1678.] PASSING EVENTS. 353 



Mr. Secretary Williamson,-'^" to H. E. the Lord Ambassador 

 Sir Lionel Jenkins at Nimeguen. 



" Newmarkett Oct. 7"' 1678. 



" Mv Lord Amb" 



" My last was of y" first of this month, & was 

 last att my parting for this place, to you by y° ord"^ of y'' next 

 day. The Lords of y° Councill continue from day to day 

 wholly taken up w"' y*' Enquiry into y** truth & extent of 

 y'' horrid Plott informed of, w* God-Allmighty give them 

 y* successe in y^ all of us are bound to wish. In this absence 

 of y® Court from London, you must please to give us credit 

 for all y'^ matters y^ depend, or y* may arise remating to your 

 Comiss"' in y'^ Place, there having been no opportunity for y*^ 

 Forreigne Comittee to meet upon any business since y' last 

 I wrote you, nor is there any likelyhood they can, till y° King's 

 returne to London, w*^'' is expected will be towards y*^ middle 

 of y° next wecke. 

 " I am ever, 



" My Lord Amb\ 



"Your most humble and faithful Servt, 



"J. Williamson."* 



On the 14th the secretary wrote from Newmarket 

 to the ambassador, stating that he had received no 

 letters from him, and even if it had been otherwise, 

 " this, you know," he adds, " is not a place for busi- 

 ness." — Harl. MS., 1523, fo. 330. 



2°° Sir Joseph Williamson, the notable statesman, and 

 benefactor of Queen's College, Oxford, was son of Joseph 

 Williamson, vicar of Bridekirk, county Cumberland, from 1625 

 to 1634. He was educated at Westminster School and Queen's 

 College, Oxford, of which he subsequently became a fellow, 

 and it is said took deacon's orders. In 1657 he was created 

 M.A., by diploma. Soon after the Restoration he was recom- 

 mended to Sir Edward Nicholas, and his successor, Henry, 



* This was Secretary Williamson's last official visit to Newmarket. 

 He was succeeded by the Earl of Sunderland in February, 1679. 



VOL, II. 2 A 



