nivance for the admissyon of our shipps (for you know wee haue bene longe without the benefitt of the printed Order you mention) before Mons. Castlenoe (from whome the orders were without question sent, for his owne benefitt) be first spoken with, and my La Jermin' promised to doe that presently, and he hoped effectually; but wee finde after longe enquyry that Mons. Castlenoe is gone out of this towne to the Cardinall, nor is it knowne when he will returne, and yett it is thought as necessary, that his minde and resolucon be first vnderstoode: Therefore my La Jermyn hath written to him, and inclosed the state of the case, made out of your letters, and Mr. Atturny hath sent the same to the Duke of Yorke, who wee presume is most like to gett a full dispatch in it, and wee must expecte the answer from thence, and then if there be any cause to complayne

1 Jermyn's influence at the exiled Court had for some time been very great; and is thus described by a news-writer of the time, writing from Paris, in a volume of Tracts in the British Museum: "The little Queen is retired to the nunnery at Chaliot, there to spend her time a while in devotion, for the advance of some designes that she hath on foot. She left her son the fugitive at the Louvre, given up to the bent of his Common Prayer Mongers, and of Jermyn, whose power is now greater with him than any; which is a sure sign that his Mother rules him again, and that he hath resigned his judgement, affection, and all to her; because heretofore there was a sore grudge between him and Jermyn, in regard at his former being here. Jermyn (who then commanded and still keeps the purse) was very streight handed over him in his expenses.- -The old Court flies begin now again to flock about him" (30th Dec. 1651) "from all parts. Crofts is returning from Poland, where he called himselfe a Lorde Ambassadour; and is to be made a Lord as soon as he comes (as they would have us believe), for his pains in that employment and for the charitable contribution of our Polish cousins that (they say) he brings along with him. Some of them are come to the Louvre already out of Flanders, as Hyde, a man of dignity too, that calls himself the Chequer Chancellor ; here is also Bramhall, of London Derry, Dan O'Neill, Fraiser, a physitian, and one Lloid, a Chaplain. These bring newes, that Buckingham and Secr. Nicholas would have come along too, but that they wanted Ghelt; and the rest of his Majesties black guard and retinue that wander in the Low Countries, if they were sure of daily bread for their attendance."

at Courte, wee will take the best care wee can, that it be made as it ought to be.

ffor the other businesse concerninge the Marq: of . . . . . ., of which I thinke I writt somewhat to you in my last, Mr. Atturny and I haue spoken with Choquy of it, who exspects euery day an answer to what he hath formerly sent to the Marq: and when that comes, or that it appeares he desyres not to make any answer, the Kinge will conclude what he should doe as to the revocation.

ffor your Hamborough pryse, you cannot suppose that I will returne a priuate opinion of my owne, in a businesse of that nature, for many reasons, and the Kinge commanded me to aduise with M2 Atturny, and upon both our consideringe the case as M' Holder sent it me, wee doe not see it so cleerely stated, as to be able to giue the King any iudgement upon it, since it does not appeare that the goods do at all belonge to any English marchant or ffactor, but for ought appears may be the proper estate of the Hamberghers.

I did not suppose they had suffred you to giue any adiudications ther, and that the former arrest had bene made at Rhemes upon that quarrell: We hope the Duke will be heare within 2 or 3 dayes, and then it will be necessary to receaue his derection upon all this businesse. My La Inchiquin and I are upon some trouble with your Landlord, who yesterday was at your house, and expresses some purpose to seize upon the goods; which we all vnderstande would not only be very mischieuous to you, but very dishonorable to the Kinge, and therefore you may be confident that wee omitt nothing that is in our power to doe, hauinge not a penny to discharge the debte.'

1 An extract from the Mercurius Politicus of the 8th July, 1652, may help to illustrate this letter: "Charles Stuart, who was said to be gone in our last [from Paris] went not till some few days after. He made the more haste, because a servant of his was fallen upon, pursued, and beaten, even in his master's place of abode at the Louvre. Hee also was besieged there by the bakers, butchers, and other tradesmen of all sorts, in whose books he is faln very deep; and they

This day S Ri: ffoster goes with my L' Inchiquin to him to see how farr good wordes and promises will prevayle with him, and all other courses shall be really taken for his satisfaction, that are in the Kinges power. Will ther be nothinge dew upon the Kinges owne share of the pryses brought in by the Patricke & Francis, that might be imployed to that purpose? any order should be procured from hence.

