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known to have been a protégé of the Chancellor, under whose auspices he was admitted to the Inner Temple (cf. his A Short History of a Ten Years Negotiation....,' 1737, p. 1), and by whose favour he was called to the bar in 1714 (op. cit., ibidem). Further evidence on this point will be found in King's letter to Newcastle of Apr. 3, 1724, recommending Whatley for employment (British Museum, Additional MSS. 32,687, folio 19), and to the relation between patron and client the whole tenor of these letters bears witness. The attention devoted by Whatley to ecclesiastical matters and, above all, the long discussion on the differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism that occupies part of the third letter point the same way, for King had already come forward as a theologian and, pace Lord Percival in 1730, was known to spend his leisure hours in divinity, in which science he was very learned ('Diary of Viscount Percival,' Historical MSS. Commission, 1920, vol. i., p. 112), while, finally, two short endorsements, June 28. 1720. Mr Whatley" and "Mr Whatley July. 22. 1720", on the first and on the cover of the second letter respectively, are in a hand that is almost certainly identical with other recorded specimens of King's writing.

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Whatley's subsequent career was undistinguished. Taking Holy Orders, he was presented in 1729 by the Crown to the Rectory of Toft in Lincolnshire, Just previously to which he had been made Prebendary of Bilton in York. In 1750 he exchanged this latter stall for the more lucrative one of Fridaythorpe in the same Cathedral, in the enjoyment of which post he died in June, 1767. The middle years of his life were embittered by a claim for promotion to be effected by Walpole, as the result of an alleged promise to King, and this accounts for five of the several publications (pa nphlets and sermons) with which he is credited in the catalogues of Bodley and of the British Museum.

The letters show us a normal itinerary of the tourist of those days who was visiting Belgium--a country which Whatley seems to have found a pleasant contrast with ungenial, Protestant Holland-and reminds us that the passion of doing the battlefields is no new thing, while forgotten Huy and the half-forgotten brother of George I. also pass before our eyes. It is perhaps also not unworthy of note that the

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writer visits the towns of French Flanders

the fact that he had crossed from one State into another. To this day they are not greatly dissimilar from those of Belgium, while at the time in question they had been French for less than two generations. Nor, in the last place, is it likely that many accounts of the Jubilee of 1720 exist.

MY LORD,

I.

Rotterdam, June. 28. O.S. 1720.

hand You will undoubtedly have heard of the Before this Letter will come to your Lordships Return of the Yatchts*; and as You have not seen Me to return You my Thanks for their bringing Me over You may very well conclude that I am still on this side of the Water. I found it impossible to satisfye my appetite for seing these Stay. Besides having once passd the Rubicon, Countrys, during the Interval of the Yatchts I cou'd on no account entertain Thoughts of retreating before I had advanc'd further. Brabant, & Flandres, those Scenes of the greatest Actions for some of the last Centuries, lye too near Me, not to effectualy excite my Curiosity to visit them before I can think of returning. And the impatient Desire I have for forreign Conversation, and to see something more of the Manners of the Germans, will make Me spend the Residue of my Time at Hanover. So Your Lordship may see that I have cut my self out work enough for this Summer. I depend on it that I shall Spend it very much to my Satisfaction and I hope to my Improvement.

The obliging Reception my Friend has given Me Here, has engaged Me to make this City my principal Abode till this Evening When I intend for Antwerp in order for Brussels. Tho' I have not advanc'd so far as y Hague, unless it was with my Eyes last Sunday from Delft Steeple, yet I have not confin'd my Self altogether within these Walls. One Day I have spent at Dort; another at Scheidam and the parts adjacent; and two more at at [sic] the Brille and Helvoetslys, from whence I pass'd over the Maes to Maesland Sluys, † and so round to Rotterdam by Delft. The Inclination I have of seing the Country in all its Lights, induc'd Me to make this Tour, out of the way of the great Towns. I thought indeed to have gone as this Day to yo Hague for a week and to Amsterdam for another & so to have return'd by Naerden,‡ Utrecht & Tergous to this Place. But I find I must give Brussels the preference and pay Brabant & Flanders the first Visit. This has been occasion'd by their Celebrating in this latter City a famous Jubilee which is to commence next Sunday. This being celebrated once in 50 years, has occasion'd my going thither at this Time. What it is or on what account it is celebrated

I know not; but as I am inform'd it will be very curious, and as I understood the greatest Preparations are making, to celebrate it with the utmost magnificence, I thought it proper to be

*The King" with all the Yachts" had reached Helvoetsluys on the 16th ("London Gazette," No. 5860, p. 2) and Whatley had been allowed to travel

with the cortège. † Maasluys.

