| Title: | Extract In Scribal Hand ? & Hartlib'S Hand, John Rulice |
|---|---|
| Dating: | 22 February 1644 |
| Ref: | 43/23A-24B |
[43/23A]
[another hand: Rulus]
An Extract of a Letter, from Amsterdam, written by Worthy Mr. Iohn Rulice, Minister etc. the 12/22 February 1644.
<H: Reverend Sir most Worthily beloved Brother>
in the Lord./
Sir
Give mee leave to interrupt you a little in your mightie worke, whereunto the Lord hath called you amongst other Worthies at this time; & to speake a Word in the behalfe of the distressed Queene of Bohemia, who, as I am credibly informed, is traduced, as if Shee did enrich Herselfe, & gather Treasures out of the spoiles, which Her Sonne Prince Rupert sent unto Her out of England. Oh that after all the Miseries, which that House hath undergone these 23. yeares, this should also bee laid to her charge! I have informed myselfe fully in this matter, (being in amazement when I heard it) & find, that it is a most notorious slander & falsehood. It is so farre, that this Afflicted Lady should have any benefitt by the Vnhappie Warre, that Shee is thereby deprived of all Meanes of subsistence, being forced to want that portion, which Her Father had appointed for Her Livelyhood during Her bannishment. Shee hath pawned all that Shee hath, is fallen into great & inavoydable debts, & forced to seeke Her bread somewhere else. As for Her 2 Sonnes, who are now in England it was thus with their coming over into England. The Queen of England presently after Her arrivall in these parts, did signify to the Queene of Bohemia, that Shee had an earnest request unto Her from the King of England. Whereupon the Queen of Bohemia answered; Her Brothers desire was a Command unto Her, & desired to know, what it was; Then replied the Queen of England: The King of England requests you, that it would not bee against your mind, that your 2 sonnes Prince Rupert & Maurice might bee for a time with Him in England. This desire the Queen of Bohemia
[43/23B]
would not deny, considering, that the King of England had maintained them so long, & this unhappy Warre not yet begunne, yea, no certainty then, that there should bee such a breach in England: It is true, there are some about the Queen of Bohemia, against whom the Honourable Court of Parliament hath just cause to except: but you know, Sir, that Shee doth not choose Her Officers, but must take those who are sent unto Her out of England that Shee is more passive than active, yea meerely passive in it. And consequently I trust that all miscarriages that way will not bee laid to Her charge.
Sir I mention this, & could add much more, if need require, that you may bee pleased to helpe to take of all such injurious suspicions, & to speake a good Word in the behalfe of the Afflicted. As the Law of Nature, the duety, I owe to that House in especiall manner, oblige mee to write this; so I hope, that unfaigned love, which you have borne to the Palatinat, & that Christian duety, whereby wee are commanded to help to cleare the Innocent, will moove you, to doe what lyes in your power, to give a true & right Information this way; & as you have shewed your compassions & bowels to some of the Queen of Bohemia's subjects, so you would bee pleased, to take pity on Herselfe, in this Her great extremity, & to helpe to wipe of all false aspersions, that so Shee may receive again something of Her wonted allowance. I understand, that they have sought to the King of Denmarke (before Hee is fallen into these troubles) to have some Moneys lent unto them, but they had an absolute refusall. Alas! they are forsaken of all; & shall theie now also bee left of those, who hitherto have manifested such affection to that House?
[Hartlib:]
To the Reverend and his Worthy Friend Mr Iohn Whyte Minister of the Word of God and Assessor of the present Assembly of Divines at London.
[43/24A]
P
I am exceedingly troubled to vnderstand that the Queen of Bohemia is so much neglected and though j feare it proceedes from some intercepted Letters, which might haue beene spared yet since shee is so neare in blood and by sufferings so neare to the Cause in hand smal errours should not cause these effects you mention in your last./.
