spirit and candour worthy of his character. "I am extremely afflicted to understand from you that Prince Rupert and yourself should be upon so unkindly terms, and I protest, I have cordially endeavoured, with all my interest in His Highness, to incline him to a friendship with your Lordship, conceiving it a matter of advantage to my Master's service, to have a good intelligence between persons so eminently employed in his affairs, and likewise the great obligation and inclination I had to either of you. But truly, my Lord, I often found this a hard matter to hold between you; and your last letter gives me cause to think that your Lordship _is not altogether free from what he accused you of_, as the reason of his jealousies. Which was that you both say and do things to his prejudice, _contrary to your professions, and not in an open and direct line, but obscurely and obliquely_; and this, under your Lordship's pardon, I find your letter very full of. For where your Lordship would excuse him of the particular and general aspersions, yet you come with such objections against the conduct of that business, as would, to men ignorant of the Prince, make him incapable of common-sense in his profession. For my part, my Lord, I am so well acquainted with the Prince's ways, that I am confident all his General officers and commanders knew beforehand how, and in what manner, he intended to fight; and when, as you say, all mankind were of opinion to fight, it was his part to put it into execution. Were any man in the army dissatisfied in his directions, {176} or in the order, he ought to have informed the General of it, and to have received further satisfaction. And for the not calling of a Council at that instant, truly, the Prince having before laid his business, were there need of it, the blame must be as much yours as any man's." And, after a great deal more to the same purpose, Legge concludes with the stout declaration, "and assure yourself you are not free from great blame towards Prince Rupert. And no man will give you this free language at a cheaper rate than myself, though many discourse of it."[53] [1] Clarendon, Bk. VII. p. 96, _note_. [2] King to Rupert, 26 May, 1644. Rupert Correspondence. Add. MSS. 18981 [3] Warburton, III. p. 16. [4] Add. MSS. 18981. Digby to Rupert, Aug. 15, 1644. [5] Carte's Letters, I. 63. 13 Sept. 1644. [6] Carte's Ormonde, IV. 190. 13 Aug. 1644. [7] Ibid. [8] Carte's Ormonde. VI. 206. 13 Oct. 1644. [9] Ibid. Vol. VI. 203. 3 Oct. 1644. [10] Add. MSS. 18981. King to Rupert, Aug. 30, 1644. [11] Ibid. Sept. 23, 1644. Digby to Rupert. [12] Rupert to Legge. Oct. 16, 1644. Warburton, III. p. 27. [13] Warburton, II. 172, and III. 16. [14] Warburton, III. p. 52. [15] Warburton, III. p. 73. Rupert to Legge, Mar. 31, 1645. [16] Clarendon, Bk. IX. p. 30. [17] Carte's Letters, I. 86-87, 25 May, 1645. [18] Warburton, III. p. 21. [19] Ibid. p. 22.