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poor hunted King, but he appeared to be too distracted to settle the matter just then. No one, indeed, could have learned his plans, for he changed them almost every day. He changed his mind on this occasion also; and soon after Rupert's return to Bristol, he wrote to say he could not go to him.

The eyes of the royal wanderer turned restlessly northwards, and he would have fain joined Montrose, who had achieved such victories for him in Scotland. Nevertheless, he concealed this desire from his nephew (probably supposing that it would be displeasing to him) until it had become the common gossip of the Royalists. Rupert did indeed feel displeased and aggrieved, upon learning his uncle's change of intention; but his advice had not been asked, and unasked he was not quick to give it. However, he expressed what he felt on the subject in a letter to the Duke of Richmond, dated from Bristol on July 28th. "It is now in everybody's mouth,” wrote the Prince, "that the King is going to Scotland. I must confess it to be a strange resolution, considering not only in what condition he will leave all behind him, but what probability there is for him to get thither. One comfort will be left--we shall all fall together. When this is, remember I have done my duty." In this letter also the Prince urges a treaty, as the only way left by which the King could "his preserve posterity, kingdom, and nobility;" adding, "I believe it a more prudent way to retain something than to lose all."

From this we may gather some idea of Rupert's

frame of mind, as he continued at Bristol watching anxiously every appearance of coming danger, and fretting and chafing in vain over the hopeless aspect of affairs. His letter to the Duke of Richmond was shown to Charles; but the King, though he applauded his nephew's honest sincerity, was not moved from his purpose. wrote kindly to Rupert, but, most unfortunately, his letter was intercepted by the Parliament.

He

"If," wrote the King, "I had any other quarrel but the defence of my religion, crown, and friends, you had full reason for your advice." But Rupert never got this letter; it was the eyes of the King's enemies who read those words, while his nephew longed and waited in vain for some notice to be taken of him, and his sensitive spirit felt keenly the apparent neglect. This is evident from a letter of his, written at the time, in which he says::- "The King did resolve to come to us. Since that he altered his resolution without my knowledge. He did send me no commands; and, to say truth, my humour is to do no man service against his will. They say he is gone northward. I have had no answer to the letters I wrote, but from the Duke of Richmond, to whom I wrote plainly, and bid him be plain with the King, and desire him to consider of some way which might lead to a treaty, rather than undo his posterity. How this pleases I know not [because the King's reply was intercepted, as we mentioned], but rather than not do my duty, and speak my mind freely, I will take his unjust displeasure."

So wrote and felt Rupert, as he stood in his post of duty; and such were his desponding

views when he was obliged to defend Bristol. It is necessary to understand this before we judge him for what afterwards occurred.

Soon afterwards, one letter from King Charles, written from Cardiff on August 4th, did reach his nephew at Bristol. It was an affectionate and trustful letter, but it mentions the probability that it would be long before they two could hope to meet, and beseeches Rupert to believe in the writer's friendship and affection, as though he were one of his own children. It was the last letter of the kind he received for many a weary day.

The threatenings of the enemy now became realities. Cromwell and Fairfax approached Bristol, and the King was already gone Rupert knew not whither, nor could he stir to seek him. In all haste he drove in the cattle from the surrounding country; and having made what preparations for defence it was possible to make with scarcity of money and arms, he sat down with a sad and doubtful spirit to face it out against his powerful enemies.

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CHAPTER XVII.

RUPERT'S DOUBLE SACRIFICE.

BRISTOL, in the August of 1645, when Cromwell and Fairfax came to besiege it, was certainly not a desirable place of residence for any one who preferred following their pleasure to doing their duty. There are always to be found plenty of people of this description, and we accordingly are not surprised that many of the most considerable persons, and even the commissioners whose special duty it was to provide for the wants of the garrison, left the doomed town upon the first appearance of danger. Rupert saw them depart with a sad and stern spirit. Every such departure weakened and discouraged yet more the unfortunate townspeople. The pestilence raged within, and the enemy stood grimly without; but the Prince saw that he must inanage the matter as best he could by himself, for these magnates were resolved not to interrupt the comfort of their lives by remaining to aid him in his troublesome and dangerous duties.

Many of the sailors belonging to the port also made good their escape; some deserted altogether to the enemy, and some sought in other

ports more active employment and higher pay. Disease, moreover, had reduced and was still reducing the numbers of the soldiery, and the gloom of a sinking cause overspread the town. Once Rupert, even though desiring peace, had believed that he should be able at least to prolong his master's struggle for power by holding Bristol for him against the enemy for a few months, but now his hopes of a successful defence faded away day by day, as each hour revealed to him some new weakness or misfortune. Charles had by this time left Cardiff, and was gone his nephew knew not whither; nothing had for weeks been heard of or from him, and hopes of assistance from him were therefore altogether uncertain. In this strait, seeing that he could not communicate his opinions and feelings on the matter to the King, but remembering how averse he had been of late to all proposals of peace, Rupert determined to do what he could in a bad case, and gathered in all possible recruits for the defence of the town walls. The surrounding country sent their contributions of brave young men to fight or die for the King, but they were for the most part inexperienced peasantry. Cattle, corn, victualling of all kinds that could be obtained, were stored in the town, and men set busily at work to cast lead into bullets, for when the Prince first inquired into the matter there were not sufficient musket balls in the magazine to carry on a fight for three hours.

A council was held by the chief officers and Rupert a most anxious council. Could the town, in its present circumstances, be defended at all

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