| Title: | Copy Letter In Hartlib'S Hand, [Sir Thomas Rowe] To [John Dury] |
|---|---|
| Dating: | [18?] July 1636 |
| Ref: | 14/4/45A-46B |
[14/4/45A]
I am glad to heare you are safely arriued in Swed, and in good hopes to make your journey profitable to the publick seruice of Gods Church in which you haue so painfully and carefully laboured. The account j can giue you of vs here is so barren that j am ashamed to write That of your owne particular is I receiued of your halfe years rent due in May last of your Tennant but 23lib and hee ow's 3lib. more vpon it. Whereof j paid another payment of your first fruits and delivered Mr H 20lib for your vse For those that promised mee to contribute towards your maintenance this 2dy. I cannot receiue a penny, not that j thinke many wil not giue it, but that the sicknes began so soone in the year and there was no Tearme and all myne being of the Gentry they scattered and fled out of London so that it was not possible to collect it, and I am afraid wee[altered from wil] shal doe nothing til God send health that wee may meete in Michalemas-Tearme. In the meane time j wil doe what j am able in euery occasion and for shame j had not written now being so vnable to doe what j would if j had not somwhat to communicate with you worth your knowing. The affaires of Germany I wil not write I doubt not the swedes are so much interessed in that that they haue better advice then I. yet thus much in the general the [said?] [2 words deleted] is declared anew et being joined with Lesleys Army hath relieued Hanau et prospers in the War, et if the opportunity were taken, now were the season to settle the affaires of Germany et for the swedes to doe their Worke for the War and spleene is growne so sharp and high betweene France and Spain that the prise may bee taken by a third for all the forces of either syde are like to bee imploied in Italy et France and the frontiers so that the Conjuncture will bee very propitious to doe somewhat of consequence in Germany For in Italy [Creyry?] et d. of [Sav?] haue Wonne a great battaile against the [blank space]
[14/4/45B]
of [Legnurez?] vpon the Tesin and kild neere 4m and since ioyned with the d. of Parma were within one days march of Milan, the d. of Roh. being come vp to the lake of Como[altered] to second and back them, so that in that side the Spaniard is [pinched?], and in the Franche-Countye assayled by the P. of Conde and Dole besiged. But to requite these Invasions the Card. Infant. is entered Picardy with a great Army being effective 12. Horse and 22m foote where they haue taken La Capelle and advance apace into the land et the K. of Hungary et d. of Lorraine are marching to enter Champagnie, so that you see those Princes are enraged and in blood, and wil not easily bee [parted?] and all the force they can make will bee little enough to answer one another, so that now is the time for the Crowne of Sweden to giue the Emperor [Coup?] de party, et for the P. of Germany to free themselves of their feared bondage, but this is not my busines, that which j [would?] enforme you concernes ourselves and what interest wee are like to haue in this game. my Lord of A. hath had 3: Audiences of the Emperor and hath [made?] his Proposition in writing like a Noble-man of England free and braue. Hee hath demanded the entire restitution of the House Palatin dignity et Patrimony to abate nothing, and hath layd these 2. grounds thus hee wil treate with none nor bee put of to the K. of Hungary nor to Bavaria no not to the dyet but only with the Emperor in Person who hath done the Violence and oppression et from whom only hee demands amends. Secondly hee hath protested not to bee referred or rather deferred to any relation with Spaine, but that hee wil interpret all such ambages and tergiversations for delays, and all delays for absolut refusals. To these grounds being declared I hope hee wil stick, and being weary of the imploiment and charges hee will soone finish his treaty, that which hee advised and judged vpon these his Audiences and Propositions and other observations is.
[14/4/46A]
That hee shal not obteyne his End but that his Majesty's goodnes and patience is abused. This hath much affected the K. and j find vpon good ground that there is like to follow a great change. But j dare not write matters and councels are not yet ripe, but you may bee assured and you may from mee assure the Lord Chancellor (whose servant j will euer bee) that j foresee and doe beleeue a whole turne of our affayres, and that this Ambassage thus suceeding his Majesty wil not forsake his Nephew the Prince Elector who is here daily in more high esteem (for more affection expressed I neuer saw) but doe that which his Honor requires, and to that end I am confident his Majesty that knows hee cannot doe it alone will looke vpon his old and true friends and renew his Leagues and take Armes with all his friends and power. Thus much j know that hee hath satisfied the Prince Elector of his Love and resolution and within 20. dayes hee expect to see an end of these abusiue treatyes. and then the Ports will bee open for recreuts and for all those that will concurre with his Majesty. These things I write are very secret knowen to few and must not bee made Comon-News, but only intimated to the Lord Chancellor [timely?] for though perhaps the Resolution bee taken, other things are not ripe and it is as lawful for vs to hide our intentions vnder a treaty and to gaine an advantage as it hath beene for them to abuse vs in 20 years treaty. There is only one thing which j feare, that same scandal and offence in the sea may fall betweene vs and Holland which may hinder better designes or trouble vs in the Way. Such is the Art of the Comon-Enemy to sow tares. But j hope the Wisdom of both States will prevent it. The mariage of Poland with the P. is at a little stand. The Amb. [Sav.?] made a foolish Proposition that his Majesty should procure her to change her Religion,
[14/4/46B]
which his Majesty tooke for so great an affront and in disdayne that hee scarce gaue any answer or care but sent presently into Poland to resent the businesse and complaine of the Ambassador who durst not lay this message vpon his Majesty but vpon the State; so though wee hope well because the K. is a gallant P. yet wee can conclude nothing. As there shall bee further occasion and as these Councels proceede or change yow shal heare of mee. What j write shall bee truth as neere as j can and desiring you to present my seruice to the worthy Lord Chancellor and his sonne Herr Iohn praying to God to blesse yow in your [health?] et in your Worke j wil euer rest
Your faithful Friend this [18?] of Iuly
1636.
Now were a fit season for you to trye if you can encline the Chancellor for any of those Lords to hearken to a match with the Prince Elector. For j know his Majesty will settle him in his Estates, and if such a motion might come from you in any assurance that it should bee accepted, if mooued from the K. j am persuaded any conditions would bee obteyned and that that match would secure all parts.