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Lady Mary Kemeys to Sir Charles Kemeys. Visits she had received at Ruperra; both the children were very well, but she did not think it healthy for the boy to lie with his nurse and believes it well to part them soon; wants to know what to do about Neddy's grey horse which had got a splinter under the knee; the oil recommended for it by Mr Rumsie was very 'chargeable', being 12d. an ounce; wants him to buy the boy a cap and six pairs of coloured gloves for Jenny, which must be a size bigger than she needed, i.e. to fit a child of 6 years of age; asks him to send word when Parliament would break up and when the King would go to Ireland.

Lady Mary Kemeys to Sir Charles Kemeys. Commends those persons who have given up their employments, though wonders that they had not done so sooner since it was not in their power to prevent the ruin of the country; as King William was so good a son-in-law that he would be governed by none but King James's friends, it was to be hoped that the pious Church of England, who had first sworn him out of the Kingdom, would, in Irish fashion, swear him in again; there had never been such wickedness or foolishness in Government as now; the oxen sent to Caerleon fair had not been sold; John Hamber[ston] had asked her to enquire of Sir Charles whether it was desirable to send 'raged' colts to the fair to be sold, as the land was over-stocked; she reproves him for the employment of agents to run his affairs, who were likely to betray him either by foolishness or knavery; Sir Charles managed his private affairs 'much at the rate our Governors do the Public'.

Lady Mary Kemeys to Sir Charles Kemeys. Complains of the insolence of one of their servants, Jno. Robotham; Basset had made an agreement with Rev. Sandys for tithes, the which he was prepared to assign to Sir Charles, and which Hamberstone advised him to accept, as ten Welsh acres of corn had been sown; discusses the report of the amount of the estate left by Sir Thomas Stradling and arrangements to be made to take out administration, but she objects to Perkins as administrator because he was a lawyer, and recommends Tom Basset, as one whom Sir Charles would be able to overrule and who would submit his account half yearly; sale of horses, social gossip and family matters.

Oliver Robotham to Sir Charles Kemeys. Enclosing accounts of rents and receipts for the year 1676-7; had been as importunate as possible with tenants in arrears, but no likelihood of getting anything before the fairs of cattle, and it would be no use distraining on them, and so making it impossible for them to maintain their holdings; reports rumours blazed by Sir Edward Mansell that Sir Charles had refused a challenge to a duel from Col. Mansel[?l], and that someone in the racket court had cast a racket at his head, which Sir Charles had not heeded.

John Romsey to Sir Charles Kemeys. States that the report in the Gazette about Killigrew's naval action had no more truth than that he had chased some units of the French navy who had rejoined their own fleet before he could give battle; the French fleet had been seen within a league of Weymouth, being about 100 sail; it is concluded that another squadron had gone elsewhere, it is feared, to link up with some men in Scotland; it had been reported to the mayor of Bristol that great firing had been heard on the south coast on Sunday evening and Monday morning (24-25 June), the noise going westwards, so it was concluded that our fleet had engaged them; conflicting reports to the effect that Lord Torrington had cut his cables with eagerness to be at them or to avoid being fired at his anchor; with no Dutch squadron with our fleet and Admiral Killigrew with a great squadron in the Straits, it is feared that the French knew their advantage before they would come on our coast; the easterly wind had blown both fleet westward, if the French fleet outnumbered us so greatly they would always keep one squadron to ply for the wind, while the others are engaging, and if any of our fleet happened to be disabled, the wind being easterly, they would be at the mercy of the French; there was not such great mortality among the French fleet as was claimed in the news letter; the French Gazette had stated that King James had written to inform the French King that he would require no more supplies this summer and was able to dispute every inch of the ground with the Prince of Orange; all of which, it was feared, was likely t be true, as his army was advancing and the people called 'Jacobites' were not 'out of heart'; reports a cock match in which Sir John Smyth, Capt. Piggott and others had engaged that day at Bath, which had aroused the 'jealousy' of the Government and so two troops of horses were sent to attend; the writer's sole desire was for peace and quiet, for he was perfectly one of Sir W. Coventry's 'Trimmers'; advises that the 'hott well' waters would do Sir Charles good if he was regular with them, but if he drank, as he feared, they would do him great mischief.

John Romsey to Sir Charles Kemeys. Reports that many people had been sent to prison, rather on suspicion than accusation, among whom he was informed was the Earl of Rochester; he had heard that the Duke of Beaufort and Sir Dudley North had been sent for, but these men's known care of themselves and their estates was almost a security that they would not adventure them for anybody's sake; the printer of a declaration of the French King has been taken.

Robert Merrett to Sir Charles Kemeys. News of proclamations for high treason against the Earls of Lichfield, Ailesbury, Castlemaine and others and of appointments to certain regiments [see State Papers. Domestic, 1690-91; pp. 65, 69]; the States General of Holland intended sending over an ambassador to enquire into the miscarriage of late naval action against France; reports great enthusiasm among the militia to defend King and country against the French; the militia men and a regiment of the King's forces brought the garrison of the Isle of Wight up to 8,000 men; the garrison of Portsmouth had been reinforced and fortifications flung up; it is said that the French King intended to employ Marshal de Humieres in his designs against England; reports the advance of King William towards Munster and that the army under General Douglas had encamped on 10 July at Meath; on 13 July Admiral Killeygrew with 8 English and 5 Dutch warships had put into Plymouth, leaving 6 English and 6 Dutch men-of-war at Cadiz; Sir Cloudesly Shovell had sailed that evening with 10 men-of-war for the Irish coast; two ships from the West Indies and one from Malaga had also put into port.

