is to make in behalf of Prince Rinaldo he saith that concern was never touched by the Duke or Dutchess in any Letter to him nor did the Dutchess of Modena when she was here seem to relish it much Jan. 1. 1678. The Letter of the Duke to the Pope about the Marriage of his Daughter to the P. of Orange hath been delivered I confess the Pope remains satisfied that the Duke was in no fault but in his intended answer vvill not touch that point The business of the Prince Rinaldo I fear is not yet ripe Octob. 1. 1678. Intercepted This Week's Post brought but one from you under date of Aug. 23. it vvas almost overtaken by an Express dispatcht from Nimegen by the Pope's Nuncio vvho yesterday morning brought the vvelcom Nevvs of a Peace made betvveen France and Spain His Holiness vvent yesterday afternoon to St. Marie Major to thank God for that publick benefit and Te Deum like to be Sug There were several Letters writ to Mr. Coleman by the late Earl of Berkshire under the borrowed name of Rice The names of principal men and matters are therein expressed in words of Cabal or Cypher which there was not any key found to open and explain But at the Committee of Lords there was the following key made but made by Conjecture onely and therefore it is not warranted for certain But the Reader may use this or his own sense and Conjecture upon the 4 or 5 of the Letters here exhibited March the 7th 1674 / 5 William Rice Lady D. York Lady Arlington Lady D. York Lady Great men Lord Treasurer Lady The King Lady The Treasury Lady to be passively neutral c. D. York to be passive in the matter of dissolving Parl. Lady The Protestant party Lady Parl. and Protestant party Lady Buckingham and Shaftesbury Lady Lord Treasurer and L. Lady Duke of Monmouth Lady The Duke Octob. 20. 1674. Lady The Nonconformist Interest Without Date Lady Shaftesburys letter to Carlisle Lady The Duke Lady The Parl. Protestant Religion or Protestant Relig. Property Lady The King Lady Romish Religion Lady Lord Treasurer Lady Court dissimulation or undermining Lady D. Buckingham Lady The French King Lady A Session of Parliament Lady A New Parliament Lady The Popish Cause Lady The Parliament Men September 10. 1674. SIR I Have received yours dated August the 28th and if your Lady pleaseth with Confidence to retaine me in her Cause as you say she will she may rest most secure to be both Faithfully and Uncorruptibly served according to the old English Oath of an Attorney without Fear Favour or Affection from hence therefore I resolve not to stir upon no other bodies Call nor Fees untill I have her special Command to come up to Westminster and full Instructions how to move when I am there which must be your part to see done and prepared in the mean time because I would think a little thereupon between this and then since the impertinentest of officiousnesses is to pretend to be wiser in other folks concerns than they are themselves yet give leave to say that I doubt very much words will not be kept with her by those whom chiefly she doth depend on not to shrink in the day of Battle when bullets begin to fly thick and near and though my Brother Attorney of Dorchest and his whole packed jury saving two of the number who are my Cousin Germains originally are Cowards let not that comfort you at all for if you remember after Clinias was driven into the water he fought like a lyon besides the ills which they have already done to speak the plain truth cannot be safe but by attempting greater wherein the Ladies Neece if good care be not early taken will have a considerable portion I would you saw as I doe because of my Ladies former displeasure towards me which makes them lie at something an opener Garde with me in this particular then they doe perhaps with others of the same profession what postings and meetings there are up and down the Country about this matter to the exaltation of the Neece usque ad Coelum and to the crying down of the Aunt nay and to such an insolence is the little Atturny grown that when applications are made unto him from the Center of all these lines as you well observe and the man for whose sake I first fell into disgrace with the Lady to admit them into his Counsels and interests the urchin still answers quod cùm impiis non vult Conversatio and that he intends to doe his work not by such assistances sed solum ex pondere causae wherefore if any Champarty masculine or feminine of that kind could be proved in open Court it were not amiss but when the thing comes to the touch you 'l see that it will not abide the tryall nor bear water The giving of mony then is all I can apprehend to be dangerous in this Case with a Condition to exclude the Aunt out of the entaile because upon those terms no separate proviso can serve her turn onely conduce towards the invalidating the testimony of her witnesses and Friends I desire to here onely that you have gotten this note safe into your hands shew it unto my Lady at seasonable opportunities and ever esteem me without welt or guard Your faithfullest Friend and Servant William Rice October 20. 1674. I Have Received yours dated the 13th of this month these come to you by a secure hand else I would not venture to write out of paraboles The new Parliament is that which the Dorsetshire Attorney and all his Clients have now in chace Consultations are on foot how to frame addresses for it within the compass of the Law. Tell our Lady from me that she hath but one point seriously to intend which is to make herself and not be denyed the Commission mediatrix of the Peace which France as well as Spain are more inclined towards than ever because of the unruliness of the German Confederates for should either the Duke of Buckingham or my Lord of Arlington get that Employment from her nay any one besides there is an end of her storie By reason if the new Parliament cannot be obtained to have their own Creatures trusted with this mediation is the onely hope they have left I mean the wife of Shaftsbury could they and their adherents be authours of the general peace upon the nick of this Conjuncture I am afraid France will not stick so close to the Lady as perchance she believeth they would since to my knowledg they are actually in treatie at present with those two persons whom I last named to this very purpose therefore you see in this cause I do not juggle nor regard either peculiar Interests or friendship for the Duke of Buckingham till he be at the brink of death will never be right to our Cause more both because he doth think the Lady underhand hath used him hardly in the matter
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
him push with all the vigour and force imaginable to dissolve the Parliament and I would have _____ for on my Conscience _____ without two or 300000 l. do it as with them and then if he would give me leave methinks I could turn it instantly more to his advantage by shewing them how little he wanted two or 300000 l. to help him in that or any thing else and that now if they would come upon terms Now what his design in this may be God knows but I am sure if it be to pump me he shall lose it for I never discover more knowledg of any thing than a man of my converse in the World and Genius which he is well acquainted with must be thought to have or perhaps it may be that by the old friendship I have had with Coleman he may think to secure him by me and so if Trade grows naught on the other side for you remember how Lord Berkly and Sir Ellis Leighton have alwayes spoke of his behaviour between Duke Lauderdale and Lord Arlington and how he they say hath attached himself to the latter _____ ingratiate himself at least with the Duke or perhaps he may have a real intention of serving the Duke if you please in Charity and Generosity we will believe but in Prudence we will not trust too and therefore I continue the same Ignoramus and the more full he is in his praises of the Duke and in Discourses of him the King and Lauderdale and Lord Treasurer the less I either know the Duke his concerns or any things else Often we talk too of the French King and Monsieur Louvy and of War and Peace and in