I can be loyall without that copie, and I hoope the garrison shall never be the transcript of theire calamitie. You may doe well to use your fortune modestlye, and thinke not that God Almightie doth applaud your cause by reason of your victories, or that he hath not blessinge in store for ours. Whereas you urge the expence of the seidge and the presence of the Countrie in supportinge your charge theire since occasioned by your selves, I am not yet conserned in order to theire ease. If you will grant a passe for some gentleman to goe to the Kinge and returne, I may then know his Majesties pleasure whether accordinge to his letter he will wind up the busines in generall or leave me to steare my owne course. Then I shall know what to determine. Otherwise I desire you to take notice, that when I received my commission for the government of this place, I annexed my life as a labell to my trust.

IV.-WRITINGS TOUCHING CHARLES II IN EXILE.

Opening with a letter, dated from Rotterdam on 15th December 1648, from John Ball to H.H. Prince Rupert at " Helfued-Sleuse," and closing with documents dated in 1659, touching the payment of the officers of regiments in the service of Charles II. in the closing term of his exile, this group of writings affords a welcome addition to our information respecting the movements, vicissitudes, and financial circumstances of the Prince and young King, from a date shortly before his father's death to the eve of the Restoration.

(1) Letter, dated on 15th December 1648, from John Ball to H.H. Prince Rupert, in which the writer speaks of a report from Flushing, that eight regiments of the rebel army in England have declared for the City against Cromwell, and also refers to the discontent that has been caused by the recent pawning and reported sale of the Ordnance of the Antilope; (2) Petition, dated at the Hague on 29th December 1648, from certain creditors of H.R.H. the Duke of York there residing, to the Prince of Wales, praying the same Prince of Wales to take order for the payment of their claims, amounting to 14,065 livres, for goods furnished and delivered to the Duke of York in May, June, and July last past; (3) Letter, dated from the Haghe on 31st December 1648, from William Boswell to H.H. Prince Rupert at Helvoettscluse, in which the Prince is entreated to order his Commanders, that they cause neither harm nor hindrance to the ship Mary and Ann of Aldborough on her way to Amsterdam; (4) Letter, dated from Hage on 26th January 1649, from Lord Craven to H.H. Prince Rupert, in which the writer says: "Heere they 66 are dispaching away Paw that was at Munster and endeavour the "Kinges safetie; but I rely more uppon the rhetorique of my Lord "Duke, Marquis Harford, Southampton, Lindsey, and Darell, that are "allowed to appeare att the committee for the Kinge in justification of "all his proceedinges and gouvernment since the beginning of his "raine. But if that has not success, c'est fait de luy I feare, considering "what persons now rule the rost"; (5) Letter, dated from the Haghe on 17th March 1649, from Charles II. to Prince Rupert, under his Majesty's sign manual and signet, in behalf of Richard Foorde of Rotterdam, merchant, who has by his Majesty's "speciall desire lately freighted a "shipp, called the Fortune of Roterdam, with wheate, rye, strong "waters and tobaccoe, and hath ordered the same to passe immediately "into Ireland, under the charge of his agent Henry Prigg, who is to "vent the said commodities in that kingdome"; (6) Memorandum,

