laden with dead Carcases a better Fruit far then Diogenes Tree bore wheron a Woman had hang'd her self which the Cynic cryed out to be the best bearing Tree that ever he saw In this place ther lives neither English Marchant or Factor which I wonder at considering that it is a Maritim Town and one of the greatest in Spain her chiefest Arsenal for Gallies and the Scale by which she conveys her Moneys to Italy but I believe the reason is that ther is no commodious Port here for Ships of any burden but a large Bay I will inlarge my self no further at this time but leave you to the guard and guidance of God whose sweet hand of protection hath brought me through so many uncouth places and difficulties to this Citie So hoping to meet your Letters in Alicant wher I shall Anchor a good while I rest Yours to dispose of J. H. Barcelona 24. Novemb. 1620. XXIV To Dr. Fr. Mansell from Valentia SIR THough it be the same glorious Sun that shines upon you in England which illuminats also this part of the Hemisphear though it be the same Sun that ripeneth your Pippins and our Pomgranets your Hops and our Vineyards here yet he dispenseth his heat in different degrees of strength those Rays that do but warm you in England do half roast us here those Beams that irradiat onely and guild your Honey-suckled fields do scorch and parch this chinky gaping soyl and so put too many wrincles upon the face of our common Mother the Earth O blessed Clime O happy England wher ther is such a rare temperature of hear and cold and all the rest of Elementary qualities that one may passe and suffer little all the yeer long without either shade in Summer or fire in Winter I am now in Valentia one of the noblest Cities of all Spain situat in a large Vegue or Valley above threescore miles compasse here are the strongest Silks the sweetest Wines the excellenc'st Almonds the best Oyls and beutifull'st Femals of all Spain for the prime Courtisans in Madrid and else-where are had hence The very bruit Animals make themselves Beds of Rosmary and other Fragrant Flowers hereabouts and when one is at Sea if the Wind blow from the shore he may smell this soyl before he come in sight of it many leagues off by the strong odoriferous sent it casts As it is the most pleasant so is it also the temperat'st Clime of all Spain and they commonly call it the second Italy which made the Moors whereof many thousands were disterr'd and banish'd hence to Barbary to think that Paradise was in that part of the Heavens which hung over this City Some twelve miles off is old Sagunâ—…o call'd now Morviedâ—…e through which I pass'd and saw many Monuments of Roman Antiquities there amongst others ther is the Temple dedicated to Venus when the Snake came about her Neck a little before Hannibal came thither No more now but that I heartily wish you were here with me and I beleeve you would not desire to be a good while in England So I am Your J. H. Valentia March the 1. 1620. XXV To Christopher Jones Esq at Grays-Inne I Am now thanks be to God come to Alicant the chief Rendevouz I aym'd at in Spain for I am to send hence a commodity call'd Barillia to Sir Robert Mansell for making of Crystall-Glasse and I have treated with Signor Andriotti a Genoa Marchant for a good round parcell of it to the value of 2000 pound by Letters of credit from Master Richant and upon his credit I might have taken many thousand pounds more he is so well known in the Kingdom of Valentia This Barillia is a strange kind of Vegetable and it grows no wher upon the surface of the Earth in that perfection as here The Venetians have it hence and it is a commodity wherby this Maritim Town doth partly subsist for it is an ingredient that goes to the making of the best Castile-Soap It grows thus 't is a round thick Earthy shrub that bears Berries like Barbaries but twixt blew green it lies close to the ground and when it is ripe they dig it up by the roots and put it together in Cocks wher they leave it dry many days like Hey then they make a Pit of a fadom deep in the Earth and with an Instrument like one of our Prongs they take the Tuffs and put fire to them and when the flame comes to the Berries they melt and dissolve into an Azure Liquor and fall down into the Pit till it be full then they dam it up and som days after they open it and find this Barillia-juyce turn'd to a Blew stone so hard that it is scarcc Mallâ—…able it is sold at one hundred Crowns a Tun but I had it for lesse ther is also a spurious Flower call'd Gazull that grows here but the Glasse that 's made of that is not so resplendent and cleer I have bin here now these three Months and most of my Food hath bin Grapes and Bread with other Roots which have made me so fat that I think if you saw me you would hardly know me such nourriture this deep Sanguin Alicant Grap gives I have not receiv'd a syllable from you since I was in Antwerp which transforms me to wonder and engenders odd thoughts of Jealousie in me that as my body grows fatter your love grows lanker towards me I pray take off these scruples and let me hear from you else it will make a schism in friendship which I hold to be a very holy league and no lesse then a Piacle to infringe it in which opinion I rest Your constant Friend J. H. Alicant March 27. 1621. XXVI To Sir John North Knight SIR HAving endur'd the brunt of a whole Summer in Spain and tryed the temper of all the other three Seasons of the yeer up and down the Kingdoms of Catalunia Valentia and Murciâ—… with som parts of Aragon I am now to direct my cours for Italy I hoped to have embark'd at Carthagena the best Port upon the Mediterranean for what Ships and Gallies get in thither are shut up as it were in a Box from the violence and injury of all Weathers which made Andrea Doria being ask'd by Philip the second which were his best Harbours He answer'd Iune Iuly and Carthagena meaning that any Port is good in those two months but Carthagena was good any time of the yeer Ther was a most ruthfull accident had happen'd ther a little before I came for wheras five ships had gone thence laden with Souldiers for Naples amongst whom ther was the Flower of the Gentry of the Kingdom of Murcia those Ships had hardly sail'd three leagues but they met with sixteen fails of Algier men of War who had lain skulking in the Creeks therabouts and they had the winds and all things else so favourable that of those five ships they took one sunk another and burnt a third and two
any They have another saying a French-woman in a dance a Dutch-woman in the kitchin an Italian in a window an English-woman at board and the Spanish a bed When they are maried they have a privilege to wear high shooes and to paint which is generally practised here and the Queen useth it her self They are coy enough but not so froward as our English for if a Lady go along the street and all women going here vaild and their habit so generally like one can hardly distinguish a Countess from a Coblers wife if one should cast out an odd ill sounding word and ask her a favour she will not take it ill but put it off and answer you with some wittie retort After 30 they are commonly past child-â—…earing and I have seen women in England look as youthfull at 50 as some here at 25. Money will do miracles here in purchasing the favor of Ladies or any thing els though this be the Countrey of money for it furnisheth well-near all the world besides yea their very enemies as the Turk and Hollander insomuch that one may say the Coyn of Spain is as Catholic as her King Yet though he be the greatest King of gold and silver Mines in the world I think yet the common currant Coin here is Copper and herein I beleeve the Hollander hath done him more mischief by counterfeiting his Copper Coins than by their armes bringing it in by strange surreptitious waies as in hollow Sows of Tin and Lead hollow Masts in pitcht Buckets under water and other waies But I fear to be injurious to this great King to speak of him in so narrow a compass a great King indeed though the French in a slighting way compare his Monarchy to a Beggars Cloak made up of patches they are patches indeed but such as he hath not the like The East Indies is a patch embroyder'd with Pearl Rubies and Diamonds Peru is a patch embroider'd with massie gold Mexico with silver Naples and Milain are patches of cloth of Tissue and if these patches were in one peece what would become of his cloak embroyderd with flower deluces So desiring your Lopp to pardon this poor imperfect paper considering the high quality of the subject I rest Madrid 1 Feb. 1623. Your Lordships most humble Servitor J. H. XXXI To Mr Walsingham Gresly from Madrid Don Balchasar I Thank you for your Letter in my Lords last packet wherin among other passages you write unto me the circumstances of Marques Spinola's raising his Leaguer by flatting and firing his works before Berghen He is much tax'd here to have attempted it and to have buried so much of the Kings tresure before that town in such costly Trenches A Gentleman came hither lately who was at the siege all the while and he told me one strange passage how Sir Ferdinando Cary a huge corpulent Knight was shot through his body the bullet entring at the Navell and comming out at his back kill'd his man behind him yet he lives still and is like to recover With this miraculous accident he told me also a merry one how a Captain that had a Woodden Leg Booted over had it shatterd to peeces by a Cannon Bullet his Soldiers crying out a Surgeon a Surgeon for the Captain no no said he a Carpenter a Carpenter will serve the tuâ—…n To this pleasant tale I 'le add another that happen'd lately in Alcala hard by of a Dominican Fryer who in a solemn Procession which was held there upon Ascension day last had his stones dangling under his habit cut off insteed of his pocket by a cut-purse Before you return hither which I understand will be speedily I pray bestow a visit on our friends in Bishopsgate-street So I am â—… Feb. 1623. Your faithfull Servitor J. H. XXXIII To Sir Robert Napier Knight at his house in Bishops-gate-street from Madrid SIR THe late breach of the Match hatch broke the neck of all businesses here and mine suffers as much as any I had access lately to Olivares once or twice I had audience also of the King to whom I presented a memoriall that intimated Letters of Mart unless satisfaction were had from his Vice-roy the Conde del Real the King gave me a gracious answer but Olivares a churlish one viz. That when the Spaniards had justice in England we should have justice here So that notwithstanding I have brought it to the highest point and pitch of perfection in Law that could be and procur'd som dispatches the like wherof were never granted in this Court before yet I am in dispair now to do any good I hope to be shortly in England by God grace to give you and the rest of the proprietaries a punctuall account of all things And you may easily conceive how sorry I am that matters succeeded not according to your expectation and my endeavours but I hope you are none of those that measure things by the event The Earl of Bristoll Count Gondamar and my Lord Ambassador Aston did not only do courtesies but they did cooperate with me in it and contributed their utmost endeavours So I rest Madrid 19. Feb. 1623. Yours to serve you J. H. XXXIV To Mr. A. S. in Alicant MUch endeared Sir Fire you know is the common emblem of love But without any disparagement to so noble a passion me thinks it might be also compar'd to tinder and Letters are the proper'st matter wherof to make this tinder Letters again are fittest to kindle and re-accend this tinder they may serve both for flint steel and match This Letter of mine comes therfore of set purpose to strike som sparkles into yours that it may glow and burn and receive ignition and not lie dead as it hath don a great while I make my pen to serve for an instrument to stir the cinders wherewith your old love to me hath bincover'd a long time therfore I pray let no covurez-fâ—…u Bell have power hereafter to rake up and choak with the ashes of oblivion that cleer slame wherwith our affections did use to sparkle so long by correspondence of Letters and other offices of love I think I shall sojourn yet in this Court these three moneths for I will not give over this great busines while ther is the least breath of hope remaining I know you have choice matter of intelligence somtimes from thence therfore I pray impait som unto us and you shall not fail to know how matters pass here weekly So with my bâ—…sa manos to Francisco Imperiall I rest Madrid 3 Mar. 1623. Yours most affectionately to serve you J. H. XXXV To the Honble Sir T. S. at Tower-Hill SIR I Was yesterday at the Escuriall to see the Monastery of Saint Laurence the eight wonder of the World and truly considering the site of the place the state of the thing and the symmetry of the structure with divers other raritles it may be call'd so for what I have seen in Italy and other places are but bables to
