for ever 49 St. Germain desires you to tell all this to 62 Coleman that he may take his Measures accordingly and send his Opinion thereof to 49 St. Germain As for the Affairs of the Carmelites of Antwerp 49 St. Germain will undertake it with warmth as soon as ever he receives the Letters concerning it which he expects by the next Post According to what 62 Coleman writes to him by his Letter of the 17 / 27 of Jan. 75 / 6 which is to be at Eight a Clock this Evening I desire you Sir to Deliver Mr. Rogers the Letter of Thanks which I write to him for his good News I will send him in exchange a Writing against the Enemy of 49 St. Germain and Mr. Beddingfield shall have it on Wednesday next at farthest when he departs from hence I am glad that that Enemy is decry'd there where you are as well as he is here But has 62 Coleman nothing to say to the new 41 Ambassador by the intervention of 49 St. Germain He desires it to the end to have occasion of speaking to the new 41 Ambassador concerning 62 Coleman and by that Means to be the better believed by the new 41 Ambassador when be shall speak good to him of his best Friend 62 Coleman I leave Mr. Warner to send you the News which are all concerning War. The Spaniards refuse the Passports because the King terms the Prince of Lorrain Cousin and not Brother in those which he has given to the Plenipotentiaries of the other Princes 'T is said that the Jansenists fall short of their Expectations at Court and that the King shews himself averse to them in all the steps which they make to ingratiate with him Mr. Arnauld has not been able to make his Peace though he has offered to Subscribe the Doctrine of Mr. Amelot Priest of the Oratory touching sufficient Grace according to the sence of this Author And the Arch-Bishop of Paris has suspended a Predicator for not having spoken of the Popes and Councils as he ought If I were in the Street of St. Antoine as I am in that of St. Jaques I should know more News Adieu I pray believe that you have not a more faithful Servant nor a more true Friend than me in all the World. Translated by Sir Henry Capell To Mr. Coleman Secretary of the Commands of her Royal Highness Madam the Dutchess of York in Deans-yard Westminster The 1 / 11 of March 75 / 76. I Have received your Letter of the 25 Feb. / 2 Mar. I did not write to you on Saturday Sir and I shall send you very little by this Ordnary because that the Letters from England being not Arrived before Tuesday and not upon Monday I know not yet if there be any from you to me In those they send me I expect the Dutchesses Letter to desire Monsieur St. Germain to Treat with the King of France Just now I have received a Letter brought me from England but there is none from you I thank you for your Good will for the Lady Send me News of Mr. Sheldon an English Priest what he does in England will he stay there always Monsieur St. Germain thanks Mr. Coleman for the Marks of Friendship he gives him And he has already thanked him as he says by his Precedent Letter Monsieur St. Germain will send to know of him why Mr. Coleman would not have him speak of what he sends him concerning One hundred Thousand Pound Sterling promised to the King of England by the Means of the Duke of York For it is to the purpose as he believes That the King's Confessor should know it to the End he may serve him in the Business near the King of France Monsieur St. Germain is of the Opinion with Mr. Coleman as concerning the Great Treasurer And 't is absolutely Necessary that it be known in the King of France's Shop otherwise it will hurt his Commerce It suffices me to know that the Dutchess has received the Letter of Monsieur St. Germain It was nothing but a pure Civility touching the condition she is in and an Affair was recommended to her which is done since I saw your Friend Yesterday he shew'd me News of you He will come hither to Day to be present at a Comedy which will be represented here Monsieur de Vantelett is with me and prays me to do you his Civilities Pray do mine to Madam your Wife and to Monsieur Tartereau when you shall see him We have no News They prepare strongly for the War and they work strongly to Accommodate the Affair of Monsieur the Prince of Conde to the End he may go into Flanders and make Head against the Germains who will come with a very great Strength I make you no Complements Sir neither in the beginning or finishing my Letters Translated by Mr. Anchitell Gray To Mr. Coleman Secretary to her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York in Deans-yard Westminster March 8 / 18. 75 / 76. THe slow arrival of your Letters hath very much disquieted me I thought my self Dead in your Remembrance But that which you writ to me of the 2 / 12 of March hath again restored me to Life at least for some time for the dulness wherewith the Business that you wot of is carried on will I fear let me die no other Death and that for Reasons which you will hear of too soon Those of the Catholick Religion have desired me to write to you to let Coleman know the Condition of their Affairs which is that being for the present out of Purse it is altogether impossible for them to keep up their Trade long without his help Beside That the Party apprehendeth that his Trade failing in the Shop where he now is he shall after Easter be sent to set up in some other Town But if he could have obtained from the D. of York the Papers for which he hath so long waited he might probably e're this time have concluded his Business with the French King by the Means of the King's Confessor and he might have put himself in a condition to have continued his Trade to the Advantage of those in whose favour those Papers were written for having no Imployment in his Shop for want of Money it is impossible that he should keep it long since he wanteth Opportunity to make himself appear useful to the Service of the Duke and Dutchess having no order to act in any thing whatsoever I am overjoy'd with what Coleman hath said to the Dutchess and with what the Duke hath done for the grand Treasurer St. Germain hath made himself Enemies by maintaining the Opinion That the Dutchess ought to be prevailed with to manage her Affairs otherwise than she hath hitherto done I would gladly understand what Answer the Dutchess hath made to Coleman St. Germain buildeth great hopes upon what Coleman writeth to him about the Discourse which the Duke held with the grand Treasurer But Coleman may consider That if