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without date, but penned by Sir Edward Walker in 1649, described in the heading as A Perticular of what is owing by his Majestie for "horsmeate, footmen and groomes cloaths, for mourning, for covering "of the coche, with other necessary bills belonginge to the stable"; (7) "A Perticular" in Sir Edward Walker's handwriting "of his Highnes the Duke of Yorkes debts, which his Majestie stands engaged for to pay "; (8) Order (without date but penned in 1649 and signed by Robert Long) for the payment of 100 guelders, at his Majesty's command, to Colonel Waite; (9) Receipt, without date, of Captain William Courtenay, for 47. delivered to him by Captain Legge; (10) Warrant, dated at the Hagh on 6th June 1649, under the sign manual and signet of Charles II., directing Sir Edward Walker to pay divers sums of money to divers persons, specified in an annexed schedule, that is especially deserving of attention; (11) Letter, dated from Bruxelles on 23rd September 1649, from Timothy Paulden to his mother, Mrs. Susan Paulden, in which the writer says inter alia: “I "can give very little hopes of seing you in England in that condicion we was hoped for, unles the busines of Ireland prosper, which we are confident is not so desperate, as our enemies report it. The "King is safely arrived in Jersey where I beleeve he will stay, expecting "the issue of Ireland"; (12) Letter, dated on some day of 1649 and addressed to Sir Edward Walker, touching the writer's petition to King in respect to "the undue practice of one Mrs. Katherin Stamforte, widow to one Downes and now wife unto the Earl of Castlehaven,' who during the writer's absence on important affairs wrongfully caused certain of his goods to be sold, to his great injury; (13) Statement (1649) of the case of Mr. William Sandys against the same curious adventuress, who in the papers, touching her attempt to extort money from Queen Henrietta Maria, figures successively as Mrs. Katherine Stanforte, Mrs. Katherine Downes, and the wife of the Earl of Castlehaven; (14) The same case (1649) of Mr. William Sandys against the same lady, put into French for use in a court of law by a notary of Brussels; (15) Three imperfect and most remarkable rough drafts (1650) in the handwriting of Mr. William Sandys, for a letter in which he designed to set forth his labour and charges in several journeys made in France, Holland, Germany, Muscovy, Scotland, and Norway, for the purpose of procuring money for the use of Charles the Second; (15) Copy of the Memorial, dated on 19th March 1650, of "Thomas Elliot, esquire, "gentleman of the bedchamber of his Royal Majesty, the Kinge of "Great Brittaine, and espetially sent from his sayd Majesty the Kinge "of Great Brittaine to his most illustrious Majesty John, the fourth of "that name, King of Portugall"; (16) Humble and plaintive letter, without date but probably written in 1651, by the same Thomas Elyott, esq. to Charles the Second; (17) Writ, dated from Paris on 18th January 1651, under the Sign Manual of Queen Henrietta Maria, certifying that a certain frigate, named Le Soleil and now lying at Havre de Grace, belongs to her son King Charles II.; (18) Letter, dated from Paris on 27th April 1652, from Lord Gerard of Brandon, to who is advised by the writer to contrive to live in France as well as Holland and to appear more often before the King; (19) Letter, dated from the Palais Royal in Paris on 12th September 1653, from Charles II. to the Earl of Glencairne, who is cordially thanked for his services by the writer, and is assured that "Lieutenant-Generall "Middleton will make all possible hast to you himself, as soone as he "can procure any reasonable supplyes to carry with him "; (20) Draft, dated at Bruges on 15th December [1658?], in Sir Edward Walker's handwriting, for a letter to be prepared for the sign-manual of

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Charles II., beginning, "Whereas our Regiment of Guards now quartered at Dixmeede is forthwith to passe muster and accordingly "enter our pay. "; (21) Memoranda, penned at Bruxelles on four half-sheets of letter-paper by Sir Edward Walker, 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; (22.) Rough Draft in Sir Edward Walker's handwriting, dated at Bruxelles on 24th March 165, of a letter to be prepared for the sign-manual of Charles II., to confirm to Sir Edward the grant, made to him by the King's order on 15th February 1658, for his support in His Majesty's service of, " 4 rations dayly out of the 50 rations "allowed for Reformed Officers in every regiment in our service, except our regiment of Guards"; (23) Letters under the Sign Manual of Charles II., dated at Bruxelles on 18th March 1659, requiring Colonel William Taafe, the Colonel of the Duke of Gloucester's regiment, to deduct 108 patacoons and 20 styvers out of the first "liberance or month's pay by him received for himself and all the officers and soldiers of his said regiment, and to pay the same 108 patacoons and 20 styvers to Sir Edward Walker in accordance with a concession made to him some two years since, and also, in accordance with a certain order made His Majesty on 15th February 1658, to the same Sir Edward Walker of ten patacons out of every month's liberance; (24) Ordinance, dated at Bruxelles on 20th July 1659, for the adequate provision and payment of Sir John Knight, Master-Surgeon of the six regiments of soldiers, in the service of King Charles the Second; (25) Memorandum, not dated, in the handwriting of Sir Edward, certifying that, in accordance with an order made by H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, the said Sir Edward is content to receive out of the next liberance the sum of 36 patacoons in lieu and full satisfaction of the four rations daily, to which he was entitled under his Majesty's order, "out of the 50 pays graunted for Reformed Officers."

