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Essex Papers (1675–77)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 December 2009

Abstract

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Type
Selections from the Correspondence of Arthur Capel Earl of Essex 1675–1677
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1913

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References

page 1 note 1 Edward, Viscount Conway, created Earl of Conway, 1679

page 1 note 2 Henry Bennet, created Earl of Arlington 1672 Sec. of State till 1674, Lord Chamberlain 1674.

page 1 note 3 James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond.

page 1 note 4 Henry Hyde who had succeeded to the Earldom of Clarendon on the death of his father in 1674. In July, 1665, he had been appointed Lord Chamberlain to the Queen.

page 2 note 1 Member for Tavistock, in 1678—succeeded to the courtesy title of Lord Russell.

page 2 note 2 M.P. for Suffolk, concerned in the dispute with the House of Lords, May 9th, 1668, see Pepys' Diary.

page 2 note 3 Mr Powell or Pawley, M.P. for Cirencester had opposed the marriage of the Duke of York in the debate of Oct. 20th, 1673, see vol. 1.

page 2 note 4 M.P. for Lincoln.

page 2 note 5 Made Treasurer of the Navy in conjunction with Osborne, in 1668.

page 2 note 6 Giles Strangeways, M.P. for Dorset. He died a few months later.

page 2 note 7 Brother of Essex.

page 2 note 8 The letter by itself being incomplete.

page 3 note 1 John Maitland, 2nd Earl, created Duke of Lauderdale, 1672, member of the Cabal, an address had been voted by the Commons in 1673 to remove him from the King's Councils and presence for ever, several addresses followed.

page 3 note 2 The famous “Dick” afterwards created Duke of Tyrconnell.

page 3 note 3 Louise de Quérouaille.

page 3 note 4 For repeating this gossip and some other news, Mr Stisted or Stysted was sent to the Gatehouse and examined in Dec. See Domestic State Papers 1675, pp. 432, 434, 437, 440, 441.

page 3 note 5 Richard, Earl of Arran, 2nd son of Duke of Ormond.

page 4 note 1 Son of Sir Charles Harbord, M.P., for Launceston, and himself M.P. for Thetford.

page 4 note 2 Letter of the 19th a brief note asking him to see things right with Coventry; that of the 24th deals with the same matter, and with the purchase of Essex House.

page 4 note 3 3rd son of Thomas, 1st Lord Coventry, became Secretary of State in 1672. “A mighty, quick, ready man, but not so weighty as he should be.” Pepys in 1667.

page 4 note 4 Robert Spencer, 4th Lord Spencer and 2nd Earl of Sunderland.

page 5 note 1 Elizabeth, only daughter of Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland.

page 5 note 2 These instructions stipulated that no letters, for grants, etc., should be valid unless signed and reported upon by the Lord Treasurer, thus, to some extent, ignoring the Secretary of State. The rumour that Essex had asked for such instructions was indignantly denied by Lady Essex.

page 8 note 1 Though it was forced through the House of Lords, the measure failed to pass the Commons, and James was not “the first to take the Test.”

page 8 note 2 George Saville, Viscount (afterwards Marquis) Halifax.

page 8 note 3 Afterwards Viscount Longford, and created Earl of Longford in 1677.

page 9 note 1 Sir Edward Seymour, Speaker and Privy Councillor, 1673, when again elected Speaker in 1679 he was rejected by Charles.

page 9 note 2 The Proclamation commanding “immediate return of all subjects who have gone into the service of the French King, soldiers, &c,” is dated May. See D.S.P. 1675, p. 126.

page 10 note 1 Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk and wife of Algernon, 10th Earl of Northumberland, or Elizabeth, daughter of the Earl of Southampton and widow of Joceline, 11 th Earl, who died 1670.

page 11 note 1 Marshal of the army in Ireland, created Viscount Granard August 1675 and Earl of Granard in 1684.

page 13 note 1 See Essex Papers, vol. 1, p. 304. This recruiting was done repeatedly by the King's sanction and with the connivance of Essex, whose ingenuity in concealing it, is shown in his reply to Ranelagh's letter of Feb. 20th, 1675, dated March 10th, 1675. See Essex's Letters, p. 97.

