king told him he spoke more for Cromwell then for him, so as the vote passed for the king; yet the next day Leslie and Robin Montgomerie, two great saints, gave up a petition against the receaving of them, and having done no good, have layd doune their commissions. I hope the king will take them at there worde; in the meane time, that brave valiant Lo. Argilie is all for the king! you may judge how trulie, since all his creatures are against him. I now finde you have a great reason not to venture to soone amongst them. When I shall know the king is in the heart of his armie, then I shall hope some good; for certainlie all the gentrie, nobiliție, and people in generall, are all for him. When I heare anie more, I will lett you know, for as yet I am not satisfied with this news. In the meane time, I intreat you to beleive, that I ame constantlie, your most affectionat frend, ELIZABETH. I send this by the direction of Leith, because the gentleman you writt to me of is not heere. [Directed] For the Earle of Seafort. No. XIII. Two Letters from Prince Rupert to the Marquis. MY LORD, I AM Sorry that this employment will not give me leave to stir from it, else I should have been extreme willing to have met with your lordship somewhere, and conferred with you about his majesty's affairs; the bearer hereof can more fully tell your lordship how ready I shall be to join with you in any thing that may advance that service, in which you showed so much reality and forwardness; I shall therefore only trouble you with an assurance of my service to you, which shall not be wanting in your lordship's most faithful friend to serve you, From on board the Admiral, Oct. 11, 1648. P. RUPERT. Directed thus, To my Lord Marquis of Montrose. MY LORD, I HAVE received three letters from your Lordship in one day, among which there was one sent me by Major-General Monro, whose business, though I know not, yet whenever he shall please to let me know, the assistance I shall give, it shall be set forward as much as it may. My Lord, I find upon all occasions, that your kindness to me is the same you profest, and I am very sorry that as yet there is no occasion for me to give a real testimony of mine, which I intend upon all occasions to do. Of this your Lordship may be confident, since this is from, My Lord, your Lordship's most faithful friend and servant, Kingragly, April 1, 1649. No. XIV. P. RUPERT. Commission from King Charles II. to the Marquis of Montrose, for settling the Differences with the Town of Hamburgh, and borrowing a Sum of Money from the Senate. CHARLES R. RIGHT trusty, and right entirely beloved cousin, we greet you well. We send you herewith a relation which we have lately received from our trusty and well beloved Sir John Cockeran, knight, of his proceedings with the town of Hamburgh; and being justly sensible how unnecessary it is for us, at this time, to make new enemies, or to be over severe in our resentments of such things, as in a time of more prosperity we ought to insist upon; we therefore desire, and we hereby require and authorise you, to employ yourself by such ways and expedients as you shall think fit, to compose the dif ferences, and to settle a better understanding between us and the said town of Hamburgh, only in that particular of their resolution, to receive a public minister from the bloody rebels in England, we cannot but believe it to be inconsistent with all amity and alliance with us, which, our pleasure is, shall be so represented to them, but without any menaces or threats on our part, to the end, that, if they shall avowedly receive any such public minister, we may be at liberty to take such resolution as shall be fit for our own honour and interest. In the mean time, we desire you to press the senate to give us some present testimony of their good affection, by supplying us with the loan of a considerable sum of money, upon such assurance of repayment as we can for the present give them. And if any money can be gotten from them, our pleasure is, that one half thereof shall be for your employment, and that the other half be remitted for our use, to our trusty and well beloved John Webster of Amsterdam, merchant; some proportion being first deducted out of the whole, for the supply of our trusty and well-beloved servant Sir John Cockeran, knight: And so recommending this business to your care and good endeavour, we bid you heartily farewell. Given at St Germans, the 5th September 1649. No. XV. A Letter from King Charles II. to the Marquis of Montrose, encouraging him in his preparations for making a descent upon Scotland. MY LORD, I ENTREAT you to go on vigorously, and with your wonted courage and care in the prosecution of those trusts I have committed to you, and not to be startled with any reports you may hear, as if I were otherwise inclined to the Presbyterians than when I left you. I assure you I am upon the same principles I was, and depend as much as ever upon your undertakings and endeavours for my service, being fully resolved to assist and support you therein to the uttermost of my power, as you shall find in effect, when you shall desire any thing to be done by your affectionate friend, St Germans, September 19th, 1649. CHARLES R. No. XVI. An Address from the Committee of Estates in Scotland to King Charles II. after the Treaty at the Hague had miscarried. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, If the Estates of Parliament of this your majesty's most ancient kingdom, had considered the power and prevalency of your majesty's enemies, your majesty's present condition, and the difficulties and dangers that may attend an agreement with your majesty in such a posture of affairs, they might have been silent upon the receipt of so unsatisfactory an answer to their humble and earnest desires, and waited for the express promised by your majesty in your last answer to their commissioners. But being very desirous to witness their tender regard to your majesty, and because they would not be wanting in any thing which might evidence the sincerity and constancy of their affection, and beget a right understanding betwixt your majesty and your loyal and faithful subjects of this kingdom, they have resolved upon this new address; there being no earthly thing more in their desires, than that your majesty may rule over them, and that your throne may be established in religion and righteousness. We doubt not but your majesty hath seriously con sidered your present estate, and weighed the great dangers that do and may further arise from delay in resolution; yet we crave leave humbly to represent, that it is matter of much trouble and sadness for us, to think that your majesty should live among strangers, and relying upon the uncertain aid of foreigners, stand at such a distance with your well affected subjects, who, against all difficulties and impediments, are most willing to interest themselves in your majesty's affairs according to the Covenant. And we cannot but acquaint your majesty, that it is unto us matter of admiration, that your majesty should at this time forbear to declare your intentions and resolutions, whilst your adversaries, the murderers of your royal father and our native king, are very active and industrious, both at home and abroad, and leave no means unassayed which may either gain reputation to themselves, or lessen your majesty's estimation with your people. As we are much grieved to consider the many inconveniences which accompany your majesty's irresolution, so are we much more afflicted to think of the sad effects that may ensue, in case your majesty should be induced to believe, that it can be safe for your majesty to trust your person or affairs to the Papists in Ireland, who, for the enmity to the reformed religion, and cruel murder of many thousand Protestants in that kingdom, are long since become detestable to all your majesty's subjects, who either fear God, honour your majesty, or wish well to the peace of these kingdoms. We do therefore most humbly beg and earnestly beseech, that your majesty would, in your princely wisdom, seasonably lay to heart your own estate, the long continued distraction of your kingdoms, and the equity of our bumble desires presented unto your majesty by our commissioners; which, if your majesty shall graciously be pleased to grant, and above all, if your majesty shall cordially enter into the Solemn League and Covenant, is the only way to procure the Lord's blessing on all on all your undertakings, and the hearty concurrence of your well affected subjects in all your kingdoms, for restoring your majesty to your just Ff |