No More Learning

The benefit that would redound to the king from
not passing the other bill of the militia, more than
avoiding the infamy of consenting to it, was not
evident to discerning men ; for they foresaw, that
they would quickly wrest it out of his hands with-
out his consent ; and that the reputation of the par-
liament was so great, that whatsoever the two
houses (which the people looked upon as the parlia-
ment) should concur in, and enjoin to be done, the
people would look upon as law, and observe it ac-
cordingly :' so that when, by the removal of so many
voices out of the house of peers as the bishops made,
who were always firm to the crown and govern-
ment, the house of commons found a concurrence
from the lords in all they proposed, their joint de-
termination would find obedience, for the most part,
from the people ; whom there were all endeavours
used to corrupt and possess, by presently printing,
and causing to be read in churches, all their mes-
sages and petitions to the king ; that they might see
all their concernments were for the good of the
kingdom, and preservation of the people.

When the king accompanied the queen to Dover,
where they expected a wind many days, he sent
the prince, under his new governor, the marquis of
Hertford, to Richmond; that there might be no
room for the jealousy that the prince should be
transported beyond the seas; which had been in-
fused into the minds of many; and would have
made a great noise, if he had waited upon his mo-
ther to Dover: but as soon as the wind appeared
hopeful for her majesty's embarkation, the king sent



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 119

an express to Richmond, that the prince should PART
attend his majesty at Greenwich the Saturday fol-.



lowing: the marquis being at that time very much

, . The king

indisposed by a defluxion upon his eyes, and a ca- sends for



tarrh. The parliament, being presently informed
as they had spies in all places, of this direction, and wich -
there being yet no certainty of the queen's being
embarked, was much troubled ; and resolved to send
to his majesty, by members of both houses, to desire
that the prince might not remove from Richmond,
at least till the marquis recovered health enough to
be able to attend him ; and at the same time sent
an express order to the marquis, that he should not
suffer the prince to go from thence, till he himself
should be able to go with him.

They appointed one lord and two commoners to Mr. Hyde
carry the message to the king, whom they believed thek! ngon
to be still at Dover; and Mr. Hyde coming acci-* i h a n t t occa '
dentally into the house, when the matter was in de-
bate, they appointed him to be one of the messen-
gers ; which no excuses could free him from, for
they did not intend it as a favour to him ; so that
they were obliged presently to begin their journey ;
and that night they went to Gravesend. The next
day they were fully informed of the queen's being
gone to sea, and that the king would be that night
at Canterbury ; whither the messengers made what
haste they could > and found his majesty there, with
a very little court, most of his servants having leave
to go before to London, the better to provide them-
selves for a further journey. When they read their
message to the king, in the hearing whereof he
shewed no satisfaction, he appointed them to attend
him after he had supped, and they should receive

i 4



120 THE LIFE OF

TART their answer: and accordingly, about nine of the

__ clock, he caused it to be read, and delivered it to

1 642 - them ; taking no notice of Mr. Hyde, as if he had

been known to him. That messenger, who was a

member of the house of peers, received it from his

majesty, as of right he ought to do, that it might be

first reported to that house.

Mr. Hyde was very much troubled when he heard
the answer read ; for it had much sharpness in it,
which at that time could only provoke them : so
without taking any notice of it to his companions,
he pretended to them only to be very weary, and
desirous to go to bed, and bade them good night;
having the conveniency offered him by the lord
Grandison (his familiar friend) to lodge with him in
a house next the court : and so the other two mes-
sengers making haste to find some lodging in an
inn, he sent the lord Grandison to the duke of Rich-
mond, to desire the king that he might speak with
him before he went, into his bed. The king was
half undressed, yet said he would stay for him, and
bade that he should make haste to the back stairs ;
and as soon as he came thither, the duke went into
the king, who immediately came out in his night-
dress; and the duke having before sent all other
servants from thence, retired likewise himself.

He told the king, that " he was sorry that his
" majesty had expressed so much displeasure in his
" answer ; which could produce no good, and might
" do hurt ; and therefore he desired he would call
" for it, and alter some expressions ;" which his ma-
jesty was not inclined to do ; enlarging himself with
much sharpness upon the insolence of the message,
and of the order they had sent to the marquis of



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 121

Hertford; and seemed to apprehend that the prince PART
would not be suffered to attend him at Greenwich ;



the thought whereof had caused that warmth in him.
It was now Friday night, and his majesty resolved
the next night to be at Greenwich, and to stay there
all Sunday ; and then to pursue his former resolu-
tions : upon which, Mr. Hyde told him, " that he
" hoped the prince would be at Greenwich as soon
" as he, and then that point would be cleared ; that
" they could not report his message to the parlia-
" ment till Monday morning ; and that they might
" well attend upon his majesty again on Sunday,
" and receive his pleasure ; and at that time the
" lord Falkland and sir John Colepepper would be
"likewise present; when his majesty might take
" what resolution he pleased in that matter ; and
" therefore he besought his majesty that he would
" presently send a servant to the other two messen-
" gers, at such an inn, for the answer he had de-
" livered to them, of which he would further con-
" sider when he came to Greenwich ; where he on whom
" commanded them to attend him on Sunday,
" that he would despatch them soon enough for Jh
" them to be at London that night. " All which his ment -
majesty was pleased to consent to, and immediately
sent a gentleman to them for the paper, with that
injunction ; and then sent it by the lord Grandison
the same night to Mr. Hyde, whom he had com-
manded to attend him on Sunday morning, saying
he had very much to say to him.

When his majesty came to Greenwich, he found
the prince there with his governor, who, though in-
disposed in his health, without returning any an-
swer to the parliament, brought the prince very



122 THE LIFE OF

PART early from Richmond to Greenwich ; with which the
king was very much pleased, and in very good hu-



1 642. mour . And the next morning, when Mr. Hyde came
to court, (to whom his companions had told that the
king had sent for his answer to them again, and ap-
pointed them to attend him for it at Greenwich that
afternoon ; which they had agreed together to do,)
the king being come into the privy chamber, and
seeing him there, asked him aloud, where the others
who came in the message with him were ; and said,
he would expect them in the afternoon ; and so dis-
coursing somewhat of the weather, that all men
heard, he came near him, and, as it were passing by,
(which nobody took notice of, the room not being
full,) he bade him dine with Porter, at the back
stairs, that he might be in the privy chamber when
he rose from dinner; and after he had dined he
found him there ; and at that hour most people
looking after their own dinner, his majesty did,
without any body's taking notice of it, bid him fol-
low him into the privy gallery ; where he was no
sooner entered, than the king locked the door with
his own key, saying, " We will not now be dis-
" turbed, for there is no man in the house now who
" hath a key to this door. " Then he said, " I will
" say nothing of the answer, for I am sure Falkland
" and Colepepper will be here anon ; and then pre-
" pare one, and I will not differ with you ; for now
" I have gotten Charles, I care not what answer I
" send to them. "
The king's Then he spake of many particulars of the parlia-

discourse to . , , , , , ,

him at ment with warmth enough ; and lamented his hav-

b ing consented to the bill concerning the bishops,

which he said he was prevailed upon to do for his



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 123

wife's security; but he should now be without any PART
fear to displease them. He said, he would lay the



next night at Theobalds; where he would stay a 1642>
day or two, that his servants might provide them-
selves to attend him northward : that he should not
see him any more before he took that journey, and
therefore he required him upon all occasions to write
to him, and advertise him of such matters as were
fit for him to know ; and to prepare and send him
answers to such declarations or messages as the par-
liament should send to him. He said, he knew well
the danger he underwent, if it were discovered ; but
his majesty assured him, and bade him be confident
of it, that no person alive, but himself and his two
friends, should know that he corresponded with his
majesty ; and that he would himself transcribe every
paper in his own hand before he would shew it to
any man, and before his secretary should write it
out. Mr. Hyde told him, that he writ a very ill
hand, which would give his majesty too much trou-
ble to transcribe himself; and that he had so much
friendship with secretary Nicholas, that he was well
contented he should be trusted : to which the king
said, Nicholas was a very honest man, and he would
trust him in any thing that concerned himself; but
in this particular, which would be so penal to the
other, if it should be known, it was not necessary ;
for he would quickly learn to read the hand, if it
were writ at first with a little the more care ; and
nobody should see it but himself. And his majesty
continued so firm to this resolution, that though the
declarations from the houses shortly after grew so
voluminous, that the answers frequently contained



124 THE LIFE OF

PART five or six sheets of paper very closely writ, his ma-

! jesty always transcribed them with his own hand ;

1642. wm ' cn sometimes took him up two or three days,
and a good part of the night, before he produced
them to the council, where they were first read;
and then he burned the originals. And he gave
himself no ease in this particular, till Mr. Hyde left
the parliament, and by his majesty's command at-
tended upon him at York : which will be mentioned
in its time.

Whilst the king held this discourse with him in
the privy gallery, many of the lords were come from
London ; and not finding him, the earls of Essex
and Holland, who by their offices had keys to the
gallery, opened that door, and went in ; and seeing
nobody there, walked to the further end ; where in
a turning walk the king and Mr. Hyde were : and
though they presently drew back, the king himself,
as well as Mr. Hyde, was a little discomposed ; and
said, " I am very sorry for this accident ; I meant
" to have said somewhat to you of those gentlemen,
" but we must not stay longer together : forget not
" what I have said ; and send me presently the an-
" swer for your message, and then attend with your
" companions in the privy chamber, and I will come
" out and deliver it to them :" and so he withdrew ;
the two earls smiling, and saluting Mr. Hyde civilly.
He quickly found the lord Falkland and Colepepper,
and they as quickly agreed upon the answer, which
where he the lord Falkland carried to the king : and his ma-
theTing-s J es ty approving and signing it, he came out and de-
nnswer. Hvered it, after he had caused it to be read, to the
messengers who attended to receive it ; and who



EDWARI> EARL OF CLARENDON. 125

went that night to London ; and the next morning, PART
at the first sitting of the houses, reported and deli-.



vered it.

