Miscellaneous Select Letters and Papers, circ. 1656-1680, viz:- 1. Sir Edward Hyde...

Miscellaneous Select Letters and Papers, circ. 1656-1680, viz:-

1. Sir Edward Hyde to H. (or W.) Coventry; written at Brussels and Antwerp, circ. 1656. ff. 1-7;- as Earl of Clarendon, to H. Coventry in Ireland.; [1662?]. ff. 8-18.

2. George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, to Lord Carlisle, ambassador to Sweden, recommending the claims of Lord Cranstoun on the king of Sweden; 6 Aug., 1664. f. 20.

3. George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, to the Duke of York, excusing himself for not attending him in Yorkshire as Lord Lieutenant; Worthrop, 15 Aug., 1665. f. 22;- to Sir W. Coventry; York, 20 July, [1667]. f. 24.

4. Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington, to H. Coventry, in Sweden, on the death of Sir J. Trevor and the King's design to make Coventry Sec. of State; 28 May, 1672. f. 26;- on the repulse of the Prince of Orange at Woorden, etc.; 15 Oct., 1672. f. 33;- on a mutiny among troops ordered to Ireland, and French and Flemish news; 6-22 Apr., 24 May, 1674. ff. 41, 45, 47, 49, 51, 52;- to Charles II., on the same mutiny; 7 Apr., 1674. f. 43;- to H. Coventry, with the King's approval of his directions to the East India Co.; 22 July, 1674. f. 56;- explaining that the King in his impatience "to heare what they would saye of the battle" had opened Coventry's Flanders Letters "with his owne hande"; 10 Aug., 1674. f. 58;- urging his claims to "lapsed money" in Ireland; 15 Apr., 1675. f. 62;- on arrangements for a post to Windsor during the King's stay; 6 July, 1675. f. 64;- protesting against Customs officers opening letters in search of lace; 12 July, 1675. f. 65;- on a petition of Col. Lane's daughters for a pension in Ireland; 4 Aug.; 1675. f. 67;- on the King's promise to Sir N. Armours, of the "profit of making a baronet"; 2 Aug., 1677. f. 121;- on the services of F. Parry in Portugal, etc.; 31 Aug., 1677. f. 126;- on the same Subject, and on the manner "how the Spanish ministers use his Majesty" and the "tenderness" to be shown in opening Spanish letters in the post; 10 Sept., 1677. f. 128;- to I. Dorislaus, on Sec. Coventry's threat to turn the latter "out of the Post Office" for declining to communicate what "you finde in the letters you open"; 10 Sept, 1677. f. 130; to H. Coventry, in favour of T. Dereham, consul at Leghorn; 7 Aug., 1679. f. 175.

5. Sidney Godolphin to H. Coventry, on his being made Sec. of State; Camp at Utrecht, 4 July, 1672. f. 27;- on an interview with Louis XIV.; Paris, 10 Aug., 1672. f. 31;- with the King's commands to warn the Duchess of Savoy not to enter into any measures to disturb the peace, particularly "against the republick of Genova"; Newmarket, 16 Mar., 1679-1680. f. 178. With answer. f. 180;- with the King's commands on various matters; Newmarket, 21-24 Mar, 1679-1680. ff. 185-193.

6. Edward Seymour to H. Coventry, on an interview with the Prince of Orange, the prospects of peace, etc.; "At anchor before the Brill", 4 July, [1672]. f. 29.

7. Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, to Prince Rupert concerning supplies for the fleet and the King's approval of his "turning out through the middle grounds"; 14 May, 1673. f. 34.

8. H. Coventry to Charles II, as to victualling the fleet, and on an alleged design of "five Hollanders" to assassinate him; 17 May, 1673. f. 36;- to J. Cooke, under Secretary, with an account of the King's illness; Windsor, 24 Aug., 1679. f. 177;- to Lord Ossory, on a patent for Lord Longford to be Governor of Carrickfergus; 19 Mar., 1680. f. 182;- to Bishop Mews; 20 Mar, 1680. f. 183;- to S. Godolphin, with business for the King as to the trial of Lord Tyrone, etc.; 20 Mar, 1680. f. 183.

