the Spaniards 54 Of the old Duke of Larma 54 Materiall thinks of the Match 55 The witty Speech of the Marquis of Montesclares 57 Of Count Mansfields notable retreat to Breda his chiefest exploit 58 Of our Prince his arrival at the Court of Spain his usage there and som passages of Gondamars 60 Of his comportment in courting the Lady Infanta c. 64 A witty saying of a Spanish woman 63 Of their baiting of Bulls with men 64 Verses upon the Prince his wooing 66 The monstrous manner of Osman the great Turks death with som Observations theron 70 Of his ominoâ—…s dream and the grand Visiers Prediction to Sir Tho. Roe 73 A Discours 'twixt our Prince and the King of Spain 74 Of our Prince his departure thence 76 How matters stood after his departure 77 Preparations made for the wedding day 79 The Earl of Bristolls Audience upon his receiving a new Commission 80 Probabilities that the Spaniard intended a Match with England 79 My Lo. Pagetts witty Speech in Parlement 80 Of the Bishop of Halverstadt 81 The notable Plot the two Spanish Ambassadors invented to demolish the Duke of Buck. 82 The high proffers that wer made the Earl of Bristoll if he would stay in Spain 97 Of the manner of the proceedings of the Spanish Match by way of comparison 83 The breach of the Spanish Match by a Philosophical comparison 83 An Abstract of the Spanish Monarchy of its growth of the soyl and the humor of the Inhabitants from 87 to 93 Of things happen'd at the siege of Bergen op Zooma A pleasant Tale of a lame Captain 94 Of the vertu of Familiar Letters 96 Of that stupendous Monument the Escurial 96 Of the late famous Duke of Ossuna divers passages 98 Of writing by Cypher 99 A memorable Passage of the Jesuits 98 A facetious Tale of a Soldier 100 This third Section contains divers intrinsecall Passages more of the Treaties both of Match and Palatinat The fourth Section OF the Jewels that were left in the Court of Spain to be presented at the Betrothing day 101 Of the fruitfulnes of frendship 103 Of Count Mansfelt 104 An exact Relation of his late Majesties death by an eye-witnes 106 Of my Lo Verulam after his fall 108 Cautions for Marriage 109 The disasterous death of young Prince Frederic 110 Of the Treaty of a Match with France and of Cardinal Richelieu 111 How lively Letters represent the inward man 112 The Capitulation of the Match with France 114 Of Monsieurs marriage 115 The rare perfections of the late Marchioness of Winchester 116 Of Grave Maurice's death of the taking of Breda 117 The sorry success of our Fleet to Cales under the Lord Wimbledon 119 Som advertisements to the Duke of Buckingham before the Parlement 121 The tru nature of love 12â—… Of Count Mansfelt 124 Cardinall Richelieu's first rise 111 A facetious saying of the Queen of France touching Co Mansfelt 124 A clashing 'twixt Buckingham and Bristoll 124 A Comparison 'twixt the Infanta and the Daughter of France 126 A facetious Pasquil in Rome 125 The speedy conclusion of the French Match and a facetious tale of the Pope 125 Her Majesties arrivall in England 126 The dissolution of the Parlement at Oxon and of the Lord Keeper Williams 127 Of the Renvoy of her Majesties French servants c. 130 The reasons alleaged for Lone-monies 131 A memorable example in the person of a Spanish Captain how strangely a sudden conceit may work within us 132 The fifth Section A Northern Letter 135 Our breach with France and our ill success at the Isle of Rets 139 The Lord Denbighs sorry return from before Rochell 140 Of the Wars in Italy about the Dutchy of Mantoua 137 A circumstantiall relation of the D. of Buck death by an eye-witness 141 The Lord of Lindseys return from before Rochel the taking and dismantling of her by the French King 143 Colonell Grayes quick device to save his life out of a saltpit 139 A methodicall Incitement for an Oxford Student 144 Of the taking the great Royall Ship the Holy Spirit of the French by Sir Sackvil Trever 145 A dehortatory letter from swearing with examples of all sorts 147 A Hymn therupon 149 The properties of a Foot-man 151 Of Ben Iohnsons Genius 154 Of tardy Courtesies 156 Som amorous Sonnets of black eyes c. 158 A check against habit of drinking 162 A Poem upon the British language 164 A witty reply to Sir Ed Coke by a Country man 155 A character of Sir Posthumus Hobby 156 The first rise of the Lord Strafford 156 The King of Swedens first rushing into Germany 165 The King of Denmarks ill success against Tilly and the favourable peace he obtained 165 Of a ragged illegible hand 166 The proud inscription the French King left upon a triumphant Pillar on one of the Alpian hills 167 Of Sir Ken Digbies Exploits against the Venetian Galleasses c. 168 A geere put upon Sir Tho. Edmonds being Ambassadour in France 169 Another geere of the French Ambassadour 169 Of Sir Tho. Wentworth's violent rising up 170 Of the King of Swedens monstrous Progres his clashing with the English and French Ambassadors 173 A Letter of thanks 172 A discription of an Ollapodrida 174 Of the Spanish Inquisition 178 The death of the Queen Dowager of Denmark His Majesties Grandmother the richest Princess of Christendom c. 175 The sixth Section AN exact relation of the Erl of Leicesters Embassie to the King of Denmark and other Princes 188 Som remarkable passages in the Danish Court 183 Of Hamburgh and the Hans Towns their beginning and the famous quarrell they had with Queen Eliza. 