observed by you I am glad to perceive that you are so well with Monsieur Rouvigny and that you concur in Opinions France can never rely upon a sure Foundation till the Duke be able to Secure it and Monsieur Rouvigny I fear is not sufficiently persuaded that it is feasible to set the Duke in such a Posture and therefore it is not attempted But did the King of France interess himself in it much might be effected and to invite him to it it is requisite That he should be inform'd that all difficulties which oppose may easily be remov'd but the Cards are not yet shuffl'd when they are Dealt you will know how to direct the Playing of the Game and I hope you will discover to me some Hands I wish I were able to contribute any thing to your Satisfaction you know the Power which you have over your most Obedient Servant Paris July the 13th 75. I Had not leisure to Answer yours of the 24 th by the last Ordinary for which I beg your Pardon To put the Duke into the posture you speak of ought certainly to be the endeavour of the King of France and Monsieur Pompone but as you observe Mr. Rouvigny is no proper Instrument for that purpose I have already declar'd my sense but most especially to the King of France's Confessor who was sensible of it and told me That the several Inconveniencies and Incongruities should be remedied and when the Occasion offers I shall further insist by way of humble advice if I have no other Ground to press it more seriously that the French Ambassador may be wholly subordinate to the Duke and that nothing can more secure the Interest of France and Pompone than to make it appear that they do Espouse that of the Duke If Lord Berkley be Ambassador then Sir Ellis Leighton will not be idle and there may be good use made of such an Instrument if the right way be taken I should be glad Lord Shaftsbury had better footing and that he were interessed for the Duke Our last Post is not yet arriv'd but we are assur'd that the Parliament will not fail at the due Season and that Lord Treasurer fails of nothing I hope you are sufficiently assur'd that Sheldon will serve you upon all occasions with as great Fidelity as you can desire but if he may not in some sort be serviceable to the Duke it will be more convenient for him to change his Station but in this he will be influenced by your Self Colombe the 17th of Aug. Lect ' pro Rege I Have scarce time D. Sr to give you my Thanks for the Favour of yours of the 2 d of Aug. which I will acknowledge like a Correspondent God willing by the next Ordinary In the mean time allow me to assure you that Coleman has made the best Judgment of the Proposal of Mr. Sheldon that the Subject in regard to all Circumstances was capable of neither did Sheldon design that the old Cloaths should be thrown away till Spain proffer'd new ones That which was chiefly recommended to Coleman was to find out means to suggest to Spain that he should fit the Duke with such a Sute as is there propos'd and then perhaps the Dutchess's Friend would not refuse to wear the Livery Sheldon nor Bishop of Dublin cannot at this Distance make any advance in it but the latter who understands the humour of Spain thinks that if it were suggested with all the advantages that will ensue the proffer will come from those of Spain France is not in a Condition to quit his Friends upon meer Suspitions on the contrary they will render them more considerable to him Here is a Person in this Town that is call'd Sir Charles Prettyman who has Correspondence with several Parliament Men from whom he says he is assur'd that the difference betwixt the Two Houses is already compos'd and that they are agreed to enter no more into those Disputes but unanimously to Endeavour a War against France and to Unite the King's Subjects in that Design to give Liberty of Conscience knowing very well that then the Papists themselves will be as earnest against the French as any others which I take to be a very reasonable Judgment I wish you could give me some assurance of this But let Coleman know that Sheldon in this Conjuncture cannot tell what may be more for the purpose of the Duke and Catholicks than what Coleman desires to know whether it be the wish only of Sheldon and indeed it is only his wish because he cannot tell at this distance how to advance any thing towards the suggesting to Spain how he might find his Accounts in it and from that Conviction induce him to proceed but he hopes that Coleman may have Opportunities to do this and that Effectually His Reflections are just and comprehend the whole to the full If this way be not taken I conceive a languishing condition will be the hard Fate of many to whom we wish well The French King's Condition is in a decline you will infer from thence what is necessary When I told you that the Ambassador of Spain was suspected in reference to the Dutchess's Friend I did not intend to say positively that the Duke was thereupon suspected by France but that those that belong to the