Four letters of Lord Wentworth, afterwards Earl of Strafford, with a poem on his illness

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THE CAMDEN MISCELLANY,

VOLUME THE EIGHTH:

CONTAINING

POUK LETTERS OF LORD WENTWORTH, AFTERWARDS EARL OF
STRAFFORD, WITH A POEM ON HIS ILLNESS.

MEMOIR BY MADAME DE MOTTEVILLE ON THE LIFE OF HEN-
RIETTA MARIA.

PAPERS RELATING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF LORD SAVILE,
1642-1646.

A SECRET NEGOCIATION WITH CHARLES THE FIRST, 1643-1644.

A LETTER FROM THE EARL OF MANCHESTER ON THE CONDUCT
OF CROMWELL.

LETTERS ADDRESSED TO THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE.

ORIGINAL LETTERS OF THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH.

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FAMILY OF HADDOCK 1657-1719.

LETTERS OF RICHARD THOMPSON TO HENRY THOMPSON, OF
ESCRICK, CO. YORK.

PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY.

M.DCCC.LXXXIII.

WESTMINSTER:

PRINTED BY NICHOLS AND SONS,

25, PARLIAMENT STREET.

3^/^^

[new SliUIJiS XXXI.]

COUNCIL OF THE CAMDEN SOCIETY

FOR THE YEAR 1882-3.

President^

THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF VERULAM, F.R.G.S.

J. J. CARTWRIGHT, ESQ., M.A., Treasmer.

WILLIAM CHAPPELL, ESQ., FS.A.

-F. W. COSENS, ESQ., F.S.A.

JAMES E. DOYLE, ESQ.

REV. J. WOODFALL EBSWORTH, M.A., F.S.A.

JAMES GAIRDNER, ESQ.

SAMUEL RAWSON GARDINER, ESQ., Director.

J. W. HALES, ESQ., M.A.

ALFRED KINGSTON, ESQ., Secretary.

CHARLES A. J. MASON, ESQ.

THE EARL OF POWIS, LL.D.

EVELYN PHILIP SHIRLEY, ESQ., M.A. (the late)

REV. W. SPARROW SIMPSON, D.D., F.S.A.

WILLIAM JOHN THOMS, ESQ., F.S.A.

J. R. DANIELL-TYSSEN, ESQ., F.S.A. {the late).

The CJouNCiL of the Camden Society desire it to be under-
stood that they are not answerable for any opinions or observa-
tions that may appear in the Society's publications ; the Editors
of the several Works being alone responsible for the same.

FOUR LETTERS

OF

LORD WENTWORTH,

AFTERWARDS EARL OF STRAFFORD,

WITH

A POEM ON HIS ILLNESS.

EDITED BY

SAMUEL RAWSON GARDINER, LL.D.,

DIBECTOB OF THE CAMDEN SOCIETY.

PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY.

M.DCCC.LX2UUU.

PEEFACE,

For the four letters now published the Society is indebted to
Mr. G. F. Warner, who met with them in arranging a collection
of the correspondence of the Earl of Carlisle which has recently
been purchased by the British Museum. The first of them is
valuable as embodying Wentworth's opinion on Gustavus Adolphus
at a critical point in his career, whilst the last gives us his opinion
of the Irish officials soon after his arrival in Ireland. All four of
them have an interest as showing intimacy between Wentworth and
the husband of Lady Carlisle.

The poem, which must have been written in the end of May or
the beginning of June 1640, was pointed out to me some years ago
by Mr. R. Laing of C. C. C. It has since been copied for me by
Mr. A. Plummer, the Librarian of the College, who has been good
enough to collate it as printed here with the original MS. There
is nothing except internal evidence to bear on the question of
authorship, but Professor Hales and Mr. Gosse agree in selecting
Cartwright as the probable writer. At the time when the collected
edition of his poems was published there was every reason to omit
a panegyric of Strafford.

FOUE LETTERS

FROM

LORD WENTWORTH TO THE EARL OF CARLISLE.

[Egerton MSS. 2597.]

