Westminster.

His Majesty was graciously pleased to send a Letter, dated the 22. instant to Sir Edward Turner, Speaker of the House of Com­mons, to be communicated to the House; wherein His Majesty having acquainted them of the great designe, He formerly told them He had to make His Progress this Summer, to visit Worcester and other places to pay God thanks for His miraculous deliverances, doth withall mind them of some Bills which He had told them were prepared for them for confirmation of what was enacted at their last meeting, more particularly the high value His Majesty had of the Act of Indempnity, for the dispatch of which, His Majesty assu­red them that could He have used stronger expressions for the spee­dy dispatch of it, He would have done it, and that He thought what He said, would have made an impression in all who professe a desire to serve H [...]m, and that He expected every day it would be presented for another Assent; His Majesty farther acquaints them, that He hath heard they have already prepared some good Bills (for which He heartily thanks them) ready for the Royal Assent, yet that He hath not a mind to pass them, till the Act of Indempnity be likewise pre­sented: upon which, His Majesty saith (if they take His word) most of His quiet and good depends, and in which He is sure His honour is concern'd. His Majesty therefore again conjures them, with all earnestness possible, to pass the Act in the same termes He hath al­ready [Page 2] pass'd it (to which His Majesty takes Himself obliged) and that they will at present lay aside all private business to betake themselves to the Publick, that they may be ready to adjourn by the middle of the next moneth.

Whitehall.

His Majesty taking speciall notice of the prudent managery of affairs by Don Francisco de Mello, Comte de Ponte, Ambassador extraordinary from the King of Portugall, how by his constant care and faithfull applications he hath not onely satisfied the desires of his own Master the King of Portugall, who, out of a long and natu­rall affection to the English, alwayes wisht for a nearer alliance with this Crown, but withall afforded such vast advantages to the people of England, as could not be expected from any one Nation, besides that incomparable blessing which these Kingdoms will enjoy, in that most excellent Princesse, Donna Katharina, the Infanta of Portugall, that such faithfull and eminent services for the mutuall benefit of his own and these Kingdomes, might not be pass'd by without some signal mark of His Majesties favour, was graciously pleased Himself to give an invitation to the Ambassador to dine with His Royal Person at Whitehall on Thursday the 27. instant. And that this Royall invitation might (ar farre as could) be answered with a fitting solemnity on that day, the Right Honourable the Earle of Bedford, together with Sir Charles Cotterell Master of the Ceremonies to his Majesty, went with his Majesty's and his Royall Highness the Duke of York's Coaches, with several other Coaches belonging to the chiefest of the Nobility to the Ambassadors house, and thence conducted him with his whole Retinue to Whitehall: where being come, after the hearty salutes of the whole Court, the Ambassador was placed at the same Table with His Majesty. Whilest this high honour was given to the Ambassador, those wor­thy Gentlemen of his Retinue were with all respect provided for, being treated at the Tables of James Duke of Ormond Lord Ste­ward, and Edward Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain of His Majestie's Houshold.

London, July, 2. 1661.

Yesterday the House of Commons heard witnesse as to such of the late Kings Tryers who are dead, and voted that their Estates should be forefeited to His Majesty. The Lord Mounson, Sir Henry Mild­may, [Page 3] and Mr. Robert Wallop, were also brought before the House of Commons upon their knees: the first confes [...]ed his fault with much regrate, and pleaded that he was drawn into such an horrid Act, for which he was very sorry, and acknowledged his sitting in the pre­tended High Court of Justice. Sir Henry Mildmay was sorry for his misguiding: but said that he fell out with Cromwell about the prosecution against His late Majesty, that some Members of the House being going to Dinner, he was drawn to go into Westminster-Hall, and was a Spectator, but did not vote in the Court, though his being present, was proved. Mr. Wallop craved pardon of the the House, was sorry that he should be named in such a vile Com­mission, but was an old frail man, and did not remember that he sat in the pretended High Court: (it was also proved he was also pre­sent, June 23. 1648.) Sir James Harrington appeared not, but it was proved that he sat in the High Court of Justice upon the whole. The House of Commons resolved, that the Estates Reall and Per­sonall of the said four Persons, should be forefeited to His Ma­jesty; that they should be drawn from the Tower to Tyburne upon Hurdles with Ropes about their necks, and thence to severall Prisons to remain during life.

