again taken for the old Debt and made Prisoner but my Lord was dead that Noble Dorset else assuredly there had been payed as much duty unto her Majesties Priviledges as before she then being here present as was in her absence as in my concern but the times are changed and we too much a La mode some promises much and in effect perform little this is no romance and less is what will follow The wars beginning then truly I was offerd by the Houses of Parliament a considerable Imployment my Tenent not leading me that way I quietly got away and went for York where my King was and I in no ill equipage and after kissing his hand applyed my self unto the Lord Henry Wilmot late Earl of Rochester deceased who left this Young Lord I hope to inherit the Fathers Worth and Gallantry The Lord Wilmot was then raising a Regiment of Horse for His Majesty and assoon as I came to him he did embrace me bidding me welcome not Alamode but in effect telling me I should command his own Troop then a raising so I did and in it a Hundred Valiant brave men most Gentlemen of Estate and Quality who not long after did so approve themselves who could not choose but so to do having such a General in the head of them as was his Lordship what hath not he done to leave his Name Renowned VI. I being made Prisoner last Parliament 1678. all my Papers and Writings seized upon and I carried Prisoner to the Black Rod by Sir Edward Cartred who was very civil towards me and carried before the Most Honorable Committee of Lords and yet the Noble Lord that moved against me in Parliament appeared no more to have made party against me believing not as I presume what was told him VII Now give me leave Noble Readers to give a relation of the first War betwixt King and Parliament which truly is uncontradictable for it shall carry nothing in it but a real Character of truth At the Battle of Edge-hill His Highness Prince Rupert that ever Renowned Person Commanded the right Wing of our Horse who put the Enemies into an absolute rout and the Earl of Brandford the left unto whose share it came to charge the Enemies right Wing His Highness putting into a derout their left Wing the Battle begun upon a Sunday Morning and the Lord Digby commanded our reserve of Horse who gave more Testimony of his Courage then of conduct but that never to be buried in oblivion the deceased Earl of Rochester this Lord being then Commissary General of the Horse and in the head of our left Wing of Horse and in the head of his one Troop Commanded by Sir Robert Walsh and his Lordships Troop consisting of at least a Hundred Brave and Noble Gentlemen as Sir John Dongan Sir Brien O Neale Sir Henry Talbot sir walter Dongan son to sir John brave Irish Gentlemen whose most Valiant deportment gave great Testimony of their Loyalty as I may say did the whole Troop and his Regiment as may witness that first service they were in his Royal Majesty of Blessed Memory and His now sacred Majesty and his Royal Highness were not only there as witness of their Loyal subjects but also hazardly and dangerously ingaged in the said Battle to their great and ever Renowned Everlasting Glory The Lord wilmos having charged the right Wing of the Enemy did beat them and put them so in disorder as that they run confusedly into Kington which was in the Rear of their Army the reserve of our Horse unpremeditatedly follow the pursuit of the Enemy which gave the advantage unto the reserve of the Enemies Horse as also unto their main Body that they fell upon that Renowned Most Honorable Earl of Linzy our General and so furiously as that His Majesties own Regiment was disordered and divers of their standards taken at the same time where the Noble Lord Gerard Commanding Three Regiments of Foot made a most manly stand our Horse being for the most part mingled in the Enemies and his Highness Prince Ruperts Horse pursuing fortune proved so favorable unto sir Robert walsh as to keep the Lord Wilmots Troop in a Body unscattered so as he encountred some of the Horse that charged the Earl of Linzy in their return this being in the rear of the Enemies Army towards the Town of Kington sir Robert with his Troop charged them and recovered the standards which they took from the Kings Regiment and also took some of the Enemies and sir Robert being then in the rear of the Enemies Army in the Town of Kington did sieze upon Two Pieces of Cannon and a Waggon brought them into the rear of His Majesties Army His Glorious Majesty having lain that night upon the top of Edge-Hill his Army not then drawn from the Enemies sir Robert towards Morning brought the Two Pieces of Cannon and Waggon to the bottom of Edge-hill and brought the standard of His Majesties and some of the Enemies unto His Highness Prince Rupert who immediately did present them and sir Robert unto His Majesty who was graciously pleased there to Knight sir Robert for the acceptable service he then did