this Discourse he told me the day before yesterday that he found the French King and his had great expectation of what Lord Arlington should do for them nay that he beleived they might have some confidence in him or it he wondered how they came to little things equally and fair between us without which nothing can last we will being thereto led a little by interest but much more by inclination give them the preference and refusal in all bargains but if not we may then truly tell them we must endeavour to make our best market they know the advantage Fortune hath now more than ever put into our hands by giving us the Scales to hold wherein all European Commodities are to be weighed and I hope then the dissolution of the Parliament being compassed the Duke will never suffer the King again to quit that if this does not bring them to any thing you call reason I will give you my head for I must tell you the French King is mightily divided at this very hour in his thoughts and perhaps more agitated than ever he was in making any resolution having or I am much mistaken one Boot on and _____ sought something _____ in him making him a little weary of what is on already and another thundering _____ The rest not legible I Am heartily glad to hear by your Lady you will be return'd to London to receive this which I pray lose no time to shew his H. I wrote you word before you went that I thought I should soon be in England for I am confident they would have sent me but your going into Flanders of which they had notice before you would have been cross the Sea I cannot imagine but sure I am they told me of it as soon as I came to the Army I suppose may have hindred that and retarded the propositions which I have order to make his H. till now for they have been much disquieted about it and I have had much a do to assure them that I was confident there was nothing designed by it to their prejudice for that I was sure the Duke was as much by inclination as interest disposed to prefer their Alliance and Friendship to all others and that they would take it for a certain rule that if they were not wanting to themselves we should never be wanting to them The King here is certainly disposed as much as can be for the interest of his H. but is wise and very cautions however by these Propositions which I have order to make to his H. and which are word for word as I took them from Pere Ferriers mouth for I writ them down presently and shewed it to him afterwards and keep it for my justification that I writ no more than I was ordered you will see that it now depends only upon his H. to consider of a way that will best secure his interests and with all a good correspondence with them here for that we must alwayes perswade our selves in the thing they propose to themselves by it I say let but his H. consider of that and then what he would ask of them here in order to it and I doubt not God willing if he will honour me with his instructions and commands but I shall procure him any thing which in reason he can expect either of mony or any thing else if therefore his H. shall be pleased to think well of this and proceed in it I will meet you any where privately to receive his H. commands and instructions by you or if he will I doubt not but I can put my self in a private way to come for a night to receive his Orders my self I pray be very cautious that there be no suspition given of any thing of this by you for the King is very scrupulous here even of some of his chiefest Ministers whom perhaps he may apprehend people have been or at least have endeavoured to be dealing with and Pere Ferrier positively charged me to communicate it to no one but the Bishop of Dublin of whom they have a good opinion for he said they would have to do in it with none but us but I prevail'd at last that I might do it by you or Collonel Talbot in England for that being they would not yet let me go my self and it was impossible but I must imploy some body therefore I would not write to the D. and that I answered for you as for my self to which at last they consented I intended to have taken the liberty to have writ to his H. but this to you I think will do better I pray you therefore present my most humble duty to him and if I have done any thing amiss in this it is for want of judgement not of affection and duty and I am sure of one thing that if perchance our Counsels should go another way I have done nothing that can prejudice him if they be not but that this alliance shall be adjudged advantageous I have had the good fortune to work my self into such an esteem and opinion here with some of the ablest to serve his H. that I am an honest man that I dare promise my self they will put confidence in me and I shall be able to serve him for to do which pray assure his H.
you I will do mine And if the French King will do nothing I know not how to help it but the truth is he hath so mean an opinion of the King and all his Partners that I doubt he thinks scarce any thing they can do worth 300000 l. It must be therefore I believe something immediately from the Duke that I must tell him that will perswade him to hope for better things when he shall govern Adieu I can say no more Superscribed To Edward Coleman Esq Secretary to her Royal Highness Postscript This is Abbot Mountague's Letter which should have come the last Post Transcribed 8. Novemb. 78. Ed. Dering Paris Febr. 9. THrokmorton was yesterday to speak with Pompone whom he found allarm'd by Ruvigni for the King's Resolution about the Parliament he had told him the greatest part of the story of the Lord Treasurer concerning the Lord Arlington though he said he took Throckmorton's coming to him very kindly and heard him speak with great attention which opportunity Throckmorton made the best use he could of to press the thing he told him that the Duke had hitherto done his utmost endeavours to hinder the Resolution of the Parliament and to procure a Dissolution of it That he had been in great expectation of the French King's Assistance in which if he had but contributed in any measure the thing might have been done six months since Indeed Throckmorton has no orders from the Duke to ask any thing yet but yet however Throckmorton knew the Affairs a little and that he had great reason to believe the Duke would not be able to resist the Parliament any longer if he were not very speedily assisted by the Fr. King. That the Parliament was certainly very opposit to both their Interests but irreparably to that of the French King 's for that as he had told him before the Duke if he would have quitted the Fr. King might have made good Conditions for himself and so he shall yet when he pleases with the Parliament but that for the French King he must expect no such thing for that infallibly the Parliament would engage the King the very first moment to joyn in War with Spain Emperor Holland Prince of Orange and Spanish Governour in Flanders against him that he must not judge of the Power of the King's Play now by what he played for him whilst the Lord Arlington was Trumps and therefore believe it would not be more against him if the Lord Arlington should continue Trumps with the Parliament for that I assured him it would be most powerful and carried against him with great animosity and heat as on the other side if Trumps should be changed by the French King's help and the Duke taken for Lord Arlington at the Parliament he might promise himself somewhat a warmer and usefuller Assistance that he had made him discourses to this purpose heretofore that he had thought to have quite desisted finding so little encouragement and fear of being thought importunate but that the War not now just upon new shuffling of the Cards should warn him once more but that now he had done for he had discharged his Conscience in doing his utmost for the Common Good and if God did not see fit to bless his endeavours with success he would sit down quietly though never contentedly before that the Catholicks and his Interest should be thus abandoned tho there were no other Interest of the Duke's or the French King 's in it And there I