not Mr. Handell applied to me, when at Kew, in 1746, and added to his request the honour of a recommendation from Prince Frederic. Upon this I thought I could do as well as some who had gone before me, and within 2 or three days carried him the first Act of Judas Macchabæus, which he approved of. 'Well,' says he and how are you to go on?' 'Why, we are to suppose an engagement, and that the Israelites have conquered, and so begin with a chorus as

6

6

"Fallen is the Foe

or, something like it.' 'No, I will have this,' and began working it, as it is, upon the Harpsicord. 'Well, go on.' 'I will bring you more to-morrow.' 'No, something now,

'So fall thy Foes, O Lord

that will do," and immediately carried on the composition as we have it in that most admirable chorus.

"That incomparable Air, Wise men, flattering, may deceive us (which was the last he composed, as Sion now his head shall raise, was his last chorus) was designed for Belshazzar, but that not being perform'd, he happily flung it into Judas Macchabæus. N.B. The plan of Judas Macchabæus was designed as a compliment to the Duke of Cumberland, upon his returning victorious from Scotland. I had introduced several incidents more apropos, but it was thought they would make it too long, and were therefore omitted. The Duke however made me a handsome present by the hands of Mr. Poyntz. The success of this Oratorio was very great. And I have often wished, that at first I had ask'd in jest, for the benefit of the 30th Night, instead of a 3d. I am sure he would have given it me: on which night the [re] was above 4007. in the House. He left me a legacy however of 2007.

"The next year he desired another, and I gave him Alexander Belus, which follows the history of the foregoing in the Macchabees. In the first part there is a very pleasing Air, accompanied with the harp, Hark, Hark he strikes the Golden Lyre. In the 2d, two charming duets, O What pleasure past expressing, and Hail, wedded Love, mysterious Law. The 3d begins with an incomparable Air, in the affettuoso style, intermixed with the chorus Recitative that follows it. And as to the last Air, I cannot help telling you, that, when Mr. Handell first read it, he cried out D-n your Iambics. • Dont put yourself in a passion, they are easily Trochees.' Trochees, what are Trochees? Why, the very reverse of lambics,' by leaving out a syllable in every line, as instead of

'Convey me to some peacefull shore,
'Lead me to some peacefull shore.'

'That is what I want.' 'I will step into the parlour, and alter them immediately.' I went down, and returned with them altered in about 3 minutes; when he would have them as they were, and had set them, most delightfully accompanied with only a quaver. and a rest of 3 quavers.

"The next I wrote was Theodora (in 1749), which Mr. Handell himself valued more than any Performance of the kind; and when I once ask'd him, whether he did not look upon the Grand Chorus in the Messiah as his Master Piece? 'No,' says he, 'I think the Chorus at the end of the 2d part in Theodora far beyond it, He saw the lovely youth &c.

"The 2a night of Theodora was very thin indeed, tho' the Princess Amelia was there. I guessed it a losing night, so did not go to Mr. Handell as usual; but seeing him sinile, I ventured, when, Will

6

He

you be there next Friday night,' says he, and I will play it to you? I told him I had just seen Sir T. Hankey, and he desired me to tell you, that if you would have it again, he would engage for all the Boxes. is a fool; the Jews will not come to it (as to Judas) because it is a Christian story; and the Ladies will not come, because it [is] a virtuous one.

66

My own favourite is Jeptha, which I wrote in 1751, and in composing of which Mr. Handell fell blind. I had the pleasure to hear it finely perform'd at Salisbury under Mr. Harris; and in much greater perfection, as to the vocal part, at the Concert in Tottenham Court Road.

"The Triumph of Time and Truth-in 1757. The words were entirely adapted to the music of Il Trionfo del Tempo, composed at Rome in about 1707.