Naarden. Gouda.

present thereat. Whatever it is I hope I shall prove my Self no incurious observer. When I have in some measure satisfyed my Curiosity in that Country, I shall return to Holland, to do the same, in order to proceed on my Journey to Hanover. Here Your Lordship may perhaps be for asking Me, with respect to ye Court there what Mr Feilding did with respect to my desiring to go aboard my Lady Dutchesses Yatcht, Whether I have any Views of being troublesome to any Body there, on account of my own Interest? to which I can safely say, No. I shall go thither to spend the residue of ye Summer Season, as I wou'd to Bath, or Tunbridge, meerly for my own Entertainment; which from ye Company that will be there may not be ye least improving. What extraordinary Expence I shall be at, will I don't doubt be abundantly made up in the pleasure and Advantage, I shall reap from my Travells. I am pretty sure of meeting one good friend there, & that is Dr Stagendahl the Kings Physician; who came over aboard our Yatcht, with whom I had a great deal of Conversation; & who shew'd Me particular Civilityes; And told Me that what ever Services he could do Me at Hanover, should I come so far, he wou'd very readily perform. This I shall extend to no particular Favours from the King, but onely in ye way of Conversation & Enjoyment of my Self while There. I shall be very glad, & I am sure I shall receive great Pleasure from it, if Your Lordship will honour Me with a Letter to my Lord Carteret or any other of your Friends that are there. The abovementiond Lord will I reckon be there near about ye Time I propose to be there my Self. And I shall count my Self particularly happy in yo Honour of his Acquaint

.ance.

I forbear to mention Sr Rob'. Corberts Misfortune as supposing Your Lordship has heard it related already in England. I wish his Native Country may restore the poor distempered Gentleman to Himself. I forbear mentioning any thing concerning ye Office of Insurance &c. lately set up in this Town, because I have this day seen a just account of it in our English Papers.

MY LORD,

II.

Ostend July. 22. N.S. 1720.

I can't allow My Self to come so near Your Lordship, as I am when at this Place, without paying my Duty to You by the Visit of this Letter. I acquainted Your Lordship in my last with the Reason of my seing these Countrys, before I had made my Tour of Holland: and indeed I have receiv'd so much satisfaction from the Magnificence with which this Jubilee was celebrated at Brussels, that I should never have pardon'd My Self, if having an Opportunity, I had neglected to gratify my Curiosity on so curious an Occasion. The new Scenes I have met with since I came into these Roman-Catholick Countrys has given Me incredible Delight, and tho' there was an extraordinary Magnificence exhibited both in the Great Church, and streets of Brussels, beyond what I ever saw, or had even an Idea of before, yet it has not drowned the Pleasure I have had in being Eye-witness to the Delightfulness of the Country, Beauty of the Towns, and Civility of the Inhabitants. But notwithstanding I have had very great Satisfaction in gratifying my Sight with the Variety and Newness of the Objects which have presented themselves to Me on all hands, Yet my most particular satisfaction has been in the Conversation I have had in every Place I have pass'd through, and even on ye Road in Travelling with the Ecclesiasticks of all Orders. It is impossible to mention with what Civility they receive a Stranger in their Houses, & how ready they are to satisfy one in every Particular that one wou'd desire. I hope I shall live to have the Honour to relate to Your Lordship some part of the Conversation I have had with Them; & design further to have before I leave the Country. It would be too tedious to make any mention of it in a Letter ; & I shall content my Self at this Time with making a Remark or two on the Procession we have had on occasion of this famous Jubile. I shall refer Your Lordship to the public accounts You will undoubtedly have at large of the occasion, and august manner in which it has been celeIn order to Honour it, the ffronts of the Houses in those Streets through which it pass'd were adorn'd with Greens from the Bottom to the Top, & embellish'd with the finest Tapistrys and Pictures each inhabitant either had by them or could procure: Besides a vast number of Triumphal Arches set forth after the most beautiful Manner with Paintings, Mottôs, and other Decorations. I saw the Procession from our Residents (Mr Leathes) House; near it was a most magnificent Triumphal arch, the Inscriptions of which were peculiariy calculated for the Neighbourhood. The Jesuits had the Direction of every Thing, and most of their Mottos on all the Arches tended either to establish the Truth of their Hoc est Corpus Doctrine, or to set forth

Before this comes to your hand I hope Y Lordsh" will have receiv'd a small Present I have venturd to send You from bence. The Picklebrated. Herrings are just now come in ; & being inform'd that on their first Coming They are made Presents of, to Persons of ye First Quality in Europe, This Reason & my Liking them so much my Self, made Me willing to complement Yr Lordship with a few Choice Ones. They eat them, when they are skin'd with Bread & Butter, & if You please, You may pick the flesh off their Bones & mincing it small You may mix it with a 3a part Chalott & Cucumbers with Oyl & Vinegar. I wish they may please Your Taste, & those who You shall be pleasd to regale with them. I onely beg the favour of You to pardon the Freedom in sending them. And beleive, that I am & ever will be, My Lord.

Yr Lordships most obliged, & most obedient the greatness of the Miracle for the Commemora

T

humble Servant,

ROB. WHATLEY. P.S.-If Y Lordship shall you chafe [sic] to honour Me with a Line from You, Be pleasd to use ye following Address, To Me at Mr George Kemble's Merchant in Rotterdam.

tion of which this Jubilé was instituted. The forementiond Arch had on each side the Quotations out of all the Gospels by which they ordinarily prove their Transubstantiation, and in the middle was the following Inscription,

Eucharistiæ Veritas Hæreticis demonstratur.

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Post medium maneant, et tria Saecla, stupes. NB.-It was 350 years ago the miracle happened of ye Hosts bleeding which very host yet remains. I leave Your Lordship to make your Reflection on it; and shall intrench on your precious Time no longer than whilst I acquaint You that I came from Rotterdam through Antwerp and Mechlin to Brussels: That after I spent a week in this latter place, I came through Ghent and Bruges, to this Place; whither I came this Day at Noon, and shall proceed to morrow for Newport

(whitner the Curiosity of visiting a Monastery of English Carthusians onely draws Me) to Dunkirk, St Omer, Ipre, Menin, Lisle, Tournay & Mons & so to Brussels. Whether I shall go from thence to Namur & so down y Maes to Utrecht or directly thro' Louvain to Holland I have not yet Determin'd.

But the Inclination I have to be at Hanover as soon as possible will I beleive determine Me for the Latter. Just on my Departure from Rotterdam I had the Good Fortune to fall into the Company of Admiral Norris's Son who with his Tutour was coming into these Countrys, with the very same Intent as my Self; as ye latter has travelled here before, and is a very learned Gentleman I reap great advantages by it.

My Lord, Wherever I am, it is a sensible Pleasure to Me to think I have Your Lordship for my Friend; and tnat You are pleas'd in any Manner to Interest Your Self in my Welfare. I have no greater Passion than to recommend My Self to Your Esteem: and I shall be ever ambitious of shewing My Self in what Degree I am

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RICHARD SHAKESPEARE'S NEIGHBOURS.

4. Henry Walker, Thomas Palmer and John Sambridge.

RICHARD SHAKESPEARE was in request anong his friends in the last months of

He witnessed the will of one Henry Walker in Snitterfield, who died, apparently, a on Aug. 31, 1558, tenant of a leasehold-farin widower, leaving twelve children in the care or his eldest son John. The farm was well stocked with 29 beasts (oxen, kine, calves and horses), 5 great hogs and 6 store hogs, 4 geese, 6 hens and a cock, 2 pullets, 6 stalls of bees. There was corn in the barn and in the field, malt and hay, and 3 flitches of bacon in the roof. But if there was enough to eat the sleeping accommodation was limited, and the four bedsteads (some of them with "painted cloths about them ")— must have been put-to-it to contain the family, which included moreover a boyboarder entrusted to the father's care by Master Bushell of Cleve at the rate of 17d. a week. Among the testator's assets. was a debt from Richard Shakespeare for 6s. 8d.

Thomas Palmer belonged to a family much respected in Snitterfield and nextdoor neighbours of Richard Shakespeare. His father and his uncle had been decennari (tithing men) under the lord of the manor, and in performance of their duty had reported Richard Shakespeare for non suit of Court or neglect of his hedges. Such presentments made little difference in friendship, and when Thomas Palmer died leaving swallowed up more than a third of his small young children and debts which property, Richard Shakespeare made the inventory, on Jan. 3, 1560, pricing his four oxen, two cows, four calves, one steer, two mares and a weaning-colt, corn and hay in the barn, brass and pewter and linen.

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John Sambridge made his will on Sept. 18, 1558, and Richard Shakespeare praised He was a humble person with little to be his goods and cattle on May 7 following. 'praised. He left a widow and a son by a former wife. There were difficulties to face between the son and his step-mother. This memorandum appears in the will:

"That Thomas Sambridge, the son of John Sambridge of Snitterfield, hath granted to his motherin-law, Eleanor Sambridge, to have twelve years in the house that he hath right to have after the death of his father, John Sambridge; the said Eleanor permitting him to have two lands within the fields of Snitterfield yearly, and the said Thomas to find cider at his own cost and charges, and Eleanor to wash the suits of Thomas during the said time."