guerdons com slow yet they com sure And it is oftentimes the method of God Almighty himself to be long both in his rewards and punishments As you have berest the French of their Sain-Esprit their Holy Spirit so ther is news that the Hollander have taken from Spain all her Saints I mean todos los santos which is one of the chiefest staples of Sugar in Brasill No more but that I wish you all health honor and hearts desire London 26 of Octob. 1627. Your much obliged Nephew and Servitor J. H. XII To Captain Tho. B. from York NOble Captain Yours of the first of March was deliverd me by Sir Richard Scott and I held it no profanation of this Sunday evening considering the quality of my subject and having I thank God for it performed all Church duties to employ som hours to meditat on you and send you this frendly salute though I confess in an unusuall monitory way My dear Captain I love you perfectly well I love both your person and parts which are not vulgar I am in love with your disposition which is generous and I verily think you wer never guilty of any Pusillanimous act in your life Nor is this love of mine conferr'd upon you gratis but you may challenge it as your due and by way of correspondence in regard of those thousand convincing Evidences you have given me of yours to me which ascertain me that you take me for a true frend Now I am of the number of those that had rather commend the vertue of an enemy than soeth the vices of a friend for your own particular if your parts of vertue and your infirmities were cast into a ballance I know the first would much out-poise the other yet give me leave to tell you 〈◊〉 ther is one frailty or rather ill favor'd custom that reigns in you which weighs much it is a humor of swearing in all your discoursâ—…s and they are not slight but deep far fetch'd Oathes that you are wont to rap out which you use as flowers of Rhetoric to enforce a â—…aith upon the hearers who beleeve you never the more and you use this in cold bloud when you are not provok'd which makes the humor far more dangerous I know many and I cannot say I my self am free from it God forgive me that being transported with choler and as it were made drunk with passion by som sudden provoking accident or extreme ill fortune at play will let fall Oaths and deep Protestations but to belch out 〈◊〉 send forth as it were whole volleys of Oaths and Curses in a calm humor to verifie every triviall discours is a thing of horror I knew a King that being cross'd in his game would amongst his Oaths fall on the ground and bite the very earth in the rough of his passion I heard of another King Henry the fourth of France that in his highest distemper would swear but Ventre de Saint Gris by the belly of Saint Gris I heard of an Italian that having been much accustomed to blaspheme was wean'd from it by a pretty wile for having been one night at play and lost all his money after many execrable Oathes and having offerd money to another to go out to face heaven and defie God he threw himself upon a Bed hard by and there fell asleep The other Gamsters plaid on still and finding that he was fast asleep they put out the candels and made semblance to play on still they fell a wrangling and spoke so loud that he awaked he hearing them play on stil fell a rubbing his eyes and his conscience presently prompted him that he was struck blind and that Gods judgment had deservedly fallen down upon him for his blasphemies and so he fell to sigh and weep pittifully a ghostly Father was sent for who undertook to do som acts of penance for him if he would make a vow never to play again or blaspheme which he did and so the candles were lighted again which he thought were burning all the while so he becam a perfect Convert I could wish this Letter might produce the same effect in you Ther is a strong Text that the curse of heaven hangs always over the dwelling of the swearer and you have more fearfull examples of miraculous judgments in this particular than of any other sin Ther is a little town in Languedoc in France that hath a multitude of the Pictures of the Virgin Mary up and down but she is made to carry Christ in her right arm contrary to the ordinary custom and the reason they told me was this that two gamsters being at play one having lost all his money and bolted out many blasphemies â—…e gave a deep Oath that that whore upon the wall meaning the picture of the blessed Virgin was the cause of his ill luck hereupon the child removed imperceptibly from the left arm to the right and the man fell stark dumb ever after'â—… thus went the tradition there This makes me think upon the Lady Southwells news from Utopia that he who sweareth when he playeth at dice may challenge his damnation by way of purchase This inâ—…andous custom of Swearing I observe reigns in England lately more than any wher els though the German in his highest puff of pasâ—…ion swear by a hundred thousand Sacraments the Italian by the whore of God the French by his death the Spaniard by his flesh the Westiman by his sweat the Irish man by his five wounds though the Scot commonly bids the devill hale his soule yet for variety of Oaths the English Roarers put down all Consider well what a dangerous thing it is to tear in pieces that dreadfull name which makes the vast fabric of the world to tremble that holy name wherein the whol Hierarchy of Heaven doth triumph that blisful name wherin consists the fulnes of all felicity I know this custom in you yet is but a light disposition t is no habit I hope let me therfore conjure you by that power of frendship by that holy ligue of love which is between us that you would suppress it before it com to that for I must tell you that those who could find in their hearts to love you for many other things do disrespect you for this they hate your company and give no credit to whatsoever you say it being one of the punishments of a swearer as well as of a lyar not to be beleeved when he tells truth Excuse me that I am so free with you what I write proceeds from the clear current of a pure affection and I shall heartily thank you and take it as an argument of love if you tell me of my weaknesses which are God wot too too many for my body is but a Cargazon of corrupt humors and being not able to overcome them all at once I do endeavor to doe it by degrees like Sertorius his soldier who when he could not cut off the Horse tayl with his sword
you at this time I will defer that till I come to the Hague I am lodged here at one Mounsieur De la Cluze not far from the Exchange to make an Introduction into the French because I beleeve I shall steer my cours hence next to the Countrey where that Language is spoken but I think I shall sojourn here about two moneths longer therefore I pray direct your Letterâ—… accordingly or any other you have for me One of the prime comforts of a Traveller is to receive Letters from his friends they beget new spirits in him and present joyfull objects to his fancy when his mind is clouded sometimes with Fogs of melancholy therefore I pray make me happy as often as your conveniency will serve with yours You may send or deliver them to Captain Bacon at the Glasse house who will see them safely sent So my dear brother I pray God blesse us both and send us after this large distance a joyfull meeting Your loving brother J. H. Amsterdam April 1. 1617. VI. To Dan. Caldwall Esq. from Amsterdam My dear Dan. I Have made your friendship so necessary unto me for the contentment of my life that happinesse it self would be but a kind of infelicity without it It is as needfull to me as Fire and Water as the very Air I take in and breath out it is to me not onely neoessitudo but necessitas Therefore I pray let me injoy it in that fair proportion that I desire to return unto you by way of correspondencee and retaliation Our first ligue of love you know was contracted among the Muses in Oxford for no sooner was I matriculated to her but I was adopted to you I became her son and your friend at one time You know I followed you then to London where our love received confirmation in the Temple and else-where We are now far asunder for no lesse then a Sea severs us and that no narrow one but the German Ocean Distance sometimes endear's friendship and absence sweetneth it it much 〈◊〉 the value of it and makes it more precious Let this be verified in us Let that love which formerly used to be nourished by personall communication and the Lips be now fed by Letters let the Pen supply the Office of the Toung Letters have a strong operation they have a kind of art like embraces to mingle souls and make them meet though millions of paces asunder by them we may converse and know how it fares with each other as it were by entercours of spirits Therefore amongst your civill speculations I pray let your thoughts sometimes reflect off me your absent self and wrap those thoughts in Paper and so send them me over I promise you they shall be very welcome I shall embrace and hug them with my best affections Commend me to Tom Bowyer and enjoyn him the like I pray be no niggard in distributing my love plentifully amongst our friends at the Innes of Court Let Iack Toldervy have my kind commends with this caveat That the Pot which goes often to the water comes home crack'd at last therefore I hope he will be carefull how he makes the Fleece in Cornhill his thorowfare too often So may my dear Daniel live happy and love his J. H. From Amsterdam April the 10. 1619. VII To my Father from Amsterdam SIR I Am lately arrived in Holland in a good plight of health and continue yet in this Town of Amsterdam a Town I beleeve that there are few her fellows being from a mean Fishing Dorp come in a short revolution of time by a monstrous encrease of Comerce and Navigation to be one of the greatest Marts of Europ T is admirable to see what various sorts of Buildings and new Fabrics are now here erecting every where not in houses onely but in whole Streets and Suburbs so that t is thought she will in a short time double her proportion in bigness I am lodg'd in a French-mans house who is one of the Deacons of our English Brownists Church here 't is not far from the Synagog of Iews who have free and open exercise of their Religion here I beleeve in this Street where I lodg ther be well near as many Religions as there be houses for one Neighbour knows not nor cares not much what Religion the other is of so that the number of Conventicles exceeds the number of Churches here And let this Countrey call it self as long as it will the united Provinces one way I am perswaded in this point there 's no place so Disunited The Dog and Rag Market is hard by where every Sunday morning there is a kind of public Mart for those commodities notwithstanding their precise observance of the Sabbath Upon Saturday last I hapned to be in a Gentlemans company who shew'd me as I walk'd along in the Streets along Bearded old Iew of the Tribe of Aaron when the other Iews met him they fell down and kiss'd his Foot This was that Rabbi with whom our Countrey-man Broughton had such a dispute This City notwithstanding her huge Trade is far inferiour to London for populousnes and this I infer out of their weekly Bills of Mortalitie which come not at most but to fifty or thereabout whereas in London the ordinary number is twixt two and three hundred one week with another Nor are there such Wealthy-men in this Town as in London for by reason of the generality of Commerce the Banks Adventures the Common shares and stocks which most have in the Indian and other Companies the Wealth doth'diffuse it self here in a strange kind of equality not one of the Bourgers being exceeding rich or exceeding poor Insomuch that I beleeve our four and twenty Aldermen may buy a hundred of the richest men in Amsterdam It is a rare thing to meet with a Begger here as rare as to see a Horse they say upon the Streets of Venice this is held to be one of their best peeces of Government for besides the strictnes of their Laws against Mendicants they have Hospitals of all sorts for young and'old both for the relief of the one and the employment of the other so that there is no object here to exercise any act of charity upon They are here very neat though not so magnificent in their Buildings specially in their Frontispices and first Rooms and for cleanlines they may serve for a pattern to all People They will presently dresse half a dozen Dishes of Meat without any noise or shew at all for if one goes to the Kitchin ther will he scarce apparance of any thing but a few covered Pots upon a Turf-fire which is their prime fuell after dinner they fall a scowring of those Pots so that the outside will be as bright 〈◊〉 the inside and the Kitchin suddenly so clean as if no meat had bin dress'd there a month before They have neither Well or Fountain or any Spring of Fresh-water in or about all this City but their
I rest Your affectionate Servent J. H. Iune the 6. 1619. XII To Sir James Crofts Antwerp SIR I Presume that my last to you from the Hague came to safe hand I am now come to a more cheerfull Countrey and amongst a People somewhat more vigorous and mettald being not so heavy as the Hollander or homely as they of Zealand This goodly ancient City me thinks looks like a disconsolat Widow or rather som superannuated Virgin that had lost her Lover being almost quite â—…erest of that flourishing Commerce wherwith before the falling off of the rest of the Provinces from Spain she abounded to the envy of all other Cities and Marts of Europ Ther are few places this side the Alps better built and so well Streeted as this and none at all so well girt with Bastions and Rampasts which in som places are so spacious that they usually take the Air in Coaches upon the very wals which are beutified with divers rows of Trees and pleasant Walks The Cittadell here though it be an addition to the Statelines and strength of the Town yet it serveâ—… as a shrew'd Curb unto her which makes her chomp upon the Bit and Foam sometimes with anger but she cannot help it The Tumults in Bohemia now grow hotter and hotter they write how the great Councell aâ—… Prague fell to such a hurliburly that soâ—… of those Senators who adherd to the Emperour were thrown ouâ—… at the windows wher som were maim'd som break their Necks 〈◊〉 am shortly to bid a farewell to the Netherlands and to bend mâ—… cours for France wher I shall be most ready to entertain anâ—… commands of yours So may all health and happines attend yoâ—… according to the wishes of Your obliged Servant J. â—… Iuly 5. 1619. XIII To Dr. Tho. Prichard at Oxford from Roüen I Have now taken firm footing in France and though France be one of the chiefest Climats of Complement yet I can use none towards you but tell you in plain down right Language That in the List of those friends I left behind me in England you are one of the prime rank one whose name I have mark'd with the whitest Stone If you have gain'd such a place amongst the choicest friends of mine I hope you will put me somwher amongst yours though I but fetch up the rear being contented to be the iâ—…fima species the lowest in the predicament of your friends I shall sojourn a good while in this City of Roüen therfore I pray make me happy with the comfort of your Letters which I shall expect with a longing impatience I pray send me ample advertisement of your welfare and of the rest of our friends as well upon the Banks of Isis as amongst the Brittish Mountains I am but a fresh man yet in France therfore I can send you no news but that all is here quiet and t is no ordinary news that the French should be quiet But some think this Calm will not last long for the Queen Mother late Regent is discontented being restrain'd from coming to the Court or to the City of Paris and the Tragicall death of her Favourit and Foster-Brother the late Marquis of Ancre lieth yet in her stomach undisgested She hath the Duke of Espernon and divers other potent Princes that would be strongly at her devotion as 't is thought if she would stir I pray present my service to Sir Eubule Theloall and send me word with what pace Iesus Colledg new Walls go up I will borrow my conclusion to you at this time of my Countrey-man Owen Uno non possum quantum te diligo versu Dicere si satis est distichon ecce duos I cannot in one Vers my love declare If two will serve the turn to here they are Wherunto I will add this sirname Anagram Yours whole I. Howel Aug. 6. 