56 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



and proved himself a noble and true friend in it 1 . We had 

 so small a provision of money when we set forth our journey 

 for England, that it was hardly able to carry us to London, 

 but were forced to stay at Southwark ; where Sir Charles sent 

 into London for one that had formerly been his steward, and 

 having declared to him his wants and necessities, desired him 

 to try his credit. He seemed ready to do his master what 

 service he could in that kind ; but pretending withal, that 

 his credit was but small, Sir Charles gave him his watch to 

 pawn, and with that money paid those small scores we had 

 made in our lodging there. From thence we went to some 

 other lodgings that were prepared for us in Covent Garden ; 

 and having rested ourselves some time, I desired my brother, 

 the Lord Lucas, to claim in my behalf some subsistence for 

 myself out of my Lord's estate (for it was declared by the 

 Parliament, that the lands of those that were banished, should 

 be sold to any that would buy them, only their wives and 

 children were allowed to put in their claims) : but he received 

 this answer, that I could not expect the least allowance, by 

 reason my Lord and husband had been the greatest traitor of 

 England (that is to say, the honestest man, because he had 

 been most against them) 2 . 



Then Sir Charles entrusted some persons to compound for 

 his estate ; but it being a good while before they agreed in 

 their composition, and then before the rents could be received, 

 we having in the meantime nothing to live on, must of necessity 



1 See Clarendon's letter to Nicholas, November 1, 1657. Newcastle had placed 

 most of his lands in the hands of trustees ; nevertheless the Commonwealth laid hands 

 on them. ' Where any clauses of revocation are ', writes Hyde, ' the Commonwealth 

 takes the advantage to do that which the persons dead in law might do ; and so they 

 disappoint all those engagements, as they have done or declare they will do in the case 

 of my Lord Newcastle, who before these times conveyed his lands for the payment of 

 debts and raising younger children's portions, with a power of revocation, which the 

 sovereign power will now execute, and so defraud the creditors and all other inten- 

 tions. In very good earnest the whole business of proceeding with them is so intricate 

 and perplexed and ridiculous, that I do not intend to trouble myself at all about it ; 

 and I fear whosoever does, except he resolves to do that which he is to be damned for 

 doing, will get nothing by it ; and yet my Lady Marquis of Newcastle ventures thither 

 this week ; and no question it is wisely done, and with her Sir Charles Cavendish, as 

 well to urge some deeds of trust, which he hath long been in for his brother, as to en- 

 deavour to enjoy the benefit of a composition which was made long since for his own 

 estate.' — Clarendon State Papers, iii, 34. The papers relating to the case of Sir Charles 

 Cavendish are to be found in the Calendar of the Proceedings of the Committee for Com- 

 pounding, p. 2091. Dring's Catalogue, ed. 1733, p. 27. The arguments by which Clar- 

 endon converted Sir Charles Cavendish are given in his Life, Book vi, 30-4. 



2 Her petition is dated Dec. 10 1651. It was refused, as she says in her life of her- 

 self (p. 167 post), not because of the reason given above, but because her marriage had 

 taken place since her husband's delinquency — Calendar of the Proceedings of the Com- 

 mittee for Compounding, p. 1733. 