French King did entertain some Jealousies upon it and that the Ambassador of Spain was frequently with the Dutchess's Friend was told me by the Correspondent of the Duke who he is the Bearer of these can tell you I hope to have the Dispatch for your Three Friends by the next Post If you are satisfy'd with the Bishop of Dublin's and Sheldon's Proceedings they are at ease but were afraid that things had been ill represented to you since those of that Party have been found too blame upon that account by the next God willing you shall have more upon that Subject I pray God continue and prosper the hopes you give of your Mistress I am without reserve Yours Colombe Aug. the 30th SIR I Have yours of the 12 th which I had answer'd by the last Post if I had not spent so much time in the search of K. from whom I expected the Dispatches for your Shee friends I am sorry they are not yet ready and that you must have patience till the return of the Court from Fountainbleau I am glad you are satisfy'd with the Bishop of Dublin's and Mr. Sheldon's Proceedings and I desire you not to apprehend that any prejudice will fall upon Religion or the Catholicks upon a Controversie of that account which being now wholly referred to Rome must expect such an Issue as shall there be determin'd but they are not usually too Expeditious in those kind of Dispatches and therefore I assure my self it will be a considerable time before you hear any thing more concerning that Subject Yet because you seem to expect to have from me the utmost of what can be said upon it though I
dare not undertake for so full an account yet I shall endeavour to give you a Testimony that I shall not be wanting to Contribute all that I can to your Satisfaction but I cannot undertake for it by this Post both by reason of other Dispatches which lye upon my hands as also because my Indisposition of Health which binds me to the observance of Physical Prescriptions and other mournful Accidents do take up the greatest part of my time and too great a share of my Thoughts Now I must Inform you That the immediate Predecessor of Monsieur Rouvigny did send for a Friend of ours the next in Degree to Lord Almond and desir'd to know his Opinion of the Project which the Ambassador of Spain had laid to draw the King to make War against France and thereupon told him how it was contriv'd that the House of Lords and Commons should upon that Condition furnish Money and accommodate the Catholicks those of France seeing how far they are from any present Capacity of offering such Advantages and how easie it is for those of Spain to procure them they can scarce allow their Fears to prevail above their Hopes after they have rightly weigh'd the Interest which Religion has in it Yet he did not omit to say That the Duke would not desert France though he could not doubt but that Religion would have the Ascendant Your Friend and my Kinsman Mr. K. well known to the Confessor of the Duke and of the same Profession might methinks be highly serviceable upon this Occasion if he would only sound the Spanish Ambassador upon this Subject and represent to him according as Occasion shall be given the many and great Advantages which would accrew to Spain and of the great Dammages that would ensue to France upon this account but to make it efficacious he must shew the Necessity of engaging the Duke and Catholicks in the Concern of it without which it will never have any steady Effect I need not suggest to you any farther Considerations on this Subject the Prudence of Coleman will direct you and from thence I shall hope to see a good Issue for the Catholicks I have not many Discourses with Sir P. but he is still of the same Opinion as formerly and affirms that no other means can effectually conduce to the Satisfaction of the House of Lords and Commons and those whom they are engaged for If you see no appearance of Success this way be so kind as to shew me some other Scheme upon which we may ground any comfortable Expectations In the mean time we must content our selves with such hopes as we are able to furnish Colombe Septemb. the 24th 75. I Have yours of the 6 th and one Weekly from Coleman's Man for all which I return most hearty Thanks and though it be my Misfortune not to have hitherto succeeded in the Pretensions of our shee-Shee-Friends yet upon the delivery of the second Memorial I was promis'd an Infallible Dispatch this Week which will cost me another Journey to Versailles and I hope to send it to you by Mr. Nicholls He and his Charge arriv'd at Paris on Friday last late at Night I was the next Day in Town upon no other Design than to meet Pompone upon the account of that Business He told me some days before That the Interest of the Religion of the Catholicks was likely to be promoted by the Spanish Ambassador and the Friends of the King of Spain I reply'd That it was too great an Undertaking and that it could not take any Effect especially since they did imploy no Endeavours to gain the Duke and his Party to that Interest and though it was reported here that the Duke had frequent Conferences with the Spanish Ambassador yet I did assure that there were no such Applications made and that the Duke was as much attack'd to the King of France as ever It would have become Mr. Sheldon to have said this though he had not been so sure of the Truth of it as he is by the Information of Coleman The Decline of Spain I confess must needs require a long time to regain Power and that first to secure his own Interest before he can be in a posture to promote that of Religion The hopes on * Spain's side are not so remote and you have rais'd my Expectation from thence to no low Degree because Coleman feems not only to approve of it