"_August_.--The queen embarked on the 14th of July for France. I marvel she can bear to put the seas between her and the king at such times as these. But my Mother says she could not help it, and sacrifices herself most, and most to the purpose, by taking off the burden, of her safety from His Majesty, and going among her royal kindred, whom she may stir up to fight. And indeed she did essay to rejoin the king. After the birth of the little princess at Exeter, she asked my Lord Essex for a safe-conduct to the Bath to drink the waters; but he offered her instead a safe-conduct to London, 'where,' quoth he, 'she would find the best physicians.' A sorry jest I deem this, inviting her to run into the very den of the disloyal parliament, which lately dared to 'impeach' her. "Rebel galleys followed her from Torbay, but she escaped safe to Brest, and I trow the king's affection for her is so true he had rather know her safe than have her with him. Yet, methinks, in her case I would not have left it to him to decide. The more one I so loved cared for my welfare and safety, the more I would delight to risk and dare all. "_August_.--They are off to the West, the faithful West--the king, and my Father, and Harry, with an army enthusiastical in their loyalty, and high in hope and courage. Prince Rupert not with them, and Oliver Cromwell not with the rebels. Surely there must be great things done! "_September_.--The glorious news has come:-- "Lord Essex's army is ruined, gone, vanished. Not routed in a hard fight, but steadily pursued to Fowey, in a corner of loyal Cornwall, there cooped up ingloriously, closer and closer, until the general was fain to flee by sea, and the whole of the foot had to surrender. The cavalry, indeed, fought their way through, which, being Englishmen, I excuse them. But never was ruin more complete. "Harry writes from Tavistock, where His Majesty has retired, a small town nestled among wooded hills at the foot of the wild moors, Mr. Pym was member for it; nevertheless the place seems not ill-disposed. "_November_.--Harry is with us. I have never seen him so in spirits since the war began. "The royal army received a slight check at Newbury, a place fatal already with the blood of the brave Lord Falkland. "But Harry seems to think nothing of that in comparison with the state of things this battle hath revealed among the rebels. Rebellion, saith he, is at last obeying its own laws, and crumbling away by its own inherent disorganization. "After the second battle of Newbury the quiet of our life was effectually broken by a threatened attack on Oxford.