my friendship as I wish you should, and for which I must chyde you heartily when wee meete. Let me know particularly what you receaue from Englande, and lett your man enquyre for letters derected as Edgman1 aduiced you. I am, S', Your most affectionate faythfull Seru*, ST. GERMAIN'S. Tuesday morninge, 23. of July, 1652. Sir Edward Hyde to Sir Richard Browne. I haue not had an opportunity till now to acknowledge the receipte of yours of the 24. which came safe to me, and the contents therof were immediately by me imparted to his Matie, who had not before heard of many of the particulars, nor do wee yett heare from the Court of any such message2 sent from the Duke of Orleans, which it seemes they thinke fitt to conceale, when they do not intende to satisfy. I am very sorry for the good Deanes3 indisposicon, though I am gladd it is nothinge but a ffitt of 1 Edgman was Secretary to Sir Edward Hyde, who once vindicated him from a charge of having violated a seal, by declaring he knew him to be so honest that before he would be guilty of such a villainy he would starve. 2 Comparing this letter with another of the same date to Sir Edward Nicholas, in the Clarendon State Papers, vol. iii. p. 85, it appears that the whole of the news, here alluded to, related to the negotiations carrying on between the Court and the Condéans. 3 This was Dr. Stewart, Dean of the Chapel Royal, whom Clarendon, in another place, calls " a very honest and learned gentleman, and most conversant in the learning which vindicated the dignity and authority of the Church." He had been long about Charles's person; for, as early as 1646, in a letter preserved in the Clarendon State Papers, vol. ii. p. 253, and addressed to the Prince, the King calls him an honest trusty servant, and recommends him to his Royal Highness as Dean of his Chapel, telling him at the same time to take the Doctor's advice, "giving reverence to his opinion in all things concerning conscience and church affairs." the stone, which I am very farr from vnderualewinge, yett it seemes lesse daungerous then a vyolent ffeauour with which wee heard he labored: I pray remember my seruice very heartily to him, and send me worde quickly of his perfecte recouery. I The wante of the title of the Duke of Bauaria keepes us from making a congratulatory dispatch to him, which is requisite in seuerall respectes, therfore pray hasten it as soone as you may : let me heare any particulars you receaue from Englande, especially how our frends at Detforde doe.1 If it would be any comforte to you to haue companyons in misery, you will heare shortly that wee are in greate distresses, for I cannot imagyne which way the Kinge 2 will be able to procure mony for his subsistance; nor indeed how the ffrench Courte will subsiste it selfe. Wee know nothinge heare of the Spanish army: what is become of it? You will still commende the King to your neigbour: if the wayes were once open, I would make a iourney ouer to visitt you, and to be merry 3 or 4 howres: I am very heartily, Your most affectionate humble Serut, ST. GERM: 26 July, 1652, ffryday 9 at night. I pray send me the copy of a warrant for Barronett, for I am not sure that myne is not defectiue. Sir Ric: Browne. This inquiry refers to the Evelyn family at Says Court. 2 The periodical prints of that day thus account for the King not wishing to remain at Paris. "The Scots King is still in Paris, but now upon his remove. What shall he do then? Trayla pike under the young Lady of Orleans:" (this lady had recently raised a regiment for the French King's service against the Confederate Lords :) an honour too large for the late Majesty of Scotland. His confidents have satt in Council, and it is allowed by his Mother, that during these tumults in France, it is neither honourable nor expedient for him to continue in Paris, the affections of the citizens for the most part being alienated from the King," &c. દ Sir Edward Hyde to Sir Richard Browne. The messenger who brought me yours of the 27. is so positive in the iustifyinge himselfe, that I cannot but desyre you to examine his allegations, which if not true, he shall be no more sent on his errande, at least not by me: he sweares, he was on Saturday at your house, by 11 of the clocke, and you not being at home, he left the letters, both the Kings and myne with your mayde: this is so contrary to what you say, of his not appearinge before 4 of the clocke, (which putts me in apprehension that our packetts went not by the last ordinary) that I haue a greate minde to know