Series 1 > Diplomatic correspondence of Jean de Montereul and the brothers de Bellièvre, French ambassadors in England and Scotland, 1645-48 > Volume 1

1646]
P. BELLrfcVRE TO BRIENNE
331
they would have ruined him. But there are some symptoms that show
they are beginning to find out it would not be easy for them to suppress
the monarchy, and thus they might be led to accept the proposals that
might be made to them to return into his favour, and both by the service
they would thereby render him and by reason of the principal offices
they would supply themselves with, they would deprive him of the will
and even of the power of injuring them. The liberty of conscience
which they wish each one to have may lead him to expect from them
considerable facilities on the matter of religion, and the principal ones
among them are so intent on their own private interests that they will be
little careful of stipulating for any advantage towards Parliament respect¬
ing the militia, provided he give them the principal places in it at
present; but whatever treaty he may make, in the situation in which he
is, he can only do at a great disadvantage to himself. He takes in very
good part what I say to him, and yet I cannot be answerable for him,
either that he write to the Queen of England, or that, if the Scots press
him very much to send his replies he may not do so on the first oppor¬
tunity ; hut if I can, it will not be before he will receive a reply from
France to what he is sending by this courier.
P.S.—I have received, by the person I sent to court, the despatches
with which he was intrusted. I can only have them deciphered after
the departure of this courier, and shall have the honour of replying
to them by the first courier that leaves afterwards.]
LXXX
P. BELLIEVRE A BRIENNE
A Londres, ce 29* Noire- 1646.
Monsieur,—Jusques a ce que Ton s^ache quelle resolution
prendra le Roy de la Grand Bretaigne, il semble qu’il n’y ait
rien a faire icy. La responce que Ton attend de luy tenant
tout le monde en suspens. Ce n’est pas qu’il n’y ait subject
de craindre que, cependent, ceux qui ont tesmoigne le voulloir
seruir, et qui faisoient croire qu’il estoit en leur pouuoir, au
cas qu’en accordant quelques unes des proposions [propositions]
il leur en donnat raoyen, ne voyant pas qu’il s’y porte du
moins a consentir a 1’establissement du presbitaire, sans lequel
on ne doit rien attendre des Escossois quy emmenent auec eux
une bonne partie des autres, ne songent a s’acomoder auec eux
qui ont este iusques icy leurs aduersaires, dans la crainte qu’ils
ont, de se voir en leur puissance, si, par un reffus qu’ilz appre-