I am sure the father can never sufficiently express his. In the mean time I pray God prosper your Excellency's person, continue your health, prosper your great undertakings, and return you with honor and success to your native country; which is the prayer of Your most obliged humble servant, I was very sorry you were soe long obstructed in your voyage by the wind; neverthelesse I hope you arriv'd well and safe, and that these may find you in good health. My Lord Mayor' was at Brandford Wednesday last, where we dranck your health, as alwayes we doe when we meete; this day wee dine at Greenwich, where we shall not faile likewise to remember you. My Lord Mayor hath dranck to Mr. Linsey a Goldsmith as Sheriffe for this ensueing yeare, and I beleeve he will hold; our old Recorder lyes adying, and we are aboute electing Mr. Sawyer, Sir Edmund Sawyer's sonn, of the Exchequer, to be in his place. The last weeke my Lord Arlington and Sir Robert Carr invited themselves by me son. This letter is from Sir John Robinson, Bart. Lieutenant of the Tower, and a City Alderman. He was a member of the City Cloth workers' Company with WilliamPepys mentions calling on him when he was Lord Mayor in 1663, and thus describes him: "My Lord Mayor, a talking, bragging, buffleheaded fellow, that would be thought to have led all the City in the great business of bringing in the King, and that nobody understood his plot, and the dark lanthorn he walked by; but he led them and ploughed with them as oxen and asses, his own words, to do what he had a mind; when in every discourse I observe him to be as very a coxcomb as I could have thought had been in the City:" and more to the same purpose (Pepys's Diary, March 17, 1663). Sir John was nephew of Archbishop Laud. 2 Sir Robert Hanson. 3 Brentford. 4 He did not serve. 5 Sir John Howell; he survived until 1676, when he resigned and was succeeded by Sir William Dolben, afterwards a judge of the King's Bench. to my Lord Mayor's to dinner, and my Lord of Ormond accompanied them; they were very merry and nobly enterteyn'd. Sir Robert Carr is desirous to be one of your brethren, and to that purpose we must goe to his howse to be merry, and afterwards doe the like in the Citty. There hath beene little worth your notice since you went from hence, else I had wrought you sooner. We have made an end of our musters in the Citty and Hamletts. Your health was never forgott amongst the souldiers at the tent. Now that's over, that the archery may not fall to the ground, Sir Thomas Player and myselfe being chossen Stewards the last yeare by that worthy person Mr. Ellis that is dead, we have appointed the 30th of this month to meete at a dinner, and then we shall appointe a day for shooting, in order to which the targett is sent to be fitted. We are in a very serene temper in the Citty. I must not trouble you with news of the Fleete or these matters, for I am sure you have it from Whitehall; only I must tell you that the song of the Citty and upon the Exchang this day is that De Rutter was slaine1 the last engagement, to the greate satisfacion of the Citty. My humble service to Sir Lyonell Jenkins. You have the respects and service of all in Northamptonshire, and all your brethren, who, togeather with myselfe, hope to heare from you of your health. I remaine most hartily, 2 Your most affectionate brother and faithfull servant, Coll. Strangwith is now within, drincking Sir Lyonell Jenkins and your health, and presents his service to you both. 2 Sir John Robinson was owner of Farming Woods, near Kettering, Northamptonshire. 3 Giles Strangways, M.P. for Dorsetshire. He was with Sir John Robinson, when Pepys visited him March 17, 1663, " in the cellar drinking." See note, p. 63. No. 17.-FROM SIR ROBERT SOUTHWELL TO SIR LEOLINE JENKINS AND SIR JOSEPH WILLIAMSON. My Lords, Spring Garden, 13 June, 1673. I may now justly conclude that your Excellencyes are fixed at Cullen, and absent soe long as to like everything that comes from home; therefore on the presumption of your appetites I herewith send you copy of a Treaty with Guyland,' which has been read in Councill and very well approved, and ordered to be ratifyed. And Colonell Norwood is directed to give account of what things Guyland left in his custody, that reparation may be made his Highnesse. I send your Excellencyes alsoe the draught of a letter which endured a long and very serious debate at the Board; the matter of it had becne often there, and severall draughts were made, and this was the compound of all, and much laboured by my Lord Privy Seale, 3 touching his Majesty's Lycences to Dissenters. 