184 The marvelous resemblance of Holsteyn men with the English c. 187 The King of Swedens related by an eye-witnes his aversion to the English c. 193 The Palsgraves death 193 The late Pope's compliance with him 191 A strange apparition happened in the West about a dying Gentleman 194 Of Noy the Atturney and of ship-money 196 Of the Lord Westons Embassie to Italy and a clashing 'twixt my Lord of Holland and him 196 The Queen Mothers and Monsieurs retirement to Flanders 195 A Christmas Hymn 197 Of the condition of the Jewes squanderd up and down the World how they came to be so cunning and hatefull from whence they expect their Messias c. 202 〈…〉 The sudden comfort of Letters 203 Of a strange Pattent given a Scotchman 203 Of Atturney Noy's death and the od wilâ—… he made c. 204 The arrivall of the Prince Elector and of Prince Rupert to England their designes 205 Monsieur steales from Brussells 206 A Herald of Armes sent from France to denounce War against Spaine 206 Of Mountmorencys death 206 A memorable example of the force of affection in the person of a French Lady 207 Of Peter van Heyns mighty Plaâ—…e prize c. 210 Of judgements fallen upon disobedient children 211 The Earl of Arondels return from the German
command given that no violence should be offered him that he might be reserv'd for the law and som exquisit torture The Queen grew half distracted hereupon who had been crown'd Queen of France the day before in great tryumph but a few days after she had something to countervail if not to overmatch her sorrow for according to Saint Lewis law she was made Queen Regent of France during the Kings Minority who was then but about years of Age Many consultations were held how to punish Revillas and ther were some Italiaâ—… Physitians that undertook to prescribe a torment that should last a constant torment for three days but he scap'd onely with this His body was pull'd between four horses that one might hear his Bones crack and after the dislocation they were set again and so he was carryed in a Cart standing half naked with a Torch in that hand which had committed the murrher and in the place where the act was done it was cut off and a Gauntlet of hot Oyl was clap'd upon the stump to stanch the bloud whereat he gave a dolefull shrike then was he brought upon a stage wher a new pair of Boots was provided for him half fill'd with boyling Oyl then his body was pincer'd and hot Oyl powr'd into the holes in al the extremity of this torture he scarce shew'd any sense of pain but when the Gauntlet was clap'd upon his Arms to stanch the Flux at which time he of reaking bloud gave a shrike onely He boar up against all these torments about three hours before he dyed all the confession that could be drawn from him was That he thought to have done God good service totake away that King which would have embroil'd all Christendom in an endlesse War A fatall thing it was that France should have theee of her Kings com to such violent deaths in so short a revolution of time Henry the second running at Tilt with Monsieur Montgomery was kill'd by a Splinter of a Lance that pierc'd his eye Henry the third not long after was kill'd by a young Fryer who in lieu of a Letter which he pretended to have for him pull'd out of his long sleeve a Knife and thrust him into the Bottom of the belly as he was coming from his Close stool and so dispatcht him but that Regicide was hack'd to peeces in the place by the Nobles The same destiny attended this King by Ravillac which is becom now a common name of reproach and infamy in France Never was King so much lamented as this ther are a world not onely of his Pictures but Statues up and down France and ther 's scarce a Market Town but hath him erected in the Market place or ore some Gate not upon Sign-posts as our Henry the eight and by a publick Act of Parliament which was confirmed in the Consistory at Rome he was entiâ—…led Henry the Great and so plac'd in the Temple of Immortality A notable Prince he was and of in admirable temper of body and mind he had a gracefull facetious way to gain both love and aw he would be never transported beyond himself with choler but he would passe by any thing with some repartie som witty strain wherein he was excellent I will instance in a few which were told me from a good hand One day he was charg'd by the Duke of Bovillon to have chang'd his Religion he answer'd No cosin I have chang'd no Religion but an Opinion And the Cardinall of Perron being by he injoyn'd him to write a Treatise for his Vindication the Cardinal was long about the work and when the King ask'd from time to time where his Book was he would still answer him That he expected som Manuscripts from Rome before he could finish it It happen'd that one day the King took the Cardinall along with him to look on his Workmen and new Buildings at the Louvre and passing by one corner which had bin a long time begun but left unfinished The King ask'd the chief Mason why that corner was not all this while perfected Sir it is because I want som choice Stones no no said the King looking upon the Cardinall It is because thou want'â—… Manuscripts from Rome Another time the old Duke of Main who was us'd to play the drol with him coming softly into his Bed-Chamber and thrusting in his Bald-head and Long-neck in a posture to make the King merry it happen'd the King was coming from doing his Ease and spying him he took the round Cover of the Close-stool and clap'd it on his Bald-Sconce saying Aâ—… Cousin you thought once to have taken the Crown off of my head and wear it on your own but this of my Tail shall now serve your turn Another time when at the siege of Amiâ—…ns he having sent for the Count of Soissons who had 100000 Franks a yeer Pension from the Crown to assist him in those wars and that the Count excused himself by reason of his yeers and poverty having exhausted himself in the former wars and all that he could do now was to pray for his Majesty which he would do heartily This answer being brought to the King he replied Will my Cousin the Count of Soissons do nothing else