Robert Southwell letter to William Blathwayt, 1685/1686 January 6

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I was yesterday tempted to carry my
Company here to Bristoll, to see some naturall
Curiosityes which Mr. Cole one of the Custome
officers, & a great collectour of rarityes, has
putt together. There I heard of Mr.
Cranfeilds being in towne, & presently
after he came in, telling me that uppon
Lyght of my livery he could not forbeare
to find me out.

In a very short time he fell to rayle
bitterly against Mr. Randolph. and to leap
over all the [illegible] that I flung in the way
that he had sent here affidavits against
him, & other malefactours in that Country
but that all his Complaints were Supprest.

Mr. Blathwayt.

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That He had contended with 2 open
Rebellions in his Government and thought
it a blessing to be well ridd of it. And
the more since Mr. Blathwayt had
been vnkind to him.

I aked him, whose fault was it if
he had caught a Tartar and found
some disappointments in the thing he
soe much desired. He told me
he never had desired the Government
and that it was onely your Importunity
that made him goe. He would haue
utter'd more of his Resentmens against you
if he ^ ^had not found it I nconvenyant.
But I suppose he does it with Sr
John Knight, where I am told he
has Struck up as formerly.

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When I mentioned Mr. Randolphs
many dangerous voyages & great Service
He raysed his owne meritt above all
Saying he was a Gentleman well borne
& that his Grandfather was the first
that discovered the Gunpowder Treason,
but that Randolph was a Scoundrell &c:

you see how I want subject of
Concerne when I entertaine you with
this Stuff. but tis not amisse that you
know what is stirring, and how your
friend Mr. Cranfield takes in with the
discontented.

Our Small company remaine well
& I am ever

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King's Weston
6 January 1685/6
From Sr Richard Southwell

Has seen Mr. Cranfeild,