viz. that his Excellency should not think it strange that he had so few French Gentlemen to attend in this service to accompany him to the Court in regard ther were so many killd at the Isle of â—…hee The Marquis of Chasteau neuf is here from France and it was an odd speech also from him reflecting upon Mr. Controuler that the King of great Britain us'd to send for his Ambassadors from abroad to pluck Capons at home Mr. Buâ—…lemach is to go shortly to Paris to recover the other moity of her Majesties portion wherof they say my Lord of Holland is to have a good share The Lord Treasurer Weston is he who hath the greatest vogue now at Court but many great ones have clash'd with him He is so potent that I hear his eldest Son is to marry one of the bloud Royall of Scotland the Duke of Lenox Sister and that with his Majesties consent Bishop Laâ—…d of London is also powerfull in his way for hee sits at the helm of the Church and doth more than any of the two Arch bishops or all the rest of his two and twenty brethren besides In your next I should be glad your Lordship would do me the favor as to write how the grand Signor is like to speed before Bagdaâ—… in this his Persian expedition No more now but that I always rest Westmin 1 Ian. 1629. Your Lordships ready and most faithfull Servitor J. H. XXXIV To my Father SIR SIr Tho. Wentworth hath been a good while Lord President of York and since is sworn Privy Counsellor and made Baron and Vicount the Duke of Buckingham himself flew not so high in so short a revolution of time Hee was made Vicount with a great deale of high ceremony upon a Sunday in the afternoon at VVhite-Hall My Lord Powis who affects him not much being told that the Heralds had fetch'd his Pedigree from the bloud Royall viz. from Iohn of Gaunt said Dammy if ever he com to be King of England I will turn Rebell When I went first to give him joy he pleas'd to give me the disposing of the next Attorney's place that falls void in York which is valued at three hundred pounds I have no reason to leave my Lord of Sunderland for I hope hee will bee noble unto me the perquisits of my place taking the Kings see away caâ—… far short of what he promis'd me at my first comming to him in regard of his non-residence at York therfore I hope he will consider it som other way This languishing sicknes still hangs on him and I fear will make an end of him Ther 's none can tell what to make of it but he voided lately a strange Worm at VVickham but I fear ther 's an impostume growing in him for he told me a passage how many years ago my Lord VVilloughby and he with so many of their servants de gayete de câ—…ur played a match at foot-ball against such a number of Countrey men where my Lord of Sunderland being busie about the ball got a bruise in the brest which put him in a swond for the present but did not trouble him till three months after when being at Bever Castle his brother-in-laws house a quaume took him on a sudden which made him retire to his bed-chamber my Lord of Rutland following him put a Pipe full of Tobacco in his mouth and he being not accustomed to Tobacco taking the smoak downwards fell a casting and vomiting up divers little impostumated bladders of congeal'd bloud which sav'd his life then and brought him to have a better conceit of Tobacco ever after and I fear ther is som of that clodded bloud still in his body Because Mr. Hawes of Cheâ—…p-side is lately dead I have remov'd my brother Griffith to the Hen and Chickens in Pater Noster Row â—…o Mr. Taylors as gentile a shop as any in the City but I gave a peece of Plate of twenty Nobles price to his Wife I wish the Yorkshire horse may be fit for your turn he was accounted the best saddle Gelding about York when I bought him of Captain Phillips the mustar-Mustar-master and when he carried me first to London there was twenty pounds offered for him by my Lady Carlile No more now but desiring a continuance of your blessing and prayers I rest Lond. 3 Decem. 1630. Your dutifull Son J. H. XXXV To the Lord Cottington Ambassador Extraordinary for his Majesty of great Britain in the Court of Spaine My Lord I Receiv'd your Lordships lately by Harry Davies the Correo Santo and I return my humble thanks that you were pleas'd to be mindfull amongst so many high negotiations of the old busines touching the Viceroy of Sardinia I have acquainted my Lord of Bristoll accordingly Our eyes here look very greedily after your Lordship and the success of your Embassie and we are glad to hear the busines is brought to so good a pass and that the capitulations are so honorable the high effects of your wisdom For News The Sweds do notable featâ—… Germany and we hope they cutting the Emperour and Bavarian so much work to do and the good offices we are to expect from Spain upon this redintegration of Peace will be an advantage to the Prince Palatin and facilitat matters for restoring him to his Country Ther is little news at our Court but that ther fell an ill-favoured quarrell 'twixt Sir Kenelm Digby and Mr. Goring Mr. Iermin and others at St. Iames lately about Mrs Baker the Maid of honor and Duells were like to grow of it but that the busines was taken up by the Lord Treasurer my Lord of