George Hillier’s “Narrative of the attempted escapes of Charles the First from Carisbrook Castle, and of his detention in the Isle of Wight, from November, 1647 to the seizure of his person by the Army, at Newport, in November, 1648, including the letters of the King to Colonel Titus”. The data below consists of excerpts from Mr. Hillier’s book. The letters were from King Charles I to Colonel Silas Titus, the younger half-brother of Robert Titus who emigrated to Massachusetts in 1635.
N A R R A T I V E
of the Attempted Escapes
of
CHARLES THE FIRST
from Carisbrook Castle,
And of his Detention in the Isle of Wight, from
November, 1647 to the seizure of his
Person by the Army, at Newport,
in November, 1648
including
THE LETTERS OF THE KING
to
COLONEL TITUS
Now first Deciphered & Printed from the Originals
***************************
BY GEORGE HILLIER
***************************
London
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET
M.D.CCC.LII
INTRODUCTION
Silas Titus was born at Bushey, in Hertfordshire, in 1622, and entered Christchurch College, Oxford, in the year 1637; but after continuing about three years in that university, he removed to one of the inns of court, and upon the breaking out of the civil war engaged in the service of the Parliament, under whom he held a captain’s commission.
He afterwards espoused the royal cause, being found in attendance upon King Charles the First at Carisbrook, in the year 1648, where the remarkable correspondence it is the especial object of this volume to elucidate, was contrived. At the Treaty of Newport, he was again in waiting upon the king, after whose execution he attended Charles the Second into Scotland, whence, in 1651, he was dispatched to the queen-mother with secret instructions respecting a proposed marriage of the king with a daughter of the Marquis of Argyle.
At the battle of Worcester he was likewise with his majesty, and continued a correspondence with him during the time of his exile; whilst at the Treaty of Breda he represented the English party, in conjunction with Lord Willoughby of Parham, Major-General Massie, Colonel Richard Graves, and Alderman Bunce.
Captain, ultimately Colonel Titus, is however better known to the public as the author of the celebrated pamphlet, “Killing no Murder,” which he published in 1657, under the fictitious name of William Allen; and in it endeavoured to prove that killing the Protector would be both a legal and meritorious act. Cromwell is said to have been so powerfully affected by the perusal of this publication, as to cause him ever afterwards to become gloomy and suspicious, seldom sleeping two nights in the same bed, and invariably carrying fire-arms. Having by some secret intelligence discovered the real author, he made the following attempt to secure his person. Understanding the royalists were in the habit of holding meetings at a certain tavern in London, he sent an officer, in whose attachment and fidelity he placed great confidence, to seize Colonel Titus and Firebrace. The officer ordered his men to halt at the door until he went into the house for further information. He there privately asked the landlord whether Titus and Firebrace were within, assuring him that his purpose was to save, and not to take away their lives, and going into the room where they were, threw his red cloak over his head, and exclaimed, “if Titus or Firebrace be in the room, let them escape for their lives this instant.” He then returned, and called in the soldiers to take them; but they, heeding his advice, had in the meantime escaped through the window, and mounting their horses, proceeded into Scotland, where they joined General Monk.
After the Restoration, in consideration of the many important services he had rendered, Titus was appointed one of the grooms of the bedchamber, and his wife, Catherine Titus, lady of the queen’s privy chamber; whilst as a further recognition, he received an augmentation of his arms, viz. or, upon a chief embattled gu. a lion of England, passant-guardant or, to be borne by him and his descendants, quarterly, together with the arms of his family.
The grant expressed that this mark of favour was rendered in consideration, “that in the years 1646, 1647, and 1648, he was by our royal father intrusted in his affairs of the greatest importance, both in relation to his restitution and in order to his escape out of the captivity which he was held by the rebels, for which he was by them charged with high treason, and forced to fly beyond the seas, After which, as the highest testimony of our royal father’s justice and confidence, he did, even at the time of his execrable murder, and upon the accursed scaffold, recommended him, the said Titus and his singular fidelity, unto us, by the late Archbishop of Canterbury then assisting, who happily lived to declare his fame; since when, even unto our happy restoration, we being as highly satisfied with his great prudence, loyalty, and zeal to our service, have entrusted and employed him in our most private affairs and designs, whereby he was exposed to the greatest dangers, had his estate confiscated by the rebels, and was, by an act of theirs, condemned of high treason; notwithstanding which he crossed the seas in order to our service about twenty times; and by his pen and practices against the then usurper Oliver, vigourously endeavoured the destruction of that tyrant and government. And after our restoration (being then a member of Parliament), he did as vigorously pursue to justice the accursed regicides; and by his motion, the carcases of Oliver Cromwell, Bradshaw, and Ireton, were taken up out of our royal chapel at Westminster, drawn to Tyburn, there hanged, then buried under the gallows, and the heads set upon Westminster Hall; for which, and other his services and sufferings, he has three thousand pounds voted him by the two Houses of Parliament, in such terms as the honour thereof was equal to the gift.”
