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

VIEWS OF THE COMMISSIONERS
105
conform himself to the form of Divine worship there used.
And some men are of the minde, he would do as much if he
were at Rome, for all men knows what instructors he hath had
for his religion, and which way his own inclinations tend; and
that what he doth now is meerly for interest, and as soon as
his interest shall change, which will be when he is close in the
saddle upon the Argylians’ back, and then we here are of opinion
he will soon change his practice; but they are pretty well
contented at Breda, at least some of them, that he will carry
none of his prelatical chaplains with him, but he may carry
thither any other Englishman whom he pleaseth, without
exception of any. How it stands between the Prince and
Montross is in doubt, for letters from Breda by this very post,
relate absolute contradictions. Some say, he hath abandoned
Montross, which if he hath, they will thereby see what they
may expect, when other can be of more service to him ; for
greater promises he can never make to any, then he did to him ;
and qui semel est mains semper praesamitur esse malus in eodem
genere mail. But others say he will by no means quit that
party nor do anything to their disadvantage. The success of
Montross is likely to determine the controversie, for though he
be but a yong Prince, yet there is no doubt he hath learned
that rule that all Kings practice, even to value men as they
serve turns. As soon as the treaty was concluded, the Com¬
missioners dispatched away an express into Scotland to present
the articles, and to have them confirmed. Some of those Com¬
missioners do believe that those articles will be satisfactory to the
Kirk and State, but others are of another minde. Louthian,
Libbertoun, and Sir John Smith are altogether for the Prince
and his interests, but Cassils, Jaffrey, Brandey,1 and the
Ministers are very refractory to him. The messenger further
reports, that the Commissioners are separating themselves, some
for Holland, and some for Zealand, to get twenty thousand
pounds sterlin for their King, in case the agreement hold. As
to himself, letters say the greatest about the Prince do labor
hard to make Argyle and Montross friends; and that Duke
Hamilton, who hath absolutely governed both the Prince, his