Highnesse dined at the Duke of Monmouth's, who were togeather most of the afternoone; it being observed by those that are nere his Royall Highnesse that he has a particular kindnesse and affection for his Grace, upon whom, indeed, all the world now looks as a riseing sun; many will have him to be Master of the Horse in the roome of the Duke of Bucks, who, in the generall opinion, is now declineing in his interest at Court, and some adde that the former grudge between him and the Earle of A.1 is now broken out againe into a declared enmity. The Chancelor seems to have a great hand in all that is now done, though in Towne it has been reported that he was to be removed too, but I know not upon what ground.

That the Duke of Monmouth shall goe Commissioner into Scotland seems more certaine, and almost not doubted, the Duke of Lauderdaill having in all men's opinion playd his game to an end.

I am assured that all the collonells are gone to sca except Bucks, Worcester, and Northampton; for though the Duke of Albemarle and the Lord Vaughan's regiments are left behind, for what reason I know not, yet they themselves are on bord the Fleet, and will goe to sea. The recruitts raised by the Duke of Bucks, being between 5 and 600 men, are marched againe northwards, and, it is said, are to be putt into garrison in Hull, and other places in those parts.

I formerly told your Exey that Mons' Scombergh was made Lieutenant-Generall; since, his commission has been altered, and the quality of Captaine Generall given him to command all the King's forces employed in this summer's expedition under the Prince as Generall; he has, besides, two blank commissions for Major Generalls to be by him filled up according as the King shall direct. Who they will be wee as yet know not, but the generall opinion is that the most experienced Collonells will be made choice of.

On Monday last Prince Rupert had advice brought him by his tenders that the Dutch fleet was againe upon our coast, which brought the allarme to Towne, though wee since find it to have been a mistake.

1 Arlington.

Sir Robert Howard being now sworne Auditor of the Excheq", his place of Secretary to the Lord Treasurer is, after much competition, disposed of to Mr. Bartue, the Earl of Lindsey's brother.

In Towne, people are very jealous of the French; say they either have or will suddainely make a peace with the Dutch and exclude us; and wish for peace because they think no body getts by the warr but those they would not; should expect great matters from the next session of Parliament, who, they say, will examine how things have been caried, and will call those to a severe account whom they find in fault, and many other impertinent discourses of the same nature. And now I must beg leave to tell your Excy that they have married your Exey to the widow of Sir John Smith, who was buried yesterday with great solemnity; against your Exeyes returne they reckon the strictnesse of her mourning will be over, and then overtures will be made, and the rest follow, of which they seem to be so certaine, that they will not have it doubted.

This day at noone the King came to Towne; his servants confirme that the Fleet sailed yesterday morneing, the King goeing with them in his yacht as far as the middle ground, where he came to an ankor, and stayd till the whole Fleet passed by; God Almighty give them successe !

I am told my Lord does not write to your Exey this night, and it is thought the packett boat may be stopt; however, I thought it my duty not to omitt writeing.

I humbly beg your Exeyes pardon, and the continuance of your favor and protection to, my Lord,

Your Excies most faithfull, obedient, and most gratefull servant,

Ꭱ

24 July.

3 Aug.

R. YARD.

No. 60.- FROM HENRY BALL.

May it please your Excellency,

Whitehall, July 21, 1673.

In my last to your Excy on Fryday I made bold to trouble you with what then occurred, since which I heare my Lady O'Bryan goes not to Billing till this day or to-morrow morning; I went to know her Ladyship's commands, but shee was not at home. Yesterday my Lord Chancellor at church was taken so ill as to swound twice, so that he was carryed home very sicke, but this day came to the meeting of the Committee of the Admiralty. My Lord Treasurer made his excuse yesterday also upon the account of illness, and it's said Mr. Coventry is sick too, and the Duke of Buckingham keepes house, which gives great matter for discourse. Since the going out of the Fleete, wee heare that on Fryday his Highness held a Councell of Warr, and there delivered Schombergh his Commissions for Major Generalls, and gave out the Articles of Warr, and then it was resolved to sayle to the head of the Galloper, and from thence to send same small frigatts to observe the posture of the enemy. A small accident happened that day which has caused much talke; the Greyhound, one Clements Captain, came it seemes through all the fleete with a flagge upon her top-mast, which amased all the fleete; the Prince sent a boate to have her strike, and seeing it returne without successe fired a gun at it, upon which it was taken down presently, after which the Captain coming on board, declared he was ordered by Monsieur Schomberg to do it, that it might be known where he was and that it was one of my Lord Mulgrave's ensignes.1 The Captain was putt in the bilboes and then pardoned, but this will cause it's feared a misunderstanding

'Sheffield, Duke of Buckinghamshire (Earl of Mulgrave), gives an account of this incident in his "Memoirs in the reign of Charles II." He is the Mulgrave who was with Schomberg, and whose flag was used. He attributes to annoyance on account of this affair Prince Rupert's ordering all the land forces under Schomberg's command to Yarmouth, "where they lay encamped all the summer by the sea-side, without being ever reimbarked, or able to do the least service; M. de Schomberg CAMD. SOC.