Dorset and others appointed by the King My Lord of Sunderland is still ill dispos'd he will'd me to remember his hearty service to your Lordship and so did Sir Arthur Ingram and my Lady they all wish you a happy and honorable return as doth Lond. 1 March 1630. Your Lopps most humble and ready Servitor J. H. XXXVI To my Lo Vicount Rocksavage My Lord SOm say the Italian loves no favor but what 's future though I have convers'd much with that Nation yet I am nothing infected with their humor in this point for I love favors pass'd as well the remembrance of them joyes my very heart and makes it melt within me when my thoughts reflect upon your Lordship I have many of these fits of joy within me by the pleasing speculation of so many most noble favors and respects which I shall daily study to improve and merit My Lord Your Lopps most humble and ready Servitor J. H. Westmin 22 Mar. 1630. XXXVII To the Earl of Bristol My Lord I Doubt not but your â—…ordship hath had intelligence from time time what firm invasions the King of Sweds hath made into Germany and by what degrees he hath mounted to this height having but six thousand foot and five hundred horse when he entred first to Meclenburg and taken that Town while Commissioners stood treating on both sides
do it without acquainting you as far as the extent of a Letter will permit with her Power her Policy her Wealth and pedigree She was built of the ruines of 〈◊〉 and Padoüa for when those swarms of tough Northern peeple overran Italy under the conduct of that Scourge of Heaven Attila with others and that this soft voluptuous Nation after so long a desuetude from Arms could not repell their fury many of the ancient Nobility and Gentry fled into these Lakes and little Islands amongst the Fishermen for their security and finding the Ayr good and commodious for habitation they began to build upon these small Islands wherof ther are in all threescore and in tract of time they conjoyn'd and leagu'd them together by Bridges wherof ther are now above 800. and this makes up the Citie of Venice who is now above twelve Ages old and was contemporary with the Monarchy of France but the Signory glorieth in one thing above the Monarchy that she was born a Christian but the Monarchy not Though this Citie be thus hem'd in with the Sea yet she spreads her Wings far and wide upon the shore she hath in Lombardy six considerable Towns Padova Verona Vicenzâ—… Brescia Cromo and Bergamo she hath in the Marquisat Bassan and Castelfranco she hath all Friuli and Istria she commands the shores of Dalmatia and Slavonia she keeps under the power of Saint Mark the Islands of Corfù anciently Corcyria Ceptalonia Zant Cerigo Lucerigo and Candy Ioves Cradle she had a long time the Kingdom of Cypres but it was quite rent from her by the Turk which made that high spirited Bassa being taken prisoner at the battle of Lepanto wher the gran Signor lost above 200 Gallies to say That that defeat to his great Master was but like the sâ—…aving of his Beard or the pairing of his Nails but the taking of Cypres was like the cutting off of a Lim which will never grow again This mighty potentat being so neer a Neighbour to her she is forc'd to comply with him and give him an Annuall present in Gold She hath about thirty Gallies most part of the yeer in cours to scowre and secure the Gulph she entertains by land in Lombardy and other parts 25000. Foot besides some of the Cantons of Suisses whom she gives pay unto she hath also in constant pay 600. men of Arms and evry of these must keep two Horses a peece for which they are allowed 120. Duckats a yeer and they are for the most part Gentlemen of Lombardy When they have any great expedition to make they have alwayes a stranger for their Generall but he is supervis'd by two Provâ—…ditors without whom he cannot attempt any thing Her great Counsell consists of above 2000 Gentlemen and some of them meet evry Sunday and Holyday to chuse Officers and Magistrates and evry Gentleman being pass'd 25. yeerâ—… of Age is capable to sit in this Counsell The Doge or Duke their Soverain Magistrate is chosen by Lots which would be too tedious here to demonstrat and commonly he is an Aged man who is created like that cours they hold in the Popedom When he is dead ther be Inquisitors that examin his actions and his misdemeanors are punishable in his Heirs Ther is a surintendenâ—… Counsell of ten and six of them may dispatch busines without the Doge but the Doge never without som of them not as much as open a Letter from any Forrain State though address'd to himself which makes him to be call'd by other Princes Testadi legno Ahead of Wood. The wealth of this Republic hath bin at a stand or rather declining since the Portugall found a road to the East-Indies by the Cape of good Hope for this City was us'd to fetch all those Spices and other Indian Commodities from the gran Cayro down the Nile being formerly carried to Cayro from the Red Sea upon Camels and Dromedaries backs threescore dayes journey And so Venice us'd to dispence those Commodities through all Christendom which not onely the Portugall but the English and Hollander now transport and are Masters of the Trade Yet ther is no outward appearance at all of poverty or any decay in this City but she is still gay flourishing and fresh and flowing with all kind of bravery and delight which may be had at cheap rates Much more might be written of this ancient wiâ—…e Republic which cannot be comprehended within the narrow inclosure of a Letter So with my due and daily Prayers for a continuance of your health and increase of honour I rest Ven 1. of August 1621. Your most â—…umble and ready Servitor J. H. XXXVI To Robert Brown Esquire at the Middle-Temple from Venice Robin I Have now enough of the Maiden Citie and this week I am to go further into Italy for though I have bin a good while in Venice yet I cannot say I have bin hitherto upon the Continent of Italy for this Citie is nought else but a knot of Islands in the Adriatic Sea joyn'd in one body by Bridges and a good way distant from the firm Land I have lighted upon very choice company your Cousin Brown and Master Web and we all take the Râ—… of Lombardy but we made an order amongst our selves that our discours be alwayes in the Language of the Countrey under penalty of a for â—…iture which is to be indispensably payed 〈◊〉 Syâ—…s made us a curious feast lately wher in a Cup of the richest Greek we had your health and I could not tell whither the Wine or the remembrance of you was sweeter for it was naturally a kind of Aromatic Wine which left a fragrant perfuming kind of farewell behind it I have sent you a Runlet of it in the Ship Lion and if it com safe and unprick'd I pray bestow som Bottles upon the Lady you know with my humble Service When you write next to Master Simns I pray acknowledg the good Hospitality and extraordinary civilities I received from him Before I conclude I will acquaint you with a common saying that is us'd of this dainty Citie of Venice Venetia Venetia chi non te vede non te Pregia Ma chi t'há troppo veduto te Despreggia English'd and Rim'd thus though I know you need no Translation you understand so much of Italian Venice Venice none Thee unseen can prize Who hath seen thee too much will Thee despise I will conclude with that famous Hexastic which Sanzâ—â—â—â—â—â— made of this rare Cite which pleaseth me much better Viderat Hadriatis Venetam Neptunus in undis Stare urbem toti ponere jura Mari Nunc mihi Tarpeias quantum vis Jupiter Arces Oâ—â—â—ice illa tui moenia Martis ait Sic Pelago Tibrim praefers urbem aspice utramque Illam homines dices hanc posuisse Deos. When Neptun saw in Adrian Surges stand Venice and give the Sea Laws of command Now Jove said he Object thy Capitoll And Mars proud Walls This were for to
the Hague in Holland having made a long progres or rather a pilgrimage about Germany from Prague The old Duke of Bavaria his Uncle is chosen Elector and Arch sâ—…wer of the Roman Empire in his place but as they say in an imperfect Diet and with this proviso that the transferring of this Election upon the Bavarian shall not prejudice the next heir Thâ—…r is one Count Mansfelt that begins to get a great name in Germany and he with the Duke of Brunswick who is a temporall Bpp. of Halverstade have a considerable Army on foot for the Lady Elizabeth which in the low Countreys and som parts of Germany is called the Queen of Boheme and for her winning Princely comportment thâ—… Queen of Hearts Sir Arthur Chichester is come back from the Palatinate much complaining of the small Army that was sent thither under Sir Horace Vere which should have been greater or none at all My Lord of Buckingham having been long since Master of the Horse at Court is now made Master also of all the woodâ—…n Horses in the Kingdom which indeed are our best Horses for he is to be High Admirall of England so he is becom Dominus Equorum Aquarum The late Lord Threâ—… Cranfield grows alâ—…o very powerfull but the City hates him for having betrayed their greatest secrets which he was capable to know more than another having been formerly a Merchant I think I shall have no opportunity to write to you again till I bet other side of the Sea therfore I humbly take my leave and ask your blessing that I may the better prosper in my proceedings So I am Your dutifull Son J. H. March 19. 1621. XIII To Sir John Smith Knight SIR THe first ground I set foot upon after this my second transmaâ—… voyage was Trevere the Scots Staple in Zeland thence 〈◊〉 sail'd to Holland in which passage we might see divers Steeples and Turâ—…ets under water of Towns that as we were told were swallowed up by a Dâ—…luge within the memory of man we went afterwards to the Hague where ther are hard by though in severall places two wonderfull things to be seen one of Art the other of Nature That of Art is a Waggon or Ship or a Monster mixâ—… of both like the Hippocentaure who was half man and half horse this Engin hath wheels and sayls that will hold above twenty people and goes with the wind being drawn or mov'd by nothing els and will run the wind being good and the sayls hois'd up above fifteen miles an hour upon the even hard sands they say this invention was found out to entertain Spinola when he came hither to treat of the last Truce That wonder of Nature is a Church-Monument where an Earl and a Lady are engraven with 365 Children about them