The First Duke And Duchess Of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne - free ebook by Thomas Longueville

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The First Duke And Duchess Of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

Thomas Longueville

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61 chapters

THE FIRST DUKE AND DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

THE FIRST DUKE AND DUCHESS OF NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

BY THE AUTHOR OF “A LIFE OF SIR KENELM DIGBY,” “THE LIFE OF A PRIG,” ETC. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON NEW YORK, BOMBAY, AND CALCUTTA 1910 The compiler of these pages does not labour under the delusion that he has written a book. All that he has attempted has been, as it were, to invite his reader to an arm-chair in his study, and to place in the reader’s hands a succession of open volumes and copies of manuscripts containing passages which throw more or

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CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.

Those who profess to understand the mysteries of heredity say that children more frequently inherit the characteristics of their grandparents than those of their parents, and that a great man more often had a brilliant mother or grandmother than a brilliant father or grandfather. The William Cavendish in whom it is hoped that the reader may be interested had a very remarkable grandmother in Margaret, the third wife of Sir William Cavendish of the aforesaid Abbey Lands. She was a widow when Sir W

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“Mansfield to the Duke of Buckingham.

“Mansfield to the Duke of Buckingham.

“To my most Hon ble Patron the Duke of Buckingham his Grace. “ May it please your Grace , “Accordinge to your Lo p commands I have treated with my cosen Pierepoint, and as effectually as I coulde, his answer in his own wordes are these: he sayeth that Doctor Moore treated with him in King James his times aboute Honor, and tolde him that if he woulde be a Baron he might and for 4000£. Soone after that creation, he shoulde have the Honor to be a Viscount for 4000£ more, and within a little space a

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“William Viscount Mansfield to the Duke of Buckingham.

“William Viscount Mansfield to the Duke of Buckingham.

“ May it please your Grace , “To give you an account of your Commandes to me in treatinge with my Lo: of Newarke. I protest to God I did use as much diligence and care posibly I could to bringe him on.” The business, apparently, was a proposed sale of land. Cavendish had just begun to be hopeful of making his bargain, when Lord Newark suddenly protested:— “That he had made sollem vowe which was nott to be broken that he would never sell that lande or part with itt any waye, and that he had made

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“The King to William, Viscount Mansfield.

“The King to William, Viscount Mansfield.

“ 1621, March 10. The Palace of Westminster. —Permitting him on account of his wife’s sickness to be absent from Parliament, but directing him to send up his proxy to some fit person. Signed. Seal of Arms. Countersigned , ‘ Windebank ’.” How many a modern legislator would be thankful to be allowed to send a proxy to the House!...

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“T. Earl of Arundel to Viscount Mansfield at Welbeck.

“T. Earl of Arundel to Viscount Mansfield at Welbeck.

“ 1621, June 5. Whitehall. —I am sorry that this accidente of myne had that effecte to my frendes—especially farre of—as to make them, out of theyre care to me, give themselves trouble. For myselfe I thanke God it gave much ease and rest whilst I was in the Tower, and when I came out, it shewed the King’s constancy and favor to his servantes that love him truly, and made me see I had some true frendes.” To be sent to the Tower was no rare event to a peer in those times. The father of the writer

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“W. Earl of Newcastle to his Wife, the Countess of Newcastle, at Welbeck.

“W. Earl of Newcastle to his Wife, the Countess of Newcastle, at Welbeck.

“ 1629, July 28. Chatsworth. —There is great change in Chatsworth since the death of the Lord. For privacy I could be weary, but I will not, out of respect for my lord.”...

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“Henry Bates to the Earl of Newcastle, at Welbeck.

“Henry Bates to the Earl of Newcastle, at Welbeck.