the certainty, and whether the fellow hath any excuse or not; I told the Kinge of the expedient you proposed, which he lyked well, only it was sayd by a stander by, that one footeman would not be alwayes willinge to make that iourny, and hauinge so little encouragement, it is no wonder, that euery man is willinge to saue his labour: I am of your opinion that the breach is already too wyde, betweene the two Commonwealths, to be easily closed agayne. I pray God wee may make good use of it, which will most depende upon your neighbours aduice and derection: I pray hasten the Duke of Bauaria's titles, &c. I wish I could tell you of a more plentifull condicon heare, because I am confident you would haue a share of it: upon my worde, the Kinge hath not yett receaued a penny of supply since his comminge hither: he hath hope of 300 pistoles, for which he gott an order at his beinge at Grubyse, but payment is not yett made: seriously I cannot be more troubled at any thinge, then at your distresses; which I had rather see relieued then my owne: I will not surpryse you at Paris, and 'This delay is easily accounted for, by a reference to the preceding letter respecting the pecuniary difficulties of the French Court. would be glad that the communication should be with more freedome, before I uenture thither.-I will by Saturday send you a letter for George Carterett,' from whome I wonder I heare not, but more, that he forgetts his promise to you: I thought your agent ther had taken the dutyes in spetie accordinge to former aduice. The defeate of Count Harcourte2 I would haue bene gladd to haue receaued more particularly: wee hauinge heare heard nothinge of it: and the Court needes none of these humilliations. God præserue you, and, S', I receaued yours of the 30. late the last night, and reade euery worde of it this morninge to the Kinge. should receaue any præiudice 469. 502 . 488. 13. 17.27.34. 35. 667. 505. nor can imagyne by what hande those offices are done. The truth is, 1 Sir George Carteret was now very active as a sea officer in the King's service; and in the month of July, 1652, is stated to have been on the coast of Flanders with thirteen sail under the royal colours, making prize of English vessels. Soon after this he joined Van Tromp; and subsequently served as Vice-admiral of the French fleet under the Duke of Vendôme. 2 Harcourt was a gallant and loyal French officer; but his laurels faded before the genius of the great Turenne. 3 The De Wit party were at this time predominant in Holland, in opposition to the Orange partisans, who were of course friendly to the King. ther is so greate a licence of writinge vnder the nocon of gettinge intelligence, for which euery man thinkes himself qualifyed, that men care not what they write,' so they may prætende to know much, and I have seen some letters from Hollande, wherein it hath beene sayd, that 668. 13. 12 . 4 . 12.7.62.506.493. 30. order to ther 95.667. the Kinge with communicate all affayres 713. 668. 220. and so it seemes others who belieued that true, may haue giuen notice of his resorte to the Louer, possibly without any ill purpose, and yett I will not absolue them from that nether: at least, folly and impertinency does the same mischieue that malice does but the 220. would haue you assure 668 . Ambr : 95. that he will be as carefull heareafter as he desyres, and for the two papers, 501. 780. examine his cabinett, wher he is sure they are, if he did not burne them, and deliuer them to me, and I will then S send them to you by some sure messenger: ffor 13. 12.21.36.51. 10. 407 . 39. 21 . 10 . 28 53. I am of your opinion for the first, that he is 1 Sir Richard Browne himself had many enemies at this moment among the English exiles; some of whom, in their wish to drive him from the King's service, were busy with suggestions at Court that "his Majesty being present, he could have no Resident." This is alluded to in a letter from Sir Edward Hyde to Secretary Nicholas, in the Clarendon State Papers, iii. 112. 2 This Taylor, adverted to in former notes, was the King's agent with the Emperor of Germany and the Diet; as appears more particularly in a letter to him from Sir Edward Hyde (Clarendon State Papers, vol. iii. p. 112), in reference to an approaching meeting of that body. But in the same volume, p. 121, a very strong reason is given for Lord Wilmot's German Embassy, Hyde remarking, “I am sure a wise man is wanting there; for Taylor is the most absolute fool I ever heard of."-See further, in the same volume, pp. 113, 116. |