Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

casioned this change,' but that which was thought by many to have strengthened his feelings against the Court was his opinion that the services of Lord Hertford had been ill appreciated by the King when the differences took place between him and the Princes. Lord Essex knew well the value of his brother-inlaw's character, and though engaged in opposite ranks he might not be the less sensible to an affront offered to one so nearly allied to himself; he might not unlikely have considered that a want of justice or consideration towards those who had served the King so faithfully was a bad omen, in case of any treaty, for the treatment of those who had fought in the Parliamentary ranks; or he may have regarded it as a proof that adversity had not yet so far strengthened the King's character against the unfortunate influence of family favouritism as to render even a treaty any real security for justice and peace.

'Lord Clarendon suggests other causes also as having possibly influenced Lord Essex, such as "the jealousy of the Earl of Manchester, upon “whom he plainly saw the violent party wholly depended; and the infu"sion poured into him by the Lord Say and Mr. Pym of the desperateness " of his own condition."-Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. iv. p. 191.

CHAPTER XV.

Jealousies among the Parliamentary Generals - The King attempts to open a Negotiation for Peace through Lord Essex - He sends a Letter to Lord Essex by Lord Beauchamp Lord Essex refers the King to the Parliament Siege and Relief of Basing House Treaty of Uxbridge Lord Hertford acts as one of the Commissioners - His Opinion on Church Government The King leaves Oxford, and joins

the Scottish Army Surrender of Oxford - The King is removed to Hampton Court — Lord Hertford is displaced from the Office of Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Lord Pembroke is reinstated The King attempts to escape, and takes refuge in the Isle of Wight He is lodged in Carisbrook Castle.

-

THE jealousies and disunion that too often obstructed the actions of the King and the operations of the Royalist forces were no less prevalent in the councils and camp of the Parliament. There was rivalry between the Earl of Essex and the Earl of Manchester. Again, the Parliament seemed to hold Lord Roberts, though inferior in military rank, in greater estimation than Lord Essex; and Lord Essex had the further vexation of seeing Lord Roberts cultivate the intimacy of Sir Harry Vane, whom he greatly disliked, and regarded as an enemy.

There was constant jealousy between Lord Essex and Sir William Waller, leading even on one occasion to a suspicion in Lord Essex's mind that the Parliament, out of preference to Sir William Waller, had actually betrayed him and conspired his ruin; whilst the Parliament looked upon Lord Essex's march into the West as tantamount to a declaration that he would no more fight against the person of the King.

There was of course much misunderstanding and misconstruction that led to these suspicions and doubts between those who chose and those who were chosen to command; but these mutual misgivings and mistrust were the natural results of appointments derived from uncertain authority; and whilst the candidates for distinction on the Royalist side, having too often risen by mere personal favour and court intrigue, lived in fear of being supplanted in royal esteem, those on the Parliament side, depending on the fickle choice of a popular assembly, were in dread of being outbid by their rivals in popular opinions. From the weakness produced by these dissensions being known, each party hoped at times to gain some advantage over the enemy, if not to win him to their side.

The conduct of Parliament towards Lord Essex had at various times seemed to open the door to some negotiation from the King, and to give hopes that, in disgust with those whom he served, he might be more willing to renounce their service, or at least to assist in bringing to a close the unhappy war from which he derived so little personal honour, and which every honest and intelligent lover of his country must have felt was destructive of the prosperity and liberty for which he was fighting.'

[ocr errors]

1 Lord Clarendon speaks of the "notorious indignities which the Earl "of Essex received from the Parliament, which were visible to all the world," and of the ill condition to which he and his army were reduced, as reasons why the King had hoped he might make a conjunction with his Majesty.-Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. iv. p. 533.

Sir Edward Walker says "that his Majesty had entertained an opinion "that, if Essex should have any fit opportunity offered him, he would be

It was thought by some that Lord Essex's unwillingness to listen to any overtures from the King had been much increased by the conduct of the Court towards Lord Hertford: whether this surmise were just or not, the rumour alone may have had some influence in determining the King to select, and Lord Hertford to permit, his son Lord Beauchamp to be employed the following year as an emissary to his uncle. Lord Beanchamp was not in good health, and, it having been decided that he should go abroad for his recovery, a pass was procured from the Earl of Essex, giving permission to himself, to Monsieur Richaute, his tutor, a Frenchman, and two servants, to embark at Plymouth for France.

Lord Beauchamp, then in the King's quarters, had to pass through those of the Earl of Essex, and the King determined to avail himself of that opportunity to address the following letter with his own hand to the Earl:

"C. R.

66

"ESSEX, I have been very willing to believe that, whenever there should be such a conjuncture as to put it in your power to effect that happy settlement of this miserable kingdom which all good men desire, you would lay hold of it. That season is now before you; you have it at this time in your power to redeem your country and the Crown, and to oblige your King in the highest degree. An action certainly of the greatest piety, prudence, and honour that may be such an opportunity

[ocr errors]

willing to embrace it, not only to return to his allegiance, but to disengage himself of the bondage he was brought into by the prevalency of "the factious and schismatical party then ruling at London."-Walker's "Historical Discourse,' p. 52.

as perhaps no subject before you hath ever had, or hereafter you shall have. To which there is no more required but that you join with me heartily and really in the settling of those things which we have both professed constantly to be our only aims. Let us do this; and if any men shall be so foolishly unnatural as to oppose their King's, country's, and their own good, we will make them happy by God's blessing even against their wills. To this the only impediment can be, want of mutual confidence. I promise it you of my part, and, as I have endeavoured to prepare it on yours by my letter to Hertford from Evesham,' I hope this will perfect it, when, as I here do, I have engaged unto you the word of a King, that, you joining with me in that blessed work, I shall give both to you and your army such eminent marks of my confidence and value as shall not leave a room for the least distrust amongst you either in relation to the public or to yourself, unto whom I shall then be your faithful friend.

"P.S. If you like of this, hearken to this bearer, whom I have fully instructed in particulars, but this will admit of no delay.

"Liskeard, the 6th of August, 1644."2

But it was not to so young a man as Lord Beauchamp that was to be intrusted the weight of this important mission. A pass was to be procured also for Mr. Harding, one of the grooms of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales. Mr. Harding had formerly been well acquainted with the Earl of Essex, and Monsieur Richaute was to secure, if possible, an interview with him. The

'On the 3rd of July the King sent a message to Parliament from Evesham, expressing his earnest and sincere desire of peace, by Monsieur Sabron, the French agent; it was probably, therefore, at this time that he had, through Lord Hertford, endeavoured to begin some negotiation with the Earl of Essex.

[ocr errors][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »