofman to fend to the Mufti; he alfo craued Pardon, but withall faid, there was none fb fitt to interprett.it as Mujiafa^ the King's Uncle, and now Emperour, who is efteemed an holy Man, that hath Vifions, and ano;elick Speculations, in playne Termes betweene a Madd-man and a Foole. The Xing repaires to Mujlafaj who briefly tells him, The Camell fignifies his Empire; his Ryding, Abufe jn Go- uernment ; his Defcention, his Depofition ; the vanifhing of the Body* the Reuolt of his Subjects ; the Head remayning in liis Hand, only a bare Title ; and that he mould furely dye within fewe Moneths, and loofe his Kingdome, and the empty Name of Emperour accompany him to his Graue. A fecond of lefle Confequence, in the Vizier De- lauir BafTa, from whom I hauing receiued parti- cular Friend/hip about fix Dayes before this Vp- rore, I went to vifitt ; and hauing no other Bufi- nes butt to perfwade him to ftay the King from this $6 A feleft COLLECTION this intended Pilgrimage, I gaue him many Rea- fons in the prefent Eibte of their owne Affaires, efpecially the Treaty with Poland. To which he replyed very grauely : then vrging the Feare of fomeTumult collected from the licentious Speeches rumour'd in the Towne, I was bold to deale playnly, fyncerely, and friendly with him, that if any fuch thing (hould happen, the Fault would only be imputed to him, as beeing of Authority to perfwade the King, whom his Quality and Youth would excufe ; but all the Fury would be difcharged vpon the greateft Min'uler ; defiring him to confider the Euent, att leaft to take my Affection in the beft Part. The old Reynard flay- ed a while from Reply ; at laft fmiiing to him- felfe at mee, who perfwaded him againft that which was his owne Counfell, he gaue me a final Anfwere ; That there was no Remedy j he durft not hazard himfelfe to oppofe the King's Refolu- tion j but aflured mee, he would fo order the Matter, as this Journey fhould not proceed fo farr as was expected. I concluded for myfelfe, de- firing then, that he would leaue mee a particular Recommendation to the Chimacham, or Deputy, as his Friend. To which he fodainly replyed, Trouble not your felfe, nor feare ; I will neuer re- moue fo farre, but that I will leaue one of my Leggs in this Citty to ferue you. "Which the poore Man fullhlled ; for beeing murthered in a fewe Dayes after, one of his Leggs, whole and entire, was hanged in the Hippodrome, the molt publique Place of the Citty. Laftly, in Things yet to come, and probably to be fufpecled ; that the Soldiours in Afia^ who haue nowe loft their Hopes, will not litt downe with this Affront, but rather will attempt feme' Reuenge for the Death of of L E T t E R g. 97 t>f that King which was their Martyr : or that fome great Baffaes farr remoued from Court will apprehend this Occafion, not to obey an Vfurper fett vpp by Treafon, and vpon that Coulor ground their owne Ambition : or that all euery Where will fall into Combuftion, and inteftine Warre ; for I dare not hope that God will open the Eyes of Chriftian Princes to fee the Littlenefs of their owne vnciuill Quarrels, while this mighty Mo- narchy inuiteth them to Concord, and to devide yt as a proftituted Prey. On Saturday Euening, the firft of June follow- ing, the Capiaga or MaiorDomo of the Seraglio, hauing receiued a fecret Order to remoue the 'Bra* thren of Ofman from their Lod flings, and in the Night to Strangle them ; as he was performing his Command, ayded with a fewe of the Caruifices to carry away the Princes-, they cryed out \ the Pages running to the Noife, and encouraged by the Caflariaga, who had fome Sufpition, \vithout further Examination kill the Capiaga ; now al- moft euery Order hauing rifen againft their owne Head, that Night they fent fecretly to the Jani- zaries and Spahees to enform them what they had done, and in the Morning early hanged his Body in the Hippodrome for a publique Spectacle. The Soldiours retorned in Fury to Court in fauor of die Pages, and demanded Jufrice againft thofe that had contented to this wicked Order, which had made an end of all the Ottoman Race, only this Muftafa left aliue, who is fo holy a Sainc~t, that he will not people the World with Sinners, nor endure any Woemefi about him. The inno- cent King protefts he kriowes nothing of this Pur- pofe, and if his Command were procured, it was gotten by Subreption ; and he is cafily beleeued. VOL. I. F But 9$ A fckft COLLECTION But his Mother, another Liuia^ and the eew Vizier Daout BafTa, who had her Daughter t3 Wife, were vehemently fu (peeled. It was a Day of Diuan or Council], but thefe Soldiours would fuffer none, vntill they had an Accompt of this Treafon. The Vizier denyes all, the Mother is a Wooman, and hidden in the Houfe, yet it is very likely that .both were guilty, to vphold and fecure their owne Authority, yt beeing rumored, that the Vizier determined to place Subditioufiy, in the Roome of the elder Prince, his owne Sonne, and very like him, and fo to gouerne Muftafa for a Tyme, and by his Remoue to eftabjifh himfelfe and his Race for euer. But now, fomwhat muft be done to appeafe the People ; therefore Daout Bafia is degraded -from his Office, and one Hu- ^ein Bafia, newJy arriued from the Gouerment of Cairo , aduanced to his Place, with Promife of further Examination j fince, the Fury once ouer, there hath bene no great Search nor Dilcovery made ; I think the Sultana's Chequins have quiet- ed the Matter. This new Vizier, a Man here without Friends, yet very rich, of a ftubborne and obftinat Nature, reported juft in his Waies, but peremptory and inflexible, audax, ferox^ et prout animum intensity pravm aut induftrins eddem cv, one from whom all Men may expect much Good or much 111, beginns his Gouerment rough- Jy, undertakes to punifh Infolencies early, and pi'ofefTeth a Reformation, or to be a Sacrifice : a Man htt for thefe Times, that are defpcrate ; for the worft wil be, that he muft at lafl endure their Fur)'. In the meane while, he procures a litle Awe, and hath reftored the Face of Juffice : yet, I am perfwaded, yt cannot loft long. The Ghoft of Of?nan will not be Fortune, much lefs out of any ambitious Defires, which (if any ever in me) were, long agone laid to reft upon my receiving this Place from his Ma- jefty, through the Means of my Friends, I con- iefs (being then altogether a Stranger to the King in Service and Perfon) and of them, your Lord - fliip the very Principal. No, no, my Lord, they are thofe fovereign and great Duties I owe his Majefty arid your Lordfhip, which thus provoke me beyond my own Nature, rather to leave thofe cooler Shades, wherein I took choiceft Pleafure, and thus put myfelf with you into the Heat of the Day, than poorly and meanly to ftart aiide from, my Obli- gations, convinced in myfelf of the mpft wretch- ed Ingratitude in the whole World. God knows how little Delight I take in the Outwards of this Life, how infinitely ill fatisfied I am with myfelf, to find daily thofe calm and quiet Retirements, wherein to contemplate fome Things more divine and facred than this World caa if L E T T E K S. 103 can afford u^, at every Moment interrupted thorough the Importunity of the Affairs I have already. Tc Heaven and Earth I proteft it, it grieves rny very Soul, and that it is nothing but Love (if 1 may be admitted a Word of To near a .Diftance, and of fo little Courtfhip) to the Per- fons of his Majefty and yourfelf, that could make me take up this Ifoke and follow ; no other Af- fection or Pa/lion could effecl itv So, my Lord, once for all, let me find Belief with you : if I obtain it not from you, with the greatcft Sercnenefs poflible (pardon me for faying fo) you do that Friendship and Confidence, which ought to pafs between Men of Honour, infinite Wrong, and render yourfelf the moft inexcufablc Man towards me that lives. Let Shame and Confufion then cover me, if I do not abhor the intolerable Anxiety I well un- derhand to wait infcparably upon that Staff, if* I fhould not take a Serpent as foon into my Bofom, "and, if I once find fo mean a Thought of me can enter into your Heart, as that to compafs what- ever I could take moft Delight in, I fhould go a- bout beguiJefully to fupplant any ordinary Man (how much more then impctently to catch at fuch a Staff and from my Lord Treafurer) if I leave not the Court inftantly, betake myfelf to my pri- vate Fortune, repofedly feek my Contentment and Quiet within my own Doors, and follow theDic- tamen of my own Reafon and Confcience, more according to Nature and Liberty, than in thofe Gyves which now pinch and hang upon me. Thus you fee how eafily you may be rid of me when you lift, and in good Faith with a thoufand Thanks ; yet be pleaied not to judge, this pro- eeexls out of any wayward weary Humour in me F 4 ^either-:- 104. A fehff COLLECTION. neither : for my Endeavours are as vigorous and 1 as chearful to ferve the Crown and you, as ever they were, nor fhall you ever find them to faint or flafkuer. I am none of thofe foft tempered Spirits : but I -cannot endure to be miftaken, or fufFer my purer and more intire Affections to be foiled, or in the leaft degree prejudiced, with the lothfome and odious Attributes of Covetoufnefs and ambitious Falfehood. Do me but Right in this, judge my Watches to iffue (as in Faith they do) from thofe clearer Citterns. I lay my Hand under your Foot, I defpife Danger, I laugh at Labour. Command me in all Difficulties, in all; in all Readinefs, Tcur Lord/hip's ever meft faithful Friend^ Turk, this ai-ft of an d mt fi bumble Servant + LETTER XXXII. Laude to Xord Wentworth^ Salutem in ChriHo, My very good Lard^ T T feems by your late Letters which I have re- ceived, that you have taken your Leave of Fulham : the Bifliop you fay is gone, and I believe that's true. God fpeed him as well where he now 1 is, as he did there. As for your Letters (and your- ielf, when you come) they (hall be as welcome to of L E T r E R S. 105 to Lambeth as they were to Fulhom. And fince you have learnt the Way to be a little merry, I would you and your Coufin Sibbs had been the other Day at the Council-table, where I never heard, you know whom, in a better Mood verily. lam very glad to read your Lordihip forefolute, and more, to hear you affirm, that the Footing of them, Which go thorough for our Matter's Ser- vice, is not now upon Fee, as it hath been.. But 6u are withal upon fo many Ifs, that by their elp you may preferve any Man upon Ice, be it never fo flippery. As firft, if the common Law- yers may be contained within their ancient and ibber Bounds ; if the Word Thorough be not left out (as I am certain it is) if we grow not faint ; if we ourfelves be not in fault > if it come not to a Peccatum ex 1e Ifrael; if others will do their Parts as thoroughly as you promife for yourfelf, and juftly conceive of me. Now I pray, with fb many and fuch Ifs as thefe, what may not be done,, and in a brave and noble Way ? But can you tell when thefe Ifs will meet, or be brought together ? Howfoever, I am refolved to go on fteadily in the Way, which you have formerly feen me go, fo that (to put in one If too) if any thing fail of my hearty Defires for the King and the Church's Service, the Fault mall not be mine. The Indifpofition, of which I wrote tmto your Lordfhip, I thank God, pa/Ted over quickly, tho' I find that I cannot follow your Counfel ; for Croydon is too far off to go often to it, and my Leifure here hath hitherto been extremely little, I may truly call it none. Befides, the Lady Davit hath prophefied againfttne, that I (hall not many Days outlive the 5th of November-) and then to F 5 what- io6 A feleft COLLECTION what End mould I trouble myfelf with Exercifc, r the like ? My Lord, I thank you, that you are pleafed fo kindly and fo nobly to take that which I writ unto you about the Archbiihop of Dublin^ and his taking upon him, together with the reft of the Popifh Clergy, to meddle with the Civil Govern- ment, of which I doubt not but your Lordlhip will be very careful, as of all things elfe that may weaken the Power of that Party in that King- dom. But I had not ventured to write any thing to you in this Bufmefs, if your Lordfhip had not required it of me. But your LordOiip doth very prudently in bearing with, them, till the Parlia- ment be over, that there you may make ufe of them for the King's Service. And that Conten- tion between the Regulars and the Seculars is 'grown fo general and fo warm, that you may eafily hold up Harris, if no Decifion come to the contrary : and a brave Service it will be, if you can fettle the Revenues of that Kingdom. I perceive you mean to build, but as yet your Materials are not come in ; but if that Work do come to me before ChriJlmaSj as you promife it ma}^ I will: rifie every Corner in it; and you know, my good Lord, after all your Bragging,, howl ferved you at 1VX-, and your Church- work; there; efpecially I pray provide a good riding Houfe, if there be ever a decayed-" Body of a Church to make it in, and then you mall be well fitted : for you know one is made your Stable al- ready, if you have not reformed it, of which I did look far an Account, according to my Re- membrances, before this Time. j& find your Lordfhip hath a good Opinion of my Lord Prim-ate's. Learning and Honefty, and I verily of L E T T E R S. 107 Verily think, he will not deceive yourExpedtatioiv in either; but you are pleafed to afk me a Quef- tion, Whether that be all that goes to a good Bifhop and a good Governor ? 1 muft needs an- fvver, No; but if that Which is furiher required- be wanting in him, I am the more lorry ; but I will tell you my- Lord, I prayiGod not work both Ways, and that is thorough. Nor can I ajifwer, what became of the Primate- and; the - io8 A feltfi COLLECT roff the reft of the Bifhops, while the poor inferior Clergy were thus oppreifed, more than this, that I ever thought it was not in their Power to help it. But if any of them be as bad for Oppreffion of the Church as any Layman, that I am fure is unanfwerable ; and if it appear fo to you, great Pity it is, but fome one or other of the chief Offenders mould be made a public Example, and turned out of bis Bimoprick, And, I believe, fuch a Courfe once held, would do more Good in Ireland than any thing that hath been there this forty Years. Now for your Queftion, What my Lord of Cork will fay ? I cannot tell ; but fure I am, fo many of the Fraternity as think it Popery to fef- the Communion-table at the End of the Chan- cel, and for the Prebends to come in their For- malities to Churchy are either ignorant or factious Fools. But I warrant you the poor Vicar thinks very well of you, and fo doth the King, to whom I have told what Phyfic you have given the Earf of Car*. But, I warrant you, I am thought as odd an ArchbHhop as you can be a Deputy j for my Lady Davis fhe pi ophefies againft me, that I mall not many Days outlive the 5th of November. And I think I fent your Lordfliip word before of one Beuyer, a Rogue that broke Prifon, but faid he came newly from beyond the Seas, and went up nd down the Country railing againft me, and making me no iefs than a Traitor ; but he was brought to the Star-chamber, the I3th of Novem- ber , and there foundly cenfured ; the Rogue con- fefled all, and all by the Devil, but would acknow- ledge no Confederates. And now there is ano- ther Fellow half mad, that comes into the Court with of L E T T E R S. 109 with a great Sxvord by his Side, and rails upon the Archbimop, God knows for what, and fays, he will have Juftice of the King againft him, or take another Courfe for it himfelf. Would not this encourage any Man to do Service ? One thinor more and then I have done ; you will herein find an inclofed Paper, it came from my Lord the Bifhop of Durham, and by it you may fee the Effects of your Compofition in the North ; do not you think this may make a fine Noife in time ? I hope you will hear of this the next Parliament, as well as others have, done for Jefs Matters. Well, it is time to make an end ; and fo I leave you to the Grace of God, ever retting Tour Lord/hip's poor loving Friend to ferve you, Lambeth, Ncvt <"i j s tb, a6 33 . W. CANT, LETTER XXXIII. JLord Wentworth to Sir William Savillc. My dear Nephew, T T fhall be much Contentment unto me, when * the Power or Means I have, may communi- cate any thing which may be of Acceptation with you : and now that it hath pleafed God to take from you your Mother, I hold myfelf more bound to preferre a Care for you, being forry that my Remotenefs renders me of lefs Ufe unto you now upon your Entrance into the World 3 man perchance otherwife I might have been. 3 ^ 'no A fektt COLLS CTION It is true, that it is not my Cuftom to put my- felf into Counfels uncalled, and having been a Minifter in the troublefome Settlement of your Eftate, methought it might have flood well enough with Civility and Difcretion to have let me been, acquainted with the Courfe of your new Convey- ances, when you and I were both at London laft ;, Being fo made a Stranger to that End, the effecl:- ing and accomplifliing whereof, I had fo pain- fully endeavoured for fo many Years together* Surely neither I nor mine fhould have been a-- Penny better by it; for I muft tell you, for all the Service I have done you and your Houfe, I never- had the worth of a Groat forth of your Purfe, . or the Purfe of your Mother, and, which is more v never will ; for I truft by God's Bleffing to leave my Child an Eftate able to maintain him as a Gentleman, without being burthenfome to any. And indeed, if I did not conceive this Neglect was rather the Good-will of Cookfon than any formal Direction of your own, I fhould re- folve to perform my own Duty towards the Nearnefs of that Blood which. runs in our Veins, without ever defiring to intermeddle at all in your Counfels for the Government of yourfelf and Fortune ; but indeed your Years {hew me, you ; were in all Difcretion to be meerly paflive in that A&ion, and no doubt having my Lord Keeper's- Advice therein, all is well and orderly difpofed and ; executed. Admit me then* in Confederation and Remem- brance of your noble Father, and. that I may fay to my own Heart, I have not betrayed the Truft he was pleafed to repofe in me, to deliver you my Opinion, how you are futurely to difpofe yourfelf and Fortune j which, as it fiiall come from me with, all, of L E T T E R S. nf all the Candour in the World, fo doth it alfo with all the Indifferency pofTible j defiring God Almighty that you may not follow one Word of Advice of mine, where, there is a better for you to govern yourfelf after. Being then upon that Period of Life, that as you fet forth now at firft, you will in all likely- hood continue fo to the End, be it you take- the Paths of Virtue or the contrary, you cannot con- ilder yourfelf, and advife and debate your Actions with your Friends too much ; and till fuch time as Experience hath ripened your Judgment, it {hall be great Wifdom and Advantage, to diftruft yourfelf, and to. fortify your Youth by the Counfel of your more, aged Friends, before you undertake any thing of Confequence. It was the Courfe that I governed myfelf by after my Father's Death, with great Advantage to myfelf and Affairs : and yet my Breeding abroad hath fhewn me more of the World than yours hath done, and I had. na- tural Reafon like other Men, only I confefs I did in all things diftruft myfelf j wherein you (hall do 5 as I faid, extremely well if you do fo too. I conceive you fhould lay afide all Thoughts of going up to London thefe four or five. Years, live in your own Houfe, order and underftand your own Eftate ; inform and. employ yourfelf in the Affairs of the Country ; carry yourfelf reflectively, and kindly towards your Neighbours ; defire the Company of fuch as are well governed and dif- creet amongft them, and make them as much as you can your Friends; in Country Bufmefs keep- ing yourfelf from all Faction ; and at the firft be. not too pofitive, or take too much upon you, till you fully, underftand the Courfe of Proceedings j Icr, have but a little Patience, and the Command. and: ij A fe left COLLECTION- and Government of that Part of the Country will infallibly fall into your Hands, with Honour to yourfelf, and Contentment to others j whereas if you catch at it too foon, it will be but a Means to publifh your want of Underftanding and Mo- defty and that you fhall grow cheap and in Contempt before them that fliall fee you under- take that, where you are not able to guide your- felf in your own Way. Be fare to moderate your Expence, fo as itmay be without foohfh Wafte or mean Savings : take your own Accompts, and betimes inure yourfelf to examine how your Eftate profpers, where it fuffers, or where it is to be improved ; otherwife there will fuch an Eafmefs and Neglect gather upon you, as it may be you will never patiently endure the Labour of it whilft you live ; and fo, as much as in you lies, caft from you that which tends moft to the Prefervation of your Fortune, of any other Thing ; for I am perfuaded few Men, that underftood their Expence, ever wafted ; and few that do not, ever well governed their Eftate. Confidering that your Houfes in my Judgment are not fuitable to your Quality, nor yet your Plate and Furniture, I conceive your Expence ought to be reduced to two Thirds of your Eftate, the reft faved to the accommodating of you in that kind ; thofe things provided, you may, if you fee Caufe, enlarge yourfelf the more. In thefe, and all things elfe, you fhall do pafling well to confult Mr. Greenwood^ who hath feen much, is very well able to judge, and cer- tainly moft faithful to you. If you ufe him not moft refpettively, you deal extreme ungrateful with him, and ill for yourfelf. He was the Man jour Father loved and trufted above all Men, and rf L E T T E R S. 113 did as faithfully difcharge the Truft repofed in him, as ever in my time I knew any Man do for his dead Friend ; taking exceflive Pains in fettling your Eftate with all poflible Chearfulnefs, with- eut Charge to you at all ; his Advice will be al- ways upright, and you may fafely pour your Secrets into him, which by that time you have converfed a little more abroad in the World, you will find to be the greateft and nobleft Treafure this' World can make any Man Owner of ; and I pro- teft to God, were I in your Place, I would think him the greateft and beft Riches I did or could poflefs. In any Cafe, think not of putting yourfelf into Court before you be thirty Years of Age at leaft ; till your Judgment be fo awakened, as that you may be able to difcover and put afide fuch Trains, as will always infallibly be there laid for Men of great Fortunes, by a Company of Flefli Flies, that ever buz up and down the Palaces of Princes : and this let me tell you, I have feen many Men of great Eftates come young thither, and fpend all, but did I never fee a good Eftate profper amongft them that put itfelf forward be- fore the Mafter had an Experience and Know- ledge how to hufband and keep it. I having ob- ferved that the Errors of young Gallants in that kind ever proved fatal and irremedilefs, be their Wits or Providence never fo great in playing their After-games ; one only excepted> and how it may yet prove with him,. God knows. For your Servants, neither ufe them fb famili- arly as to lofe your Reverence at their Hands, nor fo difdainfully as to purchafe yourfelf their Ill- will ; but carry it in ah equal Temper towards, then), both iu Punishment and Rewards. For Cookfoti). ii4 'A fikfl COLLECTION- Cookfon^ I hold' him a churlifh proud-natured Companion, but withal honefl?, and I am per- fuaded will be a good Servant ; if you keep him from Drink, much better. Howbeit, you fhall do well to take his Accompts orderly and weekly, taking to you Mr. Orrf*0cqWt0 help you till you have gained the Skill yourfelf. You are left as weak in Friends as any Gen- tleman I ever knew of your Quality ; but how much more careful ought you then to be to oblige Men by your refpe&ive courteous Ufage towards them, and provident Circumfpedtion to- wards yourfelf? You are, as I have obferved, rafh and hafty, apt to fall to cenfure others, and exer- cife your Wit upon them : take heed of it, it is a Quality of great Offence to others, and Danger towards a Man's felf > and that jeering, jefting Demeanor is not to be ufed but where a Man hath great Intereft in the Perfon, and knows himfelfto be underftood to love and refpect him truly j with iuch a one, if the Man be fad and wife to tak-e and return it the right Way, a Man may be fometimes bold, but otherwife never. Let no Company or Refpeft ever draw you to Excefs in Drink, for be you well aflured, that if that ever poflefs you, you are inftantly drunk ta all Honour and Employment in the State ; drunk to all the Refpets your Friends will otherwife pay you, and mall by unequal {Daggering Paces go to your Grave with Confufion of Face, as well in them that love you, as in yourfelf ; and therefore abhor all Company that might intice you that Way. Spend not too much Time, nor venture too much Money at Gaming ; it is a great Vanity that poilefleth fame Men, and in moft is occa- fioned / L E T T E. R S. ri5 Ohed by a greedy Mint! of Winning, which is a Purfuit not becoming a generous noble Heart, which will not brook fuch ftarving Confiderations as thofe. In a Word, guide yourfelf in all things in the Paths of Goodnefs and Virtue, and fo perfevere therein, that you may thence take out thofe Rules, which being learnt, may (when it comes to your turn) as well grace and enable you to lead and govern others, as (whilft you are learning of them) it will become you to follow and obey others: and thus {hall you polTefs your Youth in Modefty, and your elder Years in Wifdom . God Almighty profper and bkfs you, in your Perfon, in your Lady, in- your Children, and in your Eftate, wherein no Friend you have {hall lake more Contentment than Tour mojl affeRlwate Vndf and moft faithful Fritnd % ublln-Caftle, this zatk of Dumber, 1633, WiNT WORTH* LETTER XXXIV. 'drchbijhop Laude to tbe Earl of Codec. Salutem in. Chrifto,. My very good Lord^. T T is very true, that I have taken Exceptions to * the Monument which you have built in. St. Patruk's Church ; and I hope your Lordftip will eafily 1 1 6 A feleR COLLECTION eafily conceive, I could not prophefy of any fuch Thing ; and therefore muft needs have the Know- ledge of it from thence, as I aflure your Lord- fhip I had, and from good Hands j though I cannot now recal from whom. My Lord, the Report that the Tomb was built in the Place where the High- Altar flood, and the Communion- table ihould now ftand, did not come lately to me, as your Lordihip fuppofes ; for, I afTure you I heard of it, and complained of it to the King, and defired Remedy, before ever my Lord Deputy, that now is, was fo much as named to that Place. And therefore, whereas your Lordmip writes, that you built it three Years fmce, and never heard any Mouth opened againft it ; it feems fome Mouths, which durft not open there, did open fully here j for I aflure you, upon my Credit, the Information before-mentioned came unto me. I had then juft Caufe to doubt, confidering the Forms of all other Cathedrals which I had feen, that the Eaft Window was darkened by it ; but that it is not fo, I am fully fatisfied. For the o- ther Exception, that it ftands where the High- Altar ftood, and the Communion-table ought to ftand, I muft clearly confefs to your Lordihip, I am not fatisfied ; nor whether it will not take off too much Room from the Choir, when the Skreen is built as you intend it. Neither can your Lordihip think, that I ihall make myfelf Judge of thefe or any other Inconveniencies,. having never been upon the Place to fee it, but {hall leave it wholly to fuch View and Confidera- tion as fhall there be had of it, yet wifhing with all my Heart that you had erected that Monument wpon the Side of the Quire, or any other conve- nient Place, rather than where you have now fet iU of L T T E R S. 117 It. And I muft needs tell your Lordfhip, fuch an Ere&ion as that would have afked very good De- liberation where to have placed it. As for the Dean and Chapter's Confent, if they had under- #ood themfelves and the Church better, your Lordfhip had been free from thefe Fears. I hav received, together with your Lordfhip's Letters, two other, one from my Lord Primate of Armagh^ and the other fiom the Lord Archbifhop of Dub* I'm \ but neither of their Reports do fully fatisfy me, as will appear by the Anfwer I have given their Lordfhips ; neither can I give your Lordfhip fuch an Aniwer as I fee you expect : for, as jet, never did I fee that Cathedral Church, where the High-Altar flood in the Lady Mary's Chapel, and not at the upper End of the Quire j which Place, under favour of better Judgments, I can- not fay is a fit Place for any Man's Monument. And whereas your Lordfhip writes at the latter End of your Letters, that you beftow a great Part of your Eftate and Time in charitable Works, I am heartily glad to hear it ; but withal, your Lordfhip will, I hope, give me Leave to deal freely with you, and then I muft tell your Lord- fliip, if you have dt>ne as you write, you have fuftered ftrangely for many Years together by the Tongues of Men, who have often and confrant- ly affirmed, that you have not been a very good Friend to the Church in the Point of her Main- tenance. I hope thefe Reports are not true, but if they be, I cannot account your Works charita- ble, having no better Foundation than the Live- lihood of the Church taken away to do them. I am forry 1 cannot give your Lordfhip any other Anfwer to your Letters, than what here I have written, i 1 8 A feleft COLLECTION written, and therefore leave the Tomb to be view- ed and ordered by my Lord Deputy and the Arch- bifhops there, as they fhall find fitteft to be done, 5o I leave you to the Grace of God, and reft, Your Lord/hip's loving poor Friend^ Lamleib, March a i, 1633. W. CANT. LETTER XXXV. King Charles I. to the Lord Wentwortl* HP H E great Difpatch that your Brother brought * me, has given me fo much Satisfaction, that I could not but teftify it by my own Hand. Though I know you will find my public Letters anufe to your Contentment, and full anufe to make .this fliort ; yet there is one General and one Particular, that I will name to you to take care of, to wit, the Parliament and Arundcl; in a Word, to content them both, fo far as may not be to my Prejudice. As for Arundel, I need fay no more ; but a? for that Hydra, take good Heed ; for you know, that here I have found it as well cunning as malicious. It is trew, that your Grounds are well layed, and, I alfure you, that I have a great Truft in your Care and Judgment ; yet my Opinion is, that it will not be the worfe for my Service, though their Obftinacy make you to break them, for I fear that they have fome Ground to demand more than it is fit for ine to give, t?/ LETTER S. 119 <|ive. This I would not fay, if I had not Con- fidence in your Courage and Dexterity ; that, in that Cafe, you would fet me down there an Ex- ample what to do here. So I reft Tour afar ed Friend, itadon, April ij t CHARLES R. LETTER XXXVI. Lord Wentwontk to Lord CottingtorW My very good Lordy T T contents me much to find by your Lord- * fhip's Letters, and in myfelf too, that you are and may be fatisfied, 1 fhall never depart from that ancient Friendfhip and Obligation I have had with you and from you. It is true, I find well enough I am upon the difadvantage Ground, where I am like ftill to be troublefome to my Friends, and feldom in Place and Seafon to fpeak either for myfelf or for them, which, in good Faith I fhould the more freely do of the two. I fpend more here than I have of Entertainments from his Majefty j I fuffer extremely from my own private at home ; I fpend my Body and Spi- rits with extreme Toil j I fometimes undergo the Mifconftruftions of thofe, I conceived fhould not, would .not, have ufed me fo, in fuch a Mea- iure (I know well what I write) as I vow to you, I would abfolutely leave .all, but that I have the Comfort and Aflurance of my Mailer to be with him 120 A file ft COLLECTION him accepted ; however I be with others. G614 reward that Goodnefs towards this abfent Servant of his, and make me able to terve him anfwer- able to thofe fovereign Duties I owe him. But I am refolved to complain of nothing : I have been fomething unprofperous, fiowly heard) *nd as coldly anfwered that Way. I will either fubfift by the Integrity of my own Actions, or I will perifli before I think longer of borrowing a Being from any but my Mafter ; if he think me worthy of it, he will preferve me j if not I will go home and pray for him. In the mean time I will be conftant and i'ntire in the Profefiions I made to my Friends before I fat a Foot on Irijb Earth, and bring them back with me if I live, kept without Stain, and returned where I irtede them without Vio^ lation, Thefe are the Weapons I purpofe to defend and offend by, and thefe fhall neither Craft nor Force be able ever to wring out of my Heart or Hands. And if you on that Side need Friends, as well as we on this, I am fure, do j I wifh you may find them to your full Contentment, which is a greater Bleffing, they tell me here, than ever be- fel a Deputy of Ireland^ But I could ever de- fire better for them I love, than I could hope for myfelf. I fhall not need to trouble your Lordmip with any thing that hath palled in the Affairs on this Side, hc-.mg given Order to my Brother to bring you the Duplicates of my Difpatches, which, if you pleafe to take the Pains to read, will clearly let you fee the St~te wherein they ftand, as I take it, - of LETTERS. 121 it, profperous enough, God be ever praifed for it. For the Lady you mention, in good Faith, I cannot for my Life imagine whom they fhould mean ; fure I am my Cat hath no fuch Ears, nor, to ufe the Northern Proverb, need I fet up a new Mill for the Tittle Grift which is left me. How you find yourfelf in Life and Liking under your Wi- dower's Cloak, will not be eafily difcerned, fo fo- berly are you able to cover it with a Spani/h Gra- vity ; yet fome of the Learned are of Opinion you will be now and then found buying of Pigeons ; your Englijhmen bred in Spain are taken to be ilirewd Fellows that way. Well, the Wind and Tide ftay no Man's Lei- fure, no not a Deputy's, albeit in Ireland. The MeiTenger muft be gone, and I muft make an end. For Love of God haften back thefe Laws we novr traifmit, that they may be here the 26th of next Month, or we fhall have juft nothing to do. And fo with the found and chearftil Heart I have ever preferved for you, fmce I have had the Hap- pinefs to be efteemed your Friend, I wifh you and all yours Continuance of Health, and Increafe of all Happinefs. Your Lcrdfiip's . ". Mojl faithful humble Servant, W E N T W R H H. VOL. I. 122 A felett COLLECTION LETTER XXXVII. King Charles I. to Lord Wentworth. t ~T* H E Accounts that you give me are fo good, * that if I fhould anfwer them particularly, my Letters would rather feem Panegyricks than Difpatches ; fo leaving them I come to thofe things, wherein you require Directions. And although I fhall refer myielf to Secretary Coke for anfwer of thofe things that are in the public Difpatches ; yet concerning two of them I muft exprefs my own Senfe, to wit, the not conti- nuing of the Parliament, and the Guard of the Coafh For the Firft, my Reafons are grounded upon my Experience of them here ; they are of the Nature of Cats, they ever grow curft with Age ; fo that if ye will have good of them, put them off handfomely when they come to any Age j for young one's are ever moft traceable : and in earneft you will find, that nothing can more conduce to the beginning of a new, than the well ending of the former Parliament, where ? fore now that we are well, let us content our- felves therewith. M rf. >'6 3 4. Teur m ^ U^ Friend, CHARLES Rex, */ L T T E R S, 12,? LETTER XXXVIII. Lord Wentworth to Arcbbijbop Laude. May it plenfe your Grace, T A M gotten hither to a poor Houfe I have, -* having been this laft Week almofl feafted to Death at York. In truth, for any thing I can find, they were not ill pleafed to fee me. Sure I am, it much contented me to be arrvongft my old Acquaintance, which I would not leave for any other Affection I have, but to that which I both profefs and owe to the Perfon of his facred Majefly. Lord ! With what Quietnefs in myfelf could I live here in companion of that Noife and Labour I met with elfewhere ; and I proteft put up more Crowns in my Purfe at the Year's End too. But we'll let that pafs. For I am not like to enjoy that bleffed Condition upon Earth. And therefore my Refolution is fet, to en- dure and ftruggle with it fo long as this crazy Body will bear it ; and finally drop into the filent Grave, where both all thefe (which I now could, as I think, innocently delight myfelf in) and my- felf are to be forgotten ; and fare them well. I perfuade myfelf exuto lepido I am able to lay them down very quietly, and yet leave behind me, as a Truth not to be forgotten, a perfect and full Remembrance of my being Your Grace's Gaio thorp this xyth of dug. 1636. Mojl humbly to be commanded, WENTWORT H. G 2 LET- .124 A f eh ft COLLECTION LETTER XXXIX. Lord Wentworth to King Charles I. May it pleafe your facred Majefty, T N Purfuit of the Command received at Ruf- * ford) I have effectually, both in public and private, recommended the Juftice and Necefiity of the Shipping-bufmefs, and fo cleaily fhewn it to be not only for the Honour of the Kingdom in genera], but for every Man's particular Safety j as I am moft confident the Affedment this next Year will be univerfally and chearfully anfwered through this whole Jurifdi&ion. And whereas I then truly informed your Majefty, that upon a Difference betwixt the County at large, and the County of the City of York, there was feme thir- ty Pourids yet behind. I have fet a Courfe for the prefent Payment of that fmall Remainder, and fo quieted the Controverfy, as no Difturbance can thereby happen to the Service hereafter. My Lord Marfaali left a Letter for me before his Departure ; howbeit of very late came to my Hand, by which I find his Lorclfhip much unfa- tisfied concerning fome Stay of that other procur- ed by him from your Majcfty under the Signet. I am bold to inclofe a Duplicate of my Anr.ver, and thereby represent a true State of the 81 finefs, and of my Carriage therein, without eafmg my- felf any way upon your Majefty's Commands, or bting beaten ; I trull from the Grounds I muft proceed upon in this Bufmefs. Befides, your Ma- jefty will not be the worfe prepared ,to receive any Suit his Lordlhip may further make, or to give of L E T v T E R S. 125 give Anfwer thereunto, fuch as fhall feem good unto your Wifdom. If this were the only Difpleafure I had con- tracted in ferving faithfully (as I fhall ever do) it rnisjit be borne more eafily and filently ; but it is much otherwife with me, as I have heard fince.1 attended your Majefty. My Carriage on this Side hath been towards all fo circumfpecfc and obfer- vant, as I well trufled there had not been the leaft Offence or Scandal given or taken : yet it ieems I have left fome great and powerful Perfons in fuch a Diftemper tov/ards me and themfelves, as, in a manner, every where to avow a Refolu- tion fet for my Ruin. It is like wife difccurfed mucli to my Prejudice, as they think, that my Return ir.uft be without any Mark of your Majefly's Favour, whereby my Innocency and juft Acquital might be de- clared to the hearing of others, or myfeif fhength- entd or graced in the Courfe of my Service ; al- beit, they fay, I had been defamed for barbarous and cruel Ufage of the late Ea:l of St. Albany and the Lord Mountnorris j flanted upon by Sir James Gallway and Mr. Barr, in their Propofition to your Majefty, as a Cozener and Impoilor in the Cuftoms, under a Pretence of doing great Ser- vice; charged by Sir Piers Grofiy with an horrid Murder, the filly Man daily countenanced and fomented by feme at Court in his fenfelefs Ca- lumnies j and, in a Word, -reported to all the World rather for a Baflaw of Buda, than the Mi- rider of a pious and Chriflian Kino;. Little do I find myfeif moved with any or all of thefe ; I can fmile at their Vanity, that glorify themfelves in being reported the Contrivers and Procurers of this imputed Culdnefs and Difre- G 3 gard 1 2.6 A felett COLLECTION gard, nay, efteem them as little powerful as they would be thought almighty in fuch a Cafe ; and., which is far above all the reft, fecurely repofe myfelf, and humbly wait upon your Majefty's gra- cious Promife, that I fhall receive fuch a Mark of your Favour as will filence thefe Spirits, and fct me right again, as well in the Opinion of others, as for your own Service. Yet where the Storm fets fo dark upon me, and my Abfence likely to be of fome Continuance, I cannot conceal that there are many things upon this Occafion, which I defire- to offer ; fome for the Profperity of your Affairs, fome for my own Defence and Safety, and all of them fitter to be difcourfed than written. So as if it be poflible, and that your Majefty will admit me thereunto, I propofe to wait at Court a Day or two in my Paffage towards the Charge your Majefty intrufteth me with in Ireland, and there attend your future Commands, with and through all die xpreflions of Your Majefty's. Wentivortb-Woiclbcufe, . 