Duke's Confessor in censuring the weak conduct of the Dutchess's Ghostly Father by laying open the miscarriages of the Dutchess which required a speedy and vigorous Remedy These are all the Proceedings as likewise the Contrivances of St. Germain to gain his two unknown Friends which could not yet be carried so close but that some Observations have been made of them but none could ever discover the true Cause of the groundless Jealousies which have been raised upon St. Germain and which hath been the chiefest Reason that he hath been abandoned in his Misfortunes and that no body concerneth himself to rescue him out of them Thus you have the whole Mysterie of the Business which hath been so vigorously agitated with Coleman the E. of Peterborough the two unknown Persons and the Duke's Confessor upon the arrival of the Friend of Madam de la Tremblay in England with intent had not the accident befallen St. Germain to persuade the Duke to consent to the doing of the work and after his consent obtained to have proposed it to the Dutchess by her grand Banker Montecuculi A faire la Coup I should utterly despair if any beside your self were made acquainted with this whole Matter I hope St. Germain will Pardon me the laying open of his whole Secret to you But I doubt whether he would be pleas'd that Montecuculi should know that he had discover'd it to you Well then Let Montecuculi come and try if he would or could re-enter into the same Negotiation with Coleman the E. of Peterborough and the Confessor of the Duke who certainly is highly displeased with the Dutchess's Confessor and with others whom you will judge proper for this Design As for my self who have no other part in it but to advertise you thereof you may judge how unprofitable I am But if the Duke would be persuaded to write hither That he wisheth or at least that he judgeth it fit that St. Germain should appear in England I know that the Two concealed Gentlemen would contribute toward it the utmost of their Power and that then the Duke will be more Powerful than ever amongst them to make them act vigorously But this is a Fancy of my Brain to which St. Germain will not be brought as judging it impossible principally in regard of the Enemies which the Enterprize of this Affair hath raised him Translated by Sir G. Talbot St. Germain to Coleman 18 / 28 March 75 / 76. I Have received yours of the 9 / 19 March and omitted to write to you for two Posts by reason I received no Letters from you I have given you an exact account of the Affair of our Friend Madam de la Tremblay in my last Letters to which I expect your Answer St. Germain went Yesterday to Visit the Confessor and to deliver him the Dutchess's Letter for the King of France and this day he is to carry him a Memorial to the End he may speak Effectually to the King and to the Satisfaction of the Dutchess The Confessor hath received Mr. Coleman's Letter and St. Germain hath already acquainted Mr. Coleman with it but his Great Affairs hath made him forget it If the Confessor hath not answered it it is because he expected the Dutchess's Letter to answer both at once after he shall have seen the Issue of the Business It 's said That the King of France hath been very Melancholy for some days being a Lover of his Countrey the Affair of Messina causes his Discontent Others say That he had formed some design this year for Trade which hath been frustrated Others That it is only by reason of this time of Devotion He would sometimes walk all alone contrary to his Custom It 's said the Emperor Arms very powerfully The Electress of Bavaria is dead and the Empress very sick Madam de Brinvilliers the great Poisoner is taken Prisoner at Liege They are demolishing Hug Dinant and the Cittadel of Liege It 's said for certain the King will part from Paris Wednesday after Easter which will be the 8 th of April our Stile I have received yours of the 16 / 26 March I could not send you this last Saturday I send it on our Holy Wednesday being the 22 March / 1 April St. Germain desires me to tell you that you will do him a great favour to thank Mr. Coleman for all good Offices in his behalf for which he can never sufficiently return Thanks he is of Opinion That the Confessors with you had great reason to formalize on his Proceedings which he would Condemn himself if he had not the Reasons which he told Mr. Coleman and which are such in the present state of Affairs that if those two Confessors were in his Place they would do the same Mr. Coleman will also do him a Kindness to make his Complements to Mr. Mountecuculi whom he knows to be in all things his true Friend For his Voyage into England he leaves it in the Hands of Providence but he doth not believe that we ought to begin by engaging the Confessor to sollicit this Affair unless the Duke doth desire it or think it fit The Duke's Lord Treasurer is very well disposed to the good Success of this Business as they tell St. Germain and he hath reason to believe it True. It is Necessary I say absolutely Necessary that Mr. Coleman make himself better Known in France and to the King of France and his Confessor by Negotiations concerning his Traffick Therefore St. Germain wishes That the Duke had some Occasion to send him into France to Treat of some Point of Commerce because appearing and acting they would Interest him more deeply in the Trade St. Germain hath given a Memorial to the Confessor concerning the Affair of Antwerp and the Confessor hath put it in the presence of St. Germain in the Pacquet with the Dutchess's Letter to the King of France and the Confessor hath promised St. Germain to speak very earnestly of this Affair He went to Court on Sunday last where he will stay 8 days because in that time they are accustomed to take a review together of the whole years account Above all St. Germain hath recommended to the Confessor to act so that the King of France might write back to the Dutchess who was angry the last year that she received no Answer to a Letter she writ to him If Mr. Coleman did take a turn into France I do not doubt but he might obtain something Conformable to the Promises of Mr. Ruvigny but then he must be impowered in this Voyage by the Duke's Commissions Send me some News of the Dutchess of Mazarin whom I will hereafter call 98 and of the Dutchess of Portsmouth whom I will call 89 for several things are discoursed here both of the one and the other The Dutchess of Cleveland arrived at Paris Monday Evening 20 / 30 March. Translated by R. Whitley To Mr. Coleman Secretary to her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York in Deans-yard
to the right purpose and nolens volens the juggling of others argued so hotly and well that it was concluded quite contrary to the intention and expectation of the Juggler's My Lord Peterb can tell you something of it and I can much more but since the business is done it s no matter I did it not to pick thanks or for recompence to me or mine but to serve the Duke and Catholick Religion in England yet I must tell you that not only Cardinal Norfolk but his also are as able to serve the Duke and Catholick Religion in England as any whosoever and both are in a greater power and esteem with the Pope and Cardinal Altieri and General all of his sort and at Rome and Spain than any whoever and if the Pope live some considerable time as its likely he will make a third like Cardinal Norfolk alive in great Esteem Birth VVorth c. I will say no more but as Cardinal Norfolk hath served the Duke long since in Flanders and England when he least thought of it and yet knoweth not of so as he did it meetly out of Affection and Duty he will in all times and places he can continue the same Yet Cardinal Norfolk is not ignorant of many ill Offices several others whom God forgive endeavoured to do Cardinal Norfolk with the Duke and Dutchess and also with the King and Queen for their factious ends however Qui ambulat simpliciter ambulat confidenter as Cardinal Norfolk always did those malicious endeavours being but small Flea-bitings although they endeavoured the like also with the Pope Cardinal Altieri Barbarin and all others they could at Rome sed nihil occulium quod non reveletur Cardinal Norfolk had sufficient notice in England of all and now a more ample but I will ever go the old streight way with the Pater noster of demitte nobis debita nostra sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris which I do with all my heart continuing with that other old Prayer of demitte illis Domine quia neseiunt quid faciunt sic finitur But unto the other part of this point I must again take leave to tell you That it may do the Duke no small prejudice if the Catholicks of England or the Pope and Cardinal Altieri with his Confederates of Rome should be perswaded of the Dukes partiallity to any whatsoever He may be a good Friend to any in general or particular amicus Plato sed magis tamen amica veritas but partial to none so far as to the exclusion of others Pray Sir excuse my freedom which posteth my Pen beyond my first intention whilst ex abundantia cordis os loquitur and let it not be that veritas odium parit my intention is good whatever the effects may prove Finally Liberavi animam mcam Now Sir ad hominem quia fragites sumus excuse Cardinal Norfolk's humanity which must be mentioned whilst in this Valley of misery as becometh an English man for the reputation at least of the King Queen Duke Dutchess and the Catholicks of England if any of them have a true sense thereof if not v deant ipsi the fault and shame will ly at their Door and damage not Cardinal Norfolk's who will however be well able to do his Duty coram Deo hominibus Is it not a shame for them all to thrust Cardinal Norfolk totally on the Pope and Rome who have already motu proprio done so much beyond all imaginable expectation nay is it not worse that the King others should endeavour to thrust Cardinal Norfolk on France Spain or the Emperour by most whereof Cardinal Norfolk has several years since had great offers but would never bite at and since made Cardinal Norfolk more powerful offered But if the King and the rest Judge him not worthy of wearing his own Masters Livery he will rather appear so naked as yet to cover pudicitiam patris sive patriae sui with his own simple Coat rather than Embroider it with others Livery to appear like a Bastard of his ingratae Patria To obviate which I proposed last week to Monsieur Vincent Torre an old expedient I had heretofore thought of for another good end and was of late practised for another purpose but reflecting since that not only Qui cito dat bis dat but that those who efficaciously intend only to give good words and future contingencies on which non datur scientia quae nihil ponunt in re will so put off things of Execution and always create or find difficulties insomuch that nothing is effected To avoid this therefore and better clear all I have bethought my self of another more facile expedient viz. That if the King will at once consider Cardinal Norfolk it may be thus To Grant a Barrony unto such a one whom he may name of Worth Estate Fidelity Desert c. for which Cardinal Norfolk may lawfully get a pretty Summ of Money and of the rest in due time farther Consideration may be had This the Duke can best manage neither will it be a new wonder or Scandalum Magnatum although it should be even for a Catholick more than when the King would have made Sir Francis Ratcliffe what you know which was more on the score you know I shall need say no more Quia sapienti intellâ—genti pauca If the King please to do it and the Duke please to Act the request and perfectioning of it with speed Cardinal Norfolk will gratefully acknowledge it accordingly but if it be put off until better or worse times of futuris contingentibus I can although not Scientifically Prophetically not as a Prophet but as an c. guess it at an end and will no longer cast my â—…ap at it but square it according to my other Mathematical and Astronomical Instruments in other Regions wherefore before the Actions and Influences of the hot weather come on I shall expect the determinations of your cold Climates least I should be frozen up before I can break the Ice in due times and places Your last Letters were sealed on the Writings that I can well make the through sence out of them but by guess your News is grateful although your old Friends have the same from you Weekly but they have an Addition unto it which I was glad to hear of although I vertually believed it of the Dukes endeavours to hinder what the Protestants did to his Daughters of late you understand me and if I had Letters ut supra I could write more clearly of somewhat else in which the Pope was not so well satisfied as I wished but I have cleared the best I could although I declared always my Opinion against it but others more Wise and Politick went the contrary way and knowing my Opinion would not ask it me as they did others whom they thought to draw to theirs Sed in vâ—num Haboraverunt not stating right but Quibling and Juggling the Question and I having the
