QUEEN HENRIETTA MARIA AND THE FRIGATE Le Soleil. 1651, January 18th, Paris. Certificatory Writ by Henrietta Maria late the Queen Consort of Charles I." Henriette Marie R Henriette Marie par la grace de Dieu Reine de la Grande Bretagne &c.-A tous ceux qui ces presentes lettres verront Salut, Ayant este suppliée de tesmoigner la connoissance que Nous avons touchant la proprieté d'une Fregate avec ses appurtenances nommée Le Soleil étant à present au Havre de Grace; Et ayant veu une Declaration de nostre trescher et treshonoré fils le Roy lors Prince de Galles du 9me Novembre 1646: Certifions en conformité d'icelle que la ditte Fregrate luy appartient; Et que Le Sr Haesdoncq n'y a que le soing charge et la permission de la vendre pour le service et au profit de nostre dit trescher et tre honoré fils. C'est pourquoy Prions tous gens de Justice, tous gouverneurs de provinces et villes, et leurs lieutenants, et tous autres qu'il appartiendra, de ne pas souffrir qu'aucun trouble ou empeschement soit donné au dit Sr Haesdoncq dane la poursuitte des ordres de nostre dit trescher et treshonoré fils touchant la ditte Fregate. Donné à Paris ce 18me Janvier 1651." CHARLES GERARD, Lord Gerard of Brandon, to 1652 April 27th, Paris.-"Sir. I have spoke too the King concerning you and tho another wayte in your place it is in regard of your absence; hee is now infinitly sik and when well not fitt for it. If you could contrive living in France as well as Holland, I would advise it you, and soe dos Docter Fraiser, but if you shoe (sic) not your selfe, I conceyve you will bee left out. If you doe not bring the King that boxe of perfume, send it derekted to him. Sir, I am Endorsed "Lord Gerard to mee 27 April '52." CHARLES THE SECOND AND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL MIDDLETON. 1652, December 30th, Paris.-Blank Commission, under the signet and sign-manual of Charles the Second, appointing Captain دو to be a captain in the regiment under the command of Colonell with all the rights and privileges appertaining to the office of a captain, provided that he " obey and pursue all such orders and commands 65 as he shall from time to time receive from Lieutenant Generall "Middleton, from his Colonell and other superior officers." CHARLES THE SECOND to the EARL OF GLENCAIRNE. 1653, September 12th, Palais Royal in Paris.-Charles R Right trusty and welbeloved Cosen, We greet you well. We have seene your letter of the 12th of July to the Lord Newburgh and are soe well pleased withall that you have done, that We returne you our very hearty thankes for your soe doeing, and you may be confident We shall never forgett the affection and alacrity you have soe seasonably expressed in our service, in which we doubt not, God will blesse you and make you a principall instrument for the vindication of our rights and your country from the slavery and oppression it groanes under. We have written severall letters by this bearer to such persons who we hope will be ready to joyne with you, all which you will cause to be delivered in such seasons as you judge most necessary. We have given direccion to the Lord Wentworth, our Ambassador in Denmarke, to doe all the offices he can with that King for your assistance, and the like to Sir William Bellenden in Sweden, and We are sure Lieutenant Generall Middleton will make all possible hast to you himselfe, as soone as he can procure any reasonable supplyes to carry with him: in the meane time you will receive by degrees such helpe as can be gotten. And we hope it will not be long before you be assured that the Treaty betweene the Dutch and the Rebells be absolutely broken off and then you will finde We shall noe longer sit still, which We have been hitherto compelled to doe upon such reasons as have not been in our power to avoyde. We shall be glad as often as is possible to heare from you, of whose proceedings we yet know noe more, then by the London Prints. You are to commend us to all those who are with you in armes, and assure them We will reward their courage and fidelity as soone as We are able, and so we bid heartily farewell." The letter is addressed to "William Earle of Glencarne," the titular name being spelt as it was pronounced. CHARLES THE SECOND'S REGIMENT OF GUARDS. [1658 ?], December 15th, Bruges.-Draft, in Sir Edward Walker's handwriting, of a letter to be prepared for the sign-manual of Charles II., running in these words, "Whereas our Regiment of Guards now quartered at Dixmeede is forthwith to passe muster and accordingly to enter into our pay, our Will and Pleasure thereupon is that only the officers of such companies of our said Regiment, as shall upon the musters produce and passe thirty effective soldiers besides officers shall bee admitted to receive Entertainment or Pay, and for the overplus of such entertainment as shall remaine, that you deteyne the same upon accompt, to the end it may bee disposed or the advancement of the sayd Regiment, according to such directions as wee shall give you therein; heareof you are not to fayle. Given at our Court at Bruges this 15 day of December. To our trusty and welbeloved servant, Colonel Blagge, Lieutenant-Colonel of our Regiment of Guards." TROOPS MAINTAINED BY THE SAME KING IN EXILE. 1658, Bruxelles.-Memoranda, on four half-sheets of letter-paper, in Sir Edward Walker's hand writing, respecting the petty sums due to him by way of allowances on Commissions from Lord Taafe and other officers of the troops maintained by Charles II. during his exile. ALLOWANCES TO THE SAME KING'S SECRETARY AT WAr. 1658-9, March 24th, Brussels.-Rough Draft, in Sir Edward Walker's handwriting, of a letter to be prepared for the King's signmanual, running in these words,-" Whereas wee have by our orders the 15th of February 1658 graunted unto our trusty and welbeloved servant Sir Edward Walker knt., our Secretary at War, towards his support in our service 4 rations dayly out of the 50 rations allowed for Reformed Officers in every Regiment in our service, excepting our Regiment of Guards, Wee are thereupon graciously pleased and doe heareby assigne him also fower rations out of the 50 rations allowed for Reformed Officers in our said Regiment, Our will and pleasure therefore is, that out of the first moneths pay or liberaunce, that you shall receive for our sayd Regiment, that you deduct and pay him the sayd 4 rations dayly out of the sayd 50 rations, and to continue the payment thereof unto him out of every liberaunce or moneths pay you shall hereafter receive: Hereof you are not to fayle, And for your so doeing this shaibee your sufficient authority. Given at our Court of Bruxelles, this 24th of March 1659. To our trusty and welbeloved Colonel Thomas Blagge, Lieut.-Colonel of our Regiment of Guards.” CHARLES THE SECOND to COLONEL WILLIAM TAAfe. 1659, March 18th, Brussels.-"Charles R. Whereas wee did above two yeares past constitute our trusty and welbeloved servant Sir Edward Walker knt. to bee our Secretary at Warr and for his service and principall support therein did also with the approbation of most of the Colonels of our forces assigne him to receive from all the officers of our regiments proportionable fees for preparing our comissions for every of them, part whereof by our order in June 1657 was payd unto him, and the remaynder by the same order was to bee deducted out of the first liberances payable in the year 1658, At which time the payment thereof was suspended (notwithstanding which) Wee doe hold it to bee equally just that our sayd servant should yet receive what is still due unto him seeing every officer enjoyes a support by virtue of our sayd commissions, Our expresse will and command therefore is, and we doe hereby require and authorise you out of the first Liberance or moneths pay you shall receive for yourselfe, and all the officers and soldiers of the regiment under your comand to deduct and pay unto our sayd servant the full summe of 108 patacons and 20 styvers being the remaynder due unto him from yourselfe, and all the officers of your regiment for our commissions prepared by him appearing by his accompt hereunto annexed, and after in the payment of your regiment that you abate the same in perticuler from your selfe, and all the officers of your said regiment, and our farther will and pleasure is, that of the fifty rations allowed for reformed officers that you deduct and pay him according to our order of the 15th of February, 1658, out of every moneths pay or liberance 10 Patacons, and if you shall receive 2 liberances together, then to pay for 2 moneths according to his accompt, and to continue the same unto him as often as you shall receive any liberances. Hereunto Wee expect and require due obedience to bee given as being just, and our pleasure to have it done accordingly, and for your so doing this shall bee your sufficient authority. Given at Our Court at Bruxelles this 18th day of March 1659."-Countersigned "Edw. Nicholas " and directed to "Colonel William Taafe, Colonel of the regiment of our most deare and most entirely beloved brother Henry Duke of Glocester." THE MASTER-SURGEON OF THE KING'S SIX REGIMENTS 1659, July 20th, Brussels.-Ordinance for the adequate provision and payment of Sir John Knight, Master-Surgeon of the six regiments of soldiers, in the service of King Charles II., running thus, "Il est ordonnè a tous les Colonels et Commandants des six Regimens du Roy de la Grande Bretagne Monsieur mon frère de fair payer a Sr Jean Knigh (sic) Mre Chirurgien en la somme de cinq cens et novant noeuf florins et cinq sols de premier argent qui recoiverent de leur plaquittes, payant tous en la conformité de la relation qui s'en suit fait a Bruxelles le vingtiesme de Juillet l'an mil six cent cinquante noeuf. Le Regiment du Roy doit payer à raison de 13 Compagnies at sept florins et un sol par Compagnie la somme de florins Mon Regiment payera a raison de dix-neuf Compagnies a sept florins et un sol par Compagnie la somme de florins Le Regiment du Duc de Glocester mon frere payeray a raison de seize Compagnies a sept florins et un sol par Compagnie, la somme de florins Le Regiment du Milord Neubruge payera a raison de dix Compagnies a sept florins et un sol par Compagnie, la somme de florins 91 13 133 19 70 10 Le Regiment du Colonel Grace payera a raison de Le Regiment du Colonel Farrell payera a raison de La somme de tous est de florins H.R.H. THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER AND COLONEL WILLIAM TAAFE. [1659?], Memorandum, in Sir Edward Walker's handwriting, in these words, "His Royall Highnes the Duke of Glocester haveing found it fitt hath accordingly ordered Colonel