1619. XIV To Daniel Caldwall Esq. from Roüen MY dear Dan. when I came first to this Town amongst other objects of contentment which I found here wherof ther are variety a Letter of yours was brought me and 't was a Shâ—… Letter for two more were enwomb'd in her Body she had an easie and quick deliverance of that Twin but besides them she was big and pregnant of divers sweet pledges and lively evidences of your own love towards me whereof I am as fond as any Mother can be of her child I shall endeavour to cherish and foster this dear love of yours with all the tendernes that can be and warm it at the fuel of my best affections to make it grow evry day stronger and stronger untill it comes to the state of perfection because I know it is a true and real it is no spurious or adulterated love If I intend to be so indulgent and carefull of yours I hope you will not suffer mine to starve with you my love to you needs not much tending for it is a lusty strong love and will not easily miscarry I pray when you write next to sond me a dozen pair of the best White Kidskin Gloves the Royall-Exchange can afford as also two pair of the purest White Wosted Stockins you can get of Women size together with half a dozen pair of Knifs I pray send your man with them to Vacandary the French Post upon Tower-Hill who will bring them me safely When I go to Paris I shall send you som curiosities equivalent to these I have here inclos'd return'd an answer to those two that came in yours I pray see them safely delivered My kind respects to your Brother Sergeant at Court to all at Batter say ' or any wher else wher you think my Commendations may be well plac'd No more at this time but that I recommend you to the never failing Providence of God desiring you to go on in nourishing still between us that love which for my part No Traverses of Chance of Time or Fate Shall ere extinguish till our lives last date But aâ—… the Vinâ—… hâ—… lovely Elâ—… 〈◊〉 wire Grasp bâ—…th our Hearts and flame with fresh desire Roüen Aug. 13. 1619. Yours J. H. XV. To my Father from Roüen SIR YOurs of the third of August came to safe hand in an inclos'd from my Brother you may make easie conjecture how welcom it was unto me and to what a height of comfort it rais'd my spirits in regard it was the first I received from you since I cross'd the Seas I humbly thank you for the blessing you sent along with it I am now upon the fair Continent of France One of Natures choicest Master-peeces one of Ceres chiefest Barns for Corn one of Bacchus prime Wine-Cellars and of Neptuâ—…s best Salt-Pits a compleat self-sufficient Countrey wher ther is rather a superfluity then defect of any thing either for necessity or pleasure did the policie of the Countrey correspond with the bounty of Nature in the equall distribution of the Wealth amongst the Inhabitants for I think there is not upon the Earth a richer Countrey
in regard it is comâ—…only so with all Republic and Hans Towns wherof this smels â—…ery rank nor indeed hath any Englishman much cause to love 〈◊〉 Town in regard in Ages pass'd she played the most trecherous part with England of any other place of France For the Story tells us That this Town having by a perfidious stratageâ—… by forging a counterfeit Commission from England induc'd the English Governour to make a general Muster of all his Forces ouâ—… of the Town this being one day done they shut their Gateâ—… against him and made him go shake his ears and to shift for his lodging and so rendred themselves to the French King who senâ—… them a blank to write their own conditions I think they have the strongest Ramparts by Sea of any place of Christendom noâ—… have I seen the like in any Town of Holland whose safety depends upon Water I am bound to morrow for Bourdeaux then through Gascogny to Tholouse so through Languedoc ore the Hillâ—… to Spain I go in the best season of the yeer for I make an Autumnall journey of it I pray let your Prayers accompany me all along they are the best Offices of Love and Fruits of Friendship So God prosper you at home as me abroad and send us in good time a joyfull conjuncture Rochell 8. of October 1620. Yours J. H. XXII To Mr. Tho. Porter after Cap. Porter from Barcelone MY dear Tom I had no sooner set foot upon this Soyl and breath'd Spanish ayr but my thoughts presently reflected upon you Of all my frends in England you were the first I met here you were the prime object of my speculation me thought the very Winds in gentle whispers did breath out your name and blow it on me you seem'd to reverberat upon me with the Beams of the Sun which you know hath such a powerfull influence and indeed too great a stroke in this Countrey And all this you must ascribe to the operations of Love which hath such a strong virtuall force that when it fastneth upon a pleasing subject it sets the imagination in a strange fit of working it imployes all the faculties of the Soul so that not one Cell in the Brain is idle it busieth the whole inward man it affects the heart amuseth the understanding it quickneth the fancy and leads the will as it were by a silken thred to cooperat with them all I have felt these motions often in me specially at this time that my memory fixed upon you But the reason that I fell first upon you in Spain was that I remembred I had heard you often discoursing how you had received part of your education here which brought you to speak the Language so exactly well I think often of the Relations I have heard you make of this Countrey and the good instructions you pleas'd to give me I am now in Barcelona but the next week I intend to go on through your Town of Valencia to Alicant and thence you shall be sure to hear from me further for I make account to Winter there The Duke of Ossuna pass'd by here lately and having got leave of Grace to release some slaves he went aboard the Cape-Gallie and passing through the Churmâ—… of slaves He ask'd divers of them what their offences were evry one excus'd himself one saying That he was put in out of malice another by bribery of the Judge but all of them injustly amongst the rest ther was one sturdy little black man and the Duke asking him what he he was in for Sir said he I cannot deny but I am justly put in here for I wanted money and so took a Purse hard by Tarragona to keep me from starving The Duke with a litte staff he had in his hand gave him two or three blows upon the shoulders saying You Rogue what do you do amongst so many honest innocent men get you gone out of their company so he was freed and the rest remain'd still in statu quo prius to tugg at the Oar. I pray commend me to Signor Camillo and Mazalao with the rest of the Venetians with you and wher you go aboard the Ship behind the Exchange think upon Barcelona 10. of November 1620. Your J. H. XXIII To Sir James Crofts SIR I Am now a good way within the Body of Spain at Barcelona a proud wealthy Citie situated upon the Mediterranean and is the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Catalunia call'd of old Hispania â—…raconensis I had much ado to reach hither for besides the monstrous abrupâ—…es of the way these parts of the Pyreneys that border upon the Mediterranean are never without Theeves by Land call'd Baâ—…doleros and Pyrats on the Sea side which liâ—… sculking in the Hollows of the Rocks and often surprize Passengers unawares and carry them slaves to Barbary on the other side The safest way to passe is to take a Bordon in the habit of a Pilgrim wherof ther are abundance that perform their vows this way to the Lady of Monserrat one of the prime places of pilgrimage in Christendom It is a stupendous Monastery built on the top of a huge Land Rock whither it is impossible to go up or come down by a direct way but a path is cut out full of windings and turnings and on the Crown of this Craggy-hill ther is a flâ—… upon which the Monastery and Pilgrimage place is founded wher ther is a Picture of the Virgin Mary Sunburnt and Tann'd it seems when she went to Egypt and to this Picture a marvallous confluence of people from all parts of Europe resort As I pass'd between soâ—… of the Pyrency Hills I observ'd the poor Labradors som of the Countrey people live no better then bruit Animals in point of food for their ordinary commons is Grasse and Water onely they have alwayes within their Houses a Bottle of Vinegar and another of Oyl and when Dinner or Supper time comes they go abroad and gather their Herbs and so cast Vinegar and Oyl upon them and will passe thus two or three dayes without Bread or Wine yet are they strong lusty men and will stand stiffly under a Musket Ther is a Tradition that ther were divers Mynes of Gold in Ages pass'd amongst those Mountains And the Shepherds that kept Goats then having made a small fire of Rosemary stubs with other combustible stuff to warm themselves this fire graz'd along and grew so outragious that it consum'd the very Entrails of the Earth and melted those Mynes which growing fluid by liquefaction ran down into the small Rivelets that were in the Valleys and so carried all into the Sea that monstrous Gulph which swalloweth all but seldom disgorgeth any thing and in these Brooks to this day som small Grains of Gold are found The Viceroy of this Countrey hath taken much pains to clear these Hills of Robbers and ther hath bin a notable havock made of them this yeer for in divers Woods as I pass'd I might spie som Trees
England I am well assur'd I bear still the same mind and therein I verifâ—… the old vers Coelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt The Ayr but not the mind they change Who in Outlandish Countreys range For what alterations soever happen in this Microcosm in this little World this small bulk and body of mine you may be confident that nothing shall alter my affections specially toward you but that I will persever still the same The very same J. H. Ven. 25. Iun. 1621. XXXII To Richard Altham Esquire Dear Sir I Was plung'd in a deep fit of melancholly Satum had cast his black influence ore all my intellectuals me thought I felt my heart as a lump of Dow and heavy as Lead within my Brest when a Letter of yours of the third of this month was brought me which presently begot new Spirits within me and made such strong impressions upon my Intellectuals that it turn'd and transform'd me into another man I have read of a Duke of Milan and others who were poyson'd by reading of a Letter but yours produc'd contrary effects in me it became an antidot or rather â—… most Soverain Cordial to me more operative then Bezar of more vertue then Potable Gold or the Elixir of Ambar for it wrought a sudden cure upon me That fluent and rare mixture of love and wit which I found up and down therein were the Ingredients of this Cordiall they were as so many choice Flowers strw'd here and ther which did cast such an Odoriferous sent that they reviv'd all my senceâ—… and dispell'd those dull fumes which had formerly ore clouded my brain Such was the operation of your most ingenuous and affectionat Letter and so sweet an entertainment it gave me If your Letter had that vertue what would your person have don and did you know all you would wish your person here a while did you know the rare beuty of this Virgin-Clty you would quickly make love to her and change your Royall Exchange for the Rialto and your Grayes-Inne Walks for Saint Marks place for a time Farewell dear child of Vertue and minion of the Muses and love still Ven. 1. Iuly 1621. Your J. H. XXIII To my much honoured frend Sir John North Kt. from Venice Noble Sir THe first office of gratitude is to receive a good turn civilly then to retain it in memory and acknowledg it thirdly to endeavour a requitall for this last office it is in vain for me to attempt it specially towards you who have laden me with such a variety of courtesies and weighty favours that my poor stock comes far short of any retaliation but for the other two reception and retention as I am not conscious to have bin wanting in the first act so I shall never fail in the second because both these are within the compasse of my power for if you could pry into my memory you should discover there a huge Magazin of your favours you have bin pleas'd to do me present and absent safeiy stor'd up and coacervated to preserve them from mouldring away in oblivion for courtesies should be no perishable commodity Should I attempt any other requitall I should extenuat your favours and derogat from the worth of them yet if to this of the memory I can contribut any other act of body or mind to enlarge my acknowledgments towards you you may be well assured that I shall be ever ready to court any occasion wherby the world may know how much I am Ven 13. Iul. 1621 Your thankfull Servitor J. H. XXXIV To Dan. Caldwall Esq from Venice My dear D. COuld Letters flie with the same Wings as Love useth to do and cut the Ayr with the like swiftnes of motion this Letter of mine should work a miracle and be with you in an instant nor should she fear interception or any other casualty in the way or cost you one penny the Post for she should passe invisibly but 't is not fitting that paper which is made but of old Ragg's wherwith Letters are swadled should have the same priviledg as Love which is a spirituall thing having somthing of Divinity in it and partakeâ—… in â—…elerity with the Imagination then which ther is not any thing more swift you know no not the motion of the upper sphere the 〈◊〉 mobile which snatcheth all the other mine after it and indeed the whole Macrocosm all the world besiâ—…es except our Earth the Center which upper sphere the Astronomers would have to move so many degrees so many thousand miles in a moment fince then Letters are denied such a velocity I allow this of â—…ine twenty dayes which is the ordinary time allow'd twixt Venice and London to com unto you and thank you a thousand 〈◊〉 over for your last of the tenth of Iune and the rich Venison Feast you made as I understand not long since to the remembrance of the at the Ship Tavern Believe it Sir you shall find that this love of yours is not ill imployed for I esteem it at the highest degree I value it more then the Treasury of Saint Mark which I lately saw wher amongst other things ther is a huge Iron Chest as tall as my self that hath no Lock but a Crevice through which they cast in the Gold that 's bequeath'd to Saint Mark in Legacies wheron ther is ingraven this proud Motto Quando questo scrimio S' Aprirá Tutto'l mundo tremera When this Chest shall open the whole World shall tremble the Duke of Ossuna late Vice-Roy of Naples did what he could to force them to open it for he brought Saint Mark to wast much of this Tresure in the late Wars which he made purposely to that end which made them have recours to us and the Hollander for Ships not long since Amongst the rest of Italy this is call'd the Maidin Citie notwithstanding her great number of Courtisans and ther is a Prophecy That she shall continue a Maid untill her Husband for sake her meaning the Sea to whom the Pope married her long fince and the Sea is observ'd not to love her so deeply as he did for he begins to shrink and grow shallower in som places about her not doth the Pope also who was the Father that gave her to the Sea affect her as much as he formerly did specially since the extermination of the Jesuits so that both Husband and Father begin to abandon her I am to be a guest to this Hospitable Maid a good while yet and if you want any commodity that she can afford and what cannot she afford for humane pleasure or delight do but write and it shall be sent you Farewell gentle soul and correspond still in pure love with Ven 29. of Iul. 1621. Your J. H. XXXV To Sir James Crofts Kt. from Venice SIR I Receiv'd one of yours the last week that came in my Lord Ambassador Wâ—…ttons Packet and being now upon point of parting with Venice I could not
