Stewart Books, Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2 315

315. To Sir Dudley Carleton. [S. P. Dom. Jac. I, cv, 69.] London, January 30, 1619.

My very goode Lord: This weeke Abell Barnard comming to towne I brought Dieston and him together to conclude on theyre journie,? which they have agreed to undertake the next weeke, for though Dieston were redy (yf the winde had served) to come presently, yet the other had not bid his wife fare-well and so must needs returne to take his leave. The Lord Chauncellor * hath conceaved certain new orders for his court and published them the first day of this terme. No doubt we shall have them shortly in print and then you shall have them with the first: there was a great assemblie to see and heare Sir Lionell Cranfeld at his first sitting in the court of wardes, but he deceaved all theyre expectation, and without further preamble asked what causes were to be heard that day and so fell to the busines. His predecessor the Lord of Wallingford (age 75) is retired into the countrie, but was not sent empty away, for besides the fee-farme of New-elme Parke he hath somwhat els in consideration; and when he delivered up his patent the King told him that having ben a long servant to Quene Elizabeth and him, he was loth to remove him, neither wold he accuse him of negligence, insufficiencie or corruption but only he had one fault common to him with divers other of his frends and fellowes, which could not stand with his service nor of the state, that he was altogether guided and overruled by an arch-wife (age 36).

[30th January 1619] The earle of Suffolke (age 57) and his Lady (age 55) entertaine counsaile, and mean to stand to theire innocence. I have not seene the bill put in against them, but I heare that after a large commemoration and as yt were exprobation of the Kings favors and benefits, they are taxed with extortion, concussion, and oppression, besides briberie and false dealing as well in the matter of correns and alume, as specially in false inventaries of jewells, in displacing and altering of stones, and making them away at an undervalue to theyre owne benefit: how these matters can be aunswered I know not, but howsoever yt fall out I doubt yt will prove impar congressus [an uneven match].

[30th January 1619] On Wensday divers were censured in the Star-chamber for building contrarie to the Kings proclamation; which was so far inforct that the Lord Cheife Justice (age 56) saide that yt was in effect, and had the nature of an act of parliament: they were fined at a yeares true valew, and to pull downe theyre houses, or els to build them anew according to order: now that these have led the daunce, all the rest that have built since the first proclamation must follow, or compound, which wold prove too great a matter to graunt my Lord of Arundell (who is saide to have the penaltie) though he have need of yt. The same day there was some entrance into the Lady of Excesters busines and order taken to abbreviat and cut of superfluous and impertinent matter and so make yt more fit for the Kings hearing, in which course there was some contesting twixt Sir Ed: Cooke, and the two Cheife Justices, [Henry Montagu 1st Earl Manchester and Henry Hobart 1st Baronet (age 59)] who are still observ'd to incline to the other side: the Lady of Excester went that day to the Star-chamber accompanied by the countesses of Arundell and Bedford, and a comitiva of I know not how many Ladies more to the number of almost thirty coaches, but whether she appeared in the court or no I cannot certainly learne. Secretarie Lake and his followers continue still confident, and some say the Lady Roos (age 19) was there likewise with her litle troupe: the speach goes that she is to marrie with the Lord John Pawlet (age 21) another grand-child of the earle of Excesters (age 76), and heire in apparance to the marquis of Winchester.

[30th January 1619] The Quene (age 44) begins to recover and this weeke gave audience to the Venetian ambassador¹ and the next day to the Baron of Donau², and the States commissioners³ have sent to be admitted likewise. They were at a stand some ten dayes since, but now are fallen to yt again, though I doubt yt will prove a fruitles labour, unles the King and States interpose themselves and overrule the marchants on both sides: the Lord Digbie as he is prime in place, so he is held the prime man for under- standing and sufficiencie, and they say hath shewed himself in this treatie every way very able, as I have heard by divers that (I know) care not for his person, and yet commend his extraordinarie parts. The alarme of the Spanish preparations sounds lowde here at last, and minis- ters much matter of discourse: most men doubt!* they have a meaning to Ireland, the rather for that they have entertained many Scottish and Irish pilots, and that the earle of Argile (age 44) and Tirones sonne (age 19) are saide to be gon for Spaine: we talke of order taken for twenty ships to be presently made redy, half of the Kings, the rest marchants the best that can be had. Though we cannot be perswaded that he hath any intent hitherward yet is yt not goode to stand in his curtesie: for my part by all that I can gather I shold rather thincke he hath a mind to the Venetians, or to land his forces thereabout and go for Austria or Bohemia to settle and make sure all on that side, that he may the better hereafter follow his other desseigns a bell' agio and as occasions shall fall out.

Note 1. Antonio Donat.

Note 2. Christopher von Dohna, ambassador of Frederick, Elector Palatine.