THE INTRIGUES OF THE French King and others For EXTIRPATING the Protestant Religion By them called The NORTHERN HERESIE And Establishing POPERY IN England Scotland Ireland c. MANAGED BY LETTERS FROM Mr. Coleman TO The French KING's Confessor the POPE's Inter-Nuncio Card. Norfolk c. LETTER to L' Chese Pag. 116. If we can advance the Duke's Interest one step forwards we shall put him out of the reach of all Chances for ever then would Catholicks be at ease and his Most Christian Majesty's Interest secured to us in England beyond all Apprehensions whatsoever In order to this we have two great Designs to attempt the next Sessions 1. to put the Parliament upon making their humble request to the King that the Fleet may be put into his Royal Highness's Care. And 2. To get an Act for general Liberty of Conscience If we carry either of them we shall in effect do what we list afterwards Our prevailing in these things will give the greatest Blow to the Protestant Religion here that ever it received since its Birth London Printed and are to be sold by Randall Taylor near Stationers-Hall MDCLXXXIX TO THE READER THE Letters and Writings here publish'd are indubitably authentick They were all except those of which account is given at the end found and seized in Mr. Coleman's House at the time of his Commitment and owned by himself and particularly at his Tryal when several of the Letters written by and to him were produced and read and then mark'd by the Clerk of the Crown with Lect. pro Rege as is here printed in the Margins And they were by his Majesties Order delivered to the Houses of Parliament and thence delivered to the Committee of Secrecy Also the hand-writing of Mr. Coleman the Cardinal of Norfolk Mr. Leyburne Sir William Throgmorton and the late Earle of Barkshire by the name of William Rice have been proved by Testimony of such Witnesses as well knew the same The Letters writ by Mr. Coleman are printed from the Original draughts written by him in French and translated by Order of the Privy Council and such of the Letters sent to Mr. Coleman which were written in French were translated either by the same Order or by Order of one of the Houses of Parliament The Letters writ by Mr. Coleman were read in the House of Commons in this and the two last Parliaments and the rest either read or in substance reported in this and the last Parliament by their Orders In most of these Letters the principal and material words and names of Persons and Places were writ in Cypher but have been exactly decypher'd by the Keys or Tables which were found together with them In several of them there were used Figurative words or words of Cabal the meaning of which is conjectured from the Tenor and Sence of the Correspondence as in the Allegories used between Mr. Coleman and the Nuntio the word Creditors appears to signifie Adversaries Debtors Friends East-India Company the Paliament and Trade and Traffique the administration of publick Affairs So Suit appears to signifie contesting especially in Parliament concerning the Popish Interest definitive Sentence gaining the point in that Contest And in the like Metaphorical Sence are used Process Lawyers Advocates c. The Correspondents in these Letters do seldom use the First Person when they mention themselves or the Second Person when they mean him to whom it is written but they use the Cypher of their Names for the Persons And accordingly they are decypher'd and render'd in the Third Person As in the Cardinals Letters to Mr. Coleman it is written that the Cardinal of Norfolk did so and Mr. Coleman should do thus c. The House of Commons intended and directed Exactness of Truth in this Publication In observance of which not only Mr. Coleman's but the Letters of the Cardinal and others which contain several passages not directly relating to the main Design are publish'd at large so as they stand represented to the World without any other disadvantage than what is inherent in themselves But several Letters of Mr. Leyburn and some of the Letters of others of the lesser Correspondents being stuft with common and ordinary News that News and that only is omitted in this Print Some of the Letters seized at Mr. Coleman's are not decypherable by all or any of the Keys found of which however one is thought fit to be publisht which is inserted towards the end Geo. Treby A LETTER FROM Mr. Coleman to the French King's Confessor June the 29th 1674. I AM commanded to tell you That his Royal Highness Lect. pro Rege my Master is very sensible of the Friendship of his most Christian Majesty which he will endeavour to cultivate very carefully and to give him all possible Assurances of it to take away all Jealousies that his Enemies would raise to the contrary That his Royal Highness has done nothing in any manner whatsoever nor in any place against the Interest of his most Christian Majesty but hath rendred him all the good Offices he hath been capable of That as for recalling the Parliament and touching my Lord A his Highness is altogether of the opinion of his Majesty that neither one nor other is useful but quite contrary very dangerous as well for England as France and that his most Christian Majesty is in great danger of losing the Neutrality of England at the next Session if the Parliament meet as he lost its Alliance by the Peace of Holland at the last because the Lower House and their Friends as the furious Protestants and the Malecontents in the House of Lords have a Design to lessen his Royal Highness and root out the Catholick Religion and they think they cannot make use of any other fitter means to attain their End than to raise the Dutch and to perplex his most Christian Majesty as much as lyes in their Power That his Highness doubts not but it is absolutely necessary for the Interest of his most Christian Majesty and his Royal Highness to use all endeavours to hinder the meeting of the Parliament by perswading his Britannick Majesty that his Greatness his Honour and his Quiet are no less concerned therein than theirs So that if his most Christian Majesty would write freely his thoughts thereupon to his Br. Majesty to forewarn him of the Danger he apprehends from thence and would withal think fit to make him the same generous offers of his Purse to perswade him to dissolve the present Parliament as he hath done to his Highness for the Election of another perhaps he would succeed therein by the Assistance we would give him here As for another Parliament it would be easie enough to get such an one as we wish for the Constitutions of our Parliaments being of such a nature that as there is nothing to be hoped for by the King from an old one so there is nothing to be feared from a new one because such an one at
friend in the crowd can write will signifie nothing So whatever we say by Letter will be always imperfect and want explanation so that to clear all doubts and for better Secrecy too it 's absolutely necessary that our friend comes to you and to that intent in terms as obscure as you please It 's necessary that our friend with you desires our friend at the Crowd here to give liberty to my friend with him to come over to convene with him for he says himself it 's you must put him the way to make the measures he has taken in Italy to take effect for he knows what power he hath here but he knows not of what Constitution you are in Besides the Propositions he makes for Portership can't be done at this distance but in such terms as the meanest face here you have will easily tell what he means and so our Trade quite spoilt so if our friend with you signifie the least desire he has to have our friend come over he 'le easily clear all difficulties and discover to you the dispositions of both Countreys to our purpose and I no ways doubt but you ll have entire satisfaction however there will be no harm to hear what he can say and to see the plan that 's made for this kinde of Traffique I expect your answer as to this particular and shall ever be as you would have me to be This Letter is indorst with Mr. Coleman's hand thus Answered 7 ber 26. but imperfectly and with a promise of a clearer and fuller Answer by the next Post Note this dark suspicious Letter was received but a very few days before the Plot was discovered to his Majesties Privy-Conncil and Mr. Coleman thereupon Committed Among Mr. Coleman's Papers is one of his own hand-writing tituled on the back thus King 's Power to command his own Subjects service against all Acts of Parliament That which is written within seems to be but an imperfect beginning of an Argument to prove this Power of commanding Subjects service against all Acts of Parliament the words are these Any Subject is by his natural Legeance bound to obey and serve his Sovereign c. It is Enacted by the Parliament of the 23 Hen. 6. that no man should serve the King as Sheriff of any County above one year and that notwithstanding any Clause of Non obstante to the contrary that is to say notwithstanding that the King should expressly dispense with the said Statute Howbeit it is agreed in 2 H. 7. that against the express purview of that Act the King may by a special non obstante dispense with that Act for that the Act could not barr the King of the service of his Subject which the Law of Nature did give unto him Lord Cooke 7 th Report Calvin's Case fol. 14. The next following Letters were written to Mr. Coleman by the said Internuntio or Nuncio as he stiles himself part from Brusselles and the rest from Rome whither he removed during the Correspondence They were written Originally in French Translated by several Members of Parliament Bruxelles the 14th of August 1674. Translated by Tho. Thinn Esquire SIR YOur Letter of the 24th of July which I received some days since from the person to whom you had Addrest it delivered me from the great uneasiness I was in by not having heard from you in so long a time I was very glad you confirmed what I received from another hand the good condition in which the Dukes Affairs stood in relation to the Process he had with the Parliament wherein I hope he will have an entire Victory Oblige me in acquainting me as often as possible you can how that matter proceeds and particularly whether it will come quickly to a hearing as those of his side intended or whether it is like to be put off to a longer time the Emperor is in tirely his and the Inter-Nuntio has this week received Letters from him wherein he commands him to assure the Duke of the passionate zeal he has for his Service and those of the Catholicks I pray you acquaint the Duke with it and assure him that the Inter-Nuntio has also the same inclinations as he will make appear on all occasions that shall present themselves but it must be the Duke himself must direct in what we may contribute to his Service The Pope also will give his assistance in such things as are proper for him to appear in I beg of you to communicate your News to me as often as you can by such ways as you shall judge most convenient and am in the mean time without reserve SIR Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant ALBANY From Brussels September 28. 