Since my last, we understand from Dunkirk, that the Countrey have paid in their contributions to that Garrison, notwithstanding the orders that were alledged to be given against it.

Probabilities.

It is twenty to one but the 75000. Florens, which the Religious Hollanders have advanced for reparation of the walls of Geneva (chance to miscarry) if it be intrusted to such Elders hands as were the contributions of the Protestants of Lucerna.

It is probable, that the Pope may drink his Albano in security, since the League and Covenant, which our Levites told us should have brought the Vatican about his ears, made so solemn a halt over all England on the 29. of May last; and its mother, the National Co­venant, had the honour to be burnt at Musleburgh much about the same time, in the bosome of Bessy Fouler, that renouned Fish­witch.

It is probable if Caledonius had writ in Anno 1649. the cuff of his Neck might have passed for Bran and his Buttocks for Bacon; [Page 4] for his head would been as toothsome to some, as the foreskin of a Philistin was to Saul.

If it be true that is reported of an Island, newly discovered, fifty Leagues to the west of Ireland, and that the Inhabitants be of so large a bulk as ten yards in length, and three of breadth; It seems not to be that so much mentioned enchanted Island, sometimes seen on the west Isles of Scotland, named in the Mapp, O Brazil, and by our Philosophers in the Hebrides, Rockcolle: But much more probable that it must be some of the Benigne Planets, who wea­ried with the lyes and reproaches put upon it by the Astrologers of this World; and to confound their observations, the discreet Pla­net hath joyned her self to that part of the Globe which is under the Protection of our Dread Soveraign. They report the Inhabi­tants are very wise and moral, and a knowledge much exceeding that of our Distinguishers; and this is the reason why some thinks it rather a Colony, sent from the Moon to instruct our World of the true natural causes of all those mysteries which raises such heat and contention amongst the Pedants in our Schools, so it is hoped if we had once communication with them, the common answer of Oculia qualitas, so much used by our Philosophers in matters they do not understand, shall be quite banished.

If any one now in the Dogg dayes eat immoderately of the black tailed Pouts that are catched in the Cannongate, it is probable he may purchase a pair of everlasting Breeches though possibly the Fancies of them chance to prove expensive.

A LETTER from the Prince of Tartar's Secretary, to the City Recorder of Cockany.

I Shall not at this time be so large, as to give an account of all the adventures his Highness met with in traversing the Countrey, reserving that for a large description of it self: But I shall tell you of an accident that had almost split my weak Noddle, if I had not been strongly fortified with read Ale, Unions and Aquavitie, which I drunk at the Mure Ale-house, with a reduced Major of Pryds Regiment, who is very well sa­tisfied to be Tapster of the place.

