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

106 CHARLES II. AND SCOTLAND IN 1650
Councel,and Commissioners during all this treaty, doth profess to
be very much his friend as far as is compatible with their King’s
service: but all these professions are thought to be Scotica fide,
and that Argyle knows by himself how far any of these pro¬
fessions are to be trusted in. The Montrossians went seldom
to the King during the treaty, but when they did, they had
all content; and indeed they carried their business with most
policy, and cared not much to interrupt things knowing the
King’s minde, and to what all this Treaty tended. It is
certainly reported here that in the agreement to all the Articles,
this clause is added, Salvo jure Regio, a very fine ground for
any interpretation what that shall be.
The Queen is still in the Convent, and professeth that she
will continue there still till the Treaty be ratified, and all be
past the danger of rupture. And no doubt she is glad of so
specious a pretext for doing that which partly want of moneys,
and partly the desire of being rid of all her English people,
especially Protestants (one or two of the chief excepted) would
make her do however.
LXXI
LETTER FROM HENRIETTA MARIA TO CHARLES II.1
Paris, ce 26 May 1650.
^650^ Monsieur mon fils,—Jay veu par la copie du traite avec
1 Holograph, Carte MSS. cxxx. fol. 177. Lord Hatton, writing to Nicholas
on May expresses himself as follows :—‘ The Queene in the monastery did,
seeming in teares, to some ladies bitterly complaine of the King of England’s
condiscentions to the Scots, saying she had a coppy of his Majestie’s oath now
sworne to the Scots upon this treaty, wherein his Majestic did sweare to promote
the taking of the Covenant by all his family and subjects, as likewise to doe his
endeavour to extirpate the common prayer booke, with many other horrid parti¬
culars, by which she said the King of England had renounced and deserted his
own religion, and soe justly exasperated and incensed all popishe princes by
engaging himself to persecute their religion within all his kingdome, that he
could not expect any assistance from them : nay, she herself was hereby disabled
to serve him, . .. And the other being spoken by the Queene of England, Mistris
Boyle made answer unto the Queene of England that the world did beleeve her
Majestic had persuaded the King to this agreement with the Scots, to which the
Queene replied, “ God forbid that I should have had a hand in perswading him
to sacrifice his honor or conscience.’”—Nicholas Papers (Camden Society),
vol. i. p. 173.