Thurloe, in a letter to Henry Cromwell, dated 23d November following (1657), says, "This week hath in a great part been taken up in solemnizeinge the marriage of my Lady Mary with my Lord Falconbridge. They were marryed at Hamptoncourt upon Thursday. He is a person of very great parts and sobrietye, and I hope His Highnesse and his family will have comfort in hym." Lord Clarendon says, this, and Mr. Rich's marriage, were at Whitehall; but it has been shown not to be true, as to either of them. He adds, that though these marriages were performed in public view according to the rites and ceremonies then in use, they were presently afterwards in private married by ministers ordained by bishops, and according to the form in the Book of Common Prayer; and this with the privity of Cromwell, who pretended to yield to it in compliance with the importunity and folly of his daughters. This is mere assertion; it may, or may not be true.

Henry Cromwell, in a letter to Lord Fauconberg, dated 9th December following, stated in Thurloe to be in the possession of the above Mr. William Cromwell, and a copy in his hand-writing, yet in the family, says, "My Lord; Your Lordship's letter was very welcome to me, as bringing demonstration of His Highnesse's wisdom, and my sister's happiness. I wish His Highness may make as happy a choice of members for the other House

his daughter. But I hope that God, who assisted him in the one will also continue his goodness for the other. I may repeat Your Lordship's words, -This near degree of alliance, united with the satisfaction I have received of Your Lordshipp's personal meritt, affords me a double happiness ;' only I must confess, that this contentment (great as it is) doth not so much satisfy me as fill me with new desires; for now I am longing to have a nearer converse with Your Lordship; being apt to think my absence the ill husbandry of so great a talent. I will not wish Your Lordship in Ireland (although our barbarisms here, by giving Your Lordship a greater lustre, might be some advantage, if Your Lordship could be pleased with such airs) but rather wish myself in England, where I might in that measure which becomes Your Lordship's meritt, express myself, My Lord, Your Lordship's most affectionate brother, and humble and faithfull servant, "H. CROMWELL."

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My

The following is a letter from Thurloe's State Papers, dated Whitehall, 9th February, 1657, from Lord Fauconberg to Henry Cromwell: Lord; After the liberty Your Lordship has given me, there cannot ought of concerne happen in this place which I shall not endeavour to give you the perfectest account of, and, if possible, outstrip all others in it. But those great things expected in order to the nation's settlement, from the two

Houses meeting, it has pleased God to dash all of a sodaine.-For, my Lord, two days after my last, H. H. (His Highness) surprised us all, not only us of the lower orbe, but those, I mean of his councell, most (I am sure) of them, if not all, by putting an end to boath the Houses of Parliament that Thursday morning. This, we now see, he was forced to doe, least some turbulent spirits amongst them should have put an end to the peace of this nation, by embroyling it as farre in blood and confusions as ever.

Major-General Packer, who commands H. H. (His Highness's) owne regiment, is now with H. H., (His Highness,) and I have some reason to think his commission will be taken from him ere they part. It is believed some others too must follow; but I dare not say who, being resolved to give Your Lordship all the truth of matters I can, without the least mixture of my owne or others' conjectures.

"I cannot at all perceive H. H. disposed to that of Your Lordship's coming into England, tho' for never so small a time; and the truth is, I do not marvell att all as things now stand; for the troblers of our quiet will, no doubt, be watching all advantages there, as well as heere, and a greater then Your Lordship's absence I am sure they do not wish, whose actions stirre up as much dread in them, as wonder in all us that love you. This,

for my affection runnes quite counter, and would perswade that for a few months Your Lordship might be dispensed with, there being no person alive so impatiently longing for the honour to kisse Your Lordship's hands as, My Lord, Your Lordship's most faithfull and obedient servant,

"FAUCONBERG."

The following is a letter from Thurloe's State Papers, dated 20th February, in the same year (1657), from Henry Cromwell to Lord Fauconberg (stated to have been in the possession of the above William Cromwell, Esq.): "My Lord; When Your Lordship had any communication to impart unto me, I was always made sensible of your liberality therein; wherefore now I must attribute as much to Your Lordship's prudent tenderness of me, in that when the sad news of poor Robin Riche's death must be written, Your Lordship was but sparing in your mention of that sad story. My Lord, these providences are singly in themselves no miracles; yet when they happen so thick as of late upon Sir John Reynolds, (who was shipwrecked in his return to England from his service in assisting the French in their war against Spain,) and now upon this gentleman, I cannot think but that God intends them for our instruction. I desire Your Lordship, on my behalf, to condole with my poor sister. Your Lordship is able to say whatever is materiall upon this occasion: wherefore,

for me to venture upon any particulars, were to put Your Lordship upon a kind of pennance, in observing my impertinencies, and to endanger the end of comforting myself, which cannot miscarry upon Your Lordship's single management. I hope Your Lordship's being called to succour my dear sister, your lady, tends but to repair our family of the late loss it hath sustained; and I hope that the sad apprehensions occasioned by this late stroke, will not frustrate our hopest herein. I believe Your Lordship may by this time repent of the liberty you have given me, and see the inconvenience of good nature and civility. My dear Lord, I will be at present more moderate in troubling Your Lordship, begging at this time only the leave not to omitt declaring myself, My Lord, Your Lordship's, &c.

"H. CROMWELL."

A letter in Thurloe's State Papers, by Lord Fauconberg to Lockhart, the ambassador in France, dated Whitehall, January 25-February4. 1657-8, which was after Cromwell's death, and during Richard Cromwell's protectorate, proves His Lordship's continued confidential connection with him. The last passage in this letter is as follows:"Last of all as to newes, I shall tell you, that the House of Commons appeare yett a little pettish, refusing on Saturday last, upon a message, sent them from the House of Lords, to owne them for