pray make me happy still with your Letters it is a mightie pleasure for us Countrey folks to hear how matters passe in London and abroad you know I have not the opportunity to correspond with you in like kind but may happily hereafter when the tables are turnd when I am in London and you in the West Wheras you are desirous to hear how it fares with me I pray know that I live in one of the noblest Houses and best Air of England Ther is a daintie Park adjoyning wher I often wander up and down and I have my severall walks I make one to represent the Royall Exchange â—…he other the middle Isle of Pauls another Westminster Hall and when I passe through the herd of Deer methinks I am in â—…apside So with a full return of the same measure of love as you pleas'd to send me I rest 24 Marâ—…ij 1621. Yours J. H. X. To R. Altham Esqr. from Saint Osith SIR LIfe it self is not so dear unto me as your friendship nor Vertue in her best colours aâ—… precious as your Love which was lately so lively pourtraied unto me in yours of the fifth of this present Me thinks your letter was like a peece of Tissue richly embroderd with rare flowers up and down with curious representationâ—… and Landskips Albeit I have as much stuff as you of this kind I mean matter of Love yet I want such a Loom to work it upon I cannot draw it to such a curious web therfore you must be content with homely Polldavie ware from me for you must not expect from us Countrey folks such urbanities and quaint invention that you who are daily conversant with the wits of the Court and of the Inns of Court abound withall Touching your intention to travell beyond the Seas the next Spring and the intimation you make how happy you would be in my company I let you know that I am glad of the one and much thank you for the other and will think upon it but I cannot reâ—…olve yet upon any thing I am now here at the Earl Rivers a â—…oble and great knowing Lord who hath seen much of the World â—…broad My Lady Savage his Daughter is also here with divers of 〈◊〉 children I hope this Hilary Term to be merry in London and amongst others to re-enjoy your conversation principally for I esteem the societie of no soul upon Earth more than yours till then I bid you Farewell and as the season invites me I wish you a merry Christmas resting December 20. 1622. Yours while Jâ—…m Howell XI To Captain Tho Porter upon his return from Algier voyage Noble Captain I Congratulat your safe return from the Streights but am sory you were so streighâ—…ned in your Commission that you could not attempt what such a brave navall power of â—…o men of War such a gallant Generall and other choice knowing Commanders might have performed if they hâ—…d had line enough I know the lightnesse and nimblenesse of Algier ships when I lived lately in Alicant and other places upon the Mediterranean we should every week hear som of them chas'd but very seldom taken for a great ship following one of them may be said to be as a Mastiff dog running after a hare I wonder the Spaniard came short of the promised supply for furtherance of that notable adventurous design you had to fire the Ships and Gallies in Algier road And according to the relation you pleased to send me it was one of the bravest enterprises and had prov'd such a glorious exploit that no story could have paralleld But it seems their Hoggies Magitians and Maribotts were tampring with the ill Spirit of the Air all the while which brought down suâ—… a still cataract of rain waterâ—… suddenly upon you to hinder the working of your fire-works such a disaster the story tells us bâ—…fell Charles the Emperour but far worse than yours for he lost ships and multitudes of men whâ—… were made slaves but you came off with losse of eight men only and Algier is another gets thing now than she was then being I beleeve a hundred degrees stronger by Land and Sea and for the latter strength we may thank our Countreyman Ward and 〈◊〉 the butterbag Hollander which may be said to have bin two of the fatallest and most infamoust men that ever Christendom bâ—…ed for the one taking all Englishmen and the other all Dutchmen and bringing the Spips and Ordnance to Algier they may be said â—…o have bin the chief Raysers of those Picaroons to be Pirats which are now come to that height of strength that they daily endammage and affront all Christendom When I consider all the circumstances and successe of this your voyage when I consider thâ—… narrownes of your Commission which was as lame as the Clâ—… that kept it when I find that you secured the Seas and â—…rafick all the while for I did not hear of one Ship taken while you were abroad when I hear how you brought back all the Fleet without the least disgrace or dammâ—…ge by foe or â—…oul weather â—…o any ship I conclude and so doe far bâ—…ter judgements than mine that you did what possibly could be done let those that repine at the one in the hundred which was impos'd upon all the Levant 〈◊〉 for the support of this Fleet mutter what they will that you went first to Gravesend then to the Lands end and after to no end I have sent you for your welcome home in part two barrells of Colchester oysters which were provided for my Lord of Colchester himself therfore I preâ—…ume they are good and all green finnd I shall shortly follow but not to stay long in England for I thinâ—… I must over again speedily to push on my fortunes so my dear Tom I am de todas mâ—…s entranâ—…s from the center of my heart I am St. Osith December Yours J. H. XII To my Father upon my secona going to Travell SIR IAm lately returned to London having been all this while in a very noble Family in the Countrey where I found far greater repects than I deserv'd I was to go with two of my Lord Savagâ—… Sons to travell but finding my self too young for such a charge and our Religion differing I have now made choice to go over Camerade to a very worthy Gentleman Baron Althams Son whom I knâ—…w in Sâ—…anes when my brother was there Truly I hold him to be one of the hopefullest young men of this Kingdom for parts and person he is full of excellent solid knowledg as the Mathematics the Law and other materiall studies besides I should have beed tied to have staid three years abroad in the other imployment at least but I hope to go back from this by Gods grace before a twelvemonth be at an end at which time I hope the hand of Providence will settle me in some stable home-fortunâ—… The news is that the Prince Palsgrave with his Lady and Children are come to
a good while the interest of a Friend in me but you have me now in a streighter tie for I am your brother by your sate mariage which hath turnd friendship into an alliance you have in your arms one of my dearest sisters who I hope nay I know will make a good wife I heartily congratulate this mariage and pray that a blessing may descend upon it from that place where all mariages are made which is from Heaven the Fountain of all felicitie to this prayer I think it no prophaness to add the saying of the Lyric Poet Horace in whom I know you delight much and I send it you as a kind of Epithalamium and wish it may be verified in you both Foelices ter amplius Quos irrupta tenet copula nec malis Divulsus querimoniis Suprema citius solvet amor die Thus English'd That Couple's more than trebly blest Which nuptiall bonds do so combine That no distast can them untwine Till the last day send both to rest So dear brother I much rejoyce for this alliance and wish you may encrease and multiply to your hearts content May the 20 1622. Your affectionat brother J. H. XVII To my brother Doctor Howell from Brussels SIR I Had yours in Latin at Roterdam whence I corresponded with you in the same Language I heard though not from you since I came from Brussells that our sister Anne is lately maried to Mr Hugh Penry I am heartily glad of it and wish the rest of our fisters were so well bestowd for I know Mr Penry to be a Gentleman of a great deal of solid worth and integrity and one that will prove a great Husband and a good Oâ—…conomist Here is news that Mansfelâ—… hath receiv'd a foyl lately in Germany and that the Duke of Brunswick alias Bishop of Halverstadt hath lost one of his arms This maks them vapor here extremely and the last week I heard of a play the Jesuits of Antwerp made in derogation or rather derision of the proceedings of the Prince Palsgrave where amongst divers other passages they feignd a Post to com puffing upon the stage and being askd what news he answerd how the Palsgrave was like to have shortly a huge formidable Army for the King of Denmark was to send him a hundred thousand the Hollanders a hundred thousand and the King of great Britaine a hundred thousand but being asked thousands of what he replied the first would send 100000. red Herings the second 100000. Cheeses and the last 100000. Ambassadors alluding to Sir Richard Weston and Sir Edward Conway my Lord Carlile Sir Arthur Chichester and lastly the Lord Digby who have bin all imploy'd in quality of Ambassadors in lesse than two years since the beginning of these German broils touching the last having bin with the Emperor and the Duke of Bavaria and carried himself with such high wisdom in his negotiations with the one and stoutnes with the other and having preserv'd Count Mansfielâ—…s troups from disbanding by pawning his own argentry and Jewells he pass'd this way where they say the Archduke did esteem him more than any Ambassador that ever was in this Court and the report is yet very fresh of his high abilities Wee are to remove hence in coach towards Paris the next week where we intend to winter or hard by when you have opportunity to write to Wales I pray present my duty to my Father and my love to the rest I pray remember me also to all at the Hill and the Dale specially to that most vertuous Gentleman Sir Iohn Franklin So my dear brother I pray God continue and improve his blessings to us both and bring us again together with comfort Iune 10. 1622. Your brother J. H. XVIII To Dr. The Prichard at Worcester House SIR FRiendship is that great chain of human societie and intercours of letters is one of the chiefest links of that chain you know this as well as I therfore I pray let our friendship let our love that national ty of British love that vertuous ty of Academiâ—… love be still strengthned as heretofore and receive daily more and more vigor I am now in Paris and ther is weekly opportunity to receive and send and if you please to send you shall be sure to receive for I make it a kind of Religion to be punctuall in this kind of payment I am heartily glad to hear that you are becom a domestic member to that most noble Family of the Worcesters and I hold it to be a very good foundation for future preferment I wish you may be as happy in them as I know they will be happy in you Fâ—…ance is now barren of news only there was a shrewd brush lately twixt the young King and his Mother who having the Duke of Espernon and others for her Champions met him in open field about pont de Ce but she went away with the worst such was the rare dutifulnes of the King that he forgave her upon his knees and pardon'd all her complices And now ther is an universall Peace in this Countrey which t is thought will not last long for ther is a war intended against them of the reformd Religion for this King though he be slow in speech yet is he active in spirit and loves motion I am here camrade to a gallant young Gentleman my old acquaintance who is full of excellent parts which he hath acquir'd by a choice breeding the Baron his Father gave him both in the University and the Inns of Court so that for the time I envy no mans happines So with my hearty commends and 〈◊〉 â—…ndear'd love unto you I rest 〈◊〉 3. Aug. â—…622 Yours whiles Jam. Howell XIX To the honble Sir Tho. Savage after Lord Savage at his House upon Tower-Hill honble SIR THose many undeserved favors for which I stand oblig'd to your self and my noble Lady since the time I had the happines to com first under your roof and the command you pleas'd to lay upon me at my departure thence call upon me at this time to give you account how matters passe in France That which for the present affords most plenty of news is Rochell which the King threatneth to block up this Spring with an army by sea under the comand of the D. of Nevers and by a land army under his own conduct both sides prepare he to assault the Rochellers to defend The King declares that he proceeds not against them for their Religion which he is still contented to tolerat but for holding an Assembly against his Declarations They answer that their Assembly is grounded upon his Majesties royal Warrant given at the dissolution of the last Assembly at Lodun wher he solemnly gave his word to permit them to re-assemble when they would six months asâ—…er if the breaches of their liberty and grievances which they then propounded wer not redressed and they say this being unperform'd it stands not with the sacred Person of a