1636. Mojl faithful, and moft Humble SubjeS and Servant ', WENTWORTXH. L E T- ef LETTERS. 127 LETTER XL. Lord Wentworth to Arcbbijhop Laude. May it pleafe your Grace, T) Y the inclofccl Duplicate of a Letter, which -*-* I now fend to his Majefty, and have defired Mr. Secretary Coke to deliver for me, your Grace will further underftand what Ufe is made of my being fent back without any public Mark of his Majefty's Favour. And for myfelf, I could be content to be led on in their Triumph, and contribute my Si- lence to their Glory. But conndering that moll of the World are more carried with Opinion than Reafon, with outward Seemings than inward Truths, I very much fear this Neglect ( with which, as they interpret and report it, I am to be pafled over ) will embolden Men upon me both in England and Ireland^ further than may confift with the good and fpeedy Difpatch of his Maje- fty's Affairs on that Side, and ftir up a mighty Oppofition to all the great Services now in hand. In prefent, all goes fmoothly forward ; but that proceeds not fo much out of any good Afreclion this Crown hath to truft unto from that People, as by reafon my Credit with his, Majefty is there held to be greater than can be fhaken by them. I proteft in ail Sobernefs, fuch a Credit I neither merit, expect, or covet; yet, for them to believe fo, (hall operate extremely to his Majefty's Ad- vantage. Nay, I muft confefs, contented I fhould be, they mould think fo {till, nor muft I ever hjelp to light them forth of their Error. G 4 Again, 128 A feleff COLLECTION Again, I am not afraid of any Man's Com- plaint, being well allured in myfelf, that who- ever queftions me, fhall work towards my grea- ter Juflification, and manifeft the mere my In- tegrity and Faith to his Majefty. And yet, I am not fo in' love with them, as wantonly to bring their Vexation or Noife upon myfelf. I conceive, I know to beftow my Time and "Watches much better. Befides, I always ob- ferve, that Clamours, how unjuft foever, diftracT: and hinder Bufinefs ; for they are not to be judged without hearing, which commonly runs up much Time, and in the mean Space, ail is at a Stand, and every Eye at the Gaze. Wit- nefs the Oppofition in the County of Galloway^ ;Jnd Mr. Barr^ whcfe Brains had they been only bufied in Things belonging unto them, and with- in their Undemanding, the fame that is. donfe by me now, had been accomplifhed at leaft a Year foonerj with above 10,000 A more Profit to his Majefly: and yet, fuch is their Impu- dence, they pretend, as I hear, to the Reward of that Service, which I may fully tike both Egg and Bird for my own Peculiar, it being rreir certain, and was made appear undeniably before his Majefty and your Lordihips at Winfyr^ that tiK^ir Part was nothing, faring the Offer of a Proportion, the moft ignorant, the moil difhojiourablej and the molt unjuft, that in all my Life I ever read. Upon the whole Matter, I foiefee that the uttering of this Coin, how falfe or adulterate fo- ever, by Perfons not well affected towards me, \vill fharpen and flir ill Humours, and put a .huge Prejudice upon me in the Service of the Crown. And therefore I befeech your Grace, taking of LETTERS. 129 taking; your Hint from thefe Grounds, to move his lilajefly that I may receive fome Mark of his Favour, and that it may be conferred upon me fome fuch Way as mail render it comely and public. I fubmit it to your Grace's Wit- dom, whether ycu mall be pleafed to move in the general, or for an Earldom in the particular, which, if I flatter not myfelf too far, I may without Offence pretend unto. Whatfoever the Succefs be, I will ferve his Majefty, by the Help of God, with the fame Diligence, Labour, and Faith, as formerly; yet, to confefs a plain Truth to your Grace, with whom I neither muft nor can ever diilemble, with lefs Chearfulnefs in myfelf hereafter. Your Grace may be pleafed to let me hear from you, by my Lord of Newcq/He, who being now at Oxford^ will favour me fo far, I am fure, as fart'ly to deliver unto me whatever he receives from your Grace. I forfee this Time will be with your Lordfhip of much Care about little and fmall Matters. I will therefore detain you no longer than to give you this Aflurance, that I am inviola- bly Tour Grace's &at>mortb-JtWkafe, z6th of Aug. 1636. Mojt numbly to be commanded, W E N T W R T H, G 5 LET- 130 A fekft COLLECTION L E T T E R XLI. Archbijhty Laude, to Lord Wentworth. Salutem in Chrifto. My very good Lord, Vf OUR Letters came to me very feafonably. * For, had they come to me one Hour later, I could have had no Opportunity to fpeak with the King, as you defire, for fome Mark of his Favour to be fet, and now, upon you. I moved fully, both in general, and for the parti- cular you mention. His Majefty's Anfwer was, that he would do that which fhould ftrengthen you enough againft any Pratifmg here. But commanded me to tell you, that for the Particu- lar, and all that concerned it, he would give you Anfwer himfelf fo foon as he came to his next Place of Leifure. Tour Lord/hip's txftrd,Aug. ult. 1636. loving poor Friend to feme you, W. CANT. LETTER XLII. Charles I. to Lord Wentworth. Wentwortb^ /CERTAINLY I fhou'd be much to blame, ^* not to admit fo good a Servant as you are, to fpeak with me, fm.ce I deny it to none that there of LETTERS. iji there is not a jufl Exception againft; yet I muft freely tell you, that the Caufe of thi $ Defire of yours, if it be known, will rathe r hearten than difcourage your Enemies : for, if they can once find that you apprehend the dark fetting of a Storm, when I fay no, they will make you leave to care for any thing in a fhort while but for your Fears. And, believe it, the Marks of my Favours that ftop malicious Tongues are neither Places nor Titles, but the little. Welcome 1 give to Accufers, and the wil- ling Ear I give to my Servants : this is, not to diiparage thofe Favours, (for Envy flies moft at the fa-ireil Mark) but to fhew their Ufe; to wit, not to quell Envy, but to reward Service ; it being truly fo, when the Matter without the Servant's Importunity does it, otherw'.fe Men judge it more to proceed from the Servant's Wit, than the Mailer's Favour. I will end with a Rule, that may ferve for a Statefman, a Courtier, or a Lover: never make a Defence or Apo- logy before you be accufed. And fo I reft Your ajjured Friend^ Lindburfl, 3d Sept. 1636. CHARLES R, For my Lord Marflial, as you have armed me, fo I warrant you. G 5 L E T- 1 3 2 A fekft COLLECTION LETTER XLIIL Lord Wentworth, to Charles I. May it pleafe yew facred Majefty ^ 'TpHE Letter vouchfafed me from *- the third of this prefent, awakens me \vith your gracious Favour to exprefs myfelf further in fome few Particulars, left perchance my Deiires and the Grounds of them might be con- ceived otherwife than I meant. The dark fetting of a Storm was not with the Jeaft Apprehenfioii, that your Majefty's gracious and chearful Favours were either leflened or languifhing towards me, but had relation mere- ly to fome near your Majefty, who publickly profefs iny Ruin. Nor was, or ever can, this or any other the like Storm be able to affright or make me from the Duties or Faith I owe unto your Majefty 's Commands. I truft, fuch a Poverty of Spirit {hall not be imputed unto a Mind long fmce re- folved freely to facrifice a Life, as often as re- quired, for the leaft of your gocd Pleafures. It is indeed altogether impoflible I mould begin to care lefs for your Service, meanly or at all to weigh my own greateft Dangers, where your Majefty 's fmalleft Interefts are concerned ; much lefs under Favour to care for nothing but my own Fears. And yet (I find it) this immoveabl* Purpofe doth confift well enough with a mode- rate Forefight, fo to provide for a Safety, as it may be without your Trouble, judging other- wife my Being or Well-being lefs in Value, than 3 that ^/LETTERS, 133 that it fhould coft your Majefty fo much as a Difpute to preferve me. Whatever your Majefty appoints, {hall pleafe me moft, it being certainly beft for me, rather really to live in your gracious good Opinion, than only to be thought fo by others : yet bet- ter for your Affairs in Ireland^ I might feem and appear fo to them on that Side. So then, whilft I did moft confidently truft through your Ma- jefty 's Goodnefs, that I had the beft for myfelf, it will be, I hope, very pardonable, if I did defire to better my Condition alfo, as I flood in relation to thofe Affairs, and the Greatnefs of the Service now in View amongft them. As for Wit, or Importunity ; in the former* I did never affect other than a fmgle Plainnefs, nor is my Nature poflibly to be hardned into- the latter. Befides, I too well know and more reverence your Majefty's Wifdom and Courage than (had I been that way inclined) to attempt you by either. And I do moft earneftly befecch you, Sir, be affured I never went difguifedly forward with you in all my Life, nor could I ever yet fo far value any thing as to proftitute Modefty for it. And therefore, confidering nothing can more comfort me, or be more for my Advantage, than to be rightly underftood by your Majefty, I do moft humbly acknowledge your Favour in admitting my Attendance at Court for a few Days in my Paffage for Ireland,, where I fhall not only fet rny own Thoughts again at eafe and liberty, but withal fettle fome of your JBufinefs, which otherwife, myfelf at Dublin, may not chance to find any other Sollicker that can 134 A feleft COLLECTION can attend, upon them, undiftra&ed by other your Majefty's Affairs. In the Bufmefs of Galloway^ I have fully im- parted my Senfe to Mr. Secretary Coke, from which I find no Reafon to depart in any Cir- cumftance. Howbeit, I hear my Lord of Hol- land^ forth of his Lordfhip's tender Regard for the Peace of that Kingdom, apprehends, that my Severity may difaffedt that People, and difpofe them to call the Irijh Regiments forth of Flanders to their Afliftance. The beft of his Lordmip's Infight in thofe Particulars is, as I conceive, through the Sug- geftions and Problems of my Lord St. Albany Mr. d* Arcy^ and Sir Piers Crojly, Perfons pro- moting either their own Interefts or Paffions, and had they obtained Belief with your Majefty's Minifters on the other Side, we muft neither have planted, nor yet found your Majefty's Title in Connaugbt. All the Anfwer I can give, is, that if taking of an Half move that Country to enter into open Rebellion, the taking of a Third, or a Fourth, methinks, mould hardly fecure the Crown of their Allegiance. Then be it granted, that they are thus unfound and rotten at the Heart, Wif- dom advifeth fo to weaken them, and line them thoroughly with Englifb and Proteftants, as that they fhall not (by the Help of God) be able to difquiet any thing, if they would. Befides, if Sir Piers Crofby^ according to his Undertaking, perfuade thofe Regiments into the Pay of the French, that Door will be fhut upon them like- wife. So as in good Faith every Way I judge all moft fafe, it neither being in their Power to hurt, or in their Purpofe, J perfuade myfelf, to of LETTERS. 135 to betake themfelves to any fuch defperate Counfels. I forgot in my laft, humbly to offer my Opi- nion, that in cafe your Majefty find, or appre- hend any Backwardnefs in the South, it were good the next Year's Writs for the Shipping- AffefTment were haftened firft down into thefe Parts, where they are fure to find no Oppo- fition, or Unwillingnefs, which Example may rather further than hinder in the right Way, which others ought to follow elfewhere. God long preferve your Majefty. Tour Majeflys mojl faithful, Wentworth, an mo fl humble Subiefi and Servant* Seft. 10 1636. WENTWORTH. LETTER XLIV. Lord Conway to Lord Wentworth. My Lord, T F you have no Defire to know the little Bu- -* finefs of the Court, read no more than this fair Warning and my Subfcription. My Lady of Carnarvon, being well in the Favour and Belief of her Father and Hufband, came with her Hufband to the Court, and it was determined {he mould have been all this Year at London, her Lodgings in the Cockpit j but my Lord Wentiuortb hath been at Court, and in the Queen's Withdrawing-room was a conftant Looker upon my Lady, as if that only were his Bufmefsi for which Caufe, as it is thought, my 136 A feleSl COLLECTION my Lord of Carnarvon went home, and my Lord Chamberlain preached often of Honour and Truth ; one of the Sermons, I and my Lady Killegreiv, or my Lady Stafford^ whicii you pleafe, were at ; it lafted from the Begin- ning to the End of Supper, the Text was, that it was better for a Woman to be thought honeft and be a Whore, than to be honeft and thought not. When Supper was ended, and we were where we durft fpeak, my Lady Killegrew fwore by G d, that my Lord Chamberlain meaned not any body but her and my Lord of Dorfet: but my Lady Carnarvon is fent down to her Hufband, and the Night before fhe went was with her Father in his Chamber till paft Twelve, he chiding and fhe weeping, and when fhe will return no Man knows ; if it be not till her Face do fecure their Jealoufy, fhe had as good flay for ever. Some think, that my Lord Wentvjorth did this rather to do a Defpio;ht to her Father and Hufband, than for any great Love to her. The Duke of Lenox^ as it is written in Scotch, or Lenos, as he writes, that it may the more gently terminate in Spanijb, fhall marry the Lady Herbert ; but the Queen is not willing fhe fhould be of the Bedchamber, into which Place her Mother the Dutchefs brought her one Day, and the Queen faid, fhe looked her out. It was thought, that the Lord Cottington fhould have married my Lady Stanhope ; I believe there were Intentions in Jiitn, but the Lady is, as they fay, in love with Carey Raleigh. You were fo often with Sir Anthony Vandike, that you could not but know his Gallantries for the Love of that Ladyj but he is come off with a CogHonerioy. for of L E T T E R S. 137 for he difputed with her about the Price cf her Picture, and lent her word, that if fhe would not give the Price he demanded, he would fell it to another that would give more. This Week every one will be at London j the Queen is very weary of Hampton-Court, and will be brought to Bed at St. James's ; then my Lady of Carlile will be a conftant Courtier ; her Dog hath lately written a Sonnet in her Praife, which Harry Percy burnt, or you had now had it ; bur he fhall new write it. I fhall ever be Tour mojl bumble Situ, January 2zd t i6 3 6 - and faithful Servant, CONWAY and KILULTA. LETTER XLV. Lord Wentworth to drcbbi/hop Laude. May it plcafe your "%/[ O fooner am I got home, but the Gout fO hath laid faft hold on me, yet gives me leave to think the more, as it renders me able to do the lefs; and in taking the View of my Buildings, as I came along, they put me in mind of fome things, which have run in my Thoughts ever fince, ib as I fhall crave your Leave to count them over with your Grace. And as I fhall deal moft ingenuoufly with you as my e;hofl- ly Father, fo do I befeech and promife unto my- ielf your Advice and Counfel. 1 have good Advertifement that fome, who fure find I ferve the Crown too intkely for their Purpofe, 138 A fekft COLLECTION' Purpofe, do yet endeavour to perfuade his Ma"- jefty, that I ferve myfelf too well in this Place, ib to bring me into Sufpicion \vith my Mafter, and thorough that open a Way to my Preju- dice, To evince this Belief from his Majefly, they fetch their Calumnies on every Side. Their firft Charge is, that I have two or three and twenty thoufand Pounds a Year coming in. And mould it be forty, were I to be condemned for that, more than themfelves, that compara- tively have forty times as much as other Men, that for any thin;* I know, may deferve as much better than they, as they themfehes de- ferve better than I ? It is very true, I have, under the Bleffing of Almighty God, and the Protection of his Majefly, fix thoufand Pounc's a Year good Land, which I brought with me into his Service; I have a Share for a (hort Term in thefe Cufloms, which, whilft his Ma- jefty's Revenue is there increafed more than twenty thoufand Pounds by Year, proves ne- verthelefs a greater Profit to me than ever I dreamt of. Befides, I have nothing but thofe gracious Entertainments, which others before had, and thofe which fucceed me muft have, faving only that my Troop confifts of a hundred Horfe, where theirs were but forty. Yet let them take this Truth along, my Hundred hath flood me in gathering, furnifhing, and maintaining, fome Thoufands more, than ever I muft ice agarn forth of his Majefty's Pay ; where other former Deputies have known how, out of the Pay of their forty, to clear into their own Purfe above five hundred Pounds yearly; nor is this a Riddle, left it be I will expound it : they kept of LETTERS. r?9 kept in their Stable half a Dozen Hackneys; I a hundred Horfe, in every Refpedl able and fitted for his Majefty's Service. Next they fay, I build up to the Sky. I ac- knowledge that were myfelf only confidered in what I build, it were not only to Excefs, but even to Folly, having already Houfes moderate for my Condition in Torkjhire : but his Majefty will juftify me, that at my laft being in Eng- land, I acquainted him with a Purpofe I had to build him a Houfe at the Naas, it being un- comely his Majefty (hould not have one here of his own, capable to lodge him with moderate Conveniency (which in truth as yet he hath not) in cafe he might be pleafed fometimes here- after to look upon this Kingdom; and that it was necefTary in a manner for the Dignity of this Place, and the Health of his Deputy and Family, that there mould be one removing Houfe of frefh Air, for want where of I afiure your Lordmip, I have felt n o fmall Inconvenience, fmce my coming hither ; that when it was built, if like d by his Majefty, it mould be his, pay- ing m e as it coft; it difliked, a Juo damno, I was content to keep it, and fmart for my Folly. His Majefty feemed to be pleafed with all, whereupon I proceeded, and have in a manner finimed it, and fo contrived it for the Rooms of State and other Accomodations which I have observed in his Majefty's Houfes, as I had been indeed ftark mad, ever to have caft it fo for a private Family. Another Frame of Wo od I have given Order to fet up in a Park I have in the County of Wtckloe. And gnafh the Tooth of thefe Gallants never fo hard, I will by God's Leave go on with* it, that fo I may 140 A feleB COLLECTION I may have a Place to take my Recreation for a Month or two in a Year, were it for no other Reafon than to difpleafe them, by keeping myfelf, if fo pleafe God, a little longer in Health. Yet left thefe magnificent Structures might he thought thofe of Nebuchadnezzar > the plain Truth is, that at the Naas with the moft may ftand in fix thoufand Pounds, that in the Park at twelve hundred ; faith, at worft me- thinks, they fhould not judge it very much for a Perfon of my great Hazienda to caft away twelve hundred Pounds upon his ov/n Fancy - y and yet to profefs a Truth to your Grace, but that I did confider his Majefty might judge it hereafter for his Service to vifit this Kingdom, in that Cafe forefaw no Part able to give him the Pleafure of his Summer Hun- ting like that Park and Country adjacent; and laftly, that then at leaft I would provide a Lodge, that might houfe him dry from the In- juries of the Weather, I proteft there had not been one Timber of it faftened to another. In the mean time my Confidence is my Com- fort, that if I be made fo happy as to fee his Majefty on this Side, he will give me Thanks for them both, and then am I at the Height of my Ambition, and thefc my Well-wifhers fairly bounded upon the very Place to accufe me, if any thing they have to fay unto me. The third is, that I purchafe all before me. In truth they are miftaken, I have not yet quantum mllvus oberret : confefs all I will to your Grace, indeed give them no Account at all; I have as much Land here in Ireland, as (lands ^/LETTERS. 141 ftands me in twelve or thirteen thoufand Pounds, I truft in time to make it worth me a thou- fand Pounds a Year, but as yet it is well moit ; but to put Water in my Wine, in the Word of Honefty and Truth, I owe at leaft feven thou- fand Pounds more than I did when I came into Ireland. Yet I muft needs fay they have fome Colour to fatten this Slander upon me j for I underftanding by my Lady of Carlile, \vhen I was laft in England, that her Lady- fhip would be unwilling to part with the Im- poft upon Wines, unlefs I would endeavour otherways to beftow the Money to raife a pre- fent equal Revenue to fupport her Charge, and being defirous to fetch this Grant back to the Crown, as alfo to ferve her Ladymip, I promifed to do the beft I could, and have fince in both thefe Refpe&s ufed all Diligence to in- quire and find where I might place her Lady- fhip's Money to moft Advantage. This Purfuit hath raifed one great Duft about me. The other is, that the Contract made for my Lord of Car/He's Intereft in the Birries^ is believed here to be for me, but in truth (I dare impart it to your Grace) his Majefty full well knows it is for himfelf: it is to coft fifteen thoufand Pounds, and I do not doubt to make it in pre- fent into the Exchequer five and twenty hundred Pounds a Year, and will be double as much after the Leafes we fhall now make be ex- pired. The Bargain is worth twenty thoufand Pounds, now let them fet befide me firfr one of theinfelves, that hath turned from himfelf to the Advantage of the Crown, a Bargain of fo mighty a Profit, which honourably and juftly he might have brought to the Help of his 142 A feleft COLLECTION his own private Fortune, as I might have don this, and then at after, let them burthen me with my Greedinefs of purchafmg. In the mean Space, let them for Shame hold their Tongues, however the Malignity of their Eye purfue me ftilJ, I am content; if I grow not the richer, I truft to grow the better, living thus under their Difcipline. The fourth is, that I grow monftrous rich. Have I in the leaft falfiried or neglected the Trufts of my moft gracious Matter ? Have I corruptly or opprefiively taken from his People ? Have I been a Burthen te his Coffers more than for thofe his princely Entertainments which others have before had, and others muft again have after me in thefe Places? Have I lived meanly, below that which I owe to the Ho- nour of his Majefty, and Dignity of the Place I exercife ? If fo, let them mew wherein, I defy them every Mother's Son. Howbeit I am none of thofe infblent Servants neither, that {hall ftrictly call upon myfelf my Matter's Juftice, without any Grain of his Favour; to him with all Reverence and Humility I feek fcr his Remifiion, his Compaflion of all my Defects, all my Infirmities, in the Purfuit, in the fulfilling of his good Pleafures, the rather in regard of the Uprightnefs however of my Heart to his Perfon, to his Affairs. But I will break to Fitters, die, before I take from any fo affedted towards me a better Being, nay indeed any Being at all. Well then, thus 1 am become rich, able, I hope, in fome reafonable Time, (I praife God and his Majefty ) to pay every Man his own. Was I not in fome meafure fo before I had the Honour of L E T T E R S. 145 Honour to ferve his Majefty ? Or fliall that be a Crime in me, which they fo heartily de- fire themfelves, nay perchance in their grudging Souls, lay it already as a great and grievous Fault upon his Majefty, that he hath not made them fo likewife ? Or can it be other than pleafing to any gracious, noble, or gene- rous Mafter, that his honeft and faithful Servant grows rich under him ? I confefs I am fo great a Lover myfelf to have my Servants thrive, as I believe all others like minded j and yet not to make it more than there is Caufe, I vow to you in all truth, that to the belt of my Underftanding, I am not thirteen thoufand Pounds bettered in my Eftate fmce I firft re- ceived my Matter's Pay, being now become near nine Years; which confidering fix thou- fand Pounds a Year good Land I brought along with me, is, in my weak Opinion, no pro- digious Getting, or convincing Argument of my Covetoufnefs. Yet is it fuch as I am ful- ly contented withal, it is fufficient, and I ac- knowledge from my very Soul to have receiv- ed more of his Majefty than I fhall ever be able to deferve. Howbeit, there are fome of them perchance, that open their Mouths thus wide, raife this hideous Cry after me, that in Proportion, have received forty times as much forth of his immediate Coffers as ever I did ; and yet, let it be fpoken with Modefty, becaufe I believe it Truth, I have done, (without Charge to the King more than my Ordinary) the Crown forty times as much Service, whether you look upon my Labour, Expence and Hazard, or the Profit, the Weight, and Diffi- culty of the Services themfelves, Laftly, 144 -d file ft COLLECTION Laftly, there is one Mr. Barre^ a Scotchman by Nation, whofe Perfon your Grace once faw before you at the Committee for Irijh Affairs, at my laft being in England. This Gentleman that pretends to be a Merchant, but indeed is fcarce fo good as a petty Chapman, hath pro- cured a fpecial Licence, under the Signet and Signature Royal, of going and coming over with- out my Comptroll, under which he magnifies himfelf extreamly, as exempt, if not above, any Power of mine : and thus leaping like a Jackanapes betwixt two Stools, holds on this Side very inward Intelligence with fome here which wifh me ill, blown up by them, boldly to calumniate me there, whilft they know my Actions here over well, ever to dare to appear in my contrary. Then on that Side he procures, by fome very near his Majefty, Accefs to the King, there whifpering continually fomething or another to my Prejudice; boafts familiarly, how freely he fpeaks with his Majefty, what he faith concerning me, and nou'ant pleefe your Mejejly ea werde marc anent your Debuty of Yrland^ with many fuch like Botadoes ftuffed with a mighty deal of Untruths and Follies amongft. Far be the Infolency from me in any Cafe to meafure out for my M after, with whom, or what to fpeak, I more revere his Wifdom, better understand myfelf j befides, the more of Truth he inquires and hears of me, I am moft aflured the more it muft be to my Advantage: but to have fuch a broken Pedlar, a Man of no Credit or Parts to be brought to the King, and countenanced by fome (that have Caufe to wifh me well, however I have reafon to believe I (hall not find it fo) only to fill his Majefty's Ears ff LETTERS. 145 Kars with Untruths concerning me, and that the whilft his foul. Mouth mould not either be clofed, or elfe publicly brought to juftify what he informs, and fo the one of us to public Punifhment ; to have fuch a Compa- nion famed as fent Comptrol and Superinten- clant over me, I muft confefs, as in regard to myfelf it moves me not much, yet as the King's Deputy, it grieves and difdains me exceedingly. Alas! if his Majcfty have any Sufpicion I am not to his Service as I ought, let there be Commifiaries of Honour and Wifdom fet upon me, let them publicly examine all I have done, let me be heard, and after covered with Shame, if 1 have deferved it. This is gracious, I accept it, 'magnify his Majefty for his Juf- tice, but let not the Deputy be profaned in my Perfon, under the Adminirtration of fuch a petty Fellow as this, unto whom, believe me, very fe\y that know him will lend five Pounds, being as needy in his Fortune as miff- ing in his Habitation, and that for none of his good Qualities .neither. Now have I unfolded all which lyes upon my Stomach, but how to digell it, how to turn it to good Nourishment, to my Health, there is the Difficulty; the Humour which offends me . is not fo much Anger as Scorn, and Defire to wreft out from amongft them my Charge ; for, as they fay, if I might come to fight for my Life, it would never trouble me, indeed I mould then weigh them all very light, and be fafe under the Coodnefs, Wif- dom, and Juftice of my Matter. Again, how- beit I am refolved of the Truth of all this, yet to accufe myfelf is very uncomely, I love not . VOL. I. . H ' to 1 46 A feleft COLLECTION to put on my Armour before there be Caufe, in regard I never do fo, but I find myfelf the wearier and forer for it the next Morn- ing. Therefore altogether to feck in myfelf what to do, I have here opened my Grief", and do moft humbly befeech of your Advice and Coun- fel, what were beft to be done by Your Grace's VulliKf this 27th of &f!tKt^; 1637. jwjl humbly to be commanded^ W N T W O R T H, LETTER XLVI. Lord Wentworth to Secretary Windebank. S I R, *~pHIS will be an Anfwer to all your Let- * ters now with me, faving one concerning the Earl of St. dlbans? and for that I crave jour Patience till the next Packet, in regard that Bufinefs being very prejudicial to the King, in Confequence requires to be thoroughly con- iidered, and imports me to underfrand before that Grant pafs, whether his Majefty intends his Lordfliip a Bounty of Lands in Value at leaft thirty thoufand Pounds, which otherwife in all Juitice and Honour the Crown will be intitled unto ; befides, in good faith there is fo much prefently to be done, as burdens me ex- ceedingly, as well in my Thoughts as other- Wife. The of LETTERS. 147 The firft is a Signet Letter of the 26th of ^fanuary, attefted by you, and received by me the 2d of this prefent. Hereby I am appointed to caufe a Pardon to be palFed to Robert Smltb^ of a Sentence given againft him in the Caftle- Chamber here, and in efpecial to remit his Fine of a thoufand Marks. Before I come to the Particular, I cannot choofe but in the ge- neral bemoan myfelf, that am forced to refpite the Performance of fo many Dire&ions fent me under your Hand, feeming thereby to pre- fume further than becomes a Servant, that am in my own Difpofition with nothing more pleaf- ed, than without any Reply readily to fulfil his Majefty's Commands. For which never- thelefs I muft chiefly blame my Negligence, that have not hitherto fent you hence a Copy of "his Majefty's Orders fettled at my firft coming to this Government, which hereby now I do, befeeching you upon all Occafions hum- bly to mind his Majefty of them, and to ad- mit me from this Particular to fay thus muc|i in the general, That befides the Quiet, they -will procure us all, thofe Orders fort fo well with the Conftitution of this State, that moft neceffary it is they be obferved, otherwife af- furedly thefe Affairs will fuddenlv fall backward! further than they are now advanced. - And fo this Confideration I truft will be a Means that. fewer Letters in Breach of thofe Orders {hall proceed from thence than of late hath been tfone, his Majefty's Affairs go on in a con- ftant fteady Courfe, without Diftra&ion, and my Stay of fuch Letters be avoided, which have procured me extreme much Ill-will froTn. the Parties interefted in fuch a manner as I H 2 fee 14-8 A feleft COLLECTION lee for me, omma fecundum lit cm fieri. Indeed it is over hard I fhould be put to give all the Ne- gatives fingle and alone. I mall willingly take my Share, but too much is too much. Now to give you an Account of this Par- ticular, which I dare not give way to, Rege inconfnltO) before my Objections heard againft it. The Offence this Gentleman was convinced of was a moft abominable and malicious Con- fpirncy to ravifh Sir Arthur Elunddi of his Eftate, Life, and good Name, aggravated with this Circumftance, that Mr. Smith then fervcd as Lieutenant, where Sir Arthur Binndcll com- manded him as his Captain ; the Proof preg- nant ; and if it fhould after all this pafs with Impunity, the Sentences of that Court would become brut a fulmlna^ nor mould I know the Innocency, that were with Reafon to pro- mife it/elf Security. The Fine, being long fince reduced to a moderate Sum and eftreated, cannot without much Trouble be now return- ed. Befides, that Court makes part of the Eftimate in the Eftablifhment, not to be trans- ferred to any other Hand without Breach of the Eftablimment, and now become a con- fiderable Part of the cafual Revenue, like to improve daily, which will quickly be brought, as formerly, to little or nothing, in cafe any be admitted to make Suits for thofe Fines. Such Favour granted to Delinquents is com- monly fcandalous to public . Juftice, . Difcou- ragemenis to the Judges that gave the Sen- tence, and the Court thereby becomes def- pifed, which, as it is now, may be well look- ed upon as one great Weapon in the Hand e>f of LETTERS. 149 of the King, whereby to contain this People within Bounds of Sobriety and Duty. Laftly, this Letter requires met to pafs Mr* Smith's Pardon of any other thing decreed by the fame Sentence againft him, which how it may be enlarged to take away even the Damages and Cofts given to Sir Arthur BlundeU, I know not ; and that, in truth I humbly conceive, Sir Arthur not firft confenting, can- not be done without apparent Injuftice. In., Sum, as I fhould never have advifed, rebus fie JlantiLus^ to hearken unto a Suit thus conditioned in any Man's Cafe, fo now I truft to be pardoned the flaying of it till I have his Majefty's fecond Pleafure fignified therein, which I wifh may be to let the -Bu- finefs reft when it is well, for all, faving the remitting unto Mr. Smith his Bonds of good Behaviour, which, I conceive, if fo it . pleafe his Majefty, may be granted the Gentleman without any public Inconvenience. In Conclufion, I do mod humbly befeech his Majefty might be pleafed to command, that excellent rrovihon fettled by his own Orders might be ftri&ly obferved on all Sides, that no Suits be abfolutely granted there, till the, Deputy and Minifters here be commanded hum- bly to certify what they mall in their Judg- ments find tit to be underftood there for his Majefty's Service. By this means, if the Suit be not fit, his Majefty being thereof advertifed, may put the Negative^ off himfelf upon us, which in thof Cafes are moft willing to take it unto our- felves; . if it may be fully granted, we /hall be furej fo certified, fo to remit it to his Ma- H 3 1 50 A feleft COLLECTION jefty, as -he may intirely derive the Grace ancf Thanks of his own Bounty and Goodnefs on himfelf, and we here freed from all feeming Difobedience or qucftioning his Majefty's Will. Acknowledging mvfelf fo much delighted to do every thing, when and as the King appoints tne, that in truth I never ilop the prefent Execution of what his Letters require, but with Offence to that perfect Attention and Obedience I muft preferve for my great Ma- tter in all the Actions and Periods of my Life. The fecond Signet Letter of the 8th of February , mentions only Mr. Peter Harrifon, a Student in this College, for feme Preferment to be given him in the way of his Profeffion. This I will not fail to have a fpecial Care of, Ib as he fhall fpecdily, I truft, gather the Fruits of his Majefty's gracious Recommendations. The third Signet Letter figned by his Ma- jefty, attefted by you, is of the nth of Fe- ' bruaryi and requires me to confer the late Lord Kirkudbrigh? s Troop of Horfe upon the Earl of Defmond. His Majefty may command all that ever I have, and break my Sleep very fmall, it be- ing accuftomed with me fo intirely to attend his Majefty's Service, as I am verily perfuaded, few Men in the World think on or confider their own private fo little. Befides, it is in my Fate to find few that are pleafed to re- member or mention jtift and equal Things, which might perfuade for me; yet feel many Hands injurioufly tearing from me not only the Rights of my Place, my innocent and peaceable Converfation, the Candor of my gcod of LETTERS. 