174: LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1646-7. 



shows the estimation in which he justly held the Earl of 

 Glamorgan, only throws a darker shade on his own 

 mysterious and inexplicable line of policy. The Earl s 

 zeal and unbounded confidence in his Royal Master 

 (determining rather to die in his service than to break 

 faith with him), served, as they well might to continue 

 him in his favour : 



&quot; GLAMORGAN, 



&quot; I am not so strictly guarded, but that if you 

 send to me a prudent and secret person, I can receive a 

 letter, and you may signify to me your mind, I having 

 always loved your person and conversation, which I 

 ardently wish for at present more than ever, if it could 

 be had without prejudice to you, whose safety is as dear 

 to me as my own. If you can raise a large sum of 

 money by pawning my kingdoms* for that purpose, I 

 am content you should do it ; and if I recover them, I 

 will fully repay that money. And tell the Nuncio, that 

 if once I can come into his and your hands, which ought 

 to be extremely wished for by you both, as well for the 

 sake of England as Ireland, since all the rest, as I see, 

 despise me, I will do it. And if I do not say this from 

 my heart, or if in any future time I fail you in this, 

 may God never restore me to my kingdoms in this 

 world, nor give me eternal happiness in the next, to 

 which I hope this tribulation will conduct me at last, 

 after I have satisfied my obligations to my friends, to 

 none of whom am I so much obliged as to yourself, whose 

 merits towards me exceed all expressions, that can be 



used by 



&quot; Your constant Friend, 



&quot; CHARLES R. 



&quot; From Newcastle, July 20th, 1646.&quot; 



On receipt of this letter in Ireland, a copy of it was 

 sent to the Pope, who is related to have shed tears, with 



* Being empowered by the King s Commission of the 1st April, 1644. 



