I Do as unwillingly put my pen to tell you, as I am sure you will be to hear what hath befaln my Ne∣phew Albertus this week. He was going on Friday last towards even∣ing in a Coach alone: whose driver alighting (I know not upon what occasion) hard by Charing-Cross, the horses (being young) took some affrightment, and running away so furiously, that one of them tore all his belly open upon the corner of a Beer Cart, my Nephew (who in this mean while adventured to leap out) seemeth to have hung upon one of the pins of the boot, from whence strugling to get loose, he brake the wast-band of his hose behind, and so fell with the greater violence on the ground, hurting only the hinder∣most part of his head, by what pos∣sibility we cannot conceive, unless Page  73 the motion of the Coach did turn him round in the fall. The force of the concussion took from him for some hour or thereabouts the use of his voice and sense, which are now well restored; only, there yet re∣maineth in his left arm a kinde of Paralitical stupefaction, and his right eye-lid is all black with some knock that he took in the agitation of the Coach; which peradventure may have been the motive to make him leap out. But these external evils do not so much trouble us, as an in∣ward pungent and pulsatory ache within the skull, somewhat lower then the place of his hurt; which hath continued more or less since his fall, notwithstanding twice letting blood, and some nights of good rest, and shaving of his head for the better transpiration; which we doubt the more, because it cometh sine ratione, his hurt being only in the fleshy part, and very sleight, without fra∣cture Page  74 of the skull, without inflamma∣tion, without any fever, and all the principal faculties, as me∣mory, discourse, imagination untainted. The King hath in this time much consolated us both with sending unto him, and with expres∣sing publikely a gracious feeling of his case: but we must fetch our true comforts from him, who is Lord of the whole: And so I leave it.

Since my last unto you, I am sure you hear how Sir Robert Mans∣field hath been twice or thrice con∣vented before the Lords, and com∣mitted to the Marshalsie; partly for having consulted with M. Whitlock the Lawyer about the validity of a Commission drawn for a re-search into the Office of the Admiralty, whereof himself is an Accomptant; and partly for denying to reveal the name of the said Lawyer his Friend; who before had been committed to the Fleet for another case much of Page  75 the same nature. The point touch∣eth a limb of the Kings Prerogative, and immediate Authority. Sir Ro∣bert Mansfields Answers (by report) had as much of the Philosopher, or of the Hermite, as of the Souldier, or Courtier; professing openly his little care of this World, or of his own fortunes in it; and divers other phrases of that complexion. Sir Thomas Overbury is still where he was, and as he was, without any alte∣ration: The Viscount Rochester yet no way sinking in the point of favour; which are two strange consistents.

Sir R. Drury runneth at the Ring, corbeteth his horse before the Kings window, haunteth my L. of Rochesters chamber, even when himself is not there; & in secret divideth his obser∣vances between him & the House of Suffolk: And all this (they say) to be Ambassador at Bruxels. So as super to∣ta materia, I see appetites are not all of a kinde: Some go to the Tower for Page  76 the avoiding of that which another doth languish to obtain. I will end with my Paper, and by the next Carrier either tell you precisely when I shall see you, or prevent the telling of it. And so our sweet Sa∣viour bless you and my deer Neece.