Mae. 17. 1855.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



199 



sent letter shows that Thomas Lord Lyttelton 

 ■was at Mastricht on November 27, 1771, and had 

 clearly not come there direct from England, but 

 had been at Douai, and was proceeding to Liege ; 

 and as Junius was in that very month of Novem- 

 ber cognisant of and alarmed at Garrick's "im- 

 pertinent inquiries," and wrote no less than three 

 private letters to Woodfall, besides three in the 

 Public Advertiser, I venture to submit that the 

 letter which is now printed for the first time 

 proves, incontrovertibly, that Thomas Lord Lyt- 

 telton was not Junius. William J. Thoms. 

 Mastricht, 27th Nov., 1771. 

 Dear Sir, 

 I have this moment received a letter from 

 Messrs. Biddulph and Cocks in which he (sic) in- 

 forms me that you sent him one to be immediately 

 forwarded ; but that letter is not as yet come to 

 hand, as it was directed to me at Douai. In case 

 I should miss this letter, I beg you wou'd send a 

 duplicate directed to me at Liege, or send it en- 

 closed to Messrs. Cocks, who will forward It. I 

 cannot conclude without returning you a thousand 

 thanks for the many favors I have received from 

 you, and assure you that nobody prizes your 

 friendship more than, 

 Dear Sir, 



Your most obliged and 



Obedient Servant, 



T. Lyttelton. 

 I beg you wou'd present my respects to your 

 amiable wife. 



To William Roberts, Esq""., 

 at Bewdley. 



THE ENGLISH, IRISH, AND SCOTCH KNIGHTS OF THE 

 OEBER or ST. JOHN Or JERUSALEM. 



(Concluded from p. 180.) 



Stewart, Fitz James, was the natural son of 

 James II., King of England, by Arabella Churchill, 

 sister of the famous Duke of Marlborough. He 

 afterwards was known as the celebrated Marshal, 

 Duke of Berwick, and progenitor of the families 

 of the Dukes of Fitz James in France, and of 

 Leria In Spain. This nobleman being at Malta, 

 became a Knight of St. John, and afterwards 

 Grand Prior of England, as will be seen by the 

 following translations of two original letters, which 

 "were written in French by James II. to the Grand 

 Master of the Order : In the first the king desired 

 that this dignity might be conferred on his natural 

 son, and In the second returned his thanks because 

 his wishes had been complied with. 



To my Cousin the Grand Master of the Order of 

 St. John of Jerusalem. 

 My Cousin, 

 We are so strongly persuaded of your zeal for 



the Catholic religion, that we do not doubt you 

 will readily embrace every occasion which may 

 present itself of manifesting It. And as we have 

 particular gratification in seconding your good in-^ 

 tentions In such laudable designs, we have resolved 

 to dedicate to the Order of the Knights of Malta, 

 Henry Fitz James, our natural son, already well 

 known to you. For your kindness and civility 

 extended to him when at Malta, we have to thank 

 you sincerely. Although young he Is not wanting 

 In experience, for he has already crossed the sea, 

 and for nearly two years fought against the heretics. 

 Wherefore when you have received this attesta- 

 tion of his sanctity which we have thought proper 

 to send you on the subject, we hope that In your 

 goodness you will kindly grant him the dignity of 

 the Grand Prior of England, enregistering him 

 according to the usual forms of that rank. And 

 as we doubt not that you will grant this favour, 

 we promise you all aid and assistance which Is or 

 shall be possible for the glory and advantage of so 

 illustrious and useful an order in the service of 

 God, and to the glory of His Church. May God 

 keep us In His holy care. 

 My Cousin, 



Your affectionate Cousin, 



James K. 



Given at St. Germain en Laye, 

 24th February, 1689. 



His Eminence the Yery Reverend Grand Master, 

 and his venerable council, commanded by an 

 unanimous vote that the above letter should be 

 registered, and that His Majesty be thanked for 

 the honour he had conferred on the Order, and for 

 the affection he entertains towards it; assuring 

 him that on receiving the attestation of which he 

 writes In favour of his natural son, it shall be with 

 welcome received.* Two days after this record 

 was made, the Grand Master, Gregory Caraffa, 

 addressed a letter to James II., which brought the 

 following answer': 

 My Cousin, 



We received with much satisfaction your oblig- 

 ing letter of the 4th of April, from which, besides- 

 the esteem and regard which you profess for our 

 youthful Fitz James, we observe with pleasure- 

 the zeal you evince to gratify our wish as ex- 

 pressed on a previous occasion. For this reasoa 

 we feel obliged, and anxious on all accounts ta 

 testify our gratitude towards you. This we do 

 with all the sincerity of a heart zealous in the 

 cause of religion, and particularly for the glory of 

 your illustrious Order, to the aggrandisement of 

 which we shall ever have Infinite pleasure In con- 

 tributing. And In order that our son may be se 

 subject worthy of serving God, and His holy. 

 Church, in the dignity of Grand Prior of England,, 



• Taken from the MS. registry of the Council of State, 

 niuler date of the 2nd of the mouth of April, A. d. 1689. . 



