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PUBLICATIONS
OF THE
SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY
VOLUME XXX
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
VOLUME II
January 1899
THE DIPLOMATIC
CORRESPONDENCE OF
JEAN DE MONTEREUL
AND THE BROTHERS
DE BELLIEYRE
FRENCH AMBASSADORS
IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND
1645-48
Edited, with an English translation
Introduction and Notes, by
J. G. FOTHERINGHAM
IN TWO VOLUMES
II
EDINBURGH
Printed at the University Press by T. and A. Constable
for the Scottish History Society
1899
CXII.
CXIII.
CXIV.
cxv.
CXVI.
CXVII.
CXVIII.
CXIX.
CXX.
CXXI.
CXXII.
cxxin.
CXXIV.
cxxv.
CXXVI.
CXXVII.
CXXVIII.
CXXIX.
CXXX.
CXXXI.
CONTENTS
VOL. 11.
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinburgh, -^ Feb. l6V,
Bellievre to Brienne. London, — Feb. ~l'
' ' 12 1646'
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., i| Feb. 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ Feb. ^1^'
' ' iS 1640,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 5 March, 1647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb.,^^j|^ l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^^|^ 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 7 March l647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — March 1647,
' ' 12 '
Belh^vre to Brienne, Lond., 14 March l647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ March l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 21 March 1647, -
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., — March i|^'
15 1046,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ~ March 1647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^sMarch ^q^,j
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 28 March l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., f^^ l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 4 April l647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ April l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 11 April l647.
2
7
12
16,
20
27
33
35
3^
43
49
54
58
63
69
74
80
86
92
98
VI
CXXXII.
CXXXIII.
CXXXIV.
cxxxv.
CXXXVI.
CXXXVII.
CXXXVIII.
CXXXIX.
CXL.
CXLI.
CXLII.
CXLIII.
CXLIV.
CXLV.
CXLVI.
CXLVII.
CXLVIII.
CXLIX.
CL.
CLI.
CLII.
CLIII.
CLIV.
CLV.
CLVI.
CLVII.
MONTEREUL CORRESl^ONDENCE
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^^ April l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 15 April 1647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lend., 18 April 1647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond.,— April 1647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 25 April l647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — April l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., 'f^^ 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 29 April l647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — May l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 6 May l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., — May 1647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 20 May 1647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — May l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ May l647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ May l647, •
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — June, 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^J^ l647, .
' '27 May '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ June, l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 10 June 1647, .
Belli6vre to Brienne, Lond., 10 June l647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ June l647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ June 1647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ June 1647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ June l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ June l647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^p^ 1647, .
' ' I July '
PAGE
102
106
108
111
112
115
119
123
126
129
131
134
140
144
147
150
153
156
158
159
160
163
165
167
170
171
CONTENTS
Vll
CLVIII.
CLIX.
CLX.
CLXI.
CLXII.
CLXIII.
CLXIV.
CLXV.
CLXVI.
CLX VI I.
CLXVIII.
CLXIX.
CLXX.
CLXXI.
CLXXII.
CLXXIII.
CLXXIV.
CLXXV.
CLXXVI.
CLXXVII.
CLXXVIII.
CLXXIX.
CLXXX.
CLXXXI.
CLXXXII.
cLXXxni.
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^^T^ l647,
■' '2 July '
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., "^^ 1647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., |Vt^' 1647, .
' '8 July '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., Hi-lHIl* i647,
' - 9 July '
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., - July l647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ July 1647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., -^ July 1647,
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ July l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - July 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., -^ July l647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ July l647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - July l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ' V" ^ l647, .
' ' I Aug. •*
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., —^ l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^f- l647, .
'29 July
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., — Aug. l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edin., — Aug. l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., -^ Aug. l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edin., — Aug. l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., — Aug. 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., — Aug. 1647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edin., — Aug. l647,
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond. — Aug. 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^^^ l647, .
' '23 Aug.
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., f^] l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., -^-^ l647, .
' '30 Aug. ^
HAGE
174
177
179
181
184
185
188
191
193
196
198
201
204
207
210
212
216
221
224
227
229
232
235
236
239
243
Vlll
CLXXXIV.
CLXXXV.
CLXXXVI.
CLXXXVII.
CLXXXVIII.
CLXXXIX.
CXC.
CXCI.
CXCII.
CXCIII.
CXCIV.
cxcv.
CXCVI.
CXCVII.
CXCVIII.
CXCIX.
cc.
CCI.
ecu.
CCIII.
CCIV.
ccv.
CCVI.
CCVII.
CCVIII.
CCIX.
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^^^^ l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ Sept. l647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ~- Sept. l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ Sept. l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ Sept. l647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ Sept. l647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^^^- 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^ ^'^\ l647, .
' '23 sept. '
Bellievre to Mazarin, Lond., ^|^ 1647, .
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ^l^\ l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., f|^'- 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., — Oct. 1647
4
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., j- Oct. 1647,
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., — Oct. 1647, .
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - Oct. l647,
' '22 '
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., -^ Oct. l647, .
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., ~ Oct. 1647,
' '18 '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ Oct. 1647,
' '29 '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ?^'- 1647. .
' •'5 Nov. '
Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., *-^ l647, .
' ' 25 Oct. '
P. BelUevre to Brienne, Lond., i^ 1647,
' '25 Oct. '
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 11 Nov. 1647
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - Nov. l647,
' '12 '
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 18 Nov. 1647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., -^ Nov. l647,
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 28 Nov. 1647,
PAGE
247
249
253
256
260
262
264
267
269
271
273
276
280
283
286
289
290
294
298
301
303
306
311
316
321
325
CONTENTS
IX
ccx.
CCXI.
CCXII.
CCXIII.
CCXIV.
ccxv.
CCXVI.
CCXVII.
CCXVIII.
CCXIX.
ccxx.
CCXXI.
CCXXII.
CCXXIII.
CCXXIV.
CCXXV.
CCXXVI.
CCXXVII.
ccxxvm.
CCXXIX.
CCXXX.
CCXXXI.
CCXXXII.
CCXXX II I.
CCXXXIV.
ccxxxv.
• CCXXXVI.
p. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 2 Dec. 1 647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., 'j^' l647,
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 9 Dec. l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edin., 35^- 1647, .
' ' lo Dec. '
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 16 Dec. l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - Dec. l647,
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 23 Dec. l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., -- Dec. 1647,
' '24 '
P. Bellievre to Brienne, Lond., 30 Dec. l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - Dec. l647,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^^-^^ , -
' '7 Jan. 1648 '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — Jan. 1648,
} '14 '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - Jan. l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ Jan. 1648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., J^" l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - Feb. l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., -| Feb. l648,
Montereul to Brienne, Edinb., 15 Feb, l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., '-^^ 1648,
' '4 March '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ' March l648,
Montereul to Brienne, Edinb., 8 March l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb,, ^ March l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ March l648,
24
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — March l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., 5^^- 1648,
' '7 April '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ April 1 648,
Montereul to Brienne, Edinb., 11 April l648.
PAGE
327
330
333
337
341
346
349
Sb&
358
362
368
372
376
380
386
392
407
414
417
419
425
433
438
443
450
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
CCXXXVII.
CCXXXVIII.
CCXXXIX.
CCXL,
CCXLI.
CCXLII.
CCXLIII.
CCXLIV.
CCXLV.
CCXLVI.
CCXLVII.
CCXLVI II.
CCXLIX.
CCL.
CCLI.
CCLII.
CCLIII.
CCLIV.
CCLV.
CCLVI.
CCLVII.
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb.j ^ April l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., "j^^ l6'48,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — May l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — May 1648,
Montereul to the Queen of England, Edinb.
3 May l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ May l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^ May l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^^^ 1648,
' ' 2 June '
Montereul to Brienne, Edinb., ^ May l648,
Montereul to Brienne, Edinb., ?^^ 1648,
' '5 June '
Montereul to Brienne, Edinb., — June l648,
Montereul to Brienne, Edinb., — June 1648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., — June l648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., ^^-i^ 1648,
' '7 July '
Montereul to Mazarin, Edinb., - July l648,
Montereul to Brienne, 27 July 1648,
Montereul to Brienne, Edinb., 3 Aug. l648,
Montereul to Brienne, 24 Aug. 1 648,
Montereul to Mazarin, Lond., — Aug. l648,
Montereul to Brienne, Lond., 31 Aug. 1648,
Montereul to Brienne, Lond., 4 Sept. 1648,
APPENDIX
The Boisivon Correspondence, Edinb., 20 Nov, l643, 539-563
M. du Bosc to Mazarin, 21 Oct. 1644, . . . 564
Sir Robert Moray, 565 *
CONTENTS
XI
Letter from the Scottish Commissioners in London to
Montereul, - Oct. l645, 569
' 12 '
Memorandum from Montereul to the Scottish Com-
missioners in London, ^ Oct. l645, . . 569
20
Paper in secret cipher sent by the Scottish Commis-
sioners to Montereul, ^ Oct. l645, .... 571
Sir Robert Moray to the Scottish Commissioners,
3 Nov. 1645, 573
Sir Robert Moray to the Scottish Commissioners,
7 Dec. 1645, 574
Memorandum from Montereul, 22 Dec. l645, . . 575
Sir Robert Moray to M. du Bosc, 28 Dec. l645, . . 577
Mazarin to Montereul, 1 Dec. l645, .... 577
Sir Robert Moray to M. du Bosc, 17 May l646, . 580
Sir Robert Morav to M. du Bosc, ?^^ l646, . 582
' 7 June '
Mazarin to Sir Robert Moray, 21 June l646, . 582
Instructions given to the President de Bellievre on his
departure as Ambassador to England, June l646, . 583
Mazarin to Charles i., ...... 587
Sir Robert Moray to M. du Bosc, 29 Jan. 1647, . . 588
The Scottish Dove, 588-594
The King's proposed escape from Newcastle, . 594
The Lairds of Harthill and Gight, .... 595
Boisivon to the Council of State, .... 598
Argyle's Duel, b^
Names of those forming the large Parliamentary Com-
mittee or Committee of Estates in Scotland, March
1647, 600
Bond granted by the Marquis of Douglas in order
to obtain permission for his son, Lord George
Douglas, created subsequently Earl of Dunbarton,
to proceed to France, . . . .601
xii MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
PAGE
Scottish Regiments in France, ..... 602
Declaration made by the Scottish Commissioners in
London to the King of Great Britain on the subject
of the Four Propositions sent to the said King in the
Isle of Wight by the English Parliament . . 604
Index, . . . . . . . . , , 605
CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES
1647
Feb. 9. Montereul in Edinburgh.
„ 12. Bellievre returns to London. ^
„ l6. The King arrives at Holmby House.
March Scheme of the English Parliament for the reduction
of the army, and the employment of the disbanded
soldiers in Ireland.
April 19. Lauderdale and Dunfermline arrive in London.
May 12. The King's third answer to the Newcastle Proposi-
tions.
„ 20. The House of Lords votes that the King shall be
brought to Oatlands.
„ 27. Votes of Parliament for the disbanding of the army.
„ 31. Mutiny breaks out in the army.
June 4. The King seized by the army.
„ 1 5. The Declaration of the army.
„ 17. Lauderdale given leave to visit the King.
July 8-10. Conferences between Bellievre and the King.
„ 26. Riots in London, and attempt to coerce the Parlia-
ment by the mob.
„ 30. The Independents secede from Parliament, and join
the army.
„ 31. Lauderdale prevented by the soldiers from seeing the
King.
xiv MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
Aug. 1. The Heads of the Proposals of the army published.
„ 6. The army occupies London.
„ 13. Robert Leslie sent to the King by the Hamiltons.
„ 24. The King brought to Hampton Court.
Sept. 7. The Newcastle Propositions revised and offered again
to the King.
„ 9- The King's fourth answer to the Propositions.
„ 23. Parliament resolves to make a fresh application to the
King.
Oct. l6. Bellievre takes leave of the King at Hampton Court,
and returns to France.
„ 22. Lqudon, Lanark^ and Lauderdale visit the King at
Hampton Court.
Nov. 5. The Scottish Commissioners demand that the King
shall be allowed to come to London to treat.
„ 11. The King escapes from Hampton Court.
„ 14. The King comes to Carisbrooke Castle.
„ 15. The rendezvous at Ware. Restoration of discipline in
the army.
Dec. 14. The English Parliament passes the Four Bills to be
offered to the King before a new treaty is begun.
„ 24. The Four Bills presented to the King.
„ 26. The Engagement between the King and the Scottish
Commissioners.
„ 28. The King refuses the Four Bills.
1648
Jan. 17. The English Parliament votes that no further addresses
shall be made to the King.
„ 24. The Scottish Commissioners leave London.
„ 29. The English Parliament sends Commissioners to Scot-
land.
CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES xv
Mar. 2. Meeting of the Scottish Parliament.
„ 23. A royalist insurrection begun in Wales.
April 28. Berwick surprised by the royalists.
„ 29. Carlisle surprised by the royalists.
May 1. Sir William Fleming sent to France to invite the
Prince of Wales to Scotland.
„ 27. Defection of the fleet in the Downs from the Parlia-
ment and rising of the royalists in Kent.
June 1. Victory of Fairfax at Maidstone.
„ 1 1. Beginning of the siege of Colchester.
July 4. Montereul leaves Edinburgh.
„ 8. Hamilton enters England.
Aug. 5. Lauderdale sails to join the Prince of Wales.
„ 17. Cromwell defeats Hamilton at Preston.
„ 19- Surrender of Hamilton's infantry at Warrington.
„ 25. Hamilton surrenders at Uttoxeter.
„ 27. Capitulation of Colchester.
Sept. Montereul leaves England.
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
CXII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, — Fevrier l647.
J' ARRIVE a Edimbourg, d''ou je ne puis encore rien ecrire de
considerable a V. Em''^. Le Sieur Chev' Moray espere d'obtenir
aujourd^huy une permission publique de faire passer en France
des recrues pour son regiment.
Le second fils du Marquis de Huntley, apres avoir pris
querelle contre son aine, s'est separe des interets de son pere,
et a ecrit ici pour faire son accommodement ; ce qui pourra
nuire beaucoup au roy de la G'' B"" non seulement parce qu^on
le croit homme de grand cceur, quoique de peu de conduite,
comme il a fait voir par cette action, et pour avoir change
quatre fois de parti durant cette guerre, mais encore parce
qu'il pourra decouvrir beaucoup de choses qui ne seront pas
moins avantageuses a ce Parlement que prejudiciables au dit
roy, ce qui fait croire a ceux a qui il reste encore ici de Taffec-
tion pour le bien du roy, que quelques secours qu''on puisse
envoyer aux Gordons et au Marquis d"" Antrim, ils se peuvent
conserver difficilement par autre moyen que par le prompt
retour du Marquis de Montrose en ces quartiers, quelque peu
d'intelligence qu"'il y ait entre eux et le dit Marquis.
On me dit, avec beaucoup de secret, que le roy a fait quelque
chose en faveur des Argyles touchant la charge de Grand
Tresorier d'Ecosse, qui est entre les mains du Comte de Craw-
ford, beau-frere au Due de Hamilton, qu''ofFense fort tous
les amis du dit Due, mais je n"'en ay peu rien apprendre de
plus particulier.
Un gentilhomme Ecossois, nomme Mungo Moray, fut surpris
VOL. II. A
2 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [FEB.
en recevant une lettre du dit roy le meme jour que je partis
de Newcastle. II dit qu'elle s'adressoit a moi, ce que j'ay
peine a croire parce que j'en avois re^u une du dit roi avant
que venir ici. Si je Teusse s^eu avant que partir de New-
castle, j'eusse peu demander qu'elle m'eut rendue, mais il m'a
semble que toutes les instances que je pourrois faire de si loin,
ne seroient pas de grand effet. J''en ay toutefois donne avis
a M. de Bellievre, afin qu'il eut agreable de faire en cela
ce qu^il jugeroit plus apropos. Ce gentilhomme dit encore
qu'apres avoir ete arrete deux jours prisonnier a Newcastle,
et avoir donne caution de se representer dans un mois a
Londres, il a eu permission de venir ici, mais quMls Tont fait
obliger par serment, qu'il s'empecheroit de me voir, de me
parler, et de m'ecrire. Cependant, Mg', je ne puis deviner
pour quelle raison il a fallu user de toutes ces precautions,
puisque c''est une personne avec laquelle je n'ay aucune habi-
tude et que je ne connais que pour ce que donnant a souper au
Comte de Traquair et a quelques autres seigneurs d'Ecosse, il
vint chez moi en compagnie de Tun d'eux. Cela pent faire
voir combien il sera difficile de faire tenir des lettres au roy
de la Gr. Br. ou d'en recevoir des siennes. Je ne laisse pas de
chercher des moyens de le pouvoir faire surement, parce que
j''apprehende que ceux qui s^ sont oiferts aient en dessein
d'empecher le dit roy de prendre de bonnes voies pour cela, et
peutetre encore pour pouvoir, quand ils le voudront, en faisant
saiser ses chiffres, decouvrir ce qu'il a de plus secret.
[MoNTEREuii to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, -2 Feb. 1647.
I have reached Edinburgh whence I cannot yet send you anything of
much importance. Sir Robert Moray hopes to obtain to-day a public
permit to send to France the recruits for his regiment.
The second son ^ of the Marquis of Huntly, after having quarrelled
with his elder brother, has given up his father's interests, and has written
here in order to make his peace, this may much injure the cause of
the King of Great Britain, not only because he is considered a very good-
hearted man, though not well-conducted, as he has shown by this act,
and from his having already changed sides four times during this war,
but also because he will be able to disclose many things that will be no less
advantageous to this Parliament than prejudicial to the king, which leads
^ Lord Lewis Gordon.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 3
people here who remain well affected to the king's welfare, that whatever
assistance one may send to the Gordons and to the Marquis .of Antrim ^
it will be difficult for them to hold out by other means save the prompt
return of Montrose in those parts, whatever divergence of opinion there
may be between them and the last-named Marquis.
I have told, very confidentially, that the king of Great Britain has done
something in favour of the Argyles, regarding the office of Lord High
Treasurer of Scotland which is in the hands of the Earl of Crawford,^
brother-in-law to the Duke of Hamilton, which has much offended all the
friends of the duke, but I have not been able to learn any further
details.
On the day I left Newcastle, a Scottish gentleman, named Mungo
Moray, ^ was detected in receiving a letter from the king. He says it was
addressed to me, which I can scarcely believe, as I had received one from
the king on the previous day, which I sent to the queen before coming
here. If I had known of it before leaving Newcastle, I should have
demanded it to be given up to me, but I fear now, that I am so far away,
all the entreaties I could make thereupon would have little effect. I have
however given notice of it to M. de Bellievre so that he may act as he
thinks fit in the matter. This gentleman says further that after having
been kept under arrest for two days in Newcastle, and after having given
security to appear in London in a month, he was allowed to come here ;
but that he was made to promise on oath, neither to see me, to speak to
me, nor to write to me. Meanwhile I cannot guess why it was found
necessary to use all these precautions since it relates to a person with
whom I have no acquaintance and whom I only know from having
given a supper to the Earl of Traquair and some other Scottish nobles,
and from his having called on me in company with one of them. The
^ The Earl of Antrim was advanced to the dignity of marquis by Charles i.
in 1644.
* John, loth Lord Lindsay of Byres, created, in 1641, Earl of Crawford and
Lindsay.
'^ Mungo Moray was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber whom the king often
intrusted with private correspondence. Several of his letters from Saint
Germains, during the year 1648, addressed to the Earl of Lanark, are included in
the Hamilton Papers, published by the Camden Society in 1880. The following
account of the above incident is to be found in Evelyn's Correspondence, vol. v.
p. 54, note. ' In February 1646 [?] whilst the king was in the power of the
English Commissioners at Newcastle, Mungo Moray, having obtained leave of
absence, on pretence of visiting Scotland, was admitted to his Majesty's presence
before witnesses for the purpose of kissing his hand. The Commissioners were
however so suspicious and watchful, that they observed something put into his
hand by the king, and having followed him, when he was out of the presence
they searched him and found a letter in cipher directed to Montereul the French
agent. The letter was immediately sent up to Parliament and Moray committed
to prison, but admitted to bail after two days' imprisonment'
4 BELLlilVRE TO BRIENNE [FEB.
incident shows how difficult it will be for the king to send and to receive
his letters. I am still in quest of some means to have it done with
security, because I fear those who have oiFered to do so may have the
design of preventing the king from taking the best course for it, and
perhaps also in order to be able, when they may be so disposed, to get
hold of his cipher and discover his most important secrets.]
CXIII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
Londres, - Fevrier ~^'
' 12 1040
Monsieur, — Je suis reuenu de la ville ce soir aprez dix
heures. J'ay employe toute la journee a veoir s'il y a quelque
chose a faire suiuant les intentions de la Reyne d''Angleterre,
non seulement ie ne voy point d'esperance d'obtenir ce qu"'elle
demande, mais aussy ie trouue que ceux qui promettoient de
seruir sont aujourd'huy bien refroidis. Ilz ne s''y engageoient
qu^au cas que Ie Roy d'Ang"^® leur donnast moyen de Ie faire
en arriuant a Humby et par les lettres que M. Germain escrit
icy a tous ses correspondans ilz s^auent qu'il n'y a plus lieu
d'esperer. Tous les jours les ennemis du Roy d'Angleterre
trouuent des occasions de luy faire perdre credit dans Tesprit
des peuples, et de leur persuader qu'il est Ie seule ennemy de
la paix du Royaume. II fut leu auant hier dans Ie Parlement
une lettre d'un de ceux qui est pres du Roy d'Ang*"®, frere d'*un
des plus grandz ennemis qu''il ayt dans Ie Parlement, qui mande
que Ie d. Roy luy a diet qu'il est resolu de ne rien faire pour
donner la paix au Royaume, et qu"'il est certain qu'ayant
patience six mois, touttes choses se brouilleront en sorte que
ses affaires se feront sans qu'il s''en mele. L'on a faict voir ces
jours passez un billet de la main du d. Roy escrit depuis deux
mois a une personne de qualite qu'il a seruy, qu''il eust a
se tenir prest auec ses amis, et qu'il trouueroit quMl y a encore
bon nombre de gens de bien en Angleterre. Tout cela faict
croire que Ie d. Roy ne veut point la paix qui est neantmoins Ie
seul but de ceux qui s'offrent d^'entrer dans ses interestz. Cette
opinion est encore fortiffiee par la preuention qu'ont les Anglois
que la France estime qu"'il est de ses interestz de maintenir Ie
desordre dans TAngleterre, dont ils s'imaginent auoir de nou-
i647] BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE 5
uelles preuues par deux choses qui n'en font point, Tune par
une lettre qu'ilz ont pris que ledict Roy enuoyoit au S"^
de Montereul le jour quMl fut mis entre leurs mains a New-
castle, laquelle est icy et qu^ilz ne peuuent dechiffrer. Ilz la
croyoient du d. Roy au d. S' Monstreuil. Je Tay veiie et
autant que j'ay memoire des chiffres du Roy d'Ang'® je la juge
estre de ceux dont il escrit en France a la Reyne d''Ang" ou a
ses ministres. Uautre par une lettre du S' du Moulin, dont on
me vient d'apporter la Coppie ; elle pent estre faulce, ie n'en
ay point veu Toriginal. L''on m'a diet que Ton estoit au-
jourd'huy au Parlem* en disposition de deputer pour me la
venir montrer. Je ne scay pas ce qui en aura este resolu.
Par la coppie que ie vous en enuoye, vous verres qu''elle n''est
pas a la verite en termes aussy intelligibles qu''elles deburoit
estre, principalement en un temps plein de jalousies, mais que
Ton ne pent point dire auec raison qu''elle ayt relation a autre
chose qu''au transport des troupes qu"'il leue en ce Pays-la, pour
la seruice du Roy et non pas que cela descouure, comme Ton
a voulu dire icy, un dessein qu'a la France de fauoriser les
Irlandois au prejudice des interestz de TAng^. J'ay mis dans
la lettre a Mons"" Germain ce que j"'aurois a vous escrire. Je
vous en enuoie la copie. Je luy aurois mande volontiers que
les ministres de la Reine d'Ang'^ font aujourd'huy comme ilz
ont faict depuis six mois. Ilz improuuent et trouuent des
inconuenientz a tout ce que Ton propose, et n'ont jamais
propose aucune chose nettement. lis scauent bien que
non seulement les difficultez qu'ilz font ne sont pas sans
replique, mais aussy ne sont pas essentielles. II me semble
qu'ilz ne se conduisent point comme ilz doiuent pour le bien du
Roy d'Ang*"® ni a Tesgard de la France proportionnement aux
obligations qu'ilz luy ont. — Je suis, monsieur, votre tres humble
et tres obeissant seruiteur, Bellieure.
Coppie de la I.ettre escritte a M. Germain
J'aurots fort mal satisfaict a mes ordres, si auant que
d'enuoyer a la Cour le message que vous auez veu, je n"'auois
faict tout mon possible pour en adoucir les conditions, et les
porter dans les termes que je scay estre les plus aduantageux
6 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [FEB.
et les plus agreables au Roy d'Ang". J'y ay employe tout ce
que Tauctorite de ma charge et mon Industrie y ont peu
contribuer. Mais pour ne pas perdre du temps qui esloignoit
les bonnes volontez et aussy le pouuoir de ceux qui pre-
tendoient seruir le Roy d'Ang'^, je fus oblige d'enuoyer
promptement ce project de message affin que les lettres de
la Reyne d'Ang'^ pussent estre rendues au Roy a temps pour
Tobliger a le faire faire et a preuenir par des offres agreables a
toute PAng""^ les rudes propositions qui luy pourront estre
faictes par le parlem*, dont le refus donnera grand aduantage
aux ennemis de sa M*®. J'ay conteste bien fortement sur
touttes les choses qui sont portees dans vostre lettre et sur
beaucoup d'autres qui auoient este proposees contraires aux
interestz et aux intentions du Roy d'Ang'^^ Je n'auois pas
creu qu'aucune chose peust estre plus utile que d'empescher
qu''il demeurast prisonnier et d''engager en tout cas dans ces
interestz les plus qualiffiees personnes des deux partis qui
jusques icy luy ont faict la guerre. Je ne mande jamais a la
Cour les raisons ny n'explique pas les particularitez des choses
que fy escris, ainsy que je deurois faire, si vous ny estiez pas
pour en donner Tinteliigence, et si je ne scauois pas que toutes
ces choses vous sont exactement escrittes par des personnes que
je cognois icy estre veritablement dans vos interestz. Et je
le deuois moins faire encore il y a quinze jours, que i"'estois
asseure par eux qu'ilz vous escriuoient amplement de cette
affaire, que si quelqu''un oublia lors un des quatre principaux
articles du message, il aura repare ce deffaute de memoire par
Tordinaire suiuant. Beaucoup de ceux qui donnoient leurs
parolles formelles de seruir le Roy d'Ang""®, s'il enuoyoit ce
message arriuant a Humby, feront aujourd'huy difficulte d'y
demeurer engagd aux conditions que j"'escriuis u la Cour il y a
15 jours. Quant aux clauses que vous desirez qui y soient
adjoustees lorsque j'en ay parle cy-deuant, Ton m'a objecte
que Wilmoray charge des responses du Roy d'Ang""^ ne les a pas
ose presenter a cause des dittes clauses dans un temps auquel
le Roy n'estoit pas prisonnier et ou le Parlement d'Ang'® auoit
de si grands subiectz de jalousie qu''il n'a plus aujourd"'huy. Je
n''obmettray rien de ce qui deppendra de moy pour porter les
choses au point que vous desirez, mais j'ay grand subiect de
craindre de n"'y pas reussir et que le temps qui pourroit estre
1647] BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE 7
perdu dans cette attente ne donne lieu a ceux qui s'obligeoient
de seruir la Reyne de se desgager de leurs parolles.
Au dos. — Auec la lettre de M. de Bellieure du 22^ feburier 1647,
receu le 28*^ du d. mois.
[BELLii;vRE TO Brienne. Londoti, ^ Feb. 1647.
I RETCRNET) from the city this evening^ after ten o'clock. I have
employed the entire day in trying to see if there be any thing to do
according to the intentions of the Queen of England ; not only do I find
no hope of obtaining what she asks, but 1 find also that those who had
promising to serve are to-day much cooled down about it. They would
only engage to do it were the King of England to give them the means
of doing sOj on his arrival at Holmby, and by the letters that M. Jermyn ^
writes here to all his correspondents, they know that there is no longer
reason to hope for it. Every day the enemies of the King of England find
opportunities to make him lose credit in the minds of the people and to
persuade them that he is the only enemy to the peace of the kingdom. The
day before yesterday a letter was read in Parliament from one of those
who are with the King of England, whose brother is one of the greatest
enemies the king has in Parliament, which states that the king had told
the writer that he was resolved to do nothing in order to give peace to
the kingdom, and that he was certain that by taking patience for six
months everything will be upset so that his affairs would arrange them-
selves without his having any thing to do with them. A note written by
the king has been shown here within the last few days, written within
the last two months, to a person of rank who has served him, in which it
is stated that he would have to hold himself ready with his friends, and
that he would find that there were still a good number of honest people
in England. All this gives reason to believe that the king does not wish
peace, which is, however, the only object of those who offer to engage in
his interests. This opinion is strengthened also by the preconceived
opinion the English have that France considers it to be her interest to
foster disorder in England, of which they imagine they have new proofs
in two matters which are not proofs of it, — one, a letter they have taken
which the king was sending to M. de Montereul, the day he was put into
their hands at Newcastle, which is here and which they are unable to
decipher.2 TTiey believe it to be from the king to M. de Montereul. I
have seen it and so far as my memory serves me, for the ciphers of the
King of England, I judge it to be one of those he writes to France to the
Queen of England or to her ministers. The other is a letter from M. de
Moulin, of which a copy has just been brought to me ; it may be a forgery,
I have not seen the original.^ I am told that in Parliament to-day,
members were disposed to send some one with it to show it to me. I do
not know how the matter was settled. You will see by the copy I send
^ Lord St. Albans. 2 gee vol. ii. p. i.
3 See vol. i. p. 380, Letter xcv., Du Molin to le Tellier.
8 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [FEB.
to you that it is not in fact in very intelligible terms, as it ought to be,
principally in a time like the present, when jealousies are rife, but one
cannot say reasonably that it refers to anything else than the transport
of troops which the writer is raising in Ireland, for the service of the king,
and not that it discloses, as was declared here, a design on the part of
France to favour the Irish, to the detriment of English interests. I have
put into the letter to M. Jermyn what I should have written to you : I
send you a copy of it. I might readily have stated to him that the
ministers of the Queen of England act now as they have been doing for
the last six months. They disapprove and find inconsistencies in all one
proposes, and have never proposed anything distinctly themselves. They
are not only well aware that the objections they raise can be replied to, but
also that they are not essential. It seems to me that they do not act as they
ought for the welfare of the King of England nor as concerns France, in
proportion to the obligations they are under to her.
Copy of the Letter written to M. Jermyn.
I WOULD have badly complied with my orders, if, before sending to
Court the message you have seen, I had not done all in my power to
soften the conditions and to convey them in the most advantageous and
agreeable terms to the King of England. I employed therein all that
the authority of my office and my ingenuity could contribute towards it.
But in order not to lose time, that diverted the goodwill and also the
power of those who pretended to serve the King of England, I was
obliged to send promptly this draft of a message, so that the letters of
the Queen of England might be delivered to the king in time, in order to
oblige him to have it executed and to anticipate by some agreeable offers
to all England the hard proposals that will be made to him by the English
Parliament, the refusal of which will give a great advantage to the
•nemies of his Majesty. I contested very strongly all the matters con-
tained in your letter, and many others that were proposed, contrary to
the interests and to the intentions of the King of England. I did not
think that anything could be more useful than to prevent him from
remaining a prisoner, and in any case, than to engage in his interests the
most notable persons of the two parties that till now have made war
against him. In writing to Court I never state reasons nor explain details
of matters, as I would do if you were not there to explain them, and if I
did not know that all those matters are correctly reported to you by persons
here whom I know to be truly in your interests. If I did less than I might
have done a fortnight ago it was from my being assured by them, that they
were writing to you amply of this affair, and so explicitly that had one of
them then forgotten one of the four principal articles of the message he
would have repaired the omission from memory and sent it by the following
mail. Many of those who gave their formal promises to serve the King
of England, if he had sent this message on arriving at Holmby, will object
now to remain engaged to the conditions I sent to Court a fortnight ago.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 9
As for the clauses you wish to be added therein, when I spoke about them
previously, it was objected to me tliat Will. Moray when intrusted by
the King- of England to deliver his replies did not dare to do so, on
account of these same clauses and that at a time when the king was not u
prisoner and when the Parliament of England had greater reasons of
jealousy than it has to-day. I shall omit nothing so far as I am con-
cerned to bring matters to the point you wish, but I have very great
reason to fear not to succeed in it, and that the time that may be lost
in thus waiting will cause those who were engaged to serve the queen to
disengage themselves from their promises.]
CXIV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^ Fevrier 1647.
J'etois en peine de representer a V. Em"^® les raisons qui
m'avoient fait quiter le roy de la G"" B*" pour venir a Edim-
bourg, quand celle qu''elle m'a fait riionneur de m^ecrire du 8
de ce mois m'a ete rendue, par laquelle j'ay veu que V. Em''® a
approuve ce que j'ay fait, puisqu'il lui plait me commander de
le faire. Elle vera par le double de celle que j*'ecris a M. le
Tellier comme je n'ay pas perdu un moment depuis que je suis
ici, pour travailler aux recrues qu"'elle m'ordonne de faire, et
que j'ay essaye de reparer en quelque fa^on les longeurs qui
sont arrivees, plustost par le cours des affaires que par mon
manquement, ce qui me fait esperer qui V. Em''® aura la bonte
de me pardonner une faute que n''a pas ete volontaire.
Pour ce qui regarde les interets du roy de la G"" B' quelque
petite esperance que le Chev' Moray ait con^ue que les Ecos-
sois pourroient ne pas insister sur le Covenant, j*'en doute, avee
beaucoup de raison, et plus je cherche si cela se pent, et plus
je le trouve impossible, si ce n'est que les Anglois vinssent a ne
le plus demander, car, en ce cas j'ay sujet de croire que les
Ecossois ne voudroient pas laisser accommodor leurs voisins
sans eux, avec leur roy, parce que cet accommodement ne se
pourrait faire qu"'a leur prejudice, et que quelques gens de bien
qu'ils puissent estre, il ne voudroient pas se porter a faire une
guerre a TAngleterre purement pour leur religion et leur cove-
nant, puisqu'ils ont fait voir dans la suite de cette affaire, qu'ils
10 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [fee.
ne desirent pas prendre de querelle avec leurs freres pour
quelque raison et en quelque maniere que ce puisse etre, de
sorte que le pouvoir des Independants s''etant accru dans le
Parlement d'Angleterre depuis qu'ils ont leur roy entre leurs
mains, il y avoit sujet d'esperer qu^'ils y pourroient empecher
qu'on n''establit en leur royaume le Presbyteriat, et qu'on ne
forcat les Anglois a prendre le covenant, — Pune et Tautre de
ces deux choses etant egalement contraire au repos de leur
conscience, — et que les Ecossois se verroient ensuite obliges a y
consentir, si la connaissance qu**ont les Independants que leur
roy ne se portera plus jamais a etablir le Presbyteriat et a
autoriser le covenant ne les portoil a s'unir avec les Ecossois pour
demander Tun et Tautre, et a desirer de luy pour avoir lieu de le
miner, ce que les Presbyteriens luy demandent pour Tetablir.
Ces peuples cependant tesmoignent fort peu de satisfaction des
choses que se sont passees qu"'ils croyent n''avoir pas este honor-
ables a leur royaume, et leur mecontentement s''accroit encore
par la crainte qu''ils ont qu*'elles ne leur soient pas meme utiles
dorenavant, de sorte qu"'ils murmurent assez fort de Tarmee
que le Parlement d'Ecosse veut maintenir, et plus encore des
moyens dont on se sert pour la faire subsister, et de ce que Ton
propose de remettre pour ce sujet les impositions qui etoient
auparavant sur les entrees des choses que sont dans le com-
merce, et de prendre sur les particuliers le quart des aiTerages
de toutes les rentes, — ce qui passa Samedi dernier, — obliger les
deputes de villes de faire une protestation contre ce Parlement,
parce que comme presque toutes les terres sont aux seigneurs,
les peuples ont aussy entre les mains presque tout Targent du
royaume.
Les gens de guerre, qui ont ete licencies la semaine prece-
dente, sont aussy fort mal satisfaits et temoignent beaucoup de
ressentiment contre ceux qui composent la nouvelle armee,
mais le meme sujet qui cause le mecontentement des uns et des
autres les empeche de le faire eclater, n''y ayant point de lieu
de croire que, quelque affection que les particuliers de ce
royaume portent a leur roy, ou quelque haine qu'ils puissent
avoir pour le present governement, ils osent entreprendre
aucune chose tandis qu^^ils verront une armee dans leur pays,
de sorte que le roy de la G"" B' ne se pent rien promettre d'ici
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 11
presentement pour la crainte de la dite armee, et difficilement
encore quand elle sera debande, pour la douceur qu'ils trou-
veront a la paix qu''ils se porterout difficilement a alterer.
Et pour ce que regarde les divisions qui peuvent etre entre
les grands de ce royaume, il est bien difficile que le dit roy en
puisse aujourd'huy profiter, parce que le parti qui sembloit
appuyer les interets du dit roy est entierement abattu, et
qu''encore qu'il semble qu''il y ait moins d'intelligence que de
coutume entre les Hamiltons et les Argyles, et qu"'il paraisse
que le Comte de Lanark a rompu absolument avee le dit
Marquis, outre qu''il y a grand sujet de croire que toute cette
haine est feinte, en sorte qu*" a present elle leur sert qu"* a peine
pour abuser les plus simples et les plus aises a persuader ; il est
encore trop vray que quand elle seroit veritable le dit roy en
tiriroit fort peu d"'avantage, puisqu'^ils s''accorderont toujours
ensemble pour le perdre et que leur haine n'eclatera pas que
quand ils le croiront entierement mine.
Cependant, le bruit qui avoit couru que le second fils du
Marquis de Huntley vouloit abandonner les interets de son
pere, ne se confirme pas cette semaine, et il se pent faire que ce
qui se public presentement, — que le Marquis d' Antrim offre de
faire retirer Macdonnel d'Ecosse pourvu qu''on laisse jouir le
dit Marquis de terres qu''il a en Irlande, — se trouvera faux dans
quelques jours, tant toutes choses se font et se disent ici avec
artifice, mais il y a toute sorte d"'apparence que le Marquis de
Huntley se va perdre, s''il n''est secouru promptement, et
qu*'encore qu'il le pourra estre avec peine si Montrose ne revient
ici, ou Ton me dit qu"'il trouvera maintenant encore plus de
suite qu"'il n''a fait auparavant.
Avec tout cela je ne laisse pas d"'essayer de decouvrir si
Pinteret qu'ont les Ecossois que leur roy soit hors des mains
des Independants, et les craintes qu''ils ont aujourd'huy les uns
des autres, ne les pourroit pas porter a faire quelquechose pour
luy, s''il vouloit aussy de sa part se relascher de quelque chose
pour leur donner contentement, k quoy les extremites ou ce
prince se trouue reduit pourroient peutetre le faire resoudre,
(juelques resolutions quMl semble avoir prises au contraire.
Je croy avant que finir estre oblige de faire savoir a V. Em*^^
que le Due de Hamilton et le Marquis d'Argyle m''ont re^u
12 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [feb.
avec de tres grandes civilites, jusques a m'estre venu visiter
Tun et Tautre, avant que je leur aie rendu visite/
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Feb. 1647.
I was at a loss how to explain to you exactly my reasons for coining to
Edinburgh, after having left the King of Great Britain, until I received
your letter of the 8th of this month, wherein I see you approve of what I
have done, since it is your pleasure to order me to do so. You will see from
the copy of my letter to M. le Tellier, that I have not lost a moment since
I have been here from busying myself about the recruits, which you
wished me to attend to, and that I have tried, in some measure, to make
up for lost time ; the delays that have occurred have been caused more
by the course of events than by my fault, which leads me to hope you will
pardon what was involuntary on my part.
As regards the interests of the King of Great Britain, whatever small
hope Sir Robert Moray may have formed, that the Scots would not insist
on the Covenant, I have great reason to doubt it, the more closely I look
at it and inquire if it can be so, the more I find it impossible ; if it were
only that the English might come round not to demand it, for in that
case I have reason to believe the Scots would not leave their neighbours
to come to terms with their king without them, because such arrange-
ment could only be made to their detriment, and good folks though they
be, they would not be led to make war on England purely for their
religion and their Covenant, since they have shown, in the course of this
affair, that they have no wish to quarrel with their brothers for any cause
and in whatever manner it might be, so that the power of the Independents
having increased in the English Parliament, since they have their king
in their hands, there might be reason to hope that they would be able to
prevent the establishment of Presbyterianism in their kingdom, and that
the English might not be forced to take the Covenant, both the one and the
other being contrary to their peace of conscience, and that the Scots would
see themselves at length obliged to consent to it, if the knowledge the
Independents have that their king will never more be induced to establish
Presbyterianism, and to sanction the Covenant, might not lead them to
unite with the Scots in order to demand both the one and the other and
to wish for it in order to have an opportunity of ruining him, what the
Presbyterians demand of him to re-establish him. People here, however,
show very little satisfaction at what has recently happened ; they con
sider it not to have been honourable for their kingdom, and their
dissatisfaction is increased by the fear they have, that it will not even be
useful to them in future, so that they grumble loudly about the army
that the Scottish Parliament wishes to maintain, and still more of the
means that is employed for its subsistence, of its being proposed to put
on again the duties that existed formerly on imports, and a direct tax of a
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 13
fourth on the returns of all yearly rental/ which passed on Saturday last
and obliged the borough members to enter a protest against this Parlia-
ment, because, as all the lands are in the hands of the nobles, the people
have in their hands almost all tlie money of the kingdom.
The soldiers who have been paid off during the past week are also
dissatisfied and show much ill-will against those of the new army, but the
same cause that produces their discontent prevents them one and all from
giving vent to it, there being no reason to think that whatever affection
private persons in this kingdom bear to their king or whatever hatred
they may have to the present government they will dare to undertake
anything so long as they see an army in the country, so that the king of
Great Britain need expect nothing from here at present, on account of
the dread of the army, and not easily even when it will be disbanded, for
the comfort they will find in peace will not readily lead them to change
it for anything else.
As regards the divisions there may be among the leading men of this
kingdom, it is difficult for the king to derive any profit therefrom at
present, because the party that seemed to support his interests is quite
broken down and even though there appears to be not so good an under-
standing as usual between the Hamiltons and the Argyles, and that
the Earl of Lanark has even broken off absolutely his acquaintance
with the Marquis, besides there being much reason to believe that all this
hatred is feigned, since at present it scarcely serves to impose on the most
credulous, it is yet too true that were it real the king would derive very
little advantage from it, since they always manage to agree together to
ruin him, and their mutual hatred will only break out when they consider
they have entirely done so.
Meanwhile the rumour that the second son of the Marquis of Huntly
wished to abandon the cause of his father has not been confirmed this
week, and it may possibly turn out that what is now published, — that the
Marquis of Antrim offers to recall Macdonald from Scotland, provided he
be allowed to occupy the lands he has in Ireland, — will be found to be
false in a few days, so much is done and related here merely to serve
a purpose ; but it is very likely that the Marquis of Huntly is about lost
if he be not promptly relieved, and that although this could only be done
with difficulty if Montrose do not return I am told this latter would find
at present still more followers here than he had previously.
^ What is stated of this last-named lax is not very explicit. It is referred to,
however, again, in a subsequent letter. What is no doubt meant is, that the
fourth of the old value, as determined by the early valuation known in Scotland
as the old extent, should be the basis of this new impost. Until Cromwell's
Parliament modified it in 1656, this old valuation regulated taxation, parliamentary
voting and the entry of heirs to landed property. At the time in question a forty
shilling land of old extent was considered equal in yearly value, or rental, to
;£'400 Scots, so that the fourth of the former sum, ten shillings Scots, would be
the amount payable by the new tax on a rental of ;^400 Scots.
14 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [feb.
With all this I still try to discover if the interest the Scots have to
see their king out of the hands of the Independents, and the fears they
now have the one of the other could not lead them to do something for
him, if he would also on his part give way a little to satisfy them, to
which the extremity this prince now finds himself reduced might perhaps
lead him to resolve, whatever resolution he may seem to have taken to
the contrary.
I must mention before finishing my letter that the Duke of Hamilton
and the Marquis of Argyle have treated me with great politeness, both of
them having called upon me before I had time to visit them.]
cxv
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
Lmdres, ?| Feb. i^
' lo O
Monsieur, — Vous jugerez si les prefaces et les reserves que
les ministres de la reyne d"'Angleterre estiment deuoir estre
necessairem* adioustees au message que Ton jugeoit que le roy
d"'Angleterre deuoit enuoyer icy, arriuant a Humby, luy sont
de telle consideration qu'il doiue, pour essayer de les auoir,
hazarder, — ou plustost perdre certainement, — tous les ad-
uantages qu""!! se pouuoit promettre d''un prompt retour a
Londres ou ez enuirons, engageant dedans ses interestz les plus
qualiffiez et les plus authorisez du parlement et de toute
TAngleterre. Et par la comparaison, qu'il vous plaira de
faire, de ce que les ministres de la d. reyne ont conseille au dit
roy de respondre au parlement, et de ceque le dit roy a offert
par Wuilmoray, auec ce que Ton desiroit auiourd'huy quMl
enuoyast, peut estre vous trouuerez que ce n'estoit point une
mauuoise affaire pour le d. roy et que ce n'^estoit pas auoir perdu
que d'auoir engage un parti considerable a son seruice pendant
qu'il est en prison sur des conditions fort approchantes de celles
qu'il a offert que Ton a rejette pendant qu'il estoit en liberte,
et que le parlement auoit subject d'aprehender beaucoup de
choses qui ne luy font plus maintenant de peine. J'ay marque
de traictz de plumes trois ou quatre endroicts dans le cahier cy
joinct qui vous feront cognoistre cette verite. Je faicts ce
que je puis pour maintenir ceux qui ont cy deuant voulu seruir
le dit roy. II est certain qu'il ne le feront pas maintenant le
mesme auantage qu'ilz eussent eu, si le dit roy eust enuoye ce
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 15
message arriuant a Humby — il eust en bien plus de grace et
plus de force, et les Escossois n^eussent pas eu le temps de
venir icy deffendre leur conuenant que leurs amis s'engagent
d'abandonner auant que depouuoir auoir de leurs nouuelles.
Ceux qui ont voulu seruir le dit roy disent qu'ilz essay eront
encore de le faire pourueu qu'il leur en donne le moyen. lis
pretendent auoir apris par deux lettres de Mr. Germain, dont
beaucoup ont icy connoissance. Tune a une personne qui a
tousiours este dans les interestz du roy d'Angleterre, Tautre a
une des seurs du d. Mr. Germain que si ledit roy est asseure
de n''estre point oblige d'aprouuer le conuenant il accordera,
diet Tun, toutes les autres propositions, Tautre diet seullement
les quatre choses que Ton luy a propose, et ainsy ils attend oient
par Tordinaire dernier que Ton leur escriuit la mesme chose et
se promettent que ce sera pour le prochain, estimant toutes fois
que la cognoissance que chacun en a eu par ces lettres diminuera
beaucoup de la force et de Taucthorite qu''eust eu ce qu'ilz
auront a dire s'il n''auoit pas este sceu auparauant. Quand a
moi si [je] sauois ce que pretend faire la reyne d'Ang'^j 'essay erois
de la seruir dans ces intentions, puisque Ton juge a propos
([uMl en soit ainsi use. J'ay eu occasion d'enuoyer au dit roy
d'Angleterre un tres petit billet, et rien de plus, par lequel je
luv ai mande que ie ne voy rien a faire a Londres, qu'il n'en
approche que Ton est d'aduis qu'il n''oste pas a ceux cjui sont
pres de luy les esperances, qu'il puisse enuoyer quelque message
au parlement et qu*'au premier jour il aura ladessus les aduis
de la reyne dWug""®. II y a icy une requeste de la prouince de
Norfolk qui a este presentee, une d'Essex qui se prepare con-
forme a celle de cette ville, II y a eu depuis deux jours une
esmotion au subiect de quelques . . . qui se leuent de Tordonnance
du parlement ce pourroit estre quelque chose, si le roy d''Angle-
terre estoit pres d'icy, en son absence ce n'est rien. II y a une
declaration au parlement, dont on parlera au premier jour.
Je ne la puis voir qu'elle n'aye este leuee audit parlement.
L'on m'a diet qu'elle contient une protestation de voulloir
maintenir la royaute en la personne du roy et de ses enfans a
condition toutesfois qu"'ilz ne se marieront point sans le con-
sentement du parlement, et Ton croit que la lettre dont ie me
donne Thonneur de vous escrire il y a 15 jours a donne subject
16 BELLi:feVRE TO BRIENNE [FEB.
a cette derniere clause. Strakland, dont mon frere vous a
escrit cy deuant, doit aller bientost en Hollande pour mesnager
que les ambassadeurs que le parlement y veut enuoyer y puis-
sent estre receuz ainsy qu'ilz en ont eu depuis peu de grandes
esperances. Cependant les poursuittes que depuis deux mois les
marchands de cette ville ont faictes du consentement du parle-
ment pour faire nommer par le roy d'Angf^ un ambassadeur
en Turquie peuuent faire juger qu''ilz n'estimoient pas lorsque
cette aucthorite appartint. L'on sort du Parlement a 8 heures
du soir ou Ton a resolu de licentier TArmee a la reserue de
5000 cheuaux que Ton dispersera dans toute TAngleterre. Les
Independans qui la commandent ont faict ce qu'ilz ont peu
pour Tempescher mais inutilement, les presbiteriens Tout em-
porte de beaucoup de voix. L'on a apporte ce soir au Parle-
ment une lettre du Roy de la G. B. Elle n''a pas este ouuerte,
pour ce que la Chambre haute estoit leuee. Uon croit que ce
n'est que pour demander un ministre qui face les prieres deuant
le dit roy suiuant Fantien usage de Tesglise d'Angleterre. L''on
n'estime pas qu''il obtienne ce qu'il demande, qu'il n''ait accorde
ce qui le pent faire venir en cette ville ou ez enuirons. Les
Commissionnaires du Parlement qui sont pres du d. Roy deman-
dent a reuenir icy. L'on songe a y enuoyer en leur place M""^
de Nortumberland, hollis, vaine le Jeune et quelques autres de
ceux qui sont les plus considerables dans les deux maisons. — Je
suis, Monsieur, vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieure.
Judos — M. de Bellieure, du 28 Feburier 1647, I'ccu le vii Mars.
[M. BELLii:vRE to Bbienne. London, ^ Feb. 1G47.
You will judge whether or not the prefaces and the provisos that the
Ministers of the Queen of England deem necessary to add to the
message, which it is judged the King of England ought to send here, on
arriving at Holmby, are of so much importance for him that he ought,
in trying to obtain them, run the risk of losing — or more correctly
lose certainly — all the advantages that might be expected from a
prompt return to London or neighbourhood and the engaging in his
interests those of the highest position and the greatest authority in
Parliament and in all England. And if you would please to make the
comparison of what the ministers of the Queen of England have advised
the king to reply to Parliament, and of what the king offered by Will.
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 17
Moray, with what it is wished he should send at present, you will find
perhaps that it was not a bad affair for the king' and that it was not to
have ruined him to have engaged a considerable party in his service
while he is in prison, on conditions much similar to those he offered
which were rejected while he was at liberty and while Parliament had
reason to fear many things that give it no longer any trouble now. I
have marked with my pen three or four places in the enclosed papers
that will prove to you the truth of my statement. I do what I can in
order to retain those who previously wished to serve the king. It is
certain they will not now be able to secure the same advantage they
might have done had the king sent his message on arriving at Holmby ;
it would have had much more favour and more force and the Scots would
not have had the time to come here and defend their Covenant, which
their friends were thinking of abandoning before they were able to hear
from them. Those who wished to serve the king say that they will still try
to do so, provided he give them the means of doing it. They pretend to
have learned through two letters from M. Jermyn, which many here have
perused — one addressed to a person who has always been in the interest
of the King of England ; the other to one of M. Jermyn's sisters — that if
the king is assured of not being obliged to sanction the Covenant, he will
grant, one letter says, all the other propositions, the other says only the
four things that were proposed to him, so that they expected this same
communication would have been made to them by the last mail, and they
still hope it will be by the next ; they consider, however, that the know-
ledge that each has had of it by these letters will much diminish the force
and authority that might have been in what they have to say, if it had not
been known beforehand. For my part, if I knew what the Queen of
England pretends to do, T would try to serve her in her intentions, since
it has been judged proper that the matter be so dealt with. I have had
occasion to send to the King of England a very short note and nothing
more, in which 1 informed him that I see nothing to do in London, that
he had better only approach it as he may be advised by those near him,
so as not to deprive them of any hope they may have ; that he might
send some message to Parliament, and that on the first opportunity he
will have the opinion of the Queen of England on this subject. There
is a petition here that has been presented from the county of Norfolk ;
another from Essex that is being prepared similar to that of this city.
During the past two days there has been some emotion caused on account
of some ' which arises from the ordinance of Parliament : it might
be something were the King of England near here, in his absence it is
nothing. Parliament has made a declaration that will be spoken of on
the first opportunity. I cannot see it before it has been issued by Parlia-
ment. I have been told it contains a protestation of being willing to
maintain royalty in the person of the king and his children, on condition
* Word omitted.
VOL. II.
■
18 BELLIlfeVRE TO BRIENNE [march
however, that the latter will not marry without the consent of Parlia-
ment, and it is believed that the letter I wrote to you a fortnight ago has
given rise to this last clause. Strakland,^ of whom my brother wrote to
you previously, is soon to go to Holland, in order to arrange that the
Ambassadors Parliament wishes to send there may be received, of which
they have recently had great hopes. However, the demands that the
merchants of this city have been making with the consent of Parliament
during two months that the King of England would appoint an Ambassa-
dor to Turkey would lead one to judge they did not then consider this
authority to belong to it. The sitting of Parliament is just over at
eight o'clock in the evening, in which it was resolved to disband the army,
with the exception of 5000 cavalry, that will be dispersed throughout
England. The Independents, who command it, did what they could to
prevent it, but in vain ; the Presbyterians carried it with a large majority.
A letter from the King of Great Britain was brought to Parliament this
evening ; it was not opened on account of the Upper House not being
sitting. It is believed to be but to request that a clergyman may repeat
the prayers before the king, according to the old usage of the English
Church. It is not considered that he will obtain what he asks till he
may have granted what may enable him to come into this town or
neighbourhood. The Commissioners of Parliament who are with the
king demand to come back here. It is thought of replacing them by
Northumberland, Hollis,^ Vane the younger,^ and some others of the
most important of both Houses.]
CXVI
BELLIEIVRE A BRIENNE
Londres, 5 Ma7s l647.
Monsieur, — Un gentilhomme qui sert icy le roy d'Ang"
auec beaucoup d'affection et d'addresse m'a prie de despescher
ce courrier en France pour faire sauoir et pour donner moien
de mander a la reyne d'Angleterre et a monsieur Jermin ce
qu'il scait d'une affaire de tres grande importance qu''il a
descouuert depuis peu que Ton traicte icy depuis peu [*ic]
d"'enleuer le Prince de Galles et de le conduire en cette ville.
II pretend auoir certitude que Milhord ou Vuilemor icy et
Franshuauur en France, pretend [u] secretaire du conseil de
^ Walter Strickland, member for Minehead, in the Long Parliament, and one
of Cromwell's Council of State.
"^ Denzil Hollis, a Presbyterian, and a leader in Parliament.
' Sir Henry Vane, Junr., Member of Parliament and of committee of both
kingdoms.
i647] BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE 19
guerre du Prince, ont conduict cette affaire an point qu'au
premier jour ilz estiment la pouuoir executer quoyque je ne juge
pas que elle soit si fort auancee. J' ay creu qu'^elle ne pouuoit
estre trop promptement donnee a la reyne d''Angleterre pour y
pouruoir, sans esclat et auec toute la seurete possible. II est
certain que beaucoup disent icy qu''il seroit a souhaitter que le
prince de Galles y voulut venir, que cela rempescheroit
d'espouser une Catholique romaine, quMl pourroit estre
mediateur entre le roy et le parlement, que s^il n"'y reussissoit
il seroit couronne roy, et ainsy conserueroit la royaute, qui
autrement pourroit estre perdue, et pour luy et pour le roy son
pere. Je ne vous escriray rien de cette affaire, me remettant
aux particularitez qu''en faict scauoir a la reyne d'Ang'® celluy
qui les scait mieux que moy. La confiance que prend le roy
d'Ang""^ en ceux qui Taprochent luy faict grand tort ; ilz
raandent icy, par une lettre qui est arriuee ce matin, que 11 n'a
point dessein de procurer la paix a ce royaume, que certeines
ment il songe a se sauuer, et adjoustent que le lieu ou il est est
si peu propre a le garder, qu"'il le peut faire s'il corrompt un
seul de ceux qui sont pres de lui, en sortc qu'il est a craindre
que si les lettres publiques sont semblables, ceux qui le
veullent perdre ne prennent ce pretexte pour le faire enfermer
dans le chasteau de Vuaruic [Warwick], ou quelque autre place,
ou il puisse estre plus en seurete et en prison fermee, ceux qui le
voulloient seruir desesperent quasi de le pouuoir faire, et soit
sa conduitte soit sa mauuaise fortune qui les descourage, il
semble que ilz songeront a accomoder leurs affaires sans celles
dudit roy, s"'ils ne recoiuent promptement des lettres de la reyne
d'Ang'^, qui produisent pres du roy son mary les affectz qu'ilz
en attendent. Sa Ire [lettre] au parlement, dont je vous escriuis
au dernier jour, par laquelle il demande des chapelains pour
estre pres de luy, entre lesquelz il nomme des euesques, beaucoup
de personnes, et donne grand auantage a ceux qui prennent
soing d''entreprendre au desauantage du d. roy toutes ses
actions. Et le traicte qui fust offert Sabmedy au parlement de
la part du marquis dormon pour luy mettre entre les mains
tout ce que le dit marquis tient en Irlande, accepte hier matin
par le parlement, oste au roy Tauantage qu'il pouuoit tirer et
pour luy et pom* Flrlande, — accordant Particle qui la conceme
20 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [march
en la maniere qui'l eust peu contenter ses peuples. II a ainsy
perdu beaucoup d'auantage qu'il eust peu mesnager s'il ne se
fust pas flatte d'esperance que Ton luy donnoit et d'imaginations
qui ne peuuent pas reussir. Quand il a peu se retirer auec un
parti considerable dans les montagnes d'Escosse, il ne Ta pas
faict, et sa sortie brouilloit lors TAngleterre et TEscosse et les
factions qui les diuisent, qu''apparemment il en eust tire grand
auantage, auiourdbuy dificilement peut-il faucer ses gardes, et
il n'*y a plus de lieu dans ses estatz ou il puisse estre en seurete,
que s'il en sort je crains qu'il ne luy soit bien difficile d'y
rentrer. Je n''en diray pas d'aduantage sur ce subiect que ie ne
s^ache les intentions de la reyne d'^Ang"'® ainsy que ie me suis
donne Fhonneur de vous escrire au dernier iour, seulement
adiousterays ie que si Ton laisse accorder les deux partis qui
sont icy ou si Tun d''eux prenant sur Tautre les affaires seront
en fort mauuais estat. Je m'y oposeray tousiours. — Je suis,
Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieure,
Au dos. — M. Ie p. de Bellieure du V® mars 164-7. R. Ie 10® au
matin.
[Belli£:vbe to Brienne. London, 5th 3Iar. 1647.
A GENTIEMAN who serves here with much affection and skill the King
of England has begged me to send this courier to France in order to
make known and give means of informing the Queen of England and
M. Jermyn what he knows of a matter of great importance which he has
lately discovered to carry off the Prince of Wales and bring him to this
town. He pretends to be certain that Milhord [.''] or Wilemor here and
Franshudur [?] in France, a pretended secretary of the Prince's Council
of War, have contrived this matter so far, that on the first opportunity
they think of being able to execute it, although I do not believe it to be
so far advanced. I have thought that it could not be too promptly
brought to the knowledge of the Queen of England, in order to enable
her to provide without any outcry all the security possible. It is certain
that many here say that it would be desirable for the Prince of Wales
to come here, that it would prevent him from marrying a Roman
Catholic, that he could be mediator between the king and the Parliament,
that if he did not succeed he would be crowned king, so that royalty
would thus be preserved, which otherwise would be lost for him and for
the king his father. I shall not write anything to you of this affair, but
refer you for the details made known to the Queen of England by the
person who knows them better than I do. The confidence the King of
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 21
England places in those who approach him does him great harm, "\\''ord
is sent here by a letter, received this morning, that he has no intention
of procuring the peace of the kingdom, that he certainly thinks of
making his escape, and, it is added, that the place where he is, is so little
suited for keeping him, that he can do so by bribing one of those who
are near him. Thus it is to be feared that if the public letters are similar,
those who wish to ruin him may take this pretext to shut him up in the
Castle of Warwick, or in some other place where he may be in greater
security and in a close prison. Those who would wish to serve him despair
almost of being able to do so, and whether it be his conduct or his bad
fortune that discourage them, it looks as if they will think of settling their
affairs without those of the king, if they do not receive promptly letters
from the Queen of England that may produce the effects they expect on
the king her husband. His letter to Parliament, which I mentioned to
you the other day, and in which he asks for chaplains to be near him,
among whom he names some bishops and many other persons, affords a
great advantage to those who seek to represent all his actions to his dis-
advantage ; and the treaty that was offered on Saturday to Parliament, on
the part of the Marquis of Ormond, in order to place in its hands all
that the Marquis holds in Ireland, that was accepted yesterday morning
by Parliament, takes away from the king the advantage he might have
therein secured both for himself and for Ireland, by granting the article
that concerns that country in the manner he might have been able to do
by satisfying his people. He has thus lost a great advantage that he
might have turned to account, were he not flattered by the hopes people
gave him and by fanciful imaginings that cannot succeed. When he
might have retired Mith a considerable party into the Scottish Highlands,
he did not do so, though his departure would have placed England and
Scotland and the factions therein existing at variance, which would
apparently have secured him a great advantage ; now he can with difficulty
break through his guards, and there is no place in his kingdoms where he
can be in safety, and that if he leave I fear it will be very difficult for
him to return to them again. I shall say no more on this subject until I
know the intentions of the Queen of England, as I wrote to you the other
day ; only I shall add, that if both the parties that are here are allowed
to agree, or if one of them obtains the upperhand on the other, matters
will be in a very bad state. I shall always oppose it.]
CXVII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^S^^ l647.
J''espere qifa la fin de la semaine prochaine, ou au com-
mencement de la suivante, nous aurons pres de six cents
22 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
hommes embarques dans deux vaisseaux. J'avois apprehende
que nous n'eussions besoin d^escorte, mais comme ils ont dix
pieces de canon chacun, soit quMls aillent ensemble ou qu''ils
se suivent, ils croyent qu''il n'y a point de fregate d'Ostende
qui ose les attaquer, et ils n"'ont rien a apprehender d'autre
part.
La crainte que j'ay qu*'un projet que j'ay fait depuis quelques
jours ne reuississe pas m'empecheroit d'en donner avis a V. Em''®,
s"'il n''etoit necessaire de le luy faire savoir, afin qu'elle ait
agreable de donner les ordres necessaires au cas qu'il ait le
succes que j'en espere.
Je diray done a V. Em*^® qu'ayant recontre ici quantite
d''officiers du roy de la G"" Br. que j'avois connus a Newcastle,
ou ils attendoient sMl y auroit quelque chose a faire pour le
service du dit roy, j'ay creu que j'en rendrois un qui ne seroit
pas disagreable a V. Em*'^ si je pouvois former un corps de
tous ces gens, et les faire passer a Dunkerque; et comme je
S9ais qu'on n'a pas tant de besoin en France de cavalerie, et
que j"'ay trouve qu'il etoit difficile de porter tant de personnes
d'honneur et de condition qui ont commande dans les armees
du dit roy a servir comme simples fantassins dans celles de
Sa Majeste, j"'ay ete oblige pour les y porter, de les asseurer
qu'^ils recevroient un traitent different de celuy qui se fait aux
ordinaires soldats. Je leur ay done promis qu''ils toucheroient
le paye qui se donne aux gentilhommes appointes dans les
regiments d''infanterie etrangere au cas que V. Em''^ Teut
agreable, et qu'ils ne recevroient les ordres que des officiers
generaux, car, — pour ce quMls ont demande, outre leur monte,
de recevoir dix ecus en arrivant a Calais, deduction faite de ce
que j'ay avance ici pour eux, — ce sont deux ecus moins que
ce que demandent les sieurs Colonels d' Angus et Moray pour
les levees de chaque hommes, outre Tavantage qu'il y a de
payer plustost apres qu'auparavant.
Ce sont, Mg"", les choses que je leur ay promisses, pourvu
que V. Em''^ Tagree, moyennant quoy ils se sont oblige's a moi
de faire une compagnie qui sera de trois cents hommes avant
la fin de Mars, dans laquelle ils ne recevront aucun soldat qui
ne soit gentilhomme, et qui n'ait ete au moins enseigne; et
j'ay soixante hommes presentement, dont le moindre a ete lieu-
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 23
tenant de cavalerie, et entre lesquels ceux qu'ils ont choisis
pour capitaine lieutenant et enseigne ont ete colonels et ont
commande des provinces toutes entieres durant cette guerre.
Les trois sergents ont ete aussy lieutenant-colonels de cavalerie
et les corporaux, majors,
Et parce que les officiers n"'ont pas voulu prendre plus de
paye que leurs soldats, je leur ay promis que V. Em'^% qui
estimeroit leur generosite, leur ferait du bien d'autre part, et
je me suis laisse entendre a eux, que tant le capitaine et le
lieutenant que Tenseigne pourroient avoir chacun au moins
500 ecus par an.
La principale raison que m"'a porte a faire ce projet est,
qu'il y a beaucoup d'officiers dans Tarmee du roy de la G' B*"
qui demeurent inutiles pour ne pouvoir ni avoir de charges, ni
servir com me simples soldats, dont on pourroit tirer beaucoup
de service si on leur donnoit moyen de prendre emploi, ainsy
que Ton peut faire en les traitant un peu differement des
autres, et en effet ceux qui sont ici ne dontent point qu''avant
la fin de Mai leur corps ne soit de plus de cinq cents hommes,
a quoy je vois aussy toute sorte d'apparence s"'ils sont traites
tant soit peu bien en arrivant, ce qui se peut faire d''abord
avec fort peu de depense, puisqu'ils sont peu et avec beaucoup
d'utilite, puisque cela invitera tous leurs amis, et ceux qui se
trouvent en meme condition qu"'eux a les venir trouver.
II nfa semble encore que V. Em*^® en donnant moyen a ces
pauvres gens de subsister ne ferait pas seulement ime tres
grande charite, mais encore une chose tres agreable au roy de
la G*" B"" et tres utile au bien de ses affaires en lui conservant
ensemble tant de personnes de la fidelite desquels il a eu
jusqu a la fin de tres bonnes preuves.
Toute la difficulte que j"'ay maintenant est a trouver un
moyen pour les faire partir d''ici sans bruit, de peur qu'on ne
les arrete. Je me suis adresse pour cela au Chev' Fullerton,
en qui j''ay tout sujet de me confier afin qu'ils passent parmy
les recrues, et j'en feray part meme au sieur Chev"" Moray s''il
est necessaire qu''en luy decouvrant mon secret je Toblige par
honneur a le tenir cache.
Le dit sieur Colonel croit pouvoir lever encore dix com-
pagnies, par dessus celles qu'il a nouuelles, pourvu qu''on luy
24 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
donne des commissions et de Targent pour cela, et m'a dit
qu'il ne doutoit point qu'avant la fin de Mai il ne pent remettre
son regiment au nombre des hommes que porte sa capitulation.
Je supplie done V. Em*'^ de ne plus difFerer a me faire tenir de
Targent pour les hommes qu'elle veut avoir par dessus les douze
cents, et de me faire envoyer dix commissions pour le regiment
du dit sieur Chev'" Moray. Le frere du nouveau General
Lesley pent aussy faire un regiment si le Marquis de Huntley
s''accommode, et son frere me promet qu'il trouvera moyen en
ce cas de faire embarquer tous les hommes du Marquis de
Huntley pour les faire passer en France, raais le Parlement
refusant les permissions pour lever je ne vois pas qu'il puisse
rien faire sans cela. II se pourroit faire aussy que le Parlement
d'Angleterre voulant oter aux Ecossois toute la part qu'ils
avoient en Taffaire d'lrlande et les obligeant a retirer leur
armee du dit pays, ainsy qu'ils Tont resolu, il y auroit lieu de
profiter des regiments Ecossois qui y sont presentement, a quoy
il y aura toutefois de la difficulte, parce que quelque chose qui
arrive, ils croyent toujours pouvoir avoir besoin de leurs hommes.
Le Baron de Gray demande aussy a remettre sa compagnie, a
quoy le licenciement presque de toute la cavalerie Ecossaise
luy peut donner beaucoup de facilite. Je luy ay represente
Tavantage qu'il auroit en le faisant, et comme il le pouvoit
faire aisement et sans qu''il en coutast presque rien au roy,
puis-qu'il trouveroit ici des hommes tout montes, et que je
pouvois faire venir de Dunkerque des vaisseaux pour les passer ;
il etoit presque demeure d'accord de cecy, quand quelqu''un
dont il prend conseil, et qui m''a temoigne penser a cette place
pour lui-meme, luy a fait changer de resolution. Le dit Baron
de Gray en etant venu si avant avec moi que de se contenter
qu'au lieu de Targent de la levee ses gens fussent asseures de
toucher une monte avant la campagne, et ne Tayant pas laisse
meme fort eloigne de se contenter seulement d'une demie monte ;
je ne fais point de difficulte que nous ne puissions remettre cette
campagnie, pourvu qu'on m'envoie ordre promptement pour
cela, avec quelque peu d'argent, et qu'on puisse avoir des
vaisseaux pour transporter les chevaux.
Cependant, quelques applications que j'apporte aux dites
levees, je ne laisse pas de regarder en quelle maniere je puis
1 647] MONTEUEUL TO MAZARLN 25
ici servir le roy de la G'' B"^, et j'essaye de decouvrir si les
sujets qu'oiit les Ecossois de desirer que le dit roy soit hors des
mains des Independants et leur accorde leur Religion et leur
covenant, et Tasseurance (ju'il leur a donnee qu'il ne feroit ni
Tun ni Tautre tandis qu'il seroit j)risonnier, les pourroit porter
avec les Presbytcriens d'Angleterre ii demander qu'il fut mis en
liberte, mais je trouve qu'ils n'ecoutent pas du tout cette pro-
position, quoique je racconipagne de toutes les choses que je
croy pouvoir ser\"ir a la leur faire gouter, demeurant toujours
fermes a vouloir qu"il conniience ])ar les satisfaire touchant la
religion et le Covenant, apres cjuoy ils essayeront de porter les
Anglois a moderer les autres choses, a peu pres en la maniere
c[ue le dit roy leur avoit fait ])roposer par Will. Moray, — c'est
a dire qu'ils le laisseront a la discretion du Parlement d'Angle-
terre ; enfin je croy avoir reconnu que Tasseurance (ju'ils ont
(jue les Independants ne le retabliront jamais, les fait moins
apprehender de le voir entre les mains des dits Independants
que de le voir en liberte, d'ou ils croyent ([u'il ne luy seroit
pas impossible de se remettre,
Cependant les Ecossois cherchent maintenant par (|uels moyens
ils ])euvent introduire quelqu'un aupres de leur roy, ])our con-
tinuer a le porter a faire les choses (jui leur peuvent etre utile.
LeComte de Dunfermline avoit resolu de presenter aujourd'huv
un memoire a ce Parlement pour avoir })ermission d'aller exercer
sa charge aupres de sa dite M., et pour obtenir des lettres an
Parlement d'Angleterre afin de le luy faire agreer ; et le sieur
Will, Moray est si asseure des bons offices (ju'il a rendus en
la conduite qu'il a tenue dans la pretendue evasion du dit roy,
que cjuelques jH'ocedures (|ui se soient faites contre luy ])our ce
sujet, il ne doute qu'il n'ait permission de se rendre aupres du
dit roy ; mais avant que Tun ou Tautre de ces deux soit au})res
de luy, il sera bien difficile de luy pouvoir faire tenir des lettres,
car il est tres visible presentement (jue ceux (jui s'etoient oflf'erts
a les luy rendre ne Tavoient fait (jue pour Tempecher de prendre
d'autres moyens qu'il eut peu trouver pour en rece^■oir. Le
Comte de Lothian, qui sV'toit charge de ce commerce nVyant
pas ete plustost a Holmby qu'il ecrit ici qu'on ne luy envoyast
aucunes lettres pour le dit roy, et qu'il nV'toit pas possible que
ce prince en put recevoir. Le Comte de Lanark me dit toute-
26 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [MARCH
fois encore hier, qu'il luy restait une voie pour cela. Le Comte
de Dunfermline doit attendre a Londres un nomme Jackson qui
partira aujourd''huy ou demain d'ici pour France, et qui luy
fera scj-avoir les intentions de la reine de la Gr. Br. avant qu"'il
en parte pour Holmby. J''ay trouve le dit Jackson fort mal
satisfait du roy de la G' B' qui a refuse de le mettre aupres
du Prince de Galles ; et je trouve fort confidents les Ecossois ;
je seray toutefois bien aise qu"'ils se puisse rencontrer en luy
un homme qui fut leur ami et qui soit demeure fidele a son
maitre.
La nouvelle addition que le roy de la G*^ B"" a faite de quel-
ques seigneurs au conseil des finances de ce royaume, et qui ote
au Tresorier, beau-frere du Due de Hamilton, toute Tautorite
qu'il avoit auparavant, fait ici beaucoup de bruit, mais quelque
ressentiment qu^en temoigne le dit Due, et quelque interet
qu''il puisse avoir a s''opposer a ce nouvel etablissement, comme
le Marquis d''Argyle et ceux de son parti a le defendre, il y a
tout sujet de croire qu''il ne produira ni aucun disordre dans ce
royaume, ni aucun bien pour le dit roy, et qu"'il n*'aura servi
qu'a off'enser le parti du Due de Hamilton sans obliger celui
du Marquis d'Argyle, et a faire payer les Comtes de Traquair
et de Dunfermline, Will. Moray et quelques autres, des dons
qu"'ils se sont fait faire par sa dite M'^ quand elle est partie de
Newcastle.
La nouvelle armee de ce royaume doit se rendre a Montrose
au 20 de ce mois, style de France, ou est son lieu d"'assemblee,
pour marcher de la vers le Marquis de Huntley.
Le Chev' David Lesley, avant que recevoir la generalat de
cette armee, a fait quelques propositions qu"'il desire luy estre
accordees, une desquelles est de pouvoir traiter d'un accom-
modement avec le Marquis de Huntley ; il ne se trouve pas
vray que son second fils se soit separe de ses interets, ni que le
Marquis d*" Antrim ait off'ert de se retirer d'Ecosse et de en faire
retirer Macdonald avec luy. On m''a assure qu'il etoit venu
nouvelles d'Irlande que Preston, qui s''etoit accommode avec
le Marquis d'Ormonde, s"'est separe de ses interets, et que le
dit Marquis d''Ormonde a ete oblige d'envoyer encore vers le
Parlement d'Angleterre pour s''accommoder avec luy. Je ne
scay si cela est veritable, mais je scay que par les dernieres
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 27
lettres que le Marquis d'Ormonde ecrivoit au roy de la G' B'
il luy mandoit que non seulement sa dite M** ne devoit attendre
aucun secours d''Irlande, bien qu"*!! se fut accommode avec
Preston, mais qu'il ne devoit pas esperer qu"'ils se peussent
conserver eux-memes sans etre secourus promptement, — ce que
se trouve conforme a ce qu"'on dit ici qu'ecrit Mons. du Moulin
dans la lettre qui a ete interceptee, dont on fait en ces lieux
assez de bruit.
Le sieur Col. Moray vient de me dire a present qu"'on pouvoit
engager le Comte de Callendar au service de sa Majeste et luy
faire entreprendre de passer un regiment en France. Les
moyens qu''il m''a propose pour le porter a cela sont, de le
faire d'abord Mareschal de Camp, a moins de quoy il ne pent
pas servir apres avoir ete Lieutenant- General des armees
d'Ecosse ; de luy donner le generalat des Ecossois en dedom-
mageant Mr. de la Ferte, et de le faire capitaine de la com-
pagnie de Gendarmes. II m'a demande ce que je trouvois de
toutes ces propositions. Je luy ay dit que ce n"'etoit pas a moi
a en juger, mais quMl me sembloit qu"'on devoit faire beaucoup
pour engager le Comte de Callendar dans le service, et que le
Comte de Callendar devoit sVngager pour quelque chose de
moins que tout cela,
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, j^^ 1647.
I HOPE by the eud of next week, or the beginning of that following, we
shall have about six hundred men shipped on boax-d two vessels. 1 had
feared that an escort might be necessary, but as each ship has ten guns,
whether they sail together or follow each other, those in command of
them think there is no frigate at Ostend that will venture to attack
them, and there is no danger to apprehend from any other quarter,
I have had a scheme on hand for some days, but the fear I had of not
being able to succeed in it prevented me from informing you of it, until
now I am obliged to do so, in order that you may give the necessary
orders if it be agreeable to you and if I have the success I expect.
I must inform you then that having met here a large number of officers
of the King of Great Britain whom I had known at Newcastle, where
they were waiting to see if there would be anything to do for the service
of the king, I thought that I might do a service that would not be dis-
agreeable to you if I could form a corps of all these people and pass them
over to Dunkirk, and as I know that cavalry is not so much required in
France, and finding it difficult to induce so many persons of honour and
rank who had held commission in the Royal armies to engage simply as
28 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
foot soldiers in those of his Majesty, I was obliged, in order to induce
them to do so, to assure them, they would receive different pay from that
of ordinary soldiers. I have therefore promised to them, that they would
receive the pay generally given to gentlemen appointed in the regiments
of foreign infantry, if this were agreeable to you, and that they would
only receive orders from general officers, for, considering they have asked
besides their outfit to receive ten crowns on ai*riving at Calais, deduction
being made of what I have advanced for them here, this is two crowns less
on each man than the Colonels Angus and Moray demand for the levies,
besides the advantage of having to pay rather after than in advance.
Such are the things I have promised to them provided you consent, in
return for which they have engaged themselves to provide me with a
company of at least three hundred men before the end of March, in which
they will receive no soldier who is not of noble birth, and who has not
at least held the grade of ensign. I have sixty men at present, of
whom the lowest in grade has been lieutenant of cavalry, and those
whom they have selected as captain, lieutenant and ensign have been
colonels and commanded whole counties during the late war. The three
sergeants were also formerly lieutenant-colonels of cavalry and the
corporals, majors. And because these officers would not agree to take
more pay than their soldiers, I have promised them that you would take
their generosity into account and would make it up to them in another
way, so that I have led them to understand that captain, lieutenant and
ensign Avould have at least each live hundred crowns per annum.
The principal reason that induced me to carry out tliis plan is, that
there are many officers in the army of the King of Great Britain who
remain idle, not being allowed commissions or who are not even per-
mitted to serve as privates, of whom one might obtain great service by
giving them the means of finding employment, and in treating them
somewhat differently from common soldiers, so that in fact those of them
who are here do not doubt but that before the end of May their company
will number more than five hundred men, of which I see every likelihood,
if they be treated tolerably on their arrival, which may be done with very
little expense at first since they are not numerous, and with much profit
since that will induce all their friends and those who are in the same
position as they to come in and rejoin them.
It seemed to me further, that your giving to those poor fellows the
means of subsistence would not only be a very great charity, but also a
very agreeable thing to the King of Great Britain and very useful for the
good of his affairs, in keeping all those persons together of whose fidelity
he had till the end very good proofs.
My great difficulty at present is how to find means of getting them
away from hei*e without making an outcry, for fear of their being
arrested. I have applied therein to Sir Fullerton, ^ in whom 1
^ Lieutenant-Colonel Fullerton of the Douglas regiment commanded by the
Earl of Angus, in the French service. Father Blakhal mentions his having met
him in his journeyings between France and Scotland. See his Narrative.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARLN 29
have every confidence, so that lie may pass them among the recruits, and I
shall even if necessary inform Sir Robert Moray of my secret and oblige
him on his honour not to mention it.
Colonel Sir Robert Moray thinks of being able to raise ten companies yet,
beyond those he has recently added, provided commissions be sent to him,
and the money for that purpose, and he tells me he does not doubt but that
before the end of May he may be able to bring up his regiment to the
number of men specified in his articles of agreement. I beg you therefore
not to defer longer in sending me the money for the men he wishes to
have, over and above the twelve hundred, and to send me ten commissions
for the regiment of Sir Robert !Moray. Tlie brother of the newly appointed
General Leslie ' can also raise a regiment, if the Marquis of Huntley come
to terms, and his brother promises me, in the same case, to find means of
embarking all the men of the Marquis of Huntley in order to send them
to France, but as Parliament refuses the permission to raise men, I do
not see that he can do anything without that. It may happen also that
the English Parliament, wishing to deprive the Scots of all the share they
had in the affair of Ireland and obliging them to withdraw their army
from that country, as they have decided upon doing, there would be
reason to profit by the Scottish regiments that are there now, to which,
however, there will always be some objection, because whatever happens
they alwaj's believe they require all their men. Baron Gray wishes also
to fill up the ranks of his company, which the disbanding of almost all the
Scottish cavalry may give him much facility in doing. I pointed out to him
the advantage there would be in doing so, and as he could do it easily, and
without its costing almost anything to the king, since he would find men
here quite equipped and I could get ships from Dunkirk to take them
over ; we were almost agreed about this, when some one from whom he
takes advice and who, it has been represented to me, thinks for him, in
such matters, led him to change his mind. Baron Gray was so far
advanced with me in making this arrangement as to be satisfied that
instead of the money of the levy, his men might be assured of having an
outfit before beginning the campaign and had almost contented himself
with having only lialf an outfit. I have no doul)t but that we could fill
up the ranks of this company, provided the order be promptly sent to
me to have it done, with a little money ; and that one could have ships
to carry the horses.
Yet, whatever attention I give to the levies, I still take heed how I may
here serve the King of Great Britain, and I try to discover if the reasons
the Scots have to wish their king out of the hands of the Independents,
and that he grant them their religion and their Covenant, together with
the assurance he has given them that he would do neither the one nor
the other, so long as he would remain prisoner, would not induce them.
^ Robert Leslie is here meant, brother to General David Leslie.
30 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
together with the English Presbyterians, to demand that he be placed at
liberty, but I find they will on no account listen to this proposal, and
although I arranged it with other things, in such a manner as I thought
would make it more acceptable to them, they would not hear of it ; they
continue always firm in wishing him to begin by satisfying them regarding
religion and the Covenant, after which they will try to induce the English
to abate other matters, in the manner the king had proposed to them by
Will. Moray : that is to say, they will leave him to the discretion of the
English Parliament ; in short, I believe the assurance they have that the
Independents will never re-establish him renders them less apprehensive
of seeing him in their hands than they would be to see him at liberty,
when they believe it might not be impossible for him to re-establish
himself.
However, the Scots are now devising means of sending some one to be
near their king, in order to continue to influence him, in the way they
consider most useful for them. The Earl of Dunfermline had decided to
send a memorial to this Parliament to-day, in order to have permission to
attend to the duties of his oflftce with his Majesty, and to obtain letters for
the English Parliament so as to have its approval thereto : and Will.
Moray is so certain of his good services and of the manner he conducted
himself in the king's pretended escape, that although some pursuit has
been raised against him on that subject, he does not doubt of obtaining
permission to go to the king ; but before either the one or the other of
these two be with him, it will be very difficult for him to convey his
letters and have them delivered, for it is very evident at present that
those who had engaged to deliver them merely did so in order to prevent
him from taking other means, which he might have found, to receive
them. The Earl of Lothian, who undertook this interchange of letters,
was no sooner at Holmby than he wrote here, that no letters be sent to
him for the king, and that it was impossible for that prince to receive
any. The Earl of Lanark told me, however, even yesterday, that there
was still a means of accomplishing it. It appears that the Earl of
Dunfermline is to meet in London a certain Jackson who is to leave here
to-day or to-morrow for France, and who will inform him as to the inten-
tions of the Queen of England before the earl leaves for Holmby. I
have perceived that this Jackson was very dissatisfied with the king of
Great Britain, who refused to place him with the Prince of Wales, and I
consider the Scots much too confiding. I shall be glad to learn, however,
that he will prove friendly to them and that he will remain faithful to
his master.
The new addition which the King of Great Britain has made of some
nobles to the Council of Finance of this kingdom, which deprives the
Treasurer, brother-in-law to the Duke of Hamilton, of all the authority
he formerly had, causes much talk here, but whatever resentment the
duke may show and whatever interest he may have to set himself against
this new establishment, as the Marquis of Argyle and his party have to
defend it, there is every reason to believe that it will neither produce
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN SI
any disorder in this kingdom, nor any benefit for the king, and that it
will only serve to offend the party of the Duke of Hamilton, without
benefiting that of the Marquis of Argyle, and to cause the Earls of
Traquair, Dunfermline, ^Vill. Moray and some others, to receive pay-
ment of the gifts they caused his Majesty to confer on them, when he
was leaving Newcastle.
The new army of this kingdom is to assemble at Montrose, on the 20th
of this month, new style, which is its place of rendezvous, and thence to
march against the Marquis of Huntley.
General Sir David Leslie before receiving the command of this army
has stated some conditions which he wishes to be granted to him, one of
which is to be able to come to an agreement with the Marquis of Huntley.
It is found to be untrue that the second son of the Marquis has given up
his interests, as also that the Marquis of Antrim had offered to withdraw
from Scotland and to take Macdonald with him. I have been assured
that news has reached here from Ireland that Preston,^ who had come to
an agreement with the Marquis of Ormond, had abandon^ his interests,
and that the Marquis had been obliged to send again to the English
Parliament, in order to come to terms with it. I do not know whether
this be true or not ; but I know that by the last letters that the Marquis
of Ormond wrote to the King of Great Britain, he informed him that not
only ought he not to expect any assistance from Ireland, although he
had come to terms with Preston, but that he ought not to hope they
would be able themselves to hold out unless they were promptly relieved,
which is similar to what M. du Molin is said here to have written in the
intercepted letter which has caused such an outcry in these parts.
Colonel Sir Robert Moray has just told me that tlie Earl of Callander
might be induced to enter his Majesty's service, and that he would under-
take to raise a regiment to take to France. The means the former
proposed to me in order to induce the latter to do so are to make him at
first Brigadier-General, without which he will not serve, after having been
Lieutenant-General of the Scottish armies, to give him the generalship
of the Scots in indemnifying M. de la Ferte,^ and also captain of the
Horse of the King's Household ; and he asked me what I thought of all
these proposals. I replied that it was not for me to judge, but that it
seemed to me that while one ought to do much to engage the Earl of
Callander in the service, he might be expected to do so for something
less than all he had mentioned.]
^ Colonel, afterwards General, James Preston, Royalist officer in Ireland.
- See Appendix, Note W, Scottish Regiments in France.
32 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
CXVIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, =i^^ 1647.
L''apprehension que j'' ay eux qu'on n''ait pas ete averti a
Dunkerque de recevoir les gentilhommes Anglois que je viens
de faire embarquer, m'a fait envoyer un de mes gens avec eux
pour aller en suite avertir V. Em''® de leur debarquement et la
supplier de leur faire donner de quoy subsister et se mettre en
etat de servir. Le s"^ Colonel Forcer, capitaine de la dite com-
pagnie, fait etat de luy aller baiser la main ; c'est une personne
de merite et de tres grande consideration dans le Nord
d*'Angleterre^ et qui etant suivi principalement par ceux de
notre religion qui est la sienne, ne donnera un seul homme a la
France qu'il ne Tote a TEspagne.
Je luy ay promis que je supplierois V. Em*'^ de luy vouloir
faire donner de sa Majeste cinq cents ecus s'il executoit ce qu'il
promettoit, et de vouloir faire la meme grace aux Colonels
Morgant et Middleton. Pour le Colonel Morgant, c"'est une
personne qui avoit au moins vingt milles de rente (comme
divers de la compagnie en ont dix ou douze mille), qui a ete
gouverneur du chateau de Douvres, et qui est encore plus con-
siderable par son merite que par son bien ou par ses employs ;
et le Colonel Middleton est fort peu different de ces deux
premiers. II y a aussy parmy eux le Major Rowerson, qu'on me
dit etre un des vaillants hommes qui soit en toute TAngleterre.
lis portent avec eux par ecrit, ce que j'ay avance, tant pour
leur embarquement que pour leur subsistance, de sorte qu''il
sera aise de voir ce qu"'il leur faudra donner ; mais si V. Em*'^
avoit agreable de faire quelque chose de plus, outre que ce
seroit une extreme charite, etant donne a des personnes
d'honneur qui sont dans une etreme misere, et qui sont pour
la plus grande partie de notre religion, cela serviroit encore
pour rendre ce corps tres considerable et pour y faire venir du
monde de toutes parts.
J''envoye a V. Em*'® la capitulation que j''ai faite ; j''ai bien
peur que V. E. trouve que je me suis trop avance n"'ayant eu ni
ordre ni argent pour cela, ou que je me sois mepris en quelque
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 33
chose n^ayant jamais fait de semblables traites, mais j'espere
qu'elle me fera Thonneur ou d'approuver ce que j'ai fait, sMl est
vrai que je me sois bien comporte, ou de me le pardonner si j'ai
failli quand elle aura veu les motifs qui m'ont porte a le faire.
II y a quelques articles davantage en la copie du traite qui
m'est demeuree qu''en celle que j'ai donnee au sr. Colonel
Forcer, parce que je n'ai pas juge necessaire que les dits articles
fussent veus de tout le monde."*
[MoNTEREuii to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, -^j^^, 1647.
Fearing there might be no one at Dunkirk told to receive the English
gentlemen whom I have just made to embark, I have sent one of
my people with them in order, on their landing, to inform you of it
immediately, so that you may furnish them with the means of subsist-
ence and fit them for the service. Colonel Forcer, the captain of the
company, may be received in audience at court ; he is a person of merit
and very well considered in the North of England, and being followed
chiefly by those of our religion, which is also his ; each man he brings
to France will be one less for Spain.
I have promised to him that you would give him, from his Majesty,
five hundred crowns, if he perform what he has promised, and bestow the
same favour on Colonels Morgant and Middleton. As for the Colonel
Morgant he is a person who had at least twenty thousand livres of yearly
income, — several of the company have had ten or twelve thousand, — and
who has been governor of Dover Castle, but he is more to be considered
on account of his merit than from his property or his services. The
Colonel Middleton is little diflferent from the two former. There is
also among them a Major Rowerson, who is said to be one of the most
valiant men in all England. They carry with them in writing an account
of what I have advanced to them for their shipment and for their
maintenance, so that it will be easy to see what more will be required to
give them, but were it agreeable to you to do anything in addition, besides
its being a well-deserved charity given to honourable persons who are in
extreme want and who are for the most part of our religion, it would
serve further to render the company very considerable and to bring
persons to it from all parts.
I send to you the articles of agreement which I have drawn up. I am
much afraid you may think I have gone too far from my having neither
order nor money for the purpose, or that I have committed some error in
the matter as I have never executed similar treaties, but I hope you will
do me the honour of approving what I have done, if I have really done
well, or of pardoning me if I have failed when you see the motives that
induced me to do it. There are in the copy of the treaty that has been
left with me a few more articles than in that which I gave to Colonel
Forcer, because 1 did not consider it necessary that these articles should
be seen by every person.]
VOL. II. C
34 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [march
CXIX
BELLlllVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le T Mars l647
Monsieur, — La lettre que m'escrit M. Germin, comme toutes
celles que Ton a receu icy de luy par cet ordinaire, ne font
point esperer que le roy d'Angleterre ne veuille accorder les
quatre propositions qu'auec les prefaces et modiffications qu'il m**a
mande par sa premiere despeche. Je ne comprens pas pourquoy
il en parle autrement et dit qu'il ne demande autre chose, sinon
que ceux qui'ont ofFert de seruir le roy Tobligent cy apres de le
faire, quelque euenement qu*'ayent les choses. Cette condition
luy fust offerte en mesme temps que la proposition fut faitte de
enuoyer ce message, non pas peut estre aussi positiuement quMl
le desireroit pour en auoir une preuue par escrit, mais en la
meilleure forme qu'il scait quelle pouuoit estre faicte en la
condition que sont les afFres [affaires] de ce pais. Cette afFectaon
[affectation] auec laquelle on demande qu'il s'engage, luy faict
craindre que ce non [ne] soit que pour le perdre, et tout au moins
que ce soit a dessein de gaigner du temps, pendant lequel on pre-
tend faire quelque chose, que Ton ne penetre pas bien nettement
icy ; ces longueurs font perdre les occasions et le courage de
ceux qui pouuoient seruir aux conditions qu'ilz proposoient.
Vous jugez ce que perd le roy par le traicte du marquis
dormond auec le parlement, il perdroit encore plus si ceux qui
veullent sa ruine portoient la ville de Londres ainsy qu''ilz
esperent faire a demander au parlement qu'un arreste y soit
faict que leur Roy ne puisse approcher d''icy plus pres qu'il est,
jusques a ce que il ait pris le conuenant et signe les propositions.
Je feray tousiours le mieux qu''il me sera possible, mais il y a
grand e aparence que Ton me laisse trauailler icy a une chose et
que les ministres de la reyne d'Ang'® ont quelque autre dessein.
Je prie Dieu que leurs mesures soient mieux prises qu'elles
n'ont este par le passe. II n'y a point de petites affaires en un
pais ou les resolutions despendent de quatre cent testes, qui
n*'ont ny la volonte ny les lumieres necessaires pour decider bien
promptement Tauthorite que TAng""^ croit auoir sur tout ce qui
se faict en Irlande, et touttes les pretentions qu'elle a sur ce
pais la porteront de la difficulte aux passeport des sieurs de la
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 35
Moinerie et Talon. Je trauailleray a les vaincre. — Je suis.
Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieuee.
[Bellievbe to Brienne. London, 7 March 1647.
The letter M, Jermyn has written to me^ as also all those that have
been received here from him by this mail, give no hope that the King
of England will grant the four proposals other than with the prefaces and
alterations of which he informed me in his first despatch. I do not
understand why he speaks of it differently and says that he requires
nothing else, save that those who have ofi"ered to serine the king oblige
him hereafter to do so whatever may be the course of events. This
condition was offered to him at the same time as the proposal was made
to send this message, not perhaps so plainly as he would wish it to have
a proof of it in writing, but in the best form that he knows it could be
made, in the state of the affairs of this country. This affectation with which
he is asked to engage himself leads him to fear that it may be but in order
to ruin him, at least, in any case, that it may be for the purpose of gaining
time, during which it is pretended to do something, which is not clearly
understood here ; these delays throw away opportunities and waste the
courage of those who would serve on the conditions they proposed. You
may j udge of what the king loses by the treaty of the Marquis of Ormond
with Parliament ; he will lose still more if those who wish his ruin are
able to induce the City of London, as they hope, to ask Parliament to
resolve that their king may not be able to come any nearer here, until
he has taken the Covenant and signed the proposals. I shall always do
the best I can, but there is a great probability that while I am allowed
here to work at one matter, the ministers of the Queen of England have
some other design in view ; I pray God their measures may be better
selected than they have been in the past. These are no small affairs in a
country where the resolutions depend on four hundred heads that have
neither the will nor the knowledge necessary in order to direct very
promptly the authority that England thinks she has over all that is going
on in Ireland, and all the pretensions she has over that country will
cause difficulties regarding the passports of MM. de la Moinerie and
Talon. I shall try to overcome them.]
cxx
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbours, ~ Mars l647.
C 12
Je me donnai Fhonneur d'ecrire a V. Em"^® par un lacquais
que j'ai envoye pour accompagner soixante officiers de Tarmee
du roi de la Gr, Br. que j'ai fait passer a Dunkerque. lis par-
36 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
tirent de cette rade Samedi dernier, et leur embarquement s"'est
conduit auec tant de secret que quelque bruit qu'on eut fait ici de
leur sejour, et quelque empeschement quMl sembloit que ce Parle-
ment voulut mettre a leur depart, pour gratifier celui d'Angleterre,
et pour satisfaire a la haine qu'il porte a tout ce qui a servi le dit
roy, 11 ne se parle point seulement encore de leur sortie. Le sr.
Col. Fullarton, a qui j'avois fait part de mon dessein, m'ayant
donne cinquante hommes de son regiment pour couvrir leur em-
barquement, et s"'etant conduit dans cette affaire avec beaucoup
de fidelite et d'adresse. J*'ai envoye, par la meme voie, un double
de la capitulation que j'ai faite avec les dits officiers, mais parce
qu'ils peuvent ne pas arriver si promptement, et que j'ai veu,
par la copie qui m'est demeuree, que le dit double n'est pas fort
correct, j'en envoye encore un autre a V. Em^^
Nous ferons partir Vendredi ou Samedi un vaisseau d'ici, qui
portera trois cents cinquante hommes, et qui sera suivi dans peu
de jours d'un autre charge du meme nombre d'hommes, de sorte
que ce seront deja huit cents hommes, et tant le Chev"" Moray
que le Chev' Fullarton m'asseurent qu"'ils seront bientost suivis
du reste des douze cents, mais comme il est plus aise de faire de
nouvelles compagnies que de remplir les anciennes, et que cela
se peut encore a moindre frais, les nouveaux officiers y mettant
du leur plus volontiers que les anciens, j*'ai confirme le sieur
Chev' Moray dans la resolution qu'il a prise, de donner deux com-
pagnies par dessus les onze pour lesquelles il a des commissions,
et luy ai dit que je ne croyois pas qu''il y eut danger d'en
donner ; encore les avantages qu'a son regiment par dessus
les autres, lui donnant moyen de faire ses hommes plus facile-
ment qu'il ne se pourroit par tout autre moyen. Nous avons
envoye un homme en Angleterre, pour avertir ce que les
officiers que j''ai embarques y ont laisse d'amis de les aller
trouver en diligence, et il y a tout sujet de croire que ce corps
sera de quatre ou cinq cents hommes avant la fin de Mai,
pourvu que ces premiers soient bien re9us.
Je prends aussy la hardiesse d'avertir V. Em*'® qu''il est tres
imJ)ortant qu''on traite bien les hommes que nous envoyons
pour les recreiies des deux regiments Ecossois, parce que si
quelque soldat s'echappoit qui peut faire savoir ici qu'on les
traite mal, on ne pouvoit trouver personne qui voulut passer en
France les soldats de ce pays ayant fait une guerre tres douce
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 37
en Angleterre, et ayant quelque argent devant eux. Je suis
oblige aussy, Mg', de vous avertir qu""!! ne vient point d'ordinaire
qui n'apporte des plaintes a M. le Comte d"* Angus du mauvais
traitement que re^oit son regiment, que lui paroit encore pire
par le comparaison de celui que se fait au regiment de M. je
Chev. Moray qui est dans la meme place, de sorte que je
n'apprehende pas seulement que cela nuise aux recrelies qui se
font ici, mais encore que les officiers abandonnent le regiment,
ainsy qu"'ils le mandent a leur Colonel, et que le Chev' Moray
m''a dit qu'ils veulent faire, plusieurs d'entre eux lui ayant
offert de servir dans son regiment. Je supplie tres humblement
V. Em'^^ dV vouloir faire reflexion, et en attendant qu'elle
y ait apporte quelque remede d"'avoir agreable de me faire
ecrire un petit mot que je puisse montrer au Comte d"" Angus,
ce qui servira, non seulement a le faire travailler avec plus de
courage a ses recreiies, mais a en donner encore a ses officiers.
Le sr. Chev"" Moray me parle souvent du Comte de Calender
et a desire que j''en ecrivisse a V. Em'^^ De moi je croy qu"'il
se consentera de moins que ce qu''il propose. II pourroit, sans
doute, faire un bon regiment, et en obtenir meme la liberte du
conseil qui sera etabli ici a la fin de ce Parlement, et je croy
que M. de Bellievre donnera un tres bon temoinage du dit
Comte qui est un de ceux de qui le roy de la Gr. Br. a moins
de sujet de se plaindre. Je ne doute point aussy que le frere
du Lieut. General Lesley ne puisse avoir mie bonne partie des
gens du Marquis de Huntley, s''il s'accommode avec ce Parle-
ment, mais je croy que V. Em'^^ aura bien plus agreable que le
dit Marquis se maintienne s''il est possible, et qu''il conserve
avec lui les restes du parti du dit roi, — ce qu''il peut faire bien
difficilement s'il n"'est pas bientost assiste, — mais je croy que
le meilleur secours qu'il pourroit avoir seroit de faire revenir
ici ^Montrose, ou de donner moyen aij Marquis d"* Antrim et a
Macdonald de faire une descente dans le pays, ce qui obligeroit
ce Parlement a diviser la petite armee qu''il a sur pied, et qui
ne seroit pas en ce cas assez forte pour resister en meme temps
aux uns et aux autres. La France en tireroit encore quelque
avantage, parce que cela pourroit donner lieu au M. d' Antrim
d'occuper ici les mille hommes qu"'on me dit qu'il leve en
Irlande pour TEspagne, et lesquels je S9ay que M™^ sa femme
lui mandoit il y a quelque temps qu'il envoyast en diligence.
88 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
II se confirme que Preston a abandonne le Marquis d'Ormond,
de sorte que le dit Marquis, a ce qui se dit, s''accommode avec le
Parlement d"'Angleterre aux conditions qu'il lui voudra donner.
Bien que le Chev' David Leslay commande la nouvelle armee
il n"'a pas le titre de general, duquel le Comte de Leven n*'a pas
desire se defaire comme Ton croyoit; il pense toujours pouvoir
traiter d'un accommodement avec le Marquis de Huntley, et
son frere m''a veu ce matin pour me dire que je ferois un service
au roy de la Gr. Br. et au Marquis de Huntley tres consider-
able, que de lui faire venir de la reine de la Gr. Br. une permis-
sion de s''accommoder, etant au meme etat que les places qui
sont reduites aux demieres extremities et qu'il vaut mieux
rendre par composition que laisser perdre par force.
Au reste tout le peuple est ici tres mal satisfait, et TEcosse
est un pays ou Ton me dit que ces mescontentements sont tres
dangereux, et ceux qui ont plus de part dans les affaires me
temoignent tant de crainte de Tavenir, et disent qu'^ils prevoient
tant de desordres que si ce n'etoit que tout ce qui vient des
Ecossois est plein de deguisement, j''aurois sujet de croire
que les choses ne se conduiroient pas ici fort longtemps sans
quelque revolution bien considerable, que je m'imagine qui
peut arriver, mais seulement quand le roy ne sera plus en etat
d"'en profiter.
Les instances que font ici les deputes du Parlement d'Angle-
terre, que les Ecossois rendent Belfast en Irlande, ce qui les
oblige necessairement a en retirer toute leur armee, — puisque
c'est la place qui conserve tout ce quMls ont en ce royaume, —
font croire quMl y aura quelque querelle entre les deux nations,
mais encore que je ne sache pas la resolution que les Ecossois
ont prise touchant cette proposition, j'ose dire qu'ils rendront
plustost tout ce qu''ils ont en Irlande que de rompre avec le
Parlement d'Angleterre.
Comme j'achevois cette lettre j'ai re^u celle dont il a pleu a
V. Em'^^ m''honorer du 22 Fevrier, par laquelle comme il lui
plait me faire connaitre combien il est utile peur le service de
sa M*® de faire passer dMci en France autant d'hommes qu'il se
pourra et que j'apprehende que le defaut de permission ne nous
nuise, j'ai pense si Ton ne pourroit point afin de Tobtenir, faire
decouvrir s'il y avoit moyen de porter le Due de Hamilton et
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 39
le Marquis d'Argyle a faire passer chacun un regiment de
douze ou quinze cents homnies en France, a quoy deux con-
siderations les pourroient obliger, — Fune de s''entretenir bien
avec elle et d'adoucir les choses passees, — et Tautre de se
procurer une pension, et ce qui leur pourroit venir de leurs
appointements de Colonels. Je verray ce qui se pent faire,
sans m^engager a quoy que ce soit.
Le Comte de Traquair ni''a dit que si Ton etoit encore
asseure que le roy voulut approuver le Covenant, il vouloit
perdre la vie s'il ne trouvoit moyen de le retablir, et s''il ne
faisoit en sorte qu"'on se contenteroit pour tout le reste de ce quil
avoit offert par Will Moray, et a desire meme que je Tecrivisse
en France, mais il voudroit que Ton fut certain de la volonte
de la reine de la Gr. Br. avant que les commissaires des deux
Parlements fussent arrives a Holmby, — ce qui sera bien difficile,
— et apres quoy il ne doute point que le dit roi soit mis encore
en une prison plus etroite que celle ou il est presentement. Ce
Parlement doit finir dans fort peu de jours; il est en peine de
trouver les moyens pour faire subsister la nouvelle armee, et on
ne croit pas que le quart des rentes que Ton prend, et les
impositions sur les entrees y puissent sutfire. II ne reste plus
au dit Parlement qu'a regler le different que le roi a fait naitre
par Taddition qu'il a faite au conseil des finances, a choisir
ceux qui doivent aller vers le roi, et ceux qui doivent estre du
conseil qui demeurera ici jusqu'a un nouveau Parlement.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ March 1647.
I HAD the honour of writing to you by a lackey whom I sent to
accompany sixty officers of the army of the King of Great Britain that I
sent to Dunkirk. They left this roadstead on Saturday last, and their
getting on board was conducted with so much secrecy that although some
noise was made about their stay here, and Parliament seemed to wish to
put some obstacle in the way of their leaving in order to gratify the
English Parliament and to satisfy the hatred it has to all those who
have served their king, no further mention is made of their departure.
Colonel FuUarton, to whom I had communicated my design, gave me fifty
men of his regiment to conceal their getting on board ship ; and thus
managed the matter with much fidelity and tact. I sent by the same
conveyance a copy of the articles of agreement that I have made with the
officers, but because they may not arrive so soon, and as I have discovered
40 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
by the copy I have left that the one I sent is incorrect, I herewith send
another.
We will despatch on Friday or Saturday a ship from here with three
hundred and fifty men, which will be followed by another a few days
later, conveying the same number of men, so that this will already make
eight hundred men, and both Sir Robei*t Moray and Colonel FuUarton
assure me that they will soon be followed by the remainder of the twelve
hundred, but as it is easier to form new companies than to fill up the
old ones, the new officers being more active about it than the older ones,
I confirmed Sir Robert Moray in the resolution he has taken to add two
companies, above the eleven for which he has commissions, and I have
told him that I thought there would be no danger in doing so, as the
advantages his regiment possesses over the others enables him thus
to raise men more easily than by any other means. We have sent a
man to England to give notice to the friends remaining there of the
officers whom I have sent, to make haste to rejoin them, and there is
every reason to believe that this corps will number four or five hundred
men before the end of May, provided the first of them are well treated.
I venture also to remark that it is very requisite, the recruits
we send for the two Scottish regiments be well treated, because if a
soldier escape who may make it known here that they are badly treated,
it would not be possible to find any one who would go to France ; the
soldiers of this country having had a very easy time in England and
having some money in hand. I am also obliged to inform you that there
is not a mail that comes that does not bring complaints to the Earl of
Angus of the bad treatment his regiment receives, which appears even
worse to him when he compares it with what is received by the regiment
of Sir Robert Moray that is in the same place, so that I not only fear this
may harm the recruiting that is going on here, but even that the officers
may quit the regiment, as they state to their colonel, and which Sir
Robert tells me they wish to do, several among them having off"ered to
serve in his regiment. I beg you to think of it, and in the meantime
while preparing a remedy to please to send me a line that I could show
to the Earl of Angus that will serve not only to encourage him about his
recruits but that he may thereby stimulate his officers.
Sir Robert Moray often speaks to me about the Earl of Callander and
wishes me to write to you about him. For my part I believe he would
be contented with less than he proposes. He could no doubt raise a
good regiment, and obtain for that purpose the permission from the
Council that will be established here at the close of this Parliament, and
I believe M. de Bellievre would give him a very good recommendation as
being one of those of whom the King of Great Britain has less subject of
complaint. I do not doubt also but that the brother of Lieut. -General
Leslie may be able to have a good number of the Marquis of Huntly's
people, if the Marquis come to terms with this Parliament, but I believe
it would be more agreeable to you were he to hold out, if possible, so as
to preserve with him what remains of the king's party, which he will find
i647j MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 41
it very difficult to do, if he do not soon receive assistance, but I believe
the best manner to effect this would be to send Montrose here, or to give
the Marquis of Antrim or Macdonald the means of making a raid into
the country, which would oblige Parliament to divide the small army it
has in the field, and which, in that case, would not be strong enough to
resist both the one and the other. France would thereby also derive
some advantage, for it would give the Marquis of Antrim an opportunity
of occupying here the thousand men that he is raising in Ireland to send
to Spain, that I know the Marchioness his wife said he was sending in
haste.
It is confirmed that Preston has left the Marquis of Ormond, so that
from what is stated, this latter has come to terms with the English
Parliament on the conditions they were willing to give him. Although
Sir David Leslie commands the new army, he has not the title of general,
which the Earl of Leven would not give up, as it was believed ; he still
thinks of being able to treat of an agreement with the Marquis of
Huntly, and his brother called upon me this morning to tell me that I
would render a very important service to the King of Great Britain and
to the Marquis of Huntly were I to procure for the latter the Queen of
Great Britain's permission to give his submission, he being in a situation
similar to those fortresses that reduced to the last extremity it is better
to give up by capitulation than allow to be taken by storm.
As for the rest, people here are all very dissatisfied, and I am told that
Scotland is a country where such dissatisfaction is very dangerous, and
those who have most part in the direction of public affairs show so great
fear of the future, and say they foresee so great disorders. Were it not
everything connected with Scotland is full of pretexts, I would have
reason to believe that things would not go on much longer here, without
some very important revolution, but which will only take place when the
king will no longer be in a position to profit by it.
The demands the deputation from the English Parliament are making
here for the Scots to deliver up Belfast in Ireland, which would oblige
them necessarily to withdraw all their army from there, since it is the
place that enables them to hold all they have in that kingdom, might
make one think there will be some quarrel between the two nations, but
•although I do not know what resolution the Scots have taken, regarding
this proposal, I venture to say they will deliver up all they have in
Ireland rather than break off with the English Parliament.
While I was finishing this letter I receive yours of the 22nd Feby., in
which you inform me how necessary it is for the service of his Majesty
to send off from here to France as many men as possible, and as I fear
the want of permission may be hurtful to us, I have thought if it were
not possible to obtain it, whether or not there might be a means of
inducing the Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle to send each
a regiment of twelve or fifteen hundred men to France, which two con-
siderations might oblige them to do : one, in order to keep up good
relations with her and alleviate past matters ; and the other, to obtain a
42 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [march
pension and what might come to them through their commissions as
colonels. I shall see what can be done, without engaging myself in any-
way.
The Earl of Traquair has told me that if one were still assured the
king would sanction the Covenant, he would willingly give his life, in
trying to find some means of re-establishing him, and in endeavouring
so to arrange that one would be satisfied as regards all the rest with what
was offered by Will. Moray ; and he has wished me to write of it to France,
but he would like to be certain of the intention of the Queen of Great
Britain, before the Commissioners of the two Parliaments arrive at
Holmby — which will be very difficult — and after which he has no doubt
but that the king will be placed in a closer prison than that he occupies
at present. This Parliament comes to an end in a day or two : it is at a
loss how to find means for the subsistence of the new army, and it is not
believed that the fourth of the rental ^ which has been taken, and the
duties on importations will be able to suffice. There but remains for
Parliament to settle the dispute, caused by the king having made the
addition to the Council of Finance, and to select those who are to go to
the king and those who will remain in office till the new Parliament be
elected,]
CXXI
BELLll:VRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, ce 14' mars, l647.
MoxsiEUK, — L'occupation que j''ay aujourd''huy, pour finir,
dans le comite de Tadmiraute, cette fascheuse affaire du trans-
port en France, des leuees qui ont este faictes en Irlande,
in'empeschent de uous importuner d''une longue lettre a peine se
rencontrera[-t-]il icy une affaire plus difficile, quoyque tres rai-
sonnable. J'espere qu''il sera ce soir resolu d'enuoyer un ordre aux
vaisseaux qui sont aux costes d'lrlande, pour le seruice du
parlement, de laisser passer et repasser les vaisseaux qui y sont
enuoyez de France pour transporter des gens de guerre qui est
en effect un passeport mais qui ne sera poinct entre nos mains.
Cependant comme ce n'est pas encore une chose faicte et que
ie n'en ay autre asseurance que la parolle des principaux du
parlement et de ce Comite, je remets a la premiere occasion de
vous en rendre compte.
Les affer^ [affaires] du roy d*"® [d''Angleterre] sont icy en bien
mauuais estat, quoy que Ton ait pu faire. La ville de Londres
prepare une petition pour faire que ledict roy soit presse
^ See note, vol. ii. p. 13.
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 43
d^accorder toutes les propositions et d'aucthoriser le conuenant,
et qu'il soit arreste que jusques a ce que cela soit, il n^ap-
prochera pas de Londres plus qu'il est. II a este aussy ces
jours passez parle du roy d''Ang" dans le parlement en termes
fort fascheux, et Ton y a propose de changer les commissaires qui
sont aupres de luy comme le traictant trop respectueusement
et ainsy ne le gardant pas assez bien. L''on propose d''en
enuoyer de plus seueres, qui pourroient bien auoir Tordre de le
presser de signer les propositions ausquelles beaucoup parlent
d''adiouster, Le Parlement enuoya hier demander icy aux com-
missaires d'Escosse s'ilz ont pouuoir de se joindre a eux pour
presser le roy d''Angleterre de signer les propositions. Ilz
respondirent qu'ilz auroient ce pouuoir dans huict jours. II y a
apparence que jusques a ce que les propositions soient enuoyees
au d. Roy, ceux qui ont offert cy deuant de le seruir le pour-
ront faire, sil enuoye icy le message en la fa^on quMlz Tout
desire, que s'il Tenuoye auec les conditions que ses ministres en
France y ont apposees, je voy que personne icy ne pretend
estre engage de le seruir, estimant ny pouuoir reussir et que
quiconque se declarera se perdra sans luy estre utille. Les
correspondants des ministres de la reyne d''Angleterre leur
escriuent si amplement par cet ordinaire et les pressent si fort
de faire accorder promptement ce qui pent satisffaire icy que ie
n'ay rien a y adiouster. — Je suis, Monsieur, Vostre tres humble
et tres obeissant seruiteur, Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure du 14 mars 1647, re9eu le 21.
[Beluevbe to Brienne. London, 14th March 1647.
The business that I have to finish to-day in the Committee of the
Admiralty^ — that troublesome affair of conveying to France the levies
that have been made in Ireland, — prevents me from troubling you with
a long letter ; a more difficult affair is rarely met with, although very
just. I hope it will be decided this evening to send an order to the ships
in the service of Parliament on the coast of Ireland to allow the ships
sent there from France to convey the soldiers to pass and repass, which
is in fact a passport, but which will not be placed in our hands. However,
as it is not a settled matter, and I have but the verbal assurance of the
leaders of Parliament and of this Committee, I shall delay giving you an
account of it until the first opportunity.
The affairs of the King of England are in a very bad state, notwith-
44. MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
standing all that could be done. The city of London is preparing a peti-
tion, in order that the king be urged to grant all the proposals and to
sanction the Covenant and that it be decided not to allow him to
approach any nearer to London than he is at present until he has done
so. The king has also been spoken of, within the last few days, in
Parliament, in very regrettable terms, and it has been proposed to change
the Commissioners who are with him on account of their treating him
too respectfully, and thus not keeping him strictly enough. It is pro-
posed to send others more severe who would very likely have the order
to press him to sign the proposals to which many speak of adding some-
thing. The Parliament sent yesterday to ask the Scottish Commissioners
here if they had power to join with them in order to press the King of
England to sign the proposals. They replied that they would have that
power in eight days. There is some likelihood that until the proposals
are sent to the king, those who offered previously to serve him will be
able to do so, if he send here the message in the manner they wished,
but that if he send it with the conditions that his ministers in France have
put into it I perceive that no one here will pretend to be engaged to serve
him, considering it to be impossible to succeed, and that whoever would
so declare himself would be ruined without being of any use to him. ITie
correspondents of the ministers of the Queen of England write to them
so fully by this mail, and urge them so strongly to grant promptly what
wiU give satisfaction here, that I have nothing to add to it]
CXXII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^ Mars l647.
Je croy que ce m"'est assez de donner avis a V. Em''® de la
reception de celle qu'elle ra'a fait Fhonneur de m'ecrire du 1®
de ce mois, pour Tasseurer que je n'oublieray rien de toutes les
choses que je croiray pouvoir contribuer, non seulement a
faciliter mais encore a hater les levees qu'^elle m''a ordonne de
faire, puisqu'elles sont si utiles au service de sa Maj*® et desirees
avec tant de passion par V. Em*^®. Le vaisseau qui devoit
partir Vendredi dernier de ce port, doit en sortir aujourd'huy,
si le vent le lui permet. Tl porte trois cents cinquante hommes,
et il sera bientost suivi d'un autre qui en portera au moins
autant.
Je demeure toujours dans la pensee que j'ai eu auparavant
que le plus prompt moyen que nous avons pour avoir des gens
est de remettre le regiment du Chev*" Moray au nombre
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 45
d'hommes portes par sa capitulation, et celuy du Comte
d'Angus de la meme sorte si on en a besoin de davantage. Je
ne laisse pas pour cela de continuer a voir si je puis engager le
Due de Hamilton et le Marquis d'Argyle a envoyer chacun
douze ou quinze cents hommes en France. Le Lieut.-General
David Leslay ra'a aussy promis qu'il feroit passer du nord
d''Ecosse en France mille hommes pour son frere, sans avoir
besoin pour cela d"'aucune permission. Je n"'ay pas encore sceu
du Chev' Moray la resolution du Comte de Calendar, mais il
m'a dit qu'il croyoit qu''il seroit aise de Fengager au service de
sa Maj"* ; mais quand tout cela pourroit reussir ce ne pourroit
estre que pour la fin de Juin ou le commencement du Juillet.
Le Due de Hamilton ne m'a pas conseille de demander une
permission publique, outre celle que nous avons pour les
recriies, de peur que cela ne servit pour avertir ce Parlement
qui les soufFre, de les empescher, — a quoy les porteroit aisement
le peu d'hommes que Montrose et la peste ont laisse dans le
pays, et le grand besoin que les Ecossois croyent toujours en
devoir avoir, en quelque bon etat quMls pensent avoir mis leurs
affaires. Au reste, Mgr., quoique j'evite autant que je puis de
leur faire connaitre qu''on ait si grand besoin de leurs hommes,
je n"'ay pas juge toutefois devoir faire entendre au Chev' Moray
et au Comte d^ Angus qu^on se pourroit porter a reformer leur
regiments, s'ils n'y envoyent des recriies, tant parce qu'en effet
ils travaillent autant qu'ils peuvent a les faire, que pour ce que
cela pourroit encore estre dangereux et ruiner plustost que
contribuer aux intentions de V. Em'=^.
Ce Parlement a employe toute la semaine passee a dresser
les instructions qui ont ete donnees aux officiers generaux de
leur nouvelle armee auxquels ils ont refuse le pouvoir qu'ils
demandoient de traiter d'accommodement avec le Marquis de
Huntlev, son fils aine, et Alex"^ Macdonald, qu'ils ont exemptes
de pardon (ce sont leurs termes) mais ils leur ont promis de
recevoir a quartier tous les autres, entre lesquels ils ont com-
pris le second fils du Marquis de Huntley qu'on dit qui s'est
separe des interets de son pere. II se dit aussi qu''on lui a
predit qu'il seroit Marquis de Huntley et qu'il a ete tout pret
ces jours passes de tuer son frere aine pour contribuer de sa
part, autant quil lui est possible, a Taccomplissement d'une
46 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
prophetie qui lui est avantageuse. Mais je n^'ay peu trouver
que toutes ces choses fussent bien asseurees, et j'ay sujet de
croire qu''elles se publient icy plustost parce qu"'on les desire
que pour ce qu''elles soient veritables.
Cependant quelque chose que puisse faire le second fils du
Marquis de Huntley pour gaigner les bonnes graces de ce
Parlement, je m'imagine que ceux qui ont icy plus d'autorite
ont deja fait partage des terres du dit Marquis de Huntley, et
qu''encore que les hommes y soient heureux autant qu"'ils se
trouvent estre perfides, il n^y a point de crime qui puisse pour
luy estre le prix des bien de son pere. Cependant, encore que
ce Parlement ait declare qu"'on ne donnera point de quartier a
ces trois ; ceux qui regardent les choses plus particulierement
disent que Tordre du Parlement porte seulement que les
officiers generaux de leur armee ne pourront les recevoir a com-
position, ce qui n"'empesche pas que le Parlement, ou le comite
qui sera etably en Tabsence de ce Parlement, ne le puissent
faire ; mais le dit Marquis ne se doit pas fier a cela, et sur cette
esperance se mettre entre les mains de ses ennemis qui luy
donneront peut-estre cette petite esperance pour Favoir entre
leurs mains et le perdre plus absolument. Pour Alex"" Mac-
donald on dit qu"'il a ecrit a quelques personnes du Pari* qu'il
est pret de sortir d'Ecosse pourvu que Ton luy permettre de
conduire les gens qu'il a en Espagne. J'ay pense s'il etoit
apropos de demander qu'on ne le luy permet pas, mais j'ay juge
plus apropos de n''en point faire de bruit, tant pour ce que
s'en dit peut n'estre pas veritable, — comme en eff'et je ne croy
pas qu'il le soit, — comme parce que les Ecossois ne luy permet-
tront point et parce qu'ils ne voudront rien faire qui soit a son
avantage et pour ce qu'ils croyent qu'il leur est utile de con-
server le plus quMls peuvent d'hommes en leur pays ; de sorte
que ce qu'ils ne feront pas par les motifs de la haine qu'ils
portent a leurs ennemis et du bien qu''ils se veulent a eux-
memes, ils ne le feront pas asseurement par la consideration
qu''ils doivent a la France a laquelle ils ne peuvent desirer de
bien tant qu''elle sera command ee par un Monarque, et qu'il y
aura un Catholique. Pour ce qui est des mil hommes que le
Marquis d"* An trim devoit conduire en Espagne j'ay veu lettres
par lesquelles on ecrit qu'un vaisseau d'Espagne etoit arrive
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 47
pour en prendre une partie, et qn'il s"'etoit retoume sans en
avoir emporte un seul.
On n''a point encore resolu en ce Pari* si la nouvelle addition
qui a ete faite au conseil des finances auroit son effet, ou ne
Tauroit pas, mais le Tresorier pretend toujours s**)^ opposer,
comme ceux qui ont ete nommes par le roy de la G' B' s\
maintenir, ainsy que Ton croit qu''ils feront, les plus grands
de ce royaume et les Hamiltons memes, ayant interet qu'on
approuve les choses qui ont ete faites par leur roy, avant quMl
soit parti de Newcastle. Cependant on remarque que plus les
affaires du roy sont abbatues et plus la division qu'on croyoit
plustost feinte que veritable entre le Due de Hamilton et le
Marquis d"'Argyle s''augmente, de sorte qu''ils se trouvent dans
le Pari* de contraire avis en toutes les choses qui ne regardent
point la mine de leur roy, et qu'encore qu'ils se parlent et
quMls mangent fort souvent ensemble, on voit qu''ils se regar-
dent comme ceux qui peuvent seuls s"'entre detruire, et que le
Marquis ni veut pas de maistre ni le Due de compagnon ;
ainsy se dit il publiquement que le Due aspire a la monarchie,
jusques la qu'un galant homme dit il y a quelque temps en
fort bonne compagnie, que le roy de la Gr. Br. se pouvoit
asseurer du dit Due, et qu'il ne souffriroit jamais que TEcosse
demeurast sans roy, quand il le devroit estre luy-mesme. Et
une personne de condition me dit il y a deux jours, avec une
liberte qui me surprit, que la France etoit obligee autrefois de
porter les interets de la maison d''Hamilton a la couronne
d"'Ecosse, apres que ceux qui sont devant luy en seroient eclus,
a quoy je ne repondis rien de peur de me meprendre.
Le Comte de Traquair me dit encore que si le roy accorde le
Covenant et le presbyteriat avant que les propositions soient
envoyees, les Ecossois feront que le Pari* d^Angleterre se con-
tentera pour tout le reste de ce qu^il avoit offert par Will.
Moray; mais il n''y a pas d'apparence que les Ecossois qui,
lorsqu"'ils ont eu de si bonnes places en Angleterre et leur roy
entre leurs mains, qui leiu* devoit estre encore une plus grande
force que toutes leurs places, se sont soumis bassement a toutes
les choses que les Anglois ont voulu d'eux, osent aujourd'huy
entreprendre de les faire contenter de ce qu'ils n'auront pas
agreable; outre que Ton doit prendre garde que les Presby-
48 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
teriens Anglois ayant desire le retablissement du dit roy,
seulement pour abattre le parti des Independants, n'en ont
plus que faire aujourd'huy que le dits Independants sont
entierement ruines, ainsy qu"'on me Tasseure ; de sorte que
retablissement du Presbyteriat et Tapprobation du covenant
que eussent peu servir autrefois pour porter les Presbyteriens a
demander le retablissement de leur roy, seroit pent estre inutile
aupres d'eux maintenant qu'ils se croyent asseures sans cela de
leurs fortunes.
Je suis oblige, Mong', de vous faire s9avoir que Will. Moray
fait dessein d''aller en Hollande, comme pour passer de la plus
commodement en France. II se pent faire quMl soit oblige de
faire ce voyage pour les interets de sa maison, parce qu'on me
dit qu il y a fait de grandes remises, mais ce que j'ay entendu
de differents endroits de son voyage, — lequel il a essaye de me
cacher, — me donne sujet de croire que les Ecossois Vy envoient
pour decouvrir, si maintenant que la paix y est arretee avec
TEspagne, il ne se fait point quelque armement contre ce pays,
croyant qu'y envoy ant une personne qu'on pense estre dans les
interets du roy de la Gr. Br., qui a beaucoup d'habitudes en ce
pays, il apprendra le fonds des desseins que Ton y peut faire.
V. Em''® jugera, sMl luy plait, auec son extreme prudence, s'il
est apropos de donner part a la reine de la G"^ B"^ de ce soup^on
que j'ay eu, afin d'en donner avis aux ministres qu'elle a en
Hollande, mais il y a deux choses qui me confirment princi-
palement en cette pensee, outre ce qu'on m'en a dit ; Tune
qu'un nomme Person qui M' Asburnham a envoye de Hol-
lande a Newcastle, et qui a eu de tres grandes communications
avec le dit Will. Moray, peut luy avoir donne apprehension
des secours qui pouvoient venir de Hollande, puisque ce mesme
homme m'a dit que la paix se faisoit en Hollande principale-
ment a dessein de secourir promptement le dit roy ; et Tautre
qu'entre tous les artifices dont usent les Ecossois, ils n'ont
point de plus ordinaires ny dont ils aient tire plus d'avantages
que d'avoir des gens qui par la profession qu'ils font d'estre
attaches aux interets de leur roy les avertissent de tous ses
desseins, de quoy j'ose dire que le dit roy a re^u plus de pre-
judice que de toute autre chose.
My Lord Dunfermline n'a pas eu encore permission d'aller
I
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 49
trouver le dit roy, de qui il m^asseure qu'll n'a eu aucune nou-
velle, non plus que les sieurs Moray, depuis qu'ils sont partis
de Newcastle.
On se hate de dresser les instructions que ce Pari* doit
donner a ceux qui seront deputes vers le roy de la G*" B"^ pour
luy presenter les propositions ; ils n''ont pas encore ete nommes,
mais ils le seront au premier jour. Le vaisseau qui devoit
partir aujourd'huy de ce port est en rade, et a deja une bonne
partie des hommes qu'il doit passer en France : ce sont tous
grands hommes et fort bien faits.
[MoxTERELL to ]Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ March 1647
I BELIEVE it to be sufficient for me to notify to you the reception of
your letter of the 1st inst. in order to assure you that I shall omit
nothing that I think likely not only to facilitate but also to hasten the
levies you have ordered me to make^ since they are so useful to the
service of his Majesty and so eagerly wished for by your Eminence. The
ship that was to leave on Friday last from this harbour is to leave to-day,
if the wind be favourable. It carries three hundred and fifty men and
it will soon be followed by another that will take at least as many.
I am always under the same impression as formerly, that the readiest
means we have for procuring soldiers is to fill up the regiment of Sir
Robert Moray to the full number of men stated in his letters of agreement
and that of the Earl of Angus in like manner, if more be required. And
for that purpose I still continue to see if I cannot engage the Duke of
Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle to send each twelve or fifteen
hundred men to France. Lieut. -General David Leslie has also promised
me that he would send over to France, from the north of Scotland, a
thousand men, for his brother, without requiring any permission for it.
I have not yet learned from Sir Robert Moray the decision of the Earl of
Callander, but he told me he thought it would be easy to engage him in
the service of his Majesty, yet although all these plans were to succeed
they could only be accomplished towards the end of June or the begin-
ning of July. The Duke of Hamilton has advised me not to ask for a
public permission for recruiting, in addition to what we have, for fear
that by doing so we would bring the matter too formally before Parlia-
ment, that tolerates it at present, but which miglit easily be led to put
a stop to it, because of the few men that Montrose and the plague have
left in the country and the great need the Scots always imagine they
have of men, in whatever good state they may have put their affairs.
Although also I avoid as much as possible to let them know that their
men are so much wanted, I have, however, not found it necessary to
make Sir Robert Moray and the Earl of Angus understand that if they
did not provide recruits it might be decided to disband their regiments,
not only because in fact they do all they can to provide them, but also
VOL. II. D
50 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
because it might be dangerous to tell them so, and might more likely
ruin your intention than contribute to it.
This Parliament was engaged during all the last week in drawing up
the instructions to be given to the general officers of their new army, to
whom they have refused the power they asked to treat with the Marquis
of Huntly, his eldest son and Alexander Macdonald, who are considered
to be what is termed here, exempted from pardon, but they have been
permitted to give quarter to all others, among whom they have included
the second son of the Marquis of Huntly, who is said to be separated
from the interests of his father. It is also said to have been predicted to
him that he would be Marquis of Huntly, and that a few days ago he
was about to kill his elder brother, to contribute his part, as far as
possible for him, towards the fulfilment of a prophecy in his favour.
But I have not been able to discover if these things are quite authentic ;
I have reason to believe they are related here more because people wish
them to be true than that they really are so. Yet whatever means the
second son of the Marquis of Huntly may adopt in order to gain the
good graces of this Parliament, I fancy those who have most authority
here have already made a division of the lands of the Marquis of Huntly,
and that although men are only happy here in so far as they happen to
be treacherous, there is no crime he could commit that would be con-
sidered as an equivalent for his father's property. And yet although
Parliament has decided that no terms can be made with the three persons
mentioned, those who look more closely into these matters say, the order
of Parliament is only as relates to the general officers of their army, who
ought not to make terms with them, which does not prevent Parliament
or the Committee of Estates, which will be established in the absence of
Parliament from doing so ; but the Marquis ought not to trust to that
and hoping on it place himself in the hands of his enemies, who will
perhaps hold out to him this small hope in order to get him into their
power and ruin him more absolutely. As for Alexander Macdonald he is
said to have written to some members of Parliament to say that he is
ready to leave Scotland, provided he be allowed to go to Spain and to
take his people with him. I asked myself if I ought to make the request
that he be not allowed to do so, but I thought it better not to make
any outcry, in as much as what is said may not be true, as in fact I
scarcely think it is, as because the Scots will not permit him to do so,
since they would not do anjrthing for his advantage, and on account of
their belief that it is useful for them to preserve as many men as they
can in their country, so that what they will not do by reason of the
hatred they bear their enemies or from the benefits they desire for them-
selves, they will assuredly not do in consideration of what they owe to
France, to which they cannot wish any good so long as she is governed by
a monarch and he a Catholic. As regards the thousand men the Marquis
of Antrim was to send to Spain, I have seen letters in which it is stated
that a ship from Spain had arrived in order to take a part of them, but
that it had returned without having a single man.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 51
Parliament has not yet decided whether or not the new addition that
was made to the Council of Finance would take effect, but the Treasurer
always pretends to oppose it and those who were named by the King of
Great Britain to maintain their appointment ; it is thought that the
leading men, the Hamiltons even, will agree to it, as they have an
interest in approving of what was done by their king before leaving
Newcastle, yet it is remarked that the more the king's affairs are
depressed, the more the division, which was thought to be more pretended
than real, between the Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle
increases, so that they are of opposite opinions in every thing but what
concerns the ruin of their king ; and that although they speak to each
other and dine very often together, it is seen they look npon themselves
as the only persons who can mutually destroy each other, and that while
the marquis will not brook having a master, the duke does not want a
companion, thus it is publicly said the duke aspires to the throne, in so
far that an honest man said lately in very good society, that the King of
Great Britain could count upon the duke who would never allow Scotland
to remain without a king even were he to be it himself. And a person
of rank told me two days ago, with a liberty that surprised me, that
France was under an obligation to support the claims of the house of
Hamilton to the throne of Scotland after those who had a prior right had
been excluded, to which I answered nothing, being afraid of making a
mistake.
The Earl of Traquair tells me again, that if the king were to grant the
Covenant and Presbyterianism before the proposals were sent, the Scots
would make the English Parliament accept all other matters in the
manner proposed by Will. Moray ; but there is little likelihood that the
Scots, who, when they had so many good fortresses in England, and their
king in their hands, that ought to have been more for them than all their
fortresses, submitted basely^ to everything the English wished of them,
will now venture to make the English remain satisfied with what will not
be agreeable to them. Besides, one ought now to take care that the
English Presbyterians, having desired the re-establishment of the king,
only in order to overcome the party of the Independents, have now no
longer need of it for that purpose, seeing the Independents, as I am
assured, are entirely ruined ; so that the establishment of Presbyterianism
and the sanction of the Covenant, that might have formerly served in
order to induce the Presbyterians to demand the establishment of their
king, would perhaps be of no avail with them now, that they believe they
have secured their fortunes without it.
I am obliged to inform you that Will. Moray has the intention of going
to Holland as if to pass from there more conveniently into France. It
may be that he is obliged to make this journey on account of matters
connected with his house ; I learn he is having large stables built, but
from what I have heard from different quarters about his journey, which
he has tried to hide from me, I have reason to believe the Scots are
sending him to discover, if, now that peace is settled with Spain, there
52 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
may not be some warlike preparation going on, directed against this
country, believing that in sending there a person in the interests of the
King of Great Britain, who is much accustomed to that country they
will learn fully the intentions that may be had there. You will judge
with your extreme prudence how far it may be necessary to inform the
Queen of Great Britain of this suspicion that I have had, in order to give
notice of it to the ministers she has in Holland ; but there are two things
that principally confirm me in this thought, besides what I have been
told about it. One, that a certain person whom Mr. Ashburham sent
from Holland to Newcastle, and who had much intercourse with Will.
Moray, may have given him some apprehension of the assistance that
might come from Holland, because this same person told me that peace
was declared in Holland principally with the intention of assisting the
king promptly ; and the other, which is one of the commonest devices
the Scots employ and from which they have derived the greatest advan-
tages, viz., to have people that, by the profession they make of being
attached to the king's interests, inform them of all his plans, from which
I venture to say the king has received more harm than from any other
thing.
Lord Dunfermline has not yet received permission to go to the king,
from whom he assures me he has had no intelligence, neither have the
Morays, since they left Newcastle. The instructions this Parliament is
to give to those who will be deputed to the king in order to present to
him the proposals are being drawn up in haste, the persons have not yet
been appointed, but they will be so on an early day. The ship that was
to leave this harbour to-day is in the roadstead and part of the men are
already on board ; they are all tall, very well-made men,]
CXXIII
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le 21 Mars l647.
Monsieur, — Les affaires du roy d'Ang'® sont en plus mauuais
[estat] qu'elles n'ont este. II est prisonnier dans Humby il n'en
sort plus, et personne ne sort de chez luy sans un billet des
commissaires qui font faire une garde fort exacte aux enuirons
de la dicte maison. Outre les aduis que Ton en a icy je le scay
par le retour de deux personnes que j'y auois enuoye pour
essayer de faire rendre audit Roy des Lettres de la reyne
d'Angleterre ce qu'ilz n'ont pu faire, J'en ai encore une dont
je commence a estre . . . Ce traitement que recoit ce dit roy,
quoy que tres rudde, ne nous est pas impreueu ; nous auons
tousiours juge qu'il le receuroit tel et pire, s'il n'enuoyoit icy
1 647] BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE 53
quelque chose qui peut engager un des partis a parler pour luy,
II ne Ta pas voulu faire, au moins ceux en qui il se fie, luy ont
desconseille. Ilz I'abandonnent et sont resoluz de le voir souffrir ;
cella est aise a juger par leur conduitte et par les lettres que je
re^ois de M. Germain. II trouuera bon que ie ne le croye pas,
quant il mande que le roy d'*Ang''® ne peut estre porte a donner
la response qui estoit desiree de luy. Je suis certain que si
pendant que j'estois pres dudit roy a Neucastel je luy eusse
conseille, je Taurois obtenu. Je ne le deuois pas faire lors, les
affaires n'estoient pas en estat qu'il put proffiter d''un tel message,
non plus qu'il fera cy-apres, s'il attend a Tenuoyer jusques a ce
que les presbiteriens ayent restabli leur pouuoir en sorte qu^ilz
ne croyent plus auoir besoing du nom dudit Roy pour se main-
tenir, au lieu que s''il fust venu maintenant a Londres par le
moyen des Presbiteriens, pendant que les Independans ont
encore du credit, il y a grande apparence de croire que Ton luy
eut veu promptement reprendre son aucthorite, ce qu''il n"'y a
pas lieu d'esperer si les Independans sont destruicts, et si la
prison, le mespris et tous les artifices de ses ennemis luy font
perdre Taffection des peuples. Ne faisant rien il hazarde tout.
S'il eust faict le peu que nous desirons de luy il se restabliroit ;
les affaires se brouilloient icy en sorte que les siennes se faisoient,
et que les nostres n''en eussent pas este plus mal, non seulement
s'il ne s''aide, mais centre sa volonte il est dificile de le sauuer.
Quand je suis parti de France quoy que ie ne jugeasse pas de la
fin de cette affaire autrement que ie faicts auiourd'huy, je ne
m'imaginois pas que les difficultez qui si rencontrent deussent
proceder de la part du roy d'Angleterre. Je Tay neantmoins
ainsy esprouue a Neucastel, et toutesfois depuis que ie suis a
Londres, il faut que j'aduoue que sur les raisons que ie me suis
donne Thonneur de vous escrire cy deuant, je me suis flatte de
Fesperance de faire venir le roy d''Ang''® de le restablir en quel-
que dignite, et d''auoir en suitte la permission de me retirer
d''icy. J''ay encore le deplaisir de voir ces succez trauersez par
le conseil de ceux qui par raison deuoient les luy [sic] deuoient
contribuer a faire reussir les choses que je proposois, apres quoy
j''estime que vous jugerez a propos de me faire auoir au premier
jour, la permission de me retirer d'icy, dont je n'useray que
lorsque j^auray perdu le peu d'esperance qui me reste d'en
64 BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE [march
pouuoir sortir auec quelque satisfaction, telle neantmoins que
Ton se peut promettre d'une affaire de la qualite de celle-cy et
des personnes qui la conduisent qui certainement ne veullent
rien par la voye de la negotiation ni qui paroisse [sic] ny qui
paroisse estre par Tentremise de la France laquelle en toute
maniere ilz veullent brouiller auec le parlement d'Angleterre.
Cest une verite que je vois si constante quand ilz'ne me Tauroient
pas descouuert, et que ie ne Taurois pas leu dans leur lettres
au roy d'Angleterre, une infinite de choses et de circonstances
que j'ay veu, despuis que je suis en ce royaume, m'empesclieroient
asses d'en doutter. Le Courier me presse il faut finir. Je suis,
Monsieur, vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur.
Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 21 Mars 1647, receu le 28.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, 21st March 1647.
The affairs of the King of England are in the worst state they have yet
been. He is a prisoner at Holmby, he no longer goes out, nor does any
one leave the place without a ticket from the Commissioners who are
going to keep a very strict guard in the neighbourhood of the house. In
addition to the information one has here, I knew it from two persons I
had sent there in order to try and deliver to the king the letters from
the queen, but they had to return without being able to do it ; I still
have one of them with which I begin to be . . . The treatment that
the king receives, however hard it may seem, was not unforeseen by us ;
we have always considered he would receive such and worse, if he do not
send something here that can engage one of the parties to speak for him.
He has not wished to do so, at least those in whom he trusts have
dissuaded him from it. They abandon him, and have resolved to see him
suffer ; it is easy to determine this by their conduct and from the letters
I receive from M. Jermyn. He will not take it amiss that I do not
believe him when he states that the King of England cannot be induced
to give the reply that was wanted from him. I am certain that if, while
I was with the king at Newcastle, I had advised him to do so, I would
have obtained it. It was not necessary for me to do so then, affairs
were not in such a state that he could derive any profit from such a
message ; nor will he receive any benefit from it in future, if he delay
sending it until the Presbyterians may have established their authority
so that they may believe they can dispense with the name of king, in
order to maintain themselves ; instead of which if he had now come to
London by means of the Presbyterians, while the Independents have still
some influence, it may very readily be believed that he would promptly
have resumed his authority, which there is no reason to hope for if the
1647] BELLIlfeVRE TO BRIENNE 55
Independents are entirely defeated, and if the prison, the disdain and all
the devices of his enemies make him lose the affection of his people. In
doing nothing he risks everything. If he had done the little we wished
of him, he would have re-established himself : matters were getting into
disorder here and his affairs were profiting thereby, and ours would not
have been worse if only he would help himself; it is very difficult to save
him against his will. ^Vhen I left France, although I did not judge of the
end of this matter differently from what I do now, I did not suppose that
the difficulties to be met with would be caused on the part of the King
of England, I nevertheless felt it to be so at Newcastle ; notwithstanding
since my return to London, I must confess that on the grounds I formerly
specified to you I flattered myself with the hope of bringing here the
King of England and of re-establishing him with some dignity and of
being able to obtain thereafter the permission to withdraw. I have again
the dissatisfaction of seeing this success thwarted by the advice of those
who ought in reason to have helped towards the success of what I pro-
posed. After this I judge you will think proper to send me, on an early
day, permission to retire from here, of which I shall not take advantage,
until I shall have lost the little hope that I still have of being able to get
out of the matter with some satisfaction, such however as one may expect
from an affair of this nature and from the persons who conduct it, who
certainly do not want anything by means of negotiation, nor what may
appear to be obtained by the intervention of France, which they seek in
every way to embroil with the English Parliament. This is a truth that
I see so constantly, that even had they not disclosed it to me and had
I not read it in their letters to the King of England, a multitude of things
and circumstances that I have seen, since I have been in this country
would not allow me to doubt of it. The courier is leaving, I must finish.]
CXXIV
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, fe ^ Mars ^.
'is 6
Monsieur, — Je fus tellement presse au dernier iour par
rheure du despart de Tordin''® [ordinaire] que ie ne pus vous
escrire aincy que ie fits a S. E. que le Comite de TAdmiraute
enuoyoit un ordre aux vaisseaux du Parlement qui sont a la
coste dTrlande de laisser passer et repasser librem* [librement]
les nostres qui'y doiuent aller querir les trouppes que nous y
leuons. Le comte de Warwick qui preside a ce Comite m^en
auoit asseure, ainsy que beaucoup d'autres de ceux qui le com-
posent, faisant des excuses de ce qu'ilz ne pouuoient rien donner
56 BELLl£VllE TO BRIENNE [march
par escrit en cette occasion, pour ne pas ofFencer les Espagnolz,
ausquelz depuis trois mois ils auroient reffuse de semblables
permissions la chose estoit resolue dans le comite, le S' M"" vaine
cy deuant secretaire d"'estat auoit insiste sur les difficultez qui y
auoient este faictes, il s'est ensuitte opiniastre tellement contre
cette affaire qu'apres en auoir faict dabord surceoir Texpedition,
les aduis qu'il a diet auoir des desseings de la France contre
cet estat, ausquel ceste affaire contribuoit beaucoup ; les lettres
qu'il a monstre et les menaces qu'il a faict [sic^ enfin faict resondre
quelle seroit communiquee aux deux maisons du Parlement qui
est ce que j''auois essaye d''euiter, non seulement a cause de la
longueur qui s''y rencontre en touttes les choses qui passent par
la Chambre basse, mais aussy de crainte que cette affaire ni fust
ruinee par la haine qu'ilz portent a la France beaucoup de ceux
qui y ont du pouuoir, par la jalousie qu'ilz en ont tons par le
credit que Targent des Espagnolz leur acquiert, par la con-
noissance que j'ay que ceux qui auroient de Tinclination pour
nous qui n''en ont point pour nos ennemis estiment que la
politique les obligent a souhaitter des forces aux Espagnolz
pour arrester le cours des progres de la France. L''affaire est
done maintenant dans le Parlem* et Samedy il en fut parle en
la Chambre des Seigneurs qui ne resolurent rien, mais enuoyerent
me dire que Taffaire ne se pouuoit terminer a ma satisfaction
si ie ne les asseurois que nos vaisseaux ne porteroient point de
Marchandises de Contrebande, qu'ils ne receuroient autres
personnes que des naturels Irlandois me faisant entendre qu'ils
apposoient cet article pour empescher que Milord d"'Igby
ne se seruit de cette occasion pour sortir d'lrlande, et
que ces Irlandois ne seroient renuoyez en corps en ces trois
Royaumes pour estre employez contre le Parlement, et me
manderent encore qu'il faloit que nos nauires allants et venants
fussent visittez par ceux qui commandent les leur. Je leur fis
scauoir que dans Tincertitude ou ie suis si pour le transport de
ces Irlandois nous nous seruons de nauires marchantz ou de vais-
seaux de guerre je ne pouuois consentir a la visite, que j'estois
certain qu'ils n'^auoient autre ordre que d'aller querir les leuees
que nous faisons d'lrlandois naturels et qu"'ils ne seroient chargez
d'aucune marchandise de contre bande. Quand a Tasseurance
quails demandent que ces trouppes ne reuiendront pas contre ces
1647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 57
Royaumes que ie croyois y auoir pleinement satisfaict parce que
ie leur ay respondu cy deuant. II east este fort important que
j"'eusse sceu si en effect il se faict un armement a S* Malo, tel
que Ton publie icy, ou seulement si on y prepare des vaisseaux
marchans pour transporter en France les leuees que Ton y faict.
Les aduis des Marchans de cette ville portent que non seulement
on y assemble des vaisseaux de guerre que Ton y faict venir de
Dunkerque et des riuieres de Bretagne, mais aussy que Ton y
frette tous les vaisseaux que Ton y pent auoir, mesme que Ton
y a retenu par force deux hambourguois pour joindre a cette
flotte. Ces aduis fortiffient les bruits qui sont icy que la France
s''est engagee despuis peu a restablir Ie Roy de la G. B. et s"'il
est besoing se declarer pour luy. Le S"" Ogier et tous les autres
qui ont correspondance auec le Parlem* Tescriuent affirmativem*.
Tous les Anglois qui viennent de France, tant pour les recreiies
que soubz d'autres pretextes, affectent de le publier, ceux qui
restent icy du party du Roy de la G. B. et Ton dit encore plus
particulierement les Emissaires de Monsieur le Comte d'Emtrans
Ie debitent comme chose constante, en sorte qu'il n^est pas aise
de persuader le contraire. L''on dit qu"'un Winter Grand va
en Irlande de la part de la Reyne de la G. B. et du Prince de
Galles, que le comte de Craffort y va aussy et de la en Escosse
le tout pour empescher la paix de ces Royaumes et pour nourir
•d^esperances le Roy de la G. B. de creinte qu'il ne se porte a
contenter le Parlement. Quelques uns disent que M"" de Montreul
a faict passer en France des vaisseaux chargez d'officiers du Roy
d'Ang""^ qui vont pour s"'enrolIer en France lesquelz doiuent cet
este faire icy une descente. Quand ce qui en est vray sera publie
je n'auray pas peu d'affaire a le deffendre. Les ennemis de la
France et de TAngleterre se seruent de tant d'artifices pour
donner de telles impressions que Ton ne doit pas trouuer
estrange, si quelques uns de ceux qui n'ont pas une parfaitte
connoissance des affaires se laissent porter a le croire par ce
concours d'auis conformes, et de circonstances si pleines d'ap-
parence. La chamber haulte a resolu ce matin d'enuoyer ordre
de laisser passer pendant trois mois les trouppes qui auront este
leueez en Irlande a la charge que les vaisseaux qui les doiuent
porter souffriront la visite allants et reuenants, Cet ordre tel
quMl est demeurera sans effect, iusques a ce qu'il ayt este con-
58 BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE [march
firme par la chambre des Communes, et bien qu'il y ayt este
porte ce matin auec toute la recommendation que les Seigneurs
pouuoient faire pour en aduancer la deliberation il n'en a point
este parle et Ton est presentem* leue, de sorte que i'ay creu qu'il
estoit important de vous despescher ce courier de crainte que
sur ce que i'ay mande la sepmaine passee a S. E. Ton ne fit
partir ces vaisseaux destinez pour le transport de ces gens de
guerre, entre lesquels, s'il se trouuoit des vaisseaux du Roy, ce
qui s'est faict en la chambre haute, qui est le plus que Ton
puisse attendre, les soubmettant a la visite, il se passeroit peut
estre des choses qui pourroient brouiller la France auec TAngle-
terre, Les nouuelles de France, qui doiuent venir demain,
pourront encore trauerser cette deliberation, comme celles de
Tautre sepmaine ont elude TefFect de ce qui auoit este arreste
en TAdmiraute, en sorte que Ton ne peut prendre ses mesures
sur ce qui s'est dit de cette affaire iusques a ce que la Chambre
basse ayt pris sa resolution. Je suis. Monsieur, vostre tres
humble et tres obeissant seruiteur. Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 25 Mars 1647, receu le 29 dud. mois.
[Bellievbe to Brienne. London, 2| March 1647.
I WAS so pressed for time the other day on the leaving of the mail, that
I could not write to you as I did to his Eminence, that the Com-
mittee of the Admiralty was to send an order to the ships of Parlia-
ment that are on the coast of Ireland, to allow our ships to pass and
repass freely, in order to transport the troops we are raising there. The
Earl of Warwick,^ who presides over this committee, had assured me of
this, as many of the other members had done, offering excuses because
they were unable to give anything in writing on this occasion, in order
not to offend the Spaniards, to whom similar permissions had been refused
by decision of the Committee within the past three months ; Sir Henry
Vane, former Secretary of State, having insisted on the objections that
had been made against it, thereafter set himself so stubbornly to oppose
the matter, that having in the first instance deferred the settlement
of it, on account of the information he said he had of the intentions of
France, in which this matter had a large part, after the letters he showed
and the threats he made, it was at length decided that the matter be sub-
mitted to both Houses of Parliament, which is what I had endeavoured to
^ Brother to Lord Holland, Admiral of the Parliamentary fleet. One of
Cromwell's lords, whose grandson, Mr. Rich, married Frances Cromwell, the
Protector's daughter.
1 647] BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE 59
avoid, not only on account of the delay to be met with in everything that
passes through the Lower House, but also from the fear I had that this
measure be ruined there, on account of the hatred many of those in power
bear to France, from the jealousy they all have of her, from the influence
they have acquired by the money of the Spaniards, from the knowledge
I have that those who are even better disposed towards us than towards
our enemies consider that policy obliges them to wish well towards the
Spanish forces in order to stop the progress of France. The matter is
therefore before Parliament, and on Saturday it was discussed in the
House of Lords, where nothing was decided, but merely a message sent to
me stating that the matter could not be settled to my satisfaction unless
I were to give the assurance that our ships would carry no contraband
goods, that they would transport no others but native Irish, leaving me
to understand that they would oppose the measure in order to prevent
Lord Digby from taking advantage of this opportunity to leave Ireland
and to prevent these Irish from being embodied and sent back here in
these three kingdoms, to be employed against Parliament, and informed
me further that it would be necessary for our ships in going and coming
to be searched by the commanding officers of theirs. I informed them in
reply that being uncertain whither we employed merchant ships or ships
of war to convey these Irish, I could not agree to the right of search, that
I was certain the ships had no other order than to fetch the levies of
native Irish that we are making in Ireland, and that they would carry no
contraband goods. As for the assurance they demanded that these troops
would not be brought back here against these kingdoms, that I thought I
had reassured them fully on that subject by what I had previously stated.
It would have been very important for me to have learned if the warlike
preparations that are carried on at St. Malo are such as published here
or if it be only merchant ships that are being prepared there in order to
transport to France the levies that have been made. The advices of the
merchants of this city are to the effect that there are assembled there not
only ships of war that have been brought from Dunkirk and the rivers in
Brittany, but also that all the ships that can be obtained have been
freighted, that even two Hamburg ships have been retained by force and
joined to this fleet. These advices give consistency to the rumours cir-
culating here, that France has lately engaged to re-establish the King of
Great Britain and if it be necessary to declare for him. M. Ogier and all
the others who correspond with this Parliament write of it affirmatively.
AH the English that come from France, those engaged about the recruits
or who come under other pretexts pretend to publish it, those who remain
here of the party of the King of Great Britain, and it is said more specially
the emissaries of the Marquis of Antrim, spread it about as certain, so that
it is not easy to persuade people of the contrary. It is said that a certain
Winter Grand [?] is going to Ireland on the part of the Queen of Great
Britain and the Prince of Wales, that the Earl of Crawford ^ is going
' This refers probably to Ludovic, 14th Earl of Crawford of the older branch
of this family, whose estates had been forfeited.
60 MONTEREUI. TO MAZARIN [march
there also and thence to Scotland, all in order to prevent the peace of
these kingdoms and to sustain the hopes of the king of Great Britain, for
fear that he may be induced to satisfy the Parliament. Some say that
M. de Montereul has sent over to France shiploads of English officers who
are going to enroll themselves in France, who are to make an invasion here
this summer. \VTien what is really authentic in the affair is published
I shall have no little trouble in defending it. The enemies of France
and England employ so many devices in order to give such impressions,
that it is nothing strange that some of those who have no minute
acquaintance of affairs may be induced to believe them by this con-
currence of information and of circumstances so full of probability.
The Upper House decided this morning to send an order to allow the
ships to pass during three months with the troops that will be raised in
Ireland, upon condition that the ships that are to convey them undergo
a search in going and in coming. This order, such as it is, will remain
inoperative until it be confirmed by the House of Commons, and although
it was brought there this morning, with every recommendation that the
Lords could make in order to hasten the deliberation, it has not been
mentioned and the sitting is over, so that I thought it so important as to
require me to send to you this courier, fearing that on what I wrote to
his Eminence last week, the ships destined for the transport of these
soldiers might be despatched, and if there were among them any of the
king's ships, what has been done in the Upper House, which is the most
one has to expect, subjecting them to a search, events might happen
that could cause a quarrel between France and England. The news from
France that ought to arrive to-morrow will perhaps overturn this decision,
as that of the former week had the effect of annulling what had been
done at the Admiralty, so that one can take no steps on what is said about
this affair until the Lower House has come to a decision.]
cxxv
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, Mars ^ l647.
Jay re^u celle que V. Em*^^ m^a fait Thonneur de m'^ecrire du
12 de ce mois avec une lettre de change done je feray toucher
Targent a MM. le Comte d' Angus et le Chev' Moray ainsi qu'il
me Ta ete ordonne. Le vent qui a ete contraire depuis huit jours
pour aller en France, a arrete en cette rade le vaisseau qui doit
porter les premieres recrues, et qui sans cela auroit este a Dun-
kerque presentement. M. le Chev"" Moray m''asseure que le
second partira dans peu de jours. Je luy ay fait voir ce que V.
Em°® m''a fait Thonneur de m"'ecrire qui le regarde, afin que les
I
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 61
bontes que luy temoigne V. Em*'^ Fobligent a faire encore avec
plus d'ardeur, ce a quoi il se porta deja avec assez d'affection.
V. Em*'® verra s'il lui plait par le double de celle que j'ecris
a Mons. le Tellier ce qui peut toucher les recrues qui font ici
mon principal soin et a quoi je puis asseurer V. Em*'® que je
contribue de ma part tout ce qui m'est possible.
La proposition qui a ete faite au Parlement d'Angleterre
d'envoyer promptement des deputes au roy de la G"^ B' pour
Tobliger a accorder les choses que Ton desire de lui, et de les
faire partir sans attendre Tarrivee de ceux d'Ecosse, a fort
alarme ce Pari*, et Fa oblige d'^employer la plus grande partie
da la semaine passee a deliberer du choix de ceux qui seroient
envoyes dMcy et les instructions qu'on leur donneroit; mais
apres un long debat, il a este enfin arrete que la meme deputa-
tion ou le meme comite, qui etoit deja etably a Londres ser-
veroit encore pour Holmby, et Ton m''asseure aussi que les ordres
qu'ils ont, et que je n'ay pas encore veu, sont conformes aux
declarations que ce Pari* a faites avant que le roy soit sorty de
Newcastle. Cependant, bien que plusieurs de cette deputa-
tion de Londres soient a Edimbourg, le seul Comte de
Lauderdale en doit partir presentement pour aller trouver le
roy de la G' B*^, et je croy que ce temperament a este trouve
pour contenter les Hamiltons qui n"'ayant peu obtenir que ce
comite qui est compose des creatures du Marquis d'Argyle
seroit change, ont voulu au moins que celui qui leur est le
moins suspect fut envoye.
Le Comte de Dunfermline a eu permission d'aller a Holmby
servir le roy de la G"" B' en sa charge de gentilhomme de la
Chambre. II aura des lettres de ce Pari* adressantes a celuy
d'Angleterre pour le prier de Tagreer. Le Due de Hamilton a
demande icy, et a obtenu la meme chose, plustost comme Ton
croit pour ne pas montrer moins de passion dans le service du
roy son maistre que le Comte de Dunfermline, que pour ce
qu'il ait une veritable intention de faire ce voyage avant qu''il
voie que les affaires du roy de la G' B"" se trouvent en meilleur
etat. II se pourroit faire aussi que comme le Comte de Dun-
fermline paroit estre plus du parti d'Argyle que de celuy de
Hamilton, il veut estre anpres du roy de la G' B*" encore quil
soit asseure qu'il ne se puisse rien faire a Tavantage de ce
62 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
prince de peur qu'il ne se passe quelque chose au prejudice de
son parti.
Le Comte de Dunfermline m''a dit qu'il ne partiroit point
cette semaine, non plus que le Comte de Lauderdale. Les
deputes qui sont ici de la part du Pari* d'Angleterre continuent
a presser la redition de Belfast, et ce Pari*, a ce qu'on m"'asseure,
a resolu de le rendre, et avec cette place toutes les autres que
les Ecossois tiennent en Irlande et qu'ils ne peuvent con-
server sans celle-la, pourvu que leur armee qu"'ils ont en ce pays
soit payee avant qu"'en sortir, de tout ce que lui peut estre du.
Le Pari* ne finira pas avant la semaine prochaine, et comme
il doit donner pouvoir au Comite qui se tiendra apres qu'il se
sera leve, de traiter auec les Princes et de faire ligue et entre-
tenir amitie et correspon dance avec eux, j''ay pense qu'il ne
seroit pas peutetre hors de propos quMls temoignassent en
termes plus particuliers dans la commission qu'ils donneront,
qu'ils desirent entretenier celle qu'ils ont, depuis une longue
suite d'annees avec la France, puisque cela ne sera pas seule-
ment un moyen pour faciliter les levees, en leur faissant voir
qu'on desire d'eux qu'ils fassent les choses qui leur peuvent
estre avantageuses, mais que cela pourra servir encore a les
empecher de se jeter absolument entre les bras de TAngleterre,
quand ils croiront que la France ne les abandonnera pas, et a
faire que TAngleterre a Timitation de TEcosse recherche les
bonnes graces de sa Maj*®. Cependant, Mg', j 'essay eray de
me conduire en cecy avec beaucoup de reserve, m'estant avance
au plus, a leur dire pourvu qu'ils fassent ce que la France
desire d'eux presentement il y a apparence qu'ils se pourront
conserver les bonnes graces de S. M**.
La nouvelle armee de ce Pari* qui devoit estre a cinq Mil
hommes de pied et de 1500 chevaux, ne s'est trouve pas trouve
de trois Mil hommes Mercredi dernier, au lieu d'assemble'e.
Le Lieut. -General David Leslay a dit a quelques uns de ses
amis avant que partir, que la defense du Pari* ne I'empecheroit
pas de recevoir le Marquis de Huntley a composition. Mais
je ne vois pas en quelle maniere il le pourroit faire, ny quel
avantage en recevroit ce Marquis, puisque le meilleur traite-
ment qu'il puisse attendre est d'avoir la liberte de sortir hors
du royaume en abandonnant tous ses biens, au lieu qu'en se
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 63
retirant avec ses gens dans les montaignes et se joignant a
Macdonald il peut esperer de recouvrir quelque jour ce qu"*!!
est force d'abandonner presentement. On a trouue moyen de
faire subsister pour neuf mois la nouvelle armee, mais ce n'a
pas ete sans donner sujet a ces peuples de se plaindre. Will.
Moray n'est pas encore parti, il parle toujours d''aller en
France par Hollande. II y a quatre ou cinq petites fregates
a Tembouchure de ce port, qui ont, a ce qui se dit, commission
du Prince, mais j'apprehende qu''elles n'en aient encore du roy
d'Espagne, cependant le capitaine du vaisseau qui porte les
recreiies ne fait point de difficulte de partir.
Le Comte de Lanark, frere du Due de Hamilton, m''a fait dire
par un de ses amis, qu'il seroit bien aise d''avoir quelque
marque de dependance de la France, et que si on lui donnoit
quelque pension il la prendroit quand elle ne seroit que de
trois ou quatre mille livres, mais qu''il desireroit qu"'elle fut
sensee comme celle du Due son frere.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, I? March 1647.
I HAVE received your letter of the 12th inst. with a bill of exchange, of
which I shall pay the money to the Earl of Angus and Sir Robert Moray as
you direct. A contrary wind has delayed in this harbour, during eight days,
the ship that is conveying the recruits to France, had it not been so, it
would have been at Dunkirk at present. Sir Robert Moray has assured me
that the second will leave in a few days. I showed to him what you wrote
concerning him, in order that your kindness for him might encourage
him to act with still greater ardour, in the work in which he is already
actuated by considerable zeal. You will see by the copy of the letter I
have written to M. le Tellier what the levies may cost ; they are my
principal care, and I can assure you that I shall do all in my power to
make them efficient
The proposal made in the English Parliament to send immediately a
deputation to the King of Great Britain to oblige him to grant what is
required from him, and to do so without waiting the arrival of that from
Scotland, has much alarmed this Parliament, and obliged it to employ the
greater part of last week in deliberating on the choice of those who were
to be sent from here and the instructions they would* give them ; but
after a long debate it was at last decided that the same deputation or the
same committee that was already settled in London would also serve to
go to Holmby, and I am assured also that the orders they have received,
and which I have not seen, are similar to the declarations which this
Parliament made before the king left Newcastle. Yet although several
64 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
of this London deputation are in Edinburgh the Earl of Lauderdale is
the only one that is to leave at present, in order to visit the King of
Great Britain, and I believe this middle course has been adopted in order
to satisfy the Hamiltons, who not being able to succeed in having this
committee, composed of nominees of the Marquis of Argyle, changed,
wished at least that the one the least mistrusted might be sent.
The Earl of Dunfermline has received permission to go to Holmby to
serve the King of Great Britain in his office as gentleman of the bed-
chamber. He will receive letters from this Parliament to that of England,
to solicit his being received in that capacity. The Duke of Hamilton
has asked here and obtained the same privilege, rather, as it is thought,
not to show less zeal in the service of the king his master, than the Earl
of Dunfermline, than on account of his having any real intention of
undertaking this journey before he sees that the affairs of the king are in
a better condition than at present. It may be also that as the Earl of
Punfermline appears to belong rather to the Argyle than to the Hamilton
party, the Duke also wishes to be near the king to have a certitude that
nothing is done to the advantage of this prince, and from fear that
anything be undertaken that may be detrimental to the interests of his
party.
The Earl of Dunfermline has told me that he would not leave this week,
neither will the Earl of Lauderdale. The Commission that is here from
the English Parliament continue to insist that Belfast be given up and
this Parliament, as I am assured, has resolved to give it up and with it
all the other fortresses the Scots hold in Ireland and that they cannot
retain without the former, provided their army in that country be paid
all that is owing to it before leaving.
This Parliament will not come to an end before next week, and as it is
about to give authority to the committee that, while it will be broken up,
will remain in office, to treat with princes, enter into alliances and keep
up friendly intercourse with them, I have thought that it would not be
perhaps unsuitable for them to declare in special terms, in the commission
they are to give, that they wish to maintain the one they have had during
so long a succession of years with France, since this would not only be a
means of facilitating the levies, in letting them see that what is wanted
of them can only be to their own advantage ; but it will serve also to
prevent them from throwing themselves absolutely into the arms of
England, when they see that France will not give them up and will lead
England in imitation of Scotland to seek the good graces of his Majesty.
However, I shall try to behave in this with much reserve ; I have but
gone so far as to tell them that, provided they do what France wishes of
them at present, there is some likelihood that they may be able to retain
the good graces of his Majesty.
The new army of this Parliament, that ought to number five thousand
foot and fifteen hundred horse, did not number three thousand men, at
its place of rendezvous on Wednesday last. Lieut. -General David Leslie
said before leaving to some of his friends that the order of Parliament
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 65
would not prevent him from coming^ to an agreement with the Marquis of
Huntly. But I do not see in what manner he would be able to do it, nor
what advantage it would be for the Marquis, since the best terms he can
expect is to have permission to leave the country abandoning all he has,
instead of which, in withdrawing into the Highlands with his people and
joining Macdonald, he may hope some day to regain what he is obliged
to give up at present. Means have been found to secure the subsistence of
the new army for nine months, but it has not been done without giving
cause of complaint to the people. Will. Moray has not yet gone ; he
still speaks of going to France by way of Holland. There are four or
five small frigates at the entry to this harbour, which, I am told, have
commissions from the Prince [of Wales], but I fear they have another
from the King of Spain, yet the captain of the ship that conveyed the
recruits did not make any objection about leaving.
The Earl of Lanark, brother of the Duke of Hamilton, has informed
me by one of his friends that he should like to have some token of-
connection with France, and that if any pension were given to him he
would try to deserve it by his services, and would accept it were it only
three or four thousand livres, but that he would wish it to be discreetly
given, like that of the duke, his brother.]
CXXVI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, fj^" 1647.
Le vent qui a ete fort bon depuis Vendredi dernier, que le
vaisseau, qui etoit charge des recrlies du Comte d"" Angus et du
Chev"^ Moray, est party de cette rade, me fait esperer qu'il sera
presentement arrive a Dunkerque, et que V. Em*'^ aura nou-
velles du debarquement de bien pres de 400 hommes qu'il
porte, avant que cette lettre vous puisse estre rendue.
Je presse, autant que je puis, le partement du vaisseau qui
doit le suivre, mais bien qu"'il doive sortir du port aujourd'huy
ou demain, je ne vols pas qu"'il puisse avoir sa charge avant la
semaine prochaine. Je me trouve un peu empeche par ce que
le Comte d' Angus ne veut point me donner caution de Targent
quMl recevra de moy dorenavant, sur ce qu'on luy a dit, qu'on
n''en avoit point desire de son cadet pour toutes les recrelies
quMl avoit faites, et qu''il croit qu'ayant beaucoup de bien, et
ses affaires estant en fort bon ordre, on luy fait quelque sort
dMnjure de luy demander caution, et on ne fait rien avec plus
VOL. II. E
66 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
de surete pour le service de S. M*®. Cependant, outre qu'il y
a beaucoup de difference entre robligation d'un bon marchand
et celle d''un riche seigneur, j''apprehende encore que le Chev""
Moray ne veuille demander la meme chose, avec lequel, quoi-
qu'il soit personne de credit et qui a quelques biens, comme
je croy, on pourroit bien ne pas trouver les memes seuretes.
Mais, comme V. Em'^^ me commande de ne point perdre de
temps, je me suis veu oblige de mettre entre les mains du
dit Comte d' Angus deux mille ecus, dont 11 avoit affaire pre-
sentement et afin qu"'on ne pent tirer en consequence ce que je
faisois avec luy, je luy ay demande pour caution le Sieur
Douglas, avocat, a Edimbourg, qui est de son nom et de sa
maison, et qui depend absolument de luy, — ce qu''il n'a point
fait de difficulte de m'accorder.
Au reste, le sieur Leslay, frere du Lieut. -General, avec qui
je n'en ay rien encore conclu absolument, quoique je me sois
assez avance, apres avoir re^u la capitulation de Hepburn de
M. le Tellier, et avoir veu que V. Em*^*' approuvoit que je
traitasse avec luy, — m'asseure qu''il a tons les officiers prets, et
me promet six cents hommes avant la fin de Mai, et six cents
hommes bientost apres, ce que son frere, le Lieut.-General, m'a
aussy promis, c"'est ce que je trouve ici de plus asseure et de
plus prompt, apres les recreiies des deux regiments, car je ne
vols pas que le Comte de Callendar se presse beaucoup, ni
aussy qu''on puisse engager le Due de Hamilton et le Marquis
d'Argyle a penser a envoyer en France des regiments, tandis
qu''ils ont d"'autres soins qui leur sont de plus importance que
celuy-la.
Comme la derniere lettre de change que j''ay re9ue de M. de
Bellievre de 24 mille livres estoit seulement pour estre acquittee
a 20 jours de veue, j'ay offert au Chev' Moray de luy toucher
presentement quatre mille ecus, que le S"" du Talmond, mar-
chand, m'a tenir prets, depuis que je me suis donne Thonneur
de Tecrire a V. Em''*', mais comme il a veu que j'avan(j;ois cette
somme si volontiers, 11 a voulu faire quelque chose de plus que
cela, et a envoye trois de ses capitaines vers le nord sans avoir
desire toucher d'argent avant Techeance de la lettre.
Au reste, M. de Bellievre me donne avis que le Chev' Disch-
ington ecrit aux deputes d'Ecosse qui sont a Londres que la
I
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 67
France regarde seulement le service du Roy de la G' B"" dans
les levees qui se font ici, et que le Chev' Moray qui est d'in-
telligence avec quelques autres seigneurs qui veulent retablir
leur Roy, fait passer ces troupes en France pour les faire bien-
tot revenir contre TEcosse.
Je ne me mettrai point en peine de representer a V. Em*^
comme cela n''est point du tout a apprehender du Chev' Moray,
qui, selon ma creance, est fort eloigne de faire ce prejudice a
son pays, mais seulment que c"'est une chose qui nous pourroit
etre tres prejudiciable, que pourroit servir de pretexte a ces
gens, qui voyent partir avec regret de leur Royaume les hommes
dont ils croyent qu'ils auront encore besoin, pour nous em-
pecher de continuer les levees. Je n'ai pas creu toutefois que
je deusse faire beaucoup de bruit de ceci, et il m"'a semble qu'il
valoit mieux le faire passer comme une vision du Chev' Disching-
ton que comme quelque chose qui eut besoin d"'eclaircissement.
On croit que le Pari* finira demain, et peutetre meme des ce
jour. On arreta Samedi dernier ceux qui devoient etre du
Comite, ou le Conseil d'Etat, qui gouverne les affaires de ce
Royaume en Tabsence du Pari*. Les Hamiltons temoignent
etre fort satisfaits du choix qui a ete fait, et croyent que plus
de la moitie des personnes qui composent le dit conseil est
tres etroitement attachee a leurs interets, — ce que j''entendis
dire Samedi dernier au Due de Hamilton et au Comte de
Lanark avec tant de contentement et conter avec tant d"'ardeur
a leurs amis les difficultes que s^ estoient rencon trees, que je
ne croy plus tant comme auparavant que toutes choses se
fassent de si grand concert entre eux et le Marquis d'Argyle.
Je dirai a V. Em'^® cette seule particularite que le Comte de
Traquair a ete un de ceux qui ont ete choisis sans aucune
contradiction, ce que je croy qu''il sera bon de faire savoir a la
reine de la Gr' B"" afin qu'elle voie, comme le roy son mari n"'a
pas eu toutes les raisons du monde de le croire absolument
attache a ses interets ainsi que S. M. me Ta temoigne diverses
fois et encore quand je Tay quitte.
Le Due de Hamilton et le Comte de Dunfermline apres
avoir eu permission d''aller servir le roy de la G' B*" ont obtenu
aussi de ce Pari* des lettres de faveur pour celui d'Angleterre,
afin d'en pouvoir obtenir aussi la permission ; mais le Marquis
68 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
d''Argyle et trois ou quatre de son parti se sont opposes k ce
qu'on se servit dans celle qui estoit ecrite en faveur du Due
des termes de constante affection aux interets de ce royaume,
jusqu'a luy reprocher les choses qu'il avoit faites, ou temoigne
de faire, au commencement de cette guerre pour le service de
leur roy, avec assez d'aigreur, et toutefois sans aucun efFet, puis-
que la lettre a ete donnee au dit Due en la maniere qu"'elle avoit
ete premierement ecrite, et sans y changer aucune chose. Tout
le monde a creu qu''on ne pouvoit plus d outer apres cela du
peu d'intelligence qu'il y avoit entre les chefs de ces deux
partis, mais il me semble qu'il y a peu d'apparence que le
Marquis d'Argyle, qui est homme tres avise, eut voulu faire
ces reproches sans necessite au Due de Hamilton, et sans en
tirer aucun avantage, s'il ne Ten eut averti auparavant, outre
que je trouve que tout ce qui a ete dit par le dit Marquis
d'Argyle au Due de Hamilton, au lieu de luy faire quelque
prejudice, s'accommode assez bien a ses interets et est conforme
a sa fa9on d''agir, puisqu"'il s''en pent servir pour faire voir au
roy de la Gr. Br. qu^il Ta servi et au Pari* d'Ecosse que
quelque opposition qui luy ait ete faite par ses ennemis, cela
n'a pas empeche qu''on ne soit demeure tres asseure de sa
fidelite, aussy n"'ont ils pas laisse apres cela de manger ensemble
et de se parler avec tons les temoignages apparents, non seule-
ment de bonne intelligence, mais encore d'amitie. Plusieurs
croyent toutefois que cela nWoit point du tout ete concerte,
et que le Marquis d'Argyle croyoit Temporter a la pluralite
des voix que la lettre seroit reformee, et que comme ils font
serment de declarer dans le Pari* toutes les choses qui peuvent
etre pour Futilite publique, sans que personne puisse s''en of-
fenser, ils ne s"'etonnent point de ce que les uns peuvent dire
au desavantage des autres. Mais ceux qui croyent juger mieux
de Tavenement des choses trouvent que quelque intelligence que
puissent avoir ensemble les chefs des deux partis, et quelque soin
qu'ils puissent mettre a I'entretenir, il sera difficile que les amis
des uns et des autres qui n'ont pas tant de moderation qu^'eux,
et qui ont autant d'interet a les brouiller, qu'ils en peuvent
avoir eux-memes, ne les obligent enfin a une rupture de laquelle
seule il semble qu'il puisse arriver ici quelque chose de bon
pour les interets du roy de la Gr. Br.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 69
Tay veu lettres de Morton,^ qui commande Tarmee qu"'ont
les Ecossois en Irlande par lesquelles il ecrit que les Catholiques
Irlandais envoyent centre luy une armee de dix mille hommes
dont quatre mille doivent passer presentement en Ecosse, et
les six autres les suivre apres qu''ils auront ruine tout le pays.
Cela seroit extremement bon pour le roy de la Gr. Br. sMl
pourroit etre veritable, mais j''apprehende que cet Ecossois se
forge des ennemis pour les defaire bien aisement, et qu'il donne
ici cette crainte pour obtenir plus facilement les choses qu^il
demande.
On vient de me donner avis qu''on a re^u presentement lettres
du Lieut.-General David Leslay, par lesquelles il mande que
le Marquis de Huntley a abandonne deux de ses maisons, et
qu'afin de les sauver du feu plus aisement il en avoit fait em-
porter jusqu''aux portes, il ecrit encore qu''il sVst retire dans
les montagnes en un lieu nomme Ruthven en Bagenoth.^
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, "l '^^"^' 1647.
The wind tliat has been very favourable since Friday last when the ship
laden with the recruits of the Earl of Angus and Sir Robert !Moray left
this roadstead leads me to hope that it will be at present at Dunkirk, and
that you will have learned of the landing of almost 400 men that it
carried^ before this letter can reach you.
I insist as much as I can on the departure of the next ship that
ought to follow, but although it is to leave the harbour to-day or to-
morrow, I do not see that it can have its cargo before next week. I
have been a little delayed on account of the Earl of Angus not wishing
to give me security for the money that he may receive from me in future,
on account of his having been told that it had not been required fi-om his
subordinate for all the recruits he had enlisted, and that he thought from
his having much property and his aflfairs being in very good order, that it
would be a sort of insult to ask him for security ; there being nothing done
with greater security for the service of his jNIajesty. Yet although there
is much diiference between the engagement of an honest merchant and
that of a rich noble, 1 apprehend further that Sir Robert Moray may wish
to ask the same thing, with whom, although he is a person of credit and
has some property, one might not be able to find the same security.
But as you order me to lose no time, I was obliged to place two thousand
crowns in the hands of the Earl of Angus, which he required at present,
and in order that no precedent might result from what I did with him,
^ Munro. 2 Badenoch.
70 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
I ask him to give me for security Mr. Douglas, advocate in Edinburgh,
who is of his name and family, and who depends absolutely on him, to
which he made no objection in giving it to me.
Among other matters Mr. Leslie, brother of the Lieut. -General, with
whom I have not yet settled anything absolutely, although I have made
considerable progress towards it, after having received the articles of
agreement of Hepburn ^ from M. le Tellier, and having seen that you
approved of my treating with him, assures me that he has all the officers
ready, and promises me six hundred men before the end of May and six
hundred soon after, which his brother the Lieut. -General has also pro-
mised me. This is the readiest and the most certain of what I find here
after the companies of recruits for the two regiments, for I do not see
that the Earl of Callander is in any hurry to engage, nor that the Duke
of Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle can be induced to send regiments
to France whilst they have other matters of more importance than that
to attend to.
As the last bill of exchange I received from M. de Bellievre of
£24,000 stg. was at twenty days sight, I offered Sir Robert Moray to
pay him at present four thousand crowns, which M. du Talmon, mer-
chant, has kept ready for me since I wrote to you about it ; but when Sir
Robert saw that I was advancing that sum so willingly he wished to do
something more than usual and so sent three of his captains towards the
north, without wishing to receive the money before the bill of exchange
falls due.
M. de Bellievre informs me that Sir Thomas Dischington is writing to
the Scottish Commissioners in London that France is merely occupied
with the service of the King of Great Britain in the levies that are going
on here, and that Sir Robert Moray is acting in concert with some other
nobles who wish to establish their king, and are sending these troops to
France in order to bring them back soon against Scotland.
1 shall not take the trouble to point out to you that there is no reason
whatever to fear anything of the kind on the part of Sir Robert Moray,
who, in my opinion, is very far from wishing to bring harm to his
country, but at the same time it is a rumour that may be very hurtful to
us and serve as a pretext to those people, who see with regret men whom
they believe they may require leaving their kingdom, in order to prevent
us from continuing the levies. I did not think it necessary, however, to
make a great outcry about it ; it seemed to me better to let it pass as a vision
of Sir Thomas Dischington than as something requiring to be cleared up.
It is thought that Parliament will be dissolved to-morrow or perhaps even
from to-day. The Committee or Council of State ^ that directs the affairs
of this kingdom in the absence of Parliament was selected on Saturday.
^ This regiment was originally called the Hepburn Regiment from its having
been raised by Sir John Hepburn in 1633, when it numbered 2000 men. See^
Appendix, Note W., 'Scottish Regiments in France.'
2 Committee of Estates.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 71
The Hamiltons seem to be very satisfied with the choice that has been
made, and believe that more than half the persons that compose the Com-
mittee are very closely attached to their interests ; this 1 heard stated
on Saturday last to the Duke of Hamilton and to the Earl of Lanark
with great satisfaction, while they in turn related to their friends with
equal animation the obstacles that had been met with, so that I have less
reason than formerly to believe that all matters are so carefully concerted
between them and the Marquis of Argyle. I shall only state this one
particular, that the Earl of Traquair was one of those who were selected
unanimously, which I think it may be useful to the Queen of Great
Britain to learn, so that she may see how the king her husband had not
every reason in the world to believe him absolutely attached to his in-
terests, as his Majesty several times expressed to me, and again when I
was leaving him.
The Duke of Hamilton and the Earl of Dunfermline, after having per-
mission to go and serve the King of Great Britain, have also obtained
letters of favour from this Parliament to that of England, so as also to
obtain the latter's permission also ; but the Marquis of Argyle and three
or four of his party objected to the terms used in the letter written in
favour of the duke and to the reference made therein to his constant
aiFection for the interest of this kingdom, and went so far as to upbraid
the duke with things he had done or expressed the wish to do, at the
beginning of this war for the service of their king and this with con-
siderable bitterness, but without any result, since the letter was given to
the duke as it had been originally written and without anj-thing being
therein changed. People all believe that there can no longer be any
doubt after this of the little harmony existing between the leaders of
these two parties ; but it seems to me very unlikely that the Marquis of
Argyle, who is a very cautious man, should have wished to make these
imputations without necessity against the Duke of Hamilton, and without
deriving some advantage from so doing, if he had not informed him of his
intention beforehand ; besides, I find that all that was said by the Marquis
of Argyle to the Duke of Hamilton, instead of causing any detriment to
the latter, suits his interests very well and is in keeping with his way of
acting, since he can turn it to account in showing to the King of Great
Britain that he has served him, that whatever opposition his enemies may
raise against him in the Parliament of Scotland, it continues quite assured
of his fidelity ; also this has not prevented them both since from dining
together and conversing not only with every appearance of being on
good terms but even of friendship. Several think, however, that it was
not at all concerted between them, and that the Marquis of Argyle
believed he could carry by a majority that the letter be changed, and
that as they take oath to declare in Parliament everything that may be
for the public benefit, without any one having reason to be offended, they
are not surprised at what they may say against each other. But those
who pretend to judge of coming events consider that whatever under-
standing may exist between the leaders of the two parties, and however
72 BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE [march
careful they may be to keep it up, it will be difficult for their respective
friends, who have not so much moderation as they have, and who have a
mutual interest to set them at variance, which they may not have them-
selves, not to oblige them at length to break it off, from which alone it
seems there is any good expected here for the King of Great Britain.
I have seen letters from Munro, who commands the army the Scots
have in Ireland, in which he states that the Irish Catholics are sending
against him an army of ten thousand men, of which four thousand are to
be sent to Scotland at present, and the other six thousand are to follow,
after they have ruined all the country. It would certainly be veiy good
for the King of Great Britain were it possibly true, but 1 fear this Scot is
forging enemies in order to defeat them more easily, and that he excites
this fear here in order to obtain more readily what he demands.
I have just received notice that letters have been received at present
from Lieut. -General David Leslie, in which he states that the Marquis of
Huntly has abandoned two of his houses, and that so as to secure them
more carefully against fire he had even carried away the doors ; he writes
also that he has withdrawn into the Highlands in a place called Ruthven
in Badenoch.]
CXXVII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
Londres, 28 Mars 1647.
Monsieur, — Par ce que je me donne Thonneur de vous
escrire il y a trois jours i'ay eu raison de vous mander que puisque
TAffaire des passeports des Irlandois estoit portee au parle-
ment il y auoit a craindre que Texpedition n'en fust pas bien
prompte; la chambre des Seigneurs la presse autant qu*'elle
peut, i"'y contriblie ce que ie doibs et il n"'y a encore rien de
faict. La chambre des communes procede en cette rencontre
auec sa circomspection et sa lenteur accoustumee. Tous nos
amis ne doutent point qu'auec le temps nous n"'obtenions la
liberte de faire passer ces Irlandois pourueu que ce soit sur des
vaisseaux qui puissent souffrir la visite, et bien que Teffect de
ce que Ton demande soit egalement elude par le temps, que par
le reffus, la cognoissance que i'ay des affections et des interestz
de la plus part de ceux des quelz cette affaire deppend ne me
laisse pas lieu de m''en promettre aucunne chose considerable
mesme auec le temps. Les lettres de France de Tordinaire
dernier augmentent encore les soub^ons que Ton a icy. Celles
d'Augier asseurent que les vaisseaux pour lesquelz nous de-
1 647] BELLIJeVRE TO BRIENNE 73
mandons des passeports sont chargez d'armes et de poudre
pour rirlande. Cette affaire des passeports a consomme tout le
temps que ie pouuois auoir pour escrire par cest ordinaire, ie
n'ay rien de nouueau a vous mander. Ie vous ay cy deuant
faict scauoir que Ja ville de Londres preparoit une requeste
pour faire que le Roy de la Grande Bretagne fust presse de
prendre le conuenant de donner satisfaction sur le surplus des
propositions, et que iusques a ce qu"'il Fait faict qu'il n"'ap-
proche point dMcy. Elle fust hier presentee ; Ton Timprime
aujourd'huy. II est fascheux que la ville ayt pris telle resolu-
tion, dont la suitte Tengage plus qu'elle ne pense dabord
centre les interestz du d. Roy qui consideroit Taffection qu""!!
se prometoit de cette ville comme un des plus puissantz moyen
qui luy restent ; sans doute M"" de Warwic [et] son Conseil, qui
sont en France en scauent quelqu"'un que je ne cognois pas, car
ilz auroient agree celuy que Ton leur proposoit qui tiroit le roi
d'Ang"^® de prison le restablissant et apparemraent brouilloit
les deux grands partis qui sont icy, et les engageoit a la guerre,
dans laquelle il eust pris la part qu"'il eust voulu. Les lettres
que Ton a recu icy de la Reyne d'Ang** me confirment dans
Topinion que j"'ay qu''ils ne veullent point finir cette affaire par
la voye de la negociation et m''obligent a continuer la priere
que ie vous fis il y a huict iours de m^enuoyer la permission de
me retirer presentement d'icy, ny seruant pas ie crains dy
nuire, et que mon sejour n*'augmente les soub^ons que Ton y
prend des intentions de la France si sinceres qu''elles puissent
estre. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre tres humble et tres obeissant
seruiteur, Bellieure.
