sorry I did not for it had let in more light upon me of the cariage of that great action and then you might have bin well assur'd that I would have don that noble Knight all the right that could be But sir the severall arguments that you urge in your Letters are of that strength I confess that they are able to rectifie any indifferent man in this point and induce him to believe that it was no Chymera but a reall Mine for you write of divers pieces of gold brought thence by Sir Walter himself and Captain Kemys and of som Ingotts that wer found in the Governours Closet at St. Thoma with divers crusibles and other refining instruments yet under favour that might be and the benefit not countervail the charge for the richest Mines that the King of Spain hath upon the whole Continent of America which are the Mines of Potosâ—… yeeld him but six in the hundred all expences defrayed You write how King Iames sent privately to sir VValter being yet in the Tower to intreat and command him that he would impart his whole designe unto him under his hand promising upon the word of a King to keep it secret which being don accordingly by Sir VValter Rawleigh that very originall paper was found in the said Spanish Governours closet at St. Thoma wherat as you have just cause to wonder and admire the activeness of the Spanish Agents about our Court at that time so I wonder no less at the miscariage of som of His late Majesties Ministers who notwithstanding that he had pass'd his royall word to the contrary yet they did help Count Gondamar to that paper so that the reproach lieth more upon the English than the Spanish Ministers in this particular Wheras you allege that the dangerous sicknes of Sir VVatler being arrived neer the place and the death of that rare sparke of courage your brother upon the first landing with other circumstances discourag'd Captain Kemys from discovering the Mine but to reserve it for another time I am content to give as much credit to this as any man can as also that Sir VValter if the rest of the Fleet according to his earnest motion had gon with him to revictuall in Virginia a Country wher he had reason to be welcom unto being of his own discovery he had a purpose to return to Guyana the Spring following to pursue his first designe I am also very willing to believe that it cost Sir VValter Rawleigh much more to put himself in equipage for that long intended voyage than would have payed for his liberty if he had gon about to purchase it for reward of money at home though I am not ignorant that many of the co-adventurers made large contributions and the fortunes of som of them suffer for it at this very day But although Gondamar as my Letter mentions calls Sir Walter Pyrat I for my part am far from thinking so because as you give an unanswerable reason the plundering of St. Thoma was an act done beyond the Equator wher the Articles of Peace 'twixt the two Kings do not extend yet under favor though he broke not the Peace he was said to break his Patent by exceeding the bounds of his Commission as the foresaid Declaration relates for King Iames had made strong promises to Count Gondamar that this Fleet should commit no outrages upon the King of Spain's Subjects by Land unless they began first and I beleeve that was the main cause of his death though I think if they had proceeded that way against him in a legall course of triall he might have defended himself well enough Wheras you alledg that if that action had succeeded and afterwards been well prosecuted it might have brought Gondamar's great Catholic Master to have been begg'd for at the Church dores by Fryars as he was once brought in the latter end of Queen Elizabeths days I believe it had much damnified him and interrupted him in the possession of his West Indies but not brought him under favor to so low an ebb I have observed that it is an ordinary thing in your Popish Countreys for Princes to borrow from the Altar when they are reduc'd to any straights for they say the â—…iches of the Church are to serve as anchors in time of a storm divers of our Kings have don worse by pawning their Plate and Jewels Wheras my Letter makes mention that Sir Walter Rawleigh mainly laboured for his Pardon before he went but could not compas it this is also a passage in the foresaid printed Relation but I could have wish'd with all my heart he had obtaind it for I beleeve that neither the transgression of his Commission nor any thing that he did beyond the Line could have shortned the line of his life otherwise but in all probability wee might have been happy in him to this very day having such an Heroic heart as he had and other rare helps by his great knowledg for the preservation of health I beleeve without any scruple what you write that Sir William St. geon made an overture unto him of procuring his pardon for 1500 l. but whether he could have effected it I doubt a little when he had com to negotiat it really But I extremely wonder how that old sentence which had lain dormant above sixteen yeers against Sir Walter Rawleigh could have been made use of to take off his head afterwards considering that the Lord Chancellor Verulam as you write told him positively as Sir Walter was acquainting him with that proffer of Sir William St. geons for a pecuniaâ—…y pardon in these words Sir the knee timber of your voiage is money spare 〈◊〉 purse in this particular for upon my life you have a sufficient parâ—… for all that is passed already the King having under his broad Seal made you Admirall of your Fleet and given you power of the Martiall Law over your Officers and Soldiers One would think that by this Royall Patent which gave him power of life and death over the Kings liege peeple Sir Walter Rawleigh should becom Rectus in â—…ia and free from all old convictions but Sir to tell you the plain truth Count Gondamar at that time had a great stroak in our Court because ther was more than a meer â—…verture of a match with Spain which makes me apt to believe that that great wise Knight being such an Anti-Spaniard was made a Sacrifice to advance the Matrimoniall Treaty But I must needs wonder as you justly do that one and the same man should be condemned for being a frend to the Spaniard which was the ground of his first condemnation should afterwards lose his head for being their enemy by the same sentence Touching his return I must consess I was utterly ignorant that those two noble Earls Thomas of Arundell and William of Pembâ—…oke wer ingaged for him in this particular nor doth the prinâ—…ed Relation make any mention of them at all therfore I must say
wives and merchandizing which they are now permitted to do contrary to their first institution which makes them more worldly and less venturous This disgracefull return from Poland stuck in Osmans stomach and so studied a way how to be revengd of the Ianizaries therfore by the advice of his grand Visier a stout gallant man who had bin one of the chief Beglerbegs in the East he intended to erect a new Soldiery in Asia about Damasco of the Coords a frontier people and consequently hardy and inur'd to Arms. Of these he purpos'd to entertain 40000. as a lifegard for his peâ—…son though the main design was to suppress his lazie and lustfull Ianizaries with men of fresh new spirits To disguise this plot he pretended a pilgrimage to Mecha to visit Mahomets Tomb and reconcile himself to the Prophet who he throught was angry with him because of his late ill success in Poland but this colour was not specious enough in regard he might have performd this Pilgrimage with a smaller train and charge therfore it was propounded that the Emir of Sâ—…dm should be made to rise up in arms that so he might go with a greater power and treasure but this plot was held disadvantagious to him in regard his Ianizaries must then have attended him so he pretends and prepares only for the Pilgrimage yet he makes ready as much treasure as he could make and to that end he melts his plate and furniture of horses with divers Church lamps this fomented som jealousie in the Ianizaries with certain words which should drop from him that he would find soldiers shortly should whip them Hereupon he hath sent over to Asias side his