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6. The Corporation of Lynn Regis,' it appears, considered that the navigation of their Pot would be injured by the works now going on for Draining the great Bedford Level of the Fens. They addressed the Protector on the subject; and this is his Letter in answer thereto. Nothing came of it farther.

GENTLEMEN,

To the Mayor and Aldermen of Lynn Regis.

Whitehall, 30th January, 1653.

I received yours; and cannot but let you know the good resentments I have of your respects;-assuring you that I shall be always ready to manifest a tender love and care of you and your welfare, and in particular of that concernment of yours relating to navigation. Commending you to the grace of God, I remain,

Your loving friend,

OLIVER P.*

No. XIV.

From 1654-1655: VowEL'S PLOT, PENRUDDOCK'S PLOT; NEW

ENGLAND

[Vol. ii., p. 81.1

1. Another wholly insignificant Official Note to Mazarin, in regard to Vowel's Plot, and the dismissal of M. De Baas for his complicity in it. De Baas, whom some call Le Baas, or rightly Le Bas, was a kind of subsidiary Agent despatched by Mazarin early in the Spring of 1653-4 to congratulate the new Protector,'—that is, to assist Bourdeaux, who soon after got the regular title of Ambassador, in ascertaining how a Treaty could be made with the new Protector, or, on the whole, what was to be done with England and him. Hitherto, during the Dutch War and other vicissitudes, there had been a mixed undefinable relation between the two Countries, rather hostile than neutral. The Treaty and firm Amity,' as we know, had its difficulties, its delays; in the course of which it occurred to M. Le Bas that per

* History of the Ancient and Present State of the Navigation of the Port of King's Lynn and of Cambridge (London, fol., 1766), p. 55.

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haps the Restoration of Charles Stuart, by Vowel and Company, might be a shorter cut to the result. Examination of Witnesses, in consequence: examination of Le Bas himself by the Protector and Council, in consequence; mild hint to Le Bas that he must immediately go home again.*

• Eminentissimo Cardinali Mazarino.',

EMINENTISSIME CARDINALIS,

In Litteris Nostris ad Regem datis, causas et rationes recensuimus quare Dominum De Baas ex hâc Republicá excedere jussimus, et Majestatem Suam certam fecimus, Nos, non obstante hâc dicti de Baas machinatione, cujus culpam ei solummodo imputamus, in eâdem adhuc sententiá perstare, firmam arctamque Pacem et Amicitiam cum Gallid colendi et paciscendi. Atque hac occasione gratum nobis est priora illa propensa nostra erga vos et res vestras voluntatis indicia et testimonia renovare ; quam etiam, data subinde occasione, palam facere et luculenter demonstrare parati erimus. Interea Eminentiam vestram Divinæ benignitatis præsidio commendamus.

Dab. ex Alba Aula, vicesimo nono Junii an. 1654.

OLIVERIUS P.†

Of which, if it be worth translating, this is the English: "MOST EMINENT CARDINAL,

"In our Letter to the King we have set forth the grounds and occasions moving us to order M. De Baas to depart from this Commonwealth; and have assured his Majesty, that notwith&tanding this deceit of the said De Baas, the blame of which is imputed to him alone, we persist as heretofore in the same purpose of endeavoring and obtaining a firm and intimate Peace and Amity with France. And it gives us pleasure, on this occasion, to renew those former testimonies of our good inclination towards you and your interests; which also, as opportunity offers, we shall in future be ready to manifest and clearly demonstrate. In the meanwhile, we commend your Eminency to e keeping of the Almighty.

"Whitehall, 29 June, 1654."

"OLIVER P.

2 and 3. The following Two Letters, one of which is clearly

# Depositions concerning him (April, May, 1654), Thurloe, ii., 309, 351-3: notice of his first arrival (February, 1653-4), ib., 113. See, also, ib., 379,

437.

+ From the Archives du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, at Paris. Com municated by Thomas Wright, Esq., F.S.A., &c.

of Thurloe's composition, have an evident reference to Penruddock's affair; they find their place here.

Sergeant Wilde, now more properly Lord Chief Baron Wilde, is a Worcester man; sat in the Long Parliament for that City, very prominent all along in Law difficulties and officialities,-in particular, directly on the heel of the Second Civil War, Autumn 1648, he rode circuit, and did justice on offenders, without asking his Majesty's opinion on the subject; which was thought a great feat on his part.* Shortly after which he was made Chief Baron, and so continues,-holding even now the Spring Assizes at Worcester, I think. Thurloe, as we said, appears to have shaped this Letter into words; only the signature and meaning can be taken as Oliver's. Unluckily too, either Mrs. Warner the Editress must have misread the date 25th' for 24th, or else Thurloe himself in his haste have miswritten, forgetting that it was NewYear's Day overnight, that it is not now 1654, but 1655. We will take the former hypothesis; and correct Mrs. Warner's ‘25th,' which in this case makes a whole year of difference.

For Sir John Wilde, Sergeant-at-Law, and the rest of the Justices of Peace for the County of Worcester, or any of them, to be communicated to the rest; or, in his absence, to Nicholas Lechmere, Esq., Worcester.

