of our Citie affairs that I might have had something worthy the sending of you, but I have not binne able to accomplish my designe, and therefore in obedience now to your Excellencyes commands must justify me in this addresse, for all I can write beside that I feare will not doe it.

The death of Sir John Smith and the solitary condition of the Lady Jenny I suppose is not new to you; but perhaps the discourse of Sir William Hooker's makeing Jenny Lady Mayoress, his lady being dead since you left England, may be new. I am sure it will be a greater novelty to tell you, that our madd people who governe kingdoms, and sett up ministers of state at their pleasure, have designed her for your Excellencye with her 15,000l. portion.

The incampeing of nine regiments of foot on Blackheath imploys both the tongues and hecles of most of the people in London and about it; all persons travell thither to see the new and fine show, and various opinions there are of their being lodg'd soe neere London, and some perswade themselves it will not be long before they be disbanded. The regiments of the trayn'd bands have binne muster'd; they marcht splendidly enough, and may doe his Majesty excellent service.

On Wensday last the artillery made their annuall march through London. They came in good time to my Lord Mayor's gate to wake him to his dinner. Good man, his soule is always at quiett, for it is always asleepe. In our march back many fine things were done to please the people. Sir John Robinson and Sir Joseph

in the three last Parliaments of Charles the Second. He is accused of having blundered in his violent oratory against the Court by saying that he could hardly go to sleep for fear of waking with his throat cut. He is described as Rabsheka in the Second Part of Absalom and Achitophel (Tate's).

Sir John Smith, son of Alderman James Smith, was also an alderman, and knighted when sheriff in 1670. He married for his second wife Jane, daughter and heir of Robert Deane, esq. of the co. York, by whom he had issne Sir John Smith of Isleworth, created a Baronet in 1694: see Wotton's Baronetage, 1741, v. 54.

2 Sir William Hooker.

Sheldon were in armes both for the grace and incouragement of the businesse.

Our affaires in London move in a dull and slow pace; if God and the King doe not helpe us, I believe we must be noe corporation in a little time, for wee are not willing to take paines to helpe ourselves nor to aske helpe.

Wee have had for a long time most unseasonable weather, soc that wee feare great scarcity the next winter, and all our great coale ships are prest to transport the army at Blackheath, and the rest doe not stirre to Newcastle, and from that wee feare wee must blow our fingers for want of fire, and yet wee will not make hast to his Majesty, who is infinitely more carefull of us then wee are of ourselves. Thus I have fill'd my paper though to little purpose, but I hope your Excellency will accept it, it being in compliance to your pleasure. I dare not desire to heare from you, but I cannot but desire that you may returne home with an advantageous peace, which all people long after, and that you may at your returne finde yourselfe one of his Majestyes principall Secretaries of State, which is here much talkt of; my humble service to your great officer Mr. Weeks.

Your Excellencyes most obedient Servant, Guildhall, June 27th, 1673.

R July

THO. PLAYER.

No. 36.-FROM JOHN RICHARDS.

Whitehall, June 27, '73.

My Lord, Captain Godfrey, who arrived here on Monday with the news of the surrender of Mastricht from the Duke of Monmouth, returning this night to his Grace, My Lord hath taken hold of the occasion

to write to your Excellency recomending his letter to Sir William Lockhart,' to give it a safe and speedy conveyance, as I hope it will have; and his Lordship commanding mee to give you a particular account of each letter his Lordship hath received from your Excellency by Mr. Ellis, and since his arrivall, I here inclose a list thereof accordingly for your Excellencyes satisfaction therein.

This night there goes likewise a duplicate of his Lordship's by the ordinary, least some accident should befall the former. I have little to adde to the news his lordship gives your Excellency more then that this day is come a confirmation of the Dutch fleet being upon the coast, and that our fleete now lyes in the buoy of the Nore in readinesse to bee quickly with them.

Monsieur Schomberg arrived here three or foure dayes since and was very kindly received by the King and Duke; it is not yet resolved what his command is to be in the army, but nothing but a very honourable one will content him.

Yesterday the new Lord Treasurer was sworne, and my Lord Chancellor made a speech to him according to custome, the point of which I know you have from another hand.

