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
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
stage he will be so inabled that he will have all his Adversaries upon his Back which at present are Civil enough to him and do run a great Risque to be ruined with his all this dependeth on the King who pretendeth to be effectually the Duke's Friend but does nevertheless hold an intimate correspondence with his Enemies and too openly declareth himself sometimes which makes us mistrust that he is perswaded that his Interest is altogether opposite to ours but we must not despair God is mighty and the innocence of this poor miserable too evident to permit him to be abandoned of all the World. If by your means you can gain the Emperour and the Pope to the Duke for his Assistance or to contribute something for the accomodating of the differences between his Friends of Spain and France which cannot give him any Succor because of the infortunate War in which they are ingag'd you will merit much of God and of all the Friends of the poor Catholicks who are reduced almost to despair and are tormented every day by their Enemies and will be constrained to fall every day under the burthen of their miseries if they are not upheld by some means Their condition and that of the Duke are alike in many things but do differ in this that they have many Enemies which may every of them in particular be against the Catholick Cause for the Parliament whereas the Duke being onely engaged for the others shall not be obliged to do any thing at least that he shall not be condemned by the Parliament all the others being of the same nature so that none shall attacque him in the last before this first is determined because that if the Process comes to be determined in his favour our Laws give him a great advantage against them which shall have the boldness to trouble him thereupon This is all that I can say at present of the Affair of the Duke and of the Catholicks which I recommend to you with all my heart assuring you that since Christianism there hath not been any Affair neither more to be pitied or more worthy of all the Cares and Zeal of good People than this of which I now speak to you If you have the same Sentiment you will take a great part in the Affairs of our Friends and you will endeavour to apply all the most proper Remedies to make them succeed From the French King's Confessor to Mr. Coleman Paris September 15. 1674. SIR I AM very much obliged to you for the Letter you were pleased to write me concerning my Sickness Lec ' pro Rege It was long and troublesome and that which troubled me most during the long continuance of it was to find my self unable to take care of that Affair you gave me a memorial of with as much diligence as I could wish But being after all arrived here I resolved to send an Extract of the Memorial because I was not able to carry it my self which has been very lucky thanks be to God as you will see by the Letter I write to his Royal Highness Sir William Throgmorton goes express with it I pray acquaint his Highness that this Knight has managed this Affair with all the Zeal Fidelity and Prudence possible that his Highness may remember him upon occasion as a Person much addicted to him For Mr. Bernard that stayes here and whom you have recommended I pray be not further concerned for him The first occasion that offers he shall find the Esteem I have for his Zeal and Wisdom and for the recommendation of his good Friends I am in the mean while Sir Your most humble and most obedient Servant J. Ferrier From Mr. Coleman to the Pope's Internuncio Aug. 21. 74. YOU expect that the Duke should let you know what your Friends can do for his Service Lec ' pro Rege I told you the last Week my Opinion concerning the Estate of the Pope in case the Process of the Parliament be judged to his disadvantage And I have likewise told you what Opinion all the World hath as to that matter that is to say that it was absolutely lost But for my part not being of so timorous a nature as others I do not believe so but am of opinion that it is not impossible to overcome our Adversaries in spight of all the confidence they have of Success But the Victory which I hope for is to be able to prevent the Business coming before the Parliament that it be not begun at all rather than to gain the point if it shall be brought upon the stage For the Fury of the Persecutors is such that they will make use of all means imaginable as well Evil as Just to gain their point And I have too much reason to suspect the Integrity of our Judges in that Affair for I plainly perceive they naturally incline to the side of our Adversaries And I dare put no confidence in the Assistance of the King after so many Demonstrations as he hath given us of his weakness as to that matter And it is from these three Causes that is to say the Fierceness of our Adversaries the Injustice of our Judges and the Weakness of the King that we are to expect surtable Effects So that we shall have very little hopes of success having so many Difficulties to contend with in case the Parliament should meet Wherefore it will be necessary to provide some Support among his Friends of your Acquaintance if his Affairs should be too far pusht to suffer him to be in quiet here All those who have had any Correspondency with him are at present in great suspence and in pain to know what Success the Business above-mentioned is like to have If the Duke succeeds in what he pretends to they will be more fix'd to him than ever if he fails all his Creditors fall upon him in a moment and he and his Catholick Associates will be absolutely ruin'd for it is he alone upon whom all the rest do intirely depend So that it is for him and his Affairs that all our Friends ought to employ their Care to keep him up that he may subsist We have none with us that regard the Merit but the Success of things So that if the Duke can happily disingage himself of those Difficulties wherewith he is now incumbred all the World will esteem him an able man and all People will intrust him in their Affairs more willingly than they have done formerly And the King himself who hath more influence on the East India Company than all the rest will not onely re-establish him in the Employment he had before but will put the Management of all his Trade into his hands By which means he will have opportunity to enrich himself and all his Catholick Associates with all their Correspondents So that 't is of great consequence that those who owe him the Sums of the Emperour and the Pope assist the Duke with a little
