| Title: | Copy Extracts, ?, Dury And ? To Hartlib: |
|---|---|
| Dating: | August 1661. |
| Ref: | British Library Add. MSS 4159 ff.48A-49B |
| Notes: | Included in Volume V of the Thurloe Papers (Add. 4159). |
| Notes: | Original of second extract is at Hartlib Papers 4/4/38B |
[48A]
From Cleve the 31 Iulij/10.August 1661
Wee have now certain New's, that the Turkes perforce are broken into Transylvania, where noe doubt they will play the Master, nor will they so soone bee driven out of it. Kemenj Ianush hath an Army of 18. thousand men of foot, but dare not oppose the Turkish Powers, but only enquarter himselfe in a certain place by way of defense as well as hee can. The Austrians have dallied & delayed their Succours so long, that now it is too late; soe that they are like to doe noe great matters with their 15. thousand men, but will bee forced to take only a Defensive Posture in the Qvarters where they lye for the present. Wee are still of opinion, that Prince Maurice will accept the offred Condition by his Majesty of England. Wee have certain but secret New's from Sweden, that besides the Guarrisons, they can bring into field a considerable Body of 28. thousand men, as hath beene found by their late mustering; which can doe much mischiefe, against whomsoever they shall bee employed. The Swedes themselves give noe other Iudgment but that they will bee oblieged either to bee engaged on a new Action of Warr, or to dismisse them suddainly, because it is not in their power to keepe on foot so great an Army out of their owne Meanes; soe that wee shall know suddainly, what they intend to doe. Last weeke his Electoral Highness made another Iourney of pleasure, with a very small retinue into Braband, intending when he com's back to surprise the Princesse his owne Lady with her Mother at Tournhout. But the Publique New's from Holland write boldly, That the Elector is vpon some Designe, having appointed a secret Meeting & Conference with the Marques de Carazena in a place not far from Antwerpe: but here at Court wee will not know of any such matter. In Holland the Treaty with Portugall beyond all mens expectations as suddainly & strangely concluded, but that Mysteries of state must not bee discovered. After the Lords the States had sent word to the Portugall Ambassador (which was done the 20/30 of Iuly) That they expected a Categoricall Resolution within 10. dayes, concerning the Treaty so neere brought to a Conclusion, that after the expiration of that time, if noe satisfactory Answer was returned, he should quite the Countrey. Downing having given occasion by his imprudent Discourses to the Lords the States, to take vp so sharpe a Resolution, did endeavour by a new Memoriall, that by him was given in, to divert them from any such purpose, but all in vaine. When now the Ambassador was preparing himselfe to bee gone, he Resolved once more to sollicite a Conference with the Commissioners that were appointed for transacting of those Affaires; which beeing graunted, he promised the next day to signe the Treaty, which was done accordingly. And because the Ambassador would bee gone within two or three dayes, they ordered him a Golden Chaine worth 6. thousand florins and a Man of Warr to carrie him into Portugall. They send likewise with him a Commissioner of thier owne for the urging or expediting the Ratification. Downing by his Secretary not withstanding hath protested against such a Kind of dealing with the Portugall Ambassador. [catchword: But]
[48B]
But they care little for it. They are rather vpon a Resolution to entreate the said Resident in the quality of a Mediator to signe likewise these Treatises. Hee likewise gave in another Memoriall before the Portugal had signed; & complains withall of the suddain recalling of the Holland Ambassadors alledging, That his Majesty's Iourney would bee but very short, & that the Treaty with England would soone bee concluded. An Answer was returned him in writing, that an Order was sent to their Ambassadors That in case his Majesty would impowre his Ministers to goe on in the Treaty with their Ambassadors according to such Instructions as they had sent them, or which should yet bee sent them from time to time, that they might stay & not make such haste as they intended. But if they should see noe hopes of any contentment that they were like to obtaine, they should returne according to their former order. Thus the Lords the States begin to bee more & more serious to transact their Affaires; and the Resident Downing is not a little blamed to deale after such a manner with the fore-said states, as in the times of Cromwell, whereas their Publick businesses were now settled in a far better posture or condition. Wee have seene Concionem synodicam ad Clerum habitam per Thomam Pierce. But will you suffer me to give my judgment freely & impartially in the name of many of our Divines, which is this - Piercij Oratio satis erudita et diserta, sed bonæ frugis admodùm vacua est:
[48B]
But they care little for it. They are rather vpon a Resolution to entreate the said Resident in the quality of a Mediator to signe likewise these Treatises. Hee likewise gave in another Memoriall before the Portugal had signed; & complains withall of the suddain recalling of the Holland Ambassadors alledging, That his Majesty's Iourney would bee but very short, & that the Treaty with England would soone bee concluded. An Answer was returned him in writing, that an Order was sent to their Ambassadors That in case his Majesty would impowre his Ministers to goe on in the Treaty with their Ambassadors according to such Instructions as they had sent them, or which should yet bee sent them from time to time, that they might stay & not make such haste as they intended. But if they should see noe hopes of any contentment that they were like to obtaine, they should returne according to their former order. Thus the Lords the States begin to bee more & more serious to transact their Affaires; and the Resident Downing is not a little blamed to deale after such a manner with the fore-said states, as in the times of Cromwell, whereas their Publick businesses were now settled in a far better posture or condition. Wee have seene Concionem synodicam ad Clerum habitam per Thomam Pierce. But will you suffer me to give my judgment freely & impartially in the name of many of our Divines, which is this - Piercij Oratio satis erudita et diserta, sed bonæ frugis admodùm vacua est:
Amsterdam the 9/19 of August 1661.
