reacht mee. Or I might have accepted at my return of a much greater sum to have timely discovered the whole design of Cromwell's expedition into the Indies for the Spanish gold; all those commissions and instruments being either in my view or in my custody.
Whoever shall seriously consider the foregoing observations will hardly believe that any self ends, (though possibly they might, by the pravity of man's nature, and the subtilty of the Divel, bee injected into the fancy) could possibly outwey the considerations of duty and conscience in such an undertaking as this of mine was, in the blackest and worst of times.
Having now resolved upon the end, the next thing was to contrive the means of effecting it. And having made choice of one Major Henshaw, (whose life I had some time before saved, he being one of the forty men who had sworn neither to eat or drink till they had killed Cromwell) I gott him to send a letter to Charles 2nd. by one of his confidents, to acquaint him that there was death in the pott, if ever hee entered within the doors of Weston Hanger. This letter happened to bee put into his hands, as hee had one of his boots already on, and was drawing on the other, to ride post towards the water side, in order to his coming over, as Sir Richard Willis had advised him, for the encouragement of his party. This letter putt a stop to his journey, but with much difficulty, the king being made almost believe, by the lord of Ormond and others, that this was onely a stratagem of the protector, to throw dirt upon his beloved favourite, and so to spoyl his best design.
However, the king sent mee an answer marked (B), whereupon I dispatch't Major Henshaw himself, with a second letter, and accompanied it with several long letters, all written with Sir Richard Willis his own hand, discovering from time to time all the king's secrets, and whatever His Majesty had entrusted him with.
To this the king sent mee a second letter marked (C).
With one of these letters came a privat paper, as from the king (but in truth from the chancellor himself), ordering mee to send him in another privat paper an account of his chancellor Hyde, and what I knew of him, for hee was then accused of corresponding with Thurlo, and receiving moneys from Cromwell. I believing it came really from the king, sent such an account as it seems did not very well please his lordship. And Hinc illæ lachrimæ! From that time hee became a mortal enemy.
When I went over to Buda, upon the king's Restauration, the chancellor charged mee not to ask any thing of the King, till he came into England, His Majesty being resolved to give mee more than in modesty I could petition for. But when I had wayted in England till all things of moment were given away, and at last desired to know what the king designed for mee, his answer was, zounds! what the Divel would you have?
Before the king's coming over, by Major Henshaw's and his confidents privat agreement, as I believe with the chancellor, my wife was made believe that there was a patent brought over and hid