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
them at Hampton-Court about five or six Weeks ago and for the future they will meet regularly as heretofore The third Son of the Dutchess of Cleaveland known hitherto by the name of my Lord George Fitz Roy hath been lately made Earl of Northumberland Viscount of Falmouth and Baron of Pomfret Don Carlos another of the King 's Natural Sons will be created Earl of Plymouth but his Letters Patenes are not yet figned An Irish man named Cussack in a small Vessel of 13 men had the boldness the last Week to take a Scotch Ship in our River near Sheerness and got off But the Yacht called the Merlin pursuing the said Cussack and took him so that he and his thirteen men are to be treated as Pirates Saturday last Sir Jonathan Atkins Governour of Barbadoes sailed from Portsmouth to take possession of his Charge His Majesty will go to New Market about the end of this Month to divert himself with Hunting Horse races and the other divertisements of the Place and Season Yesterday the Earl of Arlington took possession of his Charge of Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold his Majesty having delivered him the Staff and this day he hath complemented their Royal Highnesses and hath received the Visits and Congratulations of all his Relations and Grandees of the Court. Sir Joseph Williamson succeeds him in the Charge of Secretary of State for which he hath taken the ordinary Oath and hath this day taken his place in Council As for the Process of your Friend for which I was in great apprehension when I writ to you on the one and twentieth of the last Month it is at present as I hope in a better condition than formerly and although his Adversaries prosecute him with as much vigour and more confidence than ever nevertheless I do not doubt but the Lawyers of Mr. will find out some means to avert the danger for the present in deferring it at least for some Months and then it 's to be hoped that his Enemies will begin to hear reason and that those who had a Design to make use of this ill Conjuncture to satisfie their Malice under the specious pretext of obtaining their pretended Debts and securing their Trade will see perhaps that it is not so easie to maintain a Cheat and ruine by their tricks honest People supported by Justice and Innocence as they imagined after having got that point Your Friends the Emperour and the Pope will have a fair occasion of giving marks of their Friendship to Mr. by joyning their Credit and Interest to his to make the great Design which he hath so long meditated succeed to undermine the Intrigues of that Company of Merchants who trade for the Parliament and the Religion and to Establish that of the associated Catholicks in every place which may be done without any great trouble if the Emperour and the Pope will grant him their assistance and that Spain will not too obstinately oppose him as he hath hitherto done to his own prejudice of which I freely told you my Opinion in my last of the Third Instant A little time will now let us see the Trade of all Affairs of this nature more clearly than at present In the mean time you see the Confidence and Liberty I use with you c. From Mr. Coleman to the Internuncio Octob. 23. 1674. YOU agree with me Lec ' pro Rege that Money is the onely means of bringing the King into the Duke's Interest and of difingaging him from the Parliament and you must also agree with me that nothing can more promote the Interest of the Catholiek Party which is the principal Object of the Duke's Care and Affection and of the Hatred of the Parliament and which must hope or fear according as the one or the other of them increase in Power Now the Power would be unalterably established in the Duke if the King were resolved to give him his Assistance in one or two things so that if Money can prevail with him to act in the Duke's favour and to abandon the Parliament the Catholicks will find themselves at great ease about it And if that be the only way to gain the King that without him the Duke will be in great danger of being ruin'd and all the Catholicks with him it imports much to the Duke's Friends and to the Catholicks that nothing be omitted for the securing to them assistance of Mony as above mentioned But how shall one get it There 's the difficulty For my part I do not doubt notwithstanding the Discourse which we had together when I had the honour to speak with you upon this Subject and when we proceeded upon other Propositions than now we do but that the Pope may do it effectually if he think fit to employ his whole Power because Money which is intirely at his command is more than sufficient to make the Pretensions of the Duke and the Catholicks succeed besides that the Pope hath many other means to attain the favour of Money But before it be endeavoured to perswade the Pope to ingage himself in things of this nature he must first be made to understand that the assistance which he shall give the Duke shall be hindred from becoming ineffectual to the