Guizot's English Commonwealth, where doubtless it has since appeared in print: Westminster, the 9th of June 1653. It's surprise to me that your Eminency should take notice of a person so inconsiderable as myself, living, as it were, separate from the world. This honour has, as it ought, 'made' a very deep impression upon me, and does oblige 'me' to serve your Eminency upon all occasions: and as I shall be happy to find out 'such,' so I trust that very honourable person, Monsieur Burdoe, will therein be helpful to, Your Eminency's thrice-humble servant, O. CROMWELL. 4. The negotiations with Whitlocke for going on that perilous Embassy to Sweden have left for us the following off hand specimen of an Official Note from Oliver. Oliver and Pickering had already been earnestly dealing with the learned man that he would go: at their subsequent interview, Oliver observed to Whitlocke, "Sir Gilbert" Pickering "would needs write a very fine Letter; and when he had done, did not like it himself. I then took pen and ink, and straightway wrote that to you:" To Sir Bulstrode Whitlocke, Lord Commissioner of the Great Seal.' MY LORD, Whitehall, 2d September 1653. The Council of State having thoughts of putting your Lordship to the trouble of being Extraordinary Ambassador to the Queen of Swedeland, did think fit not to impose that service upon you without first knowing your own freedom thereunto. Wherefore they were pleased to command our service to make this address to your Lordship; and hereby we can assure you of a very large confidence in your honour and abilities for this employment. To which we begging your answer, do rest, My Lord, Your humble servants, OLIVER CROMWELL. § From Whitlocke's Account of his Embassy (quoted in Forster, iv. 5. The Little Parliament has now dismissed itself, and Oliver has henceforth a new Signature. 'To his Eminency Cardinal Mazarin.' MY LORD, 'Whitehall,' 26th January 1653. Monsieur de Baas* hath delivered me the Letter which your Eminency hath been pleased to write to me; and also communicated by word of mouth your particular affections and good disposition towards me, and the affairs of these Nations as now constituted. Which I esteem a very great honour; and hold myself obliged, upon the return of this Gentleman to you, to send my thanks to your Eminency for so singular a favour; my just resentment whereof I shall upon all occasions really demonstrate; and be ready to express the great value I have of your person and merits, as your affairs and interest shall require from, Your very affectionate friend to serve you, 6. "The Corporation of Lynn Regis," it appears, considered that the navigation of their Port 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. 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, *The new Envoy, or Agent; of whom in the next No. OLIVER P. §§ § From the Archives du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, at Paris. Communicated by Thomas Wright, Esq. F. S. A. &c. §§ 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. No. 30. From 1654-1655: VOWEL'S PLOT; RECTORY OF HOUGHTON CONQUEST; PENRUDDOCK'S PLOT; NEW ENGLAND. [Vol. iii. p. 206.] › 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 perhaps 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 hac Republicâ excedere jussimus, et Majestatem Suam certam fecimus, Nos, non obstante hâc dicti de Baus machinatione, cujus culpam ei solummodo imputamus, in eâdem adhuc sententiâ perstare, firmam arctamque Pacem et Amicitiam cum Galliâ colendi et paciscendi. Atque hâc occasione gratum nobis est priora illa propensæ nostræ erga vos et res vestras voluntatis indicia et testimonia renovare; quam etiam, datâ subinde occasione, palam facere et luculenter demonstrare parati erimus. Interea Eminentiam vestram Divinæ benignitatis præsidio commendamus. Dab. ex Albâ Aulâ, vicesimo nono Junii an. 1654. *Depositions concerning him (April, May, 1654), notice of his first arrival (February 1653-4), ib. 113. From the Archives du Ministère des Affaires Communicated by Thomas Wright, Esq. F. S. A. &c. OLIVERIUS P.§ Thurloe, ii. 309, 351-3: 66 Of which, if it be worth translation, 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 notwithstanding 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 endeavouring "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 mean while, we commend your Eminency to the keeping of "the Almighty. "Whitehall, 29th June 1654." "OLIVER P." 2. PRESENTATION TO THE RECTORY OF HOUGHTON CONQUEST. "Communicated to me" (Thomas Baker, the Cambridge Antiquary), “by my worthy friend Brown Willis Esq., of Whaddon Hall in Com. Bucks, from "the original Presentation in the hands of a friend of his." OLIVER P. OLIVER, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging, to the Commissioners authorised by a late Ordinance for Approbation of Public Preachers, or "to" any five of them, greeting. We present John Pointer to the Rectory of Houghton Conquest in the county of Beldford, void by the death of the late Incumbent, and to our presentation belonging; to the end he may be approved-of by them, and admitted thereunto, with all its rights, members and appurtenances whatsoever, according to the tenor of the aforesaid Ordinance. Given at Whitehall, the 29th of September 1654. + 3. DESIGN AGAINST THE SPANISH WEST Indiens. OUR great Design against the Spaniards in the West Indies is still called only "a Design by Sea," and kept very secret. § Harl. Mss. no. 7053, f.153. Proper, however, as the rumours probably are loud, to give the Parliament, now sitting, some hint of it. Hence this Letter; of no moment otherwise. Unluckily "the right-hand border of the Paper is now much worn away;" so that several words are wanting, conjecturally supplied here, in italics. To Our right trusty and well-beloved William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament. Mr. SPEAKER, Whitehall, 22d September 1654. I have, by advice of the Council, undertaken a Design by Sea, very much (as we hope and judge) for the honour and advantage of the Commonwealth; and have already made the preparations requisite for such an undertaking. But before I proceed to the execution thereof, the Parliament being now convened, I thought it agreeable to my trust to communicate to them the aforesaid resolution, and not to desire the delay thereof any longer (although I suppose you may be engaged, at the present, in matters of greater weight); because many miscarriages will fall out in this Business through delay, as well in providing of the charge as otherwise; the well-timing of such a Design being as considerable as anything about it. And therefore I desire you to take your first opportunity to acquaint the House with the contents of this Letter, wherein I have forborne to be more particular, because there are several persons in Parliament who know this whole Business, and can inform the House of all particulars, if the House do judge it to be,consistent with the nature of the Design to have it offered to them particularly:— which I refer to their consideration; and rest, Your assured friend, OLIVER P.§ 4. NEW APPOINTMENTS; ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEM TO THE PARLIAMENT. OLIVER P. To Our right trusty and right well-beloved William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament. RIGHT TRUSTY AND RIGHT WELL-BELOVED, We greet you well. It being expressed in the Thirty-fourth * "Autograph Letter throughout." Copy penes me; reference (Tanner Mss. no doubt) is unfortunately lost. - See Commons Journals, vii. 369 (22d September 1654), for the Return made. |