“ 1631, April 30th. London. —The Lord Castlehaven is tryd by his peeres, condemned upon” certain horrible crimes “to be hanged.... Dr. Winniffe of Paul’s and Dr. Wickam of York are his confessors. He was very dumb at first, but now speakes, prayes, weepes, tells the confession of his sins, writes the confession of his faythe. He abjures Rome, disavows that aspersion of drinking wine and tobacco [14] in the church, and saying ‘this is better than 20£ a month’. Never man more humbled and wonderful

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“Francis, Lord Cottington to the Earl of Newcastle.

“Francis, Lord Cottington to the Earl of Newcastle.

“ 1632, December 13. Charing Cross. —The death of the two Kings, Sweden and Bohemia, with his Majesty’s late sickness of the small-pox, has almost put by here all kind of home negociations; yet I must tell you from my Lord Treasurer that you are lively in the memory both of the King and of his lordship. The King is now well though he still keeps his chamber, and my Lord Deputy [16] is precisely sent for, so that you will have one friend more here. You are appointed to attend the King into Scotla

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“W. Earl of Newcastle to Sir Anthony Vandyke.

“W. Earl of Newcastle to Sir Anthony Vandyke.

“1636 (7) February. Welbeck. —The favours of my friends you have so transmitted unto me as the longer I looke on them the more I think them nature and not art. It is not my error alone. If it be a disease, it is epidemical, for such power hath your hand on the eyes of mankind. Next the blessing of your company and sweetness of conversation, the greatest blessing were to be an Argus or all over but one eye, so it or they were ever fixed upon that which we must call yours. What wants in judgment I

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“The Earl of Newcastle to the Lord Deputy.[21]

“The Earl of Newcastle to the Lord Deputy.[21]

“ Welbeck, the 5th of August, 1633. “I heartily congratulate your Lordship’s safe arrival in Ireland.... I give your Lordship thanks for your noble and kind counsel; the truth is, my Lord, I have waited of the King the Scotish journey both diligently, and, as Sir Robert Swift said of my Lord of Carlile, it was no small charge unto me. I cannot find by the King but he seemed to be pleased with me very well, and never used me better or more graciously; the truth is, I have hurt my estate much with

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“The Lord Deputy to the Earl of Newcastle.[22]

“The Lord Deputy to the Earl of Newcastle.[22]

“ Dublin, this 19th of July, 1634. [22] Strafford Letters , I . 274. “Upon the whole matter my opinion is that attending upon the King two or three days journey after his going from Welbeck, you should yourself gently renew the motion to the King, as one resolved to take it only as a personal obligation from himself alone; and therefore if His Majesty should be induced to grant that you desire, which ariseth merely from a singleness of affection, you should receive it and value it, as the highes

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“W. Earl of Newcastle to his wife (the Countess of Newcastle).[23]

“W. Earl of Newcastle to his wife (the Countess of Newcastle).[23]

“ 1636, April 8. London. —There is nothing I either say or do or here but it is a crime, and I find a great deal of venom against me, but both the King and the Queen have used me very graciously. Now they cry me down more than ever they cried me up, and so now think me a lost man. They say absolutely another shall be for the Prince and that the King wondered at the report and said he knew no such thing and told the Queen so; but I must tell you I think most of these are lies, and nobody knows ex

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The Same to (the Same).

The Same to (the Same).

“ 1636, April 15, Good Friday. London. —My Lord Danby certainly did put very far for governor to the Prince but is gone to his government at Guernsey, and they say is denied. My Lord of Leicester has also tried for it but they say he is to go ambassador into France. Lord Goring also plies it for the same place, but they say he will not get it. The Scots also put in for it but it is not thought they will get it. It is believed absolutely that I must be about the Prince, and some say that I am to

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The Same to (the Same).

The Same to (the Same).

“ 1636, May 23. London. —I am very weary and mean to come down presently. I was yesterday with the ‘B. B.,’ and for anything I find it is a lost business.” At this date Newcastle was evidently in despair and was on the point of going home in very low spirits. Place-hunting is not invariably an exhilarating sport, and Newcastle was certainly a place-hunter at this period. Some words of one of his former contemporaries (Francis Bacon)—a place-hunter himself—are not inapplicable to his case. “The r

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“Mr. Secretary Windebank to the Earl of Newcastle.[24]

“Mr. Secretary Windebank to the Earl of Newcastle.[24]

“ At the Court of Whitehall , “ 19th March , 1637.”...

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“The Earl of Newcastle to Mr. Secretary Windebank.

“The Earl of Newcastle to Mr. Secretary Windebank.

“ Noble Sir , “I beseech you to present me in the most humble manner in the world to the Sacred Majesty, and to let his Majesty know I shall as cheerfully as diligently obey his Majesty’s commands. Truly, the infinite favour, honour and trust his Majesty is pleased to heap on me in this princely employment, is beyond any thing I can express. It was beyond a hope of the most partial thoughts I had about me.”—We have seen enough to be aware that Newcastle at least departed rather widely from accur

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“Charles, Prince of Wales, to His Governor, Lord Newcastle.

“Charles, Prince of Wales, to His Governor, Lord Newcastle.

“ My Lord , “I would not have you take too much phisicke, for it doth always make me worse; and I think it will doe the like with you. I ride every day, and am ready to follow any other directions from you. “Make haste back to him that loves you. “ Charles P. ” A letter of instructions written by Newcastle to his pupil is a curiosity in its way. It is a sort of English Il Principe . Only portions of it are given here....

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“The Earl of Newcastle’s Letter of Instructions to Prince Charles for His Studies, Conduct and Behaviour.[26]

“The Earl of Newcastle’s Letter of Instructions to Prince Charles for His Studies, Conduct and Behaviour.[26]

“(From a copy preserved with the Royal Letters in the Harleian MS. 6988, art. 62.) [26] Ellis’s Letters, Series I . vol. III. p. 288. “ May it Please your Highness ... “for your education Sir, It is fitt you should have some languages, though I confess I would rather have you study things then words, matter, then language; for seldom a Critick in many languages hath time to study sense, for words; and at best he is or can be but a living dictionary. Besides I would not have you too studious, for

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“Sir John Suckling to the Earl of Newcastle.[34]

“Sir John Suckling to the Earl of Newcastle.[34]

“(1640?) January 8. London. —Are the small buds of the white and red rose more delightful than the roses themselves? And cannot the King and Queen invite as stronglie as the roiall issue? [34] Hist. Com. , 13th Rep., Appendix, part ii. p. 133. “Or has your lordship taken up your freinds opinion of you to your owne use, so that when you are in my Lord of Newcastle’s companie you cannot think of anie other. Excuse me—my Lord—I know it is a pleasure to enioy a priveledge due to the highest excelenc

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CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.

“ Archbishop Laud ,” says the Duchess, “was pleased to tell His late Majesty, that my Lord was one of the Wisest and Prudentest Persons that ever he was acquainted with. “For further proof, I cannot pass by that my Lord told His late Majesty King Charles the First, and Her Majesty the now Queen-Mother, some time before the Wars, That he observed by the humours of the People, the approaching of a Civil War, and that His Majesties Person would be in danger of being deposed, if timely care was not

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“Sir Marmaduke Langdale to Sir William Savile.[44]

“Sir Marmaduke Langdale to Sir William Savile.[44]

“1642, Nov. 9th, Newcastle. —(My Lord of Newcastle) hath plenty of arms and ammunitions, far more than he can tell what to do withal, in so much as he must be forced to have a greater guard than he intended for the safety thereof, yet I know he will not spare you either arms or ammunition.” [44] Portland MSS., vol. I , 69. The King was of the same opinion as to Newcastle’s superfluity of weapons, and wrote to him asking for a supply; but he did not receive any, and Newcastle pleaded that he had

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“Sir John Hotham to William Lenthall.[46]

“Sir John Hotham to William Lenthall.[46]

“ 1642, Oct., Hull .... Upon Sunday night last, as the neighbours of Sherborne tell our men, they” (the cavaliers) “drew certain forces out of York to have set upon my son’s men at Cawood. When they came in Sherborne, a village three miles from Cawood, they espied a windmill, which they took for my son’s colours marching to meet them, and certain stooks of beans for his men in order. Whereupon they returned in more haste than they came.” [46] Portland MSS., vol. I , 67. When the winter set in, [

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CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.