JOHN BALL to H.H. PRINCE RUPERT.

1648, December 15th, Rotterdam.-" May it please your Highenes, According to youre commands I noe sooner came to Rotterdame, but I went and delivered your letter unto Monseure de Reusse, whoe haith promised that all your provisions shalbe shipt from hence to-morrowe. Concerninge the porcke he tells me that he dothe not thinke there can be soe great a quantity provided suddenly but . . .. haith sent about it already, but yet he demands howe he shalbe paed: for the poorke will amount (as he sayth) unto 4,000 fl. at the rate of 4 stivers per pound: he haith not as yet provided any sherees (? shirts) nor apparell for your men, and the reason he saith he haith noe order aboute it, but dothe expecte to receave it when Sir Frances Dorrington shall returne from the Haye. The pawninge of the Antilops Ordinans dothe give greate distast not only to the merchants, but alsoe to the gentelmen that are heere, they being informed some day that they are sould. Mounseur De Reuse tells me he dothe not thinke he shall gett above 30 fl. per cent. for the Ordinance, yet the Englishe doe informe me that [they] are worth 77. 10s. per cent. If I can finde any way to secure them from being sould, I shall doe it. Heere is newes that there is greate division in the Rebells army in England, 8 regiments being in opposition against 6 regiments, who have declared for the citty against Cromwell it comes from Flushinge, but I can not learne any certainty of it. Sir Francis Dorrington wilbe heere to-morrow, and Sir John

Minnes lies sick at Sleysdam (?). Captain Allen tells me that he can procure porke 3 stivers the pound, only this weather will hinder it from taking. To-morrow I will speake with Monsieur de Reuse again about your buisnes, and then I shalbe able further to give you an accompt of all thinges. This letter, so frayed and defaced as to be illegible at the places indicated by the dots, is addressed to Prince Rupert at "Helfuedsleuse."

H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK'S DEBTS AT THE HAGUE.

1648, December 29th, The Hague.-Petition to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales by Isaac Van Lier, Antoine Mottieu, Josias de Vigne, and the widow of the late Jean Herwy, merchants residing at La Heye: Praying the said Prince of Wales to take order for the prompt payment of their respective claims, amounting to 14,065 livres, for goods furnished and delivered to H.R.H. the Duke of York in the months of May, June and July. At the foot of the petition appears the following beautifully written memorandum of the Prince of Wales's promise to satisfy the claims of the petitioners with all possible promptitude, to wit,-. "A La Haye le 29 de Decembre, 1648. Son Altesse Royalle a "consideré cette supplication, et estime les debts de son frère Le Duc "d'Yorke comme les siennes propres, et declare, qu'il sefforcera à donner "juste satisfaction aux Suppliants avec autant promptitude que ses "affaires le pourront permettre Rob: Long."

WILLIAM BOSWELL to H.H. PRINCE RUPERT.

1648, December 31st, Hague. "May it please your Highnes prepareth speedily for sea. I take leave to beseech your Highnes to take the.... heer inclosed into your favour commend it so unto the Commanders under your Highnes, as that the shippe therein named (the Mary and Ann of Alborough) may receive noe damage or hindrance by them, in her way to Amdam (sic), whether shee is bound. It concernes especially a very great friend of mine there, evermore a most faithfull and ready servant of His Majestie. Your Highnes shall heerby honour and oblige whom you shall always command [P.S.] I have bin tyed to my bed and chambre this month, which hath kept mee from wayting upon your Highnes, which I doe most humbly pray may be excused upon my indisposition."