but pray for me tell him that Prayer without Fasting is not available therefore I will make my Cousin Fast also from his Pension of 100000. per annum He was once troubled with a fit of the Gout and the Spanish Ambassador coming then to visit him and saying he was sorry to see his Majesty so lame he answered As lame as I am if ther were occasion your Master the King of Spain should no sooner have his foot in the stirrop but he should find me on Horseback By these few you may guesse at the Genius of this spritfull Prince I could make many more instances but then I should exceed the bounds of a Letter When I am in Spain you shall hear further from me and if you can think on any thing wherin I may serve you beleeve it Sir that any imployment from you shall be welcom to Your much obliged Servant J. H. Paris 12. of May 1620. XIX To my Brother Dr. Howell BROTHER BEing to morrow to part with Paris and begin my journey for Spain I thought it not amisse to send you this in regard I know not when I shall have opportunity to write unto you again This Kingdom since the young King hath taken the Scepter into his own hands doth flourish very much with quietnes and Commerce nor is there any motion or the least tintamar of trouble in any part of the Countrey which is rare in France T is true the Queen Mother is discontented since She left her Regency being confin'd and I know not what it may com unto in time for she hath a strong party and the murthering of her Marquis of Ancre will yet bleed as som fear I was lately in societie of a Gentleman who was a Spectator of
greatest town of Europe whence arose the Proverb Les flamen tient un gan qui tiendrá Paris dedans But the beautifullest richest strongest and most privileg'd City is Antwerp in Brabant being the Marquisat of the holy Empire and drawing nere to the nature of a Hans Town for she payes the Prince no other Tax but the Impost Before the dissociation of the seventeen Provinces this Town was one of the greatest Marts of Europe and greatest bank this side the Alpes most Princes having their Factors here to take up or let out moneys and here our Gresham got all his wealth and built our Royall Exchange by modell of that here The Merchandise was brought hither from Germany France and Italy by Land and from England Spain and the Hans towns by Sea was estimated at above twenty Millions of Crowns every year but as no violent thing is long lasting and as t is fatall to all Kingdomes States Towns and Languages to have their period so this renown'd Mart hath suffer'd a shrewd eclipse yet no utter downfall the Exchange of the King of Spains money and some small land trafic keeping still life in her though nothing so full of vigor as it was Therfore there is no town under the Archduke where the States have more conceal'd friends than in Antwerp who would willingly make them her Masters in hope to recover her former commerce which after the last twelve years truce began to revive a little the States permitting to passe by Lillo's sconce which coÌ„mands the river of Skeld and lyeth in the teeth of the Town som small cross-saild ships to passe hither There is no place hath been more passive than this and more often pillag'd amongst other times she was once plunder'd most miserably by the Spaniards under the conduct of a Priest immediatly upon Don Iohn of Austria's death she had then her Stat-house burn'd which had cost a few years before above twenty thousand Crowns the building and the spoils that were carried away thence amounted to forty Tuns of gold Thus she was reduc'd not only to poverty but a kind of captivity being commanded by a Citadell which she preferr'd before a Garrison this made the Merchant retire and seek a more free Randevous som in Zeland som in Holland specially in Amsterdam which rose upon the fall of this Town as Lisbon did from Venice upon the discovery of the Cape of good Hope though Venice be not nere so much crestfall'n I will now steer my discours to the united Provinces as they term themselves which are six in number viz. Holland Zeland Frisland Overyssell Gronninghen and Utrecht three parts of Gilderland and some Frontire Towns and places of contribution in Brabant and Flanders In all these ther is no innovation at all introduc'd notwithstanding this great change in point of Government except that the College of States represents the Duke or Earl in times pass'd which College consists of the chiefest Gentry of the Countrey surintendants of Towns and the principall Magistrates Every Province and great Town choose yearly certain Deputies to whom they give plenary power to deliberat with the other States of all affairs touching the public welfare of the whole Province and what they vote stands for Law These being assembled consult of all matters of State Justice and War the Advocat who is prime in the Assembly propounds the busines and after collects the suffrages first of the Provinces then of the Towns which being put in form he delivers in pregnant and moving speeches and in case ther be a dissonance and reluctancy of opinions he labors to accord and reconcile them concluding alwayes with the major voyces Touching the administration of Justice the President who is monthly chang'd with the great Counsell have the supreme judicature from whose Decrees ther 's no appeal but a revision and then som of the choycest Lawyers amongst them are appointed For their Opidan Government they have variety of Officers a Scout Bourgmasters a Balue and 〈◊〉 The Scout is chosen by the States who with the Balues have the judging of all criminall matters in last resort without appeal they have also the determining of Civill Causes but those are appealable to the Hague Touching their chiefest Governor or Generall rather now having made proof of the Spaniard German French and English and agreeing with none of them they lighted at last upon a man of their own mould Prince Maurice now their Generall in whom concurr'd divers parts suitable to such a charge having been train'd up in the wars by his Father who with three of his Uncles and divers of his kindred sacrific'd their lives in the States quarrell he hath thriven well since he came to the Government hee clear'd Friesland Overyssell and Groninghen in lesse than 18 months He hath now continued their Governor and Generall by sea and land above 33 years he hath the election of Magistrats the pardning of Malefactors and divers other Prerogatives yet they are short of the reach of Soverainty and of the authority of the ancient Counts of Holland Though I cannot say 't is a mercenary employment yet he hath a limited allowance nor hath he any implicit command when he goes to the field for either the Counsell of War marcheth with him or els he receives daily directions from them moreover the States themselves reserve the power of nominating all Commanders in the Army which being of sundry Nations deprive him of those advantages he might have to make himself absolut Martiall-Discipline is no where so regular as amongst the States no wher are ther lesser insolencies committed upon the Burger noâ—… robberies upon the Countrey Boors nor are the Officers permitted to insult ore the common soldier When the Army marcheth not one dares take so much as an apple off a tree or a root out of the earth in their passage and the reason is they are punctually paid their pay els I believe they would be insolent enough and were not the pay so certain I think few or none would serve them They speak of sixty thousand they have in perpetuall pay by Land and Sea at home and in the Indies The King of France was us'd to maintain a Regiment but since Henry the Greats death the paiment hath been neglected The means they have to maintain these Forces to pay their Governor to discharge all other expence as the preservation of their Diâ—…es which comes to a vast expence yearly is the ancient revenue of the Counts of Holland the impropriaâ—… Church living Imposts upon all Merchandise which is greater upon exported than imported goods Excise upon all commodities as well for necessity as pleasure taxes upon every Acre of ground which is such that the whole Countrey returns into their hands every three years Add hereunto the Art they use in their bank by the rise and fall of money the fishing upon our Coasts whither they send every Autumâ—… above 700 Hulks or Busses which in the voiages they
in his tent how therby his Army much encreas'd and so rush'd further into the heart of the Countrey but passing neer Magdenburg being diffident of his own strength he suffer'd Tilly to take that great Town with so much effusion of bloud because they would receive no quarter your Lordship hath also heard of the battell of Leipsick where Tilly notwithstanding the Victory he had got ore the Duke of Saxony a few daies before receav'd an vtter discomfiture upon which victory the King sent Sir Thomas Roe a present of two thousand pounds and in his letter calls him his strenuum consultorem he being one of the first who had advis'd him to this German war after he had made peace 'twixt him and the Polander I presume also your Lordship heard how he met Tilly again neer Auspurg and made him go upon a woodden leg wher of he died and after soundly plunder'd the Bavarian and made him flee from his own house at Munchen and rifled his very Closets Now your Lordship shall understand that the said King is at Mentz keeps a Court there like an Emperour there being above twelve Ambassadors with him The King of France sent a great Marquis for his Ambassador to put him in mind of his Articles and to tell him that his Christian Majesty wondred he would cross the Rhine without his privity and wondred more that he would invade the Church-lands meaning the Archbishop of Mentz who had put himself under the protection of France The Swed answer'd That he had not broke the least title of the Articles agreed on and touching the said Archbishop he had not stood Neutrall as was promised therfore he had justly set on his skirts The Ambassador replied in case of breach of Articles his Master had eighty thousand men to pierce Germany when he pleas'd The King answer'd that he had but twenty thousand and those should be sooner at the walls of Paris then his fourscore thousand should be on the frontiers of Germany If this new Conquerer goes on with this violence I beleeve it will cast the pollicy of all Christendom into another mould and be get new maximes of State for none can foretell wher his monstrous progress will terminat Sir Henry Vane is still in Germany observing his motions and they write that they do not agree well as I heard the King should tell him that he spoke nothing but Spanish to him Sir Robert Anstruther is also at Vienna being gon thither from the Diet at Ratisbon I hear the Infante Cardinal is design'd to com Governor of the Netherlands and passeth by way of Italy and so through Germany his brother Don Carlos is lately dead So I humbly take my leave and rest My Lord Your Lopps most humble and ready Servitor J. H. Westmin 23 Apr. 1630. XXXVIII To my noble Lady the Lady Cor. Madam YOu spoke to me for a Cook who had seen the world abroad and I think the bearer hereof will fit your Ladiships â—…urn He can marinat fish make gellies he is excellent for a pickant sawce and the Haugou besides Madame he is passing good for an ollia He will tell your Ladiship that the reverend Matron the olla podrida hath intellectualls and senses Mutton Beef and Bacon are to her as the will understanding