which were all delivered at one birth they were half male half femal the Bason hangs in the Church which carried them to be Christned and the Bishops Name who did it and the Story of this Miracle with the year and the day of the month mentioned which is not yet 200 years ago and the Sâ—…ory is this That Countesse walking about her door after dinner ther came a Begger-woman with two children upon her back 〈◊〉 beg alms the Countesse asking whether those children were her own she answered she had them both at one birth and by one father who was her husband The Countesse would not onely give her aâ—…y alms but revil'd her bitterly saying it was impossible for one man to get two children at once The begger-woman being thus provok'd with ill words and without alms fell to imprecations that it should please God to shew his judgment upon her and that she might bear at one birth aâ—… many children as ther be dayes in the year which she did before the same years end having never born child before We are now in North Holland where I never saw so many amongst so few sick of Lâ—…prosies and the reason is because they commonly eat abundance of fresh Fish A Gentleman told me that the women of this Countrey when they are delivered ther comes out of the womb a living creature besides the child call'd Zuâ—…chie likest to a Bat of any other creature which the Midwiâ—…s throw into the 〈◊〉 holding sheets before the chimney lest iâ—… should fly away Master Altham desires his service be presented to You and your Lady to Sir Iohn Franklin and all at the Hill the like doe I humbly crave at your hands the Italian and French Manuscripts you pleas'd to favour me withall I leâ—… at Mr. Seiles the Stationer whence if you have them not already you may please to send for them So in all affection I kisse your hands and am Your humble Servitor J. H. Trevere 10th of Apr. 1622. XIV To ' the Right honble the Lord Vicount Colchester after Earl Rivers Right honble THe commands your Lopp pleas'd to impose upon me when I left England and those high favors wherin I stand bound to your Lopp call upon me at this time to send your Lopp â—…om small fruits of my forren Travell Marquis Spinola is return'd from the Palatinat where he was so fortunat that like Caesar 〈◊〉 came saw and overcame notwithstanding that huge Army of the Princes of the Union consisting of forty thousand men wheras his was under twenty but made up of old â—…ough blades and veteran Commanders He hath now chang'd his coaâ—… and taken up his old Commission again from Don Philippo wheras during that expedition he call'd himself Caesars servant I hear the Emperor hath transmitted the upper Palatinat to the Duke of Bavaria as caution for those moneys he hath expended in these wars And the King of Spain is the Emperors Commissary for the lower Palatinat They both pretend that they were bound to obey the Imperiall summons to assist Caesar in these wars the one as he was Duke of Burgundy the other of Bavaria both which Countreys are â—…eudetarie to the Empire els they had incurr'd the Imperiall bun It is'fear'd this German war will be as the Frenchman saith de longue halaine long breath'd â—…or ther are great powers on both sides and they say the King of Denmark is arming Having made a leasurely so journ in this Town I had spare houâ—… to couch in writing a survay of these Countreys which I have now traversd the second time but in regard it would be a great bulk for a Letter I send it your Lopp apart and when I return to England I shall be bold to attend your Lopp for correction of my faults In the interim I rest Antwerp May 1. 1622. My Lord Your thrice humble Serviv J. H. XV A survey of the seventeen Provinces My Lord TO attempt a precise description of each of the seventeen Provinces and of its Progression Privileges and Primitive government were a task of no lesse confusion than labour Let it suffice to know that since Flanders and Holland were erected to Earldoms and
Lord Chancelor Egerton were now living he would not be so pleasant with them as he was once to a new Recorder of London whom he had invited to dinner to give him joy of his office and having a great Woodcock Pyserv'd in about the end of the repast which had bin sent him from Cheshire he said Now Master Recorder you are welcom to a Common-Councell Ther be many discreet brave Patriots in the City and I hope they will think upon som means to preserve us and themselves from ruin Such are the prayers early and late of Fleet a Ian. 1643. Your Lopps most humble Serviâ—…or J. H. LI. To Sir Alex. R. Kt. SIR SUrely God Almighty is angry with England and 't is more sure that God is never angry without cause Now to know this cause the best way is for every one to lay his hand on his Brest and examin himself throughly to summon his thoughts and win now them and so call to remembrance how far he hath offended Heaven and then it will be found that God is not angry with England but with English-men When that dolefull charge was pronounc'd against Israel Perditio tua ex te Israel It was meant of the concret not the abstract Oh Israelites your ruin coms from your selvs When I make this serutiny within my self and enter into the closest cabinet of my soul