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James I. to the French Protestants.1

Gentlemen-The congratulations and the expressions of your kind affection, and your compliments on our good fortune and happiness, which it hath pleased God by his blessing to shed upon us, which you have just paid us by this gentleman, the Sieur de Soully, your envoy, have imparted to us so much the more satisfaction and gladness, as they proceed from those who are united to us in the same and pure religion, and whose zeal and sanctity so highly commended, induces us to hope that Heaven will accompany and favour their vows and blessings upon our person.

We thank you very heartily for these obligations, and for the assurances that you give of your good-wills on our behalf; and having learnt, as well by your letters as by the mouth of this gentleman, the afflictions and necessities wherewith it hath pleased God to exercise you by reason of the continual perils that surround you, we could not but be affected with resentment, but nevertheless assuring ourself in the confidence we have, that God, who hitherto hath shown himself your surety2 and safeguard, will ever support you against all dangers and attempts. And in order, on our part, to evince our affection, and do what lies in our power, as well for the upholding of the common cause of religion as for the good and consideration of our particular state (although at present the condition in which we have found the

1 Cotton MSS., Calig. E. xi. Art. 48. Translated from the French. 2 Garant, original manuscript.

affairs of this kingdom does not allow us to make too many demands upon the good-wills and means of our subjects), yet, at all times willing to relieve, as far as in us lies, your necessities, we have signified to them our desire in this respect; and, as far as we have been able, have roused their feelings and charity to some contribution for your aid1

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and that you will be grateful and receive it as a testimony of their good wills and ours in your behalf; praying you to rely for a certainty, and to be assured entirely of the constancy and sincerity of this our kind feeling towards you and your condition, as we have begged this gentleman to represent to you more particularly on our part; from whom we cannot withhold the testimony which his sufficiency and discretion have merited in the management of his charge and by his general deportment in our court; and so, referring you to him, and recommending ourself very affectionately to your hearty prayers, we will pray to God on your behalf. Messieurs, Yours, &c.

At Royston, this 6th of March, 1604.

James I. to the Lord Salisbury.

My Little Beagle,2

5th August, 1608.

Ye and your fellows there are so proud now, that you have gotten the guiding again of a femi

1 A few lines in the original manuscript are destroyed in this place by fire.

2 This singular but appropriate appellation is given to the above Prime Minister, on account of his diminutive stature, and of his sagacity

nine court in the old fashion-that I know not how to deal with ye. You sit at your ease, and direct all. The news from all parts of the world comes to you in your chamber; the king's own resolutions depend on your posting despatches; and when ye list, ye can, sitting on your bedsides, with one call or whistling in your fist, make him (the king) post night and day, till he come unto your presence.

Well, I know Suffolk is married; and for your part, Master 10,1 who are wifeless, I cannot but be jealous of your greatness with my wife; but most of all am 1 suspicious of 3, who is so lately fallen in acquaintance with my wife; his face is so amiable as it is able to entice, and his fortune hath ever been to be great with she-saints; but his part is wrong in this, that, never having taken a wife himself in his youth, he cannot now be content, with his gray hairs, to avoid another man's wife. But, for expiation of this sin, I hope you have all three taken one cup of thankfulness for the occasion,2 which fell out at a time when you durst not avow me.

And here hath been this day kept the feast of King James's delivery at Saint John's town, in Saint John's

in smelling out plots and intrigues. See Miss Strickland's Lives of the Queens, vol. vii. p. 438. In a manuscript letter, in the Heralds' College, the Earl of Worcester thus alludes to him: 'If the king's beagle can hunt by land as well as he hath done by water, we will leave clapping of Joler, and cap the beagle." Joler was the name of one of the king's favourite hounds.

1 He refers to Salisbury.

2 The king here alludes to the Gowry Conspiracy, the anniversary of which was at this time.

House.1

All other matters I refer to the old knave

the bearer's report. And so, fare ye well!

JAMES R.

Charles Duke of York (afterwards Charles I.) to Prince Henry his brother 2 A. D. 1609.

Nothing can be more agreeable to me, dearest brother, than your return to us; for to enjoy your company, to ride with you, to hunt with you, will yield to me supreme pleasure. I am now reading the Conversations of Erasmus, from which I am sure I can learn both the purity of the Latin tongue and elegance of behaviour. Farewell!

Your Highness's most loving brother,

CHARLES DUKE OF YORK AND ALBANY. Directed, "Fratri charissimo," and endorsed 1609.

1 The ancient names of Perth and the King's Palace there, the scene of the Gowry Conspiracy.

2 MSS. Harl. 6986, translated from the Latin. A curious document in the Bodleian Library tells the tale of the composition of this and other juvenile documents. It is addressed to Thomas Murray:-" Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well-Forasmuch as we, considering the pains and travails employed by you, not only in the careful education of our dearly beloved son the prince, and instructing him in all kinds of good learning, according to the capacity of his tender years, but also in penning and framing his missive letters in divers languages, directed either to ourself or foreign princes, are willing both to testify our acceptance of this your service formerly done, and to encourage you with the like faithfulness and diligence to prosecute the same. Therefore, we have thought good, by these presents, to command you to continue the penning and writing of all such missives as shall be directed by our said dearly beloved son the prince in any his affairs within or without our realms; giving and granting unto you, to this effect, the custody and keeping of our said son's signet, with such allowance as shall be thought reasonable and fit, and all other privileges and pre-eminences belonging thereunto."

James I. to the Earl of Salisbury.1

September 12, 1609.

My little Beagle-I have been this night surprised by the Venetian ambassador, who, for all my hunting, hath not spared to hunt me out here. To be short, his chief errand was to tell me of a great fray in Venice betwixt my ambassador there and that state, anent the prohibition that the inquisition of Venice hath set forth against the publishing of my book there. He hath bestowed an hour's vehement oration upon me for this purpose.

My answer was, that I could never dream that either the state of Venice would ever give me any just cause of offence; or yet, that ever my ambassador there would do them any evil office. But, as to give him any particular answer, I told him I must hear from my own ambassador; for he knew well enough that every prince or state must have a great trust in their own ministers.

I only write this unto you now that, in case this pantaloon come unto you, you may give him the like deferring answer. Albeit, if I should tell you my conscience, if all this man's tale be true, my ambassador hath more fervent zeal than temperate wisdom. I hope now to hear from you that your son is well; and so, farewell!

1 Sidney Papers, and Birch MSS.

2 Concerning.

JAMES R.3

3 "It is reported his majesty is greatly vexed with his Venetian ambassador for being too presumptuous with the states there, but the cause is not as yet known; though some say a dispute concerning trade with

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