desire the continuance of your courtesy, by your protecting of my household stuff and moveables of all sorts, which I leave behind me in this house, that they be neither spoiled or embezzled : only there are three pictures here which are not mine, that I desire you to restore; to wit, my wife's picture in blue, sitting in a chair, you must send to Mistress Kirke; my eldest daughter's picture, copied by Belcam, to the Countess of Anglesey ; and my Lady Stanhope's picture to Carry Rawley; there is a fourth which I had almost forgot, it is the original of my eldest daughter (it hangs in this chamber over the board next to the chimney) which you must send to my Lady Aubigny. So, being confident that you wish my preservation and restitution, I rest

PS.-I assure you it was not the letter you showed me to-day, that made me take this resolution, nor any advertisement of that kind.' But I confess that I am loth to be made a close prisoner, under pretence of securing my life. I had almost forgot to desire you to send the black grewbitch to the Duke of Richmond.

Charles I. to the Earl of Lanerick.2

Lanerick,

As my coming hither will be variously scanned, so I believe that my message to the two houses will have divers interpretations, for neither of which I

1 Alluding to a plot to assassinate him. Cromwell wrote to him at this time, but the writer of the letter mentioned by Charles is not known.

2 MS. Harl. 841, f. 245. Charles sent a message to the parliament on the 16th of November, declaring the reason of his going to the Isle of Wight, and inviting them to a treaty.

mean to make any apology; for honest actions, at last,

Only I must observe to London, the end of it is

will best interpret themselves. you that what I have sent to to procure a personal treaty; for which, if I have striven to please all interests with all possible equality (without wronging my conscience), I hope no reasonable man will blame me; nor am I so unreasonable as to imagine that this my message can totally content any one party. But for the end of it, a personal treaty, I hope all reasonable men on all sides will concur with me, as I expect your Scots commissioners should do, though I know you must dislike many passages in it. And yet I must tell you, that in substance I have differed very little from my message of the 12th of May. This I thought necessary to write to you, that you might assure your fellow commissioners, that change of place hath not altered my mind from what it was, when you last saw

me. So I rest

Your most assured constant friend,

CHARLES R.

PS.-This is a true messenger, wherefore you or any other of my friends may write to me by him, desiring much to hear from you.

Carisbrooke, 19th November, 1647.

Lanerick,

Charles I. to the Earl of Lanerick.1

I wonder to hear (if it be true) that some of my friends should say, that my going to Jersey had 2 Harleian MSS. 841, f. 246. The following entry from the corporation journals of Southampton, of the date of Monday, Jan. 6, 1647,

much more furthered my personal treaty than my coming hither, for which, as I see no colour of reason, so, I had not been here, if I had thought that fancy true, or had not been assured of a personal security, of which I neither do nor I hope shall repent. For I am daily more and more satisfied with this governor; and find these islanders very good, peaceable, and kind people. This encouragement I thought not unfit for you to receive, hoping at least it may do good upon others, though needless to you from your most assured, real, constant friend,

Carisbrooke, 23rd November, 1647.

CHARLES R.

Charles I. to the Earl of Lanerick.1

Lanerick,

Albeit that letters can ill dispute at this distance, yet I cannot but tell you, that many things may be fitly offered to obtain a treaty, that may be altered, when one comes to treat; and there is a great difference betwixt what I shall insist upon, and what I will permit, for the obtaining of a peace. Likewise, it is necessary in many respects that I should seek to

when Charles I. had arrived at Carisbrook Castle, affords a very singular instance of municipal "prudence." "Mr. Mayr is desired to write to Mr. Exont to know his opinion for the sending a present of household provision to his majesty at Carisbroke Castle."

1 MS. Harl. 841, f. 247. Lanerick had sent the king the papers the lords Lowdon, Lauderdale, and himself had written against the bills, and the other late votes. See Memoirs of the Hamiltons, p. 328.

satisfy, as far as I can with conscience and honour, all chief interests. All these things impartially and duly considered, I will boldly say my message will not be found much amiss; which recommending to your better consideration, I must desire you to give hearty thanks in my name to your fellow commissioners (of which though you take a large share to yourself, they will not want) for their paper of the 17th of this month, which was sent to the houses; for seriously it is as full to my sense, as if I had penned it myself. And let me tell you that it will turn to the greatest honour (I say no more) that ever befel you. Wherefore I conjure you, by all that is dear to wise and honest men, that you adhere closely and constantly to it; and as the song says, I ask no more, so I rest

Your most assured, faithful, real friend,

Carisbrooke, 29th November, 1647.

CHARLES R.

Charles,

Charles I. to Prince Charles.2

Tuesday, August 1st, 1648.

I had written to you sooner had I known where you had been, particularly that express which, upon Saturday last, I had directed to your brother I had sent to you. I command you to do nothing,

whether it concerns war or peace, but with the advice

1 MS. Harl. 6988, f. 127. Part of the original of this is written in cipher.

of your council, and that you be constant to those grounds of religion and honour, which heretofore I have given you. I suppose your not knowing how to send your letters to me hath been the cause of your not writing since your coming out of Paris; but now, indeed I shall take it unkindly if you do not answer this, and write me divers other letters. God direct and prosper you in all your actions.

Your loving father,

CHARLES R.

This cipher which I now write in is that which was sent you by the noble friend who conveys this letter

Charles I. to the Speaker of the House of Lords.'

If the peace of my dominions were not much dearer to me than any particular interest whatsoever, I had too much reason to take notice of the several votes which passed against me, and the sad condition I have been in now above these seven months. But, since you my two houses of parliament have opened (as it seems to me) a fair beginning to a happy peace, I shall heartily apply myself thereunto; and to that end I will as clearly, and shortly as I may, set you down those things which I conceive necessary to this blessed work, so that we together may remove all impediments, that may hinder

1 Lords' Journals. Towards the end of July, the Commons had yielded to the obstinacy of the Lords; the preliminary conditions, on which they had insisted, were abandoned, and the vote of non-addresses was repealed. See Lingard, p. 242.