page 13 note 2 In which Essex desires a reply to his letters about the Instructions.

page 13 note 3 Books of the disposition of lands in Ireland by the Court of Claims.

page 14 note 1 Word undeciphered. Probably Aldworth found it illegible, the above is submitted with some doubt.—Ed.

page 15 note 1 See Letter VIII.

page 15 note 2 Word omitted.

page 15 note 3 M.P. for Cockermouth. Died May 6.

page 15 note 4 Essex had written to Mr Orlando Gee in Jan. 30 sending him a cipher. see Essex's Letters p. 27. Mr, afterwards Sir, Orlando Gee was Registrar of the Court of Admiralty in 1660.

page 16 note 1 Thomas Shirley or Sherley, physician in ordinary to Charles II.

page 16 note 2 Sir John Fagge, created a baronet by Charles II, 1660, then member for Steyning in Sussex.

page 16 note 3 Henry 3rd Viscount Moore, created Earl of Drogheda in 1661.

page 17 note 2 This statement appears to have been correct in the case of Ranelagh who acknowledged the authorship.

page 18 note 1 James Touchet, Earl of Castlehaven.

page 18 note 2 Sir Robert Holmes.

page 19 note 1 His father Sir C. Harbord.

page 19 note 2 This is an allusion to a severe letter from Essex dated April 27, 1675, in which he expressed dissatisfaction with Harbord's conduct.

page 19 note 3 Sir Edward Tumor, Lord Chief Baron of Exchequer, 1670.

page 19 note 4 Vere Bertie appointed a Judge of the Court of Comman Pleas, related to Lady Danby. He was discharged from office 1679, Ob. 1680.

page 21 note 1 One of Essex's secretaries who died a few months later, in August. See Essex Papers, vol. 1, p. 45.

page 22 note 1 To the King, dated May 22, 1675. Essex's Letters, p. 225.

page 23 note 1 This proved to be a false alarm.

page 23 note 2 Sir John Fagge, see p. 16.

page 24 note 1 John Churchill, Knighted in 1670, then member for Dorchester, subse quently for Newton, I. of W., and Bristol, Master of the Rolls 1685.

page 24 note 2 Francis Pemberton, afterwards Knighted Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1679.

page 24 note 3 Edward Peck, constituted Serjeant-at-law March 29, 1675. Home Office, Warrant Book I. p. 51.

page 24 note 4 Counsel with Pemberton for creditors of the Navy, Pepys, p. 503.

page 25 note 1 Sir John Robinson, created a baronet by Charles II. had been Lord Mayor of London in 1662.

page 27 note 1 3rd Son of Sir Henry Frederick Thynne of Kempsford.

page 27 note 2 Lord Almoner to the Queen.

page 27 note 3 Clement X.

page 28 note 1 See also Calendar of Treasury Books, 1676–79, pp. 1, 2 and passim.

page 30 note 1 Bridget, Daughter of Montague Bertie, Earl of Lindsay, Lord Great Chamberlain of England.

page 30 note 2 Sir William Lockhart died in 1675 thus vacating the office of Lord-Justice-Clerk in which he had succeeded his father, Sir James Lockhart. He married a Niece of Cromwell, and was the Protector's Ambassador to France.

page 30 note 3 John Mordaunt, younger son of first Earl of Peterborough, created Baron Mordaunt of Reigate, and Viscount Mordaunt of Avalon.

page 30 note 4 See Calendar of Domestic State Papers, 1675–76, p. 118, for this letter.

page 30 note 5 See Letter I.

page 31 note 1 Arlington.

page 32 note 1 James Compton 3rd Earl of Northampton, see Letter XXII, p. 26. The Lords had demanded the dismissal of Sir John Robinson, but had been refused at the time.

page 33 note 1 Arlington.

page 33 note 2 Ormond.

page 33 note 3 Word omitted but Williamson is evidently meant.

page 34 note 1 See Calendar Dom. S. P. 1675, 1676, p. 180, for both these letters.