'Twas alleaged that they were now but as snares to them that had them, and that somewhat ought to be signifyed for quietnesse sake till the Parliament mett, yett with soe much caution as neither to suspend the lawes in force, nor give authority to the licences. This was the nice narrow patch that could hardly be hitt, and which his Majesty thought was not in this draught. And there was a snare feared on the other side, because it was in the power of an informer to run up a justice one hundred pounds a time, as often as he should refraine from executing the lawes; and if his Majesty would not pay the score at last, or justify Mr. Justice for his refrayning, this might proove a noose to honest men; and therefore his Majesty waved to putt any thing in writing which would, how well soever drawne, 1 A Moorish Prince near Tangier, who had frequently attacked it. 2 Deputy Governor of Tangier. The Earl of Anglesey, Arthur Annesley of the Restoration. be quarrelled at, and create more trouble then the remedying all the particular complaints that may happen.1 Wee had one this day of Sir Robert Sherlyes irreverence to his Majesty's lycences; but upon tryall, the bretheren were thought to be in the wrong, and Sir Robert dissmist with good words. The country gentlemen will be much satisfyed therein, for the assembly of them was great, and they came up with much jealousy and concerne to see this event. 'Tis expected on Tuesday next that Sir Thomas Osborne will be Lord Viscount Leeds or Latimer, and take up the Staff, and my Lord Treasurer will retire to Devon. Some say his Lordship will be there soe private as to mind nothing but bookes and a retired life; and yett some have made him in their discourses Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, others Lord Generall of the army, and others a volunteer to goe with the Duke of Yorke. Mr. Speaker, as all conclude, will be Treasurer of the Navy, and that Sir Thomas Meeres 2 will succeede him. Sir Thomas Strickland and Mr. Miller have pentions of 400l. a yeare a peece, since their leaving the Privy Seale; but Sir Ed. Dering nothing; his friends say he is reserved for some employment that may signify more, which his relations desire to see. 3 His Majesty and R. H. returned this day from the Navy, which is refitting as fast as may be; some say they may require a fortnight's time to be in order. His R. H. proposed at Councill a draught of instructions for a Lord High Admirall, which it seems were before wanting, and they were approoved off. Upon debate that many of our sea officers are in trouble that they cannot come to performe what the law requires from them as to swearing, 'tis agreed that if they doe it in Michaelmas Terme when the fleete comes in, the law will be satisfyed, it being impossible for them in this conjuncture to desert their shipps and performe it according to the precise time the law requires, &c. 1 See note on H. Ball's letter of June 6, p. 25. 2 Sir Thomas Meres was member for Lincoln. 3 Sir E. Dering was a Commissioner of the Treasury, from March 1679 to July 1684. I begg your Excellencyes pardon that I am noe better stored for your entertainment. But noe man has more zealous wishes for the encrease of your fame by the publicke successe then, my Lords, Your Excellencyes most affect. and most humble servant, Pray tell my brother Williamson that I wish him the box of wax candles which by the last shipps come to him, in token from Frank Parry, and are now at my house. No. 18.-FROM LORD O'BRIEN. My Lord, London, June 13th, 1673. This is the second letter I have writt you since I arrived heere, and hope that by this time you are arrived safe at Cologne, from whence God graunt us the comfortable news of a speedy happy peace! Heere is little of news stirring since our fleete came in, and sure I am you have that from the fountaine heade which wee poore decrepidd merchauntts know nott of. I thank God our family is in pretty good health; my wife is drinking North Hall waters, which Dr. Willis hopes will cure the distemper of her heade; wee all are (with true respect) your humble servaunts. I intend within 10 or 14 days for Irelaund, and I pray lett Tom Fayrfax or Overbury whenever a true face of P.3 shews its self, have notice to send mee a line before itt bee knowne to others, the advantadge of which will be worth a barrell of Usquebagh to the Clubb, in November next. I send all my letters under your man Yard's conveyance, and I pray, whenever you have anny commaunds for mee, lett them come under covertt to him, whoe I am sure will have care to forward them to mee. God send you health, and that you may with 1 Sir R. Southwell and Williamson were joint Clerks of the Privy Council. 2 Lord O'Brien was a member of the Clothworkers' Company with Williamson. 3 Peace. |