Au dos. — M de Bellieure, du 28* Mars 1647, receu Ie 4* AuriL
[Sans titre]
Je vous mandois au dernier jour que j"'estois en peine d"'une
lettre quej'auois escrit au Roy d''Ang'® celuy que j''auois
enuoye est de retour. II n"'a pu luy donner le[s] lettres dont
Tauois charge, il me les a raportees et un billet que le d. Roy luy
a enuoye qui en accompagnoit un qu'il escrit a la Reyne
d"'Angleterre que je luy enuoye. Voici la coppie de ce qu'il
m''escrit qui n"'est point en responce d"'aucune chose que je luy
aye mande h. homby le six^ mars Quoyque jamais prisonnier
74 BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE [march
fust garde plus seurement que moy, neantmoins j"'espere que
j'auray le bonheur que vous receurez cecy, qui est principale-
ment pour vous prier de m'escrire le plus souuent que vous
pourrez, et par ce moyen de me faire scauoir des nouuelles de
la Reyne d'Angleterre et tous les bons amis aussy. II fault
que je vous die librement que je ne vois rien par le comporte-
ment de ces Commissionnaires que ruine a ma personne, si je
ne puis estre desliure hors de leurs mains, mais'surtout pour
I'honneur de Dieu n''entreprenez pas de me faire quitter les
resolutions que vous scauez que j''ay prises, car par la grace de
Dieu je suis resolu plustost de perir que d'en estre par remise
auec ma conscience et mon honneur, et en effect je croy que
c''est la plus probable aussy bien que la meilleure voye pour
restablir v'® [vostre] bien bon amy le Roy d'Ang""^. Enuoyez
cette autre billet a la Reyne d'Ang'®.
Au dos. — Auec la lettre de M"^ de Bellieure du 28*^ mars l647,
receu le 4 auril,
[Bellikvre to Brienxe. London, 28 March 1647.
In what I wrote to you three days ago I was right in stating, that seeing
the affairs of passports for the Irish was referred to Parliament, it was to
be feared that it would not be settled very speedily ; the House of Lords-
insists on it as much as it can ; I have done what I had to do, and yet
there has nothing been done. The House of Commons proceeds on this
occasion with its wonted circumspection and dilatoriness. All our friends
do not doubt but that with time we may procure the liberty to bring over
these Irish, provided it be by ships that may allow of their being searched,
and although the effect of what is wanted is equally eluded by the delay
as it would be by a refusal, the knowledge I have of the likings and the
interests of the most part of those on which this affair depends, does not
give me great reason to hope that much will come out of it, even with
time. The letters from France by last mail increase still more the
suspicions that exist here. Those of Augier affirm that the ships for
which we are asking passports are laden with arms and gunpowder for
Ireland.
That affair of the passports has occupied all the time I might liave had
to write by this mail, I have nothing now to inform you of. I told you
previously that the City of London was preparing a petition, in order that
the King of Great Britain be urged to take the Covenant and to give
satisfaction on the other proposal, and that until he has done so he be
not allowed to approach near here : it was presented yesterday and is
being printed to-day. It is vexatious that the town has taken such a
decision, the consequence of which will engage it more than it was at first
intended against the interests of the king, who looked upon the affection
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 76
he was promisiug himself from this town as one of the most powerful
means that remained to him ; no doubt Mr. Warwick ^ and his Council,
who are in France, know some means that 1 do not know, for they have
accepted the one that was proposed to them that they might get the King
of England out of prison and re-establish him, and apparently em-
broil the two large parties that are here and engage them in a war, in
which he would have taken the side he might have wished. The letters
that have been received here from the Queen of England confirm me in
my opinion that they do not wish to terminate this affair by means of
negotiation, and oblige me to continue the entreaty I made to you eight
days ago, to send me the permission to withdraw from here at present ;
not being in any way serviceable, I fear, to do harm, and that my stay
but increases the suspicions people are taking here of the intentions of
France, however sincere these may be.
[The following paper is an enclosure in the above letter] :
I informed you lately that I was anxious about a letter I had written
to the King of England ; the person I had sent has returned. He was
unable to deliver to him the letters with which he was entrusted, but
has brought them back to me and a note which the king sent to him,
together with one he has written to the Queen of England, which
I send to her. The following is a copy of what he writes to me,
which is not a reply to anything I had sent him : — ' Holmby, 6th
Mars. Although prisoner was never more strictly guarded than I am,
nevertheless I hope to have the good fortune that you will receive this,
which is principally in order to beg you to write to me as often as you
can, and by this means let me have news of the Queen of England and
all the good friends also. I must tell you plainly that I see nothing but
ruin to my person, through the behaviour of these Commissioners, if I
cannot be delivered out of their hands ; but above all, for the honour of
God, do not undertake to make me give up the resolutions you know I
have taken, for by the grace of God, I am resolved rather to perish than
to be induced to act against my conscience and my honour, and, in fact,
I believe this to be the most probable and the best means for re-establish-
ing your very good friend, the King of England. Send this other note
to the Queen of England.']
CXXVIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhours, ^^—r^, l647.
ft' 9 Avril
Le Vaisseau qui devoit partir pour la France au comntrence-
ment de cette semaine est maintenant hors de ce port et a
^ Sir Philip Warwick, secretary to Charles I., who wrote Memoirs of the Reigit
of King Charles /.
76 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
presque toute sa charge; il portera bien pres de trois cents
hommes et fera voile au premier beau temps.
J'envoye a V. Em''^ un double de la lettre par laquelle je
rends compte a M. le Tellier de ce qui se passe dans les levees.
Le Parlement s'acheva Samedi dernier. II fut question de
savoir si Ton aura un nouveau Pari* la premiere fois, ou seule-
ment une nouvelle seance (ainsy qu'ils Tappellent) de celuy-ci ;
mais il passa presque tout d'une voix que ce seroit un nouveau
Pari* ; deux different considerations ayant porte les Hamiltons
et les Argyles dans un meme sentiment, puisque ceux-ci Font
voulu pour oter au Tresorier, qui est du parti de Hamilton
Tavantage de presider qu''il auroit eu si le meme Pari* avoit
continue, et les Hamiltons parce qu"'ils croyent qu*'ils auront
plus grand nombre de chevaliers et de bourgeois de leur
faction dans un nouveau Pari* qu'^ils n''ont eu en celui-ci. Le
nouveau Pari* ne se doit assembler avant le premier de Mars
prochain. Le Comite qui a ete etabli se tint hier pour la
premiere fois.
Le difFerend qui estoit survenu entre le Comte de Dunferm-
line et celui de Glencairn — le premier du parti d'Argyle et le
second de celui de Hamilton, est accommode. Voicy quel en
a ete le sujet, — au moins si je Fay assez bien compris. Les
fiefs qui appartenoient a TEglise ont ete donnes autrefois aux
seigneurs, avec les terres des Ecclesiastiques par le feu roy
Jacques ; celuy d'a present venant a la couronne et craignant,
avec beaucoup de raison, la trop grande autorite des seigneurs,
revoqua le don que son pere en avoit fait, et reunit tous ces
fiefs a la couronne, a la reserve de ceux qui appartenoient aux
Dues de Lennox et de Hamilton, ainsi que Fon m'a dit, et a
fait depuis ce temps cette meme grace au Comte de Dunfermline
et a quelques autres.
Les seigneurs ont demande en ce Pari* que le roy de la
G"" B"" ne gouvernant pas, ces droits de fiefs leurs fussent
rendus, et pArticuIierement ceux qui estoient attaches aux
terres des Eveques que le Roi de la G' B"" se retint il y a
quelques annees, quand il se vit oblige de destribuer les biens
des dits Eveques, mais le peuple et les gentilhommes qui ont
de ces terres qui relevoient de FEglise, et qui recoivent de
plus grandes remises de leur roi et de ses ministres dans les
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 77
mutations qu"'ils n''en peuvent attendre des seigneurs parti-
culiers se sont opposes a cette proposition, de sorte que
Taffaire ayant ete donnee pour examiner aux Comtes de Glen-
caim, de Lanark et de Lauderdale, cet expedient avoit ete
trouve par eux, que les fiefs qui avoient ete donnes par le roy
de la Gr' B"^ aux seigneurs leur demeureroient, pour\'u que le
don que le roy leur en avoit fait eut ete confirme par le Pari*,
de sorte que le Comte de Dunfermline qui n'a point fait con-
firmer le sien, le perdre par ce moyen, ne se peut empecher de
dire au Comte de Glencairn, qui faisoit le rapport, qu^'il estoit
traite par luy bien rudement, et de luy reprocher en suite
qu''il s''estoit trouve attache aux interets du roy de la G' B'
durant que luy, Comte de Dunfermline, avoit tres fidelement
servi le Pari*, et enfin de venir de ces paroles assez piquants
jusqu'^aux menaces et jusqu'^a sortir tous deux en meme temps.
Cependant leur querelle fut accordee sur Theure meme par le
Pari*, et leurs interets remis aux juges ordinaires. Je n''aurois
pas mande cecy a V. Em** si je n'avois creu que cela purroit
servir a luy faire voir que ces peuples n'ont pas perdu tout a
fait le memoire de leur roy, et que quelque art et quelque
moderation que ces Messieurs apportent en la conduite de
leurs affaires, il sera bien difficile quMl n''arrive entre eux
quelque desordre, outre qu'il m'a semble que la reine de la
G"^ B"" n"'auroit pas peutetre disagreable d'etre informee parti-
culierement de cecy.
II v a eu encore quelque demesle les demiers jours que ce
Pari* s''est tenu, touchant la nouvelle addition que le roy de la
G' B' avoit faite au conseil des finances et qui avoit si fort
offense le Tresorier et les Hamiltons, mais quelque chose
qu'ait peu proposer le Marquis d''Argyle pour faire passer ce
nouvel ordre du roy de la G"" B', — jusques a demander, comme
Ton m''a dit, que les finances fussent gouvemees par un Comite
du Pari*, — il ne Fa pas peu obtenir, et Ton n''a pas juge qu'il
se doit rien changer dans Tetablissement qui estoit auparavant
au dit conseil des finances, de sorte que le roy de la G' B"" n'a
rien fait en ceci qu"'irriter le parti des Hamiltons sans en tirer
aucun avantage, ni ceux qu'il a desire obliger.
Mais ou je trouve que le Marquis d''Argyle a temoigne plus
de bassesse c''est en la demande qu"'il a faite au Pari* des
78 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [APRIL
arrerages de sa pension, afin de contraindre le Tresorier a la
luy payer sans luy en avoir d'obligation. II representa done
au Pari* les services qu'il avoit rendus a ce royaume et exagera
en termes bas les pertes qu'il avoit faites et la misere ou il se
trouvoit reduit, jusques a dire, — ainsy que Ton me Ta asseure,
— qu'il n'avoit pas du pain pour sa femme et pour ses enfants,
et demanda que sa pension fut payee sur les premiers deniers
qui se trouveroient entre les mains du Tresorier.
Le Comte de Lanark se leva aussitost et dit qu'il trouvoit
etrange qu'il demandast une chose contraire aux ordonnances
du Pari* qui vouloient que les pensions des officiers de la
couronne d'Ecosse fussent payees les premieres et en suite
celles des serviteurs du roy. Le Chancelier prit la parole au
mesme temps et dit que la demande qui faisoit le Marquis
d'Argyle estoit si favorable, et appuyee de tant de raison,
qu'afin qu''il la pent obtenir plus facilement il consentoit de
n'etre paye qu'apres luy de sa pension, ce qu'il ne doutoit point
que les autres ne voulussent faire aussy bien que luy. Mais
le Comte de Lanark luy dit qu''il luy pardonneroit bien s"'il
n''estoit pas resolu de Timiter, et que ne se nommant pas
Campbell mais Hamilton, il ne croyoit pas y estre oblige. Le
Marquis d''Argyle qui vit que les choses ne se conduisoient pas
tant a son avantage comme il s''estoit imagine s*'oublia de telle
sorte qu''il se porta jusques a dire que ce traitement qu"'il avoit
si peu attendu, le feroit resoudre a demander un passeport
pour se retirer hors du royaume. Cependant tout cela n'eut
autre eflPet si non, qu'au lieu d'un expres commandement qu'il
vouloit que le ParP fit au Tresorier de luy payer sa pension,
le dit Pari* le pria seulement de prendre en consideration les
interets du dit Marquis. II se pent faire qu'on m'^ait reprente
ces choses avec un peu plus d'aigreur qu'elles n'en ont eu, mais
les principales choses estant veritables, il semble qu'il y ait
sujet de croire que les Hamiltons et les Argyles ne vivent pas
en une si parfaite intelligence comme Ton s''estoit imagine, et
que quand ils ne seront plus unis par Tinteret qu'ils ont, les
uns et les autres, a la ruine du roy de la G' B' il ne sera pas
necessaire de travailler beaucoup pour les diviser.
Cependant, comme Tinteret du Marquis d'Argyle est d'en-
tretenir les affaires en la maniere ou elles sont presentement,
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 79
et celuy du Due de Hamilton de les changer, je fais ce que je
puis pour m'insinuer dans Tamitie de ce dernier, comme celui
qui pent non seulement causer plustost des desordres en ce
pays dont le roy de la G"" B"" pourra profiter, mais encore qui
tachera d'y maintenir la monarchie, ce qui estant un moyen
pour diviser TAngleterre et TEcosse, est aussy une chose qui
pent contribuer aux interets de la France.
Je joins a cette lettre la liste de ceux qui ont ete nommes
pour la Comite, a la reserve de quatre bourgeois, dont je n'*ai
peu avoir les noms. Quelque asseurance que temoignent les
Hamiltons d'y estre les plus forts, les Argyles disent quMls
n''ont a la verite que huit seigneurs contre douze, et que les
gentilhommes sont partages egalement, mais qu'ils ont aussy
quinze bourgeois contre cinq, et sans les extraordinaires, tant
de la noblesse que des gentilshommes et des bourgeois qui
dependent de leur parti, a la reserve d'un ou deux. Mais pour
moi je trouve qu''il est bien difficile en Ecosse de s"'asseurer
ainsy de la fidelite des hommes, et de dire precisement a qui
sont ceux qui ne sont qu"'a leur interet. Le Marquis d*'Argyle,
a ce qu'on m''a dit, travaille a fair venir ici le Due de Lennox,
et le Chev' Moray m'en a parle comme s''il devoit estre bientost
ici, et qu'il y dut former un parti capable de resister a celui
des Argyles et des Hamiltons en meme temps.
J''eeris a M. de Bellievre, comme la Comtesse de Lanark, qui
va en France et qui doit voir le roy de la G"" B' en passant,
m"'a ofFert de faire toutes les choses qui pourroient contribuer
a son service jusques a me dire qu'elle me le feroit voir avec
elle si j"'avois quelque chose a luy dire que je ne peusse fier a
une lettre, ou a quelque autre ; elle m''a dit aussy qu''elle
trouvera un chemin pour le commerce des lettres du dit roy,
et de la reine sa femme, et qu'elle le fera savoir a M. de
Bellievre en passant a Londres.
II est venu nouvelles que Straboughy, Wardross et Lesmore,
trois maisons du Marquis de Huntley ont ete prises par assaut.
David Leslay va assieger Bog. On ne sait pas bien ou est le
dit Marquis de Huntley, mais le bruit est que Macdonald luy
envoye quelque seeours et qu'il essayera de continuer la guerre
dans les Montagues, a quoi les trois milles Irlandais qu'^on
tient pour asseure qui passent ici, et qui seront suivis, a ce qui
se dit, de plus grand nombre, luy peuvent beaucoup aider.
80 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
Les fregates qui sont sur cette cote, avec commission du Prince
de Galles, ne laissent entrer ici aucun vaisseau et font chaque
jour quelque prise ; ce qui n'aide pas a rendre ces peuples plus
satisfaits du present governement.
Le Comte de Dunfermline me vint voir hier pour me donner
avis qu'il partira d'ici Lundi prochain pour Londres, ou il ne
croit pas demeurer plus de trois ou quatre jours, durant
lesquels il ne doute point qu'il n'obtienne la permission de se
rendre aupres du roy de la G' B"". Je vois qu'il est envoye
par le Marquis d'Argyle pour porter le dit roy a accorder la
religion et le covenant par la crainte quMl luy doit faire quMl
sera empoisonne ou assassine dans peu de jours, ce qu^'il me dit
com me une chose constante. II m^'a dit encore quMls savent
que le Prince de Galles a desir de retourner en Angleterre, a
quoi Percy essaye de le porter ; Goring le pere y travaille aussy
de son cote, il m''a dit que cela estant, la perte du roy est
inevitable, et je ne doute point qu'il ne dit la meme chose au
dit roy pour augmenter ses apprehensions.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazarni. Edinburgh, -^ ^J^,^ 1649.
The ship that was to have left for France at the beginning of the week
is now out of the harbour, and has almost all its cargo on board, it will
convey almost three hundred men, and will sail with the first fine weather.
I send to you a copy of the letter, in which I give an account of the
levies to M, le Tellier.
This Parliament came to an end on Saturday last. It was previously
discussed whether there should be a meeting of the new Parliament to
begin the next session, or be an additional sitting, as they call it, of
the present one to inagurate the incoming one ; but it was decided almost
unanimously that they would have the new Parliament. Two difl^erent
considerations led both the Hamiltons and the Argyles to adopt this same
opinion, seeing the latter wished to deprive the treasurer, who is of the
Hamilton party, of the privilege of presiding, which he would have had
if the same Parliament had been continued, and the Hamiltons because
they believe they will have a larger number of knights and burgesses of
their faction in a new Parliament than they have in the present one. The
new Parliament will not meet before the first of March next. The
Committee that has been appointed met yesterday for the first time.
The dispute that had arisen between the Earl of Dunfermline and the
Earl of Glencairn,! the first of the Argyle party, and the second of that of
* William Cunninghame, 9th Earl of Glencairn, member of Privy Council, to
Charles I., made Justice-General 1646, was very zealous in the king's service.
He became Chancellor of Scotland in 1661.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 81
Hamiltou, has been arranged. Tlie cause of it was, — at least if I have
well understood the matter, — the feus that were held from the Church
were g:iven formerly to the nobles, with the Church lands, by the late
King James ; the present king, on coming to the throne, fearing with
much reason the too great power of the nobles, revoked the gift his father
had made of them, and re-united all those feus to the crown, with the
exception of those belonging to the Dukes of Lennox and of Hamilton,
as I have been told, and he has since that time conferred the same favour
on the Earl of Dunfermline and some others.
The nobles demanded in this Parliament that, seeing the king no longer
governs, these feu-duties should be restored to them, and especially those
held from the bishop lands, which the king retained some years ago,
when he saw himself obliged to apportion the bishop lands, but the people
and the gentry, who hold some of these lands that formerly depended on
the Church, and who receive larger reductions from their king and from
his ministers through these changes of holding than they could expect from
single nobles, set themselves against that proposal, so that the matter
having been submitted, in order to be examined, to the Earls of Glencairn,
Lanark, and Lauderdale, this expedient was found by them that the feu-
duties that had been given by the king to the nobles should remain to them
provided that the gift the king had made of them had been confirmed by
Parliament, so that the Earl of Dunfermline, who had not had his thus
confirmed, on losing it by this means, could not help saying to the Earl of
Glencairn, who drew up the report, that he had been very hardly treated
by him, and then to reproach him with being attached to the interests of
the king, while he the Earl of Dunfermline had served very faithfully the
Parliament, and at length from these pretty sharp words they came to
threats, and both left together. However, their quarrel was made up at
once by Parliament, and their interests referred to the ordinary judges.^
I would not have mentioned this to you if I had not thought it would
show that these people have not lost altogether the recollection of their
king, and whatever tact and moderation they employ in the management
^ The following extract from Gordon's Monasticoii, p. 407, will throw some
light on this matter : ' In 1637, Charles, second Earl of Dunfermline, obtained
a charter under the Great Seal from Charles I. for himself, and as lord of the
Lordship of Dunfermline, conferring upon him the offices of Bailiary and Justiciary
of the Lordship and Regality of Dunfermline on both sides of the Water of Forth,
with all its rights and privileges (excepting these belonging to the Bailiary of
Musselburgh), which was ratified by the Scottish Parliament in 1641. In this
latter year he also obtained a Crown lease, afterwards ratified by Act of Parlia-
ment in 1663, for three nineteen years, commencing in 1639, of the feu-duties
and teinds of the whole Lordship and Regality of Dunfermline, with the special
exception of the Lordship and Regality of Musselburgh, whereby from this date
he collected at once the whole payments due by the vassals of the lordship,
having a right to the feu-duties pertaining to the office of bailie, as the holder of
the office, and to the surplus as lessee of the Crown. '
VOL. II. F
82 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
of their affairs, it will be surprising if some disorder does not take place
among them, besides, it seemed to me that perhaps it might not be dis-
agreeable to the Queen of Great Britain to be fully informed of it.
There was another wrangle during the last few days of Parliament
regarding the new addition which the king had made to the Board of
Finance, and which had so greatly offended the Treasurer and the
Hamiltons, but although the Marquis of Argyle did all he could in order
to have this new order accepted, going so far as to demand, as I was told,
that the finances be controlled by a Parliamentary Committee, he was
unable to obtain it ; it was not judged necessary to change anything con-
nected with the Board of Finance, so that the king has gained nothing by
this but to irritate the Hamiltons, without securing any advantage to
himself or those whom he sought to oblige. But, where I thought the
Marquis of Argyle showed most meanness, was in the demand he made
to Parliament for payment of the arrears of his pension, in order to
oblige the Treasurer, who was under no obligation to pay him, to do so.
He represented, therefore, to Parliament the services he had rendered to
the kingdom and exaggerated in servile terms the losses he had sustained,
representing the misery to which he was reduced, stating, as I am assured,
that he had no bread for his wife and children, and demanding that his
pension be paid out of the first funds at the disposal of the Treasurer.
The Earl of Lanark rose immediately and said that he found it strange
that he should ask for a thing that was contrary to the rules of Parlia-
ment, which determined that the officials of the crown of Scotland should
receive their pensions first and those depending on the king afterwards.
The Chancellor next rose, and said that the demand made by the Marquis
of Argyle was so favourable and so well-founded in reason, that in order
to enable him to obtain it more easily, he would consent to receive his
pension after him, and he did not doubt but that others would do the
same. But the Earl of Lanark replied that he would have to pardon him
if he did not decide to follow his example, and that not being named
Campbell but Hamilton he did not think he was obliged to do so. The
Marquis of Argyle seeing matters were not turning to his advantage, as
he had supposed they would, forgot himself so far as to say that this
treatment, which he had so little expected, would cause him to decide on
asking a passport in order to leave the kingdom. However all this led
to no further result than that instead of an express order which the
Marquis wished to obtain from Parliament for the Treasurer to pay him
his pension, Parliament merely begged the latter to take into considera^
tion the interests of the Marquis. It is possible that the incident may
have been represented to me with a little more ill-humour than it really
had, but the principal circumstances being exact it would seem there was
reason to believe the Hamiltons and the Argyles do not live together in
such perfect harmony has had been supposed, and that when they will be
no longer united by a common interest in the ruin of their king, one will
not have much difficulty in separating them.
Yet, as the interest of the Marquis of Argyle is to keep matters as they
1 647] :\IONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 83
are at present, and that of the Duke of Hamilton to change them, I do
what I can to insinuate myself into favour with this last, as the person
who may not only be more likely to cause disorders in this country of
which the King of Great Britain will be able to profit, but who will also
endeavour to maintain the monarchy, which being a means of dividing
England and Scotland, is also a matter that may contribute to the
interests of France.
I add to this letter the list of those who have been appointed on the
Committee, with the exception of three burgesses whose names I have not
learned. 1 Although the Hamiltons assert they are the strongest; the
Argyles say they have indeed only eight lords to the others' twelve and
that the gentry are equally divided, but that they have fifteen burgesses
to five of the Hamiltons, not including the supernumeraries which lords,
gentry, and burgesses all depend on their party excepting one or two.
For my part I find it very difficult in Scotland to assure one's-self thus of
the fidelity of men and to say precisely to whom those are who are only
for themselves. The Marquis of Argyle is, I am told, trying to bring
here the Duke of Lennox,^ and Sir Robert Moray speaks as if the latter
would be here soon, and that he is to form a party capable of resisting
the parties of Argyle and Hamilton combined.
I write to M. de Bellievre to say that the Countess of Lanark,^ who is
going to France, and who is to see the King of Great Britain in passing,
has oflTered to do everything that can help in his service, she even
suggested that I might go and see the king with her if I had anything
to say to him that I could not trust to a letter or to any second person,
and promised to find a way for sending the letters of the king and queen
which she will communicate to M. de Bellievre in passing through
London.
News has come that Strathbogie, Wardross, and Lismore, three houses
of the Marquis of Huntly, have been taken by storm. David Leslie is
going to lay siege to Bog. It is not known exactly where the Marquis
is, but it is rumoured that Macdonald is sending him assistance and that
he will try to continue the war in the Highlands, towards which the three
thousand Irish that it is confidently asserted are passing through here,
and that are to be followed, as it is said, by a larger number, will greatly
help. The frigates that are on this coast with commission from the
Prince of ^Vales do not allow any ships to enter here and capture a prize
every day, which does not render people here more satisfied with the
present government.
The Earl of Dunfermline called upon me yesterday to tell me that he
was to leave here on Monday next for London, where he does not expect
to remain more than three or four days, during which he does not doubt
^ See Appendix, Note U.
2 This duke passed much of his life abroad, and died 1655.
' The Countess of Lanark was Lady Elizabeth Maxwell, daughter of James,
Earl of Dirleton.
84 BELLIlfcVRE TO BRIENNE [april
but that he will obtain permission to go to the king. I remark that he is
sent by the Marquis of Argyle in order to induce the king to grant the
religion and the Covenant, through the fear he is to cause him of his being
poisoned or assassinated in a few days, which he tells me is a constant
dread. He tells me also that they know the Prince of Wales wishes to
return to England, to which Percy ^ is trying to persuade him ; the elder
Goring is also active in advising him to do so, hence, he says this happen-
ing, the loss of the king is inevitable, and I do not doubt but that he will
tell the same thing to the king in order to increase his apprehensions.]
CXXIX
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
Londres, 4 Avril 1647.
Monsieur, — Les difficultez, que je pourrois quasi dire Tlm-
possibilite, qui se rencontrent en Taffaire du passeport des
Irlandois, me font cognoistre, que non seulement quelques uns
des plus considerables de Tun et de Tautre party qui est icy en
auctorite, ne pouuant pas entreprendre de faire reussir une
affaire, mais aussy tous ensemble, si un entreprend de la
trauerser, et qu'en Testat que sont les choses, ce que nous
demanderons, et mesme ce que nous offririons, sera egalement
refuse de Parlement d'Angleterre, auquel n'est pas possible de
persuader que ce n'est pas a nous d''empescher la Reyne d''Angle-
terre et le Prince de Galles de suiure les Conseils qu'ilz jugent
deuoir prendre, pour le bien de leurs affaires, et aussy peu de
leur faire croire que nous trauaillons a pacifier icy les choses et
les porter a un accommodement ; la creance en laquelle on est
icy que nos interestz sont de les tenir diuisez les confirme a
cette opinion et les assistances que la maison royalle d'Angle-
terre re9oit de la France, qui luy donnent moyen de subsister,
sans se porter aux choses que desire le Parlement, les irrite fort
contre nous ; la retraicte que Ton donne aux ports de France
aux vaisseaux qui tiennent la mer, sur les commissions du
Prince de Galles, leur faict chercher occasion de s"'en vanger
sur les Fran9ois, ce qu'ilz pretendent faire au premier jour,
donnant des lettres de marque a leur marchands, qui disent
n'auoir pu obtenir en France la justice des tortz qui leur y ont
este faictz. Je scay que les principaux du Parlement sont
^ Of the Queen of Great Britain's household at Saint Germains.
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 85
d'aduis que Ton accorde les represailles, et que les plus moderes
desirent seulement que Ton publie auparauant une declaration
qui face cognoistre les raisons qu'ilz ont de se porter a ces
extremitez ; les inte'restz de ceux qui ont icy du credit, Tad-
dresse des pensionnaires d'Espagne et les jalousies continuelles
de la France que Ton donne a ces peuples pour les tenir alarmez,
font, que quelque cognoissance que Ton ayt de ce qui se passe,
il n''est pas possible de se promettre d'empescher Texecution
d''un tel desseing. La Chambre des Communes a faict cognoistre
dans la derniere deliberation qu''elle a faict des passeportz de
nos Irlandois, que nous ne deuions rien attendre du Parlement
qui fust a nostre aduantage, — disposition qu''eut la Chambre
haute de nous satisfaire, dont les chefs des deux partis ont, en
cette occasion, sollicite les Communs, comme si ce n'eust este
leur affaire propre, sans quoy ils m'auroient desja enuoye un
reffus precis ce qu''ils n''ont pas resolu, sur la cognoissance
quMls ont que la Chambre haulte n'y auroit pas voulu concourir
et quant a la fin ils pourroient estre induits a nous donner ce
que nous demandons, ce ne pent estre qu''auec tant de temps
que leur concession apparemment nous demeureroit inutile ;
ie ne cesseray pas d^ trauailler que vous ne me Tordonnier.
le ne scay en quel estat est Tarmement que Ton dit icy qui se
faict a S' Malo : ie n"'ay sceu aucunne chose de cette affaire que
par les ordres que vous m'auez enuoye d''en parler, 9a este un
fort mauuais conseil a ceux qui ont faict courir 1^ bruict que la
France veut secourir le Roy d'Ang""^, cet esclat oste le moyen
de le faire puissemment et porte le parlement a rechercher
Talliance d"'Espagne, qui depuis longtemps tesmoigne desirer
cette conionction et ceux qui pretendent establir icy une
republique n'attendent pour parler publiquement de cette
affaire, sinon que le traicte d'Espagne auec les estatz de hol-
lande soit conclu, pour ensuitte entrer en confederation. La
consideration de cette affaire imaginee auec les estatz ni
Testime particuliere quMls font de la personne de leur Ambas-
sadeur qu'ils croyent estre dans leurs sentimens et dans leur
interest n''ont peu encore les porter a luy accorder la permis-
sion d"'aller suyuant ses ordres donner part au Roy de la
Grand Bretagne de la nouuelle de la mort du prince d'Orange,
quoyque la Chambre des Seigneurs y ait consenti et qu''il
86 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [april
sollicite cette affaire il y a desia assez longtemps ; ils ne luy
ont pas refuse formellement raais ne luy accordant pas luy font
indirectement entendre que leur Roy est a present priue de
touttes les fonctions Royalles que si les propositions qui doiuent
luy estre pressenties sont par luy refFusees, et qu'en suitte il
soit mis dans le Chasteau de Warwik, et peut estre depose
ainsy que Ton pourroit entreprendre de faire puisque Ton croit
que la ville de Londres y consentera apres le refus des proposi-
tions, le ne voids pas comment je puisse demeurer icy que si
j'en partois dans ce temps la ou immediatement apres cela
tesmoigneroit un ressentiment qui pourroit apres porter les
choses a des termes qu'il peut estre a propos d'euiter, qui est
une des Raisons qui me faict demander la permission de me
retirer presentement d'icy. Le Roy de la Grande Bretagne
est en sante. Personne autre que les commissionnaires n''ap-
proche de luy, il les faict iouer auec luy a la boule, II n^est pas
de plus mauuaise humeur qu'a Tordinaire, ne tesmoigne point
estre afflige, et dit quMl est resolu de ne rien faire tant qu""!!
ne sera point en liberte et de souffrir tous les traittements qui
luy seront faicts si fascheux qu'ilz puissent estre.
L'on a si peu considere Taduis qui a este donne d'icy du
desseing que Ton a d'y faire venir le P. de Galles, que j'ay
faict ce que j'ay peu pour me persuader que cet aduis n'estoit
pas bon, plus tost que de mMmaginer que les ministres de la
Reyne d'Ang'® se trompent ou qu'ils veillent [veuilentj tromper
V. E. Cest neantmoins Tune de ces deux choses qui est veritable.
II part encores demain d"'icy des gens qui vont pour haster et
fauoriser ce desseing ce que je reconnois par la conference que
j'ay auec les correspondans de la Reyne d'Ang'^ me faict appre-
hender qu''ils n'ayent part en cette entreprise. Ce que je ne
pourois pas conceuoir si en leur conduitte je n'auois remarque
quMls ont tousiours pris les conseilz qu'ilz deuoient euiter et
qui se sont trouue les plus dommageables au Roy d'Ang'®. — Je
suis, Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
• Bellieure.
[Belu^vre to Bhienne. London, 4 April 1647.
The difficulties— I might almost say the impossibility — to be met with
in the affair of the passports for the Irish lead me to see that not only
some of the most important persons of both parties in authority here
1 647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 87
caunot undertake to ensure the success of a measure, nor even both parties
conjointly, if it be opposed, and that in the present state of affairs, what
we may demand and even offer will be equally refused by the English
Parliament, which it is impossible to persuade that it is not for us to
prevent the Queen of England and the Prince of AVales from following
the advice they consider they ought to take, for the success of their
affairs, and as little possible is it to make them believe we are engaged
here in quieting matters and bringing them to an agreement ; the belief
here existing, that our interests are to keep them divided and unsettled,
confirming them in that opinion, and the assistance that the Royal
family of England receives in France, that gives it the means of subsisting
without its engaging to do what this Parliament wishes, irritates them
very much against us ; the shelter given in the French harboui-s to the
ships that keep the sea with commissions from the Prince of ^^'^ales make
them look for an opportunity of avenging themselves on the French,
which they propose to do on the first opportunity, by giving letters of
marque to their traders, who say they have not been able to obtain justice
in France for the wrongs that have been done them there. I know that
the principal members of Parliament are in favour of granting reprisals,
and that the more moderate wish only that a declaration be published
previously that may make known the reasons that have led to their taking
that extreme measure, — the interests of influential people here, the
dexterity of those of them who are pensioned by Spain, and the continual
jealousies of France that are excited among them in order to keep them
alarmed, so operate, that, whatever knowledge may be had of what is
going on, it is impossible to count on preventing such an intention from
being carried out. The House of Commons made known in its last
discussion of the passports for our Irish, that we ought to expect nothing
to our advantage from it, in spite of the disposition the Upper House
might have to satisfy us, the leaders of both parties of which have on this
occasion solicited the Commons, as if it had been their own business,
without which they would have already sent me a definite refusal, beiuj^
only deterred from doing so from the knowledge tliey have that the Upper
House would not have concurred in it, and that in the end they wouid
be obliged to give what we ask, but it may be after such a delay that the
apparent concession would be useless to us ; I shall continue to work at
it until you order me not to do so. I do not know the state of the
military preparations that are going on at St. Malo ; I never knew any-
thing about the matter beyond the orders you sent me to speak about it,
which was a very bad advice to those who have circulated the rumour
that France wishes to give assistance to the King of England, this outcry
renders it impossible to contradict it effectively, and leads Parliament to
seek an alliance with Spain, that has long shown a desire for such union,
and those who pretend to establish a republic here are only waiting in order
to speak openly about this affair until the treaty between Spain and the
States of Holland be concluded, so as afterwards to enter into the con-
federation. Neither the consideration of this fancied affair with the
88 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [APRIL
States, nor the special esteem they have for the person of their am-
bassador, whom they believe shares their opinions and supports their
interests, have yet been able to induce them to grant him permission to
go, according to his orders, to communicate to the King of Great Britain,
the news of the death of the Prince of Orange, although the House of
Lords has consented to it, and a considerable time has elapsed since he
made the request ; they have not given him a formal refusal, but fail to
grant it and lead him indirectly to understand that their king is at present
deprived of all regal functions, and that if the proposals that are about to
be presented to him be refused by him that he may afterwards be put into
Warwick Castle and perhaps deposed ; this they will probably undertake
to do, as it is thought the City of London will consent to it after the
refusal of the proposals. I do not see how I can remain here ; if I were
to leave when this may have taken place, or immediately after, it would
show a resentment that might afterwards bring matters to a point that it is
perhaps desirable to avoid, which is one of the reasons that leads me to
ask permission to withdraw from here at present. The King of Great
Britain is in good health ; no one approaches him but the Commissioners.
He invites them to play at bowls with him, and is not in worse humour
than usual ; he does not seem at all distressed, and says he is resolved
to do nothing until he is at liberty, and to support all the treatment
inflicted upon him, however unpleasant it may be.
So little attention has been paid to the information sent from here of
the design of bringing here the Prince of Wales, that I did what I could
to persuade myself that this information was not exact, rather than to
suppose that the ministers of the Queen of England were mistaken, or
that they wished to deceive you. However, one or other of these alter-
natives is true ; several people still propose to leave here to-morrow in
order to encourage this design, and hasten its execution. From what I
discovered in my conversation with the correspondents of the Queen of
England, I fear they have a hand in this undertaking. It would be
difficult for me to conceive such a thing, had I not remarked that they
have always taken the advices they ought to have avoided, and that have
been found most detrimental to the King of England.]
cxxx
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edemhourg, ^ Avril l647.
CoMME i'ay a peine eu le temps de dechiftrer celle que
y. Em^« m'a fait rhonneur de m'ecrire du 31 du mois passe,
je remettray par le premier ordinaire a y repondre, et
Tasseureray cependant que jVxecuteray exactement toutes les
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 89
choses qu'il luy plait me commander, soit toucliant les levees
ou ces personnes de condition qui desirent prendre emploi en
France, ou les affaires du roy de la G"" B"", — avancant les
premieres autant quMl me sera possible, entretenant les seconds
dans leurs bonnes dispositions sans engager sa M^*^ a aucune
chose, et m'abstenant des dernieres jusques a ce que j"'en aie re^u
ordre de V. Em'^®. Cependant, je joins a celle-ci le double
de ce que j'ecris a M. le Tellier, afin que si V. Em'^® Fagree
€lle puisse voir plus particulierement ce qui se fait pour les
levees.
Le difFerend qui avoit ete entre le Tresorier, qui est du
parti de Hamilton, et le Marquis d'Argyle et le chancelier,
pour la pension des deux derniers, a ete si promptement
accommode qu"'on doute aujourd'huy avec raison s'il etoit feint
ou veritable, car le premier jour que le conseil des finances a
tenu, le Tresorier y a propose que les pensions du Marquis
d"'Argyle et du Chancelier fussent payees avant toutes les
autres.
Les Commissionaires Anglois qui sont ici, pressent toujours
pour avoir Belfast, et sur ce que les Ecossois ont represente
que cette place etoit necessaire pour le seurete de leur armee,
€t qu''ils ont offert de la retirer de toute Tisle, pourvu qu"'ils
leur voulussent payer ce qui leur est du, le Pari* d''Angleterre
leur a ofFert seulement ce qui leur etoit necessaire pour le
retour de leurs gens, avec asseurance du reste sur la foi publique
du royaume, sans limiter, a ce qu'on me dit, le terme du pay-
ment. Cependant, quoique cette reponse n'ait nullement satisfait
ici, et que le Marquis d'Argyle m'ait dit qu'il leur etoit du
pres de huit cent mille livres sterling pour les affaires d'lrlande,
quMls desiraient avoir, les Ecossois sont tellement assujettis
aux volontes du Pari* d'Angleterre et se croyent si peu en
etat d'entreprendre de leur resister, qu'il y a beaucoup d'appar-
ence qu'ils ne leur rendront pas seulment Belfast et tous ce
qu'ils tiennent en Irlande en la maniere qu'ils le voudront,
mais que j'ay encore sujet de croire qu'ils ne leur refuseraient
pas le chateau d'Edimbourg, si le Pari* d'Angleterre trouvoit
apropos de le demander a celuy d'Ecosse.
Le sieur Chev"" Moray m'avertit il y a pres de quinze jours,
<iue ce Pari* etoit fort alarme des fregates qui courent cette
90 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [APRIL
cote depuis quelque temps avec commission du Prince de
Galles, et me pressa d'ecrire a la Cour qu'on trouvast moyen
de faire aupres de la reine de la G' B' que les commissions
fussent changees et qu'on ne les donnast que contre les Anglois.
J'avoue, Mg', que je n'en ay pas averti V. Em*'® parce que je
n"'ay pas veu que les Ecossois eussent merite ni de la France,
ni de leur reine par leur dernieres actions un si favorable
traitement, et que j'ay creu que cette difference qui se feroit
entre les Anglois et les Ecossois pourroit irriter, avec beau-
coup de sujet, TAngleterre, de sorte que cette demand e me
sembloit injuste ; je la trouvois encore de tres dangereuse
execution. Le Marquis d'Argyle m'est venu dire depuis
presque la meme chose, mais en termes qui donnoient un peu
plus de couleur a leurs plaintes et a leur demandes, que les
fregates qui leur font la guerre se retiroient dans Dunkerque
qui etoit au roy, et avoient commission de leur prince qui
etoit en France, de sorte que S. M. pouvoit employer ses
officiers aupres du dit prince, pour faire revoquer les dites
commissions et envoyer ses commandements a Dunkerque pour
empecher que les dites fregates n*'y fussent revues, — qu'il me
disoit cecy de lui-mesme et qu'il me Tauroit dit de la part du
Comite si j'avois presente quelque lettre du roy mon maistre
au Pari* ou au Comite, ou si j'en voulois presenter ce quMl me
temoignoit qu'il eut desire que j'eusse fait, et que cependant
ils avoient donne ordre au Comte de Lauderdale, qui partoit
pour Londres, de representer a M. de Bellievre les disordre&
que cela pouvoit causer, et de supplier sa M** de vouloir faire
ce qui seroit necessaire aupres de la reine de la G' B'' pour les
arreter. Je luy ay fait reponse que je ne doutois point que
M. de Bellievre n'ecrivit a la Cour tout ce qui pourroit con-
tribuer pour leur faire donner contentement, et qu'on ne fit
aussy par dela, tout ce qui seroit possible pour les obliger,
mais que je luy donnois avis qu'il seroit apropos a de donner
charge a M. de Lauderdale de voir aussi Tambassadeur
d'Espagne, puisqu'on savoit par la relation de tous ceux
qui ont etc pris par les dites fregates, qu'elles ont quitte
Dunkerque depuis qu'elle a ete conquise par S. M'"' et se sont
retirees en Irlande, qu'elles sont toutes pleines d'Espagnol
naturels et de Flamands et qu'il faut qu'elles ayent commission
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 91
du Roi d'Espagne puisqu'elles ont pris diverses barques
Fran^aises ainsi que je luy pouvois faire dire par plusieurs
matelots fran^ais qui avoient ete laisses sur cette cote, et qui
estoient encore a Edimbourg ; qu'au reste les choses qui
in'estoient dites de sa part m''estoient de telle consideration
qu''elles le seroient peu davantage si je les apprenois par une
deputation de leur Comite, et que je ne manquerois pas d''en
ecrire a la Cour, puisqu'll me temoignoit le desirer, et que
cela pouvoit contribuer pour entretenir la bonne correspond-
ance entre les deux royaumes. Je ne luy parlai point de
rendre de lettre de sa M'^, et j'espere que V. Em*^^ ne le trouvera
pas mauvais, parce que celle que j'ay est principalemeut pour
voir ce qui se peut faire pour retablir Tancienne alliance, et
pour avoir des hommes, et qu''il ne seroit ni honnete ni possible
meme a S. M** de leur donner aujourd'huy contentement
touchant le premier, et que nous ne pouvous esperer de recevoir
d"'eux davantage que ce que nous avons eu deja sur le second ;
outre qu'ils eussent ete bien aise durant le petit differend quMls
ont avec le Pari* d'Angleterre touchant leur armee qui est en
Irlande de faire voir quMls sont recherche par S. M**^ et de s*'en
servir pour se mettre mieux avec TAngleterre, et pour luy
donner de plus gran des jalousies de la France. Cependant,
Mg'', comme ils peuvent trouver mauvais que je ne leur aye
rendu aucune lettre depuis que je suis icy, je croy que cette
occasion meme peut donner lieu de les satisfaire, sans qu''ils en
puissent tirer beaucoup d'avantage si Ton m'envoye une lettre
de cachet pour leur rendre qui leur fasse connaitre seulement
que S. M** tachera de leur faire donner satisfaction touchant
les plaintes qu'ils ont faites de ces fregates et qui me donne
ordre de m'informer plus particulierement de ce qui peut etre
de leur desir sur ce sujet, et sur toutes les choses qui peuvent
contribuer a entretenir une bonne amitie et une parfaite
correspon dance entre les deux royaumes. Le Marquis d'Argyle
m''a temoigne ensuite que TAngleterre et TEcosse s"'uniroient
si etroitement qu'elles ne formeroient plus qu'un royaume
comme elles ne faisoient qu'une isle, et que leurs peuples
n'avoient plus qu'une religion, — qu'ayant dit diverses choses
qui tendoient a cela en la derniere harangue qu'il avoit faite
au Pari'' d'Angleterre, plusieurs Anglois Tetoient venus trouver
92 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
pour Ten remercier et pour s'offrir de contribuer a cela. II
m'a dit encore que le dessein des Anglois n'etoit pas de recevoir
pour roi aucun de la race royale, et que le Comte de Northum-
berland luy en avoit dit cette raison, qu'ils ne vouloient pas,
si de nouveaux troubles se formoient dans le royaume que leur
cause, qui est maintenant celle du public devint celle d'un
particulier, et qu'il parut qu'ils combattissent plustot pour
changer de maitre que pour conserver leur liberte. II semble
aussy par ce qu'il m'a dit que ce qui regarde Tlrlande ne se
doive pas terminer a Edimbourg mais a Londres, et qu'^ils ne
doivent rien arreter du particulier de cette affaire qu'apres les
Commissionaires qui viennent de leur armee seront arrives
ici.
II doit partir a la fin de cette semaine pour aller trouver
David Leslay, que le presse de venir en Farmee, a ce qu''on
m*a dit, et qui ne fait pas etat de poursuivre le Marquis de
Huntley dans les montagnes jusqu'a ce qu"'il soit arrive, Le
dit Marquis a porte ce Comite a desirer le Comte de Seaforth
(qui a beaucoup d'autorite sur ceux qui habitent les montagnes)
qu'il veuille entreprendre aussi ce voyage, et quoiqu'ils
fussent en assez mauvaise intelligence, le Marquis d'Argyle
n''a pas laisser de luy donner a diner, et a bien voulu se
charger de Taller trouver, pour luy representer les desirs du
Comite. Je ne scay pas a quoi le Comte de Seaforth s'est
resolu, et moins encore s'il demeure constant dans la resolu-
tion qu''il aura prise, mais ce que Ton tient pour asseure est
la prise de Bog et toutes les autres places que le Marquis de
Huntley a dans la plaine ; son second fils a enfin envoye vers
David Leslay et doit s'etre venu rendre a luy presentement.
On ne sait point en quelle part est maintenant le Marquis son
pere et son aine. On croyoit qu' Alexandre Macdonald le
devoit joindre. Ce Comite ne se doit tenir qu'au quatrieme
du mois prochain. Le Comte de Lauderdale est enfin parti
pour aller a Londres et de la a Holmby.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, j^ April 1647.
As I have scarcely had time to decipher your letter of the 31st ult., I
shall delay replying to it until next mail, yet I may assure you that
I shall carry out exactly what you have ordered me regarding the levies,
or as to persons of rank who wish to take service in France, or the affairs
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 93
of the King- of Great Britain, advancing the first as much as I can, con-
firming the second in their good intentions, without engaging His
Majesty in any way, and abstaining from the last until I may receive
your orders. Yet I join to this letter the copy of one I have written to
M. le Tellier, in order to let you see in detail what is being done for
the levies.
The dispute between the Treasurer, who is of the Hamilton party, and
the Marquis of Argyle, with the Chancellor, regarding the annuities of
the two last, has been so promptly arranged, that doubts are now
expressed, not unreasonably, as to whether it was real or pretended, for at
the first meeting of the Board of Exchequer, the Treasurer proposed that
the annuities of the Marquis of Argyle and the Chancellor be paid before
those of the others.
The English commissioners, who are here, still insist on having
Belfast, and on what the Scots have represented that this fortified town
was necessary for the security of their army, and having ofi'ered to with-
draw entirely from the island, provided they would pay them what was
due to them, the English Parliament has only offered to them what was
wanted in order to bring back their troops, with security for the rest on
the public credit of the kingdom, without stating, as I have been told,
any term of payment. Yet, although this reply is considered very un-
satisfactory here, and that the Marquis of Argyle has told me that there
were almost eight hundred thousand pounds stg. owing to them for the
affairs in Ireland, which they wished to procure, the Scots are so
accustomed to submit to the will of the English Parliament, and believe
themselves incapable of undertaking any resistance to it, that there is
much likelihood they will not only deliver up Belfast and all they hold
in Ireland, but I have even reason to believe they would not refuse them
the Castle of Edinburgh if the English Parliament thought it proper to
demand it from that of Scotland.
Sir Robert Moray informed me about a fortnight ago that this Parlia-
ment was much alarmed because of the frigates that infest the coast for
some time with commissions from the Prince of Wales, and urged me to
write to court that means be found to induce the Queen of Great Britain
to have the commissions changed, and that they be given only against
the English. I confess that I did not inform you of it, because I did not
see that the Scots have deserved such favourable treatment either from
France or from their queen by their recent acts, and that I believed this
difference being made between them and the English would with much
reason irritate the latter, so that the demand seemed to me unjust, and
I also found it would be very difficult to carry it out. The Marquis of
Argyle has called upon me since to tell me almost the same thing, but in
terms that give a little more pretence to their complaints and to their
demands, that the frigates that make war on them take shelter in Dunkirk,
that belongs to the king,^ and they had the commission of their prince who
^ Dunkirk was taken by the French from the Spaniards, towards the end of
the preceding year, 1646.
94 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
was in France, so that his Majesty could by means of his officers who
are with the prince have the commissions revoked and send his orders
to Dunkirk to prevent the frigates from being received there,— that he
stated this to me on his own account, and that he would have done so on
the part of the Committee of Estates, if I had presented any letter from the
king my master to Parliament or to the Committee, or even now if I would
present it, which he showed me he wished I had done, — that they had,
however, given order to the Earl of Lauderdale, who was leaving for London,
to represent to M. de BeUievre, the disorders this might cause, and to
beg his Majesty to take whatever steps may be necessary to induce the
Queen of Great Britain to put a stop to it. I told him in reply that I
had no doubt but that M. de Bellievre would write to court all that
could in any way contribute in obtaining satisfaction for them, and that
also on the other side all would be done that was possible in order to
oblige them ; but that I gave him notice it would be necessary to em-
power Lord Lauderdale to see also the Spanish Ambassadoi*, since it was
known from what had been related by all those who have been taken
prisoners by the frigates in question, that they have abandoned Dunkirk
since it had been acquired by his Majesty and have taken refuge in Ireland,
that they are full of Spaniards and Flemings, and that they must have a
commission from the King of Spain, since they have captured several
French barques, as I could have attested by numerous French sailors
that had been landed by them on this coast, and who were still in
Edinburgh ; that the matters he had told me, on his own part, had such
a high claim to my notice, that it could not be much greater had they
been communicated to me by a deputation from their committee and
that I would not fail to write of them to court, since he expressed the
wish for it and I hoped it would contribute to maintain good intercourse
between the two kingdoms. I did not speak to him of delivering his
Majesty's letter; and I hope you will find I have acted rightly, because the
letter I have is chiefly in order to see what may be done in order to
establish the old alliance, and in order to procure men, and that it would
be neither honest nor even possible for his Majesty to satisfy them
regarding the first, and as for the second we cannot expect to receive more
from them than we have already had, besides that in the small difference
they have with the English Parliaments concerning their army in Ireland
they would have been glad to let it be seen that they are in request by
his Majesty so as to turn the matter to account in order the better to
ingratiate themselves with England and to increase this latter's jealousy
of France. Yet as they may consider it unseemly that I have not
delivered to them any letter since I have been here, I believe the pre-
sent occasion might even serve to satisfy them without their being able
to derive much benefit from it, were you to send me a letter under his
Majesty's seal to deliver to them, simply to let them know that his
Majesty will endeavour to give them satisfaction concerning the com-
plaints they have made of these frigates, and that order be given me to
inquire more closely what their wish may be on this subject, and on all
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 95
matters that may tend to maintain good friendship and perfect inter-
course between the two kingdoms. Tlie Marquis of Argyle further told
me that England and Scotland would unite so closely as to form but one
kingdom^ as they were one island, and that their peoples had no longer
but one religion ; that having said several things tending towards this
in the last harangue he delivered in the English Parliament, several
Englishmen had called upon him to thank him to offer to help in bring-
ing it about. He told me also that the English had no intention of accept-
ing as king any member of the Royal Family, for which the Earl of North-
umberland had given him this reason, that in the event of new troubles
arising in the kingdom, they did not wish their cause, which is now that
of the public, might become that of a private individual, so as to make it
seem they were contending rather for a change of master than for their
liberty. It appears also from what he told me that what concerns Ireland
is not to be settled in Edinburgh but in Loudon, and that none of the
details of the matter are to be decided until the commissioners that are
expected from their army have arrived here.
The marquis is to leave at the end of this week to join David Leslie,
who insists on his coming to the army, as I am told, and who has given
up the pursuit of the Marquis of Huntly in the Highlands, until he
reaches him. The marquis has prevailed on the committee to invite the
Earl of Seaforth,^ who has much influence over the Highlanders, to
undertake this journey also, and although they were rather on bad terms,
the Marquis of Argyle has yet had him to dinner and engaged to go and
find him himself in order to represent to him the wishes of the committee.
I do not know how the Earl of Seaforth has decided, and still less if he
will carry out the resolution he may have taken, but what one seems
assured of is the capture of Bog ^ and all the other places that the Marquis
of Huntly has in the Lowlands ; his second son has at length sent some
one to David Leslie and must at present have surrendered. Tlie where-
abouts of the marquis, his father and of his elder brother is not known at
present. It was thought that Alexander Macdonald intended to join him.
The committee is only to meet on the fourth of next month. The Earl
of Lauderdale has at length left to go to London and thence to Holmby.]
^ George Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth, was considered to be attached to
the Royal Family, yet for a time was influenced against the king. He died in
1658.
2 • David Leslie has taken Strathbogie, Bog of Gight, Lismore, and Ward-
house, two of them by storm, and the two other upon quarter. There were i6o
prisoners taken in Strathbogie.' — Rushwood, part iv. vol. i. p. 449.
' David Leslie has taken Authenden Castle, which was surrendered upon
summons. Colonel Lewis Gordon and the men, 30 in number, at mercy.' —
Ibid. p. 455.
96 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [april
CXXXI
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
Londres, 11 Auril 164-7.
Monsieur, — J'ay receu le 5^ de ce mois la lettre du 31**
passe, dont il vous a pleu m'honorer. Si les raisons pouuoient
quelque chose sur ceux de la chambre des comrauns, les passe-
ports pour rirlande n''auroient pas re^eu les difficultez qui les ont
arreste, et qui les arrestent encore. Nous auons affaire a quatre
centz personnes, pour la plus part preuenus centre nous, et qui
ont defFence de voir les ministres estrangers, encore que ce que
ie leur fais dire perd beaucoup de sa force, dans la bouche de
tout autre qui ne peut auoir la mesme affection que moy ny
pareil interest que j''ay a les persuader. Les seigneurs en font
leur aff^® propre. Ilz ont grande honte que Ton cognoisse
qu'ilz n'ont pas le credit de faire reiissir une affaire, qu'ilz ont
entrepris,et qu'ilz aduouent estre tres raisonnable. lis m''assurent
que, directement ou indirectement, ilz m''en feront auoir raison
et si le Parlement se fust aujourdhuy leue de bonne heure, ilz
eussent tenu un comite ou ilz esperoient accommoder Taffaire ;
enfin tous les jours ils trouuent quelque excuse nouuelle de ce
qu'elle n'est point faitte. Ilz pretendent auiourdhuy qu'elle est
plus difRcille qu'elle n'estoit cy deuant, par Taduis que Ton
a eu icy qu'un vaisseau que le parlement enuoyoit en Irlande,
charge de draps pour habiller dix ou douze mil soldats, a este
pris par une Fregatte de France, et conduict a S* Malo, et
quoy que ceux qui cognoissent les affaires scachent bien que
celle cy ne peut estre ainsy que Ton le conte, tels bruits pro-
duisent de fort mauuais effects dans les esprits de ce peuple.
A la premiere nouuelle quMlz en ont eu ils ont propose de m"'en
enuoyer faire des plaintes, ce qu'ils n''ont pas execute, et Ton
me vient de donner aduis qu'ils deliberent presentement dans
la chambre des communes s'ils en doiuent escrire au Roy.
J'enuoye pour essayer de parler au Speker de la Chambre
des pairs, affin qu'il empesche que cette expedition ne soit
enuoye par cet ordinaire. Je ne scay si Ton pourra parler
^ luy, si elle n'est signee que d''un Speaker, ie crois que vous ne
la receures pas, ce sont les deux maisons qui composent le
parlement, et ce qui n'est faict que par une n'est past mesme
1647] BELLlfeVRE TO BRIENNE 97
considere en Angleterre. II seroit aussy raisonnable que ces
plaintes fussent portees a la Cour par moy que par le S' Ogier,
mais sans doutte ceux qui proposent cette voye craignent, que si
Ton m'en parle, ie destrompe ceux qu'ils veulent entretenir en
leur erreur. II faut necessairement pouruoir a ce que ces
vaisseaux du Roy de la Grande Bretaigne ou du prince de
Galles ne facent aucune chose qui nous puisse commettre auec
le Parlement. Beaucoup d'eux cherchent une rupture auec la
France comme necessaire a leur union et a empescher le Roy
d'Espagne de rechercher la paix. Je vous supplie que i'aye au
plus tost une information fort exacte de ce qui se sera passe en
la prise de ce vaisseau, que Ton dit conduit a S* Malo, et une
lettre du Roy a ce subiect que ie puisse montrer ; il sera bon
aussy de bien instruire Ogier de cette affaire et le prier de
n'^escrire icy en cette rencontre, et en touttes autres, aucune
chose qui puisse alterer la bonne intelligence qui doibt estre
entre ces deux couronnes. Si le Roy d''Ang''® auoit faict ce que
nous vous auons mande, il y a plus de deux mois, que nous
jugions estre pour son seruice, ses affaires seroient en meilleur
estat, qu'elles ne sont, et nous ne craindrions rien de cette
grande flotte que TAngleterre met cette annee sur mer. Par
les lettres que les ministres de la Reyne d''Ang'"® escriuent icy,
Ton juge qu'ilz veullent maintenant accorder ces quatre pro-
positions que nous leur demandions lors. Cest encore le
mieux qu'ils puissent faire, mais c'est neantmoins auec une si
grande disproportion de Taduantage que le Roy d"'Ang''® pouuoit
tirer, que ceux qui en cognoissoient parfaittement les affaires de
ce pays jugent, que Ton a perdu la plus seure conjoncture pour
tirer le d. roy du miserable estat ou il est. Je maintiens
toujours les affaires au mieux qu'il m'est possible, et j"'ay faict
que Ton mande encore aujourdhuy que la Reyne d''Ang'"® et ses
ministres, que si le Roy d'An""® enuoye les choses qui leur ont
este portees par Monsieur TAbbe de Bullion, ceux qui ie
nommois lors, s'obligeront, ainsy qu'ils faisoient en ce temps la,
de faire retenir le d. roy en dignite et pouuoir ; mais Testat des
affaires des Independans presbiteriens et de la ville de Londres
n''est pas tel qu'il estoit lors, en sorte que Ton ne doit attendre
auiourd'huy que d\i hazard, les aduantages qui estoient comme
certains s'il eust faict il y a deux mois ce que Ton desiroit de
VOL. II. G
98 BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE [april
luy, — Je suis, Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant
seruiteur, Bellieure.
Au dos. — M. de Bellieure, du IF Auril l647, re9u le l6«.
[BELuiivRE to Brienne. London, 11 April 1647.
I RECEIVED on the 5th your letter of the 31st ult. If arguments could have
any weight with those of the House of Commons the passports for Ireland
would not have met with the objections that have stopped and still stop
them. We have to do with four hundred persons, for the most part pre-
judiced against us and who are prohibited from seeing foreign ministers,
so that what I say to them by means of another person loses much of its
force when repeated by any one not having the matter so much at heart
as I have nor having an equal interest to persuade them. The Lords have
taken the matter up through emulation, as if it had been their own ; they
are much ashamed to let it be known that they have not the influence to
command success in a matter they have undertaken and which they admit
to be reasonable. They assure me that directly or indirectly they will
enable me to get the better of them, and if Parliament had not risen a
little earlier than usual to-day, they would have held a committee in
which they hoped to arrange the matter ; in short, each day they find
some new excuse for its not being done. They pretend to-day that it is
more difficult than it was previously, because of the information received
here that a ship which the Parliament was sending to Ireland, laden with
cloth for the uniforms of ten or twelve thousand soldiers, has been
captured by a French frigate and taken to St. Malo, and although those
who are acquainted with such affairs know well that this cannot have taken
place as it is related, such rumours produce the worst possible effect on the
public mind. On the an-ival of the news they proposed at first to send
me to complain of it, which they have not done, and I have just learned
that they are at present deliberating in the House of Commons if they
ought to write to the king. I am sending some one to try and speak with
the Speaker of the House of Peers so that he may prevent it from being
done and sent by this mail. I do not know if it will be possible to speak
with him ; if it only be signed by one speaker, I believe you will not
receive it, the Parliament being composed of the two Houses, what is done
but by one of them is of no account in England. It would be as
reasonable that these complaints were taken to Court by me as by
M. Ogier, but no doubt those who propose this means fear that if I am
spoken to about it, I may undeceive those whom they wish to maintain in
their error. Means must necessarily be taken to provide against those
ships of Great Britain or the Prince of W'ales doing anything that may
involve us with the Parliament ; many of the members desire a rupture
with France as necessary to their union and in order to prevent the King
of .Spain from making peace. I pray you to let me have immediately
exact information as to what took place in the capture of this ship which
is said to have been taken to St. Malo, and also a letter from the king on
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 99
this subject that I can show ; it will be necessary also to give precise in-
structions to Ogier on this affair, and to beg him not to write here in this
circumstance, nor in any other, what may impair the good understanding
that ought to exist between these two kingdoms. If the King of England
had done what we informed you of two months ago, that we judged neces-
sary for his service, his affairs would be in a better state than they are
now and we would have nothing to fear from this great fleet that England
is putting to sea this year. By letters received here from the ministers
of the Queen of England it is judged that they wish now to grant these
four proposals that we asked from them then. It is still the best they can
do, but it is nevertheless with such a great disproportion of the advantage
that the King of England might have been able to derive then, that those
best acquainted with the affairs of this country judge that the surest con-
juncture for delivering the king from the miserable state in which he is
has been lost. I still keep matters together as well as I can, and I have
so arranged as to have had notice to-day that if the Queen of England and
her ministers with the King of England send the proposals which were
brought to them by I'Abbe de Bullion, those whom I then named will con-
sider themselves obliged, as they did at that time, to cause the king to
be retained in dignity and power ; but the state of affairs of the Indepen-
dents, Presbyterians, and of the City of London is not now what it then
was, so that one must wait to-day till chance favours them to obtain the
advantages that were, so to speak, certain, if he had done two months ago
what was wished of him. ]
CXXXII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, — Avril l647.
J* AY re^u par le retour de celuy que j'avois depeche en
France les lettres dont il a pleu a V. Em*^® m"'honorer du 5 et
du 12 de ce mois, sur le sujet desquelles je prendray la hardiesse
de luy dire qu"'il ne se trouvera que j aye jamais fait aucun office
aupres de qui que ce soit pour accorder, ou a Alexandre Mac-
donald, qui commande le reste des forces du roy, ou le Marquis
de Huntley avec ce Pari* ; car pour ce qui est du premier,
personne ne m''a jamais parle de ses interets, et je n'ay point
eu lieu d"'en parler a personne qu"'autant quMl etoit necessaire
pour en apprendre des nouvelles et pour savoir en quel endroit
et en quelle condition il se trouvoit, sans avoir jamais passe
plus avant; et pour ce qui regarde le Marquis de Huntley,
le seul Robert Leslay m'*a entretenu de ses affaires et m'a dit
100 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
sur ce sujet ce que je me suis donne Thonneur de mander a
V. Em*® il y a quelque temps, si non que m'ayant presse
d'ecrire au dit Marquis que il s'accommodast, comme une chose
qui luy pouvoit etre fort utile, je n'ay pas seulement refuse de
le faire mais meme d'en dire icy le premier mot, luy faisant
connaitre que je ne pouvois m'entremettre des affaires d"'autruy
sans en avoir ordre. Cecy, Mg', est fort eloigne d'avoir
travaille a Faccommodement de ces deux personnes, et V. Em"®
pent voir par la que la mauvaise volonte de ceux qui m'ont
voulu mettre mal aupres de la reine de la G' B' est accom-
pagnee de fort peu de jugement de m''avoir attaque par un
endroit ou je leur ay donne sur moi si peu de prise. Cepen-
dant, Mg'', c''est avec im extreme deplaisir que j"'apprends que
la dit reine se porte a donner creance aux choses que luy sont
dites de cette nature, et je laisse a V. Em®® a juger par mes
autres actions, si elle ne fait pas quelque sorte d'injure au
grand zele et a Textreme fidelite avec lesquelles j'ay toujours
essaye de servir le roy son mari, en croyant trop facilement
des choses si fort eloignees de toute sorte de verite. Au reste,
Mg', bien que toutes les maisons du Marquis de Huntley ayent
ete prises, on m'asseure qu'il ne pense point a sortir du royaume,
mais a se venger de ce Pari* et du Lieut. -Gen, David Leslay,
qui apres avoir promis de sauver la vie a tous ceux qui se sont
trouves dans le dernier chateau que s'est rendu a luy, — et je
croy que c"'est Lismore, — et s'etre exprime en ces termes quMl
ne tireroit aucune goute de sang de toute la garnison, n'a pas
laisse de faire pendre trente cinq au quarante Irlandais qui
s'y sont trouves.
On ne sait point en quel lieu est presentement le Marquis
de Huntley, si non qu'il est dans les montagnes et qu'il tache
de joindre Macdonald, — ce que David Leslay essaye aussy
d'empecher.
Le Marquis d'Argyle est parti d'ici vendredi dernier. II se
dit que le Comte de Seaforth doit le suivre et qu'ils s'uniront
pour passer dans les montagnes. JTavois oublie de mander a
V. Em®® qu'on n'attend plus le Due de Richmond quelque
desir que sembloit avoir le Marquis d'Argyle de le voir ici.
J'ay montre au Marquis ^ d'Angus ce qu'il a pleu a V. Em®®
* Comte.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 101
me mander en faveur de son regiment, et sans une petite
indisposition qui lui est survenue aujourd'huy, 11 en auroit
rendu de tres humbles remerciements a V. Em^® qui luy a
accorde tout ce qu"'il avoit resolu de luy demander pour
Tavenir. II a appris aussy avec une extreme satisfaction la
bonte que V. Em'=® a eue d'envoyer dix mil livres de son
propre argent a ses officiers, et il va travailler maintenant de
bonne sorte aux recreues, mais il dit que les dix mil livres
divises en tant de personnes suffiront bien pour les retirer de
leur plus grande necessite et pour les acquitter d''une partie
de ce qu''ils doivent, mais non pas pour les mettre en etat de
servir par dela durant cette campagne, ou de venir icy travailler
a leurs recreues, de sorte qu'il supplie V. Em'^^ qu''ils puissent
recevoir une partie des arrerages de leur pension, et je croy
qu'ils se contenteront des vingt trois mil livres qu''on leur avoit
promis par annee.
Les vents qui depuis quinze jours ont ete fort violents et
tout a fait contraire arrestent encore en cette rade le vaisseau
qui porte pres de trois cens hommes pour le Chev' Moray.
Le Comte d' Angus a envoye ce soir un des siens a Aberdeen
pom' faire embarquer six vingts hommes qu''il a tout prets en
ce lieu pour passer en France, et le Chev"" Moray me dit que
cinq de ses capitaines ont deja leve proche de la, un nombre
de gens considerable, sans les prisonniers de guerre que Ton a
accordes pour les recreues de deux regiments, qui les augmen-
teront de fort peu, parce qu''on arreste prisonniers ceux qui
ont quelque chose et qu"'on pend presque tous les autres.
Au reste, Mg', je n"'ay rien promis aux officiers Anglois, que
ce que j"'ay mis dans les articles que nous avons signes, et je ne
leur ai rien fait esperer de plus que ce qui je me suis donne
rhonneur d'ecrire a V, Em*'® qui doit deprendre absolument de
sa volonte, leur ayant particulierement oste toutte esperance
d''estre montes.
II est arrive assez a propos que j''ay differe de donner au
Chev' Moray les commissions qui m''ont ete envoyees pour son
regiment, sur ce qu''il a pleu a M. le Tellier me mander que
c'estoit au lieu des dix qu^^il avoit apportees et qui avoient ete
perdues, et que je suis asseure qu''il les a toutes, il m'a done
semble qu'il seroit plus doux de ne point donner les dites
LIBRARY
lOJ MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [APRIL
commissions que de les oster quand elles auroient este donnees
pour reduire le regiment a vingt compagnies. Je le laisse
done travailler de la mesme sorte qu'auparavant, sans m'en
expliquer davantage ainsy que M. le Tellier m'a mande que je
le dois faire.
J'entretiendray toujours ceux qui proposent de lever des
troupes, mais sans m'engager avec eux en aucune sorte. Le
Comte de Callendar a trouve bon que nous attendissions quand
Farmee dlrlande se debanderoit, pour parler des avantages quMl
pourroit trouver en France, et des services qu'il proposeroit
d'y rendre, n'y ayant point aussy bien d'apparence de pouvoir
lever un nombre considerable d'hommes avant cela, et etant
impossible d'en obtenir la permission de ce Parlement. Le
sieur Robert Leslay continue toujours de me proposer de faire
son regiment, mais je me suis plustost un peu retire qu'avance
avec luy suivant ce qui m''a ete ordonne. Je me suis toutefois
toujours maintenu en etat de pouvoir rompre ou conclure
notre traite, selon que je recevray ordre de le faire. Ma lettre
est deja si longue que je croy que V. Em"® me pardonnera si
je remets a repondre a ce qu"'elle m"'a fait Thonneur de me
mander sur le sujet du Comte de Lanark, frere du Due de
Hamilton.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ April 1647.
I HAVE received by the returu of the person I despatched to France,
your letters of the 5th and 12th inst., on which subject I shall venture to
say to you that I have never made any offer to any person whatever in
order to induce them to come to terms with this Parliament, neither to
Alexander Macdonald, who commands the remainder of the king's forces,
nor to the Marquis of Huntly ; for, as regards the first, no one has ever
spoken to me of his interests, and I have never had occasion to speak of
them to any one further than it was necessary in order to obtain news
of him and to know in what place or condition he was, without ever having
gone further into the matter : and for what concerns the Marquis of
Huntly, Robert Leslie is the only person who has mentioned his affairs
to me, and who told me what I mentioned to you some time ago, if not
that having urged me to write to the marquis that he should come to
terms as a thing that might be very useful for liim, I not only refused to
do so, but also to make the slightest mention of it here, leading him to
understand that I could not mix myself up in other people's affairs without
having order to do so. This is very different from having applied myself to
bring these two persons to an agreement, which may enable you to see
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 103
that the ill-will of those who have wished to set the Queen of Great Britain
against me is accompanied with very little judgment from having attacked
me without there being any reason for it. Yet, it is with extreme regret
that I learn that this queen is disposed to give credit to such matters as
are told her of this nature, and I leave you to judge from my other actions
if she does not in some offer an insult to the great zeal and the extreme
fidelity with which I have always tried to serve the king, her husband,
in believing too readily things so far removed from all sort of reality. As
to other matters, although the houses of the Marquis of Huntly have been
captured, I am assured he does not think of leaving the kingdom, but of
avenging himself on this Parliament and on Lieut. -General David Leslie,
who, after having promised to save the lives of all those who were in the
last castle that surrendered to him (I believe Lismore) having said he
would not take a drop of blood from any of the garrison, did not hesitate
to hang thirty-five or forty Irish that were found there.
It is not known where the Marquis is at present, if not that he is in the
Highlands and that he is trying to join Macdonald, which David Leslie
is trying to prevent.
The Marquis of Argyle left here on Friday last. It is said that the Earl
of Seaforth is to follow him, and that they will meet and pass into the
Highlands together. I had omitted to inform you that the Duke of Rich-
mond is no longer expected here notwithstanding the wish the Marquis
of Argyle appeared to have to see him here.
I showed the Earl of Angus what you informed me of in favour of his
regiment, and but for a slight indisposition he has to-day he would have
returned you his very humble thanks for having granted to him all he had
decided to ask from you for the future. He learned also with much satis-
faction the kindness you have had in sending ten thousand livres out of
your own purse to his officers, and he is going to set to work in the right
manner in getting recruits, but he says that the ten thousand licres divided
among so many persons, while it will suffice quite to relieve them from their
most urgent wants, and enable them to pay a part of their debts, will
not render them capable of serving yonder during this campaign, or
of coming here to engage in recruiting, so that he begs you to enable them
to receive the arrears of their pay, and I believe they would be satisfied
with twenty-three thousand livres, which was promised to them two years
ago, and which is the half of what it was agreed to give them yearly.
Tlie wind, which during the last fortnight has been very violent and
quite contrary, still delays in this roadstead the ship that carries almost
three hundred men for Sir Robert Moray. The Earl of Angus has sent
this evening one of his people to Aberdeen to embark a hundred and
twenty men that he has quite ready in that place to pass over to France,
and Sir Robert Moray tells me that five of his captains have already raised
near there a considerable number, without the prisoners of war that have
been granted for recruits to the two regiments, which increases them but
very little, because they only take as prisoners those who have anything,
but hang all the others.
104 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
Further, I have promised nothing to the English officers beyond what
I put into the articles we have signed, and I have led them to hope for
nothing but what I wrote to you of, which ought to depend absolutely on
your will, having told them particularly not to hope in being mounted.
It has happened very a propos that I delayed giving to Sir Robert
Moray the commissions that were sent to me for his regiment, which M.
le Tellier informed me had been sent to replace ten that had been given
to him, but that had been lost, and as I am certain that he has them all,
it therefore seemed to me it would be more amiable not to give the ten
commissions than to withdraw them after they had been given, so as to
reduce the regiment to twenty companies. I leave him then to work on
as formerly without entering into any explanation as M. le Tellier bade
me to do.
I shall always keep up communications with those who propose to raise
troops, without entering into any sort of engagements with them. The
Earl of Callander would like us to wait until the army in Ireland be dis-
banded, in order to treat of the advantages he might find in France and
the services he would propose to undertake there, as there was not much
likelihood of being able to raise any considerable number of men before
that and it being impossible to obtain the permission of Parliament for it.
Mr. Robert Leslie still continues to propose to me to form 'a regiment, but
I have rather drawn /back than advanced in the matter with him, according
to what I have been' ordered. I am, however, still in a position either to
break off or conclude our treaty as I may be told to do. My letter is
already so long that I delay my reply to your inquiry concerning the Earl
of Lanark, brother of the Duke of Hamilton.
CXXXIII
BELLIJEVRE a BRIENNE
Londres, Avril 15, 1647.
Monsieur, — Nous n"'auons point encore les passeports que
nous demandons pour Tlrlande. Je me suis donne Thonneur
de vous escrire ce que Ten pensois dabord, que cette affaire a
este portee dans le parlement, ie ne change pas d'aduis, cepen-
dant les Seigneurs disent tousjours que auec le temps ilz les
feront auoir. L'on faict bien du bruict icy de ce vaisseau charge
d'habits conduit a S* Malo. Ogier aura ordre de le demander.
Les instructions qui furent dressees Jeudy par la Chambre
basse pour luy enuoyer sur ce subiect, estoient en termes si
fiers et si haults qu'elles furent par le Speaker de la Chambre
des Seigneurs corrigees. lis pretendent que si ce vaisseau est
pris par des Fran9ois qu'il ne pent estre garde. Aussy peu s'il
Test en vertu des Commissions du prince de Galles, qui n'a
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 105
point droit d'en donner pendant la vie du Roy son pere,
et ainsy ce qui auroit este faict sur telles commissions ne peut
pas estre authorise par la France; que s'il est pris sur des patentes
que le Roy de la Grand Bretagne a austres fois expediees Ton
ne le peut aussy estimer estre de bonne prise puisque le dit
Roy a solemnellement reuocque telles commissions Teste dernier
peu apres estre arriue dans Tarmee des Escossois. S"'il estoit
pris sur des commissions du Roy d'Ang""®, et qu''il fut juge
a propos de le rendre au Parlement peut-estre que vous
estimeriez qu''il seroit bien de faire entendre a Ogier que la
France et la Reyne d'Ang'® sont d'aduis qu'il soit rendu, mais
qu'il a este pris en vertu des ordres du Roy d'Ang""®, qu'il est
raisonnable qu''il luy soit demande et que Ton ne doute pas qu''il
ne Taccorde, et en effect il faudroit escrire au d. Roy qu'il
Taccordast; leur interest present les pourroit porter a faire
a leur Roy cet acte de recognoissance, et le Roy Taccordant
donneroit subiect a ceux qui ont bonne intention de le seruir,
et si vous faittes cognoistre a Ogier, et que vous me donniez
lieu de faire cognoistre par de9a, que ce vaisseau sera rendu,
par Taduis et sur les instances de la France, il y a apparence
que cela seruira a guerir les mauuaises opinions que Ton a icy
de nos intentions pour la paix d'Ang'^ et en suitte a faciliter
les passeports et les leuees que Ton auroit a faire en ces quartiers.
Par ce que j''apprends icy et ce que je juge par la conduitte de
ceux qui ont le plus de confiance auec M' Germain et par le
peu de nouuelles que j'ay des intentions de la Reyne d'Ang'®,
je voy que se resoluant d''accepter quoyque bien tard les offres
que nous luy auons faictes, et si voulant seruir au mieux qu''il
se pourra maintenant du party que nous luy auons consenie
et quasi acquis auec peine, elle le pretendroit faire sans
tesmoigner en auoir obligation a la France. Je scay que
ses ministres ne sont pas satisfaicts de la liberte auec laquelle
je vous ay escrit, ce que je jugeois de leur conduitte, mais
cela ne doibt empescher qu''ilz ne vous donnent la part qu'ilz
doiuent et que je ne sois aussy informe de ce a quoy ilz
se resoluent et de la forme en laquelle ilz pretendent conduire
leurs affaires. — Je suis, Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres
obeissant seruiteur, Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 15"^ Auril l647, receu le 19 du d.
mois.
106 BELLlfeVRE TO BRIENNE [APRIL
[BELLiiivBE to Bbienne. LoiidoTi, 15 April 1647.
We have not yet got the passports we are demanding for Ireland. I
wrote to you what I thought of this matter at first, when it was brought
into Parliament, I have not changed my opinion about it ; however, the
Lords still say that with time they will obtain them. A great outcry is
being made here about the ship laden with uniforms brought into St.
Alalo ; Ogier will receive orders to demand it. The instructions that
were drawn up on Thursday by the Lower House to send to him on this
subject were so proud and haughty that they were toned down by the
Speaker of the House of Lords. They pretend that if this ship be taken
by the French it cannot be kept, as little can it be so in virtue of the
commissions of the Prince of Wales, who has no right to grant any during
the life of the king, his father, and therefore what might have been done
on such commissions cannot be authorised by France ; that if it be
captured on the letters-patent which the King of Great Britain formerly
issued it cannot be considered a prize since the king formally revoked
such commissions last summer shortly after he arrived in the Scottish
army. If it were taken on the commissions of the King of England and
that it be judged proper to deliver it up to Parliament, perhaps you wonld
consider it useful to explain to Ogier that France and the Queen of Eng-
land are of opinion that the ship be given up, but that having been taken in
virtue of the orders of the King of England, it is but reasonable that it be
demanded from him, and that no doubt it will be granted, and, in fact, it
would be necessary to write to the king tliat he may grant it ; their pre-
sent interest might induce them to pay to their king this act of gratitude,
and the king in granting it would open the door to those who have good
intentions of serving him, and if you inform Ogier that this ship will be
given up in accordance with the opinion and in the interests of France,
and authorise me to declare it here to be so, it is likely that this will tend
to cure the bad opinions that are held here of our intentions for the peace
of England, and thereafter facilitate the passports and the levies that one
may have to raise in these parts. From what I learn and from what I am
able to judge by the conduct of those most in confidence with M. Jermyn,
and because of the little news I receive of the intentions of the Queen of
Great Britain, I see that she is deciding on accepting, although very late,
the offers we made to her, and wishing to make now the best use possible
of the party we have preserved for her, and, so to speak, formed with
trouble : she would pretend to do this without testifying any obligation to
France for it. I am aware that her ministers are dissatisfied with the liberty
I took in writing to you what I thought of their conduct, but that ought
not to prevent them from giving to you the part they ought to do, neither
does their dissatisfaction prevent me from being informed of what they
resolve and the manner in which they propose to conduct their affair.]
i647] BELLIl^VRE TO BRIENNE 107
CXXXIV
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
Londres, 18 Avril l647.
Monsieur, — Je receus hier par le courrier de Montereul les
lettres du douze dont il vous a pleu de m'honorer. le sou-
haitterois auoir a y respondre autres choses que celles que ie me
suis donne Thonneur de vous escrire cy deuant, mais ce qui
se passe tous les jours concemant les interestz du Roy d'Ang""®
et raccomplissement, ou au moins racheminement, de ee que
nous auons tousjours apprehende qui luy arriuera. Les pres-
biteriens disposent de la ville de Londres ont tout pouvoir sur
les Escossois, ont accommode a leur mode les affaires d'Irlande,
et croyent auoir finy celles de Tarraee, en sorte qu'ilz se
declarent quasi qu''ilz n''ont plus besoing de Roy, et les plus
moderes d'entre eux ne se resoudroient a le souffrir qu'a
des conditions plus rudes que par le passe. Les Independans
sont desunis, la pluspart manque de cceur, et ceux d''entre eux
qui pourroient entreprendre quelque chose de grand a Taduan-
tage du Roy d''Ang'® en sont retenus par Fopinion qu'ilz ont que
Ton ne se pent fier au d. Roy, qui ne garde point de secret,
et qui n^'a point eu de Constance dans toutes les resolutions
importantes qu'il sembloit auoir pris jusques icy pres des uns
et des autres. Je fais ce que je puis pour son seruice. Je ne
vous diray point que j'espere auoir demain le passeport pour
les Irlandais, mais bien que Ton me promet de faire encore
effort pour me le faire obtenir, peut estre que de Targent que
j''ay faict offrir a queiques uns de la Chambre des Communs qui
nous ont este les plus contraires, au cas qu'ilz me le facent auoir,
apportera quelque facilite a cette affaire. Je ne trouue pas
qu"'il soit plus aise d''obtenir un passeport pour enuoyer un de
mes gens dans les lieuxs [sic] qui sont occupez par ceux qu''ils
appellent les rebelles d'lrlande que d'auoir le premier que nous
auons demande, il n''est pas imaginable auec quelle obstination la
Chambre des Communs arreste cette affaire. Puisque dans la
creance que je puis esloigneret mesme en quelque fa^on diminuer
les maux qui menacent le Roy d'Ang""®, vous voulez que ie
demeure icy, i"'ay peu de subiect d''esperer que dans un
establissement nouueau qui suiuira la restitution ou la perte
108 BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE [april
du Roy d'Ang""^ vous trouuez bon que ie m'en retourne, en
sorte que ie ne voy point qu'en aucun de ces trois cas auxquels
les affaires peuuent estre, ie puisse obtenir mon conge, je
m'efforceray tousiours de bien seruir et de faire cognoistre que
ie scay obeir. J'esperois que les interestz publics me feroient
rappeler et pour ce ie n'ay rien dit des miens, pour lesquels ie
vous supplie de faire que ie puisse auoir la permission de
m'absenter d'icy pendant quinze jours dont j'en puisse passer
huict a Paris pour donner quelque ordre a mes affaires qui
souffrent beaucoup de ma longue absence. Si j'ay la permission
de faire ce petit voyage, non seulement Ie seruice du Roy n''en
souffrira rien, mais je me persuade qu'il sera utile au bien des
affaires de sa M*^ et de celles du Roy d'Ang""®. Certainement
il seruira a me faire souft'rir auec moins de dommage Ie sejour
qui me sera ordonne de faire icy. Despuis la prise du vaisseau
charge des habits que Ie parlement enuoyoit en Irlande il n''y a
point eu des plaintes des fregattes du prince. Les ministres de
la Reyne de la Grand Bretagne mandent icy qu''ils en ont
faict reuocquer les commissions. Le parlement a auiourdhuy
ordonne aux comtes de Warwick et de Manchester ensemble a
quatre de la maison des Communs de me venir prier de faire
office en France pour faire que ce vaisseau charge d''habits
qu'ils disent auoir este conduit a St. Malo leur soit restitue.
Je me suis donne Thonneur de vous escrire cy deuant que
s''il est possible qu"'il le soit ; cela euitera de grandes plaintes.
Ie suis encor de ce mesme aduis, et pour cela ie ne puis
pas respondre d'empescher que les lettres de represailles, dont
on parle depuis quelque temps, ne soient enfin accordees, Je
scay bien ce quy pent nuire, mais il est impossible de dire
ce quy pent seruir. Je fais ce que ie puis pour esluder Testat
de la mauuaise humeur de ces gens. Icy j''ay faict que celuy
qui est charge de traduire la plainte des marchans pour me la
communiquer, ne s'en presse pas fort ; je continueray a faire
ce que ie pourray pour esloigner la fin d'une affaire qui ne nous
pent estre aduantageuse. — Je suis, Monsieur, Vostre tres humble
et tres obeissant seruiteur, Bellieure.
[BELLii:vRE to Brienne. London, 18 April 1647.
I RECEIVED by Montereul's courier your letters of the 12th inst.
I should wish to have something to say in reply to them different
1 647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 109
from what I have already written to you of what takes place each day
concerning the interests of the King of England and the completion — or
at least the progress — of what we have always feared would happen to him.
The Presbyterians, who are masters of the City of London and all-powerful
with the Scots, have arranged the affairs of Ireland in their own fashion,
and they believe also they have settled that of the army, so that they
declare in a manner that they no longer require a king, and the most
moderate among them would not agree to tolerate him, save on conditions
harder than those of the past. The Independents are divided, most of
them are heartless, and those of them who might undertake to do some-
thing important for the advantage of the King of England are restrained
from it by the opinion they have that one cannot trust the king, who
does not keep secrets and has not shown firmness in all the important
resolutions he appears till now to have taken with one or the other of the
parties. I do what I can for his service. I shall not say to you that I
hope to have the passports for the Irish to-morrow, but although I have
received a promise that another attempt will be made to obtain it for me
perhaps the money that I have offered to some members of the House
who have been most opposed to it, in the event of their enabling us to
have it, will facilitate the matter. I do not find that it is easier to obtain
a passport to send one of my people in the places occupied by those
they call Irish rebels, than to have the first passport that we asked for :
one cannot imagine the obstinacy with which the House of Commons stops
this affair. Since you wish me to remain here, in the belief that I am
able to drive away and even in some measure lessen the evils that threaten
the King of England, I have little reason to hope that in a new order
of things that will follow either on the restoration or the loss of the king
you will approve of my return, so that in none of these three turns affairs
may take shall I be able to procure leave of absence. I shall always make
a point of doing my duty and of showing that I know how to obey. I was
hoping that the public interest would cause my recall, and on that
account I have not mentioned mine, for which I beg you to allow me a
fortnight's leave of absence, eight days of which I shall pass in Paris in
order to put some order in my affairs that are much neglected owing to
my long absence. Had I your permission to make this short journey the
service of the king would not only in no way suffer thereby, but I am per-
suaded that it would be useful to the affairs of his Majesty and to those
of the King of England : it would certainly serve to enable me to sustain
with less injury the stay I shall be ordered to make here. Since the
capture of the ship laden with uniforms, which Parliament was sending
to Ireland, there has been no other complaint of the frigates of the prince.
The ministers of the Queen of Great Britain write here to say they have
revoked the commissions. Parliament has ordered to-day that the Earls
of Warwick and Manchester with four members of the Commons wait
upon me to beg me in virtue of my office to have this ship laden with
uniforms, which they say has been taken to St. Malo, restored to them.
I have already written to you that this should be done, were it possible ;
110 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [april
it will obviate great complaints. I am still of this opinion and for that
very reason, that I cannot engage to prevent the letters of reprisals that
have been spoken of for some time from being at last granted, I do what
I can in order to elude the state of bad humour of those people. I know
well what may harm, but it is impossible to say what may help. I have
caused the person who has been entrusted here with the translation of the
complaint of the merchants, in order to deliver it to me, not to be in a
great hurry with it ; I shall continue to do what I can to defer the con-
clusion of an affair that cannot be satisfactory for us.]
cxxxv
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres le ^ Auril l647.
Monsieur, — Si la visite que me viennent de rendre les contes
de Warwik et de Manchester et autres deputez du Parlement
ne rn'obligeoit a vous escrire, je me serois aujourd'huy dispense
ne s''etant rien passe de considerable depuis Tordinaire dernier.
La Traduction que ie vous enuoye de ce que ces M*'® m''ont
laisse par escrit est la relation de ce qu''ils m'ont dit. Je ne
leur ay peu respondre qu"'en termes generaux dont ils ont
tesmoigne estre bien satisfaits. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre tres
humble et tres obeissant seruiteur, Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 22® Auril l647, receu le 29 du d.
mois.
* Par le commandement des deux maions [sic pour maisons]
du Parlement Nous addressons a vostre Ex^® touchant un
subiect particulier, depuis peu arriue, et qui regard les in-
terestz du Parlement. II y a cinq sepmaines enuiron que
par leur commande* un petit vaisseau fut charge d"'armes, de
munitions, et d'habits a dessein de Tenuoyer en Irlande, pour
suppleer aux forces qu''ils y ont, et estre employees a la
suppression des Rebelles de ce pais la ; mais faisant voille pour
cet effet a este pris par un homme de guerre de Tisle de Jersy,
et mene a S* Malo, selon qu'en est informe le Parlement. Ce
que nous desirons la-dessus par le commande* des deux Maisons
du Parlement est que selon la justice et ceste bonne amitie qui
se conserue entre les deux couronnes ce vaisseau et ce dont il est
charge soit promptement rendu, et ceux qui Tout pris con-
damnez selon la justice. Nous auons donne ordre a Augier,
i647] BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE 111
agent du Parlement a Paris, de receuoir le diet vaisseau et
sa charge et le remettre en Met conformement au premier
dessein, la saison requerant toute diligence. Et comme V.E.
a souuent exprime les Royales intentions de son diet Maistre
pour toute bonne correspondence, ainsy nous ne doutons pas
qu'une exemplaire justice ne soit faite de ce particulier, et que
telles personnes comme celles qui ont pris le susdict vaisseau
estant Pirates ne soyent pas soufferts d'esquiper des vaisseaux
dans les Ports de Sa Ma*^ tres chrestienne et les mettre en mer
pour Texecution de leurs iniustes desseins, beaucoup moins que
Ton retire dans ses Ports les nauires dont ils se saisissent
en mer.
Au dos — Auec la lettre de M. de Bellieure du 22 Auril l647 j
receu le 29® du d. mois.
[Belli^vre to Brienne. London, ^ April 1647.
Had not the visit of the Earls of Warwick and Manchester and other
members of Parliament obliged me to write to you, I should have dis-
pensed with doing so to-day, nothing of importance having taken place
since the departure of the last mail. The translation I send to you of
what these gentlemen left with me in writing is the statement of what
they told me. I was only able to reply to them in general terms witli
which they seemed to be very satisfied.
' By Command of both Houses of Parliament : We apply to your
Excellency concerning a special matter happened lately and which
concerns the interests of the Parliament. About five weeks ago a small
ship was freighted with arms, munitions, and uniforms for the purpose of
sending it to Ireland in order to supply the forces they have there and to
be employed in suppressing the rebels of that country ; but on its course
for that destination it was taken by a ship-of-war of the island of Jersey
and taken to St. Malo, as Parliament has been informed. What we
desire on this subject, by command of both Houses of Parliament, is, that
according to justice and that good friendship which is retained between
the two kingdoms, this ship and her cargo be promptly restored, and
those who took it punished in accordance with justice. We have given
orders to Augier, agent of Parliament in Paris, to receive the said ship
and her cargo and to send it to sea again conformably to the first inten-
tion, the season requiring haste to be made. Your Eminence has often
expressed the regal intentions of your master to maintain good inter-
course, so that we do not doubt but that justice will be done in this
particular case, and that such persons as those who took this ship, being
pirates, be prevented from fitting out ships in the harbours of his Most
Christian Majesty in order to send them to sea for the execution of their
unjust designs, much less that they be allowed to bring into his harbours
the ships they have captured at sea.']
in BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE [april
CXXXVI
bellie:vre i brienne
Londres, 25 Aunl l647.
Monsieur, — L'on me donne aduis que le Colonel Sandys
a este areste a Grauesines — auec trente deux hommes qu'il
embarquoit pour envoyer a Calais. Cela m'oblige de sortir
pour essayer d'apporter quelque ordre a cette affaire auant
qu'elle face un esclat qui preiudicieroit a ces leuees et a toutes
celles que nous pretendons faire icy, et sans attendre les lettres
de France, vous escrire que les affaires sont au mesme estat que
ie me suis donne Thonneur de vous mander par mes precedentes
et que depuis huict jours beaucoup des principaux du Parlement
sont hors de la ville. II n''a rien este fait icy de considerable
sinon qu'hier il fut arreste qu'aussy tost que les commissaires
d'Ecosse seroient arriuez les mesmes propositions qui furent
enuoyees Teste passe au Roy de la G. B. a Newcastle luy
seroient encore presentees sans y adiouster ou diminuer en
aucune facon et que Ton donneroit au Commissionnaires que
sont a Humby des instructions toutes pareilles a celles qu''auoient
M"^ de Pembrok, Suffolk et autres qui en estoit lors chargez. —
Je suis, Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant serui-
teur, Bellieure.
[BELLifevRE to Brienne. London, 25 April 1647.
I HAVE received notice that Colonel Sandys has been arrested at Graves-
end with thirty-two men he was embarking to send to Calais. This
obliges me to proceed so as to try and put some order into this affair
before it may cause an outcry that would injure these levies and all we
pretend to do here ; and, without waiting for letters from France, to write
to you that matters are in the same state I stated to you in my last letters,
and that during the last eight days many members of Parliament are out
of town. Nothing important has been done here, if not that yesterday it
was decided that as soon as the Scottish Commissioners had arrived the
same proposals that were sent to the King of Great Britain at Newcastle
should be again sent to him without anything being added or retrenched
in any way, and that instructions be given to the Commissioners that are
at Holmby quite similar to those then possessed by Lords Pembroke,
Suffolk, and others who were then entrusted with them.]
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 113
CXXXVII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, — Avril 1647.
L'epreuve que j''ay faite de la fa9on d'agir des Ecossois en
general, et ce que je me suis donne Thonneur d'ecrire autrefois
a V, Era''® de la conduite particuliere du Due de Hamilton et
du Comte de Lanark son frere m"'avoit rendu plus reserve a
lay faire savoir ce que j'eusse creu pouvoir estre fait touchant
la pension que ce dernier m'a fait dire par un de ses amis qu'il
tiendroit a honneurde recevoir de S. M., mais puisque V. Em*'®
me commande de luy mander mes sentiments sur ce sujet je
luy diray qu''encore qu''on ne se puisse promettre que le Due
de Hamilton agisse dans les choses importantes que regarderont
ou Tavantage de la France ou le service du roy de la G"" B"",
qu''autant que les unes et les autres pourront avancer ses
interets, ou au moins n*'y point apporter de prejudice; je croy
toutefois que soit que le Due de Hamilton demeure en Tetat
ou 11 se trouve, soit qu'il accomplisse ce qu'on croit estre de
ses desseins, et qu'^il s'empare de Tautorite souveraine, il ne
sera point desavantageux a la France qu'il ait toujours le plus
qu'il se pourra d'attachement a la France et de dependance de
sa M**, a quoy le Comte de Lanark son frere, qui est outre cela
son ami et son confident, pent contribuer plus que personne,
et a quoy il sera aisement porte par les bienfaits de Sa M** ;
que le Comte de Lanark est encore tres considerable de luy
mesme, non seulement par son courage et son eloquence, mais
encore par le charge qu'il a de secretaire de ce royaume. Que
je ne vols pas que Thonneur que luy fera Sa M**, — qui pourra
estre desire de plusieurs, — puisse etre en vie de personne,
puisque je ne connois icy qui que ce soit qui puisse le meriter
plustost que luy, de sorte que cette grace ne sera pas de la
nature des autres avec lesquelles les princes ne peuvent gaigner
une personne qu'il n''en perdent plusieurs, puisque par le bien
qu*'on fera au dit Comte on obligera les deux freres, et avec
eux tout leur parti, et on fera apparemment que ceux de
Tautre, qui sont, la plus grande partie, miserables et interesses,
tascheront de se mettre sous la protection de la France afin
VOL. II, H
114 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
d'en recevoir un jour de semblables gratifications. J'ajouteray
que le Comte de Lanark n'ayant point ete du nombre de ceux
qui ont porte le Chev' Moray a faire a la France les promesses
qui ont ete si mal gardees, il semble qu'elle a plus d'excuse si
elle luy fait quelque bien. Cependant, je ne laisseray pas
d'avertir V. Em*'® qu'on ne se pent asseurer de ces deux freres
que de bonne sorte, et de luy dire que cette pension, dont la
France pourra tirer quelque utilite, ne semble pas necessaire
pour les attacher a elle, puisque quelque chose qui arrive d'eux,
si leur roy perd la couronne ils auront besoin de la protection
de Sa M^.
Au reste, Mg', bien que je me sois assez justifie par ma
derniere, sur ce qu'avoit ete dit de moy touchant Taccommode-
ment de ceux de son parti, pour lequel il ne se trouvera pas
que j'aye avance seulement une parole, je supplie toutefois
V. Em*=® de considerer en quel etat je suis icy ; si toutes les
choses de cette nature qui sont dites a cette princesse font la
mesme impression sur son esprit, puisque ses ennemis ont
interet de luy donner des defiances des personnes qu'ils luy
croyent les plus asseurees, et que la conduite que V. Em*'® m'a
ordonne de tenir en ce lieu donne assez de fondement a ces
gens pour me calomnier aupres d'elle, — car il n''est pas peu
difficile de dire des choses qui soient en mesme temps agreable
au Pari* d'Ecosse et a la Cour de cette princesse.
Cependant elle a tout sujet de croire que rien ne pent con-
tribuer davantage au retablissement du roy son mari que le
peu de monstre que fera la France d"'y vouloir travailler
presentement, et je croy que si je suis blamable de quelque
chose aupres d'elle, c'est de ne pouvoir quelquefois me moderer
de telle sorte que je ne fasse trop paraitre le zele que je
conserve pour ses interets.
Ce que je me suis donne Thonneur d'ecrire a V. Em^® que
toutes les maisons que le Marquis de Huntley avoit dans la
plaine, ont ete prises, c'est depuis confirme, a la reserve de
Kenmore qui est dans un lac, et qu'on ne laissera pas pour
cela d'attaquer presentement. Le Comte de Lanark m'a dit
qu'il re9ut hier lettres de David Leslay par lesquelles il luy
mande qu'il a pris Ruthven en Bagenoth, qui est une des
principales places que le Marquis de Huntley eut dans les
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 115
montagnes; que le dit Marquis s^est retire avee cinquante
chevaux au plus, et autant de gens de pied ; la plus grande
partie de ses amis Tayant quite, et qu''avec ce petit nombre il
pense ou se joindre a Alexandre Macdonald ou passer dans ce
que les montagnes d'Ecosse ont de plus afFreux et moins
accessible qu'on nom Strathmore, — ce qu'on croit qu'on pourra
luy empecher difficilement.
On mande de TOuest de TEcosse qu''un vaisseau Hollandais,
que portoit des munitions au Marquis d"'Antrim, ayant ete
oblige par le mauvais temps de relacher aux lies de Lewis,
qui sont celles des occidentales qu''approchent le plus des
Orcades, il y a ete bien re9u, contre Tattente de son capitaine,
par les gens du Comte de Seaforth, et a eu permission de
continuer son voyage aussitost que le beau temps le luy a
permis. J'envoye a V. Em'^^ la copie d'une lettre que le
Marquis de Huntley ecrit a Robert Leslay, comme je croy, —
car il ne me Ta pas voulu avouer, — par laquelle V. Em''® pent
voir quelles sont les resolutions du dit Marquis.
Le sieur Will. Moray ne parle plus de partir d'ici. La
nouvelle du Comite qui a ete choisi par le Pari* d''Angleterre
pour deliberer sur Tenvoy des propositions au roy de la Gr' B'
a tellement surpris les Ecossois que j'ay tout sujet de recon-
naitre qu''ils n'agissent pas de grand concert, et qu'a Londres
on se soucie peu d'Edimbourg. V. Em"® pourra voir par le
double de la lettre de M. le Tellier, que je prends la hardiesse
de luy envoyer, ce qui se passe sur le sujet des levees. M. le
Comte d' Angus lui ecrit par cet ordinaire pour la remercier
des bontes qu'elle a cues pour son regiment.
[MoNTEREUL tO CARDINAL MaZARIN. LoudOTl, -^ April 1647.
My experience of the way Scotsmen in general have of acting, and what
I have already written to you of the particular conduct of the Duke of
Hamilton and that of his brother, the Duke of Lanark, have made me
more reserved in informing you of what I thought could be done regard-
ing the annuity that this last told me, through one of his friends, he
would like to receive from his Majesty, but since you order me to give you
my opinion on the subject, I shall say that although in important matters
that may concern the interests of France or the service of the King of
Great Britain one cannot reckon on the Duke of Hamilton acting other-
wise in either case than as it may promote his own interests, or at least
do not harm them. I believe, however, that whether the Duke of Hamil-
116 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
ton remain in his actual position, or whether he may carry out what is
believed to be his design and seize on the sovereign power, it will not be
disadvantageous to France that he be always as closely as possible
attached to it and be dependent on his Majesty, in view of which the
Earl of Lanark, his brother, who is also his friend and confidant can
contribute more than any one else and towards which he may be easily led
by the favours of his Majesty ; besides which the Earl of Lanark is a very
important person himself, not only from his courage and his eloquence,
but also from the office he holds of Secretary of State of this kingdom.
That I do not see how any honour that his Majesty confer on him could
be envied by any one, since I know no one here, whoever it may be, that
can merit it better than he, so that this favour will not be like others
with which princes can only secure one person in losing several, since
the good one will do to the earl will oblige both brothers, and with them
all their party, and the result will probably be that those of the opposite
party, who are for the most part wretched and mercenary, will try to place
themselves under the patronage of France in order to receive some day
similar bounties. I shall add that the Earl of Lanark not having been
one of those who induced Sir Robert Moray to make the promises to
France that have been so badly kept, it seems that you have more excuse
in conferring a benefit on him. Yet I shall warn you notwithstanding,
that one cannot be certain of these two brothers but in a certain manner,
and tell you that this annuity from which France will be able to derive
some profit does not appear necessary in order to attach them to her,
since whatever may happen with them if their king lose his crown they
will require the patronage of his Majesty.
Further, although in my last letter I amply vindicated myself on what
had been said of me to the Queen of Great Britain, regarding the agree-
ment of those of her party, it will not be found that I offered a single
word on the subject. I beg you, however, to consider how I am situated
here, if all the things of this nature that are told to this princess make
the same impression on her mind, since her enemies have an interest in
rendering her distrustful of the persons they consider the most trusty to
her, and the conduct you have ordered me to observe in this place give
ample ground to those people to calumniate me to her, for it is very diffi-
cult to say things that may be at once agreeable to the Scottish Parlia-
ment and to the court of that princess. Yet she has every reason to
believe that nothing can contribute more to the restoration of the king
her husband than the great reserve of France in wishing to engage in
effecting it at present, and I believe that if I am indeed in any way to
blame towards her, it is in not being able to moderate myself enough and
in rendering too evident the zeal I have for her interests.
What I wrote to you of the capture of all the houses of the Marquis of
Huntly in the Lowlands has since been confirmed, with the exception of
Kenmore, which is situated on a lake, but which it is not proposed to
avoid attacking at present on that account. The Earl of Lanark has told
me that from letters received yesterday from David Leslie, he has learned
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 117
that Rutliven in Badenoch, one of the principal places of the marquis in the
Highlands, has been taken, and that the marquis has escaped with about
fifty mounted men at the most and as many on foot, the quarter part of
his friends having left him, and that he thinks with this small number
either to join Alexander Macdonald or to penetrate into the wildest and
least inaccessible part of the Scottish Highlands called Strathnaver,
which it is thought it will be difficult to prevent him from doing.
It is reported from the west of Scotland that a Dutch ship carrying
ammunition to the Marquis of Antrim, having been obliged by bad
weather to take shelter in the Lewis islands, the captain, contrary to
what he expected, was well received by the Earl of Seaforth's people, and
obtained permission to continue his voyage as soon as the weather permits.
I enclose the copy of a letter which the Marquis of Huntly writes to
Robert Leslie — at least I believe it to have been addressed to him, though
he will not admit it — you will see thereby what the marquis proposes
to do.
Will. Mofay no longer speaks of leaving here. The news that the
committee having been formed by the English Parliament to deliberate
on the proposals to be sent to the king has taken the Scots so much by
surprise, that I have every reason to believe that there is little concerted
between them, and that London does not pay much attention to Edin-
burgh. You may see by the copy of the letter of M. le Tellier, that I
venture to enclose, what is being done in the matter of the levies. The
Earl of Angus is writing to you by this mail to thank you for the kind-
ness you have had for his regiment.]
CXXXVIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^2^^ 1647.
°' 7 Mat
Je rends un compte si exact a M. le Tellier de toutes les
choses qui peuvent regarder les levees, que j''ai creu que je ne
pouvois mieux informer V. Em*^^ de Tetat ou elles se trouvent
qu'en joignant a cette depesche un double de la lettre que je
lui ecris.
Le sieur Robert Leslay arriva hier de Tarmee de ce Pari*.
II m^a asseure que cette forte place sur un lac que le Lieut.-
Gen. son frere avoit attaquee, avoit ete prise par lui avec fort
peu de resistance; qu"*!! avoit avec lui le second flls du Marquis
de Huntley a qui il ne croit pas que ce Parlement permettre
de demeurer davantage dans le pays, quoiqu'il ait prefere les
interets de ce Parlement a ceux de son pere. Le sieur Leslay
118 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
m'a dit encore que toutes les places du Marquis de Huntley
sans aucune exception avoient ete prises ; que son frere ayant
laisse de bonnes garnisons dans les principales, et quelques
gens de guerre dans le pays, sous la conduite de Middleton
marchoit avec quatre regiments d'infanterie et peu de cavalerie
vers Kintyre et les autres terres du Marquis d'Argyle qu' Alex-
andre Macdonald tient presentement ; qu'il doit estre a S*
Johnstown Lundi prochain, et que le Marquis de Huntley
s*'est retire dans le lieu le plus sauvage des montagnes, avec
fort peu de personnes, ayant luy-meme prie ses amis de se
separer de luy pour un peu de temps, et les ayant asseure
qu'ils le reverroient bientost en etat de les assister.
II se dit que Macdonald a refuse de se joindre au dit Marquis
et qu'il a public qu'il ne pretend point faire la guerre, ni pour
maintenir Pautorite du roy de la G' B"", ni pour miner celle du
Pari* d'Ecosse, mais pour recouvrir ses biens et pour se venger
de ses ennemis. II se dit encore que le pere du dit Macdonald
a voulu faire soulever les Isles Occidentales d'Ecosse, mais
qu'elles ont refuse de le faire et Tout oblige de se retirer.
II a passe icy, depuis quelques jours, un officier de Tarmee
d'Ecosse qui est en Irlande, neveu de Munro qui la commande,
et depute des officiers de la dite armee vers le Pari* d'Angle-
terre, pour savoir si ou leur fera toucher ou non, ce qu'ils
pretendent qui leur est deu, afin qu'ils remettent leurs garni-
sons entre les mains du Pari* s'ils en recoivent satisfaction, ou
qu'en tout cas ils puissent faire ce qu'ils croyront leur devoir
estre plus avantageux. Ou m'a dit que celuy qui a ete choisi
pour porter cette parole est une personne fort violente et peu
agreable aux deux Parl*^ desquels il semble que cette armee ne
soit satisfaite que de bonne sorte.
Ce ne seroit pas seulement un grand bien pour les Catholiques
d'Irlande si cette armee, quoique petite, se pouvoit joindre a
la leur, mais encore pour le roi de la G"^ B*", quelque peu
d'asseurance qu'il .puisse avoir de la fidelite des Irlandois, puis
qu'il en tireroit au moins ce service, qu'ils donneroient par ce
moyen plus longtemps de I'occupation a ses ennemis; mais
c'est une chose que Ton peut plustost desirer que croire faite,
et dont le malheur du roy de la G' B"^ pourroit seul empescher
I'accomplissement.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 119
Au reste, Mg', comme il m^arrive bien peu souvent de parler
a V. Em''® de mes interests, j''espere qu'elle aura la bonte de
me pardonner la hardiesse que je prends de Ten importuner
presentement. M. de Bellievre eut agreable en partant de
Newcastle de me promettre qu''il representeroit a V. Em*^®
(aupres de laquelle il croioit se rendre bientost) le besoing que
j"'avois de faire un voyage en Prance et le sujet qui m"'obligeoit
dY aller, mais comme mon dit S' de Bellievre est reste en
Angleterre et que j''ay eu ordre de me rendre icy pour y
travailler aux levees, il n'a peu en parler a V. Em*'® ^t je n''ay
pas ose luy en escrire durant que j"'ay creu que mon sejour icy
pouvoit etre utile au service qui m'avoit ete ordonne.
Mais maintenant que les levees sont en bon etat, que j'ay
essaye de remedier aux choses qui pouvoient y apporter du
retardement, et que j"'auray veu embarquer la plus grande
partie des hommes qui doivent passer en France avant que je
puisse recevoir les ordres de V. Em®®, je prends la hardiesse de
la supplier tres humblement de me vouloir accorder cette
permission seulement pour autant de jours quMl luy plaira,
durant lesquels je laisseray icy une personne bien soigneuse et
en qui je me confie entierement.
J'espere, IMg"", que j'obtiendray cette grace encore plus
facilement de la bonte de V. Em®® quand elle considerera que
le voyage que je la supplie de me permettre de faire hastera
plustost icy les levees qu''il y apportera du retardement, puis-
que M. le Comte d' Angus et le Chev' Moray auront interest
de faire voir durant mon absence que la presse que je leur ay
faite n'est pas ce qui a avance davantage le service de sa
Maj*^.
Outre que je pourray faire a V. Em®® quelques ouvertures
qui peuvent contribuer en mesme temps au bien des affaires
du roy de la G"" B"^ et au service de sa Maj** lesquelles je
pourrois faire a la verite par lettres, mais avec bien plus de
temps et bien moins de commodite que quand je seray sur les
lieux.
[MoxTEREUL to CARDiNAii Mazarix. Edinburgh, '^ ^yaj> 3647.
I GIVE so minute account to M. le Tellier of everything relating to tlie
levies, that I thought I could not do better, in order to inform you of
120 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
what is being done therein than to send you, added to this despatch, a
copy of the letter I write to him.
Mr. Robert Leslie arrived yesterday from the army of this Parliament.
He assured me that the fortress on a lake, which the Lieut.-General, his
brother, had attacked, had been taken by him, after very little resistance,
— that his brother had with him the second son of the Marquis of Huntly,
whom he thinks Parliament will not allow to remain longer in the
country, although he had preferred the interests of this Parliament to
those of his father. Mr. Leslie told me also that all the fortified places
belonging to the Marquis of Huntly, without exception, had been taken,
that his brother, having left good garrisons in the principal ones, and
some troops in the district, under the command of Middleton,^ was
marching with four regiments of infantry and a small number of cavalry
towards Kintyre and the other lands of the Marquis of Argyle that
Alexander Macdonald holds at present, that he is to be at St. Johnstown
(Perth) on Monday next, and that the Marquis of Huntly has retreated
into the wildest part of the Highlands, with very few persons, he having
begged his friends to leave him for a time, and assuring them they would
soon see him again in a position to help them.
It is said that Macdonald has refused to join the marquis, having
declared that he does not pretend to make war, either to support the
authority of the King of Great Britain, or to overturn that of the Scottish
Parliament, but in order to recover his own and avenge himself on his
enemies. It is also said that Macdonald's father wished to cause an
armed rising in the Western Isles of Scotland, but people refused to do
so and obliged him to go away.
There passed through here a few days ago, an officer of the Scottish
army in Ireland, nephew of Munro,^ who commands it, who is sent by
the officers of that army to the English Parliament, in order to learn if
they are to receive or not what they consider is owing to them, so that
they may deliver up their garrisons into the hands of Parliament, if they
' John Middleton, a distinguished soldier, eldest son of John Middleton, of
Caldhame, Kincardineshire, was first with the Parliament, then became Royalist
general, and was created Earl of Middleton by Charles li. after the Restoration.
' General Robert Munro was appointed by Charles i., in 1641, Major-
General of the Scottish forces in Ireland. His nephew. Major George
Munro, had served with his uncle in the Swedish service under Gustavus
Adolphus. He was subsequently with the army of the Duke of Hamilton
that invaded England in 1648, but escaped being taken prisoner, although
Parliament, says Rushworth, ordered him to be imprisoned in the Tower.
He was in the rising of the Earl of Glencairn in the Highlands, 1653,
and is said to have accompanied General Middleton there, whom Charles II.
sent to direct the movement. He had a bad temper, and was very quarrel-
some : having insulted the Highlanders and fought a duel with the Earl of
Glencairn, the rising came to nothing. After the Restoration he was knighted
by Charles 11., and made lieut-general, and subsequently commander-in-chief
of the forces in Scotland.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 121
receive compensation for them, or that in any case they may be able to
do what they consider best for their own advantage. 1 have been told
that the person who has been selected in order to take this message is
very violent and little agreeable to either Parliament, from which it
appears that this army is not too well satisfied.
It would not only be a good thing for the Catholics in Ireland, if it
were possible for this army, though small, to be joined to theirs, but also
for the King of Great Britain, for however little confidence he may have
in the Irish, he would at least thereby derive the advantage of prolonging
the work undertaken by his enemies, but this is a thing rather to be
wished for than considered practical, and the king's ill-luck is sufficient
to defeat its realisation.
As I have rarely had to speak to you of my private interests, I hope
you will pardon me if I do so now. M. de Bellievre, on leaving New-
castle, was good enough to promise me that he would represent to you
— ^judging then that he would be with you soon thereafter — the necessity
I have to make a journey to France and the reason which obliges me to
go there, but as M. de Bellievre has remained in England, and as I have
had orders to come here to attend to the levies, he has not been able to
mention the matter to you, and I have not ventured to write to him
about it, while I thought that my stay here could be useful in the service
that had been given me. But now that the levies are in a good condition,
that I have tried to remedy matters that might therein cause delay, and
that I shall have seen the most part of the men shipped before I can
receive your orders, I venture to beg you very humbly to grant me this
permission, for as many days as you please, during which I shall leave a
careful person here, in whom I can absolutely trust.
I hope to obtain this favour all the more readily from your kindness, if
you will take into consideration that the journey I ask leave to undertake
will hasten rather than delay the levies, since the Earl of Angus and
Sir Robert Moray will be induced to show during my absence that the
haste I obliged them to make was not what most advanced the interests
of his Majesty.
Besides, I shall be able to make some proposals to you that might con-
tribute at the same time to the benefit of the affairs of the King of Great
Britain, and to the service of his Majesty, which, no doubt, I might do
by letter, but by taking a great deal more time and much less convenience
than if I were on the spot.
CXXXIX
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
iMJidres, 29 Avril l647.
Monsieur, — Pasques plus reculees de huict iours en ce pays
que par le style nouueau retiennent encore a la campagne
beaucoup des principaux du parlement, en sorte que il y aura
122 BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE [april
peu de choses a faire icy cette sepmaine non plus que la passee.
II estoit grand besoing au dernier jour d'apporter quelque
ordre a TaiFaire qui est arriuee au colonel Sendis, ses hommes
furent arrestez dans le vaisseau ou ils sont encore, et luy
conduit en cette ville par ordre du comite d'Irlande, sur
une plainte portee a ce comite que le dit Colonnel desbauchoit
du seruice du Parlement ceux que Ton destinoit pour enuoyer
en Irlande, et si nous ne nous fussions meslez de cette affaire
elle eust este portee vendredy au Parlement, ce qui eust cause
un grand desordre en nos leuees. J''ay faict que demain Ton
tiendra ce mesme comite dans lequel nos amis essayeront
d'assoupir TafFaire ; le Speker nous nuit au lieu de nous seruir.
II est Independant, et c"'est des presbiteriens seulz que nous
pouuons estre aydez en cette rencontre, il n'^oze parler de cette
affaire tant il craint de s^ brouiller. Cest cette circonspection
et le peu d''estime que Ton faict de luy qui Font conserue dans
cette place. Je veux croire que nous nWrons plus de plaintes
des prises faittes par les fregattes de Jerzay; fen ay re^eu
despuis trois iours d'un vaisseau nomme le pelerin pris a
la veiie de Boulogne, quy y a este conduit, dont la charge
est de plus de cent milles liures, appartenant a des marchants
de cette ville, qui en font grand bruit. Je les ay destournez
de s'addresser a TAdmiraute, sur ce que ie leur ay promis qu'il
leur sera faict justice, et leur ay donne des lettres pour
Boulogne, en effect si Taffaire est ainsy qu'ils la disent, nous
ne la pouuons soustenir, et ie ne puis empescher veu le nombre
et le credit des interesses qu''il n'en soit parle en TAdmiraute
si il n'y est promptement pourueu. Cest la troisiesme prise
conduitte a Boulogne dont on me faict plainte despuis quinze
jours. J''ay donne des lettres aux interessez, pour esuiter que ces
affaires n''ayent este portees dans le parlement. Les nouuelles
sont arriuees auiourd'huy que le comte de Warwik commance
a faire separer Tarmee, et que desia quattre Regiments com-
plets de plus de mil hommes chascun, se sont obligez d'aller en
Irlande. Ce qu''estant faict, je ne scay pas sur quoy le Roy
d'Ang*"® fondra ses esperances doresnauant. — Je suis, Monsieur,
Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 29 Auril 1647, receu le 7^ May.
i647] BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE 123
[Beixievre to Brienne. London, 29 April 1647.
Easter being eight days later in this country than it is according to
the new style, many of the principal members of Parliament still remain
absent in the country, so that there will be as little to do here this week
as there was during the last. It was very urgent the other day to put
some order into what has happened to Colonel Sendis. His men were
arrested in the ship, where they still are, and he was conducted to this
town by order of the Irish committee, on a complaint made to this com-
mittee that this colonel was enticing away from the service of Parliament
those that were destined to be sent to Ireland, and if we had not taken
some steps in the matter it would have been brought before Parliament
on Friday, which would have caused a great disorder to our levies. I
have arranged that a meeting of the same committee will be held
to-morrow, in which our friends will try to hush up the affair. The
Speaker does us more harm than good. He is an Independent, and
it is the Presbyterians alone that can help us in this circumstance :
he does not dare to speak of it, he is so afraid of blundering about it.
It is this prudence and the little esteem in which he is held that have
kept him in his place. I do hope we will have no more complaints about
prizes taken by the Jersey frigates. I have received one within the last
three days of a ship named the Pilgrim, taken in view of Boulogne,
that was brought in there, of which the cargo is worth more than a
hundred thousand pounds, belonging to the merchants of the city, who
are making a great outcry about it. I have dissuaded them from applying
to the Admiralty, having promised that justice would be done to them,
and I have given them letters for Boulogne ; in fact, if the matter is as
they say we cannot support it, and I cannot, in view of the number and
influence of those interested in it, prevent it being spoken of in the
Admiralty, if it be not promptly arranged. This is the third prize
brought into Boulogne, of which complaint has been made here within
the last fortnight. I have given letters to the persons interested in order
to prevent these matters being brought into Parliament. The news has
come to-day that the Earl of Warwick is beginning to divide the army,
and that four full regiments of more than a thousand men each have
already been obliged to go to Ireland. This being so, I do not know ou
what the King of England will place his hopes in future.
CXL
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ± Mai l647.
L'armee d'Ecosse apres avoir pris toutes les places du
Marquis de Huntley, a employe toute cette semaine en sa
marche vers Toccident de ce Royauine pour y attaquer Alex-
124 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
andre Macdonald qui a apparement, bien qu'il se trouve
abandonne (comme il se dit) de la plus grande partie de ceux
qui ont quelque pouvoir dans les Isles, et qui avoient temoigne
jusqu'ici beaucoup de zele pour le service de leur roy, ne se
rendra pas a si bon compte que ce Marquis.
II a deja commence par bruler tous les lieux par ou sont
obliges de passer ceux qui viennent presentement Tattaquer.
II se dit aussy qu'il a fait mourir autant de Campbells, — c'est
a dire du nom du Marquis d'Argyle, — qu'il a appris que
David Leslay a fait pendre d'lrlandois, dans les places qu'il
a prises, non seulement parce que ce Marquis est son plus
grand ennemi, mais encore parce qu'il croit qu'il a eu plus de
part a cette cruaute que personne, ce que pourroit etre veri-
table, puisqu'on m'asseure que David Leslay avoit resolu de
sauver un de ce pays qui s''etoit trouve seul dans la derniere
place qu"'il a prise, — ayant attendu a faire paraitre sa clemence,
quand il n'a pas eu beaucoup de matiere pour exercer sa
cruaute, — mais que le Marquis d"'Argyle Pen a empesche et a
voulu le faire mourir.
Le grand Comite de ce Royaume se doit assembler aujourd"'huy
pour la premiere fois, mais il y a peu d'apparence qu"'il s"'y
resoude aucune chose considerable que Ton n'ait nouvelles de
la reponse que le roy de la G' B' aura faite aux Propositions
qui luy doivent estre envoyees, et encore Ton ne croit pas
qu'ils se puissent porter a regler leurs affaires si promptement.
La reddition de Belfast et le retour de Tarmee d'Ecosse qui
est en Irlande doivent se terminer a Londres et non pas icy,
parce qu'ils y ont envoye leurs ordres pour cet effet, mais
principalement parce qu'il faudra qu'ils executent ceux qu'ils
recevront du Pari*' d'Angleterre.
Le Marquis d'Argyle arriva hier en cette ville, je ne Tay pas
encore veu, mais le troisieme fils du Marquis de Huntley, qu'il
a conduit icy et qui paroit tres avise pour son age, m'a dit
qu''il est vray que son pere s''est retire avec peu de suite dans
les montagnes, mais que son frere aine Lord Bouin^ est alle
trouver Macdonald avec pres de mille hommes, entre lesquels
il y a fort peu de personnes de condition, parce qu'il a desire
^ Aboyne.
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 125
que tous ceux qui avoient quelque chose a perdre se retirassent
chez eux.
Le Chev' Moray m'a temoigne que les seigneurs de ce pays
auroient agreable que je les veisse dans le Comite, et non pas
separement, comme j''ay fait. Je luy ay repondu que je ne
voyois pas que j^'eusse aucune chose a leur dire presentement
qui peut desirer une audience publique, et je luy ay propose
en suite qu'ils me promissent de faire passer en France un ou
deux de leurs regiments et que je prendrais ce sujet pour leur
demander audience quand je serois bien asseure d''eux qu'ils me
les accorderoient ; mais il ne m'a point fait de reponse sur
cette proposition. Je luy ay demande en suite, moins serieuse-
ment, s'ils avoient besoin de quelque demonstration semblable
de la part de la France, afin d'aider a terminer plus avan-
tageusement pour eux, les differends que leur restent avec le
Pari* d'Angleterre ; car en effet j'ay beaucoup de sujet de
croire que les Ecossois sont bien aises de pouvoir faire voir
aux Anglois que la France les recherche et les considere, dans
le temps qu'ils apprehendent d'estre maltraites par le Pari*
d'Angleterre, touchant la reddition des places et le retour de
Tarmee qu'ils ont en Irlande, afin non seulement qu'ils se
tirent par ce moyen du malheur qu'ils apprehendent, mais
qu'ils vendent encore, s'il est possible, a leurs voisins les
temoignages d'affection et de bienveillance qu'ils recevront de
sa M'*, et qu'ils se rendent par la plus considerables aux
Anglois, et les portent a s'unir a eux plus etroitement, de
sorte que je ne prendray aucune audience publique de ces
M. M. jusques a ce que j'en ay re^u ordre bien expres de
V. Em"^^, et je me contenteray de voir celuy qui preside a leur
comite et les plus considerables d'entre eux pour leur faire
scavoir les choses que je leur pourrois dire, si je les voyois tous
ensemble. Je prendray encore la hardiesse de supplier V. Em*=®
d'aj outer une grace a celle que je luy demandois par le precedent
ordinaire, touchant la permission d'aller faire un voyage en
France, — c^est, Mg', que vous avez agi'eable de me permettre
de ne pas recevoir le present que ce Pari* me pourroit faire,
ce que j'ay creu estre oblige de vous demander parce que j'ay
eu avis qu'on pensoit a me donner quelque chose quand je
partirois d'icy, non pas a dessein de m'obliger, mais enfin que
126 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
ceux qui pourront aller en France de la part de ce Pari*
recoivent avec usure ce qui pourra m'estre donne. II ny a
point lieu de craindre que ces M. M. puissent s'offenser du
refus que je feray de leur present, tant parce que ce n'est pas
le plus grand deplaisir qu''on leur puisse faire que de rien
prendre d^'eux, que pour ce que je n'en prendray conge que
pour aller faire un voyage en France, en cas que vous avez
agreable de m'en faire donner la permission de laquelle je
n''userai toutefois que lorsque j^aurai veu les levees avancees de
telle sorte que mon sejour ici n''y pourra plus rien contribuer.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ May 1647.
The Scottisli army, after having taken all the places of the Marquis of
Huntly, has spent all this week on its march towards the west of this
kingdom, in order to attack there Alexander Macdonald, who although
he has, it is said, been abandoned by most of those having authority in
the islands, and who till now had shown much zeal in the service of
their king, will not surrender so easily as this mai*quis.
He has already begun by burning all the places through which those
who are coming at present to attack him are obliged to pass. He has
also said that he has killed as many Campbells, that is to say, those of the
name of the Marquis of Argyle, as he has been informed David Leslie had
hanged of Irishmen, in the places he had recently taken, not only
because this marquis is his greatest enemy, but also because he believes
that he has had more hand in this cruelty than any other person, which
may very likely be true, since I am assured that David Leslie had resolved
to save a native of this country, who was found alone in the last place he
took, — having it appears waited to show his clemency until there was
very little occasion left for exercising his cruelty, — but the Marquis of
Argyle prevented him from doing so and wished the man to be put to
death.
The Committee of Estates of this kingdom meets for the first time to-
day, but there is little likelihood that anything of importance will be
decided upon until they have news of the reply the King of Great
Britain will have given to the proposals that are to be sent to him, and
also it is not believed it will be possible for them to settle their aifairs so
readily. The delivering up of Belfast and the return of the Scottish
army that is in Ireland is to be settled in London and not here, because
they have given orders there for that purpose, but principally because
they require to execute the orders they will receive from the English
Parliament.
The Marquis of Argyle arrived in town yesterday. I have not yet seen
him, but the third son ^ of the Marquis of Huntly, whom he has brought
' Lord Lewis Gordon, who is here called the third son of the marquis, was in
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 127
here and who seems very discreet for his age, told me it was true that his
father had retired with very few followers into the Highlands, but that
his elder brother, Lord Aboyne, has gone to join Macdonald with about a
thousand men, among whom there are very few persons of position,
because he wished all those who had anything to lose to go to their
homes.
Sir Robert Moray has notified to me that the nobles of this country
would have liked to see me at their committee meeting, instead of my
seeing them separately, as I do. I told him in reply that I did not think
I had anything to say to them at present that required a public audience ;
and I afterwards proposed to him that were they to promise to send over
to France two of their regiments I would take that as an opportunity of
requesting an audience from them, when I would be quite sure of their
granting it to me, but he made no reply to this proposal. I asked him
then, less seriously, if they required any such demonstration on the part
of France to enable them to settle their remaining differences more satis-
factorily with the English Parliament ; for, in fact, I have much reason
to believe that the Scots are very glad to be able to show to the English
that they are sought after and respected by France, and at this time
when they apprehend being badly treated by the English Parliament
concerning the delivering up of the places they hold in Ireland and the
return of their army from there, so that by this means they may not only
escape the misfortune they dread, but that they may also, if it were
possible, sell to their neighbours this testimony of affection and good
will they may receive from his Majesty, so as to render themselves
thereby more important in the English estimate, and induce the latter
to unite with them more closely, so that I shall not accept any public
audience of these gentlemen until I receive a very express order from
you to do so, but remain satisfied in seeing the one who presides over
their committee and the most important among them, in order to inform
them of what I might tell them were I to see them all together.
I shall also venture to demand a favour in addition to the one I asked
from you by the last mail concerning leave to make a journey to France.
This is to be allowed to decline any present this Parliament may offer to
me, which I find myself obliged to ask from you, because I have had
notice that it was thought to give me something on my leaving here, not
in order to oblige me, but so that those who will be able to come to
France on the part of this Parliament may receive in return, with usury,
what they may have given me. There is no reason to fear their being
offended by this refusal of their present, both because it is not the
greatest offence one can pay them not to accept anything from them,
and also because I am merely taking leave for to make a journey to
a previous letter termed the second. He was the third by order of birth, but the
second surviving son, his eldest brother George having been killed at the battle
of Alford when fighting with Montrose, July 1643. Lord Aboyne the next died
in France, it was said of grief on hearing of the king's death.
128 BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE [MAY
France in the event of having your permission of which I shall only-
take advantage when I see the levies so advanced that my stay can do
nothing more towards them.]
CXLI
BELLI^VRE 1 BRIENNE
Londres, 6 Mai l647.
Monsieur, — Depuis les dernieres lettres que ie me suis donne
rhonneur de vous escrire, ie n''en ay point receu de la Cour, et
11 ne s*'est pas icy passe aucune chose de consideration. Les
Independants ont faict agir les anciens officiers de Tarmee,
en sorte qu^elle n''est pas encore absolument licentiee, mais les
presbiteriens ne doubtent pas de Ie pouuoir faire dans peu, soit
par ce qu'ils feront demain resoudre dans Ie parlement sur ce
subject ou ilz s"'attendent de malmener les Independans soit
qu'ilz se trouuent obligez de donner a cette armee tout Targent
qu'elle demande auant que de se separer ou de sortir de
TAngleterre; ils en trouueront pour cet effect et la ville
de Londre, quelque difficulte qu'elle semble y apporter, leur
faict entendre soubz main qu''en cette occasion elle ne leur
en laissa pas manquer en quelque estat que soient les choses.
Si Ie Roy d'Ang""® trouuoit moyen de faire que Ton souffrist
qu'il vint a Londres ou ez enuirons il y a lieu de croire
qu"'il pourroit encore apporter quelque ordre en ses affaires.
II me presse fort de luy donner conseil de ce qu'il doibt faire
comme aussy de luy escrire ce qu'^il doibt attendre de la
garentie que Ton luy mande en France luy deuoir estre icy
donnee, ce que j''ay creu deuoir esuiter ne voulant pas dans
rincertitude des euenementz si les choses ne luy succedoient
pas qu'il peut dire, et encores moins prouuer par ma main
ou par mon chiffre, Tauoir faict par mon aduis non plus
que luy mander aucune chose de cette garentie, qui seroit
en quelque fa^on luy en donner une en mon nom, joinct
que j'estime que quoy que je luy puisse mander il n'enuoyera
pas autre chose que ce qu^'il est resolu de faire, encore que
je ne luy conseille rien, au moins je Ie juge ainsy, parceque
j'apprens de ceux qui ont communication auec luy, tant des
differents partys qui soient icy que de ceux qui ont tousjours
este du sien. Les commissaires d'Escosse qui sont en cette
1647] BELLlfiVKE TO BRIENNE 129
ville depuis quatre jours tesmoignent auoir des instructions
fort seueres contre le d. Roy. Je croy neantmoins auoir
penetre qu''ilz ont ordre secret de se laisser conduire par les
chefs des presbiteriens, en sorte que si ilz satisfont encore
des quatre propositions que je vous ay enuoyees, les Escossois
s''en contenteront aussy. Quoyque nous disions et fassions Ton
n"'a pas pour cela meilleure opinion de nous que par le passe.
Le Roy d'Angl'^ y contribue par les discours qu"*il tient a
Humby pour justiffier, a ce quMl pretend, sa conduitte passee,
par lesquelz il faut entendre quMl ne s''est engage auec les
Escossois, ni a tout ce qu"'il a faict en suitte, que par les
conseilz et sur Fasseurance que la France luy a donnees, et
une lettre interceptee sur une fregatte, enuoyee d"'Irlande
pour aller en France, ne seruira point a leuer ces soub^ons.
L'on escrit a celuy qui y fait les affaires des confederes qu"'ilz
sont deuisez depuis que le Marquis d"'Ormont s''est accommode,
que les Anglois sont forts, et que Tlrlande est absolument
ruynee si la France ne faict promptement la diuision dont
il a este parle par leurs precedentes despesches. Ces bruits
mettent icy le monde en si mauuaise hunieur qu'il ne nous
est pas possible d''obtenir aucune des choses que nous pouuons
pretendre. — Je suis. Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres
obeissant seruiteur, Belliedre.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure du 6 May l647, receu le 10® du d.
mois.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, 6 May 1647.
I HAVE not received any letters from court since I last wrote to you
and nothing of importance has taken place here. The Independents have
been influencing the old officers of the army, so that it is not yet absolutely
disbanded, but the Presbyterians do not doubt of being able to accomplish
it shortly, either through what they will decide upon to-morrow in Parlia-
ment, on this subject, when they expect to abuse the Independents, or
that they will deem themselves obliged to give to this army all the money
it demands, before the soldiers will break up or leave England ; they will
find money for this purpose. Whatever objection the City of London may
appear to make, it leads them to understand indirectly, that on this occa-
sion, it would not see them at a loss in whatever state matters may be.
If the King of England found means of arranging so as to be allowed to
come to London, or the neighbourhood, there is reason to believe that
he might still be able to bring his affairs somewhat into order. He urges
me strongly to advise him what he ought to do and also to write to him
VOL. II. I
180 BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE [may
what he ought to expect of the guarantee that he is informed from
France ought to be given to him here, which I thought right to avoid
doing, not wishing in the uncertainty of events, if things do not succeed
with him, he may be able to say, and even prove by my signature or from
my cipher, that he had done on it my advice. Neither do I tell him any-
thing about this guarantee, which would be in some measure to give him
one in my name, in addition to which I consider that although I were to
inform him he will not send anything else than what he had decided on
doing although I give him no advice, at least I judge it to be so, because I
learn it is so from those who are in correspondence with him, of both of the
diflPerent parties that are here and from those who have always been of his
party. The Scottish Commissioners who arrived here four days ago pro-
fess to have very hard instructions concerning the king. I believe, how-
ever, from what I have found out that they have a secret order to be guided
by the leaders of the Presbyterians, so that if they are still satisfied with
the four proposals that I sent you, the Scots will be satisfied also. What-
ever we say and do one has not better opinion of us than in the past. The
King of England contributes to this by the speeches he makes at Holmby
in order to justify, as he pretends, his past conduct, in which he makes it
understood that he only engaged himself with the Scots, and in all he
afterwards did by the advice and on the assurance France gave him, and a
letter intercepted on a frigate sent from Ireland to France will not help to
remove their suspicions. Some one writes to the person who manages
the aifairs of the Confederates there, that since the agreement of the
Marquis of Ormond they are divided, that the English are strong, and
that Ireland is absolutely ruined if France do not carry out speedily the
decision of which mention was made in previous letters. These rumours
put every one here in such bad humour that it is impossible for us to
obtain any of the things we claim.]
CXLII
BELLI^VRE 1 BRIENNE
2 Londres, le ^ Mai 1647.
Monsieur, — Le licenciement de I'armee, que les uns pre-
tendent faire et les autres empescher, est la seule affaire dont
on parle maintenant et iusques a ce qu'elle soit terminee il n'y
a pas d apparence que Ton porte au Roy de la G. B. les
propositions que Ton se pressoit il y a quelques jours de
luy enuoyer. En I'estat que sont les choses Tun et Tautre
des partis du parlement redoute que la responce que feroit
le d. Roy donnast quelque aduantage a son ennemi. L'incerti-
tude en laquelle sont icy les affaires donne lieu aux gens de
guerre d'esperer qu'il y pourroit naistre quelque nouuelle
1 647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 131
brouillerie qui leur donneroit de Temploi, et cette opinion,
qu'ilz ont fondee plus sur leur desir que sur quelque raison
solide, fait que nos leuees sont difficiles a aduancer. La longue
visitte que m'a fait cette apres disnee le General Pointz, qui
s"'en retourne demain dans les 8 comtes du Nort ou il com-
mande, a consomme le temps que ie destinois a me donner
rhonneur de vous escrire. Faittes moy celuy de me croire,
Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure du 13 May l647, recu le 18.
[BeujIivbe to Bbienne. London, ^ May 1647.
The disbanding of the army, which the one party pretends to do and
the other to prevent, is the only affair spoken of now, and until it be
settled there is no likelihood that the proposals will be sent to the king
which eight days ago they were hurrying to send to him. In the
actual state of affairs both the one and other party in Parliament fear
that the king's reply might give some advantage to their opponents.
The uncertitude in which things are give soldiers reason to hope that
some new quarrel may break out, that would bring them occupation, and
this opinion, which they have founded more on their wish than on any
solid reason, makes it difficult to proceed with our levies. A long visit
I have had from General Pointz this afternoon has taken up all the time
I had reserved to write to you. His command extends over the eight
northern counties, where he will return to-morrow.]
CXLIII
BELLlfeVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le 20' Mai l647
Monsieur, — Je croyois me donner Thonneur de vous escrire
jeudy dernier, mais i"'en fus detourne par Taduis que i"'eus qu'un
courrier arriuoit qui portoit nouuelles que les vaisseaux du parle-
ment en auoient pris et conduict aux dunes quatre (vaisseux)
de guerre de Suede. Je venois de lire une lettre du S' Chanut
de Stocklom \sic\ le 20 du mois passe qui mandoit qu''il
enuoyoit en France quatre nauires quMl y auoit achettes pour
le seruice de Sa Ma*^. L'lmagination que Tens que ces quattre
vaisseaux prins par les Anglois pouuoient estre les nostres, fit
que, sans tesmoigner en estre en peine, j"'enuoye pour apprendre
ce qui s'en pourroit scauoir. Uon parla au courrier et a
BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE [MAY
quelques ofRciers de TAdmiraute, qui confirmerent la nouuelle,
et qu'ilz auoient este pris assez pres de la rade de Boulongue.
Je me resolus d'employer mes amis a faire que des le soir
mesme, sur ce subiect, ce que Ton pourroit du comite de
Tadmiraute chez le comte Warwic, qui en est le chef, pour
pourueoir a cette affaire et Tassoupir dans ce cas au comite, au
cas qu'elle nous concemast, de crainte qu'elle ne fust le lende-
main portee au parlement, ou il n'y a point de prudence
de conduitte, ni de credit qui puisse respondre que sur une
telle chose il n'y pust estre pris des resolutions extrauagantes
et desraisonnables. Par la lecture de la despesche de celuy
qui commande aux Dunes Ton apprit que ces quattre vaisseaux
suedois venant du Sud, auoient este rencontres par le Riesre
Admiral [rear-admiral] de la flotte d''Angleterre entre Portland
et risle de Wicht ou, ayant reffuse de baisser le pauillon,
I'Anglois les y voulut forcer, apres quelques coups de canon
tires de part et d'autre le timon de TAnglois estant rompu, les
quattre suedois continuerent leur routte; cependant une fre-
gatte partie au commencement de ce combat, en auoit donne
aduis aux Dunes, d'ou le vice-admiral, s''estant mis a la mer,
rencontra les quattre vaisseaux suedois, mouillez a la veue de
Boulongue, lesquels, soit a cause de la pluye, ou pour quelque
autre consideration, auoient oste leurs pauillons, il leur fit
entendre qu'il auoit S9eu ce qui s'estoit passe entre eux et
son Riere Admiral, et qu"'il venoit pour conduire en Angleterre
le vaisseau quy auoit faict le reffus de luy rendre le respect
qui luy est deub dans ses mers, et en effet emmena aux Dunes
le vice-admiral de ces suedois, quy fust suyui volontairement
par les trois autres. Je croy qu'il sera demain resolu de les
renuoyer tous quatre, auec une lettre a la Reyne de Suede
portant quelque plainte mais fort legere, et ensuitte des
complimentz au subject de cette rencontre, dont ie ne vous
aurois pas escrit si au long, que ie fais, si ie n'auois juge
vous deuoir informer de ce qui s"'est passe depuis quelque
temps entre TAng'* et la Suede. Peu apres que le Roy
d'Ang"* fut dans Tarmee des Escossois, le Parlem* s'aduisa
de faire reponce a une lettre qu'il auoit receue il y auoit
sept ou huict mois de la part du Royaume de Suede, par
laquelle il faisoit au dit parlement de grandes offres d'amitie et
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 133
de bonne correspondance, et donhoit a un Escossois quy est
encore icy la qualite de son resident pres du dit parlem*.
L'on disoit lors que cest enuoy auoit este promeu par le
chancelier de Suede, qui vouloit par la faire cognoistre au Roy
d'Ang"^® le ressentiment qu*'il auoit de la mauuaise reception
faicte a son filz; peut-estre aussy que les regens de Suede
songeoient a continuer leur regence. Cette lettre demeura
huict mois sans reponce, aprez ce temps il luy en fust faict
une en Anglois mise entre les mains de ce Resident de Suede,
lequel apres Tauoir gardee quelques iours, sans auoir eu occa-
sion de Tenuoyer, la mit entre les mains du colonnel Anglois
qui auoit serui le parlement, qui alloit en Suede pour se faire
payer les arrerages d''ime pension que luy donnoit la couronne
de Suede. Beaucoup creurent, mais il n'est pas vray, qu'il
auoit tiltre d"'enuoye du parlement; il est de retour despuis
quatre jours auec une responce en Suedois. II dit auoir
recogneu que les Suedois sont peu satisfaictz du temps que
le Parlement a este a leur faire responce, il parle mesme a
SL's amis comme si la Reyne auoit peu d''estime et de bonne
volonte pour le Parlement. Je vous rends ce comte de la
disposition en laquelle j''apprens que sont les affaires, affinque
vous puissiez faire f[aire] prez de la Reyne de Suede les offices
qui seront conuenables de Taffront qu'ont receu les vaisseaux,
qui pourroit produire quelque bon effect, en sorte que s''il ne
donnoit des affaires'" a ce Parlement au moins luy feroit perdre
ce qu'il veut auoir de la couronne de Suede auec laquelle les
Independans pretendent s'unir estroitement par le mariage
il y a si longtemps de la Reyne auec le Prince Palatin ainsy
que les Escossois et Presbiteriens veullent marier auec le Prince
de Galles. Si cependant la d. Reyne se marie a un autre, elle
fera cesser tons ces bruits. .Toubliois de vous dire que Ton ne
scait point encore au vray d''ou venoient les dits vaisseaux
de Suede, les lettres de Tadmiraute n'en portent rien, Ton
a escrit aux Dunes pour en estre informe ; seulement scait-on
qu''ilz viennent de la grande mer, et qu'ilz retoumoient en
Suede. II y a des lettres des Marchands qui disent qu'ils
venoient de I'Amerique, d'autres qu'ils nous ont serui dans
la Mediterranee, Ton scaura demain ce qui en est. Le Sieur
de Montereul m'escrit qu'il vous demande la permission de faire
134 BELLi:fcVRE TO BRIENNE [may
un voyage en France, et me prie de vous assurer que son
absence n'apportera aucun preiudice aux affaires. S'il auoit
sceu combien mal me reussissent telles propositions il auroit
pris sans doute un autre mediateur. Cependant ie m'acquitte
maintenant par escrit, de ce que partant de Newcastle ie
croyois deuoir faire plustost en personne, de vous informer
que Tengagement qu'il a des longtemps pres de la personne de
Monseigneur Ie prince de Comty Toblige de se trouuer a Paris
au moins de Jeuillet que Ton dit que sa Maison doibt estre
faitte. Je croy satisfaire a tout ce qu'il attend de moy quand
ie vous fais cognoistre quel est son interest, auquel vous aurez
la bonte de vouloir faire qu'il soit effectiuement pourueu et
pour cet effect vous choisirez la forme que vous jugerez estre
plus conuenable au bien des affaires qui luy sont commises.
J'enuoye ce courrier pour receuoir les ordres de ce que ie
doibs faire au subiect des leuees, dont nous manquerons icy
moins que d'argent si la face des affaires ne change. — Je suis,
Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieuue.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 20^ May 1647, receu Ie 22« du d.
mois a Amiens.
[Belli^ivbe to Bkienne. London, 20 May 1647.
I THOUGHT of writing to you on Thursday last, but I was prevented by
a notice I had that a courier was coming with news that the Parliamentary
ships of war had captured and taken into the Downs four Swedish war
ships. I had just read a letter from Mr. Chynut of Stockholm, of the
20th ult., in which it was stated that he was sending to France four
ships that he had bought for the sei-vice of his Majesty. The idea I had
that these four ships, taken by the English, might be ours led me, with-
out showing I was in trouble about it, to send and learn what might be
known of the matter. The courier and some officers of the Admiralty
that confirmed the news said the ships had been taken near the Boulogne
roadstead. I resolved to set my friends to work that same evening to do
what one could in the matter with the Committee of the Admiralty, at
the Earl of Warwick's, who is the head to look to in this matter and to
hush it up in the committee, if the case concerned us, for fear that it
might be taken to Parliament on the following day where there is no
prudence of conduct, nor influence to assure one that on such a subject
tliey might not have adopted some unreasonable and extravagant resolu-
tion. On reading the despatch of the person who commands in the
Downs, one learns that these four ships coming from the south had been
met by the Rear-Admiral of the English fleet, between Portland and the
1647] BELLlfiVKE TO BRIENNE 135
Isle of Wight, and having refused to lower their flag, the Englishman
wished to force them to do so ; after some shots had been exchanged, the
Englishman's helm being broken, the four Swedish ships continued on
their way ; however a frigate that had left at the beginning of this fight
had given notice of it in the Downs, whence the Vice-Admiral having put
to sea fell in with the Swedish ships anchored in sight of Boulogne, which
either on account of the rain or from some other cause had lowered their
flags, he made them understand that he knew what had taken place
between them and his Rear-Admiral, and that he had come to bring to
England the ship that had refused to pay the respect that was due to
him in his own waters, and in fact took to the Downs the Vice-Admiral
of these Swedes who was followed voluntarily by the others. I believe it
will be resolved to-morrow to send back all the four ships, with a letter
to the Queen of Sweden conveying some slight complaint and afterwards
some compliments on the subject of this meeting, of which I would not
have written at such length, had I not judged it necessary to inform you
of what has been going on for some time between England and Sweden.
Shortly after the King of England was in the Scottish army the Parlia-
ment thought of sending a reply to a letter it had received seven or eight
months previously on the part of the kingdom of Sweden, by which it
made great ofi"ers of friendship and good intercourse and gave to a Scots-
man who is still here the title of its resident with the Parliament. It was
said at that time that this mission had been encouraged by the Chancellor
of Sweden, who sought by that means to let the King of England know
the resentment he had of the bad reception given to his son ; perhaps
also the regents of Sweden think of continuing their regency. This
letter remained eight months without receiving any reply, when one Mas
written in English and placed in the hands of this Swedish resident, who
after having kept it several days, without having an opportunity of send-
ing it, put it into the hands of an English colonel who had served the
Parliament, who was going to Sweden in order to receive payment of the
arrears of a pension given him by the Swedish Government; many
believe — what is not exact — that he had the title of envoy from
Parliament : he has returned four days ago with an answer in Swedish.
He says, he remarked that the Swedes were little satisfied at the time
the Parliament had taken to reply to their letter, he mentions even to
his friends as though the queen had little esteem or good will for the
Parliament. I place this account at your disposal wherein I show the
state of afi'airs, so that you may be able to convey to the queen the
courtesies that may be appropriate on the affront her ships have received,
which may produce some good effect, so that if it provide business for
Parliament it would at least make them lose what they seek from the
Swedish Government with which the Independents pretend to ally them-
selves closely by the marriage so long contemplated of the queen with
the Prince Palatine, as the Scots and the Presbyterians wisli her to be
man-ied to the Prince of Wales. Were the queen, however, to get
married to another person, she would put a stop to all those rumours.
136 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
I forgot to state to you that it is not yet known exactly from where
the Swedish ships came; the letters of the Admiralty do not indicate
anything of it and the authorities in the Downs, who have heen
written to for this particular information, know only that they came from
the high seas and that they were returning to Sweden. The merchants
have letters that state they were returning from America; others say they
have been serving us in the Mediterranean : we shall know more about it
to-morrow, M. de Montereul writes to me that he is asking your per-
mission to make a journey to France, and begs me to assure you that his
absence will cause no detriment to business ; had he but known how ill
such proposals succeed with me, he would doubtless have selected another
mediator. However, I but perform now in writing what I had promised
to him on leaving Newcastle, and which I had thought to be able to do
before now in person, that the engagement he has long had in the
household of the Prince of Conty obliges him to be in Paris in the
mouth of July, when it is said the prince is to set up house. I believe
I shall have complied with all he expects from me when I have informed
you what his interest is, which you will have the kindness to assure
effectively, and for that purpose you will chose the form you will judge
most suitable for the interest of the affairs that have been committed to
him. I send this courier in order to receive your orders as to what I
ought to do on the subject of the levies, which will be more in demand
with us than money if the state of affairs do not change.]
CXLIV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, || Mai l647.
Par la derniere lettre que j''ay re9u de M. de Bellievre il
luy a plu me donner avis d'un bruit qui court en Angleterre
que les Espagnols s''asseurent de tirer des hommes d'ici pour
leur service ; qu''il en a parle aux commissaires d'Ecosse qui
sont a Londres, qui Tout asseure que le seul Alexandre Mac-
donald avoit eu cette pensee, et que je dois agir aupres de ce
Pari* pour empescher qu'il obtienne la liberte de Texecuter.
Je m'etois donne Thonneur de mander a V. Em*'® que ce bruit
avoit ete ici il y a deja quelques mois, mais que j'avois juge
apropos de ne m'en mettre point en peine, tant parce que je
ne croyois pas que ce Pari*, qui avoit declare de ne point
vouloir traiter avec lui, voulut aujourd'huy lui accorder cette
permission, comme pour ce que si ces MM. avoient a le faire
ce seroit plustost asseurement parce que cela pourroit con-
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 137
tribuer au bien de leurs affaires, que pour ce qu**!! se trouveroit
conforme au desir et aux interests de la France. Mais, comme
11 a plu a M. de Bellievre me mander quMl estoit a propos de
m"'asseurer que cette permission ne seroit point donner au dit
Macdonald, et quMl m"'a semble que cela pourroit mesme
plustost contribuer que nuire au service du roi de la G' B' en
obligeant un de ses serviteurs de demeurer en ce pays et d"'y
maintenir son parti, j'ay juge a propos allant voir Mons.
d'Argyle de le mettre sur cette affaire, et de Tavertir qu'il se
disoit que le Pari* d'Ecosse vouloit faire quelque accord avec
le dit Macdonald et luy permettre de se retirer hors de Tlsle
avec ses hommes, sur quoi le Marquis d'Argyle s'est un peu
importe, contre sa coutume, et m''a dit que toute la capitula-
tion qu'ils feroient avec lui seroit de savoir s"'ils le feroient
plus court ou plus long qu"'il n'estoit, en avisant s'il estoit
plus a propos de le decapiter ou de le pendre, et qu"'ils lui
osteroient bien le moyen de sortir du pays et d'en emmener
des hommes. Je luy ay repondu que Ton asseuroit toutefois,
non seulement qu'il tiroit ses gens hors d''Ecosse, mais qu*'il les
menoit en Espagne, et qu'il avoit traite avec les Espagnols
pour ce sujet. A quoi il m''a fait reponse qu"'il m"'avoit averti
il y avoit longtemps (ainsy qu'il est veritable) que le dit Mac-
donald avoit eu cette pensee, et qu^un vaisseau estoit venu
d"'Espagne pour cette effet, en ce temps-la, qui s''en estoit
retoume vide, et quMl m'asseuroit maintenant, non seulement
qu'il n'auroit jamais la liberte du Pari* de transporter une
seule personne, mais qu''on trouveroit bientost les moyens de
Ten empescher.
Je luy ay demande en suite si je pouvois ecrire a V. Em*'®
sur la parole qu'il me donnoit, de laquelle je m'asseurois autant
que de tout le Pari* ensemble, — en quoi je ne me suis point
eloigne de la verite, puisque j''ay sujet de les croire tous de la
mesme sorte, — le dit Marquis m'a prie de le faire et de me
reposer sur ce qu'il me promettoit, de sorte, Mg', que je n'ay
point juge necessaire d'en parler da vantage et d'avoir obligation
au Comite de ce que ces MM. sont assez portes a faire d'eux
mesmes et qu'ils n'executeroient pas quelque chose qu''ils
n''eussent promis s'ils avoient trouve plus avantageux pour eux
de ne le pas faire.
1S8 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
Cependant, Mg% durant que je me mettois en peine pour
empescher que les Espagnols eussent des hommes d'ici, j'ay
trouve que Ton assayoit d'arrester les levees qui se font pour
le service de S. M*^, et que le Marquis d'Argyle qui craint
d'avoir besoin de plus de gens qu'il ne croyoit pour chasser
Macdonald de ses terres, ou qui apprehende une invasion, ou
qui desire peutestre encore de gratifier TEspagne, ou qui a
quelque autre raison que je n^ay peu bien decouvrir, j'ay
trouve, dis-je que ce Marquis avant de quitter le Lieut.-Gen.
David Leslay pour venir ici, luy a fait ecrire une lettre a ce
Comite par laquelle il se plaint, ainsy qu'on me dit, que les
capitaines du Chev' Moray qui levoient dans le Nord, ont
debauche de ses soldats, et demande qu''on fasse cesse ces
levees, de sorte que tout ce que le Comte d'Angus et moi
avons peu faire (car le Chev' Moray est a la campagne depuis
quinze jours) est, qu"'on peut au moins continuer les dits levees
jusqu'au premier Juin, qui est le 11 selon le style de France.
Et comme le Comite doit s'assembler en ce temps, je ne
desespere pas, particulierement si Macdonald se retire, que
nous ne puissions faire rompre tout a fait cet ordre, ou faire
accorder un plus longtemps pour les dites levees. Je desirerois
au moins que ce peu de temps qui nous a ete donne servit
pour obliger les capitaines de travailler plus diligemment qu'ils
n'ont fait jusques icy.
Au reste, Mg', le Marquis d'Argyle a essaye de me persuader
qu'il avoit fort contribue a nous faire obtenir encore ces vingt
jours pour nous levees et j'ay creu que je devois le remercier
du mal qu''il nous avoit fait pour Tempescher de nous faire pis,
car en efFet, j'ay tout sujet de croire quMl est cause de ce
desordre, et la presse que m''a faite M. le Chev'' Moray d'ecrire
a M. le Tellier pour luy faire toucher douze mil livres, apres
m'avoir promis qu'il se contenteroit de les avoir quand on
auroit nouvelle de Tembarquement des hommes, m'a fait
douter qu'il avoit des lors eu quelque vent de cette affaire,
tant j'ay sujet de me defier icy de tout le monde. J'ay creu
devoir arrester entre les mains du marchand Targent qui y
etoit reste parce qu'il m''a semble qu'il seroit plus aise d'em-
pescher que M" le Comte d' Angus et le Chev' Moray le
touchassent que de le leur faire rendre quand ils Tauroient
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 139
eu, ce que j*'ay essaye de faire toutefois sans qu'ils le trouvassent
mauvais, ou qu'ils s''en puissent servir comme d'un pretexte
pour ne pas travailler aux levees. Et comme je ne puis
croire que de bonne sorte aux relations qui me viennent de
ce qui se passe dans le Nord touchant les dites levees, j'ay
resolu d'envoyer ou d''aller moy mesme faire un tour a Aber-
deen afin d'estre temoin de ce qui s'y fait, et d'y ayder de ma
part autant qu"'il me sera possible. Je donne avis de cecy a
M. le Tellier et le supplie au cas qu*'il n'ait point encore delivre
les douze mil livres au marchand de M. le Chev' Moray de
vouloir surscoir jusques a ce que Ton ait veu qu''il puisse satis-
faire a ses obligations et faire passer davantage d'hommes en
France que pour les sommes que je luy ay fait toucher.
Comme j"'achevois cette lettre le Marquis d''Argyle m"'a fait
entendre, en me disant adieu, que My Lord Lewis, son neveu
et le second fils du Marquis de Huntley, demandoit permission
de sortir du royaume et de mener mille hommes avec luy, et
qu'on auoit remis a luy et au Lieut.-Gen. David Leslay a luy
accorder cette permission, — qu"'il n'avoit pas beaucoup de
desir de servir la France, mais il m'a fait connaitre qu'il
essayeroit de Ty porter, si Ton vouloit luy faire de bonnes
conditions. Je luy ay dit que je trouvois en cela deux choses
etranges, — Tune qu'un Ecossois, et le fils du Marquis de Huntley
qui etoit attache au service du roy, cherchast autre part de
Temploi qu'au service de S. M'^ ; et Tautre que dans le temps
qu'on arreste les recreiies qui se font pour conserver deux
vieux regiments qui servent en France, on donne permission
pour en faire passer d''autres autre part. II m''a fait reponse
que les interests de son neveu estoient assez separes de ceux
du Marquis son pere, et que les hommes qu"*!! veut mener hors
du pays sont tous ennemis du Pari*, et que ne voudroient pas
prendre parti, ni sous le Comte d' Angus ni sous le Chev"" Moray.
II se peut faire que cecy ait ete une des raisons qui ont fait
arrester les levees, et que le Marquis d''Argyle a voulu voir s''il
pourroit par ce moyen obliger la France a donner de Targent
a son neveu.
Le vaisseau qui est parti d''icy avec trois cents hommes a ete
force par le mauvais temps de demeurer a la rade de Newcastle.
J'espere toutefois qu''il sera en France presentement.
140 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
[MoNTEREUL to Cakdinal Mazabin. Edinburgh, ^ May 1647.
In the last letter I received from M. de Bellievre he told me of a
rumour current in England that the Spaniards expected to obtain men
from here for their service, — that he has spoken about it to the Scottish
Commissioners, who are in London, who have assured him that the only
person who had thought of such a thing was Alexander Macdonald, and
that I ought to influence this Parliament so as to prevent his having
liberty to do it. I have already informed you that this rumour existed
here, some months ago even, but that I had not judged necessary to
take the trouble to do so, both because I did not think this Parliament
that had declared it would no longer treat with Macdonald, would now
grant him this permission, as also from the reason that if these gentle-
men had to do it, the permission would assuredly be because it might
advance their own interests rather than from its being in any way in
compliance with the wish and the interests of France, But as M, de
Bellievre intimated that it was proper for me to be assured this permission
would not be given to Macdonald, and as it appeared to me the withhold-
ing of the permission might even more contribute to the service of the
King of Great Britain than be hurtful to it, as thereby causing one of his
followers to remain in this country and maintain his party, I judged a
propos in calling on the Marquis of Argyleto bring this matter before him,
and to intimate to him that it was being said that the Scottish Parliament
wanted to make some agreement with Macdonald, and to permit him to
leave the island with his men. On which the Marquis of Argyle, different
from his wont, somewhat lost his temper in replying to me that the only
capitulation they would make with him would be as to whether they would
make him shorter or longer than he was, that is to say, by consulting
whether it were better to behead him or to have him hung, and that they
would effectively deprive him of the means of leaving the country and of
taking men with him. I answered him that it was, however, asserted not
only that he would take his people out of Scotland, but that he would take
them to Spain, and that he had a treaty with the Spaniards to that effect.
In answer to which he reminded me that he had informed me long ago —
as is quite true — that Macdonald had had this intention, and that a ship
had come from Spain for that purpose at that time which returned empty,
and he assured me now that not only would he never have the liberty
from Parliament to transport a single person, but means would very soon
be found to prevent him from doing it.
I asked him afterwards if I could write to you on the promise that he
gave me, in which I placed as much reliance as in that of all the Parlia-
ment together, — in which I was not far from the truth, since I have
reason to believe them all of the same sort. Tlie marquis begged me to
do so and to rely on what he promised me, so that I have not judged it
necessary to speak more of it, or to be obliged to the committee for what
these gentlemen are quite disposed to do for themselves and that they
would not execute anything they might have promised had they found
it more advantageous for them not to do so.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 141
Yet while I was taking the trouble of preventing the Spaniards from
having men from here, I find it has been tried to stop the levies that are
being made for the service of his Majesty, and that the Marquis of Argyle
who fears that he may require more men than he thought to drive
Macdonald ofi" his lands, or who fears an invasion, or who wishes perhaps
to gratify Spain, or who has some other reason that I not been able to
discover, — I have found, I repeat, that this marquis before leaving Lieut.-
General David Leslie in order to come here made the latter write a letter
to the committee, in which he complains, as I am told, that Sir Robert
Moray's captains in the North have enticed away his soldiers, and demands
that a stop be put to the levies, so that all the Earl of Angus and I have
been able to obtain — for Sir Robert Moray has been at the country for a
fortnight — is that one can at least continue the levies in question until
the first June or the eleventh according to the style of France.
And as the committee is to meet about that time I do not despair,
particularly if Macdonald goes away, that we may be able to annul this
order altogether or obtain a longer time for the levies. I should like at
least that this short time that has been given us may serve to oblige the
captains to work more actively than they have done up till now.
The Marquis of Argyle has further tried to persuade me that he has
contributed greatly to procure for us those twenty days for our levies, and
I believed I ought to thank him for the evil he had done us, in order to
prevent him from doing worse, for, in fact, I have every reason to believe
him to be the cause of this disorder and the urgency with which Sir
Robert Moray made me write to M. le Tellier in order that he might
have twelve thousand pounds, after he had promised me that he would be
satisfied on receiving that amount when news was received of the men
being shipped, has made me doubt that even then he had some indication
of this afi'air, so much reason have I to distrust every one here. I have
thought right to arrest the money in the hands of the merchant because
it seemed to me it would be easier to prevent the Earl of Angus and Sir
Robert Moray from obtaining the money than to make them return it
when they have had it, which I try to do, however, without their dis-
approving of it, or that it may be able to serve them as a pretext in order
not to work at the levies. And as 1 can but just believe the accounts
that reach me from the North regarding the levies, I have decided to send
or to go myself to Aberdeen, in order to see what is being done and to
help in it as far as I can. I give notice of this to M. le Tellier and beg
him in the event of his not having yet delivered the twelve thousand
pounds to the merchant of Sir Robert Moray, to delay doing so until one
may see he is able to fulfil his obligations and that he can send more men
to France beyond those I have paid him for.
"VVTiile I was finishing this letter the Marquis of Argyle in saying good-
bye led me to understand that Lord Lewis, his nephew, the second son of
the Marquis of Huntly, was asking permission to leave the country and to
take a thousand men with him, and that it had been referred to him and
to Lieut. -General David Leslie to grant him this permission ; that his
142 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [may
nephew had not much wish to serve in France, but he made me under-
stand he might try and induce him to do so, if good terms were offered to
him. I told him I found two things in his recital very strange : one that
a Scotsman and the son of the Marquis of Huntly who was attached to
the service of the king ^ wished to obtain employment anywhere but in the
service of his Majesty ; and the other that while recruiting, which was
required to preserve two old regiments that were serving in France, had
been stopped, permission is given to take the men away somewhere else.
He replied that the interests of his nephew were quite distinct from those
of the marquis, his father, and that the men he wished to take out of the
country were all enemies of the Parliament, and who would not enlist
either under the Earl of Angus or Sir Robert Moray. This may possibly
be one of the reasons why the levies have been stopped, and that the
Marquis of Argyle wished to see if he could by this means oblige France
to give some money to his nephew.
The ship that left here with three hundrad men about three weeks ago
has been obliged by stress of weather to remain at Newcastle. I hope,
however, it will be in France at present.]
CXLV
BELLIIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^ Mai 1647.
Monsieur, — L'armee doit auiourd'huy rendre response aux
Commiss"^ du Parlement touchant le licenciement que Ton
en pretend faire, et iusques a ce que Ton le scache il n''est
pas aise de iuger quelle face prendront icy les affaires. II
arriua Samedy matin une lettre du Roy de la G. B. au
Parlement, et pourceque les Maisons ne s'assemblent pas les
Samedis ni les Lundis Ton ne scaura que demain ce qu'elle
contient. J'en viens de receuoir une du d. Roy, par laquelle il
me mande que c'est une responce aux quatre propositions prin-
cipalles desquelles Ton luy parle depuis quatre mois, la plus
approchante qu'il a peu de ce que Ton a desire de luy. Le
malheur qui Taccompagne sans relasche, luy faict enuoyer dans
un temps auquel les Presbiteriens apparemment n''ozent, ni ne
peuuent se de'clarer pour luy, et faict qu'il s'engage par la
contre les Independantz et par consequent contre ceux qui ont
du credit dans Tarmee, auec les Principaux desquelz je com-
men9ois a mettre des affaires en fort bon estat, et comme
* i.e. the King of France.
1 647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 143
il enuoye cette lettre sans la participation de ceux des deux
partis, qui ont quelque communiquation auec luy, ilz s''en
tiennent tous deux offensez, et se persuadent chacun que cet
enuoy se faict a la suscitation de celuy qui leur est oppose. Je
ie feray valloir autant qu'il me sera possible. J'apprehendc
qu''il luy face plus de mal que de bien. Je vous enuoye la
traduction d'un papier qui m''a este donne par le comte de
Warwick et le cheualier Erie qui contient encore des plaintes
de vaisseaux Anglois conduits a Bologne et a Dunkerque par
des Fregattes qui se disent au Prince de Galles. J'estime qu'il
sera juge tres-important de faire qu''en cette occasion les In-
teressez recoiuent plus de satisfaction que ceux qui sont de
retour de Bologne disent y auoir eu, ensuitte des ordres que
ie les auois asseure qui y seroient enuoyez pour leur faire faire
justice. Le Parlement est plus particulierement interesse
en ces deux vaisseaux nommez dans ce dernier papier qu'aux
autres qui ont cy deuant este menez en France, contre les
intentions de laquelle les soub^ons augmentent tous les jours, et
a un tel poinct qu'il est a craindre que ceux qui trauaillent
a maintenir auec nous les aiP^^ [affaires] dans ces termes de
douceur et de respect ne perdent la volonte et le credit de le
faire a Taduenir, si par des realitez ils ne voyent confirmer les
termes genereux et ciuilz dont j'essaye de les entretenir depuis
que ie suis icy, ou certeinement nous sommes en mauuaise
condition. Nos bonnes intentions sont mal expliquees, et les
actions des Espaignolz,quoiqu''en effect deffkuorables aux Anglois
produisent a leur esgard plus tost de bons que de manuals effects.
Un de leurs vaisseaux marchans conduit a Ostende par une des
fregattes du Prince de Galles y a este vendu, dont les luteressez
n'ont eu aucune raison, quoy qu'ilz ayent porte a TArchiduc
des lettres de ce Parlement, qui le prioit de leur en faire faire
justice, sur le reffus de laquelle lorsqu'ilz se sont pretendus
pouruoir icy le S' Vaine, qui est le seul de la maison des
Communs qui ayt cognoissance des affkires estrangeres, a diet
qu"'il ne trouuoit point estrange que TArchiduc n'ait point
considere la recommandation du Parlement, qui a manque de
luy enuoyer faire des compliments a son arriuee en Flandres,
qui est une ciuilite qui se prattique en pareilles occasions
entre des Estats amis, et pour ce, qu'il j ugeoit a propos de luy
144 BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE [may
enuoyer le cheualier Pither Killegray, Courrier ordinaire des
deux Maisons, pour, sous pretexte de Taffaire de ces Marchans,
lui faire en effect les compliments de la part de ce Parlement
qui luy deuoient auoir este faicts il y a desja quelque temps.
Cette proposition fut extremement bien receiie, et la chose
pourroit bien estre au premier jour resoliie de cette sorte
si les autres affaires qui tiennent maintenant les espritz occupez
leur laissent le temps de songer a celle cy. Je m'y opposeray
auec toute Faddresse qui me sera possible, mais certainement
il faut beaucoup de bonheur pour y reussir. Les marchandz
pressent cette affaire auec chaleur, les amis d'Espagne et de
Goring y contribuent tout ce qu'ilz peuuent, et la plus part
du reste de TAngleterre, ennuyeuse de la France, la fera
indubitablement conclure si on s''apper9oit que je I'apprehend
quoyque ce soit beaucoup rabattre de leur orgueil d'enuoyer
faire des compliments de la part de ce Royaume a un gouuer-
neur des Pays-Bas, de quelque qualite qu"'il puisse estre, qui ne
luy en a point encore fait. Le vaisseau d'habits pour les
soldats d'lrlande, conduit a Jersay par les fregattes du Prince
de Galles, a fait prendre au Parlement la resolution de se
rendre maistre des forteresses de cet isle. Pour cet effect huict
grands vaisseaux sont commandez, quantite des petites barques
et douze cens hommes, pour mettre pied a terre lesquelz auec
les habitans que Ton estime fort affectionnez au Parlement
pourront dans peu de temps faire reussir ce dessein. — Je suis.
Monsieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieure.
Au dos — M, de Bellieure, du 27® May 1647, receu le 30 du d.
mois k Amiens.
[Bellievbe to Brienne. London, ~ May 1647.
The army is to reply to-day to the Commissioners of Parliament,
concerning the disbanding it is pretended to effect, and until the reply
is known it is not easy to judge what turn matters may take here.
A letter was received on Saturday morning from the King of Great
Britain to Parliament, but, because of the Houses not meeting on Satur-
days or Mondays, what it contains will only be known to-morrow. I have
just received one from the king, in which he informs me that it is a reply
to the four principal proposals which he has been spoken to about during
the last four months, and that it is the nearest he can grant to what is
demanded of him. The mischance that follows him always, without inter-
i647] BELLI]feVRE TO BRIEXNE 145
mission, has made him to send it at a time in which the Preshyterians
evidently dare not and cannot declare themselves for him, so that he
thereby commits himself against the Independents and consequently
against those who have influence in the army, with the most important
of whom I Mas beginning to have matters arranged in a very good condi-
tion, and as he sends this letter without the participation of those of both
parties who were in communication with him, they both consider them-
selves offended by it and each persuades itself that this reply is made on
the suggestion of the one opposed to it. I shall try and turn it to the best
possible account, but I fear that it will do him more harm than good. I
send to you the translation of a paper which has been given to me by the
Earl of ^V^arwick and Sir AValter Earle ^ which contains more complaints
of English ships brought into Boulogne and Dunkirk by the frigates that
are said to belong to the Prince of AV'ales. I consider it will be judged
very important that the persons interested receive on this occasion more
satisfaction than those who have returned from Boulogne say they have
had there from the orders I had assured them would be sent there in order
to enable them to obtain justice. The Parliament is more particularly
interested in these two ships named in this last paper than in the others
that have previously been brought to France, against the intention of
which country suspicion is increasing each day, and to such a degree that
it is to be feared those who are engaged with us in trying to maintain
matters in terms of harmony and respect may lose the will and the credit
of doing so in future, if from the events that actually take place they see
no confirmation of these generous and civil terms with which I try to en-
gage them since I have been here, where we are certainly in a bad way :
our good intentions are badly interpreted and the actions of the Spaniards
although unfavourable to the English produce, as far as they are con-
cerned, rather favourable than bad effects. One of their merchant ships
captured and taken to Ostend by one of the frigates of the Prince of Wales
has been sold there and the persons interested have obtained nothing al-
though the matter had been brought under the notice of the Grand Duke
by the letters of this Parliament that begged him to grant them justice, on
which being refused Sir Henry Vane, who is the only member of the
House of Commons who has any knowledge of foreign affairs, said he was
not surprised that the Grand Duke had not considered the recommen-
dation of this Parliament, that had failed to compliment him on his
arrival in Flanders, which is a customary civility on similar occasions
between friendly states, for which reason he judged it a propos to send to
him Sir Peter Killigrew, the usual messenger of both Houses of Parliament
under pretext of this affair of the merchants' in order to pay him the
compliments on the part of this Parliament that ought to have been done
some considerable time ago. This proposal was extremely well received
^ Sir Walter Earle, M.P. for Weymouth, was one of the Commissioners sent
to the king at Newcastle.
VOL. II. K
146 BELLI]fcVRE TO BRIENNE [MAY
and the matter may be resolved upon in this manner on an early day, if
the other matters that now keep their minds occupied leave them the time
to think of this one. I shall oppose it with all the dexterity I can com-
mand, but it will certainly require much good luck for me to succeed
in it. The merchants urge the matter eagerly ; the friends of Spain and
Goring contribute all they can to it ; and the most part of the rest of Eng-
land, disaffected with France, will unquestionably decide on it if it be per-
ceived that I apprehend it ; although it is certainly a great fall for their
pride to send to pay compliments on the part of this kingdom to a governor
of the Netherlands of whatever rank he may be, who has yet done nothing
for them.
The ship with clothes for the Irish soldiers that was brought to Jersey
by the frigates of the Prince of Wales has caused Parliament to resolve to
take possession of the fortresses of that island. Eight large war-ships, a
number of small ships, with twelve hundred men, are under orders for
that purpose, to make a landing on the island ; the inhabitants of which
being considered very well disposed towards Parliament, may in a short
time lead to the success of this design.]
CXLVI
BELLIlfeVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^^ May 1647.
Monsieur, — Les affaires sont maintenant en la plus grande
comotion qu'elles ayent encor este icy. Les presbiteriens ne
doutent pas qu'elles ne succedent a leur aduantage ; les Inde-
pendans pour Tempescher tesmoignent estre resoluz d'hazarder
de se perdre, et auec eux toute TAngleterre. L"'armee com-
mence a se faire entendre qu''elle ne pretend estre conduitte que
par son interest, sans voulloir s''attacher a celuy d'aucun des
deux partis, Tanimosite desquelz esclatte a un tel poinct dans
cette villa que Ton ne redoutte de voir dans peu de jours un des-
ordre bien grand. La lettre que le Roy de la G. B. escrit au
Parlement rencontre les affaires en cet estat, sur laquelle les
Seigneurs viennent de resoudre que ledict Roy seroit prie de
venir d Othlans, qui est une de ses maisons a 12 milles de cette
ville. La Chambre des Communs n'en a pas encore opine ; je
croy qu'elle le pourra faire aussy tost qu'elle aura finy la
deliberation sur laquelle elle est maintenant. Je n'en pourray
point escrire ce soir parce que ie me dois trouuer a vuit [huit
heures] a la leuee de la Chambre pour aduiser auec quelques
personnes affectionnes au Roy d'Angleterre ce qui est a faire
1 647] BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE 147
et ce qu"*!! luy faut mander par le comte de donfermelin, qui
le va demain trouuer par la permission du Parlement. Cet
embaras dans lequel se trouuent icy les affaires est cause quMl
ne s"'en faict aucune, et que ie n''ay rien a vous mander par cet
ordinaire en response de la lettre du 24 de ce mois. Les
creintes, les esperances, enfin les imaginations que chacun se
forme tiennent touttes choses en suspens. Elles ont fait
mesme sursoir Tenuoy de cette flotte destinee pour Jerzay
quoyque par les derniers aduis que Ton a icy receu de France
on confirme ceux que Ton y a cy deuant donne que Ton y prepare
aux costes de Normandie assez proche de ces iles de Jerzay et
Gemzay un secours considerable pour Tlrlande. — Je suis, Mon-
sieur, Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 30 May l647, receu le 3 Juin.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, ^ May 1647.
Matters are now in the greatest commotion they have yet been here ;
the Presbyterians do not doubt but they will succeed to their advantage ;
the Independents in order to prevent them seem resolved to run the risk
of ruining themselves and with them aU England. The army begins to
make it understood that it pretends only to be guided by its own interests
without wishing to attach itself to either of the two parties. The animosity
•caused thereupon in this town has reached such a pitch that grave dis-
orders are expected in a few days. The letter the King of Great Britain
wrote to Parliament arrives at a time when matters are in this state. The
Lords have just decided that the king should be invited to come to Oat-
lands, which is one of his houses, twelve miles distant from this town.
The House of Commons has not yet discussed the matter ; I believe they
will do so immediately after they have finished their present subject of
■discussion. I shall not be able to write to you this evening, because I
must be at eight o'clock at the House of Commons when the sitting is
over, in order to consult with some persons well disposed towards the
King of England as to what is to be done, and what it is necessary to in-
form him of, by the Earl of Dunfermline, who is going to him to-morrow,
by the permission of this Parliament. The encumbered state of aflFairs here
results in there being nothing done and that I have nothing to inform
you of by this mail in reply to yours of the 27th inst. The fears, the
hopes and the fancies that each person forms holds everything in suspense.
They have even delayed the departure of this fleet destined for Jersey,
although by last accounts received here from France the news formerly
given has been confirmed — that an important expedition in aid of Ireland
is being prepared on the coasts of Normandy, quite near these islands of
Jersey and Guernsey.]
148 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JUNE
CXLVII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^ Juin 1647.
Je me donnay Thonneur d'ecrire a V. Em'=® il y a trois jours
par le S' Rederford, major du regiment de M. le Chev' Moray,
qu'apres fait partir d' Aberdeen un vaisseau charge de plus de
trois cents hommes, j'en avois trouve icy en arrivant un autre
tout prest de sortir de ce port avec deux cents cinquante
hommes. II a fait voile depuis avec un aussi bon vent qu'on le
puisse desirer, et j'ay tout sujet de croire qu'il n'est pas main-
tenant loin de Calais. Nous avons encore un autre vaisseau
qui doit partir avec cent cinquante hommes a la fin de cette
semaine, de sorte que tout cela ensemble fera un nombre assez
considerable.
Ce peu de diligence, qui est audessous de ce que nous aurions
du faire ; mais au dessus de ce que j 'avois espere, est un effet
de Tordre qu'a passe ce comite pour arrester les levees, bien
eloigne de Tintention de ceux qui Pont fait donner.
Je desire seulement, Mg', que cette defense, qui a fait
haster presentement les levees, ne les arreste pas dorenavant,
et j'ay mesme quelque sujet de Tesperer, puisque Macdonald
a ete entierement defait et qu''apparemment on conservera bien
peu de troupes sur pied dans ce Royaume.
Je ne suis pas toutefois encore bien certain si cette defense
tiendra ou si elle sera ostee, et le grand desir que le Comte
d' Angus m''a temoigne avoir de retirer aujourd'huy tout ce
qui luy reste entre les mains du marchand, contre la promise
qu''il m'avoit faite de n'y toucher que quand il en auroit
besoin m'a fait craindre que ces defenses ne tenssent et quMl
ne cherchast a avoir ces deniers quand il a moins de lieu de
les employer, de sorte que j'ay mesme pense si je les devois
faire arrester par Pauthorite des loix, voyant que mes prieres
et ses promesses ne servoient de rien pour Tempescher de les
toucher. Mais apres m'estre informe des voyes que j''avois a
tenir pour cela j'ay trouve que le dit sieur Comte d' Angus
etoit luy mesme du nombre de ceux qui me devoient donner
cat ordre, de sorte que voyant qu'il auroit retire son argent
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 149
avant que je puisse obtenir la permission de le faire arrester,
j''ay creu que je ne le devois pas irriter inutilement, et quMI
etoit a propos que je permisse de bonne grace une chose que
je ne pouvois pas empescher, et qui luy auroit donne sujet
de rejeter sur moy les longueurs qui pourroient arrever cy
apres dans les levees. Je me suis done contente de la parole
quMl m'a donne de nouveau qu^il ne prendroit de cet argent
qu''autant qu''il en auroit de besoin pour donner a ses capitaines,
bien que les promesses verbales ne soient pas des contracts qui
obligent fort en ce pays.
Les lettres qui arriverent ici Samedi au soir de Tarmee de ce
Pari* portent qu"* Alexandre Macdonald ay ant creu que David
Leslay etoit encore assez empesche contre les Gordons, lors
qu"'ils etoient proche de luy, ne s'est pas mis en peine de garder
Tentree de la peninsule de Kintyre, dans laquelle il s'est retire,
de sorte que David Leslay etoit entre plus de huit mille
hommes dans cette province, avec toute sa cavalerie sans avoir
rencontre un seul ennemi ; qull avoit envoye quarante chevaux
pour en apprendre des nouvelles, et qui ce parti ayant ren-
contre aupres de Crommonel trois cents hommes de Macdonald,
tant en cavalerie qu'en infanterie, et ayant re^u ordre de David
Leslay de les charger, ces quarante hommes avoient pousse les
gens de Macdonald si vivement qu''apres en avoir tue quatre
vingt ils avoient oblige les autres de se retirer en desordre
vers le gros de leur armee, laquelle ils avoient rempli de tant
de confusion et de crainte que la mesme nuit deux chefs des
tribus de Neil et d'Alester (car c''est ainsy qu''ils appellent les
families puisantes) envoyerent vers David Leslay pour luy
offrir d'abandonner Macdonald, avec toute leur suite, s''ils
etoient asseures de leurs vies et de la conservation de leur bien,
ce que le Marquis d'Argyle ne leur a pas promis seulement,
mais de leur donner les terres qu''ils tiennent de luy pour une
plus longue suite d'annees qu'ils ne les avoient auparavant,
s"'ils vouloient attaquer les Irlandois et luy donner Macdonald
vif ou mort, — ce qu'ils ont promis, de sorte qu''ils ont tue
presque tons les Irlandois, mais que Macdonald, qui en avoit
eu avis, s"'etoit sauve en la petite isle de Gyga, — quelques
autres ecrivent de Kaitray, — avec trois personnes seulement,
et de la avoit passe en celle d'Yla, ou il a fortifie une place. II
150 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JUNE
y a toutefois quelques barques qui Tont suivi, mais qui ne luy
ont pas porte aucun nombre d'hommes considerable; ni qui
luy puisse servir pour se defendre contre Tarmee de ce Pari*.
Ou asseure que le Marquis de Huntley n'est plus a Locliaber ;
son second fils que je croyois qui pourroit traiter avec TEspagne
pour un regiment qu'il a eu permission de lever, seulement de
ceux qui ont suivi le parti de leur roy, fut arreste prisonnier
un jour avant que j'arrivasse a Aberdeen, pour avoir entretenu
quelque commerce avec ceux du parti du roy de la G' B"",
contre ce qui etoit porte par sa capitulation, et Middleton me
dit que Lord Lewis etoit bien loin de faire sortir promptement
des hommes d'Ecosse puisqu'il doutoit qu'il fut luy mesme en
etat de sortir bientost de prison.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ June 1647.
I WROTE to you three days ago, by Major Rutherford of the regiment
of Sir Robert Moray, that after having despatched from Aberdeen a
ship convejdng more than three hundred men, I had found another one
on arriving here quite ready to leave this harbour with two hundred and
fifty men. It has since left with as good a wind as could be wished, and I
have every reason to believe that it is now not far from Calais. We have
still another that is to leave at the end of this week with a hundred and
fifty men, so that all those together will make a somewhat considerable
number.
This little diligence which is less than we ought to have had, but more
than I had hoped for, is the result of the order, that has been confirmed
by the committee, to stop the levies, much contrary to the intention of
those who gave it.
I only desire that this prohibition, that has hastened the levies at pre-
sent, may not put a stop to them in the future, and I have even some
reason to hope so, since Macdonald has been entirely defeated, and that
apparently there will be very few troops raised in this kingdom.
I am not, however, yet quite sure whether this prohibition will hold
good or whether it will be withdrawn, and the great desire the Earl of
Angus showed me he had to draw out to-day all the money that remained
to him in the hands of the merchant, contrary to the promise he had made
to me only to touch it when he required it, has led me to fear that it might
hold, and that he only sought to have these moneys when he has less
need of employing them, so that I have even thought of having them
arrested by authority, seeing that my requests and his promises served no
purpose in preventing him from having the money. But after inquiry
as to the course I had to take for this I found that the Earl of Angus was
himself one of the number of those who ought to give me this order, so that
seeing he might have drawn out his money before I was able to procure
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 151
the permission to arrest it I thought I need not irritate him to no purpose,
and that it was more advisable for me to allow with good grace a thing
that I was unable to prevent, and which would have given him cause to
blame me for any delays that might happen afterwards in the levies. I
therefore remained satisfied with his promise, which he gave me again,
that he would only take that money in so far as he might require it to
give to his captains, although verbal promises are not binding contracts
in this country.
The letters that arrived here on Saturday evening from the army of this
Parliament state that Alexander Macdonald, having believed that David
Leslie was yet somewhat prevented by the Gordons, whereas they were
near him, and hence not having taken the trouble to guard the entry of
the peninsula of Kintyre in which he had withdrawn, so that David Leslie
having conveyed more than eight thousand men into this district, with
all his cavalry without having met a single enemy, and having despatched
forty mounted men to reconnoitre, this party met near Crommonel three
hundred of Macdonald's men, both cavalry and infantry, and having
received order from David Leslie to charge them, those forty men fell
upon the former so vigorously that after having killed eighty of them
they had obliged the remainder to retire in disorder towards the main
body of their army, in which they caused so much confusion and fear that
the same night two chiefs of the clans, Macneil and Macalister — for this
is how they call the powerful families — sent to David Leslie making offer
to him to abandon Macdonald, with all their followers, if they were
assured of their lives and of their property, which the Marquis of Argyle
not only promised them, but also offered to give them the lands they hold
from him for a longer period of years than they had them previously, if
they would attack the Irish and give him Macdonald dead or alive, which
they promised to do, so that they have killed almost all the Irish ; but
Macdonald who had notice of it had fled to the little island of Gyga,
others say Kaitry, with three persons only and from there they passed
to Isla where he has fortified a place. Some boats were, however, seen
to follow, but which could not have carried any great number of men
that could serve him or defend themselves against the army of this
Parliament.^
^ The following is Sir James Turner's account of what he saw on this expedi-
tion. ' From Invereray,' he says, ' we marched to Kintyre, which is a peninsula.
Both before and at the entry to it there were such advantages of ground, that
our foot, for mountains and marshes, could never have been drawn up one
hundred in a body, nor our horses above three abreast ; which if Sir Alaster
had prepossest with three thousand or twelve hundred have foot, which he had
with him, I think he might have routed us, at least we should not have entered
Kintyre but by a miracle. But he was ordered for destruction, for by a speedy
march we made ourselves masters of the difficult passes and got into a plain
country, when he no sooner saw our horse advance but with little or no fighting
he withdrew. From Kintyre he went to Isla, leaving his old father, comtnonly
152 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [JUNE
It is affirmed that the Marquis of Huntly is no longer in Lochaber, his
second son, whom I thought might be able to treat with Spain for a regiment,
which he has only had permission to raise, of those who have served the
king's party, was arrested the day before I arrived at Aberdeen for having
communicated with those of the royalist party, contrary to the terms of
his surrender, and Middleton told me that Lord Lewis was very far from
being able to lead men out of Scotland since he much doubted his being
able to get soon out of prison.]
CXLVIII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^^^ylS*?.