began to tickle Pompone upon that Point in which you must know he doth much himself That Throckmorton needed not to say any more to clear himself from any suspicion of private designs or interests in it as from imposing any thing upon them for that themselves knew he never did nor never would benefit a shilling by them and that the event of things had always shewed them that his Intelligence was right and his Advice sound Pompone began to answer with a confirmation of the conclusion of his Discourse and told him that the King had the same opinion of him that he could wish c. but came to his old what Remedy again for that Throckmorton had asked three four or five hundred thousand pounds a thing unpossible to be compassed Throckmorton told him that was a mistake for that half of the latter perhaps might do it and then told him the substance of Coleman's Letter of the 21th past as to time and other circumstances too but Throckmorton told him that after all this if there were 500000 l. or double whether he thought in his conscience it were any better parting with it for the French King than to have the Parliament joyn with Holland c. And whether he believed that double and treble that would not soon be set flying in case of a War supposing these circumstances Then he cryed Huy par Dieu Then Sir said the other Look to it for it will certainly be Then he came to it again and said that the Duke said to Ruvigni that notwithstanding he always told him the King had said free and friendly things on the French King's behalf I answered as you may guess to that but suspecting by all this that Ruvigni might be his Creature and that he was afraid he might be excluded in this business Throckmorton told him you may imagin that I bear Ruvigni no good will. I protest to you the contrary and to shew you how little that is in my thoughts tho I must confess I think I could put them in a shorter way of doing it Give Ruvigny but a sufficient Power to do it and a strict Command to execute it and I desire never to know it nor will I trouble you any more to enquire after it and shall think my self sufficiently happy if I have in any wise forwarded the thing for the doing of it effectually which is the only aim I have and therefore cared not by whom it was done _____ had promised Throckmorton he would tell the French King the first opportunity all his discourse and that he would do it with kindness and desired Throckmorton to come again the beginning of the week and he would tell him the King's Answer This is all Throckmorton could do And if they are blind or mad you must have patience But sure something they will do and let it be what it will or how it will if the Duke can do his business by it pray let him not reject it His turning 300000 l. into 400000 makes me believe they intend to do something I must confess I shall be overjoyed to see it to confirm the Duke for if he give ground Arlington and the Parliament have no bounds You must imagine Throckmorton enlarged upon these heads They had some discourse of Coleman too who Pompone said he heard was a Man of Parts c. Throckmorton replied to that what I think he could have wished himself had been said I had yours of the 25th just now
for it is clear that this which Pompone told Throckmorton is only either a putting him off civilly and that they intend to continue to dodge as they have given Rouvigny Orders and resolve to act only by him suppose which you will I think it will be necessary to Coleman thus to deal with Rouvigny that is openly and home for if they intend to do any thing it will certainly be by Rouvigny and if they intend to do nothing you will by his shuffling discover it I expected what you told me in your last from them both no doubt they will Court the Parliament or the Devil if they think him like to be uppermost but let the Duke consider of it accordingly _____ the Duke nor Rouvigny trust the King with more than needs be you know he is not good at keeping Secrets Dated February le 20 75. I Am not at all surprized at what I hear of Lord Treasurer and Lord Lauderdail but should have bin much had they done otherwise than they have done let us remember Dr. Creytons Cat and we never will confide in them nor rely so much on them as that any thing they can do shall be able to dismay us I hope the Duke is not at all by what has hapned yet Throckmorton has done what has bin in his power with Pompone the whole business as he hath told you in his two former Letters is put into Rouvigny his hands and truly as much as appeared to Sir William Throckmorton with auspicous circumstances enough it is therefore now between the Duke and Rouvigny for it seems to Throckmorton that the thing must be done by Throckmorton or that they have not a design of doing it at all and if it should happen to be the later for Jesus sake be not dejected at it but on the contrary encourage and comfort the Duke all you can for on my Soul and Conscience without affecting the Preacher I dare confidently utter my opinion that God intends it for his good and that if he pleases but now to make use of those rare vertues of courage and constancy with which Heaven has indued him all this will turn to his glory and advantage My humble opinion in this case then if I might give it _____ that if the King of France shall still continue to dodge and give the Duke no vigorous assistance for Dissolving the Parliament that then the Duke shall not continue to shuffle between the Parliament Dissolved and the Parliament as I have given you my Reasons in my former Letters but in Gods name let the Parliament proceed and prosecute his Suit it is true this is not the way one would have chosen if the French King would have been perswaded to understand his own interest but if that cannot be what great prejudice can accrew to the Duke by the Parliament none in the world say I if he pleases but with magnanimity and scorn to shake off those little wretches and their Counsels whom he hath with too much patience hitherto suffered to bait him continually to stoop and sneak to the Parliament and will resolve never to receive them again that have once betrayed him but on the other side put on a countenance but above all a mind full of noble and vertuous resolution and courage which will make him look boldly upon his worst and make good use of his best fortune I say if he pleases but to do this and besides shew all _____ by the regulation of his Family _____ as the vertuous conduct of his own person how much he abhors and detests the debauchery of the Kings house which has made it so odious to all the Nation and the world he will find that he will have all the Wise Sober good people and such as are worth having as well Protestants as Catholicks on his side and he shall live to see Lord Treasurer and D. of Lauderdail and Lord Arlington and all the rest of that crue knock themselves to pieces with the Parliament and his resolution and courage and vertuous behaviour will not only keep the Parliament at a bay but will keep him also in his bounds too For it is by the King his stooping to the Parliament the prejudice and dis-reputation will in great measure redound upon the Duke that the Duke is to apprehend damage from now this the Duke his resolution will in great measure prevent by keeping the Parliament in some sort within his limits and it will over and above when Lord Arlington and Lord Treasurer and D. of Landerdail shall have bruised one another and be at last all crusht by the Parliament necessitate the King to throw himself into the Dukes Arms who by that time will not only be strong in reputation but in reality too by the conjunction with him of all _____ and generous men of whatsoever Party with which then he shall usefully be able to serve the King and himself for be not perswaded that the Protestants and Catholicks make a difference in this point but between such as are Rogues and design a Faction And to shew you that this opinion is not only speculative but that I can give you a proof that the Dukes cause by what is hapned yet is not at all lost or deemed desperate in the opinion of _____ men if you find that the Duke is disposed to take this course and this way defend his Birthright his Honour and his Conscience altogether I will then make you a Proposition of a number of persons who you will not doubt have honour and courage by this their resolution and I assure you are reckoned amongst the soberest and wisest part of the Nation most Protestants or are at least in shew and 4000 l. or 5000 l. a year apiece who ask or expect no Reward or Offices but onely ask that the Duke will give them assurance that he will not be perswaded hereafter to abandon his own interest and them and they will give him all the assurance on their sides _____ desire that themselves and their fortunes shall sink and swim with him and these are such as I dare assure shall perform their promise and not do as Lord Treasurer and D. of Lauderdail and some of them perhaps have good interest with the Parliament too that is are of the same Families _____ we are of his Cabal but I am engaged upon my honour not to discover them till I know the Duke will take that course that they may be useful to him for they are unwilling as you will believe they have reason to expose themselves and fortunes and do the Duke no service neither for to deal plainly with you they are so afraid of some that the Duke has about him who they say betray him and would do them so too that they by no means dare discover themselves what is in their hearts they are for the Dukes cause and his disposition which keeps multitudes of others in the same suspence say they for they
will both be very welcome as that which occasioned them was to his Holiness God grant to this new Correspondence a blessing whereof the whole Nation may experience happy effects I render you hearty thanks for your weekly favours which is all I can do at present there occuring to me here no other kind of return worthy your acceptance The Animosity of those persons who formerly gave you some trouble is now I hope much relented since your late Letters have made no mention of it I wish you may continue to enjoy your satisfaction in this point that your friends may thereby have the satisfaction of better enjoying you I shall have my part herein as being Sir Your Affectionate Friend Card. of Norfolk The Letters next following were written from the same place Rome by Mr. Leyborn to Mr. Coleman Mr. Leyborn is said to have been in nature of a Secretary to the Cardinal of Norfolk Sir I Found in one of your last Letters to Mr. Grane a desire of more punctual Correspondence from me then Ordinary whilst the Conclave sitteth This desire shall be complyed with so far as it is possible for me but I fear your Curiosity will not thereby remain fully satisfied those within the Conclave who look more religiously upon their Obligation keeping their secrets to themselves And amongst the great variety of reports which fly abroad it is not easy to distinguish truth from falshood I shall therefore be sparing in delivery of such particulars leaving you to the publick fame which in the Case may upon the matter be relyed upon as well as the intelligence of those who pretend to have the best information You will find here the list of the Cardinals which you desire ranged under their several parties or heads but the order of their promotions is not exactly observed especially in the Creatures of Altieri and Ursini who before the other of the same name dyed was called S. Sisto should be in the fourth place and Baladonne in the 9 th There may be other pretenders to the Papacy besides these which are mentioned But I mark those which are most remarkable Card. Norfolk hath received Letters from the King and Duke enjoyning his adherence with France which he answereth by this Post that to the Duke the Secretary of the Durchess will see I refer you to other particulars to what I have writ unto my Lord Arundell and Card. Norfolk to Mr. Hayd Card. Norfolk will not except the offer from France of Albi dreading the dependence which would follow A like offer from Spain hath been refused Many are of opinion the Conclave will last long especially if the French persist in their animosity against Altieri who will be able in spight of them to hinder the Election of any whom they would endeavour to have chosen without his concurrence It would be a great service to the Church if this quarrel which seems to have no deep bottom were taken up The present conjuncture seems most proper for it and Card. Norfolk might be a proper instrument I hear our Country-man the Cardinal of Norfolk hath his health well in the Conclave and gains much in the opinion of his Brethren As matter occurs to feed your Curiosity you shall hear further from Sir Your most humble Servant W. L. Sept. 5. Sir THe Letters which came from you the last week had been acknowledged and answered the ordinary day and by the ordinary way had not the expectation of the great business perfected this morning made me willing to defer writing two days longer Cardinal Odeschelechi is the person on whom the great lot is fallen by an unanimous consent of the Electors and who was designed before by a general desire of the people the two great Catholick Monarchs concurring likewise in the Election by their approbation of it we have reason to promise our selves that great matters will be done in his Pontificalte for the advancement of Catholick Religion We want here no more at present to render our joys compleat than to be assured that your Mistress is happily delivered of a Young Prince This we hope will be the Subject of your next Letter which therefore is expected with great impatience My Lord hath by the Currier who carries these writ both to your Mistress and the Duke You need not be put in mind how requisite it is that the Dutchess lose no time in this occasion but write with what convenient speed she can to his Holiness from whom she may promise her self all expressions that ought to be expected of a most tender and Fatherly affection The time I have for writing of this is stole from other businesses which now calling for it again Oblige me to Subscribe Sir Your most humble Servant W. L. Rome Sept. 21. Card. Norfolk judgeth it necessary that the Duke write also to the Pope and that the Dutchess Secretary may do well to propose what was writ in the last Letters concerning Prince Rinaldi will be taken into serious Consideration greater difficulties are to be overcome than you there without a long Discourse will easily be perswaded of however the person to whom the business is recommended will not be wanting on his part This last P. S. is writ with the Cardinals hand Just now I understand of the Dutchess delivery of a Princess which I told the Pope and all the Cardinalls of who are all very glad the Popes name is Innocentius XI Rome Apr. 17th Sir YOu will not wonder at my seldom Writing if you consider how little there occurs here to write of Mr. Gr. desires me to render you his thanks for your weekly favours and to let you know that the Letter which the Duke wrote to the Pope and which was given to Mr. Con hath miscarried The Nunce at Paris doth acknowledge to have received of Mr. Con the Pacquet in which it was and doth say he sent it hither but here it cannot be found The Card. of Norfolk hath made this known to the Pope and Cardinal Cibo who says the only remedy now is a Duplicat I can give you no news hence worth your knowledge Affairs at the Pallace go on in their flow train Monsieur di Luca the Pope's Auditor and Favorite hath these days past been at death's door but now there is hope of his recovery The common speech is that his Holiness will shortly call to Town some of his kindred and confer Honours on them without Salaries It is also said there may probably be a Promotion of Cardinals about whitsuntide but nothing is more uncertain here than reports of this nature Foreign occurrences are the great matter of Discourse in which how much our wise men mistake you may guess by a report which some principal persons were Authors of last week and which upon their credit was much believed viz. That his R. Highness was in very few days expected in Florence and that Sir Bern. Gascoyn by the great Dukes Order was gone to receive him