Having said something of the Commander-in-Chief, it may be well to notice his principal officers. King, the Lieutenant-General, whom he placed over his infantry, was a soldier of considerable experience. Clarendon says that he “had exercised the highest commands under the King of Sweden with extraordinary ability and success”. We saw in the last chapter that Newcastle left a great deal to the discretion of King, and, considering our hero’s total inexperience of war, it was probably well that he

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“Captain John Hotham to the Earl of Newcastle.[61]

“Captain John Hotham to the Earl of Newcastle.[61]

“ 1643. Mar. 22. I have sent this other letter to excuse me for not granting Sir Marmaduke Langdale a safe conduct, and, to deal freely with your Lordship, he shall never have one from me, I know him too well. For a letter to the Queen, that I will certainly come in and at such a time, I cannot do it. This enclosed you may show her, if you please, or burn, for your Lordship knows that I ever said to you that I would do anything which might further his Majesty’s service in the peace of the kingdo

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“Captain John Hotham to the Earl of Newcastle.[63]

“Captain John Hotham to the Earl of Newcastle.[63]

“1643. April. Beverley. —I am very sorry you should ever harbour such an opinion of me as to think that any motive whatsoever could ever move me to betray the public trust I have ever undertaken.... My particular affection to your person was a motive to me to be glad to serve you if a way might be found to do it as befitted a gentleman, otherwise I will not serve the greatest Emperor.... But now to give you a taste that all is not as you think at Court, I shall freely tell you this, that within

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“An Original, endorsed by Clarendon ‘Sir Hugh Cholmley’s Memorials’.[65]

“An Original, endorsed by Clarendon ‘Sir Hugh Cholmley’s Memorials’.[65]

“If Sir John Hotham could have been assured of what he had done or said in Parliament, and received into grace and favour,”—Cholmley seems to mean: If he could have been assured that what he had said in Parliament in the past would have been forgiven him and that he would be received into grace and favour by the King—“he might have been made a faithful and serviceable person; the denying of which (or at least answering it coldly) was a great motive to his undertaking that employment at Hull....

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CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER IX.

In April Newcastle learned that the enemy’s General of cavalry was going to leave Cawood Castle for the west of Yorkshire; so he dispatched Goring, with a strong body of horse, to attack him on his march. Goring, a really able General when sober, overtook the Parliamentary cavalry and surprised their rear by a sudden charge, at Bramham Moor, or, as it was sometimes called, Seacroft Moor, and completely routed them, although their numbers were greater than his and in spite of their being under th

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CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.

[83] Hist. , vol. II , part I . bk. vii. The report of the expected advance of an army from Scotland greatly alarmed the nervous “nobility and gentry of Yorkshire,” who sent to implore Newcastle to return to their assistance, once more promising to raise 10,000 men to strengthen his army. Newcastle marched back to York,—not to please the nobility and gentry of that county, who had promised, and yet failed to provide, a force of 10,000 men for him, on a former occasion—but because it was necessar

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CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI.

Meanwhile, general interest was concentrated on the war in the South. Essex and Waller, each with a large force, were endeavouring either to enclose the army of the King, or to besiege him in Oxford. Knowing his inferiority in numbers, Charles avoided a battle, and partly by manœuvring, and partly owing to the mutual jealousy of Essex and Waller which prevented them from acting in concert, the King managed to escape them, after fighting one or two unimportant and indecisive actions. His position

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CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.

