84 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1644-5. 



withdraw my hands from meddling with concessions, I 

 conceive it is your Excellency s own dictamen, not only 

 as you are so great a public Minister of State, but like 

 wise as your Excellency is pleased in all things to 

 express yourself my noble friend. And sure I am in 

 all things you will find me a devoted servant unto you ; 

 and according unto the freedom that your Excellency 

 is pleased to give me in order to his Majesty s service, 

 I must needs deal so plainly with your Excellency, as 

 to put you in mind how absolutely necessary it is not 

 to disgust the Nuncio, since that the supplies out of 

 this kingdom unto the King can be but men. And 

 certainly, before I can put myself into a handsome 

 posture to serve the King my master by sea and land, 

 and in some kind to supply his Majesty s private purse, 

 I think it will stand me in little less than 100,000, 

 within three months ; all which whence can I have it 

 but out of Catholic countries; and how cold I shall 

 find Catholics bent to this service, if the Pope be 

 irritated, I humbly submit to your Excellency s better 

 judgment. And here am I constrained, to your friends 

 and mine here, absolutely to profess not to be capable 

 to do the King that service which he expects at my 

 hands, unless the Nuncio here be civilly complied with, 

 and carried along with us in our proceedings. Besides 

 (if there be understanding or reality in me), it is impos 

 sible to carry this nation, and make them do any nota 

 ble service for the Kins; my master, against the hair, 

 and contrary to the Nuncio s satisfaction. And (pardon 

 me to tell you) he is not a friend to your Excellency 

 that will persuade to the contrary, knowing very well 

 that you place your happiness and contentment in serv 

 ing his Majesty and this kingdom, as far as any great 

 and public Minister of State and real Protestant can 

 attain unto. According to which conditions I confess 