at the Frontiers of that State. Some other passages concerning England directly contrary to truth have been assured with great confidence and accordingly believed The Pope hath lately distributed some small Pensions to the Cardinals of the last promotion not sufficiently provided for by his Predecessor The C. of Norfolk hath as I hear for his share 1600 Crowns part whereof is to expire at the end of 6 Years according to the stile of Pensions given upon Benefices in Spain and Portugal This help is thought by those who know his Condition to have but small proportion with his necessities But in this interressed Country and thrifty Pontificat any little Provision of this kind is thought considerable I wish you all happiness and remain Your most humble Servant 29 May. Sir MY last was of April 17. which I hope got safe to your hands it was to acquaint you with the miscarriage of the Duke's Letter to the Pope recommended long since to Mr. Caun But the Pope remaining sufficiently satisfied by Card. Norfolk that the Letter of the Duke was brought to Paris and given to his Nuncios hands and addrest to Card. Norfolk resolved without expecting the duplicat or such another Letter concerning which I wrote in my last to direct a Brief to the Duke which will be carried by Mr. Thomas Howard Card. Norfolk doth not doubt but the Duke will reply thereupon and hopes in the mean time that the expected duplicat will meet with better success than the Letter last sent June 5. Now the Brief directed to the Duke is in Card. Norfolk's hands nothing finer or more full of that kind could be expected Mr. _____ in few days doth depart with it he carries also for the Duke and Dutchess two pair of Beads from the Pope with most ample Indulgences It was desired here that some English Priest should be with the Pope's Nuncio at Nimegen Mr. Godden was named by Card. Norfolk but he desiring to be excused I think Mr. Caun will go My service to our Friend in Fleetstreet June 25. Noise of peace is heard here from all places we hope shortly to have it publickly proclamed by singing of a Te Deum I thank you for your Postscript which is concerning Mr. Platt who is now so impertinent as to declare that he was always a Protestant in his heart _____ expects with great impatience an Order to recal him and certainly Mr. Platt doth deserve it July 9. The hope you give that Mr. Platt will be recalled is very welcome to the Duke of Florence There is great need of it for the Inquisition hath already begun to stir in it Card. Cibo hath made complaint of it to the Resident of Florence as I have signified more particularly to Lord Arundell I long for your next which because it promiseth much which straitness of time made you omit in the last July 10. My last which was by the last Post acquainted you that the Letter of the Duke of York to the Pope was received the good man in reading it could not abstain from Tears Card. Norfolk doth _____ answer will shortly be sent though upon the matter it hath been done anticipatedly greater tenderness with expression of kindness and esteem could not be expected as you are desired to signify July 16. What hath come to your mind concerning a Match with the Prince of Florence and our Lady Anne deserves better reffections then I am able for the present to make of it setting aside the interest which might move the Duke of Florence to desire it I am verily perswaded that the great respect he hath for the Duke of York would set a great weight upon his Inclination to carry him towards it I had yesterday a Letter from the Duke of Florence who continues his pressing earnestness for compassing the business which hath been so often mentioned I doubt it may linger a great while if such a reason be expected as may satisfy the Enemies of Religion I think it might suffice to alledge that Mr. Platt is very unwelcome to the Duke of Florence July 30. The Court here will not be well pleas'd till the new difficulties which obstruct the peace at Nimegen be removed July 24. Mr. Gr. is your servant this day he hath a brief of the Pope in answer to the letter of the Duke Aug. 6. These must acknowledge the receipt of yours June 28. and July 1. The Postscript in one of them was very welcome for the satisfactory matter it gave me for a Letter to the Duke of Florence after two weeks silence to the point he is so much concerned for The same Post did also bring me a Letter from Lord Arundell to the same effect which I shall thank for shortly Card. Norfolk hath writ to the King and sent a Letter from the Queen of Sweden desiring him to take her into his protection at the Treaty in Nimegen Reasons to prove the Justice of her pretences are sent to Mr. Cook. Card. Norfolk would be well pleased if Mr. Coleman would promote this Interest with the Duke Aug. 13. I have had thanks this week from the Duke of Florence for the account gave him the last of what was contained in Letters from Lord Arundell and Mr. Coleman about Mr. Platt Aug. 20. We have had this week three from you one of them gave hopes of a Letter from the Lord Arundell I am indebted to our friend in Fleetstreet for two Letters Sept. 11. A Brief was sent last year dated about the month of May and carried from hence by an Irish Bishop Card. Norfolk would know if it were delivered to the Queen the answer was late expected Card Barbarin is in pain to know whether a Picture which he sent to her R. H. hath been received Nov. 20. Yours of October 5 and 8. found me in the Country with Mr. Gra. to morrow we return to Rome I am sorry that my Letter of September 11. as to that part which was in Cypher after the trouble it had given you proved at length not intelligible That which Card. Norfolk would know if delivered to the Queen was a Brief sent to her from the Pope last year about the month of May and given by Card. Norfolk to an Irish Bishop who not passing by England delivered it to the Lady Nov. 28. The Confidence with which Mr. Coleman ends his Letter to the Prince doth much please But that delivered by Mr. Caun in naming to Dutchess Lauderdale the Correspondent of Card. Norfolk is wondered at I hope Mr. Coleman will on this accident judge it necessary to proceed with more caution and send a false name to write to him Card. Norfolk hath had some answer from Portugal but no resolution Englands Competitor is not Card. D'estre but Rospilias to whose Uncle the Prince and Princess of Portugal owe their Marriage Dec. 18. We are told the Duke of Modena intends a journey to London Card. Norfolk will to his power second the demand which Card. Barberin
all he could to persecute Cath. Religion and to oppose the French to shew his Zeal against the first he reviv'd some old Dormant Orders for Prohibiting Ro. Cath. to appear before the King and put them into Execution at his first coming into his Office of Lord Chamberlain and to make sure work against the second as he thought prevail'd with the King to give him and the Earl of Ossery who Married two Sisters of Men Heer Dyke leave to go over into Holland with the said Heeren to make a Visit as they pretended to their Relations but indeed and in truth to propose the Lady Mary eldest Daughter to his R. H. as a Match for the P. of Orange not only without the consent but against the good liking of his R. H. insomuch that the Lord Arlington's Creatures were forc'd to excuse him with a distinction that the said Lady was not to be look'd upon as the Duke's Daughter by as the Kings and a Child of the State and so the Duke's consent not to be much consider'd in the disposal of her but the interest only of State but this he intended to render himself the Darling of the Parliament and Protestants who would look upon themselves as secur'd in their Religion by such an Alliance and design'd farther by that means to draw us into close Conjunction with Holland and the Enemies of France The Lord Arlington set forth upon this Errand on the 10 th of November 74. and return'd not till the 6 th of January following during his absence the Lord Treasurer the Lord Keeper and Duke of Lauderdale who were the only Ministers