MRP: 19th September 1653, Letter from Mr. Ch. Longland to secretary Thurloe
19th September 1653, Letter from Mr. Ch. Longland to secretary Thurloe
Source: Vol. vi. p. 188.[1]
Editorial history
20/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted letter
Suggested links
Assorted letters of Charles Longland, Livorno (Various)
Letter
Leghorn, 19 September, 1653. [N. S.]
Honored sir,
This week is no courier from France com for Itally; so we ar without our letters from Ingland. The French army ar got into the country of Millan, not abov 5000, and yet they sack and spoil the country without opposition. The Spanish Machiavillian pollicy has reduc't his dominions to such a paucity of piple, the better to complete his monarchical government, that if the French had not som pulbacks at hom by theyr own dissentions, I know not what should hinder them to overrun the others dominions. The pope has bin provident to turn French, at which the Spanyard is so much incenc't, that I believ he would willingly open a door to any occasion of the other's ruin. I stil send you the Roman intelligence, and shal so continue til the three monthes be expyred (for so long I have paid him.) My other new entertained intelligencer wil not (dares not) correspond with Ingland, but he wil wryt hether to me what occurs; so if you pleas, I shal recapitate his letters, and send them to you. He will have 10l. a year, whereof 5l. in hand. I know by the prys, this man is not lyk to say much, yet tis not amis to try him, and hear what he can say; at least 'til I can meet with a better, which I am labouring to fynd. I dout in conclusion I shal meet with non that dare to correspond with Ingland in that manner you desyre. They wil more esily be induc't to wryt hether. The Duch ar al gon out of this port, except two ships. 'Tis reported thos that lay at the Streits mouth, upon the arryval of the West India fleet at Cales, wer to convoy home thos merchant men ther, which wil be very rich. Four French men of war are lately gon out thence a thieving from Tollon; they ar the best ships the king of France has in thes seas; they stil tak al nations they fynd, especially the Duch, whos men of war dare not look after them. The Turks fleet of gallyes is got out of Rodes to Canea, wher the forces they landed hav surpryzed a strong hold of the Venetians, who tis supposed wil not be able to hold Candia any longer. Thes seas are ful of rich Duch and French merchant-ships, which would be good pryze to the states ships, if a squadron wer in thes seas. God grant a good closure of the bisnes with the Duch at hom, and then I dout not but in convenient tym a fleet wil be sent for the Mediterranean to quel the Duch lykwys her, which is ernestly hop't for by,
Honored sir,
Your humble servant,
- ↑ Thomas Birch (ed.), 'State Papers, 1653: September (2 of 6)', A collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, vol. 1: 1638-1653 (London, 1742), pp. 456-469. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=55273 Date accessed: 20 December 2011
