Romes Masterpiece, Part 1
Sir Williams Boswels first Letter to the Arch-bishop concerning the Plot.
May it please your Grace,
THe offers (whereof your Grace will finde a Copy) here inclosed towards a further and more particular discovery, were first made unto me at the second hand, and in speech, by a friend of good quality and worth in this place; But soone after (as soone as they could be put into Order) were avowed by the principall party; and delivered me in writing by both together: Upon promise, and Oath, which I was required to give, and gave accordingly, not to reveale the same to any other man living but your Grace; and by your Graces hand, unto his Majesty.
In like manner they have tyed themselves not to declare these things unto any other, but my selfe; untill they should know, how his Majesty and your Grace would dispose thereof. The Principall giving me withall to know, That hee puts himselfe, and this secret into your Graces power, as well because it concernes your Grace so nearely after his Majesty: As that he knowes your wisdome to guide the same aright: And is assured of your Graces fidelity to his Majesties Person, to our State, and to our Church.
First, Your Grace is humbly, and earnestly prayed, To signifie his Majesties pleasure (with all possible speed) together with your Graces disposition herein, and purpose to carry all with silence, from all, but his Majesty untill due time.
Secondly, When your Grace shall think fit to shew these things unto his Majesty▪ To doe it immediately; not trusting to Letters; nor permitting any other person to be by, or in hearing: And to entreat and counsell his Majesty as in a case of Conscience to keep the same wholly, and solely in his own bosome, from the knowledge of all other creatures living but your Grace; untill the businesse shall be cleare, and sufficiently in his Majesties and your Graces hands to effect.
Thirdly, Not to enqure or demand the names of the parties from whom these overtures doe come, or any further discoveries and advertisements in pursute of them which shall come hereafter, untill due satisfaction shall be given in every part of them. Nor to bewray unto any person but his Majesty, in any measure or kinde, that any thing of this nature, or of any great importance is come from me.
For as I may believe these overtures are verifiable in the way they will be layed; and that the parties will not shrink: So I may accompt, That if never so little a glimpse, or shadow of these informations shall appeare by his Majesties, or your Graces speech or carriage, unto others, the meanes whereby the businesse may bee brought best unto tryall, will bee utterly disappointed: And the parties who have in Conscience towards God, and devotion to his Majesty; affection to your Grace, and compassion of our Countrey, disclosed these things, will runne a present and extreame hazard of their persons, and lives, So easily it will be conjectured (upon the least occasion given upon his Majesties or your Graces parts) who is the discoverer? By what meanes, and how he knowes so much of these things; And where he is? These are the points, which together with the offers, they have pressed me especially to represent most seriously unto your Grace.
For my own particular, having most humbly craved pardon of any errour or omissions, that have befalne me in the mesnaging of this businesse, I doe beseech your Grace to let me know;
First, Whether, and in what order I shall proceed hereafter with the parties?
Secondly, What points of these offers I shall chiefly, and first put them to enlarge and cleare?
Thirdly, What other points and enquiries I shall propose unto them? And in what manner?
Fourthly, How farre further I shall suffer my selfe to heare and know these things▪
Fifthly, Whether I shall not rather take the parties answers, and discoveries sealed up by themselves, and having likewise put my owne seale upon them, without questioning or seeing what they containe, so to transmit them to his Majesty or your Grace?
Sixthly, Whether I may not insinuate upon some faire occasion, That there will be a due Regard held of them, and their service, by his Majesty and your Grace: When all particulars undertaken in these generall offers, and necessary for perfecting the discovery and work intended, shall be effectually delivered to his Majesty on your Grace?
Upon these heads, and such others as his Majesty or your Grace shall think proper in the businesse, I must with all humility beseech your Grace to furnish me with instructions, and warrant for my proceedings, under his Majesties hand with your Graces attestation, as by his Majesties goodnesse, and Royall disposition is usuall in like cases.
May it please your Grace to entertaine a Cypher with me upon this occasion, I have sent the Counterpart of one here inclosed: In the vacant spaces whereof your Grace may insert such names more, with numbers to them, as you think requisite.
If these overtures happily sort with his Majesties and your Graces minde, and shall accordingly prove effectuall in their operation, I shall think my selfe a most happy man, to have had my oblation in so pious a work for my most gratious Soveraign and Master: More particularly, in that your Grace under his Majesty shall be, Opifex rerum & mundi melioris origo. Which I shall incessantly begge in my prayers at his hands, who is the giver of all good things, And will never forsake, or …aile them, who doe not first faile, and fall from him: The God of mercy and Peace. With which I remaine evermore.
I have not dared to trust this businesse (without a Cypher) but by a sure hand, for which▪ I have sent this bearer, my Secretary, Expresse, but he knoweth nothing of the contents hereof.
Your Graces Most dutifull and obliged servant. William Boswell. Hagh in Holland, 9. Sept. 1640. Sti. loci.
Sir William Boswels indorsement.
For your Grace. The Arch-bishops indorsement with his own hand.
Rece. Sept. 10. 1640. Sir William Boswell about the Plot against the King, &c.