traitor and rebel. Upon his new declaration, John Lilburne is in the tower, proclaimed traitor; for which his party are very angry, and some say, threaten great matters. Prince Rupert's thriving at sea, according to my last, is confirmed; and some report for certain, that the Constant Warwick frigate, with three or four more good ships, are since gone unto him. The design here for Ireland goes on but slowly, yet something will be suddenly done. The Lord Mayor, for not obeying the army's command, in personally proclaiming the act of having no more kingly government, is sent to the tower for a month, fined £2000, and disabled from bearing any office.

This is news of concernment and of great consequence. Maxfield is arrested for a debt of £60,000, formerly lent to the King, and now owing to merchants; for which a petition is given in, that some crown-lands may be sold to satisfy the debt. The K. going for Ireland is not liked by such as say they wish him well here, desiring that he would sit secure in some third place, rather than engage his person.

Superscribed-" A Monsieur, MONSIEUR KIBBLE, Marchant Anglois, demeurant avec Monsieur Laurance Greene, à la Ville de Venize aux Faubourgs St. Germains, à Paris."

London, 5th April, 1649.

SIR, This parcel of a week (since my last to you) hath afforded so little news, that there is almost nothing to write, but that still I receive no letters from Paris. I am confident that your old address is still good, and therefore desire you to continue it. Mine, of April the 2nd, informed you of the proceedings and censure of the Lord Mayor, in whose room there is since one Andrews chosen, a man not so refractory. Their divisions in Scotland, whereby D. Lesley is environed with some danger, still continue. All who declare for the King, and it is here. feared that the Hamiltonians may strike in, if not suppressed are persecuted to the death.

[The remainder of this sentence being unintelligible from the numerous ciphers, is omitted.]

The ambassadors of France and Spain are preparing to

be gone. It was last week bruited that 135 is under some cloud in Paris. Be assured he hath laboured all he could to foment matters there, as I could show you by a letter, printed not long since; and you would do a piece of service to inform the Council of France, that there are yet amongst them divers agents who are to endeavour another irruption, if possible; for nothing is so formidable here as a conjunction betwixt Spain and you.

My uncle is not yet returned, and it concerns me to know whether mine of March 26th came to hand.

I have herein enclosed you a cursory proof of the youth's writing, which truly he performs with a wonderful facility and strange sweetness of hand; nor can you be so fitted in every respect. He is young, humble, congruously literate, very apprehensive and ingenuous, and may be of great use to you (when you can spare him) in schooling your son. He is my brother-in-law's jewel, and from whom, but to you only, I am confident he would not have parted. His person is not very gracious, the small pox having quite put out one of his eyes; but he is of good shape; and I know you do not expect a horse, which whoever buys for show, may lose his race. Truly, I am of opinion you will be very proud of him, and may make him your secretary with a great deal of reason; however, if you do not like him, I am now resolved never to part with him, so long as he is willing to be with me; and above all, he is admirably temperate.

The Anabaptists' desire of engrossing the whole kingdom into their hands, promising to provide for the army, set the poor on work, and repay public faith-for being of that prodigious nature, I forbear to speak further of.*

London, 16th April, 1649.

SIR, The small intelligence come to us, since my last, would have quitted you this trouble, but to make recapitulation of the enclosed, which you are desired to peruse and address.

* Some of the "Socialist" schemes propounded at this time by the Anabaptists (or Fifth Monarchy men) and Levellers were almost identical with French and German theories of Socialism in our own day.

It were still highly to be wished that those D.,* which I have so long pressed (from certain knowledge of the good effects they may produce) were by this time put in a way of publication; and, if I could convey you from what sober persons I am solicited, of much expedience to hinder a conjunction, assure a diffident party, and buoy up the spirits of the people, I make no question some speedy course would be taken about it.

It is here reported that the regiment now ready to embark for Chester, refuse to go. In the meantime, here come many complaints of P. R. and P. M.,† how they treat the seamen and persons of higher quality in Ireland; which, if true, will prove exceedingly disadvantageous to the greatest of our hopes. For if that business of the fleet be not carefully managed, and some generally beloved person put into that trust, never look for good, as it now remains. So much I perceive by all discoveries. and the others of that strain (though there were no more in it than the universal disaffection to them), are of infinite scandal on this side; and I am confident do extremely wrong the Cause. And one would think (as it is commonly said) the K.‡ had now no need; for the humour of two or three endanger the absolute losing of as many hundred thousands. All which, suggested not from me, you are to receive as the Vox Populi.

