Marquisses of Worcester and Dorchester, the Earles of Bedford, Suffolke, Peterborough, Carlisle, and Alesbury; but the Earle of Carlisle to be the present deputy, and to carry the Staffe. Captain George Legge is made Governor of Portesmouth, with the same powers as his Royall Highness. Who shall be Lords Wardens I heare not, but suppose the same as execute the Admiralty. I cannot heare when the generall review will be att Blackheath, because there is yet but 5 regiments there. The soldiers are to goe in colliers hyred for that purpose, 500 in a ship. The young gentry strive much to goe with the Duke, if he goes, the certainty of which I heare not, and the flower of the nobility will personally be in action. In the Signett has happened these few things: 2,000l. per annum the Earle and Countess of Oxford dureing their lives; Gyles Lytcott, Esqre, made Comptroller-Generall of the accounts of the Customes, to account but once a yeare, with additionall sallery of 1007. per annum to the 400l., and himselfe and servants to be free from publique offices; the same for Richard Mountney, Esqre, Receiver Generall and Casheer of the Customes; 12,000l. per annum to Mr. Packer on account for the ordinary expence of his Majestyes house; a discharge of 1,503l. 68. 2d. (which William Merson, head collector of the 11th months tax of Devonshire, run away with all 3 years since,) to Sir Tho: Carew; 400l. to Mr. Ashmoyle to print his booke of the Garter again; Mathew Humerston, Esqre, Usher of the Custome House in London, in reversion after John Hallesey, fee 67. per annum; Peregrine Clerke to have a messuage in Wapping; Sir Robert Holmes, pension of 500l. per annum from Midsomer, and 600l. per annum in quitt rents, which in the Isle of Wight made choise of by him; 11,2897. to the Countess of Falmouth without account, in consideration of the surrender of Grafton Parke, etc. which his Majesty has been pleased to settle on the Earle of Arlington and Earle of Euston after her Majestyes death; 2,000l. per annum to the Earle of Arlington, and Earle of Euston after his decease, out of the Customes. Before I finisht this, I wayted on my Lady O'Bryen to know her commands, who gave me the inclosed for your Excellency, the superscription of which shee bid me tell you, if it was not right, shee would mend the next time shee troubled your Excellency. The fellow that stole the heiress was hanged on Tuesday att St. Thomas Waterings, and could gett no pardon or repreive, though the King by chance went by, and was told 'twas the custome then to reprieve att least, but the Citty peticion weighed down that consideration; he was cast by a statute of the 3d of H. 7. I am in all humility, may it please your Excellency, R June 26. July 6. HENRY BALL. My Lords, No. 27.-FROM SIR ROBERT SOUTHWell. 20 June, 1673. My last inclosed to your Excellencyes the articles with Guyland, but the papers which accompany this are upon a more melancholy occasion. His Royall Highness has thought fitt to surender all his charges and imployments, and the enclosed proclamation is for the direction of such as acted by his comissions; butt this proclamation is not to be printed, and only to passe the Great Seale, with copyes thereof to such as are concerned therein, if they please. For these 2 last Councill dayes his R. H. has not beene there, and he this day, sending for me, bid that the messengers warne him noe more (as this morning they did, all the terme being done), nor to write his name in the present, nor any where else since the 15. of this month, that soe (sayd he, smiling) you draw me not into a snare. He was advised that, on the laying downe the Comission of the Admirallty, he might assume another as Generallissimo, and was intent thereon; but now, being advised to the contrary, many seeme surprised, and every thing seemes to end in silence, or, I might rather say, consternation, to all that honour his R. person and vertues, to see how he has thought fitt to withdraw himselfe from all things. This day sen'night he proposed at Councill a scheme of instructions for a Lord High Admirall, which before were wanting, and those now are transferred to the Commissioners of the Admiralty, who are the Prince, the 3 greate officers of State, the 3 Dukes, 2 secretaryes, Sir G. Carteret and Mr. Seymour, and Mr. Pepys as secretary. Sir J. Werden is made Commissioner of the Navy in Mr. Seymour's place. My Lord Clifford gave up his staff on Wenesday morning, and since forbeares the Councill. Till Tuesday night there was, for many dayes before, whole throngs of people of all qualityes attending at all houres; the next day all as sylent as in a convent. His Lordshipp will ere long retire to Devonshire, and his Lady and family goe away on Monday. This Lord