1674. Translated by Sir Humphry Winch. SIR I Have received this Week two of your Letters dated the fourth and the seventh of this Month by which I understand in what condition the Dukes Process is I was ravished to find by the last that the Tryal will be put off to another time against the general opinion Without doubt this will extreamly rejoyce the Pope and the Emperor whereof the first imployeth all his power to accommodate the differences between Spain and France and I doubt not but the consideration of contributing by this means to the advantage of the Duke and of the Catholicks will further incite him to solicite this affair upon the relation which the Nuncio will make to the Pope of the importance of its success for the Catholiques of England As for the Emperor he is so zealous for the Dukes service that I am assured he will omit nothing on his side to facilitate whatever he shall find tend to the good issue of this Affair whereof I will write to him particularly Continue only to impart to me all the light that may serve to direct what is to be treated on I hope the next winter will give opportunity for more happy Negotiations even to the Mediation of the Pope who hitherto hath not been able to act at all as you have known from other parts I am without reserve c. Your most Humble c. ALBANY October 19. 1674. Translated by Sir Humphry Winch. SIR I Agree with you that the only means to win the King to the Duke's Interest and to take him off intirely from the Friendship of the Parliament would be Money for the Reasons you alledge in your last Letter of the 2d instant which I have just now received but the means necessary to continue it are so excessive that even according to your own opinion and the discourse we had when you was here what the Pope could contribute would be nothing in comparison of what is needed and in the obligation he hath also to assist other Friends who are in greater straits I likewise doubt whether the Pope would resolve upon what you propound considering the little stress can be laid upon the Kings will it being to be feared that all imployed that way would soon be lost without
any advantage to the Duke or his Associates which we have reason to fear from his ordinary manner of proceeding It would therefore be necessary in my opinion to have at least some propable assurances that we might imploy for the advantage of the Catholicks and _____ what otherwise we are obliged frugally to manage for them in other parts before the Proposition be made to the Pope which is not to be undertaken in so general and obscure Terms as you propound it For what remains the Nuntio is upon the point of going to Rome having already leave to return The Negotiation of the business you propound will belong to his Successour but he will retain the same passion which he had for the Dukes Service as well at the Emperors Court as at the Popes if he shall have any part in the Affairs of England He will not fail to inform you more particularly of his departure I pray assure the Duke of what I have told you and am without reserve SIR Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant ALBANY October 30. 1674. Translated by Sir Gilbert Talbot SIR ACcording as I sent you word by my last I am upon the point of parting from hence having already received the leave that I waited for I am sorry to part from a place where I might have been instrumental to the Service of the Duke and have made it appear to him what a particular zeal I have for all things that relate to him Howsoever I will not fail to contribute thereunto all that lyeth in my power in the place whither I am going I leave here behind me a Friend of mine who will have the care of my affairs to whom nevertheless I have communicated nothing of the Commerce which is betwixt us Neither will I acquaint therewith the Friend that is to come till at least I understand first from you that you judge it convenient If you have any thing to send to me in order to the Duke's Service you may make use of the same hand which you employed in their address hither to me and he may send them to Rome under the cover of his Brothers I pray you deliver the Inclosed to Monsieur Belair and I am without reserve SIR Your most obedient Servant ALBANY POSTSCRIPT I Think it better that you send the Letter for Monsieur Belair some other way Rome 12 January 1674 / 5. Translated by Sir J. Knight part of this Letter not Decypherable SIR 'T Is certain that the best Expedient to become Mother of the Kings will and to sever his kindness from the Parliament is that of Money And I doubt not but the Duke may thereby make himself absolute over his thoughts and to draw by his Process and that of the Catholicks those advantages which you take notice of in your last Letter But if the Pope had the means to do as much as would be necessary in this matter which is much beyond his power for the Reasons I told you when I had the happiness to see you and of which I have advised you in many Letters never can he be drawn reasonably to do it but upon more solid grounds and more probable assurances touching the good of Religion and of the Catholicks then what you intimate in the discourses of your last Letter What you propose touching _____ you may there consider it in the Terms wherein at present are _____ it would be for the Interest of the Duke to produce unto light an affair of this nature That which I can with truth assure you and whereof the Duke may be perswaded is that _____ since the Pope and the Emperour have an affection and most peculiar zeal for all that regards him As to my self I lay about with the one and with the other in the same shrine of zeal which I shall always retain for the Duke and perhaps you shall shortly see some proofs thereof It hath been here said that the King for some time hath wanted his health let me know what there is in it And as to our Commerce you may continue until farther order to send me your Letters by the same way which hitherto you have done I am without reserve SIR Yours c. The Cypher which I left with 300 and which you may have from him will serve to open what here you find February 16 1675. Translated by Sir Gilb. Talbot YOur last Letter of the 7th of January which I received from a Gentleman sent from her R. Higness the Dutchess of York to the Dutchess of Modena hath afforded me very great comfort from the favourable prognostick which you make of the Affairs of the D. of York wherein you know how highly I concern myself without all doubt you have received the answer which I sent you some time since to the Letter delivered to me by the hand of your friend And you have understood by that the incongruities which render the execution of that Affair impossible which you proposed to be Treated with the Pope and the Emperor concerning Money and I doubt not but the Duke and you both will come to be of the same opinion with me that it would prove an irrecoverable prejudice to his Highness if that business should be set on foot I was not a little surprized to hear that my Lord Arlington was so deeply engaged in the concerns of the Parliament that he should have so little consideration of preserving his friendship for the King. I expect with impatience the news from your Country to know what the negotiation of your Ministers in Holland will produce and what the effect of Admiral Tromps Journey to London I am in the mean time SIR Your most Humble and Obedient Servant ALBANY June 3 1675. Translated November 1. 78 by Sir Ed. Dering SIR YOu have without doubt already understood from the Publick News-books the business of the Cardinal of Norfolk which will serve you as a most evident proof of the affection which the Pope doth bear unto the concerns of England from whence you may draw a most assured consequence of what you may hope when the Affairs of the Duke shall need the assistance of Rome I am very glad to understand that his Affairs do not hitherto receive any prejudice by the Proceedings of the Parliament and I shall be overjoyed to know the particular of his concerns of which you gave me hope by your last which was of the 7th of April since which I have received none from you I expect them with impatience and so much the more because our friend for ought I see excuseth himself from sending me any news of the Duke upon this reason that you had given him hopes that you would inform me most particularly of all that passeth in this matter Oblige me therefore with the communication of your Letters and believe that I am really SIR Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant ALBANY Rome October 19. 1675. Translated November 1 78. by Sir Ed. Dering SIR YOurs of
the 30 of August came not to my hands till the last week by the means of our common friend who liveth in this City which I am obliged to tell you that you may not think I have forgot my duty in delaying my Answer so long I am over-joyed to understand by the news you write me the good condition in which the Affairs of the Duke and the Catholicks are at present and for what concerneth the matter of which I have been more particularly informed by your friend I will not fail speedily to acquaint the Emperour and it is he who is all powerful with the Pope with the reasons why it is for the benefit of the Catholicks to defer the execution of that censure which might cause some divisions among them and give occasion of advantage to the Parliament thereby My advice hath been received very favourably so that I am not only assured that they will delay for some long time the design of that business but I hope also that the matter may possibly end so as the person whom you recommend doth desire The consideration of the connexion which all this may have with the interests of the Duke hath been the most prevailing motive to the persons with whom I have been obliged to treat in this affair to perswade them to what you did desire and you may know by that the passion that there is in this place to contribute to all things which they believe are for his service I beseech you to assure him of the zeal with which I will always imploy my self therein I am without reserve SIR Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant ALBANY From Brussels September 7 1674. Translated by Sir Humphry Winch. SIR YOurs of the 21 of the last Month which just now I received hath given me much trouble by the dangerous condition whereunto the Dukes Process is reduced I wish I were able to contribute to his service by the means of my Friends and particularly of the Emperor and the Pope But hitherto I see not wherein they can advantage him The Pope endeavours what you observe which would be the properest remedy for his Affair but the Parties will not yet declare themselves upon that business If you will explain your self what may be done on this side in the present occurrences of Affairs I doubt not but all that is possible will be done I beg the communication of your news and am without reserve SIR Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant ALBANY The following Letters were written from France to Mr. Coleman by Mr. St. Germain in French and Translated some by Order of the Privy Council and some by several Members of the House of Commons A Letter from St. Germain to Coleman Paris 11 / 21 December 1675. I Will tell you besides Extract That the King of France does not seem yet resolved to recall Monsieur De Ruvigny from the Trade where he has ingaged him Lect. pro Rege he perceives he does more harm than good but other Considerations delay the Business One of your Friends says He will see if he can make things appear but Coleman must well explain to me his End and the Means he will make Use of This Friend says besides That he has given the King's Confessor to understand That the King of France ought not to do any thing with the King of England but by the Duke of York and he hath Promised and Engaged upon his Life to the King's Confessor to make all succeed in case that way be made use of Has he done well and do you know this Friend He will call himself henceforward 41 for I see none of this Name in your Cyphers Translated out of French according to the Cypher received from the Lords of the Committee appointed to Examine Coleman's Papers A Letter from St. Germain to Coleman Paris 15 / 25 December 1675. I Cannot forbear to Write to you once more this Week having Two things to say to you The one is That I have seen Mr. Sheldon who intends to go to