render VIII Some time after his then Royal Highness the Prince going to command in the West of England Sir Robert was by His Majesty Ordered into the West to serve under his Royal Highness Bannor which he did as Lieutenant Collonel of Sir George Vaughans Regiment of Horse who was a brave Worthy Noble Gentleman and then Sheriff of wiltshire leaving all to Sir Robert Conduct But he still came when any fight was The Devises being then surrounded by Sir william waller and all our Army in the Devises which were so short of Ammunition and Match that they were forced to make use of all the Bed-cords which were in the Town for Match His Royal Highness Prince Maurica that Renowned Prince the Famous and Honourable the Lord Marquess of Herford and the Honourable Lord Hopson were in the Devises and Sir william waller surrounded them with his Horse Foot and Cannon having summoned the Trained-Bands of those parts to come and joyn with him which they then did the Prince and Lords called then in the Devises a Councel of War and concluded that their best expedient was to dispatch an Officer that would hazard to get to Oxford to give His Majesty advice how it stood with them in the Devises whereupon did depend very highly His Majesties Interest They pitched upon Sir Robert walsh to go and sent for him he being with his Regiment upon the Out-guards and asked him if that he would adventure he made answer that he would most willingly and readily that he regarded no hazard or danger so as that he could but compass their Relief upon which he was immediately ordered to go which he did being not ill Horsed and went all alone carrying not a servant or mart with him He was in his way closely pursued by the Enemies Scouts and
part of their Out-guards but it pleased God he got safe and the next morning got to His Majesty who their was in Oxford His Majesty did then immediately Order that Relief should presently be sent and calling upon the Lord wilmot did order without delay that he should get ready the Horse and march unto the Relief of the Devises which was as soon as possibly observed so as the Lord wilmot the Lord Biron Colonel Thomas weston now Earl of Newport and divers of the best Commanders did march and hardly drew Bit in their march to the Devises which was no easie or short march And when arrived at the Devises the Horse were weary and I may say by she same and stragling that we missed Five hundered Horse of our Number coming from Oxford My Lord wilmot from Malborough did dispatch Sir Robert walsh all alone towards the devices with Order to return assoon as possible to bring him notice how matters went Sir Robert did go and return quickly to my Lord whose conduct and Carriage was so evidently made apparant to the world as nothing could be more my Lords as thus His Highness Prince Maurite and she Lord Hopton did march with the Horse out of the devices intending to have joyned to the Lord wilmot and in part did his Highness Horse were not many and when he came to joyn they advised in Council what was to be done waller and his Army Horse cannon and Foot and Train-Bands very numerous and our Horse were wearied being not above Fifteen Hundred or Two Thousand at the Council the Lord wilmot gave his opinion as thus that his Horse were all wearied and by consequence an impossibility that they could make any retreat from the Enemy without being utterly cut off The Enemies Army being not half a Mile from them and therefore if the Prince and the Lord Hopton pleased to consent that he would advance with a Thousand Horse to the top of a Hill which lay betwixt them and the Enemy presuming that the Enemy would so undervalue them as that they would march up the Hill to devour them My Lord wilmot adding that if they so would come as they did perhaps it might ruin them which did the Princes and Lord Hopton did conclude with the Lord wilmots sense whereupon of the Horse which were in the devices my Lord wilmot of the Western Horse only takes Sir John Digby a most Noble and brave Officer and Sir Robert Walsh with their Troops to joyn with him my Lord sends Lievtenant Collonel Paul Smith who was unto his Lordships Regiment with a Hundred Horse as a forlorn hope and marches himself in the right Wing of a party of his Horse and adjoyns Sir John Digby and Sir Robert Walsh with their Troops to be at the head of his second Division of his left Wing and his Highness Prince Maurice marched with the Body of the Horse it fell out so as my Lord Wilmet did Prognosticate Sir William Waller Orders Sir Arthur Haselrick to march up such a Hill to devour the Enemy which he undertook in the Head of a Thousand Horse first which were Armed Cap a pe and afterwards named Lobsters Haselrick sending his forlorn hope which was encountred by ours he marched in the head of two divisions and the rest of his Horse marching in Regiments up the Hill after one another which were between Four