"dark brown; fhe hath eyes that sparkle like

1

ftars; and for her phyfiognomy, fhe may be

"faid to be a mirror of perfection. She had a "rough paffage in her transfretation to Dover "Castle; and in Canterbury the King bedded "firft with her. There were a goodly train of "choice Ladies attended her coming upon the "Bowling-green at Barham Downs, upon the

way, who divided themselves into two rows, "and they appeared like fo many constellations; "but methought the country ladies outfhined "the courtiers.

"The Queen brought over with her two hundred thoufand crowns in gold and filver, as "half her portion, and the other moiety is to be "paid at the year's end. Her first suite of fer"vants (by article) are to be French; and as

they die, English are to fucceed. She is al"lowed twenty-eight Ecclefiaftics, of any Order 66 except Jefuits; a Bifhop for her Almoner; "and to have private exercife of her religion "for herself and for her servants."

The ill behaviour of the French that the Queen brought over with her, occafioned Charles the First to write the following letters to the Duke of Buckingham, which are copied from the Originals in the British Museum :

STEENIE,

«STEENIE,

"I writ to you by Ned Clarke, that I thought "I would here cause anufe in shorte tyme to

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put away the Monfers *, either by attempting "to steale away my wyfe, or by making plots "amongst my owen fubjects. I cannot fay cer. "tainlie whether it was intended, but I am fure "it is hindered. For the other, though I have "good grounds. to belife it, and am ftill hunting "after it, yet seeing dailie the malitiousness of "the Monfers, by making and fomenting difcon❝tents in my wyfe, I could tarie no longer from "adverticing, of you, that I meane to feeke for "no other grounds to cafier † my Monfers, "having for this purpose sent you this other "letter, that you may if you think good adver "tise the Queen Mother ‡ with my intention. "So I reft

"Your faithfull, conftant, loving frende,
"CHARLES R."

"STEENIE,

"I have received your letter by Dic Greme: "this is my answer-I command you to fend "all the French away § to-morrow out of the 66 towne,

* Meaning his wife's French fervants and dependants. + Cashier.

Mary of Medicis, widow of Henry the Fourth.

Howell, in a Letter dated March 15, 1626, fays" The "French that came over with her Majefty, for their petu«lancies and some misdemeanors, and impofing fome odd

"penancies,

"towne, if you can by fayer means, (but ftike "not long in disputing,) otherways force them "away lyke fo manie wyld beaftes, untill ye have 66 shipped them, and fo the Devil goe with them. "Lett me heare no anfwer, but of the perform"ance of my command.

"So I reft

"Your faithfull, conftant, loving frende, "CHARLES R.

"Oaking, the

"7 of Auguft, 1627.”

(Superfcribed)" THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM."

The following letter of this intrepid Princess, written foon after the unfortunate attempt upon

"penancies upon the Queen, are all cashiered this week. "It was a thing fuddenly done; for about one of the "clock, as they were at dinner, my Lord Conway and Sir "Thomas Edmondes came with an order from the King, "that they must inftantly away to Somerfet-House, for "there were barges and coaches staying for them, and there they should have all their wages paid them to a penny, "and fo they must be content to quit the kingdom. This "fudden undreamed-of order ftruck an aftonishment into "them all, both men and women; and running to com"plain to the Queen, his Majefty had taken her before into "his bed-chamber, and locked the door upon them, till he "had told her how matters ftood. The Queen fell into a “ violent passion, broke the glass windows, and tore her "hair, but she was cooled afterwards. Juft fuch a destiny "happened in France fome years fince, to the Queen's Spa"nifh fervants there, who were all difmiffed in like manner "for fome mifcarriages. The like was done in Spain to "the French, therefore 'tis no new thing." 5

Hull,

Hull, in April 1642, is tranflated from the French Original in the British Museum. It is without a date.

"As I was clofing my letter Sir L. Dives ar "rived, who has told me all that paffed at Hull. "Do not lofe courage, and pursue the business " with resolution; for you must now shew that 66 you will make good what you have under"taken. If the man who is in the place will

not submit, you have already declared him a "traitor: you must have him, alive or dead; "for matters now begin to be very ferious. "You must declare yourself; you have fhewn "gentleness enough, you must now shew your "firmness. You fee what has happened from

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not having followed your first refolution, "when you declared the five Members traitors; "let that ferve you for an example: dally no

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longer with confultations, but proceed to ac❝tion. I heartily wished myself in the place of

my fon James in Hull; I would have thrown "the fcoundrel Hotham over the walls, or he "fhould have thrown me. I am in fuch hafte 66 to dispatch this bearer, that I can write to no"body else. Go boldly to work, as I fee there " is no hope of accommodation," &c.

This beautiful Princess faid of Kings, that "they should be as filent and as difcreet as Fa"ther Confeffors."

A perfon

A perfon appearing anxious to tell her the names of fome who had indisposed many of the English Nobility against her, fhe replied, "I forbid you to do fo. Though they hate me

now, they will not perhaps always hate me; "and if they have any fentiments of honour, "they will be ashamed of tormenting a poor woman, who takes fo little precaution to de"fend herself."

Active and indefatigable on the breaking out of the troubles, fhe went to Holland to fell her jewels, and returned to England with several veffels loaded with provifions for her husband's army. The veffel that carried her was once in great danger; but she fat upon the deck with perfect tranquillity, and faid laughingly," Les Reines ne "fe noyant pas-Queens are never drowned."

This Princess, according to Sir William Waller, in his "Recollections," endeared herself to the inhabitants of Exeter by the following act of benevolence. "As fhe was walking out north"ward of the city of Exeter, foon after her lying-in, fhe stopped at the cottage of a poor woman, whom he heard making doleful cries: fhe fent one of her train to enquire "what it might be which occafioned them. The page returned, and faid the woman was for❝rowing grievously, because her daughter had "been

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VOL. I.

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