which will ineuitably follow are soe plaine in view, that it is more then necessary some speedy expedient be found for their preuention. Is it not cleere to you (to me it is) that Spaine and ffrance will instantly conclude a peace: and that ffrance makes great preparations to ioyne with the Scotts (when the breach betweene you and them shall happen) whilst Spaine labours to be Protector of Ireland, and will vndoubtedly carry itt. Consider well, whether the season is not proper for this designe, when the wealth of this nation is already so exhausted, and the sufferings of the people soe great, that they are no longer to be supported. This is reason, tis not to cast a bone amongst you: The only remedye is (and it is a safe and honourable one for you) that you sett your selfe, the gentleman that was quartered with you, and all his and your freinds to preuaile, that the King may come to London vpon the termes he hath offered; where, if Presbitery shall be soe strongly insisted vpon as that there can be noe peace without itt, you shall certainly haue all the power my master cann make to ioyne with you in rooting out of this kingdome that tyrannicall Gouernment; with this condition, that my master may not haue his conscience disturbed (yours being free) when that easy worke is finished. Loose not this faire opertunity, the like was never offered, nor euer will be; for itt brings all things of benifitt and aduantage imaginable, both to the generall and to your particular; to him that was quartered with you, and to his & you freinds and shall be honestly made good. Trust to me for the performance of itt; waigh itt sadly, and againe relye upon me. Bee confident, that neither he that carryes this, nor he that deliuers it to you, knowes any thing of itt. (Not signed.) Written at the bottom by the King. "This is a trew Coppie of what was sent to Sir Hen. Vane the Younger by my comand. C. R." March 2, 1645-6. Indorsed, 2o Martij 1645. By his Males comaund these are to S. II. Vane sign'd with ye Kings owne hand. Copy of another Letter from the King to Sir Henry Vane the Younger. S', I shall only add this word to what was said in my last: that you hasten my business all that possibly you cann; the occasion lately giuen being fairer than euer, and donn on purpose. Be very confident that all things shall be performed according to my promise. By all that is good, I coniure you, to dispatch that curtoysye for me with all speed, or it will be too late, I shall perish before I receive the fruits of itt. I may not tell you my necessityes, but if it were necessary soe to doe, I am sure you would lay all other considerations aside, and fulfill my desires. This is all: trust me, I will repay your fauour to the full. I have donn. If I haue not an answeare within foure dayes after the receipt of this, I shall be necessitated to finde some other expedient. God direct you, I haue discharged my dutye. (Not signed.) Written at the bottom of this letter by the King. "This is a true Copie of what was sent by Jack Asheburnham & my comand to Sir Henry Vane the younger. C. R." The King's promise to Mons. de Montreuil concerning those that should come with him to the Scots Army. I do promise to Mounsieur de Montreull, that none shall come with me to the Scots army, or meet me there, who are excepted by those att London, but only my two nepheues, and Jack Ashburnham. The King's confidence in Ashburnham was very great at this crisis. But a very short time before, he was obliged, by the approach of Fairfax, to escape from Oxford in disguise; and this he did as the servant of Ashburnham: after which he joined the Scottish army before Newark. Yet Ashburnham is accused of having misled the King when he was taken prisoner in 1648, either through treachery or folly. Bulstrode Notwithstanding, the said Montreull is to receaue this my protestation, that all my seruants, and all others who doe adheare to me, shalbe saved from ruine, or any publique dishonour; which is a condition that my wife writt to me that not only she, but likewise Cardinall Mazarine,' were absolutely of opinion that I was sooner to dye, than not to haue. As for Church Gouernement, as I haue already, soe I now againe promise, that as-soone as I come into the Scotts army, I shall be very willing to be instructed concerning the presbiteriall gouernement: whereupon they shall see, that I shall striue to content them in any thing, that shall not be against my conscience. CHARLES R. Indorsed by Sir Edward Nicholas. "The King's promise to Monsieur de Montreuil concerning those that should come with him to ye Scots army: wch promise was written by Mr. Jo: Ashbournham, and signed by the King; but wthout date." (in his Memoirs) asserts that when Charles arrived in great privacy at the house of Lady Southampton, and Ashburnham went up stairs to the King's bed-chamber to announce to him that Colonel Hammond was below at supper, and had given assurance for his Majesty's safety, but not of liberty for his person, the King instantly, with much emotion, struck his hand upon his breast, exclaiming, "And is this all! Then I am betrayed!" 