could not though much importun'd by Doctor Roseus and other Divines upon his death bed be induc'd to make them legitimat by marying the mother of them for the Law there is That if one hath got children of any Woman though unmaried to her yet if he mary her never so little before his death he makes her honest and them all legitimat but it seems the Prince postpos'd the love he bore to his woman and children to that which he bore to his brother Henry for had he made the children legitimat it had prejudic'd the brother in point of command and fortunes yet he hath provided very plentifully for them and the mother Grave Henry hath succeeded him in all things and is a gallant Gentleman of a French education and temper he charg'd him at his death to marry a young Lady the Count of Solms Daughter attending the Queen of Bohemia whom he had long courted which is thought will take speedy effect When the siege before Breda had grown hot Sir Edward Vere being one day attending Prince Maurice he pointed at a rising place call'd Terbay wher the enemy had built a Fort which might have bin prevented Sir Edward told him he fear'd that Fort would be the cause of the loss of the Town the Grave spatter'd and shook his head saying 't was the greatest error he had committed since he knew what belong'd to a Soldier as also in managing the plot for surprising of the Cittadell of Antwerp for he repented that he had not imployed English and French in lieu of the slow Dutch who aym'd to have the sole honour of it and were not so fit instruments for such a nimble peece of service As soon as Sir Charls Morgan gave up the Town Spinola caus'd a new Gate to be erected with this inscription in great Golden Characters Philippo quarto regnante Clara Eugenia Isabella Gubernante Ambrosio Spinola obsidente Quatuor Regibus contra conantibus Breda capta fuit Idibus c. T is thought Spinola now that he hath recover'd the honor he had lost before Berghen op Zoon three yeers since will not long stay in Flanders but retire No more now but that I am resolv'd to continue ever London Mar. 19. 1626. Your Lordships most humble Servitor J. H. XVI To Mr R. Sc. at York SIR I Sent you one of the third Current but t was not answer'd I sent another of the thirteenth like a second Arrow to find out the first but I know not what 's become of either I send this to find out the other two and if this fail ther shall go no more out of my Quiver If you forget me I have cause to complain and more if you remenber me to forget may proceed from the frailty of memory not to answer me when you minde me is pure neglect and no less than a piacle So I rest Yours easily to be recover'd J. H. Ira furor brevis est brevis est mea littera cogor Ira correptus corripuisse stylum London 19 of Iuly the first of the Dogdaies 1626. XVII To Dr. Field Lord Bishop of Landaff My Lord I Send you my humble thanks for those worthy Hospitable favours you were pleas'd to give me at your lodgings in Westminster I had yours of the fifth of this present by the hands of Mr. Ionathan Field The news which fills every corner of the Town at this time is the sorry and unsuccessfull return that Wimbledons Fleet hath made from Spain It was a Fleet that deserv'd to have had a better destiny considering the strength of it and the huge charge the Crown was at for besides a squadron of sixteen Hollanders wherof Count William one of Prince Maurice's naturall Sons was Admirall ther were above fourscore of ours the greatest joynt navall power of Ships without Gallies that ever spred sail upon Salt-Water which makes the World abroad to stand astonish'd how so huge a Fleet could be so suddenly made ready The sinking of the long Robin with 170 souls in her in the Bay of Biscay erc she had gon half the voyage was no good augury And the Critics of the time say ther were many other things that promis'd no good fortune to this Fleet besides they would point at divers errors committed in the conduct of the main design first the odd choice that was made of the Admirall who was a meer Land-man which made the Sea men much slight him it belonging properly to Sir Robert Mansell Vice-Admirall of England to have gon in case the High-Admirall went not then they speak of the incertainty of the enterprize and that no place was pitch'd upon to be invaded till they came to the height of the South Cape and to sight of shore where the Lord Wimbledon first cal'd a Counsell of War wherin som would be for Malaga others for Saint Mary-Port others for Gibraltar but most for Cales and while they were thus consulting the Countrey had an alarum given them Add hereunto the blazing abroad of this expedition ere the Fleet went out of the Downs for Mercurius Gallobelgicus had it in print that it was for the Streights mouth Now 't is a rule that great designs of State should be mysteries till they com to the very act of performance and then they should turn to exploits Moreover when the locall attempt was resolv'd on ther wer seven ships by the advice of one Captain Love suffer'd to go up the River which might have bin easily taken and being rich 't is thought they would have defrayed well neer the charge of our Fleet which ships did much infest us afterwards with their Ordnance when we had taken the Forr of Puntall Moreover the disorderly carriage and excess of our Land-men wherof ther were 10000 when they were put a shore who broke into the Fryers Caves and other Cellers of Sweet-Wines wher many hundreds of them being surprizd and found dead-drunk the Spaniards came and toar off their Ears and Noses and pluck'd out their Eies And I was told of one merry fellow escaping that kill'd an Asse for a Buck Lastly it is laid to the Admiralls charge that my Lord de la Wares Ship being infected he should give order that the sick men should be scatter'd in o divers ships which dispers'd the contagion exceedingly so that som thousands died before the Fleet return'd which was don in a confus'd manner without any observance of Sea Orders Yet I do not hear of any that will be punish'd for these miscarriages which will make the dishonour fall more fouly upon the State but the most infortunate passage of all was that though we did nothing by Land that was considerable yet if we had stayd but a day or two longer and spent time at sea the whole Fleet of Galeons and Nova Hispania had faln into our mouths which came presently in close along the Coasts of Barbary and in all likelihood we might have had the opportunity to have taken the richest prize that
ever was taken on salt-water Add hereunto that while we were thus Masters of those Seas a Fleet of fifty sail of Brasil men got safe into Lisbon with four of the richest Caraâ—…ks that ever came from the East-Indies I hear my Lord of Saint Davids is to be remov'd to Bath and Wells and it were worth your Lordships comming up to endeavor the succeeding of him So I humbly rest Lond. 20 Novem. 1626. Your Lordships most ready Servitor J. H. XVIII To my Lord Duke of Buckinghams Grace at New-Market MAy it please your Grace to peruse and pardon these few Advertisements which I would not dare to present had I not hopes that the goodnes which is concomitant with your greatnes would make them veniall My Lord a Parliament is at hand the last was boisterous God grant that this may prove more calm A rumor runs that ther are Clouds already ingendred which will break out into a storm in the lower Regionâ—… and most of the drops are like to fall upon your Grace This though it be but vulgar Astrology is not altogether to bee contemn'd though I believe that His Majesties countenance reflecting so strongly upon your Grace with the brightnes of your own innocency may be able to dispell and scatter them to nothing My Lord you are a great Prince and all eyes are upon your actions this makes you more subject to envy which like the Sun beams beats alwayes upon rising grounds I know your Grace hath many sage and solid heads about you yet I trust it â—… will prove no offence if out of the late relation I have to your Grace by the recommendation of such Noble personages I put in also my Mite My Lord under favor it were not amiss if your Grace would be pleased to part with som of those places you hold which have least relation to the Court and it would take away the mutterings that run of multiplicity of Offices and in my shallow apprehension your Grace might stand more firm without an Anchor The Office of High Admirall in these times of action requires one whole man to execute it your Grace hath another Sea of businesses to wade through and the voluntary resigning of this Office would fill all men yea even your enemies with admiration and affection and make you more a Prince than detract from your greatnes If any ill successes happen at Sea as that of the Lord Wimbledons lately or if ther be any murmur for pay your Grace will be free from all imputations besides it will afford your Grace more leasure to look into your own affairs which lie confus'd and unsetled Lastly which is not the least thing this act will be so plausible that it may much advantage His Majesty in point of Subsidy Secondly it were expedient under correction that your Grace would be pleas'd to allot som set hours for audience and access of Suters and it would be less cumber to your Self and your Servants and give more content to the World which often mutters for difficulty of access Lastly it were not amiss that your Grace would settle a standing Mansion-house and Family that Suters may know whither to repair constantly and that your Servants evry one in his place might know what belongs to his place and attend accordingly for though confusion in a great Family carry a kind of state with it yet order and regularity gains a greater opinion of vertue and wisdom I know your Grace doth not nor needs not affect popularity It is true that the peoples love is the strongest Cittadell of a Soveraign Prince but to a great subject it hath often prov'd fatall for he who pulleth off his Hat to the People giveth his Head to the Prince and it is remarkable what was said of a late infortunat Earl who a little before Queen Elizabeths death had drawn the Ax upon his own Neck That he was grown so popular that he was too dangerous for the times and the times for him My Lord now that your Grace is threatned to be heav'd at it should behove evry one that oweth you duty and good will to reach out his hand som way or other to serve you Amonst these I am one that presumes to doe it in this poor impertinent Paper for which I implore pardon because I am Lond. 13 Febr. 1626. My Lord Your Grace's most humble and faithfull Servant J. H. XIX To Sir J. S. Knight SIR THer is a saying which carrieth no little weight with it that Parvus amor loquitur ingens stapet Small love speaks while great love stands astonish'd with silence The one keeps a tatling while the other is struck dumb with amazement like deep Rivers which to the eye of the beholder seem to stand still while small shallow Rivulets keep a noise or like empty Casks that make an obstreperous hollow sound which they would not do were they replenish'd and full of Substance T is the condition of my love to you which is so great and of that profoundnes that it hath been silent all this while being stupified with the contemplation of those high Favours and sundry sorts of Civilities wherwith I may say you have overwhelm'd me This deep Foard of my affection and gratitude to you I intend to cut out hereafter into small currents I mean into Letters that the cours of it may be heard though it make but a small bubling noise as also that the clearnes of it may appear more visible I desire my Service be presented to my noble Lady whose fair hands I humbly kiss and if shee want any thing that London can afford she need but command her and Lond. 11. of Febr 1626. Your most faithfull and ready Servitor J. H. XX. To the Right honble the Earl R. My Lord ACcording to promise and that portion of obedience I ow to your commands I send your Lordship these few Avisos som wherof I doubt not but you have received before and that by â—…bler pens than mine yet your Lordship may happily find herein somthing which was omitted by others or the former news made clearer by circumstance I hear Count Mansfelt is in Paris having now receiv'd three routings in Germany 't is thought the French King will peece him up again with new recruits I was told that as he was seeing the two Queens one day at Dinner the Queen-Mother said they say Count Mansfelt is here amongst this Croud I do not believe it quoth the young Queen For whensoever he seeth a Spaniard he runs away Matters go untowardly on our side in Germanie but the King of Denmark will be shortly in the field in person and Bethlem Gabor hath been long expected to do somthing but som think he will prove but a Bugbear Sir Charls Morgan is to go to Germanie with 6â—…00 Anxiliaries to joyn with the Danish Army The Parliament is adjourn'd to Oxford by reason of the sicknes which increaseth exceedingly and before the King went out of Town ther dyed
