However seriously Charles I on his part might affirm that he would not estrange himself from France, yet Bellièvre nevertheless adhered to the opinion that this was quite [A.D. 1639.] possible, nay probable. He knew that the Queen, so far as could be seen, was an enemy of France; that many members of the Privy Council were in the pay of Spain and drew pensions from that power; that many others, who had hitherto been prevented by regard for the Queen from speaking against France, were now on the contrary invited to do so by her change of feeling: and that nothing less could be expected than that even the King would allow himself to be hurried into hostility to France. Under these circumstances people in France were very far from expecting King Charles to come into the French and Swedish alliance in consequence of the Pacification of Berwick. On the contrary this agreement seemed to constitute a danger, as it untied the hands of the King of England. It cannot be doubted that alliances between the Scots and Cardinal Richelieu had already been formed: they were carried on through his almoner Chambres. They may have inspired the Scots with a general feeling of courage, owing to the support which was held out to them in consequence; but they could hardly have had much effect upon the steps which they actually took, if only because the medium of communication was a zealous Catholic. But now Bellièvre advised his employers to espouse the cause of the Scots with a very definite political aim. He considered that the old alliance between France and Scotland ought to be renewed, and the King of England hindered from ever embarking on hostilities against France without the fear arising in his mind that he would have the Scots against him. Bellièvre thought that the negotiations which were being carried on between Charles I and the Scottish Parliament ought to be made use of and directed towards the attainment of this object[145]. FOOTNOTES: [126] Traité auxiliaire (hitherto, so far as I am aware, unknown). A copy is found in the despatches of Seneterre, Bibl. Nat. at Paris, Harl. 223/21: the revised original draught in the Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Angleterre 47. [127] ‘De tenir ce prince dans la créance que le roi desire l’avancement et la conclusion de la traité et que la conférence de Hambourg se fasse le plustôt.’ [128] Memoires du Père Joseph. Ruel, 7 Fevr. ‘Il faut que toute cette flotte ou une partie d’icelle serve à attaquer les places dans la coste d’Espagne ou de Flandres: selon que le roi de la Grande-Bretagne sera requis par le commun advis des alliés.’ Archives des affaires étrangères. [129] Windebank to the King, Sept. 1638: ‘The Conde Duke, while that whip was over him, beginning to be better natured.’ See Clarendon Papers ii. 13, for the effect produced by the siege of Funeterrara.