It was expected and believed, that as soon as the
queen was gone for Holland, the king would return
to Whitehall, and reside there. And many wise
men were of opinion, that if he had done so, he
would have been treated with more duty and re-
spect ; and that he would be able to bring his busi-
ness to a fair end by very moderate condescensions ;
for the universal prejudice and aversion was to the
queen, how unjustly and unreasonably soever; and
to the king only as it was generally believed, that
he governed himself entirely by her dictates : and
many of those, whose countenance had most sup-
ported the violent party, by their concurrence with
them, were grown weary of those excesses ; and as
they had been seduced, and craftily drawn further
than they meant to have gone, so they plainly dis-
cerned that there would be further attempts made
than were agreeable to their wishes or their in-
terests, and therefore resolved to second them no
further.

The earl of Essex himself was in his nature an
honest man, and a man of honour ; and though he
did not think the king had any gracious purposes
towards him, or great confidence in him, yet he was
willing to retire from that angry company ; and did
neither desire the dignity of the king should be af-
fronted, or the government receive an alteration or
diminution ; and did hope nothing more than to
make himself the instrument to reconcile the parlia-
ment to the king, by some moderate and plausible
expedient. But it was no sooner known in the



126 THE LIFE OF

PART houses that his majesty was gone to Theobalds, and
had taken the prince with him, with a purpose of



1642. nuking a progress further northward, but they fell
into all their usual heat and debate, of their just
causes of jealousy and distrust, and the wickedness
of those persons who misled him; and the next
morning, being well informed that the king stayed
all day at Theobalds, they resolved to send a com-
mittee of four lords and eight commoners to him, to
put him in mind of his violating their privileges, for
which they had yet no reparation or satisfaction ;
his refusal to settle the militia, whereby he left his
kingdom and people exposed to the violence of a
foreign enemy, or a domestic insurrection ; the great
jealousies and fears which possessed the minds of all
his subjects, which would be now exceedingly in-
creased by his removal in this conjuncture from his
parliament ; and thereupon concluded, that he would
return to London, or reside at such a distance that
they might easily repair to him.

When the persons designed for the message with-
drew to prepare themselves for their journey, the
message being read and agreed upon, Mr. Hyde
went likewise out of the house ; and that the king
might not be surprised with the sight of the mes-
sage before he heard of it, he sent instantly to the
lord Grandison (in whom he had entire confidence)
to speak with him ; and desired him to cause his
horse to be made ready, that he might with all pos-
sible expedition carry a letter to the king, which
he would prepare by the time he could be ready for



His advice ^g jouiuey. He writ to the king, that such per-

to the king ^ ^ *>'

upon a mes- sons would be presently with him, and the substance
the two of the message they would bring to him ; which in

houses.



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 127

respect of the length of it, and of many particulars PART

in it, would require some time to answer, which he '.

should receive soon enough ; and for the present, he
might upon the delivery make some short resent-
ment of the houses' proceeding with him ; and con-
clude, that he would send an answer to their mes-
sage in due time. The lord Grandison came to
Theobalds when the king had newly dined, so that
he was alone in his bedchamber ; and as soon as he
had delivered the letter, he returned to London,
and met the messengers within a mile or two of
Theobalds.

As soon as they had delivered their message,
which one of them read, the king, with a displeased
countenance, and in a warmer and more sprightly
tone than was natural to him, told them, "that he
" was amazed at their message, and could not con-
" ceive what they would have, nor what they meant
" to do : that they made a great noise with their
" privileges, but forgot that he had privileges too,
" which they made no conscience to violate : that
" they talked of their fears and jealousies, for which
" they had not the least ground ; but if they would
" well consider, they would find that they gave him
" cause enough for jealousy :" and concluded, " that
" he would think of their message, and send an an-
" swer to the houses in convenient time :" without
saying any thing of his journey, when or whither he
meant to go ; nor held any further discourse with
them. The manner and the matter of the king's
short discourse to them wonderfully surprised the
messengers, who were all persons of the best quality
in both houses, the earl of Pembroke being the chief,
and some of them were of known affections to his



128 THE LIFE OF

PART majesty's service; who were wonderfully delighted

! with the king's quick and sharp treatment, with

which the rest were as much troubled : and so they
all returned the same night to London.

The king resolved to pursue the course agreed
upon with the queen at her departure, and would
no more resume the consideration of staying nearer
the parliament ; very reasonably apprehending that
he should render himself liable every day to new
affronts. And the practice both houses had gotten,
to send for persons by a sergeant at arms upon any
suggestions of light discourse, or upon general and
ungrounded suspicions, by which they were com-
pelled to give long attendance, if they were not
committed to prison, had so terrified all conditions
of men, that very few resorted to the court. And
they who did most diligently seem to attend their
duty there, did in truth perform that service, that
they might with the more ease betray their master,
and gratify those who they thought would at last
bring themselves into those places and offices, upon
which they were to depend. So that he thought it
most absolutely necessary to be at such a distance
from Westminster, that people might be less appre-
hensive of their power : resolving likewise, that no
person who attended him, or resorted to the place
where he was, should yield any obedience to their
summons upon those general suggestions, or any ap-
plications they should make to his majesty. And
though it might have met with better success, if he
had taken the contrary resolution, and stayed in or
near Whitehall ; yet the hazards or inconveniences
which might very probably have attended that coun-
sel, were too much in view for wise meji to engage



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 129

positively in the advice. Besides, the concert that
had been made with the queen shut out all opposite
consultations : and the king with a small court, after



two days stay at Theobalds, began his progress to-

j TVT i

wards Newmarket; and sometimes resting a day in
a place, he advanced by easy journeys northward.

He took the prince with him, the marquis like-
wise attending him ; but left the duke of York still
at Richmond, till he came to York : and then like-
wise he sent for his highness, who came thither to
him : and the morning he left Theobalds he sent his
answer to the two houses to their message they had
sent to him thither g .



PART

'



,

The king

be s ins his

progress

northward.



s the morning he left Theo-
balds he sent his answer to the
two houses to their message
they had sent to him thither. ]
Thus continued in MS. : When
the messengers who had pre-
sented the message to the king
at Theobalds made their report
to the houses of their reception
there, and of what his majesty
had said to them, in which they
helped and assisted each other,
so that there was not only every
word he said related, but his
manner of speaking and his
looks described, which gave
them infinite trouble, and much
the more, because they saw joy
and delight in the countenance
of all those who they knew were
not their friends, and a kind of
dejection in many who used to
concur with them ; on the same
day, or the next, they received
fin answer from his majesty to
their last message, which took
notice of every particular in it ;
answered all the reproaches they
had cast upon him, and the

VOL. I.



unwarrantable manner in doing
it ; enlarged upon the large
concessions he had granted
upon their desires ; and that
all which the people could de-
sire for their benefit and ad-
vantage was provided for by
his grace, and that it would be
acknowledged by them, if they
had not fears and jealousies in-
fused into their heads by them.
He put them in mind of many
indignities offered to him in the
pulpits by seditious sermons,
and by the press in publishing
and printing those sermons,
and many other scandalous
pamphlets, and that all this
found no discountenance from
them. He said, he would deny
nothing to them which by law
they could require, and that the
preservation of his own prero-
gative was necessary, that his
subjects might enjoy the bene-
fit of those laws ; and after
some sharp reflections upon
some 1 1 IK lu t if'n 1 actions of theirs,
and some unusual expressions



130



THE LIFE OF



PART
II.

1G42.



They had long detested
from the time of their first



in the addresses they had made
to him, he concluded that, since
they had appealed to the people,
by printing all their unwarrant-
able votes and other proceed-
ings, which they had no lawful
authority to publish in that
manner, his majesty was well
contented that the people should
judge between them, and dis-
cern who was most tender of
their happiness, and most de-
sired that it might be conti-
nued to them ; and so ordered
that his answer should be print-
ed, as their message had been.

This new spirit in the king's
actions, and steadiness in his
proceedings, and his new dia-
lect in his words and answers
to them, so contrary to the
softness they expected, infinite-
ly discomposed them, and raised
the spirits of others, who had
sunk under their insolence. In
the house of peers they found
more opposition than of late
they had done, and many in
the house of commons reco-
vered new mettle. Alderman
Gourny, who was lord mayor
of London, was a man of cou-
rage and discretion, very well
affected to the king, and to the
government in church and state,
and perfectly abhorred the pro-
ceedings of the parliament;
gave not that obedience to the
orders they expected; did all
he could to discountenance and
suppress the riotous assemblies
in the city, and especially the in-
solencies committed in churches;
and expressly refused to call
common- halls, and sometimes



and suspected Mr. Hyde,
remonstrance, for framing

common-councils, when the
house of commons desired it,
which was the only way they
had to scatter their fire about
the city ; and the refractoriness
of this lord mayor discouraged
them much by making it evi-
dent, that it was only the rab-
ble and inferior sort of the city
which was in truth devoted to
them. But they were now gone
too far to retire with their ho-
nour, or indeed with their safe-
ty ; and they easily discerned,
that if their spirits seemed to
sink, their friends would leave
them as fast as they had re-
sorted to them ; and if they
now appeared more moderate
in their demands from the king,
they should but censure and
condemn their own former fer-
vour and importunity, and
therefore they made all haste
to make it appear that they
had no such temper and incli-
nation. They made commit-
tees to prepare new messages
to the king, and to prepare
new declarations ; and sent
their agents into the country to
stir up the people in those
counties and places through
which the king was to pass ; so
that, wherever he made any stay,
he was sure to be encountered
with a petition from the county,
that is, in the name of it, or of
some eminent town in it where
he lodged, that he would re-
turn to his parliament ; but at
the very time appeared to be
the work of a few factious peo-
ple, by the repair of the best
persons of quality and interest



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 131



the king's messages and answers, which they now PART
every day received, to their intolerable vexation ;



ii.



