out of the Papenbourgh; but now they say 'tis but as much as will purchase Clarendon House, which his Majesty is buying for her. Every one dreads the meeting of this Parliament, and feare our enmity to the French may breed ill blood among them, for all people will have it that wee must breake off our league with them, or suffer our selves to be ruined, but I dare not write halfe what is spoken in publique in every coffee-house. Captain Stockmann and Merryweather, said to be killed in the fight, are come safe to towne alive. The inclosed I had in command from my Lady O'Bryan. I am in all duty, may it please your Excellency, R Sept. 4. Your Excellencyes most obedient servant, HENRY BALL. No. 95. FROM ROBERT YARD. May it please your Excellency, Whitehall, 29 August, 1673. I have your Excellency's of the 29. instant, with the enclosed for my Lady Katherine, Mr. Oldenburgh, and Mr. Vernon. Wednesday night last his Highnesse arrived here from the Fleet, which he left at the buoy of the Nore; the next morneing he went to visitt the French Ambassador, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Treasurer, &c., and is said to have publickly declared to them that the French did not assist him; this makes the Towne talke the louder, and admire the Prince the more, which they doe to that degree that it would be impossible for him to doe amisse so long as he opposes the French, or at least that they think he does. I am unwilling to write your Excellency any thing of this nature, but that your Excellency is pleased to command it, and therefore I hope I may without offence add that the dissatisfaction is so great at this conjunction with the French, that the generall speech in the Citty and that amongst the soberest and chiefest persons is that unlesse this alliance with France be broken the nation will be ruined, and that which at present troubles them the most is, that our Government hath entertained such kind thoughts of them, that they are not able to see their carriage towards us, but are ready on all occasions to take their part, even against our selfes. Upon the Exchange they say, that here at Court they side with D'Estrees against the Prince, a thing they can by no means endure; others complaine that there is a faction in the Fleet, which they say is made by his.....1 to stayne the actions of the Prince, of which Sir Edward Sprag was counted one, though it is strang that men should be so ignorant of the great worth and honor of his...... as to think him capable of such contrivance, and certainely he deserves better of them; but this is a subject unfitt for my pen, I must therefore leave it, and beg your Excellency's pardon that I dare not repeat what others discourse with the greatest freedome and liberty imaginable. Wee were two days since very much allarmed with a report that Tromp was gone through the Channell with ten men of warr and as many fire-ships, to endeavour to destroy the great fleet of marchantmen in Ireland; but since wee have been convinced of the improbability of it, the winds haveing been so contrary, that that would hinder their passing the Channell, had they had any such designe. But wee believe that Tromp, who sailed the 22. instant from the Dutch Fleet, is rather gone norward to look for their East India ships, which they did not then know were fallen into our hands. The Duke of Monmouth is prepareing himselfe to goe to sea in the Swiftsure; people look upon it only as a preparatory for a generall command of his Majesty's navall forces, if there be occasion; in the mean time he is, as I am assured, to goe out with a good squadron to fetch home the Fleet of Marchantmen, who, according to the letters wee have this day from Kinsale, intended to saile from thence the 20. of this month, so that wee are now in hourly expectation to hear of their arrivall in the West of England, which will be joyfull news to the Marchants, this being the richest fleet that ever came to England togcather. The beginning of the next 1 Royal Highness are, probably, the words omitted: the Duke of York. week the Prince and the Duke of Monmouth goe down to the Fleet, which wee hope to see at sea againe in few days after, though many people are of opinion that the great ships will goe out no more, and especially if a squadron saile to the westward, which will so much weaken the Fleet as to make them uncapable of goeing out againe to face the enemy, if they have their Fleet entire. There is a report about Towne, though with what ground I know not, that the Earle of Ossory will come home with intentions of goeing no more to sea; and truely there be many that would be glad they might doe so, for, to speak the truth, the seamen are extreamely disheartned, and all because of the French, for it is confessed by all that never men behaved them selves better than our ships did in this last fight, and that after so much courage and undaunted resolution they should come off no better, and that because of false friends, breaks their hearts. I must againe beg your Excellency's pardon that I thus, according to your Excellency's commands, give your Excellency the naked discourses of the Towne, to which I am so farr from adding that I dare not write all I hear. I am, with all respect and humility, my Lord, Your Excellency's most faithfull and most obedient humble servant, R Sept. 4. R. YARD. No. 96.-FROM SIR ROBERT SOUTHWEll. My Lords, Spring Garden, 31 Aug. 1673. I have this good while wanted something worth of your Excres trouble and am still in the same distresse, observing nothing that my particular industry could contribute to the generall infor mations. The present great paine wee are in is for the safe arrivall of our shipps, which were uppon the 22. inst. still within the harbour of Kinsale. We hope the winds have prevented any designe of our enemyes that way, and we are ready to turne out within a few dayes a considerable squadron of our frigotts to make all sure. 'Tis highly worth our care to looke after soe important a stake, for perhaps twelve East India ships were never togeather in any port before. There are, besides, 36 sayle of Barbados men and six men of warre, with a fire-ship; but the four of them which came from Sta Helena under Capt. Munden had so many sick men on board, and did soe much suspect their security, not onely in adventuring to sea, but even in the port that is unfortyfyed, if the enemy should come and boldly attempt them by fire-ships, that they have beene in great distresse what resolutions to take, and this has beene the reason that, altho' the winds have beene very good, yet they have not moved from the place. But our generall concerne is touching the event of your Exeyes great labours in your place, and wheather this East India losse may not have afforded our enemyes some advice. We seeme to apprehend the march and resolutions of the Germans, and that the first stroke will infallibly draw a declaration of warr from Spaine, and then the raynes are broke loose. But in this case alsoe we talke that Spaine will leave us a roome in their favour if we will accept it, and if you heard at what a rate of indignation the Towne talkes to the disadvantage of the French, some on the point of cowardise, and others of treachery, you would think our enemyes had calculated their matters accordingly. But as the French and some few their abettors doe boldly recriminate, soe 'tis apparent that even amongst our selves there have beene great animosityes, and the consequences thereof appeared too much in the worke of the last engagement. But lett me particularly mention that of my good Lord Ossory every man's relation is the same, that he fought like a true English heroe, and the R. Prince had certainely beene burnt or towed away by the enemy, if he had not beene resolved to dye first by her syde. Since Mr. Mountegue was in possession of his bright purchase the old lady has sent for the child, but was answered in the negative, 198 LETTERS ADDRESSED TO SIR JOSEPH WILLIAMSON. and preparations are making to assert this refusall, and the Towne has already disposed her to my Lord George and made the mother a Dutchesse. My Lord Treasurer is now fixt at Wallingford House, and returned againe to a reasonable good state of health. I am, with all imaginable respect, my Lord, Your Excyes most affectionate and most obedyent servant, R 48 Sept. END OF VOL. I. |