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should not repent it; it is the bravest, | barking of discontented persons; and God

forbid but you should. And yet my Lord, if you could find a way to do all these great services and decline these storms, I think it would be excellent well thought on. I

freshest drink you ever tasted. Your Spanish Don would, in the heats of Madrid, hang his nose and shake his beard an hour over every sup he took of it, and take it to be the drink of the gods all the while."-heartily pray your Lordship to pardon me Ibid. vol. 1, p. 441.

1635. LAUD writes concerning the Earl of Corke-"I find his majesty very careful that the church should have all her own restored to her, and that the Earl be fined answerable to that which upon publication his cause shall merit; and that the ordering of this shall be by your Lordship, and your experience upon the place and of the fact. All that I can perceive is earnestly desired is the declining of a public sentence, and saving of the Earl, for his place and alliance' sake, from the stain which a sentence would leave upon record, both on himself and his posterity, which, when you have taken into serious consideration, I leave to your wis

dom.

over

"My Lord, I am the bolder to write this last line to you upon a late accident which I have very casually discovered in Court. I find that notwithstanding all your great services in Ireland, which are most graciously accepted by the King, you want not them which whisper, and perhaps speak louder where they think they may, against your proceedings in Ireland, as being full of personal prosecutions against men of quality, and they stick not to instance in St. Albans, the Lord Wilmot, and this Earl. And this is somewhat loudly spoken by some on the Queen's side. And although I know a great part of this proceeds from your wise and noble proceedings against the Romish party in that kingdom, yet that shall never be made the cause in public, but advantages taken (such as they can) from these and the like particulars to blast you and your honour, if they be able to do it. I know you have a great deal more resolution in you than to decline any service due to the king, State or Church, for the

this freedom, which I brought with me into your friendship, and which (though sometimes to my own hurt) I have used with all the friends I have."-Ibid. vol. 1, p. 480.

JUSTIFICATION of his apparent rigour.Ibid. vol. 2, p. 20.

HE represented to the King that "the Londoners were laying out great sums upon the plantation, and that it were not only very strict in their case, but would discourage all other plantations, if the uttermost advantage were taken. Besides it was very considerable the too much discouraging of the City, which in a time thus conditioned (1636) and when they were to be called upon still for those great payments towards the shipping business, might produce sad effects; whereas, in my poor judgement, they were rather to be as tenderly, as possibly might be, dealt with, if not favoured, and kept in life and spirit."-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 25.

WRITING from Gawthorp, 1636, he says to Laud, "I am gotten hither to a poor house I have, having been this last week almost feasted to death at York. In truth, for anything I can find, they were not illpleased to see me. Sure I am it much contented me to be amongst my old acquaintance, which I would not leave for any other affection I have, but to that which I both profess and owe to the person of his sacred Majesty. Lord! with what quietness in myself could I live here in comparison of that noise and labour I meet with elsewhere; and I protest put up more crowns in my purse at the year's end, too. But we'll let that pass, for I am not like to enjoy that

STRAFFORD.

blessed condition upon earth. And therefore my resolution is set to endure and struggle with it so long as this crazy body will bear it; and finally drop into the silent grave, where both all these (which I now could, as I think, innocently delight myself in) and myself are to be forgotten; and fare them well. I persuade myself, exuto Lepido, I am able to lay them down very quietly, and yet leave behind me, as a truth not to be forgotten, a perfect and full remembrance of my being your Grace's most humbly to be commanded." WENTWORTH. - Ibid. vol. 2, p. 26.

THERE were some near the King, and so STRAFFORD tells him, who publicly professed his ruin.-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 33.

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"As for wit or importunity," says WENTWORTH, "in the former I did never affect other than a single plainness; nor is my nature possibly to be hardened into the latter."-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 33.

He says to the King, "Out of the truth of my heart, and with that liberty your Majesty is pleased to afford me, admit me to say, Reward, well applied, advantages the services of kings extremely much; it being most certain that not one man of very many serve their masters for love, but for their own ends and preferments, and that he is in the rank of the best servants that can be content to serve his master together with himself."—Ibid. vol. 2, p. 41.

UPON the appearance of a breach with Spain, WENTWORTH says, "The servant his Majesty employs here shall be sure to have his hands full; and if we prosper not in our designs upon the House of Austria, there is reason for him to believe he may happen to suffer through the misfortune as soon, and as deeply, as any other minister

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of his Majesty's, howbeit he had no part at all in the counsels; therefore, as well for our own indemnity as your glory, you may be sure of our prayers."—Ibid. vol. 2, p.

54.

"Ir once the season come to that part, Lord deliver me from seeking an alms from the hands of a Puritan! It is a generation of men more apt to begin business than obstinately to pursue and perfect it; and the part they delight most in is to discourse rather than suffer."-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 54.

This is said with reference to the Palatinate.

1637. THE paper upon the policy of going to war with Austria on the Palatine's quarrel, contains plain indications of a design to render the Crown independent of Parliament.-Ibid. vol. 2, pp. 60-2.

A STRONG passage addressed to Laud, against the desired war for the Palatinate, and the designs of those who were urging the King to it,—with a clear sense of his own danger.-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 66.

This is one of the most considerable passages in the Letters.

FAIRFAX'S Son left under STRAFFORD'S care by his grandfather. £1200 appointed for his education.-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 70.

"PERCHANCE Some in my case would bemoan himself, thus still to have the negative singly and severely put upon him by your ministers on that side, by that means to find every hand lift up, and hear every mouth opened wide in his contrary. But in truth this moves me very small; and such are the purposes I have assumed in your service, and so much more earnestly do I seek after it, than after myself, as I am able to bear this and much more with ease and contentment.”. -Ibid. vol. 2, p. 83.

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To Laud, 1638. "Good and faithful assistance in truth I have here at the Committee of Revenue, but this goes no further than the private; for as for the public envy and malice contracted in the execution, from persons pretending and interested, that I must take to myself-tread that thorny path alone. God help me and sustain me, for assuredly it begins to press and pinch me shrewdly. This testimony I must ever give, that his Majesty is to acknowledge the best part of that great work of the plantations to the comfort and cheerfulness you have ever given me in the undertaking and prosecution of it. By my troth, I had otherwise long since sunk under the burthen, so much it is against my nature and disposition continually to dwell upon contestation in a manner with all men, where nothing is sought by me but quietness, silently and peaceably to pass over this life. I call the Heavenly Power to witness, no other respect but the service of God and his Majesty should longer oblige me unto it." Ibid. vol. 2,

p.

157.

To Laud. "I still beseech you be pleased to settle a peace, if possibly it may be, in

the house of my late Lord of Clare, which I shall most humbly acknowledge, how beit perchance this is more than either I or yourself shall have from any body else. But I owe so much to the memory of the wife I had from them, that it gives me infinite contentment when I am able to further anything I think would have pleased her.”— Ibid. vol. 2, p. 194.

-"My Lord, I am not so blind but I am able to discern betwixt a proceeding of affection personally towards me, and a languishing purpose to hold me up by the chin, tellement quellement, for as long as I may be of use in these affairs. Nay, I discern you in one of these, and somebody else in the latter."-Ibid.

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STRAFFORD.

requires the whole man; omne verbum vigi- | lans with me that toucheth upon that string. For love of Christ, let me have early instructions what I am to do, and then I trust we shall be able (and that alone will be I assure you a mighty work) to hold ourselves here upon the stayes, by one means or other. I humbly thank you for your friendly and kind wishes to my safety; but if it be the will of God to bring upon us for our sins that fiery trial, all the respects of this life laid aside, it shall appear more by actions than words, that I can never think myself too good to die for my gracious master, or favour my skin in the zealous and just prosecution of his commands, statutum est semel."-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 202.

Or the Scottish business, he says to Lord Clifford, (Aug. 1638,) " as I am not at all advised with hitherto, to speak of, so I shall more voluntarily interest myself in, as in truth having in this kingdom sufficient, if not too much for one man to go through with."-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 208.