1642.



to his majesty with all profes-
sions of affections and duty to
him. They declared more har-
diness and resolution than be-
fore for the settling the militia
of the kingdom ; and since the
king had refused to consent to
the bill they had sent to him,
they appointed a committee to
prepare an ordinance for the
government and settling of it,
which, being passed both houses,
they voted had in it the autho-
rity of a law, and that all per-
sons were bound to obey it.
They had before the king's
leaving Windsor, or about that
time, sent to the king, that in
regard of the sickness and in-
disposition of the earl of North-
umberland, the high admiral of
England, so that he could not
be able in person to command
the fleets which his majesty had
ordered to be ready for the
guard of the seas, they desired
that the earl of Warwick might,
with his majesty's approbation,
have a commission to execute
that charge, (the earl of North-
umberland having refused to
grant any such commission
without the king's consent,)
which they said would much
compose the minds of the peo-
ple, in a conjuncture of so much
jealousy ; and the king answer-
ed them, that in the absence of
the admiral, sir John Penning-
ton, a person of good experi-
ence in command, well known,
and of a fair reputation, had
used to have that command,
which his majesty resolved he
should execute that year. They



now resolved that the earl of
Warwick should be admiral of
that fleet,, by an ordinance of
both houses, which the earl
accepted, and undertook the
charge accordingly ; the admi-
ral having put in some officers
and commanders of ships who
would be forward to obey all
his commands ; and the king
unhappily restraining some who
had good interest in the navy
from taking command then,
though he permitted some
others to go, who had less cre-
dit and reputation to serve him,
though they were not without
good affections. The king in
his journey sent an answer from
Huntingdon to some proposi-
tions they had sent to him,
which contained not only a po-
sitive refusal of what they had
desired, but making some sharp
reflections upon somewhat they
had said or done, put them
into wonderful passion. They
would not believe that it came
from the king, but that it was
forged in the town, for that it
took notice of what had been
done the night before, which
could not be communicated to
the king before the date of that
despatch ; and therefore they
would make inquiry how it
came to the speaker, to whom
it had been delivered under the
king's signet. The lord Falk-
land owning the having received
it that morning from the king,
and that he sent it by a mes-
senger to the speaker, and put-
ting them in mind that the
matter they reflected upon as

K 2



132



THE LIFE OF



PART yet knew not how to accuse him. But now that

If

' the earls of Essex and Holland had discovered his



1 642. b e i n g s hut up with the king at Greenwich, and the
marquis of Hamilton had once before found him
very early in private with the king at Windsor, at
a time when the king thought all passages had been
stopped ; together with his being of late more absent
from the house than he had used to be ; and the re-
sort of the other two every night to his lodging, as
is mentioned before, satisfied them that he was the
person ; and they resolved to disenable him to ma-
nage that office long. Sir John Colepepper had as
many eyes upon them as they had upon the other,
and an equal animosity against them ; and had fa-
miliarity and friendship with some persons, who
from the second or third hand came to know many
of the greatest designs, before they were brought
upon the stage. For though they managed those
councils with the greatest secrecy, and by few per-
sons, which amounted to no more than pure designs
in speculation ; yet when any thing was to be



done the night before, had

likewise been done three or

tour days before that, which,

being manifest, they suppressed

their choler as to the forgery,

and took revenge upon the

message itself, and voted, " that

' whosoever had advised the

' king to send that message,

' was a disaffected person, an

' enemy to the peace of the

' kingdom, and a promoter of

' the rebellion in Ireland ;"

which was a new style they

took up upon that occasion, and

continued afterwards in their

most angry votes, to make those



they liked not odious, and to
make their punishment to pass
with the more ease when they
should be discovered. And now
they tried all ways imaginable
to find what new counsellors
and secretary the king had
found, who supplied him with
so much resolution and bitter-
ness ; and though they made
no doubt of the two new coun-
sellors' concurrence in all, yet
they did not impute the fram-
ing and forming the writing it-
self to either of them. They
had long detested and suspected
Mr. Hyde, &c. as in p. 130. 1. 1.



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 133

transacted in public by the house, they were obliged, FART
not only to prepare those of whom they were them- _ _! ^



selves confident, but to allow those confidents to 1642 -
communicate it to others in whom they confided :
and so men, who did not concur with them, came to
know sometimes their intentions time enough to
prevent the success they proposed to themselves.

And by this means, sir John Colepepper, meeting
at night with the lord Falkland and Mr. Hyde, as-
sured them, that it had been resolved that day to A design of
have seized upon all three, and sent them to the Sv
Tower : of which he having received notice as he Tower
was going to the house, returned to his lodging, not
being able to give the same information to the other
two ; but that his own being absent prevented the
mischief. For he knew it was resolved the night
before, that, when the three were together in the
house, semebody should move the house, " that they
" would apply themselves to make some strict in-
" quiry after the persons who were most like to give
" the king the evil counsel he had lately followed,
" and who prepared those answers and messages
" they received from his majesty :" upon which, by
one and another, those three persons should be
named, and particular reasons given for their suspi-
cion ; and that they did not doubt, but, if their
friends were well prepared beforehand, they should
be able to cause them to be all sent to the Tower ;
and then they doubted not they should be able to
keep them there. But it was then likewise agreed,
that they would not make the attempt but at a
time when they were all three in the house ; upon
hearing whereof, and finding that they two were

K 3



134 THE LIFE OF

PART there, he went back to his lodging; knowing that
thereupon there would be nothing done.



Upon this communication, though they were all
of opinion that the design was so extravagant, and
exceeding all the rules of common justice, that they
would not be able to procure the consent of the ma-
jor part of the house in it, if there were any con-
siderable number present; yet because very many
usually absented themselves, and they were not go-
verned by any rules which had been formerly ob-
served, they thought fit to resolve, that one of them
would be always present in the house, that they
might know all that was done ; but that they would
never be there all together, and seldom two of
them ; and when they were, they would only hear,
and speak no more than was of absolute necessity.
For it was now grown a very difficult thing for a
man who was in their disfavour to speak against
what they proposed, but that they would find some
exception to some word or expression ; upon which,
after he had been called upon to explain, he was
obliged to withdraw ; and then they had commonly
a major part to send him to the Tower, or to expel
him the house ; or at least to oblige him to receive
a reprehension at the bar upon his knees. And so
they had used sir Ralph Hopton at that time ; who
excepting to some expression that was used in a de-
claration prepared by a committee, and presented to
the house, which he said was dishonourable to the
king, they said, it was a tax upon the committee ;
caused him to withdraw, and committed him to the
Tower ; which terrified many from speaking at all,
and caused more to absent themselves from the



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 135

house ; where too small numbers appeared any day. PART
These three gentlemen kept the resolution agreed



upon, till they all found it necessary to forbear any
further attendance upon the house.

About the end of April, which was in the year . Mr - H )' du

is sent for

1642, Mr. Hyde received a letter from the king, by the king
wherein he required him, that, as soon as he could
be spared from his business there, he should repair
to his majesty at York, where he had occasion for
his service : which when he had communicated to
his two friends, they were all of opinion that it was
necessary he should defer that journey for some
time ; there being every day great occasion of con-
sulting together, and of sending despatches to the
king. And it was a wonderful expedition that was
then used between York and London, when gentle-
men undertook the service, as enough were willing
to do : insomuch, as when they despatched a letter
on Saturday night, at that time of the year, about
twelve at night, they received always the king's an-
swer, Monday by ten of the clock in the morning.
His majesty was content that he should stay as long
as the necessity required; but that as soon as he
might be dispensed with, he would expect him.
And it was happy h that he did stay ; for there was
an occasion then fell out, in which his presence was
very useful, ' towards disposing the lord keeper
Littleton to send the great seal to the king at
York, and to resolve upon going thither himself
as soon as possible to attend his majesty ; which
resolution being taken, it was agreed between him
and his two friends, that it was now time that he

h happy] very happy ' History of the Rebellion, &c.

K 4



136 THE LIFE OF

PART should be gone (the king having sent for him some
u ' . time before) after a day or two; in which time the



1642. declaration of the nineteenth of May would be

passed, which being very long, he might carry with

him, and prepare the answer upon the way, or after

he came to York.

Towards It was upon a Wednesday that he resolved to be-

which be

begins his gin his journey, having told the speaker, that it was
very necessary, by the advice of his physician, that
he should take the air of the country for his health ;
and his physician certified the same ; which caution
was necessary : for he had a week or two before
made a journey into the country to his own house,
and his absence being taken notice of, a messenger
was immediately sent to him, to require him imme-
diately to attend the house ; upon which he found
it necessary to return without delay ; and was will-
ing to prevent the like sudden inquiry, and so pre-
pared the speaker to answer for him. He resolved
with the lord Falkland to stay at a friend's house
near Oxford, and little out of the road he meant to
take for York, till he should hear of the keeper's
motion, of which he promised to give him timely
notice ; not giving in the mean time any credit to
his purpose of moving; but he was quickly con-
vinced.

Much notice had been taken of Mr. Hyde's fre-
quent resort to him, and of his being often shut up
with him ; and when he took his leave of him, the
night before he left the town, the keeper was walk-
ing in his garden with Mr. Hollis and Mr. Glyn,
who had, as they said, then observed, that as soon
as the keeper's eyes were upon him, at his entrance
into the garden, he had shewn some impatience to



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 137

be free from them; and when they were gone, PART
others took notice, (for there were many in the gar-



den,) as they pretended, that, after they had walked 1642 -
some time together, they took their leave of each
other in another manner than was usual ; and which
was not true. But he had not so good a name, as
that any thing of that kind would not easily gain
belief: so that Dr. Morley, (who is since bishop of-
Winchester,) being in Westminster hall on the Mon-
day morning, when the news came of the lord
keeper's flight, a person of great authority in the
parliament met him, and, with great passion in-
veighing against the keeper, told him, that they
knew well enough that his friend Mr. Hyde had
contrived that mischief, and brought it to pass ; for
which he would be that morning, or the next, ac-
cused of high treason ; which the doctor (who was
ever very much his friend) hearing, went presently
to the lord Falkland, and told him of it, and desired
to know where he was, that he might give him
timely notice of it; knowing a gentleman, a very
near friend of his, who would immediately ride to
him. The lord Falkland was then writing to him,
to inform him of the keeper's having made good his
word, of which he had but then notice, and to advise
him to prosecute his northern journey with all ex-
pedition; and desired the doctor, that he would
send for the gentleman, whom he would presently
direct where he should find Mr. Hyde ; who did
make so good haste, that he delivered the lord Falk-
land's letter to him early the same night.