and Memory are to the soule Cabbage Turnips Artichocks Potatoes and Dates are her five senses and Pepper the common sense she must have Marrow to keep life in her and som birds to make her light by all meanes she must go adorn'd with chaines of Sausages He is also good at Larding of meat after the mode of France Madame you may make proof of him and if your Ladyship find him too sawey or wastfuli you may return him whence you had him So I rest Westmin 2 Iun. 1630. Madame Your Lapps most humble Servitor J. H XXXIX To Mr. E. D. SIR YOu write to me that T. B. intends to give money for such a place if he doth I feare it will be verified in him that a fool and his money is soon parted for I know he wil be never able to execut it I heard of a laâ—…e secretary of State that could not read the next morning his own hand writing and I have read of Caligulas horse that was made Consull therfore I pray tell him from me for I wish him well that if he thinks he is fit for that Office he looks upon himself through a fals glass a trotting hors is fit for a coach but not for a Ladies saddle and an ambler is proper for a Ladies saddle but not for a coach If Tom undertakes this place he wil be as an ambler in a coach or a trotter under a Ladies saddle when I com to town I will put him upon a far fitter and more feasable busines for him and so comend me to him for I am his and Westmin 5 Iune 1630. Your true friend J. H. XL. To my Father SIR THer are two Ambassadors extraordinary to go abroad shortly the Earl of Leycester and the Lord M'eston this latter goes to France Savoy Venice and so returns by Florence a pleasant journey for he carrieth presents with him from King and Queen The Earl of Leycester is to go to the King of Denmark and other Princes of Germany The maine of the Embassy is to condole the late death of the Lady Sophia Queen Dowager of Denmark our Kings Grandmother She was the Duke of Meclenburgs daughter and her husband Christian the third dying young her portion which was forty thousand pound was restor'd fier and living a Widdow forty four years after she grew to be so great a huswife setting three or four hundred people at worke that she died worth neer two millions of dollars so that she was reputed the richest Queen of Christendom By the constitutions of Denmark this estate is divisible amongst her children wherof she had five the King of Denmark the Dutchess of Saxony the Dutchess of Brimswick Queen Ann and the Dutchess of Holftein the King being Male is to have two shares our King and the Lady Elizabeth is to have that which should have belong'd to Queene Anne so he is to returne by the Hague It pleas'd my Lord of Leycester to send for me to Baynards Castle and proffer me to go Secretary in this Ambassage assuring me that the journey shall tend to my profit and credit So I have accepted of it for I heaâ—… very nobly of my Lord so that I hope to make a boon voyage of it I desire as hitherto your prayers and blessing may accompany me so with my love to my Brothers and Sisters I rest London 5 May 1632. Your dutifull son I. H. XLI To Mr. Alderman Moulson Governor of the Merchant adventurers SIR THe Earl of Leicester is to go shortly Ambassador extraordinary to the King of Denmark and he is to pass by Hamburgh I understand by Mr. Skinner that the Staple hath som grievances to be redress'd If this
his Gallies are call'd The black Fleet because they annoy the Turk more in the bottom of the Straits then any other This State is bound to keep good quarter with the Pope more then others for all Toscany is fenc'd by Nature her self I mean with Mountains except towards the Territories of the Apostolic See and the Sea it self therfore it is call'd a Countrey of Iron The Dukes Palace is so spacious that it occupieth the Room of fifty Houses at least yet though his Court surpasseth the bounds of a Duke's it reacheth not to the Magnificence of a King's The Pope was sollicited to make the gran Duke a King and he answer'd That he was content he should be King in Toscany not of Toscany wherupon one of his Counsellors replied That it was a more glorious thing to be a gran Duke then a petty King Among other Cities which I desiâ—…'d to see in Italy Genoa was one wher I lately was and found her to be the proudest for buildings of any I met withall yet the people go the plainest of any other and are also most parsimonious in their diet They are the subtillest I will not say the most subdolous dealers they are wonderfull wealthy specially in Money In the yeer 1600 the King of Spain owed them eighteen millions and they say it is double as much now From the time they began to finger the Indian Geld and that this Town hath bin the Scale by which he hath conveyed his Tresure to Flanders since the VVars in the Netherlands for the support of his Armies and that she hath got som priviledges for the exportation of VVools and other commodities prohibited to others out of Spain she hath improv'd extremely in riches and made Saint George's Mount swell higher then Saint Marks in Venice She hath bin often ill favouredly shaken by the Venetian and hath had other enemies which have put her to hard shifts for her own defence specially in the time of Lewis the eleventh of France at which time when she would have given her self up to him for Protection King Lewis being told that Genoa was content to be his he answerd She should not be his long for he would give her up to the devill and rid his hands of her Indeed the Genowaies have not the Fortune to be so well belov'd as other people in Italy which proceeds I beleeve from their cunningnes and over-reachings in bargaining wherin they have somthing of the Iew. The Duke is there but Biennial being chang'd evry two yeers He hath fifty