Monsieur, — Les affaires du Roy d'Angleterre, dont quelques
uns qui se disent seruiteurs deliberoient lundy dernier a Nou-
suth [?] a treize milles de cette ville, ou il estoit besoing que ie
me trouuasse, et ce qui estoit a faire au suject d"'un vaisseau de
Hambourg charge d'Irlandois conduit par ceux du Parlement
en risle de Wigth \sic\ m''empescherent de me pouuoir rendre
icy auant le partement de Fordinnaire. Le Parlement ne sVst
assis depuis que Mardy et les affaires de Tarmee tinrent la
Chambre des Communs tellement occuppee qu'elle ne se leua
qu''a neuf heures du soir, en sorte que ceux qui sont du commite
de Tadmiraute ny peurent aller trouuer les Seigneurs qui les
y attendirent une grande partie de Tapres midy pour auiser
a cette affaire, qui estoit la senile qui les faisoit assembler
extraordinairement. Le diet Commite a este remis a ce jour
dans lequel j'essaye de faire ordonner que ce vaisseau soit
relasche, sans qu'il en donne part aux deux maisons, ou il se
rencontreroit beaucoup de difficulte et sans doute de la longueur
capable de faire perir ces Irlandois. J'ay faict escrire par un
Marchant que Ton les assistast de ce qui leur seroit necessaire,
called Coll Kettoch, with nearly two hundred men in a castle called Dunneveg.'
— Memoirs, p. 45.
Dublin, June gth, 1647. — ' All, or most of the force, late in Scotland with
Colketto, are for certain landed in Ulster. They came in fifteen vessels, which
they ran upon the sands near Cundrum, in the isle of Lecall. . , . They are said
to be 800 in number. Their party was defeated and 400 foot who were taken
prisoners were hung, which terrified the rest.' — Rushworth, part iv. vol. i.
p. 561.
i647] BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE 153
et j''enuoyeray un de mes gens pour y pouruoir pour peu que
Ton difFere a nous les rendre. L''armee n'obeit point encore
aux ordres du Parlement touchant son licentiement. Cette
affaire ne rend pas seulement nos leuees difficilles, mais aussy
faict sursoir de signer par le Speaker les passeports aux officiers
de France et d'Espagne qui ont la licence du commite destine
pour cet effect. La Chambre des Communs n'a point delibere
sur le Message du Roy de la G. B. ny sur le vot[e] de celle
des Seigneurs pour le faire venir a Othlans; elle est si mal
disposee que ce que Ton a peu faire jusques icy a este d''esuiter
d'en parler, pourceque ceux qui ont le plus d"'intention de seruir
le d. Roy n'ozent le tesmoigner en Testat que sont icy touttes
choses. L'autorite qu'ont les Marchans dans le parlement Ta
force de consentir a Tenuoy de Killegray vers TArchiduc les
personnes de ceruelle ont honte de cette resolution en ont
retarde autant qu'ilz ont peu Pexecution, mais ilz ne croyent
pas qu'il soit possible de la faire changer. — Je suis, Monsieur,
Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bei.lieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 6^ Juin l647, receu le 11® a
Amiens.
[BEMiifevBE to Bbienne. Lovdon, ^ ^"J" 1647.
I WAS prevented from being back here in time, before the leaving of
the last mail, the King of England's affairs having obliged me to attend a
meeting of those who call themselves his followers at twelve
miles from'this town, and also from what I have to do about the Hamburg
ship laden with Irish that the Parliament ships have brought to the Isle
of Wight. Parliament has only been sitting once since on Tuesday, and
the army affairs occupy the House of Commons so closely that its sittings
are protracted till nine o'clock in the evening, hence those of the
Admiralty Committee are unable to meet the Lords, who waited at
the Admiralty for them during a great part of the afternoon in order to
consult about this affair, for which alone they had called this extrsr-
ordinary meeting. The committee meeting has been put off till to-day,
in which I am trying to obtain an order that the ship be given up, with-
out the matter being communicated to both Houses, otherwise it would
be attended with much difficulty and doubtless a delay, during which all
the Irish would perish. I have had a letter written to a merchant in
order that they may be aided with what they may require, and I shall
send one of my people to provide for them in the event of their delay-
ing to give them up to us. The army does not yet obey the orders of
Parliament regarding its disbanding. This matter not only renders our
154 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JUNE
levies difficult, but also prevents the Speaker from signing the passports
to the officers of France and Spain who have the licence of the committee
for that purpose. The House of Commons has not discussed the message
of the King of Great Britain nor the vote of the Lords to invite him to
Oatlands ; it is so badly disposed, that all one has been able to do till now
has been to avoid speaking about it, on account of those who have the
most intention to serve the king, not daring to show it in the present
state of things. The influence the merchants have in Parliament has
forced it to consent to sending Killegray to the Grand Duke. Persons
with brains are ashamed of this decision and have delayed as long as
possible its being carried out; but they believe it to be impossible to
change it.]
CXLIX
MONTEREUL av CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edhnhourg, — Juin l647.
BiEN que par les deux lettres dont V. Em'^® m'a voulu
honorer du 24 et du 26 du mois passe, elle se plaigne auec
toute sorte de sujet des longuers qui ont ete apportees aux
levees qui se font icy, je scay toutefois qu'elle ne m''imputeroit
point du tout ce retardement si elle pouvoit voir de quelle
sorte je m^employe pour les haster, ce que j"'espere que V. Em*^®
aura peu reconnoistre presentement, puisque le vaisseau que
j"'ay fait partir d' Aberdeen et celuy qui est parti d'icy a mon
retour, ayant eu un vent tres favorable doivent estre arrives a
Calais il y a longtemps.
Celuy qui les devoit suivre avec cent cinquante hommes
seulement ne partira qu'a la fin de cette semaine et sera suivi
de bien pres d'un autre avec pareil nombre. M. le Chev""
Moray m'asseure encore que David Leslay donne deux cents
hommes a deux capitaines qu'il luy a envoyes et quMls les
auront prets a embarquer dans fort peu de jours.
Je ne vois pas que M. le Comte d' Angus avance tant et je
ne manque pas de luy representer les choses qui peuvent le
faire haster davantage — I'interest qu'il a en la conservation
de son regiment et le desavantage que ce luy sera qu'un simple
gentilhomme ait envoye en France le double des gens qu'il a
fait partir. Cependant deux choses prejudicieront bien fort
dorenavant aux levees, le peu d'hommes qui restent en Ecosse,
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 155
et la maladie qui y augmente chaque jour; car pour ce qui
est de la defense de continuer les levees, le Comte de Lanark
a fait a ma priere tout ce que le Chev'' Moray deseroit de luy
afin que cet ordre ne nous peut nuire ainsy que je Tecris bien
particulierement a M. le Comte de Brienne en luy rendant
compte de ce qui regarde la pension que Sa Maj** veut donner
au dit Comte de Lanark et qui a deja produit ce bon effet, si
je puis m^'asseurer aux paroles qu"'il m''a donnees, et qu''il a
confirmees depuis au dit S' Chev' Moray.
Mais comme j'ay veu qu"'on a icy de jour en jour plus diffi-
cilement des hommes, et que j'ay reconnu que ce Parlement
ne cherche rien tant qu'a estre defait de ceux qui ont suivy le
party de leur Roy, ce que le Marquis d'Argyle a plus de sujet
de desirer que personne, j'ay prie M. le Chev"^ Moray, qui peut
beaucoup aupres de luy, de voir s"'il pourroit engager le dit
Marquis a luy donner sept ou huit cents de ceux de ses sujets
qui ont pris party avec Macdonald, et bien qu'il recoive par ce
moyen deux avantages tres considerables, — de se defaire de
ceux dont il ne se peut jamais asseurer, et de les mettre entre
les mains d'une personne comme M. le Chev' Moray qui ne les
portera pas a retourner pour renouveller la guerre dans son
pays, — ^je me suis encore servy d''un motif qui peut plus sur luy
que ces deux autres, en luy offrant s"'il envoye ces hommes
presentement, d'ecrire a V. Em*=® que je luy ay promis les cinq
cents Jacobus qui sont demeures entre les mains du S' Inglis,
du reste de ce qui avoit este destine pour les recreiies du regi-
ment du feu Comte d'lrvin son frere, qu"'il m'a temoigne
autrefois desirer toucher pour pareille somme qu'il pretend
d'estre deue par Sa Maj'^ au dit Comte d'lrvin pour le reste de
ses appointements.
J'espere que V. Em*^^ me pardonnera de m'estre tant avance
puisque cela ne Toblige a rien faire de plus que ce qu'elle
trouvera a propos et que cet argent ne seroit pas peut-estre
mal employe au cas qu'il voulut faire passer en France un
nombre d'hommes considerable.
La nouvelle de la defaite de Macdonald se confirme a la
reserve des Irlandois qu''on avoit fait mourir, et qui ont suivy
leur chef en Tisle d'Yla, d'ou quelques uns croyent qu'encore
que le dit Macdonald ne puisse pas faire grand mal a ce
166 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [june
Royaume, il peut toujours rincommoder et obliger ce Parle-
ment a entretenir quelques troupes pour luy opposer.
Au reste, Mg"", V. Em*=« peut mieux connaistre que je lie
puis exprimer les ressentiments que je suis oblige de conserver
toute ma vie des extremes boutes quMle a eues de faire parler
a Madame la Princesse de mes interests et avec quel soin je
dois m*'employer pour executer ses commandements dans un
lieu ou elle a voulu que je servisse maintenant sans inquietude.
Cependant, Mg"", ma pensee etoit de me rendre premierement
aupres de V. Em''^ pour scavoir d'elle en quelle maniere il lu}'
plaisoit que je desposasse d'une personne qui luy est acquise
par tant de bienfaits, et qui dans le grand nombre de ses
creatures a plus d'obligation qu''aucun autre de se soumettre
absolument a ses volontes et d''estre, etc., etc.
[MoNTEBEUL to Cabdinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ June 1647.
Although in your letters of the 24th and 26th ult. you complain with
every reason of the delays caused in the levies that are being made here,
I know, however, that you would not impute any part whatever of that
delay to me if you could see the manner in which I act in order to hasten
them, which I hope you will have been able to perceive at present, since
the ships I despatched from Aberdeen and the one that left here on my
return, having had a very favourable wind, ought to have arrived at Calais
long ago.
The one that is to follow them with a hundred and fifty men only will
but leave at the end of this week, and will be followed very closely by
another with a similar number. Sir Robert Moray still assures me that
David Leslie is giving two hundred men to two of his captains that he has
sent to him, and that they will be ready for shipment in a very few days.
I do not see that the Earl of Angus gets on so fast, and I do not omit
to point out to him things that may cause him to make more haste, — the
interests he has in keeping up his regiment and the prejudice it will
cause him, that a simple gentleman may have sent to France twice as
many men as he has done. However, two things will very much harm
the levies in future, the few men that remain in Scotland and the plague
that is increasing here each day. For as to the prohibition to continue the
levies, the Earl of Lanark has granted on my request all that Sir Robert
Moray desired of him, so that this order cannot injure us, as I have
written very particularly to the Count de Brienne in giving him an
account of what concerns the annuity that his Majesty wishes to give to
the Earl of Lanark and which has already produced this good result, if I
can be sure of the promise he has given me and which he has since con-
firmed to Sir Robert Moray.
But as I see from day to day that one obtains men here with greater
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 157
difficulty, and that I perceive this Parliament seeks nothing better than
to get rid of those who have served the king's party, which the Marquis
of Argyle has more reason to wish for than any one, I have begged Sir
Robert Moray to try and engage the marquis to give him seven or eight
hundred of those of his vassals who have taken part with Macdonald ; and
although he may secure by this means two very important advantages,
viz., get rid of those on whom he can never count and deliver them to a
person like Sir Robert Moray who will not induce them to return here
to renew the war in his country, I have also had recourse to another
motive which may have more influence on him than the two others, in
offering him, if he send these men at present, to write to you stating
that I had promised to him the five hundred Jacobus that have remained
in the hands of Mr. Inglis, the remainder of what was destined for the
recruiting of the regiment of the late Earl of Irvine his brother, which
he previously expressed the wish to have for an equal sum that he pre-
tends was owing to the Earl of Irvine for his pay by his Majesty.
I hope you will pardon me if I have gone too far, since it will not
engage you to do anything but what you judge proper, and that this
money would not be perhaps badly laid out in the event of its being
required to send any important number of men to France.
The news of Macdonald's defeat is confirmed ; but the slaughter of the
Irish is contradicted. They have accompanied their chief to the island of
Isla, where people think he cannot do much harm to this kingdom
further than obliging Parliament to maintain some troops in order to
oppose him.
You can better imagine than I can express my feeling of gratitude,
which I shall retain during all my life, for the extreme kindness you have
had in bringing my interests under the notice of the Princess, and the
care I ought to have in carrying out her commands in a place where she
wished me to serve now without being disturbed.]
CL
BELLIEVRE k BRIENNE
Londres, 10 Juin 1647.
Monsieur, — II n''y a point icy d'affaires faciles principalement
celles qui concernent la France. Pour faire relascher ce vais-
seau charge d'armes, il a este besoing que nos amis Tayent
entrepris avec vigueur et conduict avec beaucoup d'adresse.
Le comite ne Fa pu faire sans en parler au Parlement, d'ou il
n'y a pas eu peu de peine de la tirer pour la remettre dans
Tadmiraute en laquelle nous auons obtenu que ce vaisseau non
seulement seroit relasche, mais aussy qu'il seroit mis en seurete
dans le haure de Dieppe ou de Bologne par la fregatte d' Angle-
158 BELLlfeVRE TO BRIENNE [JUNE
terre qui Ta destourne de sa routte, et qui luy a fait perdre
Tescorte qu'il auoit. Ainsy les trois fregattes d'ostende qui
Tattendant croisent la mer aux environs de Fisle d'Wigt [sic]
le verront passer sans oser rien entreprendre. II ny a encore
rien de fait en Taffaire du Roy de la G. B., ny en celle
du licenciement de Tarmee, en laquelle six Commissaires du
Parlement vont aujourd'huy pour luy faire executter les ordres
des deux maisons. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre tres humble et
tres obeissant seruiteur, Belli eure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 10« Juin 1647, receu le 13 du d*
mois k Amiens.
[Bellievre to Brienne, London, 10 June 1647.
All affairs are difficult here, and principally those that concern
France. In order to obtain the release of the ship laden with arms, our
friends required, in undertaking it, great energy and good management
with much tact. The Committee not being able to grant it, without men-
tioning the matter to Parliament, much trouble was caused there in
having it withdrawn and submitted again to the Admiralty, in which we
have succeeded in obtaining that the ship should not only be given up,
but also that it be convoyed in safety into le Havre, Dieppe or Boulogne
by the English frigate that turned it off its route, so as to have made it
lose the escort it had. Thus the three frigates from Ostend that are cruis-
ing in the neighbourhood of the Isle of Wight will see it passing without
venturing to do anything against it. There is still nothing done in the
matter of the King of Great Britain, nor in that of the disbanding of the
army, to which six commissioners from Parliament are to go to-day, to
execute the orders of both Houses.]
CLI
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le 10 Juin l647.
Monsieur, — Depuis auoir ferme mes lettres il en est arriue
une de Tarmee au Parlement. II n'est pas assis aujourd'huy.
EUe ne sera leiie [lue] que demain. Le courrier qui la porte
et les lettres des particuliers disent qu'elle donne aduis que
Tarmee ne veut pas se separer. Nous scaurons dans 24 heures
quelles conditions elle demande, et peu apres on pourra juger
quelle suitte aura cette affaire. — Je suis, Monsieur, Vostre tres
humble et tres obeissant seruiteur, Bellieure.
Au dos—U. de Bellieure, du 10« Juin l647, receu le 13 du d. mois
k Amiens.
1 647] BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE 169
[Bellievke to Brienne. London, 10 June 1647.
Since closing my letters, one has been sent from the army to the
Parliament which is not sitting to-day, — it will only be read to-morrow.
The messenger who brought it and private letters state that it gives
notice that the army will not break up. We shall know in twenty-four
hours what conditions it demands, and be able shortly after to judge what
will be the result of this affair.}
CLII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE.
A Londres, le — Juin l647.
Monsieur, — Suiuant Tancien usage d'Angleterre, depuis dix
jours nous deliberons sans rien conclure cherchant les moyens
d'empescher que le Roy d''Ang'"^ tombe entre les mains de Tarmee
puis qu'il n'a point d''asseurance qu''elle veuille faire aucune
chose a son aduantage d''une douzaine de propositions dont la
moins bonne eust mieux vallu que de ne rien faire. II n"'a pas
este possible d'obliger ceux du parlement qui estoient dans ce
desseing a en executer aucuns et ce pendant nous apprenons
par un homme qui vient d'arriuer de la part des Commis-
sionnaires qui sont a Humby a la verite sans auoir de leurs
lettres que la maison est investie par un party destache de
Tarmee, qui demande le diet Roy, et quoy que celuy qui le
garde tesmoigne ne le vouloir pas remettre entre leurs mains
sans en auoir Tordre du Parlement il est a croire quMl Taura
rendu s'il est vray qu'il soit presse n'^estant pas en estat de
resister aux forces qui enuironnent cette maison qui n'a ny
fossez ny murailles qui la ferment. J'estime le Roy et la
Royaute perdue en Angleterre si les presbiteriens manquent de
cceur en cette rencontre, et que leslndependants ne trouuent point
d''oppositions a ce quilz voudront faire ou faire f® par leur
armee, mais si nous pouuons maintenir les presbiteriens en
sorte que les Independants ne puissent establir leurs affaires
sans se seruir du nom de Fauctorite et mesme des seruiteurs du
d. Roy il se pent faire qu'il n'est pas encore perdu et qu'il
se rencontrera quelque conjoncture dans laquelle ses affaires
se pourront auancement accommoder. Ce qui est merueilleuse-
ment a craindre pour luy est que les deux partis s'accordent a
160 BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE [JUNE
quoy il semble que beaucoup d'eux ayent trop de disposition.
La prudence des plus puissantz leur faiet rechercher les autres
dont il y a quantite qui par differentes considerations peuuent
estre portez a prendre cet accommodement. Ceux d'entre les
Independantz qui me parloient cy deuant comme ayant desseing
de faire quelque chose pour le seruice du Roy d'AngP® ou ne
m"'en parlent plus ou changent de langage en sorte quMl est a
craindre que leur prosperite ne leur fassent [sic] reprendre
leurs anciennes maximes destructiues de toutte royaute, des-
quelles ilz tesmoignent se vouloir destacher ces mois passez, lors
qu'ils estoient eu moins bonne fortune et je continueray a faire ce
que j'estimeray pouuoir contribuer au bien general des affaires.
Depuis le Courrier arriue de Hornby, dont ie vous ay escrit
cy dessus, il en est arriue un autre, aussy sans lettres des
commissionnaires, qui dit que les mil cheuaux que Ton dit
qu'ilz viennent de la part de Tarmee pour se saisir de la
personne du Roy sont a un mil de Hornby et quMls ne Tauoient
point encore demande lorsqu'il en est party. — Je suis. Monsieur,
vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
Bellieure.
Au dos. — M. de Bellieure, du 13 Juin l647 a Londres, receu
le 16® 4 Amiens.
[Belu^ivbb to Bbienne. London, ^ June 1647.
During the last ten days we have been deliberating, according to old
established usage in England, without coming to any conclusion, on a
dozen of proposals, of which the least satisfactory would have been better
than doing nothing at all, trying to devise means for preventing the
King of England from falling into the hands of the army, seeing there is
no certainty that it will do anything for him. It was impossible to oblige
those of the Parliament who had this intention to execute any of the
plans proposed, and while it remained undecided we learned from a man
who has just arrived on the part of the Commissioners who are at Humby,
without indeed having letters from them, that the house was invested by
a party detached from the army who demanded the king, and although the
person in charge stated that he would not deliver him into their hands,
without having an order from Parliament, it is to be believed that he has
given him up, as he was forced to do, being unable to resist the force
that surrounded his house, which has neither moat nor walls to protect
it. I consider the king and the monarchy lost in England if the Presby-
terians fail to act generously in the present circumstance and if the
i647] BELLIJ^VRE TO BRIENNE 161
Independents find no opposition in what they will want to do or to have
done by their army ; but if we can maintain the Presbyterians, so that
the Independents are unable to establish their affairs without employing
the name of the authority and even making use of the king's followers,
it may be that he is not yet lost and that some circumstances will happen
in which his affairs will be able in some way to be arranged. What is
most to be feared for him is that the two parties come to agreement,
towards which many of them seem to have too much disposition. Tlie
prudence of the most powerful leads them to seek the support of the
others, of whom there are a number that from different considerations
could be led to agree to this arrangement. Those among the Independ-
ents who spoke to me previously, of having the intention of doing some-
thing for the service of the King of England, either no longer speak to
me about it or change their language, so that it is to be feared that their
prosperity may cause them to revert to their old maxims destructive of
all monarchy, which they seemed to wish to give up during these few
months past, when they were in less good fortune. I shall continue
to do what I can in contributing to the general good of affairs.
Since the arrival of the messenger from Holmby, above mentioned,
another has arrived, also without letters from the Commissioners, who
says that the thousand horse that it was said had come on the part of the
army, to secure the person of the king, are at a mile's distance from
Holmby, and that they had not yet demanded him when he left]
CLIII
BELLlfeVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le — Juin l647.
' 7
Monsieur, — Le Roy de la G. B. et les Commissionnaires du
Parlem* qui estoient pres de luy furent enleuez de Hornby
vendredy dernier et conduits en la maison d''un gentilhomme
pres de Cambrige par mil ou douse cens cheuaux de Tarmee
commendez par un cornette que le General a escrit au Parle-
ment n''auoir point eu d'ordre de ce faire et dont neantmoins
on Texcuse sur ce qu'il dit Tauoir fait pour empescher I'execu-
tion d'un dessein forme de faire venir le diet Roy a Londre
sans la participation du Parlement. Les particularitez de ce
qui s'est passe en cette affaire vous seront dittes par le Comte
de Domfermelin, Escossois, gentilhomme de la chambre du lict,
qui va trouuer la Reyne de la G. B. de la part du Roy
son mary. II a pris icy des instructions des Escossois et
des presbiteriens anglois pour disposer la reyne d'Angleterre
VOL. II. L
162 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [JUNE
a faire aller le P. de Galles en escosse pour, auec toutes les
forces du royaume, venir en Angleterre se joindre aux presbi-
teriens que les principaux asseurent se deuoir tous declarer
pour les Interestz du dit Roy. Je n'estime pas que les pro-
messes que Ton faict en cette rencontre a la reyne d' Angleterre
la puissent porter a se dessaiser aisement d'un gage si precieux
que luy est le P. de Galles, mais comme elle cognoit sans doute
que le moien d'empescher que les presbiteriens ne s''accordent
auec les Independans qui seroit la ruine du roy d' Angleterre,
et de donner les esperances aux presbiteriens qui leur soutiennent
le courage et les engagent a s'opposer aux Independans et a
leur armee elle ne manquera pas de leur dire toutes les choses
qui les pourront commettre les uns contre les autres, et mesme
leur faire esperer que les escossois, estant entrez en Angleterre,
joincts aux forces des presbiteriens, elle fera que le Prince
de Galles yra se mettre a leur teste. II luy est tres important
et il ne Test pas peu a la France de maintenir la diuision entre
ces deux partis. Les escossois nous seruent de tout leur
pouuoir. lis cognoissent bien qu'il fault qu'ilz renoncent a
toutes les pretentions qu'ilz ont en Angleterre si le parti des
Independans preuault, c'est pas comme cy-deuant, nous auions
a les combattre quant il nous a fallu empescher la desunion du
parti Independant qui eust establi Taucthorite du presbiterien
a un si hault point qu''il n'eust plus considere son Roy. II se
pent dire en ce lieu que contribuant ce que nous pouuons
a la paix d'Ang"^^, ie ne voy pas que Ton nous en scache
le gre que nous nous en deurions promettre. Non seullement
les parlementaires mais aussy tout le parti royal est fort mal
intentionne pour la France, tous les serviteurs du Roy et de la
Reyne de la Grande Bretagne s'en declarent, et [il] n'y a
pas un d'eux ni de leurs amis qui ne prenne le parti d'Espagne
en sorte qu'il n'y auroit pas grand inconuenient quant la paix
de ce royaume ne seroit pas faicte auant la nostre, et que
la reyne d'Angleterre donnast cependant Fordre qu'elle peut
pour faire changer ces sentiments. Les diuisions qui sont dans
Tarmee empeschent de pouuoir juger quel chemin prendront
les affaires. Je ne vous mande point les particularitez de
ce qui se passe dans le Parlement ny dans le Commun conseil
de la Ville. II vous importe peu d'estre informe des contestations
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 163
qu'il y a pour laisser le Roy de la G. B. ou il est, le remener a
Hornby, ou le conduire a Nieumarquet, ou bien a Hollans.
II est besoing que ie vous escriue que domferrailin tesmoigne
auoir beaucoup de passion pour le roy d''Angleterre, et mesme
il estoit du complot de Tenleuer de Hombi, cependant il
est fort dans les interestz de TEscosse, et despend absolument
de marquis darguil, qui est un des subiects de ceste isle qui a
faict le plus de mal a son Roy. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre tres
humble et tres obeissant seruiteur, Bellieure.
An dos — M. de Bellieure, du 17 Juin 1647, receu le 20.
[BEiiijfevBB to Bbienne. LondoTi, j June 1647-
The King of Great Britain and the Commissioners who were with him
were taken away from Holmby on Friday last, and conducted to the
house of a gentleman near Cambridge by a thousand or twelve hundred
horse of the army, commanded by a cornet whose general has written to
Parliament to say he had no order to do it ; yet he is excused on what he
says of having done it in order to prevent the execution of a plan formed
to bring the king to London without the participation of Parliament.
Tlie details of what took place in this affair will be related to you by the
Earl of Dunfermline, a Scotsman, Gentleman of the Bed-chamber, who is
going to the Queen of Great Britain on the part of the king her husband.
He has taken instructions here from the Scots and the English Presby-
terians, so as to dispose the Queen of England to send the Prince of
Wales into Scotland in order to come with all the forces of that kingdom
into England and join the Presbyterians, the principal of whom affirm
they ought all to declare for the interests of their king. I do not suppose
that promises made in this circumstance to the Queen of England could
induce her easily to give up a gage so precious for her as the Prince
of Wales, but as she no doubt knows that the means of preventing the
Presbyterians from agreeing with the Independents — which would be
the ruin of the King of England — and of giving hopes to the Presby-
terians that may sustain their courage and engage them to oppose the
Independents and their army, she will not fail to tell them all the things
that will be able to set them against each other and even lead them to
hope that the Scots entering into England and joining the forces of the
Presbj^terians, she will consent to the Prince of AV'ales going to put him-
self at their head. It is very important for her, and it is of no small
importance to France, to maintain the division between these two parties.
The Scots help us as much as they can : they know well that they will be
obliged to give up all the pretensions they have in England if the Inde-
pendent party gain the advantage. It is not now as formerly, when we
had to fight them, when it was necessary for us to prevent disunion in
the Independent party, which would have secured the authority of the
164 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [JUNE
Presbyterians in such a high degree that they would no longer have con-
sidered their king. It may be said hereupon that in contributing what
we can to the peace of England, I do not see that they seem so obliged
to us, as we might have reason to expect. Not only the parliamentarians
but also all the royalist party is very badly disposed towards France. All
the followers of the King and Queen of Great Britain side with them in
this, and there is not one of them or of their friends who would not prefer
to take part with Spain, so that no great harm would be done were the
peace of this kingdom not made before ours : the Queen of England
might, however, give order so as to change these sentiments.
The divisions that exist in the army prevent one from being able to
judge of what turn affairs will take. I do not mention to you the details
of what is passing in the Parliament, nor in the common council of the
city. It concerns you little to know the contestations that are made in
order to leave the King of Great Britain where he is, to conduct him to
Holmby, or to take him to Newmarket or perhaps to Oatlands. It is
necessary for me to state that Dunfermline manifests a strong affection
for the King of Great Britain, he was even in the plot to remove him
away from Holmby, yet he is strongly in the interest of Scotland and
depends absolutely on the Marquis of Argyle, who is the one of the
subjects of this island that has done most harm to his king.
CLIV
BELLIlfeVRE k BRIENNE
A Londres, le — Juin l647.
Monsieur, — Les imprimes qui ont este publiez cette sepmaine
contiennent au vray touttes les nouuelles qui peuuent estre
escrittes d'icy. L'ou ne peut encore juger quelles resolutions
prendra le Parlement. L'armee est a 20 milles de cette ville,
ou Ton croit qu"'elle n'aduancera pas que le canon et Tequipage
d'artillerie qu''elle a enuoye querir a Oxfort ne Tait joint.
Elle espouuante tellement les bourgeois de Londres et beaucoup
de Presbyteriens du Parlement, qu'il est a craindre qu'elle fasse
que les deux partis s^'accordent sans le Roy d'Angleterre a quoy
ceux qui ont entrepris de le ruiner continuent a y trauailler de
tout leur pouuoir. Le diet Roy est demeure a Nieumarket
apres auoir reffuse d''aller a Londres auec Tarmee, peut estre
eust il mieuxjifaict d'en user autrement. Je ne me suis pas
ingere de luy donner conseil en cette rencontre. Les affaires
changent icy trop promptement de fasse : telle chose qui luy
eust este aduantageuse s'il Teust faicte il y a deux jours le
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 165
pourroit ruyner s'il la faisait aujourd'huy. Je continue a porter
icy las affaires autant que je puis et que je trouue utile au
bien du roy d'Angleterre. . . . — Je suis, Monsieur, Vostre,
etc., etc. Bellieure.
Au dos. — M. de Bellieure, du 24® Juin 1647, 4 Londres, receue le
SO** a Amyens,
[BEiiUivRE to Brienne. LofidoTi, ^ June 1647.
The public prints that have been published this week contain truly all
the news that can be sent from here. One cannot yet judge what resolu-
tions Parliament will take. The army is at twenty miles' distance from this
town, and it is believed it will not advance until it has been joined with the
cannon and the artillery equipment that have been sent for from Oxford.
It so alarms many of the citizens of London and of the Presbyterians of
Parliament, that it is to be feared it may make the two parties agree
without the King of England, towards which those who have engaged to
ruin him continue to use all the efforts in their power. The king remained
at Newmarket after having refused to go to London with the army, —
perhaps he might have done well in acting differently. I did not inter-
t fere to give him any advice in this circumstance. Affairs change front too
r promptly here : a certain thing that might be profitable for him if he
had done it two days ago might ruin him if he did it to-day.
I continue to influence matters here as much as I can, and do what
I find useful for the welfare of the King of Great Britain. . . .^
CLV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, - Juin l647.
La defaite de Macdonald et la prison du Lord Lewis, fils du
Marquis de Huntley m'avoient oste tout sujet de crainte que
I'Espagne peut tirer des forces de ce Royaume; et les pro-
messes du Comte de Lanark ra'avoient donne toute sorte de
bonne esperance que Tordre qui avoit este fait pour arrester
les levees ne nous apporteroit aucun prejudice, quand la
revolution qui est arrivee en Angleterre a renouvelle mes
apprehensions, car quelque suite que puisse avoir pour les
Anglois un evenement si considerable, j'ay tout sujet de
craindre que cela n'opporte de nouvelles difficultes aux levees
Eight lines of the letter that follow remain undeciphered.
166 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JUNE
qui ne se faisoient deja que trop lentement, puisque les Ecossois
ne desirent rien tant que de pouvoir faire entrer de nouvelles
forces en Angleterre, car soit qu'ils y envoyent une armee, ou
qu'ils se servant de ce pretexte pour maintenir et pour fortifier
la leur, que ces peuples desirent fort de voir licencie'e, il y a
grande apparence quMls empescheront nos levees pour pouvoir
faire plus facilement celles dont ils croyent avoir besoin,
mais quand mesme ils ne donneroient point de nouvel ordre
pour les arrester, et qu'ils permettroient que celuy qu^'ils ont
deja fait demeurast sans execution, nous aurons toujours
beaucoup de peine a lever des hommes dorenavant, puisque
I'esperance que Ton donne aux soldats de pouvoir retourner en
Angleterre ou ils ont trouve la guerre accompagnee de beau-
coup d'utilite et de douceur, les erapeschera de s'engager au
service de Sa Majeste.
Au reste, Mg', j'ay fait s9avoir a V. Em'^^ et a M. le Tellier
les raisons pour lesquelles j'ay ete oblige depuis mon retour
d' Aberdeen de laisser toucher a M. le Comte d'Angus Targent
qu'avant que partir j'^avois fait arrester de son consentement
entre les mains de son marchand, dont la principale a ete que
je ne le pouvois empescher de le toucher, et qu'ainsy cela Teut
offense, sans que le service de Sa Majeste en eut re^u aucun
avantage, et m^eut rendu en quelque fa^on responsable de ses
longueurs en luy donnant lieu de se plaindre que Tarrest que
j"'aurois fait des deniers Tauroit empesche d'accomplir sa pro-
messe et de satisfaire a son obligation, outre que je voyois que
quelque ordre qui ont ete donne pour arrester les dites levees,
on ne laissoit pas de les continuer, bien qu'assez lentement.
Cependant, Mg', comme ces considerations m"'ont porte a
ne pas insister que cet argent demeurast entre les mains du
marchand, deux autres m'ont empesche de me mettre si tost
en devoir de les retirer de celles de M. le Comte d'' Angus, et
d'executer avec precipitation les ordres qu'il a pleu a V. Em*'^
me donner sur ce sujet. L'une que cela arresteroit tout court
les levees; et Tautre que je n'ay point encore receu du Com-
missaire le nombre precis des hommes qui ont passe, outre
que j'ay creu que V. Em''® m'ayant envoye cet ordre sur celuy
qui avoit este donne au Comite pour arrester les levees, qui ne
nous a pas jusques icy empesche de les continuer et avant que
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 167
V. Em*'^ eut veu arriver deux vaisseaux qui sont partis il y a
longtemps, et qui portent en France quelque 600 hommes
j^ay creu que je ne devois rien faire jusques a ce que j'eusse
veu ce qui se faisoit icy et que j''eusse aussy re9ue de V. Em*^®
nouvel ordre touchant ce que je dois faire.
Le vaisseau qui devoit partir il y a huit jours n'est party
que cette nuit. II porte encore quelque cent cinquante bons
hommes, comme sont ceux qui ont este erabarques dans les
deux demiers vaisseaux. Je verray si dans cette conjoncture
je pourray tirer quelque profit de la lettre de cachet qui m'a
este envoyee.
Le fort qui restoit encore a prendre a Kintyre s"'est rendu a
David Leslay, et on me dit que la capitulation que ceux de
dedans ont faite, a ete si religeusement observee, que de huit
cents qui s'y sont trouves, y compris les femmes et les enfants,
quatre cents ont ete massacres, contre la parole qui avoit ete
donnee qu''on leur conserveroit a tous la vie. La consideration
du service de S. M** Ta sauvee a cent hommes que le Marquis
d'Argyle et David Leslay ont donnes a un capitaine de M. le
Chev"" Moray. Le Baron de Sance, de la maison de Macdonald,
qui commandoit dans la place a ete pendu, et comme la potence
se trouva trop courte, en sorte que ses pieds touchoient a terra,
il fut tue a coups de mousquet.
L'alarme qu''a cause ici ce qui vient d'arriver en Angleterre
se peut difficilement exprimer. On a rappele tous ceux qui
etoient a la campagne pour assister a un grand conseil qui se
doit tenir aujourd'huy, et qui doit continuer jusqu"'a ce que
les affaires soient etablies. Le Marquis d'Argyle et David
Leslay ont ete aussi mandes. Le Comte de Lothian qui avoit
ete envoye de Newcastle a Holmby par les Ecossois, avec le
roy de la G"" B"", est arrive ici en poste, pour apporter les
nouvelles de cet accident. On ne croit pas qu''il se prenne ici
aucune resolution bien importante jusqu'a ce qu'on ait plus de
lumiere de ce qui se passe en Angleterre. On croit que David
Leslay ne quittera pas Parmee avec laquelle il fait etat de
poursuivre Macdonald dans Tisle d'Yla, ou il s'est retire.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL MAZARiN. Edinburgh, ^ June 1647.
The defeat of Macdonald and the imprisonment of Lord Lewis, son of
the Marquis of Huntly, had removed from me every reason to fear that
168 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JUNE
Spain may obtain forces from this kingdom, and the promises of the Earl
of Lanark had given me good reason to hope that the order to stop our
recruiting might be got over, when the revolution that has happened in
England has renewed my apprehensions. For whatever result such an
important event may produce for the English, I have every reason to
fear that it will bring new difficulties in the way of the levies, which were
progressing already but too slowly, since the Scots wish nothing better
than to enter with new forces into England ; for whether they send an
army there, or make use of what has happened as a pretext for maintaining
and strengthening their army, which the people wish them to disband,
there is great likelihood that they will prevent our levies, so as to facili-
tate those they believe they require for themselves ; but even were they
not to give any new order to stop them, and permit the one they have
already made to remain inoperative, we will always have much difficulty
in raising men in future, since the hope it gives the soldiers of return-
ing to England, where they have found war attended with much profit
and ease, will prevent them from engaging in the service of his Majesty.
I have further informed you and M. le Tellier of the reasons for which
I have been obliged, since my return from Aberdeen, to allow the Earl
of Angus to receive the money that before leaving 1 had, with his con-
sent, arrested in the hand of his merchant ; the principal reason being
that I could not prevent him from receiving it, and that it would thus
have oflfended him without any advantage arising therefrom for his
Majesty's service and would have rendered me in some measure respon-
sible for his delays in giving him cause to complain that the arrest I had
put on the money had prevented him from doing what he had promised
and fulfilling his obligation, besides I saw that although order had been
given to stop the levies, they would be allowed to continue however
slowly it might be.
Yet as these considerations led me not to insist on this money remain-
ing in the hands of the merchant, two others prevented me from putting
immediately into execution the orders you have given me on this subject
to recover it from the Earl of Angus. One that it would at once put a
stop to the levies, and the other that I have not yet received from the
Commissioner the precise number of men that have passed. Besides I
believed that you had sent me this order on that which had been given
to the committee to stop the levies, which till the present time has not
prevented us from continuing, them, and before you had seen the arrival
of the two ships that left long ago, and that convey to France some six
hundred men, so that I thought it better to do nothing before seeing what
was about to happen here, and also until I had received a new order from
you as to what I ought to do.
The ship that was to leave eight days ago has only left during this night.
It carries also about a hundred and fifty good men, similar to those that
have been sent by the two last ships. I shall see if at this conjuncture 1
can turn to any profitable account the letter under the king's seal that
has been sent to me.
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 169
The fort in Kintyre that still held out has been given up to David Leslie,
and it is said the terms of the capitulation made by those who defended
it have been so religiously kept that of eight hundred persons who were
in itj including women and children, four hundred have been massacred,
in spite of a promise given that all their lives would be spared. The
consideration of his Majesty's service saved a hundred men that the
Marquis of Argyle and David Leslie gave to one of Sir Robert Moray's
captains. Baron Sance of the clan Macdonald who commanded the fortress
was hanged, and as the gibbet was found to be too short so that his feet
touched the ground, he was subsequently shot.
It is difficult to express the alarm caused here by recent events in Eng-
land. All who were at the country have been summoned to attend a
large council that is to be held to-day, and which is to continue per-
manently until matters are settled. The Marquis of Argyle and David
Leslie have also been summoned. The Earl of Lothian, who had been
sent from Newcastle to Holmby by the Scots with the King of Great
Britain, has arrived, travelling post to bring the news of this accident.
It is not thought any important decision will be come to until one has
more information of what is passing in England. It is believed that
David Leslie will not leave the army with which he purposes to pursue
Macdonald to the island of Isla where he has gone.]
CLVI
BELLIEVRE 1 BRIENNE
A Londres, le ~ Juin 1647.
Monsieur, — Ceux qui trauaillent a raccommodement des
deux partis contre le Roy d'Angleterre esperent maintenant
([u'ilz y reussiront, puisquMlz out jusques icy empesche la ville
de Londres de s'opposer aux desseins de rarmee, de laquelle
seule ilz apprehendoient et les hommes et Targent. Un message
que le d. Roy a trouue moyen de faire aujourdhuy a la milice
de cette ville, et en suitte aux deux maisons du parlement
pour les conuier de ne pas soufFrir qu'il soit plus longtemps
Prisonnier, pourroit bien donner du cceur a ces bourgeois,
principalement s'ils se sentoient appuyez par la declaraon
contre Tarmee en faueur du diet Roy, des Provinces voisines de
cette ville, ainsy qui font a ce que portent les lettres, qui
arriuent presentement quelques comtes du Sud et du West de
cette isle. Nous trauaillons tousiours a nos fins. Le comte de
Ladredel part cette nuit pour aller trouuer le Roy d'Angle-
terre. Les gazettes portent Tordre des Maisons de faire
170 BELLliVRE TO BRIENNE [JUNE
venir a Richemont le Roy de la G. B., ensemble les declara-
tions et pretentions de Tarmee. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre,
etc., etc., Bellieure.
Au dos. — M. de Bellieure, du 27® Juin l647, a Londres, receiie
le 30® k Amyens.
[BELLiifcvRE to Brienne. Londoii, - June 1647.
Those who are engaged in trying to bring the two parties to an agree-
ment against the King of England hope now that they will succeed in it
since they have up to the present time prevented the City of London,
which alone they feared because of its men and money, from opposing the
designs of the army. A message which the king has found means to send
to-day to the militia of this town and afterwards to the two Houses of
Parliament, to invite them not to allow him to remain longer prisoner,
might perhaps give courage to those citizens principally if they feel them-
selves supported by the declaration against the army and in favour of the
king from the counties adjoining this town, and some others that have
been produced in the south and west of this island according to the letters
received. We are still at work in carrying out our purpose. The Earl
of Lauderdale leaves to-night to rejoin the King of England. . . .^ The
Gazettes publish the order of the Houses to bring the King of Great
Britain to Richmond, together with the declarations and pretensions of
the army.]
CLVII
BELLIEVRE 1 BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^j^jf l647.
Monsieur, — Celuy qui fait icy les affaires de milor digbi
m'est venu trouuer de la part de son maistre et du marquis
dormon pour me prier de contribuer mes offices a leur faire
auoir prompte response a ce que le Sieur Talon vous aura
propose de leur part. S'il y a quelque chose a leur faire
sauoir, cet homme diet qu"'il a des voyes seures pour le faire au
plustost. Je ne vous faits point de relation de ce qui se fait
tant de la part du Roy d'Angleterre que de celle du parlement
et de la ville pour faire qu'il approche d'icy, non plus que des
responses equiuoques que Farmee faict sur ce subiect aussy peu
de ce qui se passe chaque jour pour porter les choses a Pac-
comodement ou pour les en destourner. Seulement vous diray-je
* Nine lines remain here undeciphered.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 171
que 'fay tousiours grand subiect de craindre, Tunion presente des
deux partis, que si nous pouuons empescher qu''elle se fasse
auant que le diet roy soit a Richemont ou a Hamptoncour, ou
Ton croit, auec asses d'apparence, qu'il pourra estre auant
la fin de cette sepmaine, il se pourroit tenter encores de
nouuelles voyes pour paruenir a nos fins. Les Independans
qui croyent scauoir les affaires, tiennent pour constant que
les presbiteriens ont un traicte auec la reyne d'Angleterre,
en suitte duquel elle et le Prince de Galles doiuent sortir
de France au premier jour. S'il s''est traitte par dela quelque
chose de tel, vous le scaurez sans doutte, et me ferez Thonneur
de me le faire scauoir. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc.,
Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du premier Juillet 1647, receu
le 4^
[BfiLLifevRE to Brienne. Loudon, " ^""^ 1647.
Lord Digby's agent has called upon me on the part of his master and the
Marquis of Ormond to beg me to help tliem in obtaining a prompt reply
to what M. Talon will have proposed to you on their part. ITiis man says
that if there were anything to communicate to them he has a sure and
a prompt means of doing it. I do not relate to you what is going on here
as well on the part of the King of England as on that of the Parliament
and the city, in order to bring the king nearer here, neither do I refer to
the equivocal replies that the army makes on this subject, nor make much
mention of what takes place here each day in order to bring matters to an
an agreement, or on the contrary to prevent it. I shall merely tell you
that I have still great reason to fear the present union of the two parties,
which if we can prevent its being accomplished before the king reaches
Richmond or Hampton Court, where it is thought with some likelihood
he will be before the end of this week, we might still attempt some new
means in order to attain our ends. The Independents, who think they
know the state of affairs, consider it certain that the Presbyterians have
a treaty with the Queen of England, in terms of which she and the Prince
of Wales are to leave France on an early day. If anything of this nature
is being treated of with you I shall doubtless be informed of it.]
CLVIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, 5gL 1647.
Il se ren contra si peu de personnes au grand Comite qui se
tint Mardi dernier, et ceux qui y assistoient trouverent qu'ils
172 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
avoient si peu de lumiere de ce qui se passoit en Angleterre,
qu'ils remirent jusqu'a ce jour a prendre leurs resolutions sur
des affaires de tres grande importance pour ce royaume. lis
sont actuellement assembles, et la principale chose qu'ils ont
a resoudre est s'ils doivent envoyer une nouvelle armee en
Angleterre; ce qu'ils jugent a propos de faire pour diverses
considerations, dont les principales sont, qu'ils se sont trouves
assez bien du premier voyage qu'ils ont fait, et qu'ils esperent
par cette assistance qu'ils offriront aux Presbyteriens, les porter
a s'opposer courageusement aux Independants, et faire naistre
par ce moyen une nouvelle guerre chez leurs voisins, de laquelle
ils esperent de tirer deux avantages considerables, I'un de
desunir les Anglois, qui n'ayant plus rien a faire dans leur
pays pourroient chercher de I'occupation chez les Ecossois
auxquels ils ne peuvent vouloir beaucoup de bien, soit qu'ils
agissent par les mouvements de cette inimitie mortelle qui a
ete entre eux depuis tant d'arme'es, ou qu'ils considerent les
raisons qu'ils ont de les hair depuis le temps mesme qu'ils ont
fait avec eux une plus etroite amitie ; I'autre est d'empescher
les Independants de s'emparer de I'autorite, ce qui arriveroit
sans doute si les affaires se terminoient par un accommodement,
qui ne se pent faire aujourd'huy que les Presbyteriens ne se
sousmettent aux volontes de I'armee qui est Independante,
apres quoy les Ecossois voyent la mine de leur religion in-
evitable, et encore accompagnee de celle de leurs fortunes
qu'ils consideront beaucoup davantage qu'ils ne font leur
religion. Cependant, comme les Ecossois desirent toujours
faire leurs affaires avec seurete, et qu'ils ont peur que durant
qu'ils leverent en Ecosse pour les Presbyteriens ces derniers
s'accordent en Angleterre avec les Independants, en sorte
qu'ils auront montre leur mauvaise volonte sans en tirer aucun
avantage, et irrite ceux qui auroient pouvoir de leur nuire.
II y a quelque sujet de croire qu'ils ne resoudront pas avec
tant de precipitation de lever cette nouvelle armee, ce que je
croy encore plus asseurement par I'envoy que fait le Due de
Hamilton du sieur Robert Leslay vers le roy de la G' B', pour
apprendre I'etat ou il se trouve presentement (car en effet il
semble qu'ils n'en aient rien ici de bien asseure), et pour savoir
s'il desire qu'on envoie une armee en Angleterre, et lui faire
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 173
connaistre comme il en pourroit tirer du service. Le dit
Robert Leslay est parti cette nuit, et m'est venu dire de la
part du Comte de Lanark une heure avant que monter a
cheval ce que je me viens de donner Fhonneur d'escrire a
V. Em*'^ II n"'est pas bien aise de juger si les Hamiltons
veulent en efFet gagner du temps par la, et voir s*'ils pourront
empescher qu'on ne leve sitost ici des nouvelles forces, qui
etant commandees par ceux de la faction d'Argyle seroient
toujours moins en leur disposition qu''en celle de leurs ennemis;
ou si comme le Due de Hamilton est d'intellegence avec le
Marquis d'Argyle dans toutes les choses ou il s"'agit de la mine
du roy de la G' B' ils veulent persuadet ensemble a ce prince
que cette armee qu'ils desirent mettre sur pied pour empescher
son retablissement, agira seulement pour le bien de ses affaires,
cherchant d'asseurer de toutes parts et de se conserver, en
quelque maniere que les choses se peusseut changer. Mais,
soit que le Due de Hamilton ait envie de retarder autant qu'il
pourra la levee de ces nouvelles forces, ou de faire seulement
que le dit roy se consente d'une chose qui est si prejudiciable
a ses interests, cela empeschera beaucoup de tirer dorenavant
les hommes d'ici pour aller en France. Cependant, quelques
apparence qu'il y eut qu'on commenceroit par arrester les levees
qui se font pour le service de S. M*^, M' le Comte de Lanark me
vient de promettre que non seulement il empeschera que cette
proposition vienne de la part de ses amis, mais qu'il dira encore
ce que je jugeray a propos dans le Comite pour faire qu'elles
continuent s'il arrive que quelqu^un de la faction d'Argyle
propose de les faire cesser, et je dois le voir demain pour ce
sujet.
Le dit Sieur Comte de Lanark s'*est un peu plus haste que
je n'eusse desire sur celui de la lettre de Sa M*^ qu'il a pleu a
V. Em*=® me faire envoyer, puisque j'eusse bien voulu avant que
la rendre, recevoir les ordres de V. Em*'® touchant ma conduite
depuis ce changement qui est arrive en Angleterre. Je tascheray
toutefois a gaigner temps jusqu'a Tarrivee du premier ordinaire
par lequel j'espere de recevoir les commandements de V. Em"®.
Au reste, Mg', j'ay appris de fort bonne part que Macdonald
s'est retire de Tisle d'Yla, mais pour passer dans les montagnes
d'Ecosse et s'aboucher avec le Marquis d'Huntley, et non
174 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
pas pour se retirer en Irlande, comme on avoit creu ; que
Maclean, qui est de tres grande autorite parmi les siens, au
lieu de Tavoir quitte, ainsy qu'il avoit este escrit, est en
Baghinoth, avec sept ou huit cents hommes et que ce Pari*
apprehende, avec beaucoup ne raison, que les nouvelles
d'Angleterre ne remettent bientost le parti du roy de la G'' B'
dans le Nord de ce royaume, ou il a este plustost dissipe que
detruit. David Leslay cependant fait embarquer deux com-
pagnies de Cavalerie et une bonne partie de son infanterie
pour attaquer Tisle d'Yla ; mais la plus forte machine, dont il
doit battre la place que Macdonald y a fait fortifier, est un
autre Macdonald, cousin -ger main du Marquis d"' Antrim, qu"'il
conduit avec luy, qui est une personne de merite et fort aimee
de tous ceux de son nom, et qu'il fait etat de pendre devant
le fort, sMl ne luy est rendu a la premiere sommation. Ce
gentilhomme, a ce que m'a este dit deja, a este force d''escrire
une lettre a celui qui commande dans ce fort pour luy donner
avis qu"'il ne peut sauver sa vie sMl ne rend la place, mais il n''a
pas voulu ny le prier ny luy donner mesme conseil de le faire.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazabin. Edinburgh, " y"]" 1647.
Theke were so few persons at the meeting of the Committee of Estates
that was held on Tuesday last, and those who did attend found they had
so little knowledge of what was passing in England, that they deferred
until to-day to take their resolutions on matters of very great importance
for this kingdom. The committee is sitting at present, and the principal
matter they have to decide is if they ought to send a new army to England,
which they judge proper to do on several grounds, of which the principal
are that they found themselves tolerably well on the first journey they
made there, and that they hope by this assistance they offer to the Pres-
byterians to induce them to oppose courageously the Independents, to
stir up by this means a new war among their neighbours, from which they
hope to derive two important advantages : one, to divide the English, who
having nothing to do in their own country, might seek employment
among the Scots, to whom they do not wish much good, whether they act
under the impulses of that mortal enmity that has existed between them
during so many years, or consider the reasons they have to hate tliem
since they have made a closer acquaintance with them ; the other is to
prevent the Independents from seizing the authority, which would doubt-
less happen were matters to finish by an agreement, which can only be
come to at present by the Presbyterians submitting to the will of the
army which is Independent, after which the Scots look upon the ruin of
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 175
their religion as inevitable, attended also by that of their fortunes, which
they consider much more important than their religion. Yet as the Scots
always like to be certain in what they do, they are afraid that while
they effect a rising in Scotland in favour of the Presbjrterians these latter
may agree in England with the Independents, so that they will have
shown their ill-will, without deriving any advantage from it; and irritated
those who will have the power to harm them.
There is some reason to believe that they will not decide with so much
haste to raise this new army, which I believe to be still more certain by
the despatch of Robert Leslie whom the Duke of Hamilton is sending to
the King of Great Britain to learn from him how he is situated at present
— for, in fact, it seems as if they know nothing hei*e with any certitude
— and in order to know if he wish a new army to be sent to England and
to let him know how he might derive assistance from it. Robert Leslie
left to-night, and he came to tell me on the part of the Earl of Lanark, an
hour before getting on horseback, what I have just written to you. It is
not easy to judge whether the Hamiltons wish, in fact, to gain time
yonder, or to see if they couid not prevent new forces from being raised
here so soon, which, being commanded by the Argyle-factiou, would be
always less at their disposal than at that of their enemies ; or whether if,
the Duke of Hamilton being always in harmony with the Marquis of
Argyle in everything that concerns the ruin of the King of Great Britain,
they may not wish together to persuade this prince that this army which
they seek to raise in order to prevent his re-establishment will only act
for the good of his affairs, seeking thus to be assured on all hands and to
provide for their own safety in whatever manner things may turn.
But whether it be that the Duke of Hamilton is inclined to put off as
long as he can the raising of these new forces, or that he is only acting in
order to satisfy the king on a matter that is so prejudicial to his interests,
it will much prevent getting men from here in future to send to France.
Yet whatever likelihood there was that they would begin by stopping the
levies that are being made for the service of his Majesty, the Earl of
Lanark has just promised me that he will not only prevent such a pro-
posal from being brought forward on the part of his friends, but also that
he will state what I judge proper in the Committee, in order that they be
continued if any one of the Argyle faction propose to stop them, and I am
to see him to-morrrow on this subject.
The Earl of Lanark has been more prompt than I could have wished on
the subject of his Majesty's letter which you were to send to me, seeing I
should have liked very much before delivering it to receive your orders
regarding the conduct I ought to observe since this change that has taken
place in England. I shall try, however, to gain time until the arrival of
the next mail, by which I hope to receive your orders.
I have learned from a very reliable source that Macdonald has left the
island of Isla to penetrate into the Scottish Highlands and have an interview
with the Marquis of Huntly and not to retire to Ireland as was believed ;
that Maclean, who is a very great authority among his own people,
176 BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE [JULY
instead of having left him, as it had been reported, is in Badenoch with
seven or eight hundred men, so that Parliament fears, with reason, that
the news from England may soon revive the king's party in the north of
this kingdom, where it was rather dispersed than destroyed. David Leslie,
however, is embarking two companies of cavalry and a large portion of
his infantry iA order to attack the island of Isla ; but the most powerful
engine with which he is to beat down the fortress which Macdonald has
raised there, is another Macdonald, cousin-german to the Marquis of
Antrim, whom he is taking with him, who is a person of merit and much
liked by all those of his name, and whom he intends to hang before the
fortress if it be not surrendered at the first summons. This gentleman
has, I am told, already been obliged to write a letter to the person who
commands the fort, in order to inform him that he (the writer) would lose
his life if he did not surrender, but that he would neither beg him nor
advise him to do so.]
CLIX
BELLI^VRE 1 BRIENNE
A Londres, le fji^j^'^Q^l-
Monsieur, — Nous auons juge que le Roy d'Ang'® estant
a Londres ou ez enuirons, nous pourrions remettre les affaires
en quelque balance, et auec le temps les porter au point que
nous deuons souhaitter pour cet effect auec beaucoup de patience
et d'adresse. L'on auoit fait en sorte que les deux maisons
ordonnassent que le d. Roy seroit prie de venir a Richemont si
Tarmee Ty conduisoit ; nous auons ce que nous pretendons que
si elle eust refuse d'obeir aux ordres du Parlement, Tarmee que
commande au Nort le general Pointz, assistee des leuees que
Ton tient prestes dans les prouinces aussy bien que dans cette
ville marchoit contre celle de ferfax, laquelle sest heureuse-
ment pour elle demeslee de ce mauuaise pas sur une declaration
qu"'elle a enuoye ce matin au Parlement. II a este cet apres
midi resolu en la chambre des Seigneurs ce qui sera encore
aujourd'^huy confirme dans celle des Communs, qui sans s'ar-
rester a ce qui auoit este ordonne au dernier jour le d. Roy
n'aduanceroit point vers cette ville cependant sur ces premiers
ordres, et sur une lettre que le d. Roy recent auant hier des
deux Maisons, qui le prioient de venir a Richemont, il aura
aujourd'huy marche, et Ton croit qu'il est a Roesthon, a trente
mille d'icy, ou s'il ne re9oit une lettre pour le prier de retoumer
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 177
sur quoy Ton delibere presentement, au moins les commissaires
qui sont pres de luy et les troupes qui le conduisent receuront
icy Tordre auant le leuer du d. Roy pour le ramener a Nieu-
marquet. Ce qui s"'est faict aujourd'huy en cette affaire
renuerse beaucoup de choses sur lesquelles nous trauaillons
depuis longtemps. Les seigneurs ont faict cognoistre leur
faiblesse ou plus tost leur abbatement par une infinite de
circonstances, dont le recit ne vous pourroit estre qu'^ennuyeux.
II est a craindre que Tarraee et ses amis prenant tout le
pouuoir, le d. Roy et le Royaume demeurent a leur discretion.
Je continueray a faire ce que deppendra de moy pour preuenir
beaucoup de mauuais rencontres, et n"'obmettray rien de ce
que je pourray faire pour y remedier. Le Roy d*'Ang'® me
mande qu'il a appris que Endimion Porter, un de ses valets de
chambre, est arreste a Dunquerque. II me prie d"'en escrire
pour obtenir sa liberte. II s^asseure qu'il ne s''est point mesle
d''affaires contre le seruice de la France. Je croy quMl en
escrit a la Reyne d'Ang*^^ dans une longue lettre que j'enuoye
au S' du Rose pour luy faire tenir. II arriue presentement
une lettre de Tarmee a la maison des Communs qui Tintimide a
un tel point que les Principaux des ennemis de la d. armee
pourroient bien se retirer des cette nuict et ne se pas tenir en
seurete dans ce Royaume. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc.,
Bellieure.
[Bellievbe to Bbienne. London, ^\Z'^y 1647.
We have judged that if the King of England were in London or in the
neighbourhood, we might be able to restore matters into some sort of
equilibrium, and in time with much patience and tact bring them to the
point that we should wish for that purpose. It had been arranged that
the two Houses should issue a decree begging the king to come to Rich-
mond, if the army conducted him there. We learn from what is reported
that had it refused to obey the orders of Parliament, the army, commanded
by General Pointz in the North, aided by the levies that were kept ready
in the provinces, as well as those in this town, were to have marched
against that of Fairfax, which has luckily for itself got out of the diffi-
culty by a declaration that it sent to Parliament this morning. It was
decided this afternoon in the House of Lords and will be also confirmed
to-day in that of the Commons, that without paying heed to what was
ordered the other day, the king should, notwithstanding these first
orders, not advance towards this town, and that if he had already set
VOL. IT. M
178 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [JULY
out on the previous order in terms of a letter he received from both
Houses the day before yesterday begging him to come to Richmond-
he is believed to be at Royston, thirty miles from here— at which place
if he do not receive a letter begging him to return, which is now under
discussion, the Commissioners who are with him and the troops who are
conducting him will, at least, receive the order before the hour of the
king's getting up, to conduct him to Newmarket. What has been done
to-day in this matter overturns many things on which we have been
labouring for a long time. The Lords have shown their weakness, or
rather their dejection, by an infinity of circumstances, the recital of
which would only weary you. It is to be feared that the army and its
friends in taking all the power, both the king and the kingdom remain
at their discretion. I shall continue to do what depends on me in order
to prevent many bad encounters, and I shall omit nothing I can do in
order to remedy them. The King of England informs me of his having
learned that one of his valets de chambre, Endymion Porter, has been
arrested at Dunkirk. He begs me to write so as to obtain his liberty.
He is certain that his valet has not been mixed up in any matter
contrary to the service of France. I believe he has written of it to the
Queen of England in a long letter that I send to M. du Bosc to have it
delivered to her. A letter has just arrived from the army to the House
of Commons, which intimidates it to such a degree that the principal
enemies of the army may very well withdraw from to-night and no
longer consider themselves in safety in this kingdom.]
CLX
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le 'gffl/ 1^47.
Monsieur, — Par ce que je me donnay Phonneur de vous escrire
au dernier jour, je vous fis cognoistre le mauuais estat auquel
se trouuent icy les affaires et Tespouaante que donnoit aux
principaux des presbiteriens une lettre qui arrivoit de Tarmee.
EUe a faict qu'ilz se sont retires du Parlement, et ainsy que les
Independantz et rarmee, dont les Interestz sont unis jusques a
present, sont tout puissantz dans ce Royaume. Le Roy d''Ang-
leterre, dont je receus hier des nouuelles, cognoist bien a quel
point cela luy est prejudiciable, mais il est difficile d'y apporter
des remedes aussy promptement qu'il seroit necessaire. Ceux
qui peuuent venir par le moyen des Escossois sont un peu
lentz, et ont encore este trauersez par les hp-miltons, lesquelz,
outre Tinclination qu'ilz ont de faire une infidelite a qui que ce
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 179
soit, et principalement a leur Roy et a leur pays, ont encore
cette faible imagination de pouuoir paruenir a la Royaute
d''Escosse si leur Roy estoit declare incapable de demeurer en
Angleterre, a quoy ilz ne pourroient pretendre si le d. Roy
n''estoit restably. Quant a moi, je tente touttes les voyes que
je puis pour porter les choses au point que desire le d. Roy. —
Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc., Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 8 Juillet 1647, receu le 12^ du d.
mois a Amiens.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, 'ly","' 1647.
From what I wrote to you the other day I informed you of the bad state
in which matters are here, and the terror caused to the principal Presby-
terians by a letter that had come from the army. It has resulted in their
withdrawal from Parliament, and thus the Independents and the army,
whose interests are united at present, are all-powerful in this kingdom.
The King of England, from whom I had news yesterday, knows well to
what extent this is prejudicial to him, but it is difficult to procure
remedies as promptly as it would be necessary. Those that might be had
by means of the Scots are somewhat slow, and have also been thwarted by
the Hamiltous, who besides their disposition to commit a treason against
some one, and princijjally against their king and their country, have
also the weak fancy of being able to attain to the Crown of Scot-
land, if their king were declared incapable of remaining in England to
which they would not pretend were the king restored. For my part 1
try by every means I can to bring things round to the point the king
would wish.]
CLXI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, 'Y/Zl;t 1^*7.
Le dernier ordinaire m'a rendu celles que V. Em''® m'a fait
rhonneur de m'ecrire du 15 et du 22 du mois passe, qui estoient
seulement sur le sujet des levees. Elle aura peu voir par celle
que j'ecrivis il y a huit jours a M. le Tellier, de laquelle j'ai pris
la hardiesse de lui envoyer une copie, les raisons pour lesquelles
je n'avois pas presse M. le Comte d' Angus de rendre ce qu'il
avoit receu d'argent par dessus le nombre d'hommes qu'il a
en voyes, et j'espere que V. Em*^® me fera Thonneur de Tapprouver
puisqu"'elle me commande de faire continuer les levees que
j'aurois peu retarder si j'en avoie use autrement.
180 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
Mais, Monseigneur, comme M. le Chevalier Moray a presque
fait les douze cents hommes pour lesquels il a receu de Targent,
et qu'il m'a dit qu'il pourroit faire quelque chose de plus si je
luy en faisois toucher davantage, j'ay propose a M. le Comte
d' Angus de luy vouloir remettre entre les mains deux ou trois
mil ecus des six derniers qu'il a receus et sur lesquels il n'a pas
leve un seul homme, ce que j'ay fait d'autant plus volontiers
qu'il m'a semble que le sieur Comte d'Angus feroit plus aise-
ment trois cents hommes que six cents, mais je n'ay peu le
porter a m'accorder une chose si juste et si raisonable, bien
que je luy aye represente le double prejudice qu'il faisoit en
la refusant, au service de la Maj'*, puisque non seulement il
n'avoit pas fait le nombre d"'hommes qu'il avoit promis, mais
qu'il ostoit encore a un autre les moyens de le faire.
Cependant, Mg', je doute fort que bien que ces six mil ecus
fussent divises entre le dit S' Comte et le S' Chev' Moray il
leur fut possible d'avoir fait ce petit nombre bien promptement,
car bien que les Presbyteriens Anglois n'ayent ni demande ici
du secours, ni remercie mesme le Comte de Lauderdale de celui
qu'il s'est haste d''offrir a Londres, qu'il soit difficile aux
Ecossois de lever des hommes en leur royaume sans Targent
des Anglais, et encore plus difficile de les faire passer en
Angleterre avec quelque succes apres les ordres que le General
Fairfax a donne aux provinces voisines d'Ecosse d''avoir Toeil
sur ce qui se fait ici, on ne laisse pas de croire que les Ministres
qui sont assembles aujourd'huy demanderont qu'on leve de
nouvelles forces dans ce royaume, ce qu"'on s'imagine que les
personnes plus sages et plus moderees auront assez de peine
d'empescher, et ce qui rendra sans doute les levees plus lentes,
ainsi que je me suis donne I'honneur de Tecrire auparavant a
V. Em'^^
Le Comite ne fit pas davantage Mardi dernier qu'il avoit
fait huit jours auparavant. On y considera encore Toffre du
Comte de Lauderdale au Pari* d'Angleterre au nom de celui
d'Ecosse et Ton trouve, comme la premiere fois, qu'il eut peu
ne se pas tant haster, comme il avoit fait, et qu''il avoit pris
luy seul autant d'autorite que tout ce Pari* ensemble en pouvoit
avoir. On escrivit aussi aux deputes qui sont a Londres de
depescher ici k toutes les occasions, et Ton remit a Jeudi pro-
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 181
chain a resoudre si on leverait de nouvelles forces ^n ce royaume
parce que Ton crut qu'on pourroit estre asseure avant ce temps
de ce qui se passeroit en Angleterre, et qu''on prendroit de
meilleurs mesures apres cela touchant ce qui se doit faire ici,
mais on doute encore qu'on y doive prendre une resolution
derniere. Ou croit que Tinterest qu"'a le Marquis d'Argyle a
la poursuite des gens de Macdonald ne luy permettra pas
d'assister a ce Comite, et que celui qu"'a le Due de Hamilton
de ne point s'entremettre d''affairs qui peuvent estre douteuses,
le fera demeurer encore pour quelque temps a la Campagne.
Ce Due a envoye le sieur Robert Car [Kerr] au roy de la G' B'
deux jours apres le sieur Robert Leslay, plustost pour sea voir
Tetat ou il est que pour luy donner les moyens de se mettre en
un meilleur, car quelque bruit qu'il fasse courir parmy ceux
qui sont attaches aux interests de leur roy, et quoiqu"'il se dise
qu'il veut se declarer pour son service, je n''y vois jusqu'ici
aucune apparence, et cela me fait craindre que le danger qui
menace le dit Due et le Marquis d''Argyle avec luy, les ait
encore remis, et les oblige de continuer une feinte qui a este
si prejudiciable au dit roy et qui toute vieille et toute decriee
qu'elle est, ne laisse pas encore d"'abuser beaucoup de personnes.
Cependant, Mg*", j'ose dire a V. Em'=® que si le Due de
Hamilton publie parmy les serviteurs du dit roy qu'il se veut
declarer pour luy quand il sera temps, pour les empescher de
le faire, il se met en peine avec bien peu de sujet, puisque je
n'en vois point ici qu'en ayent le pouvoir, et bien peu mesme
qui en ayent la volonte, et je croy que tout le bien que les
Ecossois peuvent faire au dit roy est de ne se pas entremettre
de ses affaires, et que ce prince ne court pas de plus grand
danger que quand il laisse approcher de luy un Ecossois.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, jy^' 1647.
The last mail brought me your letters of the 15th and 22nd ult., that were
only on the subject of the levies. You will have been able to see by the
one I wrote eight days ago to M. le Tellier, of which I sent you a copy,
the reasons that had led me not to press the Earl of Angus to return the
money he had received over and above the number of men he has sent,
and I hope you will approve what I have done, since you order me to
continue the levies which I would have delayed had I acted diflFerently.
But as Sir Robert Moray has almost raised the twelve hundred men
182 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
for which he received the money, and as he tells me that he would do
something more if he received more money, I proposed to the Earl of
Angus to deliver to Sir Robert two or three thousand crowns of the six last
that he has received and on which he has not raised a single man, which I
did all the more readily that it seemed to me that the Earl of Angus would
raise three hundred men more easily than six hundred, but 1 was unable
to induce him to grant me a matter so just and reasonable, although I
pointed out to him the double harm he was doing to his Majesty's service
by his refusal, he having not only failed to raise the number of men he
had promised, but also deprived another of the means of doing so.
Yet, 1 doubt much that even if these six thousand crowns were divided
between the Earl and Sir Robert Moray it would be possible to have this
small number of men very promptly, for although the English Presbyterians
have neither asked for any assistance here, nor even thanked the Earl of
Lauderdale for what he was in haste to offer" to them in London, it will be
difficult for the Scots to raise men in their kingdom, without the money
of the English, and still more difficult to get them passed successfully
into England, after the orders that General Fairfax has given to the
countries on the Scottish border to have their attention directed to what
goes on here, yet it is believed the clergy, that are to meet to-day, will
demand that new forces be raised in this kingdom, which it is fancied
wiser and more moderate persons will have considerable trouble to pre-
vent, and which will doubtless render the levies more backward, as I
have previously informed you.
The Committee did nothing more on Tuesday last than it had done
eight days previously. The oflfer made by the Earl of Lauderdale to the
English Parliament, in the name of that of Scotland, was considered, as
on the first occasion it was mentioned, to have been done in too great
haste, and it was thought that in making it he had taken as much
authority on himself as all the Parliament together might possess. The
Scottish Commissioners in London were told to send special messengers
with information here on every occasion that called for it ; and the
question of raising new forces in this kingdom was postponed till Thurs-
day next, because they believed that by that time they would be assured
of what is passing in England, after which the best measures would
be taken regarding what ought to be done hei-e, but it is still doubted
that they will then take a final resolution. It is thought that the interest
the Marquis of Argyle has in the pursuit of Macdonald's people will pre-
vent his attendance at the Committee, and the interest the Duke of
Hamilton has not to mix himself up in matters that may be doubtful will
cause him to remain yet for some time at the country. The duke sent
Mr. Robert Car [Kerr] to the King of Great Britain, two days after the
departure of Robert Leslie, to learn rather in what condition the king
was than to propose any means of bettering it ; for whatever rumours
circulate here, among those attached to their king, and although it is
said the duke wishes to declare for the king's service, up till the present
time I see no appearance of it, and this makes me to fear that the danger
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 18S
which threatens both the duke, and the Marquis of Argyle, may have
again united them and oblige them to keep up a sham disagreement, that
has been so hurtful to the king, and which, worn out and decried as it
is, still continues to impose on many persons.
Yet I venture to say that if the Duke of Hamilton says among the
king's followers that he wishes to declare for him, at the proper time, in
order to prevent them from doing so, he takes trouble for very little
purpose, since I see no one here who has the power and very few even
who have the will to do so, and 1 believe all the good the Scots can do
for their king is not to meddle with his affairs, and that this prince runs
no greater danger than when he allows a Scotsman to approach him. ]
CLXII
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le ~ Juillet 1647.
' II
Monsieur, — Je croy que je vous pourray faire scauoir lundy
s'il y a quelque chose de vray en ce que Ton vous a dit de
Moet et de Rotze. Ce sont deux signalez yuroignes a qui
personne de bon sens ne voudroit confier quelque affaire que ce
pent estre. Les marchandz suedois qui auoient faict donner la
qualite du Resident au dit Moet luy ont faict reuoquer. II y
a trois mois qu'il a receu les ordres de s''en retourner quMl
n''execute pas sous pretexte quMl ne peut faire assembler un
commite pour prendre son conge, et en effect, pour tirer
tousjours des marchandz les appointements qu*'ilz luy ont
promis tant qu'il demeurera icy. Rotze a de tout temps
tesmoigne auoir une grande inclination pour TEspagne, mais
il n'a point encore eu le pouuoir de la seruir. La cognoissance
que j'ay de ces personnes m'asseure quasy qu'il n'y aura rien de
considerable fait par leur Ministere, et si j"'auois sceu par qui
vous aues eu Taduis que vous me donnez peutestre desmes-
lerois-ie quelque fourbe qui autrement pourra demeurer in-
connue. Les affaires de ce pays sont au mesme estat que
ie me suis donne Thonneur de vous escrire par mes precedentes.
L'armee et le Parlement sont unis, quoy qu'ilz veuillent faire
croire le contraire. L'on trauaille autant qu'il se peut a les
desunir en effect et a former un parti qui puisse porter les
Interetz du . . .
Le Roy de la G. B. doit coucher ce soir a Windzors. — Je
suis. Monsieur, vostre, etc., Bellieure.
Ati dos — M. de Bellieure, du 11 Juillet l647, receu le 15.
184 BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE [JULY
[Bellievbe to Bbienne. London, ^ July 1647.
I BELIEVE I shall be able to let you know on Monday if there be any-
thing true in what you have been told about Moet and Rotze. They are
both notorious drunkards, to whom no sensible person would intrust any
affair whatever. The Swedish merchants who had given the title of
Resident to Moet have revoked it. He received three months ago orders
to return home, but he has not executed them, under pretext that he
cannot have a committee meeting convened in order to get his discharge,
and he in fact continues to draw the salary the merchants had promised
him so long as he remained here. Rotze has always manifested a strong
inclination for Spain, but he has never yet had the power to serve that
country. The knowledge I have of these persons assures me, so to
speak, that nothing important will be done by their means, and if I
knew from whom you had received the information perhaps I should be
able to discover a knave who will otherwise remain unknown. The
affairs of this country are in the same condition which I described to you
in my former letters. The army and the Parliament are united, although
they wish to make people believe the contrary. One is still engaged in
trying as much as possible to separate them in fact, and to form a party
that can represent the interests of the . . .
The King of Great Britain is to sleep at Windsor to-night.]
CLXIII
BELLIlfeVRE A BRIENNE
A Lojidres, le f- Juillet l647.
Monsieur, — L'irresolution du Roy d'Ang*"^ et de ceux qui
trauaillent icy en ses affaires me faict juger apropos de Taller
trouuer, pour aprez Tauoir entretenu et les Principaux de
Tarmee, prendre les resolutions de la conduitte que j''auray
a tenir icy a present a Fesgard de ce qui sera a faire [tant]
pour le d. Roy que pour les interestz de la France. Je feray
ce voyage aussy tost qu'il me sera possible. L'on trauaille
a mettre les anciennes propositions en estat de les renuoyer
au dit Roy. Moet, par Tentremise de Rotze, a veu TAmbas-
sadeur d'Espagne, et luy a propose de destacher les Suedois de
Talliance de France pour les unir auec TEspagne. KAm-
bassadeur a loue son dessein, mais a trouue fort estrange
qu'une proposion de cette importance n'ait eii pour fonde-
ment que la pensee que celuy qui la fait a d'en communiquer
au chancelier de Suede lorsqu'il y sera retourne. Si Taduis
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 185
a este donne par une personne que ie m^imagine, et qui est
grand camarade de Moet et de Rotze, il n^est pas impossible
quMl leur ayt fait faire cette proposition pour auoir lieu de
se rendre considerable en la descouurant. Et de quelque fa^on
que soit TafFaire, elle ne pent estre de consideration entre
les mains de Moet ni de Cardenas, amb' d"'Espagne. — Je suis,
Monsieur, vostre, etc., Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 15^ Juillet 1647, receu le 19* du d.
mois k Amiens.
[Beijjevre to Brienne. London, ^ July 1647.
The irresolution of the King of England and of those who are engaged
here in his affairs has led me to decide on going to see him, in order that
after having conversed with him and with the leaders of the army, I
may decide on the course of conduct I shall have to maintain here at
present, both as regards what there will be to do for the king and for
the interests of France. I shall make this journey as soon as possible.
The old proposals are being put into shape so that they may be sent
to the king. Moet, through the agency of Rotze, saw the Spanish
ambassador and proposed to him to detach the Swedes from their
alliance with France so as to unite them with Spain. The ambassador
praised his design, but found it strange that a proposal of such import-
ance had no other foundation than the thought of the person who made
it of communicating it to the Chancellor of Sweden when he might be
hack there. If the notice has been given by a person whom I imagine
and who is a great comrade of Moet and of Rotze, it is not impossible that
he may have had this proposal made to them to have an order to have an
opportunity of making himself important by disclosing it. And, how-
ever it may be, the matter is not worth consideration in the hands of
Moet or of Cardenas, the Spanish ambassador.]
CLXIV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^ Juillet l647.
L'assemblee de TEglise se tint ici Mardi f-|^<, dans laquelle,
ainsy qu'on Tavoit preveu, les Ministres arresterent de faire
une remonstrance au Comite du danger ou se trouvoit en ce
royaume, non seuleraent la religion, mais encore le gouverne-
ment civil, par ce qui venoit d''arriver en Angleterre, et de
prier ceux qui composent le Comite de ne se contenter pas de
prendre une affaire de cette importance en leur consideration.
186 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
mais encore de se vouloir servir promptement des expedient
les plus propres, pour tirer, tant TEtat que la religion, du
danger qui les menacoient. lis arresterent en suite que cette
remonstrance seroit lue dans leurs eglises, afin d'insinuer aux
peuples par ce moyen Tobligation qu'ils avoient de contribuer
a une chose oii I'interest de leur religion se trouvoit joint a
celui de leurs fortunes.
Cette remonstrance fut presentee le Jeudi suivant au Comite,
et comme ceux du parti d'Argyle tascherent de faire prendre
quelque resolution sur les ajEFaires, et de faire arrester qu'on se
mettroit au moins en posture de se defendre, les Hamiltons
representerent quMls ne voyoient point, ou que les Presbyteriens
Anglois les invitassent a prendre les armes, ou que leur roy
leur demandast du secours, ou que le Pari* d'Angleterre, qui
avoit plus d 'interest qu'eux en cette affaire se met en etat de
s'opposer aux intentions de Tarmee ; et quMl sembloit qu''on
pent difficilement prendre de bonnes resolutions sur des affaires
dont on ne connaissoit pas encore les suites. Ceux du parti
d'Argyle desirerent encore deux choses ; Tune, que ceux du
Comite qui s"'etoient rendus a Edimbourg n''en puissent partir
jusqu''a ce qu'ils eussent este pleinement informes des affaires ;
et Tautre que la remonstrance des Ministres fut imprimee et
lue le Dimanche suivant dans les eglises, mais ils ne peurent
emporter ni Tun ni Tautre. On arresta seulement, que ceux
qui etoient ici ne s'en eloigneroient pas, de telle sorte qu'ils ne
s'y puissent rendre quatre jours apres qu'on leur auroit ordonne
d'y retourner.
Si Ton pouvoit etablir quelque fondement sur les paroles,
et mesrae sur les actions des Hamiltons, ce procede, et ce que
m'a dit le Due, que j'ay visite depuis son arrivee, me donneroit
sujet de croire que comme il voit que Ton ne pent lever ici de
nouvelles forces qui ne soient commandees par des personnes
dependantes du Marquis d'Argyle, il a resolu de s'y opposer et
n'a propose de scavoir ce qui se passe en Angleterre, et d'ap-
prendre les intentions du roy de la G' B' sur le sujet de cette
levee avant que la faire, que pour retarder, autant qu'il pourroit,
I'execution d'une chose qu'il n'eut pas eu peutestre d'abord le
pouvoir d'empescher s'il s'y fut oppose ouvertement.
II se pourroit faire encore, que comme le Marquis d'Argyle se
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 187
maintient, et ici et en Angleterre, par la faction Presbyterienne,
le Due de Hamilton essayeroit de s'attacher a eelle des Inde-
pendants, et qu'il ne voudroit pas seulement les obliger en
empeschants les levees que Ton propose de faire contre eux,
mais encore prendre son temps pour perdre, s''il estoit possible,
le Marquis d'Argyle en laissant detruire la religion et ruiner
les Ministres qui le maintiennent et tascher en suite de s'emparer
seul de toute Tautorite. Je ne scay si les affaires de son maistre
s''en porteroient mieux pour cela, et ce qui etabliroit en Ecosse
le Due de Hamilton aideroit a y retablir le roy de la G"" B"",
mais ce que je puis dire asseurement est, que tous les amis du
Marquis d'Argyle se trouvent extremement abattus, et que je
ne m'etois pas tout a fait trompe quand je me suis donne
rhonneur d'ecrire a V. Em^® qu''ils taschoient de faire venir le
Prince de Galles en ce royaume, ce que le Chev"" Moray m''a
propose aujourdhuy tres serieusement comme la seule chose
qui pourroit remettre presentement leurs affaires, avec Tassis-
tance de deniers qu'ils pourroient recevoir de la France, dont
il m'a dit qu'il me vouloit parler plus a loisir. J'eusse bien
voulu que ce besoin que croit avoir le Marquis d''Argyle de la
France pour le maintenir, Teut porte a faire quelque chose a
Pa vantage du service de S. M*^ dans les levees, et qu'il eut
voulu envoy er cinq ou six cents de ses sujets, ainsy que le
Chev"" Moray et moy luy avions propose pour son propre bien,
mais outre qu'il en a fait pendre encore un grand nombre
depuis quelques jours, il a ecrit au dit Chev' quMl ne luy etoit
pas possible de faire ce que nous avions desire de luy.
J'ay difJ'ere jusqu'a present de rendre la lettre de cachet
qail avoit pleu a V. Em*^® me faire envoyer parce que je croyois
recevoir par cet ordinaire quelque nouvel ordre touchant ma
conduite, sur ce qui vient d'arriver en Angleterre, mais comme
il y a deja quinze jours que le Chancelier d'Ecosse et M' le
Comte de Lanark ont este ordonnes par le Conseil d'Etat pour
la recevoir, j'apprehende que je ne puisse pas encore longtemps
deferer a la rendre.
Je ne feray pas, toutefois, de difficulte da la leur delivrer
dorenavant, si j'en suis encore presse, parce que ni les termes
dans lesquels elle est escrite, ni la maniere dans laquelle je la
rends, ni la subscription mesme que j'ay mise, ne font pas
188 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
qu'elle puisse estre d'aucune consequence, puisqu'elle ne dit
rien de particulier, — que je ne la rends qu'a deux deputes, —
et qu'elle s'adresse au Conseil d'Etat du roy de la G"" B'. En
quoy je suis oblige de me louer des offices du Comte de Lanark
qui n'a pas seulement mesnage tout ceci fort adroitement pour
moi, mais qui m'a encore donne moyen de gagner tout ce
temps sans estre oblige de la rendre.
Cependant, Mg*', jusqu'a ce que j'ay ordre de parler sur le
sujet des affaires presentes, je ne leur en diray quoi que se soit,
etant bien aise de suivre leur exemple en la seule chose ou je
croy les pouvoir imiter honnestement, cependant je me suis
contente de leur entendre regretter continuellement la faute
quMls ont faite en rendant leur roy aux Anglois, sans la leur
avoir reprochee. Je leur ay dit seulement que quelque etroit
attachement qu'ils eussent essaye d^'avoir avec TAngleterre,
sans se soucier que fort peu de la France, ils avoient eu lieu
de reconnaistre que les anciens amis etoient toujours les
meilleurs.
Le sieur Robert Carre [Kerr], un de ceux que le Due de
Hamilton avoit envoye au roy de la G' B*", est de retour, mais
je ne Pay peu voir encore.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ July 1647.
The General Assembly of the church was held here on Tuesday,
??~~, in which, as had been foreseen, the clergy decided to make a
remonstrance to the committee concerning the danger in which not only
religion but civil government were placed in this kingdom, through
what has just taken place in England, and to beg those forming the
committee not to remain satisfied with merely taking a matter of this
importance into their consideration, but to have prompt recourse to the
most appropriate means for protecting both the state and religion from
the dangers that threaten them. They decided afterwards that this
remonstrance should be read in all their churches so as thus to insinuate
among the people the obligation that rested on them to contribute
towards a matter wherein the interest of their religion was joined to
that of their fortunes.
This remonstrance was presented to the committee the following
Thursday, and as those of the Argyle party tried to bring forward some
resolution on the affairs and to decide that they should at least take up
a position of self-defence, the Hamiltons pointed out that they did not
see either that the English Presbyterians invited them to take arms, or
that their king asked assistance from them, or that the English Parlia-
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 189
meutj that had more interest than they in this affair, was taking a position
to oppose the intentions of the army, and that it seemed difficult to take
good resolutions on matters of which they did not yet know the results.
Those of the Argyle party proposed also two things : one, that those of
the committee who had come to Edinburgh should not be allowed to
leave it until they were fully informed of the affairs, and the other that
the remonstrance of the clergy be printed and read the Sunday following
in the churches ; but they were unable to carry either motion, it was merely
decided that those of the committee who were here should not go away
to a greater distance than thai they might be able to return, if required,
on four days' notice.
If it were possible to place any reliance on the words and even on the
action of the Hamiltons, this proceeding, together with what the duke,
whom I have visited since his return, told me, would give me reason
to believe that as he sees one cannot raise new forces here, but such as
would be commanded by persons depending on the Marquis of Argyle he
has decided to oppose it, and that he has proposed to learn what was
passing in England, and to know the intentions of the King of Great
Britain on the subject of this rising before doing it, in order to delay as
much as he could the carrying out of a matter which he might not
perhaps ha\e had the power to prevent had he opposed it more openly.
It may also be that as the Marquis of Argyle maintains himself both
here and in England by the help of the Presbyterian faction, the Duke
of Hamilton may try to attach himself to that of the Independents, and
that he should like not only to oblige them by preventing the levies that
it is proposed to make to oppose to them, but also to take his time in
order if possible to ruin the Marquis of Argyle by allowing religion to
be destroyed and the clergy ruined who support him, so as to try after-
wards and seize upon the only authority for himself. I do not know if
the affairs of his master would profit much thereby, and if what would aid
in establishing the Duke of Hamilton in Scotland would aid in establish-
ing there the King of Great Britain ; but what I can say assuredly is
that all the friends of the Marquis of Argyle are extremely discouraged,
and that I was not altogether mistaken when I wrote to you that they
were trying to bring the Prince of Wales into this kingdom, which Sir
Robert Moray proposed to me quite seriously to-day, as the only thing
that could settle their affairs at present with the help of the money they
might be able to obtain from France, of which he said he wished to
speak to me more at leisure. I should have much wished this want,
which the Marquis of Argyle believes he has of France, in order to
support him, had induced him to do something for the benefit of his
Majesty's service in the levies, and that he had wished to send five or
six hundred of his vassals as Sir Robert Moray and I had proposed to
him for his own interest, but although he has caused a great number of
them to be hanged within the last few days, he has written to Sir Robert
that it was not possible for him to do what we had wished of him.
I have delayed till now to deliver the letter with the king's signet
190 P. BELLIjfeVRE TO BRIENNE [JULY
which you sent to me, because I expected by this mail some new order
concerning my conduct in connection with what has just happened in
England, but as it is already a fortnight since the Chancellor of Scotland
and the Earl of Lanark were appointed by the Council of State to receive
it, I fear I cannot delay it much longer. I shall not, however, raise any
objection about delivering it in future, if I be again urged to do so,
because neither the terms in which it is written, nor the manner in
which I present it, nor the address even that I have put on it, can
render it of any importance, since it states nothing particular, that I but
present it to two persons deputed to receive it and that it is addressed to
the Council of State of the King of Great Britain. In this I am obliged
to commend the good offices of the Earl of Lanark who has managed all
this matter very dexterously for me, and has also made me gain all this
time without my being obliged to deliver it.
Yet, until I have order to speak on the subject of present affairs, I
shall tell them nothing whatever, being very glad to follow their
example, in the only matter in which I believe I can in honesty imitate
them, yet I am satisfied in hearing continually their expressions of regret,
for the error they made in delivering their king to the English, without
my having reproached them with it. I have only told them that what-
ever close intimacy that they may have tried to cultivate with England,
without being much concerned about France, they have had reason to
learn that old friends were always the best.
Mr. Robert Car [Kerr], one of those whom the Duke of Hamilton
had sent to the King of Great Britain, has returned, but I have not yet
been able to see him.]
CLXV
P. BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^ Juilliet l647.
Monsieur, — Aincy que par ses dernieres, Monsieur Tam-
bassadeur vous auoit mande deuoir faire, il partit hier pour
aller vers le Roy de la G. B., ou ie luy ay enuoye celles que
vous auez pris la peine de luy escrire. Apparemm* il faudra
qu'il remette a y respondre au prochain ord''^ par lequel il
vous pourra aussy informer de ce qui ce sera passe en son voyage.
L'apprehension que i'ay qu'en Testat auquel sont a pre'sent
les affaires de ce pays vous ne fussiez en peine de n'auoir point
de ses nouuelles m'a faict prendre la liberie de vous en rendre
la raison. — Vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
P. DE BeLLIEURE.
Audos—M.de Bellieure, du 18 Juillet 1647 a Londres, receu
le 24« du d. mois k Amyens.
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 191
[P. Bellievbe to Bbienne. London, ^ July 1647.
As the ambassador intimated to you in his lastj he left here yesterday
to go to the King of Great Britain, where I sent to him the letters you
have taken the trouble to write for him. It will be necessary evidently
for him to delay to reply until the next mail, by which he will also be
able to inform you of what will have taken place on his journey. The
fear I had lest, in the present state of affairs in this country, you might
be anxious at not hearing from him made me take the liberty of giving
you the reason of it]
CLXVI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhours, — Juillet l647.
Les affaires de ce royaume semblent estre encore au mesme
etat ou elles estoient quand je me suis donne Thonneur d'ecrire
a V. Em''^ il y 3- huit jours. Les amis du Marquis d"'Argyle
et les ministres pressent toujours pour faire lever une nouvelle
armee, et le Due de Hamilton continue aussi a ne pas desirer
que cela se fasse si promptement, ce que j''ay sujet de croire,
non seulement par les choses que le Comte de Lanark son frere
et ses amis m''ont dites depuis quelques jours, et parce qu'ils
disent de la mesme sorte a tout le monde, mais parce qu"'ils
font dire au sieur Robert Car, — qui est un de ceux qu"'ils
avoient envoye vers le roy de la Gr' B"", et qui publie que ce
prince temoigne n''estre pas mal satisfait des Independants, —
qu*'il est libre dans Tarmee, et qu'il ne desire en aucune sorte
que Ton leve icy des forces pour les faire passer en Angleterre ;
ce qui deconcerte assez les ministres et leur oste le premier
pretexte dont ils se pensoient servir, pour faire lever de nou-
velles forces, puisqu'il est vrai qu'ils avoient Tasseurance de
presser les peuples a prendre les armes pour aller mettre en
liberte celuy qu'ils ont tenu si longtemps prisonnier, et quMls
n'ont delivre que pour le livrer a ses ennemis. A ussy, Mg',
comme les ministres ont veu que ce pretexte leur manquoit,
ils ont essaye dans leurs derniers presches de persuader a ces
peuples qu''ils estoient obliges par leur covenant d'etablir la
religion Presbyterienne aussy bien en Angleterre que dans ce
192 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
royaume, et qu'ils y devoient entrer en armes pour ce sujet,
encore qu'ils n"'y fussent pas appeles.
Le Chev' Moray m'a remis encore sur le sujet de la venue
du Prince de Galles en Ecosse. II m'a dit qu'il avoit demande
au Due de Hamilton s'il ne trouvoit pas que le presence de ce
prince mettroit les affaires du roy son pere et celles de ce
royaume en meilleur etat qu'elles n'estoient, unissant toute
TEcosse contre les Independants ; et que le Due de Hamilton
luy avoit temoigne, non seulement qu'il estoit de ce sentiment,
mais qu'il seroit encore tout prest de le suivre en Angleterre
sMl y vouloit conduire une armee pour le retablissement du
roy son pere ; qu'il avoit essaye en suite de le porter a vouloir
agir de concert avec le Marquis d'Argyle aupres du roy de la
G' B"", afin qu'il trouvast bon que le prince son fils vint icy,
mais qu'il luy avoit repondu que c'estoit une chose de laquelle
il ne se meleroit en aucune sorte.
Cependant, le Chev' Moray persiste toujours a croire qu'ils
doivent essayer par toute sorte de moyens de faire venir leur
prince en ce royaume, bien que V. Em°® juge assez le peu
d'apparence qu''il y auroit de donner le fils a ceux qui ont si
mal traite le pere. Je n''ay pas creu, toutefois, devoir luy
teraoigner les sentiments que j''avois sur une si etrange pro-
position afin de le porter a s''en ouvrir a moi davantage, quand
on sera icy plus asseure de Tetat ou se trouve le roy de la G' B"",
et d"'empescher, sMl est possible, que ses amis ne cherchent
d"'autres voies pour executer un si pernicieux dessein. Ce que
ceux de la faction du Marquis d'Argyle desirent principale-
ment est de tirer une declaration du roi de la G^ B' contre le
proc^de des Independants, afin qu'ils ayent un pretexte pour
leur faire la guerre, et un moyen pour empescher que ce prince
puisse s"'accommoder avec eux. lis avoient presse le roy de
la G' B' de demander le Chancelier de ce royaume et Will.
Moray, comme des personnes tres capables d'insinuer ce mau-
vais conseil, mais ils n"'ont ose, ni Tun ni Tautre, entreprendre
ce voyage, quoique le roy les ait invites a le faire ainsy quMls
Tauoient desire.
L'indisposition du Comte de Lanark, qui I'a oblige de garder
la chambre la semaine passee, a fait que je n'ay point este
presse de rendre la lettre de S. M**, et pourra bien, comme je
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 19S
Tespere, me donner moyen d'attendre encore Tordinaire prochain
avant que la donner.
Le pere d''Alexandre Macdonald, qui commandoit dans le
principal fort de I'isle d'Yla, en estant sorti fort mal a propos,
pour boire avec le Lieut.-Colonel Menzies, David Leslay envoya
dire a ce Menzies, que quelque chose qu'il eut promis au pere
de Macdonald, il ne fit pas etat de revenir dans son armee, s'il
ne Temmenoit, — ce qu''il fit au mesme temps. Le fort s''est
rendu trois jours apres. On a accorde de bonnes conditions a
tons ceux qui estoient dedans, a la reserve d''un frere de Mac-
donald et d'un autre frere bastard qui ont este fait prisonniers.
On ne croit pas toutefois qu"'on se haste de faire mourir ni le
pere ni les enfants, on juge qu''on les reservera, ou pour les
echanger avec ces deux gentilshommes qui avoient este envoyes
par le Marquis d'Argyle a Macdonald, et qui ce dernier a
conduit en Irlande avec luy, ou pour avoir toujours de
quoy Tempescher de retourner dans les terres de ce Marquis
avec les forces qu"'il est alle demander en Irlande, et qu'il se
fait fort d''obtenir.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ July 1647.
The affairs of this kingdom seem to be in about the same state as when
I last wrote to you eight days ago. The friends of the Marquis of Argyle
and the clergy continue to insist on raising a new army, and the Duke of
Hamilton continues also not to wish it to be done so promptly, which I
have reason to believe not only from what the Earl of Lanark his brother
and his friends have told me during the last few days, because they make
the same statements to every one, but because they make Mr. Robert Kerr
— who is one of those they sent to the King of Great Britain — declare that
this prince seems not to be ill-satisfied with the Independents, that he is
at liberty in the army, and that he has no wish whatever that an army be
raised here to pass into England. This has considerably disconcerted the
clergy and deprived them of the only pretext they thought to make use of
for raising new forces, since it is true they had the hardihood to urge the
people to take arms in order to set at liberty him whom they had held so
long prisoner and whom they only liberated in order to deliver him up to
his enemies. The clergy having thus seen that this pretext had failed
them have endeavoured in their recent preachings to persuade these
people that they were obliged by their Covenant to establish the Presby-
terian form of religion, as well in England as in this kingdom, and that
they ought to enter it in arms for that purpose, although they might not
be called there.
VOL. II. N
194 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
Sir Robert Moray has again brought up to me the subject of the coming
of the Prince of Wales to Scotland. He told me he had asked the Duke
of Hamilton if he did not think that the presence of this prince would put
the affairs of the king his father and those of this kingdom in a better
state than they were, by uniting all Scotland against the Independents,
and that the Duke of Hamilton had stated to him that he was not only of
that opinion, but that he would be also quite ready to follow him into
England if he wished to lead an army there for the restoration of the king
his father : that he had tried afterwards to induce him to act in concert
with the Marquis of Argyle in influencing the King of Great Britain that
he might agree to his son coming here, but the duke replied that he
would on no account take any part in that.
However, Sir Robert Moray always persists in thinking that they ought
to try by every possible means to bring the prince into this kingdom,
although you may judge of the little advantage likely to accrue from
giving the son to those who have so ill-treated the father. I did not think
it wise, however, to express to them my sentiments on such a strange
proposal, so as to induce them to disclose more of their plans to me, when
the present state of the King of Great Britain is known with greater
certitude, and so as to prevent, if possible, his friends from devising
other means in order to carry out such a pernicious design. What the
Argyle faction principally wish is to obtain a declaration from the King
of Great Britain, against the proceedings of the Independents, so that
they may have a pretext for making war upon them and a means of pre-
venting him from being able to come to terms with them. They have
pressed the King of Great Britain to invite the Chancellor of this kingdom
and Will. Moray to visit him, as they consider them to be persons very
capable of insinuating this bad advice to the king, but neither of them
has ventured to undertake the journey, although the king invited them
as they had wished.
The indisposition of the Earl of Lanark, who has been confined to his
room during the past week, has enabled me still to delay the delivery of
his Majesty's letter, and I hope will give me the means of further waiting
until the arrival of the next mail before giving it.
The father of Alexander Macdonald, who commanded in the principal
fort in Isla, having left his quarters very incautiously to drink with Lieut. -
Colonel Menzies, David Leslie sent to tell Menzies that in spite of any
promise he may have made to Macdonald's father, unless he brought him
with him to the army, he ought no longer to consider himself as belonging
to it, which Menzies immediately did. The fort surrendered three days
after ; good terms were given to all those therein, with the exception of
Macdonald's brother and another bastard brother, who are held prisoners.
It is not thought, however, that they nor the father will be put to death.
It is supposed they will be reserved, either in order to be exchanged for
the two gentlemen whom the Marquis of Argyle had sent to Macdonald,
and whom Macdonald has taken to Ireland with him, or kept as hostages
to prevent the return of Macdonald into the lands of the marquis with the
1647] BELLI]fcVRE TO BRIENNE 195
forces he has gone to procure in Ireland, and which he is likely to
obtain. 1]
CLXVII
BELLIIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^ Juillet l647.
Monsieur, — tTay trouue le roy d"'Angleterre si ennuye de
Testat ou il est que si Tarmee s'accorde avec le Parlement,
a quoy je vois beaucoup de disposition, il est a craindre qu'il
n'accepte la paix a des conditions que ie crois que Ton projette,
non seullement honteuses mais aussy ruineuses pour luy et
sa posterite. S'il auoit souffert que les presbiteriens et les
Escossois se fussent vigoreusement opposez a ses desseins, il
seroit aujourd'huy considere, et le pourroit encore estre cy
apres, au cas quMl ne se presse pas de conclure, et que la reyne
d'Angleterre leur veuille donner du coeur et remedier par les
moyens qu''elle croit au mal qu''on[t] faict en Escosse, les
deffences que le dit Roy y a faict de s''armer. J'ay tousiours
diet, et je ne change point encore d'aduis, quMl est mine
si Taucthorite d''un des partis n'y est point balancee par Tautre.
Les presbiteriens ne veullent point de roy qui ait aucun
pouuoir, et les Independans haissent mesme le nom, mais
s'ilz sont necessitez d"'en auoir, ilz le receuroient a beaucoup
meilleures conditions que ne feront les presbiteriens, et sous
leur gouuernement ecclesiastique les roys plus facillement
reprendroient leur aucthorite qu''ilz ne pourroient faire dans
le presbitaire. Je continueray a faire ce que je pourray pour
porter les affaires a ce point, si vous ne m'ordonnes point d'en
user autrement. La haste auec laquelle ie vous escriuis lundy
dernier, tant ie me trouue presse de visittes et d'affaires a mon
retour d'aupres le Roy de la G. B., me fit obmettre de vous
faire scauoir que le d. Roy me fit des pleintes en termes verit-
ablement les plus ciuils qu"'il peust de ce que Ogier auoit este
receu en France comme agent du Parlement, et qu"'il auoit veu
^ In Turner's Memoirs, p. 48, it is stated : ' But before we were masters of
Dunneveg, the old man, Coll, came foolishly out of the house where he was
governor, on some parole or other, to speak with his old friend, the Captain of
Dunstaffnage Castle, was surprised and made prisoner, not without some stain to
the Lieut. -General's honour.'
196 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [JULY
une coppie imprimee d'un arrest du conseil qui luy donnoit
cette qualite, a quoy je luy dis que je croyois luy pouuoir
respondre qu'Ogier n^auoit point este receu en cette qualite,
et que pour ce qui estoit de celle qu'il auoit pris dans
un arrest, si le dit Roy scauoit que comme telles choses ne
donnent point de droit a ceux qui n'en ont point d'ailleurs,
Ton n'a pas coustume d'y prendre garde, il n'en seroit point
scandalise. Cependant s'il vous plaist d'en faire dire un mot a
la Reyne de la G. B., elle tesmoigneroit au Roy son mary que
Ton a soing de le satisfFaire en tout. — Je suis, Monsieur, V.
etc., etc. Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 25^ Juillet l647, receue le 28
k Abbeville.
[BELLii;vRE to Brienne. London, ^ July 1647.
I FOUND the King of England so annoyed at the state in which he is,
that if the army agree with the Parliament, of which I see many
symptoms, it is to be feared that he may accept peace on the terms pro-
posed, which I believe to be not only shameful, but also ruinous for him-
self and for his posterity. If he had but tolerated the Presbyterians and
the Scots when they so vigorously opposed his designs, he would have
been looked up to at present, and he may be so still afterwards, if he do
not hasten to come to terms, and were the Queen of England pleased to
encourage the former, and remedy, by any means she may believe
effective, the evil done in Scotland by prohibiting that country from
raising an army. I have always said, and my opinion is still unchanged,
that he is ruined if the authority of one of the parties be not coun-
terbalanced by that of the other. The Presbyterians do not wish a
king who may have any power, and the Independents hate the word,
but if they be obliged to have one they would accept him on much better
terms than the Presbyterians would, and under their church government
kings would find it easier to regain their authority than they would do
with Presbyterianism. I shall continue to do what I can in order to bring
matters to that point unless you order me to act differently. On writing
to you on Monday last I was in such haste, having been delayed by visitors
and by business on my return from seeing the King of Great Britain, that
I omitted to inform you that the king complained to me in the most civil
terms possible, that Ogier had been received in France as agent of Parlia-
ment, and that he had seen a printed copy of a decree of council that gave
him this title, on which I told him that I believed I could affirm that
Ogier had not been received in that capacity, and as for his having seen it
in a decree, if the king knew that such mention gives no right to those
who do not possess it otherwise, as one is not accustomed to pay attention
1647] BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE 197
to it, he would not be so scandalised. Yet if it may please you to mention
it to the Queen of Great Britain she will express to the king her husband
that care will be taken to satisfy him in everything,]
CLXVIII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^ Juillet l647.
Monsieur, — Je persiste dans ropinion en laquelle je suis
il y a longtemps, ainsy que cy deuant je vous ay faict scauoir,
que le Roy d'Ang*^^ est ruine si les deux partis s''unissent ou si
Tun preuault a un tel point que Tautre demeure accable.
Celuy des Independans a pris toutte Tauetorite dans le parle-
ment, tout le pouuoir dans la ville de Londres, et surtout
les forces du Royaume ; les presbiteriens sont sans ressource si
les escossois ne les assistent, et le d. Roy eust este mal conseille
de faire aucune 'declaration en faueur des presbiteriens, qui
Tengageast contre les Independans. II a faict a mon sens une
faute qui sera difficilement reparee d^'auoir enuoye aux escossois
des deffences de s'arraer, entre Tune et Tautre de ces extremitez
il y auoit beaucoup de choses a faire. II faut maintenant
soustenir les presbiteriens auec le mesme soing que Ton a
faict par le passe les Independans. II est certain, et le d.
Roy TaduoiJe, que si cela n"'auoit pas este faict, et ou aux
occasions il ni eust pas este pourueu auec dilligence, Taffaire
seroit finie, et il seroit ruine, si en cette rencontre la Reyne
d'Ang*"'^ ne nous ayde a maintenir les chefs du parti presbi-
terien, il est a craindre qu'ilz sortent de ce royaume, et que le
rest s''accommode auec les Independans. Elle confie icy ses affaires
a des gens qui ne les cognoissent point. Elles ont change trois
fois de main depuis trois mois, et les nouueaux negociateurs se
trouuent fort estonnez de rencontrer les affaires en tout autre
estat qu'ilz ne se les sont figurees estans a Paris. Ceux qui les
cognoissent bien, et qui Pont bien seruie, sont si desgoutez par un
tel procede que je voy qu'ilz les abandonnent; les uns soubz pre-
texte de leur sante se retirent a la campagne, et les autres songent
a la retourner trouuer. Elle menage ainsy ses affaires a sa mode
et ne me donne point de ses nouuelles. Je fais a la mienne le
mieux quMl m"'est possible ; elles courent grande fortune par la
198 BELLi:feVRE TO BRIENNE [JULY
conduitte que je voy que Ton y tient. J'essaye que la mienne
soit celle que Ton ne me puisse rien imputer quelque euenement
qu'elles puissent auoir. J'euite aujourd'huy de me trouuer
dans un conseil ou il sera conclu d'enuoyer cette nuit vers
le Roy d'Ang""® de la part de beaucoup de ses seruiteurs pour
le conuier de s'eschaper de Tarmee et de venir en cette ville.
Ce conseil peut reussir, mais pour ce qu'il est fort perilleux, je n'y
veux point auoir de part pour cette mesme raison. Je croy que
le d. Roy ne le receura pas. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc.
Bellieure.
[BELLiirvBE to Bbienne. London, ^ July 1647.
I PERSIST in my opinion which I have long had, as I previously told you,
that the King of England is ruined if the two parties unite, or if the one
prevail to such a point that the other remain crushed. That of the In-
dependents has taken all the authority in the Parliament, all the power
in the City of London, and especially all the forces of the kingdom, the
Presbyterians are without resource if the Scots do not help them, and the
king would have been badly advised to make any declaration in favour of
the Presbyterians, which engaged him against the Independents. He
made a mistake in my opinion, that will be difficult to remedy, in
prohibiting the Scots from arming ; between both of these extreme
measures there were many things that might have been done. One must
now support the Presbyterians with the same care that one had during the
past for the Independents. It is certain, and the king admits it, that if
this had not been done, and on occasions had it not been provided for
diligently, the matter would be at an end and he would be ruined ; if in
this circumstance the Queen of England does not help us to maintain the
leaders of the Presbyterian party, it is to be feared they will leave this
kingdom and the remainder will come to terms with the Independents.
She intrusts her affairs here to people who do not know them ; they have
changed hands three times in three months, and the new negotiators are
astonished at finding the affairs in quite a different state from what they
being in Paris had supposed. Those who know them well and who have
served her well are so disgusted at such a proceeding, that I see they are
abandoning them, some under pretext of their health retire to the country
and others think of returning to find her ; she manages her affairs thus
in her own way, and does not give me any of her news. I conduct mine
the best way I can ; they run much risk in the way that things are going
on at present. I try that in my affairs notliing may be imputed to me
whatever event may happen. I avoided attending a meeting to-day where
it will be decided to send a message this night to the King of England
on the part of many of his followers to invite him to escape from the
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 199
army and come to this town. This counsel may succeed, but by reason
of its being very perilous I did not wish to take part in it. I believe the
king will not accept it.]
CLXIX
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, -^ Juillet l647.
J'ay receu celle que V. Em^® ra'a fait Fhonneur de m'ecrire
du 13 de ce mois, dans laquelle elle se plaint, avec beaucoup de
sujet, du peu d'hommes que nous avons fait passer en France
jusques a present; cependant s''il luy plaist de considerer que
la permission que nous avons obtenu d'abord n''estoit que pour
400 hommes, que la peste a apporte beaucoup de difficulte
aux levees, et que les ordres de ce Pari' ont este depuis tout
pres de les faire cesser entierement (si nous n'eussions trouve
moyen d'en arrester Texecution), enfin, que Tesperance de
retourner en Angleterre empesche maintenant tous les gens
qui cherchent employ d'en vouloir prendre avec nous, j"'espere
que V. Em'^® aura la bonte de nous pardonner les longueurs
qui sont survenus, et qu''il n'a pas este possible d'eviter, et
qu^elle trouvera que ce n'est pas avoir peu fait que d'avoir tire
bien pres de deux mil hommes de ce pays, car en comptant
120 hommes du regiment d' Angus, qui vont partir presente-
ment, cent prisonniers que M. le Chev"" Moray a achetes et
encore plus de six vingt hommes qvCil m'asseure qu'il peut
faire partir, la semaine prochaine, nous n'aurons pas envoye
en France moins de ce nombre, sans le peu que Ton peut
encore esperer d''avoir avant la fin de cette campagne.
Je me suis donne Thonneur d'ecrire a V. Em*'^ les raisons
pour lesquelles je n"'ay pas juge a propos de presser M. le
Comte d"" Angus de rendre Targent qu''il a touche par dessus le
nombre d''hommes qu'il a fournis, elle les aura comme je crois
approuvees, et en efFet, Mg', cela ne se pouvoit faire sans
arrester huit ou neuf capitaines qui travaillent presentement
pour son regiment, et sans ruiner tout a fait les recrues qui se
font deja trop lentenant.
Aussy ne doutais-je point que V. Em°^ m'a commande de
retirer cet argent sur ce que j'avois ecrit que j'aprehendois
200 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
qu'on ne fit executer les ordres qui avoient este donnes d'arrester
nos levees, mais comme les offices du Comte de Lanark joints
aux propres interests de ceux qui ont icy la principale part au
gouvernement des affaires de ce royaume les ont empesche de
passer a Texecution de ce qu'ils auoient resolu avec si peu de
raison, et je ne desespere pas que de quelque cote que se
portent leurs affaires, qu''ils ne vous continuent sous main la
mesme liberte, par la crainte qu'ils ont d'offenser V. Em''® s'ils
en usoient d'autre sorte. Je m'imagine aussy qu"'elle ne veut
pas que je retire le dit argent des mains de M. le Comte
d'Angus, qui m'asseure tous les jours qu'encore qu'il ne fasse
pas si tost les 1200 hommes qu'il s'est oblige de lever, il les
fera sans doute avec le temps.
Pour M. le Chev' Moray quand il aura envoye 200 hommes
qu'il m'asseure qu'il a icy tout prests, il aura fait passer plus de
100 hommes par dessus le nombre pour lequel il a receu de
Targent.
Quelque promesse qu''il me fasse de n'envoyer pas seulement
pour cette campagne les 400 hommes pour lesquels il a deja
fait les avances, mais encore 300 autres qu'il commence a faire
lever, je crois toujours quMl fera plus asseurement tous ces
hommes si Ton se contente de luy faire toucher Targent qui luy
a ete promis pour les lever a mesure quMls arriveront en France,
puisque son propre interest le portera lors a se haster de les
envoyer, outre qu^en recevant Targent des levees par avance, il
pourroit mesme pour son propre interest ne les pas achever,
pendant que sur seize cens hommes qu''il leve il en pourroit
faire deux cens moins, sans qu'on y trouvast a redire par un
abus qu''il m''a dit qui n''estoit pas seulement permis, mais qui
estoit encore tres ordinaire.
Cependant, comme je crois, selon la resolution que vous avez
prise, qu'il est expedient pour le service que cet argent ne soit
point donne par avance, je ne puis m"'empescher aussy de repre-
senter a V. Em''® qu'il est bien raisonnable que M. le Chevalier
Moray le re9oive aussy tost que ses troupes seront arrivees, —
c'est dont je prends la hardiesse de supplier tres humblement
V. Em®% parce que c'est une chose tres juste, et parce que je
me suis engage envers M. le Chev' Moray et son marchand de
le faire payer au mesme temps qu'elles seront debarquees.
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 201
Au reste, j'ose dire a V. Em''® qu"* a la reserve d''une douzaine
de jeunes hommes un peu foibles qui passerent dans le second
vaisseau, il est difficile de recontrer des hommes mieux faits,
plus robustes et peut estre meilleurs soldats que ceux qui sent
partis d'Ecosse cette annee.
Le Marquis d'Huntley a ete trahi par un nomme Donald
Guharrig, autrement Durk, — qui veut dire couteau en Ecosse, —
parce qu''estant encore enfant il tua un homme d'un grand
couteau que les Ecossois sont accoutume de porter. Le dit
Marquis a eu vingt cinq ou vingt six des siens tues, et huit
ou dix prisonniers, fort peu se sont sauves avec luy. On n"'avoit
eu cette nouvelles que par des lettres ecrites a des particuliers,
mais on m"'a dit qu'hier un des officiers du General Middleton
en apporta la confirmation.
Le sieur Liberton, envoye par les deputes d^Ecosse qui sont
a Londres, qui estoit attendu icy depuis longtemps, y est
arrive depuis deux jours. II doit representer aujourd'huy au
Comite Fetat ou il a laisse les choses en Angleterre, et Ton
m"'a dit que ce qu'il doit dire tend principalement a faire voir
que les affaires de leur roy, et les leurs, — qu"'ils considerent sans
doute davantage, — estoient en fort mauvais etat. Je crois
mesme qu''un des plus fort arguments dont il doit se servir
pour le persuader sera ce que M. de Bellievre en a dit au Comte
de Lauderdale, de la part du dit roy. On m'a dit toutefois
qu"'il ne dira pas cecy publiquement, et se contentra de le faire
scavoir aux principales personnes de cet Etat. II semble qu'on
se dispose to uj ours de plus en plus a lever ici de nouvelles
forces. La publication de la declaration des ministres a este
remise jusqu'au temps de leur Assemblee Generale qui doit
estre au f^ Aout prochain.'
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Jufy 1647.
I have received your letter of the 13th inst., in which you complain
with much reason of the small number of men we have sent to France up
to the present time, yet if you will please to consider that the permission
we at first obtained was but for four hundred men, that the plague has
caused much difficulty in the levies, and that the orders of this Parliament
since would have stopped them almost altogether, if we had not found
means to stay their being carried out, that in short the hope of returning
to England now prevents all the people who are in quest of employment.
202 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
from eng-aging with us, so that I hope you will have the kindness to pardon
us for the delays that have happened, and which it has not been possible
to avoid, and that you will find that it is no small matter to have drawn
almost two thousand men from this country, for counting a hundred and
twenty men of the Angus Regiment, that are leaving at present, a hundred
prisoners that Sir Robert Moray has brought, and also more than a
hundred and twenty men that he assures me he can send oiF next week,
we shall not have sent less than that number to France without counting
the few we may still hope to have before the end of this campaign.
I have stated to you the reasons for which I did not judge proper to
press the Earl of Angus to refund the money he had received above the
number of men he has supplied, which I believe yon have approved, and
in fact it could not have been accomplished without stopping eight or
nine captains who are at work at present for his regiment and ruining
altogether the recruiting that goes on already too slowly.
Thus I did not doubt but that you ordered me to withdraw the money
on what I had written, that I was afraid that the orders were given
to stop our levies might be executed, but as the good offices of the Earl
of Lanark, joined to the best interests of those who have the chief
share of government in this kingdom, have prevented the execution
of what they had decided upon with so little reason, I do not despair
that, however their aiFairs may turn, they will continue to us the
same liberty underhand from the fear they have of offending you if they
acted differently. I presume also you do not wish me to withdraw the
money in question from the hands of the Earl of Angus, who assures me
daily that if he do not raise quite so soon the twelve hundred men
that he has engaged to do, he will doubtless do so in time.
As regards Sir Robert Moray, when he will have sent two hundred
men that he assures me he has here quite ready, he will have sent more
than a hundred men above the number for which he has been paid.
Although he promises me not only to send during this campaign the four
hundred men for whom he has already paid something in advance, but
also three hundred others that he has begun to raise, I believe in any
case he will find all his men with more certainty if it were agreed that
he received the money promised to him for raising them, according as
they arrive in France, since his own interest would oblige him then to
make haste in sending them, besides that in receiving the money of the
levies in advance, he might for his own interest not complete the number,
thus on sixteen hundred men that he agrees to raise he might make
two hundred less without any objection being raised to it from an abuse
that he tells me is not only allowed but is very common.
Yet, as I believe from the resolution we have taken, that it is expedi-
ent for the service that this money may not be paid in advance, I cannot
help also pointing out to you that it is very reasonable that Sir Robert
Moray received it immediately his troops arrive, and I beg you to agree
to it, both because it is very just and because I have engaged with Sir
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 203
Robert Moray and his irierchant that they be paid at the time the troops
are landed.
I venture to say that with the exception of a dozen young men some-
what weak, who go by the second ship, it is difficult to meet men better
made, more robust and perhaps better soldiers, than those that have left
Scotland this year.
The Marquis of Huntly has been betrayed by a certain Donald
Guharrig, alias Durk — word which signifies a dagger in Scotland — and
which name was given to him because, being but a child, he killed a man
with a large dagger, such as the Scots are accustomed to wear. The
marquis has had twenty-five or twenty-six of his people killed and eight
or ten of them taken prisoners, very few were saved with him. This news
has only been received by private persons ; but I was told yesterday that
one of General Middleton's officere had brought the confirmation of it.
Mr. Liberton, who is deputed by the Scottish'Commissioners in London
and who has been long expected here, arrived two days ago. He is to
represent to the Committee to-day the state in which he left matters in
England, and I learn what he has to say tends principally to show that
their king's affairs and their own, which they no doubt consider more
important, are in a very bad state. I believe even that one of the
strongest arguments he is to bring forward to convince them of it will be
what M. de Bellievre said of it to the Earl of Lauderdale, on the part of
the king. I have been told, however, that he will not state this publicly,
but will content himself by making it known to the principal persons of
this kingdom. It seems they are always disposed here more and more to
raise new forces. The publication of the declaration of the clergy has
been put off till the time of their General Assembly that is to meet on
the j| August next. ]
CLXX
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le '-^*-, 1647.
' 22 Juliet
MoxsiEUU, — Par les nouuelles que j'eus auant hier du Roy
d"'Ang'^®, et par celles que j'en ay encore receu aujourd'huy,
il commence a s'apperceuoir de ce dont nous Taduertissions.
II y a bien longtemps que les Independantz establissent leur
pouuoir, not! seulement mesprisant le sien, mais aussy
s'efforent de le ruiner absolument. Si plustost il eust re-
cognu cette verite plus aysement il y auroit pourueu qu'il
ne pourra faire cy apres par le retour du comte de Ladredel,
commissionnaire d'Escosse, qui le doibt aujourd'huy veoir,
nous scaurons demain comment il aura receu les ofFres qu''il a
ordre de luy faire de la part du d. Royaume.
204 BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE [AUG.
Apres les soings que vous aues pris de faire que les Anglois
fussent satisfaits en toutes les choses dont ils ont fait cy-
deuant des pleintes, je voudrois bien n^estre pas oblige de vous
en enuoyer encore. J'estime neantmoins que vous aimeres mieux
les receuoir que Taduis des lettres de Marque que ce Marchand
Anglois nomme Thomas Wapple sollicite icy chaudement, et
que peut-estre il auroit obtenu si je n'auois areste Taffaire dans
le commite, et fait entendre que Tintention du Roy estant que
la justice fut exactement rendue, j''estois certain que Ton la
luy feroit s''il la demandoit en France. Vous verrez quelle est
TafFaire par la traduction du Memoire qui m''en a este enuoye
de la part du comite ; par Tautre que le Parlement m'a aussy
enuoye, dont on m"'a dit que le S*" Ogier aura eli coppie par
Tord*^^ procedant. II demande un petit vaisseau de guerre con-
duit a S* Malo, dont on fait icy beaucoup de bruit. Vous me
ferez scauoir ce que j'auray a en dire, et s''il n"'y auoit une bonne
response a faire, et que je la sceusse quelques jours auant le S""
Ogier je la ferois icy valloir autant qu''il se pourroit. Je perds
cet aduantage si les aduis m^en viennent comme par le passe
par le mesme ord**® que les lettres d'Ogier, qui sont leiies
dans le Parlement auant que les miennes soient deschiffrees. —
Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc. Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du p'" Aoust 1647, receu le 5^ du d.
mois a Dieppe.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, l^y^j, 1647.
From the news I had from the King of England the day before yester-
day, and from what I have had again to-day, he begins to perceive that of
which we have been warning him. The Independents have been estab-
lishing their power for a very long time, not only in contempt of his
authority, but also in doing their utmost to ruin him absolutely. Had he
recognised this truth sooner and with greater facility, he would have taken
precautions against it, which he will be only able to do now on the return
to him of the Earl of Lauderdale the Scottish Commissioner, who is to
see him to-day : we will know to-morrow how he may receive the offers
this latter is ordered to make to him on the part of that kingdom.
After the care we have taken to satisfy the English in all matters of
which they had to complain formerly, I should have wished not to be
obliged to send to you any more complaints. I consider, however, that
you will prefer to receive them than to receive notice of the letters of
marque that the English merchant Thomas Wapple is soliciting eagerly
here, and which perhaps he would have obtained had I not stopped the
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 205
matter in the committee meeting and made it understood that the king's
intention being to have strict justice done, I was certain it would be
obtained were it demanded in France. You will see what the affair is by
the translation of the Memorial that has been sent to me concerning it
on the part of the Committee ; by the other Memorial which Parliament
has also sent to me, of which I am told Mr. Ogier received a copy by the
preceding mail, a demand is made for a small ship of war that has been
taken into St. Malo about which much noise has been made here. You
will let me know what I shall have to say about it if there might not be
a favourable reply to make, and that I may know it some days before Mr.
Ogier. I shall turn it to as good account as he can do. I shall lose
this advantage, if the notice of it be sent, as during the past, by the same
mail as the letters of Ogier that are read in Parliament before mine are
deciphered.]
CLXXI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edirrtbourgri^ 164>7.
Celui qui avoit este envoye ici par les deputes d''Ecosse qui
sont a Londres, avec lettres de creance, fut oui dans le Comite
qui se tint Mardi dernier, ou il essaya de faire entendre que leur
religion et leur roy estoient egalement ruines en Angleterre, et
que les Independants qui y sont aujourd'huy les maistres ni
desirent ni Tetablissement ni de Tun ni Tautre, — ce quMl a
exagere de telle sorte qu'il a mesme offense ceux qui sont plus
passionnes contre le parti Independant, et que le Chaneelier, a
ce qu"'on m'a dit, a este oblige de retiter des mains du secretaire
du Comite le papier qu'il avoit donne, afin qu'il ne peut estre
veu de personne.
On ne prit aucune resolution dans cette assemblee, et on y
arresta seulement que tous ceux qui composent le grand Comite
de ce royaume se rendroient en cette ville le — de ce mois, pour
deliberer sur ce que devoit se faire.
Cependant les ministres continuent a porter les peuples a
prendre les armes, et a contribuer aux frais d''une guerre qu'ils
sont obliges de faire pour conserver leur religion, et ceux qui
la professent chez leurs voisins, et Ton nomme deja ceux qui
doivent commander cette armee qui n"'est pas encore faite, de
sorte que tout le monde tient ici pour asseure que les Ecossois
vont entrer une seconde fois en Angleterre.
206 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
Mais quoiqu'il y ait assez d'apparence que Ton se portera ici
a lever de nouvelles forces, et que Ton commence mesme a
croire que le Due de Hamilton ne s'oppose a cette resolution
que comme il a de contume de faire aux choses qu'il n''a pas
dessein d'empescher, et que je me souvienne encore que le
Marquis d'Argyle et ceux de son parti m'ont toujours fait
entendre qu'il ne pouvoient etre en seurete en Ecosse que leur
religion ne fut absolument etablie en Angleterre; quand je
considere toutefois la faiblesse de ce royaume et de quelle sorte
les Ecossois Ton reconnue, lorsqu''ils ont rendu laschement leur
roy, en un temps ou ils eussent peu se fortifier en Angleterre
d'un parti plus considerable que celui qu'ils y peuvent avoir
aujourd'huy, je ne puis croire qu'ils se hastent d'y porter la
guerre.
Je pense done qu'ils ne veulent pas lever de nouvelles forces
pour les envoyer d'abord en Angleterre, — ce qu'ils pourroient
faire toutefois s'ils y voyoient les Presbyteriens en posture de les
aider, — mais seulement pour se mettre en etat de se defendre,
et pour faire que les Independants leur accordent de meilleures
conditions quand ils les verront en etat de leur resister ; car 11
y a peu d'apparence que la necessite de leurs affaires les porte
a se relascher de cette maxime qu'ils ont eue jusqu'a ici, que
de Petablissement de leur Presbyteriat en Angleterre dependoit
celui de leur fortune et de leur nouveau gouvernement ;
et qu'ils ne trouvent qu'il est plus a propos pour eux de
retarder, autant qu'il leur sera possible, le malheur qu'ils
croyent que cette difference de religion leur doit apporter, que
de I'attirer sur eux sans necessite, si ce n'est que le regret que
conserve le Marquis d'Argyle de perdre les quatre cents
cinquante mille livres que les Presbyteriens Anglois lui devoient
donner, et le desir qu'il pent avoir de se venger de ceux que
I'empeschent de recevoir une somme si considerable ne lui per-
mettre pas de faire toutes les reflexions necessaire sur une
entreprise de cette importance ; ou que Dieu qui aveugle ceux
qu'il veut perdre, les force de courir ainsy a leur ruine.
De ceci, Mg', pourra juger que bien que les Ecossois levent
une noueville armee, — ce que n'est pas mesme encore bien
resolu, — ils se porteront difficilement a faire la guerre a
I'Angleterre, si ce n'est qu'ils se laissent gouverner par leur
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 207
passion, ou qu^'ils voient que les Presby teriens y puissent former
pour eux un parti considerable, de sorte que ni la declaration
de leur roy contre les Independants, de laquelle ils le pressent
extremement, et sans quoy ils me disent qu''ils ne feront rien
pour ses interests, ni les assistances d''argent que la France leur
pourroit promettre, et dont ils me parlent assez souvent, ne
pourroient contribuer que fort peu de choses pour les engager
a cette entreprise, et que tout ce que la France et leur roy
pourroient faire ne serviroient peut estre qu'a achever de ruiner
ce prince ; a faire naitre des jalousies entre les Anglois et sa
M*^, et a donner lieu aux Ecossois, qui deviendroient par ce
moyen plus considerables, de faire un accommodement advan-
tageux avec les Independants.
On fait icy assez de bruit de deux lettres qui ont este trouvees
avec les hardes du Marquis d"'Huntley, — Yune de le reine de la
G' B' et Tautre de M. le Prince de Galles, — je ne les ay pas
encore veues, bien que Ton m''ait promis de me les montrer,
mais on me dit qu'elles sont escrites seulement pour obliger ce
Marquis de ne poiut abandonner le royaume, et de demeurer
to uj ours arme.
Dimanche dernier il y eut un jeusne solemnel par toute
I'Ecosse. L"'Assemblee generale des ministres de ce royaume doit
coramencer le — de ce mois. On doute encore si le Marquis
d'Argyle assistera au Comite qui se doit tenir le jour suivant,
quoique ses amis le pressent fort de venir, et qu''il semble qu'il
n"'y ait plus rien a faire ou il est.
[MoNTEREUL to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, 'l ^"'^ 1647.
The delegate from the Scottish Commissioners in London, who has
heen sent here with credentials, was heard in the committee meeting
held on Tuesday last, where he tried to make it understood that their
religion and their king were equally ruined in England, and that the
Independents who are now the masters wish neither the establishment of
the one nor the other, which he exaggerated in such a manner as even
to oflFend those who are most embittered against the Independents, and
the Chancellor, as I am informed, had to take out of the hands of
the secretary to the committee, the paper he had given, so that no one
might see it. No decision was come to at this meeting, it was merely
resolved that all those composing the Committee of Estates of this
kingdom should assemble in this town on the ~- inst. in order to de-
liberate on what ought to be done.
The clergy, however, continue to urge the people to take arms and to
208 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
contribute to the expense of a war they are obliged to undertake ia
order to preserve their religion, and those who profess it among their
neighbours, and those who are to command this army, that has not yet
been formed, have already been appointed, so that every person here looks
upon it as certain that the Scots are going to enter England a second time.
But although there is considerable likelihood that they will be led
here to raise new forces, and people even begin to think that the Duke
of Hamilton but opposes this resolution as he is accustomed to do in
things he has no wish to prevent, and I remember also that the Marquis
of Argyle and those of his party have always led me to understand that
they could not be in security in Scotland until their religion was
absolutely established in England ; when I consider, however, the weak-
ness of this kingdom and the manner in which the Scots avowed it when
they shamefully delivered up their king at a time when they might have
been able to strengthen themselves in England by the support of a more
important party than that they will be able to have at present, I cannot
believe they will be in haste to carry war there.
I think, therefore, that they will not raise new forces in order at first
to send them to England, — which they might do, however, if they saw
the Presbyterians there in a position to help them, — but only in order to
put themselves in a state of defence, and that the Independents may
grant them better conditions when they see them in a position to resist
them ; for there is little likelihood that the urgency of their affairs lead
them to give up this maxim, which they have held till now, that on the
establishment of their Presbyterianism in England depends their fortune
and their new government, and they may find it more suitable for them
to delay as long as possible the misfortune they believe this difference
of religion is to bring them, than to bring it on themselves, without
necessity, if it be not that the regret the Marquis of Argyle may retain in
losing the four hundred and fifty thousand livres^ that the English
Presbyterians were to give him, and the wish he may have to avenge
himself on those who have prevented him from receiving so important a
sum may incapacitate him from maturely reflecting on an undertaking
of this importance, for so God thus blinds those he wishes to destroy,
by obliging them to rush on to their ruin.
From this you will be able to judge that although the Scots may raise
a new army, which is not yet even quite decided upon, they will not
be easily led to make war on England, unless they allow themselves
to be ruled by their passion, or that they see the Presbyterians may
be able to form for them there an important party ; so that neither
the declaration of their king against the Independents, on which
they press him much, and without which they say they will do
nothing for his interests, neither the assistance in money that France
might promise them and of which they speak to me somewhat often,
could contribute much in order to engage them in this undertaking and all
that France and their king could do would but serve perhaps to complete
^ The French Itvre was about loj pence in value.
1647] BELLI]feVRE TO BRIENNE 209
the ruin of this prince and to foster jealousies between the English and
his Majesty and give occasion to the Scots to become more important,
and thereby make a profitable agreement with the Independents.
Much talk has been caused here by two letters found among the effects
of the Marquis of Huntly, one from the Queen of Great Britain and the
other from the Prince of ^Vales ; I have not yet seen them, although it
has been promised to show them to me, but, I am told, they are written
only in order to oblige the marquis not to abandon the kingdom, and to
remain always in arms.
There was a solemn fast held on Sunday last throughout all Scotland.
The General Assembly of the clergy of this kingdom will he held on the
- of this month. It is doubtful if the Marquis of Argyle will be present
at the meeting of committee that is to be held the day following, although
his friends press him strongly to come, and it appears there is nothing
more to be done where he is.]
CLXXII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^^^64^7.
' 29 Juliet
Monsieur, — Le bruit qui fut faict lundy dernier au Parlement
par le Maire, les bourgeois, et les apprentifs de cette ville pour
y faire reuenir le Roy d'^Ang'® fit resoudre par les Seigneurs, et
le lendemain par les Communs, que le parlement ne se tiendroit
que le vendredy suiuant, qui est demain ; pendant ce temps ilz
croyent pouuoir estre fortiffiez par Tarmee, qui s''approchant,
feroit perdre coeur a ces bourgeois. Partie de Tarmee doibt
estre cette nuit assez proche de cette ville ; les bourgeois le
scauent, et tesmoignent jusques icy ne la pas redouter, elle ne
peut estre toutte ensemble de trois ou quatre jours pour ne pas
charger le peuple, et ne craignent rien ; les quartiers estoient
fort esloignez les uns des autres. Les apprentifs se preparent
pour estre demain en grand nombre a Westmester \sic\. II y
pourroit bien auoir du desordre en cette ville. Je ne scay
comme se conduit le Roy d''Ang'"^. Les deux partis opposez, qui
sont Tarmee et la ville, sont tous deux mal satisfaictz de luy.
Je luy ay encore aujourd'huy faict scauoir qu'il me semble
qu^il hazarde beaucoup de les desobliger tous deux en cette
rencontre, et que s''il donne a Tarmee le temps de s''accommoder
auec la ville, et mesme a la ville de s'accommoder auec le
Parlement, a quoy ses ennemis trauaillent de tout leur
VOL. II. o
mo BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [AUG.
pouuoir apparemment, il rencontrera dans ses affaires encore
plus de difficulte qu'il n'y en a maintenant. Nous faisons tous
les offices que nous pouuons pour en engager au moins Tun dans
les interestz du d. Roy. Le comte de Ladredel est reuenu
d'auprez de luy assez satisfaict de ce qu'il luy a promis de
donner une lettre de creance a Chislay [sic], secretaire des
Commissionnaires, pour aller dire de sa part tant au conseil
d'Escosse qu'a Tassemblee des diuins qui se tiendra a Edim-
bourg le 15® et 25® de ce mois beaucoup de clioses qui
donneront aux Escossois le pretexte quMls cherchent auec tant
d'ardeur d''entrer encore en Ang'®. Le d. comte de Ladredel
retourne aujourd"'huy vers le d. Roy, et luy mene le d. Chislay
pour estre des demain depesche en Escosse. — Je suis, Monsieur,
vostre, etc., Bellieuke.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 8® Aoust l647, receu le 13 du d.
mois.
[Bel,li£;vre to Bbienne. London, "2, 1647.
The uproar caused at the Parliament on Monday last by the Mayor,
the citizens, and the apprentices of this city in order to obtain the return
of the King of England, caused the Lords to resolve — in which the
Commons concurred the following day — that Parliament would only
meet on the Friday following, which is to-morrow. During that time they
count on being supported by the army that in approaching will cause
the citizens to lose courage. Part of the army ought to be this night
somewhat near the town. The citizens know it, and do not till now show
that they fear it, for it cannot be brought quite together for three or four
days, so as to charge the people, who fear nothing as the quarters of the
town are distant one from another : the apprentices are preparing to go
in large numbers to Westminster to-morrow. There is very likely to be
some disorder in this town. I do not know how the King of England
acts ; the two opposing parties, the army and the town, are both dis-
satisfied with him. I have again informed him to-day that it seems to
me he risks much in disaffecting them both, in the circumstances, and
that if he gave the army time to agree with the town and even the town
to agree with the Parliament, in which his enemies are actively engaged,
he will evidently cause more difficulty in his affairs than he has now. We
do all in our power to engage one of the parties at least in the interest of
the king. The Earl of Lauderdale has returned from the king pretty
well satisfied with what he has promised him to give in a letter of credence
to Chisley the Secretary to the Commissioners in order for him to go and
say on his part both to the Council of Scotland and to the General
Assembly of Divines that will be held in Edinburgh the ^ of this month,
many things that will give the Scots the pretext they are so eagerly
1 647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 211
wanting to enter England again. The Earl of Lauderdale is to return
to the king to-day and taking Chisley with him in order to send him on
to Scotland to-morrow.]
CLXXIII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le — Aoust 1647.
' 12
Monsieur, — II y eust eu un grand desordre en cette ville
vendredy dernier. Si les Independans se fussent trouuez au
Parlement, comma ilz auoient diet et tesmoignent de vouloir
faire, les plus considerables d'entre eux se sont retirez soubz la
protection de Tarmee ; les Speakers mesme des deux maisons
n'ont pas este veus depuis elles en ont mis d"'autres en leurs places.
Si ce defFault de speakers dissoult le Parlement par les loix du
Royaume, c'est une question qui peut estre quelque jour de-
batue. Cet esloignement des Independans a laisse le pouuoir
du Parlement aux presbiteriens, et ainsy le Parlement et la
Ville, se trouuant unis, ont faict veoir par les difficultez que
nous auons eu a obtenir d"'eux quelque chose a Taduantage du
Roy d'Ang""^ le peu de bonne volonte qu''ilz ont pour luy,
et qu'ilz ne parlent plus de ses interestz aussy tost qu'ilz
s'imaginent pouuoir sans luy mettrel es leur a couuert. Soubz
pretexte de conuier presentement le d. Roy de venir icy auec
tout honneur et liberte, ilz ont excite le grand bruit qui fut
faict 11 y a huict jours contre les Independans ; maintenant
ceux mesme qui ont trouue ce moyen pour prendre du pouuoir
dans le Parlement non seulement n''ont pas voulu proposer,
mais mesme beaucoup d''entre eux dans la Chambre des Com-
muns se sont opposez a ce que nous obtinssions la mesme chose
que nous auions eu il y a deux jours de celle des Seigneurs
pour faire une ordonnance du Parlement qui prie le d. Roy de
vouloir venir. Elle vient neantmoins de passer dans la Chambre
des Communs Ton trauaille a I'expedition, et elle sera ce soir
portee au Roy d'Ang'"'^. Je Taccompagne d^un billet que j'ecris
au d. Roy, et donne information, que je luy donne encore par
une autre voye, de Testat auquel je croy que touttes les choses
sont icy. Les ministres de Tassemblee viennent de faire un
acte pour conuier tout le monde a la paix, qui pourroit nuire
212 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [AUG.
aux affaires du d. Roy. Aussy tost que j'auray fini cette lettre je
sortiray [de] la ville pour pouuoir cette nuit parler a quelques
lines des principalles personnes de Tarmee. Je fais prix de
tout ce que je puis. Le message des deux Maisons [qui] doibt
estre ce soir porte au Roy d'Ang''^ apparemment fera que
Tarmee desclarer a demain ou tost apres ses intentions. Elle est
a huict mille de cette ville, et le d. Roy d'Ang*"^ en doibt faire
ce soir seize milles. Je suis, Monsieur, Vostre, etc.,
'Beuakvre.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 12® d'Aoust 1647, receue le l6*du
d. mois.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, ^ Aug. 1647.
There was great disorder in this town on Friday last ; if the Indepen-
dents were in Parliament as they had said they intended to be, the most
important of them had withdrawn under the protection of the army ;
the Speakers even of the two Houses have not been seen since they were
replaced by others. Whether or not this absence of the Speakers dissolves
Parliament by the laws of the kingdom, is a question which may some
day be discussed. This withdrawal of the Independents left the direc-
tion of Parliament to the Presbyterians, and thus the Parliament and
the town finding themselves united, showed by the difficulties we had in
obtaining from them anjrthing to the advantage of the King of England,
the little good-will they have for him ; they no longer speak of his interests
as soon as they imagine themselves able to secure their own without him.
Under pretext of inviting the king at present to come here with all
honour and liberty, they stirred up the great uproar that took place eight
days ago against the Independents, yet those even who had found this
means of assuming the power in Parliament not only failed to propose
the same measure that we had obtained two days ago in that of the
Ijords, in order to have an ordinance of Parliament to beg the king to
come here, but many among them in the House of Commons opposed our
obtaining it. It has, however, just passed in the Commons, and they
are arranging to have it sent this evening to the King of England. I
send a note with it which I write to the king and give information —
which I send him also through another channel — of the state on which
I believe things to be here. The clergy of the assembly have just passed
an act in order to invite every one to keep the peace which may be hurtful
to the king's affairs. As soon I have finished this letter I shall leave
town to-night to speak with some of the principal persons of the army.
I hesitate at nothing that I can do. The message of both Houses is to
be taken to the King of England this evening, which will apparently
cause the army to declare its intentions to-morrow or soon after : it is at
eight miles from this town, and the King of England will have sixteen
miles to do this evening.]
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 213
CLXXIV
MONTEREUL au MAZARIN
Edimbourgy i. Aout 164.7.
Je me donnai Thonneur d'ecrire il y a huit jours a V. Em*'^
ce que je croyois que Ton pouvoit plus apparement juger de la
suite des affaires de ce pays ; s''il est vrai que Ton puisse avoir
lieu de faire aucun jugement des choses qui ne sont pas encore
arrivees, et dont Tevenement est fort incertain.
Je luy diray maintenant que je ne vois point encore de
raison qui in'oblige a changer les sentiments que j'^avois eu, et
que je pense toujours que les Ecossois ne se hasterons pas
d''entrer avec armes en Angleterre, quoique les ministres con-
tinuent a leur prescher qu'ils le doivent faire; que plusieurs
tiennent que c'est une chose toute arrestee entre ceux qui ont la
principale direction des affaires de ce royaume ; et que ce qui
vient ne se passer a Londres a Tavantage des Presbyteriens,
depuis que Tarmee est partie de Reading, dut, se semble, assez
contribuer a faire prendre ici une serablable resolution.
On me dit que les Ecossois veulent commencer par repre-
senter aux Anglois, Tobligation quMls ont de tenir les choses
qui ont este arrestees entre eux ; qu'ils doivent principalement
demander que le gouvernement Presbyterial soit absolument
etable dans TAngleterre, et que le covenant soit pris par tous
les Anglois, et qu'ils ne pretendent pas lever ici aucunes forces,
au moins ouvertement, qu"'ils n'ayent eu reponse du Pari*
d'Angleterre sur leurs demandes.
J'ay reconnu aussy que le desir qu'ils ont d"'obliger leur roy
a faire quelque chose a leur avantage, et au prejudice des
Independants, fait qu'ils ne se hastent pas de lever de nouvelles
forces, parce qu'ils croyent que comme il est avantageux a ce
prince de voir former deux partis dans cette isle, — ce qui se
peut faire difficilement sans eux, — ils le porteront a leur donner
contentment en luy persuadant qu''ils ne se remueront pas s''il
ne leur accorde ce qu'ils luy demandent.
J''ay trouve encore que ce qu'ils desirent de leur roy est ce
qu'ils ont toujours voulu de luy, c*'est a dire, Tetablissement du
Presbyteriat et Tapprobation du covenant ; et qu'encore quMl
214 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
semble qu'ils ne veulent pas moins que cela, ils se contenteront
toutefois, s'il etablit la religion avec les restrictions qu'il avoit
creu y pouvoir apporter autrefois, sans blesser sa conscience et
sans ruiner entierement son autorite ; quelques uns qui ont icy
assez de part au gouvernement, m'ayant dit qu'ils se repentoient
aujourd'huy de ne s''estre contente autrefois, des premieres offres
que leur roi leur avoit faites.
Sur quoy, Mg% j''ajouteray aux choses que je me suis donne
rhonneur de vous ecrire par ma precedente, que comme le roi
de la G*" B"^ ne s"'est pas trouve mal de n''avoir donne son consente-
ment aux demandes qui luy ont este faites jusquMci, ainsy
que nous voyons par les avantages qu'il tire des desordres qui
sont arrives depuis quelques mois en Angleterre et des faiblesses
que le Parlement a ete oblige de montrer depuis quelques jours,
il semble que ce roi a encore plus de raison qu'auparavant, de
demeurer aujourd'huy dans cette mesme resolution. Car si les
Presbyteriens sont entierement abattus en Angleterre, il ne
doit pas offenser ceux entre les mains desquels il se trouve pour
s'attacher a des personnes impuissantes comme les Ecossois et
les dits Presbyteriens, qui luy ont temoigne pen de bonne
volonte jusqu'ici, et qui apparement ne se serviroient des
avantages qu'il leur donneroit que pour s''accommoder plus
avantageusement avec leurs ennemis a son prejudice, comme
ils ont deja fait quand ils Tont rendu laschement au Pari*
d'Angleterre.
Et si au contraire, comme on se le persuade icy, le parti
Presbyterien est aujourd'huy dans T Angleterre en etat de
s"'opposer a celui des Independants, ce prince doit laisser faire
des gens qui se trouvent deja engages, et qui ne considerant
que leur passion et leurs interests agiroient toujours par ces
principes, quelque part qu'il prit avec eux, et n'etant pas
asseure qui des deux partis aura Ta vantage, il ne doit point
prendre de part avec aucun, quand ce ne seroit que pour se
pouvoir toujours accommoder avec celui qui se trouvera a la
fin plus heureux. Outre que comme il a interest d'entretenir
toujours ces deux partis en quelque sorte d"'egalite, afin qu'ils
s'afFablissent entre eux, et quMls tournent contre eux-mesmes
les armes qu'ils ont employes jusques icy a sa mine, il ne se
doit joindre, ce semble, ni avec les Presbyteriens ni avec les
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 215
Independants, puisqu'il rendra toujours ceux-la absolus dont
il embrassera le parti et qu*"!! ne les aura plustost fait maitres
d'Aiigleterre qu'il les trouvera ses ennemis. Je pourrois encore
ajouter a cecy que les affaires etant etablies dans cette isle,
sous la domination des Presbyteriens ou des Independants, il
sera difficile de secourir le dit roy avec les forces qui luy
peuvent venir de dehors, qui sont celles dont il doit principale-
ment attendre son retablissement.
Au reste, Mg', comme trois personnes ont este envoyees
d'icy au roy de la G' B' par les chefs des trois partis qu*'on
pretend estre en Ecosse, pour le presser par trois differentes
voies, d''une chose qui peut luy estre egalement ruineuse, je
crois estre oblige de vous avertir que ces trois partis qui
pourroient se separer d'interest dans la suite des affaires, ne
sont maintenant qu''une raesme chose, quand il s''agit de travailler
a la ruine du dit roi ; et je pense pouvoir dire a V. Em*'® que
hors ceux qui sont vei-itablement attaches au dit roy je ne
connais pas ici d'Ecossois plus sincere et plus fidele a son
prince que le Marquis d'Argyle.
J'ay receu presque en mesme temps les deux lettres dont
il a pleu a V. Em*'® m'honorer des 20 et 27 du mois passe.
J'attends le retour de M. le Comte d'Angus, qui doit estre
icy ce soir, pour pouvoir mander plus asseurement a V. Em"®
ce qu'il pretend faite. II fit partir un vaisseau avec vingts
hommes il y a huit jours, et le Chevalier Moray en doit
envoyer un autre a la fin de cette semaine avec plus de deux
cents.
Uouverture de Tassemblee de TEglise se doit faire demain,
et le grand comite doit commencer a tenir le jour suivant,
c"'est ce qui nous apprendra mieux que toutes les conjectures
quel ply les affaires doivent prendre dorenavant.
M. Letus, ensigne des gendarmes Ecossais a fait savoir a
M. le Baron de Gray qui en est lieutenant, et que le service
du roy de la G"" B'" a arreste en Ecosse quelques annees, que
V. Em*'® feroit donner dix huit pistoles pour chaque gendarme
qu'il feroit passer d'icy. II a desire que je sceusse la volonte
de V. Em®® sur cette proposition, afin qu'il peut ou faire passer
promptement les dites recreues, ou se rendre promptement a sa
compagnie.
216 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
M. le Marquis de Douglas, pere du Comte d' Angus, a enfin
obtenu permission du counseil de ce royaume d^'envoyer son
troisieme fils en France pour estre page de S. M. II a desire
que je suppliasse par avance V. Em*'^ de le recevoir en sa pro-
tection et de le vouloir rendre heritier de Taffection dont il
luy a pleu honorer M' le Colonel Douglas son frere. II desire
encore, Mg', que je vous asseure de sa part que son fils ne sera
pas plustost en France qu''il y enverra 100 hommes dont il
formera une compagnie pour servir dans le regiment d"* Angus.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, j| Aug. 1647.
I WROTE to you eight days ago stating what I believed, judging from
appearances, is likely to take place in this country, if, in fact, there be
room for forming any judgment concerning matters that have not yet
happened and of which the occurrence is very uncertain.
1 may say now that I see no reason yet to cause me to change my
opinions, and that I still think the Scots will not hasten to enter England
in arms, although the clergy continue to preach to them that they ought
to do it ; several maintain that the matter has been quite decided upon,
among those who have the principal direction of the affairs of this kingdom,
and that what has just taken place in London to the advantage of the
Presbyterians, since the army left Reading, ought apparently to lead to a
similar resolution being taken here.
The Scots wish, I am told, to begin by representing to the English the
obligation they are under to maintain the matters that have been decided
upon between them, that they ought principally to demand that the Pres-
byterian form of church-government be absolutely established in England
and that the Covenant be taken by all the English, and that they do not
pretend to raise any forces here, at least openly, until they have had the
reply of the English Parliament respecting their demands
I have remarked also that the wish they have to oblige their king to do
something for their advantage and to the detriment of the Independents
causes them not to hasten in raising new forces, because they believe that
as it is advantageous for this prince to see two parties formed in this island
— which can be done with difficulty without them — they will induce him
to satisfy them by persuading him they will not stir, if he do not grant
them what they ask of him.
I have also found that what they wish from their king is what they have
always wished of him, viz., the establishment of Presbyterianism and the
sanction of the Covenant, and that, although it seems they require nothing
less than that, they would be satisfied, however, were he to establish reli-
gion with the restrictions he had thought of being able to introduce into
it formerly without wounding his conscience, or wholly destroying his
authority ; some of those here who have an important part in the govern-
ment having told me that they regretted at present not to have remained
1 647] rvIONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 217
satis^fied formerly witli tlie first offers their king had made to them.
W'liereupou I sliall add to wliat I wrote to you in my last letter, that as
the King of (ireat Britain's j)Osition is not any worse from his not having
given his consent to the demands that have been made to him up till now,
as we see by the ad\autages he derives from the disorders that have taken
plare during some months past in England, and the weakness the Parlia-
ment has been obliged to manifest since a few days, it seems that this
king has still more reason than formerly to continue now in this same
resolution. For if the Presbyterians be entirely overpowered in England
he ought not to offend those in whose hands he is, in order to attach him-
self to impotent persons as the Scots and these same Presbyterians, who
have shown him very little good-will till now, and who apparently would
only make use of the advantages he might grant them in order to make
a more j)rofitable agreement witli their enemies to his detriment, as they
did already, wlien they basely gave him up to the English Parliament
And if, on the contrary, as people here are persuaded, the Presbyterian
party in England be able to oppose that of the Independents, this prince
ought to leave ])eo]ile alone who are already engaged with each other, and
who, considering but their passions and their interests, would always
be thus actuated, whatever part he may take with them ; and from his
beinir uncertain as to which of the two parties may obtain the upjjer
hand, he ought to take part with neither of them, were it but to be able
always to come to an agreement with the one most fortunate in the end.
Besides, as he has an interest in always keeping these two parties in some
sort of equality, so that they may mutually weaken themselves and turn
against each other the arms they have till now em))loyed against him to
his ruin ; he ought thus, seemingly, neither to join with tlie Presbyterians
nor the Independents, since he always renders those absolute he takes
part with, and that he will no sooner have made them masters of England
than he will find them to be his enemies. I could further add to this that
affairs being established in this island under the authority of the Presby-
terians or the Independents, it will be difficult to assist tliis king with
forces coming from abroad from which he ought principally to expect his
re-establishment
Further, as three persons have been sent from here to the King of Great
Britain, by the leaders of three parties that it is pretended exist in Scot-
land, in order to urge him in three different ways to do a thing that may
be equally ruinous for him, I believe myself obliged to inform you that
these three parties, whose different interests may cause them to separate
in future, are now but one and the same, when it is a question of their
king's ruin, and I can say that save those who are really attached to their
king, I know no Scotsman here more sincere and more faithful to his
prince than the Marquis of Argyle.
I have received almost at the same time your letters of the 20th and
27th ult. I expect the return of the Earl of Angus, who ought to be here
this evening, in order to be able to inform you with more certitude
what he proposes to do. He despatched a ship eight days ago with a
218 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [AUG.
hundred and twenty men, and Sir Robert Moray is to send another off at
the end of this week with more than two hundred.
The opening of the General Assembly of the church is to take place to-
morrow and the Committee of Estates is to begin its sittings the day
following, so that we shall learn better than by all the conjectures what
turn matters are going to take in future.
Mr. Letus, Ensign of the Scottish Men-at-Arms, has informed Baron
Gray, who is the lieutenant of the regiment, and who has been detained
in Scotland for some years in the service of the King of Great Britain,
that you would allow eighteen pistoles for each man-at-arms that he would
have sent from here. He wished me to learn your wish on this proposal
so that he may either have some sent promptly or that he would at once
return to his company.
The Marquis of Douglas,^ father of the Earl of Angus, has at length
obtained permission from the Privy Council of this kingdom to send his
third son ^ to France to be page to his Majesty. He wishes me to beg you
to take him under your protection, and to make him heir to the affection
with which you were pleased to honour Colonel Douglas,^ his brother.
He wishes me also to assure you on his part, that, as soon as his son
arrives in France, he will send there a hundred men to serve and form a
company in the Angus regiment.]
CLXXV
BELLIlfcVRE A BRIENNE
A trois milles de Londres,
a Parsongiin, le - Aoiist l647.
MoxsiEUR, — Uarmee estant auant hier a son rendez vous-
general a quinze mil de Londres, composee de neuf mil hommes
de pied et de pres de six mil cheuaux. La nuict precedente les-
^ William Douglas, llth Earl of Angus, created Marquis of Douglas by
Charles i. in 1633, was an ardent Royalist. Having joined Montrose he distin-
guished himself at Philiphaugh, where he was taken prisoner. He suffered many
hardships for the king, and was heavily fined by Cromwell in 1654. See further
Appendix, Note V.
^ Lord George Douglas, second son by second marriage, became Lieut. -General
in both the French and English services. He was recalled to England in 1673
by Charles 11. and made Earl of Dumbarton, and two years later, Commander-in-
Chief of the forces in Scotland by James vii. He died at St. Germains in 1692.
^ Lord James Douglas, second son by first marriage, had attained the rank of
Brigadier-General in the French service, when he was killed near Douai, 21st
October 1645. At the time of his death it is said he was about to have been made
Marshal of France. The inscription on his well-known statue in the Pari&
Church of St. Germain des Pres gives his age at the time of his death as twenty-
eight.
1 647] BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE 219
Bourgeois amis de rarmee, sous pretexte de voulloir preuenir
une guerre, ont comance a paroistre en asses grand nombre
dans la ville, et a faire signer par qui ilz ont pu des requestes
tendantes a leurs fins. Ce parti qui s'esleuoit en la faueur de
Tarmee et le reffus qu''a faict le fauxbourg qui est au dela
du pent, de receuoir les trouppes que la ville y voulloit en-
uoyer, ont tellement espouuente les bourgeois que la nuict
du raardi ou mereredi ilz ont resolu dans leur conseil de ne
se point opposer a I'armee, et d"'y enuoyer des commissaires
pour adiuster auec elle les conditions de leur accord et adoucir
autant qu'ilz pourront celles qu"'elle a demande, maisauant qu^ilz
ayent pu estre au quartier Tauant garde a este aux portes de
Londres, a la veue de laquelle les trouppes de la ville ont aban-
donne les portes, les lignes, et les fortz. Celles de Tarmee y sont
entrees a leur places. Le reste de Tarmee a continue de marcher,
et se campe deuant la Ville. La tranquillite auec laquelle
ces choses se font icy et celle ou se trouue presentement cette
ville n''est pas imaginable. II n'y paroist pas qu''elle apprehende
aucune chose quoy qu'ainsy que je vous escris elle se soit rendue
rendu [sic] quasi a la discretion de Tarmee. Sans doute elle
payera au moins les monstres qui luy sont deues et les chefs
du parti presbiterien auront de la peine de se bien desmeller
de cette affaire. Cella me soucieroit peu si je ne voyois pas les
choses portees a ce point que je redoute il y a si longtemps
pour le roy d'Angleterre. II est a la discretion de Tarmee
et du parti Independant ; il n''y a rien quant a present qui se
puisse opposer a eux. II a perdu despuis dix jours I'occasion
de se restablir. II le pouuoit par le moyen de la Ville auant
sa jonction auec le Parlement, mais il le pouuoit bien aduan-
tageusement par Tarmee s"'il eust conclu auec elle il y a huict
jours ainsy qu'elle le desiroit auec passion, et que Ton le con-
seilloit au d. Roy. Son irresolution naturelle a Tesperance que
luy et son conseil ont tousiours pris trop aisement que les
choses se brouilleroient en sorte que Ton sera oblige de luy
accorder de bonnes conditions luy ont faict perdre jusques icy
beaucoup d'aduantages qui luy ont este offertz. Deux de ce
nouueau conseil qui luy a este depuis peu enuoye par la reyne,
sa femme, conuenoient hier auec moy qu'il eust peu faire
quelque chose auec Tarmee s'il eust en effect desire, et qu'il
220 BELLIlfcVRE TO BRIENNE [aug.
eust pris les affaires. Ilz adjoustoient que le malheur qui
Taccompagne auoit faict que la response qu'il a enuoyee aux
propositions que rarmee luy faisoit ny est arriuee que trois
heures apres la nouuelle que la Ville se soumettoit a ce que
voulloit Tarmee, comme croyant que Tayant receue auant cette
nouuelle les affaires se fussent pu accomoder. Je ne croys pas
que ce retardement de trois heures luy ait porte grand pre-
judice, car les propositions de Tarmee sont si rudes et de-
struisent tellement tous les fondemens de la royaute que quant
on les luy offriroit encore ainsy que Ton fera sans doubte, il ne
les voudi'oit pas accepter. L'armee Ta fort presse de luy en
faire, mais quant elle a recognu que non seullement il n''en
voulloit point donner, mais aussy qu'en effect il ne voulloit rien
conclure auec eux, ilz se sont tenuz dans leurs maximes Tnde-
pendantes et dans des termes si generaux que le d. Roy n''en
pent point proffiter. Ses affaires sont, a mon sens, en tres
mauuais estat. Beaucoup de ses seruiteurs esperent qu''il pourra
estre restabli par le moyen de Tarmee a des conditions asses
bonnes. Ses nouueaux ministres s''imao;inent auoir encor des-
couuert une autre ressource, qui est de pouuoir faire declarer
pour le d. Roy une partie de Tarmee, et en mesme temps
les prouinces du Quest et de Galles. Ces offres nous ont este
faictes des Neufcastel, et reiterees souuent depuis, mais nous
n''auons pas trouue lieu jusques icy de nous en seruir utilement.
J'attends fort peu de ces deux choses s''il n"'en arriue une
troisiesme a laquelle je ne voy point encore de jour. Deux
des principaux officiers de farmee sortent d''auec moy qui
promettent a leur ordinaire qu'elle veut seruir le d. Roy, mais
aussy a leur ordinaire ilz parlent d'establir les affaires du
Royaume auant que de trauailler a celles de leur Roy. Ce
qui a renouuelle entre nous cette grande disputte que j'euz
il y a six sepmaines auec Tarmee, luy soustenant qu"'au moins
celles du dit Roy deuoient marcher conjoinctement auec celles
du Royaume. Ilz me dirent qu'au plus tard dans huict jours
ilz croyoient en pouuoir parler, et faire venir dans ce temps la
le d. Roy a Hamptoncour ou a Ollants. II ne pourra plus tirer
du sejour qu'il y fera Taduantage qu''il eust peu auoir si Ton li
eust conduict, pendant qu'il y auoit icy deux partis considerables.
— Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc., Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 15 d'aoust 1647, receu le 23.
1 647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 221
[Bellievre to Brienne.
Parson's Green, three miles from London, ^ Aug. 1647.
The army at its general rendezvous yesterday, at fifteen miles from
London, consisted of nine thousand foot and about six thousand horse.
The preceding night the citizens friendly towards the army, under pretext
of wishing to prevent a war, began to show themselves in considerable
numbers in the town in getting petitions signed by any persons they could
engage to do so to carry out their purposes. This party that sprang up
in favour of the army, and the refusal made by the borough, which is
beyond the bridge, to receive the troops that the city wished to send there
so alarmed the inhabitants, that during the night of Tuesday to AV^ednes-
day they resolved in their council not to oppose the army, and to send
commissioners to it in order to arrange conditions for their acceptance,
and to reduce as much as possible the demands that had been made ; but
before these were able to reach the headquarters of the army, the vanguard
was at the gates of London, at sight of which the city troops aban-
doned the gates, their lines and the forts. Those of the army came and
occupied them in their place. The remainder of the army kept on its
march and camped before the town. The quiet with which those matters
are managed here, and that which at present exists in this town cannot be
imagined. It would seem as if they apprehended nothing, although, as I
have written to you, it surrendered almost at discretion to the army. It will,
no doubt, at least pay what is owing for the reviews to the army, and the
leaders of the Presbyterians will have trouble in getting clearly out of this
affair. It would not trouble me much, did I not see matters carried to that
point which I dreaded so long ago for the King of England. He is at the
discretion of the army and of the Independents, there is nothing, for the
present at least, that can be opposed to them. He has lost during the last
ten days the opportunity of re-establishing himself He could have done
so by means of the town before it joined itself to Parliament, and also done
so very advantageously through the army, had he come to terms with it
eight days ago, as it eagerly wished and which he was advised to do. His
natural irresolution, together with the hope he and his council have been
always too much led by, that matters would become disordered so that one
would be obliged to grant him good conditions, has caused him to lose up
till now many advantages that have been offered to him. Two of his new
council who were sent to him recently by the queen, his consort, were
agreed with me yesterday that he might have done something with the
army, if he had in fact wished it and accepted the affairs. Tliey told me
also that through the ill-luck that follows him, the reply he sent to the
proposals made to him by the army only arrived three hours after the
news that the town would submit to what the army wished, as if believing
that having received it before this news the affairs might have been
arranged. I do not think that this delay of three hours can have caused
him any prejudice, for the proposals of the army are so hard and destruc-
tive and subversive of all the foundations of royal authority, that had they
222 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
been offered to him thus, as they no doubt were, he would not have
accepted them. Tlie army urged him strongly to do so, but when it
was perceived that he would not do so, but also that, in fact, he
would conclude nothing with them, they held to their Independent maxims
in such general terms that the king was unable to profit thereby. His
affairs are, in my opinion, in a very bad condition ; many of his followers
hope that he will be re-established by means of the army on somewhat
good conditions. His new ministers imagine also to have discovered
another resource in being able to make a part of the army declare for the
king and at the same time the western counties and AVales. These offers
were made to us at Newcastle and have been reiterated often since, but
we have not till now found means of turning them to any profitable
account. I expect very little from these two plans, if a third do not turn
up, of which I do not yet see any sign. Two of the principal officers of
the army who have just left me promise, as they do usually, that the army
will serve the king, but also, as usual, they speak of establishing the
affairs of the kingdom before engaging in those of their king, which
renewed between us that great discussion I had six weeks ago with the
army, I maintaining that those of the king ought, at least, to progress con-
jointly with those of the kingdom. They tell me that in eight days at the
latest, they believe they will be able to speak about it, and at that time to
have the king brought to Hampton Court or to Oatlands. He will, if
he be taken there, no longer he able to profit by the stay he will make,
as he might have done while the two important parties existed here.]
CLXXVI
MONTEREUL Au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, -^ A6ut l647.
Je me suis donne Fhonneur par mes deux dernieres du
^^f et du f^ Aout de representer assez exactement a V. Em*'®
la condition des affaires dans ce pays. Elles sont toujours au
mesme etat qu'^elles estoient, et bien que les ministres preschent
continuellement a ces peuples que la conservation de leur roy
et Tetablissement de leur religion demandent d'eux qu*'ils
prennent les armes, ils n'ont encore ose declarer leurs sentiments
avec cette mesme liberte dans leur assemblee generale, ou le
zele des moins prudents est modere par les personnes seculieres
qui y assistent, qui sont pour la plus grande partie du corps
de la noblesse de ce royaume. Le grand Comite n'a pas creu
aussy qu''il deut entreprendre une chose de telle importance,
comme de lever une nouvelle armee sans une mure deliberation.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 223
et sans une connaisance certaine de ce qui se faisoit en Angle-
terre, et du pouvoir qu"'avoient leurs amis de les assister ; ce
que les changements qui sont arrives si subitement, dans les
affaires des Presbyteriens et des Independants, ne leur ont pas
permis de reconnaistre avec beaucoup de certitude jusques a
present que le sieur Robert Leslay arrive d''aupres du roy de
la G"" B"" qui nous apprend que Tarmee commande aujourd''huy
dans Londres, et que le parti Presbyterien est entierement
abattu en Angleterre.
Je ne puis exprimer a V. Em*'® de quelle sorte cette nouvelle
a etonne icy les plus resolus. Cependant, bien qu'il y eut
sujet de croire que cela deut les faire agir avec plus de retenue
touchant la levee d"'une nouvelle armee, il me semble par
Tentretien de quelques personnes de condition que j''ay veues
depuis qu"'il est arrive, qu''ils pourront faire maintenant pour
leur defense et pour leur conservation ce qu'ils eussent fait
auparavant avec dessein d'attaquer et de miner leurs ennemis.
lis me demandent mesme ce que je croy quMls peuvent attendre
de la France en cette occasion. Sur quoy j ""essay e de repondre
toujours en termes generaux, en telle sorte que je leur puisse
faire esperer beaucoup, bien que je ne leur promette aucune
chose. J'espere que nous serons dans peu de jours asseures de
leurs intentions, mais jusques a ce jour il ne s"'est resolu aucune
chose, ni dans I'assemblee du clerge ni dans le comite.
Bien que les amis du Marquis d'Argyle Tayent presse de
revenir, il ne voit pas encore les isles tellement paisibles quMl
puisse les abandonner sans danger. II reste mesme quelques
forts a prendre et quelques accommodements a faire, qui
occuperont Tarmee et luy, ainsi qu''on m''a dit, jusques a la fin
de Septembre.
Le Comte de Lanark est venu me voir ce matin. Je ne Tay
pas trouve si contraire au dessein de lever une nouvelle armee
(ju^il avoit semble estre au commencement ; m''ayant temoigne
que si les Independants ne conservoient la religion et la
monarchic en Angleterre, et ne traitoient bien leur roy, TEcosse
asseurement leur feroit la guerre. II m''a fait connoistre aussy
qu"'il avoit beaucoup de resentiments des biens que Sa M** luy
avoit voulu faire, mais il en est toujours demeure dans ces
termes, qu"'il desiroit les meriter par ses services avant que les
224 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
recevoir, et il a desire que je vous asseurasse de se part, que
le Due son frere et luy seroient toujours prests a faire les
choses qu''ils connaitroient devoir estre plus agreable a S. M**^
et a V. Em''^
LMndisposition que le dit Comte de Lanark a eu ici, et le
voyage qu''il a fait ensuite a Hamilton, m^a donne lieu de
differer tout ce temps a rendre la lettre de S. M**, Ayant
juge que je la pouvois delivrer sans qu''ils en puissent tirer
avantage, et que je ne la pouvois retenir sans qu"'ils le trou-
vassent mauvais, je ne me haterai point toutefois de la rendre
et differerai autant que je le pourrai faire honnetement.
M. le Marquis de Douglas, pere du Comte d' Angus, duquel
je me donnai Thonneur d'ecrire a V. Em'^'' par le precedent
ordinaire, a desire que je luy envoyasse le papier ci-joint, pour
luy faire connoistre les conditions avec lesquelles on a accorde
a son troisieme fils la permission d'aller servir Sa M**, et de
quelle sorte les pauvres Catholiques sont traites en ce pays,
mais ce qui m'a le plus surpris est, qu'il m*'a nomme en pleurant,
le Comte d' Angus, comme le principal auteur de toutes les
rigueurs dont on a use envers luy et ses enfants que luy ont
este otes depuis quelque temps, et qu'il a toutefois fait instruire
de telle sorte qu'il ne doute pas qu'ils ne demeurent toujours
dans la religion Catholique.
Robert Leslay m''est venu voir presentement, et par ce qu'il
m'a dit, je juge que le Due de Hamilton, quelque chose que
m'ait dit son frere, taschera d'empescher les levees et de
s^accommoder avec les Independants.
[MoNTEREUii to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, " Aug. 1647.
In my letters of the ""1^— and ^ Aug. I represented to you exactly the
state of affairs in this country. They are still in the same condition as
they were, and although the clergy preach continually to those people
that the preservation of their king and the establishment of their religion
require them to take arms, they have not yet declared their opinions
with the same freedom of expression in their General Assembly, where
the zeal of the less prudent is restrained by persons of the laity who take
part in their meetings, and who for the most part belong to the nobility
of this kingdom. The Committee of Estates also has not judged that it
ought to undertake a matter of such importance as the raising of a new
army without mature deliberation, and without an exact knowledge of
what was being done in England, and the power their friends had to
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 225
assist them, the changes that have occurred so suddenly in the affairs
of the Presbyterians and Independents not having permitted them to
determine with much certainty their relative positions till now that Mr.
Robert Leslie is come from the King of Great Britain, who informs us
that the army commands now in London and that the Presbyterian party
is quite overthrown in England.
I cannot express to you the astonishment that this news has caused
here to the most resolute. Yet although there is reason to believe that
this ought to make them act with more reserve regarding the raising of a
new army, it seems to me, from the conversations 1 have had with some
persons of rank, whom I have seen since the news has come, that they will
be able to do now for their defence and for their safety what they might
have done formerly with the intention of attacking and destroying their
«nemies. They even ask what I believe they may expect from France
on this occasion. \Vhereupon I try to reply always in general terms so
that I may make them hope much although I promise them nothing. I
hope we shall be assured of their intentions in a few days, but till to-day
nothing has been decided upon, neither in the assembly of the clergy nor
in the committee.
Although the friends of the Marquis of Argyle have urged him to
return, he does not yet consider the islands quite quiet so as to be able
to leave them without danger. There are yet some forts to take and
some terms of surrender to make which will occupy the army and him
also, as I have been told, until the end of September.
The Earl of Lanark called on me this morning. I did not find him so
opposed to the design of raising a new army as he seemed to be at first,
from his having remarked to me that if the Independents did not preserve
religion and the monarchy in England and did not treat their king well,
Scotland would assuredly make war upon them. He expressed to me
also that he was very grateful for the favours his Majesty had conferred
upon him, but he has always confined himself to these terms, that he should
have wished to merit them by his services before receiving them, and he
wishes me to assure you on his part that the duke, his brother, and he
would always be ready to do what they might know would be most agree-
able to his Majesty and to your Eminence.
The indisposition that the Earl of Lanark had here and the journey he
has made since to Hamilton has given me cause to delay during all that
time the delivery of the letter of his Majesty. Having judged that I
could deliver it without their being able to derive any advantage from it,
and that I cannot retain it without their having cause to complain, I
shall not make haste, however, to deliver it, but put it off as long as I
can with politeness.
The Marquis of Douglas, of whom I wrote to you by the last mail, the
father of the Earl of Angus, wishes me to send to you the enclosed
paper* in order to let you see the conditions on which permission has
^ See Appendix, Note P.
VOL. II. P
226 BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE [AUG.
been granted to his third son to go to serve his Majesty and in what
manner poor Catholics are treated in this country, but what has surprised
me most is that he named to me while in tears the Earl of Angus as the
principal author of the hardships that he has been made to endure ; his
children have been taken away from him for some time, whom he has,
however, had instructed in such a manner that they will always remain
in the Catholic religion.
Robert Leslie has just called upon me, and from what he has told me I
judge that the Duke of Hamilton, in spite of what his brother told me,
will try to prevent the levies and come to terms with the Independents.]
CLXXVII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le — Aoust 1647.
Monsieur, — L'armee reconduisit au Parlement vendredy
dernier ceux des deux Maisons qui s''estoient retirez vers elle.
L'on y restablit les anciens Speakers. On annula ce qui a
este faict en leur absence quoy qu'il ne soit pas encore resolu si
Ton prononcera par voye de nullite ou de cassation. On fit
entrer au Parleme* le general fairfax, auquel on y donna pareille
seance que Ton fait aux Roys d'Escosse ou aux Ambassadeurs.
L'on le remercia en termes tres ciuils, Ton confirma son gene-
ralat sur toutes les forces d'Ang*"®. L'on le fist connestable
de la Tour, et on ordonna un mois de paye aux soldats
de l'armee qui ne sera point desduit sur les monstres qui
leur sont deiies. Et comme les choses ont este mieux pour
Tarmee et pour ses amis, et plus vite qu'ils ne s'estoient
imagine, ils prirent le Samedy et le dimanche pour aduiser a
la conduitte qu'ilz auront a tenir sans entrer au Parlement.
Aujourd'huy ils n'y ont encore rien fait que de contester
sur cette difficulte si Ton cassera ou si Ton desclarera nul
ce qui a este fait en Tabsence des anciens speakers. Cependant
Tarmee traicte encore avec le Roy d'Angleterre sans entremise
ce neantmoings auec la participation du Parlement. Ceux qui
traittent de la part du Roy se flattent tousiours d'esperance.
Je crains beaucoup de cette negotiation Ton propose aux
negotiateurs des auantages qui leur pourroient bien faire
relascher quelque chose de ceux de leur maistre. Je voy le
parti royal si abbattu qu'il est quasi tout d'aduis que le dit
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 227
roy approuue toutes les propositions qui luy seront faittes
tant par Tarmee que par le parlement, et ie croy voir clairement
qu"'il est prest de souscrire si Ton ne desire pas qu''il face aucune
chose contre ses euesques. II est estonne au dernier point du
subit changement arriue aux affaires. II semble que rarmee et
les Independans se resoluent de faire les leurs trop promptement
auant que leurs ennemis puissent reprendre des forces et du
coeur, et trauaillent en mesme temps a gaigner les bonnes
graces mesme de ceux qui leur estoient cy deuant les plus
opposez, et surtout de la Ville de Londres. M' D'ormonde
est en Angleterre ; il a enuoye icy pour obtenir la permission
de venir baiser les mains du Roy de la G. B. S'il y vient
ie croy quMl seroit bon que ie fusse informe de ce qui a este
resolu en France sur ces propositions. La lettre que le S'
Tallon lui a escrit a bien passe par mes mains, mais ie n'ay pas
sceu ce qu''elle contenoit. — Je suis. Monsieur, vostre, etc.,
Bellieuee.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 9 aoust l646, receu le 23.
[Bellievre to Brienne, London, j- Aug. 1646.
The army reconducted to Parliament on Friday last those members of
both Houses that had withdrawn to it. The previous Speakers were rein-
stated, and what had been done during their absence annulled, although it
has not yet been decided whether this is to be finally done by declaring it
null or by repealing it. General Fairfax was introduced to Parliament,
where he received an ovation such as is usually given to the kings of
Scotland or to ambassadors. He was thanked in very polite terms and
confirmed in his office of General of all the English forces ; he was named
Constable of the Tower, and the soldiers of the army were ordered to
receive a month's pay, which will not be deducted from the review money
that is owing to them. And as matters have turned out better for the army
and its friends, and been arranged more expeditiously than was supposed,
they took Saturday and Sunday in order to consult, without entering
Parliament, as to the line of conduct they will have to adopt. To-day
they have still done nothing beyond disputing on this difficulty of repeal-
ing or declaring null what had been done in the absence of the former
speakers. Yet the army is still treating with the King of England,
without any one intervening, yet nevertheless with the participation of
Parliament. Those who treat on the part of the king always flatter
themselves with hopes ; I fear much that in this negotiation advantages
may be proposed to those who are treating in it that may induce them to
renounce some of the interests of their master. I see the royalist party
228 BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [AUG.
so cast down that it is almost the general opinion that the king approve
all the proposals that will be made to him both by the army and by
Parliament, and I believe I see clearly that he is ready to subscribe to it
if only they do nothing against his bishops. He is much surprised at
the sudden change brought into affairs. It seems that the army and the
Independents have resolved to carry out their plans too promptly, before
their enemies are able to collect their forces and take courage, and they
have set to work at the same time to gain the favour even of those who were
formerly the most opposed to them, and especially the City of London.
The Marquis of Ormond is in England, and has sent here in order to
obtain permission to pay his respects to the King of Great Britain. If
he come I believe it will be necessary for me to inform him of what has
been decided upon in France regarding his proposals. The letter that M.
Tallon wrote to him haS certainly passed through my hands, but I did
not know what it contained.]
CLXXVIII
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le — Aoust l647.
' 12
Monsieur, — Les choses sont au mesme estat que j"'escriuis
lundi dernier. Les Independans sont en peine, et deliberent
entre eux de la conduitte qu'ilz ont a tenir. Ilz se trouuent
tres empeschez de ce que rencontrans par la facillite qu'ilz
s'estoient imaginez d'esteindre presentement la royaute, ilz sont
comme obligez, pour ne pas faire crier le peuple, de mettre leur
Roy en quelque espece de liberte, et en ce cas quelques pre-
cautions qu'ilz apportent ilz ne se tiennent pas asseurez quMl
ne puisse reprendre asses d"'authorite pour les ruiner dans
quelque temps. La crainte de la mesme chose a faict que
les Presbiteriens ont mieux ayme se sousmettre et se rend re a
la discretion des Independans que d''hazarder en conseruant
leur pouuoir d'en donner a leur Roy plus qu'ilz n'ont cy-deuant
estime luy en deuoir appartenir. Celluy qu''ont aujourd''huy
les Independans joinct a ce que je scay de leurs intentions a ce
que ie voys de leur conduitte me faict beaucoup apprehender
du succez des affaires du Roy de la Grand Bretagne. Quand
a luy, il espere beaucoup et quasi plus qu''il n''a encores faict.
Je voy qu'il se veut contenter, et ses petits ministres luy
conseillent des conditions que Tarmee et les Independans sont
necessitez de luy ofirir pour affermir le credit dans lequel ilz
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 229
sont, et en prendre assez pour pouuoir auec le temps porter
les affaires au point qu'ils desirent. Je luy ay donne en toutes
rencontres les Informations que j"'ay pu. Je n*'estime pas me
deuoir opposer aux choses quMlz estiment luy estre utilles, et
principallement a celles dont le bien ou le mal ne peut estre
cognu que par Teuenement. Je luy ay enuoye auiourd'huy
un de mes gens, par le retour duquel j'apprens qu''il persiste
dans ses esperances. II se porte bien, et sera demain a
Otlants. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc., Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 22 aoust l647, receu le 27.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, ^ Ang. 1646.
Matters are in the same state as when I wrote to you on Monday last.
The Independents are in trouble and deliberate among themselves as to
what course of conduct they ought to take. They find themselves much
impeded, and do not find it so easy as they expected to put an end to
royalty at present ; they are obliged in order not to cause a popular out-
cry to allow the king some sort of liberty, and in that case whatever
precautions they may take, they do not consider themselves safe as he
may recover authority enough in a short time so as to ruin them. The
fear of this same thing has led the Presbyterians to prefer rather to
submit and yield at discretion to the Independents than to run the risk in
retaining their power to give of it to their king, more than they formerly
judged ought to belong to him. The power the Independents hold at
present, joined to what I know of their intentions, and what I see of
their conduct, lead me to fear much for the success of the aiFairs of the
King of Great Britain. As for the king, he hopes much and almost more
than he has yet done. I see he wishes to content himself, and his small
ministers propose to him conditions which the army and the Independents
are obliged to offer him in order to consolidate the influence they have
and to acquire enough more so as to be able in time to bring matters to
the point they wish. I have given him in all circumstances the informa-
tion I could. I do not consider it my duty to oppose things they consider
to be useful for him, and principally those of which the good or the harm
can only be known by the result. I have sent one of my people to him
to-day, from whose return I learn that he persists in his hopes. He is
quite well and he will be at Oatlands to-morrow.]
CLXXIX
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, ^' Aout l647.
J'ay receu ce matin celle dont il a pleu a V. Em*^® m'honorer
du 2 de ce mois sur le sujet de laquelle je luy dirai, qu'encore
230 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
que j'ay este oblige de rendre la lettre de S. M*^ a ceux qui
avoient este ordonnes il y a longtemps pour la recevoir je
me suis conduit en la delivrant de la mesme sorte que j"'aurois
peu faire si j*'avois receu auparavant les ordres que V. Em*=® me
vient de donner, de ne m''avancer d'aucune chose, Tayant
accompagnee seulement de discours generaux, et que j'ay creu
pouvoir donne lieu aux Ecossois de se promettre beaucoup de
la protection de S. M*^, sans leur donner moyen de s"'en servir
pour brouiller la France avec les Independants, qui sont
aujourd^huy toute TAngleterre, et pour faire plus avantageuse-
ment leur paix, en publiant que nous les portons a faire la guerre.
Et pour ce qui regarde les ouvertiwes qui m'ont este faites
a diverses recontres (mais qui n''ont jamais passe jusqu'a des
propositions formelles, et qui vinssent de personnes qui en
eussent autorite) soit touchant la venue de la reine de la Gr' B'
ou du Prince de Galles en Ecosse, soit sur le sujet des assist-
ances dont ce royaume auroit besoin s''il s'^engageait dans une
nouvelle guerre, je les ay toujours receues avec de bonnes
paroles, mais comme dans Tincertitiide des choses je n''avois
peu avoir ni de nouvelles de ce que M. de Bellievre faisoit a
Londres, ni d"'ordre de luy de ce que je devois faire icy, et que
j'avois tout sujet de me defier des intentions des Ecossois, je
leur ay toujours fait entendre que personne ne pouvoit mieux
menager ces choses, ni plus a Tavantage de leur nation que
M. de Bellievre.
De sorte que je puis asseurer V. Em"^ que j'ay age avec
toute la retenue qu'elle eut peu desirer de moi, et que si je
n"'ay pas eu lieu de faire du bien je me suis au moins seu
empescher de faire du mal.
Au reste, Mg', quoiqu'on attendit ici Jeudi dernier que ce
comite dut resoudre de grandes choses, et que les ministres
eussent donne sujet au peuple de croire qu''on pouvoit se porter
a mettre ce royaume en etat de se defendre, a peine le mit on
seulement en deliberation. Le Chancelier le proposa, mais
son avis fut suivi de peu de personnes, et tous les autres
furent d'opinion que Ton ne se devoit pas encore haster, de
sorte que Ton delibera seulement si Ton enverroit de nou-
veaux deputes en Angleterre, — quelles personnes on choiseroit
pour cet Envoy, — et quelles seroient les instructions qu'on
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 2S1
leur donneroit ; mais encore remit on a ce jour a prendre
resolution sur toutes ces choses, et je doute que je puisse
estre averti assez tost de ce qui s'y sera passe pour le pouvoir
faire scavoir par cet ordinaire a V. Em*'^. Je lui puis dire
toutefois par avance, qu'il semble que Ton soit comme demeure
d''accord d''envoyer quelqu"'un presentement en Angleterre, et
que Ton croit que cette commission sera donnee ou au Chancelier
ou au Comte de Traquair ou a celui de Lanark, et plustost
a ce dernier qu'aux deux autres, et que sous le pretexte d'estre
envoye vers de roy de la G"" B' pour scavoir Tetat ou il est, et
ce qu'il desire de ce royaume, durant que les commissaires
qui sont a Londres presenteront les plaintes de cet Etat sur
le rude traitement qu'a receu le Comte de Lauderdale et
Tarrest de leur secretaire, et demanderont que le covenant soit
pris et le Presbyteriat etabli en Angleterre, ce depute taschera
a porter le dit roi a faire quelque chose a Tavantage de ce
royaume et essayera d'accommoder TEcosse avec les Indepen-
dants, — ce qui doit estre apparemment le principal sujet de
son envoy. Car, bien que le Chancelier m'ait fait connoistre
hier, assez clairement, qu''il voudroit qu'on commen9ast par
faire une armee, et que le Comte de Lanark m"'ait dit qu'ils ne
laisseroient point miner leur roy sans prendre les armes, je
sais de plusieurs d''entre eux, qu"'on ne trouve point a propos
de se brouiller avec TAngleterre pour y introduire le covenant
et le Presbyteriat ; et j'ay peu de sujet de croire quMls veuillent
faire davantage pour leur roy que pour leur religion qui a este
le pretexte de leur revolt. Que quelques uns d'entre eux m'ont
asseure que leurs amis d' Angleterre ne desiroient pas quMls
se remuassent encore si tost, et que quand ils voudroient faire
quelque chose aujourd'huy ils ne le pourroient pas mesme bien
aisement, puisque ceux qui arrestoient, ce sembloit, le Marquis
d'Argyle et David Leslay seulement a capituler sont encore en
armes, et en etat de leur faire quelque resistance, de telle sorte
qu"'il a eu quelque rencontre depuis peu de jours entre le chef
du clan kennel et Tarmee du Parlement, ou il se dit a la verite
que celle-ci a eu Tavantage, et a defait pres de cinq cents
hommes et pris un petit fort, ce que montre que quoique leurs
affaires aillent assez bien, elles ne sont pas encore achevees ;
outre que Lord Reay, qui est dans les parties plus septentrionales
232 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
d'Ecosse et de plus difficile accez, vers lequel le Marquis
d'Huntley s''est retire, se prepare a se defendre, et est en lieu
ou 11 peut donner de Temploi tout le reste de la campagne a
la petite armee de ce Parlement.
II se parle de quatre regiments de cavalerie Angloise qui se
sont avances vers Newcastle, et Ton apprehende ici que les
Anglois jetent de neuvelles garnisons dans les villes de Carlisle
et de Berwick, qui devoient estre demolies par la traite des
deux nations. Le sieur Cheisley, secretaire des commissaires
d'Ecosse qui sont a Londres, qui avoit este arreste a Newcastle
par celui qui commande dans la place fut delivre par luy avant
que la lettre que ce Comite avoit escrite sur ce sujet eut peu
estre arrivee a Newcastle. II doit faire sa relation devant le
Comite cet apres-disnee.
Le Pari* d'Angleterre presse toujours les Ecossois de quitter
rirlande, ce qu''ils ne veulent point faire sans recevoir le paie-
ment leur estre deu, de sorte que les officiers de leur armee
menacent de garder pour eux-mesmes les places qu'ils tiennent
maintenant dans le dit royaume, et quelque uns mesmes de
s'accommoder avec les Catholiques du pays, si ils y sont
contraints par le Pari* d'Angleterre.
Cest ce qui peut apparement faire, plustost que toute
autre chose, prendre les armes a ces peuples, que la considera-
tion de leur interest touche plus que la conservation de leur roy
ou Tetablissement de leur religion. Le Marquis d'Argyle pour
satisfaire aux prieres de ses amis arriva hier au soir en cette ville.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Aug. 1647.
I RECEIVED this morning your letter of the 2nd inst., on the subject of
which I have to say that although I have been obliged to deliver the
letter of his Majesty to those who were appointed so long ago to receive
it, I acted in delivering it in the same manner I should have done had I
previously received the orders you have just given me, to make no
advances in anything, having accompanied it only by general discourse
that I believed could give reason to the Scots to expect much from the
protection of his Majesty without giving them the means of making use
of it in order to embroil France witli the Independents, who are now all
England, or that could enable them to make more profitable terms with the
Independents by proclaiming that we are persuading them to make war.
And as regards the overtures that have been made to me in various
circumstances, but which have never gone so far as formal proposals,
coming from persons possessed of authority, either relating to the coming
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 233
of the Queen of Great Britain or that of the Prince of Wales in Scotland,
or on the subject of the assistance this country would require in the event
of its being engaged in a new war ; I have always received them with soft
words, but in the uncertainty in which I was placed, having no news of
what M, de Bellievre was doing in London, nor any order from him con-
cerning what I ought to do here, and that I had every reason to distrust
the intentions of the Scots, I have always led them to understand that no
one could manage matters better and more to the advantage of their
nation than M. de Bellievre. So that I can assure you that I have acted
with every reserve that you could have wished me to do, and that if 1
have not had much occasion to do good, I have at least known how to
keep from doing harm.