9. Order of the House of Commons to Sir W. Coventry, Sir Thomas Meeres, and [William] Garraway to enquire from Lord Shaftesbury whether he "hath at any time seen an Alter and a Crucifix in the house of Mr Pepys"; 10 Feb., 1674. With report in the hand of Sir W. Coventry. ff. 38, 40.

10. Thomas Osborne, Viscount Latimer, [Earl of Danby, 27 June, 1674]. Lord Treasurer, to H. Coventry, as to the payment of moneys due to him; 8 June, 1674. f. 54.

11. Information as to John Milton's books having since his death "byn lookt over by one Mr. [Daniel] Skinner, a scholar and a bold young man, whoe has cull'd out what he thought fitt", etc., and taken a MS. of Milton's "On the Civil and Ecclesiastical Government of this Kingdom" abroad to be printed at Leyden; circ. 1675. f. 60.

12. Col. John Churchill to H.F. Thynne in favour of a "poor gentilman", having a petition to the Lord Lieut. of Ireland;- Aug., 1675. f. 69.

13. R. Ingram to W. Ernley at Windsor, on an affray between Lord Digby and Lord Shaftesbury; Downton, Sunday [29 Aug, 1675]. f. 71.

14. Deposition of Joseph Derbie as to words of Col. Rich Norton against the church of England, spoken to Lord Shaftesbury; 2 May, 1676. f. 74.

15. Sir Will. Morice to H. Coventry, on a rumour of the latter's being "removed", etc.; "I know no two men more capable and better qualified for Secretaries of State then the 2 brothers of the Coventryes"; 3 May, 1676. f. 76.

16. Laurence Hyde, to H.F. Thynne; "aboard the Anne yacht before Cronenburgh Castle", 24 July, 1676. f. 78.

17. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, to H. Coventry, complaining of an affront from the Corporation of Nottingham; 5, 19 Aug, 1676. ff. 80, 82.

18. Lord Chancellor Finch to H. Coventry, sending the "bill for making Mr. Sergeant Scrogs a judge", with an account of a conference with the Dutch ambassador; 14 Oct., [1676]. f. 84.

19. Sir Roger L'Estrange, Licenser of the Press, to Sam. Mearn, with orders not to interfere with the pamphlet "Animadversions to the men of Shaftesbury"; 4 Feb., 1677. Copy. f. 86.

20. Thomas Butler, Lord Ossory, to [H. Coventry] sending the King's order, "writt with his own hand, there being never a dog of a secretary here", [for Lord Wharton's release from the Tower till 21 May]; 20 Apr., 1677. (The original order is in the British Library, Stowe MS. 142. f. 92). f. 88;- to H. Coventry, with the King's order to give the bearer, St. Paul, £50 for secret service; 31 July, 1679. f. 173.

21. Joint petition from the Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Salisbury and Earl of Shaftesbury to the King for release from the Tower; [1677]. Signed. f. 92.

22. Petitions of Lord Shaftesbury to Charles II. from the Tower, finally (see ff. 94, 110) making his "humble submission", and begging the King's pardon, acknowledging "that his endeavoring to maintaine that the Parliament is dissolved was an ill advised action", etc.; 1677. ff. 94, 96, 106, 110, 112, 113.

23. Minute of the Council, 4 May, 1677, of the King's answer to the petitions of the Earls of Salisbury and Shaftesbury from the Tower, finding them "very short of what they themselves must needes know to bee necessary to precede theyre releasement"; in H. Coventry's hand. f. 97.

24. Petitions of the Duke of Buckingham to Charles II. from the Tower, praying for release for such time as your Majesties goodnes and charity shall thinke fitt" on account of ill health, etc; 31 May, 1677, and n.d. ff. 99, 102, 103.

25. Lord Shaftesbury to H. Coventry, begging him to "move his majesty" on his behalf; 1 June, 1677. f. 107;- begging him to inform the King of his "resolve to submit to the house of Lords their order as the other three Lords have doun"; 13 Feb, 1677-1678. f. 132.