Germans for his Guard ther be four Centurionâ—… that have 100 men a peece which upon occasions attend the Signory abroad in Velvet Coats ther be eight chief Governours and 400 Counsellours amongst whom ther be five Soverain Syndics who have authority to censure the Duke himself his time being expir'd and punish any Governour else though after death upon the Heir Amongst other customs they have in that Town one is That none must carry a pointed Knif about him which makes the Hollander who is us'd to Snik and Snee to leave his Horn-sheath and Knif a Shipboard when he comes a shore I met not with an Englishman in all the Town nor could I learn of any Factour of ours that ever resided there Ther is a notable little active Republic towards the midst of Toscany call'd Luca which in regard she is under the Emperours protection he dares not meddle withall though she lie as a Partridg under a Faulcons Wings in relation to the gran Duke besides ther is another reason of the State why he meddles not with her because she is more beneficiall unto him now that she is free and more industrious to support this freedom then if she were becom his vassall for then it is probable she would grow more carelesse and idle and so could not vent his commodities so soon which she buyes for ready money wherin most of her wealth consists Ther is no State that winds the peny more nimbly and makes quicker returns She hath a Counsell call'd the Discoli which pryes into the profession and life of evry one and once a yeer they rid the State of all Vagabonds So that this petty pretty Republic may not be improperly parellell'd to a Hive of Bees which have bin alwayes the emblems of industry and order In this splendid City of Florence ther be many rarities which if I should insert in this Letter it would make her swell too big and indeed they are fitter for Parol Communication Here is the prime dialect of the Italian spoken though the pronunciation be a little more guttural then that of Siena and that of the Court of Rome which occasions the Proverb Lingua Toscana in boca Romana The Toscan toung sounds best in a Roman mouth The peeple here generally seem to be more generous and of a higher comportment then elsewhere very cautious and circumspect in their negotiation whence ariseth the Proverb Chi há da far con Tosco Non bisogna chi sia Losco VVho dealeth with a Florentine Must have the use of both his Ey'n I shall bid Italy farewell now very shortly and make my way are the Alps to France and so home by Gods grace to take a review of my frends in England amongst whom the sight of your self will be as gladsom to me as of any other for I professe my self and purpose to be ever Your thrice affectionat Servitor J. H. Florence 1 Novemb. 1621. XLII To Cap. Francis Bacon from Turin SIR I Am now upon point of shaking hands with Italy for I am com to Turin having already seen Uenice the rich Padoua the learned Bologna the fat Rome the holy Naples the gentle Genoa the proud Florence the fair and Milan the great from this last I came hither and in that City also appears the Grandeur of Spains Monarchy very much The Governour of Milan is alwayes Captain Generall of the Cavalry to the King of Spain thorowout Italy The Dnke of Feria is now Governour and being brought to kisse his hands he us'd me with extraordinary respect as he doth all of our Nation being by the maternall side a Dormer The Spaniard entertains there also 3000 Foot 1000 Light-Horse and 600 men at Arms in perpetuall pay so that I beleeve the benefit of that Dutchy also though seated in the richest Soyl of Italy hardly countervails the charge Three things are admir'd in Milan the Dome or great Church built all of white Marble within and without the Hospitall and the Castle by which the Cittadell of Antwerp was trac'd and is the best condition'd Fortresse of Christendom Though Nova Palma a late Fortresse of the Venetian would go beyond it which is built according to the exact Rules of the most modern Enginry being of a round form with nine Bastions and a street levell to evry Bastion The Duke of Savoy though he passe for one of the Princes of Italy yet the least part of his Territories lie
pence for every Oath which the Justices of Peace and Constables had power to raise and have still but this new Patentce is to quicken and put more life in the Law and see it executed He hath power to nominat one or two or three in som Parishes which are to have Commission from him for this Public Service and so they are to be exempt from bearing Office which must needs deserve a gratuity And I beleeve this was the main drift of the Scot Patentce so that he intends to keep his Office in the Temple and certainly he is like to be mighty gainer by it for who would not give a good peece of money to be freed from bearing all cumbersom Offices No more now but that with my dear love to my sister I rest Westmin 1 Aug. 1633. Your most affectionat Brother J. H. XVII To the Right honble the Lord Vicount Savage at Long-Melford My Lord THe old Steward of your Courts Master Attorney-Generall Noy is lately dead nor could Tunbridg-waters do him any good Though he had good matter in his brain he had it seems ill materialls in his body for his heart was shrivelled like a Leather peny-purse when he was dissected nor were his lungs sound Being such a great Clerk in the Law all the World wonders he left such an odd Will which is short and in Latin The substance of it is that having bequeathd a few Legacies and left his second son 100 Marks a year and 500 pounds in Money enough to bring him up in his Fathers Profession he concludes Reliqua meorum omnia progenito meo Edoardo dissipanda nec meliùs unquam speravi lego I leave the rest of all my goods to my first-born