He was then at Ditchley with the lady Lee, Ami after*
(since countess of Rochester,) and the person who at'T^tcMey,
brought the advertisement to him was John Ayliffe,



138 THE LIFE OF

PART whom he dearly loved. He no sooner received the
ii

advertisement, but he thought it time for him to be



1 642. g One and as he was utterly unacquainted with the
way, having never been in the northern parts, and
apprehended that there would be care taken to in-
tercept him, if he went in any common road ; there
was with him at that time Mr. Chillingworth, whose
company he had desired from Oxford, purposely for
that occasion ; and who was well acquainted with
those ways which led almost as far as Yorkshire.
They sent their horses that night to a village near
Coventry, where Mr. Chillingworth's brother had a
farm ; and then in the morning they put themselves
into the lady's coach ; which, with six horses, car-
ried them to that village, thirty miles from Ditch-
ley ; where, after they had a little refreshed them-
selves, they took their horses ; and that night, out
of all roads, reached Lutterworth, a village in Lei-
cestershire ; where Mr. Chillingworth had likewise
a friend, who was parson of the parish, who received
them kindly. And so by unusual ways they got
through Derbyshire, until they came to Yorkshire ;
Arrives at and then rested at Nostall, the house of sir John
Worstenholme ; who, though he and his family
were at London, had given order for his very good
reception ; it having been before resolved, with his
majesty's consent, that he should stay in some pri-
vate place near York, till his majesty was informed
of it, and till his affairs absolutely required his pre-
sence there ; there being many reasons that he
should be concealed in those parts as long as might
be convenient. Nostall was within twenty miles of
York ; and from thence he gave his majesty notice
of his being there, and sent him the answer that



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 139



1642.



was prepared to the declaration of the nineteenth of PART
May. k And the king the next day sent Mr. Ash-,
burnham to him, with the declaration of the twenty-
sixth of May, and which was the highest they had
yet published ; and to which he wished an answer
should be prepared as soon as possible it might be,
that the poison thereof might not work too long
upon the minds of the people \



k declaration of the nine-
teenth of May. ] declaration of
the two houses.

1 that the poison thereof
might not work too long upon
the minds of the people. ] Thus
continued in MS. : By this time
many persons of quality from
the several quarters of the king-
dom repaired to the king, and
many gentlemen listed them-
selves with those of the coun-
try in the prince's troop, and
usually attended upon his ma-
jesty when he rode abroad to
take the air ; and it was not
possible but in such a number
of men of all humours, many
would discourse with freedom
of the times, and of the pro-
ceedings of the parliament ac-
cording to their tempers and
passions ; and there were spies
enough to give quick advertise-
ment to London of all that
was said or done. Whereupon
the houses sent messengers to
apprehend some gentlemen,
against whom they had re-
ceived information of words
spoken by them, which trenched
upon them and their actions,
and to bring them before
them; who appeared with the
same confidence^ even in the
king's presence, as they could



have done at Westminster, and
shewed their warrants to the
persons concerned, and required
their submission ; of which his
majesty being informed, he for-
bade the gentlemen to yield any
obedience to those summons,
and sent for the messengers,
and commanded them to de-
part the town, and to appear
no more there on those er-
rands at their utmost perils.
The news of this protection,
which his majesty knew well
if he did not give, he should
be quickly stripped of all his
attendants, and that nobody
should remain about him, but
such who would betray him,
was no sooner known, but per-
sons of all conditions and from
all places flocked to York, and
many members of both houses
of parliament left their attend-
ance at Westminster, and re-
paired to his majesty, it being
in truth not safe to continue
longer there, they having now
made their general, and so-
lemnly engaged themselves to
live and die with the earl of
Essex; and shortly after sir
Sydney Mountague was ex-
pelled the house of commons
for refusing to take that en-
gagement, and giving his rea-



140



THE LIFE OF



PART As soon as it was taken notice of in the parlia-
ment that Mr. Hyde was absent, inquiry was made



1642.



son, because, he said, he had a
proclamation in his pocket by
which the king had proclaimed
the earl of Essex a traitor, and
produced the proclamation, for
which he was so treated as
aforesaid. In the house of com-
mons the members had pub-
licly declared, and made sub-
scriptions what horse and arms
they would contribute or bring
in to serve under the earl of
Essex. It is true, though al!
the members were called upon
by name to declare themselves,
there was not yet any man pu-
nished for refusing ; the case
of sir Sydney Mountague fell
out afterwards ; and Harry Kil-
ligrew, of Cornwall, (a gal-
lant gentleman, and generally
known,) being asked in the
house what he would subscribe,
stood up and answered, that he
would provide a good horse, and
a good sword, and a good buff
coat, and then he would find a
good cause ; which, for that
time, only raised laughter,
though they knew well what
cause he thought good, which
he had never dissembled. How-
ever men easily discerned, that
in a short time there could very
few remain there, but of one
party ; and so very many re-
paired into their countries,
there to expect what would fol-
low ; and very many resorted
to the king, to offer him their
service, and to receive his com-
mands. Upon the return of
the messengers to London, who
were forbade by his majesty
to come any more thither, after



he forbade the gentlemen who
had been sent for to obey the
summons, the houses had a
new reproach to cast upon
the king, that he protected de-
linquents from justice; upon
which they made new votes
and declarations ; and that the
spirits of their friends in those
parts might not sink, they sent
a committee of both houses to
deliver one of their usual mes-
sages to his majesty, and or-
dered them to reside at York,
or wheresoever his majesty
should be, for the more conve-
nient representing their de-
sires and propositions, which
would otherwise require parti-
cular messengers every [time] ;
whereas that committee, resid-
ing still there, would receive his
majesty's answers upon all oc-
casions, and transmit them to
the parliament.

The king well knew that
the persons were chosen to be
spies upon him, and to raise
factions in the country against
him ; yet thought it not yet
time to break off all corre-
spondence with the parliament,
and so to dismiss that commit-
tee. That committee consisted
of the lord Edward Howard,
who hath been mentioned be-
fore so fully that there needs
no enlargement upon him in
this place ; the lord Fairfax,
sir Hugh Cholmondely, and
sir John Stapleton ; the three
last being gentlemen of that
county; who, in a short time,
had so great an influence upon
that people, that they made it



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 141



what was become of him, and a motion made
in the house, that he might be sent for. The.
speaker said, that he had acquainted him with his
going into the country to recover his indisposition,
which troubled him, by fresh air ; and that Dr.
Winston his physician was with him, and informed
him that he was troubled with the stone ; and that
his having sat so much in the house in that very
hot weather had done him much harm, and there-
fore that he had advised him to refresh himself in
the country air ; with which testimony they were
for the present satisfied; though Mr. Peard said
confidently, " that he was troubled with no other
*' stone than the stone in his heart, and therefore he
" would have him sent for wherever he was ; for he



PART
u.

1642.



appear to the king that he was
not so entirely possessed of the
hearts and affections of that
great county, as by the conflux
of the chief gentry to him he
was willing to believe : for at
a general appearance of that
country in a great field or moor
near York, his majesty riding
thither to receive the acclama-
tions of the people, who, he
was told, were ready to receive
any commands from him, sir
Thomas Fairfax, the son of the
lord Fairfax, and the same man
who was afterwards general for
the parliament, with some few
other gentlemen of less ac-
count, in the head of a great
number of substantial country
people, presented the king with
a petition that he would return
to his parliament, and not vio-
late their privileges by giving
protection to delinquents ; tak-
ing notice that he had, many



papists who attended about
him, and had listed themselves
in his troops of guards, and
some particulars of the like na-
ture ; which petition, delivered
confidently, in such a manner
and at such a time, much sur-
prised the king ; and though
most of the persons of condi-
tion expressed a public dislike
and disapprobation of the peti-
tion, and the number of the
common people, who knew no-
thing of it, was much superior
to the other, which appeared
many ways, and in particular
by the affronts which were
given to many of those who ap-
peared with the petition ; yet
it made a great noise, and gave
the parliament new courage,
and persuaded them that they
had many friends in that place,
where it was believed that the
king had most. As soon as it
was, &c. cr. v in p. HO. /. 1.



142 THE LIFE OF

PART " was most confident that he was doing them mis-

ii
___' " chief wherever he was. " But he prevailed not,

1 642 - till their committee from York sent them word that
he was come thither, and almost always with the
king. It is said before, that he stayed at Nostall, at
the house of sir John Worstenholme, from whence
he sent every day to the king, and received his ma-
jesty's commands ; and he intended to have stayed
longer there, where he could better intend and des-
patch any business he was to do ; and he was will-
ing for some time not to be seen at York, which he
knew would quickly be taken notice of at West-
minster.

When he came first thither, he found that the
king was not satisfied with the lord keeper, which
gave him much trouble ; his majesty having sent
him word, that he did not like his humours, nor
know what to make of him. Mr. Elliot, who had
brought the seal to the king, to magnify his own
service, and not imagining that the keeper intended
to follow him, had told many stories ; as if the
keeper had refused to deliver the seal, and that he
got it by force, by having locked the door upon
him, and threatened to kill him, if he would not
give it to him, which, upon such his manhood, he
did for pure fear consent unto. And this tale got
so much credit with the king, that he hardly dis-
believed it when he came himself; though it was
in the nature of it very improbable, that a single
man, by another" 1 man as strong as himself, (who
was attended by many servants in the next room,)
should be suffered to shut the door upon him, and

01 by another] from another



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 143

to extort that from him n which he had no mind to PART
part with ; and afterwards to go out of his house, _
when there were persons enough in every room to
have laid hands upon him, and to have taken that
again by force, which he had ravished away. Be-
sides that, his majesty knew he expected to be sent
for at that time ; and that if he had repented the
promise he had made, and resolved not to perform it,
he could have found several ways to have evaded it ;
and refused to have admitted Mr. Elliot to speak
with him : but the prejudice his majesty had before
contraeted against him, and the great confidence
Elliot had in the relation, which was natural in
him, had shut out all those reflections. Yet when
his majesty saw him, he received him graciously ;
and caused him to be lodged in the court, in a room
very near his majesty ; which many believed to be
rather out of jealousy and care that he should not
again return, than out of respect to him; his ma-
jesty keeping still the seal himself, and not restoring
it to his custody ; which could not but make some
impression on him, and more on others, who from
thence concluded that he would have no more to do
with the seal ; and carried themselves towards him
accordingly.

