well acquainted with all the avenues, cafily furprifed Sophronia, who had fcarce time to put on her cloaths. As he was difguifed in a Sclavonian habit, fhe had not the least knowledge of him, but imagined that herfelf and her daughter were to be carried into flavery. The fervants of the house made fome refiftance, and two of the Corfairs were wounded. Signior Fofcarini dipped fome of his daughter's cloaths in the blood of the wounded, and left them on the ftrand. He had fcarce reached his boat before the whole town was alarmed and in motion, and Montalto, at the head of an hundred men, fallied from the fortrefs; but the Corfair was foon under fail, and out of their reach. The next day veffels were difpatched on every fide of the island, but brought no fatisfactory intelligence.

It is impoffible to exprefs the forrow of Montalto, who had not the leaft fufpicion, that this blow was given from any other hand than that of the Infidels; against whom his refentment was fo ftrong, that he refigned his employments, and built the three fmall privateers, in which he cruifed upon the Turkifh fhore, in hopes of gaining fome intelligence of his daughter; for, with regard to his wife, he never entertained the leaft thought of her being alive.

Fofcarini, at his arrival, prefented Sophronia to her mother; but though it was fome confolation to her to fee her daughter after fo long an abfence, yet the circumftances that attend her being restored, very fenfibly diminished her pleasure. Sophronia bore this cruel reverse of fortune with furprifing conftancy, avoiding every thing that might give her parents pain, and conftantly employing her time in the education of her daughter.

A new war breaking out with the Turks, a Piedmontefe Nobleman, who had the command of the Venetian troops, propofed a descent upon the City of Canae, an island of Candy; which was fo well concerted, that it was thought almost impoffible to fail

of fuccefs. Signior Fofcarini had the command of a fquadron of gallies,. which were employed in this expedition. Before the fleet reached Suda, it was joined by all the privateers, and among the reft by Signior Montalto, with nine veffels, five of which were his own, and the others, on this occafion, voluntarily obeyed his orders. The Marquis Vila, who was the General, landed with five thousand men, and encamped before the city; but finding himself too weak, he demanded a reinforcement from the fleet, upon which Fofcarini landed with feven hundred feamen: the privateers, to diftrefs the enemy as much as poffible, were ordered to alarm the coaft.

The evening of the fame day, the Turks attacked the Marquis in his intrenchments with a fuperior force, and after an obftinate refiftance gained a complete victory. Signior Fofcarini, endeavouring, with his feamen, to cover the retreat, was, after a gallant refiftance, taken prifoner, and carried to a village upon the coaft. In the night Montalto landed, without knowing what had happened; attacked the village, drove out the Turks, and with an immenfe booty, part of which had been before taken from the Chriftians, brought thirteen Venetians on board his veffel. As those about the perfon of Foscarini treated him with the title of excellency, Montalto, without feeing him, ordered that he fhould be accommodated in his own cabbin. A few hours after they heard of the defeat, upon which they weighed their anchors, and failed for Suda. The next morning, when he went to pay his refpects to the Admiral of the gallies, he was aftonished to fee Signior Fofcarini, who did not recollect him, till he heard that his name was Montalto; fo greatly was he altered by his cares and fatigues. and fatigues. He immediately approached him, and, after a ceremonious compliment, whifpered foftly in his ear, There is no neceffity that thefe people fhould be acquainted with our furprife. 'Montalto made a

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City of London was almoft wholly Prefbyterian; that the King had there alfo many friends, and, if the Parliament expreffed an inclination to peace, which was very likely, it would not be in the power of the Independents to prevent the conclufion. This was all very well; but they fhould have firft explained what was to be underflood by the word Peace. Very probably, the Parliament, or Prefbyterian party, which ftill prevailed, would have very gladly confented to a peace, if the King had been willing to grant two points, which were confidered by them as abfolutely neceffary, namely, the abolition of epifcopacy, and fufficient fecurity for the performance of his promifes. For in thefe two points confifted the Parliament's fcheme for a peace. But this was not the King's fcheme. He ever meant, that fuch a peace should be made as he defired, and which I have often explained. It is true, that in his prefent circumftances he was willing, with regard to the fecurity, to grant fomething more than what he had yet offered; but nothing could prevail with him to confent to the abolition of epifcopacy. So, by ever preferving the ambiguity in the term Peace, he imagined, if he could obtain liberty to come and treat at London with the two Houses, it would not be impracticable, with the help of his friends, to force the Parliament to make peace with him, in his fenfe of the word, though nothing was further from the intention of both Houfes.