151 good Repute amongft Men (all this under ttys Sun and with Impunity) but even the Capa- city alfo of ferving here with that Advantage to the Crown I otherwife might. Should thofe great Offices incident to the Difpofal of a Lord Keeper, a Lord Treafurer, a Lord Chamberlain, a Lord Marfhal, a Lord Admiral, a Mafter of the Horfe y a Captain of the Guard, sV. become the Suit of every young Courtier, thofe noble Perfons would quickly in their own Cafe find themfelves ag^ grieved ; and yet fome of them perchance (by what Rule of Juftice I know not) fhall move, prefs, and importune the whilft that the like Liberty may not be afforded unto me, that they refpe&ively challenge and enjoy themfelves. As if I were the only Servant of my Matter unworthy to have the Dues of my Place, how- beit an Employment verily they would think a great Prejudice to have put upon them in fcfiy fort *^itn nli the greit Auv^nragrs be- longing unto it. Yet is the Difference very great; for with all thefe (except the Lorfl Admiral) the Inability of thofe fubordinate Minifters may be fupplied by a Deputy, how- .ever himfelf only like to anfwer, the Giver no ways liable for the Tranfgreifion. But in. thefe Cafes, the Duties of the Captair.s are not to be done by Proxy, their Ability or Weaknefs may be unto a General the Lofs of the Caufe, his Life, and Honour ; nay, infenfibly wrcft forth of the Thoughts, of tlie inferior Officers and Soldiers all Refpect and Obedience, and fo the very Soul of all Ac- tion caft into a dead Sleep. Nor indeed caj-i it with Rcafon be expedled or hoped for other- H 4 wife . i 2 'A f els ft COLLECTION wile; but where the Power of Punifhment and Reward is intruded with thofe Perfons who are chief in Command. If I were guilty to have executed this Power greedily to my own Lucre, not to have therein in- tended the Good of the Army above all other Refpefts, to have thought of advantaging my- fclf one Groat in the Diipofal of the late four new raifed Troops of Horfe, there were fomc- thing inwardly might quiet me, tell me, I were lightly ferved ; if the Army were not, I fpeak it with Confidence and Truth, in all refpe&s infinitely more fit for Service than as I found it, there were fomething outwardly might tell me, the Privilege were juftly de- nied that I had negligently abuied. If the Liberty had nor, as I humbly corr- ceivc, at iirfl been granted unto me, were not his Majefty's Orders for me, and they fuch as, being obfcrved, have brought the greateit Frofperity upon thefe Affairs that hath been flnce the Englijb Conqueft, I fhould conceive Reafon might well advife to try fome other Way in the moulding and bowing this State more to his Majefty's Advantage. If my poor Endeavours had taken lefs Ef- fcdt, if I had lived in a Condition below other Deputies before me, or the Dignity of this Government ever of more Regard with me than my own Quiet or Benefit, it were but juft, that not only the Power to gratify worthy and fit Perfons for the Service of the Crown, but even the Entertainments and Pro- fits themfelves were taken from me, which others had the Happinefs not only to enjoy, but to have their Labours rewarded befides ; my of LETTER S. 153 my Lord Chichefter with Land at one Gift worth at this Day ten thoufand Pounds a Year; the Lord Falkland ten thoufand. Pounds in Money at once : however, I never coveted more than the inherent Rights and Honours belon^ins; to the Place, and yet I modeftly perfuade myfelf my Pains have been equal, .my Expence far beyond either of them, and his Majefty's Revenue advanced in my mo'tt Time ten times as much as in both theirs. Here, my good Friends, according their Cuftom (hall prefently fet up the Height of my Aliumptions, that, I praife God, know full well, I have Thoughts of far more Meeknefs, tempered with a more perfect Submiflion and Reverence to my Matter's good Pleafure and "Wifdom than themfelves. Only I pjrcfefs it is not poflible in my Nature, whilft I invade, in- jure no Man, to fuffer myfelf with Quietnefs to be diminifhed in the Honour of the Com- mands intrufted with me, and that by the fubtil Infmuation of fuch, I fear,, as I ruve no Reafon to believe well affe&ed to me. I efteem it were in me to betray thefe Affairs, fhould I not by all means poffible avoid the bringing of young and unexperienced Perfons to be Captains in this Army in a Time thus conditioned; or, which is far 'left, neglecting the jutt Care I owe my own Family, to ven- ture my Honour or my Life with I know not whom. My Life Ihall be as freely laid down for my gracious Matter as any that lives, yet I am not weary of it neither, fhould be very unwilling to die like a Fool, or, to deal clearly, defirous to fight but in the Company of fuch as underttand their Profeffioiij fuch H 154 d fefeft COLLECTION as I fhould in fome meafure take to be as Well- withers to my Perfon as to the Caufe. And I befeech you, what can I hope for from the tender Years of this young Noble- man ? Experience tells me what to fear : I will name no Man to his Prejudice; but I proteft, by one Youth, whom his Majefty commanded me to make a Captain here, I have had more Trouble, the King's Payments more Scandal, than from the whole Army be- fides. It is a Condition below a Gentleman, to be put to deny all, and not to be allowed to gratify fome ; very hard to my feeming, that by fr.ri6r.ly obferving his Majcfty's Orders I fhould procure fo many Enemies, and not be admitted to keep them, when I might oblige one Friend, and he a Perfon in all refpe&s abler to difcharge the Duty to the Public. Only I (hall crave Leave, that a Tendernefs to my own private may not fi- lence me to the public Intereft, but that therein my Lines may be read without Pre- judice. It feems then to me, under Favour, as well a high Wifdom as a Degree of Juftice in great Princes, to afford unto their Minifters the chafte Honours and Profits of the Charges commited unto them, and that each be con- tained and fuftained within the Limits of their feveral Employments: and feldom perchance {hall we find a King to have been chearfully ierved, or the Magiftrate upheld in Power or .Efteem, where this hath been neglected. For Inferiors will grow hard of Belief, that the Superior can be able to procure Right from 2 them. of L E T T E R S. 155 them that cannot procure it for hinxfelf, and prefently fet them at very fmall ; nothing be- ing more natural than for the People to re- gard the Magiftrate no longer than their own Ufe inforceth. Befides, it difcourageth a Servant in his own Confidence, feeing himfelf not allowed the upright Credit and Benefit of his Labour and Watches; but that others muft make and obtain Suits of thofe things, which of Cuftom and right Reafon are affigned to him. Nor is it every Man's Cafe to ferve and fuf- fer his Reward to be given to another; nay,. to fpeak plainly, I proteft it is, and hath been long my Opinion, that this excellent Rule of Government laid afide thefe lail forty Years, more than in Reafon of State perchance it ought, hath been one principal Caufe the Crown was fo leifurely and flack- 3y ferved, the Magistrates fo little looked af- ter in refpect of the Times of the late Queen Elizabeth^ and, in fine, the Affairs withal in i'uch Diftra&ions as now we find them; it being in the generality certain, that if Kings deiire to be thoroughly and uprightly ferved, they muft be gracioufly pleafed their Servants have at Icaft the Accomodations and Profits belonging their Places. Nor can I in any Time, much Icfs in this, promife myfelf any Ability to execute the Commands of his Ma- jefty, unlefs the Power not only of punifhing, but of rewarding fit Perfons alfo with fuch Places as belong the Deputy, be left unto nrj to the End that, as I difpleafe many, I may iit kaft engage fome few to undergo with me the Hazards of all Event?, bring up others in hope 156 A fdttl COLLECTION hope of Preferment, d;f.tflv and attentively to execute what I mall direct for the Good of the Service. The Condition his Majefty difpofeth this Troop with, viz. that his Lordfhip ihall re- fide upon his Charge, is very j'aft, and conform his Majefty's own Rule. But wherein will his Lordfhip's Prefence advantage, utterly un- knowing what to command, or fettin2; his p?r- fbnal Courage afide, how to acquit himfelf to any one Duty belonging his Charge ? Befid'es, I am humbly of Opinion, his coming over will 'be but formal, and that after a Summer's Stay here at the moft, his Lordmip will defire Licence to return for three or four Months, when upon the Place he fhall by his Friends obtain for altogether his Majefty's Difpenfation for his Attendance here, and fo take the En- tertainment, -tind leave the Bufmefs for his ^Lieutenant to look to at his own Adventure; "as if thofe Commands were provided rather to be dealt forth as Childrens Portions, than exacting any further Attendance or Duty. And to fay Truth, what Comfort of Life can that Place afford, where no body ihall know his Lordfhip-, ncr he any thing? So as the Day this proves otherwife, I have taken a Note to put it out of my Almanack. And Jaftly, I am forry that the juft Regard I owe to thefe Affairs, .the iH Confequence fuch an Example, I forefee, would bring upon me, and the Defire I have to leave this Place ' intire to him that fhall fucceed, mould enforce me to fay thus much in the contrary of a Ne- phew of the Duke of Buckingham. But I truft, in this Time of Action, his Lordfhip may be put of LETTERS. r$7 put into fome Employment more for his Profit, and more to enable him in that Profeflion than this will be. When, his Lordfhip fo im- proved and qualified, I fhould fure become a more earned Suitor he might have a Com- mand of this Nature than now I am. That, all things coflfidered, I might, if io plealed his Majefty, be held excufed and admitted 'to difpofe of this Troop, which being all Scottfb^ is fit quietly and infenfibly to be framed anew, the old laid afide, which is another Trouble which will happen to this Troop, not fo handfomely to be fhifted by one neither Ac- quainted with the Perfons, nor, I fear, (killed how to carry thorough a Bufinefs of that Na- ture. Thus far I have eafed myfelf with my Se- cretary's Pen. Your two Letters of the iCth of February muft be anfwered with my own Hand : and, once for ail, if any the King's Secrets imparted to me happen to be difco- vered by my Negligence, let me have not only the Shame, but the Punifhment I well deierve. The Inclofed will give you an Account what I received from the Earl of Antrim. His Lordfliip exprefleth, and hath I truft good Af- fections, with Naphtali gives goodly Words, but as yet it feems his Forces are no read4er than I formerly advertifed. His Lordfliip is plealed to defire my Advice, to whom he never imparted himfelf concern- ing this Action in all his Life, that know not any Part of his Defign : which makes me think, his Lordfhip is pleafed either to be merry with me, or covets to draw me blind- fold 158 A fekft COLLECTION fold into his Bufmefs ; fo, according to Occafi- on either to take the Glory of the good Suc- cefs to himfelf, or caft the ill upon me, who neither envy him the one, nor fhall willingly undergo the other for him. His Lordfhip writes, " He is not able to " give Account of his Forces, but Inftruc- " fions received he will not fail to do it. >r In Sadnefs, I think, that, confidering what follows,, he may well under favour be faved the Labour, as not being worth the account- ing of: efpecially when we find it confefled, that Captains to lead them are ftill to feek, that Ammunition and Arms his Lordfhip hath not any in all h Country. As for his Provifion of Boards, I mould father have coveted a Provifion of Shipping for their Transportation, than to have thought of fwimming them over, little better than on Boards, indeed as if they were rather newly fcaped from Shipwreck, than going onan In- vaiion. Powder and Shot his Lordfhip may have to train his Men, paying for it the ufual Rate, and I am perfuaded that whilft his Majefty, and that with all Reafon, caufeth the Trainee'- bands in England to give Money for the Powder fpent in exercifing, it is not his Mind my Lord here fhould have it for no- thing. We have with much ado got Money to furnifh thefe Stores- with eight thoufand Anns for the Defence of this Kingdom in fo doubt- ful a Time, and at one Clap his Lordfhirr de- mands fix thoufand of them of free Coft. If grantedj where is the Money to furnifh our- felves of LETTER S. 159 felvcs with new ones, and in what Condition fliall we be without them ? His Lordfhip faith, I fhall fee his chief End is for his Majefty's Service. I believe well ftill, but that cannot appear neither till he be befides fupplied with all NecefTaries : what thole are his Lordfhip means, God knows i but fure I am, his Lordfhip, that in the Beginning expects the Arms fhould fce given, fhall much more expect Pay or Victual, which under another Name is the fame thing, for his Men in the Conclufion, And then I befeech you, where is either the Saving or Advantage of the Crown ? For, pojtto his Majefty is to be at the Charge him- felf of levying fix thoufand Men, ana affign us Money for them, fure we his Minifters on the Place fhall effect the Service in another Manner than his Lordfhip (with his Coufin Nea!e r he mentions, to- help) fhall ever be able to do. Above all, I am aftonifhed with his Lord- fhip's Purpofe of putting thefe Men under the Command of Colonel Neale, underflood to be in his Heart and Affections a Traytor, bred no other, Egg and Bird as they fay. And, I befeech you, imagine what a comfortable Pro- fpect it would be for all us Englijb here, to fee fix thoufand Men armed with our own Weapons, ourfelves by that means turned naked, led by that Colonel, under the Com- mand of Tyrone' 's Grandchild, the Son of old Randy Mac Donnell^ in the fame Country,, formerly the very Heart andStrength of thofe mighty Jong Ming Rebellions? Indeed for myfelfj I will put his Lordfhip's conditional Pro- ifjo A feleft COLLECTION Propofition into an abfolute Conclufion, I fhalf never think of the Colonel more; nay, fince feis Lordfhip defires it, advife his Lordfhip alfo to refolve of the fame himfelf. In a few Words, I fhall crave Leave plainly to difcharge my Duty to this Particu- i lar. His Lord/hip's Affections I queftion not, there are thofe about his Majefty to whom they are better known than they can be unto me. But I am humbly of Opinion, his Lordfhip of himfelf alone is not able to per- form any thing of JNote again!! the Earl of Atgyle, whether you look into his Lordfhip's Purfe, or his Conduct, that any Attempt he can make will be fo mean and weak as mail rather difcourage, dimonour, than advantage the King's Party. For what Poflibility is there for his Lordfhip to fuftain the Charge of fo many Men, that having but /ix thoufand Pounds Lands by Year, is fifty thoufand Pounds in Debt, more as the Rate now goes there, than all his Lands would give him, were they to be fold ? So as if his Majefty conceive it conducing to his Affairs to make a Diverfion hence upon the Earl of Argyle In his own Country, the Action muft be carried in his Majefty's own Name, by his own Soldiers, guided by fome fitting Perfbns to be chofen forth of this Army, taking along with them fuch Afliftance, Correfpondence, and Intelligence, as the Earl of Antrim may contribute unto them upon the Place. Thus, if you will be at the Charge of fix thoufand Men, and appoint us where we fhall have the Money to defray them, I will truft the Service may be effected to Purpofe, and hi.s Ma. of LETTERS. 161 iMajefty's Contentment. Whereas in this odd Way, nothing can, in all Probability come of it. Nor can I advife the Arms in the mean Space fhould be put in any other Hand than where they are already. In my poor Judgment thofe in Scotland are got fo far already, as they rind (the Leaders I mean) in their own Hearts, that which telk them they have exceeded, gone beyond all Terms of Reconciliation, and therefore the uttermoft of their Force for their own Prefer- vation is to be looked for from them- ; and accord- ingly it behoves not only all us Servants, but even the King himfelf, by all means poffible to haften the Army into the Vield, and, on fuch an urgent Occafion, far more needful to do than feemingly talk much. That Ncwcajile is fecured is pafling well. I imagine all is done therein, that can be; yet let me tell you, the Situation of it rs &ch, as, I fear, is not poffible to be made any otherways ftrong, than by lodging an Army near it. And for that Purpofe, certain- ly it is of more Commodity than any other in all that Part of the Kingdom. But I ftiil earneftly long to hear that Berwick and Carlile are fecured by ftrong and great Garrifons; that Work once done, I confefs a great Part of my Fears will be over, and till then I muft expect very fmall Quiet. And fo> much for your firft of that Date. Your fecond mentions, that his Majefty finds them in England very chearful in their Supplies, and God forbid it fhould be other- wife, for fo they became not only the worft of Subje&s, but the unwifefl of Men alfo. In 162 A feleft COLLECT IONT In the Name of God, let his Majefty's Wif- dom fpeedily and fubftantially difpofe his Af- fairs to the heft, and the:- put his Caufe con- fidently upon his Englij':. Subject. It is not poffible but they will acquit t.iemfelves nobly towards his Trull, chearfi-.ily and obediently to his Commands, as a worthy and faithful People ought to do. They that raife and ftir Apprehenfions, to the contrary, to my feeming, are either fearful above Reaion, ignorant, or fomething that is worfe than either. As for borrowing the Sum his Majefty de- fireth, I ihould, I proteft by the Almighty,- pawn all my Efta'.e to the uttermoft Farthing to effect it; but that which, is Truth will be heard : I do not believe that to fave my Life, I were able to borrow f.ve thoufand Pounds amoiigft all the Merchants of this Town; ge- nerally all People here turn their Stock in a Courfe of Trading, the Number of moneyed Men extreme few, and thofe altogether take Mortgages of Lands for their Security, will in no fort meddle with any Man's Bond. Nay, admit we had a hundred thoufand Pounds ready, yet under favour were it not in reafon of State to be fetched' hence ; to exchange it over is impoffible, would not be done in five Years hardly ; and to be carried over in Specie, it would utterly fweep and undo this People, infallibly eaufe a Stand of Trade, and confequently in a very fhort Time lofe the King more in his Cuftoms than this Money comes to. So as there is no Thought of fetching any Moneys forth of this Kingdom at any time but by Exchange, and that by fmall Parcels. But the Means. of LETTERS. 163 Means indeed of borrowing Money are nearer you, to wit, in London^ where it can be no great Matter I fhould think to take up the Si^m you mention. And in that Way if my Credit may be of any Service to his Majefty, let my Name be given, be it for forty times as much as I am worth, and I will be bound with all my Heart. And fo this Difpatch being ready, muft wait the turning of the Wind, which, fmce I received thefe laft of yours, hath been Eaflerly, and fo hath brought in Shipping for the tranfporting of our Men to St. Bees^ wha ihall, God willing, be all put on board the 2oth of this Month, for their Number infe- rior to none, I believe, can be fet befides them in England. No foorrer a Breath of Wind is felt from the Weft, but thefe fhall be on their Way to let you know how per- I am Tour moft faithful humble Servant* Dublin, this 2d of March, 1638, LETTER 16+ A feleft CGLLECTICTN" LETTER XLVII. Lord Wentworth to Secretary Windebank, SIR, AFTER my laft Letters to you were 1^T clofed, yet before the Meftenger was on Shipboard, a Servant of mine brought me Word, my Lord of Antrim was without to fpeak with me. Upon Difcourfe I found this fuciden com- ing was occafioned by his Majcfty's Letter, whereof by your Favour I had the Dupli- cate, and hereby give you the beft Account 1 can of the broken Difcourfe which palled betwixt us, wherein you will find many Incertainties, fmall Hopes, and to my poor Judgment fome various Readings and Jmpof- fibilities. His Lordfhip mentioned certain Proportions by his Lordfhip made, and Directions and Authority by his Majefty, given at his laft be- ing in England, concerning his Lordfhip ? s go- ing upon the Ifles of Scotland; that in Con- formity thereunto he had quietly expected the Signification of his Majefty's Pleafure, nor ftirred at all till the Receipt of my Letter,, complained of the Suddennefs and Shortnefs of the Warning, but told me, that inftantly upon the Receipt of his Majefty Letter, he had fent to the O Nettles* O Haras, the O Lur- gam (if I miftake not that Name) the Mac Genntjfstj, ^/LETTERS. 165 s^ the Mac Guyres^ the Mac Mahons t the Mac Donneh (as many Oes and Macs as . would irartle a v/hole Council-board on this Side to hear of) and all his other Friends, requiring them in his Majefty's Name to meet him with their Forces, fo as this Bu- finefs is now become no Secret, but the com- mon Difcourfe both of his Lordfhip and the whole Kingdom. That he had bought Boards, and given Order for making of long Boats for the Tranfportation of his Men, and was now come to afk my Advice and Counfel. In Anfwer, I aflured him of all the Afliftance I might- give in the Execution ; but at all to advife, being a mere Stranger to his Defign, wholly ignorant of the State of that Country and People, were a great Vanity (in plain Terms) to abufe him and myfelf. With this his Lordfhip moved, faid, it had been written over into England^ that he was not able to perform his Engagements with his Majefty; that if his Majefty appointed it fo, he would raife and ferve him with twenty thoufand Men; feemed to take it in ill Part at thofe who had fo informed, and as I thought did tacitly give to underftand he meant me. This was followed with plentiful Expreffions of Zeal to his Majefty's Service, of his Wil- lingnefs and Ability to fulfil all undertaken by him. But in cafe I did not advife and coun- fel him what to do, he would give the Ac- tion over, and thank me for thus freeing his Lordfhip of the Bufinefs, protecting to acquaint me with all he kr.CTV of the Ddign. Thorough i 66 A fekft COLLECTION Thorough this I difcovered the Mark where- unto all this tended, but not finding To much Charity in myfelf as to take the Thorn cut of his Foot to thruft it into my own, 1 be- fought his Lordfhip, if his Preparations were jnot fo forward, as in order to his Engage- ments on that Side they ought to have been, or if he found more Difficulty attending fuch an Action, than at firft his Lordfhip had fore- feen, not now to think to put the Failure upon mine Account) that to give me fuch a Hequital, for my Readinefs to ferve him, were not friendly. However, I mould be able to fet the Saddle on the right Place, and preferve myfelf well enough from fuch an Afperfion, where nothing was to be objected, but my juft Defire to be excufed from giving Counfel in a Matter which I did not at all under- hand. As for imparting unto me his Defign, it was not my Cuftom to covet any Man's Secrets, but I held it high Prefumption for me fo much as to inquire after thofe of his Ma- lefty's, nor were it at all to the Purpofe for his Lordfhip to acquaint me therewith, for howbeit as a private Perfon I fliodd credit all his Lcrdfhip related, yet in my public Ca-, pacity I could only understand my Matter in his own Language, to wit, by his Hand and Seal, and otherwife in thefe important Matters I gave myfelf no Latitude at all. That therefore I did defire his Lordihip would be pleafed to fet down in Writing what he expected from his Majefty, and I would pro- cure him a fpeedy and dtar Pvefolution. Neve*- ^/LETTERS. 167 Neverthelefs his Lordmip made me a long Dif- ^ourfe of the Ifles of Scotland, of the Earl -of Jrgyle^ of his own Pretences to great In- heritance there, of his intended Landing, Fight- ing and Conquering, but faid he could not make War alone, and faw I did not like of the Bufmefs, and therefore he mould not think, of it any further, protefting he would not go on fo much as with making the Boats. I replied, if he had undertaken to make a War alone, it were no Fault of mine; that my Truft was, no equal Perfon would con- ceive me to diflike a thing, whereon I gave no Judgment, nay in truth where I neither liked nor difliked at all; that if he thought of it no more, he muft anfwer it himfelf to the King, and that he could not do lefs in Honour than make his ow'n Preparations for his Tranfportation. Thereupon he exprefled how divers of his beft Friends in England had difTuaded him from the Undertaking, that neverthelefs his Lordmip, before well aware, had been led on by fome others, little thinking the Scots would have ever gone to this Extremity; nay, who would have thought it (faith h'is Lordmip) ? That he would do his Part to his uttermoft, but under- eight thoufand Foot and three hun- dred Horfe, whereof one hundred for the Guard of his own Perfon, he would not fet a Foot on the Ifles. I told him, that was a great many, and the providing them would be well worth his Lordfhip's Care, therefore did defire him to exprefs in Writing, what he expefted on the King's 1 68 A fekft COLLECTION King's Part to be done, and by fome McrTen- ger of his, or by me (which he pleafed) to leek his Majcfty's further Pleafure therein. Whereupon his Lordfhip undertook prefenr- ly to put it in Writing, faying, he had no more to afk, but a Com million under the Great Seal, to levy the Men, fix thoufand Arms, Allowance to cut \Vood out of the King's Woods for making the Boats, and then if he did not, forthwith, ail the reft ac- cording his OfFer to his Majeily, nay were it to go into the Ifles with twenty thoufand Men, if his Majefly fo directed, he .would be content to be told in England^ he had faid more than he was able to perform. In good faith I was amazed to fee a noble Gentleman, tranfported out of Zeal (fure) to the Service, fo much to mifcount himlelt ; which gave me the Curiofity fait to be in- formed, if I might, of the rofiibility of fuch a vaft Aflumption, which I am perfuadcd all the Nobility of England were .not able to comply with two Years together: befides, the Arms provided for the Defence of this King- dom being not yet arrived, and myfelf utter- ly refolved not to give way to the drawing fo great a Body of Irijk together, under the Command of thofe Septs that now only re- main of the Ul/hr Rebels, without full and clear Warrant fiom his Majefty, it was ne- cefTary to gain Time, rather than to difcover we were not able to furnifh the fix thoufand Arms fo fuddeniy, or myfelf in flat Terms de- ny the Levy, and fo furnifh a Shift off, and turn the failing on the King's Part ; two principal Motives indeed, which cauied me from of LETTERS. 169 from the Beginning to propound this way of putting the Propofitions into Writing, and tranfmitting them over for a final and full Di- rection thereon. Hence it was, that at our next Meeting I told his LcrJfhip howbeit I fhould crave to be excufed from giving any Opinion in this Cafe, or to be fo infolent, as to take upon, me to lead him by my Counfel, not knowing any thing at- all of the Matter, yet confider- ing not only his Reputation, but the \Veight of his Majcfty's Counfels^ the -Lives of his Subjects, and Good of his Affairs, might be sll deeply concerned in this Action, I fhall be bold to offer a few Thoughts of my own, which might at after (as fhould feem befl to hirnfelf) by his Wifdom be difpofed and ma- fkred for his own Honour, and Advantage of his Majefty's Service. I defired to know, what Provifion of Vic- tual his Lord (hip had thought of, which for fo great a Number of Men would require a great Sum 1>^ Money ? His Lordfhip faid, he had not made any at all, in regard he conceived they fhould find fufHcient in the Enemy's Country to fu- {lain them, only his Lordihip propofed to tranf- port over with him ten thoufand live Cows to ftirnifh them with Milk, which he af- firmed had been his Grandfather Tyrone's Play. I told his Lordfhip, that feemed to me a. great Adventure he put himfelf and Friends upon : for, in cafe (as was moft likely) the , Earl of Argyle fhould draw all the Cattle and Corn into Places of Strength, lay the VOL. I. I R.c- 1 70 A fekft COLLECTION mainder walle, how would he in fo bare a Country feed cither his Men, his Horfes, or his Cows ? And then I befought him to fore- lee what a Mifery and Difhonour it would be for him to engage his Friends, where they were not to fight, but ftarve. To that his Lordfhip replied, they would do well enough, feed their Horfes with Leaves of Trees, and themfelves with Sham- rocks. To this I crave Leave to inform his Lord- fhip, I had heard there were no Trees in the Ifles ; but if Trees, as yet no Leaves, ip no fuch preinng Haile to tranfport his Army, for that the Seafon of the Year would give him yet one or two Months Time of Confideration in that refpecl. We went on in the Difcourfc; it was told him, his Lordfhip had but fatisfied the Pro- pofition in Part, I did therefore crave to know what Proviiion bf Victual his Lordfhip had given Order for, during the Time of thefe eight thoufand Foot and three hundred Horfe their Abode on this Side? Since that, in all pro- bability, lefs than two Months will not be ipent in teaching his Soldiers the Ufe of their Arms, in Shipping his Men, his Ammunition, his Horfes, his ten thoufand live Cows, and other their Baggage ; they were the whilft in a Friend's Country, all true and loyal Subjects to his Majefty, thofe he might not plunder in any wife : then if he had not Victual to fatisfy their hungry Bellies, how were it poffible to contain them either from Mutiny or Difbanding ? Again, in cafe the Wind ihould not ferve, but that^ two or three Months more ^/LETTERS. 171 tun up, before the Arms or the Shipping could be brought about to tranfport him, or fay by Mifaccident they fhould be caft away, what Means had his Lordfhip in Store to pafs that Time, until he were fupplied of thofe Neceffaries ? To this was anfwered, his Lordmip had not confidered of that j neverthelefs I hum- bly advifed his Lordfhip fliould not altogether lay it forth of Mind, and to caft up what Victual at Sixpence a Day for eight thoufand Foot, and at one Shilling and Sixpence for three hundred Horfe, might come to for two or three Months, and provide according- ly- Next I craved to know., when the Men were brought together, what Officers he had chofen to exercife, inftrucl, and lead them ? His Anfvver was, not any, only he pur- pofed to have defired me to furnifh him with a hundred Serjeants of this Army to drill them : I told his Lordfhip there were but four- fcore in all, and thoie not Perfons capable to be trufted with fo great a Charge, as the making and leading fuch an Army ; fo as I held it a Thought not unworthy of his Lordfhip to caft, to furnifli himfelf with fit and experienced Commanders for fuch Purpofe, as alfo what to allow, and how to pay their Entertainments, confidering that the Demands of Men fo qua- lified were often found to be very great. His Lordfhip fnid, he did not intend to make a formal War of it, fo the lefs Need of fuch Perfons; befides, that all thofe Iflanders did lo adore him, (his very Word) that he, once landed, he was well afiured, all would fight for I 2 him 1 7 2 A feleSf COLLECTION* him, none againir. him, and that rather than not, he would go upon the Ifles with three hundred, with that Number do more than ano- ther mould do with twenty thoufand. I told him, if that were fo, it was a very fre Bu- ilnefs, nor would there be need of any thefe great and troublefome Preparations ; but my Doubt was, the Earl of jfrjgJe would not fo eafily quit his Pofleflion. My Lord of Antrim acknowledged, that Earl indeed had prepared two and twenty long Boats for the Defence of ths Country, flopped up in a manner all the Avenues, and railed a Fort lately upon a Neck of Ground, mounted fouiteen Pieces of Cannon, it feems, with great Advantage to fave the Country, whether the Earl of Antrim fhould makt his Approaches lower or higher up into the Land. Only his Lordfhip fold, thole People hated the Earl of Argylt* and that his Lordfhip had not in all thole Ifles above two hundred Pounds of his own Inheritance. Which raifeth a new Doubt with me at leaft : for the Earl of Argyle we know indeed, but thofe other Proprietors, whether Covenanters or no, is a nan iiquet here, and I am confident it is his Majefty's Purpofe not to have this Earl trouble himfelf with con- quering thofe, that for atight 1 know may be good Subjects already, though perchance they fhould poiiefs thofe Lands, this Lord pretends to have been belonging his Anceftors (me- thought he faid) thefe thirteen hundred Years. I made bold alfo to quertion what Propor- tion of Powder, Bullet and Match, what Ord r nance, with all forts of Ammunition, and pther neceflary Implements, what Shovels, Mat- tccks, of LETTERS. 