79 - 22 Apr. To Sir Robert Anstruther

Summary

Worthy Sir.

I have had noe opportunity longe tyme to wryte to you and to give you thankes for those two Letters which I receyved by your Servants at theyr comming out of those Partes. And now that I have an opportunity to write by this Bearer, I have nothing to say to them but onely to give you harty thankes for your love, and for those kynde Letters which you sent me. For as for News, as I know or care for little, soe what ere it be I am sure you neyther can, nor doe, expect it from me.

At this tyme I am intreated by Mr Dury the Bearer hereof to write unto you, and I am very willing to second his Desires soe farr as I may. You know he hath laboured much in the way of a Pacification between the Lutheran and the Calvinist in those partes, and is now repayring againe to the Diet at Frankford, to see if there may be an increase of those hopes. He hath indeavored here to gaine Letters from his Majesty to declare himself in that busynes, and to make himself a Cheif Mediator in that Worke. It is true (and I thinke I may safely say it) that most of the Divines in the Church of England, especially that are of note, would be very glad to heare of soe happy a Peace between those dissenting Partyes in Germany. But his Majesty (though alsoe very well affected to it, yet like a prudent aswell as a Pious Prince, doth not conceyve the busynes is as yet come unto any such ripeness, as that it is fitt for him to mediate in a publike waye. Besides he conceyve’s, that since noe Prince eyther Lutheran or Calvinist in those parts hath publikely declared himself, it cannot be seasonable for him who is soe remote, and can knowe nothing of the busynes but by reportes, to put himself avowedly into the Worke. For his Majesty is of opinion that if this were really and hartily intended indeed, some of those Princes which are upon the Place, and whom it must needs concerne farr more every way then it can him, and that aswell in Honour and safety, as in Religion it self, would have shewed themselves before this.