26. John Rushworth to H. Coventry, sending the "last papers of the second Parte of my Historicall Collections", with particulars of the same; 19 July, 1677. f. 115;- promising to furnish an entire copy after he has put the materials in order and submitted them to Sir Thomas Page; 28 Aug., 1677. f. 124. With title page and "A Proposall"., ff. 117, 118.

27. H. Slingesby to H. Coventry, asking for admittance to Lord Shaftesbury in the Tower, concerning the accompts of the Mint for "the Dunkirke moneys coined" while Shaftesbury was Chancellor of the Exchequer; 20 Aug., 1677. f. 123.

28. List of military stores, etc., "demanded by the Duke of Monmouth" for Flanders; 7 Mar., 1678. Copy. f. 134.

29. Instructions for Col. John Churchill, "sent as our Envoyé to the Prince of Orange"; 3 Apr., 1678. Copy. f. 136.

30. Narrative by H. Coventry "of proceedings since the arrivall of the Prince of Orange" relating to negotiations for the defence of the Netherlands against the French; preceded by a note from Sec. Williamson to H.F. Thynne, 25 Apr., 1678, stating that the King had appointed the morrow to receive the narratives of the Secretaries of State on the subject. ff. 141, 143. Followed (f. 145) by a similar Narrative in the hand of Lord Treasurer Danby.

31. Samuel Pepys to H. F. Thynne, as to the stopping of certain vessels at Plymouth or Falmouth; 25 Oct. 1678. f. 147.

32. Henry Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle, to H. Coventry, recommending Sir Ralph Knight for a Dep. Lieutenant of Notts; Welbeck, 29 Nov., 1678. f. 150.

33. Letters of Ralph Montagu and Elizabeth, Countess of Northumberland, his wife, relative to a summons to the former to attend the King, [to answer to a charge of secret correspondence with the Pope's Nuncio in France, etc.]; Jan.-Feb, 1679. With two petitions from the Countess in her husband's behalf. ff.151-166.

34. Declaration by Charles II. in Council that he was never contracted or married to "any woman whatsoever, but to my present wife Queen Katherine"; Whitehall, 3 Mar., 1679. Official copy. f.167.

35. Louis Duras, Earl of Feversham, to H. Coventry, recommending J. Keating for Chief Justice in Ireland; 20 Mar, [1679]. f.169.

36. George Savile, Viscount Halifax, to H. Coventry, with commands from the King, who refuses to put off a Council-Meeting on account of a wedding; 5 July, 1679. f.171. See CO/VOL. LXXXIII, f.152.

37. Sir William Coventry to Lord Arlington, as to the accompts of Sir Robert Vyner; 30 Oct., 1680. Copy. f.195.

38. Letters to H. Coventry from British officers serving abroad; 3 Aug., 1672-7 Mar., 1679. ff.197-290.

Included are letters from:- Robert Dillon, Earl of Roscommon, commanding a regiment in the French service; Nancy, 3 Aug., 1672. f.197;- Sir Rich. Dutton, on the siege of Maestricht, the behaviour of Charles Coventry, etc.; Maestricht and Nancy, 19 June - 8 Sept., 1673. ff.199, 203, 205;- Louis Duras, Lord Duras; Nancy 4 Aug., 1673. f.201;- Sa. Woodde, on the bravery of Charles Coventry, etc; Nancy, 9 Sept., 1673. f.207;- Francis, Count Taaffe, from the Imperial army; 8 Oct., 1675-2 Sept., 1678. ff.209, 211, 213, 274;- George Douglas, Earl of Dumbarton, Sir John Lanier and Col. Thomas Dongan, on the recall of British regiments in the French service; 29 Jan. - 17 Aug., 1678. ff.215-271;- Thomas, Butler, Earl of Ossory, Hague, etc.; 17 Mar. - 27 Nov., 1678. ff.238, 240, 249, 263, 272, 284;- Charles Fanshawe; Brussels and Louvain, 3 Sept., 1 Oct., [1678]. ff.280, 282;- James Tuchet, Earl of Castlehaven; Brussels, 17 Feb., 7 Mar., 1679. ff.286, 288.

Ff.290.