173 focks, Spades, c5>. his Lordfhip had cither provided or expedled ? In all thefe his Lord-* fhip faid, he muft refer himfelf tome: where- in I bcfought his Excufe, as impofftble for me to do, that knew nothing of the Na^ ture of the Country or People, nothing of the Occailon, how foon it might end, or how long it might continue, neither what his In- tendments micjit be of fighting Battles, afTauIt- ing Places, railing of Forts, putting in Gar- rifons, Men and Victuals, with a Number of fuch like Confuicrations, which not underilood, the moft exacl General of the World' could not be able to give any certain Judgment, therefore none could fettle upon any thing of this kind but himfelf, to whom- all thefe Par- ticulars were clear and manifeir, I defired to be informed, whether he had thought of any Place of Landing, of poilefling. of fome Ground of Advantage, intrenching and fortifying himfelf fo, as might at the worit fecure his Retreat? Whether his Lord (hip had confultcd with any to that Purpofe ? what Intelligence he held with thole of his Party? For thefe, he had not thought of any Land- ing-place in particular, as a thing indifferent, on which of the Ifles he landed, whereof he faith there are fourfcorej nor were Retreats to be thought ori when Men are going on ; and as for Intelligence, the Earl of Argyle had fo flopped all Paflages, th^it little or none ot that kind he could procure. Laftly, I {hewed him how neceflary It was for us both to difcourfe of thefe things, and befought him he would fet down his Propo- fitions in Writing as foon as might be, where- I 3 unto- 174 A felefl COLLECTION unto I would undertake to return him a fpeedy and clear Anfwer, Being gone forth, he told ixir George Raddiffe^ at firfl he had not been fatibfied with the Manner of nry Treaty with him, but now found I was his Friend, and had fhewn, that his Lordmip had not fo well forefeen, and provided all, fuch a weighty Bu- iinefs did require; expreffing covertly, he could be glad to be ihut of the Undertaking itfelf, as above his Fortune to go thorough \vidi- yl. Some two Days after his Lordfhip deliver- ed unto me his Proportions, a Duplicate where- of you have here inclofed ; fo as now I do expecl: to be inftrufted what Anfwer I fhall give, and Warrant for fb much as is for me to be done therein. Only I obfcrve feme Particulars which you will find in thofe Proportions. His Lorcmip now rcduceth in the firft Ar- ticle 'his Number to four thoufand eight hun- dred Foot, and two hundred Horfe, demands in the fixtecnth Article a Loan of twenty thou- iand Pounds for their three Months Pay ; whereas allowing for the Foot Sixpence, and for a Horfeman Eighteen- pence a Day, it comes but to twelve thoufand one hundred and fifty Pounds, which Overplus of fev&n thoufand right hundred and fifty Pounds, will largely i'crve to build his long Boats, pay the Offi- cers, transport his Men, (Jfc. - Thus, in pie- lent, his Majefiy is at the whole Charge;. and after the three Months his Lordfliip in the feventeenth Article clearly and in^enuoully exprefleth his Meaning to be, that his Ma- jefty Ihould defray all. For my own Part I know of L E T T E R S. ' i}$ know as little where this twenty thoufand Pounds will be fpared (for the Revenue here is not able to do it) as when his Lordihip will find that reafonable Time he mentions for Repayment thereof, efpecially confidering what I tacitly writ of the mighty Engage- ments which lye and prefs upon his Eft-ate, more, in good faith, I believe than all his Lands, were they prefently to be fold, would fatisfy. In the ninth Article, his Lordfhip afks at once twelve Field-pieces, with all belonging them, howbeit he knows not what Employ- ment there will be for them, and we ihall have ten of that fort wfien they are come, which we expect not till towards f^hitfun- tidf. The tenth Article requires five hundred long Bows, with twenty- four Arrows, and four Strings to every Bow; doubles the Proverb, which gives you know but two Strfngs to a Bow, and well too. But the plain Earn eft is, that Bows, Arrows, or Strings, there are not any in thefe Stores. The eleventh Article is for Wood for his Boats, which howbeit I had not Power to give Warrant to cut down any in the King's Woods, yet I got my Lord of Derry to give his Lord- mip the Liberty to take as much as he had Ufe of in his Woods, which are in all re- fpecls as convenient for him, fo that therein his Lordfhip is accomodated to his Content- ment ; howbeit methinks they mould prove ilrange Boats that are to be made of green and unfeafoned Wood. I 4 feft COLLECTION The fourteenth Article propofeth an Imr<5 r - fibihty, for two Ships and two Pinnaces it requires, where we have only the Swallow, "Whelp, and Pinnace. Bt fides, thefe three can- not be brought all fo foon to the Place he appoints, yet without them (I had almost faid nor with them neither) no Service. And the eighteenth Article defires the Command of the fold Ships and Pinnaces during the Oecafion. My Queftion is, What fhall become of the Coafts the whiifr, for Guard whereof thefe are affigned ? Unlefs other Ships be appoint- ed by my Lord Admiral for that Servic?, which will be fix or feven thoufand Pounds- more Charge to the Crown. But this I hum- bly ftibmit to my Lord Admiral, I having no- thing to do at all with the Difpofition of thofe Ships-; yet if they were, as this Lord would, perchance his Lord/hip might have no Employ- ment for them : for I remember, now at Michaelmas, his Lordfnip being to come >. r, no Jefs than all thefe three would ferve for the Tranfportation of himfelf and Lady, no De- nial, muit have the Swallow to- take him aboard at Ir'yer'watcri where never came Ship of thrce- fcore Tun and lived, and yet, in ConduAon, made ufe only of the Pinnace, which before had been offered, as that which I knew was fafeft and fitteft, and fo his Majefty put to the vain and wanton Expence, I proteii unto you, of near five hundred Pounds. One other Matter his Lordftiip propofed to me in Difcourfe, not in his Paper, and this it was, that for the Defence of his Lordfhip's Country, himfelf thus gone upon the Ilies, there might be a new Troop of Horfe raiftd jGor bis Brothc r a and pa\d by his Majefty. of LETTER S. 177 To this my Anfwer was, his Lands were of this Kingdom, and confequently under my Charge, myfelf anfwerable to his Majefty for it, and I would by the Help of God lecure that and all the reft, with the Army we had already, without putting the King to fo great an Increafe of Charge, as the raifing a new Troop .would be. In fum, I muft needs fay, his Lordfiiip fhuffles the Pack dexteroufly enough, if pre- tending to make a War at his own Coil, he can thus prefently and totally fhift off the Charge upon the King; deal hirnfelf a Gene- ralfhip at Sea and Land; a Command of the King's Armies, his Ordnance, his Arms, his Stores, his Shipping, make all his own Offi- cers, new Levies as likes him heft, and pro- cure a Horfe-Troop for his Brother. Old Ned Coke would have here faid, God is my Witnejs tbefe are f range Things to me. But now all this, for what? Marry, for aught -I either hear or can forefee, to enable his Lordfhip to go upon the Ifles there, to recover for himfelf thofe great Seigniories belonging unto his Anceftors ; and fay, all the now PofTeflbrs be Covenanters, which yet appears not, and that he do conquer the Country (for not a lels Word than Conquefl comes from' us.) What fhall his- Majefty, or any other Man, fave himfelf, be the better ? Indeed it troubles me to imagine, how his Lordflbip may think of us all his Majefty's Minifters, whilft he feeds himfelf with the Hopes to carry out from amongft us his own Ends and Benefits thus in Sovereignly, and under a Colour of doing I 5. * 178 jf feleff COLLECTION a Service tolhe Crown, apply all to his own private. For Levies of Men there is little Que* ft ion ; if there were Caufe the King might have as many as he pleafes of this Nation, were it an Army of forty thoufand ; nay, fome Subjects of this Crown there are, who in fuch a way as is now propofed, are able to raile far more Men than my Lord of Antrim. But the Difficulties are, how to pay them for the Time they were employed, and then the prefent Service over, how to difpofe of them, that they might not at after be dif- perfed thorough the Kingdom, not only Malecontents, but armed with Knowledge, and enabled the more to difquiet, at leaft, if not attempt fomething in Prejudice of the public Peace. But the Direction and Refolution of all this Bufinefs is to be expected thence, myfelf have no Part therein, lave the Merit of my Obedience, yet I humbly crave to lay in the Way thefe few Confiderations before your Judgments. What fudden Outrage may be apprehend- ed from fo great a Number of the native Iri/hy Children of habituated Rebels, brought together without Pay or Victual, armed with our own Weapons, ourfeives left naked the whilft ? What Scandal to his Majefty's Service it inight be in a time thus conditioned, to employ a General and a whole Army in a manner Roman Catholics? What Affright or Pretence this might give for the Scotijh) who are at leaft fourfcore thcufand of L E T T E R . r 79 thoufand in thofe Parts, to arnj alfo, under Colour of their own Defence, fo fet the- whole Kingdom into a Tumult, which might be the Matter of fad and defperate Ef- fects ? What Hopes of any great Good from a Defign no better laid or thought on than this, it feems, hath hitherto been, and under a Ge- neral and other Commanders fo little knowing,, nay altogether unknowing any thing belonging the Profeffion of Soldiers? What Difhonour it would be to the King's Service, what a Heartning and Encouragement to the Ill-affe&ed, if this Action fhouid mif- carry, or prove fruitlefs, as I confidently be-r lieve it will, if not put into other Hands than? thefe that now aflume it? What might be the Confequence, if the- Earl of Argylc emboldened by the Succefs, pur- fue our Earl with Forces into this Kingdom, and thofe upon the Place, the Scotijb here of the fame Afre&ions alfo, thus emboldened,, fhouid arm, and declare themfelves of the Party? If it be judged fit for his Majesty's Service to make a diverfive War upon thofe Ifles, the- Tirae of Provtfion almoft loft for this Year,. whether it were not fafer,. more honourable,, more advantageous, lefs fcandalous,> to wait the Succefs of this Summer, and as Occafioa fhall oifer itfelf, by the Beginning of the next Spring to pu-rfue the Defign in his MajeftyV own Name, under the Con-dudt and Direvtion, of his own Captains, taking only the Earl a- long as A/fiftant and Aid unto them, in fuck a Condition . as may be fit, no Diminutiou 'A -felefi COLLECTION- to his Quality, howbeit not Chief in Command 1 ,, till his Lordihip had gained more Experience than yet he hath ? And thus I fubmit all, only I humbly crave Leave to diicharge my Duty, Jo far as to de- liver you myfelf ingenuoufly in fome few Par- ticulars. I judge the Stafon fo far fpcnt, the Provi- fion- of Victuals, Arms, Ordnance and Ship- ping fo far behind, as it will not be poJibls lor my Lord of Antrim to do any thing; upoa that People this Year j that his Lordftiip will r.ot the next Year, by reafon of his Breed- ing and Experience, be a Perfon qualified for a "Command of that Nature. That if the Defign muft go on> it may at leaft reft till the next Spring, be fully con- fidered on all Hands, and in the mean Space fo carried, as neither the Earl of Antrim be difcouraged, nor yet fet at liberty for his Undertakings on that Side, but that fuch Ufa be made both of him, and all other Accom- modations, as may be found of Advantage for that Service. This Difpatch had been fooner on the Way, but that I have been fo tormented with Tooth- itch, as I hardly found the Patience to do any thing, which I hope will obtain me your Pardon, that refts Tour mift faithful humble Sfrvanti Dullin, 2Cth- Afarcby. 1 638. W E N T \v o RT H. LET- of L E^T T E R S. cH-;rnfno'J nl 'buO-ton mvv&d .viikwp au{ of ifl Wentworth to the Countefs of Clare, May it pletife your Lady/hip* TV/T Y Lord of Clare having writ unto pie -** your Ladyftiip defired to have my Daughter Anne with you for a Time in England to re- cover her Health, I have at Jaft been able to yield fo much from my own Comfort, as to fend both her and her Sifter to wait your grave, wife, and tender Inftructions. They are both, I praife God, in good Health, and bring with them hence from me no other Advice, but intirely and chearfully to obey and do all -you {hall be plea fed to command thm, fo far forth as their Years and Underftanding may adminifter unto them. I was unwilling to part them, in regard thofe that muft be a Stay one to another,, when by Courfe of Nature I am gone before them, I would not have them grow Strangers whiHt I am living j befides the younger gladly imitates the elder, in Difpofition fo like her blefied Mother, that it pleafes me very much to fee her Steps followed and obferved by the other. Madam, I muft confefs, it was not without Difficulty before I could perfuade myfelf thus to be deprived the looking upon them, who with their Brother are the Pledges of all the Comfort, the greateft at leaft of my old Age* if ^$2 A felett . COLLECTION if it fliall pleafe God I attain thereunto. But I have been brought up in Afflictions of this kind, fb as I ftill fear to have that taken firft r that is deareft unto me; and have in this been- content willingly to overcome my own Af- feitions, in order to their Good, acknowledg- ing your Ladyfhtp capable of doing them more good in their Breeding than I am ; otherways in truth I fhould never have parted with them r as I profefs it a Grief unto me not to be as well able as any to ferve the Memory or" that noble Lady in thefe little harmlefs In- fants. Well, to God's Bleffing and your Lady- fhip's Goodnefs I commit them; where-ever they are, my Prayers mall attend them, and have of Sorrow in my Heart till I fee them again I muft, which I truft will not be long neither ; that they fliall be acceptable to you, I know it right well, and I believe them fo gracioufly minded to render themfelves fo the more, the more you fee of their Attention to do as you mail be pleafed to direcl them, which will be of much Contentment unto me;, for whatever your Ladyfhip's Opinion may be of me, I defire, and have given it them in Charge (fo far as their tender Years are ca- pable of) to honour and obferve your Lady- fhip above all the Women in the World, as well knowing that in fo doing they fhall ful- fil that Duty, whereby of all others they could have delighted their Mother the moft, and do infinitely wifli they may want nothing in their Breeding my Power or Coft might procure them, or their Condition of Life hereafter may re- quire : for, Madam, if I die to-morrow, I will of L E T T E R S. 1*3 will by God's Help leave them ten thoufand Pounds apiece, which I truft by God's Blef- fing fhall beftow them to the Comfort of them- felves and Friends, nor at all confiderably pre- judice their Brother, whofe Eftate fhall never be much burthened by a fecond Venter I a- fure you. I thought fit to fend with them one that teacheth them to write j he is a quiet foft Man, but honeft, and not given to any Dif- order; him I have appointed to account for the Money to be laid forth, wherein he hath no other Direction but to pay and lay forth as your Ladyfhip fhall appoint, and fiill as he wants, to go to Woodboufe, where my Coufin Rockley will fupply him ; and I muft humbly befeech you to give Order to their Servants, and otherwife to the Taylors at London, for their Apparel, which I wholly fubmit to your Ladyfhip's better Judgment, and be it what it may be, I fhall think it all happily beftowed, fo as it be to your Contentment and theirs j.. for Coft I reckon not of, and any thing I have is theirs fo long as I live, which is only worth Thanks, for theirs and their Brothers all I have muft be whether I will or no, and therefore I defire to let them have to acknow- ledge me for before. Nan, they tell me, danceth prettily, which J wifh (if with Convenience it might be) were not loft, more to give her a comely Grace in the Carnage of her Body, than that I wifh they fhould much delight or praclife it when they are Women. Arabella is a fmall Practi- tioner that way alfo, and they are both very apt iS"4 A feleft COLLECTION apt to learn that or any thing they are taught.. - Nan, I think, fpeaks French prettily, which yet I might have . been better able to judge had her Mother lived; the ether alfo fpeaks', .but her Maid being of Guernfey,- the Accent is not good ; but your Ladyfhip is in this -excellent, as that y as indeed all things elfe which may befit them, they may, and I hope will learn better with your Ladyfhip than they can with their poor Father, ignorant in what belongs Women, and otherways, God knows, diftrac"U'd; and fo awanting unto them in all, faving in loving them, and therein,, in truth, I (hall never be lefs than the deareft Parent in the World. Their Brother is juft now fitting at my Elbow, in good Health, God be praifed; and I am in the beft fort I may accomodating this Place for him, which in the kind I take to be the nobleft one of them in the King's Dominions, and where a Grafs-time may be parted with moft Pleafure of that Kind j I will build him a good Houfe,. and by God's Help leave him, I think, near three thoufand Pounds a Year, and Wood on the Ground as much, I dare fay, if near London, as would yield fifty thoufand Pounds, befides a Houfe within twelve Miles of Dublin, the beft in Ireland, and Land to it, which,. I hope, will be two thoufand Pounds a Year ; all which he mail have to the reft, had I twenty Bro- thers of his to fet befides me. This I write not to your Ladyfhip in Vanity, or to have it fpoken of, but privately to let your Lady,- ihip fee, I do not forget the Children of my dear eft. ^LETTERS. . ,S S rfeareft Wife, nor altogether beftow my Time fruitlefsly for them : it is true, -I am in Debt, but there will be' befides, fufKcient to dif- charge all 1 owe by God's Grace, whether I live or die. And next to thefe Children,, there are not any other Perfons I wifh more Happi- nefs than to the Houfe of their Grandfather, and fhall be always mofl ready to ferve them, what Opinion foever he had of me; for no other's Ufage can abfolve me of what I owe, not only to the Memory but to the laft Legacy that nobleft Creature left with me when God took her to himfelf. I am afraid to turn over the Leaf, left your Ladyfhip might think I could never come to a Corr- elufion; and mail therefore add to all the reft this one Truth more, that whenever I be hap- pied thorough the Occafion> there is -not any more Tour Ladyfmps ^ t^' -rJf >', obedhnt and mt>jl kxtnHe t Son and Servant, Fainvood-Park, the lotli Of Augujl^ 1639, L E T- i86 A felett COLLECTION LETTER XLIX. Charles I. to the Earl of Strafford. >T*HE Misfortune that is falen upon you * by the ftrange Mtftaking and Conjunftur of theafe Tymes being fuch that I muft lay by the Thought of imploing you heereafter in my Affaires; yet I cannot fatisfie myfclf in Honnor or Conscience, without affeuring you (now in the mideft of yur Trebles) that,, upon the Word of a King, you fhall not fuffer in Lyfe, Honnor, or Fortune. This is but Juftice, and therefore a verie meane Rewards from a Maifter, to fo faithefull, and able a Servant, as you have (bowed your- fclfe to bee ; yet it is as much, as I con- ceave the prefent Tyrnes will perrnitt, though, none fhail hinder me from being Yaur conftant fallbfull Frend, fffytha!!, Apr. 23. 1641. CHARLES /?. LET- of LETTERS. 187 L E T T E R Lv Earl of StrafFord to his Son. My dcarcjl WIU, '"TPHESE are the laft Lines that you are fe * receive from a Father that tenderly loves you. I wifli there were a greater Leifure to impart my Mind unto you; but our merciful God will fupply all things by his Grace, and guide and protect you in all your Ways : to whofe infinite Godtinefs I bequeath you; and therefore be not difcouraged, but fcrve him, and truft in him, and he will prefervc and pro- fper you in all Things. Be fure you give all Refpe& to my Wife, that hath ever had a great Love unto you, and therefore will be well becoming you. Never - be awanting in your Love and Care to your Sifters, but let them ever be moft dear unto you : for this will give others Caufe to efteem and refpect you for it, and is a Duty that you owe them in the Memo- of your excellent Mother and myfelf : herefore your Care and AfFedion to them muft be the very fame that you are to have of yourfelf; and the like Regard muft you have to your youngcft Sifter ; for indeed you Owe it her alfo, both for her Father and Mo- ther's faJce. Sweet l88 A felett COLLECTION Sweet Will^ be careful to take the Advice of thofe Friends, which are by me defired to advife you for your Education. Serve God diligently Morning and Evening, and recom- mend your/elf unto him, and have him before your Eyes in all your Ways. With Patience hear the Inftructions of thofe Friends I leave with you, and diligently follow their Counfel : For, 'till you come by Time to have, Ex- perience in the World, it will be far more fafe to truft to their Judgments than your own. Lofe not the Time of your Youth, but gn- ther thofe Seeds of Virtue and Knowledge, which may be of ufe to youdelf, and Comfort to your Friends, for the reft of your Life, And that this may be the better effected, at- tend thereunto with Patience, and be fure to correct and refrain yoiirfelf from Anger. Suf- fer not Sorrow to caft you down, but with Chearfulnefs and good Courage go on the Race you have to rim in all Sobriety and Truth. Be fure with an hallowed Care to have refpect to all the Commandments of God, and give hot yourfelf to neglect them in the leaft Things, left by Degrees you come to forget them in the greateft : for the Heart of Man is deceitful above all things. And in a]l your Duties and Devotions towards God, rather perform them joyfully than penfwely ; for God loves a chearful Giver. For your Religion, let it be directed according to that which mail be taught by thofe, which are in 'God's Church the proper Teachers therefore, rather than that you ever either fancy one to yourfelf, or be led by Men that are fingular in . tf L E T T E R S. 189 in their own Opinions, and delight to go Ways of their own finding out : for you will certainly find Sobernefs and Truth in the one, and much Unfteadinefs and Vanity in .the other. The King I truft will deal gracioufly with you, reftore you thofe Honours and that For- tune, which a diftempered Time hath depriv- ed you of, together with the Life of your Father: which I rather advife might be by a new Gift and Creation from himfelf, than by any other Means, to the end you may pay the Thanks to him without having Obli- gation to any other. Be fure to avoid as much as you can to inquire after thofe that have been fharp in their Judgments towards me, and I charge you never to fuffer Thought of Revenge to enter your Heart, but be careful to be in- formed, who were my Friends in this Profe- cution, and to^ them apply yourfelf to make them your Friends alfo ; and on fuch you may rely, and beftow much of your Coriver- fation amongft them. And God Almighty of his infinite Good- nefs blefs you and your Children's Children ; and his fame Goodnefs blefs your Sifters in, like manner, perfect you in every good Work, and give you right Understandings in all things. Amen. Tour moll loving Father, .0Tew, this nth of May t 1641. T. WENTWORTH. You 190 A feleft COLLECTION You muft not fail to behave yourfelf towards ray Lady Clare your Grandmother with all Duty and Obfervance j for moft ten- derly doth fhe love you, and hath been pafling kind unto me. God reward her Charity for it. And both in this and all the reft, the fame that I counfel you, the fame do I direct alfo to your Sifters, that fo the fame may be obferved by you all. And once more do I, from my very Soul, befeech our gracious God to blefs and govern you in all, to the faying you in the Day of his Vifitation, and join us again in the Communion of his blefled Saints, where is Fulnefs of Joy and Biifs for evermore. Amen y Amen. LETTER LI. James Earl of Derby, to Commiffary General Ireton, in Anfwer to the Sum- mons fent the Earl to deliver up the Ifle of Man. SIR, T HAVE received your Letter with Indignation, * and with Scorn return you this Anfwer ; That I cannot but wonder, whence you fhould gather any Hopes that I Ihould prove like you, treach- erous to my Sovereign ; fmceyou cannot be igno- rant of the manifeft Candor of my former Actings in his late Majefty's Service, from which Principles of Loyalty I am no whit departed. I fcorn your Proffer i I difdain your Favour; I abhor your Treaibh j 2 -^/LETTERS. , 9I Treafonj and am fo far from delivering up this Ifland to. your Advantage, that I fhall keep it to the utmoft of my Power, and, I hope, to your Deftruction. Take this for your final Anfwer, and forbear any further Solicitations ; for if you trouble me with any more Meflages of this Nature, I will burn your Paper, and hang up your Meflen- ger. This is the immutable Relblution, and fhall be the undoubted Practice, of him who accounts it his chiefeft Glory to be, his Majefty's moft lovaL lit- r* i - *-\ J j j 9 and obedient Subject, From Caftle-Town this 1 2th of July, DERBY. 1649. LETTER LIL Charles II. to the Duke of York. Dear Brother, T Have received yours without a Date, in which you mention, that Mr. Montague has endea- voured to pervert you in your Religion. I do not doubt, but you remember very well the Com- mands I left with you at my going away concern- ing that Point, and am confident you will ob- ferve them. Yet the Letters that come from Paris fay, that it is 'the Queen's Purpofe to doe all fhe can to change your Religion, which, if you hearken to her, or any body els in that Matter, you muft never thinke to fee England, or me again ; and whatfoever Mifchiefe fhall fall on me, or my Affairs from this Time, I muft lay all upon you, as being the only caufe of it. There- fore confider well what it is, not only to be the Caufe 192 A feleft COLLECTION Caufe of ruineing a Brother, that loves you foe well, but alfoe of your King and Country. Doe not let them perfwade you either by Force or faire Promifes j for the firft they neither dare, nor will ufe ; and for the fecond, aflbon as they have per- verted you, they will have their End, and will care no more for you. I am alfo informed, that there is a Purport to put you in the Jefuits Colledge, which I com- mand you upon the fame Grounds never to con- fent unto. And whenfoever any body mall goe to difpute with you in Religion, doe not anfwer them at all -, for though you have the Reafon on ycur fide, yet they being prepared, will have the Advantage of any body, that is not upon the fame Security that they are. If you do not cofc- fider what I fay to you, remember the Jaft Words of your dead Father, which were, to be conftant to your Religon, and never to be fhaken in it. Which if you doe not obferve, this fhall be the Jaft Time you will ever hear from, Dear Brother, Your m r jl fiffcftion'ate Brother, Cologne , Ncv. ic, 1654. CHARLES R. LET- of L E T T E R S. 193 LETTER LIII. Robert Duckenfield to Oliver Cromwell. May it pleafe your Higbnes, T Received you Lordmip's Commiflion for a " Horfe Regiment on the laft Lord's Day, and fent an Anfweare theirto imediately j but the MefTenger was gone before from Chejler to- wards London^ which occafioned thefe Lynes, to give your Lordfhipp an Accompt, that I dare not as yet accept of the faid Commifiion, for .many Reafons: firft, becaufe my Endeavours this way formerly, though very fucceflefull, have beene taken in ill part ; and this County efpe- cially is foe wonderfully impoverifhed, as without deitroying of it, not many Soldiers can be raifed theirin in the Way you intend. 2. Becaufe that the Extreams that the levelling Party do run furioufly upon, doth, as I humbly conceive, drive your Highnes upon direct con- trary Extreames ; and I defire to imitate Caleb and 'Jojua in the Wildernefs, as neare as may be, and hot to leeke a Confederacy with thofe, who limitt God to their Pafiions, and againft whom God . hath an evident Controverfy, &c. I believe firme- ly, that the Roote and Tree of Piety is alive in your Lordfhip, though the Leaves theirof, through abundance of Temptations and Flatteries, feeme to be withered much of late ; yet I hope Time and Experience will have a good Influence upon your Lordfhip (Deo juvente) &c. I praife the Lord for his extraordinary Mercy to me this way, that I am not much moved with VOL, I. K the 194 d fdeft COLLECTION the Actings of Men, though of the better Sort ; nor do I regard Preferment much : -yet, to do this Commonwealth a Pleafure, I am content to leave my private and obfcure Condition, wheir- with I am much delighted, for a Seafon, to ac- cept of fome hanfome military Command, if your Lordfhipp thinlce well theirof ; fo as the Men that I ferve with may not be caft of afterwards un- requited ; and that they be felecSted in the beft way from fuch as be your fuperficiall and diflem- bling Friends, whom I know well, and will have little to do with them, unlefs forced theirto. I am not afraid of my Life, or Eftate, and to im- prove the Talent I have, I mould be glad to ferve your Lordfhip in any forraine War within the Continent of Europe^ rather then within this Nation. I humbly conceive further, that thefe remote Corners of this Nation are fo corrupted of late, by the Subtilties of the jefuited Party, as few of them, that will be intrufted with Armes by the new militia Committees in thefe Parts, will be found faithfull to your Intereft, in cafe of Ne- ceffity or Danger. Theirfore I think it would be an excellent Courfe, to raife about 2000 Horfe equally out of all the Counties on the north Side Trent, and to impofe the Charge of maintaine- ing and finding them onely upon fuch as are con- victed or fufpected notorioufly for Malignity. Wheirby your Highnes would do a very jult and feaftble Acl, without putting your felfe, or any one elfe, that be innocent or well affected, to any freat Charge about them. The Clamours of molt len, that you pun ifh the Innocent promifcuoufly with the Nocent,will be taken away by this means. Charles Steward hath 500 Friends in thefe adjacent Counties, ALETTE R S. Counties, for every one Friend to you ainongft' them, and he doubts not of finding you -WprkV enough, whilft hee lives. I humbly beg Pardon for this Boldnes, it proceeding really from the Wel-wifhes of your Lordfhip's very -faithful and humble Servant, LETTER LIV. -: PJJ; ,-: S^*.? - > TT Oliver Cromwell to his Son H. Cromwell. ^ T Have feen your Letter writ unto Mr. Secrtf- ~ * tary Thurloe^ and do finde thereby, that yon are very apprehcnfive of the Carriage of fome Perfons with jou towards your felfc, and the publique Affairs. I doe believe there may be fome particular Perfons, who are not very well pleafed with the prefent Condition of Things, and may be apt to fhew their Difcontent, as they have Opportunitie ; but this fhould not make too great Imprefllons in you. Tyme and Patience may worke them to a better Frame of Spirit,' and bring them to fee that, which for^the prefent feems to be hid from them ; efpccially if they fhall fee your Moderation and Love to- wards them, whilft they are found in other ways towards you ; which I earneftly defire you to ftudye and endeavour all that lyes in you, whereof both you and Itoo fhall have the Comfort, what- foever the Iffue and Event thereof be, K 2 For i$6 A feleft COLLECTION For what you write of more Help, I have longe endeavoured it, and (hall not be wanting to fend you fome further Addition to the Councell, as loon as Men can be found out, who are fit for that Truft. I am alfoe thinkinge of fending over to you a fitt Perfon, who may command the North of Ireland, which I believe ftands in great need of one, and am of your Opinion, that ^Trevor and Col. Mervin are very dangerous Per- foris, arid may be made the Heads of a new Re- bellion : and therefore I would have you move the Councell, that they be fecured in fome very fate Place, and the further out of their own Countryes the better. I commend you to the Lord, and reft Ycur ajfeftionate Father, 21 Nov. 1655. OLIVER P. LETTER LV. Daniel O Neile te Charles II. Hage, Janu. 1656. T> E F O R E your Majeftie's laft Letters came, ^ Monfieur Heenulelt obtained hir Hyghnefle Permiflione to have his Wyf left with him, and that his Daughter Mrs. Howard (whoe is of late made Governds to the Prince) mould goe in hir Place. They are both infinitly troubled your Ma- jeftie mould think hir goeing neceflary, and that fhee mould not have Strength equal to hir Will to obey your Majeftie. The Truth is, fhee is very ^/LETTERS. 197 very weak, and very often fick; but not foe ill, but that if Monfieur Heenuleit went, fhee would venture ; but fhee thinks it not fitt to leave him all alone, forfaken of his Frends, and in the midft of all his Majeftie's and his one Ene- mys. Both he and fhee give another Rea- fon, which paffes not fo currant with mee, and they think it the beft ; it is, that at Gotten^ when hir Hyghnefs was in the Heat of her Paffione, tould Monfieur Heenuleit^ thattheWorld beeleeved fhee was governed by them ; but fhe would dif- abufe it. By what means, I know not, hee has underftood, that hir Hyghnefs has had this from the Palais Royale ; therefore hee'll lett hir goe thether without him or his Wyf, fo lett the Queene fee the Princefs can be afs willtull ther without them, afs {hee can bee where they are. They doe not att all feare fhee'll take any Jmpreflio'e prejudiciall to your Majeftie ; on the contrary, they are confident, fhee will returne of another Peifwafione then fhee goes, and they had rather fhee fhould find hir Errors in thcr Abfence, then when they are with hir. Monfieur Heenuleit moft humbly begs your Majeftie's Pardon for the Difobedience of his Wyf, fince hir Stay i(s neceflary for that Lyf, which hee hopes, iff your Majeftie gets once into Flanders^ to make more ufefull to you, then any Service his Wyf could doe you in France^ where, bee thinks, your Majeftie is to expect litle here- after. I befeech your Majefty, in the next, that you doe me the Honor to writ, to fignifye your Majeftie is not unfatisfyed with ther Refolutione, elfe you will ad much to ther trouble in not obey- ing your command. K T This ipS A [elect COLLECTION This Day I fent the Huntfman with 14 Couple of Hounds to Collen ; the Fellow fince his coming hither, and to make his Jurny, had 300 Gilders. Mr. Ho^vard demanded 400 Gilders more for tranfporting of them, which was afs cheap a Bar- gain afs my Lord Newburg had of his Hors ; but Monfieur Heenuleit would pay nothing without I alowedit, and M.r. Howard was fo modeftas not to offer to account with me ; for he knew I found ther was not 40 Gilders due. I have given Mr. Fox an Account of the Liverys. The Lord blefs and preferve your Majeftie ! LETTER LVI. Daniel ONeile to Charles II. Haggy 1 4th Feb. 1656. "D EFORE I took the liberty to writ any thing -*-* to your Majeftie of Mrs. Earloe^ I did fuf- fkiently inform myfelf of the Truth of what I writ, fince I had the Opportunity to fave hir from publick Scandal att leaft. Hir Mayd, whom ihee would have killed by thrufting a Bodkin into hir Eare afs fhee was afleep, would have accufed hir of that of mifcarrying of two Children by Phifick, and of the infamous manner of hir living with Mr. Howard; but I have prevented the Milchief, partly with Threats, butt more with a 100 Gilders I am to give her Mayd. Hir laft Mifcarriage was fince Mrs. Howard went, afs the Midvvyf fays to one that I imploy to hir. Doctor Rufufhas given hir Phifick, but it was airways after hir mifcarrying ; and though hee knew any thing, it would be indifcreet to tell of L E T T E R S. 199 in Therefore I would not attempt him, and the rather, that I was fufficiently afTured by thofe that were neerer. Though I have faved hir for this tyme, it's not lykly (hee'le efcap when I arn gqn ; for onely the Confideratione of your Ma- jeftie has held Monfieur Heenuleit and Monfieur Nertwicky not to have hir banifhed this Toune and Country for an infamous Perfon, and by found of Drum. Therefore it were well, if your Majefly will owne that Chyld, to fend hir your pofitive Commajnd to deliver him unto whom your MaJQilie will apoint. I know it from one, whoe has re,ad my Lord Taaf's Letter to hir of the nth, by this lafl; Poft, that hee tells hir, your Majeftie has noething more in Confideration then hir Suf- ferings ; and that the next Monny you can get. qr borrow, fhall be fent to fuply hir. Whyle^ your Majeftie incourages any to (peak this X,an- fage, fhee'le never obey what you will have, he onely way is to neceffitat hir, if your Ma- jefiy can think hir worth your Care. LETTER LVII. Lady Mary Cromwell to Hen. Cromwell. Dear Brother^ V^O.UR kind Leters do fo much ingag my * Hart towards you, that I can never tel how to expres in writing the tru ArFe&ion and Value I Ijav of you, who truly I think npn that knows you but you mayjuftly claim it from. I muife confes- myfeif in a great Fault in the omiteng of writing to you and" your dear Wif fo long a tim ; but I fupos you cannot be ignorant oi" the Reafon, K 4 which 200 'A feleft COLLECTION which truly has ben the only Caus, which is this Bifnes of my Sifter Franfes and Mr. Rich. Truly I can truly fay it, for thes thre Months I think our Family, and myfelf in particular, hav ben the grateft Confufion and Troble as ever poor Fa- mily can be in : the Lord tel us his * * * * in it, and fetel us, and male us what he would hav us to be. I fupos you hard of the breaking of rhe Bifnefs, and according to your Defer in your laft Leter, as well as I can, I mall give you a full Account of it, which is thes. After a quarter of a Yeor's Admitons, my Father and my Lord Warwick begon to tret about the Eftate, and it ferns my Lord did not ofcr that that my Father expected. I ned not nam Perticulars, for I fup- pofe you may hav had it from beter Hands j but if I may fay the Truth, I think it was not fo much EftatJ as fom private Refons, that my Father difcovred to non but my Sefter Franfes and his own Family, which was a Diilik to the young Perfon, which he had from fom Reports of his being a vifious Man, given to play, and fuch lik things, which Ofis was done by fom that had a mind to break of the Match. My Sefter hearing thefe things, wos refolved to know the Truth of it ; and truly dud find al the Reports to be fals, that wer raisd of him ; and to tel you the Truth, they wer fo much ingagd in Afe&ion before this, that ihee could not thenk of breaking of it of, fo that my Sefter engagd me and all the Frinds file had, who truly wer very few, to fpek in her Behalf to my Father ; which we dud, but could not be heard to any Purnos ; only this my Father promifed, that if he were fatisfyed as to the Re- port, the Eftat fhould not break it of, which me was fatisfyed with ; but after this ther was a fccond of L E T T E R S. 201 fecond Trety, and my Lord Warwick defered my Father to nam what it was he demanded more, and to his utmoft he would fatisfy him ; fo my Father upon this mad new Propofifeons, which my Lord Warwick has anfwered as much as he can ; but it ferns ther is fiv hundred Pounds a Yeor in my Lord Richis Hands, which he has Power to fell, and ther are fome People, that perfuaded her Highnefs, that it would be defone- rable for him to conclud of it, without thes fiv hundred Pounds a Yeor be fettled upon Mr* Rick, after his Father's Deth, and my Lord Rich having no Eftem at all of his Son, becos he is not bad as himfelf, wil not agree to it; and thes People opon this perfuad my Father, it would be a Defoner to him to ycld upon thes Terms ; it would {hew, that he was mad a Fool on by my Lord Rich ; which theTruth is, how it fhould be, I can't underftand, nor vere few els ; and truly I muft tel you privatelie, that they ar fo far engaged, as the Match canot be brok of. She acquainted non of her Frends with her Refolution, when Ihe did it. Dear Brother, this is as far as I can tel the State of the Bifiiefs. The Lord direcT: them what to do ; and al I think ought to beg of God to pardon her in her dowing of this thing, which I muft fay truly, (he was put upon by the of things. Pear, let me beg ,my Excufes to my Sefter for not wiiting my bdt Refpects to her. Pardon this Treble, and belev .me, that I fhal ever ftriv to aprov myfelf, Dear Brother, Tour affectionate Sejler and Servant, MARY CROMWELL. 'kV LET- 202 A feleft COLLECTION" LETTER LVIII. Gemr d Mountagu to Secretary Thurloe. SIR, *jPHE Lord hath beene pleafed to afford an Oc- - cafion of writinge to you fooner than I thought off, with foe much Safetye, and upon foe good an Account. Blefled be his Name, who hath looked upon the low Condition of the Na- tion, and hath turned the Reproaches of wicked Men with Shame upon their own Faces. Indeed my Hart is very much warmed with the Appre- henfion of the (insular Providence of God, in bringinge this about for us in fo feafoneble a Tyme(as I doubt not you will experiment \nEng- lemd)^ as alfo the Confiderablenefle of the Thing* in itlelfe ; which Mercyes I truft he will be pleafed to perfect, by giving all a fafe Paflage and Con- veyance to you in England. The Lord keepe up a thankfull Hart in us for thefe and other his \ronderfull Favours. QnW r edenfday\z& (September 17) late at Night, we received an Account from the Squadron wee left before Cules, of theire meetinge with the Kinge of Spain's Weft India Fleete, and the Suc- ceife of theire Encounter with them, concerninge which, 1 refer you to our Letter to his Highnefle, whereby you will have a Coppy of Captain Stay- ner's Letter to us. Here is now on board us the eldeft Son of the Marquis of Baydex^ with whom I have had much Conference; he is but 16 Yeeres of A^e, borne in the Indies, a moft pregnant, ingenious, learned Youth, as I have mett with, and whofe Story is the faddeft, that ever J heard or ^/LETTERS. 203 pr read off to my Remembrance. From Dif- courfe with him, I give you the inclofed Account (for the moft part.) I mall only obferve to you a (ingle Providence in the bringinge the Shipps in to outs. The Portugal Prize they took neere the Weflern. Iflands, upon their Enquiry, told them, t-hat the Englijb Fleet were all gone home, and gave them fuch Afiiirance thereoff (Ifuppofe upon the Sight of our Partye going for Lijbone) that they fleered directly for Coles', and there (as I heare) they faw a Barcalonga coming out of St. L.ucas, as they pafled by the Barr ; but beinge confident of their Information, failed on for Gale$ y md irt the Evening mett with our Ships, and k,ept company with them all Night, and kept their Lights out, and fhootinge of Guns, as they ufed to doe, and miftrufted them not to be Englijh^ untill our Shipps bore up to them, and God gave Oppertunitye for what was done. There is mention of the Marquefie of Baydex, in the Vice-admirall. Concerninge him, under- ftand this fad Storye, and true. He was born 18 Leagues off Madrid in Spayne, of a noble Family; but their Fortunes confumed. The Kinge of Spayne made him Governour of Chili, which he continued 9 Yeares, then remooved him to go- verne the Kingdome of Lima, which he did 14 Yeares ; and now having gotten a confiderable Eftate, and his time of Government expired, and being fent for home, was embarqued with hi? whole Family and Wealth in this Fleet for Spayne^ where he was to have been made Governour of Cadiz. By the enclofed Paper, you may per- ceive the Event of the Vice-admiral, wherein they were. In the Fire, the Marquefle's Lady, and one of his Daughters, fell down in a Swxnmd, and 2O4 'A feletf ' COLL EC T'IO'W and were burned. The MarquefTe himfelf had Opportunityc to have eicaped; but feing his Lady and his Daughter, whom he loved exceed- ingly, in that Cafe, faid he would die where they died j and embracing his Lady, was burned alfo with them. The young Gentleman, here on board, is thus left without Father, Mother, or Means (having none in Spayne nor in the Indies) and you fee how much he loft in that Shippe, and I beleeve he hath little lefle taken by us in Barrs of Silver (as is reported) himfelfe borne in the Indies t and fo not knowne to any Perfon in Spayne. Wee have fent out four Friggotts to helpe to bringe in the Gallions, and to goe and ftrengthen our Guard before Cales. The Lord fend a good Iffue to all. The New Spaine Fleet is at the Havana, un- certaine when they will come home. I fend you two Letters of mine, which were one of them putt aboard a Merchant bound for London^ the other intended to be fent by other Shipps. By them you will perceive the Pofture wee are in, unlefie we heare from you, and re- ceive other Orders, which, in that cafe, wee mall comply withall. Thus at prefent I remayne, Sir, Tour very humble Servant, Sept. 1 9th, 1656. Aboard the Nae/ly, in the Bay of Wyers, E. MoUNTAGU. LET- */ L E T T E R S. 205 is** nj'ru/n '*8;--- ''HL E T T E R LIX. 3^>x3 bsvoTsrf moriw ^5*ngusTT sul - bnx Gz/>/. Richard Stayner /o //&* Generals of ,; Ey--, Inert:- ^ F/ ^ -;iT .trhrft 'Ahf . ^JaM'.