page 35 note 1 Essex had written about his coming over in Captain Lodin's, or London's vessel ‘The Norwich Frigate,’ and enclosed a Letter on behalf of his Secretary Aldworth.

page 35 note 2 For full account of this visit to Portsmouth, see Calendar of Stale Papers, Domestic, 1675–76, pp. 183, 191, 195.

page 35 note 3 Ibid, pp. 94, 107, 170, 172, 199, for account of insurrection in Brittany. It was due to new taxation, chiefly through the tobacco monopoly; but other commodities were affected.

page 35 note 4 Charles Emanuel II,

page 37 note 1 Henry, son of Edward, 2nd Marquis of Worcester and the famous author of A Century of Inventions. Henry had married Mary, Essex's eldest sister. He was created Duke of Beaufort in 1682.

page 38 note 1 John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset, dying without issue in 1675, was succeeded by his cousin, Francis Seymour, 5th Duke of Somerset, who, in 1678, was shot by Horatio Botti, at the door of his inn, in revenge for an insult to Botti's wife. He died unmarried. See Burke's Peerage, Ed. 1854.

page 38 note 2 Charles, who became 7th Marquis of Winchester and 2nd Duke of Bolton, married, in 1679, Margaret, daughter of George Lord Coventry.

page 38 note 3 Robert Bruce created Earl of Ailsbury in 1664.

page 39 note 1 His brother-in-law Henry Howard, son of the Earl of Arundel, who had married his sister Anne.

page 40 note 1 For interview with the Farmers on Jan. 7th, see Calendar of Treasury Books, vol. v., pp. I, 2.

page 40 note 2 Father of Sir William Temple, was for many years Master of the Rolls in Ireland. He sided with the Commonwealth, but retained his office at the Restoration, and obtained a reversionary interest in it for his son. He died in 1677.

page 41 note 1 “That valiant and worthy gentleman Geo. Hamilton, not long after slaine in the warrs.”—Evelyn, Nov. 12, 1675.

page 41 note 2 A levy of recruits for France. Essex had connived at this in 1675, not without some trouble. See ESSEX PAPERS, p. 304–13, also Letter VII. of this vol.

page 42 note 1 Old style.

page 43 note 1 See Calendar of Treasury Books, 1676–1679, p. 31.

page 43 note 2 Aldworth repeatedly uses D for pounds, rarely ld,

page 45 note 1 This letter, with slight verbal alterations is included in Calendar of Treasury Books, 1676–1679, pp. 174, 175.

page 46 note 1 Due de Duras, brother of the Earl of Feversham. £3,000 per annum was granted to him from the £20,000 reserved in Ireland. The sum appropriated for Windsor Castle repairs, Ibid, p. 137.

page 48 note 1 See Letter XXXVI.

page 48 note 2 Letter.

page 49 note 1 Essex's only son, Algernon, Lord Maldon.

page 49 note 2 Robert Dashwood, one of the Farmers, created a Baronet, 1684.

page 50 note 1 See Calendar of State Papers, Dom. S., 1676–7, pp. 133, 173.

page 50 note 2 “The ablest Captain in the Imperial Service,” Macaulay.

page 50 note 3 Henry Saville, Groom of the Bedchamber. In 1669 he carried a challenge to the Duke of Buckingham, and was sent to the Gate-house. See Pepys March 4, 1668–9.

page 51 note 1 Duke of York.

page 51 note 2 King.

page 51 note 3 Duchess of Portsmouth.

page 51 note 4 Archbishop of Canterbury.

page 51 note 5 Bishop of London.

page 51 note 6 Proposed by Essex as one of the Commissioners, on the King's behalf, to supervise the farmers. See Essex's Letters, Dec. 4, 1675.

page 52 note 1 The 4th. Ed.

page 53 note 1 Francis Godolphin, writing to Essex July 16th, 1674, speaks of this order as given to make Essex's government uneasy, “Of which sort I reckon ye last Order concerning ye Armies march into ye North; Ye Author of wch Council, I suspect, designed as much yr Excys trouble as ye King's Service.”

page 53 note 2 See Williamson's Notes about Ireland, Calendar Dom. S. P., 1676–7, p. 240.

