Biography of Dudley Carleton 1st Viscount Dorchester 1573-1632

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2 243. 243. To Sir Dudley Carleton (age 43). [S. P. Dom., Jac. I, lxxxvii, 51.] London, June 8, 1616.

My very goode Lord: When I wrote last I left the earle of Somerset (age 29) pleading for his life, but that he saide for himself was so litle that he was found guilty by all his peeres: which did so litle appall him that when he was asked what he could say why sentence shold not be pronounced, he stoode still upon his innocence, and could hardly be brought to refer himself to the Kinges mercie: upon which termes he stands still, and having leave to write to the King, hath only required that his judgement of hanging shold be chaunged to heading, and that his daughter might have such of his lands as the King doth not resume and reserve in his owne handes. The Lady Knolles (age 33) and some other frends have had accesse to the Lady (age 26) divers times since her conviction, and caried her younge daughter to her twise or thrise; but I heare not of any that comes at him. He hath ben much urged and fayre offered to confesse the offence both before his arraignment and since, but he stands firme in denial: though by all circumstances and most pregnant, (yea almost infallible) probabilities he be more faulty and fowle then any of the companie, which makes the King marvayle that all the rest that have gon before having so franckly confessed the matter after theyre condemnation, he only shold continue so confident. Whether this or any other reason be the cause of stay of execution I know not, but they live yet and for ought I can learne so are like to do many a day. Sir Thomas Mounsons (age 51) arraignment which shold have ben yesterday, was then put of again till the Tewsday after the terme, which procrastination from time to time makes the world thincke we shall heare no more of this busines, the rather for that the Lord Cooke (age 64) of late is fallen (I know not how) into disfavor, so far foorth that the King hath ben very bitter to him, both in privat and publike, as upon Thursday last when all the Judges were called before the King at Whitehall, to geve a reason of theyre proceeding in the exchecquer chamber to argue a case of commendams contrarie to his commaundment by expresse message, and sending a letter subscribed by them all, not so respectively and reverently written as might become them, they all stoode upon the very words and termes of law and statutes and upon the strictnes of theyre oath: but the heaviest burthen lighted on him, wherin he behaved and caried himself so well and confidently, that the matter goes on, and they argue yt again this day, contrarie to the expectation and hope of all the bishops. But the worst is that the Lord Chauncellor (age 76), the atturny (age 55) and sollicitor (age 49) prosecute him implacablie, and have won so much ground upon him, that there is a commission graunted to the Lord Archbishop, the Lord Knollis (age 72), Sir Thomas Lake (age 48) and Sir Fulke Grivell to call him before them and examine him upon articles and points touching the premunire: and withall, the whole course of his life is like to be ript up and looked into which yf yt be severely followed many men feare yt may be his utter overthrow. But he holdes up his head, and geves no way, which makes his frends thincke he will passe over this storme and tempest well enough. Our goode frend (age 53) stands only firme to him in what he may, which many marvayle at, and sticke not to say he is corrupted, which I thincke is as far from the one as the other: but howsoever, I could wish he shold not presume so much on the strength of his shoulders, as to thincke he alone were able to beare up the ruines of a building that is falling: and to say truth in many such cases I observe he hath more courage then needs, not weighing his owne strength, nor that yt is soma d'altri homeri [the burden of other men], for I perceve he hath litle appoggio [support, baking] to the maine piller (age 23) that now stands upright.

Letters of the Court of James I 1618. 28th August 1618. Hague. Sir Dudley Carleton (age 45) to John Chamberlain (age 65).

It was Tuesday night, by reason of a strong contrary wind, before we arrived at this place; and betwixt this and Rotterdam (where I was met by Sir Horace Vere (age 53) and much good company) we were overtaken with the most terrible tempest of thunder, lightning, and rain, that any man of us had ever met with, so as it was a common speech amongst us that it must needs prognosticate somewhat; which fell out the day following, our great man, Monsieur Barnevelt, with two of his chief instruments, Hogerbots and Grotius, the one pensioner at Leyden, the other of Rotterdam, being then arrested prisoners in the Prince of Orange's lodgings by order of the States-General, where they remained two days, until the lodgings in the court, where the Amirante of Arragon lay last, were prepared for them. I account it in some regard ill luck to come à la vieille of such a feast; at which though there are many make good cheer, (and I may well say the most in this country) yet there being some mal diners, they lay no small blame upon me, and so speed it by public voice, as if I had given fire to this mine by certain intercepted letters, which I should have brought with me out of England. Their apprehension proceeded chiefly of certain difficulties and traverses they sought to cast in the way of the national Synod, after they had offered themselves at the Prince of Orange's return from Utrecht to concur with the States-General and his excellency; which they perceiving, and that this business would prove Penelope's web, unless these men were laid holden, not only took the resolution for them, but for one Leyden-burgh, the secretary of Utrecht, who had the same authority in that province, as Barnevelt, in Holland, and was there held on the day after they were taken. Vander Mile, who married Barnevelt's daughter, was with me at the instant that his father was taken, and went from me to the council, not knowing any thing of the matter until the news was publicly sent to the council, by the States-General; which may seem very strange, that he, his father, and the rest of that party, who had the chief managing of the affairs, should have so small knowledge or apprehension of what hung over their heads; this course having been almost a year in speech, and it was known to forty in this town the night before it was put in execution.