be had from Italy and the chief Materials from Spain France and other Forren Countries there is need â—…f an Agent abroad for this use and better then I have offered their service in this kind so that I believe I shall have Employment in all these Countreys before I return Had I continued still Steward of the Glasse-house in Broadstreet where Captain Francis Bacon hath succeeded me I should in a short time have melted away to nothing amongst those hot Venetians finding my self too green for such a Charge therefore it hath pleased God to dispose of me now to a Condition more sutable to my yeers and that will I hope prove more advantagious to my future Fortunes In this my Peregrination if I happen by some accident to be disappointed of that allowance I am to subsist by I must make my addresse to you for I have no other Rendevous to flee unto but it shall not be unlesse in case of great indigence Touching the News of the Time Sir George Villiers the new Favorit tapers up apace and grows strong at Court His Predecessor the Earl of Somerset hath got a Lease of ninety years for his life and so hath his articulate Lady called so for articling against the frigidity and impotence of her former Lord. She was afraid that Coke the Lord chief Justice who had used extraordinary an and industry in discovering all the circumstances of the poisoning of Overbury would have made white Broth of them but that the Prerogative kept them from the Pot Yet the subservient instruments the lesser flyes could not break thorow but lay entangled in the Cobweb amongst others Mistris Turner the first Inventress of yellow-Starch was executed in a Cobweb Lawn Ruff of that color at Tyburn and with her I believe that yellow-Starch which so much disfigured our-Nation and rendered them so ridiculous anâ—… fantastic will receive its Funerall Sir Gervas Elwayes Lieutenanâ—… of the Tower was made a notable Example of Justice and Terrâ—… to all Officers of Trust for being accessory and that in a passiâ—… way only to the murder yet he was hanged on Tower-hill anâ—… the Caveat is very remarkable which he gave upon the Gallowâ—… That people should be very cautious how they make Vows 〈◊〉 heaven for the breach of them seldome passe without a Judgement whereof he was a most ruthfull Example for being in thâ—… Low-Countreys and much given to Gaming he once made a solemn Vow which he brake afterwards that if he played abovâ—… such a sum he might be hanged My Lord William of Pembrook diâ—… a most noble Act like himself for the King having given hiâ—… all Sir Gervas Elway's estate which came to above 1000 pound 〈◊〉 he freely bestowed it on the widow and her children The later end of this week I am to go a Ship-board and first 〈◊〉 the Low-Countreys I humbly pray your Blessing may accompany me in these my Travels by Land and Sea with a conâ—…uance of your prayers which will be as so many good Gales to â—…ow me to safe Port for I have been taught That the Parents Beâ—…udictions contribute very much and have a kind of prophetic vertue â—…o make the childe prosperous In this opinion I shall ever rest Broad-street in London this 1. of March 1618. Your dutifull Son J. H. III. To Dr. Francis Mansell since Principall of Jesus Colledge in Oxford SIR BEing to take leave of England and to lanch out into the world abroad to Breath forren air a while I thought it very â—…andsom and an act well becoming me to take my leave also of â—…ou and of my dearly honoured Mother Oxford Otherwise both â—…f you might have just grounds to exhibite a Bill of Complaint or rather a Protest against me and cry me up you for a forgetfull friend she for an ingratefull Son if not some spurious Issue To â—…revent this I salute you both together you with the best of my â—…ost candid affections her with my most dutifull observance â—…nd thankfulnesse for the milk she pleased to give me in that Exuberance had I taken it in that measure she offered it me while â—… slept in her lap yet that little I have sucked I carry with me â—…ow abroad and hope that this cours of life will help to concoct 〈◊〉 to a greater advantage having opportunity by the nature of â—…y employment to study men as well as Books The small time I â—…upervis'd the Glasse-house I got amongst those Venetians some â—…atterings of the Italian Toung which besides the little I have â—…ou know of School-languages is all the Preparatives I have made â—…or travell I am to go this week down to Gravesend and so â—…mbarque for Holland I have got a Warrant from the Lords of â—…he Councell to travell for three years any where Rome and S. Omer excepted I pray let me retain some room though never so little in your thoughts during the time of this our separation and let our souls meet sometimes by intercours of letters I promise you that yours shall receive the best entertainment I can make them for I love you dearly dearly well and value your friendship at a very high raâ—…e So with apprecation of as much happiness to you at home as I shall desire to accompany me abroad I rest ever Your friend to serve you J. H. London this 〈◊〉 of March 1618. IV. To Sir James Crofts Knight at S. Osith SIR I Could not shake hands with England without kissing your hands also and because in regard of your distance now from London I cannot do it in person I send this paper for my deputy The News that keeps greatest noise here now is the return of Sir Walter Raleigh from his myne of Gold in Guiana the South parts of America which at first was like to be such a hopeful boon Voyage but it seems that that golden myne is proved a meer Chymerâ—… an imaginary aiâ—…y myne and indeed his Majestie had never any other conceipt of it But what will not one in Captivity as Sir Walter was promise to regain his Freedom who would not promise not onely mynes but mountains of Gold for Liberty t is pity such a knowing well-weigh'd Knight had not had a better Fortune for the Destiny I mean that brave Ship which he built himself of that name that carried him thither is like to prove a fatall Destiny to him and to some of the rest of those gallant Adventurers which contributed for the setting forth of thirteen Ships more who were most of them his kinsmen and younger brothers being led into the said Expedition by a generall conceipt the world had of the wisedom of Sir Walter Raleigh and many of these are like to make Shipwrack of their estates by this Voyage Sir Walter landed at Plymouth whence he thought to make an escape and some say he hath tampered with his body by Phisick to make him look sickly that he may be the more pitied and permitted to lie in his own
