ian in your patience and I find a noble difpofition, in that it pleaseth you to acknowledge the love which was repaid to that Christian soul in a full measure, not only by her husband, but by us, and all that belong unto us; whereof I would your Lordship were an eye witness, to fee the many unfeigned mourners, of my wife, children, kinfmen, allies, and friends, which though they do increafe and daily revive the grief, yet I must confefs it is a kind of contentment, when we fee others join in that affection that we like and hold dear. But for my fon, I must fay true, his forrow keeps no bounds, and when it will end I know not, and yet I cannot find in my heart to blame it. There are two things, that may much allay our forrows: we have caufe to joy that he died in the favour of God and men; for the lived moft virtuous, and was in her devotions with zeal to her last breath: and the lived as long as was poffible, for it appears, by that laft act of her opening (which was guided by Dr. Harvey) that the had been preferved hitherto by art and care, and now all would not ferve, and fo fhe was overcome. For the two motherless children, there lies a charge upon me (for I will not quit myself from my part) to fee to them, which I will not neglect. And for your Lordship, I pray you let me find no change of affection on your part, and your Lordship fhall be affured that I will ever continue your Lordship's poor friend to do you fervice. LETTER XLIII. meet them every Saturday at Windfor. Sir John Temple, who is inquifitive in all affairs, and much your fervant, told me, that in the court it was rumoured that either you had commandment to make new demands, or fome restrictions, which you had not before. He hears alfo, that the King is well inclined to the French bufinefs. My Lord of Holland is very jealous in it, and not one befides, which makes me fear that there will be great oppofitions in what you defire to effect: but, howfoever, I hope your labours and good intentions shall be well accepted by God and your King. Emott was lately here with me, concerning fome bufinefs of yours, in which I gave him the best advice I could, but the particulars you will receive from him. It is a month fince I expected my fifter's company; but my Lord Deputy is ftill thereabouts, and till he be gone, 1 muft not look for her. My brother I have not yet feen, being full of the King's bufinefs, as he pretends; neither have I perceived any inclination in him, to draw me from the folitarinefs I fuffer in this place; for though I expreffed a willing nefs to go to him, were I accommodated for a journey, yet have I received no manner of invitation, which I take a little unkindly; but it shall not much afflict me: for I thank God, and you, my deareft heart, that the obligations which I have received from my friends have been very small, and I hope my neceffities of their favours will not be increased. But of this coldness in my brother I will take no notice, or very little, and content myself the best I can, with this lonely life, without envying their greatness, Dorothy Countess of Leicester, to the Earl her their plenty, or their jollity. The prin bufband. My dearest heart, MY Lord of Holland fent me this letter of my Lord Treasurer's to him, and I wonder much that I have heard nothing fince, having defired Mr. Haw. kins, in a letter, fince he was here, to folicit the bufinefs very diligently, and to fend one of purpose to let me know when any thing was concluded, which I fear he has not yet had occafion to do. When Brown will be difpatched, I know not, for I heard nothing of him fince he went; and they fay the council comes not to Hampton Court, but that the King will cipal trouble I fuffer, next to the want of your company, is the apprehenfions I have, of your being croft in what you defire to accomplish. But my beft and most earnest prayers fhall be often prefented for you, and with your own, which I believe are better than mine, I hope thofe bleffings fhall be obtained which will make us happy; and at this time, my only dear, no more fhall be faid to you, by your, &c. Penshurst, 10th November 1636. Yefterday we had here a very folemn faft, which is appointed to continue every Wednesday till it shall please God to re24 move move this plague from us. All your girls are well, and fo was Robin a week ago. To Algernoon I do fend a bleffing, whom I hear much commended by all that comes from you; and Nic. who fpake well of very few, faid he had a huge deal of wit, and much fweetness of nature. LETTER XLIV. The Countess of Leicester, to her husband My dearest heart, YOUR letters come now fo rarely to me, as I fuffer more in your abfence than I did; for when I received almoft every week thofe dear teftimonies of your well being, and your kindness to me, it did eafe much thofe difcomforts that your abfence doth bring. This is the firit letter that I fend by London; for the last week my brother's being here forced me to omit writing. He came on Monday, and left us again on Thursday, in which time we were fo continually together, as I could not make my dispatch. I perceive no alteration in him, neither do I find him much engaged in friendship with any of the great ones. Cottington, I perceive, is in declination with him, and fo will he be with many more, except his power be greater than mot believe it is. Of my brother I inquired, what he had heard concerning you; he told me, nothing to your you, cannot brag much of her kindness to me, for it is very little, and certainly ftays here for other confiderations than my company. My brother was very earnest in perfuading me to come to London, which I have promifed to do in the latter end of February, though I know not how to accommodate myself handsomely for that place; but my special want is a gentleman usher, which I am unwilling to take. If Daniel behave himself well with which I beseech you to let me know; for if he be not worth keeping, I would inquire after another, and fo free myfelf from him; but if he be good, I will fuffer much rather than take a new one, and I will do any thing rather than with him from you, if he does you fervice. It would joy me much to receive fome hope of that Lord's addreffes to Doll, which once you writ of to me; for, next to what concerns you, I confess he is confidered by me above any thing of this world; but you fhall have the first place, or rather the whole poffeffion of her heart, who is most faithfully your own. Penshurst, 19 Dec. 1636. Give Algernon a bleffing, and offer my fervice to Mr. Croft. Your companion Watt (Montague) is expected here every day. LETTER XLV. bufband. My dearest heart, prejudice; but that it was faid, Seignior The Countess of Leicester, to the Earl ber Condée had perfuaded you to be more inclinable to France than is well thought on here; and that you were more carnett to engage the King in a war than the MY brother Northumberland writ me wife here do think fit. But I hope word, that your letters gave little your proceedings are unblamable, and that your mafter, who understands them beft, will find them fuch as fhall give him perfect fatisfaction. I long extremely to hear what you think will be the conclufion of your labour; for the world among us affirm confidently that the King will not be engaged in any war, and that the Elector hall return into Holland with a penfion of 12,000l. a year; but perhaps many things are unknown to thofe that I converfe with, and therefore credit my intelligence no farther than you find there is caufe. My fifter is yet here, and so the intends to be till the latter end of Christmas; but I hope that our propofitions would be received in France; and all that I hear doth extremely difcourage me from expecting a good conclufion in thofe affairs; but if you part, please your mafter. hope we fhall not fuffer for howsoever the bufinefs doth profper between the Kings. I believe this employment may prove advantageous to you in a great proportion, which I confefs is the principal thing I confider; and I do not be lieve that you have fuch enemies in the court as you conceive, for I have made curious inquifitions, and cannot hear that any thing hath been faid to your prejudice but what proceeded from the old fecretary. fecretary. If the great man be lefs kind to you than he was, affuredly it is because you have entertained fo great an intelligence with Holland, which now is not to be diminished; for then it will be thought, that your addreffes to him were only in confideration of the money bufinefs which you defired he should folicit. Many think this great man hath much kindness to your companion (Scudamore), and that he doth refent the com, plaints you made of him; but I hope you are ftill reasonable well with him, and that you will be better when you meet; for the other, which you think doth not love you, I hear he fpeaks very feldom with the King; and though my Lord Goring faid that he had done you ill of fices, yet he could tell no particular, neither could I ever receive the know ledge of any, though I have fought with diligence. I forgot to tell you the last week, that my Lord of Effex's fon was dead, and now I think that it will be no news. My Lord Spencer alfo hath done the King the courtesy to leave him a good ward; and if you defire news for your little Watt (Montague), you may tell him that his father is drunk every meal, and that his brother Mandevil is enriched by Sir Nathaniel Rich, who is dead, and hath given all his fortune to him. You tell me that I do not care for news, but I defire much more than you do afford me; for it is very long fince you told me any thing of your opinion concerning the fuccefs of your bufinefs, which I long extremely to hear; and any thing else that belongs to you I covet with an exceffive greediness. Wherefore, my deareft, be a little more liberal in those informations, and be assured, that your pains are bestowed for her fatiffaction, who would not refufe to give her life for your fervice, fo infinitely are you beloved by your, &c. Penfhurft, 28th December 1636. My fifter is yet here, and all your children are well. LETTER XLVI. From the fame to the fame. My dearest heart, FOR my exceptions to your filence, I hambly ak your pardon; for fince I have received three letters from you, the one by Mr. Auger, who I have not yet feen, but he writ to me with much civility; and, I hear, that he speaks of you with all the honour, eftimation, and affection, that can be; which shall make him as welcome to me, as either of my brothers. Two letters more I have had fince his arrival, but that which was firft written came laft to my hands, for my Lord of Holland fent it to me yesterday; and the other, which was dated the 27th January, was received by me the 4th February. They all brought fuch contentment to me as nothing but your own perfon can give me a joy beyond it; and though you reproach me for chiding,yet I hope the confideration of the caufe fhall free me from any further punishment than that gentle rebuke which you have already given me. By the two letters here inclofed, you will find a change from what I have heretofore declared to you; and befides the good fuccefs which is now expected of your negociation, I find there is a general applaud of your proceedings, which is no fmall delight to me, and, I hope, will be a great encouragement to you: for though I conceive your labours to be very great, yet I truft the conclufion will be very good, and then all the pains will be remembered with pleasure and advantage to you. I hope you apprehend more an alteration in the Archbishop of Canterbury than there is caufe, for I could never hear of any thing he faid to your prejudice, though I have been inquifitive enough; but that he favours Scudmore there is no queftion; and if it be nothing but what has happened between you, I believe it will easily pafs away. No ill offices can be done by Cottington, for they are at fuch a diftance as they feldom speak one to the other: and, befides, I could never find that the fufpected party expreffed any thing of malice to you, but when he multiplied the money that had been paid to Leicester, which might be a mistake. I am glad you find the Deputy of Ireland kind to Leicester, for certainly he may do great courtefies, and fo has he be haved himself lately, as he is extreme great with Canterbury, Cottington, Coke, and Windebank. I have no more caufe to fear ill offices from than formerly; for it is no