LETTRE ANONYME

Dans une lettre conservée au Musée Britannique, datée du 6 mars i63o, il est dit :

« Mylord Carlisle a traité très splendidement deux fois dans une semaine l'ambassadeur d'Espagne ainsi que Monsieur Rubens l'agent qui fraya le chemin de sa venue. Lequel pour l'honneur de notre nation, a exécuté de son pinceau l'Histoire de S^ George, dans laquelle (s'il est possible) il s'est surpassé ; mais il a envoyé le tableau chez lui en Flandre, pour y rester comme un monument de son séjour et son emploi en ce pays. ^>

Walpole ajoute : a Ceci je suppose était une copie du tableau qu'il fit pour le Roi L'un des deux exemplaires se trouve actuellement (1761) dans la collection du comte de Lincoln. »

DCLXVIII

2i[3i]marsi63o. LE SECR. LORD DORCHESTER A SIR F. COTTINGTON.

EXTRAIT

My very good U :

I must lett you knowe, for conclusion, that Rubens, before his departure, made a visitt to Joachimi, and (as Joachimi hath related to his Ma'- and niyself) used such discourse as yf his (Rubens)

proposition of a suspension of armes (w^^ you may call to minde was 2i[3i]mars i63o. the chiefe subject of his employm* to his Ma*^) were o", and the peace betwixt the two Crownes apart were proposed and desired by his Ma*^; wishing the States would doe theyr affayres apart likewise.

Joachimi replyed, he could not believe his Ma*^ had made any such motion, or so much as given consent therunto ; and, though he had, the States were not disobliged therby of theyr con tract to his M*^ forbidding them to treate or conclude anything of that kinde w*^out him.

Upon further discourse, Rubens telling Joachimi the States might make peace yf they would, and therby bring quiett and rest after long warre to ail the 17 Provinces, Joachimi answeared, there was but one way, and that was at this tyme very faysable, by chasing the Spanyards from thence : w*"^ Rubens acknowledged to be the ground of the pacification of Gant, but sayd that peace was worse then warre. What creditt to give herunto is hard to judge, because Rubens hath wonne the réputation hère amongst us of too honest a man to speake untruths contrary to his owne knowledge; and Joachimi is a person of approved sincerity; wherfore, leaving the men to the justification of theyr owne consciences, I will say this only of the matter, that the expulsion of the Spanyards out of those Provinces is in more men's mouthes then one ; and I will assure you, I hâve at this day a project in my hands presented to his Ma*^ for this purpose.

I rest

(Dorchester).

Publié par NoÊL Sainsbury, op. cit. p. 148.

Londres. Public Record Office. Spain 6g.

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