but to think it worth his pains to lay out his Contrivances and Endeavours upon it I with my Kinsman were engag'd and possibly the opportunity may now be favourable at least if he will not enter into the Negotiation he may easily introduce Coleman with those Advantages as may make him be esteem'd a fit Instrument and worthy to be trusted in that Concern and he having such an Introduction I shall not doubt but that he will be able to give a very good account of the Business It draws near the 29 but I hope there is yet time enough to dispose things in order to that Design I do not well comprehend how the Danger is over on the part of the Prorogation unless it be in Reference to that Opposition of the City of London I should be glad to Promise my self that it were in Relation to the Duke who is said to be the Person that obstructed the Prorogation and the Procurer of the Parliaments present Installation The Design of my Lord Treasurer I hope will have no Effect The Alliance with the Prince of Orange some say is sought for by the French King for one of the Dukes of France but this is but a guess yet such a one as gives suspition to Spain that there is like to be some Clandestine doings betwixt Holland and France But why do I so much intrench upon your better Employs I shall only assure you that Mr. Sheldon is your Servant and that Coleman will always find him so to his Power Colombe October the 10 th SIR I Have yours of the 20 th of September And whereas you seem to intimate that it is almost a Month since you receiv'd any from me I have call'd my Self to an Account and cannot find that I have effectually been so much wanting to my own Satisfaction as not to continue upon you sufficient Provocation to allow me the Favour of your Correspondence I am become so mistrustful upon this reproach of my own Memory that I could almost persuade my self to doubt whether I have inform'd you of a delay that is cast upon the Pretensions of your Shee Friends which I hope will soon be remov'd since it only depends upon a Return from Lisle whose Magistrates were to be consulted in that Concern and upon their Answer I hope you will have Satisfaction to the Address which has been made Have I not likewise bemoan'd my misfortune for having had only a Glimpse of Mr. Grey having disappointed each other by my going to him and his coming to me upon the same
Sum of Money to put him in a condition to re-establish himself in the Management of the King's Affairs and to endeavour to Compose the Differences between his two Friends of Spain and France So that they may be in a condition to support him in his just and worthy Design to begin and establish a new Traffick very advantagious to the whole World and particularly the Kingdom of England which at present is unhappily divided for want of being employed as it ought to be and as it will be in little time after it shall have tasted the sweetness of that Profit which it shall find by the Managery of the Duke and his Associates being assisted by his Friends and yours and principally by the Church We have in agitation great Designs worthy the consideration of your Friends and to be supported with all their Power wherein we have no doubt but to succeed and it may be to the utter ruine of the Protestant Party if you joyn with us in good Earnest and cordially second our Enterprizes The Affair is too long to give you all the Particulars of but without doubt you will understand much of it by the little which you find here Septemb. 4. 1674. Jo. Nicholas AT present Sir We are returned again to London where we shall be as I hope less embarrassed than at Windsor and by consequence shall have more leisure to entertain our Correspondents for the future than we have had before Since our return I have received your Letters of the one and twentieth of August and fourth of September and three others from our Friend through whose hands you sent me yours I wonder whence it comes that they have lost their way thus but I conceive that he directed them to his Correspondent here instead of addressing them immediately to me or to Mr. Jerome Boteman I will advertise him of it this day the better to settle our Correspondence for the future 't is true that I did not write till this present as I intended fearing lest you should have forgotten what I said thereupon when I was at your House but being delivered from that fear I will not fail hereafter to treat you with that Liberty and Freedom you have permitted me to use towards you having no other Design than to obey you as I ought being _____ You will wonder without doubt at the Freedom I take in this Letter and at my Confidence and perhaps will esteem it as a mark of my Weakness judging thereby that I accustom my self to treat others in the like manner and to open my mind without distinction to all who make profession to me of their Friendship and Sincerity But Sir I desire you not to believe me guilty of so great Lightness and Folly if I shall let you know my most secret Thoughts And first to answer the Question in your Letters touching the Concerns of the Catholicks before the Parliament viz. Whether they will come in Debate again in the Month of _____ I assure you there is none but my self either Friend or Enemy of the Duke's who doth not believe certainly that that Business will be begun again at the time aforesaid and that it will terminate to the utmost prejudice of the Duke and of the Catholicks For my self I am alone of the opinion that it will not then be taken up at least I will do my utmost to prevent it although I know well that the Spanish Minister and all those who are for the Interest of Spain and the Confederates wherof some notwithstanding are very good Friends to the