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

P. BELLlfevRE TO BRIENNE
[nov.
hendent de la part du roy, les affaires estoient hors d’esperance
de se voir accomodees. La chambre basse est d’accord de ce
quy auoit este arreste en la haute touchant la uante [vente]
des biens des Euesques de sorte qu’il n’y a plus qu’a 1’executer
pour treuuer fargent qu’il faut aux Escossois, auxquels il
semble que Ton tasche de donner allarme, en faisant aduancer
des trouppes uers le Nort, et les tenant tousiours serrez dans
leurs quartiers, et encore cette sepmaine par un commande-
ment qui a este publie par la ville a son de trompe de la part
du general Farfax a tous les officiers de I’armee de se rendre
dans deux jours en leur quartier sur peine d’estre casses, mais
ils tesmoignent ne rien craindre de ce coste la, soit par 1’ordre
qu’ils y donnent, soit qu’ils soient assurez des intentions que
Ton a icy, estimant que 1’ordre quy a este donne aux officiers
n’est que pour les tenir dans la discipline.—Je suis, Monsieur,
vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur,
P. de Bellieure.
[P. Bellievre to Brienne. London, 29 Nov. 1646.
Until it is known what decision the King of Great Britain will take,
it seems there is nothing to be done here; the reply that is expected
from him holding every one in suspense. There is, however, reason to
fear that those who have shown they had the will and the power to serve
him had he, by granting some of the proposals, given them the means of
doing so, seeing he is not inclined at least to consent to the establish¬
ment of Presbyterianism, without which nothing need be expected from
the Scots, who lead with them a good many of the others, yet who
do not think of coming to terms with those who till now have been
their adversaries, in the fear they have of finding themselves in their
power, if, by the refusal they apprehend on the part of the king, there
remained no hope of seeing affairs settled. The Lower House has agreed
to what was resolved in the Upper regarding the sale of the bishops’ lands,
so that there but remains to carry out the measure, in order to procure
the money required for the Scots, to whom it seems attempts have been
made to give cause of alarm by the advance of troops to the north, and
keeping them always closely confined within their quarters, and again
this week by an order that was announced in this town, by sound of
trumpet, on the part of General Fairfax, to all the officers of the army to
repair to their quarters, within two days, under penalty of being revoked;
but the Scots manifest no fear of anything from that quarter, either on
account of the order they themselves have given in the matter, or from
their being assured of the intentions that prevail here; considering the
order given to the officers to be but to maintain discipline.]