^rbt j!oKW f&l-'>wf* ?l take further Advice about it. There is no News, only I believe the Fleet will follow us : the Gal-; kys came out. Becaufe jof the Riches and Difc ability of our Ship, we will come towards you, except your Honours fend further Orders, for we are in no Capacity to fray here, I {hall leava two or three of the beft failing Ships off the Cape, and I and the reft will come to Lijbon, where I hope to find your Honours. There is the Nova Spanish Fleet at the Havanna, but when they will come home is not knowne. This is all, only there is lofs of Men in fome Ships, the Number I know not. I am, From on board the Tour Honours humble Servant, Speaker^ in hafte, this gth of Sept. JUc. STAYNER. 1656. LET- cf LETTER S. 107 L E T T E R LX. he Names of the chiefeft Commanders and Perfons that I have been informed were taken in the two Ships, and other two funk and burnt by fome fix fail of Frigots^ under the Command of General Blake, the iQtb of Sept. 1656. OlX Spanijh Ships that came from the Havanrur, ^ laden with Gold, Silver, Pearls, and pre- cious Stones, Hides, Indico, Sugar, Chochinello, Little Varinas, and Tobacco, came from the Weft India in 58 Days, made no Land, nor touched at any Place. They took by the way one little Frenchman^ laden with Hides ; another fmall Ship, that came from Portugal for the Eaftern Iflands, laden with Wheat ; both which Prizes they brought along with them to the Place where they were taken. When they took the Port ugal Ship, they afked them, where the Engliflj Fleet was ? Their Anfwerwas, That their Coun- trymen the Spaniard did beat them off the Coaft a Month before: fo they came for Cadiz^ not doubting any thing, where they faw our fijc Frigots, which feemed to them as Fiflier-boats ; fo they bore up to them, thinking to have put the Plate out, which was not regiftercd. Some of our Frigots engaged with them j burnt one prefently. The Vice-admiral fought fix Hours ; the Spaniards fay our Men fet her on fire, fo they funk her j but our Men took out of her much Gold and Silver before flie funk. There was killed one hundred aad ten Men, whereof the chiefeft 2O& A feleff COLLECTION chiefeft was a Marquis, called in Spanijh, El Marquis de Faydes y Conde de Pederozo, Governor of Lima in New Spain for many Years. He brought with him 800,000 Pieces of Eight. He and his Wife were burnt; allb one Son, and one Daughter of fifteen Years of Age. Our Men took up three Sons and two Daughters, whereof his eldeft Son was a Marquis. They are all Prifoners. The eldeft Daughter was to be mar- ried to the Duke of Medina Celt's Son j the other Daughter was to be married to Don 'Juan de is, Commander of the Galleon that we have The Galleon that is taken, whereof Donjuan de Joyas was Commander, was about 500 Tuns, had in her 350 Men, which are Prifoners. Their General was a fmall Frigot of about 200 Tons, who being to windward of our Ships, got into Coles with one of their fmall Prizes which they had taken. The other two, our Men fay, are run afhore and loft : no Certainty of this, until our Ships come from Lagos. As concerning the true Value of their Ships taken is not juftly known ; but by the Calculation of the Spaniards, there is taken and loft fome nine Millions of Pieces of Eight ; fo they conceive may be taken fome five Millions of Pieces of Eight. Alfo there is a Relation, according as we have received it from the young Marquis we have taken, that by an Earthquake, almoft the whole City of Lima, in the South Sea, with 12,000 Men, and one hundred Millions of Plate in Pigs, were all deftroyed within fix Months, a little before they came out j and that the Mines there failed, and the Natives moft deftroyed by working in them, and are ready to revolt upon an unheard of v |LETTERS. sop of Cruelty the Spaniard hath lately exercifed arapngft them. sH .Jd ci3. 3c er^ ooo-ooS inirf r! LETTER LXI. iVSM "A/VJ -?;:.' General Mountagu to Secretary Thurloe. v rk : " 6 y -;,:? r^.:V^^4 >o *>iuG. 3/b os teii OINCE I difpatcht my Pacquett to you, I *^ have had almoft a whole Afternoon's Difcourfe with Don Francifco de Lopez^ the now Marquelfe of Bayde*) who is a moft ingenious and intelli- gent Youth, about 1 6 years of Age, born in Lima. He hath given mee very much Light concerningc the Wefterne Indies ; and I thought it not amiile to trouble you with Ibmeof it: if it be of nq Ufe, it is but my Labour loft in writinge. He faith, that about 5 Moenths fmce, prefently after his Father and Family departed - out of Lima in PerUi there happened the fearfulleft Earthquake, and Raininge of Fire from Heaven, in Peru y that has beene heard off in the World, infomuch that the whole Cittye of Lima is fwallowed up, and alfo the Ifland of Calloa, in which Places there perifhed about 1 1 ,000 Spaniards^ and not above 100 Indians -with them. In that Cittye alfoe the King of Spaine hath loft by the Earth- quake 50,000 Millions of Barrs of Silver ready wrought up. The famous Mines and Mountains of Potofe are deftroyed, foe that there is noe more Hills to be feene, all a Plaine, nor any further Poflibilitye of having Silver or Gold in Peru. The King hath had noe Knowledge hereof untill now, by the Shipps that efcaped of this Company. It is too large to repeat all that he hath told mee of the 210 A fekft COLLECTION the monftrous Cruelty of the Spaniards to the poor Indians, even thofe of them that are counted. Freemen, and profefs the Roman Catholique Religion ; infomuch that they cry to Heaven againft them, and are beyond meafure greeved with theire Sufferings. He tells mee afluredly, that the Hand of Hif- paniola is abundantly rich in Mines of Gold and Silver, and that the only Reafon, why they have not hithertoo beene wrought, hath beene the King's Edict, which he hath read, feverely pro- hibitinge the digginge or tranfportation of any thence j intendinge that as a Referve, in cafe \Varrs fhould grow upon him, that might caufe a greater Expenfe ofMonye, or the Mines in Peru faile ; and hefaies, undoubtedly now that this Fatality is come upon Peru, the next Order from the Kinge of Spaine will be, to open the Mines of Hifpaniola. He faies, that fcince our Attempt there, Santa Domingo is mightily fortified and provided in all Points for Defence, both with Men, and Arms, and Provisions. He faith al/b, that the Mexican Fleet is now in the Havana; that there are 10 Shipps of them, the Admirall and Vice-admirall only Gall ions for Burthen, and they have in them feven Millions of Plate ; the other 8 are Gallions only fitted with Ordinance and Soldiers for Warr. They will arrive in Europe (probably) about the latter End of November, or rather in December, as he thinkes. Xhey alwaies make the Canaries in theire Re- turne, and they there receive Advice from Spaine, whether to betake themielves ; and 'tis pouToIc that they may be directed for Galllcia, if they foe will in Spain, as thefe Ships wee have taken would have */ LET T E R S. 2ii have done, if their Portugall Prife had not lied to them and betrayed them. He faith, the Havana is a Place almoft impreg- nable; Cartagena eafye to be had by flarvinge, and that way, only : it -is a. Peninfula, and; may eafily be deprived of Commerce and Afiiftance. The People upon the Maine are generally very fearfull of Attempts from the Englifl), and their unaccuftomedneffe to Warr is the Caufe thereof, though otherwife naturally they are a People bold enough, and fhevv it in private and particular QuarrelJs. He faith, if the Englijb be able to mayntaine a Fleete zt Jamaica, the Spaniard can trade noemore in the Indies but with great Fleets ; for already, he faith, the Spanljh Merchants give over, and will noe more venture theire Eftates, tmleiTe the King provide fufficiently for theire Protection. He faith alfo, he heard before they carne out of the Havana, that fome of our Fleete of Jamaica had taken fome Spanijh Shipps laden with Ne- groes, but none of Silver. He alfo faies, there was a Report, that 9 Shipps were fent by Sedge- wicke to England, and that he demands Supply of all things from England, viz* Viclualls and Woemen, &c. if it is expected he (hould con- tinue there. And he faies, the Natives and Ne- groes of Jamaica infeft them forely, whenfoever they adventure out of their Fortifications for Cattle or the like. He faith, that though the Natives upon the Maine be readye to receive Libertye from the Hands of any People, by reafon of theire Op- preffions unheard of almoft (as before is faid) yet the Spaniards are exceedingly loyall ; which- appeared not long fmce by a Profter, which the Dutch 212 A felett COLLECTION Dutch and French made to them at Lima in Peru, that they would engage to come yearely to them with a certain Number of Shipps, and bring them Commodittyes at a farr cheaper Rate then they have from Spayne, and trade with them upon their own Account, which the Spaniard refufed totally. He faies, the Inquifition is moft fevere and cruell in the Indies ; but the Inquifitors are univerfally hated to fuch a degree, that an Inquifitor dares not ftir out of his own Houfe, not fo much as to fee a Friend, for fear of Violence from the People. This is as much as is materiall to write hereoff at prefent. I am 3rft n Sept. 20, 1656. Tour very bumble Servant, Nafebye, in the Bay of Ifyen. E. M o u N TAG u. LETTER LXII. Oliver Cromwell to Lockart, bis Am- laffador at Paris, SIR, T Have feene your lafl Letter to Mr. Secretary, " as zlfoe divers others ; and although I have noe doubt either of your Diligence or Ability to ferve us in foe great a Bufinds, yet I am deeply fenfible, that the French are very much fhort with us in Ingenuity and Performance. And tnat which encreafeth our Senfe is, the Relblution we had rather to overdoe then to be behinde hand '*/" LETT E R S. 213 in any thingc of our Treatye. And although wee never were foe fool'rfh to apprehend, that the French and their Interefts were the fame with ours in all things, yet as to the Spanyard, who hath beene knowne in all Ages, to be the moft impla- cable Enemie that France hath, we never could doubt, before wee made our Treatye, that goe- inge upon fuch grounds, wee ftiould have beene fayled as wee are. To talke of giveinge us Gar- rifons, which are inland, as caution for future Action ; to talke of what wil be done next Campaine, are but parcells of Words for Children. If they will give us Garrifons, let them give us Cal/ais, Deipe^ and Bulloigne ; which I thinke they will doe as foon as be honeft in their Words, in giveing us any one Spanijb Garriion upon the Coaft into our Hands. I politively thinke, which I fay to you, they are afrayde we mould have any Footinge on that fide, though Spanijh. I pray you tell the Cardinall from me, that I thinke, if France defires to mainteyne his Ground, much more to get Ground upon the Spany.ard^ the Per- formance of his Treatye with us will better doe it, then any thinge appears yet to me of any De- figne he hath. Though wee cannot foe well pretend to Souldiery as thofe who are with him, yet wee thinke, that wee being able by Sea to ftrengthen and fecure his Seidge, and reinforce it as wee pleafe by Sea, and the Enemie in a Ca- pacity to doe nothinge to relieve it ; that the beft time to befiedge that Place will be now, efpecially if we confider, tha't the French Horfe will be able foe to ruine Flanders^ as that noe Succour can be brought to relieve the Place ; and that the French Army and our owne will have conftant Relief, 214 -A feleft COLLECTION Relief, as farr as England and France can give if, without any manner of Impediment, efpectally confideringe the Dtitch are now engaged foe much to the Southward as they are. I defire you to Jet him knowe, that Engiijhmen have foe good Ex- perience of Winter-expeditions, that they are confident, that if the Spanyard fhall keepe the Field, as he cannot impede this Worke, foe nei- ther will he be able to attaque any thinge towards France with a poflibility of Retreate. And what doth all Delayes fignifie, but the giveinge the Spa- nyard Oppertunitie fo much the more to reinforce himfelf, and to the keepinge our Men another Summer to ferve the French, without any Colour of a Reciprocall, or any Advantage to our/elves. And therefore, if this will not be liftened unto, I defire, that Thinges may be confidered of, to give us Satisfaction for the great Expence wee have been at with our navall Forces, and otherwife ; which, out of an honourable and honeil Ayme on our Part, hath been done, that we might an- fwere our Engagements. And that Confidera- tion may be had, how our Men may be put into a Pofture to be returned to us; which wee hope wee fhall employ to a better Purpofe, then to have them to continue where they are. I defire wee may knov/ what France faith, and will doe upon this Point. Wee fhall be ready ffill, as the Lord fhall afiift us, to performe what can be reafon- ablie expecled on our Parte. And you may alfoe let the Cardinal! knowe further, that our 'Inten- tions, as they have beene, foe they will be, to do all the good Offices wee can, to promote the Interest thereof. Apprehendinge it is of moment, that this Bufinefs fhould come to you with Speed 6f- LET >TfEMl S. Speed and Suretie, wee have fent it by an Ex- prefle. Ttur vetylovinge Friend- Mnteball, 3 ift Aug. 1657. O. P. LETTER LXIII. Henry Cromwell to Lord Fauconberg, My Lord, VT OUR Lord/hip's Letter was very wekome to me, as bringing Demohftrations of his Highnefs's Wifdom, and my Sifter's Happinefs. I wifh his Highnefs may make as happy a choice of Members for the other Houfe of Parliament, as he hath done of a Hufband for his Daughter. But I hope, that God, who*affifted him in the one, will alfo continue his Goodnefs for the other. I may repeat your Lordfhip's Words, " This " near Degree of Alliance, united with the '" Satisfaction I have received of your Lord- " fhip's perfonal Merit, affords me a double " Happinefs." Only I muft confefs, that this Contentment (great as it is) doth not fo much fatisfy me, as fill me with new Defires ; for now I am longing to have a nearer converfe with your Lordfliip, being apt to think my Ab- fence the ill hufbandry of fo great a Talent. I wi!! not vvifh your Lordmip in Ireland (altho' our Barbarifms here, by giving your Lordmip a greater Luftre, might be fome Advantage, if your Lord- fhip could be pleafed with fuch Airs) but rather wifh myfelf in England) where I might, in that meafure, 216 A feleft COLLECTION meafure, which becomes your Lordfhip's Meritt, cxprefs myfelf, My L*rd, Tour Lord/hip's mojl affeftionAte Brother, and bumble and faithful Servant, Dublin, Dec. 9.1657. H.CROMWELL. LETTER LXIV. Hen. Cromwell, to Oliver Cromwell. May itpleafeyour Highnefs, TT A V I N G by your Highnefs's Favour been * admitted Governor here, your Highnefs might expect by the Return of the Mefienger, who brought me your Commilfion, to receive from me nothing but Thanks ; or, as fome may think, nothing but Exprellions of Joy for fo great an Honour and Preferment. Neverthelefs (though without the leaft Derogation from what I owe your Highnefs) I am forced to mingle with thofe Duties fome AddrefTes of another Nature alfo. That which I am to trouble your Highnefs with at this time is, want of Monies to difcharge fo great an Arrear to your Army, as of late hath fcaice been heard of within the three Nations. I have received lately a Letter from my Brother Fleetivood, fo full of Difcouragements as to this . matter, that did I not know our Condition to be la- mentable and dangerous, I fhould have little Hope te fpeed in this Attempt. I have feveral times hinted of L E T T E R S. 217 .hinted our Wants to your Highnefs, Mr. Secre- tary, and others ; but being then fubordinate, I thought it fit to be urgent chiefly with my imme- diate Superiour, trufting, that he being upon the Place of Relief, and having himfelf left me in this entangled Condition, would ufe all fit Remedies. But hitherto finding no effectual Anfwer to all for- mer Intimations ; and having fome reafon to think, that fome make it too much theirWork to fruftrate my Endeavours therein, the Care of this Bufinefs being now wholly mine, and that all Mifcarriages muft be charged upon my fmgle Account, I muft now humbly tell your Highnefs, that had not this Country been in an ill Condition, by reafon of the 3 IVlonths vacancy of Government, I mould even have deferred opening my Commiffion, un- til! by Supply of Moneys I might have feen it poffible for me to difcharge the Truft thereby committed to me, and not have given ground for all Men to think, that my Greedinefs of Honour and Power is fuch, as to make me admit of any Abfurdity, to venture upon any Jmpolfibility, and to take upon me fuch things, as muft hereafter end in your Highnefc's Difiervice, and my own " Reproach. May it pleafe" your Highnefs, this Arrearof our Army is of 8 Months Growth ; about half of it being contracted before the difbandina; in September 1655, and the reft, by paying onf that great Number of Horfe and Foot then dif- banded, with the growing Pay of the then re- maining Army, who got no ray till near three Months after that Reducement. I {hall not here trouble your Highnefs with a more particular Ac- count of this Matter, having entruftcd my Lord Broglrill with a large State thereof to be prefented to your Highnefs, as it was drawn up by the .VOL. I. L Treafurer 2 1 8 A feleft COLLECTION Treafurer and Auditors of the Exchequer here. In the next place, I humbly mind your Highnefs, that although I was left under this Debt, yet at the time of that Reducement, the Allowance from England was leflened from 24m. to 17 m. Pounds per menjem^ and no Care taken how to pay off that Debt. And that there hath been no Affign- ment made of that our Allowance fince the 24th of June laft, which comes to near 100,000 1. and which, with what is yet not fent to us of our former Afiignments, makes up about the 1 80,000 1. which by my Letter to your Highnefs of the I5th of July laft, I humbly intimated was wanting to clear our Engagements here. We are follicitous to think upon what Reafon our Allowance of 17000 1. per nunfem is with-held from us fince June laft ; but hope, that it was not, becaufe 'Ireland's Share of 1,900,000). per Ann. will not extend fo farr ; for in that cafe Care ought to have been taken for leffening the Charge of Ire- land accordingly, which (forefeeing the Streights we were running into) I have feveral times prefled ; and that in my Letter of the I5th of July, did offer my Thoughts as to the Manner and Haft of doing it. Your Highnefs feeing in what Con- dition I am, and how I came into it, I humbly beg your Highnefs to confider, what ill Ufes of feveral kinds my Enemies have made of this Dif- advantage ; fome perfwading the Army, that I was negligent of their Concernments, hoping thereby to alienate the Affections of the Soldiery from me : others telling them my Intereft in Eng- land was very final 1, that I could not prccure Sup- plyes as others, my Predeceffors, had done ; others taking occafion to advife, that the faid Arrear might be wholly ftruck off, and never paid of L E T T E R S. 21$ paid at all, perhaps thereby to bring the Odium of fo ill an Office upon me. Your Highnefs may eafily conceive, what I have been forced to do to keep down mutinous Difpofitions amona them j and that it will be very difficult henceforward to keep the Army quiet, and in their due Obedience, with Words and Promifes only. The Truth is, that to have borne Delays from time to time for above thefe two Years, did argue a good Temper and Inclination towards your Highnefs. If they have no Relief from me now, when they fee me in as much vifible Power as they can expect, and when I want thofe Grounds of Excufe xvhich formerly I had, I fhall be much to feelc how to carry it towards them for the future j for upon my being vefted in the Government, they feeming to expeft fome Advantage, may think it very hard not to receive their bare Dues, after fo long Expectation. Befides, this want of Pay concurring at this Juncture with the extreme Trouble and Confufion about Spanifa and bad Coins, the Soldiers are apt to grow too licentious in abufing the Country, when they levy their Con- tribution, refufmg to take fuch Money as pro- bably is good enough ; thereby to extort fome unwarrantable Advantage from the People ; all which they take occafion to do, partly out of Ne- ceflity, and partly preluming 'twill leem unrea- fonable to punifh feverely and pay negligently. Moreover, if your Highnefs thinks fit mortly to lefien the Charge, I fuppofe it will appear very hard now, after all their patient Forbearance, to difmifs them without their Due. And if we put off thofe who are now to be difbanded, with the growing Pay of the reft who are to fland, we {hall then relapfe into the fame Error we com- L 2 mitted 2 20 A fcleft COLLECTION* mittcd in 1655, upon the like Occafion ; and fo growing frill into a worfe and worfe Condition, muft at laft fall into fuch a State, as I cannot promife my felf able to wade through. I humbly beg your Highnefs to weigh thefe Truths, and not to keep me for ever engaged in Conflicts and Difficultys more and greater than any other Man in my way doth or hath fuffered. Your Highnefs knows, how hard 'tis to keep things right without Money. The ill Confequences of thefe Wants may be hereafter reprefented as my Errors and Mifcarriages j and it will be better for me never to have been advanced to this Place of Truft, than to be left without Means to ma- nage it ; without which it muft prove but an empty and dangerous Title only. I hope your Highnefs will think well of fome, perhaps not fo frit, ExprefHons, which I ufed in giving you my Apprehenfions of the Army. I am not willing to fuggeft caufelefs Fears, nor would I fpeak at this rate to any other : I judge it my Duty to deal faithfully upon thefe Occafions. Eight Months Arrear is fo great a Matter, that I hope your Highnefs will not think me froward, if I infiftupon the paying it off, as believing no prudent Man would or ever did embarque on a Charge of this Moment, without being firft fet on clear Board. I have feveral other things of Moment, wherewith to trouble your Highnefs, as that of the Reducement, and of your Highnefs's Leave for me to come for England for a fmall Time, at a convenient Seafon : but I (hall at prefent only beg your Highnefs's Attention to this of fending us over the above-mentioned 1 80,000 1. it being no more than what will appear to be jufHy due, as the Arrear of our Allowances from England. I fay of L E-T T E R S. 221 I fay, I (hall prefs this one thing of Money only ; and therefore hope your Highnefs will mind it with Effect, on our Behalfes. The Lord blefs vour Highnefs, and direct you in that great Affair of the other Houfe, and in what elfe may make for the Glory of his Name, and Good of his People committed to your Care ; and enable me in the faithful difcharge of my Truft, and that I may in all things approve myfelf c-.ivi en>frn;{F$ Tour Hightiffis mofl cbedient &//, Dublin, 2 jptv. 1657. H. C. LETTER LXV. Lord Fauconbcrg to Henry Cromwell My Lord) AFTER the Liberty your Lord/hip has given ** me, there cannot aught of Concerne hap- pen in this Place, which I (hall not endeavour to give you the perfc&eft Account of, and, if pof- iible, outftrip all others in it. But thofe great things expected, In order to the Nation's Settle- ment, from the two Houfes meeting, it "has pleafed God to dafh all of a fodainej for, my Lord, two Days after my Jaft H. H. furprizcd us all, not only us of the lower Orbe, but thofe I mean of his Councell, moft (I am fure) of them, if not all, by putting an End to boath the Houfes of Parliament that Thurfday Morning. This we now fee he was forced to doe, leaft fome turbu- lent Spirits amongft them mould have put an L 3 End 222 A feleft COLLECTION End to the Peace of this Nation, by embroyKng it as farre in Blood and Confufions as ever. Major-general Packer, who commands H. H, owne Regiment, is juft now with H. H. and I have fome Reafon to think, his Commiffion will be taken from him ere they part. It is beleeved Tome others too muft follow ; but I dare not fay who, being refolved to give your Lordmip all the Truth of Matters I can, without the leaft Mixture of my owne or others Conjectures. I cannot at all perceive H. H. difpofed to that of your Lordfhip's coming into England, tho' for never fo fmall a Time ; and the Truth is, I do not marvell att all as Things now ftand j for the Troblers of our Quiet will, no doubt, be watch- ing all Advantages there, as well as heer, and a greater then your Lordfliip's Abfence I am fure they do not wifh, whofe Actions ftirre up as much Dread in them, as Wonder in all us that love you. This, my Lord, is the Language of my Judgment only, for my Affection runnes quite counteij, and would perfwade, that for a few Months your Lordfhip might be difpenfed with, there being no Perfon alive fo impatiently longing for the Honour to kifTe your Lordfhip's Hands, as, My Lord, Tour Lordjhifis moft faithful and obedient Servant, mitthatt, Feb. 9th, 1657. FAUCONBERG. LET- */ LETTERS.. 223 LETTER LXVI. Henry Cromwell to Lord Fauconberg. My Lord, A S Ireland (like all other reviving Plantations) ^~* receives many imported Goods, but exports little, fo I cannot repay your Lordfhip's News with News, but muii only give your Lordfhip rhy humble Thanks for thofe your free and ufcful Communications, as the Intereft of your Lord- (hip's Debt upon me. Befidcs, as Ireland fends forth nothing but Hides, Tallow, Pipe-ftaves, and other coarfe Commodities, in exchange of the Delicacys of Art and Nature ; fo, my Lord, your Lord/hip muft not expet any thing from mee bearing other Proportion t-> what I receive from your Lordfhip. Wherefore it's fomething, that 1 fee in your Letters, not in my own, which makes me confident to draw you on to this Trou- ble of a Correfpondence with me. Although the want of Mr. Secretary's Intelligence leaves a great Dimnefs upon my Sight of Affairs, yet I may tell your Lordfhip, without Flattery to your felf, or Difparagement to him, that the Addition of your Lordfhip's Obfervations will fo brighten the Objects I look upon, as to make his Profpec- tive the more ufeful to me. . Belidcs, my Lord, as feveral Plants contract their feveral and contrary Subftances from the fame common Earth, fo certainly out of the fame general Mafs of humane Affairs, Men of. feveral Minds and Inclinations will remark and be affected with feveral and very different Particulars. From whence concluding, L 4- that 214 'A fihft COLLECTION that your Lordfliip may fhine upon me as clear from your own Orb, as Mr. Secretary from his, I again beg the Continuance of your Lordfhip's Favours : I fay I beg, or at leaft would borrow them, for I told your Lordfhip you muft not ex- pect Payment from me at prefent. I was quite miftaken in my laft, when I feared as if the new-begotten Houfe would lye crofs in the Womb that conceived it ; whereas now I fee the unnatural Mother ufes Means to pro- cure the Abortion of her own IfTue. But it may be, it is only the Worms or Vipers (you named) lying in the Gutts of the Commonwealth, which have caufed the Frettings and Gnawings you mention : and this I rather believe, becaufe of the 500 Maggots, which you fay are now agai bufily crawling out of the Excrements of Mr. Feak's corrupted Church. But to be ferious, my Lord; it is a fad thing, when Men of fo many different Ways (for fucn are or have been many of thofe you mention) mould all confpire for Un- Icttlement, feeking vain Occafions to quarrel. But it is his Highnefs Happinefs, that they find nothing but Words and Names to fnap and fnarl at. I hear, that Harrifon, Carey, Okey, rV. have done fome new Feats. I hope God will infatuate thefe Men in their further Endeavours to difturb the Peace of thefe Nations, as they feem already to be by thofe their Follies, which do fufficiemly fhew them to have been but meer Pretenders to, and Abufers of Religion, and fuch whofe Hy- pocrify the Lord will avenge in his due Time. Our want of Money, and Engagements Abroad, will be an Encouragement to thefe Incendiaries, which are certainly very dangerous, and of an invete- ^/LETTERS. 22$ inveterate Temper, when nothing will fupprefs their Fury even for a while. I hope his Highnefs will have an Eye to the Army, that thofe who have a mind to fcold, may not be fuffer'd to fight too. The People of thele Nations have been too welj experienced by their paft Sufferings, to engage their Blood in fo particular and unchriftian Ani- mofitys, as thefe Contentions now on the Stage feem to be. The Lord direct his Highnefs, and difpofe his Friends to pray for his Life, on which Thread a great Weight hangs. My dear Lord, you fee I have no Matter, only Words to return for your Things. Wherefore I will abruptly fubfcribe my felf February 10, 1657. Yours, &c. LETTER LXVIJ. Henry Cromwell to the Earl of Warwick. My Lordj IAm afham'd to have been fo negligent of my Obligations to your Lordfhip, that nothing but fo fad an Occafion as the Death of my dear Brother Mr. Rich fhould mind me of it. And I am forry, that I cannot fay what is juft in Ho- nour to his Memory, without a kind of Cruelty to your Lordfhip. And tru)y, my Lord, but that I know Religion is more prevalent with your Lordfhip than other woi Idly Confideration, that you do not fo much look upon your ownLofs as our dear Friend's Gain, nor upon your own Difappointmcnt, as the fulfilling of that Will to which we muft all fubmitt, I thould almoft de- L 5 2 2 6 yf jfc/t'cf/ COLLECTION fpair of your Lordfhip's Patience, under fo ieatdi- ing and proving a Tryall. But I know youi Lord/hip has learnt to mourn as not without Hope, and to read the Mind of God in thefe Characters of his Providence, and wkhall to believe, that all things (hall work for the beft to thofe that fear him. Upon thefe Grounds I do the more prefume upon your Lordfhip's Courage under this Difpenfation. For my own Part, I am cut very mort in my Expectations ; for I placed much Happinefs even in thinking upon the Fruits of thofe Seeds, which I underftood to be in Mr. Rich, both as to the Honour of our whole Family, and the Advantage of my own particular Con- cernments. But I hereby learn, that even thefe beft Things are but frail ; not knowing, but that this Stroke may be a Reproof particular unto myfelf, for placing (if it were poffible) too much upon the Confequences of this Alliance. Upon thefe Con - fiderations, I need not tell your Lordfhip, how I and my Wife refent this Providence, and fympa- thize with your Lordfhip's jufr. Sorrow ; the fuller Accompt whereof I leave to the Bearer. In the mean time praying the Lord to fandtify this Af- fliction to all concerned in it, giving us to make 2. due Ufe of it to his Glory ; and withall, that God would help your Lordfliip to moderate the Senfe of this Rebuke, and to recompenfe this Xofs unto us by fome more durable Good than this World can afford. In which Aftedions I remayne, My Lord, TQUT Lord/hip's, &c. 24th Feb. 1657-8. H.CROMWELL. LET- of LETTERS. 227 LETTER LXVIII. Hen. Cromwell to the Countefs of 'Devonfhire. T Know not how feafonable it would be to tell * your Ladyfhip my Thoughts of my Brother Rich, nor what Honor and Support his Virtues promifed to both our Families, leaft I mould ag- gravate your Ladyfhip's Grief, already too great. There be many Reaibns, why our Family, and particularly myfelf, fhould be affected with this Stroke; yet there is none more prevalent with me than my Concernment for your Ladyfhip's own Perfon : for confidering my Obligations, I muft be very ill-natured, if I fhould not grieve, becaufe your Ladyfhip is grieved ; and I am fure the Lofs of the only Son of an only Daughter, and the Hopes, which, Madam, you had of that now hie/Fed Perfon, cannot but grieve your Lady- fnip. I am confident your Ladyihip has fo learn- ed Chrift, the World, and the Ufe of thefe Dif- penfationsj as to bee enabled to bear this Croffe ven beyond what might bee expected from Flefh and Blood, and that Tendernefa of Affection fo eminent in your Ladyfhip. And truly, Madam, this Confideration only wipes my Eyes j for truly, I am allured, the Lord will bring you fafe out of this Affliction. This Occafion calls for your beft Thoughts ; nor would I willingly interrupt them ; the End of this Exprefs being toexprefshow much my Wife,- myfelf, and indeed all good People are affected with this Providence ; and to allure your Ladyfhip, that altho' God hath feemed to break the 228 A fdeil Co L L E c T i o N the Bond, that Men think would have held our Familys together, yet I defire your Ladyfhip to beleive, that nothing fhall be wanting in me to ftrengthen this Knott, whereof I was ever am- bitious. I hope the Bearer will bring me a good Accompt of the Lord's fupporting your Ladyfhip under this Vifitation ; the happy I^ews whereof would be moft welcome to, Your Ladyjbip's, &c. 24th February, 1657-8. H. CROMWELL. LETTER LXIX. Henry Cromwell to Lord Fauconberg. My Lord, "\T17HEN your Lordfhip had any Communi- cation to impart unto me, I was always made fenfible of your Liberality therein : where- fore now I muft attribute as much to your Lord- (hip's prudent Tendernefs of me, in that when the fad News of poor Robin Rich's Death muft be written, your Lordfhip was but fparing in your Mention of that fad Story. My Lord, thefe Pro- vinces are fmgly in themfelves no Miracles ; yet when they happen fo thick as of late upon Sir John Reynolds, and now upon this Gentleman, I cannot think, but that God intends them for our Inftru&ion. I defire your Lordfhip on my Behalf, to condole with my poor Sifter. Your Lordfhip is able to fay whatever is materiall upon this Oc- cafion : wherefore, fcr >*e to venture upon any Parti- of L E T T E R S. 229 Particulars, were to put your Lordfliip upon a kind of Pennance, in obferving my Irnperti- nencies, and to endanger the End of comforting myfelf, which cannot mifcarry upon your Lord- fhip's fingle Management. I hope your Lord- fhip's being called to fuccour my dear Sifter, your Lady, tends but to repair our Family of the late Lofs it hath fuftained; and I hope, that the fad Apprehenfions occafioned by this late Stroke, will not fruftrate our Hopes therein. I beleive your Lordfhip may by this time repent of the Liberty you have given me, and fee the Inconvenience of Good-nature and Civility. My dear Lord, I will be at prefent more moderate in troubling your Lordfliip, begging at this time only the Leave not to omitt declaring myfelf, My Lord, Tour Lordjhtft, &c. Feb. 20, 1657-8. H. CROMWELL. LETTER LXX. ,',X Hen. Cromwell to Lord Broghill. My dear Lord y **p H E Services I have done to my Lord of * Cerlt, and others of your Family, are not yet equall, either to their own Meritts, or to the Obligations your Lordfhip has heaped upon me : wherefore your Lordfhip's Mention, that I have done fo much, upbraids me having done fo little. The calling of a Parliament fignifys nothing, untill the Army be fufficiently modelled - t for that being 230 A fdeft COLLECTION being full of its Humours, makes the honeft Party timorous, and the other infolent in their refpech perhaps you expect of me. And now I am again upon the Point of retir- ing to my poor Habitation, having for myfelf no other Defign, than to pafs the final! Remainder of my Days innocently and quietly ; and if it pleafe God, to be fathered in Peace to my Fathers. And */ LETTERS. 261 And concerning you, what to refolve in myfelf, or what to advife you, truly I know not j for you muft give me leave to remember, of how lit- tle Weight my Opinions and Counfels have been with you, and how unkindly and unfriendly you have rejected thofe Exhortations and Admoni- tions, which in much Affection and Kindnefs I have given you upon many Occafions, and in almoft every thing, from the Higheft to the Loweft, that hath concerned you 3 and this you may think fufficient to difcourage me from put- ting my Advices into the like Danger ; yet fome- what I will fay : and firft, I think it unfit, and (perhaps) as yet unfafe for you to come into England; for, I believe, PcwWhath told you that he heard, when he was here, That you were likely to be except ed out of the general Afl of Pardon and Qblivion: and though I know not what you have done or faid here or there, yet I have feveral ways heard, that there is as ill an Opinion of you as of any, even of thofe that condemned the late King : and when I thought there was no other Exception to you, than your being of the other Party, I fpoke to the General in your Behalf; who told me, that very ill Offices had been done you, but he would aflift you as much as juftly he could ; and I intended then aHo to fpeak to fomebody elfe ; you may guefs whom I mean : but fmce that, I have heard fuch things of you, that in the Doubtfulnefs only of their being true, no Man will open his Mouth for you, I will tell you fome Railages, and you fhall do well to clear yourfelf of them. It is faid, that the Univerfity of Copenhagen brought their Album .unto you, denring you to write fomethino; therein, .and that you did fcribere in albo thefe Words, Manus 262 A feleft COLLECTION Manus ha?c inimica Tyrannis, Enfe petit plac'ida cum Libertate quietem j And put your Name to it. This cannot chufe but be publickly known, if it be true. It is find alfo, that a Minifter, who hath married a Lady Laurence here of Cbelfey^ but now dwelling at Copenhagen^ being there in Company with you, faid, I think you were none of the late King's Judges, nor guilty of his Death, meaning our King. Guilty ! faid you ; Do you call that Guilt ? Why, 'twas the j nft eft and braveji Aclion that ever ^vas done in England, or any where elfe ; with other Words to the fame Effect. It is faid alfo, that you having heard of a Defign to feize upon you, or to caufe you to be taken Prifbner, you took notice of it to the King of Denmark him- felf, and faid, I hear there is a Defign to feizc upcn me: but ivho is it that hath that Defign? Elt-ce noftre Bandit. By which you are underftood to mean the King. Befides this, it is reported, that you have been heard to fay many fcornful and contemptuous things of the King's Perfon and Family j which unlels you can juftifie yourfelf, will hardly be forgiven or forgotten : for, fuch perfonal Of- fences make deeper Impreflions than public Ac- tions either of War or Treaty. Here is a Refi- dent, as he calls himfelf, of the King of Den- mark^ whofe Name (as I hear) is Peacdmbei he hath vifited me, and offered his Readinefs to give you any Afliftance in his Power or Credit with the Ambaflador, Mr. A/field, who was then ex- pected, and is now arrived here, and hath had his firft Audience. I have not feen Mr. Ped- ccmbe fince j but, within a few Days, I will put him ^/"LETTERS. 