trust while I was in this suspence Mr. Secretary Câ—…way sent for me and propos'd unto me that the King had occasion to send a Gentleman to Italy in nature of a moving Agent and though he might have choice of persons of good quality that would willingly undertake this employment yet understanding of my breeding he made the first proffer to me and that I should go as the Kings Servant and have allowance accordingly I humbly thank'd him for the good opinion he pleas'd to conceive of me being a stranger to him and desir'd som time to consider of the proposition and of the nature of the imployment so he granted me four daies to think upon 't and two of them are pass'd already If I may have a support accordingly I intend by Gods grace desiring your consent and blessing to go along to apply my self to this cours but before I part with England I intend to send you further notice The sicknes is miraculously decreas'd in this City and Suburbs for from two and fiftie hundred which was the greatest number that died in one week and that was som fourty daies since they are now fallen to three hundred It was the violent'st â—…t of contagion that ever was for the time in this Island and such as no story can parallell but the Ebb of it was more swift than the Tide My brother is well and so are all your friends here for I do not know any of your acquaintance that 's dead of this furious infection Sir Iohn Walter ask'd me lately how you did and wish'd me to remember him to you So with my love to all my Brothers and Sisters and the rest of my friends which made so much of me lately in the Countrey I rest London 7 Aug. 1626. Your dutifull Son J. H. XXV To the right honble the Lord Conway Principall Secretary of State to his Majesty at Hampton Court Right honble SInce I last attended your Lopp here I summond my thoughts to Counsell and canvas'd to and fro within my self the busines you pleas'd to impart unto me for going upon the Kings Service to Italy I considered therin many particulars First the weight of the imployment what maturity of judgement discretion and parts are requir'd in him that will personat such a man next the difficulties of it for one must send somtimes light out of darknes and like the Bee suck Honey out of bad as out of good Flowers thirdly the danger which the undertaker must convers withall and which may fall upon him by interception of Letters or other cross casualties lastly the great expence it will require being not to remain Sedentary in one place as other Agents but to be often in itinerary motion Touching the first I refer my self to your Honours favourable opinion and the Character which my Lord S. and others shall give of me for the second I hope to overcom it for the third I weigh it not so that I may merit of my King and Countrey for the last I crave leave to deal plainly with your Lopp that I am a Cadet and have no other patrimony or support but my breeding therfore I must breath by the imployment And my Lord I shall not be able to perform what shall be expected at my hands under one hundred pounds a quarter and to have bills of credit accordingly Upon these terms my Lord I shall apply my self to this Service and by Gods blessing hope to answer all expectations So referring the premisses to your Noble consideration I rest London Sept. 8. 1626. My Lord Your very humble and ready Servitor J. H XXVI To my Brother after Dr. Howell now Bishop of Bristoll My brother NExt to my Father 't is fitting you should have cognisance of my affairs and fortunes You heard how I was in agitation for an employment in Italy but my Lord Conway demurr'd upon the salary I propounded I have now wav'd this cours yet I came off fairly with my Lord for I have a stable home emploiment proffer'd me by my Lord Scroop Lord President of the North who sent for me lately to Worcester House though I never saw him before and there the bargain was quickly made that I should go down with him to York for Secretary and his Lordship hath promis'd me fairly I will see you at your House in Horsley before I go and leave the particular circumstances of this busines till then The French that came over with Her Majesty for their petulancy and som misdemeanors and imposing som odd penancy's upon the Queen are all casheer'd this week about a matter of sixscore wherof the Bishop of Mende was one who had stood to be Steward of Her Majesties Courts which Office my Lord of Holland hath It was a thing suddenly don for about one of the clock as they were at dinner my Lord Conway and Sir Thomas Edmonds came with an Order from the King that they must instantly away to Somerset House for there were Barges and Coaches staying for them and there they should have all their Wages paied them to a peny and so they must be content to quit the Kingdom This sudden undream'd of Order struck an astonishment into them all both men and women and running to complain to the Queen His Majesty had taken her before into his Bed-chamber and lock'd the doors upon them untill he had told her how matters stood the Queen fell into a violent passion broke the Glass-Windows and tore her Hair but she was calm'd afterwards Just such a destiny happen'd in France som years since to the Queens Spanish Servants there who were all dismiss'd in like manner for som miscarriages the like was don in Spain to the French therfore 't is no new thing They are all now on their way to Dover but I fear this will breed ill bloud 'twixt us and France and may break out into an ill-favour'd quarrell Master Mountague is preparing to go to Paris as a Messenger of Honour to prepossess the King and Counsell there with the truth of things So with my very kind respects to my Sister I rest Lond. 15 Mar. 1626. Your loving brother J. H. XXVII To the Right honble the Lord S. My Lord I Am bound shortly for York wher I am hopefull of a profitable imployment Ther is fearfull news com from Germany that since Sir Charls Morgan went thither with 6â—…00 men for the assistance of the King of Denmark the King hath receiv'd an utter overthrow by Tilly he had receiv'd a fall off a Horse from a Wall five yards high a little before yet it did him little hurt Tilly pursueth his Victory strongly and is got ore the Elve to Holsteinland insomuch that they write from Hamburgh that Denmark is in danger to be utterly lost The Danes and Germanes seem to lay som fault upon our King the King upon the Parliament that would not supply him with Subsidies to assist his Uncle and the Prince Palsgrave both which was promis'd upon the
Familiar Letters SECTION V. I. To Dan. Caldwall Esqr from York My dear D. THough I may be tearmed a right Northern man being a good way this side Trent yet my love to you is as Southern as ever it was I mean it continueth still in the same degree of heat not can this bleaker air or Boreas chilling blasts cool it a whit I am the same to you this side Trent as I was the last time we cross'd the Thames together to see Smugg the Smith and so back to the Still-yard But I fear that your love to me doth not continue in so constant and intense a degree and I have good grounds for this fear because I never receiv'd one syllable from you since I left London if you ridd me not of this scruple and send to me speedily I shall think though you live under a hotter clyme in the South that your former love is not only coold but frozen For this present condition of life I thank God I live well contended I have a fee from the King diet for my self and two servants livry for a horse and a part of the Kings house for my lodging and other privileges which I am told no Secretary before me had but I must tell you the perquisits are nothing answerable to my expectation yet I have built me a new study since I came wherin I shall amongst others meditat somtimes on you and whence this present Letter coms So with a thousand thanks for the plentifull Hospitality and Joviall farewell you gave me at your House in Essex I rest York 30 Iulii 1627. Yors yors yors J. H. II. To Mr. Richard Leat SIgnor io it is now a great while me thinks since any act of friendship or other interchangeable offices of love hath pass'd between us either by Letters or other accustomed ways of correspondence And as I will not accuse so I go not about to clear my self in this point let this long silence be tearm'd therfore a cessation rather than neglect on both sides A bow that lies awhile unbent and a field that remains fallow for a time grow never the worse but afterwards the one sends forth and arrow more strongly the other yeelds a better crop being recultivated Let this be also verified in us let our friendship grow more fruitfull after this pawse let it be more active for the future you see I begin and shoot the first shaft I send you herewith a couple of red Dear pies the one Sir Arthur Ingram gave me the other my Lord Presidents Cook I could not tell where to bestow them better In your next let me know which is the best season'd I pray let the Sydonian Merchant Io. Bruckburst be at the eating of them and then I know they will be well soak'd If you please to send me a barrell or two of Oysters which we want here I promise you they shall be well eaten with a cup of the best Clarret and the best Sherry to which Wine this Town is altogether adicted shall not be wanting I understand the Lord Weston is Lo. Treasurer we may say now that we have Treasurers of all tences for ther are four living to wit the Lord Manchester Middlesex Malborough and the newly chosen I hear also that the good old man the last hath retir'd to his lodgings in Lincolns Inn and so reduc'd himself to his first principles which makes me think that he cannot bear up long now that the staff is taken from him I pray in your next send me the Venetian Gazetta So with my kind respects to your Father I rest York 9. Iuly 1627. Yours J. H. III. To Sir Ed. Sa. Knight SIR 'T was no great matter to be a Prophet and to have foretold his rupture 'twixt us and France upon the sudden renvoy of her Majesties servants for many of them had sold their estates in France given money for their places and so thought to live and die in England in the Queens service and so have pittifully complained to that King therupon he hath arrested above 100 of our Merchant men that went to this Vintage at Bourdeaux We also take som straglers of theirs for ther are Letters of Mart given on both sides Ther are Writs issued out for a Parliament and the Town of Richmond in Richmond shire hath made choise of me for their Burgess though Master Christopher Wansford and other powerfull men and more deserving than I stood for it I pray God send fair weather in the House of Commons for ther is much murmuring about the restraint of those that would not conform to loan-moneys Ther is a great Fleet a preparing and an Army of Land-men but the design is uncertain whether it be against Spain or France for we are now in enmity with both those Crowns The French Cardinall hath been lately tother side the Alpes and setled the Duke of Nevers in the Duchy of Mantoua notwithstanding the opposition of the King of Spain and the Emperor who alleg'd that he was to receive his investiture from him and thaâ—… was the chief ground of the War but the French Arms have dâ—… the work and com triumphantly back over the Hills again No more now but that I am as always Your true friend J. H. March 2. 1627. IV. To the Worp ll Mr Alderman of the Town of Richmond and the rest of the worthy Members of that ancient Corporation SIR I Receiv'd a public Instrument from you lately subscrib'd by your self and divers others wherin I find that you have made choice of me to be one of your Burgesses for this now neer-approaching Parliament I could have wish'd that you had not put by Master Wandesford and other worthy Gentlemen that stood so earnestly for it who being your neighbors had better means and more abilities to serve you Yet since you have cast these high respects upon me I will endeavor to acquit my self of the trust and to answer your expectation accordingly And as I account this Election an honor unto me so I esteem it a great advantage that so worthy and well experienc'd a Knight as Sir Talbot Bows is to be my Collegue and fellow Burgess I shall steer by his compas and follow his directions in any thing that may concern the welfare of your Town and of the Precincts therof either for redress of any grievance or by proposing som new thing that may conduce to the further benefit and advantage therof and this I take to be the true duty of a Parliamentary Burgess without roving at randum to generalls I hope to learne of Sir Talbot what 's fitting to be don and I shall apply my self accordingly to joyn with him to serve you with my best abilities So I rest Your most assured and ready friend to do you service J. H. Lond. March 24 1627. V. To the Right honble the Lo Clifford at Knasbrugh My Lord THe news that fill all mouths at present is the return of the Duke of Buckingham
they lost one another how they might be retreevd and meet again Fire said wher you see smoak ther you shall find me Water said wher you see marsh and morish low grounds there you shall find me but Fame said take heed how you lose me for if you do you will run a great hazard never to meet me again ther 's no retreeving of me It imports you also to conform your self to your Commanders and so you may more confidently demand obedience when you com to command your self as I doubt not but you may do in a short time The Hoghen Moghen are very exact in their polemicall government their pay is sure though small 4. s. a week being too little a hire as one sayd to kill men At your return I hope you will give a better account of your doings than he who being ask'd what exploits he had don in the Low Countrys answerd that he had cut off a Spaniards leggs reply being made that that was no great matter it had bin somthing if he had cut off his head O said he you must consider his head was off before excuse me that I take my leave of you so pleasantly but I know you will take any thing in good part from him who is so much Westmin 3. Aug. 1634. Your truly affectionat Cosen J. H. XV. To Cap. B. Much endear'd Sir THer is a true saying that the spectator oft times sees more than the gamester I find that you have a very hazardous game in hand therfore give it up and do not vie a farthing upon 't Though you be already imbarqued yet ther is time enough to strike sail and make again to the port otherwise t is no hard matter to be a Prophet what will becom of you ther be so many ill favoured quicksands and rocks in the way as I have it from a good hand that one may easily take a prospect of your shipwrack if you go on therfore desist as you regard your own safety and the seasonable advice of your Westminst 1 May 1635. J. H. XVI To Mr. Thomas W. at his chamber in the Temple SIR YOu have much streightned that knot of love which hath bin long tied between us by those choice manuscripts you sent me lately amongst which I find divers rare pieces but that which afforded me most entertainment in those miscellanies was Doctor Henry Kings Poems wherin I find not onely heat and strength but also an exact concinnity and evennes of fancy they are a choice race of brothers it seems the same Genius diffuseth it self also a among the sisters It was my hap to be lately where Mistress A. K. was and having a paper of verses in her hand I got it from her they were an Epitaph and an Anagram of her own composure and writing which took me so far that the next morning before I was up my rambling fancy fell upon these lines For the admitting of Mistris Anne King to be the tenth Muse. Ladies of Helicon do not repine I adde one more unto your number nine To make it even I among you bring No meaner than the daughter of a King Fair Basil-Ana quickly passe your voice I know Apollo will approve the choice And gladly her install for I could name Som of less merit Goddesses became 〈◊〉 Anna King F. C. soares higher and higher every day in pursuance of his platonic love but T. Man is out with his you know whom he is fallen to that aversness to her that he swâ—…ares he had rather see a Basilisk than her This shews that the sweetest wines may turn to the tartest vinegar no more till wee meet Westmin 3 Feb. 1637. Yours inviolably J. H. XVII To the Lord C. My Lord THer are two sayings which are father'd upon Secretary Walsingham and Secretary Cecil a pair of the best weighd Statesmen this Island hathbred one was used to say at the Councell Table My Lords stay a little and we shall make an end the sooner the other would oft-times speak of himself It shall never be said of me that I will dâ—…fer till to morrow what I can do to day At first view these sayings seem'd to clash with one another and to be diametrically opposite but being rightly understood they may be very well reconcil'd Touching the first 'T is true that hast and choler are enemies to all great actions for as it is a principle in Chimistry that omnis festinatio est a Diabolo all hast comes from Hell so in the consultations contrivings and conduct of any busines of State all rashnes and precipitation comes from an ill spirit Ther cannot be a better pattern for a grave and considerat way of deliberation than the ancient course of our High Court of Parliament who when a Law is to be made which concerns the welfare of so many thousands of men after a mature debate and long discussion of the point beforehand cause the bill to be read solemnly three times in the House ere it be transmitted to the Lords and there also 't is so many times canvas'd and then presented to the Prince That which must stand for law must be long stood upon because it imposeth an universall obedience and is like to be everlasting according to the Ciceronian maxime Deliberandum est diu quod statâ—…endum est semel such a kind of cunctation advisednes and procrastination is allowable also in all Councells of State and War for the day following may be able commonly to be a master to the day passed such a world of contingencies human actions are subject unto yet under favour I beleeve this first saying to meant of matters while they are in agitation and upon the anvill but when they have receiv'd form and are fully resolv'd upon I beleeve then nothing is so advantagious as speed And at this I am of opinion the second saying aimes at for when the weights that use to hang to all great businesses are taken away 't is good then to put wings unto them and to take the ball before the bound for Expedition is the life of action otherwise Time may shew his bald occiput and shake his posteriors at them in deâ—…ision Among other Nations the Spaniard is observ'd to have much phlegme and to be most dilatory in his proceedings yet they who have pryed narrowly into the sequell and success of his actions do find that this gravity reservednes and tergiversations of his have turn'd rather to his prejudice than advantage take one time with another The two last matrimoniall treaties we had with him continued long the first 'twixt Ferdinand and Henry the seventh for Catherine of Aragon seven yeers That 'twixt King Iames and the now Philip the fourth for Mary of Austria lasted eleven yeers and seven and eleven's eighteen the first took effect for Prince Arthur the latter miscarried for Prince Charles and the Spaniard may thank himself and his own slow pace for it for had he mended his pace to perfect
deep into me and the more I ruminat upon 't the more I resent it But when I contemplat the order and those Adamantine laws which nature put in such strict execution throughout this elementary world When I consider that up and down this frail globe of earth we are but strangers or sojourners at best being design'd for an infinitely better Countrey when I think that our egress out of this life is as naturall to us as our ingress all which he knew as much as any these thoughts in a checking way turn my melancholy to a counter passion they beget another spirit within me You know that in the disposing of all sublunary things Nature is Gods Handmaid Fate his Commissioner Time his Instrument and Death his Executioner By the first we have generation by the second successes good or bad And the two last bring us to our end Time with his vast sith mowes down all things and Death sweeps away those mowings Well he was a rare and a compleat judicious Scholar as any that I have known born under our Meridian He was both solid and acute nor do I remember to have seen soundnes and quaintnes with such sweet straines of morality concur so in any I should think that he fell â—…ick of the times but that I knew him to be so good a Divine and Philosopher and to have studied the theory of this world so much that nothing could take impression in him to hurt himself therfore I am content to beleeve that his glass ran out without my jogging I know you lov'd him deerly well which shall make â—…e the more Fleet 3 Aug. Your most affectionat Servitor J. H. XLVI To I. W. Esq at Grayes Inne Gentle Sir I Value at a high rate the fair respects you shew me by the late ingenious expressions of your Letter But the merit you ascribe unto me in the superlative might have very well serv'd in the positive and 't is well if I deserve in that degree You write that you have singular contentment and profit in the perusall of som things of mine I am heartily glad they afforded any entertainment to a Gentleman of so choice a judgement as your self I have a foolish working braine of mine own in labour still with somthing and I can hardly keep it from superfetations though oftimes it produce a Mouse in lieu of a Mountaine I â—…ust confess it's best productions are but homely and hard faâ—…our'd yet in regard they appear handsom in your eyes I shall 〈◊〉 them the better So I am Sir Yours most obliged to serve you J. H. Fleet 3 Ian. 1644. XLVII To Mr. Tho. H. SIR THough the times abound with Schismes more than ever 〈◊〉 more is our misery yet I hope you will not suffer any 〈◊〉 creep into our frendship though I apprehend som feares therof bâ—… your long silence and cessation of literall correspondence Yoâ—… know ther is a peculiar Religion attends frendship ther is according to the Etymologie of the word a ligation and solemne 〈◊〉 the resâ—…inding wherof may be truly call'd a Schisme or a 〈◊〉 which is more Ther belongs to this Religion of frendship 〈◊〉 due rites and decent ceremonies as visits messages and 〈◊〉 sives Though I am content to beleeve that you are firm in thâ—… fundamentalls yet I find under favor that you have lately 〈◊〉 â—…en short of performing these exteriour offices as if the ceremoâ—…â—…ll law were quite abrogated with you in all things Frendsâ—… also allowes of merits and workes of supererogation somtimes 〈◊〉 make her capable of Eternity You know that pair which wer 〈◊〉 ken up into the heaven and placed amongst the brightest stamâ—… for their rare constancy and fidelity one to the other you knoâ—… also they are put among the fixed stars not the â—…ratices to 〈◊〉 â—…her must be no inconstancy in love Navigators steer their courâ—… by them and they are their best frends in working Seas 〈◊〉 nights and distresses of weather whence may be infer'd that 〈◊〉 frends should shine clearest in adversity in clowdy and doubtfâ—… times On my part this ancient frendship is still pure 〈◊〉 dox and incorrupted and though I have not the opportunity 〈◊〉 you have to perform all the â—…ites therof in regard of this recâ—… life yet I shall never erre in the essentialls I am still yours 〈◊〉 though I cannot be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for in statu quo nunc I am grown 〈◊〉 less and good for nothing yet in point of possession I am as 〈◊〉 as ever Fleet 7 Novem. 1643. Your firm inalterable Servitor J. H. XLVIII To Mr. S. B. Merchant at his house in the old Jury SIR I Returne you those two famous speeches of the late Queen Elizabeth with the addition of another from Baâ—…dius at an Embassy heer from Holland It is with languages as 't is with liâ—…uors which by transfusion use to take wind from one vessell to another so things translated into another tongue lose of their primative vigor and strength unless a paraphrasticall version be permitted and then the traduct may exceed the Originall not otherwise though the version be never so punctuall specially in these Orations which are fram'd with such art that like Vitruvius his palace ther is no place left to ad one stone more without defacing or to take any out without hazard of destroying the whole fabric Certainly she was a Princess of rare endowments for learning and languages she was bless'd with a long life and triumphant reign attended with various sorts of admirable successes which will be taken for som Romance a thousand winters hence if the world lasts so long She freed the Scot from the French and gave her successor a royall pension to maintain his Court She help'd to settle the Crown on Henry the greats head She gave essence to the state of Holland She civiliz'd Ireland and suppres'd divers insurrections there She preserv'd the dominion of the Narrow Seas in greater glory than ever She maintain'd open War against Spain when Spain was in her highest flourish for divers yeers together yet She left a mighty treasure behind which shewes that she was a notable good huswife Yet I have read divers censures of her abroad that she was ingratefull to Her Brother of Spain who had bin the chiefest instrument under God to preserve her from the block and had left her all Queen Maries jewells without diminution accusing her that afterwards She should first infringe the peace with him by intercepting his treasure in the Narrow Seas by suffering her Drake to swim to his Indies and rob him there by fomenting and supporting his Belgique Subjects against him then when he had an Ambassador resident at her Court But this was the censure of a Spanish Author and Spaine had little reason to speak well of her The French handle her worse by terming her among other contumelies l' 〈◊〉 de ses propres vassaux Sir I must much value the frequent respects you have
subject to starving to diseases to the inclemency of the weather and to be far longer liv'd I then spyed a great stone and sitting a while upon 't I fell to weigh in my thoughts that that stone was in a happier condition in som respects than either those sensitive creatures or vegetables I saw before in regard that that stone which propagates by assimilation as the Philosophers say needed neither grass nor hay or any aliment for restauration of nature nor water to refresh its roots or the heat of the Sun to attract the moisture upwards to encrease growth as the other did As I directed my pace homeward I spyed a Kite soaâ—…ing high in the ayr and gently gliding up and down the clear Region so far above my head I fell to envy the Bird extremely and â—…epine at his happines that hee should have a privilege to make a nearer approach to heaven than I. Excuse me that I trouble you thus with these rambling meditations they are to correspond with you in som part for those accurat fancies of yours you lately sent me So I rest Holborn 17 Mar. 1639. Your entire and true Servitor J. H LII To master Sergeant D. at Lincolns Inn. SIR I Understand with a deep sense of sorrow of the indisposition of your son I fear he hath too much mind for his body and that he superabounds with fancy which brings him to these fits of distemper proceeding from the black humor of Melancholy Moreover I have observed that hee is too much given to his study and self-society specially to convers with dead men I mean Books you know any thing in excess is naught Now Sir wer I worthy to give you advice I could wish he wer well married and it may wean him from that bookish and thoughtfull humor women wer created for the comfort of men and I have known that to som they have prov'd the best Heleborum against Melancholy As this course may beget new spirits in him so it must needs ad also to your comfort I am thus bold with you because I love the Gentleman dearly well and honor you as being West 13 Iune 1632. Your humble obliged servant J. H. LIII To my noble Lady the Lady M. A. Madame THer is not any thing wherin I take more pleasure than in the accomplishment of your commands nor had ever any Queen more power o're her Vassalls than you have o're my intellectualls I find by my inclinations that it is as naturall for me to do your will as it is for fire to fly upward or any body els to rend to his center but touching the last command your Ladiship was pleased to lay upon me which is the following Hymne if I answer not the fulness of your expectation it must be imputed to the suddennes of the command and the shortnes of time A Hymne to the Blessed Trinity To the First Person To thee dread Soveraign and dear Lord Which out of nought didst me afford Essence and life who mad'st me man And oh much more a Christian Lo from the centre of my heart All laud and glory I impart Hallelujah To the Second To thee blessed Saviour who didst free My soul from Satans tyrannie And mad'st her capable to be An Angel of thy Hierarchy From the same centre I do raise All honor and immortall praise Hallelujah To the Third To thee sweet Spirit I return That love wherwith my heart doth burn And these bless'd notions of my brain I now breath up to thee again O let them redescend and still My soul with holy raptures fill Hallelujah They are of the same measure cadence and ayr as was that angelicall Hymne your Ladiship pleased to touch upon your instrument which as it so enchanted me then that my soul was ready to com out at my ears so your voice took such impressions in mee that me thinks the sound still remains fresh with Westm. 1 Apr. 1637. Your Ladiships most devoted Servitor J. H. XLIV To Master P. W. at Westminster SIR THe fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom and the Love of God is the end of the Law the former saying was spoke by no meaner man than Solomon but the latter hath no meaner Author than our Savior himself Touching this beginning and this end ther is a near relation between them so near that the one begets the tother a harsh mother may bring forth somtimes a mild daughter so fear begets love but it begets knowledg first for Ignâ—…ti nulla cupido we cannot love God unless we know him before both fear and love are necessary to bring us to heaven the one is the fruit of the Law the other of the Gospell when the clouds of fear are vanish'd the beams of love then begin to glance upon the heart and of all the members of the body which are in a maner numberless this is that which God desires because 't is the centre of Love the source of our affections and the cistern that holds the most illustrious bloud and in a sweet and well devoted harmonious soul cor is no other than Camera Omnipotentis Regis 't is one of Gods closets and indeed nothing can fill the heart of man whose desires are infinite but God who is infinity itself Love therfore must be a necessary attendant to bring us to him but besides Love ther must be two other guides that are requir'd in this journey which are Faith and Hope now that fear which the Law enjoyns us turns to faith in the Gospell and knowledg is the scope and subject of both yet these last two bring us onely towards the haven but love goes along with us to heaven and so remains an inseparable sempiternall companion of of the soul Love therfore is the most acceptable Sacrifice which we can offer our Creator and he who doth not study the Theory of it heer is never like to com to the Practise of it heerafter It was a high hyper physicall expression of St. Austustine when he fell into this rapture that if hee wer King of Heaven and God Almighty Bishop of Hippo he would exchange places with him because he lov'd him so well This Vote did so take me that I have turn'd it to a paraphrasticall Hymn which I send you for your Violl having observed often that you have a harmonious soul within you The Vote Oh God who can those passions tell Wherwith my heart to thee doth swell I cannot better them declare Than by the wish made by that rare Auâ—…elian Bishop who of old Thy Oracâ—…es in Hippo told If I were Thou and thou wert I I would resign the Deity Thou shouldst be God I would be man Is 't possible that love more can Oh pardon that my soul hath tane So high a flight and grows prophane For my self my dear Phil because I love you so dearly well I will display my very intrinsecalls to you in this point when I exmine the motions of my heart I find that I
