X. 1646. CHAP. greater security. Here, the approach of Fairfax, with about 9000 horse and foot, was made known to the royal army by an officer and eight troopers, absent without leave, in search of plunder, who accidentally fell among them. But Hopton, apprehensive of extensive desertion if he retired into Cornwall, and hoping to defend himself successfully in Torrington, chose rather to abide than fly. Fairfax routed his feeble force, and followed him to Stratton, Launceston, and Bodmin, where, by the end of February, disaffection and desertion had disorganised and thinned his ranks, till the sword of the enemy was scarcely needed to subdue and disperse them.* The Prince, attended by Hyde and Colepepper, arrived, on the 12th of February, at Truro, where they received the King's answer to the remonstrance addressed to him by the Council from Tavistock. It approved of their non-compliance with the previous orders to convey the Prince immediately out of the kingdom; but reiterated the command, that he should go whenever there was imminent hazard of his falling into the hands of the parliamentary forces. Such danger was becoming more apparent. The victorious Fairfax was now on the borders of Cornwall, and there were fears of domestic treachery. Hopton and Capel received intelligence of a design to seize the Prince's person; to which, says Clarendon," they * See the narratives of Sir R. Grenville, Lord Hopton, and Colonel Wogan, in Carte's Letters, vol. i. pp. 107. 109–117. 139–142. Clar. Hist. Reb. v. 313-316. "had reason to believe that some of his own "servants were not strangers."* The Prince, therefore, who had removed to Pendennis Castle, intending to stay there only a few days, returned not to Truro. But Pendennis Castle was no safe asylum. Hopton and Capel, who were absent with the army, concurred with Hyde and Colepepper in the propriety of the Prince's removal to Jersey or Scilly. Dangers augmented hourly. On the 1st of March, the King's forces retreated from Bodmin, pursued by Fairfax +; of which alarming fact, the Prince and his Council were apprised the following day. The urgent necessity of departure was increased: and the Prince attended by Hyde, Colepepper, and others of his suite, "that night, about ten of the clock, put himself on board; and on Wednesday, in the afternoon, "arrived safe in Scilly, from whence, within two days, the Lord Colepepper was sent into France "to acquaint the Queen with his Highness' being "at Scilly, -with the wants and incommodities of "that place, and to desire supply of men and "monies for the defence thereof, and the support "of his own person." This flight was caused by well grounded fears. "As soon as Fairfax advanceth," said Colepepper, in a letter to Ashburnham in February, "all the horse here are in a 66 Clar. Hist. Reb. v. 318. Nicholas wrote to Colepepper, from Oxford, on the 4th of February, that he learned from London," that the "Earl of Newcastle reports there, that the Lord Capel's lieutenant hath "undertaken to deliver the Prince over to the Parliament army." Clar, State Papers, ii. 206. + Carte's Letters, i. 117. Rushworth, vi. 104. Clar. Hist. Reb. v. 320. CHAP. X. 1646. X. СНАР. "net, without possibility either to break through, "or to save themselves in our garrisons. The "horse lost, it will be impossible ever to get up an 1646. army again. And if you saw us, you would believe we are not in condition to fight." Gallantry and fidelity could hardly have saved the royal forces. Disaffection made their failure certain. Lord Hopton, calling a council of war, was told by his officers, that "their men would never "be brought to fight;" and all, save one, were anxious for a treaty. On the 5th came a summons from Fairfax for a "surrender, and an engage"ment never to bear arms against the Parliament;" offering to the soldiers free permission either to go home or quit the kingdom,—the officers taking with them their horses and arms, the privates surrendering both, but receiving each 201. for his horse. Hopton was still bravely willing to resist, and would not make the propositions public; but his officers declared, that "if he would not con"sent to it, they were resolved to treat themselves." And, from this time, they neither kept guards or performed any duty; their forces every day mingling with those of the enemy, without any act of hostility. There was no course left but to treat. Articles of agreement were signed at Truro on the 14th. The army of the West was disbanded; and Hopton, its brave commander, who, with no incentive but a sense of duty, hopeless, yet undaunted, had manfully struggled through * Clar. State Papers, ii. 207. † Rushworth, vi. 110. X. 1646. difficulties which the most courageous ability could CHAP. not have surmounted, quitted Cornwall on the 11th of April, in company with Lord Capel; and, after having been baffled by contrary winds, he at length joined the Prince in Scilly. The Prince and his attendants remained in Scilly from the 4th of March till the 16th of April, in a wretched state of discomfort; sometimes almost destitute of provisions, of which a scanty supply came from Cornwall and from France*; and not enjoying even security. A summons to the Prince, from the Parliament, to surrender arrived on the 11th; and on the 12th a fleet of above twenty sail was seen hovering round the island, in readiness to enforce the mandate. Happily for the Prince, a storm dispersed them: but to remain in Scilly, was reasonably judged no longer safe; and on the 16th, when the storm had subsided, the Prince and his attendants, among whom was Hyde, set sail for Jersey, and arrived there on the following day.t *Lady Fanshawe's Memoirs, 60. CHAP. XI. MACHINATIONS OF THE QUEEN. — HYDE'S LETTER TO JER MYN. THE PRINCE OF WALES GOES ΤΟ FRANCE. XI. 1646. Machina Queen. 1646. CHAP. HYDE now undertook the difficult task of combating the machinations of the Queen. This selfish and ambitious woman, little mindful of her tions of the son's true interest, was anxious to draw him within her own control, even though, in so doing, she might place him within the power of France. She had gained Colepepper, who was now with her at Paris. She had gained her husband, who, although it had been settled that if the Prince went any where out of the British dominions, he should go to Denmark, had written to him from Oxford on the 22d of March, expressing a hope that he was then with his mother. She also addressed to Hyde a crafty letter, directed to him at Scilly, but which did not reach him till he had arrived in Jersey, intimating the friendly disposition of the French Court, "if "the Prince, in his way to Jersey, should be neces |