The goods which Richard Shakespeare inventoried included 12 pewter platters and

present thereat. Whatever it is I hope I shall prove my Self no incurious observer. When I have in some measure satisfyed my Curiosity in that Country, I shall return to Holland, to do the same, in order to proceed on my Journey to Hanover. Here Your Lordship may perhaps be for asking Me, with respect to ye Court there what Mr Feilding did with respect to my desiring to go aboard my Lady Dutchesses Yatcht, Whether I have any Views of being troublesome to any Body there, on account of my own Interest? to which I can safely say, No. I shall go thither to spend the residue of ye Summer Season, as I wou'd to Bath, or Tunbridge, meerly for my own Entertainment; which from ye Company that will be there may not be ye least improving. What extraordinary Expence I shall be at, will I don't doubt be abundantly made up in the pleasure and Advantage, I shall reap from my Travells. I am pretty sure of meeting one good friend there, & that is Dr Stagendahl the Kings Physician; who came over aboard our Yatcht, with whom I had a great deal of Conversation; & who shew'd Me particular Civilityes; And told Me that what ever Services he could do Me at Hanover, should I come so far, he wou'd very readily perform. This I shall extend to no particular Favours from the King, but onely in ye way of Conversation & Enjoyment of my Self while There. I shall be very glad, & I am sure I shall receive great Pleasure from it, if Your Lordship will honour Me with a Letter to my Lord Carteret or any other of your Friends that are there. The abovementiond Lord will I reckon be there near about ye Time I propose to be there my Self. And I shall count my Self particularly happy in ye Honour of his Acquaint

.ance.

I forbear to mention S Robt. Corberts Misfortune as supposing Your Lordship has heard it related already in England. I wish his Native Country may restore the poor distempered Gentleman to Himself. I forbear mentioning any thing concerning ye Office of Insurance &c. lately set up in this Town, because I have this day seen a just account of it in our English Papers.

Before this comes to your hand I hope Yr Lordsh" will have receiv'd a small Present I have venturd to send You from bence. The Pickle Herrings are just now come in ; & being inform'd that on their first Coming They are made Presents of, to Persons of y First Quality in Europe, This Reason & my Liking them so much my Self, made Me willing to complement Yr Lordship with a few Choice Ones. They eat them, when they are skin'd with Bread & Butter, & if You please, You may pick the flesh off their Bones & mincing it small You may mix it with a 3d part Chalott & Cucumbers with Oyl & Vinegar. I wish they may please Your Taste, & those who You shall be pleasd to regale with them. I onely beg the favour of You to pardon the Freedom in sending them. And beleive, that I am & ever will be, My Lord.

Yr Lordships most obliged, & most obedient humble Servant,

T

ROB. WHATLEY. P.S.-If Y Lordship shall you chafe [sic] to honour Me with a Line from You, Be pleasd to use ye following Address, To Me at Mr George Kemble's Merchant in Rotterdam.

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I can't allow My Self to come so near Your Lordship, as I am when at this Place, without paying my Duty to You by the Visit of this Letter. I acquainted Your Lordship in my last with the Reason of my seing these Countrys, before I had made my Tour of Holland: and indeed I have receiv'd so much satisfaction from the Magnificence with which this Jubilee was celebrated at Brussels, that I should never have pardon'd My Self, if having an Opportunity, I had neglected to gratify my Curiosity on so curious an Occasion. The new Scenes I have met with since I came into these Roman-Catholick Countrys has given Me incredible Delight, and tho' there was an extraordinary Magnificence exhibited both in the Great Church, and streets of Brussels, beyond what I ever saw, or bad even an Idea of before, yet it has not drowned the Pleasure I have had in being Eye-witness to the Delightfulness of the Country, Beauty of the Towns, and Civility of the Inhabitants. But notwithstanding I have had very great Satisfaction in gratifying my Sight with the Variety and Newness of the Objects which have presented themselves to Me on all hands, Yet my most particular satisfaction has been in the Conversation I have had in every Place I have pass'd through, and even on ye Road in Travelling with the Ecclesiasticks of all Orders. It is impossible to mention with what Civility they receive a Stranger in their Houses, & how ready they are to satisfy one in every Particular that one wou'd desire. I hope I shall live to have the Honour to relate to Your Lordship some part of the Conversation I have had with Them; & design further to have before I leave the Country. It would be too tedious to make any mention of it in a Letter ; & I shall content my Self at this Time with making a Remark or two on the Procession we have had on occasion of this famous Jubile. I shall refer Your Lordship to the public accounts You will undoubtedly have at large of the occasion, and august manner in which it has been celebrated. In order to Honour it, the ffronts of the Houses in those Streets through which it pass'd were adorn'd with Greens from the Bottom to the Top, & embellish'd with the finest Tapistrys and Pictures each inhabitant either had by them or could procure: Besides a vast number of Triumphal Arches set forth after the most beautiful Manner with Paintings, Mottos, and other Decorations. I saw the Procession from our Residents (Mr Leathes) House; near it was a most magnificent Triumphal arch, the Inscriptions of which were peculiariy calculated for the Neighbourhood. The Jesuits had the Direction of every Thing, and most of their Mottos on all the Arches tended either to establish the Truth of their Hoc est Corpus Doctrine, or to set forth the greatness of the Miracle for the Commemoration of which this Jubilé was instituted. The forementiond Arch had on each side the Quotations out of all the Gospels by which they ordinarily prove their Transubstantiation, and in the middle was the following Inscription,