daughter for a present and came with him from Bagdat besides one accident that happened to him was thâ—… he had an Eunuch who was used to be drunk and whom he had commanded twice upon pain of life to refrain swearing by Mahomet that he would cause him to be strangled if he found him the third time so yet the Eunuch still continued in his drunkenes heerupon the Turk conceiving with himself that ther must needs be som extraordinary delight in drunkenes because this man preferred it before his life fell to it himself and so drunk himself to death In Asia ther is no beer drunk at all but Water Wine and an incredible variety of other drinks made of Dates dried Raisons Rice divers sorts of Nutts fruits and roots In the Orientall Countries as Cambaia Calicut Narsingha ther is a drink call'd Banque which is rare and precious and 't is the height of entertainment they give their guests before they go to sleep like that Nepenthe which the Poets speak so much of for it provokes pleasing dreames and delightfull phantasies it will accommode it self to the humor of the sleeper as if he be a souldier he will dream of victories and taking of towns if he be in love he will think to enjoy his mistress if he be covetous he will dream of mountaineâ—… of Gold c. In the Moluccas and Philippines ther is a curious drink call'd Tampoy mâ—…de of a kind of Gilliflowers and another drink call'd Otraqua that comes from a Nut and is the more generall drink In China they have a holy kind of liquor made of such sort of flowers for ratifying and binding of bargaines and having drunk therof they hold it no less than perjury to break what they promise as they write of a River in Bythinia whose water hath â—… peculiar vertue to discover a perjurer for if he drink therof it will presently boyl in his stomack and put him to visible tortures this makes me think of the River Styx among the Poets which the Gods were used to swear by and it was the greatest oath for performance of any thing Nubila promisse Styx mihi testis erit It puts me in mind also of that which som write of the River of Rhine for trying the legitimation of a child being thrown in if he be a basterd he will sink if otherwise he will not In China they speak of a tree called Maguais which affords not only good drink being pierced but all things else that belong to the subsistence of man they bore the trunk with a nâ—…wger and ther issueth out sweet potable liquor 'twixt the rinde and the tree ther is a cotton or hempie kind of moss which they wear for their cloathing it beares huge nuts which have excellent food in them it shoots out hard prickles above a fathom long and those arme them with the bark they make Tents and the dotard trees serve for firing Afric also hath a great diversity of drinks at having more need of them being a hotter Countrey far In Guiney or the lower Ethiopia ther is a famous drink call'd Mingol which issueth out of a tree much like the Palm being bored But in the upper Ethiopia or the Habassiâ—… countrey they drink Mead decocted in a different manner ther is also much wine there the common drink of Barbary after water is that which is made of Dates But in Egypt in times passed ther was beer drunk call'd Zithus in latin which was no other than a decoction of Barly and water they had also a famous composition and they use it to this day called Chiffi made of divers cordialls and provocative ingredients which they throw into water to make it gustfull they use it also for fumigations But now the generall drink of Egypt is Nile water which of all waters may be said to be the best insomuch that Pindars words might be more appliable to that than to any other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It doth not only fertilize and extremely fatten the soil which it covers but it helps to impregnat barren women for ther is no place on earth wher peeple encrease and multiply faster 't is yellowish and thick but if one cast a few Almonds into a potfull of it it will becom as clear as rock water it is also in a degree of lukewarmnes as Martialls boy Tolle puer calices tepidique toreumata Nili In the new world they have a world of drinks for ther iâ—… no root flower fruit or pulse but is reducible to a potable liquor as in the Barbado Island the common drink among the English is Mobbi made of Potato roots In Mexico and Peru which is the great continent of America with other parts it is prohibited to make Wines under great penalties for fear of starving of trade so that all the Wines they have are sent from Spain Now for the pure Wine Countries Greece with all her Islands Italy Spain France one part of foure of Germany Hungary with divers Countries therabouts all the Islands in the mediterranean and Atlantic sea are Wine Countries The most generous wines of Spain grow in the mid-land parts of the continent and Saint Martin beares the bell which is near the Court Now as in Spain so in all other wine Countries one cannot pass a daies journey but he will find a differing race of wine those kinds that our Merchants carry over are those only that grow upon the sea-side as Malagas Sheries Tents and Aligants of this last ther 's little comes over right therfore the Vinteners make Tent which is a name for all Wines in Spain except white to supply the place of it Ther is a gentile kind of white wine growes among the mountains of Galicia but not of body enough to bear the sea call'd Ribadavia Portugall affords no wines worth the transporting they have an od stone we call Yef which they use to throw into their Wines which clarifieth it and makes it more lasting Ther 's also a drink in Spain call'd Alâ—…sha which they drink between meales in hot weather and 't is a Hydromel made of water and hony much of the tast of our Mead In the Court of Spain ther 's a German or two that brews beer but for that ancient drink of Spain which Pliny speaks of compos'd of flowers the receit therof is utterly lost In Greece ther are no wines that have bodies enough to bear the sea for long voyages som few Muscadells and Malmâ—…es are brought over in small Casks nor is ther in Italy any wine transported to England but in bottles as Verdé and others for the length of the voyage makes them subject to pricking and to lose colour by reason of their delicacy France participating of the clymes of all the Countries about her affords wines of quality accordingly as towards the Alpes and Italy she hath a luscious rich wine call'd Frontiniac In the Countrey of Province toward the Pyrâ—…nies in Languedoe ther are wines congustable with
is dead who was the chiefest Oracle of that Country yet though the light of the Gospell chas'd away those great Owls ther be som Bats and little night birds that fly still abroad I mean petty spirits that by secret pactions which are made alwaies without witnes enable men and women to do evill In such compacts beyond the seas the party must first renounce Christ and the extended woman meaning the blessed Virgin he must contemn the Sacraments tread on the cross spit at the host c. Ther is a famous story of such a paction which Fryer Louis made som half a hundred yeers ago with the Devill in Marseilles who appear'd to him in shape of a Goat and promis'd him the enjoyment of any woman whom he fancied with other pleasures for 41. yeers but the Devill being too cunning for him put the figure of I before and made it 14 yeers in the contract which is to be seen to this day with the Devills claw to it at which time the Fryer was detected for Witchcraft and burnt and all those children whom he had christned during that term of 14 yeers were rebaptized and the Gentlewomen whom he had abus'd put themselves into a Nunnery by themselves Heerunto may be added the great rich Widdow that was burn'd in Lions because 't was prov'd the Devill had lain with her as also the history of Lieutenant Iaquette which stands upon record with the former but if I should insert them heer at large it would make this letter swell too much But we need not cross the sea for examples of this kind we have too too many God wot at home King Iames a great while was loth to beleeve ther were Witches but that which happend to my Lord Francis of Rutlands children convinc'd him who were bewitch'd by an old woman that was servant at Belvoir Castle but being displeas'd she contracted with the Devill who convers'd with her in form of a cat whom she call'd Rutterken to make away those children out of meer malignity and thirst of revenge But since the beginning of these unnaturall Wars ther may be a clowd of witnesses produc'd for the proof of this black tenet for within the compas of two yeers neer upon three hundred Witches were arraign'd and the major part executed in Essex and Suffolk only Scotland swarmes with them now more than ever and persons of good quality executed daily Thus sir have I huddled together a few arguments touching this subject because in my last communication with you me thought I found you somwhat unsatisfied and staggering in your opinion touching the affirmative part of this thesis the discussing wherof is far fitter for an elaborat large treatise than a loose letter Touching the new Common-wealth you intend to establish now that you have assign'd me my part among so many choice legislators somthing I shall do to comply with your desires which shall be alwaies to me as comands and your comands as lawes because I love and honoâ—…r you in a very high degree for those gallant free-born thoughts and sundry parts of virtu which I have dis cern'd in you which makes me entitle my self Fleet this 20 of Febr. 1647. Your most humble and affectionat faithfull Servant J. H. XXIV To Sir William Boswell at the Hague SIR THat black tragedy which was lately acted heer as it hath fill'd most hearts among us with consternation and horror so 〈◊〉 believe it hath bin no less resented abroad For my own particular the more I ruminat upon it the more it astonisheth my imagination and shaketh all the cells of my brain so that somtimes I struggle with my faith and have much adoe to believe it yet I shal give over wondring at thing any heerafter nothing shall seem strange unto me only I will attend with patience how England will thrive now that she is let bloud in the basilicall veine and cur'd as they say of the Kings Evill I had one of yours by Mr. Iacob Bâ—…eue and I much thank you for the account you please to give me of what I sent you by his conveyance Holland may now be proud for ther is a younger Common-wealth in Christendom than her self No more now but that I alwaies rest Sir Your most humble Servitor J. H. Fleet 20 of Mar. 1648. XXV To Mr. W. B. at Grundsburgh SIR NEver credit me if Liberty it self be as dear to me as your Letters they com so full of choice and learned applications with such free unforc'd strains of ingenuity insomuch that when I peruse them me thinks they cast such a kind of fragrancy that I cannot more aptly compare them than to the flowers which are now in their prime season viz. to Roses in Iune I had two of them lately which me thought were like quivers full of barb'd arrowes pointed with gold that penetrated my breast Tali quis nollet ab ictu Ridendo tremulas mortis non ire sub umbras Your expressions were like those Mucrones and Melliti globuli which you so ingenuously apply mine unto but these arrowes of yours though they have hit me they have not hurt me they had no killing quality but they were rather as so many cordialls for you know gold is restorative I am suddenly surpriz'd by an inexpected occasion therfore I must abruply break off with you for this time I will only add my most dear Nephew that I rest Iune the 3. 1648. Yours entirely to love and serve you J. H. XXVI To R. K. Esquire at St. Giles SIR DIfference in opinion no more than a differing complexion can be cause enough for me to hate any A differing fancy is no more to me than a diffring face If another hath a fair countenance though mine be black or if I have a fair opinion though another have a hard favourd one yet it shall not break that common league of humanity which should be betwixt rational creatures provided he corresponds with me in the generall offices of morality and civill uprightnes this may admit him to my acquaintance and conversation though I never concur with him in opinion He beares the Image of Adam and the Image of the Allmighty as well as I He had God for his Father though he hath not the same Church for his Mother The omniscient Câ—…cator as He is only Kardiognostic so He is the sole Lord of the whole inward man It is he who reignes ore the faculties of the soul and the affections of the heart 'T is He who regulates the will and rectifies all obliquities in the understanding by speciall illuminations and oftentimes reconciles men as opposit in opinion as Meridians and Parallells are in point of extension wherof the one drawes from East to West the other from North to South Som of the Pagan Philosophers specially Themistius who was Praetor of Byzantium maintain'd an opinion that as the pulchritud and preservation of the world consisted in varieties and dissimilitudes as also in Eccentric and contrary