S7iot by mistake, A.D. 1678, 



5 



not His Majesty to backe me, neither to this day have I had one line from Sr. 

 John Ernly. Your other 2 letters you mention I duly reed. Of that from Mr. 

 Secretary I have had the sight and perusall. Your other, for the taking in of the 

 Duke's Corps by one of His Majty's. Frigates, I sent immediately for Leghorn, 

 but I am not certain whether it arrived there in time, receiving no answer from 

 Mr. Duncan to whom I sent it. Pray favour me with your answer hereto and 

 Wherein else I may be serviceable to you heere, please to comand me with all 



freedome 



" Sr. your most obliged faithfull and humble servant, 

 u Genoa, 14th Scjrf., "Geo. Legatt/' 



1078." 



" To the Honble. Hildebrand Allington, Esq., Turin." 



Then follows a letter from Secretary Coventry to Consul Legatt 

 to this effect : — 1 



" Whitehall, 30th Sept., 1678. 

 " His Majesty has understood that the Great Council of Genoa has empowered 

 the Duke and Senate to pass sentence on the murderers of the Duke of Somerset 

 in whatever manner they please ; but fearing that delay may arise, dishonourable 

 to the young Duke so cruelly murdered and favourable to the murderers, H.M. 

 commands me to signify to you the great indignation he feels at so horrible a 

 deed done on a person of such high rank and quality ; and to make pressing ap- 

 plication in his name for the immediate passing of sentence on the two homicides 

 Botti : not only that they be put to death but that their houses be razed to the 

 ground, their goods confiscated, and a Tally set on their heads, with the other 

 rigorous penalties that are usually enforced in the case of similar delinquents in 

 cases of even less importance : That this demand be complied with at once ; 

 otherwise, his Majesty will be obliged to shew his resentment in some other 

 manner." 



Mr. Legatt to Secretary Coventry. 



" SlK, 



" On receipt of your Hon. Letter of the 10 Sept. I immediately ac- 

 quainted this Duke with the contents of it, and not satisfied therewith, I went 

 into First Senates to represent unto them His Maty's. sense and expectation 

 about the Duke of Somersett's unhappy business : and that it might have the 

 greater efficacy, I translated such part of the letter into Italian as was convenient, 

 and presented the same unto them, and inclosed yr. Honrs. Letter and duplicate 

 thereof. A day or two after one of the Secretary s of State gave me for answer 

 that now sentence will be forthwith past on the Murtherers of the Duke with all the 

 rigour of Justice these lawes do permitt. He wd. not distend himself farther, or 

 enter into farther discourse with me about the matter, though I pressed it : soe 



" 1 The letter itself is not forthcoming, but it was rendered into Italian by Mr. 

 Legatt for the purpose of being laid before the Genoese authorities, and is here 

 re-translated from the Italian copy. 



