Memorials of affairs of state in the reigns of Q Elizabeth and K James I

Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Ralph Winwood.

My very good Lord, London, 10th August 1612.

THE firft fight and outfide of your Letter was very pleafing to me, becaufe it gave me affurance that you were fafely arrived ; which confidering the foul Weather that followed the next Night after your embarking, was no fmall comfort, for I affure you I was en peine in refpect of the Danger and hard Paffage that you muft needs endure : But my beft hope was, that thofe Northweft Winds would force you to make for Flufihing, which if you had done in time, no doubt you might have recovered the Harbour before the maine Tempeft* and avoided much hazard. Well, God be thanked it was no worfe, and I hope you fliall have the fame Succefs, and the like deliverance from the Danger that now threatens you by my Ladies Sicknefs ; wherein I apprehend your Grief and Anguifh, and pray heartily that it may pleafe God to iengthen her Days and reftore her to perfect Health : Whereof I have the more confidence and almoft affined hope, for that the hath the earneft Prayers of fo many vertuous and well affect ed Friends. I am newly returned from a pettie Progrefs to Askot, where I had no great Joy to continue, as being forry to fee fo much reprefentation of Ruine, in a place where I had heretofore taken fo much Delight. I made thence a ftep to Oxford, where all things flourifh as faft, etpecially the new Library, which is a handfom and fobftantial Building ; as likewife Mr. Wadham's new Colledge wrould have proved a fair Fabrick, if it had been as well placed and as well con trived as it might eafily have been ; but the greateft alteration methinks is at Merton Colledge, where they have been at great Coft, and made a fair Square. It was my ill happ to mifs Sir Tho. Bodley both here and there, whither he went fome two or three Days before my return, fo that I cannot fend you any certainty of his Eftate and Health : But it fhould feem he is on the mending hand, or elfe he would not have undertaken fuch a Journey in thefe Heats, which have been and ftill continue very violent, with the greateft Drought that hath been known in the memory of any Man living.

The King is ftill in Progrefs; fome fpeech there is (but upon what ground I know not) that it fliould be abridged. The Prince went after, the King on Thurflday laft in Poft, and they fay overtook him the next Day. The Queen fate forth on Wednefday toward Woodftock through Buckinghamfihire, and makes a long Circuit by Sir Robert Dormer's and Sir Richard Blunt's. Sir Henry Wotton came a Fortnight fince, and made after the King after fome five or f\% Days loytering here in Town. There is a Commiflion till the end of this Month to Sir Sir Julius Cafiar, Sir Thomas Parry, Mr. Attorney, Sir Francis Bacon, Baron Sotherton, Sir George Cary, Sir George Moore, Sir Walter Cope and one or two more, (whom I have forgotten) to devife and project the beft Means for Money. The World goes hard when fuch muft be imployed in that Bufynefs, the greater Part of whom have given no good Proof of well governing their own Affairs; but if they bring in no bafe Courfe it will be the more tollerable. Marry the common Voyce runs, that they harp moft upon debaflng of Money.

The Widow Countefs of Rutland dyed lately, and is privately buryed in Paul's, by [i.e. next to] her Father Sir Phillip Sidney and Secretary Walfingham. Sir Walter Raleigh is slandered to have given her certaine Pills that difpatchd her. The [her uncle] Vifcount Lisle is gone for Flufhing a thoufand Pound the Year richer by her Death. There is a Fame that the Lady Sanquir is married to one Sands of Buckinehamshire, who hath or had a Wife that was Heir to Chatterton Bishop of Lincoln, and Daughter to Sir Richard Brook that married Sir Harry Nevill's Daughter; but whether they be divorced or how they be parted I know not. Sir Harry Nevill and his Lady took a Journey this Day fe'nnight toward the Ifle of Winjht and fo into Somerfetshire to fee his Daughters; making account to be al moft a Month abroad. Here is a Report of an Affront that fhould be given to the Spanifh Ambaffador by a Companion, that riding near his Coach and faluting him, the Spaniard putting off his Hat in Requitall had it fit snatcht from him, and fo loft it with a Jewell and a rich Band.

A Meffenger from the Palfgrave (fome fay his Steward,) had the ill Luck in Delivery of his Letters, to give the Prince that which was directed to the Lady Elizabeth and his to her; and withall was flo long and often delayed in his Accefs to the Queen, that he went away much difcontented.

I am going to Morrow God willing toward Ware-Park and to Sir Rowland Litton's, in which Places I think to remaine this Vacation. But I fhall much long to hear of my Lady's good Recovery, for which I, will not ceafe to pray; and fo I commend you and all yours to the Protection of the Almighty.

Your Lordfhip's to Command,

JOHN CHAMBERLAINE.