pavilions many of his servants with his jewells and treasure resolving upon the voyage notwithstanding that divers petitions were delivered him from the Clergy the civill Magistrate and the Soldiery that he should desist from the voyage but all would not do therupon upon the point of his departure the Ianizaries and Spâ—…ies came in a tumultuary manner to the Seraglio and in a high insolent language disswaded him from the Pilgrimage and demanded of him his ill counsellors The first he granted but for the second he said that it stood not with his honor to have his neerest servants torn from him so without any legall proceeding but he assur'd them that they should appear in the Divan the next day to answer for themselves but this not satisfying they went away in a fury and plunderd the Grand Visiers Palace with divers others Osman hereupon was advis'd to go from his private gardens that night to the Asian shore but his destiny kept him from it so the next morning they came armd to the Court but having made a covenant not to violate the Imperiall Throne and cut in peeces the Grand Visier with divers other great Officers and not finding Osman who had hid himself in a small lodge in one of his gardens they cried out they must have a Musulman Emperor therfore they broke into a Dungeon and brought out Mustapha Osmans Unkle whom he had clapt there at the beginning of the tumult and who had bin King before but was depos'd for his simplicity being a kind of santon or holy man that is twixt an Innocent and an Idiot This Mustapha they did reinthronize and place in the Oâ—…toman Empire The next day they found out Osman and brought him before Mustapha who excus'd himself with tears in his eyes for his rash attempts which wrought tendernes in som but more scorn and fury in others who fell upon the Capi Aga with other Officers and cut them in peeces before his eyes Osman thence was carried to Prison and as he was getting a horsback a common soldier took off his Turban and clapt his upon Osmans head who in his passage begd a draught of water at a Fountain The next day the new Visier went with an Executioner to strangle him in regard ther were two younger brothers more of his to preserve the Oâ—…tomans race where after they had rushd in he being newly awakd and staring upon them and thinking to defend himself a robust boysterous rogue knockt him down and so the rest fell upon him and strangled him with much adoe Thus fell one of the greatest Potentats upon earth by the hands of a contemptible slave for ther is not a free born subject in all that vast Empire Thus fell he that Entitles himself most puissant and highest Monarch of the Turks King above all Kings a King that dwelleth upon the earthly Paridise son of Mahomet keeper of the grave of the Christian God Lord of the Tree of Life and of the River Flisky Prior of the earthly Paridise Conqueror of the Macedonians the seed of great Alexander Prince of the Kingdoms of Tartary Mesopotamia Media and of the martiall Mammaluckâ—… Anatolia Bithynia Asia Armenia Servia Thracia Morta Valachiâ—… Moldavia and of all warlike Hungary Soverain Lord and Commander of all Greece Persia both the Arabia's the most noble kingdom of Egypt Tremisen and African Empire of Trabâ—…sond and the most glorious Constantinople Lord of all the white and black Seas of the holy City Mecha and Medina shining with divine glory commander of all things that are to be commanded and the strongest and mightiest Champion of the wide world a Warrior appointed by Heaven in the edge of the sword a Persecutor of his Enemies a most perfect jewell of the blessed Tree the chiefest keeper of the crucified God c. with other such bombardicall Titles This Osman was a man of goodly Constitution an amiable aspect and of excesse of courage but sordidly covetous which drove him to violat the Church and to melt the Lamps therof which made the Mufti say that this was a due judgment faln upon him from Heaven for his Sacrilege He us'd also to make his person too cheap for he would go ordinarily in the night time with two men after him like a petty Constable and peep into the Cauphhouses and Cabarets and apprehend Soldiers there And these two things it seems was the cause that when he was so assaulted in the Seraglio not one of his Domestic servants wherof he had 3000 would liâ—…t an Arm to help him Som few days before his death he had a strange dream for hee dreamt that he was mounted upon a great Camell who would not go neither by fair nor foul means and lighting off him and thinking to strike him with his Cimitier the body of the beast vanisht leaving the Head and the bridle only in his hands when the Mufti and the Hoggies could not interpret this dream Mustapha his Uncle did it for he said the Camell signified his Empire his mounting of him his excesse in Government his lighting down his deposing Another kind of Prophetic speech dropt from the Grand Visier to Sir Thomas Roe our Ambassador there who having gone a little before this Tragedy to visit the said Visier told him what whisperings and mutterings there were
LXXVI To Sir R. Gr. Knight and Bar. Noble Sir I Had yours upon Maunday Thursday late and the reason that I suspended my answer till now was that the season engaged me to sequester my thoughts from my wonted negotiations to contemplat the great work of mans Redemption so great that wer it cast in counterballance with his creation it would out-poyze it far I summond all my intellectuals to meditat upon those passions upon those pangs upon that despicable and most dolorous death upon that cross wheron my Saviour suffer'd which was the first Christian altar that ever was and I doubt that he will never have benefit of the sacrifice who hates the harmeles resemblance of the altar wheron it was offer'd I applied my memory to fasten upon 't my understanding to comprehend it my will to embrace it from these three faculties me thought I found by the mediation of the fancy som beames of love gently gliding down from the head to the heart and inflaming all my affections If the human soul had far more powers than the Philosophers afford her if she had as many faculties within the head as ther be hairs without the speculation of this mystery would find work enough for them all Truly the more I scrue up my spirits to reach it the more I am swallowed in a gulf of admiration and of a thousand imperfect notions which makes me ever and anon to quarrell my soul that she cannot lay hold on her Saviour much more my heart that my purest affections cannot hug him as much as I would They have a custom beyond the Seas and I could wish it wer the worst custom they had that during the passion week divers of their greatest Princes and Ladies will betake themselves to som covent or reclus'd house to wean themselves from all worldly encombrances and convers only with heaven with performance of som kind of penances all the week long A worthy Gentleman that came lately from Italy told me that the Count of Byren now Marshall of France having bin long persecuted by Cardinall Richelieu put himself so into a Monastery and the next day news was brought him of the Cardinalls death which I believe made him spend the rest of the week with the more devotion in that way France braggs that our Saviour had his face turnd towards her when he was upon the Cross ther is more cause to think that it was towards this Island in regard the rays of Christianity first reverberated upon her her King being Christian 400 yeers before him of France as all Historians concur notwithstanding that he arrogates to himself the title of the first Son of the Church Let this serve for part of my Apologie The day following my Saviour being in the grave I had no list to look much abroad but continued my retirednes ther was another reason also why because I intended to take the holy Sacrament the Sunday ensuing which is an act of the greatest consolation and consequence that possibly a Christian can be capable of it imports him so much that he is made or marr'd by it it tends to his damnation or salvation to help him up to heaven or tumble him down headlong to hell Therfore it behoves a man to prepare and recollect himself to winnow his thoughts from