Rupert arrived, as Warwick tells us, “with a very good army, Goring being joined to him with the Northern horse”. It was not without some skilful manœuvring that he was able to effect an entrance into York. Here is his enemy’s account of it:— [100] “ Leaguer before York. “ The Earls of Leven, Lindsay, and Manchester, Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, and Thos. Hatcher. Since our last the conditions of affairs is not a little changed for on Monday last, upon notice of Prince Rupert’s march from Knaisburgh

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CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.

Newcastle armed himself as quickly as possible, mounted his horse and galloped to the front, accompanied by his brother, Sir Charles Cavendish, two other officers, and his page. The first men he came upon were some gentleman volunteers, who had formerly chosen him for their captain, and he called out to them:— “Gentlemen, You have done me the Honour to choose me your Captain, and now is the fittest time that I may do you service; wherefore if you’ll follow me I shall lead you on the best I can,

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“W. Marquis of Newcastle to (the Prince of Wales).

“W. Marquis of Newcastle to (the Prince of Wales).

“1644(5) February 4. Hamburg. —After the great misfortunes and miseries I have suffered, the first joy and only comfort I received was to hear of your Highness’s health and your being a general, both which I congratulate with my soul, and I dare say your Highness believes me. And it is no small comfort to me and mine that we have lived to see you a man; and could I see but peace in our Israel, truly then I care not how soon death closes my eyes. But whilst I crawl here in this uneven world your

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“The Same to (the Same).

“The Same to (the Same).

“(1645, November. ) My Lord Widdrington in his advice has done as a noble and true affectionate friend would do. “I do not send to you to-day, for if I do, they will say I pursue you for your affections, for though I love you extremely I never feared my modesty so small as it would give me leave to court any man. If you please to ask the Queen I think it would be well understood. I thank you for the fear you have of my ruin.” Let us hope that this was not written in the same spirit in which peop

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“Elizabeth, Lady Lucas, to the Earl of Newcastle.

“Elizabeth, Lady Lucas, to the Earl of Newcastle.

“ 1645. December 20. You have been pleased to honour me by your letter, my daughter much more by marriage, and thereby made her extremely happy. The state of the kingdom is such that her mother cannot give unto her that which is hers nor can I shew my love and affection towards my daughter as I would, in respect of the great burdens we groan under.” [129] Welbeck MSS. Margaret thus analyses her love for Newcastle:— “He was the onely Person I ever was in love with; Neither was I ashamed to own it

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“G. Duke of Buckingham to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“G. Duke of Buckingham to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“(1650) December 5. St. Johnstone’s (Perth). Your Lordship’s kindnesse to mee has beene ever soe great, and you have beene pleased to lay soe many obligations upon mee that, I showld bee a very unworthy person if I did not take all occasions of acknoledging them to your Lordship.... “I am very sorry that I have not beene able to serve your Lordship at this present as I desired, but the gentleman that delivers this to you will lett you know how earnestly I have solicited his Majesty in your lords

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“G. Duke of Buckingham to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“G. Duke of Buckingham to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“(1652) Feb. 18. The Hague. “I doe extreamly longe to have some discowrse with you concerning all our late misfortunes, and am therfore resolved to stay five or sixe dayes at Anwerp only to wayte upon your Lordship. The consequence of owr miscarriages is soe sad, that it is hard to thinke of them without affliction, and yett I am confident your Lordships naturall good humour joyned to the rediculousnesse of many passages which I have to tell you, will goe neere to make you laugh, but I shall def

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“Sir Edward Hyde to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“Sir Edward Hyde to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“1652, December 14. Paris. “We are all here exceedingly troubled, that that old quarrelling humour still rages amongst those of our miserable nation in all places, and if your authority hath not already prevented the mischeive which must probably attend that duell betweene the Earl of Oxford and Colonell Slinger, any commands from his Majesty will come too late, and indeed if they doe contemne your Lordships interposition, there may be reason to beleive that they would not obey his Majesty himse