in any considerable Credit with the King and who all pretended to be intirely united to the Duke declaim'd loudly and with great violence against the said Lord and his Actions in Holland and did hope in his absence to have totally supplanted him and rooted him out of the King's Favour and after that they thought they might easily enough have dealt with the Parliament but none of them had courage enough to speak against the Parliament till they could get rid of him for fear they should not succeed but that the Parliament would sit in spite of them and come to hear that they had us'd their endeavours against it which would have been so unpardonable a Crime with our Omnipotent Parliament that no Power would have been able to have sav'd them from Punishment but they finding at his return that they could not prevail against him by such Means and Arts as they had then tryed resolv'd upon new Counsels which were to out-run him in his own course which accordingly they undertook and became as fierce Apostles and as Zealous for Protestant Religion against Popery as ever my Lord Arlington was before them and in pursuance thereof persuaded the King to issue out those severe Orders and Proclamations against Catholicks which came out in Febr. last by which they did as much as in them lay to Extirpate all Catholicks and Catholick Religion out of the Kingdom which Counsels were in my poor Opinion so detestable being levell'd as they must needs be so directly against the Duke by People which he had advanc'd and who had profess'd so much Duty and Service to him that we were put upon new thoughts how to save his R. H. now from the deceits and snares of them upon whom we formerly depended we saw well enough that their design was to make themselves as grateful as they could to the Parliament if it must sit they thinking nothing to be so acceptable to them as the Persecuting of Popery but yet they were so obnoxious to the Parliament's Displeasure in general that they would have been very glad of any Expedient to have kept it off though they durst not engage against it openly themselves but thought this Device of theirs might serve for that purpose hoping that the Duke would be so alarm'd at this proceeding and by his being left by every body that he would be much more afraid of the Parliament than ever and would use his utmost power to prevent its sitting which they doubted not but he would endeavour and they were ready enough to work underhand with him for their own sakes not his in order thereunto but durst not appear openly to encourage the Duke the more to endeavour to Dissolve the Parliament their Creatures us'd to say up and down That this rigorous proceeding against Cath. was in favour of the Duke and to make the Dissolution of the Parliament more easie which they knew he coveted by obviating one great Objection which was commonly made against it which was That if the Parliament should be Dissolv'd it would be said that it was done in favour of Popery which clamour they had prevented by the severity which they had shown against it beforehand As soon as we saw these Tricks put upon us we plainly saw what Men we had to deal with and what we had to trust to if we were wholly at their mercy but yet durst not seem so dissatisfied as we really were but rather magnified the Contrivance as a Device of great Cunning and Skill all this we did purely to hold them on in a belief that we would endeavour to Dissolve the Parliament that they might rely upon his R. H. for that which we knew they long'd for and were afraid they might do some other way if they discover'd that we were resolv'd we would not At length when we saw the Sessions secur'd we declar'd we were for the Parliaments meeting as indeed we were from the moment we saw our selves us'd by all the King's Ministers at such a rate that we had reason to believe they would Sacrifice France Religion and his R. H. too to their own Interest if occasion serv'd and that they were led to believe that that was the only way they had to save themselves at that time for we saw no expedient fit to stop them in their career of Persecution and those other destructive Counsels but the Parliament which had set it self a long time to dislike every thing the Ministers had done and had appear'd violently against Popery whilst the Court seem'd to favour it and therefore we were confident that the Ministers having turn'd their faces the Parliament would do so too and still be against them and be as little for Persecution then as they had been for Popery before this I undertook to manage for the Duke and the King of France's Interest and assur'd Monsieur Rouvigny which I am sure he will testifie if occasion serves that that Sessions should do neither of them any hurt for that I was sure I had Power enough to prevent mischief though I durst not answer for any good they should do because I had but very few Assistants to carry on the work and wanted those helps which others had of making Friends The Dutch and Spaniards spared no pains nor expence of Money to animate as many as they could against France our
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
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
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
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
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
in short offers me a set of Coach-Horses if I can prevail to get the Duke send for him over and to be but by at the Dutchess her Labour he hopes there will be no occasion to make use of him nor any of his kind nor does not ask a penny of Money for he says he desires only to be sent for the noise of which will get him ten thousand pounds I hear the Abbot Rizzini has writ for him to Mr. De Puy and the Countess If it can be compassed I tell you what I shall get let him look to what he shall get Methinks the thing should not be difficult for help and advice cannot be amiss they may chuse whether they will make use of him or no and they cannot have him at a cheaper rate than for nothing Paris Decemb. 16. 1674. I Am extreamly glad you were satisfied with mine of the 15 th and that seems to be so I am sure there is nothing in the World I covet more than that he should be so I shall long for your next and that the Parliament be dissolved _____ for then sure we shall see what the King will do though I believe he has not been so silent to his Factor here _____ for I am confident he had Orders for something two Posts last though for what I cannot possibly learn. On my word it behoves your Traders to bestir themselves now for it is that which will cause Enemies and it is Resolution must do the business I am glad you approve of my not seeing Pompone though I should be glad to have something to the purpose to see him withal Methinks I could talk otherwise if my .... were rais'd but a little which it would be to some purpose if the dissolution of the Parliament were compass'd On my word I see not that things go so bad but that such a business would make them very reasonable Men. My Lord Duras is coming to you you know I have always loved him and am much his Servant whether he makes me such a return I know not he is most extraordinarily outwardly civil to me that his inwards is not so I have some reason to doubt I only ask you to look that he does the Duke no prejudice We have had here the same Story of my Lord Arlington's refusal at the Hague that you had in London Pray see what you can do for the Man-Midwife he would be a great help to me it goes to my heart to press you thus always for Mony I assure you I spend not a Shilling that I think the Duke's Service does not require but yet I cannot help it Mony goes like the Devil Once more pray look to Duras for I am confident he would do both of us a prejudice if he could As to the quarter of the 100000 l. I know not what you call reasonable conditions let me know if you please what you mean by yours but I mean for the procuring the dissolution of or facilitating of it and then I assure you that I am very sorry for _____ that is the subject of it For it is as publick as his being