Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Nor is the strongest negative proof wanting on this subject in the silence of Lord Clarendon throughout both his History and the Memoirs of his Life. Lord Clarendon had every possible motive that devotion to the memory of the King and participation in the feelings produced by his work could inspire, to draw attention to the Icon,' and to have added his testimony to authenticate both its authorship and its sentiments. What could be the motive that should have withheld his pen on a subject that was regarded as both honourable and important to the memory of Charles but his conviction that the work was not his own? Still less can his silence be interpreted in any other possible way, when throughout the History of his Life, which was written as a confidential memorial to his children, he abstains from all mention of this work. He was not ignorant of the pretensions of Dr. Gauden, and would have naturally placed upon record for their information his conviction that those pretensions were false, and that the 'Icon' was the veritable work of the King. It would appear, from the much-quoted letter from Lord Cornbury to Mr. Wagstaffe, dated May 5, 1699, that he expresses his opinion that his father did not believe that Dr. Gauden was the author of the King's book. This, however, proves only that the Chancellor did not consider himself at liberty to impart such a secret even to his son, how

half-length figure of Gauden, holding in his right hand a book, which (says Mr. Green) is "supposed to be meant for the Icon Basilike.'" Mrs. Gauden's claims of the authorship of the Icon' for her husband are certain and undisputed ;-these circumstances respecting his monument only deserve notice with reference to the time when the allusion was made.

[ocr errors]

ever he may have wished to spare him the knowledge of that which he told Dr. Gauden "nobody but Mr. "Milton would be glad of, and which he had often "wished he had never been intrusted with;" but the very conversation with his son which drew from the Chancellor the emphatic exclamation of "Good God! "I thought the Marquis of Hertford had satisfied the King in that matter," would have reminded him how important it was he should bequeath his opinions and faith on that subject to his family and to posterity, that all doubt should be removed of the honour due to Charles as the author of the 'Icon.' His silence must be regarded as testimony to the contrary, almost as conclusive as words, while, on the other hand, a positive declaration from him would have been decisive of the question.

Whether King Charles had ever intended to adopt the MS. placed at his disposal and consent to its publication in his name, and whether he transcribed parts with that view or possibly with the intention of framing upon it some work of his own, may be problematical; but as all that is stated by Dr. Gauden on Lord Hertford's authority was, that he had first asked if it "could "not be put in another name," and then only seemed to "desire time to consider of it," it would be most unjust to the memory of the King to fix upon him the reproach of passing off the works of another as his own.

Charles was kept much too strictly in confinement from the time of his removal to Hurst Castle till his execution to have been able to communicate with his confidential friends on such a subject; and it was a few days after his death that the 'Icon Basilike' appeared.

Whatever blame is due for its publication that does not rest with Dr. Gauden himself, must, according to his and his wife's account, remain with the Marquis of Hertford, who bid him "do what he would in regard "the case was so desperate;" but in that lies his defence. The case was desperate-all but hopeless; and Lord Hertford may well be excused if he gave his consent to the publication of a work from which its too sanguine author hoped that, by stirring up the affections of the people, it might not be too late to save the life of the King.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Lord Hertford induces Charles to remove from France to Germany, and furnishes him with money-He loses his eldest Son-Cromwell sends for him and asks his advice-Death of Cromwell, and character of his government the King's Restoration - Lord Hertford meets him at Canterbury-He is invested with the Garter, and is restored to the Chancellorship of Oxford-He is created Duke of Somerset, and soon afterwards dies-His character-His children-His portraits.

LORD Hertford appears to have been allowed to live unmolested in retirement during the eleven years that followed the execution of the King. On the 12th of January, 1649-50, the Prince, or, as he was now duly called by his adherents, "the King," determined on electing Lord Hertford a Knight of the Garter 1 -an honour which could only be conferred or received as a token of the gracious feelings with which the young King regarded him, not as a mark of distinction that could then be displayed.2

Lord Hertford does not appear to have relaxed in

'

Sir Harris Nicolas, in his History of the Garter,' states that "In "January, 1651, at Jersey, the King privately signified to William Seymour, Marquis of Hertford, and to Thomas Wriothesly, Earl of Southampton, both of whom were then in England, that he had been pleased "to choose them into the order."

2 Lord Clarendon comments thus upon giving the Garter under such circumstances:-" It is to no purpose to censure anything that cannot be <6 mended; but in my judgment the giving Garters now, when the necessary ceremony cannot be observed, is not for the honour of that noble "order." (26th April, 1650.)-State Papers, vol. iii. p. 18.

[ocr errors]

his interest in the Royal cause, though no longer with the King; and to have served him in the only way remaining in his power, by watching over his safety, and by furnishing him with supplies to aid his removal from the country that both he and the Earl of Southampton regarded as dangerous to his liberty. The strict correspondence kept up in 1655 between Cromwell and Cardinal Mazarin, and the knowledge that an alliance between them was very nearly concluded which would have entailed conditions prejudicial to the King, naturally alarmed his friends; and they looked with dread and suspicion upon his continued residence in France. They were full of apprehension that his person might be given up, and Lord Hertford and the Earl of Southampton determined therefore upon sending Mr. Harry Seymour (of the King's bedchamber), who was then in England, to Paris, to speak privately with the King, and to be " very importunate with him that he "would remove out of France, and to communicate to "his Majesty all which they received from persons who "were admitted into many of the secret resolutions and purposes of Cromwell." Nor was their advice given without furnishing the means for its adoption; and knowing the King to be in great straits for money, they sent him at that time a supply of about 3000l., which the King received and kept with secrecy."

66

1

They accompanied the gift by the promise of further assistance on condition of his quitting France, saying, that whenever he should choose to reside out of France

Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. vii. p. 81.

2 Ibid.

« AnteriorContinuar »