"To oblige Mr. Smith, Mr. Handell's successor, I wrote Nabal in 1764, and Gideon. The music of both are entirely taken from some old genuine pieces of Mr. Handell. In the latter is an inimitable Chorus-Gloria Patri, Gloria filio, which at first sight I despaired of setting with proper words; but at last struck out Glorious Patron, glorious Hero &c. which did mighty well.

ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF KINGSTON to

1788, April 11th.- "Monsieur. On a fait courir ici un bruit que je sois mort; grace à Dieu, je me porte bien, et je vous prie de le faire dire à mes Banquiers et à ma maison. Je suis, Monsieur, obeissiante servante.'"

The

A note of secretarial penmanship, chiefly remarkable for the autograph signature-" E. Duchesse de Kingston, Comtesse de Warth.” notorious lady died on 28th August, 1788.

Together with this curious note with a noteworthy signature, Mr. Hodgkin preserves a packet of miscellaneous "Chudleigh Papers,' containing about 96 letters and other documents touching incidents of the lady's scarcely edifying story, including her famous trial for bigamy.

III. WRITINGS TOUCHING CHARLES I. AND THE CIVIL WAR.

Though they comprise nothing of high moment, the writings of this group contain some papers that will interest the lighter students of our seventeenth century annals, and several matters that may be serviceable to local antiquaries.

(1) Orders (in handwriting of urder-mentioned Edward Walker) dated at Beverley on 23rd and 24th April 1642, and given by Charles I. to George Maynwaring, esq., Richmond Herald, and Edward Walker, esq., Chester Herald, directing them to go to Kingston-upon-Hull, and proclaim Sir John Hotham and his adherents traitors, unless he shall open the gates of the town to His Majesty. (2) Two contemporary copies of a Memorandum dated from Beverley and headed, " His Majesty's Message "sent from Beverley to Hull and delivered by George Manwaringe Rich"mond Herauld and Edward Walker Chester Herauld by his Majesties "command to Sir John Hotham." (3) Memorandum without signature or date, setting forth the King's way of explaining his Printed Declara tion issued at York, on 14th May 1642, whereby His Majesty merely designed to signify his acceptance of "the voluntarie offers of those "gentlemen who had or should tender their services to him for the

"guard of his person." (4) Warrant, dated 15th May 1642, from His Majesty to the Constables of Newton and Beningbrough, bidding the same Constables cause the soldiers of Sir Robert Strickland's regiment meet at Sutton in the Forest on the 17th inst., there to receive further commands. (5) Letter from Lord Howard of Escrick to Lord Keeper Littleton, dated from York on 16th May 1642, touching his Majesty's aforementioned Printed Declaration, issued at York on the 14th inst., and consequent proceeding thereon, with three enclosures respecting the same affair. (6) Collection of Bills and Accounts of moneys paid, on or between 13th June and 8th August 1642, by Edward Walker, esq., Paymaster of His Majesty's Guard, to officers of Sir Robert Strickland's regiment co. York, for the maintenance of the same regiment. (7) Contemporary copy of a Warrant, dated from Oxford on 20th January, 1643, under the sign-manual of Charles I., to the Governor or Commander of His Majesty's forces in or near Newark. (8) Draft, dated on 6th of April 1643, of the main and active clauses of two several commissions, appointing Henry Willmott to be Lieutenant-General, and Sir Robert Aston to be Serjeant-Major General of His Majesty's forces of horse, raised or to be raised for his service in England and Wales, under the command of Prince Rupert. (9) Letters and other papers, covering in all 39 leaves, touching an agreement, made on 29th September 1643, between Alexander Downes and William Sandys, for the sale and purchase of certain arms lying at Dunkirke for the service of Charles I. (10) Copy, made in 1644 by Catherine Downes, of Mr. William Sandys's note of promise dated to her on 9th October 1643, and offered by Catherine Downes in 1644 to the consideration of Queen Henrietta Maria, together with a letter of petition written by the same Catherine Downes to the said Queen. (11) Rough Draft of a Commission, dated 27th October 1643, appointing Ralph Lord Hopton to be Field Marshal General of the horse, foot, and dragoons raised or to be raised or brought by him into cos. Sussex, Surrey and Kent. (12) Copy of the contract made between Alexander Downes and Sr Justin Collemar at Bruxelles on 28th November 1643, for the sale and purchase of arms at Dunkirk. (13) Minutes of Proceedings at Councils of War, held on or between 28th August and 19th September 1644, at Tavistock, Chard, and Exeter. (14) Rough Draft of a Proclamation by the King, dated at Bridgenorth on 9th May 1645, "forbiddinge any the officers or "souldiers of his Majesties armys to plunder, rob or oppresse his

Majesties subjects, uppon payne of death." (15) Letter, dated from Derby House on 20th June 1645, from the Committee of both Kingdoms to tho Committee of the City of Norwich, requiring the Norwich Committee to "forthwith send up those recrewts that are behind in your county." (16) Rough Draft, dated at Lichfield on 11th August [ 1, for a Proclamation by the King, ordering the payment of sixpence per night, over and above free quarters, to every trooper or other horse-soldier in His Majesty's service. (17) Rough Draft, dated at Cardiff on 4th August [ ], for a Commission under the King's sign-manual, appointing Jacob Lord Asteley, Baron of Reading and Major-General of His Majesty's army, to be Marshal and Commander of the counties of Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecknocke, Radnor, Carmarthen, Cardigan and Pembroke. (18) Paper without date of "Instructions unto our Commissioners for levying and impresting of Souldiers in our county of Carmarthen." (19) Draft, dated at Newark [ ], for a Commission under the Sign Manual of Charles I., appointing Joseph Rhoades to be Muster-Master General of all His Majesty's "forces of Horse, Foote and Dragoones raysed or to be raysed in the

66 countyes of Nottingham, Lincolne and Rutland, under the command "of Sir Richard Wyllis, knt., Commander-in-Chief of those parts." (20) Rough Draft for a Commission, appointing Ralph Lord Hopton "to be General of the Ordnance and Artillery of our Army, now under "the command of . . . . Patrick, Earl of Brentford and Forth, Lieut"General of the same. (21) Paper of Minutes of Proceedings at Councils of War, dated on 12th September [ ], in cos. Somerset and Devon. (22) Letter, dated from Newark, on 31st March 1646, from John Cleveland, the Cavalier Poet to the Committee of both Kingdoms.

...

CHARLES I. and SIR JOHN HOTHAM.

1642, April 23rd and 24th, Beverley.-Orders (in handwriting of undermentioned Edward Walker) given by Charles I. to Richmond Herald and Chester Herald, "Our Commands to our trusty and our well-beloved servants, George Maynwaring, esq. Richmond Herauld and Edward Walker, esq., Chester Herauld, our officers at Armes, before the gates of the Towne of Kingston uppon Hull, the 23rd of April, 1642. Heraulds I command yee upon your allegiannce to proclayme Sir John Hotham and all his adherents trayters, except hee shall open the gates and admitt us into the towne within one hower.-Our Commands to our trusty and welbeloved servants George Maynwaringe esq. Richmond Herauld, and Edward Walker esq. Chester Herauld, our officers at Armes sent by us from Beverley to our Towne of Kingston uppon Hull the 24th of April 1642. Heraulds I command yee to goe instantly to Hull and summon Sir John Hotham and to lett him know that Wee hope (hee haveinge slept uppon it and better considered) he will not refuse to admitt us into the Towne. And therefore I command yee once more in our name to offer him our grace, favor and pardon, if he will let us in, Our intention beinge only to see our Magazine there, Otherwise if Wee shalbee enforced to raise the County, hee must look for worse condicions. And then give him some time to consider and returne his answere."

CHARLES I. and SIR JOHN HOTHAM.

