blot upon Elizabeth's fame; and it is fit so singular a wretch should be made known to posterity for what he did.

"Theese evill tymes trouble all good mens headdes, and make their hearte sake, (heartes ake,) fearinge that this barbarous treacherie will not ceasse in Fraunce, but will reach over unto us. Neither feare we the mangling of our body, but we sore dreade the hurt of our Head: for therin consisteth our lief and saftie. We shall dutiefullie praie. Give you good advise. And God, I trust, will deliver us owt of the mouthe of the warringe Lyon. The Citizens of London in theese dangerous daies had need prudentlie to be dealt withall; the preachers appointed for the Crosse in this vacacion are but yonge men, unskilfull in matters politicall, yet so carried with zeale that they will enter into them and poure furthe their opinions. Yf the league standeth firme betwixt her Matie, and the Frenche Kinge, (as I suppose it dothe,) they may perhappes, beinge not directed, utter speache to the breache therof. Howe that will be liked of I dowte. Yf I may receave from yo2. L. some direction or advise herin, I will not faill to directe them so well as I canne. The Deane of Paules and I will first occupie the place, givinge example howe others may followe. Sundrie have required a publique Faste and Praier to be had, for the confoundinge of theese and other cruell enemies of Goddes gospell; but this I will not consent unto, withowt warraunt from hir Matie. Thus am I bolde to unfolde a peece of my myde on the sudden, and to make you pertaker of my simple cogitacions, knowinge that according to yo. olde wonte, you will toke the same in good parte. Hasten hir Matie, homewarde, hir safe returne to London will comforth many heartes oppressed with feare. God preserve yow, and directe yow with his spirite to counsell to his glorie. In haste from my howse at Fulham this vth, of Sep

tember 1572

yf God will.

"1. Furthwith to CUTTE OF the SCOTTISH QUENE'S HEADE: ipsa est nostri fundi calamitas.

"2. To remove from our Quene Papistes, and suche as by private persuasion overthrowe good counsell.

"3. The Q. matie, to be garded stronglie with Protestants, and others to be removed.

"4. Order must be taken for the safe kepinge of the Tower, and for good order to be had in London for strengtheninge of the Citie, and that they receave no Papistes of strengthe to sojourne there this win

ter.

"5. A firme League to be made with the yonge Scottish Kinge and the Protestants there.

"6. A League to be made with the Princes Protestants of Germanie, offensive and defensive.

“7. The chiefe Papistes of this realme are to be shutte uppe in the Tower, and the popishe olde Bushoppes to be returned thither.

"8. The Gospell earnestlie to be promoted, and the Churche not burdened with unnecessarie ceremonies.

"9. The Protestants, which onlie are faithfull subjectes, are to be comforted, preferred, and placed in autoritie, the Papistes to be displaced.

"Theese put in execution, wolde twrne to Goddes glory, the saftie of the Quene's Matie, and make the Realme florishe and stande.

"To the right honourable my singuler good Lorde the Lorde of Burghley, highe Treasurer of Englande."

"My singular good Lorde" served a jealous and spiteful woman, or he would have spurned the Right Reverend assassin from him, and told him, "tarry thou for life in Paul's chain, "for never shalt thou set in Lambeth thy cleft hoof."

The birth of our most religious and gracious sovereign," Charles II., is thus announced by Lord Dorchester, with exemplary piety, and not quite as great a gift of prophecy :

"SIR,

"I receaved this morning by Mr. Hopton your last Letters, and though I had allready written to you by this bearer, the cause of publick joy, since hapned, occasions the addition of these lynes to let yow know that yesterday before noone the Queene was made the happy mother of a Prince of Wales. Herselfe (God be thanked) is in good estate, and what a child can promise that reckons yet but two dayes, is allready visible, as a gratious pledge from Heaven of those blessings which are convayed and assured to Kingdomes in the issue of their Princes. As this hath sett on worke here whatsoever may serve to speake the fullnes of our harts in the language of publicke rejoysing, soe His Majestie hath thought fitt to communicate his contentment to the King and Queenes of France by his owne letters, whereof Mr. Montague is the bearer, and hath commission to invite that King and the Queene mother to joyne with the King of Bohemia in christning of the yong Prince. And soe in hast I rest "Yrs, to be commaunded

"From Whitehall

The 30 of May 1630.