Trade secretly in your Parts He will depart in 8 or 10 Days but take no notice of it lest it be known from whence you had it He would have had me carried him to see the King's Confessor whose Favour he endeavours to get by all means and helps He will not pass for a Merchant and therefore he wears a Sword by his side and lives with the Arch-Bishop of Dublin Both of them I am told Prosecute the Affair concerning which he hath written to you and that you Communicate it to me The other thing is That the King's Confessor tells us That the King of France thinks in earnest to recall Monsieur de Ruvigny from your Traffick but he that is to be sent in his Place does not please Mr. Sheldon because as he says he is not of the most considerable Merchants of this place though he have a great deal of Wit and I am of his Mind as well for this Reason as for others that are known to me and which I cannot yet impart to you Wherefore if Mr. Coleman would know of the Duke of York if there be any Merchant here that would be acceptable to him he may acquaint Monsieur de Ruvigny with it and he will take care that by the means of the King's Confessor it may be propos'd effectually to the King of France This would be very well for the Traffick of the Catholicks I expect to hear from you I saw yesterday my Lady Throckmorton that is come to Paris to lye in and who is shortly going back to Pontoyse she has a Sore Leg contracted in Childbed My humble Service to Madam Coleman Pray take no notice of me to others for I do not believe it fit for any one to know that I write to you so often Believe me Sir that I am altogether Your Servant De Pontheia Translated out of French according to the Cipher delivered by the Lords of the Committee appointed to Examine Coleman's Papers A Letter from St. Germain to Coleman 19 / 29 January 1675 / 6. THe Brother of my Lady de Ruvigny Extract who is an Abbot has made a Visit to St. Germain in order to ingage him to speak in favour of the Prorogation to the King's Confessor Lect. pro Rege but St. Germain would do nothing without knowing from Coleman what his Opinion is thereupon St. Germain has made the King's Confessor understand what the Duke of York could do by the Disgrace of Two Persons of whom Coleman has written to St. Germain and that the vigorous Councils that were all absolutely necessary to produce Success in the Traffick of the Catholicks did proceed from the Duke of York by the Inspiration of Coleman who was most perfectly addicted to the good of the Traffick of the King of England the Duke of York and the Catholicks This St. Germain is very well intentioned but he must be taught what he is to
do Translated according to the Key delivered by the Right Honorable the Lords of the Committee appointed to Examine Coleman's Papers For Monsieur Coleman the Dutchess Secretary in Deans-Yard London January 19 / 29 1675 / 1676. I Know not whether you do receive my Letters but I well know that I receive yours punctually enough as I think I have had your two last of the 6th and 10th your Stile but they have given me some disquiet you Promise to tell me many things and afterwards you fall very short therein sometimes Twelfth-Day is the Cause and after it is because you had not my Letter of the 5th To put both you and my self out of pain I will tell you that I have writ to you the 5th the 8th the 12th and the 15th of this Month your Stile and that I write to you to Day again which is your 19th you see one cannot be more exact In all these Letters I have writ to you of things that deserved answering Especially concerning the Conduct wâ—… Monsieur St. Germain ought to use towards the Confessor of 〈◊〉 King of France and the new Ambassador for he will not nor cannot do any thing till Coleman hath let him know his Thoughts The Letters of the 8th speak of a Matter concerning which they will have me give an account there was Five Letters in that Pacquet one whereof was for the Duke of York Put me out of pain in this matter The Secretary of Monsieur Ruvigny went on Saturday from France for England the Secretary of the Ambassador from England in France went also about the same time with him you ought to know more of this Business than I. The Brother of the Wife of Monsieur Ruvigny who is an Abbot is come to see Monsieur St. Germain concerning the same Business about which Mr. Coleman wrote to Monsieur St. Germain to the end that he might engage him to speak in Commendation of the Prorogation to the Confessor of the King of France but Monsieur St. Germain would do nothing till Mr. Coleman had let him know his thoughts thereupon Monsieur St. Germain has observed to the Confessor of the King of France how great the Power of the Duke of York is by the Disgrace of the Two Persons concerning which Mr. Coleman had writ to Monsieur St. Germain and that the vigorous Counsels which were all absolutely necessary whereby to succeed in the Traffick of the Catholicks came from the Duke of York by the Inspiration of Mr. Coleman who also alone was the most truly Linked to the welfare of the Commerce of the King of England the Duke of York and the Catholicks This Monsieur St. Germain is very well intentioned but it is necessary he be instructed what he must do He hath not dared to speak of any Matter to the Successor of Monsieur Ruvigny and yet it is meet that he do instruct him for the Secretary of Monsieur Ruvigny hath been to see him and it is to be feared lest he hath given him evil Counsels with which the new Ambassador being prepossest perhaps he will act in such a manner as may not please Mr. Coleman nor the Affairs of the Duke of York and the Catholicks I write to you by a new way to see if it be more sure give me also a new Address and such a one concerning which there may be no occasion of Fear Translated by Sir George Downing 29 Jan. 75. 8 Feb. 76. THis is the Fifth Letter that I have written to you and of which I have had no Answer I see by your last Letter of the 17 / 27 of Jan. that you have received Two of mine That of the 5 / 25 and of the 8 / 18 of Jan. but you make no mention of those which I sent you besides viz. of the 15 / 25 and 19 / 29 of Jan. and of the 22 Jan. / 1 Feb. and of the 26 Jan. / 5 Feb I give you these Dates to the end you may see whether you have received as many as I have sent to you I am glad that 93 the Dutchess thinks upon 49 St. Germain And 62 Coleman cannot do him a greater pleasure than to employ him as he do's in serving 93 the Dutchess This cannot but produce a very good effect with 163 the King of France He will see thereby that People esteem him in the Countrey of 110 England And that 39 and 93 the Duke and Dutchess being so far satisfied with him as to give him Commissions he will become more engaged to give ear to the Letter of Recommendation of 39 the Duke which 35 Montecuculi has promis'd to send 49 St. Germain though he has not yet done it And 62 Coleman will do a kindness to enquire of 34 and 35 the Earl of Peterborough and Montecuculi what hinders that he has not yet received it Besides that 49 St. Germain is and always will be most ready to deliver Messages in favour of 39 93 300 and 62. the Duke the Dutchess the Catholicks and Coleman to 488 and 163 the Confessor and the King of France believing himself most strongly engaged thereto by the Testimonies of Goodness which he has received from them in time past And though he is without 80 Money he will not cease to act as he ought with Zeal and Fidelity provided he be not sent elsewhere but left where he is which yet may happen after Easter he having no imployment to detain him where he is unless 62 Coleman write to 488 the King's Confessor either from or as from 39 and 93 the Duke and Dutchess to signifie to him that those two Persons desire to make use of him as a Correspondent in their Traffick between them 62 and 488 and 163 Coleman and the Confessor and the King of France In which case 49 St. Germain would take his time to act in favour of 62 Coleman with 488 and 163 the Confessor and the King of France and to bring to pass that 62 Coleman shall obtain 26 a Pension of 100000 l. Sterling for himself If 49 St. Germain receive the Letters which he expects from 35 Montecuculi and they have their effect he will have wherewith to pay the Charge of his remaining where he is and of all the Affairs of Commerce whereof Commissions shall be given him 49 St. Germain will have no need of 80 Money till after Easter But at that time if the Letters of 39 the Duke to 163 the King of France hath no success it will be impossible for him to enter into the Commerce unless 62 Coleman obtain from 93 or 39 the Dutchess or Duke one quarter more like that which he received being in the Countrey of 110 England that is to say between Thirty and Forty Pounds sterling And if this be once done for all it will give him the Means to subsist with Ease for above a Year during which time he hopes to put himself into a Condition of serving all the World without importuning any body
the Duke shall Treat any thing with the French King through other hands than the Confessors he shall meet with People that will couzen him and who will prefer the good of France before that of the Catholick Religion and of the Duke and principally of Coleman who hath many Rivals about his R. Highness and who is neither sufficiently known to nor hath any Interest with the French King If Monsieur St. Germain were a little acquainted with Matters he would Discourse them freely with the Confessor and learning from him the bottom of the Matter he would without Dissimulation Communicate all to Coleman whereas now it is to be feared that the other Negotiators Cheat the English for the Advantage of France or for their own particular Interest for the chief Minister in the Councils of War who hath at present an Absolute Power over his Christian Majesty is altogether for War which is neither the Business of England nor of the Roman Catholicks Be sure that you make Coleman fully sensible of all this for it is one of their most indisputable Articles of Faith. St. Germain hath desired me to tell you That it is a hard matter to make Coleman understand what he desireth concerning the Lady's Business who if you so please will henceforth go under the Name of Madam de la Tremblay Because he plainly perceives that those Persons who know altogether as much of that Affair as he stand upon their reserve and will not disclose themselves in what they know nay of what they have acted with him Nevertheless I will tell you in hope that it shall go no farther than our selves no not so much as to take notice of it to Madam de la Tremblay that Montecuculi and the D. of York are the Two first who ever thought of putting it into the Dutchesse's head to think closer of the Traffick than she had done and that therefore finding no body in her own Shop who was able to make her sensible of the Importance of that Affair and the means to succeed in it and that she had those Counsellors about her which made her do things that were likely to ruine her whole Commerce they concluded that it was necessary to place some able and trusty Person about her They refused to make choice of any of the Dutchess's own Countrey by reason of the Experience which they had of him who was there already and because they understand not the way of the English Trade nor indeed of the English Men as not having the Acquaintance of any in whom they might confide The Person nominated was esteemed very proper as well for his own Merit as because that Choice would oblige Monsieur Rouvigni the Catholick Party and consequently the French King to Declare for the Duke and Dutchess And that this Person being of the Catholick Party and Rouvigni of the Protestant both sides would be well pleased To bring this Matter about St. Germain by the advice of Montecuculi discoursed the Matter with Madam de la Tremblay who hath as you know all Power over the Person upon whom they had cast their Eyes to be plaeed in the Dutchess's Shop Madam de la Tremblay offered her Assistance in all that they desired The Matter was then to be approved by the Duke and Dutchess Montecuculi communicated it by Letter to the Banker his Master whose Correspondent in England the Dutchess is