Although it was expected here that this Committee was to settle some
important matters on Thursday last, and the clergy had given the people
reason to think that they might be induced to put this kingdom in a state
of defence, the matter was little more than touched upon. The
Chancellor proposed it, but his opinion was adopted by few persons, and
all the others considered they ought not to be in haste, so that their
deliberation turned principally as to whether a new deputation should be
sent to England and what persons they should select for that purpose and
what instructions they might give them ; but again the final decision in
these matters was deferred until to-day, and I fear I may not be informed
of what may have taken place in time to be able to inform you of it by
this mail, I can, however, tell you in advance, that they seem almost
agreed on sending some one to England at present, and that it is thought
this commission will be given either to the Chancellor, or the Earl of
Traquair, or the Earl of Lanark, and more probably to the last than to
the two others, and that under the pretext of sending to the King of
Great Britain to learn in what condition lie is and what he wishes
from this kingdom, while the Commissioners who are in London will
present the complaints of this kingdom on the rude treatment the Earl of
Lauderdale has met with and the arrest of their secretary, and will demand
that the Covenant be taken, and Presbyterianism established in England.
This delegate will try to induce their king to do something to the advan-
tage of this kingdom, and will try to bring Scotland to an agreement with
the Independents, which is apparently to be the principal object of his
being sent. For, although the Chancellor explained to me somewhat clearly
yesterday that he would like them to begin to raise an army, and that the
Earl of Lanark told me they would not allow their king to be ruined,
without taking arms, I know from several among them that it does not at
all suit them to quarrel with England, in order to introduce there the
Covenant and Presbyterianism, and I have small reason to suppose that they
will do more for their king than for their religion, which was the pretext
of their revolt. Some among them have assured me that their English
friends did not wish to move just yet, and that even were they dis-
posed to do anything at present, it would not even be very easy, seeing
those who held the Marquis of Argyle and David Leslie in check, merely
234 P. BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE [AUG.
about surrendering, are, it appears, still in arms and capable of making
some assistance, so much so that in an encounter that has taken place
within the last few days between the chief of the clan Quesnel and the
army of this Parliament, in which it is indeed said the latter had the
best of it, having defeated about five hundred men and taken a small
fort, which indicates that although their affairs are progressing tolerably
well, they are not yet at an end, besides Lord Reay,* who is in the most
northern part of Scotland and the most difficult of access, towards which
the Marquis of Huntly had withdrawn, is preparing to defend himself,
and can very well in his locality occupy the small army of Parliament
during the remainder of the campaign.
It is said that four regiments of English cavalry have advanced towards
Newcastle, and it is feared here that the English may place new garrisons
in the towns of Carlisle and Berwick, of which the fortifications were to
be demolished, according to the treaty between the two nations.
Mr. Chiesley, secretary to the Scottish Commissioners in London, who
was arrested at Newcastle by the officer commanding there, was liberated
before the letter this committee had written on the subject had reached
Newcastle. He is to make a statement before the Committee this afternoon.
The English Parliament is still pressing the Scots to leave Ireland,
which they M'ill not do, without receiving payment of what they pretend
to be owing to them, so that the officers of their army threaten to keep
for themselves the places they now hold in that kingdom, and some of
them even threaten to come to terms with the Catholics of the country,
if they be forced to give up by the English Parliament. This is what
may, more probably than any other thing, cause them to take arms. What
concerns their interest touches them more closely than the preservation
of their king or the establishment of their religion. The Marquis of
Argyle, having ceded to the entreaties of his friends, arrived in town
last evening.]
CLXXX
P. BELLIIEIVRE a BRIENNE
A Lo7idres, le ^ Aoust l647.
Monsieur, — Ne voyant point reuenir M"" L'Ambassadeur,
qui est auec le Roy de la G. B., Je prens la liberte de vous
^ Donald Mackay, first Baron Reay, was an ardent royalist. Having served
in the wars abroad with Gustavus Adolphus and the King of Denmark since
1626, on the outbreak of the Civil War in England he immediately returned to
engage in the service of Charles i. He had landed at Newcastle with a con-
siderable sum of money and a quantity of ammunition, which he had brought
from abroad in aid of the king, when, on that town surrendering to the Scots,
he was taken prisoner, and confined in the prison of Edinburgh to await his trial.
Being released by Montrose, after the battle of Kilsyth, he returned to Denmark,
where he passed the rest of his life, and died. Governor of Bergen, in 1649.
i647] P. BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE 235
faire ces lignes pour vous en donner aduis, craignant quMl
ne peut estre asses tost de retour pour escrire, ne s''estant
au surplus rien passe de considerable depuis ses dernieres.
On est tousiours en contestation dans la Maison des Communs
pour scauoir si on reuocquera ou si Ton declarera nul ce qui
s'est fait en Tabsence des Speakers. Celle des Pairs, qui est
dans les interestz de Tarmee, ne s"'est point assise aujourd''huy,
pour luy donner moyen de faire par une voye, qui ne se peut
plus a present dire nouuelle, ce qu'elle n''a peu obtenir autre-
ment, et pour cet effect les adjutateurs resolurent bier de faire
une declaration centre ceux de la Chambre des Communs qui
s"'opposent a leurs desseins, qu''ils ont enuoyee ce matin au
Parlement, ou elle auroit este ouuerte si la Chambre haute
eust tenu. L'on a confirmation de la defFaitte des confederez
d"'Irlande, et de Tarrest, fait a Newcastle, de Chieslay, secretaire
des Commissionnaires d'Escosse, qui alloit a Edenbourg. — Je
suis. Monsieur, vostre, etc., P. de Bellikure.
Au dos — Le frere de M. de Bellieure, du 29 d'aoust l647,
receu le 3 septembre.
[P. BfiixiiivRE to Bbienne. London, ^ Aug. 1647.
Seeing the ambassador, who is with the King of Great Britain, has not
returned, I take the liberty to give you notice of it, fearing that he may
not be back in time iu order to write to you ; besides, nothing important
has happened since his last. The House of Commons is still discussing
whether it ought to repeal or to declare null what was done in the absence
of the Speakers. The House of Peers, which is in the interest of the army,
is not sitting to-day in order to have the means of doing, through a channel
tliat can no longer at present be called new, what it cannot obtain other-
wise ; and to that effect the agitators resolved yesterday to make a declara-
tion against those of the House of Commons who were opposed to their
designs, which they sent to Parliament this morning, where it would have
been opened if the Upper House had been sitting. The defeat of the
Confederates in Ireland has been confirmed and also the arrest made at
Newcastle of Chiesley, secretary to the Scottish Commissioners, who was
going to Edinburgh.]
CLXXXI
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres,le ^-1^164.1.
Monsieur, — L'on doit demain commencer a parler au Parle-
ment de ]''accommodement des affaires de ce Royaume et de celles
236 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [SEPT.
du Roy de la G. B. en mesme temps. Jusques a ce que Ton y ait
trauaille quelques jours, il est difficile de juger a quoy elles
abboutiront. J'ay depuis trois jours entretenu le dit Roy
toutte une apres disnee. II persiste dans les mesmes pensees
que ie me suis donne Thonneur de vous mander cy-deuant qu"'il
estoit. Je persiste aussy dans les miennes. — Je suis, Monsieur^
vostre, etc., Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 2 Septembre 1647, receu le vi®.
[Bellikvre to Bbienne. London, ~2^_ 1647.
The arrangement of the affairs of this kingdom and those of the King
of Great Britain at the same time is to be begun to-morrow in Parliament.
Until one has been some days engaged thereon it will be difficult to judge
of the result. Three days ago I talked the matter over with the king
during an entire afternoon. He persists in the same ideas of which I
formerly informed you. I persist also in mine.]
CLXXXII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, ^*4¥ l647.
BiEN que diverses choses et bien importantes, se soient faites
depuis huit jours dans ce Comite, il ne s'y est rien passee toute-
fois que ce que je m'estois donne Thonneur d''ecrire a V. Em*^®
par mes dernieres. On y a resolu d'envoyer deux commissaires
au roy de la G*" B', et on est demeure d^accord que le Comte
de Loudon, Chancelier du royaume, et le Comte de Lanark,
secretaire de cet Etat, seroient choisis pour cet envoy. Je joins
ici la copie des instructions qui leur ont ete donnees, que j''ay
eues de Monsieur de Lanark et de M. le Chev' Moray en
mesme temps, mais de Fun et de Tautre avec de grandes prieres
de les tenir bien secrette, et de n"'en faire point de bruit ni ici
ni en France, — ce qui m"'a fait croire qu''ils sont bien aises
qu''elles soient veues, et qu''elles ont este faites principalement
pour cela: aussy M' le Comte de Lanark m'a comme avoue
qu*'ils en auroient encore de secretes. Et veritablement, Mg%
ils ont quelques raisons de desirer que ces instructions soient
veues, puisque c'est ce qui c''est passe ici de plus honneste
depuis le commencement de ces troubles, et ce qu'ils peuvent
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 237
faire voir avec moins de honte pour eux ; aussi comme s"'ils
eussent apprehende d''avoir fait quelque chose en cela qui peut
laisser quelque impression de leur fidelite, ils ne demeurerent
pas plustost d'accord d'enuoyer ces instructions que le Marquis
<l''Argyle presenta un papier au Comite, par lequel il protestoit
que son intention n''estoit point que ce qui estoit porte dans
les deux instructions peut en aucune sorte engager ce royaume
€n une rupture avec TAngleterre, avec laquelle TEcosse estoit
unie par tant de raisons et par un si etroit covenant. Ce sont
a peu pres les termes auxquels on m'a dit que cette declaration
a este con^ue, car je ne Fay peu voir, bien que je Tay fort
demandee, que plusieurs me Tayent promise, et qu'elle contienne
peu de chose.
Le Due de Hamilton se plaignit aussitost du procede du
Marquis d'Argyle, et dit qu'il n'avoit pas temoigne par ses
actions qu'il eut plus d'envie que lui de rompre avec TAngle-
terre, au contraire que les amis du dit Marquis avoient soutenu,
contre ses sentiments, qu'il falloit lever de nouvelles forces, de
sorte qu'il demanda que cette declaration qui etoit faite par
un particulier, le fut par toute Tassemblee, — ce qui passa
presque d^une voix, — y ayant voulu ajouter qu*'ils n*'entendoient
pas aussi prejudicier par ces instructions aux interests de leur
roi. Bien que ceci eut ete arreste le Jeudi ^| Aout, le
Chancelier d'Ecosse desira le remettre encore en deliberation
et tascha de faire voir que cette protestation ne se devoit pas
du tout faire. II fut seconde, mais sans effet, par les Comtes
de Traquair et de Lothian, par le Baron de Balcarras et par
Favocat du roi, tons du parti d'Argyle, qui eut desire que
cette declaration n'eut ete faite que par lui, afin d"'en pouvoir
tirer seul du merite aupres des Independants, et de faire que
le procede de ses amis pust, en quelque sorte, excuser le sien
aupres du roi de la G"" B"". Cest, Mg', tout ce qui s"'est passe
dans le Comite.
L'assemblee du clerge d'Ecosse a fait aussi sa declaration
que je n'ay peu voir encore, et qui est, a ce qu''on me dit, assez
conforme aux instructions que je joins a cette lettre. Mais
j'ay beaucoup de sujet de croire que ce Comite a quelque
dessein de faire une nouvelle proposition a Fassemblee des
ministres, touchant ce que les Ecossois devroient faire au cas
238 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [SEPT.
que leur roi etablit leur religion et approuvast leur covenant,
a quoi on ne doute point qu"'ils ne repondent, qu'ils doivent
en ce cas appuyer ses interests, pour voir s'ils peuvent porter
leur roi par ce moyen a leur accorder ce qu'ils lui ont demande
tant de fois inutilement, et afin que s'il le leur accorde, ils
puissent, ou miner les Independants, ou miner au moins ce
Prince aupres des Independants, et que, s'il le leur refuse, ils
ayent lieu de donner quelque excuse a leur infidelite et de
publier que luy-mesme les a empesches de travailler a sa con-
servation. Et bien que la crainte qu'ils ont de choquer les
Independants par cette proposition les puisse empescher de la
faire de cette sorte, — comma je suis asseure qu''ils la ferront
au dit roi en particulier, et qu''ils envoient vers lui principale-
ment pour ce sujet, — j'ay creu etre oblige d''en donner avis a
V. Em''® et d'en avertir aussi M. de Bellievre, afin qu'il en use
selon sa prudence ordinaire, croyant toujours que le dit roi n"'a
qu'a se defendre des Ecossois, et que Dieu le defendra de ses
autres ennemis. Au reste les Comtes de Loudun et de Lanark
m'ont pas juge a propos de partir d'ici avant qu'etre asseures
d'etre bien receus en Angleterre, de sorte que le sieur Robert
Leslay fut depeche bier pour obtenir du Pari* d'Angleterre un
passeport pour eux et pour ceux de leur nation qui en auront
eu un de ce Comite. II m'a veu avant que partir et m'a dit
toutes les douceurs imaginables de la part de M. le Comte de
Lanark, qui a la verite me traite toujours tres civilement.
Ceux de son parti croyent avoir aujourd'huy de grands avant-
ages sur celui d'Argyle et avoir montre en mesme temps plus
d'afFection (du roi), et aux Independants, pour s'etre toujours
opposes aux levees, et au roi pour n'avoir pas ete les auteurs
de cette protestation.
MM. Moray me temoignerent il y a deux jours qu'ils
avoient de grandes apprehensions que le roi de la G"" B' fut
trompe par M. Asburnham, en sorte que je remarquoi que
ces honnetes personnes, et zelees pour Fhonneur et pour les
interests de leur prince avoient deux deplaisirs en mesme temps.
Fun de ce que leur maistre est trahi, et Fautre de ce qu'ils ne
sont pas ceux que le trahissent.
J'ay differe le plus qu'il m'a ete possible a importuner
V. Em*=® de mes interets, et je la puis asseurer que je ne le
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 239
ferois pas encore si je pouvois faire autrement. II luy pleut
il y a un an, ordonner que je feusse, paye du premier semestre
de I'armee passee, dont je ne peus toucher toutefois que mil
escus, et dont je n''ay eu depuis aucune chose, et Tordonnance
pour le dernier semestre de la mesme armee 1646 n'a pas encore
ete seulement assigne.
Je supplie done tres humblement V. Em''® qu'avec cette
bonte a laquelle je n'ay jamais eu recours inutilement elle ait
affreable de faire dire un mot a M. le President Tubeuf.
V. Em^® peut scavoir en quelle sorte je vis ici, ou il fait aussy
cher vivre qu"'en aucun lieu de FEurope, et ou je suis oblige de
faire une tres grande depense quoique je n'en fasse point qui
n'aille a Thonneur et ne contribue au service de Sa Maj**.
Comme j''achevois cette depeche le Due de Hamilton m'a fait
rhonneur de me venir voir, qui a son ordinaire, m'a temoigne
de grands respects pour S. M** et de puissants desirs de la
servir. II m*'a dit que les instructions de leurs Commissaires
eussent ete beaucoup plus avantageuses au roi de la G"^ B"^
qu''elles ne le sont, si ceux du parti d''Argyle ne Teussent pas
empeche, et que la protestation du Marquis d'Argyle contenoit
que ces instructions qu''ils donnoient a leur deputes, ne pourroient
apporter d^alteration a la bonne intelligence qui etoit entre
les deux royaumes, ni aux affaires du dit roi, en la condition
ou il se trouve presentement, comme si cela voulu dire qu'ils
ne seroient point obliges a remettre leur roi en meilleur etat.
II m'a dit qu'on avoit laisse cette derniere partie de la pro-
testation de M. d'Argyle dans celle du Comite, comme tres
pemicieuse au dit roi ; et m'a parle contre le dit Marquis
d'Argyle en termes plus intelligibles qu'il n'avoit fait encore
jusqu'ici.
J'envoye a V. Em*'® les instructions en Anglois et en fran9ois,
et parce que j"'ay ete oblige en quelques endroits de la traduc-
tion d'aj outer ou de retrancher quelques mots pour rendre le
seus plus nettement, et pour ce que j"'ay creu que la reine de
la G' B"" sera plus aise de les voir en anglois.
On me vient encore d'avertir qu''on desireroit que ces
instructions fussent tenues aussi secretes qull se pourroit.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, '^s"^ 1647.
Although various things have taken place in the Committee meetings
240 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [SEPT.
here, and some of them very important, within the last eight days, yet
nothing has been done that I have not mentioned in my recent letters as
likely to happen. It was decided to send two delegates to the King of
Great Britain, and the Earl of Loudon, Chancellor of the kingdom, and
the Earl of Lanark, Secretary of State, were appointed for that mission.
I add here a copy of the instructions they have received which I had from
the Earl of Lanark and from Sir Robert Moray, both of whom entreated me
to keep them secret and not to mention anything of them either here or
in France, which led me to judge they were anxious for them to be seen,
and that they had been drawn up principally for that object ; thus the
Earl of Lanark almost confessed to me they would also have secret ones.
And indeed they are somewhat right in wishing them to be seen since
they are the most creditable that have been produced here since the
beginning of these troubles, and which they can show with least shame for
themselves ; but then as if they had been afraid of having done something
therein to give some impression of their fidelity, they had no sooner
agreed together to send these instructions than the Marquis of Argyle
brought forward a rider to them which he presented to the Committee, by
which he protested that his intention was not that anything conveyed in
the two sets of instructions can in any manner engage this kingdom in a
rupture with England, with which Scotland was united by so many
reasons and by so close a covenant. Those are almost the terms in which I
am told this declaration was drawn up, for I have not been able to see it,
although I have strongly requested a sight of it, which several persons
have promised to me, yet it does not contain much. The Duke of Hamil-
ton complained immediately of the procedure of the Marquis of Argyle,
and said that he had not shown by his actions that he had a greater wish
than he, the marquis, had to break off with England, on the contrary, that
the friends of the marquis had insisted against his opinion, that it was
necessary to raise new forces, so that he demanded that this declaration,
which was made by an individual member, be adopted by the Committee,
which was passed almost unanimously, it having been wished to add that
neither had they any intention by these instructions of damaging their
king's interests.
Although this was decided upon on Thursday ^ August the Chancellor
of Scotland wished to bring it up again in discussion, and tried to show
that this protestation ought not at all to have been made. He was
seconded, but to no purpose, by the Earls of Traquair and Lothian, by
Lord Balcarras and the king's advocate,* all of the Argyle party, who
would have wished this declaration to have been made by the marquis
alone, so as to have given him all the credit of it with the Independents,
and that the procedure of his friends might have in some measure excused
his procedure with the King of Great Britain. This is all that took place
in the Committee meeting.
Sir Archibald Johnstone of Warriston.
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 241
The General Assembly of the clergy has also made its declaration, which
I have not yet been able to see, and which is, from what I have been told,
somewhat similar to the instructions I add to this letter. But I have
much reason to believe that this Committee has some intention of making
a new proposal to the Assembly of the clergy, concerning what the Scots
ought to do in the event of their king establishing their religion and
sanctioning the Covenant, upon which it is not doubted but that they will
reply that they ought in that case to support his interests, in order to see
if they can by this means induce their king to grant them what they have
so many times requested to no purpose, and so that if he grant it to them
they may either ruin the Independents, or, at least, ruin this prince in the
estimation of the Independents, and in the event of his refusal they may
have occasion to make some excuse for their disloyalty by saying he had
himself prevented them from doing anything to secure his safety. And
although the fear they have to shock the Independents by this proposal
may prevent them from putting it in this manner, as I am assured they
will do to their king in private, and that this is their principal object in
sending to him, I have thought it necessary to inform you of it, and also
to acquaint M. de Bellievre, so that he with his wonted prudence may
make use of his knowledge, believing always, as I do, that this king has
but to defend himself from the Scots and that God will defend him from
his other enemies. The Earls of Loudon and Lanark have not judged it
prudent to leave here before being assured of the reception they may have
in England, so that Robert Leslie was sent yesterday to obtain a passport
for them from the English Parliament and for all those of their nation
who may have had one from their Committee. He visited me before
leaving and brought me all sorts of flattering compliments from the Earl
of Lanark, who, in fact, always treats me very politely. Those of his
party consider they have at present great advantages over those of Argyle,
both in their having shown more affection towards the Independents in
having always opposed the levies and towards the king in not having been
the authors of this protestation.
The Morays expressed to me two days ago, the g^reat fears they had
that the King of Great Britain was deceived by Mr. Ashburnham, so that
I perceived these two honest persons so zealous for the honours and the
interests of their prince had at once two causes for being dissatisfied ; one
that their master was betrayed, and the other that it was not they who
betrayed him.
I have delayed as long as possible to trouble you about my private a£Fairs,
and I can assure you I would not do so now could I do otherwise. You
were pleased a year ago to give orders that I be paid for the first half of
the past year, of which, however, I have only received a thousand crowns ;
I have had nothing since, and the order for the last half of the same year,
— 1646 — has not yet even been assigned.
I beg you, therefore, to have the matter brought under the attention of
the President Tubeuf. You may know in what manner I live here, where
living is as dear as in any other place in Europe, and where I am obliged
VOL. II. a
242 BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE [sept.
to incur great expense, although I spend nothing that does not tend to
the honour and contribute to the service of his Majesty.
As I was finishing this despatch the Duke of Hamilton called upon me,
and according to his wont expressed great respect for his Majesty and
ardent wishes to serve him. He told me their instructions to their dele-
gates would have been much more favourable for the King of Great Britain
than they are, if those of the Argyle party had not prevented it, and that
the protestation of the Marquis of Argyle contained that these instructions
which they were giving to their delegates could not produce any altera-
tion in the good understanding existing between the two kingdoms, nor
to the affairs of their king in the condition in which he is at present, as if
it were meant to say they would not be obliged to restore their king into
a better condition. He told me that this last part of the protestation of
the Marquis of Argyle had been left in that of the Committee, as very
pernicious for their king, and spoke to me against the Marquis of Argyle
in more intelligible terms than he had hitherto done.
I send the instructions in English and in French, and because I have
been obliged in some parts of the translation to add or to retrench words
to render the sense clearer and as I believed the Queen of Great Britain
would be glad to see them in English.
I have just been informed again that it is wished that the instructions
be as secret as possible.]
CLXXXIII
BELLIl^VRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le %^^Mp^ 1647.
' 30 Aoust
Monsieur, — II n'y a rien a vous escrire. Je me suis donne
rhonneur de vous faire scauoir ce que je pense des intentions
de ceux qui y ont tout le pouuoir. Ce qui se faict publique-
ment n''est que pour amuser les simples ; Tarmee et les Inde-
pendans ne veulent pas qu'il se face aucune chose de con-
sequence jusques a ce qu'ilz voyent leurs affaires parfaictement
establies, a quoy ilz ne perdent point de temps. Ilz ont pourueu
aux comtez du Nort, du West, et du pays de Galles desquelz
ilz auoient quelque soubcon,ilz traictent auec les presbiteriens, les
Escossois, et les Catholiques ; bref ilz s'asseurent de touttes les
places et de touttes les personnes par qui leurs desseings
pourroient estre trauersez. Leurs principes, leur conduitte
passee, et celle qu'ilz tiennent maintenant n'empesche pas que
le Roy d'Angleterre ainsy que ses ministres n'attende toujours
d'eux son restablissement. J'aduoue que telle chose pourroit
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 243
arriuer ainsy qu'il en est arriuee plusieurs depuis trois mois que
si le d. Roy en proffitoit mieux qu'il ne faict des passees, ilz
seroient obligez pour leur propre interest de porter les siens,
mais le d. Roy se conduit, ou, pour mieux dire, se laisse
conduire, en sorte qu'il hazarde tout sur la paroUe qu'il
s'imagine auoir de ses ennemis, qui n''ont ny foy ny honneur,
mesme qu'ilz disent ne luy auoir point donnee, et par le conseil
des ministres, dont le principal et le plus facile est Ashburnham,
qui je croy est bien cogneu de vous. La deliberation secrette
sur laquelle sont maintenant les chefs des Independans et
de Tarmee est de scauoir s"'il leur est bon de transferer le
parlement de Londres en quelque autre lieu, et si pour cet
effect et pour Tadjourner pour quelque temps ilz y conduiront
le d. Roy, mais comme en cette affaire il se rencontre beau-
coup de difficultez, ilz ont grande peine a se resoudre. Je vous
supplie que la Reyne d'Ang''® ne sache pas auec quelle liberte
je vous escris ce que je juge de la conduitte du Roy son mari ;
cela me nuiroit et [ne] seruiroit point aux affaires. Je scay
qu''elle contribue beaucoup a faire qu"'il se paisce [iic] de
vaines esperances, et mesme qu'il se soubmette a des con-
ditions auxquelles elle ne souffriroit pas qu'il consentist si
elle n'estoit dans cette extreme impatience qu''elle tesmoigne
<le sortir de la France, et deplus ces gens qui conseillent
le d. Roy a la reserue d' Ashburnham luy sont enuoyez par
Monsieur Germain. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc.,
Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 9® Septembre l647, receu le 12*
du d. mois.
[Beluevre to Brienne. London, ^^^ 1647.
There is nothing new to write to you about. I informed you of what
I think of the intentions of tliose who have all the power here. ^Vhat is
done publicly is but in order to amuse the simple. The army and the
Independents do not wish anything of importance to take place until
they see their affairs perfectly established, in effecting which they do
not lose time. They have attended to the counties of the North and
West and the country of Wales, of which they had some suspicion ; they
are treating with the Presbyterians, the Scots and the Catholics, in short
they are assuring themselves of all the places and of all the persons that
might oppose their designs. Their principles, their past conduct and
what they practise now do not prevent the King of England, as well as
244 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [sept.
his ministers, from still looking to them for his restoration. I admit that
such a thing might happen, as it has done several times during the last
three months, that were the king to profit thereby, better than he has
done in the past, they would be obliged for their own interest to support
his, but the king acts, or more correctly allows himself to be guided so
as to risk everything on the promise he imagines he has from his enemies,
who having neither good faith nor honour tell him even that they have
not given it, and is led by the advice of ministers, of which the principal
and the weakest is Ashburnham, whom I believe is well known to you.
The secret deliberation on which the leaders of the Independents and
the army are now engaged is to know how it would suit them to transfer
the Parliament from London to some other place, and if for that purpose,
and in order to adjourn it for some time, they will conduct the king
there, but as they find many obstacles in this matter they have much
trouble in coming to a decision. I pray you not to let the Queen of
England know with what freedom I write to you what I think of the
conduct of the king her husband, it would injure me and would not help
business. I know that she contributes much to his indulging in vain
hopes, and even to his accepting conditions she would not allow him to
consent to were it not for that great impatience she manfests to leave
France; and further, these people who advise the king, with the exception
of Ashburnham, have all been sent to him by M. Jermyn.]
CXXXIV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^^^ l647.
V. Em^" aura veu par ma derniere lettre de quelle sorte les
Ecossois ont juge plus a propos de se sousmettre que de s'opposer
aux Independants pour les porter a raccommodement qu"'ils
desirent, et comme il n^ a eu autre debat entre les partis qui
sont ici, qu'a qui temoigneroit plus de laschete et moins
d'inclination pour les interets du roi de la G' B''.
Les Commissaires attendent leurs passeports pour partir
de cette ville d'ou sont deja sortis le Due de Hamilton et le
Marquis d'Argyle pour retourner en leurs maisons. J'ay ete
dire adieu au dernier qui m'a avoue franchement qu'il n'avoit
point creu que les Ecossois deussent entreprendre aucune
chose pour le retablissement de leur roi s'il ne leur donnoit
satisfaction sur le point de la religion ; — ce qu'il desesperoit
qu'il fit jamais. Que si le prince que ces royaumes regard oient
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 245
aujourd"'huy principalement etoit bien conseille, et venoit avec
dessein de les satisfaire, il s"'engageroit de le mettre a la tete
de dix mille hommes de pied et de six mille chevaux prests a
le suivre partout ou ses interets le feroient aller. Que, cepen-
dant, il ne me vouloit point celer qu'li avoit leceu lettres du
Comte de Man Chester et de M"" Lenthol, speakers des deux
raaisons du Parlement, par lesquelles lis lui mandent quMls
esperent que le bruit qui a couru de la levee d'une nouvelle
armee en Ecosse ne se trouve pas veritable et qu'ils s'asseurent
qu'il sera un bon instrument pour Tempecher et pour faire
qu'une bonne intelligence s''entretienne entre les deux royaumes.
Je ne scay pas a quel dessein il m''a dit tout ceci, qu'il m'a
prie de tenir secret, si ce n'est pour me faire voir qu"'il etoit
considere de ceux que Ton croyoit ses ennemis, et qu'^il falloit
que le roi de la G"" B*^ fit quelque chose a Tavantage des
Ecossois pour les obliger a rompre avec des personnes qui
recherchoient leur amitie. II m"'a dit ensuite qu'il essayeroit
de donner encore quelques hommes a M. le Chev"" Moray, et
m"'a asseure que rien ne lui etoit plus considerable au monde,
apres le service de son roi, que celui de S. M*^, ce qui est un
terme dont se sert aussi presque toujours M. le Due de Hamil-
ton, et qui ne signifie pas beaucoup a mon avis, dans la bouche
de Tun ni de Tautre. Je me suis contente de le remercier de
la confiance quMl avoit en moi, — de lui temoigner que je n''avois
jamais doute de Taffection qu''il portoit au roi de la G' B', et
de Tasseurer que je ferois scavoir a V. Em*'® le soin qu''il avoit
eu des interets de S. M*^ en lui envoyant tons les prisonniers
quMl avoit fait, sans entrer aucunement dans le particulier des
choses qu'il m''avoit dites.
Apres la prise du fort de Migry par David Leslay on n'a
plus rien trouve dans les isles qui pent faire de resistance, de
sorte qu''on a laisse des garnisons dans les places de TOuest qui
sout de quelque importance et Middleton avec ses troupes
dans le Nord, et on a fait revenir Tarmee de ce c6te-ci, tant
pour ]a faire subsister plus commodement que pour Tapprocher
d"'Angleterre, s'il y a quelque chose a craindre des Independants.
On avoit creu que Lord Reay qui est dans la partie de ce
royaume qui est plus vers la Nord, et de plus difficile acces,
donneroit encore de la peine a Tarmee de ce Parlement, mais le
246 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [SEPT.
Marquis d'Argyle m'a asseure quMl avoit offert de le faire j uge
du differend qu''il a pour ses terres avec le Comte de Sutherland,
et de se sousmettre au Pari* et aux ministres pour le reste.
Les Echevins et le Conseil de le ville d'Edimbourg ont
depute vers moi un chevalier et cinq autres de leur corps, pour
me temoigner la satisfaction qu'ils avoient des offices que j''avois
faits aupres de V. Em*'® touchant les fregates de M. le Prince de
Galles, et me prier de lui en vouloir rendre de leur part, de
tres humbles remerciements, mais principalement pour me repre-
senter, que contre les privileges que ceux de leur nation ont en
France, on leur a fait payer les taxes qui ont ete mises sur les
etrangers.i J'ay essaye de leur donner toutes les bonnes paroles
qu*"!! m'a ete possible, et je leur ay promis de faire savoir leurs
desirs a V. Em*=®. Je leur ai represente toutefois les difficulties
qu'il pourroit y avoir a changer une chose qui avoit ete deja
faite, afin qu'ils eussent plus d'obligation a V. Em'^® sMls etoient
decharges de cette taxe, et qu"'ils la payassent plus volontiers
s"'ils y etoient obliges. Mais afin que Ton puisse avoir le temps
de les faire payer, ou celui au moins de prendre quelque re-
solution sur cette affaire, je leur ai fait entendre que comme les
choses qui etoient dites avoient plus de force que celles qui
s'ecrivoient, et que je devois aller en France dans fort peu de
temps, je serois bien aise de prendre soin de leurs interets, dont
j''esperois de leur rendre fort bon compte.
Ainsy, Mg"", si V. Em*'® le jugeoit a propos on pourroit
remettre cette affaire jusqu'a ce que je sois par dela, et alors
leur accorder ou leur refuser ce qu'ils demandent selon que Ton
pourroit avoir besoin d'eux.
Cependant je n''ay ose me mettre en chemin que je n'en eusse
receu Tentiere permission de V. Em*'®, que j''espere qu'elle me
fera Thonneur de me donner presentement, tant parce qu'il se
passera peu de chose icy dans les affaires publiques avant le
premier Parlement qui ne se doit tenir qu"'au commencement de
Mars prochain, que pour ce que les hommes qui restent a M. le
^ Sur la marge de I'original de cette lettre se trouve la note suivante, dont
r^criture est presque effacee, qui pourrait etre de la main du Cardinal : — * Je fis
donner ordre k M. de finance qu'en aucune fa9on ou ne fera les taxes qu'on avoit
faites sur les Ecossois. . . ; Si quelqu'un se plaigne qu'il s'adresse a moi, — ^je y
feroi remede.'
i647l MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 247
Comte d'^Angus a envoyer se doivent embarquer dans le nord de
TEcosse, et que mon sejour icy contribue peu de choses a les
hater et parce que je pourray encore, etant sur les lieux rendre
compte a V. Em^^ de beaucoup de choses qui ne se peuvent pas
ecrire si commodement.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazabin. Edinburgh, ^^^' 1647.
You will have seen by my last letter in what manner the Scots have
judged it better to submit than to oppose the Independents in order to
bring them to the agreement they wish, and thus there has been no
discussion between the parties that are here other than as to which
of them would manifest most cowardice and least inclination for the
interests of their king.
The delegates are still awaiting their passports in order to leave this town.
The Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle have gone to their estates.
I called to say good-bye to the latter, who confessed to me frankly he did
not believe the Scots ought to undertake anything for the re-establish-
ment of their king if he would not satisfy them on the point of religion,
which he despaired of his ever doing. That if the prince whom, he said,
these kingdoms were now chiefly looking to, were well advised and came
to them with the intention of satisfying them, he would engage to place
him at the head of ten thousand foot and six thousand horse, ready to
follow him wherever his interests might lead him to go. That, however,
he would not conceal from me that he had received letters from the Earl
of Manchester and Mr, Lenthal, Speakers of both Houses of the English
Parliament, by which they expressed the hope that the rumour that has
circulated of the raising of a new army in Scotland will not turn out to
be true, and that they were certain he would be a good instrument in
order to prevent it and to cause a good understanding to prevail between
the two kingdoms. I do not know what intention he had in telling me
all this, which he begged me to keep secret, if it were not to let me see
how he was considered by those supposed to be his enemies and how
necessary it was for the King of Great Britain to do something for the
profit of the Scots so as to oblige them to break off relations with persons
who were seeking their friendship. He added that he would try to give
some more men to Sir Robert Moray, and assured me that after the
service of his own king nothing was more agreeable to him than to be of
service to his Majesty, This is an expression also much employed by
the Duke of Hamilton, and which in my opinion does not signify much,
coming from either of them, I merely thanked him for his confidences
and assured him I had never doubted of his affection for the King of
Great Britain, and that I would inform you of the care he had taken of
the interests of his Majesty by his sending him all the prisoners he had
taken without entering into the details of the matters he had mentioned
to me.
248 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [SEPT.
After the capture of the fort of Migry, the resistance in the islands
seems to be at an end, so that garrisons have been left in the most im-
portant places in the West, and Middleton with his troops continues in
the North, while the army is brought back here, as much on account of
its subsistence being more easily provided for as in order to have it near
England if there were anything to fear from the Independents.
It was thought that Lord Reay, who occupies the most northerly
district of this kingdom, would still give some trouble to the army of this
Parliament, but the Marquis of Argyle has assured me that the former
had offer to make him arbiter in the dispute he has about his lands with
the Earl of Sutherland, and offered also to submit to Parliament and to
the clergy in other matters.
The Bailies and Town Council of Edinburgh have deputed to me a
knight and five others of their number to express their satisfaction at
the good service I had done by my recommendation to you regarding
the frigates of the Prince of Wales and to beg me to return to you on
their part very humble thanks, but their principal business was in order
to represent to me that contrary to the privilege that those of their nation
have in France they have been made to pay the taxes that have been
put on foreigners.^ I tried to reply to them with fair words and pro-
mised to inform you of their wishes. I pointed out to them, however,
the obstacles there might be in the way of changing a thing that had
already been done, so that they may feel more obliged to you if they were
exempted from this tax, and pay it more willingly if they were obliged to
do so. But in order that one may have the time to pay them, or at least
to take some decision on the matter, I made them understand that as
things that were said had more force than those that were written, and
as I was to go to France soon I should be glad to take charge of their
interests, of which I hoped to render a good account.
Thus if you judge proper one could refer this matter until I may be on
the other side and then grant or refuse what they ask according as we
may require their services.
Yet I do not venture to set out until I have your entire permission,
which I hope you will send me at present, both because there will be very
little doing here in public affairs before the first Parliament that will only
be held on the first of March next ; and as for the men that the Earl of
Angus has to send they are to embark in the North of Scotland and my
stay here can contribute very little to hasten the matter, and because
there are many things I might mention to you being on the spot that it
is not so convenient to write about.]
^ On the margin of this despatch is a hurried jotting in Mazarin's hand-
writing, partially effaced, containing the draft of a reply to the above thus : * Je
fis donner ordre a M. de finance, qu'en aucune fa(jon on ne fera les taxes qu'on
avoit faites sur les Ecossois ... Si quelqu'un se plaigne qu'il s'adresse k moi je
y feroi remede.'
1 647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 249
CLXXXV
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^ Septemhre l647.
Monsieur, — Tous ceux qui veullent plaire au Roy d''Angle-
terre faisons doucement ce qui se peut pour empescher que les
propositions ne luy soient presentees demain, ainsy qu''il a este
resolu au parlement, raais comme le peu de retardement que
Ton y apportera ne luy peut donner aucun auantage reel
quand nous ny reussirons pas, nous n'en serons pas fort en
peine, mais nous auons subject de Testre de voir Testablissement
que prend Tarmee et tout le parti qui veut icy miner la
royaute a la grandeur duquel il semble que le roy d'Ang"
contribue beaucoup plus qu''il ne deburoit, dans Topinion de
laquelle il est preuenu que Parmee non seullement s"'eSt engagee
a luy de le seruir, mais aussy y est engagee necessitee par son
propre interest, telle chose a la verite pourroit arriuer, comme
i''ay tousiours diet qu"'elle y seroit obligee, mais certainement il
hazarde beaucoup, car si dans le temps qu'elle le proteste de le
voulloir restablir, elle peut sans luy accomoder ses affaires, a
(juoy elle trauaille et reussit, elle le ruinera sans doute par
degrez si elle ne le peut tout d''un coup. Elle songe a gaigner
le peuple et aux moyens de le soulager. Les Escossois ne
leur font point de peine ; ilz scauent que pour de Targent
ilz les auront, ilz se disposent a leur en donner. Sur la relation
d''un colonel qui depuis deux jours est arriue d^Irlande, Ton est
en peine icy de Testat des affaires de ce Royaume la. II parle
d"'une union de toutes les forces qui y sont pour venir en ce
Royaume cy s"'opposer a celles de Tarmee, mais comme ces
nouuelles ne peuuent pas estre telles qu'il dit iusques a ce
qu''il en soit venu des lettres, ie ne les croiray pas ny ne vous
en escriray les particularitez. — .Te suis. Monsieur, vostre, etc.,
Bellieuee.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure du l6 Septerabre l647, re9eu le 25.
[Beluevre to Brienne. London ^ Sep. 1647.
All those who wish to please the King of England are doing quietly
what they can to prevent the proposals from being presented to him to-
morrow, as it has been resolved in Parliament, but as the short delay this
250 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [sept.
will cause can give him no real advantage^ if we do not succeed we will
not be much put out ; but we have reason to be so in seeing the exten-
sion the army and all the party that wish here to ruin the monarchy is
taking, to the importance of which it seems the King of England is con-
tributing much more than he ought, in the opinion, in which he is
anticipating, that the army is not only engaged to him to serve him, but
also that it is so necessarily by its own interest. Such a thing may in fact
happen, as I have always said that it might be obliged to him, but
certainly he is risking much, for if during the time it protests that it
wishes to re-establish him, it be able to arrange its affairs without him, —
upon which it is engaged and is succeeding, — it will no doubt ruin him
by degrees, if it may not do so all at once. It is thinking of how it may
gain the favour of the people and of the means of relieving them. They
have no trouble as to Scots, whom they know they may have for money
which they are prepared to give them. People are in trouble here about
the state of affairs in Ireland from what has been related by a colonel
who has arrived from there two days ago. He speaks of a union of all
the forces that are there in order to come to the country to oppose the
plans of the army, but as this news cannot be as he states, until we receive
letters I shall not believe it nor write to you the particulars.]
CLXXXVI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbotirg, — Sept. 1647.
Les Comtes de Loudun et Lanark se preparoient pour leur
voyage d'Angleterre, quand ils ont juge plus a propos de ne se
pas hater de partir d''ici apres avoir receu les passeports qui leur
ont ete envoyes, qui ne se sont pas trouves en bonne forme, non
seulement parce qu'ils sont concus en termes fort peu obligeants,
mais encore parce qu''ils leur donnent seulement la liberte d'aller
a Oatlands trouver leur roy, de sorte qu"'ils pourroient etant la,
ne pas se trouver en asseurance, puisqu""!] ne se parle point du
sejours qu'ils y doivent faire, et qu'on pourroit mesme les
empecher de passer a Londres et d'aller trouver leur roi en
autre lieu qu'a Oatlands (oii nous savons qu'il n'est deja plus)
sans qu'ils se peussent plaindre qu'on eut fait aucune chose
contre les termes de leur passeport. Cela fait qu'encore que
le roi de la G' B"" leur ait ecrit a Tun et a Tautre des lettres
fort civiles pour les obliger de venir en diligence, ils ont juge
plus a propos de difFerer leur partement jusqu'a ce qu'ils ayent
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 251
des sauf-conduits en meilleure forme, ou (ce qu'ils desirent
principalement) quails ayent asseurance qu'on fera bons en
Angleterre les passeports que leur Comite donnera ici. Ce
mepris que les Ecossois ont receu, joint au commandement qui a
ete fait a quelques uns de leur nation de ne point approcher de
la personne de leur roi, et a Tordre qui a ete donne a Tarmee
qu''ils ont en Irelande de s'en retirer, apres qu''elle aura ete
payee pour quinze jours seulement, — toutes ces choses, dis-je
mettent en fort mauvaise humeur ceux qui ont le plus de part
au maniement des affaires de ce royaume, et les portent mesmes
jusqu'a se plaindre, avec assez de liberte, de ce mauvais traite-
ment, mais non pas jusqu'a prendre une genereuse resolution
de s'en ressentir, et de prevenir le nial qu"'ils ont tout sujet
d'apprehender. Car, bien que le Marquis d'Argyle, qui a ete
ici de retour, et qui en partit hier seulement, m'ait dit pour
excuser sa protestation, qu'ils n"'etoit pas a propos de faire des
menaces avant qu'etre en etat de frapper, et qu^on me dit tons
les jours qu"'il ne tient qu'au roi de la G' B"" de faire prendre les
armes a toute TEcosse pour son service, en satisfaisant ces
peuples sur le fait de leur covenant. Je ne crois point que
j^aye sujet pour cela de changer les sentiments que j^ai eu
d'abord, qu'ils tachent par ce moyen seulement de mettre mal
leur roi avec les Independants, pour se mettre bien, s''il est
possible, avec eux, a son prejudice.
Quoique V. Em'^^ puisse avoir eu deja de Londres ce que je
me vais donner Thonneur de lui dire presentment, j'ai creu qu'a
tout evenement je lui devois faire savoir qu'on m'a montre deux
lettres du Comte de Lauderdale, par la premiere desquelles il
mande qui celui qui commende Tarmee navale du Pari*
d'Angleterre, lui avoit envoye ofFrir de se declarer pour les
Ecossois et pour les Anglois Presbyteriens, avec 22 vaisseaux,
pourveu qu'ils les voulussent ravitailler, — ce qu'il scavoit que
leur royaume ne pouvoit faire, mais ce quMls pourroient par le
moyen de la France, si elle se joignoit a eux. Par la seconde
il donne avis que les Independants se veulent accommoder avec
les Ecossois, — qu'il traite avec un des plus considerables de
Tarmee d'Angleterre pour cet effet, qui Tasseure que pourveu
que TEcosse s"'accorde avec les Independants en ce seul point
d'abandonner leur roi, ils demeureront aisement d'accord les
252 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [sept.
uns et les autres, de tout le reste, — que Renfield que connoit
M. Jermin, n^avoit peu faire promettre au roi de la G"" B"^ qu""!!
contenteroit les Ecossois, mais seulement que s'ils commen^oient
a se declarer pour lui, il ne feroit rien a leur prejudice avec les
Independants, — que M*^ Asburnham est le seul qui empeche ce
prince de s'accommoder avec eux ; qu'il faut, en quelque
maniere que ce soit, faire venir Will. Moray pres du dit roi, et
qu"'il prevoit que ce prince est absolument ruine s'il croit les
Independants.
Je ne puis dire a quel dessein ils m"'ont fait voir ces deux
lettres, si ce n'est que, comme ils croyent que j''ecris au roi de
la G' B' ils ont voulu me faire connaitre qu'ils n"'ont point
besoin de lui pour se conserver, et qu''il ne se peut conserver
sans eux, afin qu'en etant bien persuade, je le puisse mander
plus fortement au dit roi qui peut recevoir ce que je lui ecris,
comme les sentiments d''une personne au moins tres affectionee
a ses interets. Cependant cela se trouvera inutile parce qu"*-
encore que le roi de la G' B' m'ayt laisse un chifFre en le
quittant j'ai juge plus a propos de ne m'en point servir jusqu^-
ici, et pour ce que les choses changeant a chaque moment
j''aurois peu le fair savoir a contretemps, et encore pour ce que
donnant avis tres soigneusement a M. de Bellievre de tout ce que
se passe ici, dont je puis avoir connaissance, il sait mieux que moi
ce quMl est a propos, ou de taire ou de faire savoir a sa dite M**.
Le dit roi presse les Comtes de Traquair et de Callander de
Taller trouver, mais je ne crois pas qu^il se doive fier en eux que
de bonne sorte. lis ont tous deux pris parti, ainsi que Ton
croit, le premier avec le Marquis d'Argyle, et le second avec le
Due de Hamilton. Outre que tous les trois partis qui sont ici
agissent de grand concert pour perdre leur roi, les plus moderes
d''entre eux s"'etant portes avec assez de violence contre son
service durant ces troubles pour ne pas attendre de luy des
recompenses sMl se trouve jamais en etat de les pouvoir faire
punir.
Ce que je me suis donne Thonneur de mander a V. Em'^^ par
mes dernieres est bien veritable, que toute FEcosse etoit
maintenant reduite en I'obeissance du Parlement. II y a
toutefois un petit chateau au milieu d'un lac en I'isle d''Yla qui
n'a point encore ete rendu. Celui qui y commanda est un frere
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 253
batard de Macdonald, et il se dit que comme on Ta menace de
pendre son pere devant lui s'il ne rendoit la place, il a fait
reponse qu'il seroit bien aise que son pere re<j;ut ce qu'il avoit
merite il y a longtemps. II n"'a toutefois ni rendu le chateau
ni veu pendre son pere qu'on conduit par mer dans cette ville
avec quelques autres prisonniers dont on a differe Texecution.
On doit demain resoudre de ce qu'on doit faire de Tarmee de ce
royaume, mais quoiqu'on parle de la debander, il y a tout sujet
de croire qu'on avisera seulement aux moyens de la maintenir.
On a aussi debattu si Ton devoit ordonner aux Commissaires
qui sont a Londres de se joindre avec ceux du Pari* d'Angle-
terre dans Tenvoi des premieres propositions au roi de la G' B'
ainsy que le pressoit le Marquis d'Argyle, ou d"'insister qu"'il
vint en son parlement, sur les termes de sa derniere lettre,
comme le Due de Hamilton le jugeoit plus a propos. Mais on
m''a dit, que comme on n''avoit peu s''accorder on avoit seule-
ment envoye ordre aux Deputes qui sont en Angleterre de
presser pour avoir un passeport, et de ne rien faire avant qu'ils
en ayent d'ici un ordre bien particulier.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Sep. 1647.
The Earls of Loudon and Lanark were preparing for their journey to
England, but on receiving their passports they judged it to be more
prudent not to hasten to leave here ; as the passports that have been sent
to them are not in proper form, not only from their being drawn up in
no very obliging terms, but also because they give them only liberty to
visit their king at Oatlands, so that being there they could not be assured of
their safety, since no mention is therein made of any stay they might make
there and they might be prevented from going to London and from going
to find their king in any other place but Oatlands — where we know he no
longer is* — without their being able to complain that one had done anything
contrary to the terms of their passport. It thus happens that although
the King of Great Britain has written to each of them very polite letters,
in order to oblige them to lose no time in coming to visit him, they have
judged it to be more suitable to defer their departure until they may
have safe-conducts in proper form, or, what they principally want, to be
assured that the passports granted by their Committee of Estates be con-
sidered good in England. This contempt shown for the Scots, added to
the command that has been addressed to some of their nation not to
approach the person of their king, and the order that has been given to
* 'The king left Oatlands to-day, Aug. 24th, and came to Hampton Court.' —
Rushworth, part iv. vol. ii. p. 789.
254 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [sept.
the army they have in Ireland to withdraw on receiving a fortnight's pay
only, put those have most part in directing the affairs of this kingdom
into very bad humour, and cause them even to complain very freely of
this bad treatment, but without going so far as to take a brave resolution
to resent it and to ward off the evil they have every reason to apprehend.
For although the Marquis of Argyle — who has been here and who went
away again yesterday — told me as an excuse of his protest, that it was
out of place to make threats before being in a position to strike, and that
I am told every day that it but depends on the King of Great Britain to
arm all Scotland for his defence, by satisfying his people on the matter
of their Covenant, I do not believe I have reason on that account to
change the opinions I had at first, that they are simply trying by this
means to disaffect their king with the Independents in order to ingratiate
themselves with them, if possible, to his detriment.
Although you may have already learned from London what I am now
about to relate to you, I have yet thought it better, in any case, to inform
you of it ; that two letters have been shown to me from the Earl of
Lauderdale, in the first of which he states that the commander of the
parliamentary naval forces in England had sent to him to offer to him to
declare for the Scots and the English Presbyterians with twenty-two ships
provided they would engage to revictual them, which he knew their king-
dom could not do, but that they might be able to have it done by means of
France if that country were to join them. In the second letter the earl
states that the Independents wish to come to an agreement with the Scots ;
that he is treating with one of the most important persons of the English
army to that effect, who assures him that provided Scotland may agree
with the Independents on this single point of abandoning their king they
will both easily remain agreed on all the rest ; that Renfield wlio knows
M. Jermyn had not been able to obtain a promise from the King of Great
Britain that he would satisfy the Scots, but merely that were they to begin
by declaring themselves for him he would do nothing to injure them in
the estimation of the Independents ; that Mr. Ashburnham is the only
one that prevents this prince from coming to an agreement with them ;
that it is necessary to send Will. Moray to the king in whatever way it
can be done, and that he foresees this prince to be absolutely lost if he
believe the Independents.
I am unable to say for what purpose these two letters were shown to
me, if it be not that as the Scots believe I correspond with the King of
Great Britain, they may have wished to inform me that they can maintain
themselves without help from him, whereas he cannot maintain himself
without them, so that I, being persuaded of this, might convey it more
strongly to their king, who may accept what I write to him as the senti-
ments of a person very devoted at least to his service. Yet that will be
of no avail, because although the King of Great Britain when I left him
gave me a cipher, I have judged it to be moi'e prudent for me not to
make use of it, both by reason of things changing at each moment, so
that I might have informed him of them at an improper time, and also
1647] BELLlfeVRE TO BRIENNE 255
from my having kept M. de Bellievre very carefully informed of all I can
learn here : he knows better than I what is most suitable or not suitable
to send to their king.
The king urges the Earls of Traquair and of Callander to come to him,
but I do not think he ought to trust them much : they are both party
men, the first is considered to be with the Marquis of Argyle and the
second with the Duke of Hamilton ; although all the three parties that
are here act quite together in order to ruin their king, the most
moderate of them having conducted themselves with violence enough in
opposition to his service during these troubles so as to preclude their
expecting rewards from him, were he ever in a position to punish them.
Sviiat I stated to you in my last is quite true, all Scotland is now
reduced to submission to the Parliament. There is, however, a small castle
in the middle of a lake in the island of Isla that has not yet surrendered.
It is commanded by a bastard brother of Macdonald, who, on being
threatened with seeing his father hanged before the place if he did not
deliver it up, replied that he would be glad to see his father receive what
he had long ago deserved. He has, however, neither surrendered nor seen
his father hanged : the latter is being brought here with other prisoners
whose execution has been deferred. The question of what is to be done
with the army of this kingdom is to be settled to-morrow, but although
there is some talk of its being disbanded, it is more likely that means
will be taken to maintain it. A discussion has also arisen as to whether
the Scottish Commissioners in London ought to be instructed to join
with those of the English Parliament in sending the first proposals to the
King of Great Britain, as the Marquis of Argyle contends, or whether it
ought to be insisted upon that he came to his Parliament on the terms of
his last letter, as the Duke of Hamilton judges to be more proper. But
as I have been told they could not agree on this matter, they had simply
sent orders to the Commissioners who are in England to urge them to
procure a passport and to do nothing until they may receive a very
special order from here.]
CLXXXVII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le — Septemhre 1647.
Monsieur, — ^incertitude de TefFect que produira la response
que le Roy de la G. B. a donne aux propositions qui luy ont
este presentees tient les esprits en suspens; elle sera demain
publiee au moins sera elle leiie dans les deux Maisons du
Parlement. Uarmee et ses amis y sont fauorisez. Les pres-
biteriens anglois et les Escossois si trouuent mal traittez.
Les affaires du d. Roy sont en mauuais estat si en suitte de
^56 BELLIjfeVRE TO BRIENNE [sept.
cette response il ne peut pas obtenir le traicte qu'il demande,
et que Tarmee luy a promis, laquelle a mon aduis s'employeroit
a lui faire donner quelque espece de satisfFaction apparente, si
Paffaire d'lrlande deuoit auoir quelque suitte, mais on s'imagine
que les declarations qui y ont este faictes ne Font este que sur
Taduis que Ton y auoit de Topposition que la ville de Londres
voulloit faire a Tarmee, Ton croy que Ton ne persistera pas
apres que Ton aura sceu que la ville s''est sousmise, et ainsy
il est tousiours a craindre que Tarmee n^use de son pouuoir
pour destruire le dit roy et non pour le restablir ainsy qu'il
continue de se le persuader. Le Marquis d"'Ormonde m'a parle
de ses leuees et de Tautre propositions qu''il vous a faict faire
par le S' Talon, mais comme je n'ay pas eu de response sur ce
que je me suis donne Thonneur de vous en escrire, je ne luy en
ay peu parler qu'en termes qui ne signifient rien. S'il y a
quelque chose a faire sur ce subiect il vous plaira de me le
faire scauoir.
JTenuoye au S"^ du Bosc la response en Anglois aux propositions.
Je n*'ay peu retirer auant le partement de ce Courier la tra-
duction que j"'en auois fait faire. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre,
etc., Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 23 Septembre 1646, reeeu le 28.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, S Sep. 1647.
The uncertainty of the effect that may be produced by the reply the
King of Great Britain has given to the proposals that have been pre-
sented to him, keeps all minds here in a state of suspense : it will be
published to-morrow, or at least be read in the two Houses of Parliament.
The army and its friends are favourably treated therein, the English
Presbyterians and the Scots are badly treated. The king's affairs will
be in a bad state if, as the result of this reply, he cannot obtain the treaty
he asks and which the army has promised to him, which, in my opinion,
would operate in his obtaining some sort of apparent satisfaction if the
affair of Ireland was to have any result, but it is supposed that the declara-
tions that were made there have been drawn up merely on the information
that prevailed there of the opposition which the town of London wished to
make to the army. It is believed it will not be persisted in when it is
known that the town surrendered, and thus it is always to be feared that
the army may employ its power in order to destroy the king and not in
order to restore him as he continues to persuade himself. The Marquis
of Ormond spoke to me about his levies and the other proposal he made
to you through M. Talon, but as I have had no reply regarding what I
1 647] MONTEREULTO MAZARIN 257
wrote to you. I only spoke to him of it in general terms that signified
nothing. If there were anything to do on this subject please let me
know,
1 send to M, du Bosc the reply to the proposals in English. I cannot
obtain before the leaving of the mail the translation of it that had given
to be done.]
CLXXXVIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhmrg, g Sept. l647.
AiNSY que je in'etois donne Thonneur de Tecrire a V. Em*'®,
on mit en deliberation Mercredi dernier, si Ton devoit conserver
ou licentier Tarmee de ee Parlement, mais la resolution qui a
ete prise s'est trouvee differente de ce que Ton avoit estime,
puisque les amis du Due de Hamilton ont emporte sur ceux
du Marquis d'Argyle qu''elle seroit debandee le ^ du mois
prochain, sous cette condition, toutefois, que ceux qui compo-
seront le grand Comite, qui se doit assembler le ^ du mesme
mois, ne trouvent pas que leur religion, leur roi et leur
fortune soient en tel danger qu'ils ayent encore besoin du
secours de la dite armee. Et afin qu'elle ne puisse pas, a
rimitation de celle d"'Angleterre refuser de se debander a faute
de paiement, on a arreste que tons ce qui pouvoit etre deu,
tant aux officiers qu'aux soldats seroit leve presentement sur le
peuple, et Ton a presque deja regie combien chaque province
fournira pour sa part des —£ [.£'25,000] sterling qui pourront
etre deus de reste a Tarmee au temps auquel on a resolu de la
debander.
Cependant, Mg', quoique le Due de Hamilton, outre qu'il
est fort aise d'avoir emporte sur le Marquis d'Argyle, une chose
si avantageuse pour lui et si agreable aux peuples d'Ecosse et a
Tarmee d''Angleterre, et qu'il temoigne qu'il est asseure de faire
executer absolument ce qui a ete arreste seulement sous condi-
tion, et que les amis du Marquis d''Argyle au contraire fassent
voir du deplaisir d"'une resolution si contraire, non seulement
a leurs interets, mais encore a leurs esperances, et qu'ils se
laissent mesme entendre qu'il se trouvera plus de difficulte a
licentier Tarmee que Ton avoit creu, soit par la peine qu'on
VOL. II. E
258 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [sept.
aura de trouver une si grande somme dans un pays si necessiteux
comme celui-ci, scat par le refus que ferons les soldats de quitter
leurs armes, — quelques uns ne laissent pas de croire que ce
Due et ce Marquis iragissent pas moins de concert en cette
affaire qu'en toutes les autres. Les raisons qu'ils ont pour cela
sont, que le Marquis d'Argyle ne seroit pas parti d'Edimbourg
un jour avant que cette resolution se devoit prendre, ni M. de
Balmerino et quelques autres principaux de sa faction ne se
seroient pas absentes de ce Comite, comme ils ont fait, s'ils
n''avoient pas ete d^accord auparavant avec le Due de Hamilton
de ce que s*'y devoit resoudre, Qu'il falloit que le dit Due
temoignast a son tour aux Independants qu'il vouloit les obliger
et qu'il a deu opposer Tinstance quMl a faite pour le debande-
ment de Tarmee a la protestation qui fit le Marquis d'Argyle en
leur faveur il y a quelques jours.
Que comme Tun et Tautre doivent desirer que Tarmee se
maintienne, s'il est vray qu'ils soient bien d'accord et quMls
prevoient tons deux que cela est fort contraire aux intentions
des Ecossois, il a fallu que Tun d''eux suivit les sentiments de
ces peuples afin qu'ils souffrissent plus volontiers ce qu*'une
personne de cette condition et qui etoit de leur avis ne pouvoit
pas empecher, ou quMls le choisissent pour chef sMls avoient
quelque chose a entreprendre.
A quoy ils ajoutent que le Due de Hamilton et le Marquis
d''Argyle ne pouvoient tirer d'Ecosse "- livres sterling que par
Tesperance qu'ils ont donnee du debandement de cette armee,
ce qu'il dependra toujours d'eux de ne pas faire quand Targent
sera receu suivant les conditions qui ont ete opposees a Tordre
qui a ete donnee sur ce sujet ; et veritablement, Mg% leur fa^on
d'agir sembleroit appuyer asses cette creance, n'etoit que quelque
intelligence qui puisse estre entre eux dans ce qui regarde la
ruine de leur roy, dont ils croient profiter egalement, le Marquis
d'Argyle a un interest tout particulier de conserver une armee
dont tous les officiers sont ses creatures, et le Due de Hamilton
de se delivrer de la seule chose qui Tempeche d'estre absolu dans
ce royaume.
Et quoiqu'ii soit asses difficile de juger des sentiments de
personnes qui agissent avec tant d'art comme eux, et qui ne
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 259
sont rien moins que ce qu'ils paroissent, comme il est asseure
que ce Due emportera que Tarmee se debande au cas qu'il le
desire veritablement, j^y creu qu'avant que le comite s'^assemble
qui nous fera mieux juger de leurs intentions, je ne ferois rien
qui pent prejudicier au service de sa Maj*^ en voyant par quels
moyens on pourra encore avoir d'icy quelques hommes, et outre
les nouvelles corapagnies quMl y aura lieu d'ajouter aux deux
regiments des gardes et d'Angus. Si Tarmee se debande j'espere
qu'on pourra encore disposer le Lieutenant-G*^ David Leslay a
faire passer trois on quatre mille hommes en France et a y
venir liiy mesme les commander apres ce que je luy en ay fait
dire par un de ses amis, non pas tant comme une chose que je
desire que comme une chose quMl doit desirer,
J'ay pense encore qu"'au cas qu'ils trouvent peu de seurete
pour eux a debander leur armee, et beaucoup de difficulte a la
conserver, on pourroit leur proposer qu'ils fissent passer en
France ime bonne partie de leur infanterie avec asseurance de
la leur rendre'quand ils en auront besoin, ce qui seroit en efFet
remedier a leurs craintes sans leur apporter d"'incommodite et
leur donner moyen de conserver leur armee sans estre obliges de
fournir a sa subsistance.
Je n'ay point fait toutefois encore cette proposition que
V. Em*^^ jugera pent estre peu praticable parce que je crois
qu'il est a propos de connoistre auparavant de quelle maniere
ils agissent, pour savoir s'il y aura lieu de la faire et a qui elle
devra estre faite afin quMl puisse reussir.
Je vous supplie done, Mg', de me vouloir faire savoir exacte-
ment sur cecy la voloute de V. Em''^ Je ne crois pas toutefois
qu'il soit a propos de remettre icy de I'argent jusqu'a ce qu'on
soit asseure qu'il y aura lieu de Temployer.
Madame la Marquise de Hamilton, mere du Due de ce nom,
mourut icy Jeudi dernier. Le pere de Macdonald fut conduit
icy la semaine passee, mais le Marquis d'Argyle n'a pas permis
qu'on le mit a terre, et il Ta fait reconduire au lieu duquel il
etoit venu, parce que la faction du Due de Hamilton avoit
resolu de le sauver, ainsy qu'il se dit, et que ce Marquis a creu
qu'il le feroit mourir plus asseurement quand il dependroit de
luy seul de le coudanmer.
260 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [SEPT.
[MoNTEHEUL to CARDINAL Mazabin. Edinburgh, 5^ Sep. 1647.
As I have already written to you the question of preserving or disband-
ing the army of this Parliament was brought up for discussion on Wednes-
day last, but the decision come to was different from what was expected, as
the friends of the Duke of Hamilton prevailed over those of the Marquis
of Argyle that it would be disbanded on the ^ of next month, on this
condition, however, that those who will form the Committee of Estates that
is to meet on the ^ of the same month, do not find that their religion,
their king and their fortunes, run such danger as to require the help of
the said army. And in order that it may not, in imitation of that of
England refuse to disband, through fault of not being paid, it has been
decided that all sums that might be owing both to the officers and to the
soldiers should at present be imposed on the people, so that it has almost
already been arranged what quota each county will furnish for its part of
the £25,000 stg. that will be due to the army at the time it has been
decided to disband it.
Yet although the Duke of Hamilton, besides being very pleased at
having prevailed over the Marquis of Argyle in a matter so advantageous
for him and so agreeable to the people of Scotland and to the English
army, and which he states he is certain of having carried out absolutely,
as it was only decided conditionally, and that the friends of the Marquis
of Argyle express on the contrary their dissatisfaction at a decision so
opposed, not only to their interests, but also to their hopes, and they let it
be understood that it will be more difficult to disband the army than was
believed, either on account of the difficulty of finding such a large sum
in a country so needy as this one, or on account of the soldiers refusing
to deliver up their arms, some persons still continue to believe that this
duke and this marquis are no less acting in concert in this affair than in
all the others. The reasons they have for that are, that the marquis
would not have left Edinburgh the day before the decision was arrived at,
and that Lord Balmerino and some other important members of his
faction would not have absented themselves from the committee meeting
as they did, if they had not been agreed together beforehand with the
Duke of Hamilton regarding the decision to be come to ; that it was
necessary for the duke in his turn to show to the Independents that he
wished to oblige them and that he required to set off the demands he has
made for disbanding the army against the protestation that the Marquis
of Argyle made in their favour a few days ago.
That as the one and the other must wish the army to be maintained, if it
be true that they are acting in concert, and as they both foresee that this
is quite contrary to the intentions of the Scots, it was necessary for one of
them to appear to follow the opinions of the people, so that these latter
might be led to tolerate more willingly what a person of such rank and
who was of their opinion, could not prevent, or that they might chose him
for leader if they had anything to engage in. To which it is added also
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 261
that the Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle could not obtain
£25,000 stg. from Scotland, but on the assurance that they have given
to disband this army, which it will always depend on them not to do,
when the money will be received, according to the conditions they had
added to the order that has been given on this subject, and really their
manner of acting would seem rather to support this belief, were it not
that whatever understanding may exist between them in what concerns
the ruin of their king, of which they also hope equally to profit, the
Marquis of Argyle has a quite special interest in retaining an army of
which all the officers are but his tools ; and the Duke of Hamilton to get
rid of the only thing that prevents him from being absolute in this
kingdom. ^
And although it is somewhat difficult to judge of the opinions of
persons who act with so much art as they do and who are nothing less
than what they seem, as it is certain that this duke will carry the dis-
banding of the army in the event of his really wishing it, I have thought
that before the meeting of the committee, which will enable us better to
judge of their intentions, it would in no way harm his Majesty's service
were I to see what means there might be of still having some men from
here ; and in addition to the new companies it will be necessary to have in
both the regfiment of guards and that of Angus. If the army be disbanded,
I hope one will be able to dispose Lieut. -General David Leslie to send three
or foiir thousand men to Fi-ance and to come himself to command them,
according to what I have had one of his friends to state to him, not as a
matter tliat I wish but as a thing he ought to wish. I have thought also
that in the event of their finding little security for them in disbanding
their army and much difficulty in maintaining it, one might propose to
them that they send to France the most part of their infantry, with the
assurance of its being returned to them when they will require it, which
would in fact relieve them of their fears, without causing them any
inconvenience, and would give them the means of preserving their army
without being obliged to provide for its subsistence.
I have not, however, made this proposal until you will judge how far
it is practicable, because I believe it to be proper to know beforehand in
what manner they act in order to learn if there will be any means of
doing it, and to whom it ought to be proposed in order that it may
succeed.
I beg you then to let me know exactly your will on this matter. I do
not, however, think it necessary to send money here until one is certain
that it will be required.
The Marchioness of Hamilton, mother of the present duke, died on
Thursday last. The father of Macdonald was brought here last week,
but the Marquis of Argyle would not allow him to land and has had him
taken back to the place from whence he was brought, because the
faction of Hamilton had decided, as it was said, on saving him, and that
this marquis thought he would have him put to death more easily when
it only depended on him alone to condemn him. ]
BELLi:fcVRE TO BRIENNE [sept.
CLXXXIX
BELLIEVRE k BRIENNE
A Londres, le -^ Septembre 1647.
Monsieur, — Ce qui se resoudra aujourd'huy dans le conseil
de Tarmee pour approuuer ou desaduouer les propositions qui
ont este cy-deuant publiez de sa part, et ce qui se fera demain
dans la Maison des Communes ou Ton doit commencer a parler
de la response que le Roy d'Angleterre a faicte aux propositions
seruira a faire cognoistre la volonte et le pouuoir de ceux des-
quelz il attend son restablissement. II m'asseuroit encor hier
qu'il ny a pas lieu d'en doubter. Je ne scay s'il persistera
long temps dans cet aduis. L'armee et les Independans con-
tinuent a trauailler auec les Escossois pour s'accommoder auec
eux sans leur Roy, et en suitte de leurs negotiations les com-
missionaires d'Escosse depescherent hier un courrier en leur
pais. Je ne vous ay rien mande de ce que M. de Montereul
vous escrit par cet ordinaire concernant la flotte d'Angleterre
pour ce que j"'ay juge que cella ne pouuoit pas auoir de suitte.
II y a pres de quinze jours que Tarmee y a pourueu. — Je suis.
Monsieur, vostre, etc., Bellieuhe.
All dos — M. de BellieurCj du 26 septembre l647, receu le 3
octobre.
[Bellikvbe to Brienne. London, ^ Sep. 1647.
What will be resolved to-day in the council of the army in order to
approve or disapprove the proposals that have been previously published
on its part and what will be done to-morrow in the House of Commons,
where they are to begin to speak of the reply the King of England has
made to the proposals, will serve to let us know the will and the power
of those from whom he is expecting his restoration. He assured me
again yesterday that there was no reason to doubt it. I do not know if
he will long persist in this opinion. The army and the Independents
continue to treat with the Scots in order to come to terms with them,
without their king, and as a result of their negotiations the Scottish
Commissioners sent a special messenger to their country yesterday. I
did not reply to you about what M. de Montereul writes by this mail
regarding the English fleet because I judged it could have no result.
The matter was pi-ovided against by the army about a fortnight ago,]
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 263
CXC
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg ^Y~Oct. 1^*47.
Ce que je me donnai Thonneur d'ecrire a V. Em*^® par le
precedent ordinaire touchant le licenciement de Tarmee de ce
Parlement luy pent faire voir le peu d'intention qu"'ont les
Ecossois d'assister leur roy, quelque chose qu'ils peussent dire
au contraire, et quelques assistances qu'ils seniblassent recher-
cher de ses amis pour ce sujet. Je ne laisserai pas toutefois
d'agir selon les ordres qu'il a pleu a V. Em*^® me donner par sa
depeche du 14 Septembre et de voir ceux qui m'auoient
demande quelles asseurances ils pourroient attendre de la
France en cas qu'ils fissent quelque chose pour le roi de la
G"" B*", et de les mettre en train de me faire encore cette mesme
proposition ; car, quoiqu'ils montrent par leurs actions le peu
de bien qu'ils veulent a leur prince, ils ne laissent pas encore de
publier qu'ils ne desirent rien tant que de le voir retabli, et
osent mesme dire qu'ils Tauroient fait, s'il leur avoit donne lieu
de le faire, en leur accordant ce qu''ils lui ont tant de fois
demande; outre que le procede qu'ont tenu jusqu'ici les Inde-
pendants pour se defaire de ceux quMls ont creu leurs ennemis,
leur donne toujours de grands sujets d'apprehension et leur fait
croire qu'ils dissimulent plustost les choses passees qu'ils ne les
ont oubliees, et qu'au lieu de leur pardonner ce qu''lls ont fait,
ils attendent seulenient un temps plus propre que celui-ci pour
se venger d'eux, de sorte qu'ils s'imaginent que quelque chose
qui arrive de leur roi, ils auront toujours besoin de la protec-
tion de la France,
Au reste, Mg"", ils ont ete extremement touches de lareponse
que le roi de la G"" B' a faite aux propositions et se plaignent
fort de ce qu'il ne leur a pas tenu ce qu'il leur avoit offert,
touchant le covenant et le Presbyteriat, comme si ce n'etoit
point leur faute de n'avoir pas voulu accepter ces choses dans
le temps qu'elles leur ont ete off'ertes. lis disent aussy, que le
roi de la G"" B"" a desire d'eux presentement qu"'ils ne debandent
point leur armee, ce que ceux du parti d'Argyle publient ici
bien hautement, comme une chose qui ne leur est pas peu
264 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [ocT.
avantageuse, mais qui pourroint etre fort prejudiciable au dit
roi aupres des Independants.
Pour ce qui est du licenciement de celle-ci, il ne s''est rien
passe depuis ma derniere que me donne lieu d'aj outer aucune
chose a ce que je me suis donne Thonneur d'en ecrire a V. Em'^^,
sinon que je suis comme asseure que David Leslay ne la portera
pas a suivre Texemple de celle d'Angleterre et a refuser de se
debander, et qu'il y a apparence que quand le Due de Hamilton
trouveroit a propos que ce royaume demeurast arme, il ne
laisseroit pas de presser toujours pour le licenciement de cette
armee pour en former apres une nouvelle dont les officiers depen-
dissent de luy. II n'est arriue qu^aujourd'huy de Hamilton, ou
il a este rendfe les derniers devoirs a la feue Marquise sa mere,
de sorte que je ne Pay peu encore voir.
M. le Chevalier Moray me dit que si les armees se debandent
il espere de pouvoir faire encore mil hommes durant cet hiver.
Son marchand se contente de recevoir ce qui lui est deu pour le
nombre d'hommes qu'il a fait deja passer par dessus les douze
cens, sans pretendre les 1300, tant de livres comme il faisoit
auparavant ainsi que je Fai mande a M. le Tellier, de sorte,
Monseigneur, qu'au moins ces levees auront ete faites bien
fidelement.
Je crois que V. Em°^ ne trouvera point mauvais que je ne me
sois pas hate de presser M. le Comte d"* Angus de s"'obliger par
un acte public a faire passer en France dans Noel prochain ce
qui luy manque de ses douze cents hommes puisque cela Tauroit
pent estre choque dans le temps qu'il en a fait partir deux
cents, et qu'il est deja oblige de faire passer en France toutes
les troupes avant la fin du mois de Juin passe par un acte qui
est tres bonne forme. Je lui avois dit seulement qu'il devoit
remercier V. Em''® du terme plus long qu'elle luy avoit accorde
et I'asseurer bien formellement qu'il feroit passer tous ses
hommes dans le commencement de I'hiver, ce qu'il m'avoit
promis de faire. J'avois creu que c'estoit la forme d'obligation
qui devoit engager davantage une personne de sa condition,
cependant je pourray toujours faire ce que V. 'Ern^^ m'ordonne
au cas qu'elle I'ait agreable.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazabin. Edinburgh '-^~' 1647.
What I stated in my last letter, regarding the disbanding of the
army of this Parliament, will have shown to you how little the Scots
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 265
intend to assist their king, whatever they may say to the contrary, and
whatever assistance they seem to look for from his friends for that pur-
pose. I shall still continue to act, however, according to the orders you
give me in your despatch of the 14th September, and to see those who
liad asked me what assurances they might expect from France, in case
they might do something for the King of Great Britain, and to engage
them to make again to me that same proposal ; for although they show
by their actions how little they are disposed to do for their prince, they
still continue to publish that they wish nothing more than to see him re-
established, and venture even to say that they would have accomplished
it, had he gi\en them the means of doing so, in granting to them what
they have so many times asked from him ; besides, that the manner the
Independents have had till now in ridding themselves of those they have
considered their enemies, gives them always great reason to fear ; they
believe them to be rather dissimulating than that they have forgotten
what has passed between them, and instead of having pardoned them for
what they have done they are only waiting a time more suitable than the
present in order to be revenged on them, so that they imagine, whatever
may happen to their king, they will always require the protection of France.
People here have been much concerned about the reply the King of
Great Britain has made to the proposals, and complain much of his not
having held to what he had offered to them regarding the Covenant and
Presbyterianism, as if it were not their fault in not having wished to
accept those matters in the time they were offered to them. They say
also that the king wishes them at present not to disband their army,
which those of the Argyle party declare loudly here as a matter much to
their advantage, but which might be very prejudicial to the king in his
relations to the Independents.
As regards the disbanding of the army, nothing has been done since I
last wrote to you that might be added to what I then stated, if not that I
am assured David Leslie will not be induced to follow the English
example and refuse to disband ; and there is some likelihood that even
though the Duke of Hamilton considered it proper for this country to
remain armed, he would nevertheless insist on the disbanding of this
army, in order to form a new one after, the officers of which would
depend on him. He has only arrived from Hamilton to-day, where he has
been paying the last honours to the late marchioness his mother, so that
I have not yet been able to see him.
Sir Robert Moray tells me that if the armies disband he hopes still to
be able to raise a thousand men during this winter : his merchant is satis-
fied in receiving what is due to him for the number of men that he has
already passed over and above the twelve hundred, without pretending to
claim for thirteen hundred so many pounds, as he did formerly, of which
I have informed j\I. le Tellier, so that these levies at least have been faith-
fully executed.
I believe you will not disapprove of my not having pressed the Earl of
Angus by a legal act to bind himself to send to France before Christmas
S66 BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE [OCT.
what remained of the twelve hundred men, since it would perhaps have
offended him at the time he was sending off two hundred and that he is
already obliged to send to France all the troops before the end of the
month of June last, by an act which is very correct in form. I merely
told him that he ought to thank you for the longer term that you had
granted him and to assure him very explicitly that he would require to
send all his men in the beginning of winter which he had promised me
to do. I thought this was the form of obligation that ought to be more
binding on a person of his condition, yet I can always do what you order
in case it be more agreeable to you.]
CXCI
BELLlfeVRE A BRIENNE
Monsieur, — JTescris a. son Eminence que j'estime important
m''en allant d'icy d'y laisser un ministre de France, et prens la
liberte de luy proposer raon frere. Je puis prendre auec vous
celle de dire que ie ne cognois personne qui y puisse maintenant
mieux seruir, et que je ne luy puis procurer un honneur qui luy
donne plus de peine et moins de douceur que cet employ. II
se pent rencontrer beaucoup de difficultez a ly establir que
nous essayerons de vaincre si Tintention nVn est pas publiee.
Je vous supplie de continuer a nous obliger et de me renuoyer
au plus tost M. d'Espesses [.?] auec les expeditions necessaires
pour mon retour. Je n'ay pas cru depuis quelque temps de
vous deuoir escrire les particullaritez de ce qui se faict icy qui
ont nourry les esperances dans lesquelles s'entretiennent ceux
de ce pais qui prennent plaisir de s^en paistre. Je me suis
contente de vous faire scauoir Topinion que j'ay que Ton n'en
doibt poinct tirer de consequence, que tout est conduict par un
mesme conseil et par des mesmes principes et tend a mesme
fin, et que ce qui se faict en apparence n'est que pour satisffaire
a difterens interestz que Ton veut encore mesnager qu'il seroit
ennuyeux et inutille d'expliquer en chasque despeche et de
plus 11 n'est pas tousiours aise de penetrer promptement les
desseins particulliers ou de bien rencontrer en ses conjectures.
Ce qui s'est faict dans le Parlement les deux jours derniers
pent faire que le Roy d'Angleterre commence a douter que
Tarmee y ait tout le credit qu'elle luy a diet auoir et que
1 647] BELLlfeVRE TO BRIENNE 267
chacun croit qu''elle y a, ou qu''elle ne luy veut pas tenir
les parolles qu"'elle luy a donne. Si le dernier est vray, il
cognoist bien que ses affaires sont au plus mauuais estat
qu'elles puissent estre, et il y a peu d*'apparence que cette
armee n''ait pas pouuoir pres d'un parlement qu''elle vient de
restablir qui ne subsiste que par la protection quVlle luy
donne, duquel elle a faict sortir tous ceux qu'il luy a pleu
et que comande aujourd'huy sans opposition a toutes les
forces de ce royaume. Cependant Asburnhan me diet encore
hier qu"'ainsy que son maistre il espere autant que jamais
quoy qu'il aduoue qu'il n'y ait plus de raison de ce faire que
sur Toppinion qu'il a que les principaux officiers de Tarmee
estiment que leur conseruation despend du restablissement de
leur Roy, sur quoy les conjectures et les raisons opposees aux
siennes peuuent trouuer des partisans, le temps seul pent
esclaircir cette affaire, et il est plus a souhaitter qu''a croire
qu'elle puisse tourner a Taduantage du Roy. — Je suis, Monsieur,
vostre, etc., Bkllteure.
Ail dos — M. de Bellieure, du 3 octobre 1647, receu le 7*.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, ^^_ 1647.
I AM writing to his Eminence, that I consider it important for me on
leaving here to leave a minister of France, and I take the liberty of pro-
posing to him my brother. I may with you take the liberty to say that I
know no one who can better serve here, and that I cannot procure for him
an honour that may give him more trouble and less indulgence than this
office. He may find many difficulties in establishing himself in it which
we will try to overcome if the intention be not made public, I beg you
to continue to oblige us and to send M. d'Espesses to me as soon as
possible with the commission necessary for my recall. I have not thought
necessary to write to you for some time the particulars of what is going
on here which have fostered the hopes in which those of this country
who take pleasure in flattering themselves are maintained. I have con-
tented myself with letting you know the opinion I have that one ought
not to look upon it as proving anything, that all is directed by the same
counsel and by the same principles and tends to the same result, and that
what is done for appearance sake is but in order to satisfy different
interests which it is wished to keep well with, that it would be tiresome
and useless to explain in each despatch, and further it is not always quite
easy at once to see through their particular intentions or exactly to hit
upon them in conjecturing. What was done in Parliament these two
days past may lead the King of England to begin to doubt whether or not
BELLlfiVRE TO MAZARIN [ocT.
the army has all the influence there that it tells him it has, and that each
one believes it has, or that it does not want to perform the promises it
has given him. If this last hypothesis be true, he may well know that
his affairs are in the worst possible condition they could be, and there
is small likelihood that this army may not have the power with a
Parliament that it has just re-established, that only exists by its protec-
tion, from which they have driven out whom they pleased, and which
commands at present without opposition all the forces of this kingdom.
However Ashburnham told me again yesterday that his master and he
hope as much as ever, although he confesses there is no reason for his
doing so beyond the opinion he has that the principal officers of the
army consider that their safety depends on the restoration of their king.
On this, to whatever extent conjectures and reasons opposed to his may
find partisans time alone can clear up the matter, and it is more to be
wished than to be believed that it may turn to the advantage of the
king.]
CXCII
BELLIEVRE au CARDINAL MAZARIN
J"'osE prendre la liberie de faire scauoir a V. E. que voyant
la disposition des affaires de ce pais, j^estime qu''il ^st im-
portant que la France ait icy un ministre qui puisse veiller a
ses interestz et les porter dans les occasions qui se peuuent
presenter auec la prudence et la dignite conuenable, quHl est
besoing non seullement de credit et d'addresse mais aussy de
bonne fortune pour faire que le parlement souffre quMl en soit
maintenant enuoye au roy d'Angleterre ; que s'il est faisable il
pent estre mieux mesnage pendant que je suis icy que lorsque
ie seray parti. Je suplie V. E. de me permettre de luy dire
que j"'estirae mon frere capable d'y bien seruir, et que s'il vous
plaist de nous faire la grace de Thonnorer de cette ambassade
peut-estre trouuerois-ie le moyen de le faire receuoir ; au cas
que Taccez soit cy apres aussy libre vers le roy d'Angleterre
qu'il a este depuis deux mois, car ie ne voy rien qui me faie
despartir de mes premieres opinions que ceux qui ont main-
tenant le pouuoir ruineront le diet Roy aussy tost qu'il leur
sera possible, et par degrez s'ilz ne le peuuent tout a coup.
Dez ce soir la resolution pent estre prise de le restreindre
qui est un des moins rudes de celles sur lesquelles il fust
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO MAZARIN 269
hier propose de deliberer. Au cas, dis-je, qu'il vous plaise
d'agreer mon frere et de m'enuoyer les ordres et les despeches
necessaires pour Pestablir icy, j"'estimerois qu'il seroit a propos
que les Anglois n'en eussent point de cognoissance afin que sMl
n''y a pas lieu de le faire Ton ne sache pas qu'il aye este tente,
et aussy de crainte qu"'une faulce nouuelle publiee icy par
Tartiffice de ceux qui le voudroient empescher pour des in-
terestz qui peut estre ne compatissent pas auec ceux de Testat,
n'empeschent en effect une chose qui auroit peu reussir con-
duitte auec le secret necessaire. C"'est pour ce subiect que Mons'
d'Espesses faict toute diligence pour arriuer pres de Vostre
Eminence auant que Tordre pour m'en retourner soit parti
de la Cour. Dans Topinion que j^y que cet establissement peut
estre fort utille aux affaires dont j'exprimerois plus particuliere-
ment les aduantages si ie le pouuois faire sans dire du bien d'une
personne qu''il ne m^'est pas bien seant de louer ; plus tost je receu-
ray ses ordres mieux je les pourray mesnager et si je considerois
mes interestz je dirois encore que plus tost pourrois-je jouir de
la liberte que Vostre Eminence me faict esperer je n"'ay pas
creu depuis quelque temps deuoir escrire a Vostre Eminence les
particularitez de ce qui se faict icy qui ont nourry les esperances
dans lesquelles s''entretiennent ceux de ce pais qui prennent
plaisir de s'en paistre.^
Au dos — Coppie de la lettre escritte par M. de Bellieure a M.
le Cardinal, du 3 octobre 1647, receu le 7.
[Bellievre to Cardinaij Mazarin. London, ~§^ 1647.
I VENTURE to inform you that, seeing the state of affairs in this country,
I consider it important for France to have a minister here to watch over
lier interests and to bring them forward in occasions that may occur, with
suitable prudence and dignity ; that it requires not only influence and
tact but also good fortune so to manage that the Parliament permit him to
be sent now to the King of England ; that if practicable it may be better
arranged while I am here than when I shall be gone. I beg you to allow
me to say that I consider my brother capable of doing good service here,
and that if it please you to do us the favour and the honour of this
embassy perhaps I shall find means of having him accepted, in case that
access be in future as free to the King of England as it has been during
1 La suite de cette lettre est la meme que dans celle que precede adressee a
M. de Brienne,
270 BELLll:VRE TO BRIENNE [OCT.
the last two months, for I see nothing to induce me to change my first
opinions, that those who have now the power will ruin the king as soon
as it he possible for them to do so, and by degrees if they are unable to
do it all at once. From this evening perhaps the resolution will be taken
to restrain him, which is one of least rude of the resolutions on which it
was yesterday proposed to deliberate upon. In the event of your accept-
ing my brother, and that you decide to send to me the necessary orders
and despatches in order to establish him here, I would consider it better
for the English to have no knowledge of it, so that if there be no occasion
to do it they may not be aware that it was attempted and also for fear
that any false news circulated here through the artifices of those who
would like to prevent it for interests that may be incompatible with those
of the state, may prevent in fact a matter that might have succeeded had
it been conducted with the necessary secrecy. This is why M. d'Espesses
uses every possible despatch in order to reach your Eminence before the
order for my recall leave the Court. From the opinion I have that this
appointment may be very useful to business, the advantages of which I
would explain more fully could I do so without saying good of a person
whom it is not seemly for me to praise ; the sooner I receive your orders
the better I shall be able to manage, and if I were to consider my interests
I should also say the sooner I shall enjoy the liberty you lead me to
expect. I have not thought necessary to write to you for some time the
particulars of what is going on here which have fostered the hopes of
those of this country who find entertainment in flattering themselves. ^
CXCIII
BELLI^VRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le ' ^t'^l 1647.
' 27 Septetnbre
Monsieur, — Le peu de diuision qui est entre les officiers
de Tarmee augmente de beaucoup les esperances du Roy d'Ang^^
Je ne les estime pas assez considerables pour croire qu'il en
puisse tenir aucun aduantage reel. Le maire de Londres et
quatre aldermans sont a la tour depuis samedy sans que la
ville tesmoigne en estre esmeue, elle est toutte soubmise. L'on
trauaille a reformer les propositions pour les presenter de nou-
ueau au Roy d'Ang""^. L'on croit qu'elles ne peuuent pas estre
prestes de huict jours. II en faudra plus de quinze au cas qu'il
soit resolu de les presenter dressees en actes pour estre cy
apres loix du Royaume, soit que le d. Roy les approuue ou
' The continuation of this letter is the same as in the preceding one addressed
to de Brienne.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 271
les refuse, sur quoy on delibere maintenant. — Je suis, Monsieur,
vostre, etc., Bellieure.
All dos — M. de Bellieure, du 7 octobre l647, receu le l6' du d.
mois a Fontainebleau.
[Beixievre to Brienne. London, /^-^ 1647.
The slight divisions between the officers of the army strengthens much
the hopes of the King of England. I do not consider them important
enough as to believe that he will be able to derive any real advantage
from them. The Mayor of London and four aldermen have been in the
Tower since Saturday, without any commotion being seen in the city,
that seems quite subdued, ^fhe proposals to be presented to the king are
being drawn up again ; it is thought they will not be ready before eight
days. It will require a fortnight if it be decided to draw them up in the
form of acts to be in future laws of the kingdom whether the king
approve or disapprove of them, on which they are now deliberating.]
CXCIV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, f^; l647.
Il n^y a point lieu d'esperer que les Ecossois prennent aucune
resolution jusqu*'a ce qu'ils ayent veu quelle sera celle du Parle-
ment et de Tarmee d'Angleterre en suite de la reponse de leur
roi anx propositions qui [lui ont ete presentees. Mais plus
j''observe les actions et sonde les volontes de ceux qui ont plus
de part au gouvernement des affaires de ce royaume, et plus je
reconnois quMls sont bien eloignes d"'entreprendre aucune chose
qui puisse etre a Tavantage de leur roi, et que tout ce qu''ils
desireroient de la France est, qu'elle leur donnast moyen de se
rendre considerable aupres des Independants pour se pouvoir
accommoder plus facilement avec eux. Et en eff'et, Mg', les
Ecossois ont si peu dessein de prendre les armes pour la conser-
vation du roi de la G*^ 6% qu'autant qu'on se pent asseurer des
choses qui ne sont pas encore faites, il y a tout sujet de croire
qu'ils vont licencier leur armee dans Tinstant qu'ils publient
eux mesmes que ce Prince les conjure de la conserver.
QuMls ne consentent pas seulement a la ruine de leur
gouvernement Presbyterial en Angleterre, ainsy qu'il se peut
voir par la declaration de leurs ministres ou ils laissent a Dieu
MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
le soin de maintenir cette religion pour Tetablissement de
laquelle ils ont dit en leurs eglises qu'ils estoient obliges de
repandre jusqu'a la derniere goutte de leur sang, mais que Ton
m'en a assez dit pour me faire entendre que si les Independants
veulent fair passer jusqu'en Ecosse leur liberte de conscience ce
Parlement ne prendra point de querelle avec eux pour ce sujet.
Enfin qu"'ils tachent seulement aujourd'huy a faire aupres du
Parlement et de Tarmee d'Angleterre que la reponse de leur roi
soit prise par eux pour un refus, et que les Anglois suivent
Texemple de FEcosse qui a declare Tan passe qu'elle se gouver-
noit sans roi jusqu^'a ce qu'il eut satisfait aux choses que ses
Parlements desiroient de lui.
Toutes ces choses n'empechent pas que les Ecossois ne
deplorent la perte de leur roi, qu'ils tiennent toute certaine,
comme s'il avoient toujours eu grand desir de Tempecher, et
que quelques uns dVntre eux ne m'ayent dit que les Indepen-
dants les recherchent, et que le jeune Vaine avoit off'ert de la
part des dits Independants au Comte de Lauderdale tout ce
que TEcosse pouvoit demander pourvu qu'elle consentit a la
ruine du roi de la G' B"", mais, outre qu''on ne m"'a point montre
la lettre et qu*'il y a grande apparence que sur ces conditions le
raarche auroit este bientost fait, Fordre qui est venu pour le
retour de Tarmee d'lrlande, dans lequel il ne se parle point du
tout, — a ce qu''on me dit, — de ce qui est deu pour la subsist-
ance depuis cinq ou six armees, et ce qu'ecrit le Parlement
d'Angleterre a ce Comite sur le sujet du mauvais traitement qu''a
receu le Comte de Lauderdale, qui a moins forme d'excuse que
de reproche, ne font point voir du tout que les Independants
importunent les Ecossois pour les porter a s'accommoder avec
eux. II me semble, Mg', qu'on pent juger de tout ceci que ces
peuples s'uniront difficilement avec la France pour les interets
de leur roi, mais pour les leurs alors seulement qu'ils se verront
TAngleterre sur les bras, et qu'il y a lieu de croire que quelque
chose qu''ils fassent par leurs soumissions pour Teviter, il sera
bien difficile qu'ils n'ayent besoin dans quelque temps de la pro-
tection de Sa M**.
Le Comte de Lanark doit partir aujourd'huy pour Londres,
si ce n'est que le Chancelier d'Ecosse aille en Angleterre contre
la resolution qu'il avoit prise, car en ce cas le dit S' Comte de
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 273
Lanark difFerera son voyage de quelques jours, afin quMls
puissent aller de compagnie. Le Comte de Callendar les suivra
de bien pres. II m'a dit qu"*!! quitte TEcosse pour sa sante
seulement et qu'il ne va en Hollande que pour y voir ses amis,
cependant, outre que j'ay veu lettres par lesquelles le Roi de la
G^ B"" desiroit fort lui parler, on in"'a.dit encore que M. le Prince
d'Orange a demande qu''il le vint trouver; tout ce que je puis
dire est quMl paroit etroitement uni avec le Due de Hamilton,
et qu'il entretient avec cela tres bonne correspondance avec les
amis du Marquis d"'Argyle. Quelle mauvaise satisfaction qui
doive passer, ce semble, entre lui et le dit Marquis je crois
que cela suffit pour faire voir que le dit roi ne doit pas s'y fier
que de bonne sorte.
Je ne puis reudre a V. Em*^^ assez de remerciements des
extremes bontes qu'il luy plaist avoir pour moy et dont il
luy a pleu me donner des marques presque avant que j'eusse
riionneur d'estre connu d'elle, aussi, Mg'., vous puis je asseurer
que dans le grand nombre de vos creatures il n'y en aura jamais
(jue soient avec plus de respect et de fidelite que moy etc.
Comme je fermois cette depeciie M. le Comte d. Lanark
m'est venu dire adieu. II doit partir demain et M"" le
Chancelier seulement quelques jours apres luy. II m'a dit que
le Marquis d'Argyle avoit essaye cet apres diner de faire casser
Tordre qui avoit ete donne touchant le licenciement de Tarmee,
mais que son parti ne s'etoit pas trouve bien fait, et que non
seulement il n'avoit pas emporte ce qu'il pretendoit, mais qu'il
auoit ete ordonne qu'il ne s'en parleroit plus avant le ^
d'Octobre. II m'a dit encore que le bruit avoit couru que les
Ecossois desiroient que la reponse de leur roi fut prise pour un
refus n'estoit pas veritable, et que leurs deputes a Londres
avoient ordre expres de ne se pas joindre en cela avec le ParP
d'Angleterre.
[MoNTERKUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, y^; 1647.
There is no reason to hope that the Scots will take any resolution until
they see what will be that of the Parliament and army of England as to
their king's reply to the proposals that have been presented to him.
But the more I observe the actions and estimate the will of those who have
most part in the aflfairs of this kingdom, the more I recognise that they
are far removed from engaging in anything that can be to the advantage
VOL. II. S
274 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
of their king, and that all they wish from France is that she would give
them the means of being well considered by the Independents in order
to be able to come more easily to an agreement with them. And in fact
the Scots have so little intention of taking arms for the preservation of
the King of Great Britain that, so far as one can assure one's-self of things
that have not yet happened, there is every reason to believe that they
are going to disband their army, just at the time they declare themselves
this Prince conjures them to preserve it.
That they not only consent to the ruin of their Presbyterian form of
church government in England, as may be seen by the declaration of
their clergy, in which they leave to God's care the maintenance of that
religion for the establishment of which they have said in their churches
they were obliged to shed the last drop of their blood, but on which they
have told me enough to let me understand that if the Independents wish
to pass their liberty of conscience so far as into Scotland this Parliament
will not quarrel with them on that subject. In short they are merely
trying at present to influence the Parliament and army of England that
their king's reply be taken by them as a refusal, and that the English
follow the example of Scotland that declared last year that she would
govern herself without a king until he had complied with the things that
his Parliaments wish from him.
All these matters do not prevent the Scots from deploring the loss of
their king — which they consider certain — as if they had always had a
strong desire to prevent it. Some among them have told me they are
sought after by the Independents, and that the younger Vane had offered
on the part of the former to the Earl of Lauderdale all that Scotland
could demand, provided they would consent to the ruin of the King of
Great Britain, but besides my not having been shown the letter, there
is great likelihood that on these conditions the bargain would soon have
been made.
The order that has come for the return of the army from Ireland, in
which there is no mention at all made, as I am told, of what is owing for
its subsistence during five or six years, together with what the English
Parliament writes to this committee on the subject of the bad treatment
received by the Earl of Lauderdale, which has less the form of an excuse
than that of a reproach, do not at all show that the Independents are
importuning the Scots to make terms with them. It seems to me that
one can judge from all this that these people will not readily unite with
France for the interests of their king but only for their own interests,
and then only when they will have England on their hands, and that there
is reason to believe that whatever they may effect by their concessions in
order to avoid this rupture, it will be difficult for them within a certain
time not to require the protection of his Majesty.
The Earl of Lanark is to leave for London to-day unless the Chancellor
of Scotland decide, contrary to what he had proposed, to go to England,
in which case the Earl of Lanark will put off his journey for a few days so
that they may travel together. The Earl of Callander will follow very
i647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 275
shortly. This latter tells him that he is leaving Scotland on account of
his health only, and that he is merely going to Holland to see his friends ;
yet, besides that, I have seen letters in which the King of Great Britain
expressed strongly the wish to speak with him, I have been told also that
the Prince of Orange has invited him to come to see him ; all that I can
say is that he appears closely attached to the Duke of Hamilton and with
that keeps up very good intercourse with the friends of the Marquis of
Argyle. However little, as it seems, the marquis and he may be satisfied
with each other, I believe this will suffice in order to show that the king
ought not to trust him too much.
I cannot thank you enough for the extreme kindness you have shown
towards me, of which you gave me tokens almost before I was known to
you, etc.
As I was folding up this despatch the Earl of Lanark called on me to
say good-bye. He is to leave to-morrow and the Chancellor only a few
days later. The earl told me the Marquis of Argyle had tried that
afternoon to have the order concerning the disbanding of the army can-
celled ; but his followers not being sufficiently numerous, not only had
he failed in having it carried as he pretended, hut it was decided that the
matter would not be again brought up before the ^ of October. He told
me also that the rumour which had been circulated, that the Scots
wished their king's reply to be considered as a refusal, was not true, and
that their commissioners in London had express orders not to join in
that with the English Parliament.]
cxcv
BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le - Octobre l647.
4
Monsieur, — Le Roy d'Ang'^ continue dans ses esperances
quoy qViW soit vray que ceux sur Taparence desquelz il se
fonde ne different d''auec ceux qui se declarent presentement
de le voulloir ruiner qu'aux moyens qui doiuent estre tenuz
pour venir a la suppression de la royaute et a mettre tout le
pouuoir entre les mains du peuple, les uns voullans des a
presant trauailler a le deposer les autres, n'estimant pas y
pouuoir reussir par cette voye, veullent establir par le consente-
ment du diet Roy des Loix nouuelles ausquelles, a la reserue
de rinterest de ses ecclesiastiques, je le tiens quasi prest de
consentir par lesquelles celles de Testat sont renuersees et
des a present le peuple se trouue reuetu de toute Tauthorite.
Kon continue a dresser ces propositions, et je croy que dans le
commencement de la sepmaine prochaine elles pourront luy
276 BELLIlfeVRE TO BRIENNE [OCT.
estre portees. Ceux qui conduisent icy les affaires n'ont pas
este peu empeschez a coucher Tarticle de la religion en sorte
qu'ilz soient asseurez de pouuoir cy apres exercer la leur auec
toute sorte de liberie en ne rien faire qui les empesche de
s''unir, ainsy quMlz pretendent, avee ceux de la religion pre-
tendue reformee de France qui sont Presbiteriens comme aussy
auec les Escossois et les HoUandois a quoy ilz ne trouuent point
d*'expedient qui establisse un presbitaire modere. Si les affaires
auoient icy quelque forme il seroit a craindre que Ton n^y
considerast les propositions que les amis de TEspagne y font
il y a longtemps pour Tunir auec TAngleterre et nommement
depuis la prise de Dunkerke, qu'ilz disent aidez nous a reprendre
Dunkerke nous vous aiderons a reprendre Calais. Je ne vous
en escrirois pas encores n''estoit qu"'il se pent faire les affaires
s'accommoderont tout a coup, ou auec le diet Roy ou sans luy
et plustost en cette derniere fa^on qu*'en la premiere et que je
voy que Ton faict grande consideration de cette mesme propo-
sition faicte depuis peu en autres termes par hopton, cy deuant
ambassadeur d'Angleterre en Espagne, homme d^esprit, qui se
faict fort d'engager TEspagne a assister TAngleterre a reprendre
Calais pourueu que TAngleterre se veuille obliger a assister
puis apres TEspagne de ses nauires a reprendre les places
qu*'elle a perdu a la coste des Flandres, qui est en toute
fayon engager TAngleterre contre la France. Ce Hopton est
absolument dans les interestz du Roy d'Angleterre, et a de-
meure long temps pres de la reyne sa femme, d'ou il est venu
depuis peu, cella joinct auec ce que je voy il y a long temps et
que ie scay que la dicte reyne escrit en encore depuis peu au
roy son mari, qu'elle voit tous les (jours) de plus en plus que la
France n''a aucune bonne volonte ny pour luy ny pour PAngle-
terre me faict prendre la liberte de vous dire qu'il sera bon de
veiller exactement aux affaires de de^a. — Je suis, Monsieur,
vostre, tres etc., Bellieure.
[Beixievrb to Bbienne. London, j- Oct. 1647.
The King of England continues in his hopes although it is certain that
those on the likelikood of whose acts he bases them diiFer only from those
others who declare publicly at present their wish to ruin him, as to the
means to be employed in effecting the suppression of royalty and the
placing of all power in the hands of the people ; the one party wishing at
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 277
pi-esent to set to work to depose him, tlie other, judging they are not
likely to succeed in it in that way, wish to establish new laws with the
king's consent, — to which, in reserving the interests of his ecclesiastics,
I consider him to be almost ready to consent, — and by which the laws of
the State are to be overturned and from the present time the people
invested with all the authority. These proposals are still being drawn up,
and I think in the beginning of the next week they will be able to bring
them to the king. Those who conduct affairs here have had much trouble
in writing out the article concerning religion, so that they may be in
future assured of the power of exercising their own with every liberty,
so that there may not be any obstacle to prevent them from uniting,
as they pretend, with those of the pretended reformed religion of France
who are Presbjiierians, as also with the Scots and the Dutch ; in which
they do not find any plan to establish a moderate Presbyterianism. If
affairs had taken any form here it might be feared that they would take
into consideration the proposals that the friends of Spain have long been
making here to unite with England, and especially since the capture
of Dunkirk they say : ' Help us to retake Dunkirk and we shall help
you to retake Calais.' I would not yet write to you of this were it not
that the affair may be arranged suddenly, either with the king or without
him, and most probably in the latter manner, and that I see much impor-
tance is being attached to this same proposal made in other terms by
Hopton,' formerly English Ambassador to Spain, a man of ability, who is
doing all he can to engage Spain to help England to retake Calais, pro-
vided England will afterwards engage to assist Spain with her ships to
retake the places she has lost on the coast of Flanders, which is in any
way engaging England against France, lliis Hopton is absolutely in the
interests of the King of England, and has long stayed with the Queen, his
consort, whence he has lately returned ; this, joined to what I have long
seen and to what I know, that this queen has lately written to the king,
her husband, that she sees daily more and more that France has no good
will, neither for him more than for England, leads me to take the liberty
of saying to you that it will be well to have an eye on what goes on
here.]
CXCVI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, f: Odohre 1647.
La resolution en laquelle le Due de Hamilton et le Comte de
Lanark son freie m'avoient temoigne qu'ils estoient, de presser le
* Sir Ralph Hopton was in command of the Royalist army that was forced to
retreat into Cornwall, where he was obliged to surrender and go abroad, March
1 6th, 1646.
278 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
licenciement de Tarmee avec dessein de Temporter, et Tasseurance
que M^'le Chev"" Moray ra'avoit donnee que le Marquis d'Argyle ne
s^y devoit point opposer, m'avoit fait croire qu'elle se conserveroit
difficilement, mais les sentiments ou je trouvai il y a deux jours le
Marquis d'Argyle, qui sont fort differents de ceux ou on m'avoit
asseure qu'il estoit, me donnent maintenant sujet de douter
encore assez d'une chose que je tenois presque toute asseuree ;
car ce Marquis s'en est explique a moi si nettement qu'il m'a dit
qu'il feroit tons ses efforts pour faire casser Tordre qui avoit este
donne en son absence pour le licenciement de la dite armee par
une surprise du Due de Hamilton et contre ce qui avoit este
arreste dans le Comite, quelques jours avant qu'il partit, — que
leur religion leur roi et leurs fortunes couroient plus de hazard
qu'elles n"'avoient fait jusquMci, de sorte qu'une armee leur
estoit aussi necessaire que jamais. II m'a dit en suite que bien
que Ton essayat de faire croire qu'il cherchoit son interet par-
ticulier dans la cause du public qu'il pensoit plustost a etablir
son autorite avec cette armee qu'a conservee la liberte de ces
peuples, il estoit si asseure du temoignage qne luy donnoit sa
conscience d'avoir agi par un bon principe depuis le commence-
ment de ces troubles, qu"'il continueroit a travailler de la mesme
sorte jusqu'a la fin, et presseroit genereusement pour faire que
Ton conservat une armee dont il savoit que ce royaume ne se
pouvoit passer sans danger et sans prejudicier mesme aux
interets du roi de la G' B'^, — qu'il savoit que le Due de
Hamilton essayoit de faire croire au dit roi que rien ne
Tempechoit de le servir que cette armee, apres le licenciement
de laquelle il Tasseuroit de toute PEcosse, — ce qui empechoit
le dit roi d'accorder aux Presbyteriens ce qu''ils desiroient de luy
pour le retablir et portait ce prince a sa dernier ruine.
C'est, Mg', ce que m'a fait entendre bien au long le Marquis
d'Argyle, et ce qui pourroit donner lieu de croire non seule-
ment que le licenciement de cette armee est une chose assez
incertaine, et que ce Marquis tachera au moins de tirer
asseurance des Independants pour le paiement de ce qui lui est
deu en Angleterre avant que d'y consentir, mais encore, ce qui
est plus considerable, que ce Due et ce Marquis, ayant des
interets tons contraires, dans le licenciement ou dans la con-
servation de la dite armee, pourroient y trouver aussi com-
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 279
mencement de leur disunion, si ce n^est que Ton croit qu'ils
ne parleroient pas si librement au desavantage Tun de Pautre
s'ils n''en estoient demeures dWcord auparavant, et qu'ils ne
Teussent juge necessaire pour entretenir la creance que Ton a
eue jusqu''ici, de leur inimitie qui range toute TEcosse du parti
de Tun ou de Pautre, et pour eloigner davantage Topinion que
Ton commence d''avoir tous les jours plus grande, de leur
union ; mais soit quMls soient amis ou ennemis, — car c'est une
chose que n''est pas aisee a comprendre, — ^je crois que je puis
dire qu'ils ne sont, ni Tun ni Pautre, serviteurs du roi de la
G'' B"", et quMl a sujet de se defier de tous deux egalement.
II semble encore que ce prince ait peu d''interet au licencie-
ment ou a la conservation de cette armee puisqu'elle ne serviroit
que pour accommoder les Ecossois plus avantageusement avec
les Independants, et que quand la necessite obligeroit ces peuples
de la mettre en action ce seroit seulement, ou pour la defense
de leurs vies et de leurs fortunes, ou pour Petablissement de
leur religion, ce qui est assez eloigne du retablissement de leur
roi, Le Marquis d'^Argyle m'a encore dit que cette petite
armee ne laissoit pas de donner beaucoup de jalousie a I'Angle-
terre et que pourvu que le roi de la G' B' voulut encore
aujourd'huy leur accorder ce qu'ils luy demandent, il leur
seroit aise de la mettre en etat de le servir, pourvu quMls
fussent aides de la France, de laquelle de ne desiroient que ce
qu''elle leur pouvoit aisement donner, — quelques vaisseaux et
un peu d'argent, — mais que tout dependoit de la resolution
que prendroit leur roi, duquel ils ne se pouvoient presque rien
promettre. Cest, Mg', tout ce que m'a dit ce Marquis, sinon
qu'il y a joint beaucoup de protestations de vouloir contribuer
a entretenir une bonne et etroite correspondance entre la
France et ce royaume.
Le Chancelier d'Ecosse doit partir ce soir pour Londres. II
m"*a parle de la France et du desir qu'il a de rendre quelque
service a Sa Majeste avec plus d'exageration encore que ce
Marquis. II est charge de nouvelles instructions, que Ton ne
tient pas si publiques que les premieres. Le Comte de Traquair
doit aussy demander bientost un passeport de ce Comite pour
aller trouver le roi de la G' B^ Will. Moray parle de faire
le mesme. Cest a Londres que Pon jugera mieux de ce qu'ils
280 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
desirent faire, qui n'est pas selon les apparences de vouloir
aider au retablissement de leur roi.
Le pere de Macdonald a este pendu en Argyle. Hartil, un
des plus considerable de ceux qui avoient suivi le Marquis
d'Huntley, a este conduit ici, et ceux qui furent pris, il y a
pres de deux mois avec lui ; je ne sais point encore ce que
Ton a resolu d''en faire. Je n'apprends point aussy que Ton ait
pris aucune resolution touchant le retour de Tarmee d"'Irlande.
Je crois que les 200 hommes pour M. le Comte d'Angus qui
devoient debarquer au Havre, seront partis presentement, et
que les ordres auront este donnes pour les recevoir. M. le
Comte d'Angus m^'asseure qu'il a encore 100 hommes ici autour
prets a embarquer, et M. le Chev"" Moray autant.
[MoNTEREuii to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Oct. 1647.
The resolution which the Duke of Hamilton and the Earl of Lanark,
his brother, assured me they had taken to insist on disbanding the army,
with the intention of having it carried, and the assurance Sir Robert
Moray had given me that the Marquis of Argyle was not to oppose it, had
led me to believe it would be difficult to retain it ; but the sentiments in
which I found the Marquis of Argyle two days ago, being very different
fi'om those I had been assured he had, give me now considerable reason
to doubt of a matter that I looked upon as almost certain ; for this mar-
quis expressed himself to me so clearly that he told me he would employ
all his efforts to have the order revoked, that had been given in his absence
for the disbanding of the army, by a surprise on the part of the Duke of
Hamilton and contrary to what had been decided upon in the committee a
few days before he went away, — that their religion, their king and their
fortunes ran more risk now than they had ever done before, so that an army
was more than ever necessary to them. He told me afterwards that although
it was tried to make people believe that he sought his own private interest
in the public cause, and that he thought rather of establishing his own
authority with the help of the army than of preserving the liberties of
the people, he was so assured from the testimony of his conscience that he
had acted from a good motive, since the beginning of these troubles, that
he would continue to do so in the same manner till the end, and would
insist energetically on tlie maintenance of the army he knew this country
could not dispense with without danger and without loss even to the service
of the King of Great Britain ; that he knew the Duke of Hamilton was try-
ing to make the king believe that the existence of this army was the only
obstacle in the way of his serving him, after the disbanding of which he
would assure him of all Scotland, which prevented their king from grant-
ing to the Presbyterians what they desired in order to re-establish him and
was leading this prince to his final ruin.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 281
This is what the Marquis of Argyle made me understand at consider-
able lengthy and which might give me reason to believe not only that the
disbanding of the army is still somewhat uncertain, and that this marquis
will try at least to obtain an assurance from the Independents for the pay-
ment of what is owing to him in England before consenting to it, but also,
what is more impoi-tant, that this duke and this marquis having opposing
interests in the disbanding or retaining of the army, this may also be the
beginning of their disunion, if it were not believed that they would not
speak so freely against each other, if they had not agreed about it before-
hand and did they not find it necessary to keep up the belief people have
liad till now of their enmity, which divides all Scotland into one or the
other party, and in order still more to dispel the opinion of their union
which begins to gain ground more and more each day ; but whether they
are friends or enemies — for it is a thing not easy to understand— I believe
I may say they are not, neither the one nor the other, servants of the
King of Great Britain who has equal reason to distrust both of them.
It seems also that this prince has little interest in the disbanding or the
maintenance of the army, since it would only serve the Scots to come to a
more profitable agreement witli the Independents, and when necessity
would oblige them to make use of it, it would only be either for the defence
of their lives and their fortunes, or for the establishment of their religion,
which is somewhat different from the re-establishment of their king. The
Marquis of Argyle also told me that this small army still causes much
jealousy in England, and that provided the King of Great Britain wished
even now to grant them what they asked of him he would gladly put it in
operation to serve him, provided they were aided by France, from which
they would only want what could be given them easily, — a few ships and
a little money, — but that all depended on the resolution their king would
take, on which they could count very little. This is all the marquis said,
save the numerous protestations he added of wishing to keep up good and
close intercourse between France and this kingdom.
The Chancellor of Scotland is to leave this evening for London. He
spoke to me of France, and of the wish he had to render some service to
his Majesty, with still more exaggeration than the marquis. He is
intrusted with new instructions which are not made so public as the first.
The Earl of Traquair intends also soon to ask a passport from this com-
mittee to go to the King of Great Britain. Will. Moray speaks of doing
the same. What they wish to do will be best judged of in London :
according to appearances it is not to aid in the re-establishment of their
king.
Macdonald's father has been hanged in Argyleshire. * Harthill,^ one
^ ' The father of Alister Macdonald, likewise so called, being taken in one of
these highland forts was tried by a jury convened by George Campbell, Sheriff-
Substitute of Argyle, from whose sentence we are told few escaped, and was
executed of course.' — Scott's Tales of a Grandfather.
' See Appendix, Note R.
282 BELLi:fcVRE TO BRIENNE [OCT.
of the most important of the followers of the Marquis of Huntly, has
been brought here, with the others who were taken prisoners with him
about two months ago, I do not yet know what it has been decided to do
with them. I do not learn also that any decision has been come to
regarding the return of the army from Ireland. I believe the two
hundred men for the Earl of Angus, that are to land at Havre, will at
present have left, and that orders will have been sent to receive them.
The Earl of Angus assures me he has still one hundred men here in the
neighbourhood ready to embark and Sir Robert Moray as many, J
CXCVII
BELLI^VRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le — Odobre l647.
' II
MoxsiEUR, — Je vous doibs beaucoup plus que des compli-
ments. Je ne scay quand je m'en pourray acquitter. J'en
chercherai les occasions. Le temps que j''ay aujourd'huy passee
pres du roy d'Ang""^ pour essayer d'establir les affaires de
mon retour, et de Testablissement de mon frere au gre du
dit roy et a la satisfaction du Parlement ne m"'en laisse quasi
plus pour escrire auant le partement de Fordinaire. Les affaires
sont icy au mesme estat que ie me suis donne Thonneur de
vous Tescrire cy-deuant. Les propositions ne peuuent pas estre
de huict jours prestes a estre presentees au Roy d'Angleterre,
nous scauons desia qu'elles ne seront pas a son gre. II a este
propose dans le comite des affaires estrangeres de desputer
quelques uns de leur nombre pour examiner la proposition
de Hopton, dont je me donnay Thonneur de vous escrire il y a
huict jours. II n'en a este rien faict jusques icy, et ie croy
que par la raison de leur interest mieux que par toute autre
consideration il pourra encore estre cy apres empesche. Je
vous supplie de trouuer bon que je vous escriue qu'au cas que
ie sois oblige de rendre au Parlement une lettre du Roy il ait
aussy soing que j''en aye une qui ne face aucune mention
de paix, de mediation, ny de continuation par mon frere des
choses que j'ay faict icy — des extrauagans et desraisonables
prendroient suject de dire la dessus des choses qu'il est bon
d'esuiter et je vous enuoye la coppie de la vostre en laquelle j''ay
pris la liberte de retrancher les choses sans lesquelles je vous
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 283
prie de m^enuoyer au plustost une pour le parlement et une
pour chacun des spekers. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc.,
Bellieure.
Audos — M. de Bellieure du 21 octobre l647, receu le 25.
[Bellikvre to Brienne. London, " Oct. 1647.
I OWE you much more than compliments ; I do not know when I shall
be able to discharge my debt to you ; I shall try and find opportunities
of doing so. The time I have passed to-day with the King of England,
in order to arrange matters connected with my return and the installa-
tion of my brother according to the will of the king and the satisfaction
of Parliament, has scarcely left me time enough to write before the hour
of the mail. Matters are here in the same state as when I wrote to you
last ; the proposals cannot be ready to be presented to the king before
eight days ; we know already that they will not give him satisfaction.
It was proposed by the Committee of Foreign Affairs to depute some of
their number to examine the proposal of Hopton, of which I wrote to
you eight days ago. Nothing has been done in it till now, and I believe
that by reason of their own interest, better than by any other considera-
tion it will in future be quashed. I beg you to approve of my writing to
you that in the event of my being obliged to deliver to Parliament a
letter from the king that care may be taken no mention is made therein
of peace or mediation or of the continuation by my brother of what I
have done here : extravagant and unreasonable people would take the
opportunity of saying thereon things that it is better to avoid, so that I
send to you the copy of yours, in which I have taken the liberty of
suppressing some matters without which I beg you to send me as soon
as possible one letter for the Parliament and one for each of the
Speakers.]
CXCVIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, — Octobre l647.
J"'ay fait savoir a ceux du conseil de cette ville la bonte que
V. Em'^® a eue, sur les premieres instances qui luy en ont este
faites de leur part, d'empecher que Ton contraignit les Ecossois
qui sont en France au paiement de leur taxe, et que je me suis
contente de leur faire esperer que Tordre qu'elle avoit eu agreable
de faire donner seroit confirme par un arret, ainsi qu'ils le
desirent, quand V. Em*'^ auroit este informe du particulier de
leurs demandes.
J'ai creu, Mg"^. que je devois ainsy menager vos faveurs, tant
284 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
parce que ces peuples, qui obligent peu volontiers, n'estiment
pas assez les graces qu'ils obtiennent trop facilement, que pour
ce que j'ay eu tout loisir de reconnoistre depuis le temps que
je suis icy, — qu'ils se mettent plus en peine pour obtenir ce
qu'^ils desirent que pour le reconnoistre quand ils Font receu ;
et qu"'ainsy, si Ton a quelque chose a leur demander, soit
touchant de nouvelles recreues, soit pour les interets de leur
roi, il est bon pour Favoir d'eux plus asseurement de ne leur
pas accorder si promptement ce qu'ils demandent.
Au reste, Mg"", je ne crois pas qu'il y ait rien a craindre,
tant du Due de Hamilton que du Marquis d''Argyle, — non
pas pour ce que je ne les vois jamais qu"'ils ne me protestent
que les interets de la France leur seront toujours les plus con-
siderables apres ceux de leur roy, puisque le traitement qu'ils
viennent de faire a ce prince ne donne pas sujet de croire qu'ils
aiment beaucoup ceux quMls aiment encore moins que luy, —
mais j)arce que je ne vois point qu'ils ayent aucun attachement
avec TEspagne, et que quelque chose qu'ils puissent faire pour
s'accommoder presentement avec les Independants, ils jugent
bien qu'ils auront un jour besoin de la France.
Cependant, Mg*", bien que j''eusse, ce me sembloit, tout sujet
de croire que les Ecossois, qui ont assez d'affaires a demeler
avec les Anglois, et entre eux-mesmes, pour les embarrasser,
ne pensoient point du tout a s'unir avec les Princes etrangers
et principalement avec TEspagne, j'avois eu toutefois quelque
jalousie d'un pretre Flamand nomme Montigny qui est venu
ici depuis quelque temps avec une sceur du feu Comte d'Arold,^
Connestable de ce royaume, Chanoinesse a Monts, et qui fait
etat d'y demeurer tout cet hiver, et j'avois apprehende que
quelques interets qu'il dit avoir a demesler avec les heritiers
de cette fille, qui est morte en arrivant en ce royaume, ne fut
que le pretexte du sejour qu'il a resolu d'y faire, mais comme
la priere qu'il m'a faite de pouvoir dire la messe dans ma
chapelle, ce que j'ay creu que je ne luy pouvois refuser, m'a
donne lieu de I'entretenir, j'ay trouve peu d'apparence a la
pensee que quelques autres, aussy bien que moi, avoient eu
qu'il eut etc charge d'aucune affaire publique.
On est presentement assemble pour deliberer si Ton doit
^ ErroU.
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 285
conservir ou licencier rarmee de ce parlement, ce que tous
croyent ici de tres grande importance, comme une chose qui
fera juger, non seulement de quel air ce royaume se conduira
avec TAngleterre, mois encore qui commandera, du parti
d'Argyle ou de celui de Hamilton dans ce royaume, si non
ceux qui pensent aussi bien que moi que cette armee se
licenciera ou se conservera toujours a mesme dessein, et selon
que Ton croira que la menace ou la soumission pourront servir
davantage, pour mettre bien TEcosse avec les Independants ;
et ceux qui veullent, — contre ce que je crois jusquMci, — que le
Due de Hamilton et le Marquis d'Argyle travaillent mesme
de concert en une affaire ou il semble qu'ils ayent des interets
si differents, et en laquelle il ne s'agit pas moins en apparence
qui de la ruine de Tun ou de Tautre.
Et en effet, il semble qu''ils entreprennent cette affaire si
hautement Tun contre Tautre, qu'il est difficile de croire qu''ils
ayent tous deux un mesme dessein, car la Marquis d''Argyle ne
se contente pas de faire precher aux peuples par les ministres,
que c"'est trahir leur religion et leur pays que de donner les
mains au licenciement d'une armee dont ils ont encore besoin
pour la defense de Tun et de Tautre, mais et luy et ceux de sa
faction publient hautement que le Due de Hamilton, pretend
en mettre sur pied une nouvelle, qui sera et plus a charge et
moins utile a ce royaume que celle-ci ; et le Due au contraire,
que le Marquis d^Argyle veut faire subsister la dite armee pour
ses propres interets et pour la ruine du pays.
.Tay este voir ce matin le Comte de Traquair qui fait etat
de partir a la fin de cette semaine. II m"'a dit qu"'il ne croit
pas quMl se prenne, encore aujourd''huy, aucune resolution dans
le Comite, et que comme Tun et Tautre parti essaye de fortifier
ses interets en y joignant ceux du roy de la G"" B*", il a resoulu
de proposer, qu*'avant que Ton delibere sur la conservation ou
le licenciement de Tarmee, on voie lequel des deux pourra estre
plus avantageux a ce Prince et ce que Ton pourra faire pour
ses interets en Tun et en Tautre cas, — mais il m^a averti en
mesme temps qu''il estoit certain que ce seroit une proposition
qui ne produiroit aucun effet.
Les elections pour le prochain parlement se sont faites depuis
quelques jours, ou selon ordinaire les Hamiltons publient d'avoir
286 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
eu toute sorte d''avantage, aussy bien que dans la continuation
du Provost de cette ville, — tres attache a leurs interets. Les
Argyles ont essaye inutilement de le priver de sa charge.
Ou doit commencer aujourd'huy le proces de Hartil, qui est
un des plus considerables entre ceux qui ont pris parti avec le
Marquis d'Huntley ; on attend a chaque moment sa remission
et celle de deux ou trois autres qui ont este pris avec luy, bien
qu'il y ait peu d'apparence quWle leur serve, car je sais que le
Marquis d"'Argyle a dit quMl n"'y avoit rien qui les peut sauver.
Un gentilhomme arrive ici depuis cinq jours, et qui n'en a
pas employe davantage a venir d'lrlande, m'a dit que le com-
missaire que les Anglois ont envoye vers Munro, qui commande
les forces qu''ont les Ecossois dans le dit Royaume, y estoit
arrive, avant qu"'il en fut parti, mais que le mauvais etat
ou il avoit trouve les Anglois et la crainte qu'^ils avoient des
Catholiques Tavoit empeche de demander au dit Munro la
restitution des places qu"'il tenoit et le re tour de son armee.
II m"*a dit encore que Ton avoit seu de quelques prisonniers qui
avoient este faits avant qu*'il partit, que les Catholiques sont
forts de seize mille hommes de pied et deux mille deux cents
cljevaux, et qu'ils avoient este presses de nouveau de se donner
au roy d''Espagne, ce qu'ils avoient refuse.
Le Comite vient de se lever, ou il n"'a rien este resolu
touchant Tarmee. Le Due de Hamilton a fait un beau dis-
cours et a professe qu'il desiroit qu'elle fut licenciee, mais
qu'il le desiroit seulement comme une chose qu'il croyoit utile
a son roi a son pays et a sa religion, — ce qu'il maintiendroit
en despit du diable, — car c'est un terme dont on m'a dit qu'il
s'etoit servi.
On y a fait venir Hartil, a qui Ton adonne seulement jusqu'a
vendredi pour preparer sa defense.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, " Oct. 1647.
I INFORMED the members of this Town Council that you had kindly
granted their request on their first application, to prevent the Scots who
are in France from being obliged to pay their tax, and I have contented
myself by leading them to hope that the order you have been pleased to
grant would be confirmed by a decree as they had wished as soon as you
are informed of the details of their demands. I thought that I ought to
husband your favours, both because this people who are little obliging
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 287
do not appreciate the favours they receive too easily ; that from what I
have had ample time to observe since I have been here, they take more
trouble in order to obtain what they wish than they do to acknowledge
it once they have got it, and that thus if one has anything to demand
from them either regarding the recruiting or for the interests of their
king, it is good, in order to have it from them with more certainty, not to
grant them so promptly what they ask.
Further, I do not believe there is anji;hing to fear either from the
Duke of Hamilton or the Marquis of Argyle, not because each time I
see them they protest to me that the interests of France will always be
the most important in their estimation, after those of their king, since
the manner in which they have recently treated this prince does not give
one reason to believe that they like much those whom they like even less
than they do him, but because I do not see that they have any connec-
tion with Spain, and whatever they may be able to do at present in order
to come to an agreement with the Independents, they judge well that one
day they will require the help of France.
Yet although it seemed to me I had every reason to believe that the
Scots, who have matters enough to settle with the English and among
themselves as might embarrass them, did not at all think of making
alliances with foreign princes, and in any case not with Spain, I have,
however, had some jealousy of a Flemish priest named Montigny who
came here some time ago with a canouess of Mons/ sister of the late
Earl of Erroll, High Constable of this kingdom, and who proposes to
remain here all winter, and I had feared that whatever questions of
interest he might have had to settle with the heirs of this nun, who died
on her arrival in this kingdom, it was but a pretext for the stay he had
proposed to make here, but as the request he made to me to say mass in
my chapel — which I considered I could not refuse to him — gave me an
opportunity of entertaining him, I saw little likelihood, of what I and
some others had thought, that he was intrusted with any public affair.
The question of the maintenance or the disbanding of the army of this
Parliament is being discussed at this moment, which all here believe to
be a matter of very great importance, not only to enable one to judge as
to how this country will act towards England, but also as to what
party will rule, that of Argyle or Hamilton, in this kingdom ; it may not
be so to those who think as I do, that whether this army be disbanded or
maintained it will always be with the same intention, according as it may
be believed that threats or concessions may best serve the purpose of
arranging matters between Scotland and the Independents ; and those
who will have it — contrary to what I believe till now — that the Duke
of Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle are even working in concert
in a matter in which it seems that they have interests so different and in
which no less is involved in appearance than the ruin of one or the other.
^ Lady Isabella Hay, Canoness at Mons in Hainault, 6th daughter of Francis,
9th Earl of Erroll. See Blakhal's Narrative, passim.
288 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
And indeed from the high tone they take in engaging in this affair, tlie
one in opposition to the other, it seems difficult to believe them both to be
actuated by the same intention, for the Marquis of Argyle is not satisfied
with having the people preached to by the clergy that it is betraying their
religion and their country to consent to the disbanding of an army which
they will require for the defence of the one and the other, and those of
his faction publish loudly that the Duke of Hamilton pretends to raise a
new one which will be a greater burden and less useful to the kingdom
than the present, whereas the duke on the contrary says that the Marquis
of Argyle wishes to have the present army maintained for liis own interests
and in order to ruin the country.
I went this morning to see the Earl of Traquair, who is preparing to
leave at the end of the week. He told me he did not think the com-
mittee would come to any conclusion to-day, and that as both parties try
to support their interests in adding to them those of the King of Great
Britain, he had decided to propose that before discussing the maintenance
or the disbanding of the army, it may be considered which of the two
proposals would be most advantageous for this prince, and what could
be done for his interests in the one and the other case ; but he
intimated to me at the same time, that he was certain it would be a pro-
posal that would produce no result.
The elections for the next Parliament took place a few days ago, in
which as usual the Hamiltons declare they have had it all their own way,
as well as in the re-election of the provost of this town who is much
attached to their interests : the Argyles tried, without success, to get
him out of his office.
llie trial of Harthill is to begin to-day : he is one of the most important
of those who took part with the Marquis of Huntly. His pardon and that
of two or three others who were taken with him is expected every
moment, although there is little likelihood of its being of any use to
them, for I know that the Marquis of Argyle has said there was nothing
that could save them.
A gentleman who arrived here five days ago from Ireland — and who
had but taken that time to make the journey — has told me that the
commissioner the English have sent to Munro ^ who commands the forces
that the Scots have in that kingdom had arrived there before he left, but
the bad condition in which he had found the English and the fear he had
of the Catholics had prevented him from demanding from Munro the
delivering up of the places that he held and the return of his army. He
told me also that it had been learned from some prisoners that had been
made before he left that the Catholics have a force of sixteen thousand
foot and two thousand two hundred horse, and that they had been urged
anew to give themselves up to the Khig of Spain, but they had refused.
^ Major-General Robert Munro of Fowlis, author of Military Discipline
learned from the Valiant Swede, was taken prisoner with all his forces in
Ireland by Monck in September 1648.
1 647] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 289
The committee has just separated, nothing has been done concerning
the army. The Duke of Hamilton made a fine speech and declared that
he wished it to be disbanded, but he did so only as a thing that he believed
to be useful to his king, to his country, and to his religion, which he
would maintain in despite of the devil — for such is the term, I am told,
he made use of.
Harthill has been brought here ; he has only had till Friday in order
to prepare his defence.]
CXCIX
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^ Odobre 1647.
' 14
Monsieur, — Les affaires du roy d'Ang'® ne me fournissent
point de subject de vous escrire. II faict tous ses efforts pour
obtenir du Parlement ce traicte personnel quMl a demande
par sa derniere response. Quand nous Tobtiendrons je doubte
qu'il en tire aucun aduantage, et les choses sont a mon aduis
disposees icy en telle sorte que ses ennemis seulz en peuuent
profflter.
Le dit Roy me promet Samedy mon audience de conge. — Je
suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc., Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 24 octobre 1647, receu le 29.
[BELLiiivRE to Brienne. LoTidon, q Oct. 1647.
The affairs of the King of England do not furnish me with any occasion
to write to you. He is using all his efforts in order to obtain from Parlia-
ment the personal treaty that he demanded by his last reply ; when we
obtain it I doubt that he will be able to derive any advantage from it, and
in my opinion, matters are so arranged here that his enemies alone can
profit by it.
The king has promised to give me my audience of leave-taking on
Saturday.]
cc
p. BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le ^ Octobre 1647.
Monsieur, — Le Roy de la G. B., ay ant pris jour le Samedy
dernier pour donner audience a M' L"'ambassadeur Extraord'^
et a moy, enuoya son carosse au deuant de nous a 4 milles
de Hampthoncour. M"" Archeburnam estoit seul dedans,
VOL. II. T
290 P. BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [OCT.
lequel entre autres compliments nous fit excuse de la part
du dit Roy de ce que n'ayant personne pres de luy qui luy
obeist, il n'auoit point enuoye de Seigneur pour s''acquiter
de ce compliment. Nous fusmes receiis a la descente du carosse
par les Commissaires des deux Maisons du Parlement qui de-
meurent pres du dit Roy, lesquels nous menerent en un apparte-
ment du chasteau d'ou, apres nous auoir donne un disner qu'ils
nous auoient prepare, ils nous conduisirent a Taudience en
la Chambre de presence, ou le Roy de la G. B. nous attendoit,
auquel, apres M"" L'ambassadeur Extraord''^ eust parle quelque
temps et que le dit Roy lui eust respondu, ie fis scauoir mes
ordres et rendis la lettre du Roy. II parlat auec sentiment des
obligations qu'il a a la France, entre lesquelles il met celle
de tenir un ministre qui puisse faire voir que ses interestz
y sont considerez, et apres quelques discours nous nous re-
tirasmes pour Taller retreuuer dans une galerie, ou il nous
donna une audience particuliere, en laquelle il sembla parler
auec beaucoup de confiance, et entre autres choses il tesmoigna
que ses esperances continuent fondees, non sur toute Tarmee
comme cy-deuant, mais sur la diuision qui y est, qui pourroit
necessiter un des partis a se declarer en sa faueur, quoy qu'il
sache que beaucoup trauaillent a esluder et en tout cas a
esloigner Tenuoy des propositions. Et qu'il soit vray que
plusieurs de la Chambre de Communs essayent de faire ad-
j ouster aux articles que les seigneurs leur ont enuoye des choses
si rudes qu'ilz soient certains que le dit Roy ne les puisse
accepter tant ilz ont peur de perdre le pretexte qu'ilz pre-
tendent auoir par son refuz de continuer a le mal traicter.
Ayant este une heure auec le dit Roy et pris conge de luy, les
Commissaires nous reconduisirent a son carosse, et le maistre
des Ceremonies nous accompagna iusques au logis de M' L'am-
bassadeur Extraord"^^, ou il nous estoit venue prendre le matin.
— Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc., P. dk Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 28 octobre 1647, receu le 5
nouembre.
[P. Belij>':vre to Bbiennb. London, \l Oct. 1647.
The King of Great Britain, having appointed Saturday last to give
audience to the Extraordinary Ambassador and myself, sent his carriage
to meet us at four miles from Hampton Court. Mr. Ashbumham, who was
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 291
alone in it, among other compliments made an excuse to us on the part of
the king that having no one at his orders he had not sent a lord to pay us
this compliment. On our arrival we were received by the Commissioners
of both Houses of Parliament, who remain with the king, and who con-
ducted us into an apartment, whence, after having given us a dinner that
they had prepared for us, they led us to the audience in the presence-
chamber, where the King of Great Britain awaited us, to whom, after the
Extraordinary Ambassador had spoken some time and the king had replied
to him, I made known my orders and delivered the king's letter. He
spoke with feeling of the obligations he had to France, among which he
placed that of providing a minister who could see that his interests were
attended to, and after some conversation we withdrew, in order to rejoin
him in a gallery, where he gave us a private audience, in which he seemed
to speak with much confidence, and among other things he stated that
his hopes were still founded, not on the army, as formerly, but on the
division that is in it, and that might oblige one of the parties to declare
itself in his favour, although he knew that many were at work trying to
elude or at least delay the sending of the proposals. And it is true that
several members of the House of Commons are trying to make amend-
ments to the articles that the Lords have sent them, in terms so hard that
they may be certain their king cannot accept them, so afraid are they of
losing by his refusal the pretext they pretend to have, to continue to ill-
treat him. After having been an hour with the king and taken leave of
him, the Commissioners re-conducted us to his carriage, and the Master
of Ceremonies accompanied us to the residence of the Extraordinary
Ambassador, whence he had come to take us in the morning.]
CCI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbonrg, — Octobre l647.
Il a este enfin resolu que rarmee sera maintenue jusqu"'au
commencement de Mars prochain, et Ton a remis au Parlement
qui sera lors assemble, a aviser ce qui sera plus a propos d"'en
faire. Les motifs dont on s'est servi pour la maintenir sont
ceux que je me suis deja donne Thonneur d'ecrire a V. Em*'^ —
le desir de conserver le roi de la G"" B"", la religion presbyterienne,
la paix du royaume, et Tunion entre les deux nations qui
seniblent des choses assez differentes, et des efFets que cette
armee aura assez de peine a produire en mesme temps. Cepen-
dant le Marquis d'Argyle, qui parait avoir emporte contre le
Due de Hamilton la conservation de cette armee, a eu besoin
292 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [oct.
de tous les moyens qu'il a employes pour Tobtenir, puisqu'apres
avoir fait faire une longue remonstrance par les ministres,
a cet effet, et fait venir pour cela une lettre des Deputes
d'Ecosse qui sont a Londres, et qui estoient tous de son parti,
avant que le Comte de Lanark y fut arrive, et avoir mesme
fait ofFrir par les officiers de cette armee de remettre le tiers
de leur gages, et par les soldats quelque chose du peu quMls
re^oivent pour leur subsistance, il ne Ta emporte que d'une
voix seulement. Cependant, il seroit bien difficile de dire si
la conservation de cette armee apportera plus de desavantage
ou de profit au roi de la G"" B'', car outre qu'il y a peu d'ap-
parence que ces troupes qui ont si lachement livres leur roi
quand elles le pouvoient defendre, veuillent maintenant
travailler pour le mettre en liberte, je sais tres bien que le
Marquis d'Argyle, de qui elles dependent, quelque chose qu'il
fasse esperer ou a la France ou au roi de la G*^ B"", cherche
toute sorte de moyens pour accommoder premierement ses
affaires et en suites celles de sa nation avec les Independants,
jusqu'a insinuer dans le Comite qu''on ne se devoit point
opposer a la liberte de conscience en Angleterre si les Indepen-
dants consentoient que le Presbyteriat y fut etabli pour ceux
qui s'y voudroient soumettre, et que le covenant y fut pris
seulement pour ceux qui le voudroient jurer, — ce qui peut sans
doute s^accommoder avec Tlndependance.
Je suis oblige, Mg"", de temoigner que je re^ois depuis
quelque temps d'extremes civilites de M' le Due de Hamilton
et de tous ceux de son parti, et qu''ils me temoignent mesme
beaucoup plus de confiance et me parle bien plus ouvertement
contre le parti d'Argyle qu'ils n'avaient fait auparavant. La
derniere fois que j''ay veu ce Due il m'a dit qu'il eut desire
que le licenciement de Tarmee luy eut donne sujet de rendre
quelque service considerable a son roi, ce qu'il estoit asseure
que la dite armee ne feroit jamais, et ce qu'elle Tempechoit
maintenant de pouvoir faire. Que ces mesmes gens qui
parloient de vouloir s'unir avec la France en faisoient con-
cevoir ici chaque jour de nouvelles jalousies, et qu'une des
raisons dont le Marquis d''Argyle s'^estoit servi dans le Comite
pour faire conserver Tarmee avoit ete la crainte qu'on devoit
avoir des armes de Sa Majeste, ce qui ay ant ete releve par le
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 293
Comte de Cassilis qui est de la faction du Due et qui luy dit
qu"'il y avoit mesme sujet de craindre les armes du Turc qui
etoit grand ennemi de tous les Chretiens, — le Marquis d'Argyle
avoit repete qu'il avoit veu lettres de France qui lui faisoient
croire qu'il n''apprehendoit pas sans raison, sans vouloir rien
dire de plus particulier.
II a couru quelque bruit que le Marquis d''Huntley et my
Lord Reis avoient cinq ou six gentilhommes dans le Nord,
niais on croit que cela s"'est dit seulement pour aider au dessein
que Ton a eu de conserver Tarmee.
Le Comte de Traquair n'a point propose au Comite que
Ton vit s"'il seroit plus avantageux pour le roi de la G"" B' de
conserver ou de licencier Tarmee, avant que de resoudre Tun
ou Tautre, ainsy qu'il me Tavoit promis. II fait etat de partir
dans peu de jours pour Londres. Je crains que le roi de la
G' B"^ ne le croye plus attache a ses interets qu''il n'est pas.
M. ie Chev^ Moray le suivra bientot et avec lui Will. Moray.
J'ay receu celle que V. Em"=® m'a fait Thonneur de m'ecrire
au 14 de ce mois, mais je n'ay point receu encore mon conge
de M. le Comte de Brienne, bien que Tordinaire de cette
semaine soit arrive. Je n'en useray point, Mg"", avec precipi-
tation, suivant ce que V. Em*=^ m'ordonne, et j'ay deja fait
scauoir a M. de Bellievre qu'il a pleu a V. Em'^^ m'accorder la
dite permission et me ordonner de ne rien faire qu'apres avoir
receu de ses nouvelles.
M. le Comte de Crawford m'avoit fait dire qu'il m'enveroit
la remonstrance des ministres, mais je ne Tay point encore
receue, et je n'aurois pas le temps qui m'est necessaire pour la
traduire quand je Faurois presentement. Je remets a la faire
tenir a V. Em'^® par le premier ordinaire, car elle merite, a ce
qu'on me dit, d'estre veue, et elle parle assez ouvertement
contre le roi de la G' B"" et dit quelque chose mesme d'assez
piquant qui ne se peut entendre que du Due de Hamilton et
son frere.
La mere et les parents du sieur Artil ont desire que je
soUicitasse pour lui, ce que j'ay creu que je ne leur devois en
aucune fa^on refuser ; aussy me suis je employe avec toute la
chaleur et la diligence possible pour le servir, essayant toute-
fois de me conduire de telle sorte que si les offices que j'ay faits
294 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
pour luy ne luy sont pas utiles, ils ne me seront point prejudici-
ables, ni au service de Sa Majeste.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Oct. 1647.
It has at length been decided that the army will be maintained till the
first of March next, when Parliament, which will then have assembled,
will decide what will be most suitable to do with it. The reasons that
were adduced in order to maintain it are those I have already mentioned
to you, the wish to preserve the King of Great Britain, the Presbyterian
form of religion, the peace of the kingdom, and the union between the
two nations, matters which seem somewhat different and results that this
army will have considerable trouble in accomplishing atone and the same
time. However, the Marquis of Argyle, who appears to have carried the
maintenance of the army against the Duke of Hamilton, required all the
means he employed in order to obtain it, seeing that after having had a
long remonstrance drawn up by the clergy to that effect, and having
brought a letter for that purpose from the Scottish Commissioners who
are in London and who were all of his party before the Earl of Lanark
got there, having even offered to the officers of this army to give them a
third of their pay, and for the simple soldiers something of the little they
receive for their subsistence, he only carried it by one vote.
Yet it would be very difficult to say whether the preservation of this
army will bring more harm than profit to the King of Great Britain, for,
besides the little likelihood there is that these troops who so shamefully
delivered up their king when they might have defended him, will now
make an effort to deliver him, I know very well that the Marquis of Argyle
on whom they depend, whatever liopes he may hold out to France or to
the King of Great Britain, seeks first by every means to arrange his own
affairs and afterwards those of his nation with the Independents, so far
even as to insinuate in the Committee meeting that one ought not to
oppose liberty of conscience in England if the Independents would consent
that Presbyterianism be established there for those who would conform
to it, and that the Covenant be taken there only by those who would
agree to swear to it, by which means it may no doubt be so adapted to
Independency.
I am obliged to state that for some time past I receive marks of very
polite attention from the Duke of Hamilton and from all those of his party,
and that they show greater confidence in communicatingwith me, and speak
much more openly against the Argyle party than they used to do. The last
time I saw the duke he told me he would have wished that the disbanding of
the army had given him the means of rendering some signal service to his
king, which he was assured this army would never do, and which it now
prevented him from doing ; that the same people who speak here of joining
with France were creating here each day new causes of jealousy against
her, and that one of the reasons the Marquis of Argyle employed in the
committee meeting, in order to have the army maintained, was the fear
they ought to have of the arms of His Majesty, which was replied to by
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 295
the Earl of Cassilis/ who is one of the duke's faction, and who told the
Marquis that they had the same reason to fear the arms of the Turk, who
was the great enemy of all Christians ; the marquis replied that he had
seen letters from France that led him to believe he was not apprehensive
without cause, without wishing to enter into more detail.
There is a rumour current here that the Marquis of Huntly and Lord
Reay have still five or six gentlemen in the north, but this is thought to
be said merely to aid the design of retaining the army.
The Earl of Traquair did not propose in the Committee meeting that it
might be seen whether it would be more advantageous for the King of
Great Britain to preserve or disband the army, before resolving on either
the one or the other, as he had promised me to do. He is preparing to
leave in a few days for London. I fear the King of Great Britain believes
him to be more attached to his interests than he really is. Sir Robert
Moray will follow shortly and with him Will. Moray.
I have received your letter of the 14th inst., but I have not yet received
leave of absence from M. de Brienne, although this week's mail has
arrived. I shall not, according to your orders, make use of it hurriedly,
and I have already informed M. de Bellievre that you have granted me
the permission, and ordered me to do nothing before receiving further
notice from him.
The Earl of Crawford sent to tell me that he would send me the remon-
strance of the clergy, but I have not yet got it, and I should not have the
necessary time to translate it even though I had it at present. I defer
sending it to you until the next mail, for from what I have been told it
is worth looking at : it speaks somewhat openly against the King of Great
Britain, and makes some sarcastic comments that can only apply to the
Duke of Hamilton and his brother.
The mother and other relatives of Harthill have wished me to intercede
for him, which I believed I could not refuse to them ; so I have taken up
his case with all the ardour and diligence possible in order to assist him,
while trying to conduct myself therein in such a manner that if my
services are not useful to him, they will not be prejudicial to me, nor to
the service of His Majesty.]
ecu
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, ^ ^^ " l647.
V. Em™ pourra voir par la remonstrance des ministres de ce
royaumes, que je joins a cette lettre, le peu d'esperance qu''il
y a que le roi de la G'' B"" tire aucun avantage d'une armee
qu'on maintient principalement pour la defense du Covenant
^ John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis.
296 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
qui est la premiere cause de sa ruine, et dont ceux qui en ont
la direction Paccusent d'avoir donne par sa derniere reponse
le plus dangereux coup qu'ait encore receu la religion par
Tetablissement de laquelle ils subsistent.
De sorte qu'encore qu^il ne soit pas aise de juger si le roi
de la G"" B"" auroit peu tirer quelque avantage du licenciement
de la dite armee, on a tout sujet de croire qu"'il ne doit attendre
aucun bien de sa subsistance, et que ceux de qui elle depend
feront tons leurs efforts pour s'accommoder plus facilement
avec leurs ennemis en le perdant ; a quoy il se pent faire toute-
fois qu'ils travailleront inutilement, puisque le bruit de la
marche de quelques regiments de cavalerie de Tarmee Anglaise,
les difFerentes maximes de leur religion, et la haine ancienne
des deux nations, donne lieu de juger que les Independants
pardonneront difficilement a TEcosse les injures qu'ils croient
en avoir receu depuis quelques annees, et qu^ainsy le roi de la
G*" B"" en les laissant faire peut esperer de se retablir par la
division de deux partis qui veullent egalement sa ruine.
II semble, Mg"^, que la France pour cette mesme raison ne doit
rien craindre des Ecossois ni se mettre en peine de les rechercher
puisqu'outre que cela leur serviroit pour donner des jalousies
de Sa Majeste aux Independants, a quoy ils travaillent de tout
leur pouvoir, et mesme jusqu*'a in venter des choses fausses, on
se peut asseurer qu'ils seront toujours empeches de faire aucune
chose au prejudice de la France, ou par la crainte quMls en ont
aujourd'huy, ou par le besoin qu'ils croient en pouvoir avoir
quelque jour.
II n''est que trop asseure que les Ecossois ne pensent a rien
tant aujourd'huy qu'a porter leur roi et le prince son fils a
venir en Ecosse, quoique le bruit qui en est publie devroit
faire croire ce dessein moins veritable, c''est le principal sujet
du voyage du Comte de Traquair et ce qui a fait partir d'ici
ceux qui sent alles en France et en Angleterre avant lui, et
qui le doivent encore suivre. Cependant quoique Texperience
que le roi de la G' B*" a faite de Tinfidelite des Ecossois le
doive empecher de prendre une si dangereuse resolution, le
peu de connoissance que j'ay de ce pays, ou je ne vois rien pour
lui que funeste, me fait croire que Ton lui peut dire heujuge
cmdeles terras, J'uge litttcs avarum.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 297
II me semble que la mauvaise intelligence entre le Due de
Hamilton et le Marquis d'Argyle croisse chaque jour, et apres
avoir entendu ce qu"'ils me disent les uns et les autres, j"'avoue
qu''ils savent bien feindre s'ils entretiennent uiie parfaite corre-
spondance, et s'ils se portent une veritable affection comme
plusieurs qui les doivent mieux connoistre que moi ne laissent
pas de croire toujours. De moi, Mg% il me semble quMl y a
lieu de juger que quand ils n''auront plus rien a craindre de
leur roi, il faudra bien peu de choses pour les mettre aux
mains.
Le Marquis d'Argyle m"'a fait des excuses des craintes qu''il
avoit donne de la France, et le Due de Hamilton m'a parle de
sa pension, dont il m''a dit que quelques six annees lui estoient
deues, et qu^il n'avoit pas juge a propos de poursuivre pour
recevoir les benefits de Sa Majeste, durant qu'on Taccusoit
d'avoir manque de fidelite a son propre prince, que maintenant
qu"'il croyoit avoir fait assez connoistre son innocence et qu''il
est prest de donner encore de plus grandes preuves de son zele,
quand il le faudroit, il prendroit la hardiesse de demander la
dite pension ; de quoi il m''a dit qu''il desiroit m'entretenir plus
particulierement avant mon depart,
Les Ecossois de cette ville me sont venu remercier des offices
que j'ay fait aupres de V. Em^^ pour empecher qu"'ils ne fussent
contraints au payment de leurs taxes, et m"'ont apporte quelques
papiers pour me faire voir combien ce quails demandent est
raisonable, — c'est a dire un arret conforme a celui quMls ont
eu sous le regne du feu roi.
L'armee que les Ecossois ont en Irlande ne pretend pas obeir
aux ordres qu'elle a du Parlement d'Angleterre de s''en retirer.
Elle demande cinq mille habits a ce Parlement, et promet
avec cela de conserver ses postes durant une annee. On devoit
s"'assembler aujourd'huy pour savoir ce que Ton resoudroit sur
cette demande.
Quelques instances que Ton ait faites pour sauver la vie au
pauvre Hartil, on lui doit aujourd'huy trancher la teste. J''ay
propose qu*'on le bannit de ce pays, et qu'on Tenvoyat servir
en France, et j^ay ofFert de faire obliger un marchand a payer
une somme considerable s'il servoit encore contre le Parlement,
mais tout cela a este inutile, quoique David Leslay m'eut
298 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [OCT.
promis de le demander, — ce qu'il a fait bien faiblement. On
attend a chaque heure sa remission du roi de la G' B"", mais
elle ne lui servira de rien, quand mesme elle arriveroit a temps,
Les ministres n"'ont peu le porter a se repentir du service qu'il
a rendu a son roi, quoiqu'ils ayent refuse sans cela de Tabsoudre
de son excommunication. II meurt avee une extreme con-
stance, et ne dit rien qui ne soit tres digne d'un homme de
coeur. V. Em''® me pardonnera s'il lui plaist, si je m'arreste
tant sur le discours du dit Hartil, parce que c'est une personne
tres considerable et qui a rendu des services fort signales au
dit roi.
Je suis oblige, Mg% d'avertir V. Em"^ que cette remontrance
(jue je lui envoye est un ouvrage aussy pitoyable quMl en soit
sorti des mains des ministres de ce pays, de qui je n'ay rien veu
encore qui fut fort bon, de sorte que j"'ay este oblige de changer
quelques paroles et d''ajouter ou de diminuer a la lettre, afin
d'eclaircir le sens, et d'y en faire mesme trouver en quelques
endroits.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazabin. Edinburgh, jtv^ 1o47.
You will see by the remonstrance of the clergy of this kingdom, which
I add to this letter, the little hope there is that the King of Great
Britain may derive any advantage from an army that is maintained
principally for the defence of the Covenant, which is the first cause of
his ruin and from which those who have tlie direction of it accuse him of
having given by his last reply the most dangerous blow yet received by
the religion through the establishment of which they subsist. So that
although it is not easy to judge if the King of Great Britain would have
derived any benefit by the disbanding of the army, one has every reason
to believe he need expect no good from its maintenance, and that those on
whom it depends will use all their efforts, in order to come to an agree-
ment more easily with their enemies, in ruining him. On which, however,
it may happen that they labour uselessly, since the rumour of the march of
some regiments of English cavalry, the different maxims of their religion,
and the old hatred of the two nations give reason to judge that the
Independents will not easily pardon Scotland for the insults they believe
they have received from her during some years past, so that the King of
Great Britain in leaving them alone may hope to re-establish himself by
the division of the two parties that equally wish his ruin. It seems that
France for this same reason ought to fear nothing from the Scots nor
take the trouble to seek after them, since this would not only serve to
i-ender the Independents jealous of His Majesty, which the Scots labour
with all their power to effect, even going so far with this intention as
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 299
to invent things quite false ; one may be assured that they will always
be prevented from doing anjrthing prejudicial to France either by the
fear they have of her to-day or through the need they believe they will
have of her some day.
It is but too certain that the Scots think of nothing more now than of
inducing their king and the prince his son to come to Scotland, although
the noise that has been made about this design might have made one
think it less veritable, it is the principal reason of the journey of the
Earl of Traquair and what has led those to leave here who have gone to
France and to England before him and who are yet to follow him. Yet
although the experience the King of Great Britain has had of the un-
faithfulness of the Scots ought to prevent him from taking so dangerous
a resolution, the little knowledge I have of this country in which I see
nothing but what is fatal for him makes me think that one may say to
him, heufuge crudelis terras ; fuge littus avarum.
It seems to me that the bad understanding between the Duke of
Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle increases daily, and after having
heard what they tell me of each other I confess they know well how to
dissemble, if they keep up an intimate intercourse and bear a real affec-
tion for each other, as several persons who ought to know them better
than I do still continue to believe. For my part there appears to be
reason to judge that when they no longer have anything to fear from
their king, it would require very little to bring them to blows.
The Marquis of Argyle has apologised to me for the fears he had
inspired of France, and the Duke of Hamilton has spoken to me of his
annuity, of which he says some six years are owing to him, and that he
had not judged proper to solicit or receive the favours of His Majesty
while he was under the accusation of disloyalty to his own sovereign, but
now that he believed he had clearly enough proved his innocence, and is
ready to give further proofs of his zeal when it would be required he
would venture to ask the annuity, of which he told me he wished to
confer with me more minutely before my departure.
The Scots of this town have come to thank me for the application I
made to you on their behalf as to the relief of their countrymen in
France from payment of their taxes, and they have brought some papers
to show me how much their demand is reasonable, viz., to procure a
decree similar to the one they had under the reign of the late king.
The army the Scots have in Ireland does not pretend to obey the
orders it has from the English Parliament to withdraw from there. It
asks five thousand uniforms from this Parliament, and promises with
that to preserve its posts during a year. A meeting was to be held to-
day in order to prepare a reply to this demand.
In spite of the entreaties that have been made to save the life of poor
Harthill, he is to be beheaded to-day. I proposed that he be banished
from this country, and that he might be sent to serve in France, and
offered through a merchant to pay a considerable sum should he again
serve against the Parliament, but all was of no avail ; although David
300 BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE [OCT.
Leslie had promised me to demand him, he did it very supinely. His
pardon from the King of Great Britain is expected every hour, but it will
not serve him in any way even should it arrive in time. The clergy
have not been able to induce him to repent of the services he had
rendered to his king, although they have refused without that to absolve
him from his excommunication. He is going to death with much
fortitude and says nothing that is not very worthy of a generous-hearted
man. You will please pardon me if I delay so much over the conversa-
tion of Harthill, because he was a person of much importance who had
rendered very signal services to his king.
I am obliged to inform you that this remonstrance which I send to
you is about the most pitiful work that has yet left the hands of the
clergy of this country, from whom I have not yet seen anything very good,
so that I have been obliged to change some words, and to add or retrench
literally in order to clear up the sense, and in some places even in
order to find any sense in it.]
CCIII
BELLIEVRE 1 BRIENNE
A Londres, le '^Jl^^' i647.
' 25 Octobre
Monsieur, — J'ay creu que je ferois bien si je pouuois satis-
ffaire le Roy d'Ang""® et ne pas mescontenter le parlement en la
maniere dont j'aurois a prendre conge dudit parlement et a y
voir establir mon frere ; le diet Roy m'ayant tesmoigne un
tres grand desir que mon frere ny moy ne prissions point
d'audience publique du parlement, ny ne fissions a cet esgard
aucune chose qui peust auoir de I'esclat ; il a fallu du temps
pour mesnager les espris, en sorte qu'ilz se soient portez a ce
que nous desirions comme la meilleure maniere en laquelle les
choses puissent estre faictes, et qu'ilz ne se doutent point que ce
soit a la priere du dit Roy, auquel tel soup^on feroit plus de tort
qu*'a nous ; en suitte de quoy, apres auoir dispose touttes choses
au mieux quMl nous a este possible, nous auons faict scauoir
au comte de Manchester, Speaker des Seigneurs, que j'auois des
ordres de m'en retourner et mon frere de demeurer icy, sur
quoy il a este resolu dans les deux Maisons du Parlement que
les comtes de Nortumberland, Manchester, et Haward et 6 des
Communs nous viendroient faire compliment de la part du
Parlement. Nous leur donnons audience demain apres midy.
Cette deputation est plus solennelle qu'aucune qui ait encore
1 647] P- BELLlfeVRE TO BRIENNE 301
este faitte par le Parlement. Je faits estat de partir dans
trois jours. — Monsieur, vostre, etc., Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure, du 4 nouembre 1647, receu le 12.
[Bellievre to Brienne. London, *f^ 1647.
I THOUGHT it would bc well were I able to satisfy ^he King of England
and not dissatisfy the Parliament, in the manner in which I would have
to take leave of the latter and in seeing my brother settled here; the king
having shown a very great desire that neither of us should look for a
public audience of Parliament, nor do anything in the matter by way of
ostentation. It took time to bring people's minds to this and to convince
them that what we wished was the best way in which matters might be
done, so as not to allow them to suspect that it was done on the request
of their king, to whom such a suspicion would have done more harm than
to us. Having thus disposed everything in the best way we could, we
intimated to the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the Lords, that I had
orders of recall from here, and my brother orders to remain ; on which it
was resolved in both Houses of Parliament, that the Earls of Northum-
berland, Manchester, and Howard, and six members of Commons should
come to compliment us on the part of Parliament. We are giving them
audience for to-morrow afternoon. This deputation is the most imposing
of any yet made by this Parliament. I purpose to leave in three days.]
CCIV
p. BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, le '^T/t'' l647.
' 25 Octobre
Monsieur, — Encore que les propositions ainsy qu'elles ont
este resolues en la chambre haute soient si contraires aux senti-
ments que le roy d"'Angleterre a tousiours tesmoigne auoir qu''il
n"'y a pas apparance qu'il y veuille consentir, elles n'ont pas
semble assez rudes a la Chambre des communes, Tayant de
beaucoup encheri. Sur ce qui auoit este arreste en celle des
Pairs, qui s'estoient contentez d'ordonner la vente des biens
des euesques sans toucher a ceux des doyens et chapitres, ce
qui a este adjouste a ce que quelques uns croyent comme una
des choses qui tenoit le plus a cceur au roy d*'Angleterre, et
aussi parcequ'ilz n'ont gueres de fond plus asseure que celluy
la pour auoir pntement [presentement] de I'argent. En Particle
de la religion on permet Fexercice de toutes, a la reserue de la
Catholique romaine et de la protestante d'Angleterre, qui sub-
302 P. BELLi:feVRE TO BRIENNE [NOV.
sistoit auant les troubles, pour la protection de laquelle le roy
d'Ang'^ s'est montre extremement ferme jusques icy; et pour
ne pas laisser un des poinctz sur lesquels ledit roy a cy deuant
faict le plus de difficulte, sans le' rendre plus rigoureux que
n'auoient faict les Seigneurs, au lieu de quatre personnes a
quoy auoit este reduit en cette chambre le grand nombre de
ceux qui par les antiennes propositions ne pouuoient obtenir de
pardon, ils en ont voulu mettre sept, qu'ils se sont reserues a
nomraer lors seulement qu'ilz presenteront les dittes proposi-
tions, soit qu''ilz pretendent par la tenir les esprits en suspens,
ou qu'en effect ilz ne soient pas encore resolus sur le choix
qu'ilz en ont a faire. Ilz font estat d"'auoir demain acheue
cette affaire, que Ton ne peut pas encore tenir pour conclue,
puisque ne se trouuant pas conforme auec ce qui a este arreste
en la Chambre haute, il en faudra deliberer de nouueau ce qui
pourroit bien auoir este faict a dessein de tirer de plus en plus
Taffaire en longueur. Ce peu d'affection qu'ilz semblent auoir
pour un accomodement ne faict pas esperer qu'ilz consentent
au traicte personnel pas mesme en la maniere que les Seigneurs
Tout accorde, bien que ce qu'ilz ont resolu ne puisse estre
ainsy par ceux qui le voudront interpreter le plus fauorable-
ment, estant seullement arreste qu'un commite accompagnera
ceux qui presenteront les propositions au Roy d'Angleterre
auec charge de luy faire entendre verballement les raisons
sur lesquelles le Parlement se sera fonde pour resoudre les
dictes propositions sans que ce comitte ait pouuoir d'entrer
en conference auec ledict roy et moins encore de rien resoudre
sur les difficultez qu'il pourroit faire, et ainsy les Seigneurs qui
auoient promis a leur roy de porter ses interestz essayent de
faire croire qu'ilz acquittent de la parolle qu'ilz luy en auoient
donnee. Le bruict qu'il y a eu dans le dernier Conseil de
guerre au subiect d'une requeste presentee au general [sic] par
cinq regimens de cauallerie, ce qui sembloit estre en effect
ou pouuoir estre la cause de quelque diuision dans I'armee,
pourra bien produire quelque declaraon de la d. armee, niais
difficilement, chose qui contribue si I'aduancement des affaires
du Roy d'Angleterre. — Je suis. Monsieur, vostre, etc.,
P. DE Beli.ieure.
1646] p. BELLI£VRE TO BRIENNE 303
[P. Beixievbe to Brienne. London, *^' 1647.
Although the proposals as they were decided upon in the Upper House
are so opposed to the sentiments that the King of England has always
manifested, that there is no likelihood that he will consent to them, they
have not appeared hard enough to the House of Commons, that has
greatly aggravated them in this respect. The House of Peers had con-
tented itself with ordering the sale of the bishops' property without
touching that of the deans and chapters, whereas those two last have been
added by the Commons, as some people believe, because it was one of the
things which the King of England was most attached to, and also as they
have scarcely any means more assured than that in order to obtain money
at present In the matter of religion the exercise of all is tolerated with
the exception of the Roman Catholic and the Anglican Protestant, that
existed before the troubles, for the protection of which the King of England
has shown himself till now to be extremely firm ; and in order not to leave
oneof the points on which the king has formerly raised the greatest objection
without rendering it more rigorous than the Lords had done, instead of four
persons being exempted from pardon, to which number the latter House
had reduced the large number of such mentioned in former proposals, thev
have wished to have seven, which they reserve thft right to name, only when
the proposals will be presented, either wishing thereby to keep people's
minds in suspense, or that, in fact, they may not have decided on the choice
they have to make. They propose to finish this matter to-morrow, which
cannot be considered to be concluded, since on account of their not agree-
ing to what was decided in the Upper House, it will be necessary to discuss
it again and this may likely have been so arranged in order to prolong
the matter more and more. Their being seemingly so little disposed to
come to any agreement does not encourage the hope that they may con-
sent to a personal convention, not even in the manner it was granted by
the Lords, although what the latter have resolved cannot be carried out
in the manner they propose, even on the most favourable interpretation ;
it being thereby simply decided that those who will present the proposals
to the King of England be accompanied by a committee, who will have
orders to explain to him verbally the reasons on which Parliament will be
justified in resolving on these proposals, without the committee having
the power to enter into a discussion thereupon with the king, and still
less to solve any of the difficulties he might indicate, and it is thus the
Lords try to make it be believed they have kept their promise made to
their king to support his interests. The uproar that took place in the
last Council of War on the subject of a petition presented to General ^
by five regiments of cavalry, which appears to be either the effect, as it may
be the cause of some division in the army, may result in a declaration
on the part of the army, but will not readily contribute in any way to the
progress of the aflFairs of the King of England.]
^ See further on this subject the letter following p. 305.
p. BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE [nov.
CCV
P. BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
Londres, le IV Nouuembre 1647.
Monsieur, — Suiuant I'intention du Roy d'Ang'®, les com-
plimens que j'ay faict au parlement et que j'en ay receu se
sont passez sans grand esclat. II depputa un comite de
Seigneurs et des Communs pour receuoir la lettre du roy.
En la rendant pour commencer a entrer en affaire je leur
ay parle de celle du cappitaine Martin Lazon, dont sa maieste
a escript il y a quelque temps a Mons. Tambassadeur extra-
ordinaire, et comme je scay qu'ilz ont pris la resolution de me
donner au premier jour le cahier des plainctes que font les
marchands anglois qui sont en France, qu^'ilz trauaillent a
presser, il y a si longtemps, je leur ay voulu tesmoigner que
nous ne craignons p8.s d'en venir aux esclaircissements, que
j"'aurois neantmoins esuite s''il eust este possible, et pour ce je
leur ay diet quelque chose en faueur des marchands fran^'ois
qui sont icy, dont on parle d"'alterer les priuileges qui leur ont
este accordez par les traictez entre les deux Couronnes. II
sera difficille qu'ilz s'appliquent maintenant a la decision
des plus Importantes qui ayent encore este agitees dans ce
royaume.
Les deliberations publiques dans le Conseil de Tarmee et les
particullieres entre les personnes qui conduisent le Parlement
depuis quatre jours, s'il est a propos d"'enfermer le roy d'Angle-
terre, de commencer a luy faire son pro9es ou de le garder un
peu plus estroictement qu'il n'est dans une maison de cette
[ ?] esloignee ou Ton ne lui laisseroit pas la facillite de com-
muniquer auec ses seruiteurs qu'il a depuis quelque temps ;
il semble que tous ces gens la pressent de pouruoir au gouuerne-
ment de cet estat, en sorte qu'il puisse subsister sans luy. Jusque
icy la plus grande partie du conseil de guerre inclinent que les
propositions ne luy soient presentees de nouueau quoy que tres
ruddes et qui subsistant destruisent entierement la Royaute
tant ilz ont peur que la disposition en laquelle le diet Roy
cognoist que sont maintenant les esprits de ceux qui ont icy le
pouuoir ne le porte a les accepter encore qu'a mon aduis entre
1 647] P- BELLIlfeVRE TO BRIENNE 305
une telle resolution et le pis qui luy puisse arriuer il n'y ait pas
de difference. Pour la royaute les affaires du dit roy sont en
tres mauuais estat s'il n''arriue quelque chose de nouueau dont
il tire plus d'aduantage quMl n''a faict des occasions passees.
Je ne voy que la diuision entre ces gens cy qui le puisse
garentir, et je n'estime pas qu'il y ait lieu de Tattendre entre
le Parlement et Tarmee comme le diet Roy se le promet. II
reste a esperer qu'elle se forme ou plus tost se fomente dans
Tarmee, mais le nombre et Taucthorite de ceux qui trauaillent
a Fassoupir, donne plus subject de craindre qu'ilz le puissent
faire au moins pour quelque temps, pendant lequel ilz pour-
raient faire beaucoup de mal. Vous scauez que le roy d'An-
gleterre fonde les esperances dont il s'entretient sur les parolles
que luy ont donne Cromusel et Ayerton, deux des principaux
officiers de Tarmee, et aussy sur celle de Hamon, Lambert, et
quelques autres dont la naissance ny les actions jusques icy ne
sont pas si illustres que les noms vous puissent estre cognuz.
Ces officiers, dis-je, qui sont suspectz d"'auoir eu communication
auec le roy d'Angleterre, ont tellement perdu de leur credit,
que les agitateurs conduitz par Desburou, qui commande les
forces maritimes du royaume, ozerent bien Jeudy dernier que
Cromusel et Ayerton presidoient au conseil de guerre en Tab-
sence du general, entrer dans ce conseil et y demander qu'il
fust faict justice de ceux de Tarmee qui auoient intelligence
auec le diet Roy et en suitte que Ton delibereroit des choses
que j'ay marque cy dessus qui les occuppent depuis trois jours.
Les parolles picquantes que se dirent ce jour la Ayerthont et
Desborou, et ce qui s''est encore passe entre eux dans les conseils
suiuants donneroit subiect de croire qu'il y pourroit auoir de
la diuision dans I'armee, si ceux sur les discours desquelz le roy
d'Ang''^ a conceu ses esperances auoient en effect enuie de le
seruir et si estant dans ce dessein ilz pouuoient conseruer
autant de credit dans Tarmee qu'ilz auroient eu de subiect
de s'i en promettre en toute autre rencontre. L'on y croit que
le roy d'Angleterre a dessein de s"'esuader et pour y obuier
Ton commenca Sabmedy dernier a faire une garde plus exacte
qu'auparauant tant au dedans qu'au dehors et sur les aduences
d'Opthancourt, sans qu'il paroisse que ses gardes soient re-
doublees elles le sont aujourd'huy, et Faeces n'est plus si libre
VOL. II.- u
306 P. BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [NOV.
pres de luy qu'il a este cy deuant. L"'on luy diet que c"'est a
TefFect de le garentir du danger qu'il court que quelques uns de
rarmee n'entreprennent sur sa personne ; peut estre que si Ton
croyoit comme Tannee derniere quMl eust dessein de passer en
France, et que ceux qui ont icy le pouuoir fussent bien d'accord
auec les Escossois, ilz si pourroient laisser aller, s'imaginans que
auec plus de pretexte et moins d'opposition ilz pourroient en
son absence establir le gouuernement qu*'ilz desirent, raais I'ap-
prehention qu'ilz ont qu'il ne s'accomodat auec les Escossois et
presbiteriens anglois, faict qu'ilz prendroient soing de ne le pas
laisser passer entre leurs mains, croyant qu'ils ne le pourroient
pas retirer pour le mesme prix qu"'ilz Tout eu d'eux cy deuant.
Ilz scauent que les Escossois cognoissent la faute qu'^ilz ont
faicte et le prejudice qu''ilz ont receu en le liurant, et peut
estre ont ilz aussy cognoissance des ofFres que les diets Escossois
font maintenant au roy d'Angleterre d'entrer cet hiuer en
Angleterre et de si joindre a ceux qui le voudront seruir
pourueu qu'il leur donne quelque satisffaction touchant la
religion presbiterienne sans plus parler du conuenant. Je scay
que le roy d'Angleterre eust aduis jeudy dernier qu'il aura peu
donner a la reyne d'Ang""® que le nonce qui est en Ibernie
faisoit achepter a S* Malo un vaisseau de trente pieces de
canon et une fregate de douze Ton mandoit au roy d"* Angle-
terre que s'estoit [sic] contre son seruice et pour celluy du roy
d'Espagne. Je n'ay peu scauoir autre chose de cette affaire, et
je doute fort que de cest aduis si peu circonstantie il se puisse
retirer beaucoup d'utilite, aussy je ne vous Teseris que pour
vous rendre le compte le plus exact qui m'est possible de ce qui
vient a ma cognoissance. — Monsieur, Vostre, etc.,
P. DE Bellieure.
[P. BELiii£:vRE to Brienne. London, 11 Nov. 1647.
According to the intention of the King of England the congratulations
I presented to Parliament and received from it in return passed off with-
out much parade. A committee of the Lords and of the Commons was
deputed to me in order to receive the king's letter, in delivering whicli I
began to enter upon business. I spoke to them of the matter of Captain
Martin Lazon, of which his Majesty wrote some time ago to the special
ambassador, and as I know they have decided on presenting to me on an
early day the memorial of complaints made by English traders in France,
i647] P- BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE 307
which they have been striving- to insist upon for so long a time, I
wished to let them see that we did not fear having matters cleared up,
which I would nevertheless have rather avoided had it been possible,
and for that reason I made a statement to them in favour of the French
traders who are here, whose privileges, granted to them by the treaties
between the two governments, they have spoken of altering. It will be
difficult for them to apply themselves now to the decision of one of the
most important questions that may have till now agitated this kingdom.
The public discussions in the council of the army and in private
meetings, held by those who conduct the business of Parliament, during
the last four days have been as to whether one ought to keep the King of
England a close prisoner to begin to draw up his process, or to keep him a
little more closely than he is, in a house of this distant, where he
will not have the facility of communicating with his followers that he has
had for some time ; it seems as if all these people were in haste to pro-
vide the government of this state with all that is requisite so that it may
subsist without him. Up till the present time the majority of the Council
of War incline to the opinion that the proposals may not be presented to
him again, although very hard and quite destructive of royalty, so much
do they fear that the king, seeing how the minds of those in power here
are now disposed, may be induced to accept them, although in my
opinion, between such a resolution and the worst that can happen to
him, there is no difference. As regards the royalty the king's affairs are
in a very bad condition, if nothing new happen to him of which he may
derive greater advantage than he has done on past opportunities. I do
not see that the differences among these people can offer him any
guarantee, and I do not consider there is any reason to expect it from
any division between the Parliament and the army as the king promises
himself. The hope still remains that divisions may be formed, or rather
propagated in the army, but the number and authority of those who
take in hand to quiet them down give greater reason to fear that they
will be able to accomplish it, at least for some time, during which they
will be able to do much harm. You are aware that the King of England
bases the hopes with which he sustains himself on the promises given to
liim by Cromwell and Ireton,^ two of the principal officers of the army,
and also on that of Hammond,^ Lambert,^ and some others whose birth
and whose actions till now are not so illustrious as to have made them
known to you. These officers who are suspected of having had communi-
tion with the King of England have so much lost their influence that the
^ Henry Ireton, CromweH's son-in-law, Commissary-General and Lieutenant-
General of Horse to Fairfax.
^ This refers probably to Robert Hammond, Colonel of Foot and Governor of
the Isle of Wight, who was introduced to the king at Hampton Court by his
uncle Dr. Henry Hammond, one of his Majesty's chaplains. He had another
uncle Thomas who was at this time Lieutenant-General of the Ordinance.
3 John Lambert, Major-General in the Scots war at Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Dunbar, Inverkeithing, and at Worcester.
308 P. BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE [NOV.
agitators headed by Desborow^i who commands the naval forces^ ventured
on Thursday last to enter expressly the Council of War^ where Cromwell
and Ireton were presiding, in the absence of the general, and demanded
there that justice be done to those of the army who had a secret under-
standing with their king, and thereupon they discussed the matters I
have noted above, which occupied them during three days. The bitter
words interchanged between Ireton and Desborow on this day and
what also passed between them in the following meetings of the council
would give reason to believe that there might be a split in the army ; if
those on whose conversation the King of England has founded his hopes
had in fact the wish to serve him, and if having this design they were
able to retain as much influence in the army as they would otherwise
have had, there might be reason to expect something from them.
It is thought that the King of England has the intention of escaping,
and in order to prevent it a stricter guard than formerly both within
and in the grounds of Hampton Court has been kept since Saturday
last without its being apparent that his guards have been doubled,
as they are at present, and access to him is not so free as it formerly
was. He is told that this is in order to protect him from the
danger to which he is exposed from some persons of the army that
may engage to do him bodily injury; perhaps if they thought that he
had as last year the intention of going to France, and that those who
have the power here were quite agreed with the Scots, they might let
him go, imagining that with a better pretext and with less opposition
they might, in his absence, establish the government they wish ; but the
fear they have that he might come to terms with the Scots and English
Presbyterians causes them to take care that he do not pass into their
hands as they believe they would not be able to have him again for the
same price they had him from them formerly. They know that the
Scots have discovered the mistake they made and the harm that their
delivering him up has caused them, and perhaps they are also acquainted
with the offers that the Scots are now making to the King of England, to
enter England during the winter and join those who would wish to serve
him provided he give them some satisfaction regarding the Presbyterian
religion without speaking of the Covenant. I know that the King of
England received notice on Thursday last, which he will have been able
to send to the Queen of England, that the Papal Nuncio who is in Spain,
had made the purchase at St. Malo of a ship of war of thirty cannons
and of a frigate of twelve, which the King of England was informed was
done in opposition to his service and for that of the King of Spain. I
have not been able to learn anything more about this matter and I
doubt much that the king will be able to derive much advantage from a
notice so vague ; I only therefore mention it to you in order to give the
most exact account possible of all that comes to my knowledge.]
^ John Desborow passed through almost all the military grades from captain
to major-general, was also vice-admiral, member of Council of State and one of
Cromwell's lords.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 309
.1
CCVI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, -' Nov. l647.
.Tay receu celle que V. Em^® in''a fait Thonneur de m'ecrire
du 18 du mois passe, pour reponse a laquelle je lui diray
qu"'encore que Tordre qui a este donne pour conserver Tarmee
de ce Parlement jusqu"'au mois de Mars ait rompu les mesures
que j"'avois prises pour tirer des hommes d'ici presentement,
ainsi que V. Em*^® aura peu voir par mes precedentes, je n''ay
pas laisse depuis de voir si je pourrois faire par quelque autre
voie, ce que je ne pouvois par celles que j'avois prises, — c'est
a dire par le moyen de David Leslay et par celui de M' le
Chev'' Moray. J'ay done represente a M, le Due de Hamilton
avant qu'il soit parti de cette ville, Tavantage que ce lui seroit
pour les interets de sa maison d'entreprendre de faire passer en
France douze ou quinze cents hommes, que leurs Majestes
desirent fort tirer d'ici presentement, et de les faire commander
par une personne qui dependit de lui, de la mesme sorte que
M' le Chev'" Moray depend du Marquis d'Argyle, et le peu de
prejudice que recevroit un royaume entier en se privant d'un
si petit nombre d'hommes, a quoy j''ay joint encore d'autres
considerations qui ne touchent pas moins, a mon avis, que les
precedentes, — c'est a dire Tesperance de pouvoir etre paye de
sa pension. Cependant, Mg"^, comme je n''etois pas asseure des
intentions de V. Em*^^, je n"'ay fait que lui representer ces choses,
qu''il a fort bien receues, sans le presser d^ entendre ; mais le
Comte de Crawford, Tresorier d"'Ecosse, et beau-frere de ce
Due, m'etant venu voir, comme je venais de recevoir celle
quMl a pleu a V. Em'^® de m''ecrire sur ce sujet, je n'ay rien
omis de tout ce que j''ay creu pouvoir servir a le porter, et a
porter avec lui le parti des Hamilton a donner satisfaction a
leurs Majesties et a V. Em"®, sur le sujet des dites levees ; et
quoiqu*'il ait este jusqu^ici celui qui c'est le plus oppose a laisser
sortir des hommes de ce pays, il m"'a dit quMl contribueroit de
tout son pouvoir, aussitot que les jalousies qu"'ils ont, avec tant
de sujet, de TAngleterre, seroient cessees, et qu*'il ne s"'y oppo-
310 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [NOV.
seroit pas mesme si quelque autre que lui entreprenoit d'en
deraander la permission avant cela,
De sorte, Mg"", qu'encore que d'un mois ou deux il y ait peu
d'apparence que Ton puisse avancer aucune chose dans les dites
levees, je crois que Ton feroit une partie de ce que Ton desireroit
mesme avant que Tarmee se licenciast, pourvu que Ton eut en
main Tarrest que demandent les marchands de cette ville, pour
le leur donner, ou ne le leur donner pas, selon qu'ils agiroient
dans TafFaire des dites levees ; et que Ton eut aussy pouvoir de
promettre au Due de Hamilton une partie des arrerages de sa
pension, s'il faisoit ce qu'on desire de lui sur ce sujet, ainsi
que j'en pourray informer plus particulierement V. Em*^^
quand je seray par dela.
Ayant mande exactement a V. Em'^'^ par mes precedentes ce
que font M""^ le Comte d' Angus et le Chevalier Moray touchant
leurs levees, je ne lui en toucheray rien presentement. Les
Ecossois ne sont nullement satisfaits de la maniere en laquelle
le Par* d'Angleterre a etabli le gouvernement presbyterial.
Les ministres la condamnent avec des termes outrageux dans les
Eglises, et le Baron de Balmerino, quoique tres violent ennemi
des Catholiques, en lisant dans le Comite la lettre des deputes
d'Ecosse qui sont a Londres, ne se pent empecher de dire que
les Anglois souffroient toute sorte de religion a la reserve de
celles des Catholiques, qui valloit mieux a son jugement que
pas une de celle quMls approuvoient.
Le Comite a aussi enfin resolu d'envoyer cinq mil livres
sterling a Tarmee d'Ecosse qui est en Irlande pour habiller les
soldats, sans quoy ils avoient remontre qu'ils ne pouvoient plus
subsister, et moyennant quoy ils ont promis de maintenir encore
une armee, de sorte que toutes choses font voir qu"'encore que
les Ecossois cherchent, par toute sorte de moyens d'avoir paix
avec les Independants, ils prevoyent qu'ils ne pourront les
empecher de leur faire la guerre.
De tons ceux que Ton a executes dans cette isle depuis
quelques annees, pour la cause de leur roi, il n'y en a point
asseurement qui ait temoigne plus de Constance en mourant
qu'a fait Hartil, a qui Ton trancha la teste il y a aujourdlmy
huit jours. On ne le vit pas seulement changer de couleur sur
Techafaud, et il parla au peuple avant tant de grace et d'asseur-
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 311
ance de la justice de la cause pour laquelle il alloit mourir,
qu"'ils ne seroit pas avantageux a ce Par* d''avoir souvent de
telles executions a faire et que de semblables martyrs de la
Royaute n'avanceroient peu, en ce pays, la cause de la monarchie.
Je in'etois servi de cet argument pour detoumer quelques
seigneui-s de ce Comite de faire mourir Newton, cousin
du dit Hartil, et qui a este pris avec lui, mais ecoutant les
mauvaises nouvelles que lui ont este donne, il a pense pouvoir
sauver sa vie par une lachete qui lui aidera a se perdre, quisqu'il
y a tout sujet de croire qu'on sera bien aise de faire voir au
peuple une personne qui a confesse que le parti dans lequel il a
este engage, etoit mauvais, et qui appelle rebellion le service
qu'il a rendu a son roi ; cependant ses amis se persuadent que
cette basse confession quil a faite lui sauvera la vie ainsi quMl
leur a este promis,
Je prends la hardiesse d^envoyer a V. Em'^^ ce que Hartil
avoit resolu de dire sur I'echafaud, si Ton lui eut permis de
parler, mais comme il avoit bien prevu qu'il n''auroit pas cette
liberte, il Tavoit ecrit en quelques papiers quMl jetta au peuple
et qu'il donna a ses amis. J'ay traduit son Ecossois fort
exactement et V. Em'^® ne trouvera pas etrange que ce discours
n'ait pas toute la force et toutes les graces qu"'il pourroit avoir,
quand elle saura qu'il part d'un jeune homme de 22 ans, et qui
n'avoit aucunes lettres.
Je crois que je dois faire savoir k V. Em*'® que le Maire et le
Conseil d'Edimbourg me donnerent, IMercredi dernier, une forte
belle collation, en suite de laquelle ils me firent Bourgeois de
leur ville, ce qu'^ils croyent le plus grand honneur qu''ils puissent
faire a ceux qu'ils veullent obliger.
Je me suis oblige, Mg', de vous mander que les santes de
leurs Majestes, du roi de la G' B' et de V. Em" furent com-
mencees par le Maire de cette ville, et y furent bien bues de
tous ceux qui estoient presents.
[MoxTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Nov. 1647.
I have received your letter of the 18tli ult., to which I shall say in reply,
that although the order that has heen given to preserve the army of this
Parliament until the month of March may have broken up all the measures
I had taken in order to obtain men from here at present, as you may be
able to see by my previous letters, I have still been on the look-out since
to find if I could not do through some other channel that which I could not
812 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [NOV.
do through those I had selected ; that is to say by means of David Leslie
and Sir Robert Moray. 1 therefore represented to the Duke of Hamil-
ton before he left town the advantage it would be for the interests of his
house to undertake to send over to France twelve or fifteen hundred men,
that their Majesties' desire very much to procure from here at present, and
to have them commanded by a person who depended on him, in the same
manner as Sir Robert Moray depends on the Marquis of Argyle, and the
small sacrifice it would be for an entire kingdom to be deprived of so
small a number of men, to which I added other considerations, that in
my opinion have no less weight than the former, that is to say, the hope
of being able to be paid his annuity. Yet as I was not certain of your
intentions, I merely indicated these matters to him, which he took very
well, without pressing him to attend to it ; but the Earl of Crawford,
Treasurer of Scotland and brother-in-law to this duke, having called to
see me just as I received your letter on this subject, I omitted nothing of
all I thought could serve to induce him, and also lead with him the
Hamilton party, to give satisfaction to their Majesties and to you on this
subject of the levies ; and although he has till now been the person most
opposed to allowing men to leave this country, he told me he would con-
tribute all in his power towards it as soon as the jealousies they have with
so great reason against England will have ceased, and that he would not
oppose it even if some other person undertook to ask the permission
before that time. So that although during a month or two there is little
likelihood of our doing anything whatever in the levies, I believe that one
could procure a part of what might be wished before the army be dis-
banded, provided one had in hand the decree that the merchants of this
town require, so as to be able to give it to them or not to give it to them,
according as they act or not in the aifair of the levies, and that one might
also be able to promise to the Duke of Hamilton a part of the arrears of his
annuity if he did what one wishes of him in this matter as I shall be able
to inform you more in detail when I shall be with you.
Having informed you exactly by my previous letters what the Earl of
Angus and Sir Robert Moray are doing as to the levies, I shall add nothing
further theron at present.
The Scots are not at all satisfied with the manner in which the English
Parliament has established the Presbyterian form of church government.
The clergy condemn it in outrageous terms in the churches, and Lord
Balmerino, although a very violent enemy to the Catholics, in reading in
the committee meeting the letter of the Scottish Commissioners in London
could not refrain from remarking that the English tolerated every sort of
religion but that of the Catholics, which, in his opinion, was preferable to
any of those they approved.
The committee has at length also resolved to send five thousand pounds
sterling to the Scottish army in Ireland for the soldiers* outfit, without
which they had complained they could no longer serve, and in return for
which they have promised to hold out still for another year ; so that
everything tends to show that although the Scots seek by every sort of
i647] P. BELLIlfeVRE TO BRIENNE 313
means to have peace with the Independents they foresee they will not be
able to prevent them from making war on them.
Of all those who have been executed in this island during some years
past for the cause of their king, no one has certainly shown more con-
stancy in dying than did Harthill who was beheaded this day week. He
did not seem even to get paler on the scaffold, and spoke to the people
with so much ease and assurance of the justice of the cause for which he
was about to die, that it would not be an advantage for this Parliament
to have often such executions to perform, and such Royalist martyrs could
not but advance greatly the cause of monarchy in this country. I made
use of this argument in trying to dissuade some nobles of this committee
from putting to death Newton, a cousin of Harthill, who was taken
prisoner with him, but who giving heed to the bad accounts that have been
given to him has thought of saving his life by a cowardly act which wUl
only help to ruin him ; since there is every reason to believe that they
will be very glad to show to the people a person who has confessed that
the party in which he was engaged was bad, and who calls the services he
rendered to his king rebellion ; however, his friends persuaded themselves
that this base confession he has made would save his life as had been pro-
mised to them.