Catholicks either by the lightness of the King or by any other means and that it shall be so ordered as to produce infallibly or at least very probably the Effects which we wish for from it As for the first nothing in the World is more certain than that the King has a good inclination towards the Duke and the Catholicks and would joyn himself willingly and inseparably to their Interests if he did not apprehend some danger from such a Union which however he would not have any cause to fear if he found their Interest and consequently their Power so far advanced above that of their Adversaries that they should neither have the Power nor the Boldness to contest any thing with them or with him upon any matter that concerned them which he could see in a very little time if we could perswade him to treat roundly with Sir Will. Throckmorton and to do two or three things besides which would necessarily follow the first and which he could not easily avoid doing and I am certain Mony could not fail of perswading him to it for there is nothing it cannot make him do though it were as much to his prejudice as this we endeavour to perswade him to will be to his Advantage To convince you that the Duke and his Friends would have so much the Advantage in their Trade over their Competitors in case they might be assisted by Money that there would be nothing for the King to apprehend either of immediate loss or Collateral Damage in present or to come it will be enough that you consider the infinite augmentation of Credit which they have already gain'd by the bare suspending of their Suit for a little time onely for
if that has been capable of advancing their Interest to such a degree consider I beseech you how one definitive Sentence in their savour must needs establish both their Reputation and real Power It would do it to that degree that I dare say not one man of those who now balance betwixt them and their Adversaries or that seem to be even of their Enemies Parry believing the Advantage of the Suit on their side would dare to cross or contradict them in any matter whatsoever in case that this point were absolutely determined in their favour and even those who have most obstinately opposed their Interests would then be as earnest to serve them and to joyn with them so that their Adversaries would be wholly ruin'd and all the Business be managed intirely by the Duke and his Friends without any opposition in such sort that it will not be in the King's Power to establish another Company although he should be so capricious as to desire it which he will never do because he is naturally inclin'd to favour those when he may do it without hazard and he has nothing to apprehend upon this occasion since he will find his Interest better established by this means and with more security and quiet than ever it has been hitherto For my part that which I have said seems so evident to me that nothing less than a Miracle can give me greater assurance that the King will never oppose the Designs of the Duke and his Friends provided he has once done in their favour what they desire of him because he will find his Account in it very advantagiously as he will quickly perceive when he has made tryal of the Success although he does not yet see it and therefore it is necessary we should be assisted with Money to open the Eyes of the King or to carry him blindly to his own Advantage which Mony will easily do having such an absolute Power over him that he cannot resist it in any thing and besides that the thing which we ask is so reasonable so honourable and so much for his Interest which he will see clearly when he comes to consider his own Affairs as he ought and so agreeable to his Inclination that we want nothing but the assistance of a Sum of Mony that may have influence enough upon him to make him reflect upon what concerns him most particularly to obtain all that we can desire of him As for the Process we have no great reason to apprehend the success of it if money may there give it's honourable Testimony for we are not only assured of Justice from those Judges who are to determine it but even of as much Favour as they can reasonably shew us for seeing they have been so kind as to defer the Sentence for so many Months in favour of the Duke and his Friends that they might have occasion to strengthen their party when the ordinary Rule and Method of the Law oblidged them to proceed forthwith to a determination of the Dispute which the adverse Party pressed with all their power knowing well that the Duke and his Friends were not at all prepar'd to support their Right as was requisite The Judges I say being so favourable to them as to give them time for the clearing of some points which might change the Appearance of the Cause so that instead of loosing it as they would certainly have done without this Explanation they cannot now fail of Success in it according to the strictest Rule of Justice nor need they fear any Oppression of Injustice after such proofs of Kindness so that the Duke and his Friends assisted by the Testimony of Money which may give so much evidence to this Affair cannot fail of a Decision in their Favour by the aforesaid Judges Moreover I perswade my self the Pope will never want Testimonies on the Duke's part either of his Will or Power to go through what he undertakes if the King does not hinder him for as to the former he has given such proofs of his Integrity and Resolution to continue it unalterably in the greatest Extremities that no body can be so unjust as to suspect him capable of any unworthy Action And as to his Power there are so many Instances to be given in other Persons who have been less concern'd and less able than himself and yet have been so successful in the same Attempts that there is no reason in this Case to