P. El. P. hath obtained much favour here amongst the Grandees, who take orders still to continue his stipend, for which it is believed he is to pay them some considerable service: it would be well looked into: you know what relations of his are at sea.

If the old Earl of Norwich marry my Lady Kingsmill, and get both his person and estate freed, you will believe something that I long since intimated. It is not yet known whether the condemned Welshmen shall be executed or banished. They find still very great difficulties in the sea-affairs, and I do not hear of any great fleet, besides those already at sea with Popham and five more, now ready to put out from Portsmouth. The Common

* Allusion is evidently made to the demands of the moderate Royalists, contained in the letter, ante p. 29. + The King.

Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice.

§ Prince Elector Palatine.

Council require double security with Deans and Chapter lands upon loan of this last advancement; and I hear that the new Lord Mayor begins to make some scruple of publishing their unkingly proclamation without the politic assistance of this city in body representative, which they refuse.

Be assured that the news of this last week hath made our Grandees look nothing so confidently as heretofore, whatever be the reason.

It is verily believed that if there had not been some falling-out by late discourtesies done to 159 from 183, he had ere this been master of 152.

And this is all I know at present.

P.S. The levelling party are now so high that I may shortly write you word of the return of those soldiers marched out of this city, and destined for Ireland, to do as great a violence to this stately council as lately they did to the Parliament, for such is their resolution against Cromwell and his followers. They are likewise changing all their commanders. Philipp and Montgomery, the first of that name, took his place this day in the Commons' House..

We have no ill news from Holland; if true, the States talk of building gallies, and making slaves.

Superscribed-"A Monsieur, MONSIEUR ROBERT KIBBLE, Demeurant avec Mons. Greene, Merchand Anglois, a l'Hostel de Venize, aux Faubourgs St. Germain, à Paris."

No date. About the middle of April, 1649.

SIR, Yours of the 10th received. I much joy to understand what of mine have come to hand, especially that so much here expected and desired, in order to a free and gracious D. both to city, presbyterian, and mariners; and that before their fears and want of confidence (being altogether their pretence) necessitate them to a compliance with the army-now (I say), whilst matters are warm and exasperated, as hath of late been in this city, since (after degraduating the Lord Mayor) they have voted five more of the principal aldermen out of the city government,

* In margin :-"Goore, Adams, Langham, Bunce, and Reynardson, men able to furnish with great sums, some of them having most part of their estates beyond sea, and moderately inclined."

thereby to make it absolutely their own, resolved to elect such men in their places as shall force this ass to receive all such burthens as their unmercifulnesses please to lay upon it, and from which these aldermen had hitherto exceedingly obstructed them.

Contrary to all expectations, a fleet is at last patched up, consisting of thirty stout, yet mixed, vessels, which are now under sail, ready to visit the Irish coasts; besides, they are preparing as many more to bring up the rear, so soon as they can be fitted. If these be not broken, good men here will much despair; but, if reduced, believe it the hook is in their nostrils.

There is no more of the last week's confident reports. that Dublin should be surrendered; but this is certain, that three commissioners are despatched from hence to treat anew with the Catholics, in hope that by outbidding the Lord Lieutenant the bargain may be repented, and a party gained. But, as for land forces to be in a great forwardness to be sent into that kingdom, as yet I discover not; nor are they much to be feared, if the divisions in Scotland grow so high as already to have engaged Lesley and the Huntleans. But this, though formally related, is but pamphlet news; and to which I adhibit no more faith than to assure myself that the distractions there may prove capable of a great diversion here, where there are the regiments designed to march northwards (as it is conjectured) to assist Argyle in case it grow to a business, and he be overpowered.

:

They are proceeding with the Lord Carlisle and the rest of the Welsh prisoners; but what will be the issue is not known only it is said that they pretend to have discovered matters of great proof against Brown for having received £20,000 towards this last summer's engagement, for which he is ordered to be speedily sent for from Windsor Castle, his prison.

There is nothing here so much abhorred as a peace 'twixt your two crowns of France and Spain, for which all applications are used to the Hollanders that they would interrupt it, upon reason of state, well knowing that their joint interest can no longer well subsist but in troubled fountains.

If the king ever think to thrive here he must provide