I venture to enclose what Harthill had decided to say on the scaffold,
if he had been allowed to speak ; but as he had foreseen that he would not
have this liberty, he had written it on some papers, which he threw to the
people and gave to his friends. I have translated his Scotch veiy exactly,
and you will not find it strange that this speech has not all the force
and all the graces it might have, when you learn that the writer is a
young man of twenty-two years of age who has had no literary ex-
perience.
I believe I ought to let you know that the Mayor and Town Council of
Edinburgh gave a very fine luncheon in my honour on Wednesday last,
after which they made me a burgess of their town, which they consider
the greatest honour they can confer on those whom they wish to oblige.
I must tell you that the healths of their Majesties, of the King of Great
Britain, and of your Eminence were proposed by the mayor and were
drunk by all those present. ]
CCVII
p. BELLIEVRE 1 BRIENNE
A Lofidres, ce 18« AV''^ 1647.
Monsieur, — L'on auoit creu que Tarmee aussy bien que
plusieurs de la chambre basse ne vouloient point que Ton
portat les propositions au roy d'Angleterre, et en effect beau-
coup tesmoignoient craindre que si le diet Roy les acceptoit,
quelques rudes qu"'elles fussent, il ne se facillitat un moyen de
314 P. BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [NOV.
reprendre quelque jour, sinon tout, au moins une bonne
partie des aduantages qu'il a perduz ; neantmoins ce auoit este
donne a entendre a la chambre basse par les principaux de
Tarmee qu'elle le desiroit auoit faict changer d'aduis, et mesme
la dicte Chambre se disposoit de mettre la derniere main et
peut estre Tarmee ne Teust elle pas empesche, si ce qui a este
desbattu depuis deux jours en la dicte Chambre eust passe
suiuant son desir, d''oster au roy d'Angleterre la voix negatiue
qui est un des plus beaux droictz de la couronne et par le
moyen duquel ses predecesseurs ont cy-deuant deffendu leur
aucthorite contre les parlements, mais la chose ayant enfin
este resolu a Taduantage du dit roy, Tarmee a escrit une lettre
au parlement par laquelle elle tesmoigne ne point voulloir que
les propositions soient enuoyees et desaduouent ceux qui ont
diet que c'estoit son intention. Cette resolution qui a passe,
diet on, dans le conseil de guerre sans que personne se soit
oppose et qui faict croire a plusieurs que s'il y eust eu de la
diuision dans Tarmee elle auroit deu paroistre en cette rencontre
et le subiect sur lequel le parlement delibere presentement.
Cependant Farmee a augmente la garde du dit Roy d'un
regiment d'infanterie despuis deux jours. L''on y parle aussy
de luy changer les officiers qui Font jusques icy serui bien
qu'ilz ayent este establiz par le parlement, mais en un temps
auquel le pouuoir estoit en d'autres mains qu'il n'est a present ;
enfin il ne se propose rien qui puisse faire croire qu''elle veuille
porter les interestz dudict Roy, il se propose encore, soubs pre-
texte de soulager le peuple, de Fesloigner de cette ville. II est
difficille de dire si la demande qu'on [sic^ faict depuis deux
jours au parlement les deputtez d'Escosse produira quelque
bon effect pour le roy d'Ang""^ ainsy que I'esperent ceux qui
croyent que toute nouueaute luy est aduantageuse, ou si elle
ne luy seruira pas plus que celle que les mesmes depputez
firent il y a un an apparemment en sa faueur mais que Teuene-
ment fist cognoistre n'auoir eu pour but que leur interest
particullier. Ilz representent au Parlement que suiuant leur
conuenant ilz doiuent auoir soing de la personne de leur Roy,
et pour cet effect demandent qu"'il puisse venir a Londres auec
honneur et seurete, et que Ton luy accorde d'y traicter en
personne auec le Parlement ainsy qu''il a tousiours desire auquel
i647] P- BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 315
traicte il leur soit permis d'assister, sans estre en hazard de
receuoir pareil affront qu'ilz disent auoir este faict au comte
de Lauderdaille par quelques soldatz de Tarmee, insistant pour
cella, que Ton traicte en cette ville, ee qui a este mal receu
dans le Parlement, plusieurs ayans diet qu'a la reserue du nom
de ceux qui la faisoient il n"y auoit point de difference entre leur
demande et la requeste des apprentifs de Londres, et qu"'il ne
falloit point permettre qu'ilz se meslassent de leurs affaires.
Les autres, moins violens en apparence, mais qui ne luy sont
pas pour cella plus affectionnez, n'estinient point que ses de-
mandes la puissent rompre les mesures qu'ilz croyent auoir
bien prises, s'imaginent que FEscosse n'est pas si temeraire
pour entreprendre de leur donner la Loy ny a presant asses
puissante pour en venir a bout, mais ce sur quoy ilz se tiennent
plus asseurez est, que encore que quelques uns d*'entre eulx en
eussent le dessein, le parti le plus considerable du pais s''opposera
tousiours a ce qui pourroit troubler Tunion des royaumes, a
laquelle il a tousiours tendu, et que ce qu'ilz en font maintenant
est plus tost pour essayer de se faire considerer a Teffect de
toucher le reste de ce qui leur est deub par L''Angleterre que
pour faire quelque chose a Taduantage de leur roy, dont ilz
n'ont point tesmoigne jusques icy que les interestz leur fussent
plus chers qu'aux Anglois. Vendredi dernier fust refuse par la
chambre basse la requeste de quelque catholiques qui de-
man doient d'estre descliargez de la rigueur des peines qui sont
ordonnez contre eux par les Loix de ce royaume. Ceux d'entre
eux qui ont conduict cette affaire se plaignent de celluy du
Parlement qu'ilz en auoient chargez, pour n'auoir pas pris
le temps propre pour la faire passer, y ayant lors qu'il la
proposa plus de trois cent personnes dans la maison, dont
la pluspart parla fort contre les Catholiques, ce qui leur fust
ce jour plus aise qu'en aucun autre, n'ayant eu qu'a repeter
dans la Chambre tout le mal qu''ilz en venoient d''entendre de
leurs ministres, qui n'auoient eu d'autre subiect que celluy la
d'entretenir le peuple tout ce jour que Ton feste a cause de la
conjuration des poudres descouuertes. Quoy qu'il en soit, ou
que la faute vienne de Tindiscretion de celluy qui a rapporte
leur requeste, ou de la precipitation de ceux qui Font presentee
et pent estre des uns et des autres, bien que leur zele soit
316 P. BELLi:^VRE TO BRIENNE [NOV.
louable, il eust este a souhaitter qu"*!! eust este plus modere, car
il estoit difficille qu'il en reussit le bien qu"'ils s'en estoient promis,
et la demande qui en a este faicte peut donner lieu a faire
executer plus exactement que Ton n"'a faict par le passe les
ordonnances centre les catoliques, ainsy qu'il fust propose
par quelques uns de la Chambre basse en opinant sur cette
affaire ; ceux qui s'en meslent esperent en pouuoir faire encor
parler et d'obtenir cette seconde fois ce qui leur a este refuse la
premiere. Je fais escrire du chiffre que vous aues donne a
Monsieur de Bellieure comme plus secret que celluy dont je me
seruais cy deuant, lequel ayant este communique a plusieurs
personnes en ce pays auant que je Feusse il y pourroit auoir
inconuenient en cas que les lettres fussent ouuertes. J'ay creu
que vous treuuerez bon que je prisse la liberte d'en user de la
sorte en attendant que vous en ayant autrement ordonne. —
Monsieur, vostre, etc., P. de Bellieure.
Audos — M. de Bellieure, du 18 nouembre 164-7, receu le 26.
[P. Bellievre to Brienne. London, 18 Nov. 1647.
It was thought that the army as well as several of the Lower House did
not wish the proposals to be presented to the King of England, and, in
fact, many seemed afraid that were the king to accept them, however hard
they were, he might secure for himself an easy means of recovering some
day, at least a good part, if not all, of the advantages he has lost ; neverthe-
less, the Lower House, having been led to understand through the leaders
of the army that it wished it to be done, thereupon changed its opinion and
was preparing to give them the last touch, and perhaps the army would not
have prevented it, if what had been debated for two days in this House
had passed, according to its desire, viz., the suppression of the king's right
of veto, which is one of the most precious prerogatives of the Crown, by
which means his predecessors have formerly defended their authority
against the Parliaments, but this matter having been at last decided in
the king's favour, the army has written a letter to the Parliament in which
it states that it does not wish the proposals to be sent, and disavowing those
who had said that such was its intention. This resolution, which it is said
passed in the Council of War without any one opposing it, leads
several people to believe that had there been disunion in the army it
would have shown itself on this occasion, and this is the subject on which
Parliament is now deliberating. However, the army has increased the
king's guard by adding two days ago a regiment of infantry. They
speak also of changing the officers who have till now served the king,
although they were appointed by Parliament, but while the power was in
other hands than it is now, in short, it proposes nothing that can lead one
i647] P. BELLISVRE TO BRIENNE 317
to believe that it wishes to support the king's interests ; it proposes, also,
under pretext of relieving the people, to remove him from this town. It
is difficult to say whether the demand made during the last two days in
Parliament by the Scottish Commissioners will produce any good effect
for the King of England, as those hope who consider everything new as
advantageous for him, whether it will serve him any more than that
which the same commissioners made a year ago, apparently in his favour,
but which in the result was seen to be only for their private interest. They
represent to Parliament that according to their Covenant they ought to be
careful of the person of their king, and to that effect ask that he be able
to come to London with honour and security ; that it be granted to him
to treat in person with Parliament, as he has always wished ; that they be
permitted to attend this convention without running the risk of being sub-
jected to such affronts as that which they say the Earl of Lauderdale
received from some soldiers of the army ; insisting on that account that
they treat in this town, which was badly received in Parliament, where
several said that with the exception of the name of those who made the
demand, there was no difference between it and the request of the London
apprentices and that they, the Scots, must not be allowed to mix themselves
up in their affairs. The others, less violent in appearance, but no better
disposed towards the king because of that, do not consider that these
demands can overturn the measures they have carefully taken, nor do they
imagine that Scotland is so rash as to pretend to lay down the law to them,
nor powerful enough at present to be able to carry it out ; but what
they seem most assured of is, that although some among the Scots
might have that intention, the most important part of that country will
always oppose whatever may trouble the union of the kingdoms to which
it still holds, and that what they are now doing is more to try and increase
their own importance with the intent of receiving the remainder of what is
owing to them by England than in order to do anything to the advantage of
their king, whose interests they have till now shown not to be dearerto them
than these were to the English. On Friday last the Lower House refused to
grant the request of some Catholics, who wished to be relieved from the
rigour of the penalties imposed on them by the laws of this kingdom.
Those among them who have managed this matter complain of the person
in Parliament to whom they had intrusted it, for not having taken the
proper time, in order to have it passed, there being when he proposed it
more than three hundred persons in the House, the most part of whom
spoke strongly against the Catholics, which was easier for them to do on
that day than on any other, as they had but to repeat in the House all the
ill they had just heard from their clergy, who had no other subject than
that with which to entertain the people during that entire day, which
they commemorate because of the Gunpowder Plot. Be that as it may,
whether the error was caused by the indiscretion of the person who re-
ported their request, or from the haste of those who presented it, and
perhaps it may be by both, although their zeal is praiseworthy, it is to be
wished that it had been more moderate, for it was difficult for them to
318 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [NOV.
succeed in obtaining the benefit they had promised themselves and the
demand they have made thereupon may give occasion to a more rigorous
execution than heretofore of the ordinances against Catholics, as was pro-
posed by some of the Lower House while discussing this aifair; those who
are engaged in it hope to be able to bring it up again and to obtain the
second time what has been refused to them the first.
I write to you in the cipher that you gave to M. de Bellievre as being
more secret than the one I used formerly, which having been communi-
cated to several persons in this country before I took it up, it would be
inconvenient in case the letters were opened. I thought you would
approve of my taking the liberty of using it in this manner until you
order differently.]
CCVIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, -^ Nov. l647.
J'' AY receu presque en mesme temps les deux lettres de
V. Em*'® du 1® et du 8 Novembre par lesquelles elle a eu agre-
able de me donner tant de marques de sa bonte, que quand le
devoir de I'employ dont il luy a pleu m"'honorer ne m'obligeroit
pas a reparer ce qui me manque d'intelligence et d"'adresse par
ma fidelite et par Tapplication que je tasche d'apporter aux
affaires, j'y serois toujours oblige par la passion que je dois
avoir de faire quelque chose qui puisse estre agreable a V. Em*'®
et me rendre digne en quelque sorte des extremes bontes qu'elle
a de se contenter de mon zele et de mes bonnes intentions, et
de vouloir mesme prendre la protection de mes interets dont le
principal sera toujours de n'avoir jamais d'autres desseins que
ceux que V. Em*'® trouvera bon que je forme et de ne desirer estre
que ce qu"'elle voudra que je sois.
Cependant, Monsg% je continue a tenter toutes les voyes
possibles pour avoir des hommes presentement, mais quelque
chose que je fasse je trouve enfin qu'il n'y a pas moyen d'en
tirer aucun nombre considerable avant le commencement du
mois de Mars, car le Comte de Crawford avec lequel je
m'entretiens toujours bien, en Tabsence du Due de Hamilton
son beau frere, m'a asseure qu''on ne pouvoit rien faire avant ce
temps, et ayant insinue au Marquis d'Argyle et au Comte de
Lothian qui s'interessent fort dans le regiment de M. le
Chevalier Moray, que le plus prompt moyen qu'il y auroit pour
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 319
faire accorder au dit regiment les avantages qu"'ils lui desirent
et dont ils me parlent si souvent, est de le remettre durant cet
hiver au nombre d'hommes porte par la capitulation. lis m"'ont
fait connoistre que pour obtenir mesme une chose qu*'ils
souhaitent extremement, ils ne peuvent pas se defaire d''un
nombre d'hommes considerable avant qu''ils voient quelque
chose de plus regie dans leurs affaires, et quMls tiennent leur
Parlement qui se doit assembler seulement au mois de Mars.
Mais bien que cette proposition n"'ait point produit Teffet que
je m''estois propose, je ne Tai pas faite toutefois inutilement,
puisqu'elle m^a donne au moins sujet de reconnoistre qu''on peut
en tous cas se promettre de tirer icy deux ou trois mil hommes
au commencement du printemps si Ton veut faire monter en
garde au Palais Cardinal le dit regiment, mais que c"'est une
chose aussy de laquelle il ne faut parler qu''a toute extremite,
puisque si Ton en concevoit icy la moindre esperance on ne
permettroit pas qu'il en sortit un homme que sous cette con-
dition,
De sorte, Monsg*", que tout ce que Ton peut faire au plus
durant cet hiver est d'envoyer sous main quelque petit nombre
d'hommes dans chaque vaisseau qui part d'icy pour France, ce
qui arrive en ce temps fort peu souvant, ce que je presse toujours
M. le Comte d' Angus et M. le Chev' Moray de vouloir faire, et
ce qu'ils ont deja commence, ayant mis pres de cinquante
hommes entre eux deux dans un vaisseau qui part presente-
ment.
Cependant, Monsg', comme je vois qu''il ne se peut presque
rien faire icy, ni dans les levees ni dans les affaires publiques
avant le commencement de Mars, je supplie tres humblement
V. Em*=® d'avoir agreable que je me serve pour peu de
temps de la permission qu^il luy avoit pleu m''accorder il y a
quelque temps d'aller en France. Je partiray si promptement
apres en avoir re^u le conge de V. Em*^® et useray de telle dili-
gence durant mon voyage que je pourray estre de retour avant
Touverture de ce Parlement, et j'ay deja donne si bon ordre
afln que V. Em" soit avertie de ce qui se passera durant mon
absence qu'elle n''en pourroit estre informe ni plus exactement,
ni avec plus de fidelite si je demeurois icy, outre que mon
voyage me donnant lieu de luy rendre un compte plus exact de
320 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [NOV.
ce qui se fait icy, et de recevoir aussy des ordres plus particuliers
de ce que j'y dois faire, mon eloignement apportera plustost
quelque avantage que quelque prejudice aux affaires.
Je supplie aussy tres humblement V. Em''^ de me vouloir
faire savoir si je verrai le roi de la G' B"^ en passant en Angle-
terre, au cas que ce soit une chose qui soit libre a tout le monde,
et si je dois faire instance pour cela, s'il en faut avoir une per-
mission particuliere, comme aussy en quelle maniere je luy
parleray m'etant abstenu de luy ecrire ou de luy faire savoir
aucune chose depuis que je suis parti de Newcastle.
Au reste, Monsg', comme toutes les affaires de cette isle se
demeslent presentement en Angleterre, je n'en puis presque
rien mander a V. Em"® qu"'elle ne sache bien mieux par les
lettres de M. FAmbassader de Grignon, je crois toutefois estre
oblige de luy dire que je sais d'assez bonne part que Waller et
Massy, qui ont este officiers generaux dans les armees du Pari*
d' Angleterre, et qui sont du nombre de ces Presbyterians qui
ont este chasses du Pari* d'Angleterre et de Tarmee par les
Independants, ont escrit deux lettres au Marquis d''Argyle
depuis peu de jours, pour le presser de faire entrer Tarmee
d'Ecosse en Angleterre et pour Tasseurer que tout Toccident du
royaume se doit joindre a eux, et qu'ils partiront pour TAngle-
terre aussitost qu''ils auront de ses nouvelles, J"'ay seu aussy
que le Marquis d'Argyle leur a fait reponse en termes assez
generaux, quMl dispose les choses selon qu'ils desirent, et que
Tarmee d'Ecosse ne manquera pas d'entrer en Angleterre aussi-
tost qu'elle aura lieu de le faire. Mais quelque chose que
puisse ecrire ce Marquis et quoiqu^aient represente les Commis-
saires d'Ecosse par leur derniere lettre au Pari* d'Angleterre,
qui est ce qu"'ils ont fait, ce semble de moins mauvais pour leurs
propres interets et pour ceux de leur roi depuis le commence-
ment de ces troubles, je ne puis croire que les Ecossois entre-
prennent aucune chose contre PAngleterre, si les Independants
ne les y obligent, et quMls portent la guerre chez leurs voisins
avant qu'ils voient qu'ils Tauront autrement chez eux ; et en
quelque maniere qu'ils parlent ou qu'ils agissent, je seray bien
trompe si leur principale intention, aussy bien que celle des
Independants, est de retablir le roi de G'' B"", puisque dans la
dispute qui est entre eux aujourd'huy il ne s'agit pas tant a
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 321
qui demeurera la gloire de le conserver qu''a qui aura Ta vantage
de le perdre.
Comme je n"'ay point veu dans les imprimes de Londres la
reponse que le roi de la G*^ B"" a faite aux Ecossois, et qu''elle
m^a este donnee par le Comte de Lothian comme une piece assez
rare, j 'ay pris la hardiesse d'en envoyer au hazard a \ . Em*^^ une
traduction, ayant creu qu'il estoit plus a propos qu''elle eut deux
fois un papier fort bien fait, que de manquer a Tavoir une.
Le Comte deTraquair est parti d'ici il y a huit jours. La remis-
sion pour le sieur Newton, qui est de la maison de Huntley et
qui a este pris avec Hartil, est venue il y a deja quelque temps.
Tout ce qu"'elle a produit a este de faire difFerer de huit ou dix
jours la condamnation du dit Sr. Newton, car il est comme asseure
qu''on n"'y aura point d'egard, quoique jusques a ce jour il fut
demeure en Ecosse au roi de la G"" B"" le pouvoir d'y faire grace.
On m'a asseure que My Lord Rheis s'est accommode avec le
Comte de Sutherland.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Nov. 1647.
I RECEIVED almost at the same time your letters of the 1st and 8th inst,,
in which it has pleased you to show me so many marks of your kindness
that even if the duty of the employment with which you have been
pleased to honour me did not oblige me to remedy what is wanting in
me of intelligence and ability by my fidelity and the application I try to
bring to business, I would still be obliged by the strong desire I am bound
to have to do something therein that may be agreeable to you, so as to
render me in some measure worthy of the extreme kindness you have in
remaining satisfied with my zeal and my good intentions, and in accepting
the guidance of my interests, the principal of which will always be to
have no other intentions than those you approve of and no desire to be
different from what you would wish me to be.
However, I continue to try every possible way in order to obtain men
at present, but whatever I do I find in short that there will be no
means of procuring any considerable number before the beginning of
the month of March, for the Earl of Crawford, with whom I always
keep up intercourse, in the absence of the Duke of Hamilton his brother-
in-law, has assured me that nothing could be done before that time ;
and having hinted to the Marquis of Argyle and to the Earl of Lothian,
who are much interested in the regiment of Sir Robert Moray, that the
readiest means to grant to that regiment the advantages they wish and of
which they speak to me so often would be to increase it during this winter
to the full number of men stated in its charter. They led me to understand
that in order to obtain this which they would even very much wish, they
could not dispose of any considerable number of men before they see
VOL. II. X
322 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [nov.
something more settled in their aiFairs and before Parliament meets,
which is not before the month of March.
But although this proposal did not produce the result I had proposed,
yet it was not quite useless, since it gave me at least reason to see that
one can in any case look forward to procuring here two or three thousand
men in the beginning of spring, if it be allowed to this regiment to
mount guard at the Palais Cardinal, but it is a thing also only to be
mentioned at the last extremity, since if the least hope of it be held out
here, they would not allow a single man to leave the kingdom but under
that condition.
So that all that is to be done during this winter is to send a small
number of men in an underhand way in each ship that leaves here for
France, which happens very rarely at this time. I am always urging the
Earl of Angus and Sir Robert Moray to do this. They have already begun
to try : they have put conjointly about fifty men on board a ship that is
now leaving.
However, as I see that there will be almost nothing to do here, neither
in the levies nor in public affairs, before the beginning of March, I beg
you to allow me to use for a short time the leave of absence it pleased
you to grant me some time ago to proceed to France. I shall leave so
speedily thereafter, and will make such haste during my journey, that I
could be back here before the opening of Parliament ; and I have already
given minute orders that you be informed of what takes place here
during my absence, so that you could not be more correctly and faith-
fully informed of it were I to remain here, besides that my journey, in
giving me an opportunity of rendering a more exact account of what is
being done here and of receiving also your orders more minutely than
I could do here, would be rather advantageous than prejudicial to
business.
I beg you also to let me know if I shall see the King of Great
Britain in passing through England, in case access to him be free to any
one, or if previous application and a special permission be required,
and also in what manner I shall speak to him, having refrained from
writing to him since I left him at Newcastle.
All the affairs of this island are settled in England at present. I can
inform you of almost nothing but what you may learn better from the
letters of the Ambassador de Grignon.* I believe, however, that I ought
to tell you that I know, from a somewhat reliable source, that Waller
and Massy,^ who were general officers in the armies of the English
Parliament, and who are of the number of those Presbyterians who were
turned out of the Parliament and armies of England by the Independents,
have written two letters to the Marquis of Argyle within the last few
days in order to urge him to enter England with the Scottish army and
* M. P. (Pierre) de Bellievre. Grignon was the family title.
^ Sir William Waller and Major-General Edward Massey are evidently meant
here.
1 647] ^- BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE 323
to assure him that all the west of the kingdom is to join them, and stat-
ing that they will leave for England as soon as they have his reply. 1
have learned also that the Marquis of Argyle has replied to them in
somewhat general terms that he would arrange matters according as they
wish, and that the Scottish army will not fail to enter England as soon
as there will be reason for doing it. But whatever this Marquis may
write and whatever the Scottish Commissioners may have represented
in their last letter ^ to the English Parliament, which is what seems the
least bad for their own interests and for those of their king that has
appeared since the beginning of these troubles, I cannot believe that
the Scots will undertake anything against England, if the Independents
do not force them to it, or that they will bring war among their neigh-
bours before they see that otherwise they will have it in their own
country, and however they speak or act I shall be very much mistaken if
their principal intention, as well as that of the Independents, be to re-
establish the King of Great Britain, since in the dispute between them
at present, it is not so much a question as to whom will remain the glory
of preserving him as to who will have the advantage of destroying him.
As I have not seen in the London prints the reply that the King of
Great Britain has made to the Scots, and as it has been given to me by the
Earl of Lothian, as being somewhat rare, I venture to send to you a
translation of it at hazard, believing it to be better for you to have two
copies of a paper very well drawn up than to miss having one.
Tlie Earl of Traquair left here eight days ago. The pardon for Mr.
Newton, who is of the house of Huntly, and who was taken prisoner with
Harthill, came some time ago. All it did has been to delay for eight
or ten days the condemnation of Mr. Newton, for it is almost certain that
no attention will be paid to it, although till now the power to pardon
remained in Scotland to the King of Great Britain.
I am assured that Lord Reay has come to an agreement with the Earl
of Sutherland.]
CCIX
p. BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
A Londres, ce 28' No^^ 1647.
Monsieur, — Les diuisions de Tarmee ont este appaisees ou
du moins assoupies par la punition qui se fit lundy au rendez-
vous general d'un des bas officiers qui vouloit exciter les soldatz
contre les officiers generaux en le faisant sur le champ passer
par les armes. Cet exemple fist que touttes les trouppes se
declarerent pour le general. II est vray que ceux qui sent
^ ' It was proposed by Scottish Commissioners in London, in letter addressed
to Speaker of House of Commons dated 5 Nov. 1647, that the king be invited
to come to London to treat with them.' — Rushworth, part iv. vol. ii. p. 864.
324 P. BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE [NOV.
du parti contraire disent, que cette union ne procedde pas
tant de la crainte que Ton auoit eu de la Justice qui a este
faicte, que de Tasseurance donnee a Farmee que Ton obserueroit
le serment qui fust faict a Neumarck, apres s'estre saisi de
la personne du Roy, dont les conditions sont aussy ruddes
pour le diet roy que celles qui sont portees par les propositions.
Neantmoins les d. officiers generaux ont pour faire voir leur
credict ou pour Taugmenter, entrepris de faire chasser Dins-
berou du Parlement, et en tout cas luy oster les charges de
viss admiral et si ilz obtenoient ce poinct peut estre
essayeroient ilz d'en faire encore sortir d'autres qui leur sont
contraires a quoy il y a apparance quMlz trouueront de la
difficulte soit par Taucthorite que Donsberou s'est acquise dans
la maison des Communes par la liberte auec laquelle il parle,
soit aussy parceque ceux mesme qui ne sont pas du parti de
Donsberou ne seroient pas bien aises de voir la puissance des
autres estre sans contredict, et peut estre que ce ne seroit pas
a Taduantage du Roy qui en une telle rencontre auroit plus
de peine d'obtenir FefFect de leurs promesses au cas qu'il les
ayent faictes aussy aduantageuses qu'il seroit a desirer pour le
bien de ses affaires. Les Escossois semblent y vouUoir con-
tribuer, et non seullement ilz insistent par des escrits qu'ilz ont
donne aux maisons a ce que le diet Roy puisse venir en cette
ville pour y traicter en personne en toute liberte, mais encores
ilz semblent se plaindre de ce que le d. Roy est souuent change
de place, et veullent scauoir de quelle fa^on il est traicte pour
aduiser en suitte a ce qu'ilz auront a faire. Cependant il vient
d'arriuer une lettre du d. Roy au Parlement qui a este lue a la
chambre des Pairs, mais ilz se sont obligez par serment de ne
point dire ce qu'elle contient jusques a ce que demain elle ait
este apportee a la chambre des communes, et Font pour cella
cachetee. Autant que j'en ay pu apprendre d'un qui ne s*'est
pas souuenu ou soucie de son serment, il demande qu'on ne luy
enuoye point les propositions, mais d'estre admis au traicte
personnel, et desire que Fon laisse le choix des officiers qui
ont a demeurer pres de sa personne ; ce qui a este ordonne
ce matin qu'il seroit serui par les mesmes qui estoient a Hop-
tancourt et bien contraire a ce dernier article, et il est difficile
que le premier ne rencontre de Fopposition ; les resolutions qui
1 647] P. BELLIlfeVRE TO BRIENNE 32$
se sont prises la dessus aussy bien que sur les demandes des
Escossois et ce qui sera passe aujourd'huy au rendezvous
general de Farmee, dont Tunion est encore si recente qu'elle
donne lieu d'esperer a ceux qui la redoutent d^y pouuoir voir
de la diuision, donneront peut estre moyen de mieux juger que
Ton ne peut faire maintenant des auantages que le d. roy s'en
peut promettre. — Je suis, Monsieur, vostre, etc.,
P. DE Bellielre.
[P. Beli^i^ivrb to Brienne. London, 28 Nov. 1647.
The divisions in the army have been quieted, at least for the present,
by the punishment that took place on Monday last at the general
rendezvous, where one of the non-commissioned officers who wished to
excite the soldiers against the general officers was shot on the spot. This
example made all the troops declare themselves for the general. It is true
that those of the opposite party say that this union does not proceed so
much from the fear they had of the act of justice that had been done, as
from the assurance given to the army that the oath taken at Newmarket
on their having first obtained possession of the king's person should be
observed ; the terms of which oath are as hard for their king as those
conveyed by the proposals. Nevertheless these general officers, in order
to show their influence, or to increase it, have engaged to drive
Desborou out of Parliament, or at least to deprive him of his office of
Vice-Admiral, and if they gain that point, perhaps they will try to turn
out others who are opposed to them, in which it is probable they will
have some difficulty, either through the authority that Desborou has
acquired in the House of Commons, from his boldness of speech, or also
because even those who are not of the party of Desborou would not like
to see the power of others established without controversy, and perhaps
it would not be to the advantage of the king, who in such a circumstance
would have more difficulty in obtaining the execution of their promises,
in the event of their having made him any, as advantageous ones as would
be desirable for the benefit of his afi"airs. The Scots seem to wish to con-
tribute to this, as they not only insist, by papers that they have given to
both Houses, that the king may be able to come to this town, in order to
treat there in person with every liberty, but they seem also to complain
that the king is often changed from place to place and they wish to know
how he is treated to consider thereafter what they will have to do.
However a letter has just arrived from the king to the Parliament, which
was read in the House of Peers ; but the members having engaged on
oath not to reveal what it contains until to-morrow, it was sealed up and
taken to the House of Commons. As far as I have been able to learn
from a person who may have forgotten his oath, or been little scrupulous
concerning it, the king requests that the proposals may not be sent to
him, but that he be admitted to a personal convention, and that the
326 P. BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [dec.
choice of officers to be near his person be left with him ; whereas it was
ordered this morning that he would be served by the same persons who
were at Hampton Court, which is quite contrary to this last demand, and
it is difficult to suppose that the first will not meet with opposition. The
resolutions that have been taken concerning it, as well on the demands
of the Scots as what will be passed to-day in the general rendezvous of
the army, — the recent union of which gives reason to hope to those who
dreaded seeing divisions in it — will perhaps give means to enable one to
judge better than one can do now of the advantages the king may
expect therefrom.]
ccx
p. BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE
Londres, 2 Decembre l6"47.
Monsieur, — La lettre du Roy de la Grand Bretaigne quy se
publie despuis deux jours et dont je prends la liberte de vous
enuoyer la traduction a fort contente ceux qui desirent de voir
la fin de ces troubles par un bon accomodement ; en effect il
y remet tellement de ses droictz et se despart si fort de la
pluspart, qu'a la reserue des euesques, qu'il ne vent en aucune
fa^on abandonner, il semble accorder tout ce qu''on luy demande,
pour les choses dont il ne conuient pas il donne esperance que
par le moyen d'un traicte personnel elles pourront estre facille-
ment terminees. Les Seigneurs qui cognoissent bien que la
ruine de la monarchic emporte necessairement leur destruction
inclinent a donner les mains au traicte que leur Roy demande
et pour gaigner du temps ont este d'aduis de retarder Tenuoy
des propositions, non que par ce traicte ilz pretendent accorder
au dit Roy aucune authorite, mais seullement sous son nom
conseruer la leur et empescher qu''elle ne tombe entre les mains
du peuple, pour cella se joignent auec les chefs de Tarmee que
leur interest faict entrer dans le mesme sentiment. Elle paroit
maintenant fort unie sous le commandement des officiers
generaux lesquelz, a ce quilz croyent, se sont acquis Taffection
des soldatz par les caresses qu'ilz leur firent au dernier rendez-
vous, apres leur avoir donne la crainte par le chastiment qui
fust faict au premier jour qu'ilz auoient assemble Tarmee. Ce
n''est pas que les agitateurs nVsperent faire voir qu'ils ne sont
pas si fort descheuz de leur credit comme Ton s'est persuade et
ilz recommancent a remuer et trauaillent a faire que plusieurs
1647] P- BELLl£VRE TO BRIENNE 327
de la ville se declarent de leur parti si bien que quelque bonne
volonte que leurs Seigneurs ayent et les chefs de Tarmee pour
faire accorder auec le Roy le traicte personnel, le parti contraire
sMmagine pouuoir faire enuoyer les propositions cette sepmaine
et la chose se pourroit faire, car outre que beaucoup de ceux
qui ne seront contens d'aucun accomodement auquel ilz
n'auroient pas eu la principalle part pourront empescher que
les affaires n'en soient si proches que Ton penseroit bien, la plus
part de la chambre basse presse pour enuoyer les dictes pro-
positious au diet Roy, dans le dessein, qu'ilz ne quittent point,
de conseruer leur credit soit qu'il les accorde ou qu'il les reffuse,
mais bien plus auantageusement en ce dernier cas auquel
suiuaut les apparences ilz croyent auoir subiect de s*'attendre,
et encore que les commissi onnaires d'Escosse ayent faict
entendre au Parlement que le temps dans lequel on leur
deraande leur aduis sur les dictes propositions est trop bref
pour le pouuoir faire, ilz ne laissent pas de voulloir qu'elles
soient enuoyees, les dits commissionaires se tiennent plus
retirez et se comuniquent moins depuis quMlz ont sceu le roy
d'Ang""*" au lieu ou il est, et semblent voulloir faire croire qu'ilz
ne se mettent point en peine de ce qui se passe, comme s'ilz
estoient asseurez de ce qu'ilz ont a faire, neantmoins ilz sont
embarrassez de ne se voir point rechercher par le diet roy et
craignent qu'il ne soit d'accord auec Tarmee ce qui leur osteroit
Tesperance de se pouuoir establir en ce pais par la voye
d'accomodement qu''ilz croyent impossible auec I'armee et le
pretexte d'y entrer qui cesseroit par le restablissem* de leur
Roy. II est venu ce matin nouuelles que Hammon s'est excuse
d'enuoyer les Sieurs Arscheburnam et Barlay ainsy que le Par-
lement luy auoit mande de faire sur ce que le Roy de la Grande
Bretaigne n'auoit personne pres de luy pour le seruir mais il
escrit qull a tire leur parolle qu'ils ne sortiroient point de Tisle
de Wicth. — Je suis. Monsieur, Vostre, etc.,
P. DE Bellieure.
All dos — M. de Bellieure, du 2 decembre 1647, receu le vi*.
[P. BEixiivHE to Bbienne. LoTidoTi, 2 December 1647-
The letter of the King of Great Britain, which was published two days
ago, and of which I take the liberty of enclosing the translation, has
given great satisfaction to those who wish to see these troubles brought
328 P. BELLi:feVRE TO BRIENNE [DEC.
to an end by a good agreement ; in fact the king gives up to them his
rights so largely and renounces the greater part of them, with the excep-
tion of the bishops, which he will not in any manner abandon, that he
seems to grant all they ask of him, and as to matters not agreed upon,
he gives hope that by means of a personal convention they could be
easily settled. The Lords, who know well that the ruin of the
monarchy carries with it necessarily their destruction, are disposed to
accept the treaty their king demands, and in order to gain time they
were of opinion to delay sending the proposals, not that they pretend by
this treaty to grant any authority to the king, but merely so as to pre-
serve their House under his name, and prevent authority from falling into
the hands of the people, by joining themselves for this object with the
leaders of the army, whose interest leads them to adopt the same senti-
ment. The army appears now to be very united under the command of
its general officers, who have, it is believed, gained the affection of their
soldiers, by making much of them at the last rendezvous, after having
caused them to fear by the punishment they inflicted the first day the
army was assembled. Yet the agitators still hope to show that they
are not so entirely deprived of their influence, as it was thought, and
they begin again to agitate and try to influence several persons of the
town to join their party, so that whatever good-will the Lords and the
leaders of the army may have to enter into the personal convention with
the king, the opposite party imagine they will be able to send the pro-
posals this week, and the matter may possibly be so managed ; for besides
the number of those who will not be satisfied with an agreement in which
they have not had the principal part which will prevent such a prompt
settlement of aiFairs as one might well expect, the greater part of the Lower
House insist on the proposals being sent to the king, in the intention,
which they never omit, of maintaining their influence, whether he may
grant the proposals or refuse them. The latter they consider would be the
most advantageous for them, and what they believe according to all like-
lihood they have reason to expect ; and although the Scottish Commis-
sioners may have led Parliament to understand that the time during which
they are required to give an opinion on the proposals is too short to permit
of it, they still persist on sending them. The commissioners therefore
hold themselves more aloof and do not communicate with them so
freely since they have learned where the King of England is, and seem
to wish to make it believed they are not in any way troubled at what is
going on here, as if they were assured of what they had to do.
Nevertheless they are at a loss on seeing they are not sought
after by the king, and they fear he may have come to an agreement
with the army, which would destroy the hope of their being able to
establish themselves in this country by means of an agreement, which they
believe to be impossible, with the army and their pretext of entering this
country would cease with the restoration of their king. News came this
morning that Hammond has excused himself for not having sent Ashburn-
1647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 329
ham and Berkeley' as Parliament had ordered him to do, because
the King of Great Britain had no one near him to serve him, but he
writes to say that he had taken their word of honour that they would not
leave the Isle of Wight.]
CCXI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^-^ 1647.
Le hazard qu''ont courru les lettres qui viennent presentement
de Londres, et la crainte que j'ay que celles-ci n'arrivent pas,
me font estre court par cet ordinaire, par lequel je diray seule-
ment a V, Em*^® que les Ecossois m'ont tant fait de protesta-
tions de vouloir bien recevoir leur roi avant qu''ils sceussent ou
il estoit, qu'ils rn'ont donne tout sujet de croire qu''ils avoient
beaucoup de passion pour Tavoir, mais que leur ayant demande
plus particulierement ce qu'ils desiroient qu'il fit pour eux, et
ce qu''ils vouloient faire pour luy, j'ay trouve qu''ils luy promet-
troient de faire beaucoup, et de se contenter de fort peu de
choses pour Tobliger a venir ici, et qu'ils ne luy deraanderoient
rien moins que Tetablissement du Presbyteriat et Tapprobation
du covenant, c'est a dire autant que jamais, quand il seroit avec
eux, — enfin, Monsg', qu''ils estoient les mesmes que je les avois
trouves en arrivant en leur armee.
Cependant nous venons d''apprendre avec Fordinaire, qu'encore
que le roi de la G"^ B"" se soit retire d'armee, il ne s'est pas oste
pour cela du pouvoir des Independants. Cette nouvelle a abattu
toutes les esperances que les Ecossois avoient cues, ou de tenir
ici leur roi, et de remettre par ce moyen leurs affaires, ou d"'y
apporter au moins quelque changement par son depart d'Angle-
terre, et Ton blame en ce royaume, avec les termes peu respec-
tueux, la resolution qu'il a prise. Et en efFet, ]Monsg% j^ose
dire qu'il n'en pouvoit prendre une plus mauvaise, si nous en
exceptions celle de venir ici.
My Lord S* Clair, qui temoigne estre assez serviteur du roi
de la G' B"^, fut mis au chateau d'Edimbourg Samedi dernier,
^ Ashburnham and Sir John Berkeley having aided the king in his escape from
the army to Titchfield, accompanied him there. They also tried, with but small
success, to treat with Hammond, Governor of the Isle of Wight, for the king's
safety. Charles having surrendered to Hammond was conveyed prisoner to
Carisbrook Castle.
330 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [DEC.
pour avoir dit, et fait dire diverses fois a David Leslay que
c'etoit un coquin, un traitre, et un parjure, et qu'il avoit
livre leur roi aux Anglois contre ce qu'il luy avoit promis,
qu'il seroit seurement en son armee. Ceux qui forment ce
Comite ont creu qu"'outre qu''il estoit de mauvais exemple de
permettre qu*'on s"'accoutumast a dire ici de semblables injures,
il estoit encore de leur interet de ne pas permettre qu'elle
demeurassent sans punition. Quelques uns reprochent a David
Leslay qu'ayant souffert cet affront avec beaucoup de patience,
il a cherche a le venger par une voie qui n"'estoit nullement
honneste a une personne de sa condition. Cependant comme
il estoit arreste qu'il dut recevoir diverses disgraces en mesme
temps, il a resolu dans peu de jours de declarer pour sa femme
une Anglaise qu'il n'a tenue que pour sa maitresse jusques ici.
Newton Gordon a este condamne, quelque remission qu'il ait
eue du roi de la Gr' B'. II doit avoir Jeudi prochain la teste
tranchee, a laquelle Balmerino a dit qu'il falloit attacher la
remission. II y aura ce mesme Jeudi un grand Comite.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, '|^^' 1647.
The risk that letters run at present in coming from London, and the
fear I have that these I now send do not reach you, cause me to be brief
by this mail. I shall only mention that the Scots have made so many pro-
testations to me of their willingness to receive their king before they knew
where he was,^ that they have given me every reason to believe they have
a very great desire to have him ; that on inquiring of them more particu-
larly what they would wish him to do for them and what they would do
for him, I found that they would promise to do much for him and to be
satisfied with very little in return in order to oblige him to come here ;
and that they ask nothing less of him than the establishment of Presby-
terianism and the sanction of the Covenant, that is to say as much as ever,
when he would be with them, in short, that they were the same as I had
found them on arriving in their army.
Yet we have just learned by the mail that, although the King of
Great Britain has left the army, he is not on that account out of the
power of the Independents. This news has destroyed all the hopes the
Scots have had, either of receiving their king here and by this means
arranging their affairs, or at least to introducing some change into them
by his departure from England, and the resolution he has taken is blamed
in this country in terms little respectful. And, in fact, I venture to say
he could not have taken a worse one, if we except that of coming here.
^ The king escaped from Hampton Court llth Nov. 1647.
1647] P- BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 331
Lord Sinclair^^ who professes to be one of the followers of the King
of Great Britain, was put under arrest in the Castle of Edinburgh
last Saturday for having said and led others to say to David Leslie
that he was a rogue, a traitor, and a perjurer in that he delivered
up their king to the English, contrary to his promise that he would
be in security in their army. Those who form the committee not
only believed it to be a bad example to allow the habit to be taken
of repeating here similar insults, and that it was also their interest
not to allow the offence to remain unpunished. Some persons reproach
David Leslie that having borne this affront with much patience, he has
sought to avenge it in a manner not at all honourable for a person of his
position. Yet as it had been decided upon that he was to receive several
disgraces at the same time, he has resolved on declaring in a few days, an
Englishwoman whom he has kept as his mistress till now to be his wife.
Newton Gordon has been condemned in spite of the pardon he had from
the King of Great Britain. He is to be beheaded on Thursday next : Lord
Balmerino proposed to attach the pardon to the head after the execution.
Tliere will be a meeting of the Committee of Estates on Tliursday also.
CCXII
p. BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE
Londres, 9 Decembre l647.
Monsieur, — Toutte la sepmaine derniere a este employee a
deiiberer sur le lettre du roy d"'Angleterre et en fin conforme-
ment a ce qui auoit este arreste en le chambre haute deux jours
auparauant il fust resolu Samedy au soir en la basse, d'accorder
le traicte personnel mais Ton desire que le diet Roy consente
auant touttes choses que quatre propositions soient passees en
forme de Loy lesquelles sont si ruddes quMl y a grand subiect
de doubter qu'il les veuille accord er, principallement ne se
voyant asseure de quoy que ce soit apres y auoir consenti, et
peut estre que Ton n'a accorde si facillement que Ton a faict
ce traite personnel, qu'affin de luy faire passer lesdictes pro-
positions sans que le parlement soit en rien engage enuers luy,
et qu'apres luy auoir lie les mains il soit en leur pouuoir de se
retirer, sans rien conclure mais non pas sans auoir rien gaigner
ayant reduict le diet Roy en beaucoup plus mauuaise condition
que celle en laquelle il est. L'on luy demande qu'il reuoque
toutes les declarations par luy faites contre le Parlement,
qu'il consente que les tiltres et dignites qu''il a donne
depuis qu'il est sorti de Londres soient annule, qu'il aban-
^ See vol. i. p. 126 and note.
332 P. BELIJ^VRE TO BRIENNE [dec.
donne a perpetuitte le gouuernement de la milice au Parle-
ment et que le dit Parlement puisse estre transfere de
cette ville en une autre touttes les fois quMl plaira aux
Maisons de Fordonner, encore que le Roy se voullut resoudre
d'accorder les trois premieres de ces propositions dans la
creance qu'estant dans cette ville il les pourroit faire changer,
la derniere ne luy permet pas de conceuoir une telle esperance,
estant certain qu"'elle n^a este faict par ceux qui craignent le
plus de voir le d* Roy reprendre de Taucthorite qu"'a dessein de
lui en oster les moyens, par la faculte qu'ilz pretendent auoir
d'esloigner le parlement de cette ville s''ilz s'appercoiuent que
ledict Roy y acquiere tropt [sic] de credit pendant le sejourqu''il
y fera ainsy que sellon toutes les apparences il y a lieu de se per-
suader. La ville y est fort disposee et les Escossois persistent
a soustenir ses interestz, ilz attendoient hier le retour d''un
courrier qu'ilz ont secrettement enuoye vers luy pour en suitte,
sellon la response qu'ilz auront faire quelque declaration en sa
faueur, ilz auoient neantmoins resolu auant que de la faire, de
donner encore un pappier pour demander que ledict Roy puisse
venir sans condition en cette ville. Je ne scay si cette derniere
resolution du Parlement ne fera point changer celles qu'ilz
auoient prises, aussy bien que Tunion de Tarmee qui semble
plus asseure que jamais, elle est toute soumise a ses chefz, sur-
tout depuis qu'il a este ordonne de punir ceux des agitateurs
qu''auoient presente requeste au parlement pour auoir justice de
leurs officiers generaux a cause de la mort de celluy de leurs
compagnons qui auoit este passe par les armes. Ilz se flattent
neantmoins de la croyance qu'ilz ont ou que cette union n'est
pas si parfaicte que Ton la diet ou qu'elle ne demeurera pas
si longtemps que Ton pense. II est vray que les agitateurs y
trauaillent sous main et sont appuyez de plusieurs de la maison
basse et mesme Cromuel a tesmoigne Tapprehender mais il y a
subiect de croire beaucoup des choses qui se passent sont faictes
de concert et qu''ainsy que Cromuel ne veut pas leur accorder
tant d'aucthorite qu'ils luy puissent faire perdre celle qu'il s'est
acquise, aussy ne les veut il pas tellement abattre qu'il ne
trouue moyen de se seruir d'eux quant il en aura de besoing.
Jusques a ce que Ton sache quelle reponse le roy fera au
message que Ton luy va enuoyer et les resolutions que prendront
1 647] P BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE 333
les Escossois il est difficille de bien juger de la face que doiuent
prendre les affaires. Auant hier on fit partir les officiers que le
Parlement a ordonne pour seruir le Roy de la G. B. un tiers de
moins qu"'il n'y auoit a Hampton court. Par la mesme raison
que vous aues resolu de ne me faire Thonneur de m'escrire
qu^une fois la sepmaine je prens aussy la liberte d'en user ainsy
si ce n'est lorsque les affaires m'obligeront a me seruir de la
commodite de deux courriers et comme les lettres qui partent
le Lundy sont plus tost rendues que celles du Jeudy j"'ay choisi
ce jour la pour vous faire receuoir les nouuelles plus prompte-
ment quMl me sera possible. — Je suis. Monsieur, Vostre, etc.
P. DE Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure Grignon, du 9 decembre 1647, re9eu
le 13.
[P. Beluevre to Bkienne. London, 9 Dec. 1647.
All, last week was taken up iii deliberating on the letter of the King
of England, and at length, in accordance with what had been decided in the
Upper House two days previously, it was decided on Saturday evening in
the Lower House to grant the personal convention ; but it is wished that
the king consent before anything else be "done to pass four proposals in
the form of a law, which are so hard that there is great reason to doubt
that he will consent to them, especially in view of seeing himself certain
of nothing whatever after having consented to them, and it may be that
this personal convention has but been granted so easily in order to induce
him to pass these proposals without Parliament being therein in any way
engaged towards him, and that after having tied his hands it may be in
their power to withdraw without concluding anything, but not without
having gained thereby in having reduced tlie king to a much worse con-
dition than he was previously. He is asked to revoke all the declarations
made by him against Parliament; to consent to the annulling of the titles
and preferments he has given since he left London ; to renounce inde-
finitely the direction of the militia and that Parliament may be transferred
from this town to any other on every occasion it will please the Houses
to order it. Tliough the king may decide to grant the three first pro-
posals, in the belief that being in this town he could have them changed,
the last one prevents him from thinking of it, and it has certainly been
designed by those whose greatest fear is to see him regain his authority,
with the intention of depriving him of the means of doing so, by the
power they thereby expect of being able to remove the Pai-liament from
this town if they perceive that the king acquires too great influence
during the stay he will make here, as there is reason from every appear-
ance to expect. The town is well disposed thereto and the Scots persist
in supporting the king's interests. Tliey were expecting yesterday the
334 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [dec.
return of a messenger they had sent to him secretly in order thereafter^
according to the reply they may receive, to make a declaration in his
favour : they had nevertheless decided before doing so to send again a paper
to Parliament to demand that the king may be able to come, without any
condition, to this town. I do not know but what this last resolution of
Parliament will cause the Scots to change the decisions they had come
to, or as to how it will aiFect the union of the army, which seems more
assured than ever. It is quite submissive to its leaders, especially^since it
was ordered to punish those of the agitators who had presented a petition
to Parliament in order to obtain justice against their general officers,
because of the death of one of their comrades who was executed. Yet
some people flatter themselves with the belief that this union is not so
complete as it is said, and that it will not last so long as others think.
It is true that the agitators are at work underhand and that they are
supported by several members of the Lower House, and that Cromwell
even has manifested some apprehension of it, but there is reason to
believe that many things that are done are concerted mutually, and that
Cromwell will not grant to them so great authority as would enable
them to deprive him of what he has acquired, also on the other hand he
does not want to weaken them so much that there may be no means of
his making use of them when he will require it. Until it is known what
reply the king will make to the message they are going to send to him,
and what resolutions the Scots will come to, it is difficult to judge
exactly how the affairs may turn. The officers that Parliament has
appointed to serve the King of Great Britain were sent off the day before
yesterday : they are a third less in number than those he had at Hampton
Court. For the same reason that you have decided to write to me but
once a week, I take the liberty of doing the same unless it may be
when matters will oblige me to take advantage of both mails, and as the
letters that leave on Monday are delivered sooner than those of Thursday,
I have selected the former day in order for you to have the news sooner.]
CCXIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbour^, ^^- 1647.
*' lo Dec.
CoMME ron a remis a Jeudi prochain a deliberer sur les
affaires de ce royaume en suite de ce qui se vient de passer en
Angleterre, et que Ton ne pent encore ni prevoir ce qui y sera
resolu ni juger mesme s'il s^ resoudra aucune chose, tant ceux
qui ont le plus de part au gouvernement de cet etat sont
abattus par la retraite de leur roi en Tlsle de Wight, et la
confiance quMl a temoigne avoir aux Independants par cette
action.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 335
J'entretiendray seulement par celle-ci V. Em''^ d"'une pro-
position qui m"'a este faite sur le sujet des levees, et luy diray
que le Marquis d'Argyle estant venu me voirMercredi dernier,
comme pour me temoigner qu'il se sentoit extremement oblige
a V. Em*'® de la pension qu''il luy avoit pleu faire donner au
Baron de Londy qui est de son nom et son parent, et pour
desirer de moi que j'en remerciasse de sa part V. Em*^^, ce que
son respect et Tignorance de notre langue Tempeschoient de
faire. II tomba aussitost sur le sujet du regiment de M' le
Chev'' Moray, et me representa avec beaucoup d'exageration,
les avantages que reviendroient a Sa Majeste s''il estoit admis
a sa garde, ainsy qu''il avoit este promis, que non seulement il
seroit remis et entretenu au nombre d'hommes porte par la
capitulation, mais encore que la France s''acquerroit par ce
moyen tout ce quMl y a dans ce royaume de personnes con-
siderables qui enverroient leurs enfants pour servir dans ce
regiment comme en la meilleure ecole que puisse avoir la jeune
noblesse de ce pays, et que luy Marquis d'Argyle tiendroit en
ce cas a grand honneur de commander le dit regiment et
d'avoir par ce moyen, aussy bien que le Due de Hamilton
quelque dependance de la France, — que le S' Chev*" Moray en
avoit assez de luy pour luy donner lieu de m'asseurer qu'il se
contenteroit d''etre son lieutenant, et qu'il ne doutoit point sMl
recevoit cet honneur de Sa Maj**, de remettre dans cet hiver
le dit regiment au nombre d'hommes dont le feu Comte
d'Irvine son frere estoit oblige de le faire. Je luy dis que les
deux choses qui pouvoient contribuer davantage a faire accorder
au dit regiment Tavantage qu''il luy desiroit, estoient sans
doute qu''on le vit remis au nombre d'hommes porte par sa
capitulation, et qu''une personne de sa condition voulut en
demander le commandement, le S' Chey' Moray y consentant ;
et j^ajoutay a cela toutes les choses que je crus pouvoir servir a
luy faire connoistre que V. Em''® faisoit une estime particuliere
de sa personne, et feroit toujours les choses qui pourroient
estre de quelque avantage pour ses interets et pour ceux de tout
le Royaume. Que je ne luy pouvois rien repondre de formel
sur la proposition qu'il me faisoit, mais qu'encore que je
creusse devoir parti d'ici dans peu de temps, pour aller en
France, et luy pouvoir rendre quand j'y serois arrive, un
336 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [dec.
compte bien exact de ce qu'il desiroit de moi, je ne laisserois
pas d'en ecrire par cet ordinaire a V. Em*^®, — ce qu''il me pria
fort de vouloir faire.
J'ay pense, Monsg% que le mauvais etat ou se trouvent
aujourd'huy en Angleterre le Presbyteriat et le covenant par
lesquels le dit Marquis a subsiste jusqu^ici luy fait mal
augurer pour luy de la fin de ces troubles, et croire qu'il
pourra un jour avoir besoin d'une protection puissante comme
celle de Sa Majeste, et peut estre encore d\me retraite asseuree.
II se peut faire aussy que le peu d''empressement que je luy ay
fait voir et a M. le Chev' Moray, depuis quelque temps pour
de nouvelles levees, — par ce que je ne jugeois pas qu'il fut
possible d'en obtenir, — et la crainte qu'ils ont eue. Tun et
Tautre que je ne traitasse au printemps avec le Due de Hamil-
ton pour un regiment, — que ces deux choses dis je, ont porte
le dit Marquis a me faire cette ouverture, et qu*'il peut ne
m'avoir fait une proposition, qu"'il juge luy mesme assez inutile,
que pour rompre la correspondance qu'il croit estre entre le
Due de Hamilton et la France, et que je suis oblige d'avouer
que le Comte de Crawford son beau frere entretient en son
absence par toute sorte de bons offices, en me faisant avertir
fort soigneusement de ce qui se passe, et particulierement
quand il eroit que Sa Majeste y peut prendre quelque sorte
d'interet. Cela m'a fait douter si je devois dire quelque chose
au dit Comte de la proposition que le Marquis d'Argyle
m"'avoit faite, mais il m'a semble que V. Em'^® m'ayant donne
ordre, avec beaucoup de raison, de me bien entretenir avec les
deux, je ne devois pas donner moyen a Tun de me oster toute
la confiance que je pouvois avoir aupres de Fautre ce qui
pourroit arriver, puisque la haine qui est entre eux n'empesche
pas qu''ils ne s'unisserd; et qu'ils n'agissent de concert toutes
les fois qu'il y a lieu d''avancer leurs interets communs au
prejudice d"'un troisieme. Outre qu'il m'a semble qu''ayant
commence par proposer au Due de Hamilton de lever un
regiment et le luy ayant propose, comme une chose utile a
ses interets, il ne peut trouver mauvais que j''aie ecoute Toffre
qui m'a este faite par un autre, et que j'ay promis de la faire
savoir a V. Em*'^, aussi, Monsg"", est ce tout que je fais par
cette lettre ; puisqu'outre que je doute que le Marquis d'Argyle
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 337
puisse accomplir presentement ce qu""!! propose, ou qu'il le
veuille mesme faire avant la fin de ces troubles, quand il auroit
le pouvoir, je crois quMl y a encore diverses raisions de la part
de la France qui peuvent empescher qu'il n''obtienne Tavantage
qu'il desire pour ce regiment, sans y comprendre le peu d'asseur-
ance qu'il y auroit de commettre la garde de Sa Majeste a des
personnes qui ont scu si mal garder leur propre roy.
Je joins a cette lettre une version des dernieres paroles du
sieur Newton Gordon que Ton fit mourir Jeudi dernier et qu'il
m'a semble qui meritoient d'estre veues de V. Em*'®. Comme
il a reconnu que les satisfactions qu'il eut donnees aux ministres
et au Comite ne lui eussent peu servir pour la conservation de
sa vie, il a pris resolution de mourir genereusement, et ce que
V, Em'^® entendra sans doute avec quelque sorte de satisfaction,
il a pleu a Dieu qu'un bon pretre que j'ay mene de France
avec moi, I'ait converti et luy ait donner I'absolution sur
I'echafand mesme, — n'ayant peu entrer dans la prison, le jour
de sa mort, — mais cela avec tant de bonheur qu'il n'a este veu
que de deux Catholiques qui accompagnoient le dit Newton.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^° ^' 1647.
As the deliberation on the state of affairs of this kingdom in conse-
quence of what has just taken place in England has been postponed till
next Thursday, it is impossible to foresee what may be decided upon, nor
even to judge if anything will be done then, so great is the discourage-
ment of the most of those who direct the government through the
departure of their king to the Isle of Wight and the confidence this
action shows him to have in the Independents. I shall only mention to
you in this letter a proposal that has been made to me on the subject of
the levies and relate to you that the Marquis of Argyle having come to
see me ou ^Vednesday last, ostensibly to tell me that he felt extremely
obliged to you for the pension you have given the Baron Lundy,^ who is
of his name and his relative, and to wish me to thank you on his part,
which his self-respect and his ignorance of our language prevented him
from doing himself, he immediately turned the conversation on the
subject of Sir Robert Moray's regiment, and pointed out to me, with
much exaggeration, the advantages that would accrue to his Majesty were
he admitted into the number of his guards, as had been promised to him,
that not only would the regiment be reinstated and kept up to the full
^ The name of Sir Colin Campbell of Lundy is found in the muster roll of the
Scottish company of a hundred men of arms commanded by the Marquis of
Huntly in France, 29th Oct. 1633.
vol.. II. Y
338 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [DEC.
complement of men required by its capitulation, but France would also
acquire all the most important persons of this kingdom, who would send
their children to serve in this regiment as the best school possible for
the young nobility of this kingdom and which he. Marquis of Argyle,
would consider in that case a great honour to command and by this means
to have, as well as the Duke of Hamilton, some dependency on France.
That his relations with Sir Robert Moray were such as to warrant him to
assure me he would be satisfied in being his lieutenant, and that he did
not doubt but that if he received this honour from his Majesty, he would
be able to reorganise this regiment during the winter and keep it up to the
full complement of men his brother the late Earl of Irvine was obliged to
do. I told him that the two things that would most contribute to put this
regiment in the state of efficiency he wished were, no doubt, its receiv-
ing the full complement of men as given in its capitulation and that a
person of his rank wished to ask the command of it, with the approval of
Sir Robert Moray, and I thereupon added all I thought would serve to
convince him of the regard you had for him personally, and that you
would always be disposed to do what was most profitable for his interests
and for those of all the kingdom, but that I could give no formal reply
to the proposal he had made to me, and as I had some thought of leaving
here in a short time to go to France I would be able to give him when
there an exact account of what he wished from me, and I would not fail to
write to you about it by this mail, which he begged me urgently to do.
It has occurred to me that the bad condition of Presbyterianism and
the Covenant in England at present, through which the marquis has sub-
sisted till now, leads him to augur badly for himself from the end of
these troubles, and causes him to believe that he may one day require a
protection as powerful as that of his Majesty and perhaps also a safe
retreat. It may be also that the little alacrity I have shown both to him
and to Sir Robert Moray since some time about new levies, for the
reason that I judged it impossible to obtain any, and the fear they have
had both that I might treat in spring with the Duke of Hamilton for a
regiment, that those two things have led the Marquis to make this pro-
posal to me and that he may but have made me a proposal which he
judges to be useless in order to break off the correspondence which he
believes to exist between the Duke of Hamilton and France, and which I
must confess the Earl of Crawford keeps up in the duke's absence by
various good offices, in keeping me minutely informed of what takes
place and particularly when he believes his Majesty may take some
interest in what happens. This makes me to doubt whether or not I
ought to inform the earl of the proposal of the Marquis of Argyle, but it
appears to me that you, having given me order, with great reason, to
keep on good terms with them both, I ought not to give to the one the
means of depriving me of all the confidence I might have with the other,
which might happen, since the hatred that is between them does not pre-
vent them from joining and acting together in concert on every occasion
when there is any means of advancing their common interests to the
1 647] P- BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 339
detriment of a third person. Besides, it seems to me that having begun
by proposing to the duke to raise a regiment and having done so on the
ground of its being profitable for his own interests, he cannot be oiFeuded
at my listening to the offer made to me by another person and that I
promise to transmit it to you, since this is all I do by this letter, since
also, though I doubt much that the Marquis of Argyle can accomplish
at present what he proposes and that he will be able to do so before the
end of these troubles, when he would have the power to do so, I believe
there are still diverse reasons on the part of France that may prevent him
from obtaining the advantage he wishes for this regiment, without taking
into account the little security there would be in intrusting the safe-keep-
ing of his Majesty to persons who have so badly guarded their own king.
I add to this letter a copy of the last words of Mr. Newton Gordon,
who was put to death on Thursday last, and which seemed to me to
merit being looked at. When he found that the concessions he had
made to the clergy and the Committee would not avail him in saving his
life, he resolved to die courageously, and you will learn no doubt with some
satisfaction, it pleased God that a good priest whom I took from France
with me having converted him * was able to give absolution on the scaffold
— not being allowed to enter the prison on the day of his death — and
this so successfully as only to be observed by two Catholics who accom-
panied Newton.]
CCXIV
p. BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
Londres, \6 December l647.
Monsieur, — L'on a precede si lentement aux affaires qui
se sont traittees icy les deux sepmaines demieres qu''il n'a pas
este besoing d'escrire par tous les ord'®^ ce que j'^essayeraij de
faire soigneusement lors qu'il se passera quelque chose dont ie
croiray vous deuoir promptement informer. Ainsy que par ma
derniere je vous escriuois que toute la sepmaine auoit este
employee a resoudre le traicte personnel, cette derniere Ton
n"'a faict autre chose qu'examiner les quatre propositions que
Ton a faict arrester en forme de loy mais elles n'ont pas encore
este resolues la plus grande difficulte qui si rencontre est sur
^ No great power of conversion was likely to have been wanted in this case,
as the Marquis of Huntly and the chief men of his name in the north at that
time, such as Lord Aboyne, the lairds of Craig, Gight, Abergeldie, Lesmore and
Letterfourie, etc., were all Catholics. — See Book of Bon Accord, p. 229.
Blakhal, in his ' Brieffe Narration,' p. 68, mentions the house of Gight as one of
those in Aberdeenshire, where he was accustomed to visit and pass the night in
order to say mass, confess and exhort Catholics.
340 P. BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [dec.
Tarticle par lequel on veut que le Roy d'Angleterre reuoque
les declarations qu'il a faictes contre le Parlement et sur celluy
de la Milice que le Parlement pretend estre, en sorte que bien
que Ton esuite le mot de perpetuite le gouuernement neant-
moins soit pour demeurer tousiours entre leurs mains, et pour
le premier ilz essaient de le coucher en telz termes que les dittes
declarations et les protestations qu'elles contiennent estans
annullees il ne reste plus au dit Roy de moien de contester
Taucthorite du Parlement ou arguer de nuUite toutes les choses
qu'il a faict et au contraire que tous ceux qui ont suiue le diet
Roy demeurent criminelz, et quelques uns mesmes du Parlement
si sont laisses entendre qu'ilz ne pretendoient pas excepter le
diet Roy. Pourueu que ces deux articles soient passez ilz ne
se mettent pas en peine du reste, se tenans asseurez de pouuoir
empescher que le diet Roy ne prenne credit parmi eux par la
faculte que Tune des propositions leur donne d"'adjourner le Parle-
ment ou ilz voudront, leur pretention estantde s"'esloigner tousiours
du diet Roy et se tenir auec Tarmee, et ilz assay eront aussy de faire
que cette conferance tant demandee par leur Roy se fasse dans
I'isle d'Wicth [sic]; de peur qu'il ne se puisse preualloir de Passist-
ance qu'il tireroit a Londres de ses seruiteurs et de Taffection que
la ville luy porte ou plus tost de Tinclination qu'elle apour voir ter-
miner ces troubles qui font grand tort a son comerce. Je ne scay si
le Roy d'Angleterre attend encore quelque chose de Tarmee, mais
le traittement que Barclay y a receu estant charge d'une lettre
de sa part au general ne donne pas lieu de le croire. Le general
dit ne se pouuoir mesler de TafFaire, estant entre les mains du
Parlement et plusieurs du conseil de guerre ou le general vouloit
ouurir la lettre furent d''aduis d''enuoyer le porteur prisonnier
au Parlement, qui est bien uny auec Tarmee, encore qu'il en ait
receu depuis peu un message dont les termes sont un peu ruddes,
mais il y a beaucoup d'apparance decroire qu'ilz sont bien
d'accord, et que le Parlement faict escrire ainsy Parmee pour
auoir plus de subiect de presser la ville pour sa subsistance et
pour le paiement de ses arrerages.
L'aduantage que le parlement a remporte depuis peu en
Irlande sur les confederez, dont la nouuelle se confirme, est un
recontre qui ne sert pas aux affaires presentes du roy d'Angle-
terre, car outre qu'il rend le parlement bien plus fier quil
1 647] P- BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE 341
n''estoit Ton a enuoie icy des lettres de milord digbi, qui ont
este prises en ce combat, qui font voir que le diet Roy a
tousiours eu intelligence auec eux. Les Escossois ne se com-
muniquent presque point ilz ne laissent pas de faire agir secrette-
ment leurs amis dans la ville qui leur font esperer un parti
considerable. Ilz font aussi rechercher les prouinces du nort
d'Angleterre pour se joindre a eux, a Teffect de restablir leur
Roy sans leur parler d"'autre chose. Ilz esuitent de me rien dire
de leurs affaires mais ceux dont ilz se seruent croyent qu"'ilz ont
un traicte auec le diet roy et esperent d'en voir dans peu des
effects, mais il est difficille que les escossois seulz puissent faire
quelque chose, n'ayans ny armes ny argent, s'ilz n"'en sont
assistez. La ville de Londres a de Targent mais parcequ'elle
fist cest este il est aise de juger qu*'elle ne se declarera pas la
})remiere, sans voir une armee qui la puisse garentir de danger
euident auquel elle s^exposeroit en ce cas. Ilz voudroient bien
que TEscosse les sollicitat pour auoir d''elle ce qu''ilz ont peine
d''esperer dailleurs, mais outre que ie n'ay garde de le faire sans
ordre, s"'il y a quelque chose a faire auec eux, j^ose prendre la
liberte de dire qu''il semble plus auantageux que ce soit en leur
accordant les conditions qu'ilz demanderont qu''en leur en
offrant de la part de TEscosse, a laquelle ilz auront obligation
au premier cas, au lieu qu'ilz se pourroient rendre plus difficilles
a traitter s'ilz se voyoient recherchez. Je suis, Monsieur,
Vostre, etc., P. de Bellieure.
Au dos — M. de Bellieure Grignon, du l6 decembre l647, receu
le 25.
[P. Bellievre to Brienne. London, 16 Dec. 1647-
The matters treated of here during the last two weeks have proceeded
so slowly that I did not require to write by every mail, which I shall do
carefully whenever anything takes place of which I consider you ought
to be promptly informed. Thus in my last I wrote to you that all the
week had been taken up with deciding on the personal convention.
Dui'ing this last they have done nothing but examine the four proposals
that have been drawn up in the form of a law, but which have not been
voted ; tlie greatest difficulty being with the article by which the King
of England is required to revoke the declarations he has made against
Parliament and on that of the militia which Parliament insists upon, so as
that, although they avoid the word perpetual, the direction of it piay
always remain in their hands ; and as regards the first they try to express
it in such terms that the declarations referred to, and the protestations
342 P. BELLi:feVRE TO BRIENNE [dec.
they contain, being annulled, there may remain to the king no other
means of disputing the authority of Parliament or of pleading the nullity
of all the things it has done, and whereby, on the contrary, all those who
have followed the king may remain criminal and some members of
Parliament even gave one to understand that they did not mean to exempt
the king therefrom. Provided these two articles pass they will not be
anxious about the rest, considering themselves certain of being able to
prevent the king from obtaining influence among them by the power one
of the proposals gives them of adjourning Parliament when they like,
their pretension being to withdraw always from the king and to keep
with the army, and they will also try to arrange that this conference,
which has been so much demanded by the king, be held in the Isle
of Wight, for fear he may be able to avail himself of the assistance he
might obtain in London from his followers and from the affection the
town has for him, or rather from the wish it has to see the end of these
troubles, that do gi:eat harm to its commerce. 1 do not know whether
or not the King of England still expects anything from the army, but
the treatment Berkeley met with in going with a letter on his part to the
general does not give one reason to think so. The general says he
cannot interfere in the matter it being in the hands of the Parliament
and several of the Council of War, where the general wished to open the
letter, were of opinion to send the bearer prisoner to Parliament, which
is quite in accord with the army, although it received lately a message from
the latter in somewhat severe terms, but there is great likelihood in be-
lieving them to be quite agreed, and that Pai-liament induces the army
to write in such terms, in order to have more reason to press the town
in order to provide for its subsistence and for the payment of its arrears.
The advantage Parliament has recently obtained in Ireland over the
Confederates, of which the news has been confirmed, does not profit the
present state of the King of England's affairs, for not only does it render
Parliament more haughty than it was, but the letters of Lord Digby that
were captured in this combat have been sent here and show that the king
has still an understanding with them. The Scots are very little com-
municative, yet they cause their friends to act secretly in the town, who
give them hopes of forming an important party. They are also making
efforts to induce the northern counties of England to join with them in
order to restore their king, without mentioning anything else. They
avoid speaking to me of their affairs, yet those whom they employ believe
them to have a treaty with their king, and they hope to see the effects of
it soon ; but it will be difficult for the Scots alone to do anything, as they
have neither arms nor money, if they are not assisted. The city of
London has money, but, on account of what happened this summer, it is
easy to judge that it will not be the first to declare itself, without seeing
an army that would be able to guarantee it against the evident danger to
which it would in that case be exposed. They of the city would like
Scotland to apply to them,* in order to obtain from her what they could
with difficulty hope to find anywhere else ; but besides that I would take
care not to do it without order, were there anything to be done with those
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 343
of the city, I venture to observe it would seem more advantageous in
treating to grant them the conditions they may demand than to offer
them any conditions on the part of Scotland to which they would thus in
the first instance become obliged, whereas were they sought after they
might become more difficult to treat with.]
ccxv
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, - Dec. l647.
NoN seulement il ne se resoudit rien d'importance dans le
Comite qui se tint ici, Jeudi dernier, mais il ne s""}^ prit mesme
aucune resolution sur quelque affaire que ce pent estre, tant
les Ecossois se trouvent deconcertes par la resolution qu"'a prise
le roi de la G' B"". Les ministres de ce royaume y presenterent
la copie d'une lettre qu"'ils ont envoyee aux deputes quMls ont
a Londres, et que je n"'ay peu encore voir, mais qui fait assez
voir, a ce qu''on m'a dit, les mauvais sentiments qu"'ils ont pour
leur roi, pour la monarchie, puisqu'ils ordonnent a ceux qui
sont en Angleterre de tenir ferme pour leur covenant, et qu'ils
leur font entendre en termes un peu plus converts, qu''ils se
doivent plustot relascher pour ce qui regarde les interets de
leur roy, sMls ne se peuvent accorder avec ceux de leur religion.
Le Due de Hamilton qui avoit bien preveu qu'il ne se feroit
aucune chose dans le dit Comite, n'est pas seulement revenu
de la campagne ou il s''est tenu la plus grande partie de cet
hiver, afin de rejeter sur les autres Tennui de ce que se passe
ici, soit dans les executions sanglautes qui s''y sont faites, et
qui irretent tous ceux a qui il reste encore quelque peu de
bonne volonte pour leur roi, ou dans les nouvelles impositions
que Ton met, et qui offensent tout le peuple.
Le Marquis d'Huntley a este pris dans le province de
Stradoune en une maison appelle d'Elnabow, par Meiznis,
Lieut.-Colonel du Marquis d'Argyle son beau frere, apres
avoir este trahi par ceux de son propre parti. My Lord
Gordon son fils aine s^est trouve lors eloigne de luy fort
heureusement. On le tient presentement en sa principale
maison de Strathbogie, d''ou on le doit conduire en cette ville,
ou les opinions sont partagees touchant le traitement qu'il y
recevra. Ses amis veulent qu'etant pair du royaume, on ne
puisse le juger qu'au Pari*, ou ils croyentque le Due de Hamil-
344 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [dec;
ton prevaudra, et s'imaginent que son parti fera tous ses
efforts pour le sauver. lis joignent a cela que le Marquis
d'Argyle son beau frere, mais son plus grande ennemi, se
trouvera oblige par son propre interet de travailler a sa con-
servation, puisqu'il se fait donner la jouissanee de son bien
durant la vie du dit Marquis d'Huntley, — ce qu''ils appellent
ici avoir son escheat, — de sorte qu'il luy importe de le faire
vivre autant qu'il sera possible. Mais ceux qui sont dans les
interets de ce Parlement et qui semblent mieux juger des
affaires disent, que son proces luy a este fait avant qu'il fut
pris, quand il a este declare traitre a cet Etat, et indigne
de pardon, et qu'on pourroit mesme le mener sur Techafaud
sans le faire entrer dans la prison, — qu'il ne pent pas demander
d'estre juge par le Parlement puisque le Parlement mesme Ta
degrade de la noblesse qui luy eut peu donner cet avantage,
et que le Marquis d'Argyle qui possede son bien durant sa
vie sera plus aise de Tavoir ou durant celle de my Lord Gordon,
ou a perpetuite, ainsy qu'il se le pent faire donner aussi aise-
ment. lis ajoutent a cela que le peuple et les Barons de ce
royaume qui ont veu mourir diverses personnes de leur rang,
ne voudront pas permettre que les seigneurs se sauvent des
loix a la rigueur desquelles on soumet ceux de leur condition,
et qu'il n'y a point d'apparence qu''on luy donne la vie immedi-
atement apres qu'on a fait mourir des gentilshommes, princi-
palement parce qu'ils Tavoient suivi. Ce sont, Monsg', les
divers jugements que Ton fait touchant le salut ou la perte
de ce Marquis, et que j"'eusse peu me passer de representer si
particulierement a V. Em''®, mais ce que je crois estre bien
oblige de luy dire est que si le dit Marquis se trouve en quelque
danger, comme il y sera asseurement, je prevois que je seray
presse de faire office au nom du roy pour le sauver, ce qu''on
attendra d'autant plus de moi qu'outre qu''il se trouve engage
dans le service de Sa Majeste, j'ay encore este traite fort
civilement par ceux qui luy touchent de plus pres, de sorte,
Monsg% que j'ay mieux aime demander inutilement a V. Em'^®
de quelle sorte je me devois conduire en cette rencontre, que de
manquer a avoir receu ses ordres, si ce que je presuppose et
ce que je crains bien fort arrivoit. Car encore que je prevoye
que toutes les instances que Ton pourra faire pour le sauver
i647] ]MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 345
seront inutiles, si Ton a resolu de le perdre, peut estre que
V. Em*^® jugera qu'il ne laissera pas d"'estre honnete de les faire,
pour une personne de si haute condition qui est en peine pour
avoir voulu servir son roy, bien qu'il Tait fait malheureusement,
est qui est encore attache au service de Sa Majeste, en quoy
toutefois je ne pense pas qu''il soit impossible de se conduire de
telle sorte que sans offenser ce Parlement on satisfera a ses
amis et au parti de la roy de la G*' B% de quis je puis dire
toutefois a V. Em°® qu"'il n"'est pas extremement regrette. Je
ne sais mesme, Monsg', si une lettre du roy pour appuyer les
offres que Ton feroit ne seroit point a propos, de laquelle on
se serviroit seulement si Ton voyoit que le nom de Sa Maj**
peut estre employe avec effet, de quoi j''ai beaucoup sujet de
douter. II y a encore une chose dont je crois, Mg', estre
oblige de vous avertir par avance, e'est que la place que le
Marquis d'Huntley a en France sera enviee de beaucoup de
personnes, de sorte que s"'il y a lieu de la remplir, on pourroit
en obligeant avec cette charge le plus grand seigneur de ce
royaume, le faire encore obliger en la luy donnant a envoyer
un nouveau regiment en France. Je ne puis m''empescher de
dire a V. Em*^ avant que finir une chose qui n'est veritable-
raent d'aucune importance, mais qui est toutefois assez re-
marquable, que le Marquis d''Huntley etant ne dans un pays
ou rignorance a produit de tout temps beaucoup de devins, et
s"'etant attache des ses premieres annees a cette plus vaine
partie des Mathematiques qui par Tinspection des astres
enseigne a juger de la fortune des hommes, s"'est persuade
qu''il avoit une entiere connaissance de ce qui luy devoit arriver,
de sort quMl a toujours bien espere de ses affaires parce qu'il
estoit asseure qu'il seroit dans sa maison avant la fin de cette
annee, d'ou il devoit entrer a Edimbourg plus considere de
tout le monde qu'il n'avoit este jusqu'ici, — ce qu'il a dit a
beaucoup de ceux qui Pont veu depuis qu'il s'est retire dans
les montagnes, — et ce que j'ay oui dire moi mesmes cet et6 a
son troisieme fils my Lord Charles, qui apres nous avoir dit
beaucoup de choses que ce Marquis avoit connues avant
qu'elles fussent arrivees, ajoutoit, plaisamment pour un enfant,
qu'il auroit jure qu'il estoit sorcier s'il n'avoit pas este son
pere.
346 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [dec.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ~ Dec. 1647.
Not only was there nothing of importance decided upon in the meeting-
of Committee held on Thursday last^ but there was no resolution even
proposed on any matter whatever, so profoundly are the Scots discon-
certed by the resolution the King of Great Britain has taken. The clergy
of the kingdom presented to it the copy of a letter they had sent to the
Commissioners in London, which I have not yet been able to see, but I
am told it testifies to their bad feeling towards their king and towards the
monarchy, since they order those who are in England to hold firmly for
their Covenant, and let them understand in an indirect manner that they
ought rather to yield in what concerns their king, if they cannot other-
wise agree with those of their religion. The Duke of Hamilton, who had
well foreseen that there would be nothing done at the meeting of Com-
mittee, did not even return from the country, where he has remained the
greater part of this winter, in order to leave to others the annoyances that
are here at present, either in the bloody executions that are going on,
that irritate all those who still retain some good-will for their king, or in
the new taxes that are introduced, which offend all the people.
The Marquis of Huntly was taken in the district of Strathdowne in a
house called Elnabow[?] by Lieut. -Colonel Menzies of the Marquis of
Argyle, his brother-in-law's regiment, after having been betrayed by his
own people. Lord Gordon,^ his eldest son, was then, very fortunately,
away from him. The marquis is at present confined in his principal resi-
dence of Strathbogie, whence he is to be brought to this town, where
opinions are divided regarding the manner he will be treated. His friends
pretend that being a peer of the kingdom he can only be judged by
Parliament, in which they believe the Duke of Hamilton will prevail,
and imagine that his party will employ all their efforts to save him. They
also add that the Marquis of Argyle, his brother-in-law, but his greatest
enemy, will find himself obliged through his own interest to aid in saving
his life, since he has been able to obtain usufruct of the Marquis of
Huntly's property during the latter's life, what is called here having his
escheat, so that it concerns him to have it prolonged. But those in the
interest of this Parliament, and who seem better able to judge of business,
say that his process has been already gone through, before he was taken
prisoner, when he was declared to be a traitor to this state, and unworthy
of pardon, and that he could be led to the scaffold without being even
made to enter prison, that he cannot demand to be judged by Parliament
since Parliament has even degraded him from the ranks of the nobility,
that might have given him that advantage, and that the Marquis of Argyle
who possesses his property during his life will be more satisfied to have it
either during the lifetime of Lord Gordon or absolutely, as it will be
equally easy for him to procure it. They add also that the people and
the gentry of this kingdom who have seen several persons of their rank
^ Lord Aboyne. See note, vol. i. p. 46.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 347
put to death would not allow the great nobles to break the laws, to the
rigour of which those of their rank are obliged to submit, after they had
put to death some gentlemen, principally because they had followed him.
ITiose are the various judgments that are formed regarding the safety or
the loss of this marquis, and which I might have refrained from indicating
to you so minutely ; but what I believe myself obliged to tell you is, that
if this marquis be in some danger, as he will be assuredly, I foresee that
I shall be urged to interfere officially in the king's name in order to try
and save him ; which will be all the more readily expected from me, that
besides his being in the service of his Majesty, I have also been very
politely treated by those who are closely related to him, so that I preferred
to ask your orders, even though it be to no purpose, as to what manner I
ought to act in this circumstance, rather than to fail in receiving your
orders, if what I assume and what I very much fear should happen. For
whilst I foresee that all the efforts that may be made to save him will be
useless, if it be resolved to put him to death, yet perhaps you will judge
it to be only becoming to make the attempt for a person of so high condi-
tion who is in trouble on account of having wished to serve his king,
although he has done it so very lucklessly, and who still holds an im-
portant position in the service of his Majesty, in which, however, I do not
think it impossible to act in such a manner, that without offending this
Parliament one will satisfy his friends and the party of the King of Great
Britain, by whom I may however say to you he is not extremely regretted.
I do not know even if a letter from the king, in order to support the offers
one might make, would be suitable, of which one would only make use
were it seen that the name of his Majesty might be employed with effect,
which I have much reason to doubt. There is also another matter which
I think right to mention to you beforehand. It is that the position the
Marquis of Huntly has in France will be wished for by many persons, so
that if it be decided to till it up, one might in return for that dignity
oblige the greatest noble of this kingdom to send a new regiment to
France. I cannot refrain from mentioning to you before finishing a matter
which is not really of much importance, but simply a little curious. The
Marquis of Huntly, being born in a country in which ignorance has always
produced a large number of soothsayers, has from his youth been an adept
in that somewhat trivial branch of mathematics that teaches to judge of
people's fortunes by the study of the stars, and has pei"suaded himself
that he had a complete knowledge of what was to happen to him, so that
he has always been very hopeful in his transactions, thus he was certain
he would be in his house before the end of this year, whence he was to go
to Edinburgh more considered by every one than he had been till now.
He told this to many of those he saw while he was retired in the High-
lands, and last summer I heard myself his third son. Lord Charles,* after
having related many things that this marquis had known before they had
happened, he added with an amusing sally for a child : ' I would certainly
have taken him for a wizard had he not been my papa.']
^ Created Lord Gordon of Strathavon and Earl of Aboyne in 1680.
348 P. BELLlfeVRE TO BRIENNE [dec.
CCXVI
P. BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le 23' Decembre 1647.
Monsieur, — L'on a cy-deuant doubte si la mesintelligence
qui estoit entre les chefz de Tarmee estoit feinte ou veritable ;
mais quoy qu'il en ait este, on les tient a present bien unis,
soit qu'il n'y ait pas eu de peine a faire ce qui estoit desia, soit
comme il y a plus lieu de croire que leur interest les y fait
obligez, voians les Presbiteriens reprendre quelque credit pend-
ant leur diuision, en sorte qu'ilz auroient peu leur tenir teste,
voire mesme se rendre les maistres, s'ilz ne si opposoient de
bonne heure, mais la preuention que les Seigneurs ont eu
de faire descharger les sept de leurs confreres qui sont sous
la verge noire de Taccusation contre eux, faicte tient en mesme
temps la demande de la ville pour faire sortir son antien maire
et les autres qui ont este mis avec luy dans la tour, joinct
quelques pratiques dans la ville qui ne luy ont pu estre tout
a faict cachees, leur ont faict penser a ne les pas laisser aller
plus auant, et pour cet effect, sous pretexte de presser le
payement des trouppes, ilz songent a s"'approcher de cette ville
pour essayer de faire sortir du Parlement tous ceux qui leur
sont encore suspectz, ce qui se pourroit bien resoudre au conseil
qui se tient aujourdhuy a Winhsurs [Windsor] sur le peu qu'ilz
ont faict pour le roy d'Angleterre lors mesme qu'ilz n'estoient
pas establis comme ilz sont ne luy doit pas faire esperer grand
chose maintenant. II tesmoigne neantmoins estre content ou
il est, et mesme faict scauoir a ses seruiteurs qui sont en cette
ville, qui luy promettent beaucoup de la part des habitans,
qu'ilz n'eussent rien a faire de peur de nuire a ses desseins,
les priant de conseruer tousiours leur bonne volonte pour la
faire paroistre quant il sera temps. Les Escossois veullent
faire croire qu'ilz feront quelque chose auec luy, ilz luy auoient
pour cet effect enuoye le comte de Trakoire qui Ta fort entre-
tenu et en retourna hier bien satisfFaict a ce que disent ses
amis, bien qu''ilz ne sachent pas encore ce qu''il rapporte,
n"'ayant parle qu''aux Commissionnaires qui se rendirent tous
chez luy a son arriuee. Cependant on parle icy d'enuoyer au
Roy d'Angleterre les quatre propositions dont on ne s'estoit
1 647] P- BELLli:VRE TO BRIENNE 349
voulu presser de crainte que le diet Roy ne les acceptant,
quelques rudes qu"'elles fussent, mais a presant que Ton diet
qu'il a faict entendre a ceux qui sont pres de luy, qu''il ne
les voulloit pas aceorder, et que mesme depuis qu'il a seeu
qu'elles auoient este resolues, il a escrit au parlement insistant
au traicte personnel sans en faire mention. Les autheurs de
ces propositions pressent fort qu'elles luy soient portees, ay ant
faiet resoudi-e sur cette derniere lettre du roy qu''auant toutes
ehoses, il les passeroit en forme de loy et qu'en suitte Ton
traitteroit auec luy dans Tisle d''Wiek [sic], mais il y a appar-
enee qu'il ne sera point pris de resolution sur Tenuoy des
d. propositions que Ton ne sache ce que fera Tarmee en suitte
du conseil de ee jour que Ton diet qu'elle pourroit bien eon-
tinuer a tenir encore demain veu la quantite de ehoses que si
douient traitter. — Vostre, ete., P. de Bellieure.
[P. Bellivere to Brienne. London, 23 Dec. 1647.
It was doubted formerly whether the misunderstanding among the
leaders of the army was assumed or real ; but, however it may have been
in the past, they are at present considered to be very united^ either from
there being no difficulty in effecting what had already existed, or^ as there
is more reason to believe, from their interest having obliged them to come
to it, seeing the Presbyterians were regaining influence during their divi-
sion, so as to be able not only to cope with them, but to become their mas-
ters, were they not to oppose it in time ; but the preventive measure of the
Lords in releasing seven of their number, who were accused and held under
arrest by Black Rod, and their upholding at the same time the demand
made by the city for the release of its previous mayor and those who are
confined with him in the Tower, this, together with some intrigues in the
city that may not have been kept quite secret, have made those of the army
think they ought not to allow matters to go further ; and, for this purpose,
under pretext of insisting on the payment of their troops, they think of
approaching the town, which will probably be settled in the council they
are holding to-day at Windsor, — in order to expel from Parliament all those
they consider suspect, on account of the little they have done for the King
of England, when they even were not established as they are now, which is
not calculated to give much hope to the king at present. This latter not-
withstanding shows himself to be satisfied where he is, and even informs
his followers in this town, who make great promises on the part of the in-
habitants, that there is nothing for them to do, for fear of their injuring
his plans, begging them still to retain their good-will, in order to manifest
it when it would be required. The Scots wish it to be believed they will do
something with him : they have for that purpose sent to him the Earl of
Traquair, who has had a long interview with him, and returned yesterday
very satisfied, according to what his friends say, although they do not yet
350 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [dec.
know whathe has brought back, having merely spoken to the commissioners
who were going to his house to see him on his arrival. ^ However, they
speak here of sending the four proposals to the King of England, which
they had not wished to insist upon for fear of the. king accepting them,
however hard they might be ; but at present, when it is said he has
made those near him to understand that he would not grant them, and
that even since he has been informed of their resolution to send them, he
has written to Parliament insisting on having a personal convention with-
out making mention of these proposals, their authors press strongly
that they be taken to him, having resolved on the last letter from the king
that he should first of all pass them in the form of a law, and that after-
wards they would treat with him in the Isle of Wight ; but there is some
likelihood that they will not decide to send these proposals until it be
known what the army may do as the result of the council held to-day,
which it is said may be continued again to-morrow, because of the quan-
tity of matters to be treated of.]
CCXVII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN.
Ediinboiirg, -"* Decembre 1647.
Les lettres de Londres arriverent si tard par le precedent
ordinaire que tout ce que je pus faire, il y a huit jours, fut
d'accuser la reception de celle de V. Em"® me fit Thonneur de
m'ecrire le 29 du mois passe, et en reponse de laquelle je luy
diray, que M. le Due de Hamilton n''etant point revenu de la
campagne, ou je Taurois veu sans la crainte des jalousies que cela
auroit peu donner, j'ay dit a M' le Comte de Crawford en son
absence, que m'etant donne Thonneur d'ecrire un mot en termes
generaux a V. Em''® de ce qui touchoit la pension du Due son
beau frere, V. Em®® me mandoit qu''elle auroit un soin par-
ticulier de tout ce qui pourroit regarder ses interets, — ce qu'il
auoit pleu k V. Em®® de m^crire en des termes qui estoient
accompagnes de tant de temoignages d'une particuliere affec-
tion que j 'a vols creu qu'il ne seroit pas impossible a M. le Due
de Hamilton de tirer mesme presentement les arrerages de sa
pension, pourvu qu''il donnat a V. Em®® quelques jours pour le
^ What the Scots represented to the king at this juncture was that -if he
agreed to the four articles which the English parliament proposed in order to
enter into a personal treaty with him, it would be granting more than was fit or
just, and would be an entire resignation of his regal authority, rather than which
they said ' it were better for him to make some further steps in giving Scotland
full contentement anent their reformation, in which case they would undertake
the whole kingdom should engage for his restoration.'
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 351
pouvoir faire, — ce qui luy seroit facile s''il entreprenoit, comme
nous en avions deja parle de faire passe en France un regiment
pendant cet hiver. Sur quoi le Comte de Crawford me fit
reponse, que si les affaires de ce royaume pouvoient avoir
quelque etablissement avant la tenue de ce Parlement, il ne
doutait point que M. le Due de Hamilton ne contribuoit
de tout son pouvoir a faire passer en France un regiment,
et que cela ne se trouvast assez facile, mais qu"'il n"'y avoit
aucune apparence que cela se pent faire maintenant, et qu'il
avoit des choses bien eloignees de cela a me dire, — qu'un
homme du Comte de Traquair estoit arrive depuis peu d''heures,
par lequel le Comte de Lanark luy ecrivit que le roi de la
G' B'' estoit plus etroitement garde qu"'il avoit este jusqu^ici ;
que selon toutes les apparences les Independants alloient faire
les demiers efforts pour le miner, et quMl croyoit que tout ce
qu'il y avoit de personnes d'honneur en leur nation se mettroient
en devoir de le conserver, pourvu que les anciens amis les
y assistassent, que la cause du roy de la G^ B' estoit celle
de tous les roys, et qu'ils esperoient de les obliger tous a
le secourir, s'ils se mettoient en etat de le defendre ; et entre
tous les autres, Sa Majeste qui devoit estre portee par les liens
du sang a appuyer les interets de leur roy, et par la memoire
d'une longue alliance d''assister leur royaume en ce dessein.
Je luy repondis selon ce que V. Em*'^ m'a ordonne, qu'ils vissent
ce que la France pouvoit faire pour leur roi, et pour eux, et qu'ils
recevroient d'elle toutes les assistances possibles et raisonnables.
Nous n''avons pas besoin d'^hommes, me dit il, et nous nous
pouvons encore bien passer d"'argent, quoiqu'il nous fut assez
necessaire, mais nous avons besoin de notre prince. Faites que
la France nous le donne, et vous obligerez cette fois des
hommes plus sages, plus justes, et plus reconnoissants que
ceux que vous avez rencontres en Tarmee d'Ecosse, quand vous
avez dispose le roi son pere a y venir. C^est, Monsg*", ce que
me dit le Comte de Crawford, et comme il se pressa assez de me
le dire, il me pressa bien fort aussi d'y repondre, de sorte que
je fus oblige de lui repartir que je ne lui pouvois rendre aucune
reponse sur une chose que je n''avois point eu lieu jusqu''ici de
proposer, mais que je croyois lui pouvoir encore dire qu'il leur
seroit toujours aise de porter la France a faire les choses qui
seroient raisonnables et que lui seroient possibles, qui se trou-
362 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [dec.
veront en mesme temps utiles a leurs interets et a ceux de leur
roi, et qui seroient desirees par le Due son frere et par lui,
et je changeai de propos le plustot qu'il me fut possible afin
de ne pas obliger a faire cette proposition a V. Em*'® et de lui
en rendre reponse, sur quoy V. Em*^ sait assez quels doivent
estre les sentiments d'une personne qui doit connoistre les
Ecossois, et qui souhaite quelque bien au roi de la G' B"".
Et en effet, Monsg', bien que les principales personnes de
ce royaume parlent presque comme fait le Comte de Crawford,
et qu'ils soient bien aises de temoigner qu'ils veulent faire pour
le salut de leur roi, ce qu'ils prevoient qu'ils seront obliges
de faire, ou pour retirer Targent qui leur est deu en Angleterre,
— ce qui est un puissant motif de guerre a des peuples in-
teresses et necessiteux, — ou pour leur propre conservation, et
pour prevenir le mal qu"'ils ont tout sujet d''attendre; leurs
actions repondent si peu a leurs paroles que Ton n"'a presque
point de fondement des"'y arreter, puisqu''ils demeurent toujours
fermes a demander que leur roy approuve leur covenant et
abolisse les evesques, et qu'ils veulent avant que le servir qxi'ii
ruine le parti qui a plus dMnteret et de passion pour son retab-
lissement, et qui est aujourd'huy le plus considerable, si ce
n'est pas en pouvoir au moins en nombre, dans TAngleterre.
Nous avons appris aussi par le dernier expres qui est venu
ici de Londres que le Chev"" Berkeley y avoit dit que le roi de
la G"^ B' avoit intention d'aller a Jersey quand il est sorti de
Hampton Court, et que ce voyage ne s'est point fait du tout
de concert avec les Independants, ce qui n'est pas toutefois
bien probable, et qui pourroit nuire davantage a ce Prince
aupres les dits Independants que lui servir aupres des Pres-
byteriens et des Ecossois. On a seu encore par la mesme voie
que le sieur GofFe a dit beaucoup de douceurs aux deputes
d'Ecosse de la part de la reine de la G"" B"^ et leur a temoigne
que cette princesse desire mettre sa principale confiance en
ceux de leur nation. II semble qu'ils ne pensent encore a rien
davantage qu'aux moyens qu''ils peuvent avoir pour tirer le dit
roi de Tlsle de Wight.
II n'y a presque point lieu d'esperer que le Marquis
d'Huntley se puisse sauver. On a arreste qu'il seroit mis
dans la prison de cette ville et non pas dans le Chateau, et
qu'il entreroit a pied et sans chapeau dans Edimbourg.
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 35^
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ Dec. 1647.
The letters from London by the last mail were delivered so late eight
days ago, that 1 had no time then to do more than acknowledge the
receipt of yours of the 29th ult., and in reply to which I have to say that
the Duke of Hamilton, not having returned from the country, where I
would have gone to see him had I not been afraid of the jealousies it might
have caused, I told the Earl of Crawford in his absence that having written
to you in general terms regarding the annuity of the duke, his brother-in-
law, you had informed me you would take particular care of everything
that could aiFect his interests, which you had written to me in terms con-
veying so many indications of a particular affection, that I was convinced
it would not be impossible to the Duke of Hamilton to obtain, at present,
even the arrears of his annuity, provided he allowed you a ievr days in
order to be able to do it, which would be easy for you, were he to undertake
what we had already spoken about to send a regiment over to France during
this winter. On which the Earl of Crawford gave me the following reply :
that if the affairs of this kingdom could be in any way established before the
opening of this Parliament, he did not doubt but that the Duke of Hamilton
would do all in his power to send over a regiment, although it might not
be easy ; but that there was no likelihood that it could be done now, and
that he had some things very different from that to tell me : that a man
from the Earl of Traquair had arrived a few hours ago, by whom the
Earl of Lanark wrote to say that the King of Great Britain was more
closely guarded than he had ever been till now, that according to all
appearances the Independents were going to make their last efforts in
order to destroy him, and that he believed all the persons of honour in
their nation would consider it their duty to preserve him, provided their
old friends would assist them in it ; that the cause of the King of Great
Britain was that of all the kings, and that they hoped to oblige them all
to assist him if they placed themselves in a position to defend him, and
among all the others his Majesty, who ought to be led by the ties of
blood to support the interests of their king, and by the recollection of a
long alliance, to assist their kingdom in this design.
I replied to him what you have ordered me, that they would see what
France could do for their king and for them, and that they would receive
from her every assistance possible and reasonable.
We do not want men, he told me, and we can also do without money,
although it was somewhat wanted, but we want our prince. Let France
give him to us and you will oblige this time wiser men, more just and more
grateful than those you met in the Scottish army when you disposed the
king his father to come to them. This is what the Earl of Crawford said
to me, and as (he was in haste to tell it to me) he insisted very earnestly
for a reply so that I was obliged to say I could not give him any reply
on a matter I have not had occasion till now to propose, but that I still
thought I could say to him that it would be easy for them to lead France
to do what was reasonable and which would be possible and at the same
VOL. II. Z
p. BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE [dec.
time useful to their interests and to those of their king and wished for by
the duke his brother and by him ; and I changed the subject as soon as
possible, so as not to be obliged to make this proposal to you and to
return to him your reply ; on which you know well enough what must be
the sentiments of a person who ought to know the Scots, and who wishes
well to the King of Great Britain. And although indeed the principal
persons of this kingdom speak almost as the Earl of Crawford does and
are glad to show that they wish to act for the safety of their king, which
they anticipate they will be obliged to do either in order to get the
money that is due to them in England, which is a powerful motive of
war with selfish and needy people, or for their own safety and in order
to ward off the evil they have every reason to expect ; their actions are
so little in keeping with their words that one has scarcely any ground to
stand upon with them since they continue firm in requiring their king to
sanction their Covenant and abolish the bishops, thus wishing him, before
they serve him, to destroy the party that has the greatest interest and
the strongest desire for his re-establishment, and which is to-day the
most considerable if not in power, at least in number, in England.
We have also learned by the last express that has arrived here from
London that Sir John Berkeley ^ had said there that the King of Great
Britain had the intention of going to Jersey when he left Hampton Court,
and that this journey was not at all made in concert with the Indepen-
dents, which is not, however, quite probable as it was more calculated
to injure that prince in view of the Independents than to serve him
with the Presbyterians or the Scots. We have also learned through this
same channel that Mr. Goffe ^ has been complimenting the Scottish Com-
missioners in London on the part of the Queen of Great Britain, and has
stated to them that this princess wishes to put her principal trust in those
of their nation. It seems they still think of nothing more than of the
means they may have for getting their king away from the Isle of Wight.
There is scarcely any reason to hope that the Marquis of Huntly can
be saved. It has been decided that he be lodged in the to\wi prison and
not in the castle, and that he will enter Edinburgh on foot and bare-
headed.]
CCXVIII
p. BELLi:fcVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, le 30 Decembre 1647
Monsieur, — Dans le dernier rendes vous de Tarmee les officiers
generaux ne firent pas touttes les choses dont ilz auoient parle au-
parauant mais ils en firent une qu'ils estiment, et qui est en effect
^ Tutor to the Duke of York, '^ Of the Queen's Household.
1 647] P- BELLI^VRE TO BRIENNE 866
aussy importante qu^aucune autre, qui est de s''asseurer de tous
leurs soldatz contre le roy d"'Ang''^, et faire voir leur puissance par
Tunion qui est entre eux et par la bonne intelligence qu''ilz ont
auec le parlement, lequel pour n'auoir rien qui luy puisse faire
ombrage, sous pretexte d''un dessein descouuert il y a huict
jours, que Ton croit auoir este controuue a cette fin, a ordonne
que tous ceux qui ont suivy le Roy de la G. B. et tous les catho-
licques sortiront auant jeudy prochain, et n'approcheront de
vingt milles de Londres. Les commissaires du Parlement, qui
sont les mesmes qui estoient cy deuant pres du d* Roy, partent
aujourd'huy pour luy porter les quatre propositions et luy
faire entendre que s"'il refuse de les accorder que le Parlement
auisera a ce qui sera a faire, sans luy, plusieurs ont desia parle
en ce cas de le tenir en une honorable retraicte, laquelle n'est
difFerente que du nom d''auec prison, tres estroicte, et que
cependant Ton gouuerneroit Testat comme Ton a faict [jusques
a pnt]. Par diuers discours qui ont este tenuz il y a lieu
de craindre qu'ilz ne se portent a des resolutions encore plus
violentes. II fust diet mesme dans la maison lorsque les quatre
propositions furent resolus pour persuader ceux qui faisoient
quelque difficulte de les passer, si le Roy les accorde il se
perdra, si il les refuse nous le perdrons, et ces parolles eurent
plus de pouuoir que tout ce qui auoit este diet en la chambre,
tant on a crainte icy de donner moien au d* Roy de reprendre
la moindre authorite. Les Escossois parlent fort en sa faueur
tant pour sa personne que pour ses droictz, dans les deux
papiers qu''ilz donnerent vendredi dernier au parlement, en
sorte que le d* Parlement a tesmoigne en estre si fort mal
satisfaict que par la response quMl leur a faict il les prie de ne
plus user de termes semblables a ceux dont ilz se sont seruis, en
ceux [qu"'ilz] semblent fort resoluz de soustenir ses interestz, et
en Testat auquel ilz sont, si le diet roy leur donne quelque
satisfaction, il y a apparence qu''ilz pourront tirer aduantage, a
quoy leur propre interest ne les porte pas moins que TafFection
qu'ilz ont pour leur Roy.
Les comtes de Laudun, de Lauderdail, et de Lanerik
doiuent partir demain pour Tlsle d'Wight, ou ils rencontreront
le comte de Trakoire, qui y retourna au commencement de
la semaine passee, n''ayant sejourne que 24 heures en ceste
356 P. BELLi:feVRE TO BRIENNE [dec.
ville. Encores que, suiuant touttes les apparences, Ton se per-
suade que le roy n'accordera point les proposition^, tout le
monde neantmoins est en attente de la response qu'il fera,
croyant pouuoir par la juger de ce que Ton se peut promettre des
affaires de ce pais. Votre, etc., P. de Bellievre.
[P. BEij:iiEVRE to Brienne. London, 30 Dec. 1647.
In the last rendezvous of the army the general officers did not do all they
had previously spoken of^ but they did one thing which they consider, and
which is in fact as important as any other^ that is to assure themselves
of all their soldiers being opposed to the King of England and to show
their power by the union existing among them and the good understand-
ing they have with Parliament, which latter in order to give it no reason
to take offence, under pretext of having discovered a design, eight days
ago, which is believed to have been invented for that purpose, has
ordered that all those who have followed the King of Great Britain and
all the Catholics will have to leave here before Thursday next and
not again approach within twenty miles of London. The Commissioners
of Parliament, who are the same that were formerly with the king, are
leaving to-day, in order to take to him the four proposals and to lead him
to understand that if he refuse to grant them, that Parliament will see to
what is to be done without him ; several have already spoken in this
case to have him kept in an honourable retreat, which is with them but
another name for a very close prison, and that the government of the
State will, however, be conducted as it has been till now. From several
speeches that have been made there is reason to fear they may be led to
adopt still more violent resolutions. It was even said in the House when
the four proposals were decided upon,m order to persuade those who raised
some objections about passing them, '^that if the king grant them he will
ruin himself, if he refuse we shall ruin him,' and these words had more
effect than all that had been said in the House, so great is the fear they
have here of enabling the king by any means to regain the least authority.
The Scots speak strongly in his favour, both as regards his person and his
rights, in the two papers they gave to Parliament on Friday last, so that
Parliament, in the reply it gave them, showed its extreme dissatisfaction
by begging them not to employ such terms as they had used, accord-
ing to which, however, they seem quite resolved to support his interests,
and in the state in which they are, if the king gave them any satisfaction,
it is likely they will be able to derive some advantage, in which their
own interests led them, not less than the affection they have for their
king.
The Earls of Loudon, Lauderdale and Lanark are to leave to-morrow
for the Isle of Wight, where they will meet the Earl of Traquair, who
returned there in the beginning of last week, having only remained
twenty-four hours in this town. Although people are persuaded.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 357
according to all appearance, that the king will not grant the proposals,
yet all are anxiously awaiting his reply, believing they will be able to
judge thereby what may be expected to hsppen in the affairs of this
country. ]
CCXIX
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN.
Editnbourg, - Decembre l647.
Je joins a cette lettre celle que les Commissaires des Eglises
d'Ecosse ont ecrite aux ministres d'Angleterre, dont je me suis
contente de traduire le commencement, parce qu""!! m'a semble
que cette seule partie meritoit d^estre veue de V. Em*=% puisque
par la elle peut assez connoistre la bonne volonte qu'ont les
Presbyteriens pour le retablissement de leur roi, et que le reste
contient seulement une devote exhortation aux ministres Pres-
byteriens d'Angleterre a souffrir avec Constance les persecutions
qui menacent leur covenant et qu'ils peuvent difficilement eviter,
et a faire en sorte que s''ils ne peuvent obtenir que les choses
soient etablies selon leur intention, au moins celles qui ont
este deja etablies ne soient point changees. Cependant, Monsg',
lis se soucient si peu que les sentiments qu''ils ont pour leur
roi soient seus de tout le monde, qu''apres les avoir exprimes
sans necessite dans leur lettre, ils ont donne ordre qu'elle soit
imprimee, ainsi qu''elle le devoit estre aujourd'huy.
M"^ le Due de Hamilton m"'a envoye, il y a deux jours, un
gentilhomme pour me temoigner le ressentiment qu''il avoit des
bonnes volontes de V. Em*^®. II m"'a fait dire fort civilement
qu''encore qu'il eut resolu de ne pas venir de longtemps en
cette ville il y feroit toutefois un voyage, si il savoit que j'en
dusse partir avant Touverture du Parlement. J'ay dit par-
ticulierement a ce gentilhomme toutes les choses que j"'avois
representees auparavant a M"" le Comte de Crawford touchant
la levee d''un regiment, que je ne vois nulle apparence qu'il
puisse faire avant la terme du Parlement, quelques bonnes
intentions que son gentilhomme m'ait temoigne qu'il ait pour
cela.
Nous attendons ici avec impatience des nouvelles de ce
qu'aura fait le Comte de Traquair avec le roy de la G' B'
en qui le dit roi m''a temoigne autrefois quMl avoit toute sorte
MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [dec.
de confiance, comme il a souvent en ceux qui lui en ont donne
moins de sujet. On m'asseure que le dit Comte n'a aucune
commission publique, et quMl va seulement lui representer
les choses qui peuvent contenter pleinement les Ecossois, selon
les sentiments particuliers de ceux de ce pays, qui ont plus de
part aux affaires ou qui sont les plus afFectionnes a ses interets
et que ces choses sont les mesmes que les Ecossois ont toujours
desirees de lui, Tetablissement du Presbyteriat et Tapprobation
du covenant.
Le Marquis de Huntley doit estre conduit ici cette semaine.
My Lord Gordon son fils est mort, a ce qui se dit, d'une
dissenterie, de laquelle on Fa fait malade il y a longtemps. II
se peut faire toutefois qu'on public sa mort pour lui donner
moyen de vivre avec plus de surete dans ce royaume, ou d'en
pouvoir sortir avec moins de difficulte.
On devoit essayer aujourd'huy de faire sortir My Lord
Sinclair du Chateau d'Edimbourg au cas que ses amis se
trouvent les plus puissants dans le Comite. M. le Comte
d** Angus que je croyois avoir entierement resolu a approuver
ce quWoient fait ses capitaines, et a les encourager et assister
meme de tout son pouvoir, me temoigne toujours qu'il est
comme impossible qu'ils executent ce qu*'ils promettent, a
quoi ils auront sans doute presentement beau coup de diffi-
culte. Cependant apres lui avoir represente le disavantage
que ce lui seroit s'il se voyoit qu'il s'opposat aux bons
desseins de ses capitaines au lieu de les appuyer, il m'a promis
qu'il ne leur ecriroit par dela, ni ne leur diroit ici aucune
chose qui les put decourager.
L'ordinaire de Londres virit d'arriver presentement qui ne
m'a rien apporte de la Cour. Nous avons seu par lui que
le Comte de Traquair estoit revenu de Tlsle de Wight, et que
le roi de la G'' B*" s*'en estoit sauve, mais je n'ay peu encore ni
rien apprendre le particulier du voyage de ce Comte, ni avoir
des asseurances de la fuite de ce prince.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, " Dec. 1647.
I ENCLOSE copy of a letter which the Commission of the Church of
Scotland has addressed to the clergy of England, of which I have only
translated the beginning, as it seemed to me the only part worth your
164;] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 359
attention. By it you will see, tolerably well, the good-will the Presby-
terians have for the re-establishment of their king ; the remainder is
merely a devout exhortation to the Presbyterian clergy of England to
support with constancy the persecutions that threaten their Covenant,
which they cannot easily avoid, and to act so that if they cannot have
matters settled as they wish, they may at least retain unchanged what
has already been established. Yet they are so indifferent as to their
sentiments towards their king being known to every one, that after
having expressed them unnecessarily in their letter, they have given
order that it be printed, as is to be done to-day.
Tlie Duke of Hamilton sent to me two days ago a gentleman to
express to me the gratitude he felt for your good-will towards him.
He informed me very politely that although he had resolved not to come
to this town for some time, he would, however, make a journey here if
I were obliged to leave before the opening of Parliament. I told this
gentleman very minutely all that I had formerly stated to the Earl of
Crawford, regarding the raising of a regiment, which I see no likelihood
of his being able to do before the meeting of Parliament, whatever good
intentions his messenger may have declared him to have for it.
AV^e are anxiously awaiting news of what the Earl of Traquair has
done with the King of Great Britain, in whom the king told me formerly
he had the greatest confidence, as he often has for those who have given
him less cause for it. I am assured that the earl has no public commis-
sion, that he is simply going to point out the matters that could fully
satisfy the Scots, according to the peculiar sentiments of those of this
country who have most part in public affairs, or who are the most
attached to his interests, and that these matters are always the same
that the Scots have always desired from him, the establishment of
Presbyterianism and the sanction of this Covenant.
The Marquis of Huntly is to be brought here this week. Lord Gordon '
his son is dead, it is said, of dysentery from which he is said to have been
suffering for some time. It may be, however, that his death is declared
in order to give him a chance of living with greater security in this king-
dom, or to enable him to get out of it with less difficulty.
An attempt is to be made to-day to get Lord Sinclair out of the Castle
of Edinburgh, if his friends be able to command a majority in the com-
mittee. The Earl of Angus, whom I had thought to be quite decided on
approving what his captains had done and willing to encourage and
assist them even all in his power, still continues to tell me that it is
almost impossible for them to execute what they promise, in which they
will no doubt at present have much difficulty. Yet after having pointed
out to him the damage it would cause were he to oppose the good inten-
tions of his captains instead of supporting them, he promised me he would
not write to them of that nor say to those here anything that may dis-
courage them.
^ Lord Aboyne, eldest surviving son of the Marquis of Huntly, was eventually
obliged to escape to France, where he died in 1649.
360 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JAN.
The mail from London has just arrived, but it has brought me nothing
from Court. We have learned by it that the Earl of Traquair had
returned from the Isle of Wight, and that the King of Great Britain
had escaped, but I have not been able to learn the details as to the earl's
journey, nor any certainty of this prince's escape.]
ccxx
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, =-f^^^
II semble que les Ecossois voyent toujours de plus en plus
qu'^ils ne peuvent avoir de quartier des Independants, ni se
conserver que par leur ruine. Les ministres ne les appellent
plus que parjures, depuis quelques jours, et les plus violents
entre eux excitent les peuples a en aller jusques chez eux
prendre la vengeance que les plus moderes laissent a Dieu, et
tous ceux que j"'ay veu cette semaine ne m''ont entretenu que
de la pensee d'entrer en armes encore une fois en Angleterre,
de sorte que par ce qu'ils disent ici, aussi bien que par ce qu''ils
ecrivent a Londres, on auroit quelque lieu de croire qu'apres
avoir essaye inutilement les voies de douceur avec les Indepen-
dants, ils se pourroient enfin porter a prendre une genereuse
resolution et a agir en gens d"'honneur, jusqu''a ce qu'ils se
trouvent hors de danger, car en effet, c*'est tout ce que Ton
pent juger de plus a leur avantage.
Le Marquis de Huntley arriva en cette ville Vendredi
dernier, et on lui fit cette grace a la priere de ses amis, qu'en
Tobligeant d'aller a pied jusqu^^a la prison, on lui permit de se
couvrir. Le jour mesme qu'il arriva le S"" Will. Moray pria My
Lord Gray de me voir pour m'asseurer qu'il estoit veritable,
ainsy que Ton avoit publie, qu'on avoit pris diverses lettres en
arrestant le dit Marquis, et principalement une du roi de la
Gr' B^ portant creance au S"" Robert Leslay, qui en estoit
le porteur, avec un memoire que le Marquis avoit oblige
Robert Leslay de lui laisser pour son asseurance, par lequel
il lui commande de la part de Sa Majeste Britannique de
ne point quitter les armes, quelque chose que les Ecossois
aient oblige le dit roi de lui ecrire au contraire, et qu"'il
y avoit mesme quelque soup9on que j'avois eu connaissance de
cet envoi, et que la France avoit promis d'assister le dit
Marquis ; qu'il croyoit que j'avois deux choses a faire : Tune
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 361
de ne me point employer pour le dit Marquis, de peur d'aug-
menter les defiances que Ton avoit deja de moi ; et Tautre de
mettre les papiers que je pourrois avoir touchant cette affaire
en quelque lieu ou on ne les put trouver. Je priay my Lord
Gray de remercier le S"^ William Moray du soin quMl vouloit
prendre de mes interets, et je Tasseuray qui suivant son avis je
me gouvernerois de telle sorte en Taffaire du Marquis d'Huntley
que MM. les Ecossois n''auroient aucun sujet de se plaindre de
moi ; mais que pour ce qui estoit de mes papiers j*'en avois rien
du tout a craindre, n''ayant jamais eu aucun commerce de lettres
avec le Marquis d'Huntley ni aucune part dans ses affaires,
ainsi que je lui en donnois ma parole, et que j'avois creu mesme
utile au service du roi de la G' B% qui doit attendre du Pari'
d'Ecosse son retablissement ; mais que j 'avois meilleure opinion
que luy mesme de ceux de sa nation, et que quand j"'aurois vecu
d'autre sorte, et j'aurois toutes les lettres du Marquis d'Huntley
dans ma cassette, je croyois ceux qui gouvernent trop avises
pour penser qu'ils osassent se mettre en etat de violer le
droit des nations et d'offenser le roi mon maitre en voulant
voir mes papiers. V. Em*^^ pent juger par cet avis non seule-
ment de la sincerite avec laquelle agit avec moi le sieur Will.
Moray, qui m'envoye une personne de ma religion, attachee au
service de la France, et qui temoigne estre mon ami, pour avoir
pas ce moyen Teclaircessement de ses doutes, et me faire dire
ce qu'il a dessein de savoir, mais encore de la veritable affection
qu'il porte au roi son maitre, puisqu'il cherche par toute sorte
de moyens d'avancer la perte d''un de ses plus fideles serviteurs,
essayant d'arrester ceux qu'il croit pouvoir contribuer a le
sauver. Cependant, Mg% ce papier que Will. Moray m'a
voulu faire apprehendre pourroit donner a quelques autres de
plus veritable craintes, parce qu'il y a toute sorte d'apparence
que Robert Leslay, qui est une personne entierement dependante
du Due de Hamilton, n'auroit jamais ose porter cet ordre, s''il
n'en avoit eu de lui la permission. Quelques uns veulent
mesme que ce Due qui arriva ici il y a trois jours, et que
la fete de Noel et un rheume qu'il a eu, m''ont empesche
de voir, n''y est pas tant venu pour signer le contrat de mariage
de ses nieces, filles du Comte de Crawford, ou pour aider a
mettre my Lord S' Clair en liberte, que pour remedier a cette
362 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JAN.
affaire et pour voir si ce memoire qui n'a point encore este veu
jusqu'ici, et qui apparement est entre les mains du Marquis
d'Argyle, — ayant este pris par le Lieut.-Colonel de son regi-
ment,— pourroit estre supprime. Cependant quelque chose qui
se fasse de ce papier le roi de la G*" B"" en recevra toujours un
grand prejudice puisqu'il ne peut estre veu sans donner lieu
de croire que ce Prince n'a pas agi de bonne fois avec eux, et
qu'il ne peut demeurer secret qu''il ne reconcilie deux personnes
de la desunion desquelles le dit roi pouvoit tirer beaucoup
de profit.
Je ne puis m''empescher de dire avant que finir, a V. Em''®
que donnant Jeudi dernier a souper au Comte de Crawford et
a quelques autres seigneurs de son parti, et lui ayant porte la
sante du dit roi, il m'envoya dire par un gentilhomme qui lui
est fort confident, et qui le servoit k table, qu'il joignoit encore
la sante de tous ceux qui vouloient exposer leurs biens et leurs
vies pour son retablissement, comme il me juroit qu'il feroit
tres volontiers, — ce qu''il desiroit qui demurat entre nous.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, j-^~^.i_
The Scots seem to see more clearly day by day that they cannot come
to terms with the Independents, nor preserve themselves without destroy-
ing them. The clergy here, within the last few days, call them nothing but
perjurers, and the most violent among them excite the people to go and
find them in their country to take vengeance on them, which the more
moderate leave to God, and all those I have seen during this week have
spoken to me only of the idea of entering England once again in arms ; so
that from what they say here, as well as from what they write to London, one
would have reason to believe, that after having tried in vain conciliatory
means with the Independents, they may at length be led to adopt a valiant
resolution, and to act as men of honour until they free themselves from
danger ; this is how they may be judged to their best advantage.
The Marquis of Huntly arrived in this town on Friday last, and on the
request of his friends the favour was granted to him of having his head
covered, while he was obliged to walk to the prison. The same day he
came. Will. Moray begged Lord Gray to see me, in order to assure me
that what had been published was quite true, that in arresting the Marquis
of Huntly several letters had been taken possession of, and principally
one from the King of Great Britain bearing credence to Mr. Robert Leslie,
who had been the bearer of it, with a memorandum that the marquis had
obliged Robert Leslie to leave with him, for his security, by which he
commanded him on the part of his Britannic Majesty not to lay down
arms, whatever the Scots may have obliged the king to write to him
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 363
to the contrary, and that he had even some suspicion that I had know-
ledge of this message, and that France had promised to assist the marquis ;
that he believed I had two things to do, not to take any part in the defence
of the marquis, for fear of increasing the distrust that already existed
of me ; and the other, to put the papers I might have concerning this
matter in a place where they could not be found. I begged Lord Gray
to thank Mr. \Villiam Moray for the care he wanted to take of my
interests, and to assure him, that according to his advice, I shall conduct
myself in such a manner in the matter of the Marquis of Huntly, that the
Scots would have no cause to complain of me ; but that as for my papers,
I had nothing to fear, having never had any exchange of letters with the
Marquis of Huntly, nor any part in his affairs, as 1 gave him my word
of honour thereon, and that I had believed him to be useful to the service
of the King of Great Britain, who ought to expect his re-establishment
from the Parliament of Scotland, but that I had a better opinion than he
of those of his nation, and that even though I had acted differently and
had all the letters of the Marquis of Huntly in my strong-box, I believed
those who govern to be too cautious to think they might venture to
attempt to violate the law of nations, and offend the king, my master, in
requiring to see my papers. You may judge by this notice, not only of
the candour shown towards me by Mr. "SV'ill. Moray, who sends to me a
person of my religion attached to the service of his Majesty, and who pro-
fesses to be my friend, in order by this means to clear up his doubts, and
cause me to state what he has a design to know, but also of the real affec-
tion he bears to the king, his master, since he seeks by every possible
means to hasten the ruin of one of his most faithful followers, in trying
to prevent those that he believes might help in saving him. Yet this
paper, about which Will. IVIoray wished to make me apprehensive, may
cause more serious fears to others, because there is the greatest likeli-
hood that Robert Leslie, who is a person altogether depending on the
Duke of Hamilton, and who would not have ventured to carry this
order if he had not had permission from him to do it. Some people
even pretend that this duke, who arrived here tliree days ago, but
whom I have not yet seen, on account of the Christmas festivities, and a
cold he has had, was not so much induced to come here at present to sign
the marriage contracts of his nieces, the daughters of the Earl of Craw-
ford, or to aid in liberating Lord Sinclair, as in order to see if this memo-
randum, which has not yet been seen, but is apparently in the hands of
the Marquis of Argyle, having been seized by the Lieut. -Colonel of his
regiment, cannot be suppressed. ^\"hatever may become of the paper
there can be no doubt that it will cause much harm to the King of Great
Britain, since it cannot be seen without giving reason to believe that this
prince has not acted in good faith with them, and that it cannot be dis-
guised that he did not reconcile two persons on whose disunion this king
could derive much profit.
I cannot help adding before finishing that on Thursday last, in giving
a supper to the Earl of Crawford and a few other nobles of his party, and
364 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JAN.
having proposed to him the health of their king, he sent to tell me hy a
person who was serving at table who is much in his confidence, that he
joined also the health of all those who were prepared to expose their pro-
perty and their lives for his re-establishment, as he swore to me he would
do very willingly, which he wished might remain between ourselves.]
CCXXI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ~ Jan. l648.
BiEN que me donnant I'honneur d'ecrire il y a huit jours a
V. Em*'® les bonnes resolutions qu"*!! sembloit que les Ecossois
pourroient estre oblige de prendre par la necessite de leurs
affaires, je m'en sois exprime auec assez de retenue. Je crains
toutefois que le jugement que j'en ay fait n''ait este plus a leur
avantage que conforme a la verite ; car encore que M. le Due
de Hamilton m'ait asseure que non seulement on avoit approuve
ici ce que les Commissaires de ce royaume avoient fait a Londres
jusqu'a leur ecrire une lettre de remerciement, et qu'on leur
avoit ordonne de continuer a agir de la mesme sorte, ce que
nous avons appris qu^'ils avoient fait en Tlsle de Wight,
quand je me souviens qu'ils commencerent Fhiver dernier, par
de semblables protestations, celle malheureuse negociation qui
se termina par la deliverance de leur roi et pas le commence-
ment de la ruine de leurs affaires, et par laquelle, en se privant
de leur prince ils re<^urent un peu d'argent et se procurerent
beaucoup de honte, et que je vois qu'on ne donne aucun ordre
ici pour se mettre en etat d''obtenir par la force ce qu'il n'y
a point d'apparence qu''on accorde aux remonstrances qu''ils
viennent de faire, il me semble qu"'il n''y a que trop de sujet de
croire, ou quMls n'ont fait cette publique profession de vouloir
le retablissement de leur roy que pour voir s''ils pourroient le
porter a approuver le covenant et a etablir leur religion, ou a
faire en sorte que les Independants, qui apparemment ne
veulent point de querelle jusqu"'a ce que leurs affaires soient
entierement etablies, s"'accordent avec eux presentement et leur
donnent, s'il est possible une partie de Targent qui leur est
encore deu en Angleterre. Aussi, Monsg*", quand j'ay demande
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 365
a quelques uns de ceux qui ont plus de part au maniement des
affaires de ce royaume, ce que feroit TEcosse si les Anglois, —
ainsi qu'il y a beaucoup d''apparence, — persistoient a vouloir
les choses que les Ecossois ont declarees etre centre Thonneur
et la dignite de leur prince, et centre ce qui a este arrete dans
leur traites, ils m'ont faite entendre qu'ils se contenteroient
d'avoir represente les choses quails croyoient justes jusqu'a ce
que le roi de la G"" B' en leur accordent leurs desirs, leur eut
donne moyen de contraindre les Anglois a les observer.
Cependant, bien qu"'il soit assez difficile de connoistre les
desseins de ceux qui peuvent ou n^en avoir pas encore de bien
formes, ou en former de si peu honnetes qu''ils aient honte de
les declarer, et qui peuvent encore etre obliges d''alterer leurs
resolutions par la violence de leurs ennemis et par les haines et
les jalousies qui peuvent naitre chaque jour entre eux, et que
portent bien souvent les hommes hors de leurs veritables
interets, bien que toutes ces choses dis-je empechent de pou-
voir juger bien parti culierement ce que feront les Ecossois pour
leur roi en travaillant pour eux-memes, il semble qu''on puisse
asseurer que ce que le dit roi fera pour eux ne les portera pas
a faire pour lui davantage, et a agir differemment de ce quails
feroient sans cela, y ayaut tout sujet de croire que ce qu"'ils ne
feront pas pour leur propre salut, ils n"'auront garde de le
faire par la consideration d'un prince qu'ils croyent avoir
assez offense pour etre obliges de le hair, et de chercher leur
conservation par toute autre voie que par celle de son
retablissement.
J'ai veu M"" le Due de Hamilton, qui m'a parle avec de
grandes exagerations du zele qu''il conservera toute sa vie pour
les interets de la France, et particulierement encore pour le
service de V. Em^^, a laquelle il rend de tres humbles remercie-
ments de Thonneur qu'elle lui a fait de penser a ses interets, —
car ce sont a peu pres les termes dont il s'est servi en me
parlant ; et bien qu'il n'ait temoigne d'abord la grande
difficulte quMl y auroit de lever des hommes durant que les
affaires de ce royaume estoient si peu asseurees ; apres lui
avoir represente que cela pourroit donner lieu a V. Em^^ de
lui faire payer les arrerages de sa pension, et lui en avoir parle
bien affirmativement il m'a dit qu'il ne croyoit pas a la verite
366 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JAN.
qu'il lui fut impossible d*'envoyer en France douze ou quinze
cents hommes, en quelque etat que se trouvassent les affaires
de ce royaume, et que puisque c'estoit une chose que V. Em'=^
desiroit, il en parleroit a ses amis, afin de ne me pas donner de
vaines esperances, et de ne pas entreprendre quelque chose qui
demeurast sans effet. II nra promis que dans quatre ou cinq
jours il me rendra une reponse formelle, avant laquelle je ne
crois pas pouvoir donner a V. Em*'^ aucune esperance du succes
de cette affaire. Le dit Due m*'a dit encore qu'il estoit venu
en cette ville seulement pour celle du Marquis d'Huntley. Et,
en effet, sa presence etoit ici si necessaire pour faire differer le
jugement de son proces, — c''est a dire, comme tout le monde
croit encore, sa condamnation, — ^jusqu"'au prochain Parlement,
qu"'encore que ce Due n'ait ce semble rien oublie de tout ce
qu'il pouvoit faire pour cela, il ne Ta emporte que d'une voix
seulement. Les gendres et les filles du dit Marquis d'Huntley
ont desire de moi que je suppliasse V. Em*^^ que la France fit
quelque oflfice pour le salut de leur pere dont on se pent servir
a toute extremite.
Le papier par lequel le S' Robert Leslay a expose sa creance
au Marquis d'Huntley ne se trouve point aujourd''huy, bien
que j'aie seu de bonne part qu'il a este mis par le dit Marquis
entre les mains du Lieut. -Col. Menzies du regiment du Marquis
d'Argyle, ce qui donneroit lieu de croire que le Due de Hamil-
ton et ce Marquis ne sont pas encore aujourd'huy en fort
mauvaise intelligence. II pent se faire toutefois qu'ayant eu
Tun et Tautre mesme interet a la ruine du Marquis d'Huntley
ils aient travaille d'abord de concert, Tun en lui faisant prendre
les armes, afin que Tautre le pent chasser de ses terres, et
qu'ainsi le Marquis d'Argyle ait este oblige de detourner ce
billet, autant pour son interet propre que par la consideration
de celui du Due de Hamilton, de sorte que la suppression de
cet ecrit ne prouveroit pas qu'il y eut entre eux pour cela
presentement une parfaite intelligence. Le Due de Hamilton
en m'en parlant dit assez adroitement, qu''on vouloit qu'il fut
fort interesse dans ce papier, qu''on pretendoit qui avoit este
donne par une personne tres attache a ses interets, mais ceux
qui connaissoient aussi bien que moi Robert Leslay savoient
quMl etoit si grand serviteur du roi de la G'' B'' que non seule-
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 367
ment centre la volonte de lui Due de Hamilton, mais encore
contra les ordres du dit roi, il auroit dit au Marquis d'Huntley
de demeurer arme, s''il avoit creu que cela dut etre plus
expedient pour la service de la dite Majeste.
II m'a dit encore qu'il avoit empeche que Ton ne lut dans
la Comite davantage que les trois premieres lignes de la com-
mission que le roi de la G"" B"" avoit donne au Marquis d'Huntley,
que ceux du parti d"'Argyle vouloient faire lire toute entiere,
parce qu'elle est con^ue en termes fort injurieux a ce Parle-
ment, et qu''elle pouvoit servir a aigrir ces peuples contre leur
roi. Entre les lettres qui ont este prises il y avoit une de la
reine de la G' B' a ce Marquis, qui a este lue, et dans laquelle
il ne s''est rien trouve de fort important ni qui lui pent porter
prejudice.
My Lord S* Clair que David Leslay avoit fait mettre au
chateau de cette ville, a manque d'une voix seulement pour en
sortir, de sorte qu'il sera oblige d'y demeurer jusqu'au prochain
Parlement.
Post Scriptum. — Le S"^ Will. Moray m''est venu dire presente-
ment que les choses se vont porter sans doute a une rupture
entre les deux nations ; que les Anglois font filler des hommes
dans les places de cette frontiere ou ils ont des garnisons (ce
que je n''ay encore eu que de lui), et qu''il ne tient plus qu''au
roi de la G'' B"" a remettre ses affaires en donnant satisfaction
a ce royaume, Quelques autres personnes me sont presque
venu dire la meme chose, mais cela ne me porte point a sortir
des sentiments que j'ay pris la hardiesse de temoigne presente-
ment a V. Em*^®.
Le Due de Hamilton me vient d^envoyer la declaration que
les Commissaires d"'Ecosse ont faite au roi de la G"" B*" sur le
sujet des propositions ; et bien que je n''ai pas le temps de la
traduire, et que je ne doute point qu'elle n'ait este deja
envoyee a V. Em*'®, M""^ les Ecossois ayant interet de la faire
voir, j'ay creu que je ne pouvois manquer de la joindre a cette
lettre en la maniere qu'elle m'a este donnee.
My Lord Mortington, frere de M' le Marquis de Douglas,
m''est venu temoigner le ressentiment qu'il a de Thonneur que
V. Em'^® lui a fait en la personne de M. son fils. II en rend
de plus particuliers remereiements a V. Em*'® par une lettre
qu''il lui ecrit sur ce sujet.
368 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [jan.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, -^ Jan. 1648.
Although in writing to you eight days ago of the good resolutions it
seemed the Scots would be obliged to take, by the urgency of their aifairs,
I expressed myself with considerable reserve, I fear, however, that the
judgment I came to may have been more to their advantage than strictly
according to truth ; for, although the Duke of Hamilton may have
assured me that they had not only approved here what the Commissioners
of this kingdom in London had done, so far as to write to them a letter
of thanks, and that they had ordered them to continue to act in the same
manner as we have learned they had done in the Isle of Wight, ^fhen I
remember the singular protestations by which they began last winter that
unfortunate negotiation that ended by their giving up their king, from
which dates the ruin of their affairs, and by which, in separating them-
selves from their prince, they received a little money and procured much
shame for themselves, and that I see no order given here to prepare for
obtaining by force what there is no likelihood of being granted to them
on the remonstrances they have just made, it appears to me there is but
too much reason to fear that they have made this public profession of
wishing the re- establishment of their king, but to see if they would be
able to induce him to sanction the Covenant and establish their religion,
or to endeavour that the Independents, who evidently do not wish to
quarrel until they have quite settled their affairs, agree with them at pre-
sent by giving them, if it be possible, a part of the money that is still
owing to them in England. Thus when I have asked some of those who
have the principal part in the direction of the public affairs of this king-
dom what they would do in the event of the English persisting — as it is
very likely they will — in wishing the things the Scots have declared to be
contrary to the honour and the dignity of their prince, and contrary to
what has been agreed upon in their treaties, they have led me to under-
stand that they would be contented by having represented what they
believed to be just, until the King of Great Britain, in granting them
their wishes, may have given them the means to compel the English to
observe them. Yet, although it is somewhat difficult to learn the designs
of those who may either have none distinctly formed, or, if formed, so
little honest that they are ashamed to avow them, and who may also be
obliged to change their resolutions by the violence of their enemies and
the aversions and jealousies that may spring up each day among them, and
which often lead men away from their real interests, although all these
things prevent one from being able to judge very intimately what the
Scots will do for their king, in working for themselves, it seems one may
be certain that what their king will do for them will not induce them to
do more for him, or to act differently from what they would do without
that, there being every reason to believe that what they will not do for
their own safety, they will take care not to do through any consideration
for a prince whom they believe they have so offended as to be obliged to
hate him, and to seek their safety by any other way than by his re-estab-
lishment.
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 369
I have seen the Duke of Hamilton, who spoke to me with much exag-
geration of the zeal he will all his life retain for the interests of France,
and particularly for the service of your Eminence, to whom he returns
his very humble thanks for the honour done to him by your attentions to
his interests, — these are the exact terms he used in speaking to me, —
and although he expressed to me at first the great difficulty there would
be of raising men while the affairs of the kingdom were so uncertain, after
having indicated to him that this would give you an opportunity of paying
the arrears of his annuity, and having spoken to him of this very affirma-
tively according to your orders, he told me he did not believe it to be in
fact impossible to send twelve or fifteen hundred men to France, in what-
ever state the aifairs of this kingdom might be, and that since it was a
thing you wished, he would speak of it to his friends, so as not to raise
vain hopes, and not to undertake anything that might remain without
result. He promised to give me a formal reply in four or five days, before
which time, I believe, I cannot give you any hope of the success of this
affair. The duke told me also that he had come to town merely for the
case of the Marquis of Huntly. And, in fact, his presence was so neces-
sary here to delay the marquis's process, or, as every one still thinks,
his condemnation, till the next Parliament, that although the duke, who
is not likely to have omitted anything that could help towards that pur-
pose, only carried his proposal by one vote. The sons-in-law and
daughters of the Marquis of Huntly have wished me to solicit from you
that France may interfere on behalf of their father, by an application that
would only be employed at the last extremity.
The paper by which Mr. Robert Leslie notified his credence to the
marquis is not to be found at present, although I know on very good
authority that it was given by this marquis to Lieut. -Colonel Menzies of
the Marquis of Argyle's regiment, which would give reason to believe
that the Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle are not even now
on the worst of terms. It may happen, however, that both of them
having a mutual interest in ruining the Marquis of Huntly from having at
first acted in concert, the one inducing him to take arms so that the others
might be able to drive him oiF his property, and that thus the Marquis of
x\rgyle may have been obliged to suppress the paper, as much for his own
interest as in consideration of that of the Duke of Hamilton ; so that the
suppression of this writing would not prove that there was on that account
a perfect understanding between them at present. The Duke of Hamil-
ton in speaking to me about it said, somewhat adroitly, that it was pre-
tended that he was much interested in this paper that was said to have
been given by a person much attached to his interests, but that those who
knew Robert Leslie as well as I did, knew that he was so devoted a follower
of the King of Great Britain, that, not only in opposition to his, the
Duke of Hamilton's, will, but even contrary to the king's order, he would
have told the Marquis of Huntly to remain under arms, if he had thought
that it would have been more expedient for his Majesty's service.
VOL. II. 2 a
370 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [jan.
He told me also that he had prevented the reading before the com-
mittee of more than the first three lines of the commission that the King
of Great Britain had given to the Marquis of Huntly, which those of the
Argyle party wished to have read altogether because it was drawn up in
terms very insulting for this Parliament and that it might serve to dis-
affect the people against their king. Among the letters that have been
seized there was one from the Queen of Great Britain to this marquis,
which was read, in which there was nothing important that could cause
her any harm.
Lord Sinclair, whom David Leslie had caused to be put in confinement
in the castle of this town, failed by one vote only in getting out, so that
he will be obliged to remain there till Parliament meets.
Post Scriptum. — Mr. Will. Moray has just come to tell me at present
that matters seem to indicate a rupture between the two nations, that
the English are filing oiF men into the fortified place on the borders
where they have garrisons — which I have only yet heard from him — and
that it only remains for the King of Great Britain to arrange his affairs
by giving satisfaction to this kingdom. Some other persons have come
to tell me the same thing, but that does not make me change my opinion
which I have ventured to express to you.
The Duke of Hamilton has just sent me the declaration that the
Scottish Commissioners have presented to the King of Great Britain on
the subject of the proposals, and although I have not had time to trans-
late it and as I do not doubt but that it has been sent to you — the Scots
having interest in showing it — I thought I could add it to this letter in
the manner I received it.
Lord Mordington,^ brother of the Marquis of Douglas, has come to
express his gratitude to you for the honour you have paid him in the
person of his son.]
CCXXII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhotirg, — Jatwier 1647-8.
J* AY tant employe de temps au dechiffrement des lettres que
j'ay receues aujourd''huy de la Cour, et qui m'ont este rendues
assez tard, qu"*!! ne m''en reste pas assez pour y repondre par
cat ordinaire, par lequel je me donneray seulemerit Thonneur
de faire savoir a V. Em*'^ que le S"^ Robert Leslay, qui est
venu de Londres depuis deux jours, m'a asseure ce matin, avec
obligation de n'en rien temoigner ici, que le roi de la G"" B' et
les Ecossois estoient entierement d'accord, et que je verrois
dans peu de jours, la guerre declaree entre les deux nations,
^ James Douglas, created Earl of Mordington in 1641.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 371
que le S' Moray m''a dit la meme chose, mais avec moins de
certitude, quelques jours auparavant, et que ce que Tun et
Tautre m''ont dit en grand secret, se publie ce soir hautement
en Edimbourg.
Cependant, Monsg"^, quand j''ajouterois plus de creance que
je ne fais aux bruits du peuple qui sont partout incertains,
mais ici toujours contraire a la verite, et au temoignage de
deux personnes, dont la premiere peut avoir este mal informee ;
et la seconde peut avoir un dessein de m'informer mal, et quand
je ne saurois pas que les Ecossois ne peuvent resoudre la guerre
avant que leur Parlement soit assemble, je douterois encore
bien fort qu'ils se puissent porter a prendre les armes contre
TAngleterre auant que de se voir reduits a la derniere necessite
de le faire. Mais je doute encore plus, quelque chose qu'ils
fassent, que le roi de la G"* B' en puisse tirer aucun avantage,
si les choses succedent selon leurs desirs, puisqu'en demeurant
fermes a se vouloir priver de Tassistance quMls pourroient
recevoir en Angleterre de ceux du parti des Eveques, ils font
assez voir qu^'ils n'apporteront pas moins de soin pour empecher
que les affaires de leur roi se remettent que pour avancer la
mine de celle des Independants, de sorte qu'il semble toujours
qu'il ne peut etre desavantageux au roi de la G' B' non plus
qu''a la France de les laisser agir librement sans s'interesser en
leur querelle, et que ce prince ne pourroit, sans se faire un
extreme prejudice, accorder aux Ecossois ce qu'*ils demandent
touchant le Presbyteriat et le covenant, non seulement parce
qu'il perdroit tout le parti des Eveques, qui est veritablement
attache a ses interets, pour gaigner les Presbyteriens, de I'amitie
desquels il peut difficilement s'asseurer, mais encore parce que
les Ecossois ne s''etant montre affectionnes a son service que
depuis qu'ils sont dans la mauvaise fortune, il doit craindre
qu"'ils ne cessent de paraitre fideles aussitot qu"'ils commence-
ront d''etre heureux.
Au reste, Monsg', je crois que V. Em''® n'ajoutera pas plus
de foi aux bruits de ville ni aux avis que j'ay eu de personnes
assez suspectes, touchant ce qui a este resolu dans ces affaires,
qu''a ce que j''en ay appris de M' le Due de Hamilton, qui m''a
remis a Tarrivee du Comte de Lanark, c'est a dire a quatre ou
cinq jours au plus, pour avoir reponse de la proposition que
372 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JAN.
je lui avois faite touchant la levee d\m regiment, parce que
les Commissaires d'Ecosse qui sont a Londres avoient remis a
faire savoir par lui toutes choses, et qu'ils ne pouvoient
s'asseurer avant cela s'il y devoit avoir paix ou guerre entre
les deux nations.. Le dit S"^ Due m''a dit encore qu'il croyoit
que tous leurs Commissaires reviendroient bientot d'Angleterre,
— qu'encore qu'on ne pent resoudre de faire la guerre avant la
terme du Parlement, le Comite pouvoit toutefois faire com-
mencer a lever les hommes, et qu'ainsi nous saurons dans fort
peu de jours a quoi les affaires se porteroient, — qu'il savoit
que beaucoup de personnes d'honneur le seconderoient dans le
dessein qu**!! avoit de faire que le royaume prit une genereuse
resolution pour la liberte et pour le retablissement de son roi,
et que comme ils auroient a faire a des ennemis puissants, ils
auroient besoin de toutes leurs forces, et encore des assistances
de leurs amis, et particulierement de la France. A quoi
ayant fait reponse en termes assez generaux, et selon ce qui
m'a este ordonne, il me dit que peutetre dans quelques jours
il m'obligeroit a lui donner une reponse, non pas plus obligeante
que celle que je lui fasois, mais un peu plus particuliere.
My Lord S* Clair est enfin sorti du Chateau d'Edimbourg
pour pouvoir avoir moyen de se guerir a une legere indisposi-
tion, qui a este la cause ou le pretexte de la grace qu'on
lui a faite, a condition toutefois d^avoir sa chambre pour
prison.
Le Comte de Kalender est de retour d'Angleterre. On a
dit que le Due de Lenox venoit ici seulement sur ce qu''il a
offert au Marquis d"'Huntley de se trouver au prochain Parle-
ment sMl y pouvoit etre utile a ses interets ; mais le Marquis
d'Huntley a creu que la presence de ce Due pourroit choquer
celui de Hamilton et qu'ainsi elle lui apporteroit moins
d'avantage que de prejudice.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazabin, Edinburgh, "^ Jan. 1648.
I HAVE spent so much time in deciphering the letters I have received
from Court to-day, which were delivered somewhat late^ that I have not
enough left in order to reply to them by this mail. I shall therefore
merely mention at present that Robert Leslie, who arrived from London
two days ago, has assured me on promise of my not mentioning it here
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 373
that the Scots were quite agreed with their king, and that I would see
war declared between the two nations in a few days. Mr. Moray had told
me the same, but with less certitude, a few days ago, and what they both
confided to me as a great secret is announced loudly in Edinburgh this
evening. Yet even although I were more disposed to give credit to
popular rumours than I am — as they are everywhere uncertain, but
here always contrary to the truth — and to the testimony of two persons,
of which the first may have been incorrectly informed and the second
may have some purpose in view in misinforming me, and even though I
did not know that the Scots cannot decide on war before the meeting of
their Parliament, I should still doubt very much that they would be
led to take arms against England, before being reduced by the direct
necessity to do it. But I doubt still more, whatever they may do, that
the King of Great Britain will be able to derive any advantage from it,
if matters succeed with them as they wish ; since from their being firmly
resolved to deprive themselves of the assistance they might receive in
England from those of the bishops' party, they make it clearly evident
they will be no less careful to prevent the affairs of their king from being
settled, as they will to hasten the ruin of those of the Independents, so
that it still seems that it cannot be disadvantageous for the King of
Great Britain, no more than for France, to let them act as they like
without taking any interest in their quarrel, and that this prince could
not, without acting greatly to his own prejudice, grant to the Scots what
they demand from him regarding Presbji;erianism and the Covenant, not
only because he would thereby lose all the bishop's party, which is truly
devoted to his interests, in order to gain over the Presbyterians, on
whose friendship he can scarcely count, but also because the Scots
having only shown themselves well disposed towards his service since
they have become unfortunate, he ought to fear they may not cease to be
faithful as soon as they begin again to be fortunate. Besides, 1 believe you
will place as little trust in these rumours of the town and in the infor-
mation I have had from such suspicious persons, regarding what has
been decided on in these matters, as you will do in what I have learned
about it from the Duke of Hamilton, who has deferred his reply to my
proposal made to him about raising a regiment until the arrival of the
Earl of Lanark, that is to say for four or five days at the latest, because the
Scottish Commissioners in Loudon had intrusted the earl with informing
them of everything, so that previously they could not be certain whether
there was to be peace or war between the two nations. The duke told
me also that he believed all their commissioners would soon return from
England, that although war cannot be declared before the meeting of
Parliament, the committee could, however, begin to raise the men, and
thus we shall know in a very few days how matters would turn ; that he
knew many persons of honour would second him in the intention he had
to make this kingdom adopt a magnanimous resolution in favour of the
liberty and the restoration of his king ; and that as they would have to do
with powerful enemies they would require all their forces and also the
374 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JAN.
assistance of their friends and particularly that of France. Upon which
having given a reply in somewhat general terms, and according to my
orders, he told me that perhaps in some days he would ask me to give
him a reply, not more obliging than the one I had given him, but a little
more precise.
Lord Sinclair has at last got out of the Castle of Edinburgh, so as to
have the means of being cured of a slight indisposition, which was the
pretext of this favour granted to him, on condition, however, of having
his room for prison.
The Earl of Callander has returned from England. It was said that
the Duke of Lennox was coming here, but on his making offer to the
Marquis of Huntly to come to the next Parliament were he able there
to be useful in his interest, the marquis thought the presence of this
duke might give umbrage to the Duke of Hamilton and thus bring him
more harm than good.]
CCXXIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, ^ Janvier l64S.
CoMME je n'ay point receu de lettres par le courrier de
Londres qui vient d''arriver, et que le marchand, sous le nom
duquel elles me viennent, apprehende qu"'elles n''aient este inter-
ceptees, je feray celle-ci plus courte qu^a Tordinaire, afin qu'elle
puisse etre mieux chifFree que mes precedentes.
J'ay fait s^avoir au Marquis d"'Huntley les soins que vouloient
prendre leurs Majestes pour sa conservation, et les particulieres
obligations qu'il en avoit a V. Em*'®, a laquelle il m'a fait
temoigner qu'il rendoit de tres humbles remerciements, car il
a trouve a propos, avec beaucoup de raison, que je ne le visse
pas encore, mais il a envoye un homme vers My Lord Drum-
mond, Tun de ses gendres, afin qu'il vienne promptement en
cette ville et que nous puissions voir ensemble ce qu'il sera a
propos de faire pour ses interets, dans lesquels j'ageray en la
maniere qu'il a pleu a V. Em**® de me prescrire. Je pense
toutefois qu'il y aura un petit mot a changer en la lettre de
Sa Majeste qui m'a este envoyee, dans laquelle je crois qu'il
sera bon d'eviter a parler du sujet de son emprisonnement afin
de ne pas s'obliger ou a approuver les actions de ce Parlement,
ou k dire quelque chose qui puisse offenser ceux de qui depend
aujourd'huy le salut ou la perte du dit Marquis, contre lequel
1648] MOxXTEREUL TO MAZARIN 375
les ministres parlent dans leurs chaires en des termes si in-
jurieux qu'ils donnent beaucoup de sujet decraindre Tevenement
de son affaire.
II se dit toujours ici, comme de coutume, qu**!! y aura guerre
entre les deux nations, mais j''ay toujours le meme sujet d'en
douter que j'avois auparavant. II est toutefois bien difficile
de juger asseurement de ce qui en peut arriver, avant le retour
des Commissaires d'Ecosse qui sont a Londres, et peutetre
meme avant la tenue de ce Parlement.
Le Comte de Traquair qui vient presentement d'Angleterre
m'a remis a Tarrivee des dits Commissaires pour savoir quelle
sorte de satisfaction le roi de la G*" B' avoit donnee aux
Ecossois, et m'a dit seulement qu'il trouvoit que ces gens qui
m"'avoient asseure tant de fois a Newcastle, qu'il suffiroit que
leur roi approuvat le covenant pour les porter a exposer leur
vie pour ses interets, le vouloient aujourd'huy obliger a le
signer avant de faire aucune chose pour son service, — ce qui
me donne quelque sujet de croire que le roi de la G'' B"" pourroit
avoir approuve le dit Covenant, et Tavoir approuve inutilement.
Et en effet, Monsg'', quelques honnetes declarations que
viennent de publier les Ecossois, je ne les trouve pas seulement
eloignes de vouloir penser au retablissement de leur roi, mais
ils m'ont encore donne lieu de reconnoistre qu''ils ont eu peu de
nouvelles, depuis le commencement de la guerre qui leur aient
este plus agreables que celles de Timprisonnement de leur roi,
et que si quelque chose les a affliges en cela, c'est que les
Presbyteriens Anglois n"'aient pas fait avec eux ce qui vient
d'etre execute par les Independants. Le dit Comte de
Traquair m'a dit encore quMl trouvoit le Due de Hamilton
et le IVIarquis d"'Argyle tres unis pour le service de leur roi,
mais il apprehendoit que les ministres n''empechassent Teffet
des bon desseins qu'ils pouvoient avoir Tun et Tautre. Le
Comte de Lanark n'est pas encore arrive, et avant son retour
le Due de Hamilton me dit qu"'il ne peut donner une reponse
asseuree sur la proposition que je lui ay faite de lever un
regiment.
Les marchands de cette ville ra"'ont fait quelques plaintes
sur ce que Ton avoit taxe comme etranger un nomme Ogilvy,
Ecossois, demeurant a Orleans, a la somme de huit cents livres.
376 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JAN.
II seroit a desirer qu"*©!! ne le contreignit point au payement
de cette somme apres ce que V. Em°® a eu agreable que je
promisse ici de sa part ; mais il seroit bien raisonable aussi
que cela servit de quelque chose pour faciliter les levees.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazabin. Edinburgh, ^ •^«'^' 1648.
As I have received no letters by the London mail which has just
arrived, and as the merchant in whose name they are addressed fears
they may have been intercepted, I shall make this one shorter than
usual.
I acquainted the Marquis of Huntly with the care their Majesties were
disposed to take for his preservation and the special obligations he was
under to you, and he sent to express to me in return his very humble
thanks to you, for he very properly thinks it better for me not to see
him yet, but he has sent a man to Lord Drummond,^ one of his sons-in-law,
to tell him to come promptly to this town, so that he and I shall be able to
see each other and consult together as to what will be best to do for his
interests, in which I shall act in the manner you have been pleased to
prescribe. 1 think, however, there will be a small word to change
in the letter of his Majesty that has been sent to me, in which I believe
it were better not to mention the subject of imprisonment so as not to be
obliged either to approve the actions of this Parliament, or to say any-
thing that might oifend those on whom the safety or the loss of this
marquis depends, against whom the clergy in their pulpits speak in such
insulting terms as to give much reason to fear the end of this aiFair.
It is still said here, according to custom, that there will be war
between the two nations, but I have always the same reason to doubt it
as I previously had. It is, however, very difficult to judge with certainty
what may happen before the return of the Scottish Commissioners in
London, and perhaps even before the meeting of Parliament.
The Earl of Traquair, who has just come from London, has referred me
to the arrival of the commissioners in order to learn what manner of
satisfaction the King of Great Britain had given to the Scots. He only
mentioned to me that he found those people who had assured me so
many times at Newcastle that it would suffice that their king might
sanction the Covenant in order to induce them to expose their lives for
his interests, wished now to oblige him to sign it before doing anything
for his service, which gives me some reason to think that the King of
Great Britain may have sanctioned the Covenant and sanctioned it use-
lessly. And in fact whatever honest declarations the Scots may just
have published, I not only find them averse to the re-establishment of
their king, but they have given me reason to remark that they have had
no news since the beginning of the war that was more agreeable to
^ James Drummond, 3rd Earl of Perth, married to Lady Anne Gordon,
daughter of the Marquis of Huntly.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 377
them than that of his imprisonment, and if they had any regret therein
it was that the English Presbyterians had not done with them what
the Independents have just accomplished, llie Earl of Traquair told
me also that he found the Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of
Argyle very united in the king's service, but he feared the clergy
would prevent the result of the good intentions they might both have.
The Earl of Lanark has not yet arrived and before his arrival the
Duke of Hamilton tells me he cannot give any definite reply on the
proposal I made to him to raise a regiment.
The merchants of this town have complained to me that a Scotsman
named Ogilvy, residing at Orleans, had been taxed as a foreigner for
eight hundred livres. It would be desirable not to enforce payment of
this sum, after what I have promised here on your part, but it would be
reasonable also that this help somewhat in facilitating the levies.]
CCXXIV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^\p^lur l648.
J' AY beaucoup de sujet de croire que j'ecris cette lettre
inutilement, et que le paquet qui partira d'ici par cette
ordinaire suivra la fortune des deux derniers qui m'ont este
envoyes de Londres, dont le premier s'est perdu et le second
m"'a este rendu ouvert, sans lettres de la Cour, ni le billet en
chiffre que accompagne depuis quelque temps la lettre de M.
TAmbassadeur d'Angleterre, et les lettres de mes amis decache-
tees, a la reserve d^une qui m'a este rendue bien conditionnee,
fort heureusement pour moi, puisqu'elle etoit du pere Talon,
Jesuite, qu^il m"'ecrivit pour me remercier de la part de son
general du peu de service que j'ay essaye de rendre ici a ceux
de son ordre, et qu'il s'exprimoit en des termes assez ouverts
pour m'apporter beaucoup de prejudice si elle eut este lue, et
pour en causer davantage a tous les Jesuites qui vivent ici.
My Lord Drummond, gendre du Marquis d'Huntley, est
arrive. tTay commence par lui faire voir la lettre de cachet
que Mons. le Comte de Brienne m'a envoye, ce que j''ay creu
devoir faire parce qu'il m"'a semble qu''il ne seroit pas bon
d''attendre a en faire venir une autre, s*'il y avoit quelque chose
a changer en celle-ci quand on auroit besoin de s"'en servir, et
que j'ay creu qu''il etoit a propos en une affaire de telle import-
378 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [feb.
ance, de suivre les sentiments de ceux qui y avoient le principal
interet plustot que les miens. Je mande ceci a V. Em°® afin
qu'elle ne trouve pas mauvais qu^apres avoir eu ordre de M. le
Comte de Brienne de ne me servir de la dite lettre qu'au cas
qu'elle puisse etre employee utilement, je Pay fait voir d'abord
a ceux qui desereront que je m''en serve principalement quand
ils verront leurs affaires en pire etat, et qu'il y aura moins
d'apparence qu"'elle puisse leur etre utile. Aussi, Monsg"",
prendray-je la hardiesse de supplier tres humblement V. Em°^
que j"'aie la liberte de m''en servir, puisqu''outre que je ne vois
pas qu'il soit de si grand prejudice a Sa Majeste d'avoir fait
des offires qui n''ayant rien peu sur des peuples qui n''ecoutent
que leur interet et leur passion, comme d''avoir laisse perir une
personne attachee a son service, sans avoir fait aucun effort
pour le secourir; je trouve encore qu'il sera tres difficile de
savoir asseurement s''ils feront mourir, ou s*'ils conserveront
le dit Marquis, avant qu''il ait eu son arret de mort ou d'ab-
solution, de sorte, Monsg', que j"'eviterois difficilement d'etre
blame de V. Em'=®, ou des amis du Marquis d'Huntley, — de
vous, Monsg'', si je faisois ces offices sans effet; des autres si
je manquois de les faire, — puisqu'lls se persuaderoient toujours
que je ne les aurois pas faits inutilement.
Le Baron de Drummond, apres avoir eu de moi la copie de
la lettre de Sa Majeste pour la faire voir a son beau-pere, a
desire que je trouvasse bon qu'il la communiquat au Due de
Hamilton, entre les mains duquel il me fait connaitre que le
Marquis d'Huntley avoit entierement remis la conduite de ses
affaires. Le dit Baron de Drummond me dit quelques heures
apres, qu'il avoit fait voir la lettre de Sa Majeste au Due de
Hamilton, qui me viendroit trouver le jour suivant, et que le
Marquis son beau-pere desiroit que je voulusse suivre ses avis,
non seulement en ce qui touchoit la dite lettre, mais pour ce
qui regardoit les offices que j'avois a faire pour ses interets.
Le Due de Hamilton me vint voir hier matin, et apres
m'avoir temoigne qu'il trouvoit a propos que la lettre fut
ecrite en la maniere que je Tenvoye a M. le Comte de Brienne;
et m'avoir donne lieu de juger par le soin qu'il prend de cette
affaire, que son interet se trouve joint a celui du Marquis
d'Huntley, et qu'il est oblige de faire paraitre au moins qu'il
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 379
le veut sauver, car je n'ose pas me promettre de lui davantage,
il tomba sur le sujet des affaires publiques, et me dit qu'il
avoit difFere a me voir jusqu''a ce qu'il eut quelque reponse
formelle a me donner touchant la proposition que je lui avois
faite pour la levee d''un nouveau regiment, mais que c''estoit
une chose tout-a-fait impossible, puisque apparament les
choses se porteroient a une rupture avec TAngleterre ; qu'en-
core que Cheyslay, secretaire de leurs deputes, n'eut rien dit
en public de ce que leur roi avoit fait pour leur donner satis-
faction, et qu'il eut ordre de n''en rien dire, en termes formels,
a qui que ce fut, jusqu'au retour de leurs Commissaires, il lui
en avoit assez decouvert pour lui faire entendre que le roi de
la G"" B"" avoit approuve leur covenant en telle maniere qu'il
leur donneroit lieu de prendre les armes pour sa defense, et
qu'il estoit temps que la France pensat a assister ses anciens
amis, et que je leur en fisse savoir les bonnes nouvelles. Je
lui dis que Ton y considereroit toujours beaucoup, de choses
qui y seroient proposees de sa part, et que j"'ecrirois avec beau-
coup de soin toutes celles qu'il desireroit y faire savoir. II
me fit encore entendre que comme il seroit necessaire qu'ils
entreprissent d"'abord quelque chose de considerable, il faudroit
aussi qu'ils missent la conduite de leur armee entre les mains de
personnes plus considerable que ceux que la commandoient a
present. Ce sont les principales choses que m"'a dit le S"" Due
qui est parti ce matin pour aller a Hamilton.
Le Sieur Cheyslay, secretaire des deputes d'Ecosse a Londres,
rendit compte Vendredi dernier a ce Comite, des aiFaires
d'Angleterre, et bien que les choses qu'il fit savoir ici doivent
estre publiques il y a longtemps en Angleterre, j'ay creu que
V. Em*^^ n''auroit pas desagreable que je lui envoyasse un abrege
tres exact de ce qu'il a dit, non seulement parce que le secret
avec lequel on garde cette relation m'a fait croire qu'elle
pouvoit estre de quelque importance, mais encore parce que
Pair dont on Ta oblige de representer les choses, et ce qu'il
peut avoir ou ajoute ou diminue aux choses qui se sont passees,
donnera lieu a V. Em°^, qui sait exactement ce qui se fait en
Angleterre, de connoistre les intentions de ceux qui le font
parler.
V. Em''® verra aussi par les premieres demandes que ces gens
380 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [FEB.
d"'honneur ont faites aux Anglois, au retour de Plsle de Wight,
que le grand zele qu'ils ont temoigne avoir pour la retablisse-
ment de leur roi, ne leur a pas ote tout-a-fait la pensee de leurs
interets, et qu'ils eussent volon tiers laisse ce Prince prisonnier
pourvu que les Independants leur eussent voulu deliverer cent
mil livres sterling qu''ils ont demande, et je doute encore bien
fort que le refus qu'on a fait de leur donner cet presentement ;
la satisfaction que leur roi leur a donnee, et la crainte qu'ils
ont de Tarmee des Independants, les puisse porter a prendre
une genereuse resolution ; et je crois toujours qu'il ne tiendra
pas aux Ecossois que les deux nations ne s'accommodent, quoi-
qu'il ne se parle ici que d'entrer en armes en Augleterre.
Aussi M' le Comte de Crawford que j'ay veu ce matin, apres
m"'avoir dit qu'il estoit temps de voir quelles assistances ils
pouvoient attendre de la France, et m'avoir temoigne que
contre ce qu''il avoit creu d'abord, ils auroient besoin d'armes
et de quelque argent, il m'a fait connoistre que les chefs du
parti d"'Argyle parloient fort mollement quand il se proposoit
quelque chose dans le Comite qui pouvoit contribuer a une
rupture avec TAngleterre, et m'a asseure que quelques uns
avoient dit que c'estoit une chose a laquelle ils ne se pouvoient
porter trop lentement.
J'oubliois a dire a V. Em*^^ que M' le Due de Hamilton m'a
temoigne que la lettre de Sa Majeste ne me pouvoit estre
envoyee avec trop de diligence, et que comme apparement les
lettres passeront tous les jours avec plus de difficulte par TAng-
leterre, et que je desire, il y a longtemps, avoir pres de moi
mon jeune frere, et un tres humble serviteur de V, Em*'^ j'ay
supplie M' le Comte de Brienne de me vouloir envoyer un
double de la dite lettre par Tordinaire, et de vouloir donner
Tautre a mon frere, afin qu'il me Tapporte, sans passer par
TAngleterre, ce que je ne doute pas qu''il ne puisse faire en
cette saison avec plus de diligence que Pordinaire.
[MoNTEREUL to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^j-^: ^^^^
I have much reason to believe that I am writing this letter uselessly, and
that the parcel to be sent from here by this mail will have the same fate
as the two last that were sent from London for me, of which the first was
lost and the second was delivered to me quite open without the letters
from Court or the ciphered note that for some time past has been added.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 381
The letter of the Ambassador in England and the letters of my friends
were unsealed, with the exception of one which was delivered to me intact,
very luckily for me, seeing it was from Father Talon, Jesuit, who wrote
to thank me on the part of the general of his order, for some small
service I had tried to render here to some of his order and who ex-
pressed himself in somewhat plain terms, that would have brought me
much harm had it been read, and would have caused more to all the
Jesuits who reside here.
Lord Drummond, son-in-law to the Marquis of Huntly, has arrived.
I began by showing him the letter under his Majesty's signet that the
Count de Brienne has sent me, which I thought right to do, because it
seemed not to be prudent to wait until one might require to use it before
having another brought here, if there were anything to change in this
one, and that I thought proper in an affair of such importance to be
guided by the sentiments of those who had most interest in it, rather
than by my own. I mention this to you so that you may not disapprove,
that after having had order from Count de Brienne not to make use of
the letter in question but in the case that it could be employed to some
purpose, I have showed it at first to those who will wish me to make use
of it mainly when they will see their affairs at the worst and when their
will be less likelihood that it may be useful to them. I shall thus venture
to beg you that I may have the liberty of making a less restricted use of
it, since besides that I do not see it would cause so great prejudice to his
Majesty to have made offers that might be of no avail with people who
are only influenced by their interests or their passions, as it would do
to leave a person attached to his service to perish, without making any
effort to help him, I find also that it will be very difficult to know, with
certainty, whether they will put the marquis to death or acquit him, before
the judgment of death or acquittal may be pronounced, so that I shall
find it difficult to avoid being blamed, either by you or by the ft-iends of
the Marquis of Huntly, — by you if I employ these offices without effect,
by the others if I fail to do so, since they would always persuade
themselves that I would not have done so uselessly.
Lord Drummond, after having had from me a copy of his Majesty's
letter, in order to show it to his father-in-law, wished me to agree to his
showing it to the Duke of Hamilton, into whose hands he informed me
the Marquis of Huntly had confided the entire management of his
affairs. A few hours after Lord Drummond told me that he had shown
his Majesty's letter to the Duke of Hamilton, who would come to see me
about it on the following day, and that the marquis his father-in-law
wished me to follow his advice, not only as regards this letter but in all
that concerned the offices I had to employ for his interest.
The Duke of Hamilton came to see me yesterday morning, and
stated to me that he thought it better that the letter be written in
the manner I send it to Count de Brienne, and gave me reason to
judge from the care he is taking of this matter that his interest is
engaged in it conjointly with that of the Marquis of Huntly and that
382 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [fee.
he is obliged to make it seem at least that he wishes to save him, for I
do not venture to expect more. Entering on public matters he told me
he had deferred seeing me until he could have a formal reply to give me
regarding the proposal I had made to him to raise a new regiment, but
that it was a thing altogether impossible, since apparently matters were
tending towards a rupture with England, and although Cheisley,'^ the
secretary of their commission in London, had not yet stated anything in
public of what their king had done to give them satisfaction, having had
formal orders not to do so to any person whatever, until the arrival of
their Commissioners, he had said enough to enable him to understand
that the King of Great Britain had sanctioned their Co\'enant in such a
manner that it would give them cause to take arms in his defence, and
that it was time that Fi*ance should think of assisting her old friends, and
that I might let people then know the good news. I told him that every-
thing proposed on his part would always be considered with much
attention, and that I would write very carefully all he might wish me to
make known. He led me also to understand that as it would be necessary
for them to undertake something important at first, it would be also
requisite to place the command of their army into the hands of more
important persons than those who commanded it at present. These are
the principal things told me by the duke, who left for Hamilton this
morning.
Sir John Cheisley, secretary to the Scottish Commission in London,
gave on Friday last before the Committee of Estates an account of the
state of aflFairs in England, and although the things he made known here
must have been published long ago in England, 1 thought it would not
be disagreeable to you to have a very exact abridgment of what he said,
not only on account of the secrecy employed about this statement, which
has led me to think that there might be something of importance
connected with it, but also because the manner in which one is obliged
to represent things and what may be either added or retrenched
regarding past events will enable you who know exactly what is going
on in England to learn the intentions of those whose mouthpiece he is.
You will see also from the first demands those honourable people made
to the English on their return from the Isle of Wight, that the great
zeal they have shown for the restoration of their king did cause them
quite to overlook their own interest, and that they would willingly have
left their prince prisoner provided the Independents had consented to
give them a hundred thousand pounds sterling, which they asked ; and
I still doubt very much that the refusal they have received as to the
payment of that money at present, the satisfaction their king has given
them, and the fear they have of the army of the Independents can induce
them to take a bold resolution ; and I still believe that it will not be the
fault of the Scots if the two nations do not agree, although nothing is
talked of here but entering England in arms. The Earl of Crawford
* Sir John Cheisley.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 383
also, whom I saw this morning, after having told me it was time to see
what help they could expect from France, and having stated to me that
contrary to what he had at first thought they would require arms and some
money, he informed me that the leaders of the Argyle party spoke very
supinely when anything was proposed in the committee meetings that
might lead to a rupture with England, and he assured me some of them
had said it was a step towards which they could not proceed too slowly.
I forgot to tell you that the Duke of Hamilton mentioned to me that
the letter of his Majesty could not be sent too promptly, and as the letters
apparently will pass each day with more difficulty through England and
that I have wished for some time to have my younger brother with me
who is your very humble servant, I have begged Count de Brienne to
send me a copy of the letter in question by the mail and to give the
other to my brother so that he may bring it to me without jiassing
through England, which I do not doubt but that he will be able to do in
this season more quickly than it could come by mail.]
ccxxv
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edvnboura;, — Fevrier 1 648.
C II
Les Commissaires d''Ecosse ne doivent arriver ici qu'a la fin
de cette semaine, et Ton m'asseure que quelque chose qui m'ait
este dite, touchant la satisfaction que le roi de la G"" B"" leur a
donnee sur le sujet du covenant, on n'en peut savoir le parti-
culier qu'apres leur retour en cette ville, mais ce que Ton en
peut juger avant leur arrivee est, que quelque chose qu"'ait peu
faire leur roi pour les obliger, ils se porteront bien difficilement
a faire aucune chose pour le servir. Car ce grand zele que
le Due de Hamilton temoigne avoir pour les interets du roi de
la G' B'', — et ce qui auroit peu deja, s'il avoit este bien
veritable, ou retablir ce Prince en Ecosse ou y miner le dit
Due, — est traverse chaque jour par les harangues des ministres
qui disent hautement, que Dieu est assez puissant de luy-
meme pour punir les Independants, sans avoir besoin de I'as-
sistance des hommes, et qu''il voudroit mieux souffrir les injures
qu'ils ont deja receues des Anglois et les malheurs qui peuvent
encore les menacer que de se servir de Tassistance de ceux
du parti de leur roi pour se venger des Independants ou pour
s''en defendre.
De sorte qu"'il y a beaucoup d"'apparence que non seulement
384 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [feb.
les Ecossois ne prendront pas les amies pour la conservation et
pour le retablissement de leur roi, mais qu'ils s'en serviront
meme avec peine pour s''opposer a leur ennemis et pour se
conserver eux-memes, et que le Due de Hamilton et peut-estre
encore le Marquis d'Argyle, agiront avec tant d''adresse en
cette rencontre, que se servant des ministres pour s^opposer aux
propositions qu"'ils ne desirent pas qui aient d'effet, ils feront
paroistre qu'ils ont eu de bonnes intentions et tascheront que
le roi de la &"■ B' leur soit oblige du bien qu'ils se seront
contentes de lui vouloir faire.
Cependant les Ecossois tireront divers avantages de cette
demonstration qu'ils auront faite de vouloir assister leur roi, et
prendre querelle avec les Independants, puisque non seulement
cela leur servira pour demeurer armes, — ce qu'ils n'auroient peu
faire sans une raison bien pressante, — mais que leur donnant
encore lieu d'entrer dans les secrets de tous ceux qui ont suivi
le parti du roi de la G"^ B', solt en Ecosse, soit en Angleterre,
et de connoistre leurs intentions et leurs forces, aussi bien que
celles des couronnes, ils pourront s'en mieux garantier que s'ils
les avoient ignorees, et tirer meme quelque recompense de ce
qu'ils auront appris quand ils le voudront faire savoir aux
Independants, car quelques aigreurs qui semblent estre entre
ces deux partis, comme elles sont fondees principalement sur
les differences de leur religion qui ne leur sert que de pretexte ;
ils tomberont d'accord aisement quand ils considereront I'in-
teret qu'ils ont a la ruine de la Monarchic, qui est la veritable
fin pour laquelle ils ont pris les armes les uns et les autres, et
qui est desiree de tous deux egalement.
Je me suis peut-etre trop avance, en voulant prevoir des
choses qui ne sont pas encore arrivees, et qui peuvent meme
ne pas arriver ; mais comme j'ay seu de fort bonne part que les
Commissaires d'Ecosse entretiennent une etroite correspondance
avec les Anglois qui ont servi le roi de la G"" B"" par I'esperance
qu'ils leur donnent que leurs interets se pourront unir, et que
je trouve ici qu'ils n'ont aucune intention veritable, ni d'assister
leur roi ni de secourir ni meme employer ses serviteurs, et que
d'ailleurs j'ay beaucoup de sujet de croire qu'ils n'entretiennent
ce commerce avec eux que pour achever de les perdre, j'ay
pense estre oblige d'en toucher un mot a V. Era*'^ afin que
i647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 385
si elle le trouve a propos, elle fasse avertir la reine de la G*" B""
que les serviteurs du roy son mari ne se doivent decouvrir
ni fier aux Ecossois que de bonne sorte.
Les officiers d' Angus viennent d'arriver. Je leur ay fait voir
ce que V. Em*=® m'a fait Thonneur de m"'ecrire par sa lettre du
24 Janvier, pour les obliger a travailler avec plus de diligence,
ce qui leur a donne une grande satisfaction, et les portera sans
doute a bien faire. Cependant comme ils sont dix ou onze, et
qu'on n"'a remis ici que cinq mil escus, je supplie V. Em*^®
d'avoir agreable qu'on m^envoye encore autant le plustost qu'il
sera possible, enfin que le defaut d'argent ne se joigne pas aux
autres difflcultes qui se pourront rencontrer en faisant les dites
levees, mais comme j'ose asseurer V. Em*^® que nous n'oublierons
rien de toutes les choses qui pourront contribuer a les faciliter,
je crois estre oblige de luy dire que je prevois qu'il s'y ren-
contrera tant d''obstacles, qu'elle ne doit point du tout compter
sur les hommes qui pourront venir d'ici cette campagne, car
bien que les Ecossois puissent ne se pas haster d'entrer en
Angleterre et d''attaquer les Independants, ils ne laisseront pas
de se mettre en etat de se defendre, de sorte que non seulement
il n'y a pas lieu d''esperer qu'ils donnent une permission ouverte
d'emmener des hommes de ce Royaume, mais qu'il y auroit
tout sujet de craindre qu'ils n'empechassent mesme de passer
en France ceux qu''on auroit leves, sans Tinteret qu'*ils ont de ne
pas deplaire a Sa Majeste et de se conserver les bonnes graces
de V. Em*=^. Les Capitaines de M. le Comte d'Angus ont
trouve a propos que nous attendissions le ^ de ce mois avant
que commencer, parce que c'est le jour auquel se doit tenir le
grand comite, et ou Ton pourra decouvrir quel train prendront
les affaires de ce Royaume.
Je continuerai a user de la retenue que V. Em*'® m'a ordonnee
par celle qu'elle m'a fait Thonneur de m'ecrire du 24 du mois
passe, toutes les fois que Ton me parlera ou des assistances que
ce royaume pourra recevoir de la France, ou de la venue du
Prince de Galles en Ecosse, qui sont des choses dont on m'en-
tretient fort souvent, mais en sorte que je puis aisement garder
le temperament qui m'a este prescrit, puisqu''on n'en vient pas
dans le particulier, et qu''il semble que ce qui m"'en a este dit
jusqu''ici soit plustost pour me faire croire qu'on veut entre-
VOL. II. 2 b
386 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [feb.
prendre quelque chose pour le roi de la G"" B"" que parce qu'on
ait besoin veritablement du secours de la France, ou qu'on
espere de pouvoir avoir le Prince, — tant cette proposition est
eloig-nee de toute sorte de raison.
Will. Moray parle maintenant d'aller en France, et s'est
laisse entendre qu''il y va principalement pour faire venir ici le
dit Prince.
Le Marquis d'Argyle a este voir la semaine passee David
Leslay. On parle de longues assemblies qui se sont tenuees en
sa maison, ou ont assiste les Barons de Balmerino, de Belcarras,
et quelques autres de leur faction, et dans lesquelles on veut
quMl ait este propose que Tarmee d'Ecosse imiteroit celle
d'Angleterre, et que les Presbyteriens suivroient le gouvernement
des Independants, a quoi ils ont trouve quelque difficulte.
On attend les Commissaires d'Angleterre peu de jours apres
le retour de ceux d'Ecosse.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, /, Feb. 1648
The Scottish Commissioners from London will only arrive here at the
end of this week, and 1 am assured whatever may have been done
regarding the satisfaction that the King of Great Britain has given them
on the subject of the Covenant, nothing can be known of the particulai's
of it until after their return to this town, but what may be judged of it
before their arrival, is that whatever their king may have been able to
do in order to oblige them, they will be induced with much difficulty to
do anything to serve him. For this great zeal that the Duke of Hamilton
manifests in the interests of the King of Great Britain, — which had it been
real would have already restored that prince in Scotland or ruined the
Duke there, — is opposed each day by the harangues of the clergy, who say
loudly that God is powerful enough of Himself to punish the Independents,
without requiring help from man, and that it is better to bear the insults
they have already received from the English, and the misfortunes that
may yet threaten them, than to profit by the assistance of those of their
King's party in order to avenge themselves on the Independents, or in
order to defend themselves from them. So that there is much likelihood,
not only that the Scots will not take arms for the preservation and the
restoration of their king, but that they will even do so with difficulty
in order to oppose their enemies and preserve themselves, and that the
Duke of Hamilton, and perhaps also the Marquis of Argyle, will act with
so much dexterity in this circumstance, that making use of the clergy in
order to oppose the proposals they do not wish to have any result, they
will make it appear that they had good intentions, and will strive to make
the King of Great Britain obliged to them for the good they will have
contented themselves in wishing to do for him.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 387
However, the Scots will derive several advantages from this demonstra-
tion that they will have made to wish to assist their king and pick a
quarrel with the Independents, since it will not only enable them to
remain armed, which they would not have been able to do without a
very urgent reason, but it will also give them the means of entering into
the secrets of all those who have served their king whether in Scotland
or in England and of learning their intentions and their forces, as well
as those of the powers against which they will be better able to guarantee
themselves than had they ignored them, and it will even enable the Scots
to obtain some reward from what they have learned when it will suit them
to communicate it to the Independents, for whatever of bitterness seems
to be between these two parties, as they were principally founded on the
differences of their religion, which but serves them as a pretext, they wiU
easily come to an agreement, when they consider the interest they have
in the ruin of the monarchy, which is the real object for which they have
both taken arms, and which is equally desired by them both.
I have perhaps gone a little too far in wishing to foresee matters that
have not yet happened and may not take place, but as I have learned on
very good authority that the Scottish commissioners keep up a close
correspondence with the English followers of the King of Great Britain
through the hope they hold out to them that they might combine, and
when I find here they have no real intention, neither of assisting their
king, nor of helping or even of employing his followers, and that besides
I have much reason to believe that they keep up this intercourse with
them but in order to effect their complete ruin, I have thought myself
obliged to mention the matter to you so that you may, if you judge proper,
inform the Queen of Great Britain that the followers of the king her
husband ought not to declare themselves or trust much to the Scots.
The officers of Angus have just arrived. I have shown them what you
wrote to me in your letter of the 24th ult., in order to induce them to
work with more diligence, which gave them much satisfaction, and will
no doubt cause them to do well.
However, as they are ten or eleven, and but five thousand crowns have
been sent here, I beg you to send me again as much more, as soon as
possible, so that the want of money may not be added to the other diffi-
culties that are to be met with in making the levies ; but as I venture to
assure you that we will omit nothing that will possibly in any way con-
tribute to facilitate them, I believe myself obliged to say that I foresee
so many obstacles to be met with, that you ought not to count at all on
the men to be had from here during this campaign ; for although the
Scots may not hasten to invade England and attack the Independents,
yet they will not fail to put themselves in a state of defence, so that not
only is there no reason to hope that they will give an open permission to
take men from this kingdom, but there would be every reason to fear
that they might even prevent those who had been raised from going to
France, were it not for the interest they have not to displease his Majesty
and to retain your good-will. The captains of the Earl of Angus con-
388 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [fee.
sider it better for us not to begin until the ^^ of tliis month as this is the
day the Committee of Estates is to meet, when it will be seen what turn
the affairs of this kingdom will take.
I shall continue to practise the reserve you order me, in your letter of
the 24th ult., to have whenever 1 am spoken to about the assistance this
kingdom might receive from France, or about the Prince of Wales
coming to Scotland, which are matters very often mentioned to me, but
it will not be difficult for me to maintain the temper you indicate as they
never enter into particulars about them, and it seems that what has been
said thereupon till now was more in order to make me believe that they
wished to undertake something for the King of Great Britain than
because they really required help from France or that they hoped to
obtain the prince, this last proposal being so remote from any sort of
reason.
Will. Moray speaks now of going to F'rance and leads people to under-
stand he is going principally to bring the prince here.
The Marquis of Argyle went last week to see David Leslie. People
speak of long meetings held in his house, at which Lords Balmerino,
Belcarras and some others of their faction were present, wherein it was
proposed that the army of Scotland should imitate that of England, and
that the Presbyterians should follow the direction of the Independents,
which they found to be attended with some difficulty. Commissioners
from England are expected here in a few days after the return of those
of Scotland,
CCXXVI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, -z Fevrier l648.
Le Comte de Lanark arriva Dimanche dernier a Hamilton
ou le Due son frere Tattendoit, et ou le Comte de Crawford et
quelques autres de ce parti Tont rencontre. Le Chancelier, le
Comte de Lauderdale, et les autres Commissaires, sont arrives
seulement aujourd"'huy en eette ville, ou la grande assemblee
qui se devoit tenir ce mesme jour a este remise a Jeudi ^
de ce mois. Ceux qui ont accompagne les dits Commissaires
ne doutent pas que sur ce qu'ils ont a representer, — soit touch-
ant les esperances que leur donnent les Anglois Presbyteriens, et
ceux qui desirent le retablissement de leur roi ; soit touchant
les justes craintes qu'ils doivent avoir des Independants, — toute
TEcosse ne s"'unisse pour attaquer ceux qui les reduiroient dans
peu de temps a la necessite de se defend re.
Cependant, Monsg', quelques professions qu'ils fassent de
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 389
vouloir assister leur roi, et quelque necessite qu'ils aient mesme
de le faire ; quand je me souviens que la part des Commissaires
d'Ecosse qui sont a Londres a toujours este, non seulement de
faire esperer, mais encore de promettre tout ce que le roi de la
Gr' B' pouvoit desirer, et celle de ceux qui sont ici de ne rien
tenir de ce que promettent leurs deputes ; et que je considere
que non seulement les desirs, mais encore les interets des
Ecossois se trouvent joints a ceux des Royaumes, et qu'ils
veulent, les uns et les autres, la ruine d''un Prince quails croyent
tous deux avoir assez offense pour ne s''en pouvoir jamais
asseurer, je doute qu'ils entreprennent aucune chose pour son
service. Mais quand j''ajoute a ses considerations qu"'un de
leur Commissaires a receu, comme Ton m"'a dit, quelque argent,
avant que partir de Londres, et que ceux que les Anglois
envoient ici doivent oft'rir une plus grande somme, la connois-
sance que j''ay que les Ecossois quoi que vaillants, se savent
mal defendre, quand on les attaque avec de semblables armes,
ne me laisse pas lieu de douter qu'ils ne s''accordent encore
presentement avec les Anglois, au prejudice de leur prince,
quelques declarations qu'ils aient faites, et quelque resolution
que leurs commissaires disent qu*'on doit prendre a son avan-
tage.
Le Chev' Henry Guibbe, Ecossois, qui est parti de Londres
un jour avant les Commissaires de son pays, me vient de dire
que le roi de la G' B"" avoit donne toute sorte de satisfaction a
leurs Deputes quoi qu"'il ne sut pas en particulier jusqu''ou elle
se pouvoit etendre. II m'a confirme ce qui m'avoit este dit,
que leurs Commissaires venoient non seulement avec une
veritable intention de porter les choses a la guerre, mais avec
beaucoup d^esperance que leur avis seroit suivi ; et comme c^est
une personne qui dans un age assez avance, n''a pas quelque fois
toute la retenue qui seroit a desirer, il m'a demande assez
brusquement, si le Prince de Galles estoit parti de France, et
quand il arriveroit ici, suivant ce qui avoit este concerte entre
la reine de la G"^ B"" et leurs deputes ; et bien que le dit Chev*"
Guibbe puisse ne pas mWoir dit cela seulement hors de propos,
mais encore avec bien peu de fondement, comme on ne laisse
pas de se troubler en voyant un precipice, encore que ce soit
d"'un lieu asseure, la grandeur de celui ou s'^exposeroit ce Prince.
390 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [feb.
en venant en ce royaume, m^a fait craindre mesme une chose
que je pense bien qui ne doit pas arriver. Les Commissaires
d'Angleterre, qui doivent venir en Ecosse, les premiers n''etoient
pas encore ce matin en cette ville. Comme on dit a Londres
qu"'ils viennent donner de Targent ici, on dit ici quMls viennent
seulement donner des esperances, et decouvrir plustost ce qui
s'y fait qu"'y faire aucune chose qui puisse estre a Tavantage de
cette nation.
Les ministres de cette ville, ayant commence il y a deux
mois a poursuivre le peu de Catholiques qui restent ici, en les
excommuniant, en prenant leur bien, et en les obligeant apres
a sortir de ce royaume, se sont avises de representer Jeudi
dernier, au Conseil, que j'avois un Pretre chez moi ; que Ton
disoit tous les jours la messe en mon logis ; et que plusieurs
Catholiques du pays la venoient entendre. lis ont prie l6
Conseil de prendre ceci en leur consideration, sans declarer
encore ce qu'ils eussent desire qui eut este fait. Sur cette
affaire quelques seigneurs qui s'y sont trouves m''ont dit ceci,
comme une chose de peu d'importance, et a laquelle ils n'avoient
pas juge qu'ils dussent faire de reponse, ni que je deusse faire
de reflexion, mais comme je connois la haine que les ministres
portent a notre religion, et le regret qu'ils ont qu'il se dise tous
les jour la messe dans une ville ou Ton m"*asseure qu'il y avoit
plus de dix ans qu"'il ne s"'en etoit dit une seule, et ou depuis
pres d'un demi siecle, il n'y a point eu d^'exercise libre de notre
religion ; je ne doute point qu'ils ne portent Taffaire plus
avant, et qu'ils ne trouvent des superstitieux et des complaisants
qui s''accommodent a leurs intentions. J"'ay done pense que
j'etois oblige d'en donner avis a V. Em**^, et qu''encore que je
ne dusse pas leur faire croire que cela peut aller plus avant, je
devois pourtant temoigner a ceux qui m'en parlent que j'avois
quelque ressentiment de la hardiesse que leurs ministres avoient
prise, et leur faire connoistre qu''il etoit honteux que les
Ecossois, les anciens allies et les fideles amis de la France,
troublassent un resident de Sa Majeste dans Texercise de sa
religion, qui en pourroit faire une profession libre et publique
s''il etoit parmi les Turcs ; et qu'il etoit injuste que durant
que les regiments Ecossois qui sont en France avoient leur
ministres, on mit en question si je devois avoir un Pretre qui
164S] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 391
etoit de ma nation. Cependant, Monsg"", je puis asseurer
V. Em°® que, bien que j''ay essaye de faire ce qui a este en
moi, non seulement pour assister le peu d"'ecclesiastiques et de
Catholiques qui sont ici, mais encore pour les recevoir chez
moi, ou j''ai eu presque tout Tete, et ou j'ai encore a present le
pere Robe, Jesuite, que Ton poursuivoit il y a quelque temps,
et qui sans cela eut difficilement evite d''estre pris, je me suis
toutefois conduit avec tant de retenue, — a quoi a servi beau-
coup la discretion des Catholiques, que la rigueur dont on use
envers eux rend plus prudents que ceux • d'Angleterre, — que
hors les dits Catholiques Ecossais et mes domestiques, personne
n'a peu dire jusqu''ici qu"'aucun d''eux se soit retire chez moi
ait entendu la messe ou commune en ma chapelle. lis doivent
ce soir tenir conseil et je ne doute point que les ministres n''y
parlent encore de cette aifaire, mais ce sera si tard que Tordi-
naire sera parti avant que je puisse savoir ce qui y aura este
faite. Comme Tassemblee qui doit se tenir Jeudi prochain,
nous donnera plus de lumiere de la possibilite des levees que
nous n''en pouvons avoir aujourd'huy, je remets a rendre compte
a V. Em^® par le premier ordinaire de ce qui s'en pent esperer.
Je ne laisse pas toujours de voir si le Marquis de Douglas et
le Major-Gen. Middleton peuvent estre disposes a faire passer
en France, chacun une compagnie. Tun pour son fils et Tautre
pour son frere, mais je crains toujours soit que I'Ecosse fasse
la guerre a TAngleterre soit qu"'elle demeure en paix, il ne soit
bien difficile d'avoir des hommes d''ici pour cette compagne.
Au reste, Monsg"", j'ay differe autant qu'il m'a este possible
a importuner V. Em''® de mes petits interets, mais comme il y
a bien pres de deux ans que je n''ay rien touche du tout de mes
appointements ; que j''ay prete au roi de la G"" B*", et employe
par son ordre et pour son service, une somme assez considerable
pour moi, de laquelle j''ay tire un mot de sa main ; et qu'ainsi
que le sieur du Bosc pourra faire voir a V. Em''®, j"'ay depense
une bonne partie de ce que j"'avois pour subsister ici avec le
plus d''honneur qu"'il m"'a este possible, je suis oblige d''avoir
aujourd'huy recours a V. Em''® suivant ce qu'il lui a pleu me
commander au dernier voyage que je fis en Fiance, pour la
supplier tres humblement de donner ordre que je resolve pre-
sentement mes appointements pour le dernier semestre de
392 MONTEllEUL TO MAZARIN [FEB.
Tannee 46, et d'avoir encore agreable de joindre quelque utilite a
I'honneur qu'elle me fit la mesme annee en me faisant accorder
un brevet de Conseiller d'Etat, J'espere que V. Em*'® aura la
bonte de m'accorder une priere qui est accompagnee de tant
de justice ; et comme j'attends a la derniere extremite pour
lui demander ce qui m'est necessaire pour pouvoir subsister
ici, elle ne permettra pas que je le lui demande inutilement,
ni que je souffre du prejudice de ma longue retenue et que
je sois plus mal paye parce que je ne me suis pas beaucoup
importune.'
[MoNTEREUii to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, -^ Feb. 1648.
The Earl of Lanark arrived on Saturday last at Hamilton, where his
brother the duke was awaiting him, and where the Earl of Crawford and
some others of this party met him. The Chancellor, the Earl of Lauder-
dale and the other Commissioners only arrived in this town to-day, where
the meeting of the Committee of Estates, which was to be held this same
day, has been postponed till Thursday -^ of this month. Those who have
accompanied the Commissioners have no doubt as to what they will have
to say, either regarding the hopes the English Presbyterians give them
and those who wish the restoration of their king, or as to the just fears
they ought to have of the Independents, unless all Scotland unite in
order to attack them, which would oblige them in a short time to defend
themselves.
Yet whatever professions they make of wishing to assist their king, and
whatever necessity they may even be under to do it, when I remember
that the part of the Scottish Commissioners in London has always been,
not only to lead one to hope, but even to promise all that the King of
Great Britain could wish and that of those who are here to hold to
nothing of what their Commissioners had promised ; and when I consider
that not only the wishes but also the interests of the Scots are at one
with those of the other kingdoms and that all combined wish the ruin of
a prince to whom both kingdoms believe they have given such cause of
offence as never to be able to be certain of him, I doubt that they will
engage in anything to serve him. But when I add to these considerations
that one of their commissioners has received, as I am told, some money
before leaving London and that those whom the English are sending here
are to offer a much larger sum, the knowledge I have that the Scots,
although valiant, do not know well how to defend themselves when
attacked with such arms, still give me reason to doubt that they may not
yet agree with the English to the prejudice of their prince in spite of the
declarations they have made and notwithstanding the resolutions their
commissioners say they ought to take for his advantage.
Sir Henry Gibbie, a Scotsman who left London a day before the
Commissioners of his country, has just told me that the King of Great
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 393
Britain had given every satisfaction to their Commissioners, although he
did not know how far these concessions went ; that their Commissioners
had returned, not only with a real intention of carrying matters to a
war, but with much hope that their recommendation would be adopted ;
and my informant being a person advanced in years, as such have not
always the discretion that might be desired, asked me somewhat abruptly
if the Prince of Wales had left France and when he would arrive here,
according to the arrangement made between the Queen of Great Britain
and their Commissioners ; and although Sir Henry Gibbie may have said
this to me not only inconsiderately, but without having much ground
for doing so, yet as one cannot but feel startled in seeing a precipice,
although knowing it to be in a secure place, the magnitude of this one,
to which the prince would expose himself by coming into this kingdom,
made me even to fear a thing which I must hope is not to happen. The
first of the English Commissioners who are coming here had not yet
arrived in this town this morning. As it is said in London that they are
coming here to give money, it is said here that they are but coming to
give hopes and to find out rather what is going on here than to do
anything for the advantage of this nation.
The clergy of this town having begun two months ago to persecute
the few Catholics that remain here, by excommunicating them, taking
their property and obliging them afterwards to quit the kingdom, have be-
thought them of representing to the Council on Thursday last, that I
had a priest in my house who said Mass there every day and that several
Catholics of tlie country had come to hear it. They have begged the
council to take this into their consideration without declaring further
what they would wish to be done. Some of the nobles who were present
at the council meeting told me of this matter as being of little importance
and to which they had not judged it necessary to make any reply, nor that
ought, as they said, to cost me a thought, but as I know the hatred the
clergy bear to our religion, and how they regret that Mass is said daily
in a town in which, I am assured, a single one had not been said for more
than ten years, and where the free exercise of our religion has not
existed for almost half a century, I do not doubt but that they will carry
this affair further and that they may find superstitious and time-serving
persons to comply with their designs. I therefore thought necessary to
give you notice of it, and although I did not wish to make them believe
that it may go further, I was however obliged to express to those who
told me of it, that I was displeased at the liberty their clergy had taken,
and to lead them to understand that it was shameful that the Scots, the
old allies and the firm friends of France, should trouble a Resident of
his Majesty in the exercise of his religion who might make a free public
profession of it were he among the Turks, and that it was unjust while
the Scottish regiments in France had their own clergymen to call in
<luestion my right to have a priest of my nation. Yet I can assure you,
although I have tried to do what I could, not only to assist the few
ecclesiastics and Catholics who are here, but also to receive them into
394 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [feb.
my house^ where I have had some almost all the summer, and where I
still have Father llobe^ Jesuit, who was pursued some time ago and who
would otherwise have had difficulty in avoiding being taken prisoner,
I have, however, always conducted myself with so much discretion,—
being much influenced in this by the discretion of the Catholics which
the rigour employed towards them has rendered more prudent than those
of England, — that beyond these Scottish Catholics and my domestics no
one can say till now that they have come to my house and heard Mass
or received the Sacrament in my chapel. They are to hold a meeting of
council this evening, and I do not doubt but that the clergy will speak
there of this affair, but it will be so late that the mail will have gone
before I can know what will have been done. As the meeting to be
held on Thursday next will throw more light on the possibility of the
levies than we can have to-day, I delay till next mail to give you an
account of it. I still continue to see if the Marquis of Douglas and the
Major-General Middleton might not be disposed to send each a company
to France, the former for his son and the latter for his brother ; but I still
fear that whether Scotland may make war on England, or that she remain
in peace, it will be very difficult to have men from here for this campaign.
I have delayed as long as possible before troubling you about my
private affairs, but as it is almost two years since I received any pay ;
that I lent to the King of Great Britain and employed by his order, and
for his service, a somewhat considerable sum for me, for which I have
his note of hand ; and as M. du Bosc could show you I have spent the
best part of what I had for my maintenance here in the most honourable
manner I could, I am obliged at present to have recourse to you, in
accordance with what you were pleased to command me, on my last
journey to France, to beg you to give order that I receive at present my
salary for the last six months of 1646 : you will thus add some utility to
the honour you did me that same year, in granting me a brevet of State
Counsellor. I hope you will have the kindness to grant my request,
which is made with such justice, and as I have waited till the last ex-
tremity to ask what is necessary for my maintenance here you will not
allow me to ask in vain, nor that I suffer prejudice because of my long
reserve, and that I be more badly paid because I have not importuned
you much.
CCXXVII
MONTEREUL a BRIENNE
Edimhourg, 15 Fevrier 1648.
L'asskmblee de laquelle ou attendait de si grandes resolu-
tions fut tenu Lundi le 10 de ce mois, Le Chancelier de
TEcosse en fit Touverture par iin discours dans lequel il repre-
senta une partie de ce qui s'etait passe en Angleterre depuis
quMl y etait arrive, jusques au voyage que firent leur commis-
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 395
saire en Tlsle de Wicht ; le Comte de Lauderdale fit savoir ce
qui s'etait auparavant ; et le Comte de Lanark ce qui etait
arrive depuis, mais le Chancelier ne put achever son recit a
cause de son indisposition et de sa longueur ordinaire, ni le
Comte de Lanark presque commencer le sien pour le peu de
temps qui lui restait, de sorte qu'il remirent Tun et Taute a
faire savoir ce qu'ils avaient de plus important a Tassemblee qui
se doit se tenir aujourd'hui, ou il n'y a pas toute fois lieu de
croire qu'il se prenne aucune resolution important.
Les Commissaires de TAngleterre, dont Tun est un honette
coutilier et Tautre dans assez bonne condition, arriverent ici
Mercredi 9 Fevrier avec le Ministre Marechal, homme de peu
de savoir et de mediocre eloquence, mais de grand credit (et
respect) des Independants, et celui qui en eftet est le chef de
cette illustre deputation. lis presentirent le jour suivant un
papier au Comite, par lequel ils demonstrairent qu'ils avaient
quelques propositions a faire a cet Etat, qui etaient de grande
importance et demanderent d'estre entendus le plustot qu'il
serait possible ; mais le Comite, pour se venger du mepris que les
Deputes d'Ecosse out re9us du Parlement d'Angleterre, ont
remis jusqu'apres ce jour a deliberer sur leurs demandes.
Les Ministres de cette ville pouses de leur zele ordinaire,
c'est a dire accompagnes toujours de fort peu de discretion,
arresterent en leur assemblee, qu'on n'accorderait point au
Ministre Anglais la permission de precher dans les Eglises de
cette ville, qu'ils n"'avaient pas encore demandes. Cependant,
depuis Tarrivee des Commissaires d'Angleterre, il a couru des
bruits si etranges de la cruaute que les Independants avaient
exercees sur la personne du roy d'Angleterre, qu' encore qu'ils
aient ete faux, ils eussent peu estre funeste a ces deputes en un
pays ou le peuple eussent conserve moins de tendresse pour le
salut de leur prince. lis n'ont pas laisse de leur donner, a ce
qu'oh me dit, beaucoup d^'apprehension encore qu"'ils ne les ayent
exposer a aucun danger et qu'ils n^'ayent point eu sujet de
craindre que les Ecossois se portent a temoigner du resentiment
d'une nouvelle qu''ils ont re9ue, sans faire paroitre qu^'une fort
mediocre douleur.
Ce deputes n'ont veu guere personne que le Marquis
d'Argyle, qui entretient avec eux une tres extraordinaire corre-
396 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [fee.
spondence; qui proposa meme Jeudi dernier de leur faire
trouver un logis et de le faire tapisser de cette couronne, ce qui
fut rejette de toute Fassemblee et du Comte de Glanquerne par
des termes assez piqants et qui temoignerent, outre qu'il n^etait
pas ami des Anglais, il se souvenait de dire ce que le Marquis
d'Argyle a faittes en faveur du Comte d'Aiglouton en un
process que ces deux comtes avaient pour la preseance et qui a ete
regie en faveur de celui de Glanquaire il y a fort peu de jours.
Une legere indisposition qui m'a oblige de garder le lit
presque toute la semaine passee pour m''empecher de voir les
Commissaires de TEcosse sitost apres leur retour, sans qu'ils
puissant le trouver mauvais, et nfa donne moyen d'eviter
d'accroitre les bruits que M. TAmbassadeur d'Angleterre m'a
ecrit qu'on faisait courir de moi dans Londres comme serieuse
trouvaille, a faire venir ici le Prince de Galles et a faire que la
France assista puissament TEcosse contre TAngleterre, qui sont
les crimes dont vous savez mieux que personne que je suis bien
innocent, et que le temperement que j''ai essaye de garder, selon
les ordres de la-bas, empesche qu''on ait sujet de me rapprocher.
Aussi ai-je vu que les dernieres gazettes que nous ont apportes
de Londres rendent temoignage que je ne parle jamais de la
venue du Prince ni de la rupture entre les deux royaumes
qu"'avec beaucoup de moderation. Je n'ai done vu que le
Comte de Loudon et le Comte de Lanark, le premier m''a dit
que les Commissaires Anglais au lieu de Taccuser, comme on
avait public ils devaient faire, d''avoir essaye de mettre le feu
entre les deux nations, ils etaient venus le visiter en arrivant et
vinrent faire des prieres et des offres a ce royaume au lieu de
menaces qu'on attendait d'eux. Mais il esperait que cela ne
ferait point changer la resolution qu''avoit touts les honnetes
gens dVxposer leur vie pour le deliverance et le retablissement
de leur Prince, qu'il ne mettait point de restriction a Tobliga-
tion qu"'ils avaient de servir leur roy, comme il avait fait autre-
fois en me parlant, qu"'il leur avait donne le plus qu''il avait pu
de satisfaction, mais que quelque chose qu''il eut fait pour eux,
ils devaient faire pour lui tout ce qu'etait en leur pouvoir, que
le Chancelier, le Comte de Lanark et lui etaient aussi bien de
meme opinion en ceci, comme ils avaient ete en toute autre chose
qu"'il doutait point que la France ne les assista dans ce bon
dessain, et qu'il attendait avec beaucoup d''impatience la re-
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 397
ponse a une lettre qu'il avait ecrit, il y avait deja assez de
temps a Mons. le President de Bellievre sur ce sujet, ensuite
de quoi il s'emporta contre les Anglais, avec assez de liberte, et
comme une personne qui n'avait pas oublie les injures qu'il en
avait a recevoir en son part et qu'il ne les resentait pas moins
que celles qu'ils avaient faites a son roy. Le Comte de Lanark
me fit paroitre dans une si profonde tristesse du mauvaise etat
des affaires du roy de la Grande Bretagne et un deuil tellement
etudie qu^il ne me fait douter si sa douleur etait veritable parce
qu'il me la fait paroitre trop excessive ; qu'il s''etait etonne
jusqu^ici des longueurs qu'apportait la France a assister ce
Royaume dans le dessein qu''il avait de retablir son roy, mais
qu'il s'affligeait maintenant de voir par les lettres qu'il venait
d'en recevoir qu'il n''y avait rien a attend re de ce-cote-la, qu'il
n'etait pas toutefois advantageux a sa Majeste de voir former
deux republiques si proche de ses Etats et ruiner un grand
Prince son voisin et son allie, ce qu"'il prevoyait quMl ne serait
plus possible d'eviter. Je lui dis que comme je ne doutais
point que la France ne fit tout ce que lui serait possible
pour assister TEcosse, quand elle serait engager dans les in-
terets de son roy, je ne pouvais aussi mMmaginer que tant que
le Due son frere et lui serait vivant ils puissent s'offrir qu''on
changea en republique une si ancienne monarchie, et a la
conservation de laquelle ils avaient de si puissants interets.
Mais il me dit qu"'il prevoyait la ruine de sa maison avec celle
de leur roy, et qu'il croyait que ces deux choses seroient absolu-
ment sans remede.
Durant que je vous ecrivais ceci le vieux General Leslie
est venu me voir, et comme il a vecu moins de temps dans
le cabinet qu"'a la campagne qu'ayant peutetre aussi peu
de foi que les autres, il a toujours moins d'adresse qu''eux et
moins de dissimulation. II m'a parle aussi avec plus de liberte
qu'ils n'ont fait. II a commence par des parolles mauvaises
contre les Anglais, qui etaient des traitres et des perfides, qu'on
ne devait pas seulement donner audience a leurs deputes ; qu'il
s'allait hater de prendre les armes et de porter la guerre
en Angleterre, que les Anglais autrement viendraient faire
en ce pays, — qu'il avait propose il y a deja quelque jours que
Ton pent faire faire bruit dans les villes et a la campagne,
les noms de ceux qui seront capable de porter les armes,
398 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [feb.
afin de pouvoir marcher au meme temps que la guerre seroit
declaree, — pourquoi le Prince tardera-t-il a venir ici, sa pre-
sence y etait si necessaire pour lui et si utile pour eux ? —
pourquoi la France se mettait-elle si tard en devoir de leur
envoyer les choses que leur etaient necessaires et que passeront
difficilement la mer quand la guerra serait declaree? J'ai
repondu a tout ceci aux termes les plus obligeants, mais les
plus generaux que j''ai pu ce qui m''a ete autant plus facile que
lui-meme m''a dit que les couronnes et les Anglais mal satis-
faits voudraient voir ce que les Ecossois feraient pour leur roi
avant que de rien faire pour eux.
tTai cru, qu'il n''etait pas hors de propos de vous representer
ce que m'avait ete dit par ces trois personnes, qui sont assez
considerables en ce Royaume, afin que vous puissiez juger
vous-meme par le discours de quelques-uns ce que pourraient
etre les intentions de tons les autres. Je ne puis toutefois que
je ne prenne le jugement que vous en pourez faire et que je ne
vous dis qu''encore que tous ceux que je vois me parlent ce
meme langage et que leurs interets et leur resentiments les
obligent de prendre les armes, il n'y a point du tout d'ap-
parance qu'ils le doivent faire si promptement, ni que ce qu"'ils
feront puisse etre a Fa vantage du Roy d'Angleterre.
I^e ministres de cette ville continuent a precher contre le
dessein qu'ils croyent que font les Ecossois de rentrer en Angle-
terre et de s''unir avec les amis de leur Roy. Gilespie, qui
a fait sept ou huit sermons sur cette matiere, pria Dieu,
Dimanche dernier, qu"'il les garda des dernieres surprises du
Roy d'Angleterre, et remplit la priere qu'il fit «. Dieu de
diverses imprecations contre son Prince.
Plusieurs officiers Anglais qui ont servis dans les armees
du Roy de la Grande Bretagne arrivent ici chaque jour sans se
faire connaitre, entre lesquel on m'a assure qu'etaient les chev-
aliers Landril, Lucas, et Glenan, et divers autres, qui pourraient
avoir beaucoup de suite. J'ai attendu quelque temps a fermer
cette lettre pour voir si le paquet de France qui vient d'arriver
me serait rendu, et si j"'avais quelquechose a repondre, mais il
est deja si tard que je suis oblige d''envoyer mes lettres. Je
ferai tout ce que me sera possible pour me bien acquitter de la
commission que vous m'avez fait Thonneur de me donner.
1648] BELLlfiVRE TO BRIENNE 399
[MoNTERELL to Brienne. Edinburgh, 15th February 1648.
The meeting from which such important resolutions were expected was
held on Tliursday last, the 10th inst. The Chancellor of Scotland made
the opening speech, in which he related a part of what had taken place
in England, since he had arrived there, till the time of their Commis-
sioner going to the Isle of Wight ; the Earl of Lauderdale related what
had taken place previous to that time,^ and the Earl of Lanark what had
happened since, but the Chancellor was unable to finish his narration
because of an indisposition and his wonted slowness, neither had the
Earl of Lanark the time necessary to do more than to begin his, so that
they both deferred until the meeting to-day the most important of their
communications, when there is, however, no reason to believe they will
take any important resolution.
The English Commissioners arrived on Wednesday the 9th inst. One
of them is an honest cutler ^ and the other of somewhat higher social
condition, with the Preacher ^larshall, a man of small knowledge and
scanty eloquence, but of great credit among the Independents. It is he
in fact who is the head of this illustrious deputation. ITie day of their
arrival they presented a document to the Committee, in which they
stated that they had some very important proposals to make to this
country, and asked to obtain a hearing as soon as possible ; but the
Committee, to take their revenge for the contempt with which the
Scottish Commissioners have been treated in England, put off till some
future day the consideration of their request.
The clergy of this town, actuated by their wonted zeal, that is to say
not accompanied with much discretion, decided in their meeting that
no English clergyman should have permission to preach in the city
churches, although no request of this nature had been made to them.^
However, since the arrival of the English Commissioners, strange
rumours have been current hei-e, about the cruelty the Independents
had inflicted on the person of the King of England, which although
they may be false, might have been disastrous to these Commissioners,
in a country where the people had retained even less solicitude for the
^ See Appendix, Note X, ' Declaration made by the Scottish Commissioners in
London to the King of Great Britain, on the subject of the four propositions sent
to the said king, in the Isle of Wight, by the English Parliament.'
^ The English Commissioners were Mr. Ashurst, specially referred to above,
and Colonel Birch with Mr. Stephen Marshall. Rushwood, part iv. vol. ii.
p. loii, relates concerning them: 'Our Commissioners have not yet had an
audience, Feb. 23, nor is it supposed they will have till their Parliament sits.
The Scots are somewhat unkind to them in not giving them convenient accom-
modation . . . Col. Birch and Mr. Marshall get no favourable aspects from the
Scots, the one because he succeeded them at Hereford, and the other for being
as they say an Independent.'
3 'George Gilespie employed Stephen Marshall to preach in the great Church
of Edinburgh, March 25th, and was censured for it.' — Guthry's Metnon'al, p. 212.
400 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [feb.
safety of their prince. It yet caused them, I have been told, much appre-
hension, although they were not thereby exposed to any danger and they
had no cause to fear that the Scots would be led to show their resentment
of news which they received by manifesting but a very moderate grief.
These Commissioners have seen scarcely any one since their arrival
here but the Marquis of Argyle, who keeps up a very extraordinary
correspondence with them. He proposed even on Thursday last to take
a place of residence for them and to have it furnished at the expense of
the crown, which was refused by all the assembly. The Earl of Glencairn
expressed his disapproval in somewhat sarcastic terms, showing that
besides his being no friend to the English, he did not forget what the
Marquis of Argyle had done in favour of the Earl of Eglington in a
process these two earls have had for the precedence, which was decided a
few days ago in favour of the Earl of Glencairn ^
I was obliged through a slight indisposition to remain in bed almost
all last week ; hence I was unable to visit the Scottish Commissioners
immediately on their return, and while my absence on this account could
not be considered by them to be unseemly, it enabled me to avoid giving
any sort of confirmation to those rumours that the Ambassador in
England has told me are circulating and have obtained credence in
London, as being founded, — that it was proposed to bring the Prince of
Wales here and that France was about to give powerful assistance to
Scotland against England, — these are crimes which no one knows better
than you, I am quite innocent of, and the middle course which I have
tried to maintain according to the orders from your side, prevents their
being any cause for reproaching me in the matter. The last gazettes
from London I see only do me justice in stating that I never speak of
the coming of the prince, nor of the rupture between the two kingdoms
but with much moderation.^
I have therefore but seen the Earl of Lauderdale ' and the Earl of
Lanark. The first told me that the English Commissioners instead of
accusing him, as it had been published they were about to do, of having
tried to raise a flame between the two nations, had visited him on their
arrival and came to make requests and offers to this kingdom instead of
^ 'There has been, 31 Jany. 1648, a great law-suit between the Lords of
Glencairn and Eglington, who of them should be the first Earl ; the last week
the Lords of Session adjudged it for Lord Glencairn, whereupon the other
challenged him to combat, which being discovered, the Privy Council bound
them to the peace under pain of 100,000 pounds Scots and appointed Duke
Hamilton, Marquis of Argyle, Lords Crawford, Casselis and Callander to
compose the difference.'— Rush worth, part iv. vol. ii. p. 982.
2 • Montereul is still in Edinburgh, 31 Jany. 1648, he makes no public
address, no speech of the Prince of Wales coming into the kingdom.'— Rush-
wood, vol. ii. p. 982.
3 The name of Loudon in the original is seen from the context to be an error,
and that it ought to be Lauderdale.
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 401
the threats they expected from them. But he hoped that would not
change the resolution that all honest people had taken to expose their
lives for the deliverance and the restoration of their prince ; that he
placed no restriction on the obligation that rested on them to serve their
king, as he had done formerly in speaking to me of it ; that the king had
given them the greatest satisfaction he was able to do, but whatever he
had done for them, they ought to do for him all that was in their power ;
that the Chancellor, the Earl of Lanark and he were quite agreed in
this, as they had been in every other thing, so that he did not doubt
but that France would assist them in this good design and that he was
expecting with much impatience the reply to a letter he had written
some time ago to President de Bellievre on this subject. After which he
lost his temper in speaking of the English, which he did somewhat freely,
as a person who had not forgotten the insults he had received from them
on his own account, which he resented, no less than those they had
given to his king. The Earl of Lanark appeared to me in such a state
of profound sadness because of the bad state of the king's affairs and in
a sorrow so studied, that I was obliged to doubt of his grief being real,
the expression of it seeming too excessive. He had, he said, been
surprised till now at the delays France had occasioned in coming to the
assistance of this kingdom in the intention it had of restoring its king,
but that he was afflicted now to see by the letters he had just received
from there that there was nothing to be expected from that quarter ;
that it was not, however, advantageous for his Majesty to see two
republics so near his own states and to see the ruin of a great prince
his neighbour and his ally, which he foresaw it would be impossible
to prevent. I told T did not doubt but that Fi'ance would do all
that was possible to assist Scotland when she would be engaged in
the interests of her king, that besides I could not imagine it to be
possible so long as the duke his brother and he lived that one would
attempt to change into a republic such an ancient monarchy in the
maintenance of which so many powerful interests were combined. But he
told me he foresaw the ruin of his house ^ involved in that of their king,
and that he believed both misfortunes would be absolutely irremediable.
While I was engaged in writing this, old General Leslie called to see
me, and as he has lived less in the cabinet than in the camp, being
^ The earl's apprehension was but too well founded, as may be seen from the
following extract from The Picture of Scotland, by Robert Chambers, vol. ii.
p. 349 : ' Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, daughter of the duke who perished at
Worcester, in whom the old line of the family ended, resided in Strathaven
Castle and in Broderick Castle in Arran, alternately, during the period of the
Commonwealth. Her Grace had been deprived of her estates by Cromwell, and
she would have been perhaps altogether destitute, but for the attachment and
faithful services of a dependant. This person, a female servant, and the only
one that remained with the duchess, employed herself in spinning to procure
the means of subsistence for her Grace. She span incessantly for eight or ten
years till the Restoration put an end to her mistress's misfortune by re-investing
her with her estates. '
VOL. II. 2 c
402 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [fee.
perhaps as little to be trusted as the others, he is still less artful than
they and less practised in dissimulation. He spoke to me also with
greater freedom than they did. He began by some invectives against
the Englishj who were traitors and not to be trusted, that one ought not
even to give an audience to their commissioners ; that he was going to
make haste to take arms and carry the war into England which otherwise
the English would bring into this country ; that he had already pro-
posed some days ago that one might have the names of those capable of
bearing arms proclaimed in the towns and through the country, so as to
be able to march at the same time as the war would be declared. Why,
he asked, did the Prince of Wales delay in coming here, his presence was
so necessary for him and so useful for them ? Why was France so back-
ward in setting about sending them the necessary supplies which it will
be difficult to transport by sea once war is declared ? I i-eplied to all
this in the most obliging but the most general terms I could think of,
which was all the more easy for me as he had given me the reply himself,
that the other governments and the English being dissatisfied wanted to
see what the Scots would do for their king before doing anything for them.
I have thought it to be not out of place to represent to you what was
said to me by these three persons, who are much considered in this
kingdom, so that you may be able to judge for yourself by the conversa-
tion of some what may be the intentions of all the others, I cannot,
however, but adopt the judgment you will be able to come to, and tell
you that although all those whom I see sjjeak in the same manner, and
that their interests and their resentments oblige them to take arms, there
is no likelihood whatever that they are to do it so promptly, nor that
what they will do may be to the advantage of the King of England,
The clergy of this town continue to preach against the intention that
they think the Scots have of invading England and of joining with the
friends of their king. Gillespie,^ who has had seven or eight sermons on
this subject, prayed God last Sunday that he would preserve them from
the latest surprises of the King of England, and filled his prayer with
sundry imprecations against his prince.
Several English officers who have served in the armies of the King of
Great Britain arrive here daily without making themselves known,
among whom 1 have been assured are Sir Marmaduke Laugdale, Sir
Charles Lucas and Sir Thomas Glenham and several others, which may
have an important result. I have delayed closing this letter to see if
■* George Gillespie had been one of the Scottish delegates to the Westminster
Assembly of Divines. He was Moderator of the General Assembly during this
year, in the month of December of which he died. His last work was the
drawing up of ' the Commission of the kirk's answer to the Estates observations,
on the declaration of the General Assembly, concerning the unlawfulness of the
Engagement.' This engagement between the king and the Scottish Parliament
was henceforward known among the clergy as the unlawful engagement, and its
supporters were termed malignants.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 403
the parcel that has just arrived from France would be delivered to me,
and if there might be something therein for me to reply to, but it is
already so late that I am obliged to send off my letters. I shall do what
I can to execute the commission you have given me.
CCXXVII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, "f^^ 1648.
Il ne s"'est rien resolu davantage dans les Comites qui se
sont tenus le Mardi et le Jeudi de la semaine pass^e, que dans
ceux des jours precedents. M. le Comte de Lanark a fort peu
parle, mais le Chancelier y a fait une longue harangue par
laquelle il a expose les satisfactions que le roi de la G' B' avoit
resolu de leur donner toutes les fois que les propositions de
paix lui seroient presentees par les deux royaumes — car ce
sont les termes dont on m'a dit qu'il s'etoit servi — et leur a
declare que le dit roi approuveroit le covenant sans obliger
toutefois personne a le prendre, et etabliroit pour trois ans le
Presbyteriat, durant lequel temps on tiendroit une assemblee
en la maniere qu'il avoit deja propose pour regler les affaires
de la religion.
Le Comte de Lauderdale a parle apres le Chancelier, et a
entrepris de prouver que les Independants avoient rompu le
Covenant en toutes ses parties, et leurs traites en chaque
article, — et Tun et Tautre ont rempli leurs discours de plusieurs
reproches contre les Anglois, jusque la que le Comte d'Lauder-
dale a dit d"'assez bonne grace, qu'il y avoit quatre choses que
les Anglois ne pouvoient souffrir, — le Covenant, le Presbytere,
le gouvernement Monarchique, et les Ecossois.
Ces choses se dirent le Mardi '^ au Comite et le Mercredi
dans TAssemblee des ministres qui avoient demande qu''on ne
passat pas outre dans les affaires sans leur donner avis de ce
qu'on faisoit, quelques uns du parti de Hamilton trouverent
que cette demande etoit insolente, et dirent qu'ils auroient
sujet un jour de regi-etter les eveques qu"'ils avoient chases,
parce qu"'ils vouloient avoir trop de part dans les affaires civiles.
Mais le Marquis d^Argyle interpreta leur demande avec quelques
adoucissements, comme s''ils eussent desire seulement qu'on ne
404 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
prit pas une derniere resolution, sans leur en donner quelque
connoissance, et fit tant quMls emporterent ce quMls demandoient.
Cependant MM. les ministres n''ont nullement ete satisfaits
de ce que le roi de la G"^ B"" leur a accorde, et comme la lettre
du dit roi etoit en creance au Chancelier d*'Ecosse, ils ont
demande d'avoir sous la main, ce qu'il leur avoit dit de bouche,
des intentions de leur roi ; ce qu''on m''a dit que le Chancelier
a refuse jusqu''a ce qu''il Teut communique au Comite des Etats,
et je n'ai pas seu s''il leur a encore donne ce qu'ils ne desirent
avoir que pour en tirer avantage contre leur roi.
Car c"'est une chose dont ceux-la ne peuvent douter qui ont
ete presents aux injures que quelques uns d''entre eux ont vomi
Dimanche dernier dans leurs chaires contre leur prince et aux
imprecations qu'ils ont faites contre ceux de ce Parlement, qui
porteroient la guerre en Angleterre avec intention de le retablir,
ou que prenant les armes pour y remettre leur religion, se
joindroient aux soldats sanctifies qui etoient sur pieds, les
criminals et les maudits qui avoient servi leur prince. Ce qui,
a Texception de Colin et de Ramsay, qui ont preche pour le
roi de la G"" B% a ete le langage de tous les autres, jusques
la que le ministre Leslay osa dire au Due de Hamilton, qui
assistoit a son preche, que la malediction de Dieu seroit sur lui
et sur sa posterite s"'il favorisoit les serviteurs de son roi ; et
recita toutes les defaites, qui sont en bon nombre, que les
Ecossois ont cues quand ils ont porte les armes contre
TAngleterre ; et qu*'un autre, apres avoir dit que Dieu avoit
laisse tombre sa main pesante sur la fortune et sur la personne
de son prince, Tayant avec juste raison prive de son Etat et
fait prisonnier, sans avoir peu toutefois toucher son coeur, ni
le remettre au bon chemin, — afin de n'^epargner personne,
s"'emporta de telle sorte contre les Commissaires d' Angleterre
qui assistoient a son preche qu'il leur reprocha qu'ils etoient
des traitres et des parjures, sans user d'aucune circonlocution.
Cette liberte des ministres fait croire qu*'ils sont bien avoues
des grands du royaume de ce qu'ils prechent, qui veulent
pouvoir dire qu'ils ont ete empeches par eux d'executer les
bonnes intentions qu''ils avoient pour le service de leur roi.
On avoit creu qu''il se resoudroit quelque chose dans le Comite
qui se tint hier, en suite du jeune qui se garda Dimanche,
1 647] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 405
car c'est le jour ou Ton a de coutume ici de faire abstinence, pour
s'eloigner davantage de ce qui se pratique en notre eglise, mais
on a remis a demain a deliberer sur les affaires sur lesquelles il
y a peu d''apparence que Ton prenne sitost aucune resolution,
quoi qu'il se publie au contraire.
On ne me parle presque plus, ni de la venue du Prince de
Galles ici, ni des secours que TEcosse pretend avoir de la
France, soit que la retenue avec laquelle j'ai toujours repondu
a Tune et a Tautre de ces deux propositions ait empeche de
me les faire davantage, soit que comme les Ecossois n"'ont que
de mauvaises intentions ils sont bien aises dVn oter, autant
quMls peuvent, la connoissance a une personne qu'ils savent
par experience etre tres attachee aux interets du roi de la
G' B"". Cela n'empeche pas que je ne trouve, et par de tres
fortes conjectures et par le rapport de quelques personnes
d'honneur et bien informees, que ce que desirent principale-
ment aujord'huy les Ecossois est d'avoir ici le Prince de Galles;
quMls n'oublieront rien de toutes les choses qui pourroient con-
tribuer a lui faire croire qu''il sera ici en seurete, et qu'il y
trouvera de Tassistance pour pouvoir mettre en liberte son
pere, enfin qu'ils lui feront des promesses pour Tattirer en ce
royaume, qu'ils se soucieront fort peu de garder quand il y
sera venu, Aussi, Monsg"", considerent-ils la venue de ce Prince
en leur royaume comme la chose qui pent accommoder plus
facilement leurs affaires, qui ne fiireut jamais plus deconcertees
qu'elles le sont aujourd'huy, puisque en Tattirant dans leur
pays, non seulement ils s''asseurent centre les craintes qu''ils
auront toujours de son retour avec des forces, tant qu''il sera
chez les princes que lui sont amis ; mais quails peuvent encore,
selon qu^il leur sera plus utile, ou le vendre comme son pere,
ou le garder pour Topposer aux Independants, toutes les fois
qu'ils voudroient entreprendre quelque chose contre TEcosse,
de sorte que le Prince n"'a pas de plus prompt moyen pour
faire que les Ecossois s"'accommodent avec TAngleterre, et
pour achever de se perdre que de venir se mettre entre leurs
mains, et veritablement ils font paroistre dans toutes leurs
actions si peu bonne volonte pour le roi de la G' B"" que
quelque haine qu'ils portent aux Independants, je ne doute
point qu'^ils ne travaillassent a les conserver, sMls croyoient que
406 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
la perte de leurs ennemis peu contribuer en aucune sorte au
retablissement de leur roi.
Les Commissaires d'Angleterre qui etoient demeures derriere
sont arrives ici, a la reserve du Comte de Stamford qu''on
attend, a ce que '.ron dit, au premier jour. lis presenterent
un nouveau papier Mardi ^4 Fevrier, et Samedi le Chancelier
devoit aller chez eux pour voir leurs pouvoirs. Je ne sais point
s'ils ont fait quelque chose depuis ce jour, mais ils ont fait, a ce
qu'on me dit, quelque distribution manuelle aux ministres, et
ne s'etonnent pas du tout du bruit que Ton fait ici, de vouloir
lever une armee pour entrer en leur pays. Un d'entre eux
disoit il y a quelques jours, nous sommes asseures de demeurer
amis des Ecossois, car nous avons resolu d'etablir leur religion,
et de leur donner de Targent, qu'ils aiment encore mieux que
leur religion. Aussi, dit-on, qu'ils ofFriront cent mille livres
sterling comptant, et plus s'il est necessaire, et quMls ont
apporte beaucoup d'or avec eux ; ce que le Due de Hamilton
me disoit il y a deux jours, qui etoit fort peu necessaire, puis
qu'il y avoit moyen de le donner a ceux qui etoient le mieux
disposer a les servir, sans le faire venir ici ; me voulant faire
entendre que le Marquis d'Argyle avoit un homme a Londres
seulement pour y recevoir de Targent. II me dit encore
qu'il voyoit avec un extreme regret que tout le monde ne se
portoit pas, ainsi qu'il avoit creu, avec mesme ardeur pour les
interets de son roi.
Je ne m'etois pas trompe en mandant a V. Em*'^ que Tindis-
cretion des ministres de ce pays ne s'arreteroit pas a ce qu"'ils
avoient ose faire contre moi. V. Em*=® verra, s'il lui plait, par
le papier que j'ay envoye a M' le Comte deBrienne, jusques ou
ils se sont portes, et ce que j'avois resolu de demander contre
eux. Divers raisons m'ont tontefois empesche de presenter
ce billet quMl seroit long de representer a V. Em°% cependant
j'auray toujours lieu de le donner selon que V. Em'^® Tapprou-
vera en y changeant les choses qui devront y estre changees ;
mais pour porter ces gens plus aisement a se reconnoitre, et
sans les aller rechercher, il semble qu'il n"'y auroit qu''a envoyer
ordre au Havre, a Rouen, a Dieppe, et a Bordeaux d'arrester les
vaisseaux et les marchandises des Ecossois qui y sont, jusques
a ce qu''ils eussent donne ici quelque sorte de satisfaction.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 407
Le Major du regiment des Gardes Ecossoises n\'toit pas
encore parti ce matin. M. le Chev'" Moray me parle souvent
de la proposition que m''avoit fait autrefois le Marquis d'Argyle,
pour faire monter en garde son regiment, mais je remettray a
en rendre compte a V, Em*^® par le prochain ordinaire, tant
parce que ma lettre se fait deja longue, que pour ce que je
verray pent estre mieux que je ne fais, s'il y a quelque
esperance d'avoir des honnnes d'autre part, ce que je trouve
tous les jours plus difficile.
J'ay fait en sorte que le Due de Hamilton a pris sur lui de
m''avertir s''il y auroit lieu de presenter ou non la lettre que
j'attends de Sa Majeste pour le Marquis d'Huntley. Mes
lettres m'ont ete prises encore par cet ordinaire. Je tascheray
de decouvrir de quelle fa^on cela se fait, et de voir s'il y aura
moyen d'empescher que cela arrive dorenavant.
[MoNTEREiL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, —^7 1648
Nothing further was decided upon in the committee meetings that were
held on Tuesday and Thursday last week than in those held previously.
The Earl of Lanark spoke very little, hut the Chancellor made a long
harangue in which he explained the concessions their king had resolved
to give them whenever the terms of peace were presented to him by both
kingdoms — for these are the terms which I am told he made use of —
and declared to them that the king would sanction the Covenant, without
however obliging any one to take it, and would establish Presbyterianism
for three years, during which time an assembly would be held in the
manner that had already been proposed in order to settle all questions of
religion.
The Earl of Lauderdale spoke after the Chancellor, and undertook to
prove that the Independents had broken the Covenant in all its stipula-
tions, and their treaties in each article. Both speakers indulged largely
in reproaches against the English, the Earl of Lauderdale having
remarked somewhat wittily that there were four things Englishmen
could not tolerate, the Covenant, Presbyterianism, monarchical govern-
ment, and Scotsmen. These things were said on Tuesday ^ at the
committee meeting, and on Wednesday following in the meeting of the
clergy a request was made to the Committee of Estates not to decide on
any measure without first giving them notice of it. Some of the Hamilton
party found this demand to be insolent, and said they would soon have
reason to regret the bishops, that they had driven away because they
wished to have too large a part in civil matters. But the Marquis of Argyle
interpreted their demand l)y toning it down, as if they had wished
only that no final decision be come to without their having some know-
ledge of it, and succeeded so well that he carried what they had wished.
408 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
Yet the clergy are not at all satisfied with what the King of Great Britain
has granted them ; and as the letter of this king was in the hands of the
Chancellor of Scotland^ in order to be attested, they asked to have it in
their hands to judge for themselves of what the Chancellor had merely
infonned them of the intentions of their king, which I am told the latter
refused until it had been communicated to the Committee of Estates,
and I have not learned if he has yet given them what they merely wished
to have in order to turn it against their king. For this will not be
questioned by those who were present at their preachings and heard the
insults some among them vomited out on Sunday last in their pulpits
against their prince, and the imprecations they directed against those of
the Parliament who would carry war into England, with the intention of
restoring him, or who taking arms in order to establish their religion there
would join to the sanctified soldiers that were raised, the criminals and
accursed persons who had served their prince. Such, with the exception
of Colin and of Ramsay, who preached for the King of Great Britain, was
the language of all the others, even to the clergyman Leslie, who dared to
say to the Duke of Hamilton, who was present at his preaching, that the
curse of God would be on him and on his posterity if he favoured the
followers of his king ; and he repeated all the numerous defeats that
the Scots have had when they have carried arms against England : and
another, after having said that God had let fall His heavy hand on the
fortune and on the person of his prince, having with just reason deprived
him of his state and made him prisoner without having been able however
to touch his heart, nor to put him in the right way, so as to spare no
one, flew into a passion against the English Commissioners who were
present at his preaching, and reproached them as traitors and perjurers,
without employing any circumlocution. This liberty of the clergy leads
one to believe they are protected in what they preach by the great ones
of the kingdom, who wish to be able to say they have been prevented
by them from executing the good intentions they had for the service
of their king.
It was thought that some decision would have been come to in the
committee meeting held yesterday after the Sunday fast, — for that is the
day on which abstinence from food is practised here so as to be opposed as
far as possible to what is done in our church, — but the discussion was
postponed until to-morrow, and there is not much reason to think that any
resolution will be taken soon, whatever may be asserted to the contrary.
I am very seldom spoken to now about the Prince of Wales coming
here and of the assistance Scotland pretends to have from France,
whether it be that the reserve with which I always replied to one or other
of these two proposals may have prevented them from doing so any more,
or that as the Scots having but bad intentions they are glad to conceal
them as much as they can from the knowledge of a person whom they
know by experience to be much attached to the interests of the King of
Great Britain. That does not prevent me from finding out by very
strong conjectures and by the accounts of several honourable and well-
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 409
informed persons that what the Scots desire principally at present is to
have the Prince of ^V^ales here ; that they will omit nothing whatever of
what may contribute to make him believe he will be in security, here, and
that he will find assistance in order to be able to set his father at liberty.
In short, that they will make promises to draw him into this kingdom,
that they will be little careful of keeping when he will have come there.
Thus they consider the arrival of this prince in their kingdom as the
thing most wanted for the arranging of their affairs, which were never
more in disorder than at present; since by attracting him into their
country, not only do they assure themselves against the fears they will
always ha^e of his return with forces, so long as he remains with other
princes who are his friends, but they may also, according as it will be
most profitable for them, either sell him like his father, or keep him in
order to oppose him to the Independents, whenever they would wish to
undertake any thing against Scotland, so that the prince has no surer
means in order to induce the Scots to come to an agreement with England
and to complete his own ruin than to put himself into their hands, and
truly they show in all their actions so little good-will for the King of
Great Britain, that whatever hatred they bear to the Independents, I do
not doubt but that they would set to work to preserve them if they be-
lieved this loss of their enemies could in any way contribute to the
restoration of their king.
The English Commissioners, who had remained behind, arrived yester-
day, with the exception of Lord Stamford,^ who, I am told, is expected on an
early day. They presented a new paper on Tuesday, ^ February, and on
Saturday the Chancellor was to visit them to see their credentials. I do
not know if they have done anything since that day, but they have, I am
told, made some disti-ibution by hand to the clergy, and they are not at
all surprised at the rumour prevalent here of wishing to raise an army in
order to enter their country. One of them said a few days ago, ' We
are certain of remaining friends with the Scots, for we have decided to
establish their religion and to give them money, which they like still better
than tlieir religion.' Thus it is said they will offer a hundred thousand
pounds stg. in ready money and more if it be necessary, and that they
have brought much gold with them, which the Duke of Hamilton told
me two daj-s ago was scarcely necessary, since there was a means of
giving it to those who were the best disposed to serve them, without
bringing it here, wishing me to understand that the Marquis of Argyle
had a man in Loudon simply to receive money there. He told me also
that he saw w ith extreme regret, that every one was not led as he would
have thought with the same ardour for the interests of his king. I
was not mistaken in informing you that the indiscretion of the clergy
^ 'January 29th, 1648. The Lords this day agree absolutely upon the two
Commissioners of their house to go along with the Commissioners of the House
of Commons for Scotland, viz., the Earl of Nottingham and the Earl of Stam-
ford.'— Rushworth, part iv. vol. ii. p. 979. ^
410 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
would not stop with what they had dared to do against me. You will
please see by the paper^ which I have sent to Comte de Brienne to what
lengths they have been carried, and what I have resolved to ask against
them. Several reasons have, however, prevented me from presenting
this note, which would be too long to indicate to you, yet I shall always
have an occasion to give it, according as you approve of it, in changing
therein what you may consider to require alteration ; but the easiest
way to bring these people to their senses, without importuning them,
would it seems simply be to send order to Havre, Rouen, Dieppe, and
Bordeaux to stop the ships and the goods of the Scots who are there,
until they have made some kind of reparation liere.
The major of the regiment of Scots Guards had not yet gone this
morning. Sir Robert Moray often speaks to me of the proposal the
Marquis of Argyll made to me formerly of making his regiment mount
guard, but I shall delay giving you an account of it till next mail, both
because my letter is already too long, and that I may be able to see
better before then what hope there may be of having men from some-
where else, which I find each day becoming more difficult.
I was able to arrange so that the Duke of Hamilton is to tell me if
there would be occasion or not to present the letter that I am expecting
from liis Majesty for the Marquis of Huntly. My letters by this mail
were again taken away from me. I shall try and learn in what manner
it is done, and see if there be no means of preventing it from happening
in future.
CCXXIX
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edirnbonrs, — Mars l648.
II ne s'etoit encore pris hier de resolution touchant la paix
pu la guerre, quoi que Ton ait tenu diverses assemblees, tant
publiques que particulieres pour cet eft'et ; ni donne de reponse
aux deputes d'Angleterre bien que les Comtes de Lanark et de
Lauderdale et deux des deputes d'Ecosse que etoient a Londres,
aient ete envoyes vers eux pour entendre leurs propositions.
EUes sont en general, a ce qu'on me dit, de vouloir etablir
le Presbyteriat en Angleterre, donner Targent qui est deu aux
Ecossois, et entretenir avec eux une bonne intelligence, — enfin,
toutes choses qui sont agreables et qui seront difficilement
rejettees s"'ils croyent qu''elles leur soient offertes avec dessein
de les tenir.
•* See Appendix, Note S.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 411
Les Ministres ont declare dans leur Assemblees que le roi
de la G"^ B*" a plustost essaye de les surprendre que de leur
donner satisfaction, dans ce qu"'il leur a accorde en Tlsle de
Wight, et que TEcosse ne peut en conscience entreprendre
aucune chose pour son service. Et bien que le Comite qui
est etabli pour les affaires civiles ait desire avoir part de cette
declaration avant qu"'elle fut publiee, on croit que cela ne fera
pas changer une resolution que les Ministres n'auroient ose
prendre s"'ils n''en etoient bien avoues par ceux qui ont le plus
d''autorite dans cet Etat, et que sont bien aises de faire
paroistre qu''ils n''ont pen, ce qu''ils n'ont pas voulu, faire,
pour les interets de leur roi.
On commence aussi a remarquer que le Chancelier d"'Ecosse
agit avcc moins de chaleur qu''auparavant, et que le jMarquis
d''Argyle et ses amis ne parlent que fort pen differemment dans
les Comites, de ce que font les INIinistres dans leurs Eglises, ou
de ce qu''ils resoudent dans leurs assemblees. Enfin, Ton a tout
sujet de reconnoitre que quoi que puissent ou dire ici, ou
ecrire en France les particuliers pour en tirer des secours, ou
pour attirer le Prince de Galles en ce ro3'aume, il n'y a rien de
bon a attendre de ce pays, ni pour lui ni pour le roi son pere.
Et en effet, bien qu'il soit possible qu'ils arment, puisque c"'est
une chose qui leur est presque necessaire, et que la crainte
qu'ils ont des Independants, ou la haine qu''ils leur portent les
puisse obliger a entrer en Angleterre, ce qu'ils tascheront de
ne pas faire, et ce qu''ils ne feront qu'u la derniere extremite,
comme ils ne travailleront pas moins a empescher le retablisse-
ment de leur roi, qu'a procurer la ruine des Independants, on
a lieu de croire que le Prince de Galles ne peut niieux profiter
de leurs desordres qu'en ne prenant pas de part en leurs
interets.
Aussi, Monsg', cette querelle que je crois veritable entre
TEcosse et les Independants ne passant pas plus avant con-
tribue si fort aux interets des uns et des autres, qui, si Ton
ne savoit les sujets de degout et de jalousie qui sont entre eux,
il y auroit tout sujet de croii-e qu''elle seroit feinte, puisqu''en
leur donnant lieu de demeurer amies elle ne leur sert pas seule-
ment pour se rend maitres de deux royaumes, et pour s'asseurer
contre les forces des etransrers, sous ombre de se defendre dc
412 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
leurs voisins, mais peut aider encore aux uns et aux autres a
decouvrir ce qu'il y a de personnes chez eux et de princes en
Europe qui desirent leur perte, et qui sont capables d'y con-
tribuer; et — ce qu'ils cherchent principalement — leur donner
moyen d'attirer ici le Prince de Galles, dont Teloignement est
le sujet de toutes leurs craintes, et la seule chose qui les
empesche de pouvoir etablir leurs affaires surement; outre
que ce differend peut encore estre utile en particulier aux
Ecossois pour tirer de Pargent et des munitions de la France,
apres Tavoir trompee, et s'accommoder avec plus de plaisir et
plus d'avantage avec TAngleterre.
Le sieur Robert Leslay vient de me faire savoir que le Comte
de Lanark avoit dit hier a son frere, en revenant de chez les
Deputes d'Angleterre, qu'au lieu de parler de vouloir etablir
leur religion, bien traiter leur roi, et entretenir entre les nations
une bonne correspondance, comme il avoit creu, ils leur avoient
parle seulement de leur donner cent mille livres sterling, pre-
sentement, et Tinteret du reste a huit pour cent.
On m'a dit aussi que ce matin on a gaigne sur les Ministres
qu'ils ne publieroient pas encore leur declaration, quoi qu''ils en
eussent fait refus Samedi jusques a dire qu"'ils donneroient leur
malediction a ceux qui entreroient en armes dans TAngleterre.
On asseure que les Anglois ont fait avancer des troupes fort
considerables proche de Carlisle, et que David Leslay et les
autres officiers parlent de la guerre comme d'une chose toute
certaine, et comme si TEcosse devoit faire par necessite ce
qu"'elle n'eut jamais entrepris pour le salut de son roi, mais
ce qu"'elle fera encore, comme je crois, fort difficilement pour
elle-meme, quelque chose qui s'en public.
Le Major du regiment des Gardes Ecossoises m''a asseure
qu'il devoit partir ce soir. M. le Chev' Moray m'a dit qu'il
le suiveroit de bien pres. On public qu'ils vont tout deux
pour presser la venue du Prince de Galles, et j'ay seu d'une
personne dMionneur et qui peut estre bien informe, que ceux
qui ont ici plus d'autorite doivent promettre sous leur main
au dit Prince qu'il sera en asseurance dans ce royaume, et
qu'ils travailleront au retablissement du roi son pere, ce qu'il
y a peu d'apparence qu'ils lui tiennent. Aussi, Monsg*", si je
ne savois pas que la France considere le seul interet de ce
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 413
Prince en cette rencontre, je ne me pourrois empescher de re-
presenter a V. Em*^® que Sa Majeste en a beaucoup a Tem-
pescher de se miner, puisque non seulement c''est une action
pleine de piete et de gloire d'^arrester la perte d'un prince de
si grande experance, et qui lui touche de si pres, mais encore
qu''a Texemple du Due de Bretagne qui re^ut chez lui le Comte
de Richmond qui a este depuis Henri , Sa Majeste en con-
servant en France le Prince de Galles jusques a ce qu''elle le
mettre en etat de se restablir, a de quoi tenir les Anglois dans
la crainte, et les empescher d"'entreprendre aucune chose a son
prejudice, car je ne vois pas qu''il ait rien a apprehender des
Ecossois qui ont trop d'interet a conserver les alliances qu'ils
ont avec la France, pour se porter a les rompre et qui savent
trop le mal qu'ils ont fait, et que leur veulent les Independants,
pour s"'en pouvoir jamais asseurer,
fPay receu celle que V. Em*^® m''a fait Thonneur de mVcrire
du 21 Fevrier, et je ne manqueray pas de me conduire avec la
moderation qu"'elle me ordonne, tant sur le sujet des affaires
publiques que dans celle du Marquis d*'Huntley, pour qui j''ay
receu la lettre de Sa Majeste en la maniere qu^elle avoit
este desiree.
Je ne puis rien mander encore d"'asseure a V. Em^'^touchant
les levees, mais je vois tous les jours plus clairement qu'il sera
tres difficile d'avoir des hommes d'ici pour cette compagne, et
que je serai si malheureux que je ne pourrai obeir aux com-
mandements qu'il lui a pleu de me faire sur ce sujet.
Les Ministres continuent toujours dans le dessein quMls
ont pris de me dispenser d'entendre la messe; quelques uns
d'entre eux ont eu Timpudence d'asseurer que Tambassadeur
de sa Majeste en Suisse ne Tavoit jamais entendue dkns
les cantons protestants ; et afin que V. Em''^ puisse voir
jusqu''ou va la malice ou Tignorance de ces MM., la Marquise
de Douglas et la Comtesse de Neidsdelle, toutes deux
Catholiques, etant venues me voir la semaine passee a cinq
heures du soir, quelques uns d'entre eux ont asseure qu"'elles
avoient entendu la messe que je faisois dire le soir, a dessein de
les tromper. lis doivent representer cette affaire aujourd'huy
au Conseil d'Etat. Si Ton me depute quelqu^un pour m"'en
parler, je me contenterai de lui dire que c"'est une chose qui
414 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [MARCH
touche de telle sorte Tenteret de Sa Majeste, que tout ce que je
puis faire et de lui en donner avis, et de leur faire savoir la
reponse que j'aurai receue de la Cour,
[MoNTERUEL TO CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^^ March 1648.
Nothing has yet been decided regarding the question of peace or war,
although several meetings, both public and private, were held yesterday ;
nor has any reply been given to the English Commissioners, although the
Earls of Lanark and Lauderdale and two of the Scottish Commissioners
who were in London have been sent to them in order to learn what they
propose. Their proposals are, in general terms, I am told, to establish
Presbyterianism in England, to pay the money that is due to the Scots
and to keep up a good understanding with them, in short, things all very
agreeable and difficult to refuse if they believe them to be offered with
the. intention of their being performed.
The clergy have declared in their meetings that the King of Great
Britain has tried rather to deceive them than to satisfy them in what he
granted to them in the Isle of Wight, and that Scotland cannot in con-
science undertake anything for his service. And although the Committee
established for civil affairs may have wished to take part in that declar-
ation before it be published, it is not thought this will cause the clergy
to change the resolution they would not have ventured to take, had they
not been approved by those having most authority in this state and who
are glad to have it appear they were unable to do, what in fact they were
unwilling to do, for the interests of their king.
People begin also to remark that the Chancellor of Scotland acts with
less ardour than formerly, and that the Marquis of Argyle and his
friends talk in the Committee meetings about the same manner as
the clergy do in their churches or as they resolve in their meetings. In
short, it is evident that whatever people here may say or do, or write
about to France, in order to obtain assistance, or to engage the Prince of
Wales to come to this kingdom, there is nothing good for him nor for
the king his father to be expected here. And, in fact, although they
may arm, since it is a thing almost necessary for them, and that the fear
they have of the Independents, and the hatred they bear them, may
impel them to enter England, which they will try to avoid, and will but
do at the last extremity, they will no less work to prevent the restoration
of their king than to procure the ruin of the Independents, so that there
is reason to believe the Prince of Wales cannot turn their disorders to
more profitable account than by taking no part in their interests.
Thus this quarrel, which I believe to be real, between Scotland and
the Independents, if it do not go any further, contributes so much to
their mutual interests, that if one did not know the grounds of disgust
and jealousy that exist between them, there would be every reason to
believe that it might be shammed, since in giving them an opportunity
of remaining armed, it not only serves to make them masters of two
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 415
kingdoms and to assure themselves against foreigners, under the guise of
defending themselves from their neighbours, but may also help the one
and the other to discover what persons there are among them and
princes in Europe who wish their overthrow and who are capable of con-
tributing to it, and — what they seek principally — gives them means of
attracting here the Prince of ^Vales, whose removal is the reason of all
their fears and the only thing that precludes them from settling their
aflFairs with certainty, in addition to which this difference may also be
specially useful to the Scots, in order to procure money and munitions
from France, after having deceived her, and to come to terms with more
pleasure and more profitably with England.
Mr. Robert Leslie has just told me that the Earl of Lanark told his
brother yesterday, in returning from visiting the English Commissioners,
that instead of speaking to them as he had thought of establishing
their religion, of treating well their king and of entering into friendly
intercourse, they had merely spoken to them of giving to them a hundred
thousand pounds sterling at present and the interest of what remained
owing at eight per cent. I was also told this morning that the clergy
have been persuaded to delay publishing their declaration, although they
had refused to do so on Saturday last, and had gone so far as to say they
would pronounce their malediction against those who would enter Eng-
land in arms. It is confidently asserted that the English have advanced
a considerable number of troops near to Carlisle, and that David Ijcslie
and the other officers speak of a war as a matter certain and as if Scot-
land were obliged to make war, which she would never have declared for
the safety of her king, and which I believe she will still hesitate about
doing for herself, whatever may be declared about it.
The Major of the Scots Guards has assured me he was to leave this
evening. Sir Robert Moray has told me he would follow him very shortly.
It is reported that they are both going in order to urge the prince to
come, and I have learned from a person of honour, who is likely to be
well informed, that those highest in authority here are to promise secretly
to the prince that he will be in security in this kingdom and that they
will labour to secure the restoration of the king his father, which there
is little likelihood of their performing. Thus were it not that I am aware
France only considers the interest of this prince in the present circum-
stance, I would be induced to point out to you that his Majesty has
great interest in preventing him from ruining himself, since it is not only a
very pious and glorious act to prevent the loss of a prince with so great pro-
spects and who is so closely related to him, but also in imitation of the Duke
of Brittany, who received at his court the Earl of Richmond who afterwards
become Henry vii. , his Majesty, by retaining the Prince of Wales in
France until means be found of restoring him, has the power of holding
the English in apprehension and preventing them from undei-taking any-
thing against him ; for I do not see that he has anything to fear from
the Scots, who have too great an interest in preserving the alliances they
have with France to be led to break them, and who know too well the
416 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [march
harm the Independents have done, and still wish to do to them, to be
ever able to trust to them.
I have received your letter of the 21st Feb., and I shall not fail to act
with the moderation you order, as much in the matter of public affairs
as in that of the Marquis of Huntly, for whom I have received the
letter of his Majesty in the manner it was wished.
I am still unable to state anything with certainty as to the levies, but
1 see each day more clearly that it will be very difficult to obtain men
from here for this campaign, and I shall be very unfortunate were I to
find myself unable to obey the commands you have given me on this
subject.
The clergy still persist in the plan they have taken to prevent me from
hearing Mass. Some among them have had the impudence to assert that
his Majesty's ambassador in Switzerland had never heard it in the Protes-
tant cantons ; and to enable you to see how far the malice and ignorance
of these persons can go, the Marchioness of Douglas and the Countess
of Nithsdale,^ both Catholics, having come to see me during the past
week at five o'clock in the evening, some among them have asserted that
they had heard Mass that I had caused to be said in the evening in the
intention of deceiving them. They are going to represent this matter
to-day to the Council of State. If any one be deputed to speak to me
about it I shall simply state that it is a matter that touches so closely the
interest of his Majesty, that all I can do is to give him notice of it and
communicate to them the reply when I receive it from court.
ccxxx
MONTEREUL a BRIENNE
Edimbourg, 8 Mars l648.
II n'y a en toute TEcosse que Robert Gordon, Baron d'Estra-
loch, capable de faire la carte que vous m'avez ordonnee de vous
envoy er, et encore a-t-il plus etudie le dedans du Royaume que
les costes. II en a fait de tres exactes de ce pays qui s''impriment
presentiment en Hollande, et qui seront bientot achevees,
mais j'ai employe inutilement un de ses meilleurs amis pour
satisfaire par son moyen au commandement que vous m'*avez
fait. J''ai re^u quelques cartes pour la navigation, mais elles
sont si communes et si peu exactes, particulierement celles de
tout le nord de TEcosse qui n*'est pas un chemin bien passant,
que j'ai cru inutile de vous Tenvoyer. Cependant j'ai su que
^ The Marchioness of Douglas was Mary Gordon daughter of the Marquis of
Huntly. Robert Maxwell (Earl of Nithsdale) and his wife were Catholics.
The latter was a niece of the Duke of Buckingham.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 417
ce que vous desirez faire venir de loin est proche de vous,
et qvCil n'y a personne qui connaisse mieux ces cotes et qui
puisse plus exactement faire la carte que vous demandez que le
Capitaine Straclian, qui est aupres de la Reine d'Angleterre.
Ce que je puis vous ecrire en general est qu''on me dit qu'il y
a de bons ports dans le Nord de TEcosse tant de cote de la
Norvege que de Flrlande, et particulierement celui de Cromerty,
qui est une espece de Baie dans laquelle peut tenir surement
quelque grande flotte que ce puisse etre et peuvent entrer
les plus grands vaisseaux sans danger.^
[MoNTEREUL to Bkienne, Edinburgh, 8th March 1648.
In all Scotland there is no person but Robert Gordon ^ of Straloch able
to make such a map as you order me to send to you, and he even has
studied more specially the inland part of the kingdom than the sea -board.
He has made some very accurate maps of this country that are being
printed in Holland at present and which will soon be ready. I have
tried, through one of his most intimate friends to comply with your order,
but in vain. I have received some charts such as are used by seamen,
but they are so ordinary and so inaccurate, particularly regarding the
North of Scotland, where communication is less frequent, that I thought
it useless to send them to you. I have learned, however, that what you
wish to procure from a distance may be found quite near you. There is
no one, I am told, who knows these coasts better, or who is better able
to draw the map you require than Captain Strachan ^ who is in attend-
ance on the Queen of England. What I may write to you in general
is that I am told there are very good harbours in the North of Scotland,
both on the east and west coasts, and especially that of Cromarty,
which is a sort of bay in which any large fleet can remain in safety, and
where the largest ships can enter without danger.*]
CCXXXI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edi7nhourg, ^ Mars l648.
L'ouvERTURE de ce Parlement se fit Jeudi — de ce mois. Le
^ La suite de cette lettre est pareille a celle qui suit adress^e au Cardinal.
- Robert Gordon of Straloch, an eminent geographer and antiquary, native of
Aberdeenshire. The first edition of the Atlas referred to was published in
Amsterdam in 1648.
^ Probably the Major Strahan who came prominently into view two years
later in command of the Scottish army of the West.
* The continuation of this letter is the same as in the one that immediately
follows addressed to the Cardinal.
VOL. II. 2d.
418 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
Chancelier de ce royaume y fut choisi pour president, c'est ainsi
qu'ils nomment celui qui porte la parole, et qui est en Ecosse
ce qu'est le speaker en Angleterre. II ne s"'y est point encore
parle d'aucune affaire publique, et Ton n"'avoit pas mesme
encore hier termine tous les diiFerends qui sont survenus sur le
sujet des elections, qui sont les premieres choses qui se reglent,
et qui ont servi seulement a faire voir que la faction des
Hamilton est absolument la plus puissante dans ce Parlement.
Les Comraissaires Anglois y presenterent un papier le Samedi
suivant, par lequel ils firent savoir qu''ils avoient des lettres du
Parlement d'Angleterre a celui-ci, et demanderent a qui ils
devoient s'adresser pour les rendre; mais on trouva qu'il n'y
avoit pas de Parlement jusqu^a ce qu'^on fut asseure de ceux
qui devoient le composer, et que tous les differends sur le sujet
des elections fussent regies. Cependant quoiqu'on ne perde
pas d'occasion pour me faire entendre que Ton donne le moins
de satisfaction que Ton peut aux dits Commissaires, je trouve
que les remises dont on a use envers eux ne sont pas seulement
utiles aux Ecossois, mais etoient encore en quelque fa^on neces-
saires, puisqu"'encore que les Deputes d' Angleterre eussent ordre
de s''adresser au Comite qui se tenoit ici il y a quelques jours
pour y exposer leur envoi, il est certain qu'ils n'avoient aucun
pouvoir de conclure qu''avec le seul Parlement d'Ecosse, de sorte
que tout ce qui se seroit fait entre eux auparavant se seroit
trouve inutile.
Les Ministres ont resolu de ne plus differer davantage a
publier leur declaration qui est, ainsi qu*'on me dit, ce qu'ils
ont fait jusqu'a present de plus prej udiciable aux interets de
leur roi. De tout le nombre des seculiers qui entrent dans leur
asseniblee — car elle est composee de Ministres et de ceux qu''ils
appellent anciens, qui sont personnes seculieres — il n'y en a eu
que quatre, entre lesquels ont este le Marquis d'Argyle et le
Comte de Casallis, qui ont consente a la publication de cette
remonstrance. II se dit que le premier se declare tous les jours
plus formellement contre le retablissement du roi de la G"" B%
et qu'il a envoye le Comte de Lothian en Angleterre pour
traiter quelque chose a cet effet avec les Independants, et sans
la participation du Due de Hamilton. On dit mesme le
particulier de ce qu'il y va faire, mais avec beaucoup de
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 419
diversite et bien peu de vraisemblance : on ne convient pas
seulement du lieu ou il est alle, et ses amis soutiennent encore
aujourd'huy qu'il est en une maison qu'il a sur les frontieres
d"'Angleterre. II y a peu d^apparence toutefois quMl y fut alle,
ou pour prendre Tair ou pour quelque leger interet, en un temps
ou sa presence pent estre ici fort utile a ceux de son parti.
On dit toujours qu"'il y aura rupture entre les deux nations,
a quoi je ne vols pas plus d''apparence que de contume, et ce
que j'aurois d'autant moins lieu de croire que je vois ceux qui
ont part aux affaires le publier plus asseurement, comme s'ils
croyoient pouvoir vendre la paix aux Independants plus chere-
ment en leur donnant plus d'apprehension de la guerre, en
quoi ils pourroient bien aussi se tromper, puisqu''on a eu avis
que les Independants vouloient employer contre les Ecossois
leurs mesmes armes, et que Cromwell avoit dit qu''ils auroient
meilleure composition d''eux en les mena9ant qu'en leur
donnant.
Le sheriffs ou gouverneur, de Tweedale donna hier avis a ce
Parlement que quelque cent cavaliers Anglois etoient arrives
ensemble le jour precedent dans sa province, qui venaient
chercher de Femploi. On me dit qu''on leur donnera quelque
subsistance, ainsi que Ton fait a ceux qui arrivent ici chaque
jour de TAngleterre en moindre nombre, et qu''on fait passer
pour Presbyteriens, bien quMls aient servi presque tous, dans
les armees du roi de la G*" B"".
II n'y eut pas de Conseil Mardi dernier, et il ne s'en est
point tenu depuis, de sorte quMl ne s^est pas encore parle de
mon affaire. Le Comte de Casallis, qui est President, vint me
voir Mercredi dernier, et bien qu''il soit grand puritain, apres
avoir desapprouve le zele des Ministres, et temoigne que cela
ne passeroient pas plus loin, il me pria de n''en pas ecrire, si ce
qu''il me fait esperer arrevoit. Je supplie tres humblement
V. Em*'® de m"'ordonner si je dois insister a avoir raison des
Ministres, ou ne pas reveiller une affaire deja assoupie.
Le Comte de Stamford vient d"'arriver presentement. On a
donne ordre de faire avancer quelques troupes sur les frontieres.
[MoNTEREUii to Cardinal Mazabin. Edinburgh, ^ March 1648.
The opening of Parliament took place here on Thursday ^ of this month.
The Chancellor of this kingdom was elected president It is thus they
420 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
name the person who presides, who is in Scotland as the Speaker in
England. No public business has yet been done, and I was told yesterday
they had not yet settled all the disputes that have arisen concerning the
elections, which is the first matter to be attended to, and which have
served merely to show that the Hamilton faction is absolutely the most
powerful in this Parliament.
The English Commissioners presented to Parliament, on the Saturday
following, a paper by which they intimated that they had letters for it
from the English Parliament, and asked to whom they ought to apply in
order to deliver them, but it was found that there was no Parliament
until it had been determined who was to compose it, and until all dis-
puted questions concerning the elections were settled. Although no
opportunity is lost in order to make me understand that these Commis-
sioners obtain the least satisfaction possible, yet it seems to me that the
delays imposed on them are not only useful to the Scots, but are also in
some measure necessary, since although the English Commissioners may
have had order to apply to the committee, which existed here a few days
ago, in order to explain the reason of their being sent, it is certain that
they had no authority to conclude anything but with the Parliament of
Scotland, so all that would have been done between them previously
would have been considered useless.
The clergy have resolved not to delay any longer the publication of
their declaration, which is, from what I learn, the most prejudicial step
in opposition to the interests of their king that they have yet taken. ^
Of all the number of lay members in their assembly — for it is composed
of the clergy and of those whom they call elders — there were only four
who consented to the publication of this remonstrance, and of these were
the Marquis of Argyle and the Earl of Casallis. It is said the former
declares himself daily more and more openly opposed to the restoration
of the King of Great Britain, and that he has sent the Earl of Lothian
into England- to treat of something to that effect with the Independents
without the Duke of Hamilton having any part in it. The details of
what he has gone to do are related in a great variety of ways, few of which
are likely. People are not even agreed as to where he has gone : his
friends declare even to-day that he is in one of his houses on the English
border. There is, however, little likelihood that he has gone there for a
^ Guthry thus refers to this ti3.nsa.clion, Memoir, p. 213: 'The committee of
the church presented to Parliament their declaration against the king's conces-
sions. The Parliament gave it to the several bodies to be considered of,
commanding them in the meantime not to publish it until Parliament should be
further advised. Notwithstanding which the committee of the church caused it
to be printed March 12, after which Parliament desired it might not be spread
until further advertisement ; but nevertheless the committee made an act for
reading it in all the kirks of the kingdom, and presently sent it away to the
several presbyteries for that effect. And forasmuch as the Parliament dispensed
with those things, the jealousy which Royalists had always entertained of the
Duke and his brother Lanark was much increased, that they and the Marquis of
Argyle were not so opposite in their designs as they professed.'
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 421
change of air or for anything of trifling importance at a time when his
presence might be very useful here to those of his party.
It is still said that there will be a rupture between the two nations, of
which I see no more appearance than usual, which I consider so much
the less likely when I hear those_who have part in public affairs announc-
ing it with more assurance, as if they believed they might sell peace at
a higher price to the Independents by giving them greater apprehension
of war, in which they may very well be mistaken, since notice has been
received that the Independents wanted to employ against the Scots their
own weapons and that Cromwell had said he would make more out of the
Scots by threatening them than by giving them anything.
The Sheriff of Tweeddale gave notice to Parliament yesterday that some
hundred English horsemen had arrived together iu his county the pre-
vious day, in quest of employment. I am told they are provided with
food, as has been done with those that arrive here each day from Eng-
land in smaller numbers, and who are passed off as Presbyterians,
although they have almost all served in the armies of the King of Great
Britain.
There was no meeting of Council of State on Tuesday last, and none
has been held since, so that no mention has been made of my affair.
The Earl of Casallis, who is president of council, came to see me on
Wednesday last, and although he is a great puritan, after having dis-
approved of the zeal of the clergy, and stated that the matter would go no
further, he begged me not to write about it, if what he led me to hope
might happen. I beg you to instruct me as to whether I ought to insist
on having the upper hand over the clergy, or not to revert to a matter
that has already been quieted down.
The Earl of Stamford has just arrived. Orders have been given to
advance some troops on the border.
CCXXXII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, ^ Mars l648.
Les diiferends qui etoient survenus dans ce Parlement sur le
sujet des elections furent termines Mercredi dernier d"'assez
bonne heure pour donner temps au Chancelier d''Ecosse de y
representer les dangers ou se trouvoient exposes leur religion,
leur roi, et leurs fortunes, et cela avec des termes qui pouvoient
faire naitre dans Tesprit de ceux qui etoient presents, de la com-
passion pour leur prince et de la haine contre les Independants.
II declara aussi quMl etoit si peu vray qu''il se fut defait des
bons sentiments qu'il avoit temoigne a son retour d'Angleterre,
comme on essayoit de le faire croire, qu'il vouloit donner par
ecrit la substance de ce qu'il avoit dit en arrivant, — ainsi qu'il
MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
fit, — et dont il re^ut des remerciements au nom de toute
Tassemblee. On remarqua toutefois qu''apres que le dit
Chancelier eut propose de lever une armee, il se fit a lui-meme
une objection un peu dangereuse, — qu'on pourroit craindre
que le parti des Eveques ne tirat avantage de la querelle des
Presbyteriens et Independants, — a quoi il repondit, qu'il seroit
de la prudence du Parlement, en travaillant a abattre Tlnde-
pendance, de prendre les moyens propres pour empescher le
parti des eveques, — c'est a dire les serviteurs du roi de la G' B',
de se relever, — soit qu''il le dit pour leur nuire, ou seulement
pour oter lieu aux Puritains de se plaindre et s"'opposer aux
bonnes intentions que plusieurs croyent que les Hamiltons ont
aujourd''huy. Cependant pour travailler avec plus de facilite et
plus de secret, on resolut le jour suivant de nommer quelque
petit nombre de personnes, du corps de la noblesse, des gentils-
hommes et du peuple, qui considereroient les dangers qui les
menacent, et les moyens avec lesquels on pourroit y remedier,
ce qu"'ils appellerent le Comite des dangers. lis en etablirent
encore quelques uns pour revoir les choses qui se sont passees
depuis le dernier parlement, pour regler les Excices et aviser
aux moyens d''avoir de Targent, et d'autres de semblable nature.
Mais ce qui est assez considerable, c^est que le Marquis d'Argyle
n'a que cinq personnes de sa faction des dix-huit qui ont ete
nommes dans ce principal Comite, que j'ay marques avec des
etoiles, dans la liste que je joins a cette lettre, et que Ton tient
pour tres asseure que ce Marquis lui-meme n''en eut pas ete, si
le Due de Hamilton — je ne puis dire avec quelle intention —
n'eut prie ceux de son parti de ne Ten pas exclure. Ce Comite
aide par les amis de ceux du parti du Due, qui par les profes-
sions qu''il a faites de vouloir embrasser les interets du roi
de la G*^ B"" s"'est fortifie de tout ce qui lui restoit ici des
serviteurs, en sorte qu'il passe de trente ou trente six voix celui
d'Argyle dans le Parlement. Ce Comite, dis-je, fit des Vendredi
dernier Tebauche d^un papier par lequel il se declaire qu"*il est
necessaire de prendre les armes pour maintenir le Presbyteriat,
supprimer notre religion, TAtheisme, les Heresies et les Schismes
qui sont en Angleterre — car toutes ces choses se mettent ici
en meme rang pour tirer le roi de la G*" B"" des mains des
Independants qui le tiennent prisonnier, le retablir en son trone
et en ses justes prerogatives, et particulierement pour lui faire
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 423
rendre la voix negative, et la milice, qu''ils aiment mieux entre
ses mains qu'en celles de leurs ennemis. Le Chancelier et le
Comte de Lanark ont travaille ensemble depuis dix jours, a
donner une meilleure forme a cette declaration, qui doit con-
tenter, a ce qu''on me dit, ceux qui ont le plus d'interet au
retablissement de leur roi, pourvu que Ton n'y change aucune
chose, ainsi que quelques uns Tapprehendent. Elle eut peu
estre presentee aujourd'huy au Parlement si une affaire peu
attendue qui survint hier, et dont je rendrai compte a
V. Em^® avant de finir ma lettre, ne Teut empeche, de sorte
qu'encore que les Ministres aient public leur declaration, que
j"'ay envoye au sieur du Bosc, n'ayant pas eu le temps pour la
traduire, et qu'ils prechent plus insolemment qu''ils n"'avoient
encore fait contre leur roi et contre la guerre qui se pourroit
faire en sa faveur, — jusqu'a dire qu''apres avoir emprisonne le
furieux et lui avoir mis les fers aux pieds, il se falloit bien
garder de lui rendre la liberte et de lui mettre Tepee a la main.
On ne laisse pas de croire quMl y aura une nouvelle armee sur
pieds dans fort peu de jours; on me dit meme qu'il est deja
comme arrete ; qu'elle suivra les ordres d"'un Conseil qui sera
etabli pour ce sujet ; que cela a empeche le Comte de Callendar
d'en vouloir prendre la conduite, et qu'ainsi les anciens officiers
generaux commanderont cette armee que Ton mettra sur pied
ce semble d'autant plustost qu'on menace ce Parlement de la
marche de celle du Chev"" Fairfax vers le Nord, et que le bruit
est si grand de la surprise que les Ecossois veulent faire de
Berwick et de Carlisle, a quoi donne assez de sujet la marche
du peu de troupes qu'ils ont vers les frontieres d"'Angleterre,
que s''ils ont ce dessein ils doivent craindre d'estre prevenus, s'ils
n'en hatent Fexecution.
Cest, Monsg', ce qui c''est passe ici depuis huit jours, et qui
donne sujet a plusieurs personnes d'honneur qui desirent le
retablissement de leur roi de mieux esperer qu'^auparavant des
interets de ce prince.
De moi, Monsg', comme j''ay creu qu'il etoit de mon devoir de
ne pas taire a V. Em*^® leurs sentiments, il m''a semble que je
devois attendre au moins jusqu'au prochain ordinaire a y
joindre les miens, tant parce qu'il me reste fort peu de temps
pour le faire que pour m'asseurer d'une chose que je crois
encore tres incertaine. Ce que je prendrai la hardiesse de dire
424 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
presentement a V. Em*'® est, que le Prince de Galles ne doit pas
ce semble s'engager a venir ici sur des esperances si douteuses,
et que s'il est vray qull ait pris cette resolution, il doit au
moins attendre pour Fexecuter que les Ecossois aient bien con-
firmes par leurs actions les promesses qu''ils lui auront faites.
Les Anglois se sont asseures de Berwick. Les Commissaires
d'Angleterre qui sont ici en ont donne avis ce matin au Parle-
ment d'Ecosse par une lettre qu'ils ont ecrite au dit Parlement,
sur ce sujet, et ont fait savoir quails avoient prevenu les desseins
de quelques serviteurs du roi de la G"^ B*" qui avoient resolu de
s'en emparer au prejudice des deux nations ; et qu'ils ne pre-
tendoient pas avoir rien fait contre leurs traites en empeschant
les desseins de ceux qui sont ennemis des deux Royaumes. La
lettre des Commissaires d'Angleterre a este renvoye au Comite
des dangers qui a eu charge d'examiner leurs premiers papiers
et auxquels on n'a point encore fait de reponse. On donne
argent et subsistance a tous les Anglois qui viennent ici.
Toutes ces choses feront assez juger a V. Em^^ le peu d'appar-
ence qu'il y a d'avoir presentement des troupes de ce royaume.
Je trouve meme que le Comte d' Angus a son ordinaire ne se
met pas beaucoup en peine d'executer les promesses qu'il
m'avoit faites touchant ce qui lui reste encore d'hommes a
envoyer pour Targent qu'il a receu : cependant les Capitaines de
son regiment attendent toujours qu'il se resoude quelque chose
dans les affaires publiques pour voir ce qu'ils pourront faire, et
me temoignent souvent que comme la rencontre des choses les
empesche de lever leurs compagnies, il seroit de la bonte de
V. Em^® de leur faire toucher leur quartier d'hiver.
Au reste, Monsg', les circonstances du combat qui devoit se
faire entre le Marquis d'Argyle et le Comte de Crawford, a qui
le Colonel Innis et le Comte de Lanark servoient de seconds, se
tiennent si secretes par ceux qui les doivent le mieux savoir, et
se publient en tant de famous par tous les autres, que j'ay juge
plus a propos de n'en rien ecrire du tout a V. Em*^®. On doute
meme encore qui est Tagresseur, quoiqu''il semble que le
Marquis d'Argyle Tait ete, et a qu''il a tenu de se battre;
quoiqu'on donne aussi cet honneur au dit Marquis, le Comte
de Crawford ayant ofFert de vider leur querelle seul a, seul, sur
le refus que faisoit Innis de tirer Tepee contre le Comte de
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 425
Lanark. Ce qu'on en dit de plus asseure est, que ceux qui
devoient les separer etant arrives par malheur une heure apres
quMls ont ete tous quatre au lieu du combat, ils les ont trouve
qui mettoient par ecrit le sujet de leur differend.
Cependant, comme on se persuade que toutes les actions des
Argyles et des Hamiltons soient pleines de deguisement, on
veut encore que leurs querelles soient feintes, — qu"'ils aient fait
croire qu'ils se vouloient battre seulement pour faire voir qu'ils
n'etoient pas amis. Enfin que le roi de la Gr' B' et le Prince
de Galles soient pour tirer plus de desavantages de cette partie
que ceux entre qui elle s'etoit liee, quoi qu'elle ne leur ait pas
ete fort glorieuse.
Le IVIarquis d'Argyle et le Comte de Crawford ont ete mis
d''accord aujourd'huy.
L'lste des noms de ceux qui composent le Comite des Dangers.
Nobles : Le Due de Hamilton, *le Marquis d'Argyle, le Comte
de Crawford, le Comte de Lauderdale, le Comte de Lanark, le
Comte de Calender. Gentilshommes : Innerpefer, Lye, Humby,
*Warriston,Colington,Amiston. Bourgeois: Archibald Syderf,
leChev'' Witherspoon, Patrick Lesley,*GeorgePoterfil,*Guillame
Clandenin, *Thomas Kennedy.^
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ March 1648.
All matters in dispute connected with the elections to this Parliament
were settled on 'W^ednesday at an early hour so as to allow time to the
Chancellor of Scotland to represent the dangers to which their religion,
their king and their fortunes were exposed, which he did in terms well
calculated to produce in the minds of those who heard him feelings of
compassion for their prince and hatred against the Independents. He
declared also that it was so little true that he had got quit of the good
sentiments he manifested on his return from England, as it had been
tried to make people believe, that he wished to give in writing the sub-
stance of what he had then said, which he did, and received in return a
vote of thanks in the name of all present. It was remarked, however,
that he made himself a somewhat dangerous objection, that it was to be
feared that the party in favour of the bishops might derive advantage
through the quarrel between Presbyterians and Independents ; to which
he also replied, that it would be prudent on the part of Parliament in
^ Cette liste ne se trouve pas a la fin de la lettre qui precede adressee au Cardinal
Mazarin, mais a la fin d'une adressee par M. de Montereul a M. le Comte de
Brienne vers la meme date.
426 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
trying to crush Independency to adopt the means best adapted to prevent
the party for the bishops, viz. the followers of the King of Great Britain,
from regaining any power. It may be that he said so to injure this
latter party, or that his purpose was simply to remove all subject of com-
plaint from the Puritans and prevent them from opposing the good
intentions that several believe the Hamiltons have at present. However,
in order to engage therein with greater facility and secrecy, it was resolved
on the following day to appoint a small number of persons belonging to
the nobility, the gentry, and the people, who would take into consideration
the dangers with which they were threatened and the means that might
be provided to obviate them, which they call the Danger Committee.
They also appointed several other committees, in order to pass in review
what had been done since the last Parliament ; to regulate the excise, to
consult as to the means of procuring money, and for other matters of a
similar nature. But, what is rather important, of the eighteen persons
who were appointed to form the pi'incipal committee there were but five
that belong to the Marquis of Argyle's faction, whose names I have
marked with an asterisk in the list I add to this letter, and it is con-
sidered certain that the marquis himself would not have been appointed had
not the Duke of Hamilton — I cannot say with what intention — begged
those of his party not to exclude him. This committee, aided by the
friends of those of the duke's party, which, on account of the professions
made by its leader to wish to sustain the interests of the King of Great
Britain, has been strengthened by all that remained here of the king's
followers, so that it exceeds by thirty or thirty-six votes that of the
Argyle party in Parliament — this committee, I was about to say,
drew up on Friday last the first outline of a paper in which it declares it
is necessary to take arms in order to maintain Presbyterianism, suppress
our religion, atheism, the heresies and sects that are in England —
for all these things are put in the same category — in order to deliver the
King of Great Britain from the hands of the Independents, who hold him
prisoner, and to reinstate him on the throne with his just prerogatives,
and specially to have restored to him the right of veto and the militia,
which they prefer to see in his hands than in those of their enemies.
The Chancellor and the Earl of Lanark have been engaged together
during the last ten days in putting this declaration into a better form,
and I am told it ought to satisfy those who desire most their king's
restoration, provided nothing in it be changed, which some persons
apprehend. It would have been presented to Parliament to-day had not
an unexpected circumstance, which I shall relate to you before finishing
my letter, prevented it from being brought forward ; so that although
the clergy have published their declaration, which I have sent to M. du
Bosc, not having had time to translate it, and although they preach more
insolently than ever against their king and against the war that may be
made in his favour, they even go so far as to say that having imprisoned
the madman and put his feet in fetters good care should be taken not to
set him at liberty and put a sword in his hand. It is still believed that
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 427
there will be a uew army on foot in a very few days. It is even said to
have been in some measure decided upon, and that it will be under the
direction of a council to be appointed ad hoc, which has prevented the
Earl of Callander from wishing to take the command of it, so that the
former general officers will command this army, which will be raised so
much sooner by reason of this Parliament being threatened by the
advance of the army of Sir Thomas Fairfax towards the north, since it has
been so noised about that the Scots wish to surprise Berwick and Carlisle,
to which the march of the few troops they have towards the English
border gives sufficient ground. If they have any such intention they ought
to fear being forestalled if they do not hasten to put it into execution.
These are the most important events that have taken place here during
the last eight days, and which have given reason to several honourable
persons who wish the restoration of their king to look more hopefully
than formerly on the welfare of this prince. For my part, as I thought
it my duty not to conceal from you their sentiments, it seems to me that
I ought to wait at least until the next mail to add my own to them, both
because there remains very little time for me to do it in, as in order to
assure myself of a matter which I still believe very uncertain. I shall
merely venture to add at present that the Prince of Wales ought not, it
seems, to engage to come here on hopes so doubtful, and that if it be true
that he has so decided, he ought at least to wait before carrying out his
decision until the Scots may have confirmed by their acts the promises
they have made to him.
The English have assured themselves of Berwick. The English Com-
missioners who are here gave intimation of it by letter to the Scottish
Parliament this morning, and have intimated that they had forestalled
the intentions of some of the king's followers who had resolved to seize
upon it to the detriment of both nations, and that they did not pretend to
do anj'thing contrary to their treaties in defeating the designs of those
who are enemies to both kingdoms. The letter of the English Com-
missioners has been referred to the Committee of Dangers which has been
charged with examining their first papers, to which they have not yet
made any reply. Money and food are given to all the English that come
here. All these matters will enable you to judge the little likelihood
there is of having troops from this kingdom at present. I find even that
the Earl of Douglas, as usual, does not give himself much trouble to fulfil
the promises he made me concerning the men he has still to send for the
money he has received : yet the captains of his regiment are still ex-
pecting that some settlement may be come to in public aflFairs so as to see
what they will be able to do, and state to me often, that as circumstances
prevent them from raising their companies, it would be kind of you to let
them have their pay for the winter quarter.
Tlie circumstances connected with the duel which was to have taken
place between the Marquis of Argyle and the Earl of Crawford ^ with
^ See Appendix, Note T.
428 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [MARCH
their seconds^ Colonel Innis and the Earl of Lanark, are kept so secret
by those who ought to know the most about it, and is related in such a
variety of ways by all others, that I judged it better not to write anything
at all of it to you. It is still doubted even who was the aggressor, although
it seems to have been the Marquis of Argyle, and that he insisted on
fighting, and although this honour is thus given to the marquis, the Earl
of Crawford is said to have offered on the refusal of Innis to draw his sword
against the Earl of Lanark to settle their quarrel man to man. ^V^hat
seems best known in the matter is that those who were to separate them,
having arrived unfortunately an hour after they had been all four on the
ground found them occupied in putting into writing the cause of their dif-
ference. However, as people are persuaded that all the acts of the Argyles
and Hamiltons are full of disguises, they pretend that their quarrels are
shammed, that they wish to make it believed they intend to fight simply
to show they are not friends. In short, I hope the King of Great Britain
and the Prince of Wales may derive more profit from this game than
those who were engaged in it, whose part therein does not seem to have
been very glorious.
The Marquis o'f Argyle and the Earl of Crawford have been reconciled
to each other to-day.
Names of those who form the Danger Committee.
Nobles. The Duke of Hamilton, * Marquis of Argyle, Earl of
Crawford, Earl of Lauderdale, Earl of Lanark, Earl of Callander.
Gentry. Imnerpefer, Lee, Humby, * Warriston, Collington, Arniston.
Commoners. Archibald Sydcerf, Sir — Wotherspoon, Patrick Leslie,
* George Poterfil, * William Clandenin, * Thomas Kennedy.]
CCXXXIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, — Mars 1648.
Je me donnai Thonneur il y huit jours d'ecrire a V. Em*'®
que ce Parlement travailloit sur une declaration qui sembloit
pouvoir contribuer au retablissement du roi de laG'"B'",mais outre
qu'en la mettant en meilleure forme, on Pa rendue moins utile
aux interets du dit roi, sous pretexte de la rendre plus support-
able au parti d' Argyle et au clerge de ce royaume, on arreta
encore Mercredi dernier, qu'avant de la faire voir on la com-
muniquerait aux Ministres, que Ton sait qui ne consenteront
jamais a sa publication tant qu''ils croiront que le roi de la
G"" B'' en pourra tirer quelque avantage. Le Chancelier d'Ecosse
fut celui qui contribua le plus a le faire ainsi ordonner, car
on trouve que ses actions ne repondent pas bien a ses paroles, et
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 429
Ton commence a juger qu'il ne fait tant de belles professions
de vouloir servir son roi que pour presider en ce Parlement, et
pour se mettre par ce moyen plus en etat de luy nuire. Aussi
non seulement les Ministres ne demeurerent pas d^accord, que
cette declaration fut publiee, mais ils presenterent a ceux que
leur avoient ete envoyes de la part du Parlement, un nouveau
serment qu'ils veulent faire prendre par tous ceux de leur
nation, dont voici les principaux articles :
1® Que personne ne se pourra mettre en devoir de travailler
a la restitution du roi de la G' B"" en ses justes droits, avant
que le dit roi ait signe et jure le Covenant.
2® Que les Catholiques et les Prelats seront entierement
mines, com me aussi ceux qui font profession de TErastianism
et des autres sectes.
3® Qu''on ne s'unira, en quelque fa^on que ce puisse etre, dans
le trois royaumes, avec ceux qui ont servi le parti de leur
roi.
4® Que ces articles seront ajoutes au serment que font les rois
a leur coronation, et qu'il sera pris par tous ceux qui suc-
cederont a cette couronne.
5® Que le roi de la G' B' n"'aura point de voix negative, mais
sera oblige de consentir a toutes les choses qui lui seront
proposees par ses Parlements.
6® Que ceux qui refiiseront de prendre ce serment seront
declares incapable d'aucune charge, tant civile qu"'ecclesiastique,
et seront encore punis par la privation de tous leurs biens.
C'est, Monsg', ce que contient ce nouveau serment, qui m''a
semble d'abord si etrange, puisqu'il oblige a promettre des
choses qui ne sont pas au pouvoir de ceux que Ton forcera de le
prendre, que j"'aurois doute que ce que j''en avois seu de fort
bonne part fut veritable, si le Due de Hamilton, m''etant venu
voir Samedi dernier, ne m''avoit asseure que c"'etoit la substance
d'un plus long papier qui leur avoit ete presente par les Ministres,
et qu''il avoit eu entre les mains, mais qui demeureroit sans effet,
— ce que plusieurs autres ne croyent pas.
Ce Parlement avoit aussi prie les Ministres de se contenter
que leur declaration, que j''envoyai il y a huit jours, eut este
imprimee, sans la vouloir faire lire dans les Eglises, et sur
le refus qu'ils en firent, quelques uns avoient ete d'avis qu'on
430 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
joignit les menaces aux prieres qu"*©!! leur avoit faites ; mais le
Due de Hamilton Tempescha, et dit que ce seroit assez que tous
ceux de leur parti se levassent, quand on commenceroit a
en faire la lecture en TEglise du Parlement. Cependant ce
bniit s"'etant repandu par toute la ville, le ministre qui fit
leur preche, n"'en parla point, parce qu'elle avoit ete deja
lue devant eux, de sorte que ce rare expedient est demeure
inutile. De trois ou quatre ministres qui semblent n'avoir pas
encore tout-a-fait renonce, comme les autres, au devoir de sujets,
sur la promesse que ceux du parti de Hamilton leur ont faite
de les proteger, les uns ne la leurent point, et les autres pro-
testerent qu'ils la lisoient parce qu'on les y avoit forces.
Quelque apologie qu''aient fait ici les Deputes d'Angleterre
touchant Berwick, il n'y a point encore de garnison. On s''est
contente de faire prendre les amies aux habitants de la dite
ville, afin de se garantir de surprise, et il ne se dit rien encore
de semblable touchant Carlisle. Cela n'empesche pas que ce
Parlement n''ait mis en deliberation, ce qu''il y auroit a faire
sur le sujet de ces deux villes, et afin que Ton pent agir
en meme temps avec plus de diligence et de secret, on a etabli
un Comite, qui est compose des memes personnes qui avoient
ete choisies pour remedier aux dangers qui fmenacoient ce
royaume, a la reserve des trois Bourgeois du parti d'Argyle,
en place desquels on en a mis trois autres de celui de Hamilton,
et on leur a donne plein pouvoir de faire toutes les choses qu'ils
jugeront a propos pour la seurete des confins de ce Royaume,
et de ces deux places, seulement contre les desseins que quel-
ques malignants et autres personnes mal afFectionnes pourroient
faire de s''en emparer. Le Marquis d'Argyle, qui s'etoit op-
pose, mais inutilement, a Tetablissement de ce Comite, comme
on le nomma pour y assister, repondit qu"'il ne pouvoit etre du
nombre de ceux qu^il avoit soutenu qui ne se pouvoient legi-
timement assembler, et apres avoir donne une protestation, par
laquelle il declaroit que Ton ne pouvoit etablir un Comite pour
s''asseurer de ces deux places sans rompre I'union entre les deux
nations et violer le covenant qui a ete pris en partie pour
ce sujet, et sortit suivi de tous ceux de sa faction, qui consiste
en onze seigneurs et quelque trente ou trente deux, tant gentils-
hommes que bourgeois. Ceux du parti de Hamilton qui etoient
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 431
demeures seuls dans la salle du Parlement, mirent en delibera-
tion s'ils defendroient au Marquis et a ceux de son parti
de rentrer, ou s'ils le leur commanderoient sans peine d'etre
prives de leur places, ce qui etoit Tavis le plus general,
mais le Comte de Traquair montrant encore un tour d'ami
au Marquis d'Argyle, dont il semble qu'il ait depuis pen aban-
donne le parti, dit qu'il etoit important qu'il ne parut pas
qu'il y eut entre eux de si grandes divisions, et qu'il seroit
mieux de les prier avec civilites de revenir, ce que le Due de
Hamilton appuya, en sorte qu'ils rentrerent sur la priere qui
leur en fut faite. On a depuis Vendredi jusqu'a ce jour agi
sur cette maxime, et Ton n'a pas seulement essaye de travailler
de concert dans le Parlement, mais encore d'entretenir une
bonne intelligence entre le Parlement et TAssemblee du Clerge
de ce royaume, mais avec si peu de succes que le Marquis
d'Argyle n'assiste pas encore aujourd'huy a ce Comite, et
que les Ministres, au lieu de Tapprouver, refuserent hier de
se trouver avec ceux qui leur ont ete deputes par le Parlement
pour cet effet, de sorte qu'il semble que ni les uns ni les
autres ne se veulent point separer de leur premieres resolu-
tions, et qu'ils s'opposeront a toutes les choses qu'ils croiront
pouvoir contribuer au retablissement de leur roi.
Les longeurs qu'apporte le dessein de cette union, que tous
les serviteurs du roi de la G"" B'' jugent ou impossible ou pre-
judiciable a leur maitre, les a presque jettes dans un desespoir
qui n'a plus de fondement que les vaines esperances qu'il
s'etoient formees il y a huit jours. De moi, Mg*", comma je
n'esperois pas beaucoup alors, je ne desespere pas encore tout-
a-fait presentement, car bien qu'il semble que si le Due de
Hamilton ne s'entend pas avec le Marquis d'Argyle il ne devoit
pas perdre Toccasion qu'il avoit de le chasser du Parlement ; il
se pent faire que le dit Due ait apprehende que le parti du roi
de la G"^ B' ne devint plus puissant que le sien, celui d'Argyle
n'y etant plus, et ainsi que ses propres interets Taient oblige a
conserver une personne qu'il eut voulu perdre sans cette con-
sideration. Et pour ce qui est du Comite qui a ete ordonne
pour s'asseurer de Berwick et de Carlisle, qui a fait deja tant
de bruit qu'il semble que ces MM. aient voulu avertir les
Anglois de les prevenir, si le Comte de Lothian n'a point fait
432 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
avec eux quelque chose de plus que les avertir; on peut re-
pondre qu"*!! etoit difficile qu''une entreprise de cette nature qui
dependoit de Pa vis de plusieurs personnes, et de personnes
d'avis differents, fut conduite avec grand secret, et executee
avec beaucoup de diligence, outre qu'il se peut faire aussi que
ceux qui composent le Co mite fassent eclater les divisions qui
sont entre eux pour mieux couvrir le dessein qu'ils peuvent
avoir de se saisir de ces deux villes, — ce que nous saurons dans
peu de jours. De sorte qu''il n''est pas encore impossible qu'il
n"")^ ait guerre entre les Independants et les Ecossois ; ce que
j*'ay d^autant plus de raison de croire que plusieurs accidents
peuver causer entre eux une rupture, contre Tintention des uns
et des autres ; mais ce dont Ton peut comme s''asseurer, c"'est
que quelque chose qu''ils se proposent en apparence, ils ne
pretendent rien moins en eff'et que de retablir le roi de la
G"" B% de sorte qu''il s*'agit seulement de savoir qui demeurera
maitre en Ecosse, — du Due de Hamilton ou de Marquis
d'Argyle, — et en Angleterre des Presbyteriens ou les Inde-
pendants. V. Em^® jugera aisement par toutes ces choses ce
que peut esperer ici le Prince de Galles. Aussi etant tombe
sur le discours du dit Prince, avec le Due de Hamilton, il m*'a
dit qu'il ne doutoit point qu'il ne fut ici en seurete de sa
personne, mais que si les Ministres ne changeoient d'avis ils
n'aideroient pas beaucoup a avancer ses interets. II m'a
temoigne encore qu'il falloit tacher a les gaigner parce que
bien qu""!! eut plus de pouvoir qu''eux dans le Parlement, ils en
avoient plus que lui dans le royaume. Enfin le dit Due me fit
voir qu'il ne veut rien mettre au hazard, et qu'il pense bien
plus a ses interets qu'il ne fait a ceux de son maitre.
On a eu ici nouvelles que deux cornettes de cavalerie ont
passe d'Angleterre en Ecosse. On me dit que les habitants de
Berwick ont envoye asseurer ici quMls sont prets de mettre leur
place entre les mains des Ecossois, et que My Lord Inchequin,
serviteur de son roi, et depuis du Parlement d'Angleterre, ofFre
de passer ici avec six mille hommes si Ton veut y faire quelque
chose pour le roi de la G' B"". V. Em''® voit le peu d'apparence
quMl y a d'avoir des hommes en cette conjoncture d'affaires.
Le sieur Marshal, ministre de MM. les Commissaires d"* Ang-
leterre, partit d'ici Vendredi matin.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 433
[MoNTEREtx to Cahdinai. Mazarin. Edinburgh, " March 1648.
I WROTE eight days ago to inform you that this Parliament was engaged in
preparing a declaration which might apparently contribute to the restora-
tion of the King of Great Britain, but besides putting this declaration into a
better form they have rendered it less useful to the king's interests under
pretext of rendering it more acceptable to the Argyle party and to the
clergy of the kingdom. It was again decided on AVednesday last that
before it be issued it should be communicated to the clerg}', who it is
known will never consent to its publication so long as they believe the
King of Great Britain will be able to derive any advantage from it. The
Chancellor of Scotland was the one who most contributed to this arrange-
ment, for it is found that his actions do not correspond with his words,
and people begin to judge he but makes such fine protestations of wishing
to serve his prince in order to preside in Parliament and by this means
be better able to injure him. Thus not only are the clergy opposed to
the publication of this declaration, but they presented to those who had
been deputed to them on the part of Parliament a new oath which they
wish to be taken by all their nation, of which the following are the
principal articles.
1st, That no one shall engage to bring about the restoration of the
King of Great Britain to his just rights before the said king has signed
the Covenant and sworn to maintain it.
2nd, That Catholics and the Prelates shall be entirely put down, as
also those who profess Erastianism and the other sects.
3rd, That no alliance, of any kind whatever, shall be entered into,
within the three kingdoms, with those who have served the party of their
king.
4th, That the present articles shall be added to the oath the king takes
on his coronation, and shall be sworn to by all who succeed to his crov\-n.
5th, Tliat the King of Great Britain shall have no power of veto, but
shall be obliged to consent to everything that will be proposed to him
by his Parliaments.
6th, That those who refuse to take this oath shall be regarded as
incapable of any civil or ecclesiastical charge, and shall be further
punished by being deprived of all their substance.
Such is the tenor of this new oath, which appeared to me at first
sight so strange, since it would oblige people whom they might force to
take it to promise things out of their power to perform, that I felt
disposed to doubt its being authentic, although I had it on very good
authority, had not the Duke of Hamilton, who came to see me on Satur-
day last, assured me that it was the substance of a longer paper that had
been presented to them by the clergy, and that he had had it in his hands,
but that it would remain without any result, which several others do
not believe. This Parliament had also begged the clergy to be satisfied
with having had their declaration printed, of which I sent you a copy
eight days ago, without having it read in their churches, and on their
VOL. II. 2 E
434 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [march
refusal to consent some members were of opinion that they ought to join
threats to the requests they had made to them, but the Duke of Hamilton
prevented it, and said it would be enough that all those of their party rose
up when they might begin to have it read in the Parliament Church.
However, this rumour having been circulated through all the town, the
clergyman who preached to them made no mention of it, because it had
already been read before them, so that this expedient became useless. Of
the three or four clergymen who appear not to have altogether renounced,
as the others, their duty as subjects, some did not read it, on the promise
of protection made to them by the Hamilton party, and others did it
under protest that they were forced to do it.
In spite of the apology made by the English Commissioners regarding
the occupation of Berwick, the town has not yet received a garrison.
They have been satisfied with simply giving arms to the inhabitants, in
order to guarantee it against a surprise. Nothing similar has yet been
stated about Carlisle. What has been done therein has not prevented
this Parliament from discussing as to what might be done on the subject
of these two towns ; and so as to act at once with diligence and secrecy a
committee has been appointed, composed of the same persons that had
l)een selected in order to obviate the dangers that threaten this kingdom,
with the exception of the three burgesses of the Argyle party, who have
"been replaced by three others of the Hamiltons, and full power has been
given to them to do all they judge necessary for the safety of the border
of this kingdom and of these two places, only against the designs of
malicious and badly disposed persons who might obtain possession of
them. The Marquis of Argyle, having vainly opposed the appointment
of this committee, on his being named a member of it, replied that he
could not form one of a committee that he had maintained could not
legally meet, and after having given a protest, in which he declared that
one could not establish a committee in order to be assured of these two
places without violating the union between the two nations and breaking
the Covenant which had been entered into partly on this subject, he left
the Parliament followed by all those of his faction, that includes eleven
lords and thirty or thirty-two gentry and burgesses. Those of the
Hamilton party being thus left alone in the Parliament House began to
deliberate as to whether they would prohibit the marquis and those of
his party from returning, or if they would command them to do so under
the penalty of being deprived of their seats, which latter was the most
general opinion, but the Earl of Traquair did hereupon a friendly turn
to the Marquis of Argyle, whose party he seems lately to have left, by
remarking that it was important not to allow it to appear there were so
great divisions, among them, and that it would be better to beg them civilly
to return, which the Duke of Hamilton supported, so that they returned
on the request that was made to them. Since Friday until to-day they
have acted on this maxim of union, and have not only tried to transact
business in conceit in Parliament, but also to keep up a good understand-
ing between Parliament and the Assembly of the clergy of this kingdom.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 436
but with so little success that the Marquis of Argyle was not yet present
at the meeting of this committee to-day, and the clergy, instead of
approving of it, refused yesterday to meet those who had been deputed
to them by Parliament for this object, so that it seems neither the one
party nor the other will give up their first resolutions, and that they will
oppose everything they believe might contribute to the restoration of their
king. The delays caused by this proposed union, which all the followers of
the King of Great Britain consider either impraticable or prejudicial to
their master, have driven these followers almost to despair, which is not
more reasonable than the vain hopes they had formed eight days ago.
For my part as I did not hope much then, I do not quite despair now ;
for although it appears that if the Duke of Hamilton be not acting in
concert with the Marquis of Argyle he ought not to be missed the oppor-
tunity he had of turning him out of Parliament, it may be that the duke
feared the party of the King of Great Britain would thereby become
more powerful than his, that of Argyle being absent, and that thus his
own interests may have obliged him to retain a person who without that
consideration he would have wished to defeat. And as regards this
committee that has been appointed in order to make certain of Berwick
and Carlisle — about which such a noise has been made that it seems as if
they had wished to imform the English of it so that they might be before-
hand with them — if the Earl of Lothian may not have done something
more than inform them of it — it may be replied that it was difficult to
conduct an undertaking of this nature, which depended on the opinion of
several persons, and of persons of different opinions, with great secrecy
or diligence, besides it may also be that those who form this committee
may give publicity to the divisions that exist among them, the better to
conceal the intention they have of capturing the two towns, which we
shall know in a few days. So it is not yet impossible but that there may
be war between the Independents and the Scots, which I have so much
the more reason to believe as several accidents may lead to a rupture
between them against the intentions either of the one or the other ; but
one may be certain that whatever they may propose in appearance there
is nothing they have in fact less intention of doiqg than to restore the
King of Great Britain, so that it is merely a matter of determining who
will remain master in Scotland, the Duke of Hamilton or the Marquis of
Argyle, and in England, Presbyterians or Independents. You will readily
iudge from all these matters what the Prince of Wales has to hope for
here. Thus in talking with the Duke of Hamilton about the prince he
told me he did not doubt but that he would be in safety here as to his
person, but that if the clergy did not change their opinions they would
not aid much in furthering his interests. He stated to me also that it
was necessary to try and gain over the clergy, for although he had more
power than they in Parliament they had more than he in the kingdom
In short the duke led me to see he wishes to leave nothing to chance
and that he thinks much more of his own interests than of those of his
master.
436 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
News has arrived here that two other detachments of cavalry have
passed from England into Scotland. I am told that the inhabitants of
Berwick have sent here the assurance that they are ready to deliver up
their town to the Scots, and that Lord Inchequin,^ one of the king's fol-
lowers and who lately served the English Parliament, offers to come here
with six thousand men if it be wished to do anything for the King of
Great Britain. You will see the little likelihood of having men in
these circumstances.
Mr. Marshall, clergyman to the English Commissioners, left here on
Friday last. '] ^
CCXXXIV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, ?^:^ l648.
Par les articles que les Ministres ont presente au Parlement,
que je joins a cette lettre, et par la reponse que le Comite et
le Parlement y ont faite, V. Em°® pourra mieux connoitre Tetat
ou sont les affaires de ce royaume, et ce que le roi d'Angleterre
s*'en peut promettre, que par tout ce que je me pourrois donner
rhonneur d'en ecrire, puisque c'est en effet a quoi se reduit
tous ce qui s'est fait ici de considerable depuis ma derniere.
Les deputes du Parlement se doivent trouver ce matin avec
ceux de TEglise pour leur communiquer cette reponse que
j''envoye a V. Em*'®, et les prier de vouloir travailler de concert
avec eux pour etablir les motifs de la guerre et aviser aux
moyens de la pouvoir faire. Mais on croit que quelque long
chemin qu'ait fait le Parlement pour s'approcher des Ministres,
les Ministres feront difficilement le seul pas qui reste pour se
joindre au Parlement. Quelques uns esperent, s^il est vrai
quMls ne veuillent rien changer de leurs premieres resolutions,
que deux choses pourroient porter le Due de Hamilton a aller
^ Murrough O' Brian, 6th Baron Inchequin, served the English Parliament for
a time, but revolted, and was declared traitor and rebel. He afterwards became
an attached royalist, and was made Earl of Inchequin in 1654.
2 Cromwell, in a letter to his friend Norton, dated 28th March 1648, says :
' For news out of the North, there is little, only the malignant party is prevailing
in the Parliament of Scotland. They are earnest for war, the Ministers [clergy]
oppose as yet. Mr. Marshall is returned who says so, and so do many of our
letters. Their great danger committee have two malignants for one right. '
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 437
plus avant que peutetre il n*'avoit envie : Tune que tous ceux
qui s"'etoient joints a lui par Tesperance quMl travailleroit au
retablissement de leur roi, sont tout prets a Tabandonner s''il
ne fait quelque chose de considerable ; et Tautre, que Ton est
ici fort alarme de la marche du General Fairfax avec quelques
regiments de cavalerie de ce c6te-ci, non pas tant, a ce qui se
dit, pour assister aux obseques de son pere, que pour appuyer
le parti d"'Argyle et les Ecossois qui ne veulent pas de roi, ni
de guerre contre les Independants.
Tous ceux qui font ici profession d*'estre serviteurs de leur
Prince se devoient rendre aujourd''huy sur le bord de la mer,
pres de Leith, mais le mauvais temps et les remontrances du
Due de Hamilton qui ne Fa juge a propos, rompront apparem-
ment cette partie. Plusieurs requestes sont venues ici de
diverses provinces de ce royaume qui ne veulent pas de guerre,
et qui se soucient fort peu de leur roi. II y a quantite de
gentilshommes qui s"'asseniblent toutes les nuits dans la salle
des Tailleurs de cette ville, comme pour leurs interets, mais en
efFet pour dresser de semblables requestes, — si ce n''est qu''ils
desirent abattre Tautorite des seigneurs du pays comme ils ont
ruine celle de leur roi.
Les principaux officiers de Tarmee avoient aussi resolu de
presenter une requeste au Parlement, non pas tant pour de-
mander une nouvelle subsistance, que pour appuyer les interets
du Marquis d''Argyle et des Ministres; mais le general de
Tartillerie, le Major-General Middleton, et quelques autres ont
refuse de la signer. Tous ces desordres font craindre ici
quelque revolution, particulierement si le Parlement et TEglise
ne s''accordent. De moi, Mg', je ne juge pas que ces choses
puissent faire d''autre mal que de donner lieu au Due de
Hamilton d'abandonner les interets de son prince et de faire
croire encore qu"'il n"'eut pas manque de le servir s'il en eut eu
le pouvoir, comme il en avoit la volonte.
On m"*a asseure de bonne part que My Lord Inchquain
off'roit de se joindre aux Ecossois, ainsi quMl m^'avoit ete dit,
et qu'un de ses principaux officiers est ici, qui attend la repouse
aux lettres qu''il a apportees pour cet effet.
Colin, le principal ministre que fut en Ecosse pour le roi, a
mieux aime lire, contre sa conscience, Dimanche dernier, la
438 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
declaration des Ministres, que d'etre depose pour avoir servi
genereusement son prince.
Le Chevalier Guillaume Fleming, qui la reine d'Angleterre
a envoye ici, y arriva Jeudi dernier dans un bateau de guerre
de MM. les Etats. II n'a ete que neuf jours en son voyage.
Je ne Tay point encore veu, quoi que Milord Fleming son frere
m'ait dit qu'il etoit venu chez moi, et qu'il desiroit fort me
parler. II ne dit rien du tout du sujet de son voyage.
Le Commissaires du Parlement d'Angleterre ont demande
qu'on leur rendit les Anglois qui s'etoient retires en Ecosse, sous
esperance d'y pouvoir servir leur maitre, mais ils n'ont pas
receu plus de reponse a cette demande qu'a toutes celles qu'ils
ont faites auparavant.
[MoNTEBEUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, -'^ ^^^ 1G48.
From the articles that the clergy have presented to Parliament, which
I join to this letter, and by the reply that the Committee and Parliament
have made to them, you will be better able to judge of the state of affairs
in this kingdom and what the King of England may have to expect, than
by all I could write to you about it, since in fact it is all that has taken
place of importance here since my last.
The Parliamentary deputation is to meet this morning with that of the
church, in order to deliver to them the reply I send to you, and to beg
them to act in concert with them in order to draw up the objects of the
war, and advise as to the means of conducting it. But it is believed that
notwithstanding the great concession Parliament has made in order to
conciliate the clergy, the latter will not make the one step that remains
to .bring them together with the Parliament. Some persons hope if it be
true that they will change nothing in their first resolutions that two
circumstances may induce the Duke of Hamilton to proceed further
perhaps than he had wished : one, that all those who had joined him in
the hope that he would engage in the restoration of their king are quite
ready to abandon him if he do not do something important ; and the
other that people here are much alarmed at the march of General Fair-
fax, with some regiments of cavalry in this direction, not so much as it
is said to be present at his father's funeral^ as to support the Argyle
party and the Scots who neither want a king nor a war with the Inde-
pendents.
All those here who profess to be followers of their prince were to have
gone to-day on the sea-side near Leith, but the bad weather and the
expostulation of the Duke of Hamilton, who did not judge it proper,
will probably have broken up this party. Several petitions have been
* Ferdinand, Lord Fairfax, died at York on Monday, 13th March, 1648.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 439
received here from the different counties of the kingdom that do not
want war ; and are very little concerned about their king. Tliere are a
number of gentlemen who meet every night in the Tailors' Hall ' of this
town, as if for their own concerns, but in fact in order to draw out similar
petitions, — as if it were but their wish to overthrow the authority of the
nobles of this country, as they have destroyed that of their king.
The principal officers of the army had also resolved to present a peti-
tion to Parliament, not so much in order to demand extra pay as to
support the interests of the Marquis of Argyle and the clergy ; but the
general of artillery, Major-General Middleton, and some others, have
refused to sign it.^ All these disorders lead one to fear that we are on
the eve of some sort of revolution here, especially if the Parliament and
the Church do not agree. For my part I consider all these matters can
do no greater harm than supply an opportunity to the Duke of Hamilton
for abandoning the interests of his prince, and to make it still believed
that he would not have failed to serve him if he had had the power as he
had the will.
I am assured on good authority that Lord Inchequin has offered to
take part with the Scots, which I had already been told, and that one of
his principal officers is here awaiting the reply to the letters he brought
to that effect.
Collin, the principal clergyman in Scotland who was for the king,
preferred to read on Sunday last the declaration of the clergy, against
his conscience, than to be deposed from his office for having served his
prince too generously.
Sir William Fleming,^ whom the Queen of England has sent here.
^ The Tailors' Hall was situated in the Cowgate. It belonged to the corpora-
tion of tailors and was let for public meetings,
' Turner in his Memoirs thus refers to the petition of the army : * A petition
is drawn up by Argyle and his friends (the Chancellor playing fast and loose with
both parties), which is called the petition of the army, which was to secure re-
ligion (for these were the kirk words), and the kingdom of Christ, before any forces
were raised for the king's relief. It is signed privately by Leven, Da. Leslie,
Major Gen. Holburne, Sir John Browne, Col. Scott, and some others, and then
presented publicly to the rest of us, thinking we could not, being soldiers, refuse
to follow our leaders. But they found themselves mistaken ; for Major-General
Middleton and the honest part of the officers told them that such a petition, which
looked so like mutiny, could not be presented to Parliament without incurring the
dishonour which the army of Fairfax had drawn upon itself to impose on the
Parliament of England. Middleton was pleased to make use of me for the de-
struction of the paper. . . . The business was so handled that it was never
presented.' — Memoirs, p. 218.
3 Sir William Fleming, second son of John 2nd Earl of Wigton, gentleman
usher to Charles i. and Chamberlain of the Household to Charles 11. His
object in coming to Scotland on this occasion was, says Guthry, ' that the Com-
missioners had at the Isle of Wight sent to the Queen and Prince some assurance
440 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
arrived on Thursday last in a ship of war belonging to the Dutch Pro-
vinces. He was only nine days on his voyage. I have not yet seen him,
although Lord Fleming his brother told me he had called upon me, and
that he wished much to speak with me. He told me nothing at all of the
object of his brother's voyage.
The Commissioners of the English Parliament have demanded that
the English who had come to Scotland, in the hope of being able to serve
their king there, be given up to them ; but they have received no
further reply to this demand than they have to all the others they have
hitherto made.]
ccxxxv
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edhnhours, — Avril l648.
Les articles que les Ministres ont presente a ce Parlement,
et que j''envoyai il y a huit jours a V. Em*'®, lui auront fait
connoitre quels sont les sentiments de ces Messieurs pour le
bien des affaires du roi de la G"" B"", puisqu'ils ne le veulent
retablir qu*'a des conditions quMls savent bien que ce Prince ne
leur accordera jamais, et que en proposant d''abattre les Inde-
pendants ils apportent tant de precautions pour empescher
que les serviteurs de ce roi ne se relevent, qu'il semble que le
principal sujet de Tentreprise qu''ils veulent faire soit d''achever
de les miner. Mais bien que ce Parlement ait tache, comme
vous avez veu, de donner satisfaction aux dits Ministres, qu'il
n"'auroit pas fait pour eux beaucoup davantage s'il leur avoit
accorde toutes leurs demandes, ils n'ont pas laisse de desirer du
temps pour deliberer, s'ils se devoient contenter de la reponse
qu'ils avoient receue, et ont trouve qu''ils ne pouvoient traiter
avec les Commissaires qui avoient ete nommes par le Parlement
pour regler les motifs de la guerre que Ton veut faire, que
leurs demandes ne leur eussent ete auparavant entierement
accordees. Ces choses se passerent le Mardi '-^—^ et le
Mercredi.
of their resolution to engage this nation for the king, and now he was come to
learn what they might expect as to the performance thereof. The letters which
he delivered were to the Chancellor, Duke of Hamilton, Lauderdale and Lanark.
Jn a few days after they despatched him with their answers,' p. 218.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 441
On delibera le Jeudi au Parlement, si apres avoir si souvent
ofFert aux ministres d"'agir de concert avec eux, et avoir passe
si avant pour essayer de les satisfaire, on prendroit prompte-
ment sans eux, quelque resolution sur des affaires qui sembloient
ne pouvoir admettre de retardement sans recevoir de grands
prejudices ; et le Due de Hamilton declara hautement qu''il
etoit de cette opinion, soit parce qu''il s''asseuroit que son avis
ne passeroit pas sans contradiction, soit pour contenter ceux de
son parti qui s''etoient plaints de ses longeurs et qui com-
mencoient a s"'en retirer et a en vouloir former un troisieme,
sort qu'en effet il ait desire rendre quelque plus grand service
au roi son maitre, que Ton ne s"'etait persuade, qui est le senti-
ment qu'on en peut avoir le plus a son avantage, mais aussi le
moins asseure.
Cependant le Chancelier d'Ecosse qui par sa charge de
president de ce Parlement a Tavantage de pouvoir demande
Tavis a qui il lui plait, pria le Comte de Casallis et ensuite
celui de Traquair de dire le leur, qui, selon que le Chancelier
Tavoit bien juge, trouverent qu''il etoit a propos que Ton
accordat aux Ministres tous ce qu''ils avoient demande, puis-
qu'ils ne se vouloient pas contenter a moins que cela, de sorte
qu'il y avoit lieu de craindre que cet avis eut ete suivi, si le
Comte de Lanark ne se fut leve, qui desira qu''ils peussent avoir
le temps de penser a une affaire de telle importance, et qui en
fit remettre la resolution au jour suivant, ou le Parlement
trouva a propos qu'avant que de prendre une resolution si
importante, ceux qui avoient ete deputes pour traiter avec les
Ministres se trouvassent encore avec eux et les pressassent de
vouloir relascher quelque chose de leurs premieres resolutions ;
ce qui fut fait le meme jour et hier encore mais avec si peu de
succes qu"'avant que se separer ils ont proteste de ne se plus
rejoindre, et qu'ainsi ce traite est absolument rompu.
Ceux qui portent ici les interets du roi d'Angleterre tiennent
pour asseure que ce Parlement va resoudre promptement de
faire la guerre aux Independants, et sur des conditions qui
seront tout-a-fait avantageuses a leur roi. Mais je ne vois
pas encore qu'il y ait sujet de se tant promettre, bien qu'on
ait donne Jeudi dernier trois dallers a chaque Anglois qui s"'est
trouve ici, et que s'est voulu engager a servir ce Parlement ; que
442 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
Ton donne subsistance dans tout le pays a tous les etrangers
qui la veulent recevoir, et qui, centre les avis de Tavocat du
roi d'^Angleterre, qui est son plus cruel ennemi, on ait la semaine
passee refuse de rendre reponse a une lettre des Commissaires
de TAngleterre, par laquelle ils demandoient que Ton leur mit
entre les mains les Chevaliers Thomas Glonkain, Marmaduke
Langdale, et autres Anglois de condition, qui sont venus ici
avec esperance d'y pouvoir servir leur maitre. Toutes ces
choses dis-je ne me peuvent faire croire qu'on se hate ici
d''entrer en armes dans TAngleterre, ni qu'on fasse quoi que ce
soit en Ecosse qui puisse contribuer au bien du roi de la G"" B"",
ou de ceux de son parti.
L'etat ou je viens de representer que se trouvent les affaires
de ce pays pourra faire connoitre a V. Em*^® Timpossibilite quMl
y a d'avoir des hommes d^ici presentement. Quelques anglois,
qui ne sont pas satisfaits du traitment qu"'ils y re^oivent,
m'avoient offert de faire passer cent ou deux cents hommes
en France, mais outre que je. n'ay pas trouve qu*'ils me peussent
fournir ce nombre, qui n'est pas meme considerable, j"'ay pense
encore que les Ecossois non seulement ne le trouveroient pas
bon, mais le pourroient encore faire trouver mauvais a la reine
d'Angleterre, et lui persuader que cela auroit nui a ses interets.
Les Ministres avoient resolu de deposer le sieur Ramsey, qui
est le seul d'entre eux qui a refuse de lire leur declaration dans
son eglise, et qui ose parler encore aujourd'huy a Ta vantage
de son prince ;,. mais les femmes de sa paroisse ont ete plus
hardies que ce Parlement, puisqu"'apres Tavoir suivi dans leur
assemblee, ou il devoit etre depose, et apres avoir reproche
aux principaux d'entre eux, avec des termes outrageux, leur
mauvaise vie, elles leur ont dit que s'ils faisoient aucun tort a
leur vieux ministre elles savoient le moyen de les chasser tous
d'Ecosse, comme elles avoient fait les ev^ques il y a quelques
annees.
Le Chevalier Fleming a pris la peine de me venir voir, et
bien qu'il ait accompagne sa visite de beaucoup de civilites et
de temoignages de confiance, j usqu'a me dire qu''il me vouloit
donner part de tout ce qu'il avoit a traiter ici, j'ay ete bien
aise de voir qu''il ne s'ouvroit a moi d'aucune chose, et que je
ne serois point oblige ou a lui faire tort en lui cachant le
danger ou il expose le Prince de Galles en le portant a venir ici.
1648J MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 443
ou a me faire prejudice a moi-meme en lui decouvrant mes
sentiments qui seroient ici fort mal receus, et quMl pourroit
taire difficilement.
J'ay receu celles que V. Em*^® m'avoit fait Thonneur de
mVcrire du 20 et du 27 Mars, avec le duplicata de la lettre de
Sa Majeste pour M. le Marquis d'Huntley — comme j'avois fait
les deux autres — ceux qui ont arreste mes paquets Tayant
toujoiirs fait quand il n'y avoit point de lettre de V. Em*'®, ni
de M. le Comte de Brienne. Cependant le dit S' Marquis a si
peu d'apprehension aujourd'huy du succes de son affaire, par-
ticulierement apres la recommandation de Sa Majeste, qu'il
auroit presse pour estre juge, si ses amis n'avoient trouve plus
a propos de ne rien dire. II vit dans une si grande tranquillite
qu'il s'est mis depuis quelques mois a traduire le Cassandre,
dont il a deja fait pres de la moitie. Mais Mr. le Due de
Hamilton me disoit encore la demiere fois que je Tay veu, qu'il
ne le croyoit pas hors de danger, soit que le dit S' Due le pense
ainsi veritablement ou qu'il imite les medecins qui font le mal
plus grand qu'il n'est, a fin que leurs cures soient plus estimes.
Le Marquis d'Argyle, le Baron de Balmerino, et les Comtes
de Lanark et de Lauderdale s'assemblerent le Jeudi et le Ven-
dredi de la semaine passe pour tascher de demeurer d'accord
ensemble des motifs sur lesquels on entreprendroit la guerre,
et il y avoit apparence qu''ils tomberoient d''accord et avec eux
tout le Parlement, mais les deux premiers refuserent Samedi de
s'assembler et je ne sais pas ce qu'ils Taient fait depuis.
Je joins une requete a cette depeche qu'ont presentee au
Parlement les Barons qui tiennent le parti de TEglise. Le
Parlement a remis aujourd'huy au Comite des 24 a aviser si
Ton resoudroit quelque chose dans les affaires de la guerre, sans
prendre Tavis des Ministre, et a considerer les dangers qui
menacent cet Etat et les remedes que Ton doit y apporter.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, Y^ April 1648.
The articles the clergy have presented to this Parliament, and which I
sent to you eight days ago, will have informed you of the sentiments of
these gentlemen as regards the good of the affairs of the King of Great
Britain, since they will only restore him on conditions they knew well
this prince will never grant to them, and that in proposing to overturn
the Independents they introduce so many precautions in order to prevent
the king's followers from regaining power, that it seems the principal
444 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
object of the undertaking they are engaging in is to finish the ruin of them.
But although this Parliament has tried, as you have seen, to give such
satisfaction to the clergy that it could not have done much more for them
had it granted all their demands, they have not even asked for time in
order to deliberate as to whether they ought to be satisfied with the reply
they had received, but found they could not treat with the Commissioners
who had been named by Parliament, in order to determine the motives
of the war in which it is wished to engage, until their demands were
completely granted to them beforehand. Those matters took place on
Tuesday '^ ^p"j and on the Wednesday after. In Parliament on Thurs-
day it was discussed whether after having so often offered to the clergy
to act in concert with them, and having gone so far in order to try and
satisfy them, a resolution might not be come to without them on affairs
that seemed not to admit of delay without incurring great prejudice ; and
the Duke of Hamilton declared boldly that he was of that opinion, either
because he was certain his opinion would not be accepted without contra-
diction, or in order to satisfy those of his party who had complained of his
delays and who were beginning to withdraw from him for the purpose of
forming a third party, or again that in fact he may have wished to render
some more signal service to the king his master than had been believed,
which,is the sentiment one may have which tells most to his advantage,
but is also that of which one is least assured.
However the Chancellor of Scotland, who through his oflSce of presi-
dent has the advantage of being able to ask the opinion of any one he
pleases, begged the Earl of Casallis and afterwards the Earl of Traquair
to give theirs, who, as the Chancellor had very well judged, found it to
be necessary to grant to the clergy all they had asked since they would
not be satisfied with anything less than that, so that there was reason to
fear that this opinion might have been adopted, when the Earl of Lanark
rose and expressed the wish that more time might be allowed to think
over a matter of such importance, and the decision was put off until the
following day, when Parliament j udged proper before coming to a resolu-
tion so important that those who had been delegated in order to treat
with the clergy might call upon them again and urge them to relax
something of their first resolutions, which was done the same day and
again yesterday, but with so little success that before separating they
protested they would not meet again, and thus this treaty is absolutely
broken off. ITiose who support here the interests of the King of Eng-
land consider it certain that this Parliament is going to decide promptly
to declare war on the Independents and on conditions that will be alto-
gether advantageous for their king. But I do not yet see that there is
reason to expect so much, although on Thursday last three thalers were
given to each Englishman of those who are here who would engage to
serve this Parliament. They give subsistence money to all the foreigners
throughout the country who will accept it, and they also last week refused
to give a reply to a letter from the English Commissioners by which they
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 445
demanded that Sir Thomas Glenham, Sir Marmaduke Langdale and other
Englishmen of rank, who have come here with the hope of being able to
serve their master, be given up to them and this was done contrary to the
opinion of the king's advocate/ who is his most cruel enemy. All these
matters, I repeat, cannot make me believe that people here will make
haste to enter England in arms, nor that an\-thing whatever will be done
in Scotland that may contribute to the welfare of the King of Great
Britain or to those of his party. The state of affairs of this country
being as I have just indicated to you will let you understand the impossi-
bility of having men from here at present. Some Englishmen, dissatisfied
with the pay they receive here, offered to me to pass over to France one
or two hundred men, but besides my not finding that they could furnish
that number, which is not considerable ; I thought the Scots might not
only disapprove of it but persuade the Queen of England that it would
be hurtful to her interests.
The clergy having decided to depose Mr, Ramsay, who is the only one
of their number who refused to read their declaration in his church, and
who dares even at present to speak favourably of their prince ; but the
women of his parish have been bolder than this Parliament, since after
having followed him to the place of meeting, where he was to be deposed,
and after having scolded the principal clergymen present and upbraided
them with their dissolute lives, in no measured terms, they told them
if they did any harm to their old minister they knew the way to drive
them out of Scotland as they had done with the bishops a few years ago.^
Sir William Fleming has taken the trouble to call upon me, and al-
though his visit was conducted with much politeness and many expressions
of confidence, he having gone so far as to say he would tell me all he had
to do here, I was glad to see that he did not disclose anything to me, and
that I would not be obliged either to do him an injury in concealing from
him the danger to which he exposed the Prince of Wales by inducing
him to come here, or to do harm to myself in disclosing to him my senti-
ments, which would have been very badly received and which it would
have been difficult for him not to disclose.
^ Sir Archibald Johnstone of Warriston.
^ In Balfour's Annals, vol i\. p. 419 is the following: 'In the General
Assembly held at Edinburgh in July 1649 there were very many ministers de-
posed for maintaining the last expedition into England, for relief of our king,
whom these bloody blasphemers have since killed contrary to the Solemn League
and Covenant with that perfidious nation, among whom were Mr. Andrew Ram-
say and Mr. William Cullen, ministers, two learned and worthy men : they were
much regretted by honest men and those who truly loved peace and truth. But
the current of the times went so, that in respect they would not dance to the
play of the leaders, Douglas, Dickson, Cant, Guthrie, and Law, they were deposed
from the ministerial office, when one of them, Mr. Andrew Ramsay, had been an
actual minister above fifty-three years, whereof he had sers'ed in Edinburgh
thirty.«ix of that time.'
446 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [april
I have received your letters of the 20th and 27th March with the copy
of his Majesty's letter for the Marquis of Huntly. I had already re-
ceived the two others, those who stop my parcels having always done
so when there was no letter therein either from you or from the Comte
de Brienne. However, the marquis is so little apprehensive now of the
success of his process, particularly since the recommendation of his
Majesty, that he would have insisted on being tried had his friends not
considered it more prudent for him to say nothing about it. He lives
very quietly. He took in hand some months ago to translate Cassandra,
and has already done about the half of it. But the Duke of Hamilton
told me the last time I saw him, that he did not believe him to be out of
danger : whether it be that the duke really thinks so, or that he speaks
as do the doctors who exaggerate the disease, in order that their cures
be more appreciated.
The Marquis of Argyle, Lord Balmerino, and the Earls of Lanark and
Lauderdale met on Thursday and Friday last week in order to try and
come to some agreement as to the causes on which they might undertake
the war, and there was some appearance of their hitting on an agreement
and with them all the Parliament ; but the two first refused to attend the
meeting on Saturday and I have not learned what they have done since.
I add to this despatch the copy of a petition that has been presented to
Parliament by the gentry who hold with the Church party. Parliament
has referred to-day to the committee of twenty-four to advise as to
whether they ought to settle anything in the affairs of the war without
taking the opinion of the clergy, and to consider the dangers that threat-
ened this state and the remedies to be adopted for them.]
CCXXXVI
MONTEREUL A BRIENNE
Edimhourg, 11 Avril l648.
Depuis que les Ministres par le refus qu'ils ont fait de
s''accommoder aux desirs du Parlement, Font oblige de traiter
sans eux les affaires, le 24 qui composent le Comite qui a ete
etabli pour considerer les dangers ou ce royaume se trouve
expose, et les ruptures que les Anglois ont fait a leurs traites
et au Covenant, les representerent Vendredi dernier au Parle-
ment dans un papier, dont voici la substance : ' Qu'outre les
manquements que les Anglois ont commis contre leur Covenant
et leur traites, ils n'y veulent point comprendre le deffault de
payment du reste de ce que leur avoit ete accorde, quand ils
entrerent la seconde fois en Angleterre, ni de deux cents mille
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 447
livres Sterling qu'on leur promit quand ils en sortirent la
derniere fois, ni aussi des arrerages qui sont deus aux armees
qu'ils ont entretenues si longtemps en Irlande, et qui montent
a des sommes considerables,"' — ce qui est portant leur premiere-
plainte, et ce qu"'ils representent avec plus d'exaggeration que
tout le reste. lis font voir ensuite de quelle sorte leur roi a
ete tire de Holmby contre son gre, comme il Pa temoigne
lui-meme par la declaration qu'il a faite sur ce sujet, ' qu'il a ete
garde etroitement en leur armee, j usqu'a ce que le danger ou il
s''est veu expose de perdre la vie Fa oblige de se la conserver par
la fuite et de se retirer en un lieu ou il est maintenant tenu
prisonnier et ou ses sujets n'ont pas merae la liberte de le voir.
Que les Commissaires d'^Ecosse, et particulierement le Comte de
Lauderdale, ont ete mal traites dans leur armee, et n'ont pas
peu tirer de reparation des injures que Ton leur a faites, ni de
reponse sur ce quMls ont demande, comme si la defense qui
etoit faite a toute personne de s''adresser a leur roi s'etendoit
jusqu'a ceux de leur nation, si non par le livre qui a ete
presente a ce Parlement depuis quelques jours par les Com-
missaires d''Angleterre, par lequel ils declarent que les Anglois
ont seul droit de disposer de la personne de leur roi. Que
Tarmee a marche hostilement contre la ville de Londres et
contre le Parlement d"'Angleterre ; qu"'elle ne Ta pas seulement
oblige a casser les ordres qui avoient ete faits peu de jours
auparavant, mais encore a chasser du dit lieu plusieurs per-
sonnes bien intentionnees ; qu'ils ont fait un corps de garde de
la maison de leur roi ; qu'au lieu d'avoir ruine les eveques ils
ont etabli une liberte de conscience sans limite, pire que la
hyerarchie qu'ils ont aboli qu"'enfin il n"'y a aucun article du
Covenant qu'ils n'ayent meschamment viole."*
Ce sont. Monsieur, les principales choses dont ils se plai-
gnent, et presque les termes dont ils se sont servi pour les
exprimer. Voici les remedes que ce meme Comite a fait
connoitre par un autre ecrit, que Ton y pourroit opposer : De
faire jurer le Covenant; garder le Directoire; etablir le
gouvernament Presbyterial par toute TAngleterre ; de sup-
primer toutes sortes de sectes, et notamment Tlndependance,
que les Ecossois auroient recours d'exprimer par un autre
nom ; de faire venir le roi de la G"^ B"" a Londres ou en une
448 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [april
de ses maisons proclie de Londres, et de rappeler dans les
maisons du Parlement tous les membres qui ont ete eloignes ;
de faire debander Tarmee qui est sur pied, et de ne pas
permettre que personne porte les armes qui n*'ait jure le
Covenant. Toutes ces choses, que j'ay seu de fort bonne part,
doivent etre debatues aujourd'huy dans le Parlement, et on ne
doute point qu'elles n'y passent. II reste a savoir les moyens
que Ton devra prendre pour les obtenir, et c'est ce que le
Comite considere depuis deux jours, et dont il doit donner
demain son avis a ce Parlement. On croit, ou qu'on deman-
dera tout ceci au Parlement d'Angleterre par un simple
courrier, ou qu'au lieu d'envoyer la lettre a Londres, on se
contentera de la donner aux Commissaires d'Angleterre qui
sont ici.
Depuis que le Due de Hamilton agit avec plus de chaleur
qu'il n'avoit fait, tous ceux qui semblent vouloir se separer de
ses interets se sont rejoints a son parti, et agissent tellement
de concert avec lui que quatre de ses amis et quatre de ceux
qui font profession d'etre pour nous, se trouvent chaque jour
ensemble pour regler les affaires avant qu'elles se proposent
dans le Parlement, et ont deja bien avance pour choisir les
officiers qui doivent commander Farmee que Ton a dessein de
lever, ce que j'ay seu du Comte de Dunfries, qui est un des
quatre qui sont pour le roi dans ce comite, et a qui je suis
oblige de reconnoitre que j'ay de tres particulieres obligations,
recevant de lui avec un extreme soin, les avis que je devrois
attendre de ceux qui sont attaches au service de Sa Majeste,
et a qui ce service n'est ni desavantageux n'incommode.
Toutes ces choses, a qui ceux qui les conduissent donnent
encore de tres favorables interpretations, font naitre dans
Tesprit des serviteurs du roi d'Angleterre des esperances qu'ils
n'avoient point con^ues jusqu'ici. De moi, Monsieur, comme
j'aurois tort de m'opposer a Tautorite de tant de personnes et
prudentes et bien intentionees, il se pent faire aussi que
Texperience des choses passees, la lenteur avec laquelle les
Ecossois ont agi jusqu'ici, les raisons qu'ils ont maintenant de
faire pour leur propre conservation ce qu'ils publient de vouloir
faire pour le retablissement de leur roi, me laissent beaucoup
de doute d'une chose dont ses serviteurs deviennent aujour-
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 449
d'huy bien assures ; de sorte que quand je vois aujourd''huy
toute TAngleterre presque en branle de se declarer pour son
prince, je crois que les Ecossois feront beaucoup pour ses
interets s'ils ne Tempeschent pas de se retablir. Mais quelque
chose qu"'ils puissent faire, il semble que Monsieur le Prince de
Galles fera to uj ours tres prudemment de ne se pas hater de
venir ici, a quoi son propre interet le doit porter si les Ecossois
ne lui sont pas afFectionnes, s'il est vrai qu'ils lui soient fideles,
de peur qu''ils ne cessent de Tetre aussitost qu'il aura asseure
leurs affaires par sa presence; puisqu"'il est vrai qu''ils ont
toujours ete moins gens de bien a proportion qu"'ils ont ete
plus heureux, et qu"'ils ne m'ont jamais montre de desir pour
la conservation de leur roi que quand ils furent entiereraent
defaits a Quilsade, et que M. Montrose leur eut a peine laisse
le moyen de se conserver eux-memes.
Les Commissaires d''Angleterre resolvent ici fort peu de
satisfaction, et pas du tout de reponse. lis en doivent avoir une
toutefois dans peu de jours aux papiers qu"'ils ont donne, par
laquelle on les asseure en termes generaux d'une bonne corre-
spondance, et on refuse de leur donner le Chevalier Glenham et
les autres Anglois refugies qu"'ils ont demande. Quelques
diligences que Ton ait faites pour empescher que la requeste
des officiers de cette armee ait ete presentee au Parlement, on
croit que Ton aura travaille inutilement; on essayera d'en
detoumer Teffet en faisant faire une protestation contraire des
officiers de la meme armee de qui elle n"'a pas ete signee.
Les manages de deux filles de M. le Comte de Crawford,
Tresorier d'^Ecosse, avec les Comtes de Rothes et de Hadding-
ton, doivent se faire aujourd'huy et Jeudi prochain ; bien que
les principaux seigneurs de ce royaume s''y doivent trouver, on
me dit que le Marquis d'Argyle n'a pas ete invite. Le dit
Marquis a demande ix cents hommes de Tarmee pour empescher
quelque deux cents Irlandais qui sont descendus en Flsle d'lsla
de passer en Argyle. Plusieurs croyent que c'est un artifice
pour empescher que Ton entre en Angleterre, quand il y a
encore des desordres en ce pays. On me vient de dire qu'une
treve a ete conclue entre les Ecossois qui sont en Irlande et les
Catholiques du meme royaume, mais je ne Tay pas seu d''assez
bonne part pour oser encore rien asseurer.
VOL. II. 2 F
450 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [april
J''ouvre mon paquet, Monsieur, pour vous dire que toutes
les choses qui ont ete remontrees par le Comite des 24 ont
passe aujourd'huy dans le Parlement, et que ce meme comite
y a encore represente ce soir les moyens qu'on doit prendre
pour avoir reparation des injures qui ont etc faites, un desquels
est de lever une armee presentement et de nommer les officiers
qui la doivent commander ; ce quV^tant fait ils trouvoient a
propos d'envoyer quelqu'un en Angleterre pour representer les
ruptures quMls ont faites a leur traites et pour demander
reparation.
[MoNTEBEUL to Brienne. Edinburgh, 11th April 1648.
Since the clergy by their refusal to comply with the wishes of Parliament
have obliged it to treat the affairs without them, the twenty-four, that
form the committee that has been appointed to consider the dangers to
which this kingdom is exposed and the infractions the English have made
in their treaties and in the Covenant, represented them to Parliament on
Friday last in a paper of which the following is the substance. That
besides the defaults of the English against their Covenant and their
treaties they cannot be made to understand their default in the payment
of the remainder of what was granted to the Scots on their second entry
into England ; nor that of »the two hundred thousand pounds sterling
that was promised to them on their leaving it the last time ; nor the
arrears that are owing to the armies they have kept up so long in Ireland
and which amount to important sums.' This forms their first subject of
complaint, which they give with greater exaggeration than all the rest.
They show next in what manner their king was taken away from Holmby,
against his will, as he has testified himself by the declaration he has made
on this subject, that he was so closely guarded in their army until the
danger to which he saw himself exposed of losing his life obliged him, in
order to save it, to escape and to retire to the place where he is now
held prisoner, and where his subjects have not even the liberty of seeing
him. That the Scottish Commissioners, and particularly the Earl of
Lauderdale, were ill-treated in their army, and have not been able to
receive any reparation for the insults they received, nor any reply to
their demands — as if the prohibition made against applying to their king
went so far as to include those of their nation — if it be not by the book
which was presented to this Parliament a few days ago by the English
Commissioners, in which it is declared that the English have alone the
right of disposing of the person of their king. That the army has marched
with hostile intent against the City of London and against the English
Parliament ; that it not only caused several orders that had been given a
few days previously to be revoked, but drove away from this said place
several well-intentioned persons ; that they have made a guard-house of
the residence of their king ; that instead of putting down the bishops.
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 451
they have established a liberty of conscience without limit^ worse than
the hierarchy they had abolished^ that in short there is not a single
article of the Covenant that they have not wickedly violated.
These are the principal matters of which they complain — and almost the
terms they have used to express them. Hei*e are the remedies that this
same committee have brought forward in another paper which might
be adopted to oppose them. Have the Covenant sworn to ; that the
Directory ^ be maintained ; establish the Presbjrterian form of church
government throughout England ; suppress all sorts of sects and notably
that of the Independents — which the Scots have expressed by another
name — invite the King of Great Britain to London, or to one of his
residences near London, and recall to the Houses of Parliament all the
members that have been expelled, have the army which is on foot dis-
banded, and not to allow any person who may not have taken the Covenant
to bear arms. All these matters, which I have learned on very good
authority are to be discussed in Parliament to-day, and it is not doubted
but that they will be passed there. It remains to be seen what means
they will adopt in order to obtain them, and this is what the committee
has been considering during two days, and in regard to which it is to give
its opinion to the Parliament to-morrow. It is believed that they will
demand all this from the Parliament of England by a simple messenger,
or instead of sending the letter to London, they will content themselves
with giving it to the English Commissioners who are here.
Since the Duke of Hamilton began to act with more ardour than he
did, all those who seemed disposed to give up his interests have rejoined
his party, and act in such close concert with him that four of his friends
and four of those who profess to be for us meet every day to arrange
matters before they are proposed in Parliament,^ and have already made
much progress in selecting the officers who are to command the army
that they purpose to raise. This I learned from the Earl of Dumfries,^
who is one of the four who are for the king in this committee, and to
whom I am obliged to confess my being under very particular obligations
for the extreme care which he takes in giving me information, which I
ought to expect from those attached to the service of his Majesty, but
this service to him is neither disadvantageous nor irksome. All these
matters, to which those who are directing them give also a very favour-
able construction, inspire hopes in the minds of the king's followers that
they have not had till now. For my part, as it would be wrong to
oppose my authority to that of so many prudent and well-intentioned
persons, it may be also that the experience of passed matters, the slow-
ness with which the Scots have till now acted, the reasons they have at
^ A book of regulations for divine worship drawn up in 1644 by the Assembly
of Divines in England, and set forth by the Lords and Commons to be used
instead of the Prayer Book.
■^ This seems a round-about way of designating the Lords of the Articles.
3 William Crichton, created Earl of Dumfries, 1633.
452 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [april
present to do for their own safety what they profess to do for the restora-
tion of their king, leave me much in doubt as to a matter of which his
followers are becoming at present quite certain, so that when I see all
England almost actually in movement declaring itself for its prince, I
believe the Scots will do much for his interests if they do not prevent his
restoration. But whatever they may do, it seems that the Prince of
Wales will still act very prudently in not making haste to come here, to
which he ought to be guided by his own interest, if the Scots be not well
disposed towards him, and if it be true that they are faithful to him, for
fear they may cease to be so, as soon as he has secured their aifairs by
his presence, since it is certain they have always been less honest in
proportion as they have been more fortunate, and that they have never
shown so much desire for the safety of their king than when they were
entirely defeated at Kilsyth and when Montrose had scarcely left them
the means of providing for their own safety.
The English Commissioners receive very little satisfaction here, and
they have had no reply whatever. They will have one however in a few
days to the papers that they have given, by which they will be assured
in general terms of friendly intercourse and a refusal to deliver up to
them Sir Thomas Glenham and the other English refugees they have
demanded. Whatever eiforts have been made in order to prevent the
petition of the officers of the army from being presented to Parliament
they are believed to have been unavailing. It will now be tried to coun-
teract the effect of it by a protest against it from the officers of the same
regiment who had not signed it.
The marriages of the two daughters of the Earl of Crawford, Lord
Treasurer of Scotland, to the Earls of Rothes and of Haddington, are to
take place to-day and on Thursday next. Although the principal nobles
of this kingdom are to be present, I am told that the Marquis of Argyle
has not been invited. This marquis has demanded nine hundred men
from the army in order to prevent two hundred Irish who have landed in
the island of Isla from passing into Argyleshire. Several think this is but
an artifice in order to prevent this army from entering England, on the
ground of there being still disorders in this country. I have just been
told that a truce has been concluded between the Scots who are in Ire-
land and the Catholics of the same kingdom, but I have not yet learned
it from such a good source as to venture to affirm it. — I open my parcel
in order to let you know that all matters recommended to Parliament by
the committee of twenty-four have passed, and that this committee has
also represented to Parliament this evening the means that ought to
be adopted in order to obtain reparation for the insults paid to them, one
of which is to raise an army at present and to appoint the officers who
ought to command it, which being done they would deem it proper to
send some one into England to represent the violations of their treaties
and in order to demand reparation,]
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 453
CCXXXVII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^ April l648,
BiEN que les articles que j'envoie a V. Em*^®, qui out presque
tous passe dans ce Parlement, lui puissent donner lieu de juger
des resolutions qui s'y doivent prendre, j"'aurois bien desire
toutefois que le partement de Tordinaire eut peu etre retarde
deux ou trois jours, puisque nous esperons avant ce temps, non
seulement que Ton demeurera d*'accord des termes de la declara-
tion que ce royaume doit publier et de la lettre que Ton doit
envoyer au Parlement d''Angleterre, mais encore que Ton
arretera de quel nombre d"'hommes sera la nouvelle armee ;
qu'on nommera les officiers qui la doivent commander, et qu'on
achevera d'examiner les articles que je joins a cette lettre,
c"'est a dire, les cinq ou six dernieres lignes qui ne purent ni
passer comme tout le reste, ni etre meme considerees Samedi
dernier, et qui furent remises a ce jour. Car encore qu"'il n'y
avoit rien dans ce papier, ainsi que V. Em'^^ pourra voir, qui
ne soit assez conforme aux intentions des ministres, — c''est a
dire, assez eloigne des interets du roi de la G"^ B'', — je dis
meme avec les interpretations favorables que Ton essaye ici d'y
apporter pour contenter les serviteurs de ce Prince, le Marquis
d'Argyle et ceux de son parti n"'en ont presque laisse passer
aucun mot sans y trouver a redire, et sans essayer de le
retrancher ou de le changer, soit que la crainte qu''ils ont du
retablissement de leur roi leur fasse apprehender les choses
memes qui y peuvent difficilement contribuer, ou qu'ils craig-
nent avec plus de sujet cette grande autorite que s''acquiert le
Due de Hamilton en faisant profession d"'agir pour les interets
de son maitre ; ou, — ce qui pourroit n''etre point encore im-
possible, mais ce que j'ay peine toutefois a croire, — que les
chefs de ces deux partis, etant en meilleure intelligence qu''il
ne paroit, fassent naitre des difficulties a Texecution des choses
qu''ils deliberent, seulement pour faire juger au dit roi qu''on
desire veritablement le servir et que les choses que ceux qui se
sont declares contre ses interets veulent empescher doivent etre
a son avantase.
454 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
J'espere que ce qui se passera cette semaine pourra faire voir
plus clairement que Ton n'a fait jusqu'ici dans les intentions
de MM. les Ecossois, et me donner lieu aussi d''en ecrire a
V. Em''^ plus surement que de coutume. Je dirai seulement,
Mg"", que les Ministres, qui parlent plus hardiment encore
contre leur roi qu'ils n'ont fait auparavant, doivent presenter
aujourd''huy une nouvelle remontrance a ce Parlement par
laquelle ils demandent que Ton ne recoive dans Tarraee que
Ton doit faire, ni Anglois ni Ecossois qui ait servi le roi de la
G' B', et que Ton envoie vers le dit roi, au meme temps qu'on
depechera quelqu'un au Parlement d'Angleterre, pour Tobliger
a accorder toutes les choses que Ton desire, avant que Ton
fasse quoi que ce soit pour son retablissement.
La requete que Tarmee qui est sur pied vouloit presenter a
ce Parlement avoit ete signee de tous les officiers avec une
declaration en suite, par laquelle ils asseuroient qu'ils se
vouloient absolument soumettre aux desirs du dit Parlement ;
mais les Ministres n''ont pas voulu permettre qu''elle ait ete
donnee en une forme en laquelle elle ne pouvoit causer de mal
aux interets de leur roi.
La declaration que ce royaume desire faire a ete lue aujour-
d'huy publiquement et a ete donnee selon la coutume aux trois
etats de ce Parlement pour etre consideree. Le Chev"^ Fleming
est encore a Edimbourg. Le Comte de Stamford, qui a parle
ici fort librement contre les Independants, qui Ty ont envoye
en partit Lundi dernier pour Londres, et ce matin un autre
Commissaire d'Angleterre, — a ce qu''on me dit.
L'armee Ecossoise qui est en Irlande a offert encore depuis
ma derniere d'envoyer ici le nombre d'hommes que Ton desirera
pour le service de la religion Presbyterienne, et du roi de la
G*^ B'. On m^a dit qu''on a resolu de faire venir six mille
hommes de ce royaume ou on en pent laisser encore quatre
autres mille pour la garde des places que les Ecossois tiennent,
et que ces six mille hommes avec trente regiments d'infanterie
de huit cents hommes chaque regiment, douze regiments de
cavalerie, qui feront plus de six mille hommes ; et deux mille
cinq cent dragons, composeront Tarmee que Ton est en termes
de lever en Ecosse promptement.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 455
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarik. Edinburgh, ^ April 1648.
Although the articles I send to you^ which have almost all heen passed
by this Parliament, may give you an opportunity of judging of the
decisions that ought to be come to, 1 should have, however, much liked
that the departure of the mail could have been delayed for two or three
days, since we hope before that time, not only that the terms of the
declaration which this kingdom is about to publish will be agreed upon,
and those of the letter which is to be sent to the English Parliament,
but also that it will be decided as to what number of men may be included
in the new army ; that the officers will be appointed who are to command
it ; and that they will have finished examining the articles I join to this
letter, that is to say, the last five or six lines which they were unable to
pass as the remainder, or even to consider, on Saturday last, and which
they deferred until to-day ; for although there was nothing in this paper,
as you may see, that was much incompatible with the intentions of the
clergy, that is to say, that was not much opposed to the interests of the
King of Great Britain, even with the favourable interpretation that it is
tried here to give to it, in order to satisfy the followers of this prince,
the Marquis of Argyle and those of his party scarcely allowed a word of
it to pass without proposing an amendment to it, and without trying to
have parts of it omitted or changed, either through the fear they have of
the restoration of their king leading them to apprehend things that could
with difficulty contribute to it, or that they fear, with greater reason, the
great authority the Duke of Hamilton is acquiring by professing to act
for the interests of his master, or, as is not also impossible, but which
I have difficulty in believing, that the leaders of these two parties, acting
more in concert than is apparent, create obstacles in the way of carrying
out the matters they deliberate upon merely in order to lead the king to
judge that they really wish to serve him, and that the things those who
have declared themselves to be opposed to his interests wish to prevent,
must be to his advantage.
I hope that what will take place this week will enable one to see more
clearly than it has been possible till now the intentions of the Scots, and
gave me an opportunity of writing to you with greater certitude than
usual. I shall only add that the clergy, who speak against their king
even more boldly than they have hitherto done, are to present to Parlia-
ment to-day a new remonstrance, in which they demand that in the new
army they are about to raise neither English nor Scots may be received
who may have served the King of Great Britain, and that at the same
time they will despatch a messenger to the English Parliament their
king be informed that before undertaking anything whatever for his
restoration he will be obliged to grant all the things they wish.
The petition that the present army wished to present to Parliament
had been signed by all the officers with a declaration added, in which
they vouched that they were willing to submit to the wishes of Parlia-
456 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [APRIL
ment ; but the clergy would not allow it to be presented in a form in
which it could not harm the interests of their king.
The proclamation this kingdom is about to issue was publicly read
to-day, and given, according to custom, to the three estates of this
Parliament in order to be considered. Sir William Fleming is still
in Edinburgh ; the Earl of Stamford who has spoken here very freely
against the Independents who had sent him, left on Monday last for
London, and this morning another of the English Commissioners also
left, as I am told.
The Scottish army in Ireland has again since my last oiFered to send
here the number of men that will be required for the service of the Pres-
byterian religion and of the King of Great Britain. I have been told it
is decided to bring six thousand men from that kingdom, where they
may still leave about four thousand, in order to garrison the places the
Scots hold, and that these six thousand men with thirty regiments of
infantry of eight hundred men each ; twelve regiments of cavalry, which
will make more than six thousand men, and two thousand five hundred
dragoons, will form the army they are engaged in raising promptly in
Scotland.]
CCXXXVIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, ^^—ff- 1^48.
Nous sommes encore aujourd'huy dans Fatten te de toutes
les choses que nous avions creu qui se resoudroient il y a huit
jours, et Ton n'a point jusqu''ici ; ni nomme ceux qui doivent
commander Tarmee ; ni ecrit aux provinces pour y preparer les
levees qui s'y doivent faire; ni renvoye en France le Chev''
Fleming ; ni fait choix de celui qui doit porter la lettre que
Ton a ecrit au Parlement d'Angleterre pour demander repara-
tion des injures que TEcosse pretend avoir receues ; ni meme
public la declaration qui fut resolue Jeudi dernier en ce Parle-
ment, dont V. Em^® aura eu la substance dans les papiers que
je me suis donner Thonneur de lui envoyer, et qui a ete le
principal sujet des longueurs qui se sont rencontrees en tout le
reste. Car, encore que contre Tavis du Marquis d'Argyle et
des quelque quarante de son parti qui se leverent quand cette
declaration passa, on soit demeure d'accord de la faire avant
que de prendre les sentiments des Ministres on n'a pas laisse
de la leur envoyer, avant que de la publier, et de leur accorder
meme quelque temps pour la considerer, de sorte que c'est
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 457
anjourd'huy seulement qu'ils en doivent doniier leur avis, en
suite de quoi, bien que ces MM. y trouvent a redire, et qu"'ils
prechent presque avec autant d'aigreur et de violence centre le
Due de Hamilton et ses amis, comme ils ont fait autrefois, et
comme ils font encore aujourd'huy contre leur roi, et que le
Marquis d'Argyle essaye d''apporter au moins du retardement
aux affaires qu'il ne lui est pas possible d'empecher, on espere
qu'elles s^'avanceront de telle sorte que ce Parlement se pourra
lever la semaine prochaine et attendre que les resolutions qui
viendront de S* Germain et de Londres lui donnent lieu de
s''assembler ; a quoi j''ajouterai encore qu''on m''a asseure que le
Due de Hamilton dit hier publiquement qu"'il vouloit perdre
la tete s''il n'y avoit pas avant trois semaines vingt mil hommes
sous les armes en ce royaume.
Cependant, toutes ces choses ne me donnet pas de meilleures
esperances que de coutume, et bien que ce Parlement fasse tout
ce qu"'il propose, et le Due de Hamilton tout ce qu'il dit, et
que non seulement on declare la guerre aux Independants, mais
qu'on leve ici une armee et qu'on s''en serve pour entrer en
Angleterre, et que cette entreprise meme soit suivie du succes
le plus heureux que les Ecossois puissent desirer, j'apprehende
toujours que ces avantages n''en apportent pas d^autres au roi
de la G"" B*^ que celui de pouvoir changer de prison, et de
sortir des mains des Independants pour entrer en celles des
Presbyteriens, qu'il aura d''autant plus de sujet de craindre
que les premiers que n"'etant pas moins ennemis qu'eux de sa
personne et de la monarchie, la consideration d"'un parti capable
de s''opposer au leur ne les empeschera plus alors d'executer
leurs mauvais desseins.
Au reste, Mg"", je reconnais que la conduite que Ton veut
tenir touchant le voyage du Prince de Galles en Ecosse est non
seulement plus genereuse mais encore plus utile et plus asseuree
que celle de laquelle j'avois pris la hardiesse de m''ouvrir a
V. Em'^®. Cependant, comme je suis oblige d'avouer que leurs
Majestes ont toute sorte de raison de laisser agir librement ce
Prince, et de ne pas s'opposer au desir qu'il pent avoir de se
rendre en ce royaume, je ne puis aussi m'empescher de croire
qu'il a toute sorte de sujet de n'y pas venir, car soit qu'il se
souvienne du traitement que le roi son pere a receu des Ecossois,
458 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [april
soit qu'il examine les conditions sur lesquelles ils travaillent
aujourd'huy a son retablissement, et qu'il reconnaisse qu'en
voulant obliger le dit roi de remettre le Presbyteriat et de
signer le Covenant, qui sont deux choses qu'ils savent bien
qu'il ne veut pas faire, ils preparent deja des moyens pour
le perdre, quand ils auront acheve leur entreprise, sans qu'il
ait presque lieu de s''en offenser. II semble que M' le Prince
de Galles peut ne se pas approcher sans de grandes asseurances,
d'un lieu ou il se perd sans resource et ou il semble que rien ne
le doit sitost empescher de venir que cette grande ardeur que
temoignent les Ecossois de Tavoir, et les artifices dont ils se
servent pour Tobliger de s^ rendre, au nombre desquelles se
pourroient mettre les divisions qui paroissent entre les chefs
des deux principaux partis, dont il semble que Ton fasse
apprehend er les suites a la reine de la G' B% et qui, selon
que je crois, peuvent moins nuire aux interets du roi son mari
que leur bonne intelligence.
C'est, Mg'', ce que je puis mander avec plus de fondement a
V. Em*^® sur des affaires qui ne sont pas encore arretees, mais
j'espere que les resolutions que nous attendons depuis tant de
temps, et qui se prendronf apparement cette semaine, me
donneront lieu par le premier ordinaire de Tinformer bien
exactement de ce que le roi de la G' B' et le Prince de Galles
se peuvent promettre de toute cette nation.
Deux nouvelles compagnies de cavaliere Angloise sont entrees
en Ecosse la semaine passee, ou elles ont trouve subsistance.
David Leslay a promis d'obeir aux ordres du Parlement. Les
Ministres y ont presente aujourd'huy un long papier, par lequel
ils donnent leur avis sur la declaration. II est pres de neuf
heures de soir et le Parlement n''est pas encore leve, de sorte
que je ne pourrai donner avis par cet ordinaire de ce qui y
aura passe, mais il m^a semble qu'il valloit mieux finir cette
lettre et ecrire un peu moins, que de ne point ecrire du tout.
[MoNTEREUL to Cabdinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, j^^ 1648.
We are still expecting to-day all the matters we had thought would
have been settled eight days ago, and up till now the Scots have neither
appointed those who are to command the army, nor written to the
provinces in order to prepare the levies there, which ought to be made
there, nor sent back to France Sir William Fleming, nor selected the
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 459
person who is to take the letter to the English Parliament in order to
demand reparation for the insults that Scotland pretends to have
received, nor even published the proclamation that was decided upon
Thursday last in this Parliament, of which you have the substance in the
papers I have sent to you, and which has been the principal cause of the
delay that has affected all the rest. For although it was decided that
this proclamation be issued without taking the opinion of the clergy,
contrary to the opinion of the Marquis of Argyle and some forty of his
party, who rose when it was passed, it has however been sent to them
before being published, and some time even granted to them in order to
consider it, so that it is but to-day that they are to give their opinion, as
the result of which, although these gentlemen find fault and preach with
almost as much bitterness and violence against the Duke of Hamilton
and his friends as they did formerly, and as they still do at present,
against their king, and although the Marquis of Argyle tries at least to
cause delay in the matters he is unable to prevent, it is hoped they will
be so advanced that this Parliament will be able to rise next week and
wait until the resolutions they will receive from St Germains or from
London give them occasion to meet again ; to which I shall still add that
I have been assured the Duke of Hamilton said yesterday in public that
he would lose his head if there were not twenty thousand men under
arms in this kingdom in three weeks. Yet all these matters do not give
me better hopes than usual, and although this Parliament may do all it
proposes, and the Duke of Hamilton all he says, and that not only war
will be declared against the Independents, but that an army will be
raised here and employed in order to enter into England, and that even
this undertaking be attended with success as complete as the Scots could
wish, I still fear that these advantages will not bring any others to the
King of Great Britain than that of being able to change his prison and
to leave the hands of the Independents in order to fall into those of the
Presbyterians, whom he will have as much reason to fear as the first,
who being no less than they his personal enemies and the enemies of the
monarchy : the consideration of a party capable of holding theirs in
check will then no longer deter them from carrying out their bad inten-
tions.
I admit that the course proposed regarding the voyage of the Prince of
Wales to Scotland is not only more generous but also more useful and
more cei-tain than that I had taken the liberty of disclosing to you ; yet
as I am obliged to confess their Majesties have every sort of reason to
allow this prince to act freely, and not to oppose the desire he may have
to come to this kingdom, I cannot also help believing there is every sort
of reason to prevent him from coming here, for whether he call to mind
the treatment the king his father received from the Scots, or whether he
examine the conditions on which they are now engaging in his restoration,
he must perceive that in wishing to oblige the king to establish Presby-
terianism and to sign the Covenant, which are two things they know well
he will not do, they are already preparing the means of ruining him
460 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
when they have finished their undertaking, without his having almost any
cause to complain of them. It seems that the Prince of Wales cannot
approach without great precautions a place where he may be lost without
remedy, and where nothing ought more to deter him from coming than the
great ardour the Scots manifest to have him and the artifices they employ
in order to induce him to come, among which may be placed the divisions
that exist between the leaders of the two principal parties, of which it
seems the Queen of Great Britain has been led to apprehend the result,
which according to my belief may be less hurtful to the king her
husband than a good understanding between them.
This is what I can state to you with most certainty at present regarding
matters that are not yet concluded, but I hope the resolutions which we
have so long expected and which will apparently be adopted this week will
enable me to state clearly in my next what the King of Great Britain
and the Prince of Wales have to expect from all this nation.
Two additional companies of English cavalry have arrived in Scotland
during the past week, and have received subsistence-money. David Leslie
has promised to obey the orders of Parliament. The clergy have pre-
sented to Parliament to-day a long paper in which they gave their opinion
of the proclamation. It is near nine o'clock in the evening, and Parlia-
ment is still sitting, so that I shall not be able to give you information by
this mail of what has been done there, but it seemed to me better to
finish this letter and to write a little less than not to write at all.]
CCXXXIX
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimhourg, ^ Mai l648.
L''avis que nous avons eu que le paquet qui devoit venir de
Londres cette semaine a ete arrete a Newcastle; la surprise
de Berwick, dont on a eu Tasseurance ; et de Carlisle, dont
on attend la confirmation a chaque moment ; et Tinteret
que les Independants ont de rompre un commerce, que les
intelligence qu''entretiennent les Ecossois en Angleterre, ne
leur rendroient pas avantageux, font juger a tout le monde
que les lettres passeront dorenavant en Angleterre avec beau-
coup de difficulte, et m"'ont fait resoudre a donner seulement
avis a V. Em*'® par ce billet, tout en chiifre, que j'ay resolu
d'envoyer quequ''un demain dans le vaisseau du Chev' Fleming,
— si je vols que je le puisse faire, sans donner de jalousie, et
sans prejudicier a la conduite que j'ay gardie jusqu'ici, — par
lequel je tascherai de rendre un compte bien exact a V. Em*'®
de Fetat ou se trouvent les affaires de ce royaume, et de ce que
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 461
la reine de la G' B"^ s''en peut promettre pour le retablissement
du roi son mari. Je supplie done tres humblement V. Em*^^
de faire suspendre son jugement jusqu'a ce qu'elle ait receu
cette particuliere information, que je me donnerai Thonneur
de lui faire tenir au premier jour; puisque ni Tenvoi du S'
Lieut. Col. Mareschal, qui est parti pour Londres avec les
demandes de ce Parlement a celui d"'Angleterre, — duquel il
cours fortune d''etre mal receu, — ni Tordre qui a ete donne de
faire imprime la declaration de ce royaume, contre les retarde-
ments que le Marquis d^Argyle a essaye d^ apporter, — ni la
surprise de ces deux places, en laquelle les Ecossois doivent
protester qu'ils n''ont eu aucune part, — ni la levee d'une grande
armee, qui selon toute sorte d^apparence doit etre sur pied en
Ecosse dans peu de jours, — ni enfin les protestations que ces
MM. me font ici, et qu''ils font faire en France de n'avoir
point d''autres intentions que de servir leur roi, et qui com-
mencent a etre creues de la plus grande partie de ses serviteurs,
ne sont pas encore des demonstrations capables de persuader
ceux qui connaissent les Ecossois, qu'ils aient un veritable desir
d'executer tout ce quails promettent, et que meme dans la prise
de ces deux places, — qui est ce que peut faire juger plus
avantageusement de leurs actions, — ils n"'aient peu faire pour
leurs propres interets ce qu''ils pretendent n'avoir fait que pour
celui du roi de la G' B' et de ceux de son parti.
[MoNTEREUii to Cardinal Mazabin. Edinburgh, ^ May 1648.
The notice we have had that the parcel that was to come from London
this week had been stopped at Newcastle ; the surprise of Berwick, of
which one has been assured, and of Carlisle, of which the confirmation is
expected at each instant, together with the interest the Independents
have to break off, as being disadvantageous for them, the exchange of
correspondence the Scots keep up with England, have led every one
to consider that letters will pass with much difficulty to England in
future, and have made me decide to give you simply notice by this
note, all in cipher, that I have resolved to send some one to-morrow in
the ship of Sir William Fleming by which, — if I see I can do so without
causing jealousy, and without prejudice to the line of conduct I have
followed till now — I shall try to give a very exact account of the state of
affairs in this kingdom, and of what the Queen of Great Britain may rely
upon for the restoration of the king her husband. I beg you therefoi-e
to suspend your judgment until you receive this special information.
462 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
which I shall send on an early day, since neither the despatch of Lieut. -
Colonel Marshall/ who has gone for London with the demands of this
Parliament to that of England — in which he runs the risk of being badly
received — nor the order that has been given to print the proclamation of
this kingdom, in spite of the delays the Marquis of Argyle has tried to
cause in it ; nor the surprise of these two places, in which the Scots are
to protest that they had no hand ; nor the raising of a large army, which
according to all appearance is to be on foot in Scotland in a few days ;
nor, in short, the protestations these gentlemen make to me here and
which they cause to be made in France, of having no other intentions
but to serve their king, and which begin to be believed by the greater
part of his followers, are still not demonstrations capable of persuading
those who know the Scots that they have a real desire of executing all
they promise, and that even in the capture of these two places — which
action tells most to their advantage — they may not have done for their
own interests what they pretend to have done for that of the King of
Great Britain and of those of his party.]
CCXL
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, — Mai 1648.
BiEN que les lettres qui sont parties de Londres la semaine
passee n''aient ete arretees que pour un jour a Newcastle,
comme tout le monde croit qu*'enes passeront dorenavant avec
beaucoup de difficulte par TAngleterre, et qu^'il me semble
qu"'il etoit necessaire que V. Em'=® fut informee de Tetat des
affaires de ce pays au meme instant que le Chev'' Fleming
partoit pour la France, j'ay creu que je ne devois pas
changer la resolution que j''avois prise d"'envoyer quelqu'un a
V. Em*^® dans son vaisseau, Tayant peu faire sans donner aucun
soup9on.
Tay pense encore, Mg"", que je ne pouvois dans une meilleure
conjuncture que celle-ci faire mon profit de I'avis quMl a
pleu a M. le Comte de Brienne de me donner il y a quelque
temps, d'informer la reine de la G*^ B"" de ce qu'elle se pouvoit
promettre de ce pays, mais comme les affaires qui s'y passent
presentement sont bien delicates, que n'en ayant point le secret,
^ Lieut. -Colonel Marshall had shortly before served in Ireland with Lord
Inchiquin against the English Parliament.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 463
je puis seulement juger sur les apparences exterieures qui
peuvent bien souvent tromper, et que je pourrois meme avoir
manque aux respects qu^il faut garder en telles rencontres, j'ay
envoye toute ouverte a M. le Comte de Brienne la lettre dont
je joins le double c\ celle-ci, afin qu''il ait agreable de la faire,
on rendre ou supprimer, selon qu'il le jugera plus a propos,
puisque personne ne sait que je lui ecris, et que quelque
moderation que j^aie gardee en lui ecrivant, il sera toujours
bon qu'une lettre de cette nature ne soit veue que de peu de
personnes et desquelles la reine de la G"" B"" se tienne bien
asseuree. Elle servira en tout cas, Mg"", pour rendre un compte
plus exact a V. Em*'^ que je n'ai fait par mes precedentes de
Tetat ou se trouvent aujourd''huy les aifaires de ce royaume,
ou bien que les choses ne se portent pas peutetre avec tout
Tavantage qu''il seroit a desirer pour le prompt retablissement
du roi de la G'' B"", elles ne peuvent manquer au moins de se
conduire avec tant de troubles et des desordres que si la France
ne peut esperer d"'en tirer presentement aucune utilite, elle n'en
peut au moins craindre aucun mal.
On n''avoit point eu encore hier au soir aucune asseurance
de la surprise de Carlisle, a ce que m"'a dit M. le Due de
Hamilton, qui me fit Thonneur de me venir voir, afin que
j'ecrivisse a V. Em*^® sur le sujet des interets quMl a en France
qui sont ou le pretexte ou le veritable sujet du voyage d"'un
de ses domestiques qu'il y envoye. II me dit encore que les
Ministres avoient presente le matin au Parlement le plus long
et le plus mauvais papier quMls eussent fait jusqu''ici contre
leur roi, par lequel ils montrent les defauts de la declaration,
qui n*'en a point de plus grand que d''etre trop conforme a
leurs sentiments. Elle se doit vendre aujourd'hui, et je Tenvoye
au Sieur du Bosc parce que je n"'ay pas eu le loisir de la
traduire. Le dit S' Due de Hamilton me fit entendre aussi
qu''ils avoient maintenant besoin des assistances de Sa Majeste,
sans lesquelles il seroit difficile qu'ils peussent achever leurs
entreprises. II y a longtemps qu''on ne m'avoit parle de cette
fa^on, et bien qu'il me pressat assez de lui dire ce que j'en
croyois il me donna toutefois moyen de le satisfaire sans
m'obliger a aucune chose. II m'a encore asseure avec beau-
coup de serments, qu'il n"'avoit autre desir en toute cette entre-
464 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
prise que celui de servir son roi, et qu''il savoit qu'il y avoit
grand nombre de personnes qui etoient toutes prets d'exposer
leurs vies pour son retablissement. Cependant ceux du parti
d''Argyle ne laissent pas toujours de publier qu'il agit pour des
fins bien difFerentes de celle-la.
Le dit Marquis d'Argyle et ceux de son parti s"'assemblerent
avec les Commissaires d'Angleterre Lundi dernier, sur le sujet
de la surprise de Berwick, de laquelle les Ministres ne se
peuvent taire, et a laquelle ce Parlement a declare qu'il n'avoit
aucune part. Cependant, quelques plaintes que fassent les dits
Ministres et le parti d'Argyle avec eux, des resolutions qui se
prennent au Parlement, elles ne sont que fort peu eloignees des
rigueurs qu'ils veulent tenir, puisqu''entre plus de 80 colonels,
tant cavalerie que d'infanterie qui doivent dans les provinces
prendre les noms de ceux qui peuvent porter les armes, ils n''en
ont pas nomme un seul de tous ceux qui ont suivi le parti du
roi de la G' B*", quoi que plusieurs de ceux-la eussent ete capables
de servir en cette occasion, et aient pris meme le Covenant,
qui le doit etre de tous ceux qui porteront les armes en
cette guerre.
On ne doute point ici que le Prince ne parte de France
aussitost que le Chev"^ Fleming y sera arrive. Will. Moray
se doit embarquer avec le dit Chevalier, et s"'est fait faire de
grandes difficultes avant que de pouvoir obtenir la liberte de
passer dans ce vaisseau comme etant du parti d'Argyle et
allant en France pour faire tort, sMl pent, aux interets du Due
de Hamilton, dans la confiance duquel je ne doute point qu''il
ne soit de la meme sorte qu'il est en celle du Marquis d'Argyle.
Je joins a cette lettre une version des demandes qui ont ete
faites au Parlement d'Angleterre. Le Lieu* Col. Mareschal
qui les a portees a eu jusqu''au 31 de ce mois pour retourner,
et n'a eu autre instruction que de delivrer sa lettre au Speaker
de la maison haute, et de lui dire qu'il demeurera quelques
jours pour en entendre la reponse et de Taller demander avant
que partir.
Le Parlement ne se levera point jusqu''a ce qu''on ait eu
nouvelles de Londres des demandes qui y ont ete envoyees.
Les Commissaires d'Angleterre demanderent encore Samedi
dernier au Parlement les principaux Anglois qui sont ici
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 465
refugies, et protesterent centre TEcosse en cas de refus, de
tout le mal qui en pouvoit arriver.
Mon frere qui delivera cette lettre a V. Em"® prendra la
hardiesse de la faire souvenir de mes interets et de les solliciter
aupres d'elle. Je crois, Mg'', qu'il suffira de dire a V. Em*®
qu'il y a deux ans tout entiers que je n'ay receu quoi que ce
soit de mes appointements et que je suis en un lieu ou Ton vit
tres cherement, et ou je ne puis ny retrancher quelque chose
de la table ou du train que j"'ay tenu jusques icy sans pre-
judicier au service de Sa Majeste, ny subsister davantage en
la maniere que j'ay fait sans quelque present secours. Je suis
honteux, Mg% de donner cette importunite a V. Em®® et j''ay
evite de le faire tant qu'il m'a ete possible n'ayant rien epargne
du peu que j''avois pour cela. M. le Tellier m''a fait remettre icy
rhiver dernier cinq mil escus pour employer en gens de guerre
que Tetat present des affaires ne donne point lieu d'^esperer que
Ton puisse avoir d'icy de longtemps. S'il plaisoit a V. Em®®
que je me servisse de cette somme ou d'une partie sur ce
qui me peut estre deu presentement de mes appointements,
j''ajouterois cette extreme grace a tant d'autres que j'ay receues
de V. Em®®, et qui m''obligent d'estre toute ma vie, etc.
[MoNTEREUL to Cabdinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, ^ May 1648.
Althovgh the letters that left London last week were only stopped for
one day at Newcastle, as every one thinks they will pass with difficulty
through England in future, and as it seems to me necessary that you
should be informed of the state of affairs in this country simultaneously
with the departure of Sir William Fleming for France, I thought I
ought not to change the resolve I had taken of sending some one to you
in his ship, which I was able to do without exciting any suspicion.
I have thought further that I could not find a more favourable conjunc-
ture than the present for carrying out the advice M de Brienne was
pleased to give me some time ago, that I should inform the Queen of
Great Britain as to what she might expect from this country, but as the
matters that are going on here now are very delicate and not being in ^he
secret of them I can only judge from outward appearances that are very
often deceptive, and I might have been even wanting in the respect one
must observe in such circumstances, so that I have sent the letter open
to the Count de Brienne and add a copy of it to this one, hence you
may either have it delivered or suppress it as you judge fit, since no one
knows that 1 have written it, and however I may have moderated my
expressions in writing to her, it will always be wise that a letter of this
VOL. II. S G
466 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
nature be seen only by the few persons in whom the Queen of Great
Britain has absolute confidence. It will in any case sei've to give you a
more exact account than I have yet given in my preceding lettei's of the
actual state of aifairs in this kingdom^ where although things do not pro-
ceed perhaps with all the advantage one might wish for the speedy
restoration of the King of Great Britain they cannot fail to lead to such
troubles and disorders that if France cannot hope to derive much benefit
from them at present she has at least no harm to fear.
Up till last evening no confirmation of the capture of Carlisle had
arrived^ as I was told by the Duke of Hamilton who came to see me in
order that I might write to you on the subject of his interests in France,
which is either the pretext or the real object of the voyage of one of his
domestics whom he is sending there. He told me also that the clergy
had presented to Parliament that morning the longest and the worst
paper they have yet till now drawn up against their king, by which
they show the faults of the proclamation, that has in reality none greater
than to be too conform to their sentiments. It is on sale to-day, and I
send a copy of it to M. du Bosc, for I have not had time to translate it.
Tlie Duke of Hamilton led me to understand also that they now required
the assistance of his Majesty, without which it would be difficult for
them to carry out their plans. It is long since I have been spoken to
in this manner, and although he pressed me a good deal to tell him what
I thought, he gave me, however, the means of satisfying him without my
coming under any obligation. He also assured me with many protesta-
tions that he had no other object in all this undertaking than that of
serving his king, and that he knew there were a great number of persons
who were quite ready to expose their lives to secure his restoration. Those
of the Argyle party, however, still continue to declare that he has very
difi"erent objects in view. This marquis and those of his party met with
the English Commissioners on Monday last to consider the capture of
Berwick, about which the clei'gy cannot be kept quiet, and in which this
Parliament has declared it has taken no part. Yet whatever complaints
the clergy make and the Argyle party with them of the resolutions taken
in Parliament, these latter are not much different from the severe
measures the clergy wish to adopt, since among more than eighty
colonels, both cavalry and infantry, who are appointed in the provinces
to take the names of those who can bear arms, there is not one therein
included that has followed the party of the King of Great Britain,
although several of these latter would have been capable of serving on
this occasion and had even taken the Covenant, as all those who bear
arms in this war are required to do.
It is considered certain here that the Prince of Wales will leave France
as soon as Sir William Fleming arrives there. Will. Moray intends to
embark with Sir Robert, and great objections were raised before he was
able to obtain the liberty of passing on board this ship, from his being
of the Argyle party and on account of his going to France to do harm
if he can to the interests of the Duke of Hamilton, but I have no doubt
1648] MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND 467
of his being in the confidence of the duke in the same manner in which
he is in that of the Marquis of Argyle.
I add to this letter a translation of the demands that have been made
to the Parliament of England. Lieut. -Colonel Marshall, to whom they
were intrusted, has had till the 31st of this month given him in order to
return, and he has no further instruction than to deliver his letter to the
Speaker of the Upper House, and to tell him he will remain some days to
await the reply and to go and demand it before leaving.
Parliament will not rise until they have had news from London of the
demands they have sent there. The English Commissioners demanded
again on Saturday last from Parliament the principal Englishmen who
have taken refuge here, and entei'ed a protest against Scotland in case of
refusal for all the harm that might thereupon happen.
This letter will be delivered to you by my brother, who will take the
liberty of reminding you of my interests. I believe it will suffice for me
to say that I have not received anything of my pay for two years, and
that I am in a place where living is very expensive and where I cannot
curtail finything in expense of table or establishment that I have kept up
till now without causing prejudice to the service of his Majesty, nor
subsist longer in the manner I have hithei'to done without obtaining
some immediate assistance. I am ashamed to be thus importunate, but
I have avoided mentioning the matter as long as it was possible for me
to do so, not having spared the little I had. M. le Tellier sent to me
last winter five thousand crowns in order to be employed for recruiting,
which the present state of affairs gives little reason to hope it will be
required here for a long time, so that were you to allow me to make use
of this sum, or a part of it, on account of what is owing to me at present,
I would consider it an extreme favour.]
CCLXI
MONTEREUL 1 la REINE D'ANGLETERRE
Edimbourg, 3 Mai 1648.
Madame, — Quand je n"'aurois pas creu que Vostre Majeste
seroit informee de ce qui se passe en ce royaurae par les lettres
que j''ecris en France toutes les semaines, et plus particuliere-
ment encore par les relations de ceux qu*'elle a voulu honorer
ici de ses correspond ances, j'aurois toujours difficilement pris
la hardiesse de lui ecrire durant que les choses s"y conduisent
avec si peu de certitude, si M. le Comte de Brienne, en me
mandant qu'il croit que je Tay fait, ny m'avoit comme temoigne
que je le dois faire.
Cependant, Madame, quelque temps que j'ay laisse passer
468 MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND [may
depuis que j'ay receu de lui cet avis, qui me doit tenir lieu de
commandement, et bien qu'il semble que les affaires veulent
prendre un meilleur train qu'auparavant, je desirerois toutefois
avoir encore attendu plus que je n'ay fait a en ecrire a Votre
Majeste mes sentiments, afin d'estre asseure par des actions
des bons desseins de ceux aux paroles desquels ni elle ni tous
ceux qui les ont connus n'ont pas beaucoup de sujet de croire,
de sorte que j'aurois encore differe de quelques jours a rendre
compte a V. Majeste de ce qu'elle se peut promettre des
ses sujets d'Ecosse, si je n'avois pense que je ne devois pas
demeurer dans le silence durant qu*'on faisoit partir d'ici le
Chev' Guillaume Fleming pour parler a Tavantage de ceux
qui, selon toute sort d'apparence, ne desirent point celui de
leur roi.
II me semble, Madame, que ce que V. M. doit desirer s^avoir
de ce pays se peut reduire principalement a trois points : 1"'. Si
Ton levera une armee. 2°. Si, quand cette armee sera levee, elle
sera employee contre TAngleterre. 3°. Et, si, etant entree en
Angleterre, elle y agira pour le retablissement de sa Majeste.
