(Vol. viii., p. 272.)
I have an original letter of Sir Ralph Winwood's in French, addressed "A
Monsieur Mons^r Charles Huyghens, Secrétaire du Conseil d'estat de
Mess^{rs} les Estats à la Haye," which, as it may possibly be interesting
to your correspondent H. P. W. R., I here transcribe:
"Mons^r.--Vos dernières m'ont rendu tesmoignage de vostre bonn'
affection en mon endroict. Car je m'asseure que vous n'eussiez jamais
recommendé vostre filz à ma protection si mon nom n'eust esté
enregistré au nombre de vos meilleurs et plus affectionnés amys. Je
m'en vay, dans peu de jours, trouver Sa Ma^{té} en son retour d'Escoce,
et j'espere sur la fin du moys de 7^{bre} de me rendre à ma maison à
Londres. Sur ce temps-là, s'il vous plaira d'envoyer v^{re} filz vers
moy, il sera le bien venu. Son traittement rendra tesmoinage de
l'estime que je fais de vostre amitié. De vous envoyer des nouvelles,
ce seroyt d'envoyer _Noctuas Athenas_. Tout est coÿ icy. La mort de
Concini a rendu la France heureuse. Mais l'Italie est en danger d'estre
exposée à la tirannie d'Espagne. Je vous baise les mains, et suis,
Mons^r, vostre plus affectionné servit^r,
RODOLPHE WINWOOD.
"De Londres, le 7^{me} de Juillet."
The year is not indicated, but the allusion to the death of Concini (the
celebrated Maréchal d'Ancre, who was assassinated by order of Louis XIII.)
proves that this letter was written in 1617, and very shortly before the
death of the writer, which occurred on the 27th of October in that year.
M. Charles Huyghens, to whom the letter is addressed, was probably the
father of Constantine Huyghens, the Dutch poet-politician, who was
secretary and privy counsellor to the Stadtholders Frederick Henry, and
William I. and II., and who, not improbably, was the son here mentioned as
recommended to the protection of Sir R. Winwood, and who, at that date,
would have been twenty-one years of age.
Constantine was himself the father of the still more celebrated Christian
Huyghens, the astronomer and mathematician. The seal on the letter, which
is in excellent preservation, is a shield bearing the following arms: 1.
and 4. a cross botonné, 2. and 3. three fleurs-de-lis.