363

[363]

[Lett. xciii. Letters Historical and Galant.]

"II. All the Conferences shall be held without Ceremony or Distinction, in such manner as that the
"Plenipotentiaries shall seat themselves at the side of their Entrance into the hall, where there shall be no upper
"or lower End; but they shall Sit all together without distinction and pel Mel.

III Quarrels shall be hindred on both sides between the Coachmen and footmen, who shall moreover
"be ordered to treat each other with Good nature and Civility, and to be ready on all occasions, to do one ano
"ther all the Kindness and Service they can.

IV. When two Coaches meet in such narrow places that they cannot both pass at the same time;
"far from disputing which shall have the upper hand, or which of the two shall go first, and from crea
"ting Trouble by this means, the Coachmen shall be obliged on the Contrary, to make room for each other
"and to forward the Passing as much as lies in their Power: and he who is first informed of the Difficul
"ty, shall stop and make room for the other, if it appears, that he can do it the most Easily on his side

V. In the Common Walks as well within as without the Town, the Custom of keeping each the
"Right on his Side, as has been agreed upon by those who meet there, shall be observed, and so likewise in
"the Streets and Highways, and generally every where that it can conveniently be done; without the
"least Dispute, or affectation of Precedence.

VI The Pages, Footmen, and generally all such as are in Liveries, shall neither carry Sticks nor
"Arms; as Swords, Knives, Pocket Pistols, nor any others of what Kindsoever, whether openly or secretly
"in the Town or in the Walks. Pages may however, if they please, carry little Wands. Moreover, all Do-
"mesticks shall be forbidden going out after Ten a Clock at Night, unless it be by express Order, or for
"the Service of their Master; so that none shall otherwise be found abroad at unseasonable Hours;
"and such as shall act Contrary hereto, shall be severely punished, and Discarded Immediately.

VII. When any Domestick of the Plenipotentiaries, is convicted of any Crime capable of disturbing
"the publick tranquility, the Plenipotentiary to whom he belongs, shall renounce his right of Punishing him
"himself, and having deprived him of all manner of Protection and Priviledge, shall cause him to be delivered
"up into the Hands of the Ordinary Judge of the place where the fault is committed, be it in the town
"or elsewhere, and shall even demand the Laws to be put in execution against the Criminal: And in the
"same Case, the Criminal Officer, commonly called the Schout, shall catch any one in the Commission of a
"flagrant Crime, either by himself or by his Officers, or others, they shall be permitted to seize him, and even
"to imprison him, tho' they know him to be a Domestick of the Plenipotentiaries, till such time as they can
"send his Master Word, which they shall be obliged to do immediately and without Delay. The same shall
"be done (and of this the Schout is to take notice) in case any of the said Domesticks are found in the Ca-
"barets or places Suspected after the Great Bell has done ringing; after which, whatever the Plenipotentiary
"orders, shall be punctually executed, whether he desires that his Domestick be kept in Prison, or released
"from it.

VIII If any Plenipotentiary's Domestick insults or quarrels with the Domestick of another Pleni
"potentiary, the Aggressor shall be immediately delivered up to the master of him who is insulted, who shall
"do him justice as he thinks fit.

IX. All the Plenipotentiaries shall very strictly forbid their Domesticks as well Gentlemen as others,
"having any Quarrels or Janglings among themselves: and if it happen, contrary to this Order, that there should
"be Quarreling, and that anyone presumes to pretend to clear himself by way of Arms, he shall be instantly
"turned out of the Plenipotentiary's House, and indeed expelled the town, without the least Regard to what he
"may alledge in his own Vindication, as that he was in Drink, or received the Affront, or was first Attack'd; but
"he shall be even obliged to answer to the Complaint which may be made against him, in any of the Courts of
"Judicature of his Natural Prince upon this Score, where he shall be punished according to Law.

X The Ministers on both sides make a mutual Promise not to receive into their Service any Domes
"tick who is discarded by his Master.

XI. If any Minister has a mind to Punish his footman by Imprisonment, the Magistrates shall be
"desired to commit him to the Town Goal for a time, at the Minister's Charge.

XII It is agreed that the Coaches shall be ranged before the Townhouse according as they come,
"always leaving Room enough for those which follow, to set down the Ministers conveniently, and then to range
"behind, so that there may still remain a Sufficient Space between the Coaches, and the town House.

XIII