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

120 CHARLES II. AND SCOTLAND IN 1650
it, they are of another minde, and think to bring it about by
a trick of address, that you shall not prevent. They say they
have made their party every where ready to joyn with them
upon their dissent, and they are not without hope of a port
and garrison in the West or in Kent (and therefore look well
to them) but a few shall land at first, and his party flock to
them by multitudes, and this would draw your forces to one
place, and so soon as these distractions are among you, then
the hungry Scots like a swarm of locusts to come in upon you,
man and mother’s son, to make happy and fertile England as
miserable by a war as their own country is without it. And
do not tell me there is no money for this: for this I can tell
you for certain. That Waldemar, the King of Denmark’s
brother,1 Carp,2 the Hessish General, and some other Germane
commanders, have agreed with the Prince to serve him for
nothing in England, and that they will have no pay how long
soever the war shall last, on condition that they take every¬
where free quarter, and make booty of whatever shall come in
their way. It may very well be doubted, whether their rapa¬
cious fingers will be able to distinguish between Cavaleers’goods
and those of Presbyterian, and Sectary ; specially if they should
be most valuable: and there are some to my certain knowledge
have undertaken this, who have served in the Duke of Lorrain’s
army, and therefore no doubt are pretty skilful in this kinde
of mystery, onely they must have some levy money, which the
Prince must furnish them. And that it is said will be done by
the Prince of Orange, out of the monies which he hath raised
by engaging some of his Seigneuries. This is the evil that
threatens you, I need not prescribe you a process for cure.
The indications are not complex, and therefore he were a
simple doctor that could not write a bill; and he needs not
much fear his credit, though he should be something bold in a
prognosis; specially if the Chyrugians do their part well (for
one part of the cure must be phlebotomy). But begin before
there is any decumbency, ’twill be very facile to prevent danger:
you will never go to bed for it, if you begin early and act
strenuously; and take heed of being cheated by a beaten,
1 See p. 54.
2 See No. Ixiv.