I have beene told by two or three sober Persons, that there hath beene in this Towne (whiles I was at the Hague) an auncient Man of Friseland, who came hither by the direction of an Angel, who he saith, appeared vnto him at night about eleven of the Clock when he was abed, making his roome formerly darke more bright, then when the Sun at noone day shined vpon it; whereat he beeing amazed & troubled, he saith, the Angel stood still, till he had recovered himselfe, & then told him, That he was sent from God to comaund him to goe to the Reformed Ministers of this Countrey, to bid them exhort earnestly their hearers to Repent, & obtaine from the Profannes & Sinfull excesses, which abound in their Courses, because God hath determined to visit this People with the Sword, with the Plague, & with Famine; in the extremity of all these Plagues, except they bee humbled & repent, that the sword shall bee in all their Qvarters at once, that the Plague shall bee such, that the Living shall not bee able to burie all the Dead, but that the Doggs shall eate the Carcases lying vnburied, & that the Famine shall bee such, that one Pound of Bread shall be worth a Rixdollar. And when the old man did aske him, when this should bee? The Answer was, That hee should give the Reformed Ministers warning hereof first, & as they should behave themselves, he should then come to him again, & let him know further, That if they Repented not, he should bee told of the Time, which should not faile one houre. Mr. Rulice told me some part of this, having vnderstood it from a sober woman of his Congregation, who spoke with him, of whom when she came to [catchword: speake]
[49A]
speake to him, he asked, Whether shee was of the Reformed Church-Members? and when she had answered Yea, then he told her these things; & added, that the Angel said, That because he was an Old Man, he was not charged to carrie this same messge of the like Iudgments to befall to England, except they also Repented for the great Sinnes, which beare sway in that Nation: but that he should write vnto England to warne them of the same purpose of God against them, if they did not alter their course. I shall enquire further into this matter, & let you know what I learne. The Woman that related to Mr. Rulice a part of this (for some part namely concerning the Sword to bee vpon the foure Corners of the Provinces, I heard from another hand) added; That he was commaunded to give the same warning to the Reformed Ministers in Braband; and that he said, He could wish it had pleased the Lord to employ some body else in this Message. For said he, I scarce dare goe along the streets for Boyes & People following, & taken me for a Qvaker, which is very troublesome to mee. Whether this matter of the Vision bee true or noe, that the Man (who is know'n to bee of a good life) hath seene it, is not materiall to mee; but that he saith these things, is out of doubt; & that the duty of Repentance is very necessary, noe man can denye, that can looke into the lives & wayes of Professors. But that this Message should now bee sent, when this People thinck themselves at Peace with all the World, & in a more flourising Condition then ever, is remarkeable to mee & like vnto the way of God, who to ballance their carnall Confidence & wanton Security, doth let them know the danger, wherein they are, except they behave themselves wisely, and walke humbly before him. Which I beseech the Lord to make you in England as well as those that are here, sensible of!
[49A]
speake to him, he asked, Whether shee was of the Reformed Church-Members? and when she had answered Yea, then he told her these things; & added, that the Angel said, That because he was an Old Man, he was not charged to carrie this same messge of the like Iudgments to befall to England, except they also Repented for the great Sinnes, which beare sway in that Nation: but that he should write vnto England to warne them of the same purpose of God against them, if they did not alter their course. I shall enquire further into this matter, & let you know what I learne. The Woman that related to Mr. Rulice a part of this (for some part namely concerning the Sword to bee vpon the foure Corners of the Provinces, I heard from another hand) added; That he was commaunded to give the same warning to the Reformed Ministers in Braband; and that he said, He could wish it had pleased the Lord to employ some body else in this Message. For said he, I scarce dare goe along the streets for Boyes & People following, & taken me for a Qvaker, which is very troublesome to mee. Whether this matter of the Vision bee true or noe, that the Man (who is know'n to bee of a good life) hath seene it, is not materiall to mee; but that he saith these things, is out of doubt; & that the duty of Repentance is very necessary, noe man can denye, that can looke into the lives & wayes of Professors. But that this Message should now bee sent, when this People thinck themselves at Peace with all the World, & in a more flourising Condition then ever, is remarkeable to mee & like vnto the way of God, who to ballance their carnall Confidence & wanton Security, doth let them know the danger, wherein they are, except they behave themselves wisely, and walke humbly before him. Which I beseech the Lord to make you in England as well as those that are here, sensible of!