The lords who were come from the house of
peers, and had been* offended at his behaviour there,
gave him little respect now ; but rather gave credit
to Mr. Elliot's relation ; and were forward to make
relation of his carriage in the house to his disadvan-

n should be suffered to shut him, and suffer that to be ex-

the door upon him, and to ex- torted from him
tort that from him] should suf- and afterwards to go out]

fer the door to be shut upon and suffer him to go out



144 THE LIFE OF

FART tage, to the king himself; so that it was no wonder
' that the poor gentleman grew very melancholic.
1(542. And when he was sent for to attend the king, (who
was himself present when the great seal was to be
used, nor did ever suffer it to be used but in the
presence of the keeper, who signed all things, as he
ought to do by his office,) when any proclamation of
treason, as that against the earl of Essex, or against
the proceedings of the- houses, as in the business of
the militia, or the like, was brought to be sealed, he
used all delays ; and made many exceptions, and
found faults in matters of form, and otherwise,
sometimes very reasonably ; yet in such a manner
as made it evident he retained many fears about
him, as if he was not without apprehension that he
might fall again into their hands ; which was the
cause that the king had said, that he knew not what
to make of him.
Mr. Hyde Mr. Hyde, as soon as he heard this, wrote a letter

writes from i* i i . .
i r> it i

Nostaii to to the king, and put him in mind of all that had
formerly passed in that affair; how absolutely the
keeper had destroyed himself in the account of
the parliament, by paying that obedience which he
ought to do to his majesty's commands ; and that if
he should be deprived of his majesty's favour, he
must be of all men the most miserable ; and that
himself should be most unfortunate, in having con-
tributed so much to his ruin ; which would call his
majesty's good nature, and even his justice into
question ; and therefore besought him to be gracious
to him, and to keep up his spirits with his counte-
nance. However, he made it his own humble suit
to his majesty, that he would not take any severe
resolution against him, before he gave him leave to



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 145

kiss his hand, and to offer him some further con- PART
siderations. Upon the receipt of this letter, the



king sent him word, that he would gratify him in 1642 '
the last part of his letter, and conclude nothing
before he spake with him : in the mean time he
wished him to send the keeper some good counsel ;
and that as soon as he should have despatched some
business he had then upon his hands, that he would
come to York, where he would find much to do;
and that he thought now there would be less reason
every day for his being concealed. And within four
or five days after, his majesty sent Mr. Ashburn-
ham to him, to let him know, that he had every ,
day so much to do with the keeper, and found him
so refractory and obstinate, that he should not be
able to keep the promise he had made to him, if he
did not make haste to York ; and therefore bade And goes
him to be with him with all convenience: where- to
upon, within two days after, for he had somewhat
to despatch that required haste, and sooner than he
intended, he waited upon his majesty at York.

When he came to the court P, being about four of
the clock in the afternoon, the king was at council,
upon the publishing his answer to the declaration
of the twenty-sixth of May ; which, though it con-
tained eight or nine sheets of paper, he brought to
the board in his own hand writing ; having kept the
promise he had made at Greenwich to that hour, in
writing out all the papers himself, which had been
sent to him ; which had been a wonderful task he

' When he came to the the petition, mentioned before,

court] It was about a day or that Mr. Hyde eame to York,

two after the appearance of the and when he came to the

people of the country, when sir court, &c.
Thomas Fairfax had delivered

VOL. I. L



146 THE LIFE OF

PART had imposed on himself: so that he always spent
more than half the day shut up by himself in his



1 642. chamber, writi-ng ; which was most of the news the
houses heard of him at London ; and which per-
plexed them very much.
His recep. jy[ r< Hyde was in the gallery when the king came

tion there ; ' J

from council ; and as soon as he saw him, he bade
him welcome to York very graciously ; and asked
some questions aloud of him, as if he thought he
had then come from London ; and then called him
into the garden, where -he walked with him above
and conver- an hour. He said at the beginning, " that they

sation with - , </

the king. " needed not now be afraid of being seen together ;
then used all the expressions of kindness to him
that can be imagined, of the service he had done
him, and" of the great benefit he had received from
it, even to the turning the hearts of the whole na-
tion towards him again, and of his gracious resolu-
tions of rewarding him with the first opportunity ;
and many expressions of that kind, which the other
received with the modesty and reverence that became
him. Then his majesty spake of his business, and
the temper of that country ; and quickly entered
upon finding fault with the keeper, and protested, if
it were not for his sake, he would turn him out of
his place that very hour ; and enlarged upon many
particulars of his obstinacy, and of his want of cou-
rage, to such a degree, as if he did really appre-
hend that the gentleman usher of the black rod
would come and take him out of his chamber.

Mr. Hyde told him, that he would discourage
many good men, who desired to serve him very
faithfully, if he were too severe for such faults, as
the infirmities of their nature and defects in their



EDWARD EARJ, OF CLARENDON. 147

education exposed them to : that if the keeper, from PART
those impressions, had committed some faults which



might provoke his majesty's displeasure, he had re- 1642>

deemed those errors by a signal service, which might

well wipe out the memory of the other. The king

said with some warmth, " that he was so far from

" another opinion, that he would hate himself, if he

" did not believe that he had made a full expiation ;

" and though he did think that he had been wrought

" upon by him to perform that part, yet he thought

" the merit of it far above any of his transgres-

" sions ; and that he was disposed, from the first

" minute of his coming to York, to have renewed

" his old kindness to him, and confidence in him ;

" and would willingly have given the seal again

" into his hands, if he had found he had desired it ;

" but that he found no serenity in his countenance,

" nor any inclination to do what necessity required :

" and whereas the parliament took advantage, that

" none of his majesty's acts, which he had caused to

" be published, were authentic, nor ought to be

" looked upon as his, because the great seal had not

" been affixed to them, which could not be done

" whilst the great seal was at Westminster ; now

" he had the seal by him, and sent proclamations to

" be sealed, the keeper was still as unwilling that

" they should pass, as if he was still under their

" power ; which made him angry, and nothing that

" he had done before. "

Mr. Hyde replied, that " the poor gentleman
" could not but think himself disobliged to the
" highest extremity, in the presumption of Mr. El-
" Hot ; and that his extravagant and insolent dis-
" courses should find credit, without his majesty's



148 THE LIFE OF

PART " reprehension and vindication, who kne\v the false-
_J_L_ " hood of them. " And so put his majesty in mind



1642. O f a n t h at k^ p ass ed; and of the other circum-
stances, which made all the other's brags impossible
to be true. For his fears and apprehensions, he be-
sought his majesty to remember, that " he had
" newly escaped out of that region where the thun-
" der and lightning is made ; and that he could
" hardly yet recover the fright he had been often in,
" and seen so many others in ; and that his majesty
" need not distrust him ; he had passed the Rubi-



he . C on, and had no hope but in his majesty. " His

reconciles



o the lord majesty concluded, that he should be sure to receive
all necessary countenance and protection from him ;
of which he bade him to assure him, and presently
to visit him ; which going to do, he met him in the
garden, and they there walked together.

He found him full of apprehension that he should
be put out of his place, and of the ruin and con-
tempt that he should be then exposed to, which he
had brought upon himself; but when the other an-
swered him, that there was no danger of that, and told
him all that had passed between the king and him ;
and that if he would, he might have the seal in his
own custody again within an hour, he was exceed-
ingly revived, and desired him to entreat the king
to keep the great seal still himself; that he would
by no means be answerable for the safety of it, nor
would trust any servant of his own to look to it ;
which, as it was wisely considered and resolved by
him, so it increased the king's confidence in him ;
who would have been troubled if the other had ac-
cepted the grace that was offered. And from that
time, when any thing was to be done that admi-



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 149

nistered any argument for doubt, Mr. Hyde always PART

prepared him by discourse ; so that there was never , !

after any unkindness from the king towards him: 1642>
but the vigour of his mind grew every day less, un-
der a great melancholy that oppressed him, from
the consideration of the time, and of his own ill
condition in his fortune ; which was much worse than
any body imagined it could be.

Before he went out of the garden, the lord How-
ard, sir Hugh Cholmely, and sir Philip Stapleton,
(who were the committee from the parliament,) had
intelligence that he was walking in the garden with
the king ; whereupon they came presently thither,
and after they had saluted him with much civility,
the,y shewed him an instruction they had from the
parliament; by which they were required, if any
member of either house came to York, they should
let them know, that it was the pleasure of the house He is sum-
that they should immediately attend the house, an
signify to them what answer they made ; and so
they desired he would excuse them for doing their
duty. He told them, he was but just then come
thither, in obedience to his majesty's commands, and
knew not yet what service he was to do ; but that
as soon as his majesty would give him leave, he
would return to the parliament.

There happened an accident, at Mr. Hyde's first
coming to York, which he used often to speak of,
and to be very merry at. One of the king's servants
had provided a lodging for him, so that, when he
alighted at the court, he sent his servants thither,
and stayed himself at the court till after supper,
and till the king went into his chamber ; and then
he had a guide, who went with him, and conducted

i- 3



150 THE LIFE OF

PART him to his chamber; which he liked very well,
and began to undress himself. One of his servants



' wished that he had any other lodging, and desired
him not to lie there : he asked why, it seemed to
him a, good chamber : his servant answered, that
the chamber was good, but the people of the house
the worst he ever saw, and such as he was confident
would do him some mischief : at which wondering,
his servant told him, that the persons of the house
seemed to be of some condition by their habit that
was very good ; and that the servants, when they
came thither, found the master and mistress in the
lower room, who received them civilly, and shewed
them the chamber where their master was to lodge,
and wished them to call for any thing they wanted,
and so left them : that shortly after, one of them
went down, and the mistress of the house being
again in the lower room, where it seems she usually
sat, she asked him what his master's name was,
which he told her : what, said she, that Hyde that is
of the house of commons? and he answering yes,
she gave a great shriek, and cried out, that he
should not lodge in her house ; cursing him with
many bitter execrations. Upon the noise, her hus-
band came in ; and when she told him who it was
that was to lodge in the chamber above, he swore a
great oath that he -should not ; and that he would
rather set his house on fire, than entertain him in it.
The servant stood amazed, knowing that his master
had never been in or near that city, and desired
to know what offence he had committed against
them ; he told them, he was confident his master
did not know them, nor could be known to them.
The man answered, after two or three curses, that



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 151

he knew him well enough, and that he had undone PART

ii
him, and his wife, and his children; and so, after 1_



repeating some new hitter curses, he concluded, that 1642 '
he would set his house on fire, as soon as the other
should set his foot in it ; and so he and his wife
went away in a great rage into an inner room, and
clapped the door to them.

When his servant had made this relation to him,
he was no less surprised ; knew not what to make
of it; asked whether the people were drunk; was
assured that they were very sober, and a'ppeared
before this passion to be well bred. He sent to de-
sire the master of the house to come to him, that
they might confer together ; and that he would im-
mediately depart his house, if he desired it. He
received no answer, but that he and his wife were
gone to bed : upon which he said no more, but that,
if they were gone to bed, he would go to bed too ;
and did accordingly. Though he was not disturbed
in the night, the morning was not at all calmer;
the master and the mistress stormed as much as
ever, and would not be persuaded to speak with
him ; but he then understood the reason : the man
of the house had been an attorney in the court of
the president and council of the north, in great re-
putation and practice there ; and thereby got a very
good livelihood ; with which he had lived in splen-
dour ; and Mr. Hyde had sat in the chair of that
committee, and had carried up the votes of the com-
mons against that court, to the house of peers ;
upon which it was dissolved : which he confessed
was a better reason for being angry with him than
many others had, who were as angry, and perse-
cuted him more. * However, he thought himself

L 4



152 THE LIFE OF

PART obliged to remove the eyesore from them, and to

! quit the lodging that had been assigned to him;

1 642. an( j h e was mu ch better accommodated by the kind-
ness of a good prebendary of the church, Dr. Hod-
He resides shon, who" sent to invite him to lodge in his house,
with Dr. as soon as he heard he was come to town ; where
he resided as long as the court stayed there.

There was now a great conflux of the members
of both houses of parliament to York ; insomuch as
there remained not in the house of commons above
a fifth part of the whole number ; and of the house
of peers so few, that there continued not at West-
minster twenty lords. Yet they proceeded with the
same spirit and presumption, as when their numbers
were full ; published new declarations against the
king ; raised soldiers for their army apace ; and exe-
cuted their ordinance for the militia in all the coun-
ties of England, the northern parts only excepted ;
forbade all persons to resort to the king ; and inter-
cepted many in their journey towards York, and
committed them to prison : notwithstanding which,
many persons of quality every day flocked thither ;
and it was no longer safe for those members to stay
in the houses of parliament, who resolved not to
concur with them in their unwarrantable designs ;
and therefore the lord Falkland and sir John Cole-
pepper shortly after repaired likewise to York. 1

v likewise to York. ] Thus given to those summons, they

continued in the MS. : The expelled those members of the

bouses quickly found the re- house of commons who were

proacb of their small numbers with the king, and gave order

was some discredit to their that new writs should issue out

transactions, and therefore re- for the electing new members

newed their summons to their in their places ; but the king

absent members to return ; and, prevented that by giving order

when they saw no obedience to the lord keeper not to seal



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 153

When the king declared that he would go to Be- PART
verley, a place within four miles of Hull, the noise



of the king's journey thither r made a great impres- } 642-
sion upon the parliament ; where, how great a con-
currence soever there was, in those unwarrantable
actions which begot the war, yet a small number of
those who voted both the raising the army and mak-
ing the general, did in truth intend, or believe, that
there would be a war : and therefore, when they
looked upon it as begun in this march of the king's
to Hull, (for they considered their own actions as
done only to prevent a war, by making the king
unable to make it, who as they thought only desired
it,) they moved presently for some overtures of an
accommodation : which that angry party that re-
solved against it, never durst absolutely reject ; but
consenting cheerfully to it, got thereby authority to

any writs which should be pre- service of the parliament ; and
pared and sent to him for any the house of peers thereupon,
new elections. Upon some in- with all formality, and in their
formation against the lord Sa- robes, passed a sentence and
vile, for some expressions he judgment upon those nine, (the
had used against the parlia- number of the judges not much
ment, when the petition that exceeding that number,) that
is mentioned before was pre- they should be fined, and dis-
sented by sir Thomas Fairfax, abled to sit in parliament dur-
that lord and eight more were ing the time that parliament
summoned by an order from should continue ; which was
the house of peers, and v re- looked upon as an act without
quired to attend that house, any foundation of law or pre-
Upon which they making a cedent, and was slighted ac-
joint answer, that they had re- cordingly by those who were
ceived an express order to at- most immediately concerned in
tend upon his majesty's person, it.

the house of commons, taking r When the king declared

notice of this answer, in a new that he would go to Beverley,

and unheard-of way carried up a place within four miles of

a charge and impeachment to Hull, the noise of the king's

the house of peers against those journey thither] The noise of

nine lords for not attending the the king's journey to Beverley



154 THE LIFE OF

PART insert such things in the address, as must inevitably
render it ineffectual. So at this time they sent the



1 642. ear j o f Holland, a person whom they knew s to be
most unacceptable to the king, with two members
of the house of commons, who came to Beverley the
day the king arrived there. The subject of their
message was, after several specious expressions and
professions of their duty, to dissuade his majesty
from making war against his parliament, by pro-
ceeding in his enterprise against Hull, which the
parliament was obliged to defend. And all the ex-
pedient they proposed for the avoiding this war was,
that he would consent to the nineteen propositions,
which they had formerly made to him at York, and
to which he had long since returned his answer;
and both the one and the other were printed.

These nineteen propositions, which contained the
disinherison of the crown of all its choice regalities,
and left only the shadow and empty name of the
king, had been framed by the houses after Mr. Hyde
left London. And because he had so much work
then upon his hands, as they believed he would not
be able to despatch soon enough, the lord Falkland
and sir John Colepepper undertook to prepare an
answer to them themselves ; and so^divided the pro-
positions between them ; and in a short time so
finished their answer, that they sent it to the king,
and desired that Mr. Hyde might peruse it, and
then cause it to be published and printed. The an-
swer was full to all particulars, and writ with very
much wit and sharpness ; but there were some ex-
pressions in it, which he liked not, as prejudicial to

9 they knew] at that time they knew



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 155

the king, and in truth a mistake in point of right, PART
in that part which had been prepared by sir John - !
Colepepper ; who had taken it up upon credit, and, ! 642 -
without weighing the consequence, did really be-
lieve that it had been true ; which was, that in the
discourse of the constitution of the kingdom, he had
declared, that the king, and the house of peers, and
the house of commons made the three estates: and
for this reason Mr. Hyde did not advance the print-
ing it ; and told the king, that all the particulars in Mr. Hyde
those propositions had been enough answered in for- king not to



mer answers to other declarations, (which was

and therefore that this needed not be published : the P arlia ~

ruent s

with which his majesty was satisfied, without know- nineteen

. . . proposi-

ing the particular true reason ; which he thought tions.
not fit to communicate, for both the persons' sakes,
of whose affection for the church (which was prin-
cipally concerned in that mistake, since in truth
the bishops make the third estate, the king being
the head and sovereign of the whole) his majesty
was always jealous.

But they no sooner came to York, than they ap-
peared much unsatisfied, that that answer was not
printed ; and the lord Falkland finding it remained
still in Mr. Hyde's hands, he expostulated warmly
with him of the reasons ; and in some passion said,
" he therefore disliked it, because he had not writ Lord Faik-
" it himself. " Upon which, without saying more, postuiation
than that " he never expected so unkind a reproach Jhereon"
" from him," he delivered the written copy to him,
and he immediately procured the king's consent, and
sent it to the press that night, with order to lose no
time in the impression. Of which the king was
afterwards very sensible; and that excellent lord,



156 THE LIFE OF

PART who intended not the least unkindness, (nor did it
ii.

produce the least interruption in their friendship,)



was likewise much troubled when he knew the rea-
son ; and imputed it to his own inadvertency, and
to the infusion of some lawyers, who had misled sir
John Colepepper; and to the declarations which
many of the prelatical clergy frequently and igno-
rantly made, that the bishops did not sit in parlia-
ment as the representatives of the clergy, and so
could not be the third estate.

It happened that the day the earl of Holland
came to Beverley, Mr. Hyde had been riding abroad ;
and returning to Beverley, happened to be in the
same road, when the earl of Holland arid his com-
pany prosecuted their journey to the king: when
meeting together, there passed the usual salutations
which are between persons well known, to each
Mr. Hyde's other. " He hoped," the earl said, " that he should
tion wi $ th " be welcome to all honest men at the court, be-
Hoiiid. of " cause ne came to invite the king to return to his
" parliament, and to abolish all jealousies between
" them. " The other answered, " he would be very
" welcome indeed, if he brought proper expedients
" to produce either of those effects ; but then his
" errand must be of another composition than what
" the king understood it to be. " Upon which they
entered upon a warmer discourse than it may be
either of them intended ; and as the earl spake in
another style than he had used to do, of the power
and authority of the parliament, and how much
they were superior to any opposition or contradic-
tion ; so the other in the debate was less reserved,
and kept a less guard upon himself than he used to
do ; so that they seemed nothing pleased with each



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 157
other: nor did Mr. Hyde visit him after his coming PART



to Beverley, because he was informed that the earl
had, to many persons who resorted to him, repeated
with some liberty and sharpness, what had passed
between them ; and not without some menaces what
the parliament would do. And as soon as he did Ha is ex -

eiupted

return, there was a new vote passed by name against from par-
him, and two or three more, by which he was ex- V o" e of *i.
empted from pardon, in any accommodation that llouscs '
should be made between the king and parliament.