here and scandalizes many good People as also her Mother's being with child this _____ appease for God's sake Let us be vertuous if we can but if we cannot let us not to satisfie their Vanity lose our Wit quite but be wise and cautious I swear upon my Soul the reputation of Vertue with that of his Truth will do him more good than ten Millions January 19th 1674 / 5. I Think I must state the case in Writing again and give it Pompone to shew Fr. K. I doubt the Bishop of Dublin's sending to Louvoy's Father For you must know that the Bishop of Dublin is the lyingst Rogue in the World he has done our business no good for he speaks with Confidence and makes them believe he is the Man in the world with the Duke and tells them whatever he pleases which must make them have a mean opinion of the Duke or if they do or do not absolutely believe him it must make them the more diffident of Sir William Throgmorton The truth is I wonder Pompone doth so well with Sir W. Throg as he doth considering that the Bishop of Dublin speaks the contrary with as much Authority as appears to them as Sir W. Th. does what he says I told you all that was between him and Louvoy his Father six weeks ago for I trace him every where and surely never Man made Falshood Lying and Knavery so much his business as he does I had yours of the 4th and if I think it as proper after a nights consideration as I do yet I may french it to Pompone next time I see him for I like it very well Why should you not get Ruvigny write to Pampone the discourse Coleman had with him and his liking of it It would help Sir William Throgmorton mightily at least it would give him some more Credit I am overjoy'd to hear what you say about dissolving the Parliament though 300000 l. should not be compass'd not that it shall make me a jot the less active or sollicitous for it for I am I assure you of their opinion as much as is possible that nothing will settle businesses lastingly like joining the Fr. King 's and the Duke's interests together And when I told you there might be an advantage made by gaining the Parliament to be dissolved without 300000 l. I did not mean _____ the Fr. King but only that that would make these about the Fr. King seeing the Power the Duke has a little more reasonable and that then they will come with the Duke to terms of accommodation more equal than now they will and let us think or propose what we please it is certain that nothing but a just ballance of things can keep their Interests long linked and therefore I judged it for the Duke's advantage by such an Action to gain that Reputation with them as shall shew them their benefit of coming to such an Accommodation with him which then may keep their Amity link'd fast for all their lives I never was blinder nor wearier in my life So adieu I could not help the 100 l. Bill for ....... Pray tell Mauson I have done his .... as be desired He is with my Wife but I cannot write to him this Post February 6. 1674 / 75. I Account my self most extraordinary unhappy that my illness hath hindred me from seeing Mounsieur Pompone since businesses go so with Lord Arlington as they do I assure you if it had been nothing but the hazard of my Life lain at stake I should have ventured it to have given you an Answer this Post but it would have allarm'd all the World to see one go out in such a condition by the next Post however I promise you an Answer for I will either speak or write to him If Ruvigny hath but in any measure done his part I promise
all avow that it is not his being for the Catholicks startles them they ask but the Duke to be resolved to continue governing himself with vertue and moderation to throw off such people as they say are about him and betray him and then give them his word and they will stick by him against Lord Arlington and Lord Treasurer and Landerdail and the Parliament and who he pleases I do not doubt but the Duke is courted now by the Lord Arlington his Party and some of the Parliaments too but if ever he receives any that have betrayed he will go nigh to run the King his fortune that is always abused by Knaves when they see it for their purpose and never trusted nor relyed on by honest men I had yours of the 4th just now Mr. Boteman sets out on Sunday A Paper Intituled INSTRUCTIONS SEeing that his most Christian Majesty was angry that I went to England but that he did not shew it for fear of giving any umbrage and that for the same reason he hath not spoken with me yet he hath since prayed me to assure his Highness of some secret way that his Majesty doth take his part in all interests and will serve him to the utmost of his power and that he is strongly perswaded that my Lord Arlington is not in the esteem of his Majesty nor in that of his Highness although that some do labour to perswade him to it he saith The re-assembling of this Parliament will not be profitable for the King or for his Royal Higness although my Lord Arlington will endeavour to uphold it if therefore his Royal Highness shall judge it necessary to have another Parliament he will assist him with Money to have such an one and as he shall desire and prayeth him to make his Proposals thereupon or upon any other thing that he shall judge either needful or profitable being resolved to do all things possible for his Service The Father hath told me of the Knavery of Monsieur de Sessaube and of the folly of some others of ours but notwithstanding all that and also though his Majesty knoweth very well that his Highness hath sent into Flanders which in truth giveth him a little umbrage notwithstanding his Majesty is resolved to conside intirely in his Highness and to afford him all imaginable assistance but above all he prayeth his Highness that he will indeavour by all ways and means to confirm a perfect intelligence with his Brother he told me morcover that if Monsieur de Rouvigny was not a Man to your liking nor such a one upon whom you may wholly rely that if his Highness would give me the least order to advertise his Majesty thereof he would indeavour to send over another person The following LETTERS were writ by Cardinal Norfolk to Mr. Coleman Rome January 4. 76. SIR I Received your two this week one of 19 November by your Friends way here th' other without date by Sir H. Tichb I am glad of the Prorogation so that the Parliament will not now in hast trouble you again or others and if finally the King will resolve well and keep close to it all may yet do well if not God have mercy on ye I wrote last week as I inclose now another to the same and assure the Duke I both can and will serve him and his faithfully to good purpose having already for the short time put all in excellent way of which more hereafter in due time I having now very little for so much I have to do Mr. Hayes at Arundel-house can tell you something particularly of my condition here time giving only leasure to adde I am Yours as you know Rome 8. Feb. Stilo Novo 76. SIR I Suppose you received my Answer to your _____ received since my being here and the Duke my Answer unto his by Sir H. Tich And you may be sure that the Pope will do all he can to serve the Duke in all occasions as I can as assuredly also answer for Cardinal Norfork both for his Affection and Duty hoping before very long to shew it by deeds in a due time and proportion I have in the interim written pretty full to Mr. Hayes at my Brothers as you know to conferre with you what my time is too short to repeat about the old business in which the Portuguese would get the Queen to give Cardinal Norfolk his place to a Portuguese under several specious pretexts as some of your Friends give out here will speedily be done and if the King had not at first hindered would have been done by the Queen Now therefore you are desired to deal with the Duke that he speak privately and efficaciously with the King to hinder it on all scores both at present or at any time hereafter c. as Mr. Hayes can tell you Another business is that Cardinal Norfolk being written unto from Paris by the Prince William of Furstenburg's Brother to move the Pope's and others credits with the Emperour for that