Catholicks will do all they can to prevail with the King to pursue the said Business preferring their Malice and Enmity against France which will as they believe be overwhelmed thereby before their Love to the Duke and the Catholicks who will certainly by that means be in great danger to be quite ruined As for my self I am neither tied to the Interest of Spain nor France but intirely to that of the Pope and the Catholicks but pardon me if I tell you freely that I believe that the whole Proceeding of Spain in this Contest with France is visibly to the great prejudice as well of the Pope and the Catholicks as his own Interest and that He hath been long deceived by his Ministers and Associates who have exposed him during this whole Affair to vast Expences and have brought all the Burden upon him and in the end will quit him in his extremity if He doth not take heed betimes All his Friends on this side have foreseen a good while what is faln out of late and have been much afflicted to see two Gentlemen of equal Merit of the same Parentage and of the same Interest so transported one against the other as to expose themselves to the Derision of their Neighbours who have alwayes been and who are at present inwardly what shew soever they make in appearance Enemies to both In short I believe that it is not Prudence in Spain to suffer it self to be thus governed by the Passion of its Ministers to its own Damage and the ruine of its best Friends rather than to agree with France because it hath been perfidious altho Spain may have all the Assurances imaginable that France will act honestly for the future like a good Neighbour a kind Relation and a most faithful Friend The Duke 's principal Defign is to terminate this Difference by the Interposition of the Pope and by that means to establish himself in the possession of his Estate through their Assistance and to turn all their Cares which at present are employ'd to destroy each other for the Ease of the Pope's Friends and particularly for the Catholicks of the Church against their great Enemies If you please to consider the Affair as it is you will find that the Pope never had an occasion so favourable as at this Hour to inrich those of his Family and to augment the number of his Friends and if he lets it slip he will never find the like so that if ever they propose to make use of the Treasure of the Church 't is now they ought to do it for they can demand nothing that the Duke will not be capable to do for the Pope's Friends and the Emperour being assisted as I said On the other side without their Aid He will run great hazard of being lost both himself and his Associates This is all I can say From Mr. Coleman to the Pope's Internuncio September 11. 1674. SIR I Have received yours of the 7th Instant by which you do me the Honour to desire the continuance of News from us in which I will willingly obey you nothing being more agreeable to me than to serve you On Tuesday was sevenight our Commissioners and those of Holland who are to adjust the Commerce of both Nations to the East Indies entered upon that Affair Friday last the Privy Council met again the King present being the first time since his Majesty adjourned
would be no other Merchants of whom they could buy or to whom they could sell but to those of this Company which would bring them in an incredible Advantage and there is nothing more easie than to establish this Company if the Pope would contribute his Assistance as abovesaid From Mr. Coleman to the Internuntio Windsor Aug. 30. 1675. IT is true Sir that the Pope hath given us a clear and evident mark of his affection toward the Catholicks of England but the Internuntio hath testified no less in doing Justice to the Merits of Cardinal Norfolk which he mentioned in his Letter of the 6th of July Since we have reason to attribute his success to the just or favourable character that the Internuntio hath given of him I do not at all apprehend that the Internuntio repenteth himself of the good offices that he hath done him but that he will finde them recompenced by the satisfaction which he will receive in his Friendship As for Monsieur Clement the Duke I believe that he hath already found the effects of your Prayers and that he hath almost surmounted all the Difficulties which have opposed his Establishment The face of his Affairs are well changed for we now passionately wish to see the coming on of the Parliament which we so much feared before And while it was held doubtful whether it ought to meet or no we employed all our Power to bring it on which point we have gained but within these few days And for my part I no ways doubt but that we shall receive as much good by it as we apprehended ill provided that the Duke fail not in the execution of the good Resolutions which he hath taken There is but one thing to be feared whereof I have a very great apprehension that can hinder the success of our Designes which is a Division amongst the Catholicks themselves which hath already broke out at Paris amongst some Catholicks of England touching some difference of Opinions in their Debates I finde that some of them have sent their Complaints to Rome to have their Antagonist condemned I have an intimate Acquaintance with the Person complained of and I dare affirm he hath made twice as many Catholicks in England of those which were none before as any other person of his Quality and that he is as well inclined towards the Pope and his whole Family as the best of his Accusers And I assure you he hath many Friends here of the First Rank of Catholicks who would not engage in his Affairs if they did not believe that he marched steadily towards the common end Although he affecteth sometimes to express