Whitehall, 24th March, 1654.

GENTLEMEN, We doubt nor ou you have heard before this time of the hand of God going along with us, in defeating the late rebellious Insurrection. And we hope that, through His blessing upon our labors, an effectual course will be taken for the total disappointment of the whole Design. Yet knowing the resolution of the common Enemy to involve this Nation in new calamities, we conceive ourselves, and all others entrusted with preserving the peace of the Nation, obliged to endeavor in their places to prevent and defeat the Enemy's intentions: and therefore, as a measure especially conducing to that end,

We do earnestly recommend to you To take order that diligent Watches (such as the Law hath appointed) be daily kept, for taking a strict account of all strangers in the Country. Which will not only be a means to suppress all loose and idle persons; but may probably cause some of

*Thanked by the Parliament (Commons Journals, vi, 49, 10 October, 1648).

those who come from abroad to kindle fires here, to be apprehended and seized upon,-especially if care be taken to secure all them that cannot give a good account of their business ;--and may also break all dangerous meetings and assemblings together. Herein we do require, and shall expect, your effectual endeavors; knowing that, if what by Law ought to be done were done with diligence in this respect, the contrivance of such dangerous Designs as these would be frustrated in their bud, or kept from growing to a maturity. I rest,

Your affectionate friend,

OLIVER P.*

3. This second Letter, to the Gloucester Authorities, on the same subject, we judge by the style of it to be mostly or altogether the Protector's own.

For Major Wade, Major Creed, and the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Gloucester.

Whitehall, 24th March, 1654.

GENTLEMEN, We doubt not but you have heard before this time of the good hand of God going along with us in defeating the late rebellious Insurrection; so that, as we have certain intelligence from all parts, the Risings are everywhere suppressed and dissolved, and some hundreds of prisoners in custody, and daily more are discovered and secured. And we hope that through the blessing of God upon our labors, an effectual course will be taken for the total disappointment of the whole Design.

The readiness of the Honest People to appear hath been a great encouragement to us, and of no less discouragement to the Enemy; who, had he prevailed, would, without doubt, have made us the most miserable and harassed Nation in the world. And therefore we hold ourselves obliged to return you our hearty thanks for your zeal and forwardness in so readily appearing and contributing your assistance; wherein, although your Country and your own particular as to outward and inward happiness were concerned, yet we are fully persuaded that a more general Principle respecting the glory of God, and the good of all these Nations, hath been the motive to incite you: and therefore your account† goes upon the higher and more noble account.†

You have desired that we would consider of ways how to find money to carry on this work. If the Business had not been allayed, we must have found out a way and means to allay that want. But otherwise indeed we make it, as we hope we ever shall, our design to ease this Na

* Rebecca Warner's Epistolary Curiosities: First Series (Bath, 1818), p. + Sic.

51-3.

tion, and not to burden it; and are tender,-as we conceive yourselves have been,-of putting the good people thereof to any unnecessary charge. And therefore, as you shall have fitting opportunity, you may recommend our thankfulness to your honest willing Countrymen, as we hereby do to yourselves, for this their forwardness; and let them know That when any danger shall approach, as we shall be watchful to observe the Enemy's stirrings, we will give you timely notice thereof: and we trust those good hearts will be ready, 'on' being called out by you, to appear upon all such occasions. In the meantime they may continue at their homes, blessing God for His mercy, and enjoying the fruit and comfort of this happy deliverance, and the other benefits of Peace.

And I do hereby let you know that Letters are directed to the Justices of Peace of several Counties,* That Watches be kept, such as the Law hath appointed for taking a strict account of all strangers, especially near the Coast. Which will not only be a means to suppress all loose and idle persons, but may probably cause some of those that come from abroad in 'order' to kindle fires here, to be apprehended and seized,-especially if care be taken to secure all them that cannot give a good account; and may also break all dangerous meetings and assemblings together. And indeed, if what by Law ought to be done were done with diligence in this respect, the contrivance of such dangerous Designs as these would be frustrated in the birth, or kept from growing to maturity.

Having said this,-with remembrance of my hearty love to you, I rest, Your very affectionate friend,

OLIVER P.t

By the same City Records it appears, that on the eve of the Battle of Worcester, in 1651, 'Eighteen Gloucester Bakers had sent to Tewkesbury for the Lord General Cromwell's Army, Thirteen hundred and odd Dozens of Bread at a Shilling the dozen, amounting to £66 5s.; and that the Mayor and others, on the 1st September, 1651, sent Forty barrels of strong Beer to the Lord General,

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praying your favorable acceptance thereof, as an argument of the good affection of this Corporation, who doth congratulate your seasonable coming into these parts, for the relief thereof against the violence of the common Enemy, and wish prosperous success to you and your Army." '‡

Furthermore, that on the 11th of October, 1651, directly after

Foregoing Letter, To Wilde, for one.

+ Bibliotheca Gloucestrensis (Gloucester, 1825;-see Antea, vol. i., p. 143) 5. 412-from the City Records of Gloucester. Ib., p. 406.

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