66

1642, April 24th, Beverley. Two comtemporary copies of a Memorandum, headed " His Majesty's Message sent from Beverley to "Hull and delivered by George Manwaringe Richmond Herauld and "Edward Walker Chester Herauld by his Majestie's command to Sir "John Hotham." Setting forth the precise words in which the said heralds delivered the King's message, and also the precise words in which Sir John Hotham answered them, to wit, "To which Sir "John Hotham answered from the wall, not admittinge us into "the Towne :-Gentlemen, I pray returne my most humble and "hearty thankes to his Majestie for the great favor, it beinge so full of 6: grace and goodnesse, And, as you are officers of honor, let his Majestie “know that I have perused all my papers and Orders of Parliament, " and find that I cannot doe without betrayinge the great trust reposed "in mee, And therefore I humble beg his Majestie's pardon, hopeinge I may live to doe his Majestie service."

66

CHARLES I. and VOLUNTEERS TO GUARD HIS PERSON.

[1642, May, York.] Memorandum, without signature or date;"We waited this day upon His Majestie concerning a printed Declaration

published the 14th of this instant May humbly to knowe His Majestise meaning therein, at which tyme he was gratiously pleased to signifie unto us That his intention was thereby to accept the voluntarie offers of those gentlemen who had or should tender their services unto him for the guard of his person, and out of that number that should appeare before him at the the tyme prefixed he would chuse such a competent number as might serve for the safe guard of his royall person likewise telling us that he had declared to those gentlemen whoe did attend him at the last meeting, That he noe wayes intended hereby to encrease the number of the trayned Bands."-Endorsed "His Majesties answeare "tuching the printed payper."

CHARLES I. and SIR ROBERT STRICKLAND'S REGIMENT. 1642, May 15th Order, by virtue of a warrant from His Majesty, to the Constables of Newton and Beningbrough, bidding them to give order to all the petty constables within their division or hundred to cause all "the Trayned Bands sowldiers of Sir Robert Strickland's "regiment with their officers and arms to meet at Sutton in the Forest on Tuesday next the 17th of this instant May by eight o'clocke in the "morninge, there to receive further commands by the Colonell or Serjeant-Major of the said Regiment."-Signed-Tho. Gravenor.

66

LORD HOWARD OF ESCRICK to LORD KEEPER LITTLETON.

1642, May 16th, York." Yesternight somewhat late there came to our hands this paper enclosed which wee conceiveing to bee illegall wee wayted this morneing on the Kinge telling him we thought it our duty to represent to His Majesty of what dangerous consequence it was to recommend the whole county to bring in their horse which would bee occasion of great gelousies and might breed great distraccions. His Majesty's aunswer was that however it was expressed yet hee never intended to have any come in but voluntarily. Wee replyed that this bore another sence, and that it would bee our duty to give notice of it to the Parliament. When wee were gone, the Marquesse of Hertford, the Lord Savile, and my Lord Cheife Justice Bancks repayreing to him browght us this Paper in answer of what wee had sayd to him, with a comaund from the Kinge to wryte up the substance of it to your Lordship, but thinkeing it not fitt to take upon us to wryte his Majesty's sence least wee should be mistaken, I have here sent you the very paper itselfe as wee had it. Theis Lords doe every one of them protest that they never knew any thinge of this printed Paper till wee showed it to them. I acquainted your Lordship in my last letter that his Majesty had layd aside the resolncion of rayseing that regiment which was Sir Robert Stricklands but this afternoone wee understand that it is to meet to morrow by warrants from his Majesty a coppie of one of them I send your Lordshipp hereinclosed. I know not what the successe of this will be nor what the sheriffe will doe upon it. Hee is newly gone owt of Towne. My Lord this [is] what at this tyme I am to acquaynt you with."

With the three following enclosures :—

(1.) Printed Broadside Proclamation:— "By the King. Whereas, upon Summons from Us, divers Gentlemen of this Our County of York did attend Us upon Thursday the twelfth of this instant May, when We declared Our Resolution (for the Reasons then delivered by Us), to have a Guard to secure and defend our Person, and desired therein