Edward to be consum'd or scatterd for I never hoped better A strange and scarce a Christian Will in my opiniâ—… for it argues uncharitablenes Nor doth the World wonder less that he should leave no Legacie to som of your Lordships children considering what deep Obligations he had to your Lordship for I am confident he had never bin Attorney Generall els The Vintners drink Carowses of joy that he is gon for now they are in hopes to dress Meat again and sell Tobacco Beer Sugar and Fagots which by a sullen Capricio of his he would have restraind them from He had his humors as other men but certainely he was a solid rational man and though no great Orator yet a profound Lawyer and no man better versd in the Records of the Tower I heard your Lordship often say with what infinit pains and indefatigable study he came to this knowledge And I never heard a more pertinent Anagram then was made of his name William Noye I moyle in law If ans be added it may be applied to my Country-man Judge Iones an excellent Lawyer too and a far more Gentile man William Iones I moile in laws No more now but that I rest Westmin 1 Octo. 1635. Your Lopps most humble and obliged Servitor J. H. XVIII To the Right honble the Countess of Sunderland Madam HEre inclos'd I send your Ladiship a Letter from the Lord Deputy of Ireland wherin he declares that the disposing of the Attorniship in York which he passed over to me had no relation to my Lord at all but it was meerly don out of a particular respect to me your Ladyship may please to think of it accordingly touching the accounts It is now a good while the two Nephew-Princes have bin here I mean the Prince Elector and Prince Robert The King of Swedens death and the late blow at Norlingen hath half blasted their hopes to do any good for recovery of the Palatinat by land Therfore I hear of som new designes by Sea That the one shall go to Madagascar a great Island 800 miles long in the East Indies never yet coloniz'd by any Christian and Captain Boâ—…d is to be his Lieutenant the other is to go with a considerable Fleet to the West Indies to seize upon som place there that may countervail the Palatinat and Sir Henry Mervin to go with him But I hear my Lady Elizabeth opposeth it saying that she will have none of her sons to be Knights-errant Ther is now professed actuall enmity twixt France and Spain for ther was a Herald at Arms sent lately to Flanders from Paris who by sound of Trumpet denounced and proclaimed open War against the King of Spain and all his Dominions this Herald left and fixed up the Defiance in all the Townes as he passed so that wheras before the War was but collaterall and auxiliary there is now proclaim'd Hostility between them notwithstanding that they have one anothers sisterâ—… in their beds evry night What the reason of this War is truly Madame I cannot tell unlesse it bee reason of state to preveâ—… the further growth of the Spanish Monarchy and ther be multitude of examples how Preventive Wars have been practisâ—… from all times Howsoever it is too sure that abundance of Christian bloud will be spilt So I humbly take my leave and rest Westminster 4 Iune 1635. Madame Your Ladiships most obedient and faithfull Servitor I. H. XIX To the Earl of Leicester at Penshurst My Lord I Am newly returned out of France from a flying Journey as far as Orleans which I made at the request of Mr. Secretary Windâ—… bank and I hope I shall receive som fruits of it hereafter Ther is yet a great resentment in many places in France for the beheading of Montmorency whom Henry the fourth was us'd to say to be a better Gentleman than himself for in his Colors he carry'd this Motto Dieu ayde le premier Chevalier de France God help the first Knight of France Hee dyed upon a Scaâ—…told in Tholouze in the flower of his years at 34 and hath left no Issue behind so that noble old Family extinguish'd in a snust His Treason waâ—… very foul having received particular Commissions from the King to make an extraordinary Levy of men and money in Languedoc which he turn'd afterwards directly against the King against whose person he appear'd arm'd in open field and in a hostile posture for fomenting of Monsieurs Rebellion The Insante Cardinall is com to Brussells at last thorow many difficulties and som few days before Monsieur made semblance to go a Hawking and so fled to France but left his mother behind who since the Arch-Dutchess death is not so well look'd on as formerly in that Countrey Touching your busines in the Exchequer Sir Robert Pye weâ—… with me this morning of purpose to my Lord Tresurer about it and told me with much earnestnes and assurance that ther shall be a speedy cours taken for your Lordships satisfaction I deliverd my Lord of Linsâ—…y the Manuscript he lent your Lordship of his Fathers Embastie to Denmark and herewith I present your Lordship with a compleat Diaâ—…y of your own late legation which hath cost me som oil and labor So I rest always Westm. 19 Iune
