peace will shortly ensue; which I really believe. But, for God's sake! let none know the particulars of my despatches. I cannot but tell thee that I am much beholden to the Portugal agent, and little to the French; it being by his means that I have sent thee all my letters, besides expresses, since I came hither, though I expected most from Sabran.

I will not trouble thee with repetitions of news, Digby's despatch being so full that I can add nothing. Yet I cannot but paraphrase a little upon that which he calls his superstitious observation. It is this: nothing can be more evident than that Strafford's innocent blood hath been one of the great causes of God's just judgments upon this nation by a furious civil war, both sides being hitherto almost equally punished, as being, in a manner, equally guilty. But now this last crying blood being totally theirs,' I believe it is no presumption to hope hereafter that His hand of justice must be heavier upon them, and lighter upon us, looking now upon our cause, having passed by our faults.

Dear heart,

Charles I. to the Queen.2

30th January, 1645.

Sunday last I received three letters from thee; one a duplicate of the 30th December, another of the

'The execution of Archbishop Laud, whose sad fate made a deep impression on Charles. However silly the archbishop may have been, his violent death was a stain on the popular party, and one cannot help regretting his sentence had not been more lenient.

2 The King's Cabinet Opened, 1645.

VOL. II.

R

6th January, and the last of the 14th January; and even now one Petit is come with a duplicate of the last; wherein, as I infinitely joy in the expressions of thy confident love to me, so I must extremely wonder that any who pretend to be a friend to our cause (for I believe thou wouldst not mention any information from the other side) can invent such lies, that thou hast had ill offices done to me by any; or that thy care for my assistance hath been the least suspected, it being so far from truth that the just contrary is true. For I protest to God, I never heard thee spoken of but with the greatest expressions of estimation for thy love of me, and particularly for thy diligent care for my assistance. But I am confident it is a branch of that root of knavery which I am now digging at; and of this I have more than a bare suspicion. And, indeed, if I were to find fault with thee, it should be for not taking so much care of thine own health as of my assistance; at least, not giving me so often account of it as I desire: these three last making no mention of thyself.

Now, as for the treaty which begins this day, I desire thee to be confident that I shall never make a peace by abandoning my friends, nor such a one as will not stand with my honour and safety, of which I will say no more,

1 The queen was most fearful of his trusting in anything to the Parliament. In a letter dated January 27th she says, for the honour of God, trust not yourself in the hands of those people. If ever you go to London before the Parliament be ended, or without a good army, you are lost. I understand that the propositions for peace must begin by disbanding your army. If you consent to this, you are lost; they having the whole power of the militia, they have and will do whatsoever they will."

because, knowing thy love, I am sure thou must believe me, and make others likewise confident of me.

I send thee herewith my directions to my commissioners; but how I came to make them myself, without any others, Digby will tell thee, with all the news as well concerning military as cabalistical matters. At this time I will say no more, but that I shall in all things truly show myself to be eternally thine.

The Portugal agent hath made me two propositions; first, concerning the release of his master's brother, for which I shall have 50,000 crowns, if I can procure his liberty from the king of Spain; the other is, for a marriage betwixt my son Charles and his master's eldest daughter. For the first, I have freely undertaken to do what I can; and for the other, I will give such an answer as shall signify nothing.

I desire thee not to give too much credit to Sabran's relations, nor much countenance to the Irish agents in Paris; the particular reasons thou shalt have by Pooly, whom I intend for my next messenger. In the last place, I recommend to thee the care of Jersey and Guernsey, it being impossible for us here to do much, though we were rich, being weak at sea.

Charles I. to the Queen.1

Oxford, 19th February, 1645, old style.

Dear Heart, I cannot yet send thee any certain word concerning the issue of our treaty, only the unreason

1 The King's Cabinet Opened, 1645.

able stubbornness of the rebels gives daily less and less hopes of any accommodation this way. Wherefore I hope no rumours will hinder thee from hastening all thou mayest all possible assistance to me, and particularly that of the Duke of Lorraine's; concerning which I received yesterday good news from Doctor Goff, that the Prince of Orange will furnish shipping for his transportation, and that the rest of his negociation goes hopefully on. By which and many other ways I find thy affection so accompanied with dexterity, as I know not whether, in their several kinds, to esteem most. But I will say no more of this, lest thou mayest think that I pretend to do this way what is but possible to be done by the continued actions of my life.

Though I leave news to others, I cannot but tell thee that even now I have received certain intelligence of a great defeat given to Argyle by Montrose; who upon surprise totally routed those rebels-killed 1500 upon the place. Yesterday, I received thine of the 27th January by the Portugal agent, the only way (but expresses) I am confident on, either to receive letters from thee, or to send them to thee. Indeed, Sabran sent me word yesterday, besides some compliments of the embargo of the rebels' ships in France (which I likewise put upon thy score of kindness) but is well enough content that the Portugal should be charged with thy despatches.

1 Argyle's force was completely routed; at least one half of his followers were left dead on the field of battle. This decisive victory placed the north of Scotland entirely at the mercy of the royalists.

As for trusting the rebels, either by going to London or disbanding my army before a peace, do no ways fear my hazarding so cheaply or foolishly; for I esteem the interest thou hast in me at a far dearer rate, and pretend to have a little more wit than to put myself into the reverence of perfidious rebels. So, impatiently expecting the express thou hast promised me, I rest eternally thine.

I can now assure thee that Herrogen, the Irish agent, is an arrant knave; which shall be made manifest to thee by the first opportunity of sending pacquets.

Dear heart,

Charles I. to the Queen.1

25th February, 1645.

The expectation of an express from thee, as I find by the 4th February, is very good news to me; as likewise that thou art now well satisfied with my diligence in writing. As to our treaty, there is every day less hopes than ever that it will produce a peace; but I will absolutely promise thee, that if we have one, it shall be such as will invite thy return; for I avow that without thy company I can neither have peace nor comfort within myself. The limited days for treating with are now almost expired without the least agreement upon any one article; wherefore I have sent for enlargement of days, that the whole treaty may be laid open to the world. And I assure thee thou needst not doubt the issue of this treaty; for my commissioners are 1 The King's Cabinet Opened, 1645.