a good while the interest of a Friend in me but you have me now in a streighter tie for I am your brother by your sate mariage which hath turnd friendship into an alliance you have in your arms one of my dearest sisters who I hope nay I know will make a good wife I heartily congratulate this mariage and pray that a blessing may descend upon it from that place where all mariages are made which is from Heaven the Fountain of all felicitie to this prayer I think it no prophaness to add the saying of the Lyric Poet Horace in whom I know you delight much and I send it you as a kind of Epithalamium and wish it may be verified in you both Foelices ter amplius Quos irrupta tenet copula nec malis Divulsus querimoniis Suprema citius solvet amor die Thus English'd That Couple's more than trebly blest Which nuptiall bonds do so combine That no distast can them untwine Till the last day send both to rest So dear brother I much rejoyce for this alliance and wish you may encrease and multiply to your hearts content May the 20 1622. Your affectionat brother J. H. XVII To my brother Doctor Howell from Brussels SIR I Had yours in Latin at Roterdam whence I corresponded with you in the same Language I heard though not from you since I came from Brussells that our sister Anne is lately maried to Mr Hugh Penry I am heartily glad of it and wish the rest of our fisters were so well bestowd for I know Mr Penry to be a Gentleman of a great deal of solid worth and integrity and one that will prove a great Husband and a good Oâ—…conomist Here is news that Mansfelâ—… hath receiv'd a foyl lately in Germany and that the Duke of Brunswick alias Bishop of Halverstadt hath lost one of his arms This maks them vapor here extremely and the last week I heard of a play the Jesuits of Antwerp made in derogation or rather derision of the proceedings of the Prince Palsgrave where amongst divers other passages they feignd a Post to com puffing upon the stage and being askd what news he answerd how the Palsgrave was like to have shortly a huge formidable Army for the King of Denmark was to send him a hundred thousand the Hollanders a hundred thousand and the King of great Britaine a hundred thousand but being asked thousands of what he replied the first would send 100000. red Herings the second 100000. Cheeses and the last 100000. Ambassadors alluding to Sir Richard Weston and Sir Edward Conway my Lord Carlile Sir Arthur Chichester and lastly the Lord Digby who have bin all imploy'd in quality of Ambassadors in lesse than two years since the beginning of these German broils touching the last having bin with the Emperor and the Duke of Bavaria and carried himself with such high wisdom in his negotiations with the one and stoutnes with the other and having preserv'd Count Mansfielâ—…s troups from disbanding by pawning his own argentry and Jewells he pass'd this way where they say the Archduke did esteem him more than any Ambassador that ever was in this Court and the report is yet very fresh of his high abilities Wee are to remove hence in coach towards Paris the next week where we intend to winter or hard by when you have opportunity to write to Wales I pray present my duty to my Father and my love to the rest I pray remember me also to all at the Hill and the Dale specially to that most vertuous Gentleman Sir Iohn Franklin So my dear brother I pray God continue and improve his blessings to us both and bring us again together with comfort Iune 10. 1622. Your brother J. H. XVIII To Dr. The Prichard at Worcester House SIR FRiendship is that great chain of human societie and intercours of letters is one of the chiefest links of that chain you know this as well as I therfore I pray let our friendship let our love that national ty of British love that vertuous ty of Academiâ—… love be still strengthned as heretofore and receive daily more and more vigor I am now in Paris and ther is weekly opportunity to receive and send and if you please to send you shall be sure to receive for I make it a kind of Religion to be punctuall in this kind of payment I am heartily glad to hear that you are becom a domestic member to that most noble Family of the Worcesters and I hold it to be a very good foundation for future preferment I wish you may be as happy in them as I know they will be happy in you Fâ—…ance is now barren of news only there was a shrewd brush lately twixt the young King and his Mother who having the Duke of Espernon and others for her Champions met him in open field about pont de Ce but she went away with the worst such was the rare dutifulnes of the King that he forgave her upon his knees and pardon'd all her complices And now ther is an universall Peace in this Countrey which t is thought will not last long for ther is a war intended against them of the reformd Religion for this King though he be slow in speech yet is he active in spirit and loves motion I am here camrade to a gallant young Gentleman my old acquaintance who is full of excellent parts which he hath acquir'd by a choice breeding the Baron his Father gave him both in the University and the Inns of Court so that for the time I envy no mans happines So with my hearty commends and 〈◊〉 â—…ndear'd love unto you I rest 〈◊〉 3. Aug. â—…622 Yours whiles Jam. Howell XIX To the honble Sir Tho. Savage after Lord Savage at his House upon Tower-Hill honble SIR THose many undeserved favors for which I stand oblig'd to your self and my noble Lady since the time I had the happines to com first under your roof and the command you pleas'd to lay upon me at my departure thence call upon me at this time to give you account how matters passe in France That which for the present affords most plenty of news is Rochell which the King threatneth to block up this Spring with an army by sea under the comand of the D. of Nevers and by a land army under his own conduct both sides prepare he to assault the Rochellers to defend The King declares that he proceeds not against them for their Religion which he is still contented to tolerat but for holding an Assembly against his Declarations They answer that their Assembly is grounded upon his Majesties royal Warrant given at the dissolution of the last Assembly at Lodun wher he solemnly gave his word to permit them to re-assemble when they would six months asâ—…er if the breaches of their liberty and grievances which they then propounded wer not redressed and they say this being unperform'd it stands not with the sacred Person of a
thus engendring and in solutis principiis in their liquid formes and not consolidated into hard bodies for then they have not that vertue they impart heat to the neighbouring Waters So then it may be concluded that this soyl about the Bath is a minerall vein of earth and the fermenting gentle temper of generative heat that goes to the production of the said Mineralls do impart and actually communicat this balneal vertue and medicinall heat to these Waters This subject of Minerall Waters would afford an Ocean of matter wer one to compile a solid discours of it And I pray excuse me that I have presum'd in so narrow a compas as a Letter to comprehend so much which is nothing I think in comparison of what you know already of this matter So I take my leave and humbly kiss your hands being allwayes From the Bath â—…3 Iuly 1638. Your most faithfull and ready Servitor J. H. XXXVI From Dublin to Sir Ed Savage Knight at Tower-Hill SIR I Am com safely to Dublin over an angry boysterous Sea whether 't was my voyage on Salt-water or change of Ayr being now under another clime which was the cause of it I know not but I am suddenly freed of the pain in my Arm when neither Bath nor Plasters and other remedies could do me good I deliver'd your Letter to Mr. Iames Dillon but nothing can be don in that busines till your brother Pain coms to Town I meet heer with divers of my Northern frends whom I knew at York Heer is a most splendid Court kept at the Castle and except that of the Vice-roy of Naples I have not seen the like in Christendom and in one point of Grandeza the Lord Deputy heer goes beyond him sor he can