It was, Sir, at Midsummers Eve, a night when the King of Fairy and Prince of the Aire, are accustomed to parad towards the skirts of Glentannarwood, a sort of spiritual Groteske in a brown Suit and black Buttons, flat Shoes, a tipt Virginia skulcap, with an Antipiscopall Hat, and above 7000. Ladies and Women of all stations and sizes; nay, even to the courser sort of Chamber-maids and Spinsters: As also, a considerable num­ber of Trads-men and Shop-keepers; all with melancholy aspects, in a stragling disorderly way they marched after him. By his retinue I judged him a Tinker, but he told me no, and that he was a Schoolmaster of a Countrey Hamlet in Fife, his name was ingraven upon a Posset-cap in a great Golgatha; I asked if he intended for London or Edinburgh, to inherit the Benefi­ces of Parson Pe [...]ers and Mr. James Guthery, he answered no, his business was for America, to whom he was to address himself to the King of Bantam, who is a Cadet of the Aethio­pian John, to whom he was to discover greater secrets of Po­licy▪ then ever have been heretofore done by Plato, Matchiavell, or Bodin; for in respect of him they were but Pedees, for the matter of conquering and subduing of Nations: The pretext of R [...]ligon sayes he, is of so Tiffany invention, that the people through it do soon discover the bareness of the Breech, that Armes again were too lasting, and after once fitted, they were loath to part with them; but the cheapest and securest way he affirmed, was by the mighty power of a Rogero infuriato & implacabile, which he undert [...]ok to prove both by History and Tradition, was not Jupiter, said he, the son of Saturne and King of Latium, not only a grand Conqueror, but reverenced for a god; and yet never no noise of his Warrs for topting the third part of the World, as Floods, Mountains, and Beasts, and that was Europa. How do you think that I being a Bumpkin Pe­dant came by all this trayn, Mafoy Monsieur a force de bien labourer, &c. There's not one of these poor wretches you see [Page 6] here, but Ile undertake before I want the least satisfaction of my senses, but they will pawn the best of their moveables, nay even to their Crumbs of comfort, or Wedding smocks; and the only reason as I told you, Je me fou d'eux & de toute leur famile.

This horrid Policy did highly astonish me, yet when I consi­dered the influence such Hypocritical impostures hath had up­on the weaker understandings, I thought it not so strange. I then demanded him which way he intended to transport his Tribe, he replyed so soon as I once get to the west Coast of Whigmeria, I shall meet with souls so precious and of so great faith, as in two dayes time shall waft us to our journeys end: I wished him a good voyage, and told him, if he would obliedge this Countrey that he should leave none of his brethren behind; but in stead of a reply, I found he and all was evanished, which made me con­clude, that this must have been the Ghost of some grand Seducer and his company, the souls of such that dyed in his belief. You may communicat this to such as can make the best use of it. In the mean time I am

Our Prince resolves to sojurne at Kincairn Oneil, partly to see the Solemnities at Bartel Fair, partly to recover a weakness in his back, occasioned by the Bailies Daughter of Bervy, as she was sucking out a Corne in his great toe: the last Letters he had from his royal Father signified as much, that he had taxed his Empire for 20000. Cratszoniskys, which in our money comes to five Merks, for the charges of his return: In the mean time he hath Bills of credit from Buckhaven to all the North­coast to furnish him with all sort of Fish.

For my old Acquaintance, T. S.

SO long as you were taken up in collecting the Occurrences of the world, and exposing them to the publick, I thought it not good manners to disturb you; but now that I have failed so long, both in hearing from you, and receiving any of these little Memento's of you, I adventur'd this, to rid me of doubts. Is it possible that you have quit the pen for the Witches prine? Are all your projects in serving your Countrey come to exorcisme? Are your voluminous pains and singular contrivances regalled with Slate▪ stones? The fault certainly was yours, either that you had out-run your self and could start nothing new, or you have assumed too much liberty in, &c. and so received a check; or, as I have lately heard, your Cros-langing the Countrey, in the Great Enqui­ry, doth totally take you up. Could you have spared your pains, you might have found venerable ones at home, O! What a sweet thing is it to suck the exhalations of such a Carbanado'd one? how welcome will these souls be to your World in the Moon, while they mount enwrapt in these smoaky sulphureous vapours of the black rock, where they are pythagorically transmitted as a new colony. But I hope, Thom, if you be so taken up in this enquest that you are not so wedded to it as you can not leave it, which I could heartily wish, or if it be otherwise that you cannot quite it brevi manu, enquire after others in the like sin, enough unfound out ones as yet: firk me these transgressours who hath gold to choak you, digge in their Urnes, and rake not the calcined ashes of that poor simple deluded Sex: yet when I consider, I cannot blame you, for it is better to play at small game then sit out; and since you can­not acquire a fat Rebel, rather then altogether want, a lean witch will still keep you in possession of your pretence, their sins and punish­ment being equal. I shall conclude with this, that you project how to stay at home, for among all your Comrades none shall be more desireous of it then