263 him in mind of his Profefiion of Friendmip to yo\v and tr y what he can or will do. Sir Robert Homy-wood is alfo come hither - } and, as I hear, the King is gracioufiy pleafed to admit him to his Prefence, which will be fomewhat the better for you, becaufe then the Exceptions againft your Employment and Negotiation, wherein you were Colleague, will 'be removed j and you will have no more to anfwer for, than your own particular Behaviour. I believe Sir Robert Honeyivood will be induftrious enough to procure Satisfaction to the Merchants in the Bufmefs of Money ^ wherein he will have the Aififtance of Sir "John Temple ; to whom I refer you, for that, and fqme other things. I have little to fay to your Complaints of your Sifter Strayford's unequal Returns to your Affec- tion and Kindnefs, but that I am forry for it, and that you are well enough ferved, for beftow- ing fo much of your Care where it was not due, and neglecting them to whom it was due, and I hope you will be wifer hereafter. She and her Hufband have not yet paid the thoufand Pounds, whereof you are to have your Part by my Gift j for fo, I think, you are to underftand it, though your Mother defired it ; and if for the Payment thereof, your being in England^ or i'h fome Place not far off, be neceffary, as fome pretend, for the fealing of fome Writings, I think that, and other Reafons, fufficient to perfwade you to ftay a while where you are, that you may hear fre- quently from your Friends, and they from you. I am wholly againft your going into Italy as yet, till more may* be known of your Condition ; which, for the prefent, is hard ; and I confefs, that I do not yet fee any more than this, that either 264 A feleSt COLLECTION either you muft live in Exile, or very privately herej and (perhaps) not fafelyj for though the Bill of Indemnity be lately palled, yet if there be any particular and great -Diipleafure againft you, as I fear there is, you may feel the Effedts thereof from the higher Powers, and receive Affronts from the inferiour : therefore you were beft t itay at Hamburgh \ which, for a Northern Si- tuation, is a good Place, and healthful. I will help you as much as I can in difcovering and in- forming you of what concerns you j though, as I began, fo I muft end, with telling you, that Writing is now grown troublefome to Tour affectionate^ ioiden,Aug. 30, 1660. L E . LETTER LXXXIII. jfjfo Hon. Algernoon Sidney to his Friends. SIR, T Am forry I cannot in all things conform my- * felf to the Advices of my Friends j if theirs had any joint Concernment with mine, I would willingly fubmit my Intereft to theirs; but when I alone am interefted, and they only advile me to come over as foon as the Acl: of Indemnity is pailed, becaufe they think it is beft for me, I cannot wholly lay afide rny own Judgment and Choice. I confefs, we are naturally inclined to delight in cmr own Country, and I have a parti- cular Love to mine j and I hope I have given fome Teftimony of it. I think that being exiled from it is a great Evil) and would redeem myfe'f 2 fiom tf LETTERS. 265 from it with the Lofs of a great deal of my Blood : But when that Country of mine, which ufcd to be efteemed a Paradife, is now like to be made a. Stage of Injury ; the Liberty which we hoped to eftablifh opprefled, al! manner of Profanenefs, Loofenefs, Luxury, and Lewdnefs fet up in its Height ; inftead of Piety, Virtue, Sobriety, and Modefty, which we hoped God, by our Hands, would have introduced ; the beft of our Nation made a Prey to the worft ; the Parliament, Court, and Army corrupted, the People enflaved, all things vendible, and no Man fafe, but by fuch evil and infamous means as Flattery and Bri- bery ; what Joy can I have in my own Country in this Condition ? Is it a Plcafure to fee all that I love in the World, fold and deftroyed ? Shall I renounce all my old Principles, learn the vile Court Arts, and make my Peace by bribing fome of them ? Shall their Corruption and Vice be my Safety ? Ah ! No ! Better is a Life among Strangers, than in my own Country upon fuch Conditions. Whilft I live, I will endeavour to prcferve my Liberty ; or, at leaft, not confent to the deftroyins; of it. I hope I (hall die in the fame Principle in which I have lived, and will live no longer than they can preferve me. I have in my Life been guilty of many Follies, but, as I think of no meannefs, I will not blot and defile that which is paft, by endeavouring to provide for the Future. I have ever had in my Mind, that when God mould caft me into fuch a Con- dition, as that I cannot fave my Life, but by do- ing an indecent Thing, he fhews me the Time is come wherein I mould refign it. And when I cannot live in my own Country, but by fuch Means as are worfe thari dying in it, I think he VOL, I. N 2.66 A felett COLLECTION fhews me, I ought to keep myfelf out of it. Let them pleafe themfelves with making the King glorious, who think a whole People may juftly be facrificed for the Intereft and Pleafure of one Man, and a few of his Followers : let them re- Joyce in their Subtilty, who by betraying the former Powers, have gain'd the Favour of this, not only preferv'd, but advanc'd themfelves in thefe dangerous Changes. Nevcrthelefs (perhaps) they may find the King's Glory is their Shame, his Plenty the Peoples Mifery ; and that the gain- ing of an Office, or a,little Money, is a poor Re- ward for deftroying a Nation ' (which if it were preferv'd in Liberty and Virtue, would truly be the moft glorious in the World) and that others may find they have, with much Pains, purchas'd their own Shame and Mifery, a dear Price paid for that which is not worth keeping, nor the Life that is accompanied with it : the Honour of Englifo Parliaments have ever been in making the Nation glorious and happy, not in felling and deftroying the Intereft of it, to fatisfy the Lufts of one Man. Miferable Nation ! that, from fo great a Height of Glory, is fallen into the moft defpicable Con- dition in the World, of having all its Good de- pending upon the Breath and Will of the vileft Perfons in it ! cheated and fold by them they truft- ed ! Infamous Traffick, equal almoft in Guilt to that of Judas ! In all preceding Ages, Par- liaments have been the Pillars of our Liberty, the fure Defenders of the Opprefled : they, who formerly could bridle Kings, and keep the Bal- lance equal between them and the People, are now become the Inftruments of all our Oppref- lions, and a Sword in his Hand to deftroy us: they themfelves led by a few interefted Perfons, who of L E T T E R S. 267 Who are willing to buy Offices by themfelves Hy the Mifery of the whole Nation, and the Bldo,d of the moft worthy and eminent Perfons in it. Deteftable Bribes, worfe than the Oaths now in Fafhion in this mercenary Court ! I mean to owe neither my Life nor Liberty to any fuch Means ; when the Innocence of my Action will not pro- tect me, I will flay away till the Storm be over- paid. In fhort, where Vane, Lamlert and Hafc- rigg cannot live in Safety, I cannot live at all. If I had been in England^ I fhould have expected a Lodging with them : or$ tho' they may be the firft, as being more eminent than I, I muft expect to follow their Example, in fuffering, as I have been their Companion in acting. 1 am moft in, amaze at the miftaken Informations that were fent to me by my Friends, full of Expectation?, of Favours, and Employments. Who can think, that they, who impiifori them, would employ me, or fuffer me to live, when they are put to Death ? If I might live, and be employ'd, can it be ex- pected that I fhould ferve a Government that feeks fuch deteftable Ways of eftablifhing Itfelf ? Ah"! no ; I have not learnt to make my own Peace, by perfecuting and betraying my Brethren, more innocent and worthy than myfelf. I muft live by juft Means, and ferve to juft Ends, or not at all, after fuch a Manifeftation of the Ways by which it is intended the King fhall govern. I (houlcThave renounced any Place of Favour into which the Kindnefs and Induitry of my Friends ihight have idvanc'd me, when I found thofe that were better than I, were only fit to be deftroy'd. I had formerly fome Jealoufies, the fraudulent Proclamation for Indemnity increafed the Im- prifonment of thofe three Men i and turning out N 2 of 268 A feleft COLLECTION of all the Officers of the Army, contrary to Promife, confirm'd me in my Refolutions, not to return. To conclude: the Tide is not to be diverted, nor the Opprefs'd deliver'd; but God, in his Time, will have Mercy on his People; he will fave and defend them, and avenge the Blood of thofe who fhall now perifh, upon the Heads of thofe, who, in their Pride, think nothing is able ito oppofe them. Happy are thofe whom God fhall make Inftruments of his Juftice in fo blefTed a Work. If I can live to fee that Day, I fhall be ripe for the Grave, and able to fay with Joy, Lord! now lettejl thou thy Servant de- part in Peace, &c. [So Sir Arthur Haflerigg on Oliver's Death.] Farewel my Thoughts, as to King and State, depending upon their Actions. No Man (hall be a more faithful Servant to him than I, if he make the Good and Profperity of his People his Glory j Hone more his Ene- my, if he doth the contrary. To my particu- lar Friends I (hall be conftant in all Occafions, and to you A moft afffftionate Servant) A. SIDNEY. LET- cf L E T T E R S. 269 LETTER LXXXIV. Sir William Temple to Sir William Co- ventry. SIR, T Am to acknowledge both the Honour and * Obligation I received by yours of Novcm~ ber the 9th ; the laft of which feems fo great in that Light you give it, ami by thofe Cir- cumftances I now fee attend it, that had it come from any other Hands I fhould have wifhed a thoufand times never to have receiv- ed it: for, there are very few I defife much to be obliged to; having always thought that a fort of Debt which ought as duly to be paid as that of Money, with more Intereft, and much greater Difficulty of cafting up. But knowing that all generous Perfons ate apt to favour and efteem their own, rather fuch whom they oblige, than fuch as ferve them; I am extremely glad to have my Name enter into the Knowledge of his Royal Highnefs, by his Bounty and Favour in the Grant of thofe rafs- ports, rather than any other way I could have taken; and .beg of you, that with my humble Thanks, his Royal Highnefs may know I enter into his Service with this Advance of Wages, which it lhall be always my Endeavour, as it is my Duty, to deferve. I owe, and fliould fay a great deal to yourfelf upon this Occa- fion, but that with my Thanks for the Thing N 3 it- 270 A feleB COLLECTION itfelf, I am to join my Complaints for the Manner of it : I mean, that you mould trouble yourfelf to reafon me out of any Cuftom or Ac- tion you would have me leave off, or fay any- thing upon fuch a Subject, befides, that you wifh it had been otherwife ; which I defire you to believe, mall in far greater Matters be from your Hand Perfuafion and Command enough to me. My Preemptions may be great with my Friends, but they are the eafilieft check'd of any Man's alive ; which is all I mail lay upon this Occafion as to the future j and for the paft, I will only afTure you that I fhould not in the leaft have offered at what I' did, had it not been at the earneft Inftance of the Prince of Munjlers Refident here ; and I am to make it my Bufmefs abroad, to- enter as far as I can into the Secrets, and for that end, into the Affections of fuch Minifters as I have to deal with ; and a.s fome Men are to be gained d.ire<5Uy by their Heart, fo are others by their Hands : but another Fault were eafier to be borne than a long Excufe; I will not add to it by our News, fince, of all I write, I am fure you know as much as you pleafe : only, in general, our Bifhop lofes not Courage nor Strength upon all the great Preparations of Enemies, or Difappointment of Friends. The Dutch feem to be plagued by their own God, and to grow unhappy in their own Element, the Sea having done them in the laft Storms moft extravagant Harms; fome Letters from Anifterd^m fay to the Value of thirty, and others, of fixty Millions ; their Cafe may grow harder yet, if the Frofts do fo from the Munjler fide, Our Court here is paffionate towards tf LETTERS. 271 towards the League between the two Crowns; as I am in the Defires of growing in your Friendfhip and Favour, and deferving it by any Teftimonies I can give of my being, S I ^ Tour moft faithful, Brufls, Dec. 15, S. N. 1665. humble Servant* LETTER LXXXV;, oj$(; Sir William Temple to Dame Auguftine Gary. Madam, T Know not whether the Shame of having * been fo long in your Debt, be greater than' that of paying it fo ill at laft, but I am fure, 'tis much harder to be excufcd, and therefore fhall not attempt it, but leave it to Father P [acid's Oratory, tho' having failed in the fub- flantial Part of your Bufmefs, I have little Rea- fon to hope he will fucceed better in the Cere- monial Part of mine. The Truth is, there is fo great a Difference in common Sound between, It is done, and, // will be done^ that I was un- willing to acknowledge the Honour of having received your Ladymip's Commands, before I had compafled that of obeying them, which the Marquifs here hath fo often allured me would' N 4. 272 A fdett COLLECTION fuddenly fall to my Share, that I thought we had both equal Reafon, his Excellency to do it, and I to believe it. This Right I muft yet do him, that I never preft him in this Concern of your Ladyfhip's, but he told me, all my Arguments were needlefs, for the Thing fhouid be done; and how to force a Man that yields, I never undcrftood : but yet I much doubt that till the Refult be given upon the Grofs of this Affair, which is and has been ibmetime under View, your Part in particular will hardly be thought ripe, for either his Juftice, or Favour, which will be rather the Style it inulr. run in, if it be a Defire of Exemption from a general Rule given in the Cafe : what- ever Pcrfon (after the Father's P.eturn) {hall be appointed to obferve the Courfe of this Affair, and purfue the Lady's Pretenfions here, will be fure of all the Afliftance I can at any time give him ; tho' I think it would prove a more public Service to find fome way of diffolving your Society, and by that means difperfing fo much Worth about the World, than by pre- ferving you together, confine it to a Corner, and iufter it to (hine fo much lefs, and go out fo much fooner, than otherwife it would. The ill Effects of your Retreat appear too much in the ill Succefs of your Buiinefs; for I cinnot think any thing could fail that your Ladyfhip would follicite; but, I prefume, no- thing in this lower Scene is worthy either that, or fo much as your Defire or Care, which are \Vords that enter not your Grates, to di- iturb that perfect Quiet and Indifferency, which I will believe, inhabit there ; and by your Hap- pinefs decide the long Difpute, whether the, greater of L E T T E R S. 273 greater lies in wanting nothing^ be- poffeffing much. t Zi d e nc^63^L Isupe* djcr ttfui I I cannot but tell you it was. ,pnikiiadly v done to refrefh the Meqipjry- of your ( .Bnotheb Z>w Carys Lofs, which was not 4 more general one to Mankind, than it was particular to ise;.miflton as-aban^: doned, as you can exercife in the lo'w corn-r inon Concernments of this worthlefe , J,tfe,~ which I can hardly imagine was intended us* for fo great a Milery as it is here common-; ly made, or to betray fo large a Part of the \Vorld, to fo much greater hereafter as is corn*: - monly believed. However, T am oWiged to. your Ladymtp for your Prayers, \vhich I am x lure are well intended me, and fhall return ywi; mine. That no ill Thoughts of my Faith may poilefs your Ladyfhip with an ill one of my Works too ; which I am fure cannot fail of: being very meritorious, if ever I reach the In-;' tendons I have, of expreffing myfelf upon ail^ Occafions, Madam, -- t Feb. i6tb. is. N. 1666* andmojfofaditnt Servant* > 274 d fekft COLLECT IONT LETTER LXXXVI. i Sir William Temple to Sir Philip Warwick. 5 I R, 'T* HOUGH it be more eafy and more ufual * to beg Favours than to acknowledge them ; yet I find you are refolved to force me upon the laft, without ever giving me Time or Occa- fion for the other. How much I am obliged to you in my laft Difpatch, I am told enough by Mr. Gsdolphin^ but more by my own Heart, which will never fuffer me to believe, that a Pexfon to whom I have been fo long, and am fo much a Servant, mould be any other than kind to me; for that is my way of judging my abfent Friends, and ferves like a Watch in my Pocket, to meafure the Time, tho* I fee no Sun. The very Name of Time puts me in mind, that yours is not to be fpent idly, and that you are more pleafed to oblige your Friends- than to receive their Thanks ; and therefore I will only fay, that mine are very fenfible and; , and that no Man is with more with more Sincerenefs than I am, SIR, Tour affettionate uflchy Mar. 12 > N. S, 1666, humble Servant. LE T- of L E T T E R S. 275 LETTER LXXXVII. Sir William Temple to Sir John Temple* SIR, AFTER fo hard and fo long a Journey, I **; thought you would be glad to know I was well again in my former Station, and what was the Occafion of my leaving it fo fudderily and fo privately, that 1 could not ac- quaint any of my Friends with it before I went, which now I am at liberty to- entertain you with. This Winter has pafled with much Noife,. made by the Bilhop of Mwifter in his Enter- prize againft Holland? with fome Attempts, but little Succefs the Fault he has laid in fome Degree upon the Marquifs here, for refufmg to fuffer the Duke of Bornoville to go and com- mand his Troops, which he durft not confent to,' for fear of giving too much Offence to the French and the Dutch, at a Time when the Spaniards here are in ill Condition for a Quarrel : but the Bifhop's chief Complaints have been, want of thofe Sums of Money ftipulated by his Majefty to be furniihed him both before and after his tak- ' ing the Field. Our Excufes upon the Lofs of the Ships with Tin before OJlend^ though they may ferve to keep us in Countenance, yet they will not pay Forces in the Fieldj which he has often threatned thefe three Months pafly muft break up without fpeedy Supplies. In the mean time ij6 A feleft COLLECTION time his neighbouring Princes of the Empire, ef- pecially the Electors of Ments and Brandenburg, with the Duke of Nicuburgh ; feeing a Flame broke out, which muft draw foreign Armies into the Empire, both Fretuh and Dutch ; have ufed firft all Offices they could, to prevail with the Bifhop to make his Peace with Holland, engaged the Emperor himfelf in the fame Endeavours, and finding him fteady to his Treaty with the King, at laft the Duke of Brandenburg drew his Forces into the Field, refolved to compel him by joining with the Dutch, if he could not p< rfuade him to make the Peace; and the Duke of Nieu- Imrg prepared to fecond him in this Defign : the French were not wanting in their Offices to the lame Ends; fo that a private Agreement was made about the beginning of this Month, for the French, Dutch, and .Munfter Envoys to meet at Cleve, and there treat the Peace under the Mediation of the Elector of Brandenburg. Aflbon as the King received this Alarm, he fent an Exprefs immediately to command me away the Inltantl received k, with a Commiflion to the JJifhcp of Munfier, and with Inftru&ions to do all I could poflibly .to hinder the Peace, and with Bills of Exchange to revive his Payments which had been long intermitted, and Promife of more to be remitted every Poil, which I was to order into his Agent's Hands here in my Abfence. I went accordingly, acquainting none with my going but the Marquifs here, who gave me twen- ty of his own Guards, with Command to follow abfolutely all Orders I fliould give them. I was to pafs through a great deal of the Spanish Coun- try, much infefted with Dutch Parties, more of the Duke of Nienburg's t and more yet of the if Bran- if L E T T E R S. 277 Bratukttbttrgtrjj who I know were all Enemies to the Affair I went upon, and thereiore thought it beft to pafs for a Spanijh Envoy fern- from the Mar- qutfeCaftel-Rodrigo to the Emperor ; and charg- ed my fmall Guard and Cornet that commanded manded them, to keep true to this Note. And fome of my Servants, as moft of the Guards fpeak- ing Spanijh, I fpoke nothing elfe unlcfs in private* or when I was forced out of it by fome Inci- dent. In this Guife I came to Dttfiklorp where the Duke of Nieuburg happened to be; (contrary to what I had been informed) ailbon as J was in. my Inn, one of his Officers came to know who I was, and whither I was going, and would hot be fatisfied by the common Anhver from my Ser- vants and Guards, but would receive it from me; when he came up, tho' with much Civility, yet he preft me fo far, that I found there was no feigning with him, and fo bid him tell the Duke, that within an Hour I would come and give him an Account both of myfelf and my Journey. I remembred the great Kindnefs that had ever in- terceded between his Majefty and this Prince ; and tho' I went upon an Errand that I knew was difagreeable to him, yet I thought he would be lefs likely to crofs me, if I acquainted him frankly with it, than if I difguifed fcurvily. as I was likely to do, being the Thing of the World I could do the moft uneafily. I had a Letter of Credence which I brought out of England at my firft coming over, for this Prince; but pafling another Way to Munfter I had not ufed it, and fo refolved to do it now: I did fo, gave it him^ told him my Errand j hew much his Majefty reckoned upon his Friend- 278 A feleB COLLECTION (hip, and defired his good Offices to the Bifiiop of Munfter in the Defign I went upon, of keep-, ing him firm to his Treaties with the King my This Duke is in my Opinion the fineft Gentle- man of any German I have feen, and deferv r es much better Fortune than he is in ; being final], very much broken, and charged with a very nu- merous Iflue ; he feems about fifty Years old, tall, lean, very good Mien, but more like an Italian than a German: All he fays is civil, well bred, honnejle^ plain, eafy, and has an Air of Truth and Honour. He made great Profeffions of Kindnefs and Refpect to the King, was forry he could not ferve him in this Affair ; his Engage- ments were already taken with the Emperor and his Neighbour Princes for making the Munjler Peace, and by that means keeping War out of the Empire. He doubted I could not ferve his Majefty upon this Errand neither; for, he firft believed I could not get fafe to Mun/ler, the Ways being all full of Dutch and Brandenburg Parties, who had Notice of the King's Intention to fend away to the Bifliop upon this Occafion; and if. I mould arrive, he believed however I mould find the Peace figned before I came. My Anfwer was fhort, for I was very weary j tnat go I would, however I fucceeded, that for the Danger of the Journey I knew no providing againft it, but a very good Guide who might lead me through Ways the moft unfrequented ; that I would defire his Highnefs to give me one of his own Guards to conduct me, becaufe none would expect a Perfon going upon my Defign, would have one in his Livery for a Guide; and. I defired he would let me pals as I had done hi- therto ^/LETTERS. 27? fherto in a Journey for a Spanijh Envoy. The Duke, after fome Difficulties at firft (which we turned into- Pleafantries) complyecT with me in all : I took my Leave, and went away early next Morning. I never travelled a more favage Country, over cruel Hills, through many great and thick Woods, ftony and rapid Streams, never hardly in any high Way, and very few Villages, till I came near Dortmund?, a City of the Empire, and within a Day's Journey, or fomething more, of Munjler. The Night I came to Dortmund was fo advanced when I arrived, that the Gates were fliut \ and with all our Eloquence, which was as moving as we could, we were not able to prevail to have them opened : they advifed us to go to a Village about a League di(rant r where, they faid, we might have Lodging. When we came there, we found it all taken up with a Troop of Eranden- lurg Horle, fo as the poor Spanijb Envoy was fain to eat what he could get in a Barn, and to fleep upon a Heap of Straw, and lay my Head upon my Page inftead of a Pillow. The beft of it was, that he underftanding Dutch, heard one of the Brandenburg Soldiers coming into the Barn examine fome of my Guards, about me and my Journey, which when he was fatisfied of, he afk- ed if he had heard nothing upon the Way of an Engltjb Envoy that was expeded ; the Fellow faid, he was upon the Way, and might be at Dortmund, within a Day or two j with which he was fatif- fied, and I flept as well as I could- The next Morning I went into Dortmund, and hearing there, that for five or fix Leagues round, all was full of Brandenburg Troops, I difpatch'd a- way a German Gentleman I had in my Train with 280 A .feleft COLLECTIO N. with a Letter to the Bifhop of.Mun/ler^ to let him know the Place and Condition I was in, and defire he would (end me .Guards . immediately, and ftrong enough to convoy, me. The Night following my MefTenger returned, and brought me Word,, that by eight o' Clock the Morning after, a Commander of the Bifhop's would come in fight of the Town, at the Head of twelve hundred Horfe, and defired I would come and join them fo faon as they appeared : T did fo ; arid after an eafie March till four a, Clock, I came to a Cattle of the Bimop's, where I was received by Lieutenant-general Gorgas, a Scotch/nan^ in that Service, who omitted nothing of Honour or Entertainment that could be given me. There was nothing here remarkable, but the moft epif- copal way of Drinking that could be invented. Aflbon as we came in the great Hall, where flood many Flaggons ready charged, the General called for Wine to drink the King's Health, they brought him a formal Bell of Silver gilt, that might hold about two Quarts or more : he took it empty,, pulled out the Clapper, and gave it me who he intended to drink to ; then had the Bell filled, drunk it off" to his Majefty's Health, then afked me for the Clapper, put it in, turned down the Bell, and rung it out to (how he had play'd fair ;. and left nothing in it ; took out the Clapper, de- fired me to give it to whom I pleafed j then gave his Bell to be filled again, and brought it to me. I that never ufed to drink, and feldom would try, had commonly fome Gentlemen with me that ferved for that Purpofe when 'twas neceffary : and fo I had the Entertainment of feeing this Health ga current through about a dozen Hands, with no more Share in it than juft what I pleafed. of L E T T E R S. 281 The next Day after Noon, about a League from Munjler^ the Bifhop met me at the Head of four thoufand Horfe, and, in Appearance, brave Troops. Before his Coach, that drove very iaft, came a Guard of a hundred Heyduke^ that he had brought from the laft Campaign in Hungary ; they were in fhort Coats and Caps, all of a brown Colour, every Man carrying a Sabre by his Side, u fhort Pole-ax before him, and a fkrewed Gun hanging at his Back by a leather Belt that went crofs his Shoulder. In this Pofture they run al- moft full Speed, and in excellent Order, and were faid to fhoot two hundred Yards with their fkrew'd Gun, and a Bullet of the Bignefs of a large Pea, into the Breadth of a Dollar or Crown- piece. When the Coach came within forty Yards of me, it ftopt j I faw the Bifhop, and his Ge- neral the Prince cFHomberg^ come out ; upon which I alighted fo as to meet him between my Horfes and his Coach : after Compliments, he would have me go into his Coach, and fit alone at the back End, referving the t'other to himfelf and his General : I excufed it, faying, I came without Character , but he replied, that his Agent had writ him Word, I brought a Commiflion which ftiled me Orator em rioftrum (as was true) and that he knew what was due to that Stile from a great King. I never was nice in taking any Honour that \vas offered to the King's Character, ajid fo eafily took this j but from it, and a Re>- ception fo extraordinary, began immediately to make an ill Prefage of my Bufmefs, and to think pf the Spanish Proverb : )uien te hafe mas Corte que no fuck bazer Off ha tfcngannar cte ha menefter. And A feleft COLLECTION And with thefe Thoughts, and in this Pofture, I entered Munjler,, and was conduced by the Bifhop to a Lodging prepared for me in one of the Canon's Houfes. The Bifhop would have left me immediately after he brought me to my Chamber j but I told him I could not let him go without afking an Hour of Audience that very Evening : he would have excufed it upon Refpedl and Wearinefs, and much Compliment ; but I perfifted in it, unlefs he would chufe to fit down where we were, and enter upon Affairs without Ceremony. He was at laft contented ; and I faid all I could towards my End of keeping him to the Faith of his Treaty with the King, to the Purfuit of the War till both confented to the Peace, and to the Expec- tations of the Money that was due : he anfwered me, with the Neceffities had forced him to treat, from the failing of his Payments ; the Violences of his neighbour Princes, and the laft Inftances of the Emperor; but that he would, upon my Coming, clifpatch one immediately to C!eve, to command his Minifters to make a Stop in their Treaty till they received further Orders, which I fliould be Matter of. I went to Supper after he left me, but was told enough privately to fpoil it before I fat down, which was, that the Treaty was figned at Cleve y tho' I took no Notice of it, becaufe I knew if it were fo, being angry would hurt nobody but my Mafter or myfelf. Next Day the Bifhop made me a mighty Feaft among all his chief Officers, where we fat for four Hours, and in Bravery I drank fair like all the reft; and obferved that my Spanijh Cornet and I that never ufed it, yet came off in better Order / L E T T E. R S. 2*3 Order than any of the Company. I was very fick after I came to my Lodging ; but he got a Horfeback on purpofe to (hew himfelf about the - Town, while the reft of the Company were out of Sight all the Afternoon. The Day after was agreed to give me an Account of the Affair of C/eve r upon the Return of the Bifhop's Exprefa after my Arrival ; and at an Audience in the Evening, with great Pretence of Trouble and Grief he confeft the Treaty was figned^ and fa paft Remedy, and that it had been io before his Exprefs arrived, tho' much againft his Expecta- tion, as he profeft ; I am fure 'twas not againft mine ; for I left Erujjeh in the Belief that I mould certainly find all concluded j which made my Journey much harder than it could have been with, any Hopes of fucceeding. I told him, when I found all ended, and no Hopes of retrieving it, that I would be gone within a Day or two, and would take my Leave of him that Night, being not well, and needing fome Reft before I began my Journey. He faid and did all that could be to perfuade my Stay till I had reprefented his Reafons to the King, and received an Anfwer j and I found his Defign was to keep me as long as he could, while his Agent at EruJJels received Bills of Exchange from Eng- land that were ordered him in my Abfence ; fo that I knew not how mifth every Day's Stay would coft the King, and that no other Service was to be done his Majefty in this Affair, befides faving as much of his Money as I could. The Bifhop rinding me immoveable, advifed me how- ever, in pretended Kindnefs, to go by Collen % which, tho' four or five Days about, would be the only Way that was left for me, with any Safe- ty* 284 A fek& COLLECTION ty, the Dutch and Brandenburghers having pofteJ themfelves on purpofe to attend my Return upon all the other Roads ; and he offered me Colonel Ojjory^ an Irijh Gentleman in his Service, to con- duit me : I feemed to accept all, and to be obliged by his Care, but wifhed myfelf well out of it, and took my Leave, tho' he pretended to fee me again next Day. I went home, and rnftead of going to Bed, 29 I gave out, I laid my Journey fo as to be on Horfeback next Morning between three and four o' Clock, upon Good Friday, which I thought might help to make my Journey lefs fufpected : I fee'd the Officer that opened the Gates for me, to keep them {hut two Hours longer than ufual that Morning (which I hear was performed) and fo committed myfelf to the Conduct of the Duke of Nieuburg's Guide, to lead me the fhorteft Way he could into fome Place belonging to his Matter. I rode hard, and without any Stop, to a Village eight Leagues from Munjler^ and juft upon the Borders of the Brandenburg Country : there I baited, and pretended to go to Bed and ftay all Night ; but in an heur's Time having got frefh riorfes ready for four Men that I pre- tended to fend before me ; I put on a CaiTaque of one of the Marquifs's Guards, and with my Page, the Duke of Nieuburg's Guard, and Colonel Maf- jette, a Flemijh Officer in the Munfler Service, I took Horfe at the back Door of my Inn, while the reft of my Company thought me in Bed, and refolved to ride as far as I could the reft of that Day, leaving my Steward to follow me the next, with the reft of my Train and Guards. I rode till eight at Night, through the wildeft Country, and mod unfreque nted Ways that of L E T T E R S. 2*5 ever I faw, but being then quite fpent, and ready to fall from my Horfe, I was forced to ftop and lay me down upon the Ground, till my Guard went to a Peasant's Hotife in Sight, to find if there were any Lodging for me ; he brought me word there was none, nor any Provifions in the Houfe, nor could find anything but a little Bottle of Juniper Water, which is the common Cordial in that Country : I drunk a good deal, and with it found my Spirits fo revived, that I refolved to venture upon the three Leagues that remained of my Journey, fo as to get into the Territories of Nieulurg, having pafled all the Way fince I left my Train through thofe of Brandenburg, whofe Engagements with the Dutch left me no Safety while I was there. About Midnight I came to my Lodging, which was fo miferable that I lay upon Straw, got on Horfeback by break of Day, and to Dufeldorp by Noon ; where, being able to ride no further, I went to Bed for an Hour, fent to make my Excufes to the Duke of Nieuburg upon my Hafte and Wearinefs, and to borrow his Coach to carry me to Ruremonde, which was a long Day's Journey. This Prince fent me his Coach.and his Compliments, with all the Civi- lity in the World : I went away that Afternoon, got to Ruremonde the next, and from thence hither, not without great Danger of the Dutch Parties even in the^SpaniJb Country : and fo have ended the hardeft Journey that ever I made in my Life, or ever fhall ; for fuch another I do not think I could ever bear with a Body no ftronger than mine. At my Return, I have had the Fortune to ftop feveral Bills of Exchange, that would otherwife have fallen into the Hands of the Bifhop's Agent here, A fehft COLLECTION here, and to forbid the Payment of the reft he received in my Abfence, which tho' accepted by the Merchants at Antwerp, yet were not fatisfied* the Time having not expired at which they were payable. And this Service to the King is all the Satisfaction I have by this Adventure, which has ended the whole Affair of Munfter, that has of late made fo much Noife, and raifed fo much Expectation in the World. / am, Sir, Bruflels, May 10, S. N. 1666. Tour, &c LETTER LXXXVIII. Sir William Temple to Lord Lifle. My Lord, T Received lately the Honour of one from your * Lordmip, which after all Complaints of Slownefs and Duhiefs,had enough to bear it out, tho' it had been much better addrefs'd, but needed nothing where it was, befides yours. In my prefent Station, I want no Letters of Bufmefs or News, which makes thofe that bring me Marks of my Friends Remembrance, or Touches at their prefent Thoughts and Entertainment?