The CASE of the Children of Sir William Curtius Baronet, late Resident for the Crown of England to the Princes of the Empire.
Anno 1639 [...]tructions da [...] the 14th of [...]ober 1632, [...]er the Com [...]nds and Ad [...]sses of Sir [...]ncis Winde [...]ck.HIS Majesty King CHARLES the First sent him to the Dyet of Noremberg with Credential Letters to most of the Electors, Princes and States of Germany, and with Instructions to carry a vigilant Eye upon all the publick Actions, and especially upon the Negotiations of the Agent of France, the Kings Nephew, being then their Prisoner, &c.
[...]e Instructions [...]der the King's [...]nd, dated the [...]st of Oct. 1639 [...]r Henry Vane. [...]r Francis Win [...]anck.In this employment His MAJESTY by Privy Seal made him an Allowance of 40 Shillings per Diem, beginning the 18th of October 1639.
Anno 1640 He was Commanded to wait and second Sir Thomas Rowe's Negotiations at Ratisbon and Vienna, upon the Restitution of the Elector Palatin, &c.
Anno 1641 [...]r Henry Vane. [...]r Edw. Nicholas.The King commanded him by Order under his own Hand, to meet the Queen Mother of France, and to find her an honourable Retreat at Collen; The 17th of June 1641, he was sent to Cassel in a Subdelegation from Sir Thomas Rowe.
Anno 1642 [...]y Lord Falk [...]nd. [...]r Edw. Nicholas.The Diet of Francfort being begun, he was commanded to apply himself to those States, for His Majesties Interests and the Restitution of the Palatinate, and especially to follow Sir Thomas Rowe's Directions, as it appears by his Instructions. Also the King having interdicted all Commerce with London, Anno 1643 [...]r Edw. Nicholas. [...]y Lord Digby. [...]r Thomas Rowe. he was commanded to encourage Merchants to send to the Ports in His Majesties Obedience, &c.
Anno 1644 [...]y Lord Digby. [...]r Edw. Nicholas. [...]y Lord Gowr [...]g at Paris.And to inform those Princes and Publick Ministers of the Affairs agitated in England, to translate and publish the King's Declarations, Manifesto's, and other Treaties in His Majesty's behalf, especially about the Sickness and Death of King JAMES, &c. to entertain the Overtures of the Reddition of Frankendall, made by Count Rebolledo and the Spanish Ambassadour at Francfort.
Anno 1645 [...]r Edw. Nicholas. [...]y Lord S. Al [...]ns. [...]y Lord Digby.The King being at Oxford, and not receiving any Advertisement from his Ministers abroad, commanded him to hold his way by Mr. Bowman there (and he paid Mr. Baker Bookseller at London for it) likewise to unmask the feigned Pretences of Reformation made at London, to all the Protestants in Germany and Switzerland. The Neutrality of Frankendall being still in agitation, he sent his Secretary into England to procure his Discharge, but could not obtain it.
Anno 1646 My Lord Lane [...]ck. My Lord Digby.Both the Secretaries of State being retired into France, he was commanded to send his Dispatches to Paris, to dispatch an Express to the King of Denmark, with the Kings Cypher for the setling of a new Correspondence in France; [Page 2]the way of London being so far obstructed, that his Man (above-said) was in danger to be Hanged for an intercepted Pacquet.
Anno 1647 Sir Edw. Nicholas My Lord Lanerick. My Lord Digby.The Prince Elector having permission to wait upon the King, the Dispatches were immediately directed to His Majesty under the said Princes covert. The Duplicats being sent into France, and to my Lord Digby in Ireland.
Anno 1648 My Lord Lanerick. Sir Robert Long. Mr. Oudart.The Dispatches were sent to London, and the certainty of the Peace of Germany was by them brought to His Majesty at S. James's, whereupon His Majesty was pleased to signifie his pleasure few days before his Death to the Elector Palatin, concerning the Offices which his Resident should do with the Ministers of the Emperour. Also a correspondency was kept with the Prince of Wales, according to Order.
Anno 1649 Sir Robert Long. My Lord of Montross.His Majesty King CHARLES the Second continued him in the same Employment (at 40 s. per Diem) whereupon he waited upon the Dyet of Noremberg, where the House Palatin was effectually restored, and he received their several Commands under His Majesties own Hand for the nearer Concernments of His Crown; especially concerning my Lord of Montross, whose Declaration he printed in several Languages in Germany, and followed his Lordships Directions.
Anno 1650 Sir Robert Long. Sir Edw. Nicholas. My Lord of Lanerick.He was commanded to solicit a Loan of 20000 Rix Dollars for the King, from the Elector of Mentz at Wirtzbourg, where the Foundation was laid of that Imperial Subsidy.
Anno 1651 Sir Edw. Nicholas. Sir Robert Long.Whereof he gave the first Project to the Queen Mother at Paris, and was by Her Majesty and the Duke of York charged with divers Letters and Commissions to the Princes of Germany.
Anno 1652 Sir Edw. Nicholas. My Lord Chancellor. The Privy Seal dated at Paris 8. March 1652. My Lord Chancellor. Sir Edw. Nicholas. Sir Edw. Nicholas. My Lord Chancellor.He received the Commission to dispose all things, that the Lord Rochester might be well received at Ratisbon, the suspicion being that Whitlock should repair thither from Hambourg, &c.
Anno 1653 50000 l. Sterling were granted at Ratisbon for the King by Sir William Curtius's Mediation.
