[142] ‘Qu’elle me prioit de faire savoir a Monsgr. le Cardinal, qu’elle le conjuroit de la tirer de la misère, où elle se voyoit reduite--qu’elle est prête de faire en tout ce que le roy luy voudra ordonner et ce que Mgr. le Cardinal luy ordonnera.’ Despatch of Bellièvre, Dec. 23, 1638. [143] ‘Que si les ministres de la reine n’obtiennent ce qu’ils desirent, ils brouilleront l’Angleterre avec nous, et la feront joindre à l’Espagne, comme on croit que Monsigot a proposé au Card. Infant; que si Germain rapporte contentement, ils regenteront dans la cour d’Angleterre et feront faire au roi et à la reine ce qu’ils voudront.’ Extract from a letter of Bellièvre of March 7, which was submitted to the Cardinal. [144] ‘Madame de Chevreuse voit encore plus souvent l’agent d’Espagne, avec lequel les ministres de la reine mère traitent par l’entremise d’un fripon nommé Gedeon.’ Bellièvre, Aug. 4. [145] ‘Faire proposer par l’assemblée et le parlement des choses qui étant accordées brident l’Angleterre à un point, qu’elle ne puisse jamais être notre ennemi, sans avoir au même tems l’Ecosse sur les bras, ce qui se pourroit faire en renouvellant les anciennes alliances entre la France et l’Ecosse.’ (Bellièvre, July 7, 1639.) CHAPTER III. RELATIONS OF ENGLAND WITH THE ARMY OF BERNARD OF WEIMAR AND WITH THE SPANISH FLEET UNDER OQUENDO. It is quite true that Charles I was at this time engaged, as he had been at an earlier period, in carrying on negotiations with the Spanish court which might easily have led to an open quarrel with France. In the autumn of 1638 a contract was drawn up at Brussels, according to which Spain and England were to unite in order to wrest from the French their conquests in Germany and Italy; indeed it was the great interest which the two crowns had in this object which brought them together. On the other hand the Emperor Ferdinand III was to be induced by the Spanish court to recall the ban which had been issued against Frederick Count Palatine, and to restore the Electorship to the heirs of that prince. King Charles was quite ready to accede to the contract, if only trustworthy security were given to him with regard to the Palatinate[146]. In the spring of 1639 accordingly the intention of Charles I to take troops from the Spanish Netherlands into his service, as formerly mentioned, was much discussed. The Cardinal-Infant asked a question on the subject in Spain.