London (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.3) 27 Aprill 1675 . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.4) May it please Yr. Excel=cie= . I came to this towne on Satterday last (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.5) and the next morning was two howers with Treasurer by whom I found that all their measures were alter'd since I last saw him , that King and Duke were resolved to keep up Parliament to raise the old Cavaleers and the Church Party and to sacrifice Papists and Presbyterians . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.6) I asked him what then was the reason of the Divisions among that Party , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.7) he said it was because of faction yet in ye Court , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.8) why then , said I , you begin at the wrong end , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.9) for you should show King the necessity of throwing Arlington and Ormond to the Divell , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.10) and then Parliament would be united . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.11) I believe he sat musing a quarter of an hower before he gave me any answer , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.12) then he said - King hath shewed one example of severity (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.13) for he hath taken away ye Lord Clarendon's place for joyning with those that are against him though another misdeamenor be pretended . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.14) This is the ground of the hot contest now in the house of Lords about the Test desired to be settled by Act of Parliament for all members of both Houses to take before they are admitted to sit , wch is the very same that all Lord Lieutenants of Countyes and Deputy Lieutenants have taken , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.15) only we add a Penalty to it that they shall not sit in Parliament till they take it , that the Government in Church and State may be preserved . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,1.16) Yesterday an Impeachment was brought into the Howse of Commons against my Lord Tresurer by Arlington's wishes . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.17) Mr Russell ushered it in , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.18) Sir Sam Barnardiston presented it , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.19) Mr Powell seconded it , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.20) Sir Tho: Meeres thirded it (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.21) and Sir Tho: Littleton fourthed it . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.22) But such pitifull stuff it is that it will redound infinitly to his advantage , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.23) Colonell Strangwaise was so violent in my Lord Treasurer's behalf that he spoke some very injurious words against them , upon wch some called to the Bar , others to have him explaine himself , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.24) but he answered he would doe neither till he knew whether the Howse took offense at it , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.25) and so went to his Pipe of Tobacco , without any further concernment . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.26) I saw him and his sonne this morning with my Lord Tresurer and many others but not Sir H. Capell . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.27) It was all their work this morning to proceed upon those Articles , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.28) and so far as they have gonne , they have voted that there is no ground of Impeachment , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.29) and his enemyes would be very glad it might all rest without further examination thinking this would be sufficient to bespatter him , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.30) But his friends drive it on to a thorough Examination . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.31) And by their means it is to be reassumed again to-morrow morning . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.32) I am running on so fast to give your Excel=cie= account of things here that I had almost forgot your particular Commands . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.33) When I delivered yr letter to Treasurer he told me that he perceived much was left to my Relation , upon wch I explained to him the grounds wch moved yr Excel=cie= to Recomend to him a particular managem=t= of the Revenue in Ireland , wch he fully approved of when I opened to him the advantages the King would have by a Parliament there , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.34) and he said the King was resolved we should have one . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,2.35) Afterwards he carried me to the King , where I delivered yr Excel=cies= Letter and he ordered me to wait upon him whensoever any thing was seasonable to be done about the affairs of that Country . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.36) Last night I supt or rather dined though it was a clock at night for so long the Howse of Lords sat with Lodderdale who is no more concerned , nor thinks himself in no more danger than I am . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.37) One thing I must not omit (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.38) Coll Talbott is trying all ways in the world how to propose a friendship with Essex (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.39) and the reason is because Duke hath told him that he finds it impossible to shake Essex . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.40) So you will hear more of this from others . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.41) D: of Portsmouth is very great (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.42) and hath given out words as if she were marryed (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.43) and doth not think unlawfull for a King to have as many wives as he please . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.44) She hath forsaken Arlington , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.45) and is wholy concerned for Treasurer (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.46) but Monmouth is all for Arlington ... (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.47) When I waited upon the Duke of York I told him that your Excell=cie= commanded me to present yr humble duty to him , and that you wd be extreme glad of any opportunity to serve him , wch he seemed to take very kindly ... (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.48) Treasurer told me he wondred Essex would not write to him his apprehensions of Ormond , the danger of his interest in Ireland and the insecurity to all by reason of Arran's Regiement , that if he would write to him but one word of it , it should be all removed . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,3.49) May 4 1675 (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.52) In my last to yr Excel=cie= of the 27=th= past I gave your Excel=ce= some account of the measures we walke by : (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.53) without that , it would be hard for you to imagine what should be the cause of these great heats in the House of Lords about passing the Test in wch nothing is gained but by inches , and every line contested till aclock at night , the weaker party every day entering their protests , Duke and Papists divided and Papists and Presbyterians united . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.54) For Duke sees a necessity of using other hands (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.55) and will be the first that shall take the Test . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.56) That King and Parliament agree well yr Excel=ce= need not doubt (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.57) for ye recesse was only to get money (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.58) and that is so well distributed that we hear no more complaints of ill management or fears of papists (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.59) but all is now for union and healing . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.60) Treasurer will be too hard for his enemies , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.61) therefore I hope Essex will preserve his friendship with him . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.62) In the beginning of his Impeachment he had a Letter sent to him without any name to subscribe it , that if he would let Hallifax in the place of Essex it should be all quasht , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.63) but he made no such composition . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,8.64) London (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.67) 11 May 1675 (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.68) May it please Yr Excel=ce= I write this to enclose my Lord Treasurer's Letter to yr Excel=ce= wch he hath promised to send to me , to give yr Excell=ce= full assurance of the false report wch was writ to you , about his laying the Instructions to have been procured at yr desire . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.69) I went to him today (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.70) and asked him whether he had not already writ , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.71) and he said no , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.72) then I begd him to write though it were but six lines , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.73) and told him I heard Ormond had writ the same thing to Arran and I was confident they had contrived it so , to send it by severall hands to make a difference betwene you . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.74) Truly , says he , $'t $is {TEXT:'tis} very pretty Arlington and Ormond endeavor there to make him jealous of me , who have served him with the greatest fidelity in the world , and heere they are endeavoring to possess Parliament that he is the only man hath sent Forces into France . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.75) I told him we were very much governed by news and reports in that country , and they had spread it that Treasurer was run downe , and Arlington and Ormond governed all , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.76) why says he Conway is able to informe him how those things stand ; (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.77) I told him Conway had not been wanting in that , but if a multitude , and probably some neare relations sayd otherwise how could Conway expect to be believed . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.78) Why , says he , Conway will sone be justified by the Confession of his adversaries , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.79) and if I may judge either by what he tells me or by what I see he is certainly ye greatest subject that is in England . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,10.80) This morning my Lady Northumberland sent me my Lady Essex's Letter to her of the 4=th= instant . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.81) I shewed it to Treasurer though there was one harsh word in it of being made a Pack horse to beare the falts of others , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.82) It made him laugh , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.83) and I told him I shewed it him purposely that he might see how his Adversarys and yo=rs= did worke for I always tell him you are both upon one bottome to make division between you ... (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.84) I doubt not but yr Excel=ce= will heare from others of the Debate that was yesterday and to day in the House of Commons about the King's Answer to the Recalling of his subjects in the French Service . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.85) If Mr Speaker had not shewed an unparalleld adresse in reassuming the House wch was then in a Grand Com~itee , they had certainly fought it out with their swords , and never parted till the guards from Whitehall had parted them . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.86) The difference arose about telling the Howse upon the Question , wch was certainly 135 on each side , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.87) and both partyes thinking themselves wronged in the reckning cald one-another all the opprobrious names imaginable , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.88) spit in one-anothers faces , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.89) puld of one-anothers Perriwiggs , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.90) and were drawing their swords , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.91) but the Speaker , who was at the lower end of the Howse foresaw what it would come to , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.92) and made up to the Chaire wch in a minutes time had been impossible for him to doe . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.93) The same Debate being this day in a full House was carried according to the King's desire by one Voice 172 on one side and 173 on the other side the Speakers voyce not included . So that the King is now only-1 to recall out of the French service such of his subjects as he thinks fit . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.94) I asked Treasurer how long Parliament would sitt , (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.95) he told me till they had a bill of religion past . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.96) I shall only beg yr Excel=ce= to present my humble duty to my Lady Essex and be pleased to tell Sir Arthur Forbesse that if my life lay on it I $can $not {TEXT:cannot} write to him yet . (CONWAY2-E3-P2,11.97)