Attempt > Volume 3

260 THE ATTEMPT.
content thou and I, friende Bertram see Sir Harry
Vane Prynne
Goode cousine.
Thy true frieude and cousine ever,
Hubert Willoughbie.
This 24th daye of Maye,
Anno 1641.
Our friend must have been somewhat addicted to the frequent use of P.S.S., for
here follows another sentence of somewhat serious import, written hurriedly,
and partly obliterated.
" Neville D'Eresbie of ye Kinge's Guarde, hath just tolde me that there are de¬
spatches of greate weighte to be sente to Bristol; and I may possiblie be ye bearer
thereof; so mighte I see thee agayne ; yet am I not sure. But saye noughte concern¬
ing it; when I leave Whitehall, it wo'not be fault of mine an I returne agayne
to it. An matters mende not with me or with ye Parliament, I must e'en goe
seeke my fortune on ye farre shores of America. But of this anon, meanwhile, I
goe on "
Which is more than the P.S. does ; so we must fold up that letter, and put it
away ; can you have patience, while I give you one or two scraps, preparatory to a
lengthy letter from our Hubert, detailing experiences of a rather exciting nature, of
his share in the Irish rebellion and massacre in 1641.
I was curioiis to discover whether Neville D'Eresbie's communication would
prove of any weight; and if our young secretary succeeded in effecting his release
from what he so evidently considered an irksome detention at Whitehall.
Two little slips of parchment, folded together, and secured by a thread of faded
green silk, looked as if they might contain something of importance; they were not
addressed as letters, but appeared as if they might have been an enclosure in some¬
thing else.