My bitjch honored Lord,

Thorowe the favoure of yours of the nine and twentithe
of the last moneth methinks I see the affaires of the house of Austria
a little to quicken againe, for the intrenchmentt of the Swede*
showes the others to be maisters of the feilde ; and that soe many
peeces of importance have declared themselves for Monsieur^
asseures me France will not be in case to hurtt Spaine abrode
having soe much to doe for himself att home, being a solitary
Prince and a heire apparantt the heade of a Party aganst him. Soe
it seemes Fiat*^ was a righteous man and taken from the evill to
cum, which methinks the Cardinall should hardly escape. But, if I
may prie into the Arke, I beseeche your Lordship, whie doe not
wee sum way or other declare ourselves roundly and put ourselves in
sum posture, at least in sum hope of regaining the Palatinate. That
Prince seems to me on all sides to be in the lande wheare all things
are forgotten. Oh my Lord, the house of Austria hath a roote,
will up againe ; the King of Swede can have noe time to make
more then one faulte, and that proves irremedilesse, if it should

* At Nuremberg, where Gustavus Adolphus was facing Wallenstein.

^Gaston Dnke of Orleans was at this time in Languedoc taking part in an
insrarection with the Duke of Montmorency.

'^ The Marquess of Effiat, who had been ambassador in England in 1624-25. He
had been superintendent of the Finances, and had done much to bring about the
insurrection by his demands upon the estates of Languedoc. He died July ^.
CAMD. SOC.

Z STRAFFORD LETTERS.

chance to befalle him, therfore me thinks still it weare well we be
not all togeither swallowed up in the contemplation of his last
battell at Lipssick ; besides that in his successfull progresse hetherto
he hath not presented himself soe lovely to us, as that we have
cause to dote on him. And now, my Lord, give me leave to tell
you how sore it presseth upon the zeale I have to serve you that
my condition in this place affords me noe meanes to performe it, as I
infinitly desire it might. In good faithe, one pleasure I have when
I thinke of Irelande, and therin judge that imploymentt to have
much the better of this, it is that I hope ther to finde sum pathes
open for my thankfullnesse to walke in, and to meete with sum of
your interests in my passsadge. Beleeve me, my Lorde, I will with
all diligence and perseverance treade the stepps which may leade me
to sum happy issue, which may becum in sum degree acceptable
unto you and soe hartely apprehende your commaundes your
honoure or benifitt; that he must be a bold man at armes that setts
them and me asunder. Till I manifest unto your Lordship this
constantt truthe, be pleased to oblige me by your beleefe (whearin
you shall never be deceaved) of my remaining
Your Lordship's

Most humble and most faithfuU servantt,
Wentworth.

Yorke, this 12th of August, 1632.

Dec. 20, My very GOOD LORD,

1632.
Fol. 108. Ther is upon the way towards your Lordship a whole

kennall of houndes ; five cople of them are for me, nor was I ever

maister of soe many before in all my life. I wishe they prove for

your liking ; thus much in therbyhalfe, according to the dialecte of

a Northeren Cracker. Ther ancestors weare of thos famouse Heroes

that in the feildes of Hanworth* and Wettwange^ weare of the cheefe

in sentte and vewe, and, if it came to a blacke hare, run doggs,

• In Middlesex. *» In the East Riding of Yorkshire.

STRAFFORD LETTERS. 3

horse, and men cleare out of sighte, and the silly beaste was sure to
die for it before she gott to the tow miles end. Your Lordship is
left free to your beleafe, but thus much shall be sworne, if you
desire an oathe for it ; what thes thar oxpring may performe
upon the Alpes I cannot be resolved by our huntsmen, but it
is strongly supposed they will not prove Pejores avis, and then
the day is ours sure. The subjectt I am upon is ritche and
noble, and losse it weare to give it over soe quickly ; but truly, my
Lord, if I end not quickly I shall not see to write, soe as I must
intirely assigne them over to ther good fortune and myself to your
favoure, wishing sum better occasion by which I may expresse unto
you how sincerely and hartely I am
Your Lordship's

Most faithfull and most humble servante,
Wentworth.

Yorke, this 20th of December, 1632.

My humble service to my Ladye I beseeche you ; for such is the
speede and dullnesse of my sight as both conspire to give me noe
leisure or meanes to write any more.

My very good Lorde,

This place administers little matter whearupon to exercise
the service I finde my hartte inclined to expresse unto your Lord-
ship everywheare, which misfortune I trust my industrye and
desire shall free me from the burthen of long labouring under and
sett me in sum nearer and better posture to your affaires in Irelande,
whear with extreame much comforte I flatter myself att least not
to continue thus still uselesse and fruitlesse in thos lardge returnes
towe your noble freindshippe.