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“Sir Edward Walker, Garter, to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“Sir Edward Walker, Garter, to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“ 1657, August 20, Bruges. —Giving his reasons why he held the opinion that the Marquis of Newcastle was justified in assuming the title of Prince.” Towards the end of his exile, Newcastle put his son, who had succeeded in obtaining an income, probably by his marriage, into his old home at Welbeck, as will be seen by the following letters. [140] [140] Portland MSS. at Welbeck Abbey, Hist. MSS. Com. , 13th Rep., App., part II . vol. II . 143....

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“Robert Deane (the Marquis of Newcastle) to (Viscount Mansfield).

“Robert Deane (the Marquis of Newcastle) to (Viscount Mansfield).

“1659, October 11. “Now, for what is in our power, I pray you live at your own houses, We(lbeck) and Bo(lsover), which will much conduce to your health. The next is for the goods, which troubles me much, that so long gathering by your ancestors, should be destroyed in a moment. This is my earnest advice to you. First they are appraised, and goods are never appraised at a third part of their value; and then you may buy them and no ill bargain if you took the money at interest or your father-in-la

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“The Same to the Same.

“The Same to the Same.

“ 1659, October 25. —I can write no more about the goods except that I and my wife give all our interest therein to you wholly and totally. There are many good pictures besides Vandykes and ‘Stennickes’. Pray leave your dovecot where you are now and live at Wel(beck), which will conduce much to your health and your Lady’s and the little Ladies.”...

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“The Same to (the Same).

“The Same to (the Same).

“ 1659, November 15. —I give you hearty thanks for preserving the remnants of those goods.... The pictures there are most rare, and if you think they are a little spoiled I will send over the painter to you again. “If ever I see you I will make W(elbeck) a very fine place for you. I am not in despair of it, though I believe you and I are not such good architects as your worthy grandfather. If I am blessed with the happiness of seeing you it will be many thousand pounds a year better for you than

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“Francis Topp to the Marquis of Newcastle, at Welbeck.

“Francis Topp to the Marquis of Newcastle, at Welbeck.

“1661, November 16. Bristol. “I send some wine, tobacco, and other commodities, the best that can be had. I shall soon have some excellent tobacco, as many ships are expected every hour from Spain.” An important post was given by the King to Newcastle, namely, that of Chief Justice in Eyre north of the Trent. Originally Justices in Eyre, or in itinere , were delegated with power from the King’s great Court to visit the counties assigned to them and hear all pleas. Their functions were to protect

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“Letter to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“Letter to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“ 1662, August 6. Tormarton. Every day there is preaching and rumour of rebellion,”—preaching and rebellion seem to have been synonymous at that time—“and until that be over, which I hope will be soon after the dismantling of our neighbour, the city of Gloucester, and others in the west that withstood the late King, then men will buy land, which they will not do now.”...

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“Sir Thomas Osborne to the Marquis of Newcastle, at Welbeck.

“Sir Thomas Osborne to the Marquis of Newcastle, at Welbeck.

“ 1663, October 9. Keeton (Kiveton). Though I had some former notice of this designe, I was unwilling to trouble your Lordship till my being at Yorke hath confirmed the truth of this inclosed intelligence.... Wee have an account of their principall agents in most countries. One Paumer a silenc’t minister—who is most about Nottingham—is their agent for intelligence in your Lordship’s county, and Collenel Hutchinson, Collenel Wright, and Captain Lockeir—not of Barlbrough—is to head the soldiers, a

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“Viscount Mansfield to his father (The Marquis of Newcastle).

“Viscount Mansfield to his father (The Marquis of Newcastle).

(c. 1663). Giving a brief account of how he came to be 8000£. in debt. Among the items are 500£. for his own and his wife’s linen, and 700£. for two coaches and eight Flanders mares.” Here is a significant entry among the Welbeck manuscripts....