himself somewhat different from some of his Brothers As for me I believe there is too much passion on both sides and if it shall fall out that his Enemies prevail against him and procure his Condemnation at Rome I am afraid that divers others will take occasion from thence to fall upon many Catholicks before the Parliament desiring its friendship about some extravagant Propositions concerning the Authority of the Pope to which the other Catholicks cannot submit which will give occasion to the Parliament to accord their conjunction to those who require it upon the Conditions before-mentioned that is Conditions prejudicial to the Authority of the Pope by the hatred which they bear to all the Religion of the Catholicks because they may persecute the rest of them with more appearance of Justice and ruine the one half of them more easily than the whole body at once So that it seemeth to me that although the Religion should be much more severely dealt with by reason of their Complaint than now it is it would be very improper in the present Conjuncture of our Affairs to make any division betwixt the Catholicks of England upon any occasion whatsoever But for my part I do not perceive any prejudice that can befal the Religion from any of those things against which some persons seem to be so furiously enraged because to my apprehension there is nothing contained in them but what hath heretofore been maintained by Men of Worth and Honesty with the general approbation of the whole world and particularly by D. Elizalde a Spaniard in his Book Intituled De forma verae Religionis quaerendae inveniendae If you do not understand the Subject of this Letter our Friend from whose Hand you shall receive it will inform you and let you know the persons and all the matters which have passed betwixt them and when you shall be fully possessed of them and shall possibly come to be of my opinion that it is necessary to prevent all differences betwixt the Catholicks of England in this present Conjuncture I hope you will contribute your utmost endeavour to prevent the Condemnation of Rome in any thing that may occasion a Breach amongst the Catholicks of England I very well know that the Duke will hold himself much obliged by those who shall concern themselves in the pacification of this disorder from whence we dread so much mischief And that the Emperour and the Internuntio cannot perform an Office more grateful to him than to prevent the Pope or any of his Family to embark themselves in the Affair which would raise some dispute amongst us I beg your pardon for the trouble I have given you upon this Subject but knowing your goodness and weighing the importance of the Affair wherein I have taken the liberty to beg your assistance I doubt not but you will pardon SIR A Letter seiz'd at Mr. Coleman's directed A Monsieur Monsieur le Point proche de Charing-Cross a Londres pour fair tenir a Monsieur James Clark. September 28 1678. PARIS I Had yours of the 12th instant last night our Posts these three last came in late my Friend being with the Crowd it 's impossible for me to reach him now but last night he sent me the Friend I mentioned to tell me that this Peace has broke all our Measures at present here so that to write to our Friend at present is useless notwithstanding he had proposed all things in very good order had the Courier brought Peace in his mouth which stop'd his as to our last designe so that now they pretending here the Peace being made they have no need of us so that by consequence they won't seek us as they would if the Peace had been still opposed But in a word to put our Traffique afoot it 's absolutely necessary that my friend come speedily over to you and to converse with you and our other friend because his Measures are so well taken in Italy that we can't miss to establish this Commodity better from those parts than from any here at present thô hereafter we may finde means and helps from hence too But it 's most certain now is the time or never to put things in order to establish it with you for reasons which you may very well guess and whatever my friend or th' other
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
all avow that it is not his being for the Catholicks startles them they ask but the Duke to be resolved to continue governing himself with vertue and moderation to throw off such people as they say are about him and betray him and then give them his word and they will stick by him against Lord Arlington and Lord Treasurer and Landerdail and the Parliament and who he pleases I do not doubt but the Duke is courted now by the Lord Arlington his Party and some of the Parliaments too but if ever he receives any that have betrayed he will go nigh to run the King his fortune that is always abused by Knaves when they see it for their purpose and never trusted nor relyed on by honest men I had yours of the 4th just now Mr. Boteman sets out on Sunday A Paper Intituled INSTRUCTIONS SEeing that his most Christian Majesty was angry that I went to England but that he did not shew it for fear of giving any umbrage and that for the same reason he hath not spoken with me yet he hath since prayed me to assure his Highness of some secret way that his Majesty doth take his part in all interests and will serve him to the utmost of his power and that he is strongly perswaded that my Lord Arlington is not in the esteem of his Majesty nor in that of his Highness although that some do labour to perswade him to it he saith The re-assembling of this Parliament will not be profitable for the King or for his Royal Higness although my Lord Arlington will endeavour to uphold it if therefore his Royal Highness shall judge it necessary to have another