William Taaffe, Colonel of his Royal Highnes Regiment, in liew of 4 rations dayly, that by his Majesties order I was to receive out of the 50 pays graunted for Reformed Officers, to deduct and pay mee out of the next liberaunce the abatements I had made of one patacoon from all inferior officers, being in all 36 patacoons, which I am contented to receive in full satisfaction for the said 4 rations above-mentioned, Whereupon the full some to bee deducted and paid mee out of the next liberaunce by his Majesties order and his Royal Highnes command to Colonel William Taaffe wilbee 138 patacoons, to bee divided as followeth," these words being followed by a tabular statement of the contributions to be received from the several officers. Endorsed, "The Duke of Gloucester's directions to Colonel "Taaffe to pay mee the deductions I made from inferior officers in lieu of 4 rations from the 50 reformed Pays." V.-DRAFT LETTERS OF SIR BERNARD GASCOIGNE. 66 These draft letters-some of them being rough drafts in Sir Bernard's handwriting, whilst the others are fair drafts or copies" by a secretarial hand-add considerably to our knowledge of a military adventurer and diplomatic agent, who was a notable personage of English society in the times of Charles I., Charles II., and James II. An Italian by birth and education, though he was by his paternal ancestry a member of an ancient English family, Bernard Gascoigne had distinguished himself in the military service of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, when he came to England in an early time of the Civil War and espoused the cause of Charles the First. There is no need to remind students that the adventurer played a conspicuous part in the conflict of the royalist and parliamentarian forces, was sentenced to be shot on the fall of Colchester, and narrowly escaped the execution of the sentence. Having returned to Florence on the utter defeat of the English royalists, Sir Bernard Gascoigne reappeared in what he had come to regard as his proper country on Charles the Second's restoration, and was rewarded for his services to the triumphant party with gifts, diplomatic employment, and a considerable share of the King's confidence. Favoured by Charles, he won the regard of Catherine of Braganza; and it appears from two of the draft letters now offered to the consideration of readers, that when he had succeeded to the throne, James the Second looked to the clever and charming adventurer for counsel and even for guidance in affairs of state. As he had entered his thirtieth year before he came to England for the first time, and passed the greater part of the eleven years from 1649 to 1660 in the land of his birth, it is not surprising that Sir Bernard thought in Italian and spoke English in a way that reminded critical hearers of his Italian extraction. That the denizen of Charles the Second's England was to the last more familiar with his mother-tongue than with the language of his adopted country appears from the fact that he drafted his letters to English correspondents in Italian before he put the compositions into an English dress. Together with the English drafts, printed in the ensuing calendar, Mr. J. Eliot Hodgkin preserves numerous examples of the original Italian drafts of the same compositions. Epistolary labour was no easy work to Sir Bernard, who sometimes produced with his own pen three versions of an Italian draft, before he was satisfied with the performance; and when he had completed an Italian draft to his mind, he used to translate it into English with his own hand, before he handed the English draft over to a skillful secretary, who was authorised to amend the faulty spelling and idiomatic solecisms of the composition, whilst he produced a fair and fluent copy of the writing. SIR BERNARD GASCOIGNE to LORD ARLINGTON. [1666 or 1667], Lisbon." The small time that I have bin in this Court will not afford me knowledge enough of their present condition to enable me to give your Lordshipp any account of itt, as Sir Robert Southwell certainly will doe soe well knoweing and soe long habituated in this countrey, but this will not hinder me to informe your Lordshipp of some things that I have observed. "And in the first place I find that proverbe to be very true that the world governs himselfe, for if Kingdoms should not now and then subsist in that manner, this for certain would be converted into a Cahos. Since there is not heare the leaste forme of settle [d] government; they acting in general as they only are constraint by the violence of the people, or according to the present necessityes that happens dayly or in particular every Grandee according to his owne intrest. "The Prince in his owne name rules all, but is constantly besieged by 4 or 5, which doth not lett him speake with any without knowing the business, and lodges with "The Queene out of the Court in the Marques de Costel Rodrigos house "The King is a prisoner in his owne pallace and since his hard usage is very sensible of his present condition and as the inferiour nobility reports in a very good understanding, the common people publickly murmurs and blames that he should be soe used. "Those whose fortunes were sustained upon the King's person are all or prisoners or banisht or fled for their own safetys, and tis unknow |