Letters to Thomas Thynne, 1st Lord Weymouth from (1) George Savile, Earl and [in...

Letters to Thomas Thynne, 1st Lord Weymouth from (1) George Savile, Earl and [in 1682] Marquis of Halifax, Lord Privy Seal, etc. ff.3-54: (2) William Savile, 2nd Marquis of Halifax, ff.56-63: (3) Henry Savile, Vice Chamberlain to Charles II. and subsequently to James II, Envoy to Paris [1679-1682 etc. ff.62-83: and (4) Sir Robert Southwell, Secretary of State for Ireland, ff.84-292. The more important letters are mentioned below.

I. George, Marquis of Halifax [26 letters]: (a) on the elections and general state of the country, "The world is at present a good deal heated, and I have just interest enough at Court to entitle mee to a part of the fury of the Coffyhouses": 31 July, 1679. f.3: (b) on public affairs, "our little friend doth not keep his word in talking of mee ...... and the letter about the D. of Monmouth in which no doubt the little Gentleman is consulted is written in a style to stirre the world up immediately into a confusion. If such extremityes come of without some violence of one side or other, it is strange, for I beleeve there is no history can shew such Preliminaries to a Civill Warre, or to some very tragicall thing which cannot beforehand been well defined", etc: 6 May 1680. f.9: (c) on the relations of James, Duke of York with the Court, "I am told there is now as much anger against him at Whitehallvas there can bee at the other end of the town, so industrious his Highnesse hath been to spoyle his own businese, the waves beat so high against him that a great part of the world will not hear of anything less than exclusion, for my own part ...... if there is any possibility of making ourselves safe by lower expedients I had rather use them than venture upon so strong a remedy as the disinheriting the next heire of the Crown": 5 Oct. 1680. f.13: (d)on the same subject, "I am not without hopes of the K's being disposed to do things that may in some measure satisfy the world, and for the great point, Popery, he seemeth to bee intirely convinced that the Jealousies concerning it must bee cured or else he can never expect any quiet": 18 Oct. 1680. f.16: (e) that the Duke is "going tomorow by sea into Scotland with all his family": 19 Oct. 1680 f.17: (f) on the elections and Court affairs: Rufford, 27 Feb. 1680. f.23: (g) on public affairs, "The K. will certainly have the Plt. sit in November that hee will ask no money of them but tell them of the Alliances which by that time will bee all compleated, they suppose that will contribute to put them in better humour, and whatever else is necesary either in relation to Popery or to shew he is absolutely separated from the interest of France hee will do": Fotheringhay, 21 June, [1681]. f.33: (h) on private matters and (the latter part) on public affairs, "It is pretty certaine ..... that there are divisions at Court, the Papists who have estates begin to have quaulmes and would be willing to stop a career which may be so dangerous to them in the Conclusion": etc. London, 21 Feb. 1687[8] f.51.

II. William, 2nd Marquis of Halifax: Three letters on domestic and unimportant matters: 24 June, 1697, 26 June, 1699 and n.d.

III. Henry Savile, (eleven letters, the following having most interest): (a) "I conjure you by all the friendships betwixt us to give me a true one of my brother (sc. Lord Halifax] whose proceedings have soe stunned mee and afflicted mee that I know not what to thinke of him. Is it possible in human nature that hee can bee really a friend either to the person or the principles of the D. of Y, etc. St Germains, Jan. 3 [1680]. f.64: (b) "The King of France is soe well restored to his healthe that the polititians who calculated upon his death must worke upon new foundations. There is a discourse heer of a peace betwixt the Empr and Turkes, but few doe not give credit to it": Whitehall, 30 Dec. 1686. f.74: (c) "I am going to Bushey parke to reflect what course of life I shall take to beeing noe longer a Courtier, a trade that having practised two and twenty yeares I know not what difficulty I shall have in undertaking a new one": Whitehall, 8 Mar. 1686(7). f.78.