They write from Norimberg by the last post, that many Troopes past by that towne, marching into Austria, to bee sent into Transylvania to oppose the Turke, who with all maine Force will possesse himself of that Province. The Romish Clergy & others are said to contribute to maintaine that warr by a Taxe, which they impose vpon themselves; & the Emperor hath taxed all things bought & sold in his owne Territories with two Creytzers in the Gilder, which is a most intolerable burden to the Subjects. In Hungaria the Imperialists, by the conduct of the Iesuits, drive away all the Protestant Ministers, & force the People to goe to the Masse, which will make them rather bee vnder the subjection of the Turck, for to haue Liberty of Conscience, then under the Emperor. These occurrences are such as at present come to hand. I beseech the Lord to keepe of the ominousnes of them.
From Dantzick they write as followeth - They write from Warsovia, which is confirmed by those that have beene Members of the Parliament & of this City, as likewise by those that have beene oculati testes, That the Parliament hath ended very poorely. Most of the great matters have beene transacted Protestationibus & Reprotestationibus. As for the elector of Brandenburg they have Resolved for the paying of the Summe of Money, demaunded by him, to give him all the Excises & Customes in Prussia, & that the Merchants for a certain time are to pay 6. pro Cento every Month, which is the way to ruine utterly all Trade & Traffique. Now since the Nuntij Terrestres are departed from Warsovia, they are making orders & Constitutions, as seeme best to them. In the meane time the Confoederate Soldatesca, which are allready 40. thousand strong, are advancing in their March, taking & possessing one place after another; besides [catchword: having]
[49B]
having leavyed from the Inhabitants most heavy & intollerable Contributions, falling most of all vpon the Royall & Clergy Revenues; soe that they are like utterly to bee vndone, if a little longer they should continue this course. But they are very much sparing every where the Common-Gentry. An ordinary Lieutenant is their Leader keeping very strict Discipline. Beeing come allready to a City called Russian-Lemberg, they tooke vp some monies amounting to 12000. Florens. They call themselves the Holy Confoederacy, to whom a number of other Common-People doe joyne themselves daily. They have taken an oath together, not to draw one Sabel or sword against the Enemy the Muscovite, allthough hee should bee advanced as farr as the Gates of Warsovia, till they bee paid & fully satisfied. They are appointed to receive about Michalmas the Summe of 2. hundred thousand Florens: but what is this to their Demaunds or pretended Millions? The Cossacke have obtained all their Postulata for the present. To conclude; wee have noe other New's at this time, but that the Swedish Extraordinary Ambassador hath taken his leave, & is allready on the way to returne to his owne Countrey. All what he did, was the Ratification, but nothing more was transacted with the Polish state: In these Qvarters wee are mainly busy to repaire or make vp the breaches made by the River Vistula. Wee are in very great hopes, that the worke will bee happily accomplished & wholly finished. The mis-vnderstandings & iealousies betweene the Polonians and Austrians seeme to bee ceased & laid aside. Great Præparations are made for a solemne Treatie with the Muscovite. The Emperour hath taken vpon himselfe to bee the Mediator betweene them both.
[49B]
having leavyed from the Inhabitants most heavy & intollerable Contributions, falling most of all vpon the Royall & Clergy Revenues; soe that they are like utterly to bee vndone, if a little longer they should continue this course. But they are very much sparing every where the Common-Gentry. An ordinary Lieutenant is their Leader keeping very strict Discipline. Beeing come allready to a City called Russian-Lemberg, they tooke vp some monies amounting to 12000. Florens. They call themselves the Holy Confoederacy, to whom a number of other Common-People doe joyne themselves daily. They have taken an oath together, not to draw one Sabel or sword against the Enemy the Muscovite, allthough hee should bee advanced as farr as the Gates of Warsovia, till they bee paid & fully satisfied. They are appointed to receive about Michalmas the Summe of 2. hundred thousand Florens: but what is this to their Demaunds or pretended Millions? The Cossacke have obtained all their Postulata for the present. To conclude; wee have noe other New's at this time, but that the Swedish Extraordinary Ambassador hath taken his leave, & is allready on the way to returne to his owne Countrey. All what he did, was the Ratification, but nothing more was transacted with the Polish state: In these Qvarters wee are mainly busy to repaire or make vp the breaches made by the River Vistula. Wee are in very great hopes, that the worke will bee happily accomplished & wholly finished. The mis-vnderstandings & iealousies betweene the Polonians and Austrians seeme to bee ceased & laid aside. Great Præparations are made for a solemne Treatie with the Muscovite. The Emperour hath taken vpon himselfe to bee the Mediator betweene them both.
[right margin, another hand:] 31.Iuly/10. Aug. 1661./