Robert Merrett to Sir Charles Kemeys. A fleet consisting of 46 English and 30 Dutch warships would soon be repaired and ready for sea again; reference to the enquiry about the conduct of Lord Torrington in the recent naval battle, in which the French had lost one of their great ships, and 5 more were disabled; the French fleet was divided into three squadrons placed at Boulogne, plying eastwards, at the 'Nesse' and at the back of Goodwins; a scheme promoted by wealthy people had been launched to enter into a bond of association to raise 20,000 troops for their Majesties' service; the Earl of Tyrone, Lord Dover, Sir Patrick Trant, the Marquis of Powis, or some of them had promised the King that they would surrender Waterford; it was certain that the King had left Ireland, but Tyrconnell was 'making head' at Limerick; Count Lauzun was in command of the scattered French forces; the Irish had quitted Athlone; King William's forces amount to 25,000; Kilkenny, Sligo and Cavan were in our possession; Ed. Baldwin had been committed to Newgate by warrant of Lord Nottingham.

Robert Merrett to Sir Charles Kemeys. Discusses his translation of a French book; mentions that the French fleet had been discovered from the hills at Penzance sailing south-west and it was thought that they were going away.

Robert Merrett to Sir Charles Kemeys. States that the French book he was translating had already appeared in English; there was a report that King William was already in possession of Limerick, which was defended by a garrison of 6,000 men, but those without numbered 40,000 and were resolute to stand a battle; a French engineer was reported to have deserted from Limerick and given to King William an account of the number of the garrison and the best places to attack; 18 ships had lately come from France under convoy of 5 men of war; a packet boat had been captured with letters concerning French designs on Plymouth, which they intended to bomb, to fire the ships in Catwater and to burn all the men of war in the harbour; the French fleet was still near Torbay; it was reported from the West Indies that the British forces had retaken St Christopher's; a second wreck had been found off the coast of Jamaica, from which treasure of the value of £20,000 had already been taken.

John Romsey to Sir Charles Kemeys. Glad to be favoured with a letter at the time when he was busy with the security of the Kingdom and with the 'Church of England rascals' who were to have met the French, which the author of the Modest Enquiry [Baldwin - see 170] had said should be brought to light by this time, but had not yet been as good as his word; thinks it was lucky foresight to secure Sir James Morgan, for though the greater danger was from his principles, by his experience of wars and mathematical knowledge, if applied to gunnery and fortifications, he could be 'plaguey dangerous'; such arms and horses as he had might have constituted a danger if they had fallen into the hands of some resolute Jacobites; he had been regaled last week with stories of the recent battles by certain officers, who gave more instances of the King's heroism than fame had reported of him; thanks Sir Charles for his good reports of his family and his horses.

Robert Merrett to Sir Charles Kemeys. He was surprised that so many people of all qualities spoke so much on behalf of the Earl of Torrington, whom the writer hoped would die the death of a dog; there had lately arrived in France from Ireland two persons who wrongly asserted that the Duke of Schomberg had been shot and that King William was killed; the French desertion of Limerick had been confirmed and the Countess of Tyrconnell had arrived in Brest; about 1,500 officers had fled from Ireland, but the French King had recaptured them all and had ordered the governor of Brest to take all who arrived there into custody; orders had also been sent to Count Lauzun, if he found Limerick and Galway untenable, to bring money and troops there [Brest], where a squadron of ships would be ready to receive them; the English and Dutch fleet had come out of the Hamos and fell into the Pound [sic], all except the Duke; a vessel had followed the French fleet within a few leagues of Brest; Col. Lutterell, who was in command at Limerick, had offered to capitulate if the King would agree to hostages being given by both sides; the Dutch States General were sending gold with Mr Harbourd, who was accompanying the men of war they were sending to England; a Council had been held yesterday to deal with the affairs of Earl Torrington and had also considered the petitions of several prisoners in the Tower when it was decided that those who were not accused on oath might be allowed bail, while others were to remain prisoners; Sir Ralph Dalavell, with a squadron of men at war, was ordered up the Channel to meet the Plymouth fleet and to rendezvous at the Spithead.

Oliver Robotham to Sir Charles Kemeys. Concerning the insistence by Carne that a recovery should be suffered at the next Sessions, for which the composition would cost £20; also concerning a proposal that his brother should resign his commission.

[Robert Merrett] to Sir Charles Kemeys. States that odds of £100 to £30 were being given that a session of Parliament was to begin on the following Monday, on the strength of the news from Ireland that Limerick, if not yet taken, could not hold out much longer, and the Duke of Devonshire had gone 'down post' to meet the King on his return; preparations were being made for the King's reception; it was a dull Bartholemew fair, as the season was so dirty and the town so empty on account of the war, but there were enough to make a riot, with some killed and more wounded.

Robert Merrett to Sir Charles Kemeys. News that parliament had met and been prorogued; Marlborough had been told by the King to delay his departure; reference to certain public appointments.

Robert Merrett to Sir Charles Kemeys. On the night before there had been scenes of great rejoicing in London on account of the return of the King; King Louis XIV had been burned in effigy and cries of 'Torrington, a coward' were heard.

Robert Merrett to Sir Charles Kemeys. Complaining of Sir Charles's ill-humour about his request to return. Mr Higden's satire; also refers to the lack of attention to business on the part of Sir Charles's bookseller.