confer honours and dub Knights which that Vice-roy cannot or any other I know of Trafic encreaseth heer wonderfully with all kind of bravery and buildings I made an humble motion to my Lord that in regard businesses of all sorts did multiply here daily and that ther was but one Clerk of the Counsell Sir Paul Davis who was able to dispatch busines Sir Will. Usher his Collegue being very aged and bed-rid his Lordship would please to think of me My Lord gave me an answer full of good respects to succeed Sir William after his death No more now but with my most affectionat respects unto you I rest Dublin 3 May 1639. Your faithfull Servitor J. H. XXXVII To Dr. Vsher Lo Primat of Ireland MAy it please your Grace to accept of my most humble Acknowledments for those Noble favours I receiv'd at Droghedah and that you pleas'd to communicat unto me those rare Manuscripts in so many Languages and divers choice Authors in your Library Your learned Work De primordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum which you pleas'd to send me I have sent to England and so it shall be conveyd to Iesus College in Oxford as a gift from your Grace I hear that Cardinal Barberino one of the Popes Nephews is setting forth the works of Fastidius a British Bishop call'd De vita Christiana It was written 300 yeers after our Saviour and Holstenius hath the care of the Impression I was lately looking for a word in Sâ—…idas and I lighted upon a strange passage in the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That in the Reign of Iustinian the Emperour one Theodosius a Jew a man of great Authority liv'd in Ierusalem with whom a rich Goldsmith who was a Christian was in much favour and very familiar The Goldsmith in privat discours told him one day that be wondred â—…e being a man of such a great understanding did not turn Christian considering how he found all the Prophecies of the Law so evidently accomplish'd in our Saviour and our Saviours Prophecies accomplish'd since Theodosius answered That it did not stand with his security and continuance in Authority to turn Christian but he had a long time a good opinion of that Religion and he would discover a secret unto him which was not yet com to the knowledg of any Christian It was That when the Temple was founded in Ierusalem ther wer 22 Priests according to the number of the Hebrew letters to officiat in the Temple and when any was chosen his name with his fathers and mothers wer us'd to be registred in a fair Book In the time of Christ a Priest died and he was chosen in his place but when his name was to be entred his father Ioseph being dead his mother was sent for who being ask'd who was his father she answered that she never knew man but that she conceiv'd by an Anâ—… So his name was registred in these words IESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD AND OF THE VIRGIN MARY This Record at the destruction of the Temple was preserved and is to be seen in Tyberias to this day I humbly desire your Graces opinion heerof in your next They write to me from England of rare news in France which is that the Queen is delivered of a Daulphin the wonderfull'st thing of this kind that any Story can parallel for this is the three and twentieth yeer since she was married and hath continued childles all this while so that now Monsieurs cake is dough and I beleeve he will be more quiet heerafter So I rest Dublin 1 March 1639. Your Graces most devoted Servitor J. H. XXXVIII To my Lord Clifford from Edenburgh My Lord I Have seen now all the King of Great Britain's Dominions he is a good Traveller that hath seen all his Dominions I was born in Wales I have bin in all the four corners of England I have traveâ—…sed the Diameter of France more than once and now I am com thorow Ireland into this Kingdom of Scotland This Town of Edinburgh is one of the fairest streets that ever I saw exepting that of Palermo in Sicily it is about a mile long coming sloping down from the Castle call'd of old the Castle of Virgins and by Pliny Castrum alatum to Holy-Rood-House now the Royall Palace and these two begin and terminat the town I am com hither in a very convenient time for heer 's a Nationall Assembly and a Parlement my Lord Traquair being His Majesties Commissioner The Bishops are all gon to wâ—…ack and they have had but a sorry Funerall the very name is grown so contemptible that a black Dog if he have any white marks about him is call'd Bishop Our Lord of Canterbury is grown heer so odious that they call him commonly in the Pulpit The Priest of Baal and the son of Belial I 'll tell your Lordship of a passage which happened lately in my lodging which is a Tavern I had sent for a Shoo-maker to make me a pair of Boots and my Landlord who is a peâ—…t smart man brought up a chopin of Whitewine and for this particular ther are betteâ—… French-wines heer than in England and cheaper for they are but at a Groat a quart and it is a crime of a high
Commands before I go So I am Lond. 2 May 1640. Your most humble Servitor J. H. XLIV To my Lord Herbert of Cherbery from Paris My Lord I Send herewith Dodonas Grove couch'd in French and in in the newest French for though the main version be mine yet I got one of the Academie des beaux Esprits heer to run it over to correct and refine the language and reduce it to the most modern Dialect It took so heer that the new Academy of wits have given a public and far higher Elogium of it than it deserves I was brought to the Cardinall at Ruelle wher I was a good while with him in his privat Garden and it were a vanity in me to insert here what Propositions he made me Ther be som sycophants heer that idolize him and I blush to read what profane Hyperboles are Printed up and down of him I will instance in a few Cedite Richelio mortales cedite Divi Ille homines vincit vincit ille Deos. Then Et si nous faisons des ghirlandes C'est pour en couronner un Dieu Qui soubs le nom de Richelieu Resoit nos â—…oeus nos offrandes Then Richelii adventu Rupellae porta patescit Christo Infernales ut patuere fores Certainly he is a rare man and of a transcendent reach and they are rather miracles than exploits that he hath don though those miracles be of a sanguin Dy the colour of his habit steep'd in bloud which makes the Spaniard call him the gran Caga-fuego of Christendom Divers of the scientific all'st and most famous win here have spoken of your Lordship with admiration and of your great work De veritate and wer those excellent notions and theoricall precepts actually applyed to any particular Science it would be an infinit advantage to the Common-wealth of learning all the World over So I humbly kiss your hands and rest Paris April 1. 