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its passadg; when it came to my veiw it was kindly entertaynd, and after I had perused it, I shew it his royall Highnesse, whoe is verry well sattisfyed with your duty and kindnesse to him. For news thus: my Lady Betty Buttler was marryed to my Lord Darbye Thursday last. The Duke Lotherday has sold his place as Gentleman of his Bedchamber to his Majestye for six thousand pounds. Yesterday the army decampt at Blackeheath and marchd to Gravsend, in order to be there immediatly shippd; 'tis the six new raysed regiments that are to imbarke, and there are allreaddy seventy five companys in the fleete. The new regiments imbarke in severall colliers his Majestie has hyred, but whethers all this force is designed is to us standdard by unknowen; assoone as these men are put aboarde the Prynce put to sea, which I beleeve wilbe by Thursday or Fryday next. His Fleete is a hundred and tenn men of warr, besydes fire shipps, which are fortty. Mounsieur Shamburgh is made Leyftennant Generall and commands this armye under the Prynce.

2

Mris Wells has declared her marryage with Mr Thomas Winddham the Querye, and her Majestye has made her one of her dressers. Sir Robert Longe dyed a Satterday last, and this day I saywe Sir Robert Howard sworne in his place, and my Lord Treasurer Secretary wilbe Captayne Chearle Berttye;3 tis a mightye discourss that my Lord Chamber is to have tenn thousand pownds for his place, and my Lord Arlingston is to have the place, and you are to be on of the principall Secretary to his Majestye. I doc not tell you this for a truth, as it is the discourse of many pretenders that undertake to make discoverys. Sir, I have mannaged this letter, lycke romance wrytters that sume time leave the greate concerne of

Sir Robert Long had been Private Secretary of Charles I.; was made a Baronet in 1662.

2 Sir Robert Howard succeeded Sir Robert Long as Auditor of the Exchequer. See note, p. 49

3 Charles Bertie, brother of the Earl of Lindsey, and brother-in-law of Osborne the new Lord Treasurer. He was M.P. for Stamford.

the Knyght and Lady to discourse of gentlewomen, even soe I have minggled my discourss which I hope wilbe acceptable, since 'tis addressed to you from on that is soe perfectly

Your fast friend and very

humble servant

FRA. HAWLEY.

No. 51.-FROM JAMES VERNON.1

May it please your Excellency,

3

Whitehall, 14th July.

My Lord Duke,2 arrived here last Saturday night, is found an extreme good wellcome from his Majesty and the Court. He tooke his leave of the King at Chastelet and went the same day to Reins and from thence to Quesnoy, the next day to Arras, thence to Hesdin, so to Boulogne. On Fryday last he arrived at Calais, where he embarqued the same day, and landed at Deale on Saturday morning. The people do nothing but confer honors upon him. They will have him to be Master of the Horse in the Duke of Buckingham's place, Commissioner of Scotland in my Lord Lauderdale's, and Generall of the land forces.

I shall not pretend to write any news to your Excellency, since it is all sent you from your Exeys office. His Grace is pleased that I should still continue with him, where I beg the honor of any of your Exeys commands. I am, my Lord,

Your Excellency's most obedient and most faithfull servant,
My Master.

No. 52.-FROM ROBERT YARD.

May it please your Excellency,

J. VERNON.

Whitehall, 14 July, 1673.

Wee have your Excies of the 13 instant; the enclosed for my Lady Katherine I delivered to her Ladiship this morneing. In my

1 Became Under-Secretary of State in 1692.

2 The Duke of Monmouth.

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3 The King of France.

last I told your Excie that it was intended that the regiments should have marched on Saturday from Blackheath, which was however deferred till yesterday, when they decamped, the King, Duke, and Duke of Monmouth being there present, and marched towards Dartford Heath, where they were to lodge that night, and this day proceed to Gravesend to embarke there. All the Collonells as I am informed goe along with there forces, except the Marquis of Worcester and the Earle of Northampton, who stay at home by the King's order. The Duke of Bucks has layd downe his commission of Collonell, and his recruits which he raised lately in the North are not marched with the rest of the forces, but lye still here in Towne. Some say that the Duke of Monmouth will have the command of this regiment, and succeed him in his place of Master of the Horse to the King.