I have written to my Lord Mountnorris to pay over to Mr. Heye
for your Lordship's use the surplusadge of your wine customes in
Irelande, your rentt to his Ma*'« deducted ; but I am not a little
troubled with the apprehension that he will not take itt for a suffi-

4 STRAFFORD LETTERS.

cient warrantte for him to issue the m . . . . upon, as indeed itt is
not, and soe your Lordship be disappointed. To helpe this the
best I can till I can thether myself, I still call upon such of your
servants as I conceave are intrusted with your businesse to hasten
to your Lordship your warrantt from Mr. Attumey, which may be
returned backe heare and see the booke ready drawen accordingly
aganst his Ma*^^^ cumming hether, when your Lordship willbe
pleased to see it perfected, and past under the great scale. What
they doe in it I heare not, but I will by God's helpe goe to the
Attumey myself, and, if they have slacked, I will not, nor suffer him
to be in quiet till I procure itt and send it after you. Good my
Lord, let it not be any longer neglected, for it is of greate value,
and willbe worthe your paines to have it finally and authentically
settled in good forme of lawe.

The Counsell goe every Sunday to waite upon the Queen.* Her
Ma^y useth them with great grace and civility; but methinks is
sumthing sadde and lookes very much paler than she useth to doe.

For myself, I am using all the diligence I possibly can to gett
away, and shall, God willing, be in a readinesse to begin my jurney
soe soon as I heare Captaine Plumley is gott aboute to Beaum orris
with the shipp that is to transporte me. He is allready out of the
river, soe as the next post that cums from Chester I trust to have
the newes of his safe arrivall, and till then it weare to very little
purpose for me to stirre from hence.

Wee heare ther is greate curtesyes passe betwixt your Lordship
and my Lord of Hollande, and heare all his freinds make mighty
addresses to my Ladye, but weather out of true respectts to you
tow singly, or complicated with sum secrett designe to fortifie
themselves the better to make themselves more able to ballance to
doe the Treasorour^ a shrewde turne, I conceave may in good
judgmente be doubted ; for I am one of thos that beleeve noe
miracles, but that freindshipps which are to be trusted grow up
per media upon sum noble precedent existent matter, wheare thos
» The King was on his way to Scotland. '' Richard Weston, Earl of Portland.

STRAFFORD LETTERS. 5

which are skiped into thus per saltum are for the most partte only
to serve turnes and deceatfuUy temporary, and therfore ever to be
suspected. It must be time and your owne wisdome which must
discover this mistery, and therunto as unto lights much abler to
discerne and judge I submitt itt, having myself noe other interest
then to desire that all may succeede to the honoure and happinesse
of your Lordship and my Ladye; and then in good faithe I am
well pleased (that granted) which way soever itt be convayed unto
you. I am sorry this day proves soe ill as will of necessitye keep
his M*y within doores,** and by that meanes I feare hinder him from
seaing the parke at Yorke, which I have taken soe much care to
reserve out of the Forest, rather for the honoure and conveniency
of the place I ther held than for any private benefitt of my owne ;
for in good faith, my Lord, money is not the price with me of
anything, but the kindnesse and love to my freinds, particularly to
your Lordship, I confesse must not be denied whatever can be
required, and in the power of

Your Lordship's

Most faithful! humble servante,
Wentworth.

Westminster.
Indorsed: 1633, June 25.

Aug. 27, My very good Lord,

Fol. 150. Whatever my occasions or hast be, it must not deprive

me the happiness of still putting your Lordship in remembrance of
this servante of yours, who will ever be the readiest to receave and
the most carefull to fuUfill your commaundes in the whole world.
Hear I am the whilst in excessive labourre to gett a little before
hande with my businesse, if possibly I may be soe happy, being to
deale with a generation that have the pointes of ther weapon turned

* On his passage through York on his way to Scotland.

b STRAFFOED LETTERS.