"To my very loving frend Mr. De Vic remayning for his Majestics affaires at Paris."

"DORCHESTER.

We are tempted to extract the letter which immediately follows, touching a peculiarity in that great man, and venerable patriot, Lord Coke. It is from Mr Mead to Sir Martin Stuteville:

"Sir Edward Coke being now very infirme in body, a freind of his sent him two or three Doctors to regulate his health; whom he told, that he had never taken phisick since he was borne, and would not now begin; and that he had now upon him a disease, which all the drugges

of Asia, the gold of Africa, the silver of America, nor all the Doctors of Europe could cure, OLD AGE. He therefore both thankt them and his friend that sent them, and dismist them nobly with a reward of twenty pieces to each man."

A letter from one Mr Pary (Dec. 2, 1632) to Sir Thomas Puckering, gives the news of Gustavus Adolphus's death at the battle of Lutzen, near Leipsic, with some particulars of that memorable catastrophe.

"On Fryday Dalbier a German (who was Count Mansfeld's paymaster in all his warres, hee that should have fetch't over the Dutch for the late Duke from Embden, and which hath served sometimes under the King of Sweden since his coming into Germany) Dalbier, I say, came to the court. And Burlamacki that accompanied him thither told me, the newes he brought out of Dutchland were as followeth: That hee was four dayes in the Swedish army, after the battell was fought. That hee sawe the dead body of the king of Sweden. That Papenheim, the bravest commander that ever serv'd the Emperour was slaine in the same battell. That the Swedish army gott the victory. That Walstein left his ordinance behinde him. That Bernard Duke of Saxon Weymar pursued Walstein towards Bohemia: that Dalbier, as hee passed through Frankford, understood the Chancelour Oxeinstern was gone up to consult with the Duke Elector of Saxony about carriage of the maine busines: and that when Dalbier was come to Mentz, hee found the King of Bohemia dead there of the plague which hee had gotten at Frankford.* Thus farre Burlamacki. "The manner of the king of Swedens death he thus describeth; I mean Dalbier; the King (saith hee) being shott on the arme with a pistoll call'd to his cousin Bernard Duke of Weymar, to make way for his retreat, that hee might goe and dresse his wound. But as the word was in his mouth, an horseman of the enemy prying the king steadfastly in the face, said, you are the birde wee have so long lookt, and with that shott him through the boddy with a brace of bulletts; so that the King fell off his horse stark dead, and Duke Bernard slewe the man that had thus kill'd him. But that which soundes harshe and incredible in all mens eares, is, that the Kinges body, thus falling, should bee so much neglected as to be left all day and all night in the field, and to be found next morning stript stark naked among the promiscuous carcasses. But Browne that arrived here on Saturday, being sent post by Curtius the kinges Agent from Frankford, contradictes Dalbier in this, saying, the Kinges corpse, as soon as ever it fell, was layd in a waggon, and that being since embalmed it is carried along with the army as an incentive to stirre up his soldiers to revenge his blood.

"Both doe agree, that the King by his last will and testament con

The King of Bohemia died at Mentz Nov. 29th, 1632; as it was subsequently said, of a malignant fever.

stituted the Queene his wife to succeed him in authority, and ordered a councill of warre continually to attende her, that shee might signe and firme all their dispaches and resolutions.

66

"If the King of Bohemia bee dead, the Emperour hath a great advantage therby, because there is none now living but himselfe that hath any title to that so long controverted Crowne. Besides, upon that Kinges death, our King and State are obliged to doe more for a Nephew then for a brother in lawe; and more likewise for a widdow then for a wife.

"Well, the mourning here in Court for both Kinges began on Sunday, and is to continue till Newyeares daye: and yet some (and those not a fewe) are so incredulous, as they will not beleeve the death of either. For yesterday there came letters to town from Amsterdam, Haerlem, the Haghe, & Delft, which affirmed the king of Sweden to be alive, though those from Antwerp said the contrary. Yesterday there was at least 200, layd in wagers that he is still alive. Mr James Maxwells brother hearing them there yesterday affirme the kinges life so confidently, said hee would lay ten to one, the king was dead. Wherupon suche a throng of people came about him with golde in their handes as almost putt him out of countenance; and made him glad to accept no more but three pieces.

