Series 1 > Letters and papers illustrating the relations between Charles the Second and Scotland in 1650

82
CHARLES II. AND SCOTLAND IN 1650
of themselves. What becomes of us I know not, but we wash
our hands of all iniquitie as in reference to treacherie and
treatie. God be thanked for it. I will travaile to ye end of ye
world rather then to my damnation in Scotland. The Rebells
in England laugh at ye whole businesse, and may well enough,
being assured they shall get by it more of ye Kings friends to
be engagers, then y® Scots can to be covenanters. Your
brother Secretarie will acquaint you quaestionlesse with greater
secrets. I will tell you in your case y1 y® Scots laugh at our
complying Lords allreadie and those that doe not they com¬
mend for standing on their conscience though misguided, and
promise them farre beter termes then they meane to give y®
other, if they could decoy them over. You know Sr William
Roswell is dead, if Sr Ed. Nicolas refuse to succeed him, as I
beleeve he will, it is thought Mr. Denham shall have it, two
much different persons to be in competition (for so it is
mistaken) for y® same place. Crofts shall shortlie be furnished
for his Embassie, wch holds. Rainsford is gone wth y® good
newes to Paris. We are all in confusion, and I not in the
least, as you may perceive by my writing. Great contests have
been last weeke at y® Haghe about y® cashiering, wch is now
layd aside, and y® Prince of Orange is to finde an expedient to
please two opposite parties, y® States General and y® States of
Holland, wch he hath undertaken. Whether in order to that
or no I know not, he hath taken up 200,000 pounds sterling
at Antwerpe upon what morgage or securitie I can not tell
you. How neare your charge was to take her voyage you will
understand by this inclosed. She sends me word she heares
that Mrs. Freeman 1 is dead in Ireland, we have no certaintie
of it here. If it prove true, I beleeve she may have y® place in
extraordinarie, and perchance in ordinarie, if one to whom a
former grant is passed comes not out of England. Mr. Lisle
and I are plotting for her : you must expect no more from me
now till my head is beter setled (not y1 I have dranke too
much of wine or joy for y1 hapie conclusion as folkes call it).
Looke you make me amends at length for two or three leters
supernumerarie; and send me some merie Spanish stories to
1 See p. 63.