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Whether Lord Hertford had been discouraged by the want of success in his first campaign in the West, or that he was mortified at the conduct of Lord Herbert towards him in Wales, or that he foresaw the unnecessary trial to which all who were placed in military command would be exposed when called upon to combine in action with the King's nephews, does not appear, but the King's intercepted letter to the Queen, dated January 23, 1642-3, shows that Lord Hertford was at that time anxious to serve in some other capacity than that of Lieutenant-General.

The King, having detailed in this letter some of his proposed arrangements, alludes to Lord Hertford having once looked to be Captain of the Pensioners, but adds, Now, I believe, he expects either to be Treasurer or "of my Bedchamber. I incline rather to the latter, if "thou like it."

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This appointment about the King's person was not made till some months later, but it can hardly be regarded as a pleasing proof of Charles's conjugal affection that he should thus have submitted the appointment of men serving his cause with such devoted zeal to the caprices of the Queen's personal preference or dislike.

In the month of March hostilities ceased, and a treaty was set on foot at Oxford. All now professed to

"themselves at liberty and undone together: amongst whom John Plot, "a lawyer of very good reputation, was one; who, being freed from the hard "and barbarous imprisonment in which he was kept, when he returned to "his own house found it full of soldiers and twelve hundred pounds in money taken from thence, which could never be recovered."-Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. iii. p. 417.

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See the King's letter to the Queen, above, vol. i. p. 275.

desire a peaceable adjustment of past differences: doubtless, many on both sides were perfectly sincere in their professions, and the blame of its failure was imputed by each party to the other. Lord Hertford acted as one of the King's Commissioners on this occasion, and was likely to have been amongst those who laboured for peace; but after the negotiation had continued from the 4th of March to the 15th of April, the treaty was broken off, the Parliamentary Commissioners returned to London, and hostilities speedily recommenced.1

Lord Hertford's first campaign in the West had certainly not been attended with any great success, but he had in no way lost the confidence and respect of the gentlemen of those counties over which he still held his commission as Lieutenant-General; and most of the principal gentry of Somersetshire, being now assembled at Oxford, united in petitioning the King that he might be again sent into the West. It was at Sir Edward Hyde's lodgings that these gentlemen were daily appointed to meet, where they conferred amongst themselves and with Lord Hertford as to the fittest arrangements for an immediate march. The King declared what troops he could spare and what ammunition should be ready.

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Every man subscribed what he would provide "before he went out of the town, and what he would "undertake to have ready in several counties where his "interest lay, and some brought in money towards carVide Life of Lord Falkland, vol. i. p. 151.

2 Hist. of the Rebellion, Appendix A of vol. iv. p. 601. 3 Now become Chancellor of the Exchequer.

"rying on the work, so that in a few days a great ad<< vance seemed to be made."

News now arrived at Oxford of successes in the West; the Earl of Stamford had been sent by the Parliament at the head of an army into Cornwall. On the 16th of May he was defeated near Stratton by a force greatly inferior to his own in numbers, ill-provisioned and illprovided with ammunition, but highly disciplined, of most determined, even desperate courage, and commanded by Sir Ralph Hopton and Lord Mohun.*

The fame of this victory and the disposition now evinced in these western counties to espouse the King's cause created a sudden desire in many who had received commissions to raise regiments for the King's army (which they had not yet been able to execute) to join the new army for the West; and malcontent officers sought to withdraw such troops as they had from the service in which they were engaged, that they might go where they expected better success and quicker promotion. Lord Hertford willingly accepted all offers that should strengthen his forces, and consented to making general officers for a royal army. This measure unfortunately offended some of his old friends, who had raised that body in Cornwall which had performed so many gallant actions, and who, conscious of being fitter for command than the newly-made general officers, were little inclined either then or afterwards to submit to their rule.

Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. iv. Appendix A, p. 601.

The number of foot was 2400, and was divided into four parts. Sir John Berkeley and Sir Bevil Greenvil, Sir Nicholas Slanning, Colonel Trevannion, Colonel Thomas Basset and Colonel William Godolphin shared in the command of these divisions.

Lord Hertford's position as commander of a royal army was not viewed without displeasure by Prince Rupert. He had always looked upon Lord Hertford's power and reputation as somewhat eclipsing his own, and his jealousy was now increased by the importance of this command, and by finding that some of the troops then serving under him were to be withdrawn to swell the army of Lord Hertford. His influence with the King, unhappily always great, was immediately used to persuade him to supersede Lord Hertford as head of the army, an appointment made by the King himself, at the solicitation of the most zealous and powerful adherents to the royal cause in the counties where Lord Hertford was to command,and to nominate his younger brother, Prince Maurice,

as successor.

It is difficult to conceive that family affection, or even the blindness that arose from royal pride, could have so infatuated Charles as to make him believe that a young man twenty-one years old, a foreigner, and one who as yet had only had the command of a single regiment, ought on the grounds of his connexion with the Crown to take the place of a commander chosen as Lord Hertford had been. Yet Charles was easily persuaded to believe that Lord Hertford ought willingly to resign his command and serve under one "who was the grandson of James, and his own nephew." It was a great proof that he had yet to learn the character of his people, the danger of his own position, and the nature of the war in which he was engaged, when he perceived not that the

Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. iv. Appendix A, p. 603.

strength of his army depended no longer on his royal will, but on the opinion of his subjects, and that he must owe his supplies of men and of arms to the personal influence, the active exertions, and the affluent circumstances and generous contributions of those who supported his cause.

In the choice of a general, the selection of a man of power and influence in the country became as necessary to the chance of success as the selection of one who was skilled in war. No doubt the difficulty of finding these qualifications combined in one person proved often a serious embarrassment in the choice of military commanders; but the nepotism that invested his own relations with imaginary capabilities and qualities did not assist the King to overcome this difficulty. The issues of the war proved that neither their exalted rank, nor their military disposition and great personal courage, nor the indomitable energy and spirit which won for Rupert the doubtful honour of becoming a by-word of terror, ever outweighed the numberless evils produced by the introduction of these two young foreigners into a country which was divided by questions of civil and religious rights, and who came as soldiers of fortune to fight against an enemy, not to assist in re-establishing the falling influence of the Crown or to aid in rekindling the failing affection of the people to the person of the King.

The King fixed on Sir Edward Hyde to communicate to Lord Hertford his wishes respecting Prince Maurice; but Hyde at once excused himself from undertaking so graceless a task, and candidly represented to

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