Mr. Hyde had been absent four or five days from
the court, and came into the presence when the
. king was washing his hands before dinner ; and as
soon as the king saw him, he asked him aloud,
" Ned Hyde, when did you play with my band-
" strings last ? " upon which he was exceedingly out
of countenance, not imagining the cause of the ques-
tion, and the room being full of gentlemen, who ap-
peared to be merry with what the king had asked.
But his majesty observing him to be in disorder,
and to blush very much, said pleasantly, " Be not
" troubled at it, for I have worn no band-strings
" these twenty years :" and then asked him whether
he had not seen the diurnal ; of which he had not
heard till then ; but shortly after, some of the
standers-by shewed him a diurnal, in which there
was a letter of intelligence printed, where it was
said, that Ned Hyde was grown so familiar with
the king, that he used to play with his band-strings.
Which was a method of calumniating they began
then, and shortly after prosecuted and exercised
upon much greater persons.

In the afternoon the earl of Holland came to de-
liver his message with great formality ; whom the



158 THE LIFE OF

PART king received with much coldness and manifestation
of neglect : and when the earl approached, and



1642< kneeled to kiss his hand, he turned, or withdrew
his hand in such a manner, that the earl kissed his
own. When the message was read, the king said
little more, than that they should not stay long for
an answer ; and so went to his chamber. The earl
was not without many friends there ; and some of
them moved the king, that he would give him leave
to say somewhat to him in private, which they be-
lieved would be very much for his service ; but his
majesty would by no means yield to it. By this
time his majesty had notice of the governor's irreso-
lution at Hull ; and so was glad of this opportunity
to have a fair excuse for making no attempt upon
that place : and sent the next day for the earl of
Holland to receive his answer; which being read
aloud in the king's presence, and a full room, by the
clerk of the council, was very grateful to the au-
ditors, who feared some condescension in the king,
though very mortifying to the earl. For besides
that it was thought very sharp towards the houses,
it declared his brother, the earl of Warwick, a trai-
tor, for possessing himself of the king's fleet against
his consent ; and concluded, that he would forbear
any attempt upon Hull for fourteen days ; in which
time, if the parliament would enter into a treaty for
a happy peace, they should find him very well in-
clined to it ; after the expiration of that time, he
should pursue those ways which he thought fit. In
the mean time, he made a short progress into the
adjacent counties of Nottingham and Leicester, to
see what countenance they wore, and to encourage
those who appeared to have good affections to his



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 159

service: and then returning to Beverley within the PART
limited time, and hearing no more from the parlia-.



ment, or any thing from Hull that he expected, he 1642 -
returned again to York. l

Mr. Hyde was wont often to relate a passage in
that melancholic time, when the standard was set
up at Nottingham, with which he was much af-
fected. Sir Edmund Varney, knight-marshal, who
was mentioned before as standard-bearer, with whom
he had great familiarity, who was a man of great
courage, and generally beloved, came one day to
him, and told him, " he was very glad to see him, His conver-
" in so universal a damp, under which the spirits of sf r Edmund
" most men were oppressed, retain still his natural Varney *
" vivacity and cheerfulness ; that he knew that the
" condition of the king, and the power of the par-
" liament, was not better known to 'any man than
" to him ; and therefore he hoped that he was able
" to administer some comfort to his friends, that
" might raise their spirits, as well as it supported
" his own. " He answered, " that he was, in truth,
" beholden to his constitution, which did not incline
" him to despair ; otherwise, that he had no plea-
" sant prospect before him, but thought as ill of
" affairs as most men did ; that the other was as
" far from being melancholic as he, and was known
" to be a man of great courage, (as indeed he was
" of a very cheerful and a generous nature, and con-
" fessedly valiant,) and that they could not do the
" king better service, than by making it . their busi-
" ness to raise the dejected minds of men, and root
" out those apprehensions which disturbed them, of

1 to York. ] to York, as hath been said before.



160 THE LIFE OF

PART " fear and despair, which could do no good, and did

! " really much mischief. "

He replied smiling, " I will willingly join with
" you the best I can, but I shall act it very scurvily.
" My condition," said he, " is much worse than yours,
" and different, I believe, from any other man's ; and
" will very well justify the melancholic that, I con-
" fess to you, possesses me. You have satisfaction
" in your conscience that you are in the right ; that
" the king ought not to grant what is required of
" him ; and so you do your duty and your business
" together : but for my part, I do not like the quar-
" rel, and do heartily wish that the king would
" yield and consent to what they desire ; so that
" my conscience is only concerned in honour and in
" gratitude to follow my master. I have eaten his
" bread, and served him near thirty years, and will
" not do so base a thing as to forsake him ; and
" choose rather to lose my life (which I am sure I
" shall do) to preserve and defend those things which
" are against my conscience to preserve and defend :
" for I will deal freely with you, I have no re-
" verence for the bishops, for whom this quarrel
" subsists. "" It was not a time to dispute ; and his
affection to the church had never been suspected.
He was as good as his word ; and was killed, in the
battle of Edge-hill, within two months after this
discourse. And if those who had the same and
greater obligations, had observed the same rules of
gratitude . and generosity, whatever their other af-
fections had been, that battle had never been fought,
nor any of that mischief been brought to pass that
succeeded it.

11 subsists. ] Omitted in MS.



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 161

After the king came to Oxford with his army, FART
his majesty one day speaking with the lord Falk- '



land very graciously concerning Mr. Hyde, said he
had such a peculiar style, that he could know any The ki
thing written by him, if it were brought to him by toJSI
a stranger, amongst a multitude of writings by other ^"nin
men. The lord Falkland answered, he doubted his Hyde's

style.

majesty could hardly do that, because he himself,
who had so long conversation and friendship with
him, was often deceived; and often met with things
written by him, of which he could never have sus-
pected him, upon the variety of arguments. To
which the king replied, he would lay him an angel,
that, let the argument be what it would, he should
never bring him a sheet of paper (for he would not
undertake to judge of less) of his writing, but he
would discover it to be his. The lord Falkland told
him it should be a wager ; but neither the one nor
the other ever mentioned it to Mr. Hyde. Some
days after, the lord Falkland brought several packets,
which he had then received from London, to the
king, before he had opened them, as he used to do :
and after he had read his several letters of intelli-
gence, he took out the prints of diurnals, and
speeches, and the like, which were every day
printed at London, and as constantly sent to Ox-
ford : and amongst the rest there were two speeches,
the one made by the lord Pembroke for an accom-
modation, and the other by the lord Brooke against
it; and for the carrying on the war with more
vigour, and utterly to root out the cavaliers, which
were the king's party.

The king was very much pleased with reading
the speeches, and said, he did not think that Pem-

VOL. i. M



162 THE LIFE OF

PART broke could speak so long together ; though every
_ '. word he said was so much his own, that nobody else
542< could make it. And so after he had pleased him-
self with reading the speeches over again, and then
passed to other papers, the lord Falkland whispered
in his ear, (for there were other persons by,) desir-
ing him he would pay him the angel; which his
majesty in the instant apprehending, blushed, and
put his hand in his pocket, and gave him an angel,
saying, he had never paid a wager more willingly ;
and was very merry upon it, and would often call
upon Mr. Hyde for a speech, or a letter, which he
very often prepared upon several occasions ; and
the king always commanded them to be printed.
He laments And he was often wont to say, many years after,

the loss of , * .

many of his that he would be very glad he could make a collec-
writhigs! tion of all those papers, which he had written occa-
sionally at that time; which he could never do,
though he got many of them.
A dispute* There was at that time a pleasant story upon

caused by

one of them, those speeches. The lord Brooke had met with
them in print, and heard that he was much re-
proached for so unchristian a speech against peace,
though the language was such as he used in all op-
portunities : whereupon one morning in the house
of peers, and before the house sat, he came to the
earl of Portland, (who yet remained there with the
king's approbation, and knew well enough from
whence the speeches came, having himself caused
them to be printed,) and shewing them to him, de-
sired he would move the house, that that speech
might, by their order, be burned by the hand of the
hangman ; by which means the kingdom would be
informed, that it had never been spoken by him.