and Five Thousand Horse The Lord Wilmot first received their charge then charges them beats Haselrick and Haselrick disorders the rest of his Horse the Prince and Lord Hopton advance so as the Enemies Horse was clean forced to run away Then the Prince and Lord Wilmot consults to charge their Foot and Cannon which they put in Execution and did Rout them took all their Cannon Foot and Colors e're that our Foot in the devices could get out to joyn with us this was so clear and fair a Victory as that it gained his Majesty the whole West of England which then was of the last consequence The Lord Wilmot then calls Sir Robert Walsh and says that as he went to His Majesty to bring this relief he should immediatly post to His Majesty and give him the account which Sir Robert did His Majesty being not at Oxford but gone to meet Her Majesty then come out of Holland which he met at Edge-Hill where Sir Robert addrest and His Majesty and Her Majesty in the Coach Sir Robert gave His Majesty the account which was most mightily acceptable and his Highness Prince Rupert and my Lord of St. Albans then by when Sir Robert gave the ccount some time after the Lord Hopton retiring his Brigade of Horse was given Sir Robert Walsh who was also made Commissary General in the West of Horse and Foot a charge of great trust and Honor as also of the Counties of Southampton Sussex Surry and Kent which then were associated Counties his Commissions are now extant which were so ample and spatiously large as that the General the Lord Goring was not over pleased yet signed the Commissions His Majesty of Blessed Memory gives Sir Robert Walsh Commission to go for Ireland in the Year 1644. to raise Horse and Foot and in His Majesties one hand writes to my Lord of Ormond then Lord Lievtenant of Ireland to give Sir Robert all assistance and countenance which that most ever Loyal untainted and unchangeable Subject did most willingly countenance Sir Robert in giving all furtherance so as Sir Robert did bring upon his own cost and charge without having a Peny from His Majesty bring then out of Ireland a Hundred Horse which he recruted his Regiment with and His Glorious Majesty being then in Cornewal to oppose Essex who then was General Listedel Castle was surrounded by Essex his forces Essex Lying of Listedell side and His Majesties Army of the other side of a small River Sir James Smith that Worthy Noble brave Gentleman being sent with his Regiment of Horse For the Guard of the said Castle did there most Worthy service and received cruel Wounds Sir Robert Walsh and his Brigade of Horse were then commanded unto Sir James his relief whose fate was so prosperous in the beating of Essex his Foot from the Hedges about the said Castle and in view of His Majesty and Army that His Majesty after Sir Roberts coming off sent for him and took him by the hand his Royal Highness then next His Majesty saying he hoped to live to gratifie Sir Robert not only for the service he then saw him render but as well for his Loyalty and former services IX Some time after the Lord Wilmots Imprisonment and confinement into Exeter by the false reports of some Sir Robert having been a Creature of the Lord Wilmots and his Officer who most perfectly well knew his Loyalty faithfulness and Gallantry and particularly in His Majesties service seeing the Lord Wilmots unjust disgrace being siezed upon in the head of the Army by Mr. Thomas Elliot upon which Sir
Robert was surrendring and giving up his Imployment and charge His Majesty taking notice of which the Army then marching His Majesty stopt and so did the Army and called upon Sir Robert saying he heard that he was upon quitting his service Sir Robert humbly replied that he hoped that His Majesty would permit him so to do seeing that the Lord Wilmot whose Loyalty and service he ever was a witness of was so used and truly Sir Robert did plainly so declare his unwillingness to serve any longer His Majesty was pleased to give Sir Robert great encouragement to continue and in an extraordinary manner and told him that he should not quit and that he commanded him not to quit unto which there rested no answer but obedience the world ignores not with what ungrounded falsehood the Lord Wilmot was then made Prisoner and how he came off with honor Then His Majesty came into Wiltshiere and came to Andover where Sir William Wallers Army lay near Waller sent a considerable party of Horse to observe His Majesties Army whereupon the Lord George Goring that Worthy Commander then General of his Royal Highness's Army immediately did order to draw out a considerable party of Horse and did Order Sir Robert Walsh to command the said Party with order to pursue Sir William Waller which readily was put in Execution where many Voluntiers readily went along and particularly then Mr. Henry Bennet now Earl of Arlington with so much of good will and resolution as none could demonstrate