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London, June 2/12.
YOUR Nephew arrived here last night, and I going to welcome him, received your letter from him. His friends find he bears in his face too fair marks of a Spanish journey, but in all things else, I believe he will give them as entire satisfaction as unto me, who ever had an extraordinary good opinion of him.
This day was se'nnight the proro|gation of the Parliament was spoken of, but being then uncertain, and (as I thought) not like to be, I was not
willing to mention it; but it fell out the next day, and all men's wits have been screwed ever since that day to find out the consequences. Every body hath had his conjecture, and the most ignorant shewed themselves the most bold, in asserting their opinions. Many find that the King would not have done it, if he had not resolved to send for the Duke; keep up the Army; desire assistances from abroad; sell Jer|sey and Tangier to the French, (for which Mr. Savile is to make the bar|gain) set the Earl of Danby at liberty, and with the help of the Papists and Bishops set up for himself. But instead of this, we see little reason to believe the Duke will think himself well here: The Army is in part disbanded, and had been entirely before this day, if it
had pleased Colonel Birch. The place from whence the foreign assistances should come is not known: Mr. Sa|vile is not thought very good at such Treaties: The Earl of Danby is like to lie where he is, and the utmost help his Majesty can (for ought I hear) ex|pect, until the Parliament do meet, is, by Fox, Kent, and Duncomb's credit, which perhaps will not be found to be a very steddy foundation. No man will avow having been the King's Counsellor in this business; and some wonder, that his Majesty in constitut|ing the privy Council, having promised that he would have no cabinet Coun|cil, but that he would in all things fol|low their advices, next unto those of his great Council the Parliament; should so suddenly prorogue that great
Council, without so much as asking the other. This fills men with many ill humours; the Parliament-men go down discontented, and are like by their reports to add unto the discon|tents of the Countries, which are al|ready very great; and the fears from the Papists at home, and their friends abroad, being added thereunto, they begin to look more than formerly unto the means of preserving themselves.
There hath been a suit at Law in Scotland, between the Earl of Argyle, and one Macclaine a great man in the Highlands, and the Earl (as is said) by the favour of Duke Latherdale, hath obtained a decree for the Lands in question; which by order from hence, is to be put in execution, by the
strength of all the King's forces in Scotland, and fire and sword to be used in case they find resistance; as probably they will, Macclaine resolving he will not be turned out of his ancient inheri|tance by a trick in law, and a decree from corrupt Judges: This Man being head of a numerous and stout people, helped by the fastness and poverty of their Country, may perhaps make good what he proposeth unto himself; and to shew he is not to be surprised, he hath already entered into Argyle's Country with 800 or 1000 men. The Earl of Athol is his neighbour, friend, and enemy to Argyle, so as it is be|lieved, he may give him secret assist|ance at the first, and afterwards more openly. About the same time a pro|clamation was there published, mak|ing
it Treason to be present at any of the Field-Conventicles that are armed; and every man knowing the pressures they are exposed unto if they go dis|armed, they must incurr the penalties, or abstain wholly from going, which they will hardly be perswaded unto. Things being thus brought unto ex|tremities, the King hath been per|swaded to give a hearing unto what the Duke Hamilton, and other Scotch Lords, have to say against Latherdale, as is appointed before the Council.
Two associates were offered unto Sir Thomas Chichely, for the better executing of his Office of Master of the Ordnance; but he thinking that an affront to a man of so eminent abili|ties as himself, refused them, which
hath obliged the King to dismiss him from the place, and put it into com|mission, as some others have been; Sir Thomas Littleton, Sir William Hick|man, and Sir Joseph Lowther are said to be the men. If what is said be true, the ill management of the Trea|sury was not more extreme, than this of the Ordnance; for besides the ex|travagancies of furnishing the French Armies with arms and ammunition, (whereas the Stores where fuller two years ago than ever they were known to have been) there are now but six hundred muskets in the Tower, and other things in proportion.
Some think these ways of employing many Parliament-men, may strengthen the King's party in the House. Others
think, that a King is ever a loser when he enters into a Faction, and ban|dys against his Subjects; besides that these men will lose their credit, and, having only single votes, will be over|powered by number. I do not find the new privy Counsellors well at ease, and am not free from sear, that whilst they endeavour to keep fair with both parties, they may give distaste unto both. Harry Sydney is to go Envoy extraor|dinary into Holland, and yesterday the King declared unto him his intention to that purpose.
Vanlieu the Holland Ambassador is arrived, and Van Beuninghen going away. He made the last week a great noise about a message sent by the King of France unto his Masters, concern|ing
the contribution-money due from the Country about Breda; denouncing in a very terrible manner, his inten|tion of levying it by force, if it were not paid; and that in an Ottoman stile, which unto some silly people gave as silly a hope, that the peace would break, and the league be renew|ed against the French; but the French Ambassador says, it is a thing of no moment at all, and already composed. However I see no inclinations in dis|creet men here, to desire such a dis|composure of things abroad, as should engage us to take any part in them, until our affairs are better settled at home than they are yet like to be.
Ireland is in extreme disorder, by the Duke of Ormond's negligence, ig|norance,
and favour to the Irish. Dou|glass his Regiment thinking to use the same licentiousness at Kinsale, as it had been accustomed unto in France, gives great distaste, and apprehensions of such works as began almost by the same ways in 1641. Old Roberts, in appearing of late for the King and Bishops, thinks himself of merit to suc|ceed him; but he is as singular in that opinion as in many others.
Some that know matters better than I do, must tell you, whether we shall have the same Parliament, at the end of the prorogation, or a new one, or none at all. But I think, this, or ano|ther will be found necessary; and if this be dissolved, another will be cho|sen of less inclinations to favour the
Court. The four Priests are sent down to be hanged, where they were con|demned. The Council gave order to the Lord Mayor, to be very diligent in putting the Proclamations against the Papists in execution, and careful un|der that name not to trouble Pro|testant dissenters. It is said that Lang|horne, Wakeman, Sir Joseph Gage, Sir William Goring, and other Popish Commoners, shall be soon brought to their tryal. Now the Parliament doth not sit, little news will be stirring, but you shall constantly have such as I know, or any other service that lies in the Power of
Your most humble Servant.