doubt of it Remember I beseech you what happened at in the year and compare the persons Enterprizes and all other Circumstances of those times with these and then tell me if you please why one may not expect as good an effect now as then but if Mony alone be able to produce Effects of this kind in the present Conjuncture of Affairs you will doubtless agree with me that it is requisite to employ it on this Occasion if ever we pretend to use it on any And indeed there is no Appearance that so much Labour and Care have been used for so long time to encrease the Power of the Church to render it unuseful for ever As to the Journey of Mr. Gabriel the Internuncio seeing he is fond of it I am content because he will have better opportunity of promoting the Duke's Interest with the Pope and Emperour at Rome than elsewhere for my part I should not correspond with his Successor without Monsieur Gabriel's Express Order or some of his Friends because I may continue the Negotiation of our Affair immediately with him at Rome as well as by any other way which would not advance but rather retard the Business I should think my self very happy if I might see him in his passage to but if that may not be I shall be glad to get leave of my Master to meet him at to kiss his hands and to give him the greatest assurances of my being intirely his as I profess to be SIR As to what you say of the Pope's Obligations to assist other Friends who are under greater Pressures I answer That perhaps the Affairs of the King of France may be more pressing than theirs and also than those of the Duke for the Duke may possibly be able to overcome all his Difficulties without any assistance from abroad though not without much trouble and hazard but I should think the best and honest way of assisting the King of France effectually would be for the Pope to joyn with the Duke and to endeavour with their Credit with Spain and other Catholick Princes ro unite themselves in a Company and to admit the King of France into it to the end that being joyned in the same Company they might have but one common Interest and they would be able to Govern the whole Traffick at their Pleasure and the Protestants and all other Nations would be obliged to give them what they would ask for all they should expect and to sell them their Merchandizes at their own price because there
absolutely to Ruine the Catholick Religion and to irritate the Enemies of France Neither does he doubt but that it will also prove fatal to the Duke for which he absolutely blames the Jesuits and Mr. Coleman Who are now more than ever in the greatest Band of Aversion to the Protestants and likewise to one part of the Catholicks and Ministers of State for they are persuaded says he that those who are of the Condition of the King of France's Confessor and of the Dukes do Act most impudently in that they are intangled betwixt the King and the Catholicks because they would introduce an Authority without Limits and pushes Mr. Coleman to make such strange Steps which must precipitate them into Destruction and above all they will attribute this to France So that Monsieur De Rouvigny is mightily ill satisfied with this Proceeding for it is most certain that the Persecution will be very Terrible against the Duke and the Catholicks and all the Jesuits and above all against France Translated by the Lord Ancram The following Letters were Written by Father Sheldon as he is commonly called Directed all at least except One to Mr. Coleman May 22th 1675. YOu will please Sir with these to receive my Thanks for Two of yours both which came to my hands since the departure of the last Ordinary The Proceedings of the Parliament are sufficiently suspected by the King of France And it were to be wish'd that Holland and the Confederates had not so much cause to flatter themselves that the Parliament may at last be able to effect any thing of that kind which is pretended I suppose Monsieur Rouvigny is not wanting on this Occasion to secure the Interest of the King of France I expect with impatience the Issue of the Ten days which are to produce something that you intend me for a Regallo I hope It will prove a Dissolution for a Prorogation would be of no Use Lord Treasurer I fear is not a Friend to the Catholicks and yet I am told That he has lately found the Endeavours of the Duke to have been of great use to him I shall not long trouble you with those Affairs her R. H. I hope will allow me to Address to her by your mediation and then I am sure the tender of my most humble Duty will be presented to her with Advantage June the 1st I Cannot omit to give you this Trouble to let you know that you have fully satisfied me as concerning the Ten days and I hope your next will add the certainty of it what the Issue may be of Dissolution you may possibly conjecture but I fear a Prorogation would leave all things in the same posture in reference to Religion and then it must needs go ill with the Catholicks but I hope the Duke will not be wanting to improve this occasion and Duke of Lauderdale will sure be of the same Opinion I will not answer for Lord Treasurer I sent you one lately for the Dutchess I cannot tell whether it has come to your hands I shall not fail to serve your Friends at Antwerp and possibly I may go shortly into those Parts and by the way find an opportunity to get an Answer to their Request I should be heartily glad of any occasion to serve you and to acknowledge your Kindness towards me which I esteem in a particular manner being bound upon that account to be always your most Obedient Servant There was not any Key found whereby the first and great part of the following Letter could be decypher'd but towards the end is written some ordinary Matter without Cypher It does not certainly appear whether this were written to