Page:Works of Sir John Suckling.djvu/375

Rh Farnese, and may be a historical reference to Alexander, Prince of Parma, famous in the statesmanship of Philip II.'s reign.

'What my journey through France afforded your Lordship had in haste from Dover by the way of Antwerp. On Tuesday I arrived at court, and came soon enough to find the face of it extremely changed, looking asquint upon you in Germany, as well as upon all us that were sent from thence. The fault at first I laid upon the night and my own bad eyes, but the next day made it clear and plain. The packet to my Lord Treasurer I presented first, and the taking of Donawart, who both to the bearer and the news showed alike indifferent, something cool, if not cold perchance, his garb. From thence I went to the King, and made my way by Maxfeild, Murrey being not there. His Majesty was well content the King was still victorious, but took it not so hot as those of France; nor did he at first conceive of it of so great importance. The bedchamber men were most of them there, and the King spoke loud: that little, therefore, I had to say to him from Sir Isaack Wake and your Lordship, I reserved for a more private audience, that I might see something more into the King's mind. Mr. Murrey would have had it been the next morning, but I deferred it a day, and, having seen my Lord of Middlesex, and spoken with your son, I found, as I conceived, the reason of what I so much wondered at, and a better way than otherwise perchance I had taken. Before, therefore, I went to the King, I attended my Lord Treasurer, and told him that by more particular command I was more specially to wait upon his Lordship, that I was to speak to the King that morning, but was come before to kiss his Lordship's hands; and, having in a manner repeated what I was to say, because I knew that which I had both from you and Sir Isaack Wake was something too much Sweden and monarchy, I mingled with it the noise of the Spaniards passing the Mosell, the confirmation of the Landgrave of Hessen's defeat, and the voted forces of Wallesten (of which I conceived by circumstance you writ nothing), all which more specially he commanded me to represent to his Majesty. In the conclusion I told him that, if there were any thing in what I had said that could seem less fit to his Lordship, or any thing besides that his Lordship could think more fit, I stood there ready to be disposed of by him. Upon which he imbraced me, thanked your Lordship