Thus having given you my Directions both concerning Fighting and Treating, I leave the rest to the faithful Relation of the honest Bearer, and rest
Your assured constant Friend,
Charles R.
Newcastle,
17 May, 1639.
1639.—May 17.
36. Answer by Hamilton to Rothes.[197]
My Lord,
I have received your Lordships Letter signed by you, but I cannot conceive it of your Lordships enditing; for I believe you would not have sent such an one to me, if you had not had some malignant spirits busied in the framing of it; for you cannot but remember that my words were never other, than that I would die at my Masters feet, and that I would prove an Enemy to the uttermost of my Power to this Kingdom, if my Countrymen continued in their Obstinacy: and here I set it under my Hand, that I will (by Gods Grace) make it good. It is true, knowing my own inability, I neither desired, nor indeed willingly did accept, the Conduct of an Army against this Nation: but my backwardness proceeded not out of a desire not to be imployed against such in this Country as were disobedient, but that His Majesty might have found many more able to have served him: but since he hath been pleased to trust me, I will not deceive him.
You pass by many particulars in your Answer to my Letter untouched, saying, you cannot stand here to answer them. It is most true, they are not to be answered, and so I take it. As for your own Justification, it is the same which you have ever used, and so continue: but the best is, none that ever were truly informed of your Proceedings, doth or can give any approbation of them.
You say, If I go any further in a violent course, it will be past all hope of Remedy. If I doe, none can blame my Master, for that can never be called Violence which is onely to suppress Rebellion: and if I proceed to execute his Commands therein, you are the causers of it. As Mr Borthwick told me, I expected to have heard further from you before now: but nothing coming, I would forbear no longer to give you this Answer under my Hand, that both you and all the world may take notice what my Inclinations are, which notwithstanding I do infinitely desire they may be stopt by your speedy and real Submission to His Majesties just Commands. And this is the prayer of him who wisheth it may be still lawful for him to call himself
Your Lordships humble Servant,
Hamilton.