Part of the Army is at Glasgow, seeing to the safety of those parts, where they are in good condition. Intelligence from that place faith, That notice was given where Sir Arthur Forbes (he that was lately routed with his Party) lay at al small Cottage, sore of his wounds that he had received. A party of hors was sent thereupon to seise him; but he quitted that place about 2 daies before, and the Countrey are so false to us, that they will give no direction which way to follow upon any such occasion
Those Scots that will not rise with the Highlanders are plundred by them; the Highlanders lay Contributions upon them, which bring them very low, because they pay likewise toward the maintenance of our English Army. We hear of Supplies coming out of England, as the
But if a Peace be with Holland (as we hear it is in a faint way) the first news of it will quite take away their hearts, and make them of their own accord retire to their several Habitations, without ever drawing of a Sword against them. So great a destruction hath already been brought upon Scotland by these Robbers, that a few months longer continuance of spoil and disorder, would bring them into the same condition with the Irish, who have been by Famin forced to eat the Corpses of their deceased Friends, after divers dayes interment. And yet these are not much to be pitied by us, because of their implacable enmity, who will rather suffer themselves to be undone by the Enemy, rather than give notice to our Garrisons, when any of the Highlanders come amongst them, or pass through their Country; accounting and calling it Treachery to be any way instrumentall in the surprising of those that would destroy them. There is a Talk among them, as if the Highlanders had some Arms and Ammunition landed in the Northern parts.
By Letters from Madrid of the 16 of December, 1653. Their Majesties are here in perfect health: Two dayes hence they go again to Escurial, to be present at some Church service performed yearly in commemoration of the deceased Princes belonging to the House of Austria. There is to be seen in this City a copy of a Letter in Print sent from the Jesuits in Armenia to those in this City; wherein they express a very strange thing hapned in that Countrey, which is thus briefly; There being about Five months since many Turks and Moores met together at a
At the desire of the Earl of Cleveland now Prisoner in the Tower, I doe hereby give notice to all persons allyed in Blood or Acquaintance to the said Earl. That his Lordship hath lately been informed of a certain Impostor or Cheat, who under the cloak of Friendship and pretence of serving his Lordship, hath made very unworthy Addresses to divers persons of quality in the said Earls behalf to borrow Money for his Relief, and to supply his occasions in the Tower; and hath counterfeited the said Earls Hand and Seal for such leud purposes: And because a Vizard is proper for such Practitioners, he goeth sometimes under the mane of Buck, sometimes Braithwaight, and Butler; and that he hath by this means obtained severall sums of money from severall Persons who are deluded by this knavery, and although the Lievtenant (at the desire of the said Earl
The Earl of Cleveland desires this may be publickly known, that this Villains proceedings may be prevented for the future, and also that it may be believed, that when the said Earl hath any occasion to use money, it hath been his custom alwaies to use such honourable means of procurements as are suitable with his degree and honour.
The like abuse hath been offered by the same person to the Lord Grandison also, a prisoner in the Tower, which is likewise desired to be made known.
This Messenger I send to know assuredly whether the Count Almarantius be slain, or only a Captive. And this I must needs know, for it imports much in his Ladies behalf. Again, whether or no there be not among the Captives one Don William Puitavilla and Luis Bricula, Captains; and if any of them be grievously wounded, there shall come from us a Coach to fetch them; yea and if any Commanders corps be with you, I desire that they be honourably sent us.
And I do hope for civility and charitie's sake, you will decently interr the dead; and if need be, let this man know and inform himself and you of each of them whom notice ought to be taken.
Forasmuch as it is apparent, that (notwithstanding my Proclamation of September 27. Last)
Given under my hand and Seal at Dalkeith R.
We hear by a By a Barque come from Bretaigne
The Prince of Conde is quite given over here by the Court-party, as desperate, and they suppose he is not to be brought back again by any tolerable means of accommodation. There was a suspicion among the Spaniards, as if he had intended to have made his peace with the Court of France, and it was given out that a Treaty for that end was actually on foot which did the Prince a great deal of wrong among the Spanish party, upon whom is all his dependence: But now it appears no such matter, only it was raised here out of policy. And he is since gon to Brussels, to the Arch-Duke Leopold, partly to take the air there, and perfect his recovery from his late dangerous Ague, but principally to give assurances of his resolution against the Court of France, and against all the Mazarin party; and thereupon to procure monies and recruits, that
Just such another story was raised of his Brother, the Prince of Conti, as if he had had an intention to come to Court, and not only so, but with an intention to marry one of the Cardinals Nieces; which it is believed he scorns to do. The Courtiers (however) say, that he will shortly be here.
