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

1647]
P. BELLIEVRE TO BRIENNE
391
House of Commons, were appointed yesterday to go to Newcastle, but
they are considered to be deputed simply to receive their king from the
Scots and conduct him to Holmby, to invite him to come there; it is
said here that these commissioners will require to make haste to leave in
order to be there before the 23rd January, which will be the 2nd
February according to the new style, because on that day the Scots, who
will no longer keep him, are to leave there. A gentleman left yesterday
in order to take to the king the reply of the Parliament to the letter he
sent a fortnight ago, who also takes to the Scots the assurance of the
satisfaction of this Parliament at what they have done, and of their
intention of remaining united together. A letter was read in Parlia¬
ment the day before yesterday from the King of Great Britain, written
to a gentleman who had held a command from him in Wales, in which
it is stated that before New Year’s Day he will have a large army, and
that one-half of England will have declared for him ; some people think
the letter is genuine, and say that these fanciful imaginings that the
king indulges in have always prevented him from thinking of doing
what could be of service to him; others think that the clergyman
Hudson, who has been arrested lately, had written this letter, as also
many others, in order to engage people to serve the King of Great
Britain; yet the most of people think that it is the work of the
Independents, who wish to do him all the harm they can in order to
turn aside the goodwill of the people, who seem to be very well disposed
towards his return. A courier who arrived yesterday brought news that
the ambassador had his last public audience, in which he took formal
leave of the King of Great Britain, on Sunday last, and afterwards a
private reception in the bedchamber, and that he was to leave on Monday
to return to London; although I have not had letters from the am¬
bassador, who probably was not informed of the passing of this courier,
or who may not have been able to stop him, yet I send this news to you
as certain, it being conform to the decision that the ambassador informs
me by this courier he had taken.]
XCVIII
BELLIEVRE a BRIENNE.
A York le l~ Janu.
Monsieur,—Je me suis donne rhonneur de vous escrire,
Samedi par le Courrier Heron. Dimanche i’eus du Roy de la
G. B. mon audience de conge. Le lendemain ie suis party de
Newcastle auec intention de me rendre a Londres, le plus
diligemment qu’il se poura. C’est le seul lieu ou Ton se
pourroit encore imaginer de mesnager quelque chose pour