Rupert Prince Palatine Part 5

[14] Clarendon State Papers, f. 1171. Taylor to Windebank, Jan. 12, 1638-9.

[15] Green's Princesses of England. Vol. V. p. 570.

[16] Probably Colonel Charles Ess.e.x, killed 1642, at Edgehill.

[17] Bromley Letters, p. 103.

[18] Benett MSS. Warburton. Vol. I. p. 457.

[19] Dom. State Papers, Craven to Windebank, July 6, 1640.

[20] Clarendon State Papers, Sir A. Hopton to Windebank, 18-28 July, 1640. fol. 1397.

[21] Bromley Letters, p. 116.

[22] Lansdowne MSS. 817.

[23] Lansdowne MSS. 817.

[24] Benett MSS. Warburton. Vol. I. pp. 457-458.

[25] Warburton, p. 458.

[26] Clarendon State Papers, Leslie to Windebank, July 19, 1640.

[27] Dom. S. P. Leslie to Windebank, July 29-Aug. 8, 1640.

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CHAPTER IV

THE PALATINES IN FRANCE. RUPERT'S RELEASE

Elizabeth had imagined that by sending her younger sons to school in Paris, she was keeping them out of harm's way; great was her surprise and annoyance when she found their position to be almost as dangerous as was that of Rupert. The cause of this new disaster was the imprudent conduct of the elder brother, Charles Louis. Undaunted by his recent defeat, the young Elector sought new means for recovering his country, and he now bethought him of Duke Bernhard of Saxe Weimar.

The alliance of this Duke, a near neighbour of the Palatinate, was very important, and in January 1639 Lord Leicester had proposed a marriage between him and the Princess Elizabeth. Further, he had suggested to King Charles that Maurice should take a command in Bernhard's army, for which, young though the Prince was, he believed him fitted. "For,"

said he, "besides that he has a body well-made, strong, and able to endure hards.h.i.+ps, he hath a mind that will not let it be idle if he can have employment. He is very temperate, of a grave and settled disposition, but would very fain be in action, which, with G.o.d's blessing, and his own endeavours will render him a brave man... Being once entered there, if Duke Bernhard should die, the army, in all likelihood would obey Prince Maurice; so keep itself from dissolving, and bring great advantage to the affairs of your nephew"[1] (_i.e._ to the Elector, Charles Louis).

But Charles Louis, full of impatience, and putting little faith in the negotiations of his uncle, set off in October {49} 1639 to join Duke Bernhard in Alsace. Foolishly enough, he visited Paris, by the way, "_en prince_," and then attempted to depart thence incognito. Now it so happened that Cardinal Richelieu had uses of his own for the army of Duke Bernhard. It therefore suited him to detain the Elector in Paris, and the Elector's irregular conduct gave him the pretext he required.

Declaring that so serious a breach of etiquette was capable of very sinister construction, he arrested Charles Louis, and placed his three brothers under restraint. Lord Leicester complained loudly of this treatment of the Elector, and though Maurice at once sent a servant to his brother, the man was only allowed to speak to Charles in French, and in the presence of his guards. The distracted mother flew to the Prince of Orange, who explained to her that Richelieu feared her son's attachment to England, which, however, Richelieu himself denied.

No sooner was the Weimarian army safely committed to the charge of a French general than Charles Louis was permitted to take up his residence with the English Amba.s.sador. After this, though still a prisoner, he spent a very pleasant time in Paris, at an enormous expense to the King, his uncle. Maurice was allowed to return home in an English s.h.i.+p, but Edward and Philip were detained as hostages.

Elizabeth spared no pains to recover them, and, as usual, made the Prince of Orange her excuse, "I send for Ned out of France, to be this summer in the army," she wrote to Roe; "and, finding Philip too young to learn any great matters yet, I send for him also, to return next winter;--_which I a.s.sure you he shall not do_."[2]

But it was not until April 1640 that her boys were restored to her, and the Elector did not recover his full liberty until the following July.

In the autumn of the same year he went to England, to attend the marriage of his cousin Mary with the little William of Orange, on {50} which occasion he quarrelled with the bridegroom for precedence. But his chief object in this visit was to obtain money either from King or Parliament. Elizabeth urged him to do something for Maurice, but he evidently regarded his third brother with much indifference. "As for my brother Maurice," he wrote, "your Majesty will be pleased to do with him as you think fit. It will be hard to get the money of his pension paid him."[3] His next letter was a little more encouraging. "The King says he will seek to get money for Maurice, and then he may go to what army he pleases. I want it very much myself, and it is very hard to come by in these times."[4]

The army which Maurice chose was that of the Swedes, under Banier; perhaps because it was then quartered near to the captive Rupert. Ere his departure, he wrote to King Charles:

"Sir,--Being ready to tacke a journy towards Generall Banier, I may not neglect to aquaint you therewithal, et to recomend myselfe et my actions to Yor Roial favour, whiche I chal strive to deserve in getting more capacity for your service. Yt is the greatest ambition of Yor Majestie's

"Most obedient nephew et humble servant, "MAURICE."[5]

The letter, which is written in a clear, school-boy hand, betrays less confusion of tongues, the curious use of "et" notwithstanding, than do most epistles of the Palatines.