Mr. Coleman or some other Person Paris June the 8th THe late Promotion of Cardinals does not please every where The Duke D'Estre Ambassador at Rome being admitted to a private Audience his Holiness having answered him to the point concerning the Dispute betwixt the Ambassadors and the Cardinal Patron was going to ring his Bell but the Ambassador hindred him and began to speak of the Promotion of Cardinals challenging the Pope to have promised him that the Bishop of Marseilles should be promoted to which his Holiness reply'd That he had never engaged his Promise to do it and that the Importunity of the Ambassadors did not at all advance those Pretensions and thereupon rung his Bell and when the Attendants came in the Ambassador said he had not finished his Audience and staid in the Chambre until the Company was about to retire and then advanc'd towards the Pope's Chair and began to press for further Satisfaction in that concern of the Ambassadors upon which the Pope rising up the Ambassador with both hands press'd him down to his Chair and the Pope thereupon told him he was Excommunicated This passage is thus recounted by the chief Officer of the Nuntio here who is now made Cardinal and has Orders from the Pope to complain of so rude a Proceeding Sir John Arundell sets forward on Tuesday by whom I shall write to several of my Friends I am yours from my whole Heart and must desire you to get me an Answer from Sir George Wakeman Paris the 25th of June Lect ' pro Rege THese are only to beg Sir your Excuse for not answering at this time the Particulars of your last Pacquet which I received and have perform'd your Commands in all respects I hope I shall hear often from you and that you will give me some Commissions to Monsieur Pompone when I shall be at a convenient distance to perform them I approve of all that you were pleas'd to write and am confident you hit the Design and hope you will give your Instructions in order to procure that it may be timely prevented The Duke will take I hope other Measures and then you will have some need of the King of France who methinks is not secure unless he advance what you propose Consult with your Friends and advise how France may be Instrumental towards it Limbourg is taken The Prince of Orange after his great Bravour Retreated to the other side of the River upon the appearance of 15000 Horse of the French. Monsieur Turenne has Defeated Three Regiments of the Enemy and secur'd the Passage of the Bridge of Strasbourg I shall attend with impatience to receive some Commands from you Paris June the 29th 75. I Know not Sir by what mistake yours of the 3 d came Yesterday to my hands with your last of the 14 th Though I am at a great distance from Pompone yet if you think it convenient I shall find means to inform him of what you shall Judge fit to impart In your last I had no particulars and yet I have learn't from others that Lord Shaftsbury had not so cold a Reception as you intimate Was not the Duke interessed in it and if so Must it not prove of Consequence to the Catholicks and drive at the same design against the Protestants as is
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
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
If you cannot reade mine better than I do yours which is soil'd one half your Paper blots so I do not wonder that you understand not what I would have you get Ruvigny to write I would have nothing more than what he hath done He hath done his part well nor would I have him say any thing about the Bishop of Dublin tho he is the greatest Knave alive for fear of mistakes and I know you cannot explain your self clearly to Ruvigny in that point The King's Factor is much discontented against Pompone Louvoy and in fine all the rest He gave me yesterday great signs of it and pretty touches too against Duke Lauderdale The French King hath cleared the business again with Sueden and they are resolved again to act you know I suppose what rub in the way They ofter to furnish them with 24000 Men in the Spring provided they will pay them three months now which I think is almost a Bargain How this may work as to some other Affairs you know of I cannot tell but I think however this should be no hindrance Adieu I am almost tired to death Pray get better Paper and be more careful for I cannot reade half your Letter Superscribed To Mris Coleman Transcribed Novemb. 8 1678. Ed. Dering February the 13th I Told you last Post how Throckmorton had disposed Pompone to speak to the French King and how they were agreed that Throckmorton should come again to know the French Kings Answer which yesterday he did and Pompone told him that the French King had ordered him to write to Ruvigny effectually on this concern that was That Ruvigny should joyn _____ that he should take Measures and Directions from the Duke that he should consult with him about the means to prevent the Parliament and get the Parliament Dissolved and that all things that were possible to be done on the French Kings side to Dissolve the Parliament should be done Throckmorton told him this would do very well that he was resolved to keep his word for that he would not be inquisitive to know the other particulars which he hoped however there were or else they did nothing that he was extreamly glad it was put into Ruvigny his hand for that he believed him a good man and an able man that his late experience too had taught him that he would the better know how to behave himself among so many Knaves that he had now only two things to recommend to him strongly to inculcate unto Ruvigny that is Secresie and Promptness for that Throckmorton did not know whether all that he had said and which was however as much as could be said to it had evinc'd him that the thing did press as much as it did but he did assure him