what a miserable condition I am for want of some present supply of money, my friends haveinge plainly signified unto mee that I must expect no more from them, or from my estate in England already engaged to its utmost extent. By the same opportunity I likewise give y' Hon' notice of S Balt. Gerbiers manner of proceedinge here at his first arrival, since which he continues his frequent visits to the Queene, Princes, and Ministers, taking much uppon him, and using his Maties name how hee pleases uppon all occasions, not onely givinge out here, butt also writing into other parts (as I have received notice by letters from good hands) that he is sent hither by his Ma" to condole about other business of great consequence.-I shall be glad to know what y' Hon' thinkes of this kinde of carriage of his, and whether it bee his Maties pleasure to have a pretended Ambassad' where he hath allready an avowed Resident. Sir, The Elector Palatine to Mr. Browne. Yrs of the past, brought along wth it soe good effects of y' endeavours in my affaires, as that besides y'owne assurances & my Resid' Pawls constant testimonie of y' assiduity, the contents of what it hath procured in my favour, doth clearely confirme me in confidence, & augment my obligation towards you. My constant ill fortune hath taught me not to stand att this time much upon formalities wth those whose helpe I need, therefore I must rest satisfied wth what the mentioned letter wants thereof, in hopes it will be supplied wth reallity when it comes to the push. I thank you also for y' good advertisements to Pawel, & am very glad to find by y' last concerning Madle de Rohan,' the care wch the King my gracious This lady was only daughter of the Duke de Rohan, one of the great leaders of the Huguenot party in France; and Vncle hath of those that doe him acceptable service. And soe desiring the continuance of yo' good offices in wht still further concerne the good of my interests, I assure you that I shall euer remaine Y' most affectionnate frend, HAGHE the 7th of Sept: 1643. CHARLES. "For Mr. Browne,' Resid' to the King of Gr: Britt: att Paris." Indorsed, From Pr: El: Palatine 7: Sept. 1643. Sir Richard Browne to Sir Edward Nicholus. 3 Sept. 1643. [Cypher] concerning which moneyes as I treated with 335. 420 (who hath very much contributed to the findinge out and sendinge this summe) hee knowinge my case, of himselfe offered mee to move 335. 501. to reserve here what part I would towards payment of my entertainement until they received his Maties order to put it into my hands, but I replyed who signalised himself in the affairs at Rochelle and the Isle du Rhé. In Hardwicke's State Papers there is a letter from Sir Henry de Vic to Lord Conway, dated from the coast of France in 1627, in which she is said to be on the point of marriage with the Count de Soissons; a match which the Duke of Buckingham also describes as most desirable for the Protestant Cause. See Hardwicke's State Papers, pp. 34— 38. It was at one time intended by Charles the First that Prince Rupert should marry Mademoiselle de Rohan and in the Harleian Collection there is a letter from the King to Prince Maurice in favour of the match. The Elector Palatine, Charles Louis, the writer of the letter in the text, returned soon after its date into England, where he had long been a pensioner. His brothers were constant to the Royal cause; but he took part with the Parliament, and sat in the Assembly of Divines. The truth was, that, being the next heir to the English Crown in case the family of Charles the First were set aside, a section of the popular leaders had undoubtedly cast their thoughts towards him as a means by which some settlement might be effected similar to that which was made with the Prince of Orange between forty and fifty years later; and there can be as little doubt that the young Elector, who had nothing amiable or generous in his disposition, and who felt bitterly his dependence on his royal uncle's generosity and charity, caught greedily at the bait held out. 1 Afterwards Sir Richard. that though my necessities did much presse mee, yett I would nott presume to stopp or divert any supply whatsoever sent to his Ma". Here is a very consider and ammunition ! able quantity of 259.82:91.83. sent and sendinge from hence, the particulars wheroff are I assure myselfe well knowne to his May and to y' Hon'.prays for money & to be preserved from perishing. To the same. 3 Sept. 1643. the welcome newes of 20,000l. sterling which this good Queene sends to their Maties by her Ambass.-They offered to put part into his hands, but he refused it, tho' his necessities were great, as he wod not intercept any supply sent to his Ma". Much arms & ammunition sent-lord V. Mountague had 50,000 livres Tournois to purchase arms— 35,000 only expended-prays the other part may be ordered for him. To the same. 10-20 Nov. 1643. The Queene is in a manner wholly governed by Card' Mazarine, who is secretly leagued with the Prince of Condé, but governed by Mons' de Chavigny; this last beinge by this meanes though in a close way more powerfull than ever. The whole triplicitly I feare will league noe very favourable influence on England. Mr. Croft is gone to Rouen joyntly with my La V. Mountague & others to treat with som merchants for furnishinge his Ma" with armes & ammunition, &c. 1 The words "and ammunition" are struck though with a pen in the original. To Lord Digby. 6 Jan. 1644. Delivers the Kings passe for 100 barrells of powder, 12,000 waight of match, 2000 swords & 500 case of pistols to be by a merch put aboard his May 2 men of war at Havre. The passe was drawn according to my memoire, for the king of Gr. Br. service, but the Secretary of State caused it to be new written, and those words left out: wch among many other things I have observed, makes me think those here very far from declaring for either side in England. To the same. 25 March, 1644. I have received your L'ps letter of 21. Feb. that some supplies of money will speedily be sent to me, & intimating his Matys gracious pleasure to conferre upon mee (not lesse unexpected than undeserved) the dignity of Baronett; as y' Lo' has happily joyned these two together, soe I humbly beseech.... they may not be separate butt for mutual support and ornament march hand in hand. To attend y' LOPS commands in both I have desired the bearer hereoff Mr. William Prettyman (a younger brother of my wife's) to make a journey to Oxford- -within few dayes I shall have better opportunity to express my thankfulnesse more at large. I humbly beseech yo' L' to represent my most abundant gratitude to his Ma". To Lord Jermyn. 3-13 June, 1644. Y' Lop hath obtained from his May a grant of the perpetuity here in France of 2822 livres tournois p If yo' Lop should not already have made sure thereoff, I know not how Mr. Aubert's pretensions an. may interfere with this of yo' LoPS; for three days since his Agent here signified his May order to mee for payment to him of 25m livres and returning from him the diamond; which sume not being to bee had out of the arreares, it is probable hee will now make a demand of the rents themselves, which if he doe obtain, and that they bee made over to him in that lowe and underhand rate hee expects, he will make up his summe, sweep away not only the rents themselves, but alsoe the remaininge part of the arreares. To Lord Digby. June, 1644. The inclosed arret will lett yo' LP see that I have at last finished the longe dependinge suite for recovery of a remainder of His Maties portion-money longe since deposited here for the payment of certaine creditors & servants of His Matie. The rents or perpetuity tenn yeares since bought with this money, with the arrears of the sayd rents, I have been forced to wrest out of violent hands uppon the best terms I could; for to say the truth, they were in a manner swallowed up by some greedy cormorants in too great place and power here, who never thought to have thus regorged them to their true owner his Ma". Of the tenn yeares arreares of 2822 livres p' an. there are little above seaven at present to bee found in ready money (the rest being nott yet payed), which present money will all be disposed off partly by the arret itselfe, and partly for necessary compositions, charges, and gratuities (as shall appeare by my just and good account), so that to his Maties profitt there will come cleare only the perpetuity or rents themselves, and betweene two or three yeares arreares. These rents stand his Matty in twelve yeares purchase, but by reason of the seasures the late French King and this have since these warres made uppon rents of this nature, and of the uncertaine condition of these times, they will not |