In this belief, the 5th of Decem ber, he demanded of the two Houfes a fafe conduct for the Duke of Richmond, the Earl of Southampton, John Afhburnham and Jeffery Palmer, Ef. quires, who were to bring propofitions for a peace.

The 15th of the fame month he renewed his demand, complaining of his having received no answer.

The 26th he fent them a third meffage, wherein he said:

That, conceiving the former treaties had hitherto proved ineffectual,

chiefly for want of power in thofe perfons that treated, as likewife because thofe, from whom their power was derived, could not give to clear a judgment as was requifite; if, therefore, he might have the engagement of the two Houfes at Westminster, the Commiffioners of the Parliament of Scotland, the Mayor, Aldermen, Common-council, and Militia of London; of the chief Commanders in Sir Thomas Fairfax's army, as also of thofe in the Scots army; for his free and fafe coming to, and abode in London or Weftminster for the fpace of forty days, he would come and have a perfonal treaty with the two Houfes of Parliament at Weftminster, and the Commiflioners of the Parliament of Scotland, upon all matters which might conduce to the reftoring of peace and happiness to his kingdoms.

He declared beforehand, that he was willing to commit the great trust of the militia, for fuch time, and with fuch powers, as were expreffed in the paper delivered by his Commiflioners at Uxbridge, to thirty perfons he named. But, if this did not fatisfy the Parliament, then he offered to name the one half, and leave the other to the election of the two Houses.'

Before the two Houfes received this laft meffage, they had fent the following anfwer to the two first:

That, finding that former treaties had been made ufe of for other ends, under the pretence of peace, and had proved dilatory and unfuccefsful, they could not give way to a fafe-conduct, according to his Majefly's defire. But both Houses of the Parliament of England, having under their confiderations propofitions and bills for the fettling of a fafe and well-grounded peace, which were fpeedily to be communicated to the Commiffioners of the kingdom of Scotland, did refolve, after mutual agreement of both kingdoms, to prefent them with all fpeed to his Majesty.'

The King replied, the 29th of December. He complained, that a safeconduct

conduct was denied for the perfons he intended to fend. He infifted upon his demand of a perfonal treaty, and defired an answer to his meffage of the 26th. He faid, he fhould never have thought of coming to London, if it was not his fincere intention to make peace.

The 15th of January 1645-6, he fent another meflage to both Houses; wherein he complained of not having an answer: He faid, That what he earnestly defired was peace, and the means, his perfonal prefence at Westminster; where, the government of the church being fettled as it was in the times of Queen Elifabeth and King James, and full liberty for the eafe of their confciences who would not communicate in that fervice eftablished by law, and likewife for the free and public ufe of the Directory to fuch as fhould defire the fame; and all forces being agreed to be difbanded, his Majefty would then forthwith join with his two Houfes of Parliament in fettling fome way for the payment of the public debts to his Scotch fubjects, the City of London, and others. And, having propofed a fair way for the fettling of the militia, he would endeavour, upon debate with his two Houses, fo to difpofe of it, as likewife of the business of Ireland, as might give them and both kingdoms fatisfaction; not doubting alfo but to give good contentment to his two Houfes of Parliament, in the choice of the Lord-Admiral, the Officers of State, and others.'

The 13th of January 1645-6, two days before the date of the laft meffage, both Houses had returned an anfwer to that of the 29th of December.

That there had been a great deal of innocent blood of his fubje&s shed in the war, by his Majefty's commands and commiffions.

That there had been Irish rebels brought over into both kingdoms, and endeavours to bring over more, as also forces from foreign parts.

head of an army in the Weft; there were also forces in Scotland against that Parliament and kingdom by his commiffion; and the war in Ireland was fomented and prolonged by his Majefty.

That, until fatisfaction and fecurity was firft given to both kingdoms, his Majefty's coming to the Parlia ment could not be convenient, nor by them affented unto.

