LXVI.

The complement of Charles I.'s disaster at the battle of Naseby was the disclosure of the 'Glamorgan Treaty.' The Earl of Glamorgan was instructed to negotiate for the abolition of all penal laws against the Roman Catholics in Ireland, and for the surrender to them of their ecclesiastical supremacy in view of releasing all troops maintained in that country for the defence of Protestantism, that they might combine with a foreign soldiery in an attempt to crush the Parliamentarians. When Royalist and Roundhead alike censured this treachery Charles indirectly repudiated the transaction.

Charles 1. to Queen Henrietta Maria.

Oxford: 1646.

Dear Heart,-Whatsoever may make thee mistake my actions, yet nothing can make me doubt of thy love, nor alter my way of kindness and freedom to thee, notwithstanding any variation of the [thy?] style to me, and I am most confident that upon second thoughts thou wilt be very far from blaming me, as concerning the Scotch treaty; my main ground-which is the saving of the church wherein I have been bred-being so infallibly good, that thou must commend me for it. Albeit we differ in matter of religion, yet thou must esteem me for having care of my conscience.

Concerning which, the preservation of the Church of England being now the only question, I should think myself obliged to seek out all possible lawful means for maintaining it. Wherefore, remembering what I wrote to thee last year, upon the 5th of March, by Pooly (thou wilt find it amongst those letters of thine which the rebels have printed)—I think it at this time fit to renew that motion unto thee. My words were then (which still I will make good) that I give thee power to promise in my name (to whom thou thinkest most fit) that 'I will take away all the penal laws against the Roman Catholics in England, as soon as God shall enable me to do it, so as by their means I may have so powerful assistance as may deserve so great a favour, and enable me to do it.' And furthermore, I now add that I desire some particular offers by or in the favour of the English Roman Catholics, which, if I shall like, I will then presently engage myself for the performance of the above-mentioned conditions. Moreover, if the Pope

and they will visibly and heartily engage themselves for the reestablishment of the Church of England and my crown (which was understood in my former offer) against all opposers whatsoever, I will promise them, on the word of a king, to give them here a free toleration of their consciences. I have now (which formerly I did not) named the Pope expressly, to desire thee to deal only with him or his ministers in the business, because I believe he is likely upon these conditions to be my friend, and wish the flourishing of my crown again, the which I think that France nor Spain will be sorry to see. I would have thee likewise make as few acquainted with this as may be, secrecy being most requisite in this business (until it be so ripe that the knowledge cannot hurt it), for every body thinking it be deserted, it would much prejudice me if untimely it should break out again.

Thou mayst possibly imagine that this my renewed offer proceeds from my inconstant humour, or out of a desire to please, but I assure thee that neither are the causes, though I shall not be ashamed of the latter whensoever there is occasion, for in this I do only pursue my constant ground, of preserving my conscience and crown, not being ignorant of the great inconveniences (not without some hazard) which the toleration of divers sorts of God's worship bring to a kingdom, which is not to be suffered, but either for the eschewing of a worse thing, or to obtain some great good ;— both reasons at this time concurring to make me admit, nay desire this inconvenience.

For, by this means, and I see no other, I shall hope to suppress the Presbyterian and Independent factions, and also preserve the Church of England and my crown from utter ruin, and yet I believe I did well IN DISAVOWING GLAMORGAN (80 far as I did); for though I hold it not simply ill, but even most fit, upon such a conjecture [conjuncture?] as this is, to give a toleration to other men's consciences, that cannot make it stand with mine to yield to the ruin of those of mine own profession, to which if I had assented, it then might have been justly feared, that I, who was careless of my own religion, would be less careful of my word. Whereas now, men have more reason to trust to my promises, find[ing] me constant to my grounds, and thou that I am eternally thine,

CHARLES R.

Upon my word, I neither have nor intend to acquaint any with this business but Ashburnham, wherefore I desire likeways to know of thee whom thou wilt intrust with it, that if anything come out we may know whom to blame. Besides, I offer to thy consideration, whether it be not fit that all the English Roman Catholics be warned by the pope's ministers to join with the forces that are to come out of Ireland.

LXVII.

Edmund Waller's long life was an active one. Dividing his time between politics and literature during the most stirring period of our history, he managed with singular adroitness to make himself extremely popular both in the House of Commons and in society. His fame as a refiner of our language and poetry was, and is, deservedly great. No man better understood the art of flattery and how to administer it with

grace.