R

between the Prince and him. The whole discourse of the Towne is of the jealosy of the French, and in the Citty great complaints of want of ships to fetch coales for the winter, which are only hindred

for want of passes. The East Indya ship the Faulcon (lately taken) came this day from Amsterdam and tells the Town they live there in as great plenty as possible, and fearless, the land being drayned round about them; that they slight us much, and say they will scarce give us peace, much less townes. Captain Dean was this day sent by his Majesty to buy up all anchors, cordage, &ca., with all speed for the use of his ships. Sir Thomas Modiford presses hard for his liberty,1 the Duke of Albemarle having ingaged to his Majesty in 20,000l. bond for his appearance upon all occasions, and had then his liberty promised him, since which he presses again, alleadging that my Lord Arlington stopt it by a complaint of the Spanish Ambassador's of something done since, which he utterly denyes, so that in three weekes he is said hee shall be free; he thankes the King highly for the favour to his son, who is restored to the Governor of Jamaica's kindness, and made Governor of Port Royall the place of greatest strength there. The Marchants are highly incenced against Sir Martin Westcomb at Cadiz, and intend to peticion to turne him out, as they do also against Consull Maynard att Lisbone. They clamour much at the deadness of trade, and that now our sole strength is ventured at one blow. My Lord Peterborough they say has been sent to looke upon the Dutchesse of Newbourgh for the Duke of Yorke. There are some obeyed, but took no leave of the Prince, and engaged me personally to carry him a challenge after the expedition was over, which the King prevented, though not out of kindness to either of them."

Sir Thomas Modiford was Governor of Jamaica in 1671, when a raid was made from thence by buccaneers under Morgan on the Spanish possessions of Chagres and Panama in the Central American Isthmus, and he was recalled for alleged connivance with the buccaneers, and on his return home sent a prisoner to the Tower to give satisfaction to Spain. His son in the meantime was imprisoned for him. (Arlington's Letters, ii. 327.)

2 See note on Letter No. 7, p. 13, where a reference is made by mistake to letter No. 59; it should be No. 60, this letter.

horrid storyes in the Towne which I dare not trust by the ordinary post, and hope my letters miscarry not, I sending every post. They say my Lord of Northampton is very angry he had not a field command in this expedition, at least a regiment of horse. A report runs about the Town this day that our fleete is ingaged, the guns having been heard both at Sandwich and Deale Satturday afternoone. At the Signett, since my Lord Clifford's pardon (which they say is sans pareill, it being for thought, word, and deed, in any kind whatsoever with more particulars then ever were said before,) has been only a re-grant to Mr. Culliford of his office of Register of all the Seizures in the Custome House, augmenting his sallery from 100l. to 200l. per annum. Mr. Deerham has gott a great office, but as yet I cannot learn what it is, he keeping it private. Sir Wm. Lockhart I heare desires to be Ambassador at Paris, not being so well able to do his Majesty service with his new charecter, and Mr. Warwick,1 Sir Philip's son, presses to be sent envoy thither, though it were but on a complyment on that King's returne from the Leaguer.2

I have not further to trouble your Exey than with the tender of my duty and most humble acknowledgments for the continuance of your favours to me, and that I shall ever make it my endeavour, both in thought, word, and deed, to be, may it please your Excy, Your Excies most humble and obedient servant,

HENRY BALLE.

Since the writing of this, I just now received a letter from a captain in the Earle of Mulgrave's regiment aboard the Greyhound of the 20th inst., who sayes, Mons. Schomberg was aboard him, and with all the colliers (where the army were) were come on Sunday into Yarmouth roade where they were to ride till further order from his Majesty or the Prince, who that day went for the coast of

1 Sir Philip Warwick had been in the service of Charles I., and was on the Restoration appointed Secretary of the Lord Treasurer, Earl of Southampton. He died in 1682. He wrote "Memoirs of Charles the First."

* The leaguer, the siege of Maestricht.