the chaff and tares of the world beforehand This then took up a good part of that day to provide my self a wedding garment that I might be a fit guest at so precious a banquet so precious that manna and angels food are but cours viands in comparison of it I hope that this excuse will be of such validity that it may procure my pardon for not corresponding with you this last week I am now as freely as formerly Fleet 30. Aprill 1647. Your most ready and humble Servitor J. H. LXXVII To Mr. R. Howard SIR THer is a saying that carrieth with it a great deal of caution from him whom I trust God defend me for from him whom I trust not I will defend my self Ther be sundry sorts of musts but that of a secret is one of the greatest I trusted T. P. with a weighty one conjuring him that it should not take air and go abroad which was not don according to the rules and religion of frendship but it went out of him the very next day Though the inconvenience may be mine yet the reproach is his nor would I exchange my dammage for his disgrace I would wish you take heed of him for he is such as the Comic Poet speaks of plenus rimarum he is full of Chinks he can hold nothing you know a secret is too much for one too little for three and enough for two but Tom must be none of those two unless ther wer a trick to sodder up his mouth If he had committed a secret to me and injoynd me silence and I had promis'd it though I had bin shut up in Perillus brasen Bull I should not have bellowed it out I find it now true that he who discovers his secrets to another sells him his Liberty and becoms his slave well I shall be warier heerafter and learn more wit In the interim the best satisfaction I can give my self is to expunge him quite ex albâ—… amicorum to raze him out of the catalogue of my frends though I cannot of my acquaintance wher your name is inserted in great golden Characters I will endeavour to lose the memory of him and that my thoughts may never run more upon the fashion of his face which you know he hath no cause to brag of I hate such blatâ—…roons Odi illos seu claustra Erebi I thought good to give you this little mot of advice because the times are ticklish of committing secrets to any though not to From the Fleet 14. Febr. 1647. Your most affectionat frend to serve you J. H. LXVIII To my Hon. frend Mr. E. P. at Paris SIR LEt me never sally hence from among these disconâ—…olat Walls if the literall correspondence you please to hold so punctually with me be not one of the greatest solaces I have had in this sad condition for I find so much salt such indearments and flourishes such a gallantry and neaâ—…nes in your lines that you may give the law of lettering to all the world I had this week a twin of yours of the 10 and 15 current I am sorry to hear of your achaques and so often indisposition there it may be very well as you say that the air of that dirty Town doth not agree with you because you speak Spanish which language you know is us'd to be breath'd out under a clearer clyme I am sure it agrees not with the sweet breezes of peace for 't is you there that would keep poor Christendom in perpetuall whirle-winds of war but I fear that while France sets all wheels a going and stirres all the Cacodaemons of hell to pull down the house of Austria shee may chance at last to
and poorer peeple T is true England hath a good repute abroad for her fertility yet be our Harvests never so kindly and our Crops never so plentifull we have evry yeer commonly som Grain from hence or from Danzic and other places imported by the Marchant Besides ther be many more Heaths Commons Bleak-bâ—…rren-Hills and waste Grounds in England by many degrees then I find here and I am sorry our Countrey of Wales should give more instances hereof then any other part This Province of Normandy once an Appendix of the Crown of England though it want Wine yet it yeelds the King as much desmeans as any one of the rest The lower Norman hath Syder for his common drink and I visibly observ'd that they are more plump and replet in their bodies and of a clearer complexion then those that drink altogether Wine In this great City of Roüen ther be many Monuments of the English Nation yet extant In the outside of the highest Steeple of the great Church ther is the word GOD engraven in huge Golden Characters evry one almost as long as my self to make them the more visible In this Steeple hangs also the greatest Bell of Christendom call'd d' Amboise for it weighs neer upon fourty thousand pound weight Ther is also here Saint Oen the greatest Sanctuary in the Citie founded by one of our Compatriots as the name imports This Province is also subject to Wardships and no other part of France besides but whither the Conqueror transported that Law to England from hence or whither he sent it over from England hither I cannot resolve you Ther is a marvailous quick trade beaten in this Town because of the great Navigable River Sequana the Seine that runs hence to Paris wheron ther stands a strange Bridge that ebbs and flows that riseth and fall's with the River it being made of Boats whereon Coach and Carts may passe over as well as men Besides this is the neerest Mercantil City that stands twixt Paris and the Sea My last unto you was from the Low-Countreys wher I was in motion to and fro above four months but I fear it miscarried in regard you make no mention of it in yours I begin more and more to have a sense of the sweetnes and advantage of forren Travell I pray when you com to London to find a time to visit Sir Robert and acknowledge his great favours unto me and desire a continuance thereof according as I shall endeavour to deserve them So with my due and daily Prayers for your health and a speedy successefull issue of all your Law-businesses I humbly crave your blessing and rest Your dutifull Son J. H. Septemb. the 7. 1619. XVI To Cap. Francis Bacon from Paris SIR I Received two of yours in Roüen with the Bills of Exchange ther inclos'd and according to your directions I sent you those things which you wrote for I am now newly com to Paris this huge Magazin of men the Epitome of this large populous Kingdom and rendevouz of all Forreners The structures here are indifferently fair though the Streets generally foul all the four Seasons of the yeer which I impute first to the Position of the Citie being built upon an Isle the Isle of France made so by the branching and serpentin cours of the River of Seine and having som of her Suburbs seated high the filth runs down the Channell and settles in many places within the body of the Citie which lieth upon a flat as also for a world of Coaches Carts and Horses of all sorts that go to and fro perpetually so that somtimes one shall meet with a stop half a mile long of those Coaches Carts and Horses that can move neither forward nor backward by reason of some sudden encounter of others coming a crosse-way so that oftentimes it will be an hour or two before they can dis-intangle In such a stop the great Henry was so fatally slain by Ravillac Hence comes it to passe that this Town for Paris is a Town a City and an university is alwayes dirty and 't is such a dirt that by perpetual motion is beaten into such a thick black onctious Oyl that wher it sticks no art can wash it off of some colours insomuch that it may be no improper comparison to say That an ill name is like the Crot the dirt of Paris which is indelible besides the stain this dirt leaves it gives also so strong a sent that it may be smelt many miles off if the wind be in ones face as he comes from the fresh Air of the Countrey This may be one cause why the Plague is alwayes in som corner or other of this vast Citie which may be call'd as once Sâ—…ythia was Vagina Populorum or as mankind was call'd by a great Philosopher a great Mole-hill of Ants Yet I believe this Citie is not so populous as she seems to be for her form being round as the whole Kingdom is the Passengers wheel about and meet oftner then they use to do in the long continued Streets of London which makes London appear lesse populous then she is indeed so that London for length though not for latitude including Westminster exceeds Paris and hath in Miâ—…hnelmas Term more souls