I pray convay this inclosed to Ge: Carterett, who I suppose is not still with you. God præserue you. I am heartily.

S',

Your most affectionate huble Servt,

PALL: Ro: this 21 of January 1653.

Sir. R. Browne.

EDW. HYDE.

Sir Edward Hyde to Sir Richard Browne.
S',

I haue receaued yours of the 7th from the good Govern' and yourself, and this must serue as answer to you both, for I am still in my old posture, not yet able to stirr from my bed. I have not heard

these many weekes from Mr. Holder, but I suppose he giues the same informacon to the Duke and his officers, if not, what he sayes is likely to be belieued more then what I shall informe, therefore I must still renew my aduice to you, that you write very particularly to the Duke himselfe, or to some of his officers, of all the obstruccons you meete with, and very particularly of the misdemeanours of the Captaines,' and of any such proposicons and expedients feared, if they lost him they should lose their money. But to pacify them they were told his intent was but to go to Rosney upon the way to Roan. His mother marches with him. The small baggage they have is already gone. They give out that they will returne after the peace is made, and condemn this City of ingratitude; alledging that it had bin blockt up by the King before this time, had it not bin for their mediation with his Majesty."

1 The Duke of York was actually at this period with the

which you thinke fitt to offer for the promoting his seruice, and I make noe doubt but his Royall Highnes will as soone hearken to you, and be aduiced by you, as by any persons. I can giue you no intelligence from hence, whilst I continue thus a prysoner, but truely I thinke they who are abroad know little of moment, the Court here being wholly intent upon battels and matters of pleasure, and our owne affaires being in a dead calme, exspecting some gentle gale from some of our neighbours to give them motion, and really I doe belieue ye good spiritt does improve, since no body can doubt, but y' the people in England are generally well prepared for it. This is all I can say to you, but y I am to you both

your most affectionate humble servant, EDW. HYDE.

PARIS 18 Feb. 1653.

The King hath lately bene aduertised by the Gouernment of Innisboffine, that if any Marchantmen will bring corne, armes, or ammunicon thither, they shall be sure to receiue ready money for it, and that such a supply would enable them for some time to exspect greater, and not to submitt to the rebells. If it were possible to procure any of your Men of War, or any Marchants to resort thither, it would be a wonderfull good seruice, therefore I pray deuice all wayes possible to compasse it, and let me know how the seuerall letters I sent to you directed to yt place haue bene disposed off.1

French army under Turenne; and though he would seem from this letter to have been personally interested in the affairs of the little squadron of privateers, yet there is no mention of it whatever in the Life published from his own Memoir.

1 These plans and hopes were soon after put an end to by the capture of Innisboffin by the Parliamentary army, it being then the last place in Ireland that held out for the King.

Sir Edward Hyde to Sir Richard Browne.

S',

I am sure it can be no newes to you that Pr. Rupert is safe at Nantes,' and therfore it is very probable this letter may not finde you at Brest, but that you may haue thought it fitt to attende his Highnesse, and offer him your seruice. The Kinge hath sent Mr. Holder some derection concerninge the Hamborough shipp. If George Carterett' be not with you, I pray send this letter to him by the first safe opportunity, and if he hath not a coppy of your cypher, send it to him, I havinge used it in this letter for 3 or 4 lynes, which it is necessary for him to understande. Excuse me, who hauinge no letter of yours to answer, for beinge at present so shorte, which you know is not my naturall faulte. Wee haue reason to hope the Kings affayres are upon a mendinge hande, with reference to Hollande.-God be with you. I am very heartily,

S',

your most affectionate Seru*, EDW. HYDE.

PARIS this 22 of March (1653). Sir Ric: Browne.

This was the last of Prince Rupert's maritime expeditions during the Interregnum. On his return to Europe he captured a rich prize laden with tobacco, and having carried her into Nantz, in March, 1653, he was soon after seized with a violent illness, recovering from which he proceeded to Paris, and was well received by the French King. From Paris he went to the Imperial Court; but returned to England at the Restoration. The small fleet now under the command of Prince Rupert had been originally refitted at Toulon; but having met with losses of ships, particularly at the Azores (where his own flag-ship, the Reformation, had been sunk, and the whole crew of 360 men perished, with the exception of Rupert, his brother Maurice, and twelve others), it was found necessary to return to the northern parts of France; particularly as Admiral Penn, with his squadron, was waiting for them in the Straits of Gibraltar.

2 Sir George Carteret, a little before this time, commanded