1641. Your Lordships most faithfull Servitor J. H. XLV To the Right honble M â— Elizabeth Altham now Lady Digby Madam THer be many sad hearts for the loss of my Lord Robert Digby but the greatest weight of sorrow falls upon your Ladiship Amongst other excellent vertues which the world admires you for I know your Ladiship to have that measure of high discretion that will check your passions I know also that your patience hath been often exercis'd and put to triall in this kind For besides the Baron your Father and Sir Iames you lost your Brother Master Richard Altham in the verdant'st time of his age a Gentleman of rare hopes and I beleeve this sunk deep into your heart you lost Sir Francis Astlâ—…y since a worthy vertuous Gentleman And now you have lost a noble Lord. We all owe nature a debt which is payable som time or other whensoever she demands it nor doth Dame Nature use to seal Indentures or pass over either Lease or Patent for a set term of yeers to any For my part I have seen so much of the world that if she offer'd me a lease I would give her but a small fine for 't specially now that the times are grown so naught that peeple are becom more than half mad But Madam as long as ther are men ther must be malignant humors ther must be vices and vicissitudes of things as long as the world wheels round ther must be tossings and tumblings distractions and troubles and bad times must be recempenc'd with better So I humbly kiss your Ladiships hands and rest Madam Your constant Servant J. H. York 1 of Aug. 1642. XLVI To the Honorable Sir P. M. in Dublin SIR I Am newly return'd from France and now that Sir Edw. Nicholas is made Secretary of State I am put in fair hopes or rather assurances to suceed him in the Clerkship of the Counsell The Duke de la Valette is lately fled hither for sanctuary having had ill luck in Fonta-rabia they say his Proces was made and that he was executed in Effigie in Paris T is true he could never square well with his Eminency the Cardinall for this is a peculiar Title he got long since from Rome to distinguish him from all othér nor his father neither the little old Duke of Espernon the ancient'st Soldier in the world for hee wants but one yeer of a hundred When I was last in Paris I heard of a facetiâ—…us passage ' 〈◊〉 him and the Archbishop of Bourdeaux who in effect is Lord High Admirall of France and 't was thus The Archbishop was to go Generall of a great Fleet and the Duke came to his House in Bourdeaux one morning to visit him the Archbishop sent som of his Gentlemen to desire him to have a little patience for hee was dispatching away som Sea-Commanders and that he would wait on him presently The little Duke took a pett at it and went away to his house at Cadâ—…llac som fifteen miles off The next morning the Archbishop came to pay him the visit and to apologize for himself being com in and the Duke told of it he sent his Chaplain to tell him that he was newly fallen upon a Chapter of Saint Austins de civitate Dei and when he had read that Chapter hee would com to him Som yeers before I was told he was at Paris and Richelieu came to visit him he having notice of it Richelieu found him in a Cardinals Cap kneeling at a Table Altar-wise with his Book and Beads in his hand and Candles burning before him I hear the Earl of Leicester is to com shortly over and so over to Ireland to be your Deputy No more now but that I am Lond. Sept. 7. 1641. Your most faithfull Servitor J. H. XLVII To the Earl of B. from the Fleet. My Lord I Was lately com to London upon som occasions of mine own and I had bin divers times in Westminster-Hall wher I convers'd with many Parlement men of my acquaintance but one morning betimes ther rush'd into my Chamber five armed men with Swords Pistolls and Bills and told me they had a Warrant from the Parlement for me I desir'd to see their Warrant they denyed it I desired to see the date of it they denied it I desired to see my name in the Warrant they denied all at last one of them pull'd out a greasie Paper out of his Pocket and shew'd me only three or four names subscrib'd and no more so they rush'd presently into my Closet and seiz'd on all my Papers and Letters and any thing that was Manuscript and many Printed Books they took also and hurl'd all into a great Hair Trunk which they carried away with them I had taken a little Physic that morning and with very much ado they suffer'd me to stay in my Chamber with two Guards upon me till the Evening at which time they brought me before the Committee for Examination wher I confess I found good respects and being brought up to the close Committee I was order'd to be
sorry I did not for it had let in more light upon me of the cariage of that great action and then you might have bin well assur'd that I would have don that noble Knight all the right that could be But sir the severall arguments that you urge in your Letters are of that strength I confess that they are able to rectifie any indifferent man in this point and induce him to believe that it was no Chymera but a reall Mine for you write of divers pieces of gold brought thence by Sir Walter himself and Captain Kemys and of som Ingotts that wer found in the Governours Closet at St. Thoma with divers crusibles and other refining instruments yet under favour that might be and the benefit not countervail the charge for the richest Mines that the King of Spain hath upon the whole Continent of America which are the Mines of Potosâ—… yeeld him but six in the hundred all expences defrayed You write how King Iames sent privately to sir VValter being yet in the Tower to intreat and command him that he would impart his whole designe unto him under his hand promising upon the word of a King to keep it secret which being don accordingly by Sir VValter Rawleigh that very originall paper was found in the said Spanish Governours closet at St. Thoma wherat as you have just cause to wonder and admire the activeness of the Spanish Agents about our Court at that time so I wonder no less at the miscariage of som of His late Majesties Ministers who notwithstanding that he had pass'd his royall word to the contrary yet they did help Count Gondamar to that paper so that the reproach lieth more upon the English than the Spanish Ministers in this particular Wheras you allege that the dangerous sicknes of Sir VVatler being arrived neer the place and the death of that rare sparke of courage your brother upon the first landing with other circumstances discourag'd Captain Kemys from discovering the Mine but to reserve it for another time I am content to give as much credit to this as any man can as also that Sir VValter if the rest of the Fleet according to his earnest motion had gon with him to revictuall in Virginia a Country wher he had reason to be welcom unto being of his own discovery he had a purpose to return to Guyana the Spring following to pursue his first designe I am also very willing to believe that it cost Sir VValter Rawleigh much more to put himself in equipage for that long intended voyage than would have payed for his liberty if he had gon about to purchase it for reward of money at home though I am not ignorant that many of the co-adventurers made large contributions and the fortunes of som of them suffer for it at this very day But although Gondamar as my Letter mentions calls Sir Walter Pyrat I for my part am far from thinking so because as you give an unanswerable reason the plundering of St. Thoma was an act done beyond the Equator wher the Articles of Peace 'twixt the two Kings do not extend yet under favor though he broke not the Peace he was said to break his Patent by exceeding the bounds of his Commission as the foresaid Declaration relates for King Iames had made strong promises to Count Gondamar that this Fleet should commit no outrages upon the King of Spain's Subjects by Land unless they began first and I beleeve that was the main cause of his death though I think if they had proceeded that way against him in a