that if either of these were wanting or if he continued beating the bush the business would be lost that for Throckmortons part he had no other design but the common good c. he took him and embraced him and told him the French King was very sensible of that and gave all the _____ imaginable to what he said and therefore begun now and would do all that was possible in his power and as the urgency of the Affairs required This is all Throckmorton for his life could do in this business and perhaps as much too as any other could have done in his circumstances For I am confident he omitted nothing that could press him as you may see by his Papers when the young Gentlewoman comes what the success of this may be God _____ and is certain that Louvy who hath hitherto been against him and for War is now so much turned again hearing some disgrace by him that it is believed he will carry the French King to imbrace Peace presently upon any terms Now if this were so and Louvy a wise man it were the fairest way for us in all the world for nothing it is certain would do us more kindness than to see the Parliament Dissolved But if Louvy be a Fool and a Beast _____ who can assure us of their patience for this way and not call'd to his passion of fear and let any underhand little Engineer write to you on the whole or in part this is all I apprehend for unless this be an underhand way of his I am confident there is nothing _____ and then we are well enough for let the French King beat about as he pleaseth now he shall be forced at last to come to the Duke and his terms too and therefore I am clearly with all submission in my poor judgment for this That if the French King does not help vigorously to gain the Parliament Dissolved that then the Duke should not be against the Parliaments coming for I think it is not morally probable that the Duke will be better armed against the Parliament three or four Months hence than he is now but on the contrary six Months hence in the first place the Parliament will be more incensed and violent against him than now for it is certain they all take it for granted that he does his possible for the Parliaments Dissolution It 's a prejudice to which the longer he is about and cannot comply it in his heart the more it will render the Parliament audacious _____ mean and despised by him for it is clear that whilst the Duke is at shall he he looses ground _____ Peace yet and the French King will not have made terms of Peace for all his dodging Now when the Parliament shall begin to play his prank the French King shall without doubt assist the Duke with all he can in the world against the Parliament But who will ensure that the French King and Peace will not be friends eight or nine Months hence and if so I am sure the French King says then Fight Dog fight Bear what can the Duke clear himself from the Parliament let him but shew as much Resolution in his Mind as he has often done Valour in his Person and not be startled or led away by Knaves or by Mens fearful Councels as he has too many about him of the one and other sorts who mind themselves more than his service and what can hurt him I wish I had ten thousand Lives and I would stake them all for him onely that a _____ Throckmorton and Coleman may go to pot and it may not do so well for the Catholicks and his _____ at first but for the Gods will be done and for the other really I cannot well pity some of them they having been so base and mean in his concern and their own as they have been Let them smart it will turn their good I think if the Duke thought well of it if Coleman speak to Rouvigny upon this now and that he urged him to the utmost in it about 300000 l. it would not be amiss and then Coleman will finde what is not for Throckmorton has done what he could here except he has new matter
their first meeting must needs assist his Majesty so far as to inable him to acknowledge his Obligations both to his most Christian Majesty and to all the World. Now although there is nothing in the World more true or plainer than this some nevertheless carried on either by their particular Interest or by their meer Malice and the hatred they have conceived against those they have so far offended as to despair of their Pardon are resolved rather to sacrifice the Honour of their King and his Kingdome than to shew him the danger he is running into and the means to avoid it lest they themselves should fall into the hands of those that have long taken notice of their Baseness However his Royal Highness will endeavour by his Care and good Offices to entertain a very good understanding with the King his Brother as he hath alwayes done and lately with so much success that methinks he endears himself more and more every day For Monsieur Rouvigny his Highness hath nothing to say against him As he seems to understand the Interest of his Master and to follow it with great Observancy he cannot by consequence thwart Ours when we shall have any thing material to ask or to propose to you you shall know it and we will trust to the Promises of your help I desire you from my Master to deal with us with the same freedom and confidence and be assured that notwithstanding all the Rogueries and Follies of some People here and there you will find us always just and Religiously faithful From Mr. Coleman to the French King's Confessor without Date but noted by him to have been written in Answer to a Letter of 25 Septemb. 