APPENDIX D.
[Among the Family Papers in the possession of His Grace the Duke of Beaufort is the following:—Letter from Walter Travers, a Roman Catholic Priest, to the Dowager Marchioness of Worcester.]
Jesus + Mīa, September 6, 1670.
Noble Madam—
The Grace of the Holy-ghost bee with you.
The greate esteeme and honour wch I have euer had for your Ladysp hath allwaise made mee prompt, and willing to serue you to the best of my power, without the bias of selfe interest, as your selfe can witnesse; And because I feare that at present, your Honour hath noe one, that in the greate concernes, which you have in hand, will tell you the truth, as it often happens to persons of greate quality: I have thought it the part of my Priestly function and fidelity towards yor Hor: (haveing first in my poore prayers, humbly commended it to Alm: God) to represent unto you, that wch all your friends know to bee true, as well as my selfe, and would bee willing that your Ladysp should know it likewise.
Alm: God hath Madam put you into a happey, and florishing condition, fitt and able to serue God, and to doe much good to your selfe and others; and your Ladysp makes your selfe unhappey, by seeming not to bee contented with your condition but troubling your spiritts with many thoughts of attayning to greater dignityes and riches.
Madam all those that wish you well, are greeued to see your Ladysp to bee allready soe much disturbed, and weakened in your iudgment and in danger to loose the right use of your reason, if you doe not tymely endeauor to preuent it, by ceasing to goe one with such high designes, as you are vppon, which I declare to you, in the faith of a Priest to bee true: The cause of your present distemper, and of the aforesayed danger, is doubtlesse, that your thoughts and imagination are very much fixed on the title of Plantaginet, and of disposing your selfe for that greate dignity by getting of greate sums of money from the King, to pay your deceased Lords debts, and enriching your selfe by the great Mashine, and the like. Now Madam how vnproper such undertakeings are for your L. and how vnpossible for you to effect them, or any one of them, all your friends can tell you if the please to discover the trueth to you.
The ill effects that flow from hence are many: as the danger of looseing your health and iudgment by such violent application of your fancies in such high designes and ambitious desires; the probability of offending Alm. God and preiudising your owne soule thereby: the advantage you may thereby give to those who desire to make a pray of your fortune, and to rayse themselues by ruening you: the spending greate sums of money in rich and sumptuous things, whch are not suteable to the gravity of your Ladysp and present condition of Widdow-hoode and mourning for your deceased Lord.
Although it bee certine, that it is a greate temptation which you are now vnder, and very dangerous and hurtfull both to your temporall and eternall happynesse; yett I confisse that the Divel, to make his suggestion the more preualent, doth make vse of some motives that seeme plausible, as of paying your Lords debs, of founding monasteryes, and the like, and that your Ladysp hath the Kings favour to carry one your designes. But Madam it is certine that the King is offended with your comeing to the Court, and much more with your pretention to the title of Plantaginet; and it is dangerous to provoke him any farther: And for paying of debts, and founding of Monasteryes, wee all know that your L. can neuer bee in a better condition to doe it, then now you are; and as you are not bound to doe such things, soe they are not expected from you; but wee all applaud your pious inclinations herein, of wch you will not loose the merit with Alm: God but our apprehensions are, least you should by your Ladysps inordinate designes, bring your selfe into such a condition, as not to bee able to helpe your friends nor your selfe.