"At night, with the tide, arrived from Delft a servant of one Mr. Berrington, a merchant adventurer, who saith that letters from Leipsig & Magdeburg doe avowe the king to be alive, and that the reason why it was generally thought he was dead, was, because so soon as hee was hurte he retired into his tent, and kept himselfe close there for twoe dayes under the surgeons hand."

The devoted admirers of Charles I., we doubt not, will be much edified with the title of Letter CCLXXXIX. "King "Charles I. to Dr Juxon, Bishop of London: the King sends him "a Case of Conscience." The amiable, good, and dear King! so conscientious! so scrupulous! sending to the Bishop "a Case "of Conscience," while other kings would send his Lordship a request for a living! We extract this conscientious effusion for the edification of the Jacobite reader, who venerates our Royal Martyr; subjoining, reluctantly, a few Hanoverian comments thereupon.

"MY LORD,

"Newcastle 30 Sept. 1646.

"My knowledge of your worth and learning, and particularly in resolving Cases of Conscience, makes me at this time (I confess) put to you a hard and bold task, nor would I do it, but that I am confident you know not what fear is in a good cause. Yet I hope You believe that I shall be loath to expose you to a needless danger, assuring you that I will yield to none of your friends in my care of your preservation. I need not tell You the many persuasions and threatnings that hath been used to me for making me change Episcopal into Presbiterial Government, which absolutely to do, is so directly against

my conscience, that, by the Grace of God no misery shall ever make me: but I hold myself obliged by all honest means to eschew the mischief of this too visible storm, and I think some kind of compliance with the iniquity of the times may be fit, as my Case is, which, at another time, were unlawful. These are the grounds that have made me think of this inclosed Proposition, the which as one way it looks handsome to us, so in another I am fearful least I cannot make it with a safe conscience; of which I command you to give me your opinion upon your Allegiance. Conjuring you, that you will deal plainly and freely with me, as you will answer it at the dreadful day of Judgement.

"I conceive the Question to be, whether I may with a safe Conscience give way to this proposed temporary compliance, with a resolution to recover and maintain that doctrine and discipline wherein I have been bred. The duty of my Oath is herein chiefly to be considered; I flattering myself that this way I better comply with it, than being constant to a flat denial, considering how unable I am by force to obtain that which this way there wants not probability to recover, if accepted, (otherwise there is no harm done) for my Regal authority once settled, I make no question of recovering Episcopal government, and God is my witness my chiefest end in regaining my power, is, to do the Church service. So expecting your reasons to strengthen your opinion, whatsoever it be, I rest

"Your most asseured, reall, faithfull, "constant frend

"CHARLES R.

"I desire your opinion in the particulars, as well as in the general scope of it; and yet mend much in the penning of it. I give you leave to take the assistance of the Bishop of Salisbury and Dr. Sheldon, and either of them. But let me have your answer with all convenient speed. None knows of this but Will Murray, who promises exact

secrecy.

"If your opinions and reasons shall confirm me in making of this Proposition, then you may some way be seen in it, otherwise I promise you, that your opinion shall be concealed."

Now, we conceive that a greater instance of perfidy than this letter discloses, cannot be pointed out in the whole history of intrigues, even among cardinals and other Romish priests themselves. Let it be carefully remarked, that the doubt raised in the King's mind, is not whether he can conscientiously deceive the Presbyterians, but whether he can, conscientiously towards the Church, give a temporary and seeming acquiescence to its disadvantage. This is quite clear, from these two passages :"To change Episcopal into Presbiterial government absolutely, " is so directly against my conscience, that no misery shall ever "make me; but I hold myself obliged, by all honest means, to "eschew the mischief of this too visible storm; and I think some "kind of compliance with the iniquity of the times may be fit, as my "case is, which, at another time, were unlawful."-Again :-" The