30.

Oxford, Thursday, March 27.

Dear Heart,

I wrote to thee yesterday by Sakefield, the subject of it was only kindness to thee; which, I assure thee, shall ever be visible in all my actions and now I come to Jermin's account, given me by thy command, which is very clear, hopeful in most particulars, and absolutely satisfactory as concerning thy care and industry. As for the main impediment in the Duke of Lorrain's business, which is his passage, Why may thou not procure him passage through France ? If that of Holland be stuck at, it will much secure and facilitate the sea-transportation in respect of landing on the western coast, which, I believe, will be found the best, there being not so many places to chuse on, any where else. But this an opinion, not a direction.

The general face of my affairs, methinks, begins to mend, the dissensions at London rather increasing than ceasing, Montrose daily prospering, my western business mending apace, and hopeful in all the rest. So that, if I had reasonable supplies of money and powder, not to exclude any other, I am confident to be in a better condition this year, than I have been since this rebellion began, and, possibly, I may put fair for the whole, and so enjoy thy company again, without which, nothing can be a contentment unto me. And so, farewel, dear heart.

I intend, if thou like it, to bestow Percy's place on the Marquis of Newcastle, to whom, yet, I am no ways engaged, nor will be before I have thy answer. As for Jack Barclay, I do not remember that I gave thee any hope of making of him master of the wards; for Cottington had it long before thou went hence, and I intended it to Secretary Nich, if he then would have received it; and I am deceived if I did not tell thee of it.

I desire thee to command Lord Jer. to read to thee the duke's letter, which goes herewith, and in it to mark well that part concerning the transportation of the Duke of Lorrain's army.

THE rebels new brutish general hath refused to meddle with foreign passes, so as yet I cannot dispatch Adrian May to thee, by the way of London, which, if I cannot very shortly, I will send him by the west. And now, if I could be assured of thy recovery, I would have but few melancholy thoughts, for, I thank God, my affairs begin to smile upon me again, Wales being swept of the rebels, Farrington having relieved itself; and now being secured by Goring's coming, my nephews likewise having brought me a strong party of horse and foot, these quarters are so free, that I hope to be marching within three or four days, and am still confident to have the start of the rebels this year: I am likewise

very hopeful, that my son will shortly be at the head of a good army; for this I have the chearful assurance of Culpeper and Hyde. Of late, I have been much pressed to make Southampton master of my horse, not more for good-will to him, as out of fear, that Hamilton might return to a capacity of re-censuring me; wherein, if I had done nothing, both jealousy and discontents were like to arise; wherefore I thought fit to put my nephew Rupert in that place, which will both save me charge, and stop other men's grumblings. I have now no more to say, but praying for, and impatiently expecting of good news from thee, I rest eternally thine.

39.

To my wife, May 4, 1645, by Malin St. Ravy.
This is a true copy examined by Edmund Prideaux.

Dear Heart,

18.

Oxford, Jan. 2.

HAVING decyphered thine, which I received yesterday, I was much surprised to find thee blame me for neglecting to write to thee, for, indeed, I have often complained for want, never missed any occasion of sending to thee: and, I assure thee, never any dispatch went from any of my secretaries, without one from me, when I knew of it.

As for my calling those at London a parliament, I shall refer thee to Digby for particular satisfaction; this in general: if there had been but two, besides myself, of my opinion, I had not done it; and the argument that prevailed with me was, that the calling did no ways acknowledge them to be a parliament; upon which condition and construction I did it, and no otherways, and accordingly it is registered in the council-books, with the council's unanimous approbation; but thou wilt find, that it was by misfortune, not neglect, that thou hast been no sooner advertised of it.

As for the conclusion of thy letter, it would much trouble me, if thou didst not know, thy desire granted before it was asked; yet I wonder not at it, since that, which may bear a bad construction, hath been presented to thee in the ugliest form, not having received the true reason and meaning of it. The fear of some such mischance made me the more careful, to give thee a full account by Tom Elliot, of the reasons of the Duke of R. and Earl of S. journey to London, which, if it come soon enough, I am confident will free thee from much trouble; but, if thou hast not the patience to forbear judging harshly of my actions, before thou hearest the reasons of them, from me, thou may be often subject to be doubly vexed; first with slanders, then with having given too much ear unto them. To conclude, esteem me as thou findest me constant to those grounds thou left me withall; and so, farewel, dear heart.

Copy to my wife, Jan. 2, 1645, by P. A.

This is a true copy examined by Edmund Prideaux.