moving within her in all places T is under one hundred yeers that Paris is becom so sumptuous and strong in Buildings for her houses were mean untill a Myne of White Stone was discover'd â—…ard by which runs in a continued Vein of Earth and is digg'd out with ease being soft and is between a White-Clay and Chalk at first but being pullied up with the open Air it receives a Crusty kind of hardnes and so becomes perfect Freestone and before it is sent up from the Pit they can reduce it to any form Of this Stone the Louvre the Kings Palace is built which is a vast Fabric for the Gallerie wants not much of an Italian mile in length and will easily lodg 3000 men which some told me was the end for which the last King made it so big that lying at the fag end of this great mutinous Citie if she perchance should rise the King might powre oâ—…t of the Louvre so many thousand men unawares into the heart of her I am lodg'd here hard by the Bastile because it is furthest off from those places where the English resort for I would go on to get a little Language as soon as I could In my next I shall impart unto you what State-news France affords in the interim and alwayes I am Your humble Servant J. H. Paris 30. of March 1620. XVII To Richard Altham Esquire from Paris Dear Sir LOve is the marrow of Friendship and Letters are the Elixir of Love they are the best fuell of affection and cast a sweeter odour then any Frankincense can do such an odour such an Aromatic perfume your late Letter brought with it proceeding from the fragrancy of those dainty Flowers of eloquence which I found
so left to be an apendix of the Crown of France som of them have had absolut and supreme Governors som subaltern and subject to a superior Power Amongst the rest the Earls of Flanders and Holland were most considerable but of them two he of Holland being homegeable to none and having Friestand and Zeland added was the more potent In processe of time all the seventeen met in one som by conquest others by donation and legacie but most by alliance In the House of Burgundy this union receivd most growth but in the House of Austria it came to its full perfection for in Charles the fifth they all met as so many lines drawn from the circumference to the centre who Lording as supreme head not only over the fifteen Temporall but the two Spirituall Liege and Vâ—…recht had a defâ—…in to reduce them to a Kingdom which his Son Philip the second attempted after him but they could not bring their intents home to their aym the cause is imputed to that multiplicitie and difference of privileges which they are so eager to maintain and wherof som cannot stand with a Monarchie without incongruity Philip the second at his inauguration was sworn to observe them at his departure he oblig'd himself by oath to send still one of his own bloud to govern them Moreover at the request of the Knights of the golden Fleece he promised that all Forren souldiers should retire and that he himself would come to visit them once every seventh year but being once gon and leaving in lieu of a Sword a Distaff an unweldy woman to govern he came not only short of his promise but procur'd a Dispensation from the Pope to be absolv'd of his Oath and all this by the counsell of the Cardinall Granvill who as the States Chronicler writes was the first firebrand that kindled that lamentable and longsome war wherein the Netherlands have traded above fifty years in bloud For intending to encrease the number of Bishops to establish the decrees of the Counsell of Trent and to clip the power of the Counsell of State compos'd of the natives of the Land by making it appealable to the Counsell of Spain and by adding to the former Oath of Allegeance all which conduc'd to settle the inquisition and to curb the conscience the broyls began to appease which Ambassadors were dispatch'd to Spain wherof the two first came to violent deaths the one being beheaded the other poysond But the two last Egmont and Horn were nourish'd still with hopes untill ' Philip the second had prepar'd an Army under the conduct of the Duke of Alva to compose the difference by arms For as soon as he came to the government he established the Bloâ—…t-rad as the complainants term'd it a Counsell of Bloud made up most of Spaniards Egmont and Horn were apprehended and afterwards beheaded Cittadells were erected and the Oath of Allegeance with the Politicall government of the Countsey in divers things alter'd This powr'd oyl on the fire formerly kindled and put all in combustion The Prince of Orenge retires therupon his eldest son was surpriz'd and sent as Hostage to Spain and above 5000. Families quit the Countrey many Towns revolted but were afterwards reduc'd to obedience which made the Duke of Alva say that the Netherlands appertain'd to the King of Spain not only by descent but conquest and for cumble of his victories when he attempted to impose the tenth peny for maintenance of the Garrisons in the Cittadels he had erected at Grave Vâ—…echt and Antwerp where he caus'd his Statue made of Canon brasse â—…o be erected trampling the Belgians under his feet all the Towns withstood this imposition so that at last matters succeeding ill with him and having had his cosen Pacecio hang'd at Flushing gates after he had trac'd out the platform of a Citâ—…dell in that Town also he receiv'd Letters of revocation from Spain Him succeeded Don Luys de Requiseus who came short of his predecessor in exploits and dying suddenly in the field the government was invested for the time in the Counsell of State The Spanish soldiers being without a head gather'd together to the number of 16â—…0 and committed such outrages up and down that they were proclamed enemies to the State Hereupon the pacification of Cant was transacted wherof amongst other Articles one was that all forren soldiers should quit the Countrey This was ratified by the King and observ'd by Don Iohn of Austria who succeeded in the government yet Don Iohn retaind the Landskneghts at his devotion still for some secret deffein and as som conjectur'd for the invasion of England he kept the Spaniards also still hovering about the Frontiers ready upon all occasion Certain Letters were intercepted that made a discovery of some projects which made the war to bleed afresh Don Iohn was proclam'd enemy to the State so the Archduke Matthias was sent for who being a man of small performance and improper for the times was dismiss'd but upon honourable terms Don Iohn a little after dies and as som gave out of the pox Then comes in the Duke of Parma a man as of a different Nation being an Italian so of a differing temper and more moderat spirit and of greater performance than all the rest for wheras all the Provinces except Luxenburg and Henault had revolted he reduc'd Gant Tourney Bruges Malins Brussells Antwerp which three last he beleagerd at one time and divers other great Towns to the Spanish obedience again He had sixty thousand men in pay and the choicest which Spain and Italy could afford The French and English Ambassadors intercâ—…ding for a peace had a short answer of Philip the second who said that he needed not the help of any to reconcile himself to his own subjects and reduce them to conformity but the difference that was he would refer to his coâ—…en the Emperor Hereupon the busines was agitated at Colen where the Spaniard stood as high a tipto as ever and notwithstanding the vast expence of treasure and bloud he had bin at for so many years and that matters began to exasperat more and more which were like to prolong the wars in infinitum he would abate nothing in point of Ecclesiastic government Hereupon the States perceiving that King Philip could not be wrought either by the sollicitation of other Princes or their own supplications so often reiâ—…erated that they might enjoy the freedom of Religion with other infranchisements and finding him inexâ—…rable being incited also by that ban which was published against the Prince of Orenge that whosoever killd him should have 5000. crowns they at last absolutely renounced and abjur'd the King of Spain for their Soverain They broâ—…k his Seals chang'd the Oath of Allegeance and fled to France for shelter they inaugurated the Duke of Aniou recommended unto them by the Queen of England to whom he was a sutâ—…r for their Prince who attempted to render himself absolute and so thought to