Note 3. Cf. Letter 306, 309-312.

[30th January 1619] Our new bride-groome Sir John Smith¹ is arrested by the small pockes, and his Lady Isabella forgetting her late promise of better or worse in sicknes and in health is fled to save her faire skin. That disease hath likewise seased on Sir Charles Howards (age 28) Lady (age 22) that was Sir Allen Percies widow. Her husband and she were upon termes of parting before, and yt is like this will put them quite of.

Note 1. Cf. Letters 305, 306, 309.

401. To Sir Dudley Carleton. S. P. Dom., Jac. I, cxxvuti, 35. London, January 19, 1622.

My very goode Lord: The King went hence to Tiballs the 9th of this present in the morning and at his going the proclamation for dissolving the parlement was published, which beeing long I had the lesse care to send, presuming that Master Locke or your nephew wold not fayle to furnish you: that afternoone he escaped a great daunger, for riding in the parke his horse threw him or fell with him in the midst of Middletons water¹, so that yf there had not ben present helpe at hand a miserable mischaunce might have followed. The Lord of Buckingam (age 29) was absent together with his Lady (age 19), mother (age 52), and sister Fielding (age 39) at a christning of the Lord Fawkelands (age 47) daughter in Hartfordshire but posted away so soone as he heard yt.

Note 1. New River, the canal built by Sir Hugh Middleton.

[19th January 1622] Sir Robert Phillips was committed to the Towre this day sevenight, where the Lords have ben twise this weeke to examine him, though they have a great deale of other busines, specially about raising monie, wherin they proceed by way of perswading a benevolence, and sending for men of known wealth they deale with them severally, and have hitherto had so goode successe, that they have drawne divers to geve £200 and most £100 among whom Ned Wimarke is in rancke, but yt is thought they must descend to lower summes or els yt will prove no benevolence, but rather a volens nolens [willing or unwilling]. The wilfulnes of the lower house hath brought us to these termes, wherby we may see that vane sine viribus ire, and that there is no disputing nor contesting with supreme authoritie. The archbishop of Caunterburie hath held the same course with his clergie and the bishops about this towne have condiscended to goode rates considering the burthen of three ordinarie subsidies they have undergone this yeare: and to say truth yt comes generally somwhat out of season after so many collections for Bohemia, the French-church, two whole subsidies within the compasse of a yeare, and the hard seasons we have had these two last sommers, so that yf God helpe us not we are in poore case, and may sing with the Poet: Pace non truvo et non ho da far guerra [I find no peace, and yet I make no war.]. And yet yf promise be not kept we talke of 10000 foote and 2000 horse to be maintained in the Palatinat, which yf they be raised of those kind of people in those parts, I shall have no great hope of goode successe: the Lord Chichester (age 58) or Belfast is called out of Ireland for some employment in these businesses, or rather (as some say) to marrie some kinswoman or other¹.

Note 1. Arthur Chichester 1st Baron Chichester did not marry a second time.

[19th January 1622] The Marquis Buckingam (age 29) hath contracted with the Lord (age 78) and Lady Wallingford (age 39) for their house neere White-hall, for some monie, and the making of Sir Thomas Howard baron of Charleton and Vicount Andover (age 34), and some thincke the deliverie of the Lord of Somerset (age 35) and his Lady (age 31) out of the Towre was part of the bargain. I heare they came out severally on Thursday in the evening and lay that night at Northampton House. Then they are to go to Master Gibbes by Otelands, and so to Grayes a house of the Lord of Wallingfords in Oxfordshire where they are to continue.

[19th January 1622] Sir Thomas Wentworth (age 28) of Yorkeshire is saide to be lately made Vicount Rabie, but on what conditions I know not. Here is speach of divers other Lords to be made out of hand, and the Lord Treasurer with the Lord Digbie (age 41) to be created earles. The archbishop of Yorke is reported once more to be dead. Sir Henry Savile (age 72) is here in towne so far gon of the scorbut that some doubt he will hardly recover. Master Nicolas Hare that was at Padoua died here the last weeke and made Captain John Harvie his executor, which is saide to be three or fowre thousand pound in his way: he requested me two dayes since to intreat your Lordship for a copie of the picture you have of Master Hare, and that yt may be drawne by Michaell Jansen or some other goode hand, for that he meanes to make some monument wherin he shall have use of yt; the sooner you please to favour him in yt the better welcome yt wilbe. I understand him alwayes en payant. Your cousen Lytton (age 35) hath at last remembred himself and sent me the monie. So with the remembrance of my best service to my goode Lady I commend you to the protection of the Almighty. From London this 19th of January 1622.

Your Lordships most assuredly at commaund

John Chamberlain (age 69).

To the right honorable Sir Dudley Carleton knight Lord Ambassador for his Majestie with the States of the United Provinces at the Hagh.