After the preparation of the draft from which this extract is copied, an alteration in the intended grant seems however to have been made by the heralds, as the chief in his coat is not embattled.
In 1678 he was elected member of Parliament for the county of Hertford; and in the following year, by opposing the prerogative on the occasion of Oates’ Plot, he lost his place at court. In the year 1681 he was elected for Huntingdon, and showed great zeal in favour of the Bill of Exclusion. The following extempore lines, which formed part of his speech in opposition to the Duke of York’s claims, have since been oftentimes quoted:
“I hear a lion in the lobby roar,
Say, Mr. Speaker, shall we shut the door?
Or, do you rather choose to let him in?
But how then shall we get him out again?”
In November 1687, notwithstanding the prominent part he thus played, he procured an introduction to James the Second, after his accession, by William Penn the quaker, and was the following year sworn of the Privy Council, but retired on the abdication of the king. Soon after the revolution, he was elected to serve for the borough of Ludlow, in Shropshire; and having lived to the age of eighty-four, died in December, 1704, leaving three daughters who were never married.
The letters and papers of Colonel Titus, together with his residence in Bushey, were inherited by his descendant, Mrs. Shorte, and as part of her fortune, conveyed by marriage to the Rev. Dr. James Ibbetson, formerly rector of Bushey, by whose representative they have been recently sold to the trustees of the British Museum.
As descriptive of that remarkable epoch in the life of Charles the First, his incarceration at Carisbrook, the series of fifteen letters written there by the king to Captain Titus, are invaluable, and it having appeared, upon consideration, that many portions of England’s history which were of less interest to the general reader than the events to which these letters refer, had been more fully chronicled, it was resolved, in connection with their publication, to collect into one perfect whole the many scattered illustrations of the singular incidents attendant on the residence of Charles in the Isle of Wight.
From this determination originated the following pages; and in offering them to the public, I would only wish to remark, that my endeavour has been the rather to present an interesting summary of all the recorded facts could discover bearing on the subject, than to produce a self-opinionated effusion, perhaps satisfactory neither to myself nor my reader.
Under these circumstances the work has been compiled; and my only hope is, that the immensity of interest which is attached to all retrospections of this memorable time, will create for it the little attention which, in a literary point of view, it could not claim, and I have no pretension to ask.
George Hillier.
London, August, 1852.
Number I
Letter to Captain Titus
“Capt. Titus,
“Let those officers, you told me of, know that as my necessity is now greater than ever, so what service shall be done me now, must have the first place in my thoughts, when ever I shall be in a condition to requite my friends and pitty my Eennemies: I command you (when you can do it, without hazard either to yourselfe or them) that you send me, in particular, the names of those who you thus finde sensible of their duty, and resolved to discharge the parts of true Englishmen; lastly, asseure every one, that, with me, present services wipes out former falts;
so I rest,
“Your assured friend,
“Charles R.”
Number II
King Charles to Captain Titus.
“This trusty bearer will ease my paynes by telling you why yett I have not yet changed my lodging; and also desyre your advice concerning removing of obstructions; so that this being but to give you an occasion to wryte to mee, I need say no more, but that I am,
“Your most real friend
“J.”
“I pray you commend me very hartely to 688.”
Number III
King Charles the First to Captain Titus.
April 26th, 1648.
“W.
“I cannot be satisfied unless you doe trust to my Discretion as well as Honesty: wherfor I assure you that I never wrote any such thing as Mr. Myldmay hath informed you of; for there is an uter impossibility in nature, that it would be in any of my dispatches, but in that of the 17th of this month; for it was but the day before that I did so much as suspect that either you or D. (Firebrace) should be dismist; and since, noe letters of myne hath gone to London. Now for that dispatch; first, I must say that it is ill lucke that my wyfes letters should only miscary, for I have had answers to all the others, which went by that messinger; but indeed it might be betrayed at the Post House; wherfor now, I must desire you to believe (for this long time I durst keepe no copies) my memory, which I hope in so short a tyme will not deceave me; nor would I (according to my owen ruels) be very confident of a negative but that I can prove it by an affirmative; that is to say I could not be very sure that I wrote nothing concerning 251:686 (my escape), if I did not remember the subject of that letter, for it was concerning a business wherein my wyfe desyred my opinion; nor will I say but there might be a clause in it to this effect, that, albeit there were two confidents of myne, discharged my service, yet I could still convey Letters to her; but on my Credit, it was all in Cypher, and I am sure I did not name F. (Dowsett), nor made the least mention concerning any Desyne of ours. Now, you may judge (for upon my faith I have tould you the worst of my case) whether it be not more likely, that all this story, of my Letter, is fained (to try your countenances, & to make the fairer pretence of dismissing you) than that they have found any of your names in my letter; wch to doe, they must decypher my letter; but as they tell it, I will take my oath, it is a lye: and so I leave this, and come to my Business, wch is only, to know how soone you will, and where you intend to lay horses for me; for though I cannot put you in any certaine hope that very shortly I shall use them, yet it were a pity to loose an opportunity heere for want of preparation beyond the water; and we are hammering upon a way (as D. (Firebrace) will more particularly informe you) wch if it hit, we shall be sooner ready than, it may be, you can imagine. I have now no more to say but to desyre you to let me hear from you as soon as you may, how are you satisfied with the first part of this Letter, and how soone you can comply with the later: so I rest,
“Your most assured constant friend,
“J.”
“You had this letter enclosed before now, but you were gone before it could come to you; it came to me from London amongst my letters.”
Number IV
“W.
“Since the chiefe officer alwais sits at the presence-door, you have reason to differ with me in opinion as you doe.
“I pray you remember to leave verry plaine and full informations with L. (Osborn), and F. (Dowsett), and particularly how to keepe intelligence with our friends at London.
“J.”
Number V
King Charles to Captain Titus.
Without date.
“I will send you my cheefe instrument by D. (Firebrace), and I desyre you to make good tryals and give me good instructions, for I know not how fyling can be, without much noise and tyme, but if you can cleare this doute, I absolutely conceave this to be the best way: yet D.’s (Firebrace) new way is not to be rejected and may be tried (as I suppose) without much danger, that is to say: make this fellow of the Backstaires try how he can conduct his friends back out at that tyme of night, without strict examination of the Gards: in a word: you that walk abroad freely can much better judge of the feasibilitie of this, than I: wherefor, seriously I remitt myself to your judgement herein: ___ with this opinion; that the easie or difficult removing of the barr will cast the scales, in my judgement, betwixt the two wayse.
“Now concerning the place Whether? I vow you say true that many of my frends thinke London thefittest place & particularly A. (Cresset), and Q. (Lowe), but I am clearer of your mynde; wherfore I earnestly & particularly recommend the provyding of a Ship in your care; for really (upon the joynt Letter you sent me from London) I have discharged the corespondent, I tould you that I had, beyond the Water.
“If your Dismission stood upon me, it should not be in haste; but in earnest, it would be well if you might stay till Monday or Teusday, for adjusting all things the better. “No Cipher of myne hath miscaried, for I sent but one since I came hither & and that sure was receaved.
“I have now no more to say, but I pray you have more assurance then bare confidence of having a ship readdy:
Number VI
King Charles to Captain Titus.
Without date.
“W.
“before I answer yours I must desyre you to let me know to whom you have lent your Cypher, for if you have not, a Copie of it hath ____ stolne from you, as by these inclosed Notes you will fynde: Now to answer yours in your given order.
“As for 715 (Mrs. Whorwood) I belive you are not mistaken; for I am confident she will not deceave your trust: I think 457 (Lady Carliffe) ____ now well to me but I belive she loves 546, 193 above all things; for 714 (Dr. Fraizer) I hope he is honnest but I have not had much experience of him: for L. (Osborne) I fully concur with you both for those things that are to be left and how to comunicat business to him; wherfor I will impart nothing of thease things to him, untill you send him to me about them, or that you be gone. As for W. (Titus himself) I assure you that I am most confident in his faithfulness, circumspection and diligence: you said 715 (Mrs. Whorwood) be confident that I am no wais disgusted with anything that I heard concerning her. Be confident if an underhand Treaty be offered me, I shall make no other use of it but such as my friends shall be glad on: and cheefly to the end you mention. As for Mr. Myldmays information concerning what I _____ say of my Childrens intertainment, my Answer is ‘Cujus Contrarium verum est:’ & a Gods name say it in my name: for the other, I am confident that no Sonday since I came heere (except the last) I read on any such Booke as Argenis* so that certainly the information was then false.
“Since D. (Firebrace) must be gone, will it not be necessarie that F. (Dowcett) be particularly acquainted with all things? for I asseure you that I will communicat it to none but those whom you thinke fitt, I have now no more to say: but I pray you ajust particulars as soone as you can: and give me an account of it as soone as you may:
“J.”
“Commend me hartily to 457 (Lady Carliffe) with as many other civilities or thanks as you shall thinke fitt.
“I pray you decypher this enclosed Note, for I would not doe it though I begun it, because I thinke it a Rogery: I send you all that came with it.”
Number VII
King Charles to Captain Titus.
Without date.
“W.
“Since your stay is so short here you must excuse me though I importune you with papers having little to say: Amongst other particulars I pray you thinke wch way I shall remove the bar out of my Window without noise and unperceaved, and what time it will take me to doe it.
“I am glad that you will acquaint F. (Dowsett) with particulars; for since D. (Firebrace) must depart I think it absolutly necessary: but I doe not desyre that A. or O. (Cresset or Lowe) should any more medle in it: though I belive they meane well, yet let us not loose theire correspondence. If you hit in this new way, consider if the tyme of night would not be alterd, for I belive you will now fynde that I must first goe to Bed, before I offer to goe away, but I refer it to your judgement.
“J.
‘Trye what you may doe to ___ fill Monday: & forgett not to give me an account of your meeting as soone as you can.”
Number VIII
King Charles to Captain Titus.
Without date.
“W.
I have been considering the Bar of my Window & fynde that I must cut it in two places; for that place where I must cut it above, I can hyde it with the leade that tyes the Glasse; but there is nothing that can hyde the lower part: wherfor, I conceave it cannot but be discovered, if I leave it off, when I have once begune it: and how to make but one labour of it, I cannot yet conceave: but if I had a forcer, I could make my way well anufe; or if you could teache me how to make the fyre-shovell & tongues supply that place, wch I belive not impossible.
“Of this (I meane how to remove the Bar) I desyre to be resolved before you goe; wherefor I pray you give me an answer to this as soone as you can, for I belive our maine business depends much upon it.
“J.
“I pray you 577: 359: 117: 343: 279: 20: 356: (to be sure of a ship).”
Number IX
King Charles to Captain Titus.
Without date.
“W.
“The difficultie of removing the Bar, hath made my thoughts runne much upon the later Designe: it is this: since for my goeing out at Window, it is necessary that an Officer or two should be gained, will not they as willingly & may they not more easily, helpe me out at the Dores?
“And truly in my judgement there can be nothing of lesse hazard then this last Desygne, if say one Officer can be ingaged in it; for then my Disgyse will make me passe safly through all the guards, wherefore I pray you thinke well upon it, for I am most confident that I am in the right, yet for Gods sake make your objections freely to what I have said; or, if you do not understand me tell me in what, & I hope that I shall satisfie you; however I pray you lett me have your Opinion of this, as soone as you may, whether it be Pro or Con: if this Desygne be resolved on, we need not stay for Dark Nights.
“J.”
“I am extreamly wel satisfied with the later part of your Paper.”
Number X
King Charles to Captain Titus.
Without date.
“W.
“This being a Business of Action & not of words, I will be verrie brife, & I were much too blame, if I were otherwais; for really (to my judgement) it is so well layed that I have but one particular to make a Quere upon (after thryce reading over your paper) wch is, whether I shall have tyme anufe after I have Supt & before I goe to Bed, to remove the Bar: for if I had a Forecer, I would make no question of it; but having nothing but fyles I much dout that my time be too scant wherefore I desyre to be well instructed in it: wch being ajusted I know nothing to be mended in your Paper. But you know, there must be ‘Terminus ad quem,’ as well as ‘Terminus a quo;’ therfore I desyre to know, whether you intend that I should goe after I am over the Water?
“I desyre you to Answer this Paper as soon as you can.
“Henceforth I will goe early to Bed.”
Number XI
King Charles to Captain Titus.
665:637:643:279:672: (Sunday 14th of May).
“W.
“Yesterday I receaved fower letters from you with a great number of others from divers of my friends as 634: 169: 251: 680: 636: 169: 457: (one from my wife and from Lady Carlisle) as many from 715 (Mrs. Whorwood): the lyke nomber from both A. and O. (Cresset and Lowe) besydes a great bundle from 714 and 708 (Dr. Fraizer and Col. Legge), also fower from D. (Firebrace) and one from T: This I give you an account of because not having tyme now to write to any of thease my friends I desyre you to make my excuse to them, & lett them know that I have receaved all theire letters: now as to your Answer: all that I have to say to yours of the first of this Month, is, that as I see that you are well satisfied with me, so I am with you, (for those two of the 12th, that wch is out of Cypher I know not what you meane by it; but I thanke you for the Advice you give me in the other). 739: 209: 165: 363: 284: 478: (104: 359: 361: 302:) 263: 117: 106: 78: 91: 318: 67: (though I finde that our design (as to this place) must be altered). Now as to that of the 9th, my Answer is, that 158: 251: 60: 108: 210: 302: 420: 263: 20: 7: 10: 212: 78: 210: 230: 411: 420: 108: Z: 263: 79: 144: 250: 404: 209: 349: 80: 21: 41: 92: 705: (for my landing place you must apoint it, likewise You and Worsley must tell me where I shall take boate). I can write no more concerning 251: 686: (my escape) untill I have consulted with L. (Osborne): in the mean tyme I must tell you that now I can asseure you that no letter of myne hath miscarried, for I have had an Answer of that from 251: 680: (my wife) wch I suspected, there being no other possibiletie of doeing harme. 660: 639: 643: 1 before this morning I could not speak with L. (Osborne), wch hath given me tyme to write thease two inclosed; that superscribed in french is to 251: 680: (my wife) the other to 715: (Mrs. Whorwood); this last I thought fitt to write to encourage and thanke 187 (her), because I fynde that 63: 14: 91: 92: 194: 437: 143: 420: 212: 571: 216: 360: 356: (she hath assisted you in providing the ship). Now as for 284: 184: 453: 200: 209: 479: 420: 359: 117: 38: 212: 359: 53: 20: 210: 158: 250: 281: 659: 274: 108: 335: 112: 151: 46: 275: 79: 158: 22: 651: 359: 39: 92: 360:50:29:117:131: 634: 275: 80: 253: 164: 108: 102: 289: 14: 210: 202: 210: 117: 216: 35: 10: 78: 15:608:637:108: 483: 11: 382: 359: 340: 279: 643: 359: 420: (our great business, I desire you to begin to waite for me on Monday next and so after, every night for a weeke together, because one night may faill and accomplish it, and it being both troublesome and dangerous to send off word to you); and for the 371:203:420:263: 226: 363: 210: 211: 251: 96: 16: 103: 36: 93: 51: 392: 135: 118: 405: 209: 263: 137: 340: 360: 289: 117: 216: 335: 54: 23: 97: 16: 143: 363: 210: 116: 270: 117: 98: 31: 78: 404: 158: 209:263: 631: 177: 359: 35: 143: 335: 363: 251: 321: 279: 128: 216: 169: 251: 99: 15: 103: 46: 94: 52:399: 117: 115: 644: 105: 275: 18: 200: (time here, you must know that it is my chamber window on which I must descend the other being so wached that it cannot be cut, wherfor I must first to bed so that my time of coming from my chamber may be about eleven at night): for the rest 420: 401: Z: 263 128: 296: 91: 89: 16: 282: 344: 209: 126: 117: 401: 420: (you with Worsley must compute how soone I can be with you). This is as much as for the present I can say concerning 251: 686: (my escape), and I hope such as will give you reasonable good satisfaction: but I desyre you to send me speedie word if any thing that I have written be obscure, or not full to what you desyre to know; also 404: 209: 349: 78: 23: 41: 705: 108: 404: 531: 200: 230: 411: 420: 263: 182: 250: 20: 2: 53: 280: 67: 363: 209: 253: 226: 251: 174: 63: 212: 360: 141: 42: 92: (where I shall take boate and where lande, like wife you must give me a passe word that I may know my friends in the darke). And now I have no more to say but what I cannot say according to my mynde, wch is to express my satisfaction & thankes to you, for what you have done for me in this Business; only this, you shall fynde me really,
“Your most asseured constant frend,
“J.”
“You must remember to 231: 198: 64: 335: 363: 209: 253: 264: 269: 65: 80: 21: 46: 117: 78: 54: 212: 251: 531: 216: 108: 315: 35: 280: 11: 33: 40: 16: 24: (leave horses so that I may have no stay between my landing and Queensborough).”
Number XII
King Charles to Captain Titus
659: 647: 635: 672: (Monday twenty-two May).
“W.
“Yesterday & not before I receaved three of your letters, in Answer to which first I asseure you that 367: 211: 269: 338: 377: 104: 109: 375: 117: 78: 53: 91: 94: 71: 92: 689: 108: 250: 280: 109: 377: 230: 210: 200: 108: 209: 399: 389: 93: 50: 251: 232: 213: 209: 193: 20: 656: 363: 360: 136: 133: 127: 96: 94: 51: 72: 216: 541: 97: 281: 108: 251: 680: 211: 21: 1: 67: 103: 73: 113: 228: 91: 158: 106: 187: 532: 63: 359: 250: (there is no such thing as any tiff between him and me or anything like it, and I will offer my life if I had a chance that the discourse concerning Con2 and my wife is a damned lye, for all he says to me) ever since I came hither 397: 218: 359: 360: 127: 79: 52: 22: 50: 46: 2: 65: 152: 201:1 08: (was just to the contrary passe, and) I desyre you to assure all my frends in my name that all this is punctually true, & in particular to 457 (Lady Carlisle): that if (as you have said) 367: 349: 117: 109: 564 254: 91: 250: 118: 360: 512: 298: 209: 399: 281: 228: 264: 382: 92: 279: 210: 212: 557: 359: 251: 686: (there shall be any Treaty made me by the Parliament party I would only have use of it in order to my escape); also take notice in my name to 457: 279: 360: 181: 599: 546: 493: 140: 250: 212: 360: 505: (Lady Carlisle of the good service done me in the affair), & excuse me to 187 (her) that now I doe not write my selfe, for indeed I have no tyme.
“As you have advised, 662: 274: 399: 117: 360: 631: 275: 80: 363: 209: 349: 430: 359: 686: 90: (Wednesday next may be the night I shall endeavour to escape); but I desyre you (if it be possible) 117: 158: 93: 364: 359: 104: 343: 250: 363: 420: 399: 117: 50: 143: 67: 47: 118: 363: 275: 78: 108: 340: 250: 3: 23: 4: 55: 280: 68: (before then to asseure me that you will be reddy on that night, and send me a passe word) wch yet you have not done. I have now no more to say, but that I hope you will remember 359: 557: 377: 63: 335: 363: 209: 349: 264: 269: 64: 78: 10: 7: 381: 80: 215: 209: 128: 359: 360: 356: (to order things so that I shall need no stop until I go to the ship), so I rest,
“Your most asseured constant frend,
“J.”
“I thought it necessary to wryte this to 715: 363: 209: 63: 78: 20: 46: 270: 158: 360: 356: (Mrs. Whorwood, that I stay not for the ship), there I pray you send it speedily to 187 (her).”
Number XIII
King Charles to Captain Titus.
662: 647: 638: 672: (Wednesday twenty-four May.)
“W.