the Infanta saw the Prince her colour rose very high which we hold to be an impression of love and affection for the face is often times a true Index of the heart Upon Monday morning after the King sent som of his prime Nobles and other Gentlemen to attend the Prince in qualitie of Officers as oâ—…e to be his Mayordom his Steward another to be Master of the Horse and so to inferior Officers so that ther is a compleat Court now at my Lord of Bristolls house but upon Sunday next the Prince is to remove to the Kings Palace where ther is one of the chief quarters of the house providing for him By the next opportunity you shall hear more In the interim I take my leave and rest March 27. 1623. Your most humble and ready Servitor J. H. XVI To Sir Eubule Theloall Knight at Grayes-Inne SIR I Know the eyes of all England are earnestly fixd now upon Spain her best jewell being here but his journey was like to be spoild in France for if he had stayd but a little longer at Bayon the last Town of that Kingdom hitherwards he had bin discoverd for Monsieur Gramond the Governor had notice of him not long after he had taken Post. The people here do mightily magnifie the gallantry of the journey and cry out that he deserv'd to have the Infanta thrown into his arms the first night he came He hath bin entertaind with all the magnificence that possibly could be devis'd On Sunday last in the morning betimes he went to Saint Hieroms Monastery whence the Kings of Spain use to be fetchd the day they are crownd and thither the King came in person with his two Brothers his eight Counsells and the flower of the Nobility He rid upon the Kings right hand through the heart of the Town under a great Canopy and was brought so into his lodgings to the Kings Palace and the King himself accompanied him to his very bedchamber It was a very glorious sight to behold for the custom of the Spaniard is though he go plain in his ordinary habit yet upon som Festivall or cause of triumph ther 's none goes beyond him in gaudiness We daily hope for the Popes Breve or Dispensation to perfect the busines though ther be dark whispers abroad that it is com already but that upon this inexpected coming of the Prince it was sent back to Rome and som new clauses thrust in for their further advantage Till this dispatch comes matters are at a kind of stand yet his Highnes makes account to be back in England about the latter end of May. God Almighty turn all to the best and to what shall be most conducible to his glory So with my due respects unto you I rest Aprill 1 1623. Your much obliged Servitor J. H. XVII To Captain Leat SIR HAving brought up the Law to the highest point against the Vice-roy of Sardinia and that in an extraordinary manner as may appear unto you by that Printed cedule I sent you in my last and finding an apparent disability in him to satisfie the debt I thought upon a new design and fram'd a memoriall to the King and wrought good strong means to have it seconded that in regaâ—… that predatory act of seizing upon the ship Vinyard in Sardiâ—… with all her goods was done by his Majesties Vice-roy his soverain Minister of State one that immediatly represented his own Royall Person and that the said Vice-roy was insolvent I desir'd his Majesty would be pleas'd to grant a Warrant for the releef of both parties to lade so many thousand Sterills oâ—… measures of corn out of Sardinia and Sicily custom-free I had gonfâ—… in the business when Sir Francis Cottington sent for me and requir'd me in the Prince his name to proceed no further hereiâ—… till he was departed so his Highness presence here hath turâ—… rather to my disadvantage than otherwise Amongst other Grandezas which the King of Spain conferr'd upon our Prince one was the releasment of Prisoners and that all Petitions of grace should com to him for the first month but he hath been wonderfull sparing in receiving any specially from any English Irish or Scot. Your son Nicolas is com hither from Alicant about the ship Amity and I shall be ready to second him in getting satisfaction so I rest Madrid Iune 3. 1623. Yours ready to serve you J. H. XVIII To Captain Tho. Porter Noble Captain MY last unto you was in Spanish in answer to one of yours in the same language and amongst that confluence of English gallants which upon the occasion of his Highness being here are com to this Court I fed my self with hopes a long while to have seen you but I find now that those hopes were impd with false feathers I know your heart is here and your best affections therfore I wonder what keeps back your person but I conceive the reason to be that you intend to com like your self to com Commander in chief of one of the Castles of the Crown one of the ships Royall If you com so to this shore side I hope you wil havetime to come to the Court I have at any time a good lodging for you and my Landlady is none of the meanest and her husband hath many good parts I heard her setting him forth one day and giving this Character of him Mi marido ei buen musico buen esgrimidor buen eserivano excellente Arithmetico salvo que no multiplica My husband is a good Musitian a good Fencer a good Horse-man a good Pen-man and an excellent Arithmetician only he cannot multiply For outward usage there is all industry us'd to give the Prince and his servants all possible contentment and som of the Kings own servants wait upon them at Table in the Palace where I am sorry to hear som of them jeer at the Spanish fare and use other slighting speeches and demeanor Ther are many excellent Poems made here since the Princes arrivall which are too long to couch in a Letter yet I will venture to send you this one stanza of Lope de Vegas Carlos Estuardo Soy Que siendo Amor mi guia Al cielo d'España voy Por ver mi Estrella Maria. There are Comedians once a week com to the Palace where under a great Canopy the Queen and the Infanta sit in the middle our Prince and Don Carles on the Queens right hand the King and the little Cardinall on the Infanta's left hand I have seen the Prince have his eyes immovably fixed upon the Infanta half an hour together in a thoughtfull speculative posture which sure would needs be tedious unless affection did sweeten it it was no handsom comparison of Olivares that he watcht her as a cat doth â—… mouse Not long since the Prince understanding that the Infanta was us'd to go som mornings to the Casa de campo a summer house the King hath tother side the river to gather May dew he
could not though much importun'd by Doctor Roseus and other Divines upon his death bed be induc'd to make them legitimat by marying the mother of them for the Law there is That if one hath got children of any Woman though unmaried to her yet if he mary her never so little before his death he makes her honest and them all legitimat but it seems the Prince postpos'd the love he bore to his woman and children to that which he bore to his brother Henry for had he made the children legitimat it had prejudic'd the brother in point of command and fortunes yet he hath provided very plentifully for them and the mother Grave Henry hath succeeded him in all things and is a gallant Gentleman of a French education and temper he charg'd him at his death to marry a young Lady the Count of Solms Daughter attending the Queen of Bohemia whom he had long courted which is thought will take speedy effect When the siege before Breda had grown hot Sir Edward Vere being one day attending Prince Maurice he pointed at a rising place call'd Terbay wher the enemy had built a Fort which might have bin prevented Sir Edward told him he fear'd that Fort would be the cause of the loss of the Town the Grave spatter'd and shook his head saying 't was the greatest error he had committed since he knew what belong'd to a Soldier as also in managing the plot for surprising of the Cittadell of Antwerp for he repented that he had not imployed English and French in lieu of the slow Dutch who aym'd to have the sole honour of it and were not so fit instruments for such a nimble peece of service As soon as Sir Charls Morgan gave up the Town Spinola caus'd a new Gate to be erected with this inscription in great Golden Characters Philippo quarto regnante Clara Eugenia Isabella Gubernante Ambrosio Spinola obsidente Quatuor Regibus contra conantibus Breda capta fuit Idibus c. T is thought Spinola now that he hath recover'd the honor he had lost before Berghen op Zoon three yeers since will not long stay in Flanders but retire No more now but that I am resolv'd to continue ever London Mar. 19. 