so well chosen (though I say it) that they will neither be threatened nor disputed from the grounds I have given them, which (upon my word) is according to the little note thou so well rememberest. And in this, not only their obedience, but their judgments concur.

.

I confess, in some respects, thou hast reason to bid me beware of going too soon to London; for indeed some amongst us had a greater mind that way than was fit, of which persuasion Percy is one of the chief, who is shortly like to see thee; of whom, having said this, is enough to show thee how he is to be trusted or believed by thee concerning our proceedings here.

In short, there is little or no appearance but that this summer will be the hottest for war of any that hath been yet; and be confident, that in making peace I shall ever show my constancy in adhering to bishops and all our friends, and not forget to put a short period to this perpetual parliament. But as thou lovest me, let none persuade thee to slacken thine assistance for him who is eternally thine.

Dear heart,

Charles I. to the Queen.'

C. R.

5th March, 1645.

Now is come to pass what I foresaw, the fruitless end (as to a present peace) of this treaty; but I am still confident that I shall find very good effects of it; for besides that, my commissioners have offered (to say no more) full measured reason, and the rebels have

1 The King's Cabinet Opened, 1645.

stucken rigidly to their demands, which I dare say had been too much, though they had taken me prisoner, so that assuredly the breach will light foully upon them.

We have likewise at this time discovered, and shall make it evidently appear to the world, that the English rebels (whether basely or ignorantly will be no very great difference) have, as much as in them lies, transmitted the command of Ireland from the crown of England to the Scots, which, besides the reflection it will have upon these rebels, will clearly show that reformation of the church is not the chief, much less the only end of the Scotch rebellion. But it being presumption, and no piety, so to trust to a good cause, and not to use all lawful means to maintain it, I have thought of one means more to furnish thee with for my assistance than hitherto thou hast had. It is that I give thee power to promise in my name (to whom thou thinkest most fit) that I will take away all the penal laws against the Roman Catholics in Ireland, as soon as God shall enable me to do it; so as by their means, or in their favours, I may have so powerful assistance as may deserve so great a favour, and enable me to do it.

But if thou ask what I call that assistance, I answer, that when thou knowest what may be done for it, it will be easily seen if it deserve to be so esteemed. I need not tell thee what secrecy this business requires; yet this I will say, that this is the greatest point of confidence I can express to thee; for it is no thanks to me to trust thee in any thing else but in this, which is the only thing of difference in opinion betwixt us. And

my

yet I know thou wilt make as good a bargain for me even in this; I trusting thee, though it concern religion, as if thou wert a Protestant the visible good of affairs so much depending on it. I have so fully trusted this bearer Pooly, that I will not say more to thee now, but that herewith I send thee a new cipher, assuring thee that none hath nor shall have any copy of it but myself; to the end thou mayest use it when thou shalt find fit to write anything which thou wilt judge worthy of thy pains to put in cipher, and to be deciphered by none but me; and so likewise from him to thee, who is eternally thine.

Dear heart,

Charles 1. to his Queen.1

Oxford, 13th March, old style.

What I told thee last week concerning a good parting with our lords and commons here, was on Monday last handsomely performed; and now if I do anything unhandsome or disadvantageous to myself or friends, in order to a treaty, it will be merely my own fault. For I confess, when I wrote last, I was in fear to have been pressed to make some mean overtures to renew

1 From "The King's Cabinet Opened, or, Certain Packets of Secret Letters and Papers written with the King's own hand, and taken in his cabinet at Naseby Field, June 14th, 1645, by Victorious Sir Thomas Fairfax." This work is stated to have been published "by special order of Parliament," and some writers have endeavoured to throw doubts on its authenticity. If the documents contained in it had been forged, they would probably have reflected more internal evidence against the character and intentions of Charles. Moreover, he himself admitted their genuineness.

the treaty (knowing that there was great labouring to that purpose.) But now I promise thee, if it be renewed (which I believe it will not, without some eminent good success on my side) it shall be to my honour and advantage, I being now as well freed from the place of base and mutinous motions (that is to say, our mongrel parliament here) as of the chief causers, for whom I may justly expect to be chidden by thee, for having suffered thee to be vexed by them; Wilmot being already there, Percy on his way, and Sussex within few days taking his journey to thee; but that I know thou carest not for a little trouble to free me from great inconveniences, yet I must tell thee, that if I knew not the perfect steadiness of thy love to me, I might reasonably apprehend that their repair to thee would rather prove a change than an end of their villanies; and I cannot deny but my confidence in thee was some cause of this permissive trouble to thee.

I have received thine of the third of March, by which thou puttest me in hopes of assistance of men and money; and it is no little expression of thy love to me, that (because of my business) festivals are troublesome to thee. But I see that assemblies in no countries are very agreeable to thee; and it may be done on purpose to make thee weary of their companies; and excuse me (to tell thee in earnest) that it is no wonder that mere statesmen should desire to be rid of thee. Therefore, I desire thee to think whether it would not much advantage thee to make a personal friendship with the queenregent, without showing any distrust of her ministers,

though not wholly trusting to them, and to show her, that when her regency comes out, and possibly before, she may have need of her friends, so that she shall but serve herself by helping of thee, and to say no more; but certainly, if this rebellion had not begun to oppress me when it did, a late great queen had ended more gloriously than she did. In the last place, I desire thee to give me a weekly account of thy health; for I fear lest in that alone thou takest not care enough to express thy kindness to him, who is eternally thine.

The northern news is rather better than what we first heard; for what, by Sir Marmaduke Langdale's and Montrose's victories, Carlisle and the rest of our northern garrisons are relieved, and we hope for this year secured; and besides all this, the northern horse are already returned, and joined with my nephew Rupert.

Charles 1. to his Queen.2

Oxford, 20th March, 1645.

Dear heart,

Upon Saturday last I wrote to thee by Sabran (but this I believe may come as soon to thee),

1 The short but brilliant successes of Montrose in the north had the effect of terrifying the covenanters, but seem to have rendered but little service to the royal cause. Wherever he appeared, says Dr. Lingard, he inflicted the severest injuries; but he made no permanent conquest; he did nothing to arrest that ruin which menaced the throne and its adherents.

2 The King's Cabinet Opened, 1645.