The last letters from Sir William Godolphin 2 brought a paper given him in answer to his Memoriall for satisfaction to the Most Christian King for the attempt on Charleroy,3 a copy whereof I presume to inclose to your Excellency, and, having nothing further

Sir William Lockhart was at this time our envoy in France. It will be seen from later letters, that he was dissatisfied with his rank there, and succeeded in his wish to be ambassador. Evelyn speaks of him in his Diary on September 3, 1673, as "my Lord Lockhart, designed ambassador for France, a gallant and a sober person." He had been ambassador in France under Cromwell; he had married Cromwell's niece. Bishop Burnet speaks of him in high praise (i. 77, 391). "I have ever looked on him," says Burnet, as the greatest man that his country [Scotland] produced in this age, next to Sir Robert Murray." He died in 1676.

66

2 Our ambassador at Madrid.

3 The English government zealously supported France in a demand from Spain for satisfaction for their attack on Charleroi. See Arlington's Despatches to Sir W. Godolphin, April 14, June 9, August 11, in Arlington's Letters, vol. ii. pp. 412-423.

to trouble your Excellency with, I hast to end this with my constant profession of being ever, my Lord,

Your Excellencyes most humble and most devoted servant,
Jo. RICHARDS.

No. 37.-FROM HENRY BALL.

May it please your Excellency,

Whitehall, June 27, 1673.

Mr. Godfrey giveing out he was to go away last night, I presently went and gave your Excellency the trouble of a letter, but I heare he is not gone yett, so that this may possibly come before it to your Excellency; neither that nor this can give your Excellency much newes, little being now stirring here. The Dutch Fleete being upon our coast still, people are pleased to make untoward reflextions and say wee shall receive some affront from them. This day the Cabinett rose not till 2 afternoone, having satt above 4 houres, so that there was no Councell. Orders were despatched this day to all the ports that no vessell stirr out, till they heare the Dutch Fleete are retired againe, and two expresses sent to the Prince; and this evening the Earle of Ossory is gone away for the Fleete. I cannot heare yett what they will do with their army att Blackheath, they come so slowly, and not a collonell that lyes in the field with them but the Earle of Mulgrave,1 who appeares à very active collonell.

1 John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave, now in his twenty-fifth year, was afterwards distinguished in literature and politics. He is author of an "Essay on Satire," which was first attributed to Dryden, and an "Essay on Poetry," both poems. Dr. Johnson has given him a place in his Lives of the Poets. He held high offices of state in the reigns of James, William and Mary, and Anne. He was made Marquis of Normanby by William, and Duke of Buckinghamshire by Anne. He died in February, 1721, in his seventy-second year. Lord Mulgrave has left some Memoirs of this period of Charles II.'s reign. He was a munificent friend of Dryden, and erected in 1721 a monument in Westminster Abbey to his memory.

This evening the Cabinett are meeting againe. His Royall Highness was sent for to the morning's meeting and stayed all the time, which caused the report to be spread this day that hee should command the army againe, neither Monsieur Schomberg nor the Duke of Buckingham giveing much content to the soldiers in generall. His Royall Highness is here again this night. Of late here have come out no prints but papers of verses, which I would not trouble your Excellency with all; since is the inclosed speech of my Lord Chancellor's to my Lord Treasurer. A report is about towne this day that my Lord Arlington was to quitt his secretaryes place and your Excellency to succeed him att your returne, and his Lordship to be made Lord Chamberlain, the Earle of St. Alban's desireing to retire, and my Lord some ease of business; that the Duke of Lauderdall was also desirous to returne into Scotland and leave all imployments here, and his bedchamber's place to be given to my Lord Arlington, to make his concern the more considerable; but this I dare nott affirme for gospell, being told it only by Sir Thomas St. George, who frequents much coffee-houses, but I hope it may [be] that, if not better, when your Excellencye comes backe. There has been nothing of late scarse att the Signett Office but what I have told your Excellency, only a new lease to the Countess of Falmouth, of the priviledge of hanging chaines from the bridge to Gravesend to fasten ships bye, for 31 yeares, under the rent of 13s. 6d.; and New Parke confirmed to Mr. James Hamilton's son; and a grant of armes by his Majesty to one Cletcher, a Swede, the first I ever saw in his Majestyes reigne.

My Lord Marshall has resigned his staff' to the Earle of Carlisle, now very ill of the goute, but nothing of his power, continuing his prosecution of his great priviledges in the Heralds' Office, and has almost spoyled the same, not permitting any officer to meddle att all but Mr. Lee and Mr. Sandford, his two favorites.

All here are very jealous of the French, and say wee must have no peace but what the French will give us; and severall inquired This appears to have been a false rumour. L

CAMD. SOC.