1626. Your Lordships most humble Servitor J. H. XVI To Mr R. Sc. at York SIR I Sent you one of the third Current but t was not answer'd I sent another of the thirteenth like a second Arrow to find out the first but I know not what 's become of either I send this to find out the other two and if this fail ther shall go no more out of my Quiver If you forget me I have cause to complain and more if you remenber me to forget may proceed from the frailty of memory not to answer me when you minde me is pure neglect and no less than a piacle So I rest Yours easily to be recover'd J. H. Ira furor brevis est brevis est mea littera cogor Ira correptus corripuisse stylum London 19 of Iuly the first of the Dogdaies 1626. XVII To Dr. Field Lord Bishop of Landaff My Lord I Send you my humble thanks for those worthy Hospitable favours you were pleas'd to give me at your lodgings in Westminster I had yours of the fifth of this present by the hands of Mr. Ionathan Field The news which fills every corner of the Town at this time is the sorry and unsuccessfull return that Wimbledons Fleet hath made from Spain It was a Fleet that deserv'd to have had a better destiny considering the strength of it and the huge charge the Crown was at for besides a squadron of sixteen Hollanders wherof Count William one of Prince Maurice's naturall Sons was Admirall ther were above fourscore of ours the greatest joynt navall power of Ships without Gallies that ever spred sail upon Salt-Water which makes the World abroad to stand astonish'd how so huge a Fleet could be so suddenly made ready The sinking of the long Robin with 170 souls in her in the Bay of Biscay erc she had gon half the voyage was no good augury And the Critics of the time say ther were many other things that promis'd no good fortune to this Fleet besides they would point at divers errors committed in the conduct of the main design first the odd choice that was made of the Admirall who was a meer Land-man which made the Sea men much slight him it belonging properly to Sir Robert Mansell Vice-Admirall of England to have gon in case the High-Admirall went not then they speak of the incertainty of the enterprize and that no place was pitch'd upon to be invaded till they came to the height of the South Cape and to sight of shore where the Lord Wimbledon first cal'd a Counsell of War wherin som would be for Malaga others for Saint Mary-Port others for Gibraltar but most for Cales and while they were thus consulting the Countrey had an alarum given them Add hereunto the blazing abroad of this expedition ere the Fleet went out of the Downs for Mercurius Gallobelgicus had it in print that it was for the Streights mouth Now 't is a rule that great designs of State should be mysteries till they com to the very act of performance and then they should turn to exploits Moreover when the locall attempt was resolv'd on ther wer seven ships by the advice of one Captain Love suffer'd to go up the River which might have bin easily taken and being rich 't is thought they would have defrayed well neer the charge of our Fleet which ships did much infest us afterwards with their Ordnance when we had taken the Forr of Puntall Moreover the disorderly carriage and excess of our Land-men wherof ther were 10000 when they were put a shore who broke into the Fryers Caves and other Cellers of Sweet-Wines wher many hundreds of them being surprizd and found dead-drunk the Spaniards came and toar off their Ears and Noses and pluck'd out their Eies And I was told of one merry fellow escaping that kill'd an Asse for a Buck Lastly it is laid to the Admiralls charge that my Lord de la Wares Ship being infected he should give order that the sick men should be scatter'd in o divers ships which dispers'd the contagion exceedingly so that som thousands died before the Fleet return'd which was don in a confus'd manner without any observance of Sea Orders Yet I do not hear of any that will be punish'd for these miscarriages which will make the dishonour fall more fouly upon the State but the most infortunate passage of all was that though we did nothing by Land that was considerable yet if we had stayd but a day or two longer and spent time at sea the whole Fleet of Galeons and Nova Hispania had faln into our mouths which came presently in close along the Coasts of Barbary and in all likelihood we might have had the opportunity to have taken the richest prize that
1644. Yours to dispose of J. H. LIII To my honoured frend Mr. E. P. SIR THe times are so ticklish that I dare not adventure to send you any London intelligence she being now a Garrison Town and you know as well as I what danger I may incur but for forren indifferent news you shall understand that Pope Uâ—…ban the eighth is dead having sate in the chair above twenty 〈◊〉 a rare thing for it is observ'd that no Pope yet arriv'd to thâ—… yeers of St. Peter who they say was Bishop of Rome twenty anâ—… five Cardinall Pamfillo a Roman born a knowing man and â—… great Lawyer is created Pope by assumption of the name of Inâ—…cent the tenth Ther was tough canvasing for voices and a greaâ—… contrasto in the Conclave 'twixt the Spanish and French faction whâ—… with the Barberini stood for Sachetri but he was excluded as 〈◊〉 so another 〈◊〉 by these exclusions the Spanish party wheâ—… of the Cardinall of 〈◊〉 was chief brought about Barberioâ—… 〈◊〉 joyn with them for 〈◊〉 as being also a creature of the deceâ—…sed Pope He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nuncio in Spain eight yeers so that it conceiv'd he is much devoted to that Crown as his Predecessâ—… was to the French who had bin Legat there neer upon twenty yeers and was Godfather to the last King which made him to be Fleurdelizé to be Flowerdeluc'd all over This new Pope hath already pass'd that number of yeers which the Prophet assignes to man for he goes upon seventy one and is of a strong promising constitution to live som yeers longer He hath but one Nephew who is but eighteen and so not capable of busines he hath therfore made choice of som Cardinalls more to be his Coadjutors Pancirellio is his prime confident and lodg'd in Saint Peters T is thought he will presently set all wheels a going to mediat an universall peace They write of one good augury amongst the rest that part of his Arms is a Dove which hath bin alwaies held for an emblem of peace but I beleeve it will prove one of the knottiest and difficult'st tasks that ever was attempted as the case stands 'twixt the House of Austria and France and the roughest and hardest knot I hold to be that of Portugall for it cannot yet enter into any mans imagination how that may be accommodated Though many Polliticians have beaten their brains about it God almighty grant that the appeasing of our civil wars prove not so intricat a work and that we may at last take warning by the devastations of other Countreys before our own be past cure The write from Paris that Sir Kenelm Digby is to be imployed to Rome from Her Majesty in quality of a high Messenger of Honour to congratulat the new Pope not of Ambassadour as the vulgar give out for none can give that character to any but a Soverain independent Prince and all the World knows that Her Majesty is under Couvert Baron notwithstanding that som cry her up for Queen Regent of England as her Sister is of France The Lord Aubeny hath an Abbacy of one thousand five hundred Pistols a yeer given him yeerly there and is fair for a Cardinalls Har. I continue still under this heavy pressure of close restraint nor do I see any hopes God help me of getting forth till the wind shift out of this unlucky hole Howsoever I am resolv'd that if Innocence cannot free my body yet