The Grand Designs of the Papists, Letter 3 – Letter 5
The Archbishop of Canterburies Letter to the King concerning the Plot,I beseech your Majesty read these Letters as they are endorsed by figures, 1, 2, 3, &c. with the Kings directions in the Margin, written with his own hand.
May it please your Majesty,
AS great as the Secret is which comes herewith, yet I choose rather to send it in this silent covert way,Ye had reason so to do. and I hope safe, than to come thither, and bring it my self. First, because I am no way able to make haste enough with it. Secondly, because should I come at this time, and antedate the meeting of Sept. 24. there would be more jealousie of the business, and more enquiry after it; especially, if I being once there, should return again before that day, as I must, if this be followed, as is most fit.
The danger, it seems, is imminent, and laid by God knows whom, but to be executed by them which are very near about you. (For the great honour which I have to be in danger with you, or for you, I pass not, so your Sacred Person and the State may be safe.) Now,It is an unanswerable Dilemma▪ may it please your Majesty, this Information is either true, or there is some mistake in it. If it be true, the persons which make the discovery will deserve thanks and reward. If there should be any mistake in it, your Majesty can lose nothing but a little silence.
The business (if it be) is extreme foul. The discovery thus by Gods providence offered, seems fair.I coneur totally with you in opinion, assuring you, that no body doth, or shall know of this business; and to shew my care to conceal it, I received this but this afternoon, and now I make this dispatch before I sleep. Herewith I send his Warrant, as you advise, which indeed I judge to be the better way. I do hereby humbly beg it upon my knees of your Majesty, that you would conceal this business from every creature, and his name that sends this to me. And I send his Letters to me to your Majesty, that you may see his sence both of the business and the secresie. And such Instructions as you think fit to give him, I beseech you let them be in your own hand, for his warrant, without imparting them to any. And if your Majesty leave it to his discretion to follow it there in the best way he can, that in your own hand will be instruction and warrant enough for him. And if you please to return it herewith presently to me, I will send an express away with it presently.
In the mean time I have by this express returned him this answer,I like your answer extreme well, and do promise not to deceive your confidence, nor make you break your word. That I think he shall do well to hold on the Treaty with these men with all care and secrecie, and drive on to the discovery so soon as the business is ripe for it; that he may assure himself and them, they shall not want reward, if they do the service. That for my part he shall be sure of secrecie, and that I am most confident that your Majesty will not impart it to any. That he have a special eye to the eighth and ninth Proposition.
Sir,I have sent all back. I think these Apostyles wil be warrant enough for you to proceed, especially when I expresly command you to do so. for Gods sake, and your own safety, secrecie in this business: And I beseech you send me back this Letter, and all that comes with it, speedily and secretly, and trust not your own pockets with them. I shall not eat nor sleep in quiet till I receive them. And so soon as I have them again, and your Majesties warrant to proceed, no diligence shall be wanting in me to help on the discovery.
This is the greatest business that ever was put to me.In this I am as far from condemning your judgment as suspecting your fidelity. C. R. And if I have herein proposed or done any thing amiss, I most humbly crave your Majesties pardon. But I am willing to hope I have not herein erred in judgment, and in fidelity I never will.
These Letters came to me on Thursday, Sept. 10. at night; and I sent these away according to the date hereof, being extremely wearied with writing this Letter, copying out these other which come with this, and dispatching my Letters back to him that sent these, all in my own hand. Once again secrecie for Gods sake, and your own. To his most blessed protection I commend your Majesty, and all your affairs; and am
*The Kings hand and date.York 13. Lambeth, Sept. 11. 1640. Your Majesties most humble faithful Servant, W. Cant. The Archbishops Indorsment with his own hand, Received from the King, Sept. 16. 1640. For your Sacred Majesty. Yours Apostyled. The Kings Answer to the Plot against him, &c.
*The Archbishops Postscript.As I had ended these, whether with the labour, or indignation, or both, I fell into an extreme faint sweat; I pray God keep me from a Fever, of which, three are down in my Family at Croyden.
These Letters came late to me, the Express being beaten back by the wind.
Sir W. Boswel's second Letter to the Archbishop.
May it please your Grace,
THis evening late I have received your Graces dispatch, with the enclosed from his Majesty, by my Secretary Oueart, and shall give due account with all possible speed of the same, according to his Majesties and your Graces commands; praying heartily that my endeavours, which shall be most faithful, may also prove effectual, to his Majesties and your Graces content; with which I do most humbly take leave, being always
Your Graces most dutiful and most humble Servant, W. Boswel. Hague, Sept. 24. 1640. Stylo Angliae. The Archbishop's Indorshment, Received, Sept. 30. 1640. Sir William Boswel his acknowledgment, that he hath received the Kings Directions, and my Letters.
Sir William Boswel's third Letter to the Archbishop, sent with the larger discovery of the Plot▪
May it please your Grace,
UPon receipt of his Majesties Commands, with your Graces Letters of 9 and 18. Sept. last, I dealt with the Party to make good his offers formerly put in my hand, and transmitted to your Grace: This he hopes to have done by the inclosed, so far as will be needful for his Majesties satisfaction; yet if any more particular explanation or discovery shall be required by his Majesty or your Grace, He hath promised to add thereunto whatsoever he can remember and knows of truth. And for better assurance and verification of his integrity, he professeth himself (if required) to make Oath of what he hath already declared, or shall hereafter declare in the business.
His name he conjures me still to conceal, though he thinks his Majesty and your Grace, by the character he gives of himself, will easily imagine who he is, having been known so generally through Court and City, as he was for three or four years, in the quality and employment he acknowledgeth (by his declaration inclosed) himself to have held.
Hereupon he doth also redouble his most humble and earnest suit unto his Majesty and your Grace, to be most secret and circumspect in the business, that he may not be suspected to have discovered, or had a hand in the same.
I shall here humbly beseech your Grace, to let me know what I may further do for his Majesties service, or for your Graces particular behoof, that I may accordingly endeavour to approve my self, as I am,
Hague, Octob. 15. 1640. Your Graces most dutiful and obliged Servant, Wil. Boswel. The Archbishop's Indorsment, Received, Octob. 14. 1640. Sir William Boswel, in prosecution of the great business. If any thing come to him in Cyphers, to send it to him.