IV. Sir Robert Southwell: nearly all containing public news of great interest, among them being: (a) "There is great preparation tomorrow for Mr Sydney's tryall, and the Court is neither to want lords or ladys for Mr Astry tells me yt the prisoner has subpenad the D. of Bucks, D. of Norfolke, Dr Burnett, severall of ye Howards .... 'tis said my Lady Portsmouth has curiosity to be in Court": London, 20 Nov. 1683. f.88: (b) on Irish appointments and general public news, "I doe not yett heare what good stairs assisted Sr John Churchill to the Rolls, ..... it seems my Lord of Ormonde has leave to meete his successour on this syde, but it does not seeme he will much meddle in businesse", etc. King's Weston, 13 Jan. 1684[5] d.95: (d) on Irish affairs, "What your Lordship notes of shutting up the holy Houses on the other syde will doubt-less have the effects your Lordship mentions, I hear that on Monday my Lord Arran tooke post from London, and that much of his Matys displeasure is grounded on the behaviour of Mr Ellis an Industrious Ta[l]ker who has been too much countenanced": King's Weston, 22 Jan. 1684[5]. f.99: (d) on various changes of diplomatic and other offices and general affairs, "I am of opinion that the Peace of Scotland and Ireland does consist in the perfect security of either, for unless they can be backdores to each other, the rebellious spirits will hardly stirr", etc. King' Weston, 5 Dec. 1684. f.133: (e) on the rejoicings on the proclamation of King James II. King's Weston, 9 Feb. 1684[5] f.107: (f) referring, inter alia, to Lord Weymouth's intended departure for Portugal, and advising him as to residence at Lisbon, and appointment of a chaplain, etc. 9 Feb. 1685[6]. f.117: (g) on public affairs, "I doe not doubt but my Lord Lieutenant knowes uppon what termes he stands, not on those of Philosphy that Intus existens prohibet alienum, but that the Staticks prevayle, and that the rivals for his office are of equall poize. In the meane time he is in Ireland the Darling of ye English and where in his late progresse he has beene mett by 500 of these ina Troop, not 3 Irish men would vouchsafe to appeare among them to show any Respect": 18 Nov. 1686. f.147: (h) condoling with Lord Weymouth on the death of Mr Secretary Coventry "It will require some ages to restore to the publick such a paire of Brothers as we latelt have lost": 17 Dec. 1686. f.156: (i) giving the names of "the 8 new Privy Councellors for Ireland", and other Irish appointments "Mr Sheridan to be Secretary to his Excellency", etc. 17 Jan. 1686[7] f.160: (j) general news, mentioning Dr Jane, Sir Richard Nagle, Duke of Grafton, Sir George Strickland, Sir William Trumbull, "Mr Pepys", etc. 15 April, 1687. f.172 (k) "I am just now reading Mr Dryden's Hynde and Panther. If it was by him and his friends designed to breede good blood I am mistaken if they gett their ends": 16 June, 1 1687. f.186: (1) mentioning two papers "which come out with Allowance, the Test of the C. of England loyalty, And an Answer to the Oxford Reasons": 4 July, 1687. f.188: (m) referring to the approaching trial of the Seven Bishops: 31 May, 1688. f.239: (n) on the same subject, and on the birth and christening of the young prince the "Duke of Cornwall": 15 June, 1688. f.243: (o) on the rejoicings at the acquittal of the Bishops: 20 June, 1688. f.245: (p) " 'Tis a dismall account Mr F. gives of the abandoned condition of the P. of Wales and how all the Phisitians had dispayred of him", etc. 6 Aug. 1688. f.261: (q) "We have the happy tydings of the Princes Recovery by his sucking a Tyler's wife of Richmond. 'Tis sayd the Ministers have urged many things against a Parlyment, but that his Majesty resolves the contrary tho' it should be noe other than the last at Oxford", etc. 10 Aug. 1688. f.263.

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Viscount Weymouth's letters to Sir Robert Southwell 1682 - 1690