Maurice remained with the Swedes some months. In January 1641 his mother informed Roe that he was at Amberg in Bavaria. In the next month she was able to report of him at greater length. "I have had letters from Maurice, from Cham in the High Palatinate. He tells me {51} that Banier has intercepted a letter of the Duke of Bavaria, to the Commander of Amberg. He writes that he understands that there is in Banier's army a young Palatine; and he should take good heed no bailiffs, or other officers, go to see him or hold any correspondence with him... Maurice is still very well used by Banier, who now makes more of Princes than heretofore, since he has married the Marquis of Baden's daughter."[6]

In June 1641 Maurice returned to Holland where he found life going on much as usual. Hunting and acting continued to be the princ.i.p.al Palatine amus.e.m.e.nts. "I did hunt a hare, last week, with my hounds; it took seven hours, the dogs never being at fault," wrote Elizabeth triumphantly; "I went out with forty horse at least, and there were but five at the death... Maurice, Prince Ravenville, the Archduke, and many another knight, were entreated by their horses to return on foot.

I could not but tell you this adventure, for it is very famous here."[7] In another letter she tells how her daughters acted the play of "Medea and Jason", and how Louise, who played a man, looked "so like poor Rupert as you would then have justly called her by his name."[8]

It is not unlikely that Louise impersonated Jason in her brother's clothes, and so enhanced the likeness.

The family had, by this time, almost despaired of "poor Rupert's"

release; but it was nearer than they thought. King Charles, after labouring for three years in vain, had at last succeeded in rousing the sympathy of France, and, when he despatched Sir Thomas Roe, in 1641, to plead Rupert's cause at Vienna, it was with a reasonable hope of success. "I hope, by the solicitation of Sir Thomas Roe, we shall see our sweet Prince Rupert here. He {52} hath been so long a prisoner!"[9] wrote one of Elizabeth's ladies.

The Emperor had long had a secret kindness for the gallant boy who had dared to defy him, and, in the Archduke Rupert had a warm friend and advocate. But in the old Duke of Bavaria, who held, as before said, so much of the Palatine property, he had a bitter foe. His release became the subject of fierce family discussion. The Emperor hesitated, but, moved by the intercession of France, and by his affection for his brother, decided at last to show mercy. Thereupon, his sister, the d.u.c.h.ess of Bavaria, fell on her knees before him, and pa.s.sionately entreated him to detain Rupert a prisoner. Again the Emperor wavered, but the Empress, siding with the Archduke, carried the day in Rupert's favour. The boy was offered his liberty on the single condition of never again drawing sword against the Imperial forces. The peremptory commands of King Charles procured Rupert's submission to this condition, which he would fain have disputed. But when his promise was required in writing it was more than he could endure. "If it is to be a lawyer's business let them look well to the wording!" said he scornfully. The Emperor took the hint, and declared himself satisfied with a simple promise, Rupert giving his hand upon it, according to the custom of the country.[10]

Though France had been the princ.i.p.al factor in Rupert's release, Sir Thomas Roe had all the credit of it; and to Roe's guidance Elizabeth exhorted her son to submit himself. Rupert obeyed her meekly. He seems indeed to have been in an unusually submissive frame of mind, judging by the letters which he addressed at this time to Roe. The first of these bears the date, "Linz, 21 Aug. 1641."

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"My Lord!

"A little journe a had towards the Count of Kevenh.e.l.ler was the cause that thus long you were without an answer. But now I could not let another occasion pa.s.s without giving you very great thanks for your pains, and the affection you show in my business, and to tell you that I leve all the conditions to your disposing, since I know your Lords.h.i.+ppe is my frend, and am a.s.sured that you would do nothing against my honor.

"And so I rest

"Your Lords.h.i.+ppe's most affectioned frend, "RUPERT."[11]

The next letter, written a month later, is very curiously humble, coming from the fiery Rupert.

"My Lord!

"According your demand I doe send you this answer with all possible speed. As for the present your Lords.h.i.+ppe speks of I am in greate doubt what to give, this being a place where nothing worth presenting is to be had; besides I doe not knowe what present he would accept.

Therefore I must heere in desire your Lords.h.i.+ppes consel, desiring you to let Spina take what you shalle thinke fitt, both for the Count, and for the Emperor's --, who deserves it, having had a greate dele of paines with my diet, and other thinges. Sir, I must give you a greate dele of thankes for the reale frends.h.i.+pp you shewed in remembering me of my faults, whiche I confesse, and strive, and shalle the more heereafter, to mend. But I doubt not, according to the manner of some peple heere, they have added and said more than the thinge itselfe is.

I beseech you not to hearken to them, but a.s.sure yourselfe that it has been only from an evill costum, which I hope in short time to mend.

Desiring you to continue {54} this your frends.h.i.+ppe in leting me knowe my faults, that I mai have to mend them,

"I rest,

"Your Lords.h.i.+ppe's most affecionat frend, "RUPERT."[12]

The third, and last letter is dated "October" and docketed "of my release."