[Among the Family Papers in the possession of His Grace the Duke of Beaufort is the following:—Letter from Walter Travers, a Roman Catholic Priest, to the Dowager Marchioness of Worcester.]

Jesus + Mia, September 6, 1670.

Noble Madam—

The Grace of the Holy-ghost bee with you.

The greate esteeme and honour w^ch I have euer had for your Ladys^p hath allwaise made mee prompt, and willing to serue you to the best of my power, without the bias of selfe interest, as your selfe can witnesse; And because I feare that at present, your Honour hath noe one, that in the greate concernes, which you have in hand, will tell you the truth, as it often happens to persons of greate quality: I have thought it the part of my Priestly function and fidelity towards yo^r Ho^r: (haveing first in my poore prayers, humbly commended it to Alm: God) to represent unto you, that w^ch all your friends know to bee true, as well as my selfe, and would bee willing that your Ladys^p should know it likewise.

Alm: God hath Madam put you into a happey, and florishing condition, fitt and able to serue God, and to doe much good to your selfe and others; and your Ladys^p makes your selfe unhappey, by seeming not to bee contented with your condition but troubling your spiritts with many thoughts of attayning to greater dignityes and riches.

Madam all those that wish you well, are greeued to see your Ladys^p to bee allready soe much disturbed, and weakened in your iudgment and in danger to loose the right use of your reason, if you doe not tymely endeauor to preuent it, by ceasing to goe one with such high designes, as you are vppon, which I declare to you, in the faith of a Priest to bee true: The cause of your present distemper, and of the aforesayed danger, is doubtlesse, that your thoughts and imagination are very much fixed on the title of Plantaginet, and of disposing your selfe for that greate dignity by getting of greate sums of money from the King, to pay your deceased Lords debts, and enriching your selfe by the great Mashine, and the like. Now Madam how vnproper such undertakeings are for your L. and how vnpossible for you to effect them, or any one of them, all your friends can tell you if the please to discover the trueth to you.

The ill effects that flow from hence are many: as the danger of looseing your health and iudgment by such violent application of your fancies in such high designes and ambitious desires; the probability of offending Alm. God and preiudising your owne soule thereby: the advantage you may thereby give to those who desire to make a pray of your fortune, and to rayse themselues by ruening you: the spending greate sums of money in rich and sumptuous things, wh^ch are not suteable to the gravity of your Ladys^p and present condition of Widdow-hoode and mourning for your deceased Lord.

Although it bee certine, that it is a greate temptation which you are now vnder, and very dangerous and hurtfull both to your temporall and eternall happynesse; yett I confisse that the Divel, to make his suggestion the more preualent, doth make vse of some motives that seeme plausible, as of paying your Lords debs, of founding monasteryes, and the like, and that your Ladys^p hath the Kings favour to carry one your designes. But Madam it is certine that the King is offended with your comeing to the Court, and much more with your pretention to the title of Plantaginet; and it is dangerous to provoke him any farther: And for paying of debts, and founding of Monasteryes, wee all know that your L. can neuer bee in a better condition to doe it, then now you are; and as you are not bound to doe such things, soe they are not expected from you; but wee all applaud your pious inclinations herein, of w^ch you will not loose the merit with Alm: God but our apprehensions are, least you should by your Ladys^ps inordinate designes, bring your selfe into such a condition, as not to bee able to helpe your friends nor your selfe.

Bee pleased Madam now to give mee leave to suggest some waie how the approching dangers may bee prevented, by changing the object of your affections, and insteede of temporall, to seeke after eternall riches, and honors, which your age doth assure you are not far off; for w^ch you may dispose yourselfe, before death comes, by retiring into the countrey for some tyme, from the distractions of the Court, where you may have the advice and directions of some learned Priest, in whose vertue you may wholey confide, and bee guided by him, for your internall quiet and security. Many places may soone be found out, that are fitt for that purpose: At Hammersmith M^rs. Bedingfield a very vertuous and discreete person, and of your Ladys^ps acquaintance, hath lately taken a faire house and garden, & hath but a small family. In some such place your Ho^r might likewise haue the aduice of some well experienced Doctor, for the health of your person, and the benefitt of good ayre and of quietness, would much conduce to your health: And soe by Alm. Gods blessing, you may recover from that most pernicious distemper of bodey and mind, vnto w^ch euery one seese you to bee very neere approaching, and may live many yeares with your owne fortune and dignity in greate honour, and happynesse and be the author of many good workes of piety and Charity to the glorey of God and eternall saluation of your owne soule. Thus dear Madam I have ventured to declare a greate trueth to you, w^ch was before a secrett only to your selfe; I know that I run the hazard of incurring your displeasure, if your Ladys^p should not reade the candor of my intentions, w^ch in my Letter I intend towards you: but my assurance of haveing herein performed a duty w^ch I owe to my God, and the hope I have that you will take it well as I intend it, have encouraged mee to doe it, and to subscribe myselfe

Honored Madam

Your humb. Ser. in C. J.

Walt. Travers.

[On the back of this letter is the address:]

For ye Right Hon^ble,

the Lady markes of wossester,

at her howes in Link[olns]

ins fields.