I find God help me that I have contributed as much to the drawing down of these judgements on England as any other when I ransack the three Cells of my Brain I find that my imagination hath bin vain and extravagant my memory hath kept the bad and let go the good like a wide Sieve that retains the Bran and parts with the Flour my understanding hath bin full of errour and obliquities my will hath bin a rebell to reason my reason a rebell to Faith which I thank God I have the grace to quell presently with this caution Succumbat Ratio Fidei captiva quiescat When I descend to my heart the center of all my affections I find 〈◊〉 hath swell'd often with Timpanies of vanity and Tumors of wrath when I take my whole self in a lump I find that I am nought else but a Cargazon of malignant humors a rabble of unruly passions amongst which my poor soul is daily crucified as 'twixt so many theevs Therfore as I pray in generall that God would please not to punish this Island for the sins of the peeple so more particularly I pray that she suffer not for me in particular who if one would go by way of Induction would make one of the chiefest instances of the argument and as I am thus conscious to my self of my own demerits so I hold it to be the duty of every one to contemplat himselfe this way and to remember the saying of a noble English Captain who when the Town of Calis was lost which was the last footing we had in France being geer'd by a Frenchman and ask'd Now Englishman when will you com back to France answer'd Oh Sir mock not when then the sins of France are greater than the sins of England the Englishmen will com again to France Before the Sac of Troy 't was said and sung up and down the streets Iliacos intra muros peccatur extra The vers is as true for sense and feet Intra Londini muros peccatur extra Without and eke within The walls of London there is sin The way to better the times is for every one to mend one I will conclude with this serious invocation I pray God aveâ—… those further judgements of Famin and pestilence which are hovering over this populous and once-flourishing City and dispose of the Brains and Hearts of this people to seek and serve him a right I thank you for your last visit and for the Poem you sent 〈◊〉 since So I am Fleet 3 Iun. Your most faithfull servitor J. H. LII To Mr Iohn Batty Marchant SIR I Receiv'd the Printed discours you pleas'd to send me call'd the Marchants Remonstrance for which I return you due and deserved thanks Truly Sir it is one of the most materiall and solid peeces I have read of this kind And I discover therin two things first the affection you bear to your Countrey with the resentment you have of these wofull distractions then the judgement and choice experience you have purchased by your negotiations in Spain and Germany In you may be verified the tenet they hold in Italy That the Marchant bred abroad is the best Common-wealths man being properly applied For my part I do not know any profession of life specially in an Island more to be cherish'd and countenanced with honourable employments than the Marchant-Adventurer I do not mean onely the Staplers of Hamboâ—…ough and Rotterdam for if valiant and dangerous actions do ennoble a man and make him merit surely the Merchant-Adventurer deserves more honour than any for he is to encounter not onely with men of all tempers and humours as a French Counsellour hath iâ—… but he contests and tugs oftimes with all the Elements Nor do I see how som of our Countrey Squires who sell Calves and Runts and their Wives perhaps Cheese and Apples should be held more gentâ—…le than the noble Marchant-Adventurer who sells Silks and Sattins Tissues and cloth of Gold Diamonds and Pearl with Silver and Gold In your discours you fore tell the sudden calamities which are 〈◊〉 to be fall this poor Island if Trade decay and that this decay 〈◊〉 inevitable if these commotions last Heerin you are prov'd 〈◊〉 a Prophet already and I fear your Prophecie will be fully acâ—…omplish'd if matters hold thus Good Lord was ther ever peeâ—… so active to draw on their own ruin which is so visible that a 〈◊〉 man may take a prospect of it We all see this appaâ—…ently and hear it told us every minut but we are fallen to the â—…ondition of that foolish peeple the Prophet speaks of Who had eyes 〈◊〉 would not see and ears but would not hear All know ther is nothing imports this Island more than Trade it is that great Wheel of Industry which sets all other a going it is that which preserves the chiefest Castles and Walls of this Kingdom I mean the Ships and how these are impair'd within these four yeers I beleeve other Nations which ow us an invasion observe and know better than we For truly I beleeve a million I mean of Crowns and I speak within compas will not put the Navy Royall in that strength as it was four yeers since besides the decay of merchants ships A little before Athens was orecom the Oracle told one of the Areopagitae that Athens had seen her best daies for her Wooden walls meaning her ships were decayed As I told you before ther is a Nation or two that ow us an invasion No more now but that with my most kind and frendly respects unto you I rest alwayes Fleet 4 May