That they could not apprehend it a means conducing to peace, that his Majefty fhould come to his Parliament for a few days, with any thoughts of leaving it, especially with intentions of returning to hoftility against it.

That his Majefty defired the engagement not only of his Parliament, but of the Lord-mayor of London, &c. which was against the privileges and honour of the Parliament, thofe being joined with them, who were fubject and fubordinate to their authority.

That the only way for the obtaining an unhappy and well-grounded peace was, for his Majefty to give his affent to thofe propofitions that should be fent to him.

That there was not fo much as any mention of Scotland.'

The King, in a reply to this anfwer, greatly complained of the afperfions caft upon him by both Houfes, and reproached them in his turn. He infifted upon an anfwer to his meffage of the 15th of December, faying, No rational man could think their laft paper to be any anfwer to his former demands.'

But, the 24th of the fame month, he fent a farther reply to every particular article of that anfwer; the subftance whereof was:

1. That a great deal of innocent blood had been split.'

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That is the very reafon why he preffeth that there fhould be no more. 2. That he had caufed fome Irifh to repair to his affiftance.' He anfwered, That thofe, whom they called Irish, were indeed, for the most

part,

part, fuch English Proteftants, as had been formerly fent into Ireland by the two Houses, and unable to stay there any longer, by the neglect of thofe that fent them thither, who fhould have better provided for them.

3. That the Prince was at the head of an army. The King answered, it was no great wonder, fince there was yet no peace.

4. That he defired to come to his Parliament but for a few days. He anfwered by protesting, that he fought that treaty to avoid future hoftility, and procure a lafting peace.

5. That the engagements which his Majefty had defired for his fecurity, were a breach of privilege. The King answered, that whofoever fhould call to mind the particular occafions that enforced him to leave the cities of London and Westminster, would judge his demand very reasonable and neceffary for his fafety. But he no way conceived how the LordMayor, Aldermen, &c. of London, were either fubject or fubordinate to the authority of the two Houses.

6. That he had made no mention of Scotland. He answered, it was included in his former, and had been particularly mentioned in his latter meffage of the 15th.

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Laftly, He defired a pofitive anfwer to his former meffages.

The 29th of January, the King fent another meffage to both Houfes, wherein he exprefsly difavowed the Earl of Glamorgan, concerning the treaty with the Irish rebels; and faid, "That the Earl having made offer unto him to raise forces in the Kingdom of Ireland, and to conduct them into England for his Majesty's fervice, he had granted him a commiffion to that purpose, and to that purpofe only: But that he had no commiffion at all to treat of any thing elfe, with out the privity and directions of the Lord Lieutenant. And this clearly appeared by the Lord Lieutenant's proceedings with the faid Earl, who

had orders to call him to an account."

The King added, "That, if the two Houfes would admit of his repair to London for a perfonal treaty, fpeedy notice fhould be given him thereof, and a fafe-conduct with a blank fent for a meffenger to be immediately difpatched into Ireland, to ftop the conclufion of the peace, the Lord Lieutenant being impowered to treat and conclude it.

That he would leave the management of the bufinefs of Ireland wholly to the two Houses, and make no peace there but with their confent, in cafe his endeavours in the treaty should be bleffed with success.

That if his perfonal repair to London fhould be admitted, and a peace thereon enfue, he would then leave the nomination of the perfons to be intrufted with the militia wholly to his two Houses, with fuch power and limitations as were expreffed in the paper delivered by his Majefty's Commiffioners at Uxbridge, the 6th of February 1644-5.

That, if the peace fucceeded, he would be content, that, pro hac vice, the two Houfes fhould nominate the Admiral, Officers of State, and Judges, to hold their places during life, or quam diu fe bene gefferint, to be accountable to none but the King, and the two Houfes of Parliament.

That, as for matter of religion, he intended, that all Proteftants fhould have the free exercise of their religion according to their own way.

That, upon the conclufion of peace, there fhould be a general act of obli vion and free pardon.

And this to extend to Scotland."

The King had never made fuch advances before, and yet all his endeavours to obtain a fafe-conduct were fruitless. The two Houfes were fo perfuaded of his ability in the choice of his expreffions, which were commonly ambiguous, and capable of a different fenfe from what appeared at first fight, that they could not refolve

to