Remember my service to my brother, my cousin Brown, and the rest of my good friends. To Thomas Piggot, Esq. 11th of Jannary, 1645. My dear Friend, I HAVE very mnch to write to you concerning this place, and yet know not what to write; you have heard, I do believe, of the Earl of Glamorgan's agreement with the Irish, by which he undertook they should have all the churches within their quarters, and all other churches in the kingdom, not actually possessed by the protestant party, as also all the lands, tenements, tythes, and hereditaments belonging to the clergy, not actually possessed by the protestant party, and that they should be free from the jurisdiction of the protestant clergy; for which wild undertaking, my Lord Digby accused him of high treason, for which the Earl doth now stand committed in the Castle. What further effects this will produce, I am not able to judge, but the Irish give out, that they will treat no further with us, if that he be not set at liberty; it was part of his agreement with them, that they should send into England ten thousand men, to assist his Majesty, and a great part of them was ready to be shipped, where he was committed, which were thereupon staid; we are in a very sad condition here, environed with enemies of all sides, and in a very weak posture to defend ourselves, but the God of Jacob will I hope be our refuge. Your father and the rest of your friends are in good health. I would you had known my thoughts, or that I were with you for some time to unburden myself; God keep you and us, in the midst of these streights, and so in haste I Your assured loving friend, rest MAU. EUSTACE. This gentleman hath some business to Bristol, I pray you to befavour him therein; some estate is there fallen to him, and he is gone thither in pursuit thereof. My own and my wife's service to your noble lady. END OF VOL. V. |