more Sir Robert then desiring him not to go he being a person who was then in the Pen charge and Imployment and so readily kind and careful to serve and obliege us Officers so as that if any thing should happen him it would infinitely redown to our loss and sufferance but he would not be deturned of bearing a share in that occasion which was so visibly near of being put in Execution in the pursuance of which he then from the Enemy did receive that Noble scar of honor which to this day he beareth the mark of in his Face which assoon as Sir Robert saw he immediately did Order Collonel Garret Moor now here in Town to conduct him off and to have him to the Chyrurgion to be dressed which accordingly was done X. Some time after the Army was given up in Corn-wall and Most Officers to shift for themselves of which number Sir Robert being one he betook himself for Ireland and there treated with the French Kings Envoy by name Monsieur de la Monnerie for Sir Robert to carry a Regiment of Foot into the French Kings service who capitulated with Sir Robert in the Name of His Christian Majesty that Sir Robert upon his Landing in France should receive Thirty Crowns for each man and should have a pension of Two Thousand Crowns yearly besides other great and large promises in words which never were performed Sir Robert upon his one costs and charge hired Two great Holland Ships into which he Shipped Nine Hundred and Fifty men from the County of Galway and the City of Galway and sailing for France was met by some Parliament Ships who took one of Sir Roberts Ships loden with men which they sent into the islands but fortune favoring the Ship that Sir Robert was in did escape and he got into Haver de Grace with Six Hundred men he served the French King as Collonel of the said men which Agent la Monnerie did not perform his capitulation in a Tittle so as Sir Robert grew unsatisfied in His Majesties Service and loosing his Sons who were Captains in Sir Roberts said Regiment then the Prince of Conde taking Arms against his King Sir Robert took his dismiss and passe from the King and gave himself into the service of the Prince of Conde After some time Sir Robert was taken Prisoner and put into the Bastill where he was forced to lye for Three Years notwithstanding that the Prince of Conde did use all indeavors to have Sir Robert exchanged and did offer one Monsieur Bougy for to Exchange Sir Robert who was Lievtenant General in his Christian Majesties Army which was denied it being given out that Sir Robert did intend to kill Cardinal Mazarine the ordinary common pretext that when envy or malice contrives against man then usually its babbled and given out that he was to kill the Prince or Minister of State XI If gratitude were in practice sure Cardinal Mazarine would not have forgot his parts as hereunto for when the Cardinal er'e he made his escape from Paris was in very great apprehension and fear of his life by the Duke of Orleans the Prince of Conde Monsieur de Beauford their party Sir Robert having not then quit the Kings Service nor the court party the Cardinal being in great apprehension of loosing his life though he lodged in the Pallas Royal though Sir Robert was then very unsatisfied he did remass and gather a Hundred Gentlemen every one with his Sword and Pistol and had them into the Inns and Cabaretts in the Reu de bones enfents and near the Pallas Royal and the Cardinal then being in hourly fear of being attacked in the Pallas Sir Robert writ unto his Eminence that he lay with a hundred Cavaliers in Case that any attempt were made upon his Eminence That Sir Robert was ready to be in the head of the said Gentlemen to hazard his Life and theirs in the defence of his Eminence who then sent Monsieur de Navaile now Duke de Navaile to see if what Sir Robert writ was so Monsieur de Navaile did to the Cardinal return and certified him that what Sir Robert writ to him was so Upon which the Cardinal the Alarum being past Two or Three days after Sir Robert being in the Palsas Royal the Cardinal took him in his Arms saying he was a true Person of Honor and that if ever it came in his way that he never would forget Sir Roberts generosity and kindness But the Cardinal made it his profession not to be a slave to his word yet did Sir Robert when he lay in the Bastile put him in mind of his promise which proved one a la mode de France But at long run Mr. Walter Montegue a Person of Credit and Renown with the French Court and Cardinal was so honourable as to imploy himself for Sir Roberts liberty which in fine he obtained but upon such Terms as have rarely been imposed upon any Officer or Soldier of Fortune which was thus that Sir Robert Walsh should put in Two Collonels of the Kings Army and Two good Burgesses of Paris who should become bound in Fifty thousand Crowns That Sir Robert Walsh should not serve nor carry Arms against His Christian Majesty in Five years following which was given by Sir Robert and performed The Lord of Muskery and Sir James Dillon were the Two Collonels who became bound Monsieur de Couteure and Monsieur de la Coste the Burgesses and so