21.

Oxford, Feb. 19.0. S.

Dear Heart,

I cannot yet send thee any certain word concerning the issue of our treaty, only, the unreasonable stubbornness of the rebels gives daily less and less hopes of any accommodation this way; wherefore I hope no rumours shall hinder thee from hastening, all thou may, all possible assistance to me, and particularly, that of the Duke of Lorrain's; con cerning which I received yesterday good news from Dr. Goffe, that the Prince of Orange will furnish shipping for his transportation, and the rest of his negotiation 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 may 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, yet 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, and killed fifteen hundred upon the place. Yesterday I received thine of the twentyseventh of January, by the Portuguese agent, the only way (but expressed) 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 ambassy of the rebels ships in France (which I likewise put upon thy score of kindness) but is well enough content, that the Portuguese should be charged with thy dispatches. 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 (at least by the sympathy that is betwixt us) 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 assure thee, that Hertogen, the Irish agent, is an arrant knave, which shall be made manifest to thee by the first opportunity of sending pacquets.

This is a true copy examined by Edmund Prideaux.

Dear Heart,

20.

THE expectation of an express from thee, as I find by thine of the fourth of February, is very good news to me, as likewise that thou art now well satisfied with my diligence in writing. As for our treaty, there is every day less hopes than other, that it will produce a peace. But I will absolutely promise thee, that, if we have one, it shall be such as shall invite thy return. For I avow, that, without thy company, I can neither have peace nor comfort within myself. The limited days for treating 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, that thou needest not doubt the issue of this treaty; for my commissioners are 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 remembers, 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, it is enough to shew 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 shew 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 loves me, let none persuade thee to slacken thine assistance form him who is eternally thine, C. R.

To my wife, Feb. 15, 1645, by P. A.
This is a true copy examined by Edmund Prideaux.

Dear Heart,

22.

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 stuck 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 reflexion it will have upon these rebels, will clearly shew, that reformation of the church is not the chief, much less the only end of the Scottish rebellion; but, it being presumption, and no piety, so to trust to a good cause, as 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 Catholicks in England, as soon as God shall inable 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 inable 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 yet I know, thou wilt make as good a bargain for me, even in this. In trusting thee, though it concern religion, as if thou wert a protestant, the visible good of my affairs so much depending on it, I have so fully intrusted this bearer, Pooly, that I will not say more to thee now, but that herewith I send thee a new cypher, assuring thee, that none hath, or shall have, any copy of it but myself, to the end thou mayest use it, when thou shalt find fit to write any thing, which thou wilt judge worthy of thy pains to put in cypher, and to be decyphered by none but me, and so likewise from him to thee, who is eternally thine.

20.

To my wife, March 5, 1645, by Pooly.

23.

This is a true copy examined by Edmund Prideaux.

33.

The little, that is here in cypher, is in that which I sent to thee by Pooly.

Dear Heart,

Oxford, Wednesday, April 9, 1645.

THOUGH it be an uncomfortable thing to write by a slow messenger, yet all occasions of this, which is now the only way of conversing with thee, are so welcome to me, as I shall be loth to lose any; but expect neither news or publick business from me, by this way of conveyance; yet, judging thee by myself, even these nothings will not be unwelcome to thee, though I should chide thee, which, if I could, I would do, for thy too sudden taking alarms; I pray thee consider, since I love thee above all earthly things, and that my contentment is inseparably conjoined with thine, must not all my actions tend to serve and please thee? If thou knew what a life I lead (I speak not in respect of the common distractions) even in point of conversation, which, in my mind, is the chief joy or vexation of one's life, I dare say thou would pity me; for some are too wise, others too foolish, some too busy, others too reserved, many fantastick. In a word, when I know none better (I speak not now in relation to business) than 359. 8. 27C. 55. 5. 7. 67. 18. 294. 35. 69. 16. 54. 6. 38. 1. 67. 68. 9. 66. thou may easily judge how my conversation pleaseth me. I confess, thy company hath, perhaps, made me in this hard to be pleased, but not less to be pitied by thee, who art the only cure for this disease. The end of all is this, to desire thee to comfort me, as often as thou can, with thy letters; and dost not thou think, that, to know particulars of thy health, and how thou spendest the time, are pleasing subjects unto me, though thou hast no other business to write of? Believe me, sweet heart, thy kindness is as necessary to comfort my heart, as thy assistance is for my affairs.

To my wife, 9 April, 1645, by Binion.

This is a true copy, examined by Miles Corbet.