Parliament he will assist him with Money to have such an one and as he shall desire and prayeth him to make his Proposals thereupon or upon any other thing that he shall judge either needful or profitable being resolved to do all things possible for his Service The Father hath told me of the Knavery of Monsieur de Sessaube and of the folly of some others of ours but notwithstanding all that and also though his Majesty knoweth very well that his Highness hath sent into Flanders which in truth giveth him a little umbrage notwithstanding his Majesty is resolved to conside intirely in his Highness and to afford him all imaginable assistance but above all he prayeth his Highness that he will indeavour by all ways and means to confirm a perfect intelligence with his Brother he told me morcover that if Monsieur de Rouvigny was not a Man to your liking nor such a one upon whom you may wholly rely that if his Highness would give me the least order to advertise his Majesty thereof he would indeavour to send over another person The following LETTERS were writ by Cardinal Norfolk to Mr. Coleman Rome January 4. 76. SIR I Received your two this week one of 19 November by your Friends way here th' other without date by Sir H. Tichb I am glad of the Prorogation so that the Parliament will not now in hast trouble you again or others and if finally the King will resolve well and keep close to it all may yet do well if not God have mercy on ye I wrote last week as I inclose now another to the same and assure the Duke I both can and will serve him and his faithfully to good purpose having already for the short time put all in excellent way of which more hereafter in due time I having now very little for so much I have to do Mr. Hayes at Arundel-house can tell you something particularly of my condition here time giving only leasure to adde I am Yours as you know Rome 8. Feb. Stilo Novo 76. SIR I Suppose you received my Answer to your _____ received since my being here and the Duke my Answer unto his by Sir H. Tich And you may be sure that the Pope will do all he can to serve the Duke in all occasions as I can as assuredly also answer for Cardinal Norfork both for his Affection and Duty hoping before very long to shew it by deeds in a due time and proportion I have in the interim written pretty full to Mr. Hayes at my Brothers as you know to conferre with you what my time is too short to repeat about the old business in which the Portuguese would get the Queen to give Cardinal Norfolk his place to a Portuguese under several specious pretexts as some of your Friends give out here will speedily be done and if the King had not at first hindered would have been done by the Queen Now therefore you are desired to deal with the Duke that he speak privately and efficaciously with the King to hinder it on all scores both at present or at any time hereafter c. as Mr. Hayes can tell you Another business is that Cardinal Norfolk being written unto from Paris by the Prince William of Furstenburg's Brother to move the Pope's and others credits with the Emperour for that Prince's Liberty it 's thought good if the Duke will please to desire the King to send his Command to his late Envoy now with the Emperour to joyn his endeavour with those of the Pope's Minister now at the Emperour for the Liberty of the said Prince William and also for the Peace and that Cardinal Norfolk may know from you or others securely that the King hath sent such express Orders to his Envoy now with the Emperour of which I will accordingly acquaint the Pope who in the interim will send Order there to joyn with the King 's Envoy's endeavours for that and the Peace In the same Order the King may also please to command his said Envoy to joyn his endeavours with another who will quickly be sent by the Pope for the Peace as also the like is desired be sent to my Lord Barkley Temple and Jenkins to joyn with the Pope's Minister for the Peace and please to let me know of all fully that I may accordingly dispose all here for the best that I may likewise my self write by the Pope's Minister to my Lord Barkley and the rest about it Henceforth please to direct yours to me thus A Monsieur Monsieur Chaumont commis du general des Postes en son Office à Bruxells pour faire tenir à Monsieur Thomas Grane and with this Superscription he will send them me safe as I have ordered him and will also send mine to you safe and with less expence putting mine to you on my account as far as Bruxels and if you think it safest and quickest as I think it may be he can direct mine to you by my good Friend Mr. Cook 's way who you know I should have told you that although the French Ambassadour nor his Brother the Cardinal do neither receive or give any Visit or converse with any of the Cardinals of the last Promotion yet the said Cardinal hath sent many Excuses and Complements to me how sorry he is
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