legall course of triall he might have defended himself well enough Wheras you alledg that if that action had succeeded and afterwards been well prosecuted it might have brought Gondamar's great Catholic Master to have been begg'd for at the Church dores by Fryars as he was once brought in the latter end of Queen Elizabeths days I believe it had much damnified him and interrupted him in the possession of his West Indies but not brought him under favor to so low an ebb I have observed that it is an ordinary thing in your Popish Countreys for Princes to borrow from the Altar when they are reduc'd to any straights for they say the â—…iches of the Church are to serve as anchors in time of a storm divers of our Kings have don worse by pawning their Plate and Jewels Wheras my Letter makes mention that Sir Walter Rawleigh mainly laboured for his Pardon before he went but could not compas it this is also a passage in the foresaid printed Relation but I could have wish'd with all my heart he had obtaind it for I beleeve that neither the transgression of his Commission nor any thing that he did beyond the Line could have shortned the line of his life otherwise but in all probability wee might have been happy in him to this very day having such an Heroic heart as he had and other rare helps by his great knowledg for the preservation of health I beleeve without any scruple what you write that Sir William St. geon made an overture unto him of procuring his pardon for 1500 l. but whether he could have effected it I doubt a little when he had com to negotiat it really But I extremely wonder how that old sentence which had lain dormant above sixteen yeers against Sir Walter Rawleigh could have been made use of to take off his head afterwards considering that the Lord Chancellor Verulam as you write told him positively as Sir Walter was acquainting him with that proffer of Sir William St. geons for a pecuniaâ—…y pardon in these words Sir the knee timber of your voiage is money spare 〈◊〉 purse in this particular for upon my life you have a sufficient parâ—… for all that is passed already the King having under his broad Seal made you Admirall of your Fleet and given you power of the Martiall Law over your Officers and Soldiers One would think that by this Royall Patent which gave him power of life and death over the Kings liege peeple Sir Walter Rawleigh should becom Rectus in â—…ia and free from all old convictions but Sir to tell you the plain truth Count Gondamar at that time had a great stroak in our Court because ther was more than a meer â—…verture of a match with Spain which makes me apt to believe that that great wise Knight being such an Anti-Spaniard was made a Sacrifice to advance the Matrimoniall Treaty But I must needs wonder as you justly do that one and the same man should be condemned for being a frend to the Spaniard which was the ground of his first condemnation should afterwards lose his head for being their enemy by the same sentence Touching his return I must consess I was utterly ignorant that those two noble Earls Thomas of Arundell and William of Pembâ—…oke wer ingaged for him in this particular nor doth the prinâ—…ed Relation make any mention of them at all therfore I must say
from the Isle of Ree or as soâ—… call it the I le of Rue for the bitter success wee had there for we had but a â—…t entertainment in that salâ—… Island Our first invasion was magnanimous brave wherat neer upon 200 French Gentlemen perished and divers Barons of quality My Lord Newport had ill luck to disorder our Cavalry with an unruly Horse he had His brother Sir Charls Rich was slain and divers more upon the retreat amongst others great Golonell Gray fell into Salt-pit and being ready to be drownd he cryed out Cens mill escus pour ma rançon a hundred thousand Crowns for my ransom the French-men hearing that preserv'd him though he was not worth a hundred thousand pence Another merry passage a Captain told me that when they were rifling the dead bodies of the French Gentlemen after the first invasion they found that many of them had their Mistresses favors tyed about their genitories The French do much glory to have repell'd us thus and they have reason for the truth is they comported themselves gallantly yet they confess our landing was a notable piece of courage and if our Retreat had been answerable to the Invasion we had lost no honor at all A great number of gallant Gentlemen fell on our side as Sir Iohn Heyden Sir Io. Burrowes Sir George Blundell Sir Alex. Brett with divers Veteran Commanders who came from the Netherlands to this service God send us better success the next time for ther is another Fleet preparing to be sent under the Command of the Lord Denbigh so I kiss your hands and am Lond. 24 of Sept 1627. Your humble Servitor J. H. VI. To the Right Honble the Lord Scroop Earl of Sunderland Lord President of the North. My Lord MY Lord Dâ—…nbigh is returned from attempting to relieve Rochell which is reduc'd to extreme exigent And now the Duke is preparing to go again with as great power as was yet rais'd notwithstanding that the Parliament hath flown higher at him than ever which makes the people here hardly wish any good success to the Expedition because he is Generall The Spaniard stands at a gaze all this while hoping that we may do the work otherwise I think he would find som way to relieve that Town for ther is nothing conduceth more to the uniting and strengthning of the French Monarchy than the reduction of Rochell The King hath been there long in person with his Cardinall and the stupendious works they have rais'd by Sea and Land are beyond belief as they say The Sea-works and booms were traced out by Marquis Spinola as he was passing that way for Spain from Flanders The Parliament is prorogued till Michaelmas term ther weâ—… five Subsidies granted the greatest gift that ever Subjects gave their King at once and it was in requitall that his Majesty pass'd the Petition of Right wherby the liberty of the free-born subject is so strongly and clearly vindicated So that ther is a fair correspondence like to be 'twixt his Majesty and the two Houses The Duke made a notable Speech at the Counsell Table in joy hereof amongst other passages one was that hereafter his Majestie would please to make the Parliament his Favorit and he to have the honor to remain still his servant No more now but that I continue Lond. 25. Sept. 1628. Your Lordships most dutifull Servant J. H. VII To the Right Honble the La Scroope Countess of Sunderland from Stamford Madam I Lay yesternight at the Post House at Stilton and this morning betimes the Post-master came to my beds head and told me the Duke of Buckingham was slain my faith was not then strong enough to believe it till an hour ago I met in the way with my Lord of Rutland your Brother riding Post towards London it pleas'd him to alight and shew me a Letter wherin ther was an exact relation of all the circumstances of this sad Tragaedy Upon Saturday last which was but next before yesterday being Bartholmew yeeve the Duke did rise up in a well disposed humor out of his bed and cutt a Caper or two and being ready and having been under the Barbers hands wher the Murtherer had thought to have don the deed for hee was leaning upon the Window all the while hee went to breakfast attended by a great Company