and yesterday the king declared unto him his intention to

: that purpose.

Vanlieu the Holland ambaffador is arrived, and Van Beuninghen going away. He made the last week a great - noise about a meffage fent by the king of France unto his - masters, concerning the contribution-money due from -the country about Breda; denouncing in a very terrible manner, his intention of levying it by force, if it were not paid; and that in an Ottoman ftile, which unto fome - filly people gave as filly a hope, that the peace would 1 break, and the league be renewed against the French;

but the French ambassador fays it is a thing of no mo..ment at all, and already compofed. However I fee no inclinations in difcreet men here, to defire fuch a difcompofure of things abroad, as fhould engage us to take any --part in them, until our affairs are better fettled at home than they are yet like to be.

Ireland is in extreme diforder, by the duke of Ormond's negligence, ignorance, and favour to the Irish. Douglass › his regiment thinking to use the fame licentiousness at 1.Kinfale, as it had been accustomed unto in France, gives great distaste, and apprehenfions of fuch works as began almost by the fame ways in 1641. Old Roberts, in appearing of late for the king and bishops, thinks himself of .. merit to fucceed him; but he is as fingular in that opinion as in many others.

Some that know matters better than I do, must tell you, whether we fhall have the fame parliament, at the end of the prorogation, or a new one, or none at all. But I think this, or another will be found neceffary;

and if this be diffolved, another will be chofen of lefs inclinations to favour the court. The four priests are fent down to be hanged, where they were condemned. The council gave order to the lord mayor, to be very diligent in putting the proclamations against the papifts in execution, and careful under that name not to trouble proteftant diffenters. It is faid that Langhorne Wakeman, fir Jofeph Gage, fir William Goring, and other popish commoners, shall be soon brought to their tryal. Now the parliament doth not fit, little news will be stirring, but you shall conftantly have fuch as I know, or any other service that lies in the power of

Your most humble fervant.

SIR,

London, June 9-19.

The best news I can now send you, is, that your nephew and mine is looked upon as we wish, and I believe he will perform all that you and I expect from him.

There hath been a fuit at law depending this good while in Scotland, between the earl of Argyle, and one Macclaine, the head of a great and numerous family in the highlands. The earl (as is faid) by the help of the duke of Latherdale, obtained of late a decree for the poffeffion of the lands in queftion, and an order was fent from hence unto the king's officers, to affift the earl in executing the decree, and ufe fire and fword against such as should oppose it; which was so far prosecuted, that he with 300 of the king's men, and'500 of his own, raised upon an island of Macclaine's, which he was not able to defend, or perhaps thought it his best course by way of

diverfion

diverfion to draw Argyle from thence; but what reafon foever perfwaded him, he faid he would not be put out of the inheritance of his ancestors by a trick in law, and the corruption of the judges; and joining the Macdonnels unto himself, fell into Argyle's country with near 3000, men, where he found no refiítance; the lady of Argyle was obliged to leave her house, and in fome hafte retired to Edinborough to get relief, which could not eally be granted, left the fanatics fhould take advantage of the king's forces being fo employed. Some fay this is only a family feud, others believe it hath a deeper root; but whatfeever this is, no man doubts of the truth of the news brought hither by an exprefs on Saturday morning, which is, that the conventicle-men in the county of Gla.cow are in arms; that one captain Grimes coming fomething too near them, with his troop and other forces, was beaten back, with the lofs of his cornet and fourteen troopers: which according to the pofture he found them in, he was perfwaded to content himself with, rather than to prefs farther. The council was called upon this occafion on Saturday laft, but nothing (as I here) refolved until they hear more, fome doubting whether it be a laid butinefs, or a fudden tumult raised by accident. I know not the truth of this, but the difcourfes I have heard very often of late, of those who every day expected fome fuch thing, perfwades me to believe it is not fallen out by chance. Though no refolution was taken at council upon this matter, it is faid, that private orders are given out to feveral officers of the late difbanded troops, to get their men again together; and to others, upon the moft plaufible

pretences that they can invent, to delay their disbanding as much as may be. These fufpicions go too far, and already reach fome of your friends and mine, to fuch a degree, that counfellors are rather said to be changed than councils; and if they do not find a way to cure that fore, at the next meeting of the parliament, they will be looked on as their predeceffors. If nothing from Scotland hinders, the court will go to Windsor to-morrow. I prefume you know that H. Sydney hath bought Mr. Godolphin's place of mafter of the robes, gives 6000 pounds, and is to go envoy extraordinary into Holland. The lord Ranalagh for the fame fum paid to the lord Sunderland is made gentleman of the bed chamber in his place, and the great bufinefs concerning his account is referred to the council

in Ireland.

Many things may pafs in the town that you may be willing to hear, but they come not into the cell that

covers

Your most humble fervant.

SIR,

London, June 16-26. The Scotch news that I mentioned to you laft week, doth still poffefs the minds of all men here; but all relations that come from Scotland are fo imperfect, that no man knows what to make of them; and thofe that come to court being more particularly fo than others, no men are thought to understand lefs of the bufinefs than privy counsellors. This is attributed to Latherdale; and though it be concluded, that what he says is not true, fome

fome think the bufinefs worfe, others better, than it is. reprefented. The fact, as far I hear, is, that the earl of Lithco with above five and twenty hundred horfe and foot did come within a few miles of the conventicle-men, and finding them in fuch a posture, as he did not think it prudent to charge them, he concluded the beft was to let them take Glafcow, where they are faid to have found good ftore of arms, ammunition and fome cannon,. and having left fo many men in the town as are thought fufficient to guard it, they march with four. pieces. They are faid to encrease in number every day, but we know nothing of them certainly, unlefs it be that they have no landed men amongst them, nor any gentlemen, but a younger brother to a knight of the Hamilton family. The last week we heard of nothing but raifing of great forces to fubdue thefe rebels. The dukes of Monmouth, Albemarle, and lord Garret were to have regiments of horse, Feverfham one of dragoons and grenadiers, the lord Cavendish, Grey of Werk, Mr. T. Thinne, and fome others, regiments of foot; but that heat seems to be fomething abated. The lord Grey gave up his commission, Mr. Thinne refused to take any; Cavendish doth not raife any men upon his, and Garret fwears he will not be at a penny charge to raise a man, but if the commiffioners for the treasury will raife him a regiment, and provide money to pay it, he will command it. Whilft ways were fought to remove thefe difficulties, the Scotch lords that are here endeavoured to perfwade the king, that the bufinefs may be ended by far more certain and lefs chargeable