new conceit that is not affectionate tionate to me or mine; but if the party deceive me, I fhall be glad, and for any thing I know we are on the fame terms you left us. I hope the 300l. you commanded fhall be returned to you at the time appointed; and when more is received, it shall be difpofed of according to your directions. The prefent alfo for the Queen of France I will be very careful to provide; but it cannot be handfome for that proportion of money which you do mention; for thofe bone laces, if they be good, are dear, and I will fend of the beft, for the honour of the nation, and my own credit. You perfuade my going to London, and there I fhall play the ill housewife, which I perceive you are content to fuffer, rather than I should remain in this folitarinefs; and yet my intention is not to remove till the beginning of the next month, except Mr. Augier's going away carry me up fooner. All the children I will leave here, according to your advice, and if you can fpare Daniel, I defire that you will fend him to me for the time of my being at London. Mr. Seladine comes in with your letter, whom I am engaged to entertain a little; befides, it is fupper time, or elfe I fhould beflow one fide of this paper in making love to you; and fince I may with modefty exprefs it, I will fay, that if it be love to think on you fleeping and waking, to difcourfe of nothing with pleafure but what concerns you, to with myself every hour with you, and to pray for you with as much devotion as for my own foul; then certainly it may be said that I am in love; and this is all that you shall at this time hear from your, &c. Penshurit, 7th Feb. 1636. Kifs my boy Algernon for me, who fent me a very pretty French letter. LETTER XLVII. From the fame to the fame. YESTERDAY I received Mr. Ruvigny's vifit, and your letter. This morning, on my waking, I was faluted with more of your moit welcome lines, which I expected the last night with fome impatience. For, befides the moft defired news of your good health, and the beloved expreffions of your affection, I am infinitely defirous to receive from you fome affurance of a happy fuccefs in those affairs that you have negociated with fo much pains. But, howfoever the French behave themselves, I hope you will acquit yourself fo as the King fhall find caufe to value your fervice, and not to blame it. What has made people think you more inclinable to France than you ought to be, I do not know; but certainly that has been the exception that the King has had to you; which opinion I hope is now removed, and then it will be eafy to keep yourself from the like fufpicion. I think 's intereft with the King is more than is generally known, and I believe will be more than it is; for with that party you are very well, as I hear by feveral perfons. Watt Montague has fupped twice here within this week, and speaks of you with much eftimation. It is not good lofing the offices which he may do, and therefore I pray continue a civility to him. This week St. George's feaft has been folemnized; my Lord of Danby, who I have not yet feen, performed his part, though he be very weak, and I fear will not last long, for they fay he is deeply in a confumption. My Lord Lovelace I hear will be in town this week, and I think shall be presented first to my brother Northumberland, and then to us; his estate, my Lord Danby fays, is 6cool. a year, and he now enters on 3500l.; the reft his mother has, who they fay is rich, and loves him very much. His perfon, I am told, is not to be difliked, nor he wants not wit; but has kept extreme ill company, and will fometimes drink to distemper himself. This is a foul fault, and would keep me from thinking on him at all, did I not hope, that good advice, and good converfation, would bring him from any fuch delight; for his brothers-in-law, who are the best perfons that he keeps with, do draw him to that vice, being extremely addicted to it themselves. When I know more concerning him, you thail be further informed. I know you per fuade me to leave this town, only in confideration of the danger, and therefore I do not intend to remove, till the King and Queen go from hence; because I apprehend apprehend that it is poffible for me to do you fome fervice here. I have received 100 l. from the Low Countries, which I think must be employed in paying intereft money. 2001. I have received from Hen. Crikendall, which is referved only for the payment of workmen having already begun to finish the upper rooms; the men do not work in the houfe, and can bring no danger to us. I do not conceive it to be at all dangerous for you to let the King know that you have spent much above his allowance, and that you cannot fubfift without fome addition; for I believe he will not think it reafonable that your fortune should be ruined in his fervice: and I think you may reprefent your condition fo to him, as he thall find caufe to grant you a fupply. In my opinion, you had beft direct this request only to himself; but I thall fubmit to any way that you think better. Madam Croft is come hither, and I faw her yesterday. Sir William is extremely careful in what concerns Pell, and very kind to us all. My Lady Berkire carries my fiter now from all creatures, which is no trouble And ince I have nothing to fay that merits another sheet of paper, I will in this give you a farewel, with more affection than can be declared by fo ill expreffor as is your, &c. to me. Leicester House, 20th April 1637. LETTER XLVIII. From the fame to the jame. My dearest heart, MY civility to this bearer doth not fo much perfuade me to write, as the defires I have at all times to perform that which may bring me to your memory. And though I have nothing to fay, which I can deliver without apprehenfions of giving you trouble, yet cas I not be filent when any occafon is of fered. By Mr. Cavendish I thought to have fent my prefent for the Queen, but it is not yet ready, and therefore I mat attend another opportunity, for I wil have it in as good order as I can. My Lord of Danby is much better that he was, and this day I am going to fee im My Lord Lovelace is at this instant bert, 235 From the fame to the fame. My dearest heart, Hamburgh brought me much trouble, |