APPENDIX. ( A. ) The Lord Falkland's Petition to the King. Most humbly shewing that I had a sonne, until I lost him in your Highness's displeasure, where I because I have not will to find him there. cannot seek him, Men Men say there is for measuring his a wild young man now prisoner in the Fleet actions by his own private fence. But now, that for the same your Majestie's hand hath appeared in his punishment, he bows and humbles himself before and to it; whether he be mine or not I can discern by no light but that of your royal clemency; for only in your forgiveness can I own him for mine. Forgiveness is the glory of the supremest powers, and this the operation that when it is extended in the greatest measure it converts the greatest offenders into the greatest lovers, and so makes purchase of the heart, an especial privilege peculiar and due to sovereign princes. If now your Majesty will vouchsafe out of your own benignity to become a second nature, and restore that unto me which the first gave me, and vanity deprived me of, I shall keep my reckoning of the full number of my sons with comfort, and render the tribute of my most humble thankfulness; else my weak old memory must forget one.-Cabala. Sir Francis Willoughby to Sec. Lord Dorchester. RIGHT HONORABLE, 1 Jan. 1629-30. God knowes howe muche I greeve that my mysfortunes are such as cawseth me to become thus troublesom unto youre Honor; but I comfort my selfe againe in that I well knowe youre Honer joyes in doeinge good toe all men, and espetially toe those that are truly devoted toe honer and serve youre Lordship; in so much as I nowe make bowld to let youre Honer understond that yesterday I spake with my Lord Tresurer, whoe towld me his Lordship had spoken with youre Honer conserning my buisines and would advise with youe what cowrse was fittest toe be taken. I umbly intreated his Honer that the cowrse myght bee speedy, or else I showlde not be able to attend it, for my stay heare was very chargeable, and by my absence I suffer not only in Ireland, but feare my goodes, that have bin longe at Bristow, may likewise perrishe. Nowe, good my Lord, althowghe I have more then reason toe be confident of youre care of me, yet I humbly beseeche youre Honer that I may, without offence, prefer this sute unto youe, which is, that his Majestyes grant may bee eyther confirmed unto me, and that speedely, or otherwise toe let me knowe what I may trust untoe. From my Lord Fawlkland I must not looke for much favor by reason his son's company is conferred uppon me, as I am lately informed, which was noe ackt of myne, neyther owght my Lord toe blame me for it, but toe the contrary, yf his Lordship will speake of me withowght partiallity, hee knowes that I did his Majesty good service in Ireland, and was, by his Lordship's owne comyssion, made Governor of the cittie of Lymbrick, when it was suspeckted the enemy was coming owt of Biscaye with troopes, and supposed would have landed there, in which place I contynued 20 weekes, toe my great charge, without intertainment. Right Honorable, I knowe not any man's imploymentes in the army that hath bin lyke myne, nor noe man hythertoe meanlyer rewarded; and truly, my Lord, toe make shewe of abillity, not having it, were but folly, and the end would be beggery; for God is my witnes, my Lord, that I am, with my long attendance, browght toe soe lowe a state of purse, that yf I goe not suddenly I shall neyther be able to goe nor to support my selfe in staying. I shall referr all to your good consideration, and will wayght uppon your Lordship at a fit tyme for answere, and ever be A Paper, all in the handwriting of Sir Francis Willoughby, containing copies of three letters without date, but probably early in January 1630-as follows: Sir Lucius Caries Letter to me. SIR, Yf I had knowne certeinly afore the other daye that youe had my company, and afore yesterdaye where youre lodginge was, youe had afore nowe heard from me. Nowe I heare youe are toe goe towardes Ireland on Mundaye, to which I shalbe a little Remora. I only desire youe toe excuse me that I send a sarvant of myne, and not a freind, on such a buisines, for it is toe short a tyme toe make a freind in, and I had none ready made. I doe confesse youe a brave gentleman (and for myne owne sake I would not but have my adversary be soe), but I knowe noe reason why, therfore, youe showld have my company, any more then why therfore you showld have my breeches, which yf every brave man showld have, I showld be fayne shortly toe begg in trowses. I dowght not but youe will give me satisfaction with your sworde, of which yf you will send me the lengthe, with tyme and place, youe shalbe sure (accordingly toe the appointment) toe meete LUCIUS CARY. SIR, Sir Fr. Willoughby to Sir Lucius Cary. MY FIRST ANSWER. Your lines, thowghe unexpeckted in suche a nature, I have receaved. Tis true, as I heare, that the company which was yours is confer'd uppon me, the knolege of which came toe my handes not above 8 dayes agoe: it was noe sute of myne to deprive youe of any thing you possest, but toe the contrary, I desired that neyther youre honorable fathers, nor yours, nor Sir Charles Cootses companyes myght be transferred to me; and this my respeckt wilbe witnessed by very good men. This proceeded owt of a due respeckt toe my Lord youre father, unto whom I have ever given all due respeckts. And there is noe man lyving that can justly tax me that ever I sowght for any partycular company, eyther yours or any mans else, and therfore am free from doeing youe wronge. I have lost better fortunes by following his Majesty then any is given me yet. This is well knowne to the world, and I cowld wishe that I were rendred in the same estate I was in, and youe youre company againe; but beinge this is an ackt of his Majesties, whoe dowghtles will mayntayne it, I shall be the bolder toe justefie my selfe in it; yet shall I not willingly accept of this your letter as a sufficient cawse of a quarrell with youe, my conscience giving me sufficient assurance that I never wronged youe. With this I will conclude, that, yf this answere be not sufficient to plead my innosence, I wilbe found ready toe give youe any content befitting a gentleman. In the meane tyme I shall desire that youe will ground youre buiesnes well, and not rashly run intoe an error, in laying a blame uppon hym that |