Sir Robert was set at liberty Could it be thought that so great a King would so far consider a single Officer or Soldier of Fortune I cannot but speak well of the Prince of Conde for when he first received me into his Protection seeing my Dismiss and Pass from His Christian Majesty he did afford me his Favour and Countenance and when first I came to him the Armies then lying about Villneufe St. George a little above Shallonton the Kings Army lying of one side the River Commanded by Mounsieur de Turene and the Princes Army of Chalonton side The Prince bid me take Five hundred Horse and beat about Paris to find some Booty which may put me into an Equipage and that he would but moderately hear any Complaint that should come against me I did take the said Horse which were all Germans and truly I did more study to render the Prince service than to plunder if it came not in my way and so I marched all Night and past by the Rear of the Kings Army and took some Officers and Prisoners my intent being to go to Pontoise to beat up some of the Kings Army who lay there and in my return the next Morning I drew up to refresh betwixt St. Germans and St. Clow a top of a Hill While I was there I saw a Coach with six Horses going for Paris I sent a Party of my Germains to bring me that Coach thinking to make a prize thereof but who should be in it but the best of men so the Germains were greedy and would understand no French or English but one of his Lords that noble Lord Garret as I take it comes up to the party and found me in the head of them he asked me who commanded the party I answered he was not far off then he tells me who was in the Coach and made Prisoner Upon which I immediately drew my Party towards the Coach and waited on it to Paris I am glad it was no other than his Subject that commanded the Party The Prince of Conde then being not very affectionate the Duke of Lorrain being slacken'd and I well satisfied in all occasions which may demonstrate the paying of my duty and Loyalty yet I was not a little satisfied it was I that Commanded that Party which prevented further trouble to the said Coach The Prince of Conde not being ignorant how the Duke of Lorrain was gained to have proved slow in the Prince of Conde's then pretensions without which the French King might have run the hazard c. XII Fortune was to me so favourable that at the Battle of St. Antoine I gained so much the heart of the Citizens of Paris as that ever after they hardly would stir out of the Gates of Paris without having me in the head of them as I was at St. Dennis when Monsieur de Semegrine Commanding the Queens Guards charged the Parisiens and was repulsed these troubles of Paris being appeased by the Prince of Condes quitting Paris wherein he quit his chiefest hold I betook my self for Flanders and made my address unto his Grace the Duke of Ormond who most kindly not degenerating from his ever wonted greatness and goodness did afford me his Countenance so as I by His Majesties Order and Consent did venture for England in hopes to prove useful for His Majesties Rights and Interests Upon which his Grace the Duke of Ormond writ unto me all in his own hand that I should come for England and to advance my Interest and endeavours as in all I could for His Majesties service assuring me that if I could attain to be permitted by the Usurper to be in London if so I should sometimes transgress in my expressions towards His Majesty that it should not in the future prejudice my Loyalty Upon this I came for London and did use all my endeavours to come in Thurloes favour then Secretary to the Usurper I did so obtain from Thurloe that he gave me his word I should have the liberty of the Town I giving him my word that I would not act any thing against the State during my being under their Government So for a Months time I had access unto Thurloe but soon after though I had Thurloe's word for my liberty that word was not performed but I was surprized I lodging at one Elkings House who was a Packer and an Anabaptist then dwelling in Mark-lune and I presume lives their still I was by Four Files of Musketeers surprized in my Bed Captain William Bower then lying with me and hurried away into the Tower where I lay Four Months close Prisoner none being admitted to me but my Keeper soon after was that most Noble and ever Renowned Earl of Orery the Earl of Tennet the Earl of Norwich the Earl of Clanricarde and many Persons of quality brought in Prisoners and as I take it the only then made close Prisoners was that Famous never to be buried in Oblivion the Duke of Albemarle and I close Prisoner some who then attended His Sacred Majesty did assuredly give the Usurper notice that