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The Lord Kensington to the Duke.
My most dear, and Noble Lord,
BEsides that joynt Letter to your Lordship from my Colleague, and my self, I think fit to add this particular account of what passed yesterday at Ruel betwixt Queen Mother, and me; whither going to give her double thanks; as for the libertie, she had given me of accesse at all times to Madam, to entertain her henceforth with a more free, and amorous kind of language from the Prince; so for having so readily condescended to an humble suit of mine in the behalf of my Lord of Carlile for a favourable Let∣ter for him to your Lordship; she was pleased to oblige me farther in relling me she did it meerly for my sake. I redoubled my thanks, and added, that I knew your Lordship would esteeme it one of the greatest happinesses that could befal you to have an occasion offer∣ed, whereby you might witnesse, how much you adored her Majesties royal virtues, and how infinitely you were her Servant, readie to receive law from her, whensoever by the least syllable of her blessed Lips or Penn, she should please to impose it. And this I did (as on the one side to gratifie my Colleague, who would be infinitely sensi∣ble of the disgrace he apprehends in the misse of the Ribbon, being thus brought upon the Stage for it) as also to help to mesnage that your Gratious favour which Mounsieur de Fiatts to my Lord represents unto him, by giving you meanes withal to oblige this sweet & blessed Queen, who hath your Lordship in a very high account, and would be glad to find occasions how she may witnesse it. The mention of my Lord of Carlile upon this occasion refreshed her remembrance of the late falling out betwixt the Cardinal and him; and though she were sufficiently informed of the particulars by the Cardinal himself, yet she would needs have a relation from me, who in a merrie kind of fashion obeyed her command, and salved every thing the best I could. She would needs know my opinion of the Cardinal, who so magni∣fied to her his wisdom, his courage, his courtesie, his fidelity to her service, his affection to our businesse as pleased her not a little. Nei∣ther did my heart and my tongue differ, for I esteem him such. This discourse she left to fall upon a better subject, the Prince, concern∣ing whose voyage into Spain, the censure of Italie (she said) was, that two Kings had therein committed two great errours. The one in adventuring so precious a pledge to so hazardous an enterprise, the other in badly using so brave a guest. The first, Madam, (answered I) may be excused from the end, the common good of all Christen∣dom,