SIR RALPH WINWOOD.

(Vol. viii., p. 272.)

I have an original letter of Sir Ralph Winwood's in French, addressed "A Monsieur Monsr Charles Huyghens, Secrétaire du Conseil d'estat de Messrs les Estats à la Haye," which, as it may possibly be interesting to your correspondent H. P. W. R., I here transcribe:

"Monsr.—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 Maté en son retour d'Escoce, et j'espere sur la fin du moys de 7bre de me rendre à ma maison à Londres. Sur ce temps-là, s'il vous plaira d'envoyer vre 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, Monsr, vostre plus affectionné servitr,

Rodolphe Winwood.

"De Londres, le 7me 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.

W. Sneyd.

Denton.