I was in England as imployed by my King some time after the liberty of the Tower being granted me upon the intercession of Baxters Wife to her Husband The Lord Brohil now Earl of Orery who is a Person of that Honor as will own what I here say through the Intercession of his Honorable Sister then in London the Countess of Barimore his Lordship did interpose for my liberty Whereupon his Lordship came to the Tower and gave me a visit his words as near as I can remember were these Sir Robert had you served the State and his Highness the Protector as you did the King what post or posture do you imagine you might now be in I seemingly did aver what his Lordship said why then said my Lord can you now resolve to serve his Highness if you can I will tell you how and you shall have your Liberty and Money to boot unto which I did seem to listen then said my Lord you see what a deal of Noble-men and Gentlemen lye here Prisoners and I will tell you upon what account It is upon an intelligence we have received that his Highness Person is to be attempted and we fain would sink into a discovery therein and here be Two Persons of Quality now Prisoners who make offer of their attempt as unto what I intend to propose unto you each of them now offering that they will find out to make the discovery but as I am inclined to get you your liberty I have propounded to his Highness that you may be the Person imployed and he hath consented thereunto If so you can make it appear that you may be received at Bridges and that upon your word and honor unto me that you will really imploy your endeavors to make the discovery how his Highness Person was designed to be attempted and you shall have your liberty and some Money for your Voyage I
to pay that considerable allowance yet for the time of Thirty three months I never received but Ten pound or about the Value I do not say this to upbraid Sir Steven for I believe him an honest Gentleman but that mony was then not over plenty in his Treasury I being forced to address unto the King of Spain he set me at liberty and payed my Costs as here aforesaid else I had there perished XV. I appeal unto my Most Gracious King for Justice who never did deny it unto any of his Subjects and I shall ever as now I do submit unto his will and pleasure I having ever served under his Royal Banner and never had a hand in the War of Ireland I had many of my Kings Letters and Orders to have my Estate not to be made liable unto new Quit Rents and years Value which never had or took the least effects I have payed ever since His Majesties happy Restauration for yearly Quit Rents at Two pence Farthing an Acre out of my Estate an Hundred and Three pound odd mony yearly as is certified under the Auditor Generals hand out of Ireland which amounts not far in the time from being 1900 l. and the years full Value for one year of my Estate besides Morgages upon my Estate of above a Thousand pound which I engaged for to bring Horse and Foot for His Majesties Service out of Ireland I must attribute it to my fate or the want of meeting with Justice whereas I am put in Ballance with such as were in Actual Arms and Service against their Majesty Nay a great many of such have had their Estates struck out of charge and their Quit rents taken off yet mine still stand charged His Majesties Orders and Letters as to my particular meeting with no obedience If loosers may speak sure none can blame me for this my Declaration having never had the least compensation gift or grant nor other usage than what herein is specified only One hundered pound from the Privy Purse To this my Vindication or Declaration I set my hand and am ready to justifie it by either Common Civil or Military Law or place of Justice against any man that dare to my face contradict what I here have said let him be Subject French Dutch or any Forreigner If any be here he may find the lie given him and he will swallow it or give his appearance to charge me XVI Sir Robert Walsh hath been detained Three years Prisoner to the French King in the Bastil and never any thing laid to his Charge but for being of the Prince of Conde's party Then he came for England and was made Prisoner in the Tower by the Usurper never any thing laid to his Charge Then was made Prisoner in Bruxels by his Kings Ministers and never any thing laid to his Charge before Justice These Imprisonments were all you I hope will say hard here lately made Prisoner to the Black Rod and nothing laid to his Charge in 79. Is this the liberty of the Subject XVII One thing more I may with Justice add I being in Paris about the year 72. or 73. or thereabouts I had by the means of Monsieur de Mumbas my ancient Acquaintance who was Brother in Law unto miniere de Grote alias Grotius then Embassador for the States of Holland an entrance unto this Embassador so as that I did discover that the French King and the States of Holland were then