* tafte much better, than"any thing can do, that is common Fare. I agree very much with your Lcrdfhip, in being little fatisfied, .by the Wits Excuie, of em- ploying none upon Relations, as they do in France ; and doubt much, it is the fame Tamper and Courfe of Thoughts among us, that makes us neither tf LETTER S. *$ 7 neither act Things worth relating, nor relate Things worth the reading. Whilft making fome of the Company laugh, and others ridiculous, is the Game in Vogue ; I fear we (hall hardly fuc- ceed at any other, and am forry, our Courtiers ihould content themfelves with fuch Victories as thofe. I would have been. glad to have feen Mr. Cowley, before he died, celebrate Captain Douglas his Death, who flood and burnt in one of our Ships at Chatham when his Soldiers left him, be- caufe it fhould never be faid, a Douglas quitted his Poft without Order j whether it be wife in Men to do fuch Actions or no, I am fure it is fo in States to honour them; and if they can, to turn the Vein of Wits, to raife up the Efteem of fome Qualities, above their real Value, rather than bring eveiy thing to Burlefque, which if it be allowed at all, mould be fo only to wife Men in their Clofets, and not to Wits s in their com- mon Mirth and Company. But I leave them to be reformed by great Mens Examples and Hu- mours, and know very well, 'tis Folly for a pri- vate Man to touch them, which does but bring them like Wafps about ones Ears. However, I cannot but bewail the Tranfitorinefs of their Fame, as well as other Mens, when I hear, Mr. Waller is turned to Burlefque among them, while he is alive, which never happened to old Poets, till many Ages after their Death ; and tho' I never knew him enough to adore him, as many have done, and eafily believe he may be, as your Lordfhipfays, enough out of Fafhion, yet I am apt to think fome of the old cut-work Bands, were of as fine Thread, and' as well wrought, as any of our new Points ; and at leaft, that all the Wit, he and his Company fpent^ in-heightning Love 288 A fdeft COLLECTION Love and Friendfhip, was better employ'd, than what is laid out fo prodigally, by the modern Wits, in the Mockery of all forts of Religion and Government. I know not how your Lordihip's Letter ha$ engaged me in this kind of Difcourfes j but I know very well you will advife me after it, to keep my Refidency here as long as I can, fore- telling me what Succefs I am like to have among our Courtiers if I come over. The beft on't is, my Heart is fet fo much upon my little Corner at Sheen^ that while I keep that, no other Difap- pointments will be very fenfible to me ; and be- caufe my Wife tells me fhe is fo bold, as to enter into Talk of enlarging our Dominions there, I am contriving here this Summer, how a Suc- cefiion of Cherries may be compafs'd from May to Michaelmas , and how the Riches of Sheen Vines may be improved, by half a dozen Sorts which are not yet known there, and which I think much beyond any that are. I mould be very glad to come and plant them myfelf this next Seafon, but know not yet how thofe Thoughts will hit : though I defign to fray but a Month in England^ yet they are here very un- willing I mould ftir, as all People in Adverfity are jealous of being forfaken ; and his Majefty is not willing to give them any Difcouragement whether he gives them any Afliftance or no. But if they end the Campaign with any good For- tune, they will be better humoured in that as well as all other Eoints ; and it feems not a very unlikely thing, the French having done nothing in fix Months paft but harrafs their Army, and being before Lljle engaged in a Siege, which may very well break the Courfe of their Succefs : they '^LETTER S. '289 they have not yet made the leaft Advance upon any of their Out-works, but been beaten off with much Lofs in all their. Aflaults ; and if that King's Defign be to bring his Nobility as low as he has done his People, he is in a good way, and may very well leave moft of the Brave among them in their Trenches there. I had not need write often at this Length, nor make your Lordfhip any new Profeflions of my being My Lord, Bruffeh, Aug. 1667. Tcur^ &c. LETTER LXXXIX. Lord Lifle to Sir William Temple. SIR, SINCE I had your laft Letter, I have made you no Acknowledgment of it : a Retire- ment is in ieveral ReTpe&s like the Night of one's Life, in the Obfcurity and Darknefs and in the Sleepinefs and Dofednefs : which I mention to put you in mind that I am only by my Pofture of Life apt to be failing towards you. What is of Court or Alfemblies near us is at my Lord Crofts's. Sir Thomas Ingram this Sum- mer hath made no Noife at all.' Old Lady De- vonjhire keeps up her Feafts ft ill ; and that hath been of late Mr. Waller's chief Theatre : the Aflembly of Wits at Mr. Comptroller's will fcarce let him in'; and poor Sir John Denbam is (alien to the Ladies alfo : he is at niany of the VOL. I. O Meetings 290 A felett COLLECT I'D N Meetings at Dinners, talks more than ever he did, and is extreamly pleafed with thofe that feem willing to hear him ; and from that Obli- gation exceedingly praifes the Dutchefs of Mon- month and my Lady Ctivendi/h : if he had not the Name of being mad, I believe in moft Com- panies he would be thought wittier than ever he was : he feems to have few Extravagancies, be- fides that of telling. Stories of himfelf, which he is always inclin'd to: fomeof his Acquaintance fay, that extream Vanity was a Caufe of his Madnefs, as well as it is an Effect. All Perfons of Note hereabouts are going to their Winter-quarters at London. The Burning of the City begins to be talk'd of as a Story like that of the Burning of Troy. At Sheen we are like to be bare : Lady Luddal feems uncertain in her Stay ; and we hear that when Sir 'James Sheen and his Lady were ready to come from Ireland^ great Cramps took my Lady in her Limbs : and Sir James's Servants doubt whether we (hall fee him this Winter. I defire, Sir, your Leave to kifs my Lady Temple's Hands, and my Lady GiffartFs Hands by your Letter. My Daughter and I were in clifpute, which of us two mould write this Time to Britjph ; and becaufe I was judged to have more Leifure, it fell to me, and my Lady Temple is to have the next from her. I wifh you, Sir, all good Succefles in your Bufmeffes, and am Tour very affectionate Servant, September 26, 1667. LISLE. LET- ALETTE R S. 291 LETTER XC. Sir William Temple to Charles II. May it pleafe your Majefty , T N my laft PafTage hither, I had the Honour * of trying your Majefty's Yatch in fuch a Storm, as I never felt before, ,and a greater no Man in her pretended ever to have feen. The Fortune of your Majefty's Affairs, help'd us to the Difcovery of a Pilot Boat at a diftance from the Coafts, that brought us happily in, without which we had pafled fuch another Night at Sea, as I mould not care to do, for any thing your Majefty could give me, befides your Fa- vour, and the Occafions of ferving you : if we had mifcarried, your Majefty had loft an honeft diligent Captain, and fixteen poor Seamen, fo beaten out with Wet and Toil, that the Com- pailion I had then for them, I have ftill about me, and aflure your Majefty, that five or fix more, will be neceflary for your Yatch, if you ufe her to fuch Paflages as this : but for the reft, I believe there is not fuch a Boat in the World. She returns with a long, but final and happy Account of my Bufmefs, to my Lord Arlington, and with the Count de Dona^ who will be better Company than a long ill Letter, and deferves your Majefty's Welcome by his other Qualities, as well as his particular Devotions for your Majefty's Perfon and Service. 1 cannot end this Letter, without congratu- lating with your Majefty, upon the Succefs of your Refolution, which occafiened my Journey O 2 hither ; ?92 A feleft COLLECTION hither ; and which is generally applauded here, as the wifeft and happieft both for your King- doms and your Neighbours, and the moft ho- nourable to your Majefty's Perfon, that ever was taken upon any Occufion by any Prince. And the ftrange Succefs of it, hath been anfwerable to the reft of your Majefty's Fortunes, and fo amazing, that the Exprefftons made of it here every Hour, are altogether extraordinary, not to fay extravagant. God in Heaven continue your Majefty's good Health* and good Councils, and good Fortunes, and then I {hall have nothing more to wifh, but that you may pardon the Faults, and accept of the humble and hearty Devotions of C T "D O 1 X, . Ycur Majejlys mijl loyal and mo/} Hague, 7^/7/29, obedient Subjefl and Servant, N.S. 1668. LETTER XCI. Sir William Temple to Lord Arlington. My Lord, T A M forry his Majefty fhould meet with any * thing he did not look for at the opening of this Seulon of Parliament ; but confefs, I do" not fee why his Majefty ftiould not only confent, but encourage any Inquiries or Difquifitions they de- fire to make into the Mifcarriagcs of the late War, of L, K T T E R S. 293 War, as well as he has done already in the Matter of Accounts : For, if it be not nccefiary, it is a King's Eafe and Happinefs to content his People. I doubt, as Men will never part wil- lingly with their Monies, unlefs they be well perfwaded it will be employ'd directly to thofe Ends for which they gave it ; fo they will never be fatisfy'd with a Government, unlefs they fee Men are chofen into Offices and Employments by being fit for them ; continued, for dilcharging them well ; rewarded, for extraordinary Merit ; and punim'd for remarkable Faults; Befides, in thefe Cafes, his Majefty difcharges the Hardfliip and Severity of all Punifhments upon the Parlia- ment, and commits no Force upon the Gentlenefs of his own Nature, while his Subje&s fee, that no Tendernefs of their Prince, nor Corruption of Minifters, can preferve them long from pay- ing what they owe to any Forfeits of their Duty. Nor indeed, can any Prince do Juftice to thole that ferve him well, without punifhing thofe that ferve him ill ; fmce that is to make their Con- ditions equal whofe Deferts are different. I fliould not fay this to any Pcrfon but your Lord- (hip, to whom I know part of that Juftice is due. But to fay Truth, the Progrefs and End of the laft War went fo much to my Heart, and I have keard fo much lately from Monfieur de Witt, con- cerning the Carriage' of it on our Side, especially what fell under his" Eye, while he was abroad in the Fleets that I cannot but think the Parlia- ment may be excufed for their Warmth in this Purfuit. But your Lord/hip can beft difcern by the Courfe of Debates, whether this proceeds from a fteady Intention upon a general Good, or from fomc accidental Diitempers, from which O 3 the 294 A feleft COLLECTION the greateft and beft AfTemblies of Men are not always free, efpecially when they have continu'd long together. I beg your Lordfliip's Pardon for my Liberty in thefe Difccurfes, to which you were pleafed to encourage me, by hearing me fo obligingly thofe few Minutes I was allowed for fuch Talk or Thoughts at my 1 aft being with you, and from the Senfe you then exprefled of the abfolute Neceffity there was for his Majefty to fall into a perfect Intelligence with his Parliament, efpecially being engaged into an Appearance of A&ioa abroad by the Force of this prefent Con*- juncture. Brufjels, March 2, / am ever^ &c. N. S. 1668. LETTER XCII. Sir William Temple to Sir Orlando Bridgman, Lord Keeper. I My Lord, Received fome Days fince the Honour of one from your Lordfhip of the Qth paft, and though I owe all the Acknowledgments that can be upon it, yet I will not fo much wrong your Lorclfhip's Time or my own Sincerenefs, as to enlarge them with much Ceremony. It will be enough to fay, that nothing can be more obliging than your Favour to me, both in the Decree and Manner of it, ariftng fo frerly from your Lord- fhip's Bounty and Generoufncfs, as well us *x*J pre&'d ^/LETTERS. 295? prefs'd in a way fo frank and To hearty as that of" your laft Letter ; and on the other Side, that:o*- Man can refent it more, though they may much better deferve it ; and that your Lordmip can never reckon more truly nor more juftly, upon any Perfon's Efteem and Services, than upon mine, which I humbly beg your Lordmip to be- licve. I doubt you will be troubled with m j Wife's Attendances, having told her, your Lord^ fhip had given her that Liberty ; if (he ever pre- tends your Favour and Countenance further than In receiving what the King has made my Due upon this Employment while I have it, or .what his Majefty fhall from his own Motion ailign me, upon any new Commiflion ; I difclaim her before- hand, and declare me goes not upon my Errand ; . for I fliall never think that too little which his Majefty thinks enough : for the reft, I will be confident, neither your Lordfhip nor my Lord Arlington intend I mould ruin myfelf by my Employments, or that I mould at my own Charge bear out a Character, which of itfelf is enough to turn round a Head that has all its Life, till thefe laft three Years, been ufed to Shade and Silence. In cafe the Occafion mould break, and my Journey to Aix mould yet fail, I afk nothing of his Majefty, though putting my felf in a Pofture to comply with any fudden Ne- ceflity of it, has already forced me to enter into very confiderable Expences ; but in cafe I muft go, I beg your Lordmip that has Children, to confuler how hard it would be for me to perform fuch a Journey upon my own Credit. Whatever it be that his Majefty thinks fit to afiign me upon fuch an Occafion, if he pleafes to order Alder- man Rockwell to furnifh me with a Letter of O 4 Credit 296 A fekft COLLECTION Credit for fo much, let it be what it will, I will live according to what, that and my own little Revenue will reach, and not fpare any little Prefents I have received in his Majefty's Service, where his Honour requires it : all I deiire is, only not to be forced into Debts, which, to fay the Truth, I have ever abhorred, and would by my good Will, eat dry Crufts, and lie upon the Floor, rather than do it upon any other Confide- ration, than of his Majesty's immediate Com- mands, and I hope thole, his Juftice, and my Friends Favour will prevent. I beg your Lordfhip's Pardon for troubling you with this ftrange Freedom about my own Con- cernments, which you have pleafed to encourage me to, and may at any time check me in it, with the le;ift Difcountenance, which I doubt 1 have already deferved. But I will not increafe or lengthen my Faults by Excufes, nor trouble your Lordlhip, by repeating any thing of what my Lord Ariir.gtsn receives from me at large, upon the Courfe of Publick Affairs here ; which though feeming to change often, in others Eyes, appears to me conftam in the French Defign of a War ; which I believe nothing can alter, but the vifible Marks of Force and Steadinefs in their Neighbours, to oppofe them. I beg your Lordfhip's Belief, that as I am with very great Reafoiij fo I am with very great Paflion too, My Lord, uffelS) April 3, JW, &c. 1668. LET- cf Ju & i 1 E K S. 297 LETTER XCIII. Sir William Temple to Sir John Temple, SIR, *~pHough I doubt our late Motions may have A loft or dclay'd fome of your Letters, which we have now been fome Time in want of ; yet I prefumeours have had their conftant Courfeto you, though from feveral Parts ; an j though mine have not been frequent, upon the Permifiion you give me to fpare my own Eyes and Time, when they are otherwife taken up, and trull to my Sifter's entertaining you; yet, upon my return Home, after three Years Abfence, I could not but give you fome Account of my coming and ftay here ; and of what I can forefee is like to follow it, both as to my own Particular, and to the publick Affairs, in which that fecms at prefeitt to be fo much involved, After the Conclufion of the Triple Alliance, &nd the Peace of Alx^ I was at an End of my Ambition ; having feen Flanders faved as if it had been, by one of the Miracles, the Houfe o'/ Aujlria has, they fay, been ufed to; and the general Interefts of Chriftendom fecured againft the Power and Attempts of Frame \ and at the fame time the Confideration and Honour of his Majefty and his Crown Abroad, railed to a De- gree it has not been in for fome Ages paft, and we had no Reafon to expect it fhould be in fome Ages to come, upon the Decline it felt after the BuUnefs of Gbatkftn, and the Peace of Bred* Q 5 that 298 A feleR COLLECTION that fucceeded it. I returned fron Aix to BruJ/ek without other Thoughts than of continuing in that Station till I grew wearier of it than I was like to do very fuddenly, of a Place, I confefs I love ; but immediately upon my Arrival there, I met with Letters from my Lord Arlington, which brought me the King's Orders to continue the Equipage of an AmbafTador, that I was in, upon my Aix Journey, in order to my fervinghis Majefty in the fame Cha- racter at the Hague, whither he was refolved to fend me, and to renew upon occafion of our late Alliances, a Character, which the Crown of England had difcontinued in that Country, fince King James's Time. In order hereunto I was left at liberty to take my Leave of the Marquis* and to return into England as foon as I pleafed, which I did by the Way of Holland, and left moft of my Servants and Horfes at Utrecht. Upon my Arrival here, I was received both by the King and Court a great deal better than I could deferve or pretend ; but People feem ge- nerally pleafed with the Councils and Negotia- tions, in which I have had fo much Part fince Chrijtmas laft ; and I underftand not Courts fo ill (how little foever I have been ufed to them) as not to know, that one ought not to lofe the Ad- vantage of coming Home with the commoa Opinion of fome Merits or good Hitts at one's Back ; if one's Bufmefs be de poujferfa Fortune ^ *nd I am put enough in mind of it upon this Occafion, by feveial of thofe many new Friends one would think I had at this time of Day, as. well as by fome of my old ones ; but I cannot imagine why I fhould pretend to have deferved more than my Pay of the King, for which I ferved him lit my late Employments j and if I got <*J *-t JL^ X A JLJ JX O. ^9" got Honour by them, 'twas fo much more than I had to reckon upon. Befidcs, I fhould be forry to allc Money of him at a Time when, for aught I can judge by the Cry of the Court, he wants it more than I do. The Spanijh Ambafiador and Baron d'Jfola^ as well as others of my Friends, would needs be afking a Title for me, and 'tis with Difficulty enough that I have prevented it; but 'tis that I am fure I never can have a mind to, and if it mould ever be offered me, I re- folve it Hull cither begin with you, if you defire it, if not, with my Son, which I had much rather. But I fuppofe, nothing of this can happen in our Court without Purfuit, and fo I reckon myfelf in all thefe Points juft where I was about fix Months ago, but only defigned for another Emballv, and no Man knows how that will end. I am very much prefs'd to difpatch my Preparations for it, by my Lord Keeper and Lord Arlington^ who are extream kind to me, as well as to the Meafures lately taken by their Miniftry, and feem to value themfelves a great deal upon them. They fay, all the Bufmefs the King now has, both at Home and Abroad, will turn upon my Hand in Holland^ by keeping th& French from breaking in upon our late Alliances,, and the Confidence between us ; and by drawing the Emperor and the Princes of the Empire into a common Guaranty of a Peace j and thereupon they are mighty earneft with me to haften away.. On t'other Side, the Commiffioners of the Trea- fury feem to have more mind to my Company here than I could expect : for after fome of them had tried to hinder the King's Refolution, of. fending either an Ambaflador at all into Holland, (upon Pretence of fo Jong Difufe of. that Cha- rafter) 300 A feleff COLLECTION raster) or me in particular-, when that could not be carried, they prepared my Way by entering upon new Regulations in the Exchequer, among which, thofe concerning foreign Employments, brought down the Equipage Money of Ambaf- fadors from three thoufand Pounds, as it has been fince the King came in, to fifteen hundred Pounds in France and Spain, and to one thoufand Pounds in all other Courts ; and their Allowance, from one hundred Pounds a Week to ten Pounds a Day in France and Spain, and to feven in other Places. . Though this be pretended by the Com- miflioners as only a Piece of a general Scheme of Parfimony, they find necefTary in the prcfcnt Con- dition of the Revenue ; yet I underftand it as calculated juft at this Time particularly for me ; and my Lord Arlington confeifes, he thinks it fo oo, and takes part in it as a Piece of Envy or Malice to himfelf as well as to me, from fomc who are fpited at all that has lately palled between Us and Holland^ and at the Perfons who have been at the Head of thofe Councils. For my Part, I refent it not only as a Thing I have not deferved, upon an Employment caft wholly upon me by the King's Choice, and, as he Jeems to think, by the Neceffity of his Affairs i but as that which I find plainly by the fhort Ex- perience of my laft Embafly, will not defray the Expence of another, with any Honour to the King or myfelf Abroad ; and though I do not pretend to make my Fortune by thefe Em- ployments, yet I confefs I do not pretend to ruin it neither. I have therefore been refolved feveral times abfolute.'y to refufe this Embafly, unlefs it be upon the Terms all others have had : but my Lord Arlington puts fo much Weight 2 upon ef LETTERS. 301 upon my going,that he will not hear of it : he fays, 'tis that our good Friends would have, and intend by this Uiage ; and that I can no way difappoint them fo much as by going, and that this Rule will be broken in three Months time : that I fhould not confider fmall Matters of Money in the Courfe of my Fortnne, and that the King cannot fail of making mine at a Lump one time or other : that there is nothing I may not expect from him upon my Return from this EmbafTy ; and that if hisMajefty had not thought me of abfblute Neceflity to him in Holland upon this Conjuncture, he had brought me now into Secretary Morris's Place, which upon my going Abroad is defigned for Sir John Trevor. My Lord Keeper is of the fame Mind, to have me by no means refufe it (as he fays) neither for the Kind's Sake nor my own j and your old Friend Sir Robert Long agrees with them both j and fays, after a Year or two of this EmbafTy, I cannot fail of being either Secretary of State, or fent Am- baflador into Spain ; which are both certain Ways of making any Man's Fortune. With all this, I confefs I find it not very eafy to refolve, and very much defire yours and my Brother's Opinion upon it : and that you may the better give it me, I fhall tell you one Circum- ftance which weighs a little with me, though not at all with my Friends here. They are ail of Opinion, the Meafures the King has lately taken cannot be broken nor altered, however they may be fnarled at by fome Perfons, upon particular Envy or Intereft ; but I fee plainly there are others of another Mind. Sir Thomas Clifford faid to a Friend of mine in Confidence, upon all the Joy that was here at the Conclufion of the Triple 302 A fdeft COLLECTION Triple Alliance ; Well* for all this Noife, we mujl have yet another Jl^ar wit&t&cDutch befo>e it be long. And, I Ice plainly already, that he and Sir George Downing are endeavouring with all the Induftry that can be, to engage the Eajt India Company here in fuch Demands and Pre- tenfions upon the Dutch, as will never be yielded to on that Side, and will increafe a Jeaioufy, they will ever have, of our unfteady Councils, and of our leaving ftill a Door open for fome new Offences when we {hall have a mind to take them. On t'other Side, the French will leave no Stone unturned, to break this Confidence between Us and Holland, which fpoils all their Meafures, and without which, they had the World be- fore them. If they can, they will undermine it in Holland by Jealoufies of the Prince of Orange, or any other Artifice, and will fpare neither Pro- mifes nor Threats. If I mould be able to keep that Side ftanch, they will fpare none of the fame Endeavours here, and will have fome good Helps that I fee already, and may have others that do not yet appear. If by any of t^iefe Ways, or other Accidents, our prefent Mea&res come to change i I am left in Holland to a cer- tain Lofs, upon the Terms they would fend me, though I mould be paid, but to a certain Ruin if I mould not j which I may well expert from the good Quarter I may reckon upon from fome in the Tr^afury j and when my EmbafTy ends, I may find a new World here, and all the fine Things I am told of, may prove Caftles in the Air. "There is I know, a great deal to be faid for my going, but on t'other Side, I am well as I am, ' and cannot be ruined but by luch an Ad- venture as this. I beg of you to let me know, your ^/LETTERS. 303 your Opinion upon the Whole ; and if I could have the Confidence, I fliould beg a great deal more earneftly that I might fee you here, fuice I cannot get loofe to wait on you there. Till I h*ar from you, I fhall let the Talk and the Forms of my Embafly go on, and am confident, how- ever they prefume, yet I can fpin out the Time of ray going till about the End of Augujl, in hopes of feeing you here ; which will be, I am fure, the: greateft Satisfaction that can befal, Sir, Sheen, July 22, 1668. Tours, &c.. LETTER XCIV. Sir William Temple to the Earl of Nor- thumberland. My LORD, 1) Y the fame Port which brought me the Ho- ** nour of a late Letter from your Lordfhip, I received from other Hands the News of my Lord of Northumberland's having left you to the Succef- fion of all his Honours and Fortunes : which gives me the Occafion of acknowledging your Lord- ihip's Favour and Memory j and at the fame time of condoling with you upon the Lofs of a Fa- ther, whofe great Vi tues and Qualities muft needs have made fo many Sharers with you in this Af- fliction. I hope the Help which is given your Lordfhip by fo many of your Servants and Friends upon this Occafion, will ferve to cafe your own Part in It : and that after all that can be offered up to Decency, and to the Memory of fo great and 304 d Jdeft COLLECTION and excellent a Perfon, this will find your Lord- fhip rather taken up with the Imitation of his Virtues than the bewailing of his Lofs: Since this is but what he owed to Nature and to Age, and to the Courfe of long Infirmities; and the other is what will be due from your Lordfliip all your Life, to your Birth, your Family, and yourfelf. Nor indeed can ever fo much depend upon fb few Paces, as will now, upon thofe your Lord{hip (hall make at your firft fetting out : Since all Men will be prefaging by them the Courfe of your Journey ; as they will have indeed influence upon the Eafe as well as the Direction of it. For my own Part, I expect a great In- creafe of your Lordftiip's perfonal Honour upon this Occafion : and that having been fo excellent a Son of a Family, you will {hew yourfelf the fame in being now a Father of it ; fince nothing makes Men fit to command, like having learnt to obey ; and the fame good Senfe and good Dif- pofitions make Men fucceed well in all the feve- ral Offices of Life. Thofe I know will be your Lordfliip's Safety in entering upon a Scene, where you will find many Examples to avoid, and few to imitate : for 1 have yet feen none fo generally corrupted as ours at this Time, by a common Pride and Affectation of defpihng and laughing at all Face of Order, and Virtue, and Conformi- ty to Laws ; which, after all, are Qualities that moft conduce to the Happinefs of a public State, and the Eafe of a private Life. But your Lordfliip will, I hope, make a great Example, inftead of needing ether than thofe of your own Family, to which fo much Honour, Order, and Dignity, have been very peculiar; as well as the Confequences of them in the general Applaufe, and the particular Efteem of all thole who cf L E T T E R S. 505 who have had the Honour to know and obferve it. Among whom there is none more defirous to exprefs that Inclination by his Services, nor that has more of it at Heart than My Lord, Tour Lord/hip's mojl faithful Hague^Junei-jy S. N. 1670. and mojl humble Servant LETTER XCV. Sir William Temple to Sir John Temple. SIR, T Muft make you my humble Acknowledgments * for fo great a Prefent, as you have been pleafed to fend me towards that Expence I have refolved to make at Sheen : and aflure you, no Part of it ftiall either go any other way, or lefTen what I had intended of my own. I doubt not to compafs what I told you of my Lord Lijle^ for enlarging my fmall Territories there ; when that is done, I propofe to beftow a thoufand Pounds upon the Conveniences of the Houfe and Garden ; and hope that will reach all I care for: So that your five hundred Pounds may be laid out rather for Ornament than Ufe, as you feem to defire, by ordering me to make the front perfectly uniform. Your Care of that, and ine, in this Matter is the more obliging, the lefs I find you concur with me in my Thoughts of retiring wholly from public Affairs, and to that Purpofe, of making my Neft at this time as 306 A feleft COLLECTION as pleafant and commodious as I can afford it. Nor fhall I eafily refolve to offer at any of thofe Advantages you think I might make uporv fuch a Retreat, of the King's Favour or good Opinion, by pretending either to Penfion or any other Employment. The Honour and Pay of fuch Pofts as I have been in, ought to be efteemed fuincient for the beft Services of them : and if I have Credit left with the prefent Mini- fters to get what is owing me upon my Em- baily, I fhall think myfelf enough rewarded > considering how different a Value is now like to be put upon my Services in Holland^ from what there was when they were performed. J Tis very likely at that time, as you believe, there were few reafonable Things the King would have denied me, while the Triple Al- liance and our League with Holland had fo great a Vogue j and my Friends were not want- ing in their Advices to me to make ufe of it. But I have refolved never to afk him any thing, otherwiie than by ferving him well : and you will have the lels Reafon perhaps to re- proach me this Method, if you will pleafe to remember how the two Embafiies of Aix la Chapelle and Holland were not only thrown upon me without my feeking; but alib, what my Lord Arlington told me was defigned for me upon Secretary Morris 's Removal, in cafe the King had not thought my Emba/Iy into Holland of the greateft Neceffity in purfuan.ee ot thofe Mcafures we had taken with that State. For what' you think of the Intereft we have ftill to purfue them, and confequently of the Ufe the King will ibll have of me upon th... ; Occa- of LETTERS. 307 Occafion : I will not enter into any Reafon- ings with you upon that Matter at this Di- ftance ; but will only tell you fome PafTages of Fa& upon which I ground the Judgment I make of Affairs wherein I have no "Part; and which I am not fo folicitous to draw in- to the Light, as I doubt others are to keep them in the Dark. And when I have told you thefe, I fliall leave you to judge whether I take my Meafures right as to my own private Condudh. You know firft the Part I had in all our Alliances with Holland; how far my own perfonal Credit was engaged upon them to Monfieur de JVitt j and the Refolutions I not only acquainted him and you with, but his Majefty too ; that I would never have any Part in breaking them whatever fhould happen : tho' that I confefs could hardly enter into any body's Head that underfrood the Interefts of Chriftendom as well as our own. I have given you fome Intimations how cold I have obferved our Temper at Court in thofe Matters for this laft Year ; and how different it was thought abroad from that Warmth with which we en- gaged in them : fo as it was a common Saying at the Hague, SWtl Jaut avouer^ qu'il y a eu neuf mois du plus grimd Minijhre dit monde ne Angleterre : ' for they wou Id hardly allow a longer Teim to the Vigour of that Council which made the Triple Alliance, and the Peace of yfof, and fent me over into Holland this laft Embafly to purfue the great Ends of them, and draw the Emperor and Princes of the Em- pire into the common Guaranty of the Peace. ItiOead of this,, our Pretenfions upon the Buft- lit Is 308 A feleff COLLECTION nefs of Surinam, and the Eajl-India Com- panies, have grown high and been managed with Sharpnefs between us and the States ; and grounded (as Monfieur de Jfr'itt conceives) more upon a Defign of fhewing them our ill Humour than our Reafon. I was fenfible, that my Conduit in all theie Matters had fallen fhort for many Months paft of the Ap- probation at Court it ufed to receive ; and that Mr. Warden was fent over to me only to dif- parage it, or efpy the Faults of it ; tho' I think, he returned with the Opinion that the Bufmels would not bear it. 'Tis true, both my Lord Arlington and Sir John Trevor continued to the laft of my Stay in Hoi/and to aflure me, that the King ftill remained firm in his Meafures with the States: but yet I found the Bufmefs of admitting the Emperor into the Guaranty, went downright lame : and that my Lord Keeper was in a manner out of the foreign Councils ; for fo he writ to me himfelf, and gave me Notice at the fame time, that my Lord Arlington was not at all fhe fame to me that he had been : which I took for a ill Sign in our public Bufmefs, and an ill Circum- ftance in my own; and the more becaufe I was fure not to have deferved it ; and found nothing of it in his own Letters, but only that they came feldom, and run more upon indif- ferent Things than they ufed to do. Ever fmce Madame 's Journey into England, the Dutch had rown jealous of fomething be- tween Us and France; and were not like to be cured by thefe Particulars I have mentioned : but upon the Invafion and Seizure of Lorrain by France, and my being fent for over fo fudden- ^/LETTERS. 309 ly after it, Monfieur de tt r itt himfelf could keep his Countenance no longer j though he be neither fufpicious in his .Nature, nor thought it the beft Courfe xo difcover any ftich Difpofi- tion upon this Occafion, how much foever he had of it: but yet he told me at my coming away, that he fhould make a Judgment of us by the Suddennefs of my Return, which the King had ordered me to allure him of. When I came to Town, I went immediate- ly t? my Lord Arlington ^ according to my Cuftom. And whereas upon my feveral Jour- nies over in the late Conjunctures, he had ever quitted all Company to receive me, and did it . always with open Arms, and in the kindeft manner that could be ; he made me this laft time flay an Hour and half in an outward Room before he came to me, while he was in private with my Lord jf/hly. He received me with a Coldnefs that I confefs furprifed me; and after a quarter of an Hour's Talk of my Journey and his Friends at the Hague y inftead of telling me the Occafion of my being lent for over, or any thing elfe material, he called in Tata that was in the next Room, and after that my Lord Crofts^ who came upon a common Vifitj and in that Company the reft of mine pafs'd, 'till I found he had nothing more to fay to me, and fo went away. The next Morning I went however to him again, defiring to be brought by him to kifs the King's Hand, as I had ufed upon my former Journies. He thought fit to bring me to his Majefty as he was walking in the Mall; who itopt to give me his Hand, and afk me half a dozen Queftions about my Journey; and about 310 A feleft COLLECTION about the Prince of Orange^ and fo walk'd on, Since which Time, neither the King nor my Lord Arlington have ever faid three Words to me about any thing of Bufinefs ; though I have been as often in their Way as agreed with fuch an ill Courtier as I am, or a Man without Bufinefs as I found myfelf to be. I have feen my Lord Keeper and Mr. Se- retary Trevor: and find the firft uneafy and apprehenfive of our prefent Councils ; the laft fufficient and confident that no Endeavours can break the Meafures between Us and Holland^ becaufe they are efteemed fo necefiary abroad and fo rational at home : but, I find them both but barely in the Skirts of Bufinefs, and only in Right of their Ports : and that in the Secret of it, the Duke of Buckingham, my Lord Arlington^ myXord Ajhly, and Sir Thomas Clifford^ at prefent compofe the Miniftry. This I tell you in ftjort, as the Constitution of our Affairs here at this time, and which I believe you may reckon upon. You know how different Sir Thomas Clifford and I have always been fince our firft Ac- quaintance, in our Schemes of Government, and many other Matters, efpecially concerning our Alliance with Holland: and that has been the Reafon I fuppofe, of very little Commerce between us further thas common Civility, in our frequent Encounters at my Lord Arlington's for feveral Years paft: this made. me a little furprifed at his receiving me upon my firft coming over, and treating me fince with a moft wonderful Gracioufnefs, till t'other Day, which I fuppofe has ended that Style. Upon the firft Vifit he made me, after many Civi- lities, ^/LETTERS. 311 lities, he told me, he muft needs have two Hours Talk with me at fome Time of Lei- fure and in private, upon our Affairs in Hol- land: and flail repeated this almoft every time he faw me : till one Day laft Week, when we appointed the Hour, and met in his Clofet. He began with great Compliments to me about my Services to the King in my Employments abroad ; went on with the Neccffity of preferv- ing our Mcafures with Holland, and the mutual Interefl both Nations had in it, and concluded with wondering why the States fhould have fhewed fo much Difficulty upon thofe two Af- fairs of Surinam and the Ea/l- India Company, wherein our Demands feemed fo reafonable. And how it came about that I had failed in compaffing his Majcfty's Satisfaction in thofe two Matters, after having fucceeded fo much in ail rny other Negotiations. I thought he might not have underftood the Detail of thofe two Affairs ; and fo deduced it to him, with the Dutch Reafons, which I confefs feemed to me in many Points but too well grounded. He feemed unfatisfied with them all, and told me I muft undertake that Matter again, and bring it to a Period ; and afked me whether I did not think I could bring them to Reafon : I faid plainly I believed I never could, to what we called fo, and therefore was very unwilling to undertake it: that I had fpent all my Shot in vain; and therefore thought their beft way would be to employ fome Perfon in it that had more Wit or Ability than I. Upon this he grew a little moved ; and replied, That, for my Wit and Ability they all knew I had enough ; and all the Queflion was, whether I was will- ing 12 A fcltft COLLECTION ing to employ them upon this Occafion, which fo much concerned the King's Service and the Honour of the Nation. Hereupon I told him, how I had ufed my utmoft Endeavours in it already, how many Reprefentations I had made the States ; how many Conferences I had had with their Commiflioners, how long and par- ticular Accounts I had given them hitherto ; and how I had valued all the Reafons tranf- mitted me from hence; and how all to no Purpofe : and being, I confefs, a little heated after fo long and unpleafant a Converfation (as well as he) I afk'd him in the Name of God what he thought a Man could do more ? Upon this in a great Rage he anfwered me ; Yes, he would tell me what a Man might do more, and what I ought to do more; which was, to let the King and all the World know how bafely and unworthily the States had uiecl him ; and to declare publicly how their Mini- fters were a Company of Rogues and Rafcals, and not fit for his Majefty or any other Prince to have any thing to do with ; and this was a Part that no body could do fo well as I. My Anfwer was very calm, That I was not a Man fit to make Declarations : that whenever I did upon any Occafion, I fhould fpeak of all Men what I thought of them; and fo I fhould do of the States, and the Minifters I had dealt with there ; which was all I could fay of this Bufinefs. And fo our Converfation ended. Upon all thcfe Paflages, and fome others net fit for a Letter, I have fixed my Judgment of the Affairs and Counfels at prefent in De- fign or Deliberation here. I apprehend Wea- ther ^/LETTERS. 