probable than any others. But the ambassador made no account of that; nor did he think it worth the writing to Don John, then at Bruxells, about it.

Stoupe writ it over as his conjecture to one about the prince of Conde, who at first hearing it was persuaded that must be the design, and went next day to suggest it to Don John: but Don John relied so much on the ambassador, that this made no impression. And indeed all the ministers whom he employed knew that they were not to disturb him with troublesome news: of which king Charles told a pleasant story. One whom Don John was sending to some court in Germany, coming to the king to ask his commands, he desired him only to write him news: the Spaniard asked him, whether he would have true or false news: and, when the king seemed amazed at the question, he added, if he writ him true news the king must be secret, for he knew he must write news to Don John that would be acceptable, true or false: when the ministers of that court shewed that they would be served in such a 76 manner, it is no wonder to see how their affairs have declined. This matter of the fleet continued a great secret. And some months after that, Stoupe being accidentally with Cromwell, one came from the fleet through Ireland with a letter. The bearer looked like one that brought no welcome news. And as soon as Cromwell had read the letter, he dismissed Stoupe, who went immediately to the earl of Leicester, then lord Lisle, and told him what he had seen. He being of Cromwell's council went to Whitehall, and came back, and told Stoupe of the descent made on Hispaniola, and of the misfortune

His zeal for the

protestant religion.

that had happened. It was then late, and was the post night for Flanders. So Stoupe writ it as news to his correspondent, some days before the Spanish ambassador knew any thing of it. Don John was amazed at the news, and had never any regard for the ambassador after that; but had a great opinion of Stoupe, and ordered the ambassador to make him theirs at any rate. The ambassador sent for him, and asked him, now that it appeared he had guessed right, what were his grounds: and when he told what they were, the ambassador owned he had reason to conclude as he did upon what he saw. And upon that he made great use of Stoupe: but he himself was never esteemed after that so much as he had been. This deserved to be set down so particularly, since by it, it appears that the greatest design may be discovered by an undue carelessness. The court of France was amazed at the undertaking, and was glad that it had miscarried; for the cardinal said, if he had suspected it, he would have made peace with Spain on any terms, rather than to have given way to that which would have been such an addition to England, as must have brought all the wealth of the world into their hands. The fleet took Jamaica: but that was a small gain, though much magnified to cover the failing of the main design. The war after that broke out, in which Dunkirk was indeed taken, and put in Cromwell's hand: but the trade of England suffered more in that, than in any former war: so he lost the heart of the city of London by that means.

Cromwell had two signal occasions given him to shew his zeal in protecting the protestants abroad.

The duke of Savoy raised a new persecution of the Vaudois so Cromwell sent to Mazarin, desiring him to put a stop to that; adding, that he knew well they had that duke in their power, and could restrain him as they pleased: and if they did not, he must presently break with them. Mazarin objected to this as unreasonable: he promised to do good offices: but he could not be obliged to answer for the effects they might have. This did not satisfy Cromwell: so they obliged the duke of Savoy to put a 77 stop to that unjust fury and Cromwell raised a great sum for the Vaudois, and sent over Morland to settle all their concerns, and to supply all their losses. There was also a tumult in Nismes, in which some disorder had been committed by the Huguenots and they, apprehending severe proceedings upon it, sent one over with great expedition to Cromwell, who sent him back to Paris in an hour's time with a very effectual letter to his ambassador, requiring him either to prevail that the matter might be passed over, or to come away immediately. Mazarin complained of this way of proceeding, as too imperious but the necessity of their affairs made him yield. These things raised Cromwell's character abroad, and made him be much depended on.

His ambassador in France at this time was Lockhart, a Scotchman, who had married his niece, and was in high favour with him, as he well deserved to be. He was both a wise and a gallant man, calm and virtuous, and one that carried the generosities of friendship very far. He was made governor of Dunkirk and ambassador at the same time. But he told me, that when he was sent afterwards ambassador by king Charles, he found he had nothing

A great de

sign for the

the protestant reli

gion.

of that regard that was paid him in Cromwell's time".

Stoupe told me of a great design Cromwell had interest of intended to begin his kingship with, if he had assumed it he resolved to set up a council for the protestant religion, in opposition to the congregation de propaganda fide at Rome. He intended it should consist of seven counsellors, and four secretaries for different provinces. These were the first, France, Switzerland, and the Valleys: the palatinate and the other Calvinists were the second: Germany, the North, and Turkey were the third: and the East and West Indies were the fourth. The secretaries were to have 5007. salary apiece, and to keep a correspondence every where, to know the state of religion all over the world, that so all good designs might be by their means protected and assisted. Stoupe was to have the first province. They were to have a fund of 10,000l. a year at their disposal for ordinary emergencies, but to be farther supplied as occasions should require it. Chelsea college was to be made up for them, which was then an old decayed building, that had been at first raised to be a college for writers of controversy. I thought it was not fit to let such a project as this be quite lost: it was certainly a noble one: but how far he would have pursued it, must be left to conjecture. Stoupe told me a remarkable passage in his em

n No doubt Lockhart was not looked upon in France to be in the same degree of credit in king Charles's court, that he had been in Oliver's, whose niece he had married: but the bishop would gladly insinuate,

that the king's minister was not so much regarded as Cromwell's, which, if true, must have been personal to the man, not to his character as an ambassador. D.

sages in

life.

78

ployment under Cromwell. Stoupe had desired all Some pasthat were under the prince of Conde to let him Cromwell's know some news, in return of that he writ to them. So he had a letter from one of them, giving an account of an Irishman newly gone over, who had said he would kill Cromwell, and that he was to lodge in King-street, Westminster. With this Stoupe went to Whitehall. Cromwell being then at council, he sent him a note, letting him know that he had a business of great consequence to lay before him. Cromwell was then upon a matter that did so entirely possess him, that he, fancying it was only some piece of foreign intelligence, sent Thurlo to know what it might be. Stoupe was troubled at this, but could not refuse to shew him his letter. Thurlo made no great matter of it: he said, they had many such advertisements sent them, which signified nothing, but to make the world think the Protector was in danger of his life: and the looking too much after these things had an appearance of fear, which did ill become so great a man. Stoupe told him, King-street might be soon searched. Thurlo answered, if we find no such person, how shall we be laughed at? Yet he ordered him to write again to Bruxells, and promise any reward if a more particular discovery could be made. Stoupe was much cast down, when he saw that a piece of intelligence which he hoped might have made his fortune was so little considered. He wrote to Bruxells but he had no more from thence, but a confirmation of what had been writ formerly to him. And Thurlo did not think fit to make any search, or any farther inquiry into it: nor did he so much as acquaint Cromwell with it. Stoupe, being un