Souldiers, and about fifty Officers, whom 'tis thought he will not be able
to keepe long together for want of money, for it seeme it growes
scarfe with him already. Those whom he left to attend him here, are
in a pittifull condition, most of them put to extreame shifts, and some
forced to begg. I should have let you knowne, he hath a good quantity
of Ammunition and Armes, and twelve brasse Field Peaces, most of
which, if not all, the Crowne of Sweden bestowed upon him.
I formerly gave you notice of some differences betwixt Sweden and
the States of Holland, which still continue, and some feare will increase.
Here are also lately some sudden feares fallen upon the Inhabitants of
Holstein, and the adjacent parts of Denmarke, of a new breach and invasion
from the swedes, insomuch that some have begun to remove
their best stuffe into secure places; what grounds they have for such a
thing I cannot yet learne, nor guesse, except it be for the League and Bargaine
which Denmarke hath made with the Hollanders, touching the Customes
in the Soundt. Some good Newes out of Ireland would be welcome,
to stop our black mouth'd Lyers here, who will never let the
Forge be unimployed.
The affaires of Scotland wherein they are most deeply concern'd, are
least knowne to themselves: There is little in that Countrey to invite
strangers to inhabite there, and but little to correspond; the newes
is brought by or written from their own abroad, who doe not usually
speak against their owne propounded Interests. When they please it
shall cost but a sheet of Paper and Postage to assure their Credulous Malignants
of the Engagement: who are all of them Montrossions, and
perfectly agreeing with the Popish Party also in the Communisertion of
prophanenesse. That Montrosse hath obtained twelve Ships, with Men,
Armes, and Ammunition from Sweden; Six ships from the Duke of Curland
with Rie; and no man knowes what, from Denmarke, Holstein, and
abundance of money from all the Princes of Germany. With these brave
Conceipts they fill the French and Dutch Gazetts, and feed the Poore
hopes of their owne ignorant Croud with the expectation of Mountaines
and Marvailes; perhaps t'were better for honest men there, if there were
more truth in it: If Montrosse were in their snowy Mountaines with
considerable forces, it might make them studie their true Interest and
the onely one way to appuye it. But the true state of Montrosse you have
by best advice from Gottemburg, written from Hamburg, and that is his
true state, what ever is boasted to the contrary. The last from Contance
to my friend at Roüen, tells us, that the arrivall of our Ships as Garnsey,
with those forces, and the Newes they heare of a fleet to goe forth, fills