313 ther coming, that I (hall have no mind to be abroad in ; and therefore refolved to get a warm Houfe over my Head as foon as I could: and neither apprehend any Uneafmefs of Mind or Fortune in the private Life I propofe to rriy- felf; unlefs fome public Revolutions mould draw both upon me, which cannot touch me alone, and muft be borne like a common Ca- lamity. I cannot find them willing yet . to end my Embafiy in Form, or give me leave to fend over for my Wife and Family; which I eafily apprehend the Reafon of, and muft go through as well as I can; tho' my Expence at the Hague be great, and my Hopes little here of getting my Pay, as I find Affairs go and Dif- pofitions too in the Treafury, where all is dif- pofed ir a manner by Sir Thomas Clifford. In the mean time, I have fent over for my Spanijb Horfe, and intend' to fend a Groom away with him to Dublin, in hopes you will be pleafed with him. I can be fo with nothing more than the Occafions of expreffing always that Duty wherewith I am, Sir, London, Nov. 22, 1670. Teur, &c LETTER XCVI. To the SAM B. SIR, T Am fure you will be pleafed with knowing * that my Wife and Family are fafe arrived from Holland, after a Pafl'age that might very well have met with other Dangers befides thofe of Wind and Weather. I could not obtain Vol. I. P Leave m > 14 A felt ft COLLECTION Leave to fend for them till July^ though I had for fome Months tblikited both that and the ending of my Embafly : but then his Majefty was pleafcd to grant me both that Liberty, and alfo of writing to the States and to Monfieur dg ffatt^ to take my Leave of them, and end my Embafiy as upon my own Defire, and my own private Occafions, which were indeed enough to engage me in that Purfuit, confi- tiering the Charge of maintaining an Ambafla- dor's Family at the Hague, while my Pay- ments from the Exchequer went fo heavy and io lame. 'Tis true, I had other Reafons long about me, which I kept to myfelf: for, foon after my coming over, my Wife, writ me Word, that Monfieur Glse the Danljh Envoy there, had told her in Confidence, and out of Kind- nefs to me, that Monfieur Pompone the French Ambailador at the Hague, had acquainted him, that new Meafures were taken between our Court and that of France; among which one xvas, that I fhould be recalled and return no more. At the fame time Monfieur de It^itt had upon the Delays of my Return, told my Se- cretary Mr. Blaithwfiit) that he fhould take my Stay or coming; back for certain Signs of what the King's intentions were towards the preieiving or changing the Meafures he had taken with the States : and had deiired him to let the Court know what lie laid. This I ill ppofe . made them unwilling to make a De- claration by my recalling, of what they in- tended upon this Occafion, before all things neceflary were mote> fully agreed or better con- certed. ' Therefore they continued not only my */ L E T T E R S. S i 5 i-amily there for fo many Months, and the Talk of my Return, but entertained the Dutch Minifters here with fuch Language as rained in them an Opinion of our Meafures ftill con- tinuing firm upon the fame Bottom ; and with fuch a Credulity as was enough to make one doubt whether they were willing to de- ceive their Mailers or to be deceived them- felves. In July the Dutch Fleet was floating in the Channel ; to {hew, I fuppofe, that they were in Condition to meet any of thofe Dangers they began to fufpet from the Motions of France^ and from our late Conduct. When the Captain of the Yacht that wis ordered to convey my Wife over, took his Leave at Court j he had public Orders given him, if he came in Sight of the Dutch Fleet, he fhould fail through them, and fhoot at thofe Ships that were next him, till he made them flrike Sail, t>r till they (hot at him again j and then pur- fue his Courfe. He pafs'd, it feems, into Hal- land without feeing them ; hut as he returned he met the Fleet, and failing through them, made feveral Shot at thofe near him: upon which they feemed at leaft not to know what he meant, and to believe he might be in fome Diftrefs ; and the Admiral font a Boat aboard him to inquire. The Captain told them, that he had been fent to bring back the Fngli/1) Am- bafladrefs with her Family from Holland; and had Orders to mnke the Dutch Fleet ftrike where-ever he met them in the Channel. Upon this Meilage by the Boat, Vice-Admiral Pan Ghent came aboard the Yacht, upon a Com- pliment to my Wife; which he performed very handfomely, and afterwards defired to fpeak P 2 with 3 1 6 A fete ft COLLECTION with the Captain, of whom he inquired the Reafon of his Shooting; and receiving the fame Anfwer which had been given to the hrft Boat, he faid it was a Point they had received no Order in from their Matters, and did not know how that Affair was agreed between his Ma- jefty and the^ States. But tho' it were fettled, yet the Captain could not pretend, the Fleet and Admiral mould ftrike to a Yacht ; which was but a Pleafure-boat, or at leaft fcrved only for Paflage, and could not pafs for one of the King's Men of War. The Captain faid he had his Orders, and was bound to follow them. After Van Ghent was gone, the Captain per- plex'd enough came to my Wife, and defined to know what, fhe pleafed he mould do in the Cafe; which me faw he did not like very well, and would be glad to get out of by her Help. She told him, he knew his Orders belt, and what he was to do upon them; which fhe left to him to follow as he thought fit, without any Regard to her or her Children. He purfued his Courfe, and landed her fafej after which (he went to Court, and was very well re- ceived, and much commended for her Part in what had paiied : and at Night, Sir Lionel ^Jenkins was fent to take her Examination in Form upon the whole Matter of Fact. When I went next to the King's Levee, he began to fpeak of my Wife's Carriage at Sea, and to commend it as much as he blamed the Cap- tain's ; and faid, fhe had fhewed more Courage than he : and then falling upon the Dutch In- folence ; I faid, that however Matters went, it muft be confefled that there was fome Merit in my Family ; fince I had made the Alliances with Holland, and my Wife was like to have the Honour of LETTERS. 317 Honour of making the War. The King fmlled as well as I, who had found this the only way to turn the Difccurfe into good Humour ; and fo it ended. When I went into the King's Clofet, I de- fired to k.Lfs his Hand upon the End of my Ambafly ; which he gave me very gracioufi;/, and toid me he had ail the Reafon that could be, to be fatisfied with my Services. And upon my Dciire that he would give me fome Help in the Difpatch of my Payments due from die Exchequer, fince I was- refolved to a/k him no- thing eife; and had been at fo great Expenee to maintain my Family at the Hague fo long without their Help: he told. me he would fpeak to the Commiffioners of the Treafury to do*me Juftice ; and in the mean time would give me the Plate belonging to my Embafiy, which I had ftill in my PofTeffion. I gave' his Majefty my humble Thanks; and he feemed very much pieafed to fee I took it kindly, and was fo eafily contented. And thus an Adventure has ended in Smoak, which had for almoft three Years made fo much Noife in the World, reftored and preferved fo long the general Peace, and left his Majefty the Arbitrage of all Affairs among our Neighbours, by the Emperor and Spain's Refolutions, as well as Sweden and Holland's^ to follow his Meafures for the common Safety and Peace of Chriften- dom. The Dutch Minifters at Court, as ill Nofes as they have, began to fmell the Powder after the Captain's {hooting; and know not what Countenances to fet upon it here, and will I doubt be more to feek at their Return. All People are full of the Politics and Expectations P 3 of 3 1 8 A felecl COLLECTION of what will be next, which you inuft expect to hear from Gazetts and no more frcm me; who fit all not fo much as inquire nor care to know ; but retire to my Corner at Sbtev, and endeavour to pafs the reft of my Life as quiet- ly and innocently as I can > and for the reft, like a private Man run the Fortune of my Country. I have bsen long enough in Courts and public Bufmefs, to kno T .v a great deal of the World and of myfelf; and to find that we are not made for one another, and that neither of us are like to alter either our Natures or our Cuftoms: and that in the Courfe and Periods of public Government, as well as private Life, Ztyifq ; fas patimur Munes. I am fenfible this is too long a Trouble; but beina; like to be the laft of this kind, I hope voa will forgive it among many others you have btcn content with from /;-, Tour ntoft tledlent Si*;, Lomhn, Sept, 14, 1 6- 1. and mijl bumlk Secant.. LETTER XCVII, Sir Wiliiam Temple to tbe King* J*/fay it plenfe your Majejly, 'TpHE Day before the Prince of Orange left -* this Place, I attended him at Hounjkrd-jke upon his own Appointment ; and telling me fe- veral times that he had fbmething to fay to me before he went into the Field, and defired it might be there, ^nd at fome Leifure. When- we were alone in the Garden^ he was pleafed to tf L E T t E R S. 319 to telL me, I would eafily believe the Inftanccs of- the State-, and of his Friends, as well as the Condition of his Family, muft needs have- put him often upon the Thoughts of marrying? but he had been ftill in Hopes that the Ccni- clufion of a Peace would have made way for it fooner than he now thought it was like to do : for at prefent, he did not fee when or how that could be brought about, unlefs your Majefty would refolve upon fuch Conditions as you fhould think fit to have it made upon. ; and fo propofe them to the Parties, who were other- wife too diftant in their Pretenfions to agree eafily themfelves. That upon this Profpec"t he began to think, his Marriage could not longer attend upon the Motions of the Peace, which might be very flow and uncertain ; and there- fore he would tell me freely, that he was re~ folved, in cafe he returned from this Campaign, to neglect no Time or Paces that could be made i-n the Purfuit of it. That for the. Perfon, I might be. fure his Inclinations would lead him into England^ though he did not know what Difpofitions he fhould meet with there ; and while the War laftcd, it might on this fide admit of much Reflections, both from this State and their Allies. That however he would not go into the Field without writing to your Majeffy, raid to the Duke, of what he had fo much at Heart; and" beging the Permiffion, than immediately after the Campaign ended, he might go over into England. Thrft he thought this would be tieceflary, both that he might make his own Purfuit himfelf, in an Affair that fo aicarly concerned him ; and that by afking Leave fo early, no Time might be loft upon that Oc- c.iuon, when the Campaign was .ever. That P 4 ^ he A fcleZi COLLECTIOV he had Reafon to defire, this Affair might at prefent be managed with all the Secrecy that could be, and "therefore was refolved to put the Letters concerning it into my Hands, *nd defire.l my Wife might deliver them both lo your Maiefty and his Royal Highnefs, and that he would take care to fend them to me before he went. This was the Sum of his Highncfs his Dif- courfe to me when I took leave of him ; and his Letters both for your Majefty and the Duke being fome Days after come to my Hands, I thought it my Duty to fend them according to the Directions I receiv'd from the Prince, and fhall leave your Majefty to know the reft from .his own Hand ; tho' I think I have not miftakert any thing of what he faid to me upon this Oc- caiion. I (hall not farther increafe your Ma- jefty's prefent Trouble, than by the humble Pjofcflions of that perfect Devotion wherewith 1 am and ihall be ever, iiagut* April 23, Sir 9 5.N. 1676. Tour Maje/ly's, &c. LETTER XCVIII. Sir William Temple to Sir John Temple. SIR, ^p HOUGH I do not trouble you often * with public News or Bufmefs ; yet I am fenfible of having too much neglected it of late, confidering what has paifed ; which J know you will be more pleafed with than any you have been entertained with a great while. For J re- member how often and how much you have defired to fee the Prince of Orange married here; not only from your good Wifhes to him, but of LETTERS. 321 but from your Apprehenfions of fome greater Matches that might befall us, and with Con- fequences ill enough to Pofterity as well as to the prefent Age. I am in a good Deal of Hafte at this prefent Time, and therefore {hall fum up a great Deal in a little Room. The Prince of Orange came to the King at Newmarket, where he was mighty well received both of King and Duke. I made the Acquaintance there between the Prince and my Lord Trea- furer; and in fuch a manner as tho' they were not at all known before to one another, yet they fell very loon into Confidence. The Prince laid not a Word to any of them of any Thoughts of a Wife while they {raid at Newmarket j and told me, no Confiderations Ihould move him in that Affair till he had feen. the Lady. The Day after he faw her here, he moved it to the King and Duke ; and tho' he did it with fo good a Grace that it was very well received; yet in four or five Days Treaty, it proved to be entangled in fuch Diffi- culties, that the Prince fent for me one Night, and uttering his whole Heart, told me, he was- refolved to give it over, repenting him from the Heart of his Journey, and would be gone within two Days, and truft God Almighty with what would follow ; and fo went to Bed the moft melancholly that ever I faw him in my Life. Yet before Eleven o'Clock the next Morning, the King fent me to him to let him know he was refoived on the tylatch, and that it mould be done immediately, and' in the Prince's own Way. v b^-iu^t Thus far, what had pafs'd went no farther than the King, the Duke, the Prince, my Lord Treafurer, and me: but, that Afternoon it wa p declared 322 A felect COLLECTION declared at the foreign Comittec, and next Da at Council; you will eafily imagine with what general Joy. I cannot but tell you, that no Man feems to lay it to Heart fo much as my Lord Arlington ; having had no Part in it ; which he could not but take notice of to the Prince, who told me his Compliment to him. upon it was, that fome Things, tho' they were good in themfelves, yet were fpoiled by the manner of doing them ; but this was in it- felf fo good, that the manner of doing it could not fpoil it. I am told he lays it upon me, and will never forgive me; which I muft bear as well as I can : but yet, becaufe you know how we have formerly lived, I will tell you, that it was not only impoflible my Lord Trea- iurer and he mould concur in one Thing, but he had likewife loft all the Prince's Confidence :ind Opinion, fince his lair Journey into Hol- land. Befides, for my own Part, 1 found thefe two Years part, he could not bear my being fo well neither with the Prince, nor with the Treafurer; but endeavoured by Sir Gabriel Sylvius to break the firit by Steps which the Prince acquainted me with ; nor could he hold re- proaching me the laft whenever 1 went to him ; though he himfelf had firft advifed me to ap- ply myfelf to my Lord Treafurer all I could, upon my tali: Embaffy into Holland : and though I had ever finee told them both, I would live well with them both, let them live as ill as they would one with another ; arid my Lord Trea- furer had been fo reafonable as to, be contented with it. Since the Marriage, the King and the Prince have fallen into the Bufmefs abroad, and agreed upon the Terms of a Peace, which. the King will of L E T T E R S. 323 will offer to France, and fuch as they both conclude will fecure Flanders. They both agree that I muft of Neceflity go to Paris immedi- ately upon this Errand, and bring a pofttive Anlwer from that Court within a, Time prefix'd. I never undertook any Journey more unwilling- ly, knowing in what Opinion I {land already at that Court} how deeply they refent the Prince's Match without their Communication, or the leaft Word to their AmbafFador here; and with how little Reafon I can hope to be the welcomer for this Errand. But the King will abfolutely have it ; and fo I have made all my fmall Preparations, and think to be gone within two Days ; which is all at pre- fent, but to afk your Blefling, and affure you.- of my being, 5;V'v London, Nov.""- 1677. . .. i. Tour, &c. L E T T E R XCIX. Earl of Clarendon to the Duke of York, on the Dut chefs' s turning Catholic. 1 Have not prefumed in any manner to approach * your royal Prefence, fince I have been marked with the Brand of Banifhmcnt; and I would ftill with the fame forbear this Prefumption, if I did not believe nayfelf bound by all the Obligations of Duty to make this Addrefs to you. I have seen too much acquainted with the Preemption and Impudence of the Times in raifmg falfe and fcandalous Reproaches upon innocent and worthy Perfons of all Qualities and Degrees, to give Cre- dit to thofe bold Whifpers which have been too iong fcatter ed abroad concerning your Wife's be* : t 24- A fekft Co LLECTION ing fliaken in her Religion ; but when thofe Whifpers break out into Noife, and public Per- fons begin to report, that the Dutchefs is become a Roman Catholic ; when J heard that many wor- thy Pcrfons of unqueftionable Devotion to your Royal Highnefs are not without fome Fear and Apprehenfion of it, and many Reflections are. made from thence to the Prejudice of yeur Royal Perfon, and even of the King's Majefty, I hope it may not mifbecome me, at what DH ftance foever, to caft myfelf at your Feet, and be- feech you to look on this Matter in Time, and to apply fome Antidote to expel the Poifon of" it., It is not poflible your Royal Highnefs can be xvithout Zeal and intire Devotion for that Church, for the Purity and Prefervation where- of,, your blefled Father made himfelf a Sacrifice, and to the Reftoration whereof you have contri- buted fo much yourfelf, and which highly deferves the King's Protection, and yours, fmce there can be no pofllble Defection in the Hearts of the Peo- ple,, while due Reverence is made to the Church. Your Wife is generally believed to have fo per- fect a Duty and intire Refignation to the Will of your Royal Highnefs, that any Defection in her from her Religion, will be for want of Cir- cumfpetion in you; and not ufing your Autho- rity, or to your Connivance. I need not tell the iil Confequence that fuch a Mutation would be attended with in reference to your Royal High- nefs, and even to the King himfelf, whofe greateft Security (under God) is in the Afre&ion and Duty of his Proteftant Subjects.. Your Royal Highnefs knows how far I have always been from wiihing, that the Roman Catholics mould be profecuted wifh Severity; but I lefs wiih it fliould ever be of LETTERS. 32* in their Power to be able to profecute thofe who differ from them, fince we well know how little Moderation they would or could ufe. And if this which People fo much talk of (I hope without Ground) fhould foil out, it might very probably raife a greater Storm againft the Roman Catholics in general, than modeft Men can wim ; fince after iuch a Breach any Jealoufy of their Preemption would feem reafonable. I have written to the Dutchefs with the Freedom and Affection of a troubled and perplexed Father. I do moft humbly befeech your Royal Highnefs by your Authority, to refcue her from bringing a Mifchief upon you and herfelf that can never be repair'd; and to- think it woi thy your Wif- dom to remove and difpel thofe Reproaches (how falfe foever) by better Evidence than Contempt} and hope you do believe, that no Severity I have, or can undergo, fhail in any Degree lefien or diminifh my moft profound Duty to his Majefty and your Royal Highnefs ; but that I do with all imaginable Obedience fubmit to your good Plea- fure in all things. God preferve your Royal Highnefs, and keep me in your Favour. Sir, Teur Royal VRgbneffs moft humble and obedient Servant^ CLARENDON. LETTER C. er! of Clarendon to the Dutcbefs of York, on the jiime Occafion. V^OU have much Reafon to believe that I *' hav_ no Mind to trouble you, or difpleafe you, efpeciaJly in an Argument that isfo unplea- fant gz6 A fekR COLLECTION lant and grievous to myfelf ; but as no Diitanet of a Place that is between us, in refpect of our Refidence, or the greater Diitance in refpect of the high Condition you are in T can make me lefs your Father,., or abfolve me from performing thofe Obligations which that Relation requires from me j fo when I receive any credible Ad- vertifcment of what reflects upon you, in Point of Honour, Conscience, or Discretion, I ought not to omit the informing you oi it, or admini- frring fuch Advice to you, as to my Underftand- ing feems reaionable ; and which I muft ftill hope will have fome Credit with. you. I will confefs to you, that what you wrote to me many Months fmce upon thofe Reproaches, which I told you were generally reported concerning your Defection in Religion, gave me fo much Satisfaction, that I believed them to proceed from that ill Spirit of the Times that delights in Slander and Ca- lumny. But I rnuft tell you, that the fame Re- port increafes of late very much, and I myfelf faw the lafl Week a Letter from Pnris^ from a Perfcn who faid the Englijh Ambaflador affurect him the Day before, that the Dutchefs was be- c'ome a Roman Catholic, and which makes greater Jmpreflions upon me, I am aflured that many good Men in England, who have great Affeclion for you and me, and who have thought nothing more impoilible than that there fliould be fuch a Change in you, are at prefent under much Af- fliction, with the Obfervation of a great Change in your Cour/e of Life, and that conftant Exer- cife of that Devotion which was fo notorious; and do apprehend from your frequent Difcourfes, that you have, not the fame Reverence and Ve- neration that you ufed to have for the Church of bt$bnd\ the Church in which you was cf LETTERS. 337. baptized, and the Church the beft conftituted,. and the moft free from Errors of any Chriftian Church this Day in the World ; and that fomc Perfons by their Infinuations have prevailed with- you to have a better Opinion of that which is inoft oppofite to it, the Church of Rome, than the Integrity thereof deferves. It is not yet in my Power to believe, that your Wit and Understanding (with God's Blefliig- upon both) can fuffer you to be fhaken farther than with melancholly Reflections upon the Ini- quity and W^ckednefs of the Age we live in; which difcredits all Religion, and which with equal Licence breaks into the ProfefTors of all, and prevails upon the Members of all Churches, and whofe Manners will have no Benefit from the .Faith of any Church. I preiume you do not entangle yourfelf in ther particular Controverfies between the Romani/lt and us, or think yourfelf a competent Judge of all Difficulties which occur therein: and there- fore it muft be fome fallacious Argument of An- tiquity, and Univerfality, confidently urged by Men who know lefs than many ofr thofe you are acquainted with, and ought lefs to be be- lieved by you, that can raife any Doubts and Scruples in you ; and if you will with equal Temper hear thofe who are well able to inftruct you in thofe Particulars, it is not poflible for you to fuck in that Poifbn which can only coi- rupt and prevail over you by flopping your own Ears, and fhutting your own Eyes. There arc but two Perfons in the World who have greater Authority with you than I can pretend to ; and am fure they both fuffer more in this Rumour, and would fuffer much more if there were Ground far it, than I can do: and truly I am as. 32 % A fileft COLLECTION as unlikely to be deceived myfelf, or to deceiver you, as any Man that endeavours to pervert you in your Religion. And therefore, I befeech you let me have fo much Credit with you, as to perfuade you to communicate any Doubts or Scruples which occur to you, before you fuffer them to make too deep an Impreffion upon you. The common Argumejit that there is no Sal- vation out of the Church, and that the Church of Rome is that only true Church, is both irrational and untrue ; there are many Churches in which Salvation may be attained, as well as in any one of tnemj and were many, even in the Apoftles Time; otherwife they would never have directed their Epiftles to fo many feveral Churches in which there were different Opinions received, and very different Do&iines taught. There is indeed but one Faith in which we can be faved, the ttedfaft Belief of the Birth, Paffion and Re- furrection of our Saviour; and every Church that receives and embraces that Faith, is in a State of Salvation, if the Apoftles preached true Do&nne, the Reception and Retention of many Err-rs does not deftroy the Eflence of a Church ; if it did, the Church of Rome would be in as ill, if not in a worfe Condition, than moft other Chriftian Churches ; becaufe its Errors are of a greater Magnitude, and more deftru&i\ e to Re- ligion. Let not the canting Djfcourfes of the Univerfality and Extent of the Church, which has as little Truth as the reft, prevail over you : They who will imitate the greateft Part of the World, mult turn Heathens ; for it is generally believed, that above one half of the World is poifeiled by them, ai^d that the Mahometans pof- fefs above one half of the Remainder. There is as little Queftion, that of the reft, which .is in- of LETTERS. 329 inhabited by Chriftians, one Part of four is not of the Communion of the Church of Rome- t and God knows in that very Communion there - is as great Difcord in Opinion, and in Matters of as great Moment, as is between the other Chriftians. I hear you do in public Difcourfes diflika ibme Things in the Church of England^ as the Marriage of the Clergy, which is a Point which no Roman Catholic will pretend to be of the Ef- fence of Religion, and is in ufe in many Places which are of the Communion of the Church of Rom/.", as in Bohemia, and thofe Parts of the Greek Church which fubmit to the Roman: and all Men know, that in the late Council of Trenf, the Sacraments of both Kinds, and Liberty of the Clergy to marry, were very paffionately prefTed both by the Emperor and King of France for their Dominions ; and it was afterwards granted to Germany^ though under fuch Conditions as made it ineffectual ; which however fhews that it was not, nor ever can be look'd upon as a Matter of Religion. Chriftianity was many hundred Years old before fuch a Reftraint was ever heard of in the Church ; and when it was endeavoured, it met with great Oppofition, and was never fubmitted to. And as the pofitive Inhibition feems abfolutely unlawful, fo the Inconveniences which refult from thence, will upon a juft Difquifition be found fuperior to thofe which attend the ; Liberty which the Chriftian Religion permits. Thofe Arguments which are not ftrong enough to draw rerfons from the Roman Communion into that of the Church of England^ when Cuftom and Education, and a long ftupid Refignation of all their Faculties to their Teachers, ufually flints Out . all Reafon to the contrary ; may yet bo abundant A felecf COLLECTION abundant to retain thofc who have been baptized, and bred, and inftructed in the Grounds and Prin- ciples of that Religion ; which are, in Truth, not only founded upon the clear Authority of the Scriptures, but upon the Confent of Anti- quity, and the Practice of the primitive Church ; and Men who look into- Antiquity, know well by what Corruption and Violence, and with what conftant and continual Oppofition, thofe Opinions, which are contrary to ours, crept into the World, and how warrantably the Authority of the Bifhop of Rome^ which alone fupports all the reft, came to prevail - t which has no more Pretence of Authority and Power in England^ Shan, the BHIjcp of Paris, or Toledo, can as rea- fonably lay- Claim to; and is fo far from being. Matter of Catholic Religion, that the Pope has fo much and no more, to do in France or Spain, or any other Catholic Dominion* than the Crown, and Laws, and Comlitutions of feveral Kingdoms give him leave j which makes him fo little (if at all) confidered in France^ and fo much in Spain 9 and therefore the Engtijh Catholics, which attri- bute fo much to him, make themfelves very unwarrantably of another Religion than the Ca- tholic Church profefies : and without Doubt thofe who defert the Church of England^ of which they are Members, and become thereby difobedient to the ecclefiaftical and civil Laws of their Country, and therein renounce their Subjection to the State, as well as to the Church (which are grievous Sins) had need of a better Excufe, than the meeting with fome Doubts which they could not anfwerj and lefs than a manifeft Evidence, that their Salvation is dcfpe- rate in that Communion, cannot ferve their Turn: and they who imagine they have fuch an of LETTERS. 33, r.n Evidence, ought rather to fufpect tliat their Underflanding has forfaken them, and that they are become mad, than that the Church, which is replenished with all Learning- and Piety re- quifite, can betray them to Perdition. I befeech you to confider (which I hope will over-rule thofe ordinary Doubts and Objections which may be infufed into you) that if you change your Religion, you renounce all Obedience and Affection to your Father who loves you fo ten- derly, that fiich an odious Mutation would break his Heart ; you condemn your Father and your Mother (whofe incomparable Virtues, and Piety, and Devotion, have placed her in Heaven) for having impioufly educated you j you declare fho Church and State, to both which you owe Re- verence and Subjection, to be, in your Judgment, Antichrijlian : you bring irreparable Dimonour > Scandal, and Prejudice, to the Duke your Huf- band, to whom you ought to pay all imaginable Duty; and whom, I prefume, is much more precious to you, than your own Life > and alt poflibte Ruin to yo'ur Children, of whofe Com- pany and Converfation you muft look, to be de-' prived j for God forbid, that after fuch an Apo- ftacy, you fhould have any Power in the Educa- tion of your Children. You have many Enemies, whom you would here abundantly gratify, and fome Friends whom you will thereby (at Jeaft as far as in you lies) perfectly deftroy ;. and af- flict many others, who have deferved well of you. I know you are not inclined to any Part of this Mifchief, and therefore offer thefe ConfKle- rafions as all thofe Particulars would be infal- lible Confequences of fuch a Conclufion. It is to me the fadcft Circumftance of my Banilhment,. that 332 A fehft COLLECTION that I may not be admitted i. '=,ch a Seafon as this, to confer with you, wh<. :M confident I would fatisfy you in all Dou, ! xnd make it appear to you, that there are man. Abfurciities in the 'Roman Religion, incorfifteni -/ith your Judgment and Underfranding ; rnci r.iany Im- pieties inconfiftent with your Confcience ; fo that before you can fubmit to the Obligations of Faith, you muft-diveft yourfelf of your natural Reafon and common Senfe, and captivate the Dictates of your Conference, to the Impofitions of asi Authority which has not any Pretence to oblige, or advife you. If you will not with Freedom communicate the Doubts which occur to you, to thofe near you, of whofe Learning and Piety you have had fuch Experience, let me conjure you to impart them to m, and to expccl: my Anfwer before you fuffer them to prevail over you. GW blefs you and yours* LETTER CI. tte Dutchefs's Anfwer. TXf HEREAS I have been ever from my *^ Infancy bred up in the Englifh Proteftant Religion, and have had very able Perfons to in- Iiru6t me in the Grounds thereof, and I doubt not but I am expofed to the Cenfure of an infinite Number of Perfons, who are aftoniOied at my quitting it, to embrace the Religion of the Roman Catholics j (for which I have ever profefTed a great Averfion) and therefore I have thought fit, to give fome Satisfaction to my Friends, by declaring unto them the Reafons upon which I- have been moved to do it ; without engaging myfelf in long and unprofitable Dilputes touching the Matter. I ro* of L E T T E R S. 333 I proteft therefore before God, that fince mX coining into England^ no Perfon, either Man or Woman, hath at any time perfuaded me to alter my Religion ; or hath ufed any Dif- courfes to me upon that Subject. It hath been only a particular Favour from God, who hath been gracioufly pleafed to hear the Prayers I daily made unto him, both in France and Flanders t whnlt I was there ; that he would vouchfafe to bring me into the true Church before Idier 1 , in cafe I was not in the Right. An:l it was the Devotion I obferved in the Catholics there^ which induced me to make that Prayer; altho' my own Devotion during all that Time was very (lender. I did notwithstanding, all the Time I was in thofe Countries, believe I was in the true Religion ; neither had I the leaft Scruple of it, until November laft; at which Time, read- ing J3r. Heylins Hiftory of the Reformation, which had been highly recommended to me, I was fo far from finding the Satisfa&ion I ex- petted, that I found nothing but Sacrileges j .and looking over the Reafons therein fet down, which cauled the Separation of the Church of England from that of Rome^ I read three there, which to me, were great Impieties. The Firft was, That Henry VIII. had caft off the Pope's Authority, becaufe he would not permit him to quit his Wife, and marry another. The Second, That during the Minority of Edward VI. his Uncle, the Duke of Sfofr/ft. who then governed all, and was the Principal in that Alteration, did greatly inrich himfelf with the Goods of the Church, which he en- grofred. And the Third confuted in this, That Quesn Elizabeth not being rightful Heir to the Crown, 334 A jeleft COLLECTION could not keep it, but by renouncing a Church, which would never have allowed of fuch Injufticc. I could not be perfuaded the Holy Ghoft would ever have made ufe of fuch Motives as thefe were, to change Religion, and was aftonifhed that the Bifhops, if they had no other Inten- tion than to eftablifh the Doctrine of the pri- mitive Church, had not attempted it before the Schifm of Henry VIII. which was grounded upon luch unjuftifiable Pretences. Being troubled with thefe Scruples, I began to make fome Reflections upon the points of Doctrine wherein we differed from the Catholics ; and to that Purpofe had recourfe to the Holy Scripture, and though I pretend not to be able perfectly to underftand it, I found notwithftanding feverul Points, which feemed to me very plain j and I cannot but wonder that I {laid fo long without taking notice of them. Amongft thefe, were the Real Prefence of our Saviour in the Sacraments, the Infallibility of the Church, ConfeiHon, and Prayers for the Dead. I treated of thefe Parti- culars feverally, with two of the moft learned Bifhops of England \ and advifing upon thefe Subjects, they told me, that it was to be wifh'd, that the Church of England had retained feve- ral Things it altered : as for Example, Confcf- fion, which, without Doubt, is of divine Infti- tution. They told me alfo, that Prayer for the Dead,, had been in Ufe in the primitive Church, during the firft Centuries ; and that they them- felves did daily obferve thofe things, though they defired not publicly to own thofe Doctrines. And having pretfed one of them fomething ear- neftly touching thefe things, he frankly told, me, that if he had been bred up in the Catholic Religion, he Ihould not have left it: but now be- of LETTERS. 335 mg a Member of that Church, which believed all the Articles neceflary to Salvation, he thought :he fhould do ill to quit it, becaufe he was beholden to that Church for his Baptifm, and he (hould thereby give Occafion of great Scandal to others. All thefe Difcourfes were a Means to increafc the Defire I had to embrace the Roman Catholic Religion, and added much to the inward Trouble of my Mind ; but the Fear I had to be hafty in a Matter of that Importance, made roe act warily, with all Precautions necefiary in fuclra Cafe. I pray'd incefTantly to God, that he would be pleafed to inform me in the Truth of thefe Points, whereof I doubted. Upon Cbri/lmas Day, going to receive at the King's Chapel, I found myfelf in greater Trouble than ever I had been in, neither was k pofljble for me to be at quiet, until I had difcovered myfelf to a certain Catholic * who prefently brought me a Prieft. He was the firft of them with whom I ever converfed, aad the more I converfed with him, the more I found myfelf to be confirmed in the Refolution I had taken. Jt was, I thought, impoflible to doubt of thefe Words, This is my Body; and I am verily perfuaded, that our Saviour who is Truth ttfelf, and hath promifed to continue with his Church to the World's End, would never fuffer thefe holy Myfteries to the Laity, only under one Kind, if it was inconftftent with his Irrftitution of that Sacrament. I am not able to difpute touching thefe tilings with any body, and if I were, I would not go about to do it, but I content myfelf to have wrote this, to juftify the Change I have made of my Religion i and I call God to witnefs, I had not done it, had I believed I could have been 336 A fdeft COLLECTION been faved in that Church, whereof till then I was a Member. I proteft ferioufly, I have not been induced to this, by any worldly Interefts or Motives, neither can the Truth of this my ft-oteftation be rationally doubted by any Per- fon, fince it was evident that thereby I loft all .my Friends, and very much prejudiced my Re- putation ; but having ferioufly confidered with jnyfelf, whether I ought to renounce my Portion in the other World, to enjoy the Advantages of my prefent Being here, I allure you I found it no Difficulty at all, to refolve the contrary, for which I render Thanks to God, who is the Author of all Goodnefs. My only Prayer to him is, tlut the poor Catholics of this Kingdom, may not be profe- .cuted upon my Account, and I befeech God to grant me Patience in my Afflictions, .and that what Tribulations foever his Goodnefe has ap- pointed for me, I may fo go through with them, as that I may hereafter enjoy a Happinefs for all JEternity. Given at St. James's the 20th of Auguft) 1670. The END of *&< FIRST VOLUME. This book is DUE on the last date stamped below 2ro-6,'52(A1855)470 PR 1541 Sftlfict collection 346 of original v.l letters PR 1241 S46 v.l A 000006345 3