118 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS 



circumstance of time is that of the greatest consequence, 

 being that which is chieftiest and earnestliest recom 

 mended you.&quot; 



No one better knew than Charles the First himself, that 

 he was incurring great risk, that he was adopting a 

 bold, daring course, which success would scarcely pal 

 liate, which nothing but his own ideas of expediency 

 could extenuate, and from the effects of which, at best, he 

 could only hope to escape by artifice or by some strange 

 amplification of his royal prerogative. Whatever 

 might be the issue, the King well knew that the means 

 he had taken would divide the opinions of all classes, 

 and leave the final decision open to endless litigation. 

 Such, indeed, has been the result even of its failure, 

 but the success of the Earl s negotiations would have 

 brought far more important interests to bear on the 

 questions involved in such strange transactions, than 

 has ever yet occupied the pens of historians or biogra 

 phers. 



The plan for realizing this last hopeful event appeared 

 well arranged. The agent employed was unexception 

 able, he was eminently loyal, he had laid his fortune in 

 his royal master s lap, and zealously offered to do his 

 bidding to the utmost of his power. The King was not 

 wanting in condescension, affability and every gracious 

 expression in the acknowledgment of the money and 

 means raised by, and the energetic operations through 

 out, of the Earl of Glamorgan. He and his father were 

 further each offered a dukedom; and a matrimonial 

 alliance was to rivet their future connexion. But the 

 King had his confidence in this singular mission strength 

 ened materially by his intimate knowledge that both 

 as being in accordance with his religious and political 

 sympathies, the Earl was the most fitting instrument 

 he could employ in so delicate an undertaking. In 