page 55 note 1 Williamson says “There will be in the Treasury enough to pay this party that march into the North.” Calendar S.P, Dom. 1676–7, p. 240.

page 56 note 1 Sic, for Flower, an officer in the Irish Army.

page 56 note 2 The Mathematician and Surveyor of the Ordnance.

page 58 note 1 See Essex Papers, p. 3, for a similar statement.

page 58 note 2 Lord Belasyse, 2nd son of Viscount Falconberg, Governor of Tangier. Deprived by Test Act, in 1672, for being a Papist.

page 58 note 3 Ormond.

page 58 note 4 Himself.

page 58 note 5 Treasurer.

page 59 note 1 Charles, Lord Cornwallis, was committed to the Tower June 21st, indicted for the murder of Robert Clarke.

page 59 note 2 William O'Brien, Earl of Inchiquin.

page 60 note 1 For Order in Council, etc., on this subject, see Calendar of S. P. Dom., 1676–7, pp. 130, 165 and passim.

page 60 note 2 Elizabeth, Viscountess Powerscourt.

page 60 note 3 Ranelagh.

page 60 note 4 Conway.

page 60 note 5 Speaker.

page 60 note 6 The brother of the Duchess of Albemarle, spelt Clarges. Burnet describes his character in the History of his own Time vol. i, p. 139. In the same work vol. 11, 347–49, is a description of the irregular election of Rich at a later date, 1682.s

page 61 note 1 Charles, 3rd Baron.

page 61 note 2 John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester.

page 61 note 3 See Letter XLIX.

page 61 note 4 For examination of Jinks or Jenks by the Privy Council, see Calendar of State Papers, Dom., 1676–77, p. 194.

page 61 note 5 Also of Sir Philip Moncton, ibid.

page 62 note 7 Sir Robert Southwell, Envoy Extraordinary to Portugal, 1665: to Brussels, 1671: Clerk to the Privy Council. Essex had written condoling with him.

page 65 note 1 “The Great Sacrifice of the New Law.”

page 65 note 2 Anthony Laurence.

page 65 note 3 Dom Francisco de Millo. Calendar S. P. Dom., 1676–77, p. 237.

page 65 note 4 “The Prince of Orange is wounded in the arm with a musket shot.” Ibid, p. 238.

page 65 note 5 This was decided at the Foreign Committee, July 2, Ibid, p. 201.

page 67 note 1 Owen Roe O'Neill, nephew of the Earl of Tyrone, leader of the Irish Catholics, who died on the eve of Cromwell's arrival in Ireland.

page 69 note 1 See Letter LIII, p. 63.

page 71 note 1 See Letter LV.

page 71 note 2 Innocent XI, 1676–1689.

page 72 note 1 Henry, created Earl of Norwich 1672, and also created Earl-Marshal of England with remaindership to various branches of his family. He succeeded his brother Thomas as Duke of Norfolk in Dec. 1677. His sons were Henry, who succeeded to the title in Jan. 1683–4, and Thomas.

page 72 note 2 Successor, as Essex's Secretary, to Francis Godolphin who had died in the previous August. He, Sir Cyril Wyche, was created one of the Lords Justices of Ireland in 1693.

page 76 note 1 Arthur, 2nd Viscount, succeeded in 1669 by his only son.

page 78 note 1 Richard Power, Earl of Tyrone, negotiated for the surrender of Cork to William's forces in 1690.

page 78 note 2 Colonel Edward Villiers ? Brigadier Villars demanded the surrender of Kinsale from Sir Edward Scott in 1690.

page 83 note 1 Henry Frederick Thynne, one of the Clerks to the Privy Council.

page 84 note 1 Admiral Sir John Berry, Knighted 1672 for services at the battle of Solebay, d. 1690.

page 84 note 2 CaptainJeffreys, Herbert. See Calendar of State Papers, Dom., 1676–7, P. 354Google Scholar.

page 84 note 3 Governor of Virginia 1641, deprived by Parliament and reinstated at the Restoration, returned to England and died in 1677.

page 84 note 4 Nathaniel Bacon. Ibid, p. 216 and passim.