Treasurer is at present Viscount Osborne, a Scotch title. He will in a month be at Wallingford House, and in the interim is at Hambden House. My Lord Clifford laboured excessively in his office to lay all things in good order, and, indeed, satisfyed all manner of persons as far as it was possible at the closure. My Lord of Ormond is called to the juncto, as I am assured, and his Majesty is pleased to shew him much favour, and his Royall Highness promotes it. Orders are signed for all that is due to the officers relating to prizes, untill our Lady day last, but noe body yett knowes where to find money. We talke here equally of war and peace; your Excellency's good 1 Osborne must be a mistake for Dunblaine; as also in p. 62. This Scotch title of Dunblaine was first given, and Latimer in the English peerage a little later. He was made in August Baron Kiveton and Viscount Latimer. He was raised to be Earl of Danby in the following year, June 27, 1674. He is called Lord Dunblaine in a later letter, p. 77. event, and the fate of Mastric, are the common theme. I am ever with all respect and affection, my Lord, Had I knowne before this where you were fixed, I had bin more early in my hearty gratulation of your safe arrivall att Cologne, where I hope your success will answere the good wishes of your friends. Since your Excellency's departure wee [have] bin dayly in expectation of great turns both at home and abroad; the latter still continues, and wee are to looke for the issue of our hopes when the Prince is gone out again, which is expected about the latter end of the next weeke, the fleet being refitted and well supplyed with all things necessary, and the Prince made Admirall by a new commission from his Majesty, who hath now committed the care of his navall affaires to eleven Commissioners, viz. the two Secretaries of State, Lord Chancellor, Lord Privy Seale, Lord Treasurer (now Sir Thomas Osborne), the Speaker (who is now Treasurer of the navy), Duke of Ormond, Duke of Lauderdale, Vice Chamberlaine, the other two I have forgot, his Royall Highnesse having devested himself (to the very great trouble of all good men) of all command both by sea and land, and all his Catholique servants given up their employments. On Wensday last my Lord Clifford gave up his staffe with great chearfulness and constancy of countenance, whatever was his complexion within, and the act is noc less the wounder then regret of his friends, none but those of his most intimate believeing it would bee, till it was done. Since that, both his Royall Highnesse and himselfe have absented themselves from Counsell, and, were you amongst us, you would heare things which I dare not write; but, 1 Rosse had been tutor to the Duke of Monmouth, and was King's Librarian. 2 Sir George Carteret, Bart. See note, p. 59. in short, there are stiffe Caballs in order to impeachments against the next Session of Parliament, when some that you have formerly loved (as I believe) resolve to begin with my Lord Arlington, who hath (I thinke) the advantage of sticking close to the Act (which hath caused much of this), and his adversary (who labours his ends with great vehemency among the members) though hce should have his ends, must bee branded with the odious title of ingratefull,1 to a person to whom he owes his being what hee is. The Duke of Ormond is now of the Cabinet, and that side seemes now uppermost, though the other 2 carryed it for the present Lord Treasurer, who it's thought will not be much at ease in his employment, considering the great necessities of his office, which nothing but a good peace (which I hope you will bring us) can supply. Our army upon the heath are not yet above 6,000 men encamped upon Blackheath, but the regiments are upon their march to make up the number designed. His Grace of Bucks hath taken great pains, and the Sacrament almost in all the churches of his Lieutenancy in Yorkshire, on designe to raise his 700 men, but the people hearken as little to his devotion as (I believe) heaven to his prayers, soe that had hee not prevailed with some officers of his militia to pick them up (for the most part) out of the traine bands, hee had returned re infectâ. I shall not give your Excellency this trouble but by express, finding the post's office stopt, soe that I hope you will not measure respects to you by the number of my letters, for I am with all - sincerity, Your Excellency's most humble and faithfull servant, R July Mr. Rosse. Lord Clifford is probably intended. J. R(OSSE). 2 The other side is the party in the Cabinet acting with France, and for carrying out the policy promoted by the Duke of York and Lord Clifford, who had been forced to retire. The Duke of Buckingham was at this time on that "other side." |