who embraced the Proposals and promised to write thereof to the Dutchess as he soon after did but touched the Matter tenderly being content at first to recommend to her the Care of his Business and to have a more watchful Eye over it than formerly and to take along with her the Advice of Montecuculi who was acquainted with all his Thoughts and rightly set to contribute his best Assistance toward the Success of his Affair The Dutchess thereupon enquired of Montecuculi what was expected for her to do Montecuculi gave her her Lesson in Writing to study it at her leisure and without expressing the Matter plainly insinuated to her that she wanted a good Apprentice to take care of her Shop and keep an exact Account of all that passed through his hands That her eldest Apprentice had not Wit enough That the Second was ignorant of the Affairs of England and did not understand a word that was said to him That he set himself to no Business nay that he was of a malicious Spirit making ill Impressions in the Dutchess of all the Boys in the Shop to preserve himself single in her favour That the Third was Dull Careless Scornful and an Enemy to all Activity All this was said to the Dutchess by Montecuculi not indeed so downright as I have expressed it yet so as the Dutchess might understand it if she pleased and I believe she did so but instead of receiving it as she ought she seemed to be out of humour and hath not as I know since that time written any Answer to Montecuculi but hath avoided all manner of Correspondence with him Wherefore Montecuculi and St. Germain thought fit to proceed another way and make the Duke acquainted with what the Dutchess would not seem to understand Montecuculi discoursed the Matter with the E. of Peterborough without acquainting him that they had any design to place the Friend of Madam Tremblay in the Shop but barely to engage him to acquaint the Duke with the ill conduct of the Dutchess and to lay before him the Necessity of applying some proper and powerful Remedy But afterward Montecuculi and St. Germain sought other Persons less interessed and better inclined than the E. of Peterborough for this Business And if Coleman please he may call to mind the discourse which St. Germain had with him upon this Subject representing to him the Necessity there then was of placing a Head Apprentice or Fore-man in the Dutchess's Shop Nevertheless he did not then speak all out because the Friend of Madam de la Tremblay being not then in England they expected his return to know of him if he would be content that Coleman should be admitted to the knowledge of the Matter And accordingly St. Germain writ to Madam la Tremblay's Friend who was then in France to press his speedy coming over that we mght act joyntly and without loss of time St. Germain had likewise Treated for Two other Persons one of them he laboured to put into the good esteem of the Dutchess and succeeded therein and by the assistance of the First introduced the Second They are both well with the Duke But herein St. Germain gave himself work enough for these Two last Persons are such that St. Germain neither can nor will Treat with by any but himself and he hath such private Reasons for it that he dares not express them and so forcible that if he should utter them all the World must be of his Opinion and do as he doth He undertook likewise to taste but obscurely the mind of the
in Westminster Paris 5 / 15 April 76. I Do almost like you I write not to you when you write not to me and send you only small Letters when you send not me great ones and besides our News is yet very little The King goes from hence to Morrow but it is not yet known whither some say to Besiege Cambray others say towards Sedan to be betwixt Germany and Flanders there are some who will have the King to go to Philipsburg to oblige the Enemy to a Battel at which he hath a great desire once to be For other things St. Germain desires you will tell Mr. Coleman that the King's Confessor hath positively assured him That the French King will write to the Dutchess concerning the Business that is on foot the Confessor told it to St. Germain in such a manner as he believes it will be to the Satisfaction of the Dutchess The Confessor also added upon what St. Germain represented to him That the French King leaving his home to make a round towards his Enemies could not so conveniently send the Letter of Exchange to Antwerp as was desired if he did dot do it before his departure That the French King thought upon these Businesses as well Abroad as at Home It is Necessary that Coleman inform St. Germain of what shall happen and if the Dutchess have received an Answer and what it is Madam Tremblay writ a Letter of March 26 Nevv Stile to St. Germain in vvhich vvas exprest that Coleman had not seen her in Ten days to tell her what he had done Madam Tremblay hath writ to Madam Ruvigny's Brother to oblige him to speak to the King's Confessor in favour of St. Germain to procure him a Journey into England if the Confessor had asked St. Germains advice upon 't he would have counselled him not to take that way which can never do well The new Ambassador's Secretary is very earnest with St. Germain to befriend him with the Confessor and seems very zealous for the Duke of York but St. Germain would know if this Secretary be as well with the Duke of York as he would make us believe and if the Duke hath all along trusted him with the secret of his Affair St. Germain entertains him with fair Promises by that means to understand things which may be useful to his Friends and chiefly to Coleman This Secretary is much astonished at the rumour that is here of the Duke of York having received no News of it and St. Germain is a little angry at Coleman that he hath writ nothing to him of it Translated by Sir E. Jennings For Mr. Coleman Secretary of her Royal Highness in Deans-yard Westminster July 15 / 25. No year Named I Did not believe Sir that I should have written to you this day because Mr. Gray will himself write to you to whom I told all my News so that you are to expect none from me now You may assure Mr. Coleman that Monsieur St. Germain will deliver that Letter to Madam la Tremblay which he addressed to her but at the same time that he promised it he said that he had not lately heard any thing of her nor could he certainly tell whether she were yet arrived but he would make a diligent Inquiry and pay his Devoire in all things to Mr. Coleman and would perform even more than was desired when ever he could Monsieur St. Germain is in good earnest highly Obliged to Mr. Coleman for all those Industrious pains he takes upon his Account and in a particular manner for those Papers we wanted that he wants Language to express his Gratitude Monsieur St. Germain has received a Letter from the King's Confessor and from the Ambassador wherein he is to make his Address to that Confessor that the Successor of St. Germain be not sent nor indeed any other of the French Nation as Mr. Coleman seems to be ingaged in this Paper St. Germain intreated me to write every thing which related to Coleman who was thereupon to take his Measures for I see very well that Monsieur Rouvigny is strangely bent against the Jesuits and the Duke and Coleman and I much apprehend his giving the same Sentiments to the King of France and to his Confessor and the Minister of State And therefore Mr. Coleman must manage carefully this Affair without the least taking notice that he knows any thing from Monsieur St. Germain you must take especial care not to prejudice our Friend that he may be the better able to Traffick with the King's Confessor and Mr. Sheldon As to the rest you must know that the Duke has consented that St. Germain's Successor should not go into England Provided that the King's Confessor will name another I could wish that the Dutchess would have Ordered a little Note to be writ to the King's Confessor about this Matter and that by an agreeing to his desires that the Successor might remain with him still and not go into England the Dutchess might then the better put him in mind of the Merchants of * Supposed to be the Jesuits Antwerp for the King's Confessor does apprehend the mentioning any such thing to the King of France because the King having given his direction already to a Minister of State who is at present in the Army against Holland it belongs only to that Minister to put this Affair in Execution for it is the way here that no Minister dare to act in any Matter that is not committed to his Province for the King will have it so And therefore if the Confessor be not pressed with some new Motive I shall hardly be able to make him act Our old Ambassador Monsieur Rouvigny is arrived in Town where St. Germain now is he came on Saturday last and St. Germain has let me know that he will see him either to Day or to Morrow which he could not do before by reason of his Calling which has taken him up without intermission till Yesterday There is no News yet but is expected every Moment The Town of Ayre is hard pressed and is believed will be soon taken Monsieur Luxembourgh is taking Orders that a Provision of Oats be sent to him before he goes to attack the Enemy Translated out of French into English by the Lord Ancram Postscript YOu will discern with Monsieur De Vertharnout whether it be requisite that he comes because upon Friday last the King of England has done somewhat to the Portugal Ambassador of which he told me the whole Story and I likewise have learnt it from Monsieur Rouvigny who entertained me near an hour under great Confidence that they had absolutely taken from that Ambassador the total Vse of his Chappel but besides that Monsieur Rouvigny said That he finds that the Storm will unavoidably fall upon France and the Catholicks who are very Angry that Endeavours are made to bring a Successor to Monsieur St. Germain of the French Nation And he further says That it is
truly had not had opportunity to speak to the King yet alone _____ but that he would and much of that they seem to wonder much they hear nothing from the King yet upon this late business his Factor here has had yet no manner of orders what it concerns them as themselves say to have the Duke their friend in this business but yet I begin to doubt they would willingly engage him to be so through the reason of his own interest and as many fair words and what else you please but pence that that is the reason they were writing yet for fear of coming to close dealing that is the Parliament is set far off and they think cannot possibly come to joyn till the Spring if in the mean time by the Duke his heartiness for them which as I said they think his own interest and their own great expressions of kindness will ingage him to they can get a good accommodation and regulation among all the dissenting Brothers they have their aim if not they think the same price will do four months hence as well to stop them as now though they are infinitely mistaken _____ all I can for to keep that interest on foot against them will certainly be the greatest perhaps the only means _____ of compassing what they so much desire but parting with ready mony you know is a hard thing especially with Merchants if you can think of any thing more for me to say upon this score pray write it in French that I may shew it them that is what you think fit they should see for Pompone desired me that I would let him know when I heard any thing but if I hear nothing from you I think it is the best way to let him alone a little perhaps it may make them the forwarder especially if Sweden and Holland court the King so much to draw him the one way and the other the contrary as I hear they do and if the Duke will but play that Game cunningly he may certainly bring the French King to what he pleases though I must confess I had rather have him have 200000 pounds of the Catholicks than 300000 l. of the French King that is to get the Parliament dissolved for that would shew the French King what the Duke was and would make him much more helpful and complaisant to him but here is the Work you 'l say and I must confess it is such a one too as takes up my thoughts night and day and I would have Coleman think of