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To Laud, "Undoubtedly that business concerning Mr. Croxton is at rest, for I hear no more of it, for which I am glad. For as the times are now disposed, the fewer of those questions are stirred the better. However Dr. Sing, nor all the minstrels in Ireland to help him, shall neither sing nor play me forth of the remembrance I have upon what terms Mr. Croxton was commended unto me before I touched Irish earth, and so both they and he shall find if there be occasion."— Ibid. vol. 2, p.

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do serve, I will thorough by the grace of God, follow after what shall please him to send."-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 250.

HOLLAND insinuated that he was insane, and to have it said he had been confined three quarters of a year. If I understand his reply, he had been delirious three days in his childhood.—Ibid. vol. 2, p. 292.

1638. To Newcastle

"In sadness I judge my wisdom in manageing of affairs to be very small, yet do know my desires and resolutions in the pursuit of my masters commands and trusts to be so just and faithful, that I am not out of hope within a little more time to have as few declared enemies, as now I have many. Surely when they shall find how much they have been misinformed of me, they will either for truth sake, or shame give me In the mean time I shall practise quietness in my own thoughts, and patience towards other men."-Ibid. vol. 2, p. 256.

over.

1638. "IF it shall not please God to put the Scottish subjects into their right wits again, that they do humbly and repentantly conform to your Majesty's will, I shall give order that for this next year there be paid at York to Sir William Uvedale your treasurer for the wars, as my rents come in, £1000 at Midsummer, and £1000 at Christmas; and if this be not sufficient, I do most humbly beseech your Majesty command all I have there to the uttermost farthing. And I am desired by the Master of the Rolls, and Sir George Radcliffe, that £500 betwixt them may be accepted upon the same terms and the same days of payment. And in like manner a young Captain of your Majesty's, my brother, that hath some fortune by his wife there, £100."- Vol. 2, p. 279.

“I THANK God I never found a purpose in my heart to wrong any creature; yet for

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"THE Archbishop of Tuam says to him on his departure-'this kingdom shall give you no other valediction than was given to Josiah

"WHENEVER I fail to the uttermost of my skill and power to serve his person and crown faithfully and justly, let shame cover me at after1 as a cloak, and be for ever fastened to my posterity as a garment not Sæcula, cui similem sæcula nulla dabunt.” to be cast off."—Ibid. vol. 2, p. 286.

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-similem cui nulla dederunt

1640. GOOD Friday

"But this is not a season for bemoaning of myself; for I shall cheerfully venture this crazed vessel of mine, and either by God's help wait upon your Majesty before that Parliament begin, or else deposite this infirm humanity of mine in the dust.". Ibid. vol. 2, p. 403.

"Or all things I love not to put off my cloaths, and go to bed in a storm.” — Ibid. vol. 2, p. 408.

"OLD RICHARD (?) hath sworn against me gallantly; and thus, battered and blown upon on all sides, I go on the way contentedly, take up the Cross, and gently tread those steps, which I trust lead me to quietness at last."—Ibid. vol. 2, p. 415.

1639. "IF his Majesty's mind had been known to me in time, I could have as easily have secured it (Dunbarton) against all the Covenanters and devils in Scotland, as now walk up and down this chamber: but where trusts and instructions come too late, there the business is sure to be lost. Besides sometimes overmuch towards secresy persons that wish well to business, doth as much hurt, depriving ourselves by that means of their concurrent counsels and assistance, as at another time the inconsiderate discovering ourselves to such as wish ill unto them. For my own part I never was much in love with the way of King James his keeping of all the affairs of that kingdom His last suit to the king by Usher, was of Scotland amongst those of that nation, that he could be pleased to remember two but carried indeed as a mystery to all the of his friends, Ormond and Sir G. Radcliffe. council of England; a rule but overmuch-RADCLIFFE's Life of Strafford. kept by our master also; which I have told my Lord of Portland many and often a time, plainly professing unto him, that I was much afraid that course would at one

1 "At after souper goth this noble king To seen this horse of bras," &c.

CHAUCER. The Squire's Tale. J. W. W.

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LAST Letter to his son.

417.

-Ibid. vol. 2, p.

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He never did any thing of any moment without taking advice. Care to discountenance drunkenness in Ireland. — Ibid. p.

433.

“I LEARNED one rule of him,” says SIR G. RADCLIFFE," which I think worthy to be re

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