There have of late been very strong sollicitations used, to move his Majesties Uncle, the Duke of Orleans, to come again to Court; but hitherto he waves the business, and will by no means give consent to it, but pleads excuses still in his wonted way, which are here but ill resented; and he knows that very well, which makes him keep at a distance, rather than trust himself in the Cardinals clutches, knowing that he shall become a either a sacrifice to violence, or Treachery. Therefore he is so much Italian by the mother, as not to trust an offended enemy. The truth is, if the Cardinal could but get him to Court, it would exceedingly advantage his affairs, because as the Kings Uncle he hath a great influence upon the hearts of the people, who pay a reverence to his bloud: But it will not be, and there is somewhat more than ordinary that holds up the Dukes humor, or else he useth not to be so hardy. It is to many men a presage, that some strange turn of affairs is yet to be expected, for the heaving out of the Cardinal. This is certain; if the Princes ever make up a considerable party again within the bowels
The Court have been long a drawing up a Declaration against the Prince of Conde, but as yet they think not fit to make it publick. They have of late had good success against the Spaniard in Catalonia. The Cardinal De Retz continues still in prison, and no hope there is as yet of his release.
since my last here have been several Treasons discovered in these parts, and amongst the rest, one remarkable piece of Treason to have been executed against one of the chiefest Frontier Towns of this Country, which the Traitors had agreed to betray and deliver into the hands of the French for a good sum of money. The designe of their treachery was laid after this manner; In the Town of Armentiers, scituated upon th River Lisle in Flanders, about three leagues from Lisle and Bassee, and not far from Bethune, there was amongst other Troopes, a Regiment of Irish for their Garison, The Irish knowing
There is no Post come this week from England, we are still in hopes of a peace: here is a report at present that the peace is concluded between us, which we desire may prove to be true. The burning down of so many houses, and the loss of twenty ships in the Tessel upon the sixth of this month through a Hericane, mentioned in my last, hath been since confirmed to the ruine and sorrow of a great many who were interested in them. Our Eastland Fleet, to the number of 190 Sail, was come near our own Coasts, and through the same storm that hapned on the sixth aforesaid, was forced to sail back into the Sound; what losses they have sustained thereby, is not known.
They write from Scotland that the Lord Kenmore, and Mac Aldore, with 6 or 700 men, are about the Lord of Grante Gracents Bounds, and Straths-pey, where they expect Seaforthes Party to joyn with them. Col. Morgan hath drawn out a party of horse and foot to ingage them (if possible) in case they come down from the Hills. Capt. Hart lately sent a party of horse from Kelsoe into Northumberland, where they tool one Richardson, a Moss-Trooper who lay there to be a guide to some party put of England, and one
The Earle of Athole was lately with about Two or Three hundred horse, and Five hundred Foot, at Cooper in Angus, and from thence went to Meagil, and so back to the Hills.
You may perceive their greatest Confidence is the Hills, who rather by cunning and Craft doe shelter themselves, then to come out and fight as Men, but the Lord will finde them out in his due time.
This Court is now wholly taken up with discourse of the Prince of Conde, whose Condemnation hath been agitated and at length concluded in Parliament. The King would have had the Parliament the arrest of their owne accord; but they pleading, it was against the custome, that any proceeding should be to condemn a Prince of the Blood without the presence of his Majesty, desired the King that he would come an sit in his great Tribunall. Whereupon, his Majesty, the 19. instant went to the Parliament,
Here is an extraordinary Courier arrived from Rome, who came within 9 dayes, and hath brought Letters pressing, that his Majestie of France would be pleased to hearken to a Pacification with Spain, and give way to the generall Peace; wherein his Holiness hath promised to contribute his best assistance. He departs this day with the like haste for Spain, with Letters of the same nature to that King. What this may produce, time may shew. It may be said of these Monarchies which is spoken of the Sea, that what it gains in one place it loseth in another, and so e contra: Just so, is Fortune ever ebbing flowing between these two mighty Monarchs, what they gain one year they lose the next, and what in one place, they lose in another, and that is the issue of their Warrs, to vexe themselves and all Europe to no purpose.
This Town swells perpetually with Rumors. Nothing now, but that one of your Lord Protectors daughters is to be married to the Prince of Condes son, the Duke D'Enguien; though others will have the young Gentleman to be bestowed upon one of the Duke of Orleans his Daughters.
The like care they have taken here to bestow the Queen of Sweden upon the Emperors son, who is called King of the Romans, which truly is no Tavern nor Street Talk but
The Pope hath sent order to his Nuntio residing with this Court, to make enquiry (which he doth) what Irish Bishops and Priests are in this City, with their Names and Sirnames, and how they live at present. What the occasion is, none can tell.
Charls Stuart and his Followers are of an inclination to leave France. It's thought, if they remove it will be for Germany. They have bin pumping with those of the Reformed Religion here in France, to try what, and whether they would or could do any thing for them. His Councellors have had a sharp quarrel among themselves, Ned Hide, who is called Chancellor of the Dutchy or Exchequer (but which I cannot well remember) having been accused of Treason by the Lord Gerard. There hath been somewhat to do among them about it, to no purpose.
Divers Protestants of great and eminent quality having been at the Church at Charenton, were returning back hither by water, and the boat breaking in two, many were drowned, among
The Peace between the two Commonwealths of England and Holland is taken for granted here, and concluded on all hands. Several Letters are come hither from Holland, which confirm it.
We are here very apt to believe a peace, because it is a thing exceedingly desired all over these Lands: And there is the more hope, because all things are very still and calm, both at Sea and Land: And we have added to all our conceits the like out of England, by the way of Flanders; from whence Letters say, that there was not much difference between the Councel at their parting. Some things have been communicated from them to the States General, which take up a great part of their time in consultation, but nothing can be certainly know yet of the event, because it depends upon their Lordships present Resolution: But we guesse things may go well, because men are not high in discourse (as formerly) against England besides, we observe little talk of a War, or of a desire to it. Thus we live by our Guesses. The Princes about us are loth to see two such formidable Commonwealths in so near a Conjunction; especially now that England, Scotland, and Ireland are united under one Head, and that a wise and an active one too; and therefore they bid high, in hope to keep open the breach; of whole fears and jealousies the States here will be able to make many an advantagious use, and wind them up to their own Conditions, as they shall see
If War go on the Governors here are in no great forwardness of shipping; besides, guns is a great commodity wanting. The late fire in the Bemster hath proved a cooler, and occasioned a great loss, besides the Merchant-men lost at the same time in the Texel. It was a most violent storm; and the fire took first from a Mill used in making Oyle. When the wind was high, the Owner of the Mill used all possible means to stop it, but could not, the wind was so strong; and so the stone whirling around with extraordinary swiftness, contracted such heat, that at length the Mill fired, and the storm conveyed fire thence to the houses. Since this Warre, these Provinces have had invaluable losses, one way or other.
The Lorainers seemed to come on again, but have not visited the Frontiers.
We expect the coming home of the East-land Fleet from the Sound.
The Supplies are safely and timely arrived here, for the encouragement of our Forces in this Nation, where affairs look with no pleasant face, by reason of the great devastations, spoyls, and devourings, made by the Highland
Doubtless, the enemy have been fed and heightened with more than ordinary hopes and promises; and so mat be more considerable than is believed, as to matter of resolution; but how to accomplish any thing
As this week, the Commander in chief hath received an account of the flying out of young Montross, and Charls Lord Gourdon, only brother to the late Marquis of Huntley, and Chief of that Clan, who are gone in to the enemy.
Here is news come this day, that a Letter came to Edenburgh, from Aberdene, importing the arrival of seventeen Dutch Ships in the North, with fifteen hundred Foreiners, and Arms, and two hundred horse. But we have not yet had any account of it, from any of our own people.
No news from Sea, but that the Fleet is riding about
☞ A DISCOURSE of CONSTANCY,
In two Books, written in Latine by Justus Lipsius, containing many Comfortable consolations for all that are afflicted in Body or in Mind. Printed for Humphrey Moseley at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard.