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CXXXIV. THE EARL OF ESSEX TO WILLIAM HARBOrd.

MR. HARBORD,

Dublin Castle, March 31, '74. The severall discourses that have bin in Towne of my removall from this Govert, tho' I am confidt there was no ground for them, yet I would be glad that before you leave London you doe engage my Lord of Arlington, or Secretary Coventry, or some other whom we may be sure of that should be watchfull, if at any time hereafter such an intention should be, that I may have timely notice thereof. This I thought fitt to let you know by a safe hand, & pray setle it with some person before you come away.

CXXXV.-WILLIAM HARBORD TO THE EARL OF ESSEX.

MAY YT PLEASE YR EXCELLENCY,

4th Apr. '74.

I writt to you at large by ye last post, & gave you an Account of our affaires here. There came in a packet this weeke from Ireland dated 24° of ye last month, but I had none int, where off I desire y Excellency to take advice, least, comming under Mr. Bridgman's care, I might misse ym, not by accident, & I am the more suspitious because of ye last Letter you writt to Arlington about Ranelagh, where off I supose Arlington will give Essex notice this night, and what directions King gave int. I feare yt ye Farmers doe think ymselves hard used by Lord Ranelagh, & yt Essex is too greatly inclining to Ranelagh in their opinion. They have taken ye whole Farme upon ymselves, & Dr. William Sleare & one Muschiamp are their partners; but they endeavour to rout Sleare & Muschiamp, if possible. They are also in hopes to gain 5 yeares added to ye present terme, & offer for it upon ye same Covernents

to paye 229,000l. & 20,000l. to ye privy purse yearly. Ye last is a strong motive in this age, & to advance 100,000l., repaying ymselves yearly 20,000l. for 5 years till ye same be repaid, I feare this will take, though certainly more might be gotten for it, ready money well placed being a great promoter of buissinesse here.

Mr. Bridgman will send y' Excellency this night his Maties Directions how to proceede against y° Arch. Bish. etc. King doth on all occasions expresse so great a value for Essex, yt he may have any thing donne yt he shall advise, so as it be delivered to King fairly; but I think, wthout vanity, yt ye best way is to write what ever you have a minde to in a distinct clause by itself, & send it me to reade to King, & I doe almost engage ye any thing reasonable wilbe granted; but I cannot finde cleane hands, from some little interest or another, to put it into. The King went to Newmarket on Thursday last, & wilbe back next Saturday.

My Lord Trear is better in health, but looks ill & unhealthy. I shal be glad to receive y' comands by ye first, yt so I may be moving

from hence.

Mutton is here at 8d. per pound; Beef, 4d.; Corne for bread, 10 s per Bushell, & all things to be eaten proportionable. The Dutch Ambass are expected daily. We are in great streights for money, especially the Navy; & tis ye generall opinion yt ye parliament will hold, such are our necessities.

CXXXVI.--WILLIAM HARBORD TO THE EARL OF ESSEX. MAY YT PLEASE YR EXCELLENCY,

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7 Apr. 274.

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To the end that no time may be lost for ye Dispatching ye Instructions, I am just going to Newmarket to deliver his Maties Letters to him, & to discourse wth him upon those points wherein ye Excellency Desires his present Direction, & to me ye proposalls & advice

seem so discreet yt I hope to finde successe, & I am the more encouraged to hope so by ye great readinesse I find in King to receave any account from me of ye manner of Government, & so frankly on every occasion to seeme quiet & satisfied wth ye trust he has reposed in you, though you can not but believe yt many persons are both ready & willing for divers ends & Designes to doe a man in so considerable a post as you are in all the Ill effects they can ; &, wthout flattery, Esser is by all the best men here in great creditt, & wilbe so in despight of all men, so long as he promotes the Protestant Interest. I hope ye letter concerning ye proceedings upon the Adress, & sent away last Saturday, will come safe to y1 hands, & not be unpleasing to you, & tis my humble opinion yt you may make good use of it, not only in point of reputation to yr self, but by yr prudent conduct in it, his Maties affaires there may Receave great Benefitt, & ye Kingdome both a security to one & a satisfaction to ye other party.

