The Second Book 53 



would go much better in the manage 1 when my Lord was by, 

 than when he was absent ; and when he rid them himself, 

 tyiey seemed to take much pleasure and pride in it. But of 

 all sorts of horses, my Lord loved Spanish horses and barbs 

 best ; saying, that Spanish horses were like princes, and barbs 

 like gentlemen, in their kind. And this was the chief recrea- 

 tion and pastime my Lord had in Antwerp. 



I will now return to my former discourse, and the relation 

 of some important affairs and actions which happened about 

 this time. His Majesty (our now gracious King, Charles the 

 Second) some time after he was gone out of Holland, and 

 returned into France, took his journey from thence to Breda 

 (if I remember well) to treat there with his subjects of Scotland, 

 who had then made some offers of agreement 2 . My Lord, 

 according to his duty, went thither to wait on his Majesty, 

 and was there in council with his Majesty, his Highness the 

 then Prince of Orange, his Majesty's brother-in-law, and 

 some other privy-counsellors ; in which, after several debates 

 concerning that important affair, his Highness the Prince of 

 Orange, and my Lord, agreed in one opinion, viz. that they 

 could perceive no other and better way at that present for 

 his Majesty, but to make an agreement with his subjects of 

 Scotland, upon any condition, and to go into Scotland in 

 person himself, that he might but be sure of an army, there 

 being no probability or appearance then of getting an army 

 anywhere else. Which counsel, either out of the then alleged 



1 Manage = manege, riding-school. 



2 These negotiations took place at Breda, in the spring of 1650. Charles sailed for 

 Scotland on June 2. In his letter from Jersey to the Estates of Scotland Charles had 

 fixed March 15 for the opening of the negotiations (Carte, Original Letters, i, 356). 

 Nicholas writes to Ormonde on April 3, 1650 : ' The King hath lately sworn of his Privy 

 Council here, the Dukes of Buckingham and Hamilton and the Marquis of Newcastle ' 

 (p. 376). According to Doyle's Official Baronage, Newcastle entered the Council on April 

 6, 1650. Hopton and Nicholas were excluded from the Council for opposing the con- 

 cessions made by the King to the Scots. Hyde, referring to this, writes to Nicholas : 

 ' You have a very precious junto to determine concerning three kingdoms ; you will 

 find the Marquis of Newcastle a very lamentable man, and as fit to be a general as a 

 bishop, but I doubt though you choose officers you are not in the way of raising armies.' 

 — Clarendon State Papers, iii, 20. 



Hyde was at Madrid during this treaty, but his letters show that he was thoroughly 

 opposed to the policy which dictated it. ' What secret spirit possesses the hearts of 

 all the King's party, that from all parts they cry out " Agree with the Scots upon any 

 terms '. It were as possible for me to rebel as to govern myself by those senseless 

 sayings ; and yet people of all kinds sing that tune.' If any agreement was to be made 

 with the Scots, it ought to be straightforward and sincere. The Scots required the 

 acceptance of the Covenant. Hopton and Nicholas urged the King to refuse ; others 

 urged that the King should take it and break it afterwards, which Clarendon char- 

 acterised as ' such folly and atheism that we should be ashamed to avow it or think 

 it.' — Clarendon State Papers, iii, 15. 



