A letter from
Jean Beaulieu
to
William Trumbull
, (d.
1635, diplomat)
mentioning
Jonson
in
France
with
Wat Ralegh
(1593-c. 1618, son of Sir Walter)
and dated 3 Mar.
1613 . The document is bound in a series of letters, 1612-May 1613, from
Jean Beaulieu
to
William Trumbull
. The letter occupies page 1; pages 2-3 are blank;
page 4 contains the address and seal.
Eugene Giddens
[fol. 131]
Sir This
gentleman. Mr. Ben: Iohnson (who, I am sure, cannott but be well knowne vnto you by
his reputation) hauing spent some twelue months trauele in this Countrie, in Mr.
Raughleys companie, who was committed to his charge by Sir Walter his
Father, hath nowe taken a resolution to passe, by Sedan, into your
partes; And because he hath heard of the ʌ ⎡particular⎤ interest
which I haue in your loue, he hath ben desirous
that I should add, to the creditt of his owne merittes that of my
recommendation towardes you; with whom he doth professe to haue a
great desire to make particular acquaintance for the respect & affection
which he beareth to those of your character.
which wilbe sufficient to declare his vertuous inclination, &
to recommend him to your good estimation & entertainement,
besides the testimonie of his extraordinarie & rare partes of knowledge &
vnderstanding, which make his conuersation to be honored &
beloued in all companies; specially for the commendation he hath, not to abuse the
power of his guifts, as commonly other ouerflowing witts vse to do, to the prejudice
of other mens honour. More I shall not neede to add either to commend
or recommend him vnto you, since that his nation & knowne qualities,
which by a fewe dayes conuersation wilbe better knowne vnto you,
wilbe more then sufficient a motiue to your good affection, to
afforde him in those partes all the good offices & kindnes that shalbe in
your power. This onley particular I must require in his behalf at
your handes, that
with
⎡in⎤
Mr. Russells, Mr. Chandelers (if he be there) & the rest of
your most selected friends Companie, you doe charge him, by the
authoritie of your place, with the best cupp of claret that Brussells
shall affoord, to remember the healts of his frends here, who euen nowe haue with
the like reuerence solemnely saluted yours in his Companie. And so
committing you both to the protection of God, I remaine as
euer,
your most louing brother & seruant
JBeaulieu [signature]
From
Paris
the
25 th of Februarie 1613
3. March 1613
[turned 90 degrees, and in the left
margin] This weeke is so barren of newes, as I must entreate you to expect
no other letter from me by this Ordinarie, referring you for ordinarie occurrences
to the sufficiencie of this bearer, ...
[fol.
132v]
[turned 90 degrees]
3. of Marche
1612
from Mr Beaulieu.
[turned 180
degrees] To my worthie frend
Mr. William
Trumbull
Bibliography
H&S, 11.581
Trumbull was a protégé of Sir Thomas Edmondes , and succeeded him as resident [ambassador] to the court of the Archduke Albert of Austria, regent of the Netherlands, in Brussels in 1609. He remained there for 16 years, although he was appointed to an ordinary clerkship to the Privy Council in Feb. 1614. Much of his correspondence survives.
Frequently known as Wat, Ralegh was born, probably at Sherborne, in Oct. 1593. He graduated BA (Oxon.) in 1610; Daniel Featley was his tutor. He was killed at St Tomas, on his father's ill-fated expedition to Guiana, some time before 8 Jan. 1618 (when the news was brought to his father).