upon the point and but very little difference between them of coming unto an agreement or Joyning His Grace the Duke of Buckingham then having His Majesty's Ear I immediatly writ to him that it would be of very great consequence to prevent the said junction by an agreement with the States which as I take did very soon issue France and Holland having until of late continued in a War my Letter unto his Grace I addrest to Sir John Hanmer who did tell me since my coming into England that such a Letter he did receive from me and that he believe it did still lye by him I writ at the same time to Mr. Progers to the same purpose who I am sure did show or produce it unto His Majesty unto whom I sent Miniere Grotius his Letter to me in Mr. Montegue his Packet as may be judged by the effects of the accommodation then we made with the States and Mr. Edward Progers his Letter was to have me come in Person into England XIX The Year of His Majesties happy restauration the Marquis de Gudance was commissioned by the French King to come unto His Most Excellent Majesty to London upon some pretext from the French King Dunkerk then in the Lord Lockerts time of Government there and newly rendered unto His Most Excellent Majesty the Marquis de Gudance made it his work to gain some Officers of the Garison of Dunkerk to surprise the Garison for the French King and had contracted a Treaty with them for that purpose Sir Robert Walsh then living at Berge St. Venox a League from Dunkerk this Marquis came to Berge often he and Sir Robert came acquainted so as the Marquis did communicate his design upon Dunkerk to Sir Robert sounding him that knew the humor of the English how he might so confide in the English and to prevent and be precautioned that he may not be trapanned he offering Sir Robert an assurance of Five Thousand Pistols If he would contribute by his advice and conduct Which Sir Robert did consent to yield unto reserving to himself to do his duty to his King immediatly hereupon he humbly addressed a Letter to His Majesty whereupon His Sacred Majesty immediatly writ to Sir Robert in his own hand immediatly to repair unto him with all speed and privacy Unto which Sir Robert quit his House dwelling and interest in Berge St. Venox and immediatly came to His Majesty The now Earl of Arlington being then Secretary of State His Majesty did Order Sir Robert to make his address unto him and to communicate all particulars unto him which Sir Robert so doing my Lord gave thereunto a hearing answerable and did receive Sir Robert with expressions very kind of the sense he had of Sir Roberts service in that particular and that he would in Order thereunto give His Majesty an account unfortunately soon after Sir Robert was arrested for a Hundred Pound and committed Prisoner to the Fleet under Chancellor Hide his Verge who made such use of his power carrying an animosity against Sir Robert that notwithstanding Sir Robert had put in good security he could not obtain a day writ Sir Jeremy Witchcot being so much the Chancellors Creature until the Lord Arlington who was not so writ to the Warden of the Fleet Sir Jeremy Witchcot that it was His Majesties pleasure Sir Robert should have a day writ which Letter Sir Robert this day hath and upon which his day writ was had and His Majesty a little time after did order Sir Robert a Hundred Pound which was brought him to the Fleet and the Lord Arlington
did also make Sir Robert a present of Twenty Ginneys unto my Lord Arlington the Lord Chancellor a thing not unknown was then no great friend yet the Lord Arlingtons Loyalty Fidelity and duty to his King hath so preserved him as to be now what he hath deserved and is and so may all taste as they deserve if not in this world in the next they must and will but as unto Dunkerk such order was then given as that the French Kings design took not until it was sold him which I wish had never been Sir Robert could say more but hates to trample upon the dead This was after Sir Roberts being kept Prisoner in Bruxels by the instigation of Chancellor Hyde and the instrument he made use of to have Sir Robert then made Prisoner was one that ingratiated himself with Don John D' Austrea who was then Governor of Planders which was thus he was an English man and a degree above a Knight he being some years servant unto an English Dame who had had Three or Four Children he had her received by Don John for a Maid and so past her for unto him and some Five or Six Hundred Pistols was gained that way this was not ill mis-trip as some that read this well may remember the passage herein such qualified persons not constant in Religion Protestant or Papist were the instruments of Sir Robert Walsh his Murderous Imprisonment for Three and Thirty Months in Bruxels but they never would come as witnesses in this age do whereby to maintain their accusations either by right or wrong those who Treacherously under hand to gain them a little favor were accusors of Sir Robert Walsh he could name Six of them since gone unto a worse World then this and few or none now living XX. Now Noble Reader this Everard dashing at me that I should be a subduer of Discoveries Animosities Plots or Designs intended towards the subversion of His Majesties Laws and Government to prove how far from truth that is I appeal to what my King knoweth as coming from me in 1675. 