of Commanders where Monsieur Soubize came unto him and whispered him in the ear that Rochell was relieved the Duke seem'd to slight the news which made som think that Soubize went away discontented After Breakfast the Duke going out Colonell Fryer stepped before him and stopping him upon som busines one Lieutenant Felton being behind made a thrust with a common tenpeny knife over Fryers arm at the Duke which lighted so fatally that hee slit his heart in two leaving the knife sticking in the body The Duke took out the knife and threw it away and laying his hand on his Sword and drawn it half out said the Villain hath killd me meaning as som think Colonell Fryer for ther had been som difference 'twixt them so reeling against a Chimney hee fell down dead The Dutchess being with child hearing the noise below cam in her night geers from her Bed Chamber which was in an upper room to a kind of Rayl and thence beheld him weltering in his own bloud Felton had lost his Hat in the croud wherin ther was a Paper sowed wherin he declared that the reason which mov'd him to this act was no grudg of his own though hee had been far behind for his pay and had bin put by his Captains place twice but in regard he thought the Duke an enemy to the State because he was branded in Parliament therfore what he did was for the public good of his Countrey Yet he got clearly down and so might have gon to his horse which was tied to a hedg hard by but he was so amazed that he missd his way and so struck into the pastry where though the cry went that som Frenchman had don 't he thinking the word was Felton he boldly confessed t was he that had don the deed and so he was in their hands Iack Stamford would have run at him but he was kept off by Mr. Nicholas so being carried up to a Tower Captain Minâ—…e toare off his spurrs and asking how he durst attempt such an act making him beleeve the Duke was not dead he answerd boldly that he knew he was dispatchd for â—…was not he but the hand of heaven that gave the stroak and though his whole body had bin coverd over with armour of proof he could not have avoyded it Captain Charles Price went Post presently to the King four miles off who being at prayers on his knees when it was told him yet he never stirrd nor was he disturbd a whit till all divine service was don This was the relation as far as my memory could bear in my Lord of Rutlands Letter who willd me to remember him
viz. that his Excellency should not think it strange that he had so few French Gentlemen to attend in this service to accompany him to the Court in regard ther were so many killd at the Isle of â—…hee The Marquis of Chasteau neuf is here from France and it was an odd speech also from him reflecting upon Mr. Controuler that the King of great Britain us'd to send for his Ambassadors from abroad to pluck Capons at home Mr. Buâ—…lemach is to go shortly to Paris to recover the other moity of her Majesties portion wherof they say my Lord of Holland is to have a good share The Lord Treasurer Weston is he who hath the greatest vogue now at Court but many great ones have clash'd with him He is so potent that I hear his eldest Son is to marry one of the bloud Royall of Scotland the Duke of Lenox Sister and that with his Majesties consent Bishop Laâ—…d of London is also powerfull in his way for hee sits at the helm of the Church and doth more than any of the two Arch bishops or all the rest of his two and twenty brethren besides In your next I should be glad your Lordship would do me the favor as to write how the grand Signor is like to speed before Bagdaâ—… in this his Persian expedition No more now but that I always rest Westmin 1 Ian. 1629. Your Lordships ready and most faithfull Servitor J. H. XXXIV To my Father SIR SIr Tho. Wentworth hath been a good while Lord President of York and since is sworn Privy Counsellor and made Baron and Vicount the Duke of Buckingham himself flew not so high in so short a revolution of time Hee was made Vicount with a great deale of high ceremony upon a Sunday in the afternoon at VVhite-Hall My Lord Powis who affects him not much being told that the Heralds had fetch'd his Pedigree from the bloud Royall viz. from Iohn of Gaunt said Dammy if ever he com to be King of England I will turn Rebell When I went first to give him joy he pleas'd to give me the disposing of the next Attorney's place that falls void in York which is valued at three hundred pounds I have no reason to leave my Lord of Sunderland for I hope hee will bee noble unto me the perquisits of my place taking the Kings see away caâ—… far short of what he promis'd me at my first comming to him in regard of his non-residence at York therfore I hope he will consider it som other way This languishing sicknes still hangs on him and I fear will make an end of him Ther 's none can tell what to make of it but he voided lately a strange Worm at VVickham but I fear ther 's an impostume growing in him for he told me a passage how many years ago my Lord VVilloughby and he with so many of their servants de gayete de câ—…ur played a match at foot-ball against such a number of Countrey men where my Lord of Sunderland being busie about the ball got a bruise in the brest which put him in a swond for the present but did not trouble him till three months after when being at Bever Castle his brother-in-laws house a quaume took him on a sudden which made him retire to his bed-chamber my Lord of Rutland following him put a Pipe full of Tobacco in his mouth and he being not accustomed to Tobacco taking the smoak downwards fell a casting and vomiting up divers little impostumated bladders of congeal'd bloud which sav'd his life then and brought him to have a better conceit of Tobacco ever after and I fear ther is som of that clodded bloud still in his body Because Mr. Hawes of Cheâ—…p-side is lately dead I have remov'd my brother Griffith to the Hen and Chickens in Pater Noster Row â—…o Mr. Taylors as gentile a shop as any in the City but I gave a peece of Plate of twenty Nobles price to his Wife I wish the Yorkshire horse may be fit for your turn he was accounted the best saddle Gelding about York when I bought him of Captain Phillips the Mustar-master and when he carried me first to London there was twenty pounds offered for him by my Lady Carlile No more now but desiring a continuance of your blessing and prayers I rest Lond. 3 Decem. 