Patience shall preserve my mind still in its freeborn thoughts Nor shall this storm slacken a whit that firm ligue of love wherin I am eternally tied unto you I will conclude with a Distic which I found amongst those excellent Peems of the late Pope Quem validè strinxit praestanti pollice virtus Nescius est solvi nodus Amicitiae Fleet 1 Iun. 1644. Your constant Servitor J. H. LIV. To the L. Bishop of London late Lord Tresurer of England My Lord YOu are one of the miracles of these times the greatest miror of moderation our age affords and as heertofore when you carried the white Staff with such clean incorrupted hands yet the Crosier was still your chief care nor was it perceiv'd that that high all-obliging office did alter you a jot or alienat you from your self but the same candor and countenance of mecknes appeard still in you as whosoever had occasion to make their address to your Gates went away contented whether they sped in their busines or not a gift your Predecessor was said to want So since the turbulency of these times the same moderation shines in you notwithstanding that the Miter is so trampled upon and that ther bee such violent factions a foot insomuch that you live not only secure from outrages but honor'd by all parties T is true one thing fell out to your advantage that you did not subscribe to that Petition which prov'd so fatall to Prelacy But the chief ground of the constant esteem the distracted world hath still of you is your wisdom and moderation pass'd and present This puts me in mind of one of your Predecessors in your late office Marquis Pawlet who it seems sail'd by the same Compass for ther being divers bandings and factions at Court in his time yet was he belov'd by all parties and being ask'd how he stood so right in the opinion of all he answerd By being a Willow and not an Oak I have many thanks to give your Lordship for the late visits I had and when this cloud is scatter'd that I may respite fâ—…ee ayr one of my first journeys shall be to kiss your Lordships hands In the interim I rest The Fleet 3 Sept. 1644. Your most devoted and ready Servitor J H. LV. To Sir E. S. Knight SIR THough I never had the least umbrage of your love or doubted of the reality therof yet since I tell into this plunge it hath been much confirm'd unto me It is a true observation that amongst other effects of affliction one is to try a frend for those proofs that are made in the fawnings and dazling Sun-shine of prosperity are not so clear as those which break out and transpeer through the dark clouds of adversity You know the difference the Philosophers make twixt the two extreme colors black and write that the one is congregativum the other disgregativum visus Black doth congregate unite and fortifie the sight the other doth disgregat scatter and enfeeble it when it fixeth upon any object So through the Sable clouds of advers fortune one may make a truer inspection into the brest of a frend Besides this affliction produceth another far more excellent effect it brings us to a better and a more clear knowledge of our Creator for as the rising and setting Sun appears bigger unto us than when he is in the Meridian though the distance be still the same the cause wherof is ascrib'd to the interposition of mists which lye twixt our eyes and him so through the thick fogs of
first I will now hoise saile for the Netherlands whose language is the same dialect with the English and was so from the beginning being both of them derived from the high Dutch The Danish also is but a branch of the same tree no more is the Swedish and the speech of them of Norway and Island Now the high Dutch or Teutonic Tongue is one of the prime and most spacious maternall languages of Europe for besides the vast extent of Germany it self with the Countreys and Kingdoms before mentioned wherof England and Scotland are two it was the Language of the Goths and Vandalls and continueth yet of the greatest part of Poland and Hungary who have a dialect of hers for their vulgar tongue yet though so many dialects and subdialects be deriv'd from her she remains a strong sinewy Language purâ—… and incorrupt in her first centre towards the heart of Germany Som of her Writers would make the World beleeve that shee was the Longuage spoken in Paradise for they produce many Words and proper names in the five books of Moses which fetch their Etymology from her as also in Persia to this day divers radicall words are the same with her as Fader Mocder Broder Star And a Germain Gentleman speaking heerof one day to an Italian that she was the Language of Paradise sure said the Italian alluding to her roughnes then it was the tongue that God Almighty chid Adam in It may be so replied the Germain but the devill had tempted Eve in Italian before A full mouthd language she is and pronounc'd with that strength as if one had bones in his tongue insteed of nerfs Those Countreys that border upon Germany as Bohemia Silesia Poland and those vast Countreyes North-Eastward as Russia and Muscovia speak the Slavonic Language And it is incredible what I have heard som Travellers report of the vast extent of that language for besides Slavonia it self which properly is Dalmatia and Libinâ—…ia it is the vulgar speech of the Macedonians Epirots Bosnians Servians Bulgarians Moldavians Rascians and Podolians nay it spreads her self over all the Easterne parts of Europe Hungary and Walachia excepted as far as Constantinople and is frequently spoken in the Seraglio among the Ianizaries nor doth â—…e rest there but crossing the Hellespont divers nations in Asia have her for their popular tongue as the Circassians Mongrelians and Gazaâ—…ites Southward neither in Europe or Asia doth she extend her self further to the North parallel of forty Degrees But those Nations which celebrate divine Service after the Greek Ceremony and profess obedience to the Patriark of Constantinople as the Russ the Muscovit the Moldavian Ruscian Bosnian Servian and Bulgarian with divers other Eastern and North-East peeple that speak Slavonic have her in a different Character from the Dalmatian Croation Istrian Polonian Bohemian Silesian and other Nations towards the West these last have the Illirian Character and the invention of it is attributed to St. Ierom the other is of Cyrists devising and is call'd the Servian Character Now although ther bee above threescore severall Nations that have this vast extended language for their vulgar speech yet the pure primitive Slavonic dialect is spoken only in Dalmatia Croatia Liburnia and the Countreys adjacent wher the ancient Slavonians yet dwell and they must needs be very ancient for ther is in a Church in Prague an old Charter yet extant given them by Alexander the great which I thought not amiss to insert heer We Alexander the great of King Philip founder of the Grecian Empire Conqueror of the Persians Medes c. and of the whole world from East 〈◊〉 West from North to South Son of great Jupiter by c. so calld Tâ—… you the noble stock of Slavonians and to your Language because 〈◊〉 have been unto us a help true in faith and valiant in war we confiâ—… all that tract of earth from the North to the South of Italie from 〈◊〉 and our Successors to you and your posterity for ever And if any other Nation be found there let them be your slaves Dated at Alexandria thâ—… 12. of the Goddess Minerva witnes Ethra and the eleven Princâ—… whom we appoint our Successors With this rare and one of thâ—… ancientest record in Europe I will put a period to this second account I send your Lordship touching Languages My next shall be of Greece Italy Fance and Spain and so I shall shake hands with Europe till when I humbly kiss your hands and rest West 2 of Aug. 1630. My Lord Your most obliged Servitor J. H. LVIII To the Right Hon. the E. R. My Lord HAving in my last rambled through high and low Germaâ—… Bohemy Denmark Poland Russia and those vast North-Eaâ—… Regions and given your Lordship a touch of their Languages foâ—… 't was no Treatise I intended at first but a cursory short literall account I will now pass to Greece and speak somthing of that large and learned Language for 't is she indeed upon whom the beanâ—… of all scientificall knowledg