1 Mazarine had recently become Prime Minister of France, in consequence of the death of Richelieu. The latter bore an implacable malice and hatred to England for her interference respecting the French Protestants, particularly in the affairs of the Isle du Rhe, and Rochelle. It is curious to compare this opinion of Mazarine with the well-authenticated fact that, notwithstanding his outward appearance of friendship for the King, he was keeping up a good correspondence with the Parliament through the medium of Don Alonzo de Cardenas, the Spanish Ambassador. Montreuil, or Montreville, seems in this affair to have been the tool of Mazarine in deceiving the King; for all the contemporary writers, Warwick, Bulstrode, &c., assert that he had promised, in the name of the King of France, that Charles should be secure under the protection of the Scot tish army. The King to Sir Edward Nicholas. NEW CASTLE 16 Maij 1646. Nicholas, since my last I had neither sufficient tyme nor matter to write to you, but now I haue enough of either, yet I shall to ease both our paynes, contract my thoughts, merely to what is (for the present) necessary for you att Oxford.' ffor directions then, know that you are not to expect releefe, so that I giue you leaue to treate for good condic'ons. Let those of Exeter be your example: the additions must be the taking care particularly of the University, and to trye if you can gett the Duke of Yorke to be sent hither to me, as alsoe all my seruaunts who wilbe willing to come (of web number I am sure you are one) but feare you will not get leaue, and those goods weh I haue there. These directions I would haue you keepe very secreat, that you may make better conditions: ffor the number and choyce, I leave to the Lordes discrec'ons (the gouernor being one), but you must give out that releefe will come. Jack Ashburnham is this day gonne for ffraunce. I haue no more to say, so I rest Indorsed. Your most asseured frend, “16° Maij 1646. R. 10o Junii & y next day read to ye Lod. The King to me from New Castle giving leave to treate, &c. This It& that of ye 24 of June were read to all ye Lods and gent. about this towne (Oxford) on Sunday ye 20th of June 1646." Oxford was at this moment nearly reduced; so that Sir Thomas Glemham, the Governor, in answer to a summons, asked permission to send a messenger to the King for orders. This, however, was refused by Fairfax, and the city was de livered up, but not until after a treaty of some weeks' continuance. The actual date of the surrender was the 24th of June. The facts contained in the indorsements possess con- · siderable interest for the future historian. When this letter was written, the King was with the Scottish army, who had retreated thus far after the surrender of Newark to the Parliament. In Herbert's Memoirs of the Two last years of Charles the First there is an allusion to the King's consent, through the Lords of the Privy Council then at Oxford. This letter was written in cypher, but the figures are for The King to Sir Edward Nicholas. NEW CASTELL, 2 June, 1646. Nicholas, since I saw you, I receaued but one letter from you, wch was of the 5th of May ; & this is but the 3rd that I haue written unto you, hauing sent a duplicatt of my last about 9 dayes agoe. For direc'cons, I shall in substance repeate what I last sent you, wch is that, because you are to expect noe releef, I giue you leaue to treate for good condic'ons. Let those of Exeter be your guide, wch I beliue wilbe graunted you, hauing a particular care that my sonne and two nephues haue permission to com to me whersoeuer I shalbe : as lykewais that the freedome of y University be preserued, & that all my seruants, who ar willing, may come to me with the few goods that I haue there. I omitt news att this tyme, because it will doe little good to you, & troble me; soe comanding you to asseur all my frends, that no change of place shall (make) me alter my affection to them; I rest Your most asseured frend, I aduise excepted persons to agree for Exeter conditions, & for noe better. When my goods ar sent, forget not all the bookes weh I left in my bedchamber. Indorsed, 20 Junii, 1646. R: 11°, read to ye Ldes ye next day. The King gives leave to treate. the most part blotted or run through with the pen, but are decyphered and filled up by Nicholas. VOL IV. N |