1630. Your dutifull Son J. H. XXXV To the Lord Cottington Ambassador Extraordinary for his Majesty of great Britain in the Court of Spaine My Lord I Receiv'd your Lordships lately by Harry Davies the Correo Santo and I return my humble thanks that you were pleas'd to be mindfull amongst so many high negotiations of the old busines touching the Viceroy of Sardinia I have acquainted my Lord of Bristoll accordingly Our eyes here look very greedily after your Lordship and the success of your Embassie and we are glad to hear the busines is brought to so good a pass and that the capitulations are so honorable the high effects of your wisdom For News The Sweds do notable featâ—… Germany and we hope they cutting the Emperour and Bavarian so much work to do and the good offices we are to expect from Spain upon this redintegration of Peace will be an advantage to the Prince Palatin and facilitat matters for restoring him to his Country Ther is little news at our Court but that ther fell an ill-favoured quarrell 'twixt Sir Kenelm Digby and Mr. Goring Mr. Iermin and others at St. Iames lately about Mrs Baker the Maid of honor and Duells were like to grow of it but that the busines was taken up by the Lord Treasurer my Lord of Dorset and others appointed by the King My Lord of Sunderland is still ill dispos'd he will'd me to remember his hearty service to your Lordship and so did Sir Arthur Ingram and my Lady they all wish you a happy and honorable return as doth Lond. 1 March 1630. Your Lopps most humble and ready Servitor J. H. XXXVI To my Lo Vicount Rocksavage My Lord SOm say the Italian loves no favor but what 's future though I have convers'd much with that Nation yet I am nothing infected with their humor in this point for I love favors pass'd as well the remembrance of them joyes my very heart and makes it melt within me when my thoughts reflect upon your Lordship I have many of these fits of joy within me by the pleasing speculation of so many most noble favors and respects which I shall daily study to improve and merit My Lord Your Lopps most humble and ready Servitor J. H. Westmin 22 Mar. 1630. XXXVII To the Earl of Bristol My Lord I Doubt not but your â—…ordship hath had intelligence from time time what firm invasions the King of Sweds hath made into Germany and by what degrees he hath mounted to this height having but six thousand foot and five hundred horse when he entred first to Meclenburg and taken that Town while Commissioners stood treating on both sides
1644. Yours to dispose of J. H. LIII To my honoured frend Mr. E. P. SIR THe times are so ticklish that I dare not adventure to send you any London intelligence she being now a Garrison Town and you know as well as I what danger I may incur but for forren indifferent news you shall understand that Pope Uâ—…ban the eighth is dead having sate in the chair above twenty 〈◊〉 a rare thing for it is observ'd that no Pope yet arriv'd to thâ—… yeers of St. Peter who they say was Bishop of Rome twenty anâ—… five Cardinall Pamfillo a Roman born a knowing man and â—… great Lawyer is created Pope by assumption of the name of Inâ—…cent the tenth Ther was tough canvasing for voices and a greaâ—… contrasto in the Conclave 'twixt the Spanish and French faction whâ—… with the Barberini stood for Sachetri but he was excluded as 〈◊〉 so another 〈◊〉 by these exclusions the Spanish party wheâ—… of the Cardinall of 〈◊〉 was chief brought about Barberioâ—… 〈◊〉 joyn with them for 〈◊〉 as being also a creature of the deceâ—…sed Pope He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nuncio in Spain eight yeers so that it conceiv'd he is much devoted to that Crown as his Predecessâ—… was to the French who had bin Legat there neer upon twenty yeers and was Godfather to the last King which made him to be Fleurdelizé to be Flowerdeluc'd all over This new Pope hath already pass'd that number of yeers which the Prophet assignes to man for he goes upon seventy one and is of a strong promising constitution to live som yeers longer He hath but one Nephew who is but eighteen and so not capable of busines he hath therfore made choice of som Cardinalls more to be his Coadjutors Pancirellio is his prime confident and lodg'd in Saint Peters T is thought he will presently set all wheels a going to mediat an universall peace They write of one good augury amongst the rest that part of his Arms is a Dove which hath bin alwaies held for an emblem of peace but I beleeve it will prove one of the knottiest and difficult'st tasks that ever was attempted as the case stands 'twixt the House of Austria and France and the roughest and hardest knot I hold to be that of Portugall for it cannot yet enter into any mans imagination how that may be accommodated Though many Polliticians have beaten their brains about it God almighty grant that the appeasing of our civil wars prove not so intricat a work and that we may at last take warning by the devastations of other Countreys before our own be past cure The write from Paris that Sir Kenelm Digby is to be imployed to Rome from Her Majesty in quality of a high Messenger of Honour to congratulat the new Pope not of Ambassadour as the vulgar give out for none can give that character to any but a Soverain independent Prince and all the World knows that Her Majesty is under Couvert Baron notwithstanding that som cry her up for Queen Regent of England as her Sister is of France The Lord Aubeny hath an Abbacy of one thousand five hundred Pistols a yeer given him yeerly there and is fair for a Cardinalls Har. I continue still under this heavy pressure of close restraint nor do I see any hopes God help me of getting forth till the wind shift out of this unlucky hole Howsoever I am resolv'd that if Innocence cannot free my body yet Patience shall preserve my mind still in its freeborn thoughts Nor shall this storm slacken a whit that firm ligue of love wherin I am eternally tied unto you I will conclude with a Distic which I found amongst those excellent Peems of the late Pope Quem validè strinxit praestanti pollice virtus Nescius est solvi nodus Amicitiae Fleet 1 Iun. 1644. Your constant Servitor J. H. LIV. To the L. Bishop of London late Lord Tresurer of England My Lord YOu are one of the miracles of these times the greatest miror of moderation our age affords and as heertofore when you carried the white Staff with such clean incorrupted hands yet the Crosier was still your chief care nor was it perceiv'd that that high all-obliging office did alter you a jot or alienat you from your self but the same candor and countenance of mecknes appeard still in you as whosoever had occasion to make their address to your Gates went away contented whether they sped in their busines or not a gift your Predecessor was said to want So since the turbulency of these times the same moderation shines in you notwithstanding that the Miter is so trampled upon and that ther bee such violent factions a foot insomuch that you live not only secure from outrages but honor'd by all parties T is true one thing fell out to your advantage that you did not subscribe to that Petition which prov'd so fatall to Prelacy But the chief ground of the constant esteem the distracted world hath still of you is your wisdom and moderation pass'd and present This puts me in mind of one of your Predecessors in your late office Marquis Pawlet who it seems sail'd by the same Compass for ther being divers bandings and factions at Court in his time yet was he belov'd by all parties and being ask'd how he stood so right in the opinion of all he answerd By being a Willow and not an Oak I have many thanks to give your Lordship for the late visits I had and when this cloud is scatter'd that I may respite fâ—…ee ayr one of my first journeys shall be to kiss your Lordships hands In the interim I rest The Fleet 3 Sept. 1644. Your most devoted and ready Servitor J H. LV. To Sir E. S. Knight SIR THough I never had the least umbrage of your love or doubted of the reality therof yet since I tell into this plunge it hath been much confirm'd unto me It is a true observation that amongst other effects of affliction one is to try a frend for those proofs that are made in the fawnings and dazling Sun-shine of prosperity are not so clear as those which break out and transpeer through the dark clouds of adversity You know the difference the Philosophers make twixt the two extreme colors black and write that the one is congregativum the other disgregativum visus Black doth congregate unite and fortifie the sight the other doth disgregat scatter and enfeeble it when it fixeth upon any object So through the Sable clouds of advers fortune one may make a truer inspection into the brest of a frend Besides this affliction produceth another far more excellent effect it brings us to a better and a more clear knowledge of our Creator for as the rising and setting Sun appears bigger unto us than when he is in the Meridian though the distance be still the same the cause wherof is ascrib'd to the interposition of mists which lye twixt our eyes and him so through the thick fogs of