Tryal but also a new Jury or else resolveth flatly not to come up to the Assise But an intimate friend of his told me no longer agon than yesterday that he is sure nothing can be more remote from his heart than a new Jury and that he doth give out this only Captare Benevolentiam with the Grand jury men and John Bothoaks their Solicitour because sayeth the craftie Pettifogger unto them I move thus only for your sakes since whatever I desire the Judg will never grant and so have dextrously avoyded a new Jury by seeming to demand one which considering the humour of the mans dealing is not totally improbable Pray acquaint the Lady with this perticular because it is most true and worth her knowing I am very glad to hear it again confirmed by you that the Gardeners brother proveth a good man he saith right the two Trees must down which now there is no more dispute cannot stand without the undermining of the Ladies house but all the craft will be how to get them removed for which the Gardiners Brothers Tools I doubt are not sharp enough besides those who have promised to work with him when the Spade cometh to the Rock 't is to be feared may digg Counter for at present 't is a tough piece of labour and will continue so untill the Ladies Sister doth feel the inconvenience of their standing there as well as she herself has felt it already That the Lady has gotten a Plenipotentiary of her own chusing is good if he doth not find that he must digg against the Rock too for then as well as I love the man he is not to learn this lesson of the Ladies of any Church whatsoever durum erit tibi contrà stimulum calcitare my friend I begin to hope may do well by something I have heard of him whereof more by the next return Send me word I entreat you what Bills are upon the Stocks and whether there be one in hand to exclude the Catholick Lords from Sitting and Voting in the House of Peers that I may prepare accordingly Since the Priests and Monks are all gon when they are beyond Seas again more Masters of their Conceptions than they were here I pray God that they may write no foolish Books to inflame the reckoning which by the way they are like enough to doe unless warned to the contrary by the Lady whose good they ought to tender more then the pleasing of their fancies since the penalty of their follies otherwise will certainly light upon her in the conclusion of things Since the Lady will go to a new triall intend proceed prosper and reign the Gardener will not be long from you to accomplish his word but if the event doth not prove otherwise than is expected I am much cousened for either John Bothoaks must heeds be stark mad or he is sure of having already packed the Cards enough to doe his feat with the Jury before he cometh to sit down at primavisti with the Lady in fine though I knew Cassandra was an Asse for Prophecying always where she was never believed yet I cannot leave this kind of style for my heart Let your new Instruments be never so acceptable to the Jury for a while that is to say till the cheat be enacted they will not have been long in the Ladies hands but they will become like the others heretofore whom they so much distasted since their business is not to accept of her security upon a change of officers but right or wrong to reject it whatever she offers or whomever she imployeth Another scruple too I have which is whether her friend over the dyke will be true to her or no for if so as you well observe Orange Trees will not thrive in our soil farewell till I see you March 24th 1674 / 5. Coleman to Monsieur Le Chese 29th Sept. 75. SInce Father St. Germain has been so kind to me as to recommend me to your Reverence Lect. pro Rege so advantageously as to Encourage you to accept of my Correspondence I will own to him that he has done me a Favour without consulting me greater than I could have been capable of if he had advis'd with me because I should not then have had the Confidence to have permitted him to ask it in my behalf And I am so sensible of the Honour you are pleas'd to do me that though I cannot deserve it yet at least to show the sence I have of it I will deal as freely and openly with you at this first time as if I had had the Honour of your acquaintance all my life and shall make no Apology for so doing but only tell you that I know your Character perfectly well though I am not so happy as to know your Person and that I have an Opportunity of putting this Letter into the hands of Father St. Germain's Nephew for whose Integrity and Prudence he has undertaken without any sort of hazard In order then Sir to the plainness which I profess I will tell you what has formerly pass'd between your Reverend Predecessor Father Ferrier and my self about Three years ago when the King my Master sent a Troop of his Horse Guards into his most Christian Majestie 's Service under the Command of my Lord Duras he sent with it an Officer call'd Sir William Throckmorton with whom I had a particular intimacy and who had then very newly embrac'd the Catholick Religion to him did I constantly write and by him address my self to Father Ferrier The first thing of great Importance which I presum'd to offer to him not to trouble you with lesser Matters or what pass'd here before and immediately after the fatal Revocation of the King's Declaration for Liberty of Conscience to which we owe all our late Miseries and Hazards was in July August and September 73. when I constantly inculcated the great danger Catholick Religion and his most Christian Majestie 's Interest would be in at our next Sessions of Parliament which was then to be in October following at which I plainly foresaw that the King my Master would be forc'd to something in prejudice of his Alliance with France which I saw so evidently and particularly that we should make Peace with Holland that I urg'd all the Arguments I could which to me were Demonstrations to convince your Court of that mischief and press'd what I could to persuade his Christian Majesty to use his utmost force to prevent that Sessions of our Parliament and propos'd Expedients how to do it but I was answer'd so often and so positively that his Christian Majesty was so well assur'd by his Ambas here our Ambas there the Lord Arlington and even the King himself that he had no such apprehension at all but was fully satisfied of the contrary and look'd upon what I offer'd as a very Zealous mistake that I was forc'd to give over arguing though not believing as I did but confidently appeal'd to