Prince's Liberty it 's thought good if the Duke will please to desire the King to send his Command to his late Envoy now with the Emperour to joyn his endeavour with those of the Pope's Minister now at the Emperour for the Liberty of the said Prince William and also for the Peace and that Cardinal Norfolk may know from you or others securely that the King hath sent such express Orders to his Envoy now with the Emperour of which I will accordingly acquaint the Pope who in the interim will send Order there to joyn with the King 's Envoy's endeavours for that and the Peace In the same Order the King may also please to command his said Envoy to joyn his endeavours with another who will quickly be sent by the Pope for the Peace as also the like is desired be sent to my Lord Barkley Temple and Jenkins to joyn with the Pope's Minister for the Peace and please to let me know of all fully that I may accordingly dispose all here for the best that I may likewise my self write by the Pope's Minister to my Lord Barkley and the rest about it Henceforth please to direct yours to me thus A Monsieur Monsieur Chaumont commis du general des Postes en son Office à Bruxells pour faire tenir à Monsieur Thomas Grane and with this Superscription he will send them me safe as I have ordered him and will also send mine to you safe and with less expence putting mine to you on my account as far as Bruxels and if you think it safest and quickest as I think it may be he can direct mine to you by my good Friend Mr. Cook 's way who you know I should have told you that although the French Ambassadour nor his Brother the Cardinal do neither receive or give any Visit or converse with any of the Cardinals of the last Promotion yet the said Cardinal hath sent many Excuses and Complements to me how sorry he is
do Translated according to the Key delivered by the Right Honorable the Lords of the Committee appointed to Examine Coleman's Papers For Monsieur Coleman the Dutchess Secretary in Deans-Yard London January 19 / 29 1675 / 1676. I Know not whether you do receive my Letters but I well know that I receive yours punctually enough as I think I have had your two last of the 6th and 10th your Stile but they have given me some disquiet you Promise to tell me many things and afterwards you fall very short therein sometimes Twelfth-Day is the Cause and after it is because you had not my Letter of the 5th To put both you and my self out of pain I will tell you that I have writ to you the 5th the 8th the 12th and the 15th of this Month your Stile and that I write to you to Day again which is your 19th you see one cannot be more exact In all these Letters I have writ to you of things that deserved answering Especially concerning the Conduct wâ—… Monsieur St. Germain ought to use towards the Confessor of 〈◊〉 King of France and the new Ambassador for he will not nor cannot do any thing till Coleman hath let him know his Thoughts The Letters of the 8th speak of a Matter concerning which they will have me give an account there was Five Letters in that Pacquet one whereof was for the Duke of York Put me out of pain in this matter The Secretary of Monsieur Ruvigny went on Saturday from France for England the Secretary of the Ambassador from England in France went also about the same time with him you ought to know more of this Business than I. The Brother of the Wife of Monsieur Ruvigny who is an Abbot is come to see Monsieur St. Germain concerning the same Business about which Mr. Coleman wrote to Monsieur St. Germain to the end that he might engage him to speak in Commendation of the Prorogation to the Confessor of the King of France but Monsieur St. Germain would do nothing till Mr. Coleman had let him know his thoughts thereupon Monsieur St. Germain has observed to the Confessor of the King of France how great the Power of the Duke of York is by the Disgrace of the Two Persons concerning which Mr. Coleman had writ to Monsieur St. Germain and that the vigorous Counsels which were all absolutely necessary whereby to succeed in the Traffick of the Catholicks came from the Duke of York by the Inspiration of Mr. Coleman who also alone was the most truly Linked to the welfare of the Commerce of the King of England the Duke of York and the Catholicks This Monsieur St. Germain is very well intentioned but it is necessary he be instructed what he must do He hath not dared to speak of any Matter to the Successor of Monsieur Ruvigny and yet it is meet that he do instruct him for the Secretary of Monsieur Ruvigny hath been to see him and it is to be feared lest he hath given him evil Counsels with which the new Ambassador being prepossest perhaps he will act in such a manner as may not please Mr. Coleman nor the Affairs of the Duke of York and the Catholicks I write to you by a new way to see if it be more sure give me also a new Address and such a one concerning which there may be no occasion of Fear Translated by Sir George Downing 29 Jan. 75. 8 Feb. 76. THis is the Fifth Letter that I have written to you and of which I have had no Answer I see by your last Letter of the 17 / 27 of Jan. that you have received Two of mine That of the 5 / 25 and of the 8 / 18 of Jan. but you make no mention of those which I sent you besides viz. of the 15 / 25 and 19 / 29 of Jan. and of the 22 Jan. / 1 Feb. and of the 26 Jan. / 5 Feb I give you these Dates to the end you may see whether you have received as many as I have sent to you I am glad that 93 the Dutchess thinks upon 49 St. Germain And 62 Coleman cannot do him a greater pleasure than to employ him as he do's in serving 93 the Dutchess This cannot but produce a very good effect with 163 the King of France He will see thereby that People esteem him in the Countrey of 110 England And that 39 and 93 the Duke and Dutchess being so far satisfied with him as to give him Commissions he will become more engaged to give ear to the Letter of Recommendation of 39 the Duke which 35 Montecuculi has promis'd to send 49 St. Germain though he has not yet done it And 62 Coleman will do a kindness to enquire of 34 and 35 the Earl of Peterborough and Montecuculi what hinders that he has not yet received it Besides that 49 St. Germain is and always will be most ready to deliver Messages in favour of 39 93 300 and 62. the Duke the Dutchess the Catholicks and Coleman to 488 and 163 the Confessor and the King of France believing himself most strongly engaged thereto by the Testimonies of Goodness which he has received from them in time past And though he is without 80 Money he will not cease to act as he ought with Zeal and Fidelity provided he be not sent elsewhere but left where he is which yet may happen after Easter he having no imployment to detain him where he is unless 62 Coleman write to 488 the King's Confessor either from or as from 39 and 93 the Duke and Dutchess to signifie to him that those two Persons desire to make use of him as a Correspondent in their Traffick between them 62 and 488 and 163 Coleman and the Confessor and the King of France In which case 49 St. Germain would take his time to act in favour of 62 Coleman with 488 and 163 the Confessor and the King of France and to bring to pass that 62 Coleman shall obtain 26 a Pension of 100000 l. Sterling for himself If 49 St. Germain receive the Letters which he expects from 35 Montecuculi and they have their effect he will have wherewith to pay the Charge of his remaining where he is and of all the Affairs of Commerce whereof Commissions shall be given him 49 St. Germain will have no need of 80 Money till after Easter But at that time if the Letters of 39 the Duke to 163 the King of France hath no success it will be impossible for him to enter into the Commerce unless 62 Coleman obtain from 93 or 39 the Dutchess or Duke one quarter more like that which he received being in the Countrey of 110 England that is to say between Thirty and Forty Pounds sterling And if this be once done for all it will give him the Means to subsist with Ease for above a Year during which time he hopes to put himself into a Condition of serving all the World without importuning any body