1674. HIS Royal Highness has received the Letter that you sent him by Sir William Throckmorton Lect. pro Rege which he has answered to you himself and besides he hath commanded me to testifie to you the great esteem he hath for the Friendship of his most Christian Majesty and for yours and to assure you that he will not fail to cultivate it with all his power and that preferring the sincere Faith of a Christian and the word of a Man of Honour before all Subtilties and even all the advantages of the World he gives you them both as a Pledge of the ardent desire he has to continue alwayes a strict Alliance with his most Christian Majesty and to entertain also an intimate Correspondence with you For the first point of your Letter his Royal Highness has commanded me to tell you that he will govern him self according to your Advice and treat of nothing concerning the Catholick Religion with Monsieur Rouvigny nor with any other Person than your self but that he will communicate to you all things he shall find necessary for the good of the Catholicks and shall be very well pleased to receive Advices from you thereupon For the rest his Royal Highness does a little wonder that he hears nothing from Monsieur Rouvigny touching the second point of your Letter since you have written so positively that he had order to confirm and procure execution of what his most Christian Majesty proposed to him the second of June last by your Mediation and you by that of Sir William Throckmorton's He His R. H. has omitted till this time to acquaint you with the small success that he has had as expecting daily that M. Rouvigny would impart to him the Commission of which you made mention to him in your Letter but having heard nothing yet of that matter and being obliged to go out of Town for 15 dayes or three Weeks he thinks fit to send you back Sir William Throckmorton to acquaint you with the progress of this Business and to pray you to inform your self of what has been able to hinder it His most Christian Majesty made a very generous offer to his Royal Highness of the assistance of his Purse to inable him to defend them both from the Evils that threatned them and by good luck his Royal Highness has labour'd with so much diligence and success that the Dangers which they apprehended are a little put off but one thing more is necessary for the perfect securing their Affairs and without making one step more all that he has already done will signifie nothing For that the Assistance of his most Christian Majesty is no less necessary at present than heretofore to subdue intirely those who being exasperated against his most Christian Majesty as much as against his Royal Highness and are angry with his Royal Highness onely because he is so unalterably addicted to the Interest of his most Christian Majesty will exercise their Malice and their Rage with more brutality than ever if they find occasion for it hereafter If you can therefore by your Credit obtain from his most Christian Majesty the accomplishment of the offer of his Purse for raising the Reputation of his Royal Highness in the opinion of his Britannick Majesty and for putting him in condition to resist the sharpest Batteries of the Adversaries of his most Christian Majesty and Royal Highness to wit the possibility they pretend to get Money from the Parliament and the impossibility of having any elsewhere by which they often keep the mind of his Britannick Majesty in suspence and wherein they place the hope they have to conquer him at last There will nothing more remain to be feared by his Most Christian Majesty or his Royal Highness but his Royal Highness will be able to dissolve the Parliament with ease and afterwards in recompence of the said Assistance will perform on his part all that his most Christian Majesty shall ask of him and will proceed with Sincerity upon the Word of a Prince that no man can reproach him with the violation of for the Interest of his most Christian Majesty A Letter from Mr. Coleman to the Internuncio July 24. 1674. THE Affairs of the Duke are at this time as formerly in a very uncertain condition He hath many Enemies and also some Friends amongst whom he particularly esteemeth you having a great Confidence in your Amity of which he hopeth to find the good Effects when he shall have occasion to demand your Assistance but truly in the present Conjuncture there is nothing more than to make you understand the Estate in which he is at present and the state of the Catholicks and to let you consider what your Friends can do for the Comfort of the one and the other the first is now very well because of the putting off the Parliament and of the uncertainty whether that Party should take occasion to persecute him upon this Affair or not if he can deliver himself from this difficulty he will re-establish himself better than ever and shall be capable not onely to manage his proper Affairs as before but also to testifie his Acknowledgments to those who have been favourable to him in his misfortune but if this Affair is brought again upon the
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
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
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
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
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-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