Edmund Waller to my Lady

Madam,-Your commands for the gathering these sticks into a faggot had sooner been obey'd but intending to present you with my whole vintage, I stay'd till the latest grapes were ripe: for, here your Ladyship has not only all I have done, but all I ever mean to do of this kind. Not but that I may defend the attempt I have made upon Poetry, by the examples (not to trouble you with history) of many wise and worthy persons of our own times; as Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Francis Bacon, Cardinal Perron (the ablest of his countrymen) and the former Pope; who they say, instead of the Triple-Crown, wore sometimes the Poet's ivy, as an ornament, perhaps, of lesser weight and trouble. But, Madam, these nightingales sung only in the spring; it was the diversion of their youth; as Ladies learn to sing, and play, when they are children, what they forget when they are women. The resemblance holds further; for, as you quit the lute the sooner, because the posture is suspected to draw the body awry; so, this is not always practised without some villany to the mind; wresting it from present occasions; and accustoming us to a style somewhat remov'd from common use. But, that you may not think his case deplorable who had made verses; we are told that Tully (the greatest Wit among the Romans) was once sick of this disease;

and yet recover'd so well, that of almost as bad a Poet as your servant, he became the most perfect Orator in the world. So that, not so much to have made verses, as not to give-over in time, leaves a man without excuse: the former presenting us with an opportunity at least of doing wisely, that is, to conceal those we have made which I shall yet do, if my humble request may be of as much force with your Ladyship, as your commands have been with me. Madam, I only whisper these in your ear; if you publish them, they are your own: and therefore as you apprehend the reproach of a Wit, and a Poet, cast them into the fire : or, if they come where green boughs are in the chimney, with the help of your fair friends, (for, thus bound, it will be too hard a task for your hands alone) tear them in pieces, wherein you will honor me with the fate of Orpheus; for so his Poems, whereof we only hear the form, (not his limbs, as the story will have it) I suppose were scatter'd by the Thracian dames.

Here, Madam, I might take an opportunity to celebrate your virtues, and to instruct you how unhappy you are, in that you know not who you are: how much you excel the most excellent of your own, and how much you amaze the least inclin'd to wonder of our, sex. But as they will be apt to take your Ladyship's for a Roman name, so wou'd they believe that I endeavour'd the character of a perfect Nymph, worship'd an image of my own making, and dedicated this to the Lady of the brain, not of the heart, of

Your Ladyship's

most humble Servant,

EDM. WALLER.

LXVIII.

On the occasion of the marriage of Lady Dorothy Sidney, whom Waller had courted for ten years under the name of Sacharissa, to Lord Spenser, afterwards Earl of Sunderland, the disappointed poet addressed this lively epistle to the sister of the bride. This letter is incomparably superior to one written by Pope to Mrs. Arabella Fermor on her marriage.

Edmund Waller to Lady Lucy Sidney.

July, 1639.

Madam,-In this common joy at Penshurst, I know none to whom complaints may come less unseasonably than to your lady

ship, the loss of a bedfellow being almost equal to the loss of a mistress, and therefore you ought, at least to pardon, if you consent not to the imprecations of the deserted, which just heaven no doubt will hear. May my lady Dorothy, if we may yet call her so, suffer as much and have the like passion for this young lord, whom she has preferred to the rest of mankind, as others have had for her; and may his love, before the year go about, make her taste of the first curse imposed upon womankind, the pain of becoming a mother. May her firstborn be none of her own sex, nor so like her, but that he may resemble her lord as much as herself. May she, that always affected silence and retirement, have the house filled with the noise and number of her children, and hereafter of her grandchildren, and then may she arrive at that great curse, so much declined by fair ladies, old age; may she live to be very old, and yet seem young, be told so by her glass, and have no aches to inform her of the truth; and when she shall appear to be mortal, may her lord not mourn for her, but go hand in hand with her to that place, where we are told there is neither marrying, nor giving in marriage, so that being there divorced, we may all have an equal interest in her again! My revenge being immortal, I wish all this may befall her posterity to the world's end, and afterwards! To you, madam, I wish all good things, and that this your loss may in good time be happily supplied. Madam, I humbly kiss your hands, and beg. pardon for this trouble, from

Your ladyship's

most humble Servant

E. WALLER.

LXIX.

Sir John Suckling to

Suckling commanded a troop in the English army of Charles I. against the Scotch. This letter was written from Berwick-on-Tweed shortly before the humiliating retreat of

Dunse.

June, 1639.

Sir, We are at length arrived at that river about the uneven running of which my friend Master William Shakespeare makes Henry Hotspur quarrel so highly with his fellow-rebels, and for