Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/302

 286 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.

ship's of the 19th would make that a reall fault, which else had been a reasonable fear of being troublesome. Without it I should have been puzzled to have guessed at the business that brought the States to your House, who without doubt were startled at your message. Some of their friends pre- tend to say that they were under noe fixed engagements, but only to furnish as much as they were able, but it is very im- improbable that they should be left soe much to their own generosity. I know it hath been all along their excuse that they did what they could, and I remember was made use of many years agoe by My Lord Portland, at the beginning of this War, in a dispute I heard between him and another Lord alsoe dead, telling him that the Parliament would not be long satisfied with the deficiency of their parts. His answer was that it was true they did not furnish what they were obliged to, but it was impossible for them to doe more. Wriberg not long before he dyed made use of the same argument, saying they were undone and beggars ; and he was told that tho' one would give what could be spar'd, one would not suffer one self to be cheated by beggars.

Sir Thomas Hanmer's going over with the D. of Ormond hath rais'd variety of discourses, and after all, I was assur'd that he is only gone over for his pleasure, tho' some would have it that he had some secret commission about the peace, others that he was to be a check upon the D. ot Ormond, like the Deputys of the States.

We are in great expectation of the first of May, when something is to be communicated to the parliament concern- the peace. I fancy some times it will meet with more approbation then is thought, for some of the Whigs say it will be a better peace than was at first intended. I cannot doubt but you will be well taken care of after the negociation is over, but whether that is yet thought of, is more then I know. If I can any way find it out, I will, but the Lord you mention hath given me twice or thrice such wrong information that I doe not know how to rely upon it, I dare say without any design of imposing upon me, but it must be either that he is not trusted soe much as he thinks he is, or that

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