page 84 note 5 Sir Henry, not William Chichley. Ibid, p. 353.

page 84 note 6 John Baker. See Calendar of Treasury Books, 1676–9, p. 86 and passim. Accused of taking gratuities, etc. See Calendar of S. P. Dom., 1676–7, pp. 349 and passim.

page 84 note 7 Sir Elisha Leighton, Sec. to Lord Lieutenant 1670, Recorder of Dublin 1672. Accused of taking gratuities, etc., see Calendar of S. P. Dom. 1676–77, p. 349 and passim.

page 85 note 1 The 5th wife of Edward 2nd Earl of Manchester and Parliamentary General, who died May 5, 1671, and who was Lord Chamberlain till his death.

page 87 note 1 See Letter LXVIII.

page 87 note 2 “He had undertaken to furnish the King with money, for the building of Windsor, out of the revenue of Ireland, and it was believed the Duchess of Portsmouth had a great yearly pension out of his office.” Burnet's Hist, of His Own Time, p. 154.

page 90 note 1 The titular Archbishop of Armagh was committed to Dublin Castle December 6, 1679.

page 90 note 2 Sir Joseph Williamson, a Sec. of State since 1674. According to Pepys “a pretty understanding and accomplished man, but a little conceited.” Aug. 10, 1663.

page 90 note 3 Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham, created Lord Chancellor 1675.

page 90 note 4 Mr Sec. Coventry.

page 91 note 1 James Touchet, eldest son of the notorious Earl.

page 92 note 1 Natural son of Philip IV and brother of the King. He died in 1679.

page 92 note 2 Charles II, 1665–1700.

page 92 note 3 The Queen Regent, Marie Anne, daughter of Ferdinand III of Austria.

page 92 note 4 Thomas Otway, whose letter LXXVI contains more particulars.

page 94 note 1 Cromwell's notorious Chaplain, executed at the Restoration, a curious source for Episcopal quotation.

page 94 note 2 Cleveland, the poet, calls Stephen Marshall, “that Geneva Bull.” Ed. 1687, p. 37. I am indebted to Professor Firth for this.—Ed.

page 94 note 3 Robert Hendry was minister of Carrickfergus and became Minister of Glenluce in 1689. Scott's Fasti, i, 65, 579, 647; also Witherow's Memorials.

page 94 note 4 Samuel Halliday was Minister successively of three congregations in Scotland, viz. Dunscore, Drysdale and New North Edinburgh—Scott's Fasti, i, 766.

page 95 note 1 The borough of Sligo is 26 miles E. of Killala, the Bishop's see.

page 100 note 1 Mr Biscay, see p. 104.

page 101 note 1 4th Baron Wharton, 1613–96, Parliamentarian Soldier and Statesman.

page 102 note 1 Sir John Skeffington, Bart, succeeded as 2nd Viscount in 1665, died 1695.

page 103 note 1 Monmouth's confidential servant who was executed a little later for his complicity in the Rye House Plot.

page 104 note 1 “8th of July, came to dine with me my Lord Longford, Treasurer of Ireland, nephew to that learned gentleman My Lord Aungier” —Evelyn, July 8, 1678.

page 104 note 2 This appointment had been ridiculed because Mr Biscay had been a barber.

page 104 note 3 Sir Robert Booth, Chief Justice of Common Pleas 1669 and of King's Bench 1679, Knighted 1668.

page 107 note 1 Patrick Russell one of the agents about whose treatment Ranelagh had petitioned. He had been imprisoned for these practices.

page 109 note 1 William De Burgh, 7th Earl, died 1687.

page 109 note 2 Richard Lord Dunkellin.

page 109 note 3 Thanking him for his account of the proceedings in Parliament.

page 111 note 1 William, Lord Cavendish, succeeded as 4th Earl of Devonshire in 1684, and was created Marquis of Hartington and Duke of Devonshire in 1694.

page 111 note 2 See Calendar of State Papers Dom., 1677–78, p. 30. For examination of Cavendish and fuller report of the words spoken, ibid, pp. 58, 539.

page 112 note 1 Letter LXXXIV.

page 113 note 1 They were tried at Wexford and found not guilty.

