XIV. 1655. BOOK done that of mademoiselle; nor could they persuade the lady herself to depart from her dignity, and to use any of those arts which might expedite the design. The earl of Bristol therefore, that the news might not come to his friend the chancellor of the exchequer by other hands, frankly imparted it to him, only as a passion of the king's that had exceedingly transported him; and then magnified the lady, "as a person that would exceedingly cultivate "the king's nature, and render him much more dex"terous to advance his fortune:" and therefore he professed, "that he would not dissuade his majesty "from gratifying so noble an affection;" and used many arguments to persuade the chancellor too to think very well of the choice. But when he found that he was so far from concurring with him, that he reproached his great presumption for interposing in an affair of so delicate a nature, as by his conduct might prove the ruin of the king, he seemed resolved to prosecute it no farther, but to leave it entirely to the king's own inclination; who, upon serious reflections upon his own condition, and conference with those he trusted most, quickly concluded that such a marriage was not like to yield much advantage to his cause; and so resolved to decline any farther advance towards it. Yet the same persons persuaded him, that it was a necessary generosity to take his last farewell of her; and so, after he had taken leave of his mother, he went so much out of his way as to visit her at her house; where those lords made their last effort; and his majesty, with great esteem of the lady's virtue and k would] could XIV. wisdom, the next day joined his family, and prose- BOOK cuted his journey towards Flanders; his small step. out of the way having raised a confident rumour in 1655. Paris that he was married to that lady. comes to his journey. The king had received a pass from the archduke for his passing through Flanders, so warily worded, that he could not but take notice, that it was expected and provided for, that he should by no means make any unnecessary stay in his journey; and m he found the gates of Cambray shut when he came thi- The king ther, and was compelled to stay long in the after- Cambray in noon, before they were opened to receive him; which they excused, "by reason that they under"stood the enemy was at hand, and intended to sit "down before that city;" of which there appeared in the face of all the people, and the governor himself, a terrible apprehension. But, upon recollection, his majesty was well received by the governor, and treated and lodged that night by him in his house; who was the better composed by his majesty's assuring him," that the French army was at a great dis"tance from him, and that his majesty had passed through it the day before," (when marshal Turenne had drawn up the army to receive his majesty; the duke of York having there likewise taken his leave of the king,) "and, by the march that they "then appeared to make, there was great reason to "conclude that they had no design upon Cambray;" which good information made the king's presence the more acceptable. But besides the civility of that The king supper, and lodging that night, his majesty had not through the least address from the archduke, who was within without 66 I The king] Though the king m and] yet passes being taken BOOK four or five leagues with his army, but passed, withXIV. out the least notice taken of him, through those pro1655. vinces; so great a terror possessed the hearts of the notice of by Spaniard, lest their shewing any respect to the king in his passage through their country, should incense Cromwell against them, whose friendship they yet seemed to have hope of. the arch duke. At Mons he meets with mes sengers to him from his friends in England. to him the state of affairs in England, relating chiefly to and his army. His majesty intended to have made no stay, having received letters from the Hague, that his sister was already in her journey for the Spa. But, when he came to Mons, he found two gentlemen there, who came out of England with letters and instructions from those of his friends there who retained their old affections. By them his majesty was inThey notify formed, that many of them recovered" new courage from the general discontent which possessed the kingdom, and which every day increased by the continual oppressions and tyranny they sustained. Cromwell The taxes and impositions every day were augmented, and Cromwell, and his council, did greater acts of sovereignty than ever king and parliament had attempted. All gaols were full of such persons as contradicted their commands, and were suspected to wish well to the king; and there appeared such a rend among the officers of the army, that the protector was compelled to displace many of them, and to put more confiding men in their places. And as this remedy was very necessary to be applied for his security, so it proved of great reputation to him, even beyond his own hope, or at least his confidence. For the licence of the common soldiers, manifested in their general and public discourses, censures, and recovered] and recovered n By them his majesty was informed, that many of them XIV. 1655. reproaches of him, and his tyrannical proceedings, BOOK (which liberty he well knew was taken by many, that they might discover the affections and inclinations of other men, and for his service,) did not much affect him, or was not terrible to him otherwise than as they were soldiers of this or that regiment, and under this or that captain, whose officers he knew well hated him, and who had their soldiers so much at their devotion, that they could lead them upon any enterprise: and he knew well that this seditious spirit possessed many of the principal officers both of horse and foot, who hated him now, in the same proportion that they had heretofore loved him, above all the world. This loud distemper grew the more formidable to him, in that he did believe the fire was kindled and blown by Lambert, and that they were all conducted and inspired by his melancholic and undiscerned spirit, though yet all things were outwardly very fair between them. Upon this disquisition he saw hazard enough in attempting any reformation, (which the army thought he durst not undertake to do alone, and they feared not his proceeding by a council of war, where they knew they had many friends,) but apparent danger, and very probable ruin, if he deferred it. . And so trusting only to, and depending upon his own stars, he cashiered ten or a dozen officers, though not of the highest command, and those whom he most apprehended, yet of those petulant and active humours, which made them for the present most useful to the others, and most pernicious to him. By this experiment he found the example wrought great effects upon many who were not touched by it, and that the men who had done so much mischief, being now BOOK reduced to a private condition, and like other partiXIV. cular men, did not only lose all their credit with the soldiers, but behaved themselves with much more wariness and reservation towards all other men. This gave him more ease than he had before enjoyed, and raised his resolution how to proceed hereafter upon the like provocations, and gave him great credit and authority with those who had believed that many officers had a greater influence upon the army than himself. It was very evident that he had some war in his purpose; for from the time that he had made a peace with the Dutch, he took greater care to increase his stores and magazines of arms and ammunition, and to build more ships than he had ever done before; and he had given order to make ready two great fleets in the winter, under officers who should have no dependence upon each other; and landmen were likewise appointed to be levied. Some principal officers amongst these made great professions of duty to the king; and made tender of their service to his majesty by these gentlemen. It was thought necessary to make a day's stay at Mons, to despatch those gentlemen; who were very well known, and worthy to be trusted. Such commissions were prepared for them, and such instructions, The king as were desired by those who employed them. And friends in his majesty gave nothing so much in charge to the be quiet. messengers, and to all his friends in England with whom he had correspondence, as, "that they should "live quietly, without making any desperate or un"reasonable attempt, or giving advantage to those "who watched them, to put them into prison, and "to ruin their estates and families." He told them, advises his England to |