it too for it would be a great work as it is a difficult one and perhaps is an absolute necessary one I shall in a little time let you know somewhat certain from it but I believe I may venture to promise half 100000 l. from hence sure 100000 l. on your side might be compassed The Man I so often spoke to you of in this business is the best Man in the World he swears it shall not stick at all his Estate but the Duke shall be accommodated And with all this his cheif Friends as Pompone and Colbert and Louvois as much divided about war or peace as is possible Now I say with all this if the Duke would strike the stroke without them you would see what an operation it would be and on my soul I believe a quarter of 100000 l. or less in the glistering mettal to the King of England himself into his own pocket may weigh as much upon an occasion with him as ten times as much into the common Stock or buy Land with and if such a business _____ to the Duke he may make his account on it when he pleases he shall not want it long for that purpose I then resolve not to see Pompone for these reasons you say you had not spoke with the Duke but he had had a long discourse with Ruvigny which you knew not what it was nor what the Duke knew of Lord Arlington in his business nor what perhaps he now would have me do Ruvigny failed to write what he knew and what the Duke told _____ I will not therefore come to them with my fingers in my mouth nor to be caught in that I resolve not to see them till I hear from you again You say not a word how the acceptation of the King for Umpire relishes with you nor what the King intends who shall go and so forth pray be plain in all these points your direction is a Mounsier Mercers au evine de la ruz St. Benvoist Fauxbourg St. Germaine _____ I have asked you _____ but you forget it I writ to you in my first Letters to Mr. Bradshaw about the 100 l. I doubt I must have more ere long but you shall have six weeks time for it What you writ here concerning helping my self to money one way which you mention is a ticklish point the man is of a Jealous humour and if I should do any thing should look like self-interest I should spoil all you may be sure I say all to him _____ imagine but I must not seem to aime at _____ but let it come of it self Adieu I am sure I am tired MOunsieur Pompone came to Town last night but I am of opinion still that I ought not to speak to him again till I here more from Coleman and that for many reasons drawn both from Coleman and his own Letters from observations of things here and from some discourse as I had lately on the Exchange with the King of Englands Factor here He is certainly one of the shrewdest dealing men that I know and that makes me extreamly close with him pretending great ignorance in all sorts of Commerce but for all that his goodness to me as he would have me believe it flows so naturally from him that we are never together _____ as often as he can contrive it he _____ of himself to dine with me which is a freedom you know not usually taken by Merchants and upon all little occasions inviting me but he enters with great seeming confidence and freedom into a Discourse of the most mysterious points of our Trade and how he came by it for he would have me understand the Duke was not by him now whether this be a wheedle of theirs upon him or that he intended it as one upon me I know not but their backwardness makes me suspect Mounsieur Ruvigny has some underhand dealing and that he may keep them here in expectation of it and that he holds them in hand that it is time enough to think of the Parliaments being dissolved if that fails and that the Duke will let nothing slip to secure the Parliament dissolved however for his own sake and at last if all does fail that which we ask they think is a sure Card to make the King and us do what they list when nothing else will Now methinks indeed in my humble judgement I would not have the Duke fail them in this I would have
Nuptial Vestiment non fui vocatas ad naptias which I was glad of however I often offered Cardinal Norfolk and his Confederates Services which when accepted of I hope to improve in all sorts of respects as well as any and as to a Pension for the Secretary of the Dutchess I do not despair in time when Cardinal Norfolk hath a little more entred into those and other affairs which he is now entring into although you know that Pensions are hard things to be gotten at Rome yet in time I hope to shew how much Cardinal Norfolk is your true friend as you know Rome March 14. 76. My Time is quite spent and Eyes almost out writing so much no News Cardinal Altieri had some misunderstanding with Cardinal Barbaran the other day Cardinal Norfolk keeps well with both Sir THIS Week we have no Letters by way of Flanders from England Lect. pro Rege the French having intercepted them as we are told Sir Hen. Tich is gone away hence towards France and so for your Quarters The very morning early before he went hence I procured him a private Discourse with my Father here in which he was much satisfied and will bring my Fathers particular recommendations to the Duke and Dutchess although as Sir Hen. wrote to you sometime since at Rome they wonder the Dutchess writeth not to the Pope which when Cardinal Norfolk was first told of he could hardly believe being those of Rome stand much on those Punctilio's as you know especially that the Dutchess being of that Country either the Dutchess or other about her should remember her to do it it being so easy a thing nay and on the matter a Duty wherefore if it be not yet done I pray hasten it hither and I will present it with the best excusing Complements I can for here they have a Good will for the Dutchess and the Duke as they say they shewed to both in the Dispens which the Pope granted to the Dutchess to be with the Duke as they are although you know it was denyed to the Dutchess when she was in her own Countrey which denyal they say was not on any ill will to the Dutchess or the Duke but quite on the contrary for both their good the Pope having before exhorted the Dutchess unto it but on other reasons which I suppose you know as also because the Pope was not fully satisfied of the Dukes being a Catholick which if so there would have been no need of the Popes Dispens nay that which then gave him doubt of the Dukes being a Catholick and which yet doth not at all satisfie the Pope or at Rome is the Duke doing as they esteem it the contrary by going as you know with the Protestants which you know was long since condemned by former Popes that the Catholicks could not c. and in that point I confess I was put to my Trumps in Rome when it was objected to me although I must as duly confess it was never yet my Opinion in England that any Catholick could do it and so I did clearly declare my self when and wheresoever I thought I ought or that it was asked me but I was informed not long before I left England that otherwise people proposed something confusedly not to term it otherwise to some whom they thought convenient to pick out in order to say something to that purpose nascitur rediculus mus and so went on as before hand over head it being well for me not to have been called to so wise a business since they and others knew I was not wise enough to understand being I did never love to go head-long in a business above my low Capacity nor endeavour to run hand over head before I can well go on my own Leggs much less on others Shoulders Finally I think I could talk a great deal more Non-sence on this than is fitting to be written it being more excusable when ex abundantia cordis os loquitur then when ex stultitia manu scribitur I would however say and write that hitherto I cannot perceive the right way hath been taken for the Duke and Rome to understand throughly one another nor the Catholicks and the Pope neither but by confused undigested and too often Factious Notions which will never do rightly the Catholicks of Englands affairs The Pope doth not at all desire the Duke to do any thing indiscreetly or precipitantly that all England may openly say The Duke is a Catholick leaving that unto his own discretion for a due time but to do any thing to the contrary as Rome thinketh ut supra the Pope cannot approve of I have however I am sure done my part with Rome for the Duke who is not so much to be blamed on his side if others who should know more do not condemn but rather approve or at least connive therein But of all this and somewhat more more hereafter Interim as to what you mention of a 100000 Crowns or more from Rome for the Duke is a Noli me tangeâ—e at present which the very fear of so considerable a business so hard to be gotten would frighten Rome In order to other more easy things for the Duke and Catholicks we must first clear other small stumbling Blocks least we run on Precipices not so easily to be gotten off and I hope all will do well although Rome remembers and speaks often how in last Queen of Englands time another Pope was deceived of much more than a 100000 Crowns under pretence of the Catholicks in Ireland However as I wrote unto you before I am not out of hopes in some time to get a Pension for the Dutchesses Secretary but all Affairs here must be well matured first and a perfect understanding betwixt the Duke and the Pope and Cardinal Altieri and Rome For although I assure you That both the Pope and Cardinal Altieri have a particular Esteem for the Duke that must be improved and well modelled that if he come to need it the Cardinal of Norfolk may the better endeavour it And for this purpose I think it not amiss to tell you That Cardinal Norfolk had some days since a Letter of the one and thirtieth of January lest at his Lodging from the Duke by I know not who yet he called himself the Duke's Agent and by what Cardinal Norfolks Servant tells me He seemeth to be an Italian as it 's most probable for if he were of England I think he would not so publickly give himself that Name which can do the Duke no good at present to be called so in Rome publickly Although I think it were very fitting the Duke should have a good one and if he like of it Cardinal Norfolk offers him who useth to write to you Mr. J. Lay for whose Ability Fidelity and Activity Cardinal Nortolk will answer and what he cannot doe Cardinal Norfolk will supply and this without taking the name of it or any Interest which certainly others would
