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

376
BELLIfiVRE TO BRIENNE
[JAN.
his affairs. I propose to rejoin him in order to try and prevail upon him
to take some good resolution, and in any case to prevent him from taking
bad ones. In finishing my letter I receive one from M. de Montereul,
dated the first of the month, from Edinburgh, of which the substance is
that everything there tends to the ruin of the King of England; that
there is reason to believe the Argyles to be agreed with the Hamiltons ;
that, having proposed to the latter all he had to say to them, and being
apparently well received, he yet judges by their conversation and be¬
haviour that there is nothing to be expected from them.]
BELLlilVRE a BRIENNE
-». 6 Janvier 1647.
Newcastle, 27 Decemire ^
Monsieur,—Le Sr de Montreul arriue d’Edimbourg. Je ne
puis I’entretenir presentement sans perdre cette occasion de
vous escrire, par un courrier qui passe d’Escosse a Londres que
ie ne puis faire retarder. J’apprends par ce que me dit le
Sr de Montreul que les affaires y sont au point que ie crains
de les voir il y a si longtemps, et principalement depuis que ie
juge par le mespris que ie m’appercoy qu’ilz font de la personne
du dit Roy de la facillite auec laquelle ilz se pouuoient porter
a 1’offenser,—le masque en est leue. II ne m’en a point encor
diet les particullaritez, vous les saurez au premier jour par le
courrier Heron, que ie despescheray. II y a 4 jours que je me
donne Phonneur de vous faire scauoir I’apprehension en laquelle
j’estois des resolutions que pouuoit prendre le roy d’Angleterre,
je ne crois pas qu’il aie encore determine de faire aucune chose,
et neantmoins les affaires pressent au dernier poinct.—Je suis,
monsieur, vostre tres humble et tres obeissant seruiteur.
Au dos—M. de Bellieure, du 6 Januier 1647, receu le 19.
[ BEumkvRE to Brienne. Newcastle, 1^"'
M. de Montereul has just arrived from Edinburgh. I cannot talk
with him now without losing the opportunity of writing to you by a
courier that is passing from Scotland to London, and whom I cannot
delay. I learn from what M. de Montereul has told me that matters
have reached the point at which I feared so long ago to see them, and
feared all the more since I judge from the contempt I see they have for
the person of the king, of the facility with which they might be led to
offend him—the mask has been removed. I have not yet been told the
details of it. I shall send them to you as soon as possible by the courier