Person:Peter Leslie (8)

A letter from Rev. Peter Leslie to his son, Henry:

I was born in April, 1686, on the 10th day of the month, and baptized the following Week at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster; my Godmother being Her Late Majesty Queen Ann, then Princess of Denmark, my Godfathers were my uncles William Leslie and the Lord Lucas of Colchester.

My dear Mother was the only child surviving of Peter Beachan of Ballibay, and his wife Marie Lucas; and my Father being Chaplain to King Charles the 2nd, I was born in England. My great-grandfather, Henry Leslie who was Bishop of Downe was also Chaplain to the Blessed Martyr King Charles the 1st, and was with him in all his adversities at Oxford & elsewhere, and Visited him in Confinement. He was grandson of the 4th Earle of Rothes in Scotland, being son of James Leslie, the 2nd son, and but for the act of Queen Marie Stuart and King Charles 2nd in 1680, my grandfather James Leslie, would have succeeded to the Earldom as heir male.

Both he and my great uncle, William Leslie, who were Captains in the Royal Army sustained valiantly the righteous cause, thereby losing the greater part of their Fortunes; and my dear father also, who was then Dean of Downe, after the Revolution, went to the King at St. Germain st and but for the unhappy influence of the Queen Marie of Este, had nigh persuaded the Prince of Wales to conform to the Church of England; and his cousin, Charles Leslie, the celebrated author who visited him also at Bar-Le-Duc was not more successful. Still we have always enjoyed the Friendship of the Royal House and I enjoin my son Henry always to preserve it ; and pray that his efforts for the Restoration, which I enjoin him when he comes to [man's estate] to prosecute, shall be crowned with success;

But more especially I recommend him always to adhere to and uphold the Doctrines of the Church of England, of which his ancestors have been such shining ornaments, not to be led either way, by the attractions of the Romish Church or by the heresies of the Presbyterians more especially of the Covenanters, to which to my great grief some of my Scots cousins had conformed ; but I still consider when His Majesty returns to these kingdoms, which must be ere long, that He will have a great claim for the sacrifices his Family has made and the great wrong I have suffered. He must endeavor to influence the young Prince, who is favorably inclined to the true Church.

I am now not young, and the sudden death of my dear brother Randal warns me to prepare. Fiat voluntas Tua. Henry, my dear son, you are now 15. Be a comfort to your mother and a support to your little brothers and sisters.

Your loving father, Peter Leslie, writ the night of November 17, 1734.