Newcastle as Governor of Prince Charles 183 



taken Porter, but I know not how he is disposed of. I assure your Lord- 

 ship that horse you pleased to accept, I thought him the fittest horse in 

 the world for that purpose, but your Lordship doth not write how you 

 approve of him. My Lord, in a word, I desire no man's favour and love 

 more than yours, or would be beholding to any man sooner ; for, I protest 

 to God I honour and love you heartily, and I vow without any end or 

 particular in the whole world ; your Lordship's favours to me are merely 

 your own goodness, for I shall never be useful to you in any kind, which 

 makes my obligation such that I must ever be faithfully, — Your Lordship's 

 most humble servant, 



W. Newcastle. 

 Welbeck, the 5th of August 1633 



II 



NEWCASTLE AS GOVERNOR OF PRINCE CHARLES 



Air. Secretary Windebank to the Earl of Newcastle 



My Lord, — His Majesty having a purpose, according to the precedents 

 of former times, to settle the government both of the person and family 

 of the Prince in a way answerable to his state and years, and having 

 deliberately advised upon some person of honour and trust to be near 

 his Highness, and to be a chief director in so weighty a business, hath 

 been pleased, in his gracious opinion of your Lordship, to make choice 

 of you to be the only gentleman of his Bedchamber at this time, and hath 

 commanded me to give you knowledge of this his princely resolution. 

 And withal his Majesty's pleasure is, that you prepare yourself to come 

 to the Court in diligence, and to attend his Majesty before the Sunday 

 fortnight after Easter, which will be the eighth day of April. And lastly 

 his Majesty hath expressly commanded me to let your Lordship know, 

 that you have no particular obligation to any whatsoever in this business, 

 but merely and entirely to the King's and Queen's Majesties alone ; who 

 of their own mere and special grace and goodness have made this choice, and 

 vouchsafed you this honour ; the countenance and increase whereof, 

 and of much happiness with it, I wish to your Lordship, and so rest, — 

 Your Lordship's humble and faithful servant, 



Fran. Windebank. 



At the Court at Whitehall, 

 19th of March, 1637 



The Earl of Newcastle to Mr. Secretary Windebank 



Noble Sir, — I beseech you to present me in the most humble manner 

 in the world to his sacred Majesty, and to let his Majesty know I shall as 

 cheerfully as diligently obey his Majesty's commands. Truly, the infinite 

 favour, honour and trust his Majesty is pleased to heap on me in this 

 princely employment, is beyond anything I can express. It was beyond 

 hope of the most partial thoughts I had about me : neither is there 