76. 77. 78. And what I did communicate unto the now Honorable Lord Chancellor the Lord Arlington and other Ministers in or about the said years whose names I now mention not as unwilling to add calamity unto calamity I doubt some whom I would have named in 1675. were I thereunto summon'd are no small Incendiaries or Promotors in Disturbances Unto which had I been heard in time prevention might have been given the World cannot but Judge and so shall that my interest is soly in my Sovereigns and that of his good Subjects I having staid here these Four years in expectance that my Representments should be verified and so allowed as now they are and to my great cost I have my Labor for my pains sed Tempus edax rerum XXI Now Noble Reader pardon if I give you the trouble of reading how the Sieur Grimings was put to death who was the Receiver General of Planders a Person then most High and Eminent would make Princes attend their having Audience whiles he stayed to see his Daughters dance the Tricote his Pallace in Bruxels not much inferior to Dunkerk or Clarendon house the reason why I trouble you your Reading his end is that I was nominated in bringing him to it he then being a Prisoner in the same which I was in at Bruxels in the year 1658. that I was the Person who next his demeanor of not being capable to account for the vast summs he had received of his Catholick Majesties Subjects that I was the person who hindered his escape a thing I then did own and now do which none living can or will blame me for when they here the truth as now here they may of the passages thereof yet did Sir Edward Hide and his then Creatures falsely asperse me in giving out that I betrayed this Grimings the passages were as thus which is the Real truth of it this Grimings being a close Prisoner in a ground Chamber seeing me walk in the Yard had the opportunity of asking me why I was there a Prisoner I replied I did not know and withal that I renounced the Grace or Favor of all Kings or Law for any thing that could be laid to my charge upon which he said that the Kings grace was not to be denied and I replied not for them who had use thereof of which number I did conclude he was one and so we parted his Lady was then confined to his Pallace in Bruxels and a Hundred Soldiers there every Night in Guard she hearing that I was a person of Honor and a Prisoner which lay in the Chamber above her Husband she disguises herself and comes to my Chamber throws herself at my feet which very much did surprize me I made her rise which she was unwilling unto she declaring that I was the only person that could relieve and serve her I said that sure she was mistaken and that she took me for some other more considerable Person that might be a Prisoner she cryed no that it was I and none other else that could serve her and declares unto me how which was as thus my Husband lyeth here under your Chamber and I can no way contrive a Communication with him but by your means help and assistance If that you may please so far to be charitably oblieging towards me as to contrive his having a Billet from me for all his Wealth lyeth placed in convents and particular places that without my having an account from him how and where I and my Children are ruined for ever Unto which I replied that I lay Prisoner I knew not for what and for to render my self to be guilty of Intermedling in a concern of that Nature could shew no Judgment or wisdom in me but she so did importune me that she prevailed and I did contrive to convey her Billets to her Husband and his to her by which means she found where and how all his Wealth lay upon which she got his Wealth which were Millions of Livers and so conveyed herself into Holland out of the King of Spains Dominions without making me the least return but by divers of her Letters which are yet extant Grimings being put upon the Rack confessed contrary to his Vows and promises that it was by my means that he corresponded with his Wife upon which his Catholick Majesty sent Commissioners to examine me who indeed were very civil I did not deny my guilt saying why did his Catholick Majesty detain me Prisoner and upon what grounds The Commissioners said I had given great Treasures out of His Majesties Cophers soon after Grimings his Wife run away I writ to Grimings that I had served him in the trust his Wife imposed in me and desired him that he would give his Billet to his son for me to receive a Hundred Pistols I being