Addressed to Prince Rupert "at Helvoettscluse."

LORD CRAVEN to H.H. PRINCE RUPERT.

1649, January 26th, Hague.-"Sir. Your Highnesses commands shalbee punctuallie obeyed by me: and if I were at the same condition as [ ] Alexander Blak could have a cittie erected for to lodge him in, att least hee shall now bee as carefully looked unto untill your Highness bee pleased to command him agayne and that [ ] and what I have besides in my power shalbee att your service, unless brother Prince Edward in the meane time disfournish me your now that hee has taken an imploy (?) of horse under the Prince of Conte (?) and Monsieur de Longeville who are all the heads of the Parisiens, and will certainlie come all before you, if the Queene does not accept the offer they now make unto her, her armies having alreadie abandoned the post of Charington, which makes the way [to] Orleans

and the [ ] to be open. Heere they are dispaching away Paw that was att Munster and endeavour the Kinges safetie: but I rely more uppon the rhetorique of my Lord Duke, Marquis Harford, Southampton, Lindsey and Darell that are allowed to appeare att the committee for the Kinge in justification of all his proceedinges and gouvernement since the beginninge of his raine. But if that has not success, c'est fait de luy I feare, considering what persons now rule the rost. Yett God perchance may direct you and doe that which wee doe not deserve, and make us happey in the re-establishment of the Kinge and his, which truly has ever bin and is the prayer of him, who ever has had all the deutie that may bee in his heart for the Kinge, and shall alwaies continue itt because alsoe in his interest yours is soe much concerned to whom I am with all the zeale that may bee ever devoted and with all obedience your Highnesses most dutifull and most obliged servant."

Holograph: so frayed and decayed as to be illegible at the points indicated by brackets in the foregoing transcript.

CHARLES THE SECOND to H.H. PRINCE RUPERT.

1649, March 17th, The Hague.-"Charles R. Right deare and right intirely beloved cousin, We greet you well. Whereas our trusty and welbeloved Richard Foorde of Roterdam, Marchant, hath, by our speciall desire, lately freighted a shipp from hence, called the Fortune of Roterdam with wheate, rye, strong waters, and tobaccoe, and hath ordered the same to passe immediately into Irland, under the charge of his Agent Henry Prigg (sic), who is to vent the said commodities in that Kingdome, being such as we conceive are wanting there; and to make his returne in marchandize and commodities from thence, or otherwise, as he shall think fitt: And for as much as the said Richard Foord hath assured us, whatsoever goods shall be delivered to the said Henry Priggs (sic), by your Order, that he will pay the valew thereof in money to us heere, upon bills of Exchange from the said Prigg (sic), according to such rates and prices, as shall be agreed upon, Wee intreate you therefore, in the first place, to supply us with as much money as you may, for the reliefe of our great and pressing necessities heere; and to deliver the goods in kind to the said Henry Prigg, at reasonable prices, taking bills of Exchange from him upon the said Richard Foord: who will carefully pay the money to us heere. And whereas the said Richard Foord, being a person of knowen good affection to us, and one who hath suffered much for his loyalty to the King our late father of blessed memory, hath informed us that a shipp called the Henry of Dartmouth, belonging to him and his brother, (and whereof John Stafford was Master) was lately taken at sea, in her returne from the Canaries, by one Captain Peach, and carried into the port of Wexford in the Kingdome of Ireland: We being very desirous to gratifie the said Richard Foord by me[anes] in our power, as one that hath deserved extremely well of us, doe recommend him very earnestly to you; that, if the said Captain Peach have authority from you, or be under your command, all favour be shewed to the said Richard Foord concerning his shipp, and goods, taken as aforesaid. Given under our signet, at the Haghe, the 17th day of March 1649, And in the first year of our Reigne."

NOTE OF CHARLES THE SECOND'S DEBTS FOR HORSEMEAT, &c.

[1649]. A Particular of what is owing by his Majesty for horsemeat footmen's and grooms' clothes, for mourning, covering the coach, with