Et veritablement, Madame, il y a assez d'apparence qu'il y
aura bientost ici une armee ; non pas tant par Tordre que ce
parlement vient de donner de mettre, ainsi qu'ils appellent, le
royaume en posture de deffense ; ny pour la nomination de
ceux qui doivent avoir la charge de lever les gens de guerre
dans les Provinces, et de ceux encore qui les doivent com-
mander quand ils commenceront a marcher, puisque toutes ces
choses n''obligent encore a rien, et ne s'etendent que jusqu'a
faire des listes des officiers et des soldats, sans les eloigner,
pour cela de leurs maisons, ou les detourner de leur exercises ;
ny meme par les demandes qu''ils ont envoyees a Londres, ou
par la declaration qui doit estre publiee presentement, puisque
Tune et Tautre de ces choses est autant pour demander raison
du Parlement d' Angleterre que pour le prendre, et pour
introduire un traite de paix que pour commencer une guerre ;
mais pour Tavantage qu'*une armee sur pied pourra donner
aux Ecossois ; soit pour recouvrer un pen de cette reputation
qu'ils ont perdue et pour faire croire qu'ils n"'ont pas ete les
auteurs de I'imprisonnement de celui qu'ils veulent mettre
aujourd'huy en liberte ; soit pour porter les serviteurs de leur
1648] MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND 469
roi, et les Presbyteriens de TAngleterre a se soulever centre
les Independants, pour exposer leurs voisins et leurs ennemis a
un peril dont ils se sauvent, et pour tirer du profit de leur
commune ruine ; soit pour faire venir Monsg' le Prince de Galles
plus facilement en ce royaume, qui est, ce qu"'ils considerent
comme la chose qui peut contribuer davantage a asseurer
leurs affaires, et a miner plus aisement celles de leurs ennemis
et de leur roi ; soit enfin que ne pouvant faire davantage de
cette armee, ils sVn servent pour obtenir une paix avantageuse
au lieu d'entreprendre une guerre dont les evenements sont
toujours tres incertains, et qui pourroient meme ne leur etre
pas heureux. II seroit plus difficile de juger, si, apres quMls
auront leve une armee, — ce qui n''est pas bien assure quMls
veuillent faire, — ils s"'en serviront pour entrer en Angleterre et
pour faire la guerre aux Independants, ou pour conclure la
paix avec eux, sous de meilleures conditions qu'ils n''auroient
fait etant desarmes. Et bien que Tapprehension que les
Ecossois ont temoigtie avoir autrefois, de rompre avec le Parle-
ment d'Angleterre quand ils ont livre lachement leur roi, et
quand ils eussent peu le conserver plus facilement qu'ils ne
peuvent maintenant le secourir, donnent lieu de douter qu''ils
soient resolu de faire la guerre ; et que Texemple de ce qui
s''est fait depuis une annee en Angleterre ou Ton a ete tout
presdiverses fois de se battre sans estre jamais venuaux mains,
et ou la crainte qu''on a eue de donner Tavantage aux serviteurs
de sa Majeste a etouffe les querelles qui devoient deviser ses
ennemis, puissent faire juger qu"'apres que les armees seront
leves, ils se pourroient encore accommoder aisement, il y a
toutefois de puissantes raisons qui peuvent faire croire que
les Ecossois entreront en armes en Angleterre, car autre qu'ils
ne voudroient pas perdre Toccasion qu'ils ont aujourd'huy de
miner les Independants et de retablir par ce moyen leurs
affaires dont ils ne pourroient jamais estre asseures tant que
les dits Independants demeureront avec quelque sorte d^autorite,
ils ont encore interet, ou d'oter aux serviteurs de sa Majeste,
ou a ceux qui sont pour les eveques, qui commencent a se
rendre considerables en Angleterre, le moyen de se relever et
d^tablir leur roi, ou de pouvoir prendre part avec eux a la
gloire d'une genereuse action, s''il est vrai quMls ne la puissent
470 MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND [may
empescher, ainsi qu'ils esayeront par tous les moyens de la
faire. Mais bien qu'il se leve une armee avec laquelle les
Ecossois fassent la guerre en Angleterre, je doute toujours que
Sa Majeste en puise tirer aucun avantage, car quand leur
entreprise auroit ete suivie du meilleur succes qu'elle puisse
avoir, et qu'ils auroient entierement mine les Independants.
Sa Majeste n'en tireroit aucun autre profit que celui d''estre
conduite dans une de ses maisons et d'y estre arretee jusqu^a
ce qu'elle ait donne satisfaction sur toutes les choses quails
desirent, et qu''elle a tant de diverses fois refuse, de sorte que
tout ce qui pent lui arriver de plus avantageux de cette entre-
prise, si elle succede selon Tintention des Ecossois, c'est de se
trouver au meme etat auquel il etoit en sa maison de Holmby,
si ce n'est qu'il sera d'autant plus mal ou ils le mettront, que
la haine que ces peuples portent a leur roi et a la monarchic
ne sera plus moderee par la consideration d"'un parti contraire
au leur, comme elle a ete jusqulci, lorsque Sa Majeste s'est
trouve entre les mains des uns et des autres, et que non seule-
ment Sa M. sera remise a la discretion de personnes qui en
ont fort pen, et qui n"'auront plus rien a craindre, mais se
conduisant toujours avec les memes artifices dont ils se sont
servi jusqu"'ici, se sont fait obliger par les Ministres d'agir dans
des conditions si destructives de la Monarchic qu'elles leur
donneront lieu de s'excuser de tous les mauvais traitements
qu'ils pourroient faire a leur roi, et de faire croire qu'ils sont
obliges en conscience de le miner auec tous ses serviteurs,
Cest, Madame, ce que Votre Majeste pourra aisement re-
connoitre par les termes auxquels ]eur declaration a ete con^ue,
ou a la reserve de quelques paroles generales pleines de douceur
et peutetre encore d'equivoque avec lesquelles ils la finissent, il
n*'y a rien qui ne leur donne lieu de ruiner leur roi avec quelque
forme de justice toutes les fois qu'ils le desireront, car, outre
qu'ils peuvent par la dite declaration perdre tous ses serviteurs,
s'ils ont de desseins diiferents des leurs, ils se sont obliges de ne
point etablir leur roi s'il ne signe le covenant, s'il n*'etablit le
Presbyteriat, et s'il n"'oblige pas ses successeurs a les maintenir,
enfin s'il ne fait des choses qu'ils savent bien qu'il ne veut pas
faire, et qu'a peine pourroit il faire s'il en avoit meme la
volonte. Et pour ce qui est de demeurer en Tune de ses
1648] MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND 471
maisons avec honneur, seurete, et liberte, S. M. peut se souvenir
(j[u'en donnant autrefois Tinterpretation de ces mots, ils se sont
laisses entendre qu'ils croyoient avoir satisfait au premier en
servant a genoux le roi, en le traitant de Majeste, et en
demeurant decouverts dans sa presence ; au second en lui
donnant des gardes qui empesceroient de lui faire mal ; et
qu''ils ne croyoient point avoir contrevenu au troisieme en le
tenant toujours prisonnier, et en lui otant comme ils disent,
par ce moyen, la liberte de mal faire, ce quails pensent qui
arriveroit sMl nY^toit plus entre leurs mains, de sorte, Madame,
que ceux qui entendent le langage des Ecossois croyront avec
peine qu''ils aient d"'autre dessein presentement que celui de
miner les Independants, d"'empescher ses serviteurs de le
retablir, et, ce qu'ils desirent plus que toute autre chose, et
qui peut leur servir a ces deux premieres, d avoir entre leurs
mains Monsg' le Prince de Galles.
II y a une seule chose que Ton fera sans doute valoir a
V. M., comme ce qui ne lui doit plus permettre de douter de
bonnes intentions des Ecossois, je veux dire la confiance qu"'ils
ont temoigne aux serviteurs de leur roi en leur donnant moyen
de surprendre Berwick et Carlisle. Mais peutetre que V. M. ne
sera pas tout a fait de ce sentiment quand elle considera Tinteret
qu'ont eu les Ecossois d'oter des mains des Independants deux
postes si considerables, et particulierement Berwick, qui est a
la verite moins fort que Carlisle, mais d"'ou un parti de Cavalerie
peut estre en une nuit aux partes d'Edimbourg et ruiner la
plus riche province d'Ecosse. Qu'ils ont donne par ce moyen
quelque satisfaction aux serviteurs de leur roi, que leurs
longueurs et toute leur conduite avoient offense, avec beaucoup
de raison, qui eussent peu leur nuire s'ils se fussent joints aux
Independants, et qui ne sauroient profiter de la prise de ces deux
places dont les Ecossois peuvent les chasser lorsqu'ils voudront,
quand ils ne satisferoient pas meme a Tobligation qu'on m''a
dit qu'ils avoient pris de les leur rendre, outre quMls n''ont fait
faire cette entreprise qu'*en suite de Farme, ou fausse ou
veritable, qu"'ils eurent la semaine passee de la marche d'une
partie de Tarmee des Independants, c"'est a dire lorsqu'ils se
sont veu obliges de s"'asseurer de ces places dont ils n'eussent
peu se saisir eux-memes sans violer leur covenant, de sorte
472 MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND [may
qu'ils ont principalement travaille pour eux dans cette action,
puisqu'outre les avantages que je viens de presenter a V. M.
qu'ils en ont tire, elle leur sert encore, non seulement pour
decharger le royaume de la subsistance qu'il etoit contraint a
fournir a tant de pauvres Anglois qui s'etoient refugies, et que
le Parlement d'Angleterre les vouloit obliger de rendre, mais
pour donner meme plus d'asseurance de leur fidelite a Mg'' le
Prince de Galles et le porter en un lieu ou il est beaucoup
desire.
C'est, Madame, tout ce que je puis mander a V. M. touchant
Tentreprise qui vient d'etre faite sur ces deux places, du succes
e Tune desquelles nous n'avons pas encore de confirmation.
our ce qui regarde la venue du Prince de Galles dans ce
royaume, comme Mons. le Chev'' Fleming ne me donne pas le
temps d'entretenir au long V. M, sur ce sujet, je me contenterai
de lui dire que quand son Altesse pourroit oublier le traite-
ment que les Ecossois ont fait au Roi son pere, que les artifices
dont ils se servent ne lui seroient point suspects, et qull
jugeroit meme que vos sujets d'Ecosse auroient pour lui tout
le respect et la bonne volonte qu'ils n'ont pas, il semble qu'il
pourroit favoriser leurs desseins par tout autre moyen que par
sa presence, et qu'il ne se devrait pas porter pour les assister
a faire pour eux une chose qui pourroit miner ses inter^ts
sans aucune esperance de ressource. Je prendrai toutefois
la hardiesse de dire encore a V. M. que quelque parti que
Mg"" le Prince de Galles puisse prendre en cette rencontre, les
Ecossois tascheront toujours de faire en sorte qu''il ait sujet
de s'en repentir, puisque s'il se met entre leurs mains il est
en danger de se perdre, et que s'il leur refuse de se rendre icy,
ils ne manqueront pas de dire qu'il leur a ote par son absence
les moyens qu"'ils eussent eu de le conserver.
J'ajouterai a V. M. sur le sujet de M. le Due de Hamilton
et M. le Marquis d'Argyle, puisque la maniere de laquelle ils
vivent ensemble est un secret, que je suis oblige d'avouer a
V. M. que je ne puis y comprendre jusqu'ici; et en etfet,
Madame, si j'en ote la necessite qu'ils ont eu personellement
de paroitre divises pour faire trouver plus utile au service de
V. M. les resolutions qu'ils ont fait passer en ce Parlement avec
beaucoup de peine, et que Ton jugeroit sans cela estre plustost
1648] MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND 473
prejudiciables qu"'a vantage uses aux interets du roi son raari, je
puis dire que j'ay trouve des raisons presque egalement fortes
pour prouver que ces deux personnes sont bien ensemble, et
qu'ils y sont mal. Cependant il est bien difficile de connoitre
ce qui en est, il me semble aussi que la connoissance en est peu
importante au service de V. M. puisque, soit quMls agissent de
concert, comme plusieurs crojent, ou qu'ils soient veritable-
ment ennemis, comme ils essayent de faire croire a tout le
monde, il y a toute sorte d'apparence que les affaires ne
changeront point de train pour cela, en ce que regarde Tinteret
de leur roi, veu meme que la conduite generale de ce royaume
a beaucoup de rapport a celle qu'a observe M. le Due de
Hamilton dans ses affaires particulieres, dans lesquelles il a
agi de telle sorte que quelque chose qu''il ait fait, il croit
toujours qu'il pent montrer qu'il n'a rien voulu faire qu'il ne
croit pas conforme aux interets de son maitre.
Cest, Madame, ce que je prends la hardiesse d'ecrire a V. M.
avec plus de precipitation que je ne devrois, et j*'espere que si
le peu de lumiere que j'ay dans les affaires, dont je n"'ay point eu
le secret, m''a fait manquer en quelque chose, EUe aura la bonte
de me pardonner des fautes qui ne precedent point de la volonte,
puisqu"'au moins je la puis asseurer que ny dans ce que j"'ay
fait au lieu ou je suis, ny dans ce que je me donne Thonneur de
lui ecrire, je ne me suis point eloigne de cette fidelite que m''est
toujours tant recommendee par toutes les lettres que je re^ois
de la Cour, et a laquelle me doivent obliger encore, outre les
graces que j"'ay receues de V. M., les extremes bontes que le
Roi son mari a eu pour moi et la grande confiance de laquelle
il a voulu m'honorer, dont j''espere que V. M. ne me trouvera
jamais indigne, si Elle se contente du veritable zele que j'aurai
toujours pour ses interets. Je lui desire des felicites qui soient
egales a ses vertus et a ses merites, et lui demande, avec toute
sorte de respect, la permission de me dire, etc.
[MoNTEREUL to the Queen of England. Edinburgh, 3rd May 1648.
Madam, — ^V^ere it not that I believed your Majesty would be informed
of what is passing in this kingdom by the letters I write to France every
week, and more especially by the accounts of those here whom you honour
with your correspondence, I should still have hesitated in venturing to
write to you, while matters remain here in such an uncertain state, had
474 MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND [may
not the Count de Brieiine^ in stating to me tliat he thought I had done
so, expressed in some measure the idea that I ought to do it.
Yet, Madam, although some time has elapsed since I received from
him this intimation, which for me ought to be equivalent to a command,
and although it seems that matters are about to take a better turn than
formerly, I should still, however, have wished to wait a little longer
before writing to your Majesty my opinion of them, so as to be able to be
assured by the actions of the good intentions of those whose promises
neither you nor any of those who know them have much reason to
believe ; so that I still would have delayed for some days rendering an
account to your Majesty of what you may expect from your Scottish
subjects, had I not thought it necessary not to keep silence while Sir
William Fleming was being despatched from here, in order to speak to
the advantage of those who, according to all likelihood, do not wish
that of their king.
It seems to me that what your Majesty may wish to know about the
doings of this country may be reduced to three points, viz. : First, If an
army will be raised.'' Second, If so, will it be employed against England .>*
Thii-d, And if, having entered England, it will act there to promote the
restoration of his Majesty.'' And truly, Madam, there is considerable
likelihood of there being soon an army here, not so much on account of the
order this Parliament has just given, to put, as they call it, the kingdom in a
state of defence, nor because of the appointment of those who are intrusted
with raising the troops in the country districts, nor even of those designed
to command them when they will begin to march, since all these matters
do not bind them to anything, and go no further than the drawing up of
lists of officers and soldiers without removing them from their homes or
their employments : nor even by the demands they have sent to London,
nor the proclamation that is to be issued at present, since both of these
matters are as much for to demand justice from the English Parliament
as in order to take it at their own hands, and as much to introduce a
treaty of peace as to begin war, but for the advantage that a standing
army will be able to give to the Scots in either enabling them to regain a
little of that reputation they have lost, and to make it believed they were
not the authors of the imprisonment of him whom they wish now to set
at liberty, or to induce the followers of their king and the English
Presbyterians to rise against the Independents, so as to expose their
neighbours and their enemies to a peril from which they escape, and to
derive profit from their common ruin, or to bring the Prince of VYales
more readily into this kingdom, which is the matter they consider most
likely to contribute to the security of their affairs and to ruin most easily
those of their enemies and those of their king ; or, in short, that not being
able to make more out of this army they may employ it so as to secure an
advantageous peace instead of engaging in a war of which the results are
always very uncertain, and which might even not be fortunate for them.
It would be more difficult to judge, if, after having raised an army —
which it is not yet quite certain they will do — they were to employ it in
1648] MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND 475
entering England and to make war on the Independents, or to conclude
peace with them on better conditions than they would have done had
they remained unarmed. And although the apprehension the Scots
manifested formerly of breaking oflF with the English Parliament when
they delivered up in a cowardly manner their king, when they could have
preserved him more easily than they can help him now, gives reason to
doubt of their being resolved on war, and that similar to what happened
during the past year in England, where they have been about to fight
several times without ever coming to blows, and where the fear they had
mutually of giving thereby an advantage to his Majesty's followers caused
them to stifle the quarrels that ought to have divided the king's enemies,
one may hence be led to judge that after the armies are raised they may
still easily agree. There are, however, powerful reasons that may lead
one to believe that the Scots will enter England in arms, for besides that
they would not like to lose the opportunity they have at present of ruin-
ing the Independents, and by this means securing their affairs, of which
they can never be certain so long as the Independents retain any sort of
authority, they have also an interest to deprive the followers of his
Majesty, or those in favour of the bishops, who begin to become important
in England, of the means of regaining power and restoring their king, or
again they may be able to take part with these latter and share the glory
of a generous action, if it be true that they are unable to prevent this
restoration, as they will endeavour by every means to do. But although
an army may be raised with which the Scots might make war in England,
I still doubt that his Majesty can derive any advantage from it, for
although their undertaking was attended with the greatest possible
success, and had they even entirely ruined the Independents, his
Majesty would not derive any profit thei-eby further than to be conducted
to one of his places of residence and confined there until he gave them
satisfaction on all the matters they wish, which he has so many times
refused to do, so that all that can most advantageously happen for him
from this enterprise, if it succeed, is to find himself in the same position in
which he was at Holmby, if not that it will be so much worse where they
will put him, from the hatred those people bear to their king and to the
monarchy, which will be no longer restrained by the consideration of a
party opposed to theirs, as has been the case till now, when his Majesty
has been in the hands of one or the other party ; and that not only will
his Majesty be placed at the discretion of persons who have little of that
quality and who will have nothing to fear, but who, practising still the
same artifices they have employed till now, pretending to be obliged by
the clergy to act in a manner so destructive of the monarchy as to give
them reason to excuse all the bad treatment they would be guilty of to-
wards their king, and make it believed they are conscientiously obliged
to ruin him with his followers. This is what your Majesty may easily
perceive by the terms in which their proclamation has been drawn up,
wherein, with the exception of a few words in a general sense, very
amiable and perhaps also equivocal in expression, towards the end, there
476 MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND [may
is nothing that may not give them an opportunity of ruining their king,
with a certain form of justice, whenever they may wish it ; for besides
that they can by this proclamation ruin all his followers if they have
designs different from theirs, since they have pledged themselves not to
restore their king if he do not sign the Covenant, if he do not establish
Presbyterianism, and if he do not oblige his successors to maintain them,
in short if he do not do things they know well he will not do and that he
scarcely could do were he even so disposed. And as regards his remain-
ing in one of his places of residence, with honour, safety and liberty, your
Majesty may remember that in giving formerly the signification of these
words they gave one to understand that they believed they had complied
with the first by serving the king on their knees, in styling him his Majesty,
and in remaining with their heads uncovered in his presence ; and for the
second in giving him guards that would prevent any harm coming to him ;
and that they believed they had not violated the third by keeping him
always a prisoner, and in depriving him, as they said, by this means of the
liberty of doing harm, which they thought would happen were he not in
their hands, so that. Madam, those who understand the language of the
Scots will have difficulty in believing that they have any other intention
at present than that of ruining the Independents, to prevent the king's
• followers from restoring him, and what they wish above all, and which may
serve their purpose for obtaining the two former, to have the Prince of
Wales in their hands.
There is one thing they will doubtless turn to account with your
Majesty as placing the good intentions of the Scots beyond doubt, I
mean the confidence they have manifested towards the king's followers
in their giving them the means of capturing Berwick and Carlisle. But
perhaps your Majesty will not be quite of this opinion when you consider
the interest the Scots had in snatching from the hands of the Independents
two such important places and especially Berwick, which is in fact not
so strong as Carlisle, but whence a party of cavalry may in one night
reach the gates of Edinburgh and ravage the richest district of Scotland.
They may have given by this means some satisfaction to the king's
followers which their delays and all their conduct had with great reason
offended, who had they joined the Independents might have been able to
injure them, and who would not be able to derive any benefit from the
capture of these two places from which the Scots can dislodge them when
they wish, were they not to comply with the obligation, I am told they
came under to give them up to them ; besides that they only engaged in
this matter as the result of the alarm, either false or true, that they had
during the past week, of the march of a party of the Independent army,
that is to say, when they saw themselves obliged to make sure of these
two places, which they could not have seized upon themselves, without
violating their Covenant, so that they have principally worked for their
own hands in this affair, since besides the advantages I have just
mentioned to your Majesty that they have derived from it, it is also use-
ful to them^ not only in relieving the kingdom from the subsistence it
1648] MONTEREUL TO QUEEN OF ENGLAND 477
was obliged to furnish to so many poor Englishmen, who had escaped
here, and whom the English Parliament wished to oblige them to deliver
up, but in order to give even greater assurance of their fidelity to the
Prince of Wales and to bring him to a place where he is much desired.
This is. Madam, all I can state regarding the attempt that has just
been made on these two places, of the success of one of which we have
not yet had the confirmation. As regards the coming of the Prince of
Wales into this kingdom, as Sir William Fleming does not give me an
opportunity of engaging your Majesty's attention at length on this subject,
I shall content myself by stating that though his Highness could forget
the manner the Scots treated the king, his father, that the artifices they
employ now may not seem suspicious to him, and that he would even
judge that your Scottish subjects will have for him all the respect and
good-will which they have not, it seems he might favour their designs by
any other means than by his presence, and that he ought not to be
induced in order to assist them to undertake a thing which may ruin his
interests without hope of remedy. I shall still, however, take the liberty
of adding to your Majesty, that whatever decision the Prince of Wales
may take in this circumstance, the Scots will always try to contrive that
he may have reason to regret it, since if he places himself in their hands
he is in danger of being undone, and that if he refuse to come here they
will not fail to say that he has deprived them by his absence of the
means they might have had of preserving him.
I shall add to your ^Majesty on the subject of the Duke of Hamilton
and the Marquis of Argyle, since the footing on which they stand as
regards each other is a secret, that I am obliged to admit that I cannot
till now understand, and in fact. Madam, if I put out of the question the
necessity they have had to appear personally opposed to each other, in
order to make the resolutions they have passed with much trouble in this
Parliament seem more useful for the service of your Majesty, and which
one might judge without that to be rather prejudicial than advantageous
to the interests of the king your husband, I may say 1 have found
reasons of almost equal weight to prove that these two persons are
friendly together and that they are unfriendly. Yet it is very diflScult
to learn which is right. It seems to me little important for the service of
your Majesty, since whether they act in concert, as several believe, or
whether they be truly enemies, as they try to make every one believe,
there is the greatest likelihood that matters will not change their course
on that account as regards the interests of their king, seeing even that
the general direction of this kingdom has much resemblance to that
which the Duke of Hamilton follows in his private aflPairs, in which he has
acted in such a manner that whatever he may have done, he always
believes he can show he never wished to do anything that he did not
think in keeping with the interests of his master.
This is. Madam, what I take the liberty of writing to you with
greater haste than I ought, and I hope that if the little light I possess in
matters of which I have not the secret have caused me to fail in anything
478 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
you will have the goodness to pardon the faults that are independent of
my will, since I can at least assure you that neither in what I have done
in the place where I am, nor in what I have had the honour of writing to
you, have I failed in that fidelity which is always so much recommended
to me in all the letters I receive from the court, to which I am still
further prompted by the favours I have received from your Majesty and
the exti'eme kindness the king your husband has had for me and the
great confidence with which he has honoured me, of which I hope your
Majesty will never find me unworthy if you will be satisfied with the
veritable zeal I shall always retain for your interests.
CCXLII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, f- Mai l648.
La lettre que j"'ay ecrite a la reine d'Angleterre quand le
Chev'' Fleming est parti d'icy pour lui estre rendue selon que
V. Em''® le jugera a propos, vous aura particulierement informe
de ce que je crois que peuvent produire les affaires de ce pays
pour le retablissement du roi son mari. J'ay passe a la verite
un peu legerement sur deux points qui semblent assez con-
siderables, la maniere en laquelle le Due de Hamilton et le
Marquis d'Argyle vivent ensemble, et la venue du Prince de
Galles dans ce royaume; mais les doutes que je rencontre dans
la premiere question, et le peu qu'elle importe aux interets du
roi de la G"" B"", pour les raisons que j"*ay marquees, m"'excuseront
aupres de V. Em''® si m'y suis peu arrete. Et pour ce qui est
du voyage de M. le Prince de Galles, dont Ton ne doute plus
presque ici, apres ce qu'a fait le Due d'Yorck ; outre que je
m''en suis deja assez ouvert par toutes mes lettres, la crainte
que j'ay eue de trop presser un point sur lequel on desire le
laisser agir librement, et dans lequel il pourroit juger qu''on
auroit quelque interet separe du sien, m'a fait croire que j'aurois
peut-etre mal fait si je en avois dit davantage. Cependant,
Mg', si je vois que les ordinaires aient le meme liberte qu''ils
ont eue jusqu'ici je ne manqueray pas dans huit jours d'in-
former tres exactement V. Em®® sur Tun et sur Tautre de
ces deux points.
Je lui diray maintenant que plus j 'examine la conduite qui
se tient icy, plus je trouve qu'il s'agit seulement entre les
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 479
Presbyteriens et les Independants de savoir a qui demeurera
le gouvernement de cette Isle, et qu'ils n'ont recours au roi
de la G"" B"" et a Mons. le Prince de Galles, et ne se servent de
leurs serviteurs, qu'autant qu'ils voient qu'ils en ont besoin pour
venir a bout de leur desseins, dont le succes de quelque cote
qu'il tourne, pourroit estre egalement prejudiciable au retablisse-
ment de leur roi, et au repos de la France.
II me semble encore que quelques efforts que les Ministres
et le Marquis d'Argyle fassent en apparence pour arreter Teffet
de toutes les deliberations de ce Parlement, et particulierement
pour empescher qu'il se leve une nouvelle armee, le roi de la
G"" B'' a plus a craindre de la bonne intelligence que les divisions
de ces deux partis. Et en effet, Mg'', les solemnelles impreca-
tions que les Ministres ont faites ici depuis deux ou trois jours
dans les Eglises, contre la dite armee, et les ordres qu'ils ont
envoye aux autres Ministres de ce royaume de faire le meme,
a peine de perdre leurs places, n'empescheront pas qu'elle ne
se leve, et qu'elle ne puisse entrer en Angleterre et y agir
heureusement pour les interets du Presbyteriat, si les affaires
ne changent de face, mais elles peuvent servir a ceux du parti
d'Hamilton pour persuader la Reine de la G'' B*" et Mg"" le
Prince de Galles qu'ils travaillent pour les interets de leur roi,
ce qu'ils ne peuvent les faire juger que par la seule resistance
que les Ministres ont faites a toutes les choses qu'ils ont fait
passer jusqu'ici dans ce Parlement; de sort que cette opposi-
tion des Ministres, ou feinte ou veritable, ne servira pas seule-
nient a porter M. le Prinee de Galles a venir icy, mais encore
a le pouvoir perdre quand il y sera arrive, sans qu'on en puisse
rejetter la faute sur ceux qui lui auront fait entreprendre ce
voyage.
Aussi, Monsg"", ne puis-je taire qu'ils ont envoye avec grand
soin a la reine d'Angleterre par le S' Chev"" Fleming la derniere
remontrance de ces Ministres, comme une exposition favorable
de leur declaration, et par laquelle ils pretendent faire con-
noitre qu'ils ont eu seulement intention de servir leur roi ;
ce qu'ils esperent qui aura d'autant plus d'effet que les choses
qui sont dites a notre avantage par ceux qui sont creus nos
ennemis, ont plus de force que celles que nous disons pour
nous-memes.
480 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
Je ne feray point savoir a, V. Em*^® la fa^on en laquelle
Berwick et Carlisle ont ete pris, puisqu''elle Taura appris il y
a longtemps par les lettres d'Angleterre ; je lui diray seule-
ment que le Comte de Lanark re^ut hier un billet du Chev'
Musgrave, qui est dans Carlisle, par lequel il lui mande qu'il
a quatre mille hommes de pied et mille chevaux. II ne s'en
rend pas tant dans Berwick, car le Chev' Jacques Hamilton,
qui en est revenu depuis trois jours, m'a dit qu'il n'y avoit pas
six cents hommes de pied et deux ou trois cents chevaux, mais
rinfanterie est presque sans armes. J'espere qu"'ils en auront
presentement, et qu''une petite barque qui est partie de Leith
il y a cinq ou six jours, et que le Marquis d'Argyle a essay e
d'arreter, en aura decharge proche de la ville, dont une fregate
du Parlement garde le port, sans que ceux de dedans, qui n'ont
aucun canon, la puissent contraindre de se retirer.
Les Commissaires d''Angleterre ont demande que ce Parle-
ment declarat traitres aux deux royaumes tous les Ecossois qui
se trouveroient avoir contribue a la prise de ces deux places,
et qui y envoyeroient aucunes munitions, ainsi qu'ils faisoient
des a present tous ceux de leur nation qui se trouveront y avoir
eu aucune part ; mais leur billet a ete renvoye au Comite des
24, qui refusera, comme Ton croit, d'y faire reponse, jusqu'a
ce qu'on ait receu celles du Parlement d'Angleterre a leurs
demandes.
Enfin les Colonels, tant d'infanterie que de cavalerie, qui
doivent commander les forces qui seront levees dans ce royaume,
ont ete nommes la semaine passee, entre lesquel il n''en a pas
un qui ait servi le roi de la G' B"", et beaucoup du parti
d'Argyle. Les capitaines des 15 compagnies de cavalerie qui
etoient sur pied, sont faits colonels, et avec eux ceux que
vous trouverez dans la liste que je joins a cette lettre. On fait
etat d'avoir six mille chevaux effectifs et 24 mille hommes de
pied, sans les six mille que com mande David Leslay, et les cinq
ou six mille hommes qu'on pourra faire venir d'Irlande.
On a arrete que les troupes seront au lieu d'assemblee dans
chaque province le 24 de ce mois, stile d'Ecosse, et on ne
doute point que les regiments des parties plus eloignes de ce
royaume ne puissent estre au rendezvous general un mois apres.
On travaille maintenant a regler la subsistance de la dite
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 481
armee, pour peu de jours, a quoi Ton ne laisse pas d'avoir
beaucoup de difRculte. Ce Parlement a ordonne que celui
qui s'opposera en quelque maniere que ce peut estre, aux
desseins que Ton peut avoir de faire une armee, sera declare
traitre a cet Etat, et que celui qui refusera de contribuer aux
levees la part a laquelle il aura ete taxe pay era vingt deux
Jacobus pour chaque cavalier quMl n*'aura pas voulu fournir,
et huit Jacobus pour chaque fantassin. M. le Marquis de
Douglas, qui me temoigne toujours vm zele tres particulier pour
la gloire de S. M. et pour le service de V. Em*^^, m'a envoye
la lettre que je joins a celle-ci.
[MoNTEREuii to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh, f- May 1648.
The letter I wrote to the Queen of England, when Sir William Fleming
left here, to be delivered or not as you might judge best, will have in-
formed you particularly of what I believe will result from the state of
aifairs in this country for the restoration of the king her husband. I
passed indeed too summarily on two points which seem of some import-
ance, the relations between the Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of
Argyle, and the coming of the Prince of Wales into this kingdom ; but
the doubts that assail me in the first question and the little importance it
has for the interests of the King of Great Britain, for the reasons I have
mentioned, will excuse me for having made so little reference to it.
And as to what concerns the voyage of the Prince of Wales, of which
there remains now scarcely any doubt here, after what the Duke of York
has done ; ^ from my having already expressed my opinions on it openly in
all my letters, the fear lest by my insisting too much on a point on which
it is wished to allow him to act freely, and in which he might be led
to judge that one had some interest in view different from his, has led
me to think that I might perhaps do harm by insisting on it any more.
Yet, if I see that the postal communications remain as uninterrupted
as hitherto, I shall not fail in eight days to inform you very minutely
regarding these two points.
I shall now state that the more closely I examine the direction of affairs
that prevails here, the more clearly I perceive that it is simply a question
between the Presbyterians and the Independents to know to which of
them will devolve the government of this island, and that they have but
recourse to the King of Great Britain and to the Prince of Wales and
but make use of their followers, in so far as they see that they require
their help in order to carry out their designs, the success of which, on
whatever side it may turn, may be equally prejudicial to the restoration
of their king and to the ti-anquillity of France. It seems to me also
^ The Duke of York escaped from St. James's on Saturday, 22nd April 1648.
VOL. IT. 2 H
482 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
that wliatever efforts the clergy aud the Marquis of Argyle may make
in appearance to stop all the resolutions of Parliament from being put
into effect, and chiefly to prevent the raising of a new army, the King
of Great Britain has more to fear from a good understanding between
these two parties than from their divisions. And in fact the solemn
imprecations the clergy have uttered here in the churches during the last
few days against this army, and the orders they have sent to the other
clergy of this kingdom to do in like manner, under penalty of losing
their charges, will not prevent it from being raised and from enter-
ing into England and acting there successfully for Presbyterianism, if
matters do not take a different turn, but they may serve those of the
Hamilton party in order to persuade the Queen of Great Britain and the
Prince of Wales that they are labouring for the interests of their king,
of which they can only convince them by the opposition the clergy have
manifested to all matters that have been passed till now in this Parlia-
ment, so that this opposition of the clergy, whether pretended or real,
will not only serve to induce the Prince of Wales to come here, but also
to allow of his being ruined when he will have arrived without it being
possible to attribute the fault to those who led him to undertake this
voyage. Also, I cannot help mentioning that they have sent, with great
care, to the Queen of England by Sir William Fleming, the last remon-
strance of the clergy, as a favourable explanation of their proclamation,
in which they — the clergy — pretend to declare that they— the Hamiltons
— have had simply the intention of serving their king, which the latter
hope will have so much the better effect, as things said to one's advantage
by those who are considered to be one's enemies, have more weight than
those we say of ourselves.
I shall not relate to you the manner in which Berwick and Carlisle
were taken, since you will have learned it long ago by letters from Eng-
land, I shall merely state that the Earl of Lanark received yesterday a
note from Sir Philip Musgrave, who is in Carlisle, in which he informs him
that he has four thousand foot and a thousand horse. There are not so
many in Berwick, for Sir James Hamilton, who returned from there three
days ago, told me there were not six hundred foot and two or three hun-
dred horse, but the infantry are almost without arms. I hope they will
have received a supply ere now by means of a small vessel that left Leith
five or six days ago, and which the Marquis of Argyle tried to stop, which
was commissioned to deliver them near to the town, the entrance to the
harbour being guarded by a frigate belonging to the Parliament, which
those of the garrison are unable to drive away, as they have no cannon.
The English Commissioners have asked this Parliament to declare all the
Scots who have taken part in the capture of the two towns, and who may
have sent munitions there, to be ti'aitors to the two kingdoms, as they have
done at present to all those of their nation who might be found to have
taken part in it ; but their note has been referred to the committee of
twenty four, who will, it is thought, refuse to give any reply to it, until
they have received those of tlie English Parliament to their demands.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 483
At length the colonels, both of infantry and cavalry, that are to com-
mand the forces about to be raised in this kingdom were appointed last
week, among whom there is not one who has served the King of Great
Britain, and many of them are of the Argyle party. The captains of the
fifteen companies of cavalry who were in the standing army have been
made colonels, and in addition those whose names are given in the list I
add to this letter. They intend to have six thousand effective cavalry
and twenty-four thousand infantry, exclusive of the six thousand com-
manded by David Leslie and the five or six thousand men they will be
able to bring from Ireland. It has been decided that the troops will be
at the appointed places of meeting in each county on the 27th of this
month, old style, and it is not doubted but that the regiments in the
distant parts of this kingdom will be able to be at the general rendezvous
a month later. They have been occupied for some days in providing for
lie maintenance of this army, in which they still find much difficulty.
This Parliament has ordered that any one who will oppose, in any manner
whatever, the intentions it may have of raising an army, will be declared
a traitor to this State, and that the person who may refuse to contribute
to the levies the part with which he has been imposed will pay a penalty
of twenty-two Jacobus for each horseman that he will have failed to
furnish and eight Jacobus for each foot -soldier. The Marquis of
Douglas, who always manifests a very marked zeal for the glory of his
Majesty and for the service of your Emiuence, has sent to me the letter
which I enclose in this one.
CCXLIII
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^ Mai l648.
Le Due de Hamilton a enfin ete declare General de Tarmee
qui se doit faire ; le Comte de Calendar Lieut.-General, et
David Leslay Lieut.-General de la Cavalerie. Middleton et
les autres officiers generaux de la petite armee auront les
memes charges dans celle-ci, ce qu'ils ont tous accepte a la
reserve de David Leslay et de Hoborne, qui veut suivre
absolument son exemple. lis ont pris jusqu^a Lundi 25 de
ce mois pour se resoudre, et doivent faire savoir aujourd'huy
leur resolution, que je n''ay peu encore apprendre, mais seule-
ment que le Due de Hamilton presse fort David Leslay de
ne pas abandonner le service. Madame de Lanark Falla voir
hier pour cet effet, aussitost qu''elle sut qu''il etoit arrive en
cette ville, et comme je me trouvai lors avec elle, elle se servit
484 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
de mon carrosse et desira que je Py accompagnasse, de sorte
que ce fut en ma presence qu'elle Ten conjura, comme d'une
chose de laquelle elle lui seroit particulierement obligee, et
avec elle toute la maison de son mari, mais il ne repondit a
ces civilites qu'en termes assez generaux, et qui ne nous purent
donner lieu de decouvrir ce qu''il veut faire,
Le Due d'Hamilton, — entre les choses qu''il dit de fort bonne
grace au Parlement, pour le remercier du Commandement
General de Parmee, — temoigna qu''il estimoit principalement
cette charge parce qu'elle lui donneroit moyen de faire voir
rinnocence de ses actions passees, et le zele qu'il avoit toujours
eu pour le service de son roi, par celui avec lequel il travailleroit
dorenavant a son retablissement.
Le vieux General Leslay a ete remercie au nom de Parle-
ment par le Comite des 24 des services qu'il a rendu durant
qu'il avoit eu le commandement de Farmee, et duquel il s'etoit
defait volontairement quelques jours avant Telection du dit S"^
Due, et outre les douze milles francs de pension, dont il doit
jouir durant sa vie, il a encore ete nomme General de toutes les
forces qui se pourront lever pour la defense du royaume.
My Lord Cochrane a ete envoye vers Tarmee d'Ecosse qui
est en Irlande, pour resoudre avec ceux qui la commandent,
touchant le secours qu'ils ont ofFert. II a ordre encore de
traiter avec les Irlandais qui sont originaires de cette isle, et
qui ont de fort bonne cavalerie, pour les engager a faire
passer quinze cents chevaux en ce royaume, et de leur ofFrir
pour cela une demi paye avant que passer la mer et Fautre
en arrivant, et de ne point faire d'accoramodement sans
les y comprendre, et sans les faire payer des arrerages qui leur
sont deus.
Au lieu d'attendre le retour du Sieur Marschall, qui a porte
les demandes du Parlement d'Ecosse a celui d"'Angleterre, pour
donner reponse a celles que les Commissaires d'Angleterre ont
faites ici sur le sujet de Berwick et de Carlisle, comme on avoit
creu premierement le Comite des 24 a eu ordre de ce Parle-
ment de charger les dits Commissaires de tous les desordres
qui peuvent arriver en suite de la prise de ces deux places,
apres Tavis qu'ils donnerent il y a quelques semaines a ce
Parlement, que pour empescher les desseins qu"'avoient eu les
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 485
serviteurs de leur roi de s''en emparer, ils avoient creus estre
obliges de s'en asseurer eux-memes, ce qui se trouve qu'ils ont
fort mal execute.
Cest, Monsg"^, tout ce que s'est resolu de plus considerable
dans ce Parlement qui se leva Jeudi dernier, et qui ne se doit
point assembler avant le -^^ du mois prochain. Ceux qui le
composent doivent durant ce temps travailler aux levees dans
les provinces, qui pourront estre acheves dans ce temps, comme
Ton espere, quelque empeschement que puissent mettre les
Ministres et ceux qui sont demeures attaches au parti d'Argyle.
Ceux-ci en s'opposant autant qu'ils peuvent dans le Parlement a
Texecution de ce dessein, et en refusant de prendre les armes,
et les Ministres en pronon^ant toujours des maledictions contre
tous ceux qui s'engageront dans la dite armee, n^ ay ant entre
eux le seul Ramsay qui ait ose prier pour le bon succes de
cette entreprise a laquelle tout Toccident de ce royaume se
porte avec beaucoup de froideur.
Le Due d'Hamilton a ete a la campagne depuis que le Parle-
ment s"'en leve, et il n'en doit revenir que ce jour, de sorte que
je n'ay peu encore lui aller faire compliment. J^ay veu toutefois
M"" le Comte de Lanark son frere, qui m'a fait de longues
excuses de ce qu'il avoit laisse passer beaucoup de temps sans
me visiter et sans me rendre compte de ce qui se passoit ; car
ce sont les termes dont il a voulu se servir. II m'a dit ensuite
qu"'il avoit eu honte de me parler avant quMl eut veu les affaires
de son roi en meilleur etat qu"'elles n'etoient, mais que main-
tenant il me pouvoit asseurer que beaucoup de gens d"'honneur
hazarderoient leur vie pour son retablissement, et que son frere
et lui feroient voir qu'ils avoient toujours ete fideles serviteurs
de leur maitre. II me representa ensuite Tinteret qu"'avoit la
France, et avec elle toutes les couronnes voisines, qu''une
nouvelle republique ne se format pas en Angleterre, — que
s"'etoit ce qu'ils alloient empescher presentement, — qu'il avoit
resolu de venir me trouver, afin que je contribuasse par mes
lettres aux offices qu'ils se feroient faire aupres de leurs Majestes,
afin de les porter a assister leurs anciens allies dans une si
bonne cause, — quMls ne demandoient pas que la France se
declara en leur faveur et rompit avec I'Angleterre, comme
ils avoient desire d'abord, — qu'ils avoient besoin seulement
486 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
d'argent et d'armes, mais que fort peu de I'un et de Tautre
leur apporteroit un grand secours, et qu'il avoit toute sorte
de raison de croire que Sa Majeste ne les abandonneroit pas
presentement quand il se souvenoit des ofFres qui avoient ete
faites de sa part durant que le roi de la G"^ B"" etoit a New-
castle. Je ne jugeai pas a propos de m*'arreter a ce dernier
argument que V. Em<=® jugera assez mauvais, et je me contentai
de lui repondre dans les termes les plus obligeants mais aussi
les plus generaux qu'il me fut possible, en sorte qu'il a tout
sujet d"'estre satisfait quoi que je ne me sois engage a aucune
chose, non pas meme a en ecrire, et que je puisse toujours pre-
tendre que j'attendois une information plus particuliere avant
qu'en rien dire a la Cour.
Aussi, Mg»", quelque bonne volonte que puissent avoir MM.
les Ecossois, ce que je mets encore dans le rang des choses
douteuses, je crois toujours que la France et la reine de la
G' B' ne peu vent user trop de circonspection en agissant avec
eux ; puisque s'ils ont un veritable desir de retablier leur roi,
dans Tautorite qu'il doit avoir, ils le peuvent faire par le moyen
des serviteurs qu'il a dans cette isle, sans les secours de la
France, ou le presence de leur prince, et que s"'ils n'ont pas
cette intention, tons les deux ensemble ne sont pas capables
de la leur donner.
David Leslay n'a pas attendu a ce jour a declarer ses inten-
tions, mais il refusa des la nuit passee de prendre Temploi
que lui est ofFert. II a ete impossible d'achever de chiffrer le
memoire que je croyois me donner Fhonneur d'envoyer a V. Em''®
touchant la venue de Prince de Galles.
[MoNTEBEUii to Cardinal Mazarin. Edinburgh^ j^ May 1648.
The Duke of Hamilton has at length been declared General of the army
that is to be formed^ the Earl of Callander Lieut. -General, and David
Leslie Lieut. -General of the cavalry. Middleton and the other general
officers of the small army will retain the same rank in the new one, which
they have all accepted, with the exception of David Leslie and Holborn,
the latter of whom wishes to follow absolutely the example of the former.
They have taken till Monday the 25th of this month to decide, and are to
declare their decision to-day, which I have not yet been able to learn,
but merely that the Duke of Hamilton urges David Leslie strongly not to
give up the service. The Countess of Lanark went to visit him yesterday
for this purpose, as soon as she knew he had arrived in this town and as
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 487
I was then with her, she took the use of my carriage and wished me to
accompany her to him, so that 1 was present when she conjured him to
accept it, as a matter in which she and all her husband's family would be
particularly obliged to him, but he only replied in somewhat general
terms to her politeness, wliich did not indicate to us what he intended to
do.
The Duke of Hamilton, in thanking Parliament for having appointed
him General of the army, said, among other things, in very graceful terms
that he valued the appointment principally because it would give him
an opportunity of showing the innocence of his past actions and the
zeal he had always had for the service of his king, by that with which he
would in future labour for his restoration. Old General Leslie has been
thanked in the name of Parliament by the committee of twenty-four for
his services during the time he held the command of the army, and of
which he had given his resignation voluntarily some days before the elec-
tion of the duke ; and besides the four hundred and forty pounds of retir-
ing pension that has been granted him during his lifetime, he has also
been named general of all the forces that may be raised for the defence of
the kingdom.
Lord Cochrane^ has been sent to the Scottish army in Ireland to
arrange with those %vho are in command of it regarding the assistance
they have offered. He has orders also to treat with the Irish who are
originally from this island, and who have very good cavalry, in order to
engage them to send fifteen hundred horse to this kingdom, to offer
them for that one half pay before crossing the sea and the other on
arriving, and to engage not to come to an agreement without including
them in it, and without paying them the arrears then owing to them.
Instead of awaiting the return of Lieut. -Colonel Marshall, who took
the demands of the Parliament of Scotland to that of England, in order
to give a reply to those the English Commissioners have made here on
the subject of Berwick and Carlisle, as one had at first thought, the
committee of twenty-four has had orders from this Parliament to charge
these commissioners with all the disorders that may happen as the result
of the capture of these two places, after the notice they gave some weeks
ago to this Parliament that in order to prevent the designs the king's
followers had of seizing upon them, they themselves had been obliged to
make sure of them, which, as it turns out, they have very badly
executed. These are all the most important matters that have been
decided in this Parliament that rose on Thursday last, and which is not
to meet again before the ^ of next month. During that time the
members are to be occupied with the levies in the provinces, which, it is
hoped, will be finished before Parliament meets again, in spite of the
^ Sir William Cochrane, Knight of Cowdon, was elevated to the peerage,
December 1647, as Baron Cochrane of Dundonald, and advanced to an earldom
in 1669.
488 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
obstacles raised by the clergy, and those that remain attached to the
Argyle party. These latter oppose the execution of this design as much
as they can in Parliament and by refusing to take arms, and the clergy
still pronounce maledictions against all those who engage in this new
army, Ramsay being the only one of their order that has ventured to
pray for the success of this undertaking, towards which all the west of
this kingdom shows much indifference.
The Duke of Hamilton has been in the country since Parliament rose,
and he is but to return to-day, so that I have not yet been able to
compliment him. I have, however, seen the Earl of Lanark, his
brother, who was very profuse in his excuses for having allowed so long
time to pass without visiting me, and without giving me an account oi
what was going on, for these are the expressions he made use of. He
told me afterwards that he had been ashamed of speaking to me before
he saw the aifairs of his king in a better state than they were, but that
now he could assure me that many honourable people would risk their
lives for his restoration, and that his brother and he would show they
had always been faithful followers of their master. He next represented
to me the interest that France had, and with her all the neighbouring
powers, that a new republic may not be formed in England, which was
what they were going at present to prevent ; that he had resolved to
call upon me so that I might contribute by my letters to the success of
the application they were to have made to their Majesties in order to
induce them to assist their old allies in so good a cause ; that they did
not ask France to declare in their favour and break off with England, as
they had at iirst wished ; that they required only money and arms, but
that very little of the one and the other would bring them a great relief ;
and that he had every reason to believe that his Majesty would not
abandon them at present when he would recall the offers that had been
made on his part, while the King of Great Britain was at Newcastle. I
did not judge it necessary to pay heed to this last argument, of which you
will not much approve, and 1 merely replied to him in the most obliging
but the most general terms possible, so that he had every reason to be
satisfied, although I engaged myself in nothing, not even to write to you,
and I can always pretend that I was expecting some more special in-
formation before communicating it to Court. Thus whatever goodwill
the Scots may have — which I always place in the category of doubtful
things — I still believe that France and the Queen of Great Britain
cannot use too much circumspection in dealing with them, since if they
have a real desire to restore their king to his rightful authority, they
can do so by means of his followers that he has in this island, without
the aid of France or the presence of their prince, and that if they have
not that intention both these together would be unable to give it to them.
David Leslie has not waited till to-day to declare his intentions, but
refused last night to accept the appointment offered to him. I have
been unable to finish putting into cipher the memorandum that I
thought of sending to you regarding the coming of the Prince of Wales.
1648] MONTEREUI. TO MAZARIN 489
CCXLIV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, "^ ^V^ 1648.
BiEN que les Ministres n'oublent rien du tout de ce qui peut
servir au dessein qu'ils ont d'empescher qu'une nouvelle armee
se niette sur pied, on ne laisse pas toujours d^avancer la levee
des troupes, dont elle se doit former. Et comme ces Messieurs
disent avec toute sorte de liberie, ce qui leur plait, les amis
du Due de Hamilton font aussi tout ce qu'ils veulent, sans
que ceux qui s'opposent a leurs resolutions puissent y apporter
d'empeschement. Les seules provinces de Fife et de Galloway
refusent de prendre les armes ; celle ci parce qu'elle se laisse
gouverner absolument par ses Ministres, et qu'elle croit contre
le service de Dieu tout ce qui se trouve contraire a leurs senti-
ments ; et celle de Fife parce qu''elle a perdu en ces dernieres
guerres un nombre d'hommes tres considerable, et qu'elle ne
peut demeurer privee de Fassistance de ceux qui lui restent
sans danger si les Independants envoyent une flotte en Ecosse,
puisque c'est le lieu de tout le royaume ou une armee navale
peut descendre plus commodement.
On a eu nouvelles d''Irlande par un expres quMl y avoit cinq
mille hommes de pied et quinze cents chevaux, qui n"'attendoient
que les ordres de ce Parlement pour venir ici. My Lord Coch-
rane qui les porte n'etant pas encore passe il y a huit jours, et
attendoit soixante quatre mille livres qui lui ont ete envoyees
pour la demi monte et pour le passage de cette armee, dont
cette ville a fourni quarante mille livres ; le reste Ta ete par
les Comtes de Crawford et de Lanark.
Le S"" Chev"" Langdale continue a grossir ses troupes. On me
dit qu'il peut mettre en campagne cinq mille hommes de pied
et quinze cents chevaux. En surprenant depuis peu de jours
un chateau proche de Carlisle, qui est dans un lac, et qui
appartient au Chev"" Winford Lawson, il a eu de quoi armer
une bonne partie de ses gens, et il n'a pas repris seulement
tous les canons de Carlisle qui avoient ete conduits en cette
place, mais il s'est encore accommode d'une bonne somme
d'argent qu''il y a trouvee. On se plaint ici un peu de ce qu'il
490 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
s''est hate de recevoir des Catholiques dans son armee, a qui
les Ecossois ont refuse absolument de donner aucun emploi, et
il s'est plaint aussi du peu de soin que les Ecossois ont eu de
I'assister d''armes, quand il en a eu besoin, et Ton m'a dit meme
avec assez de secret, qu'il se tenoit fort peu asseure que Ton
eut ici de fort bonnes intentions ; ce que la marche de Tarmee
Independante vers le Nord fera peut-etre connoitre dans peu
de jours. My Lord Byron, qui a servi le roi de la G"" B"^ avec
peu de succes, mais avec beaucoup de fidelite, dans Chester,
s'est saise de AVarrington, dans la province de Lancaster, ou
Ton dit que plusieurs personnes se sont deja jointes a lui.
M. le Due de Hamilton ne revint que Jeudi au soir de sa
maison, mais au lieu de me permettre de le voir le lendemain,
il voulut venir chez moi, ou il me confirma toutes les choses
que je viens de me donner Thonneur d'ecrire a V. Em*'^ a la
reserve du mecontentement et de la mauvaise opinion que le
Chev"" Langdale peut avoir. II m'asseura que quelques efforts
que peussent faire les Ministres, ou ceux qui sont d'un parti
contraire au sien, pour arreter les levees, son armee seroit sur
pied dans peu de semaines, et apres m'avoir fait de grands
serments pour m'^asseurer qu'il ne cherchoit dans cette entre-
prise que les interets de son maitre pour lesquels il etoit pret
a exposer sa vie, il me renouvela les protestations qu'il m'a
faites si souvent, qu'il n'y avoit rien qu'il considerat davantage,
apres le service de son roi, que celui de Sa Majeste de laquelle
il seroit tres fidele serviteur toute sa vie, mais il me dit qu'il
croyoit que la France ne se contenteroit pas de faire de bons
souhaits pour leur entreprise, qu'elle voudroit encore con-
tribuer a la faire succeder heureusement en les assistant d'un
peu d'armes et d'un peu d'argent ; que la reine de la G"" B"^
s'etoit chargee d'en faire la demande pour eux, et qu'ils eussent
bien desire que j'en eusse voulu solliciter Teffet par mes lettres.
Sur quoi, Mg', je prendray la hardiesse de dire a V. Em*^^
que les Ecossois ayant refuse de secourir leur roi quand ils en
ont ete presses par la France, et apres meme qu'ils ont promis
de le faire Sa Majeste auroit fort peu d'obligation de les
assister maintenant, si elle n"'y etoit portee par la consideration
des interets du roi de la G"^ B% et par ceux qu'elle peut avoir
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 491
de se conserver Tombre d\ine vieille alliance qu"'elle a avec
rojaume, — car il n'en reste pas plus que cela.
De sorte que si Sa Majeste fait quelque chose a Fa vantage
des Ecossois elle doit, ce semble, desirer que ce qu'elle fera
pour eux puisse au moins contribuer a ces deux fins, qu'elle
pourra obtenir si elle ne leur accorde du secours qu'a propor-
tion des assistances qu'ils auront auparavant donnees a leur roi,
et qu'apres qu'elle aura tire d'eux asseurance quMls feront passer
en France des troupes considerables quand leurs affaires seront
achevees.
Les lettres que j''ay veues de Saint Germain, par lesquelles
on asseure icy que le voyage du Prince en Ecosse est une chose
toute resolue, m''empeschent d'importuner V. Em*^^ du memoire
que j'avois fait sur ce sujet, non seulement parce qu'il seroit
inutile, mais encore parce que je pourrois paroitre trop attache
aux sentiments que j'ay eu d'^abord, et desquels je voudrois
avoir plus de sujet de me dedire que je n''en ay jusqu'a
present. Je me suis enquis, ainsi que M. le Comte de Brienne
me Tordonnoit par sa lettre du 9 du mois passe, des seuretes
qu'il pourroit recevoir des Ecossois avant que de se mettre
entre leurs mains, mais j^ay trouve qu''elles consistoient toutes
en belles lettres et en bonnes paroles, qui sont choses aux-
quelles ceux qui ont veu arriver le roi de la G' B' en Tarmee
d'Ecosse, et qui Tont veu rendre aux Anglois quelque temps
apres ne se doivent pas beaucoup fier. Je crois toutefois que
les Ecossois ont un moyen pour faire connoitre la sincerite de
leurs intentions en ne demandant pas que leur Prince vienne
en ce royaume, et le Paince de Galles un autre pour travailler
a sa seurete, en evitant de venir icy jusqu'a ce que les Ecossois
soient entre en Angleterre et aient montre ce qu'ils veulent
faire pour ses interets par ce qu'ils auront deja fait pour le
service du roi son pere,
Le sieur Marshall, qui avoit porte les demandes de ce Parle-
ment a celui d'Angleterre est arrive ce matin. Je n'ay pas vue
encore la lettre qu'il a rendu a ce comite, ny n'ay pas meme
peu apprendre particulierement ce qu'elle contient, mais seule-
ment que M. le Comte de Lanark a dit a un de ses amis quelle
etoit bien eloignee de leur donner satisfaction.
492 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [may
Le Chev'" Guillaume Banentine partit Mercredi dernier pour
Hollande, oii il a ete envoy e par ce Parlement.
On a fait il y a quelques jours un ordre de ne laisser sortir
aucune personne de ce royaume sans passeport, ce qui a ete
necessaire pour empescher les habitants des provinces occiden-
tales d'Ecosse d'abandonner le pays, — ce que plusieurs avoient
resolu de faire plustost que de se voir obliges d'aller a la
guerre.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, 7^^ 1648.
Although the clergy forget nothing whatever that may serve their pur-
pose of preventing the new army from being formed, the raising of troops
for it is still going on. And as these gentlemen say what they please
with the greatest of liberty, the friends of the Duke of Hamilton act also
as they like, while those who oppose their resolutions are unable to bring
any impediment to them. The provinces of Fife and Galloway alone
refuse to take arms ; the latter because it allows itself to be absolutely
ruled by its clergy, and that it believes to be opposed to the service of
God all that is contrary to their sentiments, and that of Fife, because it
has lost in the recent wars a very considerable number of men, and
that it cannot dispense with those that remain without danger if the
Independents send a fleet, since this is the part of the kingdom where a
landing from a fleet may be most easily made.
News has been received from Ireland by a special messenger that five
thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse were but waiting the orders of this
Parliament to come here ; Lord Cochrane who is the bearer of the orders
having not yet arrived there eight days ago, as he was waiting to receive
sixty-four thousand pounds that have been sent to him for the half pay
and for the passage of this army, of which this town has supplied forty
thousand pounds, the remainder having been furnished by the Earls of
Crawford and Lanark. Sir M. Langdale continues to increase the
number of his troops. I am told that he can bring into the field five
thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse. A few days ago on taking by
surprise a castle near Carlisle, which is in a lake and which belongs to
Sir Winford Lawson, he found arms enough to supply the most part of
his men, and recaptured not only all the cannon belonging to Carlisle,
that had been taken to that place, but also obtained possession of a
considerable sum of money he found there. Some few complaints have
been made here that he has been in haste to receive Catholics into his
army, to whom the Scots have absolutely refused to give any employment,
and he has also complained of the little pains the Scots have had in
assisting him with arms when he required them, and I have been told even
in secrecy that he was not at all assured of their having good intentions
here, which the march of the Independent army towards the north will
let us know in a few days. Lord Byron who has served the king of
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 493
Great Britain with small success but with much fidelity in Chester has
seized VV^arrington in the county of Lancaster, where it is said many
persons have already joined him.
The Duke of Hamilton only returned on Thursday evening from his
country-house, but instead of allowing me to call upon him the following
day, he wished to call upon me, when he confirmed all the matters I
have j ust written to you, with the exception of the dissatisfaction and the
bad opinion Sir M. Langdale may have. He assured me that whatever
attempts the clergy or those of the party opposed to his might make in
order to stop the levies, his army would be on foot in a few weeks, and
after having made great protestations to assure me that in this under-
taking he only sought the interests of his master, for which he was ready
to expose his life, he renewed the assurances he has so often made to me,
that there was nothing he considered more important, after the service of
his king, than that of his Majesty, whose faithful servant he would remain
all his life, but he told me he thought France would not be satisfied with
merely sending them good wishes in what they were about to attempt,
but that she would also contribute towards bringing it to a successful
issue by assisting them with some arms and a little money ; that the
Queen of Great Britain had engaged to make the demand for them, and
that he should very much like me to support their request in my letters.
AVhereupon I shall venture to say to you that the Scots having refused
to assist their king when they were urged by France to do so, and after
they had promised to do it, his Majesty would be very little obliged to
assist them now were he not prompted to it in view of the interests of the
King of Great Britain, and for that he may have in preserving the shadow
of an old alliance he has with this kingdom, for there remains nothing
more of it than that. So that if his Majesty do anything to the
advantage of the Scots he ought, it seems, to desire that what he may
do for them serve at least these two purposes, which he will be able to
obtain if he grant them help only in proportion to the assistance they
will have previously given to their king, and after having obtained from
them an assurance that they will send a considerable number of troops
to France when their affairs will be settled.
The letters I have seen from St. Germains, by which people here are
assured that the coming of the Prince of Wales to Scotland is a matter
quite decided upon, prevent me from troubling you with the memorandum
I had prepared on this subject, not only because it would be useless, but
also because I might thereby seem too much attached to the opinions I
had at first, and which I should wish to have more reason to gainsay than
I have had up till now. I have made inquiry as the Count de Brienne
ordered me in his letter of the 9th ult. concerning the securities that the
prince might receive from the Scots before putting himself into their hands,
but I find them to consist of fine letters and good promises, which are
things to which those who saw the King of Great Britain arriving in the
Scottish army, and who saw him delivered up to the English some time
after, are not likely to trust much. I believe, however, that the Scots
494 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [may
have a means of proving the sincerity of their intentions by not asking
that their prince may come into this kingdom, and the Prince of Wales
another in order to assure his safety, by avoiding to come here until the
Scots have entered England and have thereby shown what they wish to
do for his interests by what they will have already done for the service of
the king his father.
Lieut. -Colonel Marshall, who took the demands of this Parliament to
that of England, arrived here this morning. I have not yet seen the
letter he has delivered to this committee, neither have I been able to
learn precisely what it contains, but merely that the Earl of Lanark has
said to one of his friends that it was very far from giving them
satisfaction.
Sir William Banentine ^ went to Holland on Wednesday on a mission
from Parliament,
An order was issued a few days ago not to allow any person to leave
this kingdom without a passport, which has been found necessary to pre-
vent the inhabitants of the western provinces from leaving the country,
which several of them had resolved on doing rather than be obliged to
go to the war.
CCXLV
MONTEREUL a BRIENNE
Edhnhourg, ^ Mai 1648.
Le Due de Hamilton, et ceux de son parti, continuent
toujours a travailler aux levees, de la nouvelle armee, qui doit
se faire en ce royaume, mais les amis du Marquis d'Argyle, et
les Ministres, continuent aussi a y apporter tous les retarde-
ments qui y sont possibles, particulierement dans les deux
provinces que je vous ai nomme, par ma derniere, qui ont
encore fait quelque chose de plus que Ton nWait creu, pour
empecher que Ton emploi Tarmee centre les Independants.
Celle de Fife dressa, la semaine p^se, une requete par laquelle
elle demande que le Parlement s^accommode aux sentiments
des Ministres, si Ton desire que ses habitants se conferment
aux volontes de ce Parlement, puisque sans cela ils ne croyent
pas pouvoir prendre legitimement les armes. Cette requete
doit etre apportee en cette ville, Jeudi prochain, par quelques
gentilshommes de la province qui ont ete nommes pour la pre-
^ Sir William Ballenden of Broughton and Auchinoule, raised to the peerage
by Charles ll. in 1660, as Lord Ballenden of Broughton, was one of the Lords of
Privy Council and Treasurer- Depute.
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 495
senter. Mais la province de Galloway, et quelques autres
voisines, qui sont toutes dans Toccident de ce royaume, ont
nomme un lieu d'assembler, auquel tous ceux qui ne sont pas
pour les levees doivent se trouver demain, 31 Mai, afin de
recourir ensemble aux derniers moyens que leur restent pour
les empecher. On eut cet avis, il y a deux joui's, par une
lettre qui au lieu d'etre rendue a Milord Warriston, a qui elle
s'adressait, fut portee au Comte de Ijanark,qui en donna aussi-
tot avis au Due son frere, qui est a Hamilton, afin de donner
les ordres necessaires pour prevenir ce dessein. Le Comte de
Lanark m'a dit qu'il la presenterait Jeudi prochain au Parle-
ment, — car il n'y a point d'assemblee avant ce jour, — et qu''elle
portait qu'ils avaient dix mille hommes, tout prets a prendre
les armes pour empecher qu''on ne les prenne, pour le service
de leur roi. Cependant, ce n"'est pas seulement en ces deux
provinces qu il se trouve de la difficulte dans les levees, puisque
les ministres de Glascow, qui est la capitale de la province ou
le Due d'Hamilton a toutes ses terres, et ou il devait avoir
plus d'autorite, presenterent, la semaine passee, au Comite qui
a ete etabli, une requete dans le sens que celle des habitants de
Fife veulent donner, et qu'apres eux, les magistrats de la ville
en porterent une autre semblable au meme Comite. Le Due
d'Hamilton, qui se trouva sur les lieux, se contenta de faire
repondre aux Ministres, que le devoir de leurs charges les
obligeait a porter les peuples a obeir comme bons sujets aux
ordres de Parlement ; mais il fit commander les seditieux de la
ville de venir repondre, Samedi dernier, de leurs actions devant
le Comite des 24, qui est demeure ici, avec une autorite absolue,
a Tabsence du Parlement, et qui en envoya deux, le meme jour
dans la prison de cette ville, et donna ordre que deux regiments
d"'infantei'ie et quelques compagnies de cavalerie s'avan^assent
vers Glascow et vers Hamilton, ou on a trouve meme que les
volontes du Due seraient difficilement obeyes sans cette assist-
ance. Au reste, le Marquis d'Argyle, que Ton ne croit pas
seulement auteur de tous ces desordres par Tavantage qu"'il
en peut tirer, mais par les professions publiques qu''il a faites,
de vouloir empecher, par toutes sortes de moyens ces levees, —
s"'etant retire de cette ville avec toute sa famille pour se rendre
dans les lieux ou il a le plus de pouvoir, et qui sont plus
496 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [may
proches de ceux ou les ordres de Parlement sont moins
executes, — a receu une lettre du Comite des ^4, par laquelle
on Fa prie de revenir en cette ville, pour assister Jeudi pro-
chain au Parlement. Les opinions sont partagees touchant
son retour, et plusieurs sont d'opinion qu'il se gardera bien
de se rendre ici, et Ton a voulu meme faire croire que Ton
a resolu de le pousser jusqu'aux dernieres extremites, et de
le traiter avec les memes rigueurs qu'il a exercise contre tant
de bons serviteurs de son roi, a quoi il a donne assez de sujet,
si ce qu'on vient de ine dire est veritable, qu'il assemble ses
amis, qu'il fait fortifier le Chateau de Dunbarton, et fait
marcher vers Touest d'Ecosse les deux regiments qu'il avait
dans la petite armee.
Voila, Monsieur, en quel etat sont aujourd'hui les affaires de
ce royaume, mais ces desordres apparents n'empechent pas le
Due de Hamilton de mettre sur pied son armee, s'il est vrai
qu'il en ait la volonte, ni le Marquis d'Argyle de se tenir uni
avec le Parlement, s'il le juge a propos pour ses interets. Aussi,
quelque chose que je vienne de vous representer, je crois que Ton
ne pourrait encore asseurer, sans quelque sorte de temerite,
si le Due de Hamilton et le Marquis d'Argyle sout veritable-
ment ennemis et cherchent la ruine Tun de Tautre, ou si leur
inimitie est concertee, et a pour but de retarder la marche
des Independants en leur faisant juger qu'il n'y a rien a
craindre d'ici, ou a avancer le voyage du Prince de Galles,
comme si sa presence etait necessaire pour faire cesser ces
differends ici, meme si apres la venue de ce Prince on fera
prevaloir le parti du Due, afin de pouvoir travailler au re-
tablissement du roi son pere, ou celui du Marquis d'Argyle,
afin d'avoir un pretexte pour achever de le ruiner, c'est. Mon-
sieur, ce qu'il serait difficile de pre voir, avant que d'avoir vue le
precede du Marquis d'Argyle contre ce Parlement et du dit
Parlement contre le Marquis d'Argyle ; mais je pense que Ton
pent toujours asseurer que le Prince de Galles ne doit pas
se hater de venir ici, ny la France de prendre trop de part aux
interets de ce royaume.
La lettre que le sieur Marshall a apportee de Londres, pour
reponse aux demandes de ce royaume, remet seulement ce Parle-
ment a la recevoir des Commissaires d'Angleterre, qui sont ici,
et qui ne I'ont point encore donnee.
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 497
On a envoye un express en Irlande, les derniers jours de
la semaine passee, pour hater Tembarquement de Tarmee qui
doit en venir. Elle n'est composee que de deux mille chevaux,
mais de cinq a six mille hommes de pied. Mais Ton craint que
trois fregattes que le Parlement d'Angleterre a envoye de
ce-c6te-la ne rendent le passage de ces troupes plus difficile. '^
[MoNTEREUL to Brienne. Edinburgh ^ May 1648.
The Duke of Hamilton and those of his party are still actively occupied
with the levies of the new army which is to be formed in this kingdom,
but the friends of the Marquis of Argyle and the clergy continue also to
bring all the delays they possibly can in the way of it, principally in the
two provinces I mentioned to you in my last, that have gone further than
it was believed they would do in order to prevent the army from being
employed against the Independents. The county of Fife drew up last
week a petition in which it is demanded that Parliament conform to
the opinions of the clergy if it be wished that the inhabitants conform
to the will of this Parliament, since without that they do not believe they
can legally take arms. This petition is to be brought to this town on
Thursday next by some gentleman of the county in order to be presented.
But the province of Galloway, and some neighbouring districts that are
all in the west of this kingdom, have named a place of assembly where
all who are opposed to the levies are to meet to-morrow, the 31st May, so
as to have recourse together to the last means available to them in order
to prevent them. This information was got two days ago, by a letter,
that, instead of being delivered to Lord Warriston, to whom it was
addressed, was taken to the Earl of Lanark, who immediately gave notice
of it to his brother the duke, who is at Hamilton, so that he should give
the necessary orders to prevent their design. The Earl of Lanark told
me that he would present the letter to Parliament on Thui-sday next —
for it does not meet before that day — and that it indicates there are ten
thousand men quite ready to take arms, in order to prevent them from
doing so for the service of their king. However, it is not only in these
two districts that they find difficulty in effecting the levies, since the
clergy of Glasgow, which is the county town where the Duke of Hamilton
has all property, and where he ought to have most authority, presented a
petition last week to the committee that has been established, in the
same sense as that the people of Fife wish to present, and afterwards the
^ There are two letters that follow addressed to the Cardinal, dated ~^ and 55
June, that have not been deciphered, having probably been delayed in transmission
until their contents were out of date, and superseded by those of M. de Montereul
to M. de Brienne, which throughout the entire correspondence are almost identical
with those addressed to the Cardinal. The two undeciphered letters are therefore
replaced by those dated ^ May, ^^j^ j^ June, and ^ June.
VOL. II. % I
498 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [may
magistrates of this town presented another similar to the same committee.
The Duke of Hamilton, who chanced to be on the spot, satisfied himself
by merely having a reply made to the clergy stating that the duty of
their offices obliged them to lead the people to obey as dutiful subjects
the orders of Parliament, but he gave orders that the seditious persons of
the town be made to answer for their actions before the committee of
twenty-four, which is installed here with absolute authority in the absence
of Parliament, and which sent two of them the same day to prison in this
town, and gave order that two regiments of infantry and some companies
of cavalry might advance towards Glasgow and towards Hamilton, where
it was found that the will of the duke would with difficulty be obeyed
without such assistance. The Marquis of Argyle— who is believed to be
the instigator of all these disorders, not only from the advantages he
may derive from them, but from the public declarations he has made of
wishing to prevent the levies by every sort of means — having left this
town, with all his family, to betake himself to places where he has more
power, and which are nearer to those where the orders of Parliament are
less executed, has received a letter from the committee of twenty-four
by which he is begged to return to this town, to attend the meeting of
Parliament on Thursday next. Opinions are divided as to the probability
of his return : several persons think he will be careful not to return here ;
it has even been wished to make people believe it has been resolved to
drive him to the last extremities and to treat him with the same severity
he has practised against so many faithful followers of his king, to which
he has given subject enough, if what I have just been told be true, that
he has assembled his friends, has caused the castle of Dumbarton to be
fortified and has ordered the two regiments he had in the smaller army
to be marched to the west of Scotland. *
Such is the state of affairs at present in this kingdom, but these
apparent disorders do not prevent the Duke of Hamilton from getting
his army on foot, if it be true that he wishes to do so, nor the Marquis of
Argyle from joining with the Parliament if he think it suits his interests.
Thus, notwithstanding what I have just indicated to you, I believe it still
to be impossible to determine without a certain rashness of conclusion
whether the Duke of Hamilton and the Marquis of Argyle are really
enemies and seek each other's ruin, or if their enmity be concerted with
the intentions of delaying the march of the Independents, by leading
them to judge that there is nothing to fear from here; or in order to
hasten the voyage of the Prince of Wales, as if his presence were neces-
sary to put an end to these diiferences here. Whether even after the
arrival of the prince the party of the duke will be made to prevail, so
^ ' Argyle,' says Guthry, ' sent Major Strachan to Cromwell, and visited Fife
to induce gentry there to rise against Parliament in obstruction, and next went to
Stirlingshire and Dumbarton, and then went home to engage his own people in
the Isles.' — Memoir, p. 222.
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 499
that one may be able to engage in the restoration of the king, or
that of the Marquis of Argyle, so as to have a pretext for finishing to
ruin him, it would be difficult to predict before having seen how the
Marquis of Argyle may proceed against this Parliament and the Parlia-
ment against the Marquis of Argj'le, but I think one can always be
certain that the Prince of Wales ought not to hasten his coming here,
nor France take too large a part in the interests of this kingdom.
The letter which Lieut. -Colonel Marshall brought hack from London
in reply to the demands of this kingdom simply refers this Parliament
to the English Commissioners who are here in order to receive it, which
they have not yet given,
A special messenger has been sent to Ireland at the end of last week,
in order to hasten the embarking of the army that is to come from there.
It is composed of two thousand horse and of five or six thousand foot ;
but it is feared that three frigates that the English parliament has sent in
that direction may render the passage of the troops more difficult.]
CCXLVI
MONTEREUL a BRIENNE
Edimhourg, f^ 1648.
SoiT que les Independants n'avaient pas voulu qu''on aprist
ici, le mauvais etat, ou, Ton nous a dit, qui sont leurs affaires
dans les provinces meridionalles d"'Angleterre, ou que ce Parle-
ment ait desire profiler des chiffres aussi bien que des autres
papiers quMl a acliete du secretaire des Commissaires Anglais,
et que pour prendre leurs lettres avec moins de soup^on, ils
ayent arretes celles des autres, — il est certain, que le paquet de
Londres n*'est pas arrive a Edimbourg cette semaine. Cepen-
dant, bien qu''on nous asseure que de quelque sorte que ce
desordre soit arrive, les lettres passeront dorenavant, avec
beaucoup de peine, je ne laisserai pas de hazarder ce billet
tout enchiffie, pour vous donner avis, le plus succinctement
qu'il m'est possible, de ce qui s^est fait ici, depuis ma derniere.
Le Parlement recommen9a Jeudi dernier, et reste principale-
ment occupe, depuis ce jour, a lire les Requetes par lesquelles
quelques provinces, et presque tons les Presbytaires du Royaume
demand ent, que Ton satisfasse les ministres, avant que faire les
levees. Elles ont ete envoyees au Comite des 24 pour y re-
pondre, aussi bien que les papiers que les deputes d'Angleterre
ont presente au Parlement, en reponse aux demandes de ce
500 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [jUNE
Royaume, par lesquels ils promettent qu'ils desirent entretenir
la ligue et les traites, selon qu''ils sont obliges par leur
covenant, et qu'ils sont prets de presenter a leur roi, les memes
propositions qui lui ont ete offertes au nom des deux nations,
et leur donnant avis qu'ils envoyent le General Fairfax vers le
Nord, contre ceux qui y ont pris les armes, et cela plustot pour
servir que pour nuire a ce royaume.
Le Marquis d'Argyle n'est pas de retour, et au lieu de faire
succeder un commandement, a la priere qu''on lui avait faite de
revenir, on n''a pas juge apropos de Tirriter en un temps ou il
pent toujours retarder les services du roi d'Angleterre, s'il ne
peut Tempecher, mais il se dit qu'on a cru quMl vallait mieux,
avant qu'en user de cette sorte, a attendre que toute Tarmee
fut sur pied, c'est a dire, qu'on le put faire seurement ; on lui a
ecrit toutefois, pour savoir quelle raison Tavait porte a faire
marcher ses deux regiments vers le Nord, sans ordre a leur
general. Tous ceux de son parti sont revenu, a la reserve du
Comte de Glinton et celui de Cassalis.
Les troupes qui ont ete envoyees a Glascow y vivent a
discretion, et travaillent a venger Tinjure qui a ete faite a leur
general. Le Major Turner qui les commande, apres avoir prie
inutilement le ministre Dick de ne rien dire dans son presche
qui peut porter les peuples a desobeyir aux ordres du Parle-
ment voyait qu'il ne pouvait le faire taire, empecha ceux qui
etaient presents de Tentendre, avec les bruits de quelques
tambours, quMl avait fait tenir aux portes du temple pour cet
effet, et comme il vit qu'il ne lui etait pas possible de faire
descendre le Ministre de sa chaire, il fit sortir de TEglise tous
ses auditeurs.
Le Due de Hamilton arriva ici Mercredi, sur les dix h cures
de soir, et trouva apropos de passer par le milieu de la ville
avec trois ou quatre cent chevaux, qui Taccompagnaient, mais
les femmes le suivrent avec des injures; et le lendemain, comme,
contre sa coutume, il allait a pied au Parlement, suivit de huit
ou neuf cents hommes, il y eut une femme de basse condition,
assez bardie pour lui jeter trois pierres, Tune apres Tautre, de
la fenetre de sa chambre. EUe eut le loisir de se sauver
durant que Ton deliberait de la maniere qu'elle serait punie.
Son mari, au lieu d'elle, a ete mis en prison, ou se trouvent
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 501
maintenant quinze ou vingt des plus considerables des bour-
geois de Glascow. Au reste, comme le desordre qui arriva aux
eveques, commen^a par Tinsolence des femmes de cette ville, on
apprehendait aujourd'hui quelque chose de semblable, mais
le Prevost qui est creature du Due de Hamilton, a ete fait
Colonel d'Edimbourg, et en cette qualite a prete serment
au general, et apres Ta pris de tous les officiers de la ville, il a
jete aussi quarante hommes dans le Chateau, et s'en est asseure
par ce moyen, sans en oter le Lieutenant, qui depend du vieux
General Lesley, qu'en demeure toujours gouvemeur, mais qui
n'est pas le maitre.
Le Parlement doit se lever au premier jour et laisser en sa
place un comite qui sera d'un plus grand nombre que de
24 personnes. On me dit que Ton Tetablit avec une autorite
absolue, et qu'on lui donne pouvoir, non seulement de traiter,
mais encore de conclure la paix avec les deputes d"'Angleterre,
ou de declarer la guerre aux Independants. On a propose
aussi une nouvelle voie d'accommodement avec les Ministres ;
ce qu"'on ne croit pas, toutefois qui puisse reussir. Voila,
Monsieur, en quel etat sont les affaires de ce pays, ou les
desordres qui se sont assoupis jusqu'ici avec assez de facilite,
en rinstant qu'on croyait les voir eclater, nous donnent presque
une image de ce que se passe depuis une annee en Angleterre,
entre les Independants et les Presbyteriens, qui se sont toujours
accommodes quand on a cru qu"'ils devaient en venir aux mains.
Cependant, bien qu''il soit encore assez difficile de juger de
quelle sorte les choses se termineront, il semble, toutefois, que
la resistance que se fait, ou que Ton fait faire ici, a Texecution
des ordres du Parlement n''aide pas mal aux dessains de ceux
des deux partis qui ont la principale conduite des affaires
de ce royaume, puisqu''en retardant les levees, elle donne
moyen de laisser arriver ici le Prince de Galles, avant que
Ton puisse rien entreprendre pour ses interets, et de voir miner
les veritables serviteurs du roi d"" Angleterre, leur donnant lieu de
prendre les amies et les laissant perir apres, comme on fait,
sans les assister ; enfin, — ce qu'on desire ici principalement, —
elle fait que les Ecossais peuvent etre spectateurs de ce qui se
passe chez leurs voisins, sans s"'en meler que de bonne sorte, et
leur donne lieu de demeurer toujours en etat de s"'accommoder
avec le parti qui prevaudra en Angleterre.
502 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [jUNE
[MoNTEREUL to Brienne. Edinburgh jy~- 1648.
Whether it may have been that the Independents did not wish us to
leani here the bad state in which theii* affairs are as we have been told in
the southern counties of England, or that this Parliament may have wished
to profit by the ciphered despatches as well as by the other papers that it
has bought from the secretary of the English Commissioners, and that,
in order to take their letters with less suspicion, they may have stopped
those of others, it is certain that the parcel from London has not arrived
at Edinburgh this week. Yet, although we are assured that whatever
may be the cause of this disorder, the letters will pass in future with
much difficulty I will still risk this note, all in cipher, in order to give
you notice as succinctly as possible of what has taken place here since
my last.
Parliament met again on Thursday last, and since that day it has been
chiefly occupied in the reading of the petitions by which some counties
and almost all the Presbyteries of the kingdom demand that the clergy
be satisfied before proceeding with the levies. These have been sent to
the committee of twenty-four to be replied to, as well as the papers which
the English Commissioners have presented to the Parliament in reply to
the demands of this kingdom, by which they promise and express the wish
to maintain the league and the treaties according as they are obliged by
their Covenant, and state that they are ready to present to their king the
same proposals that have been offered to him in the name of the two
nations while they give notice that they are sending General Fairfax
towards the north against those who have taken arms there and that
rather to serve than to injure this kingdom.
The Marquis of Argyle has not returned, and instead of following up
the invitation that was sent to him by a command to return, it has been
thought better not to irritate him, at a time when he may always delay
the services of the King of England, if he cannot prevent it ; but it is said
they considered it better before resoi-ting to that means to wait until all
the army be on foot, that is to say when they will be able to do it more
surely. He has been written to, however, to explain what reason induced
him to order the two regiments to march towards the north without the
order of their general.^ All those of his party have returned with the
exception of the Earl of Eglinton and the Earl of Cassalis.
The troops that have been sent to Glasgow live at free quarters and
labour in avenging the insult paid to their general. Major Turner who
commands them, after having begged the clergyman Dick to say nothing
in his preaching that might lead people to disobey the orders of Parlia-
^ With reference to this letter Guthry says : ' It was pressed by some of the
members of the Committee that Argyle's late trafficking in the shires and de-
spatching of Major Strachan to Cromwell might be taken notice of, the motion
was quashed, and instead of censure he was by a courteous letter from the Parlia-
ment invited to come and embrace his place as a Colonel in the army. ' — Memoir,
p. 227.
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 503
ment seeing that he could not keep him quiet, prevented those who were
present from hearing him with the noise of some drums that he had beat
at the doors of the church for that purpose, and as he saw it was impos-
sible for him to get the minister out of his pulpit he made all his hearers
leave the church. "^
The Duke of Hamilton arrived here on Wednesday about ten o'clock
in the evening, and found it necessary to pass through the centre of the
town with three or four hundred horsemen who accompanied him, but
the women crowed after him with insults, and the next day, as contrary to
his custom, he was going to Parliament on foot, followed by eight or nine
hundred men, a woman of the lower orders was bold enough to throw
three stones at him, one after the other, from the window of her room.
She had time to get away while it was being considered how she might
be punished, but her husband was sent in her stead to prison, where
fifteen or twenty of the most important burgesses of Glasgow are now
confined. And as the tumult that happened about the bishops began by
the insolence of the women of this town, something similar was feared
to-day, but the Provost, who is the nominee of the Duke of Hamilton,
having been made Colonel of Edinburgh, and in that capacity having
taken oath to the general and given it to all the town officials, he assured
himself of the castle by sending forty men to occupy it, without removing
the lieutenant that depends on old General Leslie, who still continues
governor of it, but who has not the entire control.
Parliament is to rise on an early day and leave in its place a committee
that will be of more than twenty-four persons. I am told that it is to be
established with an absolute authority, and that power will be given to it,
not only to treat but to conclude peace with the English Commissioners,
or declare war on the Independents. A new mode of agreement with the
clergy has also been proposed, which, however, is not thought likely to
succeed. Such is the state of affairs of this country where tumults occur
and are quieted without much difficulty, just at the time one expected to
^ The following is Turner's account of this incident : ' Glasgow being a con-
siderable town was most refractory to the Parliament for Mr. Dick, whom they
looked upon as a sort of patriarch, Mr. Baillie, Mr. Gillespie, and Mr. Durhame,
all mighty members of the kirk, had preached them to a perfect disobedience to
all civil power, except such as was authorised by the General Assembly and the
commission of the kirk . . . For this reason I was sent to Glasgow to reduce
it to obedience with three troops of horse and Holbum's regiment of foot . . .
I came on the Friday and next day sent to Mr. Dick and desired him and his
brethren to say nothing that might give me just reason to disturb the peace ol
the church. In the forenoon he spoke very fair, and gave us no occasion of
offence, but in the afternoon he transgressed all limits of modesty and railed
maliciously against both king and parliament. This obliged me to command all
my officers and men to go presently out of the church, because I neither could
nor would suffer any under my command to be witnesses of a misdemeanor of
that nature.' — Memoirs, p. 53.
504 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [june
see them breaking out further, similar to what has happened during the
past year in England, where Independents and Presbyterians have always
made up their differences when it was thought they were about to come
to blows. Yet although it is difficult to judge how things M'ill end, it
seems, however, that the opposition that is made or caused to be made to
the orders of Parliament being carried out aids in no small degree the
plans of those of both parties who have the principal direction of the
affairs of this kingdom, since by delaying the levies it allows time for the
Prince of Wales to arrive here before they will have undertaken anything
for his interests, and serves to ruin the real followers of the King of
England, by giving them an oppoi-tunity of taking arms and leaving
them to perish afterwards as they are doing, without assisting them ; in
short, it effects, what is chiefly wanted here, that the Scots may be spec-
tators of what is going on among their neighbours, without their having
too great part in it, and gives them an opportunity of remaining ready to
come to terms with the party that will gain the mastery in England.]
CCXLVII '
MONTEREUL a BRIENNE
Edimhoiirg, j Juin l648.
SoiT que Ton n'avait pas juge encore apropos de terminer les
difFerends que Ton a fait naitre entre le Parlement et le clerge
de ce royaume, ou qu'en efFet les Ministres apprehendent si
fort le retablissement de leur roi, qu'ils ne puissent consentir a
aucune chose qui a quelque apparence de pouvoir y contribuer,
il est certain que les propositions qui avaient ete faites pour les
mettre bien ensemble se sont trouvees inutiles, et qu'ils sont
aujourd'hui plus eloignes que jamais de toute sorte d'accom-
modement. Car ceux qui composent la Commission de TEglise
ne se sont contentes d"'envoyer dMci des ordres a tous les
ministres d'Ecosse, pour les obliger a precher contre les levees
a peine d'etre suspendus de la fonction, et, — ce qu'ils
craignent le plus, — d'etre prives des revenus de leurs charges ;
mais apres avoir re^u un papier du Comite des 24 par lequel ce
Parlement leur accorde encore quelque chose de plus que ce
qu'il avait fait jusqu'ici, et les prie meme de voir en quelle
maniere on pourrait les satisfaire davantage et asseurer tout-a-
fait leur religion ; ils y firent repondre Samedi dernier, avec un
autre papier, par lequel ils demandent que cette armee qui
n'est pas encore sur pied, soit licentiee ; que des officiers soient
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 505
choisis pour commander celle qui se levera dont ils se puissent
asseurer, et qui ne puissent donner de jalousie de ce royaume;
que le roi d"'Angleterre ne puisse etre mis en liberie qu'apres
qu'il aura accorde toutes les choses que Ton desire de lui ;
et qu'on declare rebelles tous les fideles serviteurs de ce prince
qui ont repris les arraes pour lui dans le Nord d'Angleterre.
Mais le Parlement a ete si eloigne de s''accommoder a des
demandes si peu raisonables, qu'il a fait des ordres pour con-
server a ceux du clerge qui seront en peine pour avoir parle a
Tavantage de Tarmee, le revenu dont on aura voulu les priver ;
de sorte que, quand les Ministres et ceux du parti d'Argyle ne
continueraient pas, comme ils font a rend re suspect les actions
du Due de Hamilton, et a publier qu'il pense sVtablir dans le
trosne, ou il public qu'il veut retablir son roi, il y a tout lieu
de croire que ces divisions ne sont pas feintes, et que s'il reste
quelque intelligence entre les chefs, comme quelques uns ne
peuvent s'empecher de le croire encore aujourd'hui, elle ne
passe pas jusqu''a ceux de leur suite. Cependant, quelque
oppositions que fassent tous ceux de ce parti aux procedees
du Parlement, ils peuvent bien retarder les levees et faire en
sorte que Ton n'entre d'un mois en Angleterre, et que Ton
donne le temps aux serviteurs du roi d' Angleterre de se perdre,
avant qu'on se mette en devoir de les secourir ; mais ils
ne peuvent pas empecher que Tarmee ne se mette sur pied,
ainsi qu'il a ete resolu ; car, non seulement David Lesley a
refuse de commander ceux du parti des Ministres, mais le
Marquis d'Argyle, que Ton m'asseure qui Ta fait solliciter
de prendre cet emploi, en se retirant a Argyle a commande
a tous ceux qui depend de lui de travailler aux levees, et
les Comtes de Glinton et de Cassalis, qu''on croyait qui se
joindraient avec lui, ont ecrit a ce Parlement que leurs gens
seront prets, dans peu de jours, de sorte qu''il ne reste que
quelque deux mille paysans, qui n''ont ni armes ni conduite qui
se sont assembles dans Foccident de ce royaume, et qui ne
peuvent resister au Comte de Calendar et a Middleton, qui
sont alles vers eux avec des forces considerables.
Le Comite des 24 a fait reponse aux Commissaires d"' An-
gleterre que ce royaume desire entretenir une bonne union
avec eux, et garder la ligue et les traites, ainsi qu'il y est
506 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [jUNE
oblige par le covenant, et que comma ils ont donne avis que le
General Fairfax s'avan^ait avec son armee vers le Nord d'Angle-
terre, sans intention de nuire a TEcosse, ils leur faisaient aussi
savoir, qu'ils levaient presentement une armee, dans ce royaume,
avec un dessein bien eloigne d'entreprendre aucune chose contre
leur royaume.
Le Parlement s''acheva Samedi dernier. II ne sVn doit pas
tenir en Ecosse avant le mois de Mars de Pannee 1650. Le
Comite qui a ete etabli durant ce temps est compose de 36
personnes de chaque corps, qui font cent huit en tout. Le
Comite qui suivra Tarmee doit etre choisi de ce nombre, bien
que le Marquis d'Argyle et plusieurs de ses amis, ayant ete
nommes entre ceux qui sont de ce comite, on ne croit pas qu'ils
y doivent assister, a cause du serment qui sont obliges a prendre
tous ceux qui le composent, — car ils sont ten us de jurer qu'ils
approuvent tout ce qui a ete resolu dans ce Parlement, et qu'ils
travailleront, autant que leur sera possible, pour le faire exe-
cuter. Le Chancellor de ce royaume, qu''on envoya hier prier
de s''y rencontrer, s'en excusa sur quelques affaires domestiques,
et apres avoir fait charger sur un de ses chevaux, une valise
fort pesante, et que Ton veut que soit pleine d'or, il sortit de
cette ville. Ce Parlement a ordonne que tous ceux qui s'oppo-
seraient aux levees seront emprisonnes, et que leurs biens soient
confisques. On attende a chaque moment les nouvelles du
debarquement de Farmee d'lrlande. On a envoye aujourd'hui
des vaisseaux aux Orcades pour en transporter le regiment du
Comte de Morton. Middleton a ete fait general de la cavalerie
et Bailly de Tinfanterie.
Les lettres qui devaient etre ici il y a huit jours, arriverent
hier bien conditionees, avec celles de cette semaine, et il y a
apparence que le commerce ne sera pas encore rompu, pour
cette fois. J'ai re^u, en meme temps, celles que vous m'avez
ecrites du 30 Mai, et du 2 Juin, qui sont toutes pleines des
marques de la bonte qu'il vous plait avoir pour moi, qui me
porte a vous contenter de mon zele, et de mes bonnes intentions.
Je suis oblige. Monsieur, de vous en rendre de tres humbles
remerciements aussi bien que tant de graces qu"'il vous plait de
faire a mon frere, et qui me rendraient le plus ingrat de tous
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 60^
les hommes, si je n'etais, tant que je viverai, avec toute sorte
de fidelite et de respect, etc.
On vient de recevoir des lettres du Comte de Calendar, par
lesquelles il donne avis que ces deux mille hommes, qui s''etaient
joints dans le ouest d'Ecosse, se sont retires chez eux, sans faire
aucun resistance. On m'asseure que le Chev. Langdale a ete
oblige de se retirer dans Carlisle, et que le Parlement a six
mille, tant chevaux que dragons, dans le nord de TAngleterre,
qui les poursuivent.
[MoNTEREUL to Bbienne. Edinburgh, ^ June 1648.
Whether it may not yet be judged opportune to put an end to the
differences that have been raised between the Parliament and the clergy
of this kingdom, or that in fact the former fear so strongly the restora-
tion of their king that they cannot consent to anything that seems likely
to contribute to it, it is certain that the proposals that had been made in
order to bring them together have been found to be useless^ and that
they are at present further removed than ever from any sort of agreement.
For those who form the commission of the church, not satisfied with
merely sending orders from here to all the clergy of Scotland to oblige
them to preach against the levies, under penalty of being suspended from
their functions, and, what they fear still more, of being deprived of
their stipends, after having received a paper from the committee of
twenty-four, by which Parliament granted them something more than it
had hitherto done and begged them to consider in what manner one
might be able to satisfy them further and assure their religion altogether,
they made a reply to it on Saturday last by another paper, in which they
demanded that this army, which is not yet on foot, be disbanded ; that
the officers to be selected in order to command the one that will be
raised, be such as they can be assured of and who may not cause jealousy
of this kingdom ; that the King of England may not be set at liberty
until he has granted all that is wished of him ; and that all the faithful
followers of this prince who have taken arms for him in the north of
England be declared rebels. But Parliament was so little disposed to
Jigree to such unreasonable demands that it gave orders that those of the
clergy who might be in trouble for having spoken in favour of the army
remain in possession of their stipends, of which it was sought to deprive
them ; so that though the clergy and those of the party of Argyle were
not to continue as at present to render the Duke of Hamilton suspect by
declaring that he thinks of establishing himself on the thi-one, on which
he declares he wishes to re-establish his king, there is every reason to
believe that these diiFerences are not pretended but real, and that if there
remain any mutual understanding between the leaders, as some cannot
help believing at present, it does not extend to their followers. Yet,
whatever opposition all those of this party may make to the proceedings
508 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [june
of Parliament, that may probably delay the levies, and so arrange that
they only enter England in a month, and allow time to the followers of
the King of England to be lost, before they set about helping them, they
cannot prevent the army from being raised as it was resolved, for not
only has David Leslie refused the command of those of the party of
the clergy, but the Marquis of Argyle, whom I am assured requested
him to take this employment, on his leaving for Argyle, has ordered all
those who depend on him to engage in the levies and the Earls of
Eglinton and Cassilis, whom it was thought would join with him, have
written to this Parliament that their people would be ready in a few days,
so that there but remains some two thousand peasants in the west of
this kingdom who are unable to resist the Earl of Callander and
Middleton, who have gone towards them with considerable forces.^
The committee of twenty-four has replied to the English Commis-
sioners, that this kingdom wishes to keep up good relations with them
and maintain the league and the treaties as they are obliged by the
Covenant ; and that as they have given notice that General Fairfax was
advancing with his army towards the north of England without any
intention of doing harm to Scotland, they gave them also notice that
they are engaged in raising an army in this kingdom, but with no inten-
tion of undertaking anything against their kingdom.
The Parliament came to an end on Saturday last. No other will be
held before March 1650. A committee of thirty-six persons from each of
the three estates, or of a hundred and eight members, has been formed.
The committee that is to follow the army will be selected from this
number. Although the Marquis of Argyle and several of his friends have
been appointed to this committee it is not thought they will act, because
of the oath each member is required to take, which expresses approval of
all that has been resolved in Parliament, and that they will do all in their
power in having it executed. The Chancellor of this kingdom who was
^ Guthrysays, p. 229, ' The Earl of Callander and Middleton were informed on
the 1 2th June that a great multitude were already in arms against them at Mauch-
line, whereupon Middleton and Urry were sent thither with six troops of horse
to require them to disband and give obedience to the king and Parliament. . . .
The fight lasted not long. Middleton in an instant put them all to rout, eighty
of them being killed and the rest taken prisoners except a very few that escaped
by flight, p. 230. Shortly after that victory came intelligence that Lambert with
2000 horse had come as far as Carlisle, but since he heard the defeat his friends
had gotten at Mauchline was returned southward again.' Turner says in reply
to the above : ' Middleton did not rout these rebels in an instant, they dis-
puted the matter long, wounded both him and Colonel Urrey with swords on
the head which show they did not fly, and if the Earl of Callander had not come
up with eight troops of horse, Col. Turner's regiment of foot following fast, the
business had been worse with Middleton. There were not ten of them killed,
and not above sixty prisoners. When the fight began they were no fewer than
2000, most of whom on Callander's appearing got away in a body. ' — Memoir,
p. 242.
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 509
invited yesterday to attend the meeting excused himself on account of
some domestic matters, and after having loaded one of his horses with a
very heavy travelling case^ said to be full of gold, he left town.
Parliament has ordered that all those who oppose the levies be im-
prisoned and their property confiscated. News of the landing of the army
from Ireland is expected at every moment. Transports have been sent
to the Orkneys to bring the regiment of the Earl of Morton. ^ Middleton
has been named general of cavalry and Baillie of infantry.
The letters that ought to have been here eight days ago arrived only
yesterday in good condition with those of this week, and it seems likely
that postal communication will not yet be broken off for this time. I
have received your letters of the SOth May and 2nd June together, that
are full of the marks of kindness it has pleased you to have for me,
which stimulates me to satisfy you by my zeal and my good intentions,
I am obliged to return you my humble thanks, as also for the favours it
has pleased you to show to my brother, and which would render me the
most ungrateful of men were I not during all my lifetime yours with
fidelity and respect, etc.
Letters have just been received from the Earl of Callander, in which
he gives information that the two thousand men who were assembled
in the west of Scotland withdrew without making any resistance. I am
assured that Sir M. Langdale has been obliged to retire into Carlisle, and
that Parliament has six thousand men, both cavalry and dragoons, that
are pursuing him in the north of England.]
CCXLVIII
MONTEREUL a BRIENNE
Edimhours, — Juin l648.
'G»
15
Les lettres qui devaient partir d'ici Mardi au soir ont ete
arretees par ce comite, et de plus, ouvertes, a la reserve des
miennes. M. le Comte de Lanark a ete depuis pour me rendre
mon paquet, et me faire des excuses, de ce quMl est demeure
comme les autres. II m''a dit qu'ils avaient desire en user de
la meme sorte avec les Commissaires d'Angleterre, mais comme
ils n"'avaient pas mis de subscription sur le paquet, ainsi que
j'avais fait, qui donna moyen de le reconnaitre, ils avaient
eu le malheur que d"'ouvrir une de leurs lettres, qu'ils s'etaient
abstenue de lire, quand ils avaient trouve leurs noms en bas,
^ William Douglas, 9th Earl of Morton, was much attached to the king per-
sonally, and ruined himself to support the royalist cause. He died in Kirkwall
in the Orkneys, in March 1649.
510 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [june
ce qu'ils avaient remarque apres Tavoir fait decachete. Cepen-
dant, Monsieur, comme le Comte de Lanark m''a fait entendre
qu'il y avait peu d'apparence d'entretenir plus longtemps le
commerce regie des lettres, et qu'il faisait partir dans deux
heures un expres pour Londres,j'ai cru que je devais profiter
de cette rencontre pour vous faire savoir ce que s'est fait ici
depuis ma derniere lettre.
Les troupes qui s"'etaient amassees dans Toccident d'Ecosse,
pour s'opposer aux ordres de ce Parlement, ont ete dissipees
par le Comte de Calendar, comme j"'avais appris en fermant ma
lettre, mais j'ai su depuis qu'on les auraient faits faire quelque
peu de resistance, et que cent cinquante hommes, de deux
mille, qu"'ils etaient, ont ete tues, et quelques prisonniers faits,
et entre les autres deux ou trois ministres se sont retires, ou en
leurs maisons, ou en Irlande, ni le Marquis d'Argyle, et non
pas un seigneur de son parti n'ont paru avec eux au reste,
et comme TOuest n''est pas en etat de s'opposer aux levees,
on m'a aussi asseure que ceux de Fife ont promis aujourd'hui
de fournir le nombre d'hommes qu'on leur demande, et de les
tenir prets pour Jeudi prochain.
M. de Lanark m'a dit qu'on avait eu nouvelles presentement
que douze cents hommes de pied de I'arraee d'lrelande, que
le Comte de Crawford doit commander, etaient arrives en
Ecosse, et toutes les troupes seront en etat de marcher dans
quinze jours, et qu'on avait d'autant plus de raison de se hater
que Lambert etait maintenant devant Carlisle, avec des troupes
au moins egales a celles du Chev. M. Langdale, que Ton a
prie d'ici, par un expres, que lui fut hier depeche, de ne pas
s'engager avec les forces du Parlement d'Angleterre, mais de
se retirer plustot en Ecosse, au cas qu'il se vit presser. Ce que
M. le Comte de Lanark a accompagne de nouvelles protesta-
tions du veritable desir que le Due son frere et lui ont
de voir le roi d'Angleterre retabli, ou de repandre tout leur
sang en y travaillant; et du zele qu'ils conserveront toute
leur vie pour les interets de Sa Majeste, qu'ils considerent
principalement apres le service de leur maitre. Au reste, le
Marquis d'Argyle et les autres seigneurs de son parti de-
meurent dans leurs maisons, sans qu'ils fassent contre le Parle-
ment ou qu'il se fasse contre eux aucune chose, et Ton
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 511
ne vit jamais d'ennemis se traiter avec une plus grande modera-
tion que ceux-ci, Je vous supplie tres humblement, Monsieur,
de m'ordonner si je dois, ou non, suivre Tarmee, particuliereraent
si Monsieur le Prince de Galles vient ici.
[MoNTEREUL to Brienne. Edinburgh, j| June 1648.
The letters that ought to have left here on Tuesday evening by post
were stopped by order of the committeej and opened, with the exception
of mine, that were brought back to me by the Earl of Lanark with an
apology for their being delayed, with the others. He told me he had
wished to act in the same manner with the English commissioners, but
as they had added nothing to the address to show from whom their
parcel came, as I had done, they had had the mischance to open one of
their letters, which they had refrained from reading when they found
their names at the end of it, which they had remarked only after having
broken the seals. However, as the Earl of Lanark led me to understand
there was little likelihood of keeping up postal communication much
longer, and that he was sending a special messenger to London in two
hours, I thought I ought to profit by the circumstance to let you know
what has been done here since my last letter.
The troops that were assembled in the west of Scotland, to oppose
the orders of this Parliament, have been dispersed by the Earl of
Callander, as I had learned in closing my last letter, but I have learned
since that they had been led to make some little resistance, and that a
hundred and fifty men out of the two thousand were killed and some
prisoners taken, and among others two or three preachers have retired
either to their houses, or to Ireland, besides neither the Marquis of
Argyle nor any noble of his party appeared with them, and as the west
of Scotland is not able to oppose the levies, I have also been assured that
the people of Fife have promised to-day to furnish the number of men
demanded of them, and to have them ready for next Thursday.
The Earl of Lanark has told me they have news at present that twelve
hundred infantry of the army of Ireland, which the Earl of Crawford is
to command, had arrived in Scotland, that all the troops will be ready
to march in a fortnight, and that they had so much more reason to make
haste that Lambert was now before (^arlisle with troops at least equal in
number to those of Sir M. Langdale, whom they have requested by a
special messenger from here, who was sent to him yesterday, not to
engage with the forces of the English Parliament, but rather to retreat
into Scotland were he hard pressed. This the Earl of Lanark accom-
panied with new protestations of the real desire that the duke his
brother and he have of seeing the King of England restored, or to shed
the last drop of their blood in attempting to accomplish it, and of the
zeal they will retain during all their lives for the interests of his Majesty,
whom they consider principally after the service of their master. The
512 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [jUNE
Marquis of Argyle and the other nobles of his party remain in their
homes, without doing anything against the Parliament and without the
latter interfering with them ; enemies were never seen to treat each other
with so great moderation. I beg you to order me as to whether or not I
ought to follow the army, especially if the Prince of Wales come here.]
CCXLIX
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbo7(rg, — Juin l648.
Par ma lettre du 25, dont je joins ici le double, je donnai
avis a V. Em*=® du retai-dement de I'ordinaire, et je me donnai
rhonneur de lui en mander le sujet.
Les sentiments de ceux dont on a ouvert les lettres se
trouvent assez differents, puisque les uns veulent que les
Ecossois trahissent leur roi, et les autres qu'ils trompent le
Parlement d'Angleterre, mais ils se trouvent en cela tous
semblables, qu"'ils accusent les Ecossois d'infidelite, et avertis-
sent les amis et les ennemis du roi de la G'' B"^ de ne se pas
fier en eux. Un des domestiques du Chancelier d'Ecosse, et
celui meme qui porte les sceaux devant lui, a ete mis en prison
pour ce sujet, et a confesse, a ce qu''on m'a dit, qu"'il recevoit
un demi Jacobus par mois des Independants. Mais une lettre
qu'ecrivoit un Anglois, refugie dans ce royaume, a plus offense
ce Comite que toutes les autres, dans laquelle, apres avoir
repete ce que dit le poete, que si Cain avoit ete Ecossois il
auroit receu pour punition du meurtre de son frere, de ne pas
sortir de son pays plustost que de courir tout le monde, il
ajoute que quand le diable oiFrit tous les royaumes du monde
a Jesus Christ, il eut rendu sa tentation moins puissante s*'il
n"'eiit mis son pouce sur FEcosse pour lui cacher un si miserable
pays. Je supplie V. Em*^® de me pardonner si j'ose Tentre-
tenir de ces bagatelles que les Ecossois ont rendues plus con-
siderables par le bruit qu'ils en font et par le ressentiment
qu'ils en temoignent.
Le Due de Hamilton est parti d'ici ce matin pour aller
tenir conseil de guerre a Hamilton ou M. le Comte de Lanark
m''a dit que le Comte de Calander et Middleton se doivent
trouver. On fait marcher une partie des forces qui sont sur
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 513
pied vers Carlisle pour fortifier le Chev'. Langdale, plustost
par leur voisinage que par Tassistance qu''ils s"'en peut promettre.
On me dit que les levees s'avancent fort de toutes parts, et
sont deja achevees en deux ou trois provinces, et que nous
verrons dans peu de jours, que Ton agira tout de bon. Cepen-
dant un prisonnier fort considerable que les serviteurs du roi
de la G"" B*" envoyoient de Berwick a Carlisle a ete mis en
liberte par les officiers de Tarmee d^Ecosse, et comme s'il falloit
achever de laisser perdre tous ceux qui ont pris les armes pour
leur roi dans diverses provinces d'Angleterre avant que de
penser a les secourir. II se trouve qu''il y a encore quelque
petit desordre dans TOccident de ce pays. Le Comte de
Casallis est en cette ville : le Marquis d'Argyle avoit temoigne
qu"'il devoit aussi y venir, mais il ne Ta pas fait. II a donne
toutefois asseurance que tous ses gens seroient prets aussitost
que ceaux des autres. II se doit tenir un grand Comite Jeudi
prochain. L'ordinaire que nous n'attendions presque plus, vient
d'arriver et m'a rendu celles que V. Em*=® m'a fait Thonneur
de m''ecrire.
[MoNTEREUL to CardinaIj Mazarin. Edinburgh, "" June 1648.
In my last letter of the 25th inst., of which I add here a copy, I sent
you notice of the delay of the mail, and explained to you the reason of
it. The opinions of those whose letters were opened are somewhat
different, since some pretend the Scots are betraying their king and
others that they are deceiving the English Parliament, but both are
agreed in accusing the Scots of breach of trust and intimating to the
friends and to the enemies of the King of Great Britain not to trust to
them. One of the domestics of the Chancellor of Scotland who usually
carries the seals of office before him has been put into prison by this
means, and he has confessed, I have been told, that he received half a
Jacobus a month from the Independents. But one letter written by an
English refugee in this kingdom has offended this committee more than
all the others, he after having written all he could to the disadvantage
of this country, and after having quoted what the poet says, that if Cain
had been Scot he would have received for punishment of the murder of
his brother not to leave his country rather than to wander through all
the world/ he adds that when the devil offered all the kingdoms of the
world to Jesus Christ, he would have rendered the temptation less
^ ' Had Cain been Scot, God would have changed his doom.
Not forced him wander but confined him home.' —
Cleveland.
VOL. II. 2 K
514 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [july
powerful had he not put his thumb on Scotland, in order to hide so
wretched a country. I beg you to pardon me if I venture to entertain
you with such trifles which the Scots have rendered more important
by the noise they have made about them and the resentment they have
shown.
The Duke of Hamilton left here this morning to attend the Council of
War at Hamilton, where I have been told by the Earl of Lanark he is to
meet the Earl of Callander and Middleton. A part of the forces that are
on foot is being marched to Carlisle to support Sir M. Langdale, rather
by their proximity than by any assistance they may promise. I am told
that the levies are everywhere well advanced, and that in two or three
counties they are finished, so that we shall see them seriously at work
in a few days. However, a very impoi'tant prisoner, that the followers
of the King of Great Britain were sending from Berwick to Carlisle, has
been set at liberty by the oflficers of the Scottish army, as if it were
necessary to complete the ruin of all those who have taken arms for
their king in several English counties before thinking of assisting them.
There is still some little disorder in the west of this country. The Earl
of Cassilis is in this town ; the Marquis of Argyle has stated that he
intended also to come here, but he has not yet arrived. He has, however,
given an assurance that all his people would be ready as soon as those of
others. A meeting of the Committee of Estates is to be held on Thursday
next. The mail which we scarcely expect now has just arrived, and I
have got your letter of the 23rd June.]
CCL
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Edimbourg, ^-^^^ 1648.
MoN frere arriva en cette ville Vendredi dernier, etm'a rendu
les deux lettres de Sa Majeste avec Tordre qu'il a pleu a
V. Em"® de m'envoyer de partir d'ici le plus promptement que
je pourrois. Je vis M. le Comte de Lanark le meme jour, qui
me dit que le conseil se pourroit difficilement assembler en
Tabsence du chancelier, qui y doit presider, et que le comite
pourroit recevoir la lettre que j'avois pour le Parlement le
Samedi au matin. Le Comite deputa le dit Comte de Lanark,
le Comte de Lauderdale, un Baron, et le Maire d'Edimbourg,
pour me venir trouver et recevoir de moi la dite lettre de Sa
Majeste que je leur presentai et que j''accompagnai ainsi qu'il
m''a ete ordonne de toutes les choses que je crus les pouvoir
obliger davantage et me devoir le moins obliger. J'espere que
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 515
ce soir ou demain au plus tard je recevray leur reponse, en sorte
que je pourray partir sans faute apres demain, soit que les
Commissaires Anglois a qui j'ay demande un passeport me
Taccordent ou me le refusent, etant resolu quelque chose qui
en soit, d'aller j usqu"'a Berwick, d'ou je depecheray au Gouver-
neur de Newcastle s'il est necessaire, et ou a toute extremite
j''attendray celui qui me viendra de Londres, et pour lequel
a tout evenement j'ecris a M. TAmbassadeur.
Au reste, Mg% je ne puis que je ne temoigne a V. Em"^^ com-
bien Tordre que j"'ay receu etoit necessaire dans un temps ou
les Ecossois ne pensent pas tant airendre de bonnes services a
leur roi qu''a faire de mauvais offices a la France en publiant
contre leur pensee, qu'ils en re^oivent beaucoup d'assistance, et
en disant hautement ici, et en faisant imprimer en Angleterre
ce que Votre Eminence m'a fait Thonneur de m'ecrire par sa
derniere du 13 Juin, avec obligation de le tenir secret. Aussi,
Mg"", ay-je tout sujet de croire que c'est plustost pour cette
raison qu'ils eussent desire que j''eusse suivi Tarmee, que pour
aucun service qu"'ils se puissent promettre de moi, particuliere-
ment depuis qu"'on leur a ecrit de la Cour de la reine de la
G' B"^ que je nuisois beaucoup aux desseins de M. le Due de
Hamilton ; ce qui pent faire voir a V. Em*'® que j"'avois raison
de desirer que la lettre que je me suis donne Thonneur de lui
6crire ne fut veue que de personnes de la fidelite desquelles elle
se pent asseurer. Cest une chose que je sais de tres bonne
part, et qui n'a pas empeche toutefois que je n'aie receu depuis
toutes sortes de civilites de M. le Due de Hamilton, et que
M. de Lanark ne m''ait fait Thonneur de souper chez moi la
semaine passee avec Madame sa femme, et de me recevoir
chez lui avec les memes temoignages d'afFection, — peutetre plus
grands de confiance qu"'auparavant.
Je tacheray d'engager deux personnes des differents partis a
donner avis de ce qui se passe, afin de pouvoir etre mieux in-
forme de la verite des choses ; la recherche et la punition meme
qui a ete faite de ceux qui ecrivoient en Angleterre fait que
Ton prend aujourd^hui cette commission avec quelque sorte de
difficulte. Les Commissaires d' Angleterre donnerent part a ce
Comite Jeudi dernier des resolutions qui ont ete prises dans
leur Parlement, de presenter trois propositions k leur roi et de
516 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
traiter avec lui apres qu"'il les aura accordees. Cc Comite leur
a fait savoir par un billet qu'il travailloit a leur reponse,
laquelle au lieu de les satisfaire servira — a ce que m''a dit le
Comte de Lauderdale — de declaration aux Ecossois pour entrer
en Angleterre.
Les petits desordres qui etoient arrives dans TOccident
d''Ecosse sont entierement assoupis, et il n'y a plus de pro-
vince qui ose s''opposer aux levees qui s'acheveront dans peu
de jours. Le dernier jour des rendezvous particuliers est, a
ce qu''on me dit, le ~ de ce mois ; on n'a pas encore arrete
celui de rendezvous general, mais il y deja trente six cornettes
de cavalerie et quatre ou cinq regiments d'infanterie qui sont
sur les frontiers d"* Angleterre.
Le Marquis d''Argyle ecrit qu''il sera ici dans peu de jours,
ce qu'on ne croit pas toutefois qu'il fasse, ny le Chancelier
aussi, qui s'en est excuse sur son indisposition. Cependant, le
Marquis a commande a ses sujets et a ses deux regiments —
dont Tun n'a pas voulu encore marcher — d'obeir aux ordres
du Parlement.
Les seuls Ministres continuent a y resister, et comme si ce
n*'etoit pas assez de remplir leurs sermons d'injures contre ceux
qui gouvernent, et de maledictions contre Tarmee, ils ont
ordonne Jeudi et Dimanches deux jeunes solemnels pour prier
Dieu de donner d'autres desseins aux Ministres de cet Etat, et
d''empecner que ceux qu''ils ont reussissent, et pour le porter
a delivrer les gens de bien et qui ont travaille pour la religion
de repression ou il se trouvent. V. Em*'® s''etonnera peutetre
de la hardiesse de ces gens, mais je crois qu'elle n"'aura pas
un moindre sujet d'etonnement quand elle apprendra que ceux
qui ont aujourd'hui Tautorite leur laissent dire toutes ceschoses
sans les en punir, et laissent en paix le Marquis d''Argyle qu''ils
disent qui se prepare de prendre les armes aussitost qu"'ils seront
entre en Angleterre, ce qui fait croire a quelques uns que cette
grande inimitie qui parait entre eux pourroit etre concertee,
et qu'on oppose TEglise a TEtat seulement jusqu'a ce qu'il soit
temps que Tun ou Tautre prenne le dessus pour Tavantage de
tous les deux. Enfin, Mg', j'apprehende que ce que la reine
de la Gr' B"^ croit devoir servir au retablissement du roi son
mari n'acheve de ruiner ce que lui reste de serviteurs.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 617
M. de Lanark avoit eu nouvelles que douze cents hommes
de Tarmee d'Irlande etoient arrives en Ecosse, ce qui ne s''est
pas trouve veritable ; mais que les regiments que le Marquis
d'Argyle et le Comte de Glencairn ont en ce pays ont refuse
de passer, en sorte qu'on n'en tirera que trois mille hommes
de pied et douze cents chevaux. L'un des deux regiments que
ce iVIarquis avoit en Ecosse vient de se dissiper, en sorte qu'il
nV est pas demeure un homme.
Lambert est toujours devant Carlisle et fait mine d'y vouloir
mettre le siege.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Edinburgh, jy^^ 1648.
My brother arrived in this town on Friday last, and delivered to me
both the letters of his Majesty, with your order that I should leave here
as promptly as possible. 1 saw the Earl of Lanark the same day, who told
me that it would be difficult for the council to meet, in the absence of
the Chancellor, who ought to preside, but that the committee could
receive, on Saturday morning, the letter I had for Parliament. The
committee deputed to me the Earl of Lanark, the Earl of Lauderdale,
a Baron and the Provost of Edinburgh, in order to call upon me and
receive his Majesty's letter, which I presented to them, and expressed
mj^self at the same time towards them as I was ordered, in terms that
I thought could oblige them most and oblige me the least. I hope to
have their reply this evening or to-morrow at the latest, in which case I
shall be able to leave here without fail the day after to-morrow, either
with the passport I have asked from the English Commissioners, or
without it, if they refuse it to me, having resolved in whatever case to
go as far as Berwick, whence I can send a special messenger to the
Governor of Newcastle, if it be necessary, and where, if much at a
loss, I shall wait until I receive the one from London, which iu
order to provide against any emergency I wrote to procure from the
Ambassador.
I cannot help expressing to you how much the order I have received
was necessary at a time when the Scots do not think so much of render-
ing good services to their king as of doing a bad turn to France, in
declaring what they know to be untrue, that they are receiving much
assistance from her, and by saying openly here, and in having printed in
England, what you wrote to me, under pledge of secrecy, in your letter
of the 13th June. I have thus every reason to believe this was their
object^ in wishing me to accompany their army and not for any service
they could expect from me, especially since they have been informed
from the court of the Queen of Great Britain that I was very hurtful to
1 To give colour to a French alliance .
518 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [jULY
the Duke of Hamilton's plans ; whicli will enable you to see I was right
in requesting that the letter I wrote to her should only be shown to
persons of whose fidelity she was assured. This is a matter I have
learned on good authority, which, however, has not prevented me from
receiving since every sort of courtesy from the Duke of Hamilton. The
Earl and Countess of Lanark did me the honour of having supper with
me last week, and he has received me at his house with the same — or
perhaps even greater — marks of affection and of confidence as formerly.
I shall try to engage two persons belonging to either party to give
information of what takes place here, so as to be better informed of the
truth of things. The investigation that has been made and the punish-
ment even of those who were engaged in writing to England renders it
difficult to find any one at present to accept this commission. The
English Commissioners delivered to the committee on Thursday last the
resolutions that have been taken in their Parliament to present three
proposals to their king and to treat with him after he has granted them.
This committee has informed them by a note that it is engaged in
drawing up their reply, which, instead of satisfying them, will, as I have
been informed by the Earl of Lauderdale, serve the purpose of the Scots
to declare their intention of entering England.
The slight disturbances that existed in the west of Scotland have been
altogether quieted down ; and there is no longer any county that ventures
to oppose the levies, that will be finished in a few days. The last day
appointed for the local musters is, 1 am told, the " of this month,
that of the general rendezvous has not yet been fixed, but there are
already thirty-eix companies of cavalry and four or five regiments of
infantry on the English border.
The Mai-quis of Argyle writes to say that he will be here in a few days,
which is not, however, believed, nor that the Chancellor will come, as he
has excused himself on account of his indisposition. Yet the Marquis
has ordered all his vassals and his two regiments — of which one did not
yet wish to march — to obey orders.
The clergy alone continue their opposition ; and, as if it were not
enough to fill their sermons with insults against those who govern and
maledictions against the army, they have appointed Thursday and
Sunday as two solemn fast days in order to pray to God that he may
give other intentions to the ministers of this State and prevent those
they have at present from succeeding, and to lead Him to deliver honest
people who have laboured for the religion from the oppression under
which they are placed. You will be astonished perhaps at the boldness
ot these people, but I believe you will have no less reason to be so when
you learn that those who are in authority at present allow all these
things to be said without punishing them, and that they leave the
Marquis of Argyle in peace, whom, they say, is preparing to take arms
as soon as they have entered England ; which leads some people to
believe that this great enmity which seems to exist between them may
be concerted, and that they oppose the Church to the State simply until
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 519
the time be propitious for the one or the other to take the upperhand
for the advantage of them both. In short, I fear that what the Queen of
Great Britain had thought ought to serve in the restoration of the king
her husband may but finish the ruin of the followers that remain to him.
The Earl of Lanark had received news that twelve hundred men of the
army in Ireland had arrived in Scotland, which is found to be inexact,
but the regiments the Marquis of Argyle and the Earl of Glencairn have
in that country have refused to return, so that they will only procure
from there three thousand foot and twelve hundred horse. One of the
regiments the marquis had in Scotland has just dispersed^ so that there
is not one man of it left.
Lambert is still before Carlisle, and seems to be about to lay siege
to it.
CCLI
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
JEdimhourg, - Juillet 1648.
Les passeports des Commissaires d''Ecosse qui on vient
ra^envoyer presentement ra'cmpecheront de partir Jeudi matin,
comme j''avois espere de le pouvoir faire. JHay receu au soir
par un express la lettre de V. Era''® du avec celle qu'il lui
a pleu ecrire a M. le Due de Hamilton, qui devoit partir le
jour suivant, ainsi qu''ii a fait ; et comme j'avois pris conge de
lui pour la demiere fois quelques heures auparavant, et qu'il
me sembloit que si je lui demandois une nouvelle audience et
Tallois visiter publiquement cela pourroit augmenter les de-
fiances que Ton essaye avec tant de sujet de diminuer, je pensai
qu'il etoit plus a propos que je le visse en lieu tiers, et que
le logis de M. de Lanark, ou il prend souvent ses repas, et ou
je me trouve aussi quelquefois, etoit plus propre qu'aucun autre
pour cette rencontre, II se y rendit aussitost qu'il eut seu que
je le desirois. II y re^ut la lettre de V. Em*=® avec tous les
teraoignages possibles de respect et de satisfaction, et il
m'asseura diverses fois qu'il chercheroit toutes les occasions
de pouvoir faire connoitre par ses actions qu'il etoit veritable-
ment serviteur de V. Em*=®. II voulut en suite que je prisse
lecture de la dite lettre, ce qu'ayant fait je lui dis qu'elle se
trouvoit conforme a ce que V. Em'^® m'avoit commande de lui
dire de sa part, et que je lui fis entendre en la meilleure
maniere qu'il me fut possible, et a quoi il repondit avec toute
620 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [jULY
sorte de civilite, et me dit ensuite qu'il esperoit que les efFets
m'asseureroient dans peu de jours de la sincerite de ses inten-
tions, et que j'aurois moyen de reconnoitre qu'il n'avoit pas
d'autre dessein que celui de servir son roi, apres les interets
duquel ceux de la France lui etoient toujours les plus con-
siderables.
Au reste, Mg*", j'ay seu qu''aussitost que je fus parti il lut
cette lettre, — qui fut trouvee de tout le monde extremement
belle et tres obligeante. II lit dis-je cette lettre a tous ceux
qui se trouverent dans la chambre, et qu'il ne vit aucune per-
sonne de condition tout le soir a qui il n'en fit part, soit qu'il
se tint en efFet oblige par les civilites de V. Em*'^, et qu'il fut
bien aise de faire voir ce qui lui etoit tres agreable, soit qu'il
voulut par la oter les soup9ons que cette lettre eut peu donner
de lui a son parti, ou plustost augmenter ceux que les Inde-
pendants peuvent avoir de la France.
Le dit sieur Due devoit demeurer seulement un jour ou deux
a Hamilton, et se rendre de la a Annan Moor, qui est eloigne
de Carlisle de douze milles seulement, et ou plus de quinze
mille hommes, a ce qu''on me dit, doivent se trouver au rendez-
vous general de Tarmee qui doit etre le 14 Juillet, de sorte
que V. Em*'® voit que la retraite du Marquis d'Argyle et de
ceux de son parti, dont pas un n'a voulut assister au Comite,
et I'opposition des Ministres, qui continuent a donner des
maledictions a tous ceux qui ont quelque part en cette guerre,
n'a pas empeche que Ton n'ait arme, et que ces levees se soient
faites, avec les longueurs toutefois que j'avois prevues. Encore
ne s''est on si fort avance que sur les lettres du Chev"" Langdale,
qui a envoye courrier sur courrier pour faire savoir qu'il etoit
tellement presse par Lambert que s'il n''etoit pas promptement
secouru il ne repondoit pas d'une place en' laquelle il manquoit
de toutes choses; soit qu'il ait ete veritablement reduit en
cette extremite, ou qu'il ait juge a propos de le faire croire
pour obliger les Ecossois par Tinteret qu''ils ont a la con-
servation de cette place a prendre en consideration celui de
leur roi.
Cependant, s'il est veritable que Lambert se soit retire,
comme on Tasseure, et comme il semble, s'il est bien conseille
qu'il le doive faire, je doute sur ce que le Comte de Callendar
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 521
et quelques autres personnes m''ont dit, qiron avance sitost
en Angleterre, et je crois qu'on se contentera seulement de
s'asseurer de Berwick et de Carlisle jusqu''a Tarrivee du Prince
de Galles, qui est toujours, selon ma croyance, le principal
sujet de cette entreprise.
L'Assemblee generale des Ministres doit commencer le 20 de
ce mois, et il demeure pour constant qu"'elle declarera que cette
guerre n'est pas legitime, et fera tous ses efforts pour empecher
tout ce qui semble pouvoir contribuer au retablissement du roi
de la G' B*" et au bon succes de Tentreprise de M. le Due de
Hamilton, de sorte que Taversion que lui temoignent les
Ministres donneroit lieu de croire quMl a interet, quand ses
affaires seront retablees, de detruire un gouvernement dans
Teglise qui est si contraire au monarchie, et qui s'est declare
si ouvertement contre sa propre autorite ; si par la patience
avec laquelle il endure les choses qui se disent chaque jour
dans les chaires contre lui en sa presence, et qui ne sont pas
seulement sensibles a un liomme de coeur, mais qui pourroient
encore etre fort prejudiciables a ses interets, si Ton n''avoit
sujet de penser qu'il ne desapprouve pas ce qu'il souffre, ayant
moyen de Tempecher.
La reponse aux dernieres propositions des Commissaires
d'Angleterre, et qui servira aux Ecossois de declaration, doit
etre demain donnee aux dits Commissaires et envoyee a Lambert
en meme temps. Les regiments du Nord ne sont pas encore
arrives, ni Tarmee d'Irlande, ni les troupes que le Comte de
Morton a fait lever dans les Orcades, mais on attend les unes
et les autres au premier jour.
On vieiit d'avoir nouvelle du malheur arrive au Colonel
Grey, a Richard Tempest, et a la cavalerie qu''ils commandoient
dans le Northumberland ; ce n'est pas une perte decisive, mais
qui dans un commencement ne laisse pas d'etre considerable.
J'ay pris conge de tous les seigneurs qui se sont trouves a
Edimbourg, et j'ay receu leurs visites, qu'ils ont accompagnees
de beaucoup de civilite et de sentiments d'honneur et de respect
envers la France. J'ay ecrit a ceux qui se sont trouves absents,
et qui sont en plus grand nombre, de sorte que je n'attend
pour partir d'ici qu'a recevoir le paquet de Londres qui vient
d'arriver. J'ay pense que je devois revenir sur mes chevaux
522 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [july
de peur que prenant la poste on ne s''imaginat que j'eusse
quelque interet de me hater,
J'avois quelque apprehension, peutetre sans sujet, de me voir
contraint ou a recevoir quelque chose en partant d'ici des
Ecossois, ce que je n'eusse peu faire qu'avec peyne, ou de me
voir oblige a les refuser, en quoi j'eusse peu failler, mais
j'ay trouve un moyen pour me tirer de cette difficulte en de-
mandant d'eux en partant la liberte du Pere Lesley, Jesuite,
qui est depuis un an prisonnier, et que les Catholiques de's-
esperoient de pouvoir tirer de prison, et qui m''a ete mis
entre les mains, ce qui a ete de grande consolation a ce qu'il
y a de bons catholiques en ce royaume, et qui ne nuira point,
comme je crois, pour faire connoitre la piete de leurs Majestes.
Les Comtes de Lanark, de Lauderdale, et de Callendar m'ont
presse diverses fois de laisser ici qulqu*'un de mes gens, ou de
supplie V. Em''^ ou M. le Corate de Brienne de donner ordre
qu'il demeurat une personne par le moyen de laquelle ils
peussent entretenir quelque correspondance avec la France, et
dans le paquet duquel leur lettres pussent passer dorenavant.
Je me suis trouve assez empeche a savoir ce que je devois faire
pour leur donner satisfaction, mais comme j'ay creu qu'il
pouvoit avoir quelque danger en cela, je me suis excuse de
laisser personne, et leur ay promis que des que je serois en
Angleterre je communiquerois leur desir a M. TAmbassadeur,
et leur en donnerois aussitost reponse. Cependant, comme il
m''a semble qu'on ne pourroit envoyer quelqu'un ici sans eclat,
en quelque maniere et sous quelque pretexte qu'il y pust venir,
et que quelques uns de ceux a qui je me suis adresse pour
recevoir information de ce que se passe font de difficulte
d'ecrire, sitost apres la recherche et la punition meme qui a
ete faite des deux ou trois qui donnoient des avis en Angle-
terre, j'ay laisse mon frere a Edimbourg, qui pourra, ou y
demeurer ou s'en revenir, selon que V. Em*'® jugera plus a.
propos ; ce que j'ay fait d'autant plus volontiers qu'une legere
indisposition qui lui est survenue, m'a donne lieu de le faire
avec moins de soup^-on, — ay ant meme fait prendre des
passeports pour lui, comme s'il devoit venir me trouver en
poste, quand il se portera bien, pour eloigner davantage la
pensee qu"'on pourroit avoir que son sejour avoit ete medite.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 528
Je lui ai dit aussi qu'il ecrivit du chifFre de M. PAmbassadeur
a Londres, ce quMl apprendroit de considerable et que la
lettre qu''il ecriroit me fut adressee, afin que quand son
paquet seroit ouvert, on ne pust juger qu'il ecrivit a autre
personne qu'a moi.
P.S. — Je n''ai peu trouver ici qu'un cheval pour V. Em^.
On me dit que j"'en trouverai de plus beau et a meilleur marche
en Angleterre ; outre le danger que je cours de les perdre par
les chemins qui ne peuvent etre plus dangereux. Les six mille
livres qu'il a plu a V. Em"® que je prisse ici me serviront comme
j"'espere pour payer mes dettes, pour les frais de mon voyage,
et pour Tachat des dits chevaux, de sorte que je n'en prendrai
point davantage.
[MoNTEREUL to Cardixal Mazarix. Edinburgh, ^ July 1648.
The passports of the Scottish Commissioners that have just been sent to
me will prevent me from leaving on Thursday morning, as I had hoped
to be able to do. I received in the evening, by a special messenger, your
letter of the with that for the Duke of Hamilton, who purposed to
leave the following day, which he did, and as I had previously taken
leave of him for the last time a few hours before, it seemed to me that
were I then to ask a new audience of him and to go to visit him publicly
it would increase the mistrust that it was wished with so much reason to
diminish ; I tliought it more suitable to see him at the house of a third
person, and that the residence of the Earl of Lanark, where he often has
his meals, and where I have sometimes met him, would be more suitable
than any other for this meeting. He went there immediately he learned
that I wished to see him. He received your letter with every possible
expression of respect and satisfaction, and he assured me several times
that he would seek on every occasion to prove by his actions that he was
truly your faithful servant. He wished me afterwards to read the letter,
which having done, I told him it was similar to what you had ordered
me to say to him on your part, and which I led him to understand in the
best way possible, and to which he replied with much politeness, and
then told me that he hoped the results would, in a few days, assure me
of the sincerity of his intentions and that I would have the means of
perceiving that he had no other design than that of serving his king,
after whose interests those of France would always have most weight
with him. Besides, I learned that as soon as I had gone, he read the
letter, which was found by all present to be very fine and very obliging.
He read this letter, I repeat, to all those who were in the room, and he
saw no one of importance during the evening to whom he did not
mention it, whether it was that he considered himself, in fact, obliged by
your politeness and was glad to show that it was agreeable to him, or
524 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [JULY
that he wished thereby to remove the suspicions this letter might have
given to his party, or more probably he sought to increase those the
Independents may have of France.
The duke purposed to remain only a day or two at Hamilton and to
go thence to Annan Moor, which is only twelve miles from Carlisle, and
where, I am told, more than fifteen thousand men are to assemble at the
general rendezvous of the army, which is to be on the 14th of July ; so that
you see the withdrawal of the Marquis of Argyle and of those of his party,
of whom not one would attend the committee meeting, and the opposi-
tion of the clergy, who continue their maledictions against all those who
have any part in this war, has not prevented them from taking arms and
that these levies have been accomplished, with the delays, however, that
I had foreseen. They would not even have been so far advanced but for
the letters of Sir M. Langdale, who has sent messenger after messenger
to declare that he was so hard pressed by Lambert that were he not
assisted promptly he would not answer for being able to hold a place in
which everything was wanting for its defence ; it may be that he was
really reduced to this extremity or he may have judged it necessary to
make the Scots believe so, in order to oblige them through the interest
they have in the maintenance of this place to take into consideration
that of their king. However, if it be true that Lambert has withdrawn,
as it is asserted, and as it seems were he well advised he is right in
doing, I doubt what the Earl of Callendar and some other persons have
told me, that the Scots will advance into England so soon, and I believe
they will be satisfied with making certain of Berwick and Carlisle until
the Prince of Wales arrives, who is always, in my belief, the principal
object of this undertaking.
The Genei'al Assembly of the clergy is to begin its sittings on the
20th of this month, and it is considered certain that it Mill declare this
war to be unlawful and use every eifort to prevent all that would seem
to contribute to the restoration of the King of Great Britain, and to the
success of the undertaking of the Duke of Hamilton. The aversion thus
shown towards the duke by the clergy would lead one to believe that when
aflfairs are arranged he will have an interest in abolishing a form of church
government that is so inimical to monarchical government and which has
declared itself so openly against his own authority, if — through the
patience with which he endures the things that are said each day in the
pulpits against him, in his presence, which must be not only painful to a
generous-minded man, but which might be also very prejudicial to his
interests — one were not induced to think that he does not disapprove of
what he tolerates seeing he has the means of preventing it if he wished.
The reply to the last proposals of the English Commissioners, which is
to serve the Scots as a declaration, is to be delivered to-morrow to these
Commissioners and sent to Lambert at the same time. The regiments
from the north have not yet arrived nor even those from Ireland nor the
troops that the Earl of Morton has raised in the Orkneys ; but all are
expected very soon.
1648] MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN 526
News has just been received of the misfortune that has happened to
Colonel Grey, to Richard Tempest,^ and to the cavalry they commanded
in Nortlmmberland. It is not a decisive loss, but in a beginning of hos-
tilities it is still not inconsiderable.
I have taken leave of all the nobles in Edinburgh and received their
visits, which they have paid with much civility and in expressing senti-
ments of honour and respect towards France. I wrote to those of them
who were absent, which are in greatest number, so that I was but await-
ing before leaving here the parcel from London, which has just arrived.
I think of returning with my horses, for fear that it might be thought
by riding post that I had some motive in making haste.
I had some apprehension, perhaps without reason, that I would find
myself obliged to receive some sort of present on leaving here which I
could only have accepted with regret or been obliged to refuse, in which
I might not have been able to succeed, so I have found means of getting
out of the difficulty by asking them on leaving for the release of Father
Leslie,^ Jesuit, who has been prisoner for more than a year, and whom
the Catholics despaired of being able to get out of prison, who was de-
livered into my hands, which has been a great consolation to all the good
Catholics in this kingdom, and which will I believe be in no way hurt-
ful in making known the piety of their Majesties.
The Earls of Lanark, Lauderdale and Callendar have urged me several
times to leave one of my people here, or to beg you or M. de Brienne to
order some person to remain here through whom they could keep up
communications with France, and in whose parcel their letters might be
transmitted in future. I have been much at a loss as to how I could
satisfy them in this matter, but as I thought it might be attended with
some danger, I made an excuse for not leaving any one, and promised
that as soon as I came to London I would communicate their wish to the
ambassador and give them an immediate reply. However, as it seems to
me one could not send any one here without raising an outcry, in what-
ever manner, or under whatever pretext he might come, and that some
of those to whom I have applied in order to receive information of w hat
takes place raise objections about writing so soon after the inquiry and
the punishment even that was inflicted on the two or three persons who gave
information to England, I have left my brother in Edinburgh, who may
either remain there or return as you j udge proper ; which I have done all
the more readily that a slight indisposition that has come upon him has
J Sir Richard Tempest with a thousand horse and many knights and gentlemen
were defeated by Colonel Robert Lilburn in Lancashire. — Rushworth.
* Father Andrew Leslie, brother of Father Thomas Leslie, Superior of the
Scots College at Douai, was for some time private chaplain to the Countess of
Aboyne. See Blakhats Narrative, pp. 60, 63. He was put into prison at
Aberdeen in May 1647, and afterwards transferred to Edinburgh. He was
liberated on the request of M. de Montereul at the above date, but ordered to
leave the country on pain of death if he returned.
526 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [JULY
given me the means of doing it with less cause for suspicion, having
made him even to take passports for himself, as if he were to follow me
travelling post when he is better in order to remove still further any
thought one might have that his stay had been designed. I have also
told him to write in the cipher of the ambassador in London what he
might learn of importance, and that the letter he would write to him be
addressed to me, so that though his parcel might be opened, it may be
thought he was but writing to me.
P,S. — I have but been able to find one horse here for you. I have been
told that I shall find finer ones at a less price in England ; besides the
risk I would run of losing them on account of the roads that are as
bad as possible. The six thousand livres that you allowed me to take
here will, I hope, suffice to pay my debts, to defray the expenses of my
journey, and for the purchase of the horses so that I shall not take any
more.
CCLII
MONTEREUL A BRIENNE
Du 27 Juillet.
Monsieur, — Je ne puis en arrivant a Londres dire rien de
nouveau a Mons. TAmbassadeur de la marche de rarmee
d"'Ecosse pour vous etre mande par Fordinaire qui alloit partir.
Le mauvais chemin s''etant accorde avec la resolution que
j"'avais prise de ne pas faire trop de diligence, pour les raisons
que je me suis donne Thonneur de vous ecrire. Depuis je lui
ai rendu un compte exact de Tetat ou j'ai laisse les affaires de
ce pays, et les interets differents qui font agir ceux qui ont Ic
plus de parts au gouvernement de ce Royaume, que sont des
choses qu"'il etoit difficile de bien demesler par lettres, et qui
se font mieux entendre, et avec moins de danger de vive voix.
J''ai receu par Fordinaire d''Ecosse celle que vous m^avez fait
Fhonneur de m'ecrire le 21 Juillet, qui n'est arrive a Edimbourg
que quelques jours apres mon depart, et avec elle un billet de
mon frere que je prends la hardiesse de vous envoyer sous le
chifFre de M. FAmbassadeur.
Au reste. Monsieur, je suis oblige de vous temoigner qu'au
lieu de courir quelque danger et de recevoir quelques retarde-
ment sur le chemin, ainsi qu"'on me le faisoit apprehender avant
que partir, j''ai receu toute sorte de civilite des serviteurs du
roi d'Angleterre et des officiers du Parlement, et j'ai passe
dans peu de places dont les gouverneurs ne me soient venus
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 527
visiter, et ne m^ayant accompagnes jusqu'aux portes de leurs
villes, faisant mettre en haye leur garnison, soit quails eussent
Tintention de me honnorer, ou quMls eussent dessein de me
faire voir le bon etat de leur places. Je m''attends pour partir
d'ici que les passeports pour vos chevaux et les miens, et tout
aussitost je me rendrai aupres de vous. Ce sera lors, Monsieur,
que je pourrai, mieux qu'au bas d'une lettre, vous rendre de
tres humble remerciements du bien que vous m'avez fait.
MeMOIUE ENVOYE d'EcOSSE du 18 JUILLET 1648
Le Chev'' Fleming est arrive ici sur un vaisseau charge
de trois cents barils de poudre, et de beaucoup d'armes. II est
maintenant alle trouver le Due de Hamilton a Tarmee. On
croit que c''est principalement pour arreter le lieu ou le prince
arrivera, et ou lui et ce general se recontreront, et Ton nous
asseure que Tarmee s'avance maintenant vers Newcastle, et en
efFet il y a tout sujet de croire que les Ecossais feront aisement
cette entreprise dont ils tireront grand avantage, et qui ap-
portera beaucoup de prejudice a leurs ennemis, puisqu*'ils
peuvent recevoir bien de profit des carrieres de charbon,]qui
y sont s'ils veulent le vendre, et causer beaucoup d'incom-
modite a la ville de Londres sMls en empechent le transport
et la privent de ce gain. Et ils trouveront d^autant plus de
facilite a Texecution de ce dessein qu'on nous avertit qu^une
nouvelle imposition que le Parlement a voulu mettre sur le dit
charbon depuis quelques jours a fort mecontente ceux de la
ville, et les a porte a quelque commencement de sedition.
Hier le Comtes de Lanark et de Lauderdale partirent d"'ici
pour Berwick, dont ils etablissent Ludovic Lesley gouverneur;
et ou Ton croit que le Prince fait etat de prendre terre. On
doit travailler aux fortifications de cette place et y laisser deux
regiments Ecossois.
On essaye par toutes sortes de moyens d''accommoder TEtat
et TEglise, mais on croit que ce sera inutilement, quoique
TAssemblee Generale des Ministres ait nomme treize personnes
de son corps pour traiter avec le Comite. S'ils ne peuvent pas
s''accorder, on croit qu"'ils accuseront quelques uns de ceux
qui ont aujourd'hui le plus d'autorite en ce Royaume d'etre de
la secte des Erastians, et que j'espere, Monsieur, que vous ne
528 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [july
trouverez pas etrange que je ne connaisse pas encore, puis-
qu'on me dit que le Parlement d'Angleterre, qui connait qui
souffre et qui professe meme beaucoup de different heresies, a
declare dans la derniere reponse qu'il a fait aux Ecossais, qu'il
n''avait pas encore entendu parler de celle-ci. Ce qui rendra
raccommodement plus difficile entre ces deux partis est, que
TAsseniblee Generale a deja approuve tout ce que ses Com-
missaires ont fait auparavant, et particulierement leur de-
claration, qui a ete condamnee par le Parlement.
Huit cents hommes de pied et cinq cents chevaux de Tarmee
d'Irlande sont arrives a Lochery en Galloway. Trois cents
hommes de pied ont ete pris par les vaisseaux du Parlement
d'Angleterre et renvoyes en Irlande aux Commissaires du dit
Parlement, qui les ont fait rendre a Munro, leur General,
qui ne manquera pas de les renvoyer. On attend d'lrlande
hommes de pied, et chevaux en tout. Le
Comte de Crawford les commande. On parle de faire un
nouveau corps de huit mille hommes, que le Comte de Lanark
command era, et qui demeureront a la garde du pays, quoique
le Due de Hamilton ait peu a craindre du Marquis d''Argyle,
si ce qu''on nous asseure est veritable, que ce Due et lui entre-
tiennent un etroit commerce des lettres, — ce que je n*'oserais
pas toutefois bien asseurer.
[MoNTEREUL to Bbienne. 2Tth July
On arriving in London I could not give the ambassador any recent infor-
mation about the march of the Scottish army, to be sent to you by the
mail that was about to leave. The bad road suited well with the resolution
I had taken, not to make too great haste, for the reasons already men-
tioned to you. I have since my arrival given to the ambassador an exact
account of the state in which I left the affairs of Scotland and of the
diflPerent interests that influence the actions of those who have the greatest
part in the government of that kingdom, matters that are difficult to
unravel in letters, and which are better understood and communicated
with less danger in conversation.
I have received by the mail from Scotland your letter of the 21st July,
which only reached Edinburgh some days after my departure, and with
it a note from my brother, which I venture to send to you in the ambassa-
dor's cipher.^
I am further obliged to state to you that instead of encountering any
danger or being delayed on the way, as I had been led to fear before
^ The Memorandum that follows, dated i8th July 1648.
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 529
leaving, I received every mark of civility from the followers of the King
of England and from the officers of Parliament, and I passed through
few places of which the governors did not come to visit me and who did
not accompany me to the gates of their towns, having lined the way with
the troops of their garrisons, either with the intention of doing me an
honour or so as to show me the good state of their fortresses. I am but
waiting in order to leave here to obtain passports for your horses and
mine and immediately afterwards I shall be with you. I shall then be
better able than at the end of a letter to return you my humble thanks
for the good you have done me.
[Memorandum sent from Scotland, 18 July 1648.
Sir William Fleming has arrived here on a ship laden with three
hundred barrels of gun-powder and a large quantity of arms. He has
now gone to rejoin the Duke of Hamilton with the army. His principal
object is believed to be to arrange as to the place where the prince will
arrive and where he and this general may meet, and we are assured that
the army is now advancing towards Newcastle, so that there is in fact every
reason to believe the Scots will easily accomplish this undertaking, from
which they will derive great advantage and cause great loss to their
enemies, since they can obtain much profit from the coal-mines that are
there were they to sell the coal, and cause much inconvenience to the
city of London if they prevent the transport of it and deprive the city
of this gain. They will find it all the more easy to carry out this design
that we are told Parliament having wished to put a new tax on coal
within the last few days has so greatly dissatisfied those of that town as
to have driven them to begin some seditionary movement.
The Earls of Lanark and Lauderdale left here yesterday for Berwick,
of which they have appointed Ludovic Leslie,^ governor, and where it is
believed the prince intends to laud. The fortifications of the town are
to be put in order, and two Scottish regiments stationed there.
Every sort of means is being employed to bring about an agreement
between the State and the Church, but it is thought to be useless,
although the General ^Vssembly of the clergy has named thirteen persons
of its number to treat with the Committee. If it be found they cannot
agree, it is believed they will accuse some of those who have most author-
ity at present in this kingdom of being of the sect of the Erastians, which
I hope you will not find it strange that I have not yet heard of, since
I am told the Parliament of England, that knows, tolerates and pro-
fesses even many different heresies, has declared, in the last reply it has
made to the Scots, that it had not yet heard of this one. What renders
the agreement more difficult between these two parties is, that the Gen-
eral Assembly has already approved all that its commissioners have done
^ Ludovic Leslie was governor of Berwick in September 1648 when he was
summoned by Cromwell in letter of that date to deliver it up to him. See
Cromwell's Letters by Carlyle.
VOL. II. 2 L
580 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [AUG.
formerly and particularly their declaration^ which has been condemned by
the Parliament.
Eight hundred infantry and five hundred cavalry of the army of Ireland
have arrived at Lochery in Galloway. Three hundred infantry have been
taken by the ships of the English Parliament and sent back to Ireland to
the commissioners of that Parliament, who have returned them to Munro
their general, who will not fail to send them here again. They expect
from Ireland infantry and cavalry in all. The Earl of Crawford
is to command them. It is said that a new corps of eight thousand men will
be formed which the Earl of Lanark will command, and which will re-
main to guard the country, although the Duke of Hamilton has little to
fear from the Marquis of Argyle, if what is affirmed be true, that the
duke and he keep up a close correspondence, which I would not however
venture to affirm.]
CCLIII
MONTEREUL a BRIENNE
3 Aout.
Ce mot est pour vous donner avis que j'ai obtenu mon
passeport de la Chambre de Communs. II y a seulement
quelques petits mots a aj outer, ce que j'espere de faire demain
ou apres demain. Je partirai aussitost que je les aurai.
Mon frere m'a envoye le billet ci-joint :
' Edimbourg, 29 Juillet.
'Les ministres dans leur Assemblee Generale ont absolu-
ment condamne le procede du Due de Hamilton et ont arrete
que pas un de leur corps ne suiveront Tarmee. On croit que
le dessein du Due n''est pas de s'avancer si promptement dans
TAngleterre, et il y a meme quelque bruit quMl pense a
s'accommoder, ce que je ne sais pas toutefois d'assez bonne
part pour oser I'asseurer; mais il est certain que les Com-
missaires d'Angleterre sont traites ici comme en pleine paix.
Deux mille quatre cents hommes de Tarmee d'Irlande sont
arrives. Le Chev"" Fleming est de retour et doit partir d'ici,
a ce qu*'on me dit, au premier jour. Le Marquis d' Argyle
ainsi que Ton croit, n'a le pouvoir ny le vouloir de remeuer.''
[MoNTEREUIi to BrIENNE. 3 AuQUSt.
This line is to give you notice that I have obtained my passport from
the House of Commons. There are only one or two words to be added,
which I hope to have done to-morrow or the day after. I shall leave
immediately after I have obtained them. My brother has sent to me the
following note :
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 531
' Edinburyli, 2dth July.
' The cleray in tlieir General Assembly liave absolutely condemned the
proceeding's of tlie Duke of Hamilton^ and liave decided that not one of
their order will accompany the army. It is believed that the duke does
not intend to advance so promptly into England, and it is even rumoured
that he thinks of coming to terms, but this I have not had on good enough
authority to venture to assure you of it. Two thousand four hundred men
of the army of Ireland have arrived. Sir William Fleming has returned
and is, I am told, to leave here on an early day. The Marquis of Argyle
has, it is believed, neither the power nor the iiatention of moving.']
CCLIV
MONTEREUL A BRIENxVE
Du 24- Aout.
Ce billet servira seulement pour vous adresser les avis que
raon frere m'a envoje d'Edimbourg, qui sont peu considerables
aupres de ceux que nous avons de Tarmee.
[La Note qui suit du frere de M. de Montereul est sans date :]
Vous avez a Londres aussitost que nous les avis de ce qui
font les Ecossois qui sont entres en Angleterre. Je ne puis
rien vous dire du progres de leur armee, puisqu'elle en a fait
fort peu jusqu'ici. La petite guerre qui a commence en ce
royaume entre FAssemblee du Clerge et le Comite dure tou-
jours. Les ministres vinrent en grand nombre il y a quelques
jours porter au Comite une declaration que je vous envoie
ecrite a la main, bien que Ton nous dit qu'elle doit etre im-
primee a Londres, et ils voulurent obliger le dit Comite d'y
faire reponse sur Theure, ce que ceux qui le composent refuserent
et se contenterent de nommer huit entre eux pour Texaminer,
Le dit Assemblee s'acheva Samedi dernier, mais ce fut seule-
ment apres avoir etabli un grand Comite qui est compose
presque d'autant de personnes que Tassemblee meme. Les
ministres ont fait divers reglements avant que de se separer,
comme d'excommunier et priver de leurs revenus tons ceux de
leur corps qui croient a Tarmee ou qui serviroient le Comite,
et de ne plus administrer la cene jusqu'a ce que le Royaume
eut expie le crime qu'il a commis en violant le covenant et en
laissant lever une armee qui a commerce avec les serviteurs de
leur roi. Ils ont aussi ecrit une lettre au roi de la G'' B^ la
plus bardie et la plus indiscrete de toutes celles qu'ils lui ont
MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [AUG.
fait tenir jusqu'ici, de sorte qu"'encore que les dits Ministres ny
ceux de leur parti, ny puissent remuer presentement, ny faire
pis que de dire des injures, ou de jeter des excommunications
il seroit a craindre qu'ils ne fissent quelque chose de plus
facheuse si Parmee avoit du pire.
Will. Moray et Montgomery arriverent ici Dimanche dernier
et dirent qu'ils s'en retourneroient vers le Prince aussitost
qu"'ils seroient de retour de Tarmee. Le Marquis d'Huntley
a ete mis dans une prison plus honnete que celle ou il a ete
jusqu'ici. II est presentement dans le Chateau d'Edimbourg.
[MoNTEREUL to Brienne. 24:th August.
This note will serve only to address to you the notices my brother has
sent from Edinburgh, which are of little importance compared with what
we know of the army,
[The following note from Montereul's brother is without any date :]
You have in London information of what the Scots who have entered
England are doing as soon as we have it here. I can say little of the
progress of their army, since it has made very little till now.
The small war that has begun in this kingdom between the General
Assembly and the Committee still continues. The clergy came in large
numbers a few days ago to present to the Committee a declaration which
I send to you written, although we are told that it is to be printed in
London, and they wished to oblige the Committee to give them an im-
mediate reply, which those composing it refused to do, but merely
appointed eight of their number to examine it. The Assembly finished
its sittings on Saturday last, but only after having named a large com-
mittee composed of almost as many persons as the Assembly itself. The
clergy have drawn up several rules before separating, such as to excom-
municate and deprive of their stipends all those of their number who
believe in the army or who would serve the Committee ; and not to
administer the Communion until the kingdom has expiated the crime
it has committed in violating the Covenant and in allowing an army to be
raised that has intercourse with the king's followers. They have also
written a letter to the King of Great Britain, the boldest and the most
indiscreet of all those they have sent to him till now, so that although
neither the clergy nor those of their party can move at present, nor do
anything worse than call names and fling about excommunications, if any-
thing happened to the army it is to be feared they would do something
more disagreeable.
Will. Moray and Montgomery arrived here on Sunday last and said
they would return to rejoin the prince, as soon as they would be back
again with the army. The Marquis of Huntly has been put into a more
honourable prison than that he had occupied till now. He is at present
in the Castle of Edinburgh.]
1648] MOxNTEREUL TO MAZARIN 538
CCLV
MONTEREUL au CARDINAL MAZARIN
Londres, — Aoust l648.
31
BiEN que je ne puisse renouveller assez souvent a V. Em^^
les temoignages du veritable ressentiment que je conserverai
tout ma vie de tant de biens qu''elle m'a faits, je n'ay pas ose
toutefois depuis que je suis arrive a Londres, Timportuner de
mes lettres qui se fussent trouvees inutiles etant ecrites d'un
lieu d"'ou M. TAmbassadeur de Bellievre la tient si bien avertie,
raais j'ay creu que V. Em'^^ n'auroit pas desagreable que je luy
donnasse avis avant que partir que j'ay trouve en cette ville un
cheval pour joindre a celuy que je luy mene d'Ecosse, et que
j'espere qu"'elle les trouvera tous deux tels qu''elle m'a com-
mande de les luy chosir. Je diray aussy a V. Em^® que
le Parlement d'Angleterre m''a traite plus favorablement que
je n'eusse ose Tesperer, et qu''il m''a permis de faire passer
en France seize chevaux que je croyois envoyer par Dieppe,
aimant mieux les exposer au hazard de la mer qu'au danger
qu''on me disoit quMls eussent peu courrir par terre si je leur
eusse fait prendre le chemin de Calais, mais depuis la defaite
de Tarmee ennemie en Flandres, — qui a cause en tous ceux
du parti Espagnol qui sont ici un decouragement si etrange et
si general que V. Em*'® se le pourroit difficilement imaginer, —
11 m'a semble qu''il valoit mieux les faire passer par Calais.
Cependant comme il n^y a jamais toute sorte de seurete proche
d'une armee et sur la frontiere et qu'il y aura peut estre autant
a craindre aujourd'hui des voleurs comme auparavant des
ennemis, j''ay supplie M. le Corate de Brienne d'envoyer un
billet aux Gouverneurs de Calais et de Boulogne afin qu'ils
mVssistent de quelque escorte au cas que je peusse en avoir
besoin ou de me vouloir faire tenir un passeport pour le meme
effet que j'attendray a Calais.
Au reste, Mg"", comme il y avait peu d'apparence que je
peusse avoir la liberte de voir le roi de la G*" B"" apres Pordre
du Parlement qui en defendoit Tabord a toutes sortes de per-
sonnes, j^espere que V. Em''® me pardonnera si je me donnai
point rhonneur de lui en ecrire en partant d'Edimbourg, ny
meme en arrivant ici, mais maintenant que cette ordre a ete
584 MONTEREUL TO MAZARIN [AUG.
leve par la maison des seigneurs, et qu'il le va estre par celle
des Communes, j'ay creu que je ne devois pas sortir d"'Angle-
terre sans prendre conge du dit roi, et bien qu'en cela je
ne puisse nier a V. Em*'^ que je suis porte par un extreme
desir que j'ay de voir un prince qui m'a honore d'une confiance
et d'une affection particuliere, et dont j^ay tout sujet d'honorer
aussi la vertu. II m'a semble encore qu''en suivant ma propre
inclination je ferois une chose qui n'apporteroit aucun prejudice
au service de Sa Majeste, puis que j'aurai lieu de Tasseurer
de Textreme desir qu"'ont leurs Majestes de le voir bientost
retabli, et d"'y contribuer autant qu'il leur sera possible, et
que j'oterai par ce moyen a la reine de la G' B'' les sujets
qu''elle auroit de se plaindre si j'etois parti de ce pays sans voir
le roi son mari, ayant eu lieu de le faire. Je pourrois aj outer
a cela que le dit roi pourra s'ouvrir a moi de beaucoup de
choses dont il parleroit peut estre avec une grande retenue.
Je ne ferois rien toutefois en ceci, que ce que jugera a propos
Mons. TAmbassadeur, dont je suivrai les ordres tres exactement;
et qui doute qu^on puisse obtenir le dit passeport aussi aisement
que je me Timagine.
[MoNTEREUL to CARDINAL Mazarin. Londou, j^ Aug. 1648.
AiiTHOUGH I cannot renew often enough the expressions of sincere grati-
tude I shall all my life retain for the many favours you have bestowed on
me, I have not yet ventured to trouble you with my letters, since my
arrival in London that would have been considered useless, being written
from a place where the Ambassador de Bellievre keeps you so well
informed, but I have thought it would not be disagreeable for you to
receive notice from me before my leaving here, that I have found a
horse in this town to match the one I brought from Scotland, and I
hope you will find them both such as you ordered me to select. I shall
tell you also that the English Parliament has treated me more favourably
than I could have ventured to hope for by allowing me to pass sixteen
horses to France, which I thought of sending by Dieppe, preferring to
run the risk of the sea rather than the danger I was told they would
be exposed to by land were I to send them by Calais, but since the
defeat of the army of the enemy in Flanders, that has caused to all
those of the Spanish party here a discouragement so strange and so
general that you could not easily imagine it, it seems to me that
it would be better to send them by Calais. Yet as there is never
an absolute security near an army and on the frontier, and that
there will perhaps be as much to fear at present from robbers as there
was formerly from the enemy, I have begged M. de Brienne to send a
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 535
note to the governors of Calais and Boulogne so that they may aid me
with an escort in case I may require it or to have a passport ready for me
for the same purpose, which I shall expect at Calais.
As there was little likelihood of my being able to obtain permission
to see the King of Great Britain, after the order of Parliament that
prohibited access to him at first to all sorts of persons, I hope you will
pardon me for not having written to him on leaving Edinburgh, nor
even on my arrival here ; but now that this order has been annulled by
the House of Lords, and that it is going to be so also by that of the
Commons, I thought I ought not to leave England without taking leave
of the king, and although in that, I cannot deny to you, I am prompted
by an anxious desire to see a prince who has honoured me with a special
confidence and affection, and whom I have reason to honour also because
of his virtue, it seemed to me that besides following my own inclination
I would perform an action that could cause no prejudice to the service
of his Majesty, since I will have an opportunity of assuring him of the
strong desire their Majesties have to see him soon restored, and to con-
tribute to it as much as it is possible for them, and that 1 will by this
means obviate any cause of complaint the Queen of Great Britain might
have of my having left this country without seeing the king her husband,
having had an opportunity of doing so. I might add to this, that the
king will be able to disclose to me many things, of which he would
perhaps speak with greater reserve to any other person. I shall do
nothing however in this but what the Ambassador will consider proper,
whose orders I shall follow very scrupulously, and who doubts that I may
obtain this permission so easily as I imagine.]
CCLVI
MONTEREUL 1 BRIENNE
Du 31 Aoust 1648.
Mox passeport pour aller trouver le roi de la G' B"" ne m''a
ete encore ni refuse ni accorde par la maison basse, mais comme
ceux qui la composent avoient peu deja me Taccorder s'ils
avoient eu la volonte je crois, Monsieur, que vous ne trouverez
pas mauvais, si leur silence dure encore les deux jours qui
restent de cette semaine, que je le prenne pour un refus moins
disobligeant, et que je parte d'ici. Cependant en quelque
malheureux etat que la prise du Due de Hamilton et la perte
entiere de son armee aient rendu les affaires du roi d'Angleterre,
j^espere qu'il se trouvera que non seulement ce malheur en
aura fait eviter un plus grand au Prince de Galles en Tem-
pechant de venir en Ecosse, et non seulement pourra contribuer
au service du roi son pere en faisant voir aux Presbyteriens
MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [AUG.
Anglois et aux Ecossois qu'ils ne doivent pas laisser perdre
ceux du parti royal, comme ils ont faits, et en les portant
dorenavant a se joindre plus sincerement avec eux, mais ne
nuira pas encore aux interets de la France en conservant deux
partis en Angleterre, et y laissent par ce moyen des semences
de divisions. Cest, Monsieur, ce que j'espere me donner
rhonneur de vous faire voir quand j''aurai celuy de vous faire
la reverence.
[MoNTEREUL to Brienne. Loudon, 81st Aug. 1648.
Permission for me to visit the King of Great Britain has not yet been
either refused or granted by the Lower House, but as those composing
it might have already granted it had they been willing to do so, I believe
you will approve of my remaining here during the two days that yet
remain of this week, and if their silence still continue that I may con-
sider it as a refusal, less ungracious than if it had been more direct. Yet
however unfortunate may be the state in which the capture of the Duke
of Hamilton and the entire loss of all his army may have placed the
affairs of the King of Great Britain, I hope it will be found that not
only has this misfortune helped to avoid a still greater one, by preventing
the Prince of Wales from coming to Scotland, and that it will contribute
to the service of the king his father, in showing to the English Presby-
terians and the Scots that they ought not to dispense with the help of the
royalists as they have done, and in inducing them in future to join more
sincerely with them, but that it will also not injure the interests of
France by retaining two parties in England and by this means leaving
the seeds of further divisions. This is what I hope to have the honour of
showing you when I shall call upon you.]
Du FRERE DE M. DE MoNTEREUL.
Edimhourg, le 22 Aout 1648.
L'oN attend ici le Prince de Galles a chaque moment, et
comme on croit toujoursfacilementcequ'on desire avec passion,
ceux que les beau temps a fait promener aujourd'hui sur les
eminences qui sont autour de cette ville, se sont persuades
qu'ils avoient veu ses vaisseux a Fembouchure de la riviere, ce
que toutefois ne s"'est pas trouve ce soir veritable. Cependant,
soit que ce prince vienne ici aussy promptement qu'on imagine,
ou que sa bonne fortune Tempeche d'arriver sitost dans un
lieu ou il pourroit ne pas trouver toute sorte de satisfaction
qu'on luy a fait esperer, on n''a pas laisse de luy preparer un
hotel et de lever un regiment de quinze cents chevaux pour sa
1648] MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE 537
garde. Les ministres meme parlent de le bien recevoir pourvu
qu'il prenne leur covenant. Le Marquis d'Argyle est toujours
dans ses terres et s'est contente d''estre spectateur de ceci, sans
vouloir y consentir y contribuer ou y resister, bien que Ton
sache que quelques uns de ses emissaires aient ete envoye
depuis quelques jours dans le Nord de TAngleterre pour y
rendre suspect les desseins de Tarmee d'Ecosse, qui a eu Jeudi
dernier quelque rencontre avec celle de Cromwell. Ceux qui
sont temoins interesses et qui savent le mieux ce qui se passent,
asseurent que les Anglois ont eu beaucoup d"'avantage quoi
qu'il se public ici un avis contraire, — ce que Ton saura aussi-
tost a Londres, et plus veritablement qu'a Edimbourg. La
peste augmente chaque jour en ce royaunie : les playes con-
tinuelles font apprehender une famine. Quoi que le Due de
Hamilton ait etabli une presse pour donner au public les
nouvelles du progres qui doit faire son armee, et que Tesper-
ance d"'avoir M. le Prince de Galles dans peu de jours doit
causer dans cette ville beaucoup de joie, il semble que Ton
n'attende rien ici que de mauvais.
[Edinburgh, 22nd Aug. 1648.
The Prince of Wales is expected here every moment, and as one
always easily believes what one eagerly wishes, those who during this fine
weather were walking on the eminences that are around this town
persuaded themselves they had seen the ships at the entrance of the
Forth, which, however, this evening is found to be inexact. However,
whether this prince may come here as promptly as one imagines, or that
his good fortune will prevent him from arriving so soon in a place where
he may not find every sort of satisfaction that he has been led to expect,
they have still prepared a residence for him, and have raised a regiment of
fifteen hundred horse for his guard. The clergy even speak of receiving
him well, provided he take their Covenant. The Marquis of Argyle is
still at his country residence, and contents himself with being an on-
looker of this without wishing to consent or contribute to it, or to oppose
it, although it is known that some of his emissaries have been sent
during the last few days into the north of England in order to raise
a suspicion there of the designs of the Scottish army, that had an
encounter with that of Cromwell on Thursday last. Those who are
interested witnesses affirm that the English have had greatly the
advantage, although a contrary version is published here, which will
be known sooner and more correctly in London than in Edinburgh.
The plague gains ground daily in this kingdom : repeated calamities
538 MONTEREUL TO BRIENNE [sept.
make people fear a famine. Although the Duke of Hamilton had
established a printing-press here, in order to give people news of the
progress his army is to make, and the hope of having the Prince of
Wales in a few days ought to cause much gaiety in this town, it seems
that nothing but what is bad is expected here. ]
CCLVII
MONTEREUL a BRIENNE
London, 4 Septembre l648.
On proposa Samedi a la maison basse, mon passeport pour
risle de Wight, et apres beaucoup de choses se furent dites
pour et contre, on a arrete de ny faire de reponse, qui est la
plus honnete fa^on qu'ils aient de refuser, de sorte que je parte
presentement avec quelque sorte de gloire, ayant ainsy ete
apprehende de toute en Royaume et avec un bon temoignage
de la fidelite qu'ils savent que je conserve pour leur Prince.
J'ay receu deja les commandements de M. TAmbassadeur et
que j"'espere que je me donnerai Thonneur en peu de jours de
vous faire le reverence.
[MoNTEREUL to Bkienne. Londou, 4th Sep. 1648.
My request for a passport for the Isle of Wight was brought before the
Lower House on Saturday, and after much had been said for and against
granting it, the decision was come to not to reply to it, which is the
politest way they had to refuse it ; so that I am leaving at present with
some sort of glory, having thus been a subject of apprehension for an
entire kingdom, and possessing a good testimony of the fidelity they
know I retain for their prince. I have already received the com-
mands of the Ambassador, and I hope to have the honour of paying
my respects to you in a few days.]
APPENDIX
Note A
THE BOISIVON CORRESPONDENCE
BoisivoN A Brienne
Edimburgh, 20 Novemhre l643.
MoNSEiGNEUR, — A moins que d'enuoyer espres il est impossible de
faire scavoir des nouvelles d'icy en france et pour le regard de la
france, il seroit inutiles d'en faire la despense.
Ny ayant rien a esperer, les seigneurs de ce Royaume ce sont as-
sembles sept ou huit des plus affectionnes au parti du Roy de la grande
Bretagne ensemble . . . un envoye au dit Seigneur Roy et m'ont convie
de me trouver auec eux, ce que j ay fait. Tout ensemble ils m'ont
conjure pour le service de leur Maistre de demeurer en cette ville
jusques a ce que il I'eussent informe de leurs raisons qui sont, que je
fortifie les tiedes de demeurer dans 1 obeissance quils doibuent et
temoignant la protection que la france prend de leurs affaires, que les
voyages que j ay faits a la campagne chez plusieurs Seigneurs ont
este de consequence pour le mesme subjet et quil peut arriver un
changement d affaires ou la qualite que j ay d envoye de sa Majeste
que peut faire de nouvelles propositions q un Anglois ne pouvoit
faire et aussy peu un escossois. Je n'ay pas cru deboir les refuser
c est pour quoy ayant fait une planche pour me porter selon les
occurenses a dire ce que je croires le meilleur pour le Roy de la
grande Bretagne — a 1 audience que j eus hier ou ils respondirent
a mes propositions par escrit de la maniere que vous le voires
dans ce paquet, je dis aux seigneurs du Conseil que leur ayant fait
trois propositions a pas une desquelles ils ne respondoient mais
me renvoyoient au comity, qui est une assemblee de Comissaires
resullante du dernier parlement, au Comte de Laudion et leur
esglise, que je navois point ordre a traiter avec dautres qu'avec
le Conseil, que je leur demandois un passeport pour envoy er un
gentil homme en france pour avoir instruction de ce que j aurois
540 APPENDIX
a faire sur ce que j avois a proposer. lis me I'accordirent apres
cent difficultes et ne 1 eussent pas fait sans que je leur dis que
s'ils me le envoiyent je men passerois bien, et qu'estant personne
publique j avois ce pouvoir — la de moy mesme. lis me regardent
icy comme un horame envoye a la priere du Roy de la grande
Bretagne et ainsy comme leur enemi. lis sont peu respectueux
a la france, et encor moins a leur Roy^ au reste ignorantissimes
des affaires de dehors.
lis me deputerent deulx commissaires il y a quinze jours; apres
leur avoir parle de ce qui me menoit, je leur demande ce quils
avoient a me dire. lis me respondirent quils n'avoient point de
charge. Je leur fis la reverense et mes excuses d avoir abuse de
leur loiser et que je croyes que deputant personnes si eminentes
le conseil leur avait donne pouvoir de dire quelque chose. Le
Marquis d'Argueil, oracle de lescosse, estoit un des deputes. Mais
pour revenir a raon sejour icy de grands frais inutiles et onnuyeux
s il y en a un au monde, j ay envoye autant de tout ce que j ay
faits a leurs majestes de la grande Bretagne^ et les ay faits sup-
plies d escrire en france sils jugeoyent que je peusse servir icy
sinon me permettre de m'en aller, si je demeure tant soit peu
j auray besoin dargent^ et pour traiter cast a lengleterre a m'en-
voyer mes Instructions et a vous, Monseigneur, a m envoyer une
lettre de creance nouvelle adressante au Conseil descosse ou le
Roy les priera en absense du Roy leur maistre davoir creance
a ce que je leur diray et de latester a ceux avec qui je
desirere traiter. Cette nouvelle republique tient fort son rang, et
ne me voulurent jamais donner d interprete pour me traduire
leur tres ridicule response bien loin de me le bailler en francois
quelque instance que je peusse faire et quoique je disse en plein
conseil que c estoit une nouveaute.
Les actes du parlement qui concernoient I'alliance de france
estant en francois je demande au chancelier qu il fit visiter les
registres, il m'en refusa de maniere que je creus estre oblige de
leur en dire mon sentiment en ces mots, que je n estois pas
ambassadeur mais envoye, que je ne croyes pas quil fust en leur
pouvoir ny au mien de faire tort a la dignite du Roy mon maistre,
et que sils me bailloyent ma response en hebreu non ponctue,
n' estant que messager je 1 amporterois. Je vous envoye leur papier
qui ne vault pas la peine d estre tvaduit. Le chancelier me le mit
entre les mains sans estre signe et layant regarde je I'ai pri6
de me donner response et lui demande ce que signifiet le papier
quil raavoit donne sans estre signe. lis consult^rent entre eux
BOISIVON TO BRIENNE 64il
et puis le firent signer au Clerc du Conseil, qui tient lieu icy de
greffier et de secretaire. lis m'avoient refuse la liberte du Comte
d Anthram, et un quart d heure devant raon audience j appris que
les nouvelles quil c estait sauve de prison venaient de leur estre
apportee. Je feignis ne le scavoir pas, et fis grande instance pour
qu'ils gratifiassent la france de la deliverance de ce Comte, ce quils
prirent a une tres grande moquerie comme j ay sceu depuis et
comme cette reputation le nest pas advantageuse pour ceux qui
peuvent traiter d affaires de consequence, j ay vue le Chancelier
et les principaux et leur ay remontre qu 1 on avoit fort mal pris
ce que j avois dit a mon audience sur le subjet du Comte
d Anthram, et quoy que je sceusse ou qu j'ignorasse quil s'estoit
sauve, il estoit de mon debvoir de leur demander sa liberte puis-
que javois cest ordre la et que ce nestoit point a moy a decider
les bruits de ville. Si vous juges, Monseigneur, que je puisse faire
icy quelque chose, je vous supplie tres humblement d avoir soin de
moi pour de 1 argent. Je suis en esquippage pour ne fair pas honte
a mon employ et ce que Ion vend aux autres un escu m en couste
quatre. Au reste, ayes 1 ceil ouvert aux huguenots, car sans doute
il y a grand menee entre eux en quelque lieu quils soient et
la ligue d engleterre est de grand poids, et la haine qu ont les
Puritains est icy plus grande contre les Catholiques quelle n est
k Rome contre les protestants. On se vant fort icy d une grand intel-
ligence en france. Je ne la croyes pas comme ils la disent, mais sans
doute le comte de Lodian qui est arreste en Engleterre a traite en
france avec plusieurs. Milord Gray ma dit quil avoit de 1 argent
entre les mains pour remettre sa compagnie de gendarmes sur pied
et que si vous luy envoyes commission pour cela, qu'il envoerait ses
compagnons en france, les faisant embarquer dans un port qui est
a luy sans que le conseil 1 en peut empescher. J'ay obtenu que le
Colonel Lundy qui estoit arreste avec la recrue de son regiment
passerait en france. La maison Duglas est fort affectionnee a la
france et plusieurs de ses parents, gents de grande qualite, m ont
fait instance qui jescrivesse en France affin que Ion fit repasser les
monts au regiment Duglas qui est en Italic d autant que 1 air de ce
lieu la est dangereux pour les escossois nourris dans un pais froid.
Je suis, Monseigneur, Votre tres humble et tres obeissant
Serviteur, Boisivon.
[BoisivoN to Brienne. Edinburgh, 20th Nov. 1643.
It is impossible to inform you in France of what is going ou here,
unless by sending a special messenger, and so far as France is concerned,
it would be useless to go to that expense.
542 APPENDIX
Seven or eight of the nobles of this kingdom^ the most attached to the
party of the King of Great Britain, finding nothing to be hoped for here,
and being about to assemble in order to send a messenger to the said
king, invited me to join them, which I did. They all entreated me in
the interest of their master to remain in this town, until they had
informed their king of their reasons for my doing so, which are that
I may reassure the wavering in the obedience they owe by showing them
the care that France takes of their affairs. They allege that the visits
I have made to several nobles in the country have had this effect, and
that some change may take place in those matters whereby my position
as an envoy of his Majesty may lead me to make new proposals that
neither an Englishman nor a Scotsman could make. I did not think it
right to refuse their request as it would enable me to tell them what
I thought best, according to the circumstances, concerning the king of
Great Britain, so that at the audience I had yesterday with the Lords
of Council, when they replied to my proposals in writing, in the manner
you will find stated in this despatch, I told their lordships that having
made three proposals to them they had not replied to any one of them,
but had referred me first to the Committee, which consists of com-
missioners nominated by the last Parliament, and then to the Earl of
Lothian, and to their church, with whom I had no order to treat ; that
my orders were to treat only with the council ; that I had asked them
for a passport in order to send a gentleman to France, so as to obtain
instructions as to what I should propose. This they granted to me after
having raised a hundred objections against their doing so, and they
would not have done so had I not told them that if they refused it to me
I would do without their help, and that being a public functionary, I had
the power of doing it for myself. I am looked upon here as a person sent
at the request of the King of Great Britain, and consequently as their
enemy. They are little respectful towards France, and still less towards
their king, and are besides most ignorant of what is taking place abroad.
They deputed to me a fortnight ago two commissioners. After having
related to them the object of my mission, I asked them what they had to
say. They replied that they had not been intrusted with any communica-
tion to make to me. I made them a bow and an excuse for having taken
up needlessly their time, and remarked that I should have thought the
council, in deputing such eminent persons, would have intrusted them
with something to say. The Marquis of Argyle, the oracle of Scotland,
was one of the deputation.
But to return to the subject of my stay here, which is attended with a
great and unnecessary expense, and is the most wearisome that exists in
the world, I have informed their Britannic Majesties of all I have done,
and begged them to write to France if they think I can serve them here,
and requesting I may be allowed to leave, for if I remain even for the
shortest possible time I shall require money. And in order to enable
me to treat my instructions should be sent from England, and it will be
necessary for you to send me a new letter of credence addressed to the
BOISIVON TO BRIENNE 543
Council of Scotland, wherein the king, iu the absence of the king their
master, will beg the council to give credence to what I may say, and this
letter should be attested for those with whom it may be wished that I should
treat. This new republic stands strongly on its dignity. It would not
consent to grant me an interpreter in order to rranslate its very ridiculous
reply, not being at all inclined to deliver it to me in French, although
I stated openly in the council meeting that it was an innovation, and
that the Acts of Parliament relating to the French alliance were in
French. I told the Chancellor that in proof of this he might examine
their records, which he refused to do, so that I thought myself obliged
to give them my opinion in the following words. 'JTliat I was not an
ambassador but an envoy, that I did not think it was in their power, or
in mine, to impair the dignity of the king, my master, and that were
they to deliver to me a reply iu Hebrew, without the vowel points,
I would convey it. I send you their paper, which is not worth the trouble
of being translated. The Chancellor put it into my hand without its
being signed, and while looking at it and begging them to give me
a reply, I asked what the paper meant that had been given to me
without signature. The members of council consulted a little among
themselves, and then had it signed by the clerk of the council, who
performs the duties of clerk and secretary. They had refused to me the
release of the Earl of Antrim, and a quarter of an hour before my
audience, I learned they had received the news of his escape from prison.^
I pretended not to know of it, and insisted strongly that they should
gratify France by releasing this earl, which I learned afterwards they
considered a very great mockery on my part, and as a reputation of this
nature is not advantageous for those engaged in treating matters of
importance, 1 called on the Chancellor and the principal members of
council, and showed them that they had very badly interpreted what I
had said at my audience relating to the Earl of Antrim, and although
I might have known of his escape or not, it was my duty to ask them
that he be liberated, seeing I had received that order and that it was not
for me to verify the exactitude of rumours circulating in the town. If
you consider that I can be of any service here, I beg you very humbly to
see that I am provided with money. I have my carriage so as not to
throw discredit on my functions, and what is sold to others for a crown
costs me four.
^ Antrim, on this occasion, had been committed to the charge of Captain
Wallace and Lieutenant Gordon, a brother of the Earl of Sutherland, and this
latter being in love with Lady Rose M'Donnell, Antrim's sister, whom he
married this same year, supplied Antrim with a rope, by means of which he
escaped, and made off with his servant on horseback to Glenavon. They were
pursued, and the servant insisted on changing clothes with his master and so
drew the pursuit after himself. Antrim escaped, but his sei^vant was taken, and
it is believed was hung by Munro. Antrim was able to get to Charlemont, thence
to Kilkenny, and eventually rejoined the king at Oxford.
544 APPENDIX
And be watchful regarding the Huguenots^ for wherever they are there
is much intrigue among them. They attach great importance to the
league with England. The hatred the Puritans here have against the
Catholics is greater than what exists in Rome against the Protestants.
They boast of having a close cori-espondence with those in France. I do
not believe it to be as they say, but no doubt the Earl of Lothian, who
has delayed some time in England, has treated with several of them in
France.
Lord Gray ^ has told me he has the money in hand for calling out his
company of men-at-arms, and if you will send to him the necessary com-
mission he will send his comrades to France, causing them to embark in
a harbour adjoining his own property, so that the Council will not be
able to prevent it.
I have obtained permission for Colonel Lundy,^ who had been stopped
with the recruits for his regiment, that he may proceed to France. The
house of Douglas is much attached to France, and several of its members,
persons of high rank, have begged me to write to France and request that
the Douglas regiment, which is in Italy, be brought back across the Alps,
as the climate is dangerous for the Scots, who have been reared in a cold
climate. ' ^
[Ifidorsed] Propositions faittes par le S" de Boisyvon au Conseil
DEScossE avec sa despeche du 20^ Novembre 1643.
Le conseil d'escosse fit dire au S'^ de Boisevon qu'il desiroit
auoir par escrit ce qu'il auoit a leur dire de la part du Roy et de la
sienne ; 11 leur fit le discours suiuant ensemble les propositions que
le Chancelier receut qui luy dit, que le Conseil luy rendroit re-
sponse et qu'en attendant il luy deputiroient deux seign[eurs]
pour traiter.
Seigneurs tres illustres, — Le Roy tres chrestien mon Maistre
de laduis de la Reine Regent Mere de sa Maieste m'a enuoye
uers uous et dans ce rencontre d affaires il a este bien aise de
temoigner a tout le Monde lestime quil faisoit de vostre tres
vaillante et tres genereuse nation. Les alliances de son Roy-
aume et du vostre sont si anciennes, si fidelment entretenues, la
foy publlque si exactement obseruee que bien et loigne quil y
ait rien dans leurope de pareil que les histoires Grecques et
Romaines ne scauroient donner vn exemple d'union et de frater-
nite qui en approche. Vos seigneuries illustrissimes auoyent depute
Monsieur le Comte de Lodion e[n] france pour faire quelques
^ See Appendix Note W, Scottish Regiments in France, and note p. 90, vol. i.
2 See further relating to Colonel Lundy, vol. ii. p. 337 and note.
* Harl. MS. 4551, vol. i.
PROPOSALS TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL 545
propositions qui ont este fauourablement escoutees recepues et
accordees^ le Roy mon maistre ma commande de vous faire aussy
quelques propositions et ouuertures. II espere de si bons et si
fideles allies toute sorte de correspondence et que vostre accoutumee
prudence ne uous manquera point dans les occurenses de ce temps
a la verit(5 tres glissantes. I^es alliances de france et descosse sont
de Royaume a Royaume. Vos seigneuries illustrissimes consideront
si leur plait quelles sont aussy de Roy a Roy. Des seigneurs si aduises
que ceux de ce tres auguste conseil en jugentbien je m'asseure les
consequenses sans quil soit besoin que ie m'estende dauantage sur
ce subiet. Les affaires pi-essent. Cella me fait supplier vos signeuries llsdemandoient
illustrissimes de me donner des commissaires a que je puisse bailler sm-?e°champs"^
les propositiones dont ie suis charge et avec qui ie puisse chercher Qui furent
quelque remede conti'e les desordres qui se presentent.
J ay commendement du Roy mon maisti'e de vous demander la
liberte de Monsieur le Comte d'Anthram et pouuoir de vous
donner sa parole Royale que quelques cours que prennent ces
mouements icy le dit S'" comte dAnthram ne se mestera de rien
et mesme jay ordre de le conduire en france si vous le desire. Le
Roy mon Maistre a obtenu du parlement dengleterre la deliuerance
du Chevalier Digbi quoy quils le tinssent pour leur plus grande
ennemi. Mais ie ne suis pas si maladvise de croire dauoir besoin
en escosse d uu exemple d engleterre pour obtenir 1 effect de la
priere du plus grand Roy de leurope, vostre tres ancien ami
et allie.
Propositions que lenuoye de france a fait au conseil descosse
DE LA PART DU RoY
Que conferment aus instructions que le conseil descosse a
donnees au S*" comte de Lodion leur depute en france du con-
sentement du Roy de la grande Bretagne, le Conseil entend que
son pouuoir se tiend ait a confirmer les anciennes alliances de
france et d escosse.
Que pour cest effect les escossois directiment ou indirectiment
nentrent point en armes en engleterre soit soubz pretext de
seruir a Roy de la grande Bretagne ou la religion sans commission
expresse du Roy leur maistre et par ce que cest article presse
le Roy tres Chrestien en desira une reponse precise, absolue, et
prompte.
Que le conseil descosse a limitation du Roy tres chretien
VOL. II. 2 M
546 APPENDIX [20 NOV.
[L]assembl^e n aye point dereffarder la difFerense de la relieion de ceux que
de [1 eur eglise "^ f . ^ . , l, . > 11 ^ -4.
a elimin^ seruent en trance qui s enroUent ou s enrolJeront pour y serun*, et
cecyetlecon- J autant que les esfflises descosse ont determine dans leur as-
seil mais ^ ^
[l]envoye napas semblee le contraire que le conseil descosse en donne un arrest
r^'jeTcatf/de retractation.
Le S"^ de Boisiuon a commendement du Roy son Maistre de
faire encore quelques propositions. Mais comme celles cy re-
gardent la manutention ou rupture de 1 alliance de france et
d escosse il a ordre d auoir response de celles-cy auparauant.
Les Anglois ne Le S'' de Boisiuon fust enuoye sans aucune Instructions en
Instructfon'^que ^scosse, OU il trouua tout en rumeur et mandements du conseil par
de faire ce que tout pour que les villes et paroises fournissent les hommes et 1 argent
^ a quoy d acun auoit este taxe. II vit les principaux du parti contraire
au Roy car pour le Roy il ny a personne a edinburgh que Milord
Grai de qui il a recu toutes sortes d assistance. II s enforma de tout
auec le plus de circunspection quil put. II tascha de gagner ou de
disioindre ceux qui pouruoyent les plus, mais en vain et comme
son enuoy auoit pour principal but le seruice du Roy de la grande
Bretagne et la deliuerance du Comte d Anthram, il crut de propos
de donner les propositions cy dessus et de parler auec le plus de
vigueur que luy seroit possible pour cela, reseruant a la fin ce quil
poui'oit faire pour les catholiques qui certes sont beaucoup plus
miserables que ceux de Constantinople, la haine quon a icy pour
eux estant au dela 1 imagination. L enuoye na rien laisse
dinterets pour mettre en soubmission les principaux du Conseil
ou les gaigner leur offrant pensions, charges dans la Cour dengle-
terre, employ en France et generallement tout ce que chacun
desiroit davoir^ et na pas oublie d'ofrir intercession du Roy envers
le Roy de la Grande Bretagne pour une abolition generale, dont
sa Majesty seroit caution. II a parle aux seigneurs du Conseil avec
toute la civilite possible de sa part dans les confidences, selon
la dignite du Maistre et que la France scavoit bien la differense
dune guerre de la religion ou dune destat, que le Roy enpesche-
roit fort bien une respublique en Escosse, quil ny avoit point
interest que celuy de bon voisin, que les ministres qui pres-
choient scandaleusement contre leur Roy avoient lev6 le masque
en disant quil falloit un gouvernement arbitraire, enfin il ny
a rien este oublie. Et il est tres certain que s il neut fallu que
des raisons les commissaires ne leussent pas emporte demeurant
fort souvent muets faute de pouvoir contredire aux objections
quon leur faisoit. II seroit superflu et mesme impossible descrire
1643] PROPOSALS TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL 547
ce qui a ete (lit sur le subiect. Mais pour reuenir aux propositions
qui seroient bien hardies a donner par un simple enuoye qui n a
pour instruction que ce que dieu luy conseillera, il faut considerer
quil traite auec des rebelles a leur Roy et quoy quil face ou quil
die cela n'est d'aucune importance parce que c est aus roys a
rompre ou a maintenir 1 alliance.
Le S"" de Boisivon a donne les propositions les plus courtes
qu'il a pu affin de ne s embarrasser pas dans un grand discours ou
Ion croit auoir satisfait a tout, eludant une partie il a donne la
dernierCj en sorte que si le Roy de la grande bretagne eut desira
quil eut propose quelque chose pour le bien de ses affaires, il y
auroit lieu de cela ou mesme s il apprenoit quelque chose et
comme c estoit perdre tout de parler d abord pour les Catholiques,
vu la rage que 1 on a icy contre eux. II estoit necessaire de laisser
vne table dattente pour vn subiect que la piete de la reine adonnera
tousiours; je tacherai en mon nom dobtenir la liberte de deulx
religieus prisoneurs. Si les ministres de Paris escrivyent a ceux
d edinburgh que la rigueur que 1 on tient icy aux catholiques est
de mauvais exemple pour eux, et quils intercedassent envers les
ministres de deca pour les catholiques, cela seroit de grand fruit
et feroit plus d effect que si tous les Rois Chretiens les recom-
mandoient. II n y a point cinq cents catholiques en escosse et
cest la seule haine que 1 on a icy pour eux que les fait mal traiter.
A moins de cela tout est perdu.
Lescosse presentement est pleine de factions et si divisee en
elle mesme quelle est peu ou point a craindre dans les mouements
d engleterre.
Les raisons pour la craindre ce reduisent principalement a trois
chefs que le conseil a tout 1 authoritie ; quil faut quil se tienne
tousiours a edinburgh et que les chefs sonts puritains et par con-
sequent enemis du Roy.