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“The Marquis of Newcastle.

“The Marquis of Newcastle.

“1662(-3), January. An account of the money owing on a balance of account, from the King to the Marquis of Newcastle, amounting altogether to 9240£.” But this must have included interest at a very high rate, which no doubt Newcastle had had to pay himself; for a year later we find this letter:—...

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“W. Marquis of Newcastle to his Son, Viscount Mansfield, in London.

“W. Marquis of Newcastle to his Son, Viscount Mansfield, in London.

“1663(-4), January 20. Welbeck. I have heard from Mr. Loving that he cannot promise any allowance for the money due to me from the King, but only the principal money, which is 3500£., and that I must have a privy seal for so much as some others have, and no allowance for interest, which I have paid ever since the debt was contracted. I have ordered him to forebear taking out any such privy seal.” Apparently one of the King’s idiosyncrasies was a prejudice against “six per cent. at Use upon Use”.

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“King Charles II. to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“King Charles II. to the Marquis of Newcastle.

“ 1664. June 7. Whitehall. I have received yours by your son, and am resolved to grant your request. Send me therefore word what title you desire to have, or whether you will choose to keepe your old and leave the rest to me. I do not tell you I will despatch it to-morrow; you must leave the time to me, to accommodate it to some other ends of myne; but the differing it shall not be long, nor with any circumstance that shall trouble you. I am glad you enjoy your health for I love you very well. S

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“H. Earl of Ogle.

“H. Earl of Ogle.

“1665, December 1. An engagement not to marry again so long as he had a son by his present wife, and to settle all his property on his wife and children as soon as he should be free to do so after the death of his father. Signet. ” It is scarcely conceivable that a son should be asked solemnly to bind himself, in the case of his wife’s death, never to marry again so long as a son of hers should be living! Yet, if this summary of the document in question is correct, so it must have been. It is cl

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“E. Countess of Northumberland to the Duke of Newcastle.

“E. Countess of Northumberland to the Duke of Newcastle.

(c. 1671). I have received your Lordship’s letter full of obliging expressions to our family which I am very sensible of, and for the offer you are pleased to make of your grandson. I can only say I have no present exceptions to make against so noble an alliance, but that it is too early days to think of disposing of my grandchild [Baroness Percy], whose tender years are not yet capable of distinguishing what may most conduce to her future happiness. And when she is of age to judge I must be so

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“The Earl of Ogle, to his father, the Duke of Newcastle.

“The Earl of Ogle, to his father, the Duke of Newcastle.

“ 1675, July 11. “I most humbly acquante your Grace, that when I was at London Mr. Robert Buttler desired to know of me wheather I would assent of my Lord Lexington for one of my daughters. I made answer if his Lordship would be contented with three thowsand pound portion and marry my second daughter, and upon those termes, I should take it for a friendship from any friend that procured it, soe the young people liked each other. After this discourse, my sister Bolingbrooke was desired by my Lady

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“The Countess of Ogle to her daughter, Elizabeth.

“The Countess of Ogle to her daughter, Elizabeth.

“ 1674(-5), March 24. ” A letter of reprimand for ill behaviour and for “one of the unkindest, undutyfullest letters that ever was writ to a mother”. That graceful epistle seems to have been written more than a year before Ogle’s letter to his father; but probably it had been provoked by the family habit of daughter-dealing. The best short account of the life of the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle, after the Restoration, is to be found in Sir Egerton Brydges’s Preface to the Duchess’s “True Relati

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CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Men who fancy that they know all about hunters may be surprised at their own ignorance when they read that “Your Hunter ... need not be kept ... to an exact regimen of diet: any clean food is fit for him”. If a horse’s wind is broken, it is a simple matter to mend it again by feeding him on fat bacon, sweet oil, and brandy figs, or by dosing him with small shot, pounded in a mortar and mixed with sulphur. Among other remedies for the horse will be found “A receipt for ruined nerves,” as well as

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Act V. Scene I.