page 115 note 1 That is to Dublin.

page 115 note 2 See Calendar of Treasury Books 1676–79, vol. 1, p. 651.

page 116 note 1 An early scheme for old age pensions.

page 119 note 1 The Act had been passed in Oct. 1666 through the House of Commons, and after a conflict with the Lords, which turned upon the word nuisance as a description of the trade, it was passed by the Upper House in Jan. 1667.

page 119 note 1 The Duke of Créqui. “Duke of Créqui coming hither under character of an ambassador extraordinary, and the great Archbishop of Rheims comes with him; will be this day in town, April 17, 1677.” Calendar of Domestic State Papers 1677–78, p. 95.

page 119 note 2 Thomas Papillon was M.P. for Dover 1673–1681 and at a later period. He was a member of the Country Party. Died 1702.

page 119 note 3 Sir John Knight, a provision merchant, represented Bristol in Parliament 1661–1678. He is called “the Elder” to distinguish him from a later namesake who was also both Mayor and M.P. for Bristol.

page 119 note 4 See Letter XC.

page 119 note 5 Parties.

page 119 note 6 Ormond.

page 119 note 7 Treasurer.

page 119 note 8 Duchess of Portsmouth.

page 119 note 9 King.

page 119 note 10 Your Excellency.

page 119 note 11 Recalled.

page 119 note 12 Your.

page 119 note 13 Successor.

page 121 note 1 St John, 2nd Earl of Bollingbroke.

page 122 note 1 See Letter XCVIII.

page 122 note 2 Ormond.

page 122 note 3 King.

page 123 note 1 1677.

page 123 note 2 Nell Gwyn.

page 125 note 1 See Letter of Sir G. Rawdon to Viscount Conway. Calendar of Domestic State Papers 1677–78, p. 114 and passim for references to Essex during the remainder of his stay in Ireland.

page 127 note 1 Duke of York.

page 127 note 2 Thomas, Earl of Ossory, eldest Son of the Duke of Ormond, summoned to Parliament by writ as Lord Butler of Moor Park.

page 128 note 1 See Letter CX.

page 128 note 2 Henry, 2nd Earl of Peterborough, made Governor of Tangier, 1661; recalled 1662, had pension of £1000 a year.

page 129 note 1 Knighted by the King, 1660, for his treachery to Cromwell, when he was Clerk to Thurloe. He was famous as an inventor.

page 129 note 2 Sir Robert Southwell was Clerk to the Privy Council.

page 129 note 3 See Calendar of Treasury Books 1676–79, p. 610, and passim for Customs of Londonderry.

page 130 note 1 This implied that Essex had needlessly obstructed the Vice-Treasurer Ranelagh.

page 131 note 1 Duc de Créqui. See Letter CIV.

page 131 note 2 The letter follows. It expresses a desire for a truce as the preparation for a durable peace, and Charles is requested to sound the King of Sweden in order to ascertain his views on the subject.

page 132 note 1 The Phœnix Park.

page 136 note 1 The Lord Lieutenant's residence in the Phœnix Park.

page 136 note 2 A piece of money the value of which varied from 4 shillings to as much as 6 shillings in 1675.

page 138 note 1 The story is quoted in the Life of Shaftesbury, and applied to his action in refusing a present from the French King, which Charles, it is said, urged him to accept. The story is that a Chancellor of Charles V refusing to pass a grant, some Courtiers induced the Emperor to command him to do so, and this a second and a third time with promises of advancement if he complied. This failing, he was urged to dismiss his servant; but replied that he was a true man, so true that even his master could not bribe him to be otherwise. The letter referred to is LV of Essex Papers.

page 140 note 1 See Letter CX.

page 142 note 1 Or Powell. See Calendar of Domestic State Papers 1677–78, pp. 137 and passim for full report of this debate. Mr Powle was to carry up the Bill to the Lords.

page 143 note 1 Who when Speaker of the Parliament of 1629 had been held in his chair in order to prevent an adjournment of the House.

page 144 note 1 Sir H. Capel alludes to Benyon as a friend of the King in Flanders “when ye Courtiers lived upon him.”