by the next shipping besides she entreats you to send her a pot of the best mithridate and so much of treacle All your frends here are well and joviall T. T. drank your health yesternight and wish'd you could send him a handsome Venetiaâ—… Courâ—…isan inclos'd in a letter he would willingly be at the charge of the postage which he thinks would not be much for such a light commodity Farewell my dear Tom have a care of your courses and continue to love him who is Westmin 15 Ian. 1635. Yours to the altar J. H. XVIII To Mr. T. Jackson at Madrid SIR THough a great sea severs â—…s now yet 't is not all the water of the Ocean can drowne the remembrance of you in me but that it floats and flows daily in my brain I must confess for 't is impossible the mind of man should fix it self alwaies upon one object it hath somtimes its ebbs in me but 't is to rise up again with greater force At the writing heerof 't was floud 't was spring-tide which sweld so high that the thoughts of you overwhelm'd all others within me they ingross'd all my intellectualls for the time You write to me fearfull news â—…ouching the revolt of the Catalan from Castillia of the tragicall murthering of the Viceroy and the burning of his House Those mountaneers are mad Lads I fear the sparkles of this fire will fly further either to Portugall or to Sicilia and Italy all which Countries I observ'd the Spaniard holds as one would do a Woolf by the â—…ar fearing they should run aâ—…ay ever and anon from him The newes here is that Lambeth House beares all the sway at White-Hall and the Lord Deputy Kings it notably in Ireland som that love them best could wish them a little more moderation I pray buy Suarez works for me of the last edition Mr. William Pawley to whom I desire my most hearty commends may be presented will see it safely sent by way of Bilâ—…ao your frends here are all well as is thanks be to God Holborn 3 Mar. 1638. Your true friend to serve you J. H. XXIX To Sir Edward Sa. Knight Sir Edward I Had a shrewd disease hung lately upon mâ—… proceeding as the Physicians told me from this long reclused life and close restraint which had much wasted my spirits and brought me low when the Crisis was past I began to grow doubtfull that I had but a short time to breath in this elementary world my feaver still encreasing and finding my soule weary of this muddy mansion and me thought more weary of this prison of flesh than this flesh was of this prison of the Fleet. Therfore after som gentle slumbers and unusuall dreames about the dawnings of the day I had a lucid intervall and so I fell a thinking how to put my little house in order and to make my last will Heerupon my thoughts ran upon Grunnius sophista's last Testament who having nothing else to dispose of but his body he bequeathed all the parts therof in Legacies as his skin to the Tanners his bones to the Dice makers his guts to the Musitians his fingers to the Scriveners his toung to his fellow sophisters which were the Lawyers of those times and so forth as he thus dissected his body so I thought to divide my mind into legacies having as you know little of the outward pelf and gifts of fortune to dispose of for never any was less beholden to that blind baggage In the highest degree of Theoricall contemplation I made an entire sacrifice of my soul to her maker who by infusing created her and by creating infused her to actuate this small bulk of flâ—…sh with an unshakeâ—… confidence of the redemption of both in my Saviour and consequently of the salvation of the one and resurrection of the other my thoughts then reflected upon divers of my noble frends and I â—…ell to proportion unto them what Legacies I held most proper I thought to bequeath unto my Lord of Cherbery and Sir K. Digâ—…y that little Philosophy and knowledg I have in the Mathematicks My historicall observations and criticall researches I made into antiquity I thought to bequeath unto Dr. Vsher Lord Primate of Ireland My observations abroad and inspection into forrein States I thought to leave to my Lord G. D. My poetry such as it is to Mistress A. K. who I know is a great minion of the Muses School languages I thought to bequeath unto my dear mother the Vniversity of Oxford My Spanish to Sir Lewis Dives and Master Endimion Porter for though they are great masters of that language yet it may stead them somthing when they read la picara Iustina My Italian to the worthy company of Turky and Levantine Merchants from divers of whom I have received many noble favours My French to my most honoured lady the Lady Cor and it may help her somthing to understand Rablais The little smattering I have in the Dutch British and my English I did not esteem worth the bequeathing My love I had bequeathed to be dufâ—…'d among all my dear frends specially those that have stuck unto me this my long affliction My best naturall â—…ffections betwixt the Lord B of Br. my brother Howell my three dear Sisters to be transferr'd by them to my cousins their children This little sackfull of bones I thought to bequeath to Westminster Abbey to be interred in the cloyster within the Southside of the Garden close to the wall wher I would have desired Sir H. F. my dear Frend to have inlayed a small peece of black marble and caus'd this motto to have bin insculp'd upon it Huc usque peregrinus heic domi or this which I would have left to his choice Huc usque Erraticus beie fixus and instead of strewing my grave with flowers I would have desired him to have grafted theron som little Tree of what sort he pleas'd that might have taken root downward to my dust because I have bin alwaies naturally affected to woods and groves and those kind of vegetables insomuch that if ther wer any such thing as a Pythagorean Metempsuchosis I think my soul would transmigrat into som Tree when she bids this body farewell By these extravagancies and od Chimera's of my brain you may well perceive that I was notwell but distemper'd specially in my intellectualls according to the Spanish proverb siempre desvarios 〈◊〉 la calentura fevers have alwaies their fits of dotage Among those to whom I had bequeath'd my dearest love you wer one to whom I had intended a large proportion and that love which I would have left you then in legacy I send you now in this letter for it hath pleased God to reprieve me for a longer time to creep upon this earth and to see better daies I hope when this black dismall cloud is dispell'd but com foul or fair weather I shall be as formerly Fleet 26 Mar. 1643. Your most constant faithfull Servitor J.