I begg yr Excellencies pardon for this degression, &, in obedience to y comands, shall reminde his Maty of ye Letter writt to you by Shaftesbury by comand for King, & of ye contents thereoff, And endeavour to obstruct in the first place this Torrent, wch, in my poore opinion, Threatens disorders as well as the Disquieting of men's mindes & futures, but if that can not be then, I will get the Letters yr Excellency hath sent signed, & Returne ym to you by ye first oportunity.

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I did ye last night discourse wth Arlington at supper with him about these Murdering Letters. He Excuseth himself ritely as Keeper, but-Dulce est Lucrum, etc.; & I finde yt Ingredients moves ye great ones as well as ye Little here. I will Imploy all ye Creditt & understanding I am Master of to Convert this affaire either to ye good of ye King and his affaires there preferable to all other considerations or to yr Reputation; yt so no blame may lye at yr Excellencies Doors, for not having done yr part. I have

advised wth Sir Hen. Capell and Sr Ch. Harbord, whome I dare saye may be benefited, & shall take my measures accordingly.

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I confesse 'tis a wonderfull thing to see that nothing yt is either good or great can be designed for ye publique, but some pattent either Illegale or Inconvenient stands in the way; though I confess I am convinced yt the coyning of Farthings & half pence, such I meane as yr Excellency would owne for countenance in Ireland, is not practicable, wthout putting his May to a great charge, & yt a 3a part & lesse of ye expense will bring great quantities out of England, such as will give you security & quiet, weh in this age is perhaps preferable to yt generosity wch Invites y1 Excellency to have ym coyned there for ye good of ye Kingdome during y1 Government of it. At my coming over I will more particularly informe yr Excellency of this affaire, & I hope satisfye you yt no care nor paines have been wanting to observe y' Commands int. As for what relates to Kilmainham Mills, I hope by Lawe they wilbe his Maties. Sr Maurice insists much upon a pattent he hath thereoff, and yt confirmed by ye Act, but shows none, & sometimes 'tis in Ireland & sometimes here. Arlington used to tell me yt his Interest arose from Dutchess of Cleaveland, but I have often had of late an opportunity to speake with Dutchess of Cleaveland, & finde that S Maurice is pursuing a buishiness there, but 'tis of another nature. And I am assured yt 'tis his money that gives him that favour he meets wth, but whether he give it to Arlington or Bridgman or both I know not, but believe both. I shall satisfye his Maty of his Right to those Mills by ye 2 Certificates your Excelley hath sent.

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I hope to see y Excellency at ye Head of some very good & publicke thing in that kingdome, though y' Designes for coyning of Farthings answer not y1 Expectation, but his Maty Inclining to

trust with a Parleament there, wich he hath often exprest to me, I hope y creditt wth them will incline them to assist his Maty wth money for ye building of some shipping for the Defence of their Navigation, upon the welfare whereoff depends ye value of all their Estates, and indeed their common security, and the fortifying their harbours, providing stores for their Defence & places proper to Lodge them Inn safely against all Events. Of those heads I have discoursed wth his Maty, who seems infinitely satisfyed wth you, & Resolves to put ye Conduct of a Parliament into yr Hands, saying yt you could govern it better than himself, & yt y' tlent laye yt way, and much more to this effect, whereoff at my comming over I will give yr Excellency a more particular account.

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Here hath been on Sunday last some disturbance among 2 Companies commanded by Lord Mount Alex & Captain Swiftnan, ye famous Robber, but It seems he hath bought Mr Wicherley's Company in y Duke of Bucks his Regiment. These 2 Companies coming from Winchester in their way to Chester were much dissatisfyed with their officers ill paying of ym & some ill usage about their last Expedition at Sea, fell into disorders, thereupon tooke ye Colours, & 85 of ye whole number came away to London to com. plaine, whereoff ye officers giving notice to ye Lord Craven, a party of ye Guard House were drawne out, & sent to meet ym at Brainford, commanded by Collingwood & Hewett. They mett ym there, inclosed ym, & taking away their Coulors & Armes inquired into the thing, seized on 5 of ye most guilty, brought ym away to ye Horse Guards, & sent ye other 80 on their march wth their Armes. Ranelagh was there to vindicate himself last night yt he had paid the officers wch he hath done to ye 7th of March; but Savage, Predecessor to Ld. Mount Alex & Wicherley, have not been so just to ye Soldiers.

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I finde yt Ranelagh & Bridgman are laying a plott to divide

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