230 A LETTER FROM CHARLES I April that these are autograph, (2) that the letter itself is not in Ormonde's hand, but is apparently in the hand of a secretary in Ormonde's employ, for it recurs in other decoded letters in the Carte collection. He adds, ' there is no trace in that collection of the original cipher letter or of any duplicate transcript of it '. We may, I think, conclude that the document is an authentic decipher or transcript made for Ormonde of a letter from Charles I. To show how the letter coincides with established data it is necessary to recall a few facts and dates : on 28 March 1646 Ormonde and the commissioners of the confederate catholics signed articles of peace. These articles were conditional on the transport into England of 10,000 Irish foot for the king's service before 1 May, and were not to come into force nor to be published before that date. 1 On 3 April the king wrote to Ormonde an- nouncing that he had resolved to put himself to the hazard of passing into the Scotch army now lying before Newark. 2 This letter did not reach Ormonde until 20 May, 3 and meanwhile, in the absence of the king's confirmation of the articles of peace, Ormonde was uncertain what to do. The time had passed when an Irish force, even if forthcoming, could be usefully employed in England. He was surrounded by enemies and doubtful friends, and all he could do was to obtain a cessation or armistice up to 13 July. Charles arrived with the Scots at Newcastle on 13 May. From his letters written thence to his wife we can gain much insight into his mind and the projects he had at heart. 4 Though disillu- sioned in his expectations of getting immediate assistance from the Scots, except on terms to which he Was unwilling to agree, he was not without hope of making an accommodation with them. On 1 1 June Charles supersigned the * letter attested by Lainrik ' (Lanerick), mentioned in that now published, in which he says : ' But for many reasons too long for a letter we thinke fitt to require you to proceede noe further in treaty with the re bells, nor to engage vs upon any conditions with them after sight hereof.' 5 This letter reached Ormonde on 24 June and increased the difficulties and dangers encompassing the loyalists in Ireland, but he had no doubt that it was what it purported to be, a genuine order from the king to stay further proceedings with the articles of peace. On 29 June Ormonde and the council replied that they would ' proceede noe further in that treatie with the rebells ', 1 Carte, iii. 230. 2 Ibid, vi. 362. 3 Ibid. p. 382. 4 Charles I in 1646 (Camden Society). The originals of these letters, which have been published from an eighteenth-century transcript, are not forthcoming, but as the editor says, ' they prove themselves '. 5 Carte, vi. 392. ' Lanerick ' was William Hamilton, created earl of Lanerick (Lanark) on 30 March 1639. He was brother of James, duke of Hamilton.