expect and perhaps want but he doth neither This you may offer the Duke in Cardinal Norfolks and his name Here it is said The Empress is not like to live if so why might it not be thought of matching the Eldest of our Princesses there or if not France or Spain I am much obliged to the Duke and Dutchess for Endeavours if need be That the Queen of England should think of Removing Cardinal Norfolk But by what I hear from the Portuguese and others I think there is no such Intent It having been onely the Invention and malicious Reports of some however my Obligation to the Duke Dutchess and Secretary is the same I wrote of late by Sir He to the Duke and Dutchess and unto the Secretary not long before unto which I remit my self Cardinal Altieri and Balberini have no great intrinsecal Friendship which I suppose you know April 18. SIR I Wrote to you a few Daies since and last Week receiv'd your Two together of the 17th and 20th of March the Two precedent Post-Letters being lost having been taken a few Leagues from Bruxels So that if you or any Friends wrote any thing worth replying please to give notice to them as I do you What you wrote of the Dukes being Advanced one step towards the Catholick Religion was a most welcome News to Cardinal Norfolk who presently rejoyced our Pope and Cardinal Altieri with it and now yours of the Twenty seventh hath fully compleated Cardinal Norfolk our Pope and Cardinal Altieri's Joy with it As also the Dutchesse's Mother and Grandmother who are in Rome and Cardinal Norfolk presently acquainted No wonder if Fools talk like Fools and Knaves like themselves Your Correspondent I assigned you is your humble Servant But we will not alwayes too often trouble you with superfluous Expensive Letters ospecially my self who am mightily streightned for want of Time. My Humble Duty to the Duke whom I will serve unto the Death the best I can as also the Dutchess who I hope will being forth an happy Catholick Here some are curious to know who will be Godfathers and God-Mothers Yours as you know 2 d May Please to send Mr. Vincent word I have his of the 24 th of March. May 16th 1676. Sir I Receive together your two of Friday the 7 th and Munday the 10 th April being much rejoyced the Duke doth so well not doubting of Gods blessing but if the Duke or Dutchess employ the Arch-Bishop of Dublin or his Adherents in Rome it will but confound their and the Catholicks affairs with chymerical Visions which at Rome are not esteemed more than to spoile real affairs Neither will Rome esteem a Benedictine coming on such things as belong not properly to his Trade But suppose his business is to get a little Money for himself which is not so easily parted withall and as to Prince Rinaldi's affair Cardinal Norfolke hath twice although no body ever spoke to him of it spoken earnestly about but as affairs stand nothing can at present be done for many Reasons and you may be sure that Card. Fr. Barberine who hath so long endeavoured it and the Dutchesses Mother now at Rome and Card. Norfolk will do their best when a fitting time and occasion will be without others foolish impertinent busie-bodies and as to the A. B. of Dublins prevailing with the Duke in his late Resolution few or none will believe it here he being so used to write falshoods and forgeries that his saying it maketh it not believed but if it were so de bono opere non lapidamus te He did his duty for which God recompence him And as to what Mr. Sheldon pretends to say in the other point betwixt the A. B. of Dublin and his adversary Rome needeth not such learned wits to teach those who know better others have already as foolishly been fidling but neither Fidler or Fidlestick is regarded They may teach fools to dance if they can for that Tune soundeth not right where a better is used The best employment Mr. Sheldon can for the Duke and Dutchess is to become a Benedictine and pray for them quietly whilest having nothing else to trouble you withall at present I am Yours as you know Sir A Although I receive yours duely yet I unwillingly trouble you with my empty Letters having nothing hence worth your knowledge but as before that whatsoever I can with the Pope for Prin. Rinaldi being a Cardinal I shall do my best in and I am glad the Dutchess will write to the Pope which if ever before done it 's a wonder it was not delivered as Card. Alteri who should know tells me but when this cometh I will deliver it and tell both how the Dutchess supposed hitherto a former was Your Correspondent will be ready to obey the Dukes commands when he shall be honoured with them and certainly hath good abilities for it The new invented reports of a Bishop for England are Chymera's that having long since been disposed of although the Benedictines and others played the fools to stop the Execution of it in England when it was not intended to be made use of but in due time which others at least as good as the Benedictines and the Caballers ought to judge and when due time will be the same party per se vel per alium vel alios may do what will be to be done for since the Benedectines could not get to be a Bishop they would have two Bishops in hopes to be the one which would be altare contra altare as in Ireland betwixt Armagh and Dublin but would be ever pejor priore so that they may set their Minds and Tongues at rest and look well to what is committed to them The French fired the Spanish and Holland Ships and Gallies at Palermo most shamefully as I suppose you will hear more particularly from others They say many of English Marriners were with the French. My service to all Friends Mr. Conne I suppose with you I am Yours as you know June 20. Sir I Shall not need to make any particular Recommendations unto you of the bearer hereof he being my Nephew and in whom you may securely have all confidence in any thing which may concern your Master as your self or me for I assure you he hath a right esteem and fidelity for all added to his natural good nature as well as good parts and as affairs may occur he will from time to time confer with you He carrieth along with him some things for your Master and Mistress from my Patron which you will be glad to see whilst I remit the rest to him remaining Sir Yours as you know Card. of Norfolk Rome 12. June 1677. Rome 27th July 1677. Sir THe adjoyned Pacquet which I now direct to you contains the Pope's brief in answer to the second Letter from his R. H. My Nephew who carried the other may about this time be near his journey's end with it I assure my self they
time and success to prove who took their measures rightest When it hapned that what I foresaw came to pass the Good Father was a little surpriz'd to see all the Great Men mistaken and a little one in the right and was pleas'd by Sir W. Throckmorton to desire the continuance of my Correspondence which I was mighty willing to comply with knowing the Interests of our King and in a more particular manner of my more immediate Master the Duke and his most Christian Majesty to be so inseparably united that it was impossible to divide them without destroying them all Upon this I shew that our Parliament in the Circumstances it was in manag'd by the timerous Counsels of our Ministers who then govern'd could never be useful either to England France or Catholick Religion but that we should as certainly be forc'd from our Neutrality at their next Meeting as we had been from our active Alliance with France the last that a Peace in the Circumstances we were in was much more to be desir'd than the continuance of the War and that the Dissolution of our Parliament would certainly procure a Peace for that the Confederates did more depend upon the Power they had in our Parliament than upon any thing else in the World and were more encourag'd from thence to continue the War so that if that were Dissolv'd their measures would be all broken and they consequently in a manner necessitated to a Peace The Good Father minding this Discourse somewhat more than the Court of France thought fit to do my former urg'd it so home to the King that his M. was pleas'd to give him order to signifie to his R. H. my Master that his Ma. was fully satisfied of his R. H's good Intentions towards him and that he esteem'd both their Interests as but one and the same That my Lord Arlington and the Parliament were both to be look'd upon as very unuseful to their Interests and that if his R. H. would endeavour to Dissolve this Parliament his Ma. would assist him with his Power and Purse to have such a New one as should be for their purpose This and a great many more Expressions of Kindness and Confidence Father Ferrier was pleas'd to communicate to Sir W. T. and commanded him to send them to his R. H. and withal to beg his R. H. to propose to his most Christian M. what he thought necessary for his own concern and the advantage of Religion and his M. would certainly do all he could to advance both or either of them this Sir W. T. sent to me by an Express who left Paris on the 2 d of June 1674. S. N. I no sooner had it but I communicated it to his R. H. to which his R. H. commanded me to answer as I did on the 29 th of the same Month. That his R. H. was very sensible of his most Christian M's Friendship and that he would labour to cultivate it with all the good Offices he was capable of doing for his Ma. That he was fully convinc'd that their Interests were both one That my Lord Arlington and the Parliament were not only unuseful but very dangerous both to England and France that therefore it was necessary that they should do all they could to Dissolve it and That his R. H's opinion was that if his most Christian M. would write his Thoughts freely to the King of England upon this Subject and make the same offer to his M. of his Purse to Dissolve this which he had made to his R. H. to call another he did believe it very possible for him to succeed with the assistance we should be able to give him here and that if this Parliament were Dissolv'd there would be no great difficulty of getting a new One which would be more useful the Constitution of our Parliaments being such that a new One can never hurt the Crown nor an old One do it good His R. H. being pleas'd to own these Propositions which were but only General I thought it reasonable to be more particular and come closer to the Point 1. That if we hapned to agree we might go the faster about the work and come to some Issue before the time were too much spent I laid this for my Maxim The Dissolution of our Parliament will certainly procure a Peace which Proposition was granted by every body I convers'd withal even by Monsieur Rouvigny himself with whom I took liberty of discoursing so far but durst not say any thing of the Intelligence I had with Father Ferrier Next That a Sum of Money certain would vertainly procure a Dissolution This some doubted but I am sure I never did for I knew perfectly well that the King had frequent Disputes with himself at that time whether he should dissolve or continue them and he several times declar'd that the Arguments were so strong on both sides that he could not tell to which to incline but was carried at last to the continuance of them by this one Argument If I try them once more they may possibly give me Money if they do I have gain'd my Point if they do not I can dissolve them then and be where I am now so that I have a possibility at least of getting Money for their continuance against nothing of the other side But if we could have turn'd this Argument and said Sir Their Dissolution will certainly procure you Money when you have only a bare possibility of getting any by their continuance and have shown how far that bare possibility was from being a Foundation to build any reasonable hope upon which I am sure His Majesty was sensible enough of and how much 300000 l. Sterling certain which was the Sum we proposed was better than a bare possibility without any reason to hope that that would ever be compass'd of having half so much more which was the most he design'd to ask upon some vile dishonourable terms and a 1000 other hazards which we had great reason to be afraid of If I say we had had Power to have argued thus I am most confidently assur'd we could have compass'd it for Logick in our Court built upon Money has more powerful Charms than any other sort of reasoning But to secure his most Christian M. from any hazard as to this point I propos'd that his M. should offer that Sum upon that Condition and if that Condition were not perform'd the Money should ne'r be due if it were and that a Peace would certainly follow thereupon which no body doubted his Majesty would gain his ends and save all the vast Expences of the next Campagn by which he could not hope to better his Condition or to put himself into more advantageous Circumstances of Treating than he was then in but might very probably be in a much worse considering the mighty Oppositions he was like to meet with and the uncertain Chances of War but admitting that His Majesty could Maintain himself by his