Eucharistiæ Veritas Hæreticis demonstratur.

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Post medium maneant, et tria Saecla, stupes. NB. It was 350 years ago the miracle happened of ye Hosts bleeding which very host yet remains. I leave Your Lordship to make your Reflection on it; and shall intrench on your precious Time no longer than whilst I acquaint You that I came from Rotterdam through Antwerp and Mechlin to Brussels: That after I spent a week in this latter place, I came through Ghent and Bruges, to this Place; whither I came this Day at Noon, and shall proceed to morrow for Newport (whither the Curiosity of visiting a Monastery of English Carthusians onely draws Me) to Dunkirk, St Omer, Ipre, Menin, Lisle, Tournay & Mons & so to Brussels. Whether I shall go from thence to Namur & so down ye Maes to Utrecht or directly thro' Louvain to Holland I have not yet Determin'd.

But the Inclination I have to be at Hanover as soon as possible will I beleive determine Me for the Latter. Just on my Departure from Rotterdam I had the Good Fortune to fall into the Company of Admiral Norris's Son who with his Tutour was coming into these Countrys, with the very same Intent as my Self; as ye latter has travelled here before, and is a very learned Gentleman I reap great advantages by it.

My Lord, Wherever I am, it is a_sensible Pleasure to Me to think I have Your Lordship for my Friend; and tnat You are pleas'd in any Manner to Interest Your Self in my Welfare. have no greater Passion than to recommend My Self to Your Esteem: and I shall be ever ambitious of shewing My Self in what Degree I am My Lord,

Your Lordships most obedient,
and most faithfull humble Servant

ROBERT WHATLEY.

C. S. B. BUCKLAND.

(To be continued.)

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He witnessed the will of one Henry Walker on Aug. 31, 1558, tenant of a leasehold-farm in Snitterfield, who died, apparently, a widower, leaving twelve children in the care or his eldest son John. The farm was well stocked with 29 beasts (oxen, kine, calves and horses), 5 great hogs and 6 store hogs, 4 geese, 6 hens and a cock, 2 pullets, 6 stalls of bees. There was corn in the barn and in the field, malt and hay, and 3 flitches of bacon in the roof. But if there was enough to eat the sleeping accommodation was limited, and the four bedsteads (some of them with "painted cloths about them")— must have been put-to-it to contain the family, which included moreover a boyboarder entrusted to the father's care by Master Bushell of Cleve at the rate of 17d. a week. Among the testator's assets. was a debt from Richard Shakespeare for 68. 8d.

Thomas Palmer belonged to a family much respected in Snitterfield and nextdoor neighbours of Richard Shakespeare. His father and his uncle had been decennari (tithing men) under the lord of the manor, and in performance of their duty had reported Richard Shakespeare for non suit of Court or neglect of his hedges. Such presentments made little difference in friendship, and when Thomas Palmer died leaving seven young children and debts which swallowed up more than a third of his small property, Richard Shakespeare made the inventory, on Jan. 3, 1560, pricing his four oxen, two cows, four calves, one steer, two mares and a weaning-colt, corn and hay in the barn, brass and pewter and linen.

John Sambridge made his will on Sept. 18, 1558, and Richard Shakespeare praised his goods and cattle on May 7 following. He was a humble person with little to be 'praised. He left a widow and a son by a former wife. There were difficulties face between the son and his step-mother. This memorandum appears in the will:

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RICHARD SHAKESPEARE was in request The goods which Richard Shakespeare among his friends in the last months of inventoried included 12 pewter platters and

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