Le Roy a donne priuilege a la ville d edinburgh a 1 exclusion de
toutes les autres que le conseil sy doit tenir. Le Genei'al Lesle est
gouernur du Chateau, assis en vne eminence d ou il pent mettre la
ville en poudre en deulx heures de temps.
Le Chancelier et le Marquis d Argueil sont vnis et d Alliance et
d interets. Lun est Chef du Conseil, 1 autre du peuple, de ces trois
dependent absoluement touts les affaires d edinburgh et pais
circumvoisin. De plus ceux qui offencent ne pardonnent point et
tous les trois ont trompe leur Roy pour ne dire rien de pire aussy
il ne fault pas mettre leur volonte en doute mais leur pouuoir.
lis ont fait vne proclamation quils appellent d enuoyer a la
548 APPENDIX [20 NOV.
guere de quatres hommes un depuis 1 age de soissante ans j usque
a sezCj et en ce quils ont pu ils ont execute leur arrest a toute
rigueur faisant ieter le de par des personnes commises pour ce
subict pour ceux que ne voueloient pas jouer. II fault considerer
que Edinburgh mesme de dix ans ne promit que par force. lis
esperent par leur calcul trent cinq mille hommes^ douze cents de
Cavallerie le reste d infanterie, et sept milles hommes quils ont en
irlande, ils ont des armes et sans doute 1 armee d irlande est plus
considerable que le reste de leur pouuoir.
Ils attendent quatre vingts mille Jacobus de Londres pour
mettre leur gents en campagne presentementj ainsy quils disent.
CONTRE
Le Roy a son parti en Ecosse dix fois plus puissant en Seigneurs
et gentils hommes que les puritains.
Les vassaux des seigneurs du parti du Roy ont pi'esque refuse
partout de fournir les hommes a quoy le Conseil les a taxer.
Presentement quoy que nous soions en nouembre les escossais
n ont point cinq cents hommes de pied et deulx cents cinquante
chevaux. Dieu scait que pas vn soit pour ce mettre en campagne,
aucun attirait pour 1 artillerie, nuUe esperance den auoir sils
nattellent leur boeufs car de cheuaus le pais en est absoluement
desgarni.
L engleterrCj cest a dire Londres, n est point en estat de donner
les quatre uingt mille Jacobus.
Le General Lesle ne veut point entrer en Engleterre a moins
de trents mille hommes effectifes, disant quil veut estre en estat
de donner la loy a tout 1 europe, de cela il sen est explique aux
puritains et a qui la voulu entendre. L escosse en 1 estat quelle
est ne scauroit en fournir le tiers et ainsy cest vne clause im-
possible. Elle est tellement bigarree en religions aussy bien que
1 engleterre quil ny a q'uniformite de mots et non pas de creance,
tesmoin leur ligue ou Couvenant ou ils se jurent les vns aus autres
d aprocher le plus pres de la parole de dieu qui leur sera possible,
et cela d autant quil est necessaire aux chefs de la rebellion de
leurer le Peuple d un pretexte de religion. Lhiuer est desia fort
advance et quand ils auroient argent, vivres, et artillerie ce quils
n ont pas, ils ne scauroient entrer dix lieus en engleterre de ceste
annee. Les soldats qui 1 on mene par force a la guerre ne
tiennent point a plus fort raison le peuple et vn peuple mal
aguerri ; ils ont quelques officiers mais peu. II peut vraisemble-
i643] PROPOSALS TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL 549
ment arriuer plusieurs inconuenients a 1 armee descosse si elle entre
en Engleterre ils ne scauroient, quoy quils disent mettre plus de
dix mille homraes ensemble, si 1 armee se desbande ou que la
caualerie angloise leur coupe les vivres, ou que les anglois les
battent les chefs et tout le part puritain est ruine sans resource,
point de porte de derriere, point d hommes a rem placer et leur
credit perdu pour jamais. Plus sils entrent en engleterre auant
que de chasser descosse le parti du Roy, ils le laissent maistre de
leur pais, sil le chassent il leur faut du temps pour en venir a bout.
Reste 1 armee descosse qui est en irlande composee de sept
mille hommes au plus, le Conseil descosse y a enuoye deulx fois,
ils ont refuse absoluement de marcher si on ne les paie, et il n y a
point d argent pour cela. II faut considerer que les Escossais
d irlande tiennent vn pais aussy grand pour le moins que la
moitie de la terra firme descosse, et que des sept mille homraes
il y en a plus de la moitie habitues en irlande long temps auant
les troubles de la grand bretagne. Ils y ont femmes et enfans et a
leur regard quelque argent quon leur ofTre ils nabandonneront
point leur habitation que est beaucoup meilleure que 1 escosse
pour y aller, bien loin de songer a lengleterre.
Ces raissons sont si puissants quil n est pas imaginable que des
gents qui ont le sens commun se puissent comporter comme font
les puritains. Et si le Marquis d'Argueil est aussy habile que les
siens le chantent, il est infaillible quil a quelque entreprise soit
sur Neufcastel ou quelque autre place. On a si grande opinion
d auoir sa grace quand il voudra quil n apprehende point 1 euene-
ment des affaires. II est vray que les Escossois on vne si grande
presvmption que cela n est pas concevable, et qui les entendra
parler jugera aussytost que nous sommes au temps des Amadis,
quils prennent leur maximes destat dans les romans, le general
Lesle le premier.
Ce qui fait plus de mal dans leur enterprises chemeriques cest
que soubs 1 esperance de leur secours le peuple d engleterre
sendurcit dans la rebellion, et le parlement de Londres endore le
peuple de la ville soubs la mesme esperance et les fait obstiner a
refuser la grace que le Roy leur maistre leur a offert.
Le Couvenant d engleterre et d escosse cest a dire vne ligue
fait entre le parliament d engleterre et le Conseil d escosse par
laquelle ligue ils s obligent, tant en general quen particulier,
dexterminer tous les Papistes sans respect de qui que ce soit.
Les esglises descosse et le conseil enuoyent en allemagne en
550 APPENDIX [20 NOV.
holland signer leur couenants, ou pour le moins les inuiter dentrer
dans la Ligue.
Les esglises d escosse et le eonseil ont determine qu'aucun
Catholique ne poura seruir en france. Par leur Ligue lis font
serment deuant le ministre dexterminer les papistes sans respect
de qui que ce soit.
Le regiment d'Irvin veut etre regiment des gardes reste a juger
si on pent vu ces deux articles confier la personne de sa Maieste
entre les mains de ces Messieurs la. La france ne pent esperer de
tirer aucunes hommes d escosse jusques a ce que le Roy de la
grande bretagne ait regagne lobeissance quil a absoluement per-
due, et hors le titre presentement cest vne republique ; reste a
dire le dessein des escossois, et il est asseure que le peu qu'ils
tireront de largent de Londres sils peuvent, et les plus advises de
eonseil en prendroient chacun leur part en attendant ils chasseront
les partisans du Roy de la grande bretagne ils se preraveront peu
a peu pour entrer en Engleterre, ce quils pouront faire dans le
mois de Mars ou d apruil. Si le parlement de Londres a quelque
bons succes ils pousseront leur fortune mesme jusques en france
disent ils tout haut ; si le parlement est ruine ils entreront pour
tant en Engleterre en dessein d y plante une Colonie comme ils
ont fait autresfois en irlande; et pendant le temps le Roy s'emploiera
a reduire les rebelles d angleterre, leur republique demeurera en
bon estat et saffirmera. Ils se tiennent asseures quils battront tous
les Princes Christiens sils estoient vnis. Leur proiets sont si vastes,
leur pi*esomption si gi'ande quil ny a nulle esperance de rien
gagner auec eux, au reste ceux du eonseil sont si ignorants des
affaires de dehors quil n y a compagnie d'ecoliers en france qui n en
soit mieux enformee. Le Marquis d' Argueil est icy absolu, intelli-
gent au possible des affaires descosse et rien plus, il a besoin de la
I'eputation de Lesle pour la soldatesque, et luy se met pour exemple
le Roy de Suede qui nauoit point tant de force queux quil a passe
sur le ventre a tout 1 allemagne. Cest exemple a tellement gaste le
general Lesle que dernierement dans vne grande Compagnie de
milords sadressant au Comte de Humes, 11 luy dit parlant de
1 armee quils pretendent faire, ' Consideres, milord, quelle gloire ce
seroit deuant dieu et deuant les hommes si nous venons a chasser
les catholiques d angleterre de les suiure en france et a I'imitation
du feu Roy de Suede rallier ceux de la religion de france et
planter de gre ou de force notre religion dans Paris, et dela aller
a Rome chasser 1 entichrist et bruler la ville dou uient la super-
stition.' Ce galant hommes la dit a 1 enuoye tout net que 1 ou disoit
i643] PROPOSALS TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL 651
que les francois viendroient en Engleterre pour le parti contraire,
que s'il y venoient qui les y voiroit, Lenuoye luy respondit quil n en
auroit point ouy parler mais que si les francois passoient la mer
quil ne croyet pas que ce fust en dessein de se cacher et que
ceux qui ne fermeroient pas les yeux les pouvoient voir.
Le Comte de Loudian a eu dans ses Instructions secretis de
traiter auec les huguenots, et sans doub 11 a parle a plusieurs.
Lenuoye na pu discourer a qui mais 11 est certain quil y a con-e-
spondance entre les puritains de Londres, d escosse et defrance et
tres grands intelligence. Ceste affaire merite d auvoir 1 oeil ouurit
[Proposals made by M. de Boisivon to the Council op Scotland,
RECEIVED with HIS DESPATCH OP 20 NoV. 1643
The Council of Scotland having intimated to M. de Boisivon that it
wished to have in writing what he had to communicate on the part of the
king and on his own account, M. de Boisivon addressed the Council in
the following speech and delivered the proposals, which the Chancellor
received, aud said that the Council would give a reply, and that in the
meantime two noblemen would be deputated to treat with him.
'Very illustrious Nobles, His Most Christian Majesty the King, my
master, with the advice of the queen-regent, mother of his Majesty,
has sent me to you, being in this juncture of aflfairs very glad to testify
to every one his esteem for your valiant aud very generous nation. The
alliances of his kingdom and yours are so ancient, and have been so
faithfully maintained, and the public confidence so scrupulously observed
that one would require to go far back to the histories of Greece and
Rome to find an example of union and fraternity to compare with it.
Your august lordships having deputed the Earl of Lothian to France in
order to make some proposals, which have been favourably received,
accepted and granted, the king, my master, has commanded me to
submit to you also some proposals and to make some overtures. He hopes
to preserve vai-ied intercourse with such good and faithful allies, and
trusts that your wonted prudence will still continue to guide you in the
occurrences of this period, that are in truth very perilous.
' The alliances of France and Scotland are between kingdom aud
kingdom. Your lordships will please to consider that they are also
between king and king. Nobles so prudent as those who form this very
august Council will, I am certain, consider well the consequences of this
without my being obliged to enlarge further on it. Affairs are urgent.
This leads me to beg your lordships to appoint commissioners, to whom
I can deliver the proposals with which 1 am intrusted, and with whom
I may be able to devise some remedy against the disorders that are taking
place. '
The Council requested that the proposals be made immediately, which
was done.
' I have orders from the King, my master, to request the release of the
662 APPENDIX [20 Nov.
Earl of Antrim, and to give you his royal word that whatever may be the
course of events here, the said earl will take no part in them. I have
even orders to conduct him to France should that be your will. The
king, my master, has obtained from the English Parliament the release
of Lord Digby,! although he was considered by that Parliament as its
greatest enemy, but I am not so ill-advised as to think it requisite in
Scotland to cite the example of England, in order to give effect to the
request of the greatest king in Eui-ope, your very old friend and ally.' 2
M. de Boisivon was sent without any instructions to Scotland other than
to do what he could, and on arriving found everything in confusion, and
orders of Council everywhere so that the towns and parishes should provide
men and money for which none of them had been imposed. He visited the
leaders of the party opposed to the king as well as those for him, of whom
there is no one in Edinburgh but Lord Gray, who has rendered him every
assistance. He was able to obtain information about everything with the
greatest possible circumspection, and tried in vain to gain over or disjoin
those who had most under their control, and as his mission was chiefly
intended for the service of the King of Great Britain, and in order to
obtain the release of the Earl of Antrim, he judged it necessary to give
the above proposals, reserving till afterwards what he might be able to
do for the Catholics, who are certainly much more wretched here than
those in Constantinople, the hatred existing against them being beyond
anything that can be imagined. The envoy has neglected no likely
means so as to assure the submission of the principal members of the
Council or to gain them over by offering them pensions, situations at the
English Court, employment in France, and in general all that each one
may wish to have, not omitting to offer to them the intercession of the
king with the King of Great Britain, in order to obtain a general amnesty
of which his Majesty would be caution. He spoke to the Lords of the
Council with every possible politeness in his confidential conversations
with them, keeping always in view the dignity of his master, and stated
that France knew well the difference between a war of religion and one
undertaken by the State ; that the king would take care to prevent a
republic ; that he has no interest other than a good neighbourly feeling ;
that the clergymen who preached scandalously against their king had
thrown aside the mask in declaring that they required an arbitrary
government, in short, he forgot nothing, and if arguments alone had been
required by the commissioners it is certain that they would not have had
the last word as they remained often silent not being able to refute the
objections made to them. It would be superfluous and even impossible
to write all that was said on the subject. But to return to the proposals
that may seem very bold to be given by a simple envoy having no other
instructions than what God might dictate to him, it is necessary to con-
^ See note, vol. i. p. 40.
^ For copy of proposals and the council's reply, see preface, vol. i. pp. xii and
xiii.
i643] PROPOSALS TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL 553
sider that he was treating with rebels to their king, and that whatever he
might do or say was of little importance, as it concerns kings alone to
break off or maintain alliances.
M. de Boisivon made the proposals as concise as possible in order not
to have the trouble of making a long speech in which it might be thought
that he had included everything, thus omitting a part he gave the con-
clusion, so that if the King of Great Britain had wished him to propose
anything for tlie benefit of his affairs there would have been means of
doing so, for it would have defeated his object to speak of the Catholics,
in the first instance, seeing the rage that is here against them. The only
means was to leave a loophole through which this subject, in which the
piety of the queen is concerned, may be treated of. 1 shall try in my
own name to procure the release of two ecclesiastics that are prisoners.
If the Paris clergy would write to the clergy of Edinburgh and state that
the rigour with which Catholics are treated here is a bad example for
them, and were they to intercede with the clergy here in favour of the
Catholics, it would have a better result and be more effective than were
all the Christian kings to recommend them, lliere are not five hundred
Catholics in Scotland, and it is simply the hatred felt against them that
causes them to be badly treated. Unless this be done all is lost.
Scotland is so full of factions and so divided within herself that she is
little, or not at all, to be feared at present, in the changes that are taking
place in England.
The reasons for fearing her may be reduced to three points : that the
Council has all the authority, that it must always hold its sittings in
Edinburgh, and that the leaders are Puritans and consequently enemies
of the king.
The king has given to Edinburgh the exclusive privilege of its being
the place of meeting for the Council. General Leslie is governor of the
Castle, which is seated on an eminence from whence the town could be
reduced to ashes within two hours. The Chancellor and the Marquis of
Argyle are united both by family ties and by interests, the former is
chief of the Council and the latter of the people. On these three persons
depend absolutely all the affairs of Edinburgh and the adjacent country.
And according to the saying that those who offend do not pardon, all
three have deceived the king, not to call it anything worse, so that it is
not their will in this respect that may be questioned, but their ability.
They have issued a proclamation, which they call the sending to the war
of one man in four of the population, from the age of sixteen to sixty,
and so far as they have been able, they have carried out their plan
with great severity, having the dice thrown by persons appointed for
that purpose for those who refused to throw for themselves. It has
also to be borne in mind that the population of Edinburgh during the
past ten years only submits to the conscription by force. They hope,
according to their calculation, to raise thirty-five thousand men, of which
twelve hundred cavalry and the rest in infantry, together with the seven
554 APPENDIX [20 NOV.
thousand they have in Ireland^ which latter, being armed, form the most
important part of their force. They expect eighty thousand Jacobus
from London to enable them, as they say, to put their army at present on
a war footing.
Counter Statement
The king's party in Scotland is ten times more powerful in nobles and
gentry than the Puritans.
The vassals that depend on the nobles of the king's party have almost
everywhere refused to supply the men, which they have been taxed by
the council to furnish.
Although we are now in November the Scots have not five hundred men
raised or two hundred and fifty horse. God knows no one will be ready
for the coming campaign ; they have no artillery train and no hope of
providing one, unless they harness their oxen, for the country is
absolutely destitute of horses.
England, that is to say London, is unable to give them the eighty
thousand Jacobus.
General Leslie will not enter England unless he has thirty thousand
effective men, and says he wishes to be in a position to lay down the law
to all Europe, which he explains to the Puritans and those who wish to
listen to him. Scotland in its present state will not be able to furnish the
third of that number, so that this clause of their contract is impossible.
The country is as diversified in forms of religion as England, the only
uniformity is in words not in belief, as for example in their league or
Covenant, wherein they take oath among themselves to approach as near
as possible to the Word of God, and this so much the more as it is
necessary for the chiefs of the rebellion to allure the people with a pretext
of religion. The winter is already far advanced, and when they have the
money, food supplies, and artillery which they want, they will not enter
ten leagues'into England during this year. The soldiers, that they lead by
force to the war, have little inclination for it, and the people, who are not
warlike, still less. They have some officers, but not many. Several dis-
agreeable results may probably happen to the Scottish army if it enter
England, for, whatever they may say, they will be unable to raise more
than ten thousand men, and in the event of their army becoming dis-
banded, or if the English cavalry cut off its supplies, or if they be
defeated by the English, the leaders and all the Puritan party will be
irretrievably ruined, as there remains to them no means of retreat, no
men to replace those lost, in order to maintain their credit, that will be
for ever gone. Besides they propose to enter England without having
expelled the king's party from Scotland, which they will leave masters of
their country, for if they attempt to expel this latter they will require
time to accomplish it. There remains the Scottish army in Ireland, com-
posed of seven thousand men at the most, to which the Scottish Council
has sent twice with orders for them to march, which they have twice
refused to do unless they be paid, and there remains no money for that
purpose. It must be borne in mind that the Scots in Ireland occupy a
i643] PROPOSALS TO SCOTTISH COUNCIL 555
territory at least half as large as Scotland, and that of the seven thousand
men more than half have been accustomed to reside there for a long time
before the troubles broke out in Great Britain, They have their wives and
children there, and whatever compensation may be offered to them in
money it will not induce them to abandon their place of abode that is
much more agreeable than Scotland, in order to return there, far less
would they think of going to England.
These reasons are so powerful that it is inconceivable how people pos-
sessed of common sense can act as the Puritans are doing. If the Marquis
of Argyle is so intelligent as his admirers proclaim him to be, it is certain
that he has some other design, either on Newcastle or on some other
place. People have such a high estimation of his favour when he grants
it, that he is in no way apprehensive of the course of events. It is true
that the Scots have an inconceivable amount of presumption. To hear
them talk one would think oneself in the time of the Amadis. They take
their political maxims from romances. General Leslie is one of the
most noted for this. The greatest harm that results from their chimerical
enterprises is that the people of England are becoming hardened in their
rebellion through hopes of their help, and the Parliament in London
quiets the people there with this same hope, so that they are led to refuse
the pardon that the king their master has offered them.
The Covenant of England and Scotland is a league made between the
English Parliament and the Scottish Council by which they oblige them-
selves generally and individually to exterminate all Papists without
respect of person. The Scottish churches and the Council send into
Germany and into Holland to have the Covenant signed, or at least to
invite people to join their league. The Scottish churches and the
Council have decided that no Catholic will be able to serve in France.
By their league they take oath before the clergyman to exterminate all
Catholics without distinction. The Irvine regiment has lately been
named Regiment of Guards. It remains to be considered how far in view
of these two articles one may trust the person of his Majesty into the
hands of these gentlemen. France cannot hope to obtain men from
Scotland until the King of Great Britain regain the obedience that he has
absolutely lost. At present this country is a republic in all but the name.
The intentions of the Scots remain to be seen, and it is certain they will
draw the money from London if they can, and the shrewdest members of
the Council will take each their share of it, while in the meantime they
will drive out the partisans of the King of Great Britain and make little
by little their preparations for entering England which they may be able
to do during the months of March or April. If the Parliament in London
is successful they say openly they will push their fortune as far as France ;
if the Parliament fail they will notwithstanding enter England for the
purpose of founding a colony there as they formerly did in Ireland ; and
while the king is occupied in bringing the rebels into subjection their
republic will thrive and become consolidated. They are convinced that
they would beat all the princes in Christendom were they but united.
556 APPENDIX [20 NOV. 1643
Their plans are so vast, their presumption so great that there is no hope
of obtaining anything from them. Besides those of the Council are so
ignorant of what is going on abroad that there is not a group of school-
boys in F'rance that are not better informed. The Marquis of Argyle is
absolute here : he is in the highest degree intelligent in all that relates
to Scotland, but knows nothing of anything beyond his own country. He
requires the reputation of Leslie to control the soldiery ; and this latter
takes for his model the King of Sweden, who with a smaller force than
they possess overran all Germany. This example has so spoilt the
General Leslie, that lately in a large meeting of nobles he said, in
addressing Lord Hume, in speaking of the army and of what they pretended
to do, ' Consider, my Lord, what a glorious thing it would be before God
and man, if we manage to drive the Catholics out of England and follow
them to France, and in imitation of the late King of Sweden, unite with
those of our religion there, and plant nolens volens our religion in Paris
and thence go to Rome, drive out Antichrist and burn the town that
disseminates superstition.' This gallant man said quite plainly to the
envoy that it was said the French would come to England to support the
opposite party and asked in the event of their coming who would see
them there. The envoy replied that he had not heard of it, but that
if the French crossed the sea it would not be for the purpose of hiding
themselves, and that those who kept their eyes open would see them.
The Earl of Lothian in his recent mission to France has had secret
instructions to treat with the Huguenots, and no doubt he has spoken to
several. The envoy has not been able to discover to whom, but he is
certain that there is a secret and intimate understanding between the
Puritans in London, Scotland, and France. This matter merits close
attention.]
The Answ^er of the Counsell of Scotland to the propositions
GIVEN to THAME BE MoNS DE BoSIVON FROM THE KiNG OF FrANCE.
Ed'-, 9 Novemb. l643.
When the Councell sail ressave ane accompt frome the Eai*le of
Louthian of his proceedings in his employment to France, They
will then, according to their power. Give suche ane answer as may
shew their willingnes to enterteaine and confirme the ancient
alliance betwixt the kingdomes of Scotland and France.
To the second. The Councell can give no other answer then that the conserve-
ing of peace betwix the two kingdomes of Scotland and England
is Remitted to his Ma^^^ and Estats of Parlem* to a Comission
appoynted for y* effect. And that the Convention of Estates
haveing reseaved some propositions frome Comissioners of both
houses of the Parlem* of England ; for the farder secureing of the
Religion and peace of thir Kingdomes. They have intrusted the
i644] ANSWER OF THE SCOTTISH COUNCIL 557
consideration yW to ane Comittee of y"" owne nomber. Who the
Councill are confident will proceed in these affaires as becometh
thame in dutie and conscience toward God, in loyaltie to the
King, and w*'^ respect to the good of the kingdomes.
Since the National assemblie of the Church of Scotland is To the third.
Independent, y^fore what hath beene concluded be thame cannot
be recalled by the Councell.
As the Counsell have answered these princ'' proposlns accordinge
to their power, and in suche sort as can give no just occasion of
offence to the king of France, Being willing inviolablie to keepe
that amitie, yt has beene so religiouslie observed this manie ages.
And they are confident that the Queene regent, and those who
have the charge of the king of France in his nonage will be better
advysed then to make these particulars ane occasion of breach w**^
his ancient allies whome his royal predecessors in yr greatest
difficulties have fond to be thire reddiest and surest freinde. So
when anie other proposition sail be made vnto thame be Mons.
Bosivon they will returne suche ane answer yr to as apperteineth.
Primrose, Clers. Cons.
A MONSEIGNEUR : MoNSEIGNEUR LE CoMTE DE BrIENNE, SECRETAIRE
DES COMMANDEMENTS DE SA MaIESTE. En CoUR.
De Ma?ichester ce 8 Jui/let 1644.
MoNSEIGNEUR, — Jc vous cscriuis par le Capitaine Hebron huit
jours deuant que de partir descosse et trois jours apres j ens aduis
que le Conseil descosse me uouluoit faire assassiner pour recognois-
sance de I'honneur que la france leur avoit fait, mais advis si
certain quil n y auoit point lieu d en douter puisquil venoit d un
des principaux seigneurs du Royaume et d un des plus intelligents
au reste fort seruiteur de son Maistre. II ra enuoya le meilleur
cheual quil eut pour me sauver me, mandant quil n y auoit point
de temps a perdre, tout a propos les lettres du Roy et les vostres
arriuerent qui me commendoient de retourne en france. J allay
tout aussytost chez le Marquies Douglas, pere du M. Douglas qui
a vn regiment en france, je luy communiquay 1 aduis que j auois
et au Comte Douglas son fils aine, ils me donnirent escorte, et
Monsieur Angus me conduisit quinze lieues et d autres Seigneurs
serviteurs du Roy de la grande bretagne me donnerent en suite
conuoy pour gagner Carlisle, premiere ville que 1 on rencontre
en arrivant d escosse en Engleterre. De Carlisle je trauerse les
prouinces du nort d engleterre en tout seurete, mais les Escossois
558 APPENDIX [8 JULY
ayant eu aduis que je men estois alle, enrages mauoir manque,
donnerent ordre par toutes les villes du parti de Parlement de
Londres de m arester. Ce quils executerent aussytost que ieus
mis pied a terre a Lancaster et de la mamenerent prisonnier icy
ou ie suis il ia deux mois et trois sepmaines. lis me foullerent par
tout, mosterent tous mes papiers a la reserve de mon passeport
quils m ont laisse en se moquant, et mont fait toutes les indignities
possibles, ils m ont oste quelques piereries et m'ont garde dans vne
chambre six sepmaine auec six Mousquetaires. Depuis ce temps la
jay eu la liberte de descendre dans la Court et d entrer dans vn
jardin de quatre toises. J auois six des meilleurs chevaus de la
grande bretagne. Ils les prenoient par force, m en ont estropie
vn, perdu 1 autre, et ruine les rest, depuis huit jours ils ne le font
plus. Vous scaures, Monseigneur, que je suis a vingt deux lieues
d'lorck ou est la faction descosse qui me detient icy dabord que je
fus arreste. Le comite de Manchester, cest a dire le Conseil, en
donna aduis au Parlement, le Parlement remit mon affaire a la dis-
cretion du Comite d escosse qui est deuant lorch, disant toutes
fois quil seroit a propos de me laisser aller. Le Chevalier Meldrem
est gouverneur de cest ville, Chef du Conseil ou Comite de ceste
mesme ville, et vn de plus suffisants du Comite souuerain, comme
ils disent d escosse, II y a huit jours quil menuoya dire que javais
ma liberte, mais comme ce vint a joindre j avois liberte de n estre
point lie mais trente cheuaus legers pour mescortir, et pour
m empescher d entrer dans les terres qui recognoissent le Roy de
la grande bretagne, et il estoit fort facile en chemin allant, la nuit
proche des quartiers dudit seigneur Roy, de supposer des enemies
et de faire ce quils auoient manque en Escosse. Ceste considera-
tion m a fait refuser leur offre et ainsy ils ont enuoye a Londres
derechef. Les indignites quils mont faites en mon particulier
mempeschent de dire le peu d estat quils font de france et des
francois. Je vous jure, Monseigneur, que la plus douce parole estoit
quils ne se soucient point de leur force et de leur amitie quil ne
leur venoit rien de france que du vin dont ils se passeroient bien
si vous uoules ruiner 1 escosse vous le pouves en arrestant leurs
vaisseaux a Bourdeaus quand ils seront charges. Jay oublies a uous
dire pour plus d intelligense des affaires de deca quil ya Londres
vn Conseil de Seigneurs anglois et escossois qui regie en commun
les affaires des deux Royaumes et ainsy lescosse, ne pent pas desad-
uouer quelle viole les droit de gents dans la personne dun enuoye
de france, au reste si vous desires scauoir pour quoy ils le font et la
raison pour la quelle ils me veuUent tant de mal je vous le diray en
i644] BOISIVON TO BRIENNE 569
peu de mots. Qiiand le Comte de Lodion fut enuoye en france ses
propositions nestoyent que le pretext de son enuoy, le subiect estoit
pour suborner les huguenots de france et leur faire signer la ligue
generale que les protestants d engleterre et descosse ont faite pour
1 extermination des papistes. Ce sont leurs mots. Pour c est effect
ils enuoyerent non seulement en france mais aussy en hollande,
en allemagne et en dannemarck. Voila un des raisons, 1 autre est
que j ay sceu tout le detail de la rebellion descosse, les interests de
ceux qui font jouer les ressorts, et pour abreger, que je cognois
toutes leurs affaires aussy bien queux mesmes ; la derniere est qu'ils
se prennent a moy de la prison du Marquis d Hamilton, cest ce qui
les a fait attenter en Escosse de massassiner la nuit dans mon logis
comme je ai uous mande il y a six mois, et dont ie nay eu nulle
justice, c est ce qui leur a fait semer le bruit dans le peuple que
j estois Jesuit, pour me faire assassiner par la populace super-
stitieuse et barbare, et tout cela ayant manque et voulant en toutes
facons mempescher d aller en france ils me tiennent prisonnier et
ne me pardonneront pas. S ils peuvent ils sont bien assez mediants
pour faire le coup mais ils noseroient laduouer aux anglois qui
sont plus moderes, principal ement a cause du pretexte de la
religion dont ils se servent a vn point qui n est pas imaginable,
tousiours la sainte escriture a la bouche, apres les repas tousiours
prieres et vn demi sermon que le ministre fait roulant les yeux en
la teste, tout cela pour le peuple qui est fort simple en ce Royaume.
Je uous supplie, Monseigneur, denuoyer a Londres pour ma liberte
et de vouloir me faire tenir de 1 argent a Bristo par la voie de
Nantes, la Rochelle ou Bourdeaux. La Reine de la grande bretagne
y est, et il faut que ie 1 informe des affaires descosse et des traitres
qui sont apres du Roy son mari, car il est certain que j ay descouvert
en vn pais dont ie n entends pas la langue, des particularites de
grande consequence et fort secrets. Je vous supplie derechef, Mon-
seigneur, d auoir soin de moy et que la lettre que ie vous escris qui
me couste plus d argent la moitie quil ne men rest a vous faire
tenir, ne soit perdu. Je cours plus de fortune d estre assassigne
que ie ne faisois il ya dix jours que je uous escriuis et aussy mal
traite que jamais. — A vostre tres humble et tres obeissant servant,
BoiSIVON.
[BoisivoN to Bbienne. Manchester, 8th July 1644.
I WROTE to you by Captain Hebron ^ eight days before leaving Scotland
^ Blakhal in his Narrative makes mention of this Captain Hebron [Hepburn],
and showing the danger to which he, as a priest, was exposed in visiting Scotland
560 APPENDIX [8 JULY
and three days after I learned that the Council of Scotland wished to have
me assassinated in return for the honour that France had paid them.
The intimation of it that reached me was so authenticated that it was
impossible to doubt it, coming as it did from one of the principal nobles
of the kingdom, and one of the most intelligent, one who, at the same
time, has remained a very faithful servant of his sovereign. He sent the
best horse he had to aid me in my escape, and informed me there was no
time to lose, on which the king's letters and yours arrived very oppor-
tunely commanding me to return to France. I went immediately to the
Marquis Douglas, father of M. Douglas, who commands a regiment in
France, and informed him and his eldest son, the Earl of Angus, of the
intimation I had received. They supplied me with an escort, and the
Earl of Angus accompanied me for fifteen leagues, and other nobles,
followers of the King of Great Britain, gave me an escort afterwards, so
as to enable me to reach Carlisle, the first town on the road coming from
Scotland to England. From Carlisle I travelled quite safely across the
northern counties of England, but the Scots having learned that I had
gone away, and angry at their having missed me, gave orders in all the
towns held by the English Parliamentary army to have me arrested, which
was done immediately on my reaching Lancaster, from whence I was
brought here as a prisoner, where I have remained two months and three
weeks. They have searched all my effects, and taken away all my papers
with the exception of my passport, which they left with me as a mockery,
and they have subjected me to every sort of^indignity. They have taken
some jewelry from me, and during six weeks they kept me in a room with
a guard of six armed men. I have since been allowed to go down into a
courtyard and to enter a garden of twelve yards square. I had six of the
best British horses, which they took from me by force : they have lamed
one, lost a second, and ruined the others. During the last eight days
they have discontinued doing so. You must know that I am at twenty-
two leagues distant from York, where the Scottish faction, who had me
first detained here when I was arrested, are stationed. The Manchester
Committee, that is to say the Council, gave notice of it to Parliament,
which referred my case to the discretion of the Scottish Committee which
is before York, stating, however, that it would be better to let me go.
Sir [John] Meldrum, who is governor of this town, president of the local
committee, and one of the most self-sufficient of the sovereign committee, as
they say in Scotland, sent to inform me eight days ago that I was at liberty
and under no restraint further than I would on leaving here have an escort
of thirty light horsemen to accompany me and prevent me from entering
on the territory subject to the King of Great Britain ; but as it would be
at this time, states (p. i68) that Hebron while engaged in recruiting for the
French service in Aberdeenshire, in the early part of this year, was pursued by
the lairds of Waterton and Carnemuck, Blakhal's cousins, with the intention
of arresting him and bringing him to Buchan, They suspected Hebron of being
Blakhal in disguise.
1 644] BOISIVON TO BRIENNE 561
very easy on the way during the night near the districts held by the
king's forces to suppose the presence of enemies and to put into execution
what they failed to carry out in Scotland, I was led on this consideration
to decline their offer. On which they again communicated with London.
The indignities to which they have subjected me personally prevent me
from stating the little estimation in which they hold France and French-
men. I swear to you that their mildest word was that they cared nothing
either about their armed force or their friendship, that they received
from France nothing but wine, which they could do very well without.
If you wish to ruin Scotland you have but to stop the Scottish ships at
Bordeaux when they have got their cargoes aboard. I omitted to mention
to you, in order that you may understand better the state of affairs here,
that there exists in London a Council of English and Scottish nobles who
direct in common the affairs of both kingdoms, so that Scotland cannot
disavow that she has violated international law in the person of an envoy
from France. Besides, if you wish to know why they have done so and
why they have shown so much ill-will towards me, I shall tell you in a
few words. When the Earl of Lothian was sent to France his proposals
were but a pretext for his mission ; his real object was to treat in an
underhand manner with the French Huguenots and lead them to sign the
general league that the Protestants in England and Scotland have made
in order to exterminate the Papists. These are their own words ; and
for this purpose they sent not only into France, but also into Holland,
Germany, and Denmark. That is one of their reasons ; the other is
that I know all the details of their rebellion, the interests of those who
direct events behind the scenes, — in short, that I know all their affairs as
well as they do themselves. The last reason is that they blame me for
the imprisonment of the Marquis of Hamilton. It was this that led them
to attempt to assassinate me during the night in my residence in Scotland
M'hich I mentioned to you six months ago, and for which I have had no
redress. This was also why they circulated the rumour among the
people that I was a Jesuit, so as to have me assassinated by the super-
stitious and barbarous populace, and all their attempts having failed, they
seek by all means to prevent my return to France, and hold me a prisoner
here and will not pardon me. The Scots are wicked enough to do the
deed if they can accomplish it, but they do not dare to avow it to the
English, who are more moderate, and principally because of their
religious pretension which they affect to an extraordinary degree, always
quoting Scripture and prayers after meals, with half a sermon, which the
clergyman utters while turning up the whites of his eyes, and all this in
order to impose on the people, who are very simple in this kingdom,
I pray you to send to London to obtain my release and also to send me
some money to Bristol by way of Nantes, Rochelle, or Bordeaux. The
Queen of Great Britain is at Bristol at present, and I must inform her
concerning the affairs of Scotland and of the traitors who are with the
king, her husband, for it is certain that in a country of which I do not
understand the language, I have discovered some very important and
VOL. II. 2 N
562 APPENDIX
very secret information. I entreat you again to provide for my safety so
that the despatch of this letter, that costs me more than half of all the
money I possess, may not be lost.
I run greater risk of being assassinated now than I did ten days ago
when I wrote to you, and I am as badly treated as before. ]
Copy of a letter that M. de Boisivon, Envoy on the King's
service in Scotland, addressed to the King of England from
Manchester, dated 22nd July 1 644 :
Sire, — I take the liberty of writing in order to inform your
Majesty of my imprisonment at Manchester. The Scots, after
wishing to assassinate me in Edinburgh, have held me a prisoner
here during two months and a half, through fear that I might
inform your Majesty of the details relating to your Majesty's
kingdom of Scotland, which they say I am better acquainted with
than they are themselves. It is quite true that I know the luke-
warm, the neuter, the faithful, and the traitors; and had I not
left Edinburgh without informing them of my departure, my
knowledge would have cost me ray life. One of the principal
nobles invited me to supper so as to have an opportunity of inform-
ing me that I had no time to lose in order to make my escape ;
and by good fortune I received, while with him, the letters of the
king, my master, by which he ordered me to return and give an
account of my negotiation. I beg your Majesty very humbly to
have the goodness to inform France of the treatment I receive here.
I have been prevented from writing there ; all my papers have
been taken from me, even including the cipher of the king, my
master ; all my effects have been searched, and what was therein
found sent to the Parliament in London. They have lamed one
of my horses that was worth sixty Jacobus, and lost one that
was worth more, while they take and make use of my remain-
ing horses night and day. I have been treated with the greatest
severity. They threaten to send me by force to Hull or to
London ; I shall be very fortunate if I be not killed on the way.
I beg your Majesty's pardon very humbly for my writing matters of
so little importance ; but seeing it concerns the honour of France,
and that international law has been violated in my person, I have
had the boldness to inform your Majesty of it, and the fear that
my letter may be intercepted prevents me from saying more, so
that it but remains for me again to beg pardon for my having
dared to write, and to entreat your Majesty to believe, etc. etc.
SABRAN TO BOISIVON 563
This copy was sent to M. de Sabran by Sir Edward Nicolas,
Secretary of State to the King of England, enclosed in a letter,
dated Oxford, 27th September l644.
[Bib. Nat. MS. fonds fr., No. 4138-191.]
Sabran to Boisivon
To M. de Boisivon, Envoy on the King's service in Scotland.
Letter of M. de Sabran.
Westminster, 2nd September 1 644.
Sir, — Having been four months in England by order of the
king and queen-regent, mother of the king, three months ago
I received information in London, that had come from Scotland,
of your having been sent there by their Majesties, and a rumour
of your having been arrested in that country. I cannot accept
any reason for your arrest after you had been accredited as an
envoy, other than might have happened on your executing the
king's orders, or from your having infringed them, or, as stated,
that you were arrested for debts contracted in Scotland at the
instance of your creditors. In the first case, you only required
to render an account of it to their Majesties ; in the second case
the persons interested in your contravention ought to have sent
their complaints to their Majesties, who required to be informed
of it ; and in the third case, as regards punishment, you would be
better here. In order the better to obtain your release, I under-
took a journey of six weeks' duration to their Britannic Majesties,
and I have spent an equal amount of time since then in order to
obtain certain information about you. What care I have devoted
to this ! I at length learned, through the same channel as pre-
viously, that during the time you have been at Manchester, you
have been amusing yourself in hunting, while occupying a resi-
dence of your own choice, and quite at liberty. I was all the
more pleased at this on account of your having been recognised as
in the king's service, whose dignity we ought ever to try and
maintain intact in all our actions, and whatever may happen to us
personally. And seeing it is not permitted to doubt of your being
at liberty in your abode, until you give me an account of it, as
you are able to do — if you do not come in person — as this latter
result has been promised to me in reply to my letter, I send it
open, so that there may be less scruple about delivering it to you.
If you are detained, send certain address and reply, awaiting
which, I remain, etc. etc. Sabran,
[Bib. Nat. MS. fonds fran. No. 4138-160.]
564 APPENDIX [OCT.
Note B
M. Du Bosc TO Cardinal Mazarin
Fontainehleau, 21 Oct. 1644.
Sir Thomas Dischington arrived in Paris on the 3rd of this
month and has remained there since, Avithout seeing any one,
greatly grieved at the indisposition of your Eminence. He has
come with God's help on the orders of the queen and your
Eminence to justify in person all he has written. He says it will
be much better for the success of the business that has brought
him, that he does not appear in it until he has seen you, and after
it may have been decided what is to be done so as to avoid
obstacles that might otherwise be brought to bear against it.
That the first thing to be done is to re-establish promptly and
efficiently the privileges of his nation and its ancient alliance with
France. That without this re-establishment nothing can be done
in the present state of things. That afterwards it will be
necessary to effect a union with the English by means of the
Scots and these with whom the latter are in relation. That the
sooner this is done the better it will be, because there is some
indication of an agreement between the king and the Parliament
of England ; what is intended will be very difficult because of the
jealousy that is natural to the English nation and from not being
able to remove the Spanish faction from the king, which also, in
the event of this agreement, could easily persuade that Parlia-
ment, affected by the same jealousy, to resist us, instead of which,
if we begin early, we will be beforehand with them by means of
the Scots.
He has an authentic copy of the letter of Lord Jermyn to the
Prince of Orange signed by the secretary of the council of the
two kingdoms, the original of which is in the hands of the
English Parliament, written by Lord Jermyn and partly in cipher.
He wishes this copy to be seen by no one but her Majesty and
your Eminence until the said Parliament may have sent a copy
of it to the United Provinces. He promises to give the means of
discovering all the intrigues of the Spanish faction. He cautions
her Majesty and your Eminence to be on your guard against
Commander de Jars, and that you prevent Crofts being made
captain of the Guards of the Queen of England. He wishes to
obtain the release of Robert Moray, Lieut.-General in the regi-
1644] SIR ROBERT MORAY 565
ment of Scots Guards, William Moray his brother, captain in the
same regiment, James Hay, nephew to the Earl of Yester and
George Stuart, prisoners of the Duke of Bavaria who will be of
great service. He wishes, if it please your Majesty and your
Eminence, to be allowed the expenses of his stay here, regarding
which I told him it might be pranged, and that he will receive
here the three thousand livres that were offered to him before he
came, for his pension of this year. It is necessary that those of
his country be satisfied with the treatment they receive here.
He does not like to speak of the originals about which so much
has been written.
Note C
Sir Robert Moray
Sir Robert Moray was of the old family of the Morays of Aber-
cairnie in Perthshire. He was the eldest son of Sir Mungo Moray
of Craigie, his mother being a daughter of George Halket of
Pitferran. He was born about the year I6OO, and was educated
at St. Andrews and in Paris. He entered military service in
France during the reign of Louis xiii., and saw much active service
in the wars of that country with Spain and Austria. Having
joined la Garde Ecossaise, commanded by Lord James Campbell,
son of Archibald, seventh Earl of Argyle, he had reached the rank
of Lieut.-Colonel in that regiment, when, in l644, he was taken
prisoner by the army of the Duke of Bavaria. On procuring his
release, in the following year, he was designated by his country-
men to carry out the negotiation with France to which this
correspondence refers, for which his large intelligence and
sagacity made him very well qualified. Lord Clarendon calls
him a cunning and a dexterous man, but the incident he relates
of him, in his History, on which this opinion seems to rest, of
having obtained a written promise from Queen Henrietta Maria,
relating to the establishment of Presbyterianism, must be con-
sidered incorrect. The queen did not, in fact, make the smallest
concession to him on this or any other matter treated of between
them, and but for his zeal in the king's service, and his tact, the
entire negotiation would, on that account, have been brought to
an end on his return to London. This is amply borne out by the
present correspondence. At the same time the real effect of his
proposals and arguments on the queen's mind, backed as these
566 APPENDIX
were by Cardinal Mazarin, seems to have been greater than she was
disposed to admit. See Appendix Note J, Cardinal Mazarin's letter
to Montereul, The probabilities are that Lord Clarendon having
heard mention made of the numerous important papers given by
the queen to William Moray, one of her household, and Sir
Robert's cousin, of which much is related in this correspondence,
must have attributed by mistake to Sir Robert what was alleged
of his cousin. It need scarcely be added that papers given to
William Moray by the queen were merely to be transmitted to
the king her husband, and could not contain anything like a promise
or concession to any one. Yet Sir Robert was certainly a very
shrewd man, and although a Presbyterian, devotedly attached to
the Royalist cause. After the failure of this negotiation and the
king's death, he went to Breda in 1650 with proposals to Charles ii.
During this same year the Scottish Parliament entered into
correspondence with France, in support of his claims on this latter
country. In March l651 he was appointed Lord Justice Clerk in
Scotland. The appointment was an honorary one, yet it is said to
have given general satisfaction, in so far as it was not rendered
inoperative by the arrival of Cromwell and the English. He was
subsequently engaged, with the Earl of Glencairn, in a Royalist
rising in the Highlands ; and had obtained considerable influence
over the small force he commanded, when a rumour was circu-
lated, by means of a forged letter, that he had entered into a plot
with Monck to kill the king. This led to his arrest, and exposed
him to considerable danger from the undisciplined chai-acter of
the troops he had to command.
On the Restoration he was appointed member of the Privy
Council and Commissioner of the Treasury in Scotland. Being
opposed to the king's intention of restoring Episcopacy in Scot-
land, at least until the intentions of the people were better
known concerning it, he continued to oppose the plans of
Middleton and Sharp for that object, and also exerted, during a
certain time, a powerful and beneficial influence on the opinions
and decisions of Lord Lauderdale, who had such confidence in
Sir Robert's candour and care that on his leaving London to
attend the meetings of Parliament in Edinburgh he intrusted
him with all his affairs at Court. A rupture was caused between
them by Lady Dysart, a daughter of Sir Robert's cousin William
Moray, who became Lady Lauderdale, and who persuaded her
husband that Sir Robert assumed to himself the praise of all that
was done between them and was not displeased to pass as his
SIR ROBERT MORAY 567
governor. * Lord Lauderdale's pride was fired by this false in-
sinuation which/ says Burnet in his History of His Own Time,
'began by disjointing all the councils of Scotland.' He tried but
in vain to sepai'ate Sir Robert from his friends. Burnet says
further of Lord Lauderdale : ' He trusted me with all his secrets
and seemed to have no reserves with me. He indeed pressed me
to give up with Sir Robert Moray, and I saw that upon my doing
so I should have as much credit with him as I could desire. Sir
Robert himself apprehended this would be put to me, and pressed
me to comply with it ; but I hated servitude as much as I loved
him, so I refused it flatly. I told Lord Lauderdale that Sir Robert
had been as a second father or governor to me.' Lord Lauder-
dale, unrestrained by the wise counsels of Sir Robert, subsequently
introduced these cruel laws of repression against the Covenanters
that have cast such obloquy on his name. Sir Robert pointed
out to the king, who often consulted him on Scottish affairs, and
other state matters, that not only had field preachings been
declared to be treasonable, under these laws, but that a crowd
collected at the door of a place where preaching was being con-
ducted was considered to be equally so. ' The king admitted
in reply to Sir Robert,' says Burnet, 'that he was not well pleased
with this act, as being extravagantl}' severe, chiefly in that of the
preachers being punished by death ; and said bloody laws did no
good, and that he would never have passed it, had he known it
beforehand.' Burnet adds further: 'He' — Sir Robert — 'had a
genius and power of comprehension superior to most men, com-
bined with an equality of temper that nothing could alter. He
was in practice the only Stoic he had ever known, and was univer-
sally beloved and esteemed by men of all sides and sorts.' He
married Sophia, eldest daughter of Sir David Lindsay of Balcarras,
created Lord Lindsay in l633 by Charles i. Being much attached
to mathematical and physical studies, he with two others of like
taste founded the Royal Society, of which he became the first
president. In the minutes of the second preliminary meeting of
this society, held 5th Dec. I66O, it is thus recorded : ' Sir Robert
Moray brought us word from Court that the king had been
acquainted with the design of this meeting, and did well approve
of it, and would be ready to give encouragement to it.' He
obtained for the Society its first charter of corporation, and was
said to have been its life and soul at its origin. In the charter he
is styled : ' Robertus Moray, miles, unus a secretoribus nostris
Conciliis in regno nostro Scotiae.' He communicated many
568 APPENDIX
scientific papers that are to be found in the Society's Journal,
some of which were translated into French at that time, and
published in Paris. M. de Monconys, a learned Frenchman,
who visited London in 1663, who was introduced at Court and
to Sir Robert, bears testimony to his acquirements and to his
thorough knowledge of French. In the account he wrote of his
travels he has included a scientific correspondence he had with Sir
Robert. Evelyn in his Diary gossips agreeably about the Royal
Society and 'that excellent person and philosopher Sir Robert
Moray.' Under date May I66I he says : 'This evening was with
Lord Brouncher and Sir Robert Moray to show his Majesty, who
was present, Saturn's Annulus, as some thought.' Jan. 7th, 1664-5.
' This night being at Whitehall his Majesty came to me standing
in the withdrawing room and gave me thanks for publishing
The Mysterie of Jesuitism, which he said he had carried two days
in his pocket, read it, and encouraged me. I suppose Sir Robert
Moray had given it to him.' July l670. ' I accompanied my
worthy friend, that excellent man. Sir Robert Moray, with Mr.
Slingsby, Master of the Mint, to see the latter's estate at Barrow
Gre^n in Cambridgeshire.' And the last entry : ' This evening
(July 6th, 1673), 'I went to the funeral of my dear and excellent
friend, that good man and accomplished gentleman. Sir Robert
Moray, secretary of Scotland. He was buried by order of his
Majesty in Westminster Abbey.' He died suddenly in his
garden at Whitehall, 4th July l673. His tomb is near that of
Sir William Davenant.
George Chambers has attributed to Sir Robert a history of the
Rebellion entitled : ' Commentarionim de Rebellione Anglicana,
ah anno l640 usque ad annum 1685. Auctore R. M. Eq. Aur.
Londoni, I686 ' ; but as he died in l672 and this history is brought
down to l685 and published with dedication to James vii. in I686,
this presumed authorship must be considered doubtful.
The following are some of his papers read befoi*e the Royal
Society that were translated into French: ' Observation que ce n'est
qu'un mesme mineral dont on tire le souphre et le vitriol, etc.,
par Sir Moray, Chevalier Anglais,' I666, p. 22; 'Description des
Isles d'Hirta, de Soe et de Burra parmy les Hebrides par le mesme,'
I68O, p. 56 ; ' Suite de la description des Isles dont il a este
parle dans le iv Journal de la Societe Royale de I'annee I68O';
'Description de la petite Isle d'Hirta ejusdem anni,' p. 127.
THE SCOTTISH COMMISSIONERS 560
Note D
Letter from the Scottish Commissioners in London to
M. DE Montereul
Worcester Hotel} ~ October 1645.
Sir, — Being informed that some persons are soliciting from the
king your master the chief command of his regiment of body-
guards, of which the late Earl of Irvine was colonel, and as Scot-
land is much interested in the said regiment, and wishes to take
special care of its maintenance and preservation, we have resolved
to beg you to write to the king, and his principal ministers of
State, by the next mail, in order to prevent any one from being
appointed to command the said regiment, before the arrival of a
special messenger, who will be sent from here next week in order
to intimate the intentions of Scotland regarding the said regiment.
This request is made in view of the mutual advantage of France
and Scotland, which will, we believe, be a sufficient reason to
induce you to grant it to us.
(Signed) Loudon, Balmerino,
Hew Kennedy, Ro. Barclay.
Note E
Memorandum from M. de Montereul to the Scottish
Commissioners in London
^g October l645.
1st. What measures will the Commissioners employ in order to
bring about an agreement .''
The Commissioners will press the English Parliament, and will
^ What is here given as Worcester Hotel has been translated from Hotel de
Worcester, as it is found in the French archives, yet it is not improbable that the
original letter in English may have been headed Worcester House, which might
very well have been translated into French as Hotel de Worcester, even while
it was intended to indicate the hotel or private residence of a person named
Worcester. For notice of Worcester House in the neighbourhood of the Strand,
see Cunningham's London, vol. i. p. 69.
570 APPENDIX
cause their Parliament to do the same ; the mediation of France
will also help towards it.
2nd. Will it be necessary for the King of Gi'eat Britain to send
proposals of peace to the Scottish Parliament or to that of Eng-
land, or to both at the same time .''
To both Parliaments.
3rd. How will they be able to oblige the Independents to
accept the proposals that will be made, if they, the said Indepen-
dents, refuse to do so ?
By means of the Solemn League and Covenant made between
them, or by force, if necessary.
4th. In what manner will the English Presbyterians be able to
contribute to their good intentions so as to procure the acceptance
of the said proposals by Parliament ; or to co-operate with them,
and their king, if the proposals be rejected .''
By their advice and by every other kind of assistance, and in
the event of their refusing to do so their help will be dispensed
with.
5th. In the proposals to be made to the said king relating to
church government, the militia, and the affairs of Ireland, what
will be offered to him, on each of these points, more advantageous
for him than what he may hope to obtain from the Indepen-
dents ?
It will be difficult to change what has been decided upon in
both Parliaments, and in the assemblies of the clergy on the sub-
ject of religion, yet what has not been settled may be submitted
to a new assembly, in which the clergy in the king's interest may
take part ; as to the militia, the nomination of half of those who
are to command it may be granted to the king, and the control
of the other half be divided between the English and the Scots :
the Irish question will be submitted for settlement to both Parlia-
ments, the king being present or represented.
6th. Does the Chancellor of Scotland know that the proposals
Sir Robert Moray is about to present to the French Court, on his
part, are agreeable to all Scotland .''
He is certain of it.
7th. Will the said Lord Chancellor of Scotland engage to have
them accepted there in order that when accepted by the King of
Great Britain they may not afterwards be declined by the Scottish
Parliament .''
He will not fail to leave here shortly in order to have it done.
8th. To remember the two papers that the Chancellor of Scot-
THE SCOTTISH COMMISSIONERS 57i
land and Lord Balmerino are to give to authorise the negotiation
of Sir Robert Moray.
They will be given.
9th. What could be offered to Lord Digby to gain him over ;
and what could be done Avith some other persons whose safety the
King of Great Britain may wish to secure .''
Pensions and security; and hopes of return after a time.
10th. To remember to mention the promise of recruits in the
letter which the commissioners are to write to the king ^ and to
do so in very precise terms.
It shall be done.
Note F
Paper in Secret Cipher sent by the Scottish Commissioners
TO M. DE MoNTEREUL
London, — October 1645.
J 27
If the king will condescend to establish ecclesiastical affairs,
as it may be resolved in the Parliaments and Assemblies of the
two kingdoms, and according to what is practised in the other
reformed churches, our opinion is that the Scots and the well-
disposed English will act in concert, and we will use absolutely all
our endeavours to effect the following :
That the king's revenues be restored ; that his debts be paid ;
that he may have the appointment of one-half of the officers in
command of the militia, or that this matter may be arranged in
some other manner ; that all delinquents be liberated, and freed
from pursuit, with the exception of five or six, and that these be
obliged merely to go away for a time ; and that all other civil
matters in dispute may be referred to the king and to the Parlia-
ments of both kingdoms for settlement. The best means of
rendering these proposals effective, when once they have been
accepted by the king, will be for him to send to the Parliaments
of both kingdoms, in order to conclude peace. This being done,
the Scots will adopt the means that will be found best suited to
induce the English Parliament to consent to the proposals, and to
ensure the protection of the king's person, of his posterity, and
of his just prerogatives. In the event of a refusal they will
The King of France.
Sn APPENDIX
employ the readiest means compatible with the safety of the
king to obtain peace.
Editor's Note
In reading the stipulations made between Montereul and the
Scots, it is necessary to bear in mind that none of them were ever
ratified by the Scottish Privy Council nor by Parliament, and that
much of what Montereul relates of his conversations with indi-
vidual members of the Scottish Commission in London was
evidently but mere talk and not entitled to the importance he
gives to it. He was possessed of considerable literary skill, and
had the art of making his statements plausible, but as he is seen to
be crafty and miscrupulous it is necessary to be on one's guard in
accepting them. It is probable that if Sir Robert Moray had left
any account of these transactions they would have appeared in a
very different light. No doubt Montereul in his dealings with
the Scots had some prospect of making a treaty with them. The
Scottish Chancellor in the preceding paper. Appendix, Note E,
Article 7, had promised that when concluded it would be ratified
by the proper authorities. But political events proceeded faster
than the work of drawing up the treaty. The king had to leave
Oxford or remain to be besieged there. He decided to escape to
the Scottish army, where no notice nor order connected with his
coming had been received. In fact, nothing in the form of a
treaty had been concluded. Montereul having previously inti-
mated to Mazarin that he had succeeded in reducing the demands
of the Scots to a minimum suddenly found himself by the king's
arrival face to face with the array where his previous negotiation
was ignored, and where in treating he had to make an entirely
new departure. In his despatch to Mazarin in which he informed
him of the king's arrival in the army (vol. i. p. 189), he omitted,
by a very disingenuous shuffle, to state the terms exacted by the
army in order to receive the king, and tried to make it appear
that these important conditions had dropped out of his despatch
by accident. These, however, we have on record from the testi-
mony of an eye-witness.
Sir James Turner, in his Memoir, p. 41, says : 'In the summer
of 1646, the king's fate driving him on to his near approaching
end, he cast himself in the Scots army at Newark. There did
Earl Lothian, as president of the committee, to his eternal
reproach, imperiously require his Majesty, before he had either
THE SCOTTISH COMMISSIONERS 573
drunk, refreshed or reposed himself, to command Lord Ballises
to deliver up Newark to the Parliament's forces, to sign the
Covenant, and to command James Graham — for so he called the
great Montrose — to lay down his arms all which the king stoutly
refused, telling him he who had made him an earl had made
James Graham a marquis.'
It is scarcely necessary to add any proof of Montereul's un-
scrupulousness beyond what he has narrated himself, yet it may
not be out of place to show to what length he was prepared to
go in trying to carry out his plans. In his despatch (No. Lxxxir.
vol. i. p. 337) he informed Mazarin of an expedient he had devised
in order to induce the king to grant what was required of him. To
which Mazarin replied as follows in a letter dated 14th December
l646: '. . . By the way you had better regain possession of
your paper, that it may not fall into the hands of the Scots or
the hostile Presbyterians. It might cause a scandal among them
to see that a minister of his Majesty advised their king not to
keep his promise to his subjects and create a bad impression
among the people.'
Note G
Sir Robert Moray to the Scottish Commissioners
Paris, 3 November 1645.
You will learn from M. de Montereul what I have written to
him ; but do not let him know what I write to you. On account
of Cardinal Mazarin having told everything relating to our trans-
action to the Queen of Great Britain and to Lord Jermyn, I was
obliged to authorise William Moray to tell them all, under solemn
oath of secrecy, and a promise, on their part, to tell him all they
could learn from his Eminence. Lord Jermyn confessed to him,
in reply to his communication, that it was the best news he had
heard, since the beginning of the troubles in the country. The
offers we make please them both, and they say, that had we not
made the French to believe that all depended on them, they
would not have encouraged us to undertake what Ave have
done.^ . . . William Moray has offered to go. He thinks only
' Something has been omitted here in deciphering this letter. It may have
been purposely done on account of a mistranslation by M. de Montereul. See
his letter, vol. i. p. 6i.
574 APPENDIX
of the harm that may ensue to his family. He expects to leave
on Monday or Tuesday next. His weak health is to be the
pretext for his journey. Lord Jermyn says it is high time for the
king to think of separating his interests from his hopes regarding
the bishops. Everything tends to inspire the most sanguine
hopes of our success.
I send two lines by express to the Earl of Crawford-Lindsay,
to inform him that if he wishes to procure the release of the
Marquis of Hamilton, he ought not to lose such a good oppoi'tunity
as the present, seeing that while Montrose continued fortunate, no
such application could have been made.
Think also of the means to be employed in order to engage
your illustrious friends in Scotland to share your opinions ; so
that you may have less difficulty in engaging them to perform
what you have promised.
Sir Robert Moray to the Scottish Commissioners.
Paris, 7 December l645.
I COULD not have hoped for a more obliging reception than I
have had from the Cardinal, and although I was unable to tell
him all I had to say in an hour's interview, yet I managed to
touch on all the most important points. We discussed that of
church government, and he remained satisfied with my reasons ;
he is also pleased with all you have written, and says only
that Spain would blame the Queen-Regent if she procured
peace without taking Ireland into consideration. Lord Jermyn
replied that Ireland was Spanish, and added other arguments in
the same sense. His Eminence said he would defer the point, in
order to discuss it with Lord Jermyn. I gave the Cardinal the
memorandum containing the reasons why the Queen of Great
Britain should make peace by means of the Scots. I believe they
will have me to return to them again to-morrow. I have not so
far confided in them as to reveal that we wish for peace because
the state of our affairs compel us to do so ; nor have I gone so far
as to bring up the supposition that we may come to a rupture with
England, so as to try and discover what his Eminence would do
in that case ; but William Moray thinks it would be very useful
to do so, provided it be done at a suitable time, and I am
of his opinion, so that when I find an opportunity of saying
THE SCOTTISH COMMISSIONERS 575
anything about it, I shall go a little further than my instructions
warrant.
It Avill be necessary for the Chancellor to go to Scotland in
order to prepare there what you may wish to be done here ; and
although I may return with unsatisfactory replies to my demands,
and with counter-demands that it will be difficult to grant, yet, I
believe I shall be able to secure, at least, a part of what was pre-
scribed to me. His Eminence has already spoken to me of my
return, under pretext of attending to the recruiting. Nothing
will be decided upon concerning it until to-day when his Eminence
is to confer with the Queen of Great Britain and Lord Jermyn.
I have not yet learned the result of their interview.
Whatever reason we may have to hope that our negotiation will
finish happily, we have not yet got beyond the discussion of a pro-
ject for settling the religious difficulty by means of an assembly
of the clergy belonging to all the churches in Europe. His
Eminence states his opinions very freely and often speaks to me
in the greatest confidence. I tell him also everything, and he
says all that can be said to the Queen of Great Britain. It is to
be hoped that the bad news received regarding her concerns will
cause her to change her resolutions. She imagines that one or
other of the two parties will be lead to accept whatever conditions
it may please the King of Great Britain to offer.
Note H
Memorandum from M. de Montereul
December 22, l645.
That Lord Balmerino is very pleased to learn the good inten-
tions of the king and of Cardinal Mazarin towai'ds promoting the
tranquillity of England. That he is particularly satisfied >vith the
trouble his Eminence has taken and the attention he has bestowed
in trying to induce the Queen of Great Britain to persuade the
king her husband to grant what the Scots wish ; and for his
having stated that he did not see why the King of Great Britain
should not accept terms of peace which in no way diminished his
authority.
That he is little satisfied with the intentions of the queen seeing
she has not availed hei'self of the means proffered for coming to
576 APPENDIX
an agreement. That the king has no one near him to inform him
of the interest the Scots have in concluding peace, or who has
influence enough to prevent the testimony they have given of
their fidelity to him in the present circumstance from being
communicated to those vv^ho might use the information to ruin
them, or even any one whom he could send to the Scots were he
disposed to accept what is asked of him ; and he believes the
queen has acted in a very uncandid manner, in not having com-
municated to them what she has written to the king, her husband,
on this subject.
That being alone here, he can do nothing further without the
approval of the Earl of Loudun, Chancellor of Scotland ; and that
he cannot expect any abatement to be made in the articles pi-o-
posed. That he still continues of the same opinion as previously
in spite of the little satisfaction received. He considers that
M. de Montereul ought to go to the King of Great Britain, as
his Eminence has judged necessary, and that if the letters of the
Queen of Great Britain were repeated and seconded by the wishes
of his Eminence, through the prudence and good-will he is pre-
pared to bring to the negotiation, the queen may yet be persuaded
to consent to what Sir Robert Moray proposed as a means of
bringing it to a successful termination. The following is what
is proposed : ' That the King of Great Britain declare to the
Parliaments of both nations his willingness to establish ecclesi-
astical affairs according to the decisions of the assemblies of
theologians and of the Parliaments of both nations ; and that
the little satisfaction the Queen of Great Britain has given
regarding the proposals would lead one to despair of the success
of the negotiation, if his Eminence had not given the assurance
it would succeed.' (Signed) de Montereul.
R. Moray.
Note I
Sir Robert Moray to M. du Bosc by express from
M. de Montereul
London, 22 December l6"45.
... I have done all I could to prevent Lord Balmerino who
is here alone from being so discouraged by the procedure of
the Queen of Great Britain as to break off altogether the
negotiation.
MAZARIN TO MONTEREUL 577
Sir Robert Moray to M. du Bosc
London, 28 December 1645,
. . . Although Lord Balmerino has again been rendered
irresolute by a letter of which my cousin William Moray will
give you a copy, we must not fail to carry out what has been
resolved upon. It is true that it seems more than ever evident
that the only way of finishing the transaction, as it was designed,
is, that the King of Great Britain, on granting what is required of
him, should join the Scottish army. This may be effected by the
journey and the industry of M. de Montereul. If my before-
mentioned cousin William Moray had been engaged in the matter
he would have seconded what M. de Montereul might have
proposed .
When his Eminence sees the letter of Lord Digby to Lord
Jermyn he will discover what was before concealed from him,
and he will remember my frankness in talking to him. For my
part, whatever obstacle may be met with in the matter, I shall
still continue to hope for a satisfactory result and do all in my
power to contribute to it.
Note J
Cardinal Mazarin to M. de Montereul
Paris, 1 December 1645.
I HAVE delayed my reply to several despatches you have written
to me until the departure of Sir Robert Moray; and although I have
omitted nothing in order to hasten matters, I have not been able to
dismiss him until now. He will inform you of all that has been
done, and will also not fail, I feel certain, to acquaint the Scottish
Commissioners with what has taken place here and of how I acted
towards the Queen of Great Britain to dispose her to accept all
that could be most advantageous for the Scots, and of my strong
predilections for all that concerns them. I shall not enlarge on the
matter, but leave Sir Robert Moray to do so. He is very intelli-
gent and apparently very sincere, and will, I trust, give a favourable
report of me to the Commissioners, who only do us justice when
they believe that France has a real affection for their kingdom,
and that I would not be a good and faithful minister of her
VOL. II. 2 o
mS APPENDIX
Majesty if I did not endeavour to obtain for them every sort
of advantage and satisfaction, more especially when, as in
the present case, the service of the King of Great Britain is
combined with the proposal they make, whereby that king may
hope to be restored to his former authority and power, with
the assurance of their affection and fidelity, and be able to subdue
with their assistance those who attempt to overturn the monarchy
and to establish an anarchical form of government. At the same
time you have done well to avoid giving hopes of assistance from
here to the Scots, since, if they were obliged to break with the
Independents, without coming to an agreement with their king, it
would render them more reluctant to enter into terms which
might be accepted by his Britannic Majesty. But you may lead
them to understand that if they are once agreed with their king,
they will have no reason to doubt but that France will assist them
with banners unfurled. It will, however, require to be done with
such circumspection that no one can discover it. But this only to
flatter them with the belief that their Majesties think only of
rendering them more powerful in the estimation of their king,
and in eveiy way more important, knowing well that it is the
reputed habit of this country so to advance the interests of such
old friends and faithful allies as the Scots.
You reason very justly that a partial agreement in view of
peace would not be disadvantageous for us, but every reason of
propriety impels us to try and procure a general one, in order
that we may not be thought to be acting for our own special interests,
but for the public interests of the three kingdoms, which consist
in a general agreement. Hence it will be necessary on every
occasion to insinuate that our object is to obtain such an agree-
ment, and to put an end to the disputes that have caused the
disorders in the three kingdoms, so as to secure a complete and
lasting peace.
After various conferences with the Queen of Great Britain and
Lord Jermyn, and after having obtained every possible assurance
regarding their secrecy, on which I can rely, so far as they are
concerned, I was told that the government and discipline of the
church could be referred to a general synod of the clergy of both
nations, which would produce the same effect as the plan proposed,
and would leave no doubt as to the bishops of both kingdoms
gaining their cause, since they would thus be their own judges,
and their decision would depend on themselves; and even Sir
Robert Moray thought this might do, provided the King of
MAZARIN TO MONTEREUL 579
Great Britain would promise that the bishops would not be in-
cluded, which Lord Jermyn was understood to say his Majesty
would at length condescend to. As regards the persons to be
exempted from pardon, a general amnesty on both sides might be
arrived at. On other points there did not seem to be much
difficulty of agreement. It was remarked that the present Parlia-
ment of England ought to come to an end in the term of a year,
after the conclusion of peace, although his Britannic Majesty had
previously decided that it could only be dissolved of its own accord.
I was told that the Scots, having an interest in the matter, would not
object to this proposal, or prevent its being insisted upon ; and that
when the king granted this permission to the English Parliament
it is well known that he did so by force and through fear that
his refusal would cause a greater misfortune. But not being
satisfied with this reply, I again instructed the Queen of Great
Britain to write to the king her husband in the following terms :
' That not being able to induce the Scots to accept what is above
stated, that his Majesty should resolve to satisfy them, in order
either to make peace with the Independents by their means,
or avail himself of their forces to compel the Independents to do
so.' After much discussion, and the want of any convincing argu-
ments to be adduced showing the king to have any other'resource
than to come to this agreement, the Queen of Great Britain sent
to tell me, in confidence, that she would write to the king
her husband and tell him to satisfy the Scots on the matter
of religion, when it would be seen to be impossible to agree
without giving them this satisfaction, and even to consent to
the retirement for a time of three or four persons, provided
Montrose was not included in the number, whom his Majesty
could not abandon — having been so well served by him — without
being accused of ingratitude and even of cowardice.
But as the queen did not allow me to declare all this to Sir
Robert Moray, I was more reserved with him, telling him only
that it would be necessary to find some expedient in order to
adjust the question of religion, but at the same time concluding
that he would be able to leave here satisfied, and that I would
write to you, if it were necessary, to speak to the King of Great
Britain in these terms ; having no doubt but that the negotiation
would end favourably. Hence the queen wishes you to use
all your efforts to make the Scottish Commissioners agree to what
concerns religion as before stated, and on their refusal to accept
it in form, that you will try to reduce their demands as
580 APPENDIX
much as possible, and that you leave, without loss of time, to
go to the King of Great Britain, using as a pretext your journey
to Scotland to provide recruits for two regiments that are here in
the king's service. You will deliver the letters enclosed from the
said queen, of which copies have been sent through another
channel, and as these letters contain all that is necessary to
oblige the said king to accept the above mentioned agreement
with the Scots, I have reason to believe that everything will
be successful. . , . Sir Robert Moray is very intelligent, and is
well worthy of the esteem in which he is held by his countrymen.
He expresses affection for France, so also has he reason to be
satisfied, not only on account of the regiment, but also for the
expressions of good-will he has received from their Majesties, and
for ray personal esteem and affection. He has been promised
a large reward in the event of his being able to conclude the
proposed arrangement and persuade the Scottish Commissioners
to enter into it. They ought to be all the moi-e ready to do so
when they perceive clearly that the complete ruin of the King of
England, which is so imminent, will soon be followed by their
ruin, since it is certain the English have no less hatred towards
them than they have towards their king. . . .
Note K
Sir Robert Moray to M. du Bosc
London, 17 May l646.
Our affair has now somewhat changed front. The king is with
the Scottish army before Newark, but I have not had a letter from
M. de Montereul since his Majesty ai'rived there. The letter we
expect the king to write to Parliament has not yet aiTived, and in
default of it the Independents do as they like. We hope it may
be on the way and reach here this evening or to-morrow morning.
The House of Commons voted yesterday the following strange
resolution, 'that the king, being in England, ought to be at
the disposal of the English Parliament ' ; and orders were given to
the Scottish army to send his Majesty as a prisoner to Warwick
Castle. This morning the Commons asked the Lords to concur
with them in the matter, and deferred further discussion of it
until to-morrow. It is thought the Lords will not consent, but
MORAY TO BOSC 581
even were they to do so, the Scots would all lose their lives sooner
than obey them, being in no way obliged to execute the orders of
the English Parliament, whatever the English may pretend, and
although they are in their pay. This is expressly stipulated in the
treaty made between the two nations before the war entered
England. All the security of the king's affairs is centred in the
letter he is to write. If he fail to do so, not a single Englishman
will declare for him, so that the game will be an unequal one ;
whereas if he send it immediately, the city of London, all
the moderate Members of Parliament, the greater part of the
nobility will not only declare for him, but they have sworn to
take arms in his defence, if it be necessary. But this is not all. I
believe his Eminence will consider it is now time to do all that was
promised, and that it is necessary to send an Ambassador here, as
soon as possible, fully instructed in what is required. He will
perhaps hav^ to speak out loudly, as this cannot but be advantage-
ous for the king, whatever turn his affairs may take. Among
other important things required, there is nothing more wanted
than money. For God's sake, let what was promised be performed
with good grace. It Avill be necessary to deliberate carefully as to
how the Ambassador ought to act towards the English Parliament
during its meetings, in order that matters succeed better. As to
the Scottish Commissioners, he will be able to have all the inter-
course with them he chooses.
I have been urged to join our army, cripple ^ as I am, in which
case I shall have to be conveyed in a can-iage. There is not likely
to be much to write about until the Ambassador arrives, or until
my return, but should anything important take place I shall let
you know. His Eminence however knows well what is to be done.
I should much like the Ambassador to come immediately so as not
to have to ask information about our affairs from any other than
from him. M. de Sabran is sending an express to Court, which
will reach Paris before the mail. I would be glad if his Eminence
would inform me of his intentions by express. The letters will
always be brought to us by M. de Sabran, but would his Eminence
instruct him to send an express to M. de Montereul with his
despatches, and to have them all carefully ciphered lest Parliament
should tamper with the courier, as it is already suspected that
what has happened has been brought about through the inter-
vention of France. Pray communicate the above to his Eminence.
1 He had sprained his ankle.
682 APPENDIX
Sir Robert Moray to M. du Bosc
Newcastle, ""^^ 1646.
T June
You will have learned from M. de Montereul all that has taken
place here since the king's arrival. The accident I met with,
which delayed for a short time my departure from London, led
M. de Montereul to be dissatisfied with me ; but I believe at
present he has got over it. Some of the Scots were a little un-
civil, and the harm was increased by the manner in which he
resented their conduct ; but now matters go on more quietly.
Assurances have been made to him and also to the king, that
if his Majesty will consent to what is proposed to him, he will be
reinstated on his throne, either by joint consent or by force, other-
wise all the Scots will lay down their lives at his feet. But, to
speak frankly, he has not the least inclination to consent,
although he confessed to me that the queen his spouse had
entreated him very earnestly to do so. . . .
Note L
Cardinal Mazarin to Sir Robert Moray
Paris, 21 Jn?ie l646.
I HAVE received yours of the 1st inst. by M. de Montereul who
has also related to me many other matters in detail concerning
the affairs of the King of Great Britain. I must tell you plainly
that I have been not a little surprised at the manner in which the
said king has been treated since he joined your army. I would
have thought that in addition to what you owe as subjects to the
person of your king you would have more regard for your promises
made to France, whose intervention you sought to settle your
differences with your king. It appears to me that the frankness
with which this country undertook immediately to effect this agree-
ment, together with the old zeal of your countrymen for this state,
and the affection with which they have always been received and
admitted to all the advantages of Frenchmen, might have rendered
you a little more circumspect not to disoblige us, nor to give us
other opinions of you than those we have hitherto had, and which
we shall still be glad to entertain. However, since you assure me,
and M. de Montereul confirms your opinion, that the engagement
INSTRUCTIONS TO BELLlfiVRE 583
is not so broken off that it cannot be renewed, and that you are
more than ever disposed to execute what was agreed upon, pro-
vided the King of Great Britain on his part resolves to grant to
you what you desire for your Church affairs, M. le President de
Bellievre has received instructions as soon as he arrives to do all
he can to dispose the king to yield. The queen his consort also
promises to omit nothing that can be done here to ensure the
success of this plan. I beg you to believe that I shall keep a
firm hand and use every care in the matter. I take for granted
that you also being more engaged in the transaction than any
other person, through the offers you brought to me, will solicit
actively those who have the direction of your public affairs to
take that decision that will always be the most honest and the
most useful to them, whereby they will render an unspeakable
service to him whom God has given to them as prince, and oblige
a country so friendly towards them as France.
Note M
Instructions given to the President de BELLifevHE on his
Departure as Ambassador to England, June 1646
. . . The Scots have always had a particular affection for
this country, in which they have, at all times, been considered
naturalised French subjects. They have no deep-rooted hatred
against their royal family, neither have they a determined inten-
tion to abolish the monarchical form of government. The English,
on the contrary, in the entire course of their recent conduct, have
been obstinate in rejecting all terms of reconciliation offered to
them on the part of their king, as containing conditions not
favourable enough, while in several instances they have attri-
buted to themselves, if not the entire sovereign power, at least
the greater part of it. Hence when the Scots sent Sir Robert
Moray to France, and addressed him to Cardinal Mazarin, to in-
form him of their opinions, they did so, with the greatest secrecy,
on account of the danger to which they considered their country-
men in London might be exposed were it known that Sir Robert
Moray was negotiating in France. Sir Robert begged the cardinal
to advise the queen-regent to undertake this mediation as the
only means of putting an end to a dispute of this nature, inas-
much as it would provide a valid security to the King of Great
584. APPENDIX
Britain that the Scots would perform what they promised to
him, and an equal assurance for them of what their king might
promise. Notwithstanding this, and although they engaged that
their king would find every security in their army ; that he would
there be received with honour ; that no violence should be done
to his conscience, and that in the event of the English Parlia-
ment seeking to deprive him of his just prerogatives, they would
declare in his favour, in order to maintain them. Although it was
decided that Mr. Ashburnham, who had accompanied the king in
his retreat, would be in security with them, having promised to
M. de Montereul not to deliver him up to the English Parliament,
that the Marquis of Montrose and Macdonald should be at liberty
to go to France, and that the king should be allowed to send
the former there as his ambassador ; notwithstanding that these
measures were stipulated and agreed upon with M. de Montereul,
they obliged the king, as soon as he was with them, to deliver up
Newark on very hard conditions for its garrisons. They have also
insisted on matters relating to religion in a manner so repellent
that it could not have been worse had they wished to give him an
aversion to their Presbyterianism. They have compelled him to
give orders to Montrose and Macdonald to disarm, and to the
town of Oxford, with others that he held, to be given up. They
have published a prohibition for all those who have served against
them, or against the English Parliament, on penalty of their lives,
to approach his Court. They have obliged Mr. Ashburnham to
escape, in order not to be given up to the English Parliament.
They have caused Mr. Hudson, the king's guide in his retreat, to
be arrested by the Mayor of Newcastle, and would have delivered
him up to the English Parliament had not M. de Montereul found
means to facilitate his escape. In short, their commissioners would
not allow Montrose and Macdonald to retire to France, nor con-
sent to the nomination of the former as ambassador.
It results clearly from all this that the Scots have failed to per-
form their promises, on the faith of which the King of Great
Britain put himself into their hands ; and that they had no other
object in view than to serve their own interests, at his expense,
contrary to their plighted troth, and to their engagement with
France. . . . On this it must be remarked that nothing positively
can be shown in writing emanating from the Privy Council of
Scotland as to what Sir Robert Moray proposed on its part to
us ; but the intention is clearly shown, since Sir Robert in
negotiating here was accredited by two letters from the said
INSTRUCTIONS TO BELLI^VRE 585
council. It is further testified by the sending of William Moray
to the King of Great Britain, in compliance with their request ;
by the negotiations that M. de Montereul has had with the
principal members of their commission in London, and by the
promises they gave to him that they would treat the king as above
stated.
It is also to be remarked that, in order to give matter for
reflection to the Scots, if they continue to treat their king as
they have hitherto done, and fail in their promises made to him,
through the agency of France, it will be necessary to tell them,
that this country feels extremely offended at their proceeding,
and considers it an insult that they have used its credit with the
King of Great Britain in order to deceive him, and lead him into
the snare they had laid for him upon the assurance their Majesties
gave to the said king, that coming to their army he would receive
from them every sort of satisfaction, and that what had been pro-
mised would be promptly performed : that France for her honour's
sake has been obliged to inform the said king, and all interested
in the transaction, that having persuaded him, in good faith, to
throw himself into their arms, she takes part in all the breaches
of agreement that have been committed towards him.
Although it is necessary to state this, and to do so loudly, to
keep the Scots to what they have promised, through fear of
having to settle with France, it is no less true that we are in no
way engaged towards the said king, but that we have always
spoken in such a manner that he cannot reproach us with having
undertaken anything whatever on our word. Of this there can be
no doubt, since we declared positively to him, through the agency
of the queen his consort that we would omit nothing in trying
to be of service to him, but that it was for him and his council to
examine Avhat confidence he might place in the promises of the
Scots. This was stated to Lord Jermyn, in all the interviews he
had with Cardinal Mazai-in, with whom he negotiated on the part
of the queen, his mistress. Both the queen and Lord Jermyn
agreed to this ; and it is also certain that after M. de Montereul
came to the Scottish army, and it became known that these people
had no good intentions towards their king, and were not disposed
to perform what their commission in London had promised, he
made the king clearly understand this at Oxford ; besides the said
Montereul has a written acknowledgment signed by the king to
the same effect.
It is to be remarked again, that when Moray came to France,
586 APPENDIX
it was judged necessary to advise the King of Great Britain, by-
means of the queen his consort to satisfy the Scots, by granting
to them what they required ; and seeing there was no hope of
obtaining from this country, in present circumstances, the assist-
ance necessary to bring his subjects into submission, and re-
estabhsh his reputation, his only resource was to try and divide
his subjects and gain over one part of them in order to combat
the remainder. But what was at that time thought a sure stroke
in the way of re-establishing the king's affairs, if he had believed it,
and resolved at once to satisfy the Scots, and detach them from
the English Parliamentarians, adopted now, after a delay of eight
months, will, it is foreseen, have little or no effect. This is why
it has been considered useless, during the last three months, to
advise him to do what he at first declined to do. At the time stated
he was still possessed of several sea-ports and other important
places ; some counties still held out for him, and his army, or that
of the Prince of Wales, his son, included no less than 20,000 tried
soldiers, not including those of Montrose, who not having then met
with this great defeat, would all combined have given a new im-
petus to the king's affairs. Hence if he had satisfied the Scots on
the matter they insisted upon, and then joined their army, the
engagement into which they had entered by means of France
would not only have obliged them to perform, what they had pro-
mised, but they would have been compelled to do so through fear
of the king's forces, which united would have outnumbered theirs.
Now that the king is stripped of everything, that he has not a
man at his command, nor an inch of territory, it is nothing sur-
prising that the Scots, who are more jealous of their advantages
than scrupulous in fulfilling their promises, should not appreciate
him as they then did. And this is all the more reasonable on
their part, since they see clearly that it was only absolute necessity
that obliged the king to seek refuge in their army. They knew
well that the English Parliament had rejected all his proposals,
and that it was only after having seen the entire loss of the army
of the Prince of 'Wales, and seeing himself about to be invested
on all sides at Oxford, where he could not hope to remain with-
out being taken prisoner, that he came to them.
This is not a reason, however, for us to count less on the
disposition of the Scots towards their king than on that of the
Independents. We must on the contrary set to work with
greater ardour to separate them from the others, and to range
them on the side of their king, who, if he will make up his mind
MAZARIN TO CHARLES I. 587
to grant to them what they demand regarding Presbyterianism, as
it will be tried through the good offices of the queen his consort
to induce him to do, it is to be hoped the Scots will carry out
their first intention to join their interests to his, and place their
means and their lives at his disposal, according to the agreement
made between us and Sir Robert Moray . . .
It is true that the said king will find it difficult to bring him-
self to a resolution so opposed to his opinions and to his maxims
of conscience, but he ought not to be too scrupulous, if he con-
sider that it is better, in order to recover his states and his
authority, to allow a thing to take its way, which he is powerless
at present to prevent, and which in refusing he certainly deprives
himself of the only hope that now remains to save himself from
the shipwreck he has made.
Note N
Cardinal Mazarin to Charles i.^
I HAVE received by M. de Montereul the letter of the 28th
ult. which it has pleased your Majesty to write to me. It testifies
so much satisfaction and feeling, in return for the small services
I have tried to render, that were I not prompted by inclination to
perform them, and even by considerations more powerful than my
inclination, I would feel induced to do so from the kindness which
your Majesty has done me the honour of manifesting towards me.
I hope the intervention of France will be useful to your Majesty
in the present circumstances, and that if the duties M. de
Bellievre has been appointed to perform in your Majesty's
interests be seconded by the resolution he will beg you to take,
you will derive such fruits from it as to be convinced that you
could not have adopted a more prudent or a more useful line of
conduct. Whatever advantage and good it may bring cannot
exceed what is wished for your Majesty by your, etc.
* The original copy of this letter in the Archives of the French Foreign Office
is torn, the date and the docket are gone. The date, 1644, has been roughly
and comparatively recently added, and it is classed with documents of that year,
whereas from the nature of its contents it was evidently written during June
1646
588 APPENDIX
Note O
Sir Robert Moray to M. du Bosc
29 Newcastle, J any. 1647.
It is not from negligence that I have not troubled you oftener
with letters ; but on the one hand you have learned from all
that I could have told you, and on the other hand the news that
one can communicate to you is so sad that I have not courage
enough to relate it to you in detail. In one word, before Satur-
day next the King of Great Britain will be in the hands of the
English. Permit me then to add nothing further.
(Signed) R. Moray.
Note P
The Scottish Dove
Holy innocency is blessed
Be wise as Serpents, innocent as Doves
The / SCOTISH DOVE / Sent out and Returning; / Brings
Intelligence from the Armies of both / Kingdomes, and relates
other Passages observable, / for Information and Instruction.
From Wednesday the 5 of August till Wednesday the 12 oj"
August 1646.
The people generally, in city and country, have long desired
Propositions might be sent to the King. His Majesty himselfe
hath seemed to desire the same. And his Majesties friends
abroad, hath also desired it (or pretended to desire it), and to
that end a late Ambassador was sent from France to the Parlia-
ment : All which have fed some men with an expectation of pre-
sent peace. We have scene by Gods direction in a seasonable
time, the Parliament have satisfied all mens desires, and his
Majesties expectation (for so his Majestic hath pleased formerly
to expresse himselfe). The desires of France were granted
before they could be asked ! And what doe we now think .'' is
it peace or no ? were our expectations well grounded : or were we
deluded } if well grounded, how made frustrate ? if wee were
deluded why should we still believe .'' did wee ever sweate, and
was it ever intended, that we should preserve the honour of any
person that rejected our endeavour or to defend the person of any
that opposeth the rights and priviledges of Parliament, and the
FROM 'THE SCOTTISH DOVE' 589
liberties of the Kingdome ? or in opposition to the true Religion,
or have we not absolutely sworne to defend and maintaine all
these against all persons ? may not the world beare witnesse of
the Parliaments loyaltie to his Majesty, and that they had no
thoughts nor intention to deminish his Majesties just power and
greatnesse ? have not their Votes, there Declarations, there reall
offers, made good of all this ? to forfeit all and lose nothing is
redundant mercy ! let the world judge, our enemies cannot deny,
what is obvious to all : we see our enemyes will have no peace,
except of there own making ; which clearly argues, they will have
all, or nothing : if so, it is time to summon up our selves and make
up the breaches, by which they ayme to surprise all : then let us
as brethren love one another, deny our selves, that Jesus Christ
may be all in all to all : if we humble our selves, he will exault us,
but if wee contend for selfe ends, wee dishonour Christ and shall
be dishonoured : what makes our enemies insult, themselves being
broken ? they see by our divisions wee are ready to breake one
another, and that they know will make them whole ; they blow
the fire, we bring the fuell, but the work is fashioned to their own
modell ; we have hitherto joyned in one, to the hazard of our
lives and fortunes in defence and preservation of the priviledges
of Parliament, and by the priviledges of Parliament we are
hitherto preserved, let us not therefore sinne against God who
hath preserved us : nor murmure against the Parliament though
all things be not as we desire, nor as it shold be ! our supplication
to God and humble addresses (in complaints of grievances) to
the Parliament will helpe all ! but our stubbomesse, our murmur-
ings, or running before law, and disobedience to law, will be our
ruine, the world cannot, God will not, save us, nor deliver us
(except it be a remnant for ! his own name sake) take this for
Information, consider it, 'tis truth ; we must reforme, and repent,
or perish as they that have gone before us.
For Intelligence thus.
The Generalls of his Majesties refus all to sign the Propositions,
I gave you in my last, since which severall Letters are come both
to the House and to perticular men ! The which, with the per-
ticulars of the Commissioners proceedings, I shall give you in
the end of my sheet. The Commissioners being on their journey,
hasting to the Parliament ! were said to rest the last Lords Day,
August 9j at Royston, and expected to bee in London on Munday
night : Thus much without all peradventure, I may say (for all
590 APPENDIX
letters from Newcastle affirm it) that our Brethren of Scotland
have manifested there reality and brotherly affection^ unanimously
joyning with us to the uttermost of there endeavours to move the
King to signe the Propositions, who will not be entreated, nor
moved by them, beyond his owne will, not the languishing con-
dition of 3 Kingdoms, his Majesties present low condition (into
wch God hath cast him), nor the bloud of those hundreds
of thousands Protestants, which the Earth hath swallowed
(from whence it cryes) hath yet penitrated his Majesties heart ;
though heaven have fought against him, a7td the starres in there
courses, even as against Sisera he will not see it : I cannot but
thinke upon that one saying of holy Job, who (saith he) hath
hardned himselfe against God, and hath prospered : God hath mercy
(saith Saint Paul) oti whom he will have mercy, and whom he will
he hardneth. But God infuseth not hardnesse : nor is the
efficient cause of it, he is the deficient cause onely : where wee
least feared, is our hurt intended, were we too much suspected,
our safety is conjoyned : if our wayes please God, hee ?vill make our
Enemies to be at peace with us : but for our disobedience, our selfe
love and selfe seeking, hee can make our friends to be our
Ennemies, let us remember God sees all men's actions, knowes
every secret thoughts from the Peere to the pesant and will
recompence all accordingly.
His Excellency, Sir Thomas Fairfax, impatient of rest to his
owne body, so long as any part of the Enemy stand in resolved
opposition, is gon from the Bath to Ragland Castle where the
Earle of Worcester still remaines, strong, and resolved to be as
prejuditiall to the Kingdome as he is Malignant against Godli-
nesse and Reformation of Religion, etc. Col. Morgan, who hath
bin in hard service before Ragland Castle, both in offence, and
defence : wanting men and horse to facilitate the work, his
Excellency commanded that Col. Birch should march to his assist-
ance with Horse, Foot, and Artillery, his Excellency is himselfe
there, and some of his forces of Foot and Horse.
We are assured that Montrosse, though severall times sent unto,
hath not laid downe Ai'mes, nor is in any subjection, he is in the
Mountaines and stands on his own Guard, if his Majesty (who
hath sent him command to disband) meant well to his people,
and subjects in the three Kingdomes, hee would proclaime him
to be a Traytor and Enemy : but he hath done no such thing ;
there is surely a mistery in these things.
It is true that the representatives of the Kingdome of Scotland
FROM 'THE SCOTTISH DOVE' 591
have petitioned the King to signe the Propositions as that which
may be good to his Majesty and Subjects, but it seemes humble
Petitions makes his Majesty think the people are bound by divine
right to owne their King (and fit they should), but it must be such
a King as will own his people, for the people make Kings ! Kings
cannot make people ! Kings are bound to performe duty to the
People for their preservation, as the people to obedience to
Kings, Kings (while Gods Image, acting for God) are said to bee
Gods : but they are in life and death but men.
The condition of Ireland being very deplorable by reason of
the Enemies advantage, and cruelty : The Parliament have spent
much time to hasten reliefe and have past severall Orders : having
notice given by the Knights and Burgesses of every County, what
forces were to be spared, they have ordered out of all counties
both of horse and foot, those that may be spared, and had imploy-
ments in severall Garisons, which for the ease of the Kingdome
of England, are now (many of them) Ordered to be dismantled,
shall be with all speed imployed for the service of Ireland, and
that all such as refuse to be Listed in that service shall be dis-
banded. That those that willingly serve in that imployment shall
have their Arrears cast up, and debentures and shall have a month
pay in hand for the present service, money is already sent to
Major Generall Massyes Souldiers to pay them, and to hasten
them to the place of their Rendezvouse, for which is appointed
Bristoll, Westchester, and Leverpoole, at which places the Souldiers
are to receive monyes, and such as want Cloaths are to be Cloathed.
It is ordered also that there shall be shipping at all these places
to transport men over into Ireland, and with them all sorts of
Ammunition.
They are to meet at these places of Rendezvouze by the 20 of
August. The forces ordered for this service will amount to the
number of 10,000 foot, and halfe as many horse: the number is
very sufficient the care of great concernment ! if they were in
Ireland they may save and gaine all, if delayed all will be lost in
probability, except God miraculously keepe his people.
The latest Intelligence from Ireland tels us that the Rebells are
neare Dublin, that a new League is made betweene Ormond and
them, and so united that they are feared to joyne together to cut
the Protestants throats in Dublin. I pray God prevent it, but there
is great danger. We see how the Mistery of Iniquity worketh.
I shall commend to the world to things concerning the use of
the Committees of Accounts^ the now only necessary Committees of
592 APPENDIX
all Counties, the first is the justifying of upright men upon record,
the second the discovering the secret theft of the Kingdome, and
these twOj by two instances.
First in the honoured, honourable the Lord Fairfax whose
accounts being examined, and his honour vindicated from lucre,
as extolled for gallantry : when audited, and found behinde for his
pay as Generall of the North, and in particular, as Colonell of
a Regement of Horse, and of a Regement of Foote : which was
Ordered to be payd out of Delinquents composition, but he freely
acquited the State of all the Arreares for his two Regements !
only the Arreares due as Generall ; her 's worth and honour, this
is to live to God, and to the Common-Weale : not to a mans owne
selfe ends ; And to fleece the publike ! as too many have done
and doe, etc.
I shall give my other instance from the County of Lecester :
there I 'le pitch (though I might enlarge it to severall bordering
Counties). The Committee of accounts for that County being
Eagle-eyd fell on the hidden bankes. Master Read being Chayre
man to the Committe : (some of them, I meane, for some I sup-
pose are honest) fell upon a way of revenge, and sequestred
Master Read : but Master Read it seemes more righteous then
his accusers made his addresse : hade a faire hearing, his accusers
brought in there Evidences and reasons of there acts : all were
found too light, Master Read was by the Committee of Lords and
Commons for sequestrations relieved, and discharged, if able men
may examine the accounts of the Kingdome, it will bring in much
mony and discover much deceit and hypocrisie, and this is it the
oppressed people expect, and God requires.
There will be shortly printed a Catalogue of all the books of
worth or note that hath bin printed in twenty yeares past to
this present, had not some Booksellers bin to slack to collect
their Catalogues, it had bin done before now for their own profit
and good of the Kingdom.
There is also a Treatise in Presse intituled. The utter routing of
the whole Army of all the Independents and Sectaries, with the Totall
overthrow of their Hierarchi/ that New Bahell, more groundlesse then
that of the Prelates : or, Independency not Gods Ordinance, in which
all the Fronlires of the Presbitery, with all the qua7iers of the same
are defended, against all Enemies.
Although I seldome make relation of Forraigne newes, yet I
cannot at any time omit to touch upon such, as by consequence
may neerly concerne our own Kingdom. I told you lately there
FROM 'THE SCOTTISH DOVE' 593
was an overture of a Peace between Spaine and the States of
Holland ! They are in Treaty at the town of Munster, And as
our Intelligence tell us, they are in a probable way of an agree-
ment ! a little time will tell the truth : but it is hard to relate
truth at so great a distance, when intelligence failes in truth of
things, hapning within our owne Kingdome : The French seeke
to be Masters of Flanders, if they should prevaile, we may suppose
what the next ayme will be.
But from France we heare confirmation of the late great losse
they have sustained ; First the routing of their whole Army in
Italy : as formerly I told you, since they have received a great
losse in Flanders about Mardieke and Dunkirke : where the
Spanyard by policy have prevented there designe, and put them
to the worse : It is reported that the most of two Regements of
our English that were of the Kings Army are cut off: They
were commanded by Colonell Tillier, many Gallant Gentlemen of
France are lost there and elsewhere : if the relation from thence
hold true the Admirall of France is slaine, and Mounsier Harcort,
and divers more.
Besides all this (as if there were a particular hand of prejudice
guiding for our good) there is a great dissention begun in France,
which may bring great things to passe. The Prince of Condie,
the Duke of Anguiene [Enghien] and divers of great quallity,
have made Declaration against the Government of France, by the
Queens Regent and the Cardinall Mazariene, as being guided by
evill Councells : the parties on both sides are great : They also
(as it is said) question the legitimacy of the young King, God is
just, and can bring a fire among men that have brought fuell to
burne others, it is not unnecessary to put you in mind of the
wonderful providence of God in subduing the powers of Denmark
when they were raising their strength to subdue Gods people in
England : it is a mercy never to be forgotten, and it is a sin not
to take notice of Gods dealings with us and for us.
The Commissioners that were sent to the King are returned on
Munday : There are come also divers of the Scotcsh Commissioners,
viz. The Marquese of Argile and the Lord Chancellor of Scotland,
and the Earle of Donfreeze and others, by the relation of all it
is confirmed that the King is resolute in his old way, and to his
owne will. The State of Scotland have used all possible means
to perswade, but in vaine. The French Ambassador and Montrill
[Montereul] are conceived to doe hutt [hurt] not good in that
VOL. II. 2 P
594 APPENDIX
businesse, and it is believed our Brethren of Scotland will do
what the Parliament of England shall advise for the good of both
Kingdomes, and not be stirred either by large promises nor
greatest threats.
This Tuesday is the day appointed for the numeration of the
Members of Parliament, all that were absent being called by
order of both houses to come and make their appearance. The
Commissioners have not made the report to the houses of the
passages of businesses of Newcastle, nor have the Commissioners
of Scotland yet don anything in that kind, Wednesday and Thurs-
day will be dayes probable for that purpose. There were three
Letters intercepted found a yeard deepe in coales in a ship going
from Newcastle, in which Montrill was going with Letters into
France, and when asked what letters, hee said none but what was
in his Portmantle.
These being found afterward thus hid were sent to the house
not imagining they were belonging to the Ambassador of France,
for Ambassadors have leave to send letters in view, but not con-
cealed, the letters were opened and seemd to be writ by the
Ambassador, one to the Cardinall, another to an other party, the
third to the Secretary ; that to the Secretary being long and in
Charecters, but they were all laid by, and Ordered that if they be
the Ambassadors they shall be returned. The great bnsinesse of
the day hath bin about Ireland to hasten those affaires ; This day
the Oxford great Scale, and other scales were by appointment of
the house broken to peeces, etc. Mr. Murry is enlarged from
prison.
This is Printed according to Order for F. L.
Note PP
The King's Proposed Escape from Newcastle
The king wrote to the queen from Newcastle, Dec. 5, 1646:
' . . . I will, according to thy conjuration, not think of an escape
until the Scots shall declare that they will not protect me.' —
Letters of King Charles I. to Queen Henrietta Maiia, edited by John
Bruce for Camden Society, 1856.
The Earl of Lanark wrote to the king, under date 17th Dec. :
' I shall not presume to trouble your Majesty with the sad relation
of our carriages here these last two days. The particulars will be
represented to you by others. Only give me leave to beg that
LAIRDS OF HARTHILL AND GIGHT 595
what your Majesty intends to do be done quickly, for our resolu-
tions here will be sudden and sharp. Whatsoever other men's
carriage be, I am resolved to die rather than concur with them. —
Lanark. ' This refers to the king's intended escape by sea from
Newcastle. ' The design was thus laid,' says Burnet in Memoirs of
Dukes of Hamilton, p. 307. ' Mr. Moray had provided a vessel at
Tinmouth, and Sir Robert Moray was to have conveyed the king
thither in a disguise, and it proceeded so far that the king put
himself in the disguise and went down the back stairs with
Sir Robert Moray. But his Majesty, apprehending it was scarce
possible to pass through all the guards without being discovered,
and judging it highly indecent to be catched in such a condition,
changed his resolution and went back, as Sir Robert informed the
writer.'
Guthry, in his Memoirs, p. 185, says: 'Before the time
came which William Murray had set to carry out his plan for the
king's escape, it was so divulged that there was no other discourse
throughout the army but of William Murray's plot to carry away
the king, and thereupon a guard of soldiers was presently planted
at his chamber-door, both within and without, whereby his Majesty
was not only deprived of liberty but also of quiet and retirement.*
Note R
The Lairds of Harthill and Gight
The doings of the Marquis of Huntly's retainers, the lairds of
Harthill, Gight, Haddo, and others during these troubled times
have been somewhat fully given by contemporary writers.
' Patrick Leith, of Harthill, Aberdeenshire, was,' says Guthry,
p. 221, 'a youth of extraordinary parts and undaunted resolution,
and most inviolably attached to the interests of the Royal family.
He was deservedly honoured with a commission from King
Charles i. He knew well how to raise the men, but the great
difficulty was how to mount them. His military genius and heroic
spirit soon surmounted this obstacle by forming a stratagem that
succeeded to his wish, for hearing that Forbes of Craigievar had
come to Inverary with his troop, he called to him his boldest and
most enterprizing friends, and after communicating his plan, went
with them during the night to Inverary, when he made the whole
troop prisoners, and with their horses mounted his own men, with
whom, in a day or two, he made a good figure before Montrose,
596 APPENDIX
who highly applauded the courage and conduct of this brave
young gentleman.'
Spalding, in his History of the Troubles, p. 384, relates : ' Upon
Tuesday, the ipth of March l644, the young laird of Drum,
Robert Irvine, his brother, the lairds of Haddo, Gight, etc,,
about the number of sixty horse, about seven in the morning,
came galloping through Old town to New Aberdeen, and suddenly
took Provost Lesly, Robert Farquhar and Alexander Jaffray, late
bailies, and John Jaffray, Dean of Guild, his brother, out of their
houses, and had them to Skipper Anderson's house. . . . Surely
it is to be marked the like seldom has been seen that so few men so
pertly and publicly should have disgraced such a brave borough
by taking away their provost and the rest, men of note, without
any kind of contradiction or obstacle.' The above writer adds,
p. 405, 'that the Marquis of Huntly left the four captives at
Strathbogie, and that they were transported therefrae to Auchin-
down upon the 2nd April. No sooner had Huntly's party evacuated
Aberdeen than it was entered on the 2nd of May by the army of
the Covenanters, which consisted of six thousand horse and foot,
together with the Marquis of Argyle, the Earl Marischall, Lord
Burleigh, and other noblemen.'
Balfour's Annals, vol. iii. p. 213, gives the decision of Parlia-
ment against the Laird of Haddo, Sir George Gordon, on his trial
for this offence. 'July 10th, l644. The taking of Patrick Leslie,
Provost of Aberdeen, Mr. Robert Farquhar, commissary for the
publicke, bailie Jaffrey, and his brother, the Dean of Guild, and
putting them in privat prissone in the Castel of Auchindowne,
and detaining them therein, they being the king's free leidges
and publicke persons, whether this cryme be punishable by
death, tressone, or arbritament of the Parliament ? This being
putt to the Voices of the housse, it was found by pluralitie of
voices, that this cryme is capitall and punishable by the paine of
death,' Sir George Gordon was thereupon accordingly executed.
Alexander Jaffray relates in his Diary, p. 51, in connection
with this same subject, under date of the following year, 1645 :
' The country being so loose and broken, I could not safely stay at
Aberdeen, so went with sundry other honest families to Dunotter,
where we were very kindly received by the Earl Marischall,
having house-room from him, and our entertainement from Aber-
deen and Stonehaven. One day having gone with Mr. Andrew
Cant to Crathes to visit his son, Mr. Alexander, on our way back
LAIRDS OF HARTHILL AND GIGHT 597
we were encountered by the Laird of Harthill the younger, who
was then returning from the battle of Kelsyth, where Montrose
had gained the sixth and last battle he had over Scotland. We
were by the said Harthill and the laird of Newton-Gordon taken
prisoners (Mr. Andrew Cant, my brother Thomas and I), after very
much threatening to have killed us — especially I was threatened
as being guilty, they alleged, of Haddo's death, who had been
executed for his rebellion against the state. . . . We were that
night kept prisoners at Aberdeen and the morrow carried to
Pitcaple, where we were kept under the custody of one Peter
Leathe, brother to old Harthill.' It is further related that they
were confined during several weeks until the month of September
following, when news arrived of the defeat of Montrose at Philip-
haugh, and the number of their guards being reduced, they suc-
ceded in making their escape, after having set fire to the house
in which they had been kept. In the Parliamentary Records
of Scotland, under date of 19th February l649, is the supplication
of Forbes of Leslie, Alexander JafTray^ Bailie of Aberdeen, Andrew
Cant, and others, that they may not be censured for having
burned the house of Pitcaple in the month of September 1645,
and the report of the Committee of Parliament thereon, and a
vote is passed that they deserve the approbation of Parliament.
The following is an English contemporary account of Harthill's
execution: 'Letters from Edinburgh of 5 November l6'47 give to
understand that the Committee of Estates have sentenced and
beheaded the laird of Harthill, the 26th of last month, at the
Cross of Edinburgh, one who was very active in the rebellion
in the North. The day before he was beheaded an instrument
was brought from the King's Majesty for his pardon and relaxa-
tion. The Magistrates of the city seemed to make some scruple,
but after conference with some of the Committee of Estates, there
being neither president nor a full number, they proceeded to
execution, and he was beheaded without the company of a
minister, in regard he refused to petition a relaxation from their
excommunication. He died very boldly, made a speech to the
people, showing much affection to his Majesty; after he threw
two papers among the people, which mention strangely new
troubles in England.' — Rushworth, part iv. vol. ii. p. 859.
Another letter from Edinburgh, dated 2nd November l647,
states : 'All business is dull here ; the Committee meet but twice
a week, and sometimes there is no quorum, which prevented the
sentence of death which was expected should have been passed
598 APPENDIX
on a proper gentleman, one Gordon, Laird of Newton, last
Friday.'
Note S
BoiSIVON TO THE CoUNCIL OF StaTE.
To the very noble lords of the Council of State of the King of
Great Britain in Ireland.
After some of your clergy had dared to call me to account in
their presbyteries, not being satisfied with complaining in their
meetings that a Resident of his very Christian Majesty lived in a
Christian manner in his place of residence and exercised the
religion of his prince, they have had the audacity to decide
therein that a petition be presented to the Council of State of
the King of Gi-eat Britain in this kingdom, to the effect that I be
not allowed the liberty of having Mass said in my abode for my-
self and my domestics only, by a priest of my own nationality, as
I had done till now so quietly and with such reserve that I
expected rather to receive thanks for my conduct from those
who have ventured at present to complain of it. I have there-
fore judged, seeing this pursuit touches so closely the honour of
the king my master, that though I do not doubt but what your
lordships may be able by your prudence to regulate the unruly
zeal of these gentlemen, it yet seemed to me that I could no
longer keep silent and that I ought to apply to you, to point
out how strange it is that a public minister of his very Christian
Majesty may be more badly treated in Edinburgh than he would
be in Constantinople and by the Scots, who belong to Christendom
and who are old friends of France, than by barbarians and heathens,
and that this demand made by your clergy was not made during
the minority of King James of glorious memory, when the zeal
which accompanies novelty might have rendered it more ex-
cusable. In short that this pretension, not only attacks those
alliances that have been kept up for so long a period between
the two crowns, and which have not been unprofitable for Scot-
land, but violates also all the laws of nations, and is as unjust as
it is without precedent. I do not represent all these matters to
your lordships, since I have no doubt but they will at once present
themselves to your consideration, I merely ask you to decide in
favour of the king my master, or rather that you decide in favour
of yourselves against those who have unfortunately under the
guise of an indiscreet zeal attempted to kindle the flame of discord
ARGYLE'S DUEL 599
between the two nations^ and who have sought to give a just reason
of complaint to the Presbyterians and to render the king my
master dissatisfied with you at a time when you are particularly
desirous of securing his favour and that the fault which is but that
of some private individuals be imputed to the entire kingdom. I
shall be very glad to add to the services I have already tried to
render to your kingdom^ and which only depend on you to become
more important, that of begging the king my master and the
queen-regent, mother of his Majesty, to abate nothing of the real
affection they retain for your kingdom, which includes all those
that inhabit this island, in order that he preserve intact those
valuable privileges enjoyed since so long by those of your nation
in France, which are of such a nature as to be desired but not
obtained by the Frenchmen, and which are well worth the desire
on your part to preserve them.
22 February l648.
Note T
Argyle's Duel
Sir James Balfour in his Annals has a notice of this duel, which
seems to have given rise to much jocular remark at that time.
He says, vol. iii, p. SQ5, ' To remember how in the preceding year
the Marquis of Argyle and the Earl of Crawford went out to
Musselburgh Links to fight the combat. The Earl of Lanark was
second to Crawford and Colonel James Innes of Sandsyde to
Argyle ; all that was on them could not make Argyle to fight till
he saw Colonel Haddan the Chancellor's man come in to pertey
them. Then was he something stout and refused to subscribe the
paper which he would have formerly done (I believe against his
will), but had been forced either to do it or else to cast off his
doublet and boots, which he was wonderous loath to do, in respect
of the coldness of the weather. For this great escape Argyle
became a very humble penitent to the Committee of the Kirk,
acknowledging this foolish act of his to be a scriptural desertion.
Upon this the ensuing General Assembly made an Act of 12 August
1648 against duels.'
Guthry in his Memoirs has some remarks in the same tone.
Having stated that although Parliament had enacted that the
declaration of the Committee of the Church regarding the king's
600
APPENDIX
concessions should not be printed or published, the Committee
had ordered it to be printed in opposition to their enactment and
that Parliament had waved their objections. He says: 'As the
Parliament dispensed with these things, the jealousy which
Royalists had always entertained of the duke and his brother
Lanark was much increased, that they and the Marquis of Argyle
were not so opposite in their designs as they professed. For
remedy whereof, and that it might appear to the world that
there was a real division among them, nothing less must serve
the turn than a combat betwixt the Marquis of Argyle and the
Earl of Crawford-Lindsay, to be fought on Monday, March 21st at
5 o'clock in the morning, in the Links of Stoneyhill, Major Innes
being Argyle's second and Lanark Crawford's,' p. 227.
Rushworth thus alludes to the cause of quarrel : ' Upon some
distaste the Treasurer took at a passage in Mr. Andrew Cant's
sermon, Sunday last being a fast day, between the two sermons,
upon great provocation, my Lord Treasurer in Scotland had a
challenge from the Marquis of Argyle,' vol. ii. p. 1030.
Note U
Names of these forming the large Parliamentary Committee
OR Committee of Estates in Scotland — March 1647
Peers or Nobles.
The Duke of Hamilton.
Earls.
The Marischal.
Glencairn.
Casallis.
Dunfermline.
Roxburgh.
Buccleuch.
Lanark.
Calendar.
Lothian.
Sutherland.
Morton.
Finlater.
Bargennie.
Tullibardenne.
Balcarras.
Yester.
Couper.
Traquair.
Eglinton.
Supernumeraries.
The Chancellor.
Marquis of Argyle.
Lord Balmerino.
Earl of Lauderdale.
Earl of Crawford.
Lesser Barons or Gentrv.
Colington.
Creich.
MARQUIS OF DOUGLAS'S BOND
601
Lea.
Cowdon.
Borl.
Deshington.
Tofts.
Cesnocke.
Frilland.
Duffus.
Blacader.
J. Jeff of Galloway.
Garthland.
Spaherton.
Newton.
Preston-Grange.
Sir Jo. Fraser.
Spinie.
Brodie.
InnepefFer.
Supemumera ties.
Maner.
WaiTiston.
Sir Charles Elckin.
Commons or Burgesses.
Archibald Sydserf
John Scott.
John Short.
Master Robert Forgeur.
Robert Cunningham.
John Forbes.
John Sempel.
William Glendinning.
John Kennedy.
Robert Arnot.
James Hodson.
Robert Shoyte.
E. Wedderburne.
Dan. Sympson.
John Johnstone.
Supernumeraries.
Arc. Tod, Provost.
Sir John Smith.
Master Robert Barclay.
Spen. Kennedie.
Note V
Bond granted by the Marquis of Douglas in order to obtain
PERMISSION FOR HIS SON, LoRD GeORGE DoUGLAS, CREATED
subsequently Earl of Dunbarton, to proceed to France.
\, William, Marquis of Douglas, promise and engage by this
present, conjointly with my heirs, that I shall not withdraw in
any manner whatever Master William Harper from the service
of my son, whom I send to France, and in the event of the said
Harper leaving the charge which has been entrusted to him, of
the education of my son, I engage to send another person in his
place, who will be approved by the Presbytery of Lanark ; and if
it happen — which God forbid — that my son abandon his religion,
and become a Papist, I engage under the penalty of ten thousand
marks, Scotch, not to supply him either with money, clothes, or
other article necessary to his subsistence, in proof of which I
promise and consent that this bond, etc., etc.
602 APPENDIX
The Marquis of Douglas had previously made application to the
king in this matter, as is seen from the following letter found
among the Hamilton Papers :
Newcastle, 27 August 1646.
Douglas. — I have received your letter by Morton^ and am very
sensible of what you have suffered for me, assuring you that
when it shall please God to enable me, you shall find real effects
of my gratitude ; and as for your request concerning your son, I
shall in due time give you satisfaction in it, though for the present
divers mighty reasons make me forbear to do what you desire, but
now and always you shall find me to be, Your most assured, real
constant friend, Charles R.
[Addressed] : For the Marquis Douglas.
— Historical Manuscripts Commission Report, part iv., 1887.
Charles i. to Marquis of Douglas, Whitehall, 27 Mai-ch l640.
' . . . I will not lay the follies of your son to your charge,'
Hamilton Papers referring to the Earl of Angus, who at that
time was an active adherent of the Covenanting party.
For further history of the dispute between the Marquis of
Douglas and the Presbytery of Lanark, see Robert Chambers's
Domestic Annals of Scotland, vol. ii. p. IPO.
Note W
Scottish Regiments in France
Jacques d'Etampes, Marquis de la Ferte Imbault, subsequently
Marshal of France, was at this time colonel-general of the Scottish
troops in the French service. This grade was made for him in
August l64S, and it was suppressed after his death in May l668.
He was ambassador to England from l641 to l643. Evelyn
in his correspondence refers to his predilection for Scotsmen.
During the period of his residence in England he enrolled six
thousand Scots for the French service, and prevented the shipment
of fourteen thousand Irish that the Spaniards had raised for the
relief of Perpignan.
Sir Richard Browne, English Ambassador in Paris, furnishes,
in a letter addressed to Sir Edward Nicolas, the following details
SCOTTISH REGIMENTS IN FRANCE 603
relating to Scottish regiments serving in France about this time.
The letter is dated ^3 January 1642-3 :
Colonel Douglas, Foot Regiment, . . . 2000
Earl of Irvine's New Regiment of Guards, consist-
ing of 30 companies, .... 4500
Lord Gray, one regiment of foot, . . . 1000
Lord Lundy, „ „ . . . 1000
Col. Fullerton, „ „ . . . 1000
Earl of Lothian, it is said, will have Ancient
Company of Gens d'Armes, . . .100
Men, 9600
Of these already here.
Col. Douglas' Reg*, . . . . 1 000
Earl of Irvine's, ..... 2000
Col. Fullerton, . . . . .500
Men, 3500
Neither Lieut.-Colonel Fullerton nor Colonel Lundy were ever in
command of regiments. The Earl of Lothian's appointment to the
command of the company of Gens d'armes seems only to have been
proposed, but not confirmed. I^ord Gray was for many years in com-
mand of it during this time. The Douglas Regiment was originally
called the Hepburn Regiment. It was raised in l633 by Sir John
Hepburn, who, after having long served with much distinction
under Gustavus Adolphus, having had a quarrel with him, aban-
doned his service, and engaged in that of France. The regiment
is said to have arrived at Boulogne 2000 strong. Through a
subsequent arrangement between France and Sweden, what
remained of the old Scots Brigade in the Swedish service,
consisting of Mackay's Highlanders (Lord Reay's) and Hepburn's
old regiment, was taken into the pay of France and incorporated
into Hepburn's regiment, which this officer did not live long
to command. He was killed at the siege of Saverne in l636, and
was buried in the Cathedral of Toul. After his death Lord James
Douglas,^ second son of William, Marquis of Douglas, was appointed
colonel, and the regiment was henceforward called the Douglas
Regiment. It was recalled to England by Charles 11. after the
Restoration, where it remained eight years, and again returned to
^ See note, vol. ii. p. 218.
604 APPENDIX
France It was definitively recalled in l678 and incorporated into
the British army under the name of Royal Scots or 1st Foot.
The Irvine Regiment was known as the Scots Guards, and had
several privileges that the other regiment did not possess. It was
raised by the Earl of Irvine in 1642,^ and landed at Dieppe in the
autumn of l643. It was present at the siege of Thionville under
the command of the Prince de Conde during the same year.
Note X
Declaration made by the Scottish Commissioners in London
TO THE King of Great Britain on the subject of the Four
Propositions sent to the said King in the Isle of Wight by
THE English Parliament.
[This document is referred to in Letter ccxxi. vol. ii. p. 367.]
May it please your Majesty : — There is nothing which we
have so constantly worked for and which we desire more ardently
than a good accord and a happy peace between your Majesty and
your Parliaments of both kingdoms ; we have therefore omitted
nothing in order to obtain it, by combining our counsels with both
houses of the English Parliament and by unanimous application to
your Majesty, so that an arrangement of all difficulties might be
come to. But the new propositions communicated to us by the
said Houses of Parliament, and presented even to your Majesty,
are so prejudicial to religion, to the Crown, and to the union and
interests of the kingdoms, and so removed from former precedents,
and opposed to the respective obligations between the two king-
doms, that we cannot subscribe to them. This is why we declare,
in the name of the kingdom of Scotland, that we disapprove the
propositions and acts that are now presented to your Majesty.
(Signed) Loudon, Lauderdale, Erskine,
Kennedy, Barclay.'
1 See note ^ vol. i. p. i6.
INDEX
Abingdon, i. 162.
Aboyne, lord, ii. 346 ; marches to join
MacDonald, 127 and n • report of
his death, 359.
Angouleme, bishop of, i. 4.
Angus, earl of, i. 208, 405 ; ii. 28 and
n, 40, 49, 63, 69, 103, 117, 121,
141, 150, 156, 168, 181, 182, 202,
217, 226, 248, 265, 282, 312, 322,
359, 560, 602.
Annan moor, ii. 524.
Antrim, marquis of, ii. 3, 13, 31, 41,
59, 117, 227 and n ; prisoner in
Carrickfergus, xi ; recruits in Ire-
land for the service of Spain, ii. 50 ;
his imprisonment and escape, 543
and M, 552.
Argyll, Archibald, marquis of, i. 41
and w, 60,295, 350 J "• I4> 3°) 4i>49>
51, 70, 71, 84, 93-95, 175, 182, 189,
208, 233, 240, 242, 247, 248, 254,
255, 369. 377, 386, 388, 407, 409,
410, 426, 446, 452, 455, 459, 463,
467, 477, 481, 482, 497, 498 and n,
499, 502, 508-519, 524-537, 542,
553-556, 600 ; debate on his pension,
xxii; sent with reinforcements to
Ireland, i. 154; pension of, ii. 82,
93 ; accused of the massacre of Irish
prisoners, 126, 151 ; the charge con-
tradicted, 157 ; complains of the sol-
diers being enticed away to the ser-
vice of France, 141 ; stops the
recruiting of Montereul, 141 ; his
fidelity, 217 ; with the army in the
west, 225 ; returns to Edinburgh,
234 ; opposed to the disbanding of
the army, 280, 288, 294 ; invited to
invade England with the Scottish
army, ii. 322 ; asks command of
Moray's regiment, 337 ; his interest
in the marquis of Huntly's property,
346 ; his attentions to the English
commissioners, 400 ; consents to the
clergy's declaration against the king's
concessions, 420 and n ; his duel with
the earl of Crawford, 427, 559.
Army, the, in Ireland, i. 47, 54, 126 ;
to be withdrawn, ii. 64, 120, 127 ;
refuses to leave until receipt of arrears
of pay, 234 ; ordered to withdraw on
receipt of a fortnight's pay, 254 ;
refuses to obey, 299 ; receives assist-
ance from the Committee of Estates,
312 ; defeats confederates, 342 ; Irish
troops for the Scottish army, 487,
499, 5". 519; lands in Scotland,
530-531.
of Scotland, defeated by Montrose
at Kilsyth, i. 7 and n, 9 and n ;
gains a victory at Philiphaugh, 16 ;
debate on disbanding the army, ii.
260, 280, 287, 294 ; opposed to the
sending of the proposals to the king,
316; a new army to be raised, 456,
483, 497, 498, 514, 518, 530; ap-
pointment of officers, 486 ; the rais-
ing of a new army opposed by the
clergy, 482, 488, 492, 495, 507, 518,
524, 531 ; the defeat of, by Cromwell,
536, 537 ; its condition and prospects,
553-555-
Arnot, Robert, ii. 601.
Ashburnham, John, i. 105, 106, 141,
161, 172, 180, 188, 193, 194 and w,
195, 200 ; ii. 241, 244, 254, 268, 290,
328, 584.
Ashurst, Mr., commissioner to Scot-
land, ii. 399.
Aubigny, Louis Stuart d', i. 276 «.
madame d', arrest of, i. 85.
Augier, M., English parhamentary
agent in Paris, i. 170, 246, 304, 309,
317, 341 ; ii. 59, 74, 98, 99, 106, III,
196, 205,
Authenden castle, taken by Leslie,
ii. 95 n.
Bacon, secretary to Montereul, letters
from, to Montereul, i. 211, 214, 216.
Baillie, general, ii. 509.
Balcarres, Alexander, earl of, i. 180
and n ; ii. 240, 388, 600.
Ballenden, sir William, ii. 494 and n.
606
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
Balmerino, John, lord, xix, 8 and n,
9, i6, 21, 22, 35, 41, 47, 49, S3, 60,
73. 78, 79. 83-90, 170, 185. 364; ii.
260, 312, 331, 388, 446, 575-577-
Barclay, Robert, ii. 601.
Bargany, John, lord, ii. 600.
Bath diocese, i. 212.
Bavaria, duke of, ii. 565.
Beaton, David, of Creich, ii. 600.
Belfast, parliament of England demands
its being giving up, ii. 41, 64, 93, 126.
Bellievre, M. de, French ambassador to
England, xvii, xx, xxi, 194, 218 and
n, 226, 231, 236-238 ; his instructions,
ii. 583 ; sets out for England, i. 240 ;
leaves London for Newcastle, 242 ;
on the obstinacy of Charles I. in
refusing presbyterianism, 291 ; suc-
ceeds in forming a party in favour of
the king, 295, 313 ; urges Charles to
concede presbyterianism, 307 ; on
Charles's deceitfulness and fickleness,
335 ; advises Charles against leaving
the kingdom, 375 ; protests against
the treatment of Charles by the Scots,
386 ; resolves to return to London,
385, 388, 391 ; objections taken to
his being received in London, 408,
418; his reception by parliament,
452, 454 ; Hatton house prepared for
his residence, 454 ; on complaints of
English ships being taken and carried
to French ports, ii. 83, 98, 106, 109,
III, 123, 145, 146; visits Charles,
185, 191, 196, 23s, 236 ; requests to
be recalled, 267, 269 ; takes leave
of the king and parliament, 291, 301 ;
letter to, from Lenthall, i. 246 and n ;
letter from, to Lenthall, in reply,
247 ; letter to, from Charles, ii. 75.
Pierre de, xxi ; ii. 267, 269, 283,
306.
Belshes, Alexander, of Tofts, ii. 601.
Berkeley, sir John, ii. 329 and n, 342,
354-
Berwick, i. 353 ; ii. 427, 434, 461, 466,
476, 482, 487, 524, 529.
Birch, colonel, English commissioner
to Scotland, ii. 399.
Bishops, the question of the abolition
of, i. 3, 4i 105, 277, 286 ; sale of
their lands, 325, 327, 332, 335 ; the
king refuses to abandon them, 212-
213. 335. 364. 375. 387 ; ii- 328.
Bogof Gight, taken by Leslie, ii. 83, 95.
Boisivon, M. de., French envoy to
Scotland, his proposals to the coun-
cil of Scotland, xii-xiii, 551 ; the
council's reply to his proposals, xiii ;
ii. 556 ; his mission to Scotland^
xi, 552 ; his interviews with the
council, ii. 542 ; applies for the re-
lease of the earl of Antrim, 543 and
n, 552 ; plot for his assassination,
xii ; ii. 560 ; imprisoned and ill-
treated by the Scots, 560-563 ; letter
from, to Charles on his ill-usage,
562 ; letter to, from M. de Sabran,
on his imprisonment, 563 ; letter
from, to council of state, 598.
Bosc, M. du, i. 48, 79, 172, 211;
letter from, to Mazarin, ii. 564 ; let-
ters to, from Montereul, i. 35, 36,
188 ; letters to, from sir Robert
Moray, ii. 576, 577, 580, 582, 588.
Brienne, M. de, i. 6, 8, 75,
Bristol diocese, i. 212.
Brodie of Brodie, ii. 601.
Buccleuch, Francis, earl of, ii. 600.
Buillon, abbe de, i. 449 ; ii. 99.
Byron, lord, ii. 492.
Callander, James, earl of, i. 132,
154, 238; ii. 31, 40, 49, 70, 104,
25s. 274, 374. 427. 486, 508 and
w, 511, 514, 524, 525, 600.
Campbell, sir Colin, of Lundy, ii. 337.
Hew, of Cesnock, ii. 601.
lord James, ii. 565.
Cant, Andrew, ii. 596, 597, 600.
Cardenas, Alonso de, Spanish ambas-
sador, ii. 185.
Carlisle, i. 353 ; ii. 461, 466, 476, 482,
487, 492, 511, 514, 519, 524.
countess of, i. 69 and n, 75i 117,
430.
Cassillis, John, earl of, ii. 295, 420,
444, 502, 508, 514, 600.
Catholics, declaration in favour of Irish
catholics, i. 117; ordered to leave
London, 357 ; agreement with Or-
mond, 412; treatment of, in Scot-
land, ii. 226 ; catholic forces in
Ireland refuse to accept service under
Spain, 288; refused relief from the
penal laws, 317 ; catholics in the
north, 339 n; persecution of, 393,
555. S^^ '• feeling against, in Scot-
land, 544, 552, 553, 556.
Chanut, Pierre, ii. 134.
Charles i., his safety depending upon
his introducing presbyterianism into
England, i. 4 ; treaty with the Inde-
pendents, 16 ; at Newark, 33, 47 ;
at Oxford, 40, 59 ; plot to deliver
him up to the parliament, 74; inter-
view with Montereul, 102; negotiates
for going to the Scots army, iii.
INDEX
607
1 80 ; declaration of, in favour of Irish
catholics, 117; proposal for his deposi-
tion, 117, 124 ; his safety guaranteed
with the Scots army, 152, 163 ; re-
fuses to establish presbyterian church
government in England, 177; pro-
j>osed escape of, from Newcastle, ii.
594 ; joins the army, i. 193 ; harshly
treated by the Scots, 194-200 ; ii.
572, 584 ; sends Montereul to France,
195, 206 ; refuses to sign the cove-
nant, 218 ; urged to accept proposals
of English parliament, 244 ; refuses
to establish presbyterianism, 286,
291, 306, 322 ; hopes for a rising in
England, 336, 344 ; declaration made
by Scottish commissioners on the four
propositions, 604 ; his reply to the pro-
positions, 363, 371 ; refuses to abolish
the bishops, 364, 375, 387 ; precau-
tions taken to prevent his escape,
385, 390, 402 ; plots for his libera-
tion, 406, 407 ; delivered up to the
English, 441, 444 ; at Holmby, 449 ;
ii. 64 ; removed to Haymarket, 165 ;
his interview with Bellievre, 196,
235-236 ; in the power of the army,
221; his hopeless condition, 228;
his reply to the proposals, 256, 265 ;
harshness of the proposals, 303 ; at
Hampton Court, 253 n, 308 ; makes
concessions, but refuses to give
up the bishops, 328 ; in the Isle
of Wight, 337, 360 ; his duplicity,
362, 370 ; his concessions, 407, 408 ;
letters from, to Louis xiv., to Bel-
lievre, ii. 75 ; to Montereul, i. 183;
letters to, from Boisivon, ii. 562 ; and
Mazarin, 587.
Charles, prince of Wales, i. 24, 46, 54,
109, 226 ; proposal to exclude him
from the succession, 117, 124; plot
for his abduction, 125 ; in Jersey,
208, 211; rumoured declaration by,
241 ; proposal to transfer the king-
dom to, 321-322, 335 ; marriage
proposals for, 443-444, 451 ; plot to
carry him off to London, ii. 20 ; cap-
tures English vessels and carries them
to French ports, ii. 83, 98, 106, 109,
III, 123, 145, 146 ; desires to return
to England, 84, 88 ; on his coming
to Scotland, 163, 189, 194, 388,
400-415, 452, 459, 460, 474, 476,
477, 481, 482, 493, 499, 524, 537.
Cheisley, sir John, secretary to the
Scottish commissioners in London,
ii. 210, 382 ; arrest of, at Newcastle,
233, 235 ; liberation of, 234.
Chester, siege of, i. 126, 131.
Church feus, dispute between Dunferm-
line and Glencairn on, ii. 80-81
and n.
Chynut. See Chanut.
Clandenin. See Glendinning.
Clergy, the, in favour of an invasion of
England, ii. 188, 193, 207, 216,
224 ; dissatisfied with the concessions
of Charles, 408 ; their declaration
against the king, 414, 415, 420 and
n, 426, 433 ; oppose the formation
of a new army, 482, 488, 492,
497, 498, 507, 518, 524 ; their de-
mands, 507. See also General As-
sembly.
Cochrane, lord, ii. 487 and «, 492.
sir William, of Cowdon, ii. 601.
Cockburn, sir Patrick, of Clerkinton,
ii. 601.
Colvill (Colin), rev. William, ii. 408,
439-.
Committee of Estates, prohibit recruit-
ing for France, ii. 150 ; deliberations
of, on sending a new army into Eng-
land, 174, 182, 224; send delegates
to Charles, 240 ; discussion on dis-
banding the army, ii. 289, 294 ; as-
sist the army in Ireland, 312 ; their
reception of the English commis-
sioners, 399 ; list of names of com-
mittee, 600-601.
Conde, prince de, xxv ; ii. 593, 604.
Connell (Quesnal), clan, ii. 234.
Conti, prince de, xvi, xvii, xxiv, xxv.
Conway, lord, i. 252.
Cottingham, Francis, i. 60.
Council of Scotland, interview with
Boisivon, ii. 542 ; Boisivon's pro-
posals to, xii, xiii ; ii. 551; council's
reply to the proposals, 556 ; their
alleged attempt to assassinate Boisi-
von, 560; letter to, from Boisivon, 598.
Couper, James, lord, ii. 600.
Courtelorne, M. de, i. 130.
Crawford, John, earl of, xxii, 22; ii.
3, 59 and «, 295, 312, 321, 338,
353. 363, 383. 392, 452, 492, 5",
530. 574. 600 ; his duel with Argyll,
427. 559-
Cromarty harbour, ii. 417.
Cromwell, Oliver, ii. 307, 308, 334.
Cunningham, Mr., arrest of, i. 141 ;
his escape, 153, 161 ; his mission to
Henrietta Maria, 240.
Robert, ii. 601.
Danger Committee, election of, ii.
426, 427, 428 ; report of, to parlia-
608
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
ment, 450, 451 ; their proposals ap-
proved of, 452.
Dartmouth, i. 118.
Davenant, sir William, i. 292 and «,
307, 314-
Denbigh, earl of, i. 370.
Desborough. See Rainsborough.
Devonshire, countess of, i. 14, 15, 73,
Dick, rev, David, ii. 502-503 and n.
Digby, lord, i. 40 and «, 41, 47, 54,
55, 226; ii. 59, 171, 342, 552, 571.
577 ; his letters intercepted, i. 54 n,
79-
Directory of Public Worship, ii. 451
and n.
Dishington, sir Thomas, xv, 3 and «,
IS ; ii- 70, 564-
Dorset, earl of, i. 59 and «, 74.
Douglas, lord George, ii. 218 and m,
601.
lord James, ii. 218 and «, 603.
William, marquis of, ii. 218 and
«, 225, 427, 483, 560; his bond,
601 ; letter to, from Charles, 602.
marchioness of, ii. 416 and n.
Mr., advocate, ii. 70.
Drummond, lord, ii. 376, 381.
Dublin, i. 304; ii. 591.
Du Bosc. See Bosc.
Dumbarton castle, i. 498.
Dumfries, earl of, ii. 451, 593-
Du Moulin, M., French agent in Ire-
land, i. 358; ii. 31 ; letter from, to
Le Tellier, i. 380 ; ii. 7.
Dundas of Arniston, ii. 428.
Dunfermline, earl of, i. 180 and n, 207,
261, 284, 407, 444; ii. 30, 31, 52,
71, 80, 81 and n, 83, 600 ; offers to
assist Charles to escape, i. 407 ; re-
ceives permission to wait on Charles,
ii. 64, 147 ; his mission to France,
163.
Dunkirk, i. 260, 267, 272, 280, 287,
301 ; ii. 93 and n, 94.
Du Talmon, M. , ii. 70.
Dysart, lady, ii. 566.
Earle, sir Walter, ii. 145 and n.
Edinburgh, town council of, confer the
fireedom of the town on Montereul,
ii. 313 ; persecution of catholics in,
393 ; arrival of royalist officers at,
402 ; state of parties in, 553.
castle, ii. 503.
Eglinton, Alexander, earl of, ii. 400
and «, 502, 508. 600.
Elckin, sir Charles, ii. 601.
EInabow. See Dalnabo.
Enghien, due d', ii. 593.
English commissioners, at Newcastle,
i. 238, 243 ; they insist on the Scots
giving up Belfast, ii. 93 ; arrive in
Edinburgh, 399, 409 ; their pro-
posals, 414 ; claim the right to dis-
pose of the king's person, 450.
Erastians, ii. 529.
Espesses, M. de, i. 241 ; ii. 267, 270.
Essex, earl of, i. 143 ; death and funeral
of, 272 and M, 273, 279, 309.
Exeter, diocese of, i. 212 ; siege of, 47,
55, 131, 183.
Fairfax, general, i. 109, 251, 259,
280, 299, 332, 354, 412; ii. 227,
427, 438, 502, 508.
Falconer, sir Alexander, of Halkerston,
ii. 601.
Fanshawe (Franshudur), Richard, ii. 20.
Farquhar, Robert, bailie of Aberdeen,
ii. 596, 601.
Fife opposed to the new army, ii. 492,
.497. 5"-
Findlater, James, earl of, ii. 6co.
Fleming, sir William, i. 172 and «;
ii. 439 and «, 445, 456, 458, 461,
465, 466, 474, 477, 482, 529, 531.
Fletcher, Andrew, of Innerpeffer, ii.
601.
Fontenay-Mareiiil, marquis de, xvii.
Forbes of Craigievar, ii. 595.
John, ii. 601.
Forcer, captain, ii. 33.
Foulis, sir James, of Colinton, ii. 600.
Franshudur. See Fanshawe.
Eraser, sir Jo., ii. 601.
Fullarton, col., ii. 28 and «, 39, 40,
603.
Galloway opposed to the raising of a
new army, ii. 492, 497.
General Assembly's remonstrance on
the dangers of the times, ii. 188 ;
opposed to the new army, 531, 532,
See also Clergy.
Gibbie, sir Henry, ii. 392, 393.
Gight. See Gordon, sir Robert.
Gillespie, rev. George, ii. 402 and n.
Glamorgan, earl of, i. 130.
Glasgow, i. 502-503 and n.
Glencairn, William, earl of, ii. 80, 400
and n, 519, 566, 600.
Glendinning (Clandenin), William, ii.
428, 601.
i Glenham, sir Thomas, ii. 402, 445,
\ 452.
I Gloucester, duke of, i. 117, 124.
INDEX
609
Goffe, Mr., of the queen's household,
ii- 354.
Gordon, a member of the house of
commons, denounces the king, i. 130.
of Newton makes confession of
rebellion, ii. 313 ; pardoned, 323 ;
his conversion and execution, 331,
339 and n.
lord Charles, ii. 347.
sir George, of Haddo, ii. 596.
lord Lewis, ii. 2, 13. 31, 50, 120,
126 and n, 141, 152, 167.
Robert, of Straloch, his maps of
Scotland, ii. 417 and «.
sir Robert, of Gight, ii. 595.
Gordons, the, offer to maintain the
king for six months in the high-
lands, i. 375 ; in need of help, ii. 3.
Goring, lord, i. 68, 260, 272 and « ;
ii. 84.
colonel, i. 273 and «.
Grain, Giles, i. 260.
Gray, colonel, defeat of, by Lilbume,
ii. 525 and n.
lord, i. 22, 90 and « ; ii. 29, 218,
362, 544, 552, 603.
Guharrig, Donald, betrays the marquis
of Huntly, ii. 203.
Gyga, island of, ii. 151.
Haddington, earl of, ii. 452.
Haddo, laird of. See Gordon, sir
George.
Halket, George, of Pitferran, ii. 565.
Hamilton, James, duke of, xxii, xxiii ;
202 and n, 203, 231, 236, 238 ;
ii. 14, 30, 41, 49, 51, 64, 70, 71, 83,
175, 182, 183, 189, 208,226, 240, 242,
247, 255, 260, 287 passim ; his sup-
posed designs on the monarchy, 116;
his French annuity, 299 ; appointed
general of the new army, 486, 487 ;
insulted in the streets of Edinburgh,
503 ; defeated by Cromwell, 536,
537 ; his printing press, 538 ; im-
prisonment of, 202 n, 561, 574.
marchioness of, death of, ii. 261,
265.
sir James, ii. 482.
sir John, of Beil, ii. 601.
Hammond, colonel Robert, ii. 307 and
«, 328, 329 71.
Harborough, i. 185, 216.
Harper, William, ii. 601.
Harthill. See Leith, Patrick.
Hatton House, i. 454.
Hay, lady Isabella, canoness at Mons,
ii. 287 and «.
VOT-. II.
Hay, James, ii. 565.
Hebron. See Hepburn.
Henderson, rev. Alex. , i. 194, 207, 216,
Hendryson, chevalier, i. 47.
Henrietta Maria, queen, i. 23, 42, 131-
141 ; ii. 561, 565, 575-387 ; exhibits
no desire for peace, i. 62, 66, 67, 78 ;
refuses to treat with the Scots, 75 ;
arrangements for conveying her letters
to the king at Oxford, 141-143, 150-
151 ; in favour of Charles signing
the covenant, 153, 240 ; to urge
Charles to grant the demands of the
Scots, 214, 322 ; advises Charles to
refuse the terms of the English par-
liament, 235 ; fails to realise the
desperate condition of the king, 261 ;
urged to force Charles to consent to
the establishment of presbyterianism,
324. 335 ; despatches Winter Grant
to Ireland, ii. 59 ; desires Huntly
not to lay down his arms, 209 ; her
confidence in the Scots, 354; dis-
covery of letter from, to the marquis
of Huntly, 370; extract of letter from,
to Charles, 440 n ; letter to, from
Montereul, 473.
Hepburn (Hebron), captain, ii. 559
and n.
sir John, ii. 70 and «, 603.
Hereford, i. 85.
Hertford, lord, i. 74.
Hodson, James, ii. 601.
Holland, earl of, i. 3and«, 4, 7, 14, 15,
17, 37. 46, 59, 67, 69, 73-75, 83, 89,
90, 102, 104, no, 117, 430.
Hollis, Denzil, i. 162 ; ii. 18.
Holmby House, i. 391, 402, 411, 412,
415, 423, 424, 442, 449, 450, ii. 163.
Home of Blackadder, ii. 601.
Hopton, sir Arthur, ii. 277 and n, 283,
Howard, earl of, ii. 301.
Hudson, Mr., guides Charles to the
army of the Scots, i. 188, 200, 216,
341, 369, 391 ; ii- 584-
Huguenot intrigues, ii. 544, 556, 561.
Huntly, marquis of, ii. 13, 31, 40, 41,
50, 64, 95, 102, 295, 362, 446 ; joins
Montrose, i. 46 and « ; retires to Bade-
noch, ii. 72 ; his strongholds taken,
83, 95 and n, 116, 117, 120, 126;
retreats to the highlands, 120, 127 ;
leaves Lochaber, 152 ; his betrayal,
203 ; taken prisoner, 346 ; his belief
in astrology, 347 ; to enter Edin-
burgh a prisoner, 354, 359, 362;
confined in Edinburgh castle, 532 ;
seizure of the queen's letters to, 209,
370.
2q
610
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
Inchequin, lord, ii. 436 and n, 439.
Innes, colonel James, of Sandsyde,
. ii. 428, 559- . „
Ireland, Spanish influence m, 1. 358;
Irish affairs, 226, 231, 266, 267, 348,
412 ; Irish affairs to be settled in
London, ii. 95 ; Irish levies for
France, 43, $8, 59 ; Irish levies for
Spain, 50; expedition preparing in
Normandy for aid of, 147 ; arrival of
English commissioners in, 288. See
also Army in Ireland : Catholics,
etc.
Ireton, Henry, ii. 307 and n, 308.
Irvine, earl of, colonel of the Scottish
guards, i. 16 and n, 41 ; ii, 157, 338,
569, 603, 604.
of Drum, ii. 596.
Robert, ii. 596.
Islay, ii. 151, 157.
Jaffray, Alexander, bailie of Aber-
deen, ii. 596.
John, ii. 596.
Jars, commander de, ii. 564.
Jermyn, lord, i. 53 and n, 54 «, 62, 131,
140, 154, 161, 208, 321, 364 ; ii. 7,
17, 35. 54, 244, 254, 564, 573-579»
585-
Jersey, ii. 146, 147.
Johnstone, sir Archibald, lord Warris-
ton, XV ; i. 41 and n, 60 ; ii. 240,
428, 445» 497» 601.
John, ii. 601.
Joyce, cornet, removes Charles from
Holmby, ii. 163.
Kenmore, ii. 116.
Kennedy, John, ii. 601.
Spen., ii. 601.
Thomas, ii. 428.
Kerr, Robert, his mission to Charles,
ii. 182, 190.
William, of Newton, ii. 601.
Killegrew, sir Peter, i. 90, 91, 231,
242, 407, 418; ii. 145, 154.
Kilsyth, battle of, i. 7, 9 « ; ii. 452.
Kintyre, massacre in, ii. 169.
La Fert6, M. de, i. 194; ii. 31, 60,
602.
Lambert, major-general John, ii. 307
and«, 511, 519, 524.
La Moinerie, M. de, ii. 35.
Lanark, countess of, ii. 83, 486, 518.
William, earl of, xxii ; i. 202 and
n, 203, 207 ; ii. 13, 30, 65, 71, 82,
93, 1 15-116, 156, 168, 17s, 190, 194,
225, 233, passim.
Langdale, sir Marmaduke, ii. 402, 445,
492,493, 509, 5", 514, 524-
Lauderdale, John, earl of, i. 89 and n,
90, 170, 439; ii. 64, 94, 95, 170,
182, 204, 210, 233, 254, 274, 317,
356, 392, 399, 400, 401, 407, 414,
446, 450, 525, 529, 600 ; his quarrel
with sir Robert Moray, 566, 567.
lady, ii. 566.
Lawson, sir Wilfred, ii. 492.
Lazon, captain Martin, ii. 306.
Legg, governor of Oxford, i. 22.
Leith, Patrick, of Harthill, ii. 281 ;
trial and execution of, 288, 289, 295,
299, 313 ; note on, 595.
Lennox, duke of, ii. 83 and «, 374.
Lenthall, William, speaker of the
house of commons, letter from, to
the French ambassador at Newcastle
on the intercepted letters, i. 246
and n ; letter to, from Bellievre, in
reply, 247.
Leslie, Alex. , earl of Leven, i. 33, 47 ;
ii. 41.
father Andrew, liberated by re-
quest of Montereul, ii. 525 and «.
lieut. -general David, xiv; i. 33
and n, 60, 85, 176; ii. 31, 41, 49,
54, 65, 72, 83, 95 and n, 233, 331,
388, 415, 460, 483, 486, 487 ; hangs
Irish soldiers after the taking of Lis-
more, 103 ; takes Huntly's strong-
holds, 117, 120; marches against
Macdonald, 120, 126 ; defeats Mac-
donald in Kintyre, 151 and n; mas-
sacres prisoners, 169, 176 ; takes
Macdonald's father, 194, 195 ; eager
to invade England, 402 ; refuses
appointment in the new army, 488,
508 ; governor of Edinburgh castle,
553 ; his scheme for the extermina-
tion of catholics, 556.
rev. George, ii. 408.
Ludovic, governor of Berwick,
ii. 529 and n.
Patrick, ii. 428.
provost of Aberdeen, ii.
596.
Robert, ii. 29, 40-41, 70, 102,
104, 117, 120, 175, 225, 226, 241,
362, 363, 369, 372, 415.
Le Tellier, M., i. 426 ; ii. 7, 104, 119 ;
letter to, from Du Moulin, i. 380.
Letus, ensign, of the Scottish men-at-
arms, ii. 218.
Leven, earl of. See Leslie, Alexander.
Leyburn, father George [pseud. Winter
Grant], his mission to Ireland,
ii- 59-
INDEX
611
Liberton. See Winram, George.
Lilbume, colonel Robert, defeats sir
Richard Tempest, ii. 525 and n.
Lindsay, lord, 74.
Sophia, ii. 567.
Lisle (Langley), lord, i. 412.
Lismore taken by Leslie, ii. 83, 95 it,
103.
Lockhart, James, of Lea, ii. 601.
London, city of, letter to, from the
Scottish parliament, i. 154 ; its
quarrels with the parliament, 125,
161, 176; reconciliation with parlia-
ment, 276 ; London and the sale of
the bishops' lands, 325, 327 ; its
remonstrance to parliament, 341,
354, 368 ; independents rejected
from the council, 372 ; surrenders to
the army, ii. 221.
Longueville, due de, xxv.
Lothian, WilUam, earl of, xi and n,
xiii ; i. 202 and n, 406, 424, 444 ;
ii. 30, 169, 240, 321, 420, 544, 551,
556, 561, 572, 600, 603.
Loudoun, John, earl of, chancellor of
Scotland, i. 15, 23, 35, 41, 66, 68,
118, 131, 154, 170, 171, 176, 180,
185, 194, 213, 216, 228, 229, 236,
303, 364 ; ii. 82, 93, 274, 275,
passim ; his mission to the king, 240,
241, 247, 253.
Louis XIV., letter to, from Charles i.,
i. 196.
Lucas, sir Charles, ii. 402.
Lundy, col., ii. 544, 603.
Macalister surrenders to Leslie, ii.
151.
MacDonald of Sanda (baron Sance),
hanged by Leslie, ii. 169.
sir Alexander, i. 46 and k,
60, 127, 193, 201, 202; ii. 41, 50,
83, 95, 102, 120, 140, 175, 584 ; joins
Montrose, i. 46 and « ; driven out (
of Kintyre, ii. 151 and n ; in Ireland,
195 ; his father taken prisoner, 194-
195 and «, 255, 261 ; his father tried
and executed, 281 and n.
MacDowall, James, of Garthland, ii.
601.
Maclagan executed in Edinburgh, i.
47.
Maclean, in arms for the king in Bade-
noch, ii. 176.
Macneil, surrenders to Leslie, ii. 151.
Manchester, earl of, i. 142, 170, 371,
430; ii. 109, III, 246, 301.
Mandscripts from the east coming to
England, i. 4.
Marischal, William, earl, ii. 60.
Marshall, lieut. -col. , ii. 462 and «, 467,
487, 494, 499.
Mr., clergyman to the English
commissioners, ii. 436 and n. «
Stephen, one of the English com-
missioners sent to Scotland, ii. 399
and n.
Massej^s regiment disbanded, i. 317-
Maurice, prince, i. 55, 152, 162, 172,
180.
Mazarin, cardinal, xi, xv, and «,
xxiv ; letter from, to Montereul,
"• 577 ; letter from, to sir Robert
Moray, 582 ; letter from, to Charles I.,
587.
Meldrum, sir John, ii. 560.
Menzies, lieut. -col., ii. 194, 346, 369.
Middleton, John, lieut. - general, ii.
120 and «, 439 and n, 486, 508 and
«, 509, 514-
Migry fort, ii. 248.
Militia, the, i. 201, 212, 229, 266,
277, 283, 431 ; ii. 341.
Moet proposes to detach Sweden from
the alliance with France and unite it
to Spain, ii. 185.
Monro, major George, ii. 120 and n.
major-general Robert, ii. 72, 120
and n, 288 and n.
Montaigne, lord, i. 390,
Montereul, Jean de, French resident
in England and Scotland, xv and n,
xvi ; biographical notice of, xvii-
xxvi ; arrives in London, i. 3 ; his
house searched, 77 and n ; interview
with Charles at Oxford, 102 ; his
plan for conveyance of the queen's
letters to Oxford, 141-142, 150, 151 ;
his letters intercepted, 246 and n,
259 ; at Newcastle, 293 ; leaves for
Edinburgh, 366 ; ii. 3 and n, 7 ;
on recruiting in Scotland for the
French service, ii. 27-33, 39, 41, 49,
52, 60, 63, 69, 70, 80, 93, 103, 127,
141, 150, 156, 168, 182, 201, 217,
218, passim ; resents the attitude of
Henrietta Maria, 102-103, 1^6; sug-
gests that Hamilton and Argyll re-
ceive pensions from France, 115,
116; declines an audience with the
committee of estates, 127 ; pre-
vents Spain obtaining levies from
Scotland, 140 ; deputation to, from
Edinburgh town council, 248 and n ;
his opinion of the Scots, 287 ; his
intercession on behalf of Harthill,
295, 299 ; made burgess of Edin-
burgh, 313 ; his letters opened, 380 ;
612
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
finds the Scots not trustworthy, 387 ;
resents interference with his religion,
393. 409. 416, 598 ; opposed to the
prince of Wales coming to Scotland,
» 400 and n, 415, 452, 459, 460;
recalled from Edinburgh, 517 ; in
London, 528 ; refused permission to
visit Charles, 538 ; prepares for his
return to France, 538; note on his
negotiations, 572 ; memorandum
from, 575 ; letters to, from Nicholas,
i. Ill, 180; from Charles, 112,
183 and n ; letters to, from his
secretary, 211, 214, 216 ; letter from,
to Henrietta Maria, ii. 473 ; letter
to, from the Scottish commissioners
in London, 569.
Montigny, a Flemish priest, accom-
panies lady Isabella Hay to Edin-
burgh, ii. 287.
Montrose, marquis of, i. 60, 78, 105,
108, III, 171, 181, 183, 187, 201,
238, 324; ii. 13, 41, 49, 573, 584;
gains a victory at Kilsyth, i. 7 and n,
9 n ; defeated at Philiphaugh, 16, 22 ;
driven into the highlands, 33, 41 ;
raids the Argyle country, 46 ; retires
to the highlands, 54 ; Scottish par-
liament issues proclamation against,
152 ; is ready to obey the king,
212 ; ordered by Charles to hold his
forces together, 227, 231 ; his move-
ments in the highlands, ii. 83, 103,
242.
Moray, Mungo, letter from Charles to
Montereul, found in possession of,
ii. 3 and n, 7.
sir Mungo, of Craigie, ii. 565.
sir Robert, xix ; i. 15, 23, 36, 42,
53, 54, 66, 68, 73, 75, 78, 85, 89, 90,
102, 104, 117, 118, 126, 131, 132,
185, 194, 200, passim ; recommended
for the command of the Scottish
guards, 16, 30, 34 ; recruiting for the
French service, ii. 2, 29, 31, 33, 40,
49. 63, 69, 70, 103, 121, 141, 156,
202, 595 ; offers to assist Charles in
escaping from Holmby House, i.
423, 426, 442 ; note on, ii. 565 ;
letter from, to Balmerino, i. 49 ;
letter from, to Montereul, 163 ; let-
ter from, to the duke of Hamilton,
424 n ; letters from, to the Scottish
commissioners, ii. 573, 574 ; letters
from, to M. du Bosc, 576, 577, 580,
582, 588 ; letters to, from Mazarin,
582.
William, i. 78 and «, 84, 105,
108, 109, 125, 132, 139-141, 153.
170, 173, 295, 307, 323, 330, 341,
350. 354. 402, 405, 407, passim ;
arrest and examination of, 130-133,
161.
Mordington, earl of, ii. 370.
Morgan, colonel, ii. 33.
Morrison, Alexander,of Preston-Grange,
ii, 601.
Morton, William Douglas, earl of, ii.
509 and «, 524, 600.
Munro. See Monro.
Musgrave, sir Philip, ii. 482.
Newark, siege of, i. 54-56, 60, 85,
194.
earl of. See Leslie, David.
Newcastle, ii. 529.
Newport, i. 125.
Nicholas, sir Edward, i. 75 and n, 103,
106, 141, 161, 172 ; letter from, to
Montereul, 11 1 ; letter to, from
Montereul, 180.
Nisbet, sir Philip, execution of, i. 47.
Nithsdale, countess of, ii. 416 and n.
Northumberland, earl of, i. 24, 117,
130, 132, 272, 430; ii. 18, 95, 301.
Nottingham, earl of, ii. 409 «.
Ogier. See Augier.
Ogilvy, lord, i. 22.
in Orleans, ii. 377.
of Innerquharity, execution of,
i. 47-
O'Kean executed in Edinburgh, i. 47.
Ormond, marquis of, i. 226 and n, 280,
300, 304, 317, 348, 375; ii. 171,
256 ; comes to terms with the con-
federates, i. 372 ; his agreement with
the catholics, 412 ; his treaty with
parliament, ii. 21, 31, 33, 41 ; re-
quests interview with Charles, 228.
Oxford, diocese of, i. 212; surrender
of, 216.
Parliament of England, proposals
of, for the king's acceptance, i. 228-
237 ; peace proposals in the hands
of the Scottish commissioners, 240 ;
discussion on the amount due to
the Scots, 252, 259, 353 ; negotiates
with Ormond, 300 ; orders the
bishops' lands to be sold, 327, 332 ;
orders catholics, etc., to leave Lon-
don, 357-358 ; ii. 356 ; Charles's
answer to proposals of, i. 363 ;
establishes presbyterianism, 390 ;
treaty with Ormond, ii. 21, 31, 33 ;
demand that Belfast be delivered up
by the Scots, 41, 64 ; irritation
INDEX
613
against France, 87 ; orders the army
to disband, 18 ; army refuses to
obey, 153, 159; orders English ships
taken to St. Malo be given up, 98,
106, III ; independents withdraw to
the army, 212 ; gives ovation tc
Fairfax, 227 ; prepares proposals for
the king's acceptance, 277, 303 :
deputation from, to Bellievre, 301,:
discussion on the king's right of veto,
316 ; refuses relief to catholics, 317 ;
the four proposals, 333, 341, 350.
Parliament of Scotland, demands pay-
ment of money due byJEngland, i. 154;
declaration by, 426, 433 ; new oath
presented to, by the clergy, 433 ;
instructions for the new army, ii. 50 ;
refuses to treat with Huntly, 50 ;
resolves to withdraw forces from Ire-
land, 64 ; election of committee ol'
estates, 70 ; discussion on church
feus, 80-8 r and n ; resolves to dis-
band the army, 260.
Pembroke, earl of, i. 390.
Pendennis castle, i. 251.
Percy, Henry, ii. 84.
M., i. 75.
Philiphaugh, battle of, i. 16, 22, 24.
Plague, the, in Scotland, ii. 537.
Plymouth, siege of, i. 116.
Pointz, general, i. 47, 55, 85, 195 ; ii.
131, 177-
Porter, Endymion, valet of Charles i.,
arrested at Dunkirk, ii. 178.
Porterfield (Poterfil), George, ii. 428.
Presbyterianism, of divine appointment,
'• 33» 39 ; establishment of presby-
terianism in England, 154, 171 ;
Charles refuses the establishment of,
in England, 177; Charles agrees to
its introduction, 212 ; established by
parliament, 390 ; ii. 312; Charles
agrees to its establishment for three
years, ii. 407.
Preston, colonel, ii. 31 and n, 41.
QuESNAL. See ConnelL
Raglan castle, surrender of, i. 251
and n.
Rainsborough (Desborough), vice-ad-
miral sir Thomas, ii. 308 and n,
325-
Ramsay, rev. Andrew, ii. 408, 445
and It.
Reay, lord, ii. 234 and n, 248, 295,
323-
Richmond, duke of, i. 34 and ti ;
ii. 103.
Robe, father, ii. 394.
Roberts, lord, i. 142.
RoUock, sir William, execution of,
i. 47.
Rothes, earl of, ii. 452.
Rowerson, major, ii. 33.
Roxburgh, Robert, earl of, ii. 600.
Royal society, founding of, ii. 567.
Royston, i. 180, 185, 187.
Rupert, prince, i. 16, 22, 55, 59, 103,
152, 161, 172, 180.
Rutherfiird, major, ii. 150.
Ruthven in Badenoch, ii. 117.
Thomas, of Freeland, ii. 601.
Sabran, M. de, secretary of the French
embassy in London, i. 3, 9, 34, 41,
69, 75. 91. "O, 118, 130, 131, 150,
151, 154, 160, 211, 214, 216,252;
letter from, to Boisivon, ii. 563.
St. Albans, lord. See Jermyn, lord.
St. Galle, M. de, i. 4.
St. John, Oliver, i. 267 and «, 303.
St. Malo, warlike preparations at, ii.
59, 87 ; English ships taken to, 98,
106, III, 205.
Sance, baron. See MacDonald of
Sanda.
Sandys, colonel, arrest of, ii. 112, 123.
Say, lord, i. 24.
Scott, John, ii. 601.
Scottish Dove, i, 247, 268, 273; ii.
588.
Scottish regiments in France, L 16, 30,
201-202, 208, 366, 405, 416; ii. 40,
103, 602.
Seaforth, earl of, i. 181 and n ; ii. 95
and n, 103, 117.
Sempel, William, ii. 601.
Sendis. See Sandys.
Seton, lord, i. 22.
Short, John, ii. 601.
Sinclair, lord, i. 126 and n; imprison-
ment of, ii. 331 ; an effort to be
made for his liberation, 359 ; failure
of the attempt, 370 ; permitted to
leave Edinburgh castle, 374.
Skippon, lieut. -general, i. 357.
Smith, sir John, ii. 601.
Southampton, lord, i. 74.
Spain attempts to obtain men from
Scotland, ii. 140-141.
Spynie, lord, ii. 601.
Stamford, earl of, ii. 409 and n, 421,
456.
Steward, adjutant, execution of, i. 47.
Strachan, major Archibald, ii. 498 m,
502 «.
captain John, ii. 417 and n.
614
MONTEREUL CORRESPONDENCE
Strathbogie, ii. 83, 95 and n.
Strathnaver, ii. 117.
Strickland, Walter, ii. 18 and n.
Stuart, George, ii. 565.
Sutherland, sir Alexander, of Duffus,
ii. 601.
John, earl of, ii. 248, 323, 600.
Swedish ships taken by the English,
ii. 134.
Sydserf, Archibald, ii. 428, 601.
Sympson, David, ii. 601.
Tailors' hall, Edinburgh, ii. 439
and n.
Talon, M., ii. 35, 228, 381.
Tapestry, i. 4, 7.
Taylor, agent from the Netherlands,
i. 260, 267, 272, 287, 301.
Tempest, sir Richard, defeat of, by
Lilburne, ii. 525 and n.
Thiboll, A. , letter to, from Bellievre, i.
242.
Tillieres, comte de, i. 194.
Tod, Arc, ii. 6oi.
Traquair, John, earl of, i. 22, 406 and
», 439; ii- 31. 42, 5l> 71, 233, 240,
255, 281, 288, 295, 299, 323, 349,
356, 359. 360, 376, 434. 444, 600.
Tullibardine, James, earl of, ii. 600.
Turner, major, ii, 502.
Usher, James, archbishop of Armagh,
i. 4.
Uxbridge treaty, i. 103, 104, 124, 152,
153, 164, 171, 173, 201.
Valuation of property in Scotland,
ii. 13 and n.
Vane, sir Henry, i. 130 ; ii. 18, 58,
145, 274.
Vaughan, sir William, i. 55.
Waller, sir William, ii. 322.
Wapple, Thomas, ii. 204.
Wardhouse, ii. 83, 95 n.
Warrington, ii. 493.
Warriston, lord. See Johnstone, sir
Archibald.
Warwick, earl of, i. 430 ; ii. 58 and «,
109, III, 123, 134, 145.
sir Philip, ii. 75 and n.
Wedderburn, E., ii. 601.
Whyte, Robert, ii. 601.
Willoughby, lord, i. 300, 317.
Winchester, diocese of, i. 212.
marquis of, i. 252 and n.
Winram, George, of Liberton, ii. 203,
207.
Winter Grand. See Leyburn, George.
Worcester house, ii. 569 and n.
Wright, Robert, i. 268.
Yester, John, lord, ii. 600.
York, duke of, i. 117, 124, 369; ii.
481 and n.
ERRATA
Vol. I. — P. 30, The reference in footnote to Appendix is to Note W., Scottish
Regiments in France.
P. 40, note, y^r date 1654, read 1643.
P. 276, note. The allusion is more probably to Dr. Richard Stewart
mentioned by Clarendon.
P. 407. The reference to Appendix is to note PP. , The King's Pro-
posed Escape.
P. 412, for Lord Langley mentioned at the end of Letter cm., read
Lord Lisle.
P. 425,yi?r 'As soon as will be,' read 'as soon as the king will be.'
Vol. n. — P. 225, note. The reference to Appendix is to Note V.
P. 21^, for ' assistance,' read ' resistance.'
P. 2'j^,for 'This latter tells him,' read 'this latter tells me.'
Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty
at the Edinburgh University Press
REPORT OF THE TWELFTH ANNUAL
MEETING OF THE
SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY
The Twelfth Annual Meeting of the Society was held on
Tuesday, November 1, 1898, in DowelFs Rooms, George
Street, Edinburgh, — Emeritus Professor Masson in chair.
The Hon. Secretary read the Report of the Council, as
follows : —
During the past year the Society has lost ten members,
three by resignation and seven by death. When the present
vacancies are filled up there will remain seventy-nine names on
the roll of applicants for admission to the Society.
The Council desire to express their deep regret at the death
of Mr. J. R. Findlay of Aberlour. Mr. Findlay joined the
Society at its foundation, and for the past ten years has been
a member of the Council, which he continually assisted with
his sound judgment and advice. His loss will be keenly felt.
Since the last General Meeting three volumes have been
delivered to members. Of these the Memorials qf John Murray
of Broughton and the Compt Bulk qf David Wedderhurne^
belonged to the issue of the preceding year. The publications
selected for the issue of this present year (1897-98) are the
two volumes of the Diplomatic Correspondence of Jean de
Montereid and the Brothers de Bellievre, French Ambassadors
in England and Scotland in the time of Charles I., edited by
Mr. J. G. Fotheringham. The first of these volumes was
issued to members in June last. The second, which contains
MontereuFs letters written from Edinburgh in 1647-48, is in
type, and only awaits the completion of the Index.
The volumes designed for the coming year are : —
1. The first volume of the Documeiits relating to the History
of the Scots Brigade in Holland, edited by Mr. James Ferguson,
Sheriff of Argyle, bringing the story down to 1697.
% Scotland and the Protectorate, in continuation of Scotland
and the Commonwealth, edited by Mr. C. H. Firth. This will
be illustrated with plans and a carefully executed map mark-
ing the route of General Monck^'s marches in the Highlands in
1654. The text of both of these books is already printed, and
they may be out shortly after Christmas.
The list of works in contemplation is a large one, and is
continually receiving fresh accessions. A recent offer deserves
immediate attention. The Rev. J. Hungerford Pollen, S.J.,
now engaged at Rome in the collection of documents chiefly
from the Archives of the Vatican, bearing on the contest
between the Papacy and Queen Elizabeth, offers to set aside
for publication by our Society certain papers which more
especially concern the affairs of Queen Mary during her reign
in Scotland. The collection will comprise documents relating
to the mission of Nicolas de Pelleve, bishop of Amiens, as
legate to the Queen Regent (1559-1560). These will be
followed by the negotiations of the Jesuit, Nicolas de Gouda,
papal envoy to Queen Mary in 1561-62, and those of Vincent
Laureo, bishop of Mondovi, afterwards nominated Cardinal
Protector of Scotland. Laureo, sent by Pope Pius v., was
prevented from entering Scotland, but carried on negotiations
with the Queen and wrote reports to Rome from Paris during
his eight months'* residence there, in the critical period
immediately preceding and following the murder of Darnley
(1566-67). Father Pollen will add certain papers relating to
Mary's divorce from Both well.
As it is thought desirable that this volume should appear
with as little delay as possible, the Council propose to put it
3
in the printers' hands in the course of the next six months, in
the hope of being able to issue it as one of the publications of
the year 1899-1900.
Mr. Alexander Macpherson of Kingussie has kindly placed
at the disposal of the Society a transcript of the MS. narrative
of Sir iEneas Macpherson, written in 1703, and entitled, ' The
Loyall Dissuasive, or the Resolute Advyce of a faithfull kins-
man. ... In a memorial to the Laird of Cluny in Badenoch."'
The narrative, mainly concerned with the rival claims of the
Macphersons and the Macintoshes for the chieftainship of the
Clan Chattan, throws light on the sentiments of Highlanders,
and their movements, which led to the Jacobite risings of 1715
and 1745. The Rev. Canon Murdoch, well known to the
Society by his editing of the Grameid, has undertaken to
perform the same good office for the Loyall Dissuasive.
M. Jusserand, three years ago, in an article in the Nineteenth
Century, entitled 'A Journey to Scotland in 1435,"' called
attention to an unedited narrative preserved in the Biblio-
theque Nationale of Paris, written by Regnault Girard, con-
cerning his diplomatic mission to Scotland, to negotiate the
marriage of the Princess Margaret, daughter of James i., with
the Dauphin of France, afterwards Louis xi. It has been
suggested that the publication of this document would be an
appropriate work for the Society, and the Council are not
without hope that M. Jusserand himself may find leisure to
undertake the editing of it.
Three members as usual retire from the Council : Mr.
Ferguson, Bishop Dowden, and Sir Thomas Grainger Stewart.
The Council propose that Bishop Dowden be re-elected, and
that the Rev. John Hutchison, D.D., and Dr. Hay Fleming
of St. Andrews, be appointed in the place of the other retiring
members ; also that Mr. Maitland Thomson, Advocate, Keeper
of the Historical Department of Her Majesty ""s General Register
House, be elected to the Council in the room of the late Mr.
Findlay.
The accompanying Abstract of the Hon. Treasurer''s Ac-
counts sliovvs that the income for 1897-98 has been dE'SlS,
18s. 9d., and the expenditure ,£'536, 15s. 3d. There was a balance
of ^£"195, 9s. 3d. from the previous year, the balance at the end
of this year being :£*171, lis. 9d. On the recommendation of
the Treasurer, the Council have agreed to repay from the
Reserve Fund the sum of £54}, 10s., which had been paid
during the year from the General Account for transcripts and
translations of the Dutch Brigade papers, and it was further
resolved that the remaining balance at the credit of the
Reserve Fund, viz. £7, should now be merged in the General
Account.
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said that,
in the first place, they had greatly to lament the death of Mr.
Findlay — a citizen of Edinburgh, eminent in Edinburgh, in
contact with a great many important businesses in Edinburgh,
and who from the very first of the Society had been a member
of the Council, and lent his good judgment, his sagacity, and his
interest in affairs of Scottish history, verified most splendidly by
the great institution which he had built in Edinburgh. All these
qualities of Mr. Findlay they knew very particularly, and they
and the rest of Edinburgh had to regret his loss. As to the
publications of the Society, he thought they might congratulate
themselves on the publications which had been most recently
issued, and more especially on the Memorials of Mtirray of
BroughtoJi, edited by Mr. Fitzroy Bell, which had caused a real
sensation among that part of the public which was interested in
history, and especially in Scottish history. As to the publications
immediately forthcoming, he need say nothing more than was
presented in the report. They sometimes heard complaints in
some quarters that so many of their publications had concerned
the Jacobite Rebellions in the last century. He was sure they
would all be delighted if any documents would flash up from the
further past in Scottish history — if, for instance, they could get
anything about Wallace or Bruce or the immediate subsequent
centui-ies. The Society had very largely contributed to the
history of Scotland in earlier days than last century, and if they
could get more of equal interest to what they had already pub-
lished about the Jacobite Rebellions, they would be very glad to
have it. There had been books published by the Society referring
to the previous century, of the reign of Charles i., and the
Covenanting period. There was a novelty contained in their
report. Father Pollen, who was at present occupied in collecting
documents in the Vatican and elsewhere, had offered to the
Society a share of documents referring more particularly to
Queen Mary, and representing the contemporary impressions at
the Papal Court and in Roman Catholic quarters as to Queen
Mary and her transactions. Queen Mary was another of those
fixed lighthouses in the history of Scotland round which the
swallows were always swarming, but there was unexhausted
information from that quarter. These authentic documents
which had been promised them, heretofore unknown and un-
published, would be a very valuable addition to their books.
Quite recently there had been published, in the fourteenth volume
of the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, one document,
now extant in a letter-book in the Register House of Edinburgh,
Avhich was not to be found in Labanoff's great collection of Marian
documents. This was a letter from Queen Mary to Pope Pius v.,
telling him that the office of Commendator in the Abbacy of Kelso
had fallen vacant by the death of William Ker, and that it was
very important that a man of distinguished lineage should be
appointed. There had come into her mind her nephew, Francis
Stuart, who possessed all the qualifications, in her view, for Kelso
and the neighbourhood, especially if there should be any invasion
from England, and she requested the Pope to appoint him to the
vacancy. This Francis Stuart was the son of Lord John Stuart,
one of the illegitimate children of James v., and who had been
Prior of Coldingham. The letter was dated 15th May 1567,
which was the day of the marriage of Mary and Bothwell, so that
it could hardly have been written without Bothwell's cognisance,
and perhaps with his desire. This Avas the more credible, because,
when they looked into the genealogy of Francis Stuart, they found
that he was not only Queen Mary's nephew, but also Bothwell's
nephew — the wife of John Stuart, Prior of Coldingham, having
been the sister of Bothwell. The mother of Francis Stuart being
then still alive and a widow, it looked very like an arrangement
to provide for Bothwell's sister and her son. The boy could not
have been more than five years of age, so that he could not at
that time have been very competent to defend Scotland against
England. But, more curious still, this Francis Stuart became the
6
second Earl of Bothwellj and as Earl of Bothwell he was a thorn
in the flesh of James vi. all his life. All these things put together
made that document an historical curiosity. If there were other
letters to the Pope from Queen Mary not yet accessible, or docu-
ments showing how Pope Pius v. and the Papal Nuncio regarded
Queen Mary, that would be a very valuable addition, positively
new, to their documentary history regarding Queen Mary.
Mr. Traquair Dickson, W.S., seconded the motion, which was
unanimously agreed to.
Mr. Balfour Paul, Lyon King of Arms, as one of the trustees
of the late Sir William Eraser, intimated that they had agreed to
pay the Society a sum sufficient to print at least one, and perhaps
two volumes, of such documents as they might select, with the
special object of illustrating the history and antiquity of Scotland.
(Applause.)
On the motion of the Rev. Dr. Hutchison, a vote of thanks
was passed to the members of Council and office-bearers of the
Society.
ABSTRACT OF THE HON. TREASURER'S
ACCOUNTS.
For Year to nth October 1898.
I. Charge.
I. Balance in Bank from last year, . . . £195 9 3
II. Subscriptions, viz. —
(1.) 400 Subscriptions for
1897-98, at £l, Is., . £420 0 0
5 in Arrear for 1896-97, . 5 5 0
£425 5 0
Less 5 in arrear and 1
in advance for 1897-98, 6 6 0
(2.) 60 Libraries at £l. Is., . £.63 0 0
Less 1 in advance for
1897-98, . . .110
418 19 0
61 19 0
(3.) Copies of previous issues sold to New
Members, 17 6 6
III. Interest on Deposit Receipts, . . . . 7 13 3
IV. Balance from Reserve Fund, . . . . 7 0 0
Sum of Charge, . . £708 7 0
II. Discharge.
I. Incidental Expenses —
(1) Printing Cards, Circulars, and
Reports, . . . . £l2 7 6
(2) Stationery, .... 236
(S) Making-up and delivering
copies, . . . . 26 18 0
Carry forward, £41 9 0
8
Brought forward, £41 9 0
(4) Postages of Secretary and
Treasurer, .... 313
(5) Cle.ical Work and Charges on
Cheques, . . . . 5 17 6
(6) Hire of room for Meeting, . 110
II. Mtirray of Broughton' s Journal —
Composition, Printing, and Paper, £120 3 0
Proofs and Corrections, . . 29 6 6
Illustrations, . . . 19 11 0
Binding and Back-lettering, . 216 9
Indexing, . . . . 3 5 0
£193 12 3
Less paid to account,
Oct. 1896, £10 16 0
Less paid to account,
Oct. 1897, . 80 2 0
90 18 0
III. Compt Buik of David Wedderbume —
Composition, etc., . . . £^6 18 0
Proofs and Corrections, . . 22 6 0
Binding and Back-lettering, . 20 13 3
Indexing, . . . . . 4 15 0
£144 12 3
Less paid to account, Oct. 1897, 68 8 0
IV. Montereul Correspondence, Vol. i. —
Composition, etc., . . . £107 5 0
Proofs and Corrections, . . 19 1 0
Binding, and Back-lettering, . 19 15 6
V. Montereul Correspondence, vol. ii. —
Composition,etc. (to 30th Sept.), £132 9 0
Proofs and Corrections, . . 12 14 0
£51 8 9
102 14 3
76 4 3
146 1 6
145 3 0
Carryforward, £521 11 9
9
Brought forward, £521 11 9
VI. Macfarlane Mamiscripls —
Transcripts, . . . . . . 10 0 0
VII. Scotland and the Protectorate —
Transcripts, . . . . . 5 S 6
£536 15 3
VIII, Balance to next account —
Sum due by the Bank of Scotland on 27th
October 1898, . . . £172 12 9
Less one Library Subscription
paid in advance, . . 110
171 11 9
Sura of Discharge, £708 7 0
Reserve Fund.
As at 27th October 1897, . . . . £6l 10 0
Paid in terms of Resohition of Council —
(1) Transcripts and Ti-anslations of Scots
Brigade Papers, . . £54 10 0
(2) To General Account, . 7 0 0
6l 10 0
Edinburgh, ai.rf November 1898. — The Auditors, having examined the
Accounts of the Hon. Treasurer of the Scottish History Society for the year to
27th October 1898, and having compared them with the vouchers, find the said
Accounts to be correct, closing with a Balance in Bank on current account of
;^I72, I2S. 9d. The subscriptions paid in advance will be included in next
year's Account. Ralph Richardson, Auditor.
Wm. Traquair Dickson, Auditor.
^eottifit) i^i0torp ^otittv.
THE EXECUTIVE.
President.
The Earl of Rosebery, K.G., K.T., LL.D.
Chairman of Council.
David Masson, LL.D., Historiographer Royal for Scotland.
Council.
Rev. John Hutchison, D.D.
D. Hay Fleming, LL.D.
Right Rev. John Dowden, D.D., Bishop of Edinburgh.
J. Maitland Thomson, Advocate, Keeper of the Historical
Department, H.M. Register House.
W. K. Dickson, Advocate.
David Patrick, LL.D.
Sir Arthur Mitchell, K.C.B., M.D., LL.D.
^NEAs J. G. Mackay, Q.C.J LL.D., Sheriflf" of Fife and Kinross.
Sir John Cowan, Bart.
J. Balfour Paul, Lyon King of Arms.
G. W. Prothero, Litt. D,, Professor of History in the
University of Edinburgh.
P. Hume Brown, M.A., LL.D.
Corresponding Members of the Council.
C. H. Firth, Oxford; Samuel Rawson Gardiner, D.C.L.,LL.D. ;
Rev. W. D. Macray, Oxford ; Rev. Professor A. F. Mitchell,
D.D., St. Andrews.
Hon. Treasurer.
J. T. Clark, Keeper of the Advocates' Library.
Hon. Secretary.
T. G. Law, LL.D., Librarian, Signet Library.
RULES
1. The object of the Society is the discovery and printing,
under selected editorship, of unpublished documents illus-
trative of the civil, religious, and social history of Scotland.
The Society will also undertake, in exceptional cases, to issue
translations of printed works of a similar nature, which have
not hitherto been accessible in English.
2. The number of Members of the Society shall be limited
to 400.
3. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Council,
consisting of a Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and twelve
elected Members, five to make a quorum. Three of the twelve
elected Members shall retire annually by ballot, but they shall
be eligible for re-election.
4. The Annual Subscription to the Society shall be One
Guinea. The publications of the Society shall not be delivered
to any Member whose Subscription is in arrear, and no
Member shall be permitted to receive more than one copy of
the Society's publications.
5. The Society will undertake the issue of its own publica-
tions, i.e. without the intervention of a publisher or any other
paid agent.
6. The Society will issue yearly two octavo volumes of about
320 pages each.
7. An Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held
at the end of October, or at an approximate date to be
determined by the Council.
8. Two stated Meetings of the Council shall be held each
year, one on the last Tuesday of May, the other on the Tues-
day preceding the day upon which the Annual General Meeting
shall be held. The Secretary, on the request of three Members
of the Council, shall call a special meeting of the Council.
9. Editors shall receive 20 copies of each volume they edit
for the Society.
10. The owners of Manuscripts published by the Society will
also be presented with a certain number of copies.
11. The Annual Balance-Sheet, Rules, and List of Members
shall be printed.
12. No alteration shall be made in these Rules except at a
General Meeting of the Society. A fortnight's notice of any
alteration to be proposed shall be given to the Members of the
Council.
PUBLICATIONS
OF THE
SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY
For the year 1886-1887.
1. Bishop Pococke's Tours in Scotland, 1747-1760. Edited by
D. W. Kemp. (Oct 1887.)
2. Diary of and General Expenditure Book of William
Cunningham of Craigends, 1673-1680. Edited by the Rev.
James Dodds, D.D. (Oct. 1887.)
For the year 1887-1888.
3. Panurgi Philo-caballi Scoti Grameidos libri sex. — The
Grameid : an heroic poem descriptive of the Campaign of
Viscount Dundee in 1689, by James Philip of Almerieclose.
Translated and Edited by the Rev. A. D. Murdoch.
(Oct 1888.)
4. The Register of the Kirk-Session cf St. Andrews. Part i.
1559-1582. Edited by D. Hay Fleming. (Feb. 1889.)
For the year 1888-1889.
5. Diary of the Rev. John Mill, Minister of Dunrossness, Sand-
wick, and Cunningsburgh, in Shetland, 1740-1803. Edited
by Gilbert Goudie, F.S.A. Scot (June 1889,)
6. Narrative of Mr. James Nimmo, a Covenanter, 1654-1709.
Edited by W. G, Scott-Moncrieff, Advocate. (June 1889.)
7. The Register of the Kirk-Session of St. Andrews. Part ii.
1583-1600. Edited by D. Hay Fleming. (Aug. 1890.)
4 PUBLICATIONS
For the year 1889-1890.
8. A List of Persons concerned in the Rebellion (1745). With
a Preface by the Earl of Rosebery and Annotations by the
Rev. Walter Macleod. (Sept. 1890.)
Presented to the Society by the Earl of Rosebery.
9. Glamis Papers: The 'Book of Record/ a Diary written by
Patrick, first Earl of Strathmore, and other documents
relating to Glamis Castle (1684-89). Edited by A. H.
Millar, F.S.A. Scot. (Sept. 1890.)
10. John Major's History of Greater Britain (1521). Trans-
lated and edited by Archibald Constable, with a Life of the
author by -Eneas J. G. Mackay, Advocate. (Feb. 1892.)
For the year 1890-1891.
11. The Records of the Commissions of the General Assemblies,
1646-47. Edited by the Rev. Professor Mitchell, D.D., and
the Rev. James Christie, D.D., with an Introduction by the
former. (May 1892.)
12. Court-Book of the Barony of Urie, 1604-1747. Edited
by the Rev. D. G. Barron, from a ms. in possession of Mr. R.
Barclay of Dorking. (Oct. 1892.)
For the year 1891-1892.
13. Memoirs of the Life of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik,
Baronet, Baron of the Exchequer, Commissioner of the Union,
etc. Extracted by himself from his own Journals, 1676-1755.
Edited from the original ms. in Penicuik House by John M.
Gray, F.S.A. Scot. (Dec. 1892.)
14. Diary of Col. the Hon. John Erskine of Carnock, 1683-
1687. From a ms. in possession of Henry David Erskine,
Esq., of Cardross. Edited by the Rev. Walter Macleod.
(Dec. 1893.)
PUBLICATIONS 5
For the year 1892-1893.
15. Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, First Volume —
The Library of James vi., 1573-83.
Edited by G. F. Warner.
Documents illustrating Catholic Policy^ 1596-98.
T. G. Law.
Letters of Sir Thomas Hope, 1627-46. Rev. R. Paul.
Civil War Papers, 1643-50. H. F. Morland Simpson.
Lauderdale Correspondence, 1660-77.
Right Rev. John Dowden, D.D.
Turnbull's Diary, 1657-1704. Rev. R. Paul.
Masterton Papers, 1 660-1 7 19. V. A. Noel Paton.
AccoMPT OF Expenses in Edinburgh, 1715. A. H. Millar.
Rebellion Papers, 1715 and 1745. H. Paton.
(Dec. 1893.)
16. Account Book of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston (1671-1707).
Edited by the Rev. A. W. Cornelius Hallen. (June 1894.)
For the year 1893-1894.
17. Letters and Papers illustrating the Relations between
Charles il and Scotland in 1650. Edited, with Notes and
Introduction, by Samuel Rawson Gardiner, LL.D., etc.
(July 1894.)
18. Scotland and the Commonwealth. Letters and Papers
relating to the Military Government of Scotland, Aug.
1651 — Dec. 1653. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by
C. H. Firth, M.A. (Oct. 1895.)
For the year 1894-1895.
19- The Jacobite Attempt of 1719- Letters of James, second
Duke of Ormonde, relating to Cardinal Alberoni's project
for the Invasion of Great Britain. Edited by W. K.
Dickson, Advocate. (Dec. 1895.)
20, 21. The Lyon in Mourning, or a Collection of Speeches,
Letters, Journals, etc., relative to the Affairs of Prince
Charles Edward Stuart, by the Rev. Robert Forbes, A.M.,
Bishop of Ross and Caithness. 1746-1775. Edited from his
Manuscript by Henry Paton, M.A. Vols. i. and 11.
(Oct. 1895.)
6 PUBLICATIONS
For the year 1895-1896.
22. The Lyon in Mourning. Vol. hi. (Oct, 1896.)
23. Supplement to the Lyon in Mourning. — Itinerary of Prince
Charles Edward. With a Map. Compiled by W. B. Blaikie.
(April 1897.)
24. Extracts from the Presbytery Records of Inverness and
Dingwall from 1638 to 1688. Edited by William Mackay.
(Oct. 1896.)
25. Records of the Commissions of the General Assemblies
(continued) for the years 1 648 and 1 649. Edited by the Rev.
Professor Mitchell, D.D., and Rev. James Christie, D.D.
(Dec. 1896.)
For the year 1896-1897.
26. Wariston's Diary and other Papers —
Johnston of Wariston's Diary, 1639. Edited by G. M. Paul.
The Honours of Scotland, 1651-52. C. R. A. Howden.
The Earl of Mar's Legacies, 1722, 1726. Hon. S. Erskine.
Letters by Mrs. Grant of Laggan. J. R. N. Macphail.
(Dec. 1896.)
Presented to the Society by Messrs. T. and A. Constable.
27. Memorials of John Murray of Broughton, sometime
Secretary to Prince Charles Edward, 1740-1747. Edited
by R. Fitzroy Bell, Advocate. (May 1898.)
28. The Compt Buik of David Wedderburne, Merchant of
Dundee, 1587-1630. With the Shipping Lists of the Port of
Dundee, 1580-l6l8. Edited by A. H. Millar. (May 1898.)
For the year 1897-1898.
29. The Diplomatic Correspondence of Jean de Montereul and
the brothers De Bellievre, French Ambassadors in Eng-
land AND Scotland, 1645-1648. Edited, with Translation
and Notes, by J. G. Fotheringham. Vol. i. (June 1898.)
30. The Same. Vol. n. (Jan. 1899.)
PUBLICATIONS 7
F(yr the year 1898-1899.
31. Scotland during the Protectorate, 1653-16'59; in con-
tinuation of Scotland and the Commonwealth. Edited by
C. H. Firth.
32. Papers illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in
the Service of the United Netherlands, 1572-1782. Ex-
tracted by permission from the Government Archives at The
Hague, and edited by James Ferguson. Vol. i. 1572-1697.
In preparation.
Papers on the Scots Brigade. Vols. ii. and in.
Papal Missions to Mary Queen of Scots. Documents chiefly
from the Vatican Archives. Edited by the Rev. J. Hunger-
ford Pollen, S.J.
Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections in the Advocates' Lib-
rary. Edited by J. T. Clark, Keeper of the Library.
Macfarlane's Topographical Collections.
Journal of a Foreign Tour in 166"5 and 1666' by John Lauder,
Lord Fountainhall. Edited by Donald Crawford, SheriiF
of Aberdeenshire.
The Diary of Andrew Hay of Stone, near Biggar, afterwards
OF Craignethan Castle, 1659-60. Edited by A. G. Reid
from a manuscript in his possession.
A Translation of the Statuta EcclesI/E ScoTiCANiE, 1225-1556,
by David Patrick, LL.D.
Sir Thomas Craig's De Unione Regnorum Britanni^e. Edited,
with an English Translation, by David Masson, LL.D,, His-
' « toriographer Royal.
Records of the Commissions of the General Assemblies {con-
tinued), for the years 1650-53.
Register of the Consultations of the Ministers of Edinburgh,
AND some other BrETHREN OF THE MINISTRY FROM DIVERS
PARTS OF THE LAND, MEETING FROM TIME TO TIME, SINCE THE
INTERRUPTION OF THE ASSEMBLY l653, WITH OTHER PaPERS OF
PUBLIC CONCERNMENT, l653-l660.
8 PUBLICATIONS
Papers relating to the Rebellions of 1715 and 1745, with other
documents from the Municipal Archives of the City of Perth.
A Selection of the Forfeited Estates Papers preserved in
H.M. General Register House and elsewhere. Edited by
A. H. Millar.
A Translation of the Historia Abbatum de Kynlos of
Ferrerius. By Archibald Constable, LL.D.
Documents relating to the Affairs of the Roman Catholic
Party in Scotland, from the year of the Armada to the
Union of the Crowns. Edited by Thomas Graves Law, LL.D.
The Loyall Dissuasive. Memorial to the Laird of Cluny in
Badenoch. Written in 1703, by Sir ^neas Macpherson.
Edited by the Rev. A. D. Murdoch.
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