“Yours of yesterdayes Date I have receaved this afternoone, wch, though short, gave me much satisfaction; & to wch my Answer is that 118: 360: 185: 279: 176: 209: 349: 376: 359: 686: 383: 281: 665: 275: 78: 274: 200: (by the help of fate I shall try to escape upon Sunday night next). The cause why 391: 132: 270: 135: 91: 210: 361: 275: 79: 211: 117: 131: 360: 133: 279: 360: 38: 31: 107: 67: 63: 107: 106: 80: 92: 50: 67: 158: 284: 255: 193: 210: 427: 335: 363: 367: 78: 32: 51: 71: 93: 128: 65: 116: 281: 665: 275: 79: 274: 201: 271: 359: 360: 149: 363: 715: 253: 53: 20: 210: 158: 250: 401: 104: 257: (we could not doe it this night is, because the course of the guards are altered, for our men have it settled, so that their turn comes but on Sunday night next; and to the end that Mrs Wharwood may wait for me with as much) patience, 104: 209: 226: 420: 399: 209: 379: 80: 210: 159: 359: : (as I know you would, I thought it fit to write) this enclosed, wch I pray you send speedely to 187: 202 (her hand.) So I rest,
“Your most asseured constant frend,
“J.”
“I desyre, for my satisfaction and encouragement, that you will send me word that you have receaved this as soone as you can.”
Number XIV
Monday, 10 July, 1648.
“W.
“Yours of the 5th of this month I receaved upon Saturday last: being glad to know where to fynde you, I will answer your Newes (for wch I thank you), with Newes, least our doeings heere should be misreported to you: I have been tould by such as I know will not deceave me, that, of late, this Governor thought with cunning to have screwed out an examination from the king concerning his pretended escape, for by way of freedom, showing him a letter of Mr. Osburne tuching that business, the sayd Governor desyred to know of the king, if he had heard Major Rolph say any such thing whereof Osburne accused him, but all the Answer that the king would give him was: If he knew nothing, he would tell him nothing: because his maxime is never to cleare one man to the prejudice of another, or of his owen service: and be confident, this is all in substance, that the Governor could gett from the king, concerning this business: but upon occasion of Discourse before some ladies, I heard the king say, that the Governor never offerd any Personall incivility to him (hoping they believed that he would never endure it so long as his hands were free) nor did he ever suspect hurt from him by way of Treachery: asseuring you this, in substance, is all that the king spoke for the Governor”s justification: and now, I have no more to say, but to recommend to your care the delivery of thease two inclosed letters, and to send newes as often as you can,
“Your most asseured frend,
“J.”
209: 263: 563: 228: 226: 360: 468: 279: 493: 509: 63: 429: 117: 158: 209: 126: 179: 189: 109: 463: (I must certainly know the contents of Rogers’ Papers before I can get him any answer).
“Since writing of this, I have receaved yours of the 3rd of this month, whereby I finde that you have written me two letters wch I have not receaved.
“One of these is to 457 (Lady Carlisle), and the other to 715 (Mrs. Whorwood).”
Number XV
“Saterday, 1 July 1648.
“W.
“I have newly receaved yours of the 22 June, for wch I know not whether my astoneshment or my joy were the greater; for indeed, I did dispaire of hearing any more from you, or any other of my ffrends, during these damnable tymes, without blaming anything but my owen misfortune; wch makes me the more obliged to your kyndness and industry for having found meanes to convey a letter to me: I thank you for your Newes; wch does much agree with what the Governor doth us the favor to let us know; only we heere doe belive all the Gallant honnest men in Colchester infallibly lost; though yet they hould out: and we have heard nothing concerning the votes of the Comon Councell. I am glad to hear of the welfaire of Z. & L. (Worsley and Osborn) for I feared that they had been in some disorder, to whom I pray you comend me hartely; as lykewaise to all the rest of my ffrends: and particuly to 715 (Mrs. Whorwood), telling 187 (her) that I hope 24: 63: 186 (she) knowes before this, how it was not my falt that I did [not] waite upon 187 (her) according to my promise, for which you may asseure 715 (Mrs. Whorwood) that I was and am very much greeved.
“Tuching the writings for O. Rogers, I know not what you meane; and though I did, at this time, I would not send you them, being not confident that this will come safe to you; but how soone I can have any probable asseurance of a safe conveance I shall not fail to send you what Papers you shall desyre, as also letters to dyvers of my frends, and so I rest,
“Your most asseured reall frend,
“J.”
117: 465: 71: 78: 363: 209: 349: 72: 91: 31: 92: 50: 136: 96: 10: 32: 93: 51: 109: 377: 359: 292: 84: 33: 136: 94: 109: 279: 251: 174: 66: 44: 369: (be content that I shall never discover any thing to prejudise my friend’s trust.)