Act V. Scene I.

Enter Courtly and Emilia . Court. May I not hope you will not always be so cruel, but that my love in time may have a kind return? Emil. Yes, you may hope, but it is as Creditors may hope for the debts from men that are undone; if ever I am Mistris of my heart again, I shall remember what I owe you. Court. Though this acknowledgement is more than I deserve, pressed by my love, as Beggars are by want, I still shall trouble you, there is but poor relief in gentle words. Emil. But still in vain Beg

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“Thomas Hobbes to (the Earl of Newcastle).

“Thomas Hobbes to (the Earl of Newcastle).

“ 1635, August 25. Paris. —I have receaved your Lordships guift, proportioned to your owne goodnesse, not to my service. If the world saw my little desert, so plainely as they see your great rewards, they might thinke me a mountibancke and that all that I do or would do, were in the hope of what I receave. I hope your Lordship does not thinke so, at least let me tell your Lordship once for all, that though I honour you as my Lord, yet my love to you is just of the same nature that it is to Mr. P

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“Thomas Hobbes to (the Earl of Newcastle).

“Thomas Hobbes to (the Earl of Newcastle).

“ Paris. 1636, July 29. I am sorry your Lordship finds not so good dealing in the world as you deserve. But my Lord, he that will venture to sea must resolve to endure all weather, but for my part I love to keepe a’land. And it may be your Lordship now will do so to, whereby I may have the happinesse which your Lordship partly promises me in the end of your letter, to conferre meditations for a good time together, which will be not onely honor to me, but that happinesse which I and all that are

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“The Same to the Same, at Welbeck.

“The Same to the Same, at Welbeck.

“Mr. Payne willed me to go to Mr. Warner who lives but eight miles off, to get his answer to certayne letters of his, but one while the frost, and at other times the flouds, made the wayes impassable for any but very ranke riders, of which I was never any. I have a cold that makes me keepe my chamber, and a chamber—in this thronge of company that stay Christmas here—that makes me keepe my cold.” The greater part of the letters of Hobbes consists of disquisitions upon certain matters connected wi

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CHAPTER XX.

CHAPTER XX.

“ Plays. “1. Apocryphal Ladies.—Comedy. “2. Bell in Campo.—Tragedy. “3. Blasing World. Unfinished.—Comedy. “4. Bridals.—Comedy. “5. Comical Hash.—Comedy. “6. Convent of Pleasure.—Comedy. “7. Female Academy.—Comedy. “8. Lady Contemplation.—Comedy. “9. Love’s Adventures.—Comedy. “10. Matrimonial Trouble.—Tragi-comedy. “11. Nature’s Three Daughters.—Comedy. “12. Presence.—Comedy. “13. Public Wooing.—Comedy. “14. Religious.—Tragi-comedy. “15. Several Wits.—Comedy. “16. Sociable Companions, or The Fe

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CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.

[175] The Duchess seems usually to have spelt Ben Jonson’s name Johnson. [176] Author of The History of Great Britain , etc. The second edition was published in 1627. Speed was a tailor and a man of very little education; but his history of England was for a long time the best in existence. [177] Is this a slap at Shakespeare? Only three short quotations shall be given from her plays; and first we have a fair specimen of her heavy, wearisome style in a few sentences from her play, “The Presence”

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CHAPTER XXII.

CHAPTER XXII.

Certainly the readers, and as certainly the compiler, of this book must be deeply conscious that it is now high time to let fall the curtain. And we will let it fall without fatal illnesses or deathbed scenes. That people who lived considerably more than two hundred years ago are dead by this time may be taken for granted; and it should be enough to say that the Duchess of Newcastle was buried in Westminster Abbey on 17 January, 1673; and that the Duke was laid beside her on 22 January, 1677. MO

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