will both be very welcome as that which occasioned them was to his Holiness God grant to this new Correspondence a blessing whereof the whole Nation may experience happy effects I render you hearty thanks for your weekly favours which is all I can do at present there occuring to me here no other kind of return worthy your acceptance The Animosity of those persons who formerly gave you some trouble is now I hope much relented since your late Letters have made no mention of it I wish you may continue to enjoy your satisfaction in this point that your friends may thereby have the satisfaction of better enjoying you I shall have my part herein as being Sir Your Affectionate Friend Card. of Norfolk The Letters next following were written from the same place Rome by Mr. Leyborn to Mr. Coleman Mr. Leyborn is said to have been in nature of a Secretary to the Cardinal of Norfolk Sir I Found in one of your last Letters to Mr. Grane a desire of more punctual Correspondence from me then Ordinary whilst the Conclave sitteth This desire shall be complyed with so far as it is possible for me but I fear your Curiosity will not thereby remain fully satisfied those within the Conclave who look more religiously upon their Obligation keeping their secrets to themselves And amongst the great variety of reports which fly abroad it is not easy to distinguish truth from falshood I shall therefore be sparing in delivery of such particulars leaving you to the publick fame which in the Case may upon the matter be relyed upon as well as the intelligence of those who pretend to have the best information You will find here the list of the Cardinals which you desire ranged under their several parties or heads but the order of their promotions is not exactly observed especially in the Creatures of Altieri and Ursini who before the other of the same name dyed was called S. Sisto should be in the fourth place and Baladonne in the 9 th There may be other pretenders to the Papacy besides these which are mentioned But I mark those which are most remarkable Card. Norfolk hath received Letters from the King and Duke enjoyning his adherence with France which he answereth by this Post that to the Duke the Secretary of the Durchess will see I refer you to other particulars to what I have writ unto my Lord Arundell and Card. Norfolk to Mr. Hayd Card. Norfolk will not except the offer from France of Albi dreading the dependence which would follow A like offer from Spain hath been refused Many are of opinion the Conclave will last long especially if the French persist in their animosity against Altieri who will be able in spight of them to hinder the Election of any whom they would endeavour to have chosen without his concurrence It would be a great service to the Church if this quarrel which seems to have no deep bottom were taken up The present conjuncture seems most proper for it and Card. Norfolk might be a proper instrument I hear our Country-man the Cardinal of Norfolk hath his health well in the Conclave and gains much in the opinion of his Brethren As matter occurs to feed your Curiosity you shall hear further from Sir Your most humble Servant W. L. Sept. 5. Sir THe Letters which came from you the last week had been acknowledged and answered the ordinary day and by the ordinary way had not the expectation of the great business perfected this morning made me willing to defer writing two days longer Cardinal Odeschelechi is the person on whom the great lot is fallen by an unanimous consent of the Electors and who was designed before by a general desire of the people the two great Catholick Monarchs concurring likewise in the Election by their approbation of it we have reason to promise our selves that great matters will be done in his Pontificalte for the advancement of Catholick Religion We want here no more at present to render our joys compleat than to be assured that your Mistress is happily delivered of a Young Prince This we hope will be the Subject of your next Letter which therefore is expected with great impatience My Lord hath by the Currier who carries these writ both to your Mistress and the Duke You need not be put in mind how requisite it is that the Dutchess lose no time in this occasion but write with what convenient speed she can to his Holiness from whom she may promise her self all expressions that ought to be expected of a most tender and Fatherly affection The time I have for writing of this is stole from other businesses which now calling for it again Oblige me to Subscribe Sir Your most humble Servant W. L. Rome Sept. 21. Card. Norfolk judgeth it necessary that the Duke write also to the Pope and that the Dutchess Secretary may do well to propose what was writ in the last Letters concerning Prince Rinaldi will be taken into serious Consideration greater difficulties are to be overcome than you there without a long Discourse will easily be perswaded of however the person to whom the business is recommended will not be wanting on his part This last P. S. is writ with the Cardinals hand Just now I understand of the Dutchess delivery of a Princess which I told the Pope and all the Cardinalls of who are all very glad the Popes name is Innocentius XI Rome Apr. 17th Sir YOu will not wonder at my seldom Writing if you consider how little there occurs here to write of Mr. Gr. desires me to render you his thanks for your weekly favours and to let you know that the Letter which the Duke wrote to the Pope and which was given to Mr. Con hath miscarried The Nunce at Paris doth acknowledge to have received of Mr. Con the Pacquet in which it was and doth say he sent it hither but here it cannot be found The Card. of Norfolk hath made this known to the Pope and Cardinal Cibo who says the only remedy now is a Duplicat I can give you no news hence worth your knowledge Affairs at the Pallace go on in their flow train Monsieur di Luca the Pope's Auditor and Favorite hath these days past been at death's door but now there is hope of his recovery The common speech is that his Holiness will shortly call to Town some of his kindred and confer Honours on them without Salaries It is also said there may probably be a Promotion of Cardinals about whitsuntide but nothing is more uncertain here than reports of this nature Foreign occurrences are the great matter of Discourse in which how much our wise men mistake you may guess by a report which some principal persons were Authors of last week and which upon their credit was much believed viz. That his R. Highness was in very few days expected in Florence and that Sir Bern. Gascoyn by the great Dukes Order was gone to receive him
at the Frontiers of that State. Some other passages concerning England directly contrary to truth have been assured with great confidence and accordingly believed The Pope hath lately distributed some small Pensions to the Cardinals of the last promotion not sufficiently provided for by his Predecessor The C. of Norfolk hath as I hear for his share 1600 Crowns part whereof is to expire at the end of 6 Years according to the stile of Pensions given upon Benefices in Spain and Portugal This help is thought by those who know his Condition to have but small proportion with his necessities But in this interressed Country and thrifty Pontificat any little Provision of this kind is thought considerable I wish you all happiness and remain Your most humble Servant 29 May. Sir MY last was of April 17. which I hope got safe to your hands it was to acquaint you with the miscarriage of the Duke's Letter to the Pope recommended long since to Mr. Caun But the Pope remaining sufficiently satisfied by Card. Norfolk that the Letter of the Duke was brought to Paris and given to his Nuncios hands and addrest to Card. Norfolk resolved without expecting the duplicat or such another Letter concerning which I wrote in my last to direct a Brief to the Duke which will be carried by Mr. Thomas Howard Card. Norfolk doth not doubt but the Duke will reply thereupon and hopes in the mean time that the expected duplicat will meet with better success than the Letter last sent June 5. Now the Brief directed to the Duke is in Card. Norfolk's hands nothing finer or more full of that kind could be expected Mr. _____ in few days doth depart with it he carries also for the Duke and Dutchess two pair of Beads from the Pope with most ample Indulgences It was desired here that some English Priest should be with the Pope's Nuncio at Nimegen Mr. Godden was named by Card. Norfolk but he desiring to be excused I think Mr. Caun will go My service to our Friend in Fleetstreet June 25. Noise of peace is heard here from all places we hope shortly to have it publickly proclamed by singing of a Te Deum I thank you for your Postscript which is concerning Mr. Platt who is now so impertinent as to declare that he was always a Protestant in his heart _____ expects with great impatience an Order to recal him and certainly Mr. Platt doth deserve it July 9. The hope you give that Mr. Platt will be recalled is very welcome to the Duke of Florence There is great need of it for the Inquisition hath already begun to stir in it Card. Cibo hath made complaint of it to the Resident of Florence as I have signified more particularly to Lord Arundell I long for your next which because it promiseth much which straitness of time made you omit in the last July 10. My last which was by the last Post acquainted you that the Letter of the Duke of York to the Pope was received the good man in reading it could not abstain from Tears Card. Norfolk doth _____ answer will shortly be sent though upon the matter it hath been done anticipatedly greater tenderness with expression of kindness and esteem could not be expected as you are desired to signify July 16. What hath come to your mind concerning a Match with the Prince of Florence and our Lady Anne deserves better reffections then I am able for the present to make of it setting aside the interest which might move the Duke of Florence to desire it I am verily perswaded that the great respect he hath for the Duke of York would set a great weight upon his Inclination to carry him towards it I had yesterday a Letter from the Duke of Florence who continues his pressing earnestness for compassing the business which hath been so often mentioned I doubt it may linger a great while if such a reason be expected as may satisfy the Enemies of Religion I think it might suffice to alledge that Mr. Platt is very unwelcome to the Duke of Florence July 30. The Court here will not be well pleas'd till the new difficulties which obstruct the peace at Nimegen be removed July 24. Mr. Gr. is your servant this day he hath a brief of the Pope in answer to the letter of the Duke Aug. 6. These must acknowledge the receipt of yours June 28. and July 1. The Postscript in one of them was very welcome for the satisfactory matter it gave me for a Letter to the Duke of Florence after two weeks silence to the point he is so much concerned for The same Post did also bring me a Letter from Lord Arundell to the same effect which I shall thank for shortly Card. Norfolk hath writ to the King and sent a Letter from the Queen of Sweden desiring him to take her into his protection at the Treaty in Nimegen Reasons to prove the Justice of her pretences are sent to Mr. Cook. Card. Norfolk would be well pleased if Mr. Coleman would promote this Interest with the Duke Aug. 13. I have had thanks this week from the Duke of Florence for the account gave him the last of what was contained in Letters from Lord Arundell and Mr. Coleman about Mr. Platt Aug. 20. We have had this week three from you one of them gave hopes of a Letter from the Lord Arundell I am indebted to our friend in Fleetstreet for two Letters Sept. 11. A Brief was sent last year dated about the month of May and carried from hence by an Irish Bishop Card. Norfolk would know if it were delivered to the Queen the answer was late expected Card Barbarin is in pain to know whether a Picture which he sent to her R. H. hath been received Nov. 20. Yours of October 5 and 8. found me in the Country with Mr. Gra. to morrow we return to Rome I am sorry that my Letter of September 11. as to that part which was in Cypher after the trouble it had given you proved at length not intelligible That which Card. Norfolk would know if delivered to the Queen was a Brief sent to her from the Pope last year about the month of May and given by Card. Norfolk to an Irish Bishop who not passing by England delivered it to the Lady Nov. 28. The Confidence with which Mr. Coleman ends his Letter to the Prince doth much please But that delivered by Mr. Caun in naming to Dutchess Lauderdale the Correspondent of Card. Norfolk is wondered at I hope Mr. Coleman will on this accident judge it necessary to proceed with more caution and send a false name to write to him Card. Norfolk hath had some answer from Portugal but no resolution Englands Competitor is not Card. D'estre but Rospilias to whose Uncle the Prince and Princess of Portugal owe their Marriage Dec. 18. We are told the Duke of Modena intends a journey to London Card. Norfolk will to his power second the demand which Card. Barberin