Briefwisseling. Deel 5: 1649-1663

5432. Aan lady Stafford⁸⁾. (K.A.)

Some dayes since I receaved your ladyships most welcome answere, without any date, upon my letter of the 17/27 of August. These lines are to assure your ladyship, that those of her noble hand could never bee better bestowed then upon me, who am infinitly rejoyced to see your ladyship is

8) Zie No. 5427.

[p. 245]

in so good a health, that she hath the courage to thinke of a jorney beyond sea. In good faith, Madam, as the world goeth in your island, I doe imagine, you could as happily and quietly end your dayes in these parts amongst some of your obedient children as there, where publique and private troubles have agitated you till now. As for howses fit for such a family, I make account your ladyship may be served here at her ease for 60, 70 or 80 pound a yeare, more or lesse, as she shall thinke fit herselfe. If it please your ladyship to let me know, of what and how many and how large roomes you would desire to bee accommodated, I will make your ladyship acquainted of what is to bee had here at the Haghe, which, you may beleeve, Madam, to bee one of the sweetest and handsomest dwellings of the world. But, as I have understood here, your ladyships intention should be to live in one family with your sonne¹⁾ and daughter in law. If so bee, another course is to be taken, for they seeme to have a mind to live at Maestricht, which is more then a hundred mile from hence, in an excellent aire indeed, but as far from the Queen of Bohemia as the Haghe from thence, and no such conversation there, nor such pictures, nor such performes, nor such musicke as we are able to afford you here. To be short, Madam, if your ladyship doe us the honour to passe the seas, we will endeavour to make you passe your time in such a manner, that the old good dayes of Lothbury howse will somtimes come backe into your memory. In this I entreate your ladyship to let me keepe a corner, upon that ground, that I am allwayes, as allwayes I have been ..... 4/14 Oct. 1655.

I thinke the bearer of this will bee my young cousin Snouckart²⁾, whose grandfather, the ambassador Joachimi, and uncle, M. de Mayerne³⁾, have had the honour te bee acquainted with your ladyship. He is a youth of a notable estate and I alone left his tutor⁴⁾.

1) Bedoeld is zeker Sir Thomas Killigrew († 1683), die in 1655 in den Haag trouwde met Charlotte van Hesse.

2) Zie III, blz. 234. - Hij was nu 18 jaar oud.

3) Zie I, blz. 63. - Zijne tweede vrouw heette Elizabeth Joachimi.

4) Zie III, blz. 234. - Maurits Huygens en J. Sherwouters (vgl. II, blz. 252) waren de andere voogden geweest.