"Next thou wilt advise me to take the Covenant," he said, "or to accept the articles offered me at Uxbridge or Norwich!"
"Nay," answered Lord Digby, with a flush on his fair face; "but I do say there is no reliance to be placed on the Scots."
"Wait," returned Charles obstinately. "I am of good hopes I can get an army from them without taking the Covenant, but on the mere promise to do so, and on some suspension of the bishops for three years or so—some compromise, worked secretly."
"Is this plan laid?" asked Digby, who had not before heard of it.
"Yea, with my Lord Hamilton, and then I shall be able to hang up all these knavish rascals who come to me to bargain—to offer terms to me!"
"Meanwhile flatter them," said my lord uneasily.
"I will flatter them," returned Charles, with a flash in his worn eyes. "I will talk of an Earldom to Cromwell—but I hope the Scots will be across the border again before the patent is signed!"
Lord Digby was still not convinced; it seemed to him that this overture from a man of the weight and influence of Oliver Cromwell was not an advance to be lightly treated at this delicate stage of affairs.
"This man is fanatic," he said. "Your Majesty must remember that. I believe he standeth more for principle than party, more for his ideas than for his gain. A title may allure him, but it is a matter where one would need to be careful, sire. The bait must be skilfully played, or this fish will not rise."
But Charles, though supremely constant on some points himself, found it impossible to believe in the constancy of those whose opinions were opposed to him: such as Cromwell were to him 'rebels,' and he gave them no other distinction.