Anno 1654 He waited upon the King at Collen (where his Account currant was stated and signed by His Majesty) and he was sent back again to Francfort, especially to hasten the Circular Letters for the effectual Payment of the Subsidy, and to have an Eye upon the Proceedings of the Dyet.
Anno 1655 My Lord Chancellor. Sir Edw. Nicholas.He still followed the Orders of His Majesties Ministers of State, and continued the Solicitations of the payment of the Imperial Subsidy for the King, besides other Services
Anno 1656 My Lord Chancellor, Sir Edw. Nicholas.And the continual Offices with the Elector of Mentz and the Ambassadors of the Dyet, and with those of the Emperour and Bavaria.
Anno 1657 Sir Edw. Nicholas.During the Intrigue in Germany, and the Election of this Emperour, His Majesty was carefully advertiz'd of all Transactions.
Anno 1658 [...]ir Edw. Nicholas. [...]ll under their [...]wn Hands and [...]als.He not being able further out of his own Purse to bear the Charges of that publick Employment, His Majesty was graciously pleased to give him his discharge by his Letters Patents.
Anno 1659 Nevertheless being chosen Ambassadour for the Elector Anno 1660 Palatin at the Imperial Dyet, he did carefully attend His Anno 1661 Majesties Secretary of State with those Advertisements which did concern his Royal Interests, or were required from him, as it will appear by his Dispatches.
Anno 1662 He brought to His Majesty his Re-credential Letters from the Chancellor of the Empire 16 Novemb. 1662.
During the said Employment he kept Correspondency (according to the first Instructions) with Sir Richard Browne at Paris, Sir Henry de Vic at Brussels, Sir William Boswell at the Hague, Mr. Avery at Hambourg, Mr. Taylor at Vienna, Sir Gilbert Talbot at Venice, Sir Oliver Flemming in Switzerland, as long as they severally resided there. He likewise entertained Correspondency in most of the Courts of Germany; the only Port of Letters in so many years Negotiation, is a Charge too great for most private Men to sustain.
WE have perused this Account, Copia. and do allow and approve the same. And as we have a just and gracious sense of the constant Integrity and Affection, which Our said Trusty and Well-beloved Servant Sir William Curtius has expressed to the Service of Our most Dear and Royal Father of Blessed Memory and of Our Self, and of what he has done and suffered for the same; so We do oblige Our Self, Our Heirs and Successors for the true and faithful Payment of the said Debt of Fourteen thousand Two hundred Fifty five Pounds Sterling, to him the said Sir William Curtius, his Executors or Assigns, as soon as it shall please God to restore us to Our Rights. And in the mean time We do promise to pay him from time to time such part of it, as can possibly consist with Our most urgent Occasions. [...]l. [...]55
EDWARD NICHOLAS.
L.S.
Sir William Curtius made his Application to King CHARLES the Second for satisfaction of his Debt, and was very graciously received, and had a Privy Seal for 2000 l. to defray the Charges of his Journey, with a Promise of the whole; but of the 2000 l. he never receiv'd more than 500 l. And about the year 1678 [Page 4]died at Francfort in the Service of the Crown, leaving Five Children, and the said Debt from His Majesty unpaid.
That Adolphus Curtius, second Son of the said Sir William about a year since came into England, to solicit the payment of the said Debt on behalf of himself, his Brothers and Sisters, and Petitioned the late King JAMES the Second, who referred him to the Lords of the Treasury. But before any thing was done further therein, the late happy Revolution occur'd.
The said Adolphus Curtius hath now made Application to the Honourable House of Commons in a Petition, as is under-written:
To the Honourable the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses in this present Parliament Assembled: The humble Petition of Charles Curtius, Adolphus, Ernest Curtius, Mary and Katherine Curtius, Sons and Daughters of Sir William Curtius Baronet, Deceased:
Sheweth,
THat the said Sir William Curtius spent the greatest part of his Time and Fortune in the Service of the English Crown and Nation, during the Reigns of King Charles the First and King Charles the Second, as their Resident to the several Princes of the Empire: And his late Majesty King Charles the Second became so sensible of his Services, that he ordered him to bring in his Accounts of the Mony due to him for his Salary, and which he lent and expended in that Service, which His said Majesty stated and allowed of at 14255 l. as appears by the said Account signed by His said Majesty; who was also pleased to grant him a Private Seal for 2000 l. whereof only 500 l. was paid, as appears by Certificate under the Hand of Sir Robert Howard.
That Sir William Curtius, Your Petitioners late Father, dying in the said Employment, and the said Debt (all save the 500 l.) remaining unpaid, Your Petitioner Adolphus Curtius, in behalf of himself and his Brothers and Sisters, applied himself unto his late Majesty King James the Second for Satisfaction of the said Debt; which His Majesty took cognizance of, and referred the Consideration of it unto the Lords of the Treasury. But before His Majesty's and their Lordships pleasure and determination could be further known and obtained, the late Revolution hapned, and nothing more was done therein.
That Your Petitioners Father having much impoverished his Family in the said Service, and being a Publick Minister, and the Honour of the Nation being concerned, that Justice in this respect be done unto his Children, especially at this time, when the small remainder of their Fortunes are ravished from them by the barbarous Invasion of the Palatinate (Your Petitioners Native Country) by the French,
Your Petitioners humbly implore the Compassion and Justice of this Honourable House, to recommend them to their MAJESTIES Royal Consideration, that some Satisfaction may be made to Your poor Petitioners in such ways and methods, as to the great Wisdom of this House shall seem expedient.
And Your Petitioners shall ever pray