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 163

The earl said, he would willingly do him the ser- PART

vice ; but he observed, that the speeches were '

printed in that manner, that where the earl of Pern- 1642 '
broke's speech ended on the one side of the leaf, his
(the lord Brooke's) speech began on the other side,
so that one could not be burned, without burning
the other too ; which he knew not how the earl of
Pembroke would like ; and therefore he durst not
move it without his consent. Whereupon they both
went to the earl, who was then likewise in the
house ; and Portland told him what the lord Brooke
; desired, and asked him whether he wished it should
be done. He, who heard he was very well spoken
of, for having spoke so honestly for peace, said, he
did not desire it. Upon which Brooke, in great
anger, asked, if he had ever made that speech ; he
was very sure he had never made the other; and
the other with equal choler replied, that he was al-
ways for peace ; and though he could not say he
had spoken all those things together, he was sure
he had spoken them all at several times ; and that
he knew as well, that he had always been against
peace, and had often used all those expressions
which were in the speech, though, it may be, not
all together. Upon which they entered into a high
combat of reproachful words against each other, to
the no small delight of the earl, who had brought

them together, and of the rest of the standers-by. x

(-:'. -"} f- '*.

x rest of the standers-by. ] to London, both the parlia-

The following account of some ment and the city was so far

of the king's movements is omit- provoked, that they laid aside

ted: Though upon the king's all thoughts of treaty; and

advance from Colebrooke, and upon his retreat, the view of

the imagination that he pur- the number and ill condition of

posed to have brought his army his army, the furious party was

M 2



164



THE LIFE OF



PART

II.
1643.



The king was no sooner settled in his winter
quarters, after his retreat from Brentford to Oxford,

much exalted, and thought of weary of the service, and dis-

nothing but of forming new ar- engaged themselves, and gave

mirs, which might subdue the up their commands ; so that the

other parts of the kingdom ; motions were again renewed for



yet when they had better col-
lected themselves, the principal



sending to the king for a peace :
and at last a message was sent



persons of the parliament, and to the king, that he would send

those of the city, who had for- a safe conduct for four lords

merly very importunately press- and eight commoners to attend

ed the message to the king for his majesty with an humble pe-

a treaty, returned to the same tition from both houses, which

temper. The parliament was they hoped might produce a

full of faction, and they who good accommodation ; which

had concurred too much in the safe conduct was immediately

entering into the war, were granted, with which the mes-

now most solicitous to get out senger returned ; and within

of it ; they said the expense few days after, the earls of
already



was already unsupportable ; Northumberland, Pembroke, Sa-
their army was wasted, so that lisbury, and Holland, together
they were upon the matter to
begin again. They had spent
very much of the money which
had been raised for Ireland, and
employed great numbers of those
soldiers which were levied for
that kingdom, which did not
only redound to the great ha-
zard of losing that kingdom,
but would exceedingly turn to his majesty would permit them
their reproach with the people to send a committee of both
of England, as soon as it should
be taken notice of, and it could



with Pierrepoint, lord Wenman,
Whitlocke, Waller, and other
members of the house of com-
mons, came to Oxford with a
petition to the king ; which
contained no more than a de-
sire from the parliament, in
terms more modest than they
had been accustomed to, that



not be long concealed. They



houses to attend him, that they
might treat about a happy peace,
and, in the first place, of a ces-

foresaw likewise that the vast sation of all acts of hostility,
sum of money, which must be There was a pleasant observa-
got for the carrying on the war,
must all be raised out of the
city, which appeared discon-
tented enough. There was like-
wise no union in the army ;
many officers gave up their



commissions ; and those who
were members of both houses,
and had carried regiments and



tion at that time, which made
the artifices appear by which
they imposed upon their friends
at London. The people there
did generally believe that the
king, and the little army he had
with him, were in so great
straits for want of provision in
Oxford, that they were corn-



troops into the field, were pelled to eat horseflesh ; and



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 165



but the parliament sent to him for a safe-conduct, PART
for commissioners to be sent from them to treat nf



that they would in a short time
be forced to return to the par-
liament, that they might avoid
the being starved ; and either
to keep up this imagination, or



place, for the better understand-
ing the unhappy temper of the
court and of the king's affairs,
to remember, that, as soon as
the commissioners were gone



1643.



that they did themselves believe out of the. town, there appeared

the scarcity to be very great, a general indisposition in court,

these commissioners brought in army, and amongst the per-

with them a great quantity of sons of quality which filled the



provisions, even of bread and
beer, as well as of beef and
mutton and fowl, sufficient to
feed the whole company that



town, to the peace, and a won-
derful apprehension that it would
be brought to pass, and there-
fore there were many cabals



came with them, during such and meetings to consult how
time as they believed they should the treaty might be prevented,
stay there; of which they were or at least made ineffectual,
ashamed as soon as they en- Though the king was in plea-
tered Oxford, and saw the great sant and plentiful quarters,
plenty in the markets, not only where he wanted no provision
of the usual common fare, but
of those choice fowl, of phea-
sants, partridge, cocks, snipes,
in that abundance, as they were
not so well furnished in Lon-
don ; besides the best fish and
wild fowl, which was brought
in every day, from the western
part, in such plenty, that it can
hardly be imagined. So that
they were quickly converted
from giving credit to that ru-
mour, and it may be by it judged

the better of the want of inte- try would long endure free-
grity in many other reports, quarters, and submit likewise
The commissioners, after three
or four days, returned with a
gracious answer from the king,
and with a safe conduct for
such persons as the two houses
should send to treat with the
king ; and men began to en-



of victuals, and out of which
(for he was possessed of most
of the countries between Oxford
and Chester, and of the greatest
part of Wales) he might rea-
sonably hope to recruit his ar-
my ; yet there was no hope of
procuring money to pay them ;.
and though the soldiers yet be-
haved themselves modestly in
their quarters, so that there
were no complaints, it could
not be imagined that the coun-



tertain good hope of a peace,
and fair accommodation of all
differences.

It may not be unfit in this



to pay contributions in money,
which was assigned to the horse.
The battle of Edge-hill, and
the supplying the few garrisons
which were made with very
slender proportions of ammu-
nition, had already so exhausted
the stores, that there were not
left at this time in Oxford above
forty barrels of powder, and
match and bullet proportion-

M 3



166



THE LIFE OF



1643.



PART peace; which was sent to them. And at this time
there was a change in Mr. Hyde's fortune, by a pre-
ferment the king conferred upon him. Every body
knew that he was trusted by the king in his most
secret transactions ; but he was under no character
in his service. When the commissioners who were
sent for the safe-conduct came to Oxford, some who
came in their company, amongst other matters of
intelligence, brought the king a letter of his own to
the queen, printed, that had been intercepted, and
printed by the license, if not order, of the parlia-



able ; and though there was set
up there a mill to make pow-
der, newly erected, yet the un-
dertakers in it would not pro-
mise to provide above twenty
barrels in a week, which could
produce no provision suitable
to the necessity. It is true
there was a reasonable supply
of arms and ammunition ar-
rived at Newcastle, the only
port in the king's obedience ;
but, besides the great use there
was to be of it in those parts,
where the earl of Newcastle
had been left to raise an army,
and had now Yorkshire added
to his commission, which stood
in great need of his protection,
the distance was so great be-
tween that and Oxford, that
there was little hope of getting
any of it with a less convoy
than an army. Above all this,
it was apparent to all men, who
could discern at any distance,
that the good humour of the
lords and persons of quality,
which kept up the humour every
where else, would decay, and
turn into murmuring and dis-



content, as soon as that money
should be spent which they had
brought with them from Lon-
don, and which alone had made
some show of plenty in the
court ; and therefore it was
looked upon by wise men as a
judgment from Heaven, that
now, when that seemed to be
in view which men of all con-
ditions had prayed for since the
setting up the standard at Not-
tingham, there should be even
a conspiracy amongst those very
persons to drive that blessing
from them. And it was the
more wonderful, that even the
king himself was not without
apprehension that he might suf-
fer by making peace, and coun-
tenanced those who spake most
against it, and laboured to pre-
vent it ; of which there will be
occasion anon to speak more at
large, and in that place to men-
tion the true reason which pro-
duced that aversion. At this
time there was a change in Mr.
Hyde's fortune, &c. as in page
1C6, line 1.



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON. 167

ment. In this letter, of the safe conveyance whereof PART
his majesty had no apprehension, the king had la-



mented the uneasiness of his own condition, in re-
spect of the daily importunity which was made to
him by the lords and others, for honours, offices,
and preferments ; and named several lords, who were
solicitous by themselves, or their friends, for this
and that place ; in all which he desired to receive
the queen's advice, being resolved to do nothing
with reference to those pretences, till he should re-
ceive it. But he said there were some places which
he must dispose of without staying for her answer,
the necessity of his service requiring it ; which were
the mastership of the wards ; applications being still
made to the lord Say in those affairs, and so that
revenue was diverted from him : and therefore, as
he had revoked his patent, so he was resolved to
make secretary Nicholas master of the wards ; " and
" then," (these were his majesty's own words,) " I
" must make Ned Hyde secretary of state, for the
" truth is, I can trust nobody else. " Which was a
very envious expression, and extended by the ill in-
terpretation of some men, to a more general corn-
prehension than could be intended. This was quick-
ly made public, for there were several prints of it
in many hands ; and some men had reason to be
troubled to find their names mentioned in that man-
ner, and others were glad that theirs were there, as
having the pretence to pursue their importunities
the more vehemently, being, as the phrase was,
brought upon the stage, and should suffer much in
their honour, if they should be now rejected ; which
kind of argumentation was very unagreeable and
grievous to the king.

M 4



168 THE LIFE OF

PART One morning, when the king was walking in the
! garden, as he used to do, Mr. Hyde being then in



. , '^ 3 ,' his view, his majesty called him, and discoursed of

Mr. Hyde J J

declines the the trouble he was in at the intercepting that letter ;

office of se- i / i i j

cretaryof and finding by his countenance that he understood
not the meaning, he asked him, " whether he had
" not heard a letter of his, which he writ to the
" queen, had been intercepted and printed. " And
he answering, " that he had not heard of it," as in
truth he had not, the king gave him the printed
letter to read, and then said, that "he wished it
" were as much in his power to make every body
" else amends as he could him ; for," he said, " he
" was resolved that afternoon to swear him secretary
" of state, in the place of Nicholas, whom he would
" likewise then make master of the wards. " Mr.
Hyde told him, " he was indeed much surprised
" with the sight of the letter ; which he wished had
" not been communicated in that manner : but that
" he was much more surprised to find his own name
" in it, and his majesty's resolution upon it, which
" he besought him to change ; for as he never had
" the ambition to hope or wish for that place, so he
" knew he was very unfit for it, and unable to dis-
" charge it. " To which the king with a little anger
replied, that " he did the greatest part of the busi-
" ness now :" and he answered, that " what he did
" now would be no part of the business, if the rebel-
" lion were ended ; and that his unskilfulness in lan-
" guages, and his not understanding foreign affairs,
" rendered him very incapable of that trust. " The
king said, " he would learn as much as was neces-
" sary of that kind very quickly. " He continued
his desire, that his majesty would lay aside that



EDWARD EARL OF CLARENDON.