wholly to ther owne privates, but noe edge att alle for the publike ;
heare they are as dull as sharpe and eager to cut out for themselves
in the other. I see itt is a maxime amongst them to keepe the
Deputye as ignorantt as possibly they can, that soe allbeit not in
peace yet he may be subordinate to them in knowledge, which I
take to be the true reason that not any of them hethertoo hath made
me any proposition att all for the bettering of his Ma*y®^ service. I
am purposed on the other side to open my eyes as wide as I can and
dispaire not in time to be able to sounde the depthe they covett soe
much to reserve from me. I finde all the revenew hear reduced to
fee farmes and noe possible meanes consequently to advance it, and
in the meane time greate matters expected, indeed impossibilities,
from me in Englande, which is a wo full condition of a servant to
dwell under the pressure of exspectation and be left or afforded noe
meanes to dischardge himself from under the burthen of itt. I
beseech your Lordship lett me in this, as I have dun in many things
els, finde your favour, and be pleased to take me soe farre into your
care as to weede out this growing inconvenience forth out of our
maister^s minde, in case you at any time finde itt to shoote up with
him. There is not many that have the meanes to doe it for me, nor
many the particulars wherein you may oblige me more than in this.
I shall be sure to doe the uttermost that lies in me, for I have a
hartte can willingly sacrifice all that ever I have for his Ma*y (if
I doo not deceave myself) with a chearfuUnesse and faithe extra-
ordinary ; only I am fearefull, that whilst impossibilities are ex-
spected at my hands, the best I can doe should not be accepted,
nay, imputed unto me as a crime. My Lord, I will detaine you
noe longer, further then to beseeche you to be confidentt I must
ever inviolatly approve myself

Your Lordship's

Most humble and most faithfiill servantt,
Wentworth.

Dablin, this 27th of Angnst, 1633.

STRAFFORD LETTERS.

POEM

ON THE EARL OF STRAFFORD'S ILLNESS.

[MSS. OF Corpus Christi College, Oxford. No. 316.]

To my Lord Lieftenant of Ireland.

How much you may oblige, how much delight
The wise and noble, would you dye to-night ?
Or would you, like some noble victo^, dye
Just when the Triumphs for the victory
Are setting forth ; would you dye now, to eschew
Our wreaths, for what yo'^ wisedome did subdue,
And though they'r bravely fitted to yo'" head
Bravely disdaine to weare them till you'r dead.
Such Cynnicke Glory would outshine the light
Of Graetian greatnes, or of Roman height.
Not that the wise and noble can desire
To loose the objects they soe much admire.
But Heroes and Saints must shift away
Their flesh, ere they can gett a holy day.
Then like to time, or book-fam'd Registers,
Victor's and Saints renown'd in Calenders,
You must depart to make yo'' valew knowne,
You may be lik'd, but not ador'd till gone.
Soe curs'd a Fate hath humane Excellence,
That absence still must raise it to our sence,:
Great vertue may be dangerous whilst 'tis here ;
It winnes to love but it subdues to feare.

STRAFFORD LETTERS.

The mighty Julius who soe long did strive

At more then man, was hated whilst alive,

Even for that vertue which was rais'd so high ;

When dead it made him straight a Deitye.

Embassadors that carry in their Breasts

Secrets of Kings, and Kingdomes Interests

Have not their callings full preeminence

Till they grow greater by removing lience.

Like Subiects here they but attend the Throne

But swell like King's Companions when they'r gone.

My Lord, in a dull Calme the Pilott growes

To noe esteeme for what he acts or knowes ;

But still neglected, as he useles were.

Or con'd his Card like a young Passenger :

Yet when the silent wind [sic] receave their breath

And stormes grow lowde enough to awaken death,

Then, were he absent, every Traffacker

Would with rich wishes beg his being there.

Soe in a Kingdomes Calme you beare noe rate.

But rise to valew in a storme of State,

Yet I recant, I beg yo^ would forgive,

That in such times I must perswade yo'' live

For with a storme wee all are overcast

And Northerne stormes are dangerous at last.

Should yo^ dye now that onely knowes to steere

The windes would lesse afflict us then our feare.

For each small Statesman then would lay his hand

Upon the healme, and struggle for Comand,

Till the disorders that above doe grow

Provoke our Curses whilst we sinke below.

INDEX.

Carlisle, Earl of, his payments from the Irish wine customs, 3

Gustavus Adolphus, Wentworth's opinion of, 1

Portland, Earl of, parties at Court against, 4

Leipsic, Battle of, 2

Wentworth, his opinions on foreign aflfairs, 1 ; praises his dogs, 2 ; prepares to go
to Ireland, 4 ; his opinion on the character of the Irish officials, 6 ; poem on
the illness of, 7

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