Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-10-11
KING AS MATCHMAKER.
Remarkable Stuart Letters Found in
Sack

Remarkable Stuart Letters round IN
Sack.
Many historically valuable letters and
documents have been discovered at Cliff
ton hall, Nottinghamshire, the residence
Of Lieut.-Col Hervey j. Bruce, J. =.
They include letters, official and private,
accounts, leases, crown writs and be
hests. Not few of the documents bear
eXcellently preserved impressions Of
royal seals. The papers extend over d
period Of more than Il century, and were
originally the posSession-slnce they We're
either addressed or confded to him-Of
Sir Gervase de Clifton, kt., who owned
Clifton hall in the time of Charles i.
The papers were discovered by Mrs.
Bruce in an old sack in a lumber room.
This lady is now engaged IN the difficult
task of asserting and arranging the pa
pers.
The most interesting items are two
communications from Charles l., the first
one. dated October 16, 1854, relating t.
the cOurtShiD Of Sir John Sucking, dra-
matte poet and court favorite, and Anne
Wiloughby, a local heiress in which the
monarch charges Sir Gervase and Sir
Thomas Hutchinson with the representa-
ton of the Kings intereSt-fOr it appears
that Charles concerned himself very
much in the matter-in the arrangement
Of the preliminaries. The efforts of the
two matrimonial ambassadors, however,
did not have the desired effect, and we
are led to understand that the lady
changed her mind-We can only specu-
late why.
The other letter of Charles is super
scribed ITO our trusty and well-belOved
Sir Gervase Clifton, Knit" and reads:
"Charles r.
"Trusty and well-beloved. Wee greet
you we'll, Soc much it concerns VS. now
to provide for our owne PERSONAL and ye
publiuue safety. Our Enemies having Of
late so Traitrously declared themselves
and declined all AccomOdacon that Wee
are assured Our loyal and we'll affected
Wee to crave all timely assistance
"And because by We Selling of our
Magazine our great want is of Armas
Wee have thought tit to pray you (Of
whose good affection Wee are very well
assured out of your Store to spare vs.
as many as conveniently you can, leav-
ing Onely competent number for de-
fence Of VI house from some small party.
"All our loving Subjects security being
now more involved in ye defence our
Army can give them than any particular
resistance they can make. What you
furnish us with Wee intend for We guard
Of Our person and to procure We peace
Of this Our KingGOme, and shall cause to
bee carefully restored or a valuable sat
isfacion to bee given for them at ye end
of We Service Given at our Court at
Nottingham, We last day of August.
1912"
The royal message concludes with a
request that all arms should be sent to
Nottingham castle.
The great cardinal minister, Richelieu.
is responsible for a lengthy and charac-
teristically enigmatic letter, the only III
tellgible purport of which seems to be
the fact that he was committing the
= TO = ,o
hospitality of Sir Gervase Clifton. One
wonders why this monkish epistle-bearer
was in need Of English hospitality!
Among other correspondents represent
ed in this unique collection, who have
played their part in history, may be men
toned Henry Cavendish, who was Gre
ated first Duke of Newcastle. His letters
are all taken up with official business.
written by him in his capacity of lord
lieutenant of NOttinghamshire..