did first shine in Europe which she afterward diffus'd through all the Western world The Greek tongue was first peculiar to Hellas alone but iâ—… tract of time the Kingdom of Macedon and Epire had her then shâ—… arrived on the Isles of the Egean Sea which are interjacent and divide Asia and Europe that way then shee got into the fifty threâ—… Isles of the Cyclades that lye 'twixt Negrepont and Candy and so go up to the Hellespont to Constantinople She then crossed over to Anatolia wher though she prevail'd by introducing multitudes of Colonies yet she came not to be the sole vulgar speech any where therâ—… as far as to extinguish the former languages Now Anatolia is thâ—… most populous part of the whole earth for Strabo speaks of sixteen severall nations that slept in her bosom and 't is thought the two and twenty Languages which Mithrydates the great Polyglot King of Pâ—…ntus did speak wer all within the circumference of Anatolia in regard his dominions extended but a little further She glided then along the Maritime coasts of Thrace and passing Byzantium got into the out-lets of Danube and beyond her also to Taurica yea beyond that to the River Phosis and thence compassing to Trebizond she took footing on all the circumference of the Euxine Sea This was her course from East to North whence we will return to Candy Cyprus and Sycily thence crossing the Phare of Messina she got all along the Maritime Coasts of the Tirrhâ—…ne Sea to Calabria she rested her self also a great while in Apulia Ther was a populous Colony of Greeks also in Marseilles in France and along the Sea Coasts of Savoy In Afric likewise Cyrâ—…ne Alexandria and Egypt with divers other were peepled with Greeks and three causes may be alleged why the Greek tongue did so expand her self First it may be imputed to the Conquests of Alexander the Great and the Captains he left behind him for Successors Then
house in Smithfield but now all is quiet again God grant our Excise heer have not the same fortune as yours there to becom perpetuall or as that new gabell of Orleans which began in the time of the Ligue which continueth to this day notwithstanding the cause ceas'd about threescore yeers since touching this I remember a pleasant tale that is recorded of Henry the Great who som yeers after peace was established throughout all the whole body of France going to his town of Orleans the Citizens petitioned him that his Majesty would be pleased to abolish that new tax the King asked who had impos'd it upon them they answered Monsieur de la Chatre during the civill Wars of the Ligue who was now dead the King replied Monsieur de la Cha'tre vous a liguè qu'il vous desligue Monsieur dela Chatre ligu'd you let him then unligue you for my part now that we have a kind of peace the goals are full of souldiers and som Gentlemens sons of quality suffer daily the last week Judge Rivâ—…s condemn'd four in your County at Maidstone Assizes but he went out of the world before them though they wer executed four daies after you know the saying in France that la guerre sait les larrons la paix les ameine an gibet War makes thieves and peace brings them to the gallowes I lie still heer in limbo in limbo innocentium though not in limbo infantion and I know not upon what star to cast this misfortune Others are heer for their good conditions but I am heet for my good qualities as your cosin Fortescue geer'd me not long since I know none I have unless it be to love you which I would continue to do though I tug'd at an oar in a Gallie much more as I walk in the Galleries of this Fleet In this resolution I rest Fleet 2 Sept. 1645. Your most affectionat Servitor J. H. LXXI To Mr. W. B. at Grundesburgh Gentle Sir YOurs of the seventh I received yesternight and read ore with no vulgar delight in the perusall of it mee thought to have discern'd a gentle strife 'twixt the fair respects you pleas'd to shew me therin and your ingenuity in expressing them who should have superiority so that I knew not to which of the two I should adjudge the Palm If you continue to wrap up our young acquaintance which you say is but yet in fasciis in such warm choice swadlings it will quickly grow up to maturity and for my part I shall not be wanting to contribute that reciprocall nourishment which is due from me Wheras you please to magnifie som pieces of mine and that you seem to spy the Muses pearching upon my Trees I fear 't is but deceptio visus for they are but Satyrs or happily som of the homelier sort of Wood Nymphs the Muses have choicer walks for their recreation Sir I must thank you for the visit you vouchsafed me in this simple cell and wheras you please to call it the cabinet that holds the jewell of our times you may rather term it a wicker casknet that keeps a jet ring or a horn lantern that holds a small taper of cours wax I hope this taper shall not extinguish heer and if it may afford you any light either from hence or heerafter I should be glad to impart it in a plentifull proportion because I am Sir Fleet 1 Iuly 1646. Your most affectionat frend to serve you J. H. LXXII To I. W. of Grayes Inne Esquire SIR I Was yours before in a high degree of affection but now I am much more yours since I perus'd that parcell of choice Epistles you sent me they discover in you a knowing and a candid cleer soul for familiar letters are the keys of the mind they open all the 〈◊〉 of ones breast all the cells of the brain and truly set forth the inward man nor can the pensill so lively represent the face as the pen 〈◊〉 the Fancy I much thank you that you would please to impart them unto Fleet 1 April 1645. Your most faithfull servitor J. H. LXXIII To Cap. T. P. from Madrid Captain Don Tomas COuld I write my love unto you with a ray of the Sun as once Aurelius the Roman Emperour wish'd to a frend of his you â—…ow this cleer horizon of Spain could afford me plenty which cannot be had so constantly all the seasons of the yeer in your clowdy â—…yme of England Apollo with you makes not himself so common 〈◊〉 keeps more State and doth not shew his face and shoot his â—…ams so frequently as he doth heer where 't is Sunday all the 〈◊〉 I thank you a thousand times for what you sent by Mr Gresâ—… and that you let me know how the pulse of the times bears with you I find you cast not your eyes so much southward as you were us'd to do towards us heer and when you look this way you cast a clowdy countenance with threatning looks which maket me apprehend som fear that it will not be safe for me to be longer under this meridian Before I part I will be carefull to send you those things you writ for by som of my L. Ambassadour Aston's Gentlemen I cannot yet get that Grammar which was made for the Constable of Castile who you know was born dumb wheriâ—… an Art is invented to speak with hands only to carry the Alphabâ—…t upon ones joynts and at his fingers ends which may be learn'd without any great difficulty by any mean capacity and wherby one may discours and deliver the conceptions of his mind withoâ—… ever wagging of his toung provided ther be reciprocall knowledge aud co-understanding of the art 'twixt the parties and it iâ—… a very ingenious piece of invention I thank you for the copie of verses you sent me glancing upon the times I was lately perusing som of the Spanish Poets heer and lighted upon two Epigrams or Epitaphs more properly upon our Henry the eighth and upon his daughter Queen Elizabeth which in requital I thought worth the sending you A Henrique octavo Rey de Ingalatierra Mas de esta losa fria Cubre Henrique tu valor De una Muger el amor Y de un Error la porsia Como cupo en tu grandeza Dezidme enzañado Ingles Querer una muger a lospies Ser de la yglesia cabesa Pros'd thus in English for I had no time to put it on feet O Henry more than this cold pavemeut covers thy worth thâ—… love of a woman and the pertinacy of error How could it subâ—… with thy greatness tell me O cosen'd English man to cast thâ—… self at a womans feet and yet to be head of the Church That upon Queen Elizabeth was this De Isabela Reyna de Ingalatierra Aqui yaze Iesabel Aqui lanueva Athalia Del oro Antartico Harpia Del mar incendio cruel Aqui el ingenio mas dino De loor que ha tenido el suelo Si