that he cannot at present visit and confer with me as he doth mightily desire c. And I have as often sent the like Compliments to him and finally the other night at a great Assembly at the Queen of Sweden who often in publick speaks mighty well of England and our Nation her Majesty spoke to me ex abrupto in French although she used always before in Italian and presently called on the Cardinal d'Estré who was there with fifteen Cardinals more to hear how well I spoke French as she said better than herself and he approaching to her Majesty and me who were alone talking could not well but speak to us both which when he did to me I answered accordingly and presently the Queen left us alone so that I then began to talk to him of the business you know of which he said much and I answered as much hoping that after the fury will be past these Preliminaries may conduce to a good effect as is wished by You know who Pray acquaint your Master and Mr. Hayes and Mr. Vincent also Sir THe Bearer hereof being heretofore known to you and having rolation to me will not need many long Lines to desire you to believe him in what he can much better inform you than my Letters at this distance and if betwixt this and September you have any thing more particular to inform him or to acquaint me by him he will about that time be returning hither and in whatsoever may concern your Master or Mistress he will be most faithful and active as likewise for your self whilst I need not reassure you of the same on my part being Yours as you know C. of Norfolke Rome March 1. 76. Sir TIme being extraordinary short with me Lect. pro Rege I cannot often answer yours but ordered Mr Leybourn my Auditor to supply Now to your four last unto the first I understand the Duke had mine and was pleased to say he would answer however I wrote again unto him by Mr. Conne who I sent hence some days past and I do now again this Post to him and the Dutchess whose Answer to mine which you sent me I acknowledge and desire their Pictures I send them as usually to the Portugal Ambassador but if you would have them sent to you advise me that I may do accordingly What you write of the Arch-Bishop of Dublin his apparent Victory at Rome against his Adversary is quire the contrary for the Arch-Bishop of Dublin is not in esteem here for that nor his other practises there which are very ill relished neither did Cardinal Norfolk ever write or trouble the Duke with those affairs which were more out of Faction than otherwise and Cardinal Norfolk took Order long since That no Proceeding should be in it before his Arrival that all might be well Examined and those unto whom it was committed do much approve of the Arch-Bishops Adversaries Books I wonder Mr. Sheldon maketh so much Noise in that affair also having had no such Commission to trouble himself or others in it and if as you say he came thither chiefly about that business he might more quietly return as wise and to as much purpose as he came thus much in short to your two first and two last which contain the same And let the Duke be assured Cardinal Norfolk will serve him and all the Catholicks whether they will or no although the Arch-Bishop of Dublin and his Friends are enough to enflame all if their Malice were not well known at Rome and by Cardinal Altieri Fra. Barberin and many others But I dare answer Cardinal Norfolk is of no Faction but against the Factious who are in great number but cannot prevail in iniquitatibus suis The Secretary of the Dutchesses Cypher is not large enough besides hath not the Alphabetical Letters necessary to make words and I find some numbers in his Letters which are not in the Cypher pray desire him to amplify it accordingly The Arch-Bishop of Dublin wrote hither to Cardinal Altieri a very foolish ridiculous inalieious Letter against Cardinal Fra. Barberin as he hath often other such like and worse ones to others of manifest falsities which I my self have seen and have actually written by his own hand besides his forging false Letters is a constant old Custom of his I will say no more at present lest I should say too much but this I dare say that if the Duke make use of him or shew him his Favour he will much disgrace himself and his Cause and put both English and Irish Catholicks in great Division which will be the easiest way for the Protestants to destroy them and every one wonders how Mr. Sheldon should be of late so great a Protector and Friend of the Arch-Bishop of Dublin when to my knowledge and many others he was quite the contrary as he told me not long before the Arch-Bishop pretending to Mr. Sheldons place about the Dutchess but it appeareth that Mr. Sheldon and his Confederates by their late violent bending for the Arch-Bishop and his ways against the other is more out of Faction than Zeal However let not the Duke be troubled Cardinal Norfolk will take care all be done according to Justice let it be for whom it will Fiat Justâ—…a pereat Mundus But now I must tell you I cannot but be sorry to understand by Witnesses which I can produce that some chief of Mr. Sheldons Confederates have informed that the Dukes affection is so much and only for those and the Confederates of the French Kings Confessor That he absolutely declared it and said he would be served by them only which if so Vincent de Torre and Cardinal Norfolks Confederates may shut up their Shop and Traffique elsewhere and I should be glad to know it to provide accordingly for although it is most clear and true what I said often in England That if Cardinal Norfolk had not sent Fa. White in Post haste from Rome where the Dutchess was then and that he and another of his Confederates had not stoutly resisted and conclusively argued against the Potent confrater of the French Kings Confessor with the Dutchess that that Dutchess and none else as th' other would have to put off the concluding of this Dutchess was fitting and to be had for the Duke the whole business which was then broken off would have been spoiled and broken off for ever But Cardinal Norfolk having notice from Paras at first of the breaking off of the other Treaty a particular Friend of his there thought first of that Dutchess which God be praised is and spoke to Lord Peterb of it c. of all which the said Lord Peterb can tell you and at the same time Cardinal Norfolk wrote to several at Rome about it and posted the above-named Fa. White with full Instructions to employ all his little Wits and those of his Confederates whose House joyneth to that of the Dutchess to act all possible as they did
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