140 - 20 Apr. To Sir William Boswell

Summary

Sir

I have now receav’d three Letters from you. And to the first, which beares date March 10 I cannot but approve of your Intention, to send Bamford to succeede Mr Pagett at Amsterdame and so to have another at the Haghe, which will be conformable to the English Liturgie. But whether it will be fit for Rulisius to take that Place upon him, I some what doubt, and that both in respect of his owne person, and of the Church of England. Yet neverthelesse I shall herein doe whatsoever shall be found fittest for that service. If Rulisius disappointed your second meeting with him by his suddayne departure into England, I wonder he should not be come hither before this. Or if he be come, and comes not at mee, I may say to yow, I have deserv’d better of him.

Your other 2 Letters, the other of March 30 and the other of April 9 came to mee together, and with them the Decision of the Haghe-Classis on Mr Bamfords behalfe as also that which you say is provisionall and made by the States Generall. These 2 later Letters of yours I have reade alloud to his Majestie who very well approves of your whole proceedings in this Cause, and likes that Replie that you gave to the 4 particulars insisted upon by Bamford, who you may see, (as well as I discover’d in England) is dyed in grayne. And for the two Decrees which you sent of the States, and the Classis, I thanke you heartily for both, and shall make such use of them, as is fit. And I cannot but see both how easy the Classis is, to usurpe power where they have none, and how violent to make the most of that which seemes to be given them by the States.

His Majestye very well approves both of your temper and Judgment in distinguishing so prudently between the Order made by the States, and that other of the Classis, and would have you continue in the same way, that if it be possible, the States may take noe just exception, the Classis understand themselves, and their Incroachment upon the English Church, and the work itselfe goe on at the Haghe`