1635. Your Lopps most humble and ready Servitor J. H. XX. To my Honored Frend and Fa. Mr. Ben Johnâ—…n Fa. Bâ—…n BEing lately in France and returning in Coach from Paris to Roüen I lighted upon the Society of a knowing Gentleman who related unto me a choice Story wherâ—…f peradventure you may make som use in your way Som hundred and odd yeers since ther was in France one Captain Coucy a gallant Gentleman of an ancient extraction and Keeper of Coucy Castle which is yet standing and in good repair He fell in love with a young Gentlewoman and courted her for his wife ther was reciprocall love between them but her parents understanding of it by way of prevention they shuffled up a forced Match twixt her and one Monsieur Faiâ—…l who was a great Heir Captain Coucy hereupon quitted France in discontent and went to the wars in Hungary against the Turk where he received a mortall wound not far from Buda Being carried to his lodging hee languished som days but a little before his death he spoke to an ancient Servant of his that he had many profs of his fidelity and truth but now he had a great busines to intrust him with which hee conjur'd him by all means to do which was That after his death he should get his body to be opened and then to take his heart out of his brest and put it in an earthen Pot to be bak'd to powder then to put the powder into a hansome Box with that Bracelet of hair he had worn long about his left wrist which was a lock of Madamoisâ—…lle Faiels hair and put it amongst the powder together with a little Note he had written with his own bloud to her and after hee had given him the Rites of Buriall to make all the speed he could to France and deliver the said box to Madamoiselle Faiel The old Servant did as his Master had commanded him and so went to France and comming one day to Monsieur Faiels house he suddenly met him with one of his servants and examin'd him because he knew he was Captain Coucy's servant and finding him timerous and faltering in his speech hee search'd him and sound the â—…aid Box in his pocket with the Note which expressed what was therin He dismiss'd the Bearer with menaces that he should com no more neer his house Monsieur Faiel going in sent for his Cook and deliver'd him the Powder charging him to make a little well-relish'd dish of it without losing a jot of it for it was a very costly thing and commanded him to bring it in himself after the last cours at Supper The Cook bringing in the Dish accordingly Monsieur Faiel commanded all to void the room and began a serious discours with his wife how ever since he had married her he observ'd she was always melancholly and he feared she was inclining to a Consumption therfore he had provided for her a very precious Cordiall which he was well assured would cure her Therupon he made her eat up the whole dish and afterwards much importuning him to know what it was he told her at last she had eaten Coucy's heart and so drew the Box out of his pocket and shewed her the Note and the Bracelet in a sudden exultation of joy she with a far-fetch'd sigh said This is a precious Cordiall indeed and so lick'd the Dish saying It is so pretious that t is pity to put ever any meat upon 't So she went to bed and in the morning she was found stone-dead This Gentleman told me that this sad story is painted in Coucy-Castle and remains fresh to this day In my opinion which vails to yours this is choice and rich stuff for you to put upon your Loom and make a curious Web of I thank you for the last regalo you gave me at your Musaeum and for the good company I heard you censur'd lately at Court that you have lighted too foul upon Sir Inigo and that you write with a Porcupins quill dipped in too much Gall. Excuse me that I am so free with you it is because I am in no common way of frendship Westmin 3 of May. 1635. Yours I. H. XXI To Captain Thomas Porter Noble Captain YOu are well returned from Brussels from attending your Brother in that noble employment of congratulating the Infante Cardinalls comming thither It was well that Monsieur went a Hawking away before to France for I think those two young spirits would not have agreed A French-man told me lately that was at your Audience that he never saw so many compleat Gentlemen in his life for the number and in a neater equipage Before you go to Sea I intend to wait on you and give you a frolick So I am De todas mis entranas Yours to dispose of I. H. Westmin 1 Novemb. 163â—… To this I le add the Duke of Ossuna's Complement Quisiere aunque soy chico Ser enserville Gigante Though of the tallest I am none you see Yet to serve you I would a Giant be To my Cousin Captain Saintgeon Noble Cousin THe greatest news about the Town is of a mighty Prize that was taken lately by Peter van Heyn of Holland who had met som stragling Ships of the Plate-fleet and brought them to the â—…exel they speak of a Million of Crowns I could wish you had been there to have shared of the Booty which was the greatest â—…n money that ever was taken One sent me lately from Holland this Distic of Peter van Heyn â—…hich savors of a little profaness Roma sui sileat posthà c miracula Petri Petrus apud Batavos plura stupenda facit Let Rome no more her Peters Wonders tell For Wonders Hollands Peter bears the bell To this Distic was added this Anagram which is a good one PETRUS HAINU'S HISPANUS RUET So I rest Totus tuus Yours whole I. Howell Westmin 10 Iuly XXIII To my Lord Viscount S. My Lord HIs Majesty is lately return'd from Scotland having given that Nation satisfaction to their long desires to have him com thither to be Crownd I hear som mutter at Bishop Lauds carriage there that it was too haughty and Pontificall Since the death of the King of Sweden a great many Scotch Commanders are com over and make a shining shew at Court what trade they will take hereafter I know not having been so inur'd to the Wars I pray God keep us from commotions at home 'twixt the two Kingdoms to find them work I hear one Colonell Lesley is gon away discontented because the King would not 〈◊〉 him The old rotten Duke of Bavaria for he hath divers Issues aboâ—… his body hath married one of the Emperors Sisters a young Lady little above twenty and he neer upon fourscore ther 's another remaining who they say is intended for the King of Poland notwithstanding his pretences to the young Lady Elizabeth about which Prince Razevill and other Ambassadors have been here lately but that King being Electif must mary
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