To-morrow morneing the King goes downe to the fleet., which they now say will saile on Thursday next without fail, but wee have been so often told of their resolution to saile, from one day to another, that people will hardly beleive it till they hear they are

at sea.

All the news of the Towne is, of the haughty (if not rude) language used to the King by Don Bernardo de Salinas, in his audience, he having, as it is said, told the King that they all knew the necessities he was reduced to, and that he would not be able to maintaine the warre three months longer, and that his onely expedient to free himselfe from [it was] to breake his alliance with France, &ca.

I hope your Ex will pardon me that I entertaine you with such impertinent talke, which I onely doe to let your Exey know the discourse of the Towne.

Yesterday morneing dyed Sir Robert Long, after a long and lingering discase, and this day Sir Robert Howard was sworne into his place; it is discoursed as if Sir Thomas Meers was to succeed him in the Secretary's place to the Lord Treasurer.

The Lord Clifford nor the Duke of Lauderdaill are not a yet returned out of the country, and the discourse is that wee shall see them in Towne noe more. The weather continues very wett and

unseasonable.

Severall strang and extravagent reports passe up and downe the Towne, which I dare not presume to trouble your Exey with; and therefore shall humbly conclude with my prayers for your Excies successe and prosperity, as becomes, my Lord,

Your Excies most faithfull and most obedient obliged servant,

R. YARD.

No. 53.-FROM HENRY BALL.

May it please your Excellency,

Whitehall, July 14, 1673.

In obedience to your Excies commands, I have presumed ever since your departure to present your Exey with whatever came to my knowledge, which I hope your Exey has received, and I am so conscious of my failings therein, that I cannot enough implore your Excies pardon.

On Satturday morning last, his Majesty, Royall Highness, and their usuall attendance, went downe to Blackheath in order to see the campe breake up, and stayed there till night; but that day happened little there, more then putting the men in order and prepairing for their march. Yester morning early his Majesty went again with the Duke and the Duke of Monmouth, who arrived late the night before; they saw them march most away to lodge last night at Deptford in their way to Gravesend, where they imbarque. His Majesty returned yester noone, and they say gocs once more to-morrow morning to see the fleete, and then they goe away for the sea; people talke much of the suddain motions used now and of want of care, for a boate went they say from Harwich

Satturday night with Dutch men for Holland, who would doubtless give them alarame enough, and perhaps an account of our designes. The Duke of Monmouth wants no carresses to bid his welcome and to helpe it forward; the people will have him made Vice Roy or Commiss of Scotland, Lieut. Generall, and whatever else can be imagined. The rumour of the Caball being broken continues, and Sir Wm. Coventry to be Treasurer, Bridgwater1 Chancellor, and the Lord Roberts2 sent for to be Privy Seale, with severall other strange reports as various as untrue: but most say your Exey is to be Secretary, before the Parliament, of which there is great expectations.

Yesterday morning dyed Sir Rob. Long, and this day Sir Robert Howard sworne into his place, upon which, being to leave his owne office, there are two that is said stand in competition for the place, Mr. Bertie late Envoye to Denmarke, and Sir Tho. Meres, who they say must be stopt with this or he will not be silent at the Parliaments meeting, and he is the likelyest to have it, so that Mr. Wolsely is going to be made a Commissioner for wine licenses, and all the others to find new concernes. The unseasonable weather continues, and a very ill prophesy which is inclosed broached about, and does much hurt by the ill reflections made on the affaires now; the people are very jealous that the French treate separately and will leave us out, and that wee shall be forced either to have an ugly peace or a Carthage warr. My Lord Clifford is not yet returned from Tunbridge nor Duke of Lauderdale from the Bath.

'John, second Earl of Bridgwater, had been made a Privy Councillor in 1666: he was a man of learning. Shaftesbury was Lord Chancellor, though not a professional lawyer; and others were spoken of in this and following reigns for the Great Seal, who were not lawyers, as the Earl of Orrery, Earl of Anglesea, Earl of Mulgrave.

2 Lord Roberts had been one of the Presbyterian leaders in the great Civil War. After the Restoration, he was made Lord Privy Seal, and in 1669 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. IIe was later created Earl of Radnor, and in October 1679 he succeeded the Earl of Shaftesbury as Lord President of the Council.

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